Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it.
XII.
- Ready -
She didn't sleep that night.
Wasn't that much of a surprise for her, though. She counted it as the mental preparation she needed to go through before giving an answer. A catharsis of the mind.
Sakura stared at that tiny black spot on her ceiling for hours and it gnawed at her that she couldn't make a decision. It was one of the toughest she had ever faced by far. Her desire to help and save lives led her, fighting off the fears. But they grew bigger and bigger with every question she brought up. Her body was tensed, even though she laid down.
What if someone dies because she's not prepared?
It could always happen. At any time. If she's fired at and she's not able to fire back or reach the one in need.
What if something goes wrong and it's her fault?
Used to take the blame upon herself, she didn't think she would survive a grand mistake of the sort. The hours passed by one by one and she couldn't find the will to overcome the dismay. The risk was so high that her head started hurting when just thinking of all the things she could mess up.
And the team... what about them? Sakura wondered if they wouldn't dislike her. She was a new addition to a team of orphans. It was breaking into a brotherhood, a net of strong bonds, and claiming to be a part of it, all of a sudden. Moreover, their skills were polished over the years. She had to work hard. Very hard. To earn their trust... and become their equal. Did she have the strength for it?
It was 5:25 when she last checked the time. No sound came from outside, everything was still submerged in a deep slumber. Only that her mind wasn't. She circled around these questions for a long time and it wasn't like she didn't comply. She did and was positive that she'd accept the offer. But no motive kindled her heart. And with no motive, there was no passion and therefore, no dedication. after spending nearly three decades in this village, she was provided with a chance to leave it for once. To see the world... and to what extent it was ruined. It wasn't an alluring thought, but it was something different from the monotony of her days nonetheless. Something new.
A lump rose in her throat. After everything he said and did, she had to have moved on. It cost her a lot to get over that overwhelming attraction that obsessed her since the moment she saw herself in the reflection of his sinister eyes. Her fingers caressed the soft skin on her lips absent-mindedly. Why did she have to miss him so badly when all he did was hurt her? She still wished to be cold, to let him know he was not right to think her weaker than him. It wasn't fair, the way he played wasn't by the rules. You either accept or reject. You don't do both at the same time. It frustrated her that he didn't only leave her with a gun's barrel on her neck, he placed a kiss there too.
What better reason for her to join in, then? She was tired of people mocking her and seeing only a reason to laugh when they laid eyes on her. If that was the way she could only prove she was stronger and trustworthy, so be it.
No more.
Sakura heaved a sigh and lit up the reading lamp with a lazy movement, her eyes falling on the phone on the bedside cabinet.
No more was she to be the weak one.
To her surprise, Sakura received nothing but encouragement from Tsunade and it meant a lot to her. Her boss was always straight to the point and was firm in her relationships with people. Knowing her to show good judgment at all times, Sakura appreciated her calm countenance once she shared her plans with her. Tsunade readied the documents for her resignation from the hospital, expressing gratitude toward Sakura, for all the work she's done and all the lives she's saved.
Tsunade wished her the best of luck with her new position as a field medic and parted with Sakura with a smile and a nod, assuring her that the hospital will always have a place for her should she choose to return. Sakura couldn't help but feel an odd sense of melancholy when she left the building and headed to the place of the meeting she agreed on the phone. This time she was forced to drive for quite some time before arriving. Kakashi was already waiting at the spot when she turned off the engine and got out of the car.
"Good to meet you again," Kakashi said while she still approached him. He wore a more casual outfit this time, one of a civilian, but the mask and the band were still there. "I'll be honest. I hoped I will."
"Well," Sakura sighed. "Here I am."
Kakashi shook hands with her, seemingly happy with her choice. "You are unofficially part of the Elite Soldiers now. Congratulations."
"What do I have to do in order to become an official one?" Sakura asked, eagerly.
"Unnecessary details. Mostly paperwork." Kakashi waved with his hand. "Leave that to my people."
Sakura looked up, examining the fancy building towering over them. It was, in fact, rather new. Numerous blue-framed windows arranged quite neatly in four... no, five storeys of solid metallic grey walls. The air around it was as pompous as she expected. Her eyes remained on the city's coat of arms for quite some time.
"Why did you join?" Kakashi kept his eyes on her. "I mean... I've recruited a lot of people and neither of them took a decision so quickly."
"Personal reasons," Sakura looked down. "Also, I wanted a change and I'd love to be of help to people."
"All good reasons," he noted and sighed right after, stopping for a moment. "So. These are our Headquarters. Welcome."
"Thank you," Sakura nodded and turned to examine the rather frightening appearance of the edifice.
"Is your colleague going to join us soon?"
"She's always late. One of her bad traits," Sakura gave him an apologetic smile. "I can guarantee that she'll be more than a useful cadre. I known her for years and she's reliable."
Concerning Ino, she accepted the offer right away, convinced that she'll be more than useful. Plus, she had countless reasons to join in, two of them being Sai and Sakura themselves.
"Is that... so?" Kakashi drawled, raising a brow. His attention diverted to something in the distance, behind her.
Sakura took a second to inhale and exhale before turning around to join him in his observation. Sunbeams reflecting in her cat-eye glasses, Ino walked to them in high heels and a cocktail black dress, a tiny golden belt enveloping her wasp waist. Her appearance suggested she's going to a party, but the large rucksack on her back hinted toward hiking. She walked like a model, feet walking in a perfectly straight line, swinging her long champagne blond ponytail as she went. She stopped before them, chewing on a piece of gum.
"Sup?" she asked, facing Sakura who was now frozen, and looked at her friend as if struck by a lightning.
"Ino..." she started in a quiet voice. "This is Captain Hatake."
"Uh, Kakashi," he reminded, the exposed skin on his face wrinkling with the smile he put on.
Ino stopped chewing all of a sudden, hands lowering her glasses slowly. Kakashi, on the other side, acquired a perplexed look after the few seconds of her examination.
"My, my," she commented, putting the glasses on her head. "Very pleased to meet you, Kakashi. Yamanaka Ino."
Sakura's eyes widened at the sultry intonation. Ino was unbelievable. She was so good at what she was doing that no one has ever resisted her charms yet. She didn't possibly think of sleeping with that one. No way. He was in a bit of a different league. At least different from what she usually liked. What absolutely stunned Sakura was that Kakashi took her hand in order to shake it, but he seemed to fall somewhat distracted by her lush form. A cough from Sakura broke the silence and they both turned to her.
"Shall we go now? If you're ready, of course."
"Pffft," Ino chaffed. "I'm always ready."
"Good to hear," Kakashi said slowly, looking away, but Sakura's mouth parted open. Well, at least he seemed to enjoy playing her game.
At last, they wasted no more time and entered the building. The place was huge and after spending not more than a couple of minutes already resembled a labyrinth. She was grateful her leader was so well-oriented. After all the formalities with the assignment (which, in Sakura's opinion, weren't that much of a nuisance) Kakashi led them into a middle-sized, light room under the pretext of starting to train them. In fact, he suggested they go home because the training could start tomorrow, but they didn't mind starting right away. The room was almost completely empty and was clearly built for specific training. Namely, hand-fight. They stripped down their coats and proceeded to the center.
"There are some basic movements you'll have to learn," Kakashi sighed and gestured to Ino to near him. "For instance, this one is good for you to know," he grasped her and pulled down, his foot hooking with hers at the weak spot at the back of the knee. "That's an easy way to bring someone down. All you need to do is find a way to distract your opponent so that you can push him that way. The rest," he slowly pushed her and she would've fallen if he didn't help her back up. "Doesn't even require much strength."
Ino was completely distracted by the way he touched her so freely and Sakura was positive she didn't hear a word he said.
"Come," he turned to Sakura but a smile flashed on her lips. "Alright. Now," he grasped her the same way he did with Ino, but Sakura took a hold of his hand and bend it at the joint, prostrating him on the ground as her knee now rested on his hand.
"Impressive," Kakashi commented, turning to look at her with a squinted eye once she loosened her grip. "Have you trained somewhere else before coming here?"
Before Sakura could finish the door to the room opened sharply and everyone looked that way for a moment.
"Kakashi—" Sasuke started, in a formal tone, but the sight got him unprepared and he stopped, both physically and verbally. His gaze shifted from Kakashi up to Sakura and down again while Kakashi slightly pushed Sakura in order to stand upright. Sasuke stepped back, indicating he required privacy and the others needed to leave. "I'd like to have a word with you."
Kakashi smoothed out his clothes and smiled. "These two ladies are now part of the platoon, if something's connected with it, they have the right to know."
Sasuke's eyes squinted in an almost unnoticeable convulsion as the other three waited in silence. "Kurenai just told me her team has acquired information on the current position of Danzo Shimura."
Kakashi visibly tensed but didn't move or speak for one long moment. "Current position?"
"A small village, close to Iwagakure."
"It's not a good idea if it's a populated area," Kakashi replied in a calm voice.
"You better let me go end that bastard," Sasuke maintained a composed state fairly well, but he didn't appear able to handle it for long.
"You need to stay focused on the platoon, you know that. They are your primal concern."
Sasuke was already glaring at him. "Do I have an order or not?"
"Your platoon's safety comes first. Then your personal issues," Kakashi said, aware that heavy punishment afterward was all that stopped Sasuke from using physical force on him. After the intense pause, he sighed. "Alright. You can go and infiltrate the village but before that, we'll have to train the new recruits."
The words seemed to only vex Sasuke more because his fists clenched, but he said nothing. Instead, turned to leave.
"Sasuke," Kakashi called, walking up to him. "How about you train them while I go and set the matters with the departure."
"I can call Karin. Or Tenten."
"Why not take the opportunity while you're here," Kakashi tapped him on the shoulder as an encouragement. "The sooner they're trained the faster you're leaving."
Kakashi put his hands in his pockets and walked to the door in silence.
"Naruto and Sai are probably coming this way," Kakashi assured as if to give him an appeasing thought. "We'll see each other later. Get them through the hand-to-hand fighting and the basics of using a firearm."
Sakura swallowed down. Great, trapped in a room with him for an indefinite amount of time. What could go wrong? Ino walked to her and spoke something in her ear, but she didn't hear, her thoughts too loud to focus on another voice.
"Don't go hard on them," Kakashi raised his hand in a lazy salute, but Sasuke didn't move until the door was shut.
"Hello there," Ino was the one who broke the continuous silence before it could turn awkward. "Nice to see you again. Alive and well, that is."
Not giving any warnings, Sasuke abruptly headed for Sakura, and attacked her. As much it was a surprise for her, she kept a focus of her mind, overjoyed with the fact that her skills were good enough for her to defend herself. As for his skills, she was yet to discover them. From the look of it, he didn't care if she could defend herself or not. More than clear, in that mood he probably wanted to crush someone or something.
Her body swung aside, dodging his fist. He gave her no time to think as his knee aimed for the crook in the back of hers, attempting to bring her down the classic way, but when she tensed and survived that blow, he then hit her arm with a force that shifted her. The pain spread through her body at lightning speed, but she decided to pay it no mind. Luckily, she held her hands up, in front of her face, in a defensive position. Weak points, she reminded herself. Everyone had weak points. His attacks were soon going to show her how to breach through. He was fast, though, and didn't lack precision, which made things harder. Alright, it was time to reply. If she postponed, she'd end up exhausted, defeated, and with bruises.
She took a small step back, giving him the impression she's not able to handle his unceasing blows and that was the moment she knew he had fallen for the trap. Sasuke aimed for her solar plexus. A successful and strong enough blow there could completely knockout, wresting the breath of her and she was glad to have a way to escape it. Using one of karate's basic moves and the advantage of being shorter in height, she blocked his hand with a forearm and hastened to strike at the base of his neck with the sharp end of her elbow. He predicted her move and twisted her hand up.
Sakura was sure that it would end up dislocated if she hadn't used her other hand to bend his at the curve but being with his back to him was a mistake. Sasuke seized on it, wrapping his free hand around her neck, with that clutching her almost completely still. Sakura twined enough to have her knee hit his core. The blow weakened his grip and she slipped away. Sasuke managed to grip her ponytail and pull but this time Sakura used his trick to bend backward, the arc her body made allowing her to perform another of the moves she was well acquainted with. She tried to drive the heel of her palm up to his chin. It didn't happen, though, because he released her hair, avoiding her fist as if the unusual move she invented hadn't created anything close to inconvenience.
"Come on, stop it already." Ino's exasperated voice snapped them out of the battle and they stepped back from each other, heavy breathing. "She's got a black belt, alright? Everyone in the room knows this can go on forever. How about you teach me now? I don't have a black belt."
Still panting, Sakura and Sasuke stared at each other. She was proud of herself. Withholding his channeled wrath seemed a frightening task in the beginning, but after two successful attempts by now, she thought herself strong enough. Her fist hurt and her caress conquered, she couldn't afford to forget that. It was a war strategy. As for him, some kind of curiosity flared in his eyes. As predicted, opponents that proved themselves worthy of him, no matter as equals or stronger, were of great interest. It was to be expected from someone with such belligerent nature, her battle skills seemed to intrigue deeply.
"You don't need training of this sort," he said. "I better not waste my time with you. As for Yamanaka, you can teach her some of these moves yourself."
"Is that an order?" Sakura asked, apathetically.
The realization came to her right after Kakashi left. He was the First Lieutenant. All units in the platoon were subordinate to his will. So everything he said was an order to her from now on. How inconvenient.
"It is. Haruno." At the moment he said it, Sakura scowled. She had just puffed up his ego a bit more.
Ino gave out a dreamy sigh and both of them looked at her, whereat she startled. "Go on," she incited, putting on a dashing smile. "I'll stay here and watch from aside. It's a great view."
Sasuke's gaze returned on Sakura for a moment before he turned to leave. "Follow me."
Sakura exchanged looks with Ino and hurried to follow him through the corridors. With the sight of her disheveled appearance in the mirror image of the walls, she just shook her head, raising her hand in order to, at least, smooth her hair. It wasn't much until they entered another room, wider than any of the ones she's seen. Konoha's hospital had quite an impressive size and rooms, but that was something different altogether. It was an indoor shooting range, reinforced with baffles that supposedly isolated the sound within the room.
Two familiar figures stood at the far end of the room and discussed something until the sight of the newcomers didn't interrupt them. As they approached them enough to have a normal conversation, the reactions of the two were confusing.
"Sakura!" Naruto lit up, diving straight for a tight hug.
Sakura smiled widely at his warm reaction and returned the hug, feeling the burning gaze of a certain someone upon them. Naruto backed away soon enough, holding her shoulders with both hands. In the meantime Ino jumped on Sai, almost causing them both to fall on the ground.
"You've been approved. Can't believe it!" his sky blue eyes changed their glimmer as he smirked, glancing at Sasuke behind. "I won." Sakura raised her brow. "We had a bet," Naruto explained. "Nevermind. Welcome to the family."
"She's not family," a windless tone interfered from the back and Sakura knew to whom it belonged right away.
"Shut your mouth," Naruto growled, heading straight to Sai without caring to look at Ino who was now standing in front of him defensively, pale-faced.
"He probably didn't mean that!" Ino gave an expressive apologetic smile on behalf of the man behind her.
"Naruto, it's fine," Sakura let out a quiet chuckle, trying to prevent them from fighting. "I agree with him. No need for quarrels. How about you teach me how to use a gun now?" Naruto's anger slowly evaporated as he stood still, furrowing at Sai. Sakura's suggestion found its way through and he finally turned to face her.
"I would be happy to," he murmured and dragged Sakura aside, to the corner with the weapons. As they both left the others in the room to their own and were now busy with the firearms all arranged neatly on the shelves, Sakura started another conversation with a sincere smile.
"Glad to know you've gotten rid of the crutches."
"Yeah. Freaking hated those things."
"Stop chatting and focus," Sasuke's voice cut him off from behind. "We're on a mission in two weeks." He came closer and opened another shelf with handguns, taking the one on the right along with the magazine that belonged to the type, loading it in. Naruto watched him walk away and Sakura could swear she heard him murmur an insult under his breath, one that made her laugh.
"Let's go there and I'll explain all you need to know," he said, taking a smaller type of pistol that fit her more.
There were earphones and earplugs on each row so they proceeded to put them on. "Now," Naruto held the gun at the line of her eyes. "This," he pointed at the base, "is your magazine. Loading the rounds is the easy part. If you want to reload, you push that thing. It's called Magazine Release Button. This," he pointed at the hammer, "you need to lower it in order to shoot. Not that you can't shoot without lowering it but it's ten times harder to pull the trigger if you don't."
He opened his mouth for another sentence but was stopped by the sudden gunshots that echoed and, although with headphones and earplugs, startled both of them. Sakura turned around slowly, seeing Sasuke shooting at his target not very far from them. She let out a gasp, noticing something quite unusual. His target was way farther than normal. Matter-of-fact, she barely saw the white circles on it in the distance. How did he even see where he shot at? The ten rounds in his magazine were fired in a row.
"Don't mind him," Naruto touched her shoulder. "Don't even look at the way he's shooting, it's wrong."
"Wrong?" she scoffed. "I doubt it." He was half-turned and fired with one arm. There was something more specific about the posture.
"It's not the way you should do it," Naruto corrected. "You'll hold the gun with both hands."
"Why does he do that?" Sakura asked, quietly.
"There isn't any shooting range for snipers and he hasn't got much of a choice but to only train his accuracy here. That's the best we get," Naruto explained, exasperated. "You look here now."
After half a second of reloading, Sasuke continued his streak. His hand was so perfectly steady that you'd think that gun didn't have any recoil. There was something else, too. The look in his eyes... she was completely sure he imagined someone there, in the place of this target.
"Sakura," Naruto demanded and she turned to him again.
"I'm sorry."
He gave her a pointed look. "I'm better than him, you can look at me."
Sakura chuckled and renewed her composure when he started explaining again.
"What you have here is semi-automatic so the whole frame is much more streamlined," he murmured. "There are lots of things I need to tell you, but this is what you need to know for today. Try to shoot now."
He handed her the pistol and she took a deep breath, looking at the heavy piece of metal in her hands. What a strange creation. Built by a human with the only aim to kill one. When did that object become something completely normal in people's lives? Sakura raised the gun up and aimed at the target, pulling down the hammer. Her hands were shaking, though, she couldn't fix on her target.
"Relax," Naruto leaned on the wall next to her. "You'll probably never use a gun 'cause you're a medic, but it's in the protocol. All field medics must go through soldier training. We must be ready for everything."
A nervous smile crept on her lips as a few feet next to them Sasuke emptied the third magazine with the same ferociousness and precision as the first and the second one while at the other side the sound of more gunshots reached them. It was a miracle Sai and Ino got to work.
"You might wanna hold the gun tight, it'll recoil," Naruto warned before she pulled the trigger and the bullet hit the outer circle on her target.
"Well, not bad," He whistled, but Sakura lowered her gun in astonishment. Sasuke's target stopped next to the others after it automatically returned to the previous and original distance all the others were set on to. Sasuke was staring at it in silence for quite some time before turning to leave the gun back in its place.
"You okay?" Naruto asked, confused at her reaction, but then followed her point of interest and puffed. "Showing off, again. Dude's gotta chill."
"I've got a lot to catch up with you, guys," Sakura mouthed, busy admiring the single black hole in his target's center. A hole of the size of a golf ball. Did he just fire thirty rounds in the same spot, with an ordinary gun, at... twenty yards?
"Yeah, you do. But don't worry. You might get better in two weeks." Naruto tapped her on the shoulder with a hearty laugh and succeeded in making her smile.
"Guy," Kakashi nodded. "Kurenai. Baki."
"Please, sit with us," Kurenai said, gesturing him to join them on the table. "We've got something to discuss."
"I'm listening." Kakashi took the place, tired eyes running over the empty chairs next to him. A momentary melancholy hit him with the memory of Shikaku and Asuma. Their loss was heavy and tangible. They always came up with brilliant strategies and great plans. It wasn't quite the same without them in the rankings.
"I understand you've assigned the Elite Squad to a new mission today," Baki noted.
"You know well we're after this terrorist for a long time," Kakashi leaned back in his chair. "His weapons managed to wipe out not one platoon of ours, not to mention their use on civilians in populated areas."
"My team located him last in a small village, yes," Kurenai intervened.
"Heard that a platoon of ours has been attacked, but it seems the explosives used in the ambush are his fault," Guy added. "Shimura."
"What did you call me for?" Kakashi went straight to the point.
"We need to discuss your First Lieutenant's behavior," Baki interlocked his hands on the table.
Kakashi furrowed. While the department under Kurenai's command was responsible for the coordinates, information, and digital threats, Baki was the mediator between the Government's interests and the Headquarters. His vigilant eyes reached every corner and nothing escaped his sight. Kakashi wasn't surprised to hear he had noticed a problem. As for Guy, he was a captain, like him.
"What about him?"
"I have my reliable sources and information about him making an attempt to commit suicide reached my ears."
Kakashi raised a brow.
"I am obliged to warn you. A soldier in such an unstable mental state can turn an entire mission fatal. Given the fact that he's a First Lieutenant and is supposed to lead the platoon, having him on a battlefield is highly... inadvisable."
"What do you suggest I do?"
"Lower him to a Second Lieutenant and give his position to someone more reliable and trustworthy."
"Anything else?"
"I feel like you don't agree with me," Baki changed his formal tone for the first time.
"Not completely," Kakashi replied, evenly, "I beg to differ. My First Lieutenant is reliable and, I can say with certainty, most capable of leading the platoon."
"The observations of the people I am connected with say something else."
"Good. I will lower his rank," Kakashi heaved a heavy sigh. "Will that be all?"
Baki looked at Kurenai for a moment. "You might want to go to that mission with them."
"I don't do that. I command the platoons from the Headquarters."
"Well, you will do it now."
Kakashi remained silent for a while, thinking. "You want me to keep an eye on him."
"So that he doesn't do anything stupid, yes. Will it be a problem for you?" Baki asked, more friendly.
"Not at all," Kakashi took a breath and exhaled, standing up. "Not at all."
A/N: Thanks for reading! A bit longer chapter than usual. I don't think I've seen Sasuke and Sakura fight like that in any fanfic and I thought it'd be cool. Also, KakaIno is kinda hot, I honestly never ever thought they could be together, but it would've been a crime if I didn't set a scene or two where they're eyeing each other, giving their personalities.
I'll add Mebuki and Kizashi again in the next chapter. Their reaction to Sakura's decision had to figure in here somewhere.