The Time it Took

Summary: Haruno Sakura can never forget what he did to her. Her parents moved her to a new place with new faces...just to forget. Two years can do a lot to change one girl. SakuraxOC

Chapter Two: Year One Part II

Haruno Sakura, now fifteen years old, walked into the forest, clutching her cloak closer to her body. She walked casually every morning, as she did almost every morning for the past few months. With every morning, she would bring the katana with her. She knew it was wrong to bring it, but wherever she put it, the blade would always find its way to her room. Besides, the blade was sharp and beautiful, it was really something to behold.

As she walked, the snow continued to drift slowly. The hood of her cloak covered her now long pink hair, making sure that none of the pure white flakes got caught in her shimmering locks. She paused to take a momentary glance at the sky. Snow flakes fall so gently upon her as she smiled at the serene feeling the forest now gave her. She liked the feeling of being the only one in the forest at this time, she was used to it. Everyone else was attending school, the one she knew nothing about, and the one where every child of age would attend and come back home almost five hours later.

"Come on, Mommy!"

Sakura jumped and rested upon a tree branch as she looked at the ground. There was a family of three - a father, a mother, and a little boy – walking around the forest floor. She sighed in disappointment as the family made themselves comfortable with a small picnic basket. Who would have a picnic in the middle of winter? She clutched the katana tighter and decided that today was not the best day to train. Two more families came into her 'training ground' and settled themselves into a cozy nice picnic. Sakura jumped quickly yet stealthily from one tree to the next, making her way back to the village.

Sakura leaped unto her window sill and silently closed the window behind her. She removed her chocolate colored cloak and decided to change her clothes. Pink was definitely not the best of choice in a village where tan and white colored clothing seem to reign above any other color. She nonchalantly tossed on a pair of tan slacks and a white long-sleeved shirt, finishing it off with a tan bandanna with white swirl patterns. I swear that this village needs to expand their color options, her inner-self said. The wardrobe colors are so very plain.

She sighed at that comment and looked at the various accessory boxes on her drawer. She took a silver chain from one of the boxes and latched it around her neck. The silver star was attached to a pale yellow crescent moon which gleamed as the necklace's charm. She smiled at herself as she took a quick glance at the mirror. She touched the charm and frowned. Why do I even bother?

She literally fell on her bed and closed her eyes. She saw onyx eyes staring at her, a forbidden smile upon the owner's face. She shook the image out of her mind and sighed. She cannot remove him from her mind. She wanted to, but she just could not.

KNOCK! KNOCK! Sakura jumped a mile high and sighed as she heard a familiar voice.

"Onee-chan! Are you there? Onee-chan!"

"I'm here Natsumi-chan; you don't have to be so loud!" Sakura said, unlocking her door.

Natsumi immediately wrapped her arms around Sakura in a tight embrace. "Onee-chan I was looking all over for you! Where were you?"

Sakura gave her a puzzled look and replied, "Well, I went places. Aren't you supposed to be at school right now?"

"I don't have any lessons today. But there is a Council meeting today! It's important and the whole village has to go or else you'll be on patrol for three months! And patrol is so boring!"

Sakura stared at the lavender- haired girl and question marks flew around her head. The now thirteen year old girl let her hair grow out and flow gracefully down her back, almost the exact length of Sakura's hair with the exception of being few inches shorter. She grew more independent, responsible, and mature in just a few months; making her older counter-part seem like the younger sister.

"Patrol?"

"Oh, that's right, you don't know. Well, patrol is sort of like community service but more tedious and boring. I do not wish to be late…I hate patrol."

"Patrol seems to be the only thing you complain about Natsumi-chan!" Sakura said, smiling brightly.

Natsumi blushed. Over time, Natsumi looked at Sakura as a role model. She has heard about Sakura's good grades in school, and from there she aspired to be like Sakura in every way. She was beautiful, with her long pink hair swaying behind her. She purposely grew her out, just so she can be like her role model. Sakura was the first person to ever strike her in this way. She felt like she had someone she could talk to, an actual big sister.

"Natsumi-chan? Shouldn't we be going?"

Natsumi snapped out of her trance and nodded, leading Sakura out of her room.

Around the center of the town, people of different sizes and ages gathered. Natsumi led Sakura to the front of a huge building, where five old men, all wearing tan colored robes, sitting on chairs that were placed on a stage for the occasion.

"Where's Nami-chan?" Sakura asked Natsumi, who was now looking above people's heads for the other Kawashima twin.

Natsumi answered slowly, "Somewhere…she should be here though…Momma is here…"

Sakura looked at the five men and was instantly reminded of Konohagakure and the Hokage. Images of her friends then followed. She saw Naruto, clowning around and trying to get her attention, grinning his goofy yet contagious smile. Hinata was there, smiling shyly at Naruto and blushing. Neji was sitting under a tree and Tenten was waving at Sakura. Then there was…he was there…smirking at her…as always…but Ino had her arms around him…

"Onee-chan! Are you listening to me?" Natsumi asked.

Sakura blinked in surprise and said, "Sorry, I sort of spaced out…what were you saying again?"

"I was saying that the Council meeting is going to start soon, and Na-kun still is not here. They said today's meeting is 'of great importance.' Well that's what they said yesterday at class…"

"Sakura-san! Natsumi-chan!"

Sakura turned around and saw a girl with fiery ruby eyes smiling at her. "Himiko-san!"

Himiko giggled and said joyfully, "It's been a while Sakura-san. School's been holding me back from actually getting to know you."

Sakura nodded, confused at the fact that the Kawashima's go to the same school yet have the time to hang around. Natsumi then said, "Do you what the meeting is about?"

Himiko proudly nodded. Her grandfather happened to be one of the Grand Council Members. "It has to do with the lesson on Twelve-Two-Delta."

Natsumi nodded and Sakura looked at the two of them with confusion written all over her face. Himiko noticed this and said, "School stuff."

"What exactly is the point of the Council?" Sakura asked.

"The Council makes decisions on our school lessons and decides who should lead them. They also relay important messages to us." Natsumi said.

"Meetings on school lessons? What do you guys learn?"

"It's a secret."

"Why can't I know?"

"Because."

Sakura gave up yet again. She tried time and time again to try and figure out what they exactly did at school; come to think of it, she didn't even know the name of their school or where it was! She tried following Nami once, but she got caught by one of the teachers and almost had to do some patrol work. So Sakura just gave up on the subject.

The crowd buzzed with voices, wondering which lucky student would lead the school lesson. It bugged her knowing that she had no idea what they were talking about, especially with the whole 'Twelve-Two-Delta' bit.

Sakura sighed and muttered, "God, this is so boring."

"Try going to our school."

Sakura gasped and turned to see the second Kawashima twin looking at the Council, a grim look upon her face. Nami's hair was no longer the same length as her sister's, her silky lavender hair was just below her shoulders, framing her face. Nami refused to look exactly identical; she wanted to be more unique and noticed for who she was, not for who she looked like. It seemed to pass Nami's thought that her eye color was very different from Natsumi's. Her attitude reminded Sakura of one obnoxious Naruto.

Nami sighed as the middle elder stood up and said loudly, "We will begin this year's meeting."

Natsumi, ignoring her sister's tardiness, or rather her appearance, leaned over to Himiko and whispered, "Where is Sempai?"

Himiko simply whispered back, "You'll see."

Another elder stood up and said, "Welcome to all villagers. First, a message of warning. An enemy of our kind has risen to our village. It is not certain who it is, but it is of great importance to stand guard for it may strike. "

"Whom are you speaking about, Great One?" a villager said, curiousness and fear in his voice.

"A shinobi."

The crowd was suddenly murmuring to each other about the shinobi in their village. Sakura began to feel uncomfortable and tried to hide the fact that her forehead protector was in her room, stashed away with the rest of her shinobi equipment.

Another elder stood up and held up what appeared to be a kunai. "This was discovered in the forest a month ago, and scratches on our trees confirm that there is in fact a shinobi in our midst. Branches have been sliced from them, leaves cut swiftly from their hosts."

Himiko turned to Sakura and whispered, "I wonder who is doing such a thing. Shinobi are such monsters. Destroying nature just to train; it is so repulsive."

Sakura nodded plainly and hid the redness in her cheeks. In her months living here, she completely forgot that the villagers respected nature.

"What were we do about the shinobi?" Another villager asked; this time female.

"We will let the Chosen decide." The elder one in the center of the five said, motioning to his side.

Nami, the only child speaking amidst of the all the other children in the crowd, said, "The Chosen? Who have you selected upon all who attend your grand lessons? Have you selected someone wise enough to uphold the next task? Was your decision to our profit? The Chosen is to protect us, and fulfill the lesson's assignment. Who have you chosen for Lesson Twelve-Two-Delta, my Lord?" Nami spoke loudly, with a hint of little sarcasm and hints of major scorn.

Another elder then said, "We have selected a wise Chosen, young one, the best in the lessons and strong in determination and decisions. We must let him decide what to do with the shinobi. He must find it, question it, and ask the shinobi to leave. If it does not cooperate, the Chosen will make a decision."

"Who is our Chosen? Who will fulfill the lesson of Twelve-Two-Delta?" Himiko asked, smiling as though she knew the answer.

"Nami-chan, what is Twelve-Two-Delta?" Sakura asked.

Nami stared at the Council and said, "The Choosing of the Chosen; the responsibilities, commitments, and expectations of the Chosen. We spent months discussing it…" she trailed off and her eyes narrowed as the Chosen appeared on stage.

The elder then said, "Our Chosen One, Aoyama Sanosuke."

The crowd cheered loudly, and Himiko being the loudest.

Sanosuke asked for silence and said proudly, "I will make my village proud and hunt down this dreadful shinobi and strike it down. It does not deserve to live. I will use my talent in our arts…"

Sakura drew her breath and thought, Arts? What Arts? I thought this village was peaceful…

"…and make sure our village is safe for all of us!"

The crowd cheered loudly for the pompous sixteen-year-old as he raised his arms in a sign of victory. Sakura stifled down laughter as she saw Himiko clap widely and Natsumi clapping calmly.

"Sano-temme again…who would have imagined. Stupid conceited pest." With that, Nami turned around and walked away from the Council.

"Nami-chan?" Sakura watched as the young girl made her away, concern filling up inside of her.

Nami walked to the forest, kicking at the ground. She unknowingly shoved her hands in her pockets, a habit she picked up from someone she looked up to…but that person is dead, and always will be…he has been for three years now…

Nami sat next to a tree, closing her eyes. She saw a short movie in her mind, one where her idol was alive; there he was, helping a gem to learn the forbidden arts…smiling at the gem…

Then he was gone, holding fire in his hands, never letting her go, and the fire more precious to him than his little apprentice, his gem. The gem sat by herself, trying to learn something, reaching for help from him. But he left, the fire laughing at her as she sat there, defeated, but inside of that gem, something awakened…something that was filled with anger and hatred…something called…

Jealously.

The gem from then one, tried nothing except to learn and master the forbidden arts…even if it killed something inside of her…

Nami's eyes snapped open and she stood up from her spot. That bastard's probably done giving his speech.

Nami hurried back to the village, the tree no longer present behind her.

"Nami-chan! Where did you go?" Sakura yelled. She was walking in the forest, having followed Nami. "Nami-chan!"

Sakura stopped and leaned against a tree. She could search for in a faster way, but it was too risky. She had to walk like a normal girl, just like her parents wanted her to be.

Flashback

An eleven year old Haruno Sakura ran up to her mother, smiling brightly. "Mommy! Guess what! I know what I want to be when I grow up!"

Her mother smiled at her. "What is it darling? What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Sakura giggled and her smile widened. "I am going to be a shinobi! Ino-chan told me all about them! So I want to be one too!"

"But, sweetheart, are you sure? A shinobi is not really a suitable position for a young lady like you."

"But my friends are…!"

"Sakura! Do not do as your friends do! You are not to be a shinobi! It's too dangerous for you!" her mother snapped.

"But Ino-chan said…"

"Don't always do what everyone says!"

"But…"

"You are not allowed to be a shinobi…my decision is final!"

Sakura's eyes welled up in tears as she yelled at her mother, "I will be a shinobi! Ino-chan will be one too! I'm going to be a great shinobi whether you like it or not!"

Flashback

Sakura sighed. She disobeyed her mother…but she met great friends in doing so. Her mother saw that…and she let it slide. But in being a shinobi, in have being in Team 7…she just hurt herself badly. She now kind of regretted her decision. If she listened to her mother, she would still in Konohagakure…not having known a certain Uchiha Sasuke, not having known pain and hurt.

NO! Her inner-self yelled. Are you stupid! Being a shinobi is tight! So don't lie!

Sakura chuckled and fell backwards. She fell to the ground hard and rubbed her head. She could have sworn that she was leaning on a tree…

She sat up and looked at the ground. It was bare, not a single trace of a great tree. She looked around for what might have happened, and saw a lavender-haired girl walking away.

"Nami-chan?" Sakura called out.

She turned around and her eyes widened, "Sakura-neechan! What are you…? I mean how did you…? Did you see anything?"

Sakura looked at her, dumbstruck. She could not have blown that tree to bits, well technically made the tree disappear.

"Nami-chan…did you do this?"

Nami paused and said calmly, "What are you talking about?"

"Did you make the tree disappear?"

Nami smiled and flipped her silky hair back, "What tree? Whatever are you talking about Sakura-neechan?"

"Never mind…" Sakura said, scratching the back of her head.

Nami flashed a big smile and motioned for her to come closer. Sakura walked to her friend and together they walked towards the village. Sakura smiled contently and forced herself to believe that Nami had nothing to do with the tree; after all, she is only thirteen and has no relation to a shinobi.

"Say Sakura-neechan," Nami asked, "why did you come here?"

Sakura tensed up at the question and said hesitatingly, "For this and that."

Silence ensued as Nami nodded at her reply. Out of the blue, she asked, "Did you ever lose something you used to cherish?"

Sakura turned to Nami. That was a sudden question to ask. "Well, before…when I was…your age…I…" Sakura stopped short and held back forgotten tears.

"Sakura-neechan?"

"Oh, forget it. Some stories are better off not told, you know what I mean?"

Nami stared at Sakura. Sakura always strike to her as a person of strength, someone who would not give up. Seeing her falter that way made Nami uneasy. She looked up to Sakura for strength, and she wanted to be like her in that aspect.

"Yeah, I guess you are right. There are things that needn't be told."

Sakura smiled at her response and kept herself from blurting out who she was, and what she missed back home.

Sakura sat on her rooftop, counting the stars one by one. She grew accustomed to her new life, or so she says. She still held down huge urges to go back to Konoha…she wanted to but she knew she could not. They would not accept her…she knew they would not…all of her friends, she missed them too much. As a shinobi she knew she had to stop herself form letting her emotions get to her. It was shinobi law…she knew that all too well…and she experienced the consequences all too well.

She grasped the necklace tightly and whispered silently into the wind. "Sasuke…"

Sakura felt warm droplets of water flow steadily on her cheeks. She did not bother to brush them away…she was used to them coming every night as she lay thinking about a life she would never have.

To Be Continued

Author's Note: Im back! Well…im really sorry I couldn't update sooner…but skool started and I had no time at all! Teachers and homework…they just don't mix at all! Sorry for the delay! Hope you can forgive me! Oh yea….the whole story is seriously going to have major time lapses….like each chapter will be months aprt and stuff….cuz if it wasn't likee that…then the story can go on forever! Reviews…comments….flames…anythings welcome! TTFN!