Chapter 12: Its Just Not the Two of Us Anymore
"I don't like it, Hinata-chan."
"Why not?"
"Its so..."
"So?"
"You!"
"..."
"No offense."
"... Er... yeah."
"But I'm serious. Its... so... you."
"I heard."
"What about the one I gave you?"
"... I like it." Hinata twirled in front of the mirror examining her new clothes. She wore tight black shirt with a blue vest over it, black tight shorts with a blue skirt over it that was only up to her thigh, black gloves, dark blue boots that reached right below her knees, and she had a belt that hung loosely at her waist, and attached to that were her shuriken and weapon's pouch.
And like always, her forehead protector was around her neck.
...
"You like it?" Sakura asked.
Hinata frowned, "Why? I'm not supposed to?"
"No, its just that... its so... Ino-ish. And everything Ino-ish isn't Hinata-ish."
...
Hinata just forgot about the whole -ish thing, "Yeah, but even I have to admit it is much more... comfortable then my jacket and pants before."
"This one is to, but it is so... not... me," Sakura said looked at her outfit. It was a light green long sleeve that showed no arms but her stomach, and dark green shorts that was up to her thighs, and bandages around her legs. "Its not like you, but like a combination of yours and Ino's fashion sense."
"Another one?"
"Of course," Sakura said, but she couldn't help but feel a bit... weird. Shopping was normal for her; yes, but, before her choice of clothes were very... feminine. Her red dress already shows that.
That and here, you not only look for a nice looking one, but one you could fight in easily. Oh, and don't forget the fact that kunoichi have to be... alluring.
Flashback
It was already their second year at the academy, and so far, thirteen year old Sakura was already top 1. With Neji and Sasuke close behind her.
Anko glanced at the class groaned, "Today, instead of sparring we will discuss a ninja's attire."
There were groans from boys and a few girls, and cheers from the rest of the female students.
"A ninja must wear clothes suitable for fighting and stealth," she glanced at Sakura.
She was top 1 in the exams, and greatest student, but even Gai was wondering: A dress? And long pink hair? What. The. Hell.
Sakura just laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head.
"So, today, I will point out some of you who will need a change of attire."
And sure enough, Sakura and Hinata were included.
End Flashback
The two girls were looking through racks, until they heard a scream.
"Lee! What are you wearing?! How unyouthful!"
They sweat dropped. In a few seconds, there were more yells, cries, and a sunset not far from where they were. Then Tenten emerged from that area and let out a sigh of relief, "Thank god."
But then her eyes widened when she caught sight of them.
Hinata smiled and waved.
And Sakura just raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Tenten asked.
"You took Lee shopping, then Gai came in?" Sakura asked.
Tenten nodded, "Isn't it obvious. I got him some clothes, that would make him better looking then Neji, minus the eyes and eyebrows. And..." She looked at what Hinata was wearing, "Wow, Hinata, it looks good on you."
Hinata smiled, "Thank you, Sakura-chan helped me picked it out."
Then the brunette glanced at Sakura, and couldn't help but laugh, "Wow, Sakura, didn't know that you could dress humbly."
"Shut up. I'm looking for another one," Sakura said then looked though racks.
Tenten was about to leave, but then sighed, Why not? She was one of the girls that Anko didn't pick for a new fashion style. "Hey, Sakura, I saw this nice one near the weapons section, it would look good on you, impossible as that may sound."
Sakura glared at her, "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I'll accept fashion advice from someone who wears a pink shirt with violet pants. I mean, who even owns violet pants, nowadays?"
The two glared at each other.
Hinata just snuck away and saw the pair that Tenten was referring to, grabbed it, and quickly headed back, "Ne, Sakura-chan, Tenten-san is right. It does look nice."
Sakura just sighed and grabbed the outift and entered the changing rooms. Like she can argue with both Tenten and Hinata. The girl may be nice, but once you get to know her, she has a backbone.
"I can't believing I'm accepting your fashion advice."
"I can't believe I'm even giving you fashion advice."
Hinata just sighed.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Lee exited the changing rooms and grinned, "Yosh! Gai-sensei said that this youthful green spandex is alright, since he will tell Anko-sensei about it!"
Neji just nodded, but then he looked around, "Where's Tenten?"
"Tenten?... I think she left when Gai-sensei arrived. Perhaps, you should use your Byakugan to locate her. Who knows what could have happened to our youthful flower?!"
He just sighed at his friend's words then activated his Byakugan. It was starting to be like some cheap blood line using it to look for someone in the same room.
But then he caught sight of her, along with his cousin and... he quickly deactivated his Byakugan with a faint blush on his cheeks.
Lee wasn't that stupid but Neji would never blush that hard unless-Oh... she must have been changing...
...
"Neji! How unyouthful of you to look at her in only her undergar-!" But then Neji quickly put a hand over Lee's mouth.
"Shut up. You think I wanted to?"
"... Hai."
Lee received an unyouthful beating after that.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Sakura exited the changing rooms, and was met with the two girls' jaw dropped.
But she ignored it, "You know while I was changing, I swear someone was watching me... but it stopped as soon it appeared. Weird."
Hinata quickly recovered, "Yeah. But Sakura-chan, you look... great."
"I hate to say it, but she's right," Tenten said.
Sakura wore a dress with slits on the side like her old dress, but the top was strapless, but was around her neck, and the dress was dark red with her weapons pouch on the side, she had tight shorts like before but instead of black it was fishnet, and she also had some on her hands that covered her weights, and wore black ninja sandals. Then she had black fingerless gloves.
But then Tenten went behind her, "What are you doing?" Sakura asked. But she just ignored her and removed the forehead protector that was used as a headband and wrapped it around her waist. Then she got a red ribbon from her pouch and fixed Sakura's long hair into one big bun with her bangs and few pink strands adorning her face.
Tenten backed away and then smiled, "Looks better. At least now you don't look like some damsel in distress."
Sakura faced herself in the mirror and couldn't help but also smile, "It does look... nice. But who knew, the class tomboy had a sense of style?"
Hinata giggled, "Yeah, I really didn't expect that."
"Tell a soul and die," Tenten threatened.
"But what is there to be ashamed of?" Hinata asked.
"Its like... finding out that Ino's a tomboy or that Lee secretly hates Gai-sensei. It would sound wrong."
The two just gave her blank stares.
"What? We aren't like you, Sakura. One minute you break walls with a single punch then the next you help Hinata with a pedicure. Its just not... appropriate."
"Stereotypes?"
"No... Change."
Sakura just nodded, "Oh. Like Naruto suddenly being serious?"
"Exactly."
Hinata smiled at Sakura, and the pink haired girl knew what she was thinking.
So what if they hated each other before?
Hinata sat at her left, and Sakura at her right. "With us, you can be anything and still be considered crazy like everyone else in the world!" Sakura exclaimed.
...
Tenten couldn't help but smile, "Thanks... I think."
By the looks of it, they started a threesome.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Kurenai faced her class, "Okay class, today for ninja survival, we will talk about food."
You could hear Chouji's stomach.
"I will pair you up into pairs. Then we will begin," she got out a bucket, then faced the left side of the classroom, "All of you, come over here and pick a paper, the name written there will be your partner."
They got in line and got their papers and opened them. Sakura looked at Hinata's paper, "You got Tenten-chan! Lucky!"
Sakura wasn't exactly best friends with everyone in the classroom, and since there was a majority of leaf students...
"... Its like I'm in a movie. Where we somehow always end up together... Its almost scary."
Hinata looked at the paper, "Neji-niisan... well good luck." Then she ran off.
Sakura just sighed and sat next to her partner. Neji glanced at her, "You?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Okay, class, if you'll come and follow me." Kurenai headed out the room and then they appeared at the Forest of Death.
You didn't think they'll bake cakes and cookies did you?
Sakura shivered, "I hate this place. Couldn't they have named it more... tolerable. I would rather call it the 'Foreset of Rainbow Glitters and Happiness' then the 'Forest of Death'."
"You are weird, you know that?"
"Heard you the first time."
"Today, I you must enter the forest of death and gather as much food as possible within five hours. When the time ends enter the tower, same as before, and we will measure how much food each pairing has brought. The more food the higher the grade. You may now enter."
All the students came rushing in through one gate.
"So, where? Fish? Bug? Animals? Plants?"
"I'll get fish and animals, you start the fire."
"But-"
"With my Byakugan I would be able to locate them much more quicker. Over there, is a small cave."
Sakura just nodded, then he left, she gathered sticks and stones then entered cave.
"Fire. That's easy." She placed the sticks together and then put the rocks together.
You expect her to have learned a fire jutsu after that incident?
She gulped then rubbed the rocks together, still no spark.
...
...
...
Sakura groaned, she had no idea on how to light a fire. She was afraid of a candle flame, how can she even consider making a fire that's bigger than that?! She put the sticks together and started rubbing them together.
Nothing.
She kept on trying but no use. If she couldn't do it, then Neji had to, and that would be a big hit at her pride.
It was as if though fire had a grudge on her or something!
But then there were footsteps she looked up and saw Neji with meat ready to be cooked. Already gutted and no bones.
...
Sakura's head went down.
Never had Neji seen the girl not be able to do anything. Especially something as simple as making a campfire.
"Since when do you not know how to do something?"
"I swear the element fire hates me!"
Neji just sighed and began making the fire, and before she knew it the sticks were up in flames.
She hugged her knees, Its just a campfire Saku. Not a fireball. But then some sparks headed her way, she quickly jumped back.
The Hyuuga prodigy couldn't help but give her a confused a glance. Sakura. Haruno Sakura. Was afraid of a spark that came from a fire?
... Must be a phobia or something.
Sakura sat back down, "I am pathetic."
"... True."
She looked up at him, but then her attitude came back, "If I'm pathetic what are you?!"
He inwardly smiled, At least she's back.
"Obviously not pathetic."
"Hey!"
He'd take the Sakura the screams then the Sakura that's quiet any day.
But then there was the sound of thunder and rain.
Their eyes widened.
"All students, please find shelter! Or if you are near the tower, please enter it immediatly! A thunder storm is occuring as we speak. Those who must find shelter are only allowed to leave when the storm has subsided."
Neji and Sakura looked up, there was a speaker phone inside the cave. Neji activated his Byakugan, "There's a speakerphone there."
Sakura just faced him with a 'duh' expression.
"And its been there for years. The school must have implanted them for cases such as this for the students," he explained, Sakura just nodded.
Then they heard Kurenai's voice again.
"And everyone, please be careful. During this time of weather... that is when the more fierce animals come out to hunt prey that are hiding."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
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Yes people I know it was a short chapter, but bear with me, please?
And for the next chapter, well... sakuxneji might actually happen!
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