Dares and Tales
She was a hero haunted by the past.
The scars she bears tell of her sacrifices.
She was a hero who grew tired of their praises.
She was a living legend.
She just wanted to be human.
When you have experienced a war that others have not, faced death and come back stronger, challenged a god and ended a war that many believed would never end, there is only so much you can do to stop the myths and legends that follow you.
Sakura only went into the village when she needed to but the moment she stepped out of her forest Pink hair and green eyes became dull brown hair and blue eyes. Her companions were hidden under a notice-me-not genjutsu not even the Uchiha could see through.
She stopped at the memorial stone before walking to the park where she knew 'they' would be.
Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto.
She watches them like a ghost, Kushina and Mikoto laughing as their sons run around tackling each other.
'We should be right there laughing with them!' She inner screamed 'It not fair they get to hold them to see them grow up, THAT SHOULD BE US! KOU-' Sakura shoved Inner into the deepest part of her mind as she turned around leaving the village once again.
As winter drew near, Sakura found herself inside her cozy home, lying on the kitchen floor. The sound of her companions running around provided a pleasant background noise, but suddenly, everything fell silent. Sakura sat up, her eyes glowing green with a mix of curiosity and concern as she focused on the front door.
"This is so stupid!"
"It's a dare teme you can't back out now."
"Shut up Naruto!"
"Guys maybe we should head back if Ma finds out about this we are never going to be allowed to leave the house!"
"Just touch the door!"
She hears the rustling of leaves and twigs, the snap of a twig underfoot, and the shuffling of six pairs of feet. She can feel the tension in the air, as six pairs of glowing eyes watch and wait for the right moment. Her own heart beats faster and faster as she waits for the sound of small feet moving ever so slowly up the stairs and onto the wooden porch. Every nerve in her body is on edge as she waits for the signal to unleash the attack. The six pairs of glowing eyes remain fixed on the door, waiting and ready to pounce at the slightest movement. The air is charged with anticipation as they all wait for just the right moment.
Knock
Knock
Knock
.
.
.
.
.
The wait was over.
Five bodies move as one as a deep guttural growl rips through the silence.
The chase was on.
No one would be hurt.
Sai blames the others.
Naruto blames Sasuke.
Sasuke blames Naruto.
Kiba and Akamaru blame themselves and vow to never follow the others again. And he tells his mother about the sound of ghostly howls and haunting growls. She then tells him the story of a child too young to fight for her village, cannon fodder. A girl who had no one but herself. She tells of a teenager who ripped her way through a battlefield with crimson fangs and black claws. A teenager who fought tooth and nail to save those who had not saved her.
She tells the story of a girl who went to war as a child and came out as a hero.
"Now pup before you go around asking about her let me ask you this, why do you think no one talks about her? If she was seen as a hero, why do you think she lives outside the village walls?"
For the rest of the night, he thinks about what his mother asked him. For the next three days, he tries and fails to come up with an answer until the fourth day when he decides to ask someone else who might know the answer other than the smartest kid in his class, even as lazy as he is, Nara Shikamaru. Luckily neither Ino nor Choji are near him, it was his cloud-watching spot after all.