Author's Prelude: The dances you are reading about are Interpretive dancing and ballet dancing. The music I am referring to comes from both Yanni and Enya. It's the same music I listen to as I write.


Sakura ran on the outskirts of town to avoid being seen by someone who knew her and would stop her to ask what she was doing. Since she was still discovering this again for herself she wasn't quite ready to share. This time she was headed towards the forest where she would less likely to be seen.

Finding the perfect spot surrounded by brush and trees, Sakura set her boombox down and let the music wash over her. A slow smile played on her lips as she began to dance. Gracefully she spun and twirled through the trees letting her body move as if she were a leaf caught in the wind. Just as she knew they would the butterflies appeared to come from every direction to dance with her. She put chakra into her feet and began dancing up the side of a large tree, watching as the butterflies remained below her in a sea of color.

Shino had been searching in his family's compound for new bugs when he noticed a flash of color out of the corner of his eye. Turning he noticed the butterflies fluttering in the same direction. Looking around to see if his father had also noticed this phenomena he realized his father wasn't with him anymore. Deciding to check it out on his own, Shino left the compound and followed them. As he neared closer to the center of the woods he stopped and tilted his head. Was that...music? All the way out here?

Curiosity got the better of him as he moved still closer. The butterflies could now be seen by the hundreds, fluttering in circles around... Sakura. He should have guessed after what he had witnessed the day before. Shino watched in awe as Sakura danced on a tree limb, mesmerized by the dance and music in a sort of reverse jumping spider ritual. As Shino started to move forward, a hand landed on his shoulder. Turning to look up he saw his father shake his head before motioning back towards home. This puzzled Shino and giving one last look to Sakura, his father led them back to the Aburame compound.

As the sun began to set Sakura jumped to the ground and sat beside her boombox turning the music off. She watched as the butterflies fluttered here and there going back to wherever they had come from. She smiled and taking a deep breath headed home herself.

As they reached the compound Shino stopped. His father did the same.

"You know what's going on with Sakura Haruno."

Shibi Aburame sighed, "Let's talk about this inside."

Shino watched his father enter their home and followed. He found his father sitting at the table. Joining him, Shino waited patiently for his father to explain. He didn't have to wait long.

"Many years ago, before you were born, there was another family that lived within these walls. They were unlike the Aburame as the contract they held with their allies did not require that they allow them to live within them. Instead, once a week, they did what was termed a chakra dance. Their allies would dance with them and feed on the chakra they created through this dance."

"The Haruno," Shino said as he took in this new information.

"Yes, the Haruno."

"This is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing. How did it come to pass that the Haruno no longer live within these walls?"

"When I was younger and had first met your mother, there was a misunderstanding involving Sakura's father, Sakoro Haruno. He was put on trial for a murder he did not commit. He went before the council and plead his case but due to corruption within the council at the time he was found guilty and sentenced to death. Due to Sakoro's actions before he was condemned he was allowed a death request. His request had been that his wife who was with child be permitted to leave the Aburame clan and live within the village of Konoha."

"And the corrupted Council granted his request?" Shino asked confused.

"No, they refused the request. They didn't want to lose a gifted bug ally."

"Something had to have happened then as the Haruno do live within the village of Konoha."

"Indeed. After Sakoro's death it was discovered that Sakura's mother had gone missing. She had sought out the third hokage trying to stop Sakoro's execution. When she had finally convinced the hokage to step in they rushed back to the compound only to find that Sakoro was already dead. Through a matter of heated discussion and accusations it was decided that she would be allowed to leave the clan but she would no longer be allowed to perform the ritual dance."

"Meaning the contract the Haruno held with the butterflies ended with Sakoro's death and the Haruno exile."

"Precisely."

Shino absorbed this information and suddenly the obvious question came to mind.

"How, then, is Sakura able to perform this chakra dance and the butterflies answer her call?"

"Perhaps Sakura has signed a new contract with the butterflies," his father suggested.

Shino raised an eyebrow at the mere suggestion, "Of what I know of Sakura this is highly doubted."

Shibi looked thoughtful, "I will have to report this new information to the council."

He stood up then and headed for the door. Stopping at Shino's sudden question.

"When we were in the forest and I moved forward to go to her... Why did you stop me? Sakura is still..."

"The dance she was performing could have disrupted your allies," was all his father offered before leaving the house.

"Interesting."

Shino stood and went to his room. There was a lot of information to be dissected and gone over before his curiosity was satisfied. Perhaps he should seek out Miss Haruno tomorrow to see if he could get some of his questions answered. He looked out his window to see the moon high in the sky.

"Very... Curious."

Sakura suddenly sneezed as she sat at the desk in her room. She was going over one of the books from Tsunade-sensei. Rubbing her nose she looked out the window.

"Hmm, someone must be talking about me. Probably Ino-Pig," Sakura said as she yawned. Stretching, she stood, turned out her light and crawled into bed. She had to meet up with her team tomorrow. She felt drained but pleasantly so. It wasn't long before she was dreaming with a smile upon her face while a butterfly fluttered about her room, finally landing on her bedpost.


Author's Note: *rubs hands together in glee* The story is developing nicely. Soon, Sakura and Shino will be... *smack* Hey! What was that for, Tsunade?

Tsunade: "For being such a pervert. Do you even care that its possible Sakura doesn't know about any of this? About who her father is?"

Hey, I care plenty. It adds to the storm building within these two... *smack* Will you knock it off?

Tsunade: *rubs her temple* I hope you get poor ratings and bad reviews.

Well, that's not very nice. In that case I hope you run out of Sake. Eeep! *runs away*