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this time I'll save myself
maybe i'll wake up for once
not tormented daily defeated by you
just when I thought I'd reach the bottom
I dying again.
It was about three days aftert the tornament, not really surprisngly, almost all the people from Leaf advanced. This time though, their going to choose the alignment randomly, so that the participants wouldn't know who they were fighting against.
Sakura played with some of the grass as she waited for Tsudande to arrive. She took in a deep breath and breathed in the mist in the air. Tired, she laid her back down on the moist, cool grass. It looked like a different world, this land. Everywhere was mist and you could barely see, the only thing you can depend on was your senses in checking your surroundings. It was a great place to train.
Sakura started to hear the soft footsteps of Tsudande come closer. Opening one eye, Sakura saw Tsudande's smile peek over her.
"Get up, don't be lazy." Tsudande smiled.
"Tsudande sama? When are we going to learn that other jutsu you said you'd train me?" Sakura asked, brushing off the left over grass on her ninja outfit.
"...hm?" Tsudande asked. Sakura nearly fell over.
"You know!! You said you would teach me a new jutsu if I advanced to the finals!!" Sakura yelled.
"OOOooOooOOoooo...thaaaaaaaaat..." Tsudande said.
"Yes!! That!!!" Sakura answered back. Sakura was really in the move to learn a new jutsu. She was tired of doing a hundred kicks a day.
"Well..this jutsu requires a LOT of training and chakura, but a promise os a promise. Sakura, you need to be ten times more determined now."
"I will!!! I'll show them all!! I'm no fool!!!" Sakura yelled.
"Woot woot." Tsudande laughed.
With that, the two females went off in their training.
--two weeks later---
Sakura flopped down on her bed. She was so freaking tired. Tsudande wasn't joking about having a lot of chakura, every day, focus Sakura, focus.
Sakura moaned, tomorrow morining...four AM sharp...train until twelve, eat until one..train until five..eat until five fifteen....then..train until eight...then...two hours on chakura training..then..sleep...then..then...Sakura couldn't think anymore and she just collasped right on her bed.
She spread out her legs and laid on her stomach. She let her hair do whatever. Sakura no longer cared for blankets as much. She really liked it when the nights were cold. Only because it was the only time of day when Sakura would feel hot and cold at the same time. Of course, she would only stay in bed ten minutes before getting up to take her second shower.
Tonight..was different though. It was oddly very cold. Which was strange because it was only fall. It didn't really get this cold in Konoha. Closing her eyes softly Sakura heard a little sound, then a melody, after that, a song. Sakura glanced out her window to the sweet lullaby.
"Like it?" asked a haunted voice. Sakura's eyes widened and she immediately jumped off her bed.
"Whose there?!" Sakura yelled. She took out a kunai and faced her window.
"Now now, what's taking out a kunai going to do?" The windows flew open and leaves soared everywhere in Sakura's petit room.
Sakura used her arms to block herself and and after she thought the whirling had stopped, she slowly took her arms down.
"After all.." Her stranger said. "I'm already dead."
Sakura eyes opened up in shock. Sakura only said one thing, even though her mind was whirling with questions. "Haku?"
"Aa. So I see i'm not forgotten, that's good. So, how's Naruto kun doing?" Haku asked as he slowly levitated deeper into Sakura's room.
"F-fine." Sakura stuttered.
"There there, no need to be scared now Sakura chan." Haku said. He brought his hand down and patted Sakura's head.
"I am not scred." Sakura said defensivly.
"Now your not." Haku laughed, his laughter soon died down as Sakura stared at him with questioned eyes.
"Why aren't you in heaven?" Sakura asked. Haku stared back at her, his eyes against hers.
"Because..there are things..that I have regretted here." Haku answered.
"And..why are you here?" Sakura coninued.
"..that is what I wish to know. Why am I still here? What are my regrets? How come your the only one that is able to hear and see me?" Haku sighed and sat on Sakura's bed. Even though he's a ghost.
"What!??! Only I can see you?!?!" Sakura nearly screamed.
Haku winced at Sakura's tone but smiled anyways. "Yes, surprised me too."
"So...now what?" Sakura asked.
"You are a very curious person you know that?" Haku asked.
"..and???"
Haku laughed again and looked out Sakura's window. "I think I left something behind here, but I don't know what."
"Look, I'm just trying my hardest to win the chunnin exam. I really wish I can help, but Tsudande sama is training me day and night, so I don't have time for side stories." Sakura explained.
Haku did not leave his gaze off the window. He stared blankly into the fields of plain grass, how the wind softly picked up the movement. "You know...I've been wandering on this reality world for so long, that I had lost count."
Sakura's face softened a but before she answered, "Okay..but..I don't know how I can help you..."
"You said you were in the chunnin exams right?" Haku asked.
"Of course, but I don't know how I can keep up with training." Sakura mumbled.
"Oh? You are having troubles?" Haku asked and he turned around to face Sakura.
"Yeah, I don't have enough chakura, everyday..it's focus Sakura, focus!!" Sakura grabbed her hair in frustration.
"In that case.." Haku got up and went over to Sakura. "I know how I can help you..and you can help me."
"EH? How?" Sakura asked.
Haku smiled. "You help me get to the afterlife, and I'll give you my chakura."
"Eh??? No! You don't have to! I mean, it's your chakura!!"
"I'm dead, what am I going to use it for?"
"But But..."
"In return..you must also not tell anyone about me. Plus, if you try, it would seem pretty stupid since your the only that can see me."
"Okay..so that and I help you get into the afterlife right?"
"Yup."
"Well..I feel pretty guilty..."
"Don't worry Sakura chan. All will be well. Plus, you can only get use my chakura one time only." Haku leaned forward to Sakura's face. "Just be sure you keep your end of the deal."
..then all was black and silent...
--next day---
The sun peeked it's evil light through Sakura's windows. Sensing heat, Sakura instantly woke up and stared next to her.
"Morning Sakura chan."
"Kyaa!!!" Sakura fell off her bed and onto the floor. She faced Haku and sighed. It wasn't a dream. Sakura instantly threw an accusing funger at Haku. "You scared me!!!"
"Sorry." Haku said he got up from Sakura's chair and went over to Sakura. "I would help you up, but..."
"It's alright." Sakura said. "By the way, what happened last night?"
"I transferred my chakura into you, but the thing is, it kind of works like Naruto's chakura. Your going to have to learn how to call it out." Haku said in a matter as factly tone.
"More learning??? More training??? Oh god kill me now!!" Sakura threw her hands in frustration and headed to the bathroom.
Haku smiled as he heard water running, then followed by a scream. Sakura ran out of the bathroom with only a towel and shot daggers at Haku.
"I was born in the snow, it's only natural for things to become cold when I'm around. One of my ghostly abilities." Haku explained.
"Then leave!! Talk to you later!! Need shower!!!" Sakura yelled. Sakura rushed Haku out the window and went to her shower.
Haku sweatdropped. "Oh well, girls will be girls." Haku smiled. He would just wait for her in the fields.
--naruto---
Naruto walked the streets of Konoha, after eating his fill of noodles, he decided to get to the meeting spot early. As the mist cleared up a little better, Naruto saw a figure he did not like to see in the morning.
"Hey..Sasuke." Naruto said. Naruto gave a slight wave and Sasuke didn't really do anything.
Naruto leaned against the bridge next to Sasuke, for three days it was just like this, just him, Sasuke, and Kakashi sensei training. All three trying their hardest, well, Kakashi's trying to train them.
Naruto sighed and said, "I miss Sakura chan training with us."
"Stop moping." Sasuke answered darkly.
"How can I? It's as if we lost another teamate!! SHe never trains with us anymore, she barely asks you out on a date, not that I mind, but she also hasn't lectured me in days!!!" Naruto screamed and toppled over.
"Your a dork." Sasuke said, looking down at Naruto.
Naruto stopped rolling and looked up. Sasuke caught his gaze and looked up too. "Sakura chan?" Naruto asked.
--sakura---
Sakura rubbed her eyes and yawned.
'Freaking Haku, waking me up so early..' Sakura thought. She did not happen to notice the pair of eyes stareing at her.
"Ohayo. Sakura chan!!!" Naruto yelled, he glomped on the pink haired shinobi.
"It's too damn early for this Naruto!!!" Sakura yelled, she whacked Naruto on the head. Sakura caught Sasuke's glance and then she decided for good times sake. "Ohayo, Sasuke kun."
"Aa."
Sakura waved and then she started to walk away. Sakura felt a tug at her feet. As she looked down, she saw..Naruto.
"Sakura chan!!! Don't leave!! Train with us!!!" Naruto begged.
"Naruto! Get off me!!" Sakura yelled, she shook her leg violently like a dog and tried to get Naruto off.
"That hurt Sakura chan.." Naruto fake cried. For once, Sakura actually laughed. Naruto looked surprised but smiled. It wasn't everyday your crush would laugh to you.
"I'd love to stay but I got to meet Tsudande at my training place." Sakura said. She was about to rush off, when Naruto grabbed her arm.
"Can't you at least eat ramen with us later??" Naruto asked.
Sasuke almost choked. Us???
"Uhm.." Sakura thoguht for a while. It had been long since she ate ramen with Naruto, or talk to Sasuke. "Okay, i'll meet you right here at twelve okay?"
"Yes!!" Naruto cheered.
Sakura smiled and left.
Sasuke went over to Naruto and hit him on the head. "Us?"
Naruto rubbed his sore head. "Of course! If you won't come, she won't come either!!!"
Sasuke grumbled. Naruto took this time to ask, "Hey, don't you want to at least get a chance to talk to Sakura chan? It's been so long."
Sasuke stared at his companion and miffled either a "Whatever." or Never."
Naruto didn't know. SO, he just assumed the best and the two waited for there sennin.
The two looked up in the sky. Today was unusually cold.
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koko chan: how you like it? If your wondering why I put Haku in, is because I want to make it kinda like the manga, like for Naruto, before the Chunnin exam, there was a side quest thingy. hehe, so I juss thought, why not?