Obito's Goggles
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"Sakura-chan, thanks for carrying my bags."
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"Sakura, thanks for helping me cross this street." Ok, this one's creepier than the others.
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"Sakura-chan, thank you for returning my cat from the oak tree. Would you like to get washed?" At a Sakura covered in dirt, bruises, grime, and cuts.
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"Sakura, would you mind helping my friend Sawa?" A mischievous smile crossed the grandma's face. "She's as old as I am~"
"Sure, Hana!"
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"Wait so, you're Sawa-san?"
"Yee that young lady who helped me cross the street!"
"Cool, I'm Sakura. What did you need help with?
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"Sakura, why don't ya help out Shiku's grandfather next?"
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"Oii, what, a little girl wants to help me chop stones?! BWAHAHAHAHAH—*cough**heave*cough*"
"Sir!" Sakura was at his side with a glass of water and patting his back.
"You—*heave* *gulps water* Ya know ya really ain't bad. I'll teach ya how ta help."
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"Sakura, how about yee massage this old lady's brittle bones?"
"Like this?"
"Aaa, good. How's yee cha-chakura control?"
"Pinpoint perfect, madam."
"Ahoho, good. Can't reach ma back so I'll teach yee."
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"Sakura, thanks for fixin' ma wounds, us old people fall down a lot these days,"
"I know, ma'am. It's all thanks to you I don't have to worry about running out of bandages. I can't believe she was a medic nin once!"
"I heard Sawa was teachin' ya and it turns out true. Ya did better than she could and I ain't gonna miss the chance. Ya gonna be with us long term so why not help ya help us better eh?"
"Really? You're really going to teach me too? What do you have in mind?
"Sawa taught yee ta nullify pain in bones but how 'bout me teachin' ya to heal 'em fully? Ya want that don't yee?"
"Cha! 'Course I do!"
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"Sakura, thanks for getting my cat down again. Would you like to shower?—Oh no you don't. You ain't goin' home in that mess. I have a change of clothes ready for you!"
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"Sakura, thanks for bringing my cat down. You can come in."
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"Sakura, thanks."
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"Sakura, thanks!"
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"Thank you, Sakura."
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"Sakura, I appreciate your help very much—Hohoho"
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"Would you like something to eat, Sakura? There's still some rice buns left!"
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"You're really helpful, Sakura!" Cha! I'm not useless!
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"Hey Sakura-chan, isn't tomorrow your birthday?"
"Eep!"
"You tried to hide it from us didn't you? That isn't very nice when we want to give you a present"
"I know, but you guys retired ages ago and I don't want to pressure you into buying a present or something stupid. I mean, it wasn't like I wasn't coming. You can count on me to come every day, so no worries ma'am."
"Hohoho. Such a sweet girl, right Shiko? Who says we're not simply chipping pieces of ryo together?"
"Eep! Please don't! Don't buy anything expensive! If you insist, just cook some eggs for me—or something!"
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"Goggles?" This was not what she expected. And of all the colors, they were orange—like—like Naruto for kami's sake. Cha! This old hag expects this piece of trash to match my red dress?!
The old lady nodded. "These goggles are an ancient artifact." At Sakura's dubious expression, Hana continued. "They used to belong to a hero who died protecting the village. His name, Obito Uchiha, is inscribed on the Memorial Stone, as they never found the body."
Sakura's eyes went wide in awe. She looked at the former piece of trash in new light. She removed her red hair ribbon and replaced it with Obito's goggles, still exposing her forehead in that cute way Ino taught her.
Hana sniffed. "In fact, he was like a grandchild to me, to all of us. You remind me a lot like him. He always helped us old people when no one else spared us a second glance. He dreamed of becoming Hokage to make this a better place...No one acknowledged him at the beginning." Hana's voice crackled. "Not even 'til the end." With that, she burst into tears.
Sakura instantly held her, "It's okay—I'm sure he knew you were happy—and he was happy to help—yeah!"
"Now a nice girl like you should really lead our village!" Sawa chipped in.
"Ahahahah, *cough* yeah ya one ta help the weak! Not that these old bones are weak! But if they were weak ya'd haft healed 'em just fine like ya did with Sawa's!"
"Ohoho~my bones feel better than those medic nin's shabby work. All thanks to yee, Sakura."
"Yea, that's what a Hokage should do."
"Sakura, don't you dare use village funds to assign too many D-ranks to help us— we can handle ourselves! Hohoho~"
"Hana, Shin— you guys." Sakura flailed desperately. "There's no way I can become Hokage—"
"Better you than anyone else!"
"Do your best, Sakura!"
"We support you!"
Sakura went home exhausted with a red face that night.
But she also went to sleep with a smile on her face.
Maybe that wouldn't be so bad, if it ever happened. Doubtful.
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Every day after the academy, Sakura returned. But in the end, she never found the time to visit Sasuke's place. Not when all these old Uchiha people needed her help.
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