(A/N: For more effect, skip to 6:49 and listen to the music provided.)

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"Alright, brat! Before we do anything else, I'm going to explain a few things."

Sakura nodded, carefully listening.

"You need an apartment, or a place to stay. Since I don't allow brats like you into my apartment, and Tenzou doesn't either, we'll check out some potential places."

The little girl watched Anko, and nodded again to show that she heard what was said. "I require money to live in an apartment," She stated, waiting for an answer.

"Well, we'll have to ask Hokage-sama about that. While we head over there, I want to talk about your pitiful future. Do you know what a shinobi is?"

Sakura shook her head. "A shinobi is one that specializes in the art of stealth. This can branch off into many things such as assassination, torture, interrogation, etc. They have three basic parts that make up their skill set: ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu," She recited dutifully, before quieting again. It seems that when I minimize outwardly expressing myself, Anko does not get mad, Sakura thought.

Anko grinned. "Not bad, kid. Sounds like you got that straight out of a textbook, though."

"Oh." It just popped up in her head, despite her never being outside before being brought to the village.

The chūnin sweatdropped. "Okay, then. You don't have as much experience as I thought you did. Anyway, I wanted to ask you if you had the guts to be a shinobi."

Sakura simply ignored her and walked faster to the Hokage Tower, causing Anko to swear and curse at her. When they arrived, the purple-haired teenager knocked on the door twice before letting the two of them in.

The old man looked surprised to see them so soon, but nevertheless, greeted them. "Hello, again, Anko."

"Hello, Hokage-sama, this brat's name is Sakura," Anko said, bowing deeply. Irked that Sakura wasn't doing the same, she grabbed ahold of the back of her head and pushed down, causing the Hokage to chuckle.

"Anko, don't be so rough on her." He looked over to the pink-haired girl, as if trying to share a look. The old man tried not to be annoyed that the girl simply looked away, as though he wasn't worth her time. Nevermind, He thought to himself. "Now," Hiruzen folded his hands. "What is it you two need?"

"Money," Sakura said without hesitation, making Anko nearly hit her.

"Or an apartment that the village will pay for—" Anko was cut off when three of the Elders entered the office.

"We are not using our own funds to pay for the experiment," Koharu interrupted. "We have no interest in helping what could be a spy." She turned to inspect Sakura scrutinizingly. Experiment?

"I agree with Koharu," Homura stated, and made his way over to where the other Elder was.

A third voice spoke. "Perhaps...I have a note-worthy suggestion."

The Hokage sighed. "What is it, Danzō?"

"The experiment should join ROOT. It is an orphan, with no place to go, and should be talented with what it is, or more specifically, who it was made from." There was a dark glint in the man's eyes.

Sakura listened, not really understanding what the old man was saying. 'Who it was made from...' I do not understand.

"No," The Hokage said. "I will not allow this little girl join ROOT. Technically speaking, the village should be able to pay for her needs, seeing how she is made from the ce—"

"Excuse me," Anko said, bowing to the Elders. "Perhaps it is better for Sakura to leave for the time being."

Hiruzen nodded. "Very well. Sakura," The girl's attention was caught. "You can wait out by the tree, near the outside of the Tower." He pointed outside the window to a large oak tree with a tire swing. "Anko will pick you up when we are done. I trust you not to run away."

Sakura nodded and left, walking down the stairs, one by one. He trusts me? Foolish. Konohagakure truly is soft. I wonder what they are keeping from me... Lost in her thoughts, definitely not like her, she bumped into a tall man with spiky hair in a high ponytail. "Ah, I am sorry," He apologized politely. Sakura stared back at him.

"You are a shinobi. Learn to take in your surroundings," She pointed out before passing him, and continuing on her way to the tire swing.

:::

Shikaku watched the young pink-haired girl hop down the stairs, then smirked. He shook his head, and continued walking up the stairs, thinking of the interesting girl he had met. If what Inoichi said was correct, that meant he had just met the girl rescued from one of the Sannin's laboratories.

The head of the Intelligence Unit told him the results of her mental assessment. Apparently, she lacked any manners, and was very blunt. When she was interrogated, they didn't find anything, except for that she was extremely intelligent.

She was around Shikamaru's age. The head of the Nara clan chuckled, thinking if the two could get along. Shikamaru might not want to put much effort into that.

:::

"I do not know who that was," Sakura muttered, glancing back at the man she'd passed. Important, though.

When she looked forward, Sakura saw a few kids at the tire swing, surrounding a blonde boy with his back to her. Curious to see how she should be acting, she decided it would be best to act her age and try to fit in. Of course, Sakura didn't really know how old she was, but age doesn't matter in the shinobi world. It all depends on skill and rank. Perhaps this kid how children my age act. Is this 'friendship' they are displaying?

Not quite listening to what was going on below her, she leaned on the railing that overlooked the village.

Doesn't it smell nice? And the wind that's always blowing...it's so peaceful. Not at all like I remember it, though.

Sakura's eyes widened by a fraction. Perhaps the one testing her mental stability missed something.

You're not crazy. I'm H—I'm like...your conscience! Yeah, that's it!

Sakura nodded and the voice disappeared momentarily. She tuned in to what was happening, the boys were now pushing the blonde around. One of the Shinobi Laws states: "A shinobi must never show any weakness." That boy, on the other hand, decided to fight a losing battle. I am not obligated to help.

I think you should.

Assisting the boy would not benefit me in any way.

It wouldn't, exactly, but it's the honorable thing to do.

Why am I held to these expectations?

You're not. And—actually, it is beneficial. When you help others, they feel obliged to help you in return. So, if you help that boy, he will most likely want to help you in the future. You know what I mean?

You cannot trust people. They are deceitful and prone to turn on you. There is nothing that will guarantee that he will be of service to me in the future. "A shinobi must always be on guard, for he never truly trusts anyone, even comrades."

Just—go help him.

Sakura sighed lazily as she slunk underneath the pole. Watching the blonde boy make a hand sign, she was now interested in what he could do. He yelled out something that she couldn't catch, even with her hearing, and there were two small poofs of clouds that appeared. When it cleared, there were two miniature, pitiful-looking clones that wobbled around.

I overestimated this boy. He is weak, too. However, Sakura thought with another heavy sigh, I should save him, so that he can repay me later on in life. Jumping down, she made a small cloud of dirt, and watched as the stronger kids coughed and waved it away.

"What do you want?" One kid sneered at her, and she remained impassive.

"You're one of those weird kids that don't say anything, aren't you? In that case, you're just as hopeless as Uzumaki! You're a pale, pink-haired freak!" Another moved forward to shove her, and she did not resist.

The Uzumaki clan...

They are well-known for their fūinjutsu skills, although, there are not many of them left after they disbanded. The Uzumaki were hunted down, and they had to go into hiding, Sakura remembered, although she didn't understand how.

"Hey!" The blonde boy yelled at the other boys, his voice high and squeaky, "Don't push a girl! That's rude, —ttebayo!"

"—ttebayo?" That is a strange catchphrase.

"I am fine," Sakura said, standing up and brushing off the dust on her dress. I find no use for dresses. Oh, wait. Now I have three children that are not looking at me in the right way. What am I supposed to say?

Uh oh! Sakura is caught in the sights of those bullies! What will she do?