"talking"
'thinking'
"inner Sakura"
chapter 2
'How could they do that to me? I thought they were my friends' Sakura was standing at her drawers picking out clothing to pack for her mission the next day.
She was going to wear her usual garb: beige skirt with the black shorts underneath and a red top with the white circular symbol on the back. She also packed her undergarments, bathing necessities, black jogging shorts, some black and white tee-shirts, a couple standard issue long sleeve shirts, and her medic kit.
Once she finished packing she threw her bag by the door and laid down on her bed.
"Why would they party without me? They always invite me to a party. Its just so unbelievable that my 'so-called friends' would have a party behind my back.'' Sakura growled, her eyes glaring a proverbial hole through the ceiling.
"You know, maybe they WERE trying to hide it from you. Did you notice how Ino was sitting on Sasuke's lap? They are trying to hide from you that they are going out... Now go to sleep. It's gonna be a long day."
"I hate them." she hissed softly and quickly fell asleep.
In the morning, she took a long hot shower to relax. She knew she was going to need it before she had to deal with her team. Exiting the bathroom, Sakura quickly got dressed in her typical medic garb and ran a brush through her damp hair. Glaring at her plain reflection, Sakura turned to the door and grabbed her bag from the floor.
"This is going to be a long mission." Sakura grumbled, taking her time down the steps and entering her plain kitchen. She grabbed an apple and set to work peeling it with a sharpened kunai while she waited for her toast to finish.
"Oh great, I still have a gallon of milk left. Well that's going to be gross by the time we get back.." Sakura pushed it to the side to grab her jam.
With her toast eaten, she grabbed her happily peeled apple, slung her bag over her shoulder, and made for the door.
On her way out, Sakura made sure her door was locked before heading off. All she knew is that the mission was going to last a week and that they were heading off towards lightning country. Kakashi was supposed to fill them in on the mission details before they leave.
'Hmmm, looks like I'm kinda early. No ones here yet.'
" You shouldn't be that surprised."
'Oh good morning. I thought you died. You were so silent last night after I told you off '
She sat down against the wall next to the front gate and closed her eyes. The only noise she could her was the juicy crunch she made when she bit into her apple and the birds chirping happily off in the distance.
" You're so mean. I didn't die, I got scared so I left you alone."
' Ah, you're too kind.' Sakura let out a small sigh and took another bite of her apple.
" So where's Naruto and Sasuke? They at least should be here."
' They usually show up either with Kakashi or 5 minutes before he arrives. I'm the only one who does everything right, and I still get punished. Sucks...'
" I agree. But hey, what are you gonna do? They're boys. Of course sensei is going to favor them over you."
'Sure, but still...They could at least show up on time for missions. I could care less about training. Missions are more important.'
Unknown to Sakura, the rest of her team was standing their watching her with a look of pure amusement on their faces. She looked like she was sleeping because she had her eyes closed, but at the same time she wasn't because it looked like she was talking to someone by occasionally shaking her head or letting out an angry sigh.
"Is she okay Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked. He leaned forward to shake her but Sasuke held him back.
"Leave her alone. Maybe we should just leave her here." He suggested with a small smirk playing across his face. Naruto whipped his head around to glare at Sasuke.
"No that would be mean. Besides, Tsunade baa-chan would kill us if we left her prized student all alone." Naruto spoke as he got himself free of Sasuke's grip.
" Fine. Dobe." Sasuke said and stepped back, shoving his hands in his pocket.
" Don't call me that." Naruto growled, turning to glare at Sasuke with a raised fist. So much for Sakura.
"What? Oh, Dobe? But you are." Sasuke retorted back, the smirk coming back.
" I know how much you two like calling each other names but we do have to get going." Kakashi said. He walked over and lightly shook Sakura.
"Sakura, are you okay? We have to leave now." Kakashi said. Sakura quickly opened her eyes to see Kakashi staring at her and Naruto and Sasuke in the background trying to kill each other.
She sighed. Typical...
"I'm perfectly fine. Just waiting for the three of you to grace me with your presence." Sakura stood up and pulled her bag up with her. Shouldering her bag, she turned away from her sensei and looked off towards the main gate.
" HEY! NARUTO, SASUKE! STOP FIGHTING AND LETS GO!" Sakura yelled and walked out the main gate and started walking. It would take two days to get to lightning country.
'At least they forgot about last night.'
They walked in semi silence the entire time. The only talking came from Naruto's usual bickering and Sasuke yelling back at him to shut up. At dusk, Kakashi decided to stop and make camp.
The four ninja dropped from the canopy and placed their stuff to the ground, Naruto immediately sprawling out on the ground and letting out a blissful sigh of relief. Sakura kept herself from kicking him in annoyance.
"Sakura, we'll leave you to set up camp and make dinner. The three of us are going to go wash up in the river just ahead. Let us know when dinner is done." Kakashi said and led Naruto and Sasuke off towards the river camp was being set up near.
"What the hell?! Why should I do it all? So not fair." Sakura muttered angrily to herself as she pulled out a scroll from within Kakashi's small pack. With a couple swift hand signs, three tents and a small cooking set appeared.
With the tents set up and everyone's packs set within each tent, Sakura set about making a fire. Once it was lit she decided to got to the river and catch some fish for dinner. As she approached the river, Sakura concealed her chakra and snuck up quietly to see what it was they were talking about.
"We leave tomorrow at 7:00 AM. We'll be in lightning country by 1:00 PM tomorrow afternoon." Kakashi said, staring lazily up at the sky. Sakura immediately zoned in on his face. He wasn't wearing his mask.
'SERIOUSLY?! He's not wearing his mask! He has no problem showing the boys but he couldn't show me? What an ass...'
"Sounds like a plan sensei! Out of curiosity, since Sakura-chan isn't here, why did you make her do all the work? I coulda set up the tents." Naruto asked, his hands skimming the water's surface in apparent boredom.
"I felt too lazy to do it myself. Besides, It's good training. You and I both know she could use it. She may be the Hokage's apprentice, but she's still just as weak as she was 4 years ago when this team was first formed." Kakashi said. He grinned when Sasuke started laughing.
"Good one sensei. You're completely right. She's unbelievably weak and damn near useless. Even Ino has more use than her. And that's saying something." Sasuke said, his ever present smirk dancing across his handsome face.
Sakura had heard enough. Not caring whether they heard her, Sakura stood up and raced off down the river, leaving the boys to their chat.
'How could they think I'm weak? They've never even seen my strength yet. They just won't give me a chance. I wish they would just let go of the past and let me prove myself.' She must have ran at least two miles downriver before collapsing against a rock, tears streaming down her pale face.
"Hmmm, what do we have here? A little kunoichi all alone, crying like a pathetic little girl." Sakura let out a surprised gasp and jumped up to face the person behind the voice. Her eyes went wide and her heart clenched in fear.
"I-Itachi Uchiha?"
Terrible human, I know. No one likes a cliffhanger. Good thing the next chapter is already up!
Hope you enjoyed!
Until next time~
*edited as of 2013*
