Chapter 12: The New Haruno...

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Sakura walks around the town, her eyes distant and glassy. She still moves with a certain depressed mood about her, yet she has learned to hide some of it to keep people from asking too many questions. She watches as Kakashi, Gaara and the rest of the search squads return through the gates with no Naruto in sight, leaving Sakura to mingle in her depression as Ino walks up to Sakura. "I'm sorry Sakura, he slipped into rain country. You know none of us here are a match for Akatsuki."

Sakura nods her head, knowing that if they ended up getting into a fight, they surely would be crushed. "Thanks for trying Ino."

Ino smiles. "Cheer up, at least we know he's still alive and probably safe, right?"

Sakura nods her head. "Hai,"

Ino smiles. "Mind if I walk you home?"

Sakura shrugs. "Whatever, no point in sticking around here."

Ino nods her head. The two walk to Sakura's house in silence.

Sakura walks into her house with Ino behind her. Inside Sakura notices her father talking to a strange woman wearing a completely black ANBU gear and cloak. Her long jet black hair hanging out from the cloak. Kakashi standing beside her while her father nods his head.

"Hai, so Kimiko escaped. Crap. Reiko, I don't think we can find an excuse to doge the councils order on retrieving her."

The dark haired girl, Reiko, lets out a deep sigh. "Damnit, last time it took forever. Can't we just say we are training your daughter or something? Please Haruno-san."

Isuma lets out a sigh. "It would be nice to. Yet I don't know Sakura loves being a medic, and I promised her mother I would not let Sakura follow down my path."

Kakashi rubs his head. "Well Isamu-san I must go."

Isuma bows her head. "Thank you for informing me about Kimiko."

Kakashi waves his hand. "It's nothing she was a student of yours as well sensei."

Isuma frowns. "Stop calling me that, I gave up my title of sensei when Sakura turned 7."

Kakashi nods his head. "Hai, see you later Isuma-san."

Isuma turns to Reiko. "Tell your husband I'll see him later this evening. Maybe we can come up with some excuse."

Reiko nods her head as she flickers away at a blindly fast speed, faster than any ANBU or root ANBU could perform.

Sakura walks into the room with Ino behind her. "Father who's Kimiko? Why did Kakashi just tell you she escaped? Is she connected with Naruto-kun?"

Isuma turns as he frowns. "You were listening. I must be getting old if I can't tell the distance of your chakra anymore."

Sakura nods her head. "Is she connected to Naruto-kun?"

Isuma shrugs. "Maybe, she escaped the same night as Naruto thanks to all the commotion Naruto caused."

Ino is next to speak. "Kakashi said she knew the flying thunder god technique."

Isuma turns. "Ino-san, I didn't see you there. But yes, she is one of a handful of people or less that have come close to matching the lowest speed of the move. She is also the only one that has managed to earn the privilege of calling herself a flash. It is why she is so very hard to capture. Last time my squad went ou,t it was the mission that I retired from being a shinobi. It took us nearly a year to capture her and we only managed to capture her because she made the mistake of trusting a local tea country villager that happened to be bribable. Thanks to him we were able to catch her while she was bathing at a hot spring."

Isuma walks into the Kitchen. "I'm sorry I can't discuss much right now. I have a lot on my mind."

Ino shakes her head. "It's okay Haruno-san. I just came to walk Sakura home. I have to return and inform my parents that I'm back from the mission and work today."

Isuma nods his head. "Goodbye Ino-san. Thank you for taking care of my sweet Sakura-chan."

Sakura rolls her eyes as she lets out a sigh, waving goodbye to Ino, before shutting the door and returning to her father. "Why won't you train me father?"

Isuma returns from the kitchen with two cups of tea. "I figured you were going to ask that. It's simple. Both me and your mother agreed that I would not train you without a very good reason, and I will not train you until I can get a good reason."

Sakura looks at the floor. "What if I can give you a good reason?"

Isuma raises an eyebrow. "Bringing Naruto back for your heart is not a good enough reason, I'm sorry. But I can not train you if that's the reason you're going to give. I'm sure you'll find love again dear, besides your mother already gave me a long enough lecture for considering going after him myself."

Sakura frowns. "You mean you were considering chasing Naruto-kun for me?"

Isuma nods his head. "Hai, I'd gladly risk my life for your happiness. You are my world Sakura, and to see you sad breaks my heart."

Sakura smiles slightly. "That's why you came back that night to talk to me, wasn't it?"

Isuma nods his head. "Hai, I was planning on leaving to go search because Tsunade-sama said Naruto was still inside Konohagakura."

Sakura frowns as she plays with a loose thread. "Where's mom at?"

Isuma raises his eyebrow. "Working at the library. Why?"

Sakura lowers her head as she walks over to the wall, using it to hold herself up. "Dad...if I gave you a good reason to train me would you not tell mom what the reason is?"

Isuma nods his head. "Hai, if you really wish."

Sakura lets a sigh escape. "Train me for my children."

Isuma nods his head thinking for a moment. "Hmm, well I guess that's a good enough reason. I shall train you when you have children."

Sakura turns her head away from her father, not daring to look in his direction as a tear escapes her shut eyes a shadow seems to cast over her face and her her face struggles between a smile and frown. "Then we should start training."

Isuma drops the cup of tea he was holding. It shatters on the ground, spilling it all over his feet, yet he remains solid before hanging his head low. "I see...how far along are you?"

Sakura continues her stare at the floor as her hair covers her face. "Just about 4 weeks now."

Isuma stares at the broken cup as if he was lost inside his mind. "Who is the father?"

Sakura lets out a tear. "Naruto or Sasuke."

Isuma shuts his eyes "...Well then I guess I have my reason to train you."

Isuma reaches down picking up the glass cup like it was just paper. The blood drips from his hand. He carries the shards into the kitchen. "We start when you are ready...but the moment we start we will no longer be father and daughter, only sensei and student. Do you understand?"

Sakura looks to the blood drops on the floor. "Hai, Sensei"

Sakura's words seem to draw pain from Isuma as he squeezes the glass in his palm crushing it into his skin. "Very well, Haruno-san please go to my daughters room and wait for me."

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Reiko arrives at the house, her long black hair flowing around her hips. "You called Haruno-san."

Isamu appears from the stairs, his face stone cold, void of any emotion. His eyes seemingly held shut, as if regretting the words he's about to speak. "It's Captain Isamu."

Reiko nods her head as she pulls out a scroll. "As you requested captain, one bakemonokage (Phantoms Shadow). Outfit"

Isamu nods his head. "Please deliver that to Haruno Sakura-san please."

Reiko bows her head. "Hai, Captain Isamu"

Reiko walks up the stairs to Sakura's room. She knocks twice. "Haruno-san I have come to deliver you your clothes."

Sakura opens the door, letting Reiko inside. Reiko studies Sakura. "Are you positive you want to do this Haruno-san?"

Sakura nods her head as she accepts the scroll. "I must."

Reiko nods her head. "A little friendly advice Sakura-san. When you walk down the steps...don't think of the man before you as your father...think of him as Isamu Haruno. Founder of the ROOT ANBU S-class assassination and retrieval division."

Sakura freezes in her tracks for a moment. "Very well." She mumbles out as she looks down at the scroll labeled bakemonokage.

Reiko opens the door. "Once you dawn those clothes, you can not take them off unless instructed otherwise."

Sakura nods her head, clenching the scroll as she trails into the bathroom, catching Reiko's last warning. "Don't defy any order given to you by captain Isamu."

Sakura unrolls the scroll as a heavy ANBU outfit with an even heavier 20 pound almost solid black cloak.

Sakura first slips herself into the ANBU gear, as she places the cloak over her she notices it covers every inch of her body, including all of her face. The only thing that seems to trail out of her cloak is her now medium length pink hair and dull green eyes. "I will protect Naruto's gift to me."

Sakura looks down at her chain; she has long learned that it seems to numb every emotion inside of her. She finishes preparing to confront the man she is to call her sensei.

Sakura slowly steps down the stairs to see three pairs of eyes staring back at her. The new addition is none other than Tsunade. As she watches Sakura step down the stairs she feels her heart seem to crumble. "Sakura please reconsider."

Sakura shakes her head. "No...I will protect the gift given to me."

Tsunade turns to Isamu. "Please Isamu-san, please reconsider."

Isamu turns to Tsunade his voice sharp and ice cold. "No Hokage-sama. This was her choice."

Tsunade drops her head as tears stream down. "Very well. I will sign Sakura over to your squad. I will also reassign your squad for missions."

Isamu nods his head. "Thank you."

Isamu turns to Sakura with an equally sharp and cold voice. "Haruno, follow me."

Sakura nods her head. "Hai."

Isamu walks out the room. "We are heading to The Wolf's Claw to commission you a sword."

Sakura nods her head again. "Hai"

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As Sakura is walking through town she notices that many people, including shinobi, seem to look away from the group with an almost fearful look in their eyes. Others seem to look at them with confusion as her black cloak seems to flap in the breeze.

They enter the wolf claw to see Tenten managing the front of the store. "May I help you?" She says in a professional manner not recognizing anyone.

Isuma bows his head in a strict cold voice. "Your father, Hisashi-san."

Tenten nods her head as she calls out. "Dad some people in solid black cloaks are here for you."

A voice in the back calls back. "Hai. Thank you dear."

From among the curtains separating the front and back of the store walks a middle aged man, his face covered in scars. From his mouth dangles a small cigarette, the sleeves of his villager shirt are rolled up and tucked over his muscles. He stops in his tracks as his eyes narrow down and his happy voice drops low. "Captain Isuma-san."

Isuma seems to ruffle something in his pocket. "I need to order a new chibakamono (Bloody Phantom)."

Hisashi bows his head. "Hai, it will take me a great deal more time then last time. What color should it be?"

Isuma seems to smirk from the thought that crosses his mind as he looks down at Sakura. "What color Haruno-san."

Sakura thinks for a moment. "Pink"

Isuma nods his head. "Pink it is."

Hisashi nods his head. "Hai, first time I've made a pink chibakamono...I'm sure it will look pretty, eh captain."

Isuma nods his head. "Hai, here are the seals and details." He says, pulling out a small book of papers inside."

Hisashi bows his head receiving the book. "Very well Captain. You may pay when you return to test the blade. Good luck in training Haruno-san."

Isuma bows. "Hai, we have been placed back on active duty. You will be on standby; Haruno-san will be the new member of the squad."

Hisashi nods his head. "Hai, Thank you Captain Isuma-san."

"Goodbye Hisashi-san."

Tenten watches as the group leaves, noticing the strange way her father acted she asks her question. "Who were they, father? Who was that man?"

Hisashi walks into the backroom. "They were the Bakamono Hitokiri of Konoha. (Phantom Assassins of Konoha). That man was my squad captain."

Tenten scratches her head. "I didn't know Konoha had a black ops squad other than ANBU and Root ANBU."

Hisashi. "We aren't ANBU...we were the founding guidelines of ANBU. Once Minato Namaikaze became Hokage, we were the ones dispatched into missions instead of him."

Tenten's eyes widen. "You mean you did missions that where deemed too dangerous for the fourth?"

Hisashi nods his head. "A Hokage must place himself before his people. But the Hokage can not endanger himself when his people need him, now can he?"

Tenten nods her head. "No. That's why he has us Shinobi.'

Hisashi nods his head again. "We became the shadows of Konoha, the shadow of the Hokage. If you were unfortunate enough to get on the Yondaime's bad side, you became unfortunate enough to meet our squad."

Tenten stares at her dad in shock. "How come you never trained me? How come you always told me you were just a simple ANBU?"

Hisashi frowns. "Because my past is covered in blood...blood I do not want to see cover you."

Tenten looks at the floor. "But…"

Hisashi shuts his eyes as he picks up a hammer. "I will not train you...I promised your mother on her dying breath I would never place that bloody path in your hands. I will never make you a ghost."

Tenten frowns as she thinks back to the fuzzy memory of her mother's death.

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Flames roar around the village, the peaceful village of Konoha, only a few years after the Yondaime Hokage's death. The destruction of Kyuubi still seems to wreak havoc on Konoha. The invading Iwa armies still strike after Konoha in hopes of destroying them due to their lack of the Yondaime's power.

Tenten, maybe 5 years old, stirs from her sleep from the heat of her burning house. She hears the clattering of metal on metal and the name of strange jutsus being shouted out as the battle rages.

Tenten watches her door fly open as a shinobi wearing an Iwa headband dashes into the room. A man wearing a black cloak flashes in front of Tenten, blocking the blade as it pierces through him. "I won't let you hurt my daughter." the mans says

The Iwa shinobi seems to let out a tear. "You! You a phantom protect life? All you ever do is take life. You killed her. You killed her."

The emotional shinobi continues pushing forward driving the man off his feet as he struggles.

Suddenly a scream is heard as a man's voice calls out. "DIE Phantom whore!"

There is a sudden sound of explosions as a loud thud is heard. The man in black lobs the head of the shinobi dashing out of the room. Tenten can hear a loud shout. "WHY?! KAMI WHY?! Is this punishment for my sins?"

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Tenten feels herself grow numb as she watches her father pick up a hammer and a slab of iron. "Can you help me grind some powder into a liquid for the dye dear?"

Tenten nods her head. "Hai, Father...mom's death wasn't your fault. You saved me instead of her."

Hisashi nods his head. "I know. I do not regret my choice in saving your life Tenten. I just regret the path I've taken in life. I have soaked my name in death. When you take a life, you distill the desire for revenge in those that were close to the person. That night I was reminded of how much pain I've caused so many. That's why now; I forge my weapons to help protect someone. Never do I service someone who only wants to kill."

Tenten nods. "The way of the shinobi is stealth and evasion to avoid taking life unless necessary."

Hisashi nods. "That's the path you will follow. Please understand that."

Tenten nods her head as she remains quiet, until she asks her next question. "That man said Haruno-san. Who was she? Was that one of Sakura's relatives"

Hisashi shakes his head. "No. That was Sakura."

Tenten nearly faints. "Why is Sakura with them?"

Hisashi hammers the iron, letting the vibrations beat into his body as if hitting his soul. "Because she gave captain a good reason to let her walk in blood."

Tenten frowns. "They definitely didn't act like father and daughter."

Hisashi nods his head. "In the group we held no bond to one another...your closes enemy was your closest friend. You had to be prepared to kill anyone close to you, even your own family, with no more than the reason than the thought that they had betrayed you. And never regret it."

Tenten stand motionless. "That's so cold."

Hisashi nods. "Like a ghost."

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Sakura feels the sharp pain wiz across her arms as her flesh cuts open. She struggles in holding her kunai and keeping up with the speed. She feels a fire jutsu sweep her off her feet, sending her crashing into the trees. Her back is severely burned and as she tries to struggle with moving her body it feels like it weighs half a ton. She sees dull green eyes staring back at her. "Haruno-san. If you can not keep up…"

Isamu presses his sword against Sakura's stomach, drawing a little blood as the tip breaks the skin. "Then your reason for becoming a Phantom is useless. I shall cut it out of your dead corpse."

Sakura feels herself quiver as her emotion and urge to protect her child spurs the chain on her wrist, forcing it to spring to life as if on its own. Isamu flickers away just as he hears the clanging sound of the chain just barely avoiding its connecting strike. His eyes narrow. "That chain...it's a great weapon Haruno-san. You should train yourself to use it as an extension of your body like your arms and feet."

Sakura pulls herself to her feet. "Hai,"

The chain snaps back to its normal position and she holds herself as two blurs seem to flash past her cutting her arms and legs making her drop to one knee. She feels a heavy pressure against her head and a sharp point. The voice of Reiko rings in her ears.

"Do you honestly expect to bring back Naruto-kun to your heart if you can't even protect yourself or his child?"

Sakura feels her heart cringe as Kakashi speaks. "You're weak. You weere the weakest link of the team. That is why they broke your heart. They couldn't handle your weakness. Show us strength, show us the power of Sakura. Not the weeping Kunoichi Sasuke left behind. Not the traitorous Kuniochi that tore out Naruto's heart. SHOW US THE SAKURA THAT WILL BRING THEM BACK AND PROVE SHE IS WORTHY OF THEM!"

Sakura flips around, batting Kakashi's kunai away as she lunges at him, only to have him use a replacement jutsu as she falls face first on the ground. She hears the screeching of the chidori crashing straight down at her, followed by his voice. "Weakling."

Sakura rolls out of the way. Her heart crushing under Kakashi's words. The verbal abuse she receives from her 3 attacks wreaks havoc on the young kunoichi as the chain on her wrist keeps desperately trying to fight off the attackers. Yet move at extraordinary speeds she feels her father dash at her. "Pathetic Haruno-san."

He leaps into the air in front of her dodging her kunai as he comes straight down.

Sakura clenches her eyes shut waiting for the final blow she knows her father would deal.

Yet nothing comes. As she opens her eyes she sees the pink haired girl Yuriko standing before her with a smile. "Why are you so sad? Why does your heart bleed?"

Sakura frowns. "Because they are right...I am weak...too weak for Naruto-kun. Too weak for anyone."

The girl shakes her head. "You're not weak. You just have a kind heart. Let's show them the power of your heart."

Sakura looks at the girl confused. "What?"

The girl smiles as she seems to fade away. Suddenly everything around her blurs and snaps into slow motion. As she watches her father descending down on her the chain springs to her hand and a long pink steel sword with a white cotton wrap looking much like the Shinigami's sword (exactly like Naruto's except different colors) blocks her fathers sword. He springs away from Sakura as she rises to her feet seemingly unaffected by the weights as she chills her voice. "Sorrow."

The air seems to crush under a heavy weight as everyone freezes in their tracks. Sakura finally manages to control herself releasing her chant. She looks to her sword as Isamu smirks. "You were right Kakashi-san. She indeed has the same chain as the lonely Shinigami."

Kakashi nods his head. "I was hoping I was wrong, but Jiraiya confirmed that there was a summoning seal on the cuff."

Sakura looks with slight confusion as she feels Reiko pat her on the back with a smile. "Well done Sakura-san. Hope we didn't hurt your feelings too much. Sorry."

Sakura whips the sword backwards seemingly impaling Reiko. "Grrrr."

Reiko disappears in a puff of smoke revealing that it was a clone. "Sakura-san, we've been training you for a month. You know I don't think you're weak."

Sakura glares as she flicks a kunai into the tree. "Bitch."

Kakashi and Isamu look at one another as Kakashi chuckles. "She definitely takes after her mother."

Isamu nods his head. "Indeed we better get the hell out of here."

Both shinobi's nod as they take off running, only to have two kunais chase them down.

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(AN: Heheh, Scratches head... Sorry for the long wait ummm... Well... What can be said... What was this chapter about...Oh yeah... Looks like Sakura's got herself into some pretty serious training... Will she become feared or respected... What will happen next... How will this training help her...or kill her... She is now among the shadows of darkness in Konoha... Next chapter maybe awhile... Darnod said he'd read some more of it but he's been ill lately.)