Full Summary:

After Team 7 is banned from the Chuunin Exams because the Third doesn't believe that Sakura is strong enough, Sakura realizes that her love for Sasuke is false and that her sensei doesn't believe in her. She finds comfort and partnership in an unlikely source and takes her fate into her own hands, outside of Konoha. When she returns, she returns cold and scarred by battle and loss. She also returns with a secret, one that has the possibility to bring Konoha to its knees. But, this secret is something that she must protect from the Akatsuki, because if they learn her secret then the whole world will be lost to the leader. While protecting her secret, she is betrayed by her heart and Konoha risks destruction unless the Kyuubi can rise again.

In the village of Konoha, a huge opportunity for ninjas was getting ready to take place. In a village where the majority of the income came from selling a ninja's service, it is important to ninjas to improve their rank and become stronger. This time it was the Genin's turn. The Chuunin exams were the opportunity for a Genin to advance their rank. This year, the exams were taking place in Konoha, and teams were being nominated by their Jounin instructors.

Standing in the office of the village's leader, the Hokage, was the instructors of all of Konoha's Genin teams. Sitting behind his desk in the back of the room was the Hokage. The third Hokage of Konoha was an older man who looked like he could be beaten by a Genin, but every ninja knew that he was still Hokage for a reason.

"As you all know," the Hokage began. "The Chuunin exams are being held here in Konoha this year. There will be teams coming from other villages; I expect my ninjas to be hospitable and to not pick fights. Now, any Jounin who would like to nominate his or her team please step forward."

The four teams that were nominated were Hatake Kakashi's, Sarutobi Asuma's, Yuhi Kurenai's and Maito Gai's. The competing roster was impressive because three of the teams were fresh out of the academy and were referred to as the Rookie Nine.

The Hokage didn't seem surprised by the nominated teams. He accepted the teams with a nod and wrote the teams down.

"Dismissed," the Hokage ordered while looking straight at Kakashi. While the rest of the ninjas in the room dispersed, Kakashi remained behind. "Tell me how your team is doing."

Hatake Kakashi, also known as the Copy Ninja, resisted the urge to pull out his book. "Uchiha Sasuke is extremely talented. He activated his Sharingan during our mission to the Wave and has already begun to learn control. Uzumaki Naruto has an unbelievable amount of chakra and stamina, but he still needs to work on his control." Kakashi stopped talking and seemed rather pleased with his students.

The Hokage raised an eyebrow. "And what about Haruno Sakura?"

Kakashi seemed surprised at the mention of his only female student. "Well um, she has exceptional chakra control."

"And?" the Hokage pressed.

Kakashi bowed his head. "Chakra control and intelligence are the only exceptional skills that she has. Her taijutsu and ninjutsu are weak, but she might show some skill with genjutsu if she tried."

For the first time that Kakashi could remember, the Hokage glared at him.

"You nominated your team for the Chuunin exams, knowing full well that one of your students is not yet ready? Genin die during this test Kakashi. Are you willing to send your student to her death?"

Kakashi flinched at the Hokage's cold tone. "Sasuke and Naruto could protect her…"

The Hokage's glare intensified, stopping Kakashi mid-sentence. "She should not have to be protected," the Hokage said icily. "It is your responsibility to make sure that your student is ready, not to nominate her regardless so that her teammates might pass."

"Holding her teammates back from this opportunity would not be fair," Kakashi protested.

"Silence," the Hokage snapped. After Kakashi stopped talking and bowed his head, the Hokage sighed. "It seems that you forget your own lesson about teamwork, Kakashi. I will not allow your students to participate in the exams. My advice to you is to train all of your students so that they might succeed next year."

Kakashi opened his mouth to argue, but decided against it and bowed. "Very well Hokage-sama," he said softly.

"Dismissed," the Hokage sighed. After Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke, the Hokage pulled out Sakura's file.

He smiled when he read just how high her test scores were, but it quickly turned into a scowl when he saw the comments on her physical abilities and amount of chakra. With a sad expression, he put the file down and pulled out his pipe.

"Well Haruno Sakura, what am I going to do with you?" he asked while he blew out a small puff of smoke. "If your own sensei won't help you, then I suppose I'll just have to find a way to assist you myself."

Sakura fidgeted uncomfortably on the bench while her sensei broke the news to his team that they would not be allowed to participate in the upcoming Chuunin exams.

"Why are we forbidden?" Sasuke demanded furiously. "I can take care of any opponent that they put me against!"

Sitting next to Sakura, Naruto had his fists clenched in barely suppressed fury. "Why would the old man refuse us?" Naruto asked desperately. "He didn't refuse the other rookies!"

Kakashi sighed and sat down on the railing of the bridge. "He doesn't think that you're ready," he said softly.

Sasuke's Sharingan activated out of anger. "How many other Genin completed an A rank mission?"

Before Kakashi could stop himself, his uncovered eye drifted over to Sakura. Unfortunately, Sasuke's Sharingan followed him and widened in fury.

"Naruto and I are forbidden to compete because of her?" Sasuke yelled.

Naruto looked from Sakura to Kakashi in shock. "Is that true?" he asked Kakashi.

Kakashi's silence was all the answer they needed. Enraged, Sasuke leapt to his feet and looked at Sakura like he would like nothing more than to stab her with a kunai.

"This is your fault," he spat. "Because of how weak you are, I can't advance in rank. You're always pulling us back. Our team would be better off without you."

Sakura's eyes filled up with tears. "Sasuke-kun," she gasped in pain. "I never…"

Without waiting for her to finish, Sasuke leapt to the nearest rooftop and sprinted away. While Sakura watched Sasuke go, Naruto stood up and began walking away with his head hung low and his hands in his pockets.

"Naruto," Sakura sniffed while she reached out desperately.

Naruto stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn around.

"I'm so sorry Naruto," Sakura cried. "I never asked the Hokage-sama to hold you guys back because of me."

"It's not your fault," Naruto mumbled, like he was trying to convince himself. "See you later Sakura-chan."

The tears in her eyes began pouring down her cheeks. Having Naruto walk away from her strangely hurt even more than Sasuke's reaction. Without so much as a glance at her, Naruto sprinted down the street, away from her.

While Sakura buried her face in her hands and sobbed, Kakashi sat down next to her.

"Become stronger," Kakashi said simply.

Sakura looked at him accusingly. "How could you? Now they hate me!"

Kakashi looked away slightly guilty. "Become stronger," he repeated. "If you become stronger you won't hold them back anymore."

"Then train me!" Sakura shouted while she leapt to her feet. "You're my sensei! You're supposed to help me!"

Kakashi stood up and began to walk away. "I cannot help you," he said bluntly. "You would not be able to handle my intense training. You will have to train on your own or find a different teacher."

Sakura watched, completely stunned, while her sensei walked away. He did not think that she was worth training, her teammates wouldn't look at her and her Hokage thought that she was too weak to participate in the exams. She was weak and alone, and she didn't know what to do about it.

She sat on that bench crying for what felt like hours. Her shirt was completely drenched with tears. Every now and them a person would walk by, but she didn't care, they could stare all they want. Why should a weakling like her care?

She continued to cry until someone stopped and stood in front of her. When the person didn't move, Sakura laughed bitterly.

"Why would you want to associate with a weakling? I'm so pitiful that not even my sensei has faith in me."

"Then he is a fool," the figure answered.

Sakura looked up from her lap and gasped when she saw the Hokage standing right in front of her smoking his pipe. When she looked at the man in front of her, Sakura didn't know whether to be angry or embarrassed.

"Hello Hokage-sama," she said quietly.

The Hokage smiled at her warmly and sat down next to her. "I didn't refuse your participation because I thought you were weak. I did it because I did not think you were ready. You possess a lot of potential Sakura, and I just want you to live long enough to truly tap into it."

"My team hates me," Sakura said miserably. "Kakashi-sensei doesn't even have faith in me."

The Hokage took in a long breath through his pipe. "A sensei who does not believe in his students is a poor one indeed."

Sakura tried to fight back the next round of tears. "It's not his fault that I'm worthless."

"It's his fault that he didn't help you tap into your reputation," he rebutted. "I have been reviewing your file, and you possess every quality needed for a medic-nin."

"Me? A medic-nin?" Sakura asked in shock.

The Hokage nodded. "I am willing to give you an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but only if you can prove to myself and another that you are worthy. This will be incredibly dangerous, and I would never give this chance to a Genin, but you won't be able to succeed here."

Sakura looked at the Hokage nervously. "I still don't understand why you are helping me, I'm just a Genin."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage, chuckled and took another puff of his pipe. "Genin are the future of this village, and I will do whatever it takes to protect this village, even if it means going up and beyond to do it."

Sakura gaped at Hiruzen for a moment before determination blazed in her emerald eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes," she said softly. "I will do anything to prove that I'm not weak and that I am fully capable of protecting Konoha."

Hiruzen nodded approvingly and stood up. "You have convinced me, but there are two others you need to prove yourself to."

"Who?" Sakura asked.

Hiruzen chuckled and dumped the ash out of his pipe. "Meet me at training grounds one tomorrow at six am sharp."

Without waiting for a response, Hiruzen put out and pocketed his pipe. He gave Sakura one last encouraging smile and walked, leaving Sakura alone once more.

Shock and excitement flooded through her, as well as an intense fear.

Will Sasuke-kun return my feelings if I get stronger? Sakura asked herself. I've never seen him look at anyone like that.

Sakura walked back to her home slowly while she tried to process this opportunity that had been presented to her. When she got home, she went straight to her room without stopping to greet her parents. She threw her ninja gear on the floor and closed the door before collapsing on her bed. More tears filled her eyes while the scene with the team flooded in her head over and over again.

She cried on her bed until there was a light knock on her door. The door opened and Sakura's mom stepped in and closed the door behind her. Without a word, she sat down on the side of the bed and gently rubbed Sakura's back.

Even though Sakura's parents weren't ninjas, they tried to be as supportive of her as they could.

"Your sensei told us what happened," Sakura's mom, Mai, began carefully. "Including your teammate's reactions. I'm so sorry Sakura, but is this a sign that maybe you're not meant to be a ninja?"

Sakura flinched and glared at her mother. Haruno Mai looked exactly like an older version of Sakura, except for the brown hair.

"The Hokage withheld us because he thought that I wasn't ready and he didn't want me to be killed during the exams," Sakura said sourly.

Mai flinched at the thought of Sakura dying. "So are you crying because of your teammate's reactions?"

Sakura nodded. "I couldn't believe how Sasuke looked at me. He looked like he hated me. I love him and he hates me."

Mai sighed and continued rubbing her daughter's back. "Honey, you have your whole life to fall in love, don't close yourself off because of Uchiha Sasuke."

"I love him," Sakura insisted.

"You love the idea of him," Mai said gently. "Can you honestly say that you are wholly in love with him after how he treated you earlier?"

Sakura thought about it for a moment. Every time that she tried to think of why she loved Sasuke, Sasuke's furious face popped into her mind. The more she saw the look on her supposed love's face, the angrier she got.

"He had no right to treat me like that," Sakura whispered in realization. "Maybe I do love the idea of him."

Mai smiled. "You have your whole life ahead of you. You will find love, just maybe not for a couple of years."

Sakura giggled for a minute before her face turned serious. "I have something to tell you…"

Sakura spent the next fifteen minutes explaining her encounter with the Hokage to her mother. Her mother switched between excitement and worry.

After Sakura was done explaining what Hiruzen had said, Mai stood up and began to walk out the door. "You're going to need your strength tomorrow," she said, forcibly cheerful. "I'll make you a nice dinner tonight and a big breakfast tomorrow."

"Mom," Sakura began hesitantly. "Do you not want me to do this? This training might take me out of the village."

Mai held the forced smile. "If you survive in the long run because of it, then I'm happy."

Sakura's mouth formed a smile. "Thanks Mom."

Mai's eyes glittered mischievously. "But you're going to have to convince your father."

The next day, Sakura waited anxiously at training grounds one for Hiruzen. She had gotten there early and now she was digging her hands in her weapon's pouch anxiously.

Telling her father had been difficult, but in the end he had accepted it.

Sakura closed her eyes to yawn and when she opened them again she was shocked to see Hiruzen and a woman standing right in front of her.

The woman was wearing a light-green kimono with flower petals on it. She had flawless pale skin and light brown hair that was pulled back in a bun. Her eyes were a dark brown that held a fierce intelligence.

"She did not even sense our arrival even though we didn't mask our chakra," the woman said accusingly. "Hiruzen, I only agreed to take on a pupil if she impresses me, and so far she has not achieved this."

Hiruzen chuckled and pulled out his pipe. "Give her a chance." Turning to Sakura he smiled. "Haruno Sakura, this is Abe Izumi. She is a warrior and a healer, and she is a personal friend of mine. If you impress her today then she will be your new sensei."

Sakura stared at Hiruzen for a moment before she looked over at Izumi. The older woman was undoubtedly beautiful, but Sakura had a difficult time picturing her as a warrior. Izumi continued to study Sakura with a critical eye. After she was done studying Sakura from a distance, she began circling her to examine her closely.

"She has a very lean build," Izumi commented. "With strict training she might become a graceful fighter. Her chakra reserves are pitiful; she would have to work herself to complete exhaustion to get them to my standards. Then there's the issue of her spirit affinity."

Hiruzen smiled and lit his pipe. "I might have a solution to that should you accept her."

Izumi nodded and turned to address Sakura for the first time. "We shall fight, and if you impress me then I shall accept you. Aim to kill or you will fail."

Without another word, Izumi leapt back with more grace than Sakura thought possible in a kimono. Sakura gaped a moment before she bowed respectfully and pulled out a kunai.

That kimono will make it difficult for her to fight in close quarters, Sakura strategized. I'll have to get in close.

Keeping a firm grip on her kunai, Sakura leapt forward. She pulled her leg back and glided into a roundhouse kick. Izumi folded her hands in her sleeves calmly and didn't move to block the kick.

When the kick connected with Izumi's arm, Sakura cried out in pain and shock. Smirking, Izumi grabbed Sakura's leg before she could get away and effortlessly threw her thirty feet. Sakura landed painfully and Hiruzen winced in sympathy when he heard something crack.

Sakura struggled to her feet, grasping her arm in pain. Her eyes were shut tight and her teeth were clenched together. When she was back on her feet, she picked her kunai back up.

"You will do no damage with one broken arm," Izumi pointed out. "You would do well to accept defeat and save yourself some pain."

For a moment Sakura was sorely tempted to give up, but she quickly pushed the thought aside and resumed a fighting stance.

"I won't give up," Sakura said with a glare.

Izumi kept her expression blank. "Then I shall have to teach you a difficult lesson."

Faster than Sakura's eyes could follow, Izumi sprinted so that she was right in front of her and ducked to perform a graceful sweep kick. Sakura fell on her back and bit her lip to keep herself from crying in pain.

Before Sakura could recover, Izumi pulled out a handful of senbons from her sleeve. Sakura's eyes widened and she quickly rolled away to avoid the projectiles. She winced when some of the senbons graced her leg, but none of them pierced her body.

Sakura got back to her feet. Before she could get steady, Izumi aimed a roundhouse kick and sent Sakura back another twenty feet. Sakura screamed in pain when she landed and felt agonizing pain from her torso. It felt like she was on fire and she couldn't bet in a full breath.

Coughing up a little blood, Sakura rolled onto her hands and knees. Before she could push through the pain, she felt someone get a firm grip on her hair and pull her to her knees. Sakura's body screamed in protest when she moved, but she couldn't do anything to stop it.

"Yield," Izumi commanded while she tightened her grip on Sakura's hair. Sakura heard metal scraping and felt something dangerously sharp poking her in the back. "I could cut you in half right now if I chose. Yield."

Sakura felt a large assortment of emotions in that moment. She felt fear, disappointment and defeat. But, the strongest emotion that she felt was anger.

"Do it," Sakura said softly.

"Excuse me?" Izumi asked in surprise.

"Cut me in half. I failed, and I don't deserve to be a ninja," Sakura said sadly.

"So you believe that failure should be punishable by death," Izumi confirmed.

Sakura hesitated a moment before bowing her head. "It is in the ninja world. If this were a mission and you were an enemy ninja I would be dead by now. But," Sakura continued while she tightened her grip on the kunai that she had refused to drop. "That doesn't mean that I will give up until the very end."

Izumi's eyes widened in surprise when Sakura swung the kunai over her head, and cut through the hair that Izumi had been gripping. Sakura forced herself not to cry when she felt her once beautiful hair fall past her neck and land on the ground.

Once Sakura was free of Izumi's grasp, she spun around on her knees and prepared to strike at Izumi's leg with her kunai. Her kunai was blocked by a beautiful metal fan and it flew out of her hand before she could stop it.

Sakura gulped when Izumi put the fan right against her neck. She could practically smell the metal and Sakura knew that the slightest movement could cause her injury. Sakura's emerald eyes met defiantly with Izumi's brown. They held the gaze for a moment before Izumi smiled warmly and folded her fan.

"You are a very determined young woman," Izumi said kindly. "I can tell how difficult it was for you to cut off your hair, and I respect a ninja who can put aside something that's important to her in order to fight."

"Does that mean," Sakura choked out.

Izumi nodded and tucked her fan into her sleeves. "You have impressed me; I shall be honored to be your new sensei."

Tears filled Sakura's eyes and she bowed her head respectfully. "I will work very hard Izumi-sensei," she promised.

Izumi nodded. "I expect you to. Now, let me heal your injuries."

Izumi's hands glowed green and she gently touched Sakura's arm and torso. Right away, Sakura sighed in relief when a cooling sensation eased away the pain in her arm and ribs.

While Izumi finished healing Sakura, Hiruzen walked up to the two, smiling. "Well done Sakura," he praised. "Izumi is not an easy woman to impress. Izumi is a warrior from the Mountain Country, but she has been traveling for some time. She was within a day's journey to the village when I began to think of ways to help you."

"I owed him a favor and agreed to come to give you a shot," Izumi explained to Sakura. "Now, what is your solution for her spirit affinity?"

Hiruzen nodded and put out his pipe. "I have a close friend whose child needs a chance to prove himself, just like Sakura. If they have a chakra connection then my friend will give him to her."

Sakura looked between the two. "What's a spirit affinity?"

"A spirit affinity," Izumi began. "Is one of the most useful tools that a ninja can have. Are you familiar with chakra affinities?"

"A little," Sakura admitted. "I know that your affinity type affects the type of jutsu that you can use, but I don't know any more than that."

"That's it for the most part," Izumi said. "A spirit affinity is when you learn the affinity of your partner. It is a bit difficult to explain, allow me to show you."

Izumi put her finger to her lips and whistled loudly. There was a loud screech somewhere in the forest which brought a smile to Izumi's face.

"My affinity is earth," Izumi explained. "But my spirit affinity directly reflects my partner. Here she comes now."

Sakura looked back to the forest and saw a fast brown streak flying towards them. Laughter filled Izumi's eyes and she held out her arm. The brown streak slowed down and Sakura saw that it was a brown hawk. The hawk had dark brown feathers and fiercely intelligent black eyes that seemed to inspect Sakura.

"This is my partner Sukai, Sukai this is Sakura," Izumi introduced. "I have decided to take her on as my apprentice, and I'm explaining to her about the spirit affinity."

Sukai nodded and turned her head back towards Sakura. "And you wish for a demonstration," the hawk clarified, surprising Sakura.

"Ikimono Benkou jutsu, also known as animal speech," Izumi explained.

"Wouldn't that constantly drain your chakra?" Sakura asked.

Sukai chuckled. "I can maintain a D level jutsu without any effort young one. You need not worry about me."

Sakura blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"That is quite alright," Sukai said.

While Sakura and Sukai were getting acquainted, Hiruzen and Izumi were discussing the details about Sakura's training.

"So you have a solution for her spirit affinity," Izumi confirmed. "I cannot train her completely without a partner for her."

"It would need to keep quiet," Hiruzen whispered. "If the village finds out who he is, they'll kill both him and Sakura."

Izumi's eyes widened. "Just who exactly is your friend Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen didn't answer right away. "Give your demonstration first," he said. "Then I'll introduce you."

Izumi nodded and turned her attention back to Sukai and Sakura. "Sukai's affinity is air, which means that my spirit affinity is air. Though I can't perform any powerful wind jutsu, I can perform some. Because of my spirit affinity, I have impeccable hearing. Each spirit affinity heightens a sense. Air enhances hearing, water enhances sight, earth enhances touch and fire enhances smell. As far as I know there is no spirit affinity that enhances taste."

Sukai nodded in agreement and began to fly over their heads. "Izumi and I can also share vision. This is not limited to your spirit affinity, it can be done with anyone who has a chakra connection with an animal."

"I can perform up to level B wind jutsu," Izumi continued. To prove her point, she took her fan back out and opened it. She turned away from her audience and aimed for a tree. "Fuuton: Daikamaitachi no Jutsu!" She waved her fan and a large whirlwind blew towards the tree and engulfed it. When the wind died away, the tree was in shreds.

Sakura gasped in surprise when Sukai took flight and used the same jutsu on another tree by using her wings. The difference in power was evident as Sukai's jutsu took out three trees that were in the tornado's path.

"As you can see," Izumi said while Sukai perched on her shoulder. "Sukai's wind jutsu is much more powerful than mine. This is because of my spirit affinity, which is merely meant to give you more of a range with your jutsu."

Sakura nodded in understanding. "So how do I get a partner that I have a chakra connection with?"

"That's where I come in," Hiruzen said with a smile. "Before I summon her, I must ask you to hold off on your judgment and listen to what she has to say."

After Sakura nodded in uneasy agreement, Hiruzen motioned for everyone to give him some space. When everyone was clear, he bit his thumb and went through some hand signs.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu," he yelled while he slammed his hand onto the ground.

There was a loud 'poof' and a large cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared Sakura saw that Hiruzen was leaning warily against the leg of a large red fox. The fox, a vixen, held a small cub by the scruff and was eyeing Sakura critically.

"Sakura, this is Aki," Hiruzen introduced. "She was once the mate of the nine tailed demon. If you have a connection then she will give you the Kyuubi's son."

A/N- I hope that you all enjoyed the first chapter of my story. Please review! -Phoenix