#sakura-centric

Sakura knew that when she presented on her twenty-first birthday, her life would change. Though, she did not know how greatly it would. That day, the day of her twenty-first birthday, when she presented as a true omega. Was the day her life changed, permanently. No one looked at her the same way anymore. The only looks she received now were ones of hatred, greed, lust, or pity. Around every corner was either danger from lustful alpha's or, worse, slave trading ring owners. She knew that being a true omega meant that she would fetch a high price in one of those rings. Falling into the hands of one of those rings was the last thing she wanted to happen to her or anyone else. The horror stories that she had heard from those who she treated that had survived them, kept her constantly on guard. Although, she knew she could protect herself - Thanks to her training with Tsunade-sama - she still could not help but feel like the only way to stay safe was to keep an eye out. Despite her knowledge of the rings, she refused to tell or even think about telling Naruto. He already had enough on his shoulders as it was. From being the seventh hokage to practically having to care for his child on his own. No thanks to his husband, Sasuke. Of course she helped him out. She was indefinitely indebted to him for everything he had done. So, it was the least she could do for him. She knew that she would never be as important or useful as he was. Her power would never hold a candle to his might. Nothing she did would be on par with him, and she learned to accept that over the years.

She knew at a young age that life was not pretty. There was crime, the monsters in those around you, and so much worse. Did she ever let anyone know why she knew that? No. Why would she? It would put her at risk, give way to weakness if you will. A weakness she was not willing to expose. There was no need to give the villagers another reason to pity or hate her. Many already harbored both feeling about her do to her gender and secondary sex. It was not her fault the way she presented, yet everyone seemed to blame her for it. Everyone except for her close friends and especially Naruto. He looked at her the same way. The way he always did, even when they were children. Despite the way she had treated him, her words as sharp as kunai knives when she spoke them. Did she even mean what she had said? No, of course not, she never meant any of it. They were thoughtless, meaningless, useless, hurtful words. They did not matter now and would never matter again. Her thoughts, ideas, morals, all of it. None of it mattered to anyone but her. No one saw her as anything but a prize to be won. No one. Not even the one she had loved. "Sasuke..." She muttered to herself and laughed. He had her infatuated with him for years. Until he spoke those words, the ones that hollowed her out and left her empty. Nothing left for him or even herself. No love, no hope, nothing was left for either of them in her heart. That is why, when Naruto vowed to bring him back to the village, she only agreed to go with out of her loyalty to the village and to him. Not out of love for Sasuke like many people had thought. She had no love left for that man. In fact, she barely accepted he had changed once he returned and lost an arm. He may seem weaker now, however she knew he was anything but, she still lacked any trust in him. It would take time for him to earn it back, and for the wounds to heal.

She began to walk towards the exit gate of the Hidden Leaf village. The johnin's on guard seemed to pay little mind to her. They likely assumed she was out on an errand run for Lady Tsunade or Naruto. What they could not assume was that she never planned to return. She was pulling the same move Sasuke did when they were young, except no one would come looking for her. There were a multitude of reasons why no one was coming after her, but he biggest one was that she lacked importance. No one wanted her there. So, why stay? She had no reason to stay in the Hidden Leaf. It was a while ago that she stopped making excuses as why she should stay in a broken home.

The snow crunched under her boots. Even though she knew how to walk lightly enough so it would not make a sound, she chose instead to let it be. Perhaps this was her last send off to the Hidden Leaf village. A quiet goodbye for a long time coming. Each footstep an echo of the past and the future to come. A future where she was no longer a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. She would now be considered a rogue, a dangerous one at that. To make it official she would either slice a line through the symbol on her headband, or she could hang up her headband on a nearby tree branch. Leave it for some kid to find. It had no value to her anymore. The only thing it brought her were memories of the past. A past she longed to forget like a broken rib. Yet, it would take longer to heal than a broken rib would. Her parents made sure of that.

She continued her trek through the snow coated woods. There was a brisk chill to the air. Not enough to be bitterly cold but enough to make her shiver. For a moment she thought he heard another's footsteps behind her and her eyes lit up. However, that fleeting moment was gone as soon as it came. Once she turned around to see there was no one there. She chalked it up to her hope of someone, anyone, coming after her. Though that hope was soon crushed as she felt the sinking feeling that truly, no one was coming for her. No one had the time or patience to search for her. So, she continued on, deeper, into the forest. As a child she used to play here with Ino when the flowers were in their peak blooming season. Then, in the winters Naruto would invite her to build snow forts and they would pretend to guard the fort together. Those were the happier times, when she did not know pain and hardship. When she was completely oblivious to what her home life truly was like. That the scars she would bring to the academy the next day were ones of strength not harm. As she grew, though, she learned how people would turn their backs to such scars. That they were something to be embarrassed by. Not something to be proud of and show off. She knew now. Yet, then how could anyone blame her? How was she supposed to know what they meant. She was a child. As she continued on through the forest she tried to shake those awful memories.