summary The end/the beginning

"Okay, okay, everyone quiet, please," Tsunade called, clapping her hands together once. People settled into their chairs. Some placing their folders on their desks. Others tucking their phones into their pockets.

"I know everyone is anxious to prep for the day, so I'll keep this meeting short."

"Thank God," muttered Asuma, leaning back in his seat. A few people chuckled, including the principal.

"First of all, I want to welcome everyone back. I hope that you had a chance to relax and recharge over spring vacation. It's a brand new school year, so I hope you'll go into it with open minds and high expectations," Tsunade said, like she did every year. A few people nodded.

"On a sad note, Chiyo-sensei has injured her hip and will not be able to join us this semester. She's on bed rest to recover from her surgery," Tsunade then added. A murmur rippled around the room. Chiyo had been at the school for longer than anybody. Although stern-faced, she always had words of wisdom to offer. Sort of like a terrifying grandmother to all the faculty.

"We've hired a replacement, though. I'm sure some of you will be familiar with her already."

As if on cue, a head popped in through the door.

"Konchiwa!" she chirruped. flashing a grin.

Asuma jumped to his feet, nearly knocking his chair over.

"Ah! You!" he exclaimed, pointing. She danced into the room, reaching across the desk to bump her fist against his. They slapped their palms together. Gripping them tight for a moment.

"Sarutobi-sensei!" she said, releasing his hand.

"Haruno-kun! Wait, no. You got married, right? What's your name now?" he asked.

Still smiling, she held up her left hand to reveal a bare ring finger.

"Just Haruno again. I got divorced last month!" she announced in the same cheerful tone.

Absolute silence answered her. Anxious eyes darting around as people tried to think of what to say. But she solved the problem by laughing.

"Anyway, I'll be the new school librarian starting today," Sakura declared. Teeth gleaming bright as she flashed another smile.

After Tsunade wrapped up the meeting, normally, the teachers gathered up their things. Some went to make copies before classes started. Others went to make coffee or put their lunches away in the fridge in the small kitchen tucked into the back of the staff room.

But today, everyone crowded around the new hire. Although, it was hard to call her "new" when most of them knew her quite well.

"Can't believe you're the replacement!" laughed Kurenai, clapping Sakura on the shoulder.

"That's right, I was watching your interview on the television the other day. Is it true that you're retiring?" Shizune asked.

"Alright, you're smothering her. Give her some space," grumbled Asuma, swatting his clipboard around. Fist on his hip, he glared around at his coworkers.

"We'll go out for drinks tonight and you can pester her then," he added.

"Bleh. You're no fun, Sarutobi-sensei," one of the teachers complained.

"Don't make me blow my whistle at you," Asuma threatened. It dangled around his neck from a red lanyard. And it didn't take long for the rest of the teachers to disperse, finally getting started with their prep for the day.

Kurenai lingered, leaning against the desk. "We'll do all the catching up tonight. For now, focus on getting settled in. Do you need help getting to the library?" she said.

Sakura shook her head. "I still remember." Sakura tapped her temple.

"Alright. Let me know if you have any questions," Kurenai told her. Patting the top of the desk twice.

The library was on the second floor of the school. It was at the far end of the hallway, right next to the home economics room. She remembered spending her free periods studying there, the smell of fresh cookies spilling over from the class next door.

She slid the white door open. It was empty, just as she had expected. It was too early for most students to even think about being in here. Sakura stood in the doorway, admiring the lines of shelves. There were rectangular wooden tables in the middle of the room. Matching chairs pushed in underneath them.

There was a counter by the entrance. She remembered passing her books to Chiyo-sensei over it, waiting for her to stamp the white card inside. The smell of ink clinging to the cover as she shut the book. She also recalled the Chiyo-sensei had kept an orchid on the corner of the desk. A little pop of purple in the room otherwise filled with different shades of brown.

Sakura set her bag down on the desk, flicking on all the lights. She moved to the windows. She opened up all the blinds, let the sunlight stream in. And she stood, admiring the view. Her hands on her hips, she watched the schoolyard. Students were beginning to trickle in. Some walking their bikes, others strolling through the gates with their friends.

She inhaled deep through her nose. Exhaled just as slowly.

It felt strange to be home after so long.

The gold medal was a nice weight around her neck. Sakura wore it for all the interviews and press conferences. It gleamed in all the photos, catching all the light. She smiled until her cheeks hurt. Fielding all the questions from the reporters waving their hands around. The nonstop click of the cameras almost sounded like applause everywhere she went.

"Sakura, you broke your personal best today. How does that make you feel?"

"Grateful. I feel like all the support and love I've received helped me get to this point," she responded.

"Is there anyone specific you'd like to thank?"

"My coach, of course, who's taught me everything. And my fans for always supporting me," Sakura said. As if she hadn't answered that one hundreds of times before.

"Sakura, what're your plans for next year? There are rumors that you'll be participating in the World Figure Skating Championships coming up next month."

And Sakura paused at that. The cameras flashing made colors dance in front of her eyes. She blinked the strange shapes away.

"I won't. This is my last competition. I'm officially retiring," she stated.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. More flashes exploding in her vision. Hands flailing around harder to get her attention. And she could feel her coach gaping at her. Sakura stood.

"Thank you all for your questions," she said, effectively ending the press conference. Offering one last smile and wave, she stepped off the stage. ignoring the way her coach shouted her name as she walked away.

Konoha was a city built defying common sense. Or at least, that was what Sakura had always thought biking up the side of a hill of a mountain to school each day. The ride down was much smoother. And while a lot of her classmates walked their bikes up, taking their time, Sakura was too stubborn to admit defeat. She huffed and puffed her way up each day. Sweat dripping down the back of her neck first thing in the morning. Legs growing stronger with the effort.

She remembered dashing from school as soon as the afternoon clean-up ended. Wheels of her bike spinning in mad circles as she rolled down the side of the hill. Rushing to get to the rink at the bottom of the mountain, or the studio the next town over. Her duffle bag banging against her spine as she ran up and down winding steps.

With the cherry blossoms tumbling off the trees with each gust of wind, Sakura couldn't help but remember those days. Her ponytail whipping out behind her as she dashed madly towards a goal she couldn't yet see.

Tsunade introduced Sakura as the new librarian during the opening ceremony. For students in the small town, the arrival of a new teacher sent a ripple of excitement through the students. But it was amplified when the students recognized her name and her pink hair. She could see them murmuring, whispering behind their hands. Eyes darting to her, bright with excitement.

After the assembly ended, Sakura found herself back in the library. In that quiet. And after years of being surrounded by noise on all sides, it was actually kind of nice.

She perused the catalogue and double-checked that the shelves in the library were properly labeled. She even ventured into the dusty back room. Opening up boxes, she found some novels that hadn't yet been labelled and sorted. She browsed through them, crunching through a handful of cashews with her free hand as she skimmed.

The silence didn't last for long, though. Students began to trickle in, often in giggling clusters. They whispered as they watched her from behind shelves.

Sakura pretended not to notice them as she thumbed through an old reference book. It had some good information, but it was a little outdated. Which was to be expected in a rural school like this, she supposed. She scribbled this down onto her notepad before she moved on through the inventory.

After a while, one of the students come forward with a book. Hugging it to her chest. Sakura held her hand out for it without looking up. Sakura wrote down the title and number of the book in her log. Pencil scratching across the page. She stamped the card in the inside cover.

"Make sure you return this in two weeks," Sakura said, handing the book back over the counter.

"Um... Haruno-sensei, could I get a photo with you, please?" the girl requested. And it was only then that Sakura lifted her head.

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Why? I'm just a librarian," Sakura asked.

The girl squeaked out an apology. She hurried off to join her friends. And they left the library, whispering angrily to each other.

When Sakura wandered into the faculty room around noon, she found Asuma waving his arms around as he told a story.

"And so I say, 'Akimichi, why are you eating chips on the track?' and he goes, 'Because I haven't had lunch yet, Sensei'," Asuma concluded. A few of the other teachers chuckled. When Sakura slid the door shut, they looked up at her.

"Ah. Come over here, Haruno-kun. Say hello," Asuma said, gesturing for her. Sakura's face lit up as she walked over.

"Hatake-sensei," she greeted him. Kakashi shook her hand, eyes crinkling as he smiled.

"Haruno-kun. Glad to see you haven't forgotten your old homeroom teacher," he replied.

"I'm guessing I didn't see you in the morning because you overslept? Or you were on the roof smoking?" she conjectured. Kakashi rubbed the back of his head, eyes crinkling again.

"Both. Fell asleep on the roof. The weather's so nice, lately," he confessed. And then his eyes popped open. He pointed his thumb in the direction of the man sitting beside him.

"Ah, Haruno-kun, this is Rock Lee-sensei. He's a brand new hire this year, so you wouldn't know him," Kakashi said.

And Lee couldn't even speak at first. His eyes practically sparkling as he stared up at her. Clasping his hands together, he fidgeted, looking a little like he might burst.

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" he finally blurted out, turning a few heads with the declaration. Sakura nodded, shaking his hand.

"What do you teach?" she asked.

"English!" Lee exclaimed. He still seemed to be having trouble adjusting the volume of his voice. Sakura smiled.

"I lived in America for a couple years. Maybe you can help me brush up on my skills so I don't get too rusty," she suggested. When she laughed, Lee did too. His nervous giggles too high-pitched to be natural. Asuma shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

The door slid open again and a few people walked in. The man at the front sighed, rolling his shoulders.

"Man, I'm beat. I hate the first few weeks with the 1st years. You have to treat them like they're babies," griped Shikamaru. He tossed his clipboard on his desk. But then he spotted Sakura, and his expression shifted. He walked over, hand held out. Instead of shaking it, Sakura slapped her open palm against his twice before they hit the backs of their hands together.

"Hey. Good to see you, Haruno," he said, grinning.

"Yeah. Good to see you too, Nara. Still can't believe you of all people became a teacher here. You were always moaning about how you couldn't wait to leave," Sakura remarked, hand on her hip. Sighing, Shikamaru looked up at the ceiling.

"I can't believe it either," he griped.

They chatted for the rest of lunch break. Kurenai and some of the others joined them. Laughter filling the room as they revisited the old days. Asuma discovering Shikamaru taking a nap in the gym. The time Sakura scaled the side of the building on a dare.

"Remember that time you lifted someone over your head? That was scary," Shikamaru recalled.

"Ah, come on. He was sooo annoying," Sakura added. Kakashi shook his head.

"You guys were such a rowdy homeroom. You gave me so many grey hairs," he complained.

"Hatake-sensei, your hair has always been that color," pointed out Kurenai. They all burst into laughter at that.

After lunch, they all went their separate ways again. Sakura discovered a stack of biology textbooks hidden in the back of the book closet. She rubbed the dust off one of the covers and flipped through. They only looked to be a few years old. Gathering them up in her arms, she headed out of the library, down to the lab. Thankfully, there was no class inside when she peered through the window.

Sakura wedged her elbow into the crack in the door. Shoving it open. She stepped sideways into the lab to avoid smashing the books against the doorframe.

"Excuse me. Sensei?" she called out.

There was a light on in the tiny adjoined office. It flickered off. And then an older man in a white coat stepped through the door. His eyes widened. He rushed forward to take the books from her. Easing them onto the counter.

"Orochimaru-sensei, sorry to barge in like this," Sakura said. Orochimaru removed his reading glasses. He hadn't needed those the last time she had seen him. His expression warmed as he took her in.

"It's not a problem. How can I help you, Haruno-kun? Or, sorry. Haruno-sensei," Orochimaru corrected himself.

"I found these in storage in the library. I was thinking maybe you could use them," Sakura explained, placing her hand on the stack.

Orochimaru peered down at the pile, blinking.

"Well, I'm very thankful for this, but you should have sent some students. You carried these heavy things down the hall all by yourself?" he queried. Sakura smiled.

"I also wanted an excuse to come visit. Sarutobi-sensei wants to drag everyone to a drinking party after work. You're coming, right?"

When he pursed his lips, she already knew his answer. That didn't mean she was going to accept it.

"Please, Orochimaru-sensei. Don't you want to hear about all the cool stuff I've been doing?" she wheedled. Orochimaru's lips twisted.

"I don't know. I'm not a big fan of social gatherings," he hedged. He rubbed his hands together.

"I'll show you my training videos. Even the ones from when I was in Saint Petersburg," Sakura offered. Orochimaru's gaze sharpened. He stared her directly in the eyes.

"Even ones you haven't posted to your Instagram?" he demanded. And Sakura laughed. She had won.

"You really are obsessed. Yeah, Sensei. Those too," she answered.

When the last bell rang and students filed out of the building, most of the teachers stayed put. There were clubs and activities to advise and paperwork to complete. Some holed up in the faculty room to grade as the sky began to darken.

Sakura lingered in the library, hands on her hips. Shikamaru tilted his head to one side. A book held against his hip.

"I mean, I don't think it's against school rules. I'd double check with the principal, though," he mused. Sakura tilted her head too. Crossing her arms across her chest. She nodded.

The door burst open. Asuma poked his head in, grinning.

"Come on, you two. Time to go!" he called.

"That old man's as annoying as ever," grumbled Shikamaru as they followed him into the hall.

In a town as small as Konoha, there weren't many places to choose from in terms of post-work drinks. There was a bar by the one and only train station, or another bar near the doctor's office. The one near the train station was a little nicer, however, and it seemed that the principal was in a generous mood.

The owner ushered them into the private room in the back. They settled around the low wooden tables. Purses and jackets went in neat piles against the walls.

Sakura made sure to sit next to Orochimaru, who still looked wary about the whole affair. On her other side sat Shikamaru.

Tsunade kept her speech short as she welcomed Sakura to the staff. Making a few jokes here and there that the older teachers laughed at. There were some new faces that Sakura wasn't familiar with. They introduced themselves, and Sakura forgot their names almost immediately. And there wasn't enough time to feel bad about this as food and snacks arrived.

Sakura unlocked her phone and scrolled through her old videos. She opened up the folder that read 'St. Petersburg Training'. Orochimaru leaned closer to get a better look. He pulled out his glasses, perching them on the end of his nose.

Tsunade laughed. "I still can't get used to those. Orochimaru-sensei, you look like an old man."

Orochimaru stared at her over his glasses before he replied, "Allow me to gently remind you that you're a year older than me, Kouchou." But Tsunade continued to laugh, raising a glass to herself in a toast.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not a day over 40," she proclaimed. Laughter exploded from her end of the table at that.

Sighing, Orochimaru looked back down at Sakura's phone. He fixed his glasses again. When Sakura hit play, Shikamaru heard the music and leaned in to watch too.

Sakura's long ponytail whipped out behind her as she glided around the rink. She gathered momentum and speed, eyes narrowed as she concentrated.

Her left foot slid back. She pushed off, launching into the air. She spun around three times. But when she landed on her left foot, it buckled. She tumbled, hitting the ice hard. Shikamaru and Orochimaru winced in unison. In the video, a man skated over from the opposite end of the rink, chuckling as he helped her to her feet.

In the video, Sakura was laughing too as she stood. Brushing ice off the back of her leggings.

"Stop laughing and show me how to do it again," she complained.

"You really suck at this. Maybe we should take a break?" he suggested, his back blocking out the camera for a moment. The clip ended there.

Sakura went on, playing through more footage from her training days. They could tell the passage of time from her hair. Long to short. Short to long. She went through phases, braiding it during her junior days, letting it grow long before cutting it short for her senior debut. And then it grew out again as she continued to compete. Her simple t-shirts started to bear famous logos as sponsorships began to pour in.

A few more people crowded around one end of the table to watch. They 'ooh'ed and cringed in the same spots. Some gasping when she stuck the hard landings. Murmuring remarks when she spiraled in almost a blur, her arms held above her head. When the videos ended, Sakura looked up in time to see Orochimaru dabbing a tear from his eye.

"Oh, Sensei, you big softie!" she laughed, putting her arm around him for a second. He sniffed, expression quite composed.

"Your take-offs are so clean. But you've always been good at those," he sighed, patting her knee. And then he shuffled back to his original position. Taking a sip of his beer.

"I had no idea Orochimaru-sensei was such a figure skating maniac," Lee whispered. Kakashi chuckled as he poured him another drink.

"Orochimaru-sensei skated when he was younger. He's the one that taught Haruno how to skate," Kakashi replied. And Orochimaru smiled sheepishly.

"If only I was more careful and didn't tear my meniscus in college," lamented Orochimaru. Sakura patted his hand on top of the table for a moment.

"Then I wouldn't have met you. I'm sure it's still a tragedy in your mind, but I consider if one of my biggest blessings, Sensei," Sakura assured him. Orochimaru went very quiet as he stared at her. Tears welled up in his eyes. Putting his arm around her, he yelled out for the waitress.

"Another round of beers on me, please," he called.

A cheer rose up around the table.

Sakura spent the rest of the night getting to know the other teachers. The people like Asuma, Kurenai, and Kakashi had been her own teachers in high school. It felt strange to call them her colleagues now. And it felt even stranger for them to turn around and call her 'sensei' too. She saw new sides of them that she hadn't had a chance to see. Like how Kakashi giggled with each new drink he tossed back. And how Tsunade told some bawdy stories that made Sakura's cheeks burn as she listened in.

It had been nearly 10 years since she had set foot in her hometown. And while some of the faces were more lined, there was something comforting about sitting there. Listening to the inconsequential gossip. No stares or whispers as people tried to secretly take her photo.

She let Kurenai pour her another drink. Asuma lifted his glass and everyone else copied him.

"Welcome home, Haruno Sakura," he crowed.

"Kampai!" everyone else cheered, clinking their glasses together. Beer foaming and sloshing down the sides.

Sakura threw her head back and laughed from deep inside her belly.