Konohagakure was much too cold this month as children in the academy wandered out of the school to play. Sakura stepped out of the cold classroom a bright red scarf tightly wrapped around her neck, her black turtleneck fitting tightly on her. Tight skinny jeans and small black gloves she adorned as she headed to her 6 year old blonde friend.

"Oi Naruto hows your lessons? Getting smarter?" She asked politely making him nod.

"Yeah I think some of the teachers are finally laying off from sabotaging my work!" He cheered happily.

"Great why don't I treat you to Ichirakus?" My little Christmas gift to you!" Sakura smiled a bit at Narutos excited look, rushing down the slippery streets without her. Chuckling she went and followed slowly her brain immersed in her memories.

.-.-.-.

Naruto shook her shoulder awake in the classroom, his eyebrows scrunched in a cute concerned way.

"H-hey newbie you okay?" He asked as she slowly lifted her head and met his gaze with her own pale green ones.

Sakura's gaze blurred as red dotted her vision, her inner screaming loudly.
"Murderer you're a filthy killer Sakura! A disgrace! Mother hates you and you killed the man she loved!!!"
Inner screamed in delight as Sakura's pale hands grip her head tightly.

Naruto frowned harder as he looked at her trembling form, looking around he saw some students glancing their way and he frowned even more. Raising his hand and asking "can Sakura-chan have a little breather I dont think she needs to attend class right now." Naruto spoke firmly and Iruka dismissed them with a slight scoff.

Naruto wrapped an arm under her shoulder and heaved her up, numbly she followed her hood slipping down to reveal ivory skin and pastel pink hair.

They both got out of the school as Naruto hesitated to pat her back, forcing that doubt away he rubbed small circles on her back. Trying to soothe her he spotted her sketchbook that was flipped on a certain page. Trying his best to ignore it he squeezed her into a large hug.

Sakura trembled as she reached her quivering hands to grip his orange hoodie. Her hands settling on his sides as small tears trickled down her pale face.

"Uwa whats wrong Sakura?" Naruto asked as she cried silently. He was concerned, never before had he felt like this, the feeling to protect! He was always bullied and he didn't have a proper home. He was abused and thrown about like trash, staying positive to hide his pain. So with a girl crying in his arms he felt this urge to hold her, to protect.

Sakura rubbed her eyes as her vision cleared. Looking up she saw the blonde from class with a deep concerned look reflecting in his eyes.

"Ah...w-who?" She cursed herself for stammering

"Naruto Uzumaki Believe it!" Naruto gave her a strangely fox like grin.

"Ah Uzumaki-san...im sorry you had to see that..." she whispered feeling ashamed and weak.

"Its Naruto only don't even worry about it Sakura-chan!" He patted her head and helped her up still ignoring the open notebook.

Sakura slightly wobbled as she breathed in the fresh air, noticing her notebook and sketchpad, her jade green eyes widened and she closed the books quickly, looking up to see if Naruto was looking only to see him respecting her privacy. His head was turned to the left to look at the academy.

A bit shocked that he was so respective she collected her stuff. Standing up she peered at him, as if noticing her stare he looked at her and gave her a big grin.

"Wanna eat with me Sakura-chan? We can get ramen!" He smiled and she felt the urge to smile as he grabbed her hand and they ran to the famous ramen stand.

Sakura knew, that he was there for her and forever she would be grateful. Even if shes a killer she still had her feelings.

.-.-.-.

Sakura smiled at her first day at the academy, a year ago she would've still been alone, but Naruto had extended his hand to her.

Arriving at the ramen stand she took a seat next to her friend as he drooled at all the miso ramen.
"Alright so miso with extra pork?" Sakura chuckled making him nod excited. "Teuchi-san may we have 2 miso with extra pork. Oh and some oolong tea please?" Sakura asked the old man politely making him beam.

"Why of course Sakura-chan and since you're so polite These two bowls are on the house!" Teuchi smiled brighter as Naruto cheered.

::

Suna was colder than usual as the evening fell upon the village like a cloak of darkness. Gaara was strolling outside feeling the cool breeze, the golden sand gathered around him as he walked on the streets.

Looling around his seafoam eyes scanned among the debris of a crumbled wall, squinting slightly he saw a sand mole with its thin eyes and sandy pelt chewing away at the inner walls of suna.

Sighing Gaara lashed out some sand to reach the mole, startling the poor creature as it squeaked loudly.

Inspecting the dirty vermin Gaara poked its tummy, the mole emitted some random noises that he guessed as pain or laughter.

A mole? Such a tiny creature!
Shukaku boomed in the redheads mind making Gaara wince.

Yes its a small animal what shall I do with it? Its a bit....thinner than others...
Gaara responded to his demon making the large Tanuki boom his laughter.

Keep it lets see how well you can handle a pet! The biju smirked inwardly and Gaara placed the sandy mole on his shoulder. Now that the boy poised no threat the small mole lay comfy on the silky garments the boy wore.
Sighing Gaara looked to the stars as he hopped onto the roof of his home.

He can't sleep and he will never sleep so he will spend his time with the small mole.

His first

Companion

::

Sakura sighed as she shifted her wallet, taking out some money she left a good tip for Teuchi. Bowing to him and parting away from Naruto she walked to the Uchiha clan district.

Walking into the eerie silence of the midnight she pulled out her kunai's, over the months she trained herself down until she fainted, knowing that Itachi was avoiding her and Sasuke she had a faint idea of whats going on.

And she didn't like it.

Not one bit.

Walking in the streets she adjusted her scarf, unravelling it and holding it loosely in her free hand she tilted her head to the right dodging a sharp hidden kunai.

"Nice try Itachi-Sensei..." she muttered quietly and flung her own kunai with deadly precision at his direction making him emerge from hi shadowy spot.

"Little cherry...." Itachi whispered, his heart hurt knowing what he did, and sadly he had fallen for this slightly broken girl, a little imouto that would never be repaired
She was closed off, she witnessed a gruesome death that she pulled off through sheer will, not something a mere child should go through. "Sakura... I have to do this... for the village." He whispered.

Sakura looked at him, his body slightly trembled, looking behind him was a passed out Sasuke with drool dripping out of his parted lips. "You had to kill? To murder your clan? Traumatizing your dear brother...". Sakura sighed as she sheathed her weapons. Walking up to him and reaching up to touch his waist, she was short and the man was fairly tall in comparison.

Flinching he stared at her slightly shocked, she was unafraid to walk up to him, to touch him! What did It all mean? "Saku-"

"Shh...Itachi I believe in what you did was for the village, im sure you never wanted it to happen?" She cut him off as she tied her beautiful red scarf around his neck.

"Please....take care of Sasuke.." he whispered brokenly as he cupped her cheek and gave her a kiss on her forehead, knowing that one day he'd cross paths with her again. But not as an ally nor a friend but as someone who might have to kill her or be killed by her.

"You as well... may we meet in our travels Itachi....be safe...because from this day on you are a traitor to the leaf." Sakura closed her eyes as she embraced him before they parted.

His ruby red eyes glistening with tears as he vanished into a murder or crows, each one cawing as they flew away. Sakura sighed and unpinned her hair, walking to Sasuke she lugged him onto her shoulders before finally looking closer at all the dead bodies.

Red

All of the clans members bodies

Were

A

Familiar

Red

"Itachi.....may We meet again in the future...I promise to take care of Sasuke..." sakura whispered as she carried the sleeping boy to the hospital.

::

The Raven stood on the Hokage mountain where he overlooked the area, his summons brought her sweet words to him making his crystalline tears fall faster.
"Okaa-san....Otou-san....Otouto..." he whispered softly "goodbye....I love you.." he fell to his knees clutching his chest in pain as he silently screamed.

Not all deeds done to protect the village would be nice.
This deed was gruesome
This deed was needed
But it was a night
Covered in red
The only thing that everyone sees

Is a sickening, gruesome

RED