Just pretend Sakura Haruno DIDN'T improve while training two and half years with Tsunade. What happens when her depressing life totally changes around because of a cat?
Chapter One
Why so Catty?
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and the characters from Naruto.
Sakura was sparring with Tsunade, desperately trying to get stronger. Her personal training with the Fifth was extremely tough as expected. The kunoichi flipped back, barely avoiding a super powerful punch from her teacher. She threw daggers at Tsunade; she dogged them easily. They had been sparring for forty-five minutes and getting nowhere. Tsunade was obviously holding back and Sakura was running out of strength and chakra.
" I think that will be all for today", Tsunade observed, watching the rose-haired girl pant, almost collapsing.
Sakura fought back, " No." she breathed, "I need to get stronger…I need…I need to."
Tsunade's eyes softened. Ever since the village was attacked, ever since Sasuke left Sakura felt like a waste of life, like a burden. Sakura felt like dead weight but she wasn't going to sit around and mope, she was going to change her destiny, which is why she had been training with Tsunade for the past two and a half years. Tsunade had noticed that Sakura was not improving very much in the taijustu area, but Sakura had become a very well trained medic-ninja at such a young age. The Hokage had also noticed that when Sakura had not been training with her or on missions, she was training and researching by herself. " No Sakura, that's enough for today. I have work to do." The Hokage smiled a little, " Your assignment is to work on your genjutsu and taijustu velocity.
Sakura fought herself from protesting and bowed, " Yes Tsunade-sama." She left in a blur.
Sakura made her way to her own training spot and rested for no more than a minute to rejuvenate her chakra supply. She didn't have a big chakra supply even though her control was substantial. She gathered chakra with each punch into a victimized boulder. It cracked a little. Sakura noted on how slowly if at all she had improved lately. She couldn't help but beat herself up. She HAD to become stronger. She HAD to. She didn't want to be a weak little girl anymore. With each punch, even with her gloves she could feel her knuckles beginning to bleed; this meant that she wasn't putting enough chakra with her punches. Her eyes began to water from the pain and she began to weep with every punch. Her goal was to surpass Sasuke and even Naruto. She was going to show that just because she was a girl she was not weak.
Each time she punched the rock her tears rolled down her porcelain cheeks, " I. Will. Become. Strong." She punched in vain, nothing really happening to the rock. All this time she had been training with the Hokage herself and yet the only thing she had improved on was on medicine and even that was limited because of her Chakra supply. Sakura punched until her knuckles were close to breaking point and she plopped on the ground. She wept solemnly, knowing that the only reason the Hokage trained her was in pity. How could she ever match up to that strength, agility, and flexibility? It was impossible. Unknown to Sakura she was being watched by a pair of yellow eyes.
XxxX
Tsunade re-entered her office with her mind on Sakura. The fifteen-year old wasn't improving at all in the areas she was hoping she would. She was beginning to worry if Sakura was fit to be her apprentice. Being sucked into her own thoughts she sat down, crossing her fingers; contemplating deeply. Shizune entered with a stack of papers.
" Ah. Tsunade-san, back from training so soon?" The Hokage didn't hear the woman next to her. Shizune quizzically raised an eyebrow." Tsunade? How is Sakura-chan doing?" The Blonde woman groaned and lowered her head on the desk. Shizune asked, " Are you groaning over the paperwork, or Sakura?"
"Both." The woman said.
XxxX
The sun was setting and Naruto was just finishing his ramen at Ichiraku. He stretched and let out a belch. " Ew. Naruto that's disgusting." A familiar pink haired kunoichi said behind him.
" Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled over-joyed to see his favorite kunoichi. " Are you here to see meeeeee?" Naruto fluttered his eyelashes. Sakura gave him a half-ticked off look and a small chuckle.
" Actually, I came for some ramen. I'll pay for you if you want some more." Naruto would normally be surprised that Sakura was being so generous two and half years ago, but now that he was back from long-term training, they seemed to have a more mature friendship. Naruto grinned. He'd never pass up an offer for more ramen.
"Hai!" Naruto said excitedly. Sakura ordered their bowls and ate silently. Naruto often saw her like this. It made him sad to see Sakura so weak and helpless. Of course he'd never say that out loud. Still he wanted to do something for her, " Sakura are you feeling okay. You seem more tired than usual today."
Sakura paused and turned towards him slowly like she was about to say something, but her eyes rolled back and she fell. Naruto, panicked, and caught Sakura just in time. He paid Teuchi and took a walk to Sakura's house. He had never seen Sakura this worn out. His frown deepened as he looked at the distressed girl unconscious. She had overworked herself this time. Naruto noted to himself to watch over her training sessions in the future to make sure she wouldn't do this again. "Sakura-chan."
XxxX
Sakura woke up and stretched almost every part of her body until it reached her hands and she winced. The pain was unbearable through out her whole body but mostly in her hands. She re-bandaged her hands and sent some healing chakra through her knuckles--relaxing a little bit. How'd she end up in her bed? She didn't remember ever coming home….oh yeah. She was at the ramen stand with Naruto and that was the last thing she remembered. She grudgingly lifted herself from her bed, but fell. Why was she so helpless? She couldn't even stand, let alone train. She could feel her eyes glazing with warm tears as she heard thumping upstairs getting louder as it closed into her room. It was her mom. Amaya ran over to her daughter and helped her up, " No training today, I already talked to Hokage-sama. Naruto brought you home last night. Honey you fainted last night; you're overworking yourself. You are going to stay home for at least three days and get some rest."
" I have no time to waist! I have to get stronger!" Sakura cried.
"Sakura you're just a girl," Her mother started but was cut off by a growl from Sakura.
The kunoichi's green eyes flashed dangerously as she forced herself to stand, " You mean because I'm a girl I can't be strong? I don't need anyone's help or pity! I don't need any help from you or a stupid boy!" The girl's sudden strength did not last long though as she toppled over again, sobbing over her frailty.
Amaya's brow furrowed in concern, " Honey, why don't you go back to bed I'll get you some breakfast. You'll never get stronger if you don't rest now." Sakura grudgingly concurred and was tucked into bed.
XxxX
Sakura looked out her window. She had tried her best to be the best but it had all been in vain. Her body did not agree with flexibility and strength and neither did her mind anymore. Sakura was slowly becoming sadder as the day passed and she felt herself sob sometimes for no reason. When it came to night and her mother was sleeping, she decided she'd go for a walk around Konoha—at least she should get some fresh air. Being a little stronger than she was that morning, she quietly slipped on a sweater and snuck out of the house. She would be back in twenty minutes at most; she didn't feel she was doing anything wrong.
The green-eyed girl walked slowly across a couple of blocks when she heard a faint screech and yelling down an alleyway. Sakura turned the corner to see a couple of young boys kicking a malnourished-looking cat. Sakura couldn't believe her eyes. She ran down the alleyway as fast as she could. " Hey! What do you think you're doing!"? Sakura threw kunai at the twelve-year-old boys. They yelped and ran away. Cowards.
Sakura's eyes sympathetically drew her eyes to the torn-up feline. She walked towards the cat and held it in her arms. It was pretty badly injured but still alive. It would take a couple of days to heal it. Her chakra glowed over the stripped cat's lungs and it started breathing more heavily. The town bell sang loudly, announcing it was midnight. Sakura immediately knew what to name the frail cat. " You know Midnight, we're a lot alike." And she brought the feline home.
XxxX
Morning dawned and Sakura felt something soft rub against her cheek and a confident mew. She yawned and opened her eyes to see a pair of yellow eyes staring at her and the events of last night came flooding back to her. " Midnight," she said fondly. Even though the cat was a sight to look at she could already feel a strong bond with the cat. She lifted Midnight up, " Ah. So you're a girl. I thought so." The feminine cat purred softly and rubbed against Sakura again. "Let me fix you up some more." The cat obliged as Sakura's chakra glowed through out the whole cat and Midnight looked a lot more energized. Sakura smiled, how did this cat make her feel so loved and confident? She had the sudden feeling she could achieve anything, and in a moment there was a knock on the door.
Amaya Haruno entered the room, " Sakura you're looking a lot better."
Sakura smiled again, " I am." She turned her head to look at the cat but she was no longer there. Sakura frantically turned her head everywhere. Where did she go?
" Is everything alright?" Sakura's mother asked worriedly. Sakura gulped then nodded. " Oh good, because you have a visitor."
Sakura suddenly remembered she hadn't taken a bath in two days, "But mamma, I smell!" That's when Naruto entered brightly with some flowers in his hands.
"You smell good Sakura-chan!" he walked over to Sakura and took in a big whiff and Sakura hit him upside the head. "Sakura-chan, you're better!" Naruto laughed nervously.
" Healthy or not, I can still beat you." Sakura said, her eye twitching. Naruto laughed nervously again and he handed her the flowers.
" For you Sakura-chan! I'm happy you're feeling better!" Naruto announced loudly. Sakura couldn't help but smile at Naruto's antics and she accepted the flowers graciously. That's when she heard someone else run up to her room. It was Lee.
" How did you beat me Naruto!" Lee said as he knelt in front of Sakura and gave her flowers as well as chocolates and a teddy bear.
The pink-haired teenager sweat-dropped and murmured, " I'm not dieing…" While this was going on Naruto laughed at how he had beaten Lee here by using his clone to mislead Lee in a different direction while the real him ran to Sakura's.
" Beautiful Sakura was not feeling well, and when I heard I could not let my gorgeous flower be trapped inside without my love!" Lee exclaimed. Sakura blushed in embarrassment, Amaya was laughing, and Naruto was pulling up his sleeve as if he wanted to fight Lee.
"You seem to have a lot of admirers Sakura." Amaya said happily. Sakura had indeed grown into a beautiful young girl. Her thick rosy hair was now a little below shoulder length, her body and face were magnificently proportioned—giving her a more adult look—and big lime eyes, surrounded by thick black eyelashes, completed her porcelain features. She was getting around the age of sixteen when the Haruno girls usually got married. Although when Uchiha Sasuke had left she had to fiercely depend on her own independence and if she had any interest in suitors she showed no sign of it. Her own daughter broke her from her thoughts when she said, " Mamma, I feel a lot better today, can I train?"
Amaya shook her head, " No you aren't ready for that, but I will allow you to walk around the village as long as you have an escort." Sakura groaned and asked Naruto and Lee if they had missions that day and they replied saying they only had small missions together that day such as Konoha maintenance. Amaya finally agreed after much begging. Sakura much rather would have liked to help with small chores than to be stuck in the house. " Be back at six for dinner though." Sakura agreed distractedly, she quickly got ready, showered, and then she left with the two shinobi.
XxxX
Sakura glanced around every now and then as she volunteered and helped Naruto and Lee with their missions. She was wondering where the source of her good mood that day was. Naruto noticed this as they were picking apples from the orchard.
" Sakura-chan, are you looking for someone?" He asked curiously. Sakura shook her head slightly.
" You could say that." Was all she said as she smiled gracefully at Naruto and went back to work. Naruto blushed and noted that Sakura was in a really good mood today. Wait, was she seeing someone?! Did she secretly gain a boyfriend in the past two days?! Naruto turned and glared at Lee and began picking the apples faster. Lee noticed this and started picking his apples faster than Naruto and so the battle continued.
Sakura laughed at whatever they were doing. At least it gave her more time to think by herself. She was hoping Midnight was okay. Then she thought how much time she was wasting right now. She wasn't getting any stronger. She pulled out her gloves she secretly swiped and slipped them on and chose a boulder. She controlled the chakra in her fists and hit the boulder, again only a small crack appeared. She frowned but decided not to give up and started again. Sakura was determined to get stronger. Right when she was about to take another punch, her fist was stopped. Her jade eyes widened and she looked up to see Lee. He had just stopped her "super strong" punch. She really was weak, to be stopped by not only a non-chakra user but a male as well. " Sakura-chan, you shouldn't over-exhort yourself." Sakura glared at Lee and walked off grumpily. Lee frowned and finished his mission quickly.
XxxX
Three days had passed and the kunoichi was energized up and ready for missions. To her almost-surprise, Lee ran up to her, " Sakura-chan! We have a mission together! Hokage-sama wants to see us right now." Sakura still had slightly hard feelings for Lee after what happened last time she saw him but she obliged and they sprinted towards the office. Ino-pig and Naruto were there already. Sakura bowed to the Hokage, " Tsunade-sama". Tsunade nodded to her and began her speech.
" There are a few sound ninja making their way to Konoha to steal the sacred scroll, I want you all to stop them before they make it here and drive them away. Kill them if you have to. This is a B-ranked mission," Tsunade looked at Sakura, instantly gaining her attention, " Sakura, you're in charge. Now go." They all leapt out of sight.
'Alright!' Sakura thought to herself, ' I'm in charge. She has faith in me, I can't let her down.'
They were making their way swiftly with a few arguments with Ino and Sakura and a loud-mouthed Naruto. Then Sakura felt some odd chakra and stopped. "They're here." She hissed. Everyone stopped. " Lee, Ino, you take west and Naruto and I will take east." They quickly took their places. When Sakura and Naruto got in place, Sakura suddenly paled.
" What's wrong Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked surprisingly silently.
" There are more than I thought, there are five and four of them are headed our direction!" she hurriedly whispered. Her eyes widened but she was not able to turn fast enough as she felt an arm grasping her, " I caught you little cherry blossom." She gaped as she recognized the voice of Kabuto. She should of known he'd be in on this. She tried to yell for Naruto but he was already fighting three sound ninja. This was her fight. She gulped, how could she ever face Kabuto? He was possibly stronger than Kakashi! She tried as she channeled chakra through her elbow to slam it into his stomach but barely missed, as he was swifter. She felt a sharp conk against her head and she was out.
Naruto channeled most of his chakra and swiftly fought the ninja using replications, taijustu and Rasengan. It was a tough fight but he was easily able to nail all of them. " It's not over yet little Kyuubi." Naruto turned and bared his teeth at Kabuto. Then he caught something in his line of vision, something pink in Kabuto's arm. SAKURA! He had Sakura-chan! Now he was really angry.
" Give back Sakura-chan!" Naruto's eyes changed color and his nails and teeth grew longer, the lines on his face bolding. He charged after Kabuto but he only ran away. Naruto wondered why he was running away. It must be a trap but he had no choice. Then he heard some people hurrying behind him, " Ino! Lee!" They kept pace with Naruto.
" We only had one ninja, he was easy to defeat." Ino explained proudly, " Where's Forehead?"
" Four-eyes has her! That's who I'm chasing!" Naruto yelled impatiently. Lee and Ino's eyes widened.
Ino's eyes darkened, " Weakling, why'd you have to and get captured?"
They all finally arrived at a place that Naruto recognized too well. His eyes glowered," The Valley of the End." Kabuto laughed maliciously and went to the cliff, hanging Sakura over the edge.
"Tell me where the scroll is and I will give you back your precious cherry blossom." Naruto cursed. No one knew where it was! " No?" He loosened his grip on the unconscious Sakura, threatening to let her plummet to her death.
" Damn it! We don't know where it is!" Naruto yelled and he ran to attack Kabuto but he held all three genin back with chakra threads.
" Not going to tell me? Oh well….Oops!" His hand opened and the now conscious Sakura dropped. Lee, Naruto, and Ino panicked.
XxxX
Sakura woke up groggily and she looked around swiftly, realizing she was being held loosely over a cliff of the Valley of the End. She remembered whose arm she was in and saw Kabuto smirking and threatening somebody. She turned her head and saw Naruto, Lee, and Ino bound by chakra threads. The rose-haired female felt the grasp let loose and she desperately thought as the wind blew threw her hair violently, ' I'm sorry everybody, for being so weak.'
XxxX
Ino teared up then collected herself and formed seals, " Release!" she opened her eyes but Sakura was still falling. " NARUTO! IT'S NOT GENJUTSU!" Orange chakra burst wildly around Naruto and a tail appeared, his chakra threads ripped and he tore after Sakura. He ran wildly down the side of the mountain and he reached out for Sakura, and she yelled out his name desperately. His hand came centimeters from grasping her hand but all that was felt were the tips of her fingers.
The speed collected through Sakura's body and she realized she was going to miss the water and hit the rock from thousands of feet. Her last vision was a striped cat walking along the ground below.
Naruto cursed violently for missing his best friend but all attempts to save her now were in vain. It wasn't long before a huge crunch was heard and her mangled body and a pool of fresh blood were seen at the bottom of the valley. Naruto's chakra disappeared and hot sorrowful tears fell from his face. Sakura Haruno was dead.
------XxxX------
Don't worry y'all this story is far from over. Read and Review and maybe Sakura will live ;)