In Search of the Scarlet Dawn] (Naruto)
It all started, in hindsight, with the release of the game called [Red Sands: In Search of the Scarlet Dawn], something of a ridiculous ‘otome’ game featuring the prominent shinobi of Konoha in an odd feudal systems of sorts. A game in which Haruno Sakura was cast as the villainess, her legacy made light of, and her appearance twisted until she was practically unrecognisable. It wasn’t a flattering game to her, and yet it was popular – popular enough for some diehard fan to go out of their way to kill the villainess standing between Sasuke and Hinata’s happiness.
Yet that wasn’t the end of it, rather, death was the beginning of it: of the real Haruno Sakura waking up within that strange world of a game and refusing to follow the so-called ‘plot’ no matter how far along it is.
(or; in which Haruno Sakura becomes a protagonist in the popularised ‘reincarnation as a villainess’ trope, and ponders on why in underworld did someone create a Madara Route – and how can she get off it, pretty please?)
chapter one • truck-kun strikes again
It was a quaint little afternoon in mid-July when Ino had managed to pry her away from the bowels of the hospital and to a little coffee-and-cake shop at the junction of one of Konoha’s newest roads. There had been more and more of them cropping up, dirt roads replaced by paved ones in lieu of the growing industry of civilian trade and the popular development of cars and trucks which made moving goods far quicker and easier than by horse and cart.
“Over here, Sakura-chan!” Ino called, a large smile on her face as she waved her over to the nearest seat by the window. “I’ve already ordered for the both of us,” she declared, even as Sakura sat down ever so cautiously on the cushioned seat.
“Without waiting for me?” One pink brow raised, watching as one of her oldest friends shrugged. Sakura followed suit, figuring it was probably for the best that Ino had ordered for her. All too often people complained that she took too much time when deliberating over what pudding to have. She had a sweet tooth – problem? “Oh well, whatdya get me?” she asked, yawning then and stretching out her arms, the lingering ache and tiredness catching up to her after her extended shift at the hospital.
“A selection of three desserts, if only because I know you’re ridiculous when it comes to sugar and sweet treats,” Ino said, sipping at her coffee, and eyeing her almost judgementally over her cup.
Sakura shrugged without a hint of shame. “Whatever gets me through the day.”
“Coffee,” Ino declared.
Her face shifted, memories of the first time she had tried the bitter brew cropping up in her mind in that instant. “No thank you! Hot chocolate for me all the way,” Sakura said, leaning forwards to rest an arm on the table. “So… What’s got you so worked up this time?” she asked, having seen the tell-tale signs of Ino holding herself back from the instant she had walked through the door.
Ino paused, sighed, and fished around in her bag for something then – the same something which was soon revealed to be a game. Red Sands: In Search of the Scarlet Dawn it said on the packaging, stark crimson colouring standing out amidst the other, paler colours.
“Isn’t that the game you and Hinata were joking about a few months back?” she asked, lifting the game and smiling almost nostalgically. “I couldn’t get past the first few hours of gameplay… The sight of me with long hair and drill curls was… an acquired taste.”
“Not to mention you acted nothing like yourself,” Ino added, the smile which had swiftly appeared on her face vanishing just as quickly. “I thought it was funny before…”
One pink brow rose. “Before?” Sakura questioned, picking up on the wording, eyes narrowing. “What happened?”
“I heard people talking the other day – about the game,” she said, brow furrowing as she all but glared at the obnoxious packaging. “They said that the Yin Seal is easy to get, and I know they were talking about it in the game… but it just frustrates me because I know how hard you worked to create that seal on that massive forehead of yours, and I don’t think it’s right for people to say that any variation of the Yin Seal is easy to obtain.”
Sakura blinked, a smile curving at her lips. “You’re being nice today, darling,” she said, tilting her head as she leant forwards, only to be interrupted by the arrival of their sweet treats. “It’s just a game, isn’t it?” A smile curved at her lips, even as she ate a few mouthfuls of her cake. “It’s not like it affects the real world… It’s just some artist and author’s portrayal of me and Hinata. It’s not like they know me, so why would I care about their portrayal of me in some weird game? Everyone at the hospital knows better than to think I’m some ‘evil villainess’.”
PREMISE: Otome Game AU. Where Sakura finds herself shoehorned into the role of the game made based on herself and others of Konoha. Comedy. Villainess!Sakura. I'm going to try some trope subversion, or really just shinobi!Sakura curb stomping the game versions of Sasuke and Hinata. Pairing: Madara/Sakura.