~1 Year Later~
"Momma and Daddy signed me up for the academy I start next week" six year old Sakura chattered to her best friend the moment she spotted him during her weekly visit to the library and get new books to read.
His head tilted down to spy her and a grin spread across his lips "That so, well congrats I know your going to be a top notch student Sakura-chan probably the best in the academy, over little Sasuke-chan for sure" Shisui exclaimed.
Ruffling her bangs as he'd grown use to her "Sasuke-chan are you talking about the Sasuke all the girls talk about at the park and have even made a fan club for him, he's an Uchiha just like you right Shisui-kun" the pinkette creased her brow in concentration trying to remember.
Shisui nodded "Yep, yep, don't tell anyone I told you this but Sasuke-chan doesn't appreciate all that attention so if you could keep an eye out for him for me in the academy pretty please Sakura-chan that would be great" the ebony haired teenager put his hands together and pouted.
Causing the little six year old to laugh and nod her head eagerly "Of course that's what friends are for right Shisui-kun so just leave it to me to make sure Sasuke-chan doesn't get to bothered in the academy" Sakura grinned.
"Thanks Sakura-chan now what kind of books would you like" Shisui patted the exuberant girl on the head again before gesturing to the shelves, knowing that once she was done in this section she would go to the section which held books on all kinds of insects.
One of these days he was going to have to see if he could take her out on a bug hunting expedition and just the thought of it had him giddy with happiness, maybe they'd even meet some of the Aburame clan, that way little Sakura-chan would have another friend in the academy.
With that thought he resolved himself to talk to Sakura's parents before they all disappeared to home "Err I'd like to read about the chakra scalpel and it's uses, also the different types of weapons and their uses, plus theory of elemental jutsu's please" the pinkette requested.
By that point after a year of knowing the little girl Shisui was very use to her politeness in regards to asking for things "Here we are Sakura-chan" the Uchiha chuckled handing her the three books that she'd asked for.
And once she was distracted by searching around in her second favorite section, ran for the hills to speak with her parents "Ah Shisui-san, thank you for being kind to our daughter" Kizashi greeted grateful of the Uchiha who looked out for his sweet little Sakura-chan.
His lips curved up into a grin "Nah she's such a joy to be around Kizashi-san, anyway I was wondering since Sakura-chan has a secret obsession with insects if you'd mind that I took her out on a bug hunting expedition a couple days from now" Shisui chuckled lightly.
Making his own request "You know Sakura-chan might enjoy that Shisui-san, so long as you look out for her while outside the village and bring her back before it gets to dark" Mebuki relented rather easily to the teenagers request.
Knowing how much her daughter adored Shisui, who decided to appear at that exact moment clutching her usual five books to her chest and staring between them in confusion "What's going on Momma, Daddy, Shisui-kun" Sakura asked carefully.
Afraid that she might be in trouble for something "What do you say to going on a bug hunting expedition with me in a couple of days" the ebony haired teenager offered, just waiting for it that little light bulb to go off.
Like expected her jade eyes lit up and filled with excitement "Really Shisui-kun, may I please Momma, Daddy please with a cherry on top" the rosette pouted so adorably that her parents couldn't refuse that kind of face.
"Of course sweetie but you must listen to Shisui-san okay, do as he asks and not stray from his side no matter how curious you are or what kind of insect you see that interests you" the blonde nodded and spoke in a warning tone.
Sakura was to happy to refuse so nodded eagerly "We'll make sure she's ready two days from now Shisui-san, ready to check out your books Sakura-chan" the pink haired male chuckled still wondering about his daughters strange obsession with insects but not complaining.
For so long as she was happy, they, he and Mebuki would be happy as well, Sakura was their pride and joy, the only child they had and they loved her all the more for it, despite her uniqueness and difference to other children, Shisui waved and hurried off.
Leaving them to head home once the five books were checked out her usual limit and stuffed gently into a backpack before she took her parents held out hands and let them lead her home where she cuddled into their sides on the couch and read until supper, then bedtime.
The next day the three of them had a short shopping excursion and the things bought included a couple of butterfly nets, some non-scented bug spray to keep mosquito's away, a book on all insects and a small glass terrarium, an outfit suitable for the outdoors as well.
And the next morning Shisui showed up for their bug hunting expedition "Are you ready Sakura-chan" Shisui inquired watching her eat a little faster to polish off her breakfast while still minding her manners.
When she was done she washed her dishes and grabbed the little backpack full of stuff needed for their adventure, a five tiered lunchbox and the butterfly nets "Definitely Shisui-kun, we'll be back later Momma, Daddy" Sakura waved happily.
After the door shut both of them grinned fondly "She sure is something else, maybe she gets it from my side" Kizashi chuckled, his little cherry blossom was a riot and the world wouldn't know how to handle her once she became a genin and so on and so forth.
"Maybe or it could be from my side, you know that I don't know all of my ancestry after all" Mebuki tsked wishing there were ways to find out but that information had been long since lost before Sakura had ever been born.
In the meantime Shisui had grabbed Sakura's hand and body flickered them across the village, her eyes wide and full of awe at seeing the technique in action for the first time ever "Another day Sakura-chan" the Uchiha chuckled seeing the questions in her eyes.
"Okay, okay so what are we hunting, I thought maybe the elusive stick insect or a rare butterfly perhaps" the pinkette chattered a mile a minute once they'd both signed out to the guards surprise and hurried out the gates to begin their hunt.
He also hoped that there was an Aburame that had a kid Sakura's age so she could befriend him and have a friend in the academy "It's whatever you want Sakura-chan, the most important thing though is to have fun" Shisui grinned.
Keeping an eye out for danger at the same time as they headed into the forest outside the village "Let's see mm how about a weevil beetle" Sakura pointed out the insect on the book her parents had bought her the day before.
So began their search and that's how an hour nearly passed them by until Shisui finally caught sight of the blasted insect with his sharingan of course "Over there Sakura-chan" the teenager pointed at a tree and nudged her towards it gently.
The little girl was practically beside herself as she captured the insect in her little glass tank to inspect it up close "This ones a bark beetle, they like to infest tree's" the rosette rattled off information for Shisui.
Who peered into the tank curiously with her "Not gonna keep it Sakura-chan" Shisui questioned lightly once she dumped the little insect out gently and watched it scurry up the tree from where she'd dislodged it earlier.
"Uh-uh they can get into the wood of the house, Momma wouldn't be happy about that" Sakura shook her head already imagining the scolding she would get if that sort of insect ever got loose in the house, it would be her fault.
It was hard not to bust a gut laughing as he led her away on the hunt for another insect that interested the adorable six year old "Probably a wise choice then Sakura-chan" the Uchiha chuckled once he was sure he wouldn't die of laughter.
A weird look was shot his way "How about next we look for a butterfly or is it to cold for them" the pinkette creased her brow in thought reading through her little book again and he couldn't stop the smile from forming.
"Right and even if it is, they'll be easier to catch and look at for a bit" Shisui reminded looking around like his little charge for the day was, though she had a lower vantage point than him, and was looking down more than up.
That's why she didn't notice the head on collision course they were about to have with another bug hunting duo "Oomph sorry Mister" Sakura apologized even as her head reeled from cracking into the knee of an older person.
"My apologies as well as I did not know anyone else was out here, Uchiha-san" the man mistakenly thought she was also an Uchiha like her friend and she managed to open her eyes and peer up at the tall person.
And shake her head lightly "Not an Uchiha, Aburame-sama, Sakura-chan's from a civilian family, how you feeling, are you okay or should I take you to the hospital" the ebony haired teenager knelt until he was eye level with the little girl.
Who blinked her eyes rapidly to clear away the white spots "I'm good and sorry Aburame-sama is your knee okay I did ram into it pretty hard" Sakura bowed feeling terrible what if she messed up his knee and he had to have surgery or something to fix it.
By that point he was pretty amused "Just fine there's nothing to worry about Sakura-san correct and you can call me Shibi if you'd like, this is my son Shino, so may I ask what are you two doing out here" Shibi introduced himself and his son.
He'd been quiet so far "Bug hunting expedition like yourselves no doubt, Sakura-chan loves all kinds of insects and reads about them every week" Shisui announced downright giddy that his wish had come true and now Sakura-chan wouldn't be alone on her first day at the academy.
"Have you found anything interesting, why because your little case is empty" little six year old Shino decided to pipe in at that exact moment and Sakura focused her vivid eyes on him before glancing down her glass tank.
Finally nodding as she registered the question "Mhm a weevil beetle but I let it go, now we're looking for a butterfly, Shisui-kun said that they'd be easier to catch since it's still early in the morning" the rosette chattered.
Excited to be around people who shared a common interest "Very interesting you said she was from a civilian family" the Aburame Patriarch asked when the two kids promptly began searching through the bushes in clear view of the adults looking for a butterfly.
"Yes but Sakura-chan is different than your average civilian kid, articulate and interested in very complicated subjects even when she was five" the Uchiha nodded stretching his senses out to feel around them in every direction and found nothing so they were safe.
Over where the kids were searching Shino kept throwing her little looks from behind his sunglasses that she could feel "How did you get interested in this sort of thing anyway, hunting for bugs isn't something girls usually like, why because most find them disgusting" the brunet rambled.
She looked at him oddly "Different than your average girl Shino-kun, I love bugs, always have, their totally amazing, ooh look it's a butterfly" Sakura answered politely and pulled apart some bushes and found a butterfly resting.
It was gently captured in her butterfly net and placed in her tank afterward to be looked at much closer "What kind is it Sakura-chan or do you know" Shisui and Shino's dad joined them in the next moment done with their private conversation.
Thankfully the Aburame's came to the rescue "Peacock butterfly isn't that right, why because of it's pattern" Shino creased his brow trying to remember and looking to his father just in case he was wrong.
To his relief his Father did nod "Correct very knowledgeable and a good find are you going to keep it Sakura-san" Shibi asked watching as she turned her attention back onto the butterfly and looked her fill of it.
Before shaking her head to Shisui's amusement and releasing it, even going so far as to put it back gently where she'd found it and dusting off her shorts once she was done "I'm not sure I'll keep any of them, I just like insects" the pinkette admitted.
Unafraid to do so because the two Aburame's seemed to like bugs just as much as she did "That's very mature of you Sakura-chan" the ebony haired teenager chuckled and ruffled her bangs, it was then he noticed that her hair was growing out.
And he wondered how long would she let it grow before getting fed up and cutting it, she smiled up at him brightly "Are you going to join the academy and the shinobi program, why because that also seems like something your interested in" Shino cut in curiously.
When they started walking on the hunt for any random bug they could find at that point, Sakura nodded her head eagerly and Shino felt relief fill him that he'd have a friend in the academy so long as she didn't become disgusted with him suddenly.
"Good, good then you wouldn't mind keeping an eye on Shino for me would you Sakura-san" the Aburame Patriarch inquired and she shook her head indicating that she didn't mind in the least if it meant having a friend before academy ever started.
More than relieved the four of them continued their trek through the forest clear up to lunch "Here we can share, my Momma made lots, to much for me and Shisui-kun to eat by ourselves" Sakura offered when it seemed like the Aburame's were going to leave.
Again Shibi was surprised at how polite, respectful and kind the little girl was and decided to accept her offer of sharing lunch with her and Shisui "Just how is you two became friends anyway" Shibi questioned of the Uchiha.
"I met Sakura-chan in the library and every week when I'm not on a mission we just talked and so naturally a friendship was built between us" Shisui answered diving into the rice, Mebuki was a good cook after all and it was a treat to eat the woman's food.
Shibi nodded in acceptance, digging in after giving a thanks for the food "Do you have any siblings" Shino inquired curiously of his hopeful friend, Sakura lowered her chopsticks at the question and swallowed before answering.
"Nope it's just me, Momma and Daddy, not that I would mind a little brother or sister, but I don't think Momma wants to have anymore kids" the rosette admitted seriously, brow furrowed and eyes dark in contemplation before she brightened again.
Shisui knew that it was because the woman wasn't sure if she could handle another child that was different, having heard about the years before he'd met Sakura and how strange the little girl had acted growing up, no temper tantrums, crying spells, nothing and the woman had been spooked.
Kizashi as well "Well you could always just consider everyone your brother or sister Sakura-chan, the will of fire after all is to see everyone as family no matter if their blood related or not" the Uchiha blurted before he could help himself.
There went her vivid green eyes lighting up as she cuddled into his side "Right thank you for sharing your food with us Sakura-san, but we must be going now" the Aburame Patriarch thanked the little girl as he stood.
"Yeah see you at the academy Sakura, why because we're friends" the six year old brunet pushed his sunglasses back into place and then turned on his heel following after his father as they headed home leaving the odd colored duo alone to continue their expedition.
Until it started growing late and Sakura began growing tired of walking around, no doubt hungry again so Shisui took her into his arms and body flickered them to the gates, signed them both in and then body flickered across the village to Sakura's home.
"Tuckered out is she, did you not find any to keep" Mebuki questioned taking her daughter into her arms seeing as the little girl was practically passed out, Shisui chuckled and shook his head pointing to Sakura as he spoke.
"Found tons of insects but she decided not to keep any of them, tell her I'll see her at the library if I'm not on a mission" Shisui whispered not wanting to disturb the sleeping girl to much and with a wave was off to his own compound.
It was hard waking Sakura up for dinner "Made a new friend, his names Shino, he's gonna be in the academy to" Sakura mumbled tiredly and trying to eat with the manners that had been instilled into her by her mother, but it was so hard and she was so sleepy after a long day of bug hunting.
"That's good now you have a friend that you can hang out with during the academy and not be so lonely" Kizashi chuckled watching his daughter practically falling asleep in her food until she jolted awake and managed to finish off dinner before taking a bath and finally being tucked into bed where they all settled down to get some shut eye.