Gravity

By: Fenrin


They stood down in the arena quietly, Sakura sizing up Sasuke, something she had never thought she would do. Sakura caught a glimpse of Tsunade standing next to Kakashi, and remembered the first rule she was taught: to clear her mind and think strategically. If not, she had no doubt in her mind that she would lose. This was her chance to show her team, especially Sasuke, just how much she had grown since the Chuunin exam. This wasn't the time to doubt herself, even if she was going up against her teammate. But, she couldn't think of him as a teammate. Not until the match was over.

She had to get something out of the way before they started.

"I'm not forfeiting, so don't ask me to." She set her mind into working order, pushing aside the fact that he was her childhood crush and friend.

"Then I'll end this match quickly."

'I'm not the same Sakura I used to be. I'm on par with you, Sasuke.' She left out –kun for her own benefit.

…And she believed she was on par with him, if not a bit better in some areas. She was sure she was more advanced than him in medical ninjitsu, genjitsu, and chakra control. She hadn't spent hours with Tsunade after training for nothing. Team Seven had grown in two years. She had Tsunade, Naruto had Jiraiya, and Sasuke trained with Kakashi, since they were the same fighting type. Two years had been the starting point of more than fighting strength for Sakura…

She cleared her mind again. She would not allow herself to think of that changed aspect in her life.

She focused on Sasuke, who had grown taller and was in better build than previous years. His hair had grown longer too. She looked at him as if she hadn't seen him in months. He still had the same arrogance, but that had gotten a bit looser. She knew she was his teammate and friend as well. He simply didn't like showing it off.

A smile crossed her face and she teased him as she would a child. Her hands came together as if in prayer, under her lips, and she shined with playfulness.

"We'll see, ne?"

"Hn." He smirked. He had noticed her growth in more ways then one, but that didn't faze him. He had worked hard, too. He had his Sharingan. If things dragged on, he would end it then.

"Are you both ready? Begin!"

Sakura's smile left, and she was the first to move. Sasuke stood where he was, unfazed. What could she do, anyway? She had grown, yes, but he had watched her in missions. She still did nothing, albeit healing. He wasn't planning on hurting her, so her healing would be useless. His Sharingan could also see through her genjitsu if he willed it too. His abilities had improved ten-fold. Even if Sakura had improved, he would still beat her.

'He's not taking me seriously. This will be his first mistake.'

She ran up to him head on, and threw a punch. He caught this easily, and caught the fist of her second kage bushin as well. Two of her bushins were out. The first bushin, whose fist he held in his right hand make a kick towards his mid drift, which he blocked with his knee. When he realized her plan, it was too late, and he was on his back. The "real" Sakura had kicked his only standing leg from behind.

Her bushins disappeared, and Sasuke cursed. Okay, so taking her seriously was at the top of his list.

He kicked back up onto his feet and made the seals. His Sharingan activated, and he found her behind him. He caught her arm, which was extended towards him, and held it, making a one handed seal while his cheeks puffed out.

'A fire seal...!'

With her arm in his grip, she evaded the small breath of fire. The ball of "fire" had been simple smoke. Now, he had both of her arms behind her back and in front of him.

She cursed herself for not thinking ahead, and looked back at him, her eyes slight with pain.

"We're still fighting like Genins." Her fore fingers extended to lie on his wrists as she shot a spurt of chakra into his body. This forced his grip from hers, and she spun and jumped back to face him. The chakra had beena sever on his nerves, which numbed his arms long enough for her to make a counter attack.

If he came into physical contact with her again, she'd do the same once more, and this time, she'd send it all the way up to his shoulders. She decided, that this was how it was going to be done.

Sasuke made the signs for his fireball once more, and this time, Sakura braced herself. When the fireball came out, it was huge, taking up more than half of the arena. The heat was scorching on her face. Sakura's bushin took the hit, and Sakura circled around out of view to get behind Sasuke. She brought her fist to the middle of his back and chips of wood flew across her arm when she made contact.

'So it was a bushin.'

This all was too simple. When the fire cleared, he was gone.

Not behind her or above. Not to her sides and definitely not in front. She gathered the chakra to her hands before wondering if Tsunade would be pissed if she smashed up the arena. Oh well…

The arena's entire middle was cracked to bits, and she could see Sasuke hidden beneath a slab of cement. She jumped to the area and lifted it without reserve, small stones rolling off the top and a cloud of dust shielding him from view. He caught her arms, this time very tightly. From his strength, her hands slightly tingled. She struggled to land her fingers on his arms. She was there after a second, and wrapped her fingers as far as she could around his wrists. Her nerve chakra was halfway up his arms, when he locked his Sharingan on her eyes and froze her to the spot.

He would show her his newest talent with the Sharingan.

"Akumu Kioku Omoidasu no Jutsu!" (Bad memory recall).

He watched the pupils of her eyes contract before she regained her movement and jumped back from him. He stepped past the rubble she had made. Her newfound strength was amazing.

She brought her hands into fists and went into a defensive stance with him. The effect of the jutsu was apparent.

Since she had pulled away from Sasuke, her legs had shook. He had done something, and she couldn't clear her mind anymore.

"Sakura, get on your knees and apologize!"

"Sakura, I told you…" Smack. "Your mother knew her place…" Slap. "Have you no idea how much you're embarrassing our family?" Slap.

"I'm sorry, father!"

"You stupid slut…get out of here. I don't want to look at you!"

She closed her eyes for a minute to steady herself.

"Haruko, get over here!"

"You fucking bitch, sit there until I tell you to leave!"

"I'm sorry, mom…Please help me…" She cried in the corner of the room and couldn't stop. Her stomach hurt, and she covered her face in shame. "Please help me…please…"

Slap.

"What did I tell you, Sakura?"

Smack.

"You look just like your mother."

Smack.

"You feel just like your mother."

Her legs wouldn't stop shaking, and she opened her eyes abruptly. An arm reached out for hers. His hands. His voice.

"Get over here Haruko! I'll tell you when to leave!"

"NO!" Her voice was cracked. He hadn't touched her in two years. He was back, and he was going to get her again. Everything she had achieved would be for nothing. He made her weak. She couldn't hurt him. Couldn't push him away.

When she felt his presence next to her in the arena, she became dizzy. Her thoughts were hazy, and she stepped back. The nerves in her legs were jaunted. Her hands had found their way to cradle her head. She was afraid, and she couldn't breathe.

He was back. He was here with her again.

She stepped back again and her legs gave out. Now she would be punished.

"Sakura, you're not cut out to be a shinobi. Haven't I told you this?"

"N-no….No…!"

For two years she had been free. Why was he back? Why…?

Tears made her sight blurry, and when she felt a hand on her arm, she thought it would proceed to ravish her. But not anymore…it would stop here…

She caught his arm in her grip and stood. She pushed him as hard as she could. She pushed him with all her strength. All of the strength Tsunade had said she was capable of using. He wasn't by her anymore, and he would stay where she pushed him… and… she would finish what she had started.

Sasuke picked himself up from her attack, which had destroyed another good portion of the arena. She walked towards him with unwavering determination, and whether or not she was going for him was what bothered Sasuke.

He had released the jutsu from her when he had approached her, but whatever memory stayed with her was giving her a sense of purpose. She looked at him in a terrifying way, the same way he would have looked if he caught sight of his brother.

This match would have to end soon.

When she was in range of him, he heard her mumbling incoherently. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and raised her other fist high above her. Her eyes were wet with tears, and she shut her eyes as if she didn't want to watch what she was going to do.

"It…ends here…father." Her voice was a whisper. He activated his Sharingan again.

"Issuinoyume Anmin no Jutsu." (Empty Sleep).

Her eyelids closed, and she fell unconscious. As her fist fell harmlessly, her head laid on his chest. Her legs went limp, and he held her up from falling.

The match ended, and he was declared the winner. Sakura was brought to the hospital to rest and collect herself, but she wasn't injured.

Sasuke watched the matches, leaning on the railing with his hands clasped together. He averted his eyes downward with a persistent thought probing in his head.

Whatever memories he had brought up…she didn't need help from a jutsu to remember them. And… there was something that Sakura had never told him.

She wasn't the kind of person to keep a secret from her friends, especially him. Something nagged at him, and it wouldn't leave him alone. He pushed himself from the railing and put his hands in his pockets.

"Hn. Where are you going, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked, eyeing the chuunin lazily.

"Out."

He began walking away from the jounin, as Kakashi called out. "Well, since you're going out and missing Naruto's match, I suggest you go visit Sakura."

"Aa." He gave a departing wave to Kakashi. At least if she asked, he could say that Kakashi had sent him to check on her.


I don't know Japanese so I'm not 100 percent correct in the jutsus I make up.

Akumu Kioku Omoidasu no Jutsu (Bad memory recall).

Akumu- nightmare; bad dream

Kioku- memory; recollection; remembrance

Omoidasu- to recall; to remember

Issuinoyume Anmin no Jutsu (Empty sleep).

Issuinoyume- an empty dream

Anmin- quiet sleep

Thank you so much to those who have reviewed, and I'm sorry for the delay. I hope you are enjoying it so far.