Title- Ink Cartridge
By- Envo
Genre- General/Humor
Type- Non-Massacre
Theme- Prank powder
Disclaimer- Do not own Naruto.
Take Ten: Experiment
Most women of her age would have swooned at the enormous line of men attempting to woo the fair maiden's heart. But of course, Haruno Sakura is most certainly, definitely not one of those women.
Ignoring the eerie sound of a body falling from behind, she lowers the empty cup back onto the counter and sighs. Ino must have gotten to her drink again; without the usual bit, the thing tastes like water.
"Ino, I can't possibly drink this!" She yells over the clamor. As to the reason why the tavern is packed to the brim on a Tuesday early afternoon with such a loud crowd, she has learned to not care.
Certainly, she wasn't as indifferent as she is now when words first reach her ears. She is the Hokage's apprentice, after all. But when the mystery remains unsolved, even after a few smashed tables, several knocked out bodies on the street and a bruised fist the following week, she realized that she would sooner or later burst a vein or three before she can figure out just why acts of misery done to her at her expense suddenly turned into a village-wide sports event (heck, there was even several betting pools going around, for kami's sake!).
She looks up just in time to catch Ino's disapproving glare complete with hands on her hip. "Shizune will murder me if she has to deal with two drunken alcoholics knowing that I'm giving you sake in the middle of the day."
"I haven't drank in a week—but that's beside the point. Do you expect me to sit here like an idiot? If it wasn't for her I won't even be here in the first place!" She purses her lips.
Really, if she has the ability to turn back time, she would.
She had just gotten back from an assignment that day and had been pressed to meet with Shizune at the tavern. Still donned in combat gear, she had forgotten to wipe away the thin coat of knockout powder on her person when she got there. Bless the man that came within three feet from her, it had been a hard fall to the wooden floor. And that was the first thing Shizune saw when she arrived at the tavern, with the man completely knocked out ten steps from the base of her bar stool. Thus spawned this little project of Shizune's, which reads: for the noble cost of developing a new tool in their arsenal to use on missions, mixtures of powder with varies effects are to be used on 'willing' test subjects. And since she is approached regularly (in Shizune's eyes) at the tavern, she then becomes the 'bait' that draws in willing test subjects… more like victims, in her honest opinion.
She would have never believed it would work until the entire situation turned into some sort of contest of who could last longer under the effect or who came the closest to her before the effect took over… in short, men trying to redeem their wounded pride. Of course they couldn't let a smudge of dust defeat them. Of course.
She shakes her head as Ino's signature high heels clicks closer.
"Don't shake your head at me, Forehead. Tea is all you're getting today." Then the blonde looks over the bar and gaze behind her with a blank stare before rounding up on her, "And as much as I appreciate a free mop for the floor, Sakura, that guy is convulsing. You're just going to leave him lying there?"
She steals the steaming small cup in Ino's hands and sips at the aromatic tea. At least it's not mint flavored, she grumbles inwardly. "We're after effects, not how long it lasts. He's got another five seconds to go then everything will be back to normal."
Ino harrumphed and looks around at the establishment. "I don't see Naruto or Sasuke-kun here. Where are they?"
She places the half empty cup onto the counter none-too-gently and scowls, "They better not show their faces here. If they are, let me know. I'd let them eat two doses of Shizune's specialty each for leaving me here in the first place."
"My condolence to them."
She can't help but snort at that remark. "Don't bother. After all the creative ways they've tried to kill each other and themselves in the process, I doubt a little poison will do them in."
Ino shakes her head, "You are one cruel teammate, Sakura."
But before she can speak, Ino's remorse expression suddenly morphed into a scheming smirk that has the alarms blaring loudly in her head. "Look sharp, Forehead."
She looks at her best friend's fast retreating figure and frowns. What in the world…?
Then a hand is placed on her left shoulder. She freezes. To think someone can get pass both the powdery poison and her senses!
"Surely you are not trying to poison civilians with baby powder, are you, Head Nurse?" A low chuckle brush lazily across the shell of her left ear.
She looks to the left with disbelief. Sure enough there stands Uchiha Itachi, as if there is never any powdery poison in the air to begin with, all the while looking like he has every right to invade her personal bubble with his hand on her shoulder! And he dared to call her powder mix, the blood and sweat of her slaving a full twelve hours in the laboratory, baby powder?! The nerve of that man!
"Immunization, Uchiha-san, not poisoning; we live in a shinobi village after all. But since you are no normal civilian, I can assume that you'll need something stronger than this baby powder, am I correct?" she grits her teeth at the infuriating knowing smirk.
"I will await my turn for the administration, Head Nurse. For now, you are needed in the Hokage tower." Challenge accepted.
She stands and effectively detaches that overly warm hand from her shoulder. As if one egotistic Uchiha on her hand isn't enough, here comes another headache! "Then let's hope our next setting has more patting. Won't want you to fall and bump your head like this gentleman here now would we, Uchiha-san?" She smiles sweetly at the aggravating man, though she isn't sure if it is able to hide her locked jaw.
Even as she exits the tavern, his annoying laugh stays with her. Absolutely irritating.
She stumps away, leaving the hushed and scattered crowd behind. She knows full well just what two doses can do. And frankly seeing the man under severe hives, hacking coughs, weaken knees, convulsion and then finally knocked unconscious just doesn't fully placate her anger. How dare he mock her creation!
To hell with doubling up the dosage. She might as well see if the effect-to-dosage ratio is linear or exponential.
Triple the dosage it is.
A/N: It's been a long while since I've last posted. Life's been hectic, as per usual. Haven't stop writing, just at a much much slower pace. Definitely a bit rusty, so hopefully this one holds up to the expectation even with its ridiculously short length.
Hope you guys enjoyed it regardless,
Envo 08/29