Prologue- Sakura

She wasn't the same girl that she used to be. The old Sakura cried when the wind blew and she had a terrifying fear of failure and rejection. She hid behind people and was utterly weak on the inside and out. She was honestly a fucking wimp. The new Sakura is honestly the farthest thing from honest.

"Haruno, we have orders by the Hokage to bring you back to the Hidden Leaf immediately. Permission has been given to use force if needed," an ANBU with a bear mask read robotically from his defensive position in front of the pinkette.

If anyone from the outside could possibly look in on the situation right then, they would assume by the thirty something ANBU in the forest clearing that the person being hunted down would be some notorious hulk of a man who slit throats for a living. While Sakura Haruno is very notorious for her young twenty two years of age, most wouldn't imagine her to be much as she sat with her back against a tree with a book in one hand and an apple in another.

Her long, pink hair was pulled over one shoulder in an elegant braid while her short black shorts and gray t-shirt left very few curves on her body to imagination. She had become slimmer since leaving her village four years prior, gaining more muscle to add to the already enormous list of advantages she had on any average shinobi.

A smirk appeared on her plump, pink lips but she still failed to raise her head. "Is that so? Well maybe we can reschedule because I'm a tad bit busy right now. How's next week sound?"

The bear-masked Nin barely contained a growl and he opted for a more offensive position which didn't go unnoticed by the pinkette who glanced up in the slightest bit at his new, harsh tone. "That's not going to work Haruno! You're coming back whether you like it or not!"

All of a sudden, the girl disappeared from her place under the large tree and planted her feet silently behind the Nin who had increasingly gotten on her nerves. She placed a firm, small hand on the junction between his shoulder and neck. "You know, I've been seeing a lot of you bastards lately and I don't think any of you understand the concept that I don't want to go with you nor am I doing any such thing. I've let you live for every meeting we've conveniently had but I don't know if I'm going to be so lenient this time. Why can't you all just leave me alone?" Her tone was sickeningly sweet as if she were only just an innocent little school girl. The only thing portraying her real emotions were the grip she had on the man and the burning fire in her eyes.

"You are coming with us; you don't have a choice in the matter!" he growled out in rage but didn't dare move. They all knew that her knowledge was beyond vast in just about every subject there was to know in everything Shinobi related. She could kill anyone with one touch of her finger and her Missing Nin status proved that she would have no qualms about doing so.

Sakura hummed low to herself and appeared to be genuinely bothered about something for a semi-moment. "Well, that sure is a shame. I'll make sure to leave a few of your men alive so they can deliver a little message to your dear Hokage. I want to be left alone and I won't hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in my way. I've warned you all once and I told you the first time that that was the only warning you would get. You should've listened."

There was no struggle nor were there screams of pain and agony. No blood was spilt in the process of killing all but five ANBU in a span of ten seconds and as she suddenly appeared under the tree in a relaxed manner, one of the remaining Nin laughed lowly. His boar mask shifted slightly in the process. "Isn't this ironic?"

Sakura smirked as she raised the apple to her lips. "Ironic that the only survivors are the ones actually from Konaha? I think not. You should relay to Tsunade that next time she needs to borrow a shitload of ANBU from other villages that Suna isn't the best. They've been slipping over the past few years."

One of the other Nin stepped forward with an obvious slouch. "So you have been improving. I'm impressed," he said, his spiky silver hair sticking up in odd directions.

Jade eyes narrowed. "I wasn't aiming to impress you, Kaka-sensei."

He gently peeled the porcelain shield away from his face to reveal a single familiar eye, slanted headband, and navy blue mask. Kakashi crossed his arms over his chest as an obvious frown slid onto his face. "I'm aware. Have you thought about coming back yet?"

"The fact that you're asking me that means that you don't even know why I left yet. Just wait, Sensei; once you know, you will leave your village in a heartbeat and be begging for forgiveness at my feet. Don't think I've forgotten how our last encounter ended." Sakura took the last bite of her apple and tossed it with a flick of her wrist, watching as it rolled slowly until it touched Kakashi's boot. Her eyes were downcast while her voice dipped. "I didn't betray my village, Hatake. You would do well to remember that."

The boar-masked ANBU suddenly ripped his own identity shield off of his face to reveal a quite livid Yamato. "Don't you dare speak such lies! We were your friends, Sakura, and you left us behind to kill and destroy everything you could get your hands on. Do you understand what you've driven the Hokage to? All she does anymore is drink until she can barely breathe. Naruto isn't his happy self anymore and neither is anyone else. You were the core to the whole damn village and you gave it all up on a fucking whim!"

The words didn't evoke anything but more emotionlessness as the girl bent at the waist to pick up the forgotten book and small, tan bag off of the forest floor. She swung it onto her shoulder quickly before piercing her past teachers with her serious eyes. "I'm sorry for the repercussions of my leave but you will understand when you find out for yourselves."

"Why, Sakura; why can't you just tell us?" Kakashi asked. Anyone else would think that he was just asking her a question out of curiosity but she had known him for so long that the silent begging behind his voice was imminent.

Her head tilted back, allowing her pink braid to slide off her shoulder and into the air. A sad smile graced her lips while she watched the white clouds high in the brilliant blue sky. "Since when does anyone ever believe an S-classed criminal?" And with that, she was gone.

...

Sorry it's so short; usually my chapters are very long but I just needed to set the basis for the story and reveal just enough for everyone to see where most of the loyalties are at the beginning of the story. I will have the next chapter out by Tuesday. Thank you!