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There was a story going around of the vengeful little girl in the village below where Sarada and her family lived. She was curious of the rumours and went out asking if any of it was true.
Oh, it was, well that’s what they claimed at least.
For years little girls were chosen as sacrifices for the Gods to keep them satisfied, the volcano at bay and to feed the village well. It was what kept them going and given this tradition had been around for years, who would dare to break it.
And try something new.
These girls were ‘specially chosen’ by the ones above themselves.
If by chosen you would count them having no family, no adult to defend them and as such persuading them that they were the next sacrifice, to make the deal more tempting the men would say they would see their parents/guardians again.
This girl was no different. After her father passed away from a disease, she was sent to walk up to the mountain where the Gods would take her to her parents. She had been crying for days, missing her papa wishing she could have made him better, so hearing that not only will she see her father but mother again the girl agreed all too enthusiastically.
However, rumours spread of the ghost of the girl being seen around the village. She was seen once and then in a blink of an eye was gone. No one was worried at first, it wasn’t uncommon for people to see ghosts about. But years later, men and only the men started going missing.
More so, the ones who had chosen who would be the next sacrifice.
Some people had claimed to see the girl but older. She did have a unique hair colour and thus concluded it was her spirit’s doing.
“Do you think it’s true?” Sarada asked her parents, a vengeful girl being tricked by them and potentially protecting others from sharing her same fate. It seemed reasonable enough.
“I doubt it sweetheart; we told you how humans are fragile. There’s probably a new plague going about but their keeping it under wraps not to scare anyone.”
Because how could the little girl seek revenge if she was never dead to begin with.
Like the all the others before her, Sakura was supposed to be the next victim. After her father had passed the idea to see him and her mother again was too much temptation for her five-year-old self.
She had no food, no water as she didn’t need those to where she was going and waited and waited and waited. But no deity came, instead there was a young woman who had a few features that weren’t human like.
She had horns, a tail and although her skin was as pale as hers there was a few distinctive scales from her face across her body. She looked like she could be a demon or an angel because she had such a pretty face.
“Are you the one who’s here for me?” Sakura asked in her meek voice. The woman looked her up and down noticing the dirt, scratches and how weak the girl was. Cursing the humans to hell and back she softly smiled down at the girl extending her hand to her.
“Of course, my dear, my name is Mikoto. What’s yours?”
“Sakura.” She said rubbing her eyes. And so, Sakura followed, it was what she was meant to do.
Mikoto went down the mountain to where a hole could be seen. A cave, her home.
She later found out that they were dragons which may explain the confusion as to why they looked like demons. For years now, humans had mistaken their kind as Gods. Because of their wings, the power they have. In some stories, they did in fact take advantage of their naiveness, but most dragons today wanted to be left alone. In their nests, their homes.
Still, Mikoto couldn’t leave the fragile girl alone to die. Which as Sakura later found out what had happened to most girls. No one came for them and so they grew weaker and perished from starvation or in some cases a disease they caught and weren’t aware they had.
Considering she had a child Sakura’s age; she didn’t see the harm on raising another.
She had always wanted a little girl, and Sakura was old and smart enough to understand that they weren’t her parents and that she wasn’t a dragon. That wouldn’t stop her from make believe though and trying to copy them. Which they would indulge in and fly Sakura about.
Sasuke often got jealous because Itachi was older and was able to carry and fly Sakura about whereas he couldn’t for being too small and young. He ruffles his hair saying to be patient since they didn’t want to hurt Sakura. This would only cause him to glare and sulk in a corner.
It was clear overtime that Sasuke viewed Sakura much differently and was rather protective and attached to the girl since she joined. When she had nightmares, he would curl up beside her to reassure her she wasn’t alone and safe. It came to no surprise that she became his mate, given the cave itself was big enough for plenty of privacy for the couple.
Even so, he wanted to find his own nest thinking it couldn’t be good for Sakura to be cooped up inside. Sure, she went out every now and then, but if the villagers caught her, who knows what would happen.
It’s funny how humans could be.
They would be mistaken as Gods because of their power but Sakura would be seen as a threat. What weird creatures’ humans were.
“Papa, what do you think of these stories?” She asked when they were alone noticing how quiet he was more than usual. Her uncle and grandparents agreed with her mother, that humans were fragile creatures unlike them. Of course, Sarada knew her mother was one which was why they knew so much. He didn’t say anything though, perhaps didn’t believe it.
“I think it doesn’t matter, they’re getting what they deserve.”
Because even if Sakura wasn’t a vengeful person, Sasuke was another matter.
Taking them down one by one.
Besides, the humans were the ones who wanted a sacrifice. He was just picking them out for them and when his last victim was gone, he could leave this village and find another nest for his growing family. And hopefully no other young girls will suffer the same fate in the future.