Disclaimer: As usual, only plot and OCs are mine.
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers-you're the ones who encourage me to continue to write fanfiction. This chapter is dedicated to JustPretend2, who wrote me a very encouraging PM at just the right time to inspire me.
The First Flower of Spring
-Chapter Thirteen-
The Distance Between
Ran awoke unusually early, which given the time she had to begin preparing baked goods in order to have fresh stock on her shelves, meant that the night was little more than half over. Padding quietly through the house, she looked in on the occupants of her Shiho's room.
The bedding had all been burned and hastily replaced, Sakura choosing another dark and masculine design despite Shiho's gentle pressuring for her to choose one she liked. For once, Ran had approved of the girl when she'd said, without a hint of guile in her expression, "I like Shiho-nii best. Therefore, I like best what Shiho-nii likes."
Ran had thought time might temper Sakura's obsession with maintaining Shiho's living space as if he was alive, but never once had she faltered. It seemed as if she intended to continue treating him as if he was alive, even if it meant erasing herself. It was an unhealthy obsession, certainly, but compared to the other beast in the room, it was harmless.
Human eyes did not reflect light like an animal's, but Ran thought for a moment that she caught an unsettling glitter from the body stretched across the threshold of the room. But Haruno Jun did not stir, so she ignored him, at least as much as one could ignore a kunai just above one's head dangling on a fraying thread. At any moment, without warning, that tenuous thread might break.
Ran couldn't fully understand why Sakura had decided that Jun deserved to live. She hadn't seemed to fear him the way any reasonable person ought to, nor had she cringed away from the questionable "gift" of him from oyakata-sama. Though it wasn't anyone's place to question oyakata-sama, she could see that even Kagami-sama was unsettled by Jun. There wasn't a lack of main house members to be a retainer to the heir. Sakura had been fond of Haruno Tsubasa, who'd trained her so long ago. He'd have been a far more suitable choice.
What kind of monster does he hope to turn her into? was all Ran could think, for there could be nothing but a test underlying his actions.
Sakura followed in the footsteps of a failed heir, so it made her all the more important. Heirs had died before, of course, as many of them had challenged and died at the hands of previous oyakata-sama, but there had been cycles where it had progressed smoothly as well, the oyakata-sama dying a natural death, his heir following him, and the heir after that already in place, and perhaps a successor after that as well, given the lifespan of the main house.
In less than a decade, the meeting of the clan would be held again and Sakura's successor chosen. Ran, for Shiho's sake, placed all her faith in Sakura's survival. But no matter how much potential she saw slowly being teased into real ability from the girl, Ran still thought it was like enclosing a small child in a cage with a rabid dog.
Haruno Jun was unnatural. Not his madness. Madness was endemic among humans, always waiting to seep through weakness to stain the world red. But what he had done, destroying the soul bound in his weapon, was supposed to be impossible.
It was understood that the main house member they were assigned to would not always be grateful for forcing human compassion and empathy on them. Their kekkei genkai allowed them to live a white existence, without ever experiencing grief or regret. An existence so pure and cruel it shouldn't exist. And it was the branch clan who provided boundaries, so it was of paramount importance that they could not be ignored or discarded.
Just as their name written in blood awoke their souls, that same blood bound them to their partner, so that even if they were abandoned, the blooming of their other half called the weapon that was their body to that person. No matter how they struggled, the main house could not be free of their binding contract, for the weapons would not break or shatter.
Ran would have been less surprised had some member of the main house managed that feat. But Jun's clawed gauntlets were intact, flawless as the day that poor creature's body had been forged by Walking in the White Moon Garden. But they were dead. Just bone, preternaturally strong, the existence that had been attached to them erased.
And that, more than anything else, was terrifying. Killing a physical body was something even a child was capable of. But to learn to destroy souls-just imagining someone like the oyakata-sama capable of wielding such power made her tremble.
She could almost imagine him, that calm and chilling smile in place as he strode through a battlefield, erasing his enemy even from the cycle of rebirth without once even laying a hand on them. It was a small blessing that the kekkei genkai also quashed ambition, else Haruno Shiki would not have been a man but a calamity.
Shoving the unnerving thought aside forcefully, Ran centered herself in the present, in reality rather than possibility.
Looking beyond the wounded shinobi that had chosen to linger even after the medic-nin had left, her eyes found the little girl that was her son's lifeline, his anchor in the physical world. She was curled tightly into herself, as if she were a woodlouse, Shiho's sealing scroll settled neatly on the otherwise empty pillow beside her, "his" side of the bed carefully un-encroached upon.
While the medic-nin had looked to Jun's wounds, she and Shiho had discussed Sakura's performance in the second portion of the exam. Shiho had been disturbed by Sakura's easy use of killing intent, but Ran had been satisfied. The child of a frog is frog, Ran had thought, and the one who leads the Haruno not only must inherit the fullness of the kekkei genkai, but step beyond it. Not as Jun did, to pervert it, but to control it even in others.
How the oyakata-sama were able to control the blooming of the other members was a mystery of the position, though it was well known that main house members could tip each other into the First Flower or even further when the kekkei genkai was used in close proximity. But repression and control lay solely in the hands of the head of house.
Sakura's burgeoning abilities represented hope to Ran. She did not fear them as Shiho did, for one simple reason. Sakura was the girl her son had chosen, so Ran had decided she would believe in his judgment. Her eyes were unclouded by Shiho's emotional attachment, so she could see that the child was capable, fearsome, and single-minded.
And the day was coming when she would serve her as well.
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He'd written down their matches, staring blankly at the dark ink against white paper. Sakura vs. Kiba. The outcome of that match was predictable. The dog-boy had lucked out in squaring off against Chouji, but Sakura's deadly precision would decimate his sloppy and erratic attacks. The currently unnamed idiot would be facing the Hyuuga, which meant that he'd probably get his comeuppance quickly enough. The problem was his own match. Sabaku no Gaara.
Gaara-san's the kind of shinobi who kills because he likes the color of blood. Sakura's assessment rang in his thoughts. His hands clenched, crumpling the paper. Sakura, Gaara, both of them, they're like him. While I...
Sakura's voice interrupted his thoughts again. If you don't like killing people, don't.
His hands tugged at his fringe in frustration. "What would you understand about it?" he mumbled. Sasuke glanced at the clock on his desk, frowning as he realized he needed to leave to meet up with Kakashi and the rest of the squad.
His mood didn't improve when he saw Naruto in the distance, acting out some part of a match with Sakura looking on with her normal indifference. The exams had shown him an unexpected side of her, one that lectured when she was nervous and that was capable of cooperating with others, but now that the teamwork portion was over, she seemed content to retreat into herself. She never looked unhappy, but she was distant. As if there was somewhere else, someone else, she'd rather be with.
He knew that look, for he'd worn it when he first started the Academy and couldn't wait for the lectures to end so he could return home.
But he remembered going to her home, with the white-haired woman who'd been so brusque though it was her first mission outside the village. The bedroom without any hint that a girl lived in it. And it wasn't simply that she preferred boyish things, either-the style had been more suited for a man than a boy. The only other person he'd seen her associate with outside missions and the like had been that long-haired shinobi, but he'd been so unnerving that Sasuke couldn't imagine Sakura running to him for comfort.
"Ah, Sasuke!" Naruto said when he noticed him.
Sasuke ignored him and Naruto puffed out his cheeks in annoyance. "Well, fine, I'm not going to talk to you either, teme!"
Idiot, Sasuke thought.
"Yo!" The greeting caused all three of them to turn in surprise, glancing up to see Kakashi perched on a tree limb.
"Ah!" Naruto ducked behind Sakura. "Kakashi-sensei's on time," he hissed. "Quick, Sakura-chan! It has to bean imposter!"
Kakashi frowned at him. "Now, Naruto, don't you have any faith in sensei?"
"None!" Naruto declared, pointing dramatically, still using Sakura as a kind of human shield. "Kakashi-sensei always late."
Sakura tilted her head to the side in consideration, then glanced back at Naruto. "In either case, why are you hiding behind me, Naruto-san?"
Kakashi sighed dramatically. "And here I thought I might tell you about the arrangements for your training."
Sasuke's attention was instantly caught. "What about it?" he demanded.
"As you can imagine, this kind of exam calls for a little bit of specialized attention. That's why I won't be training all three of you for the next month."
Naruto's blue eyes narrowed. "It's Sasuke, isn't it?" he said sourly. "Well, that's fine. But what about me and Sakura-chan?"
"There are first-rate sensei waiting for the both of you," Kakashi said with his usual eye-crinkling smile. But Sasuke could see that Naruto wasn't satisfied by that answer. For somebody who goes on about teamwork, Kakashi, you're a real idiot, Sasuke thought.
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Naruto isn't happy, Kakashi thought grimly, but win or lose, his opponent won't go into the match with the intention of killing him. Even though it'd be the wiser course of action, Sasuke won't surrender. He's too stubborn and has too much pride to do that, even though it's not necessary to win the match in order to be promoted. He's skilled enough that a tactical retreat when faced with overwhelming force will actually work in his favor in front of the judges. They know he's capable-what they'll be looking for in his match will be how he applies his ability. Charging in recklessly will only convince them he's not ready to lead.
Kakashi turned his attention to his scowling blond student. Whereas in Naruto's match they'll be looking for both skill and leadership ability. The chance they'll promote him this year is low, but if he trains seriously with Ebisu, he can overcome his chakra control barrier. Ebisu is unmatched at ingraining the basics, which is what Naruto needs. There's only so far he can go on stubborn will and chakra.
And as for Sakura-
The frown behind his mask deepened. Haruno clan. Of all his students, he'd least expected troubles with family matters from her, for all the reports indicated that she was staying with a civilian relative and that her parents had also been civilians. But then there had been Haruno Jun, and then the man who'd introduced himself as Haruno Shiki. And now, someone else again. Ran, the woman who was Sakura's guardian, had interrupted him when he'd gone to her house to discuss Sakura's training program. The Haruno clan will take care of it, Hatake-san, she'd told him coolly. In this case, outsiders shouldn't interfere too much.
Not even her sensei? he'd asked teasingly, but the deep-set wrinkles that framed her frown had not shifted.
The room had been quiet, even the sound of ceramic against wood as she sat her tea cup on the table muted. It's your first time teaching students, isn't it? she'd inquired. Experience will teach you that there are boundaries. Your other students don't have families, so they might lean on you more than is usual, but Sakura has blood relations.
She paused, her jade eyes cold as she looked at him. If you are worried about who will be teaching her, Haruno Tsubasa is very much unlike the relatives you've met before.
Oh? So he doesn't seem like he's moments away from becoming a mass murderer?
Ran's lips turned up slightly and some of the frost retreated from her eyes. And, of all things, she'd laughed. He's a Haruno.
It had been an unsatisfying conversation, but she was right about one thing-as Sakura's sensei, he didn't have the right to interfere in her clan. The heads of families held the right of life and death over their members. The Hyuuga held the threat of pain and death over their branch clan, Aburame children weren't given an option when it came to their oft times painful colonization, and his own training had been merciless and brutal.
If they wanted to cultivate a monster rather than a human being, he could only watch and guide her as he was able. And for a child already so wise and cold, Kakashi wasn't certain that he could shake off his apathy, the emotional distance he retained with his students that protected the timid self that was all that remained after his family, his team, and his teacher had died. Heroic or not, justified or not, death was the end.
And for his team-Naruto who'd been born of death, Sasuke who'd looked into death's eyes and been transformed by it, Sakura who was capable of bringing it down so callously upon others-Kakashi was certain he wanted to ever care that much about anyone again.
So he would give Naruto what freedom he could, arm Sasuke as he wished, and never, ever flinch in the face of Sakura's family. That was all he could do for them.
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"Tsubasa-sensei!" Sakura exclaimed, startled from her contemplative mood.
The man seated comfortably next to the table waved at her. "I see you're finally tall enough to wield Shiho," he said, "How are things with my favorite cotton-candy haired little psychopath? I saw your team photo-have you decided to cultivate the dark-haired one yet?"
"Tsubasa-sensei!" Sakura scolded, ears flushing a deep red. Behind her, Shiho-nii chuckled.
"Hello, Tsubasa-san," he said warmly. "I'm somewhat surprised. We haven't seen you since-."
Tsubasa nodded. "That's what you get for being Konoha-nin. But I've defected from Iwa, so that's a non-issue now, I suppose."
Sakura crept closer, eagerly taking the seat Tsubasa-sensei indicated. "You defected? You're a missing nin?"
It was Tsubasa-sensei's turn to chuckle. "Iwa doesn't look kindly on shinobi who retire before they're at least maimed in battle. But oyakata-sama beckoned, so I came running."
That made Sakura frown briefly and Tsubasa-sensei correctly interpreted her expression. "Not so I could teach you, though you're certainly worth becoming a missing-nin for. Because our clan's leader is chosen by battle rather than through bloodright, there's no established power structure. So, the elders of the clan are free to choose their own successors. And one of them thought I was suited for it, so I live in the clan compound now."
"Is that...a good thing?" Sakura inquired cautiously.
Tsubasa-sensei hummed thoughtfully. "It's not a bad thing," he said at last. "I heard you scared Shiho in your match?"
Sakura snuck a guilty look at Shiho, but he shook his head, smiling gently. "Sakura is...unexpectedly talented with killing intent," he admitted.
"Oh? I wouldn't call that unexpected. You forget-Sakura-chan's the heir who won her way through the tunnels without you at her side. Killing intent was the key I offered her to unlock any kind of future at all."
Tsubasa-sensei made a striking contrast to Shiho, who'd settled across from him. Tsubasa-sensei had his legs crossed comfortably, his back slouched, one elbow resting on the table. His hair had a reddish sheen, overlong but carelessly brushed back from his forehead. That aura of casualness pervaded his clothing as well, somehow giving him an air of good-humored harmlessness.
"You might not remember, Sakura-chan, but I told you then. Killing intent is different for you than it will be for your peers. For them, killing intent is nothing less and nothing more than intent-a psychological tool. That's true of most Haruno as well. But for you and Shiki-dono, you're capable of pressing past that, even without the aid of the Thousand Generation Flower. It's similar to genjutsu. A man who is very talented at genjutsu can convince a man on dry land he's drowning with such thoroughness that he'll suffocate. The weaker your opponent is mentally, the harder you can strike."
He grinned then. "But what you want isn't a lecture, is it?" Tsubasa-sensei rose, running a hand through his hair. "I hope you haven't forgotten what my lessons are like, Sakura-chan. Only this time, we'll get Shiho to participate, yeah?"
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A/N: Even after all this time, I'm still pretty much amazed how absent Sakura's parents are from canon. Lee and Tenten are the only others who have such an absence of family. Also, yes, this chapter is short and generally filler, but I wanted to maintain that feeling of uncertainty and surprise that accompanied the original matches. So, next chapter, we begin the third part of the chunin exam.