Hey! Hey! Hey!

How's it going everyone? I'm back once again, and with a new and improved "Travel to Mist"!
Sakura is my favorite female character. I'll happily debate anyone who says she's weak or useless because if you really paid attention, she's not. I'll only admit that she was kinda annoying at the beginning of the series. But she's still my favorite regardless.
I'm also such a HUGE fan of Haku... He's my absolute favorite out of everyone, and such an underrated character. #1 is Haku and #2 is Sasori, just so you know my standings. You can't be a real fan without having some stories with your favs.. Lol. Just kidding.
Seriously though, I adore Haku. Kirigakure is kinda crazy too (background and all) but I really like a lot of their ninja in the series... So yeah, how could I not? Sorry to take up time but I just had to make a note.

~Blackwolf0603

I'm only going to say this once because it's a pain to declare in every single chapter I write. But I might as well put it up in the first chapter. I DO NOT OWN THE NARUTO FRANCHAISE. ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO THE RIGHTFUL CREATORS. I only own this storyline.

Sakura Haruno. An 8 year-old with shoulder-length pink hair and big, shining green eyes. She was a child of the Hidden Leaf. Her family was deceased from the attack of the nine-tails, leaving her as an orphan. The Hokage had made sure that she was taken care of and supported her as she grew up. The village had done the same for many of the children who lost their families to the same fate.

Sakura was a student of the village's Academy. The place where future generations of shinobi were trained before entering their ninja careers as Genin.

The pinkette lacked in physical areas like ninjustu or taijustu, as many girls like her did too, but she was intelligent, and made up for it with her blatant talent for genjustu, chakra control and keen mind. Her teachers continued to comment in her records that she was always very attentive in class and never caused any problems. In her classes, she was the highest scoring female student. The young girl had an uncanny ability to retain and apply whatever theories that were taught to her. Her only downside was that she was rather shy and prone to bullying.

Currently, Sakura was in a big room and standing in front of a long table that seated the Third Hokage and two village elders. Behind them were assisting Chunin.

"Sakura Haruno, I hope you've been well." The eldery Hokage gave a friendly smile to the young girl. Sakura nodded and gave her own timid smile back. The setting felt so.. 'serious' and she couldn't help but feel nervous. This didn't fall past Hiruzen and he attempted to make her feel more at ease.

"Now, now, Lord Third. We don't have all day." One of the elders ushered. At their age they sometimes became impatient.

The Hokage glanced the the elder who spoke before taking a breath. He relaxed back in his chair but still was attentive to the child in front of him.

"You must be wondering why you were summoned here. But don't be frightened, you're not in any kind of trouble." He assured Sakura. In turn, the girl blinked her green eyes a couple times in surprise. She didn't speak and so Hiruzen continued.

"I'm sure you've learnt or have been learning about the Leaf's relationships with other nations at the Academy." Sakura mumbled a hushed, inaudible sound while nodding slowly. "We have been communicating with the Hidden Mist to strengthen our alliance with them. From both sides efforts, we have included a measure to ensure that this arrangement. And that is why you have been called here."

Sakura continued to listen and stayed relatively calm with mild anxiety. However, on the inside, she felt more and more on edge with every word Lord Hokage spoke. What could they want with her? Why was he telling her this?

"Sakura Haruno." Hiruzen said a little more firmly but kept his gentle aura.

"We would like to transfer you to the Hidden Mist. In return, the Hidden Mist is entrusting us with one of their children."

Now Sakura spoke. "But.. Why me?" She asked meekly.

She may have been an orphan, it removed the factor of any worried family. But she was an average child of the village. She had no special ability, no bloodlines or 'kekkei genkai.' There was probably other, better options other than her.

The old man she was standing directly in front of, although a few feet from her, widened his smile.

"I know you may be thinking why you. Why not someone, say, from a clan of our village. If we chose a child like that, we as well as the noble clans would be risking their bloodlines, and the secrets that come with them. Neither can we select a lesser individual. But you, Sakura, are still no ordinary girl."

Sakura silently listened, though still confused.

"You are an orphan with no present family. Nor do you come from a clan or have any inherited abilities. But, you are the sharpest female student in your year with great potential to be a successful kunoichi. In all the reports from your instructors, they note nothing but praise for your intelligence."

Sakura could now start understanding. It would be an insult to send the Mist a child with no skills and failing scores, but it would also be risky to send someone from a reknowned clan. Looking at all factors, she was perfect for the job.

"I understand, Lord Hokage." The Third peered to the young girl across from him. She may be young but she was still able to think through things with complex thought.

"The Hidden Mist is willing to take full guardianship over you. You will be supported until you graduate their academy and start taking missions as a shinobi... But I do have to make it clear. If you accept this, you will be a citizen of the Hidden Mist and no longer of the Leaf." He ended his statement with a warning.

Sakura already assumed that. But it was a different feeling when she actually heard it aloud.
If she accepted, she would be leaving everything that she knew thus far in her life. The village. The Hokage. The Academy. Her instructors. Ino. Sasuke. She would be leaving all of it behind. All for a place she knew almost nothing about besides what she's learned from books.

It was like she was frozen in thought. There was just so much to take in and consider, and so quickly. She stared to the ground aimlessly without saying a word. The others in the room could only remain silent as well so that the girl could think.

It was the Third Hokage who broke that silence again. "I know this is a lot to consider. Unfortunately, we must know today if you will be accepting this position or not. It's your decision, but you would be providing us all a great service."

A great service... Considering everything, she should be thinking that there was no way she could accept. That the cost of leaving was too great.

And yet.. It was like a switched flipped, and Sakura knew her answer.

After a few moments, the 8 year old informed the gathered council of people. "I accept the offer, Lord Hokage. I'll go to the Hidden Mist."

Sakura was told that she would be leaving the next day in the late morning. Things were moving at an alarming speed, but it was because this extra agreement to exchange students had been added last minute. It didn't leave much time to settle any loose ends.

She had been escorted back to her apartment by a member of the ANBU Black Ops. The member was obviously a female due to her build, long hair, and voice. She wore the standard ANBU uniform with a tattoo on her upper arm, and a cat-like mask with three stripes. Her hair was purple and draped loosely across her shoulders and back.

The ANBU helped the pinkette pack any essential or of importance. Anything more than the bag she was to carry on her back was sealed into a scroll. When Sakura asked, the ANBU told her she had been chosen to guard her because of this skill she had. Essentially, everything Sakura owned besides furniture or food had been sealed into the scroll. As an orphan and with a limited allowance, she didn't own that much anyways.

The ANBU continued to stay with Sakura throughout the night and into the morning. She even escorted Sakura as she went to go see her friend, Ino Yamanaka. The purple haired ANBU tried to be as descreet as possible, and gave the two youngs girls some space to say their goodbyes. Both were sobbing as they gripped each other in a hug. The blonde child was relectant to let her friend go but Sakura promised that she'd never forget her, and would see her again one day. Sakura tried lightening the mood through the tears by telling Ino that she 'better get Sasuke' as she would now have to pin a new crush on a boy in the Hidden Mist.

Back at her apartment, Sakura couldn't help but stay awake even though it was late at night. She had opened a window and laid her arms lazily on the sil to gaze up to the starry sky. She thought about her life up to now, the friends that she'd made. She sniffled to keep any tears from escaping her sea-foam orbs.

"You should get some rest. We'll be travelling a long ways tomorrow."

Sakura looked back at the owner's voice, the female ANBU. The entire time the ninja hadn't taken off her mask or put down her guard in any way.

"Oh.. Yeah." She muttered before gazing up one more time. She closed the window and made her way to the bed she would sleep in for the last time.