Haruno Sakura

3. Kisame

Unbeknownst to people, Itachi wasn't the first Akatsuki member Sakura had met.

In fact, the first time she had met an Akatsuki, she had been only seven.

Sakura and her parents were on their way back to Konoha when bandits tried to rob them. The danger wasn't big, for they were just civilians and Kizashi and Mebuki were both capable shinobis.

Nonetheless, Sakura, who had never experienced something like that before, got scared and ran towards the forest as fast as her little legs could carry her.

Hoshigaki Kisame was on his first official mission as an Akatsuki. It was an easy task; he just had to kill some rich prick and take an important scroll. Child's play.

He was jumping from tree to tree when he spotted something bright pink.

His curiosity getting the better of him, he got closer to it.

It turned out to be a little girl. With pink hair.

He took a step towards her, wanting to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him.

No, no, she definitely had pink hair.

And obviously good hearing because as soon as the branch he had stepped on snapped (And how did he not see it? He was supposed to be an S-class ninja, dammit!), she spun round to face him.

He expected her to cower in fear or something (After all, he was blue and 'fishy', as that blonde bastard continuously reminded him), but she just gave him a cute smile.

"Hello!"

Her voice was happy, loud and full of innocence.

"Hello." he found himself greeting back as gently as he could "What are you doing alone in the forest, kid?"

The girl immediately looked down,

"Okaa-san, Otou-san and I were going home when these bad people came and then they started fighting with okaa-san and otou-san and I got scared so I run, but I got lost!"

(A part of Kisame was impressed at how long the girl could talk without taking a breath.)

"Why are you blue?" she asked before he could fully comprehend her story

"Why do you have pink hair?" he countered

The girl pouted and then laughed.

Kisame decided she was a strange little thing.

"I'm Sakura." she finally said

For a second the sixteen-year-old considered if it was wise giving her his name.

Screw it, he thought said,

"Kisame."

He sensed two chakra signatures coming their way and concluded they must be Sakura's parents.

"Your parents are coming, kid. I should go."

"Wait!" her voice stopped him "Will you be my best friend? I don't have one."

He chuckled and nodded.

"Goodbye, best friend!" she yelled as he ran away

When the news of his death arrived, Sakura went to the lake near the training grounds.

She simply sat there, staring at the water.

Why was she grieving?! She didn't even know him that well!

An hour passed and she got up.

After taking few steps, however, she paused to glance back.

"Goodbye, best friend." she said finally

And, perhaps, if things had been different, they could have been something more...

A/N: That was more friendship-y, but in my defense, Kisame is such a complex character! By the way, in my story Kisame is sixteen when he leaves his village, not however-old-he-is-in-the-anime.

I hope I didn't screw that up too badly.

Next is Tsunade.

And after her? I don't know, you tell me.

Love,

Berry