It wasn't often that true prodigies were born. Hatake Kakashi was one. Uchiha Itachi another. He liked to think Namikaze Minato was also one, but though his successor was a genius with seals and ninjutsu, he could not be classified as a true prodigy, not on Kakashi or Itachi's level anyway, so Sarutobi was intrigued when he started hearing signs of one.

It certainly came to a surprise for Sarutobi when, one day, the ANBU he assigned to watch Naruto came back and reported that his surrogate grandson had made a friend.

A civilian girl who went by the name Haruno Sakura. A child with pink hair who seemed honest and open if a bit shy and played with Naruto without reluctance.

Sarutobi was not ignorant to the way his village treated his late successor's son. He was disgusted by their display and hatred but there wasn't much he could do about it; but he could protect Naruto to some degree so the first thing he did was found out as much as he could about Naruto's new friend.

Haruno Sakura was four years old, almost five. Her father, Haruno Kizashi, was a construction worker, and her mother Haruno Mebuki, was a teacher in one of the civilian schools. She was born in Konoha, as were her parents who were honest hardworking citizens. She was shy and sometimes bullied and did not have any civilian friends. She had also struck up a friendship with his head interrogator's daughter, and Sarutobi knew there weren't any problems on that end.

There wasn't much else about her that particularly stood out, and as days turned into weeks and his ANBU continued to give him reports about Naruto, their voices became just a little bit milder when they talked about Sakura, as if they genuinely liked her even though they had never talked to her. Sarutobi was used to harder tones because the people Naruto usually interacted with – shopkeepers, restaurant owners, etc. – often treated him with resentment and anger.

On the contrary, these incidents seemed to lessen with each daily report, and when Sarutobi enquired to the reason, the ANBU who was reporting to him – Crow – told him about the little spitfire Sakura could become. He described the way Sakura scowled and defended Naruto against anyone who spoke badly to his face and never let anybody finish an entire insult before she cut them off. Sarutobi swore Crow was laughing inside when he relayed all that.

So, Sarutobi was satisfied with Naruto's new friend, especially after Naruto came on one of his bi-weekly visits to his office and told him all about Sakura, how cool she was, how nice she was, how she was his friend.

Sarutobi couldn't be happier.

But one thing that did pique his interest was when his ANBU and Naruto both brought up Sakura's proficiency with kunai and shuriken. Naruto even demonstrated what he had learned from Sakura and Sarutobi was amazed when Naruto held a kunai in a practiced expert grip and outlined a rough circle on his office wall.

Curious about any other skills Sakura might have possessed, Sarutobi sent out a few ANBU to observe her. They came back and relayed with borderline awe that Sakura had excellent chakra control, could walk up walls without problem and knew basic medical ninjutsu.

Sarutobi was stunned. There had never been a case in Konoha where a prodigy had come from a civilian sector.

But before Sarutobi could make up his mind about what to do with the information the ANBU told him that Sakura had befriended the second son of the Uchiha Clan Head and gave Naruto a rival to boot. Sarutobi didn't know whether to laugh or sigh when Crow told him, with no small amount of amusement, that the two boys didn't like to share their female friend.

Sarutobi also heard that Uchiha Mikoto had taken to spending time with all three children and she had not discouraged Sasuke from associating with Naruto. The Hokage was quick to order his ANBU to keep an eye on this; he didn't know what the Uchiha Clan was up to but he didn't want them using Naruto in any of their plans.

But his ANBU assured him that she didn't do anything and while a little cold to Naruto at first, she had slowly softened and now treated him with almost as much affection as she did Sakura, whom Mikoto seemed to have taken a great liking to.

That news eased Sarutobi somewhat. He wasn't sure why Fugaku hadn't implemented the Jinchuuriki into whatever recent plan the Uchihas had cooked up but perhaps the Clan Head still had enough respect for Minato to leave his son well enough alone.

But still, Haruno Sakura was intriguing and Sarutobi was looking forward to what she could do as a kunoichi. He thought it was about time to suggest to Naruto to bring the girl along with him next time he came to visit.

"Hokage-sama,"

Sarutobi looked up from his thoughts and the paperwork he had been going over and nodded at the ANBU in front of him. Crow was on Naruto duty again today.

"There has been an incident," Crow said after a curt salute. "An attempted abduction of Uchiha Sasuke took place in front of the Uchiha compound earlier this evening."

Sarutobi almost snapped the writing utensil in his hand but his face was outwardly calm as he waited for the ANBU to continue.

"The abduction failed and the shinobi who attempted the kidnapping had been confirmed as a missing-nin from Iwa," Crow expanded, and then paused. Sarutobi got the feeling that the man wasn't sure how to proceed.

"The missing-nin is currently being healed so we can hand him over to Yamanaka-sama," Crow finally said.

Sarutobi nodded, his shoulders loosening a notch as he frowned over the ANBU's words. "Fugaku-san stopped the abduction?" He pressed. He knew the Clan Head took personal offense if any of his clan members were attacked at home. "Or Itachi-kun?" The young Uchiha heir's obsession with protecting his younger brother was sometimes almost worrying to Sarutobi.

Crow was silent for a few seconds. "No, Hokage-sama," There was a strange inflection to his voice that Sarutobi couldn't quite puzzle out. "Haruno Sakura stopped the abduction."

Sarutobi literally did not know what to say to that. His mind tried to work out how a four-year-old civilian child could possible stop a missing-nin and one from Iwa no less. Granted, the girl was turning out to be quite the genius but a missing-nin?

"What did she do?" He demanded. "How did she manage to send the missing-nin to the hospital?"

Crow shook his head a little in a way that gave Sarutobi the impression that the man was just as shocked as he was.

"She used Shunshin," Crow revealed and Sarutobi leant forward intently. "She and Uzumaki Naruto were just leaving and she must have sensed the missing-nin's approach. She Shunshined back to Uchiha Sasuke just as the missing-nin tried to snatch the boy. She had a kunai with her defended with that. It presented her with an opening in which she took," He paused and shifted a little on the spot. "…I believe she utilized something similar to Tsunade-sama's technique. Her chakra-enhanced punch sent the missing-nin through three trees and a park bench and gave him two broken ribs, a concussion, and partly severed a neck artery with her kunai."

Sarutobi was speechless for a long moment. It took perfect or near-perfect chakra control to do what his old student could do and a four-year-old managed to pull it off?

"Sakura-chan did this?" He said aloud, not really meaning it as a question. "And she did not get hurt?"

Crow shook his head. "No, she took the missing-nin by surprise; he was not expecting retaliation from any of the children."

Sarutobi was mentally reeling from the new turn of events but still had the presence of mind to demand, "You let a four-year-old girl confront a missing-nin alone?"

Crow immediately bowed his head and when he spoke, his voice was a little tighter. Sarutobi knew all the ANBU on Naruto duty had grown fond of Haruno Sakura, which was also part of the reason why he couldn't believe she was the only one who went to Sasuke's defence.

"There are no longer as many incidents between Uzumaki-kun and the villagers and we have taken to following from a farther distance," Crow admitted in a flat voice. "And today is also Haruno-san's birthday; we gave the children more privacy to celebrate."

Sarutobi winced. Naruto had been telling him all about Sakura's birthday for weeks.

"That is no excuse," His voice came out even harsher than he intended; he felt a little sick that Sakura had to face a kidnapping attempt on her friend and no doubt saw the blood she herself had had to draw on her birthday of all days.

"It was our mistake, Hokage-same," Crow's voice was still professionally bland but Sarutobi could sense the anger behind it and knew the man was genuinely sorry. "It will not happen again."

Sarutobi nodded curtly. "Where is she now?"

"Uchiha Mikoto cleaned her up and accompanied her home," Crow relayed.

Sarutobi blanched. "Cleaned her- "

"Some of the arterial spray ended up on her," Crow confirmed stiffly.

Sarutobi closed his eyes and hoped Sakura was not too traumatized. "How did she seem afterwards? Do I need to send Inoichi over to her house?"

Crow hesitated but eventually gave a negative. "She was shaking immediately after and Mikoto-sama had to carry her halfway home but she seemed alright overall. She did not cry."

That could be shock, Sarutobi thought grimly, but put the issue out of his mind for now. His ANBU would tell him if Sakura showed signs of trauma in the days to come.

"Very well, keep me updated about the missing-nin," Sarutobi said instead. "I want him in front of Inoichi the moment he wakes up." He paused, and then added, "One more thing; who else saw Sakura-chan's abilities besides Sasuke-kun and Naruto?"

"Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Fugaku, and Uchiha Itachi. As well as several Uchiha children."

Sarutobi mentally grimaced but only nodded dismissively at the ANBU. Crow gave another sharp bow before he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Sarutobi sighed and leant back, grabbing his pipe. He would need to speak with Fugaku the coming morning about the attempted abduction. There was also the knowledge that the Uchiha Clan Head would no longer leave Sakura along to worry about.

Sarutobi found Haruno Sakura to be an intriguing girl, and after tonight's mishap, even more so. But Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi were both just as intriguing and they came with their fair share of problems. He had no doubts that Sakura would be the same, and that was what worried him most of all.

~T~

Kizashi and Mebuki did not go to work the next day and Sakura could admit to a little relief when she woke up choking on screams and found them sitting in the living room.

They hovered over Sakura all day, and though she felt slightly smothered, Sakura didn't complain. She knew she had worried them and they were simply reassuring themselves that their daughter was still very much alive.

She wasn't surprised when she sensed Naruto's approach and a knock at her door sounded a few minutes later. Even as a child and despite the fact that Sakura could throw a kunai a lot better than he could, Naruto was still just as protective of her now as he was in the future.

"I'm fine, Naruto," She said for the fifth time as they sat outside in the garden munching on the lunches Sakura's mother made for them. "Completely fine, honest. The man didn't even scratch me."

"That punch was so cool, Sakura-chan!" Naruto crowed, practically bouncing in place. "Can ya teach me? Please?"

Sakura smiled but shook her head. "You need perfect chakra control to do something like that, Naruto, and with all that energy, you're probably more of an offensive type."

Naruto's face fell and Sakura felt unbearable guilt even though she was telling the truth. "How 'bout I teach you something else?" She compromised, getting to her feet and dusting off her shorts. "Here, watch."

She moved over to the side of her house and planted one foot against the wall. A few seconds later, she had strolled up the side and turned to Naruto with a grin. As expected, the blond was staring at her with a mix of awe and envy.

"Show me, show me!" He jumped to his feet as well and scampered over to stand under her. "How d'ya do that? I've seen grown-up ninja walk sideways like that but I dunno how they do it. Ya have ta show me!"

Sakura laughed and proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon teaching Naruto how to walk up the wall. It was just as hard for him this time around as it was when he was twelve, but instead of berating and ignoring him as she once did, Sakura tuck to encouragement and tops and by the time evening came around, Naruto was tired and a little bruised but he could reach the halfway point and stuck there without falling.

It was almost six when Sakura felt a chakra signal deliberately flare nearby. It was muted, as all ninja tend to do when off-duty and Sakura automatically stepped in front of Naruto even as she whirled to face the garden fence.

Uchiha Fugaku was standing on the other side, and though Sakura hastily stilled the motion, she could tell that the Clan Head had caught the instinctive twitch her hand made for the hidden kunai in her clothes. She couldn't tell if it was approval or something else that flickered through the man's eyes.

It was impolite to not acknowledge a Clan Head so Sakura bowed her head politely. She had long since decided never to bow fully to anyone save her Hokage. Tsunade and Uzumaki Naruto were the only two she would ever bow down to. Sarutobi as well, but only to an extent.

She saw Fugaku's brow furrow ever-so-slightly but didn't linger as she turned back to Naruto who was gasping for breath on the ground, not having noticed anything amiss yet.

"Naruto," She drew his attention and he seemed to spot the sobriety in her eyes because he sat up attentively right away. "Could you bring out plates back inside and then tell my parents that Uchiha Fugaku-sama is here?"

Naruto looked around Sakura almost winced at the blatant way his eyes widened when they landed on Fugaku. She really should teach him how to be subtler in his actions. Then again, Naruto and subtle wasn't something that one usually saw together in one sentence unless the words 'is not' were in between.

To his credit, Naruto didn't flinch from the Clan Head's cool gaze, deliberately holding it with an edge of defiance in his stance before he turned to Sakura. "Are you sure, Sakura-chan?" He asked anxiously. "I think you parents will hear if I yell loud enough."

Sakura quirked a smile but shook her head. "I'll be fine. Go on."

She waited until Naruto had disappeared inside the house before moving to the closed gate. Fugaku met her there, inclined his head with all the impassive cordiality of an Uchiha upbringing. He didn't smile, but Sakura didn't expect him to so she simply looked timidly up at him and opened the gate to let him in.

"Good evening, Uchiha-sama," Sakura greeted. "Are you here to see my parents?"

Fugaku nodded. "Yes, I wish to speak to them about yesterday's incident." He glanced down at her as they walked up the path before continuing stiffly, "And I believe I owe you my gratitude for saving my son."

That was as close to a thank you Sakura would ever receive and she accepted it with good grace, nodding silently as her father stepped outside, eyes wary and almost scared, not of Fugaku, but of what the Clan Head's visit implied.

For the most part, civilian children who wanted to become ninja applied to the Academy when they were six. It was technically harder for them to graduate much less advance through the ranks since they had no clan or shinobi to associate with and no one to really teach them outside of school. On occasion, when a civilian particularly stood out in the Academy, a clan might have taken an interest in them and nominated them for a fast-track program. Even rarer, a civilian child may be nominated for an early admission or for said program before even entering the Academy, and that was what Sakura was aiming for.

She was somewhat confused as to why Uchiha Fugaku himself had come instead of sending a lesser Clan member, and not a little pensive at what being associated with the Uchiha Clan may entail, but Sakura kept quiet and listened to her father when he told her to go upstairs.

She did do but only to the top step. Naruto's blue eyes blinked at her from where he was sitting – on the second-floor landing – and she placed a finger to her lips before motioning for him to join her. He grinned and crept over to her side and the two of them huddled together to eavesdrop. She made sure to only suppress her chakra to a certain level so Fugaku would still sense her – eavesdropping was normally impolite but she was aiming to impress the Clan Head – and then sat down to listen in on the conversation.

It was both a satisfying and guilt-inducing discussion.

~E~

Kizashi started off the conversation with a grave demeanour and a heavy heart. "Uchiha-sama, how may we help you?" Beside him, his wife shifted just a little. Clearly, she didn't want to help their guest at all.

If Fugaku noticed, he did not say. Instead, he levelled Kizashi with a stern gaze. "Haruno-san, I am sure my wife had informed you of yesterday's events. Your daughter saved my saved my son's life and for that, I am grateful."

Here, he paused to inclined his head in the barest of thanks. Kizashi was not a violent man but he had to hold back the urge to lash out and maybe throttle the Clan Head. He didn't because that would get him arrested at best and killed at worst, so he simply nodded back instead.

"It has come to my attention, however, that your daughter is quite able in defending herself and others for a child of five," Fugaku continued, and Kizashi tensed further. "She showed skills yesterday that, quite frankly, puts her on the level of a prodigy."

Kizashi forced his voice to remain calm as spoke. He knew why Fugaku was here; he didn't want the man to beat around the bush any more than he already had. "You want my daughter," He concluded in a flat voice, ignoring the way Mebuki flinched next to him. "She's five, and you want to take her and make her a killer."

Fugaku's eyes narrowed and his voice became frosty. Apparently, he'd gotten the hint and wasn't going to prevaricate any longer either. "She has enormous potential. It would be a complete waste to allow her to stagnate."

Kizashi narrowed his eyes with borderline hostility. "For you or for her?" He countered quietly, a hint of bitterness entering his words. "If she wanted to wait until she's six or if she doesn't want to become a kunoichi at all, will you leave her alone?"

Fugaku's eyes flashed and he ignored Kizashi's query. "She wishes to be a kunoichi," He said instead. "There is no point in pondering possibilities that will never come to pass. Having tied to a clan, especially the Uchiha Clan, is an honour and it will smooth her career path that much more."

"You think very highly of your clan, Uchiha-sama," Kizashi said, and he was careful to keep his words neutral.

Fugaku nodded sharply, his features hardening even further. "Of course. We are a proud and strong clan."

Kizashi said nothing to refute this. He probably couldn't without offending the Clan Head. Instead, his mind strayed back to Fugaku's offer. On one hand, he hated the fact that the man would do almost anything to pull his daughter into the shinobi world as quickly as possible. Even if he said no now, Fugaku would probably pull strings with the Council or something equally underhanded to get at Sakura and Kizashi was only a civilian; he stood no chance.

But on the other hand, he knew Sakura wanted to be a kunoichi; it had been known but unspoken fact in their household for months, and if his daughter was going to enter the Academy one way or the other, at least, if he agreed here, then it would be on their terms and he could make sure Sakura would not be indebted to the Uchiha if and when she took the offer. His little girl was the one who saved Fugaku's son after all; the Uchihas owed her, not the other way around.

"I would like to talk to my family, about his in private," Kizashi said at last. "In the end, it will be Sakura's choice. Perhaps we can give you an answer in a week's time?" He worded it like a question but his eyes challenged Fugaku.

The man may be a Clan Head but Sakura was still his daughter and he'd be damned if he let anyone completely walk over him when it came to one of the two people he cherished more than anything in the world.

Fugaku knew he had won for the most part and he inclined again in acceptance. "Very well; I will await you answer a week from now."

After Kizashi closed the door behind the Clan Head, he leant against it and wished he was deaf because he did not want to hear his wife cry.

He glanced up and saw his daughter descending the stairs, Naruto a step behind her, and he knew they both had heard the entire conversation. They were holding hands and both looked anxious, but Sakura was not scared at all. Just determined.

Kizashi wondered when his little girl grew up. She was only five and because of work, they did not even celebrate her birthday beyond a few gifts and a small cake. She had already assured them that she was quite happy with what they gave her but yesterday's incident weighed heavily on everyone's mind and Kizashi knew that they all went to bed with restless thoughts.

Sakura was growing up and Kizashi knew he couldn't stop her.

~M~

"Hello, Crow-san,"

It was three days after Fugaku's visit and Sakura was walking to the park where she usually met Naruto in the afternoon. It hadn't escaped her notice that an ANBU had been following her ever since she left her house.

She had met Crow before, both in her current time and in her own timeline. The chakra signal of Shiranui Genma was very familiar to her after all the times she had healed him and gone on missions with him and fought beside him.

Naruto had also introduced them – Sakura-chan, this is Crow-chan; Sakura almost laughed at that – after one of the times when even Sakura's scowls couldn't hold off a civilian's harsh words and Genma interfered on their behalf.

Genma had never stood in plain sight so blatantly though, none of the ANBU had, so, curious, Sakura approached him.

Genma nodded, peering down at her from behind his mask as she fidgeted in front of him. "You feeling okay from the attack?" He finally asked.

Sakura stifled a giggle. It was technically against ANBU protocol to speak in anything but a bland tone of voice so nothing would be given away. Genma was making an effort to sound like his usual self, most likely to put her more at ease.

"I'm fine," She nodded instead, smiling warmly at the masked shinobi. "Thanks for asking."

Sakura got the feeling that Genma was smiling too before his eyes flickered to the package Sakura was clutching to her chest.

"Some clothes for Naruto," Sakura answered the unspoken question. "Kaa-san, says no one should be limited to only one choice of clothing."

Genma sounded amused when he enquired, "And how are you going to get the brat to take them?" They started walking again, the senbon-wielder slowing his steps to match Sakura's shorter pace.

"Tell him my mum got them as a gift but they don't quite fit me and she doesn't want to return them," Sakura replied promptly before adding with a fierce look, "And he'll take them if he knows what's good for him."

Sakura knew Genma was biting back laughter but he only nodded and they continued on in comfortable silence. He left when Sakura reached the park, silent as a shadow as he disappeared from view once more.

"Sakura-chan!"

Sakura looked up to see Naruto running towards her, arms flailing with enthusiasm. "Hello, Naruto," She smiled affectionately at him. He really was too cute at four.

"Sakura-chan, c'mon!" He grabbed her hand and didn't even ask about the package before he started pulling her forward. It was a testament to how excited he was about whatever he wanted to show Sakura.

"Where are we going?" Sakura asked jogging after the blond.

"We're gonna go see the old man!" Naruto announced; and Sakura's eyes widened. "He says he wants ta meet ya and I told him I'd take ya to see him!"

"What- wait, Naruto!" Sakura was ignored and dragged across Konoha to the Hokage Tower. She didn't know what to expect or what she was going to tell the Sandaime. It was an oversight on her part; she really should have asked Naruto what he had told Sarutobi.

Sakura just hoped her mind would be quick enough to come up with the necessary lies.

~P~

Sarutobi was just as kind as Sakura remembered he was from her short interactions with him but there was a piercing glint in his eyes that put her on guard. There was a reason the man was revered as the God of Shinobi.

She took the seat he offered beside Naruto and they both listened to the blond babble for a while. There was an underlying tension in the room, though Naruto seemed completely oblivious to it.

"Naruto," Sarutobi finally cut in mildly. "Perhaps we should let Sakura-chan speak? You haven't forgotten about her, have you?"

Naruto looked indignant even though they all knew the Hokage was only teasing. "Of course not!" He turned to Sakura with a wide grin. "I told Jiji about what Sasuke's dad said! You're so lucky! You get ta enter the Academy early!"

Sakura quickly glanced at the Hokage and didn't even have to pretend to look nervous because she was nervous. She knew of the rift between the Sandaime and the Uchiha Clan; what did Sarutobi think of this new development?

"I have heard about what you did," Sarutobi said, his head tilting a little as he watched her. "Your skills are quite powerful for someone so young."

It was a test and Sakura pulled a bashful smile onto her face as she responded. "I had to save Sasuke. I'd do anything to protect my friends," She told him, and it was the honest-to-God truth because she swore the same thing when she was twelve and fighting for her friends' survival.

It was the right thing to say but Sarutobi continued, "That was very admirable, Sakura-chan. Where did you learn the techniques, you used?"

Sakura blinked up at the Hokage with big innocent eyes. "At the library. There are scrolls there. A librarian told me they were really basic for older Academy students and Genin but they might be too hard for me. I read them anyway and I learned loads! Mostly in medical ninjutsu though. The scrolls described what chakra was and a little on how to use it," She paused as if deep in thought, and then added brightly, "Gathering chakra is my hands is really easy!"

The Sandaime didn't question it; for someone born with perfect chakra control, chakra-enhanced strength was second nature.

"And Shunshin?" Sarutobi pressed casually.

Sakura blinked again and tilted her head in confused manner, "Shunshin?"

The Hokage observed her carefully as he clarified, "How did you move to protect Sasuke-kun so quickly?"

Sakura's brow furrowed before she let her expression clear. "Oh, the Ninja Dash?"

Sarutobi looked amused. "Yes, Sakura-chan."

Sakura shrugged. "I saw some adult ninja do it and I saw the Ram seal they used so I just tried it. It took me a few weeks but I finally managed a short distance," She stopped again at the stunned look on the Hokage's face and deliberately mistook it for disapproval. "Should I have waited until I was a grown-up ninja? I'll stop from now on if I shouldn't do it yet."

Sarutobi quickly shook his head. "No, no, it's not against the law. But to be able to pull of Shunshin at your age; it's very impressive, Sakura-chan."

Sakura broke into a tentative smile and inwardly hoped the lies were believable enough and remarkable enough to mark her down as a prodigy.

The Hokage didn't continue his questioning though and his attention moved on to something else.

"Will you accept the Uchiha Clan's offer then, Sakura-chan?" Sarutobi's voice was thoughtful and Sakura shifted a little in her seat.

"I want to become a kunoichi and I think it's a good idea," She blurted out, carefully phrasing her words. "'Cause Uchiha-sama is indebted to me for saving Sasuke, and this way, we'll be even."

She saw Sarutobi's eyes sharpen even as she finished. She had just demonstrated her intellect without being too blatant about it. Her deduction would leave people wondering whether she was simply taking the Uchiha Clan Head's offer at face value or seeing the bigger picture and ensuring that she would not owe the Uchiha Clan in any way after she graduated.

"I see," Sarutobi smiled and his posture relaxed just a little. "Well, we will have to get your parents' permission of course, but the Uchiha Clan will handle any tuition fees. Being represented by a clan means they will pay for any books and scrolls you will need, as well as the weapons you will be learning to use during your time in the Academy. This will continue until you become Genin and start earning your own money."

Sakura nodded. She already knew this but she wanted to find out if she could graduate early like Kakashi and Itachi. "How many years will I need to study at the Academy?"

Sarutobi frowned a little. "Well, it depends on how fast you can learn all the material. The average student starts at the age of sic and graduates in four to six years. There have been exceptions of course, but it is hard work."

Sakura nodded. Her memory was better than most with the exception of Shikamaru and Sasuke's Sharingan and she was not willing to spend four tedious years slogging through material she had already learned once before. It would have been absolutely pathetic if she could not graduate within a year.

"What about me, Jiji?" Naruto piped up beside her. "I wanna go with Sakura-chan to the Academy too! She's been teaching me loads, not just throwing kunai! I can read and write better and I know more words and everything!"

Regret crossed Sarutobi's face and Sakura knew he was thinking of the Council. She had to deal with them more than once in her own time with Tsunade and she knew it was no picnic.

"I'm afraid you can't go yet, Naruto," Sarutobi said gently. "You're only four; surely you can wait a few more years?"

Naruto's face fell but Sakura could hear the unspoken thoughts in Hokage's words. Even in a few years, if the Council was completely adamant on being against it, they could still refuse his entry. They would certainly not allow him to start early.

Sakura wanted to storm into the Council room and yell at all of them for their incompetence (she supposed, the be fair, not all of them; mostly just the Elders and the civilian representatives and the son-of-a-bitch Danzo) but besides being comical, it would only do more damage than good.

As Naruto continued wheedling, Sakura thought about Fugaku's offer and his debt to her. She had never wanted to become a Hokage but she remembered the political aspects of her shishou's job. Being the woman's apprentice, Sakura was bound to pick up on some things.

She glanced over at her surrogate brother who looked increasingly upset and was still holding her hand in a death grip. They both knew that if she entered the Academy, she was going to have much less time to spend with Naruto and the blond had always harboured a fear of abandonment.

Sakura only hesitated for a moment longer, weighing the pros and cons, and the suggested timidly, "I could get Uchiha-sama to nominate Naruto too. I'll tell him that's my condition for taking his offer."

Naruto gapped at her, disbelief warring with hope and gratitude, and while Sakura flashed a smile at him in a reassuring gesture, it was Sarutobi's reaction she was most interested in.

The Hokage stared at her with a small frown on his face, concern lurking behind the contemplative expression.

"A clan offering to nominate you is an honour, Sakura-chan, not a bargain," Sarutobi finally said gravely, his eyes drilled into Sakura's own. "It would be disrespectful to do anything other than accept or decline."

Sakura tightened her own grip on Naruto's hand and straightened in her seat, her chin jutting out defiantly. She had come back not only to make sure her friends had a future but also to see that they were happy. If she didn't start changing things, her brutally bloody timeline would still come to pass. She had made up her mind. Nothing would stop her from seeing it through now.

"I saved Sasuke," She pointed out. "And if I have to, I'll do it again and again without any payment, but Uchiha-sama offered his Clan's backing after that, not before. It is an honour, which means we'll be even. He is returning the favour and I can pick what that favour will be, can't I?"

Sarutobi had wiped all expression from his face and was now staring at her with neutral gaze. "You could, but it would put you in their debt. Getting another child into the Academy when he has yet to show reason for early enrolment isn't completely dismissible. They will expect you to repay them is some way in the future."

Sakura knew the Sandaime was also thinking the lengths Fugaku would have to go to convince the Council if he agreed but she wouldn't let Naruto down now that she had gotten his hopes up; she couldn't when he was looking at her like she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Inner took the time to point out to her that she probably was.

"That's okay," She decided out loud. "One favour to get Naruto in. He's more than worth it."

For a moment, the closed off expression lifted from the Hokage's face and she saw approval shining through before it was quickly tucked away again. "Well, Naruto? If Sakura manages to get Sasuke-kun's father to agree, will you promise to work hard?"

Naruto didn't reply with words right away. Instead, he tackled Sakura in an exuberant hug, wrapping his arms around her and hooked his chin over her shoulder. Sakura hugged him back just as tightly when she felt her shirt getting wet. Naruto wasn't usually one to cry.

"I'll work hard, Sakura-chan," Naruto swore when he finally pulled back. He roughly dragged his forearm over his eyes to dash away any remaining tears before staring back at her with a determined gaze. "I won't waste this chance. I'll study all day if I have to."

Sakura had the feeling that Naruto couldn't study all day no matter what she did but she knew he was grateful beyond words and very happy and that was enough for her.

"I'll make it happen," She said, and she couldn't help the wide smile that spread over her face when Naruto believed her without question.

~E~

The week was up and Sakura stood stiff-backed in front of the Uchiha compound in simple but respectable clothes. Her parents wanted to come with her but Sakura insisted on doing it alone. She wanted to seem a little more grown-up and they were worried enough without knowing she would be indebting herself to the Uchiha after today.

The guards at the gate were obviously expecting her because they gave her a stiff nod and an unimpressed once-over before waving her in. Another Uchiha led her up the path without a word to what looked like the main house and Sakura would admit to a little relief when she saw Mikoto stepping outside to greet her.

"Hello, Sakura-chan," The woman smiled warmly at her and took her hand as if she had simply come over to play with Sasuke again. "Come in. My husband is in the sitting room. How have you been?"

"Fine, thank you," Sakura answered, but her smiled almost faltered when she stepped into the living room and found not only Fugaku but Itachi and Sasuke as well. Itachi was standing by the window, silent and still as a statue, while Sasuke was sitting on the couch. He brightened when she stepped into the room but his father's presence seemed to prevent his usually behaviour because he stayed seated, posture absolutely perfect.

Fugaku pinned her with a cool gaze and greeted her with stiff nod. "Sakura-san," He began, and Sakura wondered if Mikoto forced him to use her name. "Thank you for coming. If you would like some privacy, we can retire to my study."

Sakura shook her head. She didn't really mind who heard what she had to say. "Here is alright, Uchiha-sama," Sakura took the seat across from Fugaku and caught a glimpse of Mikoto bustling out of the room again, presumable for some tea.

"Your answer then?" Fugaku prompted without delay.

Sakura had rehearsed what she was going to say about a million times ever since she had made up her mind. She was probably going to offend Fugaku no matter how she worded her decision; the question, however, was how much.

"Thank you very much for the offer, Uchiha-sama," Sakura started, "I would be honoured to accept. But I would like to make one request." She paused and determinedly ignored the stilted silence that descended on the room. At least she hadn't said condition.

"What is this request?" Fugaku finally asked, sounding even more frigid than he did when he was talking to her parents

Sakura looked straight into the Clan Head's eyes and did no waver. She was not afraid of him and she wanted him to know that It had been a long time since she had been afraid of anyone. Her only fear was failure; failure to fulfil the only reason she was here in this time.

"I have a friend I don't want to leave behind," She said. She had decided on a mixture of childishness and maturity. "He also wants to become a ninja and he has already started training. It would mean a great deal to me if the Uchiha Clan can push his enrolment through as well."

The subtle we are now even and I will owe the Uchiha Clan a favour was implied in her last words. There was only give and take in the shinobi world and even children understood that on some level. She knew she had gotten her meaning across.

Fugaku stared at her long and hard and the silence was almost stifling. She sensed Mikoto in the doorway behind her but didn't turn to look, instead keeping her gaze locked on the Clan Head in front of her.

"You are speaking of the Uzumaki boy, I assume," Fugaku voiced at last. She could tell what he was thinking.

Her head dipped. "Yes. His studying habits can use a little work but he is only a four-year-old boy," She paused, and then added boldly, "He is almost as good as Sasuke throwing a kunai and shuriken."

That was a double-edged sword. On one hand, Fugaku would possibly die before admitting to anyone outside of his immediate family that his sons were anything less than the best that everyone expected the Clan Head's sons to be. On the other hand, she knew Sasuke was nowhere near as good as Itachi was at four, and at least a part of Fugaku considered his second son to be the spare. But Sasuke was still much better than average and that was what Sakura was banking on.

She saw Sasuke shift in his seat and felt a little bad about dragging him into it. She knew he didn't like being compared but she also knew that, for some reason, Sasuke didn't really mind when it was he that was doing the comparing and it was Naruto she was comparing him to. They were the same even in her timeline; she had never understood it.

"But he is not as good as you," Fugaku said abruptly.

Sakura was momentarily thrown. She didn't expect this to come up in any of her imaginary scenarios. At the moment, she didn't even know which 'he' the Clan Head was referring to.

"I can only do my best," Sakura phrased her answer diplomatically. When in doubt, Tsunade always said, never take a side. Don't let yourself get trapped or you're screwed. "Just like Sasuke and Naruto."

There, a non-offensive answer, a reply that didn't make her sound weak, and just a touch of defiant reproach all rolled into one response.

Something flickered through Fugaku's eyes and Sakura waited with bated breath. In the end, it all depended on how highly the man thought of her. Ninja did not flaunt their skills. They prided themselves on their subtlety. Sakura had been plenty subtle throughout the entire conversation. She just hoped it was enough.

"Have you looked into the Academy's curriculum?"

The question was completely out-of-the-blue and Sakura probably was going to get whiplash before she left.

"Yes," She confirmed, not really seeing the harm in admitting that much. "It teaches the basics that are required for students to become Genin."

"Correct," Fugaku leant forward slightly. "I have seen your skill in the practical area but that is not all that makes up a ninja. By your estimate, how long would it take you to graduate from the Academy?"

Fugaku was testing her, of that she had no doubt. He was asking her without words if she considered herself worthy of the trouble Fugaku would have to go through to get Naruto into the Academy. In the long run, it did not matter if the Clan Head believed she could live up to expectations if she herself did not. Yet she wasn't sure why he was asking after her intellect. Surely, she had already proven herself in that area in their current verbal sparring? Nevertheless, she did not lie when she gave him her response.

"One year," Sakura replied without hesitation. She was neither boasting nor was she overestimating herself.

Even Itachi shifted at her declaration and Sasuke was staring at her with wide eyes. Sakura didn't look away from Fugaku and didn't glance over at Itachi. Everyone in the room knew she would break the Uchiha Genius' record and miss the famous Copy-nin's by only a year if she could turn her claim into reality.

The Clan Head had raised an eyebrow at her but he did not voice whether he believed her or not. Instead, he straightened and leant back and Sakura knew the conversation was nearing its end. She was suddenly anxious because the man had yet to give her his answer.

"The new term begins on April nineteenth," Fugaku informed her calmly even as he raised to his feet. "I will have someone deliver two sets of books to your household for yourself and the boy."

It took Sakura a moment to realise the Clan Head had given his approval and she could help the genuine smile that spread over her face as she ended up beaming at him. Fugaku looked temporarily taken aback but recovered in record time and nodded curtly as she thanked him. They never did get around to the tea but Mikoto had already whipped it out of sight.

Sasuke walked with her all the way back to the front gates but he was frowning almost worriedly.

"Something wrong, Sasuke?" Sakura tilted her head at him.

Sasuke offered a very un-Uchiha-like shrug and stuffed his hands into his pockets. The Sasuke from her time made the action look like he had a stick up his ass; however, this Sasuke only looked like he was sulking. She supposed that it was an improvement.

"You and Naruto are going to the Academy together," He finally muttered, and Sakura could hear the jealousy in his voice.

"We'll still come visit," Sakura reassured. The main clans' children could be recommended for the Academy at any time by their parents or clan heads if they showed enough aptitude. It would be up to Mikoto and Fugaku to make that decision for Sasuke.

"Sasuke-chan, it's almost time for dinner," Mikoto's voice made them both look up and they saw her approach them with Itachi by her side. "Head inside to wash up."

Sasuke nodded dutifully and waved half-heartedly to Sakura before scampering away. Sakura didn't have time to worry about him before Mikoto was speaking again.

"You'll work hard at the Academy, won't you, Sakura-chan?" Mikoto started sternly but her eyes were smiling.

Sakura nodded vigorously. "Of course, Mikoto-san. And Naruto will too; I'll make sure of it."

Mikoto laughed. "I'm sure you will." She had seen Sakura tutoring Naruto; the blond had long since learned not to argue with her when Sakura deemed it time for him to study.

"Well then, Itachi-kun will walk you home," She glanced at her son who nodded woodenly in confirmation.

Sakura didn't know whether to be exasperated or horrified. "Oh no, that's very kind of you but it really isn't necessary- "

"Nonsense," Mikoto waved a hand. "It is getting dark and no girl should walk home alone. Itachi-kun will accompany you."

Two minutes later, Sakura found herself making her way home with a stoic Itachi beside her and a very uncomfortable silence between them.

Somewhere up there, she just knew the gods were laughing at her.

Sakura had never been one for complete silence when in the company of someone else so by the time they were halfway home, she grasped at a random topic and started talking.

"Sasuke's talked about you," Sakura ventured a glance at the elder Uchiha sibling. "I hear you're going to try for Chuunin soon?"

Itachi nodded mutely and Sakura mentally scowled in her head. She didn't know if he was intentionally refusing to talk to her or if he really was as socially inept as her time's Sasuke once told her.

"Do you know when your father will enrol Sasuke?" Sakura tried again. "I really wish we could go to school together."

There was a short pause before Itachi shook his head once.

Sakura grinded her teeth together. This bastard was worse than Sasuke, Gaara, and Neji put together.

'So, that's your game, huh?" She fumed. 'Silly me; shouldn't be asking 'yes' or 'no' questions.'

"I know you're still a Genin but how are you finding your missions?" She asked sweetly. "The Hokage probably gives you tougher ones than normal Genin so how are you handling them?"

Sakura grinned smugly inside her head and then she almost fell over when Itachi shrugged.

Shrugged!

And the worst part of it was she actually understood what the shrug translated to, Okay; it's no particular trouble. I could handle harder.

God damnit, she had spent way too much time in Sasuke's company.

By the time her house came into view, she had fired off three more question, all answered with a single raised eyebrow, a sideways tilt of his head, and a slight frown, respectively. To her great irritation, she completely understood all three replies.

She all but stomped forward to unlatch the gate but spun around to face Itachi as she closed it, finally giving in to the urge and scowling fiercely up at him.

Itachi blinked once. What?

Sakura mentally screamed at her brain to stop interpreting Uchiha-ese.

Outwardly, she jabbed a threatening finger at him and let her temper out.

"Stick around, Uchiha!" She almost winced at the high-pitched squeak her five-year-old self still spoke in. God, she couldn't wait until puberty hit. "I'm going to get you to talk if it's the last thing I do!"

Without waiting for a reply (she just knew it was going to be two raised eyebrows which would translate to, Really? I'd like to see you try.) and not caring that she was being very rude to the prized first son of the man who was sponsoring her, Sakura spun on her heels and talked up the path to her house, still fuming.

Had she looked back, perhaps she would've caught the slight upward twitch of Itachi's mouth as he waited until she was inside before taking his leave.

~S~

Fugaku didn't know whether to be impressed or insulted after Haruno Sakura took her leave. He just knew he couldn't seem to find any of the anger he usually experienced when someone challenged him. He just felt…mildly amused.

To be able to learn Shunshin and incorporate chakra-enhanced strength into her fighting style at her age did not only take prodigal talent but also a quick mind so Fugaku deliberately drew Sakura into a verbal showdown. He expected her to, at best, butt heads with him a few times, but acquiesce to his authority in the end.

She surprised him.

Not only did she dare to make a request (and he knew it was a condition; it was very clear to him that she would have turned his offer down had he denied Naruto's entry) but she was also good enough to challenge him with double-sided confrontation.

So, he listened to the unspoken words and heard the silent promise she had made to return the debt she now owed the Uchiha Clan – the Clan, not him, because her request would politically affect the Uchiha as a whole. He saw her skill with diplomacy and her unwillingness to back down. And yes, he definitely took notice of the way she reprimanded him for his treatment of Sasuke.

It left him incredulous of her audacity and he challenged her in return. How good did she think she was? It was a future favour from a mere five-year-old civilian girl who had the potential to become great but wouldn't necessarily reach that far worth the difficulty he would have with the Clan Elders and the Council?

And she did not hesitate to say yes.

The girl could simply be overconfident of her own abilities of course, but Fugaku had seen his fair share of misplaced arrogance. The child showed none of that, and there was even something about her that he couldn't quite place but drew him in and made him willing to take a gamble on her and her future.

A knock on his study door made him turn and Fugaku blinked when Sasuke stepped into the room. His second son rarely visited when he was working here.

"Otou-sama," Sasuke nodded and Fugaku noted the determined air around him. He was carrying a few scrolls in his hands as well as a set of kunai. "Please enrol me in the Academy for the upcoming term."

Fugaku stared, his features carefully blank. This was new. Not only was Sasuke speaking with the sort of formality Fugaku had been trying to drill into the young boy for a few years now, he was also speaking up for himself for the first time in his young life.

"Oh?" Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "You believe yourself qualified?"

Sasuke nodded sharply. His hands tightened around the scrolls but that was the only sign of outward apprehension. Fugaku was slightly impressed.

"I have been working on the first-year material," Sasuke continued, motioning at the scrolls. "And my aim with kunai has improved."

Fugaku glanced down at the scrolls and weapons again. He didn't really need proof as Sasuke was obviously prepared to give him. The boy would have never come to him with anything less.

"Why all of a sudden?" He asked instead even though he knew the answer.

Sasuke squared his shoulders and his chin jutted out just a little. Fugaku made a mental note to correct him on that later.

"I want to study at the Academy with Sakura and Naruto," He said with uncharacteristic firmness. He hesitated for just a second before confessing, "I do better with them."

Fugaku knew he should have reprimanded Sasuke for this. Uchihas did not depend on anyone outside of the Clan. But he was not blind and he saw how much happier Sasuke had been over the past few months. He had also caught the occasional glimpses of his son in one of their private training grounds, practicing by himself instead of following Itachi like a lost puppy and begging him for training. Sasuke had gotten new incentive and his son had just confirmed his suspicions of where he found said motivation.

"You will not be able to graduate in a year," Fugaku said coolly, and he regretted his words, just a little for just a moment when Sasuke flinched minutely.

But just as quickly, Sasuke looked up at him again instead of sulking or getting upset and nodded reluctantly instead.

"I know," Sasuke acknowledged. "But I'll catch up to her one day and I'll still be able to study with Naruto."

He stopped and stared back stubbornly as if he planned on enrolling himself if Fugaku refused.

Fugaku could admit to more than a little pride.

"Very well," He nodded dismissively and turned back to the papers on his desk. "I will enrol you along with the other two. Now, go to bed."

He could almost hear Sasuke's joy but didn't reply when his son thanked him and all but skipped out the door.

As the door closed behind Sasuke, who spoke in stilted tones to his own father and vice versa and didn't seem to expect anything other than the little recognition he had been given, Fugaku wondered if maybe Sakura could be right.

~T~

Whoever accused Itachi of being unobservant had either been living under a rock for the past nine years or was simply too stupid to live.

Itachi was particularly perceptive when it came to his brother, whom he was very protective of, so when he returned from a mission and Sasuke was not there to greet him, he immediately got suspicious.

It wasn't long after that that he found out why Sasuke no longer followed him around. His mother was happy enough to tell him of Sasuke's two 'best friends', but when Itachi mentioned them in casual conversation, his brother was surprisingly reluctant to talk about them.

It took Itachi a few days and his mother's sympathetic explanation for him to realise that, for the first time in his life, Sasuke didn't want to share something with him.

He got concerned – curious, his mind supplied helpfully – and not a little annoyed – jealous, his brain snickered – and ended up following Sasuke one day, in secret of course, and finally (sort of) met his little brother's friends.

The village's pariah and a civilian girl…with pink hair. Honestly, who had pink hair? He even checked her parents; her father had faded marron hair in the shape of a star (of all things) and her mother had a neat golden brown.

But he soon forgot this oddity when he saw them practicing. Sasuke had gotten better and the blond boy wasn't far behind. But it was the civilian girl who caught his interest.

She was beyond both boys' level. Her aim was excellent and she was even good enough and patient enough to teach her friends/

So, he followed – stalked, the voice in his head chirped cheerfully. It sounded a lot like Shisui's voice and if it continued, Itachi just might have to go and hunt his cousin down and kill him; the older Uchiha had clearly cast some sort of jutsu on him – the girl, just to see what else she could do, and even he was stunned when she walked up walls and practiced Shunshin in the privacy of her backyard. She was as good as he was at her age and he didn't quite know what to make of it.

As the weeks went by, Sasuke continued to keep his friends to himself and Itachi continued to observe the girl. He learned her name – Sakura – and idly thought her parents were somewhat unimaginative. Even he could've thought of a better name, and Shisui always said he had the imagination of a rock.

Still, Itachi didn't understand why Sasuke didn't want him to meet his friends. It wasn't as if Itachi was going to steal them.

But the day he sensed a hostile presence and reached his compound's gates in time to see Sakura protect her brother without a single care for herself, he thought he began to see why Sasuke was so possessive of them. If Naruto had even half of Sakura's protectiveness, Itachi could admit that his brother was very lucky to find two such people. Hanging on to them was only logical.

He fully agreed with his father's decision on backing Sakura and almost, almost, gaped when Sakura challenged his father's authority right in the middle of his own home. When his father capitulated to her pleasantly – worded demanded, Itachi was impressed and fascinated in equal measure.

He didn't even blink in protest when his mother asked him to walk Sakura home.

Itachi had seen Sakura interact with Sasuke and Naruto and knew how much of a temper she had, so he decided to see how far he could go before she blew up at him.

He was increasingly amused when Sakura shot different questions at him in an attempt to get him to talk. He noted with some interest that while he was frustrated with his soundless replies, it was only because he wouldn't give a verbal response and not because she didn't understand.

By the time they reached her home, she was spitting mad and Itachi very nearly chuckled when she broke at last and raged at him with a five-year-old's fury.

He thought Sakura was the most intriguing person he had come across in a long time and he wondered how far he could push her until she finally succeeded in what she had promised.

He believed it would be rather fun to find out.

AN: This took a little while longer than the others but I hope you enjoyed it. I still have another 3 more chapters until I take over.

Disclaimer: This story is adopted and originally written by cywsaphyre