Thanks for all of your reviews!

Sexy sango

Bnadz

Sakura is number 1

ArticEmbers

Blossomheartxoxo

SlivermineGirl

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters…only the plot

Author's note: Sorry for the REALLY late updates, I had writers block and couldn't find the time to write. I do except flames, but I just don't like the EXTREMELY harsh ones. I would like everyone to check out my poll; it's about how the rest of team seven find out about Sakura's mom. This is the last chapter am letting you vote; when I post the next chapter…am closing the poll.

Chapter Seven: Memories Always Stay With You

Recap:

Naruto glared at the spot where Kakashi left, "I wish he'd stop doing that."

"Doing what dope?"

"Have a meeting where he shows up late, have it for a few minutes saying it's mission, and wait to tell us just so he can make us come here for nothing!"

Sakura replied to him, "Stop complaining, he has his reasons."

As she stalked off elsewhere to eat, especially if it's 12:00, after all she was already packed wasn't she?"

End of Recap

Sakura sat alone, enjoying her chicken flavored ramen. A flash of dark pink caught her eye.

Fear over came her, and her stomach dropped, 'mother?'

Sakura looked around, and dropped her money on the table and ran out of there.

Sakura had her bag slung over her back, and arrive at the gates.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto wearily asked.

Sasuke's emotionless stare looked in her eyes, "Your late."

Sakura breathe out loudly, "I got caught up."

Kakashi poofed into sight, and immediately went into the mission's details feeling the tension.

"Our mission is in Sound, we will enter south west part and work our way up to the northern most part."

Sakura's eyes widen.

Sasuke looked at her, 'what's her problem? It's not like am involve with Orochimaru.'

Naruto stood there taking the mission's details into thought, 'trying' to understand them.

Naruto spoke up, "But what's so important in that part of sound sensei?"

"We are taking care of a man whose bounty is worth 342000 yen." (3000 U.S. dollars)

Everyone's mouth dropped, "WHAT?"

Sakura looked at him, "Whose hiring us, and what rank is this criminal?"

Our client's name is Kimigato hashigami, we think he may be a involve with Orochimaru's plans. Also, that may be our client's fake name. The criminal he assigned us to is S-rank; he kills the innocent, and kills the mess-up experiments of Orochimaru. He works for anyone who will pay him to kill off anyone. He does this alone, but is sometimes seen with Kabuto from time to time.

Sakura's eyes widen, at the similarities between the criminal and the one describe in her dream.

Flashback

" There's a killer in the north most part of the Village of Sound. He is an illegal bounty hunter, but helps prisoners of sound escape that had been subject to Orochimaru's torture and experiments. I want you to help him. Don't let anyone find him, or know about him."

End of Flashback

Sakura looked at Kakashi, "What's his name?"

Everyone looked at Sakura strangely.

Kakashi responded, "Am not sure, they will fill us in once we get there."

Sasuke replied, "They?"

"Yes, Kimigato-san and his two servants, guard, and his only son. We will be staying with them for a few days." Kakashi said.

Naruto scratch his head, "Why so long? Couldn't we get the information needed and just leave?"

Sasuke looks at Kakashi, "Naruto does have a point sensei."

Kakashi sighed, "Duty calls, he wants to make sure we are able to do so with our mission. If we screw up, he's afraid that this criminal will find out who's calling the shots, and kill his son.

Sakura looked at him confused, "Why kill his son?"

"It may be because they are rich, and have power over a few small towns outside the Village of Sound. If the heir dies, the people or government will take over. He will have no one to pass down his ruling to; his wife is unable to have any more kids.

Naruto started making growling like sounds, "Let's get the sorry basturd for killing the innocents!"

Sakura was standing still motionless as this was being said. Naruto stated leading, as the others followed, "Come on Sakura-chan! Before we're late!"

Sasuke shook his head, and murmured, "Dope." Right outside Naruto's hearing range.

Sakura only paid half attention to Naruto's consent ramble, "Is it the same person in my dream my parents were talking about? Or was it continence? And why do I have to protect a heartless murder.

Inner self appeared, "Aren't you considered a heartless murder, we are a ninja you know."

"True, but I don't kill the innocent. I never killed yet!"

"Yet, is the keyword, if it was your mission you would. For all you know, he could've been accused wrongly!"

"Why are you sticking up for him all of the sudden. For all you know-"

Someone cut her off, "Sakura-chan! Are you with us?" Naruto asked wearily.

Sakura replied, "I would be if your forever loud mouth would shut up for once!"

Kakashi chuckled, and Sasuke smirked. Naruto gave a hurt look, "Aw, Sakura-chan am not that bad am I?

Sakura folded her arms and looked away, "Humph."

"You should pay attention more."

"Shut it!"

They walked in silence for hours, and then you could hear Naruto go, "Ooh!"

Everyone stopped, looking the direction he was looking.

A massive waterfall was right there, falling off a humongous cliff with grass here and there on the sides of it. Purple, yellow, and a bright white flowers decorated the grass along with pink ones. Around their feet were the same flowers.

Kakashi gazed at the sight before them, "This water is safe enough to drink, fill your canteens while you can. After this river, on the other side is the Sound Village."

Sakura gently filled her canteen as the wind softly played with her hair. In the background behind her, she heard Naruto and Sasuke fighting. She looked up to find those two wrestling on the ground and Kakashi reading with a filled canteen at his side, leaning against a well-grown cherry-blossom tree.

Sakura sigh, "Will you two stop fighting you're give me a headache!" Lifting the two up with one in each hand with her monstrous strength.

Kakashi flipped a page, 'I wonder if Sakura will become even more like Rin, she already acts like her.' Kakashi stopped reading, 'Damn it! I need to stop thinking of her in that way. Maybe I should do something to ease my mind. Maybe train Sasuke some.' Flipping his page again.

Naruto whined, "But Sakura-chan, it was all Sasuke's fault!"

With that statement, Naruto was dropped into the river. Or should it be stated dunked?

Naruto sunk to the bottom of the twenty feet deep and fifteen feet wide river. His eyes wide open as he held his breath. He started swimming upwards, and a painful memory shot through his mind, freezing him to stay there.

'You monster!' Water balloons and apples were thrown at him. Only one water balloon got him, and it was on his zipper to his pants. Other children's laughter was heard, and more joined in. He ran faster as tears rolled down his face. Right before he got out of view a women screech, 'Run you monster! You'll never be like normal children! Don't think twice about showing up around here again!'

Naruto continue to sob uncontrollable in the forest. His knees press up against his chest, and arms hugging them close. He took out a kunai and stabbed the ground angrily. Footsteps were heard, little Naruto looked up, 'Iruka-sensei?' Iruka grasped the small boy's shoulder, and looked steadily into his eyes, 'You know those people back there may not understand you?' Naruto's head fell back down. Iruka stayed there, 'But that gives them no right to do what they did to you today.' Naruto cracked a smile at the only person who seems to care. Iruka smiled, 'Just be yourself, it's their loss for not knowing a person like you, Naruto.'

Naruto shook his head, 'weird' His head bobbed up, and he blew bubbles out his mouth.

Sakura yelled out to him, "Come on Naruto, we're setting up camp here! You could at least find a way to help us out here!"

Naruto scratch the back of his head, "Alright, I'll get some fish!"

Thirty minutes later

Team seven in circle around the fire, sitting on small logs. Naruto examine the fish before taking a bite, "Oi, sensei how long do you think it will be for us to get to our next place?" Kakashi kept his eyes on his beloved book, "Depending on how well you guys travel, weather, Oto-nin, and health. It should differ between two to three days, and maybe one if we get up early and travel rather quickly."

Sakura got up, "Am taking a bath, and if I find you peeping Naruto, You WON'T be able to breathe for a few weeks." Naruto gulped, and shivered at the thought. Sakura dropped her stick that once had fish, into the cracking fire, "Good catch, Naruto." Naruto blushed, and Sasuke's eyes narrow at the rare compliment Sakura gave. Kakashi raise an eyebrow, but otherwise remain emotionless.

Sasuke thought to himself, 'First she threatens him, and now gives good comments? I will never understand society at this rate.' The Uchiha smirked, 'At least her own little society.'

Naruto stared at his friend with question, 'what's making him happy? He never smirks. All that was said was Sakura was going to take a bath.'

The Uchiha got up to go to bed, "Am going to bed, wake me when it's my watch."

Naruto's eyes widen, "YOU BASTURD!"

Sasuke stared, "What dope?"

He huffed, "You just want to watch Sakura-chan bathe!"

Sasuke raise an eyebrow, and gave him the wtf look, "What makes you so sure about that?"

Kakashi intervene while he could, "Naruto, do you really think Sasuke would do that, let alone make it oblivious after Sakura said that?"

Naruto had his arms crossed, and eyes scrunch together. While Sasuke on the other hand looked serene.

Naruto stayed focus in his mind, well in Naruto standards in was, 'Damn basturd, he's a pervert and he knows it. I guess I'll have to guard Sakura-chan from him. But I'll hide and not look. Then I can't get in trouble and Sakura will be glad to know I caught Sasuke peeping. And hopefully she doesn't want Sasuke to look away. Naruto shivered all over. 'Damn basturd Uchiha.'

Sakura sighed; the water gets warmer as the night begins. Since the heat is trapped until morning. The water wasn't cold or hot, just warm. She began washing her hair. Sakura loved the constantly flowing water and the claming outdoor noises. Plus the moon was full and she could see almost everything. She closed her eyes, leaning back into the now slow waterfall. It hasn't rained in the pass week or so, plus the waterfall itself wasn't very fall tonight making the water slow. Then her hand, back and face throbbed as one of her memories came to her.

Little Sakura ran to the front door. It was a few years after her father had died. She heard her mom putting the key in the door after a long day. Little Sakura had made miso soup for her mom for her birthday. Her home made card laid on the counter, by the knives used for cooking. She waited by the door patiently, as her mom came in she greeted, 'Happy birthday Okaa-san!' Her mom blankly looked at her before walking away. Sakura tried again, "I made you some soup!" Her mother went by the oven, and scolded, 'Never ever leave the oven when it's on!" Sakura looked downwards.

The miso soup steamed, and smoke came out and started covering the small area. Sakura rushed to the soup, as did her mother from the opposite side of it. Sakura was closer and got to it first, and tried to grab the handle. Her mother's hand fell on top of hers, and she glared at Sakura. Her mother lifted her hand and quickly grabbed the spoon out of the very hot pot, and smacked Sakura's hand hard. Then left the spoon there for a few seconds. Sakura's eyes shined with tears and backed away holding her small brunt hand. Her mother sloshed the soup down the sink, 'It smelt bad and looked bad, Sakura.' With a weird smile plaster on her face.

Sakura couldn't help but to shed tears, and tried to run to her room. Her mom looked over by the knives, and Sakura stopped by the stairs to see what her mom would do. Sakura thought she saw her card, and she slowly walked towards her mom. Her mom picked up the card to find the inside of it a drawing by Sakura. It had Sakura, her husband, and her holding hands under a cherry blossom tree. The ones that Sakura's dad loved so much.

Her mother's eye burned with anger, "You think that this drawing will bring him back? Well your wrong in thinking so. As a mother, I must teach you not to think wrongly.' Her mother grabbed the knife, and stood facing Sakura. Sakura froze with fear, and terror, her mom was actually going to attack her? Sakura wailed, big mistake. Her mother dove at her with a knife at hand, and Sakura slammed herself to the floor. A gash across face was there, bleeding. It began at her forehead, and ended under her left eye. It just barely skimmed her, but it still bleed profusely.

Her mother wasn't finished yet. Sakura ran, and her mother forces her to the ground by attacking her, and slicing her in the back. Sakura's mom took the card and held it to for Sakura to see. Her mom stabbed it with the bloody knife, and ripped it to shreds. Sakura's heart felt like it was being torn and shredded to pieces. Her mother tore each piece of the shredded heart of Sakura's, open. She beated her up some before breaking down sobbing at her decease husband.

Sakura ran to her bedroom upstairs, locking it. Then she ran to her bathroom attached to it. Grabbing a towel to sob in, and stop the bleeding. After a few minutes of sobbing, she dabbed disinfecting liquid. It stung, but the academy taught her to do so with these kind of scratches and the pain wouldn't last long. She fell asleep in the bathroom floor that night, listening to her mother's cries of anguish.

Sakura looked at the sky, and tears ran down her face. She looked at her hands, and tears ran down faster, "Why me? Why do those kinds of things always happen to me?" Naruto watched from the bushes, and a sad look bestows him. He realizes Sasuke was telling the truth, and Sasuke actually did go to bed. He just didn't suspect to see Sakura like this. He slowly made his way to camp. He didn't want Sakura to find him. Even if a punch from her was worth for her to stop crying, Naruto feared that he would make it worse.

What he didn't know, was that Sakura needed him more than ever and she wouldn't have gotten mad. Sakura might've been thankful for a person to confess to with her broken down state.

Naruto went to bed, and Sasuke had his back turn on him. Naruto looked at Sasuke, "Are you awake Sasuke?"

"Hn?"

"Do you think Sakura-chan is hiding something from us?"

"Why would you think that dope?"

Naruto ignored that comment, "She's been really sad lately, and I think I saw her crying."

Sasuke stayed still

Naruto looked at his back wearily, "Ok, goodnight Sasuke."

Naruto rolled over, so his back faced Sasuke.

Sasuke's last thought before falling asleep was, 'Sakura.'

Kakashi watched the two, 'Am not sure how long Sakura can keep this secret; she may have to tell them sooner or later. I wonder how her mother got like this? Or how Anbu missed this detail, they always check out families to see if everything is in order.

Sakura sighed at the beautiful full moon, and had finished bathing a while ago. She stared at the stars, and hum a lullaby that her mother and dad used, to sing to her to sleep. At was Hush little baby don't you cry. Sakura slid into her sleeping bag, once last tear escape her before falling asleep.

Kakashi watched her start breathing in slower, and her face became more peaceful.

Kakashi wondered to himself, 'Looks like I have to wait until tomorrow to talk to her.'

Author's note: Hey people, I'd like to remind you that my poll will be taken down after this chapter. I've been debating for a while how the others find out about Sakura's life. So just check one of the little boxes on my profile, and I'll update in a week or so. Any suggestions, comments and/or flames are welcome. Am kind of focus on this fic right now. But that might change if I get writer's block or more reviews on another fic. Again, sorry for the very late update, and short chapters! Also, i'd like to know in the reviews or by mail, who would you rather have? Sakura and Sasuke? Or Sakura and Kakashi?