Hi Guys. This is my first naruto fic and frankly I'm scared. I hope you'll give this story a try. I can't seem to update my other stories because of this. Anyways, I just hope you'll enjoy it.

Disclaimer:

A Thousand Paper Cranes

Introduction: Betwixt and Between

I cannot understand, Uchiha Sasuke.

How can you leave so easily when I'm so tied to you? Why did you leave me when we promised to stay together? What did we do wrong? When did it all go wrong?

Questions plague me but you are not here to give me answers. Who shall I ask when only you can answer? Your kindness, your cruelty, and your love. Where will I find them if not with you? I shall never find out. You have already vanished from me.

This letter of mine, will chance let it be read by you? Even if doesn't, I wish you'd never forget.

I'm here in Konoha. I love you.

— Tsukishiro Shura

She folded the piece of paper into a swan origami and adjoined it with the many others that they—those who cared for that man—had folded in hopes of sending that one wish to the gods. This was the thousandth piece and with it she whispered.

Come home.

With a few hand signs, a blast of wind carried the paper cranes away from her and scattered them across the sky above the waterfall where they last caught sight of him, the Valley of the End. Her blue eyes did not leave the green scenery until every last piece had been carried to a farther land and her long black hair had fallen down in place behind her.

And for the last time, she hoped for his return to their side.

The chill of the wind hit her as she run with fervor, leaping through each branch with her maximum speed. Neither the thought of stopping nor looking back invaded her thoughts. Her wounds ached with each movement but she continued, just the same. She cannot be caught now, not after having escaped their grasp for almost four days now. Just one more day and she'll be out of her pursuer's reach.

They won't follow her once she had entered the Konoha's grounds, of that she was sure. And she doubted that the parcel she stole was worth risking the protection their village was receiving from Konoha. No, they wouldn't risk it.

Konoha was her safest bet.

And so she ran and ran, never minding the little circumstances she'd have to face once she passed through the large gates of the Great Hidden Village, if she was even allowed to. But she had to try, nevertheless. It's not like she had any other choice when rogue ninjas are after her with such killing intent.

Just one more day.

Just one more day and she'd be back to that place but still, she continued to run.

It had been a peaceful day for Tsunade which consisted of sake, paperwork, and sake. She had been in one of her good moods after successfully escaping Shizune and the pile of paperwork that needed to be done. It could have been continued to be a peaceful day if she didn't notice a commotion around the main gate.

She had been standing a few meters away from it, drinking a bottle of sake that she had in hand when there was a rushing sound coming from the gate. And then, a body fell to the ground just in front of the gatekeepers. The two ran towards the collapsed body and when she noticed they're shocked expression, she rushed to their side.

"Hokage-sama," They greeted as soon as she pushed them aside and she saw who had entered Konoha in such a battered state.

It didn't take too long for her to recognize the missing ninja. Immediately, she ordered for her to be brought to the hospital.

It was a comfy bed that she awoke to. Her blue eyes fluttering open at the sound of machine and smell of disinfectant. What greeted her was the warm rays of sunlight to which she tried to shield her eyes from but to no avail, she couldn't lift either arms and so she just closed them.

"You're awake," A familiar voice reached her as the sound of shutting door did as well and the light diminished, allowing her to open her eyes. The curtain had been closed and she sure knew the person who did her a favour.

"Hokage-sama." She said as she tried to stand up but her body did not seem to want to obey her today.

"Don't try to sit up yet. Your body's still fatigued." The blonde woman instructed as she was pushed down gently. "I'm going to be frank with you," Tsunade started and they stared each other squarely, the younger woman nodding in silent consent. "Where have you been this past year, Tsukishiro Shura?"

Shura did not proceed to answer right away. But when she did, she made sure that her voice didn't quiver even though it was hard to speak. "I stayed in a village near the Fire Country's border. I have been missing my memories so I couldn't return. I had only regained them recently." She explained.

The Hokage regarded her with a blank look that she easily matched with her natural blank expression. She didn't know what was running through the older woman's mind but she had resigned to the fact that once she reached Konoha, her fate is the village's will. Tsunade nodded, "We'll talk about it more once you have recuperated." And with a small smile, "Welcome back."

"I'm home, Hokage-sama." She smiled back as the Hokage left her alone in that hospital room.

Once the woman had left, her eyes travelled towards the covered window. A year, huh. She had been missing for a year. That means she must be fifteen by now, or at least turning fifteen. Her sense of time had gotten real messed up. What she thought had been a mere month or two turned out to be a year.

Then, he must have been gone for a year too.

She sighed. Within that one year, how much had changed? The people she knew then, would they still know her now or was it all different?

It was all because of that stupid mission. Or maybe she was the stupid one. She had been careless and because of that she lost tract of him and her memory. It was a really bad mistake. And who would have thought she was the perfectionist.

But nothing will change no matter how much she pondered upon it.

It had happened.

She had gone and he had left.

"I will take my leave then, Hokage-sama." Shura bowed to Tsunade and she was about to leave when the Hokage spoke.

"You will receive your first mission tomorrow." She was instructed and she nodded before leaving the office.

She had just been reinstated into the ANBU and the position filled her with relief. She thought they won't allow her to be an ANBU anymore but thank the heavens, Tsunade understood that being in the ANBU was the most comfortable for her.

As she walked through the village, she took in the changes around the village but was filled with both disappointment and relief that there was visibly none. The village itself looked the same and shops had been undisturbed. But maybe what was change were the people themselves.

Shura hadn't noticed since when but somehow, she had wondered by the entrance of the Uchiha compound. She stopped in her tracks and debated on entering the empty residence. The only place that she ever called home, though both times, temporarily. Now that she was back, she'd have to find a new place to stay, a real 'home'. With a final breath of air, she entered the compound, careful not to be seen by anyone.

The place was just as she left it. Empty and filled with a sober feeling that never seemed to leave the residence since the massacre. But she could only blame it on the events that happened in this place. Within minutes, she had reached the biggest house in the compound, the Uchiha main house.

And though it wasn't her will, her mind trailed back to those days.

To her first kindness and first experience of a so-called family.

"So, what's your name?" The beaming face of the little Uchiha draw closer than she would have like as she took another bite of the meal Mikoto had kindly cooked for her. Somehow, she wondered if collapsing in front of the Uchiha main house was really a good twist of fate.

"Tsukishiro Shura," She answered slowly and he nodded with that smile.

She fidgeted a bit. It wasn't like she disliked Uchiha Sasuke or anything. But under his gaze, she felt inferior even though she was clearly older and taller. Or maybe she was just envious that he grew up with this family. Whatever the reason, she was uncomfortable.

"Let's train together, okay, Shura?"

It wasn't the same for the little Uchiha.

I'm sorry if there are any typos or grammatical errors. I tried to edit it as much as I could. Read and Review? I have the first three chapters ready but I don't know if I should post it since...yeah.

I'm scared.

Well, I just hoped you like it. :)