the sacrifice



Disclaimer: I don't own the concept of Naruto, may it be anime or manga… that includes the characters and the setting. Everything else – the plot, the new characters, the new names of places, etc. – belong to me. 

Note: This plot didn't happen anywhere between the whole series. It's just imaginary. Though, here, Naruto and company are still teens-- 17 years old to be precise... Please be patient with me and my mistakes. This is my first Naruto fiction ever, and I hope you'll like it. This is not a very, very serious fic, though I am planning something... There's romance in this, too, but I'll include them later on... For now, I'll build up my plot and the new characters. Yup, there will be new characters here. I wish you'll give me a shot. Thank you! Peace!



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Prologue: THE ANNOUNCEMENT
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The sound of the bell was heard, signaling the dismissal of the classes that day. Naruto, who had wishing all the time for the bell to ring so that he could get his hands on his ramen food, stood abruptly and happily and was about to disappear out of sight when sensei Iruka spoke up.

"Before you get out of the classroom," Iruka started, looking directly at Naruto, "I have few announcements to make."

Naruto sat down, feeling hungrier than ever and at the same time interested to hear what the announcement could be. /*Maybe another mission, eh…*/ Naruto thought.

"Well, you see, I've got this letter from the Ninja Academy earlier this morning," Iruka said as he showed his students a scroll of parchment. "I've read it already. It's not much. But since you're also involved in the process, I decided to let it be known to you… I mean, I wouldn't want you to get surprised or something when this happens…"

/*Come on! Tell us what's written on that paper…*/ Naruto said to himself.

"I'll just read it for you, so listen closely…" And Iruka read the following text:

Dear Sensei:

It is our warmest pleasure to inform you that starting tomorrow, your class would be joined by a group of ninja students from Lotus Academe of Ninjas. This activity is in line with the Inter-School Summer Training Workshop participated by our academy to promote peace and camaraderie with other schools who seek the same things in life. Please inform your class about it and welcome the new members of our academy with warmth and respect.

Sincerely,
3rd Hokage of Konoha

"That's all," the sensei finished. "You are free to go now." And with that, Iruka disappeared in a smoke.

"I can't believe it!" Sakura exclaimed excitedly.

"Me either…" Ino agreed, though not enthusiastically. "I didn't know our school has some sort of connections, I mean, friendly connections, with other schools..." They babbled for some more until they went on the topic regarding Sasuke.

=====

Naruto's hunger suddenly disappeared after hearing Iruka's important announcement. He was thinking maybe that was a bad idea, combining students from different school orientation. /*I'll bet there'll be a silent competition among us to know which school produces better ninjas…*/ A smile crept through Naruto's face. /*Well! If that's what they want, I'll be ready for it! I mean, I'm the best ninja here in Ninja Academy!*/ He laughed out loud at the thought of beating all the ninjas, including Sasuke of course, in a match or something. /*Then, Sakura can see the truth that I'm better than that jerk Sasuke… And then, she'll love me more than ever… And we'll date, go to movies, and hold hands as we walk side by side…*/

Naruto sighed. If only that dream could come true for him!

=====

Naruto came on time the next day for class. He was really curious about the new ninjas and wanted to estimate their skills from their first impressions. But as usual, his rival (in his opinion) namely Sasuke has already arrived earlier than him, waiting and looking bored at the same time.

Naruto sat on his seat and ignored his teammate.

Within a few minutes, other students also came in, talking among themselves in groups about the new acquaintances they would be having.

Sakura came in.

"Hi Sakura-chan!" Naruto greeted happily his dream girl.

"Hi Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said instead, completely ignoring Naruto's greeting.

On the other hand, Sasuke didn't respond which made Sakura a little bit embarrassed by herself and Naruto angrier.

/*That jerk! He thinks he's very cool and didn't even say anything to Sakura! Hmph! I know that one day, you'll meet the girl that would say what a jerk you are… Sakura's just too nice to do that. And also too occupied seeing how good your looks and skills are… Well, enjoy this moment now for in the coming days, I'll be the better than you and I'll be the best ninja ever!*/ Naruto thought.

"Naruto?" came Iruka-sensei's voice in Naruto's consciousness.

"Huh?" was the only reply Naruto could give.

"Naruto, please pay attention! And stop murmuring and laughing to yourself alone…" Iruka shook his head. "These students will think you're insane…"

The class laughed and Naruto blushed. He didn't notice that the introductions had started and the new students from the Lotus Academe of Ninjas were standing in front with the sensei. He slowly looked up to see the new students' reaction.

It seemed to him that all of them are smirking and looking pitiful at him, like he didn't deserve to be a ninja or something.

"You're hurting the image of our school," Naruto heard Sasuke's irritated whisper.

Naruto shot Sasuke a glare. /*It's your fault, you jerk!*/ Naruto thought gloomily. Then he cast a judging look at his new classmates for this summer. He counted them all -- /*One, two, three…*/ He silently told himself as he tried to familiarize himself to their faces.

=====

Iruka told everyone to go out of the room and each team of the 'old students' would be grouped together once again accompanied by their respective sensei.

Kakashi and the other teachers were already waiting for them. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke went to where he was standing.

"Now," Iruka said when everyone is settled in their places, "we have to include these students into the teams and they will be trained all throughout the summer with you. Which students will be included in you team depends on the team's and the student's abilities and records. Now, let us hear these students before we finally let out our decisions…"

One by one, the new students introduced themselves.

Naruto let out a bored sigh. He didn't exactly look forward to teaming up with another show off jerk that smirks and belittles his abilities. He admitted that they look strong and fast, but for Naruto, it was more important to have a nice and good company… And from the looks of them, Naruto couldn't sense a kind soul…

/*Wait a minute!*/ Naruto blinked hard his eyes. /*Am I seeing things?*/ He opened his eyes and stared at the new student in front of the whole class. /*A girl? But I thought they were all smirking jerks…*/ Naruto asked himself as she stared at the only girl among the new students. Naruto thought the girl looked oddly familiar but he couldn't remember where he had seen such face… /*Hmm… Black pensive eyes? And long silky black hair? And the fair complexion? Hmm…*/

"H-Hi…" Naruto heard her stammered and then coughed. "My name is Rekka… I want to be of help to the Konoha people as well as the team that I will be included in. Umm…" She thought and looked up the blue sky for a moment. "I can play some musical instruments such as the drums and the guitar and I can also sing…"

Most of the old students' eye brows rose up. They didn't expect someone would be saying such things…

On the other hand, the sensei smiled upon hearing that.

"… I can do almost anything. Once again, I'm Rekka from the Fire Country," she finished, giving them an uncertain smile.

=====

"So what do you think of the new students?" Kakashi asked his three students, looking especially at Sasuke.

Iruka told them to have some lunch and their new teammates will be announced later on.

"I don't know…" Sakura said.

"Well, do you have any name in mind to be your teammate?" Kakashi asked, looking again at Sasuke.

"Do we actually have a say on it?" Naruto asked instead of answering his sensei.

"No, but we have a say on it. And I think it's better to consult the whole team and not let me decide on it alone," Kakashi said.

"Well, we trust you Kakashi-sensei on making this decision…" Sakura said.

"Yeah, you do have a good judgment of people…" Naruto said.

"Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.

"Anyone will do," Sasuke said.

"Okay. You said that," then Kakashi disappeared instantly in a smoke.

=====

Hinata went to her favorite spot during lunch – under the tree at the back of the school. She took her lunch and started to eat.

"Hey! Give back my bag!" Hinata heard a voice.

Hinata looked around and saw Rekka running and looking around.

"Catch me if you can!" Another voice yelled back.

"You jerks! Come here and show yourself! Don't be a coward. I'm only a girl, remember?" Rekka said.

No one responded.

Hinata looked worried at the girl. She remembered that Rekka was the only girl among the new students and from how Hinata sees things, the guys were playing tricks to her.

Hinata stood up and went to where the girl was sitting. She noticed that the girl's face was red and fuming with anger. She hesitated to advance but she heard a growl of stomach coming from the girl.

So, good, kind, and cute Hinata held a sandwich in front of the girl without saying anything.

Rekka looked up to Hinata.

"H-Hi…" was all Hinata could mutter. Then she put the sandwich on Rekka's hand.

"Thanks…" Rekka said meekly.

Hinata smiled at her. She sat beside Rekka and started to eat her lunch.

"They'll pay for this," Hinata heard Rekka mumbled. Then, Rekka stood in front of Hinata and bowed her head. "Thank you for your kindness. I'm Rekka and from now on you can count on me with anything…"

Hinata opened her mouth to say something in return but she was too surprised to what she saw at that instant.

And Rekka turned around to see what Hinata was looking at.

=====

Sasuke was standing a few steps behind Rekka with a very cool expression pasted on his face.

Then without saying anything, he threw a bag to Rekka's direction.

Rekka, on the other hand, caught it swiftly with her left hand.

Sasuke, then, began to walk away.

Hinata was confused and looked at Rekka.

For a moment, Rekka seemed annoyed at what happened. Then, she smiled weakly at Hinata when Hinata was looking at her.

Hinata decided it was better to keep quiet and not to ask something.

"So!" Rekka said, breaking the silence, "What's your name?"

"Oh sorry! I'm Hyuuga Hinata," answered the blushing Hinata.

"You know what Hinata? I am hoping I could be in your team… You are kind to me even though you didn't know me at all," said Rekka. Then, she sat beside Hinata and started to eat.

Hinata stared at Rekka. True, Rekka was still a stranger to her… But, she never heard anyone say he/she wants her company to her… Just like her teammates – it's not like Kiba and Shino had chosen her to be on the team…

And there's this black-haired girl that wanted to be her teammate because of her, and not because of anything else!

=====

Naruto had finished eating his lunch and was waiting for his other classmates and his sensei to arrive. He was hoping Sakura would come soon so that he could ask her out for some snacks later, without the presence of Sasuke.

He was sitting on the grasses and was carefully planning out what he would say to Sakura when Kakashi appeared beside him.

"Sir Kakashi!" Naruto said. "Who will be our new teammates?"

"Just wait Naruto," Kakashi replied with a knowing smile.

"But you already know it, right?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi nodded.

"So who are they?"

"Why are you so anxious to know?" Kakashi asked. "You told me it was okay with you whoever ends up in our team… So just relax, will you?"

After a few more minutes, Iruka was already standing in front.

/*Thank goodness Iruka-sensei is always on time unlike my very punctual sensei…*/ Naruto thought.

Then, sensei-Iruka started to call two names of the new students and announced the team that they would belong for the meantime.

"And lastly," Iruka said, "since the new students are odd in number, Team 7 will have one company with them… And that will be the rose-among-the-thorns – Rekka."

=====

Ino couldn't believe what she just heard. /*Another girl on Sasuke-kun's team?! Why can't I be on his team?*/ She thought as she eyed the new girl from head to toe. /*A weakling, I bet, that's why she was teamed up with Sasuke-kun… I hope Sasuke will just ignore her… It's not like she's prettier than me. Of course not! Okay, her hair is beautiful and long but that's not what Sasuke likes in a girl, right?*/

=====

Team 7 went to their usual meeting place.

"Okay, guys! Meet our new teammate – Rekka," sensei-Kakashi introduced.

"Nice to meet you!" Naruto said happily and held his hand to her.

Rekka shook his hand and said, "Same here…"

"I'm Naruto, and this is Sakura, and that unfriendly person is Sasuke," Naruto said.

Sakura pinched Naruto's arm in defense of her love. Then, she smiled at Rekka and said, "He likes to joke a lot even if the joke is not funny… Welcome to Konoha and to our school…"

"Thanks Sakura," Rekka said.

"Do you have anything to say to our new team member, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.

"Hn…" Sasuke mumbled.

"What's a 'hn', huh?!" Naruto asked, irritated. /*Why can't this jerk be nice for just a second?*/ He looked at Rekka to see her reaction and he saw her brows furrowed as she bit her lip.

Sensei-Kakashi, sensing a tension once again in his team, decided to say something, "Okay, since you all know each other, you can go home now and we'll start our new mission tomorrow. Bye!" Then, he disappeared.

Sasuke started to walk away and go home.

"Hey Sasuke! Don't we have to talk about where Rekka will be staying in?" Naruto called out.

"She's going with me," Sasuke answered as he continued to walk away.

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sakura looked devastated. And the inner-Sakura said within: /*YOU REKKA! I'm going to KILL YOU!*/

"Why do you think she will consent with your idea?" Naruto asked. "Not because you think every girl here in Konoha likes you, then Rekka would be any different!"

"Yeah, Sasuke, why do you think I will stay in your house?" Rekka said.

Sakura looked up to Rekka. /*Don't tell me you do NOT like staying with Sasuke? What kind of girl are you?*/

On the other hand, Sasuke seemed to have tripped himself upon hearing that.

"Hear that Sasuke?" Naruto mocked with triumph. /*HA! Sasuke, you're losing your touch in getting the girls' affections…*/

Sasuke composed himself and turned around to face them.

"First of all, there's a spare room in my house… Secondly, it's not like the two of you can accommodate another person in your houses… So, where else can she stay?" Then, looking straight at Rekka, he added, "Besides, we already discussed this with Kakashi-sensei…"

"I was only joking Sasuke, you don't have to glare that much," Rekka said with a grin.

Naruto was more confused than ever.

"I'm going home to practice," Sasuke announced with a sigh. "Dinner will be ready at exactly six."

TBC

I know this prologue is a very long one. So what do you think I should do with the other chapters? Make them shorter? Or just the same in length? Please review and give me any idea of what you think of this story is going on so far. I really need your opinion. And it's up to you if this story will be continued… I mean, if there's no reader of this story, what's the point of posting a new chapter? So tell me…

Thanks… And good day!
Poprice
27 March 2004
3:15 pm