Difference
HUGE AUTHOR'S NOTE
Well, here's the deal. I've decided to post the rest of the chapters that I was working on for some time. I was going to finish the story and then post the first chapter but I was way to anxious to see how it would do. I found out that my character is a Mary-Sueish girl. Thus, I have decided to edit and make adjustments. So basically I'm going to take down the story in a week or so. This is your LAST chance to read the original. So after a week, you'll be able to read the hopefully IMPROVED version of Difference. The storyline will change a bit and character traits may change as well. I really can't go into detail. The title will also stay the same. So I have to say, thank-you to all that helped me along this journey. I hope that I shall give readers more enjoyment than this story. Well, thank-you so much!
HUGE AUTHOR'S NOTE
Another week had passed, and training had come to a close. Team B began traveling back to the Village of Sebir to see what would happen next with the Chuunin Selection Exam.
"Wow, Derno, you're early for once," Sierra commented with astonishment.
"Yeah, well I'm pretty excited today," Derno replied and smiled.
Toro also smiled and responded, "Can't blame you though. So where have you two been while I've been gone?"
"I was being trained by a Jounin," Sierra answered.
"Same here and the Jounin was Orikawa," Derno replied with a slight tone of arrogance.
"Well, didn't you get the special treatment?" Sierra mocked, sensing his arrogant self.
"I bet you didn't get a great teacher as Orikawa!" Derno retorted.
"I'd beg to differ!" Sierra argued, raising her arms slightly.
"You all just came back, and yet you're fighting already!" a familiar voice spoke and chuckled.
"She started it!" Derno mumbled under his breath.
Ignoring the comment, Sierra greeted Orikawa as did Toro.
"Well, I'm pretty sure you know why you're here," Orikawa began, "I nominated all of you into the Chuunin Exam, and here's the papers. You'll need to sign them and bring them to Room 301 of the Konoha Academy. We should leave pretty soon since we live quite far away from Konoha."
Each Genin's eyes lit up at the small piece of paper. The first step in becoming a Chuunin lay in their hands.
"Well, are there any questions?" Orikawa asked and looked around, "Good, we'll leave for Konoha tomorrow. Of course, if you don't want to become a Chuunin-"
"Are you crazy?" Derno asked with delight, "Not trying to become a Chuunin will defy my existence and beliefs!"
Sierra and Toro smiled and chuckled.
"He's right you know," Sierra responded, directing the comment to Toro and Orikawa.
Another few days passed. Familiar settings appeared in front of them as a peaceful setting came into sight.
"It's always so peaceful here," Orikawa commented while staring at Konoha.
"So those must be the Hokages," Toro muttered, looking at a mountain which had carved portraits of the leaders of Konoha.
"You probably will see the Fourth during the exam," Orikawa enlightened and spoke again, "I need to go do something. Why don't you all go sight-seeing? It'll be good for you to learn of Konoha for future purposes."
"Fine," Sierra answered and smiled, "I'm pretty sure we'll meet our competitors as well."
'Perhaps I'll see Sasuke…'
"Well, we've already met one before. Isn't that right Orikawa?" Toro asked.
"Uzumaki Naruto? Oh yes, you'll see him," Orikawa answered and began walking to another direction.
Vendors and shops passed by as the team walked around.
"Come and get some weapons!"
"Want some ramen?"
"We have the best clothes you can get!"
"Our shoes are made from the best cows!"
"I'll be right back," Sierra spoke suddenly and went into one of the shops.
"Women and shopping…" Derno commented and shook his head.
"It's their life," Toro agreed and placed his hand through his hair.
"Hey boys, here for the Chuunin exam?" a nearby vendor asked.
"Actually, we'll be in the Chuunin exam!" Derno immediately answered delightfully.
"Really? Then maybe you'll see my daughter. She'll be competing in the Chuunin exam as well. Why don't you two boys meet her? She's very pretty!" the florist invited and giggled as well.
"Well, how can we say no?" Toro replied and smiled, a bit eager.
Derno nodded hurriedly, and both boys ran into the shop. Inside laid thousands of flowers. Near the cash register sat a girl who looked quite bored with the idea of being the cashier. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was quite slender and wore purple ninja clothing.
"Dear, here are some quite cute young boys that came to say hello. They'll be competing against you during the Chuunin exam," the florist introduced.
Still looking quite bored but began to look a bit more interested, the girl greeted by introducing her name, "Hello, my name is Yamanaka Ino. Welcome to Konoha's shop of flowers. There are many styles of flowers here."
Finally summoning enough energy, Ino looked upwards and saw a blonde-haired boy who looked decent in her eyes. The other was brown-haired and looked okay.
"Nice to meet you Ino. My name is Kamiga Toro," Toro introduced himself and politely smiled.
Derno waited and also introduced himself, "My name is Nodin Derno. We're from Sebir."
"Wow, that's a long way from here," Ino commented but was suddenly interrupted by a loud noise.
"What was that?" Derno asked curiously, looking outside.
"I don't know. Let's go check it out," Toro replied and looked at Ino, "It was nice to meet you. Sorry you have to stay here."
"Oh it's fine," Ino replied and waved good-bye.
"Wow, honey, you were nice to them," the mother replied.
"Well, they were nice back," Ino commented.
"Hey Sierra, did you hear—" Derno started but looked at Sierra. She was wearing a kimono, and her hair was up in a bun letting only two strands of hair to fall.
"The world is going to end," Toro muttered, staring at Sierra with disbelief.
"Shut up you two," Sierra spoke between her teeth.
Flashback
"Hey, Sierra," Makoto spoke, "When you get to Konoha, dress up."
"Why would I do that?" Sierra asked.
"Here's the money," Makoto replied and tossed her a bag of coins.
Sierra looked at the bag interestingly and placed it in her bag, "I'll think about it. Why so nice all of the sudden?"
Makoto smiled and answered, "My subordinates have to look nice instead of unruly."
"Are you saying I look ugly all the time?" Sierra asked angrily.
Flashback
"Why?" Sierra groaned and replied, "I'm going to change out of this. I'll put it on later. Wait a minute."
After several annoying minutes, Derno and Toro saw a plain girl (Sierra) again.
"I sort of miss the pretty Sierra," Derno joked to Toro.
"Gotta agree with you!" Toro laughed.
"Whatever, let's go. I want to know what happened," Sierra replied and headed straight towards the noise.
Within several turns, several shinobi lay in front of them.
"Kankuro, stop it!" a dirty-blonde haired girl replied to a man clothed in black.
"You're an embarrassment to our village," a red-haired boy spat out who carried a large gourd on his back.
"That guy gives me the creeps," Derno muttered under his breath, staring at the red-haired boy whose name was Gaara.
"You may be allies with the Leaf Village but… It is forbidden for shinobis to enter each other's villages without permission. State your purpose," a pink-haired shinobi commanded.
"Hah, talk about clueless. Don't you know anything? You're right; we are Genins from the Hidden Sand. We have come to your village to take the Chuunin Selection Exam," the blonde-haired shinobi enlightened, placing a smirk on her face.
"The Chuunin Exam?" Naruto- a boy that Team B had met before- asked.
"Oh, don't be too hard on them. Unlike you and me, we have to travel far. So it was necessary for our sensei to tell us ahead of time," Sierra appeared next to the blonde-haired girl and smiled, "Hi, my name's Sierra. What's yours?"
"Temari," the girl answered and shot her a glare. 'She's pretty fast, but she's not as good as Gaara.'
Ignoring this, Sierra looked at the people in front of her, "So, you must be Kakashi's group. He'll probably tell you about the Exam later today."
"How do you know we're Kakashi's subordinates?" the pink-haired girl asked curiously.
"Well, Sakura, it's because of the two guys over there," Sierra answered.
"How—how did you know…" Sakura began but was interrupted.
"Sierra, you're being way too friendly to our competitors," Toro replied and stared at Gaara.
"What's the deal with you all the sudden?" Sierra mumbled and jumped back towards her own team, "You know it's been a while since I've been here. Isn't that right, Sasuke?"
All eyes fell upon dark haired boy by the name of Sasuke who sat on a tree limb and didn't place his eyes on Sierra. He merely looked at Gaara evilly and asked Sierra, "Who are you?"
Immediately after the last word, Sierra clenched her fist—trembling in rage.
"This is the time to leave," Toro mouthed to Derno who nodded his head in agreement.
Quickly, Toro and Derno grabbed Sierra's arms and began carrying her with all their strength. However, before they were out of earshot, Sierra asked, "You with the red hair and gourd. What is your name?"
Gaara looked in her direction with his dark, deadly eyes, "Gaara of the Desert. It looks like this Exam will be interesting…"
Letting go, Toro and Derno stared at Gaara but smiled afterwards.
Toro placed his hand on his head, smiled, and replied, "Well, I guess we'll have to say the same thing."
"How did she know my name?" Sakura asked at a bridge in the middle of Konoha.
Naruto looked at her and replied, "I saw her before."
Sakura looked up at Naruto in astonishment and asked, "You saw her before? Where?"
"It was about two months ago. They had just completed a mission and went to Ichiraku Ramen," Naruto retorted.
"How strong are they?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Who knows…" Naruto replied with dismay.
"Tch, it doesn't matter if she knows your name or not Sakura. It changes nothing," Sasuke commented who was slouching nearby on the side of the bridge.
"I know. It's just that it bothers me. Doesn't it bother you too? She knew your name as well," Sakura thought out loud.
Suddenly, Sasuke looked at Sakura and replied, "It does bother me. I knew her once, but I can't remember where. However, she talks as stupid as that baka over there."
Sasuke remarked and pointed towards Naruto who became furious, "I'll defeat you, Sasuke. Then, I'll become the next Hokage!"
"Whatever," Sasuke brushed off and waited for the always late Kakashi.
"Hey Sierra," Derno asked, looking at Sierra who hadn't talked since the encounter, "How did you know those people?"
"Huh? Oh those people?" Sierra replied, apparently waking up from outer space and then made a semi-smile, "I used to go to school with them."
"You lived here before?" Derno asked again, eyeing Sierra now.
"Er- why don't we go get something to eat? I'm starving," Toro suddenly asked, changing the subject.
Apparently, this did the trick since Sierra and the boys began searching for some food. After looking around the area, they found a small place to eat that served sushi.
"The guy we met earlier," Toro stated, "Uchiha Sasuke isn't it? He's the number one rookie isn't he?"
"Wouldn't be surprised if he was," Sierra replied glumly and continued eating.
"I don't like him," Derno began and munched onto his sushi like a grinding action, "He looks like one of those people who you can't get along with."
Suddenly Sierra stood on her feet and left some money on the table.
"Where are you going?" Derno asked, wondering if he had said something wrong.
Sierra turned her head around and answered, "We never really got to go exploring around Konoha earlier. I'm just going to get a head start. You know we won't have that much time later on when the competition starts."
With those words, Sierra left the restaurant and out of sight.
"What's with her?" Derno asked Toro who frowned at him.
"You're insulting her, and she's thinking about what happened earlier," Toro stated and looked at his sushi displeasingly. (It wasn't that good.)
"What did I do?" Derno asked with a bit of concern.
"Well, for starters, you insulted her childhood friend. That childhood friend also insulted her earlier by not even remembering her. Of course, I think he has a good reason. She looks a whole lot different than she was when she was younger. The truth is, she was basically pretty plain when she was younger. Sure she's not great looking, but that's because she doesn't care. You say her earlier. We both know that she can be if she wanted to," Toro answered with a smug look on his face.
"How was I supposed to know if he and Sierra were friends before, some friend," Derno commented and also looked at his sushi displeasingly—however, this wasn't from the taste.
"Well, there's not much you can do now. I don't think she's mad at you. She's probably pretty confused and kind of hates Sasuke at the moment. I'm pretty sure when she was here; he over-shadowed her like she does to me at Sebir," Toro uttered, cheering up Derno.
The lights from the village became a flicker in the distance. It was always so peaceful here no matter when you come—especially the lake. This lake held so many memories…
Sierra sighed and sat at the water's edge, "I don't know what to think. I wonder why he doesn't remember me. All this time, I remembered so much of him, and yet he doesn't think of me. He's the only person left. Like-"
Sierra turned around, and her eyes widened.
There with dark eyes and dark hair, clothed in his usual blue clothing with the Uchiha symbol on his back stood a person that gave her misery and the brother of a murderer.
"Sasuke?"
