Akasuna No Sasori was a man of distinct intellect. Everything he had ever set out to accomplish always had an outlined objective. It's why he'd survived as a missing-nin for so long, and why he was ranked S-class. So for the life of him, he could not understand what had prompted his body to move in aiding this small scruff of a girl with her childhood bullies. The sight of her deep green eyes welling with tears brought a sting, a yearning inside his own chest. He did not know this girl. To him, she was just another Konoha brat, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel. For the first time in 20 years since his defection, and consequential turning, he felt emotion. For this small tiny slip of a girl, barely old enough to be out on her own. As Sasori reflected on his previous actions, he led the girl more and more into the isolation of the forest.

Hours Earlier...

It was another beautiful day in Konohagakure as Sasori of Akatsuki inconspicuously walked through the bustling crowds of villagers. He committed the village layout to memory while quietly cursing his partner for his morbidly eccentric ways. "Damn that Orochimaru." He muttered, letting a prick of killing intent flow from him, causing villagers to unknowingly clear a path. The quiet peace was shattered, however, when a piercing wail followed by the pitter patter of small feet interrupted his thought process.

Completely bored with the village and it's citizens, Sasori set off to leave, figuring he had gathered enough information.

Little feet stampede to a staccato beat as one young Sakura Haruno runs as far as her legs can carry her. She can still hear the ringing from where her ears had been boxed earlier. A myriad of taunts and jeers came constantly from behind. Why can't they just leave me alone, she screamed in her mind. This whole thing had started when their primary-school teacher asked for someone's help and automatically chose Sakura. It had ended up being for extra credit, which she really didn't need. The other students, mostly the failed ones, were angry for being a 'teacher's pet,' and she could feel their penetrating stares on her back the whole time. Right after school Ami Watanashi and her sycophant friends had first belittled her, and when she showed no change in expression, threatened her.

"Hey you ugly pink thing," called Ami with a mean sneer. Sakura refused to turn to her, and just kept walking. Ami turned to her two friends in a mock pout. "Well would you look at that Forehead Girl thinks she's too good to talk to us! How about we play a game, Forehead. If you win, I'll leave you alone for the rest of the year," Sakura perked up at that, finally showing interest in the conversation. "but if I win then my friends and I get to have you as our slave for the rest of the year. What do ya say? Or are you too scared freak?" Taunted Ami.

"I'll do it." Announced Sakura with burning determination.

"Okay all you have to do is..."

Which led her to her current situation. Fighting three older girls, with no prior training, and somehow miraculously succeeding. They may have been faster, but Sakura was smarter and could use what she did have. Her intelligence. She was faster than they were, and they didn't expect her the strength of blows. She was outnumbered though, and forcing herself to push faster than anything she'd ever done, but she was running out of steam quickly. She started to accept the reality of the beat down she was about to face.

Sasori was just exiting the village through one of its outer walls when he heard a piercing sound filled with rage. Curious he headed towards what could make such a sound after sensing the area to make sure it wasn't a threat. He was stopped by the most peculiar sight. A small child, no older than three or four with bright pink hair and delicate features fighting at least three other children at least twice her age. If that wasn't strange enough it seemed like the pink-haired child was winning. With his interest piqued Sasori stepped toward the haphazard brawl, intent to put a halt to it and learn more about the girl. For information's sake. He told himself as he felt something stirring inside him at the sight of her heart-shaped face stained with tears. "Excuse me, can I ask why you all are bullying this young girl?" He questioned in a hardened voice full of authority. Immediately all the older girls froze and turned towards him, paling more when they saw his hi-ate designating him as a ninja. One of the older girls fighting the pinkette fought to reply.

"U-um ano, we were just playing around! R-right Sakura-chan?" She lied horribly. The mentioned girl looked up at Sasori with eyes so fiercely determined that he was surprised.

"No Shinobi-san, they've been bullying me about my forehead, and we were just fighting." She replied calmly, although with his trained eye he could see her lip quiver.

At that moment he didn't know what possessed him to do it, but he turned to the other children and said, "If I see any of you picking on Sakura-san again, there will be trouble. Understand?" The look of utter shock and gratitude on Sakura's face was worth it for a reason he could not define. This is a worrying development. He thought to himself as that same feeling stirred in him again. Protectiveness. He labeled it. For some unfathomable reason, he wanted to protect this small girl, this Sakura.

Turning to said girl he simply uttered, "follow me," before turning around and swiftly walking away. She ran to try and catch up, but he sped up even more. He wanted to test her speed. By the time she caught up to him she was heaving for breath and sweat had broken out across her wide forehead. He had led her to a small clearing filled with tall grass and hundreds of wild-flowers. Beckoning the tired girl closer he sat down in the soft grass, and she sat next to him.

"Why did you help me Shinobi-san?" She panted out, still out of breath. Instead of answering her question, he asked her a question.

"You want to become a ninja, do you not?" He replied. Her eyes widened as she stuttered out wonderingly.

"How did you know?" Confirmed in his inane reasonings he replied.

"You lack stamina," it was a harsh, but true criticism and her whole frame dropped in weary sadness. Her face began to show the tell-tale signs for crying, but before she could let a sound escape, he quickly went on, "but that can be easily fixed with the proper training." She instantly brightened before darkening again.

"But I don't start the ninja academy until six." She pointed out.

That's so late. He thought, but replied, "you will need to begin your training now if you wish to succeed."

Hopelessly she cried out, "but who would train me?" The question gave him pause as he thought about it. Surely I cannot do this, I shouldn't even be thinking of it. I should just knock her unconscious and leave. I've completed my mission, and need to get back. But once again that emotion of protectiveness flared up inside of him, and he found himself saying,

"I will."

She looked at him in disbelief for a moment before a blinding smile overtook her face. "Really!" She shouted.

"Calm down." He said irritated. To his surprise, she somberly replied.

"Yes Sensei." He found he didn't like being addressed so.

"Call me Sasori-sensei." He said, and his only reply was a nod. I can't believe I'm going to do this. "First I'm going to teach you how to meditate. You need to learn how to picture your chakra, and call it forth. You do know what chakra is, right?" He asked hoping he didn't have to start from the very beginning.

"Hai Sasori-sensei, chakra is the elemental life energy a ninja uses in jutsu, it's the source of all their power. This energy has two forms, physical, which exists in all the body's cells, all working together, and spiritual energy, the primal source of power, which is intensified through training and experience. These two types of chakra are drawn out together in order to perform jutsu. Finally hand-signs focus and releases the chakra." She prattled off automatically. Impressed by her intelligence, he showed her the proper signs for meditation, and got her started on the visualization process.

"Now visualize your chakra, feel it at your core. It will feel like a quiet fire, simmering, and barely burning. The goal is to try to amplify that feeling, to intensify the fire before spreading it all throughout your body." He watches in amazement as right away the girl calls her chakra towards the surface, and displays it in a dazzling show of control. After a few minutes the chakra quickly dies out, and the girl falls into an unconscious heap. "Chakra exhaustion." He mumbled to himself. Her chakra wells aren't fully developed, but what can I expect with one as young as her. But the control she exhibits over the tiny amount she does have is astounding. He thought to himself as he picked up her skinny form.

He startled when he felt her awakening in his arms. "Sasori…" She tried to say. He shushed her.

"If you wish to continue training, then meet me here at three o'clock everyday. Don't keep me waiting though little girl. I hate being kept waiting." He said sternly.

"Hai." She whispered before passing out again. He shook his head as he teleported back to the village. He set her down on a bench and went to leave before another unknown emotion made itself known. Fondness. He bent down and slowly removed her hair from her large forehead. "Goodbye for now my Cherry-blossom." He whispered before disappearing.

When Sasori finally got back to base, he was five minutes late. An unprecedented amount of time. "Ah, Sasori-san, you're late." His annoyingly amused partner purred.

"I had more important business to attend to." He replied, emotionless.

"Oh? Does this business include helping a little girl with her bullies? How noble of you Sasori-kun." Orochimaru chuckled. Sasori glared icily at him while thinking how could he have known? I didn't sense anyone else's presence with us.

"You think it amusing to mock me Orochimaru, but know one thing, I tolerate you only on the orders of Leader-sama. Do not test my patience. You will not like the results." He hissed out before swiftly turning and walking briskly away.

"That girl, what was her name, Sakura-chan? Yes, she would make the most interesting subject for my newest experiment…" Before he could finish Sasori was behind him with a kunai to his throat.

"You will not touch that girl. She now belongs to me, and I will cultivate her into the perfect Leaf Village spy." He sneered, but even as he said those words, he couldn't bring himself to believe them. What is wrong with me? Orochimaru began to chuckle loudly.

"As entertaining and enlightening as this has been, Sasori-kun, we really must stop with this trivial quarrel and report to the Leader our findings." Orochimaru crooned. Sasori narrowed his eyes before putting away his kunai, and turning.

"Then let us go." He said simply before jumping off into the foliage. As they left Zetsu emerged from the ground with a smirk on his two-toned face.

"Interesting. We'll have to report this to Leader-sama. That girl, Sakura Haruno is her name. She looks delicious. I'm sure Leader-sama will want to hear about Sasori's sudden change in interests."

Things would be changing very soon to the unknowing young Sakura's world.

Hello Everyone! I'm updating again, and I think I'm going to try and update this story once every week. I don't know how long I plan for this story to be, but my goal is to make it to about 30 chapters, so better get ready for a long one! Thank you so so much to all who reviewed! Just so you know, please log in so I can respond to your reviews at the bottom of the chapter! Thanks so much for your love of my story, I appreciate it! Well enough of that, on with the story.

*EDIT* 6/15/20 I cleared a few grammatical errors, which I will be doing for the rest of the story as well. ~Mito-Chan