Forbidden Bonds
"One War Splits the Balance of Power among the Shinobi Countries…And Three Unlikely Friends are caught in the Middle of it…"
Where, in a different world, they could have fought for one another.
…The Legend of Team Seven remains…
XxX
Thick textbooks were stacked along the walls, occasional scrolls littered the floor, reports were scattered across the desk, and bloodied tools and weapons tumbled haphazardly from a discarded pack in a far corner of the room. However the apartment still seemed bright despite the chaos, the large balcony windows allowing sunlight to filter freely into the room and prevent any darkness from settling.
However, only work and tools and papers filled the small rooms. Only basic necessities were required in the residence. Despite the frenzied disorder it was bare; bare of personal belongings and life; absent of an occupied atmosphere.
An entire apartment transformed into a full-time office.
Green plants were marked and lined up orderly in the kitchen, bowls arranged on the counter each with its own distinctive mixture sitting within. Tubes filled with various chemicals were assembled near the multiple bowls; some vials holding differences in amount, recently used and combined with the herbs and plants to create the final result: glass bottles sealed and meticulously marked, positioned purposefully beside an open Medical Textbook and a handwritten list.
Medicines. Poisons. Drugs. Items used for battle, healing, and torture.
It was her job.
She sat motionless at the table, completely quiet, slender hands holding several reports yet deep viridian eyes failing to focus and review them. The young woman's intellectual mind whirred as she absently glanced around her home, examined her surroundings, lips curving downward in irritation. The Medical Books and Scrolls were left opened and unfurled, perused with interest and equal annoyance. Emerald eyes snapped towards the kitchen to eye the mixtures, medicines, creations sitting on her counter, recounting their uses with pride, shame, and simmering anger. Finally her attention settled on the abandoned pack, her duties spilling out before her very eyes in the form of bloodied kunai, empty medicine bottles, and battle-worn reports.
Heal. Torture. Fight. Heal. Torture. Fight. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
A never-ending cycle.
With a scowl she stood, tossing away the reports in her hand with more force than necessary – causing even more to fly – before making her way to the balcony, opening the glass doors and allowing the bright, hot sun to invade her green gaze and warm her blood-stained skin. The beautiful day did nothing to help the woman's darkened mood as she stepped forward, shadowing her sensitive orbs with one hand. What she craved were the years of her adolescence when cooling days of rain or snow would occasionally shower upon her.
Removing her hand from her line of sight, viridian eyes were greeted with miles and miles of sand; the memories of her youth – and blue-eyed and dark-haired boys – now stayed in a faraway village of another Country.
She frowned, sadness settling in her heart as she cast off those far-gone, useless recollections. Her loyalties were to the present, she knew where her priorities lay.
With a tired sigh, her right hand moved upward, grasping the hitae-ate with careful fingers, the metal of the band heated from the afternoon rays. Pulling it off through silky, waist-long pink tresses, the kunoichi brought it to her direct view, her free hand tracing the hourglass symbol and the thin rectangle above it. With furrowed brows, that same hand pulled away to dig into her pocket, removing yet another hitae-ate, symbolizing the Village that held her memories – memories that were not as far away from her mind as she would have liked.
Tracing the leaf insignia absently a sad smile touched her lips though it disappeared quickly enough when the shadow of a hawk passed by overhead. Eyeing the messenger with displeasure, she shoved the leaf-emblemized metal band back into her pocket for later use and tied the other onto her pastel-colored head.
It was time to return to her duties. Heal. Torture. Fight. Repeat…
xXx
"Would you still have been my friend if I wasn't a Shinobi?"
"Of course, Sakura-chan!"
"…Don't ask stupid questions…"
xXx
Haruno Sakura
Childhood Arc
15 Years Prior
Haruno Sakura stared solemnly at the tiny bits of sand at her feet, silently wondering how many grains there were in the world and how they came to be. Such tiny particles that, when they came together, made something so big, so distinct, something that could be seen even from so far away. She pondered on her life as a girl, such a tiny girl just like a grain of sand that was nothing extraordinary. Did she have a place in the world, grouped with others that made something bigger and better? Could she bring happiness like sand does to those for people on beaches or in parks? Did she have a purpose?
"…Maybe not…" She whispered to herself, tiny hands tightly gripping the chains of her swing, knuckles turning white with the increased pressure.
Emerald eyes watched as her bare feet shifted idly in the sand, feeling the coarse yet small texture slide against her porcelain skin, felt it fall between her toes, and watched it fly up into the air when she kicked the brown-white specks in frustration.
Pastel locks tumbling around her head, Sakura tried with all her might to prevent her tears from falling. She wanted to enjoy the soft breeze of the Park, hear her peers' laughter in the background, and forget the yelling and shouting that had happened that morning before she ran away with all her might.
She was smart enough to know what the argument was about. She was top-of-her-class smart-enough to know that her Civilian parents wanted her to follow in their footsteps, to become a lady with good manners and the beauty and etiquette that would fetch a rich nobleman as her husband. Her parents didn't want her to slay bandits and become a tool for the Hidden Leaf Village as a kunoichi.
They were either trying to protect her or use their daughter for their own means of marrying into a wealthy family. Sakura didn't care; she was indifferent to the situation. Honestly, she didn't like either prospect, but she was just a child, with little say in the matter.
The adults would have to handle it, much to her displeasure.
"Sakura-chan?"
Immediately recognizing the voice, Sakura looked up, right hand moving to wipe away the near-flood of tears before offering a small, weak smile to the blonde-haired beauty before her. Yamanaka Ino was her best friend, saved her from bullies and taught her to love herself for who she was. Sakura told her everything when it came to her problems and Ino dutifully helped in any way she could.
"What's the matter Sakura-chan?" The blue-grey eyed girl asked worriedly as she took a seat on the swing adjacent to her friend's, "Are you okay?"
Sakura sighed, a sigh that wasn't meant for young girls who thought the world was too stressing, before leaning her pastel head against the chain of her swing, viridian eyes continuing to stare at the sand, "My Uncle has visited…He and my parents are fighting about what to do with me…"
"What to do with you?" Ino asked with confusion, a concerned frown washing over her lips as she stared at the forlorn girl beside her, "What do you mean?"
Sakura swallowed before biting her lower lip, turning her head slightly to look into her best friend's eyes, both expressive with respective sadness and worry. Kicking her feet, she began to swing lightly, closing her eyes to allow the wind to caress her tear-stained cheeks and her long hair to flow gently with its current.
"Do you really want to be a kunoichi when you grow up Ino-chan?" Sakura asked lightly, continuing to swing, "Is it what you want? I know your Papa is a Shinobi. Are you becoming one to please him…" She opened her eyes and looked at Ino seriously, "Or yourself?"
Confusion settling deeper on Ino's features, she realized that her own question had been thwarted by another, but instead decided to coax her friend into answering when she was more ready; with a kick of her own swing, Ino allowed a short shrug, "Papa wants me to be a Shinobi, but he only wants it if I want it too. And I do."
Sakura stopped her swing from moving and quickly looked at Ino with a tilted, curious expression, "Why do you want to Ino-chan? My parents say being a Shinobi is dangerous and unrespectable."
"A matter of opinion," Ino answered nonchalantly, using the phrase she heard Nara Shikamaru exercise numerous times when talking to adults, "I want to be a kunoichi to help people, not to hurt them. Maybe you should join too Sakura-chan…Together we can help people…"
Sakura pouted, staring hard at the floor with slight contempt, "I don't know what to do. I don't want to upset my parents…And Uncle is a scary man," She shook her head in defeat, "I don't know what to do."
"Well, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Ino asked helpfully, watching as Sakura began to fiddle with her pink tresses, "Anything come to mind?"
Brows furrowed with slight concentration, trying to remember her desires and dreams before her parents and Uncle began making the decisions for her, "…I always wanted to be a doctor…"
"Then be a doctor Sakura-chan!" Ino exclaimed enthusiastically, a pretty grin spreading over her expression, "Do what you want to do! I'm sure you'll be a great doctor!"
"You really think so?" The viridian-eyed girl inquired shyly, a light blush staining her cheeks.
"I know so!" Ino proclaimed confidently, "All you have to do is fight for it!"
Instantly, Sakura's features melted into despair and her lower lip trembled lightly, "…Fight for it…?"
Sensing her misery, Ino grew concerned, brows drawn together in confusion once again, "What's wrong now?"
"I can't fight them," Sakura responded dully, "I can never fight them. They're already fighting each other…My future is chosen for me…"
"Sakura-chan…"
"Sakura."
Both Ino and Sakura switched their attentions to the older, feminine voice that had called for the pastel-haired girl. Ino's brow arched with suspicion and challenge, wondering how this girl knew her best friend and if she was planning to bully her. Instead, she was surprised when Sakura only heaved a tired sigh before slipping off her swing, features twisted into resignation as she glanced sad, green eyes towards the newcomer's direction.
"Who is she?" Ino asked quietly, eyeing the darker blonde just meters away, taking in her slightly hardened, teal eyes, the foreign clothing, and the Sand Village hitae-ate adorning her forehead.
Sakura followed her gaze before shrugging her shoulders, offering a weak smile before walking away, "That's my cousin. I have to go, Ino-chan. See you later?"
Still slightly surprised, Ino dumbly nodded her head as she watched the two girls depart, "Yeah, sure."
Sakura remained quiet as she walked alongside the older female, who was just as equally silent. Her cousin was a Genin of the Hidden Sand, older than her by a few years. Although intimidating, especially with her giant weapon, Sakura found her to be a lot more friendly and calming than her fierce Uncle.
"…Have they stopped fighting, Temari-nee-chan?" Sakura asked timidly, braiding her hair nervously.
Sharp eyes slid towards the green-eyed girl before a sympathetic frown appeared on her lips; reassuringly she placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder, squeezing it lightly for comfort, "They have."
"…So what will happen to me?"
Temari sighed, before releasing her hold on the girl's shoulder, "…You will remain here Sakura. It has been agreed that you join the Leaf Ninja Academy…You will become a kunoichi under my Father's orders…"
"I see…" Sakura replied, eyes darkened with slight grief.
Not the comforting type, Temari awkwardly ruffled her pink head, "You'll do fine Sakura-chan. Work hard and you will succeed, as well as make Father proud…"
"And my parents…?"
Temari's lips pulled into a grim line, "…They will adjust."
"Do you like being a kunoichi, Temari-nee-chan?" Sakura asked, "Did Uncle make you join Academy too?"
Temari frowned, "Father is a powerful figure…My options were limited. However, being a Shinobi is oftentimes rewarding, remember that Sakura-chan."
Sakura nodded her head in slight understanding, "Okay."
Looking at the innocent girl at her right, Temari offered a small smile, "I heard you say that you wanted to be a doctor. You can still achieve that dream as a kunoichi. Medical Ninja are very helpful and are very much in demand. You can still help people if you want to…Just think about it."
Slowly, a hopeful smile lit Sakura's young expression and she looked up at Temari with growing appreciation and gratitude, her smile returned by the Sand kunoichi's confident smirk, "I will, Temari-nee-chan. Thank you."
xXx
"My dream was to help people…I never wanted it to turn out like this…"
"Sakura-chan…"
"You have helped people, Sakura…More than you know."
xXx
A/N: I'm back on the weekend, just like I promised with a new chapter from Sakura's point of view. How many of you saw this coming? Where do you think Sakura is in the very first few paragraphs of the chapter? Hope you guys like and the next chapter will show the long awaited POV of Uchiha Sasuke. Chapter Four will be even better because it shows how all three of them meet and clears a little bit more up about what else is going on. Again, please let me know what you think!! Thank you!!
Disclaimer: No, but I wish I did…
Next Chapter: Uchiha Sasuke
Next Update: It's aready typed out but I'm aiming to post it on Tuesday or Wednesday!! Keep a lookout!!!
Note: Although in the Summary it has SasukexSakura and NarutoxHinata there are also pairings of ShikamaruxIno and NejixTenten!!!
And for It All Started With Fans, Chapter Fourteen will be posted on Tuesday or Wednesday also, the same day as Forbidden Bonds!!! It's halfway typed out!!!
Review Thanks Go To: empty-spaces and TheUN-POP-ableBubble!!! This chapter is dedicated to YOU!!! :)
Thank You for reading and reviewing!! You are the Bestest!!! Feel free to email or PM me if you have any questions or want to talk! I'm just dying to gush about the latest of Naruto Manga Chapters!!! lol
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Luvinukag83
aka Len83
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