A/n: This is a Sakura-centric story. What would it be like if Team 7 all knew loss and loneliness. Sakura Haruno is a different person in this story than in canon though there will be some similarities. The first 4 to 5 chapters will follow the Naruto Universe before we start crossing into Bleach. Please let me know what you all think. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
"Look at that big forehead!"
"Yeah it's like a billboard!"
"Pink haired freak!"
The girls giggled, shoving at the frightened girl curled up in a ball on the grass. 6 year old Sakura didn't think her forehead was large at all. But Ami and her friends always made it a habit to tease her every time they saw her. The last few months were almost unbearable for the little girl. So much that she took to letting her bangs cover her forehead in hopes it would deter them. But to no avail, Ami and her friends just end up pulling at her bangs and making fun of her hair color.
"Please stop."
"Aw are you gonna cry now? Cry baby!" Ami said with a sneer.
"Hey! What you doing?! Stop it!" A high voice cut in. Sakura peeked between her arms to see a little blonde girl running up the group shaking her fist.
"Oh no! Ami its Ino!"
"Run!"
"Yeah you better run Ami!" The little blonde girl yelled, still shaking her fist at the now running group of bullies. Sakura tentatively stood up from her spot and grabbed the end of her shirt in apprehension as the girl turned her attention to her.
Wow she's pretty.
"Hi! I'm Ino! Don't listen to Ami and her minions. There just a bunch of bullies." Ino said with a smile while extending her small hand. Sakura gave the kind girl a small smile of her own before wiping her tears off her face and taking the girl's hand.
"Wow you're really pretty! So that's why Ami was being mean to you."
Sakura was shocked by the statement. Ami and her friends always called her ugly because of her hair and her forehead. The only people that called her pretty were her parents and grown-ups.
"I-I'm pretty?"
"Yes! Daddy tells me that's why Ami and her friends bully people. Cause there jealous. He also says that you just have to stand up to them and they'll leave you alone. That's what I did!"
"O-oh. But how do you stand up to them?"
"Easy! I'll show you next time they try to be mean to you. Now do you wanna go flower picking with me?"
A feeling little Sakura never felt before appeared in her chest. She couldn't help but grin back at Ino and nod her head. Ino grabbed her hand and dragged her toward this field where apparently the prettiest carnations bloom. Sakura couldn't help but feel like she finally just made her first friend.
.
.
Sakura stood with her mother's photo in her arms. The cloudy and cool weather only enhancing the numbness in her body. Her aunt and uncle stood next to her in there funeral robes, greeting those who came up to express their condolences. 8 year old Sakura didn't recognize anyone who came to speak to them. Only a handful said a few words to the young girl but Sakura couldn't bring herself to do more than just nod her head at them. Satow Haruno kept his left hand on Sakura's shoulder as a sort of anchor. Sakura was glad for the touch. She felt a light squeeze and knew to look up.
Ino and her father, a big man with wide shoulders and darker blonde hair, approached her. Inoichi Yamanaka went to speak with Sakura's aunt and uncle and Ino wrapped her arms around Sakura in a tight hug.
No words were said. The hug was enough for Sakura to break the numbness she found herself in. She hugged Ino back just as tightly as the tears started to fall. When they broke apart Sakura realized Ino was crying as well. But before the two could say anything Ino's father bent down in front of her.
"Sakura-chan I'm very sorry about your mother. Please know that you can stay over whenever you want. And when your all settled in at your Aunt and Uncles we'd love to have you over for dinner." He said with a kind smile and a pat on her head. Ino wiped her tears on her sleeve and smiled.
"Yeah you need to come over soon! Mom and I are going to bake your favorite cake for you!"
Sakura gave her a wobbly smile, tears still falling from her eyes.
"Thank you Yamanka-sama and Ino-chan." Kimura Haruno said with a small smile directed toward Ino.
Sakura waved the two off. Her uncle bent down to his niece, "You have a great friend in that one Sakura-chan. As soon as you're moved in you make sure to go eat that cake of yours at Ino-chans."
"I will Oji-san." Sakura whispered back. Her uncle, with dark circles under his and glassy eyes, smiled and gave his young niece a hug. Over his shoulder her aunt was watching with grieving eyes and a small sad smile.
In that moment Sakura felt grateful. Even though her amazing, kind, strong mother passed from that awful brain tumor she still had her Uncle and Aunt. Who Sakura was always close to while growing up. Who without a question or doubt are taking their young niece into their home and taking over as heads of the Haruno merchant buisness.
She felt grateful but an undeniable and overwhelming sadness still gripped her young heart.
.
.
"A shinobi you say?" Satow Haruno said with a contemplative look on his face. Then he smiled a brilliant smile full of pride. Kimura Haruno gave her a husband a displeased look before turning to her young niece with a steaming cup of tea.
"Sakura honey we support you in any decision you decide to make. But I need to know that you have thought this through. Shinobi life is very dangerous."
Sakura took her tea with a smile. "Yes Oba-san. I've thought about it and have even talked to Inoichi-san as well. I was thinking…maybe I could become a medic."
Satow, always an optimist, grinned, "That's wonderful Sakura-chan! You'll be the best medic there is!"
Kimura sighed at her husband good naturedly. Then looked at Sakura with realization. "Is that why you have so many books on anatomy and medicine in your room?"
Sakura grinned rubbing the back of her head. A look of worry crossed her aunt's face. "I know you're going to say I could just be a doctor but…I want to be strong too."
"…okay fine. We will enroll you into the academy. But you better do your best you hear me?"
Sakura shot across the table and attacked her aunt and uncle into a hug.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will I promise!"
.
.
"Come on Sakura-chan! Let's find the best seats!"
Sakura giggled as Ino dragged her through the door of the academy. "What if they assign seats Ino-chan?"
Ino pouted at her then grinned. "Then we'll just suck up to our sensei till he puts us together! We'll unleash your puppy dogs on him if that doesn't work."
"Ino-chan I think you over exaggerate the power of my puppy dog eyes."
"Sakura-chan it literally works on everyone. Here it is!"
They found there assigned classroom and walked in with a few other students. Ino found seats in the second to last row and let Sakura have the window seat.
Sakura was taking her supplies out of her backpack when Ino elbowed her in the arm to get her attention.
"Sakura-chan look at that boy! He's cute." Ino whisper-yelled in her ear. Sakura looked where she was pointing and it was a boy with dark hair sticking up oddly in the back.
"Yeah he is cute but he looks kind of…stand offish. Is he a clan child?"
"Yeah he's an Uchiha. See that fan on the back of his shirt?"
Sakura noticed the symbol when he sat down in the first row, completely ignoring all the giggling girls trying to talk to him. It was the same symbol she's seen a few times on the back of the Uchiha police force vests of those around the village.
"Alright everyone take your seats!" a man, presumably there sensei came in. He had brown hair tied back into a ponytail with tan skin and a large scar over his nose.
"I am Iruka Umino. Iruka-sensei is just fine. Now I'm going to have every-"
"Sorry I'm late!"
A boy with bright blonde hair and a sheepish grin yelled as he slammed the door opened. Sakura noticed Iruka-sensei gave the boy a strange glare before sighing.
"Since it's the first day I'll let it slide. I was just going to start on class introductions so why don't you go first?"
Naruto grinned then turned to the entire class. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki! And I'm gonna be Hokage one day believe it!"
His proclamation was met with laughter and mocking. But Sakura thought he seemed quite sincere.
.
.
The Uchiha massacre was a brief memory to Sakura. Her first year at the academy was mostly theory work and she dived head first into her books issued by Iruka-sensei and many more at the library. She remembers the news and how the whole village wouldn't stop mentioning the horror in whispers to each other on the street. But one memory she always remembers with clarity is the first day Sasuke Uchiha came back to school. That snooty boy became cold and quiet. She could see his loss in his eyes and wondered if that was how hers looked after her mother passed.
She remembered those first few months wondering if she should try and befriend the boy. But then she always witnessed how he'd coldly ignore anyone who tried to talk to him. Or snapping at Naruto or Kiba in there spars when they got on his nerves. So she stayed away.
It would be a few years later that she regrets not trying harder to be friends with Sasuke Uchiha.
.
.
Despite being one of the more quiet ones in there grade Sakura did make a few more friends. Ino introduced Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akamichi to her early in their first year. Their fathers were on the same team and good friends so Ino knew the boys her whole life, though she finds them incredibly annoying. Choji was kind to her and even offered to share some chips with her quite a few times over the years. Shikamaru was an actual hidden genius. When Sakura struggled with a particularly hard problem, Shikamaru would be the first person she would ask for help. If he was in the mood to that is.
Hinata Hyuga was also someone she quite liked though they've never hung out outside of the classroom. Sakura thought she was even nicer than Choji and Ino made it her personal mission to break Hinata out of her extremely shy shell. Which often times led her to faint when Ino pushed her a little too far.
Shino Aburame was also another classmate Sakura got along well with but like Hinata they've never hung out outside of the classroom. Shino was one of the quietest people she's ever met. Sakura doesn't think she'd ever would have been friends with him if she didn't ask him what book he was reading one day when she noticed the cover. It was the body structure of a strange bug she's never seen before so she was curious. That led to a very insightful conversation on many different species of insects. Sakura found it fascinating. Ino found him strange.
Though in there last year in the academy Sakura realized there was someone she truly did not like. That was Kiba Inuzuka. Though loud and boisterous that was never a quality in a person that bothered Sakura. It was when he started picking on her. It wasn't like full out bullying like Ami use to do when they were children. It was throwing paper balls at the back of her head during class. Or pinning her down during taijutsu spars and then taunting her that she was weak and he was stronger. Or once in a while making her the target of one of his pranks. Sakura doesn't know what she did to make him dislike her. She and Ino have discussed it one day at her home when they were cleaning the dishes after dinner. Ino's mother overheard and just laughed and said that he has a crush on Sakura. Ino gasped as if that solved everything and Sakura just didn't understand. It made no logical sense to her.
They only had a few months left before their graduation exam and Sakura, after spending most of the past few years focusing on the academy curriculum and medical ninjustu, was now focusing on genjutsu. Iruka-sensei told her that she could probably excel in that so she wanted to try something different. Though Iruka-sensei also mentioned not to do anything but the basics, Ino found a book on genjutsu at her parents' home and brought it to school.
"Melting Body Technique looks pretty cool. Wanna try that first?"
"I'd love to but uh I don't think I should try that out on you."
"Come on forehead I can take it!"
"Pig you're not going to freak out seeing your skin melt off your body?"
"…good point."
"Oh I know! I'll make a clone and cast it on the clone."
"Good idea!"
The two girls were sitting on the roof of the academy building for their lunch hour so no one could see the two working on D rank genjutsu. Sakura made a clone and had her sit cross legged in front of the two. Once memorizing the hand signs she then applied her chakra. Her clone sat rigid for a moment then started shrieking in horror staring down at her arms.
"Whoa it's working! You got it on the first try forehead!"
Sakura dispelled the clone and grinned in victory. "That was awesome but a little unnerving seeing myself so terrified."
"Do you feel drained at all?"
"No surprisingly it didn't take a lot of chakra. But I also dispelled my clone pretty quickly."
"Why don't you try Roll With It next?"
"Later some ones coming up the stairs. I think its Naruto and…oh no Kiba. "
Ino being long use to Sakuras good chakra sensing quickly shoved the book back into her backpack and got up. Both girls made to walk through the door when it burst open with the two boys running. Naruto noticed them right away.
"Oh hey Sakura-chan! Hey Ino! Whatcha guys doing up here?"
"Lunch is almost over Naruto. Hurry up or you're going to be late for class." Ino said looping her arm around Sakuras. Sakura smiled and waved at Naruto before the two made for the stairs again.
"Why were ya guys eating on the roof? You never eat on the roof!" Kiba said blocking there path by standing in the doorway. He had that grin on his face that Sakura knew was up to no good.
"Change of scenery. Excuse us please." Sakura said as Ino glared. Kiba scoffed and Akamaru who was on his head barked at him.
"Well you're not excused. Whatcha up to Sakura-chan?"
"Hey dog breath leave her alone!" Naruto yelled at him. Despite the two obviously running away from a prank they just pulled off together Naruto never failed to butt in when Kiba was being rude to Sakura.
"Who you calling dog breath dead last?!"
As the two started bickering Ino and Sakura slipped past while rolling their eyes.
"I don't understand why he's so nosy."
"He's only nosy with you because he likes you."
Sakura rolled her eyes with a sigh as Ino wiggled her eyebrows at her.
"Oh Sasuke-kun! Hello! You did amazing in taijustu class this morning!" Ino said to the stoic boy as they passed him to their seats. And as always he ignored her. Ino just sighed with dreamy eyes as Sakura looked at her with an amused smile.
The day flew by and the two girls were walking home and discussing there homework.
"You memorized all those hand signs?" Ino asked as she put the genjutsu book away.
"Yeah I'll practice them more tonight. Thanks again pig."
"No problem. Now I can put this back in Dads library before he notices. Thank god for your big brain memorizing stuff so quickly."
Sakura laughed then gave her a copy of her notes. "Here that's for the exam tomorrow. Don't forget that chakra control excerise I showed you. But make sure you use the blunt shurikin."
"You're the best! Bye forehead! See you tomorrow!"
"Bye Pig!"
.
.
"I'm getting put with Shikamaru and Choji I just know it."
Sakura patted her shoulder in comfort but couldn't bring herself to lie to her best friend. There's no way they're going to break up the Ino-Shika-Cho formation anytime soon. Today was the day they get there team placements and Sakura couldn't help being a little nervous.
Kami-sama please don't place me with Kiba!
"Alright guys! Once I give the teams out, your instructors will come in and take you for introductions. Team 1-"
Sakura lost focus on the names being called due to her nerves until she heard hers.
"Team 7! Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha! Instructor Kakashi Hatake."
Ino looked at her with jealousy and stuck her tongue out dramatically. Sakura shrugged her shoulders and smiled at Naruto's cheer.
"Team 8! Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga! Instructor Kurenai Yuhi."
"And finally! Team 10! Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akamichi, and Shikamaru Nara! Instructor Asuma Sarutobi."
"Ugh come on!" Throwing her arms up dramatically Ino face planted the desk. Sakura giggled quietly and listened to her rant until her instructor came to pick her team up.
Team 7 seemed to be the last team waiting for their instructor so Sakura got up to go sit down by the males of her team in the first row.
"Isn't this awesome Sakura-chan?! Were on a team together! Even though were with this teme."
Naruto said with a glare toward the stoic boy sitting with his hands interlocked in front of his face. Sakura gave a small smile to both boys.
"I'm looking forward to being on a team with both of you."
Sasuke just glanced at her and didn't respond. Naruto grinned at her and told her to ignore the teme. After what seemed like almost an hour passed Naruto threw his hands up in the air and yelled. Sakura was in the middle of fixing one of her French braids and was startled.
"Naruto-san?"
"He's so LATE! I've had it!"
Naruto got up and placed one of the erasers from the chalk board on the top of the doorway. Sakura smiled but raised an eyebrow. Sasuke scoffed.
"You think a Jonin is going to fall for that dobe?"
"Shut up teme! It'll work! What kind of Jonin is this late anyway? He deserves it believe it!"
Sakura smiled but went back to fixing her braid and her new head band. She couldn't blame Naruto. All this waiting is boring and she didn't have any of her books with her to keep her occupied. Then she felt it. It was faint but it was there.
"He's coming down the hall now." She said quietly, sitting up a bit straighter in her chair.
Sasuke tilted his head slightly as if trying to hear footsteps but couldn't. Naruto just grinned evilly and stood next to where Sakura was sitting. Finally the door slowly opened and unbelievably the eraser hit its mark. Naruto laughed uncontrollably. Sasuke just sneered. Sakura was too shocked that it actually worked to form any kind of response.
The man pat his spiky gravity defying grey hair of chalk remnants. His leaf village headband placed slanted over his left eye and a black skin tight mask covered the lower half of his face. The only feature of his face that was visible was his right eye staring half lidded at his new team.
"Hm. First impression. I hate you."