Chapter Text
"Look at that stupid forehead!"
A clumsy push from behind knocked me to my knees.
"It's so ugly, soooo big!" One girl cackled.
"Yeah, and she thought she could take us on! We're basically Shinobi already." You're only 2 years older than me.
The group of kids, led by Ami, laughed further with each kick, stomp, and punch they made.
Why do they hate me so much? Mommy said to fight back, but they’re too strong. And what if- Another hard swipe to the gut and the wind was blown out of me. It hurt. So, so much. But I can’t cry. Mommy wouldn’t cry.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" A new voice showed up.
I tried to lift my face off the ground, but Ami had her foot glued to my head. She shoved my face further into the ground when she felt me stir. The dirt and grass tasted awful.
I grit my teeth. No crying!
Then suddenly the pressure was gone and I was being pulled up to my feet. Whoever it was, put me behind them. Such pretty hair. It looks like mommy’s .
"You're not Shinobi! Not even Genin! I'm Yamanaka Ino and if you don't leave my friend alone, you'll never ever graduate from the Academy!" Her voice was loud and threatening. Yamanaka? I think I know that name, but from where?
Everyone around us paled, some even gasped. And Ami, she looked scared! I've never seen her look like that before. Ino...
She grabbed my hand, pulling me forward so that I was beside her. I flinched at how hard her grasp was. But I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to hurt me. She's saving me! Like mommy!
"Let's go, my daddy will know what to do." She spoke with an air of confidence. Chin raised high, eyes still on the older girls.
And with that, Ino ran past everyone, making sure to push Ami to the ground in passing. Only hearing a loud ‘Hey!’ from behind us. We went out of the park and past all the food stands. Taking turn after turn until we reached a flower shop. I was completely out of breath when I squinted at the sign. Before I could read it though, Ino pushed me in.
My eyes blinked in a fast procession at the flurry of colors.
"So pretty.." I whispered to myself. Ino whipped her head around to me, the first time I saw her face.
"What? Speak up! You gotta be louder if you want to be heard." Her eyes- so blue -focused on me.
"O-Okay." She gives me a narrowed eye look. "OKAY!" I practically shouted, Ino seemed pleased by this.
"Better." And with a nod of her head she yells for her mommy.
After a few minutes of waiting nervously, a tall lady comes into view. She looks just like Ino. Her hair is a lot longer though, going almost to her knees. "Princess, I was with a customer, what do you need? And who's this?" Concern evident in her voice.
I moved to hide behind Ino when her mom saw me.
The Yamanaka's gaze softened at this and she crouched to be at eye level with us. Before I could hide any further, Ino huffs and pulls me in front of her. Hands staying on my shoulders to keep me from moving away.
"I need daddy! And I don't know who this is, but she's my new best friend and there was a lotta people hurting her. So, I'm gonna hurt them worse!" Ino practically yelled.
Yuma Yamanaka raised her brow at this. Her little princess sure knew how to say what she wanted. Maybe we might have spoiled her...just a little. But the young flower that was with her looked beaten and battered. Who would do such a thing to a child?
"Well, Princess, maybe you should introduce yourself first. And your father is still at work. The both of you will have to wait. Let's head home. Ne?"
~~~~~~
We arrived at the Yamanaka clan compound and entered through a beautifully engraved wooden double door. The compound looked better than the flower shop we were at previously. It was like entering a garden. A much much bigger garden. Yuma-san, as she told me to call her, took us to the first white house. They all appear so similar, the only real difference being the size. The cobblestone path we walked on curved slightly, leading to the front door. Everything here was a lot more modern than most clan homes. Or at least from what mommy had told me about them.
"Come on Sakura-chan! You can stare at our compound later, we gotta go inside and wait for daddy." Ino called out to me. Her sudden voice made me jump, and my permanent blush got redder.
"Al-Alright!" I tried to sound more confident like Ino.
The inside was just as pretty, but before I could say anything Ino directed me to the bathroom.
"Why are we in y-your bathroom?" I asked, confused.
Ino looked exasperated. "You're all dirty because of those stupid girls! We can't let you go looking like that the entire day. Now come on, we'll get in together. It's bonding! Mommy bonds with daddy in here all the time and they're like suuuuper close."
"Okay!" I take her word for it. She's my friend, my very own friend!
We get into the bath, the water smells floral. I don't know if I like that. My nose scrunches at the scent.
Ino makes it her job to scrub all the dirt out of my hair. She's unable to cover her gasp when she sees Sakura's unmuddied hair. Laughter erupts from her and Sakura pulls back looking at her shyly.
"Why are you laughing, Ino?"
"Your hair and your name go well together. It's just like sakura tree petals! So pretty." Ino answered with a smile.
I pick up a wet lock of my hair to look at. "You..you don't think it's funny looking?" I ask shyly.
Ino stops her giggles and seems serious for a moment.
"Of course not! It's super pretty, and it brings out your eye color too. You look like a fairy or something." She nods her head, very sure of herself.
And suddenly, Ino found herself wrapped in a hug with a crying Sakura. "Thank you, Ino. Only my parents say that. Everyone else thinks it's ugly like my forehead." Practically sobbing into her shoulder.
"Well, they're just jealous because they're ugly! Ami could only wish to look as beautiful as us. My mommy said if anyone makes fun of how I look, it's 'cause they think I'm pretty. Now stop crying! They don't deserve those tears, we'll show em how a true Kunoichi looks." Ino gets us out of the bath, giving me a towel.
We ran hand in hand to her bedroom. Ino then goes to her dresser and gets out a red sundress. She tells me to put it on and keep it because 'red just isn't her color'. But I think she doesn't know how to give things away without trying to come up with a 'good' reason.
Ino shoves me to look into her full length mirror. It's so pretty! I wanted to tell Ino, but she was digging around in one of her drawers. Tilting her head, as she let out a loud 'found it!' Ino put whatever she found behind her back when she turned around, grinning from ear to ear.
"Close your eyes, Sakura-chan. I have a surprise!" She exclaimed happily.
Doing as told and putting her hands over her eyes for good measure, Sakura hums with excitement. I wonder what it is? She felt something push her hair out of her face and settle atop her head.
"Alright! Open your eyes." I saw Ino with a smug grin on her face and then she moved out the way so that I could look at the mirror once more. My eyes go wide. It's a ribbon! But, now my forehead shows. I quickly cover it with my hands.
"Hey! No! Don't do that, Sakura-chan. You gotta let yourself bloom or no one will see what me and your parents see. Look! Really look."
I stare at my reflection again. "I guess... It don't look that bad."
My eyes are more visible but so are the bruises made from earlier. The ribbon goes well with the dress too.
"Come on, we can be vain later, I think I heard daddy come in." Ino whisper yelled and the both of us giggled at her antics, then hurried downstairs out of her purple room.
When we arrived at the living room, we were greeted warmly by Ino's parents. Ino received a warm hug from her father and I got an unexpected pat on the head.
"No, don't mess up her pretty hair!" Ino batted his hand away, pouted, and fixed my ribbon.
Inoichi smiled at this gesture. Ino rarely, no, never let anyone borrow her things much less give. Looks like she's finally made a friend that wasn't Shikamaru and Choji. I was worried she'd scare them all away.
"I heard you needed to tell me something, Ino. Your mother says it's pretty important."
Ino's eyes lit up, suddenly remembering the events from earlier today. "This is my new best friend, Sakura-chan, and there were a bunch of stupid, jealous girls beating her up! And they lied saying they were Shinobi. Ami is like 2 years older than us, so they're still in the Academy. And so you should do something so that they stop being so mean to Sakura-chan!" She took a big inhale before continuing. "They don't deserve to be Shinobi if they're big ugly meanie heads."
Inoichi and Yuma looked at each other for a moment. Obviously taken aback by what their little Princess just told them. The Academy Instructors should know that their students are using what they're teaching for such things. Bullying has a terrible influence on a child's psyche. After the two adults discussed what to do, they let the two children know of their conclusion.
"Well, tomorrow morning I'll go up to the Academy and inform their Sensei of what has happened. The Sensei will let them know that using what they're learning on innocents is wrong. And their Sensei will decide what else to do, not me. Is that good for you, Princess?"
"Yes!" She shouts. Inoichi chuckles and pats her head lovingly.
Then Yuma turned to Sakura, crouching like earlier. "Let me help with the bruising, Sakura-chan." Yuma puts her hand up and glows green. A nice cool feeling soon goes through Sakura.
"What was that, Yuma-san?" She looked at her in awe, making Yuma-san smirk like Ino does when she's praised. Obviously, that's where Ino gets it from.
"It's a type of Medical Jutsu. But, all I can do is heal bruises, and minor injuries. My real specialty is poisons and antidotes." Yuma-san explained. "Now let's go get you home, Sakura-chan. Ino, Princess, would you like to come walk your friend home?"
Ino bounced up with a yes and again, hand in hand, Sakura ran with her new friend.
My best friend.