I am trying to get this stuff done. I have started rewriting things and I hope you guys enjoy this. I really do not think you guys realize how much you mean to me. I know I have not been the greatest author the past few years but I am going to change that. I want to make a better effort to do what I can to make you guys happy, entertained, and proud. That is my sole promise from my heart that I took when I became an author and it is time I did just that.

Enjoy~

Flashbacks

Inner Talking

Chapter 1

'Today's the day,' I thought, staring at my image in the mirror on the floor of my room. I looked the same as everyday with my long red white rimmed dress with two long slits up the sides to my thighs, a pair of black spandex shorts under it, and my dark blue ninja sandals on my feet. The dress had my family crest- the Haruno's- on the back. The crest itself is simple; it is a white thin circle with the middle cut out of it, making it seem like a big white sideways wedding ring basically.

Then there was my hair- it goes all the way down to the bottom of my back and is a bubbly pink. I have wanted to cut it for a while but I just can't bring myself to do it. I grab a hair tie and put it into a pony tail then braid it from there so it's out of my face and out of the way.

'Today I find out if all my hard work has paid off….today, I become a ninja.'

I walk to the place where I learned about everything I love- the ninja academy.

I still remember the first day here, I was 6 years old and I didn't have any friends.

"Hey! Look at her!" A boy around my age yelled. He was talking about me and I knew it, he was pointing at my forehead while he yelled and other kids gathered around me. There were three girls and two boys and they were all laughing at me because of the size of my forehead.

I felt tears welling up in the corners of my eyes, but I kept the tears at bay, hopping they wouldn't realize I was trying not to cry.

I had had enough after a few minutes, so I stood up and ran away, tears streaming down my face, back towards my house. I didn't make it very far before I ran into a woman with a rather ample chest and stumbled back. She looked down at me, in the middle of yelling, "WATCH IT!" and looked at me.

I must have looked rather pathetic with tears in my red puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. I stumbled and bowed saying a quick 'Gomen' and I went to turn and head directly to my house when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and took a good hard look at the woman…and realized it was the great female Sannin!

"Tsu-Tsunade-sama!" I said in surprise and bowed once more and said, "I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you sooner. I didn't mean to bump into you, I was just heading home. I am truly sorry I disrupted your walk around the village." I was still in a bowing position by the time I finished my little spiel.

I mean, this is Senju, Tsunade we are talking about! Every single scroll about medical ninjustu my mother and father have read to me has mentioned Tsunade every other line! She is who I want to grow up to be- nothing less will be accepted!

'SHANARO! WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT DREAM DOES COME TRUE PINKY!' My inner Sakura yelled at me.

I smiled, standing up from my bow and realized she was staring at me, me of all people.

"You know who I am?" She asked me, looking surprised that a 6 year old knew about her.

I smiled and said, "Of course I do! My okaa-san and otou-san always read me medical scrolls and you are in almost every single one! I want to grow up and be just like you- not afraid of other people, not afraid to stand up for yourself- it's my only goal right now! It helps that my ninja goal is to never give up, so maybe, I'll one day be like you."

She stood there, almost as if in disbelief, then she too smiled as she came a little closer to me. I was unsure of what she was going to do, but she just ruffled my hair just like my brother does.

I smiled then, remembering where I was going, looked at her and said, "Well I have to get going…my oka-san and otou-san need to know that I'm not going to school today…"

"Why aren't you going to school? If you want to get stronger, you have to learn the basics so you can learn new jutsu and techniques from your Sensei!" She said to me.

I nodded and smiled and said, "I know that, but I can't go back if I'm being bullied all the time. I don't have one friend in the academy because I'm new to the village…I came about a year ago and I still haven't made any friends. But, I'm going to be a ninja, so bullying should be the least of my worries, right? Well, I have to head home, so I hope you enjoy your stay in Konoah Tsunde-sama."

I went to walk away when I felt her hand on my arm and she turned me to her. She said, "You're being bullied at the academy? That is unacceptable...come on, I'll straighten this out with the Hokage. He'll make sure you're not picked on." She walked me to the Hokage's office and stormed right in without even knocking! She was towing me along and brought me right in front of the Third Hokage himself- and she ran right up to him and gave him a big hug.

I stared at her, wondering what the hell she was doing, until she said, "Uncle, I need you to help me. This young girl could use some assistance."

(A/N I know Tsunade and The Third are not related in the manga, buuuuuuuuut, I'm making it seem like they are because of their old teacher student bond…on with the fic!)

Tsunade walked back over to me and brought me right in front of the Hokage's desk. I bowed my head and said, "Good morning, Hokage-sama."

"Hello Haruno-san, what brings you to my office at this time of day? Do you not start the academy today?"

I shook my head about to reply when Tsunade-sama interrupted saying, "Sakura told me she was at the academy and some of the kids were bullying her. She said that she doesn't have a single friend, not since she's moved here…and I need you to help me fix that. You need to go to the academy and teach them a lesson on bullying. We don't want the next generation of ninjas to be bullies, do we?"

Sarutobi-san looked up at her in shock and then looked to me.

"Is this true?" He asked me, standing up from his seat and slowly walking around his desk.

"Hai- Hokage-sama." I told him.

He was silent for a few more moments before saying,"Looks like I'm giving a lesson today girls."

I smiled and said, "Arigato Hokage-sama! But if you don't want to you don't have to…"

He shook his head and said, "Nonsense, anything for such a polite young girl of the Haruno clan." He smiled and walked away with me and Tsunade at his sides back to the academy."

(End Flashback)

It felt like such a long time ago now, but the memory was always fresh in my mind.

That's because it was a long time ago.

Not really, only 6 years ago.

True, but we should get going; you don't want to be late today do you?

No, I guess we should get going.

I walked down the hall to my family dining room/kitchen and saw my mom and dad sitting in their ninja gear like normal.

"Morning oka-san, otou-san, I guess you guys have another mission today?" I asked them, sitting in my chair and eating my dad's prepared breakfast of eggs and toast.

They looked at one another and nodded, then my mother said, "Your father and I have a very serious mission, an S-Class mission, but don't worry okay dear? We should be back in a few. We already have someone to come and check on you every once in a while, so you won't always be alone."

"Just make sure you train with your new team sweetie," My father said.

I nodded and said, "Hai! While you are away I will stay safe and train. I got to go, love you both and do your best on the mission!" I gave them each a hug and ran out of my house putting my shuriken and kunai pouch on my hip.

I run all the way to the academy and- no surprise- I'm the first one here. I always manage to be the first person, then normally the brooding and emo Uchiha, Sasuke, and finally Hyuuga, Hinata-chan (my only best friend) would be the last one to enter for another 10 minutes. Then the rest of the class would come in clumps of 4 or 5, always talking or laughing about something.

I put my head in my hands and thought about what I would do while my parents were gone. Normally I would house with the Hyuuga's until they came home, but I didn't want to bother them if they weren't going to be back in the least a few months.

You could just brush it off and live alone until then, Saki.

True, but if someone notices my parents absence they will wonder why I'm alone, especially Hinata-chan. I don't think there has been a single time since we have been friends that I haven't stayed at her house when mom and dad were gone.

….Fair point.

Tsunade-sama would especially freak if we were alone for that long. Guess we'll have to ask Hinata-chan about it.

Maybe she'll let us sleep in Neij's room. *suggestive eyes*

IF YOU INSINUATE ONE MORE TIME THAT I LIKE NEJI. I. WILL. KILL. YOU.

You can't kill me! I'm INSIDE of your conscience BAKA!

WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!

BITCH PLEASE, LETS BRING THIS OUTSIDE THEN!

….You mean walk you outside? You're 'inside' of my conscience remember?

I smirked, knowing I had won this round.

GRRRRRR, IM DONE. SEE YOU WHEN YOU MEET YOUR TEAM AND NEW SENSEI

Bye, bye.

I smiled and giggled to myself, knowing she will get too bored and come back, or she will just come back when I call for her. I had been so preoccupied that I hadn't realized that Hinata had gotten here and was sitting quietly sitting next to me, fiddling with her fingers.

"Ohayo, Hinata-chan," I said to her and smiled at her and saw her blush spread across her cheeks when she had been noticed.

"O-ohayo, Sakura-chan," She stuttered slightly, smiling at me.

Ever since the Hokage had come to the classroom to address the bullying situation, Hinata has been glued to my side. She had been 'touched' by my story, as she put it. She also told me that I wasn't the only one who was being bullied- she was too, so we became instant friends and I became her protector.

Over the past four years, I have been training with Tsunade-sama in everything from Taijutsu to Medical-ninjutsu. She put a chakra reducer in my chakra paths right now, so I can get stronger and so I can save my true strength for when I take the Chunin Exams next year. Plus I have to wear weights that are adjustable- depending on the amount of chakra you put in depends on the weight.

Tsunade-sama has been very impressed with my chakra control over the years. She told me that I have the best chakra control next to her, and she told me that in time even I would surpass her skill.

I wasn't quite certain that was true, only because the only thing anyone at the Academy has ever seen is my limited skills, especially in speed, kunai, and shuriken throwing. If you didn't look with trained eyes, you would never see my weapons; at least that's what Shishou tells me.

She also told me about how much stronger I would be when she took off the reducers and the weights, and I still can't believe it. 'You will be 3 times stronger, 2 times faster and 2 times more sensitive to your surroundings,' she said, simply looking at me with a faraway look in her eyes.

But ever since I started hanging around with Hinata and started my private teachings with Tsunade I have stuck to a strict routine.

Since then, I have slowly zeroed in on training, my parents, and protecting Hinata-chan from anything and everything. My parents were AMBU members, and I only knew that because I saw my mom's ANBU mask in their room.

She didn't want to tell me, but after my pestering she told me that my father was also ANBU. And ever since I found out, I rarely get to see them because of the amount of missions coming in. We try and do things every once and a while- especially go to the monument stone.

We go to pay our respects to my brother who had died on a mission, giving his life for the Kazekage at the time. My brother had been 16 years old- a shinobi ready to kill. I normally go there to reminisce in the good days. He had died only 4 years ago, but it felt like just yesterday he was by my side and laughing with me.

My brother- his name was Mori Haruno. He was an excellent shinobi for his young age, many called him a genius. He-being the only male heir- was to keep our family going after our parents died. But, this bastard Orochimaru had to go and try assassinating the Kazekage of the Sand.

At his funeral, I silently vowed to his corpse that I would get revenge on that man. When I met him, I would murder that bastard. No one takes one of my precious people and gets away with it.

And the only person who knew in our age group was Hinata. I doubt Tsunade-sama knew of it, considering it happened right before she came to the village. So the Third and Hinata-chan are the only two people who knew of my brothers passing besides the other ninja I did not know. Hinata being the one to comfort me while I cried at home for hours on end when I found out- my parents had been out on a mission and I was getting my things to go to Hinata's when an ANBU-nin poofed into my home (no doubt looking for my parents) but instead saw me and told me he was to bring me to the Hokage. Once I got to his office he had then explained what happened and gave me his condolences, hugging me and telling me it was going to be okay.

Long story short, I called Hinata after I got home and she rushed over and I holed up in my house for a good week-not even going to the Academy or training.

But today, I would make my nii-san proud and become a Genin. Then a Chunin and Jounin and then an ANBU- just so I could bring honor to his name, nothing less could come out of this, and if it did I would have to kill myself for being so weak.

Well, might as well start on my short yet seemingly impossible list, as Iruka-sensei has just entered the building.

"Time to kick some ass Hinata-chan," I quietly said in her ear, and she smiled and said, "Hai!"

He came in and explained what the exam was and that we either passed or failed- there was no in-between.

He read the first name off and in the person went, and this went on for what felt like an eternity, until I was called into the room for my exam.

I walked in, standing in front of Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei, and an ANBU with a... with a bird mask. I was inwardly surprised that they would use the mask of a deceased member. I'd have to ask Hokage-sama about that later.

"Sakura-san," Iruka-sensei said, "this exam is based on how many clones you can make and how they come out."

I nodded, made the hand seal, and-because of my suppressed chakra- only 10 clones came out. I could see the surprise on Mizuki-sensei's face, and I snickered at him.

"What are you laughing at kid?!" He yelled at me, his face getting all red and steam coming out of his ears.

I stopped laughing and looked at him, getting serious. "You're a ninja Mizuki-sensei; you should be able to hide your emotions from a mere Genin."

He obviously did not expect that to come from my mouth because he stood up- and because of my training- I saw him come toward me, in order to scare me. I was quicker though, so I picked up a kunai, swung with his momentum, flipped him in front of me and put the knife to his neck.

"Being rash makes you sloppy and slow- try not being both of them the next time you try to scare me sensei," and he growled under my hold.

"Haruno-san, can you let Mizuki-san go? We cannot replace him; we are short on Chunin and Jounin at the moment." The bird ANBU said, and I nodded, letting the fuming man go and walking over to Iruka's outstretched hand with my new Genin head band (signifying I have passed the test). I put it around my neck and walked back out into the class- opposite where they told me to go. Hinata saw me enter and smiled and….and ran up and hugged me.

She had never- EVER- hugged me in front of the class, no one has. I felt every pair of eyes on us, but I didn't care, I just gave a smile and hugged her back.

To say everyone was shocked was an understatement- everyone was silent, even Sasuke was staring at me like I had grown two heads.

"Great job Sakura-chan!" Hinata squealed and I looked at her, still smiling, and said, "Thanks, Hinata-chan. And good luck, you're up next." I gave her a tight hug at that and ushered her inside the room.

When I turned back around, I came face to face with…with the Uchiha. Of course.

This snoopy little bastard just had to know everything, and now he really wanted to know me because I was never a fangirl. Well I was going to relish in this damn bastards curiosity.

I walked around him and decided to wait in the doorway for Hinata to come out with her head band before we went to train. So I leaned on the doorway and waited- for the Uchiha bastard to question me and for Hinata. Sure enough, after about a minute, the bastard walked up to me, and leaned against the doorway right across from me.

He looked at me, then sighed and asked, only loud enough for me to hear, "You passed I see."

I nodded at him, and then turned back to the exam door, hopping Hinata was almost done.

When he didn't say anything else, I looked up at him and saw that he was seriously contemplating his next words. But he shook it off and asked me, "How are you friendly with Hinata, but not anyone else? Hell, you're not even one of my fangirls, you're actually normal."

Of course, he had to ask me a question that wasn't a yes or no simple answer. I sighed, and said equally as quiet, "Hinata is my anchor, without her I wouldn't even be here. She calms me, she is one of my only friends, and she won't go easy on me in a spar. Those are rare traits, Uchiha, very rare."

He seemed shocked that I had talked so much, but I didn't care. Today was just full of surprises wasn't it? "Why are you so chatty today mister 'I'm so emo and cool that no one should be blessed with my presence'?" I asked him.

He smirked at the name and glared at me, "I could ask you the same thing miss 'I'm intimidating and you should respect me'."

We settled for a staring contest until Hinata came up to me with her headband and I gave him one more glare then Hinata and I were off to train.