Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to the Naruto universe. All credit goes to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 8

It had been three weeks since Team 7 was made official. My time was full of training or missions. Lee must want to kill me based on the extreme exercises he's been putting me through. I have gotten faster and stronger, though. I can feel it. The weights have yet to come off, but I plan taking them off before the Wave mission. Which will happen in a week or so.

Not only has my taijutsu improved, but so has my genjutsu and ninjutsu. My first session with Kurenai was her testing my skills. Then ended with her handing me a few books on genjutsu and a few low rank ones to practice till next Thursday. I can now cast B level genjutsu as well as one A level. Not bad.

My ninjutsu….is getting there. Three team training exercises ago, I asked Kakashi to show me water and Earth style jutsu. And he did show me one jutsu for each. A water style clone and the mud wall jutsu. I can perform them perfectly now, but it took some time to get the hang of them.

Half an hour ago, I had just finished a three hour long training session with Lee. I was dead afterwards, but I feel better after a shower. I glanced at the message Kakashi had sent, stating that today would be a free day. Hence no training of any sort. I smiled, Naruto will probably want a Ramen eating contest and Sasuke will want to be left alone to sulk and train.

And I….I suppose a walk around the village would be nice. Maybe check in on Naruto or Sasuke. The weather is after all sunny.

*

I had checked Naruto's apartment only to find him sleeping. And it looked like he would be for a while. Now it was just me.

I could try to find Shikamaru. Play some shogi with him. Or help In in the flower shop.

Maybe even—

"Sakura."

"Sasuke? What are you doing here?" Sasuke stood not too far behind me, wearing his normal attire. His dark eyes bore into my green ones.

"I thought I had the right to walk around the village as I pleased." Sasuke deadpanned.

"You are. I'm just surprised you are actually exercising that right. No offense, of course."

Um, what is going on?

"None taken. Follow me." Sasuke began to walk away, his hands in his pockets.

"Er, okay." I followed keeping a distance.

We walked for a few minutes in silence for a few minutes before we stopped. We were now standing, near the bench. The bench Sasuke yeeted the shit out of me and had left me. Fun memories.

He took a seat so I did too. We sat there for about an hour. Not saying anything. To be honest I'm surprised I didn't say anything.

Sasuke sat up and turned away from me, said "Thanks." and began to walk away. What is going on?

*

"Sakura? What are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked as he laid in the grass. I found him not too far away from the bench.

I sighed and laid down next to him. "Being lazy like you."

"Troublesome." I heard him mutter under his breath.

"I was wondering if you would want to play Shogi with me sometime?" He sat up and looked at me, confusion on his face.

"You know how to play?"

"No, but I'd like to learn." I did know, but I was very bad and forgot half the rules. Not really a winning chance.

I could feel Shikamaru continue to stare at me, before laying down. "...okay. Meet me here tomorrow at noon."

"Thanks." I wish back in the other timeline, I had been more friendlier to the other Rookie Nine.

"It's a drag, but no problem."

As I continued to lay there, watching the clouds, I forgot about all my problems that I faced alone. Almost.

AN:

Sorry this is very short. Next chapter will be the start of the Wave mission. And it will be a lot longer.

Published: 1/2/19