The White Knight and his promise

by Oxza

Sometimes life isn't what it really seems, what if the Sakura everyone knew wasn't the real Sakura that Kakashi knew. The one he grew up with, the one he fell in love with, and the one he lost. Storyline runs through the plot as if Sakura was a part of Kakashi's generation, and then goes through Naruto's generation.

1. A shinobi promise

The White Knight & The Queen without a Thrown

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It was too late. She had awoken on her own accord to the choking embrace of smoke and blistering heat. She didn't bother to fumble with clothing only reaching for her katana and running through the dojo looking for her uncle. When she couldn't find him, she ran barefoot into the streets to see the scene unravel.

A massacre.

Blood painted the once pristine small village, street upon street. Building after building was burning, how could she have not heard her people screaming? She trudged her breath shaking and slowly raging, who was this monster that had dared to lay their filth on this small village.

The village was much smaller than Konoha with only a population lingering just above fifty people. It usually acted as a trades and traveller stop in the Land of Fire. She'd moved to this village – Aratana Hajimari (New Beginning) four years ago from Konoha sometime after her late parents passing with her uncle.

After her parents' death, it seemed all the years of ignorance had been surfaced by her clan. She was cursed or so she was told, because of her atypical features, almost making her look like an esper. Her clan was very strict and when her mother married out of the clan to a shinobi from Suna who she had gotten close to during the war - they nearly disowned her. They had no choice but to agree as her mother had already been carrying her and didn't want to bring anymore dishonour to the clan with the clan head's daughter being pregnant and not married.

Apparently the pregnancy was a healthy one until her mother's final trimester, complications started to arise. Her mother had gotten seriously ill and had been admitted to the hospital where she had to have an induced labour if she didn't want to miscarriage Sakura.

She was two and a half months early and because of her mother's illness she had soon contracted the same illness. Her parents were watching their own daughter die before their eyes – an innocent child with peculiar feathers of hair the colour of the young cherry blossoms that clung to the March air.

As parents they'd do anything for their child – and that's where the witch doctor came into the picture. For the sake of their daughter's life her father was robbed of sight – he'd never see his daughter's milestones, her first steps, or her graduation. Her mother was robbed of hearing. Never would she hear her daughter cry or laugh or hear the loving words of her husband being whispered into her ears.

She had grown to be a happy and healthy child, though there was something extra ordinary about her. She had the most dazzling emerald eyes that would rival the lush green of the Fire country forests. She was impeccably smart and excelled at everything she set her mind too, all seemed to be going well. Too well.

She was the black sheep of the clan, where blond hair, honey gold eyes and sun kissed skin were of standard even her father shared these traits. Her cousins often times leered at her for being different and the clan whispered gossip about her – 'She's a demon', 'She'll only bring bad luck', 'A curse'.

Her parents did their best to protect her as best as they could when they were in her presence but they were basically handicapped – no longer shinobi of Konoha (and her father in Suna), and less capable than most civilians. Though when their daughter was in their presence there was nothing said no passing glances or glares just for that fleeting moment she was 'accepted' as she was.

She had an uncle she had become quite close with, her mother's brother. He was next in line to become the Sakaeru (Prosper) clan head, though due to an illness he was made to forfeit this title. Her uncle was slowly losing to a disease that was deteriorating his internal organs, and there was no cure. Everyone in the clan loved him dearly, and had blamed the cause of his illness to be Sakura. He quickly dealt with such a claim to be made, and made sure all the clan knew to never speak of her ever in that manner.

Things became subdued and her uncle became the parental figure in her life while her parents grew more and more absent in her life. He taught her all he knew about taijustu and how to handle a sword. It was he who saw her raw talent and that had decided she should be enrolled in the academy.

After her enrolment Sakura found herself spending less and less time at home, and more with her classmates who she had grown quite close too. She found herself to be in the minority of the class the girls'. At the time being a Kunoichi wasn't exactly a girl's dream. She had befriended Anko, Kurenai and Rin. They quickly grew close together each also having their fair share with their clans. They grew and she realised it wasn't together but slowly apart – they were still close but not as close. Sakura was a very shy and at times antisocial. She found herself reaching out more to her uncle in these times.

Anko was very much a tomboy and was close with a few of the boys in her class; she'd often be seen with Genma and Raido. Kurenai had slowly but surely gotten quite close with the Hokage's nephew Asuma. Rin had become aquainted with a genin that was a year older named Shizune, whose parents worked as medic nin.

It only made it harder to communicate with them when they had been separated into squads.

She had been teamed up with Nara Shikaku and Maito Gai. They had surprisingly balanced each other out well in an odd way, Shikaku was rather a lazy fellow and Gai an energetic ball of energy and she acted as the medium between them. Their sensei was Dan, he was a charming man.

In ways when her class had been divided into squads she found herself speaking with other individuals that were in her teammates 'circle'. She specifically became quite acquainted with a boy named Hatake Kakashi – he was Gai's long-time rival. She often times was a third wheel in their outings acting as a referee and a peace maker.

She never really bothered speaking to Kakashi, he was in Rin's squad. Rin was head over heels in love with the boy. Sakura didn't understand 'love' at the ripe age of 12- but apparently love was what Asuma and Kurenai had. She shivered at the thought who'd want to feel like that.

The only thing she knew about Kakashi was that he was a prodigy, their instructors often times whispered between themselves that he'd surely make jounin before he was 14 – such a feat!

Though she held similar ground as he did, she was also promised a definite promotion to jounin shortly after chounin, they were both on top of the class – way above the class along with Nara which was expected.

Her squad soon became quite close to squad seven due to the common ground, Gai and Kakashi were close and so was she and Rin, Obito and Shikaku found some common ground with one another. She couldn't be happier.

She'd always came back home with a bubbly air and stories about Kakashi's and Gai's latest battle royale. She soon found her parents not actually caring of this information and they were shooing her away silently and coldly. Sakura did not miss this notion and began to confide with her parents less and less and more with her Uncle Taka. He'd pat her head and chuckle and give her comfort at times she did not believe in herself.

She didn't think her innocent actions would cause such a terrible accident.

It was after her first mission that her squad completed she had been so happy to pass the Gates only to find her uncle, perfect.

'Oji-san! Guess what!'

She continued to ramble happily about her mission, though her uncle stayed dangerously quiet- her team realised this, she didn't.

'Saku-'

'And then Gai did this kick flip thing and we-'

'Sakura-chan' he said firmly

And for the first time Sakura looked at her uncle seriously- his normal clothing was replaced with a black hakama and his voice was solemn.

Another masculine voice came and Sakura recognised it as Dan-sensei's voice, 'Boys lets give Saku-chan and Taka-san some privacy and report to the Hokage ok?'

'Hai' Shikaku and Gai replied

Dan walked past Taka and gripped his shoulder and looked at him knowingly and bowed his head slightly in respect.

Once the area was clear but her and her uncle, she looked worriedly at her uncle, 'Oji-san what's wrong are you not feeling well? I can tell Kaa-san to make you her special soup it always makes me feel better.'

Taka's face faltered and he choked slightly and looked at his niece sadly and then silently without his words she knew. She began to tear up and her mouth wobbled, her uncle kneeled down holding her tightly in an embrace.

'Where's Tou-san?'

'Gomen'nasai Sakura-chan' And he began to cry quietly into her hair as he felt her body shake.

And she cried the first time in a long time, the sound of wounded wolf pup.

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'Sensei'

Dan perked his attention to his student, 'Yes Shikaku'

'Did her parents die' Shikaku said quietly

'It seems so' Dan sighed sadly

'My poor flower' Gai said sadly to himself

'Death is something we ninja unfortunately will have to become well aquainted to. Unfortunately Sakura had to get to know it earlier than you two.'

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The funeral was set the next day it was a perfect day. The azure Konoha skies were masked with dark looming clouds pregnant with rain. It fit well with the gloom.

The Hokage spoke a few kind words during the funeral and spoke of life.

Sakura stood at the front of the group, her uncle beside her holding her hand. Her clan were off to her left and her classmates and other prominent clan's had been to her right. She did not dare cry during the service and stayed quiet only looking for strength in her uncle's hand.

As the Hokage spoke, she heard the people behind her whisper and speak, 'I heard it was suicide', 'I'm telling you that clan is cursed', 'The daughter brought them nothing but misfortune.'

She held her tongue, but she felt anger rise higher and higher from the pit of her stomach, this was funeral dammit. Couldn't they wait until they got to their homes to gossip?

Then suddenly a voice spliced the hushed murmurs, 'If I knew any better I'd say we're not at a funeral, what kind of people speak of the dead with that manner at their own funeral, show some respect.' Her breath caught in her throat as she heard the familiar voice, she dared herself not to turn around in shock. Kakashi.

The boy she had never spoken to had finally spoken, not to her she told herself-but she couldn't help but be grateful for his presence.

Her uncle turned around letting go of Sakura's hand and bowed slightly to Kakashi, to thank him, and Kakashi did the same. Sakura only stood there, unmoved, back to them, face to the grave stones.

It was then the Hokage finalised his speech and allowed the crowd to disperse and give their condolences. Some unknown force in Sakura's mind made her walk away from everyone and let go of her Uncle's hand, away from the cemetery, she needed her space, and then she heard them again, 'Look she's not even crying, she is a demon!'

Her uncle called for her, and so did her team, but she ignored them and sprinting off into the streets tearing away at her black kimono. The tears came down easily at that time as she rounded tight corners and through alleyways, somehow making it into the Uchiha district.

It wasn't long when she crashed into someone and quickly dusted herself off and looked up to who is was. The woman was beautiful- definitely an Uchiha with her long inked locks and onyx eyes. She also looked to be in her early stages of pregnancy. She then realised it was the Uchiha clan head's wife, Mikoto. She had often seen the women when the clans had their meetings together.

'I'm sorry Uchiha-san' Sakura bowed down low

The woman only laughed softly and patted Sakura on the head, 'Oh little flower don't you worry.'

It wasn't until Sakura rose up from her bow did the woman's face faulted from its once happy to a sad expression, 'Sakura-chan what are you doing away from Taka-kun. I'm sure he'll be worried.'

'I just needed to get away from everyone' Sakura spoke truthfully.

Mikoto looked at the orphaned girl sadly and touched her belly out of spite, it started to rain gently, she looked at the girl's terrible state, she was dishevelled and looked like a wounded deer, 'Sakura-chan why don't you come over to my place for a bit, Fugaku-kun is away for the week, so it'll just be us girls? I'll send someone over to Taka-kun to tell him you're here.'

Sakura just followed the tender hearted woman, and when she offered her hand Sakura grabbed it greedily. She leaned on Mikoto's hip as they walked down the streets of the Uchiha district; even here she stuck out like a sore thumb- it was times like these Sakura believed she'd always stick out no matter where she was.

When they arrived at the house, Mikoto quickly got the kettle going and came back with a towel, 'We wouldn't want you to catch a cold now would we?' She said tenderly

Sakura sat in front of her as the women sat in a chair towel drying Sakura's long tresses, 'Such pretty hair Sakura-chan I wish I had your hair colour.' The woman started to gently braid Sakura's hair into an elegant style.

'Who'd want the hair of a demon?' Sakura replied monotonously

'Sakura-chan! Don't speak in that manner. You are no such thing' she admonished softly

Sakura turned around her eyes welling up with tears 'Mi-mikoto-san I can only believe what I've been called by my clan for so long –it's because of how I look. I'm so different to everyone, do you even know anyone with pink hair?!' Her voice went shrill at the end

Mikoto caressed the child's face softly and beckoned the girl to continue, 'I-I its my fault isn't it? I'm bad luck, Oji-san is sick because of me, Kaa-san and Tou-san sacrificed so much for me and now they're gone because I brought them so much shame and sadness.' The girl started crying badly hiccups were brought up from her chest.

'Poor baby' Mikoto patted Sakura's back softly, 'Sakura-chan you know your mom and dad never stopped talking about you? You were their greatest pride and joy, your mom and I were very close friends in our chuunin years. She loved you so much that's why she sacrificed so much for you and so did your father, he left Suna just to be with your mother and you – he never went back since you were born did he?'

Mikoto smiled to herself remembering her husband, the ever so quiet and calculating man. Though in their own way they loved each other and she knew he loved her and their child. 'Sakura-chan' she looked into the girl's eyes, 'your parents were soft-spoken people, they may have not spoken it but with their actions they showed they loved you, until the day they died they would always be thinking about you. Even up in the heavens they'll be looking down at you and protect and guide you as best as they can.'

Sakura gave the women a wobbly smile 'Arigato, Uchiha-san', the said woman giggled and poked at the girls round cheeks, 'Just call me Oba-chan'

Sakura's eyes lit up and she gave a genuine smile and hugged the soft rounded middle of the woman, 'Oba-chan?'

'Yes Saku-chan'

'Whats the baby's name.'

Mikoto's eyes skipped a beat looking at the innocent emerald orbs that were encased with pink lashes, 'Itachi'

'It's a boy! Uchiha-san must be really happy.' Sakura giggled

Mikoto blushed at the mention of her husband and smiled softly, 'Yes he is'

'Oba-chan, I promise to take care of Itachi-kun.' The girl replied innocently

Mikoto's heart warmed, looking down at the girl, 'I'd like that and I think Fugaku-kun would like that too.' She planted a soft kiss on Sakura's crown only to be scorched, 'Sakura! You're running a fever quick quick, get up and let me start a bath for you.'

As Mikoto ushered Sakura to the bath and began to help her undress, Sakura pleaded that it was not necessary, 'Oh its fine Sakura, we're all flat at this age' Sakura blushed, 'No no that's not why.'

Before she could stop Mikoto, it was too late, she felt her cool hand touch her back gently, 'Sakura who did this to you!' She looked shocked

Sakura could only look down ashamed and embarrassed.

'Does Taka-kun know of this?'

'No no jii-san (grandpa) said I'm not allowed to tell anyone.'

Mikoto touched the tender skin, it was purple, red and agitated. She could see why as she saw the beginning of a tattoo, one that spanned along her back – she realised that this tattoo was going to be used as a seal. What was the Sakaeru clan trying to seal within this girl?

'Please don't tell anyone oba-chan, please' the girl whimpered

Mikoto patted the girl on the shoulder 'let's get you in the bath', overlooking the girl's words but Sakura ignored her, looking at the woman pleading her to not tell.

She turned around and looked at Mikoto and bowed down to the ground begging, 'Onegai –please Oba-chan don't tell anyone, or Jii-san will get angrier at me.'

'Get up silly girl, I won't tell anyone. But Sakura-chan why?'

The girl looked at the woman, 'Because I'm bad luck – a curse, and I need to be put away.' The girl repeated her grandfather's words.

They didn't speak anymore Mikoto helped the girl into the bath and left her there. Mikoto quietly crying, at such cruelty being dealt at the girl's hand, she couldn't do anything about it – it wasn't her place to question how a clan dealt with their member's, she heard something similar a few years back about the Hyuuga's doing something similar with the branch family.

Sakura at that point as she sat in the warm bath, couldn't find the will to cry anymore at that point, as she recalled the history of the tattoo on her back.

It started a few months ago, when her grandfather started to ask for her presence, she was excited and happy, had he finally accepted her.

Unfortunately that wasn't the case, unless sealing away her ability to use chakra was accepting.

He'd ink her back with the seal looking at a book, at nights long past midnight, and slowly but surely feel her strength diminish as he passed through chakra through a completed section.

'It's for your own good. I'll say this a-matter-a-factly, I don't like you, and you are not my kin. You were brought to life by a cursed source – so that makes you cursed. You may not see it now but soon enough something will happen as it always does with children like you who are breathed in with life with the dark arts. So I'm sealing away your chakra so you won't ever use it in the future in a way that brings destruction. I've heard and seen these events happen before such unfortunate occurrences. I will not bring anymore shame to our clan because of your presence. People like you need to be sealed away and locked up from prodding eyes.

'So I'll never be a ninja'

Her grandfather cackled cynically, 'Tell me child do you know a ninja that can fight without chakra, any ninja that is alive? You'll be lucky to make chounin, very lucky.'

'But-but sensei said I could get to jounin right after chounin.'

'It's best to accept the fact that you won't'

And from then on Sakura became a ticking time bomb, each day losing the ability to use chakra slowly but surely.

'Oh and Sakura. Don't tell anyone'

'Hai'

Sakura wasn't so crushed at the fact that she'd be losing her ability to use her chakra; it only determined her to work harder. Her taijutsu became her forte and her skills with the Katana grew tenfold. She tried to find ways to bypass using chakra, like jumping from tree to tree or running on water. She got reading and after endless methods of sticking seals onto her shoes and trying to defy gravity she finally found a way. Another seal. She spent a night tattooing a seal to the bottom of her feet that allowed the miniscule amount of chakra circulating her system to move to her feet allowing a constant flow of chakra to be present.

She had to fake illness that week because she couldn't walk, and she didn't want anyone to know of her dilemma. She spent that week reading and writing down new skills she'd try to practice.

'A ninja uses their environment to their advantage.'

She was terribly afraid her teammates would figure out that she couldn't use chakra anymore during their first mission, though all worries were diminished when she found her hard work had paid off. Her agility and stealth was nothing like anyone of her age and her hand to hand combat was something that rivalled her own sensei's skills. She was able to successfully complete the mission without her cover being blown.

Her teammates were impressed, and she grew closer with them. She realised that she could learn more from them. Shikaku was ever the strategist and analyser, he began teaching her how to use her mind before her body during the mission, 'By doing this you can save yourself a lot of chakra and most likely execute the mission with less slip ups.'

She carried his sage words with her as well as Gai's rigorous training regime, 'Your youth shines through the passion you exude with each strike,' Sakura had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes, though Gai had been terribly helpful during her training, she found her taijustu and her stamina's credibility was all thanks to him.

Her uncle helped her excel in her swordsmanship, he taught her how to use various weapons and helped her accuracy become nothing short of perfect. He could only smile with pride, 'You're going to be a great kunoichi Sakura-chan.'

It was then she allowed herself to hope that she would still be able to become a jounin.

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She decided it was time for her to go as she felt her skin begin to wrinkle in the bath water she found her clothes dried on the rack and began dressing, by the look of the darkening sky she could tell she had been gone for a while, two hours at the least.

She went to go thank Mikoto for her kindness, only to find the woman sleeping on the sofa in the living area, Sakura grabbed thick robe that was laid out on the rack and laid it on top of the pregnant woman. Sakura smiled softly and thanked the woman in her sleep.

She slipped on her sandals outside the compound and made her way outside the Uchiha district and walked back towards the cemetery to properly give her respects to her late parents.

As she expected the area was vacated from any living bodies, which relieved her. She made her way to her parents' tombstones and bowed to each one out of respect. She sat down in the rain and began to speak, 'Yesterday I had my first mission Kaa-san and Tou-san.'

The girl simply opened up more and more during the course of her stay. It wasn't until she sneezed that she heard the person behind her, 'You're going to get sick if you stay there you know.'

'Hello Kakashi'

Upon her greeting he moved closer and bowed to the tombstones in respect, 'I'm sorry for your loss, it's not really the greatest way to come back from a mission.'

She looked to him in silence and nodded, the drops of rain slipping off her hair.

'As am I' She spoke sincerely

Kakashi's eye opened slightly, his mask rendered any emotion to be expressed though often times his eyes could speak a thousand words.

'What do you mean?'

'It's your mother's death anniversary today isn't it?'

The boy looked at her in question

'Rin-chan told me- she said that she'd often see you going to the cemetery around this time, and I put two and two together, you were gone for two weeks three years ago. You don't talk about your mom often- not that you talk about your father at all.'

'Perceptive' He acknowledged her

He sat with her, 'I'm not leaving before you leave.'

She giggled, 'Chivalry isn't dead yet I guess' and she stood dusting the blades of grass from her kimono, 'I'd like to visit your mother if you don't mind.'

He didn't reply but silently lead her towards his mother's tombstone, bowing and clasping her hands together in prayer.

He smiled gently underneath his mask a gesture she could not see, but somehow knew.

He walked her home, to an unfazed Taka, 'Welcome back home' He smiled gently, 'Thank you again Kakashi-kun'

'Bye Kakashi' she smiled gently

'Bye Sakura' he titled his head slightly in acknowledgment

It was from then on they began to create a close friendship, on one of the least expected occasions.

They both made chuunin that following spring and started to train with one another for the jounin exams. It was then after they passed their jounin exams the following year, their once peaceful life went into a terrible tragedy.

Kakashi bared most of the pain in that year; he lost both his teammates during missions he had been responsible for. He was a mess, he isolated himself and wouldn't talk to anyone, she ignored his advances and he found her at his front door each time he'd lost.

Sometime she had also lost her sensei, though she overlooked her loss and did her best to mend Kakashi's broken heart.

In her own way that his sensei and absent father couldn't relief his pain, she took the burden off his shoulders, 'Sulky doesn't do you good Kakashi.'

She'd invite him for dinner at Ichiraku's, each time sheepishly confessing, 'It's the only thing I can afford.' She tried to distract him and keep his mind busy, but it was hard for him to not remember. He had been scarred for life mentally and physically.

He now donned a sharingan in his right eye, a parting gift from Obito. And a broken resolve after losing Rin shortly after.

It was one night that he found himself alone after a completed mission that he headed towards to the cemetery and realised that he wasn't the only person hurting but also Sakura.

He found her in front of her sensei's tombstone, just staring beyond it, as if looking into the fantasy future she had in mind one that had her sensei, Rin and Obito.

She became accustomed to his presence and seemed to always know when he was around, and she turned to Kakashi, 'We share a curse, the people we love that we let within our walls they just keep dying don't they?'

He looked to her in shock but understanding, and she continued as she walked towards him, 'Maybe it wouldn't work with us though because we're both cursed don't you think?'

'Plausible theory.' He commented as she turned her head back to the resting place of Dan.

He looked to her, 'Ichiraku's. My treat.'

She looked at him cheekily, 'So you're finally deciding now's the time to pay me back for all the times I took you out you sad bum.'

He chuckled and she smiled

Kakashi's sensei Minato became Hokage within the shortcoming months taking the place of the retired Sarutobi.

Sakura realised that this in turn made Kakashi slightly lonely again, and so she decided she'd help fill the void, 'Hey Kakashi, the Hokage said I need to find another Jounin for the mission I've been assigned. If you have nothing would you mind, it's just to Mist and back. Just some recon.'

She looked at him as his face was slightly turned away from her his cheeks puffed under his mask, she could only giggle, Kakashi had this thing for a mission it was some sort of high for him.

Without a word from him, 'I'll see you tomorrow morning at the gates, we leave before dawn.'

She walked passed and patted him on the shoulder. 'I'd be extra careful today, Gai's pretty sure he's going to break your winning streak soon, last I saw him he was rounding the corner not too far from here.'

That got him moving, more like running.

She made her way to the Uchiha district to see Mikoto and her two-year old son Itachi.

As soon as Itachi saw her at the door of the compound he ran towards her hugging her leg, 'akura'

'Hello Itachi-kun, my little man how are you.' She could only smile brightly at the young boy he looked just like his mother though his face held the same shape as his father.

Itachi grabbed at her hands and lead her into the home, to find Mikoto cooking up a storm in the kitchen, 'Is Uchiha-san coming back tonight' she giggled

The woman looked back embarrassed, 'Is it that obvious?'

The poor woman only got this flustered when her husband was coming back from a mission.

She settled on the floor, Itachi sitting in her lap playing with her hair, and she held him closely smiling at his antics as he moved her hair under his nose making a mustache.

It silent for a while in that peace, and then Sakura broke the silence peering at Mikoto in the kitchen, 'I've got a mission tomorrow with Kakashi to Mist.'

Mikoto smiled to herself at the mention of the other boy, 'How's Kakashi-kun been doing?' She continued stirring the simmering pot with her husband's favourite curry, as she turned her head towards Sakura.

Sakura smiled softly looking at Itachi and then to Mikoto, 'He's been doing better than yesterday. He's getting there one annoying step at a time'

Mikoto giggled at Sakura's response, she turned off the stove and made her way to where Itachi and Sakura sat.

'And how have you been doing.' Mikoto said quietly, shocking Sakura slightly.

'I don't know' She said with a weak smile, 'For some reason I have a bad feeling about tomorrow's mission, it's supposed to be only gathering information but-.' She paused defeated, 'It's ranked A, I'm just worried about if I don't perform well in the mission and I don't want to let Kakashi down. I don't want to jeopardize his safety.'

'Sakura-chan'

Sakura looked up to meet warm onyx eyes, 'You're the most determined person I ever know, I know you can do it, you wouldn't be where you are today if it weren't for that drive.'

Sakura's doubts were not lifted still after the kind words of the woman, 'Still I-I-'

'Sakura, you made jounin without using chakra, but using your own strength and will, that is a feat that I know for a fact no one can do.'

Mikoto after the night of her late parents' funeral the only person she could confide in about the chakra seal her grandfather had placed on her. She was like a doting mother to her always worried about her wellbeing but also supportive. Her uncle still hadn't been told of the seal, she was worried that his calm demeanour would shatter and he'd go mad about the whole ordeal, she still confided in him, though when she needed to talk about girl things she spoke to Mikoto only.

'I just don't want to lose Kakashi.' She said bashfully and truthfully

Mikoto smiled softly and looked at the girl now growing into a woman, 'Let that motivate you then, the difference between strong and weak people is that strong people have something precious you want to protect. I bet Kakashi feels the same way.' The woman giggled childishly at the end and Sakura blushed like a tomato.

'How do you know that?'

'Call it woman's intuition.'

Sakura could only smile at that point and look at Mikoto, Itachi had migrated to his mother's lap during the course of the conversation and was sleeping soundly. Sakura stood up readying herself to leave, 'Take some curry for you and Taka-kun, I set some out in a bento box for you.'

'Yum' Sakura squealed she loved Mikoto's cooking.

As she went to the front door of the house pulling on her sandals, Mikoto saw the tattooed words of Tsuyo-sa o ataeru (Give strength) at the bottom of her slender feet, where the girl had placed a chakra seal to allow her to use chakra in her feet. She was something else the women mused; she was living proof of how dedication and hardwork can make you something from nothing.

'Take care of yourself Sakura-chan, when you comeback you can expect a hot pot.' She grinned

Sakura hugged the women awkwardly to the side as not to rouse the sleeping Itachi, 'For the sake of the hot pot this mission cannot be compromised' She joked

Mikoto could only laugh and bid the girl farewell as she skipped down the streets of the Uchiha district.

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'Is that Mikoto-chan's curry I smell' Taka asked

'The one and only' Sakura smiled as she opened the bento box

Taka began to greedily pile the contents of the bento box into his dish, 'Oi you better leave me some!' Sakura cried

'Sakura-chan why can't you just learn to cook this from Mikoto-chan and there wouldn't be a problem' Taka inquired

Sakura rolled her eyes, 'Why don't you find yourself a wife?'

'Who'd want to marry a sick man like myself.' He joked but he soon realised Sakura didn't take his words as a joke and was clearly upset.

Her uncle was still quite young, in his mid-twenties and was ever a gentleman, all the woman in the village fawned over his confidence and kindness. He was an elite ninja, though as his health crippled he retired not too long ago. He had so much potential.

'Please don't say that Oji-san'

He nudged his shoulder against hers, 'Come on Saku-chan lighten up would you, I swear Kakashi's rubbing off on you too much.'

She blushed slightly, 'That's not true' She blurted

'Whatever you say Sakura-chan, just between you and me I wouldn't mind having him as my nephew in law' He winked

Sakura seethed and yelled, 'OJI-SAN'

'Ah young love how innocent and playful it is.' Taka smiled as he ate away at his meal

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The mission took them a total of eight days. They were to scope Mist to see if some of the rumours that were being reported back to Konoha intelligence were true. All in all the mission could have been ranked lower due to the fact they had no trouble on the way or in the village while collecting intelligence, it wasn't until they were on their way back to Konoha they ran into trouble.

'Kakashi' Sakura said sternly as the leapt through the tree's.

He sensed her apprehension and knew that they were amongst others, 'Already on it'

He skilfully summoned Pakkun, the dog arose in a puff of smoke nodding its head slightly to Sakura acknowledging her presence, 'Pakkun can you tell me how many.'

Pakkun didn't need any further information as the dog jumped and leaped with the other two, 'Doesn't look good Kakashi' The dog grumbled, as his nose sniffed, they began to pick up the pace.

The dog didn't take any longer to relay the information the Kakashi needed, 'you got six trailing you from behind, and three more coming at 12 o'clock, they're fully equipped and there are ninja.'

'Damn' Kakashi bit his lip. Not good.

They were not too from the village gate probably less than an hour away; he looked to his side to see Sakura's apprehension.

'Pakkun, I need you to get to Konoha as quick as possible and try and get us some help, we're going to have to stop soon we can't risk getting these guys closer to the village they could pose a threat.'

'Hai' and the dog jumped at a lighting speed ahead of them.

'Sakura I promise nothing will happen to you' he spoke as he looked to her.

'Me too' she spoke quietly as they jumped into a clearing waiting for their opponents.

The stood back to back in a crouched position, and then it began Sakura was the first to jump into action, unsheathing her katana expertly, attacking the first to make it to the clearing.

'Well well well, a pretty girl like you shouldn't be holding sword.'

Sakura ignored his words and quickly flashed behind him efficiently piercing through his chest. She pulled out her short knife and cut at the base of his neck, as to paralyse him if he had the chance to move from his injuries. It was quick, but she realised that it was just a one off as the man had been on his own and not with his group.

Panic only started to set in when the rest of the eight made it to the clearing. Kakashi quickly moved to her side, debriefing their situation.

'I don't know what village they're from, so I can't really say what kind of jutsu style we'll be fighting. Three of the men are heavily armed with weapons and the rest it seems are only with a kunai, they have a medic third one from the left.'

Sakura moved her eyes meeting the eyes of a panicking individual, and looked back to Kakashi who's eye continued concentrating on the ninja before them, his sharingan hidden underneath his hitate, 'The first three are our close range combatants as they have weapons and most likely heavily rely on taijustu, the others seems to be more genjutsu or jutsu's that rely heavily on chakra based techniques.'

Sakura sat there absorbing the information, 'we need to deal with the medic first'

Kakashi nodded his eye's narrowed and for the first time looked at her, eye crinkling, he was smiling she realised.

'I'll treat you to Ichiraku's afterwards'

She smiled and they both dashed forward with such agility it almost blinded their opponents. The group quickly dispersed giving them the advantage to single out the medic, she jumped over Kakashi who took the lead and she flipped behind the medic pulling out her katana to finish the job.

At the last second she had to move out of the way as she saw two ninja lunge in her direction, leaving Kakashi to finish the job.

As soon as the medic fell down, Kakashi wasted no time to slit their throat. They weren't going to take any risk.

One of the individuals yelled in ager, 'You damn brats you're going to pay for what you've done' Kakashi and Sakura couldn't help but roll their eyes at the generically used phrase they've heard from nearly every other mission.

They soon found themselves in a cross fire of kunai and shuriken, Kakashi leapt up into the trees grabbing the attention of five of the men leaving only two of the men for her to deal with, how insulting.

They were stronger than she had anticipated and unfortunately they were the chakra users in the group which put her at a disadvantage. Though she cleared her head of any negativity she had to rely on her speed and accuracy if she was going to beat them.

Her heart skipped a few beats as she heard an explosion not too far from where she was, 'Kakashi'. Her brows furrowed, she needed to finish up these guys to go help him.

The men quickly started executing hand signs her mind reading each one

Ox, monkey, tiger, snake.

Her eyes opened in shock. Shit.

She tried to move away as soon as she could but she was pushed by the force of the justu into tree, they used wind element. She coughed up blood.

Her mind calculating as the two prepared for the same attack, she needed to attack them in the window right before they executed the justu- it would be too late for them to change direction once she moved behind them they wouldn't know what hit them. Though as she stood up she realised it wasn't going to be as easy as she had planned, as she realised her shoulder was dislocated, she bit down a scream.

She waited for them to sign snake, and that's when she took her chance. She ran at them head on and then slid underneath their feet quickly pulling out her short sword and piercing one of them she had to duck and roll over quickly and dodge the attack of the other.

She made a quick move and didn't bother waiting for the man to prepare his jutsu. Hastily she slit his throat. He grabbed her leg just before she done so, bruising it harshly.

She didn't allow her mind a chance to register the pain; she needed to go help Kakashi.

Kakashi had already taken down two of the ninja only leaving three; she made herself hidden hoping that hiding would give her the advantage to use a surprise attack. She perched herself high up into a tree above them, she pulled out three shuriken. Her rigorous target practice would pay off as she landed each shuriken at the back of each man's neck each falling forward.

Kakashi looked up to find Sakura jumping down into the clearing only then did he fall to his knees, with fatigue. He was beaten and bruised with some cuts, but other than that fine.

It didn't take long before Kakashi noticed her own injuries, 'Your shoulder'

She winced slightly at the reminder, 'I'm going to need you to reset it for me'

Kakashi made his way around her and then he saw her back, Sakura hadn't realised after she had been thrown against the tree that the back of her shirt had been ripped.

Sakura sensed the tense air around them, 'Kakashi is something wrong'

The said boy looked at the black ink that marred her back so puzzled and worried, how long had that been there. It looked like a seal.

He moved to reset her shoulder realising her pain, He looked to her, 'Just do it' she gritted

He did what he was told; she bit down on her lip muffling her yell. They stood up, and as Sakura stood up she noticed Kakashi offering his Jounin vest, looking away, 'Your back is showing'

Her blood ran cold as she looked at him, but she could see it in his expression he saw the seal. She took his vest and pulled over her form, it was slightly bigger than hers, and it smelled like him.

They walked in silence and then Sakura stopped, and Kakashi noticed and he turned around.

She looked into his onyx eye that seemed like a pit less dark abyss and told him, 'It's a chakra seal'

He looked at her bewildered, for some reason she felt ashamed, 'I-I can't use chakra anymore.'

'But you can tree walk'

She pulled of her sandals and pulled each leg up showing the sole of her feet Tsuyo-sa o ataeru (Give strength) showing on both.

He looked at her feet, they were so slender and pale save for her toes that stuck out the sandals that had been tanned from the Konoha sun. He slightly blushed beneath his mask.

'Before all my chakra was sealed I sealed the remaining chakra in my feet – that way no one could really tell that I couldn't manipulate chakra.'

His eyes furrowed and his hands clenched, 'Who did this to you?' he grounded out

'My grandfather' She looked into his eye

That didn't ease his inner temper and then she supplied him another piece of information, 'The seal was complete right before the chuunin exams'

He walked closer to Sakura closing the distance, but why?

As if reading his mind, 'My clan hates me, my grandfather specifically said by sealing away my chakra we could prevent any possibility of me going crazy in the future. Kakashi.' He looked at her as she said his name softly.

'When I was a child I was dying –my parents turned to a witch doctor to save my life, I've had dark arts breathed into me, I'm cursed. My grandfather told me every one of those people that have been saved in that matter have caused destruction – that's why he sealed my chakra.'

At that moment they were two feet from one another, she looked at him tenderly, 'Don't tell anyone Kakashi, my uncle doesn't even know.'

He nodded and pulled out his pinkie, 'A shinobi promise'

She smiled at him and drew her pinkie out, 'I trust you with my life Kakashi'

'As do I'

They smiled contently at one another and were about to proceed walking through the forest when they were stopped, a man clapped, 'Such a beautiful tragic story for such a beautiful girl.'

They both froze, hadn't they killed every single one of them? Sakura dared to look at their imposter her eyes rigid with fear.

'Isn't it a beginner's mistake to let your guard down?' The man drawled

Kakashi still had his back to the man, and he grabbed Sakura's arm, 'Don't look at him, he's going to use a genjutsu on you' He said rigidly

Sakura turned head to see Kakashi's sharigan exposed.

'Because of your inability to detect my chakra – I've been given the advantage of knowing your partner's weakness. A jounin shinobi who can't manipulate chakra, who would of thought. Has Konoha's standard fallen that low.'

Something snapped in Sakura, pure anger. Kakashi could feel Sakura tremble in his grasp; she broke away from his grasp and quickly grabbed a scroll from her pocket, 'I hate scum like you that under estimate me'

'Kakashi, I need you to summon this for me, can you?'

Without question Kakashi bit down on his thumb and swiped the blood along the scroll, a large sword landed in front of him, 'Such a large sword for a small girl this should be amusing'

Sakura smirked, 'then let me entertain you'

The man failed to see the chain linked at the hilt of the sword, and Sakura charge at the man throwing the sword, the man looked slightly shocked and quickly moved out of the way, 'You can't hit me with that aim'

Sakura smiled darkly, 'Would you like to say that again?'

The man didn't have a chance as she pulled chain and spun the sword in his direction the hilt hitting the man square in the chest, the force caused him to choke on air.

Kakashi was already working on an attack, chidori as she heard the thousand chirping birds, 'I need you to hit him again and then I'll put the chidori on you sword, get out of the way as soon as you can'

Sakura nodded her head, she threw her sword over head into a tree trunk pulled at the chain allowing her to be pulled by the sword as she was about to land onto the trunk with her feet she tugged the sword out and pushed onto the trunk back flipping in the air aiming at the enemy, she had him in her range and she threw the sword at him with all her strength her shoulder still tender from her injury.

Kakashi was already running towards the chain that trailed the sword if could just touch it would be enough to kill their enemy. He made it in time grabbing the chain with his chidori, and then he heard a shrill scream –it didn't belong to their enemy but Sakura. His eyes widened and he yelled her name, their opponent had somehow executed a wind jutsu as the sword came in his direction, making the chain ravel around Sakura's legs –she had gotten the full extent of the damage the enemy simply moved out of the way with a push of wind.

Kakashi quickly slid to the ground to catch Sakura's unconscious form, she was breathing raggedly, and he raged he was not going to lose another teammate because of his own mistakes.

He placed her on the ground and whipped around pulling out his short sword and activating his sharingan, he ran head first. The man blew shuriken in his direction, Kakashi didn't bother dodging them and kept running, each one lodging itself into his body he staggered slightly but kept running.

His mind didn't allow him to think straight and he didn't see the signing another jutsu, 'It's over kid'

The man's hands erupted with chakra and moved one his hands in a slicing motion, the air cut like a blade and it slashed at Kakashi's chest. He faltered and fell to the ground choking on his blood. This is it.

His eye's heavy as he looked over to Sakura who was surprisingly staggering up with the help of her katana, for some reason he couldn't hear her anymore and everything seemed to move in slow motion, he was pretty sure she was screaming his name.

She ran to him in a haste, pulling out all the shuriken and cooing soothing words, she was frantic he realised, a scene and feeling he was so familiar too him he grabbed her hand. So is this how it feels to be the one dying looking up at your teammate.

Her fingers fumbled around his hand, she cried, 'baka (idiot)' she whispered softly.

Her hands were covered in blood, his blood.

'There's nothing you can do about it girl, he's going to die, look at all that blood.'

Her mouth wobbled weakly, she was working quickly and she tore away at her sleeves tightly wrapping them around his chest to compress and slow down the bleeding.

His eyes were wavering as he repeatedly said her name softly, 'Sakura', his hand was clenching her shirt and her hair. Was it always this long, and dare he say it pretty?

'Crying makes you look like an old hag.' He chuckled slightly her eyes widened

That only made her cry harder, 'I can't save you Kakashi, I broke my promise'

Her head laid on his chest he patted it lightly 'Karma' he said and laughed darkly

The man got up, 'Such a touching display. I might as well end both of you of your agony.'

Sakura looked up at the man, her face was resigned, 'If he dies, I die' she said monotonously

The man laughed, 'I guess I'll start with you first.' The man made his way towards the duo on the other side of the clearing, Sakura looked down at Kakashi, and they both looked at each other with soft eyes, though Sakura's attention was cut short as she realised her hands were glowing. She looked shocked, 'There's no way', Kakashi to see what she was pondering and he too looked up in shock, 'Sakura that's chakra'

She looked at him with mixed emotions excitement yet fear, but how?

The man cackled, 'You really don't know anything do you girl?' Sakura looked at the man and first time begged him to explain what was going on, 'You may have lost the ability to use chakra, but you can absorb chakra through blood –that's your buddy's chakra on your hands, you are indeed cursed, but in battle I'd say that is blessing.'

Sakura and Kakashi looked at her hands in shock; it had been nearly over two years since she last had been able to use chakra.

'Little girl, you still have chakra within you, your friend's chakra is simply acting as the activator of your chakra bypassing the seal.'

Indeed Sakura starting to feel the prick of chakra through her system she cried with joy and Kakashi seemed to share the same relief. She looked to him, 'I can't give up now, it's not fair to waste this chance.' He nodded to her

She stood up slowly on her wobbly knees, and began running through a jutsu, 'FUYUNOYO! (Winter's Night)

The man stood still and fell to the ground.

'Genjutsu' Kakashi rasped

Sakura nodded. She looked to Kakashi he was slowly losing consciousness, there was no way at this rate she'd be able to get him medical attention, 'Kakashi' his eyes fluttered open.

'I'm going to do a teleportation jutsu, I need you to stay present okay?'

He simply coughed his blood staining his mask.

She took out her katana and cut her palm, and started drawing the teleportation jutsu on the ground when it was ready, she gently pulled Kakashi to his feet towards the ground that was soiled with her blood, he looked at her and nodded, and she began running through the signs quickly and then threw down her palm into the ground right then imagining the gates to Konoha. They disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving their opponent freezing to death in his genjutsu.

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Pakkun had just gotten to the Hokage to rely what was happening with Kakashi and Sakura, no sooner had he prepared a squad to leave immediately, Taka in tow insisting he had to be there for his niece.

They were about to head of beyond the village gates when it happened, a puff of smoke and Kakashi and Sakura dissipated from the smoke, they were badly injured.

Sakura started vomiting blood at that time. The jutsu taking a toll on her and the chakra slowly releasing its presence in her system, she looked over to Kakashi who was now unconscious.

She crawled to him and she lost her sanity, 'KAKASHI' she sobbed loudly, 'SOMEONE GET A MEDIC'. She clung to Kakashi's clothing, with the hands that were covered in his blood. She felt someone releasing her fingers from his clothing, 'Don't worry Sakura-chan, I won't let anything happen to him.' The comforting voice of her uncle found its way to her ears.

'Oji-san' she looked to him eyes shining with tears.

'Trust me, just sleep now you're safe' Not long after had she fallen let the pain and fatigue take over her mind and she fell into unconsciousness.

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'I'm moving' She said quietly as she lay on the grass beside him, the azure sky decorated with cotton candy clouds as white as his hair.

'What' he looked at her that moment, sitting up slightly

She didn't look at him 'Oji-san found out about the seal, he was furious, he wants to move us away from the clan to prevent them from doing anything else to me.'

His eyes softened

And they stayed quiet for that fleeting moment and then he spoke again, 'When'

'Next week'

He choked at the proximity of the date, she didn't look happy at all.

'It'll do me good.' She said monotonously

'Oji-san would be at peace knowing that I'm not out there risking my life –especially knowing that all this time I hadn't been able to use my chakra.'

She then looked at Kakashi for the first time, 'I've never seen Oji-san that mad at me ever, I hurt him because I didn't tell him. He fought with Jii-san; it was the scariest thing ever. Jii-san won't take the seal off, so Oji-san decided that it'd be best that we moved .'

They were fifteen now. A year had passed since their fatal mission.

Kakashi looked at her; they both sat in their civilian clothes. She in an oversized long sleeved shirt, loose fitting cargo pants that stopped just after her knees, her sandals were slipped off. Kakashi wore a t-shirt and shorts, with a red scarf that replaced his mask, his black standard sandals still on his feet.

'I won't be able to bid you goodbye.'

This caught Sakura's attention, 'Why?!'

'I'm leaving for a mission tomorrow and I won't be back till next month.'

She turned to away from him saddened, 'I don't know when I'd see you again' He heard her voice crack.

He pulled in closer to her and willed her to turn around, 'Sakura', she turned around and let the flood gates open, and for the first time he let himself embrace her, laying his chin on top of her head. He hated seeing her like this, 'Sakura can you promise me something'

She looked up at him; taking a deep breath as she looked at her eyes they never ceased to enchant him.

'Anything Kakashi'

They had been through hell and back together, they'd been through many close calls. He couldn't bare to see her go. He couldn't bare to see her sad and crying and not having him there to comfort her. 'Promise me that you won't cry in front of anyone only in front of me, only with me can you let you walls down.'

She smiled at him gently and wiped away at her tears, 'And you have to promise to not be a sad bum only when I'm around, you have to keep going no matter what.'

'It's a shinobi's promise' they said in unison

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Every year she'd go to visit the village as part of the agreement of her release of being tied to the village. Each time she was there, he was away. She'd visit during her parents' death anniversary and spend the night with her friends. She'd visit his mother's grave as well cleaning it and placing a bouquet from the Yamanaka family florist.

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When she came back in her seventeenth year her friends took her out for a drink. 'Kakashi's in ANBU now, we don't even see him anymore.'

'Oh'

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And here she was nineteen. It had been four long years since she saw him. Four years of not a single tear shed, not even when she was alone. All she could think about was him as she ran through the small village looking for her uncle, 'Oji-san!'

She was feeling sick, bodies strewn everywhere. Fear took over her bloodstream, adrenaline pumping.

Where was he?

Then she heard it an explosion and she ran over there. 'Please Kami-sama (god) not today'

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.

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Not far away three shinobi of the leaf were rushing towards the source of the explosion.

'Please be ok Sakura'

'Sakura's as tough as nails' Anko hollered smartly

'Her youth rivals my own' Gai recalled

Kakashi could only smirk, you better be. He pushed harder and faster into the night

'Not too far now'

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'OJI-SAN!' She screamed

Her insides churned, she felt sick as she saw the scene before her unravel.

'Sakura-chan' her uncle stumbled towards her his katana soaked with blood, he lead a track with his own blood.

He was dying.

She ran towards him holding him around his waist and sliding him towards the ground. He was losing too much blood, 'Oji-san, what happened' she asked frantically pulling away at the strands of hair stuck to his face.

'Some village attacked us. I-I-I don't know who but they just started mowing down the village, I was out with a few of the guys drinking when they entered the village they just started setting fire to everything.'

'You're dying'

'That I am'

'You can't'

'My dear flower it's an unavoidable natural phenomena'

'I know I-I just can't lose you yet.'

'Me neither.' He started to cough heavily, 'Well at least I'll die as a shinobi not a cripple'

She couldn't control herself she wanted to let her tears go, and he held her face in his hand, 'Don't, you promised him.'

'Isn't it cruel of him, I haven't seen him once in the past four years' She shook

'There's a purpose behind each promise.'

She looked at the man softly, 'You're most likely the only survivor from this mess. You have to run to Konoha while you still can.' He spoke

'I can't leave you'

'I'm deadweight.' He paused 'I would of loved to see you smile again with that white haired moron again' Taka laughed

She searched her uncle's eyes seeking more words from him, 'When you get back to Konoha' he then took both her face with both his hands, 'Take back your life, don't let the clan control you. You are old enough to make your own choices and you have your own rights.'

He struggled to breath for a bit, 'Make that old man give back your chakra – wreak havoc make him regret messing with you'

'Oji-san you're a little bit of a sadist today' She chuckled softly

He chuckled, 'I love you to bits my dear niece and I'd hate you to spend the rest of your life mopping around. Let my death…let it be a new beginning for you –that's all I want is your happiness.' He pulled her head close and kissed her forehead.

Their moment was cut short when she heard several footsteps run at her in all directions, 'Looks like we missed one' One cackled.

Sakura looked down to her uncle and kissed the crown of his head and squeezed his hand, 'Let me show you what you've taught me'

Her uncle smiled, 'Go'

She unsheathed her katana, and it was after a whistle at her she realised her state of undress, she donned only her bindings exposing the majority of the seal on her back and a silk skirt that hung above her mid-thigh she cursed the hot summer nights of the village.

'Let's get this over with'

There were four of them; she didn't give them a chance to blink.

They tried to get away but she didn't give them a chance, she skewered through them like dango.

'You're all scum'

But as soon as they fell more came.

'Sakura'

She turned to her uncle, who shook his head, 'There's no use, they'll just keep coming I've already gone through twenty of them.'

Sakura ignored him and kept slaying her enemies. At one moment she picked up Taka and started making a break for it to the entrance of the village. Big mistake, 'You failed to tell me that these men are shinobi.' She growled

Taka's eyes widened, 'I wouldn't know. The ones I fought only fought with katana, they're more like samurai than ninja' he chuckled.

She looked to her uncle, 'Oji-san I'm sorry but I'm going to have to use your blood for chakra.' The man chuckled, 'Take as much as you like, there seems to be enough for everyone.'

Her hands began to glow and she shortly started cranking out a jutsu, sending tremors through the ground shaking and changing the terrain around them. The earth below her hands formed around her hands. She struck chakra charged punches to all her opponents and slowly she realised the volume of enemies was thinning out more and more, it was then her body started taking its toll.

Her uncle started wheezing.

This is it isn't it. It can't be.

She was going to die before seeing him one last time.

Her vision started to blur. The heat and smoke was taking its toll, 'Oji-san I can't keep going'

'Oi! Keep yourself together!'

She took a punch to the gut, doubling over in pain; she had failed to notice a man coming up fast behind her with a katana, 'SAKURA!' Her uncle yelled. Her mind could not connect with what was going on around her.

Though one thing she was so sure of was she didn't feel pain, she looked to her side to find her uncle. He wasn't there. Her heart sank, and her body shook, as she looked at the hands wrapped around her waist, 'Oji-Oji-san'

He didn't respond she turned around to see her uncle standing behind her smiling blood dribbling down his chin, 'I won't let you die, you are my niece, flesh and blood and my successor' and then he fell to his knees to the ground a katana sticking out his back, 'Oji-san! OJI-SAN! TAKA DAMMIT! DON'T LEAVE ME!' She pulled out the katana and turned him over; he whispered breathlessly, 'Don't cry' and then he shut his eyes never to open them again.

If she couldn't cry, she'd scream.

And she screamed and howled so loud.

It shuddered the three shinobi as they erupted through the forest, Kakashi bolted. The village was a light and he quickly called out a water justu extinguishing the flames, and then as he got closer to the village gates he so her in a huddled heap on top of a body.

She paid no attention to them and then as he crossed the threshold of the village, she turned her face and her face was crestfallen, her chin wobbled, realising he was finally there. After all these years he was there. The same, but taller and more adept to life, his eyes showed that much.

He ran to her holding and embracing her tightly, she held him greedily clawing at his uniform.

'I can't cry yet can I' she looked into his eyes, as she saw two other figures emerge from behind

'I'm sorry for making you agree to a cruel promise'

She choked, 'I promise is a promise'

She saw Anko and Gai pull up solemnly and she looked to them, 'I'd like to bury him in Konoha' she looked to her uncle.

They simply nodded and made their way to the man both crouching down for a short prayer, before Gai heaved him on his back.

Anko came up to her tossing her a shirt from her pack and helped her put it on, Kakashi steadied her and then pulled her onto his back, 'It's time to go back home'

She laid her head onto his shoulder as he broke off into a sprint with the other two, 'Welcome back'

'I'm still waiting for my Ichiraku's treat you promised me four years ago'

'I wouldn't have wanted you to forget all this time'

It was silent, it was then he realised that Anko and Gai had gotten quite far ahead of him, he turned his head to look at her, 'You can cry now'

Sakura froze slightly. She was breathless. She made herself recall all the pain and trauma she'd been through the past four years and mourn her uncle's death.

Her tears soaked through his uniform soaking his neck and shoulders, four years of pain weighed down his tear soaked shirt.

'Kakashi' after sometime she spoke his name and he looked to her, 'It's good to see you'

He turned his head forward again letting a few tears of his own slip, 'It's good to see you too'

She fell asleep at that moment listening to the lull of his gentle heartbeat.

Here's to the new beginning her uncle died for her to have.

If only he could see her smiling with Kakashi at that moment.

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REVIEW DAMMIT REVIEW THIS TOOK ME 13 hours straight to write

THIS TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE – but I did it ;-) Woohoo I needed this to set the scene and pace of the story – I assure you I won't be writing 30 page 'chapters' again I wont go passed 15 fingers crossed

KakaSaku is my new OTP they are just….too many feels…please review and maybe I'll update just maybe

Sorry for any typo's but my brain is so tired I've read this thing through about five times I can't even more I need to get this out of my face

Idk but I loved taka – I wish he was my uncle

:-( - kind of pissed how I rushed the ending but I'm so tired and I just want to post this already I might revise this sometime later down the road but now I'm just happy as it is

But things are going to go well for Saku-chan and Kaka-kun :-)

Until next time

Oxza