Later that night, the two orphans sat on the couch, going over one of their textbooks, Konohagakure History. Sakura read aloud, running her finger under the character's as she spoke. As long as the book didn't go too long without talking about a battle Naruto was able to pay attention; while clever, he had trouble paying attention. She figured it was because he was so energetic.
The pair was interrupted by a knocking at the door. Sakura slipped the book into Naruto's hands before crawling over to the arm of the couch, and leaning over to peek out the window.
An ANBU stood outside her door. She was used to having ANBU around her house since Naruto had moved in - she'd only ever spotted them a few times outside her window at night when she was having trouble sleeping - but was not used to them trying to talk to them. More bad news?
"I'll be right back, Naruto-kun," she said, pushing herself up off the couch to head to the door.
"Hello, ANBU-san. How can I help you?" she said after peeking her head out the now slightly opened door.
"A message for you from the Hokage. He needs a reply," the ANBU, a male, said, handing her a scroll.
Sakura unrolled it, scanning over the message. All the preparations were made. The funeral was set for tomorrow, if that suited her. She closed the scroll. "Thank you, Anbu-san. Could you tell him, 'yes' for me, please?"
"Of course. Have a good night, Haruno-san," the masked man spoke, before taking off into the darkening sky, jumping away on the roofs.
Sakura walked back to the living room to see Naruto flipping through the book, looking at pictures. He looked up when she got close to the couch, the smile slipping from his face as he looked into her eyes. "Sakura-nee?"
Sakura plopped down on the couch, and pulled Naruto into a hug.
"Nee-chan?" the boy asked again, "What's wrong?"
"I have to bury my parents tomorrow."
Uh. I," Naruto stammered out. "I…"
"Would that be something you would be willing to come to?"
"I'd go anywhere for you, Sakura-nee."
She smiled despite the tears rolling down her cheeks.
The pair had decided to sleep in the room at the end of the hall that night. Naruto had curled up against her side, and falled right to sleep. Sakura, however, couldn't seem to find any rest.
'Factions.'
Group Factions
Konoha Civilians : Neutral : 0/20,000
Konoha Ninja : Neutral : 0/20,000
Uchiha Clan : Neutral : 962/20,000
Solo Factions
Uzumaki Naruto : Good Friend / Trusted : 50,561/100,000
Sarutobi Hiruzen : Friendly : 22,212/100,000
Hatake Kakashi : Positive / Curious : 9,844/100,000
Uchiha Itachi : Positive / Curious : 8105/100,000
Uchiha Sasuke : Acquaintance : 3,810/100,000
Uchiha Shisui : Friendly / Curious : 10,783/100,000
She scanned over the names and numbers before closing out of the window - she didn't want time to be frozen for long. It was bizarre, really, to see that Uchiha Itachi had a positive, if only slightly, opinion of her. What did that mean? Had he liked seeing her attack the bug? Seeing someone kill something? Or had he liked seeing her attack something that was threatening to his brother? He had left Sasuke alive, afterall, but why? She didn't know. Had he loved his brother? Itachi had been considered a genius. It was well known that he had progressed quickly. Rumor had it, back when she was in school, that he had been ANBU. A preteen in that kid of lifestyle… It couldn't have been healthy. Is that why he snapped? Or had he had help from Tobi, Obito. Had Obito done something to Itachi to make him do what he did? Was there anyway she could ever find out the truth? All she knew was that she wanted to keep Sasuke safe.
She had faction with the Uchiha clan. Positive faction. Not enough to be of note, yet, but it meant her actions yesterday had been noticeable, and enough for a reaction from the entire clan. Was it because of the amount of people in the clan she had reacted with? Or was it who -the children of the clan head- she reacted with that had matter? So far, nothing she had done had seemed to make a big enough difference for any of the other group factions.
Why had the game brought them to her? Was this a hint of some sort? What could she possibly do? Their deaths were coming quickly, and she was stuck in a five year old body with a fraction of a fraction of her real abilities. How could she do anything when she was so weak?
She couldn't, but she could work to improve herself. Sakura slipped from Naruto's hold; a feat that was much easier than it had been the first time, before heading to the bathroom. She equipped her most athletic clothing, and her gear - shuriken and kunai. The clothes instantly appeared, as did the weapon pouch around her thigh. It had been her father's, but it fit her anyways when she equipped it from her inventory; which it did not do when she put it on by hand. Clothes shopping would be much easier if she didn't have to worry about size.
Stalling for time, since the ANBU were always watching, and it would be suspicious if she changed in mere seconds, Sakura turned to look at herself in the full length mirror on the door. She hadn't grown her hair out yet at this age, so it was its familiar length. She thought it looked rather cute, just as long as she didn't let her fringe get in her face like she had at that age. She figured if anyone had noticed that she had started styling it differently that they would attribute it to her losing her parents. Appearance changes were common with people dealing with loss. But then, no one had really known her, had they?
She was so short. It was unnerving, really. She seemed to be able to forget how tiny she was most of the time. She felt normal to herself, it was just everything else that was oversized. She figured it was thanks to the game that her mind was able to adjust to moving properly with everything in the wrong place. It was unnerving to see, though. Her regression clearly evident in the image on the mirror.
She wanted her power back.
Sakura slipped out of the room, then out of the house to the backyard. Then, under the light of the stars, and the ever present eyes of the anbu, she practiced. Hit, kick, punch. Again, and again. Hit, kick, punch.
For the first time she was awake for the game's autosave. It had been sometime around five, she guessed.
By morning her hands were raw, her muscles ached, and she had lost half of her HP.
She had also gained five levels in taijutsu, and three points in Body.
She only stopped when Naruto made his way outside. Upon seeing her hands he began to cry. She gained a level in persuasion calming him back down.
After bandaging her hands she made them a simple breakfast. After finishing it, Sakura was surprised to see a game window pop up.
+50 HP recovered from meal
Now that could useful. She wondered if food would stay fresh in her inventory. If so, she could grind cooking from actually cooking a lot, stick it in her inventory, then go hunting more freak bugs to gain experience, and money to pay for more food.
Now if only she knew someplace good to hunt things her level.
Naruto still looked like a light ball of sunshine while dressed in black. She wasn't sure she looked near as bright in her outfit, which mirrored his.
"Ready, nee-chan?" Naruto asked as they heard knocking at the door.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied with a small, wry smirk. Naruto lead her to the door, the two hand in hand, and opened it to reveal the Hokage. He was dressed in his ceremonial robes, and tailed by two ANBu.
"Ready, children?" he asked. This time Sakura just nodded in reply. He gave her an understanding look, and held a hand out to her, which she took. She two people who thought the highest of her then escorted her to the funeral.
She stood there, rose in hand, listening to the sound around her without really hearing.
It had been so easy for her to push the issue out of her mind the past few days, but now that it was time, she couldn't hide from the truth - they were gone. It was time to say goodbye.
So much of who she was was because her parents, despite her many attempts at seperating herself.
She used to get so sad when her father went on missions when she was little, and so whenever he came home, he would tell her about all the places he went to. She had always loved to stories of the faraway places he went to. Her father, a jounin, had been a diplomate, and so he was allowed access to some places where others had to creep through shadows. One day, he had brought her home a childrens book that was popular in another country, but not available in Konoha, as Sakura had been learning to read. It was a special book, not just because her father, who was the most amazing man she knew, had got it for her, but because she was the only one who had it. That made her feel special, when all the other children had made her feel so small. Sakura had always been a vain, temperamental person, and had been a mercurial child. Even little things had a big impact on her.
From then, she had always loved to read, and treasured the books her father had brought her, even when she had gotten older, and had been 'too cool' to show it.
So many of her most precious possessions would never be hers now.
Her mother had been what people called a 'career chuunin'. Someone who had no plans to progress passed that rank. She did jobs around the city, mostly, part time, and was a homemaker the rest of time. When Sakura had reached chuunin she had challenged her mother to a spar. The woman had accepted, and had promptly wiped the floor with her daughter, the apprentice of one of the sannin. Sakura learned that her mother had not always been a chuunin. In fact, when it came to power, Mebuki had been considered a greater fighter than her jounin husband. She had been in ANBU for a short time, but had given that all up when she got pregnaut with Sakura.
When Sakura had learned, the idea of being a homemaker like her mother had suddenly not seemed like such a bad thing. She could still work at the hospital when she had her family.
When things really started getting bad Sakura was mostly out of the village, but her parents still heard word of her growing power, and had told her how proud they were to have such a skilled kunoichi as a daughter.
Now she was determined to be even stronger than before. Determined to save everyone, but they would never see. They would never get to be proud of her.
It hurt, she hurt. The tears had made a steady stream down her cheeks seince the ceremony had started,
Naruto had never let go of her hand.
People had noticed,
-4962 Faction with Konoha Citizens
-4810 Faction with Konoha Ninja
Her silent crying became quite audible as a sob made its way passed her lips. Then another. This time it was Naruto who pulled her into a hug, and she held onto him like he was her lifejacket, and she was about to drown. Konoha be damned, they could think how they wanted.
Naruto watched as Sakura set the flower down on top of the closed casket. She was silent for a few moments, her hands clasped together, her head down. Then she stepped away, and it was his turn.
Naruto stepped forwards, and set his flower down. He didn't really know what he was supposed to do. He wasn't sure he really understood all this. This was Sakura's parents. He knew what parents were, sorta. People who brought kids into the world. People who kepted thier kids safe, and made them happy. People he had never had, and now Sakura didn't have either, now.
"Thank you, for nee-chan. She is the best thing to ever happen to me," he spoke, for once in a quiet voice. 'I'll keep her safe for you. I promise,' he finished silently. Then he too stepped away to find Nee-chan's hand again. Eventually the caskets were lowered into the ground, and he got to take Nee-chan home.
Sleeping has partially restored your HP and CP. Some status effects have been removed,
'Apparently I have to sleep for a certain amount of time for the full effect,' she thought, sitting up. Her hands barely hurt anymore, but she'd leave the bandages on for a few more days. She had gone to sleep not long after getting home. It was still light out her window, so she figured it was around four. Naruto would be hungry soon. She wasn't, but she'd make food anyways. She could just pack hers in her inventory for later. Plus, that way she could see if it would keep that way.
She made her way downstairs, and pulled the bag of rice out of the cupboard. No meal was complete without rice. Especially because it was so affordable.
Sometime later she had a nice meal set out on the table for Naruto, and one packed away in her inventory for her. She had pretended to place it in the refrigerator, then, once it was blocked from sight by her body, she thought it into her inventory.
"I'm heading out," she told the blonde as he sat down at the table. She felt too volitile, unstable, to be around him. She had steadily been building up a good relationship with him, and she did not want to lose it in a moment of misplaced anger. "I'll be okay, don't worry. I've got my blades on me," she told him upon seeing the look on his face at her words. "Eat up. School is soon, so you need to have plenty of energy. I'll clean up when I get home. Take care." She stopped to give the boy a quick one armed hug on her way out.
From there, she wandered, letting her feet take her where they would. Down a street, across an alley. She wandered, and she roamed, halfheartedly looking for something to fight. Enemies would be more likely to find in the forest, but she didn't really care. If the game wanted to give her a fight, it would. She just needed to be by herself, where she wouldn't have to worry about Naruto.
She walked for so long, that they game decided to award her a point in Body.
"Oh ho, if it isn't the demon's little bitch?" she heard a slurred voice say from somewhere in front of her. She looked up to see a man who seemed to be somewhere in this late thirties leaning against a wall a bit aways ahead of her. "I'd remember that hair. Saw it today at the funeral. Your pa and I used to be friends," the intoxicated man. She could tell he was drunk plain as day, but the window above his head helped too.
Drunken Retired Genin
LV 15
100%/100% HP
It wasn't a fight she could win easily, if at all.
"He'd be ashamed to see his baby girl hanging out with trash. You make me sick. Imma beat some sense into you, kid." And with that, he charged forward as Sakura sunk into a defensive stance.
He was fast, but his blow was sloppy, and she was able dance under the blow, planting a blow against his ribcage, taking five percent of his damage.
"Back off, old man!" Sakura yelled after hit, hoping that the pain would discourage him.
It didn't.
With a bellow the man pivoted his body, swinging his arm to backhand Sakura. He came on faster than she expected, and took the full force of the blow against her head. The attack sent her flying back to smash against the brick wall her attacker had been reclining against just moments ago.
You were critically hit.
-20 HP
You now have the Dazed debuff.
She was down to 20HP, and she couldn't see straight. Her ears were ringing, and her head ached. He was going to kill her, whether he meant to or not. She couldn't die. Not know. She pulled a blade from beneath her shirt as the man reached her, and stabbed it forward, blindly aiming towards were he was. She felt her strike hit. She wasn't sure he even felt it in his drunken state as she didn't hear any reaction from him. She certainly felt his punch to her stomach, though.
-8 HP
She coughed up blood with his blow. She was going to die. She was going to die, and she was going to have to do it all over again. "N-no," she choked out as the man's hands closed around her throat, cutting off her breathing. She fumbled for another blade, her hands unsteady. She plunged it into him again, and again. She knew he felt it this time, because he lifted her from the wall to slam her back against it.
-5 HP
-2 HP
She couldn't breathe. She was starting to suffocate. Her HP ticking down every few seconds her body was denied air. Her vision began to darken. Then she heard something. Something hot was on her, covering her face. She could breathe. She gasped for air, finding herself on the ground. He had let her go?
"Sakura? Can you hear me?
She knew that voice. Who was it?
"Itachi? What the-" The second voice grew louder, someone was coming, but then cut off.
She could see now. The drunk was on the ground next to her. A blade was in his back.
Encounter Complete!
+904 XP Earned
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
HP and CP restored
She started to push herself up.
"Hey kid, don't move," she heard the second voice - Shusui, she could place it now - say. She ignored it, and pushed up so she was sitting back on her calves. She looked up at Sasuke's older brother, who looked back down at her. He looked concerned. Or maybe he only looked that way from the fading Dazed effect.
"You saved me," she said, her voice full of wonder.
"Of course." he said simply.
"Its okay, kid. We're the good guys."
Sakura giggled hysterically. Uchiha Itachi was not a good guy.
"Come on," Shisui said, gently scooping her up. "We need to get you to the hospital."
"No!" Sakura protested. "No, I have to get home! My brother must be worried."
"We have to take you to the hospital. It is protocol. Then we must report this to the Hokage."
"It'll be okay, Sakura-chan. I promise," Shisui said in what she assumed was supposed to be a soothing voice.
She had been attacked. Itachi had seen the man choking her. She had her blood on herself. And his. If they went to the hospital they would know something was not right. She had beaten her training post until her hands bled. They would be healed now. The ANBU had saw. She wasn't supposed to tell. This was not going to be okay.
She needed a cover.
"I can heal. I don't need a doctor." 'Do it. Do it. Remember. Someone had to make the jutsu the first time. You can do it now. You just have to focus. It isn't even really a jutsu. No handsigns. Its just chakra. Just chakra. Focus."
Her hands started to glow blue.
'Focus. Healing. Growth. Healing. Focus.'
Her hands started to glow green.
Ability Created
Mystical Palm
+5% Spirit
+10% Chakra Control
+10% Medical Jutsu Healing
'Yeah! We did it! Shannaro!'
She pushed the chakra through her body. It wasn't doing anything, she knew, but they would be able to feel it, the chakra filling her body.
"I don't like doctors. They don't do it right. Can't you just take me to the Hokage? He is my legal guardian. Please, Uchiha-san?"
They agreed.
Sakura gave one last look to the body. It had a loot window over it.
'Loot.'
$23 Gained
Roll of Condoms Gained
Opened Pack of Cigarettes Gained
Kami Coin Gained
'Seriously?'
The Hokage decided she still had to go to the hospital for a check up, but asked her to show him her jutsu before she went. He asked her further questions, and so Sakura was forced to lie, and answer that she had always remembered know how to do it, but she had to be careful, else it would just make things worse. He decided to escort her to the hospital himself. Shisui had not wanted to part with her, but had promised that he would see her soon. That was nice. She thought that perhaps he hadn't been joking about teaching her, afterall. The Hokage brought up the topic of learning more about her gift by taking lessons from real medic nin. She had agreed, and he had set her up with an appointment with a doctor before taking her home. Somehow, she had gained faction with all three of the males that night. Perhaps they thought she would be useful.
Naruto had fallen asleep on the couch, waiting for her. The Hokage carried him up to his room. Sakura cleaned herself up in the shower, - the whole being covered in blood thing was nothing new, but still gross enough that she scrubbed herself down for a while- equipped her nightgown, then crawled into bed with her best friend.
Haruno Sakura
Age - Five (17)
Level - 4
Xp - 132/10,000
Health - 44/44
Chakra - 35/35
Mind – 18 (30)
Body – 20 (33)
Spirit - 15 (21)
Group Factions
Konoha Civilians : Unfriendly : -4962/20,000
Konoha Ninja : Unfriendly : -4810/20,000
Uchiha Clan : Neutral : 962/20,000
Solo Factions
Uzumaki Naruto :Good Friend / Trusted: 50,561/100,000
Sarutobi Hiruzen : Friendly : 23,322/100,000
Hatake Kakashi : Positive / Curious : 9,844/100,000
Uchiha Itachi : Positive / Curious : 8209/100,000
Uchiha Sasuke : Acquaintance : 3,810/100,000
Uchiha Shisui : Friendly / Curious : 11,618/100,000
A less funny, happy chapter. Things are slowly building up in intensity. She was told she would have a rough time of things, and we are starting to see that now. This is a fic about friendship, though, so I'll try it even between the strife and the happy feels.
Technically, Sakura was just 'power-leveled'. She fought opponents far above her skill level, and won with the help of others. She only gained a third of the actual XP for the beetle fight because there was three combatants, and half for the drunk fight as there were two. Still, she earned a lot of experience. Lucky her for having someone around. We'll see if she is so lucky next time.