A/N: First Story. Please review!

A/N: I just learned I can edit things after I post them... go figure so several items have been changed because of typos. Thank you so much for reading.

Disclaimer: This story has dark themes throughout.

Chapter 1: Doubts and dreams of a summer day.

Sakura ran through the forest not letting herself cry until she reached her destination. Running around tall trees Sakura finally found the spot. She slowed to a walk and went in through a small entrance of a hollow tree. There was a string of paper flowers over the entrance.

"I'm home." Sakura muttered tapping one of the flowers as she enter and began to sniff.

She hurried inside and shut the small door. Sitting on the floor she took a moment to let her sadness come over her finally. She began to weep as she thought about what had transpired.

Sakura had always had a problem talking to people normally. It led to her being picked on for being shy and they would make fun of her looks most of all. That all changed when she made friends Ino.

She was passionate and bombastic in a way that made people like her. Her father was an important person in the village and bullies tried not to mess with Ino if they could help it. Sakura felt so moved that Ino was willing to help her she practically became Ino's little lackey. Feeding her compliments, helping her with homework, making her special cookies, and the like.

Sakura didn't want to lose her one and only friend. Ino loved this kind of attention and Sakura quickly became one of her favorites. Eventually however Sakura felt her friend's attention waver and she began to hang out with other girls more often. It had all started when Sakura mentioned that she thought Sasuke was cute. Sasuke was, in her opinion, one of the coolest kids ever. Everyone seemed to like him but she was finally confronted by Ino today.

"Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke… It is all you ever talk about anymore!" Ino said in irritation.

"Well…I…I just think he is cool that's all…" Sakura said with a small blush. Inside she was squealing that he was the cutest ever and that she felt like hugging him would be the best feeling ever.

"What, do you like, like him?" Ino asked.

"I…Um…I…" Sakura stuttered feeling her face heat up. Yes... Sakura was head over heels...

"Well…I guess I don't have any competition from you so…" Ino said thinking about it out loud.

"What's that supposed mean?" Sakura asked confused. Sakura was starting to get a bad feeling.

Ino considered her for a moment. "All girls are kind of like flowers. Remember how the Hokage told us about the village being like a tree? Well I'm one of the flowers that will make the tree pop! And you…well you are still just a bud. Sasuke is bound to notice me more in the end."

"Your saying... I'm not good enough?" Sakura said slowly shocked her friend would tell her that.

"Well, I was trying to break it to you nicely, but..." Ino said folding her arms. "You are going to be cute one day, but for now you are still in that awkward little kid stage. Sasuke is more likely to pat you on the head like a cross eyed kitten he found then kiss you like his lover.

"You also have no prospects going for you, even if you get cute later on. I am the heiress to the Yamanaka clan, while you are a civilian born with no specialty and no history. It's nothing personal just a fact. Yeah, your mother's family may have been here from the founding of the village, but they weren't even government stationed officials. They were foot soldiers sent to accompany the nobles.

"They're not rich either. Yuki's family is civilian too, but they are also heiresses to several main supply stores in the village and thus have hefty dowries. So no looks, history, or even money. You likely have little to no chance."

Sakura froze. Then her eyes began to well up in tears. Ino patted her head.

"If you want to prove me right just try confessing your feelings to Sasuke. I'm just trying to help you understand before you get hurt being rejected. Being told you are not good enough by a friend hurts a whole lot less then being told you aren't good enough by the one you like. Trust me." Ino said with a smile. "See! Aren't I the best?"

Sakura had been silent for a moment before running off. Now, she was here and crying her eyes out…Sakura felt pathetic. After she managed to calm down she wiped her tears as a single thought formed in her mind.

She got up and decided to go back and prove Ino wrong!

"Um…Sasuke…I…just wanted…" Sakura began blushing furiously. She had never done this before, and her heart was hammering like crazy.

"Who are you?" Sasuke asked looking up from his book. He was…adorable. Raven black hair, and deep, deep black eyes that seemed like she they could hypnotize her.

"I wanted to ask you…to… um…" Sakura stuttered out.

Sasuke closed the book. "Look. I won't waste my time with someone weaker then me. Get strong then come back."

Sakura blushed furiously and ran out of the room at top speed leaving Sasuke in her dust.

Sasuke looked confused. If people were going to challenge him the way Naruto did then he needed to make sure they could fight on his level. Sasuke shrugged. It was time to get back to training.

Kizashi was a good father, albeit a bit wild and crazy.

He preferred the word passionate...He had gotten home late to see his wife nearly barrel him over as he tried to walk inside.

"Sakura! You're not Sakura! Kizashi where is our baby!?" Mebuki yelled in a panic looking around wildly.

"Wha-?! How should I know! I just got back! Wasn't she with you?" Kizashi yelled back getting up and following his wife as she ran out the door.

"Well let's look for her!" Mebuki called starting to run down the street.

"Alright! Let's find her! Where did you see her last?" Kizashi said seriously trying to keep up with his wife as she kept calling Sakura's name trying to find their lost daughter.

Mebuki stopped and thought for a minute, Kizashi finally getting through to her. Mebuki took a deep breath and re-focused. "I remember going to work and she had already left. That means I haven't seen our baby girl in over a day. I feel like such a bad mother…"

"Nonsense Mebuki! You are a wonderful mom! You could say your Superwonmom!" Kizashi said laughing at his own joke. He loved puns and Dad-jokes...

"Honey this is no time for jokes! Our daughter is missing!" Mebuki said snapping out of her momentary

"Alright baby! Let's go save our little daughter!" Kizashi said.

Sakura was passed out sleeping when her parents found her outside some ways from their daughter's secret base. It was a small place out in the middle of nowhere so it took some time getting there.

"Mebuki, I found her!" Kizashi said picking Sakura up in his arms. She was still damp with sweat and smelled a bit. "Looks like our little warrior has been training hard..."

Mebuki's panicked look softened and she began to tear up. "Sakura… I should have been watching you…Oh Spirits! You're bleeding! Kizashi, what if she has chakra exhaustion!?"

Chakra exhaustion could in fact be deadly, but it was pretty clear Sakura had the 'pass out with exhaustion' kind rather than the 'life-threatening kind'.

Kizashi considered his little daughter and smiled. "I think she'll be fine. She will definitely be sore for a few days, but you know what they say about cherry blossoms. Though they seem fragile, they come back every year!"

Mebuki's face turned to one of anger as she ignored her husband's comment. "What the hell was she thinking!? She knows better than to train alone in the middle of the woods! And I told her she didn't need to train this hard! Physical training is fine, but too much will make you look like a man. Besides that, no matter what, guys are just stronger than girls. They just grow faster."

Kizashi looked at his wife with a smirk. "I think that tree over there disagrees."

Mebuki considered the tree before her. It had a few indents in it.

"Sakura is amazing when she puts her mind to it…What do you think got her so riled up?" Kizashi continued.

"I don't know really." Mebuki said examining her little girl's hands. She had bound them in cloth and leaves known for their healing properties but her legs were just rubbed raw... "But we can help her with some things... For example, her first-aid skills."

Mebuki examined the wrappings closer. "She used the correct leaves. It is a commonly known herb for treating hands that have been too banged up and bruised, but they aren't meant to be used when the skin is already open." Mebuki said removing the wrappings to take out the leaves and reapplying them the bandages. "Her hands are a little out of alignment because of her training but she should recover without any ill effects. Even I know that much."

Kizashi examined the ones on her legs. "My job at the rice paddies can cause some leg soreness and sometimes there are cuts. Her skin has been rubbed raw. I think she will need to see a doctor for it. Well... there goes my bonus..."

Kizashi then hoisted her up so she was in a piggy back position. She unconsciously snuggled into his shoulder. Kizashi smiled as Mebuki kissed her forehead. "Let's get her home."

Sakura had been taken to the Konoha Hospital the next day. Sakura had been given the talking-to of a life time as her mother reprimanded her for training too hard. Sakura had never been to a chakra healer and watched in awe as her skin healed and her bones realigned under the direction of the medic-ninja.

"Alright Ms. Haruno you are good to go!" the medic said with a smile. She had healed up all Sakura's cuts and scrapes. There weren't even any scars! Sakura was slightly mystified by the glowing green chakra she had used. Sakura even got a lollipop!

Her mother led her back home through throngs of people. It was almost time for the 'Fourth's Festival'.

The Fourth Hokage was remembered as a hero who defeated the Nine-tailed Fox after it nearly destroyed the village eight years ago. It had started off as a ceremony for the many shinobi who had died in the battle, but ended up being a special festival day for the villagers. Those who had died were still remembered, but they were usually remembered on the Memorial Day, and civilians like Sakura didn't really go to those.

She was excited for the Fourth's Festival. There were balloons, street vendors, food, little games like pin-the-tail-on-the-fox, and kids hearing stories about the past Hokage. Since the festival was in a few days people were already getting ready.

"Sakura," Her mother said as they walked. "Why did you want to become a ninja?"

Sakura thought about it. "I guess because it seemed like a lot of fun. Running around, beating up bad guys, that sort of thing... but after awhile I did it for the challenge."

"Challenge?" Mebuki wondered.

"Yeah!" Sakura said lighting up. "It feels good to do something really hard and look back and think 'I did it!' I managed to do that in my training yesterday and it felt so good! I just kept going and going… 'course I should probably be more careful since I ended up in the hospital..."

"Huh…I seem to remember you not liking to do hard things like chores." Mebuki said teasingly.

Sakura slumped at the mention of chores. When they walked back to the house she was sure she would be getting it for skipping out on her chores all day to go train with in the woods.

"Chores are too easy…" Sakura protested lamely. "I'm going to be a super-cool ninja one day and I have to go do laundry?"

Mebuki sighed. "Super-cool ninjas still need to do their laundry…"

...

Sakura and Mebuki finally reached the house and Sakura was sent to work on laundry while Mebuki started dinner. After dinner Mebuki was curled up on the couch with Sakura in front of her as she brushed her daughter's hair preparing for bed. It was one of the few days Mebuki had off to be able to do something like this. She regretted not being home for their little girl but bills needed to be paid... Mebuki knew it was selfish, but she started to worry that one day she would come home, and Sakura wouldn't be there... she would be dead on some mission... Mebuki didn't know if she could handle that kind of pain again...

"Sweetie…I need to tell you something…" Mebuki said softly.

Sakura turned to look up at her with those big, bright green, beautiful eyes. "What is it Mommy?"

"I've been thinking, and I don't think it is very safe for you to be a ninja anymore." Mebuki said. "I'll be pulling out of the ninja program."

"WHAT?!" Sakura said standing up. "Mommy! You can't do that!"

"Sit down, Sakura!" Mebuki commanded furiously.

Sakura flinched and sat back down slowly. Inwardly she was fuming, but she kept a collected face so her mother could explain. Mebuki began brushing her hair once more.

"Look dear. It may come to some news to you, but during the Third Shinobi War, I was drafted into the academy." Mebuki said matter-a-factly. Sakura was shocked as she had never heard this story before.

"I was top of my grades, but I just wasn't cut out for it, you know? Something you and I share is our chakra control. Remember all those exercises I made you do before you went into the academy?" Mebuki asked. Sakura nodded slowly. Sakura had done them thinking they were some kind of game her mother and her would play together. If she did well she would get a candy, or a big hug, or something along those lines.

"Soon your chakra control will be near perfect like mine is. You and I were able to achieve this because we have very low chakra reserves. More control at the cost of very little power." Mebuki said wistfully. "I was very similar to how you are right now. I thought being a ninja would be fun, or cool, that there would be cute boys."

Sakura flushed under her mother's knowing look. Her mother looked down, seemingly lost in her own memories.

"That was until I met a woman that would later be my rival. Her name was Yoko... We were about the same age... While she had terrible control at first, she had so much chakra, I could hardly believe it. Then I met Aiko... She was an orphan from the previous war, but had chakra, and chakra control to spare. They were both deadly kunoichi. Both made Jonin. Both are dead now." Mebuki said, suddenly looking much older. "Even such powerful women died…"

"I don't want you to die before me." Her mother continued in a quiet voice. "So please…please give up on this stupid dream and stay with me. I know living as a civilian can be tough, especially as a woman, but your father and I can still find you a nice husband, scrape together a dowry... You won't ever have to watch your friends die in front of you... Never have to fight for your life, never have to work every day just to be strong enough to get up, and nearly get yourself killed once again... so just stay with me and-"

Sakura couldn't take it anymore. She got up and ran to her room slamming the door. Her mother's words echoed in her mind. Sakura could just see it now. Growing up safe and happy with an accountant for one of the local shop,s maybe a restaurant, or shrine owner. Growing old with all the little children around her…having to send them off to war. No! She would be strong because that was just who she was!

Sakura thought long and hard about it, and she wasn't even completely sure until her father walked through the door having worked late. He sat down in the entry way sitting with a tired thunk as he began taking off his muddy sandals and relaxed his exhausted body on the steps. Sakura saw her mother from the banister and she looked like she had been crying. Her mother talked to her father quietly with a depressed look on her face. Noticing Sakura watching them, Kizashi looked up and waved her over. Her mother left in a frustrated huff. Kizashi just looked confused.

"Hey baby girl, do you know what's got your mother in a funk?" Kizashi asked calling her to him. "Did you guys have a fight?"

Sakura ran down and hugged him, crying into his coat. She felt lost and confused and just wanted to know if everything would be okay... "Mommy says I need to give up being a ninja…she says she doesn't want me to die, but I don't think that is right! I wanna be strong! Daddy…what do I do?"

Kizashi hugged his crying child and pulled her up on his lap as he held her close. "Do you know why we named you Sakura?"

"You named me after the cherry blossoms…" Sakura hiccuped.

"Yes. That and it was an amazing pun... 'Cherry Blossoms of Spring' coming after 'Omen of Spring' and 'Flower Buds of Spring'. Born with bright pink hair and everything! I couldn't resist..." Kizashi said with a chuckle. "Don't tell your mother that though..."

Sakura partly laughed and partly wanted to hit her dad on the head for naming her like that.

"Well... it is a good thing your mother named you then... You know how the cherry blossoms always open around your birthday? Well you were just born and the flower viewing festival had just started. There was a special ceremony held for those of us civilians who had lost loved ones in the night of the Nine-tails attack. Now it is called 'Memorial Day'. To remember those who died they compare the their loved ones to cherry blossoms. How beautiful they were when they are alive and how fragile that life is…Your mother was deeply moved and together we called you 'Sakura.' In this case your name could mean 'Fragile hope of Spring coming after a long winter.' Your mother has clung to that hope.

"Mommy is a complicated lady, but I love her anyways." Her father said with a smile. He looked at his precious daughter who looked like she was weighing her options and sighed. "If you still want to become a ninja…I won't stop you. Technically your mother has no power over that fact as I am the head of the household. That and you have been contracted in for the next few years at least to serve in the ninja academy. Now I'm just an old farmer at heart…but I say if you have a dream, go chase it down. I saw the power you have now, and I can already see you have more chakra right now then your mother did finishing the academy. You can do it. Us Haruno's just don't know when to give up. I think that is why your mom likes me so much." He added with a waggle of his eyebrows. "That or the mustache."

Sakura hugged her father tightly and thanked him profusely. "I'll make you proud Daddy."

"You already have." He said. "Now get to bed!"

He smiled as his little girl beamed at him and scampered up the stairs. They grew up so fast...

...

Later, after Sakura had fallen asleep, Mebuki approached Kizashi as he relaxed his tired body in his chair, staring through the window at the lights that lit up the village at night with a beer.

"Did you convince her not to do it?" Mebuki asked. She was fearful that her little girl would die in a trench somewhere.

"Nope." Kizashi said popping the 'p' and taking another dreg.

"Why not!?" Mebuki erupted. "Do you want to see our daughter killed?!"

Kizashi looked at Mebuki critically then sighed. "Because it is her dream... Kids can have those..."

"But if she keeps going down this crazy path then-" Mebuki said nearly shouting. Kizashi rose up and kissed her taking her off guard.

"Hey." Kizashi said holding her round the waist like he hadn't in awhile. Mebuki tried to look away but she was captivated by his large baby blues. "Do you remember how we met?"

Mebuki sighed looking away into her husband's shoulder. "You found me crying because one of my friends died... You tried to get me to laugh with one of your dumb jokes... I believe I threw a shoe at you…"

Kizashi chuckled, beginning to stroke her hair as she trembled in his arms, looking so vulnerable..."Mebuki my love, you are a worry wart to the core, but I love you like a fat kid loves his dumplings and a drunk loves his rice wine…but, I know our baby girl is going to survive this... and if not…"

Mebuki's breath hitched at this.

"She'll be a hero wiling to lay down her life for her friends... and what she believes in... Just like Aiko...Just like Yoko..." Kizashi said softly as his wife finally broke down into tears. "And if she fails at her dream we'll be there to catch her if she falls just like we always do... We'll be there for her if her friends die on her and to help her take care of little ones while she is off on missions... She deserves to live her dreams. She's got a fair shot at this. You know that."

"I know…I just…" Mebuki said frustrated how her husband had a way of getting to her like this. It was like he could zero in on what was bothering her and point it out in that infuriatingly, frustratingly, sweet way of his, making all her cares, fears, and worries feel silly even to her.

"Babe, I think it is time to just let her live. Ninja kids grow up faster than normal. Sakura's eight right now, so mentally she is around 14ish..." Kizashi said counting on his fingers. "Besides, as soon as she was signed up, she was contracted to at least finishing the academy, and up to one year afterwards as a Genin if she passed, so it is not like we can just pull her out of the program now."

Mebuki frowned. "We only put her in because of the law saying all civilians must at least try to be trained. What if they find-."

Kizashi smirked kissing her weak point behind her ear. "Don't worry about it you big baby. If anything happens I'll take responsibility like I always do... Like I will tonight..."

Mebuki flushed bright red. "I-idiot! I-!" Mebuki however was silenced by yet another kiss this time on her lips. She finally sank into this kiss letting her lover chase all her fears away and kiss away all her tears.