Art Trade with xAlalax

"No, I don't want to." Tomoko pouted at the young ANBU standing before her.
"Come on. It'll be great, the sun is shining, and we'll eat dango when we get there. Konoha's dango is the best you know."
Tomoko just looked away and crossed her arms.
"No."
The ANBU sighed.
"Your parents are waiting for you outside."
"They can leave if they want."
He laughed and picked Tomoko up over his shoulder and carried the screaming and kicking six year old down the stairs and out the door.

Tomoko held tightly to her mother's hand as they walked down the road. Ahead laid a large forest, after that it would just be a straight road to Konoha. Seeing some red flowers by the road she let go of her mother. After picking them up she ran to her mum again, presenting the fiery flowers to her. Her mother patted her on the head and accepted the little bouquet with a smile.

With the ANBU in the lead they entered the forest, the old big trees casted gigantic shadows over them, protecting them from today's sun. Getting further into the forest, Tomoko noticed that the ANBU started to get nervous, she walked up to their protector for the journey and clutched a fold in his pants.
"Is something wrong?"
He turned to her with a smile.
"No, it was just my imagina-"
A scream reached their ears and they quickly spun around. An oddly shaped object was  piercing her father's chest and he fell to the ground. They heard a hollow laughter from up in the trees and the ANBU jumped swiftly away towards the laugh. Tomoko ran to her father's side where her mother already was sitting.
"Dad?"
"Tomoko, come here." his words was only like faint whispers. When Tomoko grabbed her father's hand a sharp pain overwhelmed her head. She trashed around screaming, trying to make her father let go. Just above them they could hear metal grinding against one another and a splashing sound beside her made Tomoko stop, the young ANBU's body now laid on the ground, covered with his own blood. The same moment her dad let go of her and remained motionless.
"Honey!" Tomoko's mother bent over her father, eyes flickering over his face. Tomoko was paralyzed with fear. Her shirt was packed with blood from the two men and the thoughts spun around in her head, merciless they repeated the two deaths she just witnessed.
"Now we take the little girl…" the ambusher's laugh was heard again.
"Like I'd let you!" Tomoko's mother howled and turned to her young daughter, "Run."
"But mum.."
"RUN!"
She did what she was told and started sprinting through the woods, behind her she heard loud whimpers, cries and screams.

TIME JUMP

Sweat poured down her neck as she sat down on the ground. Her chakra was almost completely used up and she panted furiously.
"Again."
She stood up again and nodded to her teacher before she started weaving the signs again.
"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet!"

"You're improving fast Tomoko."
"Thank you, I know." Tomoko ran ahead of her teacher and flexed her muscles with a smug grin on her face, "I've been training like crazy lately."
"About that." he walked past her, "In order to celebrate your success, how about some nice food?"
"As long as it isn't dango.."
He laughed.
"I was thinking more of making some pancakes at home." Seeing the excitement in her face he continued, "But we'll need a dessert."

Tomoko fidgeted with the strawberry package while she sat by the table. Her teacher stood in the kitchen, flipping the last pancake.
'He's such a show off.'  
"Here you go." he sat down opposite of her and put down the plate with pancakes between them. Immediately the plate landed on the table Tomoko grabbed the upper pancakes putting them on her own plate, and gulp one of them down in one bite. Her teacher held an watchful eye on her as he ate his share of the food, seeing that she ate rather frantically.
"The chunnin exams are coming up in a little while."
"So what?" Tomoko slurred between the bites.
"I signed you up."
Tomoko choked on her pancake and started hitting herself in the chest to make it slip down.
"What? But I don't even have a team!"
"Don't worry, there are more genin who doesn't have partners. I got you a team. If you're interested in joining them you'll all start training together by tomorrow."
Tomoko rose from her seat and ran over to her teacher, and flung her arms around him.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

The three youngsters sat at the ground in the training area, just staring at each other. None of them wanted to make the first strike at conversation. Judging and demanding looks were traded between them and they started to get uncomfortable. One of them finally decided to look away scratching their arm. Suddenly Tomoko flew up and started kicking and hitting into thin air, fighting with an imaginary enemy.
"What are you doing?"
Tomoko stood still for a moment before turning her head to her new team.
"I'm here to train, why are you here?"