Hi all -
This is actually my first fanfic. I just got around to uploading it here. It is still a work in progress and I've decided to upload a chapter at a time just so I can go back and see where I can make improvements. Hope you enjoy. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Who Can She Run To?
Chapter 1: Training?
"You imbecile," the dark haired Uchiha boy yelled, irritation seeping through his normally controlled voice.
"WHAT!?! That's it, I've had it with you Sasuke," threatened the blond, his blue eyes blazing.
Without a moment's notice, a lean silver haired man grabbed the smaller one by the white collar of his orange jacket. Sasuke chuckled behind his smirk before being snatched up himself.
"Put me down, Kakashi-sensei. I've gotta teach this punk a lesson he'll never forget. Believe it!"
"Naruto...Sasuke, you two are supposed to be teammates. What is it going to take to get you two to work with each other instead of against each other?" asked their Jounin mentor.
Hatake Kakashi cast his eye over to the third memeber of Team 7. The svelt pink haired girl was not paying any attention to the testosterone fest going on just a few meters away. Her green eyes showed deep concentration as she continued with her training, focusing her punches on the wooden dummy before her.
How uncharacteristic. Kakashi thought to himself.
Normally Haruno Sakura would have taken the Uchiha boy's side against the annoying Naruto. Her heart, belonging to Sasuke was no secret, though neither was Sasuke's indifference toward her. Sakura continued to punch the wooden dummy, seemingly unaware of the childish skirmish that had been squelched by her sensei. Perspiration began to form over her petite frame. Soon drops of sweat could be seen sliding down the backs of her legs. Naruto had begun paying attention after following Kakashi's gaze; as had Sasuke. A question began to form in each of their minds as they watched the red clad kunoichi pick up the pace in her training and begin to throw kunai at her target in a simulation of attack and evade.
I wonder what's gotten into Sakura, Kakashi wondered. It was not as though the kunoichi was some type of slacker. In actuality, she was among the smartest of all the genin. It was just that she seemed more motivated and confident in herself. Kakashi smiled under his mask. Well, it's about time. I don't know what has caused this transformation, but I am very pleased to see Sakura finally exploring her true potential.
"Well, I think that will be enough for today." Kakashi said before disappearing into a cloud of smoke, letting go of both boys at the same time. Sasuke landed perfectly on one knee, the breeze billowing through his usual blue shirt with the the red and white Uchiha clan insignia on the back, while Naruto fell into a crumple next to him.
Sasuke turned to leave the training ground as he quickly lost interest in the scene. Though the question still lingered in his mind...If she continues to train with that kind of intensity, I wonder how good she could become? Almost immediately he shook away the thought. I have no time to think about such trivial things. I need to focus and get stronger so that I may avenge the Uchiha clan. This, afterall, was Sasuke's one and only goal. His entire clan had been slaughtered by none other than his own brother, Itachi.
Naruto, however, was quite taken be the scene. While Naruto never doubted Sakura's desire to be better, it was not often that he had seen her become so driven. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Hey Sakura-chan, can I keep training with you? That is, if you don't mind," the last part sounding almost sheepish. It was the tone in his voice that caught Sakura's attention, her bright eyes now looking back at her teammate.
"I guess so, Naruto," she replied with a shrug. Why does he want to train with me all of the sudden?
"Alright!" Naruto exclaimed. "What do you want to train on, Sakura-chan?"
A soft breeze blew through the trees and ruffled Sakura's long pink tresses. "Evasive maneuvers," the young ninja said matter-of-factly. Naruto nodded with understanding in his eyes. She's still upset about our last mission. Don't worry, Sakura-chan, I'll help you train.
It had not been long since Team 7 was on a mission in the Land of Snow. All was going according to plan when out of nowhere they were ambushed by a group of rogue ninja. Kakashi, being a former ANBU and adept fighter was able to handle three of the would-be assasins, leaving one for each of the genin. Sasuke easily dispatched of his opponent using his kekke genkai, the Sharingan. Naruto surrounded his attacker with Kage Bunshin and soon defeated the ninja. This left Sakura against a kunoichi Snow Nin. They battled for what seemed like hours to the young genin. It took everything Sakura had to deflect the kunai that quickly showered down on her. Had the others not gotten rid of the rest of the murderous ninja and come to her aid, the pink haired kunoichi's emerald eyes would have closed for the final time.
This was a disappointing fact for Sakura. She knew she was nowhere close to Sasuke's ability, but Naruto had far surpassed her as well. She simply could not hold her own with the rest of her team. After returning to Konoha, upon completion of the mission, she quietly made her way home, walked straight to her room, threw herself on her bed and cried uncontrollably. It took two days, before she would get out of bed. Finally, she resigned to train harder and longer than her male counterparts. It was time to prove herself worthy of the Leaf Village hitae-ite she proudly wore.
Breathing heavily, Sakura was beginning to grow weary as she and Naruto began their second hour of training since the departure of their sensei. Naruto waited for an opening, any sign of a break in his sparring partners' concentration, then threw a series of shuriken in Sakura's direction. Gathering all of her chakra, Sakura leaped from her defensive stance, flipped over the fast flying ninja stars, and landed behind Naruto, a kunai pointed at his neck. A smile formed on Sakura's lips when suddenly the defeated boy disappeared into a puff of smoke, leaving the kunoichi holding a log.
"So that's it, a substitution jutsu, huh, Naruto." Good move, Sakura thought, exhaustion beginning to set in.
Naruto, hidden in a nearby tree, looked down at the obviously tired young girl. She almost had me. I'd better not underestimate her again. The whiskered boy narrowed his blue eyes as he began to plot his next move. So wrapped up in his plan, he nearly failed to notice Sakura's knees buckle under her. Within moments, Naruto was out of the tree and standing next to his teammate, just in time to catch her before her head hit the ground.
"Sakura-chan, you used up all of your chakra. We should have taken a break sooner. I'm sorry, I should have known better and insisited that we rest. Sakura-chan...Sakura-chan!" Naruto's usually playful eyes grew worried.
"Naruto, it's okay. She'll be fine. Sakura just needs to rest." The familiar voice of their sensei came from behind the young teens' left shoulder.
"Kakashi-sensei? How long have you been watching?"
"Long enough," Kakashi said sternly, another smile hidden behind his black mask. Naruto looked down pitifully at his teacher's chastisement. Softening his tone, "don't beat yourself up too much, Naruto. Sakura was not going to listen to reason today, anyway. She obviously had other things on her mind. However, I am proud of you, Naruto."
"Me? What did I do?" The orange jumpsuited boy's eyes grew wide with disbelief. He almost never received praise from Kakashi, or anyone else for that matter. Normally, his impetuousness bungled everything up.
An audible chuckle rose from the Jounin's throat this time. "Today, you've demonstrated real teamwork and have begun laying the foundation for a true friendship with your Sakura-chan." Kakashi stated with a wink. Naruto's face grew red as he realized that his sensei was aware of his own true feelings for the young kunoichi in his arms. Bending to take the unconscious one from Naruto, Kakashi rose carefully so as not to disturb the sleeping girl. "I will take her home. You should get some rest as well...morning training will begin at six, sharp." With that, Kakashi's green Jounin vest and Sakura's red dress became a blur as the two vanished from sight.
Looking up at the sky, Naruto realized that it was already dark. Night fell and I didn't even realize it. I was so concerned with Sakura-chan's condition. The boy stretched in his jumpsuit when his stomach let out a low growl. Oh man, I'm starving! He grinned wildly as an idea came to his mind. "It's Ramen time!" Naruto yelled, a new found energy taking hold of him as he ran back to the village to his favorite Ramen stand.