434Chapter 1
100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and running till I dropped. That is what I did for three years, like the great One that transcends human strength. While I was stronger than most five-year-olds, I wasn't a planet buster sadly. Working out every day had done wonders for my strength and stamina, and with my chakra coils being formed I could finally learn Ninjutsu.
And thinking about it, didn't Lee do 1000 pushups using his thumbs?
The image disturbed me, and I shakedown my head to clear it. I wasn't doing that even so I wore gravity seals on my legs and arms. It made me slowed and my body fit healthy but if I could overcome it I would be better off for it.
Fuinjutsu was much like programming; you write down a series of commands and apply chakra to activate it. After testing it, you made adjustments until it complied, and you are satisfied with the results. In Fuinjutsu, understanding, ink - something blood, and chakra is all you need. From just that, you could create something from a simple explosion tag, to a time and space warping storage scroll. It wasn't hard to understand why nations banded together to destroy the Uzumaki clan. What was confusing was why Konoha, despite being their allies, didn't try and save them. I also wondered why no Uzumaki sought refuge in Konoha.
Konoha only used the Uzumaki as nine tail vessels. Mito, Kishina, Naruto. It's almost sad.
Mother placed a plate down in front of me with my retain lunch, mackerel sushi, edamame beans and fresh fruit. She had thought it odd at first but continued to supply it. The meal wasn't costly if anything it should be kind on her pockets. It was healthy and I was benefitting from it. She placed down milk tea next and walked back to the kitchen for father's meals. Milk and meat are good for the development of the body, but my aim was a busty bust. Sakura was a complete flat chest until the very end. Even Hinata and Ino developed. In my past life, I had a modest bust I inherited from my grandmother. However, you can still hack it by overdosing on protein.
I had been taking care of my hair too, trying out recipes for hair homemade hair products. I'd gotten attached to my beautiful pink hair and was going to protect it, that girl from the exam was going to lose her arm if she touched it. it was still short but I wasn't worried it would grow pretty quick once I hit puberty. Now it was just silky, hovering just above my shoulders. I had used a red hair band decorated with sakura shaped jewels, in place of Ino's ribbon. I hadn't met her yet and my hair was becoming a bother. Father had bought it for my birthday; I had been over the moon. Even though he always acted oblivious I knew by know just how much he noticed.
Father looked at me with a grin, though his drums were serious. I had gotten better at my soul reading; I could even "sense" someone once I got a feel for their soul or rather "Chakra". I had a limited range but once someone entered it, I could track their movement and mood.
Right now father was not happy.
No one could accuse Father of impatience. He sat at the table and joked as we ate lunch, talking about everything and nothing at all. The day appeared to be like any other, it was when we had finish eating and mad movements to leave, that he stroke.
"Say Sakura-chan," he started getting my attention, his face masked with a pout. "You've been running off so often lately, could it be? A spring tryst." His teasing was honest for a moment but he seemed to realize that it was a possibility and he frowned.
There was a moment of silence; I stayed quite allowing him to over think. Only when his face began to warp into horror did I speak.
"No, I spend my time picking flowers and reading books," I informed him. I wasn't even lying; I was picking flowers, medicinal herbs, and reading books, medical books, and fuinjutsu. "I even found one called a 'Hana Ao" it's really pretty." I cued childishly. It worked father relaxed some but not completely.
"Well I'm off," I said turning to leave, they had wanted to know what I was up to and now they did. Thinking I was in the clear, I bolted for the door. I didn't make it far before he picked me up and tucked me under his arm.
"How about we hang out for a day," he said "I'm always so busy I never got to spend time with my beautiful cherry blossom." Putting on his sandals he walked out the door, with calls to mother and me tucked under his arm.
Father stopped at a play ground filled with children of all shapes and sizes, most if not all playing "ninja". He placed me down at the front steps leading up it, and putted on my sandals.
"Training all the time is no good," he said and a serious tone, "you should make friends are you'll be lonely." He looked at me with serious eyes for the first time. His eyes bore into me trying to convey something, something important, I looked away. He sighed, standing up.
"Either way we're not leaving here until you make at least one friend." I glared at him, then at the playfield of children. I pouted and stamped off. It was easy for him to say so "go make friends" he didn't have to actually do it.
I never liked children, even when I was there age. Their childish ways were far too predictable.
"I'm gonna be a ninja!" yelled one.
"I'm gonna be Hokage!' yelled another.
"My dad can knows really cool jutsus!" yet another declared.
Different world, same stupidity. That's right, they all want attention, and so they most upstage those around them. They must out do everyone to stand out in the crowd, to be important.
How boring.
There was no mystery to their action, I could predict them, and that was no fun at all.
I wander if my own children will be boring to me.
The unpleasant thought made me pause, stopping in my tracks, frowning. There was little chance I'd actually fall in love, since I was never interested in romance. There were limited love interests in konoha anyway.
"Could it be a spring tryst?" Father's teasing played in my mind making me uneasy.
"Romance huh?"
"Ehh! No way! Mom said I shouldn't play with you!"
The yelling caught my interest, and I looked over to the source. A group of boys around my age, were frowning at little boy with blond hair. The blond's shoulders slumped as he walked away to sit I the shade of a nearby tree. I couldn't help but stare, I didn't listen to the boys as they discourse the rules of their game, nor did I listen to those around that gossiped. Blond hair was very nostalgic for me. In this world candy colored hair was the norm; even my own hair was pink. To see a formally, "normal" colored hair…
Curiously I walked over to where the blond sat, in hindsight I should have known. There weren't many kids; parents would go out of their way, to warn their children away from. Even less with blond hair. I'd just thought I wouldn't meet him until the academy.
Naruto Uzumaki, sat under the tree looking out at the other children with longing. He was so captivated by them that he didn't even notice me, until I was upon him.
Not good for a, wanna be ninja.
Sapphire orbs regarded me, and I froze lost in them. I felt as though it had been a life time ago, since I had seen eyes do blue. Father and light blue eyes and Ino had pale blue, but no one had sapphire blue.
"Beautiful" slipped from my lips without consent.
"What?" he asked, still looking at me. I gave a nervous chuckle and smiled sheepishly at him.
"Say, why aren't you playing with everyone?" I asked. I knew the reason of course, because…
"No one wants to play with me" he stated, I knew it to be the case and yet, seeing his lonely face made my heart ache. "pity." my face softened as I looked at him. Knowing and experiencing, this was what made this world infesting. While knowing how everything will happen is boring, seeing and experiencing it is a different story. And seeing his pain made me what to wash it away.
I looked over to where father stood watching me, he was out of my sensor range but I could tell he wasn't happy. He never did tell me I shouldn't play with Naruto, and he did say I could leave once I had a friend. a devious smirk spread across my face.
"If you know no one will play with you," I said looking back at him. "Why stay here? Isn't it boring?" I reached out a hand. "Come on, I'll be more fun with me." I gave him my best smile. I hadn't that of what I'd do once I met Naruto. In hindsight I should have, he was the hero after all, brave and strong. Sometimes it was easy to forget he had a lonely childhood. His beautiful eyes stared at my outstretched hand in awe. There was a moment of hesitation before he took it, and I pulled him to his feet.
Casting one more look over my shoulder at my father, his eyes were narrow; I turned and ran into the forest Naruto in tow. A young green disappeared into the foest with the demon fox; I wander who's in more danger, Naruto or me.
We ran through the forest until we reached a clearing where we slowed. We stood in a field of flowers surrounded by trees, it was well hidden and it took me quite some time to find it. Sakura's hiding place, I turned and walked to a huge tree, Naruto followed. I parted the curtain vines and stepped in. Sakura had decorated this place with toys and flowers I filled it with herbs and books.
Naruto's eyes went wide as he looked around in awe; the space was small but perfect for our size. A table and bookshelf build into the wall, sat in one corner, a mortar and pestle, vase of flowers and herbs sat in the other, the floor covered with an old soft carpet. I sat down on the custom mat and Naruto did the same still looking around.
"You like it?" I asked when he settled down a bit.
"It's awesome!" he exclaimed his eyes sparkling.
"Why thank you" I said, my chest rising with pride. "I decorated it myself."
"Really!?"
"That's right, I gestured to the table and bookshelf. "Over there is my studies, books I've bought and notebooks are on the shelves, along with a few story books." myth was often based on truth and so I liked to decode the stories written about legends. "Over there is my lab" I pointed to where the mortar and pestle and herbs sat. "I make ointments over there, along with other things," I gestured to the pace we sat, "and this is the living space, I sleep here sometimes" I chuckled at Naruto's face. Children were really easy to impress it seemed. Wide eyes, chubby face and whiskers, Naruto was so adorable.
"Say." Naruto said uncertain, "why did you bring me here?" he asked not meeting my eyes.
"I wanted to show you something interesting," I said easily. "Aren't you having more fun there than you were there?"
"I am but… aren't your parents gonna be mad you played with me?"
"Dad was the one to say make friends" I pouted "If he doesn't like my choices it has nothing to do with us." Father did give me free rein; it's his own fault for dropping me off in a place with a dangerous element.
Naruto looked up at me in surprise, "friends?" he sound unsure, almost afraid I'd take it back.
Friends with Naruto? The idea didn't sound so bad; it would mess up the timeline but…
I reached out a hand, much like I had before when were met.
"My name is Sakura, Sakura Haruno. Let's be friends." I smiled at him welcomingly. Once more he hesitated, looking at my hand in awe.
"N-Naruto." he said taking my hand firmly.
So young, and already so strong.
"Naruto Uzumaki, ya know!"
So cute!
The sound of a flute, and the warmth of the summer sun, assaulted my senses. A grass field stretching as far as the eye can see, a bright sun shining above the sky clear. And a distant bamboo flute. Warm, bright, peaceful and imposing, yep that describes Naruto to a T.
A dark cloud hovered over an ominous mountain; a growl could be heard in the wind that flowed from it.
Kurama.
The nine tail fox demon. A Bijuu, the most powerful of them all, sealed inside Naruto… it was also the reason for his neglect, as the villagers feared and hated the creatures he held captive.
My grip tightened protectively. I won't let you hurt any more, you've been through enough haven't you?
"Come on ill teach you something cool!" I excitingly pulled him to my study table placing a blank paper in front of him. "How's your calligraphy?"
/
Naruto as it turned out was very good at calligraphy. He was fond of spirals and often exaggerated the curves of most characters, he created his own style, I was kind of jealous. I had him use a, Konoha issued paper boom, as a template to create his own.
His eyes twinkled when it blow up, he even gave me a hug in a fit of joy.
It felt nice. Seeing Naruto get excited having succeeded at something, made me feel proud.
My little, Nikko.
The sun hung low to the west when I walked Naruto home. He had insisted that he walked me home, but I had informed him that my father would come get me. I had felt his presence when we returned from the forest. He kept his distance but stayed close enough to be in my range. Naruto's apartment was on the top floor of the apartment building, his room having its own balcony. The place was a dump however, and The Third lost some of my respect, which wasn't much to begin with. He should have retired a long time ago; a man that was raised in war cannot understand the concept of peace, no matter what he says.
to his credit the old man knew this and had wanted it hand the title over to Minato, and when he died and his own students – The Legendary Sannin – were either mad or missing, he was forced to take up the title again. I swallowed a sigh that threaten to rip from me, glancing at Naruto, who was ranting about ramen. I couldn't help but smile sadly.
He deserves so much more than this.
We stopped at his door, the Uzumaki clan symbol, hang proudly on it.
Shouldn't the Uzumaki be a noble clan? Naruto, should be living in a clan compound, damn it.
I hadn't realized it then, but I had adopted Naruto, protective as a mother her newborn. I had been worried I wouldn't love my own child, but somewhere in the back of my mind I overcome it. Without realizing it, Naruto had saved me like would, so many others.
"So uhh," he started looking at everything but me. "Can we like hang out again tomorrow?" he looked like a puppy, or rather a kit, afraid of rejection. Despite myself I laughed, he was just too cute. He looked up horrified, and I laughed harder. How anyone could hate a face like that was beyond me. I reached out and patted his head and pet it. I smiled fondly, even as my touch made him flinch.
"I'll meet you at the play ground, and we can go to the base from there yeah?" I said and he relaxed, sighing in relief. His face was spited by his huge grin a moment later.
"Yeah" he said, "then you can teach me how to make my own paper bomb" he smiled brightly. His skies clouded just a bit though, my eyes narrowed.
"That's right!" I encouraged. We'll call it The Uzumaki Bang." I said hand over his shoulder as I drew the other in the air as though to show him the words. Perhaps he saw it because his clouds faded and he shined again.
"Yeah alright!" he yelled excited. I cupped the back of his head and pulled him in close. He was shorter than me so it was easy to kiss his forehead, he stilled in my arm.
"I'll see you tomorrow before noon, Nikko" I whispered in his ear, which had turned red. So cute. I released him and walked off, touched his forehead watching me go. Looking back I smiled brightly at him. "Bye bye, Naruto."
With that I left, feeling lighter, I'm pretty sure I skipped a few times. Father was at the crossroad leaning on the wall, his hands crossed. His drums were calm matching his facial expression.
"Father" I greeted, smiling smugly. I walked past him only stopping when he spoke.
"Sakura, are you sure about him" he's voice was calm and emotionless. "If you choose him, life in the village won't be easy for you." And wasn't that the truth, for a village that preached togetherness and understanding, they were extremely prejudice. Hating immediately what they don't understand.
I held my hands behind my back, and looked up at the now night sky. A gentle breeze blew through my hair, cool and soothing.
"You were right," I admitted catching him off guard, "it is lonely without friends, I hadn't noticed until I met Naruto." I had friendships before this life, but like everything else. It flicked and died. When I realized where and who I was, I didn't worry about friendship because I knew it would come. But even Sakura had Ino growing up, perhaps early bonds weren't so bad.
I turned to face father a serious expression on my face, his eyes widen when he saw the determination in mine.
"I have chosen Naruto Uzumaki as my friend" I stated "any one that tries to sever our bond…" I looked him dead in the eyes.
"Is the enemy"
Hello my little night walkers, Luna rises again. Chapter one is up and the adventure begins. joins us every Monday night for new updates.
art: A2T will draw.
until next time. Night song!