Full Story Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable content from Naruto or other Misc anime series. I simply own the plot bunny of my story itself.

Chapter 1: A Mother's Secret

Sakura packed for her first mission outside the village her stern but loving mother standing at the edge of her doorway. "No matter what Sakura…don't ever let them see you cry," Mebuki Haruno said firmly. "Your tears are worth more than diamonds."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked sensing her mother was hiding something. Mebuki just turned and began marching to the kitchen. "It's nothing for you to worry about just…don't ever let them see you cry. They probably aren't worth your tears if what I hear about that boy or Ino is accurate." Sakura sighed, "I don't even think I really like Sasuke but, if she was willing to throw our friendship away over a boy is it worth it?"

Mebuki hummed thoughtfully and Sakura followed her mother to the kitchen for breakfast while kissing her father on the cheek. "Morning Dad," Kizashi looked at his little blossom and smiled. "Good Morning Sakura, ready for your first mission outside of the village, you're heading to Wave right?"

Sakura smiled and nodded, "Yes our client needs us to escort him home and keep an eye out as the construction of his bridge between his village, and the mainland is complete." She finished her breakfast and packed some bentos for herself and the team along with the client as her mother watched almost in envy.

"She didn't learn that from me…" Mebuki muttered almost sadly at the sign her little girl was growing up. She prayed that her child wouldn't choose this life and those prayers went unanswered. She ate quietly and allowed her husband and daughter to carry their conversation amongst themselves.

Kizashi grinned, "I taught her how to organize the bentos. Don't worry about it she's a good cook. Not a chef but a good cook." He looked at the extra bentos she was making, "Are those metal bottom bentos?"

Sakura shook her head in affirmative, "No they're insulated bentos it will keep the food hot for at least 16 hours. We won't be able to always make fire so I'm just thinking ahead."

Sakura quickly packed her regular bentos into a single scroll with a red outline and sealed them. She took out a black outlined scroll and sealed the other bentos. She then had a number of supplies she bought for medical emergencies in another scroll with a few spare kunai. The young girl sighed as she looked at the clock and packed her scrolls into a small pouch slipping it around her waist. She moved to the door and shouted over her shoulder, "Bye Mom, see ya later Dad!"

Kizashi looked at his wife, "Mebuki…what has been bothering you? Is it about Sakura leaving the village for this first time?" His blue eyes warmly looking over his silent wife in concern. Mebuki shook her head, "Do you remember when you asked me why I never let myself cry?"

Kizashi looked like he was recalling the event, "Yes but, that was years ago…I never brought it up again because you were reluctant to talk about it." Mebuki sighed, "It's a family secret…you took on our name Kizashi. You know my clan was once a mixture of samurai and shinobi. It's only as our people continued being harassed by outsiders that we stopped joining shinobi life."

Kizashi sighed, "Have the elders said anything about Sakura's choices?" Mebuki nodded, "They are not pleased but since she is the heiress they can't stop her. They fear exposure…our tears are worth-" Kizashi finished, "more than diamonds. You never told me why that was."

Mebuki reluctantly pulled out a chest with the Haruno clan symbol blazoned on its lid. The chains lock on the front being released from the smallest flare of her chakra. Inside the chest laid several items; a battle dress modest with beautiful long blue sleeves and slits up the black skirt sides to allow for easy movement, blue-silver sandals and arm bracers with plates on the top of the hand and by the upper arm, there was a small blade wrapped in blue silk she pulled out inscribed in the blade was its name, Shi no hana (Flower of Death), beneath the blade was a wrapped parcel that Mebuki revealed held a book inside.

Kizashi gently opened the book as his wife went on to explain, "The circle emblem is a drastic simplification of our clan's symbol. No Haruno is completely human and some are even less so…our daughter is one of these rare chosen ones. A mostly human Haruno when they shed tears depending on the emotion that triggered them solidify into priceless gemstones. Many of our girls were brutalized and sought after because of this trait."

Kizashi looked up firmly, "What of those less human?" He knew this was a large secret he was naturally upset that she hadn't shared it with him but, he understood the origin requiring the secret to be kept. Mebuki sighed, "Their tears have a double edged sword, if shed willingly as a form of compassion or a desperate need to preserve life…they can heal someone on the brink of death no matter the injuries cause unless at the hands of a god or tailed beast. If forced to shed tears through torture or pain…the tears become a deadly poison that can be used to kill."

Kizashi remained pensive as he read some of the recollections until he reached a page towards the back in an old language, "Mebuki what does this page say?" Mebuki gently took the book and read the page, "I don't know…I can't read this but, Sakura may be able to." Kizashi asked the final question, "What is it that makes the Haruno less human…what are they?"

Mebuki smiled, "We are the legends humans turned into that of a bird that is reborn from their ashes, and Haruno are the last of the Phoenix race that had survived the purge. The more human Phoenix is considered a half breed Phoenix. The less human ones are considered Pureblooded since their power is far more dangerous."

ZIL: Hi everyone Jessy here, this is the beginning of a unique story I thought of for Sakura that I felt suited her nature as both benevolent and protective. She is passionate and yet she is merciful and I felt that a Phoenix suited her well. This is not Sakura paired with any of Team 7 or Akatsuki (though I do so love those pairings) and I don't plan on announcing the pairing anytime soon. Please review and tell me what you all think of this teaser!