Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, cuz if I did; Sakura would be Hokage and convince Sasuke-kun to come home to Konoha! xD
Thank you everybody for your wonderful reviews!
Marsgoddess1I'm trying really hard not to, but let me know if I do! lol!
Heartless Ghost: lol "Shannaro" means "HELL YEAH!" in Japanese. That's why INNER Sakura uses it. xD "Ja ne" means see ya later and/or good bye in Japanese. Thanks for reading!
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susakuru hehehe. I will! lol!
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Sukarou Thank you so much!
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Chapter Three:
Leaving
Sakura was upstairs in her room, waiting for the sun to set. Her eyes were puffy from crying as she pulled her pillow over her head.
There was a loud knock on her door.
Groaning with frustration she rolled over, pulling the pillow over her head more so it was covering her ears as well.
The knocking grew louder and then it was accompanied by, "SAKURA! Open this door right now!" Yamanaka Ino's voice carried through the door to Sakura's ears.
It went silent for a minute, before, "poof" Ino appeared in Sakura's doorway. "Get up lazy ass. I want to know what's going on. You won't answer your phone, you're constantly gone, and now you've gone too far with running away from Naruto. He told me what happened."
Sakura slowly sat up. Her bangs covering her eyes. "Ino-chan, you can't help me. Just please leave me alone." It was then that Ino got mad. "HELP? I don't know how to even act around you anymore Forehead girl! You're not the same person as my best friend." Sakura ignored her, getting up and walking out of her room. Ino followed her.
Sakura went downstairs, slipping her shoes on by the door. "I'm going to re-stock on some supplies. See you later." She said bluntly as she waved at Ino before walking out the door.
"Oh NO you DON'T!" Ino shouted as she quickly slipped her shoes on as well. She caught up to Sakura pretty quickly and she tackled her to the ground. Sakura let out a "What the hell?" as Ino pinned her down.
"What the hell is going on with you Sakura?" Ino shouted, tears starting to swell in her eyes. She hated the way Sakura was looking at her. It was a blank, almost numb look in her eyes. Like her soul had been completely destroyed.
"Get off me Ino. You're holding me up. I've got a mission to fulfill. It's something that you would HARDLY understand." Sakura said coldly. Ino looked at her incredulously. "We've been best friends for YEARS, Sakura. How the hell can you say that? Go ahead, try me." Sakura's eyes narrowed, before she laughed. Ino glared at her. "What the hell is so funny?" She asked her pink haired friend. Sakura got a grip on her composure before answering. "That's the same thing Sasuke-kun said to me too earlier." Ino then sighed with relief. "So you told him, right? I mean, of all people, you should've willingly—"
"I ignored him."
Ino stopped talking and froze. "You what?" she asked. "I ignored him. I told him to leave me alone." Ino's blue eyes were wide with shock. Sakura, her best friend and #1 Sasuke Fan, had told him to leave her alone when he'd shown a small sign of concern for her. Ino got up off of Sakura, allowing her friend to stand. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Ino screamed, slapping Sakura hard across the face. Sakura held her ground, but took the hit. "I'm LEAVING Ino-chan! LEAVING! I'm going to be going to kill the ones responsible for my parent's suffering and deaths! Who knows how long Orochimaru tortured them?" Ino's eyes had widened and her jaw dropped. "Sakura, I—"
"I don't want to hear it." Sakura muttered, turning to go. Ino wouldn't let her. She walked up to her and grabbed her by the shoulder. Sakura turned around, throwing a punch at Ino. "Leave me alone! There's nothing that you can do to make me stay!" Ino grabbed her into a hug. "I won't let you." She said, twisting Sakura's arm behind her back. This made Sakura mad. She kicked up, landing a blow to Ino's stomach, making her relinquish her hold on Sakura's arm. "Get over it. I'm leaving to kill the ones responsible for fucking up my life! Don't you dare try to stop me either!" Sakura screamed.
"You baka forehead girl!" Ino screamed, recovering from her hit and once again tackling Sakura to the ground. "You are so weak! Why can't you just get over it? If you go off and try to take revenge, you'll be just like BAKA Sasuke!"
Sakura's green eyes narrowed. "What, no 'kun' now?" She sneered. Ino "hmphed" and she crossed her arms over her chest defiantly as she sat on top of Sakura's legs, refusing to move. "I've found someone more worthy of my respect. Sasuke is gone from my mind. You should do the same. That bastard will never love you. He's too in-love with own stupid ass ego."
Sakura's frown deepened and she wriggled free, punching Ino off of her. "You dirty bitch! I don't care about this! All I want is for you to leave me alone! My parents are dead and the ones responsible are still alive. THAT I cannot live with." Sakura shoved Ino off of her, and did a back handspring, putting more distance between them.
"Just leave me alone Ino-buta. I'm going, and there's nothing that you can do to stop me."
"I'll tell the Hokage."
"I'll still get away you dumbass. She's got more on her mind than me to worry about."
"I'll-I'll tell Sasuke…"
Sakura whirled around. "I dare you." She growled. "I doubt he'll give a shit anyways."
With that, Sakura took off running, leaving Ino to wipe the blood running from her lip. "Maybe I will Sakura." Ino said softly, standing up. She looked over her shoulder as she turned around, staring off in the direction that her friend had disappeared. She started walking forward, towards a rarely populated part of Konoha. Soon, her walk turned into a dead-run.
She came to a halt in front of the Uchiha mansion. Her breath came in sharp gasps from running so hard. Tch, it's not my fault I'm not in shape. Azuma-sensei never works with me anymore… she though bitterly as she stopped in front of Sasuke's door. Ino dropped her hands on her knees, willing air into her burning lungs. She reached up to knock on the door, but it slid open before she could reach it.
"Ino?" a smooth voice asked. She looked wearily up at the person standing in the doorway. He was dressed in the elite ninja's uniform, making him look even more attractive than he did before.
"Uchiha…" Ino breathed, slowly standing upright to look him in the eyes. "Sakura's leaving. I can't convince her to stay. She's bent on revenge. Turns out that she took a leaf out of your book."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "She's what?" He asked, his usual frown deepening. Ino nodded, leaning against the wall next to the door, holding her chest. Sakura's kicks had gotten stronger. She could feel that a few ribs might be cracked or broken.
"I tried to talk her out of it, but—"
"Looks like she managed to throw you off." Sasuke finished, looking her over. "You should have someone look at that." He said, pointing to her hand around her torso. Ino nodded. "You're the only one who can stop her Uchiha. If she leaves, Konoha will lose its best medic Nin. And I don't want my best friend to become a missing nin either." Ino said, turning to go.
Sasuke nodded, and he disappeared inside his house, grabbing a few things before he left.
Dusk came and night fell upon the hidden village of Konoha. Sakura pulled her backpack on, slipping from her house and making her way down the street. She knew for a fact that Ino had said something to Sasuke, but she could care less. She would make sure that she got out of Konoha tonight.
Sakura leapt into the trees, running as fast as she could towards Konoha's gates. She made it to the edge of the city, and jumped down just inside the gates. She'd sensed someone's chakra. She walked out of the shadows of the trees, looking around for the source.
"What are you doing out so late at night?" a familiar cool voice asked. Sakura whirled around and saw him. He was leaning up against the one of the main gates, hidden in the shadows. Sakura jerked her head back around, closing her eyes as she walked by him. "Go away Sasuke-kun." She said icily. "I have nothing to say to you." She snapped.
"Hn."
Hn? Is that all he has to say? FINE!
"Ja ne." she murmured as she marched through the city's gates.
"You won't make it far with ANBU patrolling the parameters." He called. Sakura pointedly ignored him.
A sharp, familiar whistling sound caught her attention, and she easily dodged the shuriken thrown in her direction. Fiery anger burned her eyes as she whirled around, a furious glared etched into her face. "I'm LEAVING! Neither you nor ANBU can stop me!" She screamed. She watched as Sasuke stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight.
He was dressed in an ANBU Nin's uniform.
Shit. Sakura had time to think. Well now, this is new! ANBU makes him look all the more sexier, ne? Inner Sakura said gleefully.
Sakura frowned more. URUSEI! Now is HARDLY the time! She thought angrily. "So I guess this means that you think you can stop me?" She snarled, dropping her pack to the ground and crossing her arms defiantly over her chest. The look in Sasuke's eyes shocked her. They were filled with worry and anger. Sasuke had pulled a kunai out, preparing for the worst. Sakura watched as he approached her. She didn't move until he came to a halt two feet from her.
He looked her in the eyes. He saw anger, fear, and lots of hate burning in her beautiful emerald orbs. If she leaves, Konoha will lose its best medic Nin. And I don't want my best friend to become a missing Nin either. Ino's words ran through his mind.
"You shouldn't be that stupid Sakura." He said after a moment. Sakura smirked. "Hn." She said, grabbing her pack and walking away. Anger burned inside her heart as she remembered that Sasuke might be tied to her parents' deaths. If that were so, he wouldn't live to see the next day.
"Leave me alone if you know what's good for you." Sakura said with her back turned. She heard him sigh. "I don't want to fight you Sakura, but I will if I must. I can't just let you leave."
Sakura turned around to face him. "That so? You sure had no problem against it all those years ago."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Don't change the subject. That is in the past, this is now." Sakura smirked. "Whatever Uchiha." She muttered, pulling a kunai from her holster.
Fuck, Naruto was right. She has changed…a lot. Sasuke thought sadly.
Sakura came at him, kunai raised, and her teeth gritted. Sasuke reacted instantly. He moved his kunai up to block as Sakura came closer. Metal clanged on metal as Sakura held her ground. Sakura frowned as Sasuke smirked. "Let's see how strong you have become Sakura." He said, the smirk never leaving his face. Sakura leapt away from him, throwing a back tuck in the air and landing a good five feet from him. She instantly had six shuriken in her hands, three in between each of her fingers on both hands. Jumping into the air, she threw the first wave at him, making him dodge. The second wave came next, distracting him while she performed the hand seals Tsunade had taught her. She landed, driving her left fist into the earth, splitting the ground along to where Sasuke stood. He jumped and barely escaped being caught. "Not bad." He muttered, and Sakura noted with some pride that his eyes were had changed to Sharingan. She came at him again, hand seals being performed quickly and almost too fast for the normal human eye to see. But not too fast for Sasuke. He copied the technique, and blocked Sakura's chakra blade with the one that he'd copied. "I'm not going to let you leave." Sasuke growled. Sakura snarled and threw a punch at his face. Sasuke caught her hand and they tumbled to the ground, both still had their chakra blades crossed, and both knew that something bad would happen should the other get hit by the other's blade. Sasuke pinned her down, his legs holding her still while his free arm pulled her blade arm behind her back. She was lying on her side.
"GET OFF ME!" Sakura screamed as she kicked hard. Sasuke's hold on her wavered slightly, but he held fast, refusing to let her free. "I won't let you leave." He repeated. Sakura drew a deep breath and she twisted her body around, screaming loudly as her shoulder was dislocated against his grip. But despite the pain, she was free. Sasuke jumped back, his eyes narrowed.
"I hate you." She muttered. Sasuke's eyes widened. She looked back up at Sasuke, and ran at him, her anger taking over her better judgment. "It's your fault that everything is messed up!" She cried. Tears burned her cheeks as she came at him again; using a series of punches and kicks at him, she pushed him back. With a final sweep of her leg behind his own, she brought them both to the ground, holding another kunai to his throat. "Answer me this Uchiha…" She said in a deadly voice. "Were you involved in the murder of my parents?"
Sasuke's red eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you talking about?" He asked, gently trying to lift her up off of him. Sakura only pushed the kunai harder against him. He froze.
"Answer me."
"No." He replied. "I would never do anything like that to hurt you Sakura." He said softly.
"Hn." She muttered, getting up. Her left hand disappeared behind her back as she fumbled with something in her pack. A split second later, she had hidden a senbon in her hand. "I don't believe you." Sakura said coldly as Sasuke got up. Before he knew what was happening, Sakura had thrown a kunai in his direction. He dodged it easily, but did not expect a senbon hidden in the shadow of the kunai. The senbon grazed his neck, and the paralyzing agent delivered into his bloodstream. Already he felt the effects of the agent, as his eyelids were growing heavy. Sakura walked towards him until she stood over him. "I told you that you wouldn't stop me." She said, smirking. Sasuke's eyes closed and he slipped into darkness. The last thing he remembered seeing was Sakura's retreating back…
"Sa-ku-ra…"
A/N: Wow, this was really looooong. xD What did you all think? I know the fight between Sasuke and Sakura kinda sucked, but Sakura is saving her techniques for when she fights Orochimaru… (gasp...spoiler! xD)
Ja ne!