Chapter 16
Surprisingly, Shisui wasn't late. Even though they had not agreed upon a specific time other than 'Friday'.
But, as Sakura gradually came closer to her training spot in the forest clearing, she spotted him already awaiting her, as if it wasn't eight in the morning.
Maybe she had been too used to Kakashi and the torment—though he would call it a lesson—of waiting hours upon hours in the burning heat of Konoha's summer for a teacher that expected them to be punctual. That was probably why Sakuea was so surprised to see her new teacher arriving earlier than her.
"Huh. How are you on time?"
And shit, she shouldn't have said that out loud. That just made her sound stupid.
It was obvious he had used some kind of trick with chakra that he expected her not to know. And she had just confirmed that.
The Uchiha, wearing a very irritating expression, pushed himself away from the tree he had been leaning against. It was the very tree she had run up countless times a few days ago. And gotten caught doing so.
Shisui smirked. "That, Sakura-chan, is what you are here to learn, right? I know that you are eager to be educated all about chakra and broaden your limited knowledge—"
"I don't—"
"—but you should first learn to show your teacher some respect, don't you think? Of course, I understand that you basically view me as an older brother by now," Shisui smugly smirked, and what the fuck. "and, don't get me wrong, I deeply resonate that sentiment, but in this situation, the both of us should learn to temporarily let go of—"
"I don't view you as my older brother—"
"Stop right there, Sakura-chan. I know it's hard to set aside one's affection for a friend, but please listen to me once, alright?" He crossed his arms and sighed, as if deeply disappointed. "Firstly, don't you think you should greet your new Sensei first? Is this really how you are going to treat your mentor, Sakura-chan?"
Sakura wanted to snap a sly counterback at him, tell him to cut the bullshit and not act like this wasn't decided on a whim, and either of them had been taking this that seriously last time—
"Well, Sakura-chan?"
—but she wasn't actually four, and, unlike her, he had the advantage of 'being a generous person offering to teach her' in this hypothetical argument anyway.
And there was always a better way to get back at someone than outright words. Sometimes, it was best to give people exactly what they asked for.
"Sure."
Sakura bowed to him deeply. It wasn't as deep of a bow as he was probably used to receiving from the nobles of the Land of Fire. He was only one generation removed from the main family, after all, and there were plenty of people who wanted to leech off a rich clan's wealth. But it was a deep bow nonetheless.
Show some respect he had said, so she was going to do just that.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Shisui look a bit stumped at her immediate acceptance, maybe because it was coming from a young child that would not too long ago try kicking him and shoot snarky comments at him at every given chance.
With a voice as calm and level as she could manage, Sakura started. "Good morning, Sensei. I hope I am not troubling you by asking you to sacrifice your precious time to train the likes of me. Please excuse my impolite behavior from last week. I had not been aware of your standing within Konoha and your reverend clan. For that, I have reflected on," A deep breath. "and am asking for forgiveness."
Silence.
Then, she heard Shisui shuffle. The fallen leaves underneath his feet crackled.
"Uh-... yes, good morning to you too, Sakura-chan." Shisui slowly answered after a long pause. "... And you're forgiven for your... behavior."
She stayed silent, her head lowered, as was proper when talking to someone of a higher standing and not having permission to speak.
Shisui sounded unsure of what to do. "You... can raise your head now. And also, look me in the eye when you speak."
Sakura slowly rose from her bow. "Thank you, Sensei. I am honored to be given permission to—"
"Stop that!"
This wasn't how Shisui had expected his first training session to go.
His plan had been perfect. Immaculate, even. He had never told Sakura an exact time to meet, which she was sure to notice, given the intelligence she had shown up until now.
Shisui would make a show of being punctual in a way that should seem impossible for someone like her, who didn't know much about chakra. It was the kind of stuff one couldn't find in the civilian section of the library. That's where he suspected she got the tree-walking trick from.
(But where had she learned the Kage-bunshin? Was she really... a spy? No, that couldn't—)
Maybe she'd ask him if it was magic, or, being the sly brat she was, ask if he had stalked her. Shisui would explain to her in a very teacherly way that no, it wasn't magic, and he definitely hadn't stalked her.
Because, actually, he had simply used chakra to sense all chakra signatures in a certain radius, including the forest and its surrounding areas. Thus, he could spot Sakura's presence when she came to train and be there in time without leaving his house too early.
Maybe he'd let Sakura figure out the last bit on her own, and he'd try to get a better understanding of her knowledge in order to decide which of his current theories were more likely.
That had been his plan. But who could've known that the girl would decide to listen to him?
It was ridiculous.
Just a few days ago, she wouldn't even follow his request to stop endangering her life with training, but now she bowed to him and spoke all formal?! Shisui was used to such treatment from going to the capital with Itachi and his parents. He was the only nephew they had, and due to that, third in line to be the clan head.
What Sakura did wasn't even the worst of it. There had been much more unpleasant ways someone had tried sucking up to him and Itachi. Shisui had learned to get somewhat used to it.
Still, that was that, and at least he could mentally prepare himself when going to the capital. Sakura-chan here, however, had caught him completely off guard with... this.
Perhaps loudly interrupting her wasn't the best for the mentor image he was going for. Sakura was mustering him, all confused and polite and not at all like the rascal from last week.
"Just... stop that."
Shisui raised a hand to do... something, which was immediately wiped from his mind and memory, leaving it to awkwardly hover in the air as he slowly dropped it again.
Sakura, still the very image of respectfulness and politeness, asked with a questioning voice, "What exactly, Sensei? May I dare to ask you for further elaboration?"
There was no way she didn't know what he meant.
"I'm telling you to stop speaking so formal to me! Where did the snappy Sakura-chan from last time go? And where did you learn to talk like that?!"
"I apologize, Sensei. I wasn't aware there was a problem with my way of speaking." She paused and lowered her head. "I was simply following your order to—what was it? Ah, yes, 'show some respect'."
Shisui groaned. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Not at all.
Ha.
Sakura suppressed a snicker but couldn't stop the corner of her mouth from curling up in satisfaction. Shisui couldn't see it because of her lowered head anyway.
This was her revenge for his earlier antics.
She heard him groan in a defeated manner. "Fine. Forget about that request. You do not need to show me respect, bow to me every five seconds, or speak to me like I'll have you executed at the slightest show of disrespect. Please, just stop it."
"Are you sure, Sensei? Personally, if I may, I do not have a problem talking to a highly respected individual such as you in this manner."
"Yes, I am sure... That's an order."
Finally, Sakura raised her head, smiling victoriously.
She kicked the ground with her foot, causing leaves to swirl around and land on Shisui's sandals, and turned her head to look around the area as if searching for something. "Are we waiting for something, or can we start training now...?"
"...Do you hate me that much, Sakura-chan?"
"Not until you started spitting that bullshit about older brothers." Sakura had enough of that already.
Shisui sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I miss the times when you still acted like a four-year old."