Hey guys! I just want to thank all of you who reviewed and favourited and followed Sakura's Evolution. To be honest, Chapter four did not go the way I wanted it to, and I finished it up just to get it done and over with. I totally didn't expect anyone to really care about it, but I'm SO happy at the turn out. It was incredible and I just cannot believe it. I'm feeling a lot better about this next chapter, and I really, really hope you guys enjoy it.

So! Without further ado, here we go with the next chapter.

Chapter 5: Just Getting Started

Sakura had never met an animal she didn't like, nor one that had never liked her.

Animals just connected to her. There had never been an animal- wild or domesticated, ferocious or not- that scared, disliked, or attacked her. The moles and snakes in her mother's garden were fun to play with, the pinkette adored the giant deer that gave her a ride that one time her father had a business dinner at the Nara's, and she wasn't even afraid of or hated the mice in the Yamanaka's storage shed.

Tora the Demon Cat to End All Genin was the exception.

Sakura glared up at their chuckling jounin sensei as she tended the claw marks that covered her arms. Beside her, Naruto whimpered and curled into a ball, not willing to face the world just yet. Sakura grimaced in pity and patted his shoulder. She wouldn't want to look at anyone either if a cat had pissed in her face mid-charge. It was Sasuke's turn to face the Lady Fire Daimyo's wrath at returning her "schnookums" all ruffled up (never mind the claw marks on his face) and the rest of them were waiting outside the Hokage tower for him to finish.

"I take you kids had a fun time, then?" Kakashi asked innocently just as Sasuke rejoined them. A strangled noise came from Naruto's huddled form and if looks could kill, the jounin would be dead several times over from Sasuke and Sakura's glares.

This was their sixth Tora mission since the three of them had officially passed the genin exams five weeks ago. Sakura was starting to suspect Kakashi-sensei was a sadist because Team 7 had only ever been assigned to 'rescuing' the maniac cat. He claimed it a coincidence but Sakura just knew he timed their mission days to Tora's escape, probably just so he could laugh at them as he read that stupid book of his. Between that demon cat and their insane training regime, the three genin were seriously considering mutiny.

"Anyways," the man chuckled, "now that you've had your break-" Kakashi pointedly ignored the growling coming from his oh-so-adorable genin "-we can get back to the hard work! Since we missed our usual laps this morning, I want six laps around Konoha. You've got- ah, can I help you, Hokage-sama?"

Sakura glanced up from packing away her bandages, bemused. The Hokage was standing in the doorway smiling amusedly at the four of them- and maybe with a bit of concern at Naruto's continued whimpering. Standing up, Sakura bowed and murmured a greeting alongside her Uchiha teammate.

"Ah, yes actually. I was just about to head out on my lunch break when my assistant received a call from the civilian grade school. They were asking for you, Sakura-chan."

Sakura's brow furrowed in concern. "Is there something wrong, Hokage-sama? Hiroki isn't hurt, is he?"

The Third shook his head. "Not that they said, however there has been an incident, and they need you to come pick him up." Sakura nodded and turned to Kakashi-sensei, who was frowning over the edge of his book.

"We still have afternoon training, Hokage-sama. Why can't their parent's deal with this?"

"The Harunos have gone on a business trip to secure a deal with one of the lords who lives east of the Land of Waves, on our peninsula. Didn't Sakura-chan tell you?"

"Ahaha, gomen Kakashi-sensei," Sakura chuckled nervously under the stare of both older men. "They left a few days ago, and with all the rush of getting Hiroki and myself ready and out the door on time, it must have slipped my mind. They're supposed to be back in a week or so."

"Hmm," Kakashi gave her the evil eye a little longer, and Sakura gave him her best innocent smile. Eventually he sighed and ran his hand through his hair and glanced up at the sun. "Well, I guess it can't be helped. I suppose Naruto should get a chance to disinfect himself." He contemplated Naruto where he lay on the ground being poked with Sasuke's foot. "It's almost one now anyways, so why don't you go get your brother and the five of us will go out for lunch. Be at the bridge in thirty minutes."

"Yes sir, Kakashi-sensei." Bowing once more to the Hokage and excusing herself, Sakura broke away from the group and headed out.

Once out of earshot, Sakura groaned loudly and rubbed her face, not caring about the looks she received from the others around her on the street. She was so frustrated! The last five weeks on Team 7 had really been putting her through her paces and even with all her hard work before the exams, she was still barely keeping pace with the boys in stamina and taijutsu. To her, the gap in skill was obvious and a mile wide, and since those and team-strengthening drills were the only thing they had been working on, her inadequacies were all she could think of lately.

Now her parents, on top of riding her about being a kunoichi more than ever these last few weeks, have both gone off on business, leaving her in charge of Hiroki while they were away. It happened often enough that she was used to it- she'd been sitting him while they were on business since she turned nine- but while that wasn't a problem when she'd been at the academy, now? When they knew she was going to be busy during the day?

'And of course one of the few times I have to sit him is when there's an incident and he has to be picked up. Kami help me, he better not have brought another snake in from recess or something equally dumb.'

'He might have been picked on again,' Inner Sakura put in, rather unhelpfully since it just made Sakura feel worse. 'I mean, he's in a class of nine-year-olds, and whooping their asses at that. Maybe a bunch of snot-nosed brats ganged up on him again like in the first week- the little shits.'

Sakura scowled as she remembered that day in particular. Her parents had been in a business meeting at the company building, so she'd been called down again, but it'd been in the midst of weapon sparring, so when she'd entered the classroom with weapons strapped on, and angry as a hornet at her brother's treatment, the elder Haruno left quite the impression. Needless to say, there hadn't been such an episode since.

Growling to herself, she jumped onto the nearest rooftop- a trick she'd picked up having to chase after that damnable cat- and hurried on her way to the school. She really hoped none of those kids put a hand on her brother, because after this morning and the extra stresses of the last few weeks, Sakura simply did not have the patience to deal with bratty children.

Touching down a few minutes later outside the three story school, Sakura sighed wearily and ran her fingers through her windswept hair. 'Time to find out what's up, I guess.'

Walking into the building garnered a lot of stares and it honestly annoyed her a bit. It wasn't often that a civilian, much less a female one from a notable family like hers, became a ninja so even though almost all the kids here didn't go to school with her, they've heard of her and their whispers followed her around as she made her way to the principal's office.

'It probably doesn't help you're always coming in for Hiroki,' Inner Sakura snickered just as she came up to the main office's entrance.

'Oh, shut up.'

"Ah, excuse me?" The black-haired assistant sat at the desk glanced up from his paperwork. "I'm Haruno Sakura; I was told there was an incident with my brother, Haruno Hiroki?"

The man continued to stare for a moment before he nodded and stood. "Ah, yes. Right this way, Haruno-san. They're waiting for you in Matsumoto-kouchou's office." Sakura's eyebrows rose in surprise and then immediately frowned in concern.

"I didn't realize it was so serious as to garner the principal's personal attention. I thought the vice-principal handled situations where family had to be called."

"That is usually the case, however, given the circumstances…" the man sighed as they came to a halt outside a door and sent her a pitying look, which only served to alarm her more, and knocked. "Well, you'll see. Matsumoto-kouchou? Haruno Sakura is here."

"Send her in, Fujiito-kun." An exasperated voice called out, and feeling like she was the one in trouble here, Sakura went in and shut the door behind her.

Immediately, Sakura knew exactly why this was being dealt with by the school principal instead of her subordinate. Sat behind the large desk was the brown-haired, kind faced principal Sakura remembered from her own school years, Matsumoto Yumiko, who was currently frowning at the school boys sitting across from her. In one chair to her right was Hiroki, who was scowling mutinously at the floor. He looked roughed up, as though he'd been in a fight, and had a bandaged cut on his cheek and a bruised chin to show for it.

The other boy, sat in one of the chairs on the left, was maybe two or three years older than Hiroki and had a distinctly rat-like look about him. He was clearly the worse for wear of the two children, if the rapidly forming shiner, cut lip, and bits of food stuck in his hair were anything to go by. It was the woman seated next to him, however, that made Sakura want to groan aloud and pull at her hair in frustration.

Suzuki Hiromi was the socialite wife of one Konohagakure's wealthier merchants. Sakura had met her several times at social gatherings her mother hosted and had never met a more inappropriately named person in her entire life, as she was neither generous nor beautiful. The carrot-haired woman was as rat-faced as her son and had a personality that could curdle milk. She constantly kicked up a fuss about the slightest perceived insult to her or her family, never mind that the Suzuki name was relatively minor in upper-class society.

"Ah, Haruno-chan, it is lovely to see you again, though I'm sorry to call you down from your work." Sakura dragged her eyes from the stuck-up socialite, and offered a smile and shallow bow at the principal, who gestured to the empty seat on Hiroki's left.

"Likewise, Matsumoto-kouchou, and it really isn't a problem," the genin said once she was seated comfortably. "Would you please fill me in on what has happened, though? I was only told there was an incident I needed to attend to."

"Ah, yes. Well," the woman began, "your brother and Suzuki Yuu, here-" 'Of course that woman would name her kid 'superior.'' Inner Sakura scoffed "-started brawling during lunch today. From what the staff and nearby upperclassmen told me, Yuu-kun approached Hiroki-kun and began to insult him, and in retaliation Hiroki-kun upended his lunch over Yuu-kun's head, and then threw the first punch."

Sakura frowned down at her scowling sibling. "Is this true, otouto?"

At her disapproving tone, Hiroki looked up at her and had the grace to look ashamed, even if he didn't seem sorry for it.

"Yes, onee-chan." He pouted for a moment more before suddenly straightening up and whipping his head around to give Suzuki Yuu the most impressive look of contempt he could muster. "But he deserved it! You should have heard what he called you, onee-chan; nobody has the right to talk about my sister like that! She's the nicest, best sister in the whole wide world and anyone who says otherwise is wrong and dumb!"

"You're the dumb one, Haruno-baka!" Yuu sneered, "And I never said nothin' about your sister!"

"Yes you did! You called her a good-for-nothing shinobi-whore!"

Yuu's mother gasped and put her arms around her son. "How dare you," Hiromi hissed, "accuse my son of such uncouth language when you attacked him! My son would never say such things, and I will not stand by and let some uppity, selfish child-"

"Suzuki-san," Sakura waited until the woman met her hard gaze before she continued. "Please do not speak to my brother like that again. There are better ways to handle this than by play-ground name-calling." The pinkette watched dispassionately as the Hiromi turned as red as her hair. 'Geez, she's easier to rile than Ino-pig and Ami-bitch combined.' "Nevertheless, there is no excuse for Hiroki's behavior no matter what your son said to him, and there will be appropriate consequences."

"As it is, Suzuki-san," Matsumoto cut in before the woman could respond, "he did say that. Several teachers and students alike heard him. That is why he shall be punished right alongside Hiroki-kun." Predictably, the red-head was outraged at this.

"You can't be serious! Yuu-chan is the injured party here-"

"That may be so, but we have a zero tolerance policy for both fighting and bullying at my school, and I do mean zero tolerance." The dark haired principal gave the two children a considering look before she continued. "Yuu-kun is suspended for the rest of the week, and has detention next Monday and Tuesday after school. Haruno-chan, I'm afraid Hiroki-kun will be suspended for the next four days. He may return to school Wednesday morning. During the time you two are suspended you are not allowed to make up any missed work, though you both may ask your senseis for a copy of the missed curriculum so that you do not fall behind. There is not to be a future repeat of this incident, understood?"

"Hai, Matsumoto-kouchou." The boys chorused sulkily.

Sakura sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "That sounds like a fair punishment. I'm sure our parents will have their own to add to Hiroki's when they return. May I request a copy of the written report when you have? Otou-sama will want to read the first-hand accounts."

"You may, Haruno-chan. I'll have Fujiito-kun mail a copy to you no later than tomorrow."

"Thank you, Matsumoto-kouchou." Standing, Sakura bowed once more to her old principal and pulled Hiroki to his feet, hoping to escape before the elder Suzuki could object. "If that is all, I'm afraid we must be going; I'm on a tight schedule."

"Oh, yes, of course, Haruno-chan. Hiroki-kun just needs to retrieve his things from his classroom."

Nodding and wishing the two women a good day, the kunoichi quickly steered her brother out of the office, past the male assistant, and into the hall of chattering students. She kept a firm grip on his shoulder all the way to his classroom and steadfastly ignored the nervous way he glanced up at her. It didn't take long for them to be back out on the streets, Hiroki morosely shuffling along beside his sister, clutching his bulging backpack.

Finally, Sakura got tired of his sad eyes glancing at her every few seconds. "You can pout all you want Hiroki, but it is not going to do a thing. You not only disappointed me by sinking to that boy's level, but to get physical with the Suzuki boy? When you know exactly how they will react? That's just double the trouble."

The little boy scowled. "I don't care! He was calling you all sorts of nasty things, and he wouldn't apologize! It's bad enough that tou-sama and kaa-sama say all those things and treat you the way they do. Why do they do that anyways, nee-chan? Everyone else in Konoha thinks shinobi are awesome."

The pinkette sucked her teeth, needing to choose her words carefully. She didn't want to turn him against their parents, after all.

"Honestly," she sighed, giving up, "I don't know all of why they're so upset with it. I know they think only civilians with no prospects sign up for this job, and since I obviously had a future all lined up, I guess they think I'm just doing this to rebel. To them, there's no other reason for it. That or they think I want the fame. I also think some of the other high society families are giving them trouble about it."

"They are?"

"Yes." Frowning, she stopped walking, turned to face Hiroki and kneeled in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders to ensure his complete attention. "Look Hiroki, the thing is, there are always going to be people like that Suzuki boy and his mother who say mean things. But even though it makes you angry, you can't retaliate. You can't lash out like that, because that is giving them what they want, and then they get to hold that over you, and use it again and again."

"But I can't just let them say bad things about you!" Hiroki whined, stomping his foot a little bit.

"Yes you can, because you and I both know the truth, and that's all I care about. There is nothing people like the Suzukis can say that could ever hurt me. But lashing out like you did just gives them a reason to continue talking like they do. I know you know better, and I do not want to hear you fighting on my behalf again." Seeing the little boy open his mouth to protest, Sakura leveled her best stern expression at him. "I mean it, otouto."

He huffed and pouted for another minute, glaring up at her. And then his shoulders sagged and he sniffled a bit, nodding his head even as he rubbed at his watery eyes.

"Gomen, nee-chan. I won't do it again."

Smiling softly at her adorable little brother, the elder Haruno brought him in for a hug and dropped a kiss on his head. "Maa, maa, Hiro-chi," she murmured into his hair, "No need for tears. Nee-chan still loves you."

When his sniffling had died away, Sakura turned around to kneel before him. Glancing over her shoulder at his confused expression, she shot him a mischievous grin.

"Ne, Hiroki-chan, do you want to know what it feels like to fly?"

A moment later, the two were racing across the roof tops, Hiroki shrieking with delighted laughter as he held on to his sister's shoulders. Smiling broadly to herself, Sakura ignored the exasperated looks of the older shinobi who passed her and rushed on to meet her team at the bridge. She had a feeling her teammates were going to love her brother.

And excusing Sasuke's inborn holier-than-thou attitude when it came to anything civilian, they did. By the time all of them had finished lunch, both of her teammates were wrapped around Hiroki's little finger, especially after hearing why Sakura had to pick him up. When she got to the part about his suspension, Naruto was ecstatic about the seven year old hanging around for almost a week, and Sasuke was not averse to the ego-stroking that came with the absolute awe her little brother held the two in.

Kakashi had frowned and hummed over it though, not all that pleased with the situation. Hiroki was a civilian child who wasn't even of academy age yet, who needed to be entertained and watched. Besides being a potential distraction, it was a little dangerous for him to be hanging about underfoot during his students' training time. He said as much to Sakura, and she was quick to apologize for the whole thing but also to reassure him that Hiroki would have plenty of school work to occupy his time, plus an essay she was going to have him write as a part of his punishment. Naruto and Sasuke chimed in with their own unique support.

("Ne, Kaka-sensei don't be such a stick in the mud, 'ttebayo! He needs to get to know his future Hokage!" "Hn. He might as well see what real shinobi are capable of before the dope ruins it for him." "TEME!")

The jounin still wasn't convinced, but one look at the adorable seven-year-old's pleading green eyes and pouting lips, and he lost his will to argue.

So for the rest of the week, Hiroki spent his time watching Team 7 perform drill after team-strengthening drill, then stamina and taijutsu training, which he would do his best to mimic from his place under the trees, doing his work during their missions. The days flew by with the five of them spending practically the entire time together, and Sakura was amazed at just how well Hiroki fit in with her teammates, and even more so how quickly her team had accepted him. They didn't treat him like some annoying kid, and more than anything else they'd done, Sakura was eternally grateful to them for that. There was, after all, no one more important to her than her little brother.

Now it was Tuesday, and they were all walking up to the Hokage's tower to get their next mission, having just finished painting fences. (Sakura was quick to notice the lack of Tora missions over the last few days, but when questioned, their white-haired sensei merely shrugged his shoulders and smirked.) Hiroki was chattering on with Naruto, holding Sasuke's hand as he walked, and occasionally glancing back at his sister. Sakura watched them from her place next to Kakashi with a smile on her paint-splattered face.

'I really don't think,' she thought to herself as they entered the building and started making their way up the stairs, glancing at her giggling sensei next to her, 'that there is anything that could possibly ruin how happy I am right now.'

Just as she finished the thought she heard Naruto yelp in surprise and looked back to see the blonde sheepishly rubbing his head and apologizing to the stern black-haired man he'd bumped into. Sakura's stomach filled with heavy dread just as Hiroki ran up to the man.

"Otou-sama!"

Well. That took a lot longer to write than I thought. I hope ya'll aren't too mad about the delayed update, but I'm glad it took so long, mostly because I'm very happy with how this chapter turned out. Reviews would be appreciated, and I'm very interested to hear what you guys think is gonna happen.

For now though, ciao!

-I.C.