Stream of past

The Legendary Sucker

A week after the festivities and Tsunade's instauration as Hokage, Sakura finally mustered up the courage to speak to her mentor. Or was it ex-mentor? Future mentor? God time travel was confusing. She went to her bedroom and took the scroll disguised as a pen. Then after giving herself a pep-talk she went to the Hokage tower. She made her way up the stairs and walked to the door. After a deep breath, she knocked. Once she got a "Come in" from Tsunade, she entered.

The Slug Princess was sitting behind the table, mountains of paperwork surrounding her and a half empty sake bottle was sitting in the corner. Shizune was nowhere to be seen, but the ANBU guards were still there. Sakura entered the room with purpose, head held high and keeping eye contact with Tsunade, just as she taught her. She didn't give Tsunade a change to ask her why she was here, as she told her they needed to talk, alone. Sending a meaningful glance to the shadows. The last Senju understood and waved her guards away, before activating the privacy seals.

"Alright, I have this place completely secure. Speak. What does a genin want with me?"

Sakura took a deep breath and undid the transformation jutsu she had on the scroll. Tsunade's eyes widened as she recognized it. "I, Haruno Sakura, chūnin of Konohagakure no Sato, registration number 012601, under the Godaime Hokage's orders, have come to the past to prevent a large number of tragedies from happening, after our village was destroyed by Pain, also known as Nagato Uzumaki, the leader of the Akatsuki. My orders were to immediately report to you once you have come to the village."

Tsunade hummed. "I see...May I see the scroll?"

Sakura nodded and gave it to the blonde woman. The moment that Tsunade unfurled the scroll, it crumbled to dust in her hands and the Hokage slumped forward. The pinkette panicked and ran to her aid but before she could touch her, Tsunade caught her wrist. Brown eyes locked onto panicked green and the Slug Princess smiled.

"Sakura...good job, my apprentice."

Sakura let out a gasp of surprise and felt her heart soar. There was no way- "Ts-Tsunade-shishō? Y-you remember me?"

The Hokage smiled. "Yes Sakura. There was a small chance you could bring someone else with you if they read it, but I didn't know if it was truly possible. Yet here I am. I remember everything that has happened, or should I say will happen? Fuck, this shit is confusing."

Sakura felt moisture prick her eyes, without a warning, she launched herself at the woman with a cry of "Shishō!"

Tsunade laughed as she hugged her apprentice, letting her cry on her shoulder. She kept the genin in a tight hug and allowed her to let it all out. To finally make peace with what was and could have been, to finally lift part of the burden that was placed on her shoulders. And once she was done, Tsunade wiped the tears from her apprentice's eyes and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm proud of you Sakura. I do not know what you've achieved yet, but I trust it was a job well done. However, I would like to hear about it. So, report!"

Sakura straightened her spine and nodded. "Yes ma'am. I have arrived in the past, a month before my graduation test. I successfully infiltrated the academy and-"

...

Sakura left the Hokage tower with a skip in her step. After everything that went wrong, she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. She reported everything to Tsunade and the two discussed what they will do going further. Since the Godaime had a much broader understanding to the political climate, she decided to secretly aid the revolution in Kiri, hoping that when Mei Terumi becomes Mizukage, they could foster good relationships between their villages. It was going to be hard work, but Tsunade was gearing up to pick up Hiruzen's slack. Of course, first she had to bring the village from the brink of collapse, the invasion had hit Konoha pretty hard, but they had time. The Godaime Mizukage did not take seat until a year and a half later, so if Tsunade managed to restore the village in 6 months, which she will, she did it last time too, everything will go according to plan.