Not so imaginary

vii.

Having finally resolved the issue of her sudden apprenticeship with her parents, the 5-year-old falls asleep the moment her head landed on her pillow. Quietly watching over her is Senju Tobirama, her not so imaginary friend. 

Today had been a tiring day for Sakura who had to explain to her parents about her random sudden apprenticeship to an Uchiha boy. It had been so tiring she did not even need another one of Tobirama's stories to fall asleep. 

Tobirama breaks a gentle smile when Sakura turns— her pink hair falling as it covers her face and his hands instinctively move to stroke it back only to stop and hover hesitantly over Sakura's face when he realises his special circumstances wouldn't have allowed him to. Frustrated, he lowered his hand and stares at them.

Have I always been this soft to children?

He vaguely remembers the joyful laughter, the scolding he had to give out and tears that shed—all from his very own little grand-niece Tsunade who would throw a tantrum whenever he takes her away from his brother's nefarious gambling spots. It was absolutely preposterous to him that Hashirama was easily won with just two big brown eyes who had innocently requested him to take her with him. Tobirama would never think he would fall prey to such tactics like that—oh how wrong he was.

Tobirama also remembers scolding one very sneaky little Uchiha who thought pranking him was a good idea—not that the idea of dying one's hair wasn't fun, but it is certainly not fun to be the target of the prank. Tobirama would much, much prefer to see the little one prank the head of his own clan instead—not that he would say it out loud. He wonders how the two kids had grown out. Has little Tsunade gotten over the gambling habits she picks up from Hashirama? Has she gotten married and was he already a great grand uncle? Did little sneaky Kagami grow to be the warrior ninja he wanted to be? Did he grow into the wrinkly old man he'd used to tease Tobirama about? 

And as if that wasn't enough, the memories of his own students—Koharu, Hiruzen and Homura also replayed themselves. He was proud of them— from the young and bratty kids to the shinobis they had become when he had left them. 

Perhaps one day he'll go and check over them instead. He wonders if his legacy had been continued by them— and unbeknown to him, it did, but not for the right reason.

But for now, instead of wondering about the kids he had grown soft for, he will meditate and reside in one of his rare memories of him and his brothers— contemplating about the day he would reunite with them.

::

If someone were to ask Haruno Sakura how did her group of two (Naruto and herself) become a group of three where one Uchiha Sasuke is included, she wouldn't know the answer to that either.

All she know was she unknowingly became the apprentice of his older cousin and immediately the younger Uchiha stuck to her sides. The younger, more annoying and weaker (as previously established) Uchiha would stick to her side all week like a bug. Everywhere the Haruno went, the younger Uchiha would grudgingly follow.

You could only imagine the unnecessary stress it caused the poor 5-year-old from the sudden attention from her classmates and teacher. Even Naruto realised the dead weight that has been following them everywhere. Having enough of it, Sakura confronted the other 5-year-old during their recess period.

"Stop following me and Naruto!" She told him after making sure no other kids were around.

"I'm not following that Usa-I mean, Naruto!"

Sakura gasps and crosses her arms, "So you are following me? That's so creepy! Mama has told me to be careful around people like you!"

"Yeah, stop being creepy! Sakura-chan and I can't play with you hovering around us like that!"