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When Sakura is seven, a girl tells her to never be ashamed of herself. And when Ino pulls her hair back with that scarlet ribbon, she makes a promise to never hide herself from the world again.
When Sakura is twelve, her father gives her a present at her graduation. It is an elaborate kimono, blue with pink cherry blossoms cascading down the silk, and she falls in love with it right there. When she gets home, her mother ties the obi for her and tells her that she's never been prouder.
When Sakura is seven, she watches a young boy through enamored green eyes. He's quiet and stern, with perfect pale features, and she knows that the other girls like to watch him too. And Sakura tells herself that one day, she'll be the one who Sasuke loves.
When Sakura is twelve, both of her boys leave her. Sasuke leaves to fulfill a vow to himself, and Naruto leaves to fulfill a vow to Sakura. When they're gone she has her first solo mission, and the realization that there is no longer a Team 7 turns her stomach.
When Sakura is seven, she has big dreams. She dreams of an embrace in Sasuke's arms, a Naruto who's quiet and doesn't interrupt class, and a Sakura who's strong and sure of herself.
When Sakura is twelve, she gets these things. But Sasuke's affectionate goodbye isn't how she'd imagined it, and Naruto's silence leaves her wanting, and when Sakura runs her fingers through short, pink locks she thinks that maybe she's not all that sure of herself after all.
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"When alone at last we'd count up all the chances that were lost to us forever."