Upon waking the following morning it was decreed she had the day off from her usual duties which meant learning under Kabuto and she chose to stay glued to the nuke-nin's side "Are you sure you don't want to go out and explore" Orochimaru lifted an ebony brow at the girl.
"You said anything my heart desires you would acquire it for me, this ties in with that, this is what I want as my reward to stay close to you for the day, you will allow me that won't you Orochimaru-sama" Sakura asked with wide emerald eyes that met his pale gold hopefully.
Orochimaru blinked at that before shrugging he had said that, he always did and ended up relenting to anything the girl demanded of him "Speaking of rewards child, I have something special that you didn't ask for" the raven haired male spoke up.
As they walked through the halls "What's that Orochimaru-sama" the pinkette with blood red tips in her hair peered up at him curiously keeping as close as he would allow, which was basically glued to his side, it no longer bothered him he realized.
"This, I found it in a village while you were gone, knew you would enjoy it" the snake sannin held up a case, mummified in the case was a butterfly one of the rarest in the world a silvery meadow blue butterfly and by the kami it was gorgeous.
Jade eyes lit up and a quiet squeal filled the air "I love it Orochimaru-sama, I'll have to drag out my butterfly collection which is somewhere" the eight year old was practically ecstatic about adding a new case to her collection of other butterflies.
Causing her master to chuckle and ruffle her hair gently in an almost fond manner, one couldn't go eight years after all without softening just a little towards an innocent child "Run along now you know where I'll be if you want to stay by my side for the day" Orochimaru ushered her off.
"Understood Orochimaru-sama I promise it won't take me long" Sakura, with the butterfly case clutched gently in her arms sped from the room, nearly slamming into Kabuto, who had good reflexes and stepped to the side to avoid getting rammed.
He stepped into the room with his master moments later "I'm guessing by her reaction you gave it to her, to innocent really, I don't think she's really suited to this life and we should send her away" Kabuto commented, never having liked the girl in the first place.
Only to take several wary steps back as a dark oppressive chakra suddenly bore down on him "My apologies Orochimaru-sama it's just I don't like" the silver haired teenager opened his mouth to give his opinion on the girl and got a pale gold glare as Orochimaru stalked from the room.
"Excuse me Sir, do you know where Sakura is I was hoping we could train with her" Haku met Orochimaru out in the hall, his own master mere feet away from him and the Kaguya boy wringing his hands.
"I doubt she wants to train today boy, I believe she fully intends on staying glued to my side" the nuke-nin snorted to keep up the pretenses of being a harsh master, when he was anything but, he'd grown soft towards her, but he was the only one he'd admit that to.
Haku's hopeful look dropped "And you just let her get away with that, I know when I want to be alone I send the boy off to do other things" Zabuza's brows rose, stopping the man in his tracks as he intended to stalk by.
Gold irises met dark brown orbs "That is what she requested as a reward for doing such a job well done on her mission, usually she's off exploring or training" the ebony haired male stated simply growing bored of the conversation and already irritated with his retainer.
Then without giving anyone else another chance to speak swept down the corridor of his hidden base to a room that only he and the girl he'd been raising knew about so far "Don't know how Sakura does it, but he's kind of scary" Kimimaro piped in quietly.
But he would do it, serve the man to the best of his abilities because he'd been given a new purpose, hours later though the newbies in the base finally caught sight of the girl they were familiar with and like they'd been warned she was glued to her master's side.
Clutched in her arms was a case of some sort that they couldn't see, though at their appearance her jade eyes turned to them and she gave them a small smile of greeting "Where have you been all morning" the dark brown haired boy asked with a slight sulk to his tone of voice.
"With Orochimaru-sama and sorting through my butterfly collection, he gave me a new one to add, so I had to find the others, which I haven't yet" Sakura rattled off with ease literally pressed into her master's side and holding tightly to her new case.
Zabuza couldn't believe his ears "The boy wanted to know if you'd like to train with him after lunch, get in a light exercise" the former Mist shinobi asked for his apprentice with a light roll of his eyes so the boy didn't get his hopes up.
Sakura tilted her head to the side in consideration "Sure I'd intended on doing that anyway, though I'll have to make a quick run back to my room to put this on my table so it doesn't get damaged" the pinkette with blood red tips in her hair said.
The mention of her room which wasn't anywhere near theirs made Kimimaro pipe in again "Where is your room anyway Sakura, I thought we'd be closer" the white haired ten year old asked looking to his plate.
Making the girl giggle "My room is right next to Orochimaru-sama's cause he said the safest place in the world is at his side" the eight year old exclaimed emerald eyes bright and full of life, earning a fond look that she missed but others saw.
And like after lunch was the promised training session, it was light and to the point before the girl returned to being glued to her master's side for the rest of the day, the next day was vastly different though as she was ordered into the main chamber.
"Is it another mission Orochimaru-sama" Sakura questioned after straightening from her bow peering up at the sannin with wide viridian eyes, he didn't speak for several long minutes until the door opened and someone else shuffled in.
Only then did he speak "You and Kimimaro-kun have the task of clearing out bandits that have gotten it in mind to attack our village, what's rightfully mine, there's even a couple bandits of interest that you can cash bounties on, those will be your reward" Orochimaru said.
Explaining the mission in great detail "Understood Orochimaru-sama we'll do our best to get rid of them and sway them from ever attacking our home again" Kimimaro vowed voice deeper than usual trying to sound more mature than he was.
With that the two of them set out "Better keep close Kimimaro, if they throw weapons at us, my sand will provide protection" the pink haired girl with blood red tips at the end of her head ordered gently knowing that inevitably weapons would be thrown at them.
Kimimaro swallowed thickly "Okay Sakura, though how do you propose we find the bandits since Orochimaru-sama didn't say where they were just that they were going to attack our home" the white haired boy inquired keeping close to his friend.
"That's easy Kimimaro, Orochimaru-sama found a jutsu that allows me to create a third eye essentially, he said it came all the way from Wind Country and the Hidden Sand Village" the eight year old announced going through a set of hand signs.
Which consisted of snake, monkey, rat, monkey, bird, monkey, dragon, monkey, rat, and ended on monkey, one eye was shut and in a swirl of sand a third eye with a jade pupil came into existence, before floating off in a bunch of sand particles to find their targets.
The Kaguya Clan survivor watched on with curious vivid green eyes "Pretty cool Sakura do you think you might be able to teach me that or is that something that only you can do" the ten year old commented when the silence stretched on for to long in his eyes.
Finally thirty minutes later the third eye returned before dispersing, being erased from existence "Come on Kimimaro I found them and sorry only I can do it, that's why Orochimaru-sama gave it to me" Sakura admitted with a proud tone of voice.
"It's still wicked cool Sakura, so how are we going to do this, do we jump them when their distracted or attack right off the bat" Kimimaro blew out a breath, he couldn't allow himself to get nervous now, not when the one who was giving him a new chance at life was counting on him.
Sakura tilted his head to the side before raising her hand sand swirled around his wrist before settling "Now if we get separated you'll be protected instinctively, we attack, don't hesitate and kill all except for these two, try not to damage them to badly" she warned lightly.
The boy nodded quietly steeling his nerves "You got it Sakura, I won't fail you or Orochimaru-sama" he vowed making sure to memorize the faces of the ones that were to be mainly left alone.
With that they both turned and headed into the clearing where the ten/eleven bandits were hiding out and launched their attacks, it was all out chaos "Damn their just a couple of brats and their putting up this much of a fight" one of the bandits glared furiously at the duo.
Attempting to kill the girl who was definitely younger than the boy, only to be met with a wall of sand and to find his arm crushed to smithereens, when he screamed bloody murder in agony, it caused the other bandits to realize that they weren't normal children.
"Now you know, this is my home, my village, the place I chose for myself, you attempted to harm it, to cause trouble for my Master and this is the price you pay for you actions" the pinkette with blood red tips in her hair giggled quietly looking innocent and deadly at the same time.
Kimimaro decided he couldn't be showed up "And her master took me in gave me a new purpose in life and I won't fail either of them, this is now my home as well and I refuse to allow anyone to harm it" the white haired boy stated brandishing a bone at the remaining seven bandits.
Basically a future warning to all others who attempted the very same thing they were doing at that exact moment in time, the remaining bandits turned to flee "Look we made a mistake obviously, let us go already" the leader barked hoping to intimidate the brats into letting them go.
When they were met with a wall of sand that prevented them from escaping "I can't do that my master told me to let none of you survive, and two of you I plan on cashing in on your bounties, that's to be our reward and I don't let rewards slip through my fingers easily" Sakura said.
"It will be my first reward and I don't intend on letting any of you go either" Kimimaro exclaimed launching forward and driving his bone deep, the fight was on yet again until all bandits were dead, the two with a bounty on their head in perfect condition.
Like she'd done with the feudal lord from water country their necks had been snapped, though this time she was definitely covered in more blood than before "Let's go Kimimaro, I'd like to take a shower and get all this blood out of my hair" the eight year old sighed.
Sulking at her yukata it was one of her favorites, perhaps it was savable but she definitely wasn't going to hold her breath chances were she'd have to burn it, Kimimaro straightened as their two bounties were lifted into the air by sand "Okay Sakura" the ten year old nodded.
And just like that the duo were on their way back to the hidden underground base "Just what the hell happened to you two" Zabuza stopped them on the second floor, just one floor away from the one they were headed to.
"It looks like you two took a bath in blood" Haku crinkled his nose up at the metallic stench wafting off the two kids, this time there were no illusions made, they'd both killed multiple someones and pride gleamed in their eyes because of it.
"Completed a task for Orochimaru-sama, bandits got it into their heads to try and attack, so Kimimaro and I took care of them for him, we even got two with bounties on their heads out of it, that we plan on cashing in on probably tomorrow" Sakura explained.
In the most casual tone ever as if killing was an everyday occurrence for her, it wasn't but it would soon be as her master demanded more and more from her "That's right and I finished my first mission as well" Kimimaro grinned practically bragging.
The duo stepped to the side allowing Sakura and Kimimaro to pass "Don't worry boy, we'll have our chance to prove ourselves" the rogue from mist said to his apprentice, who looked put out and a little jealous that he'd been left out of the fighting.
At his words though Haku turned "I just have to get stronger that's all, come on Zabuza-sama let's train" the little brunette suggested not wanting to be left behind by the other kids, next time when they were sent out on a mission he would be going with them, no if's and or buts about it.
Meanwhile the two in question had finally reached the lowest floor of the base and entered the main room that all meetings were conducted in "Well done child, and Kimimaro-kun, you have defended your home and I see you managed to catch the bounties" Orochimaru clapped.
Praising both children, more the girl than Kimimaro, it would take the boy longer to get use to how things worked around there in the base after all, but he had done well on his first mission and hadn't complained about having to kill, proving to be resilient to death.
Sakura grinned and leaped into her master's arms "Believe it or not Orochimaru-sama, but Kimimaro was pretty good, I think with proper training he could become just as strong as you" okay so she exaggerated a little bit, that didn't mean the boy wouldn't get very strong.
Orochimaru considered the statement "Maybe not but I intend on getting stronger in order to protect this place" the boy flushed red at the praising of his skills, then hurried off upon seeing the dismissal in those gold irises.
"Do you intend on cashing in on those bounties tomorrow" the nuke-nin lifted an ebony brow at the girl still seated on his lap, it was also something he'd grown extremely use to, and he wouldn't hesitate to put anyone in their place should they dare comment on it.
Her eyes lit up "Course Orochimaru-sama, though first I'm going to go take a bath" her gaze trailed downwards to her yukata, a pout formed on her lips as she once again saw the amount of blood that had since by now dried it would be impossible to get it all out.
The snake sannin chuckled "Relax girl there are plenty more where that one came from, besides you are outgrowing it so it was time for a new one" the raven haired male shrugged casually as if the thought of buying more of the same yukata only larger was no big deal.
When in fact it had been exceedingly difficult to find that particular style and now had it hand sewn in order to please the girl "Thank you Orochimaru-sama, I'm going now" Sakura smiled happily, leaping to the floor gracefully and disappearing down the halls of the base.
After breakfast the very next morning Sakura and Kimimaro set forth from the base yet again intending on cashing in on their bounties, only with two tag-a-longs "So where are you going again" Haku questioned sulking as they once again traveled on the annoying sand.
That got in his and on his clothes and made him feel grainy and uncomfortable, not only that but the distinct smell of blood wafted from the granules of dirt no doubt from yesterday's fight "Just how long will we be traveling" Zabuza got as comfortable as he could.
His was much larger than the others, but even then his feet still hung off the edge "Cashing in on our bounties, though I don't know where exactly we have to go in order to do that" Kimimaro glanced to his partner in crime as some in the base were calling her.
"Only half a day so don't worry Haku and a bounty hideout Kimimaro-kun" Sakura explained with ease, keeping an eye out for any trouble as they traveled across the land to their destination and mentally thanking the kami that there was one near so she wouldn't have to go days away.
Silence settled over the four of them after that and they reached the hideout without incident, it was getting in that was going to be tricky "That guy is here, the one from before that you called Kakuzu-senpai" the brunette piped in smartly feeling the chakra from there.
Her eye twitched in frustration "Perhaps we should just go to another one" the former Mist Shinobi turned rogue said not wanting to fight that particular day, plus he'd left Kubikiribocho back at the base, so he'd be useless for the most part.
"What are we going to do Sakura" the white haired Kaguya survivor attached himself to his friend, who'd been his companion for the better part of several days at that point, and one of the few who didn't see him as an abomination.
Sakura shot him a look "We do nothing, do not incite his wrath, and leave him alone, do that and he will ignore our presence as if we don't exist" the pink haired girl with blood red tips in her hair stated simply taking the scroll with their bounties out and with Kimimaro on her heels entered the hideout.
Just as he was coming out "Fancy seeing you again brat" Kakuzu couldn't resist speaking to the girl, who'd definitely been paying attention to him when he'd told her were all the hideouts were to cash in on bounties.
Viridian met bright green "Not here to cause trouble Kakuzu-senpai, just cash in our hard earned bounties and return home afterwards" Sakura commented casually with a light shrug keeping her face empty of all emotions.
"That's right Sir, so we'll be on our way" Kimimaro nodded doing what his friend did and was being his most politest while remaining casual and not inciting the very scary man's wrath, because he certainly didn't want to end up dying.
Kakuzu rolled his eyes and with that left, ignoring the others with the little brat who'd escaped from the Akatsuki Organization, he didn't care but the Leader had certainly kicked up a fuss and was furious because the girl could have turned into a valuable pawn.
"You know that kind of bugs me how easily we're brushed off as if we couldn't hold our own in a fight" Zabuza scowled once the man was far enough away that he wouldn't hear any insults shot his way, the boy at his side nodded in agreement.
"Exactly but at least he's leaving us alone just like Sakura said he would because we aren't actively trying to get in his way or start a fight to incite his wrath" Haku rattled off, ten minutes later the two missing members of their group returned.
Carrying small cases no doubt filled with their bounties, then it was back to the base for the rest of the day, which included a small training session, followed by dinner afterwards a shower and finally crawling into the beds in their rooms that they were given to get some shuteye for the night.