A pink haired girl tugged on whatever she could reach, clothes and she got batted away, hair and the red-headed woman gave her a glare and told her that she knew better and to be a good, quiet girl, so finally she reached out for the woman's hand. "Mommie. Mommie. Guess what?"
The woman quickly extricated herself from the grip, "Not now Sakura, go look around," she ordered, not looking at the girl, who slumped down as her mom began apologizing to the woman at the counter.
There was nothing to do though! The girl kicked the floor with her shoes. This would take forever. And she'd already looked at everything. How much longer was it going to take? And it was so pretty outside; the sun was out and the birdies were singing and mommy had promised her yummy anko dumplings that they could eat at the park and had even given her money for them. Because she was a big girl now.
But she'd be an even bigger girl if she got them all by herself! And then mommy would give her a big pat on the head and tell her she did a good job and everything.
The little girl grinned and made a mad dash for the door.
She only stopped running after she almost knocked over nice sweets lady and helped her up and carry her groceries a little bit. Nice lady asked where her mommy was and she told her it was fine, mommy had given her money and she was going to go buy some yummy anko. The lady smiled and said okay then and not to get lost.
"Big girls don't ever get lost. And I'm a big girl." She held up her hand, fingers carefully spread out, but the thumb carefully tucked in, "I'm dis many fingers."
"Four? Oh you are a big girl."
She nodded, "Yup."
..._..._...
"The park got losted," she wailed, crouching under the trees. Why couldn't it be a good park and stay where it was? Stupid stupid park. The dumpling stand was right next to it.
She saw shoes. Pretty shoes. Who was that? She followed the shoes way, way up, why did grown-ups have to be so tall? It hurt her neck. And then jumped, "'kage-sama!"
The old man laughed. "I promise I don't bite."
She looked up at him, why would he bite her? Mamma told her big people don't bite because she bit a mean boy the other day. She told Mommy that meanies were okay to bite. They didn't count you see. And Mommy told her that good girls don't do that and meanies get punished. Kage-sama looked really big and he didn't look like a meanie…. So she nodded. "I won't either."
He made a funny sound and then started coughing. Was he okay? He was old.
But he finally stopped coughing and looked at her and smiled, "That's good to know." Then he added "So, little girl…"
"—I not wittle! I'm a big girl. Hawuno Sakura."
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan. Are you lost?"
"Noooo! The park isn't being founded."
"Is your mommy around?"
"Mommy say me no tawk to 'rangers."
"I'll tell you what Sakura-chan. I'm sure that your mommy's looking for you, so how about I send someone to find her and I'll just keep you company?"
She tapped her fingers to her chin, "…Okay. Thank you 'Kage-sama."
"Bear I would like you to find Haruno-san."
A masked man came out of nowhere and the child jumped.
He bowed stiffly, "Yes Hokage-sama."
"They fowow you 'wound? Dat's bowing."
Chuckling, the Hokage replied, "I'll let them answer that." He turned to the armor-clad nin before him, "What do you think?"
The man glanced at the Hokage before turning to her and then answering, "It is an honor to serve Hokage-sama." And then he vanished once more.
"How he do dat?"
"He's a ninja," Sarutobi replied simply.
"Sakura!" the young mother grabbed her daughter tightly. "Why did you run off? You had me so worried."
"Sowy momma. Gonna get dumpwing. Me hungy big girl and you talk long. Pawk got losted though…" she trailed off sadly.
The woman gave a shaky laugh and Sarutobi quickly made his way away from the scene.
"Sakura just please never do that again. I was so worried."
"Otay momma."
...
A/N: So I'm not entirely pleased with this part but it works for now (I mean i did write it up within an hour i think). I hope you enjoy I plan on doing childhood pieces for the original team seven that I think fits with what happens later and their personalities, pasts, etc.
I hope the baby talk is okay. Meh.
Oh the use of honorifics is hard! How did/would the third address villagers? What about his ANBU? ugh i had no clue. I think technically Haruno-kun MAY have been more appropriate when referring to the mother because 'san' is more between equals while 'kun' can be used by a superior to or about someone below them but it is also typically used for males and i didn't want to make it confusing. And also i can imagine the hokage using the more formal san. But on the other hand 'bear-san' sounded too odd so i left it with what is the familiar non-honorific. So any suggestions for how he should address them are appreciated. A lot. because this is bothering me.
