The next morning I awoke to the scent of fresh dango. I crawled out my tunnel and saw a heaping plate of dango. I briefly wondered why they were there before remembering last night.

"Sweet!" I grabbed the plate and climbed up my tree to my favorite branch. I scarfed a few down before stopping. I looked up at the morning sky and smiled. It seems like the villagers actually believe I'm the forest spirit. Hopefully this little offering thing will last. Finishing the last of the dango, I jumped down and headed towards the village.

'Why are we going to the village? We don't have to try to steal breakfast.'

'We're returning the plate. We want the villagers to think of us as a nice spirit so they'll keep bringing us food.'

I reached the outskirts of the village and scurried up a tree. I hopped from roof to roof before reaching the market. I pulled up the hood of my cloak and jumped down. Walking through the market, I marveled at how much happier everyone seemed.

"What's everyone talking about?" I asked; my voice soft and timid. I jumped when I heard a voice from behind.

"Why, the forest spirit of course! Everyone wants to pitch in to thank her." I turned and saw it was the apple cart guy. He didn't seem to recognize me thanks to my cloak and continued talking cheerfully. "She is such a nice spirit; if it wasn't for her we wouldn't have had such a huge harvest this year! The knights say she lives in the oldest tree in the middle of the forest so everyone's taking turns leaving her offerings."

I smiled weakly at him and turn away. He hollered a good bye as I disappeared in the crowd. I had to push my way through the crowd until I finally reached the gazebo in the middle of the market. I set down the plate and backed away. Unfortunately I bumped into someone who grabbed my arm. I looked up and saw it was the butcher.

"Hey girl, why are you leaving this plate here?" His voice wasn't angry so I wondered why he grabbed me. Humans must be weird like that.

"I was returning it for the forest spirit. I had walked by her tree and found it there. She called me over and asked me to bring it back and to say thank you for her." The butcher smiled and released me before picking up the plate and standing in the gazebo.

"Hey everybody; guess what! The forest spirit said thank you! She likes us!" Everyone cheered as I slipped away.

'Wow, they really love us! If this continues we won't ever have to steal!'

'Yeah! Let's just hope the knights don't tell the royal family; they might want to have a chat with the 'spirit' and that wouldn't be good.'

'Oh you worry too much. Why would the royal family care?'

'I guess you're right, I should just enjoy this.'

XXXXXXXXXXX

At castle Uchiha:

"Your majesty Madara, I come from the village Konoha bearing news. It seems the village's forest is guarded by a spirit." Said the knight that came barging into the throne room as he bowed to his king.

"A spirit you say, well this is interesting. I've never known Konoha to have one and I've been alive since its creation. I think it's time we pay my old village a visit." Madara chuckled. "Knight, go get my royal guard ready. We're going on a trip."

XXXXXXXXXX

A few days later in Konoha:

'Ahh, is that ramen I smell? I haven't had ramen in such a long time. I love these villagers.'

I sat up in bed and stretched like the cat I am before standing up. I grabbed my trusty knapsack before heading out. I leisurely crawled up my tunnel and paused before moving the rock; something didn't feel quite right. My stomach growled so I shrugged it off and stepped out into the open. I was just about to pick up the cup of ramen when I suddenly went flying up.

"AHHHH!" I screamed as the world turned upside down.

"Ha! See, I told you that would work teme. Maybe now you'll listen to me." I winced at the loud voice and shivered at the cold one that came next.

"Hn, you got lucky dobe. Now let's cut her down and bring her back to the village."

"No, no! Please let me go, don't take me to the village!" I wailed, tears streaming out of my eyes. I finally looked around and saw two men; a blond-haired one and a blackish/blue-haired one. The blond had sympathy in his blue eyes, the other had annoyance.

"Sorry kitty-chan; no can do. We've got direct orders from the king to bring you to him." The blond stated.

'Kitty-chan? Who does this guy think he is? He's catnapping us and he thinks he can give us a nickname? Kick his ass Sakura!'

"Who are you guys anyway?" I asked as they lowered me to the ground. The black-haired one handcuffed me and the blond grabbed my arm and started to drag me along.

"I'm Naruto kitty-chan, and this teme is Sasuke." The blond, Naruto, answered enthusiastically. "What's your name?"

"Sakura." I replied softly, looking at the ground. Naruto then had enough sense to shut up. The three of us walked in silence until the trees started thinning out. I could hear the villagers talking, they were louder than ever but they didn't seem happy. Sasuke finally broke our silence with two words that made my blood run cold.

"We're here."

A/N Hey everyone, only four more days until spring break! That means I'll have more time to work on CinderFur! Who's excited?

~Tobi