Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Note: Edited this chapter because the first one was a mess. Well…I hope that this one is less of a mess. T.T
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Sakura listlessly sat on a stone bench underneath an old tree. Her eyes followed a string of children going out of the academy's gate to head home. In the distance she could see parents expectantly waiting for their respective children to meet them.
The girl sighed to herself. There would be no one to pick her up. Her mother expected her to get home by herself. Of course she knew the way home, it was just… it wasn't the same.
She opened her bag and inspected its contents. It was all there, she had not forgotten anything. Before she usually forgets her books on her desk and upon arriving home her mother would then scold her for being so careless with her things.
Slowly she slung her bag on her shoulders and began walking towards the gate. Someone called out her name from somewhere behind her. Then everything went dark as something warm covered her eyes. Startled, she instinctively tried to pry the hands away from her eyes, but stopped when she heard that distinct giggle.
"Ino I know it's you," the hands dropped and immediately she found herself constricted in a hug by her friend.
They walked hands swinging back and forth. Ino, cheerful as always, started recounting to Sakura all the peculiar habits she had observed from Sasuke. Sakura listened not missing the peculiar way her friend was smiling.
At times she found it irritating that all her friend could talk about lately was that boy. But for the most part, it was entertaining. Ino had the talent of turning any mundane event into something very amusing.
Sakura was laughing as they neared the gate; it had something to do about obsessions with tomatoes, but unfortunately Ino have to cut her story short. Ino disengaged her hand from Sakura, waved good-bye and met her father outside.
Sakura turned the opposite direction, started her own way home.
The streets were unusually jam-packed today. She had to dodge every adult that passed by her to avoid being toppled. Annoyingly, the left strap of her bag slipped from her shoulder for the second time. Pausing to adjust it a huge man suddenly brushed passed her.
She almost fell over but regained her balance quickly enough. Narrowly missing the stampede of men that came rushing after, trying to keep up with the huge man. It wasn't hard to tell who they were—if only by their outfits, but it was odd to find a lot of shinobi together roaming about the streets. It's rare for them to be amongst the civilian population in such alarming number.
Finally losing interest at the receding shinobi, Sakura scowled as she brushed the dirt off her bag. Luckily she managed to save it in time from becoming a flattened pancake. Strapping back her bag with a huff she resolutely dived into the crowd. And never mind about stepping on someone's bloody toes, all she wants now is to get out of this crowded street as fast as she can.
Thirty-five minutes later she stood blinking as she read the street sign. She read the sign again. The words didn't change as she hoped it would. Alarm sirens started wailing in her head. Frantic, she looked wildly about her for anything familiar.
Her heart sank significantly. This was definitely an unknown territory. She was lost and it was all her fault for being so hasty, for not paying attention to where exactly she was going, and why had she not asked that kind looking lady previously for directions?
A hot prickling sensation started around her eyes. But she stubbornly shut her eyes tight, angry at herself for feeling pathetic, and furiously wiped her eyes dry. With great effort she began retracing her steps, trying to recall places and familiar land marks as she went along.
Her spirit soared when she saw a familiar run-down building near a vacant lot. It used to be a playground. She headed towards it with a cheerful gait, but abruptly halted when she saw something lurking within the slanting shadow of the building.
She first heard a snarl before a dark menacing creature stepped out of the shadows. Sakura instantly grew pale. It was by all account a monster of a dog. It didn't look too happy to see her, with its huge bared teeth, and by the way it was foaming at the mouth—and—and did its eyes just glow crimson?!
It took an ominous step forward.
Sakura nervously took a step back.
She didn't know when her legs had move and she couldn't care less. The wind was already roaring in her ears when she began to be fully aware that she was already running desperately down the twisting alleyways. The Monster Dog still hot on her heels.
Already pushed beyond their limit it wasn't long before her legs and her lungs began screaming at her but went unheeded. Then strangely colors started to melt and dance before her eyes. For a fleeting second she thought she saw a bright red orange spark flickered before it exploded. A shock of hot wind blew over her head, followed by an unmistakable sound of searing flesh and sharp yelp of pain.
Still blindly running, her face unexpectedly connected with something soft yet hard at the same time. She almost fell back until two strong hands held firm to her slim shoulders to steady her.
"Are you all right?" she recognized the voice but all she could see was a hazy shadow before her vision finally cleared. Never before in her young life had she been so happy to see a person until now. But euphoria was then replaced with fear. She whipped her head around in panic.
"The dog it—" her frantic voice faltered when she saw nothing but a vacant street behind her.
"It's gone now," he explained. Overcome with great relief her legs finally collapsed beneath her in cataplexy.
Itachi decided it best to travel on top of the roofs to avoid the congested streets and it was the fastest and the safest route—if you didn't count falling—to the little girl's house. He then felt Sakura stir on his back as he landed in front of her house.
"Please don't tell my Mother what happened…" her voice was just barely above whisper but he heard her nonetheless, "…I don't want her getting worried about me."
He set her down on her feet and nodded in understanding. He started to go but stopped when he felt a gentle tug on his shirt. As he turned around he saw a curious play of expression on the girl's face.
"What is it?" he asked puzzled as he bent down so they were eye to eye.
"I just wanted to say thanks," There was a pause. It seemed she wanted to say something more but then hesitated. Patiently he waited for her to continue. Then, without warning, she gave him a fierce hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
There was a delayed reaction of surprise from the boy when the girl had finally disappeared inside her house. A certain strange feeling drifted on the surface but he dismissed it as fast as it had come. He shook his head once before his face took on the usual stoic expression. He started for the Hokage Tower. He was already late as it is.
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Note: I wish I knew where this story is going T,T