Title: Holding my Own

Rating: K+

Summary: A Sakura - centered fic that will give you new-found respect for our favorite pink-haired ninja.

Holding my Own

Chapter 3

Sakura catapulted out of bed. It was her first day of the special training that sensei had promised her after her getting a draw at the preliminaries. She was nervous and excited.

"Oh no I'm late! I need to hurry. I don't want to make a bad first impression."

She rushed through her morning routine of hair care and positiveself-reflectionin the mirror like a machine. She wasn't fully awake until she was half way through the skin care management section of the process when looking at her clock she relised with dread she would need to skip parts four and five of her acne prevention treatment to remain on schedule.

"Oh no! Oh well, I probably have a few extra minutes. Kakashi-sensei is always ate anyway, I bet the person he got to do my training has his gift for showing up on time." NOT!

She finished up and rushed out the door. The summer sun was bright and strong as Sakura walked quickly to the place of meeting at the west village bridge. Sakura refused to run cause she didn't want to be a sweaty mess before she even met the Jounin who would be training her. Her head wandered in the bright morning.

"Who knows made he'll be kawai, like Gemma-sensei. not that he's cuter than Sasuke-kun. Oh! I'll die if its Gai-sensei. DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR! Not that he's left Rock Lee's side since his injury. Poor Lee-san," she mused.

As Sakura cleared the bridge, she broke from her daydream and immediately recognized the figure lounging against the rail.

"Kurenai-sensei! Uh, Ohayou."

"Ohayou Sakura," said the young female jounin in her dusky, low voice.

Yuuhi Kurenai was a mystery to Sakura. From a minor clan, she had risen through the ranks to Jounin with phenomenal speed. For a kunoichi it was almost unheard of. She didn't know much else, but Sakura realized with surprise that if she counted all the Jounin women she knew on both hands she would still have fingers to spare.

"Kakashi-sensei asked me to train you while he took the Uchiha boy somewhere for lessons. Since all mine are still recovering from the exam or they don't really need my help, I said yes." Her tone became slightly chill. "Although from the way you're staring at me maybe we are both wasting are time, ne?"

Sakura went crimson.

"No, no! Kurenai-sensei, gomennasai, I just didn't think you'd be my teacher." Sakura looked up after ducking her head, Kurenai appeared to desire a little more of an explanation.

"I mean that, it's just there aren't that many women who are jounin, so when Kakashi-sensei said he found someone to train me in his absence I assumed it would be a man. My apologies again, sensei."

Yuuhi's face smoothed slightly, but even her natural demeanor was still brusque. "Well then, let's go. Keep up."

Sakura sprang to follow her movement. As they ran into the forest heading west, it took all of her effort to keep up along winding forest paths. They ran for a mile before Yuuhi took their journey into the trees.

"She's fast, almost like Kakashi, and she's not cutting me any breaks. It's like she's trying to lose me, except."

Sakura stopped dead. She realized that she couldn't see her tutor anymore nor sense her movement.

"Where did she go?"

The genin searched for a time and soon came upon tracks hinting of a recent passage. A bent branch, twisted leaves, all leading further west to a small rounded clearing about fifty paces wide in the forest. Sakura landed at its edge catching her breath. The fragrance of the wildflowers that dotted the grasses hung heavy in the air of the place.

She walked out into the meadow. Immediately in front of her emerged a foreign looking nin in a camouflaged jacket from the grass. Sakura jumped back into a defensive posture as he glared at her with fierce look in his eyes.

"Who are you? Why are you sneaking around near Leaf Village?"

The ninja did not trade words with her, but started to run at her throwing shuriken. Sakura used a kawarimi to escape jumping to the trees behind her. She immediately somersaulted over her opponent, throwing kunai in a stagger pattern. It forced him to block above his head. With his arms raised she knew he would be unable to block a low attack.

"Got him," she thought, her heart racing.

She landed behind him, her feet touching to the ground. She readied for attacking when unexpectly she lost her footing. Sakura tumbled roughly into a hidden pit trap. While struggling to right herself a net encased her.

At the top, a disgusted looking Kurenai gazed down into the hole.

"That was a basic genjutsu, girl. I was expecting a little better from one Kakashi so highly recommended."

Sakura groaned with frustration.

She never actually saw the shuriken actually hit her kawarimi, she had assumed and been tricked. She cut herself out and crawled dejectedly out of the pit. This was not going as planned at all. She scrambled up to find Kurenai-sensei sitting a few yards away picking flowers, of all things.

Sakura tried brushing herself off, but it was no use. The dirt covered her all over and even clumped in her hair. She walked over to Yuuhi and sat down sullenly.

"Why is she embarrassing me? Why I am so stupid?"

Kurenai looked up at her and smiled. It was the first time Sakura could detect a hint of warmth in her face.

"Not so pretty now from when you started, ne?

Sakura couldn't help but smile back sheepishly. "Yeah."

The Jounin kept her tone soft. "I was surprised that you tried a direct attack like that. It was a good plan, but foolish. You must realize a foreign ninja here illegally would have to be at least chuunin level to be sent by his country. Probably serving as an Anbu as well. What if he wasn't alone? Did you even think to consider that? What you did was nothing less than suicide."

Kurenai became silent and looked at Sakura intently.

"I've seen your grades Sakura. At the chuunin paper exam did you know you were one of only two genin who walked in knowing all the answers?"

Sakura's head swelled slightly with the compliments. "Who was the other one," she wondered. "Was it Sasuke-kun? It must have..."

Kurenai sighed as if reading her mind. "The other was Nara Shikamaru, not Uchiha Sasuke, which gets me to my point here. I won't speak for Kakashi-sensei, but I gather he's worried that you have become too dependent on your teammates and worse you think that you should be able to match their ability." She paused. "Do you think that's true?"

"No Sensei! I know I do the least on missions right now, but that's because Naruto tries too hard. He's always jumping in first and Sasuke-kun just always knows the right thing to do."

Kurenai seemed to be half-listening as she stripped leaves from a large cattail she had picked along with the flowers.

"I see. Ok, well talk won't learn jutsu." Holding up a small bright- colored flower she asked, "Sakura, you had a flower-arrangement class. What flower is this and what is used for?"

Sakura rattled off the textbook response. "Its called plumeria or more commonly meadowpink, it is good as a complimentary flower in an arrangement of summer blossoms."

"Good. Did you know that it has other qualities? Exposure to the scent is said to cure headaches. An infusion of its blossoms when ingested can cause hallucinations or vivid dreams, while the oil of its seeds is a poison that can trigger paralysis and, if untreated, death. I chose this spot for training as the perfume will aid in our next task."

Yuuhi got up and Sakura followed her to her feet.

"Oh, Sakura take off your nin-jacket."

Sakura wasn't sure she heard her correctly. "Sensei what did you say? I don't think I understood you correctly."

Kurenai smiled a little too sweetly.

"Yes, you did. I said lose the jacket. You do have the proper underclothes on, correct? I hope you don't have some lacy little number hiding under there. It's going to be a long day"

Sakura was annoyed. She took her jacket off in a deliberately slow fashion before tossing it to the side. Her black sports tank matched her tight- fitting nin-shorts. In the heat of the midday she still repressed a sudden chill as the wind tickled her newly bared midriff.

"Ok, let's begin!"

Kurenai swung the cleaned reed she had been making through the air experimentally, then looking at Sakura she formed a seal. Her form seemed to twist and ripple as it spun away into nothingness.

"Genjutsu again!" Sakura looked around trying to anticipate what she was sure would be sensei's first attack. From the trees walked a figure Sakura knew in a heartbeat to be a fake.

"Sakura, what are you doing out here?" asked a perfect imitation of Sasuke- kun. IMPOSTER!

"Nice try sensei, but I won't fall for that trick I know.!"

Sakura was cut off by an enraged squeal that erupted from the woods. A mountain boar of massive size charged at the Sasuke clone who barely dodged its deadly attack.

"It's just an illusion," Sakura told herself.

The boar turned and seeing the pink-haired girl squealed again renewing its charge, now towards where she stood.

"Just an illusion."

An all too real cry of anguish came from the not-Sasuke. "Sakura move now!"

"It's not real."

She could feel the ground echo with its charging hooves, its grunts of rage as grew closer and closer and..

The fear overtook her. Throwing her hands up she closed her eyes and let out a scream of terror. Prone and on her knees, the cattail switch appeared in the air to slap Sakura crossed the exposed part of her back. She cried out and felt to soothe the welt it had left.

Kurenai-sensei coalesced to step out of nothingness a few feet away with the offending weed.

"I'm not Iruka, Sakura. I won't baby you. And I'm not Kakashi either who overlooked you because he was forced to concentrate on the other members of your team."

She paused and then returned to her invisibility jutsu. However, the lecture continued.

"The goal of this exercise is simple. Take the reed away from me before I can hit you with it. If you can do this there is no genjutsu you cannot master."

Sakura tried in vain to pinpoint the voice's location, but it seemed to echo throughout the place, obviously another effect of the illusion.

The sun moved slowly along its path in the hazy blue sky and as it came to rest above the mountains in the late afternoon. Sakura was still struggling through the exercise.

Sweat drenched her and stung the couple dozen welts that tracked along her arms, legs, shoulders and back.

She had not located Kurenai once. Many illusions were thrown at her: fire, enemy attacks, ants, slugs and snakes. Her teammates and other genin she was also friends with appeared. They were always either in pain, or attacking her or each other. Always just distracting enough to make her let her guard down. She felt anxious and strung out. Sakura started to rationalize the situation in her head.

"How much chakra does she have, anyway? She's got to be close to her limit! This can't last forever."

Like a mind reader, Yuuhi's echoing voice entered the thin air dashing such hopes.

"Sakura. If you cannot do this before my chakra is spent I will send you back. I will tell Kakashi that you are not fit to move beyond the genin rank and you will never take the chuunin exam again. This I swear to you."

"But why?! Why are you doing this to me?" YOU BITCH!

"It's very simple. Your sensei feels that your two companions will grow to rank among the strongest ninja ever to be born in Konohagure. Right now, you are the weakest member on that team. They feel obligated to protect you. As your team gains experience and goes on more dangerous missions you will become an increasing liability they simply cannot afford. Do you understand this? Is my logic wrong?"

The reed switch suddenly took Sakura hard at the back of her knees. Tears welled up in her eyes as she fell to the ground. The physical pains mixed with the psychological torture of the jounin's comments.

"There is no shame in remaining a genin, Sakura. Women can rarely match men in the areas of strength and stamina. For you to even think to try and keep up with likes of Naruto or the Uchiha boy will surely get you killed and perhaps them as well."

Sakura brought herself back to her feet and a cold anger settled within her.

"Don't worry your Sasuke might still love you in time. No one will judge you harshly for it. Who knows maybe in a couple of years."

"Enough! Come at me again!" screamed Sakura.

The echoing speech ended and Sakura steeled herself for the next exchange. She had a plan. GAME OVER HONEY!

She centered her chakra and sent it out in her body enhancing her senses of hearing and touch. It was extremely difficult and once she moved, even a slight shift in stance, her concentration in those senses would break. But as always her control was flawless. The slightest changes of the vibration and pitch in the air around her could be detected.

As she waited a small phrase from her academy studies crept up into her mind. It was a simple haiku poem she had loved as a young girl about the meaning of being a kunoichi. Like a mantra she repeated it to herself as a massive bear appeared out the forest raising itself up give its challenge to her. Like all Yuuhi's other illusions it looked frighteningly real.

"In a woman's heart"

The deep rumble of its roar rolled over her as she stared ahead, seeing yet not. Feeling the deepness in the animal's voice, slow and long.

"Breaking swords the willow bends"

The roars continued. The sounds increased becoming closer. Heavy paws crushing dry grass. A softer hiss followed it. Again it came, it was separate, alone, yet sliding under the deeper rhythm. The bear's illusion was very near now, closer still...

"Like water, I flow."

Under the sound of it's heavy ragged breathing, a low whistle came from behind. It was different and quick like a hummingbird. Sakura twisted around, her kunai connecting blindly with the unseen. With a snap, a broken cattail twirled away from her in the air. Kurenai appeared beside her and discarded the remaining stump she held her hand.

Sakura's blood was still boiling as she turned to her tutor.

"Do not compare me to anyone else! I decided before that I would become stronger for myself! I am not a ninja to please others. I am a ninja because it is what I wanted to be. Nothing you say will ever change that." YOU GOT THAT?!

Kurenai stared hard at her for a long stretch then spoke evenly, "I believe you. I do not stand in awe of my fellow jounin. I do not worry about competing with their talent. I am weapon of the Leaf. It is my duty to serve and protect. I fight not because others wish it, but because it is who I am."

Kurenai then turned away quickly to look into rich gold of the falling sun. Sakura could here her softly repeating a small verse, one she had held to so tightly, but moments ago.

In a woman's heart, breaking swords the willow bends. Like water, I flow.

As she turned back to Sakura, she smiled at her knowingly. It was a bond they now shared.

This powerful and mysterious woman who was to be her new mentor sighed signaling an end to their reverie. Picking up the genin's jacket, she placed it gingerly on her sore shoulders. The change in the relationship was evident. Kurenai Yuuhi was convinced that this girl was a good choice for a pupil.

"Alright Sakura, let's go home and get you cleaned up. There's a lot of training ahead of us and I want those boys to fall down with shock after they see some of the techniques I'll teach you."

Sakura walked leisurely back to the village, talking and enjoying the new companionship felt with her special tutor.

"You mean you've really never seen Kakashi with his mask off? Let me tell you, your sensei's quite the little hottie! He's almost too pretty for a man if you ask me."

Sakura giggled, entertained at Kurenai's normally well-hidden humor. Her heart felt light and for the first time a new confidence was beginning to grow in her. This trial past, Sakura began to let go of the many doubts and worries she had been held for too long.

E V I L A N G E L N U M B E R 1 3

Hey guys whats up. Hope you liked this chapter pwez keep reading and reviewing! I still haven't gotten any ideas for what to do for the people who review so if you can think of something pwez tell me in a review or message me but if you message me it may or may not take a little bit for me to read it because i share an email address with my mom so...yeah. Well keep reading and reviewing my fics and let me know what you thought about my stories!=) Seriously guys your the reason i write and once again just to let you know i do except criticism to a certain point, Thx! LUVLLES! =)

EA#13