Author's Note:
This past year has been tough, full of hardships and undeniable suffering. Many have lost their loved ones by the Coronavirus disease, from multiple car accidents, from riots and terrorist attacks. The world has been unfair to all of us but the question is, when isn't it?
We've endured so much during this pandemic, and we are still enduring that much till this day. While quarantine has been difficult, I personally discovered so many things about myself and who I want to be as a person. At the same time, I've been losing motivation really easily and it's hard to focus on one work, no matter how much I want to complete it. Talking to people online made me realize that I wasn't the only one feeling like this, and that it's absolutely okay to feel like this - the matter is to not let it consume you, or allow it to take control of your life.
That being said, I want to remind all of you that this is a Fanfiction and while it's set in the familiar Shinobi World from Naruto, it isn't necessarily canon. Many things have been changed, such as Sakura being the protagonist here, not Naruto.
It's the reason I've marked this as Sakura-centric. I'm very much aware that Haruno isn't a very lovable character within the fanbase, but I personally adore her. Therefore, please refrain from saying "This didn't happen in canon, it's not supposed to be like that-" I'm very much aware of it, thank you for your notice. Again, it's fanfiction, which means that of course it's not of original material, and it's a work made by fans who enjoy the manga/anime and wanted to add their own twist in it.
Regarding the obvious Sakura abhorrence, I would like to request that those who have little-to-none tolerance for the character, to ignore this Fanfiction. Not only for the experience of the readers who are interested in seeing the comments, but also because this is not a book for you, and you are wasting your time reading something you hate.
My apologies for the rant. I don't mean to appear demanding by my last request. It's more like a plead to have a safer environment for the readers, who may or may not initiate arguements within the comment section, therefore upsetting and jeopardising their mood while reading.
Now, let's get on with the story.
Copyright and Disclaimer: All rights reserved for Naruto belongs to the original creator and mangaka, Kishimoto Masashi. Non-canon events, character development, original characters and further world building, goes to me Ryakuto.
Trigger Warnings: Mentions of Depression, Anxiety and PTSD. Detailed blood and gore scenes. Forms of Paranoia. Mentions of ADHD. Underage drinking and smoking. Underage recruitment to Military Services / Child Soldiers. Dark Themes.
Summary: Realising that her ignorance and laziness isn't 'the' way to survive in the feral Ninja world, Sakura became determined to change herself for the better -- or for the worst. With absent parents and a team of God-like Shinobi, the rosette turned a new leaf, one where her village came first than unrecruited 'love' and petty rivalry.
Art Cover: @·wnsdls on Twitter.
Author: A, Ryakuto.
At the blush of dawn, deep inside the forest of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, the wind picked up it's pace and created haunting noises that went through the hole branches of the trees. Few were the ones who woke up for their daily activities and responsibilities, as most of the land of hidden trees was still asleep. The civilian district however buzzed with life unlike the rest of the village, merchants getting ready for their week-long trip to other nations, and citizens preparing themselves like usual for a long day at work.
From the moment the sky turned a little greyer in her life, the rosette had an inkling that the her future will be taken place in a long-lasting storm. The blue didn't reflect on her viridian green gaze anymore, but the colours were still there for her to admire.
Haruno Sakura was a simple civilian born kunoichi. Well, not exactly civilian but that's her parents current status. Retired Shinobi they were indeed, though their power wasn't anything more than humble. They were eternal Genin -- the lowest Ninja rank -- who decided that they wanted to fight so they can survive in this world, not survive so they can continue fighting.
Compared to her teammates, the rosette came to the conclusion that she wasn't as mighty as she thought she was. Her eyes sought out the dark and luscious hair of her crush, Uchiha Sasuke, who was viciously fighting the obnoxious blond dead-last of their previous class, Uzumaki Naruto.
She could see the Uchiha was over-powering the blond, but Naruto never gave up as he fought him with teeth and nails... quite literally. Still, the fact that he could keep up with Sasuke caused a feeling of discomfort within her. Not because the Uzumaki boy was growing before her eyes in a unthinkable speed, but as she sat besides her porn-reading sensei, she came to the realization of how far behind them she is in terms of physicality and reliance.
They were developing into something greater, and there was progress in the way they moved that wasn't there the day of graduation. Since the day she became a proud Konoha Kunoichi, she thought... she doesn't know what she thought, but she never predicted she would ever feel crestfallen when she's in the same team with her crush.
Sasuke, who was reliable and guarded, who was hard to please or even gain a normal smile from him... Sakura managed to get a smirk out of him recently, but she wants... she wants to see him smile like before.
Before, he was stuck up and a bit arrogant (or a lot) but that's what made her laugh back then, because it was funny with the way he pouted or even bragged to them. He was never malicious with it, and it never failed to amuse her in one way or another. Not to mention he was pretty, and he always gave her a soft smile when she gave him a bento (that she personally made, mind you.)
Needless to say, she adored that smile.
But he was never the same after their second year of Shinobi Academy.
He became cold and distant, and Sakura was hurt and so, so confused. She reached out, gave him a hand only for it to be slapped away as he yelled at her face. That was... the last time she saw Sasuke ever becoming emotional before he became stoic.
It was a bit too late when she realized that the boy she adored had long disappeared.
"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STAY PUT, 'TTEBAYO!" Naruto yelled in frustration as he swung his fists around, wanting to hit the Uchiha with all his might.
"The point is to not get hit, usuratonkachi." You could hear the eye roll from Sasuke's voice.
Sakura's lips tilted up to a soft smile just then, and for once she didn't berate the blond for his unreasonable demand. Who says to stay put in a Ninja fight, seriously? Her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned on the tree behind her, her posture slumping to the definition of relaxed. However, her mind worked overdrive, puzzling over her situation and analyzing her current position.
'I can't rely on you for much longer, Inner...' She thought. Inner Sakura as she liked to call it, was a coping mechanism of hers that she developed when something difficult happens Inner would handle it instead of her. Inner is not a different personality, but more like a part of herself that she kept locked away so she can feel safe despite the absence of her parents due to their arduous and strenuous job (and workaholic behaviour.)
'They grew so much during and after the Wave mission... but what the hell am I doing?' She thought in distress, careful to keep her facial expression blank as she felt like crying. 'Oh my God... what the hell have I been doing?' She looked back at the memories of all this time, seeing herself standing in front of the mirror and picking up her flaws. The little fat on her stomach when it should have been packed with muscles instead, the split ends of her pink hair, the dark circles under her eyes and Ew, how could Sasuke bear to see me everyday?
Dear Kami, even her insecurities are so civilian-like.
Flashes of Kubikiribōchō swinging down at them, ready to cut their heads off snapped her back to reality, making her inwardly grimace. The sounds of her teammates usual bantering ceased, and with a furrow of her eyebrows, she opened her eyes in mere curiosity, only for them to clash with cerulean blue ones directly at her face.
"What... are you doing, idiot?" She pushed his head back with her index finger. "Have you ever learned about invasion of privacy?"
Instead of getting a overdramatic response out of him, she saw his eyes narrowing suspiciously as he inspected her. "Ne, Sakura-chan, are you... okay?"
She blinked. "Huh?"
For the first time Naruto seemed exasperated with her. She was taken aback, because the blond she knows was never like that with her before. His eyebrow rose dramatically and while she couldn't tell if he pouted or pursed his lips, the expression on his face said it all like an open book: You heard me, so now spill.
Or at least, that's what Sakura understood before she felt her eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "It's none of your business, baka. Get away from me!"
Instead of backing away, a blinding grin overtook his lips, and the rosette wanted nothing more than to wipe off that smug little son of a-
"So there is something bothering you, dattebayo! What is it? What is it? What is it? Ya' can tell me Sakura-chan, ya'know!"
Kakashi and Sasuke exchanged a quick glance, simultaneously sighing as their loud teammates went back and forth, seemingly forgetting about them.
"Our little Kunoichi must really feel troubled, hm?" Kakashi asked nonchalantly, his lone eye watching the scene before him. She must have been in deep thought since she didn't cheer for the love of her life or didn't even chid Naruto when the two were sparring.
"Hn," Sasuke shrugged, not caring really. The Uchiha just minded his own business.
Little did they know, that things would drastically change from now on. For the better or for the worst, no one beholds that knowledge.
Just in time to see pink and yellow blending together, Sakura attacking Naruto in a true brawler fashion, Kakashi snapped out of his musings and his eyebrows shot up to his hairline while the ravenett besides him snorted at the actions of his teammates.
"Not it." The Uchiha beat him up to it as he turned on his heels and walked away, hands shoved deeply into his white pants.
And Kakashi was left alone with two aggressive cats.
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