Sleep would have been nice, but the gods were not working in Sakuras' favor. Sure, the first day at school had gone off with few blemishes and she got to know most of her classmates but there was so much going on in her mind the second she tucked herself into the sheets she knew sleep was not going to happen.
Sitting up from her bed Sakura looked at her side to the picture of Team Seven. 'I wonder what Konoha is up to now? Do they think of me as much as I think of them?' Sakura knew she had always been the most emotional one of her team but it was what also gave her passion for being a hero.
"You're my hero."
"Youll be more than some lame hero my little greenhouse."
"It is admirable how strong you are with your emotions." Todoroki…
Sakura smiled to herself, Todorokis latest words were now forever a part of her memory. 'Just another quote to remember why I'm doing this.' Since sleep was not going to happen Sakura allowed herself to daydream.
Konoha Acadamy: Konoha Elevens First year of Middle School
"TEN MORE LAPS MY YOUTHFUL STUDENTS!"
Groans were heard everywhere but Sakura could barely focus on moving straight. She was out of breath and her vision was getting blurry, if she didn't slow down now she felt as if she was going to puke. 'Just a little break' Stopping to catch her breath she took in the chaos around her.
Guy Sensei or as others knew him as 'Green Beast of Prey' was known for his stamina and that was something he tried to implement on all his classes. Sakura could see the rest of Konoha eleven still running which caused her to fell something within her, 'why is there such a distance between me and them?' Ino, who she used to think she was on par with was jogging together with her team. Even if they were tired they weren't stopping to catch their breath like she was.
She could blame it them being from prominent hero families but Sakura knew it wasn't the whole truth. 'Just how far behind am I?' Looking for her teammates she saw them running at speeds that made them appear like a blur of orange and blue, in just a few seconds she took to look at them they did a lap and passed her. 'Passing me, it seems like that's all I ever see them do.' Smacking both her cheeks to push negative thoughts away Sakura continued jogging at her own pace.
"Hey Teme did you hear? Old man Sarutobi is finally giving up the principle thing. Some old lady is taking up the spot. Princess slimy something… think shell be strong? I wanna fight her!"
"Dobe, I bet she can kick your ass."
"TEME!"
To anyone outside of their clique, it would seem as if the two boys were about to fight to the death but Sakura knew better. Those two were like brothers, sure Sakura saw Naruto as her close friend but she knew she had nothing compared to his bond with Sasuke. "Hey Naruto, do you really not know her name?"
"Huh? I don't remember it really, why Sakura Chan? Do you want to fight her too!?" Naruto turned to give the pinkette a questioning stare.
"Hmm... I'm going to ask Slug Princess Tsunade to train me." Plain and simple, Sakura let her intentions known to the boys and now she wanted to see their reactions. Would they laugh at her goal? Scoff at her dream?
"THAT'S GREAT SAKURA CHAN"
"Hnn"
They held different reactions, Naruto had one of excitement. He always was happy when his classmates made big achievements which soothed Sakuras worries but then there was Sasuke. It wasn't as if he was scoffing at her statement but she can see he didn't believe her. Her relationship with the younger Uchiha started very strained, having a hopeless crush on him throughout elementary caused a split between them when they were placed in a trio together at the start of middle school. Sakura got over her little crush and Sasuke acknowledged her as a friend. After spending time together they had established a relationship akin to siblings, but that also meant Sasuke took the role of an older brother protecting his 'fragile' little sister.
Standing up straight Sakura pointed at them, "I'm tired of always looking at your backs, it time for me to be a big girl and protect you! I'm going to get Tsunade to take me in and I'm going to be an amazing hero and prove everyone wrong!" She initially just wanted to tell them she was going to get strong but it all just came out, watery eyes and all.
Narutos eyes softened, "Sakura, you're not weak. Were a team, and were going to be amazing heroes! But I think it's great you want Tsunade to teach you, YOU GOT THIS!"
"Youll be strong..." Sasuke turned away while saying those few words, he was embarrassed for his previous reaction. Sasuke may have been emotionally stunted but he knew better than to look down on others.
With stars in her eyes, Sakura gave them her biggest Naruto smile she could muster, "I'm going to her office and asking her right now!"
"No."
"HUH!? Why I want to be a hero a great hero like you please teach me!"
"No, want to be a big flashy hero? Go ask another sucker I'm busy."
Sakura heard of how temperamental the slug princess could be but this is just cruel! "I'll come back tomorrow! I won't give up!" This was what sakura wanted, she was going to be strong for her and her team, she promised them. Sure Sakura was not a fangirl who followed Tsunades every move but when she heard from naruto that she would be their principle it was as if the stars were aligning.
"You can come back how many times you want, my answer won't change no matter how stubborn you are brat."
"Please make me your apprentice!"
"No."
"I want to be a strong hero like you."
"No."
"Go away Sakura!"
After being rejected for the second week in a row Sakura was still not giving up. "I'll see you again tomorrow Tsunade- Shisou!"
Closing the doors behind her Sakura decided to take the long path home going pass the academies elementary units. Seeing young children play without a care in the world brought a smile to her face, 'they're so carefree.' Hearing a yelp Sakura instantly found her feet moving without giving a second thought.
"Look at the crybaby, she still hasn't gotten her quirk yet. I bet shes quirkless!" Sakura paused to see the scene in front of her. Two boys which she quickly identified as Hyugas were antagonizing a little girl. From what little Sakura heard she knew it had to do with quirks.
The small girl no older than 10 had cuts and dirt all over her uniform, tears were evident even from where Sakura was standing. Looking at the people passing by the scene Sakura could help but panic. 'Why is everyone passing by? Why isn't anyone doing anything?!' Sakura could feel her heart and her mind going in opposite directions, on one hand, she's already here and could put a stop to this cruelty but on the other, she wanted to be a coward like everyone else and act as if this wasn't happening. 'No, no rescue is too big or too small!'
"Hey stop that! Leave her alone!" Sakura hoped being called out would scare the kids away but they stayed still, staring at her with no annoyance as if she was intruding on their time.
"What do you want pinky?" A sneer came from the Hyuga boy, "Can't you see we're showing this quirkless a lesson on heroes? You cant be a hero if you don't have a quirk!"
"That's enough!" Sakura released all the anger she could on her back, thorny rose vines shot out into the air and aimed for the two children. "You think a powerful quirk is all you need to be a hero? A real hero is about standing up to people like you even if no one else will! A real hero protects everyone's hopes and dreams! A real hero plants the foundation for those dreams to grow!"
Sakura was not sure how long her little rant lasted but by the time she pulled herself to gather and got rid of the vines the boys were already gone, hopefully with new insight. "Hey," Sakura walked forward to the little girl, kneeling to her level to assure her she made no harm. "When you become a hero promise me we can go on patrol together at least once?" Sakura ruffled her hair and felt proud of herself when the little one giggled.
"Do you believe I can be a hero?" The little girl looked up at Sakura with eyes that told her she had been told no too many times for her to believe someone thought she had potential. Eyes that reflected what Sakira had been feeling these past years seeing all her classmates run past her and bloom into their spotlights.
"Of course I believe in you, here let me give you this!" Acting as if she was a magician Sakura gave the little girl a wink and with a snap of her finger a green rose emerged on her other hand, handing the rose to the girl Sakura laughed, "green roses symbolize life and growth, quirkless or not you can grow to be a good person and that'll make you someone's hero." Will one last head pat Sakura got up from the ground and began to walk away. If it weren't for her trained ears she might not have heard the little girl's voice.
"You're my hero."
Sakura kept walking choosing to keep those words in her heart, 'this is what being a hero is really about.'
"Yes"
"Okay, ill see you tom- wait.. what! Are you serious!"
"Yes Sakura, ill train you." Tsunade smiled at the girl's shocked face. "Yesterday I decided to take a stroll around the academy and witnessed something very interesting." Seeing the realization on the pinkettes face she continued. "You're right, a hero is not some job to show off your quirk. Everyone wants to be a hero but when someone needed help you saw how people just looked the other way, you stood up for that little girl when no one else would. Being the light for people who only know darkness is what real heroes do."
Sakura couldn't control her joy any longer, she ran up to Tsunade and gave her a bearhug. "Shisou I will make you proud, I will protect everyone! I will be their light!"
Tsunade could have cared less if Konohas top student walked in right now and asked to be her apprentice, Sakuras resolve was not something you see in every person, maybe it was the fact that she didn't come from a prominent clan so she had to build herself from the ground up but Sakura was humble and Tsunade liked to see that in a hero instead of their big ego.
Ending their embraces Tsunade poked Sakuras' forehead. "Youll be more than some lame hero my little greenhouse."
Present Day: U.A Dorms
"Be their light…" Yawning, Sakura finally felt her eyelids get heavier and heavier. Nestling herself under the covers she gave one last glance at the photo before allowing herself to go to sleep.
A/N:
I'm glad people seem to be enjoying the longer chapter style as I've seen a spike in interest in my story! I have an outline on where I want to take this story but I have no definite answer on how many chapters it will be so we may be going on a long journey together. Input would be appreciated and we're slowly moving on from Konoha and will stick with UA!
Thanks for reading - Ponies