Chapter 5: Filler
Disclaimer: If I said I owned this, how many of you would actually sue me?...didn't think so.
(Ayame: I would...
Kage: Shut up before I write you into a locked box. With Shiroari to keep you company.
Shiroari: -sharpens claws-
Ayame: 0.o...)
Uh ignore that...sugar is so much fun...-sweatdrop-...um...
Most people follow up "part one" with "part two." Not me! I'm not nearly so compatible...hehe.
When Sakura woke up again, something felt wrong. She opened her eyes and looked around the dark interior of the shack, wondering what it could possibly be.
When it finally hit her, she swore and tried to sit up abruptly. Bad move. The fast movement gave her a headache worse than any hangover, and her body made it clear that it didn't feel like doing anything yet. With another, much softer curse, she grabbed her head and held still until the pain faded, wondering how in hell she had let herself sleep until noon.
Something could have happened! It could have come by again, and there would have been nothing I could do about it! What if someone had tried to get in?
But no one had even been near her tree; the seals, half of which would disappear if they were touched by anyone but her or any jutsu whatsoever, were undisturbed.
With a sigh, she slowly sat up and looked around, still holding her head with one hand.
The inside of the shack was small, barely big enough that she could lie down, and if she grew much taller it would become very hard to get a good night's sleep. Not that I'm getting one now; too much to worry about.
Despite falling apart, it was as clean as Sakura could make it, free of mold, dust, or any bugs that would have come to live in her home had she been less vigorous in keeping them away. There has to be an anti-bug jutsu. I'll ask Shino-san later if he knows one. If he doesn't, those little maggots are still going to have hell to pay when I find out how to create one...
There wasn't much inside. Against one wall, in air- and water-proof boxes, scrolls were stacked. The boxes were halfway to the ceiling, and almost completely full except for one, which could probably hold one or two more of the precious documents.
Another wall had a small cupboard nailed to it, with three shelves above it. Inside the cupboard were a plate, chopsticks, and a few apples and three crackers. One shelf held her pajamas and an extra dress and shorts. The next one up, about on level with her head when she stood, was almost completely empty. The top shelf had a small wooden box with a lock, about two feet long and one foot high.
Sakura's eyes went to the middle shelf. The only thing there was a picture frame, a pretty silver one with cherry blossoms blooming out of one corner to trail graceful twigs down the top and one side. The picture inside it was of four people, one much taller than the other three.
Team #7 grinned at her from behind the glass, caught on a sunny day on the bridge. Kakashi was finishing his 'why-I-was-late' speech, Sakura smiling at Ino who was taking the picture, Naruto was making a peace-sign with his huge grin, and even Sasuke was smiling a little, hands shoved in his pockets.
With a sigh, Sakura stood up slowly and then leaned abruptly against the wall. Damn. Now I remember why chakra overuse can be so bad...this is SO much worse than a hangover...
She decided holding still sounded like a wonderful plan at the moment and proceeded to follow it for about five minutes.
When she glanced at an apple, her stomach protested so violently she was nearly sick. Yep. WAY worse than a hangover. I will never tease Kakashi-sensei again when he drinks too much...ow...
She reached up and pulled a pair of shorts and a dress off the shelf. With a yawn, she pulled down a small backpack and stuffed them in it. She turned around and made it all the way to the door before she realized that in order to get out of her house, she had to use even more chakra.
Shit...in hindsight, there are drawbacks to being cautious. She groaned softly and sat down, chin in her hands as she stared at the closed door in front of her. I'm going to buy some rope when I get to Konoha. A long one, with knots in it. I don't care if someone could climb up it, there is no way I'm using chakra every day when I feel like this.
You wouldn't feel like this if you were stronger, sneered that same little inner voice.
Shut the hell up, we're trying! Snarled Inner Sakura. The little voice cowered in a dark corner.
Sakura sighed. The first opinion had probably been right...no matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she improved, Naruto and Sasuke were still stronger than her. And they didn't even seem to have to try anymore; everything came so easily to Sasuke, and Naruto had so much energy all the time that he made anything look simple even when he actually failed, which was becoming rarer and rarer.
Why do I even try? I'll never hold a candle to them. They're so strong, good at everything they do. What am I? Just the stupid little girl, the tag-along. Not even good enough for her parents to stick around—
She suddenly jerked. Inner Sakura had protested so violently to that last thought it had felt like a physical slap.
Your dad being an asshole of a bum was not your fault!She yelled, flames in her eyes.
So? What about after he left? I couldn't get her to stick around, either! Try and tell me that that wasn't my fault either! Even my mother called me weak!
There was no reply to that, since the only possible retort would have hurt both of them. Sakura felt tears forming in her eyes and angrily forced them down. Abruptly she stood up, ignoring the pain in her head. It wasn't anything more than she deserved, after all. She was too weak to do anything.
Using her anger and frustration as energy, she forced chakra into her feet and jumped, stubbornly waiting until the last possible moment to reach out and touch the tree with her feet. The bark cut into her skin (she'd forgotten to put on her shoes, which had tumbled after her and now waited on the forest floor) and she felt herself bleed a little.
She walked down the tree and then, about fifteen feet from the ground, let go. She landed in a crouch, knuckles barely resting on the leaves and grass, and held it for a moment before picking up her shoes and pulling them on. Looking up at her home, she made four signs and whispered one word. There was a small blue light and the door to her home closed, then the light disappeared. Satisfied that her house was protected again, she set off the path toward Konoha.
Now that she was awake enough to appreciate it, the forest around her was truly beautiful. The trees, tall guardians, stood in dignity against the wind that was all that remained of last night's storm, their leaves whispering to each other in a hissing conversation understood by no one but them, a secret language that seemed almost magical when you listened.
The various animals here had long ago gotten used to Sakura, and she was able to see things that many elite ninja had only heard of, and although nothing approached her, they didn't run away either when her path got close to theirs.
A few things, of course, were still to be avoided, mostly the larger creatures with matching appetites, but Sakura knew by now how to stay away from them.
Within twenty minutes of walking about as fast as most people jogged, Sakura neared the edge of the Forest. She stopped behind a relatively small tree (only about four feet wide) and peered around it, making sure no one was watching. There was no one there, so she stepped out into the sunlight.
It hurt her eyes and she squinted as she walked along the narrow, old road. As she neared the actual village, she paused for a moment to make sure her face was smiling a little and her head was high, focusing on building the sweet mask everyone expected to see. When she was sure her expression and body language was perfect, she strolled into Konoha, heading right for the bath house.
When she got inside, the first thing she did was go over to the wall where Jiraiya always peeked and stuff an extra towel in the tiny hole there, almost invisible from inside.
She could hear several outraged, very quiet muttered curses and held still for a minute to listen to the Pervert-Sennin's creativity.
So this is where Naruto learned that one...I'll have to talk to him later about teaching THAT to him...oh that one's new, I'll remember it for later...whoa! Too much! Hey, that one's kinda funny...she bit back an actual giggle as she turned away and stripped, climbing into the hot water.
Because it was so late in the day, there were no other women bathing. As Sakura gratefully soaked her sore self in the water, she berated herself again for allowing herself to sleep. I won't be able to go there today...I hope they don't kick her out, I've been so behind...
She sighed. Today was going to be very, very long...
Two hours later
Sakura looked up from coiling the rope she'd bought, hearing someone call her name. She was sitting on a small swing, the only person in the whole playground.
"Hey, forehead girl, I see you still haven't made any friends," mocked Ino in fake-snobbishness (A/N: is that even a word?) as she ran closer.
"Shut up, pig, I have lots of friends," she retorted, sticking out her tongue. Ino grinned.
"I brought you something," she said, tossing Sakura a small package.
"Oh! Thanks, Ino-chan," said Sakura. She started to unstick the tape, then glanced up and said "Do I open this now or later?"
Ino shrugged, tossing her shoulder-length ponytail behind her. "Doesn't matter, I guess. But I would like to see what it is...it's from Hinata-chan."
Hinata? Oh no, I haven't seen her yet today...I have to go over there later, she'll think something's wrong. What if she tries to find me? Sakura apprehensively opened the package.
Inside were some energy bars, several cookies that she recognized as Yumi's chocolate chip, and a note.
"Hey, those look good!" exclaimed Ino.
"Want one?" she asked absently, unfolding the note.
"Nah, I'm on a diet. Again. Thanks though, I have to leave anyway. Dad wants me at the shop. Stop by later, okay?"
"Sure, Ino-chan...see you later..." Sakura had stopped paying attention to her friend, bending her head to read the note.
Sakura-chan:
Eat all the cookies, Yumi put vitamins and stuff in them. Please call me when you get this, I am worried about you. You haven't been acting like yourself lately, Sakura-chan. Are you sick? You never take care of yourself.
—Hinata
Sakura regarded the cookies. She didn't have a phone. Maybe she should get a cell phone and put it up there?
Ha, right, and of COURSE there's cell-phone service in the Forest of Shadows! snorted Inner Sakura. Sakura sighed and chose to ignore her.
"SAKURA-CHAN!"
Konoha's Number One Loudest Future Hokage waved wildly at her. Sakura glanced up and waved back, less energetically.
"Hi Naruto," she said as he came within normal hearing range instead of shouting distance.
"Sakura-chan, guess what? Yesterday Sasuke-yaro was chased by a pink bunny!"
"Naruto, don't name-call." She stifled a yawn, wondering why she was suddenly tired again. Seeing Naruto, instead of picking her up, was making her feel worse.
Looking at him, sensing the immense power and potential within him, only reminded her of how weak she was. How worthless, and she had to keep being worthless, just to fit in...and maybe that was the worst part, was that she knew she COULD be stronger...if only...
"Sakura-chan, did you eat yet?" asked Naruto, frowning when her stomach complained.
"Oh. Um...no," she admitted, distracted out of her depressing thoughts. She could have lied, but her stomach would have given her away anyway.
"Come on, let's go get some ramen! My treat," he added, seeing the dubious look on her face.
"It better be. I know how much you can eat," she said.
"Let's go then!" He grabbed her hand.
Pulled off the swing, Sakura was dragged along behind Naruto for several seconds before gathering herself up enough to run on her own. Clutching the package under one arm, she caught up with and passed Naruto, sticking her tongue out at him as she flew by.
"Hey! That's not nice!" He complained, putting on an extra burst of speed to make up for it.
Sakura found the energy to laugh at him, looking over her shoulder with a pretty smile that wasn't even entirely feigned.
Whump.
Sakura smacked into something hard, like hitting a stone wall, bounced backward and almost landed on her butt, catching her balance at the last second. Neji wasn't so lucky; he fell over, covered in cookies. Sakura gasped.
"Sorry Neji-san! I didn't see you!" she knelt down to help him up, but he slapped her outstretched hand away roughly. Sakura concentrated on picking up the cookies instead of trying to help again.
When they were all gathered back in the little box, she looked up to apologize again to Neji, who had already stood up by then.
The sun was behind him, making him into a tall dark silhouette, only his eyes still clearly definable through the glare. She wasn't sure which was more painful to look at—the sun behind him or the hidden anger in his eyes.
Sakura didn't look away, although the apology died on her lips. Something about his eyes, just like Hinata's and yet so different, compelled her to keep staring into them. She felt like if she just looked long enough, there was a secret she could learn, something he hid from everyone that could be unlocked if someone found the right key...just like her.
A breeze stirred half-heartedly, lonely and silent. It wrapped around them, whispering through Sakura's hair and rippling Neji's ponytail.
Naruto skidded to a halt, breaking the moment. "Sakura-chan, are you all right?" he asked urgently.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said distractedly.
Neji muttered something under his breath. Naruto yelled "What was that?"
But Sakura had heard. Her eyes flashed and hardened suddenly, intensifying into a determined emerald glare. Her chin jutted up and she stood abruptly, her defiant stare never wavering, although the coldness and bottled anger in Neji's eerie white eyes compelled her to look away, look down, duck her head, to do anything but keep glaring at him like she was his equal.
Once a weakling, always a weakling, huh? snarled Inner Sakura. Flames filled her eyes and her hands were raised and fisted in front of her. I'll KILL that bastard!
"Watch it, Neji-san," she hissed softly, momentarily forgetting that she was supposed to be a weak little girl who had barely achieved Chuunin-rank.
"Hmf." He disregarded her completely, pretending to just shrug her off as he turned away. "Watch where you're going. The least you could do is get out of the way when someone stronger is trying to walk ."
Inner Sakura wanted to haul off and give him the tongue-lashing of his life, or at least smack him a few good times, but Outer Sakura regained control of herself and quickly suppressed her anger. Haruno Sakura was not supposed to be an angry girl. She was always forgiving.
Naruto wasn't as content with a few satisfying images of Neji twitching in pain on the ground as Sakura was, and opened his mouth to start yelling. Sakura quickly clapped a hand over his mouth.
"Drop it, Naruto," she ordered. He glared after Neji and then indignantly at Sakura, but after a second he let it drop.
"Stop letting people walk on you like that, Sakura-chan. He's a jerk."
"I know, Naruto," she said distantly, watching him leave. He did have one thing right...I'm really not very strong.
Then show him! BECOME strong! We'll show everyone! vowed Inner Sakura.
If I suddenly became stronger...a lot of people would notice. I can't draw attention, she argued sadly.
No one has to know, pointed out Inner Sakura.
Sakura blinked. Of course...no one knows where I live, how would they find me training? I can become as strong as I want, she realized, feeling a sudden rush. I can become as strong as I want!
She almost laughed. She was suddenly pulled out of the sadness of her morning, almost giddy with the sudden knowledge that what no one knew didn't matter. It wouldn't hurt so much to always act weak as long as she herself knew she was so much better—that she wasn't worthless.
"Come on Naruto, let's go eat ramen," said Sakura. She took off with a new speed, leaving the poor confused, well-meaning blonde in the dust behind her.
At the Ramen Place
Naruto was on his fifth or sixth bowl of ramen when a little boy in the street tripped over the ball he'd been playing with. He fell remarkably hard and Sakura knew there would be a really impressive bruise on his butt later.
Bruise...hospital...oh no! I forgot! Thinking of the hospital jolted her memory and she stood up before she'd finished her ramen. "Naruto, I just remembered something I have to do. Thank you for lunch, I'll see you around." With no other explanation and without giving him time to ask for one, she turned and walked quickly out, breaking into a run the moment she was hidden from view of the ramen shop. She headed for the hospital; seeing the bruise forming had reminded her of something that needed to be done...
She didn't approach the front of the hospital or the emergency exit. Instead she climbed the roof of a building a few blocks away and snuck closer like a thief. On the second story of the patient-housing section was a window, open to catch the breeze.
The window had bars. Sakura slipped up next to it and then pulled a small envelope out of her bag. Cautiously, she rapped on the bars with a kunai, making a hard clinking noise.
When she heard noise inside, she quickly hid the weapon. A woman came to the window. Her hair was mostly a dull yellowish-white, except for a few strands that might have been considered a lightish red, like a brick. Her eyes were milky and clouded with age, obviously blind or nearly so. She was yelling at the moment, at whoever was bothering her. The hospital gown she was wearing draped over her wizened body, which looked like it had at one time been fat, but then lost weight too quickly to look quite right.
"I know you're out there, coward! Come in here where I can see you, didn't your mother ever teach you manners at all?"
Yes, thought Sakura sadly. "Here," she said instead. "I can't stay. Take this; give it to the nurse who comes in at two." That was only a minute or less away; Sakura would have to leave fast.
"Why should I?" she asked suspiciously.
"If you don't, they'll throw you out. I know you've heard them threaten to. Now take it." She was trying to hide the quaver in her voice, feeling her eyes sting and ache. One day, she knew, the old woman would refuse the money, and what would happen when she was pressed for time like she was now? What then?
Sakura had been paying for this woman to stay in the hospital and receive the care she needed. That was where more than half the money she earned went to. With this month's bill at the hospital, she was completely broke. I need to talk to Tsunade later. I need a mission or I'm going to be in serious trouble soon...
There was a knock at the door. Sakura shoved the envelope through the bars and fled, running fast over the rooftops to slide down to the ground several blocks over.
When she was sure that her heart had stopped pounding and she didn't look like she'd been running and climbing anymore, she stepped out of the alley and walked back toward the hospital, blending in with the crowd as though she had been out in the open all day.
I meant to tell you the other secrets she had, but a few things had to happen first and this was one of them.
Honestly, this chapter IS necessary...it's just not part 2. (besides, going in order is boring.) I forgot to tell you a few things earlier that were covered in this chapter.
Apparently I'm really bad at telling secrets and keep them as long as possible...good thing in my life, BAD thing when I'm writing! Darnit!
Thanks for reading! And putting up with the oddly short chapters!
Here's my reply to everyone who reviewed...I guess I can't help answering questions and comments and stuff...
Sasuke Is Mine:
I have to admit, at least you're a faithful reviewer. -rolls eyes- but it's getting really annoying that very time I put a character into something less-than-flattering, you flame me. Why are you still reading this if it bothers you so much?
lostfreakfound-san:
Yep the comment on your screenname was a compliment. And this chapter was a little longer...until I reread it, realized I hated half of it, and went on a sugar-high deleting freak...nvm you get it.
understar-san:
Hehe yeah it only took me a month last time! Thanks! Now I can catch up to however far they've gotten...
waterfox96-san:
Ok, here you go.
Dagorwen of Ithilien-san:
Yes I kind of figured you liked LotR...hehe so do I actually. Anyway, ya, here's your update.
xx-Tsumi-Chan-xx-san:
Thanks! I hope I let you on to a little more, at least. I have a feeling this will be a LONG story...-winces at sight of huge piles of story ideas that clutter her room-...a very, very long story.
mad-killer-bunnies-alert-san:
-snicker- I have my own theories on Frenh spelling...none of which are very flattering to anyone...anyway here's the next chapter!
nadeshiko-archer-san:
Your guess is as good as mine. But yes, very annoying...-sets cat on writer's block- ha! Die!...(kind of hyper right now)
Magus Black-san:
Yes I do have a habit of doing that...
cocoa-latte-san:
Sure, there's no way I'm dropping it now!
gargoylesama-san:
Would you really? Cool! I think I'll wait until this one is done, though, unless it starts to REALLY irritate me at how much I have to edit out. Which is very likely...
neu chi no nai u-san:
Oh.
Arandomreader-san:
This is half the fun of writing: looking at the names people come up with. I like yours, I think I'll do something like that when I'm too lazy to sign in for a review...thanks for the compliment!
zero25-san:
Ok! Was this soon enough?
SilverMoons BlackWings-san:
Ah so YOU'RE the one who took the screen name I wanted...ah well. I love your review, gotta be the most interesting one I've seen.
catherine-san:
Thank you I'm glad you liked it.
Ayame-chan:
There, bwa ha! Did too!
Thanks to everyone who reads this, even if you didn't review and never plan to. Yes, even YOU, ya freaking eternal flamer...whom I will not name...you know who you are...
Kage