My first Naruto post. I hope it'll be as successful as I'd like it to be. I do take requests; see my profile for what I can take requests for.

Main pairing: SakuraxSasuke
Side pairings: None
Rated: M - Adult language and sexual scenes.
Planned Chapters: 2-3


A d v e r s i t y
Naruto

Chapter 1
Perception


How had it come to this? All her feelings… her thoughts… her admiration… it was slipping. Sakura wouldn't be surprised that she'd be done even thinking about him by tomorrow…


"Good, again! Sakura, left, Naruto, right, Sasuke, above! Go!"

The three students darted in their ordered directions as Kakashi quickly threw three rocks in those same directions. Any onlooker would think this would be simple among most things; just catch the rocks in time?

Even though it was difficult enough to do that – Kakashi's strength and speed combined against something as straightforward as a stone… come on – these little rocks had just been performed on by a special jutsu Kakashi had learned as a child, causing the rocks to have a limited time before they combusted with such an intense force that Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto (and perhaps even Kakashi) could be taken out by it.

In other words, the rocks were going to explode if they didn't get to them on time.

Sasuke got to his easily and quickly performed the reverse jutsu his sensei had taught him only minutes ago. Sakura got to hers second and did the same. They both landed on the ground in front of Kakashi, handing their stones to him.

Naruto grabbed his rock, stared at it, and panicked. He, instead of doing what he had been told, performed his clone jutsu, landed with him behind Kakashi, had his clone take his rock, but it was too late.

Sakura shrieked and Sasuke sighed as the rock exploded. Kakashi rubbed his forehead at the dizzy boy lying in front of him. His face was covered in smoke and dirt, and small, jagged rock pieces were scattered around him.

Kakashi lifted Naruto up and over his shoulder. He turned to look at his other two students.

"Practice ends early today. Go get some rest… same time and place tomorrow." With a nod, he darted off into the forest. Sakura sighed, running her dirty hand through her shoulder-length hair; she'd be taking a shower tonight anyway. Sasuke shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked at his rock that Kakashi had dropped.

Sakura eyed her teammate. "Sasuke, do you have something on your mind? Why haven't you left yet?"

Sasuke didn't reply. Sakura sighed again and held her hands behind her back, looking out at the lake that Team 7 always practiced by. It was beautiful with the blended colors of pink and orange above it. Sakura walked up to where Sasuke stood, half expecting him to turn and walk home.

He didn't, and this concerned her.

Strange, she thought. This isn't like him… what's he thinking about?

"Um, Sasuke-kun… can I ask you something?"

"That's up to you."

Sakura looked at the ground and cleared her throat. "Do you hate me, Sasuke-kun?"

Sakura's eyes widened when she heard a chuckle come from Sasuke's direction. She almost thought Kakashi had come back, but was shocked to see that it was indeed Sasuke that was laughing. Sasuke… laughing?

And then he stopped, looking up at her with a blank expression… the one expression of his she could never read. The one look he gave her that made her want to hug him more than anything… hold him and tell him he didn't have to be so isolated. So she stood her ground, watching him carefully.

"You're a foolish girl, Sakura."

Sakura said nothing; this wasn't new to her. Sure, it hurt like hell, but it wasn't special treatment. Sasuke showed this attitude to everyone he knew. She just got it more often because she was teamed with him. Sasuke tilted his head back and forth, cracking his neck.

"I don't hate anyone other than my brother. I do, however, admit that you are… frustrating. Beyond even my belief."

Sakura blinked and leaned her head to the side; that was the last thing she'd expected him to call her. Frustrating had so many definitions… what did he mean?

Sasuke lowered his head again. "I mean that in the best way possible, if you can believe that."

Sakura almost beamed. Sasuke, as bitter as he always was, had just given her a compliment. Okay, sure, it was the world's worst compliment attempted, but she would take it.

"Thanks, Sasuke."

"Hm."

Sakura smiled at him. "You know… you know that I like you, right? I mean, Ino likes you, but I… like you, you know?"

Sasuke didn't move. "No, I don't."

Sakura smiled again. "Sorry, what I mean is that Ino likes you 'cause, you know, you're good looking or whatever." Sakura said this with a nervous laugh, hoping she was hiding something. Sasuke was unfazed, so she continued. "Well, I like you. I mean, I see you as a teammate on the practice field, but I admire you as a friend anywhere else. Get it now?" This time she did beam, and for a minute Sasuke didn't say anything.

Then she saw him tilt his head in her direction, and she waited. His lips came apart slightly, the space between the small as it always was whenever words came from his mouth.

"I'm sorry you feel that way."

Sakura blinked and continued to watch Sasuke, confused. That was until Sasuke had her pinned against a tree that had once been twenty feet away. Sakura felt an overwhelming wave of fear and shock take over her body. Sasuke's face was an inch away from hers, but the look in his eyes told her this was five feet and three inches of danger standing before her.

"Sasuke… what are you –"

"Shut up."

Sakura's eyes widened. Sasuke's eyes were shut tight, like he had suddenly become angry with her. Sakura was sure her teammate was just going through a phase or something… there had to be a reason for his doing this, right? Sasuke slowly lifted his eyelids and looked at her with furious eyes, and Sakura's fear doubled. He spoke slowly, appearing to be afraid he would lose it all at once if he spoke too quickly.

"Do you know how much anger I build in my system, Sakura? Do you realize how much pain I get from the burden I carry? Do you even know how much shit I have to put up with each additional day I spend in this God-forsaken place?"

Sakura's eyes squinted. "Sasuke, what are you talking about? I've never seen anyone harm you…"

Sasuke growled, and Sakura shut her mouth. "I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about when I'm alone… I have nothing to distract me from my thoughts… my memories…"

"Then why are you so angry? Shouldn't you be distracted when you're with us? Practicing?"

Sasuke gave a long, irritated sigh, turning his head away. "It doesn't work like it used to. Training bores me, and my thoughts of my brother and my family take over." His eyes met hers again. "I need something new to distract me, Sakura."

Sakura relaxed a little. So he wasn't going to hurt her… he knew better than that. He just wanted something to help him focus on anything but his family. She gave a half-hearted smile. "Well, why didn't you just say so? I'd be happy to help you. Just tell me what I can do."

Sasuke closed his eyes, inwardly smirking, outwardly scowling. "I'll do just that."

Sakura gasped when Sasuke grasped her throat. She grabbed his hand and tried to pull away, but they both knew very well it wasn't going to happen. Sasuke still wouldn't look at her, and Sakura was as confused as ever.

"S-Sasuke… j-just… tell… me w-what… to… do…"

Sasuke finally opened his eyes, and to Sakura's surprise, they were softer, but his grip wouldn't loosen. Sakura struggled in pain; her lungs were screaming, infuriated that hardly any air was getting through.

Sakura watched Sasuke carefully as he brought his lips to her ear. "I'm not going to hurt you, Sakura. Stop struggling. You are going to help me, and it's going to make you feel good."

Sakura's eyes shot open. What was he talking about?


Oooh... suspensful, yeah?
Well, not really.

Anyway, let me know how I did for the first chapter. The second one should be up soon.