When Sara woke, it was to excrutiating pain. If it hadn't been for the gentle warmth that tried to dull it, she was sure that she would have passed out again. Her eyes fluttered open, only to meet a concentrated pair of hazel eyes staring at her. A smile graced the womans face when she saw Sara was awake.

"Hello dear, it's good to see your awake." Sara nodded a little. She didn't try for conversation, she was in too much pain, and was too tired. "Your name is Sara, correct?" Again Sara nodded. "Well Sara, my name is Rei, Tobirashi Rei. Do you remember what happened out there?"

A thoughtful look came over Sara's face. After some time her face cleared, "Yes. Are they all okay?"

"Worried about others even in your condition." Rei shook her head in a manner that said she was only slightly surprised. "Yes, not to worry. Everyone got to safety, and there were only minor injuries on some of them."

They lapsed into a silence, and Sara sat simply watching the woman work. It was clear Rei was just looking over the damage, but here and there she would heal things up a little. After about 15 minutes, her hands paused and a strange look came over her face. Putting up a mask that hid the confusion, worry, and helplessness that had crossed her face in that moment, Rei stood.

"I'll be back soon Sara. Don't do anything reckless, we've already gotten enough from Rock Lee." Sara smiled a little, but remembering that he had been severely injured to the point he might not recover, it held an infinite sadness.

"Alright. Please let me know what you found soon, m'kay?" Sara smiled rather happily at the woman, but deep inside she knew something was very wrong.

When the woman was out of the room, Sara quickly looked around. She still hated hospitals, and this room seemed even whiter than the one she had been put in after the incident with Ayaka. Sara tried to sit up, and though her leg was complete deadweight, she dragged herself into a semi sitting position. Reaching over, she pulled the curtain blocking the outside world apart. Color and light flooded in, and she sighed slightly. It was an improvement, no matter how small.

The attack on Konoha was over, but not without consequence. From where she sat she could see buildings that had collapsed, there were some that even had the appearance of being severly burned, the wall that surrounded the village had been broken down, and there were shinobi and workers swarming it like ants on their hill. They had won, but had taken a pretty big hit as well.

There was the scrape of a door opening behind her and Sara turned to look at who it was. Her face broke out into a smile when she saw it was none other than team 10. She waved slightly and the others sighed in relief when they saw she was awake.

"Sara! You had us so worried!" Ino came over to her with tears in her eyes. "What on earth were you thinking?"

"I didn't see anyone else doing it so..." Sara shrugged slightly.

"That doesn't explain it at all! You should have had Takeo help you, not send him away!" Ino's face was now flushed with anger.

"I completely forgot!" Sara exclaimed slightly.

"What?" Choji asked around his mouthful of chips.

"Takeo, and Ryota... Team 7, as well as all the other genin! Are they alright? Or alive at least?" Sara's face was a mask of calm, except her eyes which were pools of worry.

"They're fine. Sasuke and Naruto were in the hospital, but they're doing better." Ino assured.

"Thank goodness." Sara put a hand to her heart and breathed a slight sigh in relief.

"However..." Shika started to speak, but was shushed by his teammates. Sara caught the look in his eye, and instantly knew something had happened. Looking them over, she also noted that Asuma wasn't here. There was a fist of fear in her heart.

Sara thought a moment, trying to come up with a way to get rid of Ino and Choji. It was obvious Shika wouldn't get a chance to say what he wanted to with them around. After a while of pointless conversation, Ino provided her with the perfect opporitunity.

"Sara, do you need anything? You have been out for about a day and a half."

"Well... The room is pretty white, could you bring me some flowers from your shop? I can pay if you want." Sara thought quickly.

"I'll go get them right now~!" Ino sang and walked out, practically dancing. Sara's only thought at that point was: 'she seriously likes flowers.'

Sara's stomach suddenly growled with a fierce intensity. The two boys and her were shocked, until Choji bust out laughing, even Shika had a smirk on his face. Looking down, Sara tried to hide a blush that fought its way onto her face.

After laughing Choji spoke, "Do you want me to go get you some food Sara?" She nodded, still completely embarrassed. Choji hesitated only a moment before walking out.

Once he was gone, Sara looked at Shika steadily. "What were you going to tell me?" She said without prelude.

Shika nodded solemnly, and after a small silence, spoke, "The Hokage died in his fight with Orochimaru. The anbu did in fact make it through the barrier, but only in time to hear his dying words."

Neither spoke. Sara stared at her hands, which were folded in her lap. Her hair shrouded her eyes from sight and tears began to well within her eyes. She had always liked the Hokage. He was the one who had let her stay, taken her in with few questions, and helped her out. If anything, he was the grandfather that Sara hadn't ever had.

By the time Ino and Choji came back, arguing as usual, Sara had composed herself. She smiled happily when Ino walked though the door, because in her hands there were vivid purple alstroemerias with queen anne's lace that was the palest of blues as an accent. (AN: pic on side is of alstroemerias)

"Ino, they're beautiful!" Sara breathed. "But... why flowers that mean strength and protection?"

"No matter how you try to deny it, and I know you will, you're strong. Plus, you protected those people at the stadium." Ino put her hands on her hips.

"I'm not that stro-"

"And there you go trying to deny it." Ino huffed a little, but smiled down at Sara.

"Sara, I got you some fruit!" Choji held out a basket, a mischevious smile on his face.

Looking in the basket, Sara smirked a little before grabbing it. She set it beside her and grabbed a green apple, crunching away happily.

"Choji, you know I freaking love you right now. Especially because of these apples." She said around the crunch of the apple. Sara ate it quickly, barely leaving the core. The trash can was across the room, and with great aim, she shot it into the bin.

"You're welcome Sara," Choji and his team sweatdropped. It had taken her all of 15 seconds to eat the apple. She turned back to the basket and started to look through it.

Moments later, Sara was looking at the team seriously with her hands held behind her back. Her focus zeroed in on Shika, who was sitting on a stool at her beadside. Shika noticed the intensity of her gaze and groaned slightly.

"I would like to present, pineapple, with a gift of great importance. Do you accept this gift and promise to cherish it?" Choji was trying to hold back his laughter at this point, and Ino was slightly confused.

Shika stared at Sara, wondering if this girl was entirely sane. Eventually he nodded his head in defeat, "sure, I suppose."

Sara pulled her hands from behind her back and presented Shika with the sole pineapple that had been in the basket. He sighed a little and took the proffered fruit. Sara stared at him with the same intensity as before.

"What is it now?" Shika asked her.

"Well aren't you going to cut it up so we can eat it?" Sara continued to stare, but now her gaze fell hungrily on the pineapple. Sara broke her gaze and pointed to the cabinet, "If they didn't take my weapons away, my knives should be in there."

"Pain in the butt." Ino left the room, returning with a rather large platter. She got the knife and then handed Shika the procured items. "Why do I have to cut it?"

"Because I'm now saying so. You can't refuse the injured." Sara folded her arms victoriously.

"Troblesome women." The pineapple was quickly diced and the four sat around eating it in a calm silence.

Then the door slammed open. They all looked over to see team 7 in the doorway, who was immedieately followed by Takeo and Ryota. Hitomi and Kakashi trickled in last. All of them, minus the adults and Sasuke, spoke at once. Sara just sat there, knowing that even if she spoke, she wouldn't be heard. The first to realize this was Takeo. Takeo talked sense into Ryota and Sakura, so now it was just Naruto yelling questions at her.

A nurse paused in the doorway. "Excuse me young man, this is a hospital. Keep it down."

"Sorry," Naruto looked down a little sheepishly.

Rei continued into the room and stood by the foot of Sara's bed. "I have the news about your leg."

Sara nodded solemnly. Turning to the others she spoke, "All of you out. Especially you, spikes and kitten-chibi, aren't you both supposed to be in the hospital as well?"

"Yeah, but we came to see you!" Naruto proclaimed.

"I was dragged." Sasuke said bluntly.

"Figures. Either way, out." Everyone trickled out the door, and finally it was shut, leaving Sara and Rei alone.

Sara listened to Rei as she explained everything that was going on with Sara's leg. The man who had attacked with medical ninjutsu had cut her femur cleanly in half. When Sara kept walking on the leg, the two pieces slowly slid against eachother and into the muscles surrounding. The edges were sharp enough that they had also slowly been cutting into and seperating the muscle fibers. If Sara had stopped after that final group of people, they theorize that she would have been fine and able to heal, but since she was hit with the rocks, her already weak bone shattered. The shards had gone into the muscle, and now they were completely torn. She couldn't use her leg. Sara didn't react to anything that was said after her initial shock, but in the end she spoke. "Is there anyone...?"

"Lady Tsunade might be able, but she's been missing for ages. I'm sorry." Rei informed.

Sara nodded. "It's not your fault Rei. Do me a favor though?" When Rei tilted her head slightly in question, she went on, "Don't tell anyone else?"

"I suppose so Sara." Rei looked down at Sara sadly.

"Sorry to make you even sadder than you already are, but... when is the Hokage's funeral?"

Rei's face became slightly darker, "It's tomorrow afternoon."

"Can you get me a black dress by then?" Rei looked into Sara's determined eyes and saw that, no matter what, Sara was going.

"Of course." Rei sighed lightly. "Would you like me to let your friends in?"

"Not right now, can you make something up?" Rei nodded and left.

Sara continued to stare out the window for some time. She watched people working on the building, while others were almost solely in charge of cutting the wood. Kids who would have been in the academy were running around. The village was once again peaceful, its seemingly only state when not in battle. Sara smiled, knowing that her home was just outside. Then, she slept.

 _-_

The next day, the village was quiet, almost eerily so. There were no shouts of playing children, and the pounding of hammers had long since ceased. The sky was a dull gray, threatening rain. A depressing atmosphere. Not that anyone expected people to be happy the day a beloved leader was buried.

Rei came into Sara's room solemnly, and neither spoke. Rei helped Sara to sit up and put on the black dress that Rei had prepared. Yesterday there had been a small debate over having crutches or being in a wheelchair. Sara's determination held out, and she now had crutches.

Standing with one leg, Sara put almost all her weight on the crutches. The dress flowed down to her knees. The layer underneath was nothing but a black dress, long sleeved, with the collar going up her neck to her chin. Over this was a very dark grey, almost black itself, lace. Sara went to the wardrobe and grabbed her mask. Almost everyone had seen her face, but she wasn't quite ready to let go of the comfort it had brought. She tied the mask on, and after a small hesitation, she grabbed her weapons pouch and tied it on her leg.

After leaving the hospital, Sara stopped by her house for a short moment. All three kids were awake, and she made them some breakfast while they got ready. All four left together, walking slowly. While walking there, Naoko and Atsushi turned a corner, along with the rest of the Hikawa clan. The four kids walked together, while Sara fell into step with her teammates.

Soon they stood in front of the picture of the Hokage, as well as the other shinobi who had died. There were already people in the crowd who were crying, and as Sara stood next to the three kids, she saw they too were crying. At one point, Junichi spoke up.

"Okaa-san... do you think that the Hokage was afraid when he fought for us?"

Sara looked down at him. He was still crying, but he looked up at her seriously. Some of the Shinobi near Sara also looked on with curiosity at how she would answer. "Well Junichi, I don't think so. The Hokage is strong, and I wouldn't take him as someone who chose to be afraid."

A few of the faces around Sara, including Junichi, grew confused at her words. "What do you mean he didn't choose to be afraid? Isn't everyone afraid about things?"

"Hmm... Yes, everyone is afraid of something, but fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Don't misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice. If your thoughts dwell only on the 'what if's then you'll always fear over something. The Hokage knew what could happen, but he fought his hardest to make sure that one particular thing wouldn't happen." Sara patted Junichi on the head. "He chose to make sure that the destruction of Konoha wouldn't happen. He chose to save our lives over his."

Junichi and the kids cried a little harder over this, and even some shinobi around turned with tears in their eyes. It started to rain, and now everyone stood in silence. When the funeral ended, Sara began to hobble away after a few moments. The sun had fought valiently against the clouds, and as proof the first rays of sunlight dripped down to coat Konoha in light. After the first initial rays, it soon grew and pushed back the darkness that had previously plagued the day.