Disclaimer: I do not own the song "Broken" by Lindsy Haun that is used in this story. I also do not own the anime/manga Naruto. All rights go to the brilliant mind of Masashi Kishimoto-san.
A/N: Ok, here's chapter two! It really does vary with this story, angst one minute slight humor the next, then slight romance. I guess that's just how life goes eh? Happy one minute depressed the next.
.::Chapter Two::.
"Icha Icha Basics?"
Sakura had already met with Ino outside of her apartment and helped her get settled in the guest bedroom. The kunoichi was now in her own room. Compared to her former room at her parents house, which had long since been abandoned, there was nothing more than a bed, dresser and a simple desk in the far corner near the window. The only thing on the plain white walls was a picture hanging over her bed that Ino had made her this spring. The only color to the black parchment picture was the white circle in the center, her family's crest, and the beautiful pressed flowers of reds, white and off-white colors around it. Inside the circle was a bloomed cherry blossom.
Even though they were still rivals, at least in terms of being kunoichi now, Sakura knew the hidden meaning behind the single bloomed flower even if the platinum blonde claimed she did it out of boredom.
Once more, her window was wide open. It was so wide and tall she could see over half of Konoha clearly which was kind of peaceful. Almost like she was guarding her home village. The warm winds came in calmly as she drifted to sleep.
She was in a forest somewhere. The place was... creepy, to say the least. There were no tall lush healthy leaved trees, no bright blue sky above, no warm shining sun, nothing at all that resemlbed her home village. The trees looked dead, as if even the slightest touch could make them fall apart. The sky was a dark gray-ish purple. It felt so cold. The only way to describe this place in one word was Death.
The further she walked the more the trees seemed to be alive in a deathly way. At least these trees still had some leaves to them, even if they were dark brown and purple. The more she thought about it, the trees from before seemed more welcoming. At least she could see if something were hiding in them.
One of the trees above head moved quickly, small twigs breaking. She pulled a few kunai and threw them in that spot but only heard silence. That is, until an amused chuckle came from the other side of the clearing behind her. She turned around but no one was there, and pulled out a few more kunai.
"You missed." Came the deep amused voice.
She grit her teeth together in instant irritation. Of course she missed, why else would he be laughing at her? "Who are you, show yourself!" she demanded.
Minutes that seemed like hours passed into the hazy opening before she felt someone jump down behind her, causing her to jump and turn towards the person. The sudden action made her lose her balance and collide back first into a tree with a loud thump. She hissed from the pain that shot up her back, but kept her arms held up in front of her with her weapons of choice in hand as to block any oncoming attack, but none ever came. When she looked towards who jumped from the tree, she saw he was just standing there with his arms crossed, smirking. His black hair covering his dark eyes.
Her own green eyes went wide with realization, the momentary shock made her drop the kunai's.
"What's the matter Sakura. Too weak to even kill me?" He taunted, walking closer to where she stood frozen.
She looked up at him when he stopped a foot in front of her. Wait, up? Sakura looked down to where she dropped the blades, then at herself. Why wasn't she thirteen, or even in the same familiar setting in Konoha? Where was she? She returned her eyes to his in confusion. "What... are you doing here?"
"I figured you'd be more than happy to see me. Don't tell me, you're chasing someone else around because of their popularity. I'm sure there's someone you're bothering." He continued to taunt.
Sakura gasped at the bitterness in is voice. "W-What?"
"Well, it's the same reason why you chased me around all those years, so I must be right. Makes me kind of wonder who the poor bastard is."
"That's... That's not it at all!" Sakura said with wide green eyes. Where was these words coming from and why was she the target of his venom? Nothing made sense here. It was all nothing but confusion and hatred, something she didn't feel towards him in the least.
"Save it for someone who cares."
Sakura saw him move quickly and she stumbled to run, but he was faster than her. She gasped at the sound of ringing metal echoing when he was in front of her. She coughed...
He scoffed in deep irritation. The look in his dark eyes gave a hint of resentment towards her. Hate. "So is this all you're good for, to die? You were better off as a regular villager. Your a disgrace to the kunoichi and even more so to Konohagakure."
She gasped in shakily, eyes wide in pain. Sakurae fell to her knees when he pulled the sword out from her stomach, coughing up blood. The coppery taste made her cringe and her stomach turn slightly. With one hand on her wound and the other supporting her weight on the ground, she looked up with blurry vision. She cringed again at the look of pure amusement and enjoyment on his face at seeing her blood spill by his hands. Why was this happening!
"Just imagine how Naruto would look... when I kill him and scatter his limbs all across Konoha with the rest of them." Sakura gasped again as the tears made there way down her face. "Join me."
"W-What?" She breathed out.
"Your the only one who can get close to him. If you assist me in killing Naruto and everyone else, you can stay by my side." he smirked again.
Sakura's heart stopped, thought's running though her mind a mile a minute. 'I can be with him... He'll really let me?' a flash of blonde hair blue eyes and a goofy grin entered her mind. 'Kill Naruto...? Just to be with...'
He almost grinned when she shakily stood up. That girl was always predictable. No matter how badly she tried to prove that she changed, in the end she was still the same pathetic little girl she was when she first entered the academy. 'This was too easy.'
"... No." she said darkly.
His eyes narrowed at her sudden response and flaw in his calculation. "What?"
Sakura glared up at him the best she could. He ran a sword through her with the intent to kill her, and then has the nerve to ask for her 'assistance' in killing one of the few good friends she has!? "If... the only way to be with you--" she coughed more blood up, trying her best to get the words out. "is by killing Naruto... then I wont do it."
He growled. "Think about what you're doing, Sakura."
Before she had stood up, she grabbed both fallen kunai, now pointing the one in her right hand towards him warningly. "I wont! I made a promise to Naruto. He may be an idiot who can't get things right, but... He's stuck by my side and believed in me, through all this time he was always there. I wont betray that. Even if it means not going with you!" she yelled, tears continuing to fall.
"I see... Too bad,"
"Huh?"
"That you'll never save him in time, anyway."
Sakura froze in her spot with wide eyes as the surrounding forest disappeared and everything turned pitch dark. There was a light where they both stood that was a crimson red. A third, white light appeared to her far left. Naruto's head was lolled to the side, kunai and shuriken in him. A sword in each arm pinning him high on a random spot. Blood was running down the nearly transparent wall and a gaping hole where his heart was. The blood just kept dripping. Everything was slowly turning red.
Her mind and stomach spun like a whirlwind. She felt dizzy, not knowing whether to be sick or burst into tears at the sight of her friend in that condition. 'No... t-this... can't... no... no!' she gasped out sobs as she fell to her knees. "NARUTO!!!"
Sakura screamed and sat up, her heart was pounding to the point of pain. Her breathing was short and shallow and her room felt like an oven even with the open windows.
Upon hearing the scream Ino fell out of her bed to get to Sakura's room, fighting her way to get untangled the lilac colored sheets along the way. Ino kicked the door open after finding it was locked. After finding the light switch, she saw Sakura sitting in the middle of her bed with her arms wrapped around her legs, bringing them closer to her chest while rocking back and forth, crying and muttering incoherent words.
Ino sat on the edge of the bed. "Sakura! What's wrong, why'd you scream?!"
Head still on her knees, all she could manage to choke out was, "S-S-Sasuke... h-he k-killed N-Naruto." she cried harder once she was able to finish the sentence after several tries.
Ino gasped. When she registered what happened, her eyes became downcast and she leaned in closer. "Was it another dream?"
"Y-Yes." Sakura answered quietly, now starting to shake. She choked out another sob. "God... I-It felt so real..."
Ino attempted to hug her friend to comfort her, but Sakura pushed her back. "N-No!" she took in a breath. "You have to call him! M-Make sure he's okay!" Sakura pleaded.
Confused, Ino blinked. "Who?"
"Naruto!"
"Sakura, I'm sure he's fi--"
"N-No! Call him, please!" She cried, still shaking.
Heart still pounding from the previous scare, she sighed. "Okay, okay. I'll be right back, stay here." Ino got up and turned a light on before going into the kitchen to call him. The phone kept ringing and after the fifth time Ino was about to hang up on the seventh ring before,
"--WHAT! IT'S FOUR IN THE FREAKIN' MORNING! PERVY SAGE IF THAT'S YOU, YOU BETTER HAVE A--!!"
"Shut up, Naruto!"
There was a pause. "Ino, that you? Why're you calling so late?"
Ino sighed again at how quickly the idiot calmed down. "It's Sakura," she whispered. "I'm staying a few nights with her, but she just woke up screaming."
"She's not hurt is she?" Naruto asked quickly. "Sakura-chan's okay, right? Right?!"
"No. Well, no she's not hurt, she fine, but..."
"Okay... THEN WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME FOR?!"
Ino growled, feeling a nerve spot forming on the back of her head. "Because she's saying Sasuke killed you, you idiot!"
There was silence on the other line for the longest time before he barely managed out a, "What?"
"Look, I promised not to tell anyone but Sakura's been having odd dreams for a while and she's hysterical right now. I don't know if it's the cause of what happened before, but she wanted me to call you to make sure you were okay. Whatever happened in that dream of hers really shook her up. She's still crying." Ino peeked around the corner to the light shining from the room at the end of the hall. Even this far away, she could still hear her. "It kind of scares me when this happens, but it's never been this bad before, Naruto."
"She's... crying?" he almost sounded heartbroken. "Because she thought I died?"
"From the sounds of it, yeah."
"I'll be right there!"
"What? No! Naruto you don't need to be coming over this lat at-- Hey, are you there?! Ugh!" The platinum blonde kunoichi slammed the phone down when she heard dial tone on the other line and went back into Sakura's room.
Sakura lifted her head from her knees when the sound of shuffled footsteps came back to her room. "I-Is he okay?"
Ino smiled weakly. It felt like a kunai went through her heart at seeing the pain the pink haired girl was opening showing. "Yeah, he's okay." she sat down next to her on the side of the bed. "Sakura, calm down. It was only a dream. That will never happen and you know it."
"But... I-It was so real," Sakura then explained the dream as clear as day. Ino didn't quite know what to say after that.
About the time complete silence rang through the room, the sound of a door slamming open then shut filled their ears along with rushed foot steps. A stressed out looking shinobi came sliding to a stop in the doorway, out of breath. "Sakura-chan!"
"Gah! You idiot, did you run all the way here!" Ino yelled. From where Sakura lived, Naruto was practically on the other side of the village. It was a good five miles, if you actually put some thought into it.
Sakura looked up and smiled. Though her vision wasn't well she recognized the voice. That is, just before jumping off her bed and glomping him in the hallway. "Naruto! You're okay!" she cried, her grip around his waist getting tighter.
Blushing furiously that she was hugging him, and that she was on top of him since they both fell to the floor, he stuttered. "S-S-Sakura-chan! I'm fine, but... I... can't breeeeeeathe!"
Apparently the kunoichi couldn't hear his feeble plea for air, because her vice-like grip only tightened to the point where he thought his poor ribs would break under the pressure. And with how strong he knew Sakura was, that was a very likely possibility.
Ino, a little shocked, sighed. "Sakura... you're suffocating him."
She gasped and loosened her grip, but never moved. Naruto sighed at being able to breathe again. Sakura was still crying though. He pat her back reassuringly. "I'm fine Sakura-chan. If you haven't forgotten, it's gonna take more than that idiot to kill me." he grinned goofily.
After another minute, she finally got up and went back into her room. Ino and Naruto didn't leave until Sakura fell back asleep around five in the morning. The two were sitting in the living room now, mulling over what had just happened.
"So... She really thought something bad happened to me, huh?"
"Yeah. She said that she has these dreams where Sasuke would appear in them but they were only about when he left when we were younger. From what she told me, this was the first time her dream was current in time. Apparently in this one, he had offered her a deal, that she could be with him." Ino explained. Naruto watched Ino's expressions carefully after wondering how that could lead to a nightmare. "... only if she helped him kill you and some others."
Naruto froze. He wasn't one to put much stock into dream, unless they were about ramen of course, but this one frightened him for both Sakura's sake and sanity.
"But she said no and she wouldn't go through with it. When she didn't change her mind he showed her you dead I assume. She was stuttering the whole time so it was kind of hard to understand her."
"Man," he sighed, rubbing the back of his head where his headband tied together. "poor Sakura-chan."
"Yeah... I think I might stay a little longer than I was planning to. Just to watch over her, ya know? Since the last dream Sakura said she had, it was what led her to her 'accident' and this dream seemed much worse. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something like that happened to her again."
"Yeah..." Naruto yawned and stretched when Ino stood up from the couch. He turned around so he could lay back on it with his arms crossed behind his head as a makeshift pillow.
"What are you doing?"
"I'll stay the night here, too. Besides, I used up too much chakra getting over here, so I'm a little tired." He yawned again.
Ino just shrugged to the obvious lie and went to get an extra pillow and blanket for the dope before going back to her room. At this rate, the only sure way to keep an eye on her was to be here constantly. Why did Sakura have to live so far away from everyone? Even Tsunade scolded her several times for being late because of the miscalculation on the distance. Still, all they could do was just be there for her.
Three months had passed. After Sakura's dream the night Naruto and Ino stayed with her, she really hadn't had one like it since. Once a week now, Naruto or Ino would stay a night or two at her apartment. Only if one was on a mission would the other stay longer than they really needed to. So it was pretty much, Ino-- Thursdays around 6:30 a.m. or Saturday's at 8:00 a.m. And Naruto-- any given day at any given moment.
Guess you could say Ino covered for Naruto when he was away. He seemed to get more missions as the days went on. Sakura felt a little envious. Ever since she started her training at the hospital, Tsunade-sensei never seemed willing to give her any missions. Sure, part of it was because the older woman worried and Sakura still sometimes trains under her, but it didn't feel right. It made her feel like she was getting special treatment... And the cold hard fact was that it was true.
Why did Sakura get to stay here all warm and cozy, safe and sound at home when there were hundreds of shinobi across the world. Fighting, risking their lives for their country or village... dying.
Right then she made a decision and she would carry though to it, no matter what. To mark Naruto's words: Believe it.
She had taken a shower and gotten ready. Sakura had on her basic red top with the black shorts and tan skirt, black boots and her hitai-ate in her hair. From there she went straight to Tsunade's office. Since it was around nine in the morning she knew for a fact that she was in no condition (cough--shewasdrunk--coughcoughcough) to have any meetings.
After Shizune asked permission, Sakura entered the double doors and now stood in front of her desk which was almost about to break under the weight of all the stacks of paperwork she needed to finish.
Tsunade sighed. "Well, isn't this a surprise. Haven't seen you around here for a while."
"Hai, gomen nasai. Um, Tsunade-sensei, I came here to ask you something."
"What is it?" Tsunade asked in a bored tone, pouring herself another glass of sake. What? It was only Sakura.
"Well, I've been a Chunin for a while now and I've been thinking lately. Well... I've decided that I want to become a Jonin--" Tsunade smiled, but before she could say anything, Sakura continued. "--so I can become ANBU."
Tsunade's smile fell along with her half empty sake bottle, the remaining clear liquid spilling onto the hardwood desk. "Sakura, do you know what you'd be getting yourself into? This is the ANBU Black Opts, it isn't easy. Most shinobi can barely pass the Jonin exams, let alone the ANBU."
From the sound of things, one would guess the Hokage was worried Sakura wasn't strong enough. No, that was not the case. The true reason was she didn't want Sakura sent on any high ranking missions. Sure, the elder blonde knew the kunoichi could take care of herself and also pass both exams, it was obvious she could if she put enough effort into it. But once more, Tsunade was just worried about her well being. Sakura, in the time that they've been training, has become family to her now. Of course it wasn't right that she always held her back from missions she was constantly requested to be a part of, but this was why Tsunade never asked her about wanting to try going to a higher rank unless it was something she wanted for certain.
"I know. But if it's for Konohagakure, I'm willing to try and pass."
'I knew that this day would come. She's already strong in the medical field, but... I just hope she's strong enough.' Tsunade waved her hand for her to continue.
"So I was wondering if you knew when the next Jonin exams were."
"Not until mid July. It's mid February now, so you have less than five months to train. You should use this time wisely. I wish I could help you, but I've got a lot of work to do here. I'm so far behind, if I put it off anymore I'll just be building up more work than losing it. I don't think it would be fair to dump it all on Shizune, again."
"I see. And after the Jonin exam, how long until the ANBU?" Sakura asked warily, hoping there was a good distance between the two beforehand.
"Well, you see Sakura, they aren't scheduled like the Chunin and Jonin exams. It's at any time. First you must have your application and someone current in ANBU to submit it. You have to have at least three current or former members approve and sign the application. My advice to you now is that you should do your best and go all out with your skills, or you could give a bad reputation to the ones who've submitted your name. Don't worry about hurting anything. At any time after your application is entered, a random ANBU member will watch your skill level to see if you are indeed worthy of the title of ANBU."
"I see."
Tsunade sighed again. "Sakura... Please make sure that this is what you want. Because when your in ANBU and are called out you don't have the right to decline as you would just being a Chunin or Jonin, only to accept your given mission and complete it. Fatalities or not, you leave with your team."
"I know, Tsunade-sensei."
"Well then... I guess you should start your training now. If you wish to become a Jonin, psychical strength and your abilities in ninjutsu and every other jutsu are vital must-know necessities during the exams. There will be a lot of top-dog's out there wanting the title just as badly as you do."
"Hai."
"And during the last part of the exam, unlike the Chunin exams where you go against one of the other applicants for the final round, you will only go against them once to narrow down the numbers to whatever they see fit for this year if there are too many. Then as the final exam, you will go against another Jonin. But if you fail to defeat them, or if it's obvious your opponent will win hands down, then you will fail in becoming a Jonin for the mere lack of your skills." Tsunade warned.
"Hai."
She finally drank her sake. Setting the cup down, she took in a deep breath and sighed calmly. "I wish you luck, Sakura. I have faith in you that you'll pass both exams."
Sakura gasped a little at the serious tone in her voice. She blushed and bowed respectively. "Domo arigato, Tsunade-sensei." As much as she herself tried to remain serious, it was all too obvious in her voice that she was happy for her approval and encouragement.
Tsunade tried not to laugh at seeing Sakura biting her bottom lip to keep an ecstatic smile off her face. "Dismissed." She laughed, waving her hand for her to leave.
Sakura stood up straight and went for the door. As soon as she pulled the doors that were in front of her together Sakura squealed hyperly, still facing the (what she hoped were sound proof) doors. "Yes! I did it! CHA! I did it! I did it! I did it! I--!" she was jumping up and down in circles while clapping her hands together, feeling more alive than she had in a great while. "-- did it! I did it! I--!" Sakura stopped in mid jump when she saw what was behind her. She blushed deeply. '--just made a fool of myself!'
There was an amused chuckle. "Did what, Sakura?"
"K-Kakashi-sensei! I-I didn't know that... I mean... U-Um." Sakura turned an even deeper shade of crimson when she noticed who else was standing there with him: Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba and Hyuga Neji. And it didn't help that Shizune was 'quietly' giggling over by her desk and Kiba was laughing. 'Oh jeez of all times to have done such an embarrassing thing! And in front if them no less!' Inner Sakura was cursing her bad luck with some very colorful language she mostly learned from the Hokage herself.
"Well?" Kakashi's eye curved up into that damn happy little smile.
"Um..." Sakura cleared her throat into her hand to compose herself as if she weren't just doing a happy dance in front of the Hokage's office. "I was just asking for Tsunade-sensei's opinion on something, not that it's any of your concern." a thought came to mind, two in fact. "Um, Kakashi-sensei that reminds me, I have a question. You were in ANBU before, right?"
"Hai."
"And..." Sakura then meekly turned her line of vision to the person standing to the silver haired nin's right before asking, "Hyuga-san, your in the ANBU, right?" Raising an eyebrow, he only nodded. "Hmm. Okay, kansha no kotoba. I was just wondering. Bye guys!" With that she waved over her shoulder and jogged off.
Kakashi watched curiously as her form disappeared around the corner. They then went into the Hokage's office to report their mission and to accept a new one.
Sakura was sitting on the roof of her apartment for one good reason. She knew that a certain silver haired Jonin would be curious as to why she'd ask about the ANBU. So, she decided to wait for him. While she was, she couldn't stop thinking of what the exams would be like.
"So, what are you up to, Sakura. Why were you really at Tsunade-sama's office this morning?"
She jumped before turning around. "Gah! Stop doing that!" Sakura yelled, hand over her heart. She sighed and stood up. "I was about to go to Ichiraku's... If you still want to know then you can come with me." Heh, free food. Kakashi shrugged. When they both got there and ordered some ramen, Sakura spoke. "Okay... When I went to see Tsunade-sensei, there was something I did want to ask her."
"Which was?"
"Which was," she sighed. "to know when the next Jonin exams were."
Kakashi looked at her oddly. The young kunoichi wasn't sure whether it was shock or excitement from the news hiding behind that dark eye of his. "You're thinking of actually becoming a Jonin?"
Sakura nodded, pink hair flying in her face. "Naruto has already taken and passed the Chunin exams last month, but... I want to do this."
"Why?" he asked suspiciously.
Sakura sighed in defeat. How could a man with one visible eye stare that intently? Inner Sakura deemed it was making up for the one covered. "Jeez, can't you for once let me think that I have you out smarted on something? That get's kind of annoying after a while." she broke the chopsticks apart and started picking at the ramen in front of her. "I want to be a Jonin so I can become ANBU. I know I only have to be a Chunin, but I wanted to be at a higher rank. I really see no point in becoming one later, so why not."
And to her delight, Sakura heard him choke on his water. But reflexes be damned, the Jonin already had his mask up and had a hand over his mouth, still coughing a little. Sakura hit his back a few times. "Oh, come on! What's so wrong with me being in the ANBU? I want to do this and I could really put my medical training into use!"
After he stopped coughing, Kakashi didn't say anything and they continued to eat (with Sakura still failing at seeing his face) in silence. Only when they were finished did he finally speak. "ANBU, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Well, for my abilities. I mean, if I can't use them to protect my home village what use are they if I don't use them at all?" Sakura asked.
"I see. So, was there any particular reason you asked us about being in the ANBU?"
"Damn it, Kakashi-sensei! If you already know then just say it Mister-Mind-Reader. But yes, I was wondering if, of course if you have time, you could help me train for the Jonin exams."
"Oh, why me?" Kakashi asked curiously.
Sakura smiled. "Because Shikamaru is too troublesome. Ino, Hinata-san and Kiba-san are still Chunin. And Hyuga-san... err, I doubt he'd help me. So! That leaves me with my first and one of my favorite sensei's. You!"
"So," Kakashi chuckled, amused by her attempted flattery. "I'm on your favorites list. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were just trying to convince me to help you."
Sakura smiled playfully, still looking at the counter in front of her. "Ha! That's where you're wrong Sensei, because you are one of my only two favorite teachers." she said as a matter-of-factly. If the world knew nothing of this evil object known as a 'mask' then we could have seen the very faint, yet very cute, pink tinge on his face from her honesty. "So!" Sakura faced him directly, hands clasped together under her chin. She had a pout and even the dreaded puppy dog eyes. "Will you please, please, please help me train for the upcoming Jonin exams?"
There was a long pause. Kakashi sighed. "Well, I don't see why not." he shrugged.
Ayame, the ramen shop owners daughter, smiled at the cute sight at the other end of the counter and giggled, setting another order down as everyone turned to the same two.
Sakura, feeling more pumped about the exam, leaped from her stool and glomped Kakashi. Who, was to say the least, not expecting that as they both fell to the floor. Much like what she did to Naruto a few months prior, her arms were around his waist, not loosing her vice-like grip. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! When do we start training?!" she giggled.
Kakashi chuckled. And here he thought only Naruto could pull off the random glomping thing. "Tomorrow at seven a.m. sharp. Oh, and Sakura?"
Sakura looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah?!"
"One, I can't breathe and two, can I get up now?" his eye creased up nervously, several of the people in the small shop staring at them strangely or laughing.
Realizing this position, she blushed. "Oh! G-Gomen!" she jumped up and helped him up.
6:56 a. was laying back on the grassy field of team sevens old training grounds, her arms crossed behind her head, eyes closed. She could feel the warm sunlight beating down on her as she started to hum the song stuck in her head, then sing it.
9:12 a. was walking up to the field where he was supposed to meet Sakura at (two hours ago) while thinking of the perfect excuse to bother to use, seeing as how the truth would just irritate her even more than she probably already was. He masked his chakra when he heard singing getting louder and louder as he walked into the clearing.
"Wake up to a sunny day, Not a cloud up in the sky, then it starts to rain. My defenses hit the ground and they shatter all around... So open and exposed. I found strength in the struggle. Face to face with my trouble--"
Kakashi blinked. Sakura was sitting in the middle of the field, playing with a wild flower. Although it was kind of amusing, he didn't know she could sing.
"When you're broken, in a million little pieces, and you're tryin' but you can't hold on anymore. Every tear, falls down for a reason, don't you stop believing in yourself, when you're broken. Little girl don't be so blue, I know what you're goin' through, don't let it beat you up... Hittin' walls and getting scars, only makes you who you are, only makes you who you are. No matter how much your heart is aching, there is beauty in the breaking--"
He crossed his arms and leaned against a tree while noting the fact that Sakura still hadn't sensed him standing there watching her, obviously too caught up in the song to even want to notice anyone else was in the field with her. Kakashi sighed. Shame, shame. She's already broken at least three rules so far. One: Never let your guard down. Two: Always pay attention to your surroundings. Three: Always be prepared for an attack. Four: Always be alert of chakra signatures.
Hmm, so she's broken four... Now, how should he go about approaching this subject with her? One thing he's learned about the dear cherry blossom was to never surprise or embarrass her, because either way, it could end with one of them being in pain... mainly him. And for the embarrassment, he obviously couldn't just wait for her to finish singing. So the option? Still not quite sure.
"When you're broken, in a million little pieces, and you're tryin', but you can't hold on anymore. Every tear, falls down for a reason, don't you stop believing in yourself, when you're broken--"
But Sakura still should have sensed him by now even if her eyes were closed; she is a kunoichi. Though once again, this was just amusing. Kakashi laughed quietly to himself, now only if Naruto was here he would have at least two of his dreams come true. Because he likes hearing her sing for one. And for two, he would remember what happened the last time he heard her singing. Naruto would just drool, get a nosebleed and faint like he did last time when he had accidentally, or so he claims, found Sakura in the hot springs when they were on their way back from a mission a while back.
Lets just say, the poor Kyubi container didn't fair to well... Nor his limbs.
"Better days are gonna find you once again, every piece will find its place. When you're broken, in a million little pieces, and you're tryin', but you can't hold on anymore. Every tear, falls down for a reason, don't you stop believin' in your self, when you're broken."
Kakashi stopped masking his chakra and 'poofed' in behind her. Sakura froze before standing up, turning around to face the masked ninja with an accusing finger pointed at him. "It's about time! I've been waiting here for hours!"
"Having fun?"
She blushed. "You're late! What was I supposed to do for almost two in a half hours!"
Kakashi shrugged. "Well, you see I--"
"Got lost on the path of life."
"Actually--"
"A black cat crossed your path and you had to take the long way to maintain good fortune."
"Well--"
"You over slept."
"I--"
Sakura grinned deviously after rattling off his usual excuses. "The latest edition of Icha Icha Basics came out."
Silence. Kakashi coughed. "And what makes you think that was the reason?"
"Because Naruto and that pervy-sannin mentioned it would 'be out in one week' exactly one week ago." she smirked. "But why it took two hours, I don't want to know. So can we just train now?" When she poked his shoulder he disappeared in a poof of smoke. "W-What?!"
Six hours later, Sakura was jumping through the tree tops with kunai in hand. When she stopped in the next tree, she could have kicked herself! During one point they made a bet on who could get the most wins in the sparring matches before her exams. And the last (and only) time she beat him was a total fluke! That was when the first edition of Icha Icha Tactics came out and Naruto was going to tell him how it ended so he couldn't use his Sharingan against them, since Kakashi would have been able to read their lip movements.
'Damn, damn, damn! How could I have forgotten this?! Oh and of all times I had to pick to ignore them talking about this edition!' Oh Kami-sama. She had officially lost it, hadn't she.
Sakura stopped in her tracks when five shuriken came towards her head, surprising the hidden Jonin when she vanished in a poof of white and pink smoke with cherry blossom petals. How could he have been following a clone? He's been watching her the entire time! Unless... 'Sakura was hidden the whole time.' Kakashi moved away quickly.
Sakura smirked from her own hiding place behind the leaves. 'Nice try, Sensei.'
Kakashi stopped on a branch when he sensed something coming towards him... fast. 'It's not Sakura or an attack, there's no chakra at all... It can't be.' His eye widened when he looked up.
It was a tree the same size, if not bigger, than the one he was currently standing on. Kakashi jumped away just before it hit. When it collided the whole forest floor shook violently as the loud quakes that followed echoed and both poor trees fell to the forest floor. He was a few trees away, hidden, eye still open wide. 'That tree had to of weighed more than her apartment complex! Did she really pick it up? She couldn't have!'
Sakura was almost down for the count. She couldn't keep this up but for at least ten minutes more, tops. But she knew how long this spar could really last... She revealed her chakra when she returned to the middle of the field, knowing he was watching cautiously. "I wont attack Kakashi-sensei! I want to fight close range, not play hide-and-seek!" she called out loud enough for him to hear.
Kakashi jumped out of a tree and landed in front of her. "Hide-and-seek or just the makeshift baseball game with trees and boulders."
She grinned mischievously. "Can we please continue this?"
He nodded. Even though Sakura's kneecaps burned and her legs felt numb and like gel, she ran at him, planning to get him in the face with a right fist. Kakashi easily ducked it and was about to punch her in the stomach. When he did, she vanished in a poof of smoke and a log fell to the ground. Sakura ran up from behind him, throwing kunai's swiftly though the air which he deflected.
'What the...' Kakashi thought in confusion. There were small sacks tied to the end of the kunai's and whenever he deflected them they broke open. Dozens of miniature explosive tags were everywhere, even on him. They seemed to stick on him with her chakra.
Sakura smirked and threw a final kunai with more force than necessary. It had an averaged size explosive tag attached. "*Sakura Fubuki no Jutsu!"
Kakashi's eye widened again. "What?!"
All of the tags ignited as she jumped back from the explosion. She held a few shuriken up in defense, waiting until all the small pieces of earth and debris started to settle to see the damage. When it all cleared, there was a deep crater... and nothing else.
That's when Sakura felt something tight around her right ankle pulling her down into the earth as she heard the words, "*Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu!"
She growled and let herself fall forwards, punching the ground with a gloved fist when she got close enough, causing another crater the same size as the one from her previous attack to appear-- and making Kakashi let her go to escape the exposed hiding place. When they were across from each other in the middle of the field again, Sakura noticed that his Sharingan was activated.
'Am I really becoming that unpredictable, or did he just copy my attacks?' After thinking about it an attack like that was too simple and didn't involve any actual ninjutsu for him to copy. A thought, or rather, a memory came back to her thanks to Inner Sakura. She'd hate to do this, but it was the only way to beat him. "So, Kakashi-sensei," she said sweetly. "Did you really get that new edition of Icha Icha Basics?"
Kakashi eyes narrowed. "Yes. Why."
Sakura smirked again. "Oh just wondering. Seeing as how you might have missed out on what happens between Ai and Yuki." she responded, voice full of amusement.
He almost looked shocked. It was obvious that he was gaping behind that mask. "How'd you know about those two...?"
'Jeez. For once I'm almost glad that pervy-sannin was telling Naruto about the new plot.' What a day, what a day. "Oh, you know!" she said cheerily, waving her hand. "You had two hours to read it since that's how late you were. Almost like in chapter four how they both get locked in a room because Ai's evil aunt--"
Sakura watched with pure delight when the black tomoe in his eye spun and both eyes went wide. "No!" he closed his eyes.
She waited a full minute until he opened his eyes again, using a sweet tone of voice to continue. "Oh! And the part where he walked in on her in the shower and just had to take Ai right then and there in the steamed shower, making her scream his name, 'Oh Yuki!!' over and over again until--"
"Stop!!" Kakashi yelled, closing his eyes tight and putting his hands over his ears to keep the Sharingan from reading what she was saying. But her words, however wrong they were (which was more than wrong on so many different levels he didn't feel like naming), kept replaying in his mind. When the punch to the stomach came that he failed to avoid, it sent him flying back into a tree. Shattering it on impact. Before he could get up there was a sudden weight on him. Sakura had her left foot on his lower back, and her right foot on the back of his neck, preventing him from moving as she used chakra to make sure he didn't try.
Sakura put her hand on her hip, pointing the other at him. "CHA! Sakura one, Kakashi-sensei zero!"
Kakashi sighed with his left eye closed, his other gray eye half open in boredom. 'I can't believe this... What is this world coming to. The second time Icha Icha was used against me... by my own former student, no less.'
A/N: Ok, I hope you liked it. The field part where Sakura is singing, I had it wrote as a small scene and as a different song. But I rewrote it and it was going pretty well, and what happens? AOL decides that it wants to boot me offline and I lose it. --sighs-- So it took me three hours and staying up until 6:00 a.m. just to remember that one little part and fix it up. So, I'm sorry if it sucks, the one I had before was better.
Jonin and ANBU exams: Making it up as I go. Suggestions are welcome. :)
Glomp: I laughed so hard when I was first asked a long time ago what Glomp was, or what Glomping meant. They thought it meant something perverted (how'd that happen?) so for those of you who still may be a little left in the dark about it, to Glomp someone means tackling them in a hug and knocking them to the ground. Or just hugging them with such force you and said person end up falling over. That, my dears, is a Glomp. lol
--Translation Keys--
*(1) Sakura Fubuki no Jutsu: Cherry Blossom Blizzard Technique.
*(2) Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu: Earth Release: Inner Decapitation Technique.
-san: This is the most common honorific and is equivalent to Mr., Miss, Ms., and Mrs. It is the all-purpose honorific and can be used in any situation where politeness is required.
-sama: This is one level higher than -san. It is used to confer great respect.
-chan: This is used to express endearment, mostly towards girls. It is also used for little boys, pets, and between lovers. It gives a sense of childish cuteness.
Sensei: This title is used for teachers, doctors, or masters of any profession or art. It's literal meaning is, "one who has come before."
-[blank]: This is usually forgotten on these lists, but it's perhaps the most significant difference between Japanese and English. The lack of honorific means that the speaker has permission to address the person in a very intimate way. Usually, only family, spouses, or very close friends have this kind of license. Known as yobisute, it can be gratifying when someone who has earned the intimacy starts to call one by one's name without an honorific. But when that intimacy hasn't been earned, it can also be insulting.
Icha Icha: The book Kakashi always reads. XD lol In the anime/manga the actual first book is called Icha Icha Paradise and has an orange cover. I'm not sure what the second book is called but it's still Icha Icha and has a red cover. The latest and third book called Icha Icha Tactic's has a green cover. It's not for certain what the contents of these books are but it's indicated by the author, Jiraiya, that no one under the age of eighteen ban buy or read the book and is often mentioned as being perverse. So in other words-- it's porn. XD So Icha Icha Basics is entirely made up.
Kunoichi: Female ninja.
Shinobi: Ninja.
Shuriken: A four pointed blade, commonly known as, "Death Star" "Throwing Stars" or "Ninja Stars" here in the West.
Kunai: A blade commonly used among ninja.
Hai: Yes.
Gomen nasai: I am sorry.
Gomen: Sorry.
Domo arigato: Thank you very much.
Kansha no kotoba: Thanks.