White Lilies

by: randomEdwarD

Disclaimer: All characters are part of Naruto, which in turn, is owned by Masashi Kishimoto. Except for original characters that are obviously owned by me. So please don't sue me—'cause I'm only a poor 14 yr. Old with no money...

Inspired by The Kimono She Wore, by blue jeans, an InuYasha fic.

This fic was originally titled as D-E-E-P D-I-V-E---it has been completely rewritten, 'cause quite frankly, it sucked.

This is a Sakura centric fic with a brand new pairing I'm pleased to announce But a fair warning to all--if you don't like kakasaku (Kakashi/Sakura) don't look forward to this... but still read cause reviews make me happy, and even if you do contribute flames--it's the little number at the top that counts, right?

Also this is a massive AU. It sort of runs parallel with the actual manga storyline, but not by much.

I'm sorry. I made a mistake in the first chapter---I kept saying the Hidden Temple, I meant the Hidden shrine.

Glossary

shinobi: ninja

Konohagakure: The Leaves of Nightfall

Hokage: fire shadow

Kyuubi: Ninetails

Yondaime: the fourth

Sandaime: the third

Godaime: the fifth

torii: the great big Japanese gates---usually at the beginning of a path that leads to a shrine

hanyou: half demon

youkai: demon

hitai-ates: forehead protectors

Author's note end

Chapter Two

Six years later


Thunk.



Dead center.

Sakura viewed the small cluster of arrows in the center of the target with slight satisfaction. She reached down and pulled an arrow from the ground. Twirling it in between her thumb and forefinger, she closed her eyes and cleared her mind. Taking a slow, deep breath she slowly placed an arrow against the bow.

Suddenly snapping open intense jade eyes, she let her arrow fly.



Twang.

Thunk.

Dead center.

"Well done, Sakura!" came Ino's cheery voice.

Letting her arm fall gently to her side, she turned and smiled at her friend. "What are you so
excited about, Ino?"

"Arashi-sama said guests are coming!" Ino replied as they began walking towards the shrine.

"Guests... What kind of guests?"

"Shinobi! Shinobi from Konoha!" Ino squealed.

"What!?"

"Yes! And not only that, but the heir to the Uchiha Clan is coming too! They say he's really
handsome...," Ino sighed as an afterthought.

Taken back, Sakura stopped and stared. The Uchiha Clan was legendary for their shinobi skills and their demon eyes, the Sharingan. But the clan went to ruin years ago when their first heir, Itachi, a true prodigy, went mad and killed them all... Except for his little brother, Sasuke... What in the world would bring Sasuke here? The Hidden Shrine?

This place was where the lost and the damned could find healing and peace...

And not only him, but shinobi too. As far as she was aware---All of them were far to caught up in their never ending war to even think about peace...

So why would they come?

"--kura... SAKURA!"

With a start Sakura came out of her thoughts. "Yes... ?"

"Come on!"

Sakura walked with Arashi after Ino left her to go make tea and put on something 'pretty'.

Arashi chuckled, "They aren't even here, and yet they bring the air of the city."

Sakura looked up at her, "What do you mean?"

"Ino was raised in Konoha, you know."

"What? She's a ninja?"

"She would've been... six or seven years ago... Konoha was attacked---leaving a great amount of damage. Many people died... Ino's father was fatally wounded, but he carried her in his arms and brought her here with his dying breath."

"Oh... I never knew," Sakura whispered, shocked.

They continued walking in silence. Sunlight dappled into the trees and was slowly seeped into the shade. Sakura silently admired the ancient weather beaten trees, tall and proud. Hearing a far off cry of an eagle Sakura composed herself and asked, "Arashi-sama could you tell me about the shinobi of Konoha, please?"

Arashi closed her eyes for a moment, but didn't say anything. Instead she turned onto the path that led to the torii. For a long moment they stood there, side by side. The wind blew roseate and copper hair back, and sighed softly in their ears, whispering of things untold.

Sakura placed her hand on one of the warm poles of the torii and looked up at the pale blue sky with its clouds lazily rolling on by.

"Konoha has a sad history, cursed and wrapped with secrets... "

Surprised, Sakura looked back at Arashi.

"The shinobi can't even remember their village's true name, Konohagakure, The Leaves of Nightfall," continued Arashi somewhat bitterly, "for all the leaves emblazoned on their banners and hitai-ates...

"In the beginning all was well and content. Konoha was the wealthiest and strongest shinobi village out of all of them. But then, in the Third Hokage's reign---a darkness fell upon them and they were doomed.

"The hunger of a dark power was sowed heavily in one of the Third Hokage's students. His name was Orochimaru. For the longest time he stayed quiet and learned all he could. No one suspected anything. And so he and his teammates, Jiraiya and Tsunande, became legends.

"They were strong and intelligent. They soon surpassed the Third himself. He was proud of them all, and so when he was the first to learn of Orochimaru's great darkness, he was broken... in heart as well as body. He banished Orochimaru from Konoha... and then he wasted away... And as expected, Orochimaru was furious and cursed Konoha before he left. And the darkness that had settled on it twenty years ago grew once more and enclosed all of Konoha in a vice grip...

"And so, Jiraiya's prodigy, a powerful and compassionate young man, became the Fourth Hokage. He was an outstanding leader---and surpassed bother the Third and his teacher in almost everything.

"But then, all good things must come to an end.

"The Fourth, one day, met a beautiful red-haired beauty. They both fell in love almost immediately. No one knew of this arrangement though, for she begged him not to tell. Even though this request puzzled him greatly, he honored it all the same. The woman gave birth to a son. The Fourth was the happiest he had ever been, as was expected. Until he saw the child. The blonde baby had fox ears complete with whisker markings on his face... The baby was a hanyou.

"Yondaime felt betrayed and was furious. He confronted the women and asked, 'Who are you, youkai?'

"The woman clutched the child and whispered, 'I am the Nine Tailed Fox Kyuubi---But should this really matter? I love you and this is our child!'

"But Yondaime had been deeply hurt by this seemingly act of betrayal. He looked back at her and took the child from her arms and said, 'I can no longer trust you.' he turned and walked away with the child, a composed mask of dignity donned his face. Ignoring Kyuubi's anguished cries and her final scream of outrage.

"Yondaime took his son to the now frail and weak Third Hokage and whispered in his ear, 'Protect this child,' for he knew he would not see the dawn again. He just knew.

"That night Kyuubi attacked Konoha in her true and monstrous fox form. Causing storms and landslides with a swing of her tail, and destroying houses and lives with her great fangs and claws.

"And then, Yondaime entered the battlefield and grieved for a moment for what he was about to do. He met Kyuubi with a clash. Leaping up onto he snout---he formed a series of complicated hand seals with blinding speed. Looking into Kyuubi's hateful eyes he whispered one last time, 'I love you.'

"And then he killed them both.

"And for a while there was a peaceful lull in Konoha. But then Orochimaru's curse took a hold again, and the great Uchiha Slaughter happened, leaving a horribly powerful missing nin on the loose, whose power was even greater than Orochimaru's.

"Once again there was a quiet span of years, but this time there was a noticeable strain in the air, as the people knew something horrible was going to happen.

"And it did.

"Orochimaru finally attacked twelve years after Kyuubi's Vengeance. He wanted and desired the last Uchiha's heir's blood inherited power, and so he and his great snakes and shinobi came and lay siege to Konoha, but the shinobi had been waiting for this , and they were prepared. They drove his army back, but at great cost.

"During this great battle, the start of a terrible war, the Sandaime cast off his frailness like a cloak and fought with his student. In the end, Sandaime died content if not happy as he had rendered Orochimaru incapable of using any jutsu.

"Orochimaru retreated, but he also took with him a very valuable traitor---the intelligent and powerful medical-nin Kabuto.

"It was at the end of this battle that Ino's father brought her here and Kamidake found you at the edge of the battle site.

"Well... since the time Tsunande had accepted the title of Godaime, there has been another quiet lull of time, but the shinobi know it's only a matter of time before he attacks again.

"And so the Godaime sent some of her people here, wanting the Hidden Shrine's help."

"Our help!?" Sakura exclaimed.

Arashi merely turned her head slightly towards her and curved her lips in an ironic smile, "Look they're here," was all she said.

Sakura whipped her head towards the road and saw the ever proud Kamidake leading several people.

Several shinobi, she corrected herself.

And a dreadful feeling began to course through her.



Chapter Two end

Well... everyone loves back story o.O;;;

Since I got that over with, the next chapter will be the start of the action and will finally get the story moving.

Much thanks goes to my beta reader Jewel Song. Check her out her cute SakuLee story.

Now, review please :D