Two days have passed since the whole incident with Grandpa Atsuya took place, and Sakura couldn't look at her sensei without tearing up. For some reason, the rosette felt responsible for everything that occurred during that day, especially when Kakashi-sensei appeared a whole lot more on edge with her than ever before. It was so noticeable in fact that it made the three Genin of Team Seven uncomfortable.
"Who was that old geezer?!" Naruto demanded, looking at the troubled facial expression of Sakura's. "I really, really really really don't like him!"
Sasuke simply gazed at her with a intensity that made her want to weep like a baby, but the rosette gulped down her trepidation and faced her teammates head on.
"Gra- Grandpa Atsuya is someone who looked after me since I was very little," She said. "He's a former ANBU Captain, and now a retired Jounin. Him and my Father have been drinking buddies since... before I was even born, basically." She thought for a little bit longer. "He taught me some cheap tricks regarding the Shinobi arts... and... that's it."
Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed. "That doesn't explain why Kakashi went on rampage. Does he know him?"
Sakura hummed, contemplating it. "There is a possibility, since both of them were in ANBU."
At the blinking of their teammates, obviously not understanding how she could have that knowledge, she elaborated. "Zabuza taunted him with that title in our first encounter with him."
The Uchiha frowned. "I didn't hear anything..."
Probably because he was shaking from head to toe from the Rogue-nin's killing intent, but Sakura bite her tongue from mentioning that. She wasn't fearing much better either back then.
Naruto's nose scratched up in annoyance, indicating that the blond was putting his brain to work harder for once. "So that's what he meant! I thought they were talking in riddles or something, 'ttebayo!"
She shrugged, looking away from them and towards the small river below them. She leaned her forearms to the red banisters of the bridge, gazing absent-mindedly at the crystal clear waters as two colourful fishes — one red and enthusiastic, and the other yellow and in tranquil — greeted her vision.
Sakura, at that moment and out of the blue, was struck with indifference. Her heart felt heavy as it beat with anxiety, and her eyes clouded over with stress from what that happened the past month, but she suddenly felt so done with everything. Maybe she wasn't cut out for this, if she was going to be affected by every little pump on the road that life was so generous to offer her.
'Why did Kakashi-sensei reacted like that?' She thought, eyebrows furrowing. This occurrence bothered her more than she was willing to admit. How could it not? She was basically raised by Miyamoto Atsuya, he was someone important in her life since... always. He always appeared with a drunk Haruno Kizashi (her father) on the doorstep, himself not holding the booze much better, and her mother Mebuki always invited him for dinner.
He was her father's drinking buddy, her mother's former teammate, and her first ever instructor. Knowing that he didn't get along with Kakashi-sensei, another adult who she trusted completely, left her feeling vulnerable in a way she couldn't exactly comprehend.
'Grandpa Atsuya was a ANBU Captain,' She started analysing. 'But so was Kakashi-sensei, if what Zabuza said held any truth. They both are war veterans, and are Elite Shinobi even within the Elite. It wouldn't surprise me if they knew each other...' She frowned, remembering the way her sensei tensed up when Atsuya signed to her to approach.
'It wasn't the Standard Konoha Signs...' She started connecting the dots slowly. 'Actually, not even Iruka-sensei knew them when I asked for help a couple of years ago...'
Her back tensed, her eyes widening as she watched the fishes swimming fast away from the bridge.
'Shit... Shit, shit, shit!' She took a shaky breath through her nose, the realisation causing her to grip the banister so tightly until her knuckles turned pale.
'Why couldn't a Chūnin recognise them?' She thought wildly. 'Except... except if his rank didn't allow it...'
"The signs..." Sakura rasped out but she didn't move away from her spot. Instead, she turned her head on the side to glance back at her teammates, who stopped bickering and were now looking at her with curiousity. "The — When Atsuya mentioned for me to approach..."
Sasuke's eyes lit up with understanding. "You can understand ANBU signs."
"I was taught to perfection." She confirmed, wondering how Sasuke could know what they were. Did he also know them, perhaps?
"That's why I couldn't recognise them," Naruto's back straightened. "Those... they weren't the signs Iruka-sensei made us learn, dattebayo..."
They sat in silence, Sakura staring at the ground with pursed lips. She couldn't believe she was holding such valuable knowledge and she had no idea. Actually, most of all, this was extremely reckless. If ANBU signs got out — and she was practicing them in public and taught them to Ino too! — then that means there was one more thing easier for the enemy to utilize and infiltrate into the Konoha ranks.
Just because she was ignorant to the true meaning behind the sign language.
"This is bad," Sakura muttered. "I was using them regularly when I was younger in public. I — I even taught them to Ino-pig..."
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed. "How is that a bad thing?"
Sasuke sighed in annoyance. "Because these signs are kept secret for a reason, dobe. Only ANBU Shinobi can use them."
"EHHH?!" Naruto's eyes widened as he hopped around her. "Sakura-chan is a ANBU?! Why didn't you tell us 'ttebayo!"
A red vein popped on Sakura's forehead, her eyebrow twitching. Out of habit more than anything else, her fingers clenched into a fist, and her knuckles connected directly with Naruto's head.
"I'M NOT A ANBU YOU IDIOT!" She exclaimed in all her hot-headed nature, taking a sick enjoyment from Naruto vocalising his pain. "Atsuya is one, and he taught the language to me! Which was reckless! What if someone who infiltrated Konoha saw me using them when I was younger?! Or was listening to me when I taught them to Ino?!"
Her fist trembled, and her green eyes watered. "Do you know what is this considered, Naruto?" She continued, her voice much gentler this time. "A leak. It's considered a leak. This could cause a strain in my Kunoichi career!"
She couldn't hold it anymore.
Sakura bursted out crying, her tears trailing down her cheeks like a waterfall as she turned away from them, her sobs loud and clear to everyone within earshot. Her body trembled, chest heaving up and down at the mere thought that she could bring dishonour to her family thanks to her ignorance — that she might as well have ended her career before even having the prospect to start.
Sasuke looked away, obviously uncomfortable from the display of pure vulnerability, while Naruto gazed at her with pity out of all things.
It wasn't until a glove-claded hand landed softly on her head, finger rubbing fondly the pink traces. Her sobs quietened down for a mere second when she looked up, now staring at the gentle eye of her sensei as he offered the tiniest amount of support.
Sakura's eyes welled up again at the sight of him and before she knew it, she was throwing herself at her sensei and sobbed even harder. The man rubbed circles on her back and patted her head in comfort as she drenched his flak jacket with her tears.
They didn't have training the next day.