Sakura Is Reincarnated

In the same dark forest where Naruto had previously been found with the 1st Hokage's Secret Scroll, Sakura stood atop a tree while trying to maintain a number of Clones she made using the Body Flicker Technique.

"Three is my limit, huh?" She couldn't help but be a little disappointed since she heard that Sishui of the Body Flicker, a legend of the Uchiha Clan, was able to create a lot more clones like this that could display the same strengths of Shadow Clones despite having no mass.

Once she was done and released her Clones, her body disappeared as a tiny streak of yellow lightning shot towards a tree miles away. It was only after extensively training this Jutsu did she realise why Sasuke was so fond of the technique in the Fifth Great Ninja War.

Despite being a type of Juinjutsu (Sealing Ninjutsu) that Sasuke had a harder time learning, it was without question that this technique was the best offensive and defensive Space-Time Ninjutsu with its instantaneous teleportation speed. Even Obito's Kamui that could create portals and bend space couldn't compare to it.

In her past life, Sakura had only been able to use the first level (which is the basic application of the applying Formula Marks in the midst of battle), the second level (which was an advanced combat technique derived from this Jutsu that could attack from a person's blind spot), and the fourth level (what she used to travel back into the past using massive amounts of Chakra).

Though despite her extensive mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique, there was no way she could compare with the Sasuke of the future due to missing his signature technique he created by fusing his Lightning Release with this Jutsu. The third level of this technique was forever unattainable to her in the past.

That is, until now, she put her hand on her stomach to apply a special Formula Seal on her body, looked in the direction she wanted to teleport, then used the Lightning Release she learnt not too long ago as well as her Body Flicker Technique to activate it.

Her whole body was transported through space just like the Jutsus first level. However, the Formula Seal she had left on her body disappeared, making it so she would need to reapply it if she wanted to use it again. A sigh left her lips as she realised she couldn't use this technique in rapid succession just like first level.

'This should be enough. As long as I use that Super Kage level technique Sasuke always used, I'll be able to beat Orochimaru once we meet at the Chunnin Exams. But this isn't enough.,, I won't be able to save Sarada if I can barely keep up with Sasuke and Naruto after they have achieved their potentials… Especially after Sasuke gains the Rinne Sharingan." Sakura thought back to the powerlessness she felt in the Fifth Great Ninja War, where unexpected powerhouses who had never shown their faces before cams not from space, but from the 'weak' villages Kanoha had looked down on.

If Hashirama, the first Hokage, could create a village with his power alone, then there was obviously something more to the other villages than what meets the eye. It was just these powerhouses only appeared once they were certain that the era of ninjas was coming to end. In desperation, a group of warmongers banded together and created a big stir that rivalled that of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Jutsus and Bloodline Limits she hadn't even heard of popped out in spades.

'If I want to surpass my future self, I can't wait three years to create the Strength of a Hundred Seal. What I need is 'that' Seal instead, I might even be able to incorporate the Sasuke's special Formula Seal into it in order to gain speed faster than even the Fourth Hokage!' A look of determination appeared in her eyes as she disappeared.

At the home where Naruto lived, Sakura appeared where his jacket had been thrown on the floor. She looked around herself to see a messy room that could use some cleaning. A hint of annoyance appeared on her face as she covered up her nose at the stench.

Even though she came here to get something important done, she still worriedly looked to see if Naruto was eating fine. The instant ramen he had laying around clued her in on his regular diet, and once she checked his fridge, she even found a carton of out-of-date milk in his refrigerator. She kindly decided to change up her strategy after checking to see if any Anbu were currently having him under surveillance.

Only when she was sure they weren't around did she throw the carton in the bin and vanish once again.

*Knock knock knock*

"Huh!? What…?" Naruto was awoken by the banging on the door and rushed to see who was visiting him.

"Sakura…?" He was shocked when he pushed over the door as his crush visited in the middle of the night.

"Wait! Give me a second!" He quickly slammed the door on her and used his Shadow Clones to clean up his apartment, then shoved all those bags of rubbish into a draw. Sakura didn't mind his rudeness since this was just the kind of guy her friend naturally was.

"Hey, Sakura, what brought you here so late?" He then returned with a smile and had the look of someone who was choosing to directly ignore what just happened. The pink-haired girl also didn't want to waste words on unimportant matters as she walked into his room openly.

"Is this how you live everyday?"

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked in confusion, but Sakura's eyes couldn't help but look around as her analytical mind found out exactly how he had been living the whole time they had been training together.

First going to train, then coming back to this lonely apartment… This was his lifestyle despite being isolated by everyone in the village. While she was looking around, she couldn't help but feel saddened in her heart. The face Naruto made after she blamed him for Sarada's death appeared in her mind at this moment.

While trying to change the past, she had always been doing her best to do it with a calm state of mind. She couldn't act solely on her emotions and also had to curb her d.e.s.i.r.es if she wanted the right outcome. It was to the point that she had been willing to let most of the events of the Chunnin Exams play out normally without trying to reveal herself to the ninja world.

Great actions bring fame, and this attention had a lot of downsides if she wanted to protect Sarada in the future. She couldn't reveal her strengths and abilities so early in the game. However, no matter how much she suppressed her emotions, she couldn't become an emotionless machine.

"Are you looking for something?" Naruto asked cluelessly as he watched her look around, only to see that her eyes were leaking tears. This sudden situation made him panic to the point he didn't know what to do.

'Was my room really that bad?' He couldn't understand how a messy room could drive a girl to tears. Maybe he should fix his attitude and clean-up more? It was at this moment that the shocking change happened as Naruto ACTUALLY WANTED TO CLEAN MORE!!!

That's right! Naruto Uzumaki, the knucklehead Ninja everyone knew of, actually wanted to reform his lazy and defiant ways! This change in the timeline was so big that even Hinata would find the future version of him of be a lot more appealing than his original self.

Back to the main point though, Sakura wasn't able to get future Naruto's haunting expression out of her head and felt extremely regretful at this moment. Even the look Sasuke gave her appeared in her head as she realised that he was probably going through the same thing. This made her come to a reckless decision:

"I've decided, I'm living here from now on."

"What?!!!" These words caused Naruto's jaw to drop to the ground. He felt like a talisman bomb had blew up in his brain.

"Of course, we'll get Sasuke to live here as well since he's probably lonely living by himself as well." It was only now did it occur to her that she could lessen the loneliness the two felt at a young age if she put them together.

"What about your.parents?"

"I have a Shadow Clone pretending to be me over there anyway. As long as I don't release the technique myself, both of them won't suspect that the person living there is a Shadow Clone." She then realised that everything was happening too fast for Naruto to register properly.

"Actually, I came here for a favour. It has to do with the Tailed Beast within you." She decided to get to the main reason why she came here to change the subject before he could refuse. Naruto's eyes darkened as the current conversation was too important if it regarded the Tailed Beast that had been within his body.

"..." She didn't tell him what she wanted immediately after remembering that the Naruto of the past probably hated his Tailed Beast right now. She knew there had to be some way to smoothen out their relationship earlier in order for him to reach his true potential.

"But first, how do you see him?" She asked hesitantly.

"As a giant grumpy fox." He showed no outward fear when talking about the Nine Tails, but she knew a normal child who found out he is a Jinchuriki wouldn't be able to avoid the pressure that came from being a living tool used to seal a great disaster.

This opinion he gave was just something formed before he even met Kurama… An accurate one indeed.

"I need to meet him for something. Do you mind if I use a Genjutsu on you to see him?"

"Are you sure about doing this?" Even someone as careless as Naruto didn't think it was a good idea, but he wasn't able to go against her pace at all. The stubbornness in her eyes made him give in eventually.

"Fine, but be careful when you do it. How are-" She didn't give him time to think and put her hand on his forehead. The world around her instantly darkened as the frightening visage and aura of the Nine Tails started to appear before her. Even though the Nine Tailed Fox couldn't completely form in her Genjutsu, the aura of absolute hatred formed from being chased for hundreds of years by humanity still caused her fear.

There was a reason the anger of the Nine Tailed Fox even contaminated his his chakra to the point it couldn't be controlled by those who stole it from his body, a trait which was unlike the other Tailed Beasts.

"Why does a mere child like you seek me out? I don't smell the blood of a Senju nor Uchiha in you…" An old voice spoke from the terrifying visage of the Nine Tailed Fox that had been trapped in Naruto for years.

"You have nothing that can interest me. Leave!" A roar almost broke the strong Genjutsu she had placed.

"I can give you the method to be free from this seal."

"Lies!" He didn't believe her one bit.

Instead of speaking any further, she stretched her hand out and put faith in the research she had done in the future.

"I know that you are a being formed from Chakra, the only reason you can be sealed this way is because your body of flesh isn't your actual form, but the vessel your Chakra naturally makes to contain its immense strength. Trust me, I can help you." She endured the feeling of fear in her heart and walked towards him.

This in-depth knowledge about his true nature caused the Tailed Beast to think twice. He didn't believe a ninja of the Hidden Leaf would try to release him for no reason. It was just that, as long as he wasn't controlled again, he was willing to pay any price to leave the seal. Even if it meant putting faith in a mere child.

"You're knowledgable… Fine, I'll let you make an attempt to prove yourself. What are you planning to ask in exchange?"

"I'll give you my knowledge first." The Chakra she had sent to her hand was covered in barely discernible sparks of yellow lightning as she spoke. This action of hers was a bet, one she had planned to happen before going back in time.

[Flying Thunder God- Level 4: Time Distortion!]

As a result of her gamble, Kurama felt his mind bursting as memories of his future self started arising in his head. The Fourth Great Ninja War, Madara, the Akatsuki, and most importantly… Naruto's promise to extinguish the hatred he bore… All these scenes appeared before his eyes as actual life experience, he could tell what he was going through wasn't a Genjutsu as the emotions he recalled were too real to deny.

After taking everything in, he spoke again, but this time his tone was a lot less ferocious than it was before.

"Tell me everything about why we're here…"