N/A: Thanks for the reviews and favs! It makes my day everytime I get a notification! I'm realizing that it might take a while to set up a reveal for the 'mystery presence' and even longer to explain it and work it in, so it's shaping up to be the longest story I've ever tackled. I'll do my best to stay motivated, but writing it in these short chunks is really helping me not get bored. Plus, I'm not planning too far ahead, which also helps. Thanks again, and enjoy chapter 3!
"Begin!"
Sakura charges right away, trying not to let Ino's taunts get to her head. While the years of their friendship turned rivalry strengthened her, they didn't erase her insecurities and Ino knows it. Her appearance and temper are the sorest spots, and Ino knows if she can get a rise out of Sakura, she'll win the fight easily.
But Sakura knows how to get under Ino's skin too. She knows Ino feels the weight of carrying on her clan legacy. Her father hasn't declared who will inherit the head title, even though she is his only child. Many of her male cousins are always hanging about, and always trying to show her up and make her look weak and inferior. Ino had a rough time getting the hang of her clan's mind body switch technique, so she's always a little over-eager to show it off now, even when it isn't the time or place. One-on-one in open combat is just about the worst time ever, which is exactly why Sakura is egging her on.
"You know, I've never actually seen you successfully use the technique. Remember that time when you tried to get into Sasuke-kun's mind but missed, and then-"
"SHUT IT FOREHEAD!" Ino whips a kunai at Sakura's skull and the pinkette barely dodges. She feels it slice through her hair and the fabric of her hitai ate and the headband slips from her forehead to clatter noisily on the stone floor. Sakura's bangs fall over her forehead and she swipes at them to get them out of her eyes. They just fall back into place.
Ino quickly schools her rage into a smirk as she twirls a kunai on her finger. "Looks like you never gave up those bangs. What's the matter? Can't handle not having them to hide behind? I don't blame you, that billboard brow of yours is like a practice target." Her tone is so haughty Sakura sees red and charges again.
"Gotcha." Is the last thing Sakura hears before the world goes black.
She feels as though she is floating, yet her feet are planted on something firm. Sakura opens her eyes and sees Ino is still standing in front of her, looking confused.
"How are you here? You shouldn't be able to exist when I'm in your head!" Ino looks irate, but Sakura doesn't miss the uncertainty in her posture. There's the lack of self-confidence Sakura was looking for.
"Everyone always makes fun of my forehead, but at least it's good for something. I've got a lot more room for intelligence and willpower." Sakura pokes her brow with her thumb and smiles sadly. She doesn't know where that thought just came from, but she's going to hold on to it for the times when she can't stop glaring at it in the mirror.
"This is impossible though! How are you doing this?" Ino stomps over to Sakura and reaches out, her expression startled when her hand passes through Sakura.
Sakura shrugs. "Must just be a manifestation of my suppressed temper. You of all people should know how I can be." Her lips slowly curl into a snarl. "Now get the hell out of my head, Pig."
~~~
"Get up Sakura-chan! You can do it!" Naruto yells frantically. If Kakashi-sensei weren't holding the back of his jacket he would have already toppled over the railing.
While her broken nose and black eye are painful, they're nothing compared to the kunai that was in her shoulder for hours the day before. Sakura rolls over onto her stomach and very carefully pushes herself up onto her hands and knees before using the wall to stand upright. No way is she losing to Ino-Pig.
"Winner, Haruno Sakura."
Sakura smiles softly, but she feels hollow inside. Ino is scream crying across the room. Sakura heard the sickening crack when her fist hit the blonde's jaw and can only imagine the agony. Crying is probably just making it hurt worse too.
Ignoring the medic that offers her an arm, Sakura limps her way around the perimeter of the wall until she is near Ino. Dropping to all fours, she crawls to her childhood friend's side, where she stops hesitantly sitting back on her heels. Ino's eyes are glazed over with pain, and instinctively Sakura takes her hand; the one that isn't broken from punching Sakura in the face with sloppy form.
"I'm sorry, Ino-chan." She says quietly. A tear slips down the pinkette's cheek and she quickly wipes it away. She's surprised when Ino squeezes the hand holding hers and she returns the gesture quickly.
"Miss, we need to attend to Yamanaka-san immediately. We need to set her jaw before she does any more damage to the joint and you need to be seen for your concussion and broken nose." A medic lays a hand on Sakura's shoulder and she flinches out of surprise.
"Wait! Let me stay with her! At least until her family gets here." Sakura doesn't let go of the blonde's hand. The medic gives her a sympathetic look.
"Alright, your symptoms seem to be minor and you didn't lose consciousness, but you need to move back so we can put her on a stretcher. You can be in the same room but we need space to work. And no crying. You'll only upset her more, which will only make her cry more, and then she'll mess up the wires we have to put in her mouth to set her jaw."
The look of horror on Sakura's face almost makes the medic change her mind, but Sakura forces a mask of apathy to settle on her face and follows the medic out of the dome and into the hallways leading to the front exit. An ambulance is waiting and Sakura crawls in after Ino has been lifted inside. The blonde's sobs dwindle to sniffles as morphine enters her system and Sakura strokes her hair comfortingly during the short ride to the hospital.
"It'll be alright, Ino-chan. I think I know someone who can help."
"Thank you again, Kabuto-san. I'm sure if she were still awake, our daughter would be thanking you from the bottom of her heart." Ino's mother bows at the waist and places a hand to her chest in a show of gratitude. Her father dips his head as well.
Kabuto rubs the back of his head and pushes up his glasses. "Oh don't worry about it. When Sakura-chan contacted me and asked me to help her friend I was happy to help."
"Where did you learn to heal like that? Did Lady Tsunade herself train you?" Inoichi inquires.
Kabuto shakes his head and a faraway look crosses his face. "I learned from the headmistress at the Konoha orphanage when I was young. It's been nearly a decade since I first started, and I'm afraid it's my only skill. Sakura-san helped me escape the Forest of Death during the second round of the Chunin Exams."
"The headmistress wouldn't have happened to be Nono Yakushi, would it?" Ino's mother asks, her eyes suddenly filling with an emotion that could only be bitter sweet.
"The very one." Kabuto replies after a slight hesitation. Sakura noticed but says nothing, interested to see how Ino's mother knew that. "Did you know her?"
Ino's mother nods. "She was a dear friend. I used to teach flower arranging classes at the orphanage occasionally before I had Ino."
Kabuto dips his head. "Then I'm sure you know how caring she was to all of us. What did you say your name was, m'am?"
Ino's mother smiles. "My name is Jin Yamanaka, but you may call me Jin if you would like. I hope you'll stop by the flower shop sometime. I'd like to give you a token of our appreciation."
Kabuto smiles. "Thank you very much, Jin. I look forward to it." He turns to Sakura. "It looks like someone already tended to your injuries, and I'm a little low on chakra. Are you alright?" Sakura nods and he smiles. "Alright, then I'll see you again soon."
Sakura nods, and on impulse reaches out to catch his arm. "Kabuto, um… Thank you."
He smiles warmly. "My pleasure."
"I'm sorry if I seem needy, but could you perhaps teach me a few medical techniques? Maybe before the exam?" Sakura noticed the presence has been hanging nearer ever since Kabuto entered the room. It's in the room with them. She hasn't forgotten the genjutsu from the forest either. She wants to keep an eye on him.
He nods. "Sure, Sakura-chan. I'll see you later this week, then."
