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Here is a key on how dialog will be spoken:
Speech
Tailed beast
Thoughts
Flashback
Narration
Previously on Sakura: Days of Future Past, Sakura Haruno successfully traveled back in time and has already changed history by enabling Team 7 to pass their test and strengthening their teamwork in the process. Unfortunately, her chakra reserves shrank along with her body and she passed out following the tests conclusion. Upon coming to, Sakura found herself face to face with not only her long banished dark half, but the Nine tailed Fox as well.
"It's about time we've met, Sakura Haruno."
Sakura stood motionless with a shocked look on her face for what seemed like an eternity staring at the malus filled eyes of the Nine-tails before she was able to utter a single question.
"You're Kurama, the Nine-tailed Fox right?"
The Nine-tails laughed at both Sakura's question and the look of shock on her face before replying "So you already know my name? Well, that makes you a little more tolerable than most humans. However, why and insignificant worm like you thinks they've earned the right to even think my name is beyond me."
Realizing that there are more important things than responding to Kurama's insult, Sakura gathered her thoughts and stood tall in front of the prison like bars separating her and the Fox Demon.
"Kurama, please listen to me. The Fourth Hokage sealed you inside me and sent us back in time to prevent the war from happening. I'm asking you to help me stop Madara's plan from succeeding." Asked Sakura with as much bravery in her voice as she could.
"What reason is there for me to help you at all?" Asked Kurama with a scowl on his gigantic face.
This question took Sakura by surprise. Why was the Fox feeling so uncooperative? Didn't he hate Madara as much as she did? "If you don't help me, Madara's going to make slaves of you and your brethren, as well all of humanity. Naruto's life is in danger as well, don't you care?"
"What makes you think I give a damn whether that brat dies or not?" asked the fox with a scowl on his face.
"But you cooperated with Naruto during the war. Didn't you choose to ally with us against Madara?!"
"My other half chose to ally with Naruto and look how that turned out. The boy who swore up and down that he would end the war, save the tailed beasts and bring peace to the Shinobi world is dead and my other half is now a slave to the world's biggest ego maniac. That's what my faith in the boy got me. I question why you still have faith in him. Don't you blame him for his failures? After all, he failed to bring your precious Sasuke back, didn't he?" Questioned Kurama, knowing that he would get under Sakura's skin with that one.
It's no secret that Sasuke's desertion of the Hidden Leaf and his subsequent fall into darkness hurt Sakura very deeply. Sakura had done everything she could to stop him from leaving, even confessing her love to him, but Sasuke still chose to leave in spite of everything. Add to the fact that, in her grief, Sakura had made Naruto swear to bring him back no matter the cost, which Naruto accepted due to his love for her and his bond with Sasuke. Naruto failed to bring Sasuke back, and nearly died in the process of trying along with the serious injuries of several of their friends.
She shut her eyes tight and clenched her fists in frustration. "I should have never put that burden on Naruto. It wasn't fair of me to solely depend on him because I was weak, we should've gone after Sasuke together from the beginning. No… I don't blame Naruto at all. I'll always have faith in him. I won't let him do this alone again. We'll save Sasuke and the future, together!"
The Nine-tails laughed loudly at the pink haired girl's newfound confidence. "And just how do you plan on doing that? The amount of Chakra you possess at present is but a speck in comparison to the amount you once had and even then you were utterly worthless. How do you expect to make any difference this time around?"
"Because this time I have three things that give me the advantage. I know what's going to happen, I have years of combat experience and I have your power inside me. So I'm done asking. You are going to help me save the future."
The fox hardened his stare at her. "Or what?"
Sakura's eyes shot open and her fists clenched tighter. "Or else I'll make you, you stupid fox!"
Right after Sakura made her defiant statement, red chakra began to surround her and the air became less breathable. While she struggled to fill her lungs with air, the Nine-tails glared at her with an intensity that felt almost as lethal as a knife to the jugular.
"Watch your mouth, you cocky little shit! I could easily end your life within moments just by breathing on you. The only reason you continue to live is because I would also die if I killed you. You will get my power, if you truly wish for it, but you will have to struggle to survive if you want my cooperation, just like Naruto had to. I may despise Madara, but I will not put my faith into someone who isn't worthy. Do you understand, human?"
Sakura nodded her head in understanding and suddenly she felt air fill her lungs again. It hurt a little, but Sakura couldn't help but smirk at the outcome of their discussion. It was a gamble, but Sakura would walk away with the jackpot. After thanking Kurama for his time, Sakura began to walk away when she felt a hand roughly grab her left shoulder. She turned around to face the person stopping her, only to gasp when she came face to face with the two black holesthat stood in for what were supposed to the be green eyesof her inner self. But Sakura had to remind herself my inner self…
"Well played, my outer self. You managed to get foxy to help you out. But I'd keep this in mind if I were you, pinkie. The Nine-tails isn't the only one you've gotta make peace with if you want to succeed." Said the inner Sakura.
"I'll keep that in mind." Replied Sakura with a stern glare on her face.
"Oh I know you will. I'll make sure of it." Replied inner Sakura before she suddenly disappeared in a puff of red smoke.
The sepia toned room that Sakura was in became enveloped in pitch blackness, leaving Sakura unable to tell where she should be going, much less where she was standing. Moments after she found herself in complete darkness, Sakura heard an echoing voice tell her "You've got a second chance, try not to screw up." Followed by unsettling erratic laughter.
When Sakura awoke the next morning, she was surprised to learn that she was in her bed instead of the training ground where she remembered passing out.
Kakashi sensei must have brought me back home. But why on earth does he know where I live? And who put me in bed? Never mind that though, what time is it? Did I miss our first mission? Sakura looked at the digital clock in a panic but calmed down when she saw that date was the day after the test and that she actually had some time before they were supposed to meet up.
Good. I would have hated for my plans to get derailed because I overslept. Comforted by the fact that she wouldn't be tardy, Sakura hopped out of bed and ate breakfast with her mother and father before heading over to the spot where her team was supposed to meet.
When Sakura arrived at the meeting spot, she immediately noticedNaruto and Sasuke in the middle of another heated argument. She couldn't help but sigh and think to herself do they have to do this every day? It's way too early for this crap! Despite the mounting irritation, Sakura forced her annoyance aside and ran over to greet them with a cheerful "Hey guys! Good morning!"
Naruto was the first to notice her and responded enthusiastically with "Hey Sakura! I'm glad you're here. You feeling okay today?"
"Yep. I feel great today." Replied Sakura. That Naruto. He never does anything by halves, not even greetings. Thought Sakura with a smile on her face.
"You had better be. I don't need you passing out during every mission." Said Sasuke with an annoyed scowl on his face.
"You won't have to worry about that, Sasuke. I feel like I've got more energy now than ever!" Replied Sakura as she shoved her fist in the air as if to illustrate her newfound energy. Then Sakura got a devious look on her face. "I could be wrong. But it sounded a little like you were worried about me for a second, Sasuke."
"In your dreams! I just didn't want to be held back because of your poor health." Countered Sasuke with a noticeable look of embarrassment on his face, which didn't go unnoticed by Naruto.
"Ha! You're totally embarrassed!" taunted Naruto.
"Shut up, loser!"
"Anyway, where's Kakashi sensei?" Asked Sakura before another shouting match could ensue.
"Why, I'm standing right behind you, Sakura." Answered Kakashi who seemed to appear out of nowhere. All three of his students reacted with shock as he waved hello to them. "It's good to see you here, Sakura. You should try to be more careful, chakra depletion can be very dangerous. You're lucky it was just exhaustion this time." Said Kakashi as if he were giving a lecture.
"I will Kakashi sensei, I promise." Replied Sakura.
"Good. Now come on, let's head over to the Hokage's office to receive our first mission."
At the mention of their first mission, Naruto began to get visibly excited and couldn't contain it for long. "Yeah! Time for me to start my first super awesome mission!"
Sakura, on the other hand was less enthusiastic. "More like the most boring missions ever…" muttered Sakura. This apparently went unnoticed by Naruto, who was still extremely excited, but not by Kakashi and Sasuke, who looked at her suspiciously for a moment.
Sakura was right to not be too excited about their first mission. Team 7's first few missions consisted of dog walking, gardening, weed pulling, painting and, most annoyingly, lost pet retrieval. After the last of such assignments, Naruto, predictably, loudly voiced his frustrations.
Team 7 had just completed their latest mission and were being debriefed by the Hokage when they requested their next assignment. "Now then, the next assignment for Kakashi's team 7 will be… hmm… to babysit for the council of elders, run errands to the neighboring village, help dig sweet potatoes…"
"No way! No thank you! BORING! Give us something different to do. Something important! Something amazing!" Exclaimed Naruto, voicing out loud what both of his fellow Genin were thinking.
Naruto's outburst was not appreciated by everyone in the room, however. One of those people, a Chunin named Iruka Umino, who was Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura's teacher back in the academy stood up and responded to Naruto's outburst. "Don't be a fool! You're only a beginner! Everyone starts out doing grunt work. It's where you get experience so you can work your way up to bigger things."
"We've done tons of small stuff. Can't we get some action?!" yelled Naruto before being hit on the top of the head by Kakashi.
"Naruto, that's enough. Knock it off!" Reprimanded Kakashi.
Believing that Naruto needed a refresher on how and why they take missions in the first place, the third Hokage began lecturing Naruto, and by extension everyone in the room about a ninja's job. Of course, Naruto stopped listening at some point, but so did Kakashi, strangely enough.
It wasn't that Kakashi didn't want to listen, it was that he couldn't. The fact is that he couldn't take his mind off the strange behavior of his lone female student. Before the day of the bell test, Sakura had been an A student in the classroom, but her skills as a Kunoichi were abysmal at best due to her focus on wooing Sasuke instead of doing any actual ninja training. During the test, however, Sakura seemed to have changed completely overnight into a focused Kunoichi with a plan that actually led to her team's success in the test. It was almost as if she had years of experience.
Thinking about the meaning of his last thought, Kakashi recalled the conversation he had with the Hokage about Sakura.
Flashback
An hour after Team 7 completed their final test, Kakashi went to the Hokages' office to give his report on the newly graduated Genin. After hearing the Kakashi's report, the Hokage leaned forward in his chair to rest his chin on his hands. "I see. Well, I'm certainly glad to know that you've finally passed a team, Kakashi."
"Yes, well, unlike all of the other teams who had failed before, this batch seemed to figure out what I was trying to teach them." Replied Kakashi with a masked grin.
"I'm surprised all three of them figured it out."
"Sasuke and Naruto performed as expected, the real surprise was Sakura Haruno." Said Kakashi in a serious tone.
The Third Hokage looked perplexed for a moment then stroked his white beard in contemplation. "Sakura Haruno? If I'm not mistaken, she's the daughter of Kizashi and Mibuki Haruno. If memory serves, neither of them were able to advance past Genin level, but from your report…"
"It would seem that their daughter might possess some talent. Not only did she seem to figure out the point of the exercise right away, she was able to come up with a counter attack and convince Naruto and Sasuke to cooperate and follow her instructions. Also, when I attacked her doing the test, she broke the Genjutsu I used on her and countered with an attack similar to lady Tsunade's. However…"
The Hokage nodded in understanding at Kakashi's pause and continued for him. "The way she reacted when she broke free of the Genjutsu was odd and she knew how you'd react if your book were to be targeted. I saw that using my Crystal Ball Jutsu. Wasn't she acting differently before the test as well?"
Kakashi took a moment to sigh deeply before continuing the conversation. "A sudden increase in skill, and a change in personality aren't exactly uncommon in our world, but I'll admit the look in her eyes during the Genjutsu has me a little concerned."
"I understand your concern. But right now there isn't any reason to take drastic action. The conversation between Sasuke and herself the day they were assigned to you may have inspired her to change her attitude about her life as a Kunoichi as well as her overall attitude with those around her." Said the third Hokage while leaning back in his chair and taking his pipe out of the desk drawer. He lit the pipe and took a long drag and exhaled before continuing. "It won't be for some time, but when it comes time for your team to enter into combat for the first time, hang back and pay attention to how they perform. Depending on the resulting exchange, draw your own conclusion as to what action should be taken."
Kakashi nodded and stared hard at the ground. "Yes, lord Hokage."
Flashback end
Kakashi's recollection of his conversation with the Hokage was ended when Iruka yelled at Naruto for ignoring the Hokage. Kakashi apologized, but Naruto objected further.
"I don't want to hear it! All the old fart ever does is apologize and then give me a lecture. But it's not fair. There's more to me than the troublemaking screw up the old man thinks I am!"
Naruto's silique was punctuated with a punch to the back of the head from Sakura, who had kept quiet all this time.
"Ow, Sakura. What was that for?!" Whined Naruto while rubbing his head.
"Will you calm down you idiot?! I know that you want to prove yourself, but this is the Hokage you're talking to, have some respect!"
"But Sakura…"
"You want people to respect you when you become Hokage, right? Be taken seriously? Then set an example." Finished Sakura with a serious, but gentle look on her face.
In truth, Sakura was envisioning what she hoped to be the future that she would help create. Naruto would be the Hokage and she and Sasuke would be there to support him. She knew that for him to get there, respect was key. Naruto would understand that later in life, but Sakura figured it would be better if he started learning that now.
Luckily, Naruto got the message. "Yeah, I hear ya, Sakura. I just really want a chance to show what I can do, you know?"
Sakura smiled and nodded in response. "Yeah, I get it."
Though thoroughly entertained by their exchange, the third Hokage cleared his throat and continued. "Very well. Since you put it that way and as a reward for your growth in character, I will permit you to attempt a C rank mission. The protection of a certain individual."
Excited with the prospect of his new task, Naruto asked who they would be protecting "Who is it? Some great lord? The Daimyo? A princess?"
"Compose yourself. I'll make the introductions now." Responded the Hokage before turning to his assistant. "Please invite him in."
A second later the doors opened to reveal an elderly man holding a bottle of booze. "What's going on here? They look like a bunch of snot-nosed brats. Especially the midget. He's got the face of an imbecile. It's a joke right? You kids aren't really ninja, are you?" Asked the old man.
"Who do you mean? Who's the midget? Which imbecil…?" asked Naruto.
It took a minute for Naruto to realize the fact that he was the shortest member of his team, and when he did realize this fact, he tried to charge towards the old man but was held back by Kakashi.
"I'll kill him!"
"Wrong. No killing the old man you've been assigned to protect." Said Kakashi as Naruto vainly struggled in his grip.
"I'm Tazuna, A bridge builder of ultimate renown. Until I'm safely back in my own country, where I'll be completing my next bridge, you'll all be expected to protect me… even if it costs you your lives!"
Having finally received their assignment, the three Genin of Team 7 had their own thoughts on their client.
I hate this guy… thought Naruto.
My first mission of merit is to protect a drunk… great… thought Sasuke.
You know, out of all my memories of back then, dealing with grumpy, drunk Tazuna particularly sucked… Thought Sakura.
To be continued
A/N Once again this took longer than I wanted to come out and I apologize profusely for that. College was in the way. It still is, but I needed some me time, you know? I gotta have fun, and writing is fun for me. Next time Team 7 fights the demon brothers and confront Zabuza for the first time.
I had Naruto use the term "You know" in this chapter. This doesn't mean this will be his official verbal tic in this story, in fact he might not have one. I wrote it here because it made sense.
I am so happy I was able to get this one out by Halloween, and I promise you won't have to wait till charismas for the next one. In fact, because I like ya'll. Next time you'll get chapters 5 and 6 at the same time!
Some more good news! I've decided to add two new stories to my fan fiction account! (Yay!) I won't be posting in any particular order and this story is my priority, but I hope you check them out and like them as much as you do this one.
The first is a Bleach mini-series involving Karin Kurosaki teaching a Soul reaper (An OC of mine) to be more than a killer, Called "The Manslayer of Squad 2".
The other is another Naruto story about a boy who was brought from our world into the world of Naruto by Tobi to be used in project Tsuki no me staring a bunch of OC's mixed in with the cast (The paring is OC x Hinata). Its title is "The Burning Dragon of the Hidden Leaf".
I'm also think about rewriting and posting an old Rosario Vampire story and I have some ideas for an Akame Ga Kill story, but those could take a while.
Point is, look out! It's the rise of the OC's!
Anyway moving on, It's time for our after chapter segment called "How Do You Pronounce it?" In this segment, I, StratosOmega and the cast of Naruto, will be helping those of you who are new to the Anime/Manga culture pronounce words correctly so that you can better enjoy the stories you read from myself or any of fanfiction's other talented authors. Today's host is our pink haired protagonist and my favorite character to play as in the ultimate ninja storm games, the powerful, the talented, and the new number one Madara hater: Sakura Haruno! Take it away Sakura!
Sakura: Thank you so much! I'm glad to be here! In today's episode, we'll be teaching you how to pronounce the names of the important characters for this arc.
First up we have the honorable but drunk bridge builder we met in today's chapter: Tazuna!
His name is pronounced like this: Tah-zoo-nah.
Next up is his pessimistic but adorable grandson: Inari!
You pronounce his name like this: E-nar-E.
Up next is that vile weasel of a man: Gatou!
His name is pronounced: Gah-toe.
Still following along? Good, because up next we have the Demon of the Hidden Mist: Zabuza Momochi!
His first name is pronounced like so: Zah-boo-zah.
His last name is pronounced like this: Moe-moe-chee.
And last but not least, we have the person who confuses the crap out of a whole bunch of fanboys and fan favorite: Haku!
Haku's name is pronounced like so: Hah-koo.
Well, that's all for me! Once again thank you for having me! I hope to come back soon. Back to you, StratosOmega!
Thank you so much for coming, Sakura! Looks like that's all the time we have for today everyone! As always please review and tell me how I'm doing so far, I can only get better with your help, folks! Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I love talking to you guys and I'll be happy to answer as much as I can. But for now, I'm StratosOmega, the Cosmic Angel of Death, and I will see you next time!
