Hanayaiba
A little girl with bubble gum pink hair sat under a cherry blossom tree with tears streaming down her checks while silent sobs raked her body sending her body into violent tremors. She had just witnessed her parents and all of her clan being slaughtered by that figure with those horrible eyes; everyone was dead…except her brother and herself. Okka-san, Otto-san, you left us, me and brother. Blood, was all she could see through her pleas for her family. Flashes of last night passed through her mind in slow motion making her flinch.
"Sakura…"
Her head snapped up to come face to face with her older brother, Yahiko. She could tell he had been crying not to long ago. His black hair swayed gently due to the breeze that lifted his bangs to show his emerald eyes just like her own.
"The elders said that we could live in an apartment that they would supply for us."
"Ok…" Sakura stood, and wiped her eyes.
Yahiko captured her hands with both of his and held them tightly as he fell to his knees.
"Please don't cry Sakura. I hate it when you do. I promise you that we will get through this, and that I will always be there you to protect you."
A small smile graced Sakura's lips, "I will try, and thank you Yahiko for protecting me and staying with me."
"What are older brothers for?" He grinned.
~ 5 years later ~
"Konan-chan! Sakura-chan! What are you two planning?" Two very confused twelve year old boys shouted at the girls.
"Nothing." , said two eleven year old girls, innocently…too innocently in the opinion of Nagato and Yahiko. Both boys gave each other weary looks, then turned around and started to creep away into the trees to look for a good hiding place, so the girls wouldn't find them. But only after they had taken a couple of steps, they were tackled to the ground by two giggling girls.
"Got you!" They both cheered.
Sakura was on top of Nagato's back with her shoulder length pink hair blowing in the wind. She eyed Nagato who had orange hair defying gravity as it poked up in all directions. He got up, which made Sakura fall to the ground on her butt with a surprised squeak. Nagato looked down at her with his silver eyes and couldn't help but think she was cute with that surprised look in her eyes from falling. He grinned and held out a hand for her to take. Sakura looked at him for a second, and smiled as well. Taking his hand, he helped her up with ease.
"Thanks Nagato-kun." Sakura mumbled while a light pink line streaked across her face while saying it. She saw him blush a little as well, as they stood together.
"Ahem." Both Nagato and Sakura looked towards the noise, and then blushed even more while separating from each other. Konan with her blue hair in a half bun with a white origami flower in her hair looked at Yahiko with her blue eyes to catch a reaction. She met his gaze and both gave each other an amused knowing looks. It had been five whole years since Sakura and Yahkio's clan had been slaughtered. About three years ago, they had met Nagato and Konan. They both had lost their families in one of the many Amegakure civil war battles. It had been Sakura and Nagato who had first met, and introduced their friends to one another.
.: Flashback :.
Sakura sat on a park bench with a tear stained face and was breathing hard. She had just out run some bullies chasing her, calling her a freak with an oversized forehead. She heard someone coming, and curled herself up into a tiny ball trying to shield out the rest of the world. The steps got louder. Brother, where are you? I need you. Then it stopped, there was no foot steps or a noise to be heard.
"Are you alright? I saw you being chased, and I just wanted to make sure you were ok, before I go over there and show those kids how to treat a human being. The way they treated you wasn't right at all." He gazed down at her with sympathy.
She looked up to see a boy with orange hair with silver eyes full of sympathy. "Arigato, my name is Sakura; I will be fine thanks for asking." She sniffled.
"Good, you shouldn't cry; I am Nagato by the way."
"Thanks for your help Nagato-kun! Would you like to play with me?"
Nagato was stunned by this girl he had just met. She was able to bounce back from such a weak state with ease. He grinned widely at her and nodded his head up and down as a silent yes. They played on the playground creating all sort of games they played. They lost track of time and only once they looked at the sky could they tell it was late afternoon. Then when they were about to play one more game of ninja they both heard their names.
"Nagato-kun...Sakura-chan!"
Nagato looked to his left to see his friend Konan running up to them, and Sakura looked to her right to see her brother Yahiko run up to them. Konan looked at Nagato and his new friend while she was running to them. She couldn't believe he was playing with another person besides her. She smiled to herself; finally he was talking to other people. I was wondering when you would come out of your shell to other people Nagato-kun. It has been a long time since we have been on our own, and you still barely talk to anyone besides me. I am glad you are starting to move forward. She examined the girl he was playing with; she had pink hair and intense emerald eyes. She looked like she would be fun to have as a friend. Then she noticed another boy running towards Nagato and the girl. He shouted 'Sakura-can'; the name suits her she smiled. Both of them met Nagato-kun and Sakura-chan at the same time.
"Hey! There you are Sakura; I have been looking for you all over the village!"
"Sorry Yahiko, I was playing with my new friend Nagato-kun!" She gestured to Nagato as if he were a prize which made him blush and Sakura giggle. Yahiko smiled to himself. FINALLY! She is making friends. Thank Kami-sama; he better not hurt Sakura or else I'll beat him to a pulp! It seems Sakura is happy so I guess I better give him a chance, he could be a good friend. Who is the girl with the blue hair?
"Hi Nagato! I am Sakura's older brother, and I know we will be great friends!" Yahiko said with hand gestures and in a very loud voice. Nagato just stared at him, but decided he liked his loud and hyper personality.
"This is my friend Konan; she and I have been friends every since both of our families had been lost in one of the civil war battles." Nagato said.
"We lost our clan too; wow we have a lot in common!" Yahiko said. (Practically yelled)
Konan stepped up to Sakura, and whispered, "Is he always this hyper?"
Sakura giggled and nodded her head yes. When they both looked up they saw both boys looking at them. Konan and Sakura gave each other a look and both nodded their heads at the same time. Then they looked back at the boys with an evil grin on their faces, and charged towards them. Both boys turned and ran for their lives. All four played for a while longer, but the sun was setting. It was a law to be in doors before the sun set fully, and everyone didn't want to get into trouble. So they said their good byes and headed their separate ways.
"Hey Sakura, do you want to make a quick stop at the Ramen Shop for some ramen before we head home?" Yahiko asked.
"Hai lets go!" Sakura cheered, while grabbing her brother's arm, dragging him off to go get dinner.
.: End of Flashback :.
It had been a few days since the incident with Nagato and Sakura, and her brother was still annoying her to no end about her new 'boyfriend' Nagato. All four of them were walking to the Ramen Shop for a well deserved lunch break from all their training. There were no ninja schools to go to, since it had been burned down in yet another riot. So they had been practicing their new techniques they had created in an abandoned field. Nagato was working on being able to create storms, Konan was working on folding herself into mutliple origami animals as if she was made of paper, and Yahiko and Sakura were both working on a wind jutsu that would cut the victim to the jutsu in half!
"Hey Sakura," Yahiko whispered in her ear, "Are you going to get married to Nagato-kun? Since you two love each other."
Sakura was fuming with steam surging out of her ears when her brother pulled back and smiled at her. She made a fist and pulled it back ramming it right into Yahiko's face, and sent him flying a good ten feet into a tree with a loud crack when he made contact with it. Nagato and Konan cowered back in fear and looked at their friend. She turned to them and smiled.
"Let's keep going shall we." She gestured, and Nagato and Konan hurried to her side, because they didn't want to anger her like her brother had.
"Hey Sakura, when did you become so strong without using chakra?" Yahiko yelled while running to catch up with them.
"Ever since you have been tormenting me baka!"
"So what has he been tormenting you about Sakura-chan?" Nagato asked walking up to her side.
"I-It was n-no-nothing Nagato-kun."
Way-Ta-Go you baka! Now he is going to know we like him!
Who are you?
I am your conscience, ohohohoh. Ha! Just kidding I am just a part of you…the cool part that is. :P
Yeah right. I don't like Nagato, he is to…to…um. Argh! He is just a friend! ."
That's not the way I see it. ;)
Well your wrong!
Ha! Sure we will see about that. Later The voice left suddenly from her head as if it had never been there.
"Sakura-chan, are you all right?" Nagato asked. Looking at her; she seemed to be spacing out.
"Oh! Yeah I am fine. Let's go eat ok?" She said while running ahead into the restaurant. Nagato had a confused looked on his face and Konan and Yahiko both looked at each other and laughed. It was obvious that Sakura liked Nagato and Nagato liked Sakura. Although, both of them had no clue that the other like them too.
"Those two really can be dense sometimes can't they Yahiko-kun?" Konan nudged Yahiko.
"You got that right Konan-chan." He whispered back. Konan and Yahiko had a strong brother, sister relationship unlike Sakura and Nagato, who liked each other a lot.
"Hurry up you two, or I am going to leave you behind!" Nagato shouted behind his shoulder, as he ran ahead into the restaurant to find Sakura.
A woman with golden hair in two long pig-tails hung loosely on her back, and a man with white hair and two red lines going down his cheeks looked at the remaining of the four children going into the restaurant. The man looked towards his female companion, to see what she wanted to do.
"Tsunade, what do you think?"
"We should go talk to them. I want to meet the one with the pink hair. Sakura I think is what they called her." She looked towards her partner, Jiraya. He nodded, and they walked into the restaurant. I wonder if Jiraya will be able to stay serious for much longer. We have been away from the village for such a long time, and yet we still haven't found him. Orochimaru, where are you. Everyone knows what you have done to have fled the village. So where have you gone? Tsunade ended her thoughts when they stepped through the door.
Sakura, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko were all seating in a booth slurping happily on their ramen. Sakura and Konan were in the middle with Nagato on Sakura's side and Yahiko on Konan's side. All the sudden Yahiko and Nagato started shielding Sakura and Konan from the view with glares set on their faces. Sakura and Konan looked at each other, and then peeked over the boys to see two adults. A woman with gold hair in two long pig tails, and hazel eyes, and a man with long white hair with red lines going down his face from his black eyes.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Asked Nagato as he pulled out his kunai.
"I am Tsunade, and this is Jiraya. We were just passing by and we saw you walking and wanted to meet you." Tsunade smiled gently trying to get them to relax.
"You're not from around here, I can tell from your hiate-ates. Since you wished to meet us you have, so you can leave now." Nagato said in a grumpy yet deadly tone.
"We're from Konohagakure, and we wanted to get to know you. We are not going to harm you, and if you were wondering when we said meet you, we also want to know your names." Jiraya huffed out. Both Tsunade and Jiraya saw the pink haired girl whisper something to the boy who had been answering for the whole group. Once she was done they both looked at them, and them the girl whispered something to him again which made him huff a quite fine, which both of them could barely hear. Then the pink haired girl looked up at them and smiled brightly.
"Well since you wanted to know our names, we will tell you. The boy with orange hair is Nagato, the girl with blue hair is Konan, the boy with black hair is Yahiko my brother, and I am Sakura." Sakura looked at them once more sizing them up to see if they were going to harm them still being cautious.
"Thank you for finally telling us. We were just passing through the village looking for our team…our friend. Have you seen or heard about a man with long black hair and yellow eyes being in this village?" Tsunade asked.
"No, but why did you want to meet us anyways?" Konan spoke up still looking over Yahiko's shoulder.
"Well we saw part of your training, and decided to follow you, to see if you would be having a lunch break, since we could not find a place to eat around here." Tsunade said.
"Well you were right. Our village has been having a lot of… disputes, which have destroyed a lot of our village's buildings. Our families were also lost in battle due to the many crazy maniac ninjas, going from clan to clan or family to family and killing them for no reason." Yahiko said with disgust.
All four of the kids saw the two adults turn around quickly for a fast conference, and heard hushed whispers, but that was all. When they turned back to them they had huge grins on their faces.
"How would you four like us to stay with you for awhile since we have nothing better to do? Yes, and we know we should be looking for our friend, but he is too far ahead of us anyways."
All four kids looked at each other silently communicating with their eyes, and then turned to Tsunade and Jiraya and all four nodded. Then Yahiko jumped into a standing position on the booth he had been sitting on while pumping his hands in the air.
"I can't wait to start training with you guys! I want to become as strong as possible to help myself protect Sakura!" At this Sakura blushed and told him to sit down, and stop making a scene, which made everyone laugh.
~ 7 months later ~
"Congratulations! You have officially made it to a chunin level!" Tsunade and Jiraya both yelled. Konan and Sakura were both hugging each other and jumping up and down. While Nagato and Yahiko only had stupid grins on their faces.
"Cha! Just wait till we kick some ass!" Sakura yelled.
"Calm down Sakura-chan, there is no need to use that type of language." Nagato scolded, while Sakura looked away-annoyed at him for telling her what to do.
It had been awhile since two of the legendary sanins had come into all four of the kids lives. Nagato had gotten calmer, and taller. Konan had also gotten calmer, when she was around people she didn't really know, or was just clam when she wanted to be. Sakura had grown a short fuse that would explode when ever someone messed with her. She had a longer fuse with Nagato though for reasons unknown to him. Although Tsunade and Jiraya had picked up on Nagato and Sakura liking each other during the first week they had come to Amegakure. Yahiko had grown all but calm over the short seven months. He had become taller, louder, and even was starting to become perverted. No thanks to Jiraya for taking him on his 'research trips' where they would go spy on women at the bath house. Sakura always got to teach them a lesson when the both of them got back. Sakura herself was gaining inhuman strength along with Konan with the help of their sensei Tsunade. Tsunade also discovered Sakura had perfect control along with her brother, so she taught both of them the basics of medical jutsu.
"Well I would say tomorrow afternoon Jiraya and I will be leaving." Tsunade said gloomily.
"What? You guys are leaving that quickly?" Konan asked.
"Yes we will be, but we were wondering if all of you wanted to come with us. It would only be a few years to complete your training, and then you would be able to come back or come live with us." Jiraya said while looking at each and every one of them.
After talking shortly about how the four of them would like to think about what they were going to do. Every one went their separate ways to their houses. Sakura and Yahiko were walking home and started to talk about their views of leaving the village for a couple of years.
"So, what do you think of leaving the village Sakura?"
"I think I want to go. It would only be for a few years, and I would become strong. What about you?"
"I would like to go as well. I am not sure about the others, but you are right. It would only be a few years then we would be able to return stronger then ever."
"Then it is settled you and me will be leaving this place for a couple years next week. We need to get home and pack!" Yahiko exclaimed then grabbed his sister by the waist and poofed them into their apartment.
Sakura had planned on meeting Nagato-kun in the park, by their spot and was running late. Shit, shit, shit! He hates it when I am late! Oh thank Kami-sama that I live so close to the park! Sakura was running like there was no tomorrow to their spot. She made the last corner, and hit something hard and was knocked down to the ground along with the thing she knocked down. Wait, it is breathing, crap it is human. She opened her eyes, which she hadn't realized shehad closed. She looked up to the person's face and it was none other than Nagato. She scrambled up into a sitting position while scooting off of him trying to hide her blush that was darker than her hair color. Nagato looked dazed for a moment, and then realized that he had just been knocked down. He was fuming at the though of someone touching him, until he looked down to see a very red pinket who he knew as 'Sakura-chan'. Well, at lest getting knocked down was worth having it being Sakura on me instead of anyone else. He started to calm down then turned to the pinket who had scrambled off of him while trying to hide her face which was one hundred times darker than her pink hair.
Sakura saw Nagato smirk at her, and got up and walked over to her. She was still blushing, but was slowly getting it under control. He held his hand out for her and she gladly took it, not wanting to sit on the ground anymore. Both of them sat on the bench a few feet away just sitting in silence for a few minutes. Sakura's blush finally left her face and she looked at Nagato who was staring at the trees with interest.
"So why did you want to see me Nagato-kun?"
"I wanted to know what you and your brother had decided on about leaving the village for a few years." He said while looking straight in her eyes, trying to see what her answer was before she spoke.
"Yahiko and I have decided that we are going to go with them, and then come back in a couple of years like Jiraya and Tsunade said. What about you?" Once the words had left her lips; she could tell Nagato was hurt, but he could hide it well.
"Konan and I are staying. We think we will get stronger by staying here." Nagato's voice was stiff and filled with grief, which made Sakura feel very guilty inside to see him like this.
NOW LOOK WHAT YOU DID! YOU MADE NAGATO-KUN FEEL SAD SOME FRIEND YOU ARE!
Shut up. There is no need for you to be here. Sakura thought to her inner with a stiff voice which pissed off her inner. Her inner started babbling with a colorful vocabulary as she stock off into Sakura's mind only to leave a peaceful silence that replace her voice.
"Nagato-kun I am so sorry, but Yahiko and I think this is best. It will be only a couple of years, and when we get back I bet I will be as strong as you are." Sakura smirked, which made Nagato smirk back.
"You are right as always Sakura-chan. I will miss you a lot, and, it will be only a few years. I bet you will be even prettier when you return." Nagato blushed as did Sakura, both looking at anything except directly in each other's eyes.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did I say that, she probably doesn't even like me. Nagato was mentally banging his head against a wall.
"Nagato-kun," Nagato looked up to see Sakura right next to his face, which was making him blush. "I will miss you too." She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
After Sakura had had a mental fight with her inner on what to do she just went with her first instinct which ended up being kissing him on the cheek. She now was looking at a very shocked Nagato, which she had just pulled away from, looking at her with surprise. Then all of the sudden, the usually calm Nagato had tackled her to the ground, and was squeezing her to death in a huge bear hug.
"Na-ga-to-kun…need air!" She choked out, and he let her go gently.
"Sorry Sakura-chan; I got caught up in the moment." He said with a hand behind his head.
"It's fine." She smiled.
~ 3 hours later ~
Sakura and Yahiko were finishing packing up the remaining things they would need into their packs or into scrolls. Yahiko was mumbling about a scroll he couldn't find. Sakura just shook her head plopping down on the couch since she was done packing. Then she fell from the couch onto the ground landing in a heap, because her so called brother had found the scroll and had yelled that he found it right in her ear. She glared at him and whispered under her breath baka.
"Sakura you might not have known this since you were younger, but our clan has been keeping a secret as well hidden as they could over the years. They only told me, in case something went wrong which it did." Yahiko handed her the scroll with a serious look that was rare to see on his face. She took it and looked at him with curiosity, motioning for him to continue.
"Sakura you are the heiress to the Hanayaiba clan. Our clan has a special kekegenki that has been a clan secret passed down through the ages, and can only be passed down to a pure Hanayaiba heiress, which you are." Sakura looked dumb founded then began to cry.
"Why haven't you told me before brother?" She sobbed.
"I couldn't risk it, and your kekegenki has not appeared yet. But you have been showing signs of fully getting your kekegenki. I am sorry I haven't told you before, but Okka-sansaid to wait until you started showing signs. Please forgive me." Yahiko looked down shamefully.
"It is fine Yahiko, it must have been terrible to keep a secret that great for so long. All I wish to know is how it works, and to thank you for telling me." Sakura hugged her brother with all her might.
"Come on Sakura, it is time to say good bye to the others." Yahiko said trying to get Sakura to let go of her death grip on him.
"What about all the details on my kekegenki?" She immediately shot at him tightening her grip on him.
"It will be explained in the scroll, and besides it is easier to understand if I tried not to explain. We must hurry though to the main gates of Amegakure." He shot out of his sister's grip, and put on his pack. Sakura scrambled for her pack, taking one last look at her home to last a couple years, and then chased after her brother.
At the village's gates Nagato, Konan, Yahiko, Sakura, Tsunade, and Jiraya were saying their good byes to one another.
"I will miss you so much Konan-chan! I will try and write as much as I can, but I don't think we will be staying in one place for long so I will have to say in the letter if I do so you can send a letter." Sakura blubbered out holding on to her only friend that was a girl.
"I promise to write, and I will also miss you Sakura." Konan whispered back trying not to cry. Her only friend her age and her same gender would be leaving for four whole years. It would be so lonely, but at least she had Nagato.
Nagato and Sakura looked at each other for a few seconds, but then Sakura threw herself at him knocking them both over. She didn't cry, but she wished she could. Although it would only be a few years, it felt like she was losing him forever. Never seeing him like this again made her want to enjoy their last precious minutes.
"Nagato-kun, I will miss you so much you don't even know." Sakura mumbled into his collar of his shirt.
"You have no idea how much I will miss you too Sakura-chan." Both stood up and separated, but before they did Nagato placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Promise me that you will never forget me, and in turn I shall never forget you." Nagato murmured.
Sakura whispered, "Promise."
"Well it is time to go you three!" Jiraya exclaimed, ready to get on the road. Everyone waved to one another as they left through the gates. With the scroll Sakura had been given from Yahiko deep in her pack, she felt ready to leave. Although she spared one last look over her shoulder at her home she would not return to for four whole years. Sakura looked back once more to see Nagato's eyes. They showed something she thought see would never see, but always hoped for…love.
