The Hokage's pipe had fallen out of his mouth, the room had become silent when they all heard the loud wooden thud.
Hiruzen could suddenly remember where he knew her from, he knew because he was there, that fateful night that would have changed everything in that little girl's life.
His mind wandered off as he closed his eyes, his memory piecing in the past.

Hiruzen was walking down the cobbled path from his office when he saw an overly pregnant woman, who's bright golden hair shone underneath the sun, the sky in her eyes.

"Ah! Mebuki! A sight to behold, my dear." His raspy voice came out jovial.

"Hokage-sama! Good morning!" Mebuki chirped as she bowed a little, struggling to not pant in pain.

"Ah, your baby should be coming soon yes?"

"Yes sir, if it's a boy, I'll call him Kiyoshi. If it's a girl,
I'll call her Sakura. Both named after something important of course."

"Interesting choices! I'm sure they will be healthy!"

Mebuki smiled at him gently as she held her stomach, wandering away towards her home. Her golden hair shimmering as she too slowly vanished.
Later on that night, a loud explosion was heard as a deafening roar echoed throughout the village, screams of terror and fear laced screams rang out in the dead of night. Hiruzen jolted out of bed, bustling out of his home, his eyes widening at the grand sight in front of him.
The Kyuubi from legends, the one inside Kushina was free, it's eyes swirled a bloody red as it tore down homes.
Another high pitched scream as Hiruzen vanished from his spot, finding the source. It was the Elder council and Mebuki. Mebuki laid on the damaged ground her tears pearly against her face, her legs spread apart as Koharu had a healthy baby boy in her arms.

W-what.."

Mebuki screeched in pain as another cry broke the surface, a little girl was wailing as fear and killing intent from the Chakra beast rose in the air. Koharu looked at Hiruzen sadly her hands hiding the forbidden arts within the folds of her sleeves.

"I'm sorry Hiruzen and please forgive us for what will happen tonight."

The third Hokage was confused until he really looked around, the ground had seals on them, hundreds of words containing the word demon were layered upon each other.
Koharu held the small baby boy over her head, Mebuki had fainted due to the pain.
Black chains slowly formed around the boy, coming from another body who had died earlier.
The baby stilled as it suddenly felt a sharp pain erupt from its breast.
Koharu held the small babe over the baby girl, her weathered hands soaked in Kiyoshi's blood.
Kiyoshi gurgled on his blood as he became still.

"Sealing art, Soul transfer, bloody sacrifice."
Koharu whispered softly, bright blue light filled the area as a wispy remnant of a man was absorbed into the small baby girl.
Hiruzen's eyes darkened as he looked away, there were more important matters to deal with.
Koharu silently stared at the dead child in her arms, tucking him into Mebuki's arms.

"I'm sorry, we had to use the blood of the innocent," she said quietly, mournfully. "We could not allow the demon to remain unsealed, unbound." She looked to her Hokage, then, and waited for the words she could see straining against his lips.

"And the body you just sealed into the babe?"

"The girl herself was not capable of holding the demon alone, her chakra worked against its own. Given time, she would have absorbed the demon or destroyed it completely. In this, we have avoided that."

Hiruzen was confused, the large fox was still out there so what demon used the blood of a newborn babe?
His mind flashed to the shadowy man as he felt like vomiting.
Mebuki's breaths were ragged as her heartbeat was slow, the noise around them stilled as the smaller girl woke up covered in blood.
Her jaded green eyes already looked soul taking as she stared at the council.

The Hokage coughed as he folded his hands.
He had lost his composure for a second and he combed his greying hair back before looking to the genins and their sensei.

"Back to what we were discussing, I think that you have no right to ask me this request. These two Shinobi are criminals Sakura." Hiruzen's tone was edging pleading but the small girl huffed before walking up to the old man's desk.

"Was the Hidden leaf not a place for second beginning's? A place where refugees and immigrants alike can thrive here? Where our nation has built itself upon military independence from our ninja's? Are you denying the prospect of two skilled warriors to add to the arsenal? Are you denying their second chance of a good life again?" Sakura almost snarled but her voice was soothingly calm, her pink locks brushing against Hiruzen's withered hand making it twitch.

Hiruzen looked away before he rummaged within his drawers grabbing ink and parchment, registration papers fluttered about so Sakura walked away, her hands on her hips as she waved goodbye, the chains clinking and clanking as the large oak door slowly shut behind her retreating figure.