The thud of footsteps echoed in the forest, coming right back to Hana's ears. Her partner, who went by Wolf and refused to reveal his real name, glanced over at her. Like herself, Wolf wore an anbu mask, but his was the shape of a dog and hers was the shape of a cat. They both wore the usual anbu outfit, and both of them had a red mark on their arm indicating they were, indeed, anbu members. Wolf had spiky timber wolf hair and Hana had rose red hair falling in waves passed her shoulders.

"Where did the Hokage say the enemy had been spotted?" Wolf asked Hana, his voice muffled by the mask.

"By the border," Hana replied. The two members were on a hunt for two highly dangerous Konoha Strict Correctional Facility escapees.

Wolf nodded as he registered this. "That's what we thought. And since that's the case, we should sense them soon," he said. "Be prepared."

Hana rolled her eyes. "Just because you've been her longer than me doesn't make you my boss," she muttered. But she did as he said, putting herself on high alert and glancing around.

"What was their names? One of them sounds familiar," Wolf said.

"One is Daichi Shigamo," Hana said.

"No, the other one."

"Oh. You mean the one who used to be the interrogator, Shiro-"

They both must have sensed the chakra at the same time, because the next instance both of them had a kunai out, stopping on the tree they were on. Blurs came at them, and Hana, not able to see Wolf anymore, blocked the attack of the blur that had been coming toward her.

The figure muttered a curse word when she kicked him back into a tree. It was a man with dark scarlet hair, black eyes, and olive skin. He wore a blue ragged shirt and blue ragged pants, the normal outfit for a prisoner at Konoha Strict Correctional Facility.

It was Daichi Shigamo. "Speak of the devil," Hana murmured, getting into a battle stance. Daichi smirked, running forward. He punched at her face, which she dodged by leaning her head to the left. She quickly realized his punch was just a distraction when he brought his knee up to slam it against her gut. She held back a yelp. The next second he leaned back and brought the other leg up, kicking her again, but this time in the chest. Hana flew back, and Daichi jumped after her.

Big mistake.

Hana stopped herself by using her hands. She was glad she was wearing gloves since she would've gotten a few splinters if she hadn't been. Hana flung herself up so that she was right in front of Daichi, her waist at level with his face. She gave Daichi a round house kick the face. Before he had time to go back, Hana delivered another kick, hitting him directly in the side. He flew into the trunk of the tree to her left. Hana smirked as she landed in a crouch on the tree branch.

"You've improved quite a bit, Hana," a familiar voice that sent chills down Hana's back said.

Hana turned slowly. Behind her was a man with such light blond hair it was almost white pulled back into a small ponytail, broad shoulders under an outfit similar to the one Daichi was wearing, pale jade eyes, and pale skin.

"Shiro," Hana murmured, feeling strange emotions build up in her. Conflicted, she thought the emotion was, but wasn't a hundred percent sure.

"You know, I thought I'd be mad to see the one who put me in jail, but I still feel the same affection as always." Shiro stalked toward her, his gaze making her freeze in her spot.

Something she'd never told Wolf since he probably would've kept her away from the mission was she also knew Shiro, but no because he was once the interrogator of Konoha. It was because she'd gone to the Academy with him. Not only that, but they'd actually been dating. He'd gone power crazy, though, and Hana had fought him. He didn't kill her, and she knew he wouldn't have, but she did stall him until the anbu arrived.

Which was why she felt responsible to put Shiro back in jail. Without a moment's hesitation, Hana jumped at him. She pulled her kunai back.

Shiro smiled, getting in a stance Hana was familiar with. "Maybe you'll be more of a challenge than the guy I just fought."

It was then that Hana saw the timber wolf haired colored anbu member lying limply beside of Shiro. Without thinking, she skidded to a stop. "Wolf!" The name tore itself from her throat. Rage built inside of her. He'd not only been somewhat her friend and her teammate, but he'd been like a sensei to her. The bond a sensei and student could be strong at times, and the bond that had been built between Wolf and Hana, despite the fact Hana had never noticed it before, had become quite strong. She sent Shiro a if-looks-could-kill glare. "I'll kill you!" she screamed.

Shiro smiled. He was sick and twisted that way, Hana thought. Taking joy from seeing pain in others. She did handsigns so quickly she actually wondered if she'd skipped some. "Kahen style! Petal barrage jutsu!" The air around Hana shimmered, and then she was surrounded by Sakura tree petals. She pointed at Shiro and the petals flew at him.

She watched as he pulled out a kunai, slicing the petals that were aimed at places that would due serious damage and ignoring the minor ones. Hana started another batch of hand seals, saying "Kahen style! Petal blade jutsu!" More petals appeared, swirling around her arms to form two blade like figures. She dashed at Shiro, slashing at him before he finished slicing all of her previous jutsu. Hana stabbed at him, but he surprising dodged it.

"Dang," Hana muttered. Shiro slashed at her, coming dangerously close to her masked face, knocking the mask off. Hana attempted a few more strikes, but he dodged them each with grace, just like she did with the kunai stabs and strikes he sent her way. That was why she was surprised when she felt a kunai bury itself into her side. The scream that came from her lips were more from surprise than pain. It was an opening though, and Shiro took it. His free hand shot forward, slamming against her forehead before he grabbed her head from the front.

"Mind style! Mind-body bind!"

Despite the fact nothing was there, Hana's arms and legs slammed into either each other or her sides as if she'd been tied up. She knew the jutsu he was using. It made it so that her mind thought she was bound, causing her to remain completely still with her arms and legs straight.

"Thanks for your help, Daichi, but it was unneeded," Shiro said, a smile on his face. It was then Hana realized Daichi must have thrown the kunai that had struck her. Shiro looked Hana over, sighing. He was so close that the breath collided with her own. "Sorry, but it seems I have to kill you, Hana-chan," Shiro said, a strange look appearing on his face. It only took her a moment to figure out that he knew something he could do to extremely annoy her.

And she knew what it was before he leaned forward, his lips meeting hers. She tried to back up by leaning back, but only ended up slamming into a tree she hadn't known was there. This only allowed Shiro to come closer, knowing she wouldn't be able to go back. She remembered when she used to live for this closeness and wondered how she'd been so insane to like it.

Shiro finally pulled away, still smiling. "Goodbye, Hana-chan." He clenched her head again.

Then everything went black.

° ◊ ° ◊ ° ◊

Light pink petals swirled around in the air, falling from the branches of a Sakura tree. A pink haired girl sat near the tree, her emerald eyes following the petals. She wore a long sleeve blue shirt with diamond shaped holes in the sleeves, white pants, and blue ninja shoes. Tied in her hair was a bright red ribbon.

"Hey, Sakura!" a familiar voice called. The pink haired girl glanced back to see a girl with blond hair and bright green eyes running toward her. She wore an orange shirt with red stripes on the short sleeves, as well as a kanji, blue shorts, and blue ninja shoes.

"What, Ino?" Sakura asked the girl as she got to her. A huge smile spread across the blond girl's face.

"You idiot. Class is going in for recess, and after that we're going on a search for ninja tools for training, remember?" Before Sakura could reply, Ino grabbed her arm and yanked her up. "Well, you do now, and that's all that matters, right?"

Sakura laughed. "Sure, Ino." Ino dragged Sakura forward, heading for the group of kids trying to all get into the Academy at once. Sakura watched, following them as they went inside. She stayed as close to Ino as she could, but it was hard at times with all the kids.

The kids suddenly stopped, forming a type of circle. Since Ino always thought these things meant fights, she grabbed Sakura's wrist and dragged her forward, ignoring her protests completely. Ino sighed when she saw what it was. "Just those two clowns again," Ino muttered.

A soaking yet Iruka-sensei was standing in the circle, his hands on his hips. He glared down at two boys, both of whom had water balloons in their hands. One was Naruto, a blond haired boy with bright blue eyes, strange whisker-like marks on his tan skin, and, Sakura had to admit, a cute face. He wore a white shirt with a red swirl on it and blue shorts. The other boy looked almost the exact opposite. He had black hair with three or four white spikes, pale lavender eyes that reminded her of those a Hyuuga had, and pale skin. Like Naruto, he had a cute face, but he also tended to annoy everyone. He wore a black shirt with a black scarf around his neck, black pants, and black ninja shoes. Despite the fact he had light colored eyes, hair spikes, and skin, everything else was dark. The thing that stood out the most of the boy's black clothing and hair was the light that seemed to shine in his eyes.

The boy was Ryu Sarutobi. Everyone besides Naruto and a handful of others slightly feared him for two reasons. He joked around sometimes, which was the only time he'd smile. Any other time Ryu looked either emotionless or sad. One time a friend of a friend of Ino's tried to ask him if he wanted to be friend, and he'd said, "Please leave me alone." Sakura wasn't sure, but she thought she was the only one who saw the pain that flashed in Ryu's eyes when the girl got teary eyed and left. It was the only reason Sakura didn't write Ryu off as a complete jerk. Not only that, but he had his moments when he was really nice. The other reason is their parents, oddly, wanted them to avoid Ryu. They said he was as dangerous and monstrous as Naruto.

"Can't you go one day without getting detention, Naruto?" Iruka asked. Then he glared at Ryu. "And Ryu, what would Hokage-sama say if he saw this kind of behaviour?" Nobody knew why, but it was like the Hokage was Ryu's adopted grandpa or something.

Ryu grinned. "Actually, he'd probably laugh."

Iruka attempted a stern look, but finally sighed. "The bad thing is your probably right." Iruka just sighed. "Both of you must stay for detention after school," he finally said. "Understood?"

Ryu and Naruto just grinned.

The strange thing was that as soon as they were told to get up, Ryu fell into the shadows, his face turning emotionless. The only ones able to make Ryu show any emotion whatsoever were Naruto and Hokage-sama. Sakura had actually seen him give a full blown smile before, and had been stunned since for a moment he didn't look like the Ryu she'd known. And all because of the Hokage getting pranked by Naruto when he'd visited their class.

Iruka rolled his eyes before looking at everyone. "Okay, class. Let's get to class so I can assign you to your groups," he instructed.

"Let's go, Sakura," Ino said happily, grabbing Sakura by the arm and dragging her to class. "I wonder who will be in my group. Of course I want you to be. And Sasuke, too. With him we'll get done real fast. And maybe....."

Sakura smiled, used to her friend's rambling. She did it occasionally when she was excited. Sakura began to wonder who would be in her group as well.

"As long as Naruto and Ryu aren't in it, I'll be happy."

Sakura sent a sideways glance at the two. She didn't really like Naruto that much since her parents had told her to avoid him, but Ryu was slightly different out of the two outcasts. Sure, he seemed like a happy kid and goofed off a lot, but he seemed to let very few people in. He gave off a strange, cold aura like Sasuke that seemed to scare everyone away.

Everyone filed into class, quickly finding seats by their friends. Sakura sat between Ino and a Hyuuga girl named Hinata. She wasn't exactly friends with Hinata, but she didn't dislike Hinata either. Her shyness made it so the Hyuuga had very few friends.

"Okay class. As you all know, today we'll go out in the forest and locate some ninja tools I have hidden. You will use the skills you've learned to find them. Everyone will be put into a group of three but one group since we have a number that isn't quiet divisble by three."

Sakura looked at him, wanting him to just get on with it. Iruka began reading names off of a list. "Ino, Chouji, and Shino," Iruka said, making Ino groan.

"The bug freak and pig boy?"

Sakura was tempted to say "Be nice", but bit her tongue. She was too focused on Iruka, willing him to call her next so she could finally find out who her team members were.

"Naruto, Aki, Sakura, and Ryu," Iruka listed. Sakura's gaze flickered toward Naruto and Ryu. They both beamed at each other, and then Naruto beamed at Sakura. Following Naruto's gaze, he went back to being emotionless when he saw her. He really did only show emotion toward Naruto. After that, she looked at Aki. She has a pretty brown haired girl with black eyes and very popular - and very mean.

"And I thought my team was bad," Ino remarked. "It would actually be better, though, if you didn't have to deal with Aki."

Sakura sighed. "I'll just have to deal, huh?"

Ino smiled. "Guess so," she remarked.

Iruka finished announcing the rest of the groups before saying, "Okay class. Get into a line so we can go to the forest. You'll find your group members when we get there."

All of Sakura's classmates talked excitedly to each other, either bragging or complaining about the group they were in. Sakura and Ino had chosen to sit in the very front, so they ended up having to be in the very back of the line. And right behind them was Naruto and Ryu, talking nonchalantly to each other. And right in front of them was none other than Aki. Sakura felt like groaning. Why me? Sakura couldn't help but think.

Ino sent Aki a glare, sticking her tongue out when she glanced back to glower at Sakura. "Fly away on you're broom, which," Ino said.

Aki sent Ino a glare before turning to face the front again, muttering something about worthless trash. Ino muttered an insult a little more creative (and would get her grounded for a month if her mom heard), making Sakura roll her eyes. But she still couldn't help but smile at Ino helping her out. It was hard to believe there was a time where she was all alone and people were making fun of her slightly too-big forehead.

The class followed Iruka as he led them toward the forest, saying hi to people they knew or hugging relatives real quick until they realized the were lagging behind and ran to catch up with their friends.

They arrived at the forest sooner than Sakura liked, but couldn't complain. "Okay, class, find your group. Then one of the group members needs to get a paper to tell you what to find," Iruka said.

"Well, if it's Sakura's freakishly big forehead, nobody could miss it," Aki murmured to one of her friends.

Though the comment stung, Sakura showed no emotion. Sakura glanced back at the two boys. Naruto grinned at her when he noticed her looking. Ryu, to Sakura's surprise, was staring at her, a look of sympathy in his eyes.

"Shut up, Aki," Ryu, to Sakura's surprise, told her.

Aki laughed. "Look at that. One freak protecting another." Even though she said this, her voice trembled slightly as she looked at Ryu. He looked over at her, and Sakura realized why. Aki blushed and looked quickly away.

She, despite her strange why of showing it, had a crush on Ryu.

And Sakura thought everyone liked Sasuke-kun like her.

Ryu walked passed her, smiling slightly. He glanced back at her. "Ignore what she says. Everything she says is wrong." Surprisingly, Ryu smiled at her. After that he walked up to Iruka to get the paper they needed.

Ino snickered. Chouji was to her right and Shino was getting their paper. "I think you've caught a certain boy's attention."

"No. I don't think that's it," Sakura said, remembering the sympathy look he'd given her. Everyone called him a freak, so it might explain why. He knew the pain it caused.

Ryu came back a moment later, reading over the list. "The first item on our list to find is a kunai with a fake explosion tag around it," he told them.

Sakura nodded, instantly beginning to search. Aki smirked, walking the same way she did. "Hey, Sakura, move your forehead. I can't see anything with it in my way."

Sakura pursed her lips, happy that she was looking down since her face felt hot. She did, however, glance up to see Aki's friend searching the area around her just so they could hang with her.

"Yeah, freak," another girl said. "You're going to make us all fail this activity."

Sakura felt tears fill her eyes. She hadn't felt like this for a while, but Aki had suddenly really wanted to bully her.

Wait a second. Aki had a crush on Ryu, and Ino thought he might be crushing on her. If that was so, then that meant Aki'd been meaner because she'd thought the same thing. Sakura forced herself to ignore their mean comments and try to find the kunai.

"No boy would ever like a freak like you."

"I bet you're parents let you be a ninja-in-training just to get you out of the house."

"Yeah, Aki's right. There's no way a weakling like you would make it passed wannabe-ninja."

They laughed, then Aki said, "I guess that forehead of yours must really make it hard, huh? Always weighing you down. It's your greatest weakness! You're forehead's so large even a four year old could hit it!"

Sakura felt herself beginning to crack.

"You say you like Sasuke, but there's no way he'd like you. He doesn't like freaks with gigantic foreheads!"

"Shut up, Aki!" Ino shouted. She must've sensed how close Sakura was to cracking.

But it was too late. That had been it. She'd always thought that Sasuke would never go for her because of how everyone said she was a freak because her forehead was so large, and it was a sensitive spot. Aki saying it was like a blow to the gut.

Sakura bolted away, refusing to hear anymore of what Aki had to say. She hated how people treated her the way they did. She knew it didn't matter what bullies like Aki and her friends (who were the only people who still tortured her) said. But they'd just sent constant, insults her way. Sakura could handle a couple, but not as many as they'd said without Ino there, and she'd intervened too late.

She didn't know how far she was from the group, but she finally stopped, gasping for air. Sakura sat down on the ground, bringing her knees up. She rested her chin between her knees as she wrapped her arms around her shins. "Jerks," Sakura murmured.

"Found you," a voice, the owner clearly out of breath, said about five minutes later. Sakura glanced back, surprised to see Ryu there. Without hesitating, he walked over and sat beside of her.

Sakura just stared at him, refusing to speak. "May I ask why you followed me?" she finally asked.

Ryu smiled at her. "Because you looked like you needed someone." His lavender eyes turned from her to the sky above. "Aki's wrong, you know. Her definition of freak is way off."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? And what's your definition of freak?"

Ryu was silent for a moment, and she could tell that he was thinking it over. "Someone who can just turn their backs on people they care about. I see that as someone who can do that a freak of nature, and it's basically my definition. It's probably way off, but I'm not writing a dictionary here."

She couldn't help but laugh. "No, you're not. And neither am I, so I'm sticking with your definition." She blurted before she could stop herself, "Why do you turn away from everyone else and now you're trying to make me feel better."

Ryu smiled. "Because I know how much it hurts to be called a freak, and they have no reason to call you one."

But they have one for you? Sakura thought about asking this, but didn't. She liked seeing Ryu happy too much. She would never admit it, but he had a nice smile.

Ryu opened his mouth to say something, a smile on his face, but then he suddenly tensed. "Duck!" Before she had a chance to, his forearm was against her chest and forcing her down. She winced when her back collided with a rock, but was glad Ryu had done what he did when she saw a barrage of kunai fly over them.

Ryu jumped to his feet, a thick stick in his hands. "Show yourself!" Ryu barked, and if Sakura didn't see the way his arms shook, she never would've guessed he was afraid. He even sounded more like a strong, powerful warrior rather than a small shinobi-in-training.

Two men materialized in front of them. One man had dark scarlet hair, black eyes, and olive skin. He wore a blue ragged shirt and blue ragged pants. The other had such light blond hair it was almost white pulled back into a small ponytail, broad shoulders under an outfit similar to the one the other man wore.

Ryu examined the blond haired one dozens of times, and then his eyes widened. "Crap!" he shouted. "Sakura," he whispered. "Get up and run when I get to three. One."

The blond stepped forward, a friendly smile on his face. "You're Ryu Sarutobi, right?" he asked.

Ryu didn't answer, but he was really shaking now, and Sakura could see fear in her eyes. Sakura slowly got to her feet, making the blond turn his attention to her.

"Oops. We'd meant to get you alone, but it seems we were too focused on you to notice your little friend."

"Two," Ryu said under his breath. He stood protectively in front of Sakura. "Tell them the name Shiro Yamanaka." Ryu whispered the next sentence so quietly Sakura barely heard it.

Sakura flinched when she heard Ino's last name. Was this man related to her best friend?

"Three!" Ryu cried, charging forward. Sakura froze, knowing she should run.

Dang it! Move. Sakura told herself. The blond smirked while the scarlet haired one laughed. The blond's hand shot forward, grasping Ryu's forehead.

"Mind style! Mind-body bind!" he shouted.

"Ryu!" Sakura cried as his body tensed, then came together as if he was tied up. Ryu hit the ground, struggling against something that wasn't there. His fearful lavender eyes rested on her.

"Sakura! Run!" he yelled. The next moment the blond sneered and kicked him in the face, making him shut up.

Without thinking for a moment, Sakura turned and took off. Run. Run! RUN! she shouted to herself. Sakura kept on seeing the blond kicking Ryu. He was trying to protect her. Him, a ten year old boy three years from graduation, had attempted to fight off two full grown men. "Why protect me, Ryu?" she asked, knowing he wouldn't be able to answer.

A blue and scarlet blurred passed in front of her, stopping a few feet a head. Sakura skidded to a stop, trying to turn and run the other way, but then the scarlet haired man's hand shot forward, grabbing her neck collar. She was forced back, and then the man's arms were around her waist. Without a moment's hesitation, he took off the way they'd come.

"Put me down! Put me down!" Sakura screamed, struggling so much she actually wore herself out before they got to the spot she'd run from.

The blond man was leaning against a tree, a bored look on his face. Ryu was on the ground, still struggling against an invisible force. The friendly smile from before appeared on the blond's face as he pushed off the tree and walked toward them. The scarlet haired man put her down, holding her firmly by the shoulders.

"Well, that was a good try, I must say, but you didn't run when you were supposed to," he said.

Sakura gulped, staring into what she thought looked like frozen jade eyes devoid of any pleasant emotions.

The man looked Sakura up and down. "Hm.... You look like someone I know. What's your name, little girl?"

Sakura kept her mouth shut and just continued to tremble in fear.

The blond's smile got a little scary as he grabbed her forearm. "I asked you," he began, and Sakura let out a scream as pain shot up her arm. She knew he wasn't gripping hard, but she still felt the worst pain in her life, "what is your name?"

"Sakura Haruno," she gasped out.

Rage flashed through the blond's eyes. "Impossible. Hana Haruno's niece?"

Sakura was shocked. "You know my aunt?"

The man's hand shot forward, gripping Sakura's head so tightly that she whimpered. "Sorry, but you're coming with us," he said. "Mind style! Mind pain jutsu!"

If Sakura had thought the pain she'd felt a moment before was the worst, she was now wrong. The pain was so great in her that she started to wonder if she was going to die. She heard a scream and it wasn't until a moment before she blacked out she realized it was her own.