There was no way to run away. Of that Sakura was certain – she was too slow in her current form, no matter a minor chakra enhancement. Her chakra wasn't developed enough, and neither was she. Slowly, she backed away, heart racing when she bumped into a tree. Cornered with a tree at her back. Sakura scowled, heart racing as the wolf growled, saliva dripping down from its sharp teeth. If those got a hold of her, she was done for.

But how was she supposed to get away?

It stepped towards her then, growling all the while, and Sakura lifted her fists. "Come on, then," she hissed, fear and adrenaline surging. As if in answer, the wolf surged forwards, and Sakura almost swore. Chakra flooded down towards her feet as she leapt up, eyes widening when she found herself crouched on the tree trunk, chakra sticking her feet to the tree almost instinctively. "That"—she breathed—"was close…"

Sickly yellow eyes looked upwards, and Sakura shivered as the wolf stared up at her, chills racing down her spine – and suddenly she was acutely aware of how quickly her chakra was draining as she stuck her feet to the tree. She needed to move over to the branch and wait… Pink hair framed her face as she stared down, feet unmoving as fear gripped at her.

She had survived Uchiha Madara, and she had only died at the hands of a so-called goddess – those were so much greater than a stupid little wolf. Chakra thrummed as if in answer, and she started channelling it to her fists, ready to punch the wolf into oblivion. She could do it. It would be enough – it had to be. Or she could stay up in the tree where it was safe… Either way she needed to move.

How long was she going to hide? the sly voice in the back of her head whispered. How much longer was she going to stare at their backs?

She tore her eyes away from the beast, trying to pull herself away from the fear – and it was then that she saw it. A snow white rabbit. The same she had seen earlier. Pale purple eyes bore into her head, and Sakura squinted at the sight of the rabbit in the tree. What was it doing there? Rabbits couldn't climb. Rabbits weren't supposed to be staring at her from trees. It was downright creepy.

A growl made her glance down, and she shook herself – ridding herself of the unnecessary thoughts as she focused on the real threat.

She needed to defeat it.

Move forwards.

Her lips pulled back, baring her teeth in a snarl as she relinquished her chakra's grip on the tree, gravity taking a hold as she fell. White surged in her belly, and Sakura found herself forced to abandon her plan to punch the enemy in front of her as the odd white chakra grabbed a hold of the blue, yanking it down to her legs. But she was a shinobi through and through, and they adjusted to each battle situation. Flipping, she brought her leg down, foot instead of fist slamming down into the brown furred mass, a crack rending the air as her foot tore through bone. "Shannaro!" Sakura hissed, grinning at the whimper and yelp which sounded from the beast underneath her. "How'd you like that?" she muttered, relief seeping through her as yellow eyes glazed over in death. Her legs wobbled, and she wanted to sit down and relax. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and she felt exhaustion sweeping through her as the adrenaline faded.

But she needed to hurry back. Her chakra was down to maybe a third of what she'd had originally upon entering the forest, and she didn't know if there were more wolves—

Rustling in the bushes made her stomach drop to her toes. Internally, she cursed the universe, hating herself for not simply staying in the tree and yelling for help loudly as three more sleek black or brown wolves padded out from the undergrowth. Forest green eyes locked on her own, and Sakura blinked. Were wolves supposed to have such beautiful eyes? she mused, looking between green and the honeyed brown of the other two beasts.

Her hands came up, clenched into fists. "Come at me then," she hissed, readying to fight or run like hell. She didn't have enough chakra for three wolves, and she doubted she'd be able to outpace them – but she'd be damned if she didn't go out without some sort of a fight. "I'll fight you with my very small fists!"

Silence fell in the clearing, broken only by the hooting of an owl as she crossed glares with them. Or at least she assumed they were glaring.

But the laughter that rumbled through the clearing then made her flush, and Sakura looked about, searching for the source of the laughter. She would die of embarrassment if someone from the village had heard that. She'd sounded like a terrified child trying to be brave. She was brave.

"No need for that, cub," the voice rumbled from the wolf's mouth, and Sakura blinked hard. Some sort of summons? Or were talking animals that much more common in her new world?

Her fists remained clenched.

He – the wolf had a masculine voice and summons usually preferred not being addressed as it so she would do the same there – continued to chuckle, green eyes locked on her trembling form. "We were out to hunt our old comrade here, anyway," he said, and Sakura stumbled back as the wolf strode towards her confidently. "You saved us a job, and I suppose you can have my thanks for that, little rabbit."

Sakura blinked. "Rabbit?"

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as the wolf paced around her, staring at her with those green green eyes. "You stink of them," he said, voice a low rumble, eyes narrowing to slits. "And I've only known one other to carry the same stench as you… the same potency…"

"What?" Her brow furrowed, confusion replacing some of the terror she felt. "I don't understand what you're trying to say…"

A soft snort met her ears. "Of course you don't… you're too young, and too isolated from the world it seems," he mused. "The nearest village is fairly far out from the other clusters of your kind, but I suppose few people would want to move out to this place. Especially with Ookami…" He shook his furred head. "Come back to the forest once you're bigger, little rabbit warrior. I have a feeling you'll be worthy of her blessing then."

Sakura blinked again. "What?" she repeated, very far beyond confused as to what the hell was going on. Only that the two other brown-furred wolves were dragging away the carcass of their companion who she'd defeated.

"You're a warrior… and yet you're so small," he said, backing her up against the tree, chuckling as her legs shook as they remained there – nose to nose. "I can only imagine you'll grow better fangs and claws as you get bigger… Ookami likes warriors like you." Sakura swallowed, feeling as though those forest green eyes were burning into her very soul. "So come find us when you've grown… I'll be waiting."

Sakura blinked yet again, and then she was alone in the clearing. Her hands shook and she glanced down at them, the dirt stains and throbbing pain the only reminder of what she had just been through.

"Sakura!"

"Oh," she mumbled, remembering finally that she was meant to be doing a test of courage. And what a test of courage it had been. "Over here!" she yelled, hurrying towards the edge of the forest she had so foolishly ventured into at a late hour. When all the monsters came out to play. Sakura shuddered, remembering those sickly yellow eyes looking at her like she was dinner, shaking her head to rid those thoughts as she ran into Ami and an unfamiliar redhead – her hair was a deep auburn red, compared to Kasumi's carrottop red.

"Where'd you go?" the redhead demanded, arms crossed. "It's been ten minutes – everyone was worried!"

"Sakura!" Her mother barged through the last few remaining trees between her and the village celebration. "Honestly, what were you thinking?" she demanded. "We'll be having words about this later, young lady. Now come here," Mebuki ordered, opening her arms as she crouched down.

Sakura paused for a moment, stumbling forwards only when she spotted the sheer worry in her mother's gaze. Of course. She was just a little seven-year-old girl. And if she had been an ordinary one she would no doubt be lying back in the forest, bleeding out from that wolf's attack. "Sorry, mama," she mumbled, wrapping her stick-like arms around her mother, guilt overwhelming her at the slight tremble in her mother's limbs.

"Tch." The redhead scowled. "The test of courage is ruined now!"

Her mother turned sharply, and Sakura could feel the scathing glare her mother sent the little girl's way. "There'll be no more tests of courage, of I have any say in this," she said, hand rubbing Sakura's back soothingly. "Haven't your parents told you not to go into the forest – especially not at night, and never without any adult supervision…"

The redhead stomped her foot.

"Sorry," Sakura mumbled, feeling oddly guilt for ruining the night. Even though she'd had a brush with death thanks to her ridiculous luck. "I got lost…"

Like hell she was telling her mother she had run into a wolf, or four. She would probably find herself wrapped up in blankets back home for weeks if she said that.

"You should be," the redhead snarled. "Everything would have been better if you hadn't—"

"Fuki, be nice!" Ami hissed, yanking on her friend's arm. "It's my fault. I brought her here, and I should have gone into the forest with her… she's never been into the forest before, even with her parents – it's no wonder she got lost!"

Sakura blinked. Was Ami defending her?

What had the world come to?

"She's a year younger than us, you know," Ami continued, but Mebuki was already carrying her away and back towards the bonfire crackling in the middle of the gathering.

"Are you angry, mama?" she asked, peering up at her mother as she carried her back towards her father.

"No, Sakura," her mother said, sighing deeply. "I was worried, silly bean… You don't know what lurks in this forest around us – but believe you me, no matter if you get nightmares, I'll be changing that fact as of tomorrow." She kissed her forehead gently. "I love you, Sakura. Never forget that."

Sakura smiled into her mother's kimono. "Love you too, mama!"

Her mother smiled.

"You found her then?" her father asked, relief in his voice. "Thank goodness… I was just about to bring the search party," he said, and Sakura pulled her face away from her mother's shoulder to look over at the array of people standing close by her father.

It was odd, she mused as she was placed down. She kept forgetting she was a child, and that she wasn't in the same world where her parents had let her run around the village with reckless abandon. Adults worried over small children. Sakura knew she loved and hated in in turns. Because her parents cared about her very much, yes, but that also meant it was a nightmare to try and train with her chakra.

And now she needed to do just that even more. She had almost been taken down by a measly wolf – sure it was a wolf which could have probably talked, but it was still a terrible way to die. Especially for a shinobi who'd survived the assault of a man who'd been referred to as a demon, a match for the god of shinobi himself, and a so-called goddess with power to back it up.

"Do you want to stay a bit longer, Sakura?" her mother asked, glancing down at her worriedly. "That forest was probably really scary, and you're a brave girl for not crying…"

Sakura glanced around, squinting as she spotted Ami making her way over to her sheepishly. "I'll stay a bit longer," she said, edging over to meet the girl, nodding at her mother's shout to not go too far.

"Are you going home?" Ami asked, wringing her hands together as she looked down at her.

Sakura tilted her head. "Soon, I think."

Ami bit her lip. "I just wanted to say sorry," she mumbled, scratching at the back of her neck. "My mother has told me lots of scary stuff about what happens to people if they go into the forest too deep, or if they get lost… and I know you're younger than me. I should've been more careful. Mum's already started nagging me about it."

"It all worked out in the end though, didn't it?" Sakura smiled. "It was fun, despite the whole getting lost thingymbob, so thanks for that."

It was Ami's turn to blink dumbly for a change. "I… guess?" she said. "I suppose I'll see you around then?" she murmured, scuffing the dirt under her feet as she backed away slowly. "It's pretty cool that you didn't start screaming though… most people do on their first time…"

Sakura giggled. Like hell she'd scream over something like that.

"You done then?" her father asked, having snuck up behind her.

Sakura nodded. "Un!"

"Right then," he said, hefting her up into his arms. "Time to get you home, I think… we've had enough scares for one night." He pinched her nose gently. "You just keep getting into trouble, don't you, little munchkin?"

Sakura screwed her face up, glaring at him. She could take being called bean, but reminding her of her lacking height… She scowled. "Do not!"

Her father laughed, the belly-deep sound she remembered from her old life and her new one. He'd always had a nice laugh… just like that strange wolf. Her hands curled into fists, bunching up the fabric of her father's kimono before she relaxed her grip. She'd get stronger and stronger, just like before, back when she'd begged the Hokage to make her an apprentice.

Sakura peered over his shoulder then, waving a hand as she spotted the oddly nice purple-haired girl. "See you around, Ami!"