Hey everyone, long time no see. To all those who are waiting patiently for their requests, please PM me back to let me know you are still alive and I will definitely motivate myself to get them to you as fast as I can.

This fanfic is based off of the amazing song called Crossfire by the equally amazing artist, Stephen. Its SasuSaku based so no SasuNaru, Sasurin, or any other crazy ships out there. As always, I try to keep my stories canon-ish so be ready for those hidden Naruto-eggs!

Disclaimer: No owning Naruto or any characters partaking in the anime/manga. Thank you and enjoy.

Also, please review and follow and favorite. I love them. I repeat: love.

We live in hard times.

Sakura squeezed her ears as she curled tightly into her small body, her eyes closed firmly.

She lay on her side so she could feel less fear as the bullets pinged and ricocheted through her already broken window above her head.

Yelling and cursing accompanied the shooting, as well as screams of abrupt silence in the end.

It never seemed to stop, either. Like an old time record playing over and over and over.

Sakura flinched for the millionth time as a head-inducing scream pierced through her covered ears. It was a blood-curdler.

Then it stopped after the sound of bullets ended her. Or him.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and nose. Her pillow was already soaked with them.

Momma, poppa, please come get me.

She thought all the time. But it was only a wishful waste.

They, too, were scared.

And they would just tell her to stay quiet and try to sleep.

She'll get used to it.

Ahhhhh-

Silence.

Sakura cried harder.

Somehow, Sakura woke up the next day, still in her bed, splayed and sleep-like. Her green eyes widened into full consciousness, and she sat up.

The cold frigid air of the January month hit the top of her head from her open window, covering the room with its coolness.

She shivered at what she couldn't feel while asleep and looked over her bed to retrieve the small blanket she must have kicked off during the night.

It lay in a pile at the foot, so she reached her hand for it and yanked it back onto the bed.

"Sakura!" shouted her mom suddenly, startling Sakura to leap in fear. However, after hearing sounds of food being made and muffled talking, she relaxed. It was only her mom making breakfast.

Sakura carefully scooted off her bed, her father's gray shirt falling past her bare knees, and moved around the glass on the floor to get to her door.

It, like the walls and the window in her room, was stained with old blood stains and riddled with holes from the wayward shots people took through her window.

She left the room.

"...and she's not safe here with us anymore"

"That's true, but we can't-"

Her parents stopped abruptly when Sakura padded softly into the kitchen, calmly giving them a "what are you talking about without me here" stare.

"Sakura! Finally," her mom exclaimed with the same green eyes as hers. The only difference was the dullness it tended to take when she looked at her.

"I called you fifteen times now. What were you doing!?"

"I couldn't sleep." she said, climbing onto the stool next to her father.

And that seemed to answer her question completely. She closed her lips tightly, glared at her husband, and turned back to the stove.

"Sakura, your father and I decided today that you would be going to the academy. The ninja school in the main village." She turned to look at her. "You know what I'm talking about, right?"

Sakura looked up at her in surprise. She knew about the academy, yes. It was the school for those born in a ninja family. It was the most prestigious life Sakura ever heard of. But, why was her mother telling her she would be going there? She wasn't a ninja, and neither was her family.

Sakura looked over at her dad for his reaction, seeing him stare down the table with a fierce determination.

"Dad?" he winced at her voice and grunted. He knew what was coming.

"Yes, honey?"

"Why did you agree with mom?"

"I, uh-"

Her mom set her stirring spoon down on the stove-top with a loud clunk, startling the both of them.

"That's enough, Sakura. You heard me loud and clear, and I will not tolerate your rudeness." She turned, then, green eyes blazing.

"Your father had nothing to do with this. I'm making the decisions here."

Sakura stared. "But, mom, we're not ninjas!"

"I know that. But it's not like regular people can't go and learn to be one. Witch you will be doing."

"Darling" her father started, noticing the fear in Sakura's eyes.

"You're scaring her."

Her mom softened when she glanced at her, and her frown turned into a smile.

"We already made the arrangements, Blossom. You're going, but, what kind of parents would we be if we didn't check to see how well you'd fit? Iruka-sensei is a nice man. He'll teach you all you need to know to catch up with those other kids. Trust us."

Trust us.

Sakura stared at her.

Sakura did trust them. They were all she trusted in the world of pain and death she had to live with.

However, she also knew, even at her young age of eight, that her parents was doing this to protect her.

She knew it from the way they snuck looks at her when she wasn't looking. When one would leave for work and Sakura would glimpse the outside world, and see the bodies of dead people from the nights before.

And because of the nights.

Especially the nights.

She had to protect herself somehow, becoming a ninja was a good opportunity.

When she looked back up at her mother, she knew her mother realized she figured the reason out, because a smile appeared on her face.

"You want me to learn how to defend myself." Sakura said matter-of-factly.

"Darn it, Sakura. You're too smart for your own good." her mom answered, chucking to herself. She turned back to the food, beginning to serve the plates with a low hum.

As with the act of the ninja academy, Sakura knew the humming was more to calm Sakura down and show her that life wasn't so bad. Her father, too, acted like a goofball for her sake.

"Yes, dear, we want you to be able to defend yourself in this world." her mom continued. "Not only will you be a ninja, but you'll be working in teams and essentially forming bonds that will last a lifetime. More protection for you in hindsight."

Sakura's gut dropped at the thought of having to talk to people, but she shook it away to regard the rather exciting thought of being a ninja.

A ninja, like the clan kids.

She smiled to herself.

And one day, maybe, I can finally save my family from this place.

The sounds of last night rang in her ears, and the sounds before those.

Her family would never have to hear them again.

Her father noticed her look, and put a big hand on her head. She looked up at him, startled.

He grinned. "School starts in three days kiddo. We just wanted you to know before the day started so don't worry too much about it. Just wait it out."

Sakura nodded. "Right!"

So, when the food was served, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and grits, Sakura dug in happily. Having something else to focus on besides her daily dread of the next night was bliss.