KITSUNE | Sakura Haruno

Prologue

SAKURA SIGHED, WALKING SADLY away from the park. She missed the times where she could just hang out with Ino, fuck about while trying to avoid Ami. But now, because she liked Sasuke, she broke off their friendship. Sakura regrets that deeply, but what's done is done. She can't go back, and she wouldn't lose — especially to Ino.

She glanced back, seeing all the boys running around, brawling like, well — boys. She wished she could be that free, rolling in the dirt without being frowned upon for it because it wasn't 'lady-like.'

Sakura wasn't stupid. She was looked down on because she was a civilian. Seen as a fragile girl who chose the wrong career. She sighed, sitting on a bench. She looked at her hands, soft and untrained. They look like they haven't even been scratched in her life. She looked at the sky which slowly started to darken.

She should get back. It's not like her parents would care. They stopped caring when she decided she wanted to become a shinobi. She's just lucky they have a slither of care to pay for her academy tuition. She guarantees though when she becomes genin, they will stop funding her ninja career, for weapons etc.

She stood up from the bench and started walking home. She felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand up, goosebumps appearing on her arms as she started to speed walk. She was being watched. She could feel piercing stares on her skin, but no one was nearby.

She jolted as a ripping sound was heard. She looked down, seeing her sandal was ripped and caught on a nail. She groaned, crouching down and trying to salvage her sandal. Ignore the eyes, ignore the eyes ignoretheeyes-! "What do we have here?" She heard and jolted as she finally freed her sandal.

She looked up, seeing 3 giant men. They were muscular and almost 6 feet. She trembled, backing away. "Pink? That's rare isn't it." The one on the left mused, staring at her hair. Her heart dropped as they walked closer. "B-back away!" She shouted, stepping back.

The man in front of the other two laughed in amusement. "She'll be fun to play with. She will have some use before we sell her off." He grinned with a sadistic glint in his eye, paired with lust. She froze, trembling at that.

She had no Kunai nor Shuriken on her, and even if she did they wouldn't work. They were only training Kunai and Shuriken. She felt one grab her wrists and her instincts kicked in. She lifted her leg and kicked the man's chin, thank god for her flexibility, she practically did a split to kick that man.

But, it only made him stagger back. "You bitch!" He shouted and her mind went blank as one punched her stomach. A metallic taste filled her mouth as pain seared through her abdomen. She screams in pain, dropping to her knees. "Careful not to damage the organs." The leader said and her heart dropped one again.

Organ traffickers. She realised, thrashing in the man's grip. "HELP, SOMEONE PLEASE!" She cried before a hand connected with her face. She cried out in pain, her head snapping to the side. "Shut up!" The leader shouted, glaring at her as she spat out blood.

She growled and stood up shakily, her wrists being held behind her. She drops her head forward, making the leader smirk thinking she had given up. She leans back and snaps her head back, hitting the man behind her in the face. She had to jump up just to hit his face, which was kind of funny if you pictured it.

He loosened his grip on her with a cry of pain and immediately, she broke free and started running as fast as she could, hearing their thunderous footsteps behind her. "HELP!" She shouted, her lungs burning as she continued to run for her life.

"Get back here you bitch!-" she skids to a stop as a hand curls around her waist, picking her up. She looks at the person who picked her up, seeing a blonde haired woman who glared at the men, a black haired woman next to her holding w pig. Sakura looks at where she ran and realised she was outside Konoha's gates. How did she get here so quickly?

"You men need something?" The blonde woman said, narrowing her eyes at them. Her eyes glinted dangerously, Sakura blinked and dug her face into the woman's neck, trembling slightly. She was so scared. "That bitch is coming with us." The leader growled, stepping forward. "I don't think so." She growled.

She lifted one hand, her fingers in a flicking position, the leader laughed but it was cut off as the woman flicked her finger, a giant force sent the man flying back into Konoha. The other two exchange looks before running away. The woman rolled her eyes before looking at the scared, trembling girl in her arms.

"You're okay now brat." The woman said and Sakura clutched her tighter, making the woman sigh as she stared at Konoha's gates. "What happened?" The woman asked and Sakura pulled away from the woman's neck, tears streaming down her face.

"They.. tried to take me.. they wanted to.. use me, steal my organs and sell me.." Sakura whispered, staring into the woman's hazel eyes. The woman frowned. "Let's get you home.." The woman murmured. The black haired woman stared at Sakura with a frown. "N-no! They.. they won't care." Sakura cried, tears running down her face.

"What's your name?" The black haired one asked, making Sakura snap her head to her. "S-Sakura.. Sakura Haruno.." Sakura murmured in reply, wiping away her tears. "I'm Shizune." The black haired woman smiled and Sakura tried to smile back, but all she managed was a weak, small smile.

"I'm Tsunade Senju." The blonde one said and Sakura looked at her. "Y-you're one of the Sannin.." Sakura realised and Tsunade smirked slightly, nodding. She looked at Konoha with a frown. "Do you want to stay here..?" Tsunade asked and Sakura froze.

She stared at the giant gates of Konoha, before looking in the village. "Not for now. I.. want to leave. I have nothing here that ties me to this place. Maybe if I leave, I'll come back one day. I need to pursue my shinobi career." Sakura said after a long moment, her voice firm as she stared at her village.

Tsunade would get in so much shit for this.. but she couldn't care less. "Do you want to come with me? I'll make you strong, but you have to be dedicated, and have the determination." Tsunade said, and Sakura turned to her. Tsunade smiled, seeing the fiery determination in Sakura's eyes. "Yes." Sakura replied with no hesitation, her voice firm.

"Are you sure? My training will be the most hardest thing you've ever done. Even full grown shinobi cannot complete. I will break you and build you back up, with the help of my friend, Shizune." Tsunade said, gesturing to Shizune who smirked. "I am sure." Sakura replied and Tsunade smirked, putting her down and holding out a hand for her.

"You say you have no ties to Konoha, not even friends?" Tsunade asked and Sakura's mind immediately went to Ino. "I have a rival. That's all." Sakura replied and Tsunade nodded. "Do you want to say goodbye?" Tsunade asked and Sakura froze before slowly nodding. "I'll leave a message only she can understand." Sakura murmured, realising if Tsunade was going to take her out the village, it would have to be done discreetly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sakura — with the held of a slightly amused but bewildered Tsunade and tired Shizune, managed to sneak into the Yamanaka compound with a bouquet of flowers, precisely white and yellow chrysanthemums — signalling goodbye. It had a small note on the stem of the flowers, tied together with a red ribbon.

Gone, but not forgotten.
- S.H

She opened the window of Ino's bedroom and slowly placed the flowers on her bedside table before looking at Ino who slept peacefully, clueless to what's happening. Tsunade and Shizune were outside the window, but didn't watch to give her privacy. "I'll see you soon, Ino.." Sakura murmured, looking down at Ino's peaceful face.

She saw a hair over her mouth and moved it behind the girls ear. She smiled sadly before walking to the window and standing on the edge. She looked back one before following Tsunade and Shizune out of the compound, out of Konoha and onto a new path.