Sakura Haruno found herself walking along that same path once again, to remind herself of a certain stoic man she once fought beside. Her pace slowed slightly as she turned her head to the right to view an old looking bench.
She stopped walking completely before the wind started to gradually get stronger, blowing Sakura's fringe wildly over her face.
She didn't bother to move her hair out of her eyes, in some ways she wanted her eyes to sting from something other than the tears that could threaten to fall any moment, just like they usually did.
But this time, to Sakura's amazement, she didn't cry. Instead she confidently stroked her fringe out the way of her face and turned away from the bench.
"Sakura!" A strong voice abruptly shook away any of Sakura's thoughts before appearing before her.
"Oh, Lady Tsunade," Sakura bowed her head slightly before looking back to her mentor. "Is there something you need from me?"
The wind blew past both women as Tsunade took an unsure breath.
"Shizune has arrived back from her assignment this morning and I would like to relieve you from your daily duties for the rest of the month." Sakura frowned slightly as she stared into Tsunade's eyes uncertainly.
"I don't mean to be rude Lady Tsunade, but I am voluntarily working under you as your apprentice, performing those duties are only a natural part of my training," Sakura started before leaning to her side. "Does this mean that you no longer wish to train me?"
"Don't be absurd!" Tsunade raised her voice, making Sakura blink in shock. "I'm merely letting you rest for a month! You are a great apprentice, there's no doubting that! However if you want to become a better kunoichi, you need to rest. You have been over exhausting chakra that you don't have yet," Tsunade explained rather bluntly. Sakura sighed before straightening her posture to listen further to what was being said.
"I would also recommend that you build up relationships with old friends. It seems as if you have been drifting away from everyone ever since Naruto left to train under Jiraiya two years ago." Sakura's eyes brightened up slightly at the sound of her teammate's name.
'That's right, Naruto will be coming home next year! Time seems to have flown past so quickly!' Sakura thought to herself with a small smile in the corners of her mouth.
"Okay, Lady Tsunade, I'll see what I can do." Sakura agreed without difficulty. Tsunade looked down at her and nodded.
"Good. Come and see me at the end of the month. I'll have something big in store for you. See you around, Sakura." Tsunade finished while walking away boldly, keeping her posture almost perfect as she headed in the direction of the Hokage tower.
"Goodbye Lady Tsunade!" Sakura shouted after her as she inhaled deeply before sighing in relief.
To Sakura it seemed like a huge weight had been lifted from her chest. She had trained hard for two years constantly without a day of rest, and being told that she had a month of rest only made her responsibilities lighten up.
"Hmm, now that I think about it…I have been secluding myself from my village. Even when my own mentor invited me out to drink on my 15th Birthday a few weeks back I denied it and continued with duties that could have waited…" Sakura muttered out loud to herself. She resisted the urge to head in the direction of the training field before heading into the village's shopping centre.
Sakura felt slightly uncomfortable while walking through the busy street. The faces of the civilians became a bit foggy to her, which was somewhat depressing. She used to take time out of her day as a Genin to help the elderly out carrying their shopping bags back to their homes and cleaning the shops after hours for free when they look like they needed the extra help.
Thinking about it now made Sakura realise that she never really took the role of a shinobi that seriously when she was a Genin.
'Since when did becoming a shinobi mean that you stop helping the civilians you live around…" Sakura thought curiously before she heard something hit the ground a few feet in front of her really hard.
She looked ahead for the source of the noise and discovered that it was a lady in her thirties. Sakura relaxed her shoulders somewhat while walking towards her. She thought that the lady must have tripped on something and landed, unfortunately, really hard on the concrete ground.
Although within seconds the area around the lady cleared into a spacious circle as people started to talk a lot louder. Sakura started running towards the scene by instinct.
"What are you doing?! Hitting a lady like that!" Teuchi from Ichiraku's Raman shop yelled with a clenched fist in the air and a ladle in his other hand. It took Sakura seconds to reach the scene.
"What's with all the commotion?" She asked in an assertive manner. Before Teuchi could reply to Sakura's question, a man dressed in jeans and a simple shirt walked up to the lady and kicked her side brutally.
Sakura reacted quickly and punched the man squarely in the jaw, without the help of her chakra, making him fall back on his butt.
Sakura ignored the man on the ground, struggling in pain before, looking over to the lady. She quickly analysed her and noticed that she was pregnant.
"What the HELL do you think you're doing you crazy man!?" Sakura roared, her emotions boiling up quickly. Sakura stomped over to the man and picked him up by the scruff of his collar. A few civilians around him sensed the urge to back away from Sakura despite having nothing to do with the situation.
"She's not important to me any more! She's weak and disgusting and I want nothing to do with her! She's ruined my life!" Sakura felt a strong urge to eradicate this guy's existence with a jutsu she learned not so long ago that was easy to pull off…but she shook off the feeling. After all he was just simply a civilian. Instead she snarled at him aggressively and chucked him to the side harshly.
Sakura hurried over to the lady on the ground and knelt down to her side.
"Are you hurt?" Sakura questioned blatantly as the Lady sat up with little struggle.
"I'll be fine." She winced at her last word and her body twitched to the side slightly.
"You are pregnant." Sakura spoke directly to the lady, to confirm her analysis and to reassure the lady that she was allowed to be helpless in a situation like this.
The lady simply nodded her head slightly before lifting her top up. Sakura flinched slightly at the nasty looking bruises that could be seen all over her body.
"Here, let me help you." Sakura said while using her left arm to support the lady's back and her right hand to heal the fresher bruise. The lady seemed to relax more as she figured that Sakura was a medical ninja while closing her eyes.
The crowded civilians started to scatter and leave the scene as nothing else was happening.
"Can I ask you for your name? My name is Sakura." Sakura started while her hand hovered from one bruise to the other.
"Thank you Sakura. I'm afraid to inform you that I no longer have a name. My ex-boyfriend used all the money he had to change my name by getting expert ninja from a foreign country to erase my memory a few months back," Sakura furrowed her eyebrows and looked more intensely into the lady's eyes. "He got so mad when he knew I'd found out what really happened…So this morning he wanted to kill me…and the baby I kept secret from him." The lady looked extremely sad as she stared back into Sakura's eyes.
"That's ridiculous! Everyone deserves a name at least." Sakura replied casually. She looked up and saw Teuchi still standing outside his shop.
"That's why you never responded when I shouted your name!" He roared cheerfully, causing the lady to jump.
"Excuse me?" She questioned while Sakura helped her stand onto her feet. "Do you know my real name?" She asked further with a beam of hope shining in her eyes. I could see Teuchi struggle somewhat before he spoke.
"Your name is Suki," He said with confidence "Yeah, that's right! You used to come to my shop and help me out when I ran out of menma!"
"Suki…Suki, yeah. That taste's right on my tongue. It must be my name." She affirmed to herself while rubbing her stomach softly. Sakura smiled and held her hand out to the lady.
"I recommend that you go to the hospital. You're going to need professional equipment to check on your unborn baby to see if it's safe. Would you like me to escort you there Suki?" Sakura questioned.
"You're a really nice girl Sakura, thank you for that. Not many people would stand up for me like you did. I would appreciate it if you did take me there please. My knees do feel weak from earlier."
Before Suki could take Sakura's hand, the man from earlier that they didn't take notice of had found a long and rusty butchers knife and forced it in the direction of Sakura's neck.
"How dare you strike a woman while their back is turned!" A strong male voice shouted while a huge white dog bit the man's hand, causing him to drop the knife abruptly and yell in agony.
Sakura span on the spot and came in visual contact with Kiba's back.
"Uh, Kiba?" Sakura stuttered almost speechlessly. Before he could respond, Teuchi coughed loudly while closing up the shop.
"I'll take Suki to the hospital Sakura, You can sort out this mess with your friend here." He stated before escorting Suki to the hospital.
Kiba smirked to himself as he turned his body so that he could see Sakura.
"Hello Stranger." He started. Sakura sighed in annoyance. She dismissed his nickname and walked next to him.
"Hi Kiba. You might want to tell Akamaru not to bite…like, that hard?" Sakura winced with her last words. Kiba looked into Sakura's eyes with a confused expression before he reluctantly called Akamaru away from the man.
Once again Sakura walked up to the man and helped him up by grabbing his shirt.
"What is the meaning of all this rubbish I've just heard? You've committed illegal action and your alliance with the leaf village is questionable." Sakura gritted her teeth delicately, trying to avoid further self-aggravation.
"I'm not saying a thing to you!" The man retorted before spitting in Sakura's face.
Sakura's aura seemed to make the sky darken in contrast as she effortlessly wiped the cigarette smelling saliva off her face.
Sakura simply pushed the guy away, he stumbled on his feet before trying to land another attack on Sakura.
Sakura infused her fist with some of her chakra and was aiming to smash her fist into the man's wrist that he was going to use to attack her with.
Although before Sakura's brutal punch could hit, Akamaru jumped on the guy and forced him to the ground and Kiba held Sakura's arm back with a bit of struggle.
"This guy pisses me off too Sakura…Although, as shinobi, we cannot get involved too heavily in the civilians cause of injury…" Kiba mumbled. Sakura gave him a stern look before snatching her arm away.
"Ugh…What do we do with him?" She questioned aversely. Kiba shrugged and as if their voices were heard loudly, the Anbu squad arrived on the scene. Sai accompanied the group although Sakura and Kiba couldn't have seen him behind the four tall Shinobi that stood before them.
"Don't worry, we'll need to take this guy into questioning. We'll take it from here." One of the masked men spoke up.
The Anbu squad swiftly cuffed the man up and left the scene, leaving Sai behind.
"Oh, Sakura. It's rare to see you out in the sunlight with a comrade." Sai stated blankly, clearly trying to provoke a negative reaction. Sakura placed one of her hands on her hips and sighed noisily.
"It's rare to see you approach someone with such positivity Sai." Sakura retorted sarcastically. Sai smiled and approached the two ninja.
"Anyway!" Kiba spoke up loudly which caused Sakura to flinch from the loudness that suddenly erupted from nowhere. "I was heading down to the sauna rooms! You guys should join us."
Sakura showed a hint of worry while Sai smiled further.
"I suppose I can spare the time." Sai said bluntly. Kiba gave him a harsh glare and had the intent of taking things out of proportion until Sakura spoke up.
"Us?" She asked. Akamaru wagged his tail while placing himself to sit next to Kiba.
"Yeah, the old Genin 11. Ino would kill me if she heard that I spoke to you in your free time and didn't invite you. Temari from the sand is there too." Kiba answered, almost forgetting about Sai's somewhat rude comment.
"Temari?" Sakura started while straightening her posture. "Oh, that's right, the Chunin exams are on again aren't they," She reminded herself. "Alright, I'll go there." Sakura finalised.
They all headed to the sauna in silence. To Sakura, it seemed, that the awkwardness seemed to grow with every step they took.
Sakura frowned and looked to her sides. Both Kiba and Akamaru looked comfortable walking beside each other without saying a word. Sai wore an expressionless face yet Sakura could tell that he was also happy with walking in silence.
'Have I grown apart from these guys? Do I really even belong here?' Sakura thought, her frown becoming more of a grimace.
"Are you okay Sakura? You seem to be pouting." Sai verbalized his thoughts openly. Sakura's eyes widened and she quickly turned to face Sai.
"I-I'm not pouting Sai! I'm just thinking!" Sakura defended herself hesitantly as a hint of pink dusted her cheeks.
"Dude, you were totally pouting. Even Akamaru thinks so." Kiba started poking fun at her too as Akamaru barked in correspondence.
Sakura's cheeks started to heat up more as she started frowning again.
"I said I was thinking! Ugh, you guys are just seeing things!" Sakura became flustered and started to panic slightly. She'd been so used to training and keeping quiet and alone that socialising and banter seemed like something she was new to.
"Oh really?" Sai questioned in a playful manner. Before Sakura could stutter her next words a blur of purple rushed onto the scene and squeezed Sakura tightly.
"Sakura!" Ino yelped happily. Sakura stood still for a few moments before hugging back her old friend. Kiba and Sai exchanged a curious look before joining the group of ninja that surrounded the front of the Sauna's.
"Where the hell have you been all this time?!" Ino cried as she let go of Sakura. Sakura felt a surge of warmth hit her as see saw Ino's face and body. Sakura noticed that her once flat chested rival had flourished to a long haired kunoichi whose face gave her joy and nothing but sincerity.
"Training?" Sakura suggested quietly, although Ino didn't listen to her. Instead Ino lifted up Sakura's hair and touched at her shirt and finally her forehead.
"You've changed so much since I saw you last, other than your inhumanely huge forehead!" Ino laughed. Sakura smirked and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'd say you're still the same, Ino-pig." Sakura retorted impishly. Ino grinned and took her hand before yanking Sakura in the direction of the hot springs.
"Hey guys! Look who's joining us today!" Ino shouted a bit too loudly for Sakura's likings.
Sakura frowned faintly whilst trying to hide the embarrassment of Ino's noisy announcement.
"Sakura?! Oh Sakura! I have not seen your youthful face since Naruto left to train under Jiraiya sensei! It looks like you have blossomed since our last encounter!" Lee spoke up as his stance straightened dramatically. Sakura sighed at his words before shaking her head slightly.
"You're silly, Lee." She replied.
"He is right though, you do look a little different from the last time we saw you, Sakura." Neji attempted, Sakura smiled and joined the group.
Everyone took their time to greet Sakura and catch up on the gossip of the group.
Sakura looked around and noticed that there was someone missing.
"Hey, where's Hinata?" Sakura voiced.
"She's inside the sauna already. She doesn't like anyone to see her go in and out…It's an insecurity we've all learned to respect." Tenten spoke up.
Sakura shrugged slightly as they all decided to enter the sauna together.
Sakura felt the warm sauna relax her body like it used to as she lowered herself into the water.
"This is so good," Sakura breathed as she sat herself in a comfortable position. "I'd forgotten how soothing this is."
"H-hi Sakura." Hinata stuttered. Sakura looked to her left and saw Hinata with her arms over her chest.
"Oh, hey Hinata. I almost didn't see you there." Sakura responded cheerfully.
Before their conversation could last any longer, Ino and the rest of the group got into the water.
"So, what's going on with you and Sai?" Tenten interrogated Sakura, making her somewhat speechless as Sakura looked at everyone.
"W-what do you mean 'What's going on'?" Sakura responded defensively.
"Don't try to hide it," Ino started with a slightly blunt tone. "Kiba wouldn't have taken you here. Sai must be interested in you or something..." Ino continued. Sakura could say now that she was utterly confused.
"Don't play dumb! I invited Sai here and he refused my offer! But he's here now so you must have done something!" Ino raised her voice. Sakura sweatdropped and raised her hands.
"I don't know what you're trying to say. Kiba was the one to invite me here saying that you'd be mad at him if he didn't. Sai actually just tagged along with us…I have nothing to do with him being here…Honestly." Sakura retorted warily.
Ino seemed to calm down slightly and sit back into the water.
"Hmm, Fine. I believe you…" Ino said while laying her head back into the cushion she placed behind herself.
"I hear that you and Shikamaru are an item now…Is this true?" Tenten teased Temari. Although she didn't take the bait and responded calmly.
"Really? That's the first I've heard of it," Temari dismissed.
Sakura looked at the group and smiled.
'They've not really changed one bit…have they.' Sakura thought to herself.
"Is there someone you're interested in, Sakura?" Ino spoke up as if to continue a conversation. Sakura blinked a few times and realised that she must have missed what they were talking about as she wiped some sleep away from the corner of her eyes.
"U-uh, n-no?" Sakura stumbled on her words. Ino smirked evilly while leaning closer in Sakura's direction.
"Oh? Is that so? It seems as if you're lying." Ino stated obviously as everyone in the room seemed to listen in on the conversation a bit more closely.
"No way! I don't have the time to be thinking about all that stuff!" Sakura defended herself stridently.
"Wait…" Tenten started before leaning back to her seat with disinterest. "It's a no-brainer." She continued, which turned the attention of everyone to her.
"What do you mean, Tenten?" Ino asked, trying to pry information from her.
"Think about it. She must be in love with someone she's embarrassed to name…It's obviously Lee. She didn't act like she usually did around him earlier." Tenten baited Sakura. Ino widened her eyes and looked right back at Sakura.
"Oh! Sakura is it true!?" Ino shrieked in excitement. Sakura immediately straightened her back and looked at Ino's wild eyes.
"No. Just no!" She retorted uncontrollably. Ino started to look at Sakura cautiously.
"Really?" Ino teased.
"Really! If I told you who I held feelings for you guys just wouldn't understand." Sakura took Tenten's bait and quickly noticed as Tenten smirked.
"So you do like someone?" Tenten said triumphantly. Sakura sighed in defeat.
"Oh c'mon! You have to tell us now!" Ino cried.
Sakura looked around the room and saw nothing but expectant eyes staring at her.
"Fine," Sakura exhaled miserably. "I still like S-Sasuke-kun." She muttered quietly. Although everyone in the sauna heard this crystal clear, and became quiet while staring at Sakura in shock.
"That's just plain stupid." Ino spoke up. "You probably still 'like' him because you've not been out with the rest of us. It's okay though. You'll be spending a lot of time with us now." Ino finished and smiled with understanding in Sakura's direction.
Sakura was about to speak and make up an excuse as to why she couldn't hang out with everyone, but she quickly realised that she didn't have any.
"That makes sense…" Tenten pondered Ino's words for a while. "Hey! Why don't you join team 9 on our picnic tomorrow?" She asked.
Sakura sighed again and reluctantly spoke.
"Yeah, I suppose that would be nice." Sakura tried to sound friendly while talking.
Tenten smiled. Conversation seemed to change quickly and the rest of the session seemed to run smoothly.
Everyone had said their goodbyes and headed off home. Sakura was the first to reach her house and wondered what exactly was in store for her tomorrow with the picnic and Tenten.
A.N: This must be my longest introductory chapter ever ;-; Although I really do hope that you guys enjoy it D: I'll be adding more information to the story Bio as the chapters go on, and as always, Please review! I will be working on this story so that it actually has an ending too!