Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"Asuma-sama! Asuma-sama!" Sakura calls out, her eyes sparkling in excitement. Her braid thumps on her back and her feet are quick as she follows the dark-haired man into the pub.

"Sakura-chan, why are you without Akiko-chan today?" Daichi-the-local-drunk asks through a mouth of beer. The woman on his lap titters into his ear and he flushes as her hand moves down into his pants.

Sakura ignores him and continues to run after the slouching figure, excited.

"Asuma-sama!" Sakura calls again and this time the man turns.

"What is it kid?" The man grinds out through gritted teeth. Sakura doesn't care that he is annoyed because he was the reason she's becoming a shinobi.

Her eyes shine with happiness as she clutches his knees. "I got into the academy! I'm going to be a shinobi like you!"

Asuma-sama stills and this time he looks down at her excited face and fast pants. Brown eyes look at her with sadness before he crouches down and tilts her head up to meet his eyes.

"Why are you becoming a shinobi? You have a good life as a civilian—"

"That is not true! My life is watching Akiko-sama get down on her knees and take men into her mouth." Sakura growls. "My life is watching as women have to bow down to pigs and pretend they love it."

Asuma blinks shocked and then whispers something under his breath. "You're a whore's daughter."

Sakura rips out of his grasp and slams a tiny fist into his face. "Akiko-sama is not a whore! Akiko-sama is good and she is a person not a thing and don't you dare disrespect her! She is kind and amazing and if you say something bad about her again I don't care how big you are I will hurt you and you will regret it!"

By the time she finishes shouting, tears are running down her face and her hands clench tightly and a violent slant to her mouth.

"I apologize, Sakura-chan." Asuma says, rubbing at the spot that surprisingly, started to bruise. "I did not want to offend you or Akiko. I merely used the word that I am most familiar with."

Sakura stares at the man with bright eyes and heavy breaths. She takes in his apologetic eyes and the way that his body slumps slightly as if he is defeated and she is silent for two beats.

"…Akiko-sama works at the Okiya." She makes sure that he understands what she's trying to say, "And I'm going to protect her."

Sakura takes in his dark eyes and his open mouth and gives him a sharp smile. "That is why I'mbecoming a shinobi."

Thank you for taking time to read this! Please tell me what you all think!