Chapter TEN
The first year of the Academy was boring and Sakura let Shikamaru know exactly what she thought about it.
However, apart from that, Sakura managed to lay low. Albeit complaining, she went to school every day and completed the homework. She went to the T&I office at least once every four days and though curious, no one questioned it anymore when a Chunin came to pull her out of class.
Then again, that was probably because no one, not even Iruka, knew.
Their teacher knew where Sakura had come from, as well as of her childhood, but nothing more.
Sakura could be tight lipped when she wanted to be and so, the only ones who truly knew what exactly she did at work was Shikamaru, Shikaku, Yukari, Inoichi, Minato, Ibiki, and a handful of his subordinates who had been Shinobi long enough to know protocol and keep quiet about it.
Sakura spent the rest of her time plastered to Shikamaru's side. Sometimes, she engaged in conversation with Choji, but most of the time, she sat and listened to people talk.
Halfway into the year and Sakura learnt that her prohibition, which she hadn't known even existed, were over. Apparently, she wasn't supposed to be out of the house after nine, and she wasn't allowed to wander around by herself if her last session at the T&I office had been two or more days prior.
When questioned, Shikamaru had simply shrugged. "I didn't you'd need to know. You're too lazy to go out after dinner and you don't go anywhere without me."
Sakura grinned and had given him a stick of dango from her snack plate.
Sakura also attended her first ever InoShikaCho family dinners.
Ino had scowled at her when she had stepped through the gates alongside Shikamaru, clearly still remembering her dismissal of her on their first day. However, she didn't attempt a confrontation and Shikamaru was just happy Sakura didn't end up spending the rest of her life in a cell with the blood of his childhood friend on her hands.
Soon, their first year came to an end. Shikamaru decided to catch up on all the cloud watching he had missed and wondered if it was worth going to class next year.
Sakura sat beside him, working with a bundle of hay.
Shikamaru had come to learn that Sakura was the type of person that flew from interest to interest. Currently, she was putting together a hay doll, something she had read about yesterday in some magazine his mother liked to read.
If there was one thing that made her different was that she was actually good at whatever she tried.
He watched Sakura place the finished hay doll in front of herself, then stab right through it with a kunai she had probably stolen from somewhere.
He sighed when Sakura frowned at the sight of the hay doll coming apart and wished she put her genius to the use of other things.
They again, maybe he didn't get to complain about that.
The start of second year came too soon.
Both Sakura and Shikamaru dragged themselves from their beds when Yukari banged loudly on the wall. When they had finally finished getting ready, Choji was at the door, waiting for them.
Iruka spent the first few lessons going through what they had learned the previous year. Finally, a month into the term, they were moving into practicals.
After break, the students gathered in the gym where Iruka went through a whole list of things on safety. Only taijutsu was permitted and everyone was to stop immediately when he said so.
He heard Sakura sigh.
Then again, Shikamaru doubted anyone actually heard anything. He could practically see Iruka's words going in through one ear and out the other.
They went through katas for warm up, then Iruka began pairing students up.
Naruto immediately claimed Sasuke as his own opponent. Shikamaru recalled how the two had been fighting before class had started and hoped they kept the damage to their surroundings to a minimum.
"Shikamaru,"
The Nara looked up at his name. Iruka smiled at him. "You're with Choji."
Shikamaru blinked then glanced over at Sakura in worry.
"Sakura, you're with Ino."
Shikamaru sighed.
Perhaps the danger of Sakura sitting in prison was yet to be averted.
The lying low Sakura had been doing for the past year was blown away faster than Shikamaru could say 'troublesome'.
He should have known. He had seen it happen, after all. What had made him think it would be any different if her opponent happened to be a girl the same age as her instead of one of his cousins two times her size?
Sakura was onto Ino the moment Iruka had called for the match to begin. Her movements were erratic and Shikamaru only managed to recognize her moves from having watched her spar with his cousins.
Ino's yelp was cut short when Sakura bowled her over. The blonde landed heavily on the ground and Sakura landed on top of her. The pinkette recovered in a split second and had the Yamanaka pinned to the ground with her knees. Sakura linked her hands and raised it above her head.
Shikamaru had seen how she had knocked out people with her hammer blow. He couldn't stop himself.
"Sakura!"
Sakura froze. She slowly looked up and her green gaze landed on Shikamaru.
Shikamaru saw the look on her face, the one she often had before and after she had gone to T&I.
"This is a spar." Shikamaru said softly. "Stop."
Sakura blinked a few times and slowly opened her mouth.
Ino took the chance to knock Sakura off her. Sakura flipped and landed in a crouch. Ino was breathing heavily. She fixed the pinkette with a glare.
Sakura glanced over at Shikamaru again and she tilted her head.
Ino flew at her.
Sakura sidestepped and twisted around, sending the other girl flying with the combination of her momentum and a fist to the face. Students quickly moved to the side as Ino landed in the crowd of their classmates.
This time, however, Sakura did not give chase. She stood there and watched Ino struggle to her feet.
"You little-" Ino darted forward again, fist raised.
Sakura had a creepy smile on her face. She jumped over the Yamanaka and reached down, smashing the girl into the ground from above.
"Stop! That's enough." Iruka marched over and watched Sakura hop off the blond girl. A few of her friends darted forward to check on her. Ino whimpered in pain and Iruka instructed them to take her to the infirmary.
It seemed as though Sakura hadn't knocked her out.
Sakura did not move from her spot. She was looking at her hands and was clenching and unclenching them.
Shikamaru quickly went up to her and led the girl back to the crowd. Sakura let him lead her without complaint. Students moved away warily but Sakura did not seem to notice.
Iruka randomly gave the class a task to do then led Sakura out of the room. Shikamaru followed.
Iruka stopped right outside and turned to the pinkette. "You can't just hurt your classmates like that." He said.
Sakura blinked at him. "We were sparring." She said.
"You have to stop once it is clear that your opponent cannot fight back."
"But she got back up, didn't she?" Sakura said. "She could fight back."
"Well-" Iruka sighed. "I know you grew up in different conditions, but now that you live in Konoha, you have to follow the rules here."
"Out there, enemies won't stop just because you cannot fight back." Sakura said. "Once you stop, you're dead."
"We are simply training-"
Sakura interrupted him. "To become shinobi." Her eyes flashed. "Nothing good will come out of sugarcoating the truth. People die out there, and it's your job as a teacher to prepare them for it."
Iruka's eyes saddened and he crouched down in front of her. "You are still young." He said. "You just enjoy the time you have before you have to go out there." He ruffled her hair and stood up.
Shikamaru finally decided to speak up. "You okay?" He asked.
Sakura hummed. "I think I miss it."
"Miss what?" Shikamaru asked. Iruka leaned in, curious.
"I miss the fights." Sakura said. "I miss the killing."
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A STORY...PLEASE TELL US IF YOU KNOW IT.
- Sasori x Sakura, we think.
- High school AU
- They prank someone (Ino?). They knocked her unconscious and dump her in a bathtub full of dye, or something.
- Sakura says something about not really being friends with Ino and the others, and that they only want to be picked to go on an 'adventure', or something.
PLEASE TELL US IF YOU KNOW/FIND IT!
So, new chapter here...
Raven: Today, I am here to make a complaint.
Darque: You're always complaining.
Raven: Just listen, will you?
Darque: Yeah yeah.
Raven: So, the other day, Darque went to eat sushi with her friends.
Darque: Oh...
Raven: One of her friends had a membership accont that made things cheaper, but she forgot the log in, or something.
Darque: You're still mad about that?
Raven: And so, they made a new account, using my email.
Darque: Heh...
Raven: And now, I keep getting 'update emails' about the best dishes the sushi place serves.
Darque...Well, just call it advice for when you visit Hong Kong.
Read and Review~