Title- Ink Cartridge
By- Envo
Genre- General/Humor
Type- AU Non-Massacre
Theme- Game
Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto.
-
Take Three: Of Cat and Mouse
-
She is panting, hard. Hands brace on each bent knee with her heart drumming frantically against her chest, she glares hard at the figure slouching against the metal rail just out of her reach. Perspiration slides down from her temples and traces a trial down her cheeks before finally dripping down on the pavement she perches on.
She knew she still has ways to go in breaching their difference in ability-wise, but she never give a thought as to how big of a difference it will that be, granted that he is an ANBU operative and she, a Chunin working on a Jounin level.
And with just this alone, the man definitely brings the term simple task to a whole new level.
"Give up."
Even with her predicament, she still manages to roll her eyes at the man and his dispassionate comment. Really, does he really think she'll give up now? As if.
Air rushes out of her lungs swiftly before regulating back to its smooth rhythm. For a second, her whole body tenses before sprinting out like an arrow shooting towards the apathetic Uchiha. With just a step, he makes her miss again. From the corner of her eyes, the swivel of raven hair disappears into the alley to her left, and automatically, her senses flare out as she follows the fresh trial of a Captain Uchiha.
Thus the chase begins. Again.
Head dips down to dodge a low-hanging cable line from overhead, her teeth clamps down hard on her inner cheek as she pumps more chakra to coax her rubbery legs to move faster. Begrudgingly, she admits that the ever famous Uchiha Itachi lives up to his wide-spread reputations. But for her surrogated mother to refer her to this… this slave driver for the upcoming ANBU entrance exam is just plain torture.
Just what was Tsunade-shishou thinking?
She bursts into the crowded street of Konoha with a surprised yelp as showers of blinding sunlight sears her vision. She curses out loud. Incredulous glance are tossed in her way as she spins on her heels and speeds down the street with streaming tears flowing free from the corners of her eyes.
And no, it isn't even the official training. She, apparently, needs to pass his test to prove to him that she is worthy of his time. Just that thought alone is enough to drive her over the edge with rage. It has already been six days, and her time is running out.
"Intercept me from the moment I step out of the Uchiha compound till the time I return, and I will grant you your training. You have one week's time."
The burning tip of her tongue pulls her back from her reverie just in time for her to dodge the foot sticking out in amidst of a crowd. Eyes search swiftly in the cluster of people narrows down to the culprit who tried to trip her; seconds later, she finds herself looking into a pair of amber eyes filling with evident jealousy and veiling heavily with artificial eyelashes.
A muscle in her jaw begins to tick as her molars crush against each other. Hard.
Sending one murderous glare of her shoulder at the quickly retreating girl, she turns her attention back to his trial and surprisingly find said trail quickly dissipating. This time, she doesn't stop the growl from escaping her lips.
Six full days of wild goose chase wears her patiences thin, and on top of it all, she has to use her keen chakra control skills to keep up with his speed and her reflex to dodge varies of unsuspected, flying objects during their chase. Anyone will be surprised at just how many different things can be airborne while she traverses the streets like a mad woman running for her life.
She has enough.
That's right; two can play at this game. She can afford to be demure now, but after this…
"Shikamaru, is that… Sakura chasing the Uchiha Itachi?"
"…Aa."
Heads will roll.
In the end, she still lost to him when he smugly and slowly glides into the compound. She is not pleased.
The fist flying at her drives her backwards as she sends one of her own after her attacker by reflex. The pair of coffee brown eyes glimmers behind the Black Ops mask before stepping out of her fist's way.
She has been lucky enough to face opponents that are quite easily beaten with her chakra-laced fists, and this is the last exam—the physical endurance test, where no chakra are allowed. The previous fast-pace, intense spars wear down her energy lower than she would have liked, and with the exertion on her part now, she is almost sure that she will be sporting an aching and bruising body by the time this is over and done with.
She jumps as her opponent attempts to sweep her off her feet. Blinking away the beads of perspiration obscuring her vision, she aims a kick to the ghostly mask before flipping back. To her surprise, the hit lands square on its target. The ANBU skids across the ground and hits the wall behind him.
Why doesn't he dodge?
"Your doing?" Neck cranking to the side, one Nara Shikamaru rubs his sore nape tiredly. Bored eyes glace towards the figure leaning casually against the pillar to his side. White porcelain mask streaked with red turns towards him, the two orbs of onyx glistens under the overhead light.
"You know what to do."
With a weary sigh, he pulls the roster out from a stack of paper in danger of toppling over and places it before him. Without looking at its content, he peers over at the pink haired woman—also known as Ino's best friend with a temper rivaling the Godaime herself—supporting a doubled-over, mask-shattered ANBU all the while apologizing to said panting man.
Women are so strange, Shikamaru thinks to himself as he registers the medic's name under that person's team. They always look for attention, and yet when they finally get it, they flutter. Vaguely, his mind registers the sudden strong pulse of chakra flaring through the air before giving a yawn.
From the corner of his eye, he sees one figure stiffen before swinging around with her pink hair fanning wildly in the air. Emerald eyes wide with a mixture of shock, horror and something else as her eyes search through the roll of judges and finally lands on the ANBU to his side. Never mind the man swinging limply over her shoulder, she openly gapes at the masked Uchiha propping against the building lazily.
Tch, what a showoff, that Uchiha.
Recalling a distant memory, he sighs heavily.
"I've approved the Uchiha's proposal in taking over her training on my part. I want you to make sure my apprentice doesn't overtax herself under his watch, Nara."
"That is not possible, Hokage-sama. With his caliber, Uchiha Itachi will easily exhaust Sakura within the first thirty minutes into the training."
"I have nothing left to teach her, Nara. And besides, she is awfully dense when it comes to that Uchiha."
He only hopes Sakura knows what she is getting herself into; it is known throughout the village that if something were to catch the Uchiha's attention, he will not stop until he gets it. After all, Uchiha gets what they want when they wants it.
"Troublesome."
A/N: Sheesh, at this rate we will be having 'A collections of one-shots' instead of drabbles...
Thanks once again to those who reviewed. It most definitely motivates me to write more.
Review and tell me what you think!
Envo 05/10
