Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of the characters in that series.
A/N: Hehe. I put up Chapter 1 really quick! It's so much better than the Prologue, I think. Read, and review!
Earlier Than Expected
Chapter 1
Normal P.O.V.
"All right. Enough for today."
The two boys stepped back from each other at their sensei's words. Naruto wiped the sweat off of his forehead, and Sasuke placed his kunai back into his holster. They stood there for quite a while, catching their breath and regaining the energy they lost in the spar.
"So, Sasuke," the blonde said in between panting for air. "Guess I won that spar."
"Tch," Sasuke retorted. "Dream on."
Naruto smirked. "So you admit it."
"I'm not admitting anything."
"Like you lost?"
"I didn't lose."
"What a sore loser!"
"I repeat: I didn't lose."
"Hehe. You're just jealous because I-"
A groan came from the side of the pair, followed by an irritated shout. "Shut up, already!"
Sakura was sitting on the ground, an annoyed look on her face. She was leaning against the same post that Naruto was tied to during Kakashi's Bell Exercise when Team Seven had just started. It had been the training grounds for Team Seven back then, and it still was to this day.
After Sasuke left for Orochimaru, and Naruto left with Jiraiya, Sakura had come to the place to train by herself during her spare time. Occasionally, Kakashi would come and spar with her. When Sasuke had returned, Sakura invited him to start training there with her as well. Having nothing better to do, he made no objections. Then, Naruto returned to Konoha a month later after hearing rumors that Sasuke had come back to the village, too. Once the energetic blonde was back, Kakashi insisted that Team Seven regroup and begin a training schedule, like they had done "in the old days." Everyone had agreed.
When Sasuke left, Team Seven was broken. When Naruto and Sasuke came back, Team Seven was repaired. It had been almost a year and a half since the team was "fixed."
Naruto walked over to Sakura and crouched in front of her. A frown appeared on his face.
"Sakura-chan, you look pale today, too. Are you still not feeling well?"
Sakura gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah."
Naruto scoffed and turned around, facing his rival and best friend. "Hey, bastard! Your girlfriend's still sick! You're supposed to take care of he-OW!"
Sakura removed her fist from Naruto's head. "Leave Sasuke-kun alone!"
"Sakura-chaaaan," the boy whined, rubbing his head. "You're sick and it still hurts when you punch me!"
"Good," she replied, a smirk on her face.
"I told you to go see a doctor," Sasuke said, walking up to the group and sitting next to Sakura, facing her.
The girl sighed. "I'm a medic in training, Sasuke-kun."
"I don't care. Let Tsunade take care of it."
"But-"
"Sakura."
"...Fine, fine," she answered. Sakura knew that when Sasuke said something in such a tone, it'd be best to just listen.
It was better for her to go, anyway. She had been sick for about a week now. At first she was throwing up. At the present time, it wasn't that bad, but she constantly felt nauseous, and her energy as of lately had been zapped. After only thirty minutes of sparring, she had to stop and rest.
Kakashi had suggested seeing a doctor first. However, after that, he left the subject alone. Sasuke had been demanding she see a doctor since the first day she came to training sick. Naruto had only agreed with Sasuke, but she knew that if she kept fighting it, Sasuke, Naruto, and maybe even Kakashi would literally tie her up and drag her to Tsunade.
Kakashi decided that the group was finally settled, so he put away his favorite book, and pushed himself off of the tree he was leaning against. He walked up to them and his mask creased with the smile he put on.
"Good job, everyone," he concluded. "Sasuke, take Sakura home to make sure she's okay."
"Hn."
Sakura wanted to protest. It wasn't that she didn't want Sasuke to walk her home; he walked her home almost everyday. However, he walked her home so they could be in each other's good company. After all, they were a couple now, and that's just what couples did.
The problem now was that she was getting walked home because the others saw her as weak. Sure, she was sick, but she had been training hard for a long time, and she was improving. She was stronger now.
However, she knew in the back of her head that Kakashi was only worried about her, and Sasuke would've walked her home anyway, so she decided to leave it alone.
"Naruto," he continued. "Jiraiya asked me to tell you to that he has something to show you. He said you'd know where to find him."
"Yeah," Naruto answered. If that pervert's not peeking in the women's bath, he's talking to Old Lady Tsunade, and if he ain't there, he's not in Konoha...
"Alrighty, then see you all next time!"
And with that, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Neh, Sakura-chan?"
Sakura looked at her blond teammate, seeing a look of uncertainty on his face.
"Yeah?"
"Do you promise to go to the doctor?"
"Yes, Naruto," she sighed, "I promise I will go to the doctor."
"Okay!" he said sporting a huge grin. "Sakura-chan always keeps her promises. Take care of her and make sure she gets home safe, bastard."
"Dobe."
"Later, Sakura-chaaaan!" the boy said as he waved and ran off to find his other pervert sensei, Jiraiya.
"Bye, Naruto!" she yelled, smiling and waving her arm.
It took a few moments before Sasuke and Sakura left the grounds. Sasuke was still taking a rest from his earlier spar, and Sakura wasn't going to leave without him. She always could, but she knew that he would get up and follow her immediately, and Sakura didn't want to tire Sasuke out. Unlike Naruto, Sasuke didn't have endless energy.
When Sasuke stood up, she proceeded to as well. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up, earning a scowl from the girl.
"I'm sick, not crippled, Sasuke-kun."
He didn't reply, but merely picked her up bridal style and began walking out of the clearing.
"Sasuke-kun! I said I'm fine! Put me down!"
"No."
Sakura twitched at his calm and cool expression. She wondered whether he was teasing her or if he just didn't care.
"Sasuke-kun!" she protested once more.
"Can you possibly yell any louder?" he commented, his ears ringing from her cries.
"YES. I CAN."
"Stop whining."
Sakura pouted. He was being stubborn and arrogant, as he was everyday.
Sure, Sakura loved the Uchiha more than anything else in the world, and from what he had told her –more than once– before, he loved her, too. That's how it was supposed to be; they were a couple. But here Sasuke was, not listening to her and being an ass about it. Sakura sighed.
"You just want to carry me, pervert," she grumbled.
Sasuke stopped in his tracks.
"What?"
"You heard me," she replied, attempting to look angry and not laugh.
"I can drop you if you want," he said, frowning.
"Oooh," she teased. "I'm so scared!"
"Hmph. I'll do it."
"Pft. No, you won't."
"Yes. I will."
"No, you won't," she smirked.
"You're annoying."
He started walking again, still restraining her in his arms. The pink haired kunoichi snickered. "I knew you wouldn't."
No response.
The trip was silent the rest of the way to the house. Well, mostly silent. People on the streets were staring at the couple, whispering and commenting things like 'how cute!' or 'he's such a sweet boy,' and Sakura took it upon herself to blush and give them all a quick, yet loud, "What the hell are you looking at!"
Sasuke smirked. She can act like such a child sometimes, he thought.
Moments later, Sasuke stood at the front of the Haruno household. He put Sakura down, receiving a huff in return.
"Look, see?" he mused. "I put you down."
Sakura scoffed. "Yeah. After I asked you twenty minutes ago!"
His response was rolling his eyes.
"Gah! Sasuke-kun," she pouted and stomped her foot childishly onto her paved doorstep. "You're suck a jer-"
He interrupted her by leaning over and giving her a peck on her left cheek. She stopped for a moment, then tried to make her face look even more upset, but she couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.
"—jerk. You're a jerk."
"Bye, Sakura," was his response, and he turned away, raising his hand to signal his leave.
"Hmph," she grunted quite cheerfully, and folded her arms across her chest. "Bye, Sasuke-kun!"
He didn't make any sign that he had heard her, but Sakura knew that he did, so she turned around and opened the door to her home. When she was inside, she closed the door and leaned against it. She raised her hand to her cheek, and suddenly squealed in delight.
Oi, her inner self called out. You should be used to that by now. You two have done more than a peck on the cheek!
Sakura giggled, and sighed dreamily.
"I know," she whispered to herself. "But God, I love him so much."
And this time, Inner Sakura joined in the girlish squeals.
Knock, Knock!
Tsunade grumbled. "Shizune, get the door."
The Fifth Hokage of Konoha looked back down at her paperwork once more. Her eyes narrowed. It was an assignment file, and she had been staring at it for the past two hours.
This file was old, and Tsunade was getting sick of it. It was there when she became the leader of Konoha, and after about three years, it still hadn't gone away.
Tsunade hated that file. Many times she had handed that file to the most elite ninja of Konoha, only to have it handed back to her a week later, along with a death toll. Of course, is was expected, but if it kept up, she would lose every elite nin in the village.
Maybe I should just let Uchiha take care of it...
No. Sasuke wasn't near ready for that, and this...file...needed to be taken care of now. She'd have to hand it to another ANBU squad. She knew gambling on something wasn't her strength, but when it came to a mission like that, she'd take every chance she had.
Knock! Knock!
"Shizune!" the blond yelled once more. Then it hit her. She slapped her forehand for being so forgetful.
She had given Shizune the day off.
"Dammit," Tsunade muttered. She gave a cold glare at the file once more, before taking it and slipping it into the top drawer of her desk. She then glared at the door.
"Come in!"
She was ready to chew off the person who decided to interrupt, but when a young head of bubble-gum hair poked through the door, she calmed down.
"Tsunade-sama?" she asked.
"Ah. Sakura. Come in, girl," she said, relieved that it wasn't someone who would waste her time; Naruto being the first person to pop into her mind at such a thought.
Sakura stepped inside the office, closing the door behind her. She then turned to the older woman and bowed.
"How have you been feeling?" she asked. Tsunade had told Sakura the first day she had come in sick to take a week off. She had told her student to get plenty of rest, so she could get better.
"Umm," Sakura started, quite nervously. "N-not so good."
"I can see that," Tsunade frowned. "You're pale...Were you training with Team 7?"
"Yeah," she confessed. "But not much, because my energy is zapped. Is Shizune here? You seem busy, so I was wondering if maybe she could do a check up or something."
"Hm. No, I gave her the day off."
"I...I see. Well, then, I'll stop by tomorrow."
As Sakura turned to leave, Tsunade cleared her throat, commanding the girl to stop. She did so.
"Wait, Sakura. I'll do it for you."
Sakura turned back around and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Tsunade smiled with a nod. "I can catch up later."
"Okay then," Sakura answered.
On their way to the hospital, Tsunade asked why she didn't just go to the hospital to ask for another nurse. Sakura shrugged in response and said she felt more comfortable if it were Shizune or Tsunade herself that made sure she was okay.
When they arrived, Tsunade took Sakura to an empty room, and began the normal doctor's procedure: take temperature, check pulse, heart rate, etc.
When everything appeared somewhat okay, Tsunade took a small clipboard and looked at Sakura.
"The past week...what happened that would make you consider yourself ill?"
"Umm..."
Sakura took a moment to remember back to the beginning of the week. "The first day was just a really nasty headache...but you should remember that because you told me to go home."
"Yes. Go on."
"Well, the second day, my stomach was feeling bad when I woke up, and I felt nauseous. I threw up a few times for two days."
Tsunade's eyebrows rose. This was sounding a bit familiar, and quite interesting.
"Then, the headaches came back, and I caught a small fever. It's gone now, but I still feel tired and if I overdo things, my stomach starts to hurt again."
That sounds like...Tsunade began to think. She shook her head. It couldn't be something like that.
"Okay then. Look, I wanna run a test on you. I'm sure it's nothing bad, but I have to make sure."
Sakura nodded to the Hokage, before the woman lead her to another room.
Tsunade stared speechless at the paper in front of her. It was Sakura's tests results.
Her fifth test, to be exact.
Tsunade had told Sakura to take the test, just to make sure. She had told her student that it was a routine thing, just a precautionary measure. Sakura had replied that she understood, and agreed to take the test. However, when Tsunade had gotten the results...
She couldn't...she wouldn't believe it. It had to be a misprint.
So Tsunade asked Sakura to take it again, saying that the test had a malfunction. Sakura didn't understand how it really worked, so she willingly agreed to take the test a second time.
She received the same results.
Tsunade was getting ticked off. Three tests and they ALL showed positive. This was ridiculous.
"Sakura, I'm SO sorry. It's coming out all whack. I'm going to need you to take the test again."
"Again? Tsunade, is everything alri-"
"Yes, yes! Every thing's fine...just, on occasion, problems come up."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Now would you mind?"
"No, Tsunade-sama. I'll take the test again."
Fourth test. Fifth test.
The results were the same, both times.
Tsunade looked at the recorded results of the test, and her face scrunched up. She thought the test HAD to be wrong.
"I've got to stop kidding myself...but I never thought...not so young..."
Tsunade let out a long sigh, and closed her eyes.
She went back into the room where Sakura was, seeing the young girl sitting calmly on the bed, her hands clasped together, and her long legs swinging over the bed's edge. Her hair was short again, and still tied back with her forehead protector.
Tsunade almost wanted to cry. So innocent...she thought sadly.
"Sakura."
Sakura, who had apparently been daydreaming, snapped out of her thoughts. With a bright smile, she turned to her female sensei. "Did it wor-"
"You're pregnant."
Sakura slowly closed her mouth, her smile gone. After a moment, she slowly smiled again.
"Tsunade-sama, you have a sick sense of hu-"
"It's NOT a joke," she replied sternly, cutting off the girl for the second time. "You. Are. Pregnant."
Sakura's legs stopped swinging. She looked down at her feet.
"...Oh."
Tsunade sat in a chair across from Sakura. She looked up at the girl, hesitating only slighty before asking, "Is it...?"
Sakura nodded. "Sasuke-kun's... Yeah."
Tsunade sighed, and stood up again. "I guess I should call your parents."
Sakura's head shot up, "N-no!"
Tsunade threw Sakura a glare.
"What's the point, Sakura? Sooner or later, they would find out anyway!"
The teenager winced at Tsunade's voice. She was obviously upset. Sakura gulped. Who could really blame her, though?
The young kunoichi rested her elbows on her thighs, burying her face into her hands, and sighing heavily. Her breath was shaky, and her eyes began to water. This was DEFINITELY not going to go over well with her parents.
A/N: Some news or what? Please, PLEASE don't critisize me for Sakura's pregnancy at such a young age. It's part of the story. I'm not trying to put Sakura in a bad light, either. She is my favorite character in the series (alongside Deidara).
So, please review! I accept constructive criticism, too! Because I want to improve my writing badly.
And with that, I'd like to thank my beta x1000000000 because she makes sure my writing is nice and clean and fixed! -cough-Andshehasabettervocabularythanme,too.-cough-
I'll be starting Chapter 2 soon, and I'll hopefully get it done before two weeks time! I hope many of you are all looking foreward to it!
Bye Bye!
