The rest of the trips to Sunagakure left much to be desired as Miyako didn't run into any trouble. Everything was now sorted, and the Chunin exams were a week away. Miyako was taking some time to rest in her apartment, reading a book, and was startled when the front door opened to reveal an exhausted Sasuke, along with a nervous looking Kakashi.
"Sasuke, is everything alright?" Miyako questioned as she put the book down and rushed to the twelve-year-old boy, checking him over for injuries that she could still faintly see but were obviously healing at good pace.
"There was a complication on the mission," Sasuke replied simply, and Miyako frowned in response. That didn't sound too good.
"You go and have a shower, then get some rest whilst I talk to Kakashi-san," Miyako ordered and Sasuke nodding, heading to his room to grab a fresh set of clothes before having a shower and relaxing bath. Miyako turned to face Kakashi, gesturing to the couch in the living room once Sasuke left. "Please, take a seat. Do you want something to drink?"
"I'm fine, Miyako-san," Kakashi replied as he sat down on the couch, Miyako sitting next to him with an expectant look on her face, waiting for his explanation on what happened on the mission. When Kakashi didn't speak Miyako's frown deepened.
"Well? Are you going to tell me what happened? Or am I going to have to guess?" Miyako questioned in annoyance after a couple of minutes of silence on Kakashi's half.
"The mission became complicated at the very beginning. The client had lied about the severity of the mission. We had a run in with two chunin from Kirigakure. Perhaps you've heard of them, the Demon Brothers?" Kakashi started and Miyako pursued her lips, nodding. She had heard of them. "A day later we ran into Momochi Zabuza."
Miyako's eyes widened in shock at hearing that name. "Oh my God, is everyone alright?" Miyako questioned frantically.
"Yes, yes. Sasuke and Naruto both saved me from a water prison jutsu, and we got away after a hunter-nin 'killed' Zabuza," Kakashi stated and Miyako frowned, hearing the quotation marks around the word 'killed'.
"He wasn't dead, was he?"
"No. the hunter-nin was working for Zabuza, and a week later we fought them at the bridge. In the battle, we won after a change in circumstances on Zabuza's side, but Sasuke almost lost his life in the process," Kakashi explained and Miyako's blue eyes widened in a mixture of shock and fear at those words.
"What about Sakura? Is she alright?"
"Sakura? She is fine. She didn't get caught in the crossfire," Kakashi replied and Miyako relaxed. "Actually, that's the other reason why I came here. You see, Sakura is weak, to put it lightly. She did nothing the entire time but tried to defend our client. However, I suspect that she wouldn't have been of much use if an attack was aimed at him."
Miyako nodded in understanding. "Sakura has always been more focused on appearances and boys than training. I'm surprised she was even allowed to graduate from the Academy, if I'm to be honest."
"Hmm, I have to agree," Kakashi stated with a nod. "I am putting them up for the Chunin exams. I don't think they're ready to become Chūnin's, but the experience may help them understand just how serious being a shinobi is. I was hoping that, before the Chunin exams begin, that you can take Sakura on for some private training. Just so she's not completely defenceless."
"Of course. She's my cousin after all. I'd do anything for her," Miyako stated with a small smile. "Is she at home?"
"Yes. As usual with missions like the last one, I had to inform the parents or parental guardians of what happened. I already told Sakura's parents, and now you, because you're Sasuke's guardian. I now need to go and write a full report for the Hokage," Kakashi stated and stood up, Miyako standing up as well.
"Of course. Thank you for informing me about what happened. I will talk to Sakura and see if I can get her to train. Even a little bit of training is better than nothing at all," Miyako stated and Kakashi nodded before leaving.
Miyako then locked the front door and went into the kitchen to prepare rice with chicken and tomatoes for dinner. She decided Sasuke deserved his favourite food after what he went through.
As she cooked, she thought about what she will do to help Sakura. She knew Sakura wouldn't take the training seriously enough to learn new jutsus. Probably wouldn't pay enough attention to learn new Taijutsu either, so both of those were out of the question.
Miyako decided to just build up Sakura's speed, strength, agility, stamina, and the skills she already knew. Who know, maybe the substitution jutsu will save Sakura's life in the upcoming exams.
...
The next day, Miyako made her way over to her aunts and uncles house. She knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal Mebuki standing there. The middle-aged woman grinned when she saw her niece and brought her into a strong hug that knocked the breath out of the teen.
"Miyako? What brings you here?" Mebuki questioned the girl as she led her inside and into the living room. "Do you want some tea?"
"No thank you, Mebuki-baa. I just came to see how Sakura is going," Miyako explained and Mebuki nodded in understanding.
"She's fine, even after that atrocious mission. How about Sasuke-kun? He's your ward, isn't he?"
"Sasuke's fine. Recovering but he doesn't seem all that traumatised. Though he may just be faking it," Miyako replied with a frown before shaking her head. "Anyways, I came at request of Kakashi-san. He wants to enter Team Seven into the Chunin Exams, and he asked me to train Sakura to better increase her chances of surviving them."
"Really?" Mebuki questioned in disbelief. "What's he thinking? Putting his first year genins through such an exam? I wish I could say something but its ultimately up to the sensei and Sakura if she enters."
Miyako sat down on the couch, Mebuki sitting across from her on the other couch. "They're not taking being a shinobi seriously. Even Sasuke has in his thick skull that he doesn't need anyone to help him with anything. Even after almost dying in the last mission, he's as thick-headed as usual," Miyako explained, pushing some of her purple hair aside. "Kakashi-san believes that having them do the exams will show them that being a shinobi isn't all fun and games and is serious work."
Mebuki frowned but nodded in agreement. "I can see where he's coming from. So, are you going to train Sakura for the next week?"
"Yep. I plan on just building up her speed, strength, agility, and stamina. I also plan on making sure she gets better at the skills she already has. Even the most basic of Ninjutsu can save your life if used in the right way," Miyako explained, thinking back to the time where the standard clone jutsu saved her life by almost pure fluke on a B-Rank mission.
"Well, Sakura is up in her room. She's been awake for an hour, but she hasn't come down for breakfast. Maybe you could get her to come down," Mebuki stated before standing up and leaving Miyako alone in the living room.
Miyako grinned and went upstairs to the room her and Sakura used to share. She knocked on the door and waited for Sakura to open it. When Sakura saw it was Miyako, she grinned and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Mi-chan, what brings you here?" Sakura asked Miyako as Miyako returned her hug.
"Kakashi-san has asked me to train you. But first, I think you should have breakfast," Miyako explained and Sakura frowned and pulled back, pushing some of her waist length pink hair behind her shoulder and out of her face.
"I can't," Sakura stated, gesturing to some scales on the floor of her room. "I gainted weight in the last month. Sasuke-kun will surely notice. I need to go on a diet and lose the weight as quickly as possible."
Miyako sighed, contemplating a way to get Sakura to not only eat but train. After a few second an idea formed in her head and she grinned. "Well... training will help you lose the extra weight. But training on an empty stomach will make you sick and Sasuke would not be happy with you vomiting everywhere. Maybe get some food and we'll do some training. If I know Sasuke, he'll like you more if you train."
Sakura bit her lip as she thought Miyako's words over before nodding with a grin lighting up her features. "That's right! Sasuke would appreciate me better if he knew I was trying to not only look better but fight better for him! Ok! I'll get changed into some training clothes and have breakfast. Then we can train."
"Sounds good," Miyako replied and left the room so Sakura could get ready, a smug grin on her face at her success in convincing Sakura to not only train but to eat as well.
...
Miyako hadn't realised the extent on how much her cousin was lacking until she assessed her later that day. While Sakura's knowledge of the ninja world and chakra control was amazing, her skills in everything else were severely lacking. In other words, the pink haired genin needed an intervention, ASAP. And Miyako was more than happy to be the one giving it to her.
"Sakura... how do I put this gently? You suck," Miyako stated as the pink-haired girl was panting on the ground after sparring with another genin Miyako had enlisted to help with this huge task.
Sakura's face fell at Miyako's words but knew her cousin was right. After all, she hadn't even landed a hit on the other genin and was beaten within a matter of thirty second. And this particular genin had graduated at the same time as her. It was humiliating to say the least.
"I dare say you're below average for a recently graduated genin. In fact, your skills are that of a genin who will eventually quit and choose another career in the near future," Miyako continued, making Sakura flinch at the harsh words.
"I'm not that bad! I protected Tazuna-san, did I not?" Sakura tried to defend herself and Miyako just shook her head.
"Standing in front of him in the hopes that your sensei and teammates keep the real threat at bay is not protecting. In fact, it's just hoping for the best. Sakura, I love you, I do, but I can see what Sasuke means by you being weak and annoying," Miyako explained, making the thirteen-year-old girl lose faith in herself and become depressed.
"So, what are you saying? That I'm a lost cause? That there's not point in me even trying?" There were now tears in the girls green eyes and Miyako felt bad.
Miyako shook her head. "No. What I'm saying is that unless you pick up your skills, your teammates will leave you behind. Sasuke won't even glance at you."
"So, what should I do?"
"Kakashi-san has given you to me for this week and in that time, I'm going to make sure you can defend yourself against the most basic of attacks. Training will fall into multiple parts. First, I'm going to improve your basic Taijutsu. Second, your Academy ninjutsu. Third, your ninja tool and trap setting skills. And fourth, how to recognise and dispel a Genjutsu, for both yourself and others," Miyako explained and Sakura nodded, determination flittering across her features. "If I had more time, I'd be training you in other field, but I don't, and I need to fine tune your basics first."
"Mi-chan, even after this week, will you train me? I want Sasuke-kun to notice me, and if it means training more, I will do it," Sakura begged and Miyako smirked, proud at Sakura's determination.
"How about you see if you can survive the first week first. If you can do that, then we'll talk about the future."
Sakura's face filled with fear for a second before she stood up taller, her face set into determination. "I will survive this week, and all the weeks after it."
...
The week flew by for Sakura as Miyako pushed her to her limit each day. Sakura could feel herself getting stronger, faster, and more confident in herself and her skills. And, whilst the training was exhausting, she was almost excited to go back for more each day.
Sakura hadn't seen her sensei or teammates since the week prior and was now meeting up with them. She walked towards her two teammates, back straight and head held high. Her confidence didn't go unnoticed by both Naruto and Sasuke, the latter of which also noticed that the fangirl seemed stronger than she did two weeks ago.
"Sakura-chan! You look happy!" Naruto complimented the girl who grinned proudly.
"I spent the last week training with Mi-chan. She taught me some things and I feel like I'm ready for whatever Kakashi-sensei throws at me," Sakura stated proudly, her gaze falling to the raven-haired Uchiha before her.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted and Sakura grinned, knowing that that was more acknowledgment than she had gotten from the Uchiha in a long, long time.
...
"What did you do to Sakura?" Sasuke questioned Miyako as he returned home from the teams' missions later on in the day.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Miyako replied as she put some ramen noodles on the boil for their dinner.
"You trained her all of last week. Today, when she arrived at our meeting place, she seemed more confident. She even seemed slightly stronger," Sasuke replied with a confused look on his face. "She's never shown interest in training before now."
Miyako grinned. "I just gave her some encouragement."
Sasuke frowned in suspicion, not liking the grin on Miyako's face. "What type of encouragement?"
"The truth," Miyako replied and Sasuke frowned even more, making the girl laugh. "I told her you'd be more interested in her if she was stronger, that's all," Miyako explained turning around to see the horrified look on Sasuke's face. Miyako laughed. "Don't worry. I know you're not interested in my cousin right now. But, who know? Maybe in the future thing might change and you might choose her to be your wife."
Sasuke snorted, a blush on his cheeks. "I'd rather marry Yamanaka Ino. At least she's strong."
"Does it really matter if your wife is strong?" Miyako questioned and Sasuke nodded, standing up straight.
"My father said that a strong woman produces strong heirs," Sasuke stated and Miyako dropped her spoon into the boiling water, staring at the boy in shock at his (fairly sexist) words.
"You are too young to be thinking about that!" Miyako shouted in shock.
Sasuke grunted and went to his room, leaving a dumbstruck Miyako behind.
...
"And then he just walked out, not even explaining himself to me," Miyako exclaimed as both Gina and Takeo laughed, picturing Miyako's face over the conversation.
The trio were at BBQ for lunch the next day, and Miyako had just told her friend about what had transpired the night before between her and Sasuke. Everyone at the table thought the conversation between her and Sasuke was just hilarious and could barley hold back their tears.
"Oh my God, you poor thing," Gina said through giggles.
"Though let's be honest, it shouldn't be much of a surprise. He has announced his goals are to kill his brother and restore his clan. Obviously he's already planning both," Takeo stated with a smirk as he grabbed some beef from the BBQ in front of them.
"I know, but I didn't realise he's been thinking about it this much. Honestly, dinner last night was awkward," Miyako explained as she grabbed some chicken that had been marinated in a sweet chili and lime marinade.
"What I'm surprised about is that his father had said such a thing to him. He would've been no older than seven at the time," Gina pointed out as she grabbed some fish and placed it on the BBQ to cook.
"I'm not. It's normal for clans to act like that. They instil it into their children young that the stronger the parents the stronger the offspring. Clans want the best of their members after all," Takeo stated and I nodded in agreement, having overheard similar things when my clan was still alive.
"God am I glad I'm not in a clan. It sounds absolutely horrid," Gina stated and Takeo and Miyako shared a knowing look. "And poor Sasuke, the existence of his clan is literally riding on his shoulders. I doubt Itachi is going to be having children anytime soon."
Miyako flinched at the mention of the elder Uchiha. She avoided the name where possible, always referring to hm as the elder Uchiha, or Sasuke's brother. She was still hurt from that night. She reached up and touched the necklace she still wore. Outside of Konohagakure, Itachi was the only one who knew the truth of her heritage. Something she wasn't sure she liked.
"Gina," Takeo hissed as he gestured to Miyako, making Gina's silver eyes widen.
"I'm sorry, Miyako. I forgot about your history with him."
"It's fine. I'm over it," Miyako lied before forcing a grin onto her face. "Anyway, let's just get back to lunch. Got any stories to tell me about the hospital?"