"No!!!" Sakura screamed in anguish, sinking to her knees as hot tears streaked down her face. Another voice, speaking smoothly despite the muted agony present becoming evident with its words and rushed apologies, rose within her mind over the wails and sobs of her Inner.

'I am so, so sorry. I never meant for this to happen when I let you use my body.'

"W-Why? Why me? Why...? What did I do?"

'Because of me.' the voice whispered sadly. 'Remember what I told you that day?'

A cloaked figure approached the gates of Konoha with a cold, depressing aura and a heavy heart. A small, black cat with green eyes sat on the ninja's shoulder, its sharp eyes processing their surroundings while attempting to cheer up her owner mentally. Smiles or even emotion was scarcely seen ever since.. that day.

The shinobi felt a weak chakra signature fading nearby and decided to take a small detour, the medic-nin in them calling for the compassion they had sworn to leave behind years ago. All the hunter-nin were gone, so there was no rush to arrive at their destination. The cat suddenly jumped from her perch and sniffed the air delicately, before bringing her companion to a small clearing near the main road, hidden by a few trees. She gently licked the face of the small figure sprawled in its center before climbing back up to her perch. The shinobi took note of the irregular heartbeat and shallow breathing and began to turn away. Small eyes suddenly opened, revealing glazed over emerald eyes, and sunlight finally pierced the gloomy clouds and lit up the girl's features. A small hand grabbed the hem of their black cloak and the ninja hesitated, closing their eyes.

"P-Please... Help.. me...."

The figure seemed to sigh heavily before squatting down before the pink-haired girl and staring into her dulling green eyes with their own violet ones.

"Why should I help you, little girl?"

"I just... want to see me family... one last time... please.."

"You are not afraid of death, then?"

"N-No.. My family... Please...."

The shinobi felt something they had not felt in a while, hope. She felt hope for future generations of children, ones who would be loved like this one, ones that did not fear death but the effect their passing had on loved ones, children who would fight for their love instead of abusing it. A small smile made its way onto their normally stoic visage. Perhaps, she could make a difference and stop children like this one from suffering a path such as hers. The shinobi picked up the young girl in their arms and spoke in a hushed tone, slightly hoarse from disuse.

"I sense great potential in you. I will help you, if you are willing to promise me something."

"H-How?"

"Promise me that you will never lose that light in your eyes, that determination to protect those you love. Promise me that you will live, that you will cling to life with every fiber of your being."

The girl gazed into those captivation violet eyes with hope and awe. "I promise."

"Good. Now, I'm going to ask you to close your eyes in a few minutes. I am about to perform a very forbidden jutsu, understand?"

The girl nodded, before voicing her curiosity that spoke of her high intelligence. "Why is it forbidden?"

"I am going to allow you to use my body and be your host until I can make you a more suitable one. Usually, this jutsu is used as a type of enslavement, but I have changed it so you will be in control instead of me. I will be aware of what is going on, but I will not interfere beyond using a small portion of my chakra to keep up a permanent henge so no one will know that this body is not your own. Unless your life is threatened, of course, there would be no need for me to intervene anyway. You'll hardly notice I'm here, in the back of your mind."

Violet eyes showed confusion as the girl burst into tears, then concern as she realized the girl really didn't have the energy to waste on such things.

"Shhh... What's wrong little one? You'll be able to see your family again very soon."

"W-Why would you.... d-do this... for me? ...You.. don't even... hic... know me.."

Violet eyes softened before hardening with the explanation that answered the girl's innocent question.

"I have no home to call my own. My life was taken from me, little one. Maybe we can both gain something from this." The shinobi propped the girl up against a tree. "What is your name?"

"H-Haruno S-Sakura."

"Pretty. It suits you. Ready to get better, little cherry blossom?"

The little pinkette nodded, smiling brightly at her savior as she closed her eyes. The mysterious shinobi made a string of complex hand signs before placing a glowing white hand over the girl's heart and whispered, "Forbidden Art: Reikon Tsu No Jutsu."

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