Tears of Ice
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By Hell's Angel
Haruno Sakura
There were many ways, in which one could cry.
You could cry for yourself. Pity for yourself, and seeing the world destroy you, beat by beat. Breaking down, hit by hit, unable to bear the pain any longer.
You could cry for others. Watching your friends, do everything for you, to do anything to keep you safe. Watching them sacrifice everything, watching them protect you from the world, that is a shinobi's life.
You could cry out of happiness. Crying full of relief, free of pain, in which you see your loved ones safe. Your village safe. Everything peaceful, full of serenity.
You could cry for love. Fear for that one person that you are afraid to lose. The one person that makes you feel warm inside. The one person that is your everything.
And you could cry, for nothing. The feeling of tears rolling down your cheeks reminds you are human, and keeps you together, every single night…
-TEARS OF ICE-
Sakura knew what being a shinobi meant. And the dangers of the outside world. The protective barriers you lose- because you become those barriers, trained to keep everyone safe.
She had made that sacrifice to her village when she was eight, the very moment she strayed into the path of a shinobi, ready to sacrifice her life for her village.
And somehow, the thought disgusted her. The very thought that people would have to do such a thing, just to ensure peace- was horrifying.
This is the world we live in, she thought. A world where peace comes with great sacrifice. A world where innocent blood is spilt. A world where everyone somehow has blood on their hands. A world full of trickery, lies, angst and pain.
Sakura knew that being a shinobi would come with this life. And somehow she regretted the decision she made, back when her hands were free of blood. But it was her life. And she was proud that she could do this for her village.
-TEARS OF ICE-
If Sakura said she didn't envy her teammates, she would be lying.
Watching Naruto and Sasuke spar right now, she knew that she was the third wheel. The unneeded extra. The understudy.
She knew that she was nowhere near her teammates level. With a bit of help, she might be able to get to half of their strength.
Sasuke was a born prodigy, graduating top of her class. He was born to be strong, as a member of the Uchiha Clan should be. He had natural talent. But he had a dark past, full of pain. Sakura never heard him talk about it, and she had little to none idea of what happened.
Naruto. He wasn't as smart and fast as Sasuke, but his extraordinary levels of chakra and stamina made up for it. He was about as smart as a dung beetle, and didn't really work well in target practice.
But regardless, they were both superior to Sakura, and made up the dominating forces of Team 7, excluding Kakashi-sensei. Their potential was immense, while she-
She had potential, in her intelligence, but that was it. She came from no known shinobi clan, as her mother was a civilian, and her father had disappeared when she was a child.
She walked up to Kakashi-sensei, who was standing a meter's length from Naruto and Sasuke, carefully eyeing the match.
"Sensei…?"
Kakashi turned to face her, his eyes crinkling in a smile at her arrival. "Sakura-chan!" he exclaimed. "Interesting match, ne?"
Sakura nodded absent mindly. "Yeah…interesting…"
Kakashi seemed to notice her lack of interest, as he immediately spoke.
"Sakura-chan, what's wrong?"
Sakura looked at the ground, pushing back tears threatening to fall, before regaining her confidence and looking her sensei straight in the eye.
"Sensei…why am I so weak?"
Kakashi looked at her intensely. "Sakura-chan, you know that's not true…"
Sakura looked up sharply, tears falling down her cheeks. "Don't say that sensei. You and I both know I am the weakest on this team," she said the words harshly, spitting them out. "…you know that I will never compare to Naruto and Sasuke."
-TEARS OF ICE-
Hatake Kakashi
Kakashi looked at his only female student.
She was right, though he would never admit it. She was 'weak' in comparison to Naruto and Sasuke.
Kakashi could understandably feel sorry for the girl. To be put on a team with two students with so much potential and natural talent- he could understand why she felt weak.
But Sakura's sheer intelligence made her pass the academy. She was top in all her classes, and even managed to beat Sasuke's score in Intel.
The girl was undoubtedly smart, and that was her strength. But she had to something about her stamina and fighting skills. They were barely academy level, and would need to be improved if she was to become a shinobi.
And then, first and foremost, he made his decision.
-TEARS OF ICE-
Haruno Sakura
She could almost see the thoughts running through her sensei's head as she completed her statement. Sakura had no idea on what his next words were going to be, and almost dreaded the thought.
"Sakura."
She looked up, almost immediately. Kakashi's tone of voice had changed, different from the kind tone he always used on her. His tone of voice was now serious, with no room for laughter.
She spoke, almost hesitantly. "…Yes, sensei?"
Kakashi looked her in the eye, and gave a look of uttermost confidence.
"I believe you have potential, Sakura. That is why I have decided to train you privately, to make you the best shinobi on this team."
Sakura could only stare, as Kakashi made his statement.
Kakashi continued speaking once again, "I can understand that you feel weak on this team. You are being compared to two genin with extraordinary natural talent. But you, have the intelligence on this team. And I believe, that knowledge will make you stronger, physically and mentally."
Sakura took the courage to respond. "Sensei, if you're trying to make me feel better about myself, don't bother. And if you were serious…" she paused for dramatic effect. "When do we start?" she said with a smile.
Kakashi smiled. "Tomorrow, if I have time."
Sakura grinned. She ran up to Kakashi and hugged him tight. "Thank you so much…" she whispered.
Kakashi smiled once more.
Sakura grinned, but then frowned.
"Wait…you were being serious about the offer, right…?"
-To Be Continued-
-TEARS OF ICE-
A/N: A Sakura-centric fanfiction.
This fic does contain Itachi massacring the Uchiha clan, but obviously that took place about 4 years beforehand.
This is a trial of some sorts, if I get some positive feedback, then I will continue this story. I really hate it how they portrayed Sakura as the third wheel in Team 7 (- before Naruto Shippuden- ) So I figured I'd make Sakura more useful in this story.
An Itachi and Sakura pairing may be in place in later chapters- if the story continues (…!) , but if for some reason I want to cut out the romance, Itachi will then be portrayed as a major character, friend, and ally, but not as a love interest.
Any feedback, likes, suggestions, questions, spelling errors, things you'd like be to change: Hit the Review Button! :)
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