Disclaimer: All characters are copyrighted to Kishimoto Masashi who owns and created Naruto. I only own the original characters I've created for this fiction.

Protector in The Shadows

Chapter 1

Sasuke-kun... it hurts so much...

Sobbing, Sakura was walking towards the deserted place where the once great Uchiha clan lived. The pink-haired kunoichi was ridden with guilt. She couldn't stop blaming herself for not being able enough to stop Sasuke from leaving.

Unconsciously, she was walking along the Naka River situated near said clan's area. The currents gushed by and the sound of water streaming sounded peaceful to her ears but neither her heart nor mind was. Little did she know, she was being followed...by three different individuals with two very different purposes.

"Say, Ryoku, isn't she a fine little girl?" whispered the missing-nin.

"Oh yes Kosuko, she is. We can easily enslave her. We can bring her to the Land of Sound perhaps? The money we'll get! But before that, we can have her to ourselves. Hehehe..." answered the other missing-nin.

Both of these missing-nins were clad in torn dark brown shirts and they exude a rather bad odor. From the looks of it, they were really desperate to find ways to get money and timid Sakura walking alone in the dark was just the perfect opportunity.

"Hi there little girl, going somewhere?" Kosuko was looking at pretty Sakura's body with lustful eyes.

"Wh-who are you!" retorted Sakura frightfully.

"Oh, it doesn't matter. Now, be a good girl and come with us. No one will get hurt." replied Ryoku.

"Stay away! I'm not afraid!"

"How cute to see you try."

Both men pounced forward to grab hold of Sakura but thank Kami Sakura dodged them well. She was running as fast as she could towards the well-lit areas of the village.

"Hey! She's getting away! Chase her quick before she gets to the brighter areas!" Kosuko urged.

Shannaro! Run Sakura!

At that moment, a shuriken made contact to her thigh...

"Ouch!"

Sakura was wounded, her left thigh ached. Small amount of blood started to stream down to her calve but she had no time to be concerned over a wound. The determined girl continued running for her life. When suddenly, she heard the two nasty men who was pursuing her letting out a "Ooof" sound respectively and fell to the ground unconscious...

She turned around to get a look. Yes, indeed they were lying on the cold concrete ground being completely knocked out. She immediately stopped her running and walked towards the fallen missing-nins to get a better view of them. Much to her surprise, she noticed kunais protuding from both men's backs.

Th-they were killed...but...but who?

Before she could think further, another kunai landed on the ground next to her feet, shocking her in the process. After quickly gathering her composure, Sakura looked at the kunai. With it was a note attached. Reluctantly, the pink-haired kunoichi picked it up and read it aloud.

"Run Sakura. You're save now."

With that, Sakura took short but quick strides back to the brighter part of the village.

Sakura passed by the Dango Shop- Dangoya. It was still open for desserts.

"Hey, Sakura! Come in! Come in!"

"Good evening Mrs. Yoko. It's fine, I'm just heading home."

"No, no. I insist. Let me treat you to a bowl of anmitsu. I heard...Oh, your thigh is bleeding!" The gentle granny gave her a soft smile.

"Ah, it's nothing. I'll be fine." Sakura completely forgot about her wound.

"No, I'll bandage it up for you and I insist you have a treat. Come in."

Obediently, Sakura stepped into the little corner shop and took a seat on the wooden bench. A few minutes later, Mrs. Yoko appeared with a bowl of animitsu- one of Sakura's favorites and some bandages.

"Sakura, enjoy and cheer up!"

"Thank you Mrs. Yoko! I'm happier already!"

Mrs. Yoko nodded and went off doing her own business after tending Sakura's wound properly.

"Itadakimasu."

Sakura savored the treat gratefully. But at the back of her mind, she was still wondering who the person that saved her could ever be...

A/N: Okay! How was it? The picture I uploaded as the cover for this fanfiction is actually the Dango Shop in Naruto world! I got it from Narutopedia! It'd be nice to get some feedback from you guys. Thank you!