Roller Coaster
Summary: Because she reached heights that were never her goals and when she was ready to take on the world alone she found their shadows to stand beside her. Because when she found her heart, she was prepared to let him go. Sakura centered Time travel fic
Chapter three: Bell Test
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.
"Morning Sasuke." Sakura greeted seating herself in a meditative state at the base of the nearby tree.
"Hn." An hour passed unnoticed by Sakura as she concentrated on her chakra to slowly manipulate the boundaries of her chakra reserves. During her meditative state, Sasuke took the chance to study his new teammate, learning nothing in the process.
"Hi Sakura-Chan!" Naruto paused, "Sasuke-teme, why isn't she responding?" Naruto had taken to wildly motioning his hands in front of her face and loudly yelling in her ear. Much to Sasuke's chagrin this is how Naruto occupied his time during the three hours they waited for their sensei. Not once did Sakura respond to his goofy faces, loud noises or pleadings.
"You're late!" Naruto yelled with the same volume he had been utilizing in his attempts to 'save' Sakura.
"Well, you see on my way here a black dog almost crossed my path, but I wasn't sure if it was the same as a black cat and not wanting to take any chances I had to take the long way here."
"Liar!" The demon vessel countered with fierceness. Naruto had been late to class enough times to spot a made up excuse, thank you very much.
"What's up with her?" The Jounin asked only to push Naruto's attention onto another target.
"It's creepy Kakashi-sensei! Sakura-Chan is not responding at all! I don't know what she is doing! I think that she is hurt or something!" Naruto exclaimed slowly becoming hysterical.
"It's called meditation; I've told you this before Naruto." Sakura answered casually as she stood and brushed the grass off of her pants.
"Sakura-Chan," the girl grunted from the force and impact of the hug. "I thought you were gone forever!"
"Which called for the use of goofy faces?" The girl smiled as Naruto blanched. "So what is on the agenda today sensei?"
And so they were told of the two bells. Naruto flipped out when he realized he might not be a genin come tomorrow. The three divided and Sakura experienced déjà-vu.
As Sakura had promised Kakashi she didn't influence their actions. When Sauske was pulled underground she helped him out. When Naruto was caught by the leg in the tree she cut him down, twice. And when they were sitting, two of them eating, one tied to the stump, she let Sauske decided to feed Naruto. Sakura only carried out the act.
"You all pass." Kakashi announced intimidating the boys, gray clouds and all.
"Sakura-Chan let me walk you home!" Naruto requested loudly. After they passed the bell test they went for ramen, Sasuke had been invited but he had refused.
"No thanks Naruto. I have something to do before going home."
"You sure, Sakura-Chan?" Naruto didn't seem to like the idea of her walking anywhere alone. Then again he never really got over that in the past either.
"I'm positive, go home and rest. I will bet anything that Kakashi-sensei will have some intense training for us tomorrow, maybe even a mission." The pink haired women turned girl said with a wink.
"You're right Sakura-Chan! See you tomorrow; you'll be so impressed with my awesome ninja skills!" He turned heading home, but seemed to remember something and called back to her, "I'll be Hokage one day, believe it!"
"Yes, you will. I'll make sure of that." She whispered to herself, leaving in the opposite direction from blonde. The path was familiar to her, she had taken this route thousands of times. She reached her goal, the memorial stone. In her own time Sakura had come here to think, seek guidance, reminisce and to provide support to a man who used this place to mourn.
The area looked the same, but the memorial was predictably different. Hundreds of names were missing from the smooth surface. While this filled her with a foreign and distant feeling, she couldn't help but feel glad. Those people didn't need to die and now they might not.
'Strange that Kakashi isn't here.' Her inner commented. While the two personas really were completely different they both merged to have distinct yet similar personalities as they aged. Now they work as a team, Inner Sakura is literally the eyes in the back of her head. She can warn her outer counterpart of attacks from the back, which was only the beginning of the strange abilities they had created over time.
'Yes, he normally visits in the mornings. Something must be troubling him.'
'Perhaps a new student of his is a bit too much like him than he would care to admit. Was it really necessary to cause him such conflict?' Inner scolded.
'We need him to take us seriously. Besides, while my actions appear to be that of a twelve year old, my words and opinions are my own and some thoughts I will not mask.'
'Well then call him out.' Her inner goaded.
'If Kakashi is content watching from the trees then we'll let him be, if he wishes to talk he will approach, he always does.' And he did, nearly an hour later, stopping so that he was standing directly behind where she sat.
"You've been here a while." Kakashi stated.
"As have you, just over an hour sitting in those trees, my you are a strange man Sensei." She shot back, her words a sad attempt at humor.
"Mourning a name etched on the stone?" He asked not taking her bait.
"No, honoring the ones that will be." The seasoned ninja had difficulty deciphering her words.
"I would like to say that my words mean there is nothing we can do about past deaths and that the future deaths are the regrettable ones because those are the ones we can change. Those are the people we can save."
"But?"
"Then I might be a hypocrite." She muttered, not out of shame but contemplation.
'What do you mean?' Her inner searched for clarification, knowing completely that her words were personal. Good thing they were two halves of the same whole or her inner's curiosity would have caused problems by now.
'The names that will be etched I can prevent but to me those are past deaths.' She started.
"You have an odd view of life from someone so young."
"In time," she paused considering her words. "At some point," she stopped again. "Look, no one besides me will ever be able to fully comprehend some of the knowledge I possess and the life I have lived. But at some point the Hokage or I will ask something of you and in doing so will inform you of confidential matters. My logic will become more decipherable to you with time." Quickly her fingers brushed a smooth patch of stone, the space of a name and left the clearing.
Sakura didn't sleep that night, calling instead upon a unique ability. Inner Sakura didn't need to sleep, which helped seeing how inner Sakura was alert and ready to inform her dominate pair of danger when Sakura slept or meditated. Sometimes, however, on missions Sakura didn't have time to sleep so Inner Sakura would sleep for her. The process did not rest her physical body but rested her mind and made it medically acceptable to go without sleep for periods of time.
Instead, Sakura alternated between meditating and reminiscing of some of the fonder memories in her life.
(Flashback)
"I've received word from Sand. Orochimaru's men have retreated for the time being. Furthermore, there have been no sightings of intruders by our borders. This might be the calm before the storm but it would seem we have a chance to regroup which we need to do." A grown version of Sakura informed an older Kakashi. She sat herself next to him as she spoke. The view from on top the Hokage monument provided them with a beautiful view of Konoha, a perfect reminder of what they are fighting for.
"That's good news; Jiraiya should be back from Sand within the week then."
"I'll be glad to have him back." This was the first time that Jiraiya was permitted to leave since he had returned and willingly failed to claim his place as Hokage. A wind passed by reminding the pair that their village was in late fall. "Thanks." Sakura commented sarcastically as Kakashi put his vest over her shoulders. Jiraiya and Kakashi were both like that, they viewed her as a little sister and even as Hokage they babied her, both during missions and not. It was understood that it wasn't because they didn't think she was capable of taking care of herself, they all knew she was more the capable. The reason was they didn't want her to have to be capable. Just as it was understood that protecting her was a sign of love, all three knew Sakura liked the attention and care as much as the two men loved giving it, they were her boys and she was their girl.
"I have some big news." She blurted playing with the tips of her pink locks.
"Oh?" The ninja besides her asked with a raised eye brow.
"I wanted to tell you and Jiraiya together, but damn, I'm not that patient! Kakashi, I'm getting married." Sakura was beaming, engagement suited her.
"Well then, congratulations are in order, where would you like to eat? My treat!" She rolled her eyes he had confirmed what she guessed. Kakashi had already known about her engagement.
"Kakashi, it's always your treat. Between you, Jiraiya and Gaara-kun I hardly pay for anything, none of you let me." She said poking him in the chest as they got up to eat.
(End flashback)
There was nothing remarkable about that memory. Only one of a million she had shared with Kakashi but she liked the way this one felt. The safety, love and excitement her engagement caused.
'Sakura, time for training.' Inner called out like the perfect alarm clock.
'Thanks.' The dominate side replied taking her time to climb out of her memories.
"Morning boys."
"Morning." The female was a bit surprised by the Uchiha's response.
"Good morning Sakura-Chan!"
"Naruto, breathing is essential." Sakura gasped out.
"Huh?" The blonde asked confused and not releasing his hole on his female teammate, his Sakura-chan. Sasuke pulled Naruto back roughly.
"What's your problem teme?"
"She couldn't breathe dobe."
"Then why didn't she say so?" Naruto defended not believing his comrades claim.
"She did."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No she didn't, right Sakura-Chan?" The girl in question was meditating.
"Hey Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asked somewhat seriously about two hours later.
"What Naruto?" Sakura asked patiently. Naruto decided to contemplate Sakura's willingness to answer later and continued with his question.
"Why do you have a holster on both legs?" The question didn't surprise Sakura, although it should have. Naruto had been seriously thinking about something for the past quarter hour and apparently those some things rested on her legs.
"Because I've trained myself to be Ambidextrous."
"Impressive."
"Your late Kakashi-sensei! And what does Ambeditirous mean anyway?" Naruto asked pronouncing the word incorrectly.
"Ambidextrous," The sensei announced clearly, "means she can use both hands at equal strengths. Instead of being right handed or left handed she is both."
"But why would you want to be both?" Naruto asked still confused.
"Think about it Naruto, what are you going to do if you injure the arm you throw with in battle?"
"Oh. I get it! That's really cool Sakura-Chan!"
"Not really Naruto. I'd bet anything that Kakashi-sensei is ambidextrous as well."
"Correct, but it took me years to prefect when I was still in the academy." The information was offered up willingly, an occurrence that never would have happened the first time that she was a Genin. However, Sakura had a serious suspicion that he only offered up that piece of himself because he was curious about her, another odd occurrence.
"How long did it take you Sakura-Chan!" Naruto asked eagerly.
"A month." She answered honestly. "I had the Hokage disable my right arm so I only used my left for a month."
'Well, it isn't a lie.' Inner Sakura commented. 'A Hokage did disable our arm. It just wasn't the current one.'
'I just wish that they would quit staring at me like that.' As if he could read her pleas Kakashi ordered four laps around Konoha as a warm up. This was an easy feat even in her old body, current body. She really had trained with Gai a little too much before the green youth obsessed man had passed.
'You're on a verge of an idea there.' Inner teased.
'I know, I'll ask Sarutobi about acquiring weights after training.'
"Sakura!"
"Yes Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked stopping next to him.
"Your on your sixth lap."
"Oh, I must have zoned out. Where are the boys?"
"On their second lap." He replied with a raised eyebrow.
'Opps.'
'Ditto.' Inner squeaked.
"Zoning out can be dangerous in our line of work." The young Kakashi replied casually as he read his famous orange book. Being close to both Kakashi and Jiraiya Sakura had been forced to read the entire series. Imagine her surprise when she discovered a very complex plot that enthralled her and reminded her a lot of the soap operas that her mother liked to watch. Sakura found herself eager for new releases, simply put, she was hooked. On the days when the pair received their early release signed copies of each new volume; Kakashi and Sakura could be found on training ground nine reading. Unless something direly important came up, in which case someone would be sent out to get them. A pang of homesickness washed over her as she realized their traditions would never play out again. She would never have that rush or excitement she felt every time Jiraiya finished a new masterpiece and she would never have Kakashi's companionship as they both early devoured the text. At least not for over a decade and even then it was not going to be the same.
"You are zoning out again." Disapproval laced Kakashi's voice as he spoke. This time though he seemed to expect things from her. The ability to be a good ninja being one of these things.
"Memories can do that to you." The genin answered, he didn't need to know that Inner Sakura was alert and ready after his first passive reprimand. The situation was like when he was reading one of his books. To do so safely he harnesses the ability to trust his instincts. Sakura did a similar thing only her instincts have a mind of their own.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked uneasily, remembering the Hokage's earlier words.
"Maybe another time."
"The boys wont be back for another half hour." This was his way of letting her know they
had the time to talk.
"Don't worry, having a genin team will enhance your ability to talk about feelings." She sympathized.
The pair laughed, each surprised that their laughs weren't forced.
I would like to thank JiraiyasGirl for her help editing this chapter. Even through storm induced computer trouble! Thank you!
