Chapter 9:
The words were meant to be whispered. The bitterness had latched into her heart and before she could think the words were out. But who wouldn't be bitter after seeing a rookie possess such a weapon? She didn't look like much with her long rosy hair that she must take care of for hours. Her lovely dress made with luxurious material but impractical in combat. Her skin clear without any trace of marks or scars.
"What did you say that? Sakura was nice!"
Lee's eyes were worried and inquisitive yet not accusing. Even Neji was watching her, his white eyes following every gulp of her throat. How could she explain that she had been jealous? Tenten didn't have any last name, she was just an orphan that had worked every day to pay every last one of her 248 weapons. Every one of them of different quality depending on what she could afford at the time but none of them extraordinary. Her weapons were her family, but she couldn't help but salivate at the thought of owning a legend in her hands. She blushed. Her, Tenten, already known as one of the most promising weapon users, jealous of a rookie.
"Do you know what she had on her back?" she tried to keep her voice calm, as if cold sweat wasn't slithering down her spine. "It's Kubikiribocho, one of the seven legendary swords of the mist. Only after years of training could one even think of owning it. How do you think a newly graduated genin like her got it? By hard work?" she sneered. "For me to see her with it, it's like an Uchiha trying to copy you Lee. An insult."
Neji didn't say anything. He could understand Tenten's feeling on the matter, but she saw Sakura. As the pinkette heard the words, furry bloomed in her eyes. He instantly felt the killing intent slowly surfacing, cold and controlled. It wasn't the beautiful cherry blossom from before but a deceiving thorn. She had made a mistake and Tenten know it. It was in her false bravado that she tried to keep on, on her trembling hand. The only reason Sakura didn't attack was because of her teammate. Neji understood the look the blond genin throw Tenten, it was fear yes, but not of her retaliating against his teammate, it was fear for the brunette.
Tenten had made a terrible enemy.
XxX
It was strange how people could change so fast. Yet, some things were the same. Sakura's eyes were blank, looking around without seeing, an enormous sword on her back. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. Her head was held straight, her tight-lipped lips the only sign of emotion on her. Her weapon was big, way too big and scary for an annoying girl like Sakura yet the girl didn't seem to shake under the weight. Strange.
"Hey ! It's the idiot trio!"
At her side, better but not by much was Naruto. The blond was already yelling around about being the best but Shikamaru could easily see through the act. His eyes were coming back every two seconds to Sakura, fear in his eyes, trying to keep the rest of the genin distracted. His eyes were hooded in worry, his hand rubbing at the nape of his neck.
Sasuke seemed calm, his two hands in his pocket, standing two feet apart from his teammates. You could think he was trying to distance himself from them, but the direction of his feet showed he would be ready to protect at the first sign of danger. He was ready to bolt. Something strange was going on with team 7.
'Troublesome' thought Shikamaru, 'they better get their act together before the exam.'
"You should stop fooling around before someone decide to do to something to shut you up."
Forcing his curiosity down, Shikamaru concentrated on the stranger. It wasn't any of his business what happened to Team 7.
XxX
As always Gaara was silent by her side. She could see the rest of her team alongside the other genin of Konoha still talking to the stranger. Sakura had been too tense to stay alongside them, ire still burning hot at the pit of her stomach. Her frustration stayed lodged uncomfortably in her throat. The fury made her restless and longing for something.
"You are not staying with them."
It was a question even if the intonation was missing. She saw Gaara as curious but guarded. His eyes flat but fire repressed in them. Like a cat that have been kicked too many times, still curious of the world around him but too wary to try it. She liked to think that she could understand him. There weren't expectations between them, they just were.
"Kobi wanted to kill someone. They wouldn't let me." 'It wasn't the sword it was you! It was all you!'
The sand nin stilled. His sand engulfed her back as to show his appreciation. His green eyes wandered to his teammates. It was the first time she saw him with them since their meeting, even here they were a short distance away. Listening but ready to run. Something seemed to pass between them before madness met her eyes.
"You will have you chance." 'You need different friends.'
He smiled. It was all but pretty in Inner's opinion: too much teeth, his eyes too intense and wide. Sakura didn't care, her grin was also too wide, the thought of blood waking Kubi up from his heat of the sand on the back of her neck relaxed her stance but her sight was across the room; on a girl with two brown puns on her head. Kubi was purring in appreciation of her thoughts.
"I will not mis-"
"I'm in team 7 and we will not lose to any of you!" boomed across the room. 'Naruto…'
Sakura recognized immediately the voice of the blond and smiled again. It was a gentler smile than before, all hers. All annoyance for stopping her disappeared. 'We need him or you gonna go bonkers.' Slowly walking away from Gaara's sand, she rejoined her team. No more words were exchanged.
XxX
Naruto felt a punch on the back of his head. Who could it be? Sakura? It felt like he had been punched at the stomach at the thought. (Sakura wouldn't do that, she didn't hit him since…)
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" yelled Ino in his hear. "I can't believe you said that! Where is Sakura? She should ha-"
"Let him go."
Sakura's voice was soft but firm. Her pose could seem threatening, but Naruto didn't think she would attack again (Not because Ino was their friend, but because she seemed calm). Ino stared at Sakura, eyes wide and the Uzumaki freed himself from the blond hold. The pinkette smiled at him then and he knew that he had been forgotten (he had been the stop her after all). With new confidence he joined his teammate side.
"Like Naruto said, we will win." She said and the blond felt his heart explode of joy.
"Even if it's against the rookie 9" joined Sasuke, his usual smirk on his face but Naruto didn't feel annoyed by it for once. He had his team by his side!
"Believe it !" he yelled one last time.
XxX
The exam had been too easy for her. Sakura had always praised herself for her intelligence after all. Now she could see that the aim was to cheat but she didn't have any technique that could apply in the retrieval of information and didn't want the risk to get caught when she knew the answer anyway.
Now was just a question of time before the last question, she didn't doubt that they will all pass this exam quickly. 'Even Naruto? You know he is not the smartest'. The pinkette just ignored her Inner, had she always been like this? She hoped not. She stared at the little eyeball of sand on her palm, hidden from sight by her hand. Sakura wanted Gaara to pass after all.
The back of her neck prickled. Someone was staring at her. Senses on alert, she felt the shock in her heart. Feeling like she had been punched her head fell forward. Kubi growled and the pinkette could feel his aura surfacing on her. Sakura was paralysed, unable to control her body. Inner was fighting something. 'What's going on? Nothing can stop this technique!' She could feel the sword's aura slowly moving his way inside her, giving strength to her Inner. One by one she gained control of her fingers before the presence left, leaving the pinkette breathing heavily on her chair. 'The role may have inversed. You may now control the body, but I will always protect your mind. Don't forget that.'
XxX
"Sakura-chan."
The pinkette stopped, her hand ready to open the door to her room. She turned toward her mother.
"Come seat with me sweetie, I feel like I didn't saw you in a long time. Tell me about your day." The voice was soft, the mouth pulled in a smile but there was no strain around the eyes of her mother.
Sakura hesitated. She didn't want to talk with the woman, she needed to train and pack for tomorrow, but now will be a good time to tell her of the Second Exam. 'Talk to her.'
Reluctantly she let go of the knob to join Mebuki 'It's our mother'.
"How are you doing Sakura? You have been training so much lately."
She sat down, back straight and eyes refusing to connect. Her mouth was shut, words refusing to go out. Her sight was blurred but she controlled herself. It wasn't the first time, she knew how to control herself. 'We can't tell her. We can't.' Not receiving any answer, Mebuki let out a tired sight.
"Iruka-sensei came here today. He told me about the Chunnin Exams."
Sakura held her breath.
"You know I'm really proud of you Sakura. You seem to make your own way into the shinobi world." Sakura couldn't hear pride in her voice, only fatigue. "I'm sure you be as great as Tsunade someday! Remember when Iruka sensei said you could be a medic with your chakra control? If you pass the Exam, as a chuunin you could find a mentor!"
She didn't have any desire to be a medic nin, her hands were not made to repair anymore. 'Just nod, I forbid you to tell her!'. The conversation was making her numb, her eyes were prickling but her throat stayed dry. Kubi relaxing aura couldn't seems to alleviate the situation, but it was enough to not break down.
"… or, not. Sweetie, I know what a ninja had to do. I suspected, but when I saw Iruka-sensei I was sure. I understand sweetie. Just look at me."
Her heart ached. She stared straight at green orbs only a few shades darker than her own. Pity was reflected in them. 'Do not talk !'
A tear slowly made her way down her cheek. Her throat was burning but she refused to make a sound. Her mother face was contorted in a mixture of pain and pity, but she didn't make any move to touch her daughter. As if she was a frightened animal, ready to attack if cornered. Sakura felt the emotions trying to break free, her eyes slowly distorting. She was breaking. 'DON'T SAY IT !'
"…I'm sure it was to protect yourself…"
Numb. All conflict seized and numbness won. Without a word she slowly stood up and made her way to the roof. 'You may say it to whoever you want but I refuse to change their vision of me.' So it was quietly that she stayed with Gaara that night, staring at the night sky. Gaara didn't have any idea of the Sakura before Kubi, there wouldn't be any judgement. But at the beginning of the day, there also wasn't any relief in her heart.