Sakura throw another punch, which Naruto immediately blocked. She gritted her teeth in anger. They had been fighting for ten minutes and the boy had never attacked her. All he did was defend himself. You don't have to be a genius to notice that he was giving her a head start. In the corner of her eye, she saw Kakashi close his book and rise under the tree. Fuck. He must have noticed it. This is bad, very bad.
"Naruto, fight for real" She hissed at the boy as quietly as she could. The blond looked confused, first at her, then at the trainer. The blow that he took towards her was far from convincing. Kakashi stood right next to them, his arms crossed over the chest. His single exposed eye watched their movements attentively.
"Naruto, what are you doing?" His voice was surprisingly calm. They both stopped immediately and turned to face the trainer. Naruto hesitated for a brief moment.
"... I practice hand-to-hand combat with Sakura."
Kakashi slowly tilted his head to the side, as if he was genuinely curious about his words. "Really? It was hard to notice. " Sakura felt her insides twist. As she thought, they were in trouble. "You think you're helping her this way? She might as well train with a tree if you're going to do whatever it takes to not hurt her. "
Naruto looked at the ground. They both knew that Sensei was right.
"Sakura." The girl looked up as she heard her name. "Go train with Sasuke. You'll fight until the first of you is knocked to the ground. "
She nodded and immediately moved towards Uchiha. Fighting him will be tough. He was the fastest and the best in the entire academy. One thing was sure, at least he wouldn't be giving her a head start. She took a deep breath and stood in front of the brunet. There was a mocking smile on Sasuke's face.
"Ready?" The girl felt anger burning inside her.
"Let's get started."
Sakura struggled to get up from the ground. Of course, he didn't even offer her a hand. She rolled her eyes angrily. She felt humiliation all over her face. It was probably red already. She was never good at hiding her feelings. She hated it, but no matter what, she couldn't change it. Their fight was pitifully short. No matter how hard Sakura tried, how determined she was, she would never stand a chance against him.
With a soft sigh, she brushed sand and grass off her clothes and looked around the training ground. She was surprised to find that while they were fighting, Kakashi began training with Naruto. She quickly walked closer to watch their fight. Furthermore, she was surprised to realize that she was worried about the blonde. Sensei was a very strong and terrifying man. And now he was also pissed at Naruto. With bated breath, she watched the boy going all out, only to see that his attacks were easily repelled anyway. Uzumaki managed to avoid most of the blows aimed at him, but still some of them hit his body. Hard.
"There is no need to worry. Kakashi is giving him a head start. " Sakura jumped in place when she heard Sasuke's quiet voice. She hasn't even noticed before that he was standing next to her. His eyes glowed red as he watched the fight with his sharingan. Sakura looked at the fighting ninjas in disbelief.
"It looks like Sensei is giving him a hard time."
Sasuke shook his head.
"Look carefully. He slows down a bit just before each hit. He gives him a chance to dodge and knows that if Naruto won't manage to do that, he won't do him any real harm. "
Sakura looked at Kakashi's movements as advised. Without the sharingan, such details were hard to notice, but she had to admit there was something amazing about the way he fought. She was able to bet all her money that he was the fastest and most agile creature on the planet. This time, instead of a sweatshirt, he had short sleeves under his vest. After a while, Sakura found herself not watching the fight, but the tensing muscles on Kakashi's bare arms. She quickly looked away. The blush burned her cheeks.
Suddenly, she heard the hollow sound of a body hitting the ground. Naruto immediately jumped up from the grass with a wide smile on his face.
"Next time, I'll win!"
Kakashi waved him off, but Sakura noticed the amusement that flashed in his eye for a split second.
"Go back home, rest. Tomorrow we start at seven. " After these words, Kakashi took his book out of his pocket and as if nothing had happened, he returned to his favorite spot under the tree.
Sakura was getting back with the boys towards the city, feeling how despondency suddenly takes her. She recently promised a trainer she would get better quickly. It was their first training since then, and she had already collapsed. How many more chances would he give her before he kicks her out?
"Everything's all right?" Naruto's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"I didn't do well ... I'm a little worried about that." She sighed heavily. The boy gave her a comforting smile.
"Don't be sad. You just need someone to train with you, teach you a few tricks. I can…"
Sakura wasn't listening to him anymore. It was an excellent idea. She saw Kakashi fighting amazingly today. With his advices, she should quickly improve her skills.
The boys stopped a few steps away.
"Sakura, are you coming?"
She had already turned her back on them. "Go without me, I'll see you tomorrow!" She yelled over her shoulder and ran toward the training ground.
As she had expected, the man was still sitting in the shade of the tree, focused on the book.
Sakura slowed down. She was standing only a few meters away from him, but hesitated before taking the next step. Was it really a good idea? It was still the terrifying warrior she had heard so many legends about. What if she pisses him off? They were alone in the middle of nowhere. Sakura felt a shiver go through her. No. This is crazy. She needed his help. She couldn't go back to the academy.
"Do you want to ask something, or did you just came to look at me?" Kakashi said calmly, not even taking his eyes off the book. Sakura almost screamed in surprise. Now there was no way out.
"I ... Umm..." She cleared her throat to pull herself together. What's the matter with her? "I was wondering if you could, er... Give me private lessons?
The man closed the book and looked at her in surprise. "Private Lessons?"
Sakura nervously rubbed her neck with her hand. "I really want to improve my skills, but it's hard to do it on my own. Thought maybe you could help me, Kakashi-sensei. Please..."
The ninja was looking at her in silence for a long time. The girl could hardly hold his gaze. She had to fight with herself not to look away… Or run away.
"Okay, let's do it." He finally said and got up from the grass. Sakura had to tilt her head up. Kakashi was surprisingly tall. In flat shoes like the ones she was wearing, she reached up to his shoulder.
"Show me what you can do."
Sakura wiped her hands on her pants, which suddenly became damp with sweat. Her heart pounded in her chest, she couldn't believe she had led it to this. How she voluntarily agreed to fight someone who defeated Naruto with such ease. She shook her head vigorously. This wasn't the time for such thoughts. She clenched her fists tightly, and ran towards Kakashi. Before she realized, the man grabbed her hand, and twisted it easily, preventing her from making any further movements.
"Once again." He said calmly, as he let go of her.
Sakura swung her leg, but he pushed her so hard that she immediately fell on the ground.
Kakashi offered her a hand, which she gratefully accepted.
"You're not going to win that way. Every ninja needs to know their strengths and weaknesses, what are your weaknesses, Sakura? "
The girl hesitated. Was that a trick question?
"... Hand-to-hand combat?"
Kakashi looked at her as if he didn't know whether to laugh or make a facepalm.
"I mean the weaknesses in the fight." Seeing the confusion on her face, he just continued. "Comparing you and me, for example, you are much more petite. Consequently, you are weaker. Men fight by using their strength. Then against someone twice as heavy as you, you have no chance of winning. But you do have pluses that you can take advantage of. You are smaller and lighter, therefore faster and more agile.
You have to learn to use it. "
"I don't really understand how to do this, at the academy they taught all of us to fight the same." She replied in a stressed tone. Kakashi shook his head disapprovingly.
"Like I said, most of you graduate from the academy without the basic knowledge needed to duel with a real enemy."
Kakashi picked up a short stick from the ground and pressed it into her hand. "Let's pretend it's a kunai for now. While fighting a big, strong enemy, focus on avoiding his blows and aim the blade at the most sensitive spots in his body. I'll attack you, and you pretend this stick is a real weapon. "
Sakura nodded and took the ready position. Sensei was quick, but she managed to avoid his punch. As fast as she could, she leaned down under his fist and hit his side with the tip of the stick, just below his ribs. Kakashi stopped and caught the wrist of her hand, holding her against his stomach.
"Good, but try here next time." He moved her hand a little to the side. Sakura looked at her hand hidden in his palm, and then at his face. They stood very close to each other. Close enough that she could clearly smell his aftershave. Suddenly she was very curious to see what his face looked like under this mask. Her heart skipped a beat at this idea. Kakashi released her hand, which snapped her out of her trance. Sakura turned away her head to hide the reddened cheeks.
The man cleared his throat nervously. "That should be enough for today, I still have some errands with the Hokage."
Before the girl could answer, he was gone, leaving only a cloud of dust behind.
Without focus, Sakura looked at the slowly setting sun. Oh shit! She had completely forgotten that she had an appointment with Ino.
"Here you are, finally!" Ino gasped when Sakura burst into the bar very late.
"Sorry." She said, trying to hide her breathlessness. "I had an extra training with Kakashi-sensei."
"With Kakashi, huh?" Ino smirked knowingly. "I saw him once talking to my father. I envy you Sakura, you've got the hottest sensei in the village... "
"Shhhh! Ino! " Sakura hissed, making big eyes. "Someone will hear you!"
The blonde laughed out loud.
"Besides..." Sakura began with obvious embarrassment. "How can you say he's so handsome when you haven't even seen his face?"
Ino rolled her eyes. "Come on Sakura, I know you think the same. He is so cool, I can't imagine that he hides anything even slightly below perfection under this mask."
Sakura blushed once again today.
"I knew it!" Ino exclaimed with satisfaction. "You think so too!"
Sakura raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Yes, you are right… He is kinda hot. When I fought him today... He is so strong and masculine... "
"OH, HELLO GIRLS!"
Sakura jumped up in her chair, suddenly hearing Naruto's shout right next to her. Fuck. How much has he heard?
"I had no idea you guys came to this bar too!" The smile on his face was even wider than usual. "What are you talking about…?"
Ino narrowed her eyes angrily.
"It's none of your business. Can't you see we're having a girl's night out here? "
Naruto laughed and scratched the back of his head.
"Okay, I'll go then..."
Sakura waited a moment, aware that the boy was walking slowly enough to be able to overhear some of their conversation. Once he was out of sight, she leaned over to Ino.
"You think he heard who we were talking about?" She whispered softly. Ino shook her head.
"I don't think he would be so happy then. He had a crush on you for as long as I can remember. "
Sakura shrugged. "Anyway ... What's your new team like...?"
Sakura tiredly looked at the burning sun. Kakashi was giving them a pretty hard time today. When they've met at seven, he ordered the three of them to run around the field until he will finish his book. As she passed him, she noticed that he still had many long chapters left. Come on! It was already after nine! Suddenly she noticed that Naruto, who was running right in front of her, stopped. Surprised, she looked in the direction he was staring at. Some unknown woman teleported to the training ground.
"Hokage has a mission for us." The ninja turned to Kakashi. "We have to go immediately."
Naruto's eyes lit up like two diamonds.
"MISSION?! What mission ?! Can we go too? "
The woman turned and looked at them reluctantly.
"Actually, that's not a bad idea." Kakashi spoke before the stranger could say anything. "It will come in handy to finally test your skills on a mission."
"It was amazing! Don't you think so? " Naruto asked in an excited voice.
"Uh-huh." Sakura hasn't been listening to him for quite a while now. They had been walking for an hour and for the whole time, the boy hadn't stopped talking for a moment. Sasuke couldn't stand it, a long time ago, and he was walking a few meters ahead of them. He was already getting on her nerves. All the way, she tried to overhear Kakashi and Anko's conversation, but Naruto completely drowned them out. They walked side by side, at least a few steps behind them. They seemed shockingly close. Sakura was surprised to realize that she felt a subtle twinge of jealousy. She slowed down a little to hear more.
"Ugh... I'm so tired." Anko yawned loudly. "These new neighbors are exhausting me. They keep throwing those noisy parties in the middle of the night, it's impossible to sleep. I've already pointed it out to them a few times, but it doesn't help. "
"I found my old earplugs, you should try it too. They work wonders. "
Sakura almost sighed. They live together? Like the couple?! She focused on their conversation even more.
"And did you know that this guy..." Suddenly, Naruto started talking again.
"Shh!" She quickly silenced him so that she could overhear Anko's words.
"We should do as when..."
"But, it's fascinating, I swear..." Naruto was not deceived.
"Will you ever shut up?!" A scream escaped from Sakura's mouth before she could bite her tongue. Everyone stopped suddenly, all eyes on her. Kakashi's look quickly changed. He was so scary with such an expression that the girl had to refrain from trembling.
"Sakura, we're in the middle of a mission." His voice was even colder than his eyesight.
"It means we don't want the enemy to know where exactly we are now. Wait with your relationship drama until we get back to the village. "
Sakura turned red like a tomato. Did he just suggest that she and Naruto were...
"I'm sorry…." She mumbled and continued to follow Sasuke. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Anko's amused gaze. Not only did she endanger them and the success of their mission, but she also lost the respect of a newly met high-rank ninja. Great.
It soon turned out that Kakashi's anger made a lot of sense. They had only walked a few steps when four armed ninjas jumped out from all sides of the forest simultaneously.
There was no time to think. Sakura immediately ran towards one of them, but before she could do anything, Naruto attacked him with several dozen of his clones. There was no place for her, she would only disturb him. When she looked around, she noticed that everyone was already fighting someone else. Only she was left without an enemy. She stood frozen. What should she do now? There has never been such a scenario in science textbooks. Terror pierced her right through.
A sudden scream caught her attention. The woman who fought Anko stabbed her in the arm with a kunai. Sakura's eyes widened in fear. She had never seen so much blood before. She must help her. But how? It's a woman, similar size to her. Then should she fight her like she did in training with Sensei or...
The sudden blue flash blinded her. Before she realized, Kakashi was laying the dead woman on the ground.
"Everything's all right?" He turned to Anko. However, she ignored him. Her furious gaze was too focused on Sakura. She pushed Hatake away from her and walked towards the girl.
"What the fuck are you doing?! Why were you just standing and staring the whole time while everyone was fighting? I could die!"
Sakura shivered with fear. Anko was right. She couldn't be more idiotic and useless.
"I... I didn't know what to do..." she stammered, her voice cracking.
"Oh, you didn't know! Of course. You know what I don't know? How the fuck did you get into this team! "
Tears of shame filled Sakura's eyes. She tried her best not to release a single drop. She couldn't cry in front of her now.
"Anko, that's enough." Kakashi's firm voice accepted no contradiction.
"Are you really taking her side?" Anko asked incredulously.
"Sakura is subordinate to me, it is not your job to lecture her. Let's go now, we have little time. "
The girl smiled gratefully at the Sensei, but he ignored her gaze.
"Don't worry." Naruto came to her after a while. "This Anko is really mean. You haven't done anything wrong... "
"Stop comforting already." Sasuke, who now walked in line with them, said dryly. "If you keep talking like this, She will always be so useless."
Naruto squeezed his fists in anger.
"How can you say that, you..."
"Stop it." Sakura interrupted him. "He's right."
After these words, she sped up, so that she could walk alone. She didn't want anyone to notice the tears streaming down her face.
Immediately after completing the mission, Sakura approached Kakashi's office. All she found was a locked door. She was determined to talk to him, so she sat down in front of the entrance. After an hour of waiting, she heard footsteps in the hallway.
"Are you waiting for me, Sakura?" The man asked as he opened the door.
"I'd like to talk to you about something, Kakashi-sensei."
The ninja sat down behind the desk without saying a word and motioned her to the chair opposite. Sakura took her seat and sighed heavily. She couldn't believe what she was about to say.
"I would like to quit."
Kakashi gave her a questioning look.
"Today I realized that I don't fit to be a ninja. I'm not asking you to send me back to the academy. I don't believe this would help me. It's just time to let go and find something I won't be so hopeless at."
The man just looked at her for a moment. Sakura was afraid of his answer so much that every second seemed to be an hour.
"No."
"Excuse me?" For a moment, the girl thought that she had misheard.
"I do not agree." He simply replied. "What you did today was very bad, but I believe I know how to solve your problem. To prove yourself, you must be on a mission where you cannot count on someone to do something for you. Or protect you. I'm sure that's holding you back."
Sakura looked at him in surprise. She hadn't expected such an answer. He really believed in her…
"Tomorrow morning I'm going on a solo mission. If you decide, you can be here at seven. But I warn you, if you won't fight, you will die. No reduced fare. Think about it. "
Sakura nodded with a smile. Suddenly she was filled with joy. She got up from her chair and walked to the door.
"Thank you, Kakashi sensei. See you tomorrow."
