This is the Story of a Girl

Hey everyone- I'm back again! Wow! Two updates in two days. I'm so proud. Lol. Well.... Anyways, let's get on with it!

Act 2: The Man Whom She Loved

All I know

Is that everything is not as it seems

But the more I grow

The less I know

And I have lived so many lives

Though I'm not old

And the more that I seed

The less I grow

The fewer the seeds

The more I grow

Then I see you standing there

Wanting more from me

And all I can do is try

Then I see you standing there

Wanting more from me

And all I can do is try...

- Nelly Furtado

July 19th

You know... there are times that I wonder why I ever loved him. What I saw in him. Why I was so stupid to be willing to give everything up for one man, who's sole goal in life was revenge. Today was one of those days...

So, like I said, a lot has changed in two years. Many things- things that were thought impossible became possible. Things like, Ino finally giving up on Sasuke and going her separate ways with Shikamaru and Neji finally giving up on that main-house-branch-house shit. You know, him and Hinata actually became pretty good friends, as unbelievable as it may seem.

And me. I have changed too. I admit- I'm still the petty, narrow-minded, arrogant girl with pink hair that I've always been. But, one thing was missing and that was my vanity. No longer did I spend an hour in front of the mirror doing my hair, or doing my nails... et.c I left my hair short to remind me of that time during the Chuunin exams in which I've actually dirtied my hands and fought. Now, this may sound a little barbaric but I liked it.. I liked the feeling of fighting for the right reasons. I liked the feeling that during this battle, my life may end. I liked the rush of adrenaline running though my veins- feeding me more chakra than I had and the feeling of success when that one sound geek had fallen into my trap.

I admit- the thing about my life ending was kind of sadistic and morbid and depressing., and might make you think that I'm suicidal, which I assure you, I am In no way about to take my own life. But, I'm just saying- that everything is more beautiful when it has an ending. Like a fairy tale and it's happy ending. You only get to live once, after all.

So anyways... Sasuke and Naruto are now Jounins. Incredible, I know. And, I don't even know why we're still doing those missions together. Honestly, two Jounins with one mere Genin. That's actually pretty sad, if you actually think about it, since Jounins could go on A missions to track down some random loser who likes blood just a tad too much. It's really weird how the Hokage, Tsunade-sama, decided to keep us in our original groups.

"Helps the mind and heart." She says.

I wonder what that had meant. So anyways, today during training, I went up to Kakashi-sensei to talk about what I was going to do for the Chuunin exam next month. Since I wanted to become a Chuunin, I had to get my sensei's approval and I had to get him to nominate me. To tell you the truth, I was pretty nervous because Kakashi-sensei was rather unpredictable. Hopefully, since I have been showing more interest and participation in training in the last year or so, I have become strong enough for me to attend the Chuunin exam. Alone. Without Naruto. Without Sasuke, protecting me. I wasn't too sure if he would actually agree to it.

So, I went up to him, all casually, like I had nothing important to talk to him about and just sat beside him, while he's still reading that dirty, dirty book. I have told you that every time that I saw him reading that book, I wanted to break his face right? Well, it took most of my willpower not to. Since I wanted to leave a good impression and all, right?

So before I had even opened my mouth to ask him about it, he was all, "So Sakura, do you want to be nominated for the Chuunin exam next month?" And then he does that little smirk that he always does when he thinks that nobody was looking.

I was speechless- I didn't know what to say. So I just kind of sat there and looked down on my black pants and twiddling my thumbs. Then, Kakashi-sensei appeared right in front of me and asked me: "Well, are you going to give me an answer or not?"

"Umm.. yeah. Sensei- I really want to try this. I mean, please! I'm not the girl that I was two years ago. I can do it! Even without Naruto and Sasuke. Ple-" I rushed.

"No need to say anymore. I just hope you're up to it. This year's exam is different than all the others- it's alot tougher,  to say the least." warned Kakashi., with that same little annoying smirk.

I didn't care. Really, I didn't, whether it was going to be arduous or life threatening.. or what. I didn't care. All I could think about was how happy I was to be finally be given this chance to show everyone just how strong the fragile little Sakura has gotten. And so, the best way I thought to thank Kakashi-sensei was to give him a big hug. Actually... I did more than that. I also screeched my lungs out and ran over to him to hug him, tripping over a tree root in the process. But in the end, my goal was met.

And that's when happy hour ended...

You see, when a guy with as big a ego as Sasuke, hears that his female teammate has been nominated for the Chuunin exam without anybody supervising her, he gets pissy. Pissy as in P.M.S-pissy and really, I didn't feel like I was up for it. So, when he hears this piece of news, his eyes turn all hard and unfeeling and everything. Then he says "Sensei, I think you should reconsider your decision."

This totally shocked me. I was like "Oh. My.. God. You complete retard. What the hell do you think you're doing?"

He looks at me with this annoyed glance and then the next few words that come out of his sorry mouth made me pissed off. Like, really pissed off.

"I'm protecting you. You know you can't pass that exam! With your skills- you're most likely to get killed! This is for your own good."

So, Naruto cuts in and says "Leave her alone, Sasuke-bastard. She can pass the test if she wants to! Right, Sakura-chan?"

"Oh shut up, dobe. You know she can't survive it." Replies Sasuke with this super cold voice.

"No, you shut up, Sasuke-bastard! You should have some faith in your teammate!!" growled Naruto.

And on they went. I didn't really hear the rest of it- I was just too pissed for words. The words that he said just kept on repeating and repeating in my head. Then. I snapped.

"You incredibly selfish piece of shit. Who the hell do you think you are giving me orders? Listen, Mr-I'm-So-Cool-I-Don't-Need-Anyone, I don't need you, Naruto or Kakashi-sensei protecting me. I can do it myself! And for the record- CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES!! If you ever say that to me again- I swear, I will break your ugly face." I spat.

Sasuke just looks at me with this blank stare. Then, he smirks that stupid as-if-you-could-I'm-too-sexy smirk of his, which really made me lose it.

At that precise moment, I just couldn't handle it anymore. I walked straight up to that bastard and wiped that smirk off his face, while my inner self was screaming "TAKE THAT, BITCH!".

I guess he was too surprised that I actually DARED to SLAP the damn kid. As if. My feelings for that kid are so two years ago. Then, I ran. I ran like the wind carried me. Ran far, far, far away from the people who I thought trusted most. From HIM. The stupid ass who I so foolishly wasted so many years of my life on. Whom, I've actually confessed my love for- just to make him stop before he makes the decision that he regretted most. And that's how he repays me. By showing me just how much he believes in me. Yes, Sasuke-KUN- you are a very good friend.

And this leads me to the reason as to why I'm sitting here in a hospital room, scribbling in this. Oh yea, I think I forgot to mention that I somehow managed to get stuck in this hospital room. Again. Only- It's me who's injured this time. I'm not here visiting that bitch and cutting all those freakin' apples that he just throws around when he's all male-PMS-y.

God, as if I could forget that moment. He was still in bed after he tried to foolishly take on Itachi, a battle that he lost. I was still in love and all mush when he would just look at me. I was cutting up those apples so that he could eat them, when he finally woke up from his comatose state. I was hoping that he would fall in love with me and treat me like a princess when he found out that I never left his side. Unfortunately, fairy tales are just fairy tales and Sasuke is just another cold-hearted bitch.

Anyways, back to my story. I was running far away from them, until I came to memorial for all the fallen ninjas. I don't know what took over me but just standing there, with the bodies of all those brave ninjas who fought for a brave and honorable reason and the cherry blossoms blowing in the wind.. just made me break down. So I was on the ground, sobbing hysterically, when suddenly I hear this sleazy voice behind me say, "Wow, she's a cute one. Hmm.. couldn't we just take her back as some sort of a battle prize?"

I snapped my head back and my eyes fell upon the ugliest specimen of men I have ever seen in my life. And this is qute remarkable because I assure you, I have seen more than my share of ugly guys in my life. Like Zabuza, those sound geeks... etc- you get the point. But man, were these people UGLY! In fact, they looked kind of creepy. They all looked more or less the same, with those yellow cat-eyes and pointy teeth- I shudder when I think back about their faces. But, what really caught my eye, was when I saw those weapons they were carrying. Huge-ass knives, katanas... they looked like rogue ninjas. Or, some people who were about to attack Konoha. So it was just me and them and Konoha. As I gaze upon the memorial, I remembered all the honorable men who had died in battle. I remembered all the men who had sacrificed their lives for Konoha and Sasuke-bastard, the man who would sacrifice everything for power. I closed my eyes and fumed secretly. I would not become somebody like that. I will not and I have never been and I will never be somebody like that.

So, with a smirk, I called out "What do you mean by battle? If this here was a battle of looks, I think that I would've won the second anyone would lay their eyes on you."

The men blinked, as if they didn't comprehend what I had said. I smirked. So they were the type that thought with their muscles- stupid meatheads, they ought to learn that not every battle can be won with brute power.

Finally, the men smiled evilly to each other and said, "Let's have a little warm-up, before we destroy that village."

Then, five of them jumped...

Unfortunately, that's all I remember. I don't recall any of the details in battle, except that I was running on adrenaline alone. A few times, I thought to myself, if I die here, who would remember me? But then, I shook that silly thought out of my head. I wasn't the weak girl anymore. I was strong and this will be my first test to show it. Even if I die, I cannot let these men go into Konoha. If I can't do this, there's no freakin way I would be able to pass the Chuunin exam. I will do this for me.

And that always gave me more energy to fight. It gave me hope when there was none. All I could do was rely on my talents, my skills and my knowledge. In the end, it paid off. As I gazed upon the five men, lying in their blood, I smiled. I have passed the first test. I have proven myself worthy and then I passed out.

Just you wait, Sasuke-bastard. I will prove you wrong, and when I do- you will be kissing my ass so hard that I will laugh and crush you instead.