So I really should be studying. Oh well. :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
1)I stole the term "Uchiharu" from a fic I read awhile back. If someone knows the name, please tell me.
2)This is just the start of something huge. The Chunnin Exams!
3)There is a question at the bottom of this chappie. If you want to have any influence on where this story is headed, please answer in the reviews!
She felt the sweat slide down her lower back and grimaced. It was definitely a scorcher today, and Sakura Haruno wasn't exactly cold natured. Looking away from the sun that was fixing to go behind a cloud, thank Kami, she just caught a glimpse of the Konoha entrance gates over the tree line. Her heart jumped in excitement, and she immediate reprimanded herself for such a blatant physical display of emotion. Sasuke had mentioned more than once that she needed to curb her impulses if she wanted to become a better kunoichi. She knew he was right, but she still felt a little resentment towards him because she couldn't find anything to correct about him. She sighed as she absentmindedly reached up to touch her Konoha 'arm' band that was actually now on her head. During the mission, she was continually checking on the sick chunnin Sasuke and herself had the pleasure of dragging on a makeshift sleigh. There were other methods to make this trip easier of course, but Sensei had jumped at the chance for more physical training. Looking at the boy Sasuke was dragging not so lightly, the teenage chunnin seemed to be sleeping. Leaning down to check his fever, she was relieved when her hair didn't fall into her eyes. She had only thought of this ingenious Konoha hair ribbon this morning, and was still mentally ecstatic about the lack of hair trying to smother it's owner. The pinkette heard her partner grunt to her left. It was the famous, "Sakura" signal.
"Yes?" She decided that just this once she would let him get away with not speaking.
"Two miles left. I call first shower."
Sakura actually turned to crane her neck at her partner.
"Sas, you're not supposed to be attached to such frivolous things."
He only glared for a nano-second before he smirked.
"You're the one who takes two showers a day for your hair."
She scoffed.
"Sasuke, other than the fact that kunoichi are hired to look beautiful and seduce men only to kill them in bed, my hair is the only thing I care for besides our partnership."
She looked down for a moment in thought and then snapped her eyes to his.
"Plus, haven't I told you before that you don't have girl hair? You better shush Uchiha." She gave him a haughty wiggle of her head and then continued on her walk.
Something about the little rant troubled Sasuke, and it wasn't the confession that their partnership meant something to her. After all, he felt the same way. But he didn't feel so nonchalant about her using her body for missions. He actually felt resentment towards her for even thinking so 'whatever' about it. The Sakura he knew would never resign herself to such mediocre missions. Maybe she didn't know that only female ninjas that didn't perform highly got sent on to use their body. That had to be it. But he knew that she, they, would be a team all the way up until ANBU. It was only fact in the book of Uchiha Sasuke that Sakura would be his best friend and partner always.
"Sas," he looked at the girl trying to get his attention.
"I'm going to have to run by the weapons store when we get home, I need a pair of gloves."
Sasuke nodded.
Over the span of their two week mission, Sasuke and Sakura had kept their rigorous training program. In one taijutsu spar, Sakura had noticed something life altering; Her physical strength was rapidly growing. Out of frustration, she had punched a rock only to have it spout cracks and a small indention was formed. It wasn't that strong yet, but for a twelve year old girl it was a deadly façade. Kakashi immediately swooped in and gave her a new training schedule while muttering something about what Sasuke thought was a 'tsunami'. In a couple years, she would probably be able to bring down a building with her little pinky finger.
She wasn't the only one to start something new though. Kakashi had started him on a new jutsu as well. Even though Sasuke had only seen the chidori fully whenever sensei performed it, he knew for a fact that he would master it as well. Not only that, but he could count dozens of ways to incorporate it into his own techniques.
Sasuke smirked inwardly at the memory of his partner and him breathing heavily while staring at their teacher. Though he seemed to be breathing just fine, there was no fornicating book in sight. They were improving, fast.
"Well, one day you two will be a team only spoken of in legend."
The pair smirked at the words coming from Kakashi.
"But, as of now you are still incredibly weak. Before we leave, five more laps. Dismissed."
It was a proven fact that Hatake Kakashi could not give a compliment without insulting you right after.
All was good in the life of the genin pair, or at least Sasuke thought it was. They had been back for three days now, finally ridden of that ugly chunnin that always was trying to get Sak's attention, and training on their own grounds again. He was rather content, except for what was about to happen today. Since they had missed the anniversary, Sakura wend to get flowers this morning while it was Sasuke's turn to do the dishes. Sasuke knew he should be more…morbid about going to put flowers on his family's head stones. In reality, he was sure he would when the time came, but right now he was relieved that he didn't have to go by himself.
But you would have to pull his teeth out before he admitted it.
Having his whole family yell at him every year to avenge them from their grave was incredibly daunting and sickening. He stopped thinking about it. This year was different. He was with the only person on the same page as him, so everything was going to be fine.
He felt her chakra before she yelled at him.
"Sas! Let's go!" Shoving his dish towel on the ugly greenish counter, he slipped on his shoes and headed outside.
There, his partner was waiting on him just beyond the steps. In her hands though, were bright yellow flowers.
"I thought I said white flowers."
"Gah Sas, just because all of our family has moved on doesn't mean we have to treat them like that. These are called buttercups. They are foreign, expensive, but I thought our own families would enjoy a little color this year."
Of course, she spoke with reason that made blatant sense. He grabbed two bouquets of flowers leaving her with her own two and started off. As she caught up with him, she spoke again.
"The rest of the clan is getting white day lilies. I told them to deliver them to the headstones tomorrow. I thought our parents deserve a little something special, ne?" She held up her bouquets for emphasis.
Sasuke suddenly felt even more grateful than usual for his friendship. Since Sakura's parents were killed dishonorably by his..
That man, Itachi.
They had been buried near the score of Uchihas in a rather expensive grave. Sasuke always bought white flowers for his clan, while Sakura always left colorful arrangements. Now that he thought about it, his parents did deserve a little color. Well, his mom did at least.
"Do you want to go to each grave together or split up once we get there?"
"Aa."
"Okay, I'll stay with you."
It was no secret that she understood him better than anyone else. Even more, it seemed she could pick him apart no matter his facial expressions or the words he used. Sometimes, it was downright scary.
They went to her parents first. She placed the pretty yellow floral arrangement on top of each grave respectively and then spoke.
"Hey mom, dad. I've been getting stronger for you. I'll come see you more often this year, I promise. I love you..miss you.. so much."
Sakura felt the tear roll down her face, but she also felt pressure on top of her shoulder. Looking at her partner's hand which was obviously there for comfort, she changed her focus on to his face. He had his head bowed in respect, eyes tightly shut.
Best friend.
Well, best friend didn't even seem to come close to what they really were. Sometimes she thought that even though she lost her parents, the bond she had with Sas was just enough. He was her only important person now.
Their bond was irreversible.
Sakura felt a wall come down and she felt like saying something.
Blame it on the graveyard, but she always felt more open here.
"Sas, I know I need to work on my emotions, and I'm getting better, but what I am about to say is just stating the obvious anyway. You're….well, you are my best friend. I will always be here for you."
Sasuke kept his head bowed and his eyes closed. He sighed before he spoke.
"Sakura, I protect people that are important to me. You'll always be protected."
It was just like Sasuke to admit something by not outright admitting it. Of course he would never just say "Sakura, you are important to me." Sakura smiled inwardly. She knew that he would never come close to saying anything like this again. It was practically a one time trial. Either way she felt relieved that their bond was growing.
Sasuke's grave visiting was a little different. He went to each of the clan members first, saving his father and mother last. Bowing his head to every headstone, he felt Sakura do the same standing a little to the left. It did lessen the screams in his mind of revenge somewhat to have her there.
Fifteen minutes later the two avengers stood in front of the head of the Uchiha clan. It started as just a funny feeling, but he gradually felt it for what it was.
Hatred.
Anger and resentment for his brother came back in tidal waves that knocked his senses and judgement to the very core.
Had it really been that long since he felt this? A year ago, this is what he felt all the time. Gradually it had lessened, and Sasuke could only think of the catalyst that had started the chain reaction.
It was standing right next to him. Sak.
The anger and hate kept pouring over him and the nauseous feeling in the pit of his stomach almost brought him to his knees. Any second now and he would lose control of his body and start shaking.
Revenge.
Revenge is the only thing that matters.
He was an avenger.
Only he was worthy of being the last Uchiha on Earth.
Lost in his thoughts, he almost didn't catch his teammate kneeling.
She was talking.
"..great, and he is strong. You would be so proud of him. I hope you can see him doing all of this for you."
Pause.
With an almost audible snap, he felt his conscious start turning again. His mind returned.
Sak was here. His partner.
"Sas, do you want to say anything?"
Sasuke kept his head down, looking at his mother's name engraved in extravagant cursive on granite.
"This is all for you." His voice sounded raspy.
Sakura could see that it was only aimed for one person.
'Mamma's boy' floated in some dark recess of her mind that wasn't aware of how morbid this moment was. Returning the favor, she placed a hand gingerly on his shoulder and watched as he saw things behind his eyes that she would never witness.
For a moment, they weren't ninja, avengers, or anything at all. They were twelve year olds, bonded by fate and tragedy mourning for their loved ones.
Sas and Sak trained for the rest of the day in silence.
A week later they stood in front of a very happy sensei. The last time she had seen him so happy was before the most grueling practice she had ever had. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Then, she saw the paper forms clenched in his hand.
"Sensei, what's going on?"
The jonin leered his neck almost giddy like towards his female student.
"Well, remember the day that I said you were a two man team from then on?"
The pair nodded.
"I withheld information."
It took emotional training that Sakura had endured everyday for the past month not to glare. She was getting better at this 'eyes being to windows to the soul' stuff.
"If you two could not pass certain requirements, which means made me feel as if you two couldn't make it, then you would have been split up and put with genin teams a year or two older than you that lost a member in the exams. It is safe to say you two could definitely of handled the age gap if push came to shove."
Sakura spoke up for both of them.
"Exams?"
"Ah, yes. The Chunnin Exams. It's how you graduate from being a genin. They are particularly challenging, so a two man cell is a definite gamble. But, I am proud to say you are definitely qualified and are in no danger of being split. ….That means stop glaring at your Sensei, Sasuke."
Sasuke held his ground, and his glare.
Sakura sighed and tried to push forward. "So, that means that those two forms are for me and Sas, right?"
"Always the clever one Sakura. Yes, these forms are to enter you in the exams, if you so choose."
Sasuke spoke up.
"Of course we are ready."
Kakashi kept talking. "Fill them out and meet at this place tomorrow."
He pointed to a certain part of the slightly wrinkled forms and then thrust them in Sakura's direction.
"I see you are still wearing your 'arm' band on your head as a hair band now."
Sakura giggled.
"Yeah, it helps me keep my hair out of my eyes when I'm pummeling Sas." She shot a cheeky grin to the scoffing Uchiha.
Kakashi's eye turned crescent and he ruffled her hair.
It was almost nice to be acting like a kid, Sakura absently thought as she playfully smacked his hand, instead of being trained to kill.
"Go home and get some rest, both of you. These exams are not to be taken lightly."
It was also proven that Kakashi never gave idle comments.
Bright and early the next morning, the duo headed out to the exams without a clue what would happen. The first exam being held in the academy, they knew exactly where to head. Walking towards the door that the exam was held in, they noticed a group of genin teams crowding outside the door. The closer they got, the more they noticed that the crowd was unhappy. Apparently, two chunnin snot head boys were blocking the entrance.
Sakura was aching to sigh, but she kept her mask of indifference firmly in place. Sasuke, to her left, easily did the same.
She heard a boy's voice ring up over the crowd.
"You have to let us in that room!"
Sakura didn't hear the response, but whatever it was shut the boy up. He looked like a whimpered dog. It was when they were almost to the crowd when Sas whispered in her ear.
"Remember, don't make too many enemies Sak."
This time she couldn't hold back the scoff. If he didn't want enemies, then he should talk too. Usually, since they thought practically the same way, she would be the vocal chords for both parties. She gave him a look of indifference to show that she was back in control and but smirked right before she turned forwards again.
He sure was talky this morning with tidbits of knowledge. Like before they left the house he told her to pack extra rubber bands for her hair. Now really, how many teammates said stuff like that.
They marched towards the center of the crowd until they got in front of the door. She heard Sasuke sigh. It was obviously a signal to her that he saw the genjutsu too.
Good, she didn't want to pull something on him by surprise. She almost felt bad for not thinking he would see it.
Looking at the punk who blocked her 'door', she stepped right up beside him.
"Sir, and I only say sir because I know you're really older than you look, could you please move and take off the genjutsu? I have a classroom to get to up those stairs."
The boy who hadn't even noticed her now gave her his full attention, just like every other person in the crowd. He glanced at Sasuke who was directly behind her.
"So you are the girl in the dynamic Uchiharu duo, eh? I didn't think you two would make it honestly. You guys are strong, aren't you?"
The pair placed their 'indifference face' on again and started forwards, past the boy.
Neither of them said it, but being called the Uchiharu duo didn't sound bad at all.
As Sasuke passed the now much older man walking through the door, he heard him grumble about 'no fun' and 'emotionless brats.'
Sasuke let himself smirk.
No one could see him anyway.
After they were in the hallway by themselves, Sakura turned towards him.
"See? I can talk to someone without making enemies."
"Tell that to Hyuga, the only other genin we've met."
She looked up as if she was pondering something, obviously being fake.
"Does he even count? He's a pansy boy."
"Sak…He definitely counts. He might be here so watch your back because I'm not going to babysit you."
Sakura didn't miss a beat.
"Don't lie. You'll always have my back."
Her declaration was met with silence. Obviously his answer was 'I know.'
She shook her head and started towards the real door.
" You ready for this?"
"Let's go."
Sasuke wondered if it was a custom of other countries to stare at someone for ridiculously amounts of time if someone walked through a door.
Really.
For serious.
Sakura elbowed him gently and started to a random wall on which they both leaned. They were taught from the best at this game that amazing ninja never look amazing.
Never, ever draw attention to yourself. Kakashi's voice in Sasuke's head was always talking to him these days.
A boy with purple face paint started talking to Sak, breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Little girl, I think you lost a member."
He listened as she responded curt and to the point.
"We are a team. Only two."
The boy was about to respond when his own teammate interrupted him.
"Don't talk to the competition, idiot."
Apparently the boy knew it wasn't worth it to get killed by his own teammate and turned back around. Sasuke felt his mind drift again for a couple of seconds before he felt the room go quite. Sakura was suddenly tense.
Turning to look at her, there was a boy not two feet in front of her with red hair. He was obviously dangerous.
"Names." It wasn't even a question.
Sasuke was immediately in wedged in between his teammate and this new found danger.
He answered the order. "Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura."
He switched his focus between the two and then seemingly lost interest.
"Sabaku no Garra."
Sasuke strained to hear it as he walked away.
But he for sure heard his teammate whisper harshly in his ear.
"Sas, you are going to have to stop stepping in front of me in a little danger. I'm a big girl you know. I can hold my own to you in spars."
She sounded a little agitated.
Sasuke turned to make eye contact with her as he walked back to his wall, all the while staying silent.
He knew that she already knew his answer.
'I protect people important to me. I'll protect you always.'
He felt his teammate almost sigh and then catch herself. He was amazed that he knew what she was probably thinking at this moment. He would bet his life inheritance that she was probably trying to stay positive and was thinking that 'at least I have a teammate that cares.'
Yeah, that was it.
No doubt.
And a good thing she did too.
No one was worthy of the job except him, obviously.
A/N IMPORTANT!
Okay, so they are twelve. I'm not about to incorporate some weird little kid love story into this. I'm thinking that after the exams I am going to do a time skip(3-4 years?) so we can get some romance, since you guys have been so patiently waiting. I might even do individual chapters for each year, so you guys will know what's going on and I don't just jump completely.
Ya know?
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO!
That, or I'm not giving you cookies. So yeah.
