Harem
ch. 2
summary: Without even realizing it, Sakura had a harem. SakuXMulti
a/n- thanks to those four beautiful people who reviewed, you receive all my love. X
also! rating has changed, 'cause i love cursing and all that jazz.
disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do not own (just want to) Naruto.
"What."
It wasn't even a question. It was just a statement. And it didn't even mean what she was trying to get across. Sakura thought she was an intelligent girl; being the Hokage's apprentice meant that she had to have some smarts. However, at that moment, the large vocabulary she boasted was missing. She was at a loss for words.
The old white-haired buffoon giggled- chuckled, because legendary male Sannin weren't supposed to giggle.
"Jiraiya. Leave Sakura alone." Tsunade reprimanded in a steely tone. The man continued to leer on at the young girl. Seeing that her intimidation tactic wasn't exactly working, she tried a different approach.
"She's under 18." Tsunade spoke with a sigh. She would need a bottle of sake. And it was only 10 o'clock.
/...::::::...\
"Eh? This one was on Naruto's team though. Was the brat that far behind?" The pervy-sage asked no one in particular.
"Naruto-kun is a very capable shinobi, Jiraiya-san." Sakura feigned politeness, trying to steer the topic away from what he had just asked her.
How dare the old pervert ask her for a lap dance, as if she were just some common harlot, and not the damn Hokage's prized apprentice. Sakura fully understood that the old dog was more than 30 years her senior, but still. She was upset. The fact that her shishou had not trusted her to deal with the situation by herself was almost as equally insulting. 18? She didn't look like an eighteen year old, did she?
As a very independent 22 year old, one could understand why she was so peeved, to say the least. Not to mention her damn mentor not healing her damn arm. Learn a lesson her ass. How she managed to not keel over from the stress was beyond her knowledge.
"Yeah yeah. Only 'cuz he was trained by the best." the white-haired man scoffed in her direction. He looked out the large window, behind the Hokage's desk. Tsunade's gaze followed his. It was then that Sakura noticed the large posse of people entering the gates. Right as she was opening her mouth to mention it, Tsunade spoke.
"Seems Kumo's elders have arrived." At the mention of foreign dignitaries, the toad-summoning sannin stood up, donning Kakashi's eye smile.
"Tsunade-hime, it has been delightful as always," Jiraiya strode towards the closed exit and gave Sakura a very pointed look, "Lemme know when you're eighteen, cutie." With that, he disappeared through the door.
Sakura shivered. Oh, it was going to be a long day indeed.
/...::::::...\
"Yes, Yostuki-san." Sakura agreed with the prestigious looking old lady. The retired kuniochi had been on a tangent about one policy or another that the Raikage had passed that she didn't like. Or something. Sakura never really understood the political shindig that being the Hokage's second right hand had exposed her to. Of course, she was well-versed in diplomacy, and being a highly perceiving person, she comprehended most political dealings with ease. What she didn't understand was all the bickering that led up to said dealings.
Luckily, Shizune approached Sakura, halting the old woman's ranting.
"Sakura, would you mind going down to the kitchens and letting them know that we're in need of more refreshments?" the short haired woman asked knowingly, sending her a small wink that went unnoticed by the Yotsuki clan member.
Bowing, Sakura replied. "Of course Shizune-san." She quickly turned to the old woman to apologize for her forthcoming absence, and wished her a good day.
/...::::::...\
The greatest thing about the Hokage's tower wasn't the great views from the Office, or even the main lobby's grand decor. Sakura, and all who had access to it, agreed that the best feature was the kitchen. Pantries stocked with delicious food from most all the ninja countries, not to mention the many bottles of sake and other alcoholic beverages.
Entering the large and (currently) bustling room, she eyed a familiar orange-haired chuunin. She was talking to a man sporting a very angry face, presumably the head chef. While expressing her grief for the man's overcooked leeks, the girl noticed Sakura.
"Sakura-sama! What brings you to the cooking section of the Hokage tower?" Moegi asked dutifully.
"Shizune-neechan asked for more refreshments. With the Kumo elders being here, they're consuming twice the alcohol as normal up there." the pinkette replied sheepishly.
"Ah! Of course Sakura-sama, I should have known!" The twin tailed girl bowed and blushed furiously, "I am very sorry, and I will get right on it!"
"...Eh?" Sakura blinked stupidly, before realizing that Moegi was the chuunin in charge of the kitchen fiasco, noting that it must have been an assigned mission.
Moegi, not realizing Sakura's questioning look, called an older looking woman over to her, and gave her direct orders that 'the Hokage and her friends need more booze' and 'Sakura-san has been waiting forever so if you'd please hurry up'.
"...Chuunin." Sakura shook her head, and within thirty seconds, she had five or so kitchen staff following her up the stairs to the Hokage's office.
/...::::::...\
Sakura laid back on one of the foreign councilors' designated chairs. The large office had been slightly altered to create a casual business environment, and it currently housed a couple of broken tables and toppled chairs.
"That went fairly well." Sakura joked, voice heavy with sarcasm.
Shizune kept her mouth shut, while Tsunade opted to reply.
"You haven't seen Suna, kid. That was a walk in the park compared to those crazy fuckers. It's a damn good thing these ordeals are only annual, and not monthly like that stupid Kazekage wanted."
Sakura and Shizune both gulped, hoping their Hokage wasn't going to go off on a tangent.
The blonde kuniochi laughed, sensing their distress.
"What is it, around 7 now?" Tsunade motioned for Shizune to pour her some sake. "Oi, Sakura. I need you to review those papers that were signed. Need 'em tomorrow."
Sakura eyed the large stack of papers sitting heavily on the desk. If she wanted to look at them all before tomorrow, it would take all night.
"Would you like me to stay late to complete them, Tsunade-shishou?"
"No. I want you to take them home."
"Oh."
"You're free to go home, Sakura."
"Hokage-sama."
"Yes?"
"How will I take them home? This is my dominant hand and I can't properly heal it." Sakura lifted her broken arm into the air. Feigning disinterest, Tsunade simply shrugged her shoulders, amusement clearly in her eyes.
Shizune popped into the conversation, "I could ask an ANBU to deliver them to your apartment, Sakura-chan?"
"Aw Shizune, always ruining my fun. It's your fault Sakura has a broken arm in the first place."
"All the more reason for me to assist her, Hokage-sama." Shizune managed to reply dryly, but also very politely. The short-haired woman picked up the pile of documents.
Sakura inwardly groaned. The last thing she needed was to be in the two women's crossfire. Sakura needed to get out, immediately.
"Then, it's decided! Goodnight, Sakura. Shizune-chan." Tsunade playfully reminding Shizune of her place. The fifth hokage quickly ushered her two subordinates towards the door, and gently pushed them out.
/...::::::...\
"Shizune-neechan! Please! Anyone but Sai." her moans of protest going ignored as Shizune talked with a chuunin level guard outside the office. Finally having enough, the older sister figure turned to the complaining kuniochi.
"Then who, Sakura-chan? Sai is perfectly capabl-"
"He carried me back," Sakura began explaining her dilemma, "as a part of Team 7, I don't want him seeing me weak.. again. It's a.. personal matter."
Shizune's eyes softened, and she touched Sakura's arm.
"We all need someone at some point, Sakura."
And with that, Shizune dropped the papers by Sakura's side and told the guard to forget about retrieving Sai.
Instead she asked for Inuzuka Kiba.
/...::::::...\
"Well, well. Do my eyes deceive me?" the boy- no, man drawled, entering through the Hokage tower's main 3rd level entrance. Sakura stood up from the lobby chair.
"A dog's sight isn't nearly as good as his other senses." Sakura shot back, as she started walking over to the pile of papers near the Hokage's office door. Kiba followed suit.
"Hah. That pink hair makes me forget what a spitfire you are."
"You'll do well in remembering that fact, Inuzuka."
"We're more familiar than that, Sa-ku-ra-chan." Kiba wiped a fake tear from his eye.
'Oh kami, please don't mention it, please don't menti-'
"After all, I was your first kiss."
Sakura paused in her steps.
Kiba waited for the punch.
"Thankfully, not my last." she continued walking.
The punch didn't happen.
She had been 16, and Kiba had been charming. Devastatingly charming, earning the reputation as the village's ladiesman. It was right after her and Naruto found Sasuke out in the wilderness, and he had almost killed her. After not being able to find comfort in Naruto, she sought the only other male who ever showed interest in her (who wasn't Lee). They went on a date, which was pleasant enough. To make a long story short, he walked her home and kissed her at her door. They never spoke of it again, except when either was incredibly drunk. Or when Kiba was being a dick. Like now.
"These are the papers that I need taken to my home. I won't be home until 8, so I don't expect them before that."
"Eight? Jeez, Saku-babe. Why ya' stayin out so late?" the Inuzuka jokingly mumbled, while picking up the papers. Her eyebrow twitched at the unwanted nickname.
"I can't exactly run home, with my arm being how it is."
Eyes widened as realization dawned on Kiba, and he hooked gazes with the kuniochi.
"I'm walking you home?"
Sakura's eyes widened just as much. Except she also sported a faint blush.
"N-no! I mean- no. You just have to drop them off outside my apartment or something! There is no need-" a flustered Sakura tried explaining.
"Sakura," Kiba started semi-seriously, eyes glinting with what Sakura later decided was malicious intent. "I didn't know you got so cute when you're embarrassed."
She punched him.
Ah, there it was.
Even with one crippled arm, she could still land a good one with her other arm.
"Damnit Saku-babe, it was a joke." Kiba complained, a few papers flying off the stack as he nursed an injured arm.
Sakura knew she overreacted, especially considering it was just in Kiba's nature to flirt. Still, she blamed him for 'taking' her first kiss, though it had been completely consensual. It's that strange sense of justice that made the next few words leave her mouth.
"Now, you are walking me home." She declared, and quickly turned on her heel, leaving a quite stupefied Inuzuka with his mouth wide open.
/...::::::...\
The two left the building, and walked down the quieting streets of Konoha. The city, while beautiful in the day, was equally (if not more) beautiful at dusk. The street lamps lit up the hazy sky, the day turning to night.
So far, their trip had been in utter silence, with no words being spoken by either of them. Kiba decided to change this.
"I'm hungry."
Sakura looked at him out of the corner of her eye distrustfully and scoffed.
"You don't expect me to invite you inside, do you?"
Kiba frowned. Girls always thought the worst of him. It's true that he liked- loved women, but he wasn't a total womanizer. Never was a time where he was ever unfaithful to a girl. Hell, he had never even broken up with one. Even Naruto had broken up with Hinata, and people still thought he was a saint. Choosing the high road, he ignored her.
"We're going to pass a dango stand pretty soon. They close at eight. We can still make it if we hurry." he suggested.
Sakura seemed shocked by his response, but quickly recovered, replacing her blank stare with a grin.
"You're paying, dogbreath."
Kiba grinned.
/...::::::...\
It had been easy to convince Kiba that she needed three more sticks of dango.
It had been easier to convince Sakura she needed a drink. Or three.
So they sat at the dango stall for twenty minutes, chugging sake and snacking on dango, the outside world and all its' troubles temporarily forgotten.
And she was happy.
They talked of teammates, and annoying genin. Favorite missions, and even Naruto once or twice.
She wasn't drunk. In fact, she was still very much sober. Her alcohol tolerance was insane, due to her learning Tsunade's drinking secrets.
Kiba wasn't drunk. Being an Inuzuka gave him a large build, and he was very well practiced in getting shitfaced. One could say he very much knew how to hold his liquor.
However, neither of them knew this about the other.
It was the sense of innocent camaraderie that made both shinobi cheerful. It was hard to find someone you could genuinely laugh with during these times. People in their line of work either took themselves too seriously, or not seriously enough. With the latter, it quickly became annoying.
The mood didn't make them any less of the shinobi they were, so naturally, Kiba did what ninjas did best. He gathered information.
"So, Saku-babe. Have any suitors nowadayss?" Kiba slurred purposefully.
Sakura flashed him a toothy grin before answering.
"Oh, Kiba-kun. Wouldn't ya like ta know?" Few people knew the extent of Sakura's acting skills.
"Awwwwww. Don't play with me, Saku-babe!"
They both erupted into fits of chuckles, both genuinely amused at the others antics.
"Excuse me?" a small voice interrupting their laughter.
They both quickly halted and sobered up, turning to look at the source of the interruption.
"It's time for the stall to close! I'm very sorry!" the dango stall owner declared to them, palms sweaty from having the gaze of a very scary shinobi stuck on him.
"Kiba-kun, you heard the man! Pay 'em and les ggooo~" Sakura giggled to herself, noting Kiba's ability to stare someone down.
'Must be a dog thing.'
With a small frown at the bill, Kiba pulled out some money and slammed it onto the counter.
"Until next time, dango-sama!" Kiba hollered, probably annoying everyone in a two mile radius.
The pair hopped off their stools, grabbed the pile of papers, and started walking into the night.
/...::::::...\
"Put. Me. DOWN!" Sakura yelled.
Kiba held her papers in one arm, and her in the other.
"Not a chance!"
He had figured with him being apparently 'intoxicated' in her eyes, he could get away with whisking her off to her apartment instead of the 30 minute walk that was sure to have bored both of them.
Inuzuka Kiba was kind of a genius in that sense.
He leaped across the rooftops deftly, as a trained shinobi should. The squirming kuniochi in his arms was wriggling out of his grasp, or at least attempting to.
Recognizing her apartment, Kiba slowly brought his speed down to a walking pace and set Sakura down in front of her door. She straightened her skirt and turned around, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Inuzuka."
Shit.
/...::::::...\
How dare he manhandle her?! She was supposed to be a lady! What kind of complete asshole manhandles a proper lady.
She repeated what she just thought in her head.
Maybe the alcohol had gotten to her, just a bit.
"Sorry, Saku-babe. I thought it'd be quicker." Kiba started eyes downcast, arm scratching the back of his head. She almost forgave him, with how cute he looked. "With you being a cripple and all."
Forgiveness forgotten.
"Damnit Inuzuka. The one time I actually start thinking you're a nice guy, you prove me wrong. Why can't you just be a normal human bein-"
"You mean like Sasuke?"
She froze.
/...::::::...\
Shit. Again.
He immediately regretted his words, as soon as they came out of his mouth. Before he could quickly apologize for the slip, she said something.
"You- you're right." she said softly. "I'm the biggest hypocrite, aren't I? Calling out other peoples faults while I ignore the biggest one."
She was so smart, so unbelievably understanding, and goddamn self-sacrificing. She had Tsunade's temper, yet she was so gentle compared to her mentor. Her stubbornness, and her ability to believe that everyone had some semblance of good in them that could be multiplied.
Kiba couldn't find any words to describe how he felt at that exact moment. Except for what awkwardly spilled out of his mouth.
"I think I love you."
a/n: jfc i need some coffee. midnight coffee. or sleep. midnight sleep sounds real good right about now.
reviews much appreciated.-xx
-waddlebottle
