One year later

Sora was outside her house, returning from town. She became startled as a hand muffled her mouth from behind. She tried to pry the hands from her mouth but they clung too tightly.

"I wouldn't want you to use that pretty voice of yours," someone said.

Another voice told her, "Calm down, Sora. I just want to talk."

He stepped into the light and she realised who it was. The other person let go of her mouth when commanded.

"What do you want from me, Sasuke?" she asked, barely able to control her fury.

He walked towards her, backing her onto the person behind her. Sasuke was too close for comfort so she looked away. Despite her tough demeanour, she still felt intimidated by him. Sasuke grabbed her chin and made her look at him.

"Heh, it's been a while yet you remember. How is your sister?"

"Leave her out of this," Sora said.

He moved her face from side to side, inspecting its more mature features. "You're not as timid as when I first met you, my little Sora."

"Don't call me that, you creep!" she objected, slapping his hand away.

"I've got a proposition for you. I need you."

"For what? I'm quite useless in battle."

"Not as much as you think. Your ability to control others with your voice and you being a medical-nin prove worthy enough."

Just thinking he wanted to involve her in the lifestyle of a Shinobi, the same lifestyle that took her father away made her panic. She took her chance to run away, reaching closer to her house so that she could lock herself inside and protect her sister. She felt the comforting touch of the door knob inches from her fingers, but someone swept her from behind.

"No!" she screamed, thrashing wildly. "Renn!"

The person grabbing her took out a kunai, pressed it to her neck, and asked, "Are you in or not?"

Sora remained silent so he pressed it harder to her throat, making her choke and bleed. Her sister came out, her young self becoming enraged at what she was seeing.

"Leave Sora alone!" her tiny voice spoke, unable to do much. She was no match for them.

"I'll only say it once more," Sasuke said. "Or do you want me to get her instead?"

Sora saw the glint of the kunai being pointed at her innocent sister. She couldn't take it anymore. Sora didn't want Renn to be hurt because of her. She knew what she had to do but the decision was becoming painful to take. Sora glanced at the three other people that had accompanied Sasuke. There was no way she could defeat them all.

"Renn, go back inside, sweety," she spoke, tears streaming down.

"I won't let him hurt you, Sora," she insisted, stomping her little foot on the ground.

"It's okay," Sora said, waving her back inside.

Renn walked back in but didn't stray too far from the door. At that moment, Sora hadn't thought of using her Kekkei Genkai. She was too preoccupied with the safety of Renn.

"I'm the only one my sister's got. Please let me go," she pleaded.

"It's a shame you won't be of use to me. I'm just going to have to kill you. Either way, you sister will be without a sister," Sasuke coolly replied.

"Can I at least say good-by to her, then?" she asked in a defeated tone.

He released her from his grip. "Make it quick."

She coughed and stumbled to the door, feeling a little light-headed. Her sister came to aid her by putting her arm around her waist — that was as far as she could reach — and walking Sora inside. She knelt down and grabbed Renn by the shoulders to make her focus.

"Never forget my face," Sora stated.

"No, I don't want you to leave," Renn cried out, clutching onto her.

"I have to, Renn. I promised Mom and Dad that I would do anything to protect you. I'll be back, I swear."

Sora wiped the tears from Renn's cheeks, her own tears already dried against her skin. Renn came closer to her and whispered in her ear while fixating her eyes on Sasuke, "If he hurts you, do you give me permission to kill him?"

Sora glanced at Sasuke who was impatiently waiting around with his team members. Renn's serious words surprised Sora, coming from such a young mind. But she knew Renn wouldn't really remember the complexity of those words as she grew.

Sora's eyes narrowed and she said, "Yes. But only when you become stronger."

Sora placed a kiss on her cheek and asked her to help her pack a bag. As they were doing so, Sora told Renn that she had to be brave and find her sensei. They finished packing rather quickly, not wanting to be rushed by the enemy.

Before leaving Renn that desolate night, Sora lovingly pinched her cheek with her thumb and index finger and said, "A caged bird never stops singing." Renn nodded, captivated by that phrase.

Sora left with them in complete resentment. "I hope that whatever you're planning will be important enough for me to abandon my sister," she seethed out.

"Oh, it will," Sasuke replied.

She was introduced to Jūgo, Suigetsu, and Karin along the way. She didn't pay much attention to them and focused on an escape strategy. But their close observation of Sora kept her from carrying it out. Trying to learn more of their abilities so that she'd have a better plan, Sora asked them, pretending that she just wanted to get to know them better since she would be working with them. That's when she learned that escaping would be more complicated. They had a chakra sensor on the team.

Six months later

They were outside in a plain field, evading each other's attacks. He wanted to see how much Sora had improved. They had to go on a mission in the future that required extremely good skills and he didn't want to risk having a member on the team who couldn't at least defend herself. He tackled her to the ground, his katana inches from her face, her trembling forearm the only thing holding it back from fully reaching her face.

Sora panted. "Close range combat, Uchiha? I thought you'd be more of the genjutsu type."

"I don't want to waste my Sharingan on you. I'd rather you experience the real pain."

She leaned forward, licking the tip of his nose, and she arrogantly said, "Close range doesn't suit you."

She immediately took out a senbon and stabbed one of his chakra points on his leg, making him scramble off her. He staggered as he tried to get up, a slight limp in his walk. He looked at her with surprise.

"The numbness will leave in about half an hour. Too bad I couldn't successfully go through with it. It could've done a lot more."

He began to laugh in disbelief. He motioned with his fingers for Sora to get closer to him. She did so, wary of any last-minute tricks he might have been hiding. After all, one of the people he least wanted to lose against was her. In his words, Sora was a weak Shinobi whose only real defence was her Kekkei Genkai.

She helped him back to the base where Karin practically pushed her away as she came to Sasuke's aid. Karin sure was attracted to that idiot, which made Sora felt sorry for her. It was a pity he'd never return her feelings. But Sora didn't care too much for it since Karin treated her like crap, so Sora enjoyed Sasuke's cold reactions to Karin. She deserved it, a part of Sora always said.