Chapter 10

Rain smelled like…a fresh start. April rains were the best of all, because they provided the nourishment for the flowers to bloom in May. On days like these, Sakura opens up all of her windows and spreads out on the floor of her living room, listening to the drops as they ricochet from her tin roof.

Rocochet…like the sound of the bullet that blasted through her skull.

As she inhales, there are two gentle taps on her front door.

Sakura toes her way around the corner, habitually flattening the back of her hair so she looks kempt. Before she has a chance to greet her guests, the door flies open and Naruto makes his way inside.

"Yo, I'm starving. Got any ramen?"

"Well, hello to you, too?"

Ignoring the woman completely, Naruto abandons his shoes in the foyer and makes his way to the kitchen to raid her pantry. His wife, however, remains outside on the porch until invited in.

Hinata was such a doll. Or, perhaps she was a vampire.

"Come in," Sakura says, smiling at the gentle woman. "I'll grab your coat. I hope you didn't get too wet, walking all this way! What's the occasion?"

Sakura had always adored the white-eyed princess. She was beautiful, with a unique, bubbly sort of personality once you broke through her casing. The Hyuuga was kind and patient and understanding, which was a trait found very rarely in the ninja world and even rarer amongst her clan.

"We thought you would like some company. Naruto and I get lonely when it rains."

"It's not that I want to always be outside or visit people," He explains, making his way to the small living room. "It's just that I get antsy after a while, ya know?"

As soon as Hinata sits down, Naruto is upon her. He swings his legs over the armrest of the chair and plants his entire weight on his wife's small frame.

By now, the Hyuuga is used to such odd displays.

"Why does it sound like you're making up an excuse?" Sakura asks as she tucks Hinata's jacket in her over-stuffed closet.

"Maybe I am. You've been holed up at the hospital for the past week."

Sakura curls up on her couch and gathers her cold tea, becoming lost in thought.

It had already been an entire week since the end of the first exam. The thousand-and-some-odd applicants had certainly narrowed into a smaller number—whether because of mission failure or simply dropping out. The scroll they'd received during their meeting with Kakashi said the second round would involve a group of two.

If you do not have a teammate, we will appoint one to you.

Sakura hides her emotions into her cup. "You and Hinata are participating together, right?

"We are," Hinata confirmed as though she were being crushed, shifting as Naruto leaned into her warmth. Such blatant passions normally caused her pale skin to flush red. Naruto, however, did not have human contact for the majority of his life. He was clingy and warm—he was hard to reject.

"We should all train together beforehand—I know I could really use some practice. Let's make a day of it!"

Naruto lifts his head, shooting narrowed eyes towards the woman. "Who are you going to fight with? I doubt you've asked Sasuke yet."

"I wouldn't ask him." She barks back.

His ears didn't quite catch the warning tone of her voice. " I can ask him for you."

Sakura wasn't ready to face Sasuke yet. Never in a million years would she have thought that when Sasuke came back home, she'd purposely avoid him.

It wasn't as if he walked around town all of the time, or frequented the hospital. During this entire week, Sakura had only had the opportunity so see him once, and she sent Ino to file his paperwork instead. Regardless of what Naruto said, his words were said as clear as day to her. How could he be so…hateful?

"I don't want you to ask him. Just leave him be."

"I want us all to train together again." The man interjects. "I mean all of us—his stupid ex-teammates, you, me, Hinata. If you don't want to pair up with him for the next round, fine, I don't blame you. I keep saying that he didn't mean it like that. But…at least come to the training grounds tomorrow."

It was too late to say anything but, "Okay."

Sakura had been the first to arrive. Old habits die hard—for her, anyways. Because of this punctuality, the kunoichi had earned respect and trust amongst her peers and patients.

She laughs to herself, wondering how different she would have been under Kakashi's teaching.

Arriving only minutes later, Hinata floats along with Naruto attached to her hand. There were all sorts of bundles and bags connected to her husband—everything from a checkered lunchbox, to wooden handles and shiny, unknown weapons. When she offers Sakura a wave and a few kind words, the kunoichi abandons the shade tree and meets them halfway.

"That's a pretty big lunchbox," She says, taking a bag from Naruto. A longbow falls out and clatters to the ground.

"Yes, I thought it would be a nice day for a picnic."

The smell of food suddenly invades Sakura's nostrils. Breathing in and closing her eyes, the woman praises Hinata. "You're such an incredible homemaker. You even get Naruto to show up to places timely! I don't know how you do it."

Naruto snatches up his longbow and rolls his eyes. "You're going to be doing the same thing for your husband someday."

"As if,"

As if, because that possibility was not in the cards for someone like her. Sakura was destined to slave away in her office, answer late-night messages, run to the hospital at the drop of a hat. On top of that, she was still a working kunoichi, called frequently for aide.

Soon, she'd be a Jonin and start her Children's Medical Clinic. Maybe she'd take on a few Genin teams as well.

With all this, on the odd chance that her busy lifestyle was compatible with another civilians or ninjas, there was still the fact that she was deeply in love with Sasuke Uchiha. That alone made her incompatible for anything but a shallow, meaningless relationship.

Let's say, however, that all of the starts came to align in Sakura's favor. Let's say that Sasuke Uchiha reconsidered, and decided he could be with someone as busy and maniacal as her…

Her barrenness would be a deal breaker.

Snapping his fingers in front of Sakura's face, the Jinchuuriki repeated his question once more. "Are you going to ask Sasuke to help you with your axe?"

It wasn't like Sakura to ignore his questions, especially if Sasuke was involved. Slowly, the dazed look that encompassed her face vanished to a sullen form. She blew her bangs from her forehead and huffed loudly. "I shouldn't bother. I'm almost positive he'd say "no". He's probably still pissed that I didn't actually die in the first round like he'd thought."

Naruto scanned her. He looked beyond Sakura's outward attitude and into the recesses of her heart, where emotions like anger and confusion rolled around in a hazy ball.

Sakura had always taken pride in her appearance. Today, though, she was in an oversized sweater that had once belonged to her father. The tight, black shorts she normally hid under a slit-side skirt disappeared under the shirts long hem. Pink hair gathered into a messy ball atop her head. A dark color stained the flesh under her eyes.

"Did something happen at the hospital?"

"Are you suggesting I look bad?"

Hinata's eyebrows rise and she turns her head towards her husband. It's a subtle gesture—one that does not seem intimidating on the outside. However, those white-eyes ooze warning, and Naruto can't help but to gulp. "N-No, that's not what I meant. It's just…you don't look like you're dressed for training. You don't even have your axe. I figured you…woke up late."

"I did."

That wasn't true.

Sakura had actually woken up rather early. She'd skipped the shower, breakfast, and ninja clothing because her great-grandmother always fed her, and hated how stuffy shinobi dressed "these days".

"You shouldn't have to put a bra on until at least sunrise," the woman would bark. "I want you to be comfortable in my house!"

Sakura did just that. At her great-grandmothers coffee table, eating dry toast and sipping mint tea, the skilled medical shinobi listened as the elder weaved stories about the Haruno tribe, and their unique mastery of weapons.

The downside to this was that Great-Grandma Haruno loved to speak about their family axe. So much so, that by the time her story finished, Sakura didn't even have her proper equipment or attire. Nevertheless, she was early.

Before Hinata could change the subject, Team Taka arrived.

From the outside, they might have looked like a gang of missing nin, what with their scary demeanors and rough looks. They were ex-missing nin, and even though they could kill you, they probably wouldn't.

Probably.

Suigetsu and Jugo greeted the three first with an upbeat hello. Well, as upbeat as Jugo could get…and by "hello", Sakura means that Suigetsu smiled and then proceeded to mock the rosette's attire.

"How am I going to fight you when you look like that? I'd rather just cuddle."

Sakura crossed her arms and took a step back, keeping a respectable distance. She held Team Taka with high regard because of Sasuke. She was leery of their intentions, however…especially when it came to Suigetsu, who was just as devious as he was flirty.

"I can help you get to sleep," She bites out. "Too bad Sasuke wouldn't allow that."

Among them, Sasuke stands. He does not seem interested in their conversation in the least. In fact, he is so uninterested that giving them the time of day does not even register in his head. He looks at Naruto's weapons pile on the floor in front of him and nudges a nunchaku. "What are all of these for?"

Naruto replies. "You're going to teach me how to use them. That way if I don't have any chakra, I can pick up my enemies sword and stab 'em with it."

Suigetsu ignores the men's banter, and walks around Sakura slowly, as if he were a predator. "The cuddling?"

"The fighting," Sakura responds wearily, closing her eyes. "I'm just a healer."

Although Naruto carries on a completely different conversation, he still picks up the chat beside him. He is not as idiotic as people peg him to be—even though he'd missed the fact that Hinata had liked him an entire 8 years before he took notice.

Even with all of Naruto's jadedness, he'd still managed to notice the sour attitude Sakura displayed.

Suigetsu laughs and throws his arm around Sakura's shoulder, glancing sideways at Sasuke. "Don't listen to that guy. I'll fight with you any day. We can do it over here," He begins, pointing to the training ground. Then, he turns a bit, gesturing towards a shade tree. "We can do it over there…"

"She'll pass," Naruto interjects.

To his surprise, Karin pops up beside him and swings towards her partner powerfully. Like ocean fizz, Suigetsu's face explodes. "You didn't come here to try to get into her pants!"

"How do you know what I came here to do? She's not wearing pants, anyways, so back off."

Interrupting them all, Sasuke steps towards the group, letting his even, monotone voice spread out warningly. "Enough. Whether you do or don't train matters very little to me." He begins, moving from face to face. When he catches Sakura's gaze—her hard, determined look—he narrows his eyes right back. "Let's just get started."

The magnetism Sakura felt before seemed to have a repelling effect now.

The familiar sound of upturned earth causes Sakura to look towards Suigetsu, who sparred with Jugo roughly. Their battle was choreographed, probably because they had trained with each other repeatedly. Their battle style and moves had become second nature to one another. Each hit and block was expertly timed, and uninteresting to look at.

Sakura tapped her feet, trying to appease her itch.

Sitting underneath an oak, the three women awkwardly gathered in a circle and stared away from each other. Refusing to look in Sasuke's direction, uninterested in Hinata's careful meal preparation, and utterly bored with Suigetsu and Jugo's battle, the kunoichi was stuck in a hard place.

It was too hot to sit by idly.

"You look pretty pissed off, kid." Karin says, rubbing a red tendril between her thumb and index. "Don't tell me you actually expected Sasuke to entertain you, earlier."

Sakura turned her head, sending the woman a smoldering look.

Karin was beautiful in every sense of the word. Her hair was spikey and untamed on one side, in a way that reminded Sakura of Naruto's own locks. Apparently, somewhere down the line, this woman was related to Naruto's mother, and that's where the red hair had come from. Everything about this woman screamed "sex appeal" and confidence.

"What would you know about Sasuke?" Sakura responds.

The Uzumaki woman sits up straighter, stealing an apple slice from Hinata's basket.

Karin knew a lot of Sasuke. She knew everything from his nightmares and his affairs, to how many times he swept his toothbrush back-and-forth morning and night. Sakura may have known the old Sasuke, but she didn't know the new one.

"Everything,"

"That's unlikely." Sakura mumbles, turning towards Sasuke before Karin has a chance to respond.

Sasuke uses his foot to spread out Naruto's stance as he corrects the man's position for the umpteenth time. They practiced on the longbow for now, which was not an easy weapon to master.

From the outside, Sasuke looked annoyed. He reiterated phrases that Sakura had already memorized from eavesdropping—"Pull back harder on the shaft. Keep both eyes open when you aim." Yet, even as his frustration peaked, he never once walked away.

Helping Naruto learn something new was a difficult task. It is not something people would readily agree to. Although names were called and curses were spit, Sasuke refused to give up. He was a different person just a few weeks ago in the Forest of Death. He was not the boy Sakura knew, or even the teenager Karin identified him as.

"The real Sasuke hasn't graced us with his presence, yet."

Sasuke had been cursed. He was polluted with hatred and malice that ate his soul alive. Team 7 had started to heal him. Sasuke was still reserved and easily bothered, but he wasn't lonely. Sakura, Naruto, and even Kakashi had become precious people to him. People he could not stand to see get hurt.

It is none of Hinata or Karin's business, but Sakura cannot help to share. There comes a point in life when everything bubbles up to the rim of your heart, and overflows in the strangest of times.

"On our first mission together outside of the village, we encountered two missing nin from the Land of Waves. I was so by the book that my first rehearsed instinct was to protect our client. Sasuke's first instinct was to stop them.

"He was amazing, Karin—Sasuke was shorter than most of our opponents, so he'd literally have to jump up and punch people in the face. Still, I thought that boy was perfect. He was invincible. Everything was fine until Orochimaru came along." (Looking back, Sakura knows now that it wasn't. She was just so jaded.)

At this point, Sakura turns back into the group. She keeps her eyes downcast and curls her knees up to her chest, as if she needs protection from the memories.

"Our Chunin exams weren't easy. We were a group of 12-year-olds facing a Sanin. Now that I look back, I know he could have killed us all. Orochimaru is paying for his crimes now, but that doesn't mean I can forget what he'd done so easily. I will forgive, but I won't forget.

"I thought Sasuke was dead. He screamed, vomited, and held my hand so tightly, I actually fractured my knuckles—when he passed out from the pain I was left alone. I was weak. I didn't know the first thing about healing anyone."

Karin knew that forest well. She had participated in those same exams, with her own teammates. When she'd gotten lost, the very same Sasuke saved her from a wild bear. He had kind eyes. He had a smile that Karin yearned to see. She listened intently and looked towards her former commander. Deep within she prods, to the chakra spreading around his core. It wasn't bright and warm like Naruto's, but it wasn't as terrifying as it used to be, either. It was fuzzy, purple, and…damaged. He was healing. He wasn't healed.

"You feel it, don't you?" Sakura says, and Karin is almost surprised by the revelation. It seems as though Sakura, who does not have any innate sensing abilities, could tell exactly what was going on within her dear comrade. "There is darkness inside of him that doesn't belong. I remember the day it formed—it spread out around his body like poison."

Hinata sets her knife down and rolls an apple core around her palm, listening quietly.

Unable to fight her curiosity, Karin questions Sakura. "How do you know what's inside of him? If you could truly feel it, you wouldn't run towards him so haphazardly when he's pissed off. You'd be more mindful of your distance."

"I'm not afraid of Sasuke—no matter what we've been through." She responds. Standing up so quickly that her blood takes a moment to settle, the woman raised her fist into the air. "He can aim his sword, raise his hand, and capture me in genjutsu all he wants. I won't give up on him. I won't let him sway me."

Protecting her bento from the movement, Hinata nods her head excitedly.

"I don't want to sit here, waiting for someone to get hurt!" the woman exclaims, causing Karin's eyebrows to rise. "I don't want to sit under this damn tree any longer! I want to train; I want to pass these exams!"

"S-so what are you telling me for?" The redhead responds. She picks up the apple core and chunks it at Sakura's head; it plops to the ground after impact. "I'm not going to spar with you again!"

There was only one thing left for Sakura to do, then, and that was to confront Sasuke. Sucking in air and determination, the kunoichi made her way.

Few things in life terrified Naruto—after all, he'd battled against a Goddess. There have been demons and humans alike that have dared to confront the Uzumaki, many of which lost painfully. This strong, tall man had strength and stamina.

With all this, he still was not stupid enough to step in front of an irate Sakura. Sure, she looked innocent, but she hit like a fucking train.

When the wind around he and Sasuke shifted, and a chill ran up his back, Naruto knew that there was only one person who could cause such a shift in pressure. Crunching her sandals on the hard-packed earth, Sakura neared.

"I've had enough," she says to Sasuke, who looks unamused. "I want to fight someone."

"No,"

Sasuke's words were simple enough. No, Sakura was not going to fight anyone—she was not going to spar against Naruto who didn't know his own strength. She was not going to fight Jugo, who was the embodiment of insanity. She was not going to fight Suigetsu, who either played with his food or devoured it whole.

Sakura won't fight; Sakura won't get hurt.

"I didn't ask a question," the kunoichi spit.

Two default modes belonged to Sasuke in circumstances like this. He could retort with dry annoyance, or he could assert himself warningly. Within his brain lay millions of words and phrases that could tear down even the coldest of human beings.

He did say things just to be mean. He simply told the truth. Right now, she annoyed him more than she ever had before.

"You will fight," he begins, stepping towards her with deep rumble. "With no weapon, no ninja tools— you will fight without protection, in clothing you sleep in?" He scoffs. "What will you battle, Sakura, a nightmare?"

Echoing his point, the man gathers the material of her sweatshirt and lifts, exposing the blackness of her shorts. Sakura does not yelp or act surprised in the least, and instead, she slaps his hand away. Hard.

Sakura had spoken down to Sasuke once, when she'd called him a coward during his fight with Orochimaru. It was not meant to hurt him, it was meant to encourage him—because Sasuke was amazing and everything a shinobi should be in battle.

Outside of battle, though, she was beginning to take off her rose-colored glasses.

To think, Sakura Haruno defended his character to nosy civilians. She had his back when Naruto started silly, immature arguments in their youth (whether they were warranted or not). She had protected his name, and his clans name to everyone—her parents, her friends, her teachers—because even in his worst moments of foolishness, Sasuke was still Sasuke, and he was a good man. He deserved respect.

The same respect she deserved.

There was a silence. Sakura was the calm before a storm, positioning her rampage on a boat that dared to ride the waves of her ocean. Two dominant lions battled each other with piercing eyes and bared teeth. Sakura steps back, bites away the flesh on her thumb, and slides her blood across her wrist.

The Haruno battleax has been summoned.

"Uh," Naruto stumbles over his words, eyeing the strange object. "What is that?"

Sasuke slides his uncovered eye to the weapon. The axe was decorated gaudily from previous wars, and adorned with chains and bangles. A swirl was of red discolored the thick metal, flaking off on the edges as though it were blood and not paint.

The argument brought Suigetsu over, and Jugo followed dutifully. It was beginning to thrill him, being around the petal-pink girl. She was tough and resilient and, most importantly, she talked back to the chief.

As much as Suigetsu liked Sasuke, it was always fun to see him flustered.

"It's a conjuring," Sasuke explained to Naruto. "Long ago, weapons were used by female demon slayers to fight summoning monsters."

"Why would you want to fight them?" Suigetsu says, looking at the object. "Animals are wonderful…"

"They weren't always obedient."

Sakura has heard all of this before. Actually, her great-grandmother had told her the stories only hours ago, but she did not want to waste time chitchatting about its prowess. The old Haruno woman was not capable of teaching Sakura anything more than how to acquire the weapon.

It was Sakura's job to figure out how to use it.

"I see you're well-versed in the object," the kunoichi begins. "That's good, because you're the one I want to practice on."

Really, Suigetsu couldn't help it. Watching this woman speak and conduct herself was like sitting in a cinema, stuffing popcorn into your craw. The longer the movie played, the more drama was introduced. Suigetsu can't decide if this is a romance, a comedy, or a thriller anymore. Laughing loud enough to draw attention to himself, the man crosses his arms. "I'd love to see that."

"There's nothing to see," Sasuke responds, turning away. He's had just about enough bickering for the day. There was no point in staying here if all it brought was arguments.

That's not why he agreed to this. This isn't what he wanted.

Just as he tucks his hands into his pockets, he feels a pressure on his back. Shoving him roughly, Sakura growls out her frustrations. "Are you afraid, scaredy-cat?"

If there was anyone in the world who did not like to be taunted more than Naruto, it was Sasuke Uchiha. But…what kind of taunt was that? "Scaredy-cat?"

"I dunno Sasuke, I'd watch out if I were you." Suigetsu says with a cackle. "This thing looks pretty sharp."

Then, it happens. Aiming his finger towards the axe's curved blade, the fish-man presses his flesh against the knife-edge, and a jolt of electricity rocks his core so violently that he turns into a soggy puddle.

"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?" Naruto blurts out.

"Exactly what was supposed to happen," Sasuke says. "That weapon cannot cut through human flesh, but it utilizes your chakra nature weakness and throws it back at you, full force."

Gargling, Suigetsu tries to respond. Jugo, who is the closest to the wet patch, translates. "He says, "That would have been nice to know before I touched the dam—darn thing."

"Too late for that now, water boy," The Jinchuuriki guffaws. "What would it hit me with if I touched it?"

"Fire," The Uchiha snaps.

Ignoring his temper, Naruto pulls out another question. "So, because you have two types…it would use both of your weaknesses?"

"That's what I want to find out." Sakura heaves the blade over her shoulder, standing up to her full, underwhelming height. "I was going to ask you for help, but now, I guess it's your choice whether to dodge or not."

Sasuke frowns.

In the Uchiha clan, most women were docile and obedient. He had learned, however, that the least compliant women were the ones who made it the furthest. Neither Sasuke nor Itachi agreed to the normal teachings of their family. Being around Sakura, who fought as a warrior no matter her gender, was breathtaking. The only thing that hindered her was herself.

There are similarities between her and his mother.

The problem with Sakura was that she was not trained to be a first-hit fighter. It was not her job. Healers were the backup, the final effort to maintain a well-rounded playing field. Sakura's role was to keep her teammates alive long enough so swinging those powerful fists became moot.

This woman was infuriating and headstrong—perhaps that is why she's almost lost her life more times than Sasuke could count.

If she wanted a fight, then she would get one. It would not be with Sasuke, however.