The Uchiha Secret
Sai eyed his left arm as he finished counting his cuts and bruises, comparing them to his newfound little brother's. They had spent the passed twelve hours training. And although some progress was made, when it came to using the Sharingan, Sasuke clearly had more of an upper hand with it—he had ten less flesh wounds.
Kakashi stood straight up, "Good work—though I wasn't really expecting either of you two to hold back when it came to fighting each other." He seemed to pause in waiting for them to catch their breath.
"Tomorrow we'll meet here around 10:00 a.m., and we'll work more on teamwork." His head slanted as he gave a small smile, "Ja ne." With that the copy-ninja was gone from their vision, leaving the two brothers in an uncomfortable silence.
Sai glanced at Sasuke once more, unsure of what to say or do now.
"It'll probably be us verse him tomorrow." With that Sasuke stood up from his previous crouched position on the ground.
Sai nodded, "If we-"
"Don't get in my way," Sasuke interrupted.
"Said the Jounin to the Anbu," Sai retaliated.
Sasuke's head snapped up, his eyes burning in anger at the reply, when his eyes widen and soften in what seems like seconds, and Sai wondered what possibly could cause the change in his twin.
"Sakura…"
Her name causes him to turn around, only to find their teammate standing some feet away. Her stance seemed defiant, and her eyes seemed displeased as they were narrowed at the ground in complete discomfort, while her fists remain clenched at her sides, and suddenly both brothers' felt an uncomfortable weight on their chest. And this is the first real time while looking at her, he feels sick. His stomach feels as though it has just dropped, and call it instinct, but he has a very strong feeling he's not going to like what she is about to say.
"From this day on," Her voice falters as her shoulders begin to shake slightly, "We're only teammates." She spun on her heels, and headed back to the village.
Both men glanced at each other, unsure if her comment was directed to one of them, or both of them. And in sync once more, they both open their lips to protest:
"Sakura-"
"I'm not an Uchiha sport!" She hollered brutally at them as if her words were a kunai, as she stood there with her back to them, her wounded pride wouldn't allow for anything more. And before they could object, she was gone faster than any attack they had been throwing at each other all day.
But her surprise attack had left no bruise or cut to show for it.
Sai shifted his gaze from where Sakura had been, to his new sibling, trying to read the emotions on his face. But Sasuke was the last person to go to for such clues.
It seemed masking emotions was an Uchiha trait, as they both managed to do it so well.
The problem was, Sai didn't have experience in the field of emotions, or with women.
Sasuke finally turned away, and began to head in the opposite direction of Sakura's house.
Apparently not being experienced with women also ran in the family.
Naturally, being perplexed, Sai found himself turning to the one place he always went for answers—the library. Which, ironically, was closed as it was already close to 9:00 p.m. So he then proceeded to Ichiraku, where he had expected to find Naruto.
But he wasn't present at his favorite restaurant, nor at home.
And Kakashi-sensei always had his head in a book—so he wasn't even attentive to Sakura's nature, and therefore probably wouldn't be much help as it was.
And Yamanaka Ino was probably more Sakura's ally right now, which meant unless he was given permission to torture her from the Hokage, he wasn't going to get any answers from her.
So when he appeared at Nara Shikamaru's door, it was simply his only option left, but it being a simple conclusion didn't make the situation an easier. Sai had been building relationships since he was placed on team seven, however, he rarely found himself alone with Nara, which revealed his newly found situation a little awkward as the famous genius regarded him with a raised eyebrow.
"Good evening Nara-san, I was hoping you might assist me in establishing a good exit strategy." His face mimicked the same smile he had always shown.
"Okay," the ninja yawned briefly and nudged for Sai to follow him inside. "What's the situation?"
Sai sat down next to the spiky haired ninja on the couch. He blinked, trying to recall specifically everything that had happened, in order to give Shikamaru a detailed vision of the situation. "Two men were training when they were attacked by a familiar kunoichi. After both men were rendered in confusion, she left."
Shikamaru nodded absorbing the information, "Genjutsu?"
Sai shook his head, "She was not trying to hide her anger."
"Eh?" Shikamaru leaned back against his sofa, "I'm confused, what was the Kunoichi's technique?"
"She yelled at a massively intimidating volume." He replied bluntly.
Shikamaru brought his hand to his chin, "So her Genjutsu is induced sonically?"
"No-I don't think Sakura acquired such a technique."
"Heh," Shikamaru leaned his head back to rest against the back of the couch. "So this is about Sakura-san," he sighed after his rhetorical question. "Look, I'm no good with these type of circumstances, but if she's mad at you and anything like Ino, it's best if you just give her space."
"Have you run into this situation a lot with Yamanaka-san?" He was curious of his experience in this type of field.
"Teh," Shikamaru ridiculed the question. "You could say that."
Sai nodded, "So it's common for Yamanaka-san to kiss you one day, and then shout to stay away from her the next?"
A light shade of pink flushed across the genius's face, "W-Wha? K-Kiss? Ino?" Shikamaru was rubbing his neck nervously. "Why on Earth…What made you think..." Shikamaru coughed, "No, we've never-" His eyes drifted to the side, "Ino and I are just teammates, can't you tell with the way she was all over you?"
"But you were jealous, right?"
Shikamaru's eyes widened, "Huh?"
Sai shrugged, "When team ten and seven would go out together, I would notice—you acted like the Uchi-" Sai paused before finishing his last name, and there was a moment of uncomfortable silence. "Sasuke acted the same way whenever I would get Sakura's attention…"
Shikamaru raised his eyebrow, "Based on how Sasuke acts, you think I was jealous?"
"No, I'm basing you being jealous on that fact that every time Ino-san would smile at me, you made an excuse to leave." Sai tilted his head slightly. When the shadow-manipulator only stared in response, he felt a real smile tug at his lips, perhaps he was getting better at reading emotions, at least with males.
Females were more complicated to read.
If he was on a mission, and with an enemy Kunoichi, he could read them. He was trained by Root. He could spot intent.
And Shikamaru avoided the previous conversation, "I would give Sakura space, she's loved Sasuke since she was kid, and you two aren't making things easier."
"Heh." He closed his eyes and stood. "And if Sasuke doesn't give her space?"
Shikamaru shrugged, "She'll probably punch him back into the hospital."
"Thank you, Nara-san."
"Don't mention it." Shikamaru walked with him to the door. "Any of it."
Sai stared at the door momentarily after it had closed, trying to decipher his comrade's request. He had apparently, shook his cage, with something he had said. And since he heard that messing with a deer would get you the antlers, he decided he would heed his subtle warning.
At least he was beginning to understand most of his friends. The males.
Since it was late he decided to head home and make a small meal for himself, while contemplating his strategy for tomorrows training, since he would not be receiving any help from his new sibling.
It was a nice cool night, compared to the hot day it had been just hours before, and he had read in a few books that people often took walks when it was particularly nice out, to clear their heads.
He personally preferred to clear his head by painting.
But it was no surprise that his twin didn't feel the same.
Despite looks, lack of emotions, and being ninjas, their common interests and hobbies were kept to only those three things. Unless you counted Haruno Sakura to be on that list as well.
Which is why he shouldn't have found it shocking that while on his stroll home, while innocently passing the hospital, he happened to run into Uchiha Sasuke.
He was standing across the street from both himself, and the hospital, in between two other buildings, but not completely in the shadows. And judging from the way his eyes narrowed, Sasuke had noticed him too.
Sai inwardly sighed, not looking forward to a conflict, intended to keep walking, so he continued in his direction.
"I should have figured you would be here."
Sai stopped and turned around, "I'm just passing by."
"Conveniently when she should be ending her shift soon?" The sarcasm in Sasuke's question rang loud.
Sai rolled his eyes, "I know I'm Anbu, and great at tracking…But you're the one sounding stalker-ish, Sasuke-san."
Sai hadn't expected Sasuke to react so violently to a comment, so he certainly didn't have time to dodge him when had suddenly appeared, slamming him to a wall of one of Konoha's buildings.
"I was on my way home from checking out the old Police station my family used to run." He snarled, almost baring teeth.
Sai opened his mouth about to speak when a voice interrupted his train of thought:
"Thank you very much Sakura-san."
Sasuke, hearing the voice too, had turned around, allowing Sai a better view at the seen.
She was heading away from the hospital, in the opposite direction of them, thankfully, with another man walking with her. He was tall, in uniform, with dark, shaggy hair, with a bandage across his face.
"You don't need to thank me, Kotetsu." Sai heard her speak so familiarly to him.
He had shaken his head in response, "Seriously, let me take you out for a meal to thank you."
She laughed lightly, brushing it off, "I was just doing my job."
He grinned at her, "Come on, Izumo's going to be in there for at least two days, and you and I usually have the same break time, and Hokage-sama will probably send me over to the hospital to give you paperwork anyways."
And now they could both no longer hear a word she was saying, for they had continued walking down the street, completely out of ear-shot now.
They stole a glance at each other, and with a common understanding, proceeded into the trees, masking their chakra as they followed Sakura.
Kakashi had, coincidentally, been walking home from an event with Genma, when he had spotted the twins trailing behind Sakura and Hagane Kotetsu.
He shook his head and smirked, "So that's what it takes for them to use teamwork."
Author: I am really sorry this chapter took so long. I had intended to get it out before the year mark—but a weeks ago I was to the ER to have an emergency appendectomy, and I have since, been on bed rest. I probably would have been in better shape by now had it not been for a few factors…I am allergic to pain medication—so I couldn't take anything for the pain. And I went to see The Dark Knight (amazing—go see it if you haven't) and was in extreme pain after, I couldn't hobble back to the car safely. Anyways, the day after the showing, found out I had carpol tunnel in my right arm, and it's been nearly impossible to move it—so finishing this chapter hurt…Literally.
I've effectively, at the moment, gotten rid of my writers block. I had to over come the recent acts in the manga, as they interfered with my story. But I've got it mostly sorted out now. But I should warn you now—there will be spoilers in upcoming chapters.
Lastly, I would like to thank everyone. I never thought this story would become so popular, especially when I had contemplated scrapping it a few chapters in. You all have been terrific and a great deal of support. Thank you very much.
I also wanted to know if anyone's seen Youtube users xXx123Roseta123xXx's SaiSaku, "I Hate Everything About You" amv? It's really good, and if you haven't seen it, I recommend you check it out. Panic Studios is working on some really long projects, so we haven't been able to scratch on our SaiSaku amv plans. So I was really pleased to find xXx123Roseta123xXx's SaiSaku amv.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I claim to own any characters therefore owned by Masashi Kishimoto.