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Warning: I really don't know where I'm going with this.
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Timeline - After the Wave mission, but in the same peaceful AU
Eyes greener than a Dino
Chapter 2
Kakashi-sensei was always late, concluded Sakura after three months with her Team.
Normally, she should be taking this information into account, and as a good kunoichi of her village and to her team, she should adapt herself... Seeing as half of the Team came three hours after the original meeting time.
Unfortunately, Sakura's civilian education was rooted deep inside her, even if she tried her hardest to follow the pamphlet given to her at the academy - Rule number 3 of the Genin Book: A Genin should always follow the directives given by the Team Leader - whether they be explicit or implicit. - Sakura was unable to be late, she always had to come early. If not, she would always feel guilty. As if that wasn't enough, she slowly learned the gap in skills between her teammates and her; the guilt inside her only grew and she felt depressed at the thought of being late, she was already failing in her chosen career, she didn't want, nor needed, lateness added to her file.
Stupid Mission to Wave, next time we'll show them, shannaro! commented her inner-voice.
Sakura sighed, what can she do to become stronger? It is not like she wasn't training, maybe not as much as her teammates… But she still gave her maximum! It has to count for something, right? Her depressing thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of her dark-haired teammate.
Sasuke was always perfectly on time. He never came late, and when she bravely asked why he'd 'hned', and she easily understood that as the second heir of the Uchiha clan it was unbecoming of him to be late.
That was one of Sakura's only talent: understanding Sasuke's way of speaking. A useless skill for a shinobi...
"Good morning Sasuke-kun."
"Hn."
At least he was answering her now, even if it wasn't with words. Maybe he would speak to her with words if she was stronger? But how can she become strong?
Hey, didn't you take that scroll on taijutsu from the library? Maybe we can try some katas? proposed Inner-Sakura.
That was actually a good idea.
They had three hours to kill, they could train.
Sakura shyly took the scroll from her bag, glancing at the pensive Uchiha. She knew that if she asked to train with him, he will reject her, thinking that she was trying to flirt, or worse he will scold her. It would be embarrassing if he saw her studying things she was supposed to know. Deciding that space was the best strategy to not disturb Sasuke (and avoid getting rejected again), Sakura opened her scroll, easily managing to concentrate on it - words were easier for her to understand. She started to absorb what was written, mentally scolding the writer for being lazy, and evade explanations.
Jeez, one day we will write a better book with deeper explanations, Shannaro! voiced Inner in their anger.
This was one of the reasons Sakura liked Iruka-Sensei, he would always be open and answer every question, even if it was out of the academy or after lectures, and give full answers. In comparison, thought Sakura as she tried one of the Kata, Kakashi-sensei was worse than the library's book. The grey-haired troll never took the time to explain, she always had to ask questions after questions so that he would answer. Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke were prodigies, they needn't explanations, and Naruto, err, that was another story. The goofy blond never asked questions, but he still managed to become skilled through watching their sensei and his actions.
Sometimes, mused Sakura as she switched through Katas, it was like Naruto had this double personality. One moment he acted like the village idiot, the next he was giving a moving and heartfelt speech while spamming his solid clone Jutsu. And how did he manage to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu? From what she read, it was a secret technique taught to Jounin with a large chakra pool and it could be found in a hidden scroll kept under watch by ANBU.
"Why are you doing those ridiculous moves?"
Sasuke's sharp voice stopped her and his dark eyes gazed at her with confusion and annoyance. She felt her face blushing brightly, shame painting her face, was she failing simple instruction from a scroll? No, she wasn't. Inner was scowling and muttering angrily, goddamnit can't he let us train in peace?
"Hum, I was practicing my Katas Sasuke-kun." said Sakura in a high-voice that always came out when she spoke to this boy.
She dropped the position of her former Kata, blushed harder, and avoided his judgemental eyes as her fingers found a pink lock to play with.
How embarrassing.
"Those are not Katas."
What?!
She took the scroll and showed the title to Sasuke. Her teammate took on look at the title and snatched the scroll from her hands, she opened her mouth to start protesting, but he cut her, "who in the Five great Nation came up with this?" he was triggered.
She did agree that the moves weren't that special but, "Sasuke-kun. Although, the writing is vague and the drawing ridiculous, the information is correct. Those are the basic Katas taught during the three first years at the academy." explained Sakura in voice calmer than before, but not quite as sure as she'd like.
Of course, as an Uchiha, Sasuke-kun and the other clan kids did not have to learn those. They were taught the basics by their clan, this was the Katas taught to students coming from poor families or from a civilian background, such as herself.
It was a miracle that she managed to become the only civilian graduating within her years' mate, and that was thanks to her parents who had some basic genin stuff under their belt before they stopped their carrier. Other civilian kids needed to redo a year or more to graduate, and that was rarely the case, mostly, they quit and went back to civilian school.
For the rare civilian-born students who managed to graduate, they had two paths - either they directly go to the genin corp or they manage to achieve a Chunin desk job. She wanted to be more, she dreamed of more, but she knew her place and hoped to have a nice job as a proud Chunin of Konoha; deep inside inner-Sakura raged at the injustice.
"No wonder you always scored so badly in Taijutsu practice." commented Sasuke, destroying a little part of her without meaning to.
He gave her back the scroll, which she put back in her pouch - she was embarrassed enough today, besides Naruto and Kakashi will be coming in the next minutes.
"Sakura-chyaan!~"
Speak of the idiot and there he is.
During practice, she sometimes felt Sasuke's eyes on her, and she beat down blushes through their D-rank mission, the only time she glanced back, his eyes seemed to be plotting. She didn't know what he was planning, however, she found that she didn't have to wait a long time to discover it.
The next day, Sakura arrived, as always, earlier than her team. She decided to start with a series of exercises, and then she would continue with those katas she learned yesterday.
And hopefully, we'll avoid getting embarrassed by Sasuke-kun, encouraged Inner.
She was trying to familiarize herself with those positions.
Maybe we should adapt it to our body type? Proposed Inner.
Sakura paused. Inner wasn't wrong. Iruka-sensei always tried to correct the posture of every student one by one. He adapted their positions according to their height and weight.
That man must be worshipped. Inner started a hymn for the Great Iruka Sensei.
Sakura nodded.
"You are getting weirder… "
Sakura froze.
Her head turned slowly toward the voice of her crush.
Why was this always happening in front of him?
She will never be a strong and sexy kunoichi in his mind, instead, she will be that weird pink-haired teammate. This feeling of embarrassment was starting to be too familiar. Still, she had to be polite. Her right hand found itself playing with her damaged pink locks, she waved her left hand and greeted her teammate.
Sasuke-kun nodded back at her.
His silent gaze locked on her green eyes. The black orbs glanced at the red bench near the bridge. She understood his silent order and sat on it. The Uchiha joined her. If anyone was looking at them, they would see two awkward teens sitting on the same bench with too much space between them to be considered friends (or more).
However.
She had always liked Sasuke-kun. Maybe it was not the same type of love that her parents shared, but Sasuke-kun will always have a special place in her heart.
Ino was the catalyst of her beginning as a kunoichi, but Sasuke-kun was the one who challenged her to be better.
Although many people wouldn't believe Sakura, she did train during her academy years. However, she spent many hours watching her Uchiha classmate. Maybe those hours would have been a loss if she was anyone else, but she was his teammate, in the end, it was useful. (Right?) After all, it was why she was able to understand most of his thoughts and his personality, even if the son of the yondaime - Naruto - could understand Sasuke-kun on another level.
That's why she knew that Sasuke-kun was shyly trying to say something to her, she could see it in the way he scowled and avoided her gaze.
He was so cute.
That thought made her blush slightly.
Jeez, weren't we supposed to stop being a fangirl? sharply scolded Inner Sakura.
She was right as always.
"Sa-Sasuke-kun did you want to say something to me?" she tried to make her face as friendly as possible.
Instead of answering, he took three scrolls from his pouch and gave them to her.
The quality is too good to be a mission scroll, assessed Inner.
"Can I open them?" Sakura looked at the three scrolls. They may have been small but it looks like there was lots of information inside.
"Hn."
She gulped and her hands opened the first one.
Her eyeballs could have dropped at the content.
This…
This was…
Why?
Jjffidkfkfkfkfkg, If he didn't have our heart before he certainly has it now! Commented Inner.
"Sasuke-kun" started seriously Sakura. "This is the specific Taijutsu style of your clan based on their Will of Fire. Why are you giving this to me?"
It was not done. Only Uchiha's had the right to use this Taijutsu style. It was theirs, it could be adapted perfectly to each Uchiha's Sharingan and their chosen weapon.
That's right, although one of the bases of the Fire Style Taijutsu is strength, a Shinobi like Sasuke-kun who focus mainly on speed and shuriken can adapt it. It will still contain strength but combine it with Sasuke-kun's speed. Why the heck would he give it to us? Perhaps he likes us?
Sakura tried to ignore Inner and met Sasuke's eyes.
The boy grimaced.
"You are my teammate."
She wanted to tell him that it was not a good reason. She wanted to shook his shoulders and ask him, why what was the point?
"Besides, the best style is our Fire style." Sasuke glared at her, daring her to question the power behind the Uchiha's Taijutsu.
She sighed.
"Okay… I guess… Well, I guess I will just read it and memorize the katas…"
"Sakura."
She looked at him, the way his frowning face frowned a little less, the way his pupils shifted slightly toward the left.
And.
She did not know how, but she understood what he was saying without words.
"I see Sasuke-kun. I will learn it and use it as a last resort." she smiled.
"Hn." he smirked.
As if we were going to use it every day, remember that fine that could cost us our carrier if we were caught using this style. concluded Inner.
Sakura nearly groaned, right, when was she going to train with it?
Just as suddenly as she saw an orange figure running toward them, Sasuke quickly muttered, "Sakura. Learn everything on the scroll tonight. Tomorrow, I will start to teach it to you."
Shannaro! Sakura and Inner both blushed.
- To be continued