Sakura was five the first and only time she went on a trip with her Daddy.

The whole thing actually started off very boring, she helped momma do all the packing and set the shop in order, said all of her goodbyes, and hopped in. And then sat and sat and sat. It was still boring. She kicked her legs out every once in a while, happy with the thunk they made when they hit the wood, the sound lighter or heavier depending on how hard she dared kick. But finally she was told to quiet down. How did daddy do this all the time? Why did it take so long to load things?

It wasn't all boring though. She got to meet ninja. She stood real, real tall and smiled nicely at them. Looking around at them. There were, she took a minute to count… six of them. Six men. Or maybe boys. None looked that old to her, except the one with gray hair and the mask. But the rest of him didn't look old. Two looked a little older than Dai's brother, the others all older than that.

She wondered if she could maybe see them fight. They couldn't be that old right? Were they good? How good? She looked at their clothing carefully that was usually an easy way to tell how important someone else was. But they all looked similar in that respect, no rings or decorations, shiny headbands with the leaf symbol, all wearing what looked like standard issue fitted long sleeve black tops that had to be hot and three wearing a dull colored green jacket. Hmm.

Looking up at daddy to see what he thought she saw he was surprised too. And frowning a lot. He gestured to one of the men, the one with the mask (and a jacket, those must mean rank then), and they went over to talk. That one was probably the leader then. So maybe he was old or he'd went prima-premat-prematuraly? gray. One of her cousins had and he hated it. He started losing hair too, poor guy. At least Mask-san wasn't balding. Had she ever seen a bald ninja actually? Hmmmm.

Still, it didn't matter this was cool! She could feel herself bouncing on the balls of her feet, trying not to actually jump or hop. There were still five other real live ninja in front of her!

They all looked different too. Two had weird hair like hers (and the jackets). One looked like a boy still and had hair that was an icky green that looked kinda like leaves out in the rain too long. His Sempai's was a pretty, pretty pale blue almost whiteish. It looked so soft too. She wanted to play with it. She wondered if he'd let her. Probably not. She sighed. And then nearly yelped: one of the men was staring at her.

But she had no reason to be scared. She wasn't scared of him, even if he did have that scar across his nose that looked pretty mean! She lifted her chin up and looked him in the eyes. They were brown like his hair which he kept pulled back in a weird spiky… thing. She stuck out her tongue at him.

A sharp rap to the head had her owing and clutching her head and peering up to see where that came from. "Daddy! What was that for? That hurt," she whined.

"You know better. Don't be rude Sakura. These men will be watching out for you."

She gave an angry huff and muttered how he didn't like them either and some of them didn't even look like they were men yet.

"Sakura," he warned more loudly this time and she'd saw two of the boys bristle (she was sure they hadn't made rank yet now, just look at how much they reacted to that until now she'd have thought they were carved from stone), though Scar-san only grinned and looked like he might laugh.

Still it was probably better to not do that anymore, since, apparently, they could hear her even from over there, freaky ninja senses…

She did take a look at the two boys though and couldn't really think of any names for them. They both looked pretty boring: black hair, dark eyes, pale skin. And serious. And like they were maybe brothers. Probably the same age as Dai's niisan actually.

She did want to be good, and help daddy, and have them answer her questions. So she took in a big breath, looked at the ones with the pretty hair, then towards the leader, then back to Scar-san who seemed like maybe the nicest actually and bowed. Just like mamma had taught. Another deep breath. "I am sorry. I was rude and acted in a way that dishonored my family." She looked up and gave her best begging face, "Can my Niisans forgive me?"

She could feel the eyes of Captain-san on her and wanted to flinch but didn't. He'd know she was lying then, though she thought he might already. Calling them her Niisans might have been a bit much… she didn't want them as her niisans. Except maybe maybe Scar-san. Maybe.

But it worked. They looked at her and smiled just a little and Scar-san looked surprised but happy and she kinda wanted to hug him. Maybe she could adopt him as her Onii-chan? She had told mommy and daddy she wanted a brother.

"Thank you Sakura. Might I suggest we go now?"

At daddy's suggestion they all began heading out. Everyone was so quiet and fast it was a little… eerie.

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She kept on looking around because once they set off it was like half the men had just vanished! Sometimes she thought she could see something moving in the trees that might be them but couldn't tell. So cool! Were ninja all like this? She wanted to vanish and woosh too.

Once that excitement faded (just a little bit though because it was still so cool but since there was nothing to see…) she realized she had a captive audience to ask questions to because they kept pace right beside the wagon. And so she did. Had they fought before? When? Where? Was it exciting? What about training? Because Dai's aniki complained about it an awful lot now. And he hadn't even had a good fight yet he'd said. And not a word. Hmph. Well see if she needed them! She'd bet that Scar-chan would talk to her. Sadly he was gone, one of the people moving somewhere out there where she couldn't see.

She tried to ask them their names after that. It was green boy and the brothers with her and they wouldn't budge on the issue. Not a word. She wanted to yell. But then mommy and daddy would be annoyed. She grumbled a little and then fwumped back, laying down and staring up at the ceiling. So bored. Even with ninja. This was saaaaad.

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She looked at the horses again. That had become her new favorite thing, watching their tales swish and their muscles move. The trees had changed some and she'd thought they were pretty at first, but now even the pretty trees were boring. They almost all looked the same after a while, after all.

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When they stopped she would have jumped for joy if she could have jumped at all. Her legs had fallen asleep like the rest of her though. They prickled and hurt a lot and she rubbed them and wanted to run run run.

Momma called her over and over she went, ignoring the silent men who had still refused to talk to her the entire ride down until momma and daddy both had told her to leave them alone. That didn't mean she didn't pout though. Why didn't they want to talk to the guards? The whole thing seemed so cool to her. And why wouldn't the guards talk? They had to be bored too right?

Momma called to her again, impatient this time. Right, she was ignoring the mean men who wouldn't talk to her and going, walking oh finally walking even though she wanted to run, over to her mom.

At least she was able to stretch and they stopped and watered the horses and she enjoyed the wonderful day. She wanted to roll and tumble in the grass and would have back home but knew she couldn't here. But the minute momma wasn't looking she had to do something fun and she'd be able to get a great view of the hill they were atop from the trees.

She rolled her eyes when she felt Green-san follow her but at least this way she couldn't get yelled at 'cause someone was with her. It was nice and fun and he watched as she climbed but didn't actually stop her or try to though she was pretty darn sure he could if he wanted.

One thing she'd forgot. She'd never gone tree-climbing this high before. It was a little ah scary. When had the ground gotten so far down?

"Green-san?" He looked up at her and tilted his head that was all the encouragement she needed to go on. "I think I'm stuck. How do I get down?"

"Jump."

"Oh no no no no," she shook her head furiously and clung even tighter to the tree. Sure he could probably catch her but but it might hurt!

He sighed, rubbed the back of his head, and sighed again. "Well, I was complaining about getting rusty from the lack of use of my skills this mission." He gave a sort of half laugh. "Kami-sama does have a sense of humor. This is not what I was envisioning."

So that meant he would save her right? She glanced down from her perch and saw him calmly walking. Up. A. Tree. What? She didn't even notice or know when or how she had sat down until he pried her hands off the tree and then picked her up held her and then placed her, still sitting, form down on the grass.

She just sat and stared at him for a few minutes after that. Oh dear Kami-sama what was that?

By his laugh after that she was pretty sure she'd said it aloud. Oops. "But people can't do that! How did you do that?"

"Chakra. You have it too, everyone does. Most people just don't know how to use it properly, control it." She only sort of half noticed his words though because his hands were glowing. This was… normal for ninja?

Then what he said slowly and finally caught up to her, "Wait… so I could do that too! Teach me! Pleeeeeeease ninja-san!"

"What, no more Green-san or Onii-chan?"

She huffed suspiciously. "So you want me to call you Nii-san?"

With a shrug he suggested, "You could possibly try my name, endearing as 'Green-san' may be. Or I could call you Pink-chan."

Pouting heavily she corrected, "It's Sakura!" It wasn't like she could help her hair color either. So he had been teasing her then. The meanie! Wait… "What's your name then?" She'd know a ninja! Maybe he'd teach her cool stuff.

"Shin."

"Shin-san?" She gave him her best smile and he tilted his head to the side and down, oh she hated being so short. "Can you teach me that?"

"You have to go to school for it. It takes years to learn to use it. If you were from a ninja family you'd already know some about manipulating it but…" he shrugged and she got the message. There might even be some kind of rule against it. He couldn't teach her.

Her shoulders sunk but she brightened after a moment because ninjas knew lots of stuff, there had to be something he could teach her.

But he turned to her, hand out, "Chibi it's time to go. Your mom is probably getting worried."

"I'm not a chibi!" but she took the hand he offered and slipped hers in. His was so big and nice and warm, not as big as daddy's though. But it was rougher. She didn't know anyone who had hands so rough, not even daddy. Huh.

She got back of course and momma scolded a little but she was with Shin-san and safe so momma couldn't say much. Just pursed her lips and told her that she shouldn't wander off like that.

They got back into the wagon, one of the brothers running up front by daddy, the other with them in the wagon, and Green-san, no Shin-san, running along near the wagon, and the others… somewhere. Probably in the trees. This place was all trees.

She was happily munching her lunch when she wondered what about Gree… uh Shin-san and the other ninja? Had they eaten?

Shy, she turned to the boy sitting by her at the back of the wagon, "Ninja-san did you eat yet?"

No answer and she puffed out her cheeks. It was just a question and a good one. Momma always said how important it was to eat. Why did he have to be difficult?

"Gre… uh Shin-san?" she called out to the air and within a heartbeat he was there running by her. "Have you… did you eat yet?"

He casually pulled a bar out of his pocket. "We have ration bars when we need them Sakura-chan."

Oh, she felt dumb. Of course he would… but wait he hadn't actually answered… "But that's not-" she cut off and shivered because she could feel a glare and turned to see that momma and ninja-san both seemed upset. Umm oops?

So she shut up and Shin-san left and ninja-san's glare followed him but she couldn't understand what was wrong. She flopped backwards. Even when she was being good and trying to be good she still couldn't do anything right. This was awful. And boring.

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It began to rain and she was really really glad she was inside the wagon now. She didn't like the wet much. Would all the ninja be alright? They wouldn't get sick right? It was warm out. Or had been at least though now it was windy and the trees shivered with the breezes and the branches reached out to grab at them as they went to go through. This time she shivered and it wasn't from the cold. When had this place gotten so creepy?

Normally she loved the forest and the rain but now… now she just cuddled up to momma. And hoped Shin-san and Scar-san and the others would be okay and not get sick or anything.

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They'd been traveling for three days, and were supposed to arrive within two more, when she started to wonder where the ninja slept. Because each night they'd only gotten one room and there was no way that they'd been in there. They wouldn't all fit for one. Well, maybe if they were on the ceiling or something… Could they sleep up on the ceiling? That would be too cool.

But even if they could daddy wouldn't want them all in there; he'd want them near but not inside with them, his family. Did they sleep in the hall? In the wagon? Both seemed too small. Outside? Or did they just not sleep? They were ninja and she didn't know what all that meant yet. They seemed superhuman to her, keeping up with the horses (and they were going pretty fast) all this time.

She'd have to ask Shin-san. If she couldn't catch him she could try one of the others. (She'd learned the other's names, except the captain's, though she didn't call them by them; she had a feeling that of the others only Sca… uh Iruka-san would probably be the only one to not be annoyed for whatever reason. It must be some ninja thing.)

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It was break time! Yay. It seemed a little early though. Maybe they were doing really really good? Or someone had to pee. Finally she decided it didn't matter, a break was a break.

She heard water nearby too and daddy explained not to go too far; she had to stay with mommy and he had to go get the horses some water. Maybe that was why the water? Maybe she could go play in it. If she brought Green-san with her it would be okay. She looked around but didn't see him. And she really couldn't call him Green-san anymore since she found out he'd been dyeing it to blend in 'Not that there was much point to that' he'd added since he ran with them all day instead of in the forest, so he'd let it wash out. It still made her sad though. His hair now was just a plain light brown. She called him a traitor for that. She liked other people having crazy hair though it was prettier now.

Momma called her over and over she went. They started stretching together, but only the most basic of stuff since she had on her dress and there were the ninja around. Any more wouldn't be proper. As important as it was, proper sure was boring.

Daddy was back in no time at all. "Sakura, do you want to come pet the horses? We just gave them water and we're going to rest here a bit. Have mommy stay with you and I'll come over to you by the wagon so you can see."

"Mommy did you hear, did you hear? Come on!" she tugged. Her mother barely speeded up and she tugged again. "I want to pet both of them! Hurry."

"Sakura honey, it's fine, stay where you are. I'm coming over to you. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

So she waited as daddy came out from by the trees, the horses with him, one with him, the other being led by Shin-san.

Suddenly something rushed at him scarily from the side, "Daddy!" she screamed and mommy grabbed her before she could run. But a loud clang met her ears. Daddy had dropped the reigns and stood holding his cane: the top part with the blade in his right and the sturdy wooden lower casing in his left. Woah that was so cool!

But the bad guy was joined by others. And they all looked the same. What was this? They all looked like the same guy. And they all had swords too. Daddy and Shin were fighting and the men (man?) kept swinging and swinging. Shin was fighting most of them. One of him to three of them leaving daddy with one. But Shin was a ninja. He'd be fine, he had to be fine. Daddy wasn't though and she was worried because what if daddy tripped over a tree root or fell? But he was blocking so well and since when could daddy do this? She'd watched the boys play and practice and this was so much better.

But he wasn't as good as Shin-san. Block, block, dodge, wham it was all so fast but she watched with big big eyes as his sword hit the man as he flew past him trying to turn back around to face him. Not fast enough though. The man was gone with a poof.

Daddy was still doing good but he was getting tired, his strikes were getting weaker and the horses shied away nervously just a little bit. The brothers were protecting her and mommy (since when? She swore she hadn't noticed them before) but what about daddy? "Don't stay here with us! Help my daddy now! Help Shin-chan!" Neither brother moved and she squirmed but mommy had her wrapped in her arms so she just yelled, "What are you doing, go!"

"Our orders are to protect you no matter what. We are your security detail." She was pretty sure she could hate them for that.

She suddenly couldn't shout or anything as her throat went completely dry when two of the other bad guys charged Shin but with small pitchfork-y looking weapon he caught the sword with the tines and twisted just so and one dropped his sword.

Daddy's man disappeared with a pop and puff of smoke. She could breathe just a little. He turned to help Shin who sliced at the first man's arm, using momentum and spinning to throw kunai at the second man who popped away. But the first man hadn't and she could only watch as Shin realized it too and his face changed; he looked horrified as he struggled to turn in time.

She could see it she could see it she could see it he wouldn't be fast enough. The other man had scooped up the sword and he was moving too. Oh Kami, Shin! A scream ripped through the air and it was so loud and scared and it was maybe saying something but she couldn't think because Shin! And it seemed like slow motion and the screamer was her and and kami-sama please!

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A/N:

So reviews are encouragement because this is a long chapter and i have other stories in the works. Anyway: Hope the story didn't drag too long but it is the intro (did you recognize any characters?). I want to develop the characters and everything.

Notes for clarification:

1) this story ties somewhat into another story "Simply Civilian" that one is lighter

2) regarding honorifics: I like using them generally some things just don't work as well in english but i do not always know which are most appropriate. If anyone who's more fluent notices anything wrong let me know. But in case you aren't used to all the suffixes here goes:

chan= close friends, or towards young girls

kun= those younger than yourself, usually towards boys

sempai= older colleague, student, etc

san=towards someone of the same rank as yourself though it can also be used as a sign of respect (similar to mr. mrs. ms. etc)

aniki, Onii-san, Nii-san, onii-can, nii-chan= older brother (formal to informal)

let me know your preferences though, with or without honorifics. Also I debated calling her parents with japanese titles rather than the english ones but i thought that might fall under gratuitous use which annoys me so i'm keeping it pretty basic

3) The weapon Shin was using is called a Sai. look it up. I would have said it looked like a fork but... would sakura have seen forks? They use chopsticks from what i can tell.