Sakura walked out to recess on her very first day of preschool. She hadn't made any friends yet. Everyone she tried to be friends with they laughed at her forehead. It wasn't that big! She ran past the playground to sit by the trees and flowers. The air smelled fresh and beautiful. Sakura was walking to a tree that had a flower growing on it when she saw a worn out path. She ran up to it and looked down it. It was pitch black.
Sakura looked back at where the teachers and kids were. No one was looking at her or for her. Sakura looked back at the path and ran down it hesitantly.
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Zetsu sighed as he heard little footsteps coming down the old path by the clearing where he was picking herbs. Stopping what he was doing, he stood up. Then he saw a small girl walking down toward the place he was standing, he walked behind a tree watching silently. The girl looked around then walked into the clearing.
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When Sakura stepped into the clearing the path lead to, her breathe was taken away. It was beautiful. "Wow..." Sakura whispered as she walked into the clearing. It was a lot fresher smelling than by the school. Sakura saw a big tree in the middle of the clearing. "Is that a cherry blossom tree? It's beautiful!" Sakura said to no one. She suddenly felt chills in her spine. Someone was watching her. She looked around stopping back at the cherry blossom tree. "Hello? Is somebody there?" Sakura asked in a somewhat loud voice.
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'Damn!' Zetsu thought as he was found out. He slowly walked out form behind the tree. The girl whipped her head at him and watched him cautiously. "Hn...What's your name, girl?"She looked at him dumbly, mouth hanging open eyes slightly widened. "W-w-what are you!" she finally stammered. Zetsu was not surprised, but did not know how to exactly answer her so he said what first came to mind. "Nothing important. Now I asked you a question, girl." The girl looked scared and quickly said "Haruno Sakura." 'Matches her hair." Zetsu thought after she said her name.
"...My name is Zetsu." He said after a moment. "Is-is that a p-plant on y-your head?!" Sakura asked slightly more courageous and still curious. "Yes, why?" Zetsu ask slightly irritated she felt brave enough to talk to him. He liked silence. "Uhhhh...c-cuz its kinda cool?" Sakura somewhat lied. Zetsu looked at her. "Thanks...?Damn it! Just eat her already!"Zetsu said in two voices. Sakura jumped back ready to run away. "What the!?" She yelped. "D-do you eat people!?" Zetsu sighed again. "Yes. OF COURSE, IDIOT!"Zetsu's white side of his face twitched.
"U-um... Do y-you have a split p-personality?" Sakura asked, quite scared. Zetsu stared, silently. "Yes... why?" Zetsu asked. "...U-u-uh, cu-cuz I do, t-too..." Sakura explained, telling her secret the first time in her life, and to a stranger, no less. Zetsu looked surprised. "And why'd you tell me that?" He asked, looking away and sitting down. Sakura had a serious face.
"Cuz , your nice."
Zetsu whipped his head back at her. "What do you mean? Yeah, Sakura. Don'tcha know? We're evil, Id-i-ot!" The black side of Zetsu said, spacing and stressing the word 'idiot'.
Sakura looked at him, confused. "B-but, how! Why!? You're the first n-nice person to talk to me today! Y-Your not evil!"
Zetsu grabbed a herb and stood up. Sakura stared up at him and waited for a reply. She didn't get one. Zetsu just started walking away. "Wait!" Sakura called to him. He turned a little, waiting for a reason to stay. Sakura stood there, slightly shaking from nervousness. "U-uh, can you come b-back... I want to t-talk!" Sakura stammered. Zetsu turned his back to her again. "...Okay...I'll be back in two days." He said, quietly, disappearing into the trees.
Sakura smiled. 'I be able to see him again. Someone has a crush!" She thought and blushed as I.S. talked to her. Turning around, to go back down the path, to the preschool.
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...6 YEARS LATER...
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Sakura woke up as her alarm clock started beeping loudly. She got out of bed, walking slowly to the mirror. She had bed-head and bags under her eyes. She had to cram last night. Brushing her long,messy hair, she pulled it into a low pony-tail. She smiled, looking at her reflection. She had to look pretty. Today was her 11th birthday, after all. Zetsu said he was going to get her a present and Sakura was super excited. Zetsu always gave awesome gifts.
The only thing Sakura did not want to do today was go to school. The popular girls always made fun of her and the 'jocks', even the normal group, were mean. They all made fun of her since preschool. But, they didn't have any new material. Basically, they were still making fun of her forehead.
Sakura ran downstairs, grabbing a piece of toast with an egg on top. " Mom, Im going to go now, mnk." Sakura said stuffing her mouth in the end. "Okay." Her mother called from the other room. Sakura grabbed her backpack.
Sakura ran out of the house to the bus stop which was down two streets. As she waited, two jocks from her school came down the street. Their names were Yukko and Akito. Sure they looked hot and all, but they were such asses. God, they didn't even have a good sense of humor.
They stared at her. She wondered why. Then, she realized she was staring at them, herself. She blushed, looking away. The bus came quicker than usual.
At school Sakura walked up to her locker putting away her bag and grabbing her science books. She had super big test today. Yet, she hoped it would go by fast, same as the other classes. She wanted to go recess for Zetsu's gift and then home for her 'surprise' party. Her mom didn't know she knew about the party, and Sakura didn't want to spoil it for her mom.
Sakura as usual was in the classroom first. She also finished the test first, being the smartest in her class. She sat there for a second, then grabbed her bag, taking out her journal. She wrote:
March 28
Dear Journal,
This is finally the day! My birthday! I can't wait until recess!
I hope Zetsu remembers... I wonder what my mom got me :D
Well, I guess my mom won't get me something to bad... I
wish I had friends to hang out wi-
Sakura was interrupted by the bell. The other classes went by as quickly as the first. And then came recess.
Sakura walked slowly towards the preschool next to her middle school. Walking to the forest and on the hidden path, her excitement grew. As she walked in the clearing, she couldn't stand it. She saw Zetsu sitting in the middle, thinking. She crept up to him, knowing he knew she was there.
"Hello..." He said, quietly. She smiled, sitting next to him.
"Hi, Zetsu. I want to know, at least, a clue. For my present, I mean." Sakura greeted and asked, somewhat. Zetsu looked at her.
"Hm... Okay. How about this: Something ...you like."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "What?! I like a lot of things! Candy!?" Zetsu shook his head. "Journals?"
"No."
"Um... Ninjas!"
Zetsu smiled. "Finally..." He said, teasingly.
Sakura smiled really big. She absolutely loved ninjas. She liked them since halfway through preschool, learning how they are silent, have special techniques, and cool weapons. Sakura was happy Zetsu knew what she liked, but now that she knew it was ninja related, she felt over excited.
"Guess what! My mom is having a surprise party after school! Can you come?" Sakura pleaded.
Zetsu's smile quickly turned into a frown. "No..." He stood up.
"What!?" Sakura asked, confused. She also stood up. When he started walking away, she grabbed his arm. "Wait, why are you mad?..." Zetsu stood there for a second and turned to her, fully. "... If you take my present then you can't go to you party..." Zetsu said plainly. Sakura looked at him. "Why not? Is it a trip?" She asked. "Somewhat..." The reply was. "...But... then how does it relate ninja...I don't know if I should go, my mom made this just for me..."
"...If you go on my 'trip' you will miss your party, but will learn to be a ninja. Tell me your answer by the end of your school day." Zetsu said as he left the clearing confused. During the rest of the day she thought what should she pick.
During the last few minutes in her last class, she chose to go with Zetsu. She hoped her mom would understand. The bell rung and everyone left the classroom. Well, everyone instead of Sakura, herself. She waited for Zetsu,
As the last of the students left the school and most teacher were in the Teachers Lounge, Zetsu came through the door. "...So?"
"Um...I chose....To go with you." Sakura said.
Zetsu smiled. "Thanks...Now come..."Zetsu took her arm, gently pulling her. They went through the school's back door. As they walked past the parking lot, Sakura saw her mom's car. Standing right outside of it, and staring at Sakura, was her mom.
"Um..Hi mom...Uh, I'm going to miss the party,k?" Sakura said as Zetsu stopped pulling her arm. Her mother didn't respond. She was staring at Zetsu wide eyed.
"Sakura! Get over here now!" Sakura's mom, harshly said. Sakura stared at her for a second. "Why?" She asked, really confused. Her mom looked scared. Looking at Zetsu, she said, " Get away from my daughter!" She ran up to Sakura, grabbed her wrist, and was turning away, when a hand went on her shoulder. It was Sakura's.
"...Mom, I want to go. This is, Zetsu. He is my friend, and was my friend since preschool. He... was the first to talk to me. My only friend. Please..." Sakura said, staring right into her eyes. Her mom, who was staring right into her eyes, looked at the ground.
"Sa-...Fine, if thats what you want for your birthday, but be back before tomorrow, please..." She said pleadingly, letting go of Sakura's wrist. Walking back to her car, in the corner of her eye she saw Zetsu grab Sakura's arm again, taking next door to the preschool's back forest. They disappeared in the trees. She glared at nothing.
"Zetsu, where are we going?" Sakura said in a cheerful voice. Zetsu didn't answer, but started walking faster, pulling Sakura more."Zetsu?"
They stepped into a small space surrounded by four trees. Each tree had a rectangle shaped paper, with writing, on it. Zetsu stopped. Letting go of Sakura's arm, he stood in the middle, mumbling some weird chants. Sakura walked up to a tree, with a paper on it. Touching it, she felt a tingling sensation.
"Zetsu... What are these papers?" Sakura said turning to him. Zetsu, who was still mumbling the chants, just looked at her. His eyes motioned that she should come to him. She walked over to him, as his voice stop the chanting. Then, in a louder voice, he said "No Jutsu." He grabbed her arm.
"Are you sure...Do you really want to go?"
Sakura thought for a minute. "Yes." They both smiled.
"Hold on." Zetsu said. Sakura grabbed hold of Zetsu's arm, too. Suddenly, a fast, bright light flashed. And they were gone.