It was summer time in the village. The people roam around, mostly shopping or just hanging out with friends, escaping the intense heat. At the training grounds, three Konoha ninjas sat under the tree for shade, their names were Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha, waiting for their late sensei. By the time their sensei, Kakashi, came to the training grounds they were all hot and covered with sweat.

"Come on we need train, but..." he looked at them. They look like they were about to faint in the heat. "But since the heat is getting to us let's relax today."

His team jumped up with joy saying hooray. Kakashi just sighed. He can be too grateful sometimes. Then he took out his book. "All right, pack up and meet me back here at noon."

"But, Kakashi-sensei, where are we going? What do we need to pack?" Naruto asked, he took off his orange jacket. "What are we going to do there?"

Kakashi lowered his book. "Ah, Naruto, the place I'm taking you is a surprise." then he put it in his pocket and walked off.

Naruto cocked his head. "Hey, do you think that Kakashi-sensei is joking? Or was he serious?"

Sakura got up and answer back. "I think he was serious. Other wise, he would work us to death." she walked over to Naruto. "I suggest that we start packing, it's already 10." then she wondered. "I hope it's somewhere that's cool but also warm as well."

Sasuke got up also but stayed in the tree. "Although even if he was joking we'll argue about having a day off." then he jumped off and walked over to Naruto as well. "Let's go home and later we'll see what's ahead." then he walked off to his house. Sakura and Naruto remand there for a minute then walked off together.

At the training grounds, 12:10 p.m.

Naruto was running and panting to the meeting. "Why does the alarm clock have to run out?" Naruto saw small speaks of colors blue, red, and black in front where he had to meet. When Naruto got there he was out of breath. "How... did... you... get here?" he breath out the last part.

"I came here early just not to be late." Sakura said to the exhausted Naruto. "But when I got here Sasuke and even Kakashi-sensei came before me."

Naruto looked over to Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke, both were standing very cool by cool I meant wearing short pants and shirts. "Kakashi-sensei how did you get here so early? You're always late."

"I only did this rarely for vacations and holidays that makes me relaxed and cool." he scratched his chin. "Training gives me a little stress so I need to relax once in a while."

Sasuke just stand there silent, but then answered, "Can we get going?"

Kakashi turned back to him. "Ah, yes, of course Sasuke. Come on Sakura, Naruto let's get going."

Sakura and Naruto following at the back with Sasuke and Kakashi in the front. While they held up in the front Sakura and Naruto had a conversation about the surprise trip. "So, Naruto, what do you think the trip will be?"

Sasuke was listening the conversation but was kept silence. "I don't know Sakura, maybe it's a full time paradise to a tropical island." Naruto said.

"I wonder if it's the same beach I went to with my mother, Crescent Beach." she wondered. Then she looked at Kakashi and he was holding his book. "Hey, Naruto why don't grabbed that book from Kakashi-sensei and we can burn it." she whispered. He nodded and sneaked ahead near Kakashi from behind his back. He reached out but his hand was grabbed from getting the book and was tossed to the ground.

"Oh, sorry Naruto. I thought you were a enemy." Kakashi said. He lift Naruto up and he pat the dust away. "Thanks." was all he can say. Naruto returned back to Sakura's side. "I couldn't get it. Kakashi-sensei's book is harder to get than ever." he whispered.

"We'll have to try harder next time. But, with Sasuke." she said. "Why Sasuke?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke heard his name so he slowed his pace down enough to be right next to Sakura. "What are you planning, Naruto." he said it directly to him. "What it's to you, Sasuke." Naruto growled. "Guys cut it out already! You're acting like little kids with grudges against each other. Hmph." she walked away leaving the 'men' with mouths gaped open.

"I knew it, I knew it!" Sakura shouted. "I knew it would be Crescent Beach!"

Crescent Beach was huge! The sand was thick with little shells in it. The water was refreshing and cool. It also was filled with fish that eat seaweed and giant sea turtles roaming around. Horse rides were taken along the beach as well. People was flying colorful kites in the strong but gentle winds. Sakura couldn't contain herself so she ran to the horses with glee. She petted the horse's nose and it snorted with pleasure.

"Hi, Tami. It's good to see you again." the black stallion tapped it's foot on the sand. "Yeah, it's been almost a year hasn't it?"

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi walked over to Sakura and the black beauty, confused. "Sakura you do realize that isn't your horse." Naruto point out. "Yeah, so?" she said, "Even though she and I have been friends since I met her 5 years ago it's like I own her." then she turned away from them and asked the owner. "Excuse me, but how much is 3 hours to ride on a horse?" the horse owner answered. "Let's see, 1 hour is 5.00 so 3 is 15.00 dollars, little girl."

Sakura reached into her pocket and count her money. "Let's see here... 5, 10, 15 dollars. Here ya go!" she handed him the money and saddled up the horse. Sakura went forward with Tami and started galloping thru the shallow water, from the far end she looked beautiful. Kakashi looked at Sasuke and Naruto and they were staring at Sakura like she was an angel.

He waved a hand in front of their faces. "Are you okay, Naruto? Are you, Sasuke? Because you're staring at Sakura."

Their heads nodded side to side trying to snap back to normal. Then Sasuke's head stop. "Kakashi-sensei, what happen to us? My head is all fuzzy."

Then Naruto's head stop shaking also. "I think we were in a daze. It must be the summer heat that's getting on to us."

Naruto took off his shirt and his head band, so it wouldn't get wet. Then he approached the water, carefully. He tipped his feet in the water a little then jumped into it and he vanished, but then his head popped out from the water. "Hey! Sasuke! Come on in, the waters great!"

Sasuke took off his shirt, his head band, and walked over to where Naruto is, but not in the water. "Sasuke! Get in the water already! It's Great!" Naruto shouted to him.

Sasuke took a step in the water and it felt cold, but slightly warm. Taking another step, he was splashed with water. Wiping the water from his face, Sasuke saw Naruto laughing at him. Sasuke smirked and then dived into the water while Naruto kept laughing. Underwater, Sasuke swam to Naruto.

Naruto stopped laughing for a while to catch his breath. "Sasuke should have seen that coming! What a baka!"

When Sasuke was close to Naruto's legs he grabbed them. "W-what the heck!" he said before he was pulled under water. Sasuke pulled Naruto down into the water and he came up to the surface.

"That's payback, Naruto." Sasuke said while Naruto gasped for air. For a few minutes, he got his breath again, but he splashed Sasuke again.

"Augh! What the-! Why you, take that!" Sasuke splashed Naruto with a huge wave. Naruto hid underwater to avoid it. After the wave, Naruto came popping up from the water only to find himself splashed in the face again.

Sasuke waited until Naruto admit defeat, but he saw a grin under his wet soaking hair. "Hey, Sasuke..."

Sasuke raised a brow. "What?"

Naruto's head lift up to look at him. "I got an idea. Wanna race?"

Sasuke couldn't resist a challenge so he said. "What kinda race?"

Naruto looked at the huge rock standing out of the water by Sakura who was in the water herself. Naruto turned back to Sasuke. "First one to get to that rock and Sakura gets to kiss her."

Sasuke looked at Sakura for a minute then blushed. Win the race to kiss Sakura? That's a little...

Naruto waited until Sasuke made up his mind. "So, Sasuke, what will it be?"

Sasuke turned back to Naruto and smirked that he would win guaranteed. "I'm in."

"Okay, the rules are the first one to get to Sakura wins the kiss, but..." Naruto stopped. "But what?" Sasuke said. "But... we have to race on the water."

Sasuke thought that they should start where Kakashi-sensei is and race over there to Sakura. Naruto nodded and he yelled over to him to ask. "Kakashi-sensei! Can you mark us for the race and then meet us at the end where Sakura is?"

"Uh... Naruto, I'm right here, behind you." Naruto spun around to see Kakashi right there. Naruto calm his fast beating heart. "Well, can you?"

"Sure, Naruto." Kakashi placed himself between Naruto and Sasuke in the water while they prepare for the race and kiss. "On your mark..."

Naruto and Sasuke got into position. "Get set..." Their body tensed up. "GO!" And off they went. Kakashi went to the other side of the beach where Sakura is in a poof. As soon as he got there Sakura was making a sand castle. "Sakura there's a race going on between Sasuke and Naruto to see who's the winner."

Sakura stopped what she's doing and face Kakashi. "Really? What's the prize if one of them win?"

Kakashi sighed. "A kiss from you."

"What!" she exclaimed. "If Naruto wins I have to kiss him!"

"That's what he said as the prize. Oh look, I think I see them now." Kakashi said.

Two little splashes of water came rushing on and in front of them was Sasuke ahead of Naruto. Sakura and Kakashi waited for Naruto and Sasuke to cross the finishing line.

"Here they come!" Sakura said. Naruto caught up to Sasuke, but he was inches away to finish.

"I can't lose to Sasuke! Or else he gets a kiss from Sakura!" Naruto said. "I need to go faster, but what?"

Naruto thought about it and nothing came to him.

"Ha! He never had to think about what he do before he did it." Sasuke said. "And I'll get a kiss from Sakura in a instant." then it hit him. He wants to win the race, but he doesn't want a kiss from Sakura. So he continued on even though he gets a kiss from Sakura.

'Come on, Sasuke-kun! You can do it! I don't want to kiss Naruto!' Sakura thought as Sasuke was so close she can jump into his arms.

With a splash from the running, Sasuke won the race and Naruto came second with a whine in his chest.

"You won, Sasuke. Now you can get your prize from Sakura." Kakashi said to him. Sasuke let Naruto get the prize because he didn't want it. So Naruto waited for the kiss.

Sakura gave Naruto a kiss on the cheek and some how, Sakura liked to kiss him, so she gave him another kiss on the other cheek. Naruto was blushing hard, like, really red. Sasuke saw Naruto's blush and Sakura's kisses on his cheeks that he wants to punch Naruto on the face as hard as he could. Sasuke suppress the jealously building inside him. When Sakura was done kissing Naruto, he fainted from all the love and affection done to him.

Kakashi put his finger in his mouth and put it on Naruto's forehead. It was hot. The next you know Kakashi picked up Naruto and threw him across the water. "That should cool him off."

Kakashi went back to Sasuke to whisper in his ear. "I know your problem, Sasuke. You can't hide it forever."

Sasuke looked at Kakashi like he's crazy or just plain weird. Sasuke turned to Sakura and she was continuing her sand castle. He went over to her and asked. "Hey, Sakura, can I help you?"

Sakura looked at Sasuke and smiled. "Sure."

Sasuke and Sakura enjoyed themselfs, building sand castles, and playing in the water. While they were playing, Naruto was still in the water, awake and was cooling down from the intense heat on his face. 'Now how did I get in the water?'

Sakura was getting water from the ocean until she saw something crawl out. Something or someone was covered with seaweed and it was in front of her.

"Aaaaahhhhhhhh!"

"Sakura?"

Sasuke got up and headed for the sound of her voice.

"Aaaaahhhhhhhh!"

Sasuke found Sakura, but she wasn't in danger. She was attacking Naruto, that got covered by seaweed, with the bucket and her fists of terror.

Sasuke walked over to Sakura and stopped her. She was confused for a minute, but when Sasuke took off the seaweed, there lay Naruto with bruises.

"Naruto! Naruto speak to me!" Sakura said while shaking Naruto by the shoulders. "Ugh... Sakura-chan stop shaking me..." he said finally. "Naruto!" she hugged him. Sasuke went over and hugged Sakura because jealously took over him again. Naruto fell back and was moaning to get out of the sun.

"Sasuke, can you help me get Naruto out of the sun? He looks bad." she asked. Sasuke nodded and helped Sakura put him under a beach umbrella to cool.

Sakura looked into her bag for sun lotion. When she finally found it, she put some on her hand and start smoothing it out on Naruto. Sasuke helped Sakura put it on Naruto as well. Then Sakura looked at Sasuke and smile.

'Even as rivals, they look out for each other, and protect me as well.' she thought. Sasuke looked up and saw Sakura smiling at him he blushed a little then returned to him work. 'Always the one with pride inside, to never admit he cared.'

Naruto groaned a little, this surprised Sakura. "Naruto..."

Naruto was still asleep. "Naruto."

Sakura had it. "WAKE UP NARUTO!"

Naruto woke up. "What is it! Is Orochimaru here! Is it the sound ninjas! Where are they! I'll tear them to shreds!"

"Idiot." Sasuke muttered. Sakura knocked some sense into his thick head by a good bang on the head. "Ow!"

"That should do it." Sakura said. "Better off leaving him running around for nothing."

"Oh..." Naruto felt dizzy. "I don't feel good..."

Sakura felt his forehead. It was hot again. "Naruto you got sunstroke. Sasuke can you tell Kakashi-sensei that he got's a fever?"

"How about you, Sakura? I'll stay here with Naruto." Sasuke said.

"Okay." she went off to find Kakashi.

"Sasuke... why did you want to stay?" Naruto asked, weakly.

"Because we need to talk. It's about Sakura..." he said. Naruto had a questioning look on his face.

Naruto sat up to hear what Sasuke had to talk about. "Okay, Sasuke, I'm all ears."

Sasuke put away the sun lotion in the basket. "I seen Sakura kissing you and it's irritating me."

Naruto just stare at Sasuke. Then he sighed. "I think Sakura wants somebody to understand her, that's what I'm thinking."

"If she wants somebody to love her she can have Lee."

"That's not the point!" Naruto snapped. "I think that all the past years she got hurt is coming back. She still has no one to help her misery go away."

"Then..." Sasuke was perplexed. "...if she has no one to help her what use does she have?"

Naruto was silent. He knew what would happen if Sakura didn't have a use in this village. 1. She would run away as a missing nin and never come back to the village ever again or 2. Sakura would kill herself so the pain will never continue.

"Can you ever see that..." he said. "...that she was still alone even though she acts cheerful."

Sasuke understand now. Sakura never was really happy, she was sad and painfully alone. Taking time to concentration on the training, she manage to defeat Kakashi, Iruka, and even Ino-pig for the fact.

Out from the view, Sakura and Kakashi were coming back from the other side of the beach. Sakura looked at Kakashi's mask. What's under that mask?

'I wonder what his face looks like? It's a mystery to me?' she thought, turning back to the water. 'I'm gonna miss this place more than ever. It's the first time I meet Sasuke.'

Sakura smiled at that memory. It was a great experience for her. Come to think of it, Sasuke was a lot nicer to her than ever. I guess he got use to her existence around him.

Flash back

"My ball! Give it back!" said a 8-year-old Sakura. "Wah!"

She was pushed to the sandy ground. Three boys were teasing on her. One had her ball and the other two kept her down.

"Let me go, let me go!" she said, out of frustration. "Hey, hold still you little pipsqueak!"

"Wahhhh! Ahhhh!"

The two boys threw Sakura over to the ocean and she landed with a splash.

"Ahhhh! Help me!" Sakura yelled over the water, but then she started sinking because she couldn't swim.

'Oh no... I can't breath... oh...'

Sakura lay on the sea floor, she was running out of air. Before she went unconscious, a boy swam toward her and picked her up to the surface.

Cough, cough, cough Sakura went ahead and spit out the water. The boy carried her out and set her down on the beach. "Are you all right?"

When Sakura was done, she answered back. "Yes, but... who are you?"

The boy introduced himself. "My name is Sasuke, and you?"

Sakura turned her head away from him, shyness gets the best of her. "M-my name is S-Sakura."

Then she stood up suddenly, realizing that she forgot something. "My ball! I need to get my ball back from those boys!"

Sakura ran to the place where the boys took her ball. When she got there, the boys were chatting with each other, but mostly about girls on the beach.

"So liked any girls on the beach, Kaiser?" said his friend, Kokajo. "I like the one with the red hair right there." he pointed a girl making a sand castle with her little sister.

"I think she's more focused with her little sister than you." said Kaiser.

"Will you just-" his friend, Lei, was interrupted. "You jerks! Give me back my ball!"

"Well, well. Look what we have here? It's little pinky." Kaiser said.

"You have something that I want back!" Sakura shouted. "Oh, you mean this!" Lei held out the beach ball. "My ball!"

"If you want it, come and get it." Kokajo said.

Sakura ran over to Kokajo only to get knocked down again. Kaiser and Lei held her arms down while she struggled to get free. "Let me go!"

"I don't think so. You're not going anywhere." Kokajo said. "We need to punish you."

Kokajo stepped on her stomach and she groaned. "The last time we met you a boy got rid of us with his fire ninjustu." Lei growled.

"But don't even think he's gonna save you this time." Kaiser said.

Kaiser and Lei pulled out a kunai knife and started piercing her arm. Sakura tried not to scream, but they pressured more until she screamed.

"Wahhhh!"

Suddenly, Lei and Kaiser were knock aside to land in the water. Sakura opened her eyes. In front of her, Sasuke was standing there.

"Sasuke..."

He turned around. "Yes?"

Sakura got up, but winced back from the pain in her arms. "Ugh..."

Sasuke faced Sakura now. "Are you okay?"

"Sasuke... behind you!"

Sasuke looked behind him and saw that Kokajo was about to punch him. Then Sasuke activate his Sharingan and dodged the attack. Then Kokajo gasped. "H-hey you're that guy!"

Sasuke just smirked. "So, you remembered me."

"Yeah, and this time, we've gotten stronger." Kokajo said. Then Kaiser and Lei jumped out of the water and threw shurikens at him.

"Sasuke!" Sakura cried.

Sasuke used his kunai knife to counter the thrown shurikens at him. After the last shuriken was down, Sasuke was tackled. "Oof...!"

Sasuke was pined down by Lei's dopple gangers. The real Lei was holding a kunai knife in his hand and pointed it near Sasuke's neak. "Ready to die, boy?"

"No, actually..."

Then Sasuke disappeared and Lei's dopple ganger went poof. Lei was surprised. "Where did he-?"

Then Lei was on the ground and kunai knife was near his neck. Sasuke was on top of him. "...but are you...?"

Kokajo and Kaiser was ready to help Lei, but Sasuke drew the kunai closer to his neck. "One false move and he dies."

Lei gulped. "P-please we'll do anything you say. Just don't kill me."

Sasuke put the kunai a little farther from his neck but it remain close to kill. "Anything?"

Another kid came by to see Sakura and her opened wounds and the fight.

"Anything, just don't kill Lei." Kaiser said. "We'll leave the girl alone."

Sasuke put away the kunai knife and deactivate his Sharingan. "Leave."

Then he got off Lei and he scrambled off to his friends. All three of them ran from him and he just stare.

"Sakura, are your wounds bleeding?" Sasuke ran over to check her wounds. "Unh! They hurt!" Sakura put a hand on her arm but touching it makes it worse.

Sasuke had concern in his eyes. "Sakura, touching the wounds just makes it worse!"

Sasuke ripped a part of his shirt and started to wrap it around her wounds. "This will do after we get back with our parents."

Sakura smiled. At least someone was there to help her. "Thank you for helping me..."

Sasuke looked up and smiled, but blushed from her smile in return. "Y-your welcome."

"Hey, Sasuke?"

"Hmm..."

"Do you wanna walk with me?"

"Sure."

Sakura started standing up, but fell back. Sasuke tried to help her, but she got up again. "It's okay. Just... a little wobbly, that's all."

Sakura and Sasuke walked together along the side of the beach. The waves crashed on itself popping bits of water on the two.

End flash back

'That's the day I remember. I can still remember the scars on my arms.' Sakura touched her arms. It's when Kaiser and Lei smeared their kunai on her arms.

Kakashi looked at Sakura. She had pain in her eyes. Kakashi looked guilty. Those scars remind him of his Sharingan eye.

Sakura looked at Kakashi. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi stopped dazing out and looked at Sakura. "What is it, Sakura?"

"What's under your mask anyway?"

"That, my friend, is for you to find out."

"Aw... hmph."

Soon Sasuke and Naruto were just a blur of yellow and black. "Hey, there's Sasuke-kun and Naruto! Come on, Kakashi-sensei!"

Sakura was running to them. As soon as she got there, Naruto was breathing harder and Sasuke was breathing harder too. "Sasuke-kun, Naruto, what happen to you guys?"

Sakura felt their foreheads. Sunstroke. They have sunstroke. "Kakashi-sensei! We got to get them out of the sun right now!"

Kakashi carried Sasuke while Sakura carried Naruto. 'Don't worry you guys... we'll cool you off in a moment.'

"Kakashi-sensei! Can you transport us back to the village?" Sakura asked. "I'll try." he answered back. Kakashi assumed the position and summon the chakra that was needed.Then they disappeared in a poof.

In Hidden Leaf Village...

Sakura and Kakashi put down Sasuke and Naruto inside the cool stream. To keep them from floating away or drowning, Sakura had to wear her bathing suit in the water.

"Ah... ah... ah.." from the intense heat, the cool water was refreshing. Soon, it was Sasuke and Naruto's turn. Kakashi had to strip them into their bathing suits in order to get in. Sakura hold on to Naruto's body so he can cool in the water. With cautious care, she manage to get Naruto in the water without his face in the water. Next, it was Sasuke's turn. Before he was in the water he manage to come around.

"Uh..." Then his eyes opened completely. He tried to move, but he was weak and drained from sunstroke.

"Sasuke-kun, relax. The cooling water will absorb the sunstroke inside you." Sakura said.

Sasuke relaxed his body. Kakashi let him down, gently, to Sakura. As soon as Sakura touched him, the blood was rushing to his face. The water felt cool, refreshing, and his strength was returning to him.

"Ahh..." Sasuke said. "Uhh... what th-" Naruto was waking up from the sunstroke. "Naruto! Are you okay?" Sakura asked.

Naruto rubbed his head. "What happen to me?"

"Naruto, you got sunstroke and so did Sasuke."

Sasuke scoot closer to Sakura. "How did I get involved with this?"

Sakura turned to Sasuke to only find his face close to her's. "Um... you must not have sun screen on you."

Sasuke back away, grabbed a hand full of water, and splashed it onto his face. "A good reason for me."

Naruto dive into the water and explored the underwater floor. Sakura took a deep breath and dived in as well. Sasuke just hang out on the surface for a while then dived in as well.

Team 7 was in the water, being carried from the current. Sakura had a hard time with the current. She can barely handle it. Soon she was being carried off, holding in her breath.

"Sakura!" Naruto and Sasuke said at the same time, but hold in their breath. They swam toward her, but the current keep her from being rescued.

'Naruto! Sasuke-kun!'

Naruto and Sasuke came up to the surface for air. "Sakura!"

Kakashi came over to them. "What happen to Sakura?"

Naruto took another deep breath and went in again while Sasuke climbed out of the water and explained the situation. Kakashi stayed calm. "So, Sakura was carried off by the current."

Sasuke remand calm also, but inside he was panicking. "Where can she be going? We need to find her fast!"

Naruto popped up from the water. "I can't find Sakura-chan!"

He jumped out of the water and shook the water from his body like a dog. "What if she gets killed! What if she's held captive!"

Sasuke knocked the sense back to him by punching his face. "Calm down, dobe! She couldn't have gotten far. We just need to at least sense her chakra to find her."

"Sasuke's right. We just need a trace of her chakra to find her. But what?" Kakashi said.

Naruto rubbed his face from the punch then he got an idea. "Hey, I know who!"

Sasuke and Kakashi looked at Naruto strangely.

Somewhere in the forest...

Sakura's body was floating along the stream. She was still unconscious from lack of oxygen.

A boy came out his house to chop some wood for his fire place. He saw Sakura's figure floating by in the stream. He put down his ax and went in the water to catch her.

'Poor girl...'

The boy carefully lift her up and carried her into his house. He dried Sakura's body and put his younger sister's old clothes on her. When that was done he started making a meal for her and himself.

One hour later...

"Uhh..."

Sakura started waking up. She rubbed her forehead. "Where... I'm I?"

"Oh, your awake! Glad to see you're okay." he turned around with her meal. "You were floating down the stream, unconscious."

He handed the meal to her and she took it. "Thank you."

Sakura begin to eat her food. She took a bite from the meat and it tasted delicious. "Mmm... this is good! What's in it?"

Sakura took in another bite and he answered. "Herbs, spice, and bits of fish."

Sakura almost choked on what's she was eating. "I'm sorry! What did you say!"

"Herbs, spice, and bits of fish?"

"Oh, never mind then."

He smile. "So, who are you?"

Sakura smiled. "My name is Sakura. What's yours?"

"Well, Sakura, my name is Kite."

Sakura can see why he was named Kite. He had semi long green hair all the way to his chin. He has one red upside down triangle on each cheek. A pilot-like-hat was on his head so a part of his bangs covered his sides and forehead. He wore a hunter-like-clothes with gloves and a strange bracelet attached to him.

Sakura looked at the bracelet for mere curiosity. It had strange language written on it. It gave off a glint shine causing Sakura to rub her eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kite asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." she answered back.

Sakura looked at the bracelet again. 'There's something strange about that bracelet...'

"I need to find out what the language is." Sakura whispered.

Then, feeling uncomfortable in both swim suit and clothes, she went to the bathroom to get out of it. Arriving much comfortable, she walked out the front door for fresh breath and picking medical herbs in the forest.

"Mmm.." she was smelling a blue flower. "I wish Naruto and Sasuke-kun was here."

Realizing that she was lost in a unidentified forest, separated from her teammates, being carried off by the current, and now staying with a bracelet wearing guy named Kite! This was not good.

Remaining calm, she decided to stay and wait for her friends to find her. A bunch herbs were in a small clearing, making a circle of luscious, smooth outline. It looked like a gathering place for monks or spirits to find their nature. Sakura picked up her basket of herbs and went over to the spiritual place.

Getting closer to the clearing, she spotted a red outline inside the circle. She took a closer look at the red outline and it was fresh blood. Following the line there was a bit of space left before it was complete. More strange than ever.

Behind the almost completed circle was a sheet of paper. Sakura looked at the paper that was on the tree and read it. It said:

1. Complete the blood ritual circle

2. Stand in the middle and assume the position

3. Chant the words

"Resurrection my intention. Take my life and live completion. Gory blood. Spirit come. Arise!"

4. Place a small amount of blood in palm and slap it on the ground.

There it ended with a blank. What did it mean? Who was need of revival? This was confusing. Like it said, Sakura bit her finger and completed the bloody circle. Then, she stood in the middle, assumed the position with a blur of hand signs, and chant the words.

"Resurrection my intention. Take my life and live completion. Gory blood. Spirit come. Arise!"

Sakura placed her blood in her palm and slapped it down on the ground. Then the red blood was glowing around her and it was forming into a white ball that engulfed her.

Soon all that was left of her was the basket and the blue flower.

On the other side of the training grounds...

Naruto was ahead of Sasuke and Kakashi, leaping through the trees. "I know he's here somewhere."

"Who are we looking for, Naruto?" Sasuke asked. "The only dog we can find in this world." he replied. Sasuke and Kakashi almost tripped and fell on the ground from hearing that.

"A dog!"

"That's what we're looking for!"

"That's not what I meant!" Naruto yelled. "I meant Kiba and Akamaru!"

"Oh..."

Naruto turned his back to the front. "Bakas!"

He was so distracted from tell them that he didn't notice the trunk. Naruto's back made contact with the trunk of the tree and he slid down, groaning from the pain in his back. Sasuke looked at him and smirked. "Now who's the baka, eh?"

Naruto looked up to Sasuke. "Shut up, Sasuke."

Sasuke lifted up Naruto up. "Thanks." he said. Naruto started leaping up through the trees, but he added a little more chakra for more speed. "Hurry, there's no time to waste."

Sasuke and Kakashi added more speed to there pace. Through the trees, Kakashi spotted a periwinkle figure walking with a white pooch beside it. "Akamaru?"

"What?"

"Naruto, Sasuke, there's Kiba and Akamaru!"

Kakashi turned around and jumped in front of Kiba and Akamaru. "Hello, Kiba..." Akamaru barked. "You too, Akamaru."

Sasuke and Naruto landed behind him. Naruto picked up Akamaru and started cuddling it. "Kiba we need you and Akamaru's help."

Kiba had a puzzled look. "Why?"

Sasuke told Kiba everything there is to need. Kiba scratch his neck. "So, Sakura's gone missing and you want me to track her."

"Yes." Naruto said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Sure, sure?"

Naruto had it. "YES! FOR THE LAST STINKEN TIME, YES!"

"Okay, Just chill man!"

"First we need a personal item from her."

Sasuke held out a red ribbon. "Will this do?"

Naruto put down Akamaru and asked. "Where did you get that?"

He looked away, fearing that the blush would give too much of an hint. "Sakura gave it to me."

Naruto had a teasing look on his face with a evil smirk. "You like Sakura, don't you?"

The blush was gone and Sasuke was a bit angry. "No! It's just... Sakura gave it to me because she didn't need it anymore."

Naruto calmed down, but still smirked. "Yeah, right."

"Enough, Naruto. We got what we want." Kakashi retrieved the red ribbon from Sasuke and handed it to Kiba.

Kiba lowered the ribbon in front of Akamaru. "Okay, boy, find Sakura."

Akamaru sniffed the red ribbon. "Arf! Bark bark!"

Akamaru sniffed the ground once or twice then he zoomed off. Kiba ran off too. "Come on! Akamaru's got a scent!"

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi followed Kiba and Akamaru.

'Sakura, wherever you are, I'll find you. Just wait for us.'

In a strange place...

Sakura was blinded from the white light. 'What's happening to me?'

She was traveling somewhere. She can feel it moving below her feet. Sunddenly it came to a complete stop. Sakura fell forward because of that. The light faded and she opened her eyes again.

The place was filled with sunny skies, lushes green grass, and fountains of soda.

Cherry blossom trees and mini ponds were there to comfort monks. The place was vivid with the scent. To Sakura, there was something strange about this place. There was a sign there next to a tree.

Stumbling, Sakura manage to stop in front of it.

It said:

Welcome to the Spirit World!

Sakura just stood there. Did she kick the bucket? Did she bite the big biscuit? Did she buy the pine condo? Is she taking the dirt nap?

"Waaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"

Sakura was running around in circles, panicking. How did she end up dead! Wait, if she was dead, why does she still have flesh and bones? She pinched herself and it hurt. Sakura rubbed her arm while she was reading the rest of the sign. At the bottom it also said:

Quotes and Memories

"Friends never say goodbye."

"Even at death the heart lives on."

What was that suppose to mean? Sakura looked around the place. It might have a beautiful view, but where are the spirits?

Luckily, there was a monk under a plum blossom tree, meditating. Sakura walked over to him. "Excuse me, but where am I?"

The monk didn't look up or even open his eyes at all. "Well, you're in the Spirit World. This is a magical place where people and spirits can meet."

"Well can you tell me where I can find a library?"

The monk opened his eyes now. "It is over there." he pointed to a building that was completely different than the others in Konoha. "There, you will find what you need."

Sakura walked over to the building, but she forgot to thank the monk. "By the way, I wanted to-"

The monk was gone. Only a blob of white was there, hovering over the pond's water until it sank in it. Sakura shivered.

Crazy. She must be going crazy. This world is just a dream. It's a dream. Or is it?

'Snap out of it, Sakura! This isn't real! All I need to know is to figure out the language to that bracelet and then get out of here!'

Sakura pushed open the door. A giant library. With a restaurant in it! This is definably weird.

Wandering aimlessly through shelves of mountains of books, Sakura got no luck. I mean who can ever find a book that has a million books waiting to be read!

Getting out of the maze, she went to the check out counter for help. "Hello? Is anybody here?"

"Yes?"

Sakura jumped. A woman looked over the counter. "How may I help you?"

The woman walked by the counter and appear in front of her. She was a small woman, like, 3 feet tall to be precise.

"Yes, I'm looking for a language book that has to do with a golden bracelet. Do you know where I can find it?"

The woman pointed to a stances with a huge open book that looks like a dictionary. "That book can tell you everything. Just look up Golden Bracelet and if you find it just press the text and you'll get it."

"Thank you!"

"Shhhh! Be quiet! You're in a library!"

"Sorry!"

Sakura walked over to the stance where the book was held. The book wasn't just a book it was also a computer. She typed in the word Language and the books that contain any language came a float to her.

She can be a little more specific. She typed in Golden Bracelet and most of the books disappeared into the shelves except for a blue and gold booklet. On the cover it said The history of the Golden Bracelet

Sakura grab the book from mid air and took a seat on a table.

'The Golden Bracelet... what mysteries can be inside it?' she opened the book and began to read it. The language was in different and strange. The book was read by this:

"Power of the bracelet from the glow,

take thy power and let it flow.

Strange magic of Kai Kento,

less beware the evil glow."

It didn't make sense at first because the passage was strange of simple rhymes.

"Strange magic of Kai Kento? What does that mean?" Sakura wondered. What is a Kai Kento and what strange magic did it mean?

Sakura flipped the pages how the Golden Bracelet was found.

In 2061 a golden bracelet was founded in a coal mine. The golden bracelet was in a strange language that no one understood, it held secrets within it. I, Hojo Takemina, discovered it secrets. Taking the bracelet with me I found out it was dangerous. Putting it on the wrist can release a power called "Data Drain." This so called "Data Drain" can suck the data of anything it hits.

This bracelet was a magical kind. This can also teleport people into a place where strong monsters roam the planet. The place was called Midnight Castle. I've been almost killed by a strange circle that transform into a monster itself. There are other place I have not been.

Realizing that the bracelet can lead into the wrong hands, I buried it in a cave that people called it Kei Kyoto which was related with Kai Kento. It was left there for a 1,000 years until a small child claimed it.

Sakura closed the book. The bracelet was left in Kei Kyoto for a 1,000 years. But how did it have no rust on it's shell?

She put it away in mid air again and it put itself away. "Now I know what the bracelet work and what it said, but I need a way to get out of Spirit World."

Sakura typed in A way to get out of Spirit World. Another book came out and it's color was white and black. Yin and Yang that is. She took the book and started reading it. This place was most magical itself, what did it held, and why was it not discovered in Konoha?

In the unidentified forest...

Kiba and Akamaru stopped at a river near Kite's house. "Sakura's scent stops here."

Sasuke looked in the water. Could she have died? He shook his head. Don't even think about that! "Kiba are you sure that Sakura's scent stops here?"

"Positive."

Naruto and Kakashi landed behind Kiba. "Where could she have gone?"

Sasuke searched around the forest while Naruto, Kakashi, Kiba, and Akamaru knocked the door.

The door opened all the way and Kite was there to answer. "Hello, are you looking for somewhere to stay?"

"No, do you happen to see a girl with pink hair floating by in this region?" asked Naruto.

"Why yes, I have seen her. I took her in because she was lost in this forest."

"Where is she now?" Kiba asked. "She went in the forest to gather herbs. I suspect that she will get back for lunch." Kite pointed to the clearing. "Thank you." Kakashi said.

They left for the forest where Sasuke had gone to.

With Sasuke...

Sasuke was in the dense forest looking for Sakura. 'This place is small. How can Sakura get lost in here?'

Sasuke spotted a small clearing. The clearing was scorched like a fireball or a battle was there. He walked over to it and picked up a sample of the ashes. "It's still warm."

Judging by the ashes, it was here this afternoon. Sasuke spotted a little red smear beneath the ashes. He swept the ashes apart and it was a red line. Curious than ever, he blew the dust away and it reveled a red circle. There, in the middle, where he stand, was droplets of blood.

'Don't tell me...'

From the looks of it, Sakura was dead. Death. Death was a cruel faith. But this, this was even more cruel.

"Sakura..."

Sasuke's fists made contact with the ground. "Sakura, why?"

He didn't understand. This didn't make sense. Finally, he looked up. A basket and a blue shattered flower was slightly scorched. Inside the basket, there was medical herbs. Also inside, was a piece of paper. Sasuke picked up the paper and read it. 'Take my life and live completion? Did she use a spell to revive a spirit?'

Sasuke looked around. No blob of white here. There should be a person in this dense forest, but there wasn't. Reading the paper again, he did the bloody ritual. He did the chant, bit his thumb, and slapped it on the ground. The same thing happened to Sasuke, a ball of white appeared, engulfed him, and transport him. The red ribbon he was holding was on the ground, a little burnt and on top of the blue flower.

Sasuke was a little blinded by the light. Something was taking him somewhere, somewhere he least expected. By the time he realized that it stopped, he manage to stay standing. The white ball disappeared and he landed on the ground nicely. But it felt smooth and slippery like a ice rink. 'Where... am I?'

A monk passed by him and answered. "You're in the Spirit World young man."

Sasuke froze. How did he end up dead? And did that monk just read his mind like a book? This can't be! He won't get revenge on Itachi because he's dead! But why isn't he a blob of white?

That same monk was by him again. "So many questions can be answered by her over there." he lifted his bony finger up to a young girl.

Sasuke looked at the direction of where he's pointing to. That woman looks a lot like Sakura. Then he slapped his forehead. That is Sakura playing with the younger children! He thanked the monk and ran towards her.

"Aha ha ha ha!" said a young girl. She was being tickled by Sakura. "Heh heh hehe..."

"Had enough, Keiko?" she asked. "Yes." Keiko said.

"Sakura!"

"Huh?"

Sakura looked behind her and it was Sasuke. She gasped. How did he get here? How? And why? Sakura started running carrying Keiko on her back. She didn't want to go back now!

Sasuke was confused. Sakura stood there with a girl and then she started running off with her? What's that all about? 'Something isn't right here. I can feel it.'

"Sakura wait!"

It's no use. She's gone. He stopped running also. Why is she running away from him? Did he do something wrong? Whatever this place is, it's not from anywhere he have been.

With Naruto...

Being separated from his friend from a blow by a figure hidden in the shadows, Naruto had no choice but to fight back as well. Naruto set up the kunai trap that Sasuke did before (Episode 5), and waited for his opponent to come. The person came and already started making contact with him. Naruto punched and kicked until he swayed a little.

The figure hold up it's arm and aimed at Naruto. "Data Drain!" the bracelet glowed and shot a yellow stream of light. Naruto dodged it and aimed for it again. It also dodged and landed backwards, awkwardly. It looks like it's not a very good ninja or not one at all. Naruto and the hidden figure look at each other. "Who are you?"

It said nothing. It just stayed there, watching Naruto's every move. "All right, have it your way!" Naruto threw a kunai knife at the tight rope to active his trap. Kunai and shurikens were aimed at that spot where it was. All it needs to do is dodge it and-

"Huh?" Naruto said, confused. It held up it's arm again. "Data Drain!" that yellow stream of light touched the weapons and was reduced to sticks and rocks. Naruto took action. He got behind it after it was done draining his attacks. Naruto put it in a headlock. "Okay, who are you and why are you attacking my friends and where did Sakura and Sasuke went!"

The figure didn't answered. Naruto tighten his grip more. "I'll ask you one more time, who are you!"

Still it didn't answered. He looked at the figure more closely. Then he let go of it. He was fighting a already dead corpse. 'The Shikon no justu! I was fighting a dead person!'

Naruto let go of the corpse and it fell on the ground with a thud. "Darn it! That means that he got away! I just hope Kiba can handle him..."

Naruto jumped through the trees looking around for Sasuke and Sakura. "Sasuke-teme! Sakura-chan! Where are you guys!"

Kiba and Akamaru...

Kiba and Akamaru was surrounded. Five doppel gangers were ready to claw and slash him with kunai knifes. "Akamaru, let's do it!"

Akamaru responded by hopping on Kiba's back. "Woof! Woof!" (Ninja art of human mimicry!)

"Jujin bushin no justu!" Kiba cried out. Akamaru turned into a replicate of Kiba.

Kiba and Akamaru went for the doppel gangers. "Shikyaku no justu!" (Down on all fours technique!) Kiba and Akamaru defeated most of the doppel gangers, but one was left standing.

Kiba and Akamaru did their finally attack. "Take this! Man-Beast ultimate Taijustu!" They turned into twirling hurricanes. "Gatsuuga! Fang over fang!" the doppel ganger disappeared and Akamaru turned back to his original self. "Woof, woof!"

"What is it, Akamaru?" Kiba asked. "Arf, woof, woof!" he said. "What do you mean? Is it possible that he-" that was all Kiba had to say before he collapsed suddenly. Akamaru stayed at Kiba's side, whining and barking for his master to get up.

Kakashi...

Well there's nothing to tell about him because he was just laying in a tree, reading his Come-Come-Paradise booklet. That's all I can say.

Kite...

Kite ran back to his house from out of the forest. "I need to avoid that kid and that mutt."

Kite changed his clothes and gathered up his medical kit. "From all that research I gathered, it should be a chinch. But from that Naruto kid... He has more power than I do."

'I'll have to trap him, but he needs to get rid of all his weapons before he gets trapped.'

Kite smirked. The dog boy, almost a simple toy to play with. Powerful, yet stupid. He can have a little more fun with him, but first that fox boy.

In the Spirit World...

Sasuke was researching a justu to get out of this world. Before he got here in the library he wanted to learn more Fire Justus in the ancient books of Kanton.

He stopped a while to clear his head for a second. 'Sakura's acting strange. And this place is even more strange. What have could have caused Sakura to act this way?'

Turning to the other end of the page of the history book there he saw a history about her ancestor, Sakura Kenko. But they look alike! Sasuke didn't know which one is Sakura. The ancestor or herself. There was three paragraphs about her. It said...

"It was 1,000 years ago that the great nation was at war. The Sound and the Sand were taking over the nation far and wide. A goddess named, Sakura appeared in the Fire nation with powers unimaginable to the eye. She was an orphan when she was a child. The people don't take children with strange things in mind. At age of 16, she hone her powers.

"The Sound and the Sand was planning to attack the Fire nation with a thousand men. Sakura stood alone to protect her people from this blood thirsty kill. She used her powers to attack the army of thousands. The power was a mere punch on the ground causing a giant earthquake to split the world apart. But a soldier with an arrow in his bow launched at Sakura and she was killed instantly. She was buried at age 17.

"There was a legend that the name by "Sakura" can posses one of the powers to make the world a better place. The powers only activate when the person has a strong will or emotion to unleash it."

Sasuke closed the book. Sakura? With that kind of power? No way. Does she know that a power is inside her? Sasuke put away the book and ran out of the library. 'I need to take Sakura out of this place before we both could end up stuck here forever!'

Sakura was stopping at the pool. Carrying a young girl on your back while running 2 ½ hours. She put down Keiko and she changed into her swimsuit. Sakura may have like this place more than ever, but it's still weird. "How come you're in a swimsuit, Keiko?"

"Because I want to go swimming. Wanna join me?"

"Sure, but I need a swimsuit first."

"No problem."

Keiko waved her finger at Sakura and a circle was made around her feet. "Ta da!"

The circle was lifted up and a swimsuit was on her. "Wow..."

"Do you like it?"

"I love it!"

Both Sakura and Keiko went in the entrance and jumped into the pool. The water was nice and cool. Other people and even the monks we're hanging out in the pool and the hot tub.

"Whee! This is fun, Sakura!" Keiko was being pulled by her on a water board. "Wheeeeeeeee!"

Then somebody splashed Sakura and she splutter it out. "Hey! Who's the wise guy!"

All the monks that were in the hot tub pointed themselfs. Sakura sighed. "I meant who splashed me!"

Then they pointed to a guy with long purple hair with purple eyes, drying off. Sakura got out of the water and went over to him. "Hey, are you the one that splashed me?"

He turned around and Sakura blushed. "Yes, and I'm sorry."

Sakura turned her head, still the blush went on. "N-no it's okay. I needed a little cooling after that."

He smiled. "Say, wants your name?"

"Sakura."

"What a pretty name."

"T-thank you."

"Say, what if I take you to dinner as an apology. What do you say?" he took her hand in his. "W-well I don't know..." she stuttered.

"By the way, my name is Akuma Kokoro."

"Can I take Keiko home first, then I'll go with you."

"Sure."

Taking Keiko by the hand, she walked her home. Keiko changed back into her clothes again and she changed Sakura's also except more like a flirt type of girl. "Keiko, did you wanted me to have a great time with Akuma?"

She giggled. "Of course! That's why I made you look good! Also you're the best big sister I ever had!"

"Oh, Keiko!" Sakura hugged her. "Thank you!"

"Your welcome! Now hurry! You don't want to be late for your date."

"It's not a date!"

Sakura hurried over to where the monks were. No body there. Good. She sat herself by the pond and under the tree, feeding the medium sized fishes. She threw bread crumbs in the water, waiting for him to come.

"I think I came too early. Yawn! I guess I'll take a nap until he arrives."

Sakura threw in the rest of the crumbs and leaned back to sleep. "Zzz... Zzz..."

Akuma was walking out of his house. He was wearing a Navy blue shirt with black short pants. He was taking his time until a boy his age bumped into him. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Hn..." he said. He got up and went ahead. Akuma dust the dirt off. "What a strange kid."

Sasuke saw that purpled haired kid. He's a little to handsome for Ino so he's going for... Sasuke gritted his teeth. For Sakura. When he got out of eyeshot he transformed in Akuma. He saw Sakura sleeping against the tree. No power exposed, yet.

Sasuke was planning to carry Sakura out of here, but he decided against it. The shade was relaxing. Sasuke went back to himself again and looked at her. That silky pink hair that's soft to touch. Those bright, lushly green eyes. And last, that cheery smile she gives to him with those plump lips.

Sasuke shook his head. 'Get that out of your mind, Sasuke! This is no time to get a loving feeling!'

He looked at Sakura again and closed his eyes. 'There is no way that I can fall in love with Sakura. This can be her ancestor!'

He opened his eyes. "Or it's really her..."

He leaned into her. 'One way to find out.'

Their noses touch, but Sasuke opened his eyes for a second. "Sakura..."

Her eyes twitched a bit then they opened barely. "Sasuke-kun...?"

She had no time to react. Sasuke just put his lips on hers, slightly for a second, then stopped. "You are defiantly Sakura."

Sakura had a confused face with a pink blush on her cheeks. "Defiantly me? Is there another Sakura?"

"Well I don't know. You have an ancestor name, Sakura and I couldn't tell who's who so I had to find out." he turned his back at her because of the blush.

Sakura crawled over to where Sasuke is and whispered in his ear. "So you had to kiss me to find out if I'm her descendent or Sakura, herself."

Sasuke turned his head more so she can't see his blush redden even more. "W-what choice do I have? I need to know."

Sakura snuggled onto Sasuke, making him more uncomfortable with this feeling. "Purr..."

"W-what are you doing?"

"Giving you a little attention."

Sasuke looked at Sakura now. She kissed his cheek when he turned his head. He tried to ignore the feeling swilling inside of him. That feeling went away when Akuma stepped into the area. "Hmm...!"

"Oh, hi Akuma, I didn't see you there."

"Well... It looks like you two are a little busy so I'll leave."

He walked away with the mist covering his tracks. "Akuma!"

Sakura got up as well, but was left standing there. "Akuma..." She left Sasuke with the mist dragging along her tracks.

"Sakura...?"

Another figure came by in the mist. It had Sakura's figure. Sasuke stood up. "Sakura?"

"Yes, my name is Sakura, but not the one you know." Her whole frame showed. She looked exactly like Sakura, but the dress was a light blue kimono and her eyes...

Her eyes were red. Like the Sharingan. "My name is Sakura Kenko. I see you're surprised, don't be, I won't hurt you."

"Who said that you'll hurt me?"

"I did."

"Well you're not."

Sakura sighed. "You kind of remind me of my husband, Sasuke Uchiha."

"Sasuke Uchiha, huh? That's my name." he said.

"Y-you're his descendant!" She was shocked for the moment then calm down. "Come here, child."

"No way!"

"I said come here!"

She lifted her index finger and motion it her way. Soon, Sasuke was being pulled by a forceful tug on his shirt. "What the-!"

The next thing happened, he was right in front of her eye to eye. Sakura looked into his eyes. "You have the same beauty and eyes as him."

"So?"

Her eyes glowed at him. "Stay away from Sakura! She needs someone better than you. Or I'll kill you!"

He activated his Sharingans. "That is no threat I'm afraid of!"

She let him go. "You even have his stubborn personality to clash with. Interesting."

"Okay, why do you keep talking about him? What happen to him?" he said.

"Come. I'll show you." She used her powers on him. She placed her hand on Sasuke's forehead and all the memories flushed into his head.

1,000 years ago... (Sakura: age 7. Sasuke: age 7.)

Sakura was walking through the over crowded streets in her torn clothes. She had tears in her eyes. Even if she was a goddess she's now a mortal girl. An orphan to be precis. Only soft muffles had come through her mouth. She wiped the water falling from her eyes. It's been one week since she's been here. Sooner or later she'll die. She only sat on a bridge's railing covered by winter's snow. She was shivering. "Brr..."

The cold was numbing her. Soon, she fell asleep from the numbing cold. A kid with his parent walked on the bridge until he saw Sakura. He let go of his mother's hand and shook picked her up. "Wake up. You can't fall asleep in the snow. Wake up!"

Sakura didn't wake up. She's out cold. "Mom! This girl is not waking up! Hurry! Let's take her home with us!"

"Alright, sweetie. Let's get her out of the cold." She wrapped her jacket around Sakura

In the Uchiha mansion...

"Mommy, can I put her here?"

"Sure, but be careful not to burn her."

"Okay, mommy!"

Sasuke put Sakura down near the fire with him. He wants to warm up also. He also put a blanket on her for extra warmth. Sakura's eyes lifted slowly. "Ugh..."

"Finally! You're awake!"

Sakura stood up with her hand on her head. "Ugh... Where... Where am I?"

"In my house. Are you feeling better?"

Sakura jerked to her right. "Who... who are you?"

"Sasuke Uchiha. And you?"

"Sakura Kenko."

"Sakura, how did you end up in the snow?"

"I... I'm an orphan."

Sasuke reached out to her. She closed her eyes, tightly for the impact, but he only picked up the blanket that fell from her shoulders and put it back on.She opened her eyes again. "Tell me, Sasuke, how come you saved me?"

His mother handed them a cup of cocoa and they took it. Sasuke took a sip before he talked. "Well, my mother is soft hearted for poor people and I guess I got it from her."

She smiled. Then she took a sip of her cocoa. It warmed her heart. "Thank you..."

Sakura folded the blanket and finished the rest of her drink. "Thank you, Sasuke, but I have to leave."

"What!"

"Good bye."

Sakura was about to run out the door. "And just where do you think you're going?"

She turned around only to find Sasuke's mom blocking the door. "Going outside to leave."

She waggled her finger. "Oh no you don't! You're going to stay with us until we find you a new home!"

"But...!"

"I don't want a poor child wandering around the streets to die."

"Thank you."

Sasuke got up and walked over to Sakura and his mother. "Sasuke, I want you to take Sakura upstairs to her room..."

"Come on, Sakura."

"Okay!"

"And, Sasuke..."

"Take care of her."

Sasuke smiled. He took Sakura's hand and lead her into her new room.

Suddenly, his brother, Itachi, came downstairs. Sakura kept her eyes on Itachi while he was whispering something in Sasuke's ear.

"No she's not!"

Sakura looked at Sasuke. "I'm not what?"

Sasuke calmed down and just kept silent. They climbed the stairs and went past a room. Itachi's that is. They went in Sasuke's room. His room had two rooms. One is his and the other is Sakura's new room.

Sakura went inside her new room. "Wow..."

Sasuke stood by the doorway. "Like it? She always wanted a daughter of her own."

Sakura hugged Sasuke. "Thank you, Sasuke! Thank you!"

He returned the embrace. "You're welcome."

Sasuke left and shut the door. Sakura jumped on the bed and fell asleep. 'I found my place, grandfather. I found it at last.'

5 years later...

"Ha!"

Sakura's punch knocked down the tree down. The 12 year old Sakura was training in the woods. Sasuke was kept home so he helped his mother.

"Now that I'm done with the trees, time for healing." she took a break so to heal the splinters in her wounds. She looked at the sun and it was going down. "Better get home."

Sasuke and his mother haven't found a place she can call her own, so they let her stay for today then tomorrow she would have to leave in the afternoon.

"I'm home! Gasp!"

Sakura dropped her bag. "W-w-what happen here!"

Sasuke was looking over his parents. He just sat there, staring at their dead bodies. "Mother, father..."

"Sasuke... what happened...?"

"Go away!"

Sakura touched his shoulder and he took a kunai out. "Stay away from me!"

She got up and ran away as far as she could. Blinded by the tears in her eyes, she found a place to call her own.

4 years later on...

Sixteen. She's now 16 years old. Sasuke should have calm down by now.

"What a day!"

She was tired from training in the morning to night. She made onigiri and ate it.

She went to bed at the stroke of 8. By the time it was 12 in the morning. She had to have a glass of water. She poured a glass and watched a little t.v.

Then her door smashed open and Sasuke was standing out in the rain, covered in blood. Sakura was still in her night gown even though he was covered in blood he blushed. "Sakura..."

"Sasuke...!"

Oi! This is only half of the story! The last half is at end! Thanks for reading! Navy blossom