Continuity Warning: Attention, ladies and gentlemen! Canon has now left the building!
Non-yaoi Warning: Oh! Wait, wait- there's some! ...Hah, made ya look!
Foreshadowing Warning: Just so you know, several of the 'developments' in this chapter (i don't think they warrant the name 'plot twist' yet) were hinted at in previous chapters, most notably, 'Breath' parts one and two, so... you can't say i didn't warn you ^_^;...
Second Part of a Multi-Part Chapter Warning: ...or it would be, if the chapters didn't stand on their own as well as they do. You don't necessarily have to have read 'Morning' recently to understand the events in 'Afternoon', but it helps...
...Yeah, i said it would only be two weeks, and i know it's been almost five. Gomen ;_;. Work didn't let up after all- just the opposite, in fact. But nobody wants to hear excuses, so let's just get on with the fic. As always, it would be great to hear any comments, criticism or speculations you folks have, so please tell me what you think!
~Eimii
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LESSONS: AFTERNOON...
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"Sakura-chan?" Calling out in a stage whisper that earned him a glare from one of the nearby librarians, Naruto turned at the end of the aisle and looked around, but again, not so much as a hint of bubblegum-pink hair greeted his eye. Maybe she wasn't here after all, though he didn't want to think that Sakura's mother had lied to him.
Mrs. Haruno had always been nicer to him than most adults (other than Iruka-sensei and the Hokage). Sakura had been kind of quiet when he first noticed her, and then she was always with Ino, so he didn't get to see her much when they were kids, but Mrs. Haruno had never slammed the door in his face when he came to ask if she could come out and play. Naruto refused to believe that Mrs. Haruno had lied to him, so Sakura had to be here... somewhere. Maybe she'd gone to the bathroom.
Or, she could be hiding from him again. No matter how many times he saw it (or didn't see it) Naruto couldn't figure out Sakura's invisibility trick, and she refused to tell him how it worked. All she'd say was that it was her own 'secret technique' that she'd made up herself. While the blonde boy had to admit that was pretty cool, it was also frustrating; Naruto could barely begin to imagine all of the great pranks he could pull off if he could do that.
Kakashi-sensei and the old perv were no help either. The geezer just blew him off, saying that genjutsu 'didn't suit him,' and Kakashi was always either on missions or training Sasuke. As he thought of Sasuke, a scowl wormed its way onto Naruto's face. That bastard- acting like I'm stupid or something for not bein' able ta figure it out. It pissed him off even more than when Sakura taunted him.
The second-loudest genin in the Leaf sighed in annoyance. Why did people have to turn into jerks when they got strong? Sakura had teased and insulted him before, but that was always when he argued with Sasuke. He didn't care if she didn't think he was as 'cool' as that smug bastard, so it didn't bother him... much. Now, though, whenever he asked to spar with her, the pink-haired girl would always vanish, and then later he'd find out she'd written something weird on his face, or stuck something on his back. The joke wasn't so funny when it was always on him.
He'd tried filling the street with Kagebunshin once, so she couldn't get away, but there were always avenues of escape out in the open, and the librarians would probably throw him out if he did that in here- it already felt like they were just waiting for an excuse. Suddenly, Naruto sensed someone on the other side of the bookshelf on his left, someone who hadn't been there before. It's gotta be her!
Growing still, the blonde boy tried to erase his presence as best he could. Then, climbing more quietly than a mountain cat, he crept up the wall of books and scrolls separating them, pausing when he reached the top. Hmm... I know! I'll drop down behind her and pin her between my arms against the shelf! That'll keep her from gettin' away. Like a coiled spring, Naruto readied himself. Ready? One, two, GO! Tucking into a roll, he began to fall, right behind his unsuspecting prey.
"No roughhousing in the library!" a stern voice called from the end of the room, and in an instant Naruto found himself spinning out of control, as scrolls on the shelves all around him came to life, wrapping him in a cocoon paper as hard as steel.
Landing on his back, the blonde ninja could only grin sheepishly at the librarian who stormed up to stand next to the monkey-masked ANBU whom he'd just tried to ambush. Adjusting her glasses, the frumpily-dressed kunoichi glared down at him. "That's two hours in detention, young man!"
"What? B-but I'm not a-"
"No 'but's!"
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Looking up from the mission scroll she'd just received, Kurenai Yuuhi wore a confused frown. "I think there's been some sort of mistake," she suggested, addressing the man behind the desk. "I specifically requested to be assigned local missions only."
"And the mission requests you specifically," the dour staffer parroted, mirroring her frown without the confusion. "Moreover, you're one of the only jounin we have available at the moment, and I think you'll agree that the sensitive political nature of this mission warrants nothing less."
"If security is such an issue, then how can I be expected to carry it out with only my genin team for support?" the red-eyed woman countered testily.
The annoying little man just shrugged, as if it were none of his concern. "That, too, is part of the mission. If you have any complaints, I suggest you lodge them with the council of elders, though I doubt you'd be heard in time, as your mission begins tomorrow."
Kurenai suppressed a growl of discontent, turning on her heel and gracefully storming off. She shouldn't get angry at the petty bureaucrat, she knew. He was just doing his job- though he didn't have to be so superior about it. He must get a thrill out of ordering jounin around, the brunette mused. Her brow knitted once more as she glanced down at the scroll. Such a strange request. If they need the presence of a Fire Country noble, wouldn't it be better to wait for someone more important?
Her feet eventually led her to a squat, unimposing building near the center of town. Kurenai had been to the torture and interrogation facility before, but unlike most of her peers, she hadn't had the 'pleasure' of working there. She'd had other duties while Asuma and the rest had been sneaking around in the service of ANBU. Still, Kurenai recognized the woman standing guard when she walked in.
"Good afternoon, Kurenai-san," the petite hunter nin greeted.
"Good afternoon, Asano-san," Kurenai replied. "Could you tell me where I can find Haruno Sakura?"
"Just a sec." Shuffling around behind her desk, the woman started flipping through a clipboard critically. Asano paused when she found the page she was looking for. "Alright, it looks like you're cleared to see her. If I could just have you sign in here-" She unrolled a scroll on the counter and offered Kurenai a pen.
Quirking an eyebrow, the red-eyed woman signed next to the timestamp that Asano indicated. "I have to have clearance to see her?" she asked incredulously.
The other kunoichi simply shrugged. "She's working with some restricted documents. Nothing above your level, normally, but you don't have ANBU security clearance."
And she does? Shaking her head, Kurenai handed the pen back.
"Thanks; alright, go down the hall and up the stairs in the back." Standing, Asano gestured as she explained. "On the second floor take a left out the door and she's the third office on your right."
With a nod of gratitude, Kurenai began striding toward the back of the building. Reaching the narrow staircase to the upper levels, she suddenly realized that she'd never been upstairs before. She usually came to see Anko, and Anko was always downstairs in the labs (or, as her irreverent friend tended to call them, 'the pits').
Paradoxically, the second floor of the ANBU torture and interrogation center looked just like any other office building in Konoha. The halls were well lit, anguished screams and strange odors were conspicuously absent, and no masked guards confronted her with dire warnings and release forms. The only odd thing she noticed was that doors that marched down the eggshell white walls were very closely spaced; the rooms behind them had to be little larger than closets. Finding the one she was looking for, Kurenai raised her hand and knocked. "Haruno Sakura?"
A surprised "Ah!" floated through the wall, followed by the sound of papers being rearranged. Moments later, a familiar voice reached her ears. "Come in!"
Opening the door, Kurenai was immediately struck by how guilty the girl looked as she sat at her desk, ink-stained hands folded in front of her and a slightly crooked smile on her lips. The desktop wasn't clear, but the arrangement of Sakura's scrolls and notebooks told the older ninja that none of the visible items were important. No, whatever she was working on, she put it away in one of the drawers.
The scene was hauntingly familiar, so much so that Kurenai couldn't help but sigh. "...Normally, I'd mind my own business- the gods know I've gotten into enough trouble sticking my nose into other peoples' mischief -but I was asked to keep an eye on you, and I think I'm beginning to understand why." Striding forward, the red-eyed woman crossed her arms, assuming a stance of beleaguered authority. "I will ask this only once: were you doing anything that is likely to get you imprisoned, court-martialed or killed?"
Shrinking a bit under the jounin's scrutiny, Sakura glanced away, pushing her fingers together anxiously. "Um... not if I'm careful?" she offered in a small, hopeful voice.
"And are you being careful?" Kurenai pressed.
A funny look crossed the pink-haired girl's face, and hint of annoyance warmed her tone when she answered, testily, "I'm not Anko."
Kurenai couldn't decide whether to laugh or frown. The denial was amusing, but Sakura had read the context a little too perfectly. "You could've fooled me," she countered with a sardonic lilt. "You look exactly like she did, when I caught her trying to repair a scroll that she'd... you know this story, don't you?" the jounin observed astutely as a flame of recollection lit in Sakura's wide green eyes. "You do... and yet, I can scarcely believe that Anko would ever tell anyone about that incident."
The genin paled. "Eheh... Um, well, I don't exactly come by the knowledge honestly," Sakura admitted, looking as though she could hardly believe it herself.
That was a strange answer, and a stranger reaction, but then, nothing about the girl's relationship with Anko was exactly 'normal', as far as Kurenai had seen. Still, as long as they kept it to themselves, their personal lives were none of her business. Leaning down, she favored her temporary charge with a hood-eyed stare. "So... have you broken something?"
A hit of color bloomed on Sakura's cheeks. "...Yeah."
"That's kind of eerie."
"You have no idea."
"Hmm..." the jounin's lips puckered petulantly as she gazed around the room, until her eyes fell upon the boxes sitting in front of Sakura's desk. "Judging from the number of ANBU archive scrolls you have here, I'd almost have to guess that the situation is exactly the same as before."
Sakura had the grace to grimace in embarrassment, though Kurenai could still sense defiance in her. "Not quite; I didn't have to trick anyone into lending me these. I've got permission to have them."
The brunette clicked her tongue thoughtfully. "I suppose you do," she mused after a few seconds, seeming unsatisfied with this conclusion. The curve of Kurenai's mouth dipped into a frown as she lifted the cover on one of the boxes. "Can you actually unseal them?" she wondered, voice rising skeptically as she scanned the warding notes decorating the scrolls inside.
"Anko brought me to ANBU headquarters to sign some contracts so I could open them safely, and showed me the seals to do it," Sakura assured her. Then the younger girl's expression grew distressed. "...Should she have done that? The archivist didn't look upset, but-"
A smile tugged at the corners of Kurenai's mouth. "Probably not."
"Dammit!" Growling, the pink-haired girl propped her elbow on the desktop and plopped her chin down on the heel of her hand. "I don't need any help getting into trouble!"
"So I've been told." Kurenai allowed herself a small, nostalgic grin as Sakura made a face at her. She was starting to see why Anko was so fond of her new 'apprentice.' She's so much like them both, I can't decide who she reminds me of more. Deciding to give the poor girl a break, she lifted her gaze. "What happened there?"
"Hmm? This?" Reaching up to finger the cloth bandage wrapped around her temples, Sakura chuckled ruefully. "Eheh, it's nothing; I just fell during practice and hit my head." Though she obviously didn't think it one of her finer moments, Kurenai could sense satisfaction radiating from Sakura when she said this. The explanation didn't ring false, but there was more to it than she was telling.
I suppose we're all entitled to our little secrets, the red-eyed woman mused, letting it go. "Well, try to be a little more careful," she cautioned lightly. "I don't want to have to explain to Anko how you split your skull open while she was away." Reaching down with her free hand to the mission scroll she carried at her side, Kurenai extracted the letter that was bundled with it, setting it on the desk. "Here, this is for you," she explained.
Blinking, Sakura reached for the folded piece of paper, then froze and retracted her hand when she saw whom it was addressed to. "Are you sure this is for me?" she asked, giving Kurenai a confused look.
"Positive," Kurenai assured her. The jounin held up the scroll so Sakura could see it. "This gives the gist of what's said in the letter, as well as explicit instructions regarding whom I should give it to."
Looking again to the letter, the younger kunoichi seemed perplexed. "Really? But I'm not this... 'Lady Haruno Sakura of Ryuuzen,'" Sakura protested, her skeptical tone turning the title into some fantastic, mythical beast that only children believed in.
Kurenai couldn't blame the girl. It sounded pretty absurd to her as well, but the information provided for missions was seldom completely wrong. "So your grandfather isn't Haruno Seinan, Lord of the Ryuuzen province?" she queried cautiously.
"Well... yeah, he is," Sakura admitted, her disbelief turning to dismissal. "But that doesn't make me a 'Lady,'" she scoffed. "My dad lost his claim before I was born."
"That doesn't necessarily preclude you from being nobility," Kurenai pointed out. "A Lord can only divide a plot of land among his sons and grandsons so many times before it becomes meaningless; there are plenty of nobles in the Fire Country who will never inherit anything of note, but they still call themselves 'Lords' and 'Ladies.'" The instructor shot Sakura a look that said she knew exactly how silly this sounded, but that was simply the way things worked.
Sakura seemed unconvinced, however. "It's not that I won't inherit; I can't inherit, land or rank. I- It's... complicated." The pink-haired girl frowned suddenly, as if realizing she'd almost said too much.
"Hmm... Is your father a bastard?" Kurenai guessed. It was sort of an open secret that ninja villages often had 'ways' of dealing with abandoned children. Prosperous ones like Konoha sometimes took them in and raised them as ninja, and poor ones... well, either way, the guilty parents could rest assured that nobody would ever hear of their little 'mistake.'
Still, it was meant to be an eye-popping question, and Sakura didn't disappoint. A moment of panic flashed across the younger kunoichi's features right as the word registered. "Wh- what?! A- where the hell did that come from?!" Sakura sputtered indignantly, picking her jaw up off the ground.
"It's not that odd, you know," the brunette replied in a tone just brusque enough to keep Sakura's temper simmering. "Musical beds is a favorite game of nobles, and you'd be surprised how often their ill-begotten get finds its way to the front gates of some-"
"My dad is not a bastard!" The pink-haired girl denied a tad too vehemently, standing up to glare at the instructor. "It's just complicated- and isn't that a bit of a personal question? Not to mention rude!" Planting her hands on the desk and leaning forward, Sakura waited for an answer.
"Outside of the court, most kids your age wouldn't know what to say if someone asked them that," Kurenai observed coolly. "I didn't mean to offend you, but I like to know what exactly I have to work with before starting a mission. My mission requires a Fire Country noble, and you are what I've been given, so I need to know what it is that makes you unacceptable." From Sakura's reactions, some form of illegitimacy felt like a fair bet, but it was best to hear it from the source.
It didn't seem like Sakura was going to cooperate, however. "What mission are you talking about?" she demanded.
"I suggest you read the letter."
Sakura's face relaxed slightly as she glanced down at the missive, embarrassment quenching her ire. The respite lasted only long enough for her to skim the contents of the letter, however. "The Wind Country?!" she shrieked, tearing her eyes from the page to cast Kurenai a disbelieving stare.
The jounin simply tilted her head to the side, taking her measure of the pink-haired girl. "Indeed. The envoy that we sent to the Village of the Hidden Sand has negotiated an end to hostilities between the Sand and the Leaf, and they now require the presence of a Fire Country official as a witness to the declaration of peace- purely as a formality, of course. Your grandfather governs the province in which Konoha is located, so his house was deemed the most appropriate to accept this honor, and with you conveniently being a ninja of Konoha..."
"-They can order me to go," Sakura finished for her, finally catching on. The genin didn't appear any happier for this revelation, however. "But still, why me? Whoever proposed this mission must know that grandpa has selected his second son as his heir, and even if my dad was still the heir, I'm a ninja. I'd have to dissolve my ties to Konoha to act in his stead, and if I did that, then they couldn't order me to go."
Kurenai nodded in approval. Sakura must have actually paid attention during diplomacy and espionage training in kunoichi school. "This is why they sent a 'request' for your presence. You can, of course, refuse this missive in your supposed capacity as a Lady of the Fire Country; it is a weighty request, after all. In that case, the issue of your nobility would become a moot point."
"But why even ask, if they know I'm going to refuse?" Sakura wondered with a frown.
Kurenai shrugged absently, though the question bothered her as well. "Perhaps they are counting on your loyalty," she suggested.
"Maybe," Sakura mused, fingering the letter pensively. "But what good is a false noble? Someone in the Sand would eventually find out the truth, and that would look bad for us. Wouldn't it be better if they just asked my grandfather instead?"
"You're still assuming that you're a 'false noble,' but you've yet to explain why," Kurenai chastened, though she was definitely impressed. The girl was proving remarkably astute for a genin. "Still, that is an excellent point. I have been given to understand that there are some stringent time constraints for this mission, but aside from that, can you think of any reason why they wouldn't want to ask him?"
"Hmm..." Pink brows furrowed in the middle of Sakura's forehead as she puzzled over this. "Well, maybe they're hoping they can circumvent a lot of court bureaucracy by making it a personal request." She waited for Kurenai's quizzical look before continuing. "I mean, I can ask grandpa to send someone in my place, and then nobody has to know about it but you, me and him, until it's all over. Konoha doesn't want to seem weak in the eyes of their clients, so a formal request for assistance might be considered too much of an opening for political haggling."
"Hmm... Perhaps." It seemed as plausible as any other explanation Kurenai had come up with, and if Sakura succeeded in getting someone who could act in Lord Haruno's name, that would allay many of her worries. "Would you be willing to ask your grandfather for assistance?"
"I don't see why not," Sakura decided, nodding. "He should be the one to decide whether to accept or decline this, anyway."
"You realize you'll be coming either way, don't you?"
Sakura blinked in confusion. "What? Why?"
"There may be other reasons why you were selected that haven't been explained to us," the red-eyed kunoichi pointed out. "And even if it turns out that you can't act in the capacity of a noble, I have been ordered to escort Haruno Sakura to the Village of the Hidden Sand in the Wind Country, and you have been ordered to cooperate with me. Are we understood?"
A grumpy scowl settled over the pink-haired girl's face. "Yeah, but I still think this is stupid."
"A mission is a mission," Kurenai recited, slipping easily into lecturing mode. Sensing that the conversation was at an end, she moved to leave. "We'll visit Ryuuzai castle first," she continued, opening the door. "I'll be expecting you at the village gates at eight AM tomorrow. Be sure to bring a set of suitable clothes, in case we're refused."
"Yeah, yeah; eight," Sakura acknowledged reluctantly. Then, as the brunette was closing the door behind her, she could have sworn she heard the pink-haired girl mutter, "Ya can pull that mission scroll outta yer ass whenever ya like, Yuuhi."
...She did not just say that. It had to have been her imagination, though that was definitely an Anko moment, right there. From one to the other, like a light switch. Sakura reminded her so much of Anko, sometimes, and other times...
It didn't bear contemplating. Sakura was only her responsibility as far as it was necessary to keep the girl safe and whole, and Anko was welcome to any other weirdness that came with the job. Kurenai had other things to worry about at the moment, such as the next stop on her list. She never relished her visits to the Hyuuga compound, but this promised to be an even more uncomfortable confrontation than normal, to say the least.
The thought of not going to them crossed Kurenai's mind for the briefest instant, as she passed by the front desk and walked out under the steel gray sky, but she quashed it mercilessly. I am an instructor and a jounin of the Hidden Leaf. Her students were her responsibility, but there were always other obligations- responsibilities and obligations, tugging her this way and that.
Heh... Maybe having a student will teach that brat a little respect, Kurenai mused, suddenly remembering the guilty look that Anko had worn when she'd asked Kurenai to watch over her new apprentice. "...Respect? From Anko? What am I thinking?" Shaking her head, the wavy-haired kunoichi continued on her way, her heart a little lighter for just a moment.
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Dear Kakashi-sensei,
The arrival of Autumn always makes me a little sad. I know they say it's a season of ephemeral, poetic beauty, but I'm already starting to miss the clear skies and sunshine of Summer. I hope that you and Sasuke-kun are being careful not to overdo it, training in this dreary weather.
I am writing because I have just accepted a request from the Village Council to accompany another team on a mission, and I probably won't be able to see you before we depart. I can't be very specific, since the mission objectives are classified (and I don't really understand them, myself), but please don't be upset if headquarters informs you that I'm no longer a ninja. They've assured me that it's only temporary, and I will be completely reinstated when I return. I'm sorry I can't explain why this is necessary, but it is all part of the mission.
I'm not sure how long we will be gone, but they estimate that it shouldn't be more than three weeks, including travel. I'm a little nervous, since this will be my first mission without all of you, but it doesn't sound like it will be dangerous, so please wish me luck, and tell Sasuke-kun and Naruto not to worry.
`
Putting down her brush, Sakura stared at the page for a moment, trying to think of anything else she wanted to say. 'I'll miss you'? Hmm... No, I won't be gone that long. Anyway, she was going to leave this message at Kakashi's house, and she couldn't honestly say that she was going to miss him all that much.
Maybe she'd been spoiled from all the attention she'd been getting from Anko and Yoshinari and the folks in ANBU, but lately she'd been feeling downright ignored by her commander. He'd barely even commented on the genjutsu she'd learned. 'That's an impressive trick, Sakura,' he says. Couldn't he just have left it at 'impressive'? Calling it a 'trick' makes it sound cheap and fake. She wanted to hope that he wasn't doing it on purpose but... no, she wouldn't miss Kakashi anywhere near as much as she'd miss Sasuke and Naruto.
Reading the letter again, she considered taking out the first paragraph. Talking about the weather was a traditional way to open personal letters, but now she felt like striking a more distant, businesslike tone. And what do boys know about poetry, anyway? Hmm... But he might read it to them. Maybe I'll put in the 'I'll miss you' after all, to make Sasuke-kun think of me.
Unfortunately, with Sasuke, such a ploy could easily backfire. Did she really want to sound so weak and needy? She'd already mentioned that she was nervous- though it wasn't for the reasons that she told them. She was going to a hidden village they'd just been at war with, and the reason she was going was very suspect. She was willing to bet that even Kurenai-sensei was feeling a little edgy.
I'll just leave it how it is, the pink-haired girl decided, pushing the page aside. She still had other letters to write, after all. She had to write one for Anko, since she didn't know when her mentor would be would be returning (though it would probably be another week, considering the deadline Anko had set for her assignment). And how on earth am I going to finish that now? Dammit! Yoshinari would also get a letter, as she hadn't been able to find him so they could go and see Temari, and she didn't want him to think she was ducking out on her responsibility.
I hope he's right about it not getting worse, Sakura worried, thinking about the recipient of her final letter. She wasn't sure yet what she wanted to say to Temari; it seemed kind of pointless to say anything, if she couldn't talk to the Sand nin in person. Maybe Hyuuga-san will be in tomorrow morning. I'll leave a note for him to come find me, if he gets it before I leave.
She wished she'd asked how she could contact him, when he'd visited earlier. It seemed like the moment she had something to say, everyone vanished. Kakashi and Sasuke were off training somewhere outside of the village, Naruto and Yoshinari were nowhere to be found, Anko was on a mission and she didn't have clearance to see Temari. She tried to think if there was anyone else she needed to talk to before she left.
"Ah, I suppose I could say goodbye to Ino." She had to go to her dad's shop anyway, to pick up that fancy jade hair comb from the Lightning Country that her mom insisted she wear with her good kimono. Bleah. It's not like my hair's long anymore- if I wear it up, I'll look like Anko. She stuck out her tongue in disgust. Still, she'd probably need to get a hair cut soon, if she wanted to keep it short. Ino was going to grow hers long again, but Sakura wasn't so sure.
Maybe I'll ask Ino what she thinks I should do with it, she decided with a smile. Now that she'd proven to herself that she was no longer living in Ino's shadow (and that whole 'lesbian' thing was out of the way) Sakura felt a lot more comfortable with her longtime friend and rival. She spent a lot of time hanging out at the Yamanaka flower shop when she wasn't studying or training; it was fun, like they were little kids again, except without the idol worship and insecurity. Now, if only I could get her to give up on Sasuke-kun...
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"Iiiino! Sakura-chan is here!"
Cringing, Yamanaka Ino carefully set down her garden trowel. "I'll be there in a minute!" she called, her cheery voice not betraying a hint of the reluctance she felt as she slowly rose and began trudging towards the rear entrance of the shop. Here we go again...
Hanging her apron by the door, Ino took a short detour to the bathroom to wash her hands. After she was done the blonde girl stood at the sink for a moment, staring into the mirror and trying to smooth away the nervous creases around the corners of her eyes. The last week or so had been... difficult. Ever since Ino had forgiven Sakura, the pink haired girl been visiting almost every day, and acting lot more 'friendly' than usual. Sakura was always joking around, or trying to lean on Ino or hold her hand or... hug her.
It seemed innocent enough on the outside, stuff that normal teenaged girls did all the time, except that it wasn't innocent and it wasn't normal, because Sakura liked her- not just as a friend, but really, really liked her! The worst part was that Sakura was trying to keep it a secret, because she was ashamed of how she felt, and didn't want to lose Ino's friendship.
Dammit, what am I supposed to do?! Indecision and guilt had been gnawing at Ino day and night, ever since Anko had told her. She didn't want to push Sakura away, since Sakura would probably take that badly, but she couldn't let things go on like this forever. Sakura was going to get hurt no matter what she did, but at least if she ended it soon, it might not be so bad- and the idea of another girl having 'thoughts' about her was driving Ino crazy.
If only she could get Sakura to just give up on her. Ino was already working on a plan to encourage her friend to move on, but she didn't feel ready to put it into action yet. I won't be beaten like that twice...
Deciding that she'd stalled for long enough, Ino pushed off of the counter and mussed up her hair a bit before walking back out into the hall; maybe if she looked busy, Sakura would take the hint and leave. Or maybe she'll offer to stay and help. Suppressing a groan, Ino stepped into the shop. A look from her father directed her attention to the small ninja girl standing in front of the glass-walled humidifier closet where they kept their more delicate samples. "Hey, Sakura," Ino greeted cheerily. "Looking for some flowers?"
"Not really," Sakura replied, glancing to the side to flash a mischievous smile. "C'mere a second." She beckoned Ino over to the display case.
Wary but curious, the blonde walked over to stand beside her friend. "Hmm?"
Making room so Ino could see through the glass, Sakura posed in mirror at the back of the case. "What do you think? Should I grow it out again, or keep it short?" she asked, turning to the side and tilting her chin down to finger the thick fall of pink hair that brushed her shoulders.
"That depends on if you're gonna keep dressing like that," Ino replied wryly, lowering her gaze to take in Sakura's attire- in a purely innocent way, of course. Sakura wanted her honest opinion as a friend, and definitely wasn't asking for her personal preference, so Ino would provide the same blunt, scathing appraisal that she always had (because frankly, when it came to fashion, Sakura was hopeless without her).
"You know baggy stuff does nothing for you," the blonde pointed out critically, picking at the sleeve of Sakura's hoodie. "You've got no boobs, and your butt is lost in those jeans. If your hair were any shorter, people would mistake you for a boy."
"Hey! I do so have boobs!" Sakura whined, sounding like she she'd heard that accusation once too often, though Ino couldn't remember needling her over it recently. Pouting, Sakura stuck out her chest and reached for the hem of her sweatshirt. "I think they've grown a bit, too-"
"Ino?" Yamanaka Inoshi interrupted, clearing his throat. Though he was nearly pretty enough to be Ino's mother, with his long, wavy blond hair and flower-patterned shop apron, the semi-retired ninja behind the counter wore a look that almost screamed, 'aAaaAAH!' an expression of terror common to the fathers of teenaged girls everywhere. "I can close up here, if you two want to go out," he suggested somewhat sheepishly.
"WE ARE NOT-" Catching herself before she could say, 'we are not going out!' Ino resisted the urge to scream; it took a couple tries, as there were several people she wanted to scream at. "-ah, um... we aren't... closing the shop so early, are we?" she asked in a much calmer tone, congratulating herself on the recovery.
"Don't worry about it. It's been a slow day, anyway," her father assured her, leaning over the counter to give them a nostalgic smile. "I'm just glad you two are getting along again. You're both still kids; this crush-"
"It's not a crush, dad!"
"-This crush you have on the Uchiha boy isn't worth breaking your friendship over," Inoshi pressed on calmly over his daughter's protestations. With half a mind, Ino noted that Sakura was suspiciously quiet, but the older ninja continued talking. "Young love is something to enjoy when you're young, but trust me: it doesn't last. Friendships, on the other hand: real friendships are-"
"Okay, dad, I understand, but we're getting along fine now, so you don't need to worry! Right, Sakura?" Ino shot Sakura an expectant look as she started hustling the pink-haired girl toward the door. If she let her dad get on the topic of friends, they could be listening to 'Ino-Shika-Cho' anecdotes for hours.
"We're getting along fine, Yamanaka-san!" Sakura agreed, a little too cheerily for Ino's taste. "But I think you should listen to your dad and stop being so pig-headed about Sasuke-kun, Ino-buta. I'm sure you can find someone else," she added with a playful grin.
...aAaaAAH! An expression quite similar to the one her father had worn a moment ago flashed across Ino's face. Oh My God, not in front of my dad! Fairly shoving Sakura through the open door, Ino gave her father a painfully strained smile. "We're going now!"
Chuckling inanely, the elder Yamanaka nodded and waved. "Have fun, kitten. I may go out myself, so I'll leave dinner on the stove."
Huh? Oooooh... So that's why he was so eager to close up shop. Her dad was probably going out with his old teammates again; they'd been getting together a lot lately, ever since the battle. Hmph- he'd better not get drunk again, Ino grumped. The last thing she needed was for Sakura to see her dad in a dress, leading on some poor guy that the 'chou-baka-inu' trio had decided to harass.
"Something wrong?" Sakura asked, snapping Ino back to the present. The pink-haired girl was giving her a quizzical look.
"Ah- it's nothing," Ino lied, expertly hiding her embarrassment. "I just sort of wish my dad could be a little less weird."
"Weird, huh?" Sakura peered at her skeptically. "Well, I guess you had to get it from somewhere," she mused with a shrug.
Scowling, Ino glared at her oldest 'friend'. "So what's your excuse, forehead girl? Your parents are normal."
"Hmm..." Absurdly, Sakura actually seemed to consider the question. "I must've caught it from you!"
"Hey, you were weird when I found you!"
"Found me?" Sakura wondered incredulously. "You make it sound like I'm a lost puppy or something." Far from seeming offended, however, a silly smile wriggled its way onto Sakura's lips. "Maybe that isn't such a bad analogy. You know what they say about picking up strays, though: 'Don't feed it if you don't plan to keep it,'" she recited in a lecturing tone. Then her eyes widened and she broke into a fit of giggles. "What's that look for? Don't you want me anymore?"
She doing this on purpose, Ino fumed, crossing her arms and turning away. "They also say, 'never trust a stray, because sooner or later you'll get bitten,'" she sniffed disdainfully, her cheeks burning. Ino immediately regretted her words, as her friend's expression grew hurt. For a moment, when Sakura drew away, Ino saw before her the timid, lonely little girl that she'd met so many years ago and her stomach twisted with guilt.
"Ino, I..." Sakura began, finding her voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"Don't apologize," the blonde huffed, angry at herself for being an insensitive jerk. "I shouldn't have said that. I know you didn't mean to... hurt me. Mitarashi-san told me how you lost control." Sighing heavily, Ino forced herself to look Sakura in the eye, letting a bit of her frustration show. "I just wish you'd tell me what's wrong; I worry about you. We're friends, right?" she prodded hopefully.
"Yeah, we're friends... as long as I can keep from screwing it up again," Sakura agreed with a self-depreciating smirk. Her face radiated relief, but those sad green eyes didn't change. "I just- I don't know what to say yet. There's still a lot I don't understand. I can't- I haven't even told my Mom yet." Sakura looked away this time, staring down at her feet. "I'm sorry," she murmured helplessly.
Gods, why does she have to make this so difficult? Ino despaired, heaving another tired sigh. No wonder Shika complains about girls so much; this sucks... Gah- I can't believe I'm actually starting to agree with that ass! Shaking herself out of her momentary funk, the fair kunoichi stepped up behind Sakura and gave her friend a quick hug, ignoring the tiny voice in the back of her mind that was screaming at her not to encourage the crazy lesbian forehead girl. "Don't worry about it. Just tell me when you're ready," she ordered gently.
"Thank you," Sakura replied, gratefully gripping Ino's forearm.
It really was nice to be able to talk with Sakura like this again, Ino decided, even it they still had a ways to go, but the blonde girl couldn't help but worry. Just don't wait too long. Stepping away, Ino walked around in front of the other kunoichi. "So, where do you wanna go today?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Seeming a little surprised by the question, Sakura fidgeted in embarrassment. "Um... actually, I'm kinda busy this afternoon," she admitted apologetically. "I just came by to tell you that I'm going away on a mission tomorrow, and I might not be back for a couple weeks. I've gotta go to my dad's shop, though. You wanna come?" she gestured toward the center of town.
Shrugging, Ino nodded. "Sure." Strangely, as she fell into step beside the pink-haired girl, she found herself disappointed that Sakura couldn't stay longer. Maybe I like to torture myself, she mused ruefully. "Where are you guys going?" she asked.
For several moments Sakura was silent, and Ino wondered if she'd said something to upset her mercurial friend. Then, finally, Sakura whispered, "The Wind Country," her voice quavering with trepidation.
Ino stopped in her tracks, reeling like she'd been hit in the face with a brick. "The Wind Country?! But that's Hidden Sand territory!" she cried, rounding on her companion.
"Shhhh! Not so loud!" Cringing, the green-eyed kunoichi glanced around furtively. By some stroke of luck, however, the street was empty. Straightening, she hissed, "I'm not supposed to tell anyone! And it's not as dangerous as it sounds: we already have people in the Hidden Sand. They're getting ready to sign a truce."
"Oh." Feeling a tad stupid, Ino leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Still, why do they need to send a genin team for that?" Truce or not, Ino wasn't ready to trust the Sand so soon. "Does it have something to do with Sasuke-kun? You said that someone was after him," she added suspiciously.
Sakura shook her head. "My team isn't going this time, just me... well, me and Kurenai-sensei," she explained.
Blinking, Ino frowned uneasily. "That's a little weird, isn't it? Why just you?"
"That's the really confusing part..."
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Author's Notes: And now for some more apologies ^_^;. I know i promised some excitement in this part, but things didn't work out. The action(?) and surprises(?) will have to wait until next chapter, since they break down more sensibly this way. One thing i do have for you, however, is a little bit of fun that i shall call...
In response to all of the comments i get about people not remembering the tiny, easily missed details of previous chapters, i shall enlighten you to some of the stranger points of this chapter!
Q: When the hell does all this happen?!
Q: Why hell is Naruto looking for Sakura in the library?!
Q: Sakura's a 'noble?!' OMGWTF!?
Q: Dammit, is she a noble or not?!
Q: Sakura and Ino are getting along again?! When the hell did that happen?!
Q: Then why the bloody hell does she still think Sakura's a lesbian?!
Q: Aaaaaargh! I can't believe you're not gonna tell us what the hell Yoshinari taught her! Damn you!
Q: I want Anko! Where the hell is she?! Give me more yuri goodness, or i'll sick my rabid yaoi-fangirl friends on you!
Scarred Marrionet: Heh, i just wish more happened in the long chapters, but they tend to just be more drawn out, in my case ^_^;. I'd been waiting to get back to Temari and some of the other characters, though (as you might guess) most of the boys will be unavailable again for some time to come... or will they o_O? And regarding what Sakura's learning... it's probably not as impressive as all that, since she isn't looking for 'cool,' she's looking for... er... ^_^;... Anyhow, thanks for reviewing!
Dan Inverse: I wouldn't call it that >_<;... after all, Sakura's jutsu doesn't seem to do anything good for her, psychologically, as far as we've seen, though if Orochimaru knew about what she's doing, he might be... amused. Sakura isn't trying to reproduce the Kaiten either ^_^;. She just wants to channel her chakra more efficiently, for... health reasons <_<...
Dragon Man 180: Sakura might disagree with you on principle ^_^... and Temari would flog you for suggesting that the incident bothered her.
Sailor Tiamat: Monkeyman hitting on Sakura O_O;? Eep! Moment of weirdness, indeed... And yes, Naruto is one in a long line of simple, invincible heroes, but i like complicated heroes with lots of stuff on their minds to mess with ^_~!
Sirk: ...'realistic.' I like that ^_^, even if i know what a relative term it is in this case, but I'm glad you enjoy the story and the characters so far. Regarding Sakura's request, she wasn't specifically indicating that, she was generally indicating 'my body,' since she was talking about chakra flow. She's not gonna be that obvious about it...
Stratagemini: Well, it appears that you may have to wait a teensy bit longer for that chat, but regarding her training with Monkeyman... does nobody believe that Sakura isn't planning to learn the Kaiten O_o;? One sort of doubts she'd have enough chakra for it anyhow, even after some serious stamina training. She's a smart girl; she'll think of something creative to do with whatever she learns. Regarding her genjutsu, it seems unlikely that you could define it as a 'bloodline,' since one doubts she could pass it on to her descendants, but... it's possible Sakura is a little 'unique' in the head ^_^;. Take that as you will. Aaaaaaand regarding Anko... you'll see, and you're welcome!
lackey H: Maybe we're being hasty there. I'm sure she's just on vacation or something- in fact, i'll bet she's back in a chapter or two ^_~. Regarding the wards, though, if they'd let Temari keep her own clothes, it might be a bit perverted, but that would be a security risk; nope, prison jumpsuits are rather more modest than what she normally wears. And the Sakura in her dreams... well, given how Anko teases Sakura, is it any wonder ^_^;?
The Apprentice: Hmm... well, speaking to the Sakura-centrism charge... it's a Sakura-fic, what do you expect ^_^;? Sakura is the main element that's been changed from canon, and i don't like rehashing events in that are basically unchanged, so Shy-Lil-Dreamer: Glad i've succeeded in making my original characters mostly non-offensive, so far ^_^. As to character appearances, Shikamaru maybe, depending on events, but Neji probably not so much...
SJ: In order... It's unclear thus far, but only time will tell; ditto ^_~; and they may not hear about the rumors, since Naruto is dense and Sasuke doesn't care, and they're gonna be rather preoccupied with pressing events in the near future- you know, that whole Tsunade, Itachi, Orochimaru thing. Hopefully, though, i'll be able to entertain you for a little longer, despite all of this uncertainty ^_^;...
bLacKBodian: Ah... well... that's good O_o;... And i like dialogue! People talk more often than they fight, after all, and some of it's actually important to the story and character development. Regarding Anko and her 'fun,' one supposes the teasing gets old for Sakura as well, though Anko hasn't been around lately, so it's dropped off quite a bit. I still can't say that i agree about the swearing thing, though, but it's hard to make everyone happy all the time; ah well. The scene sequencing is something i've been working on, but at times its very hard to make things make sense (especially when they don't make sense in the canon events that i'm modifying -_-;). Hopefully, fight and chase scenes will be clearer in the future.
Sycorax: I've been trying to avoid that sort of 'quick-fix' solution, though Sakura's 'too good to be true' genjutsu affinity and chakra control really are canon -_-;. In the Naruto character book, her stats off of Kabuto's cards are extremely skewed in those directions, but with any luck, Sakura (and her fights) will remain interesting, even while she becomes a better ninja...
Maya Amano: ...uuuuh o_O;? Where to begin... Well, regarding the personality fragmentation, it's not meant to be simple and easy to explain/understand. Sakura did something weird that she didn't really understand, and now they have to figure out what happened. It may be a long time yet before they have a really good idea of how the technique works, if it can even be called a 'technique' at all, given how little control she seems to have over it. ANBU's interest in her was mostly for the amusement value to start with; she's a cute kid, and Anko was tormenting her. After that, there is the fact that not a lot of people show any significant talent for genjutsu, and fewer still pursue it past the basics, and she did manage to pull off something pretty significant with those Sound nins. She shows more caution, planning, forethought and ruthlessness than most genin, and she doesn't let arrogance cloud her judgement. These are good traits for an assassin. That being said, it's really hard to say that Sakura is 'stronger' than Naruto or Sasuke in this fic, as you seem to imply. She's better at some things, but nowhere near as good at others. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but Naruto and Sasuke are both 'strong' enough in the areas they rely upon the most that they hardly even try to exploit or even find an opponent's weaknesses, or the small advantages to be had on a chaotic battlefield, unless it's a truly dire situation. Meanwhile, Sakura is 'strong' because she chose to learn something that lets her take advantage circumstance and distraction, making the enemy's 'moment of weakness' into her 'moment of strength'; in some sense, her power is a lot more tenuous and easier to take away than the things that Naruto and Sasuke were born with. Regarding Temari: you can't be strong all the time, and she was shakin' in her shoes terrified of Gaara in canon, so i don't think it's too out of place that she'd be a bit... unsettled, the first time she saw Shuukaku's true form. And Sakura was always cute ^_^, it's just been a little less obvious recently, because of the exceptional circumstances. Sometimes it's a hard to remember that they're all just kids or, at best, awkward young adults... and smart people can drool too! Finally, the whole 'fusion' of Outer Sakura, Inner Sakura, and 'Anko' is meant to be unclear, since the lines where one ends and the other begins is a bit vague. Sakura sometimes acts like 'Inner Sakura' in canon, but doesn't acknowledge that there's a voice in her head, so what is 'Inner Sakura?' Scoff not at the infinite mysteries of the human mind O_o;... Anyhow, thanks for reviewing again! I'm glad you like the fic, even if it is confusing!
ClassicDrogn: Heh, well... Anko doesn't consider it her fault that she got assigned a long-term mission, but nonetheless, that's the reason that Sakura has some time on her hands. Most of the genin teams do. I would agree that it's probably possible for someone without the Byakugan to do the Kaiten, but you can bet that nobody in the Hyuuga clan will tell you that. In all likelihood, it would be too much work for too little payoff for almost anyone else to learn it, since they don't have the Byakugan to help them see their own chakra openings, which would make mastering the regulated release of chakra from any part of the body much harder. Regarding the question of canon vs. alt-uni, i'd say that, with the plot twists i have planned, the story will diverge from canon significantly enough that a lot of the manga may not even apply. I don't wanna say too much, since that would ruin the surprise, but pivotal characters other than Sakura will be involved, and things may happen rather differently in my version of events ^_~...
...which will unfold all in due time, so please bear with me! I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter done as soon as possible, but i think i'll refrain from making any promises i can't keep this time, so... it will be done in less than two months O_o;. There, i think i can manage that, if i get to work right away. Thanks for reading, and wish me luck!
Oh, P.S.: Thank you to all of my wonderful prereaders! Without your help, i would have already committed several crimes against humanity (or against good taste, at least) in the making of this fic...
~Eimii
A: As the title indicates, this chapter takes place in the afternoon of the same day as the previous chapter, 'Morning.' Almost two weeks have passed since the War of the Leaf, Sand and Sound, and a week has passed since Anko left on whatever mission she was assigned at the end of 'Distance.'
A: When Sakura called home in 'Morning,' her mom told her that Naruto had come by looking for her. Sakura has been telling her mom that she spends her time at the library since she doesn't want her mom to know that she's studying in the ANBU Torture and Interrogation Center (cause her mom already disapproves of her being a ninja), so...
A: Well... it's complicated ^_^;. Considering that it was mentioned at least twice that Sakura's father inherited (or for some other reason was given) the sword Sakura carries as part of her 'kenshi' disguise, it's possible that Sakura's grandfather is a 'warlord' from a samurai family, and not a member if the Imperial Court. Of course, members of the military elite have (a lesser) civil rank as well, but they generally have little to do with courtly intrigues. Samurai families are often descended from or serve another noble family in some capacity; for instance, a samurai family might govern and defend a region owned by an absentee lord who spends all his time in the capital. Where Sakura and her father fit into this is anyone's guess...
A: Ehehehe... Sakura's reservations about this entire 'nobility' thing stem from certain... complications that have already been mentioned at some point in the previous chapters, and that's all i'm gonna say. :P
A: During 'Breath,' Ino was having reservations about her treatment of Sakura, and finally decided to forgive her rival. Right as she was leaving the stadium to make up with Sakura, Anko showed up and explained some things, such as A) she and Sakura weren't actually dating, B) Sakura is having some... issues, and C) Sakura feels really, really bad that she hurt Ino. This settled the matter for Ino, and all was forgiven.
A: Aaaaah... that's because Anko also 'explained' that Sakura was still deeply in denial about her sexual orientation, but was secretly in love with Ino. As you might be able to tell, Ino is having some trouble figuring out how to deal with this...
A: O_o;... Sakura asked for exercises, not techniques, to help her move chakra around her body more efficiently, which means that whatever it is, it probably has more in common with tree climbing or water walking than any sort of complicated jutsu involving things like stances or seals. In other words, it's probably something relatively boring...
A: ...That's a secret. Please don't hurt me >_There, wasn't that minty fresh and informative? If you have any other burning questions, feel free to ask, but in the meantime, lets move onto the review responses!