Ukio had rested from the days events that passed. He returned from the exams, as did others. But it was different for Ukio, he was an Uchiha. He was expected to pass, and overall come out on top. But he didn't let this faze him, he woudln't let this topple his pride. Many ninja trained longer and harder than he did for the exams, it should only have been natural.

He was in an attire that seemed less than formal for himself. Barefooted as he walked through the village, the cold yet timid dirt sunk between his toes. It was nice to be home. He pondered often of Juyo and how he was coming along in his own ventures with the exams. He threw away the thought as he approached the vendor that sold sweet dumplings. He deserved a treat, especially after his adventure through the sand and its heat. He walked around towards the front of the gates, he wanted to go out to the border and possibly lay on a rock and look at the clouds.

He was sucking on a stick by the time he reached the gates, the taste of the dumpling still in his mouth left his mouth water for more. He told the Jonin his plans and walked forth from the mountain. Ukio was calm, at peace and unwilling to deter from it, it was his day off and he was going to enjoy it in his own way.

Sakura had woken up early that morning to a glint of sunshine breaking through the shades over her window. She rolled out of her bed, bare feet touching cold hardwood flooring. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she stood and strolled sluggishly over to her closet. Sakura pulled the over-sized shift from over her head and let it fall to the floor before grabbing her hunting attire and slipping piece after piece on. She rushed into the kitchen where she scooped a pear from the fruit bowl and took a deep bite into it before chewing and swallowing.

Amber depths then searched the open space elsewhere for where she had last taken off her boots. She had a bad habit of setting things down and forgetting where she had put them, and if anyone from the outside were to walk into her home, the word that may come to mind is.. disorganized. But that wasn't it-- Sakura had a place for everything there was just no real reason behind her logic at times. "Ah!" she gasped as she spotted the brown suede boots flopped over one another near the futon.

Taking another bite from the pear, Sakura sat on the futon and slid the boots on. She didn't take long to finish off her breakfast, tossing it into the garbage and walking over to the glass chest in which she kept her hunting bow- his hunting bow. Slender digits wrapped around the grip of the bow as Sakura sling the sheath holding her arrows over her shoulder. She set out for the wilderness, not stopping as she walked through the village even once. And, reaching the inner gates, the young woman didn't even have to explain herself. By this time, they knew what her intentions were going out into the wilderness.

The bow in her hands and the arrows at her back furthered the point.

She was allowed through and continued on her trip to the forested area where she most enjoyed hunting. Once in the small clearing before the woods, she sensed that something was wrong. Her eyes narrowed and her body tensed. Hearing voices then, Sakura reached for her bow, but did not pull it just yet. Avoiding impulsive decisions was a must...

Still, perhaps she was too cautious. Quick footsteps approached from behind her, arms gripping at her small frame - rough hands clenched at the slight curves of her body. A callous voice came then, hot air pooling against the tender flesh of her neck, "What'a we got 'ere?" Laughter then. More... More than one of them... Sakura's heart pounded like a drum against her rib cage, eyes darting this way and that in an attempt to spot the perpetrators.

Ukio was just sitting on the rock, he was staring at clouds he deemed to be figures of this shape and that, pointing his finger in the air, Jonin at the gate looking at him as he slipped his finger across the clouds with one eye closed. His hand dropped, head tilting to the right as he watched a girl walk from the gates with a bow and quiver. He wanted to make a remark to her but quickly noticed it's the girl that runs the bookshop. How did he know such a thing? When kids are fostered the noise gets around the village quickly.

He watched her body move off into the distance, caring not to where she was going but to what she was doing. It ate at his mind, he never got a clear look at his face, the thought of trying to know itched his hair, quite bothersome none the least. "Why should I even care.." he said quietly to himself, his face contorting into a face that wanted to know but didn't want to care.

He finally sat up on the rock, looking out into the distance over the top of trees, just staring at how the birds flew across the sky, but it seemed a bit abnormal. Was it the wind? Maybe a bit of migration? But then it happened. A flock of birds had flown away from a point in the forest, and more or less the way the girl had left. "She must be a bad shot to make something like that happen." Ukio thought as he slid off the rock with his hands inserted into his pockets. His attention was piqued and wanted to know what this girl was up to. He started off in her direction in a lazy gait, as if he almost didn't even want to move.

Their hands searched her body so ruggedly, her hands pinned behind her back and bow falling from her grip. No chance to defend herself even if she had wished to... "L-Let me go!" she yelled, shaking her shoulders violently in an attempt to break free from the thug behind her. This was just too similar to what had happened to her years ago. So much had been stolen that day. "Please!" she whimpered, fists balled up tightly and eyes closed to hold back tears.

"Please!" the men mocked her voice - raising their own voices high and whiny. Sakura opened her eyes, brows furrowing together in distaste. Anger rushing over her... "Oh, look," one of the men said as he stepped into her line of sight, "Pussy Cat don't look to happy." A lock of her golden hair fell before her face, cerulean eyes ablaze with rage.

The man before her stepped forward and cupped her face in his calloused hand and pulled her closer to him. She could smell his putrid breath as he looked up to tell his friends how soft her skin was. "We're goin'ta have some real fun with you," he told her, grinning wolfishly to reveal jagged and rotting teeth. Sakura swallowed, frowning as her eyes fell from the man.

She would have fought some more, but what use was it? These men not only outnumbered her, but even one of them was at twice her strength. There was nothing she could do but wait...

He entered the forest, hearing voices and the scream of what he believed to be that girl. He stood behind a tree, watching as they approached her, handling her as if she was some sort of puppet or a doll. He squinted his eyes a bit. They weren't even the effort of his sharingan. He wouldn't even need to use a sword.

He came from behind the tree, chuckling a bit to the men, speaking with a sarcastic tone, "I can join the fun right?" he was met with the same voice saying "what the hell do you want?! Can't you see we're busy here?" but the time for talk was over. A rushing speed met the mans grasp, Ukio slamming his palm into the elbow joint sent his arm cracking in the wrong direction, breaking the grip on her face.

Ukio reached behind him for the katana, unsheathing it with speed and precision, pointing it onto the man's eyebrow that was holding her. His blade impaled slightly, blood beginning to trickle into his eyesight. The look on Ukio's had a killing intent. "Want to die? Let her go."