✿Chapter 1: pilot ✿
She should have imagined it, really should. In fact, it's not as if she hadn't expected, it was evident since the exams began, and the truth was that she was weak compared to the rest, and was only now that she could understand it.
She wouldn't pass the Chūnin exams.
She was sure, knew even before filling the form to participate, and it was hard to admit it, but it was true, she was even worst than Naruto.
The taste of defeat was more bitter now she knew that the rest of her team was being trained for the next phase. It was true, she was proud of being able to stood up in front of Ino, and even had managed to get out of a jutsu that was considered impossible or in the best case, difficult to leave, but even so, she was sinking in her feelings in the chest. She felt disappointment and abandonment after everything happened, and now the sensation was much bigger than before. Now she felt more left out than never. Her sensei had gone with Sasuke and Naruto was being trained under a ninja who boasted of being very powerful, and though Kakashi didn't pay much attention to her anyway, she felt like a pariah.
Now she was alone, and really felt the true weight of her actions, worrying more about appearances than in the training had cost a big price. But she considered it unfair because Ino continued training with her team even though she hadn't qualified, Chōji was also part of that training, so did Kiba and Hinata, both hadn't qualified to move to the next stage and still continued to work with their sensei. She wanted to laugh, it was so ironical that her sensei spoke to them permanently about the importance of teamwork and now they were all apart and in their own ways, she never felt more alone, maybe when she didn't know Ino could compare to the feeling she had now she looked at them working together, maybe if she was part of a clan it could be different, but she wasn't.
With those thoughts, she took a walk to get away from all that. Every time she was walking, she saw people and teams of ninjas coming together and doing things together, she felt selfish and silly at the thought, but couldn't help it, so she began to alternate the direction where she was going, only guided by the concurrence of people.
She was wandering a good amount of time with the intention of staying away from people, but wherever she went, she found herself with more and more people and teams, happy persons and families that passed to bring her memories about her own family, although she loved her parents; she didn't get along well with them, they didn't understand the life of a ninja for being civilians so her new concerns didn't seemed important to them and laughed at her about her problems, which they called worldly concerns. So being home wasn't a good option either. Besides, her previous experience had shown conclusively that the theoretical knowledge couldn't save her from an ambush or a confrontation purely melee, so study also seemed an excellent choice for no to do in that moment, in simple words she was feeling low.
With those thoughts clouding her head, she didn't notice when she came to a not very wooded area with trees considerably smaller than the rest of the forest. Sakura then found herself watching carefully, examining her surroundings as well, the place attracted her like a moth to light. It was so beautiful, there were flowers on the soil creating small paths that led to nowhere, tender grass, and if she looked close enough, could see cracks in the earth. Feeling curious, she suddenly began moving closer to those cracks that bonded together with others to reach a large crater that was now covered by grass. Her curiosity got the better of her judgment, after all, for Naruto had functioned quite well during missions they had, why it would be different with her.
She got into the crater to examine the dirt and grass, began to walk through the abyss until her foot struck something hard, she thought it was a stone until saw a flash coming from the lawn. She knelt and began to dig slowly. Since the exam, she no longer cared much about appearances, but being honest, it was hard to get away from habits with much work Ino had taught her. She put her nails in the ground to remove the dirt and then she saw it, one thing of wood, she continued digging and removing dirt until the entire object was out, she held it up to examine it. Clearly looked like a weapon, a kunai to be exact, she picked it up and cleaned it as much as it was possible. Turning around the object, she noted that it had symbols on the handle.
The second and fourth kanji didn't distinguish clearly, but the first and third were legible, the first was the sign with which ninja is written, and the third sign can be read as mark or talisman, which was usually used for ninja techniques. Suddenly a stupid impulse crossed her mind, deciding it couldn't be that bad, she loaded chakra through her hands to the kunai, similarly to what she did to walk for the trees, but once she did, everything stopped around her.
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"You're awake?" asked a voice from above her head.
"Ngh" was all she was able to mumble.
"Your sensei was very worried when he found out you were here Sakura-chan" reported the same voice.
"My sensei? I thought he was gone to train with Sasuke" Sakura said slowly sitting up in bed, she discovered that was a hospital bed, she was in the hospital.
"I don't think he could do something like that, he always had a soft spot for you" the voice said with a laugh, looking around now could put a face to that voice. The woman who spoke was wearing medical gown and had a beautiful smile, she was beautiful and her eyes denoted happiness and worry at the same time "and I think I know him pretty well, we're close" she added.
"I think you're confused medic-san" she said looking at her as if she had said the strangest thing in the world.
"medic-san? No need to be so formal Sakura-chan" she said with a pained look, Sakura really feared she might have said something wrong.
"How do you know my name?" Sakura asked, unable to contain her curiosity, she was sure that she didn't visit the hospital regularly, she was worried to see the face of concern that had the woman in front of her. This time she was sure somehow, she have hurt her.
"Don't you remember me Sakura-chan?" she asked with a pious look, Sakura shook her head slowly answering at the same time.
"What do we do?" asked a woman, this one was different and Sakura hadn't noticed her presence at all.
"I think it would be better not to overwhelm her for now" said the beautiful woman who had awakened her "after all may be a temporary side effects" she told to the nurse, "I'll tell you Sakura-chan" she said turning her attention to her again and a soft smile that didn't reach her eyes "mental health isn't my specialty so I'll let you go for now, but you must come back tomorrow for a general check, okay?" the Genin could only nod and then get off the bed to make her way out of the hospital, it wasn't difficult, everything was marked for it.
Once outside, she began to walk aimlessly when suddenly remembered that before awake in the hospital she had taken a kunai with engravings. Not feeling like go to the hospital to seek answers was the best option after the strange reaction of the medic; she tried to go to where she had found the weapon.
"Aren't you going to say hello Sakura-chan?" Said a voice behind her, she was pretty sure she had never heard that voice before, so turned to face the voice "somebody told me that you left the hospital, I was very worried about you when you were not at our meeting point, I know I'm usually late, but I swear I have good reasons, I have to help people, it's my duty as a leaf ninja, so when I knew that my favorite Genin was in the hospital I was very worried" she examined the person this time, he was tall, a brunette man, wearing the standard Jōnin uniform, and the strangest thing of all was that part of his face had scars.
"Who are you?" Sakura asked accusingly.
"Ouch, that hurts" he replied with a dramatic look.
"You're not going to answer then?" Sakura asked irritated now, giving him a very annoyed look.
"I don't think it was that bad" he said to himself "well you seem to have changed, I loved your long hair Sakura-chan, but short hair looks good on you too, I'm happy that you no longer hide your face, you look prettier" he admitted giving her a smile. Sakura couldn't help blushing, who was this person? he looked older, around the age of Kakashi-sensei, she couldn't explain.
"Pervert!" She shouted away.
"Calm down Sakura-chan, you know I didn't mean that!" He exclaimed hastily.
"Who are you?" She asked loudly seeing everywhere looking for someone to ask for help.
"I thought you would remember your sensei" he said with a sad look.
"Sensei?" She asked looking at him, he definitely didn't wore a mask and definitely didn't have silver hair, if she remembered well, her sensei was Kakashi Hatake and this person wasn't him.
"I thought I told you I would continue training you, the fact that Naruto and Sasuke had advanced to the next round of the exam doesn't take away my responsibility to you, besides Naruto already has someone who takes charge of his training and Sasuke, well Sasuke has someone pretty special too." He said with a smile.
"I know that, but..." she chose to remain silent, it felt like a dream, so she pinched herself many times to check she was wide awake "my sensei asked you to take care of me?" she finally asked with the hope to clarify the misunderstanding, this person was talking to her as if he really knew her. He looked at her and walked slowly approaching to her, then he squatted down to be under her level and show that he wasn't a threat.
"I'm your sensei Sakura-chan" he said seriously and with a worried look on his face, then an idea crossed his mind "did someone attacked you?" He asked "Did someone hurt you? How much do you remember? Are you in pain?" He asked even more worried. Sakura looked at him with fear now, she could feel her blood stopping in her veins and her hands cold. Apparently these changes were noticed because the man before her reacted.
"Breathe. Sorry, I didn't want to overwhelm you, are you okay?" He asked softly once her breaths were more stable, she nodded slowly, although she was still scared "I don't want you to be scared so I'll tell you, but it's possible that you have been under a powerful genjutsu to steal information, and now you are a little confused, it wouldn't be..." He took a long breath "it wouldn't be the first time someone do this to a Konoha nin" he said with a sad look. Her first impression, this man was very open with his emotions, he was the opposite of a ninja, or what should be expected, at least in Sakura's head, it made her feel a little better about herself.
She didn't want to believe it, she was very afraid now, would she trust this man? He was technically a stranger to her, maybe he has been the true enemy dressed as a ninja friend, she knew better, she must trust in the ninjas of the leaf, but on the other hand had never seen this in particular.
Noticing her puzzlement, the man smiled and gently wiped a tear that had slid down her cheek.
"would make you feel better if you talk to the Hokage?" He asked gently testing the waters, she nodded slowly in response "I see" he said turning back "I'll take you there, I know it's a lot to take" he said carefully lifting her in his back. She still wasn't sure about what to do so, noting her obvious hesitation he reassured "I promise on my eye that I won't do anything to hurt you" after he said that, there was a long silence "that used to work before" he said with a small laugh. Her instincts told her she could trust this person, so didn't resist and closed her eyes expecting to wake up.
The trip to the Hokage tower was short, but to Sakura, it was very long, she didn't want to get there to discover that her whole life was a lie, she was intelligent and knew that was what he meant when he told her about the powerful genjutsu. Suddenly they stopped.
"Wait here Sakura-chan, I'll come back soon" he said leaving her standing next to the door as he knocked, a voice from inside was heard and the strange man came in. Her only consolation was that at least the genjutsu had some similarities to her real life, if true what had said the man, she was a ninja in real life too and Sasuke and Naruto were still her teammates, at least that was still the same. Suddenly she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, she looked up to meet the strange man, again.
"You can come in Sakura-chan" heard the same voice coming from inside, she felt calmer now that she was in the security of the domains of the Hokage, but a part of her wanted this to be a genjutsu and return to her life at once. But when she lifted her gaze, she saw someone who had never seen before and began to feel anxious again because that person was wearing the clothes of Hokage, but wasn't her Hokage, she sought the safety of the strange man and hid behind him.
"I told you sensei" the strange man said stroking her head affectionately.
"Don't worry, I know we can do something for her" said the man behind the desk "May I talk to you Sakura-chan?" He asked smiling at her. She didn't want to say yes, but also knew that was the only way to find answers, after all it could be possible that this is were her true reality and she was denying it, in which case she should accept it, what other choice did she have?
"I'll be here" the strange man said, she felt supported by him so she nodded slowly and hesitantly.
"What do you remember?" asked the said Hokage with a kind look, this man also projected confidence and his gaze was warm.
"I was walking somewhere in the forest when I found a strange Kunai, I put chakra in it and then I woke up in the hospital." She said looking at that the presumed strongest man in town.
"You remember how was the kunai? Had something special?" He asked this time.
"It had three points and a wooden handle with symbols on it" she said, feeling her anxiety grow, the man nodded contemplatively, then opened a drawer of his desk and pulled out an object.
"It was something like this?" He asked pulling out a kunai exactly like she had found, but this was in better condition. Sakura nodded fervently. The Hokage nodded contemplatively "thank you" he said suddenly. She looked at him surprised "by responding when still feeling it wasn't right" he said smiling at her, she couldn't help it, he looked strangely like ...
"You're welcome sensei, I will take care of Sakura now, we can start again" the strange man number one turned to look at her now "my name is Obito Uchiha and I'm your sensei Sakura-chan, I'm going to take good care of you" he smiled brightly as he shook her hand.