Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto this same disclaimer applies for all chapters.

Chapter 1-Sakuras changes.

"I…can do it Tsunade-sama." Sakura stuttered her determination fighting against the pleas from her body to stop.

A small amount of blood trickled down her chin and dropped to the ground. She was in the middle of one of her training sessions with Tsunade. Although she often had these intense training lessons, she never struggled as much as she had today. She wasn't concentrating, and Tsunade was fed up with lack of effort.

"Enough for today Sakura," Tsunade replied to her students previous statement. "Our training is over. Now go get some rest you have a mission tomorrow."

"No." Sakura yelled. "I told you I can do this."

"And I told you, this is not a request, Sakura, this is an order." Tsunade stood and stared down at Sakura, waiting for a response but Sakura remained silent. Thankful for Sakuras choice, Tsunade turned and left, she didnt like to have to be extra cruel with her.

Reluctantly, Sakura rose to her feet and somehow made it back to her apartment. Even though the rent was quite high, Sakura's apartment was small; there was an open kitchen and living area where a table, sofa, T.V, and bookshelf stood, along with her kitchen appliances. There wasn't much to the colour scheme, plain creams and browns, with the odd bright accessory here and there. Sakura didn't care much for the décor, a roof over her head and bed to sleep in was all she needed.

Sakura made her way upstairs to her bedroom, the stairs creaking as she went. Upstairs there was a bathroom and her bedroom, like the rest of her apartment her room was small and plain. There was just enough room for her bed and a dressing table, she was lucky enough, however to have a built in wardrobe, albeit tiny.

'I should be stronger than this,' the pink-haired Kunoichi sighed, whilst sitting on her bed.. 'What's wrong with me'

Something had been bothering the young girl for several days now, and it wasn't too hard to pick up on. She was often distant as it was these days, but to lose concentration in a battle. It's a sign for help.

It seemed to have begun after the anniversary of her parent's death. It was only one year ago when the sound-nin attacked, leaving her parents and several others dead, or injured.

It was a cool summers night, or as cool as it could get in summer. The flowers were closing up as nightfall ascended. Unknown to all, Sound- Nin were silently lurking in the forest bordering Konoha.

Sakura was doing a night shift at the hospital when the ninja had attacked. They were silent in their attacks, and it was only when they reached the centre or the village that the alert was sounded. They were easy enough to capture for interrogation, most of them were only of chuunin level.

Tsunade was the first to arrive at the hospital, and broke the news to Sakura that her parents were killed.

Before she could be stopped, Sakura was racing through the village, stopping for no one until she reached the Haruno household.

She froze, standing in front of her family home looking through the half open door. She quickly recovered herself and gently pushed he door fully open.

Sakura stood taking in the grisly sight for several minutes. There was blood splattered on the walls, Kunai protruding from furniture, and in the middle of the room, lying in a pool of blood were her parents.

Their eyes were wide with fear and shock. Her fathers arm was severed and bleeding, along with several other wounds. His throat was slit, this obviously being the kill point, with a deep breath Sakura turned to look at her mother, other than a single stab wound, that had pierced through her mothers heart there were no other visible wounds.

Two hands rested on Sakuras shoulders, and led her out on to the street. They were that of her mentors.

Sakura never cried once, during the time of her parent's death. She just stayed very silent, and drifted off into a dreamlike state for a week, before returning to training with Tsunade.

The incident was never spoken of again.

Sakura changed that day for the worse. Her beautiful, sparkling emerald eyes, which could usually light up any room, were now dull and lifeless. Her skin had become pale and she had lost a lot of weight making her so thin, she found it hard to buy clothes small enough.

Not only had her appearance changed, but her personality had also dramatically changed as well. The Sakura who was bubbly, happy and always smiling was now cold, depressed and rarely laughed or smiled. She instead became distant, and would never let her feelings get the better of her.

This change however had slowly begun long before her parent's death. No, this started six years ago after a certain Uchiha left the village. Leaving her unconscious on the stone the stone bench in Konoha, before he himself took off in search of revenge.

Tsunade had been well aware of these changes in her young apprentice, and simply thought that they would pass. Seeing that they hadn't and that her training was now suffering, Tsunade thought it was time to have a word with Sakura.

That night Sakura never slept, her mind was full of things so she stayed up all night studying new jutsu and medical techniques.

Glancing at the clock, she rose from her bedroom floor and proceeded down the stairs towards the kitchen. It was 6:30am, Sakura put on the kettle for tea, and toasted bread for herself. It was the same thing day in, day out. It was lonely for her, being in a house alone, she never felt like she belonged, which definitely didn't help her when her parents died. Of course her friends offered her accommodation with them, but being reminded of her genin days Sakura said no, insisting she would only be a burden. It was a petty way of viewing herself, as nothing but a burden to others. Her low self-esteem seemed to also worsen through the years.

The mission she was assigned to begin at 9:00, so she had plenty of time to relax. With that thought, there was an abrupt knock on the door. It was a message from Tsunade.

"Ms Haruno." the messenger began "the Hokage requests your presence in her office immediately." the messenger finished, then quickly disappeared with a trademark poof of smoke.

'What's this about.' Sakura thought, while leaving her apartment to go to the Hokage tower at once

"Enter." Tsunade answered, as Sakura knocked on the Hokages office door.

"You wanted to see me." She said, gently closing the door behind her walking forwards into the cirular room she knew so well.

"Yes Sakura. Please take a seat, there is something I must discuss with you." said Tsunade in an unsual tone, one that she used with the people close to her. It was different from the one she used when giving orders as Hokage.

"Will this take long Tsunade-sama, because I want to be prepared for my mission." Said Sakura, her voice formal and clear as always.

"You won't be going on the mission, TenTen will take your place." replied The Fifth calmly, hoping not to stir too much hysteria within her student.

"What." Sakura yelled in total shock and anger " Why?"

"Cool it, Sakura." Tsunade said, slightly raising her voice.

'Cool it, cool it, how can she ask me to cool it, when she just took me off a mission. This has never happened to me. I don't know whether to be more insulted, or more embarrassed.' Sakura thought angrily.

Tsunade took a sip from the mug that was on her desk, then breathed out a deep and heavy sigh. Apparently, Sakura wasn't the only one suffering from sleep depravation.

"I know that you are angry with me at the moment, but I need to talk with you Sakura. And I want you to listen. Take on board everything I'm going to say." the soft tone of voice in which Tsunade was using, was rare to hear. Sakura sat up in her chair.

"Last year, you lost two of the most important people to you. And I know how that feels, I had a hard time dealing with my losses. But Sakura, I'm worried about you, I don't think you've grieved, or well, properly grieved yet. I don't want to upset you, so I'm not going to say much else, but I think you need to take a good look at yourself, and your life and ask yourself. Are you really ok?"

' What's she bringing this up for,' Sakura thought, but already knew the answer. 'I'm fine…at least that's what I tell myself'

"You may not realise it, but I think that this is now affecting you, and I am giving you a break for a while. Use it to cool off and gain back your mental strength, your minds not as tough as your fists."

Sakura nodded to her mentor and got up and to leave the room.

"Before you leave, I want you to know that I'm always here for you, when you feel ready to talk." she said looking wisely over her folded hands, as she rested her chin atop of them.

"Thank-you, Tsunade-sama." Sakura quietly replied, before leaving the Hokages office.

The way home was silent, Sakura wandered not even conscious of where she was going. Finally she stopped and looked to her right. There it was, whatever had lead her here was cruel, it was the stone bench he had left her on. She sat down, and for the first time in six years, Sakura cried.