No time to waste! Go ahead and read! …

Chapter 1 Leaf and sound

I groaned as I heard my phone ringing. "Please stop ringing!" I mumbled inside the pillow, shutting my eyes tight to force them to go back to sleep. As if on cue, Tsunade came bursting in through the door, shouting on top of her lungs "For God's sake, Sakura! Wake up!"

I flinched and groaned, sitting up with my eyes still shut, with Tsunade rambling on and on about schools and days and some…Oh crap!

My eyes shot open. School! First day! Hinata! Pig! Ten! And on and on I went inside my head as I dashed across the room to my bathroom.

By the way, before I forget! Let me introduce myself to you all! My name's Sakura Haruno and Tsunade's my, well sort of, mother. My parents died two years ago, so Tsunade being my mom's sister and my only relative. I moved in with her after she 'adopted' me. This reminds me, I'm seventeen, so this is probably my last year at high school and my miserably boring life. You know why? Well, let's just get to that later! Right now I gotta rush!

So after I got myself ready with the silly uniform on me and my bag, I went downstairs to find Tsunade mumbling angrily about how she should've got a servant as the Hokage and how she should've also gotten a manual on how to take care of teenage girls. Oh, by the way, this lady is also the Hokage of our village. Now what the hell is that you ask? You'll have to hold on to that question too because I'll…well, you'll get the answer soon!

I sat down on the dining table and drank the nasty smelling white fluid people call 'milk' and tried not to vomit it back.

"So…why are you shaking the house foundations so soon?" I said burping behind my hand and smiling at the thought that Tsunade could actually do what I just said…No, literally, she can!

"Because for once I would like a proper Sunday!" Tsunade shouted, tossing scrambled eggs on the frying pan.

"Oh!" I was almost going to point out that today was 'Monday', but then decided against it. I mean you don't want to go poking your finger at an angry lioness, do you?

So coming back to the title Hokage, well, what you should know for now is that she's like mayor of the village only with, bigger secrets. So big that your tummy can actually fill and then explode with these secrets!

I glanced at the clock and thanked the Spirits (and secretly Tsunade as well) for keeping the track of time for me. It was 7:00 a.m., so I would still get to catch my 8:00 a.m. bus for the school to spare Tsunade from driving me there.

Clunk of metals brought me back to the plate in front of me full of the golden delicacy. I glanced back at the woman as I started munching on my breakfast. She was writing something on a paper and side by side gulping down her portion as well.

"What are you scribbling about?" I asked, getting up and washing the plate and my glass. She was right, we should've agreed with a personal servant. But you can't really trust anyone enough to be the Hokage's servant.

Tsunade stopped her hand movement and looked up "Really? You forgot?"

I stared blankly at her. What did I forget?
Tsunade sighed and scribbled more and then handed the piece of paper to me.

I stared at her for a moment and then looked down to read. It was a formal letter, so I read just the subject. "Permission to allow Haruno Sakura to skip kendo classes"

Oh, so that's what this is about- the Hokage requesting for me to skip those stupid compulsory for all Kendo classes for girls, where the girls get all bitchy about each other, complaining how other girls are just so un-fashionable instead of actually practicing the kendo moves. Besides that, the teacher, Nina Nariko, doesn't really know what happens behind her back either. I'm not trying to be all judge-ie, but still!

I'm grinned apologetically at Tsunade and hugged her loosely, mumbling a good-bye. She sighed as I started walking away and spoke "Good-bye kid, have fun on your first day of your last year!"

I turned back at her with two thumbs-up and a grin plastered on my face. This woman knows her parenting stuff!

I stepped out to the fresh air and stretched, listening to the cracking sounds. A little walk towards the main gate, I came to meet the guards. They bowed down in respect and spoke with a commanding voice "Have a safe day, Lady Sakura!"

I waved them off and waited near the edge of the street for the bus to come, my ears stuffed with headphones listening to 'Paradise' by Coldplay.

The bus came, the typical yellow and black, honking as it stopped in front of me. The driver gave me a wink when I got up. I returned it with a pat on his back combined with a 'better-not –try-it-on-me' look.

The bus started with a jerk sending many girls falling backwards. But not me, I was used to it. A little glancing around and my eyes landed on Hinata who smiled apologetically at me. I winked and sent a flying kiss to her, much to the dismay of an elderly teacher.(a/n: Play I can do better by Avril Lavigne)

Hinata Hyuuga was a doll, with her dark black waist-length hair shimmering like silk tied up in a loose ponytail and her pearl white eyes showing the innocence and purity of her soul. But apart from her obvious beauty, she was also a close friend, so close that we both were known as the twin sisters around the town, though we were nowhere closely related through blood. Hinata was shy, gentle and sweetest person on earth, but, she was also gullible and easily deceived (mostly). That's where I come in, as her overprotective sister-friend who would rip off anyone's hand if they tried to hurt her in anyway.

People who generally crossed her would think of her being raised as a princess, in a delicate and homely environment where she was pampered and taught to pamper others. But those who actually knew her, would know that her family belonged to one of the most famous warrior clans of our village, Konoha, with her father being the clan leader. So yeah! There you go! That's Hinata Hyuuga!

Oh I forgot! I didn't tell my specifics, did I? Well, I'm a bit taller than Hinata, but not too tall, with emerald orbs shining brightly at any one whom I do not hate. And one of my major standing out traits is my hair which is 'pink'. Like bubble gum pink. I know right? But still, I don't hate it coz it's an awesome disguise where you want to pretend that you're a weak little girl who can't even lift a heavy book without tiring herself out. Aha! You thought that, didn't you? Well, my friends, you are gravely mistaken, because I'm not the weak little girl who needs rescuing by others! Yeah, you'll see!

Anyways coming back to the bus ride, which was about to end. I saw Hinata suppress a yawn as she looked at me. Darn it! Now, I'll feel like-

I yawned.

-yawning too!

I glared at Hinata, who giggled and stuck out her tongue at me. And here again I would like you all to note that, she is just too cute!

The bus stopped and Hinata was next to me in a blink. But as she got down, the driver called out to her "Miss! You dropped-"

I grabbed Hinata's 'dropped' handkerchief from his hand and passed it to her. I took a breath in and placed my left hand on his right shoulder, squeezing it slightly. Before his head would turn in anyway, I bent near his ear and mumbled "Better watch it, mister if you want your limbs remain attached to your body!"

I squeezed his shoulder one last time and got down, avoiding Hinata's eyes at all costs. I turned to see the driver again and smirked. He was frozen in shock. Feeling satisfied with myself, I grinned, which quickly turned into a somber expression when I found Hinata's eyes.

"Sakura! That wasn't necessary!" Hinata spoke with a dignified voice. And then Hinata scolded me all the way to the entrance of the corridor, about how I should learn to control my anger and how, I should not threaten people. I mean, come on! I didn't even threaten that guy! Okay maybe I did, but at least I didn't beat him up!

Thankfully Hinata's scolding was interrupted by a loud calling from behind us, to which Hinata's reaction was just 'we-will-talk-later'. It was my two other folks, Ino Yamanaka and Tenten.

Both of them were complete opposites, Ino being a typical girly-girl and Tenten being a tomboy.

Ino Yamanaka was the queen-bee of our gang, with good looks; grades and a high level of fashion sense her natural companions. But don't worry folks! Although she has the complete beauty queen air around her with blonde, long knee-length hair with matching baby blue eyes, she's a complete J'adore material, apart from her sometimes fatal screaming voice. I called her 'pig'! Not because she was one, but because of her name! Her family was rich. Her mom being a florist (not because of money, but for her love for flowers) and her dad, well he did some kind of business.

Next comes, Tenten. No one knows her surname only that she stays with her single father, who is an owner of a weapon production factory. Tenten is not spoiled but a good hearted tomboy, who's also pretty. A brunette who keeps her long hair tied in two tight buns with a matching set of orbs, who also knows how to kick some serious ass! Yup, that's Ten for you all! (a/n: you can end the song now! ;P)

So, all in all, we were four (not-so) average teens going to school, with good grades and a do-not-mess-with-us air around ourselves.

I kept quiet as Hinata told them what I did and looked around to find other known faces- in particular of Naruto's.

Naruto was a loud mouthed and act-before-thinking guy, with an adoring personality. He was also, my Hinata's center of affection, but he was too dense to notice, or so everyone thought except me. But I knew what no one else knew, because no one else was as close as I was to him. He had dirty blonde naturally spiky hair with matching sky-blue eyes, with whisker like markings on his face.

Naruto Uzumaki, lived with his godfather and Tsunade's closest of 'friends', Jiraiya. Yes, so now you have an idea why we are close. Similar past with both of us knowing loss of parents and friends through our guardians had brought us closer.

As we neared the reception, where we were supposed to collect our schedules, Hinata finished her re-telling of the bus driver incident. Conclusion? Tenten turned to me and asked "What was his reaction?"

I grinned and turned towards her "Frozen on the spot!" and we both burst out laughing. Hinata frowned and spoke "Honestly! You two are spoiling her!"

Ino shrugged and twirled her fingers around Hinata's bangs to fix them. "Well he did try his move towards you and we all know that Sakura's protective of you! So it's no use…she won't listen even if we say anything!"

Ha! Score 1 for Haruno! I grinned at Hinata apologetically, who pouted in return. I laughed and pinched her cheeks, making her face go red. Honestly, I would have dated her if I was a guy.

"So!" Ino chirped.

Here we go! Ino's start up news of what's happening across the village was about to commence. I rolled eyes as Hinata giggled.

"You guys! This is important, you know! I mean, come on! We are combined with Oto now! How often does that happen?" Ino whined.

Right, the merging of two villages- Konoha and Oto. It was an initiative by the council members (which consisted of one old hag and an old bastard).

Anyways! Okay! So, now it's time for your history lesson regarding our village and my world.

Five years ago, there was an outbreak, organized by a rogue organization named Akatsuki. What was this outbreak you ask? Well, before I answer this question, you need to know what we are.

We- me, Hinata, Tenten, Ino, Naruto and of course Tsunade, are a part of a race called Üra*1- humans with the ability to change their chakra (spiritual energy) into light.

What? Oh yes, the outbreak! Five years ago the Akatsuki released a virus which travelled across the world. The Üras came together, evacuated the world's habitant places and created small protected villages before the virus could infect most of the people. These villages were protected against the virus and from those who got infected by an impenetrable chakra dome created by the Kages of each village, in our case, by the first Hokage, from Senju clan-he was my mother's and Tsunade's grandfather, so yeah some of his blood flows through me too. To mark the borders of these villages, large walls were built made of stone which were similarly impenetrable. Although occasional leaks were general, resulting in invasions of small groups of the infected. However, they were and are still taken care of by Üra guarding their own villages.

At that time no one knew what the virus had done. But soon it was visible, the effects of the virus. It caused mutation in the genes of a human causing that human to lose all his humanly characteristics and turn into a Jaaku- a dangerous being which was made of only shadow and no light. Akatsuki had released this virus in order to create their own army of invincible Jaakus. But soon, their plans became more like dreams as the Jaakus became out of their or anyone's control. Yes, and soon the world outside the villages plunged into darkness, and all those people who were left behind were turned into Jaakus.

And now, we all live inside the villages, fearing to venture outside this protected world and dealing with Jaaku infiltrations and not to mention, the everlasting threats from Akatsuki as well.

And now, I'll tell you about the merging of the villages. Our village,the hidden village of leaf, Konoha and the hidden village of the sound, Oto were once rival villages, waging wars against each other. But soon the elders of our village( again consisting of an old hag and an old bastard) decided to form an alliance with them to strengthen our arms.

I know, clever much! (Note the sarcasm if you can, please!)

Back to the present, I heard Ino chirping on and on, about how this merging brought in a new 'supply' of cute guys in our town and a few girls.

I was about to tune her out completely when suddenly 'BAM'.

I was hit on my head by something.

Eyes watering, head throbbing – I stumbled and shook my head to clear out the pain.

Hinata hands were already working on my sore spot, while I heard Ino screaming and trying to keep Tenten at bay.

"Ne! It slipped! Stop screaming, woman!" a raspy voice spoke, annoyed.

"What do you mean by 'slipped'? Her head is bleeding!" Ino's high pitched voice came as a pain to my already ringing ears.

Bleeding, huh? So, soon? I thought. What had he hit me with?

Tenten answered my query after a number of curses and swears at the guy.

"Why you R*****?! A metal bar slipped out of you f****** hand, huh?" And a few more curses and Ino was trying to contain her I guess.

A metal rod? Seriously? What was he doing with that, anyways?

"Yeah! Dude! Seriously! Stop screaming! I was just going to hit that 'brat' with that!" his voice was amusing now.

And that's what caught my attention.

I gritted my teeth. Hit. Another. Brat.

"I'm so sorry…" A feeble voice next to me rang a bell. Udon. Brown hair, specky guy, trembling voice. A junior student. A brat? He's a kid!

I tried opening my eyes. I could see, but my left eye still had a few dark spots in its vision.

"Udon?" I finally spoke, in a shaky voice.

"Miss Sakura! Sorry… you got caught up…"

"Why was he going to bea'cha?" I asked. As the blood started seeping into view, the pain lessened.

I was finally stable. Hinata was still holding my hand, squeezing it in anticipation of what was going to come.

I ignored her.

"He ah…I got …"

"He bumped into me, didn't even say sorry man…stupid leaf kids!" the guy spoke in a bored voice, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I said 'sorry' but you never heard me…too busy screaming at me!" Udon mumbled softly.

The guy's eye twitched, now that I look at him, he looks no one like in our village. Oto. Of course.

I stroked Hinata's grip with my thumb. It was calming process for me. The pain was lessening but nowhere near disappearing. However, I was concentrating on my anger for now.

"Udon!" Hinata mumbled "Did you really say sorry?"

Udon nodded nervously "I said it immediately after…I bumped into him…"

"Udon!" a loud voice called from behind, similar to Naruto's. Konohamaru.

Another junior-Konohamaru's a close friend of Udon. He's the grandson of the third Hokage- earning him the title of Sarutobi. And although, not related to Naruto, but he's still the copy of that stupid guy, whom I can't seem to find yet today. Usually, Naruto's the first one to greet us in the morning every day without fail.

"Konohamaru!" I spoke blinking fast. Of course.

"You! You little brat!" The guy who hit me screamed suddenly.

I sighed. Leave it to Konohamaru to piss anyone off.

"What did you do now?" I groaned. Konohamaru looked at me-more like my face, then my head, then at me again.

"Now what… Mr. Idiot hit Miss Sakura?" Konohamaru said glaring at him. The guy's eyes twitched with anger, his fist tightening around the rod.

"Why you little…"

It all happened in a split second. He had raised the bar to hit the kid. But I had foreseen it already.

And now, the scene that was here was quiet, to be put nicely, chaotic. Hinata gasped, Konohamaru had ducked behind me after giving a short yelp, Udon and Ino screamed while Tenten was cursing the guy- only difference, she wasn't trying to kill him now.

And me? I was the one holding the rod a little too tightly, my fists pale- almost white. It was as if I had fought a great battle, head bleeding, face –well I don't know exactly how it looked but I felt angry I guess and the guy gritting his teeth.

"Get out the way, woman!" the guy spoke still trying to push the rod forward.

Hinata had spoken but I couldn't hear her. The only thing I could hear was- him, the guy- white hair, shark like face covered with the bangs, and a purple set of orbs glaring at me.

Great way to start your senior year!

My vision had started to have a vivid green tint. I knew my eyes had turned a shade darker than what they were and this meant trouble. It happened when I got angry –really angry, like about to lose my mind, and it meant I was about to hurt someone- badly.

I had to calm myself, so instead of tuning out Hinata, I focused on her voice.

"Sakura… It's alright, Konohamaru's fine…He's right here… No one will hit him… I promise…" Her voice was soothing, like a melody. No, a lullaby. She was the only one to have an effect like this on me. And I was glad she was here, or this guy would have been dead.

I closed my eyes and inhaled, focusing only on one thing- Hinata's caresses on my hand. I opened my eyes again. Good. My vision was back to normal, unlike my temper.

The good thing was, I didn't want to kill him.

"Konohamaru…" I spoke. My voice was shaking, in anger or because of the pain, which came to my attention. I was still bleeding, and now the blood was dripping onto the ground.

The guy in front of me saw that and sobered, letting go of the rod. However, he still glared at Konohamaru, who peeped at me nervously.

"Yes?"

"Apologize to him, please!" Yep, Hinata's medicine always worked.

"But-!" Konohamaru looked revolted.

I sighed. Why does this happen to me?

"Konohamaru… please!" I looked at him sincerely. Ugh, it hurt even moving my eyes around. I placed my hand over the wound.
Konohamaru puffed his cheeks and mumbled a feeble 'sorry' at the guy, making me smile. Yes, he was stubborn, but he still understood things.

"Now, shoo!" I said, patting him on his head with my blood free hand. He blushed and ran away, Udon trailing behind him.

"Hey! What the hell-!" The guy was about to start running after him, but Hinata was the one who caught his hand and pulled him back this time. Though gently.

"Please… He just apologized… let go now… he's a kid!" Hinata might have added 'please', but her tone was that of a mother scolding her child.

The guy looked at her- confused. He looked down and wait! Did he just? Blush?

Oh no! No! No! No, no, NO! This isn't-

I looked down at their hands, intertwined, and coughed, wincing slightly.

Hinata glanced at me and let go of the hand. Her attention was on my wound now. Oh thank the Spirits!

Ino and Tenten were quiet. Too quiet. I glanced at them and raised my eyebrows. Ino was gaping at Hinata and Tenten was glowering at the guy.

The guy sighed, and mumbled something under his breath. I caught one word. Madness. It made me smile.

"Anyways…Ne…Sorry 'bout your head… uh Sakura?"

"Yeah…!" that's all I could manage, the loss of blood was making me woozy.

"Well get that checked up, woman!" the guy glared a nearby tree.

I chuckled and nodded slightly "Uh-!"

"Suigetsu!" was all he said before he turned and walked away.

"Well…" Ino clapped and laughed "That ended well!"

No, it didn't.
Tenten and Hinata half dragged, half walked me to the health care department two blocks away. And as I was getting my head bandaged, the bell rang signaling the start of first class.

"Who's class is it anyways?" Ino asked Hinata and Tenten. I hadn't spoken much. It hurt like hell.

"No one's… It's supposed to be principal's speech, isn't it?" Tenten huffed, she was still angry at the guy. Suigetsu, that's what he had said.

"Ino, Tenten, you guys should go!" I spoke, my voice hoarse, earning me a glare from Tenten.

"And why should we do that?" Tenten shouted. The nurse cleared her throat and signaled us to keep quiet.

"Tenten, she's right. We should!" Ino grabbed her hand "They need someone to tell about their absence!"

Tenten glowered at her and then sighed.

"Fine!" she looked at me "Take care, idiot!" Tenten patted my head- the unharmed side. I grinned in response.

After they left, the nurse gave me some apples and pomegranates to eat to make up for the loss of blood and told me to rest for fifteen minutes or so.

Hinata sat beside me, as I closed my eyes, her hands caressing my head tenderly and soon I found myself drifting off to sleep.

My dreams were stupid, from the guy, Suigetsu dancing as a clown to the nurse waving a giant needle in front of me. Hinata was there in mother goose costume singing a lullaby, while her hatchlings Ino and Tenten were picking on me.

I woke to the sound of my name. Hinata was patting on my hand, telling me to wake up.

I got up and patched myself up, combing my hair, readjusting the uniform; I picked up my bag and walked out with Hinata beside me.

I told her of the Suigetsu's blush I noticed and teased her, feeling thankful that Hinata's heart already belonged to Naruto, speaking of which-

"Hey…did Naruto come to visit me while I slept?" I spoke, not liking the sound of myself.

"No… I was thinking about the same thing… usually he's the one causing the ruckus, isn't he?" Hinata blushed but answered normally, giggling at the last part.

"Yup… wonder what that idiot's up to?" I mumbled for her to listen.

We were early in our homeroom, the announcement hadn't ended yet so the students were still in the grounds.

We sat near the window, saving a seat for Ino and Tenten behind us.

I sighed and placed my head on the table facing her, careful not to hurt my wound again. Hinata copied my actions and sighed. She closed her eyes and smiled.

"It's nice to have some peace finally…" She mumbled. I laughed, wincing, as peace was amusing when I-we- were about to throw our futures into battle soon. But I didn't say anything, though Hinata knew what I was thinking anyway. She was the only one who knew what was going in my head all the time, rest of the people were never aware of my thoughts or feelings. I was good at masking them.

"Sakura…" Hinata whispered. I looked at her realizing she was shivering. She was scared. I didn't know why or maybe I did. It was the future that scared her. Not the immediate, but the imminent one.

I raised my hand and kept it on her head. I smiled "Don't worry, I won't leave you…remember… I promised you… as long as you need me I'll come back to you!"

Hinata smiled, relaxing as the first wave of students entered the room. We raised our head, looking for the blond and brunette, who soon came into looking sullen. Now that I note, most of the students look that way. What happened?

My first thought was the worst. Did I ever mention that our principal was Jiraiya? Yes, Naruto's guardian. And I am pretty fond of him, though he's a pervert.

"What happened?" our voices came out at the same time, mine and Hinata's.

Ino sat first sliding to let Tenten sit.

"Professor Jiraiya retired…" Tenten gritted her teeth.

"What? Why?" I asked. Soon, my mind was going to grasp at that first thought. Has something happened to him?

"He wants to… He said he'd like some peace!" Tenten spoke huffing.

I glanced at Hinata. She seemed fine. And so was Jiraiya. Thank the spirits.

I relaxed and sighed.

"So, who's the new principal?" I asked, suddenly curious.

"Lord Orochimaru!" Ino spoke up her voice shivering.

And soon, my curiosity turned into dread. Because 'Lord Orochimaru' was the reason of Leaf and sound's clash.

He was the Otokage- kage of the hidden village of sound.

…

A/N:
*1Üra I derived this word from the word 'Aura' since that can be somewhat related to Chakra, and a person's characteristics. In case this word already exists or matches anything, then, well I didn't know about that.
SO? I know it's been ages but… How was it? Reviews guys… they're an author's sustenance!