CHAPTER 12: Nothing's changed
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Uchiha Sasuke versus Akado Yoroi
Winner: Uchiha Sasuke
Abumi Zaku versus Aburame Shino
Winner: Aburame Shino
Tsurugi Misumi versus Kankuro
Winner: Kankuro
Yamanaka Ino versus Haruno Sakura
- MATCH ONGOING –
Emerald eyes blinked as it stared at equally mesmerizing ocean blue orbs. The pinkette could see from afar how Ino was nervous. "No hard feelings?" She spoke out softly once Hayate, the proctor, signaled for the match to start.
Ino furrowed her brows as she nodded, "You say that now after you blew the whole forest sky - high? But, yeah. No hard feelings." She said, "This actually takes me back. You know, back at the Academy sessions." She watched as the pinkette innocently tilted her head, "I… I'm going to show you that after all these years of running behind you, I deserve to walk beside you." She smiled.
Sakura was confused with what her best friend had said but her thoughts were cut off as Ino began to run towards her with a pair of kunai held in each hand.
"You better not hold back, Sakura!"
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-.-
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ACADEMY DAYS, Age 8
"Ne, forehead," Ino called out to the pinkette while they watched the class continue with the taijutsu spars, "I know I pretty much dragged you around until I became your friend, but why'd you stay?" she asked, her head turning to look at the pinkette.
Sakura tilted her head in thought, "Why do you ask? You're awfully quiet today, might I add."
The blonde thought back to the numerous things people have said behind her back. "Nothing, just curious." She smiled.
Sakura scrunched her nose with curiosity, "If it eases your nerves, I stayed because people give you less credit than what you're due."
Ino cocked a brow, "Speak in basic dialect, forehead. I don't really understand what that means." She teased.
Sakura sighed, ever the patient friend, as she explained once more, "You're…not stupid. Far from it really. You're kind of like Naruto – kun, you're more perceptive than what other people assume you to be." Emerald eyes turned to look at Ino directly, "I've noticed that people tend to brush you off and simply ignore your efforts…but I don't."
The blonde blinked in surprise as she watched the pinkette continue, "You deserve to be acknowledged for your efforts, not just because it's expected of you because you're a clan child or an heiress. I've seen you grind hard for your grades and for you to win your spars, I stayed because you need someone to appreciate you for what you are."
Ino shifted her gaze from her friend to the grass in front of her, "Do you, do you know what people say behind my back?" she asked.
"They say those behind your back? They say those upfront to me." Sakura mused, "I remember quite a few, to be honest. 'The Yamanaka heir that's all beauty and no brains', 'Unfit to befriend the upcoming prodigy', 'The girl who just uses me for attention', 'The polar opposite to the pink haired academy student', 'Mediocre child of the Yamanaka clan'," she listed out, "I've heard all of those already, but I don't really believe in any of them."
"Why?" the heir questioned, "Don't you think it's suspicious that I befriended you?"
"Aren't you suspicious that I, a civilian born child, befriended you, a shinobi clan heir?"
"But you're different. You're Sakura – so – called "genius" of our generation."
"And you're Ino – the future Torture and Interrogation Force Head."
Ino giggled, "Head? That's quite a stretch. I think Yamanaka Clan Head seems more believable."
"That's boring. You becoming clan head is a sure thing already. But becoming the T&I head?" Sakura chuckled, "That's a big slap in the face to every person who has doubted you."
Ino looked at the pinkette with a reserved intensity. She carefully looked at the emerald orbs that were staring down at her. The girl stood up and moved herself in front of the pinkette, "Someday, I'll prove myself to everyone that I am more than what they just say. And… I'll prove myself to you that you weren't wrong in befriending me. I'll prove to you that no matter what happens, I deserve to walk beside you and nothing will change."
Sakura tilted her head, "Why would anything change?"
The Yamanaka sighed, "You're so dumb sometimes, forehead."
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-.-
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Ino huffed as she looked at the pinkette in front of her. She decided to ignore the sharp kunai pointed to her neck in favor of smiling at her best friend, "To be honest, this wasn't my best performance," she referred to how her Shintenshin no Jutsu was easily broken by her counterpart, "But in a scale of one to ten, how'd I do?" she tried to balance herself as much as she can from her kneeling position.
Sakura raised a brow in confusion. Her emerald eyes looked at the blonde's injured and bruised body. There were numerous gashes on her, her bruises were likely to last for a few weeks, and the blonde's carefully taken care of physique was bloody and scratched. But the ocean blue orbs that stared back was nonetheless mesmerizing. The eyes held none of the tired aura her body seemed to give off the eyes held defiance and a hidden strength beneath them.
The pinkette smiled as she licked her dry lips, "A perfect ten, Ino. You did well."
Ino pouted, "I'm bruised, battered, and I even cut off my hair for you, and that's all you can say?" she chuckled, "Was I good enough to be the best friend of the great prodigy though?"
"I don't know, I'll ask her when I see her. I'm just plain, old Sakura."
Ino sighed in defeat as she raised an arm, "I, Yamanaka Ino, forfeit this match." She locked gazes with the pinkette once more. She thought back to the countless harsh words that she heard about her, 'I'm still worthy of being your friend, right? Nothing's changed, right, Sakura?'
Hayate's final call fell onto deaf ears as Sakura helped Ino towards the medic waiting for them near the exit, "You don't have to prove yourself to other people. You're good enough for me, you dumb pig." Sakura whispered.
"I don't know what you mean, forehead." She whispered back.
"Nothing's going to change, stop acting like it will." The pinkette huffed in amusement.
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X
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Uchiha Sasuke versus Akado Yoroi
Winner: Uchiha Sasuke
Abumi Zaku versus Aburame Shino
Winner: Aburame Shino
Tsurugi Misumi versus Kankuro
Winner: Kankuro
Yamanaka Ino versus Haruno Sakura
Winner: Haruno Sakura
Tenten versus Temari
Winner: Temari
Nara Shikamaru versus Tsuchi Kin
Winner: Nara Shikamaru
Dosu Kinuta versus Akamichi Chouji
Winner: Dosu Kinuta
Uzumaki Naruto versus Inuzuka Kiba
Winner: Uzumaki Naruto
Gaara versus Rock Lee
Winner: Gaara
Sakura blinked at the amount of bad luck the world must have placed on her. Her soft features scowled into a look of annoyance as she read her final match for the Chuunin Exam.
"I have high hopes for you, fellow predator." Speaking of the Devil, Sakura turned to look at the red haired Sunagakure genin. His green eyes, eerily similar to her own, shined with challenge, "Try not to disappoint me, Haruno Sakura." He spoke softly before turning to leave the arena.
Beside her, Shikamaru snorted. "As your teammate, I wish you good luck. As your friend, I hope you know how fucked you are right now."
"That's not really helping me, Shikamaru." Sakura pouted as she turned to address her teammates. From her peripheral, she could see Asuma making his way towards the trio.
"Statistically, either you or Sasuke are the only ones capable of going against the deranged redhead. Although yours is probably a good ten to fifteen percent more chance of surviving." Shino voiced out.
"Ah, I'm so proud of my students for passing the preliminaries," Asuma called out, "So, what's the plan?" He asked with a cocky grin on his bearded face.
"Die."
"Sleep."
"Eat."
Asuma pouted, "Those weren't the answers I was hoping for, but okay. Never thought I'd see the day little Miss Sakura says the word 'die' though." He chuckled in amusement, "C'mon, lighten up a little."
"She's going up against the guy that nearly killed Lee, I kinda get where she's coming from." Shikamaru scoffed, "Let's get out of here already. I want to change clothes and take a nap. This whole thing was a scam and a waste of effort." He traced a few tears on his shirt, disdain etched on his face.
"Shikamaru – san is cranky when he's tired, yes?" Shino tilted his head towards the pinkette whose eyes were also fixated in wonder at the uncharacteristically loud Nara.
"I guess? It seems I have to revisit the library and read about the Nara Clan. I never encountered this feature regarding their laidback mannerism." Sakura crossed her arms, "There must be something written about this as well with Social Norms books, I'd have to check those out too." She mused.
Onyx eyes glared at the two, "I'm tired and I want to eat. I have the right to get cranky like a normal person. Troublesome."
"Before we go, I'd like to inform you guys ahead that I won't be able to train any of you for the finals." Asuma's comment made the trio turn back towards him with a questioning gaze, "I don't want to play favorites, so it's a free for all. Plus, I have a mission that's going to last a good two weeks, so I won't be much of help, really."
"May we know what your mission is about?" Sakura asked.
The bearded man shrugged, "There are plans on making you guys shadow real Ambassadors once the whole Chuunin Exam settles down. As proposed by the Elders, the three of you will be sent to three different lands instead of going as a group. My mission is to make the necessary arrangements with your future mentors and process a few papers with the Daimyos."
"But didn't we get enough experience when we went to Kiri?" Shikamaru asked.
The man shook his head, "Not quite. Plus, Kirigakure is not the only land we intend to send you guys." He clapped his hands twice, "Now, shall we go?"
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A.N:
Happy new yearrrr! :)) yeah, I'm alive hehe