Ah! So I'm really nervous about this chapter! I always struggle with actions scenes and when dealing with Naruto it's a whole other ball game. What I'm trying to say is, I don't know the limitations of the Naruto world- if there are any. Their powers always seem to have a loop hole within a loop hole. SO! I'll go with the flow and have fun with it! Enjoy!
"Hatake Kakashi," my eyes are wide with recognition, the Sharingan rests in my sensei's left eye, "The copycat ninja. I already get to see that, hm?" How? I take a small step forward.
"You have an Uchiha with you? She doesn't look it." A tremor shoots through me, terror, this guy. He's a demon, the power of this chakra, it's overwhelming. Sasuke next to me is shivering, I clutch my kunai tighter and step back- I'll protect them.
"Sasuke. Don't worry." Kakashi-sensei says, my team looks to him, "I'll protect you guys even if it kills me." He turns to us, Sharingan red and powerful, "I won't let my comrades die." He adds with a smile. My heart clenches. Neither will I.
Behind?! Naruto, Sasuke and I are flown forward, Kakashi stands where we were, halting Zabuza's attack. A kunai is lodged deep into his stomach.
"Sensei! Behind you!" Naruto yells, a clone?! I yelp, as Zabuza's water clone dissipates and Kakashi-sensei is sliced in half from behind. I stand, eyes twitching, water flies from where Kakashi-sensei had stood. He was a clone, too?! I catch movement out of the corner of my eye, Tazuna sits horrified. My gaze narrows, if Tazuna is his goal, he'll come after him the moment he can. I won't give him that chance. I sprint over to Tazuna, standing in front of him on guard.
"Little..girl?" He says, I give him a small smirk as I meet his gaze for a moment. His expression reminds me of my own all those years ago.
"Don't underestimate an Uchiha." I say with pride. Kakashi-sensei is behind Zabuza with a kunai pressed to his neck. I watch closely. Naruto and Sasuke seemed to pull themselves together, and bolt to my sides.
"Don't move!" He yells, Zabuza's eyes are wide, "It's over." His eyes are narrow, Naruto grins widely in admiration. I almost laugh in relief, almost. A dark chuckle escapes Zabuza, my team tenses at my sides, Kakashi-sensei's eyes are wide and angry.
"It's over? Hehe.. You can't beat me with your cheap imitations." He looks into Kakashi-sensei's eyes, "You'd already copied me at that time," Copied...So this is the power I want to possess, I shake my head suddenly, focus- "You had your clone say those words while you watched from inside the mist, clever." A dark look crosses his face, "However-" Zabuza falls to the ground with a sudden burst of water- "I'm not that easy either." Zabuza stands behind Kakashi-sensei with a kunai perched tightly against his neck. I'm almost irritated, a clone battle, they must be close in terms of strength.
"That one's a fake too!?" Naruto yells at my side, I shoot him a warning look, the last thing we want is any attention, not that I'm avoiding a fight- we just can't have Tazuna getting injured.
Zabuza swings, and misses, they move so fast I can barely see them. He grabs the tip of his sword's hilt and kicks, Kakashi-sensei flies backward landing in a large pond.
"Sensei!" I yell, Zabuza skids to a stop, while glancing at the ground, I follow his gaze something shines beneath his feet, Makibishi?
"Foolish," He says darkly. Is there anything I can do?! Kakashi-sensei emerges from the water, looking troubled, Zabuza is behind him in the blink of an eye.
"Sensei!" Naruto growls, stepping forward, I hold a hand out in front of him. I shake my head and meet his eyes intensely. My eyes return to the jounin, Kakashi-sensei is locked in a ball of water, I can't make out anything they're saying, until Zabuza looks at us. My eyes meet his, I fix my stance quickly, my heart beats in my chest angrily. A water clone bursts from the water below them and stands between us and our sensei.
"You think you're a bunch of ninja, parading around with those headbands." Our eyes meet again, "A real ninja is someone who's been grazed by death." I narrow my gaze, as Sagiso flips through my mind, grazed by death. Maybe I haven't been touched yet, however, I've seen enough of it to not be afraid anymore. "The most you can do is read a handbook. You aren't real ninja." He's gone, my eyes dart around, Sasuke flies backward after a swift kick to the jaw.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yells in surprise, Sasuke's eyes narrow as I catch a quick glimpse of fear in them, before I bolt forward, separating Zabuza's gaze from him. Sasuke picks himself up off the ground, I feel his eyes on me.
"Sakura! Naruto! Sasuke! Take Tazuna away from here! His water clone can only go so far from his body!" I close my eyes a brief moment, we won't make it far enough in time, not if we have to protect Tazuna too, not the way we are now. Jounin. I open my eyes slowly, adjust my kunai, and decide to protect my friends. Maybe a diversion? Either way, we're in trouble.
"Sakura! NO!" Kakashi yells. Zabuza humors me as our kunai clash, his dark emotionless eyes meet mine. I hear Sasuke's footsteps behind me, coming quickly, I manage to twist my neck in time to give him a nasty look. He stops, stepping back with a surprised expression on his face.
"An Uchiha?" His deep voice echoes in the mist, "I'll end your life before you ever get to touch the sharingan." I see something within me, a sting of light, it pulls lightly on my heart in moments like these. When people depend on me, stand behind me, or support me. Now, my heart care barely take anymore interaction, because there's only one person I ever wanted to place a hand against my cheek. Sagiso, in this moment, you aren't my goal, but my drive. In the eyes of my enemy I find myself at home, I snap that string in half and my body moves on it's own. I jump back, my hands flip through hand signs quickly. Three clones! My shadow clones bolt forward, as my hands twitch together to make the final sign. Just like she'd taught me.
"Fire ball Jutsu!" I yell as Zabuza knocks my clones away in puffs of smoke, I release the jutsu, I see his eyes widen at the fire consumes him. When the smoke dissipates I frown, he managed to escape. As expected, I take this time to look to Kakashi-sensei, I give him a light smile. I'm only stalling, you idiot. You better get free before I die. Zabuza's clone is behind me, he pushes a kunai deep into my heart. My body drops, as breath escapes my chest. I smile, as I fall to the ground.
Good, all according to plan.
"SAKURA!" Naruto yells, his voice distant, I glare at Zabuza's real body from where I sit, a moment longer. Sasuke runs to my body and cradles my head. It's really hard to keep that log transformed, damn. I need a minute more. Zabuza's clone turns to the boys on my team. The tree I sit in is to Zabuza's right, where Kakashi-sensei sits looking horrified. I sign, just as she taught me, suck air in and jump.
"You little?! When did you?!" I release my fireball aiming for Zabuza and sensei. It isn't much, but it is a distraction. One of my clones emerges from the tree line behind Naruto and Sasuke- it throws a Fuma Shuriken aiming for the real Zabuza. Between my fire ball and the Shuriken he has no choice but to- as I land on the water, a water dragon launches from the pond below, I'm thrown as it's tail slams into me and watch in aggravation as it devours my fireball. Zabuza catches the Windmill shuriken in his hand. I land on the ground hard next to the log that was once a replica of my death. Sasuke runs to my side and helps me up, I hold my stomach tightly.
"We thought-" I glance at him, blood dribbles down my chin, I nod at him. He sighs, and lets me lean against him. My plan worked I notice as Sasuke sits me down in front of Tazuna. Now Kakashi-sensei stands, free, sharingan shining and fists clenched. A Fuma shuriken in the shadow of another, the second shuriken hides my last clone with a kunai at the ready, what a great plan. I smile grimly, I'm reaching my limit. Naruto jumps beside us, he gives me a warm grin as I pull away from Sasuke to stand on my own. We turn back to the enemy, worried for our sensei. Kakashi-sensei goes toe to toe with Zabuza, both having used the same jutsu, their dragon's clash as the two of them meet in between them sword clashing with kunai. He copied so many seals correctly in mere seconds. That goal seems so out of my reach. The dragons burst, a giant wave of water shoots back, I bolt and grab Tazuna protecting him from the current. I crouch next to him, after placing him beside a near by tree.
Kakashi-sensei and Zabuza's voices are like a soft echo in my head. Chakra depletion is beginning to affect me. I glare at the wet ground, Sasuke's feet step into my gaze. I look up.
"You're so useless," he says coldly, "Naruto and I could've handled that." My chest constricts, I feel a rush of emotion as my face twists into an expression I haven't made in a long time. Hurt. I control myself, giving him the darkest glare I can manage. Screw depletion, I'm fine. I stand. My body feels unusually cold, the tips of my fingers won't stop shaking. Clenching my fists, Sasuke's eyes meet mine, we stand in front of one another as if we're true rivals.
"Don't get in my way, Sasuke." I hiss, "This fight isn't over." In his eyes I see something like regret, but I don't have time to register emotions like that. Frowning, I turn back to Kakashi and Zabuza. I don't see them, eyes darting, I notice an unfamiliar presence. I turn to a near by tree, a ninja?
: : : :
I wake to the sounds of clattering pans. Sasuke sits at my side, Naruto beside him, they don't look to me engrossed in their conversation.
"We don't know anything about that ninja." Naruto says in an annoyed voice. I turn my aching head to the side. to get a better view of them. They sit cross legged to my right. Staring at one another intensely, I raise my eyebrows at the duo, wondering when they'll notice I'm awake. An intense pain hits my left side, I squeeze my eyes shut, pulling air in my lungs quickly.
"I understand that, Dope." I hear Sasuke reply, I frown at his usual tone, never pleased, "Who ever he is, he's a threat." Opening my eyes, I push myself up in a flash.
"Wait- what happened?" I say bewildered. I must've.. I look to them wide-eyed. Seriously.. I lost consciousness. Damn it! Damn it! I grip the light brown colored blanket tightly while lowering my head.
"What do you think happened after using that much chakra." I freeze, glancing at the open shojo door. Kakashi-sensei's eyes are cold, angry, and worse disappointed. I always disappoint him. What's the matter with me..?
"Sensei… I-" He stops me with a hand held up and disappears in a swirl of leaves. I feel Sasuke and Naruto's hot stares. I turn on them.
"Get out." I yell. They're expressions alter, from concern to hurt, "Get out!" I scream. They leave in a scurry, I'm left alone to lick my wounds and decide what kind of person I'm going to be when I leave this room. I hate it. I hate it. I hate Sagiso. I hate this team. I-I touch my face weakly, tears. When will I get tired of crying? What am I crying for this time? Why?
: : :
What's wrong with me?
: : :
"You're really dumb." I hear a child-like voice say, I turn my head to the source. A hat, and overalls make a up a kid with dark hair and big feet. I raise an eyebrow. It's been about an hour since I forced Naruto and Sasuke out. When suddenly a little kid decides to pay me a visit.
"Why do you dress like that?" I shoot him a glare, "What's that symbol on your back mean?" I look down at my clothes, I wear a white long sleeved tight fitting shirt under my black high collared dress. A perfectly suitable outfit for any Uchiha woman.
"What's wrong with the way I dress, Kid?" I frown, "And the symbol is called an Uchiwa, like a fan. It stands for the Uchiha family, my clan." I tell him, he stares at me, interested.
"Shouldn't you try to dress sexier? I can barely see your face with your shirt so high." I stare at him dumbly, this kid, what is he trying to say? I begin to stand, while answering him.
"No." He reminds me slightly of Naruto, "I dress modestly, thank you." I puff while crossing my arms over my chest. This kid, I note, starting at those dark eyes under his small hat, is cute.
"But that stupid ninja, the one in that dumb red thing, he said you want to restore your clan." He pauses as if to let it sink in, "You know-" I bonk him on the head.
"Am I surrounded by idiots?!" I yell, he holds his head and looks at me grinning. I let my fist fall and look away from him.
"Finally you stopped making that stupid face." I feel a slight blush touch my cheeks. Idiot kid. I scoff at him.
"What face?" I look at him again, pull my dress collar down a bit revealing my lips, and give him a sweet smile. His face turns red after a moment as he turns away from me, I find myself following him out of the door.
I step into their kitchen where Sasuke and Naruto sit at the table. Naruto catches my eyes first. He smiles warmly as I approach.
"Sakura-chan." Sasuke turns his head to glance at me. I nod to them at the start of an apology before I feel a hand on my head.
"Sakura. We get it." I nod, the pressure of Kakashi-sensei's hand fills my cheeks with warmth, I'm happy. I'm really happy. I hide between my bangs and my high collared navy dress.
I'm really happy.
I hope you enjoyed it! More to come soon! Thank you so much for reading! I promise it'll diverge from the manga soon!