Chapter One: Leaving

Sakura punched a tree, again and again until her knuckles started to bleed. Beside her Ino was attacking a training dummy with venom. With one mighty kick, the whole wood structure splintered, sending bits of wood raining all around her. Tenten and Hinata were sparring with each other, their teeth bared. Their movements were quick sure, but not quick enough.

"I'm too weak. That's all my so-called comrades could say." Sakura gritted out, punching harder.

"I was too slow. Too stupid. Too frail." Ino could only state as tears ran down her face in small rivulets.

"I was told I was too pathetic. By the man I was in love with." Tenten almost yelled, attacking Hinata as if she could get back at her teammate if she destroyed the petite blue-haired girl.

Hinata didn't mind. She too was attacking with abandon, not caring if she got hurt because at least she could deal with that pain. "My family attacked me and left me to die. I was lucky that Sakura happened to pass by or else I would have died. Everyone called me weak and a disgrace to the Hyuuga name."

All four girls stopped and sobbed silently, their shoulders shaking with the effort of trying to keep silent. Suddenly a figure stepped out from the shadows.

"Would you like to come with me to get stronger?" a melodic lilting voice floated over to them, making them stiffen.

Instantly they were on the alert, pulling out their weapons. "Who are you?" Tenten asked, suspicious of the unknown figure. Reaching up with her hand, the figure pulled back her hood and let her face be shown, making the girls gasp.

The woman had shining ebony hair up in a French braid and piercing blue eyes, set in a well-structured face. Her skin was pale, but instead of looking sickly, it simply glowed, giving her the appearance of an ethereal being. The black cloak did a shabby job of hiding her obviously good figure. She was around the same age as Kakashi.

"My name is Higurashi Kagome. I have heard your cries, Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura, Tenten and Hyuuga Hinata. I can make you stronger."

Hinata stepped forward this time and spoke with no stutter, only determination. "Will we be allowed to come back to the village?" Kagome smiled.

"Whenever you like." She said, only truthfulness in her voice. The four girls looked at each other and nodded. Whatever was about to happen would make them stronger. They would not regret. Anything to make it so that they would never be called weak again.

Kagome nodded in return and turned, walking away. "I'll give you till sunset to pack, say your goodbyes and meet me at the gates of Konoha. Sakura, Ino, Tenten and Hinata went their separate ways, to go say goodbye to the people that didn't believe in them.

Sakura…

I walked over to the usual meeting spot for Team Seven and immediately Naruto glomped me, shouting things about how I was late and he was worried. I smiled inwardly. Naruto was the one teammate I would miss a lot, along with Kakashi-sensei. They may have thought I was weak, but at least they tried to get me stronger and tried to protect me.

"Hey…" Everyone stopped to look at me, surprised that I was talking in such a serious tone. "Would you miss me if I left?"

"What are you talking about Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, smiling goofily. "You'll never leave us, right?" I could only smile weakly and nod, knowing that I was lying to a person I cared about.

"Hn. Who the hell cares? She's dead weight and weak. No one needs her." Sasuke stated monotonously. I could feel the tears building up in my eyes, but I kept them hidden, not wanting to show weakness in front of the man I still loved, no matter how much he broke my heart.

"I see." I could only whisper. "Well then, from this day on I won't drag you down anymore." I turned and started to walk away, but then I felt a warm, comforting hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Kakashi-sensei staring at me with concern.

"Sakura…is something wrong?" he asked, with genuine kindness. Before I could think I had given him a hug and let the tears overflow. Then I pulled away and gave him a watery smile.

"I'll never forget you Kakashi-sensei. Thanks for everything." I walked away and I knew. Kakashi-sensei, my brother-figure, knew what I was going to do. But he didn't stop me. Maybe he knew that I would be happier this way. But I think that he also knew that I was coming back.

I walked away with my back straight and my head held high.

Ino…

I was standing with my team, waiting for Asuma-sensei to show up so that I could say my goodbyes. Chouji must have sensed my distress because he held out a chip to me. This was an important gesture because Chouji would only give out chips to his most trusted friends.

"Are you okay Ino?" he asked me. Before I could answer, Shikamaru interrupted, despite the 'troublesomeness' of it to do so.

"Chouji, forget it. She's probably just being her normal annoying self." I could only feel myself grow angrier with each word he said. By this time Asuma had arrived, but I didn't care as I yelled at my teammate, tears falling freely down my face.

"FINE! SINCE I'M SO ANNOYING, I QUIT!"

"Quit?" Asuma asked me, confusion.

"YES! I QUIT THIS GODDAMN ANNOYING TEAM!" With that I stormed off. I didn't look back. Nor did I care whether or not they took me seriously because I knew that what I was going to do would make me stronger and prove them all wrong. I would not be weak anymore.

Tenten…

I walked up to Gai-sensei, Lee and Neji calmly, not betraying the myriad of emotions rolling in my gut. I stopped and gave Gai and Lee a smile, wishing I could stay but knowing I couldn't. Not if I wanted to make them stop seeing me as weak and pathetic.

"Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for everything." I told them quietly. Gai and Lee gave me a thumbs up complete with a sparkling smile. I smiled back and left. Neji never looked at me once.

Hinata…

Their sympathy was suffocating. I only fell down and got a scratch on my hand but immediately they sent me home. I watched as my sister sparred with my father. She too ignored me like the rest of the family. I had already said goodbye to Naruto. Somehow I don't think I was in love with him anymore.

"Hinata! Come here now." I quickly ran to my father's side, not wanting to make him angrier. "You see your sister is making more progress than you are even though you are older and have rained longer. I think it's safe to say that she will take over as the head of the Hyuuga clan in your stead."

My eyes widened. But then my eyes dulled and I heard myself say yes father before I left the Hyuuga training grounds, going to my room and packing.

Sunset…

Kagome was waiting at the gates like she had promised. The five of them left together, never once looking back. After all, who would care? They were four kunoichi with a mission and a trainer that promised to guide them, make them stronger.

Higurashi Kagome would make them stronger.