Sakura

Anyone in the Leaf Village who've heard my name –as Naruto has told me- would either say 'Sweet girl with a pretty face' or 'Strongest Genin in our class.'

Well, I don't know about pretty because the gash caused by Orochimaru had left on white scar on the side of my face and there was really nothing I could do. Though now that I lived with the Hokage's family I always keep a good appearance up or face the wrath of the Hokage's daughter. And ever since that time after a long grueling training with Konohamaru's 'top-knotch' teacher I'd just asked my little self-proclaimed brother to get a pair of scissors for so I could chop my hair short to get rid of the knocks. He'd laughed and pointed and Nala, his mother, had fixed it for me the entire time tsking at me about my 'blind butcher's cut'.

But I was strong, I do not doubt that. I could throw a punch faster than Sasuke could detect it (we had a disagreement a few weeks ago, which resulted with my fist in his gut) and I could send him stumbling backwards.

After seeing that Itachi was happy (Well, happy because he got to see Sasuke meet his match.) to report that I inherited my father's kekkei genkai to Push and Pull things toward me and, most likely, his Rinngan to disable an attack. Though that'd be a miraculous thing because there hasn't been a known two Rinngan wielders in the same decade –so everyone was willing to accept I was just a carrier of that gene and if I had children, then my great-grandchildren would be blessed with that gift.

I had been away from my family for almost a year now. I did well in school and trained most of the time –but always found time in between to start a fight with Naruto, Sasuke, Ino or some other random kid in my class. Halfway through my first week I started to put serious thought into becoming a Chuunin of the Leaf so I'd have a headband to slash when I became a full Akatsuki member.

Easier said than done; everyone was so nice to me here.

Though the fact that I was so secretive about my past had the ANBU hauling me in for questioning when I first enter Konaha. Mom had told me not to be scared and to just stick to the story we rehearsed. They knew my father was the leader of a powerful clan (the Akatsuki who stuck together like a family) and that I was the leaders only child and he worried about my safety (that part was sketchy in my mind). That had gotten them more curious and kept me under light surveillance which was annoying.

Like right now when I'm having a victory dinner with my friends at Naruto's favorite place and there standing on the roof across the street watching me eat. Itachi had promised me he'd stay on the village boarder line tonight to give me some peace and these guys were the last thing I needed.

"Ah, man I can't believe were all splitting up tomorrow!" Naruto wailed over a bowl of ramen, pulling me out of my thoughts. I smiled and patted his shoulder.

"We're all still friends, Naruto, and we'll see each other again." Naruto turned to me with pathetic tears running from his sapphire eyes and down his whiskered cheeks.

"Who do you think will be one my team?" Hinata asked brightly, trying to lighten the subject. Naruto shrugged.

"I don't know."

"No, try and guess." Hinata pushed. She'd become more outgoing once I came and she fought with her father less.

"Hmm, Ino-pig and Chouji-pig," Naruto laughed and Hinata looked scared. I laughed at our nicknames for the two.

"Naruto -ha-ha- that's not -ha-ha- that's mean!" I shrieked, throwing a shrimp at him. He adjusted his shiny, new headband and smiled at me. He said he'd never be able to thank me enough for helping him pass his exams, though stealing that large scroll hadn't been that much of a hassle, as long as we had it back before they noticed.

"Who cares? I'm one step closer to being Hokage. I can do whatever I want!"

"Until the Council gives you all that paperwork I've heard about." Sasuke said, being the buzz kill as usual, swirling his black tea around in its glass. Naruto stood on his stool and puffed out his chest looking proud.

"As Fifth Hokage, my first decry is to hand over the paper work to the Council members, so I may send Sasuke on dangerous missions some, in which, he may not come back alive!" Sasuke kicked Naruto's chair and Naruto fell out onto the streets. Ah, the semi-usual squabble begins.

"Baka, I'm stronger than you. I could be Hokage." I chocked on my noodles at the image of Sasuke wearing the Hokage robes and Hinata joined in. "What are you laughing at...pinkie?" I froze at the sound of my old nickname and I kicked the leg of Sasuke's chair and he fell outside of the ramen shop also.

"Idiot," I muttered paying for my empty bowl of ramen. "Night Hinata, see you tomorrow." She waved and returned to her dinner as I exited the shop.

"Sakura!" Naruto called.

"Goodbye Naruto...Sasuke." I turned down a dark alley and walked briskly back to the Hokage's mansion. If Itachi caught me outside at this time of night he'd report it to my parents, then we'd both be canned and under house arrest. And being grounded with Itachi was creepy...he just started at me accusingly like I was the one who tattled on him.

But the Uchiha wouldn't bend the rules for me.

Entering the circular yard filled with various flowers taken care of by servants and a well groomed lawn that no one ever dared to step on because there was a perfectly good stone path leading up to the house. I was half way through the path when I heard a battle cry; spinning out of the way of my attacker I landed in a fight stance, fists at the ready. The lights inside the door opened and Nala opened the door only to sigh when the light shined down on my attacker who laid face down in the grass: Konohamaru.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, pulling myself from the sudden rush of adrenaline.

"Nothin' sis just making sure your really ready to be a ninja." He laughed and rolled on to his side. I jabbed my thumb in the direction of my headband.

"Already am, I'm just getting in my team tomorrow." I smiled and Nala walked off the porch step and pulled her son off the ground.

"Alright young man I've been looking for you, it's time for your bath." Immediately he tried to fight but couldn't get free.

"Help me!" He shouted as he was grabbed across the foyer, completely drained of maids. I shut the door behind me and shook my head. "Your suppose to help people in need!" He became red faced with fury and I started up the stairs to my room.

"Not if those people need a bath." I laughed and I heard a horrified scream followed by a splash.

~X~

"Team 7..." Iruka-sensei read off the list the next day. I crossed my fingers and hoped for one of my friends.

"Kurosu Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke..." Naruto and I gave each other a high-five and Sasuke's frowned lightened a bit.

After all the teams had been assigned I spotted lonely Hinata sitting at her desk, unmoving. None of her friends that she'd made over the past months were with her and they all walked around her, forgotten, chatting with their new teammates. She looked shyly back at Kiba and his ninja-dog, Akumaru, and then quiet Shino. They stood together talking back in forth.

"Hinata," I said, catching her completely off guard as I leaned over her desk. "You need to talk to them. You'll be going on missions with them for the rest of your time as a Genin."

She bit her lip and her lavender eyes glanced back at her teammates.

Slowly she slipped from the chair and pulled me into a hug. "Thanks Sakura." I didn't say anything else; I just kept my smile in place and nodded for Hinata to go. I watched the young heiress walk over and introduce herself. Akumaru sniffed her and barked his approval to his master.

They'll be as thick as thieves. I smiled to no one and tried to stare out the window as I strike up a conversation with Saku.

I'm going to miss spending time with her. She was my first real friend here.

I know you will, I am apart of you remember?

How can I forget?

Kakashi

"Kakashi, who'd you get for your cell?" I sighed and leaned back against a tree.

"Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke…"

"You're going to have your hands full." The kunoichi chuckled and I smirked.

"Also the foreign girl: Kurosu Sakura."

She said nothing else.