Chapter 2
Sakura, Kiba, Shino, and the woman sit in a circle in a park. Shino had unceremoniously plopped down without a care it the world as he leaned back casually. Kiba, however, had sat down slowly and quietly, not uttering a word or making any sort of sound. It was too weird to her in complete honesty. Sakura wanted to scream and pull out her long pink hair out of frustration.
Speaking of her hair, she plans on cutting it. She doesn't wish to hinder herself or her team by getting it caught on anything. Yes, she'll have to cut it as soon as possible. She's not making that mistake again. She's a kunoichi. Cutting her hair had been her first step to taking her chosen profession seriously, and she is very willing to do it again.
"Okay. I suppose we should introduce ourselves, yes?" the woman says. "I'll start. My name is Nohara Rin. My goal is to learn more medical ninjutsu actually. I suppose just tell me your name and your goal. Let's start with you, the fidgety one."
Salura looks over to the boys and sees Shino who is indeed fidgeting a lot like he wants to move but knows he should stay seated.
He looks up and speaks quickly and way louder than she has ever heard him speak, "I'm Aburame Shino, and I'm going to be better than everyone even that weirdo Sai who everyone likes so much!"
Then, he goes on ranting about how he will do so and ends it with a confident smirk and somehow ended up standing with his hands on his hips.
"That was very… informative. Thank you for that speech, Shino," Rin-sensei says politely. "Um, next, the other boy."
"Uh, I'm Kiba. Inuzuka Kiba," he introduces nervously. "I like- I mean, I want to… or wait, my goal -- erm -- my dream is to protect my village an-and make my family proud."
He smiles kindly, and Sakura honestly want to hug him and promise that she'll help him gain confidence and get strong enough. He's just so different from the Kiba she knows. He's not loud, obnoxious, or arrogant. He doesn't seem like the type to jump to conclusions either or pick fights he's not sure he can win.
She wants so badly to give him the confidence she knows he can have. She wants to help him reach his goals because something about that desperate look in his eyes makes her want to help him. And his dream -- he called it a dream, not a goal -- is to make his family proud. Does he not think he can do that? Is his family not already proud of him? As much as she wants to help him, she has a lot of other problems to deal with first.
"And the girl that's staring off into space. Introduce yourself, please," Rin-sensei catches her attention.
"Oh. Sorry," she apologizes, sitting up straighter, and introduces herself. "My name is Haruno Sakura. My goal is… is…?"
What is her goal? She doesn't really like Sasuke? And like hell will she ever like Sai. She almost shivers at the thought. She needs a temporary goal. Or at least something very vague.
"My goal is," Sakura tries again, feeling she knows what she wants to do now, "to study some more. You can never know too much, right?"
"Yes, studying is important. Yes, you need to be strong, but strength is nothing if you can't use it right," Rin-sensei agrees wisely.
* * *
They have dug up potatoes in the rain, pulled weeds in the burning sun, walked stinky dogs, ran after vicious cats, and babysat bratty children all this week. Sakura is absolutely sick and tired of these menial chores. She is supposed to be a Chūnin, doing C- and maybe even B-rank missions!
Why did she have to be sent to the age of her freshly graduated Genin days? And with the twist that all her friends' personalities have been shifted around?! Was this to fuck with her mind? Is this actually a Genjutsu? Did she actually get caught in the Mugen Tsukuyomi? Is she caught with all those other shinobi and kunoichi right now, waiting for Sasuke and Naruto and Kakashi, and maybe even Obito still, to save her?
Regardless of if she likes it, she's here. Today, her squad got a break, and thank goodness for that! She can get to that studying. Sakura has been wanting to look into something for a while. She has collected many books on history, at least three that cover the formation of Konoha. Now she just has to read them and find out why Tobirama was the Shodaime Hokage, Madara was the Niidaime, how the hell Danzo became the Sandaime, and just find out whoever the fuck the Yondaime is.
* * *
Yes, Sakura decides without a shadow of a doubt, this is an alternate universe than my own. It seems like simple switches, but that changes everything. She doubts she could name everything that changed, but she would have to literally retell history. She's sure even Gai-sensei is different. That would be a sight to see. Who would he be switched with though? Kakashi?
Sakura pauses everything to imagine Kakashi is green spandex and yelling about springtime this and youth that, maybe even with god awful eyebrows. What would his face look like? Would it be uncovered? Or would be still have his mask on even in this other world?
Sakura has to pause a moment longer to wonder who Obito would be switched with? Who says he would be switched at all? She is just jumping to conclusions. For all she knows, he could be exactly the same, and she just doesn't know it because he's wherever he would be now doing… Obito things?
She should really get back to figuring out what else she need to fix. She looks down at her notes that she will organize later by urgency or which can be changed soonest.
1.) Fix Relationship With Hinata Quickly.
2.) Help Kiba Gain Confidence
3.) Where's Naruto?!?!
4.) Why is Sai Here?
5.) Is Sasuke the… 'Naruto' Here?
6.) Find Out The Deal With Itachi.
7.) GET STRONGER!!!
8.)
Sakura decides to stop there for now. She does have a lot of things to figure out, but she can't possibly figure them all out before the Chūnin Exams. The most important are repairing her broken relationship with Hinata, building Kiba's confidence, and sharpening her own abilities. She won't fall behind anymore. She won't be weak a second time around. That would be contradictory to… well, everything.
* * *
She waits in front of the Hyūga Compound. She had requested to see Hinata after she was done with her missions or on a free day. That is today. She sees Hinata walk to her and stop. Hinata looks at Sakura, and Sakura speaks, "I believe you would like an explanation for why I have summoned your presence today. Would I be correct in assuming as such?"
"Yes, in fact, you would. Now, hurry. I have a little sister to attend to in case you don't know," Hinata somewhat rudely says, obviously wanting to get this over with.
Sakura asks, "Would you mind walking with me as we talk?"
"This will take longer than I originally expected then. Fine. Let's go," Hinata sighs. "What do you want, forehead?"
"I want to be friends again. I don't care about Sa- Sai. I miss being friends. Do you think I could ever make it up to you?" Sakura asks.
Hinata is silent. She seems to be mulling over it, possibly shocking but actually considering it. Then, Hinata looks at her seriously, "Prove it to me."
"How would you like me to do that?" Sakura asks.
"I…," Hinata stops, maybe trying to think of something?
"How about this? I'll cut my hair. It was so Sai would like me, right? I'll cut hair as a tribute to no longer badgering after him, taking my kunoichi career seriously, and renewing our friendship," Sakura insists.
Hinata has that look that she's thinking about something. They continue to walk for a few minutes, and Sakura worries that she will decline.
"Then, I'll give you a week maximum to get it cut, understood?" Hinata decides firmly.
"Yes, ma'am," Sakura agrees. "Talk to you later, Hinata."
"See you later," Hinata calls back as she walks away, "Sakura."
It wasn't an insult, and there was no scorn or sarcasm in her voice when she said it. She really meant it and expected Sakura to hold up her side of the deal, and she would. Sakura is so glad she decided to hold off on cutting her hair for this long.
* * *
"Hey, Kiba, would you like to spar together with me? I could give you pointers, and I could use a good sparring partner. You seem pretty strong," Sakura inquires her teammate.
"Oh. Um, but why all of the sudden?" Kiba asks nervously, already wincing as if he expects Sakura to yell at him that he's weak or something. He isn't abused, is he? She sure hopes not. That's illegal. She'll have to investigate later. If that's the case, she'll have to get him out of that house before he can move on and even start to improve.
"Some of your techniques seem a little awkward, and as your teammate, I find it to be my duty to help you if you're having difficulty with something," she explains calmly and reasonably.
"That… makes sense. Alright. Thank you very much," Kiba thanks her.
"It's no problem at all. If you ever need anything, I'm here. I'll listen to any problems you have, too, if you want. Please, don't hesitate to ask," Sakura tells him kindly.
He smiles and asks, "When do we start?"
* * *
"Building Kiba's confidence is a work in progress," Sakura tells herself as she tries to organize her thoughts. "I need to cut my hair by Thursday, and I've been meaning to cut it anyways. I should do that now actually."
Sakura walks to her desk and opens a few drawers in search of a pair of scissors. She eventually finds some.
"This will take a while," she realizes, "but it'll be worth it."
By the time she's done, she realizes she shouldn't cut hair ever, much less her own. Sakura sighs in exasperation, "You'd think I'd learn that the first time around, but apparently not. Mom and Dad are going to freak out about this, aren't they? I better tell them now."
It actually goes better than she expected.
* * *
"Squad 8, these are forms to sign up for the Chūnin Exams. If you think for any reason you shouldn't participate, don't come back here tomorrow, but should you be willing. You'll meet here, and I'll tell you what to do after that, okay?" Rin-sensei explains.
"What are these for?" Sakura decides to ask, not sure if Kiba woulvever work up the courage, and Shino would end up somehow telling a big speech about how great he is.
"Oh, yes! Sorry. I almost forgot," Rin-sensei apologizes then explains. "These are for the Chūnin Exams. You are currently Genin. The next rank up in Chūnin. Then, Jonin, the same rank as I am."
"Chūnin Exams?! So it's a test! Ah! I suck at tests!" Shino panics, going on and on until he'll eventually rant himself into confidence. Sakura finds this world to be really weird and very different from her own. She almost feels homesick from how nothing is the same. It's like the world is shoving all the differences in her face, mocking her almost.
She'll find a way out but only after she saves this world from meeting the same fate hers did. She hadn't been fast enough. She wasn't strong enough. She'll lead everything down a better path if it's the last thing she does.
"Sakura, do you think… um, I mean, not that you-" Kiba starts.
The pink-haired dimension hopper grins and nods, "Yeah, I think you'll do great! Do you want to squeeze in some last minute training before we do the Chūnin Exams. You too, Shino! Do you want to train with us?"
"Th-thank you… Sakura," Kiba responds softly with a smile that is so heartwarming.
"Well, since you're offering, I can't refuse, can I?!" Shino exclaims. "I can't let you guys get stronger than me! That would be the same as letting my guard down!"
As different as this world is, even if she can't make it back to her own, she could probably settle in here pretty well.