Author's Note: Wow. I'd just like to take the time to express my gratitude to all those who reviewed the first chapter. If you didn't notice already, HLtHS is my first story outside my usual fandom (which would be Dragon Ball Z). I was pretty nervous about the general reaction to the first chapter, but needless to say, you have all made me more confident. Thank you – not only did I get reviews…but I received insightful ones!
If you were wondering about the couple that I said I might put in this story, it's KakaKure. Although I haven't exactly read that many K/K fics, I think they'd make a hot couple (in case you were wondering, I label my favorite pairings on their warmth to me – for example, ShikaIno may be a little cooler to me than NaruSaku, but I love both anyway). Anyway, it'll be a challenge getting that pairing incorporated in this fic, but I will try my best.
Well, not that it matters. This is mostly SasuHina, anyway.
And also…I've decided that this fic is slightly AU. After sitting and reflecting on my plans regarding where this story is going, I've realized that it is definitely going to stray from the factual storyline soon enough.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I also don't own Naruto's misunderstanding regarding Sakura in this chapter – it's an insinuation to the anime Dragon Ball.
Dedication: After reading a one-shot (a wonderfully fluffy NaruSaku one, might I add) that I requested from mI. ShOE…I've decided to add her to the dedicatee list. Love you lots, Shoey!
Couple Inspirations: A.S.A.P. by Utada Hikaru (NaruSaku), Never Say Goodbye by JoJo (SasuHina), Use My Shoulder by JoJo (SasuHina, NejiTen, KakaKure), Homeboy by JoJo (NaruSaku, ShikaIno), First Love by Jessa Zaragoza (SasuHina), Every Heart by BoA (SasuHina), Movin' On Without You by Utada Hikaru (NaruSaku, KakaKure), Lies by Evanescence (SasuHina), Anywhere by Evanescence (SasuHina), Final Distance by Utada Hikaru (SasuHina) – and more soon.
Her Light to His Shadow
Chapter 2: Reunions, Complaints, and Bloody Lips
The sun had not yet risen.
The only sound, apart from the hoot of a black owl perched on a branch outside a window and the soft breathing inside, was the creaking in worn bedsprings protesting the weight of one slender body as it shifted fitfully.
Her body ached in a manner she did not mind. There was no doubt that her teammates would be just as sore and weary to top it off…why had their sensei subjected them to the cruelest and most brutal training session the day before?
"Because you needed it, you three. Tomorrow, you'll be meeting the other chuunin at Team Seven's training field – I have no misgivings that those trained under Gai, Asuma, and Kakashi will have grown exponentially."
Mussed locks, so dark blue that they might have been perceived as black, were sprawled every which way over crumpled pillows. Tired eyes groggily opening followed the approving dreaminess; dark lashes blinked before remaining still as she finally woke up.
She had but a single moment to stare disbelievingly at the unembellished clock that lay on the wall directly across from her bed.
…She was behind schedule. Kurenai-sensei would most undoubtedly be dissatisfied in her.
Pale, exposed feet soon found the cold wooden floor below her as she rose from the warmth of her bed, and she numbly strode to the nearest bathroom, disjointed thoughts never quite making it to her mouth.
Meanwhile…
A sluggish Sakura leaned against a streetlamp's pole, still extremely inactive at this obscure hour of the morning. She stifled an involuntary yawn while simultaneously rubbing at her eyes to keep herself awake. All the while, she inwardly speculated why she'd opted to wait for the appearance of that intolerable oaf affectionately known as Naruto in the first place.
Oh, she remembered what had transpired just the day before all too well. She had 'deceived' – according to the words of their sensei – her teammate just the day before, regarding the whole breakfast incident. She rolled her eyes, privately scoffing her decision to be a bit more polite to him. Why had she sympathized with him by offering to walk with him to their training grounds today? She recalled how he'd taken the offer with disbelieving ears, and scowled as she dredged up his undaunted delight at the prospect of just the two of them heading to their training field together.
But waiting for him wouldn't be so infuriating and unbearable had he decided to show his ugly face by now! 'Where are you, Naruto!' The insufferable lout probably didn't even remember what her offense to him had been in the first place, so why was she still waiting on an appearance that probably wouldn't come for another ten minutes?
Now fully awake, she blinked twice in bewilderment. There was no use expressing any sort of anxiety for Naruto…she was going to ruin her appearance for Sasuke in the process! Her hands automatically found themselves running through her full (although still shortened) pink tresses, and she grinned amidst her jittery state. She'd made sure to spend a little more time on her physical countenance this morning – after all, there weren't any training sessions today. She was allowed to dress in the most casual of garments, and she was permitted to doll herself up for the boy she loved.
But that wasn't the only rationalization for her to beautify herself. It was also a growing necessity, as she and everyone else around her grew older, for her to step up her game in her goal of somehow obtaining Sasuke to be her boyfriend…and later on in life, her husband. And she knew why it was an obligation for her to be in the limelight – swine were bound to be abundant in number at the chuunin meeting.
…Especially a certain blonde one.
"Sakura!" Someone's maddening voice snatched her away from her fanciful plots of the usual settling of scores. The smirk that had been plastered on her face just a few moments ago seemed to dissipate rather quickly as she now glowered at the rather exuberant blond who had finally elected to turn up. "What's up?"
Her green eyes twitching in obvious irritation, she allowed the troubling emotions of frustration and impatience to quickly overwhelm her. "Naruto…"
The sincerity of his smile faltered almost at once as he witnessed the changing in her facial features with an accustomed foreboding of what was to ensue. "Y-Yes?"
She instead met his veneer of dread with a nervous smile that graced her lovely features as they gradually fell into step with one another, heading toward the wooded area where the majority of their chuunin allies and rivals were most undoubtedly situated at the moment. "…How do I look today?"
Thoroughly obfuscated at the seemingly innocent question, a wary Naruto nevertheless complied while shooting worried glances at her as they stopped by a small junction in the midst of an empty road. "Um…like you always do?"
She eyed him silently for a single second before heading in the opposite direction of their training grounds, doing her best to stifle an irrepressible sigh all the while. Why was she under the ostensibly blind expectation that Uzumaki Naruto could abstain from being his normally clueless self for even a single moment? He was hopeless and incompetent in more ways than one, simply put, and although he'd shown in numerous ways that he could be depended on in the battlefield, Sakura couldn't help but experience an overpowering dread regarding what was to come once they re-met their fellow chuunin. "Never mind."
He allowed an impractical shrug to grace his presence, as was his nature, before doubling back and staring at her in clear uncertainty. "Uh, where are we going? We were supposed to take a left at that intersection, but we took a right…" He scratched his head, sincerely at a loss for at least a guess for reasonable motivations for her actions, as she sought to avoid all eye contact necessary for an acceptable response.
"I know that, Naruto," the pink-haired kunoichi finally started after an unbearable pause, a vivid blush already making its way onto the apple of her cheeks. She still kept her gaze facing forward, biting her lip in a vain attempt to refrain from flushing any more than she already was. "But what makes you think that I'm going to go to the meeting without Sasuke?"
The blond chuunin scowled heartily at his teammate, who merely kept up with the continuance of her aversion. Was it even that much of a surprise anymore, honestly? "I hope you know that I didn't make sandwiches today," he decided to tell her, his blue eyes narrowing at her in slight suspicion of any other plans she might have. "Just incase you were planning to pull off that same trick…I had ramen today!"
"No surprise there, Naruto." Her voice was cruel and indifferent of him, until she came under the troubling realization that he was suddenly gazing deeply into her face. Forgetting about her ploy of not making direct eye contact with him, she glared at him in uncertainty. "Just what are you staring at now?"
He was rather pleased at having noticed what she obviously wanted him to prior to her uncontainable outburst. A triumphant grin flaunted so perfectly on his features, he now asked her, "Why are your lips so red today, Sakura? Are you bleeding…?"
She instantly colored, applying all of her early-morning strength into the hit directed at his skull in all due promptness of his idiocy. "What's it to you!" She quickened her pace in order to be ahead of the now grumbling Naruto, looking a bit flustered at his rather unintelligent inquiry. She bit down on her tongue as she sought to refrain from any detrimental comments that might decide to suddenly escape from her mouth, almost feeling the coppery taste of her blood in the process.
But as the unlikely pair continued walking (the female still in a disconcerted state, and the male in a much more resentful, reproachful one), she was secretly glad that he'd noticed her decision of using cosmetics today. After all, if that goofball could pick it out so quickly, then Sasuke would definitely be able to.
'Sasuke…' She hoped Naruto hadn't caught the evocative sigh that forced its way out of her. The object of her affections had become so distant and detached from their group these days – it wasn't a rarity to see him walking by himself around town, looking aloof and even a bit confused at times. It was only a perceptive Sakura that could discern these horrifying traits in him; she could only hope that the degeneration of his moods wasn't due in part by that horrible Orochimaru.
Okay, so he'd made the wrong decision in practically opting to be manipulated by that serpent-like fiend. It wasn't such a puzzling enigma that he'd possessed a one-track mind when they'd first become teammates: he possessed a strong yearning to avenge those of his slain clan by killing his brother, Uchiha Itachi, the source of his grief and misery. Even Naruto was conscious in the fact (and even potentially feared) of Sasuke's unreasonable thirst for power…and as everyone now knew, the proud Uchiha was paying for his greediness in full: because of his unnecessary rush for 'unlimited' power, he'd been cursed with a harmful seal that would probably forever trouble him for the rest of his days on this Earth.
She felt nothing less than pity for him, but his new attitude was just another perplexity in itself. That curse seal hadn't stymied his mind and training habits for months now; so what was up with him? She certainly took pride of the way he now managed his Sharingan eyes so effortlessly; with all of that success hanging over his shoulders, was there any reason that provided him with a justification for his sulkiness? He rarely talked to her or Naruto anymore, and as yesterday had shown, he was beginning to pick up the rather horrible trait of tardiness. He was even hanging back on applying his full potential during training sessions, and Sakura couldn't help but wonder if Kakashi-sensei had been conscious of this as well.
She was only left to hope, in the deepest and most profound place in her heart, that he was okay and accounted for. He and Naruto were her teammates, and although the latter had proven to be nothing more than a bother, she'd grown to care for them in a way that her heart had not known prior to their formation as a team.
In the meantime…
A lone chuunin's laborious grunts rung throughout the sun's recurrent peaks on the horizon as he continued to punch and kick arduously at the considerably large slab of stone before him. Muscles taut from hours upon hours of backbreaking training, he never sought for a single moment of rest. Time was essential if he wanted to maintain and potentially increase his Taijutsu levels.
This was something he'd learned the hard way, he reflected in resentment, directing a rather cold glare towards his newly bloodied knuckles. Glancing at the gruesome sight in clear apathy of the sharp throbs surging throughout the wounded area, he disregarded the piercing pain and gore and merely resumed with his hazardous training session.
A few more seconds of punching at the stone, however, proved to be too much for the sixteen-year-old. He drew in a short, ragged hiss of pain as his right fist finally produced a significant crack within the bulky boulder; and when, gazing through the new division of the stone, he could perfectly see what the rock had previously blocked from his view starting a few hours ago, he wisely decided that he'd had enough personal training for one day.
…He'd been able to successfully split a boulder without applying Ninjutsu or Doujutsu in his method of doing so. Maybe, just maybe (at the moment, he was unwilling to express full confidence for anything), he would soon be able to obtain more control of his erratic chakra levels.
He stole a quick glower at his blood-spattered hands before endeavoring to find the nearest water bottle with the aim of rinsing them out. His extensive, laborious efforts for more power would prove useless if he were put against Rock Lee, that eccentric but formidable foe from Gai-sensei's team. Locating a bottle of mineral water seated near a timber bench in the usually barren Uchiha compound, the dark-haired teenager found his place at the wooden seat and proceeded to screw open the top of the bottle, angst-ridden thoughts stealing full control of his mind.
But why was he trying to perform menial tasks with Taijutsu when he could handle Ninjutsu or his doujutsu in a much more efficient manner?
…The only valid reason that would suffice these days was that the latter had really been troubling him during recent training gatherings, although his unfathomable pride and confidence would never permit him to admit it to the outside world. On every occasion that he turned his Sharingan eyes on with the intention of training with them, he'd discern the way that they'd consistently catalyzed the seal on his neck to begin irritating him again. Giving him a painful reminder of those errors of his that had transpired in the past, both implicitly and explicitly, that damned curse seal acted like a medium for the hindrance of his training. Upon turning his Kekkei Genkai off, he'd make another endeavor to utilize them with that unrelenting determination that he possessed, but each time he made an attempt, he'd almost feel compelled to shut them off again.
He hadn't used them for a few days now, because his inward torture had grown to the point where it was practically insufferable to train with them for more than a few hours. He could feel himself almost lagging behind Sakura's quick perception and Naruto's unlimited reserves of power. Yes, he was only human like the former was, but was it so much to work for the state of the latter?
So, to make up for his unfortunate decrease in chakra levels due to the large interference the curse seal played a significant role in, he'd been forced to take up other methods of offense and defense to survive. He was a shinobi, after all – a means of battle for his village. The only options he had in life were to kill or get killed, as his former teacher Iruka-sensei used to avidly remind his students. He wouldn't allow himself to be reduced to the latter without fulfilling his objective first.
Everyone, from the negligent Naruto of his own team to the insightful Nara Shikamaru of Asuma-sensei's team, was presently under the supposition that after all the lone Uchiha had been through these past few years, he'd finally settle on to giving up his goal of killing his brother. They deemed his unwavering ambition one of mere blindness, and probably thought him as one who wouldn't mind laying out the foundation of his grave at an early age.
They were shallow-minded fools. If anything, his experiences had only fueled the sooty flames of hatred he had smoldering within his soul. The familiarity of anguish and death had befriended him as a young child, and he would never forsake it until he had made it a permanent companion with a certain older sibling.
As long as that curse seal was implanted into his neck, yes, his death was imminent. It was fair enough in his eyes (after all, it had given him a stark exposure to the overwhelming unawareness of life that he never knew he had), but he wouldn't allow himself to go down without his brother.
As for his teammates…
He inhaled sharply as the frigid mineral water spilled from the bottle onto his open cuts. Sakura repeatedly took the pain to attempt to make him feel better in the only way she knew. He hardly deemed his bouts of moodiness justifications for her always wanting to lunge at or cuddle with him, so he generally sought to pay no heed to her. And as for that good-for-nothing fool Naruto…he was, in all probability, even worse than the infatuated Sakura and her neurotic ex-friend Yamanaka Ino combined. He could recall the first (and last, he might add) time the idiot had tried to ameliorate his random emotions.
"Sasuke," a soft plead was heard echoing throughout the dark as the three chuunin embarked to their respective homes without their sensei, "what's wrong with you these days? Why won't you tell us what's bothering you? If you can't tell Naruto, at least say something to me-"
"For the hundredth time, Sakura, don't waste your breath on him," interrupted Naruto, who, as it seemed, had had enough of his teammate's futile requests. His only explanation for Sasuke's moodiness had been, "Instead of wanting to help him…you should pity him, the one who's supposedly a genius amongst his fellow shinobi but a total idiot when it comes to reality." He turned his back on both of his speechless teammates coldly, not caring if they even bothered to respond.
After what seemed like an eternity, Sasuke was the first to find words. "…And what makes you say that?"
A horrified Sakura implicitly trembled upon hearing the enmity implied within his voice. Naruto was treading on dangerous ground. The silence about them pregnant with impassable solemnity, she merely awaited the reply from the blond chuunin with bated breath.
Turning his head so that his side profile was evident, whisker markings on a tanned cheek seemed to daunt both the kunoichi and her obsession. "So you went to Orochimaru for some power to revenge and found that it wasn't the right way to do so. Big deal. It's no reason for you to act all grouchy and moody. The way you continue to keep sticking by yourself isn't going to help you, Sasuke. It isn't going to help anyone. So do everyone a favor and suck it up."
The finality of his voice hitting the other boy hard, he began to walk away at that moment, soon followed by a reluctant Sakura, who could not deny the logic that he had just addressed her with.
Sasuke still stood after them, clenching his fists and debating what to do. Knocking that loud-mouthed moron down for his words was just shallow dressing for a deep wound that still burned.
…He didn't understand. Hell, no one understood, and their ignorance was being exhibited in total by the town fool, Uzumaki Naruto.
No one would ever understand.
Thinking back on his thirst for revenge, however, overrode the importance of the other two. His arsenal of weapons required major modifications. Now that he had a somewhat manageable mastery of Taijutsu, he needed to–
"Sasuke!" a familiar feminine voice rung throughout the Uchiha compound, and a visible scowl wrenched its way onto his countenance. What was Sakura doing here, when she was supposed to be heading over to the meeting at this time? How had she known that he was near the back of his house? And furthermore, why had she dragged that fool along? He glared at the zephyr-reddened lips that persisted to voice his name over and over again, noting how unusually crimson they were. Even if the breeze today had been as chilly as a December frost, her lips wouldn't be as cherry-colored as they presently were – what was she planning this time?
Someone else's current grievances were slightly more audible than Sakura's usual spouts of nonsense. Just great; Naruto evidently had something to add to all of this, as well. "Sakura, I hope you know that if we weren't late before, we're definitely going to be the last ones there now. We really didn't have to make sure he was okay, you know-"
The pink-haired kunoichi could simply sense the green-eyed monsters of jealousy oozing from the shorter ninja's pores. It wasn't such a surprise for any guy to envy Sasuke, but the type of dangerous resentment she could sense from Naruto was enough for anyone to be put on edge. "Shut it, Naruto. If we're late, it's better that we do it together, as a team." Smoothing the lipstick on full lips in order to make the color more apparent and self-consciously patting down shortened pink hair, she beamed coyly at Sasuke.
What, did they actually think that he'd be touched that they actually endeavored to walk him to their training grounds? The proud Uchiha had recurrently exhibited his sinful traits to his teammates many times; today wouldn't be any different. "Spare me the sincerity, Sakura. Let's just go." Brushing brusquely past a wounded kunoichi and an adamant Naruto, an indifferent soul led them out of his compound and back onto the main road, where he permitted them to join his side once more.
Scratching his head in slight confusion and resentment of Sasuke's action to their now sullen teammate, cold blue eyes exacted themselves onto their target just as harshly as Sasuke had done with Sakura. "Don't you think you're going a little too far with all of this weirdness? She was just being her usual self; if it were up to me, I'd have left you behind ages ago. You can't suddenly despise someone you've known for years…someone who's been breathing the same air you have during missions-"
Droplets of saline despondency shining in those orbs like misted emeralds warned him to break off his last thought. "J-Just stop, Naruto…"
"No. Let him finish."
The tone of finality detected within dangerous tendencies only served as another caveat for the blond to wisely hold his tongue, but the dark-haired chuunin allowed what he had just uttered to sink into his psyche. You can't suddenly despise someone you've known for years…
Oh, did that fool really think so? Allowing himself to glance over at his other team member and discerning her current state, Sasuke mentally questioned himself. Why was that one suddenly holding back tears? Any minute now, she'd go revel in her little melodrama of how she longed for things to go back to the way they had been before Orochimaru had entered their lives…he couldn't even begin to fathom just how long it take for her to wake up from that pitiful dream she called her life. Turning back to Naruto, he voiced his next statement severely. "I'm waiting, idiot."
Black-clad shoulders tensed in an attempt at retaliation before finally relaxing as the blond chuunin noticed Sakura as well. Clearly losing an inward battle of indecision, pale hands found themselves clenching tightly as he finally muttered an answer through gritted teeth. "I said to forget it, Sasuke."
"Why should I? Being the graduate who left the Academy dead last in the class, it's the most insightful thing you've ever said to me-"
"Sasuke, Naruto…stop it. Please…" Now the distressed kunoichi was begging both of them, in the most beseeching voice she had utilized in months, to cease their pointless feud.
Naruto was the first to acquiesce to her pleads, but that was only because the fool still had feelings for her after all these years of being constantly put down and rejected, the Uchiha noted distastefully. He allowed a snide smirk to permeate through his features as they reached the familiar junction they usually used to go to the training grounds. "Next time you'll watch what you say, dunce."
Both Sakura and Naruto seemed devoid of words. They had given up on it a long time ago. But now, having experienced the former had given up on her optimistic thinking. Swallowing the painful lump in her parched throat and blinking back her tears as she glanced anxiously at the sullen Naruto beside her, she realized that he had given up, too – but he'd given up not on life in general, but on Sasuke as an entire entity.
She allowed no other emotions to circulate through her heart and mind as they neared the training grounds with each successive step, finally perceiving the many heads of their fellow subordinates already gathered there.
This - what had just come to pass between the three chuunin…it was their life story. To smile one second and cry the next was not a rarity to them anymore. Their whole existences revolved around wrongfully concealing their feelings from the other two – the same ones they were destined to be with and care for until they grew independent of the team and their sensei – and those around them. The only things in life that seemed to mollify Sakura's inward, biting pain were Sasuke, making fun of Naruto, and verbally fighting with her ex-friend; the only things that seemed to appease Naruto were Sakura and ramen; but Sasuke allowed nothing to ameliorate his detrimental situations. He felt that nothing could do so even if he tried with all of his might, and so he endeavored to do nothing to better his soul.
Clandestinely, they all sought to eradicate this ache they called living. Attempts to wrench the forlorn and inconsolable gloom from their souls with the kind of desperateness humanity was destined to carry for eternity hung over them like an irremovable shadow.
But they were completely oblivious to the fact that the ones who had caused them to wallow in the miserable grief were the same ones who had tossed them a kunai or shuriken in a particularly dangerous and perilous mission, or had allowed an encouraging smile to cross their lips in a time of hopeless situations.
They had sewn the threads of unalterable fate long ago, and it was now up to each of them to help the other two unravel it again.
Sea-green eyes were the first to gaze upon the daunting view of the three other teams already present at the field. "Oh, boy," she lightly tried to shake off the thoughts of her teammates as they walked into the area. "We're definitely picking up Kakashi-sensei's habits. That can't be a good thing…"
Upon hearing the innocent statement, a head full of abundant blonde locks whipped around from where she was presently seated on the very same spot Sakura used to enjoy situating herself at. Narrowing sharp, blue eyes viciously as she sized up what had become to her competition, Yamanaka Ino wasted no time in addressing the other kunoichi with a blatant comment. "As if we haven't waited enough… The least you could do was to be on time in your own training field, forehead," she snapped.
Eying the deep crimson lips that had just uttered those deliberate exclamations in intense indignation, Sakura couldn't help but burn with anger. Temporarily forgetting about her tribulations with Sasuke and Naruto, one slim finger pointed rudely at its blonde target. "You're wearing the same lipstick as I am, you pig! Why?"
Leaving her two uninterested teammates behind, the flaxen kunoichi rose from her spot on the ground and smoothed down her attire. A quick hand pushed Sakura's finger away from her face as she replied wryly. "Isn't it obvious?" Catching the sight of a certain Uchiha standing near her rival, conversely, made her strive to exchange her biting tone for a sweet, loving one in its stead. Waving coyly and grinning all the while, a girlish purr was permitted to escape from her parted lips. "Hi, Sasuke. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Just leave him alone, you hog!"
Someone's petulant voice from behind them overrode the impending argument, breaking it off as quickly as it had been catalyzed by both Sasuke's appearance and Ino's lipstick. "If you two have finished with your arguments…" Rolling his eyes at a newly irritated Naruto with a jaded expression etched so adequately on his features, Nara Shikamaru motioned wordlessly at the silver-haired jounin that was currently situated beside Asuma-sensei and Gai-sensei before returning to his petty grievances against the world.
Kakashi didn't even endeavor to glance up at the suddenly ashen-faced three as they all made to meet him at where he sat with the two other jounin. A few pages of what could be perceived as awful pulp fiction were turned, before a long and biting silence ensued as Asuma and Gai eyed them disapprovingly.
"You're late…all three of you," he finally informed them in all due impassiveness, never once pausing from his novel. "Care to explain?"
They all instantly colored at the simple question, staring at their sensei guiltily before glancing at each other with wary looks. There was definitely something dreadfully wrong with the circumstances if Kakashi-sensei had arrived at the destination before they had. What was going on here? Sakura had long since held and proposed many theories that perhaps the mysterious jounin wasn't tardy all of the time he appeared to be – maybe, from a desirable distance, he furtively watched them wait aimlessly for him for a few hours before making his appearance (most likely to get a few kicks out of it). If those suppositions were true, then it would make plenty of logical sense why he'd been present before them…
They were suddenly indulging in playing the blame game by pointing fingers at each other, as was the general expectation from all three jounin present.
"Kakashi-sensei, I wouldn't have been late if Naruto had decided to show his face earlier…"
"Nuh-uh! It was all Sasuke! I knew we shouldn't have waited for him!"
"I don't know how many times I have to tell you, Naruto! Never blame Sasuke!"
"Why are you defending him? He's the one who got us late!"
A harsh glower from the third teammate seemed to shut them both up. Glaring into curious eyes in a habitually unemotional face, an inflectionless tone said what he thought about the present state of affairs. "…Just leave it."
And drop it they did. Muttering resentful apologies to their sensei, Naruto and Sakura detached themselves from the group and went off to re-acquaint themselves with their fellow age-mates, while Sasuke still had his feet rooted to the spot. Dark eyes continued to bore into the eyes of the jounin with the utmost of animosity. "You weren't late today."
Three raised eyebrows informed him in a wordless message that the men present didn't seem to deem the clear-cut fact to be of that much significance. Casually removing the cigar that was almost always seen in his mouth, Asuma was the first to utter a response. "…And?"
Gai surmised that from the way the teenager was currently staring visual daggers at them, he would desire to speak with his sensei alone. "C'mon, Asuma. Now that Kakashi's kids are here, we can get this gathering over with." He led the other jounin away from the location, allowing instructor and student some time to address and discuss the so-called 'problem' with the situation.
Finally left to address his sensei with some newly found information he'd obtained from mulling over the incongruity of what had happened just the day before, biting scorn lined the Uchiha's tone of voice. "You weren't late today…just like you weren't late yesterday. Why?"
Eyes darkening and mouth (at least, the imprint of what was behind the jounin's mask) pressing into a thin line, Kakashi finally shut his book and stood up from where he had just been situated at. "I don't think that matters, does it? Go join your teammates, Sasuke. The meeting's about to start."
Sasuke's own threatening gaze ultimately subsided as he made up his mind to give in to the jounin's inexplicable actions. Fine. If his sensei wasn't going to admit that he'd been caught in whatever he was doing, he wasn't going to pressure him. At least, not now. "…Fine, then." He turned his back on the blank jounin and left the area, but not before catching the last remnants of what Kakashi had to address to him.
"And you might want to bandage those wounds, or at least have a medic-nin check them out. You'll get an infection."
With all due instinct, Sasuke directed a quick gaze at his reddened knuckles before whirling around violently. Forget about what he'd thought earlier. He wanted to know Kakashi-sensei's motives for his unfathomable actions today and yesterday, and he wanted to know right now-
It didn't take a genius to discern the fact that his sensei had quickly taken his leave.
In the meantime…
If one currently tuned his or her ears to the most popular discussion transpiring at the moment, they would have automatically picked up on Naruto's unreasonable boasts to two of his fellow chuunin. As the scene currently stood, the blond ninja had previously overheard Shikamaru and Inuzuka Kiba (the latter had brought his faithful dog with him, as Sakura had predicted; it looked like she was going to win the bet she'd made with Naruto just the day before) arguing on which one of them had improved their skills the most and had decided to take it upon himself to add his bit into the dispute.
"You're definitely not the strongest Konoha chuunin, Kiba," he now asserted, paying no attention to Shikamaru's snide attempts of trying to smother his laughter. "'Cause I am! You wouldn't believe how much training I've done!"
Sakura, who had naturally followed him after exchanging her own bitter words with the fair-haired kunoichi of Shikamaru's team, struck him in the head yet again with a well-formed fist as soon as she caught on to the most convenient time. "Shut it, you fool! You haven't been doing anything compared to Sasuke!"
He scowled darkly at her, using both of his hands to massage his wounded skull while Kiba and Shikamaru continued to repress their incessant amusement. What was wrong with her? Had she seriously forgotten that the same boy she was always standing up for and defending had just put her down only a half-hour ago? But he made sure not to go on her wrong side completely. Having experienced the same blows to the head over and over again, he'd developed an innate respect for the kunoichi's right hook. "Sasuke, this; Sasuke, that. Story of my freaking life!"
She didn't deck him for that last remark, much to his respite; instead she chose to reply with her own wry response. "Well, guess what, Naruto? He should be!"
Unable to repress his mirth regarding what was transpiring, Kiba allowed himself to snicker outright. "I highly doubt that you're the strongest chuunin out of all of us if you're still letting girls control you after all these years…"
Shikamaru snorted derisively. "You mean you actually believed him?"
The blond and his green-eyed companion, however, had ignored what the latter had just uttered, reddening as what the wild chuunin had said sunk into their mindsets. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounded like, of course."
From her spot not fifty feet away from him, his sensei shook her head in slight disapproval as Naruto and Sakura's replies escalated into full-blown screams of indignation. Kiba was definitely going to get a severe talking-to later on regarding his view on femininity. One would think be under the assumption that after spending years training under the tutelage of a female instructor and alongside a female teammate, the kid would finally realize that kunoichi were just as capable as their male counterparts in missions.
Apparently not.
Yuuhi Kurenai looked up from what where she had been picking her nails in boredom. Crimson eyes sweeping over the remaining two subordinates that still stood near her, she finally uttered the first thing she'd said besides a mere 'Good Morning' earlier. "I'm guessing Hatake's kids are here now…"
Aburame Shino, the nearest of the two trainees, said nothing in response to her outward ponderings, as was his general temperament; but the girl standing next to him allowed a few more emotions pass her countenance.
Tendrils of midnight blue found their way cascading down the middle of her back; a few loose strands spilling randomly over slim shoulders. Long-lashed eyes adorably large and milky-white combined with a shy smile portended a lovely young woman in the making.
The apples of her cheeks instinctively reddened as a livid Naruto passed her revealed that other than in the physical sense, she hadn't changed much since the last time she'd seen her age-mates…
'N-Naruto…' Hyuuga Hinata couldn't help but revert back into her earlier stages of implicit infatuation as she witnessed his own change in features. The Uzumaki had grown a lot taller in the few years she hadn't seen him, and although he still retained his boyish nature, he'd gotten a lot more handsome, as well.
She turned around as he continued to stalk away from her rowdy teammate, with the sole intention of being able to secretly gaze at him some more before the actual meeting had actually started. She ended up making eye contact with someone she hoped to have never seen so soon. Her heart made a pitiful thud against her stomach, and she trembled implicitly, willing her fear to subside as soon as humanly possible.
No one had noticed where Team Gai had been located. Ostensibly, they'd been positioned at the edge of the training grounds, two of the three subordinates currently teed off at having to attend this gathering with their younger allies. The eccentric younger Gai-double, Rock Lee, had been looking forward to this reunion ever since their sensei had informed them about it, nonetheless; he'd eagerly awaited the appearance of the pink-haired kunoichi he'd dedicated his life to protecting years ago.
The sole female of the unit, Tenten, was presently disappointed in the turn of events. Having been the first team to make it to Team Seven's training grounds, they'd been thoroughly surprised to see no one present, needless to say. Now idly playing with one of the twin chocolate-colored buns that sat so neatly on her head, she wondered who her more serious teammate was currently glaring down.
A small pause was apparent before she finally discerned who Hyuuga Neji was eying so murderously.
"This is a waste of time…" the distant Hyuuga uttered maliciously at long last, milky eyes resting so intently on his younger cousin. Thoroughly disgusted about the way she visibly recoiled under his gaze, he averted his eyes to slightly better prey: Yamanaka Ino, who apparently had nothing better to do than search aimlessly for Sasuke. Having been caught in the act, she cringed and waved sheepishly at him. 'Bunch of inferior weaklings…why'd they put us with them?'
"Not really," Lee blatantly argued, a wide smile displayed on his face as he finally caught sight of Haruno Sakura. "Aren't you excited about whatever this 'surprise' is?"
Revolted by the mere cheeriness detected within his voice, Neji endeavored to turn around to rightfully glower at his teammate, but the sudden presence of someone not so familiar prevented him from doing so. Stiffening and allowing a justified frown to cross his features, he spoke to no one in particular (at least, so it seemed to Tenten and Lee). "…Can we help you?"
The cool voice from behind them merely mimicked Lee's earlier comment. "Not really."
Tenten glanced warily at the ominous figure that had slowly become apparent within a few seconds. Wasn't that the Uchiha boy? What was he doing here, confronting-
Lee forced his way past both the kunoichi and the taller Hyuuga to view Sasuke properly. "What do you want?"
A light smirk graced the sixteen-year-old's face. "Nothing…at least, not yet."
"Then what are you doing-"
A loud Poof! accompanied Gai-sensei's unforeseen appearance in front of the four chuunin. The hairy jounin placed a finger to his chin, scrutinizing each of the four inferiors carefully. "Hmm…I could've sworn I left here with only three of you. What's with this fourth one?"
A suddenly sappy Lee was about to act upon his role as the teacher's pet when Tenten sharply elbowed him, notifying him in a voiceless message that Gai-sensei was just kidding around. "He just showed up, sensei, but I think he was already about to take his leave," she provided the explanation. "Right, Sasuke?" She blanched as she realized that he'd disappeared almost as quickly as he had appeared.
Lee's impending frown deepened. "How rude."
Gai shrugged carelessly. "It really doesn't matter, you three. The meeting has begun. Let's go." Snapping his own fingers rudely as if to make sure his subordinates got a move on, he himself vanished just as abruptly as he had come into view.
A few minutes later…
Surprisingly enough, everyone from the inattentive Naruto to the overindulgent Akimichi Chouji had settled down on the soft, downy grass, waiting for the meeting to finally commence. As expected, an unfortunate Sasuke seemed to be surrounded by an abundance of neurotic girls, namely Ino and Sakura. As the scene stood, they both were engaged in a petty mini-brawl in which one of them was trying to secure her arm within Sasuke's own, while the other was trying her hardest to prevent it from happening.
When Asuma finally rose from his spot near Gai, Kurenai, and Kakashi to deliver a short speech, however, the restless talking and shifting ceased. He made no effort to properly introduce the situation, much to the distaste of both Gai and Kurenai. Bluntly speaking (and showing the more perceptive students that he'd only been addressed with the information recently), he uttered a few words before sitting down again. "To cut a long story short, kids, the Hokage seems to think that you all haven't been challenged enough so far as chuunin. And to add to that, it seems that most of you new shinobi have shown that you're practically ignorant regarding other cultures and ethnicities. So she's arranged for you all to go on a little two-year journey around the world, you know…to act as temporary bodyguards for towns and get introduced to new societies at the same time. So, sorry to have sprung this on you all, but that's just how the apple falls from the tree."
"But that wasn't how the meeting with the Hokage went, Asuma! You're leaving out very important parts!" Kurenai protested.
"Would you rather tell them the long version?"
She flushed and didn't reply, sullenly pointing at the pink-haired kunoichi who'd just raised her hand. "…Yes?"
"I don't know if I've caught all of this," Sakura started slowly, "but is this like a really major mission without you four acting as our teachers? Would we be going to different towns and protecting their civilians without your help?"
Kakashi nodded, receiving a mixed reaction from some of the other subordinates present. "We don't make the rules, you know. But I happen to think that this idea would be a beneficial one to all of you, both mentally and physically growth-wise. Anyway, you all shouldn't worry just yet. You're scheduled to go on this journey early next year."
"Why so far away?" Kiba butted in, absently stroking Akamaru. This actually seemed to be much more exhilarating than most of the missions he went on with Hinata and Shino…and even better, Kurenai-sensei wouldn't be with them once they left! They'd be in control of their own lives for once-
"Simply because you need as much time as possible to secure at least some knowledge regarding the outside world. Some of you have outstanding power, while others may have amazing smarts. But without some familiarity of the other towns and cities in the world, you're basically sitting ducks. And this doesn't mean just the customs and cultures of these new cities; we're talking about going the whole nine yards with this one."
Naruto visibly gulped. This didn't sound good at all. If what he was thinking of matched what Kakashi-sensei was about to say, then he was done for-
"Now, there'll be many courses for you to opt for, regarding numerous aspects of the environment and people you'll be meeting on your journey," the silver-haired jounin continued. A small pause ensued, before he looked sincerely stumped. "Let's see… Gai, do you have that list Kurenai made the other day? I can't find it for the life of me."
Said jounin raised one of his huge eyebrows in question, revealing the small paper from his pouch wherein Kurenai's neat, spidery writing adorned the page. "Something told me you wouldn't. Anyway, kids, the classes are as follows: General Grammar, History in Literature, General History, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Trigonometry, and General Languages." Pausing before he delved into the other electives, a satisfied grin graced his countenance as most of the students blanched in horror.
Neji suddenly frowned. "What does 'General Grammar' have to do with other countries?"
"Yeah," Ino piped up. "I guess I can see where the others would apply…mostly in the environment, like Kakashi-sensei said…but grammar?"
Kurenai smiled gently. "In some cultures, it's acceptable to use slang; while in others, you could get your tongue cut off for addressing someone with the wrong suffix or prefix. We wouldn't want that to happen, would we?"
A speechless Ino didn't ask any other questions.
Gai continued. "There will also be a Genetic Kekkei Genkai course for those subordinates of ours who possess said characteristics…and a Genjutsu Illusion course, a Ninjutsu Fighting Technique course, and a Taijutsu Physical Arts course. These are for those who struggle with the above jutsu, although we don't expect all of you to be well-rounded in all three. So generally, there'll be a select few of you under these courses. Asuma, you're up again."
A particularly indolent Asuma rose to his feet again. Sighing, he took the paper from the eccentric jounin and endeavored to read in what was not perceived as an interested tone. "Kakashi will be teaching the sciences. Kurenai will be teaching the head of the mathematics department. I will be teaching General History and General Languages, while Gai will be teaching General Grammar and History in Literature. For the Genetic Kekkei Genkai, Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, and Taijutsu special tutoring…we've all been watching your abilities progress through the time that we've known you. You will be notified on whether you need them or not."
"And here's your first lesson in what happens in other cultures. There'll be final exams!" Gai chirped cheerily. "Luckily for you, they're not like most schools' tests in other societies. Because there's just too many of you chuunin, you'll be put against one of your fellow team members in a match. Whoever wins will be able to go on the journey. And who knows? Maybe you'll be able to become jounin after you redeem yourselves in front of the Hokage."
Hinata looked a bit intimidated. This 'final exam' sounded a bit like what they had had to do to become chuunin in the first place. Was she really ready to go through all of that again?
Conversely, this snatched the attentions of quite a few of the students present, including a previously disinterested Sasuke. This whole thing had seemed to be a ridiculous task that would prove annoying within the first few weeks of its implementation, but now that there was a chance, no matter how slim it might be, for him to become a jounin after returning…perhaps it wouldn't be so useless after all.
He knew he was doing the same thing he'd done with Orochimaru, but the idea of achieving his ambitions quicker than originally planned had already pasted itself into his philosophy of life years ago.
What Kurenai-sensei said next, however, brought his state of mind back to the present. "Well, you're all free to go, I guess. But please go home and think about which courses you'd like to take. You'll have to take at least four, so pick wisely. And I'd like to talk with Hyuuga Hinata, Hyuuga Neji, and Uchiha Sasuke before they leave."
Upon her dismissal of them, the majority got up and proceeded to leave with their respective sensei, many mixed emotions running throughout their minds. Within a few minutes, the entire training area had been cleared out, with the exception of an anxious Hinata, an indifferent Neji, and an apathetic Sasuke.
Kurenai seemed a bit daunted about the way Neji and Sasuke glared at her expectantly, but managed to compose herself well enough to inform them that they had to do a bit more extra work than the others. "I've been talking with your sensei lately, you two. Since I train Hinata, I know her strengths and weaknesses, but both of your teachers would like you to attend some bloodline technique-strengthening classes. I'm supposed to give you these index cards," she waved three small cards at them. "I guess that after you read them over, you can leave." She handed each doujutsu handler their respective card, and awaited their initial reactions.
Hinata stared at her note card, creamy eyes reading it carefully. 'Hyuuga Hinata: You have wonderful potential, but your bloodline technique needs some more work on mastering. Please meet Kakashi-sensei at three o' clock each day.'
Sasuke glowered at the crimson-eyed jounin before turning his back on both Hinata and Neji and preparing to leave the training grounds. "He did it on purpose, I bet." 'Uchiha Sasuke: Time and time again we've all been exposed to the powers of your prestigious Uchiha clan…but you can do much more with your Sharingan eyes than what you use them for. Please meet Kakashi-sensei at three o' clock each day.'
Neji scowled implicitly upon reading his own note, crumpling the card within his grip before leaving as well. 'Hyuuga Neji: You have amazing mastery on your Byakugan…but you need to share your capabilities with others in your clan. Please meet Kakashi-sensei at three o' clock each day.' His scowl only grew deeper as what he'd just read sunk into his mind and replayed itself over and over again. They wanted him to train his cousin, a highly unlikely thing.
The two boys left within a few minutes, leaving a troubled Hinata in their wake. She allowed the monsters of indecision to paralyze her…how did she really feel about training with her cousin and Sasuke?
She already knew how Neji would regard her during their training sessions.
But…how would Sasuke, someone she'd never really associated with before, act?
Ending Note: The second chapter's complete! Please be as wonderful as you all were last chapter and review! I was so pleased when I read all of last chapter's reviews, but I want to say that this update has been the most special for me. Exactly a year ago, on December 2, 2004, I joined this website as an aspiring fanfiction writer. I'm just so happy with all of the love and support that everyone has given me.
Gee, I really want to do something for you all…
…I think I know what I'll do! I'm offering either some graphic art that I recently made or a written freebie (you may pick a scene featuring one of the featured pairings, besides SasuHina, in this fic) for this story if you reviewed last chapter. You may pick only one of these two options, so if you're interested, please leave your email address and your preference and I'll handle the rest. I really want to show my gratitude to you all; and what better way than this?
This offer ends by the time the third chapter comes out, and I hope it'll come out before my birthday. XD (Er, by the way…if you do opt for the graphic art selection, just know that I am not so brilliant in that department. I don't have Photoshop, but I'll try my best.)
Ladii-Chocolate