Sakura Haruno was four years old when she first started to play the violin. She was playing in the living room while her Mother finished making dinner. Hearing the door being unlocked she ran towards the door knowing it to be her father.

"Daddy!" She excitedly jumped up to him giving him a hug. She noticed he was hiding something behind his back.

"Hi my blossom." Keeping the object as hidden as he could Kizashi hugged her back.

"What's behind your back daddy?" She asked him. Sighing a bit he brought the case out in front of her.

"It was a surprise for tomorrow, Sakura." Smiled Mebuki from her place at the doorway. "Why don't you open it?" The young girl opened the case and inside was a beautiful dark mahogany colored violin.

"I can use this for my lesson tomorrow?" Sakura excitedly asked.

"Of course sweety. It's all yours." Mebuki laughed a bit. Sakura grabbed the instrument and began to play the song she had been learning in her lessons. Her parents smiled and danced around the living room as she played.

…

Ino Yamanaka was Sakura's best friend. Ino supported Sakura through anything she ever did and always supported her whenever and wherever she needed her. Even at nine years old the girl had a strong sense of comradery. Currently she was in her family owned flower shop dancing around to one of Sakura's recordings waiting to be picked up by said girl and her parents.

"Sakura is very talented." Giggled Mrs Yamanaka as she watched her little dancer twirl around. She loved that Ino committed her life to Sakura but she also wished that the young girl would put some time into her own interests.

"Yeah, she's the best and she's going to win first prize tonight!" Ino cheered on. "If Ami tries to pull a prank on Sakura tomorrow because Sakura beat her I'm going to throw her in the sandbox again." Nine year old Ino stated.

…

Ami Watanabe had always been a prideful girl. Her parents raising her to be headstrong since she was a toddler. The girl didn't know how to take no for an answer. She believed she was the best in all she did.

"Do you really think you're going to win big forehead?" Ami sneered at Sakura as they waited in the contestant room for their turns.

"I don't think, I know! Especially against you I'll win." Grinned Sakura as she crossed her arms.

"We'll see about that." Scoffed Ami as she walked away.

Sakura was the ninth performance of the night. She walked on stage with butterflies in her stomach. Walking out on stage she quickly spotted her family which consisted of her parents and best friend. She smiled gaining more confidence in herself. She couldn't let them down because they have been cheering for her since day one. She placed her violin in its position under her chin. Hearing her pianist start playing she waited her her queue to start playing her part. Elaine and Sakura had been partners since the young age of four. As their favorite part of the song came up they both chanced each other a glance and smiled. The harmonized beautiful together. The crowd could feel the friendship formed on stage by music. Once the song was over both girls bowed to the audience and went off stage grinning.

Ami and Karin were always the last to perform. The crowd cheered as they finished their set. Both of them were really good in what they played but always second best to Elaine and Sakura.

"Well forehead, the crowd loved us. Can't say much about your performance." Ami flipped her hair.

"Put your money where your mouth is." Elaine glared at the girl.

"Okay it's time. On a count to three the pianists will go out by their number and Violinists do the same." The instructor told them.

"What great performances tonight, am I right?" The announcer yelled out as the audience began to cheer. "Now let's get our performers out here to prize our winner." The pianists went out in order and their violinist lining up beside them. "Now before I announce a winner I want to say you are all talented." The crowd clapped in agreement. "Now in third place Violinist Dave and his accompanist Lilly." The crowd cheered as they were given medals. "In second place Violinist Ami and her accompanist Karin." They were handed their medallions. "Now for our first place winners it is… it is… Violinist Sakura and her accompanist Elaine." The crowd roared as they were handed small trophies.

…

Six Years Later

Ino was finishing up a flower crown for Sakura. Tomorrow night was the night of Sakura's debut. She was to compete on live television.

"Tomorrow night's performance is really important. She has to look perfect." Ino stated a she cut a piece of imperfect twine. "She'll look gorgeous. I picked out the perfect dress for her, I'll do her hair and makeup. She will look perfect if my name isn't Ino Yamanaka."

"Why don't you take a break Ino. You have been working on it since yesterday." Her mother told the preteen.

"I'll rest when this competition is over." The girl huffed as she moved a piece of an artificial branch. Her phone rang and she placed it on speaker so she could continue on her work.

"Ino, tomorrow night I am competing in front of thousands of people and on live tv. I am completely freaking out!" Sakura's yells could be heard throughout the flower shop.

"Don't you dare back out on me forehead! I've been working so hard for you to just get cold feet." Ino said.

"You're totally right. Tonight we should have a relaxing spa night at my house. Watch a few scary movies and eat all the junk food we can stuff in our faces." Sakura sighed over the phone.

"That's a deal. I need to get proportions for that big forehead of yours anyways." Laughed Ino.

"It's not that big you Ino-pig!" Scoffed Sakura.

"Whatever you say forehead." Laughed the blonde. "Okay call the girls and see if they're going to join."

"Okay I'll see you later."

…

"Enjoy your last night of freedom Sakura, because after tomorrow when you win and become famous no one will leave you alone." Temari chuckled as she took a piece of brownie.

"Yeah you better not forget about us when you're famous." Tenten joined in on the joke.

"And you are?" Sakura feigned confusion.

"Shucks! You can forget about them, but not me! I have been working on yours and Akemi's look all week. You guys will look like literal angels." Ino yelled out.

"You all will be here tomorrow, right guys?" The pinkette asked.

"We wouldn't miss it for anything." Hinata reassured her.

"You guys are the best friends anyone could ask for." Cried Sakura.

"Don't you dare cry Sakura! You'll make me cry too." Sniffed Ino.

…

It was the day of the performance. All of Sakura's friends except Ino had gone home. While Sakura ate breakfast Ino got herself ready for the day.

"You know why I can't miss tonight's show." Mebuki sighed as she talked with her boss on the phone.

"I know and you are my last resort. Angela called in and no one wants to come in. I really need you tonight. I'll even pay you double for the night. You just can't tell anyone." He begged her.

"Okay I'll go in then." Sighed Mebuki.

"Thank you! I'm really sorry Mebuki." Tuechi told her. Bidding goodbye she hung up the phone.

"Sakura I have some really bad news for you." Sakura looked up from her plate to see what her mom wanted. "I have to go to work tonight."

"Mom you can't! Tonight is really important. It's my debut into the violinist world. You can't miss the performance. You just can't." Cried Sakura.

"I know sweetie but we all need to make sacrifices sometimes. There's a television at the restaurant and I'll watch it all live and after work I'll meet you guys at the after party." Mebuki smiled as she wiped the tears from her daughter's face.

"Okay mom." Sakura looked down in disappointment but agreed. Ino walked into the kitchen.

"Wow Ino you look breathtaking." Mebuki said in awe. "Let me take a picture stand by the door." As Mebuki did a small photoshoot of her daughter's best friend her husband walked in and began to photobomb a few.

…

Sakura walked down the staircase ready for her show. Ino was correct when she said she would make her look like an Angel. Sakura wore a white dress that went down to the floor. Her pink tresses flowed down in a nice wavy affect and a flower crown adorned her head.

"You look so magnificent." Ino clapped. Kizashi agreeing and taking a video of her.

"You look so beautiful Sakura. Me and your mother got a you present." Kizashi handed the girl a brand new violin case. Sakura quickly grabbed it and went to open it. She gasped as she brought out a beautiful white violin. A cherry blossom design on it and her name engraved in cursive at the corner.

"It's so perfect." Sakura said in awe.

"We should go before we are later." Ino smiled.

…

Sakura was in the back of the stage listening to her competition. She had just finished a small interview with a man and she was finally feeling the butterflies she had before every performance.

"I'm next forehead and if you think you're going to beat me on live television you are so wrong. I have been practicing for this day and night. I am ready to finally beat you." Ami sneered as Karin sent Sakura a glare.

The performance finished and Ami went on stage with Karin. Sakura has always beat Ami and for that she hated her. Ami began to play with a nice playful tone slowly changing into a challenging one. It was as if Ami was speaking directly to Sakura through her song choice.

"Ami has gotten better." Elaine stated.

"She has and she knows it. That's why she chose this song. Don't you recognize it? We beat them with this same exact song years ago." Sakura smiled as she began to shake in excitement.

Mebuki was in the middle of taking in an order when she heard it was Sakura's turn.

"Mebuki!" Ayame yelled out from the other side of the restaurant. "It's little Sakura' turn. You don't want to miss this." Even in the low quality tv Sakura still looked like an angel. Her white dress and flower crown glistened. "She looks so beautiful."

"Yes she really is. Ino picked out everything for her."

Sakura began to play in a dark ominous tone as Elaine enhanced the sound with her piano. The song slowly changing into a more peaceful uplifting tone showing a resolved conflict.

"Is that Miss Sakura on the tv?" Teuchi came out to see. "She looks stunning."

"Your daughter is really something else." Ayame said in awe.

Am I tightened her fists in anger. Everyone was loving Sakura's performance and she didn't understand why everyone loved her so much. After the performance Sakura and Elaine bowed to the audience and went backstage.

All the contestants went on stage and bowed to the audience after all the performances finished. The curtain closed on them as they had a small intermission while the judges tallied the scores.

"You think you're so much better than us with your flower crown and your new violin. Well you're not Sakura and I'll prove it when I finally beat you!" Ami cried out a bit. Sakura balled up her fists in anger.

"Don't push your insecurities on me Ami." Sakura crossed her arms.

"Why I'm gonna-" Before Am I could finish her sentence Elaine cut her off.

"You're going to what?" The pianist asked her.

"Nothing." Ami walked away in a huffy. Not only was Elaine a really good pianist she was a prodigy in martial arts.

"She's so annoying." Elaine sighed.

"Yeah you're lucky you don't go to school with her." Laughed Sakura. The coordinator ushered everyone to their spots as intermission was about to conclude.

It was as if time had stopped. The crowd was cheering and the announcer was talking. Salute couldn't hear a thing. Mebuki, Ayame and Teuchi were in front of the television watching who would be crowned victorious forgetting about the customers.

"In third place we have Fujioka Rin and her pianist Yoruichi Hidore." The crowd cheered as they went forward and grabbed their third place trophies happy to be placed in top three. "In second place we have Watanabe Ami and her pianist Uzumaki Karin!" The young girl glared at the pinkette. She thought she would finally win. "Our first place winners are Haruno Sakura and her pianist Taro Elaine." The girls hugged each other in excitement and went for their trophies. The trio at the ramen shop jumped up and cheered as they received their trophies.

"Free sake shots for everyone!" Teuchi yelled and and all the customers cheered. Mebuki cried of joy.

"Tell Sakura congratulations for us." Ayame cheered.

Sakura ran up to her friends and dad holding up to a first place trophy. All of them gave her a hug and told her encouraging words.

"While you guys go to your ice cream ritual we will be setting up the table at the restaurant." Ino grinned. She hugged her best friend one last time before bidding their goodbyes.

Sakura buckled up her seat belt and started jumping on her seat a bit.

"I have been thinking about a strawberry milkshake since the competition started." Sakura laughed.

"I was thinking of getting a banana split. Two scoops of chocolate and one scoop of strawberry Kizashi grinned. Sakura hummed happily eyes widening as she saw a bright flash of light. The front window shattering getting into her eyes. She didn't feel anything else as she fell into unconsciousness.