Fall Story

AN: thank thank you ...nice reviews -- faster chapters(time permitting)

;; and uh..story does get really twisted.

-----------------------

It wasn't often that Sakura lost her concentration in a training with others.But that morning she did, it was just a flash of a picture but she couldn't shake it off.

flash

Sakura was speeding through the trees, when an image clouded over eyes.She saw two figures and a little child between them.One of them was perhaps performing a seal to be put on the little closer she saw that the other figure crying was a woman and the other a man.

end of flash

"Sakura are you okay?" It was Naruto who shook her from vacant stare.

"Yeah..just I thought I had a flash of some memory..but it seemed it wasn't mine."

Naruto's eyebrow quirked at her answer and sat down next to her.

"Oh look Kakashi-san is coming "

Skaura lifted her head to see Kakashi heading their way.Great she thought, maybe he can answer about seals that can be performed to be put on a body.

"Hi Kakashi-san!" Sakura waved to him as always and Naruto also greeted him warmly.

"Sakura had a flashback it seems." Naruto commented as Kakashi reached them.

Kakashi raised his eyebrow at this,

"Tell me everything."

Sakura sighed and repeated what she saw.Naruto became deathly quiet and Kakashi's brain worked furiosly through the seals he knew that could be performed on a living body.

"Can't remember correctly....possibly only a handful of seals can be performed on a living body...anymore details on how the man and the woman looked like?"

Sakura shook her head,

"No..not at all..they were heavily shadowed."

"Hmm" was all Kakashi say to her response.

Sasuke walked in on them like that, looking serious too.

"Why is everyone looking like if they just heard something unpleasant?" he asked as he reached them.

Other three looked up at Sasuke, who at 16 starting look more like his father and Itachi combined.

"Well...we are all thinking on a flashback Sakura had..possibly not her memory." Naruto answered him.

"What sort?" With that Sakura repeated them Sasuke who raised his eyebrows like Kakashi did before.

"Well there a few types, less then 6 types that can be performed on a young child." Sasuke answered.

Both Sasuke and and Kakashi remembered a particular seal, that was rarely performed but has been used before in Konoha's history.

-------------------------

Emiko looked at the clouds drifting by, it was autumn and... it always reminded her of many things.

flashback

"Hiashi-kun!" Emiko hollared across the quiet rows of oak tree.She wasn't expecting to see Hiashi who hardly enjoyed much outside his life long training.

Hiashi looked up to see Emiko running swiftly towards him and waving.He wondered if she ever got tired being so perky.In fact he hasn't seen her peaceful ever really.But then he hardly saw his team mates outside training time.

"Don't you get tired of being so perky all the the time?" Hiashi wasn't expecting the reply he got.

"Oh yeah I feel cheerful when my mother got assasinated and my father has passed away a waeek ago!.What do you know Hyuga!you should learn to know people around you before speaking so arrogantly like that! Hizashi is so caring unlike you!"

With that she ran from the park, her eyes were blurred with tears but she never stumbled.She smiled to forget her reality at home, her pains and hopelessness.Hizashi Hyuga offered her comfort and they found commoness in their unhappiness.He has been branded with 'caged bird' and became a member of the Hyuga branch house whilst his twin, born few minutes earlier then him became the heir appearant.

Why couldn't Hiashi be more like his twin?She would be his comerade and team member for sometime to come.She couldn't stand someone like that...someone like him to work with.She grated her teeth and plopped down on the small hill on the other side of the town and watched the clouds go pass by.

"Is it my brother again?" Emiko's eyes flew open at Hizashi's voice.

"How did you know?"

"Only he can make you feel so angry." Hizashi replied as he sat down next to her, joining in the cloud watching.

Emiko smiled,

"You know me quiet well."

Both laughed at her comment and sat up.Emiko suddenly asked Hizashi a question he though he would never hear from her.

"Hizashi, does love really hurt?"

"Emiko..you okay?" Hizashi turned to her with concern.

"No..my father committed suicide a week ago.I loved my father so much, it hurt me to see a fine father like him drown himself in guilt or there lack of and pity.I didn't know love could rip you apart in so much pain."

Hizashi didn't know what to say, the girl who hid her pain with smiles that dazzled everyone else and they flocked to her to feel it.But inside she was pained and sad.He wanted to comfort the girl he met eight months ago.

"Yes, it can be very painful....I love my brother as my brother yet I hate him and spite him for me becoming a branch member.But then I wouldn't wish my fate on him too.I guess I am still confused young man."

Emiko smiled sadly and nodded,

"We had better go, I have to finish papers and arrangements for my father's funeral tomorrow."

Hizashi nodded,

"I will be there tomorrow, I think Haruno will try to sneak away from his usual house duties to come." with that and a smile, Hizashi sped off in the trees.

end of flash back

Emiko had been made into a Jounin at age of 15, she herself promised to make her daughter strong.She was one of the talented of her generation...and her daughter will be too.

--------------

Sakura practiced her chakra control and never mind that it was already way past her level.She walked above the water, she had to do it without a thought.That's what Sakura conculuded, if she had to run from something...she will have to do with out a thought.But concentrating her attention towards on walking on water did not detact the person watching her.

"That's some chakra control, Haruno." the watcher commented as he landed softly from the trees and walked over to the bank of the lake.

"EEEEPPPPP!!!" Sakura squeaked in suprised and nearly lost her control over her chakra.She looked to see it was Neji, Hinata's cousin if she remembered correctly.

"Hyuga Neji?what are you doing here?" Sakura asked shakily as she reached the bank of the lake.

"It's called training, incase you haven't realised.I thought you were at least intelligent in brains." Neji said as if he was saying about weather, but did not realise Sakura's inner self wanted to rip him apart.

"Well I haven't seen you around these parts for training before."

"Hmph" with that Neji sped off, looking for another ground to train.He have heard of the girl's talent with genjutsu and chakra.Her former team mates Sasuke and Naruto was considerded to be his worthy rivals.They three with their former teacher have performed some of most dangerous missions together and survived.Lee and TenTen have gone off together again on a mission whilst he was left behind.

Sakura felt like slapping that arrogant cold face of Hyuga Neji right there and then.Even Sasuke was much more softer these days, then Neji.Sakura and Sasuke have agreed to be friends only for now.

"Oi, Sakura!" Naruto's cheerful voice announced his arrival.

"Still worried about the vision?"

Sakura grinned "No...just had a run in with Hyuga Neji."

"What?!?!? what did the cold bastard do? did he yell at you? insult you?" being Naruto he was, he leapt up and readied to go after Hyuga Neji.

"Not really, he was just being his usual cold self."

Naruto grinned,

"Well yeah, you had think Hinata and Neji came from different world..not from same clan."

Sakura chuckled gently at the comment.

-------------------

"Mum I am home!!" Sakura yelled out and her mum smiled and asked her to come sit since she had something to talk about.

"What is it mum?" Sakura finally asked after they sat down at the dinner table.

"I am going to train you in preperation for the Jounin exam."

Sakura's chopsticks were half way to her mouth and they stayed there for few seconds.

"Mum? is Jounin exam that hard?"

Emiko nodded,

"When did you become a Jounin then?"

Emiko grinned sudden of all,

"Promise you won't yell? I was a Jounin at age of 15."

Sakura chocked on her food she was ?"

Emiko nodded in response.

"Training tomorrow after lunch, I know your abilities with standard seals so I will teach some of more advanced seals from my family."

Sakura smiled,

"It will be great mum, I look forward to it."

-------------------

Sasuke looked out the window of his home, he lived alone and it gave him some solitude.He was going to be Jounin soon, he hoped anyways.He didn't care that his older brother was already one by age of 9 and an ANBU captain by age of 13.He learnt to take his own pace, he have learnt many jutsus over the years and finally mastered the Sharigan 5 months ago.

He smiled as he looked at the picture frames that stood around the drawers of his room.First one he picked up was of Sakura, smiling cheerfully and holding a branch with sakura blossoms on it.Next was Naruto with Kakashi-san, they were both giving each other a head lock.These were the most precious people to him.Naruto and Sakura, who stood with him no matter what and defended him.They cared for him like a family...and that was all he needed now.

But time wasn't always restful, he was raking his brain..on wether to take his relationship with Sakura beyond the family friendliness.He knew her inside out and so did she.She knew all his bad sides, nightmares and troubles.She still yet stayed by his side.

-----------------------

"What?!?!?!?" Sakura practically screamed as her mission was given and her would be partner.Her eyes pleaded at Tsunade-sama to rethink her choice of a partner for the mission.

"It's the final decision." Tsunade said firmly but was ready to pulp Hiashi Hyuga for asking her break this bright girl away from her usual partners.

"I don't know much about him." Sakura admitted to Tsunade after few minutes of silence.

"Well then get to know him.You have training with your mother tomorrow afternoon right?I have arranged for you to train with him every morning until the mission starts.Understood?"

Sakura nodded and left Hokage's office.What the hell was she going to do? what would she tell Naruto and Sasuke? or even Kakashi-san?Her head hung and being preoccupied ran straight into the most unexpected person.

"You should watch where you going, Haruno.You are a Chuunin, have some dignity." It was voice of Neji.

Inner Sakura wanted to throw him down a well and close it off.Sakura smiled,

"Sorry heard some disturbing news from Hokage-sama."

Neji looked at her with pearly eyes of Hyuga clan intensively for a minute or so.

"I hope that disturbing news is not about me being your next partner for your next mission?"

Sakura's mouth hung open then she shut it.

"Well yes it is, I was suprised that she suddenly made me go on a mission with you instead of Sasuke or Naruto."

Sakura then remembered about the arrangement,

"Tomorrow where and when?"

"8 o'clock sharp at the big oak tree at the training ground." Neji replied sharply and began to turn away,

"Don't be late, otherwise I will drag you out from your bed myself." then he disappeared.

Sakura wanted to slap him, that bastard.

"Sakura, what did that cold Neji say to you?" it was voice of Sasuke coming from behind.

Great, Sakura thought..just great.Oh well she ahd to tell them sooner or later.

"I been assigned a mission in a week time with him.!" Sakura practically yelled out her frustration.Sasuke's eyes widened for a fraction of a minute.

"Is Tsunade-sama mad?"

"No, she have really assigned us together as partners for my next mission." Sakura sighed and sat down by the low fence of the side walk.Sasuke looked at the pink haired girl who sat down in frustration.

"If Neji let you die and come back by himself..I will never forgive him.So don't get your self killed okay?"

Sakura looked up at the dark eyes of her long time friend, who seemed to be angry or frustrated too.She knew, thoughif Neji pledges to keep her alive, he will do it at any cost.She knew Neji Hyuga kept his promise....and that means he will really drag her out of her bad if she doesn't get up fast enough.

"I better go, Hokage-sama has gone further in her madness and arranged for me train with Neji to get to know him before my mission starts.So good night Sasuke-kun!!" with a jolly wave, Sakura sped off to her home, what will her mother think of it? she will just have to find out tomorrow.

----------------------

Next morning,

"Hokage-sama said WHAT?!?!?!" Emiko's voice ascended suddenly at the news.

"Is she mad?" Sakura shook her head n answer.

"Mum, she meant every single word of it.I better go to the training ground, I don't want Hyuga dragging me out to it.See you this afternoon!!"

Sakura sped off out the door and and towards the training ground.Whilst Emiko's eyes twitched in anger, it had to be Hiashi.She wanted to rip him apart and throw him to the wild foxes.That egoistical bastard...was he trying to kill her again?no...this time she will beat him...she had to win.

----------------

"You are on time." Neji stated in matter of fact voice

Sakura's eyes twitched, 'well Duh!' her inner self shouted out.

"What do we start with?..? Neji?" She realised he wasn't there anymore.She then dodged a shower of shurikens raining down on her and then she dove to the left and leapt up into a cat like position.She scanned for a hint of chakra, but she detected it too late.Sakura nearly got ear sliced as a sharp weapon in shape of a wheel whistled past her.

"Not bad, at least you can dodge attacks, if not take the offensive first." Neji said as came down from a tree not far away.

"Are you always this blunt?" Sakura asked, her voice merging with her inner self.Neji raised his eyebrows but other wise his facial expression was deadpan.

"Yes"

Sakura rolled her eyes,

"Well at least I won't get annoyed." Sakura muttered before she threw herself at him, what seemd like a simple attack to Neji turned out to be complicated.He jerked himself to right and turned on his Byukagan.He realised the one who have lunged at him wasn't her.He cursed his mistake and looked for her, he can't make this sort of mistake.Then something whistled from behind him, with help of Byukagan he moved to avoid it.On his quick glance of the weapon thrown, it was thin wire.The wires that cut flash like hot knife through soft butter.He dodged another legth thrown and another.Where the hell..was she?? There! with a quick performing of Gentle fist technique he disabled her system.She fell out of a far away tree and muttered some inaudiable words.Then she yanked out two long knives, which suprised him.He didn't think Harunos were known to use knives as their choice of weapon.Sakura threw them carelessly, Neji grinned as he dodged them both but if it wasn't for his Byukagan..he might well have been nicked across both cheeks.The knives were moving in the air by them selves.His Byukagan traced thin lines which connected to Sakura.She was manipulating them like a pair of puppet.

They fought across the training ground, until Neji won.Neji leaned in close as he managed to pin her down.

"You got to practice more Haruno, though it is interesting to see puppet like techniques to attack..well let's see you tomorrow at the same place and time.I have things to do now." With that Neji disappeared.Sakura looked dumbfounded, though dirty and injured with cuts..she couldn't shake of that feeling from Neji.He was a cold person, she rather be with Naruto then Neji even as a friend.Sakura then whipped her self and scolded too, thinking about their training had meaning beyong mere acquitances.

---------------

Neji grated his teeeth as he faced the Uchiha kid.

"What do you want Uchiha?" Neji asked codly as possible.

"I just wanted to say, hurt Sakura and I will never forgive you, got that?" Sasuke spat out, even though it was only one sentence warning...Neji felt Sasuke's angry chakra radiating like burnig fire of hell.

"Understood." with that Neji walked on to Hyuga mansion.

Sasuke calmed his Sharigan eyes and turned them back to normal, he meant every single word.He couldn't bare to see her hurt, much as she had gotten stronger...he was worried about her mission with Neji as her partner.What one earth possesed Tsunade to pair up her and Hyuga Neji?

---------------

"Sakura!" Emiko beamed as her daughter plopped down next to her on a large rock by the waterfall.

"Hi mum, if you are going to ask how as the morning's training..it was fine." Sakura answered her mother's question she saw being ready to be fired away.

"Okay. let me teach you my family's techniques or rather I developed them to beat certain techniques that comes from advanced bloodlines." Emiko beamed as she lightly leapt up to a branch and disappeared.This was the start, Sakura realised...she concentrated on her mother's chakra.It was hard, but instead of wasting to look for her..Sakura grinned.She performed a jutsu and converted her chakra in to thin wire like weapons.

"Here I come.." Sakura whispered to herself as she spread the wires all over and with an expert manipulation, she tore through the tree tops.This was techniques from her father's side.She has never actually used in real life battles, but she knew she had to try it sometime soon.She had practiced them polished her skills with it for more then two years.She knew it was ready to be used in real battle.

Sakura dodged to her right as her mother, a thing of black blur went past her the it lurched back and was performing a jutsu.Sakura also started another jutsu to counter what ever her mother was going to throw against her.Her chakra or inner coil system overloaded, it was sensing huge amount of chakra...she was blinded.Her system was blinded with her senses overloading.Was this the technique her mother developed? controlling the chakra in this jutsu was another level above her already great control over it.

"Alright mum how did you do that jutsu?!?!" Sakura yelled out.

------------

Hiashi looked out the open doors to the inner courtyard, like he has been doing a lot lately.He sighed and gave up on how to try stop the problem from surfacing.He sighed again and got up and walked towards Hokage's office.Tsunade must know the best solution...after all she was one of the reveried Sennins.

Tsunade raised her eyebrow,

"Is THERE anymore requests?" She stated her words with a little clipped edge to them.

"To ask you about what we are going to do about this problem before the Jounin exam?" Hiashi asked sternly as he bowed in respect to the hot tempered Hokage.Tsunade, felt like throwing a large fit of temper but controlled herself.

"UGGhhh why did I even decided to help you with your problems that you created with your selfish mind is beyond me." Tsunde muttered as she sighed and picked up a scroll, more like several scrolls.

"Here read them, it explains the nature of the seal.Try to do something about before the exam starts.But if you can't...well I can't help you except stop Emiko from killing you."

Hiashi nodded and bowed with respect before retreated slowly from Hokage's office.Damn it, Hiashi thought...was he that selfish? just for wanting her? to have her and...love her?Yet he caused so much pain and earned eternal hatred from the woman he still desired and loved?

------------

Uh yes most of you guessed who has that seal on their body OO...Uh yes Hiashi is selfish jerk yet can be loveable in some way.thanks for all the reviews so far! and sorry for any umm grammer and spelling mistakes --.