Title: Whispers On the Wind
Written By: Dark Paine
Beta: CripticWolf
Summary: The thought of Team Seven reuniting was something Sakura would never have believed to be possible. But when Sasuke returns after defeating Itachi and influential elders end up dead, everything changes.
Whispers On the Wind
There was a time, when Sakura was younger, where she believed the world would meet an early end. An end brought about by a simple announcement that was made to name the ninja who were to become her future teammates. Something so simple should not have evoked such feelings of impending doom, but it had.
At first it was exciting. Waking up early that morning Sakura couldn't stop thinking about the possibilities of which teacher she would get and who would make up the essence of whichever team she was in. She had prayed vigorously for days, especially in the hours leading up to this moment that Sasuke's name would be called.
Not only would it be possible to then get close to the handsome and mysteriously stotic male, but she would also be the envy of countless other girls who had their eyes locked on him all the time. If Sasuke did indeed end up being placed on the same team as Sakura, she knew one thing for sure: she'd have a blast shoving it in Ino Pig's face.
Sitting in class almost proved unbearable for Sakura as she anticipated her name being called with shaky anticipation. It was Iruka's steady voice that finally spoke her name as he arrived at Team Seven. At once her heart jolted in her chest and began racing in tune to the butterflies, she refused to acknowledge them as a result of the nervousness she was trying to hide, in her stomach. This was it, her teammates would be revealed…
"…Uzumaki Naruto…"
Sakura couldn't help the way her head, seemingly on its own, collided with her desk in despondent dismay upon hearing that name. Irritation flared inside her and she cursed not only her bad luck but her foolishness for not seeing that this would happen sooner. She, Sakura Haruno, was to be teamed up with the most pathetic ninja Konoha had the misfortune to house inside its walls. She gritted her teeth as her annoyance spiked with said ninja's excited jump of joy.
But quicker than visibility during a sandstorm, any annoyance she felt was blown away, erased with ease and startling effectiveness as Iruka called out the other and final member to made up their 'squad'.
"…Sasuke Uchiha..."
Sakura had jumped up so fast that her chair toppled over behind her in her haste. The feeling of disappointment over knowing a certain blonde haired boy named Naruto was on her team disappeared in a flash. Now she knew that Sasuke, her all time crush, would be on her team and would be around her constantly.
Nothing could beat that!
In that moment of victory an excited adrenaline coursed through Sakura's young and naive veins as she had begun to plan out what she would do to get herself closer to the lone Uchiha and more importantly how to make him fall in love with her. Images of their future dates, even so far as their prospective wedding, flashed before her eager eyes. She had totally and effectively lost herself in a daydream while Iruka continued to rattle off teams and their names.
Sakura didn't care who the other people were stuck with or what team they were on however, all she knew was that she was officially Sasuke's teammate. Girls everywhere would be crushed as Sasuke swept her off her feet and engaged in daring missions at her side. She could even picture some of them trying to weasel their way onto her good side in order to spend time with the Uchiha themselves. Mentally she pictured herself scoffing at them and told them to beat it. They should know just as well as everyone else that Sasuke was her's…. or rather, would be.
At that time so thoroughly engrossed in her daydreaming she had barely recognized Naruto's presence or the way his blue eyes stared steadily at her while she made up scenarios in her mind about one of his most insufferable 'enemies' ever. She had no time for Naruto though, the most shunned and clumsy boy in Konoha. No, not when she had someone so intellectually teasing and broodingly charming as Sauske appeared to be.
Who would have thought back then that in the future she and Naruto would become the closest members of Team Seven? She certainly hadn't fathomed the idea when she had been assigned to the team she now cherished so and would protect with her all.
Sakura had no doubt that, as the two of them had grown closer; others had noticed the change for the way they acted in the past. As it was if anyone around them had been second guessing just how much Sakura had accepted Naruto's friendship, all they needed to do was look right at them as they embraced warmly.
She was not sure yet just what Sasuke's intentions were now that he was back on active duty but she would find out. Having experienced running into him before on different occasions, she had more than enough suspicions planted firmly in mind about him. Right now she was definitely not able to extend any amount of trust toward avenger, nor did she even want to. She didn't even want him in her sight at the moment.
When she looked up, finally, and stepped back from Naruto, she wiped the tears from her eyes with a minutely trembling hand. The man before her was more trusting than she and Sakura was fully aware of that; it was, something, which still to this day amazed her, Naruto's unwavering loyalty. Naruto was a firm believer in second chances.
Now that Sasuke had returned, she could just imagine Naruto trying to get close to him once again, a desperate attempt to rekindle and reform a friendship from long ago. It made Sakura shiver just thinking of the probability of Naruto letting his guard down in front of someone who he still, relentlessly and, in her mind's eye, foolishly considered a 'friend' still in spite of everything Sasuke had done to him. He was hopelessly optimistic, never one to let ill thoughts or notions bring him or those around him down in any way. She smiled sadly at the thought. Naruto was truly something else.
The danger Naruto could be inviting into his life with Sasuke being in such close proximity frightened Sakura more than she cared to admit. She knew that Naruto was fully capable, and able, of defending himself if need be, but would he really be able to fend of Sasuke in a true, full on battle? Would he even want to?
That was something Sakura realized now, that she feared the most.
A reassuring smile appeared on Naruto. "Do you want to go somewhere and talk?"
His ability to 'forgive and forget', to lend himself so fully both mentally and physically to those he cared for with the same innocent positivity that so easily flourished when he was a child were such important pieces of Naruto that Sakura wanted nothing more than to protect it. That characteristic was something that made Naruto into the person that now stood before her, smiling so softly with concern in his eyes. The gentleness he possessed was something Sakura never wanted to see corrupted especially at the soiled hands of someone they had both trusted so in the past.
"Yes."
His larger hand grasped her smaller one as he led her away from the crowd that was still enjoying the display of fireworks above them. He was careful to lead her along a secure yet winding path, taking care to maneuver about where their contact wouldn't be broken.
Sakura realized as she stared at Naruto's orange clad back, that she would protect him even from Sasuke. Their teammate, who had run away from Konoha to seek a greater power from Orochimaru, had become corrupted during his long absence. Sakura knew first hand that he was not the same Sasuke from their younger days. She doubted that he was completely cured, a prime example being the way he treated Shino on his mission just a few days prior.
When Sasuke was younger, he had believed so strongly that he could do everything by himself, accepting no help whatsoever. He was a firm advocate in his own strength from a young age and thought himself to be invincible pushing his limits as far as they would go. He realized later on, begrudgingly, that there were times where he would need assistance though from what Sakura observed, but he never said it aloud.
She also knew that Sasuke would not think to use a teammate as bait. Since he was an Uchiha, he prided himself on his strength alone and if anyone were to be killed during a mission, it would only look bad for him and worse for his name. Even when Sakura suggested that he and Naruto go on ahead and leave her behind, he instead chose to protect her from the onslaught of attacks. Sasuke was a riddle, mystery surrounding his thoughts and contradictions dictating his actions.
She could not picture the onyx-eyed ninja, whose pride in his village had once been so strong, even allowing the passing thought of protecting a Konoha shinobi now. His whole energy and attitude had changed after all, altered into something she wanted no part of.
It was a deadly kind of toxin Sasuke possessed and Sakura didn't want it touching Naruto. She'd make sure of it. He was after all, too blinded by optimistic loyalty to be weary of the Uchilla.
Before Sakura knew it, she and Naruto sat silently atop the Hokage monument overlooking their bustling village. They watched their friends and comrades enjoying the rare occurrence of relaxation and fun with content smiles on their faces. From their vantage point, the fireworks that so efficiently captivated everyone's attention almost appeared to be going off just a few yards away from them. Sakura found the colors to be beautiful as they illuminated the dark sky. Splashes of color exploded against a backdrop of stars, bathing the village, the Hokage's past, as well as their forms in a volley of changing colors.
The crowds below were still bustling with vibrant life and Naruto enthusiastically pointed out all of their friends, starting with the most noticeable form of Choji, then moving onto the rest. A refreshing sense of calmness came over both of them as they sat silently and enjoyed the display. Sakura knew she should have been filled with elation and exhilaration at the sight before her and the atmosphere that surrounded the night but there were other matters at hand that held precedence over this moment.
Eyes down casted, Sakura looked at the tops of her feet as they dangled over the edge of the monument. "Why didn't you tell me about Sasuke?"
Even though Naruto tried to hide his anticipation, Sakura knew he was anxious to know what exactly had gotten her upset. Her question seemed to catch him slightly off guard but after a moment of silence he regained his composure and answered truthfully.
"I thought about telling you, I really did Sakura," he replied softly looking into her eyes with sincerity. "With everything that happened around the time, I wasn't sure if you wanted to hear what I knew was happening to him. I tried to tell you a little bit but every time I mentioned his name you looked like you were going to breakdown."
He released a small sigh as his eyes turned to look down at the village, sadness in his eyes. "I couldn't stand to see you hurting so I stopped trying to tell you. If I had known then that he would be placed in ANBU I definitely would have made more of an effort to tell you immediately."
So it seemed as if she wasn't the only one that was surprised at Sasuke's placement in Konoha now.
"You didn't know that he was going to be placed on the squad?"
Naruto shook his head. "From what I understood, Sasuke was placed in Black Opts only a couple of weeks ago. I heard about it while I was away. It was another reason why I wanted to come home."
Sakura's eyes narrowed at the blonde. "Have you seen Sasuke since you've been back?" She really hoped that he hadn't.
Again, Naruto shook his head. "I want to see how he is doing though before I leave. Baa-chan told me that he has a mission soon so I hope to meet up with him in the next few days."
"You met with Tsunade already?"
He gave her a cheeky grin. "Well yea, I wanted to get a little bit of information before I met up with everyone."
"Oh," she said in understanding with a small nod. Her gaze averted from Naruto's face to wander the sky as the fireworks continued to go off. "Do you know what kind of mission he's going to go on?"
"No." He raised an eyebrow. "But you should know that the hag wouldn't release that type of information Sakura."
Sakura scoffed lightly. "Well I never know what Tsunade will do these days. Who knows? She could have forgotten that it was secret and let it slip out."
Her scoff was met with a chuckle from Naruto before he replied with a shrug and said, "Well, she did tell me that his mission started next week…but that's about it. Nothing specific."
"Next week?" What were the chances that she would be placed on the same team as him? She was already beginning to speculate them based on her non present stroke of luck and it did nothing more than put a scowl on her face. From what Tsunade had said, the council was looking favorably upon Sasuke and wanted to see him improve in ANBU. Her sensei had refused to let Sakura take a break from the secretive squad. If the client that asked specifically for Sakura also asked for Sasuke, she wasn't sure what she would do. Her heart was already beginning to pound in her ears at the thought.
"Sakura?" Naruto shook her shoulder lightly. "What's wrong?"
She brought a hand to her forehead and massaged her temples, releasing a slightly aggravated sigh. "I just can't help but feel like I'll be stuck on the same team as him. It just seems weird that both he and I have missions next week. The way Tsunade was acting was somewhat strange too after my team and Sasuke left the room."
"Why were you and your team in the same room as Sasuke?"
"My team ended up saving his," Sakura answered quietly. "That's how I came face to face with him."
For some odd reason Naruto seemed to understand. There were no signs of surprise or confusion on his face. "Teme is still acting up, eh?"
Once again Sakura turned to look at Naruto in slight anger. "You knew about it?"
When Naruto nodded she continued. "For some reason no one will take him off active duty as punishment. Apparently they think he will eventually change his ways but it didn't seem like that will ever happen with the way he treated his teammate on the mission."
"What happened?"
Sakura took a moment for herself. She didn't exactly want to recall what had happened a few days prior, but if she were to tell anyone Naruto was the only one she would.
"I've never seen a person left in such a state like Susumu was. I've seen Susumu in battle and he's very skilled. Usually he comes back from missions unscathed and perfectly normal.
"With this mission though, he had so many wounds that if I didn't get there in time, he could have possibly died. Sasuke on the other hand only had a few scratches." She scowled at the bitter taste in her mouth as she recalled how emotionless and unapologetic he had been. "He didn't even flinch seeing his teammate lying there covered in blood. I've never seen a Konoha shinobi treat a teammate like that."
Her face twisted in disgust. "And when I learned it was him I just got so angry. Naruto... if Neji hadn't been there I don't know what would have happened."
For a moment both of them sat in silence, the fireworks and hush of the crowd were a soft sonata in the distance.
Sakura couldn't guess what Naruto was thinking as she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. His face was calm and he seemed to be in deep thought. She turned her sight back to the fireworks and tried to enjoy the pretty display. The different designs and detonations were interesting but for some reason Sakura couldn't find the sight to give her any sense of joy or wonder. Normally people would 'Ooh' and 'Ahh' but she could not find it in herself to fake a fascination. After a while she gave up and let her mind go blank.
When a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, Sakura couldn't help the small, startled gasp that escaped. She wasn't expecting the sudden contact but when she let herself relax, Sakura found the friendly gesture to be quite comfortable. Her head landed on Naruto's shoulder feeling his calming breaths brush lightly against her face and his heart beating in unison from beneath a solid chest.
"It must have been hard on you, seeing him again."
His words were laced with sadness as he looked down to let their eyes meet for a moment. For Naruto, Sakura was one of the closest people in his life and to see her conflicted and hurting pained him. He didn't want to see someone who he cherished so much in such a state of depression. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and a small smile.
"Sasuke is someone who I believe is still figuring out what is really right and wrong. He experienced too many tragedies when he was younger, tragedies that no one should have had to face alone. When he left to train with Orochimaru, he was already in such a fragile state that he lost who he was. It was so painful seeing how corrupted he became during his training with Orochimaru, how skewed his thinking was… what he may think is right, is not something that Konoha will find to be true and vice versa."
Immediately Sakura's mind remembered how Sasuke had confidently stated that he went off to finish disposing the others as the reason for leaving the injured Shino behind. The way he saw no problem in letting his teammate be used as bait was something no shinobi of Konoha would find acceptable.
Someone like Orochimaru on the other hand, might just find it suitable. Even though the snake like man was once a member of Konoha, he had also defected many years ago as a means to gain greater power. Orochimaru's logic had probably no doubt passed down to Sasuke, complicating things further when it came to the fate of their former teammate.
"I'm not asking you to forgive Sasuke for anything he has done, Sakura," Naruto said firmly without hesitation. He would never ask that of Sakura. He wouldn't force her to try forgiving their teammate, it was much better that she came to terms with things on her own at the pace she wanted.
"What might be better… is that we try to consider that Sasuke is relearning how to become a good shinobi again. He has to learn that Orochimaru's way of thinking is not for the best interests of Konoha and that he must change."
His reasoning was plausible but did little to answer any of the questions swirling through her mind. Curious beyond measure, Sakura thought hard on the situation at hand, trying to piece together the fact with that same hawk like precision she was so often associated with. Was Sasuke really acting like that because he'd really forgotten what it was like to be a ninja from Konoha? How could they know if he wasn't doing it for other reasons?
The fact that Sasuke had to relearn something that had been so dutifully ingrained into them all their lives almost seemed to be laughable. He was someone with great skill that was unmatched by most. He even possessed the sharingan, a weapon that could copy anything instantly, and had already been through so much. How was it possible for him to forget his roots and need to relearn them?
With a deep breath Sakura forced herself to take a step back from the situation though and realized that in a way it really did make sense. Sasuke had been on such a long quest for power and revenge that there was no doubt that his mind had become twisted and he must know it. People who were usually obsessed with power did lose their minds and became crazy. Someone who was as talented and smart as Sasuke was no exception.
The real question was whether or not he liked or despised what he knew.
"Who knows? You might not see him for months and the next time he could be a totally different person!"
Oh Naruto… always the optimist. His enthusiasm and anticipation at the thought of Sasuke changing in the next few months, even in the slightest, made Sakura smile fondly. She wondered just who had taught Naruto to be so hopeful even for someone who seemed so lost. Maybe she would need to have a talk with that person? Get herself on the same joyous path?
But for the time being and the reality that Sakura lived in, she wasn't as confident as Naruto.
"If Sasuke makes any changes in his behavior it will only happen over a long period of time. The personality he has developed can't be changed even within a few months, Naruto."
Even with her reply, Naruto didn't seem to be swayed in the least. "Ah, but Sakura! Sasuke's true self is still there, I know it! It's just in hiding under his current bastard ways is all."
Sakura had to laugh lightly at that. "Maybe that's possible but from what I saw, his former self might take years to reappear."
She felt his shoulder shake beneath her head as he laughed. "Even if it takes a few years, that's still fine with me. Let's just have some faith in him Sakura. You'll see, it'll all turn out okay. After all, look what we've been through already…"
When he looked down and into her eyes again, Sakura was able to see just how genuinely he believed their teammate would return to his former, normal self. There was no doubt that right now Naruto would wait for their friend and teammate to come back to them for as long as it took, ever the friend of steadfast loyalty.
His eyes seemed to silently proclaim that while he would always be there for her, he would also remain hopeful for Sasuke. Even if everyone were to turn their backs on the Uchiha, Sakura knew that to Naruto, the thought would never even be considered. He would remain confident until the very end.
"I wish I could be as positive as you Naruto. I just don't know what to do or think of him right now."
Turning her gaze away, Sakura let her head find a more comfortable spot on her teammates shoulder. "Maybe it might be better if I think of him as a 'hopeless' and 'pathetic' child who doesn't know anything but to kill others and treat teammates like garbage."
Naruto sighed. "He is a teme."
The pair returned finally to the group once the fireworks had ceased illuminating the sky and all that could be said in private between them was spoken. The others welcomed them back and had even suggestively poked some fun toward where they had gone, succeeding only in igniting a whole chorus of joking barbs toward one another around the entire group. There was no use lying so eventually Naruto told them the truth but left out what they talked about. "We were just catching up."
Ino and Neji were the only people who were not fooled but they didn't dare say it. Neji didn't much care to talk about such matters and Ino was sure to change the subject back to the fireworks display before anyone could pry further, effectively taking the spotlight off of Naruto and Sakura. It was one of the nicer things Ino had done for her pink haired friend and Sakura was grateful.
Having Naruto explain the situation in perspective from Sasuke's point of view didn't exactly change Sakura's feelings towards the Uchiha. Yes, she could understand that Orochimaru had brainwashed him and corrupted him in a way that might be irreversible. What she could not understand was the eerie feeling she got when she had looked at Sasuke let alone the daunting energy she had felt while in his presence.
Seeing him at the end of their mission was almost like when she had met him on the battlefield over two years ago. The only difference was two years ago when he had almost killed her, but this time it was Shino who almost died. Feelings of apprehension let alone being on edge would still remain with her no matter what, that she was sure of.
Was what she experienced firsthand from Sasuke was all that he had progressed to become? Before now, was he worse? Had he made any progress at all or was he putting on a face in front of the Hokage just to be able to go on missions?
Being able to tell Naruto everything that had been on her mind was the relief Sakura had needed and she felt the invisible weight of the burden dissipate as if physically lifted off her chest. She didn't feel as much anxiety as she did before and her somewhat fogged mind seemed so much clearer now that Naruto had helped to put some of her worries into perspective.
Shaking her head, Sakura tried to release the thoughts in her mind to flow in the slight night breeze as it swept past. Hopefully the wind would take her thoughts miles away and into a different country.
As they walked down the streets stopping at random vendors and games, Sakura couldn't help but glance up at Naruto's face. Upon closer inspection Sakura realized that he was proceeding to eye the bottle game that Lee had so pitifully failed at.
Facing the game, Sakura focused on the bottles that stood in a nice triangular stack. She couldn't stop the image of Lee's repeated failure from surfacing and she glanced at Naruto.
"I'm not sure if we should play this game. I don't think the owner has set it up fairly." She looked behind them to see Lee staring smugly at the game, arms crossed over his chest. It appeared as if he knew for sure that Naruto would lose and Lee would be ready at any moment's notice to celebrate the blonde's unsuccessful attempt.
He'd be damned if anyone other than himself were to give Sakura a prize.
"Give it a try, Naruto!" she heard him say in mock enthusiasm. She sighed.
"Naruto-"
"Don't worry Sakura, I'm going to win you the biggest stuffed toy they have," he cut her off. His confidence didn't surprise her; no matter what challenge Naruto faced he had faith in himself.
Sakura could only hope that Naruto wouldn't feel down when he came to realize the game was rigged. Shaking her head, she continued to watch as Naruto readied to throw the ball, already knowing the outcome to this unfortunate situation.
So when Naruto released the ball directly at the target with a cocky grin on his face, it took only moments for the ball to make contact and smash into the bottles which clattered to the floor in a brilliant burst of glass and dirt.
If there was anyone more surprised than Sakura, it could only have been Lee but she didn't bother looking at the bushy browed ninja, instead she turned to look at the blonde beside her in disbelief.
"How did you…" she trailed off.
Naruto looked proudly down at her. "I'm a shinobi Sakura! If I can't even accomplish something as easy as this, then I have no business being a ninja. Besides, if I'm going to be Hokage someday I should at least be able to defeat some dirty bottles"
He laughed and his face split into a wide grin faltering only slightly as he gave a suspicious glance to Lee. The smaller nin had the look of extreme disdain on his face.
It only seemed to grow as Naruto continued his winning streak for five rounds until he could not go on any further, effectively beating the game and now being able to choose from the larger animal prizes.
"Wow Lee, you suck," Kiba laughed hard, extremely amused at the situation. "You tried winning at that game earlier and lost every time! Naruto tries once and wins." He snickered, angering the green clad ninja greatly. The others broke in with various laughs and chuckles of their own at Lee's misfortune.
"Honestly Lee, I'm glad that you're not on my team now," laughed Ino.
Tenten tried to defend her teammate. "Awe come on now guys, Lee is a great ninja."
Neji shook his head silently and began to walk away. "Let's go," he muttered.
It seemed as if even Neji, whom Lee openly looked up to, didn't even want to look at him because of his pathetic disgrace toward the unbreakable bottle game! A fierce growl escaped Lee as he watched the rest of the group walking away from him, all the while laughing. He turned back to the proudly smiling blonde man and his pink haired angel. He couldn't believe his beloved Sakura was still standing next to such a boastful man.
"What do you mean by that Naruto?" he yelled from behind them, causing the blonde to laugh loudly.
Naruto shook his hands in front of his chest in defense, "It's nothing to do with you Lee," he assured in slight confusion.
Before Lee could reply, the vendor came to the counter in front of Naruto. "Now what would you like?" he glanced to Sakura, "something special for your cute girlfriend there?"
"Uhh," Naruto gaped looking at Sakura's shocked pink tinted face before quickly turning to the vendor with a blush of his own and quickly supplied squeak. "She's not my girlfriend, just my friend!"
The vendor raised an eyebrow and leaned his face against his has as his elbow rested on the table. He pointed at them in consideration as he looked between the two closely. "I thought for sure that you were together."
Sakura smiled awkwardly. "No, we're just close friends who were once on the same team."
The vendor, thankfully, seemed to get the hint and stopped pestering them. "So what would you like now?" he said with a smile, his attention on Naruto.
Naruto let his hand come to his chin while he examined each of the large stuffed figures that hung from the vendors display with serious contemplation. There were easily twice as many choices at this stall compared to the others
There was a white horse that had large, goofy eyes, a green snake with an extremely large tongue sticking out, a hammer, something that oddly looked like meat, a fat yellow mouse with a wonky tail, a black and white dog, a grey cat that was missing an eye and, his favorite, a red fox hanging longingly from the tack filled wall.
His eyes lit up instantly. "That one," he said as he pointed to the stuffed animal he desired.
It didn't surprise Sakura when the fox toy was lowered down and placed into Naruto's eager hands; she'd guessed his choice before even he had. He turned to face her, bringing the toys head against his own with a cheeky grin and she couldn't help but smile just as wide.
"You're like twins."
Lee scoffed. "Ugly twins."
He said it just loud enough for them to hear and Sakura laughed inwardly but at the same time she couldn't help but felt bad for her former 'date'.
"Don't worry Lee, there is always next time for you to win something." She tried to cheer him up. It seemed to have worked because almost instantly he perked up like a puppy who managed to catch sight of a treat.
"My dear Sakura you are right! There are plenty of games to play still!" Immediately he turned and marched away from them in pursuit of a stand he had yet to visit and would soon conquer. "By the end of the night I will have won you something of great excellence Sakura!"
She could only stare at his retreating form with slight hope for a quick accomplishment but Sakura idly wondered if she had just opened another can of worms. She answered her own question with a sigh. She'd feel bad if Lee wasted all of his money that he'd saved up from missions tonight trying, and probably failing, to get her something. With the way he had played all night, it seemed as if it might be inevitable.
A slight pressure against her chest caught Sakura's attention. Looking down she saw the oversized fox looking up at her, his large dark eyes staring imploringly into her own seemingly real. The tactic of drawing people in to buy the bigger animals lies in how cute they were after all. It was almost as if the toy was begging for her to hold it.
Sakura had to admit that this toy was indeed cute.
"I hope you can give this lucky guy a good home," Naruto spoke when their eyes met.
"This is for me?" she was slightly surprised.
He nodded his head and pressed the toy closer to her, a tender smile doing wonders to light up his already sparkling blue eyes. "Yup, I couldn't let you leave the festival empty handed now could I?"
He spoke softly still looking fondly at her as they continued to stare at one another. It was as if some invisible force was holding them in place, as if time had frozen to all but them.
She felt a blush race up her neck and after a moment, though it felt like many, Sakura was forced to look away from those cool burning pools. They held such intensity; such an emotion that she couldn't quite place that it was both heartwarming and unnerving at once.
Her arms came up to wrap around the large neck of the fox who's black eyes gazed steadily into her own and took a deep breath. Willing herself to look back up at her friend and teammate as he cheeks burned, Naruto just kept staring while his smile kept growing incredibly wider.
It wasn't often that Sakura was given a gift. In fact she couldn't remember that last time anyone had given her a gift other than her mother. Now to finally hold something in her hands let Sakura feel like maybe it wasn't so bad being at the festival. To top it off, this animal was the biggest out of anything the others had won.
She tried to tell herself that those were the only reasons this simple toy had managed to make her heart beat faster and stomach jump with affectionate excitement. That it had nothing to do with the now goofily grinning Shinobi standing in front of her. Her body was betraying her however and she glared inwardly as warmth spread through her bringing an equally shining, though smaller, smile out on her face to match that of her companion's.
Finally she looked back at the man who had once been nothing but a clumsy annoyance to her. How foolish she had been. As soon as eye contact reinitiated, Nartuo having kept his gaze centered upon her the entire time her delinquent mind had wandered, she gasped. A jolt of electricity raced through her like lightning across a dry desert in a rain storm and her mouth went dry as she came to a realization.
"Thank you Naruto," she said with a genuine smile, hugging the stuffed toy tighter to her chest.
Naruto shrugged bashfully. "It's the least I could do. We're only home for a few days and I figured you might want a little souvenir."
He started to lead her away from the stall and through the festival grounds. "And besides, he can keep you company when you're home and I'm not. Think of this little guy as me and vent to him if I'm not around."
She looked at the road ahead of them and stepped out of the way of an older woman who was running after her small child. As they walked Sakura quickly recollected herself and seeing the perfect opportunity to tease him asked, "When I'm angry at you can I punch him around?"
He let out a nervous laugh as he scratched the back of his head. His eyes crinkled into a nervous smile not quite sure how to take that. "I guess…just try not to beat him up too badly…"
She looked at Naruto from the corner of her eye. "I'm only teasing. I'd rather let my anger out on you instead and not on this cute little guy." She pinched one of the fox's cheeks.
Her joke caused another nervous laugh to bubble from her teammate. "You know, on second thought releasing your anger on something that really isn't alive is okay with me. I wonder where the others are…"
Anything was better than Sakura's punches.
Sakura frowned, not being able to see a familiar face in the waning crowds. "It is getting late. Maybe they went home?"
"I guess it's time for us to call it a night also."
When she turned to look at Naruto, Sakura almost jumped out of her skin in response to the unexpected visitor that now stood behind her friend.
Naruto's eyes narrowed at her. "What wrong Sakura?"
He watched as she raised a hand and pointed just past his shoulder. "Why don't you ask that pedophile?"
Following the direction, he turned and jumped slightly.
"What the hell sensei!"
Behind him stood Jiraiya who, as he stumbled over a combination of thin air and his own feet, proved to be quite drunk and who was still covered with smeared clown makeup.
"I finally found you!" he slurred as he swayed slightly, taking a swig of sake and grinning big as if finding Naruto was the most triumphant quest that he had ever endeavored to succeed at.
Naruto moved to place himself in between Sakura and his teacher just in case Jiraiya felt the need to spring forward and startle his teammate with a disguise attack. The last thing he wanted was an uncomfortable situation or worse, for Sakura to destroy both he and his teacher.
"Yea, you did. What's going on?"
"It is t-" he hiccupped and took another sip of the sake. "It is time!"
Naruto looked at his inebriated teacher in confusion. "Time for what?"
Sakura took a step back when she saw Jiraiya jerk forward and force Naruto into a close huddle with his arm. She couldn't hear exactly what he said into Naruto's ear but she did catch "special task" and "women" in the same sentence.
Jiraiya eventually released him and stepped back slightly. "Let's go!" he said gruffly in proclamation with a jerk of his finger in one direction and began to stumble away into another.
Naruto didn't budge however and instead turned to look at Sakura, a display of conflicting emotions crossing his face; confusion, regret, longing, annoyance.
"I should walk you home," he finally said resignedly and started towards her with a small yet disappointed smile. He clearly was not anticipating such an abrupt ending to the night.
There was a loud crash behind them and an unmistakable boisterous laugh that followed. Sakura did not even need to look to know who it was.
She placed a hand on Naruto's arm. "Don't worry about me, I'm a big girl." She signaled to the disastrous tornado clown currently unleashing its drunken blunder on the unsuspecting streets behind them with a grimace as another loud crash echoed down its length toward them. "Go help your teacher. I don't think he should be left unattended and he needs you more than I do."
Even though she was truthfully telling him that it was okay for him to go, he still hesitated. Ever the gentleman.
"But-"
"Just go Naruto." She turned him around and pushed him towards Jiraiya gently but quick and firmly. As soon as she could, Sakura turned so that by the time he realized what had happened she had already turned and made sure there was considerable distance between them.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." She waved him off.
Her pace quickened as she walked away until she knew without a doubt that Naruto had not followed her. It was better that he stayed with his teacher and escorted him to some sort of safe place, preferably away from all the women in Konoha. A drunken Jiraiya wandering around left no woman safe.
She frowned slightly. It would have been nice for him to walk her home though. Tonight was the first night they had been able to see each other.
Looking down at the fox in her arms she hit it over the head. "Dummy."
But there was always next time. Naruto said he would be in Konoha for a few days and her mission didn't start until next week so that was enough time for them. In fact, maybe she would see him tomorrow?
It would have been okay with Sakura if Ino had even stayed behind to walk with her. She looked around with slight hope to see a blonde woman but alas, there was no sign of her pig friend and so Sakura was undoubtedly left alone. She'd have to suck it up and walk home; she was a Shinobi after all.
As Sakura walked down the dirt road she could feel the people rushing past her, trying to gather their own belongings and break down their stalls. The festival was officially over and Konoha would return to the way it was before the sun rose in the sky.
She spotted a shortcut that she could take back to her own apartment and quickened her pace. Hopefully she would be able to escape the growing chaos with the new route.
Just a few feet after rounding the corner with her sights set on the corner of the building where she would turn down one moment the next thing she knew, there was a flash of yellow and she was hit in the face by something light and covered in feathers.
She dropped the fox in reflex and slapped the intruder out of her face. Turning to look as the chicken ran down the road, following close behind was a small boy who almost slammed into her and would have had she not plastered herself against the side of the building. The fox on the other hand, was not as lucky.
Sakura couldn't help but let out an aggravated sigh as she realized that it had been stepped on. "And today was going so well too."
She dusted herself off, plucked a few feathers from her hair and even one from the side of her mouth. Somewhat cleared off, she then bent to pick up her large gift. He didn't appear to be too roughed up, which she was thankful for, and then proceeded to dust him off as well.
After tucking him safely into her arms Sakura made it around the corner and away from the busy street. It was darker, only dimly lit by one lamp towards the other end but indeed it was not busy at all. She would be at the other side in no time. Completely unaffected by the creepiness of the dank alleyway, Sakura plowed forward. Before the chicken incident her mood had been serene, still buzzing with the adrenaline of the night, however now the only thing on her mind was getting home as she walked briskly. Almost there she chanted in her mind.
Ten steps into the alleyway however had her stopping dead in her tracks. A powerful presence let itself be known to her and her blood ran cold, eyes darting to spot the incoming intruder she knew was there with her. When the shadows didn't seem to budge and she could hear no movement, Sakura braced herself.
"I know you're here. Come out." She spoke with cold authority, not in the mood for games.
There was a small gust of air that swept past her before the vision of the open alleyway was blocked by a masculine chest. Instinctively she took a step back but was stopped when her eyes were violently pulled into the bright red that bore down at her.
Her mouth opened slightly as she was held by his gaze, transfixed by a mix of shock and chakra.
"What-"
She was cut off as his wrapped arm rose between them. The toy in her hands fell to the ground unbeknownst to her, forgotten while the sound of her heart beating filled her ears with spikes of adrenaline and alarm flashing through her veins yelling for her to move. But it was almost as if she was caught in his spell and couldn't move as his hand reached towards her.
Her sharp green eyes traveled with his hand, not letting it out of her sight. She knew the moment she sensed his chakra formulating she would need to figure out how the hell to get out of there.
Oddly enough though, there was no chakra that escaped his body.
Instead his fingertips brushed against her yukata, right by her neck before his hand ever so slowly retracted, leaving her numb. He brought his hand once again between them and to his eye level just so she could see what his purpose was.
There, in between his forefinger and thumb, was a small chicken feather she had failed to brush off only moments before. His expressionless gaze rested on the small object before he turned his attention back to her. Everything remained frozen.
"Hello, Sakura."
Authors Note: The one thing that I like about Naruto is that he never gives up on something that he puts his mind to, including Sasuke. For Naruto, Sasuke was pretty much one of the first people that paid attention to him (even though it was negative at first) and the bond that they had is something precious to Naruto. Ah~ Naruto's pure intentions are just so admirable.
Thank you so much everyone for your support as well as faves and alerts for this story, that really means a lot to me! :D I hope its enjoyable reading the interaction between Lee and Naruto and for those of you who would like to see a sparring match between the two, that is coming in a future chapter :D
Also, a question: I've been searching around everywhere for the answer but I continuously come up with mixed comments. Are the ANBU masks purely based on the 12 zodiac or are they random animals with no meaning behind them? If someone could tell me that would be great!
Someone had a question about which mode Naruto has learned while being away from Konoha and my answer to that is honestly I haven't decided yet xD There are some things in the original manga that I'm still on the fence at whether or not I will include in the story right now. Its a good thing my fabulous beta and I are going to have a nice long talk about this xD My poor beta. She is so good to me and my yapping about Naruto xD
Please review and let me know your likes and dislikes about this story, I don't mind constructive criticism at all and I do read what every review says. I enjoy writing this story and receiving feedback is fun for me. One thing that I am trying to keep to a minimum is the switches (indicated by the page breaks) but I'm not totally sure if its the right thing to do. Do you like many page breaks or few?
Until next time!