Even if you usually don't read our comments at the bottom (Since you are smart and know they might pass you idiotism), please do this chapter, because it's kinda? important. *KINDA
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Chapter TWENTY NINE
Ever since their encounter with her cousin at Ichiraku, Sakura has a feeling the team has come a little closer. Of rouse, Naruto and Sasuke had always been close, but she feels as though she has stepped a little closer towards them too.
It is as though they are suddenly aware of all the Hyuuga eyes they happen to run into while doing D-ranks. The looks vary from hostility to disgust to mocking amusement and sometimes even simple curiosity but the two seem to have categorized it into one. They stepped in between her and the eyes when they didn't think she was looking, or steered her in the opposite direction to take another route when they saw a particularly large group of Hyuugas gathered somewhere.
Sakura does not really understand what they are trying to do, because she is long used to it and no words can hurt her any more, but she doesn't say anything because she does appreciate it.
It felt like they were truly teammates.
Neji seems to have noticed the subtle changes as they walk each other to training.
"You seem happier." He had told her.
Sakura does not doubt Neji knows why and she is first filled with guilt, because she knows Neji and his own teammates are not very close, and even though he has been with them for a year longer than she has with hers, her teammates know more about their situation than Rock Lee or Tenten does.
Neji just waves of anything she could have said, though.
"I am glad you are okay with your teammates." He says, and from the way he is softly smiling out in open public, she knows he really means it. "I am glad they are taking care of you."
Sakura considered this and finally nods. "They are."
However, despite the changes to their team dynamics, nothing changes with their missions.
Since Sakura had come to accept the changes, she find herself able to read her teammates better. Naruto is a little too brash and Sasuke a little too confident, and it is up to Sakura to act as the chain between the two of them in team fights, because she is fast and durable enough to do just that, and she believes they are ready to put their training to good use.
Naruto and Sasuke often loudly voice their thoughts regarding this and soon, even Sakura is ready to complain. She doesn't, of course, because she knows how scary authority figures can be, even though she doubts the Hokage would punish her for voicing her thoughts, but she quietly hopes for something a little more exciting.
And so, when Naruto explodes in front of his father, demanding a mission of higher rank, she does not reprimand him like she might have. She does not speak out in agreement, but she does not stop him.
Finally, the Hokage relents. "If you really think you're ready, Naruto, I'll give your team a C-rank." Ignoring Iruka's weak protests, he glances over at Kakashi. "Maybe this can be a collaboration mission? I can see if there are any jounin willing to take their team along."
Kakashi shrugs and Minato takes this as an agreement. "Very well."
In the end, they get a C-rank, an accompaniment mission, and only when they are leaving the tower does Sakura realize what this means. She remembers the short few days spent worrying about Neji's return and the relief she had felt when he had returned without even a paper cut.
He would be going through that too.
She bites her lip and chases away the thought.
She was now a shinobi of Konoha. This was required of her, just like it was of him.
Kakashi and Tazuna vanish off after telling them the departure time tomorrow morning, leaving Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura alone.
"I say we need to go eat." Naruto announces. "To celebrate."
Sasuke scoffs. "Who eats ramen to celebrate?"
Naruto whirls around to glare at his friend. "You got a problem, huh? I do! Ramen is godly, of course we should eat-"
Sasuke rolls his eyes and Naruto whips around to look at Sakura next. "Don't you think so, Sakura-chan."
Sakura blinks, still not used ot the way the two boys would turn to her for her opinion whenever they fight. "I-um-"
Sasuke glances over at her then sighs again. "Why don't you choose, Sakura?" He asks.
Naruto pauses mid rant. "Hey, that's a good idea. We've eaten at Sasuke-teme's house and we've eaten at my favorite place. We should go to yours next."
Sakura glances down nervously. Where would she take them? The Hyuuga compound was out of the question-a place comes to her mind.
Nana-san's tea shop was not the most expensive of places to eat. It wasn't open and loud or Ichiraku, or extravagant like the Uchiha compound, btu to was the one place Sakura and Neji could be themselves.
Shibata Nana was a woman in her mid forties that ran what was officially known as a tea shop. However, the woman was up to making anything requested as long as she had the ingredients at hand.
Sakura and Neji had come across the woman struggling with her shopping years ago and an act of nothing more than courtesy on their part had now earned them a friend they could depend on.
Sakura wonders what Naruto and Sasuke will think, then decides she doesn't care. If they cannot accept it, she is more than willing to let them leave without her.
Naruto and Sasuke follow Sakura as she leads them through the streets. Neither of they say anything as they curiously trot after their teammate. A short while later, Sakura stops in front of a traditional looking door.
The pinkette slides the door open and pushes past the flaps without a hint of hesitation. "Nana-san?" She calls.
Naruto glances over at his friend and they quickly follow.
The shop they had entered is not big or anything, but it is comfortable and feels homey.
Sakura leads them to a corner table and gestures for them to sit down. "This is Nana-san's tea shop." She says. "Nii-sama and I-"
"Sakura-chan?"
A brunette woman appears from behind the counter. She was wearing a bandana and a navy apron and she smiled widely at the Hyuuga. "Sakura-chan! It's been a while."
Sakura nods politely. "Hello, Nana-san. I'm sorry, I've been busy."
The woman waves it off as she walks closer. "No, it's fine, no need to apologize. I just missed you. No Neji-kun today?"
Sakura nods. "I brought my teammates." She says quietly. "These are Namikaze Naruto-san and Uchiha Sasuke-san."
Nana glancing over them like she is appraising them, then nods. "Nice to meet you. I'm Shibata Nan. I run this place."
"Nice to meet you." Naruto grins back. Sasuke nods.
Nana smiles wider then turns back to Sakura. "What do you want today, hm?"
Sakura turns to them too. "Nana-san can make anything." She says, a smile on her face.
"Then miso ramen please!" Naruto says.
Sasuke scoffs. "I'll have salad. And rice with okaka."
"Give him extra tomatos." Naruto chirps, and Sasuke smacks him.
Nana laughs again. "Got it. An you, Sakura-chan? The usual?"
Sakura nods and the woman returns to her kitchen.
The three of them sit awkwardly there for a while before Sakura reaches over the table and hands them each a cup. She then begins to pour them all tea. "Nii-sama and I often come here to eat when we return late." She says quietly.
"Thanks." Naruto takes his cup and Sasuke does the same. "Nana-san seems nice." He says.
Sakura's eyes seem to brighten a little. "She is."
They go quiet again, and Naruto elbows Sasuke, who glares right back. Soon, the smell of food wafts from the kitchen and Naruto tries again. "That smells nice."
Sasuke takes a sip of his own tea and grunts in agreement. "I didn't know a shop like this existed." He says. "It's not bad, though."
"It's very welcoming." Naruto agrees.
They must have said the right thing, because Sakura smiles.
Hanakotoba:
Showy Baby's Breath:
Painful Feelings/Pure Heart/Kindness/Happiness
So, here's a quick question for you people.
Darque: We've left the Wave mission participants open. Would you readers rather Team Seven only, or would you want Neji and his team to tag along?
Raven: We're hesitating because both will offer different kinds of experiences for the characters.
Darque: So we're siccing the hard question onto yo-
Raven: Dar! No, we are asking for their opinions, because they are important.
Darque: That too.
Raven:...Anyways, yeah. Please leave a review telling us what you think~
Read and Review~
