"She's been there all night. Hasn't left his side since surgery ended. She's worried about him I can tell.", Shizune reported to her teacher. Tsunade bit into her red nail as the thought deeply about the situation at hand.

"He was the one to save her, protect her, and teach her what it's like to be happy. You could say he's the first person to treat her like a person and not an object. Obito is her first real family and the more people she meets the more she lets in. I heard she's already gotten close to Kakashi and Rin. She even took an immediate liking to Anko.". No more was said between th two as they watched Sakura, who was curled up sleep next to Obito, sleep soundly.
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Tsunade POV-

The subject is still refusing to make her first kill, on the animal. Every time she's dragged in here she makes a fuss and starts wailing. She's been punished with beatings, torture, and hasn't been allowed food for the whole week, but still hasn't cracked. It seems as if this experiment would be a failure of it weren't for her excellent healing abilities and other qualifications.

Our employer has grown tired of the girl's constant crying and has given us specific orders: crush her voice box. She didn't say how. Some of my acquaintances have come up with a plan to beat the girl until they crush her voice box before surgically removing it without giving her pain killers or putting her to sleep. I for one refuse to take part of this barbaric plan. Unlike the rest of these vile beasts, I try to remain a civil man. I will not go that far to inflict pain on a three-year-old. However, I must take part in the surgery to make sure these fools don't kill her in their giddy state. I feel bad for the girl, as I do the many other child subjects, but this is for science. The human race must be evolved and we must take it upon ourselves to create such perfect beings. The amount of pain they go through now will soon be forgotten when they bring every country to its knees and create a perfect world. Then, our queen will rise. It's only a matter if time.

The tape stopped. I signed and rubbed my temple. This was only one of the many tapes I had been given. It was also one if the many with useless information other than details as to why Sakura's voice box had been removed. It was punishment. Her pacifistic nature didn't hide well with people trying to make soldiers and assassins. But what is this healing ability he speaks of?

And the bigger question still remains:

Who is this fire lady?
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Sakura POV-

I stood in the room again. That ugly steel room that smelled like blood. The room I was always beaten and tortured in. The room where I was forced to clean my own blood while I was hurt and beaten again for dripping more blood as I cleaned. The room where I was forced to kill.

Around the room stood my parents, fire lady, and the other scientists. They all wore evil grins in their faces as they watched me silently. My mother swung a whip into her hand; A warning if what was to come if I didn't fight and kill my opponent.

A sudden poof of smoke revealed my opponent. It was Obito. His eyes were full if hate and matched the others.

"What are you afraid of Sakura-chan? It's your fault that I'm hurt in the first place. You might as well kill me here since your responsible for me being as hurt as I am. Everyone will hate you. They already see you as a monster, now they will see you as the murderer you were meant to be. Why don't you show us what you're really capable of?", he spat. His sudden harsh words made me flinch back. I looked back into his eyes and saw nothing by hatred.

'It's my fault. He was hurt because of me. He'll die because of me. He shouldn't have saved me. He should have let me for there so he could live. I'm sorry, Obito.'

Obito grew tired of me waiting and decided to attack. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the pain.

But it never came...
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I was woken from my dream by some some gently calling my name. I slowly cracked open my eyes, fearful of what was to come. When I opened them, I saw Obito gently smiling down at me. When I saw him, my eyes began to tear up. He looked at me with no hatred like the Obito in my dream.

I never should have doubted him.

Suddenly, Obito gave me a strange look of worry. His hand reached out slowly and wiped a tear I didn't know I had shed from my face.

"Hey, Sakura-chan. You were shaking in your sleep. Did you have a nightmare?"

'He's okay. Obito is okay."

I was so relieved. He wasn't dead because of me. The first person to ever care about me and to protect me risked his life for me. Me. He's the one who introduced me to others who care about me. They tried to protect me  when they don't even know me. Without him I would be dead.

I used to pray for death. It was my only way of escaping from my horrible life at the lab. My only escape from being beaten. One of the old scientist told me stories of people who believed death was the best peace and only way to end suffering. I used to wonder if she was right and was willing to test it myself.

But now....I don't want to die.

I want to live.

I've had so many new experiences since I came here. I've eaten new foods, seen new things, met new people, and seen new places. I love everything that's happend so far and I want to do more. I want to find a way to help and protect them. I want to repay them for everything they've done, and still do, for me.

I couldn't help it anymore and jumped on Obito. I buried my face in his neck and cried. He was okay, but was still hurt because of me. I don't want to be that much of a burden.

I don't want to be useless anymore.

"Don't cry, Sakura-chan.", he said as he stroked my hair. "What ever your nightmare was, you don't have to be scared. I'll protect you. So don't worry." He finished with his signature smile. That same bright smile that made me forget what I am and made me feel safe.

'I don't want you to protect me. I want to protect you and the bright smile that saved me."