[Two different worlds meet. Two existences collide. On one hand, a girl learns what love, friendship and devotion really mean. On another, a young kunoichi realizes the implications of being a girl in a men's world.]

Before you start, just so you know that English is not my first language and that it's my first try at fanfiction, although I am a writer and have a master in French literature. I just thought it will be a good idea to use my passion (which is writing) to perfect my english skills. So, I was wondering if some nice people would please review this, pointing out my mistakes and all... It will be greatly appreciate. Finally, I'm a huge fan of Naruto and I just wished the females characters were better represented, so I'm trying to fix this with this story.

[I do not own Naruto]

What is means…

Prologue – Slumber

In the dark, nothing is visible. Only the sound of chains against the hard and cold ground can be heard on occasion. Sometimes a sob resonates on the concrete walls. A cry can also surprise the same person who lets it escape. In this infinite darkness, there is no place to go, no place to hide, no heat or light to cling to.

Hana always knew what it meant to be a girl. At least, she understands the nuances of it since she's old enough to notice inequalities. For example, it doesn't surprise her to never be the first chosen when the soccer teams are made. Perhaps she will be the first girl picked, but only after all boys have been selected, although she's probably better than half of them. She also realized that it's because of their gender that she and the other girls in the orphanage are assigned chores, while the boys can play on the old Nintendo; that for the same reason, she must always wear the pink shirt in the giveaway boxes, even if she despises all that relates to this color; and that ultimately, she will always be perceived as weak.

That's what she thinks about this morning when she brushes her teeth. Glaring at her two brown eyes in the mirror, Hana notices that a crease has formed between them. Several minutes of frantic brushing later and the bristles of her toothbrush are rolled up in all directions. When spitting, a white and red foam mixes slowly with the water flowing in the sink. "I have to stop thinking about it, really. It's not like I can change anything…" After splashing her face two or three times, Hana pulls out the sponge and household products and starts scrubbing the bathtub, a strand of brown hair stuck to her forehead. Through the open window, she can hear the cries of boys mixed with the chirping of birds. "To say that this is one of the most beautiful day of September and I am doing chores all day long… Tch. It will not happen like that."

With this motivation, Hana finishes her tasks a little after noon and hurries to go outside. She begins to jog to the nearest park, where she eventually lies down in the freshly cut grass, a smile on her face. Inhaling the smell of nature, Hana looks up at the sky and watches the clouds above her head turn into foxes and ravens. Minutes pass, her eyelids become heavy. Shortly after, she sleeps deeply, the sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees create shadows on her little round face, and a light warm breeze caress her pale skin tenderly.

A poke on her forearm suddenly wakes her up.

"Forehead? Jeez, what's wrong with you? Are you still trying to gain Sasuke-kun's attention? Because it doesn't work. He doesn't care about you."

Between half-closed eyelids, Hana watches a blonde girl she has never seen before.

"Sakura. I'm talking to you! Iruka-sensei should arrive any moment now. Drop the act already, I said it doesn't work!"

Looking frantically in all directions, Hana notices that she's in a classroom, surrounded by a crowd of twelve-years-old who watch her, curious. "It seems that my slumber has made quite a commotion…. I don't remember going to school though… Who are these people? Where am I?" Her ribcage suddenly closes and she tries desperately to get the air into her lungs. At this point, some might say she looks like a carp.

"Sakura-chan! Do you need help? Maybe a CPR?"

Upon the mention of the cardiac resuscitation technique, Hana stares at two blue orbs approaching her. After thinking about it, she gets up abruptly, not wanting that blond boy to put his mouth on hers.

"I'm fine, I'm fine", she says with her hands raised in front of her in a protective manner. "Sorry everyone. I probably fainted. It's hot today, right?" She then scratches the back of her head, and tries to display a convincing smile, although the corner of her mouth shakes slightly under the action.

"Maybe you should eat more, Sakura-chan!"

"Naruto, baka! You can't understand a girl's struggle, don't you? She's on a diet, she can't eat more, it would be counterproductive. She must obviously lose some weight if she wants to compete with me", says the blonde, a smug smile on her lips.

"It's stupid, she's tiny."

"No, she's not."

"Yes, she is, and more than you, by the way."

"WHAT? NARUTO…"

"Hello everyone, return to your seats, afternoon classes will start now", says a man with long brown hair tied into a ponytail as he enters the room.

"Yes, Iruka-sensei".

After answering, the students quickly regain their places and leave Hana in the middle of the class, alone. Standing, fingers playing with the hem of her red dress and eyes wide, the girl tries to understand what is happening.

"This afternoon, we will review once again all shinobi's rules before you leave the academy for good and begins your genin days. I must say… I'm extremely proud of each and every one of you. You are… Sakura, what are you doing?"

The brown eyes of the man are staring at Hana and she gradually feels the blood rising in her face. That's when she understands that she's in fact Sakura. At the realization of this, she opens her mouth, her eyes still wide and motionless, but is unable to say a word. Laughs burst on all sides and Hana swears she has never been so red in her entire life.

"What are you doing, Forehead?"

"It's the blonde, again", Hana realizes, looking at all the faces around her that are staring at her. On her right, she notices an empty seat next to a black-haired boy, the only one who doesn't look at her right now. She hesitates a moment, then clumsily walks to the place, guessing it's probably hers.

"Thank you, Sakura", Iruka-sensei says, an apparent frown on his face. "Now, as I said, I'm really proud of you. Even you, Naruto, managed to pass!"

To this, the blond boy with blue eyes smiles proudly.

"As you know now, the life of a shinobi is not easy. It's dangerous, demanding, but also necessary and rewarding."

The teacher then begins his lesson to which Hana is half listening, frowning. "Shinobi, mmm…", she thinks. "It sounds like a ninja career... So, this girl, Sakura, wants to become a ninja and risk her life as well as dieting at something like twelve-years-old? I really hope it's a dream, because if this is my new me, then I'm screwed."

Yes, Hana always knew what it meant to be a girl. She knows it since she is old enough to watch movies and read comics. So, she thinks she also knows what it means to be a female shinobi and the prospect of that is not really encouraging...

[AN]

This is a new version... I'm slowly rewriting everything, giving more details and fixing some mistakes (though I'm sure there is still plenty of them). Thanks for reading and I hope you will like the story! Give it a chance :)