Summary: Sakura assessed a patient, who just slowly recovered from the Pain Invasion incident, meanwhile she was talking to her patient. She was just learn something interesting that a lot of people didn't know.

A/N: A stroke of inspiration hit me when I read a profile of Shisui Uchina, his circumstantial death and Kabuto's brief mention about his inability to locate his body at Narutopidea Wiki. My hyperactive muses suddenly conjure out a really interesting theory on why did Kabuto unable to locate his body. That theory had a quite twist of fate…I want to try that one. As for The Pink and White drabble is on temporarily hiatus, my muse takes a liking to this story and its star characters Shisui and Sakura, I like this story because it takes a considerate time to developing Shisui's character.

Time Year Index: AWCE - After Warring Clan Era, BWCE- Before Warring Clan Era

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything affiliated with any other video game, anime, manga, or comic. Sorry.

Prompt: Nindō

At the Hokage Mountain, Konoha, Fire Country 2048 hours, 87 AWCE

Shinobi.

A 8 years old curly-haired boy deeply pondered on this word, as he sat on the top of the Hokage Mountain with his legs folding in lotus style, watching the brilliant sun descended toward the horizon. The colorful lights splashed against the slightly dark sky.

Shinobi...what is a shinobi?

That question bothered him for a quite time since his graduation ceremony. The Sandaime Hokage came to their graduation ceremony, making a speech about how it was a privilege for them to be new shinobis and kunoichis of Leaf to protect Konoha and Fire Country. He knew that some of his peers wished to be powerful and famous like the Sannins or Yellow Flash.

His late father always told him the stories of his youth days when the Nidaime Hokage was still alive, spoke of Senju Tobirama's selfless sacrifice for his comrades and their beloved Konoha.

A young boy remembered fondly his late father's curly hair very much alike to his own curly hair, his stern yet kind black-charcoal eyes, his faint wrinkles on his face and his richly deep voice.

Uchiha Kagami was giving off a strong impression; he was very loyal and strive to protect Konoha. Sure, he wasn't very famous or powerful at the same level as the Sandaime Hokage. Nevertheless, He gave out all of his energy and devotion to protect Konoha.

He recalled that when he was very young, that time where his father was still alive, he couldn't help but asked his father why he was not famous and powerful as the Sandaime Hokage. All he got a reply was a short deep chuckle and hair-ruffling from his father.

Then an older man swooped his small body off, and carried him with his arms. He wondered why his father took him to the top of the Hokage Mountain until his innocent boy's eyes widen in amazement as he saw the high-altitude view of Konoha for a first time. He could see the never-ending forest surrounding around Konoha, and the people were doing their usual business at the he can see the children run freely like as a leaves blew away by the wind. He looked back at his father's amused face.

"Amazing, didn't you think?" All he could do was nodding at that statement, stuck speechlessly by the scene of Konoha in that kind of a viewpoint from a high height.

"Shisui..." His tone was strangely serious, causing a boy to look up his father in confusion.

"It is true that I'm not famous or powerful just like Sandaime-sama, but each of us have their nindo to empower us the strength to fight the impossible odds."

"Nindō? (Ninja Way)" His black eyebrows furrowed in confusion as Shisui tried to pronounce the foreign word.

"All Konoha ninjas have two nindōs; a Will of Fire that our First Hokage taught us to love, believe, cherish and fight for the village's sake, and passed his nindo to us. Each of us have their individual and personal nindō. Some people want to be strong for their loved ones. Most of them want to protect Konoha in their own ways." Kagami explained.

"Even you?" A young boy asked curiously.

"Yes, I even have my nindo."

"Then, what is your nindō?" Shisui did not stop to inquire his father, his face shining with a child-like curiosity.

A corners of his father's mouth curled upward slightly. "Well, my nindo is give up my life to protect Konoha and its people, so the people can live in peace without fear."

"Even me?" His innocent black eyes looked up at his father's eyes.

"Yes, even you, your brother and your mother as well. I'm gladly to protect Konoha even it means my death."

Shisui's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion by his latter sentence. Kagami saw his confusion expression, and smiled solemnly.

"Perhaps you might not understand right now. Don't worry about that. Shisui, you will understand my meaning one day."

A silence dawned on them as a young boy quietly adsorbed his words, the father and his youngest son watched over the beautiful city that they called it their home.

A younger of the two males finally voiced a thought from his mind that begged to speak out, asking softly,"Tou-san, when you will come back home?"

The older Uchiha looked down at his worrying son, aware that he will leave soon for war tomorrow. He smiled to ease his youngest son's worries, Shisui was quite perspective for a boy his age.

"Don't worry about it, just don't know when I will come back home. I promise when I come back, I'll teach you Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Techique). Agree?"

"Yeah, sure! I'll be a strong ninja to protect Konoha just like you, tou-san!" A 4-years old boy brightened eagerly as he prospected to learn the katon justu from his father. A father chuckled warmly at his childish excitement. "Oh, you will be strong for sure."

His black-charcoal eyes looked his child's eyes with seriousness.

"Please do your best to protect your home and family when I was gone. okay?"

Shisui nodded and look back at his father with a determination expression. "I will! I swear on my life to do my best to protect okaa-san, nii-san and my home!"

"Thank you, I'm now happy to know that you want to protect your home and family. I have a faith in you." His father's serious expression transformed into strangely serene and unreadable expression for a moment. Then that expression vanished as soon as he smiled at his younger son's declaration.

Next day, Kagami along with the several ninja platoons left home for deploying the battle that rapidly became the bloodiest and longest Third Shinobi War.

Tragically, his father never returned to home from the war.

And he never got a chance to fulfill his promise to teach Shisui the katon justu.

Uchiha Kagami was killed in action, saved his comrades by employing that very same tactic that Tobirama used to save his comrades from the multiple enemies long time ago. Once again, it came into a full circle as the Will of Fire inspired another ninja of Leaf to sacrifice his life to save his comrades.

Few years later, much like his father, his older brother lost his life to the war, had been sacrifice his life to save his teammates.

His last precious talk with his father was forever ingraining into his young mind even to this day. Consequently, he detested the war that take away his father and older brother's lives, yet chose the ninja path.

Why did he choose the ninja path even he knew that a ninja path was filling with blood, suffering and death?

He was sure that his father tried to convey something important underneath his words to him that time he was alive.

What exactly his father trying to tell him? Back to that time, he might not understand the hidden meanings that his late father tried to convey to him.

But...now he started to understand when he get older.

Konoha is a place where Shisui Uchiha along the countless ninjas born and raised there.

Konoha is a place where the children and innocent people roam freely without the fear.

Konoha is a place where the leaf ninjas called their home and returned home safely after their missions complected.

Konoha is a place where you feel peaceful and warm when you see the happy expressions on your loved ones and people alike.

Konoha is a place where their precious loved ones reside and a source of their strength to overcome the adversity and hardships befalling upon on them.

Then... what is a shinobi?

Suddenly, the epiphany of understanding came to his mind like a lightning hit him.

His late father loved Konoha so much because it's a place where he can find peace and home where his loved ones residing there.

He was willing to endure any tribulations even it means he had to die anonymously in order to preserve a peace so his family and the people live in Konoha can live freely without a fear and suffering.

He smiled solemnly as an answer finally came to his question that persisted on his mind.

That very answer made him reaching his enlightenment and creating his own personal nindō.

He blinked as soon as he noticed the sun now gone, the dark blue and black color claimed the sky signified a nighttime. The countless stars started to appear and tinkle above his head. The lights from the streetlamps and the windows flickered and turned on as soon as the darkness befallen upon Konoha.

The young Uchiha decided that it's time go back home. He stood up and began to walking to his home, intending to go sleeping early for tomorrow; he will receive a team assignment. He smiled faintly with renewing determination.

He was forwarding to meet a new team tomorrow.

xXxXxXx

"...And you?" A older male brown-haired jounin gestured his hand toward a black-haired Uchiha boy as it was his turning to introduce himself to his new sensei and two fellow gennins. He flashed a confident grin with his pearl white teeth.

"Well, My name is Uchiha Shisui. I like to playing with my little cousin, Mikoto-obachan's food, genjustu and training. I dislike war and sour foods." His nose wrinkled in distaste at a mention of his least favorite food."...My dream is to be strong enough to protect my comrades and Konoha just like my father, and..."

Shisui gave a dramatic pause for a moment. His memory of his father and older brother flashed briefly in his mind for a moment, a hint of sadness and resolution following afterward.

The three pairs of eyes looked at him curiously, and a black-haired boy smiled mysteriously, and spoke with the absolute resolve.

"...My nindō is self-sacrifice… a nameless shinobi who protects peace from within its shadow."

Konoha Medical Hospital, Konoha, Fire Country 0947 hours, 97 AWCE

Sakura was walking in the pristine white hall, wearing her usual clothing and carrying her file chart regarding her next patient.

A patient's name was Hibiki Kashimoto. A jounin veteran from Third Shinobi War. He was severely injured from fought the one of Pein's six paths. It was a miracle that he managed to survive against the insanely powerful enemy. He was one of very few people who wasn't killed directly by Pein, apparently knocked out by his own severe injuries and blood loss. He was discovered by the medical team as well as Tsunade's smaller slug summon, take away from the battle scene far enough before Pein transformed Konoha into a smoked giant crater.

She entered a room, seeing the dull grey-brown-haired older man laying on the bed. He was at least late 30s. His fair skin covered and littered with the bandages that covered some of his more serious injuries. His blue-grey eyes were bright and alert, which in her opinion it was a good sign.

"Hello! Kashimoto-san, I'm here to asses your injuries. I would like to see how far your recovery progressing." A pink-haired medical ninja greeted in a friendly yet professional tone.

"Greetings, you are Sakura Haruno, I assume?" His eyes flashed a recognition glint as soon as he saw her entering. After all, she was well-known person as their current Hokage's appericate among the ninja community. She nodded in confirmation and moved to the right side of the bed.

"Right, How are your body?" She inquired him about his slow recovery rehabilitation, as she was putting the files on the small table beside the bed.

"Ahn, pretty slow to recover from my injuries. My muscles were sore but okay, otherwise I'm good."

A pause. Then he asked cautiously, "Naruto...He is your teammate? right?"

"Yeah, he is."

"How is Uzumaki-san? I heard that he recovered well enough to walk around and help the people rebuilding their home."

Sakura smiled and said,"Yes, he rebounded pretty fast. Not mentioning that he still use Kage Bushins to help them, geez, he was supposed to be taking it easy!"

She huffed exasperatedly and indigent that Naruto stubbornly wasn't listening to her, but again Naruto was still Naruto. Really, it's reassuring to know that Naruto was back to the normal as same as before, just little bit more wise and mature after his encounter with Pein.

"He remained me of someone that I taught long time ago." His dark brown eyes glazed slightly as he recalled something for a moment.

"How did he remind you of someone?"

"He was a one of my gennin students...They share a similar ideals , they strive to protect Konoha and wish for a peace. Heck, they even put 'peace' word in their nindo."

"Oh really? What was his nindo?" A genuine curiosity was plainly evident in her voice, she was really interested in a person that her patient claimed that his former student shared a same ideals with her teammate.

"If I remember correctly, during our first meeting as a new fresh genin team, he said 'My nindō is self-sacrifice… a nameless shinobi who protects peace from within its shadow.'. He was just 8 years old at that time." A older male jounin recounted his first meeting with his deceased student vividly, a flash memory of grinning young curly-haired boy passed briefly though his mind, only fading away like a dying ember.

He continued,"Honestly, I'm quite stunned how he vowed his nindo seriously at that age. Most of kids his age did not make the nindo, they usually made their own nindo when they get older or experienced their own trials."

Sakura nodded sagely in agreement with his latter comment, remembered that she was vowing her nindo when she fought the sound kunoichi during her first chunin exam. She was impressed with his nindo, it was a very noble trait.

"Then he must be amazing person." She received a barking laughter from her patient.

"Yes, He was cheeky brat, I was quite surprised that he managed to stay friendly and outgoing despite the rest of his clan were stiff and haughty." A older man smiled nostalgically

"His clan?" She repeated, her eyes blinking owlishly in confusion. He paused hesitantly, looking like as if he was unsure that he should tell her or not.

"Well...Not many people knew that I did teach Uchiha Shisui, it was a quite shame that he died prematurely, has he could been alive, he would able getting well along with Naruto. They would be great friends." Hibiki finally revealed to a stunned medic-nin.

Sakura stared at him, totally gob-smacking by what he told her.

...

...What's with her luck? whatever she went, any things that related or belonged to that dead Uchiha make a way to find her when she was not expecting. Honestly, she really didn't believe in superstition and coincidences, did she?

She was sure that somewhere higher-up in the heaven likes to throw a curve at her.

"...Haruno-san, Are you alright? you seems zone out for a moment." A concern passed over his face.

"O-oh! nothing really! I'm just thinking." She said as she was reassuring him, and decided to change the subjects. "Are your other students still around?"

If he noticed her quick change in the subject, he did not comment on it much to her relief.

"Well...my former student is still around and jounin. Another one unfortunately was KIA during the sand-sound invasion few years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear about that, I didn't means to bring that painful subject up."

"Nah, that's fine. I already accepted that and got over it."

"Oh, alright..." Sakura muttered distractedly as she concentrated to inspect his body, her hand glowing in green light and her chakra probing his body.

"There! All done! You just need bit little more muscle therapy to get your body on the feet. Your wounds seem that they're healing nicely" She told him as she completed her check-up on him.

"Aw, not that therapy again! Why did I have to stay here so long?" Hibiki complained which caused her rolled her eyes. Tch, how typical of the veteran ninjas like him tended to avoid to stay too long and tried to escape from the hospital.

"Sorry, Doctor's orders. You better follow that order, you'll get out faster." Sakura said sternly not a single drop of pity in her tone, after all she frequently used to her teammates' attempts to evade the hospital visits which most of the times she hunted them down and scolded them sternly.

"Fine, you're no fun at all." He pouted which made her smile in amusement. She picked up his medical chart, writing something about him need more muscle therapy.

"I have to go now to attend my other patients, I'll discharge you when you finish your therapy. And no escape from here!"

"Yes, ma'am!" He humored her, although he knew too well that it was better to obey her especially she have the Godaime Hokage's approval to make his next visit very painful.

"Have a nice day! Haruno-san!" He spoke cheerily as she was about exiting his room.

"You, too. Kashimoto-san."

She stepped into a white hall and made a quick glance at her next patient's file. She then proceeded to walk toward her next destination.

Walking down the hall, a pinkette's mind wandered back to that discussion with her patient about that dead Uchiha earlier. That discussion about Shisui person, she really had no idea that her patient has a connection to this man. First, she stumbled upon picking up his profile file randomly, then she somehow found a remnant of his childhood in a middle of the forest. And now she just met her patient happened to have a connection to a same dead man.

It was a third time when she just found something connecting to Shisui Uchiha. It...it was too coincidental and creepy for her taste, especially a recent incident. She really wasn't a person believing in the superstitions, yet she felt like something...an unknown force from beyond trying to reaching out to her. She felt a slight shiver shooting down her spine, when she was thinking about that.

Her thought on that peculiar subject interrupted as soon as she entered into another patient's room.

Well, perhaps she could pondered on this unusual finding later when she came back to her home after her shift. She greeted her next patient, meanwhile, her mind shelved the recent muse into her mental growing list regarding enigmatic Shisui Uchiha.

A/N: Sorry about a late update! Real life and slow muse kept me busy. This chapter is bit difficult to write for me.

Anyway, What do you thinking of Shisui's "deep thinking" over his nindo and his moment with his father? Personally, I found that Shisui and Kagami spent together was involving a lot of character development. I hope that I made a good development on their character.

Also, Hibiki literally means "Echo". Kashimoto literally means "Past Origin" So, therefore this name, Hibiki Kashimoto means "the echo of past" more like that. I'm not an expert on Japanese language, more like that I look up the google looking for a first name, I made up the surname comprised two words from google research on japanese-english vocabulary. I'm creating this name for symbolism purpose to create a link between the past and the present. This name act as "a bridge" for carrying a word, "Nindo" from the past to the present.

Kagami also played important role, too. After all, he passed the Will of Fire nindo to his son.

Hence, i purposely named this chapter theme "Nindo" conveying Shisui's nindo bought to Sakura though a person with the namesake, "the echo of past" and it emphasized the symbolism heavily.

Beside, if you notice any grammer mistakes whatever it was small or big, please kindly let me know where i can find to correct any mistake. My English language was not perfect, i maybe missed or did not notice the mistake even i proofread a chapter a couple times.

Anyway, please kindly review or got any questions for me? Besides, in these recent chapter, Sakura was totally badass! :D