Chaaaaaaa! I love you're reviews! They really keep me going! I absolutely love writing right now… Actually… I love everything! In comes an action scene! It's not an "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Kind of scene… It's more like a "Let me kick your ass in training" Kind of scene…
And for those that are curious. Sakura isn't sure what to do about Sasuke. She loves him but she doesn't know if he loves her or is just doing what Orochimaru wants. Even I don't know! I'm making it up as I go… :3
Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto… I can't think of anything random or witty to put here… I'm too tired…
Faded Cherry Blossom
New Toys and New Plans
In the kitchen Hinata was serving Ino, TenTen and Temari an assortment of foods. They each had a cup of tea, a bowl or rice, sweet chestnuts, a rolled omelet, and miso soup. As the girls at Sakura's table ate and talked sleepily Hinata cleaned what she had used in Sakura's sink. The table they sat at was separated from the cooking area by a tall countertop. Across the pathway where the black headed girl worked there was a stove and refrigerator a little ways down from the sink. She finished and placed the pots and pans back into their rightful place in the cabinets.
"Sakura is still asleep…" Temari yawned as she glanced through the open doorway. TenTen followed her gaze with her chopsticks dangling out of her mouth.
"Yeah. Isn't that weird? I guess she stayed up longer than we did."
Hinata sat down at the table and placed her hands in her lap. "I remember Sakura carrying me to her room. I must have fallen asleep while watching that movie. It was around 11."
"Really?" Ino lifted the video cassette that sat upon the table. "I guess she watched this one too… It had to have been late when she finished this."
TenTen bowed her head slightly and said pleasantly. "Gochisosama deshita." Then she sighed loudly and leaned back. "That was amazing cooking, Hinata. Naruto's a lucky guy!"
Hinata blushed. "I've gotten better…" She had been the first to get up and already eaten earlier.
"Just as long as that baka, Naruto, isn't taking you to Ichiraku every day!" Temari took a bite of her omelet.
"No… I'm teaching him to cook things when he's home. He's really good at it…" She played with the hem of her jacket.
Ino glanced at her slyly. "But it's at a price. Right, Hinata? What does he do in exchange?" Hinata's throat tightened and she blushed. I love doing that… Ino smirked as she and Temari finished in the next few minutes and said their thanks.
Ino stood and sneaked into Sakura's bedroom. The other girls looked curiously after her. Then she motioned to them with her finger. TenTen and Temari glanced at each other. Then they all got up and went to the bleach blonde's side. Ino knelt at the edge of Sakura's bed and the other girls mimicked her. Their heads poked over the side and the leader muttered into the blanket. "Sakura went off somewhere last night out the window… That's why she's so tired."
"Well that's no surprise… You were probably snoring and she needed to get away from it." She whispered with cruel humor seeping through her breathy words.
Ino sat up on her knees and half shouted. "I. Do. Not. Snore!" TenTen quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back down while hissing a 'shu—ush' at her.
Temari continued lazily. She was clearly pleased at Ino's reaction. "Do you know why, then?" Temari's head bobbled as her jaw moved up and down.
Ino simmered. "No… But she was really exasperated. And it wasn't just from staying up late."
Hinata stared out the window. "Maybe she just went out for a walk…"
"Yeah, right. Why would she need to take a walk at midnight!?" TenTen tried to keep her voice in a whisper.
Ino put her finger to her chin and pondered that explanation. "That would make sense…"
Temari shook her head. "Then why didn't she use the front door?"
"She didn't want to wake us up." She answered innocently. She had complete confidence in Sakura's reasons, whatever they were.
Temari stared at her blankly. "Get real, woman. She was probably out seeing a boy-"
"Ohay—you." A toneless voice sounded. All the girls looked up slowly at the fully awake Sakura. Her agitated face was inches from theirs. It took a few seconds for the shock of her sudden closeness to sink in and flinched back, their faces twisted guiltily. Sakura's baggy eyes glared at them. "Are you plotting my demise or did I miss something…?" Her voice creaked a little but the kunoichi knew that her mind was fully awake and alert.
Hinata answered. "S-Sakura… we were just…"
"Sakura." Temari exchanged looks with Ino then sat up. "We're all curious. Where did you go last night?" Sakura sighed. Kusou… Ino was awake… She looked at their wondering faces. I guess it can't be helped.
Silence gripped them. Then finally… "I went out for a walk…" The girls fell back, stupefied. TenTen was the first to shoot up and shout into the pink haired girl's face.
"We know that!" Her face was red with frustration.
Sakura sighed again. What should I say…!? "Alright…" The shinobi threw themselves forward to listen to her. "I went out to meet someone…" That's truth enough for them… They should be happy with that, right?
Temari smirked. "It was a guy, wasn't it." It wasn't a question. Sakura blushed and tried to keep a straight face. Temari sat a little taller and thought, I was right…
Sakura gave up. "Yes. It was a guy." Suddenly she found herself being attacked by questions.
"Is he a Shinobi?" Temari crawled onto the bed.
Ino sat on the edge. "Do we know him?"
"What did you do?" Other questions leaked in as Sakura let her head droop.
TenTen crossed her legs on the floor. "Where did you go?"
Among the questions Hinata, who was still on her knees and hanging onto the bed, looked at Sakura with pure interest. "Sakura-chan?" Then just as quickly had the questions started they stopped.
Sakura looked up. Then she took a deep breath. "Yes, he's a shinobi. And you don't know him very well." She could feel a strong release growing. "He's not here much and you never see him around anymore." Half of which was true. "I was out walking when he saw me and we ran together for a while. Then we stopped somewhere and talked a little." She tried her best not to accent 'a little' and focused on keeping the conversation as truthful as possible.
"Who was it?" Hinata stared at her inquisitively.
Sakura sighed again but this time let her bead fall back as she leaned against the wall. "I don't know anymore… I thought I knew him but… He's changed."
"Who did you think it was?"
Sakura didn't answer. She instead rolled her head from side to side and stretched. Then she yawned and sat up. "What time is it?"
TenTen leaned to the side and caught a view of her digital clock. "It is… 12:47."
"What!?" Sakura leapt up to check the clock herself, knocking Ino off the bed in the process.
"Aah!" Ino toppled onto TenTen. "What was that for, forehead-girl!? You don't need to go anywhere today."
TenTen grunted at the extra weight on top of her. "Yes she does. She needs to come to training with me before I leave."
Sakura looked over her shoulder as she fumbled through her drawers. "What?"
"I'm leaving today and I need to show you how to use the katana Neji and I gave you." She shoved Ino off and stood.
"Oh yeah… I forgot."
"But I'm in no hurry. And I'm sure Neji can wait."
As TenTen spoke Temari slipped off the bed and walked into the living room. Her voice called back at them. "Actually I should go. Shikamaru and I are going over the plans for the Chuunin Exams."
"Oh!" Sakura dropped what she was doing and leapt after the Sand shinobi. She grabbed her from behind in a hug. "Arigato, Temari. It was great that you could come."
"Yeah…" She chuckled. "I hope things with your secret admirer go well." Then she added on the side. "Maybe it's Kakashi!" Sakura's face turned white as the blond wiggled out of her embrace while laughing. "See you!" Then she was gone out the front door. Sakura turned around to see Ino and Hinata lounging, Ino more that Hinata, and TenTen fiddling with her shirt buttons.
"Hey… I'm not really doing anything today. Is it alright if I go with you two?" Ino looked behind her at TenTen.
"It's okay with me. Sakura?"
Sakura shrugged. "I don't mind." She looked at Hinata. "Do you want to come too?" Hinata nodded and Sakura smiled. She's shy as always… "Alright, then. I'm sorry, but, I have to take a shower…"
Ino nudged the innocent Hinata. "She probably got all worked up after seeing that guy.-" She was cut off by Sakura who whacked Ino's head with her fist.
"Just drop it already…" She steamed. Then she disappeared into the bathroom.
It was almost noon when the four kunoichi were on their way to the training ground. Sakura wore her red sleeveless shirt and pale rose colored mini-skirt with matching elbow covers. On her hands were black gloves and she had black shoes with shin guards that went up to her knees. On her side were the two katana TenTen and Neji gave her. Beside her TenTen walked happily. Her mood was reflected by the light green shirt and white shorts she wore that made her brown eyes and hair stand out substantially. Ino's clothes were, thankfully, less flashy than they had been in the past and Hinata's where cozy-looking and virtuous as usual. They entered the arena like area that was made completely of concrete. Across the proscenium was an enormous statue of hands performing a frozen seal. Then they looked closer at some the many columns and spotted Lee and Naruto conversing. Perched on the concrete wall above them was Kakashi.
Even while holding his Ichaicha Paradaisu book in his hands he was the first to notice their entrance. "Late, Sakura? How rude of you to keep us waiting." He shook his head in shame.
Sakura twitched furiously. "Don't talk to me about being late, Kaka-sensei." She muttered softly. Then she walked over to Naruto. "If you weren't my sensei…" She hooked him in his head and sent the innocent blond face first into the ground. His head visibly throbbed and his arms and legs jerked around desperately trying to free his head that was glued to the concrete.
He sat up and looked at Sakura and shouted. "What was that for!?" Sakura shrugged, suddenly feeling much better.
The others held back laughter as TenTen walked up to Sakura. "Come on, Sakura." The pink haired kunoichi held one katana's handle gingerly. Hinata and Ino disappeared momentarily then landed onto the watching platform that went around the arena above them. "Lee, Naruto. We need you." The boys assumed their positions countering the two girls in the space. The brunette faced her friend and began to explain. "These are specialty swords, like I said before. They can accept the chakra you put into them and increase the potency of your attacks ten fold or more. With your chakra control who knows what's possible!" She smirked. Then TenTen turned to the boys. "She needs to break them in so it's easier to control the chakra later on. So just spar with her for a little while." She grinned with a small hint of fear then in a flash was on the observation deck.
Lee reached out dramatically. "What's the matter, TenTen?"
"Why aren't you fighting?" Naruto grimaced.
TenTen ducked behind the low wall. "Are you kidding!? I don't know what those things will do! She could kill me!"
A giant sweat drop appeared on Sakura. "How nice of you, TenTen…"
"What? And you'll leave us to fight her!?" Naruto shouted, waving his arms in the air.
Suddenly Kakashi appeared between them on the soon to be battle field. "Shut up, Naruto." He commanded bluntly. "Let's at least show a little courtesy and humor Sakura."
"EEEEH!?" Sakura leaned in threateningly.
Kakashi looked at her with smiling eyes. "I'll referee for you, alright?" He added quickly. Sakura sighed and gripped the handle on her sword. "It is Uzumaki Naruto and Rock Lee verses Haruno Sakura." Sakura listened to the sight hiss of the blade against the sheath. "Ready?" Her eyes shut slightly as the light metal slit the air and inches from the ground, stopped. She held it there as her hand on which she swords were sided grasped the remaining katana. She leaned back a little and hinged the covered sword behind her as she pulled it out. Her other arm came back as well and from above she looked like the head of an arrow. Silence gripped them and Lee and Naruto exchanged glances. "Fight!"
Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke and Naruto abruptly looked around him. "Hey, Lee, you didn't chicken out too!?" Is he in front…? To the right… Left… Sakura's eyes widened as a breeze rushed onto her. …Behind! She glanced to her left and a green pants-ed leg was flying at her. She ducked just in time and the kick missed. She swings the katana at him but no luck. He was already gone and the chakra just wasn't flowing.
"Sakura! Treat the katana like and extension of your body! You move with it. You strike together! Come on! Kick Lee's ass!" She pumped her fist and the other girls cheered for her. I'm glad they came…She stood quietly for a moment and breathed. She felt her fingertips of chakra reach through the swords. They refused it at first but then they accepted the power greedily and Sakura felt an exhilarating strength course through her. She disappeared in a flash and reappeared in front of Naruto.
The blonde's face grew smug as he shook his head in disapproval. "Attacking from the front, Sakura?" He flung a hidden kunai at her and she disappeared in a puff of smoke. Naruto looked around curiously. Then suddenly a hand touched his back. With one katana in its sheath, the kunoichi smirked and pulled back her fist. "Kuso-" the work barely escaped his lips before Sakura's punch to his back launched him across the vicinity. Lee suddenly appeared too close for Sakura to react properly. He grabbed her arm and slung her into a column. The pink haired woman crumpled slightly. Then she stumbled up and looked around. The Green Beast was gone again. He's too fast…She growled quietly as she dodged a blow from behind. A bandaged fist whizzed by her ear and Sakura grabbed it. I guess not… She slammed the handle's chakra enhanced end into Lee's stomach. The force tried to throw him back but instead Sakura used that force and whipped him over her shoulder and sent him flying in Naruto's direction.
Naruto was holding his arm and shaking off debris from his landing site. He saw a shadow envelop him and he looked up. Lee's round eyes were the size of dinner plates as he landed like a meteor into the unsuspecting shinobi. A mushroom of dust and rubble clouded that entire side and the observers above ducked for cover.
Sakura smiled at her defeated friends. They were just playing with me. They're not that easy to defeat…She saw Naruto's twitching hand emerge from the upturned concrete so she decided to turn her attention to her katana. The blue chakra spiked around it. Her curiosity peaked and she placed the blade near her hand. With in an inch from it Sakura cringed and a bloody line appeared on her hand. Wow… that works. The blood tricked to the underside of her hand and her eyes suddenly yearned to try something.
"What if…" She placed her cut hand into a seal and whispered to herself. "Shousen Jutsu!" Her occupied hand glowed green and beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. The same resistance came from the weapon. Then the flood gates opened and her chakra invaded. In a swirl of green chakra the sword glowed. Her eyes were shining with success and interest as she lowered her wounded hand. She put the blade to the cut and instead of pain she felt the healing sense enter her. She stopped the chakra flow and watched her hand as the skin slowly knitted itself back to its original condition.
She gasped in disbelief. "It's gone…" She looked around. Kakashi, the referee was standing over the two boys.
As Sakura ran up to them Naruto groaned. "Get off me Fuzzy Brows." The kunoichi approached her teacher.
"Look." She placed the blade against her skin. The thin line of blood appeared. Then she half shouted. "Shousen Jutsu!" The katana easily took in the chakra and the cut healed.
Kakashi's eyes grinned as he placed his hand on her head. "Good job, Sakura." His voice was clear and enunciated on her name and she tilted her head happily at the compliment. Just at that time TenTen and the rest of the watchers came down. Sakura grabbed TenTen before she could plant her feet and bear hugged her.
"I love these katana, TenTen! Arigato, arigato, doumo arigato gozai-masu!"
Inside a dark confinement a slit eye peered out. A pale man sat calmly with his arms resting on the throne like chair. Through the shadows he saw his door open. His bandaged appendages stayed there limply as he spoke. "How odd of you to keep me waiting, Kabuto." His mouth turned up into a threatening smirk.
"Gomen- nasai." The grey haired ninja bowed submissively. "Orochimaru-sama, we have found Sasuke-kun's location."
The serpent like man looked up with interest. "Oh?"
"He is in Konohagakure."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Really? He is probably there to kill the Kyuubi…"
"Can we trust him?" Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
"There is nothing he can do. Konoha is far beyond saving now." His green silted eyes narrowed happily. "Sakura-chan… We'll be seeing you soon."
Could you all help me out? I'm looking for interesting anime or movies to watch… I've started Ah! My Goddess. I've seen Ayashi no Ceres (Horror, comedy, romance), DNAngel (Action, comedy, romance), Love Hina (Comedy, romance), Elfen Lied (horror), InuYasha (Action, comedy, romance), Full Metal Alchemist (Action, comedy), Blood: The Last Vampire (Horror), Animatrix (Action), Howl's Moving Castle (Just a lot of Adorable!), Appleseed (Action), Bleach, and Naruto (Duh!). If there are any you would suggest I would LOVE YOU! And, if not, you should just check some of them out anyway! You know what I've noticed… There is always a perv in these shows (teehee)… except for some of them…
