Unnamed Naruto fic
Summary: When naruto manages to drag Sasuke back, the Uchiha almost expected everything to still be the same as when he left. However, Sakura hates him, Karin, Juugo, and Suijetsu, and even the village seems cold to his homecoming.
A/N: Italics with quotations will be Inner Sakura speaking. Italics will be thoughts. Got it? Ok, enjoy if you will.
Disclaimer: I, charm caster-chan, do not in anyway, shape, or form, own the Naruto or Naruto Shippuden series or manga which I have yet to read.
When a blond head pops up in the middle of your path as suddenly as Naruto did, your first instinct would be to protect yourself which is what Sakura did. He landed a few feet away, holding his jaw where his teammate had punched him. Sighing at his stupid antics, she calmly walked over to check on him. When she stood, cutting off the flow of medical jutsu, he looked up at her from the ground. "Ow. What was that for?" She shook her head, vaguely wondering if he would ever grow up, as she responded.
"If you don't want your jaw broken every single time, then don't surprise me like that."
"She's right dope." Sakura stiffened.
"I called your name five times though," he pouted before becoming more serious. He flashed her a quick grin. "It still amazes me how quickly he can change moods," Inner Sakura commented. "Told you I'd bring the teme home." Sakura stared past the knuckle-headed ninja before Naruto brought her back to reality.
"I'm fine Naruto." She turned, emotionless face able to compete with Sasuke's. Even the Inner Sakura was quiet as the pinkette raked her eyes over her former team mate. He was still the same, outward at least. An unreadable mask was fixed firmly in place, Sharingan eyes watching her carefully, and the ebony, chicken-butt styled hair. This was the one she had once fallen for, yet now felt nothing. Finally, she took in the other three behind him. This must be his new team, she guessed. She flicked her eyes back to the Uchiha, but directed her words to Naruto. "I'll go inform Tsunade-sama." She spun and walked off, aware of the eyes centered on her back. "I wonder what he thinks of new and improved Haruno Sakura," Inner Sakura mused. "I bet he expected you to fall at his feet-"
"Sakura?" She jerked out of her thoughts and caught Naruto gazing worriedly at her from beside her in her peripheral vision.
"I'm fine Naruto. Truly. It's good to finally have you back," she added to change the subject. She did not want to talk about her feelings right now. She gave him a strained smile and he flashed her a quick grin, his previous question forgotten.
"I made you a promise, Saku-chan." She nodded, feeling the need to thank him, but the lie stuck in her throat. Instead, she continued walking but Naruto grabbed her arm. She raised her eyebrows in a silent question.
"I'll tell the hokage." She started to protest, not wanting to be left alone with the four rogues, but he disappeared before she could get one word out. She promised a slow and painful death for him under her breath as she once more turned, watching from a distance. The raven closed the space between them, followed by the red-head. This was Sasuke Uchiha, the one she had claimed to love as a genin. Shouldn't she be happy that he had returned? Then why was she so disgusted and angry at him?
"You two seem close," he casually commented, searching her face. She wondered what he hoped to find.
"We became much closer after you left." Why am I telling him this? I should just ignore him. She hesitated a split second before adding, "Something good actually came from you deserting the village. Wonder what will come now that you're back?" Her head snapped to the side as a hand connected with her cheek.
"Don't you ever speak to Sasuke-kun like that!" Sakura gave Karin, the red-head, a once over before calmly speaking to the Uchiha.
"Control your girlfriend or I will put her out of her misery."
"Hn." She glared at him.
"You know, if you would pull the pole from out of your butt, then you might be able to have a close relationship with someone," she growled. She stalked past them, Juugo, and Suijetsu, who wisely moved out of her way.
"You're just jealous ugly. You're not beautiful enough to be loved by him." Sakura stopped, curling her hands into fists. "Let her say one more word," Inner cautioned. "You're weak, and pathetic, and you know he'll never love the likes of you." The pink-haired kounichi whirled as she pushed chakra to her feet, speeding up to Karin to deliver a deadly blow. She swung her fist, eyes as hard as steel that were locked on the other girl, only to have it halted in midair. She shifted her eyes to the onyx eyed male, partly in astonishment- He protected her!- before shoving him away.
"Don't touch me," she snarled.
"You've changed," he commented dryly. "Just a bit," Inner Sakura bit out sarcastically. "I'm sorry. Was I not allowed to?"
"I've grown up. Did you still think that I- the village- would still be the same? While it seems as if you've grown, you haven't matured very well." She crossed her arms and stared past the two, trying to ignore them. She shifted her body to face the girl.
"What," she hissed, narrowing her emerald green eyes.
"Leave my Sasuke-kun alone." Sakura stalked past Sasuke who made no move to stop her, toward the red-head. Her eyes gleamed dangerously as she stuck her face in the other kunoichi's. Karin backed up a step, then another as the pinkette pressed forward.
"You can keep your Sasuke-kun all to yourself. I could act like a slut, dress like one to get his attention if I wanted to. But I don't. So take you're stupid Sasuke obsessions to someone who cares and leave me alone."
"Sasuke-kun," the girl whined, directing her gaze over the pink-head's shoulder, "she called me a slut!" Sakura breathed out a laugh, mentally shaking her head at the stupidity of the girl.
"If you had listened, I didn't call you a slut. I didn't even come close so shut up and stop treating people as trash. Learn when to grow up. Maybe you and Sasuke can do that together." Fed up with the girl, she waited for Karin to reply. Luckily, she had learned her lesson and kept silent.
"Not bad Haruno, but still weak." She whirled on him.
"Weak? I'm the weak one?" She was shouting by now but didn't care or bother lowering her voice. "That would be you Sasuke. What makes me strong is recognizing my weaknesses. You seem to think you're perfect, that you have no weaknesses, but you're wrong. Revenge is your weakness and it consumed you. Naruto and I both realized it, that's why we grew stronger. We wanted you back, and we didn't want your weakness to win." She was ashamed to feel tears prick her eyes as she fell silent.
"Hn." Rage exploded inside of her. She drew back her arm to punch him. Until her mentor spoke up.
"Sakura?" The power behind the blow faltered and her intended target effortlessly moved out of reacah.
"Weak," he muttered. Sakura turned to greet the hokage.
A/N: Think I'm gonna end it there. Mostly cause I'm too tired n haven't planned it out all the way. However, it is a pretty decent sized chapter for me. Hope y'all enjoyed. If not, ya could leave me a few helpful tips in a review of pm. Oh n by the way, if ya read this far, I have to thank you. Cause you read all the way to the end.