The first step at keeping Sakura safe was amping up the protecting. So, that means hiring bodyguards or babysitters. Inoichi didn't have the time or means. He was already so busy working his new full-time with the TI department. So, that lead him to..
"Shisui, Itachi-san, I need you two to protect Sakura-chan with your lives, and the ones around her. Danzo, is coming after her, so we must be ready. With your combined effort, you'll be unstoppable. Goodluck boys!"
Shisui grumbled. He wanted more details. Why was Danzo coming after a civilian family? He wanted more details, when Itachi smacked him across the head. They would find out eventually.
The two Uchiha led Sakura and Kizashi to a safe house out in Hashirama's forest. It was getting colder out. Fall had left and snow began to fall. The Winter Festival and New Year's Eve Festival were just around the corner and Mebuki was still nowhere to waking up. In fact, Mebuki's hospital room now had guards planted outside the room. It would be a new year but it wouldn't be the same without celebrating with Mebuki to Kizashi and Sakura horribly missed her mama. She would cuddle with her if she had bad dreams and softly sing her back to sleep.
"Hush, hush... Baby rabbit on the hillside...
Why are your eyes so red? When I was small...
Mother ate the fruit of the red tree...
and that's why my eyes are red."
Sakura blinked out of her reverie. That's right..They were going to be staying somewhere far from home because bad people wanted to hurt her family.. It was her fault..
" Sacchan, why'd you stop? We need to hurry, baby girl. C'mon, let's go. " Kizashi cupped his daughters face gently.
The four tracked their way through the dusting of snow. When they stopped in front of a brown log cabin. It was old, but still standing. It hadn't looked like it was used in a long time. The rosette wondered if this would be her her new constant. She missed sharing a room with Ino-chan. Shisui made went through complex hand signs. The door rumbled and opened slowly.
It dawned upon Sakura.
"You were the one who brought me back to the Yamanaka's that night! You had red scary glowing eyes! Sakura pointed at Shisui.
"That's the Uchiha bloodlimit called the sharingan, Sa-chan. The Uchiha are a noble ninja clan within Konohagakure. Just like the Yamanaka, Akimichi, Inuzuka, Senju, and Lee clans. Kizashi ruffled his daughters hair.
"Papa.. I'm not a baby anymore.. I'm going to be a shinobi! I'm passing my academics..but I'm having trouble when it comes to the physical aspect." Sakura pouted and puffed out her cheeks.
Itachi coughed interrupting the pink haired Haruno's moment.
"I think we need to talk about a schedule..Shisui will bring you to the academy and guard you during the day, and I will tend to Kizashi-san. This is a three bedroom cabin as you can see. The kitchen is fully stocked and it's heated by the fireplace. If you need anything during the night, don't hesitate to ask."
Kizashi tucked Sakura in bed. He took to the fold out couch. Rest didn't come easy. Sakura tossed and turned. No matter what, she couldn't get to sleep. She crept out of bed with a bunny stuffed animal in hand, and into the living room where Itachi was still up.
"Hi, Itachi-san..I couldn't sleep. I'm not used to this.."
"Truthfully, I cannot sleep either, Sakura-san. I worry about my little brother, Chichue, and Kaa-san."
"Ano..You look even more tired than me, Itachi-san. Here..You can borrow Usagi-chan! She reminds me of my family. She might help do the same!"
Before Itachi could refuse, Sakura shoved the stuffed bunny in his hands and scurried back to bed.
In the morning, Shisui had prodded Sakura along to get ready for another day at the academy. Kizashi had already left beforehand to visit Mebuki in the hospital and then open his shop for the day. Kizashi made a bento box for his precious daughter.
"You don't want to be late do you, Sakura-san?"
"No, Shisui-san.." Her head was downcast.
They arrived early and Sakura made her way through the entrance of her school and down to Class 1-A room.
'Remember, I'll be on the roof of the school, if you feel like something is wrong, just flare your chakra signature like I taught you, and I'll be there. Itachi's crow summon will be keeping an eye out for surveillance, in case Danzo's goons are around.'
Shisui's words rang through her head.
Hopefully, nothing would go wrong. It was just going to be an ordinary day.
It was lunch and the rosette sat next to Ino. Ino's mother packed Ino a bento box as well.
Naruto sat unusually quiet every single time. He sat in the back row because no one wanted to sit next to him, and gazed out the window. His grades were always terrible when quizzes and tests were posted afterwards. It was clear he was dead last and clan children were kept quiet about his status..Not that they would say anything. They avoided him like the plague. His appearance was always dirty and hyperactive.
Ino perceptive as usual.
"Here..You dummy, I notice that you don't come to school with any lunch. My kaa-san packed plenty to feed an army."
"I-ino-chan..I.." His eyes watered
"Just eat, you want to win a spar against Sasuke-kun, right? Then, you need food for fuel. Otherwise, he'll keep kicking your butt."
Ino snickered.
"Ja ne!"
The platinum blonde returned to her seat next to her best friend.
"Ne, Sakura-chan, are you going to going to the Winter Festival and celebrate New Year's? My mother just brought me a beautiful kimono with the Yamanaka crest on the back. I also, asked her to get one for you.."
A blush dusted across Sakura's face.
"Oi, are you sick or something? Your face is almost the same color as your hair!"
Ino pressed her hand against the pinkette's forehead.
Iruka flickered the lights twice, signaling that lunch was over. Their conversation was abruptly over.
Ino turned her attention back on the lessons.
Ino had a crush on Sasuke. It was clear to Sakura the way she looked at him longingly. She often talked about him in an obsessive way. Sakura however..had a crush on someone else..Not that she would ever admit outloud to anyone.
The Winter Festival is coming up on Saturday and Ino asked her mother for a kimono for Sakura. She would come over early on the day of the festival to change into it and spend the whole day with her..and Shisui of course..Sakura wasn't thrilled with the idea of having a babysitter. She wasn't two anymore, and was going to be a future shinobi of Konoha. She deserved more responsibilities, right?
Festivals were fun. They usually entailed street food, games, artist having boothes of drawing caricatures, and fireworks.
New Year's Festival entailed going to the shine and receiving their fortune from Shrine Maidens. Families would go out to their favorite restaurants in the village and would have a big get together.
The day of the Winter Festival was here
Everything was going fine. Sakura went to Ino's with Shisui as her Shadow. She tried on the new kimono and it fit perfectly. It was time to head to the main drag, where all the festivities were occurring. Ino was a budding sensor and she wanted to lose Shisui just as much as Sakura. His presence was annoying. They didn't need babysitters..How lame.
By pure luck, they finally managed to lose him in the sea of people.
The two little troublemakers played a fish catching game and a ring toss game. They were eating street food and time flies by when people are having fun.
A shadow fell upon the two..It wasn't Shisui. Someone more sinister. The feeling of their chakra was bone-chilling and terrifying.
Sakura and Ino were hit on the back of the neck and- Ino woke up to Shisui shaking her.
"W-where is Sakura-san?!"
"I-I don't know!" Ino was wailing
"I felt a scary chakra signature and the next thing I knew..We were both unconcious. Please, we need to find her!"
"Let's go find Itachi and Kizashi!"
Shisui scooped up the little Yamanka heiress and off they sped away into the night.
A/N: My story my rules. lol