Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.
Thinking
‘Signs to communicate.’
“Speaking”
A/N: This story will contain POVs from other characters too.
Shout out to Kingofsilver, 11Eleven11, yochan123, Laksha (For reviewing multiple times), Goodluck Esilafue, Shrihan and Khatre for reviewing. Thank you all for taking the time to review; you have no idea what it means to me.
Anyway, on to the chapter!
Previously,
I smile a bit before placing my empty plate on the table and making myself comfortable.
I close my eyes, and doze off. The last thing I remember before oblivion took me, was Sasuke carrying me to the bedroom and tucking me in.
I woke up early the next day, hoping to get some studying done. I wore one of my hoodies and trackpants, and plopped myself back on the bed.
I opened the Chakra Scalpels scroll and started practicing. I almost got it right, then screwed up.
Sometime later, Sasuke entered the room, two plates in his hands. I didn’t bother looking up, skimming the scroll again.
“Eat.” Sasuke said, holding the plate right above my scroll. I huffed but moved the scroll away. I got under the covers and took the plate.
Sasuke had made chocolate chip pancakes and eggs for breakfast. I thanked him and dug in. We ate in silence, concentrating only on the food.
I closed my eyes and focused on his chakra. It was sharp and warm at the same time. I liked feeling people’s chakra from time to time.
Everyone’s was so different, but for some reason, Sasuke’s calmed me. It felt... almost homely.
Thinking of home, I should visit Mebuki and Kizashi soon. When I was done, I took both of our plates and went into the kitchen.
I washed the dishes, still thinking about Mebuki and Kizashi. I hadn’t seen them in almost four months; since the time I moved in with Sasuke.
Whenever I thought about them, I didn’t connect them with my parents. They were almost only like my caretakers. I never thought of them as my actual parents.
I walked back into my room, absently fiddling with my bracelets.
I found Sasuke sitting there staring out the window, as if waiting for someone or something. I arched an eyebrow, but ignored it.
We both headed over to the training ground, and here we are right now, waiting for Kakashi-sensei.
All three of us are just sitting under a tree, doing nothing. I focus on Shika’s chakra, and let out a breath when I feel it warm and sturdy at the same time. Almost like a pillar I can lean on.
“Sorry I’m late! I was looking for someone!” I hear Sensei say.
I open my eyes and stand up. “Looking for someone?”
Sensei nods, “Yes, I’ve decided to train all three of you separately.”
“Oh.”
“Yes. Duckling, you’ll be working with me, Lazy Ass with Anko-”
Just as he says her name, she jumps down from the branch above us.
“Hello brats!” She grins. “Which of you is Lazy Ass?”
Shika grumbles but raises his hand.
“Alright!”
“As I was saying...” Kakashi-sensei continues. “Pinky, you’ll be working with the Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha; Kurenai.”
At her own name, Kurenai walked into the training ground and placed a hand on her hip.
I bow, “Thank you for training me, Kurenai-sensei.”
She smiles at me, and leads me to another training ground.
“Alright, we’ll have a quick spar to see what you can do. It’ll just be for a minute or too, but I want you to dodge till I tell you. Don’t go on the offensive till I know how well you can evade. I’ll tell you when to switch. Got it?” Kurenai-sensei instructs.
I nod, and take my stance. Without warning, she rushes towards me, throwing a punch, and a kick to follow up.
I duck and shift my body enough to miss both attacks. Her other hand lashes out for an elbow strike, and I bend backwards, making her miss again.
Just as I rise, she strikes with a round-house kick to my face. I do a backflip, moving away from her. She runs towards me and throws multiple punches. I duck, twist and evade them as much as I can.
I feel proud at being able to dodge even if she isn't going at full power. Kurenai-sensei stops attacking and looks at me with an impressed smile.
“Very good, Sakura. Kakashi told me you were quick, but not a single of my attacks connected. You should be proud.”
I beam at her, “Thank you, Kurenai-sensei!”
She smiles again and asks, “Do you know any Genjutsu?”
“A couple.” I say vaguely.
She hums under her breath.
“Kurenai-sensei?” I ask. “Can you please teach me how to create my own Genjutsu?”
She looks at me in surprise, then speaks, “You want to create a genjutsu?”
I nod.
“Well, there are ways, but it's not easy. It takes a lot of time and effort. Why do you want to, anyway?” She tilts her head, and a curious look comes over her face.
“Well,” I start, “I have a specific scene in my mind, which can be used to paralyze a person, or at least cause a distraction.”
She looked a little impressed, and started telling me what to do.
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Shikamaru POV
Anko lead Shikamaru to a Training ground close by, and grinned at him, “So, we’re going to be doing evasion today.”
Shikamaru looked confused, till she explained, “You just have to get to the end of this training ground without being hit by my kunai or senbon, then we can move on.”
“What’s the catch?” Shikamaru asked, narrowing his eyes.
“The catch... is that some of my weapons are coated with poison.” Anko said, her eyes shining.
His eyes widened, “Poison?”
“Non-lethal, of course, but the side effects can be a little... painful.” She smirked. “And for every weapon that hits you, you come back to the beginning, do 50 crunches and pushups, then we start again.”
His jaw drops, then he sighs. “Troublesome.”
“Better start running.” Anko said, twirling one of her kunai nonchalantly.
Shikamaru sighed again, but started jogging. A kunai whizzed past his face, “You better run fast unless you wanna get hit!”
He heard the crazy woman call. He started running, but a second later, he stopped when he felt something graze his calf. He looked down to see a small cut, and a bit of blood oozing out.
Of course, I get the crazy and troublesome woman. He thought, dragging his feet back to the starting.
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Sasuke POV
Sasuke stood in front of his sensei, looking at him expectantly.
“Alright, Duckling!” Kakashi said, eye-smiling. “Time for training! Activate your sharingan.”
Sasuke let his eyes turn red.
“Good. Now, I’m going to teach you how to cast and detect Genjutsu.” Kakashi said, flashing through hand signs.
Sasuke felt something come over him, and he instantly released it.
“Now you know what it feels like. But I want you to dispel it while you’re focusing on something else. Once you can do that without thinking, we’ll move on to using genjutsu.”
“Hai Sensei.” Sasuke said, determination set in his eyes.
“Good, now drop and give me two hundred pushups.” Kakashi eye-smiled again.
Sasuke sweat dropped, but did so.
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Sakura POV
I walked back to Training Ground 7 feeling drained and incredibly tired. Kurenai-sensei had taught me a new Genjutsu, told me how to create my own.
When I reached, I found Shikamaru and Sasuke on the ground, panting.
I saw Kakashi, Anko and Kurenai standing over them, looking very amused. I sighed and dropped myself next to them.
I looked up at the sky, and realized it was only afternoon. I looked at our sensei in despair.
“Get up, minions.” Kakashi-sensei ordered.
We ignored him.
“Do I need to get Anko to make you get up?”
Shika immediately sat up. I looked at him in confusion, till I remembered the canon Chunin exams. My eyes widened and I sat up too.
‘She’s crazy. You better get up.’ Shika signed to Sasuke.
He sighed and sat up along with us.
Sensei reached over and slapped Shika on the head, “That’s not nice!”
“But you know it’s true!” Shikamaru protested.
Sensei looked at me, and I obliged. I smacked Shika on the head. Whenever either of the boys were being silly, Sensei would get me to smack them, but when I was being silly, one of them would smack me.
“Ow!” Shika glared at me. I shrugged.
“Anyway, all three of you are free to go have lunch, but you better be back in exactly an hour, or I’m setting my ninken on you.” Sensei warned.
Once, when Sasuke, Shika and I were late for a training session, Sensei set his summons on us, making us run the whole day without a break.
All three of us sighed in unison but started walking away.
“Where do you guys want to go?” Sasuke asked. I opened my mouth to respond, when they both cut me off, “We’re not having dango.”
I pouted.
“Then how about we go to our home?” Sasuke offered.
I looked up, “Yeah, I can whip something up.”
Shika shrugged, “Why not?”
We headed back home, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Sasuke saying ‘our home’.
Home... I should really meet my ‘new’ parents.
Once we reached, the boys sat at the table, and I went to the kitchen.
I quickly made some oyakodon (Chicken and egg bowl), and some rice, and placed it in front of the boys.
All of us took a bite, and Shika’s eyes widened. “Damn, this is good!”
I beamed. Sasuke rolled his eyes, but I saw a smile tugging at his lips.
After we were done, all three of us walked leisurely towards the training ground, when I saw some random guy winking at me.
I stared at him for a few seconds, before shaking my head. We approached the training ground and a feeling of dread filled me.
I stopped in my tracks and took in our senseis’ expression.
Kakashi-sensei had that mischievous gleam in his eye, Anko-sensei was grinning and twirling a kunai, and Kurenai-sensei was smirking.
I noticed Sasuke and Shika had paled too, and we exchanged looks.
“We’re dead.” We said in unison. Resigning to our fate, we walked on.
“Minions, you’re back!” Kakashi-sensei says, clapping his hands together.
None of us say anything.
Sensei continues, “Be here tomorrow at six in the morning, you have a... competition... of sorts. And for now, Anko, you can take over.”
Anko smirked.
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Shikamaru POV
Shikamaru groaned as he reluctantly got up. He looked around to get his bearings, then the memories from the previous day came crashing back.
Kakashi, Kurenai and Crazy Lady Anko had put them through hell.
She had set snakes after them, and made them run around for hours together. Sure, they had good stamina, but fucking snakes.
Then Kurenai had put a genjutsu on them at some point, and then made them spar.
Then, Kakashi made them spar with him.
And then, each of them had to spar with one sensei each. And he was stuck with Crazy Lady. Again.
Tired to the bone, he had crashed in Sasuke’s house, and sent a bunshin to his house to tell his parents.
Grumbling as his alarm rang again, Shikamaru went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He stepped into the hall and saw Sakura at the table, furiously writing something in that notebook of hers.
She was wearing an oversized Uchiha t-shirt and shorts.
She looked up and smiled at him, lighting her face up. “Morning, Shika!”
“Morning.” He murmured. Sakura closed her book and skipped into the kitchen. He heard her humming under her breath, cooking some eggs.
“How are you so awake?” He grumbled to her.
“I wake up at 4 every day.” She grinned.
“Why?” He honestly didn’t understand why she would put so much effort into everything she did. She was cheerful and happy, but she still worked so hard.
Even though he had never seen her working in the hospital, his father had. Shikamaru still remembered his father mentioning it to him.
Sakura shrugged, “I gotta study, practice my genjutsu, practice my medical ninjutsu, then at 5:30, I go to the hospital to work.”
“Why?” He asked again. “Why do you work so hard?”
She just smiled at him, “I’ve gotta be strong enough to keep up with you. You’re both from a big clan with some specialty, but I’m a civilian child.”
“But why do you work so hard?” Shikamaru insisted. “You’re plenty strong already; why do so much more?”
She smiled again, but didn’t explain. She just put the eggs in three plates and handed one to him. Sakura called out to Sasuke, and started eating.
She scarfed her breakfast down, then opened her book again.
She chewed on her lip, then wrote something, then cut it out. She frowned, then her eyes widened.
Shikamaru tried to read what she was writing, but it was in some weird, different language.
His brow furrowed as he tried to read it, but noticing Sakura’s smirk, he knew he wouldn’t be able to.
Sasuke came out of his room a few moments later, and he sat at the table, silently eating his eggs.
Fifteen minutes later, all three of them entered their own rooms, changed into their workout clothes, grabbed their gear and left.
Sakura had also made bentos for them, which the boys took gratefully.
“What do you think will happen today?” Sasuke spoke up.
Sakura shrugged. “No clue, but Sensei said it would be a competition of sorts. Maybe like a test or something?”
Shikamaru didn’t answer. His eyes were unfocused, but his pace stayed the same.
He was thinking about the Chunin Exams instead.
Will we pass? Ugh, that will be sooo troublesome.
He sighed mentally.
They reached the Ground. The walked in with their guards up, sensing ninjas around them. All three of them had kunais in their hand, but they kept them back when they saw Team 8, 9 and 10 as well as their sensei, waiting.
“Sasuke-kun!” A shrill voice shrieked. Shikamaru winced at the high pitch, but smirked when Ino latched herself onto Sasuke.
He patted the boy’s back sympathetically, but left to talk to Choji. It had been too long since the two had talked.
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Sakura POV
I winced with Shika at Ino’s annoying high-pitched voice. That girl will make me deaf! I smirked when I saw Sasuke’s expression, but looked away when he shot a glare at me.
I gave him two thumbs up, then walked away like Shikamaru. I walked over to Naruto and interrupted his and Kiba’s fight.
“Hey guys.” I smiled.
“Sakura-chan!” Naruto’s face lit up.
“Whoa, Sakura, what happened to you?” Kiba exclaimed, looking at my clothes.
“Seriously?” I deadpanned. “I’ve had this since the third year of the Academy, Kiba.”
He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, “Ehehe.” He chuckled nervously.
“Anyway, you guys participating in the Chunin Exams?” I asked.
Naruto grinned, “Hell yeah!”
Kiba nodded as well, “Definitely! It’s gonna be awesome!”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Hinata sneaking glances at Naruto, while blushing and doing that finger thing. You know, where she taps her index fingers together.
I turned to her and Shino, “You guys excited about the Chunin Exams?”
“I look forward to it.” Shino replied in his stoic tone.
“I-I’ll do my b-best.” Hinata stuttered.
“Hinata-san?” I called, “Have you thought about learning medical ninjutsu?”
She looked up at me in shock, “M-Medical ninjutsu? N-No, I don’t t-think I’ll be very g-good at it.”
She looked at the ground in embarrassment.
I frowned, “You have good chakra control, right? And with your byakugan, I think you’ll be a very good medic. But if you don’t want to...”
I felt a presence behind me, and I turned. Kakashi-sensei just poofed here.
“Kakashi-sensei!” I waved to him. He eye-smiled at me, and I went over to him. I noticed Ino still latched onto Sasuke, and chatting his ear off. I smirked, but at Sasuke’s pleading expression, I sighed dramatically.
“Pig, leave.” I ordered.
She glared at me defiantly, and I glared back. Eventually, I got bored and let out just a bit of my Killing Intent.
A few seconds later, she left, her hands trembling.
“You’re welcome.” I said to Sasuke and went back to Kakashi-sensei.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“All the Genin are having a competition of sorts.” Kakashi-sensei answered.
“Yeah, no shit Sherlock.” I rolled my eyes.
“What’s a Sherlock?” Sensei asked.
“Err, nothing. But what I meant was what kind of competition?” I replied, kind of nervously. I had been trying not to make any reference to my other world, and it had worked till now, but whoops. I let that slip.
Sensei got a weird gleam in his eye. “Simple sparring and stuff.” He said vaguely. “But keep in mind that they are all participating in the Chunin exams.”
I narrowed my eyes.
What’s Sensei trying to tell us? Why would he keep a competition that shows our skills, with the Chu- oh. Oh. Smart.
“Got it, Sensei.” I sighed.
“Got what?” Sensei asked in an amused tone.
I walked over to Sasuke and Shika, “Get ready to have your egos crushed.” I sighed again.
“What?” They tilted their heads together.
“Oh wow, that was weird.” I said while making hand signs.
‘Sensei wants us to show everyone here that we’re totally weak and not ready for the Chunin Exams. He wants us to hide our skills right now, then shock everyone during the Exams.’
‘Thought as much.’ Shika nodded.
‘Got it.’ Sasuke nodded along. We turned towards Kakashi-sensei, who had started talking.
“Team 7, 8, 9 and 10, you must be wondering why you’re here. Well, your sensei and I decided to make you all have a little spar with each other, just to show how strong each of you have become. It will be individual, not a team spar. No killing strikes, or permanent injuries allowed. Ninjutsu and Genjutsu are allowed. The winner will be decided by either knock out, ring out, or surrender.”
I looked at everyone’s expression; Neji was blank, Lee was excited, Tenten was smirking, Ino was dreamily staring at Sasuke, Naruto was excited, Choji was eating, Hinata was nervous, Kiba was excited and Shino was blank.
I turned my attention back to Sensei.
“Kurenai will now pick two names. Kurenai.” Kakashi-sensei turned a box, which he probably had in a seal, towards Kurenai-sensei.
She put her hand in, and pulled out two pieces of paper.
“The first match is between Rock Lee, and Ino Yamanaka.” She read.
Lee ran into the center, and Ino followed. She winked at Sasuke, making him shudder, then took her stance.
Kakashi-sensei started the match, and jumped back. Before Ino could do anything, Lee rushed forward and kicked her in the stomach, pushing her back, then an uppercut to the chin, and a chop to the back of her neck; rendering her unconscious.
“That was fast.” Shika commented idly.
“Mmm, could’ve been faster. He was holding back.” I spoke after a few seconds.
Kakashi-sensei called the match, and the next two people were Sasuke and Shino.
“Lose quickly, but not too quickly.” I murmured before he left.
He nodded, and went to the arena.
“This is gonna be good.” I grinned.
Both the boys stood in front of each other, staring at the other.
Shino must be sending his bugs at Sasuke right now.
“Anytime today.” I muttered, getting annoyed. They just stared at each other for five straight minutes, before Sasuke ran towards Shino.
His speed was the same as when we were in the Academy, and I could see it was bothering Sasuke.
Sasuke aimed a slow kick to the Aburame’s head. Shino ducked and jumped behind, raising his hands. His bugs flew out, heading straight for Sasuke.
He jumped out of the way, and ran through a few hand signs. Sasuke used a minor fire jutsu; he didn’t kill any bugs, but just enough for them to keep their distance.
Then, he started fake panting as if he was already tired. I smirked at his acting, but continued watching as he attacked again.
Sasuke did another slow uppercut, but this one actually connected. Shino staggered behind, but recovered and to our surprise, Shino rushed forward, and kicked Sasuke in the face.
I winced when he made contact, and Sasuke was thrown out of bounds.
Kakashi-sensei declared Shino the winner, and Sasuke had a scowl on his face when he returned.
“That was horrible.” He growled. “I could’ve beaten him in a few seconds.”
I smiled sympathetically, and said, “It’s ok. Just imagine everyone’s face when we beat the shit outta them in the Exams. You want me to heal that for you?”
His nose was broken, and he had a few bruises on his face. My eyes narrowed; Shino shouldn’t have been able to do much damage in close combat. Much less with a single kick.
I sent out a wave of numbing chakra just as I put his nose back in place with a crack. I healed his bruises, and paid attention to the names.
“Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuuga.” Kurenai-sensei announced.
I watched as Neji started monologuing, and I got bored so I pulled out a textbook.
“Are you seriously going to read while they spar?” Sasuke asked.
I shrugged, “If Kakashi-sensei can read his porn and still teach well, there’s no reason I can’t read something good.”
Someone smacked me on the back of my head. I whirled around and glared at Sensei, “What was that for?”
“It’s literature, not porn.” He huffed.
“Would you like to explain that to Kurenai-sensei?” I retorted. “And that’s no reason to hit your student!”
Kakashi-sensei just glared at me, and I went back to reading.
It was a medical book, on minor surgeries. I didn’t really have much of an interest in surgeries, but I was trying to expand my repertoire.
A while later, I looked up to see Neji and Naruto still fighting.
“Tell me once they’re done.” I murmured to the boys. At their nods, I continued reading.
I was engrossed in it, till Shika shook me out of my thoughts.
“It was a ring out by Neji.” Sasuke muttered. I nodded and heard Kurenai-sensei call my name out. I was up against Tenten.
I groaned, but got up.
“Be careful. She knows your speed, and might fight according to it. She doesn’t know we’re going slower. Don’t get killed.” Sasuke said.
I nodded, and walked away. I stood in front of her and took my stance. She was just twirling her kunai.
As soon as Sensei jumped back,
“Demonic Illusion: Vision of Hell.” I muttered, casting the genjutsu on her. I rushed forward with a kunai in hand. I was going agonizingly slow; I barely blocked all the weapons being thrown at me; I even had to get hit by some in order to seem weak.
I felt a burst of chakra, and I knew Tenten had broken the Genjutsu. I came closer, and saw tears in her eyes, but steeled myself through it.
I went in close, and threw a few punches which she easily blocked. She seemed confused, but was still attacking with a lot of speed. I got hit with the pace I was going for, and when Tenten hit me with an uppercut to my jaw, I let myself fall back.
She stood above me with a kunai pointed to my head, but she didn’t seem happy about it. Sensei called the match, and she helped me to my feet.
I quickly made the seal, and walked back to my teammates.
“I am never fighting a weapon user without my full strength.” I growled, as I placed my hand on my leg. I pulled out some shuriken that were embedded.
I was about to start healing myself when Sasuke grabbed my wrist. I arched an eyebrow, annoyed.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Don’t let them see how much you can heal. Just let it be for now. Use the first aid kit if needed.”
I glared at him, and he held my gaze till I grumbled and did as he said.
I unsealed the kit as Kurenai-sensei called the next names; Kiba and Choji.
I washed out my wounds and placed a few Band-Aids on them. Once I was done, I looked at the two. They had already started attacking, and Kiba was winning.
I opened my book and started reading it. I completely zoned out of the fight. I only looked up when Shika’s name was called. He was supposed to fight Hinata.
“Lose quickly, I’m bored already.” I mutter. He nods and walks away. I watched as Hinata timidly took her Gentle Fist stance, and Shikamaru took the regular Academy stance.
“Begin!” Kakashi-sensei shouted as he jumped back. Shika and Hinata just stared at each other for a few seconds. Not wanting to stand, I walked up a tree, plopping myself down on a branch.
Sasuke looked at me before following me up. I closed my book and observed the fight.
Shikamaru ran through hand signs and created an earth wall just as Hinata approached him. She moved around it and tried hitting him. Shikamaru dodged a few, but got hit by most of them.
With his tenketsu closed, there was nothing he could do, so he surrendered. Grumbling, he came back. I jumped down to see if I could do anything to fix it.
I was about to use the Mystical Palm technique, when I caught Sasuke’s eyes. He shook his head slightly, and I crossed my arms angrily. It’s such a good opportunity! What if I can fix it somehow? I mean, no one has found a way yet, but what if?
When all this was over, all the other teams left, except Tenten. She was still frowning, and once everyone was gone, she came up to me.
Sasuke and Shika went to talk to Sensei, and she spoke, “Why did you hold back?”
I smiled, “Look underneath the underneath. A true ninja doesn’t display all their power.”
Realization dawned on her face and she grinned, “Smart. Hide your power now, then shock everyone in the Chunin Exams.”
I tilted my head, “Is that what we’re doing?” A smile tugged at my lips, just to say she was right, but I didn’t tell her.
She smiled and ran behind her teammates. I chuckled and went back to my own.
“Well, minions. What did you think?” Kakashi-sensei eye-smiled.
“I think you’re a meanie.” I replied.
“I concur.” Sasuke nodded.
“Me too.” Shika added.
Sensei fake pouted, “And here I thought my team loved me.”
He sighed dramatically. Then straightened. “Now we have that out of the way, what did you really think?”
“The plan might not work.” I shrugged. “I heard Kiba talking about how much weaker we have become, instead of stronger.”
“So, why won’t it work?”
“Neji, Lee and Tenten know the truth, so that’s one team, and I suspect Kurenai-sensei will tell Team 8 the truth, as well.” Shika informed.
“And Team 10 already knows we’re stronger than what we displayed because of the Wave mission.” Sasuke concluded.
Sensei hummed, “Well, then the only thing to do is get even stronger and surprise everyone.”
We nodded in agreement and I spoke, “Sensei? Will you teach us the shunshin? Please?”
Hearing that, Shika and Sasuke turned their hopeful gazes to Sensei.
Kakashi-sensei looked uncertain, “I don’t know if you guys are ready for it.”
“We are!” All three of us said together. “Please, Sensei?”
After a few moments of hesitation, he answered, “Prove to me you’re ready.”
I tilted my head in confusion, “How do we do that?”
There was a gleam in Kakashi-sensei's eye that I really didn’t like.
“Track and capture Tora within an hour, and I’ll teach it to you.” Sensei smirked.
The three of us stared at him in horror.
“I change my mind.” I decided, “You’re not a meanie-”
“Thank you.” Sensei eye-smiled, while my teammates looked at my incredulously.
“Let me finish.” I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not a meanie, you’re sadistic.”
The boys nodded in agreement, while Kakashi-sensei mock-glared at me.
“One hour, you say?” I stood up and started healing myself. “You’ve got a deal.”
I turned to the boys, “You want the shunshin or not?”
Determined, they stood up as well. I faced Kakashi-sensei again. “You go get the mission scroll and meet us here in an hour, while we go get the damn hellcat.”
The three of us marched away, trying to track the beast.
Half an hour later, Sasuke, Shikamaru and I were hiding behind a tree, staring at the cat.
Then an idea struck.
“Guys, I have an idea.” I looked at Shikamaru, “Trap it in your shadow.”
He nodded and did so. I walked in front of it and cast “Paralysis Technique”, causing it to freeze.
I looked at Sasuke, “’Ke, you’ll have to carry it. I have to maintain the seal.”
He grimaced but approached the hellcat. He tentatively picked it up, and relaxed a bit when it didn’t move.
Shika released his jutsu, and we smirked triumphantly. We went to the Training Ground and Sasuke promptly dropped the cat on Kakashi-sensei.
Sensei leapt up and away from the cat; expecting it to start clawing him. We snickered.
He glared at us, then slowly walked to the cat. He poked it a few times for good measure, then noticed my seal. He cleared his throat and said, “Good work team! Now let’s take it to the Hokage and complete the mission!”
Sasuke suddenly grinned evilly, then made eye contact with me for a second.
“Sensei, you have to carry the cat. I’m not carrying it and Sakura has to maintain the seal.” He proclaimed. My eyes widened, catching onto his plan.
Sensei stared at us before giving in. “Fine.”
He poked the cat again, then picked it up. We all walked to the Daimyo’s wife, and a few feet away, I released the seal.
Tora jumped up and started clawing Kakashi-sensei. The three of us scooted away from the its claw range.
“Help!” We heard Sensei yelp. We snickered. Sensei glared at us again, and finally got the cat under control.
He left her in the Daimyo’s wife’s care, told us to go back to the training ground, and poofed away.
The three of us doubled over in laughter, and somehow managed to get to the Ground.
Suddenly, we felt a lot of KI aimed at us. We turned to see Sensei glaring at us.
I chuckled nervously and took a few steps behind the boys; using them as meat shields.
“Hi...?” I said with a nervous smile.
“You released the seal.” Sensei said slowly. The Killing Intent increased.
“I’m... sorry...?”
“No.” he said simply. “You aren’t. Not yet, at least.” Sensei grinned evilly.
Shika and I whimpered, and Sasuke shuddered.
Fifteen minutes later, the three of us found ourselves on a tree branch, hanging upside down, doing crunches.
“Don’t stop, Sakura.” Sensei said idly, as another kunai whizzed past my face.
I increased my pace, scared, since Kakashi-sensei had already cut a few strands of my hair with the previous kunai.
A thousand crunches later, we were on the ground panting. All three of us had cuts on our arms or faces- no, on our arms and faces.
“You have a thirty second break before we start the next exercise.” Sensei said gleefully.
“We’re sorry... Sensei.” I gasped, clutching my stomach.
“Not yet, you aren’t.” A pause. “That concludes your break! Stand up.” Sensei ordered.
Groaning, we stood up. Kakashi-sensei unsealed new weights, and I groaned again.
We put them on, and then Sensei started talking again. “Now, you have to run ten laps around Konoha.”
“That’s easy.” I paused, then narrowed my eyes, “Too easy. What’s the catch?”
He smirked again and summoned his hounds.
“Noooo!” I whined.
“What’s up, Kakashi?” The pug, Pakkun, spoke in his gruff voice.
“Hey Pakkun, you and the rest have to chase them around Konoha till they finish ten laps. If you catch them, you come back here, and tell me. Got it?”
“You shouldn’t be so harsh on the pups, Kakashi.”
“Exactly!” I chimed in.
“Anyway, what did they do this time?” Pakkun asked, ignoring me.
“They set the Hellcat of Konoha on me.” Sensei said bluntly.
The dogs all glared at us. “Ten laps around Konoha, you say? Let’s go, pups.”
We whined and dragged our feet to the gates of Konoha.
“Hey, it’s Team 7! What’chu guys doing here?” One of the guards, Kotetsu, exclaimed.
“Oh, hey Kotetsu! Izumo! Kakashi-sensei's torturing us again.” I said, waving at the two. Sasuke tipped his head in their direction, and Shikamaru offered a lazy wave.
“What did you guys do this time?” Izumo crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
“Why does everyone think we did something?” I whined.
“Well, did you?” Kotetsu asked.
“...Maybe.”
They both chuckled. “So, what did you do?”
“They set Tora on him.” Shika drawled.
The two burst into laughter. “You set Tora on him?”
We nodded. They laughed louder. I huffed and waited for Sensei to get here.
Then, speak of the devil, Kakashi-sensei poofed here.
“Something funny guys?” He eye-smiled at the two chunin.
“N-No sir.” Kotetsu stammered. They both went inside the guard booth.
Sasuke snorted, Shika smirked and I giggled. Then Sensei turned on us.
“Well, get going. I’ll send the ninken after a few minutes, so don’t get caught. Or do, it’ll just be more fun for me.”
“Sadist.” Sasuke muttered. Sensei smacked him on the head.
“I don’t get why I’m being punished. I didn’t even do anything.” Shikamaru grumbled.
“Because... Teamwork!” Sensei eye-smiled.
“That, and you’re just a sadist who takes pleasure in our pain.” I muttered. Then I ducked to dodge Sensei’s head slap.
“Alright then! Start running!” Sensei summoned his ninken.
We sighed and started jogging. Then a kunai whizzed past us.
“Run!” Kakashi-sensei yelled.
We started running after that.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
We were on the ground, panting again. Two hours later, we finally finished our laps. All three of us were drenched in sweat, and Sensei was laughing evilly.
“Are we done yet?” Shikamaru drawled.
“Nope!” Kakashi-sensei said gleefully.
“Senseiiii...” I groaned. “How much more?”
Sensei just chuckled evilly. “Take a five-minute break, then meet me at the bridge.”
Saying that, he poofed away.
I grabbed my bottle and gulped down some water. I tossed it to Sasuke, who had emptied his own. He took it gratefully and chugged some down.
The three of us headed to the bridge, but met up with Ino, Naruto and Choji on the way.
“Sasuke-kun!” Ino squealed. “Did you miss me?”
“As much as he misses a piece of shit.” I muttered.
Ino glared at me, and I ignored her.
“Hey Sakura-chan!” Naruto grinned. Then he looked at the three of us, “Why are you so sweaty?”
“Because we have a sadist for a sensei.”
He tilts his head and squints, trying to figure out what I meant by that.
I shake my head, “It’s ok, you won’t get it anyway. What are you guys doing here?”
“We just finished training, so we were going home.” He shrugged.
I hummed under my breath. “Well, we have to meet up with Sensei now, but I would love to spar with you sometime.”
“Ok!” He grinned. I smiled and the three of us walked away from Team 10.
“Bye, Sasuke-kun! Forehead, don’t trouble him too much!” Ino yelled.
I raised my hand and flipped her off, causing my teammates to snicker and her to huff.
“Minions! You’re on time!” We heard Kakashi-sensei say cheerfully.
We glared at him.
“Well, at least you’re working together.” Sensei shrugged.
“Why are we here?” Sasuke asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“No.” The three of us chorused.
He pointed at the water. I realized what he meant, and took off my t-shirt and pants, to reveal my sports bra and shorts.
I had started wearing it under my clothes, because hey. It’s Kakashi-sensei.
“You wear it under your clothes?” Sasuke asked incredulously.
I shrugged, “Rule no. 15. Always expect the unexpected. And with Kakashi-sensei, I don’t know what to expect.”
“True enough.”
I jumped down the bridge and straight onto the water. I had spread chakra on the soles of my feet, and I landed on the water.
A few seconds later, Shikamaru, Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei joined me.
“What are we supposed to do?” Shikamaru asked.
“You are going to spar with me. All three of you are going to come at me together. Don’t come if you don’t intend to kill. Taijutsu only.” Sensei replied, closing his book and placing it in his back pocket.
“What’s the catch here?” Sasuke and I asked together.
Sensei’s eyes sparkled. “This time... I get to retaliate.”
“Shiiiiit.” I whispered.
Sasuke paled and Shikamaru groaned. Kakashi-sensei just smirked. “This is going to be fun, minions.”
We sighed and attacked. I landed a punch on Sensei’s arm, but then he kicked me in the stomach, pushing me back so much, I slammed into the tree at the end of the stream.
“Fuck.” I groaned. I saw Sasuke being slammed onto the water surface, and Shikamaru being thrown on the bank on the other side.
“Is that all you have, children?” Sensei mocked.
I sighed and got up. “This is going to be a looong training session.” I muttered. With that, I sprinted to Sensei.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sasuke and I dragged our feet into our house, tired to the bone. Kakashi-sensei spent the whole training session throwing us around.
Our whole body was bruised and bleeding. It was already around 1 in the morning when Sensei finally let us go. All that for a Tora prank.
Without a word, Sasuke and I threw ourselves onto the nearest bed and fell asleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“Sakura, it’s time to wake up.” I heard someone speaking. I groaned and opened my eyes. Sasuke was standing above me, his face covered in bruises.
“Do we have to? I’m tired.” I mumbled.
“You wanna risk having Sensei setting his ninken on your ass?”
“Sure.” I mumbled again. Anything for more sleep.
“Fine.” I saw him shrug and walk away. I closed my eyes and fell asleep again.
I woke up to someone shaking me.
“What?” I ask irritably.
“Get up, you have to train.” Kakashi-sensei orders.
“Go away, I’m tired.” I say, wrapping the blanket around me.
“Don’t make me do this.” Sensei warns.
I glare at him defiantly.
“Sakura Haruno, I want you at Training Ground 7 in five minutes, or I’m going to forbid you and Sasuke from getting you dango till you become a jounin.” Sensei says as he poofs away.
I smirk, then the words sink in. I shriek and jump out of bed.
Five minutes later, I arrive at the Ground, noticing Sasuke and Shikamaru sparring.
I see Kakashi-sensei smirk when he sees me, and I glare at him. He tells the boys something, then comes over to me.
“You’re on time. Good. Go warm up then we’ll start your training.” He emphasizes ‘your’ which has me worried, but I brush it aside for now.
I warm up and then walk back towards the boys. Thankfully, they don’t make a big deal about me being late, which I am grateful for.
Kakashi-sensei stops their spar, and we stand in front of him.
Sensei eyes us for a few seconds, then speaks, “I’ve decided to teach you the shunshin.”
My eyes light up, and a grin splits my face. Shikamaru and Sasuke grin with me, and we wait for Sensei to continue.
Sensei tells us to stand away from each other, then says, “First, make the ram seal.”
We do that.
“Now channel chakra through your body for a temporary boost of speed. Your movement should be covered by smoke when you use it. Like this.”
To demonstrate, Sensei disappears in a poof, appears in front of me and slaps me on my head.
“Ow!” I yelp. “What was that for?”
“You came late.” He shrugs. Then he disappears in another poof and back to where he was before.
“Now, before you start, make sure you’re only going a short distance; this jutsu isn’t created for long distances. Make sure you know exactly where you’re going, or you can see it.” Sensei instructs. “You can start now.”
I create the ram seal, and I see smoke around me. When it disappears, I find myself in the same place. I sigh and try again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“Suckers!” I said, sticking my tongue out. Shikamaru rolled his eyes, and Sasuke huffed.
“It was a total fluke!” He insisted.
“Yeah, right! A fluke doesn’t happen every time!” Just to prove my point, I shunshin’d to him, flipped him off, then back to where I was.
“Stop showing off.” He muttered. That’s right, I mastered the shunshin before the Last Uchiha and Nara heir.
...Ok, maybe not mastered, but I can do it.
It’s late in the evening, and the three of us are on our way to the Uchiha clan compound.
“Hey guys, I’m going to head home. My parents want me home for dinner.” Shikamaru said suddenly. We turned to him and nodded.
“Alright. Bye Shika!” I waved. Sasuke gave him a two fingered wave, then stuffed his hand in his pockets again.
Shika turned around and walked away, slouching. Sasuke and I walked home in silence, but I couldn’t help letting a smile come over my face.
I entered the kitchen, and saw a not taped to the fridge.
“Sakura, be at the training ground half an hour earlier. Don’t be late.
Kakashi.” I read. “Half an hour earlier? Why?”
Shrugging, I threw the note in the trash and went to my room.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next day, I woke up earlier- yes, even though I wake up at 4- and completed all my work. Studying my assigned books, the genjutsu I had been working on, then I went to the hospital for two hours, then to the training ground.
I was wearing my usual blue sleeveless t-shirt with black track pants, with shinobi sandals, my headband around my neck and my hair tied back into a low ponytail. My hair had grown a lot, and I hadn’t gotten around to cutting it yet.
I walked into the training ground, smiling at Sensei who was leaning on a tree, reading his book. When he saw me, he snapped his book shut and eye-smiled.
“Good, you’re not late, Sakura-chan.”
I flushed. Then Sensei unsealed a bag and tossed it to me. I looked at Sensei, then opened the bag. There were some clothes in it.
I looked back at Sensei in confusion. He noticed my look and said, “It’ll help you with your reach. For instance,”
He moved over and pointed at the tree, “Highest point for a round house kick.”
I roundhouse’d the tree, making a small dent in the bark. Kakashi-sensei nodded, then continued, “Now go home, change and come back here in ten minutes.”
I nodded and shunshin’d away. I entered my bedroom and took the clothes out.
They were similar to canon Sakura’s Shippuden outfit. A sleeveless top in many different colors, slit skirts with under shorts, long boots that came till my knees, and mesh armor.
For now, I put on a mesh armor, light blue top, dark blue skirt and the boots.
When I dumped all the clothes out to store it in the cupboard, two pairs of gloves fell out. Both black, but one pair was fingerless like Sensei’s and the other was completely covered.
I put the covered one for now, and smiled fondly at the image of Sensei going shopping for me. I grabbed my wallet and exited the house.
I flickered back to the training ground, and saw Kakashi-sensei's eye looking me from head to toe, then nodding his approval.
“Better.” He said.
“Why did you buy this for me, Sensei?” I asked.
He shrugged, “Kurenai and Anko both said something like this would suit you.”
“No, I mean, why did you buy this for me? I could’ve gone shopping.”
Sensei looked away and mumbled something incoherently and then changed the topic.
“Now, kick the tree as high as you can.” He said, pointing at the same tree.
I gave a soft smile and did as I was told. This time, I noticed my kick was a tad bit higher and much smoother than usual.
I must have shown my surprise, because Sensei spoke, “Yep. It was much smoother this time, wasn’t it?”
I nodded.
Then Sensei’s face changed to one of discomfort.
“Now I have to talk to you about something that’s necessary for you to know.” He sat down and motioned for me to do the same.
Curious, I did and waited for Kakashi-sensei to continue. He took a deep breath and started, “You’re a kunoichi. You will get missions which will need you to... use your... charms... as a woman.”
Then it dawned on me. “Sensei are you trying to tell me I’ll have to seduce my targets in the future?”
He nodded. “I understand it might be very uncomfortable, but it is necessary.”
“I am aware of it, Sensei.” I said, amused. “I took the special kunoichi classes in the Academy.”
Kakashi-sensei sighed in relief. “Thank god. So, you know how to seduce someone?”
I shook my head. “We were taught how to behave like a ‘proper woman’, but not how to seduce someone.”
Sensei looked up at the sky and said in a dead serious tone, “Have I done something to you? Are you using me for your entertainment?”
I snickered, but covered it up with a fake cough when Sensei glared at me.
“I think it’s because you torture us so much.” I said with a straight face.
Suddenly, there was a gleam in his eye. And that was the moment I realized, I fucked up.
“Oh really?” Sensei’s eye glittered with mischief.
“No, no, I was just joking.” I replied with a nervous laugh.
“No, you’re right. I torture you a lot. So, you’ll learn seduction from... Anko.” Sensei’s eye danced with mirth.
I froze. That one name made me forget how to breathe. Sensei cackled and that’s when my teammates came.
Sasuke snapped his fingers in front of my face, and when I didn’t react, he glared at Sensei.
Then both the boys demanded, “You broke her! What did you do?”
Kakashi-sensei continued cackling. Shikamaru looked at me for a second, then away, then his head snapped back to me, “Holy shit, she’s not breathing!”
Sasuke sat down next to me and started shaking me.
All that time, I was sitting there, thinking, Nonono anyone but her! Nononononononono. I refuse! I will not! No way in hell.
And as if Sensei read my thoughts, he added, “Oh, and Sakura? If you don’t go twice a week, starting today, I’m banning dango.”
I paled drastically. I let myself fall back.
“This is the end of the world.” I whispered. “I’m dead. I’m a goner. There was no point of training my ass off. I’m still dying.”
After a few minutes of me stewing in my own misery, I felt Kakashi-sensei lift me and make me stand on my feet.
With my shoulders slouched and my eyes unfocused, I just stood there like a ghost.
And then my sadist of a Sensei smacked me over the head, “Pay attention, Sakura. It’s time for training.”
I glared at him, but stood up straight.
“Ok, then! Has everyone learnt the Shunshin?” Sensei asked.
At that, I smirked, “Yes Se-”
Then I stopped. I refuse to call him Sensei till I get over it. “Yes.” I corrected myself.
“No, Sensei.” Sasuke grumbled, while Shika said, “Yes, Kakashi-sensei.”
“Hm. Alright then. Duckling, you’ll work on Shunshin the whole morning, or until you can do it without thinking.”
Sasuke nodded.
“Lazy-Ass, you’ll be sparring with me till Sasuke gets it down.”
Shikamaru nodded.
“And Pinky,” Sensei grinned sadistically, sending shivers down my spine, “You will be working with her.”
My eyes narrowed, “You were going to stick me with her anyway!” I accused.
“Yes. Yes, I was.” He nodded.
“I hate you.” I spat.
“That’s ok!” He eye-smiled. “Now all of you are going to spend the next fifteen minutes stretching, then to your work.”
We moved to the side and started stretching.
“Where did that come from?” Shikamaru asked, staring at my clothes.
“Kakashi-sensei. Apparently, Anko and Kurenai said I would do better with this.” I grinned. “Do you like it?”
“It’s practical.” Sasuke replied.
I huffed, “That’s not what I asked.”
Shika rolled his eyes, “You look nice, Sakura.”
Then he moved to Sasuke and whispered, “Whenever a woman asks something like that, you just have to compliment her. They’ll be happy.”
“Ohhh.” Sasuke said.
I glared at them, and continued my stretches. Just as I finished, Anko jumped down in front of me.
“Let’s go, Pinky! We’re losing time here!” She grinned.
I sighed and said goodbye to the boys. I glared at Sensei once more, then resigned to my fate. I seem to be doing that a lot lately.
We walked to the other end of the training ground, far enough so that no one can see us, and Anko turned to me.
“Before we start, I'm going to tell you something. Sit.” She commanded. I sat. She took out a box and opened it. When I saw what it was, I paled.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sasuke POV (First Person)
I was trying my best with the Shunshin No Jutsu, but I just couldn’t get it down! Every time I tried it; I would go land way out of path.
It was almost as annoying as that Yamanaka fan girl. Sighing, I observed my teammate’s spar.
He was getting thrown around by Kakashi again. Kakashi really enjoyed torturing us, and that mostly happened because of Sakura.
No matter what she says, it’s her fault. Not mine.
Kakashi noticed me looking at them, and he eye-smiled at me, making me wonder how he did that. Last I checked, eyes were not supposed to make that shape.
Not that I had tried, of course. It’s not like I would stand I would stand in front of the mirror at night or anything.
...Anyway, I got started on the jutsu again, and almost got it, when Kakashi threw a rock at me so I had to dodge.
I gave him an irritated look, making him eye-smile again. I rolled my eyes and tried again.
That’s when I felt Sakura coming back. I turned to her and was surprised by a blank look on her face.
When I arrived here in the morning, she was wearing a horrified look on her face.
And now she had a blank look. What is it with her and expressions?
I walked up to her, and asked her what happened.
“Sakura? Hello?” I waved my hand in front of her again. She didn’t react. Then Shikamaru joined me.
“Now what happened?” He sighed.
Getting an idea, I replied with a “Hn.”
That got a reaction. She whipped her head to me and glared. I grinned at her, and her glare vanished. It was replaced by the blank look again.
“Had fun?” Kakashi asked her with mirth dancing in his eye again.
She glared at him enough to make us take a step back.
“I... Hate... You.” She said venomously. She aimed her Killing Intent at him, and he just chuckled.
He walked away to talk to the Crazy Lady, and we turned back to her.
“What did she do to you? Poisoned weapons?” Shikamaru said with a sympathetic look.
Sakura shook her head. All three of us went to one of the larger trees and sat down under it.
“Snakes?” I guessed.
She shook her head again, “Worse.”
At our confused look, she said, “The Talk.”
Shikamaru and I winced. It had been incredibly awkward when we first started it.
But looking at her blank look, I’m going to assume Anko’s talk was.... well. It’s Anko. It could not have been good.
“It’s ok. I’ll treat you to dango after training.” I patted her head. As expected, her eyes lit up and she beamed at me. I chuckled and got my bento out.
I swatted her hand away as she tried to steal my food. She pouted, but took her own bento out.
After fifteen minutes of insulting my teammates, Kakashi beckoned us over to him. Sakura’s glare returned, and so did her Killing Intent.
My eyes scanned the surroundings, and I noticed Anko had already left.
“Pinky, reign in the Killing Intent.” He said. She reduced it a little. He stared at her, “Why do you want to kill me so bad?”
Her eyes narrowed, “You left me with Anko for the entire morning! She’s crazy! I don’t even know why you stuck me with her in the first place!”
While she was ranting, her volume increased and I saw Kakashi’s eye narrow by a fraction. I closed my eyes and sighed through my nose. I think I know what’s going to happen.
“Watch your tone, Sakura.” Kakashi warned.
“She’s batshit crazy! Who the hell uses poison on you for fucking training?” She continued, ignoring Kakashi.
After a few seconds, Kakashi had had enough. He lashed out and kicked her faster than I could see with my Sharingan.
She slammed against the bark of a tree and groaned. I was about to dash to her, when Sensei’s ice-cold glare warned me against it.
He walked to her and knelt to her face level. He spoke in a low voice and with barely restrained anger.
“Anko is a strong special jounin of Konoha. And what are you? A mere Genin. I suggest you talk to and about her with the respect she deserves. She has her own training methods just as I have mine. If I ever hear you talking about her in anything other than a respectful tone, you are going to wish you never opened your mouth in the first place. Are we clear, Haruno?”
Sakura’s eyes flashed with guilt and I knew she was repenting whatever she said. She got on her knees and touched her forehead to the ground in a low bow.
“Forgive me, Kakashi-sensei. I let my anger get the better of me. I was simply annoyed at the talk Anko-sensei gave me and lashed out. It will not happen again. I am truly sorry.” She spoke in a calm voice and I was surprised she hadn’t cried at the pain or been scared or angry when Kakashi kicked her, even though I had never seen her cry in the past 2 years I was friends with her.
Even in the beginning of the week, when Kakashi-sensei beat us up. Or when I beat her up during training. She just would not quit! I used enough power to bruise her, but she would come back the next day for more. So annoying.
There was a heartbeat of silence, then Kakashi spoke, “Apology accepted. Get up, Sakura.”
She got up, but kept her gaze down. He guided her towards us and took his place in front of us.
I moved closer to her and hesitantly laced my fingers through hers.
I wasn’t a big fan of physical contact, but she comforted me whenever I needed it, and I would be damned if I didn’t do the same for her.
I saw Shikamaru do the same, and she uncertainly looked at us. She gave a small smile and I returned one of my own.
Then Kakashi cleared his throat and she turned her gaze down again. I turned to him and he said, “As I was saying, today I want you all to take your weights off and spar with your full speed. Depending on how easily you can control your attacks, I will either give you heavier ones or you will spend the day learning to control your power. Got it?”
“Yes, Kakashi-sensei.” Shikamaru and I said in unison, and Sakura just nodded.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When we were done with training, all three of us were bleeding and bruised. I was rubbing my dislocated shoulder, and Shikamaru was groaning in pain as Sakura healed him.
Each of us had to take the whole day to control our speed. And since Kakashi made us fight against each other, we all got hurt.
The worst, however, was Sakura. She was faster than me by a few seconds, so Kakashi made Shikamaru and I spar against her.
Needless to say, we both did a number on her. She herself was bleeding, and there was blood matted in her hair.
I watched as she moved from Shikamaru to me and started healing my wounds.
Even though I asked her not to, she’s Sakura. Without a word, she ignored me.
I took my shirt off and let her work on my bruises.
A few minutes later, she sat up and handed me my shirt. We bid Kakashi farewell and left. Shikamaru headed to the Nara clan compound, and Sakura and I went to the Uchiha clan compound.
“Sasuke,” She said quietly, “I’m going to go visit Me- my parents. I’ll be home in a while.”
I nodded and watched her walk away. I shoved my hands in my pockets and strolled into the house.
I washed myself, then headed to the backyard. I crossed my legs and sat down, starting to meditate.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
An hour later, Sakura returned with a scowl on her face. I arched an eyebrow and she shook her head. I followed her into her room, and jumped back onto the bed.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Nothing.” She shook her head again.
I looked at her skeptically. She sighed after a few seconds and lay down next to me. “I had a fight with my... parents. They saw the bruises and I had to tell them everything that happened and for some reason they had a change of heart; telling me to quit being a shinobi and work with them in their business. I told them I didn’t want to and I liked being a shinobi, but they thought I was being pressured into it. They threatened to lock me in the house.” She scoffed. “Civilians locking a ninja in the house. I told them they won’t have to worry about me anymore, grabbed the rest of my stuff and marched out of there.”
That’s when I noticed her clothes were still bloody and had mud stuck on it, and her bruises were still visible, as well as the bleeding.
I frowned, “Why didn’t you heal yourself?”
Sakura looked away and said quietly, “I deserve it. I shouldn’t have spoken about Anko-sensei that way.”
I sighed, “Sakura...”
She kept her head turned to the other side. I got up and pulled her arms. I made her sit up and brought out the first aid kit.
Sakura tilted her head, “What are you doing?”
“What do you think I’m doing? I’m cleaning the wounds out.” I rolled my eyes.
I took out the bandages, when she stopped me.
“It’s ok, I’ll do it myself.” She said quietly. She gave me a small smile and I handed the kit to her.
I sat there, making sure she actually does it. Once she cleaned out her wounds, she went into the washroom and changed into a black Uchiha shirt and a pink skirt.
I looked away, feeling my face heat up.
Fucking puberty. I snarled mentally.
The two of us went to the backyard and meditated.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sakura POV
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. I mentally cursed myself for letting my anger take over twice in the same day.
What the hell is wrong with me? What happened to everything Kakashi-sensei taught us about controlling our emotions?
We sat like that for about half an hour, till I sensed someone at the door. I opened my eyes at the same time as Sasuke, and we both took out a kunai.
We walked silently to the door till I recognized the signature.
I was about to say something, when an I had an idea.
He opened it and his eyes widened. “Y-Yamanaka.”
“Sasuke-kun!” Ino beamed. Then she noticed me, “Forehead.” She snarled.
I smiled sweetly, “Ino! It's so nice to see you!”
She narrowed her eyes at me, then looked back to Sasuke, “Hi, Sasuke-kun.”
Seeing how he wasn’t going to say anything and there would be an awkward silence, I said, “Well,” I drawled, turning to Sasuke, “I’ll leave you alone with your girlfriend. But can we go out for dinner? I don’t want to cook or wash the dishes.” I whined.
He rolled his eyes, “You know Kakashi-sensei won’t allow that.”
I gave him a pleading look. “Pleeeeeasee? I really don’t want to do anything.”
“I don’t know. Sensei’s mad at you anyway; I don’t think you should make him even more mad.” Sasuke said uncertainly. That brought up what I had said before. I looked away, “Fine. You’re probably right anyway.” I said quietly.
I started walking away. Then I heard a sigh, “We’re leaving in an hour.” I heard Sasuke say in resignation.
I turned to him and beamed, “Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” I squealed.
I gave him a peck on the cheek then ran to my room, leaving Sasuke to deal with the blonde devil.
I studied for about half an hour, then went outside to see if she had left.
I saw Sasuke reading a book on the couch and sat next to him.
“When did Ino leave?” I asked, looking at the cover of the book. He was reading one of the chakra control exercises.
“Just after you left. While she was ranting about us going out for dinner, I closed the door.” He shrugged.
My head whipped towards him. “You closed the door in her face?!” I asked incredulously.
Sasuke nodded.
“Have I told you today that you’re amazing?”
“Mmm, not today you haven't.” He said with a straight face.
“You’re amazing.” I said, placing my legs on his lap.
He gripped my ankles tightly, closed his book and asked, “Are we entering in the Chunin Exams?”
I groaned. “Whyyy?”
“We have three days left and every time I try to talk about it, you look like I brought up bad memories.”
That’s because you do bring up bad memories, dumbass.
“Sasuke-” I tried.
“No.” He cut me off, “Today none of us are going anywhere till we decide whether or not we’re going to enter.” He commanded.
I looked away in defiance. I crossed my arms and refused to say anything.
“You know I can get you to talk, right?” He said and I could hear the smirk.
I didn’t say anything. He started tickling my foot. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. I bit it so hard, I drew blood.
But, a few minutes later, I lost. I giggled and then I couldn’t stop. I thrashed my leg around, but he was stronger than me, and he had my legs pinned down.
Sasuke smirked again and said, “You gonna talk now?”
I glared at him. He tickled me again. The asshole.
I opened my mouth and he stopped.
“You’re an asshole.” I said, looking straight at him.
He snorted, “If I actually cared, I might’ve stopped. Unfortunately for you...”
I continued glaring at him. Two minutes later, he got bored.
“This is boring. Just tell me whether or not we can enter and we can go for dinner.” Sasuke said, not loosening his grip on my legs. I didn’t say anything.
“Sakura, don’t make me use my Sharingan.” He warned.
“You wouldn’t!”
“Trust me, I would.” He said seriously.
I stared at him. A few seconds passed, then his eyes turned red.
“Fine.” I said through gritted teeth. “Do you want to enter?”
“Well, duh.” He rolled his eyes.
Can I do that to him? Can I crush his hopes just to keep him safe? And we’re talking about Orochimaru here. For all I know he’ll still find Sasuke and give him the curse mark. I’ll have to go along with the story line. Hopefully, I changed things enough.
I took a deep breath and calmed my nerves. “If you both are willing to go, I’ll go too.”
His eyes lit up and I gave him a small smile. He grinned at me and stood up. He pulled me to my feet, “Let’s go now.”
“I don’t want to.” I pouted. “I wanna stay home.”
Sasuke sighed in exasperation, “Why can you never make up your mind?!”
I giggled and pulled out two boxes of instant ramen. We ate that for dinner and went to sleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sasuke and I are currently on our way to the Training Grounds. It’s 7:30 in the morning, and I just finished my two hours at the Hospital.
Sasuke and I start our stretches once we reach, then take our stances.
We spar for a while, till Shikamaru appears and then Sensei.
“Hello, minions!” Sensei chirps. Then he throws a cloth at me.
“Kakashi-sensei? Why do I have a... a blindfold?” I ask.
“Put it on.” He instructs. I do.
“Today we’re doing a teamwork exercise.” He elaborates. “Your teammates are going to guide you through everything for today. This way, the rest of your senses also enhance. And tomorrow, one of the others go. And the last person the day after that.”
I take a deep breath. “Ok, so what do I have to do?”
“First, all of you done with your stretches, right?”
I nod.
“Ok. Now,” By the tone of Kakashi-sensei's voice, I just know he is grinning, “Follow me.”
Shikamaru places one of my hands on his shoulder, and guides me.
They guide me to where ever Sensei is taking us and then I hear them groan.
“Where are we?” I ask, dreading the answer.
“The Forest of Death!” Kakashi-sensei announces.
“Why do you hate us so much?” I whine.
Silence. I’m assuming he’s eye-smiling. Then he speaks.
“Anyway, all you three have to do is stay there for the next three days.”
“What?!” I blurt out. “You’re making us stay there for the next three days without any supplies?”
“Sakura, you won’t always have supplies with you. You have to learn how to survive on your own.” Kakashi-sensei’s voice has a tinge of disappointment. “And I’m not helping you this time. You three are on your own.”
Last time he sent us to the Forest, I was out of chakra and about to be eaten by a bear. And the three of us had split up, so, Kakashi-sensei helped me by taking it out.
“Alright.” I sigh. “Let’s do this.”
I feel Kakashi-sensei put his hand on my back and push me forward.
“Anyway, I’ll see you three tomorrow morning, and Shikamaru, I’ll tell your parents you won’t be home. Oh, and you guys better be back by dawn day after, because the Chunin Exams start at 3.” I hear Kakashi-sensei say. Then I hear footsteps and feel someone turn me around.
“Let’s go to the clearing first.” Sasuke suggests.
“Sure.” I murmur. I stretch out one hand, and feel... Sasuke? Yeah, Sasuke, hold it.
He guides me to... somewhere, then stops.
“There’s a tree in front of you; can you climb it?”
I nod and stretch my other hand out to feel it. When I do, I place one foot on the trunk, then the other. I walk up with Sasuke and Shikamaru still beside me.
I feel someone tug on my hand and I stop.
“There’s a branch to your left.” Shikamaru says. I carefully place my foot where I think the branch is, and lose my balance.
I start falling, but I feel someone carrying me before I can do anything.
He places me on my feet on the ground and sighs, “Be careful, Sakura.”
I smile, “Thanks Sasuke. And sorry.”
The two of us climb up again and somehow make it onto the branch.
“How far away is the next branch?” I ask.
“About four meters.” Shikamaru answers. I nod and jump accordingly.
Thankfully, I land on the right branch. I hear a whoosh, then a soft thump on either side, and smile, “Next one?”
“Three meters.”
Doing that, we make it to the clearing with a stream nearby.
“Giant spiders incoming.” Sasuke says, a hint of happiness in his voice.
“How many?” Shika asks.
“Around ten.”
I pull out a few kunai, “From where?”
“Four from 70 degrees west, three from... 30 degrees east and the rest 90 degrees north.” Sasuke says, pulling out his own kunai with a Schlink.
“I’ll take the north ones.” I declare. Before the boys have a chance to argue, I run in front, letting my senses and instincts take over.
I hear the scuttling of their huge legs, and throw a few kunai, stopping one of them. I think.
My leg lashes out, catching a spider in its face. I think.
I slash and kick and throw. Minutes later, I stand among four (I’m assuming) dead spiders, with a few scratches on me.
I smile triumphantly, wiping my kunai on my shirt before placing them back in my pouch.
“Boys?” I call out. A few seconds later, I stretch my sensing out, feeling Sasuke walk towards me and Shika defeating the last spider.
“That was fun.” Sasuke comments.
I nod my head in agreement. “You hurt?”
He snorts, “No way. I should be asking you that. I didn’t fight blind.”
“I’m fine. A few scratches, but fine.” I turn to the approaching Nara.
“Shika, are you ok?” I ask. No reply. “Shika?”
“I nodded yes.” He speaks. “I forgot you couldn’t see.”
“I’m literally wearing a blindfold. How do you forget?”
No reply.
“He shrugged.” Sasuke says. I sigh.
“Shika, go find food.” I order. “Sasuke, go find dry wood for a fire.”
“And what are you going to do?” Shika asks.
“I’m cooking, aren’t I? Plus, I’m blind. I can’t really do much.” I shrug. I hear two sighs and their footsteps fading away.
I sit down cross legged and close my eyes.
How should I get the scrolls? How will I get past Orochimaru? How will I keep him from marking Sasuke? Can I keep him away?
I exhale and get up. Unconsciously, I start going through all the hand signs. It’s something I used to do when I had nothing else to do.
But these days, I either study or... no, that’s it. Damn.
Anyway.
Suddenly, my instincts screamed danger. I turn around, surprised to feel an army of humongous somethings coming towards me.
I pull out my shuriken and just as I was about to throw them, Shikamaru appears.
“It’s fine, I got them.” he drawls.
I huff, “I had it under control, y’know.”
“Do you even know what they were?” He sounds amused.
“......No, but I still could’ve killed them!” I insist. “What were they anyway?”
“Leeches.” He answers. “Humongous ones.”
“...Okay then. Did you get anything?” I ask.
“Fish and some berries. I don’t know if they’re poisonous though.” Shikamaru replies, walking towards me.
I stretch my hand out, and he drops a few in my hand. I sniff them.
“What color are they?” I ask.
“Red.”
“Mm.” I pop one in my mouth. Everything goes black.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I open my eyes to see Sasuke standing above me with an angry and annoyed expression.
I smile nervously, and I can swear he just growled. I feel around me for something, and when I find it, I tie it around my eyes again.
Now I can’t see him anymore.
“Hi?” I say, albeit nervously.
“What have I told you?” He growls.
“A lot of things. You have to specify.” I say, standing up.
He slaps the back of my head. “About random plants.”
“Not to eat them?” I guess, rubbing my head.
“And what did you do?”
“.......Ate it.” I say sheepishly. “In my defense, I had to know what it does and whether or not it was poisonous!”
“And what if it was lethal?!” Sasuke yells. “You might’ve died! You are the medic amongst us, Sakura! We don’t know what to do if you get poisoned! You have to stop acting so reckless!”
“But I’m a medic! I have to know what happens!” I argue.
“Not at the cost of your life! What if you died?”
“But I don’t care about that!”
“But I do! Shikamaru does! Kakashi-sensei does! Hell, Naruto does! And he barely even sees you!” Sasuke shouts, frustrated.
I hang my head. “I’m sorry, Sasuke. I just wanted to know- never mind. That’s not the point. I am sorry. I won’t eat random berries.”
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have yelled.” He sighs.
“Yes, you should’ve!” Sensei’s voice echoes. “In fact, slap her for me, please.”
Sasuke obliges.
“Ow!” I yelp. “Senseiii!”
“Don’t ‘Sensei’ me! We talked about you eating random plants, didn’t we? I swear, Sakura, you never learn! Just you wait; once the Exams are over, this Forest is going to look like Paradise to you!” His voice echoes again.
“I said I’m sorry!” I protest.
“Sorry doesn’t cut it!” Then his voice fades away.
“I know you can’t see me right now, but I’m smirking at you.” Sasuke informs. I bet his arms are crossed.
“I know, I can feel it.” I huff.
“How can you feel that?”
I ignore him. “Where’s Shikamaru?”
“I’m here.” I hear Shikamaru call. I turn towards the voice.
“Hi Shika!”
“You’re an idiot.” He says blankly.
“You too?” I whine. I said I was sorry! Why am I getting so many lectures?
“Well, it’s true! But forget that. Have some food for now.” He guides me to the bonfire. At least I think it’s a bonfire; it feels really warm so...
I sit down and a stick is pushed in my hand. I sniff it and recognize it as fish. I carefully take a bite.
It’s tasty. Huh.
I devour it and ask, “What time is it? Or how long was I asleep?”
“It’s almost night.” Sasuke replies after a few seconds.
“You were unconscious for hours.” Shika adds.
I nod. “Wait, can I remove the blindfold, then?”
I ask that loudly, since it was directed to Kakashi-sensei.
“No.”
I sigh. “I honestly do not like this.”
I finish my fish and fall back. “Who’s taking first watch?”
“Me.” Sasuke speaks.
I nod and close my eyes again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Three-day time-skip
It was around 7:00 in the morning, and the three of us walked out of the Forest covered in a few scratches here and there, but otherwise fine. Our clothes, however, were now rags. They were covered in mud and blood, and were torn.
“Well done, Minions!” Kakashi-sensei eye-smiled.
I dusted the dirt off my clothes and arms, then faced him. “Can we go home now? I have to catch up with three days of reading, Genjutsu, and tell Shizuka-sensei where I was.”
Sensei stared at me, “What do you do in your free time?”
I answered innocently, “What free time?”
Sasuke snorted and Shika chuckled. Kakashi-sensei just shook his head and said, “Get outta here. And remember, be at room 301 at 3 pm. It’s voluntary, so no pressure if you don’t want to take it.”
I started walking away, eager to have a nice, hot bath.
Sasuke joined me soon enough and the two of us headed home together.
Once we reached, I ran into my bathroom and soaked in the hot water for what seemed like hours.
I stepped out after a while and wore exactly what Shippuden Sakura wore; a red top, light pink skirt, and so on.
I tied my head band around my neck instead, and went into the kitchen.
I found Sasuke making eggs there.
“Hey Sasuke.”
He turned for a second, held his gaze on my hair, that I had left open, and then turned away.
“You’re going out?” He asked.
“Mm-hmm. In a while.” I replied, grabbing dango and tomatoes from the fridge.
He handed me a plate, and we sat on the couch while eating.
I picked up one of my books and read it quickly.
Fifteen minutes later, “Sasuke, I’m going out. Do you need anything?”
“Could you get me some more ninja wire? And kunai. Thanks.”
I walked out the door, heading to the Hospital first. I explained everything to Shizuka-sensei, worked at the Hospital for half an hour, studied there, then left.
I headed to the hairdresser’s and got my hair cut again. As much as I like long hair, Sensei has made it very clear that till I can fight skillfully with long hair, it has to be short.
Half an hour later, I was walking on the streets again. Not knowing what to do, I let my feet guide me.
I walked around for a while, then found myself outside a weapon shop.
Shrugging, I walked in, smiling politely at the lady behind the table.
I got new sets of kunai, shuriken, senbon, ninja wire and paper bombs.
What else might I need? I don’t need anything for the first stage, second stage we can handle the Genin, but can’t do anything about Orochimaru, prelims... nah. And invasion we’ll figure out later. Cool, I’m done.
Sealing the weapons away, I walked back home, at a snail’s pace to kill time.
When I saw Ino on the other side of the road, I quickly Henge’d into one of the civilians and snuck past her.
I did not want to talk to that girl today. But it might kill time.... but she’s Ino.
Making a split decision, I walked back home.
“Hey Sasuke.” I say, “I got your shurikens and stuff.” I unseal the weapons and hand half of them over to him.
He smiles slightly, “Thanks. How much wa-”
“Not again.” I roll my eyes. “We’ve been over this; you don’t need to pay me back. You’re letting me stay with you, and that’s more than enough!”
He frowns. Before he can say anything, I walk away, heading to my room.
I seal a few pairs of clothes, a lot of food, my notes on antidotes, all my antidotes, some poison coated kunai, and whatever else I might need.
Picking up my notebook and textbooks, I scribble a few things, then Sasuke knocks on my bedroom door.
“It’s open!” I call. He enters, “Hey. Have something to eat, then we’ll leave.”
“Leave? It’s only 12.”
“Sakura, it’s two.” He says, incredibly amused.
It’s been that long already? Whoops.
I go with him to the dining table, and see a plate with rice, a bowl of chicken gravy sort of thing, and a large bowl of oyakodon. My favorite comfort food. After dango, of course.
I gasp in delight and throw my arms around Sasuke, “Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!”
He chuckles and substitutes with a pillow. I pout and throw the pillow at him, then sit and scarf down the delicious food.
Once we finish, I grab everything I had sealed, tie my head band around my neck again, take a deep breath, because I’ll be needing it for the shit that’s going to go down, and Sasuke and I leave the house.
We meet up with Shikamaru on the way, and we head over to the Academy.