Chapter Seven: Get Out Of My Way, Bitch

A glance to my left as I ran let me spot brown hair, I almost smirked at the thought that this girl was able to keep up with me. She hadn't looked too athletic, probably a volleyball player, nothing like me.

200m into the race and my mind was thought free, I felt as light as a feather and as fast as a cheetah. All that mattered was me, my legs, the race and the finish line. So focused was I on just running and letting everything go, I never noticed the person on my left, coming up behind me with a burst of speed. A swift movement in my peripheral vision was all the warning I had as a hard shove to my shoulder had me stumbling, losing momentum as I tried to regain my balance. Figures sprinted past me, about 220m into the race. A quick scan of the girls at the front of the race confirmed my suspicions; the butch girl who threatened we was smirking as she continued on to the 250m mark.

Well that did it; I was beyond pissed. I felt the anger boil in my blood as my legs moved faster and harder, the air rushing past me as I pumped my muscles faster and faster. People went past me in flashes as I dodged around them all. Soon I was passing Ino, who shouted at me with a word of encouragement. Now there was only the bun girl and the butch bitch only about 10m ahead of me, coming up to the 300m mark. The butch girl was only leading by a few metres on the bun girl.

7m and gaining. 5m. 3…2…1. I pass by the bun girl, not even bothering to glance at her as I saw the finish line within range, only 40m away tops. I pushed even more power into my legs until I was neck to neck with butch girl. I threw a smug smirk in her direction as we were 20m away before I began pulling away, practically galloping over the finish line an arms breath ahead of the now screaming girl.

I never heard the screams of encouragement coming from the bleachers while I'd run. Only now did they comprehend to my racing mind as I slowly jogged over to the towels, perspiration dripping from my forehead. My legs burned, but I felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. I beat that butch bitch, even after her stupid stunt and my loss of momentum. I threw my head back and laughed as she fell to her knees fuming at the finish line, her large fist smashing the ground repeatedly as she gasped for air. My own breathing was heavy, but still even and deep as I wiped my face and gulped down water. I watched the last girls cross the line, small Hinata coming in the middle somewhere, surprisingly. Ino came in fourth, her long ponytail swaying as she came towards me, smiling brightly as she breathed heavily.

"Now that, that was the Sakura I know!" She threw her arms around me, sweat and all and pulled me into a back breaking hug. I shrugged her off laughing and wrapped the towel around my neck, stretching my arms above my head to help the oxygen pump through my blood.

"You stupid whore! You think you're so good!" A scream from the floor had my eyes focusing on the image behind Ino, where the butch girl was now on her feet and stalking towards me.

"Raku, that's enough." Brown buns entered my vision as the tall muscular build of the girl, who I had raced next to during the first 200m, put herself between the now deemed 'Raku' and I. My movements didn't even falter as I continued stretching and strategically put myself between Ino and the angry girl without anyone noticing. Well, almost no-one noticed, but the sharp eyes of the lazy genius, Shikamaru, who had come in third in the boys race watched me as I moved.

I returned my attention to Raku, whose hair, by the way, was sticking up like a porcupine's spikes. Her attention was focused on bun girl. Her teeth clenched as she gripped the arm that was placed on her shoulder, preventing her moving forward. I could see the nails drawing blood, but still the bun girl didn't falter.

"Get out of my way Tenten, this does not concern you in the slightest," her voice came out with a whole lot of spittle. Her tone was convincingly scary, if not for the fact that I knew I could flatten her with only one hand.

"You heard her Raku," a deep voice startled me as a presence walked straight past me, brushing my arm lightly, as if in reassurance. Hyuuga placed himself behind bun gi – Tenten, almost protectively. Raku glanced at him, and I saw her resolve crumbling around her. She was stupid, but she couldn't be stupid enough to think she could take on Hyuuga and Tenten, plus the guys now standing casually behind her, ready to spring at the first sign of trouble.

Honestly I didn't know what to think of all of this. I didn't know why Tenten would put herself between me and Raku, a girl that was 6 foot of complete muscle and that moment, fury. I wiped my face of emotion as Raku stalked past me, her icy glare shooting daggers at me, her aura filled with killer intent. I almost winked at her, but held myself back as I stepped to the side so she wouldn't shove me on the way past.

"Watch yourself Haruno, next time you won't be so lucky," her whispered threat flowed through the air and, if I was normal, threatened to suffocate me. As this is me we are talking about I just called over my shoulder happily;

"Looking forward to it Raku." I didn't even bother to look at her as I walked towards the change rooms, holding the hair off my neck as I went.

When I got to the girl, Tenten, I slowed to stop and looked at her in the eyes. "A smarter person wouldn't have done that for someone who they don't even know." I wasn't trying to be mean, after all she had just put herself between me and Raku, but that didn't mean I was above interrogating her on her reasons as to why.

"Maybe I'm not smart then," her smirk answered me as she pressed a hand to my shoulder. She was joking with me, a girl she had only just met in the race, and the pressure on my arm was obviously friendly and almost playful.

"I did not need your assistance Tenten," it came out with a flat tone and I watched her face slowly fall, and Hyuuga made a move as if to pull her away before I added, "but thank you", and continued my walk. A small smile crept on my face at her kindness. I kept my head down as I walked, making sure no one could see it. I passed the teachers on my way, the woman's face had a smirk present and she patted me on the back, almost in congratulations before turning back to the shell-shocked male Lee look-alike teacher, who stared at me as if I were an alien.

My smile only grew as I pushed open the doors, my spirits flying as I jogged through the doorway, unaware of the dark eyes that followed me curiously. I think I was going to like this place.