The Close Combat
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or American Dragon
Sakura continued to stare at Sasuke with an unsure expression on her draconic face. She knew without a doubt that she could probably easily over power him in a fight.
That's exactly what she was worried about.
Everyone knew Sasuke didn't take failure or disappointment relatively well.
In fact she still wasn't sure if he completely gotten over her being half dragon or almost defeating Orochimaru on her own. Still Sakura knew there was no way in hell Sasuke would back down from a challenge like this, even if she refused.
"Oh well might as well bear and grin it" Sakura thought with a tone of apprehension ringing in her head. Although she needed the practice anyway, and it would keep her busy until later tonight when she continued her research into constructing a suitable seal for herself.
Sakura proceeded to hunch over on all fours as her claws dug into the hard rocky ground and her wings flared out from behind her, readying to take flight if needed.
Sasuke and Kakashi both took a minute to assess the unusual sight before them. Neither ever thought they would see anything quite like it, but they couldn't divert from the important task at hand.
An assessment of Sakura's real strength, however although both wanted this it was for entirely different reasons.
Sasuke of course just wanted to see how he'd fair against fighting a mythical creature. He figured if he could beat Sakura he could beat anybody or anything.
Including that traitorous brother of his..still he never thought he'd ever think of Sakura as the ultimate opponent under Itachi. One of his new ambitions is to learn what he can from her with his Sharingan and surpass her in ability, mainly because he was still convinced that her previous triumphs were just flukes, or dumb luck.
Kakashi wanted the information for more moral purposes. He wanted to want Sakura had to offer to the team as a whole. As he knew Sasuke and Naruto have obviously seen more of her true strength than he had. He wanted to see the "real" Sakura fight, without being enraged or overstressed like she was in the exams.
Seeing her fight with a steady mind would help his assessment more that's for sure, and it would most likely help Sasuke stay motivated and focused once he began to teach him how to use the Chidori.
However, that didn't mean he wasn't going to set any ground rules, he had to make the fight at least somewhat fair after all. Because unlike the Sasuke, he knew who would come out on top in this fight. Besides it would be good for Sasuke to be taken down many pegs, he's past the couple mark by this point.
That boy was too arrogant for his own good.
Much like he was when he was younger.
"Listen up you two, before we begin there are definitely going to be some ground rules set!" Kakashi announced straightening up to his full height as he looked down upon his two students.
Both turned away from each other, and turned their heads towards him while still keeping their fighting stances in place.
"To make this a more fair spar, Sakura I'm requesting that no flight is involved and you do not use any magic spells other than that, it's free reign anything goes" Kakashi concluded staring intently at the both of them. "If I see any flying or magic Sakura you forfeit the match".
To his surprise Sakura's face turned into a disappointed scowl.
"Huh I didn't think that Sakura would be the one to protest the rules, but then again she has been surprising everyone lately". Kakashi thought as he chuckled in amusement at Sakura's expression.
"Hai Kakashi-sensei" Sakura all but mumbled from the ground as her wings began to retract back in her back. The action caused an unseen shiver from Kakashi and a cringe from Sasuke.
To the both of them the action just looked so painful.
Sakura turned her head back towards Sasuke still on all fours; she saw he was in a defensive stance with his Sharingan already activated.
"Pfft.. Sasuke depends way too much on that Sharingan of his, he'll never get anywhere with that sort of unprogressive thinking" Sakura thought. She was amazed at just how many ninja she knew depended on their family jutsu's or bloodline in battle.
That was why she had so much respect for people like Naruto, and Lee. They weren't one trick ponies they were both sporadic and keep you guessing in battle. Perfect qualities for shinobi, if you get to predictable in battle you leave yourself very open to counterattacks.
Something Sakura was very excited that she was going to be teaching Sasuke right now, even if it was going to be the hard way. Focusing on him she decided to rile him up a bit, after all she needs a bit of revenge on him for all the attitude he'd given her yesterday.
"Whenever your ready porcupine head!" Sakura shouted towards Sasuke while coming up with a new…. affectionate nickname as she did.
Sasuke sneered at her for the insult not caring to hear the playfulness that was clear in her voice. Instead he quickly calmed himself down and focused on the task at hand and charged straight toward her.
Sakura quickly analyzed Sasuke's movements with precision as he charged toward her. She could tell that although he calmed himself, he was still a bit too riled up to totally pay complete attention to his slightly sloppy stance.
And there in lied his weakness.
Using her extra limbs to her advantage Sakura dodged Sasuke's oncoming right hook, and swished her body into a sweeping kick.
Which Sasuke proceeded to dodge with ease.
"Humph; if this is really all Sakura had to offer I don't know what I was so worried about" Sasuke thought pompously. He readied his feet for a soft landing, when he was struck by surprise.
He seemed to momentarily forget that because Sakura was part dragon she had a few extra limbs he had to remain aware of.
He'd forgotten about her tail.
Sakura wrapped her tail around his ankle, and whipped Sasuke hard, and fast into some nearby rocks.
A painful sounding boom was heard less than a minute later.
"Ugh" Sasuke grunted painful as he lifted his body up the crumbled rock around him. Once the world stopped spinning he turned his head toward Sakura to see her smirking of all things!
"I'll wipe that smug smirk right off her FACE!" Sasuke thought not realizing how hypocritical that thought was.
Growling heavily he lunged himself back towards Sakura readying another one of his signature jutsu.
Kakashi watched from the sidelines at a distance. Sasuke was definitely going to lose this spar if he keeps letting his emotions get the better of him. He had to admit he was surprised to see just how easily Sasuke can get completely wound up, it usually took a bit more time before that happened.
Something else he also took note of was Sakura, Kakashi could clearly see Sasuke making hand signs for one of his most deadly jutsu, but Sakura just continued to stand in place.
Kakashi kept his eyes on her for any signs of magic now that he knew her magic signature would be a red color. Still it seemed she was eager to remain still?
"What trick do you have up your sleeve Sakura?" Kakashi thought amused knowing Sasuke was in for a very unpleasant surprise.
Meanwhile Sasuke was continuing his charge when he suddenly grinded to a halt, and slashed through the proper hand signs to perform his signature….
"Fire-style Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled as he bellowed out a huge spreading fireball that threatened to burn Sakura to a crisp.
Or so he thought it would.
Sakura continued to remain still and simply stared on with a bored expression at the on coming spreading fireball. Once the ball of fire was inches within her face Sakura closed her eyes and readied for the welcoming warmth that would soon envelope her.
Sasuke finally finished sprouting his fire to take a look at the sight in front of him.
"Ha I nailed her!" Sasuke thought gleefully, until he realized that she made no effort to move at all.
"Wait..what if I severely injured her?" Sasuke thought now feeling the gnawing pain of guilt. "Well she didn't dodge it fast enough it's her own fault!" Sasuke argued with himself in his head.
Both Kakashi and Sasuke continued to stare at the flames with rapt attention, confusion, and even a bit of worry. Was Sakura all right? Kakashi didn't see her dodge the flame, and there appeared to be no movement from inside the ball of burning flame.
Eventually a voice was heard emitting from the flame.
"Hey Sasuke maybe you should study your dragon mythology a lot more!" Sakura jeered and finally calmly stepped out from the flames.
As Kakashi and Sasuke stared at Sakura in full surprise and the latter's jaw was dropped. Sakura had stepped out from the flames totally unharmed. It was as if nothing had even hit her! In fact it looked as if she had been in the hot springs as her skin looked more smooth and vibrant than before!
"I can see that you're both really confused huh?" Sakura concurred staring at the two stunned men with a half lidded smug expression. Man she just loved messing with both of their heads from time to time!
"Okay then time for a dragon lesson 101!" Sakura said going into as her friends called it "teacher mode".
"In my birth form, some of my dragon scales are more prominent as you both can see". Sakura said as she gestured to the red and pink scales that were prominent on her body.
"Because of this I can take high temperatures and fire easily, I am a fire dragon after all, fire does nothing but heal and refresh me!" Sakura finished giving the two of them a very cheesy smile. "Looks like you're out of luck using your family's fire jutsu techniques eh Sasuke?"
Sasuke was fuming on the inside. She was impervious to fire as well? Well then what the hell could he fight her with that was jutsu based? All of his known jutsu techniques were his clan's fire based ones! This was complete bullshit, and he already knew that using kunai or shuriken were pointless as well, as he remembered her saying her scales were hard as diamonds!
Kakashi just looked from the fuming Sasuke to sly looking Sakura, and let out a very small chuckle of amusement. No wonder she stood still, all Sasuke managed to do was give her a relaxing spa treatment.
"Well now Sasuke what are you going to do?" Kakashi thought as he watched both his students return to staring each other down.
Sasuke shifted his eyes frantically he knew he would either need to resort to using his environment or just basic taijutsu, and with stupid tail and claws of hers that would be nearly impossible! Also now that fire techniques were off limits he had little to no ninjutsu to use on her.
Sasuke returned to a defensive stance and continued to think about all of his possible options in fighting her. He had to admit he didn't think it would nearly be as hard as it was turning out to be.
"Aw it looks like I've got poor Sasuke all flustered, well time to end this" Sakura thought determinedly. She got on all fours once more, lowered her head so her horns were facing out in front of her, and charged with alarming speed toward Sasuke.
Sasuke began to visibly panic, something no ninja should ever do. However, he couldn't help it all he could see were two very sharp horns speeding towards him that was aimed toward his abdomen.
He swallowed his pride and dignity and turned his tail..
And ran like hell.
Now Kakashi in his corner was chuckling uncontrollably. He couldn't help it after all it was probably the most humorous thing he's seen in a long time.
Sasuke attempting to run away from a charging Sakura, and what was even funnier was the fact that they ending up running around in a circle.
Sadly for Sasuke it seems being on fours legs gave Sakura the advantage in speed, and even while running in a complete circle she managed to catch her target.
She dipped her horns down and thrust upward hitting Sasuke while just missing Sasuke's vital area and launching him at least five feet high and ten feet away.
Sasuke landed flat on his stomach with a painful "oomfh" cry coming out from his mouth. Grunting he managed to push to his knees and begins to rise up.
Only to be painful butted again by Sakura as soon as he attempted to get up.
And unfortunately for Sasuke this continued for a while. As soon as Sasuke would attempt to get up he was butted right back to the ground and as it continued his skin got more and more punctured from her horns.
"Man this is just getting sad" Kakashi thought as he sweat dropped looking at the scene. Although he had to admit he was quite unnerved to see just how brutal and unforgiving Sakura could be in battle. Though she was also just being smart by never letting her opponent get up, something even the most accomplished ninja sometimes failed to do.
It was her dragon instincts he supposed.
Finally after three straight minutes of being butted to the ground Sasuke did something he never thought he'd ever have to do..
Raise his hands in surrender.
"Stop, just stop I, I give up!" Sasuke conceded in his best distraught tone in his voice. He was coughing dust out of his mouth as he said this, and held himself up on one of his knees.
"Really your quitting Sasuke-kun?" Sakura mocked with a small tone of disbelief and skepticism evident in her voice. Even when getting beaten to a bloody pulp, she didn't think she would see Sasuke visibly surrender. She thought she would've had to knock him out cold.
Sakura lifted her head up, and got back up to her legs. She stepped a couple of feet back from Sasuke, and offered him her hand in good sportsmanship.
Something she forgot Sasuke was never a big fan of.
Seeing his chance he quickly made his hand signs fast enough before Sakura could register she'd been deceived.
"Fire-style Fire-Ball Jutsu!" Sasuke shouted not caring if Sakura was impervious to fire, he figured if she was in a close enough range she would still be at least a little injured.
The on coming fire-ball heading her way shocked Sakura, she hadn't expected Sasuke to resort to such a dirty trick in a spar, but Kakashi did say that anything goes.
However, because Sasuke had scared so badly her body went into an instant reflex. She had begun to belch her own fire, not really to her own accord. It was a very common defense reflex present in dragons.
The blue and red fire clashed together in an impressive wave of heat. Then it turned into a battle of will and power as both tried to blow the flame back from one to the other.
Kakashi looked awe inspired at the sight ahead of him; the beauty of the color clashing flames was simply magnificent. It looked like an arbitrary form of tug of war. Which was a battle that Sakura was currently winning. He also had to say he was a tiny bit disgusted at Sasuke cheating, but they were ninja so they cheated others all the time.
That's just how things worked.
Still it was unsettling to see just how easily Sasuke would cheat Sakura for the sake of winning. He would definitely be giving Sasuke another talk. Kakashi began to wonder if he had gotten through to Sasuke at all with his talk about teammates and companionship during their genin test.
He showed promise that he took those words to heart in Wave Country, but seeing what he was doing now he wasn't so sure.
Finally the tug of war reached it apex and Sakura unleashed a mighty bust of hot blue flames.
Unfortunately she released a bit too much and caused a small explosion that blew both her and Sasuke back a couple of yards onto the hard rock.
Dust was ever present in the air. Even with his Sharingan eye Kakashi still couldn't completely see through all the debris and dust in the air. Finally after five minutes of scanning Kakashi managed to detect some movement from inside the dust cloud.
Sakura stepped out from the cloud her clothes slightly burned, but otherwise unharmed.
Sasuke was a different story.
When he managed to crawl out from the cloud, he was nothing short of a mess.
His clothes were torn and tattered. He had some puncture wounds all over his body so blood was dripping down everywhere. He had bruises for being butted so many times, and finally a severe burn on his hand from the explosion.
Kakashi rushed to Sasuke's side and lifted him to his feet. Sakura sure did a number on him! Her dragon side was definitely something not to be taken lightly. She was dangerous, and might actually be the most dangerous member of team 7, maybe even more so than Naruto.
"Well she certainly did a number on you Sasuke, you'll need to stay in the hospital for a few days to get treated". Kakashi said in tone that clearly spoke of not wanting to hear arguments from the young Uchiha.
"Ugh" Sasuke for once in his life didn't have the energy to even put up an argument. What's worse none of the moves Sakura had used on him could not be copied by his Sharingan! None of them! He wasted unnecessary amount of Charka using his Bloodline that turned out to be unless.
After all he couldn't copy most of the Taijutsu she used on him, because she was using her tail and horns. Appendages he didn't have. Also he couldn't copy her fire attacks because it was something she naturally could do, not something she needed hand signs for.
And it was then that Sasuke realized that was the most deadly thing about Sakura.
She didn't need to ready hand signs before an attack.
She just did it, and even when using magic all she had to do was say the spell.
Gestures that took seconds less than making hand signs did. He realized that if he ever even wanted to beat her in a spar, he would need to broaden his horizon of jutsu knowledge.
All he needs to do now was figure out how to do this.
Grunting in pain he gripped Kakashi harder trying to maintain any amount of dignity he had left. Not caring how pathetic he must of looked he continued to hold onto his Sensei, as being held up straight seemed to let up on the pain. That was Sasuke's last bit of movement before the comfort of darkness embraced him.
And that one gesture of showing that he needed help and was accepting it touched Sakura's heart, and she decided to give him a bit of leeway.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei can you put Sasuke back on the ground please?" Sakura asked wanting to help her teammate, but at the same time wanting to try and perfect something she had been practicing.
Kakashi's eye sparkled with curiosity at the request, but he complied eager to see what Sakura was planning. So he very gently set Sasuke on the ground.
Sakura walked over to kneeled down in front of him and preceded to recite her intended incantation.
"Medicae Manus" Sakura said as her hands took a reddish green glow. She hovered them over Sasuke to try and heal his more serious wounds. She had been practicing this spell since the preliminaries ended. She knew having at least one healing technique in her arsenal would be useful. For her and her teammates.
Kakashi's visible eye widen as he watched Sakura perform what appeared to be a medical jutsu, but slightly different. The air surrounding her definitely didn't feel like Chakra, he supposed it was her magic instead.
They both watched as Sasuke's wounds began to slowly heal, very slowly. It was obvious to Kakashi that Sakura was still perfecting this spell. However she did manage to get Sasuke major injuries to seemly disappear. The blood on him began to fade and the bruises lightened.
Kakashi was very proud. Sakura was doing very well, on what he knew was most likely her first patient. Also because he finally got to see the wide variety of skills and abilities Sakura had to offer, and boy did she proceed his expectations.
"Hey, um Kakashi-Sensei" Sakura began wanting to voice something that had been on her mind for a while as she continued to heal Sasuke.
"Yes, Sakura?" Kakashi answered turning towards her his eye glistening with comfortable inviting warmth. Anyone who was extremely good at reading emotions could tell it was pride shining through his eye.
"Remember when the Hokage gave everyone the rules about matters concerning to me?" Sakura continued. Kakashi nodded. "Well what is being done about the foreign shinobi who witnessed what happened at the preliminaries?" Sakura finished her face writhing in concern, with everything that was going on she forgotten to ask about that crucial detail.
Kakashi stared at Sakura in quiet amusement at her overly concerned face; he wondered when she was going to ask about that.
"The Hokage issued that any questions concerning you and your transformation, was to be delegated as a Bloodline. However that was only in case any of the foreign ninjas decided to report what they saw, to their superiors. Which seeing how your battle was received it is highly likely that will happen." Kakashi finished giving his student a look that said not to worry too much.
Sakura gave him a look of exasperation not entirely pleased by that answer, but she supposed it better than nothing. Still knowing that the Hokage was going to lie to all the other villages about what her power was put her in a state of unease. It feels like this plan could very well easily backfire, on everyone if they ever really found out the truth.
"I already know what you're thinking Sakura, and it's technically not lying" Kakashi interjected interrupting her train of thought. She turned towards him to see his steely glaze of assurance as he continued to address her.
"Because, when you really think about it your power technically does come from your blood, it's just the otherworldly circumstances on how you got your abilities that's different". Kakashi finished his statement with a small chuckle of amused irony.
Sakura couldn't help she joined in his amused laughter as well, and she supposed he was right they weren't fully lying. Just telling half-truths.
Just like she's been doing these past couple of weeks.
Oh irony it always has a way on coming back to bite you on the ass.
After ten minutes Sasuke finally came too, and slowly began to raise the upper part of his body while his vision returned. The first thing he saw was his pink haired teammates face of relief.
What just happened? All he could remember was passing out after his spar with Sakura.
He still felt sore, but it definitely wasn't as bad as before was he already at the hospital? No that couldn't be it because he could tell he was indeed lying on the hard ground. He sat up fully with eyes that demanded an explanation.
Kakashi easily seeing Sasuke's silent request decided to fill him in.
"Sakura managed to heal most of you're injuries Sasuke, which was very fortunate, because now you won't need to spend anytime in the hospital. You just need a couple of days of bed rest." Kakashi told Sasuke his voice pleasant.
Sasuke's head immediately swiveled to Sakura his eye wide in surprise. Why did she heal him? At this point he wasn't going to question how she did anything anymore, but she went out of her way to heal him? Especially after that trick he pulled on her while they spared.
"I healed you, because you're my teammate Sasuke no matter how arrogant you might be" Sakura explained giving Sasuke a smile. "And you'll always be my teammate no matter what!" Sakura exclaimed leaving no room for arguments.
Sasuke just continued to stare at Sakura stunned.
"Also I'll let you in on a little tip" Sakura began rising to her full height and spreading her wings out again.
"Study dragon mythology more if you want to figure out more ways to counter me. Still as a constellation prize I'll let you in on a little secret. One of my weaknesses is water," Sakura conceded giving Sasuke the absolute truth.
To which Sasuke returned with a resolute, and understanding look. That made a lot of sense considering she was half fire dragon, but he felt that there was more too it. It didn't help that he would have to learn a jutsu element that was the polar opposite of his natural one.
Still it wasn't impossible. He was an Uchiha after all.
The ass kicking he received from Sakura opened his eyes. He now knew that to get stronger physically, you had to be stronger mentally, even it means laughing at your own failures, or taking criticism and advice from others, whether he wanted too or not.
He also had to learn to suck in his pride and not get too overly upset if someone he considered below his level beats him, also to stop depending too much on his Sharingan, because as this battle showed that can easily become his downfall.
So many things Sakura managed to teach him in one ass kicking, and Sasuke had to admit when Sakura wanted to get her point across, she got her point across.
Hard..
He gave Sakura a strong nod of understanding.
"One more thing Sasuke, there's a special way you would have to use the water jutsu for it to take any effect" Sakura winked giving a sly laugh.
Surprising Sasuke responded with a cocky smirk of his own. To which Kakashi and Sakura both smiled at him for.
Their Sasuke was back, and maybe better than ever.
Sakura sent the two one final smile, before spreading her wings and taking flight to go find Ramus.
She had a lot to tell him.
Old Note: Sorry for the late update, but with exams, holidays, and just life in general the last couple of weeks have been a bitch. (Except Christmas!). Anyway I hate saying this after I promised in the last chapter that the chapter after this one would be the finals… it's actually going to be characters catch up chapter.
It will consist of the other teams, the Hokage's, and her father's point of view on the issues of the preliminaries scene, the upcoming finals, and other events. Sakura will be in it but it's the first chapter where she will be a major focus, but have few speaking roles. In my story expect chapters like this from time to time.
I hate not owning up to my promises but I feel that a chapter like this is needed and actually very important to the plot. So sorry about that I swear after that chapter the next chapter is indeed the finals!
P.S. Just because Sasuke finally was able to get the message Sakura's been sending him doesn't mean he going to instantly change. We're still going to be dealing with jackass Sasuke for a while, after all as proven in the show he gets jealous very easily. He'll just bit a bit less of an asshole from now on.
New Note: So far the least edited new chapter to date XD. I only had to fix a few mistakes and change one word XD.
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