Apostrophes and italics- 'Thinking'
Quotations and straight- "Talking"
Parentheses- (A/Ns or inner monologue)
Leaving
"You don't have to go, you know..." he pleaded, though you couldn't tell by his tone of voice.
Sakura turned around.
"I'm sorry, Shikamaru, but I have to get stronger if I'm going to help Naruto bring Sasuke back."
She had gotten over Sasuke sometime amongst her training with Tsunade...still though, she...The village needed him back, and Shikamaru Nara was the only person in the village that was aware of her departure.
He was her best friend, after all. The thing was, that she hadn't told him about this leaving.
Well, they don't call him the Lazy Genius for nothing...
"All the others are going to miss you," he paused and looked down, "I'm going to miss you..."
Sakura blushed lightly, and lowered her head as well.
"I know...I'm really sorry Shika, but I have to do this."
Shikamaru gave a small smile and chuckled mirthlessly, "Okay...Just don't be too troublesome."
Sakura smiled and grabbed him in a sudden hug. He was startled, but lightly placed an arm around her.
"Goodbye, Shikamaru..." her voice trembled and a single, silent tear rolled down her flushed cheek.
''Bye, Sakura...be safe...''
He was obviously worried about her well-being.
''I will, I promise.'' she nodded.
They released each other and Sakura started walking. Casting one last glance at each other, Sakura started down the one and only path out of the Hidden Leaf Village; he same one Uchiha Sasuke had taken, five years ago.
...
Sakura had been traveling, restlessly hopping from tree banch to tree branch for hours. She landed in a small clearing sheltered by mountains. Judging by the position of the moon, 'It's midnight,' She mentally concluded.
"I'll camp here..." she mumbled tiredly.
She set up her tent, and went straight to bed. She was exhausted. But luckily, she came prepared.
...
Nearly four hours later, Sakura was woken by a growling sound...
She bolted upwards.
"Who's there?" she demanded, bringing chakra to her fist to prepare herself for who or whatever was lerking outside her tent.
Growl
Insert sweatdrop here.
"Oh, it's just my stomach..."
She grabbed an apple out of the pack she had been dragging around all day, rubbed it on her shirt, and minutes later, apple long since devoured, she heard snapping twigs, and rustling in the trees.
"Show yourself!" she demanded.
She could make out a shadow in the darkness and went chasing after it. It immediately started raining with some nasty thunder and lightning following. (of course TT_TT)
Sakura was running as fast as she could, after the shadow figure only a few feet away from her.
Suddenly, the figure evaporated.
"Get back here!" she stopped running and did a 360 scan, searching for any trace of her guest.
In the blink of an eye, an eradicating bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree. Sakura had to shield her face from the wooden shards coming at her. It wasn't until the tree was a foot or so away from crushing her small form, that she could look up.
'It's too quick to dodge,' she panicked, unable to focus her chakra in time.
Before she passed out from shock and panic, she saw a rush of yellow swoop into her and move her out of the way.
She then heard voices above her...
"Is that her, Senpai?" one childish, excited voice asked.
''How many Kunoichi do you know with pink hair, yeah?'' another answered pointedly.
(guess who!)
...
Yeah, yeah, I know, 'short first chapter'...Don't worry, the following chapters will be A LOT longer...I think...besides, I actually want you guys to guess who the two people are...Even though the second one should be obvious...
So guess, guess, guess if you can!
Tobi: You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!
Wrong song, Tobi.
Tobi: *sulks*
Oh well...
~Raven100