I know, I know, I already have 'Fire & Wind' to complete but atm, I honestly have nothing to show for it and if I tried, it would just suck ass. So I will write what I write best! Sakura and Deidara!

As always,

Enjoy~!

~Kyvena

Chapter 1: The Promise To Protect

Sakura's eyes slowly fluttered open before sitting her tired body up and rubbing her emerald orbs... Today was the day... Today was the day that she was being transferred to a new village to learn other methods of training, whatever that meant. All the young 10 year old kunoichi was really told was exactly that, she was off to get other methods of training from a new hidden village. Well... Lord third did ask her personally to go, but she had no understanding what so ever as to why. Ever since the death of her entire clan, Sakura had been alone so she studied and constantly trained vigorously to keep her mind occupied with the matters close at hand.

Standing from her bed, a mass amount of pink locks that fell to her waist cascaded down as a sigh escaped her soft pink lips before speaking, "Well, better get ready..." Stretching her muscles, many joints soon popped and she swiftly turned to her bathroom before exiting as quickly as she entered looking sparkly clean. Nodding in approval, she turned and pulled out her ninja gear and laid it on her bed she had recently awoken from. She knew this country was going to be stuffy and hot, which in all honesty, was something she was not used to; so she packed the lightest clothing she could possibly find.

Finally packed, emerald orbs peered into her mirror as she pulled all of her long hair off of her neck and into a high ponytail that rested on the top of her cranium before tying her headband on the top of her head. Now it was time for clothing... Sakura didn't own much clothing but she at least had enough for climate changes such as this. Being ten years old, Sakura hadn't developed any... womanly features... as of yet, but she just supposed all came to those who wait. Yanking on a mesh undershirt and a red sleeveless cut off top with the Haruno clan symbol on the back, she once again nodded before pulling up a pair of short black spandex shorts and attaching her holster to her right leg and pulling on her knee high black combat boots.

Turning around, yet another sigh escaped her lips before walking out of her apartment and locking it for who knows how long. Sakura was sure it was going to be a good long time until she would be able to come home. Walking towards the Hokage's tower, Sakura shielded her eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun until she heard two voices that caused her to stop, "SAKURA! WAIT!" Oh she knew these voices all too well, Naruto and Sasuke.

Turning around, Sakura placed her hands on her hips, "What do YOU two want? I'm in a hurry! Lord third is waiting for me!" Sasuke and Naruto both smiled sheepishly before rubbing the backs of their heads, "Well, you see... The thing is... uh... Sakura, before you go I want to say I love you!" Sasuke blurted out as Sakura could only think, 'Typical.' Next it was Naruto's turn to talk, "You know Sakura, it's amazing you put up with this loser. I also think it's really amazing how you are the Leaf's Nine tailed fox Jinchuuriki yet you're doing all of this for the village." Sighing, Kurama began to laugh on the inside, 'What's wrong there Sakura? Speechless for once?!' Sakura adored Kurama and treated him very well and in return, Kurama loved her just as much as she loved him.

Deciding she should give the boys a "farewell" gift, Sakura clobbered both boys on the tops of the head, "Will you BOTH leave me alone!? I have a solo mission to do, Team 7 is not invited!" Sakura then smiled softly, yet sweetly and waved before turning to run, as she ran she yelled back to the both of them, "Behave while I'm gone guys and protect the village!"

Sasuke sniffled slightly and Naruto rolled his eyes, "Seriously dude, you have to stop smothering her by declaring your "love" every five minutes. It just makes you look pathetic." Sakura waved to many people as she headed towards the Hokage's tower. It would seem as if people did NOT hate the nine-tails Jinchuuriki host, they actually praised her and cheered her on. No one had ever been mean to Sakura in her entire life and was renowned as a hero within the Leaf Village.

Finally, the Hokage's tower came into view and she slowed, noticing the third Hokage already outside waiting for her, "Well, good morning to you Sakura. How have you been child? I do hope you are feeling well this morning." Sakura nodded with a smile as she slowed to a halt before bowing out of respect for the third Hokage, "Good morning to you as well Lord third! I'm feeling very well! How about yourself? I do hope you are feeling well!"

Sakura practically glowed and sparkled with happiness, not much ever got her down. Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, "My, my, it is far too early for you to be worrying about me dear! However, are you ready to begin your quest to Iwagakure?" Sakura nodded eagerly, "Yes sir! I will make my village proud!" Hiruzen smiled genuinely, "Splendid. Your escorts to Iwagakure are Kakashi Hatake and your very own captain Yamato."

Sakura knew what this meant, the 3rd Hokage still did not trust that her and Kurama were bonded the way she truly was with the demon fox spirit. Clearing his throat, the 3rd Hokage began to speak, "I do hope I can trust you to fully complete this mission with no qualms. I wish you the best of luck Sakura." Sakura rose from bowing and twiddled her thumbs before the Hokage noticed, "Is there something you wish to ask child?" Sakura nodded slightly before taking a deep breath, "Hokage-sama, when should I expect to be returning back to the leaf?" Hiruzen chuckled softly, "It will be roughly six years. Now, be off. You wouldn't want to be late would you?"

With those last words, Sakura's eyes widened immensely while thinking, 'Six years...' Kurama's ears twitched slighting, noticing Sakura's distress about all of this yet said nothing. The walk to Iwagakure was long to say the least, months passed and finally they reached the rendezvous point in the middle of the afternoon, when the day is hottest and sweat began beading down Sakura's body due to not being used to this kind of heat.

Just then, three shinobi from Iwagakure appeared, "We are here to escort Sakura Haruno the rest of the way to Iwagakure as promised." Kakashi and Yamato nodded and wished Sakura the best of luck and that they would be back in six years time to escort Sakura back home. Feeling almost abandoned, Sakura wished she would have spoke to Naruto and Sasuke longer and held them as if it were going to be the last time she would ever be seeing those two dummies.

Letting her head drop, tears began falling from the beautiful ten year old's eyes. One of the three shinobi noticed the tears falling and felt sorry for her, "Uh... Cheer up, yeah!" Sakura lifted her head to see a boy who was maybe three years older than her at the most. A light blush crossed her porcelain cheeks just from the way he looked. He had long blonde hair and part of his bangs fell over his left eye; taking a closer look, Sakura noticed how blue his eyes were, whenever Sakura mumbled, "The... sky..." The boy looked puzzled by this until Sakura collapsed face forward, "SHIT! WATER! NOW! SAKURA HOLD ON!" Was all she could remember...

Shooting awake, Sakura jolted up and the same boy was there. Dizzy from how fast she had sat up, the boy swiftly caught and held her gently as he handed her a large glass filled with ice water, which Sakura happily gulped down, "Thank you...um..." The boy chuckled softly, "Name's Deidara, yeah. You gave us quite a scare back there, hm." Sakura had never heard anyone talk like this before as she smiled beautifully, "Your accent..." Deidara's face looked puzzled before asking, "What about it, yeah?" Sakura began to giggle cutely, "It's cute."

This caused Deidara to become bright red as he shot off of the bed, "Y-Yeah! Well you're a stupid little girl, hm!" Sakura wasn't known for having the best temper in the world and she shot off of the bed as well, "YEAH! WELL YOU LOOK LIKE A GIRL!" Deidara internally seethed, 'What in the hell did this brat just say?!' Now, the two were completely bitter towards one another as Deidara then spouted off, "WELL IF YOU'RE A GIRL WHY DON'T YOU HAVE ANY BOOBS FLATTY, YEAH!"

Sakura was about to yell back when a man in his early thirty's entered the room, "DEIDARA, you know better than to treat your students that way!" Sakura's and Deidara's heads snapped towards the man before yelling in unison, "OH HELL NO!" The man chuckled, "Sorry, orders are orders Haruno. It is a safety precaution. If need be, Deidara can... Eliminate you..." Deidara's eyes widened, sure, Sakura had a feisty temper, but hell, he wasn't going to kill her over it!

Sakura knew it... THIS was the old man 3rd's intentions... He was trying to eliminate her very existence, yet knew the entire Leaf Village would go on a riot if he were to slay her while still in the village. Therefore, he sent Sakura... on a "mission"... Sakura backed against a wall and slowly slid down it until she reached the ground, only to bring her knees to her chest, "Why..." Sakura whispered as tears fell from her emerald eyes.

Deidara witnessed this and immediately mourned for this girl... how could someone treat another that way...? Were all hidden villages this corrupt...? Clenching his fists tightly, Deidara turned and exited leaving her with the other shinobi. The man looked at Sakura and grinned, "That's right, your Hokage wished to be rid of you. Hearing of Deidara's talents only gave him an opportunity to slay you. My name is Ikaso, I will be watching over you until you either complete your training or more in the Hokage's favor, end up killed."

Sakura didn't even answer the man, which made him angry as he approached Sakura and roughly grasped onto her long locks, freeing it as he thrashed her around. Deidara kept walking until he considered the alternative route, "AH HELL!" He yelled before turning around and bolted back towards the room only to hear multiple crashing noises. The one thing that aggravated him so much was the fact that he could NOT figure out why in the hell he even cared so much for Sakura.

Reaching the room, Deidara's eyes widened immensely at Sakura's form right now. At the moment, Ikaso was flinging Sakura around like a rag doll, leaving her battered and bruised. Without thinking, Deidara pulled out a kunai and ran straight towards Ikaso before plunging the kunai deep into a vital spot; shocking Ikaso to the point where he simply dropped Sakura's now lifeless form on the ground before Ikaso's life was no more than a memory at this point.

Releasing the kunai, Deidara ran to Sakura and grasped her torso and held her securely to his chest, "SAKURA! SAKURA!" Finally, Sakura cracked a single swollen eye open, "D-Deidara...?" Deidara nodded and lifted the ten year old into his arms bridal style before fleeing the scene of the crime. Reaching his home, Deidara placed Sakura in his bed and he smiled at her, "Looks like we will be sharing a bed from now on..." He gave her a gentle smile, "I'm going to bring you some medicine, just hold on, yeah." Sakura nodded weakly at Deidara as he turned and walked away.

Walking back with the medicine in hand, Sakura was fast asleep and looked like an angel. Deidara began tending to all of Sakura's wounds until she stirred awake and he gave her a tender smile, "Sakura... I promise to protect you... I refuse to be the cause of your death..." Sakura nodded and smiled. Deidara was amazed, majority of her injuries were already healed, baffling the blonde. No one knew how short lived that promise would actually be...

To be continued...