Waking the next morning tucked into the blankets on a bed, she pushed herself up with a stretch. Sighing as she looked around the room and her eyes went to her bag on the ground near the closet. Standing and starting to get ready for the day, she took a shower and got dressed before she started on breakfast. The day went by without much incident until night fell and her father had yet to come back from whatever he was doing. As far as she was aware he wasn't going to be leaving until after the graduation ceremony. So the fact that he had been gone the entire day was starting to worry her. Sighing, she looked out of the window before she finally decided to go and look for him. Knowing the way her father was, he was probably getting himself into so kind of trouble.

Walking through the village and pausing at a fork in the road. Looking down one way to see lights near the end of the path. It looked like a gated compound but she wasn't sure what it was. Walking down that way seeing very distinguished people wearing traditional yukata and kimono. She cocked her head and walked through the gates as people walked around holding paper lanterns or intricate masks and children ran around. It seemed like it was some type of festival. Most of the yukata and kimonos she saw had a symbol on the backs of them, a white and red fan design. The area smelled like honey and she took a moment to observe everyone around her.

"Who are you with?" She was startled out of her thoughts by a man's voice. Looking to her left to see a slim man, he looked to be in his twenties. He had short spiky black hair and wore a red shirt and black pants. She noticed the weapons pouch on his hip and the black ninja sandals on his feet. Shifting she shook her head and shrugged.

"I'm not with anyone, I saw the lights and smelt the food and decided to come inside, is it a private event?" He smiled down at her and shrugged.

"It is but I was allowed to bring a guest, so let's just say that you're my plus one. It'll get Mikoto-san off of my back at least," He grabbed her hand and started guiding her through the dirt pathways. Blinking in surprise but not really seeing the man as a threat, Sakura followed obediently. "Itachi's mother made some good food for the event, Dango and Shibuya toast." Sakura nodded.

"That must have been the honey smell." She trailed off as she scanned her surroundings. The compound seemed to be rather large, each path they walked down had housing units on either side. Traditional looking houses, so the people here must have been rather wealthy. Sakura looked to the boy holding her hand before she sighed. "My name is Sakura, you are?" He paused in his walk and looked back at her a small blush of embarrassment on his cheeks.

"Right, I never introduced myself, sorry, I'm Shisui." He smiled at her. She nodded and shifted slightly before she looked down.

"Nice to meet you." He nodded and smiled at her.

"Come on, I'll get you some food, and in return you'll meet Mikoto-san and pretend to be my plus one so she stops trying to throw me to the wolves." Sakura raised a brow and he smiled before he dragged her through the compound and to a house that was larger than all of the others and brightly lit with lanterns.

"Shisui-kun!" A beautiful woman with long black hair and enchanting dark eyes waved to him. She was wearing a traditional black kimono, red accents popping out to clash with the black. The same fan design everyone else seemed to have, though hers instead of being on the back, was on both of her sleeves. A royal white obi tying the kimono off and accenting the other colors beautifully.

"Mikoto-san," He smiled warmly at the woman as they approached. Her eyes went from Shisui to Sakura then their linked hands and she smirked lightly at him.

"Now Shisui, who is this beautiful young woman beside you?" Sakura shifted uncomfortably and Shisui chuckled.

"Mikoto-san, this is Sakura-chan." Sakura nodded trying to calm herself down the slightest bit.

"Mikoto-san," She inclined her head, "It's nice to meet you." Mikoto smiled and nodded.

"Nice to meet you Sakura-chan, you have such beautiful hair, I've never seen anything like it." Sakura shifted and flushed slightly.

"I, thank you, I also apologize for my state of dress," She looked down at her shirt and pants, "I didn't know this was such a formal event." Mikoto frowned.

"No need to apologize Sakura-chan, did Shisui not tell you?'

"Well actually I-"

"It must have slipped my mind, I never wear a yukata so I didn't think about it." Sakura glanced up at him before she nodded slightly. Mikoto smiled before she grabbed Sakura's free hand.

"I can find something that fits you Sakura-chan, You wait here Shisui-kun." Before Sakura could protest she was taken into the large house and taken down the hall. "Did Shisui tell you what the festival was for?" Sakura shook her head.

"No... he didn't." Mikoto shook her head with an exasperated sigh.

"That boy I swear," Leading her to a room before she opened a closet and Sakura inhaled sharply when she saw all of the beautiful fabrics. "It's a celebration to honor the founders of our clan." Sakura nodded slowly.

"Oh... what's the name of your clan?" Mikoto looked at her in surprise.

"Uchiha, we're the Uchiha clan." Sakura's eye widened and she looked down.

"Uchiha, sharingan users, that's," She trailed off before she looked back up at Mikoto. "You're a lot nicer than I assumed you would be, from hearing the stories you all seemed so, cold." Mikoto looked at her before she laughed softly and smiled at her.

"I'm glad you think I'm nice." Sakura shifted.

"I meant no disrespect, I just, it's only my second day in the village and the only stories I've heard of your clan are of your most powerful shinobi." Mikoto cocked her head in confusion.

"Your second day... you're not from Konoha?" Sakura sighed and shrugged.

"I was born here but my father travels a lot, so I spent my life traveling with him, to tell you the truth I just stumbled into the festival because the food smelled good and Shisui-san offered me to be his plus one." Mikoto nodded in thought.

"And who is your father?" Sakura noted that since this is where her father was from, there was no need to hide who she was.

"Jiraiya." Mikoto almost blanched, using all of her experience as an Uchiha matriarch to hide her reaction, she instead nodded.

"I wasn't aware the Sannin had a child." Sakura shrugged.

"I'm adopted." Mikoto nodded and seeing Sakura's discomfort she continued looking for a kimono of her size. Pulling out a black kimono with pale pink cherry blossoms littering the bottom of the fabric. Grabbing a crimson obi that Mikoto thought would clash with Sakura's hair in just the right way. Handing the expensive fabric to Sakura and smiling endearingly at the almost lost expression on Sakura's face. Mikoto gave her an encouraging look before she went to the door.

"Just put the kimono on the best you can and I'll adjust it when you're ready." Sakura nodded in thanks before Mikoto went out of the room and closed the door after her. After a moment of Sakura figuring out the kimono she opened the door and looked to Mikoto, holding the obi up like she was asking what she should do with it. Mikoto smiled and took it from her hands before she went behind sakura and wrapped the cloth around the front of her waist. Adjusting the fabric so the kimono was fully closed before she tied off the obi in the back. Mikoto looked her over and smiled before she nodded.

"I have just the thing for your hair, if you would like you can leave your things in the room until you're ready to change?" Sakura nodded slowly.

"Thank you, Uchiha-san." Mikoto waved her off with a warm smile.

"Just Mikoto is fine Sakura-chan." Sakura nodded and once again followed Mikoto down the hall before they came to a room that looked much like a master bedroom. "I really just use the room you were in for storage and guests when we have any, so you're welcome to it for the night."

"Thank you Mikoto-san." Mikoto nodded with a smile before she grabbed a clip from her vanity.

"Can you sit for a moment Sakura-chan?" Sakura shifted before she sat down in front of the vanity, looking at herself in the mirror. Mikoto took out the tie in Sakura's hair and let her long hair drape passed her shoulders. Grabbing a brush she began taking out the knots and smoothing her hair down. "You have beautiful hair, Sakura-chan." Sakura shifted and flushed slightly.

"Thank you." Trailing off softly.

"I only have boys so I was never able to do this with any of my children. Sasuke enjoys spending time with his father mostly, and Itachi's already nineteen so he hardly spends time at home anymore," She sighed as she brushed Sakura's hair, "And Shisui," Shaking her head, "He's not my son by blood but he's lived with us since his parents passed so he is as good as by now," She took the clip and twisted Sakura's hair up in the back, clipped it together with the black clip. It had the symbol of their clan on the top of it and accented Sakura's bright pink hair beautifully. "How long are you staying in the village Sakura-chan?" Sakura looked at herself in the mirror, glancing away slightly when her gaze kept trailing to the bandages over her useless eye.

"I," She sighed, "For the foreseeable future, apparently." Mikoto frowned in slight concern when she saw the slouching of Sakura's shoulders and the way her eye lit with pain as she took in her own appearance. Leaning down to her level, Sakura turned to her when she did.

"I'm glad you're staying in Konoha Sakura-chan, you're welcome here anytime." She smiled softly at her. Sakura, for the first time, didn't despise that sweet smile. It wasn't like the one on the villagers she saw, or the Konoha shinobi. Mikoto was a woman who had seen pain, and chose to smile despite it. Sakura relaxed for the first time since being in the village and she felt herself smiling at the woman.

"Thank you, Mikoto-san." She smiled before she stood.

"Come, you can help me take more of the Shibuya out." Sakura perked up the slightest bit before she followed her. Helping her take the desserts out and set them up on the stand outside of their house. Stealing one as they went and melting at the sweet flavor.

"These are really good... Mikoto-san." Mikoto smiled softly.

"Thank you Sakura-chan, you can have as many as you'd like." Sakura smiled like a child and had another bite happily.

"Sakura-chan!" She looked at Shisui and he smiled at her, looking her over. "Wow, you look really good Sakura-chan." She flushed and looked down.

"I-thank you." He smiled warmly.

"Is the problem with your eye new?" She flinched and looked down.

"I-no, I, it's healed, I just," She looked further down, insecurities creeping up her skin and into her mind like a parasite. "Keep it covered." He cocked his head.

"Why?" Her shoulders slouched further and she looked down again.

"I-"

"Shisui." Mikoto frowned at him and he sighed.

"I'm not trying to hurt you Sakura-chan. I just think that if it's healed you should leave it uncovered. You're a ninja, and we all have scars. There's nothing wrong with it." She looked up at him in surprise before she looked down again. After a long moment, she reached up and pulled off the wrapping tentatively. Taking the medical tape off and letting the rest of the gauze break away from her skin. She didn't dare look up from the ground as she gripped onto the gauze tightly. "See," He raised her chin to look up at him again and smiled at her. "There's nothing wrong with it. I still think you're as pretty as ever." He winked and Sakura felt her cheeks redden more.

"I- really?" Her voice sounded so small compared to how she usually spoke. "It's not, hideous?" He shook his head without even a pause.

"No. It's not." Relaxing after a moment Sakura looked up at Shisui and smiled warmly.

"Thank you, Shisui-san." He smiled and grabbed her hand.

"Let's go around to the rest of the stalls and we can get some more sweets." It was very rarely that Sakura let herself be a kid. However, running around with the ever energetic Shisui and going to each stall grabbing sweets. Him making her laugh because of his antics and the people he was introducing her to. She was actually relaxed, happy, and almost blissful. Shisui had a way about him that almost made you forget about all of your problems. Before she realized, it was rather late in the night and she had forgotten about going to find her father. Laughing and tossing some confetti at Shisui as he tried to dodge and he pouted as he tried to get it out of his hair. Giggling at his put out look she wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone. Catching herself before she fell and looking up to see another Uchiha. Or so she assumed. He had the Uchiha black hair that rested long just above his shoulders. Glossy dark eyes that looked like they could peer into your soul and a rather handsome face.

"Apologies Uchiha-san. I wasn't watching where I was going." She trailed off, stepping toward Shisui more and looking down. The man smiled warmly at her, but it was different from Shisui and Mikoto, it was practiced, fake.

"That was my fault, you're friends with Shisui?" She glanced back at the boy before looking at Shisui.

"Yes," She said softly before she shifted the slightest bit. There was something about him, but his presence seemed to almost engulf her. "My name is Sakura, you are?" He looked almost surprised by her question before the expression smoothed into a small smile.

"Itachi, Uchiha, Sakura-chan." She nodded.

"Good to meet you." She felt an arm around her shoulders before she looked up at Shisui. Feeling herself relax when he smiled down at her.

"Sakura-chan is new in Konoha, she's just graduating from the academy." Itachi inclined a delicate brow in question. Sakura knew it was a question to her, of if she was new, how she would be graduating. Though his intimidating presence made her want to keep her lips sealed. Feeling her throat become rather dry she took a breath before opening her mouth to respond.

"I-My father, he's from here, I was born here, but it's my first time being here since I was a baby. He wants me to stay, so I took the test for the academy yesterday." He nodded. Everything about him was grace and power, and she knew he wasn't trying to intimidate her, but that was just the way that he was.

Itachi could swear that he recognized the pink haired girl from somewhere. Afterall, there aren't many pink haired people in Konoha. He scanned her slowly before he realized where he had noticed her from. She was the one he saw fighting her clone, seeing her without the shinobi garb was what threw him off. Being with his best friend and acting familiarly with Shisui was also rather confusing to him. Besides, Itachi thought, She was too young for Shisui.

"Welcome to Konoha, if I may ask Sakura-chan, who is your father?" To be able to travel freely and be able to get citizenship for his child so easily he would have to be someone of consequence.

"Jiraiya." She trailed off softly and he was yet again surprised because of this girl.

"The Sannin?" Shisui asked in surprise and Sakura nodded.

"Yes." Trailing off and shifting. "He travels mostly, so that's why I'm only coming to Konoha now." Itachi nodded and Shisui smiled.

"Wow, there's a lot more to you than meets the eye isn't there?"

Oh you have no idea Shifting when Inner's voice resounded in her mind, closely following a dark chuckle from Kurama.

Uchiha brats, Would be an interesting thing to have one in our head. He chuckled again and she felt as if he licked his lips threateningly. Rolling her eyes and ignoring their voices before she looked back up at Shisui.

"Not really."

"I'm sure that's not the case," Itachi's eyes shone like he was saying he knew more than he showed, "Afterall, you're the daughter of a Sanin." He creased his eyes in a smile and Sakura shifted uncomfortably. He really did seem to set her on edge, make her fidget and shift nervously like no one else had ever done. She shrugged.

"That doesn't mean there's much to me, just means he's my father." Itachi nodded.

"Of course." After a slightly awkward silence Shisui once again jumped into the conversation.

"Well we just finished going through the booths and I was gonna walk her home so... night Tashi." Shisui smiled and grabbed Sakura's arm gently pulling her toward the gate.

"Goodnight Shisui-san, Sakura-chan." He inclined his head politely toward them and Sakura nodded. She didn't relax until they were out of the compound. Taking a sigh of relief before a curse left her lips.

"What is it Sakura-chan?"

"I left my clothes in Mikoto-san's house." She trailed off with a defeated sigh.

"Oh I doubt she minds. You can always go back tomorrow and get your stuff. I'll tell Mikoto you left it." Sakura inclined her head gratefully.

"Thank you Shisui-san..." He shrugged and smiled.

"Oh no need to thank me... though I am curious about something." She looked up at him with an arched brow waiting for him to continue. "It's just I've never seen any girl react to Tachi that way. Usually it's the opposite, swooning and tripping over themselves to talk to him." Sakura shifted on her feet as she looked to the ground and shrugged.

"I don't see why anyone would swoon over him." Shisui cocked his head in confusion.

"So you don't find him attractive?" Sakura wasn't entirely sure how to answer that. Attraction didn't come to mind when she thought of Itachi Uchiha, power, intimidation, danger and fear is what came to her mind. Looking back to his appearance she shrugged.

"I suppose he has handsome features. I was more focused on the overwhelming amount of power I felt off of him." Shisui inclined a brow before he shrugged.

"That's not usually where women's minds go regarding him. Even esteemed ninja let their guards down around Tachi." Sakura snorted.

"In this village that's not surprising." Not realizing the own slip of her tongue before it was too late.

"I suppose you're right. Peace has made everyone a little too lax." The fact that he didn't correct her or reprimand her but agreed with her made Sakura look at him in surprise.

"I-Yeah, it seems like it."

"Which way is your house?" Sakura motioned down the street toward the shinobi district and they continued walking. The stroll filled with light conversation before they had reached her apartment. She nodded to Shisui before she looked down.

"Thank you for walking me." He nodded and smiled at her.

"No problem. See you tomorrow. I'll be at Mikoto's if you want to pick up your stuff tomorrow." Sakura nodded before she waved and opened her door. Heading inside for the night and still wondering where her father had gone.

Jiraiya had done what he usually did most nights. Went to a bar and drank, acting like a drunken fool while he listened to the chatter around him. In those moments her heard whispers of everything. Peoples lives, hobbies, drama, and even sometimes whisperings of things that were being planned. As he laughed and almost spilt the drink in his hand his ears perked up as he caught a conversation in the back of the bar.

"You've seen it right? The problems brewing in the east-"

"Keep your voice down, of course I've seen it. Anyone with a brain has. That lands always been a boiling pot."

Boiling pot... they must be talking about Mist

"Yeah but it's different now, you really think he's gonna stand for it?"

"Guard your words Yoroku. That's not a conversation to be had in a bar."

"You worry too much."

He... more news about Orochimaru no doubt. He always seems to stir up trouble.

"I worry the right amount. Besides we don't need people here overhearing and butting in on Kumogakura's business." Jiraiya inclined a surprised brow before he quickly covered it and went on with his drinking.

Cloud? What could be going on there, and what 'He' are they referring to?

Getting home late that night after finishing a small report to Minato. Jiraiya walked in to a house that smelled like jasmine. Smiling softly he walked into the kitchen seeing some tea set on the counter. It was long cold by now meaning Sakura was most likely asleep. Walking toward the hall before he paused as his eyes swept the living room. Rolling his eyes with a fond smile at seeing Sakura on the couch sleep with a book clutched to her chest. He scooped up his daughter in his arms and carried her down the hall to her room. Putting the book away before he tucked her into her bed. Looking at her fondly before he sat at the edge of her bed with a sigh. Thinking about leaving her was hard on him. He loved her like she was his own, but he knew that his duty to the village was important. Leaning down and kissing her head before he stood and walked out of the room closing the door softly. He also knew that she was the most important thing in his life, and if she was there then protecting the village would mean protecting his little girl. So he steeled his nerves and made up his mind knowing soon he wouldn't be able to be by her side.