Warning: when I said this was going to get dark, I mean really dark.

"No thanks." The pink-haired ninja said to Naruto.

He was confused for a second before frowning. "I wasn't gonna ask to get ramen, just wanted to know if you were okay." Naruto explained. This was surpising for Sakura, she never heard him say something like this much. "Just tired."

"Alright, bye Sakura-chan" He said in his usual excited mood while running off.

Sakura still hasn't let the memory slip from her. Even though it has happened days ago. She experienced something simaliar, with one of her own teammates too. Sasuke almost died on their early missions, her reaction was different. She cried and begged for him to come back. But he is older than this kid, it's so different. She remembered the kid's messy white hair, his boyish smile. At the same time of being so young, he knew what was going on. It surprised her, wouldn't his parents tell him not all the details about him being in danger? It's unusual for the kid to know what exactly the criminals were planning and what they wanted.

Now that she thought about it.. his smile wasn't actually that common than she how she remembered him.

Before it happened.

The three ninjas watched as the parents talked to him quietly, but they could hear the worried and frantic voices. The mother put her hands on his face and said something before standing up and wiping the tears. Then, his father, who was a strong looking man, pulled him aside with his back to the ninjas. They couldn't see the child behind the man, but they did see the hug. Sakura noticed Sasuke only watched for a moment before he turned away with an unreadable expression, as usual. The kid walked by Kakashi and stopped infront of the three, and giving a quick smile.

"Hi, i'm Kumi!" The excited tone sort of seemed out of place, they expected an opposite mood from him.

"Naruto Uzumaki!." The said blonde gave him an incouraging smile.

Sakura and Sasuke introduced themselves more casually. Kumi was so small for his age, compared to his giant dad. His mom was small herself though. He had warm brown eyes, and white hair that seemed just careless. Suprisingly, Naruto and Kumi weren't at eachother's throats. It was starting to become a routine for Naruto to become rivals with the person they were supposed to protect, their last mission was pretty much protecting Naruto from the princess they were hired for.

While they walked, Kumi started to become more and more odd, wasn't anything to except from a kid who himself and his family were in great danger. But he didn't look around frantically, just looked down and occasionaly fidgeted. They were with him for a while, and he was just quiet, sometimes laughing with Naruto.

"They won't get me, right? They wan't to get me to make my papa sad." The "innocent" voice stung them bad.

"You are safe with us." Kakashi said calmy

Kumi looked up at him with a smile.

His Father, Waru Pae, was getting targeted by criminals, the reason being to get revenge on him for his past actions . His mother Hitan Pae, and his father knew they would try to get to their son. They sent Kumi away to protect him, while they were being protected somewhere else.

"Sakura, you are going to deactivate all the traps and weapons littered in the forest." Kakashi said as they stopped at their location.

"Got it." She replied, excited to impress Sasuke. She was about to leave wehn Kakashi suddenly crouched down in a fighting stance while saying. "They're here."

Kumi didn't show any signs of panic, his expression just went to depressing. They listened closely to the faint noises in the trees, and focused more when a kunai was blocked by Sasuke. Several were starting to get thrown, and they didn't struggle much while blocking them while Kakashi went towards the attackers. Then it happened, the sound of the Kunai while the attackers silently dissapeared. The three of them turned around in shock. They were blocking from all directions, how did this happen? He was against a tree, there was no way it was from behind.

present

Sakura didn't realize she was crying until a tear fell into the stream of the river, she didn't know the kid but yet it still hurt. There was distance talking, and she turned around to see team 10 walking towards her from a distance. Sakura turned and started to walk home, her training was done hours ago.

Her walking became quicker while going through the slight busy streets. When she made it home she walked in to see her parents become silent from ther conversation to look at her.

"Sakura,do you know the time?! I know that your usually late, but this is later than usual!" Mebuki scolded while setting the plates down on the table. Her mother was surprised when Sakura hugged her in response. "What does she want this time?" Kizashi dad-joked while patting her head.

Sakura learned how lucky she was.