Chapter Text
Haruno Sakura spends the first year of her life in and out of hospitals.
The problems started a few days after her birth. It was expected for a new born to be fussy but her nonstop crying quickly became an anomaly. She experienced fits of sleep, little to no appetite, and seizure type activity.
Born in the Land of Iron, the doctors were poorly equipped to diagnose the problem. After months of tests and trial and error the Haruno family made the difficult decision to leave their home land. The best option, and by far the most expensive, was the Land of Fire where medicine was revolutionized under Senju Tsunade.
Upon integrating into Konohagakure Sakura was taken to the hospital once again where they were shocked to find the infant experiencing chakra exhaustion. Practically unheard of for a child of her size and age, there wasn’t a clear treatment plan. Konoha, if nothing else, was great on thinking on their toes and modified their regular chakra exhaustion regime for a civilian infant. As civilians, inpatient care was not cheap and practically wiped out their already dwindling funds.
Success was slow to show signs and with three months already passing, they were left with an impossible choice…
“Become a kunoichi?”
The wizened old man cleared his throat, “At this point it is the best option for your daughter. If you place her on the academy books now she’ll have guaranteed health care. It might also be the best long term treatment plan for her since being able to manipulate her chakra will be tantamount to her survival.”
Sakura’s mother let out a laugh of disbelief, “She’s not even a year old yet! How can you expect us to make this decision now?”
“Most clans have their off spring enrolled since birth.”
“We’re civilians. We aren’t even citizens of the Land of Fire.” Kizashi said in rebuke. “You’re not even sure if she’ll live till adulthood. Is this the type of shinobi your people are recruiting for?”
The doctor didn’t even miss a beat, as if he was reciting a script, “Shinobi very rarely make it to adulthood much less civilian born ones.”
Haruno Kizashi had to physically restrain his wife as she lunged for the old doctor. She all but hissed at him, her nails digging red lines into her husband’s arm. Mebuki was usually the more level headed of the two but you would never know that looking at her now.
“I understand this is a difficult decision for civilians to make but you should decide now while you still have ryo left.”
Haruno Mebuki’s enraged yell was so loud that doctors from several halls down swarmed to the infant’s room. They were thus witness to her proud and near hysterical declaration;
“Haruno Sakura will be the best goddamned shinobi in all of Konoha. And yes! I did say shinobi; not kunoichi. She’ll be even better than your damn first Hokage.”