Hey, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been reading this. I hope you all are liking what you're reading so far. I would definately love it if you could leave me a review. My offer still stands, write me a review and I will do the same for you! That's an amazing deal if you ask me...
I still don't own Naruto...
Girl Fight
The past six days of training had been absolute hell for Sakura. Not only was her body weak from a month of inactivity, but she had to put up with an extremely annoying and extremely bitchy voice in her head that felt the need to nag at her constantly. When Sakura went on her early morning run to start her day, Inner Sakura would complain that she wasn't running fast enough no matter how much she quickened her pace. At one point she was sure she could outstrip Lee or even Guy-sensei in a race, but it was never good enough to Inner Sakura.
No wonder you always see Sasuke and Naruto's backs, you are just slow. You'll always be watching them walk away from you if you keep going at a snail's pace, that voice would whisper in her head, pure disgust dripping from its words.
When Sakura practiced her taijutsu, Inner Sakura would howl about how sloppy her moves were, or that her form was incorrect. She struggled to move the way her subconscious screamed at her to, but nothing Sakura did placated that biting voice.
I refuse to believe that you were able to kill Sasori with a fighting style like that. Was it really Granny Chiyo's chakra strings that enabled you to move like an actual kunoichi? Inner Sakura taunted.
When Sakura exercised her chakra manipulation skills, Inner Sakura would yet again complain that her chakra control was lacking. No matter how much chakra Sakura infused into her punches, the nagging voice in her head would complain that her punches lacked real power behind them.
Do you really think you'll be able to knock the Pig on her ass with those love taps you keep throwing around? And they say your strength rivals that of Tsunade, Inner Sakura scoffed.
Home life wasn't that much better. The first night Sakura had spent back home at her parents' house had been so awkward and lonely that she decided she would move out into her own apartment if she reached jounin status. Her parents had kept their distance from her, making as little conversation as possible with her. She wondered if they were walking on eggshells around her because they were afraid they might set her off.
You're out of the loony bin, but everyone still thinks you're crazy, Inner Sakura had chuckled.
To make matters even worse, her parents offered no explanation as to why they never came to visit her in the hospital. Although, judging from the way they acted around her, Sakura could only conclude that her parents were ashamed of her. Sakura didn't think that their shame stemmed from her broken mental state alone, but rather from her failure in her mission as well. Sakura had failed to fulfill her duty as a kunoichi and kill a dangerous criminal who threatened her village. Instead, she let her emotions get the best of her, and embarrassed her parents in front of the whole village even further by cutting open her wrists in a vain attempt at contrition. She knew that many of the villagers believed she was a traitor for continuing to love Sasuke, but it pained her to think that her parents thought she was a traitor as well.
When are you going to learn that you shouldn't be on anyone else's side but your own? Inner Sakura chided.
When Sakura awoke on the seventh day, her scheduled exam day, she couldn't shake the nervousness that clung to her stomach. She decided to skip breakfast not only because she knew she couldn't trust her nervous stomach, but also to avoid another awkward encounter with her parents. Instead she opted to take a walk through Konoha after she had showered and dressed in her usual ninja attire.
However, as she walked down the early morning streets of Konoha, she couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort. At first, she thought it was just nerves about her upcoming exam, but then she started to take notice of her surroundings. Many of the villagers were huddled into small groups whispering and shooting her dirty looks. As she walked passed a mother and child taking an early morning stroll, she noticed the mother pull her child behind her, placing herself protectively between the kunoichi and her child as if afraid Sakura would attack.
I don't think I like being treated like a rabid dog, Inner Sakura growled.
"Traitor!" the insult was followed by a stabbing pain in her left shoulder blade as she felt a rock collide with the bone. Sakura had let out a cry of surprise as she felt the pain from her shoulder travel down to the tips of her fingers. She whirled around to see who her attacker was, but the whole crowd swarmed maliciously, emboldened by one faceless person's act.
You better make a run for it, or this crowd will tear you limb from limb, the warning sent a shiver down Sakura's spine. Without hesitation, Sakura broke out into a full on sprint and didn't stop until she reached the Forest of Death.
Once she felt safe, Sakura stopped running and collapsed on her knees. Her lungs burned for air, and her left shoulder and arm had gone numb. She had a suspicion that the sweat drenching her body wasn't just from her exerting run, but also from the fear that still painfully squeezed its way around her racing heart.
Fucking animals out for blood, Inner Sakura muttered. When you're done pissing yourself, you might want to check up on your injury.
"Fuck you," Sakura hissed through desperate gasps for air, "I didn't hear you suggesting I stay and fight. As I recall, I do believe you were the one to tell me to run."
Inner Sakura hmphed before laughing devilishly. I'm glad to see that you're inheriting my sharp tongue.
Sakura ignored her subconscious and unzipped her top before removing it. She hissed out in pain when she lifted her left arm experimentally. She squeezed her left hand and bent her elbow, and was relieved that neither movements pained her.
"Good, it's just the shoulder that's broken and not the whole arm," Sakura commented before focusing healing chakra into her right hand and placing it over the broken bone.
Yes, because you don't have time to heal a shattered arm, Inner Sakura agreed. You'll have to be leaving for the exam soon.
Sakura picked up her subconscious's hint to hurry and forced more chakra into her shoulder, urging the bone to heal faster. She bit her lip to stop from crying out in pain as the bone reset itself. Healing broken bones always hurt, but healing broken bones quickly was excruciating. Once the fracture had mended and the urge to pass out from pain had receded, Sakura put her shirt back on and made a mad dash for the Training Grounds.
"I was afraid you were going to chicken out," goaded Ino, once Sakura arrived without a minute to spare. For the second time that day, Sakura was struggling for air and drenched in sweat. "You should have saved your energy," Ino continued, clicking her tongue and shaking her head.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura asked through gasps of air. She gave Ino a once over, noticing that her former friend's attire had changed to that of a jounin: black ninja sandals, black form-fitting pants, and green vest. However, under the vest, Ino wore a long sleeved black fishnet shirt. Her long blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with the familiar long strand hanging over the right side of her face.
"She's your jounin exam," Kakashi's voice boomed from behind Sakura, his sudden presence cutting off whatever bitchy comment Ino was about to spout out.
"Hokage- sama," the two kunoichi greeted in unison, bowing in respect.
As Sakura lifted her gaze, she noticed that Neiji, Shikamaru, and Sai were standing behind Kakashi, dressed in their ANBU uniforms but without their masks. Sai frowned at Sakura as she watched him take in her disheveled appearance. Although he seemed to be looking at her disapprovingly, she was secretly happy that he was actually looking at her, and showing some kind of emotion on his face.
Yeah, it's just too bad that the emotion he's feeling right now is disdain since you look like shit, Inner Sakura snapped.
"Sakura, did you hear me?" Kakashi's concerned voice brought her attention quickly away from her inner demon. "Are you ready for the exam to begin?"
"Sorry, Hokage-sama," Sakura said bowing to apologize for letting her inner voice distract her, "I am ready to start the exam."
"Excellent," said Kakashi. "As I said earlier, Ino will be your exam. You two are to engage in combat using whatever means necessary to win. Consider it a rematch of the chunnin exams. That match ended in a draw, but today will determine who the better kunoichi is. Ino, if you win the match, then you will complete this special team I have formed. Sakura, if you win, then you will obtain jounin status and have a spot on the team. Any questions?" When neither girl responded, Kakashi motioned for both girls to take their places.
"Wish me luck Shikamaru," Ino called out stopping a few paces away.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru grumbled, but didn't say anything else.
Interesting that he actually didn't give the Pig a supportive response, don't you think? Inner Sakura mused. Could it be that he might actually want you on the team?
"Don't be ridiculous," Sakura whispered, turning to face Ino, and taking a defensive stance.
"This won't be like the chunnin exams, Billboard Brow," Ino taunted, "I will make you quit, and I will take my rightful place as a member of that team. Whatever mission Kakashi-sama has lined up for this team is too important for a failure like you to handle."
Sakura inwardly cringed at the tone of Ino's voice. Before, their banter may have sounded harsh, but there was always a playfulness hidden behind the insults they threw at each other. Now it seemed as if all traces of playfulness were gone from Ino, instead her words were seeped in bitterness. Sakura couldn't help but feel she was to blame for that bitterness. Maybe Ino was right. Maybe she was too much of a failure to handle important missions.
Sakura was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't hear Kakashi snap his fingers to begin the match. She paid for that distraction with a right hook from Ino. Sakura stumbled in surprise rather than from the force of the blow.
"Wake-up Forehead!" Ino smirked, "We're supposed to be fighting, remember?"
I hope that snapped you back from your trip down Memory Lane, Inner Sakura scolded. And stop feeling so sorry for yourself, it really is starting to get annoying having to stroke your ego all the time.
"When have you ever stroked my ego?" Sakura snapped.
Ino fixed her with a weird look. "Don't think you can scare me by acting all crazy and talking to yourself." She immediately resumed her attack, delivering a volley of punches and kicks aimed at Sakura's face, but Sakura was ready this time and was able to block each blow. When Ino threw a chakra infused punch aimed at Sakura's stomach, Sakura caught her by the wrist and used the momentum of the punch to throw Ino behind her while sidestepping the attack.
Sakura quickly summoned up two shadow clones and closed the distance between her and her opponent. As she neared Ino, the clones disappeared and Sakura threw a chakra infused punch aimed at Ino's face.
"That trick won't work on me this time," Ino smirked blocking the punch with her forearm. Sakura gasped, amazed that the bone in Ino's arm didn't snap from the enhanced punch.
I told you your punches weren't being thrown hard enough, Inner Sakura tsked.
"However, since you want to bring up old moves," Ino quickly broke her hold and moved her hands in the appropriate seal before shouting, "Mind Body Switch Technique!" Both girls were rendered immobile as Ino took possession of Sakura's body.
Inside Sakura's mind, Ino's attention was immediately drawn to a childlike Sakura huddled over and crying in the surrounding darkness of her mind. She shook her head at how easy it was for her to find her target.
"Nothing much has changed, has it Sakura? You're still just a crybaby," Ino smirked, walking closer to the childlike form and looming over her maliciously, a kunai grasped firmly in her hand.
What about me Piggy, do you think I haven't changed?
Ino whirled around at the sound of Inner Sakura's voice against her ear and slashed wildly, her kunai cutting nothing but air. She was brought to her knees by a sudden stabbing pain in her lower back. She turned her head and gasped when she saw the childlike subconscious figure, now standing, with a firm grip on the kunai buried deeply into her back. Her eyes widened in fear as she watched the childlike Sakura, grow and transform into a young woman. She looked exactly like Sakura except for the eyes. Where Ino expected green orbs, she found black gaping holes seemingly trying to suck her into the bottomless hell that resided within this sinister Sakura's gaze.
Slowly, Inner Sakura retracted the kunai and stepped in front of Ino, kneeling down until she was at eyelevel with the blonde kunoichi. Ino screamed as, without warning, Inner Sakura began to stab her repeatedly in the stomach.
That's right Piggy, squeal.
"Stop it!" Sakura shouted, making the shinobi witnessing the match jump at the interrupted silence. They had all turned their attention to Sakura hoping that she would give them a clue as to what was going on in her mind. Judging by the way she was screaming, they wrongly assumed that Ino was winning the battle.
But I'm not done carving her up like a Christmas ham, Inner Sakura pouted.
"Please just stop, I can't stand watching you do that to her here in my mind," Sakura begged, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Fine, but just remember, this is favor number two that I have done for you, Inner Sakura sighed, disappointed that her fun was being interrupted. I will be seeking repayment soon. With that ominous statement, Inner Sakura released Ino and disappeared.
"If I were you," Sakura whispered, "I would leave before she comes back."
Needing no further invitation, Ino quickly receded from Sakura's mind and returned to her own body, visibly shaken by her encounter with her former friend's subconscious.
"Y-You c-can't trust her," Ino stuttered, unable to stop her body from trembling in fear. "She's bat-shit c-crazy!"
"Are you able to continue the match?" Kakashi asked, visible eye darting back and forth between the two kunoichi worriedly.
"I-I can't," Ino whispered, "She wants to k-kill me. I saw it in her mind, she wants to t-torture me to death-"
"Shikamaru, take her home," Kakashi instructed as Ino broke down into an incoherent ramble about killer children with kunais and black bottomless pits for eyes. Sakura watched Shikamaru lift Ino up and carry her bridal style away from the Training Grounds. Although she couldn't hear what he was saying to her, she could hear the comforting tone he used as he tried to calm the almost hysterical blonde.
She stared at the ground guiltily, ashamed that she had done that to Ino, a once close friend. She refused to glance up and look at the faces of the remaining shinobi, afraid to see the disgust, or worse yet, distrust, in their gazes. She was barely able to mumble out a thank-you when Kakashi congratulated her on her win.
"You all are to meet me in my office at sun-up tomorrow morning for your first mission assignment. Sai, Neiji, one of you should inform Shikamaru about the meeting as well," Kakashi ordered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to put Sakura on the jounin payroll." With those parting words, Kakashi disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Sai and Neiji left Sakura without a word, although she did catch the backwards glance Sai threw at her before he disappeared.
Wow, Kakashi has just declared you all as a team and already you've been abandoned by your team mates, Inner Sakura guffawed. How do you do it?
Sakura didn't respond. Instead, she stared at the spot Sai had disappeared from and briefly wondered if she would ever be able to be accepted as an actual team mate.
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