Sprouting Wings

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Chapter I

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Encounter

Sakura leapt from tree to tree, enjoying the warm breeze running through her pink locks. The day was perfect, with the morning sun shining brightly above. She was so glad she decided to rise early today and take the long way through forest on the outskirts of Konoha, so she could have ample time to reach the hospital in time for her shift to start.

Leaves rustled beneath her; there was someone here. Emerald eyes narrowed, as suspicion ran through her. No one but a selected few had access to this part of the forest, since it was off-limits to civilians. The only reason that a commoner like her with no clan status is allowed was because she was granted access to gather herbs for medicine for Tsunade-sama.

Sakura fingered her kunai as she jumped down, sprinting towards the intruder. She was about to reach him, bringing back her fist to knock him out when the man suddenly turned and caught her hand in a steel grip. Sakura froze, as deep, ebony eyes met hers. He wore an expression of pure fury as he glared down at her, but she couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked.

She let out a small gasp as she finally realized who this man she had just attacked was.

Searing pain shot through her as her back met the rough bark of the tree she was pinned against. The hand tightened around her neck, and Sakura struggled for air.

"Please, I'm so sorry, I didn't-"

The hand released her, and she slumped to the ground. Sakura slowly raised her eyes to meet the crowned heir of Konoha.

…

Uchiha Sasuke slowly walked towards her, stopping only when he was merely a few inches away from her.

She hurriedly kneeled before him, stammering out another apology.

His towering figure loomed over her, as he said in a quiet and expressionless voice, "Who are you?"

His calm voice and demeanor chilled Sakura to the bone, and she wished he would just kill her already with his twin samurai swords strapped at his waist, symbolizing his royalty. How could she not have seen it before? The black hakama, the navy blue kimono with the red and white fan that signified his clan, his royalty.

She wanted to laugh at herself. Here she was, getting ready to report him for intruding an unauthorized area, when he will soon inherit the whole country!

"Who are you?" he repeated his question. "Are you deaf too?"

"G-Gomen, I'm just a medic, training under Tsunade-sama. Please forgive me, your highness! I heard something, and I thought—

She stopped when her eyes drifted down, and saw the blood gushing heavily from his arm, already drenching his dark kimono.

"Uchiha-sama, you're hurt!" She slowly stood up and raised a shaking hand toward his wound, as flickers of green chakra began engulfing her hand.

But Sasuke was faster and his fingers circled her wrist, as he stared back at her. "Just what do you think you're doing?" he asked sharply.

Sakura willed her body to stop shaking as she reached toward his arm again. "Please, your highness let me heal that for you. It's the least I can do."

This time, he didn't stop her. However, his eyes still followed her every movement. As she poured chakra over his wound, Sasuke's face relaxed. Although one couldn't tell unless they had been staring as intently as Sakura had. When the wound finally closed, Sakura backed off, putting a few feet between them, waiting for her punishment.

But it never came.

The heir stood there, staring back at her. The atmosphere around them seemed heavy, as Sakura waited for Sasuke's decision. After a full sixty seconds, she was counting in her head, Sasuke finally dropped his gaze.

He tested his newly healed arm. "Hn, your healing capabilities are poor. Average at best."

Sakura had to bite her lip to keep her from returning his insult, but in her current situation, it would be unwise to anger Sasuke any further. She knew she certainly wasn't the best medic in Konoha, when there's Shizune and of course Tsunade-sama surpassing her in both technique and knowledge. Heck, she wasn't even a field medic yet! But there's no point in thinking about that now, since Sasuke will most likely have her executed on the terms of attacking royalty.

Despite all that, she can't pretend that his words haven't hurt her. "I-I'm sorry," she forced herself to say.

As Sasuke turned to leave, Sakura was tempted to break down crying right then. But his next words caught her attention and she immediately snapped her eyes back at him.

"Your name?" he asked bluntly, although it was more of a statement.

She sucked in a sharp breath. "S-Sakura. Haruno Sakura."

'Now he will execute her for sure. Send her to some dark dungeon, where no one can hear her scream, and send the guards to slowly kill her as punishment.'

Which is why when Sasuke walked off without even casting Sakura another glance stunned her, as he left her alone in the middle of the now gloomy forest.

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The next few days were agonizing for the medic. She would stop in her tracks every now and then, to make sure no guards would come charging out and drag her to the prison. The worst part is, she had no idea how Sasuke was going to punish her, so she spent her waking hours thinking about the many ways she can be tortured before she was finally allowed to die.

But nothing happened.

After three weeks passed, Sakura finally relaxed, and decided that maybe the rumors concerning Sasuke was false, and he could actually be forgiving.

She just set down her bag in her small office one morning, when she felt the presence of someone behind her. As the pink-haired medic slowly turned around, she forced herself to remain cool.

"Sasuke-sama! I-I mean your highness."

His onyx eyes narrowed. "You're late."

She blushes a deep crimson, as she averts her eyes to the ground. "I-I'm sorry. I...overslept." She finally muttered sheepishly.

"Hn. Pathetic. Someone like you shouldn't be a medic."

That was when Sakura really took a good look at Sasuke. He was clad in a white, loose, top, with dark, grey hakama. Training clothes, she supposed. But her eyes widened when it landed on the deep gash running across his abdomen.

"I will call Tsunade-sama right away to treat your wound." But before she could even take a step towards the door, Sasuke sighed.

"Hn. You really are slow. I don't want Tsunade to heal me."

Sakura stood there staring back at Sasuke, when it finally clicked. Why would he be at her office, when he could've just directly gone to Tsunade-sama's? She silently cursed at herself for being so dense, and not catching on to his implication earlier.

"Gomen," she apologized again, before she quickly went to work as her green chakra engulfed her hand once more.

…

After that morning, she began seeing Sasuke more often. Almost every day, he would show up at her office, right from training, with another new injury. She shuddered at the thought of what Sasuke and his group of elite samurais did that caused them new gashes and broken bones each day.

It wasn't long before the nurses at the hospital began to notice the heir's frequent visits, whereas he never came even when he was at death's door, and even then it was a struggle to get the prince to step one foot inside the building.

Shizune, being naturally good-hearted, never questioned this but Tsunade was more observant. During one of their sessions, while Tsunade-sama lectured Sakura about rare poisons an organization called the Akatsuki uses, she off-handedly brought the subject up.

"I heard from nurses and medics around that the heir has been coming to the hospital on a regular basis. Do you know anything about this?"

Sakura stared back at Tsunade, and wondered how she should answer. But she never kept anything from her shishou. "Yes, I've been treating Uchiha-sama's injuries from his training."

The woman sighed. She looked to be only in her mid-forties with her blonde hair elegantly done in twin pigtails, but she was far older than that, and seen much more than many in a lifetime.

"Sakura, I want you to stay away from Uchiha Sasuke."

"Of course, Shishou."

The blonde woman frowned however. "I have a feeling that you won't exactly do what I ask."

The pink haired medic let out a small laugh. "Please don't worry about me, Shishou! I know that he is next in line for the throne, and I'm just a commoner with no clan. I am just simply treating his wounds, and besides, haven't shishou trained me to be a adept medic?"

"You don't understand!" Tsunade roared, surprising Sakura. "I have been the head medic for years, and treated generations of the royal family. I know what the Uchiha are like, and what they are capable of. Uchiha Sasuke is no different."

"I understand. I will be more careful from now on." She smiled warmly towards Tsunade, as she turned to leave.

"I'm sorry Sakura, that I couldn't do more for you. I really am."

The younger medic simply smiled again, as she closed the door behind her.

"There really was no need for her to worry," Sakura said to herself, as she reminisced of a happier time. When she was always cheerful and content even though she lived at the orphanage. She remembered days when there would be nothing to do besides swimming in the river on the far side of Konoha, and eating ramen. Her heart already belonged to someone else…

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A messenger came to her house a week later, and just like Tsunade predicted, trouble had arrived.

"Haruno Sakura. You have been summoned to go to the house of Lady Ino.

Sakura furrowed her brows in confusion. Lady Ino? The soon-to-be Empress of Konoha? She stiffly followed the messenger as he led her to Lady Ino's living quarters.

The pink haired medic took a deep breath as she climbed the many stairs that led to Lady Ino's house. She came from a powerful and influential clan. Arranged from birth to be taught in the proper ways of royalty and eventually marrying Sasuke. As soon as Sakura saw her, she was awed by her beauty. The entire population of Konohagakure knew of Lady Ino's exquisiteness of course, but Sakura had never met her in person until now.

She can't help noticing how Ino was the exact opposite of herself. With her golden hair up in an elegant bun, leaving a few wavy strands framing her expertly drawn face, and flowing silk kimono embroidered with tiny, white jasmines, she was a picture of pure loveliness.

A wide grin spread across Ino's face, when she caught sight of Sakura. "Come sit down! Care for some tea?" she asked joyfully, already pouring Sakura a cup.

"Ah, t-thank you," Sakura hastily muttered, not quite sure of what to say.

"So, Sakura. What a lovely name. I bet you were named after the flower." Ino said bringing a lock of Sakura's silky, pink hair for closer examination."

"Thank you, honorable lady."

There was a pregnant pause when neither knew what to say next, and as Sakura glanced around the room, she can't help but grimace at how many guards surrounded it, looking menacingly with their long swords by their side. Does Ino keep them around every minute?

"Tell me, why is it that every time I step outside, all I hear is how the prince is always seen at the hospital?"

Sakura was taken back by her abruptness, and tried to think of how to answer the future empress's question. "I-I treat Uchiha-"

She was cut off as Ino knocked the teacup down, and the hot liquid spilt all over her hand. Blistering pain shot through her as she drew back her hand with a small shriek. The red welts were already forming.

"Oh dear. Clumsy, clumsy me. Now let me call someone…"

"It's alright, honorable lady. I can manage."

Sparkling blue eyes stared at Sakura's hand in fascination as flickers of green chakra from her good hand hovered above the injured one, and slowly the welts disappeared, and the redness faded.

Ino smirked. The kindness and cheerfulness completely left her face.

"Ha, so it's true. Since you take so much pride in your healing capabilities, even going as far as becoming the prince's personal medic, we'll see if you can treat these burns."

As soon as she said those words, two of the guards Sakura had seen earlier brought to Ino a large, silver platter. Arranged neatly on top, is a set of stones that seemed to glow red. Two dozen to be exact. They were arranged from smallest to largest on a silk towel.

Ino roughly pulled Sakura's arm across the table, digging her sharp, pointed nails into the medic's flesh, and signaled the guard to start with the first stone.

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A/N-

I thought about doing this story for a while now but it was pretty hard to write this AU and keep all the characters in….well character. Please tell me whether they are believable! And, who can guess whom Sakura was referring to after her talk with Tsunade? I made it pretty obvious but go ahead anyway….

Leave me a review, and tell me your thoughts!

-Aurora