Note: I really don't have too much to say except keep those reviews coming!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor do I own the Naruto story line.­

Chapter Two:

A Beautiful Soul- Shattered

Did I mention that Naruto was a very impatient person?

No?

Well he was very impatient, especially at the time when were twelve. I mean he wasn't so bad when we last met, but still- anyways as I said sensei said I would be leading the mission. I could tell that Naruto and Sasuke were just as surprised as I was when we all heard I was to be the leader of our last mission mainly because I wasn't as determined as Naruto nor was I as fast as Sasuke. I have to give Kakashi Sensei some credit though, his plans usually worked out for the better.

"But why?" I asked first before the others, however, I knew they too were wandering the same thing.

The wind began to pick up blowing our beloved sensei's white hair along with everyone else's including my own.

For some reason his voice was always pleasant even situations such as the one we were in so long ago- I often wander on whether or not it would still be pleasant today- anyways his response was, "Because Naruto rushes into things for starters."

I glanced at Naruto, and I could tell that he was slightly offended by the way his head was bent down.

"Sure," Naruto had mumbled, "Pick on me."

"I'm not picking on you," sensei defended, "it's just that this particular mission requires digression and tactics both of which you greatly lack."

I knew Naruto wanted to say something, but he didn't- he knew sensei was telling the truth. That's one of Naruto's strong points along with being so determined he also admits when he is wrong- a trait many lack. That's how he managed to get Gaara on our side.

Didn't I tell you about Gaara?

I didn't?

Well he is kind of hard to explain I don't think I could right now, so I won't try.

"Alright," Sasuke was the one who spoke next, "I get why you didn't pick Naruto, but why not me?"

Sensei sighed, after Naruto yelled hey as his- and may I add- mediocre defense, and explained, "Because she is the most cunning out of you three."

I could tell where Naruto really didn't mind to much that I was the leader Sasuke did; I wish I had also known this would be a foreshadowing of future events that I will get to later on in this story.

Kakashi Sensei glanced up at the scarlet red sky, and then said impassively, "I have to leave soon."

"But Sensei," Sasuke protested.

"One more thing," I noticed sensei was ignoring Sasuke on purpose, "You will have a guide that will help you through your mission. Good-luck!"

After he had finished he disappeared in a cloud of smoke leaving us three alone again.

"I guess," I said, "We should get some sleep and leave here at dawn."

"Yeah I'm beat!" Naruto exclaimed topping his statement off with a yawn.

"Whose our guide in the sand village anyways?" I asked no one in particular just in case sensei might have told them.

Naruto shrugged and then glanced at Sasuke, who was leaving.

"Hey Naruto, what's up with him?" I was worried; Sasuke had been acting strange lately.

"How am I suppose to know?" he demanded as we walked off the bridge ourselves.

I growled at him, our usual relationship coming out, "Your no help Naruto!"

"Why don't you ask him then?" he raised his voice and sarcastically yelled, "Since your so in love with him."

I have to admit I did have a childish crush on Sasuke for the longest time when we were younger, but not anymore especially after what he did. Your curious as to why he betrayed us aren't you? I can tell. Well that detail will be relieved at our second meeting.

"I'm NOT in love with him!" I yelled at Naruto, blushing, and then I started to walk fast.

He began to walk at the pace I was going and soon we found ourselves in a race. We ran past the ramon shop and the village garden with the rose bud in it. We raced past the steady paced Sasuke, and Ino and Shikamaru who seemed to have some form of a task dealing with raw fish. We even raced past my house until we reached his.

Naruto was laughing hysterically as I fell to the ground by the force of exhaustion; he was tired too, neither of us had used our charkas, the only thing we used was our determination to win, "That was great!"

"Yeah," I agreed looking up at the sky with a smile- I miss those child hood moments of peace and tranquility but they are all gone now and I can never get them back, like everything else.

Memories.

The happy ones, are what make it harder to breathe especially when they have disappeared with time, and you know that although you can gain knew ones they will never be able to compete with the ghost of the past. But even if are able to gain a new memory it still doesn't exist because it too will vanish before you can even truly grasp its meaning.

The best memories are the memories from childhood, because when you're a child death and pain don't exist. All those things that come out when the lights have gone off and hope no longer exist, because our hearts, in the dark, have given up- that also doesn't exist. Nothing exists but the happiness in the heart of a child; but still even those memories makes it harder to continue on this meaningless journey called life.

"I'll see you in the morning," Naruto said going inside his run down home.

"Okay."

I walked back into the street alone, the stars now piercing through the ebony slate known as the sky. Everyone was now gone, mostly likely in their homes, probably enjoying each other's company.

The rose came back into my mind. I wish I knew why that rose bothered me so badly then; isn't it weird to be bothered by something so small and insufficient?

No matter how hard I willed myself not to think about that rose I still did.

I passed the garden and something compiled me to stop. I don't know why- but I had the strangest feeling as if some unknown force was pulling me inside.

I can't really explain the feeling all to well can I?

Is it weird to think that the garden wanted me to enter inside it?

Or perhaps it was my subconscious, which I can't be for sure.

Even though the unknown force wanted me to enter; it was what finally made me step inside the man made Garden of Eden, but the figure inside it.

"Hey!" I yelled at the figure that I could barely make out using what little the light the crescent moon gave off, "What are you doing in here?"

The figure sat where I had sat earlier that day; his white robes flowing gracefully at his pale ankles.

"Hey!" I yelled again, "Who are you?"

His back was turned away from me so that I couldn't see who he was.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" he turned slightly but not enough so that I could see him.

I was so young then- I hadn't even began to put together who this foreigner was or what he was doing in our garden.

"Leave girl," the figure hissed at me making me freeze.

I couldn't believe he of all people was here, nor could I comprehend what his presence foreshadow for us; he turned to face me, his skin a sickly green color. I heard from behind him a familiar voice yell, "Sakura get out of here!"

Orochimaru ran at me but not before I caught a glimpse of Sasuke behind him. I remember the only thing I could think of was to run, and so I did. Everything around me became one huge blur, but I didn't stop. When my legs burned from the lactic acid inside them, and I felt my feet bleed from rough earth and poor shoes- I didn't stop. But he appeared in front of me anyways.

"Give up girl and I'll kill you quick, I promise," he said- I remember his voice so well that even now its as if he is standing right here telling those words to me all over again.

I bit my lip so hard that it bled; the only thing I could think to do was to fight and if tonight was the night I was to die then I would make myself hard to kill.

"Don't be stupid," he stated as I pulled out one of my iron daggers, "You can't possibly hope to defeat me."

"Leave her alone."

The person who spoke was the last person I would have ever expected to save me.