Secrets and Memories

***Naruto P.O.V***

Sasuke stared at me, confused, and I took the opportunity to go after Sakura, tracing her chakra back to the apartment. When I made it to our door, I slowly opened the door which had been left unlocked (a very un-Sakura thing to do). "Sakura-chan?" I kept my voice soft as I called for her. I found her alone in her dark room curled up in a corner trembling slightly. "Hey Neko... forget about what Sasuke said.... he just an-"

"Don't... please just leave... I just need some time alone. Please just go..." Her voice was trembling, and I forced myself to move away, ignoring the hurt I felt. "Alright...if that's what you want..." I whispered this, but I doubt she heard me. Slowly I left the room, and then the apartment. It felt so wrong to leave her there. It was like I developed another instinct solely dedicated to taking care of Sakura, but if she needed her space I would give it to her.

Kicking a stone out of my path, I found myself in front of a familiar building - The Kohona Youth Shinobi Acadamy. Fucking academy. Fucking teachers. Fucking dumb-ass hateful shit-faced drunks. "Fuck this shit," I sneered not realizing I had spoken aloud. "Naruto! Must you use that language out loud?" I turned and saw the Sandaime walking towards me. "Yeah, actually I do," I retorted hotly, but that didn't seem to bother him.

"Come. Walk with me," He ordered, and I was tempted to tell him off and run, but at the same time I needed to talk to someone and who better than the great and wise third Hokage? "Fine," I grumbled and fell into the same stride as him as we walked. "Naruto... is there something bothering you?"

"There's always something bothering me, old man." I replied with a sigh, and it was pretty true. There always was something wrong happening. "Would you like to talk about it?" I sighed and rolled my eyes; that was the Third for you, the kind grandparent that everyone had and didn't always want. He was good in these types of situations, though. "Might as well," I mumbled. "So...our sensei, Kyo – you remember him?" I waited until the old man had nodded before I went on.

"He's injured, badly. It's not looking good on his end and Sakura's really upset over it. On top of that her psycho head summon offered her this deal that if she killed Kyo then she would become a lioness. She's going to say no, obviously, but it's still got her really upset. And to add to that, Sasuke-bastard decided to be a total asshole and talk shit about Kyo. Oh, sorry," I said hastily, realizing that I had just sworn three times in front of him. He only nodded slowly, waving a hand in dismissal of my apology. "Go on."

I sighed and continued. "See, she was upset to begin with and then Sasuke just made everything worse because he's so ignorant when it comes to these things. He's missed the fact that Sakura is so close to Kyo, closer than just a sensei and student. Kyo was like a father to her. He took over when her father was killed, which I suppose was a big step. Her dad and Kyo were really close and then when he died – it was like Kyo was there all along. Even though she was upset about her dad, she just accepted him right away, with no questions."

"It was just – dad's not coming back, but Kyo is going to be here instead, and she said, 'Yeah, that's okay.' And then they were always together, between lessons and whatnot. I think she may even be closer with him that she was with her dad. And now for her stupid summon to tell her to kill him – that's like asking her to kill me, but worse! And he's hurt, so she's reliving her dad's death all over again. It's hard on her, which makes it hard on me." I sighed, trying to let out of my pent-up frustration and internal exhaustion. What I had said was true; it was hard on me to see Sakura suffer.

"I can't offer a solution to your problem. You know that. And I can see that this is not something for me to meddle in. But I trust that you will work something out, Naruto. You always managed to figure something out." The Third smiled down at me and I felt better being able to confide in him. "Thanks, I guess. I'm going to head home." I waved slightly as I turned and started back towards the apartment, leaving the Third behind.

***Sakura P.O.V***

After lying curled in a ball under the covers for a while, I finally decided that the cramping in my side was a little too painful to ignore. With a groan I uncurled and stretched out, doing a full-body stretch from my toes all the way up to my fingers. I rolled stiffly off of my bed, landing awkwardly on the ground. I stood and headed out of my room, not entirely sure where I was going. I was in the hallway when I noticed that the door to Kyo-sensei's bedroom was open. I had never seen his private rooms before, and my curiosity was too strong to pass up an opportunity like this.

I backtracked and slowly stepped into his room, glancing over it and taking in the plain walls and simple bed. It was pretty devoid of any personal touches, except for the trunk that sat at the end of the bed. There was a lock on it but it was currently open, so I headed over to see what was inside. It occurred to me while I was lifting the top of the trunk that it was a little odd for me to be snooping; but at the moment I really couldn't care less. Inside the trunk was a bunch of old pictures, along with a few other items that I didn't bother with.

I took out the stacks of pictures, and as I lifted them away a worn-looking brown book was revealed underneath them. Curious, I picked it up and set it down on the bed, next to the pictures. I sat down on the bed and started looking over all the pictures. I blinked in surprise when I realized that they were pictures of me, my mother and father. Here was a shot of my parents, probably before I had came along. In another shot I was laughing in my father's arms while my mother laughed as well and leaned against him.

I peered closer at it and noticed that standing behind my father was Kyo, smiling as he looked on. I looked back at the first picture, and on the edge of the picture was Kyo again. I started going through more pictures, and sure enough, Kyo was in almost every one of them, weather in the background or the main focus of the picture, he was there. After I finished going through the pictures I finally turned to the small brown book.

I opened it to the first page and almost dropped it in shock. Inside was written a name in the bottom corner; the name was Natsumi Shinigami, the name of my mother. With shaking fingers I gently turned the page and flicked through a few pages until I reached a date that would put my age as just about one. The entry read:

Today Sakura took her first steps; not towards me or my husband, but towards Kyo. I am not saddened by this; rather, I am happy that she trusts him enough to take her first steps towards him. I am proud of my little Sakura. When she reached Kyo she looked up at him and smiled and then promptly fell over, which made us all laugh. She walked a little more later, this time to me...

The entry went on, talking about the rest of her day and a little more about me. I flickered through more pages until I came to a picture that was of me when I was two or maybe three. The entry underneath was shorter than some of the others I had passed.

Sakura let Kyo pick her up for the first time today. She has never let him do that before and it surprised us all when she held out her arms to him. Kyo himself was very, very pleased, although he hid it well.

I smiled slightly at the picture that was above it; I was in Kyo's arms, laughing, and he had an expression of surprised delight written across his face. But then the smile dropped from my face and I hastily turned the page, trying to ignore the hurt that I felt looking at the picture. I flickered through the diary a bit more, and when I glanced over any writing most of them involved me. The diary went up until my fifth birthday, and then it stopped rather abruptly.

I closed the book and replaced it in Kyo's trunk. I looked over all of the pictures again before those too were replaced in the trunk. I was careful to try and put them back right where I had gotten them, because I didn't want anyone to know that I had been snooping. I finally left Kyo's room, heading out towards the kitchen. My stomach was empty but I didn't think I'd be able to eat anything, so I just sat down at the table, staring at nothing. My mind began to wander, and a sudden memory invaded my mind.

---Flashback---

Narrative P.O.V.

"Kyo-chan!!!" the tiny toddler called. "What is it Sakura?" Kyo inquired in his calm deep monotone voice. "I wan go up!" A soft smile lit his face as he picked up the three year old. She always made this demand whenever she saw him. Sakura threw her arms around his neck, and placed a very sloppy but affectionate kiss on his cheek, and promptly fell into babbling something about candy pirates. "An then – Kyo, are you listenen?" Sakura poked him in the cheek and the caramel-haired man gently batted her hand away. "Yes, Sakura, I'm listening. Please go on."

Satisfied with his answer, she smiled and continued. "An then, you know what the pirate did? He wend and fighted the ninjas! But you know what? Da ninjas beated him!" She burst into laughter and Kyo smiled as he carried her away.

---End flashback---

I sighed as the memory faded away – I was actually a little surprised that I remembered that far back. What I didn't remember was what the pirate was...maybe a book or a story I had been told. I remembered another memory, this time from when I was older.

---Flashback (again!)---

"Um...Kyo?" A five year old Sakura peered tentatively into the living room, hanging back in the hallway. Kyo turned and spotted her, and his brow furrowed. "Sakura? What are you doing up so late? How come you're not in bed?" Sakura looked down at her feet, abashed. "I...I had a bad dream and now I can't sleep," She whispered, looking more upset with herself than she did with his reprimands. Kyo was silent. "Come here," He said finally, and Sakura hesitantly walked out from behind the wall and over to stand in front of him. "Here," Kyo said, reaching down and pulling her onto his lap. She looked up at him with wide green eyes, her bottom lip trembling. "Do you want to tell me about it?" Kyo asked gently, and as if that were the okay, Sakura burst into tears and buried her face in his shoulder.

"It-it was so scary!" She sobbed, clinging to his arm. "Th-there were no-faces, a-a-and daddy t-tried to fight t-t-them, but he c-couldn't, and then he d-disappeared, and...It was s-so horrible!" She cried, sobbing in his arms. "Shhh, it's okay now. It was just a dream, see? It's not real. You're alright." Kyo gently stroked her hair, rocking her until her sobs quieted down to small hiccups. After a time the hiccups subsided and she fell silent, her mouth hanging open as she fell asleep again. Kyo smiled and gently carried her back to her room, setting her down on her bed and pulling the covers over her.

---End flashback---

I set my head down on the table as the memory faded. My hair pooled around me, the long pink strands tangled and a little messy. My hair was so long, I realized; it fell down to just above my waist. It hadn't been cut since I was a little kid. On a sudden impulse I got up and headed over to the drawer that was next to the fridge. I pulled it open and spotted the pair of scissors that lay on top of the other assorted junk that cluttered the drawer. I decided that it was time for a change.

Heading to the bathroom, I stood in front of the mirror while holding the scissors. Slowly and carefully, I reached back and closed the scissors. Snip. I never knew the sound of scissors cutting hair sounded so...relaxing. Snip. Snip. Snip. Down fell locks of my pink hair, landing on the floor in a small pile. I looked in the mirror, and my hair now sat just above my shoulders, shorter in the back but the parts in the front longer. I reached up and gently touched my hair, setting the scissors down on the sink counter. I never realized how much I looked like my mother until I had cut my hair to the same length as hers.

I picked up all of the hair that I had cut and dropped it in the trash, closing the lid on top of it. I stood and headed back to Kyo's room with the intention to look for more pictures of my mother, but all I could find was another small black notebook. Curious, I picked it up and sifted through it. To my surprise, this journal belonged to Kyo. I started back in the beginning of the book. Most of the entries were nondescript and depicted daily happenings. But I stopped when I noticed the wood 'Haruno' on one page. I started reading at the top.

It's been three months since the day that my father killed Sayu Haruno.

I actually dropped the book in shock. Sayu Haruno...she was the founder of the Haruno clan! The first Haruno! How did Kyo know her, and how was Masatake-sama involved in her death?

I try to suppress my feelings of anger towards my father over something that happened three months ago, but I cannot forgive him for what he has done. When I look at him all I see is blood on his hands. I care not that I am bound to a human form, or that my power has been nearly all destroyed. The fact that my love is dead is what grieves me the most.

His love?! Kyo and Sayu were lovers?! When did this happen?! He had never, in all the years that I knew him, mentioned anything about Sayu Haruno or even having a lover. This left many questions circulating through my head. Masatake-sama had killed her, but how and why I didn't know. I needed to know, and I knew that I couldn't ask Masatake what had happened. I also knew that I couldn't wait and ask Kyo either.

There was only one place that would have the answer...the village.

I knew right away that I had to go and go now. I ran to my room, dropping Kyo's book on the floor as I moved. I grabbed my pack and shoved a few kunai and extra clothes inside, and then ran to the kitchen, added a few non-perishable foods, and Yuki's sword. I grabbed the notepad and scribbled a quick note to Naruto before I was out the door, slamming it behind me.

***Naruto P.O.V***

The door was actually locked when I finally came back to the apartment, and it took me a minute to find my key and get it unlocked. I carefully opened the door and stepped inside, locking it behind me. "Sakura?" I called softly, dropping my keys on the table. There was no answer, but I hadn't really been expecting one. I headed into the hallway and knocked gently on her door. "Sakura, can I come in?" I asked through the door, but there was no answer here either.

"Please let me in?" I said softly but there was only silence again. I frowned and waited outside her door. "I'm coming in, whether you like it or not," I grumbled, opening the door and stepping inside. I stopped, seeing that the room was empty. "Ooooookay..." I muttered, turning and walking back into the hallway. I noticed that Kyo's door was open but dismissed the idea; there was no way that Sakura would be in there. I headed back into the kitchen, feeling more frustrated. Where the hell was she? On the table I finally noticed that there was a note. With a twinge of annoyance I picked it up and read it.

Naruto-

I'm sorry to just leave you like this, but there are some things I have to do, a few questions that must be answered. Please take care of the house and go to training. Behave and don't get into any fights with Sasuke. I'll be back as soon as I can.

Love, Sakura

I slammed the notepad down on the table and swore violently, snatching my keys and my pack and bolting from the room. "Damnit, Sakura! Why the fuck did you leave? Damn it all!" I slammed the door behind me and stormed out into the street. I was going after her, that was for sure. But I was getting some help. I ran as fast as I could to Gai's training ground – I knew that they would help me, of all people. I burst into their training area and very promptly crashed into Neji. "Aw-fuck, get off!" I snarled, pushing him away.

He stood and glared at me. "What are you doing, you moron?" He hissed, and I returned the glare and moved on, ignoring him. I guess he didn't like being ignored because he came after me, clearly frustrated. "What. Are. You. Doing?" I made my way over to Gai, who was standing besides Lee and Tenten. "Gai-san, I need your help," I said, pushing Neji out of my way. He stopped talking and turned. "Ah, so you have realized that the power of youth cannot be achieved on your own! I am proud of you, Naruto, so now we can achieve youth together! Now-"

"Sakura's gone and I have to find her. She just left-" Neji interrupted me. "She'll be back soon enough. You're getting worked up over nothing. So relax." I whirled on him with an angry hiss. "I will not relax! This is serious, damnit, why won't anyone listen to me!" I stumbled and then tripped, landing hard on my side. I sat the right way and put my head in my hands, feeling utterly hopeless. A gentle hand touched my shoulder. "Naruto, what happened?" I looked up to see Tenten, looking genuinely concerned.

"Sakura left. She just up and left. She's gone and I don't know where she went, but I have to find her. I can't just leave her." She frowned, straightening up and glancing over at Gai. "I think we should go with him," She said, and Lee jumped into the conversation. "Yes! I agree! I must go help my Sakura-san if she is lost! We should all go!"

Neji made a face. "I don't see what this is all about. If she left on her own then I don't understand why we should go after her." I stood angrily, growling at him. "Because I said so, that's why," I spat, turning to Gai. "Please, Gai-san. Please come with." He was silent before he nodded, and I brightened. "Thank you," I said sincerely, turning and heading out of the training grounds.

First we would pack and prepare.

Then, we would look for Sakura.

---Later---

Kakashi looked around the empty training grounds. "Where the hell is my team?"

A.N: This was a pretty serious chapter, so I just had to add that last little bit with Kakashi to lighten it up a bit. xD And it worked right? Uh so I think these side-of-the-main-plot chapters are just us trying to A) come up with some good stuff for you guys, B) add some nice plot twitsts, and C) avoid writing the Chunin Exams. they're gonna be a pain in the ass to write. But we hope you enjoyed the chapter! inner sakura will be making an appearance pretty quickly as well.

-kitsunegirls