Morality !

Once the sounds of the sphere falling on Konoha had ceased, there was no doubt as to the fate of the hidden village of the Leaf. The convoy of civilians and shinobi resumed their march towards Heiwa.

Many had hesitated and were afraid of making the wrong choice. However, the sight of that meteor being launched by Uchiha Madara, removed any doubts that some still had.

Sakura knew that the journey would be much longer than on the way there. Indeed, there were now nearly two thousand people who had to be driven to their new home. If it had only been shinobi, they could have covered the distance at great speed, but Sakura had to take into account the presence of civilians. Women, children, old people, all of which slowed their return considerably.

But for now, the Daimyô of Ta No Kuni walked at the same pace as the civilians. As usual, she was friendly and spontaneously answered the questions of those who dared to question her. Her smile and her gentleness warmed the hearts of these people who had just left everything. And in the meantime lost some of their friends and family who had chosen to remain loyal to Konoha.

— "Sakura ! I don't mind going on a road trip, but don't you think we should return to Heiwa as soon as possible. Word will soon spread that Konoha has been razed," Ashina explained.

The Uzumaki wasn't worried about the situation, but he knew that they also had to plan for the settlement of all this new population. Sure, messengers had been sent to Heiwa, but he also knew that the moment the world learned that Hi No Kuni had lost its hidden village, the nations would fight to divide the Land of Fire. The latter could never prevent such deals.

This was the way of the world : to take the weakest before the others.

— "I know that Ashina-san, but I'm waiting for him to join us before I decide what to do," Sakura replied, referring to her husband who had not yet joined them.

She didn't doubt that he had survived his own attack, but it had been hours since it had happened and Madara Uchiha was not yet with them.

— "Tss, I've seen it all ! Making me wait for that wanker Madara before acting ! It's because I like you Sakura that I'm willing to wait," the Uzumaki retorted, rolling his eyes.

But no sooner had he said that than they heard exclamations behind them and the silence even grew heavy, forcing Sakura and Ashina to turn around to figure out what was going on. And when they saw the crowd part to let the imposing figure of Uchiha Madara pass, they understood why the silence had suddenly sounded.

The dark-haired man walked briskly and didn't need to speak for anyone to step aside in front of him. He was unharmed as expected, however, he was carrying something bulky at his side that Sakura recognized immediately : the scroll of Konoha's forbidden techniques.

— "I knew you were faster Madara," the Uzumaki said as soon as he arrived at their side.

— "Tch ! I didn't ask you anything, ancestor : besides, how come you're still here ? We must return to Heiwa immediately and tell the world what awaits them if they get the idea to attack us !"

— "Madara, we can't leave all these people we promised to take in without familiarizing them with us and the way Heiwa works. I know we have to get back quickly, but we can't act so impulsively. Remember, these people have left everything behind to choose what we are trying to build : peace."

Sakura had spoken with great wisdom as she stared into the hard eyes of her husband, who immediately calmed down. She had this power over him, the power to prevent him from acting too quickly and not weighing the consequences. At her side, he had developed his sense of analysis even more by taking all if not all the elements into consideration.

— "You're right," Ashina replied, even though he had agreed with the dark-haired man a few minutes earlier. "We can still find a compromise to all of this : I have enough men to ensure the safety of all this crowd. They have the blindfolds with them to camouflage and protect them until they get to the city. Let's give ourselves two days here before returning."

— "Two days ? Madara exclaimed, "what for ?"

— "To reassure everyone that you're not going to wipe them out like you just did with their old village !" The Uzumaki replied.

The tension had risen a notch between the two men but that was a usual thing for Sakura and those who were used to being around them. But not for the newcomers who looked fearfully at these two great shinobi who looked at odds.

— "Ashina-san is right on this point : we must reassure everyone, civilians and shinobi alike..."

— "Especially the shinobi !" Ashina interrupted.

— "Yes, they need to be assured that they'll be treated with respect and that you won't take revenge on them the way you might have treated yours in the old days !" Sakura added, staring at her husband who had his arms crossed.

— "Hn," the dark-haired man replied simply, having understood perfectly what his wife had just explained to him. As easy as it had been to convince the Uzumaki's to join them, this was a completely different context. In Uzushio he had destroyed the town but everyone was safe while Konoha and its inhabitants had simply been wiped off the map.

Sakura and Ashina gave the orders to the Uzumaki shinobi as well as some of the Uchiha, they wanted to be useful at all costs and put on a good show for their new leader. Madara didn't care about bending over backwards, he was watching all the people who had chosen to follow him. He could have been proud and haughty to see that yesterday's enemies had become today's friends, but he felt nothing in particular except perhaps the satisfaction of seeing that his dream of peace was really becoming a reality and that people were capable of understanding him in his quest for this ideal of life.

They then set off again towards their country.

Most of them did not dare to speak to Madara because they were intrigued and also had to come to terms with the fact that they owed their salvation to this man who had long been the enemy of their former village. Only the clan leaders had finally approached the trio and learned more about Heiwa's workings and especially his history.

Madara spoke for a long time with Enchu Nara. The latter, as a fine strategist, was perhaps the one who best understood all that the Uchiha with Sakura had accomplished so far.

At one point, a small group of people came towards the trio and bowed to Ashina Uzumaki who raised an eyebrow at such deference.

— "Uzumaki-dono."

— "Yes ?" He replied, turning away from his conversation with Madara.

He had before him about ten of the hundred Hyûga who had joined their ranks when they had the opportunity to do so. The others were not far from the trio and were also listening to the conversation that was about to take place. It had been a shock to many when they saw them join Madara, as almost all of the members of the secondary branch had jumped at the chance.

— "Sorry to bother you, but is it true that the cage seal was designed by your clan ?" Asked the representative of the secondary branch with a hint of hope.

— "Hai ! Fifty years ago, your clan leader called upon our knowledge to keep you under control and protect the Byakugan. It was immoral, but the amount offered to us could not be refused," the Uzukage said, folding his arms, proving that he took responsibility for what he had done.

Some members of the Bunke shuddered at this version of the seal on their foreheads, but after all, nothing surprised them anymore. They now had the hope that their fate was not linked to this cursed seal after all.

— "And you would be able to..." began the one who had taken the lead of this small group.

— "To remove the caged bird seal without killing you ?"

— "Hai," a number of Hyûga said at once.

— "That's why you decided to leave Konoha, isn't it ? A chance to live a new life, away from the slavery and mistreatment practiced by the Soke," Ashina said more in affirmation than questioning. And the discreet nod of those in front of his confirmed it.

— "It wasn't really a life... and..."

— "Yes... we will remove the seal from you," Ashina finally said and many smiles appeared among the Hyuûga and even some allowed themselves to shed tears of joy.

— "Listen up everyone !" Madara interjected in a voice loud enough for as many people as possible to hear. "This is the perfect example of your new life in Heiwa. There is no clan superior to the other, not even the Uchiha !"

When the dark-haired man made this remark, he gave a hard look to the members of his own clan. Indeed, he had judged the moment to explain the rules of life in their next village. He wanted to make it clear to everyone that there was no favoritism in Heiwa, no matter what clan they belonged to.

— "In Heiwa, there is no main or secondary branch ! There are no superior or inferior clans ! You are all equal members in rights and duties to your new country ! Crimes are not tolerated and are punished according to the damage done : but everyone has a chance in Heiwa. You will all find a home, a job and above all : peace and security ! The only thing that is required of you is to respect the rules and you will not be afraid ! On the contrary, your life will be nothing but sweet and pleasant. My wife, Sakura Uchiha is your Daimyô and I am your Heikage ! We are your leaders and know that you will always find us in your way if you betray the trust we place in you !"

This speech had had its effect on all those who had heard it and it had been repeated for everyone. If some had doubted, they were convinced that they had definitely made the right choice. Security, peace and justice really mattered to their leaders and this was more than just an announcement. It also reinforced all the rumors they had already heard about this great city to live in.

Madara turned back to the Hyûga.

— "Rest assured that never again will your fate be tied to this mark that has been imposed upon you ! You are free to create your own life without fear of persecution. And Ashina will gladly free you of it," the Uchiha added with a smile.

— "Arigato," said the Hyûga, bowing low to their leaders before dispersing with his comrades.

— "You had to say I was going to personally take care of it," the Uzumaki jabbed at the dark-haired man.

— "You shouldn't have called me a wanker when I wasn't even back from Konoha !"

— "You're just a...," Ashina began before being interrupted by Sakura.

— "Gentlemen ! Stop your childishness ! Tomorrow we can let the entire convoy continue on to Heiwa in peace. We can no longer hide the existence of Heiwa and his armed force, let alone Madara's return to the world."

The two men nodded silently before changing the conversation. Those who had witnessed this little verbal joust were impressed with Sakura. This woman was truly a phenomenon : she could stand up to two of the great shinobi of the day without fear of being rebuffed. It was no wonder that the great Uchiha Madara had chosen her as his wife. Some even thought inwardly that the man, already known by his reputation, must have been even more powerful because it was accepted that behind every great man was always a woman. And without knowing her in detail, they were convinced that Sakura was the one who made the Uchiha better. Therefore, he would accomplish great things for the good of all with her at his side.

Day 785

Night had fallen for a while on the city of Heiwa, which was quietly getting ready to go to sleep until the next day. Numerous patrols were making their rounds in the streets to check that the curfew was being respected. Indeed, although the city was a place of peace and prosperity, the inhabitants were not allowed to move around after a certain time.

Only the military forces were allowed to be out at all hours of the night as part of their mission to monitor and secure Heiwa.

As was often the case late in the evening, after ensuring that Hope had fallen asleep, Sakura went to the city's cemetery to pay her respects at the grave of her late friend. She was still grieving, and she tried to ease her pain while asking for forgiveness for the unfortunate fate she and her family had suffered. She was angry at herself for not having been able to save her, despite all the words of her husband.

And as often happens, a thin tear rolled down her cheek before she wiped it away with her hand.

— "I miss you," Sakura whispered on that autumn night.

She stood in front of the grave for a moment more, then felt it was time to return to her own people : the living deserved her presence more than the dead. Especially since she now understood why her former sensei, Kakashi, spent so much time in front of the memorial stone.

She turned around ready to leave the place when she saw a person she never thought she would see again.

There he was, two meters away from her, in his white kimono dotted with black Magatama and his Gudôdama staff.

— "Ôtsutsuki-sama !" Sakura exclaimed, completely caught off guard.

She never thought he would resurface after his disappearance over two years ago. However, a memory came back to her as she thought about it : during their last conversation, he had implied that they would meet again one day. That day had come, but for what reason ?

The Rikudô Sennin said nothing, he stood for a moment staring at Sakura. Then he walked over to her, his face closed. Sakura had never seen this attitude in the hermit, there was no emotion of caring as there had been in their previous meetings.

Sakura waited with that slight fear that he inspired as he was now within her reach.

— "Ôtsutsu...," Sakura began to question the old man about his presence in this place, but she couldn't continue her sentence.

Indeed, the Rikudô Sennin didn't allow her to speak any longer than he administered a monumental slap like Sakura had never received. Even Tsunade Senju had never given her such a treatment when they were training in combat. The force of the blow was such that Sakura's head jerked violently to the side opposite the impact. The move had been firm and made without hesitation.

She didn't understand why the hermit would inflict such an act on her : what could possibly justify it ?

— "I sent you back in time so that the child of the prophecy could fulfil its destiny and the cycle of hatred could finally end ! Not for you to perpetuate it in your turn !" Growled the old hermit harshly.

Sakura brought her hand to her slightly reddened cheek before slowly straightening her head and looking into the two Rinnegan of the Rikudô Sennin. She was confused by this gesture and didn't understand why he was telling her all this. She gently rubbed her cheek to ease the pain that was tingling her skin.

She was speechless, scared and confused at the same time. She had never seen Ôtsutsuki with that look, not even when he had seen Sasuke go off to fight Naruto in the Valley of the End. So why was he looking at her like that ?

— "You have a mission Sakura," Rikudô added less sharply.

Hearing the word mission, Sakura immediately came to her senses. Oh yes, she remembered all too well why she was now living in the Sengoku era. All the pain she felt from the sacrifice she had to accept pierced her heart again and for what ?

— "I know, ôtsutsuki-sama !" She exclaimed, overcoming the initial shock of the slap. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about this mission you gave me. Do you think I've forgotten everything I had to give up ? What I sacrificed in order to succeed in this mission," Sakura said with a pain in her heart.

At that moment, the pink haired young woman was feeling a great deal of pain. She had just before the Rikudô arrived, cried over her missing friend and the fact that he was giving her so much direct and unwarranted blame only amplified the gaping wound in her heart.

— "So don't make their sacrifice futile, Sakura," the old hermit reproached, not allowing himself to be softened by the pain the Kunoichi was feeling in front of him.

— "Vain ?" Sakura took offense, she really didn't understand how he could blame her for that. "Why make me feel guilty for their disappearance, Ôtsutsuki-sama ? I've only been following your advice since I arrived in the Sengoku Era. I saved the child of the prophecy of death, I healed him, I guided him... I even fell in love with this man ! I implanted Hashirama's cells as you suggested so that he could have access to the Rinnegan. I only do my best to accomplish your will ! All my actions and all my efforts have only one goal : that the cycle of hatred finally ends ! And now you are blaming me... what have I done that justifies your disappointment ?"

— "Tell me : what is the cycle of hatred ?" The old hermit asked with a less reproachful tone.

For a split second Sakura was unsettled by this change in attitude, but she thought about the question he had just asked before answering what seemed to her to be the most accurate definition.

— "The perpetuity of revenge," Sakura replied.

— "How did you feel when Hitomi was killed by that Leaf shinobi ?"

— "I... I... I was very angry..." she replied, shaking slightly.

— "Only angry ? Sakura, don't lie to me !" The hermit demanded again in a harsh tone. "What did you do when your friend had her throat slit ?"

Sakura opened her mouth to answer, but just as she was about to formulate her answer, she realized where the Rikudô was leading her. This was worse than a direct reproach. She realized the terrible truth that she had been hiding until now : she had avenged Hitomi's death by decimating the army that had come to invade the village where her friend lived. By this action, Sakura had allowed the cycle of hatred to continue.

— "What's up ?" Asked the hermit, who could see that the young woman had understood what he wanted her to answer.

— "Yes, but...," she tried to justify herself.

— "There are no buts Sakura ! Anger is a normal feeling ! But there's a fine line between rage and hate ! You didn't control your emotions even though you are a ninja Sakura !" He replied again with his reproachful tone.

— "Yes, I know ! No matter what the situation, a ninja must never show any emotion. A ninja must always put their mission first and must... hold back tears, she recited reflexively," but her voice betrayed the emotions that were running through her at being put on the spot.

— "Then why did you let hate guide you and take control of you ! All you did was distract yourself from your primary mission : to make the child of prophecy fulfill his destiny !"

— "That's not true !" Sakura protested. "All my energy is devoted to this mission ! We have established peace ! Heiwa is the place of true peace ! I have done nothing but defend the peace we have allowed to exist in this world ! Since the beginning of my stay here I have only reached out to the poorest, the weakest ! I have worked hard and relentlessly for this prophecy to be fulfilled ! It's not my fault that human beings are rotten and take away the few I care about !" Sakura defended herself as tears streamed down her cheeks and she was out of breath after that long tirade.

— "Didn't you hold your hand against Madara when he was the most vulnerable and you knew he was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people in your old days ?"

— "Yes, but how could I have guided him if I had killed him ? I respected the mission you gave me !" Sakura replied, sniffing loudly.

— "Then why didn't you withhold your hand from that shinobi who had only killed one person ?"

— "Because.... because..."

Sakura shivered more and more. Why was the Rikudô being so hard on her ? All her actions were being scrutinized and she had the unpleasant feeling that she was being judged. She felt almost miserable when all she had done was carry out what he had told her to do.

— "Because she was your friend ?"

— "Yes...," Sakura answered softly.

— "Who are you to decide who lives or dies ?" The hermit replied in a sharp voice.

That remark was the last straw for Sakura : no she didn't deserve that !

— "And them ! Who were they to decide that these poor people and my friend should die ! Why should they have the RIGHT TO CHOOSE ! Why was it still up to me to hold my hand when they were the ones sowing death and destruction !" Sakura snarled inwardly at the injustice to her and her decisions.

— "Because you're not like them," the hermit replied in the same calm and caring voice he'd always had for her. "Sakura, you're different and you have something more important to accomplish than those people."

— "Different ?" She sighed in incomprehension.

— "Who out of hundreds of thousands of people from your time did I choose to do this task ?"

— "I did...," the young woman conceded, feeling her shoulders sag as the burden on her shoulders suddenly weighed her down.

— "Yes, it is you, Haruno Sakura, that I have chosen to guide the child of the prophecy and thus put an end to the cycle of hatred," the old hermit answered. "For just as Sasuke had no one to pull him out of his hatred, you have what it takes not to sink into it. But that's only possible if you don't let yourself go like you did lately," the old hermit added.

— "That's easy for you to say... you're not the one who had to sacrifice everything," Sakura retorted angrily. "All you do is be passive, you never intervene and the few times you do appear is to lecture me ! If it's so easy, why don't you guide the child of the prophecy yourself !"

— "Because I trust you Sakura ! And I'm not passive like you claim because I'm here in front of you ! I'm here to remind you of your mission and bring you back to the right path !"

— "The right path... But what is it really ? Because no matter what I do, man knows only one thing : war ! No matter how much I reason with them, how much I guide them, how much I convince them, the human being seems to be able to solve problems only by war ! Do you really want to leave this kind of people alive ? Rapists, looters, barbarians... murderers ! Tsunade Senju taught me that sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the good of the many... and by eliminating these men I acted for the good of my country !" Sakura asserted, not wanting to deny that she had acted in good conscience and had done what she felt was right.

— "Not to this extent... justice is legitimate, but the slaughter you indulged in was unnecessary for the only mission I gave you," the hermit insisted, which angered Sakura even more.

— "But it was you, Ôtsutsuki-sama, who demanded that I get stronger ! You told me to become more adult, harder, colder ! And that's what I'm doing ! I always did everything you told me to do ! And all for the sole purpose of bringing peace ! And now that peace is finally in everyone's will, I intend to stop anyone who gets in my way."

— "Is that you talking ? Or Madara ?" The hermit questioned doubtfully at the young woman's words.

— "But maybe because he's right and he's always been right !" Sakura asserted. "Because when I see all of this, I sometimes wonder if the world is worth saving considering how corrupt it is. I even understand why Pain did what he did to Konoha."

— "Now you understand what I had to endure for a thousand years. That is why the cycle of hatred must finally end !"

— "You knew that, didn't you ?" Sakura asked even though she already knew the answer.

— "That human beings are abject beings ? Yes, I knew it..."

— "Why ?"

— "Why did I push you so hard tonight ? Forced you to express your feelings ? Because you needed to experience it for yourself ! Do you understand better the importance of the task facing the child of prophecy ? I stand before you Sakura, so that you don't fall into darkness and fail in your mission ! But it's also so that the prophecy will finally come true and the cycle of hatred will end... finally !"

— "But... but it hurts," Sakura said and wiped her tears away with a wave of her hand.

— "Death is inevitable Sakura ! It's part of the cycle of life and don't forget one thing my child, human beings come into the world to die one day, it's the fate of everyone on this Earth," the hermit said with his usual wisdom.

Sakura closed her eyes to this immutable truth : to be born to die. Yet she knew that death called many people back to her before they could live fully. And even though it was part of the cycle of life, it was still painful, especially when the feeling of not having enjoyed the person enough while they were alive took up a lot of space in the mind.

— "Is that... is that," Sakura hesitated for a long moment, half looking behind her.

— "Is what my child ?" Repeated the Rikudô Sennin who had completely softened towards Sakura.

— "Could you get her back ?" She dared to ask with a hint of hope in her heart.

— "Who was it ?"

— "Hitomi."

— "What makes you think I have the power ?" The hermit asked, curious to hear the young woman's answer.

— "I remember Pain bringing everyone in Konoha back to life after his genocide."

— "And for that, Pain had given his life so that all those he had taken would return to earth. I can't agree to your request Sakura. I myself am merely a projection of my soul. The materialization of my physical body here on earth requires a great deal of energy, and even if I could have done so, I could not have granted your request..."

— "For you left the world of the living far too long ago Ôtsutsuki-sama, and I would not wish for you to lose your life just to save one, even though I do miss Hitomi sorely," Sakura replied in a weary but understanding voice.

— "Sakura."

— "Hai ?"

— "Don't spoil it... you're almost there," the Rikudô Sennin added before disappearing.

Day 800

It had taken almost a fortnight for the two thousand new citizens of Heiwa to reach the city. They had been registered and distributed in the various residential areas of the capital and in the surrounding villages, especially for the civilians. All the shinobi had joined the ranks of the Heiwa ninja forces.

They had all been amazed by the organisation and architectural development of the city. It was even better than all the rumours they had heard. There was only one feeling in the streets of the city : safety.

One day while walking the streets of the capital, Sakura came across a scene she had not expected to see. She stood back to observe what would happen next.

Tsunade and Jiraiya were walking through the streets. Their respective masters had been very busy since their return and so it was only natural that the two ninja apprentices had wanted to welcome the new arrivals. After the shock of the announcement of the destruction of their former village, the two teenagers were quite curious to see who had chosen to join them here.

— "Ohayô Orochimaru !" The teenager exclaimed as he recognized the familiar figure of their comrade walking towards them.

He hadn't seemed to notice them and it was only when he heard his name and the boy's familiar voice that the so-called Orochimaru turned his attention to them.

— "It's good to see you're still alive, Orochimaru," Tsunade said with a small smile.

— "Ohayô Tsunade," he replied simply, ignoring Jiraiya who was already pouting as usual.

— "We didn't know if we'd ever see you again, Orochimaru," Tsunade said with a small voice as she thought about what had become of the village.

— "I had nothing to gain by staying there ! Sensei didn't have time to take care of me at all... anyway, I probably have more to gain by coming here than I did by staying in Konoha."

— "You've already got us !" The teen cheerfully asserted, receiving a cold look from his white-skinned comrade.

— "And I wasn't going to stay and serve a country for which I lost everyone I cared about," Orochimaru explained, referring to his parents who had been killed in the war.

— "But you are not alone now Orochimaru ! We are together again ! It's a new life for the three of us !" Jiraiya reaffirmed and this time the teenager smiled.

This smile sent a shiver down Sakura's spine as she remembered all too well the unhealthy grin this being had in her day. The Daimyô of Ta No Kuni swore to herself that she should still keep a close eye on this boy. Even though there was no reason for him to turn out badly, Sakura wanted to make sure that his destiny would change from what it had been in his time. Already, she was a little reassured that he wouldn't be alone like he had been at the same time. All that remained was to make sure he didn't sink in his quest for ultimate powers ! But Sakura also knew that only time would tell whether or not being a member of Heiwa would change the boy's fate.

Sakura watched as the three teenagers went their separate ways, surely to show their newfound companion the finer secrets of the city. She then headed towards the official buildings where the military council was to meet. Indeed, with the arrival of several entire clans in Heiwa, it was necessary to think about integrating them fully into the city's functioning.

Furthermore, the Daimyô of Ta No Kuni knew that it wouldn't be long before they got the return of the mail Madara Uchiha had sent to the rest of the world a few days after the destruction of Konoha. Again, Sakura knew that the news would shake the entire world and potentially create new conflicts between nations. It was a safe bet that the different countries would fight over the division of the lands of the Land of Fire, which would have no way of preventing this.

'Ruler of the world,

The Hokage of Konoha No Sato orchestrated an assassination attempt on the Daimyô of Ta No Kuni, Sakura Uchiha. For this act of treason against the shinobi law regarding Daimyô, Hiruzen Sarutobi formerly Sandaime Hokage was executed along with the rest of his village Konoha No Sato.

This is a warning to the rest of the world for anyone who dares to attack the nation of Ta No Kuni in any way.

Uchiha Madara.'