A.N: For some odd reason, this chapter took me forever to write, and I don't really like how long it took me to update. So I do apologize for taking so long, but I did warn you it may take me awhile. I believe it took me long since I could have started chapter two in so many ways, but I finally decided on this one. I do have another copy of chapter two in a different way, but this one is my favorite by far. Some of you may be wondering how long this story will go on for, and truthfully I haven't decided. I have so many plans running through my mind that I'm going to have to write them out on paper and pick what ideas I want and don't want. Still, I do hope you enjoy my chapter and I hope to see more reviews!
Find-A-Way-Today: Thanks for the commenting, and I want you to know that Sasuke will be more stoic in the future! Right now, they are decently young when all of them still have the 'innocence' in them. You will be able to see him changing more into his quiet self later on. Thanks for reviewing and I hope to see another one soon!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!
Tough
Chapter Two
X X X
Konoha's Park
"Hey, Teme?" Naruto calls, watching as the pinkette runs away from them, probably heading towards her house, "Have you seen her in the academy? Or was that just a big performance to get you to pay attention to her?" Sasuke turns to his best friend and shrugs, closing his eyes and wiping his clothes since he sat on the swing.
"I highly doubt she'd do something like that, Dope. If you didn't notice, she was breaking down, there is no way those were fake tears." Sasuke looks up at the night sky, noticing a shooting star, "Not to mention, she didn't try to hug me when I went over to comfort her; not to mention she didn't want to come over to my house." Sasuke turns his gaze back to his friend and sighs loudly, noticing Naruto's stupid expression, "Meaning she would have gotten to spend more time with me, and bragged to her friends; she did neither so there is no way she is a fan girl, at least for now."
"I see where you are coming from but," Naruto starts, scratching the back of his head, "How the heck did we miss a pink haired girl?" Sasuke shrugs beside him, "Anyways, we should start heading home, your mom will be mad at us, and then she won't make me her amazing ramen!" Naruto grabs Sasuke's hand and running towards the Uchiha mansion.
X X X
Uchiha's household
"Itachi-nii?" Naruto asks, staring up at the older Uchiha, "Do you know anything about a pink haired family here?"
"Shut up, Dope." Sasuke grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Naruto for his idiocy, "Don't you remember? Her name is Sakura; Haruno Sakura."
"Haruno?" Itachi asks while leaning against the door and playing with a kunai knife, "I heard of her family. I don't think I should be the one to tell you the information though. You should ask her yourself, but remember to be gentlemen. If you say something wrong, you might set her off." Itachi warns catching his kunai knife with his hand and sliding it into his pocket, "I am leaving on a mission tonight, so I'll see you two when I get home." Itachi walks over to his brother and pokes his forehead before ruffling Naruto's hair, "You two better behave." He walks out of the room, leaving the two 'brothers' to talk to each other.
"What does he mean?" Naruto grumbles childishly while crossing his arms over his chest. Sasuke stares at him with annoyance in his eyes before shaking his head and walking upstairs to his room. "Teme! Teme!" Naruto yells, stumbling upstairs, trying to catch up with his best friend.
X X X
Konoha's Academy
"Class, one of our fellow students, Haruno Sakura, won't be joining us for a few weeks. Something tragic happened to her, and she'll be on vacation. When she comes back I am expecting you all to be on your best behaviors; no, I am demanding you all to be nice to her." Iruka announces to his classroom, frowning. Kenji came in earlier today, announcing the death of Sakura's father and told him to excuse her for the next couple of weeks.
"Sensei? What's so bad that she has to miss class?" One of the children ask while waving his hand up in the air, "I mean it couldn't be that bad. It's not like someone in her family died." Iruka stares at the student and sighs, not knowing how to answer the question.
"Tsk, that pink haired freak deserved it! Her little daddy couldn't deal with her anymore, so he died." Ami, the class bully, announces cheerfully, "Maybe the freak will give up and kill herself. Our lives will be so much easier!" Ami turns to her crush, Sasuke Uchiha, and bats her eyelashes innocently, "Isn't that right, Sasuke-kun? Pinky won't be able to ruin your status anymore, and me and you can finally be together!" Ami has purple hair that stops at her chin, brown eyes, and creamy skin.
"Ami!" Iruka yells, slamming his fist on his desk, "You have no right to speak like that. And I will be talking to your parents when they come and pick you up. Not only that, but you now have detention for a couple of months." Iruka's glare hardens while he taps his foot on the floor impatiently, "As a ninja-in-training you should know that you never act like that around a comrade. Do you understand me?" He turns his gaze to the rest of the classroom and frowns, "You will never become ninja if you act like that. The Sakura you guys knew will most likely be gone when she comes back, and I wouldn't do anything to make her upset. I do wish for you guys to treat her like she's still a human, and try to befriend her." His gaze turns to Naruto, who is sitting by Sasuke, "Now, today we will be reading about the hokages." He turns to the chalkboard and starts to write the names, ignoring Ami's cries of unfairness.
Meanwhile, Sasuke glares at Ami with hate. How can she say something like that? If my family died I would miss a few weeks too! Even though Iruka-sensei never did mention that someone died. He only lead on that she'll be acting differently. I still can't believe her though. Not only is she ugly, she has an horrible personality. No way am I ever going to like her! He scowls more, ignoring Iruka's lesson, She is official going on the bitch list.
Besides him sits Naruto, who is glaring at Ami even more while growling, "Teme, did she really just insult Sakura-chan?" Naruto asks lowly under his breath while clutching his hands into fist, digging his nails into his skin, drawing blood. No one is allowed to talk about Sakura like that! I'm going to murder her! I'm going to make sure she won't ever be able to say that again!
X X X
Earlier that day; Sakura's house
Sakura stares blankly up at her white ceiling, remembering her favorite memories with her father racing through her mind. She couldn't help but to wish she was up in heaven, just to see her dad's smiling face again. Daddy, if you can hear me, please remember that I'll love you no matter what. She thinks to herself, tears forming in her soft green eyes before blinking them away.
"Sakura?" Kenji asks, knocking on the door lightly before walking in. He shuts her door and walks over to her bed. He places his hand onto her head and ruffles it slightly while sitting down on her bed and staring into her eyes, "I think it'll be best if we talk right now. It should be able to help you with your feelings you are hiding." He tells her, watching a tear fall from her cheek, "You aren't a ninja yet, and you have every right to cry right now." Sakura, looks up at him and closes her eyes, throwing her arms around his shoulder and cries quietly, her body shaking with fear.
"H~He promised he w~wouldn't leave me..." She whimpers out after calming herself down slightly, "I know he d~didn't mean to be killed...but no one who loves m~me ever stays here..." She swallows nervously and licks her dry, cracking lips, "No one l~loves me...and I~I'm starting to think it'll b~be best if I die..." Kenji wraps his arms around her small waist and frowns, tightening his grip.
"No," He stats firmly, glaring at the wall in front of him, "Your father will always be in your heart, just because he's not here physically doesn't me he doesn't care." He grumbles while pushing her back some to stare into her eyes, "Now, darling, I'm most likely only going to say this once, so I want you to listen up, okay?" Sakura nods, her body still shaking from holding in her tears, "I love you as if you are my own daughter, and I will not let you kill yourself. You are meant to live, and you will be loved by many more. It will just take longer." He lightly runs his hands through her hair and smiles softly, watching her try and smile herself, "Now, we may-no we will fight most likely in the future, but just remember that I don't hate you. Kids may be cruel to you, and you might feel like everyone is ignoring you; I will always be here for you." Sakura continues to stare into his eyes and sees his eyes shine brightly, making her tilt her head to the side.
"Kenji?" She asks quietly, "This isn't the moment to ask this, but daddy always told me no matter what I should go to the academy..." She starts, climbing off the bed and forcing her aching body to move towards her dresser, "School already started, and I have to go. I promised my father to always go, and I will not break this promise, even if it kills me." She pulls out a fresh pair of clothes and stares at him, "Leave the room." Kenji shakes his head and walks over to her putting the clothes back into her dresser.
"No," He replies glaring, "You will not be going to the academy today. You are definitely not in the right mind to go there. You act calm on the outside-for the most part- but I know you. You're holding it all inside for yourself to deal with it later, aren't you?" He asks, watching her freeze. "I am refusing your request to go to the academy, deal with it." He heads towards the door and opens it, "I have breakfast downstairs. We will talk more later." He leaves Sakura to think to herself.
"Hmph," Sakura grumbles, pulling out some pajama pants and tank top, "You may stop me from leaving today, but tomorrow I will go. Daddy would want me to be strong and not mourn over his death, 'specially around other people." You're pathetic. Her inner self growls out, trying to strangle the outer, Holding in this emotion won't be good for us! I need you to actually cry like you mean it! Shut up, Inner. You know fully well how I feel. If I act weak in front of Kenji, I won't be able to fulfil my promise to daddy. Do you want to make him sad and give up? Do you want us to give up on our dreams? I want to cry my eyes out, and you know that. Well, Kenji knows us well enough to know what we are planning. You obviously haven't cried enough. He was your father too, shouldn't you be crying? Sakura thinks, growling lowly while changing her clothes. How can I when I'm not controlling myself right now? You act like we share this body. Oh, little Saku-chan, if only you knew. Inner chuckles loudly before disappearing. What...? Sakura thinks to herself while frowning and shaking her head, decidin g to figure it out later.
X X X
Konoha's Academy; lunch break
"Teme? Have we came to a conclusion?" Naruto asks his friend while slurping up some of his ramen and staring at Sasuke from the corner of his eyes, who is eating an homemade bento his mother made.
"You already know we have, dope." Sasuke answers finishing his food and sighing, listening to his fangirls try and flirt with him, "We'll start it when she comes back in a few weeks. I'll announce my plan to mother when I get home." Naruto nods slightly before finishing his ramen and stands up, collecting Sasuke's trash.
"Let's hope she doesn't try to hurt herself, and hope that she has someone to help her come through this while being out of the academy." Naruto replies with a frown before walking away, pushing his way through the fan club. Sakura, you may not know us, but we are about to become your best friends. Naruto thinks to himself, heading back to Sasuke, begging for him to explain the lesson.
X X X
I'm pretty sure you guys noticed me replying to Find-A-Way-Today, and I wanted to let you all know, whenever someone asks me a question (And I wish to answer it without spoiling anything) I will do it at the beginning of the chapters. Don't worry though! I haven't forgotten about all my other reviewers! So I'd like to thank the following for reviewing: Find-A-Way-Today, DeadlyDarkAngel, Black n' Blue sun, 1Animefreakgurl, littlemissxflydog, XT3, banglamiss, and blackmoon124! I am blown away with the amount of reviews I got from my first chapter, so thank you! I also want to thank everyone who is following my story and who favorited it! I hope to update again sometime this month, so please be patient with my slow updates!
Kimi-the-writer