"Who are you?" Fear seized Sakura's entire body as she caught sight of the band adorning the man's forehead. "You're from Konoha," she barely managed to whisper.
Paralyzed, Sakura could do nothing but stare at him with wide eyes.
Kakashi observed the pink-haired girl in front of him. Why was a child alone in the middle of the forest? Had she separated from the brother he had heard being called? He couldn't leave her there; the forest was too dangerous for her to be alone.
"What's your name, little girl?" he tried to sound as gentle as possible not to scare her more than she already was.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow when he saw her frown, annoyed despite being clearly scared.
"My name is Haruno Sakura."
The name resonated in the back of his mind. Could it be possible? No, the only Haruno he knew who was outside the village wasn't as young as this girl.
"I'm Hatake Kakashi. Tell me, why is a little girl like you in the forest?"
She wasn't foolish; she knew Itachi had done something wrong. The night they met was full of blood that wasn't hers; they must be looking for him. Still, the fear of being taken back to that horrible city continued to resonate in her body. No, she didn't want to leave when she had finally found a glimmer of hope. She closed her eyes and concentrated, using her resonance to locate Itachi. She had to find a way to buy time while waiting for Itachi to arrive.
"I got lost," she tried to pout as convincingly as possible, maybe that way she could throw off the man.
Kakashi didn't believe it. Lost? The nearest city was very far away; if she had gotten lost, she would have had to walk for a long time, and her appearance didn't match that. Haruno... Could it be? Suddenly, as fast as lightning, he remembered that Soku Haruno, his teammate, had younger sisters, and one of them was missing.
"You're the missing girl," he said as a belated thought. Yes, those eyes, that gaze, resembled him. How?
A little longer before Itachi arrives. If she wanted to convince this man and throw him off balance, she would have to speak the truth.
"I decided to escape. I'll never go back to my family. They treated me badly, and that's why I'm not there anymore," as she spoke, she revealed the still visible bruises under the long sleeve that slipped back. The different shades hinted at the age of some of the marks.
Kakashi didn't know what to do for a moment. First, there was the question of how she had walked so far in just a couple of days. And then, there was the fact that he hadn't heard anything about what was happening to his teammate's sister. Additionally, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as soon as Sakura mentioned that someone had taken her.
"You'll come with me," was all he could articulate, taking a step forward. If there was family abuse, that would have to be addressed by Soku and his family. He could do nothing more than return her to Konoha.
As he took another step forward, Kakashi jumped back with agility as he saw a Kunai bury itself right where he had stood seconds before. Someone was attacking them while they spoke! He looked for the girl to protect her and was surprised to see her slung over the shoulder of none other than the infamous Uchiha Itachi.
"Uchiha Itachi."
"Hatake Kakashi."
The two faced each other with challenging looks, unafraid of what the other might attempt. Kakashi knew that a fight against the Uchiha prodigy would be extremely difficult due to his infamous skills.
"Not only did you wipe out all the members of your clan, but you've also just kidnapped a girl from Konoha. How low are you going to stoop?" Kakashi's hard gaze said it all. Although they were once comrades, that didn't matter now that Itachi had turned against Konoha. He would show no mercy.
Sakura was in shock. Her innocent mind knew she had done something wrong, but even in her darkest thoughts, she hadn't considered the possibility of death. Death was something so distant and intangible that, at seven years old, she saw it as incomprehensible. Killing her family... The mere idea of killing sounded so distant and strange. Was it so easy to take someone's life? She looked at her hands and then at Itachi's back. How easy was it for someone to die? As if her mind had opened to a new world, she began to understand how vast and dark the world could be. She felt small, very small in the face of the unknown, vulnerable and unprotected.
While Sakura was immersed in her own world, exploring and pushing the boundaries of the unknown, Itachi and Kakashi remained locked in their staring contest, aware that a lapse in concentration could cost them their lives, so alert to the slightest movement. Itachi activated his Sharingan, and Kakashi revealed his hidden eye.
"I'm not here to finish you," Itachi said with a calmness that suggested they were having a casual conversation rather than facing off in the midst of a conflict.
Kakashi frowned at such tranquility. "I'm here to stop you," he responded, quickly moving towards Itachi with a Chidori in hand, so fast that a casual observer would barely have been able to follow his movement.
The Chidori struck the opponent's body, and Kakashi wasn't surprised to find that he had only attacked a clone.
"It seems that even with the Sharingan, you're no match for me," Itachi said from behind Kakashi, leaning against a tree branch with Sakura still on his shoulder.
Kakashi turned just in time to throw two kunai; the first clashed with Itachi's, but the second embedded itself in Itachi's forehead before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, revealing that it was only a clone.
"You've become slow, Kakashi," Itachi's voice echoed from another location.
Unable to find any trace of Itachi anywhere, Kakashi frowned. It was an illusion! As he performed the seal to free himself from the genjutsu, he spotted Itachi leaping agilely from branch to branch in the distance with the girl with pink hair still on his shoulder. Without hesitation, Kakashi began to pursue. Itachi had covered a great distance, and it wouldn't be easy to catch up to him soon.
Suddenly, one of his teammates, Soku, a man with magenta dark hair and emerald eyes, appeared beside him.
"Why did you let the Uchiha escape?" Soku asked seriously.
"Soku, your sister isn't missing; she's been kidnapped by Itachi Uchiha," Kakashi responded as he continued to leap from branch to branch without missing a beat. If it weren't for Soku's relationship with the girl, Kakashi might have fought more determinedly and without concern for hurting his teammate's sister.
Before Soku could articulate a word, several shadow clones of Itachi emerged in front of them, forcing them to engage in a bloody battle where they had to fight for their lives against mere clones.
Finally, exhausted after defeating all the clones, they looked at each other, realizing they had lost track of Itachi...
"Damn it!" Soku exclaimed with frustration, resentment, and guilt. Sakura was gone because of him, for not being there for her...
Kakashi watched him in silence, sharing in his weariness. He knew it was time to return.
"We must go back and inform the Hokage about the situation," Kakashi declared, considering the turn of events. He never would have imagined that the powerful Uchiha clan would fall, let alone that the prodigious heir of the clan would be the culprit. Now, in addition to shadowing Naruto, he also had to take care of Uchiha Sasuke. If that wasn't enough to feel like a babysitter, now he also had to find that girl.
Itachi and Sakura remained silent as he leaped from branch to branch for a long time. Neither of them knew how to start the conversation. Sakura felt uncertain about whether Itachi would be upset, punish her, or leave her behind if she asked what had happened to her family. She sensed that it wasn't the right time to address the issue.
"Itachi-nii, where are we going?" Sakura asked once she opened her eyes. At some point during the journey, she had fallen asleep.
The lush forest had given way to a plain covered in sand, and the cold weather made their breath turn into vapor. The sun had set, giving way to the moon and the stars.
The speed of their journey increased considerably, causing Sakura to feel a sense of vertigo in her stomach as the sand became blurred.
"We're inside the Land of Wind heading to Suna. I need to procure weapons. It's the best option to obtain them discreetly at the moment," Itachi explained seriously, though his soft tone hinted that he wasn't upset with her.
Feeling relieved to know that Itachi wasn't angry with her, Sakura was able to relax against his shoulder. On the other hand, Itachi also felt relieved that Sakura hadn't brought up the topic of her family at that moment. If it had been Sasuke, he would undoubtedly have asked immediately. Now, his focus was on finding a way to incorporate her into Akatsuki as well. He couldn't leave her now that he had taken her with him.
After a couple of days, they finally arrived at Suna, a place where those from Konoha couldn't enter without risking certain deaths due to political conflicts. Itachi concealed his headband marked as a missing ninja and dressed in villager's clothing. They pretended to be adopted siblings who were in the village for business matters. During breaks before reaching Suna, Itachi helped Sakura with her training. He was still amazed at Sakura's ability to absorb knowledge like a sponge. Once in Suna, in the safety of the room they rented, Itachi continued teaching her.
The next day after they arrived in Suna, in the morning, they ventured together into the market. For Sakura, this experience was both exciting and terrifying. She had never left Konoha before, and facing so many new things and new faces stirred up as much fear as excitement in her. She spent most of the time half-hidden and clinging to the edge of Itachi's shirt as if being close to him would protect her. The fear of the unknown outweighed her curiosity to explore.
On Itachi's part, he couldn't help but form what might be a barely perceptible smile. Not many children had the opportunity to experience new things at such a young age. Now, a girl from Konoha was inside one of the markets of an enemy village, unsure if this would be a terrifying or rewarding experience. Everything in Suna was different from Konoha: the stalls, the predominant colors on the streets, and the stern expressions of the adults and youths. For the first time, he felt nostalgic for his land.
They continued walking through Suna's market until they reached a shop that captivated Sakura: a ninja tool store! Her eyes sparkled like gems as she forgot her fear and approached the shop windows full of shiny ninja tools. She had always dreamed of using them, but she had never imagined that one day she would have the opportunity to do so. Kunais, shurikens, smoke bombs, swords, and many other things she couldn't name were displayed on the counter, sparking her desire to own them someday.
Her daydream was interrupted when she felt a large hand rest on her shoulder. Regaining awareness of what she was doing, she shivered slightly and timidly looked into Itachi's eyes, hoping not to find anger or disdain for having strayed from him to marvel at the things she longed to touch and use someday.
Noticing the soft gaze directed at her, despite his impassive face, Sakura relaxed slightly. At that moment, she noticed the presence of two people next to Itachi: a man and a woman.
"Are you sure you're giving this to the girl?" the man inquired, showing doubts as he observed the little girl who didn't seem to have the appearance of a future kunoichi. Itachi nodded, and the man shrugged, it wasn't his business to question the decisions of his customers. As long as they paid, everything would be fine for him. If the companion wanted to see that thin, fearful girl die, it was not his problem. "Money is money."
As a sign of approval, the woman beside him smiled at Sakura.
"Come with me," the woman indicated.
Sakura looked hesitant, waiting for some response from Itachi, but seeing him heading towards the man behind the counter without saying anything, and nothing happening when he did, she took hesitant steps to follow the woman to the back of the store.
While waiting at the front of the store, Itachi completed the payment for his purchases. He had brought enough money to sustain them both for several months under optimal conditions and even had a little extra left over. He was always prepared, and now, after deserting Konoha, he was even more cautious. As he waited for Sakura to emerge, his mind wandered among the training sessions they had done together. He had seen her progress notably: she already mastered the tree-climbing and water-walking technique using chakra, and surprisingly, she had shown skill in tracking. Although her chakra reserves were very limited and she had a genjutsu nature, he had identified in her an exceptional intelligence that he planned to capitalize on in the future. For now, he was helping her improve her stamina, hoping that one day she would be at his level, at least that's what he inferred from the determination in her gaze.
However, he still noticed in her a certain shyness and fear, as well as a constant search for approval before acting. It was something they would have to work on together. In a short time, he had identified her strengths to enhance and her weaknesses to improve. Although she had little strength and chakra, her intellectual capacity was impressive. She absorbed everything he taught her like a sponge, showing genuine interest in every word he conveyed about ninja history or other topics.
"Itachi-nii," Sakura's trembling voice made him turn towards her.
There she stood, with a flushed face, looking completely different. She had pulled her hair back from her forehead with the red ribbon she always kept wrapped around her arm. Thanks to that ribbon, which seemed to have a special meaning, her face was uncovered without the pink hair carelessly falling over it. She wore a short kimono that reached her knees, tied with a pink sash. Underneath, she wore white shorts, and on her right leg, a kunai holster. Her sandals, designed for ninjas, were black.
The woman accompanying her murmured about how cute she looked.
"T-thank you, Itachi-nii," she exclaimed louder than she wanted.
Emotions overwhelmed her, ranging from joy to embarrassment. Never before had someone bought her something without expecting something in return, and she didn't know how to express what she felt. Fortunately, Itachi seemed to understand her feelings and nodded approvingly as he assessed her. With some courage gained from Itachi's acceptance and a bit of fear, she approached and took Itachi's hand without daring to look him in the eye. It wasn't until he returned the squeeze that her muscles relaxed at his touch.
The night was beginning to fall, and Sakura's stomach growled in protest at having gone hours without eating, much to her embarrassment. Itachi took them to a small café where they could eat comfortably. Throughout dinner, Itachi watched as Sakura blatantly tried to cover her forehead with her bangs.
"Don't cover your forehead," he intervened.
Sakura tensed in her place and automatically stopped playing with her hair, nodding despite her discomfort. As if suddenly remembering who was in front of her, she forced herself to relax and looked ashamedly at Itachi. Seeing her expression, she understood that he wanted her to explain why she was trying to hide her forehead.
"In Konoha," she licked her lips, avoiding letting Itachi hear this ugly part of her life, "they made fun of my forehead a lot because it's huge."
"Don't be ashamed of yourself," he said seriously, making Sakura feel a little intimidated from across the table. She shrunk in her seat, thinking that Itachi was upset with her for something so insignificant. "Those kids were wrong to make fun of you. You must show that you are a proud and confident girl because you want to become the greatest kunoichi in history."
Sakura's eyes widened at considering what Itachi had said. His words penetrated deeply into her being, awakening something within her chest that she had only felt when he took her out of Konoha and became friends with Ino: hope. He was encouraging her to be herself, confident in her actions, and above all, not to fear what others thought of her. A huge smile spread across her lips as she thought that her new brother was a wonderful person whom she aspired to emulate someday. Loving her brother Itachi was a feeling growing deeper in her heart.
Suddenly, she felt a surge of courage to ask Itachi about death. Now that he had given her permission to be confident in herself, she decided that it was the right time to address the topic that had been bothering her for some time. She took a breath before looking at Itachi with determination and asking the questions.
"Itachi, what is death? And what happened to your family?" Despite mustering the courage to ask her questions, they came out in a whisper that, thanks to Itachi's sharp hearing, reached his ears.
Itachi's eyes briefly gleamed before dimming. He leaned back in his chair, suddenly feeling more tired than he actually was when his mind returned to that fateful night. While he appreciated Sakura's progress in acting independently, her questions didn't surprise him. He had noticed how she had deeply pondered what Kakashi had casually mentioned in front of them.
On one hand, he wanted to protect the innocence he himself never had. But on the other, he felt the need to prepare Sakura for the harsh world she was entering. He had already taken the first steps by teaching her to be a ninja, and the next, more crucial step, was helping her overcome her insecurity. If he wanted her to progress, he would have to make a difficult decision, hoping it wouldn't turn her into someone like him, or even worse.
Itachi didn't realize he had closed his eyes until he opened them and saw Sakura in front of him, eagerly awaiting his answers. He decided he wouldn't allow her to completely lose her innocence, teaching her that life wasn't just black and white, and being a ninja didn't guarantee being untouchable.
Since Sakura was just a child and he couldn't guarantee she wouldn't reveal the truth behind the massacre, he omitted his collaboration with the individual now calling himself Tobi, as well as the impending Uchiha rebellion. Instead, he told her a version of the events that Konoha would know. Sakura, being an excellent student, remained silent throughout the conversation, absorbing everything she could, even what she didn't fully understand. Thanks to years of observing her parents' expressions, she could sense the slight pain in Itachi's gaze as he narrated the story. Still, she remained silent, understanding the importance of the moment. She didn't say or do anything as Itachi spoke, not even when they reached the moment of the Uchiha massacre.
Finally, they fell silent. Sakura looked down at her hands, reflecting on the concept of death, something that still felt fuzzy and almost extraordinarily terrifying to her. When she looked up, her lively green eyes met Itachi's deep onyx eyes, where for the first time she saw the torment that slightly darkened his gaze, trying to ward off his own ghosts. Although Itachi had claimed that the clan's death was merely to gauge his power, something deep within her told her it wasn't true; otherwise, they wouldn't be sitting face to face at that moment. A slight twisting in her stomach reminded her of the possibility that something dark and terrifying was lurking for her brother, something she didn't want to happen in the future.
"Itachi-nii," she called, determined. Whatever he was planning, she wasn't going to let him go. She took Itachi's hands in hers, clinging to him to prevent him from leaving, fearing that if he did, he would disappear forever. "I promise you, if I ever encounter your brother, I'll make him change his mind. You can't die."
The smile Itachi returned didn't grant her the reassurance she desired, but she was determined to carry on with her resolution, even if it meant going to the ends of the earth to change it.
"It's already night. It's time for you to learn what happens in the ninja world," Itachi said, rising from his seat.
Sakura tilted her head to the side and nodded, curious to discover what else Itachi would teach her about ninjas. Without hesitation, she rose from her seat and followed him. Thanks to the training she had received, Sakura was able to climb the walls of a house to reach the rooftops. She still marveled when Itachi took her by the side to leap to the next house; for her, it was like being able to fly, and she hoped to master that skill soon.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Itachi stopped on the next rooftop and guided her to a corner to hide. She was about to ask what was happening when she felt fear that they might be pursued by Kakashi. Itachi put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be silent, and with his eyes, he gestured for her to look down.
As Sakura followed his instructions, she saw a narrow, dark alley where a young woman was walking seemingly calmly, although all of Sakura's internal alarms warned her she shouldn't be alone in such a lonely and gloomy place. She almost gasped when a man emerged out of nowhere and grabbed the girl, covering her mouth with his hand. Although Sakura tried to look away, Itachi forced her to keep watching. Horrified, she watched as the helpless woman struggled in vain in the arms of the foul-smelling man.
The man taunted as he wrestled with the woman's bag, who cried and tried to scream. Finally, he managed to snatch it away and pulled out a knife from his pants, slashing the woman's throat in one swift motion. Blood gushed from her neck and soaked her shirt. When the woman stopped moving, the man tossed her aside as if she were a rag doll. Just as the man began to walk away, Itachi drew a kunai from his holster and threw it, hitting him in the neck. In the end, both the woman and the man lay on the ground of the dark alley.
Sakura's cheeks were soaked with tears as she witnessed the death of both individuals; neither of them moved: the woman displayed an expression of absolute terror, while the man reflected pain. Neither got up. Sakura was filled with fear: could she end up like them one day? Or worse yet, could Itachi suffer a similar fate? Unable to contain herself, she stepped aside to vomit what she had eaten earlier.
"I won't lie to you, Sakura. Killing is part of a ninja's life; we must be vigilant, as many things happen in this world full of terrors. If you wish to be a ninja, you must never hesitate to kill, or you yourself will die," Itachi told her, impassive, as she struggled to catch her breath after the violent vomiting episode.
Her hands trembled from the sensation of weakness and fragility that engulfed her. At that moment, she felt like an insignificant fly that could be crushed at any moment. She was sure it wouldn't be difficult to end her life. However, her heart, pounding with force, terrified her and, at the same time, encouraged her: she was alive.
With trembling steps, she stood up once more, with Itachi's help. Holding his hand with hers, she realized the great strength and power he possessed. However, the fear that he could disappear as easily as she could die invaded her. When she saw him escape from Kakashi, she thought he was invincible, but now she knew that everyone could die and end up like the two bodies lying on the ground. She squeezed Itachi's hands as she feared he might disappear at any moment.
"Why...?" she began to say weakly, due to the previous effort and the swirling thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her, "why did you let her die?"
Her throat hurt from the knot she felt in it. Itachi continued to look impassive, as if the situation didn't affect him at all.
"She was a thief with a history of adultery and homicide," he responded calmly.
Sakura looked at the bodies on the ground and, with a slight shudder, nodded. That woman was as bad as the man accompanying her. It seemed that people should not be judged before knowing the facts. This lesson would be etched in her memory forever. She turned to Itachi, who was watching the surrounding rooftops for caution.
Suddenly, Sakura thought of Itachi's family and her own death. Her stomach twisted at the thought of the suffering he must have experienced, a pain so deep that she could barely conceive it. Despite everything, he had killed them. She felt it must have been something extremely important for him to make that decision, and her intuition was confirmed as she observed the motionless figures in the street.
The handshake Sakura gave Itachi caught his attention.
"Itachi-nii, I'll become stronger to protect you too," she said with such conviction that Itachi gave her a soft smile.
"I'll be waiting."
With that gesture, they both began to move across the rooftops, with Itachi carrying her on his back to quicken the pace. For Sakura, it was as if her brain had completely transformed to make way for a new one. Her thoughts plunged into the vastness, wonder, mystery, and terror that the world entailed. This time, she was eager to discover what life had in store for her thanks to this great step she had just taken.
However, her reflections were interrupted when she used her resonance and sensed two huge chakras to her right. What caught her attention was the chakra of the smaller presence, which felt dense and strange. It was as if it was calling her. The grip of her arms around Itachi's neck made him stop.
"I want to go there," Sakura pointed out, catching Itachi's attention. When she felt him glance at her, she decided to continue explaining. "There's something there."
Itachi looked in the direction Sakura had indicated and could grasp what was happening. Curious to find out whose the smaller presence was, he nodded before quickening his pace towards where he also felt the strong chakra presences.
Upon arrival, they stood on the rooftop next to the two individuals. They were so absorbed in their confrontation that they didn't notice Sakura and Itachi's arrival, who kept a prudent distance. Sakura was surprised to see that the dense and strange chakra came from a boy possibly her age, but the most striking thing was seeing the strong and fiery chakra manifesting around the boy, taking the form of a large one-tailed beast. In front of him stood a man, the Kazekage.
The boy looked sad and furious, while the man showed a deep hatred that Sakura easily identified, similar to what she had seen in her father.
"I'll kill you, monster!" the Kazekage shouted.
Sakura's eyes widened. Quickly, she got off Itachi's lap. Her mind went blank as she recalled images of her father attacking and hurting her. All those memories compelled her to put chakra in her feet to protect the boy.
"Stop!" she yelled. She saw the kunai heading towards the boy and towards her. She didn't want any more deaths for a day; she had had enough.
With a leap, she ran and pushed the boy, causing them both to fall to the ground but the kunai missed them both. With adrenaline coursing through her veins, she looked resentfully at the adult.
"I won't let you hurt him. What monster do you see in him? He's just a child. Here, you're the monster. A ninja doesn't kill without reason, has no honor. You're not a ninja!"
The Kazekage took a step back, reproaching himself for being so focused on his son that he didn't notice when the pink-haired girl appeared in front of him. He almost gritted his teeth as he heard the girl's reprimand for almost killing his son, who had been responsible for his wife's death at birth, as well as other deaths.
"You know nothing, girl," he almost shouted in his thoughts, feeling his stomach fill with rage. What could she know about a ninja's life? "Get out of there if you don't want to die. He's the monster. That boy harbors the one-tailed beast, Shukaku."
Sakura was visibly impressed. She had read about the Kyuubi and other tailed beasts in school and in the library. She knew they were powerful and terrifying beings that had wreaked havoc for a long time. That was the reason behind that chakra!
She glanced at the boy, who was crouched on the ground, curled up. When their gazes met, she sensed something different.
What she saw in his eyes wasn't the gaze of a killer or a cruel person, like those of her parents, the Kazekage, or the killer from earlier. She saw in his eyes the same terror, sadness, and hopelessness she felt. He wasn't a monster; he was a child as scared as she was.
"I only see a child. I won't let you kill him," she said, turning to face the older man with determination.
The Kazekage observed the two children without emotion. This was going to be too easy.
"If you leave me no choice..." he said with a cold, threatening voice.
With great agility, he took a kunai and lunged forward to end the lives of the two children.
"You won't kill anyone," intervened a third voice.
The Kazekage barely had time to register a pair of red eyes that appeared in front of him before everything went black, and he fell to the ground.
Sakura watched in amazement as Itachi appeared in front of her and performed an impressive feat in a matter of seconds. Without even touching the man, he managed to make him faint and now scream in terror without waking up. She was sure Itachi would ensure their protection against any possible attack from the Kazekage or anyone else, so she turned to look at the boy, who was still in the same position but now watching her with fear and distrust.
"Wh-who are you? Do you want to kill me too?" the boy's voice sounded broken and hoarse from crying and the exhaustion after expelling a large amount of chakra.
"Don't be afraid, I just want to help you," Sakura said with a smile, taking a step closer.
"You're lying!" the boy shouted accusingly as he saw her approaching. In response to his fear, a large mass of sand formed and headed towards her, tearing her cheek. "If you come any closer, I'll kill you."
The threat was palpable. With every step she took, Sakura received another scratch. Though it hurt, not as much as she imagined he must be feeling. She couldn't leave that child alone with so much sorrow. She wasn't foolish; if she continued like this, the boy would fall into the abyss of bitterness she had almost become prey to if it weren't for Itachi. He deserved to live a life without bitterness.
"Stay away!" the red-haired boy shouted as Sakura lunged towards him.
Sand needles formed directly towards Sakura.
"Sakura!" Itachi exclaimed as he turned towards her.
The sand spikes stopped just grazing Sakura's skin. The red-haired boy's eyes widened as he felt her arms wrapping around his body.
"I won't hurt you," Sakura said softly, clinging even tighter to him. She wanted to save him just as Itachi had saved her. "Don't be afraid, I'm here to protect you. Don't be afraid."
They stayed like that for a long time, until the sand surrounding them receded completely. Still, Sakura didn't let go until the boy's muscles relaxed. She slowly backed away until she could see his watery green eyes.
"My name is Haruno Sakura. Let's be friends," she said with a big smile.
The boy's eyes widened even more, incredulous as if what she had just said was a product of his imagination. Someone had saved him, had protected him, and wasn't looking at him with hatred; moreover, she was asking to be his friend. He didn't know how to explain how he felt or if he could ever name it, but inside his body, a pleasant warmth began to spread, enveloping him completely.
"I'm Gaara."