I've been wanting to do this for ages. It's nothing like time-traveling, nor anything like... knowing things right off the bat. In fact, this is like... a dangerous object that given someone to have the ability to use that can see the time. *dramatic*
By the way, as for the pairing for Sakura... *lost* ...I actually don't know, because I'm not sure which one should she end up with? For all I know, it could be Kakashi or Itachi or, hell, even Kiba. *shrugged*
If you readers want to, feel free to vote or suggest for Sakura's future LOVER. (Just to warn you. NO Naruto and NO Sasuke.)
Warning: unbeta. English is my second. ASL is my first. Yeppie, that means I'm Deaf. *grin*
I don't own Naruto. Nope. Nada. Iie. *tsk*
Enjoy~? :3
TICK. TOCK
Pause. Rewind. Play.
TICK. TOCK.
Stop. Forward. Start.
TICK. TOCK.
Halt. Restart. Begin.
TICK. TOCK.
Location: Konohagakure no Sato
Haruno Resident
Date: March 28th; Eight Years After Kyuubi Attack
An eight years old girl with shoulder-length pink-hair with few strands of bangs covered her slightly large forehead, wide lime-green eyes, fair skin, and she wears a ruby-red knee-length dress with a mint-green ribbon tied around her waist and a simple plain mint-green headband. Her name is Haruno, Sakura who is beaming widely in the mirror of her reflection. Today is a very special day to her, it's important to celebrate today because it was when she was born, exist in this world.
The little girl giggled excitedly, she went to the door, pushed it open as her lime-green eyes spotted red and green balloons taped on the wall. Sakura giggled cheerfully as she followed the balloons that lead her to the stairs and descended and paused in the living room.
The living room has red and green balloons everywhere along with pale pink mixed with mine-green streamers; hanging the ceilings, few colorful presents on the coffee table, and a red large banner covered with flowers with a large sign. 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'; it said on the banner.
Then a little girl turned her head over to the kitchen area, she squealed excitedly when she spotted her favorite breakfast on the table. Before she could take a step forward, she perked up when she heard her father's joyful voice speak behind her. "Good morning, blossom!" Sakura giggled when she felt her father picked her up and prop her against his chest. "How's my little flower?" Haruno, Kizashi greeted his cute daughter.
"I'm good, daddy!" Sakura squealed happily as she wrapped her arms around her father's neck.
Kizashi chuckled and pecked her forehead. He walked to the kitchen table, gently placed her onto the chair. While Sakura's mother, Haruno, Mebuki walked to the table with a cup of apple juice in hand. "Happy birthday, sweetheart!" she celebrated lovely and proud to her little girl as she set a cup down, front of Sakura.
Sakura smiles widely as her parents took their spots on the seat and start eating their breakfast. During the meal; a knocked heard interrupted it. Kizashi halted, he set his chopstick down, stood up and walked to the front door.
After a couple of minutes, Sakura's father walked back with an excited grinned on his face. "Look who has come to visit for you, little flower."
Sakura paused, turned her head over her shoulder and her lime-green eyes wide in pleasant surprise. When her father steps aside, revealing an elder woman who has ash-grey hair tied up in a loose bun, beautiful wisdom-filled in amethyst eyes, pale complexion skin, and she wore a simple yet elegant dark royal-blue kimono. Her named was Tanaka, Kioka.
"Granny Kio!" she shouted cheerfully.
Granny Kio smiles maternally at Sakura. "Hello little leafy." She greeted her darling pseudo-granddaughter. "Happy birthday."
The little pink-haired girl carefully climbed down the chair, walked toward her pseudo-grandmother and hugged her lovely. "Thank you."
The elder woman smiles gently as she hugged back the little birthday girl. While Mebuki walked to her husband's side and they both wrapped their arms around each other, watching their daughter hugging the elder woman who has been their neighborhood since Haruno couple moved in when they were newlywed.
Soon, Granny Kio and Sakura are sitting on a couch while the parents are cleaning up the table and kitchen. The elder woman took out a small, wrapped with a pale green present from her inner pocket. "Now, little leafy… I believe this is for you." A warm smile on her face as she handed the present to Sakura.
The pink-haired birthday girl was so excited that she kindly takes the gift. "Can I open it?" she asked with patience and hope.
"Of course!" Granny Kio chuckled with amused. Her amethyst eyes twinkle when she watched Sakura carefully unwrapped her gift. Then, it comes to a beautifully carved wooden box. Sakura's lime-green eyes sparkle with amazed, curious, and excited. Sakura opened the lid and gasped softly.
It's a beautiful antique pocket-watch; polish silver with engraved of elegant swirls and wheels on the lid. "What is this?" Sakura asked, curious while observing the unique designs on the lid.
"It's pocket-watch." Granny Kio said, then she leaned down to her pseudo-daughter with a serious whisper. "A very rare heirloom that used to belong in my generations. It's been sitting in a box for many decades, collecting dust and never been touch nor use." She taps the pocket-watch lightly where Sakura is still holding. "I believe that you will be a wonderful owner of this pocket-watch."
Sakura's lime-green eyes sparkle. "Thank you, Granny Kio." She smiles widely at the elder woman.
"However…" Granny Kio glanced over at the kitchen, noticed Mebuki and Kizashi are chatting happily in their own world while doing dishes. "I want you to promise me, little leafy." Sakura raised her eyes from the object to the elder's tense yet serious eyes. "Time has a wonderful yet dreadful way of showing us what really matters. Never, underestimate time. Understand, Sakura?"
The pink-haired girl blinked in surprise when she heard her pseudo-grandmother said her birth name, which means Granny Kio is very serious. Sakura doesn't understand what the elder is talking about, but she promised to remember the words as she gravelly nodded her head despite that her eyes are filled with curious and confused. "I promise, Granny Kio. I will take good care of it."
Granny Kio smiles wide with satisfied yet guilty in her eyes. "Good." Watching Sakura held onto the pocket-watch tightly against her chest with a big smile on her face.
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…
Ghost of Time
Tick-Tock One
"A pocket-watch"
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..
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Later…
Sakura is sitting on her bed after she finished her nighty routine. It was a wonderful birthday for her, she got new clothes, some toys, and a couple of books. However, if she has to pick which is one of the best gifts, then it would be the pocket-watch that Granny Kio gave it to her. When her parents saw the beautiful gift, they were concerned but Granny Kio assured them that she wanted Sakura to have it.
When Kizashi decided to helped Sakura to make a 'necklace' so that the little pink-haired girl won't have to carry all the time. Much to Sakura's delighted that she is now proud owner to wear a pocket-watch that hangs around her neck with a thin yet strong silver-ribbon.
Her lime-green eyes carefully observed the pocket-watch in her hands, gently rubbed the engraved on the lid. She didn't get a chance to observe properly since she was focused on her birthday with her parents and pseudo-grandmother.
And now, she can finally take her time to examine her pocket-watch. She started pressed on the side until she found a spot when a lid snapped open. Sakura eagerly studied the inside of her pocket-watch. It's a very unusual-looking clock. She has never seen so many numbers and hands before into one tiny watch. There are three clockwise, two small hands, multiples of small wheels, a small box of date, roman numerals of one through to twelve, and three primary colors along with secondary colors. It looked so complicated yet breathtaking.
Almost, immediately, Sakura adores her pocket-watch.
The little pink-haired girl attempted to changes the hands, however, she was very confused about how to work with the complex watch. So, she kept changes, jumbled, fiddled with it until she didn't realize that the year and the numeral were set along with red color. Before she knew, she accidentally pressed the main button.
CLICK.
Sakura paused with confused and curious by the sound. She blinked owlishly at her pocket-watch. the pink-haired girl noted the two tiny hands twirling around and around while the other large hand shifted to the number tenth, another large hand stopped at ten, and others were going backward. Then the melody of chime heard through her ears as her eyes haze and her mind went black.
Before she knew, she collapsed.
Then, an eerily glowed of red shines on the face of the pocket-watch.
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TICK. TOCK.
TICK. TOCK.
RRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!
Her lime-green eyes snapped open in fright when she felt the strong, dark dangerous ominous viciously of hateful and furious chakra in the air. A spine-chilling shudder came down her spine. She glanced around in her surroundings; bewildered, lost, and scared that she has no idea where nor how she is outside. She could see ninjas jumped over the roofs, buildings are destroyed, few panicked villagers running two the same general direction.
Slowly, she turned around when she saw an enormous shadow over loom her tiny figure. When she tiled up, her lime-green eyes widen at the frightening sight as her pupils shrink immediately.
It's the largest humongous orange-red fox with nine-tails, glisten in red-crimson chakra as it roared at the full silver moon in the middle of the villager. The fox swung its tails against the buildings, as the ground shook as bone-chilling screams and clashes of metals heard.
Sakura froze in a spot, petrified. She wants her mommy. She wants her daddy. Sakura must find them. Immediately. But she couldn't move, she was too scared to even lift her finger. Before she knew, dangerous flames appeared, surrounding around the beast as it released another roared. Sakura screamed in terror.
TICK. TOCK.
TICK. TOCK.
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A chill blood-curdling scream breaks the quiet silent house. Loud running steps rushed down the hallway, slammed the door open wide releveled two scared and worried parents. "Sakura!" Kizashi shouted in terrified while Mebuki is nearly close to breakdown. They saw their sweet, little girl who is screaming in her sleep as she is twisting and turning with sheets tangled around her as a blanket was thrown onto the ground.
Two parents ran to their daughter. "Sakura! Sweetheart, please wake up!" Mebuki called out to her daughter.
Kizashi placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her. "Blossom! Wake up! Come on, Sakura! Wake up!" he kept shaking her a little bit roughly. "Sakura!"
Mebuki whimpered as she covered her mouth as her eyes wide. She has never seen such horror on her baby's face. She watched her husband send her his regret and resolve to look then he slapped his daughter's face.
The mother flinched at the sharp sound, but it did the trick when Sakura stopped screaming as her head turned on her left. Kizashi looks at his daughter sorrowfully. "Sakura?" he said her name, softly with regret, relief, worried, and fear.
Sakura slowly shifted her head to the ceiling as her eyelids fluttered open to reveal her hazy lime-green eyes.
"Sweetheart?" Mebuki called out gently with concern as she leaned over to her daughter.
The little pink-haired girl blinked slowly as drowsy fades away. She blinked again with confused and shifted to horror. She snapped her eyes to her parents who are staring at her with a mixture of fear, worried, and relief. "M-mommy? D-daddy?" Sakura hesitated, hope as her hand shaking reach to one of her parents.
Mebuki grabbed her daughter's hand. "Yes, it's us." As her other hand gently brush a stray of Sakura's hair away from her face.
"Little blossom… are you alright?" Kizashi asked with concern before he released his hands from her shoulders.
Tears appeared in her lime-green eyes. "I-I-I-I was so scared!" she burst out in tears when she realized that she is safe, in her own bedroom inside of her warm home.
"Oh, blossom. You must have a nightmare…" Kizashi softens then gathered his precious little girl into his arms and hugged her. Sakura tucked her face onto her father's chest and cried.
Mebuki frowned sadly and worried. Her blue eyes met her husband's green eyes. They have never seen anyone, who is young as their daughter, had such an intense nightmare by screaming.
They have been distracted with their daughter without knowing that an object that is responsible for Sakura's nightmare is laying on the bed, glowing red color slowly fade away back to normal, innocent-looking pocket-watch.
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Few Days Later…
Funeral
Sakura, stood in between her parents, wearing a black knee-length dress, black sandals, and pocket-watch necklace. Her lime-green stared at the tombstone with a dull face as her hand clenched onto her watch while her other hand is holding her father's hand.
Mebuki walked toward the tombstone with red, puffy eyes as she bends down and placed the flowers front of it. She bowed respectfully. "We are going to miss you so much, Granny Kio." She said, sadly. Tanaka, Kioka passed away the day after Sakura's birthday and the Haruno prepared the funeral for the sweet elder.
Tanaka, Kioka doesn't have any family nor close to anyone except the Haruno family. Sakura closed her eyes, feeling sad, mourn, and tired. Ever since that terrible nightmare, she is afraid to go to sleep because she doesn't want to see that terrible terrify fox. It felt so real to her that it scares her. She knew her parents are really concerned about her wellbeing and even suggest that Sakura should talk to professional help.
When Mebuki stood up to her feet, she walked back to her family and smiles sadly at them. "Let's head back home." She gently placed her hand onto Sakura's head and comb it with her fingers.
"Yes, let's." Kizashi nods his head agreed with his wife. "Come on." He carefully tugs his daughter's hand who obeyed, followed her parents to return to their home.
Sakura tightens her grip at the pocket-watch. 'Granny Kio…' she mused, mourned. She will never see her pseudo-grandmother's warm smile, wisdom eyes, gentle hugs, and stories about her experiences when she used to be Kunoichi, a retired ninja of Konoha. She recalled how Granny Kio's eyes were filled with nostalgic, love, desired, and happy whenever she mentions about recused innocent, spend time with her teammates, and how she is passionate with Will of Fire.
The pink-haired little girl paused. Her parents halted and looked down with confused. "Sakura?" Mebuki tilted her head with a curious frown.
"…I want to be a kunoichi." Sakura blurted it out, surprised herself and her parents.
Haruno couple exchanged their glances in shock. "W-why so sudden, blossom?" Kizashi doesn't understand where this comes from.
"Granny Kio looked so happy when she talked about being a ninja." Sakura said, with a sad smile. "I… I want to become one to protecting innocents, just like Granny Kio. She couldn't because she was forced to retire. Because she is old but… I want to do this. For Granny Kio… for me… for this village."
Mebuki firm her lips as her eyes filled with conflicted while Kizashi smiles warmly. He bends down, staring at the lime-green eyes with nearly matching of his eyes color. "If you truly want to become a kunoichi, then you have to face your fear first."
Sakura paled, knowing what her father wants her to do while Mebuki sends her disapproval glares to him. "I know, I know it's scary to face your nightmare but…" Kizashi's eyes sharpen. "…if you are desire to become a ninja, it's a very tough and dangerous career. I will let you attend to Ninja Academy after you face your nightmare. Understand?"
"Dear, I don't think that is a goo—" before Mebuki could finish, Sakura unintentionally interrupted it.
"Okay." Sakura gravelly nods her head. "I will face it and prove it to you."
Her father smiles. "Good."
Mebuki stared at her daughter and her husband with disbelieved then sighed heavily with resigned.
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Later…
The pink-haired girl yawned quietly as she is laying underneath her warm blanket. Her head is cuddled against the pillow while curled up with her tiny hands cupped around her pocket-watch. She can hear her parents whispered outside of the barely close door, she waited for them to leave her door and then their footsteps heading to their bedroom.
Silent appeared in the house while Sakura's lime-green eyes stared at the window as she could see the full moon in the night sky. She shivered when she recalled the red beast howled at the moon. It was so scary that she couldn't close her eyes because she doesn't want to see the beast in her nightmare. One time was enough for her but then, she promised her father that she will face it in order to become a kunoichi.
Sakura sighed mutely and lifted her precious treasure that was gifted from her pseudo-grandmother. Luckily, the light in her bedroom that provide by the moon made her see enough of her pocket-watch. She pressed the clasped to open the lid. Sakura hasn't gotten around to fix the time so, she observed lazily at the watch. Then her lime-green eyes spotted a barely tiny button on the side of the watch, it reminded her of marble except it seems to be attached to the watch.
The pink-haired girl shifted her index finger over the marble-like and pushed it out of curiosity.
CLICK.
A familiar sound rang through her ears as her lime-green eyes widen in stunned. She recognized the two tiny hands twirling around and around while the other large hand shifted to the number tenth, another large hand stopped at ten, and others were going backward. The action is repeated just like before and then the melody of chime heard through her ears as her eyes haze and her mind went black.
She collapsed and an eerily glowed of red shines on the face of the pocket-watch.
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TICK. TOCK.
TICK. TOCK.
The ground shook dangerously that Sakura snapped her eyes open that she almost immediately standing in the same place, same spot, and front of her, is a large red viciously beast destroying the building with its tails while flames spread across the buildings. Sakura was shaking so badly as she is frozen with fear once again.
Suddenly, a flash of a teenager with silver defying gravity hair, with a canine-mask, dressed in black with a grey vest that identified him as ANBU. He paused when he stared at the large fox, hands clenched at his sides. "Damn it!" he cursed, angrily and worried. Sakura turned to him with wide petrified, worried, and slightly hope.
The pink-haired girl opened her mouth, but she couldn't release her voice. She jerked her palm onto her throat with horror. Why can't she talk? Was she too scared to say a single word? Not even the smallest sound? And why, why wasn't this ANBU looking at her? She stared at the shivered ANBU, his charka was filled with anger, worried, and scared.
Sakura forced to move her feet, shuffled toward ANBU and stood in front of him. She was shaking in fear as her heart beating unnaturally fast, as her skin are covered with cold sweats. Sakura is terrified, she wants her mommy and daddy, her granny, she wants to be safe and away from the dangerous vicious beast.
When she heard a sharp gasped from ANBU who is staring at the red demon. Sakura jerked her head around and eyes wide in horror. The beast opened its mouth, a black-purple pure charka appeared of a large ball-shape, then released toward the direction where Hokage Monument. Sakura watched in morbidly fascination and fear however, her jaw dropped.
A pure chakra suddenly stopped a few feet away from the monument with black seals outward, sucking the charka through. Once it vanished, a heartbeat or two, the bright light explosion happened in the distance.
Sakura was filled with awe, admiration, and shock. "Sensei…" she blinked and turned her attention to the silver-haired ANBU who sounded relief but worried. Then he turned around and ran toward Sakura who attempt to move but he went through her instead.
The pink-haired girl gasped loudly—
TICK. TOCK
TICK. TOCK.
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Sakura gasped as she opened her eyes in shock as her lime-green stared at the gleaming red from her pocket-watch. She watched in fascinated that red slowly dim back to original. She pushed herself while eyeing at the pocket-watch with curious, worried, and cautious. 'H-how?' she just stared at it in stunned. Then Granny Kio's voice whispered through her ears.
["I want you to promise me, little leafy. Time has a wonderful yet dreadful way of showing us what really matters. Never, underestimate time. Understand, Sakura?"]
Does she know? Did her Granny Kio know this pocket-watch held such… intimate power? Sakura stared at the pocket-watch with a new perspective. It's impossible but… she did just saw the red light glow and fade away right from her eyes. Not only that, she thought it was her nightmare until that ANBU just ran through her, as if… she's a ghost.
Sakura furrowed her eyebrows and studied carefully of the pocket-watch with suspicious and cautioned. She noted the numbers of ten, and the other ten and she remembered the large hand was moving backward. 'What does that mean? Ten… that number, I think it's a month… and that is also a day… so… but I don't understand…' with determined and curiosity. She decided to test it one more time.
Sakura bit her lip as she examined her pocket-watch then adjusted a tiny bit of color to a shadow of red-gold. Then a pink-haired girl shifted her index finger over the marble-like and pushed it.
CLICK.
A familiar sound rang through her ears as her lime-green lit with understanding. She re-watched the two tiny hands twirling around and around while the other large hand shifted to the number tenth, another large hand stopped at ten, and others were going backward. The action is repeated just like before and then the melody of chime heard through her ears as her eyes haze and her mind went black.
She collapsed and a sad glowed of golden shines on the face of the pocket-watch.
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TICK. TOCK.
TICK. TOCK.
Sakura stared in horror as her palms covered her mouth after she opened her eyes. It was horrifying to witness the scene right in front of her eyes. A large fox shifted its claw toward the baby who is laying on the platform. Blood spurts everywhere in the air as Sakura's eyes filled with frightening shocked.
They are pierced through the chest with a blonde-haired man stood along with a red-haired woman in front of him, as they protected a baby from demise. Bleeding heavily as they stared lovely at the blonde-haired baby.
The red-haired woman coughed as blood spilled over her lips while her eyes are half-way with tears but still managed held with such warmth and love. "Naruto… don't be picky." She grinned heartbreakingly. "Eat lots and grown strong… make sure that you bath every day and stay warm. Also… don't stay up later… you need lots of sleep… and make friends… you don't need a lot of friends… just a few… ones you can really, really trust." The blonde-haired shinobi's blue eyes soften as he continued listening.
The woman continued. "I wasn't very good at it, but keep up with your studies and practice your ninjutsu hard… Remember that everyone has strengths and weaknesses... so don't get too depressed if you can't do something well… respect your teachers and upperclassmen at the Academy. Oh, and this is important… it's about the three prohibitions for a shinobi… be extra careful about lending and borrowing money… put your mission wages into your savings account… no alcohol until you're twenty… too much can ruin your health, so drink in moderation… another prohibition is women… I'm a woman, so I don't know too much about this but… all you need to remember is that this world is make up of men and women… so it's only natural to take an interest in girls… but just don't get hooked on bad women… find someone just like me… speaking of three prohibitions be way of Jiraiya-sensei, you know…"
Sakura pressed hard onto her mouth as tears running down her face as she listened to the dying mother's last words to her son. "Naruto, from now on, you're going to face lots of pain and hardship… be true to yourself… have a dream and have the confidence to make that dream come true… there's so much… oh, so much more that I want to pass on to you… I wish I could stay with you longer… I love you." The red-haired mother choked in tears.
The pink-haired girl shook her head and turned away as she can't watch it anymore longer. She willed herself to leave this place. She pinched herself, feeling the pain that forced her to wake up.
TICK. TOCK.
TICK. TOCK.
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The pink-haired girl flinched when she felt the pain from her arm that she pinched in a "dream". She opened her eyes, blinked few times and watched the golden color fades from her pocket-watch in her hands. Sakura stared at it in complex emotions.
She has…no idea what to do with this. Just when she is starting to understand, now there are even more questions than before. 'If only Granny Kio is still here…' she mused, sadly and lost.
Just, what kind of pocket-watch is this?