Wishful Thinking
by: Sakuranime
Disclaimer: YES! I OWN NARUTO-CHAN! …or at least, that's what I named my teddy bear…
I am SOOOO SORRY! God, you guys must be so tired of hearing that from me…(sob) I've been such a horrible author, delaying my chapters and all. For that, you guys can flame me all you want- go ahead! I deserve it! I know I get pissed off myself when an author doesn't post another chapter after 2 months or so. I managed to pull this sorry piece of a chapter out of my ass during a Friday! Am I being too harsh on myself? (lol)
Well, it doesn't really have anything to do with me but there was this car crash and a senior at my high school died. He had good grades and was captain of the swim team and all. Well, he died. Yeah, yeah, sounds kind of harsh, I know. But I have no clue who he is, it's just that I feel really sorry for the people who knew him…(boohoo) So we had a half-day at the high school today because some of the staff and kids at school had to attend the funeral. (shrugs) I know I really don't know him, but I'm dedicating this chapter to the memory of him. Eh…and I forgot his name…xD Gah. How sad.
Enjoy and review please! Sorry for any spelling errors and grammar, I just wanted to get this posted ASAP!
"Quotations"
'Thoughts'
(( Flashbacks ))
Chapter 6: Two champions clash!
-
The wind swayed. Birds chirped. Ants scurried on the forest floor. It was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves. A flurry of pink hair leapt from tree to tree. The girl dropped to the ground and closed her eyes in concentration.
'I feel some heat signatures…around 5…maybe more…right…there!' Snapping her eyes open, she soundlessly jumped back up on a branch and proceeded forward. 'Almost…there…' Beads of sweat trailed down her slender neck, the beginnings of fatigue showing.
She saw a flash of yellow. A smirk on her face, she continued on, leaping from tree branch to tree branch. Another flash of yellow in her vision. The blonde-haired boy was obliviously chuckling to himself behind a tree trunk.
'Gotcha!'
She crept behind him, her movements silent and deadly like a tiger. 'This is the end, Naruto…!' A malicious smile adorned her face and her hand reached out to grab him by the back of his shirt. Her hand met the soft fabric of his orange jacket, instantly tightening her hold.
"I have you now…" She spoke in a low voice.
The boy immediately stiffened when she spoke. He inched his head bit by bit, paling at the sight of his captor.
"TAG! I GOT YOU, NARUTO!" Sakura shouted gleefully, letting the frozen boy go.
Naruto jumped in fright, a hand over his heart. "S-S-S-Sakura-chan! Y-you s-s-scared me!"
The girl stuck out her tongue playfully, showing a V-sign with her fingers. "I know, I'm sooo good like that."
He scoffed. "Suuuuure…"
"Let's go find the others, then, if you're so good!" Sakura challenged. Naruto grinned foxishly.
"You're on."
-
"Ah!" Sakura smiled. "We found all of you!" The genin gang plus the undercover spirit were currently resting in a clearing in the forest floor.
With their combined strengths, Naruto and Sakura had managed to capture everyone else within minutes.
"Y-You're b-b-both very good at this game…" Hinata said, twiddling her fingers.
Naruto grinned widely, grabbing the shy Hyuuga's shoulders. "Thanks, Hinata-chan!" The girl responded with a blush covering her face.
Neji growled warningly, to which the blonde boy ignored. Tenten nudged his shoulder lightly. His white eyes glanced at her questioningly.
"Leave them be, Neji. They look so adorable together!" She whispered, squealing at the end. The branch-member's eyes widened a fraction before mimicking a sour expression.
"Hey, isn't someone missing?" Ino asked, gathering everyone's attention.
Kiba mentally counted everyone. "I could have sworn someone else with us…"
Shikamaru sighed, bored. "We're missing Uchiha, that's who."
"HAH! I'll find that bastard in five seconds flat!" Naruto said with a grin and crouched down to jump on top a high branch but a hand stopped him.
"I'LL find him..." Sakura smirked. She turned her head and winked at her friends. "Just give me a couple seconds!" She leapt up on top of a branch and away she went.
Shino was silent. Of course, the bug-user was always silent. "…"
"What is it Shino?" Kiba asked. After being around the guy for quite a while, you had to develop some sense of when Shino wanted to say something.
The Aburame pushed his black glasses up the bridge of his nose. "…didn't you guys tell Sakura that Sasuke was once awarded the 'Best-Hide-and-Seek-Tag-Player-of-Konoha'?"
Everyone was silent.
Crickets chirped.
A crow cawed.
Orochimaru cackled.
"…this will take awhile…" Neji said finally.
"Ooh! Let's get front row seats!" Tenten squealed.
Kiba looked quizzically at her. "For what? Let's just sit down and relax or something…"
"Well, Sakura and Sasuke-san are both really good at hide-and-seek tag…" Hinata's voice spoke quietly. "Something is bound to happen…"
The implied information sunk in to the genin's skull. And then brain.
"LET'S GO! I CANNOT miss this!" Ino shouted and grabbed the nearest person to her…Shikamaru.
"Wait- what?" The lazy-ninja sputtered. After some pointless struggling, he gave up and was dragged by the match-making girl.
Everyone shrugged and followed. Who knows?
Something was bound to happen…especially wherever a spirit is around.
-
Swish.
Swoosh.
Swish.
Swoosh.
The pink-haired girl stopped on top a branch. She had been searching for what felt like hours, and still no sign of Sasuke!
Sakura looked around, making sure she was alone in the forest. She pointed to her wrist and whispered, "Clock." Her index finger and wrist glowed pink and in a flash, a digital wristwatch appeared on her wrist.
In pink neon lights read: 4:00. Sakura's eyes widened. It was only four! She had been searching for only 3 minutes?
She lowered her wrist and the watch vanished. Sakura sighed before growling. Why hadn't the others told her Sasuke was this GOOD at hide-and-seek tag?
-
"GYYYYAAARRRGGGHHH!"
The booming voice of a tired, sweaty, and above all, pissed girl rebounded throughout the forest, scaring little animals out of their wits.
Sakura blew tufts of unruly pink hair from her eyes and grumbled aloud. "WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL ME THAT SASUKE WAS SO GOOD AT HIDE-AND-SEEK TAG!" She was about to let loose her frustrations on an innocent tree when, as if by magic, it all disappeared. The spirit-like girl took a deep breath.
"Now, now, Sakura…no need to get all pissed at a silly game…" She massaged her temples. When that didn't relieve her of her aching legs, she added:
"Remember what the psychiatrist said…'Let the frustrations goooo…woosa…woosa…woosa…" Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and exhaled carbon dioxide. Opening her eyes to reveal large emerald orbs, she began to formulate a plan.
'Well, if you can't find him, you gotta bait him…'
Sakura plopped onto the dirt, not caring that it would stain onto her clothes. Being a spirit DID have its good sides.
'What would bait Sasuke…I wonder…'
The pink-haired girl stayed in that position for about a minute until her wide forehead concocted an idea so evil and diabolical, even Orochimaru would have cowered.
A wide, evil smile grew across her pink lips. Sakura released an evil laugh.
"I never knew you were so capable of thinking such a thought, Sakura! Hehehehe…this game will be MINE!" More evil laughter escaped her throat.
Unknown to her, the group huddled in the bushes some feet away sweatdropped at the girl's sudden evil demeanor.
Hinata shivered. "She's scary…"
Naruto took notice of the Hyuuga heiress's shivering. "Eh? Hinata-chan, are you cold or something?" Without waiting for an answer, he placed his hand on her forehead. "Nope. No fever." Instantly, Hinata's face turned beet red.
Neji growled in annoyance. Here he was, stuck with this weird lot, spying on this weird girl, when he could have been training against his weird sensei! Why was he here again? He snuck a glance at the chocolate-haired girl beside him. Oh yeah…because his teammate dragged him here.
Crouching beside him, Kiba laughed quietly. "Naruto, you're so dumb! Hahahaa!"
Shino's eyebrow arched. He knew the Haruno girl was weird…but with that evil laugh? Insane.
"God, why is she so scary?" Ino said, twitching at the pink-haired girl's weirdness.
Tenten could only smile weakly. "She's a weird one…"
Shikamaru grumbled, as usual. "How troublesome…it's not like we're going to see anything…"
"Of course we are! That's why we're spying on Sakura- to find out the connection between her and Uchiha-san!" Hinata suddenly said, startling herself and the others. Hastily, she covered her mouth in embarrassment. Clearing her throat, she added to lighten her sudden outburst, "Eh…well, you never know what might happen…"
Ino clasped her hands together in glee. "Wow, Hinata, I never knew you were like that!" The Hyuuga girl could only twiddle her thumbs and nod. That was enough of a boost for Ino, however. "Alright!-" She shouted, only to be muffled by Shikamaru.
She swiveled her blue eyes to the lazy ninja. "MmmMMmm!"
Shikamaru placed a finger on his lips. "Shh…we're supposed to be spying, right?" He let his hand drop and sighed out, "Geez, you call yourself a kunoichi?"
Ino rolled her eyes before turning back to the still cackling Sakura. "Now if only Sasuke would show himself…"
"Heh. I wouldn't worry about that…what do you think Sakura's plan is?" Kiba whispered.
"Whatever would make that girl laugh like that…" Tenten said, motioning to the still laughing Sakura in the clearing, "I would hate to be the person who's getting the end of it."
Everyone nodded unanimously.
Back to Sakura, she was in her own little world.
"Mwhahahahahahahahahahahaha-" She suddenly choked and pounded on her chest. After a few seconds, she breathed in a fresh gulp of air. A cough. "Argh…note to self: don't laugh maniacally after eating potato chips." The hyper pink-haired girl sweatdropped at her own silliness.
"Ooh! I just can't wait to see Sasuke's face…the horror…heh…" Sakura threw her head back and placed her hands on her hips. "MWAHAHAHAAA!"
The group in the bush shuddered.
And at that moment, everyone thought the same thing:
'S-s…scary…'
-
Enormous black eyes stared back at him.
Sasuke was crouching on the forest floor, staring back. His onyx eyes were concentrating on one thing…
A caterpillar.
The caterpillar's insect-like eyes haven't blinked in over twelve minutes. So haven't Sasuke's.
The dark-haired boy twitched. His eyes burned for moisture. They felt dry and itchy. Sasuke could've sworn he saw the caterpillar's eyes twitch before.
A tear developed in his eyes. It stung like a mother. Another twitch from Sasuke.
Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.
The caterpillar stared on, its eyes never moving.
Twitch. Twitch. Twi-
"ARGH!" Sasuke yelled, and jumped up and down, furiously blinking to get the moisture back to his eyes. After the burning sensation faded, he looked at the caterpillar square in the eye and glared.
"You've won this time, but I WILL be victorious!" Sasuke growled out. He blinked.
Blink. Blink.
"What the HELL did I just say?"
Sasuke mentally smacked himself. Ow. That hurt. He sighed deeply, and watched out of the corner of his eye as the caterpillar crawled away on a dead tree trunk. "That crazy girl is really getting to me…"
"Oh, Sasuke-kun…" A voice cooed, penetrating his thoughts. "I have something to tell you…"
The dark-haired shinobi turned his head toward his right, where the voice was coming from. It was obviously Sakura's…but that voice? It sounded like she was trying to seduce him or something!
He scoffed. He wasn't going to reveal himself just like that. No way ho say. His pride as the best Hide-and-seek-tag player was on the line. It would NOT look good if he was bested by some pink-headed girl.
"Sasuke-kun…"
Again with the annoying tone of voice. Sasuke had to resist the urge to run up to Sakura and smack it out of her.
"Won't you come out from where you're hiding? I have something I would like to tell you…"
This got his attention. What could Sakura possibly tell him? The gears in his Super-Uchiha-Brain churned. 'Unless…'
"Aww, you wouldn't want anyone to know our little s-e-c-r-e-t…right?" A mischievous giggle.
Sasuke's blood ran cold. It's amazing how a sentence can turn anyone into an entire different person. Sasuke had always secretly wondered how Naruto could change from one thing, to the next in a blink of an eye. Now he can experience it himself.
"She wouldn't dare…" Sasuke's body was rigid with unparalleled fear. His eyes were as wide as an owl's…he was sure anyone would pay a million dollars just to take a snapshot of his expression.
From somewhere across the forest, Sakura added, "Oh, and I WOULD dare…" Something in her tone caused Sasuke to know she wasn't lying.
A cloud of dirt formed where Sasuke's form had been 0.0001 seconds ago. He streaked across the forest floor, heading directly toward the waiting Sakura. Somehow, he knew exactly where she was.
The pink-haired girl smirked in utmost satisfaction as she saw a huge dirt-cloud streaking rapidly toward her. She whistled in surprise. Was that a 50-foot tree collapsing? She rolled her eyes. 'Men and their stupid pride…what's a small rumor about knowing some crazy girl going to do to your reputation anywhos?'
The Uchiha almost never-really raised his voice. Only in battle. And this, he considered a battle. For his reputation and pride. "SA-KU-RA!"
Sakura raised her hand, waving it. "Ooh! Ooh! That's me!" She wasn't the least bit scared as the form of the Uchiha boy was visible only a couple feet away.
In full view of the mayhem that was about to occur, a bush shivered.
"…is Sakura going to die?" Ino asked, a hint of worry in her voice. The whole group lay crouching behind the bush, their legs aching.
"I hope she'll be alright…Uchiha-san looks mad…" Hinata said, concerned for her friend's life.
Naruto had a gleam in his eyes. He had a newfound appreciation for Sakura. "Dang. Even I couldn't get Sasuke-teme angry like that." BOOM! Another tree fell from its 70-years-old roots.
Tenten pushed some branches away to see the battlefield better. "I wonder what secret they have…"
"Must be pretty bad to have Sasuke running here, knocking down 50-foot-trees with a murderous look in his eye." Kiba commented.
A scoff escaped Tenten's lips. "Hmph. Men and their pride…"
Surprisingly, it was Neji who defended the entire male population in the world. "Pride is very important for men…you wouldn't know, however." He shifted his milky-white eyes to the weapons-mistress accusingly. "Unless…"
"NO, I AM NOT A MAN." Came the direct, heated and embarrassed reply.
"I for one, think that Sakura is going to die an early death." Shino said, not a muscle moving as he predicted the death of their friend.
Not a word was spoken.
"Let's join our hands together for a prayer…and hope that God is listening somewhere up there and would save Sakura." Hinata said, grasping Tenten and Ino's hand. It was a direct order, one that held a rarely seen steel in it. Even Neji didn't resist as they all grasped hands.
Back to the patiently waiting Sakura, she could smell victory in her nose. It was so close! Sasuke inched closer…closer…closer…like a raging bull seeing red.
A smirk painted Sakura's face. She raced toward the boy, startling him momentarily but that was enough. "Hah! I've got you now!" She reached out a menacing hand to tag him. Sasuke could do nothing but watch in horror as the hand inched closer. He had pumped too much charka into his feet in his haste.
Sakura's hand felt cloth. "TAG-!"
POOF! Sasuke's form was gone. In its place was a piece of log. Kawarimi no jutsu. Sakura stood still, hand still outstretched from where she tagged 'Sasuke'. The spirit blinked her eyes in disbelief. 'What! Then where is-'
A tap from behind her. Sakura slowly turned around to face none other than Uchiha Sasuke. Smirking. Triumphantly.
"Eh…heheh. Hey, Sasuke…how's it going?" Sakura laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head. Sasuke's expression then clouded like a dark sky. "Uhh…y-you k-know…that little bit about telling the secret? Yeah, w-well I wasn't REALLY planning to tell the others…"
Sasuke glared, arms folded.
Sakura continued, invisible sweat trickling down her face. "Oh, come on! I'm not that kind of person!" She smacked Sasuke's back in an attempt to appear harmless. "Let's let bygones be bygones, shall we?"
The Uchiha advanced a step. Sakura took one back.
One thought ran across her mind.
'RUN DAMMIT!'
The bush where the gang of friends resided in sweatdropped. The forest was filled with screams of terror and yells. The screams of terror belonging to the chibi-ish pink-haired girl, the yells belonging to the dark-aura-of-death surrounding Sasuke.
"AAAAAHHHHHHH! I'M SORRY SASUKE! PLEASE FORGIVE ME? OW! ALRIGHT, MAYBE NOT! OH COME ON! OW, DAMMIT! I KNOW I WAS WRONG FOR BAITING YOU LIKE THAT BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO THROW KUNAIS AND TRY TO IMPALE ME!"
A kunai whizzed pass Sakura's ear.
"FORGIVE ME, PLEASE?"
A shuriken sliced cleanly through a thick log.
'Why me?' Sakura thought, crying while she raced around the forest for her life. 'WHY DO I ALWAYS GET THE EGOTISTICAL-MENTALLY-UNSTABLE MASTERS? WHY!'
-
Well, I hope it turned out better than I hoped! I'm sorry, again, for the late post and I do hope you guys forgive me! (smile) But I know you faithful reviewers out there will! You guys are so forgiving! (huggles everyone) (reviewers choke) Ooh, sorry! THANKIES SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!
Sorry, I was too lazy to write all the names of the people who reviewed…and besides…faster update! (lol)
THANKS TO EVEYRONE WHO REVIEWED! I TAKE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM TO HEART! REVIEW ONEGAI! (huggles Naruto teddy bear)
Complaints? Suggestions? Comments? Just want to blab anything? GREAT! REVIEW and blab away! Randomness is welcome! (evil crazy laugh)