Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters.
Hi there! I'm supersupersuper sorry that this took awhile to update, but here we are with Sakura's opening chapter. It's a bit longer than Sasuke's, but I promise to make up for that :') anyways, let me know what you think! Thank you for taking the time to read, and I hope you enjoyed.
A Day's Work
"now it's back
to the way it started;
strangers."
"Sakura? Earth to Sakura!" Ino called, her sky blue eyes peering over the counter as Sakura stared into the glass case, focused on all the different colors of flowers.
She had been lost in thought again, her body completely numb until Ino's shrill calls pulled her from her trance. She could see her reflection in the glass of the case, how her pupils had grown in size, her emerald irises glazed over while her lips were parted slightly. Even her hair seemed a little off, the way her headband had slid to the side, the ruby fabric matching the color of her tank top.
"Oh, yeah," she spoke softly before rounding to face Ino. "What was that?"
Ino simply rolled her eyes, her feet kicked up on the counter as she finished braiding the stems from the flowers she had picked on their outing. They were nothing but weeds, but the blonde claimed that their stems were perfectly flexible and easy to twist into cute designs. Sakura only giggled, watching Ino push her way through the tall grass to obtain the bland colored weeds.
"I said, are you working today?"
Sakura's eyes widened. How had she forgotten? "Yes, shit!" She exclaimed before rushing towards the counter and grabbing her medical pouch. Ino scoffed before shaking her head, watching Sakura's frantically worried face scrunch up. "I'm so sorry! I'll see you tomorrow, or even tonight. I gotta go, Lady Tsunade is going to kill me."
With that, Sakura was leaving the heavenly scented shop and pushing down the dirt roads. The village was bustling with people, senseis6 with their students and even the elderly had wandered from the confines of their home, shopping at the stalls. Sakura's heart raced before taking to the roof tops; had she seriously forgotten that today of all days was going to be important? She'd thought about it all night, yet here she was, running late.
The Fifth Hokage had asked the young medic to meet her in the Hokage's Office that day, and once Sakura approached the wooden doors, she could already hear Tsunade's voice from within- "enter!"
Sakura inhaled deeply before releasing a quick exhale, her hands shaking as she shoved the heavy doors open with ease. Tsunade sat at her desk, a cup of tea in her hand while she read over the paperwork in front of her. Although Sakura had been late by four minutes, she still felt guilty; Tsunade merely kept reading the paperwork, ignoring Sakura as a whole until the young woman stopped in front of the oak desk.
"My lady," she spoke softly, her breathing had still been fast, but she kept herself composed.
"Ah, I see you've made it," Tsunade's voice had an edge to it.
Sakura cringed slightly, knowing just how prim and proper her mentor was when it came to training. She also knew that her punishment wouldn't be light, and that the older blonde would put her up to some sort of brain draining task; or rather, something that'd put her on her ass the second she was done training physically.
"Did you finish that book I asked you to look over?" The woman asked as her honey eyes scanned Sakura.
"I did!" Sakura cooed, flashing her a pearly white smile. "It's," - sitting behind the counter at the Yamanaka's Flower Shop - "at my house, sitting on my desk." She hated lying, but Tsunade would have her head if she had learned that Sakura left a well aged medical textbook sitting at a shop.
"Good, make sure you bring it back tomorrow. Anyway, I have something important for you today, as you know.+"
That single sentence sent chills through Sakura's body, her lips pulling into an ear to ear grin as she held her hands behind her back. Tsunade grasped the porcelain cup, taking another sip before setting it down and continuing their conversation.
"As you know, the Anbu squad that I had sent earlier in the month returned this morning, one member of that group being Itachi Uchiha of the Uchiha clan," Tsunade smirked slightly, her golden eyes hardening over.
The look sent another round of chills through Sakura's body, except this time, she couldn't help but notice that stern and hard look in her mentor's eyes. She couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing, but Sakura shook her head lightly before Tsunade continued. Hearing that Itachi had been one of the members on the mission was something she stored in the back of her mind, curious to know just why she was telling her that.
"He refused to report to the hospital after debriefing his mission. He had filled out his report, and returned home for the remainder of the day. As you know, the Uchiha clan houses proud people, but they're not suitable in the medical department. Your training today won't involve reading numerous pages from a textbook or filling out notes on any vaccines, or doing short rounds at the hospital. You'll be making a trip to their humble abode," she flashed a smile, her teeth glistening.
As excitement began to course through Sakura's body, it was accompanied by anxiety. It had been years since she'd heard the Uchiha sir name. She would see the police squads patrol the village, but it wasn't like her to confront them and strike up conversations; after all, she was a busy kunoichi, tasked with medical training and missions every so often. Still, the thought of going to the Uchiha compound and visiting Itachi, covering his wounds and attending their family's house made her fingers shake.
Tsunade apparently caught on to her nervous digits, her smirk disappearing and a thin, well plucked eyebrow raised. "What?"
"What? Nothing, I'm ready whenever," Sakura shook her head, before hiding her hands behind her back.
"Get your supplies and return back to me before going home tonight. I'll need to know the details of all injuries he acquired," Tsunade ordered. "Dismissed."
"Yes, my lady."
Sakura turned on her heel, reaching for the doors and exiting upon demand. She closed the doors behind her, the gush of an exhilarating wind smacking her in the face, sending a shock down her spine as she finally registered exactly where she'd be heading.
Thoughts of dark, midnight eyes passed through her memories accompanied by artfully spiked hair, and a face that held a firm scowl on it constantly. It'd been years since she'd seen the Uchiha, and now that she'd been assigned a day of examining his brother, her heart was immediately descending towards her stomach. As much as Sakura's skin broke out in goosebumps, she complied to Tsunade's orders and began towards the hospital to stock up on her supplies; after all, she'd need to be properly equip, especially in the home of one of the most well known clans of their village.
xxx
The surrounding air was filled with the scent of cherry blossoms, due to the Hanami season that had come and passed, but the petals still rained down from their branches, all while Konoha delightfully held on to the beautiful trees. Rays of light blanketed her exposed skin, fighting back the goose bumps that continued to threaten her body, but Sakura shook off the thoughts the second she walked through the gates.
While the Uchiha clan was still apart of the Leaf, they had a separate part of the village to themselves. Sakura, with eyes scanning the busy streets, stutter stepped through the main gate.
They're villagers just like you, she reminded herself.
They all possessed either a head that sprouted chocolate brown or raven black hair, each shining in a silk-like manner as the sun glistened off each strand of hair. The color of their eyes nearly matched one another perfectly; midnight black accompanied by silver flecks, and pupils that were almost nonexistent.
As Sakura people watched during her travels to Itachi's home, she couldn't help but notice all the different stalls and shops. This part of the village was completely foreign to her, almost like its own little world set apart from the rest of society. Everyone looked entirely happy, with smiles that stretched from ear to ear and directed at her. The longer she walked, the more comfortable she became in the section of town.
She walked by buildings, large but not as large as some of the ones in downtown Konoha, near the Hokage's Tower. The Uchiha crest was nearly imprinted on every building, set in stone and painted perfectly, until her eyes found one symbol she had seen nearly every day of her life: the Uchiha Police Force Insignia.
Her emerald eyes looked at the huge building, noting that the colors were very mute, yet entirely pleasing to the eye. Sakura's walk alongside it was short lived, yet she noticed all the different windows that inhabited the front, catching a glimpse of the inside and thoroughly pleased with how clean it was. Hell, even the short staircase leading up to the front doors were swept and kept clean.
Sakura shrugged before continuing her walk; she was nearly to the house of her patient now.
Their house was simple, a gate with a walkway that led right up to the front door. She was neither intimidated by the size nor how well it look, but by the unnerving feeling she began to feel within her stomach. As her hand reached for the gate, she felt the sudden shock of electricity strike the padding of her finger. She simply frowned before opening the metal gate, closing it behind her and walking her body to the door.
She was here now, standing in front of the door while her hand began to reach for the wooden frame. She tapped her knuckles against the wooden exterior before taking a step back and clasping her hands together. From the inside, she could hear the silent foot falls, when finally the door opened to reveal a gentle face accompanied by a heart warming smile; all the nerves from within her vanished, and had been replaced by the silent fluttering of butterflies.
"Good morning," Sakura spoke first, her heart thrumming against her chest. "My name is Sakura Haruno and by order of my mentor, the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju, I've been sent to examine Itachi Uchiha." She felt almost out of breath from that single, long winded sentence, but the woman only smiled deeper in response.
"We've been waiting for your arrival, come in," she responded with a soothing voice.
Sakura nodded before forcing her body to move. Her feet took her within the confines of the Uchiha's home, taking in just how lovely their home was. Compared to the outside, the inside was just as nice, if not nicer.
"You have a lovely home, Mrs. Uchiha-"
"Please, call me Mikoto."
"-er, Mikoto. Your home is lovely!" Sakura bowed, hiding the blush that began to spread across her cheeks.
The small laugh that sounded from the woman was reassuring, and with it, Sakura rose back to her standing position and offered a lopsided smile. You're entirely too awkward, she reminded herself, but began to remove her sandals and placed them to the side like the rest of the organized shoes.
"Itachi is this way. He just returned home only a few hours ago, so I'm unsure if he's still asleep or awake."
Sakura nodded before following Mikoto to the back porch and making their way to the room at the end. Their back yard and garden was absolutely stunning; the trees trimmed properly and blooming with different fruits, while the garden held different types of lovely flowers. Sakura sneered to herself, noticing that Mikoto's garden would put Ino's garden to shame.
"Right here," the words cut through her thoughts, and as Sakura peered around the doorframe, she could see the body of the elder brother lying absolutely motionless; despite the small rise and fall of his chest. "Just head on in. If you need anything, I'll be right down the hall."
Mikoto ushered Sakura in, and while the pinkette began to walk through the doorway, she noticed the slight stir in Itachi's body. While the natural light came in through the windows, his room was slightly dark; although the light posts hadn't been lit either.
"Feel free to light those if you need more light," the older woman offered with a smile, her voice soft.
Sakura nodded before setting her medical pouch down on the nightstand located next to the bedside. She noted the wooden seat that was positioned near the bed as well, convinced that Mikoto had probably spent the morning sitting near her son while he slept.
The room was quiet as she began to take a seat. The wood adjusted beneath her, letting out a slight creak as she moved her weight and began to dig through her pouch. She'd figured she'd require more light later in the day, but for the now, the sun coming in through the window was more than enough.
Sakura began to wander in her thoughts, considering just how long she should wait before beginning her examination on the young adult in front of her, but as her eyes finally flashed from the contents in her bag, she noticed the same familiar, yet haunting eyes set on her.
His face was calm, thick eyelashes blanketing his soot black eyes as Itachi watched her jump slightly. Sakura felt her blood rush in her body, causing her toes to tingle as she continued to look at him.
"I'm so sorry if I woke you," Sakura spoke first, her words rushed as she leaned back in her chair. Itachi didn't respond, his eyes remained on her as though he were sleeping with his eyes opened. It was when he moved his head that Sakura exhaled lowly, the nerves in her body abandoning her as she calmed down.
"I've been awake since you arrived," his voice was low and smooth; almost a dark tone tinting his voice, but Sakura melted at the sound of it. Not only were his eyes dark, but his hair was an off black color, like a raven's feather in the rays of light - a charcoal gray almost. Itachi was a beautiful human being, much like his brother and his mother. It just runs in the family, Sakura mentioned to herself.
"I'm glad you're awake. I've been sent by Tsunade."
"I'm aware. She was firm with her choice of sending someone to check on me. It was only a matter of time," he retorted with his deep voice.
Sakura felt that deep blush begin in the roots of her hair, slowly making its way to the highest points of her cheeks, even lighting up her ears. She felt exposed, but she continued their conversation, before placing the back of her hand against the mattress, her palm face up.
"May I check your pulse, please?"
Itachi didn't response, only the quiet ruffles of the sheets sounded through Sakura's ears before he placed his wrist gently within the palm of her hand. She noticed how chilling his skin was, how his skin nearly froze her hand to the bones of her fingers, but as she readjusted it in her palm, she now had her fingers pressed firmly against his pulsating vein.
She began to count the pulse rate within her mind, noting just how fast his pulse actually was, and before she bit down on her lip, her brow furrowed. Itachi was looking at her with an emotionless face, his dusty eyes watching her as she worked. Sakura released his wrist gently before leaning forward, her viridian eyes meeting his blank expression. The back of her hand pressed against the width of his forehead, accumulating just how hot his skin felt beneath her hand, and as Sakura pulled her hand away, her frown deepened.
"You have a fever,"she noted.
"I'm sure I do."
"Mhm," Sakura returned. She grasped her small flashlight from her pouch before returning back to Itachi. "Do you mind?" She offered with a gentle smile, in which he shook his head, allowing her to carry on with her examination.
Sakura simply clicked the mini flashlight on before bringing it near Itachi's eye. She checked the right, her own set of eyes focused on the many different veins that could be seen in the whites of his eyes; observing all the different passage ways. "Aaaand look to the right," and he did, and Sakura moved the light around. She could see the few silver flecks in his dark eyes, and along with it, the pupil that nearly blended perfectly with the shade of his iris. She repeated the steps on his left eye, looking for any clues that Itachi may have been hiding, and as she pulled the light away, she clicked it off.
She knew that Itachi was dehydrated, but there was also something else that was going on with him. She couldn't exactly pinpoint what disease he would be undergoing, but his eyes gave that small clue away. Sakura frowned once more before leaning back in her chair.
"You're dehydrated," she stated, still pondering what could be going on inside of Itachi's body and organs.
He didn't speak, only nod as he pulled the comforter up his body and turned his head away from her. "I've got something else going on, too?" His question was muffled, as his head was now turned to the opposite side of the room.
Sakura's leg came to rest atop her knee, her hand cupping her chin as she ran through all the possibilities in her mind. She could do an internal organ scan of his body, or she could give it another day. She was here for an examination, and while she had found that he was substantially dehydrated, she could probably find what else was going on within him. She inhaled deeply before pushing up from the chair she had been seated in.
"I'm going to do an internal scan," she informed him before weaving the signs that had become engraved in her mind. In an instant, her hands were now glowing, the green light illuminating the shadows of the room, and while the low hum was calming, Sakura was determined to find what was wrong with Itachi.
"Excellent chakra control," Itachi complimented.
Sakura flashed a simple smile, her concentration forming in her hands while she exerted the right amount of chakra. She could feel her own chakra surging through Itachi's, touching his own while she made a complete sweep through his body. Nothing seemed out of sort, but she couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was still wrong.
"Could you close your eyes?" She asked quietly, her mind still solely concentrated on the way her chakra flowed freely through his body. The Uchiha did as instructed, and while Sakura hovered her hands closely over his eyes, it was there that everything had gone amiss.
Sakura stopped her flow of chakra, retracted her hands and took a seat once more. Itachi's eyes opened and glanced her way, his face still calm and composed as Sakura grasped her flashlight once more and clicked it on. "Have you been noticing any changes in your vision lately?" Sakura asked, her mind noting that the bloodline of the Uchiha wasn't to be taken lightly.
Thin, perfect eyebrows knitted together, his face finally showing some type of emotion. "No. Not that I've noticed."
Sakura nodded before standing from her seat and leaning closer towards his face. She was careful with the way she pulled his eyelid up, asking him to look down as her eyes scanned for anything unusual; nothing showed up.
She felt defeated, yet checked the other eye to ensure that she hadn't missed something. With the click of the light, she placed it back in her pouch and took a seat. Hours had passed now, noticing just how dim it had grown outside, the morning light no longer shining in like it had been.
"I'm going to get you some water. You need to drink it, all right? Dehydration isn't to be taken lightly," she reprimanded him, looking him firmly in the eye with her arms crossed over her chest. Sakura placed her medical pouch around her waist once more before turning on her heel and heading towards the door.
Mikoto was right where she said she'd be, and as Sakura made her way towards the older woman, she received a smile. "How is he?"
"He's dehydrated," Sakura frowned, while she bit her lower lip. "I'll need to return tomorrow morning, but in the meantime, I want to make sure that there's nothing else going on with him. Do you mind if I stay awhile longer?"
"Of course not. Take as long as you need. Fugaku is out of town, and Sasuke is currently at work. If you're still around, you're more than welcome to stay for dinner."
Sakura inhaled sharply before smiling kindly. Dinner with the Uchihas? "I don't want to be a bother."
"Oh, sweetie!" Mikoto laughed slightly. "Itachi will be in bed for awhile, won't he? I'm sure dinner will be lonely, so I wouldn't mind the company. And if you need to keep an eye on Itachi, then please, stay."
She smiled at the mother of her patient, clearly starstruck by the kindness that this woman possessed.
"Okay, sure. I'd love that," Sakura replied with a smile. "Also, the reason I actually came out here... Could I grab a glass of water for Itachi?"
xxx
The rest of Sakura's day had been easy-going. She'd spent time sitting with Mikoto in the yard, asking her various questions on how she'd tended to her garden, while keeping a perfect, pristine home for her family. The woman was obviously no push over, Sakura had come to learn. She was a Jonin, one of the stronger people acknowledged in the clan, and also a damn good cook.
The night sky loomed over them, the comforting song of crickets filling the atmosphere as Sakura began to stand from the porch. "I'm going to check on him one more time before departing for the night."
It was apparent that Itachi had been exhausted from his mission, but Sakura wouldn't put that hand in hand with something else going horribly wrong. The glass she had placed on the nightstand was entirely empty, leaving a small ring of condensation against the coaster as she picked it up. Itachi's skin no longer looked pale, and the rings around his eyes had lightened in color since she'd arrived earlier that day. With a brief smile, Sakura exited his room and made her way down the porch.
"I'll take that," Mikoto offered a hand before taking the cup from Sakura.
"Thank you," she beamed, the woman's dark eyes shimmering with hope and admiration. "I'll be back early in the morning to check up on him once more. In the meantime, he needs to rest and get plenty of water."
The woman smiled, and followed Sakura as she made her way towards the door. Her sandals went on without any troubles, and with her medical pouch, Sakura departed from the house
"Will you make it home okay?" Mikoto asked as Sakura stepped out the door. The woman was definitely a mother, and a good one at that.
Sakura smiled before turning around, "yes. Thank you for everything." And with that, she skipped down the remaining stairs and towards the gate. Sakura's pace was rather slow, her mind exhausted from an entire day of tending to Itachi's exam and while she noted just how much longer she had to go, she sighed.
The night sky was filled with millions of stars, the pale crescent moon curving beautifully around a handful of stars. Even the night air was brilliant, crisp smelling and fresh as Sakura made her way down the street. The slightest bit of sound caught her attention as she kept on walking, and from the dimly lit road, she made out another body walking her way.
The shape was tall, hair ruffled in a way that she'd only seen once in her life, and when they had grown close enough, she felt her heart climb to her throat and her eyes widen.
Sasuke.
It had been years since she'd seen him, yet he still had that same effect on her that he'd always had. They brushed by one another, like complete strangers, but the magnetic pull that emanated from him didn't go unnoticed. Sakura kept her widened eyes on the ground in front of her, watching each of her steps carefully until they were no longer near each other.
She could hear the excited call from Mikoto as she rounded the corner.
"Sasuke! Hello, dear." It brought a smile to her face, her body growing warm and she thought about how welcoming the woman had been with her that day.
The walk felt like it would last forever, and with a slight pulse of chakra to her feet, Sakura took off from this section of the village and was well on her way towards the Hokage Tower. She just wanted to fill Tsunade in on her day, inform her of her discoveries, go home, and rest. It wasn't so much of a long day for the medic, but she felt like her mind had been picked clean while she constantly thought of what was going on in Itachi's body.
She shook her head, swearing that she'd save that bit for tomorrow. For now, she was running up the stairs and soon planted in front of the doors to Tsunade's office. Sakura knocked like usual, awaiting the thunderous roar from the blonde, but to no avail. She frowned, her body growing with heat as she knocked once more. Again, nothing sounded from the other side and as Sakura began to push on the doors, she came to find out that they were locked.
"Just great," Sakura exhaled before walking the other way.
The hallway was dimly lit, while the village of Konoha had multiple lights beaming through each street. The stalls and shops from owners were still bustling, and as much as Sakura wanted to walk through each street, seeing what each store had to offer, she began to break out in yet another sprint. Home wasn't too far from the tower, and within a matter of minutes, she was walking through the front door and kicking her shoes from her feet.
"I'm home!" She hollered down the hall way, making her way towards her room.
"Hi, honey!" Her own mother called, the familiar voice filling her heart with warmth. It was nice to spend the day with Mikoto, enjoying the motherly love that she had for her boys, but it was also nice to return home to her own mother. "How was your day?"
"It was long. I'm tired. I want to sleep," Sakura whined as she leaned against the entry way to her room. Mebuki was still seated in her chair as she called back to Sakura.
"Well get some rest, dear. I'll see you in the morning."
"I love you," Sakura spoke softly with her head now against the wooden frame.
"And I love you."
She smiled before heading towards her bed. The comforting mattress looked all the more inviting as she removed her clothes and grabbed a large shirt from her closet. It fit loosely against her skin as she crawled into the confines of her bed. A shower sounded lovely, but her mind was already far from her conscious state, and as her pink hair fell loosely over her pillow, her head sinking into the feathery cushion, she was transcending into a dream filled world.
xxx
Her walk through the gates of the Uchiha clan wasn't as scary as it had been yesterday. The skies had fluffy, off-white clouds running through them, while the sun was just poking over the mountain tops. Sakura had left earlier that morning, due to going to bed at a reasonable hour, and while she should've stopped to see Tsunade, she was eager to dive into her work today.
Through the gate she went, closing the metallic latch quietly behind her. Her steps were quiet as well, reaching for the door with her fist, Sakura was just about to knock until the door swung open. Face to face, she was looking into a pair of bewildered eyes; dark like spilled oil. She could feel the air in her lungs evacuate her body, leaving her numb and nervous as she stood in front of Sasuke.
"Uh, hello?" She asked after a minute of silence.
Sasuke didn't respond, he still looked like he was experiencing shock and the longer he looked at her, the more intense his gaze grew. He looked absolutely stunning, all grown up and taller than she'd expected. His face was finely chiseled, body toned and muscular from underneath his uniform, and oh, his uniform - how fine he looked dressed up in the symbolic outfit of the Police Force.
Sakura snapped out of her thoughts, "is Mikoto Uchiha in?"
"Yes," he answered before pausing for a slight second. "I take it you're the medic?"
His dark lashes blinked over his eyes, his face regaining composure as he stood perfectly still in front of her. "Yep, that's me."
The atmosphere between them grew silent once more, leaving Sakura to slowly focus on the way Sasuke's eyes looked into her own, like he was trying to think of something to say. That antagonizing pull resurfaced once more, causing Sakura to lean forward slightly, like her center of gravity had been knocked off balance, and just as Sakura felt her chest start to well up with a familiar feeling, Sasuke pushed passed her.
"Well, I've got to go."
With that, Sakura was left standing beside an open door, her eyes watching as Sasuke jumped the gate and made his way towards work. His hair bounced with each stride, kicking up dust in his wake and while Sakura felt stupid just standing here, she finally turned her attention back towards the door.
"Uhh, Mikoto?" She called in, accompanying her call with a few knocks on the open door.
Within a matter of seconds, Mikoto was present, her face in shock as she looked at Sakura. "Did that boy of mine leave the door open?"
"Yes...?" Sakura asked out of confusion. The look of an exasperated sigh flashed through the woman's dark eyes before she beckoned for Sakura to come in.
"Itachi is awake. I'm making some breakfast, so you're more than welcome to start your work."
Sakura removed her shoes, offered her thanks and began her walk down the porch. It was about to be yet, another long day.
