Chapter 12: The Favor
"Oh Sakura!" Ino exclaimed once she saw Sakura in their room. She hugged her tightly. "What is wrong, Ino? First it's Tenten, now you! What is the matter?" Sakura asked. When Ino recovered a bit though she was still in tears, she tried to speak but tried to catch her breath after running so fast.
"Sakura… I'm going to die!!!" Ino exclaimed loudly. Sakura looked at her stunningly. "Huh??? What do you mean? Do you have some deadly disease? Did you do something and you will be sentenced to death? Tell me, Ino! You're making me so worried!" Sakura exclaimed back.
"No, I don't mean it literally. But I mean it. Okay, now I don't understand myself. But please… I am feeling so confused right now!!! Help me, Sakura!" Ino cried out. Sakura helped her sit on the bed. She patted her on the shoulder.
"Okay now, tell me everything that's bothering you. I'll listen." Sakura assured. Ino took a really deep breath. She started explaining about all the recent heartbreaks first. "I'm glad you already talked to both of them. But I'm sorry about the heartbreaks. I understand, Ino. And I know someday you'll find the perfect boy for you." Sakura comforted. Ino nodded. She has heard that a thousand times.
"But that's what's not bothering me! I mean, sure the heartbreaks has really broken my heart into pieces but I can forget about that. The thing that's bothering me? Shikamaru just confessed his love for me!" Ino exclaimed. Sakura looked at her in disbelief, but the reaction turned into a smile as if she really knew what was going on.
"He did that? Oh finally, he had the courage." Sakura said, feeling somewhat relieved. "You knew it all along? Why hadn't you told me? I don't understand every piece of it!" Ino said, feeling really frustrated about everything.
"Yeah, I've known everything all along. It's been a long time that he has been keeping this from you – ever since we were in Ninja Academy… It's been hard for him too because obviously, he didn't know how to confess his feelings. We all knew about how he felt and we wanted him to learn how to admit it to you, so we didn't tell you. I'm glad he finally was able to let out his feelings." Sakura explained.
"Sakura, I don't understand! I mean, why does he need to keep it from me? Why would he like me? I'm always teasing, ignoring and showing him that I am so annoyed with him." Ino said.
"Shikamaru kept it from you because he thought you might stay away from him once you know. Well, I guess he likes you because you're nice and you're caring. You notice him and appreciate some of his ideas even if he is really troublesome. At least, that's what he says."
"I'm caring? How could I be? I think he misinterprets that."
"Misinterpret or not, I think Shikamaru really loves you. How do you feel about that?"
"I-I don't know!!! I'm confused, frustrated, puzzled, mystified, bewildered! I don't know… How should I feel that my former teammate secretly loved me all along?"
"Shouldn't you be flattered? I mean, he's a real genius and he's the only chuunin among us. And he's nice too, you know. He's someone you can easily approach."
"Oh yeah… But I mean… Shikamaru??!!! The guy I had always teased, laughed at, mocked and be so irritated,… he liked me? It's impossible! Tell me, Sakura… am I dreaming?"
"No you're not dreaming. It's true, Ino. Believe it. He likes you so much and I hope you don't feel bad about it."
"I don't know, okay!!! I'm so confused. I don't know if I should be flattered or irritated or what! What am I going to do now? I ran all of a sudden once I he confessed to me."
Sakura laughed. "You ran? You're hysterical, Ino. But I understand how you feel. And I hope you don't feel bad about it."
"I guess I don't. Why would I feel bad? It's not his fault that… that I was the one he loved." Ino said, forcing out a small smile and remembering what she had said to Sasuke awhile ago.
"Well, I'm glad. Try not to hurt him, Ino. And please… don't stay away from him. He won't deserve that." Sakura advised.
"I'll try not to. And I know I'm not suppose to. We need to talk, but not now. Sometime I will clarify things out with him."
"Good for you, Ino. But who knows… he might be the 'right person' for you?" Sakura teased.
Ino scowled at the same time smiled (how do you do both???). "Whatever, Sakura. But yeah, who knows?" They both chuckled.
-at Master Tsunade's room-
Tsunade called for Sakura moments after Ino talked to her. Sakura went to the Hokage's room, expecting another session or if not giving her orders or chores she usually hate. "What is it, Master Tsunade?" Sakura asked as politely as possible. Tsunade was staring out the window.
"It's more or less a favor. Would you gladly do it for me?" Tsunade asked. Sakura was puzzled. Since when did Tsunade learned to ask her a favor? Usually it was always orders, commands, instructions and more orders. But Sakura knew better than to answer no.
"I'll do it if and only if I can do it. What is it?" Sakura said. "You can do it, Sakura. It's something very easy and I'll explain the favor once you say yes." Tsunade said. Very unfair, Sakura thought. "What if I say no?" "Then you'd lose a great chance." "Would you pass the favor to somebody else?" "I don't know. I think you're really the one who could do it." "Then I'd do it, again if I can do it."
Tsunade paused for awhile. "Train with Sasuke." She mumbled firmly. Sakura glared at her. "What? Are you serious? And for what? Why me?" Sakura's questions came popping out all of a sudden. And Tsunade was ready to answer everything.
"Yes, I am serious. You are going to train with him to help him remember. I chose you because you are close to him emotionally and you are the one who truly know everything. He trusts you too, you know." Tsunade explained.
"What does he need to remember?" Sakura asked.
"Everything about him and his past except for Orochimaru and Itachi. Never mention that, or else you'll lose him."
"Why all of a sudden does he need to remember everything?"
"He needs to know about his past. I have my own reasons too."
"But if I'd train with him, then… Naruto might-"
"He'll understand. I explained everything to him."
Sakura sighed. Sure, Tsunade prepared everything. And yeah, it looks like she has her own reasons why she asked that favor. And she is going to know about those reasons soon. "When am I going to train with Sasuke?" Sakura asked.
"Tomorrow early in the morning. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine with me."
-early the next morning-
"Good morning, Sasuke-kun…" Sakura greeted softly and cheerfully the next morning. Sasuke was sitting on the sand, watching the sunrise.
"Same to you, Sakura… I hope this training doesn't bother you at all." Sasuke said in a firm voice.
"No it's okay. But let me know one thing. Did you ask for this?" Sakura asked curiously.
"No, I didn't. Master Tsunade has her own reasons why she planned this." So Master Tsunade's really the mastermind, Sakura thought. Sasuke finally stood up and faced Sakura.
"What are we going to practice, Sakura? Help me remember some techniques, please." Sasuke said. Sakura thought for a while. "Let's practice taijutsu first. Is that okay?" She asked. Sasuke nodded and he prepared for action. They both practiced taijutsu and Sakura couldn't believe that she finally got the chance to train with him. When they were still teammates, he liked training alone by himself and when he notices that Sakura was watching, he would tell her that she was very annoying and he'll walk away to find a better place to train so that Sakura wouldn't see him. Sakura still remembered everything and she smiled at those memories.
"You're still great and talented, Sasuke. Nothing has changed." Sakura praised. Sasuke nodded in satisfaction. "You're great too, Sakura. You've improved a lot." Sasuke said. Sakura looked back at him. "But you never trained with me, Sasuke. How would you know I improved? And even if you watched me fight, I guess you never remembered those times." Sakura said stunningly.
Sasuke ignored what Sakura said when he suddenly was about to punch her on her shoulder and she has to dodge from it. "What do we practice now, Sakura? We've been practicing taijutsu since yesterday. That is, if it's okay with you." Sasuke suggested. "That's fine with me. But I don't know how to teach ninjutsu or genjutsu. I'll simply help you remember your techniques." Sakura said. Sasuke nodded. Sakura started remembering about the techniques Sasuke once used.
"Chidori, Great Fireball Technique, Kawarimi Technique, Shadow… Shadow…" Sakura couldn't remember. "Shadow Shuriken Technique." Sasuke finished for her. Sakura looked at her in horror. "You remember? How come?" Sakura exclaimed.
"Why do you think I remember?" Sasuke asked. It was a very smart question. It seems that he was hiding something. Sakura thought while she glared at him so sharply. "I don't know. Do you remember everything? Sasuke, tell me please!" Sakura exclaimed. If he remembers everything then he certainly remembers my feelings for him and he will stay away from me again! These filled Sakura's thoughts. She felt so terrified.
Sasuke looked down at the ground. He didn't know what to answer. He wasn't sure to tell Sakura the truth – the one he and Tsunade kept from everyone and at the same time the main reason he had to train with Sakura. He needed to tell her the truth behind everything and he must stop deceiving everyone especially Sakura about it.
Sasuke nodded sadly. "Yes, I remember everything." He mumbled softly.
Sakura went into a deep state of shock. "S-sasuke??? You remember everything? How come? Why hadn't you told me at the start? What else do you remember, Sasuke?" Her eyes were starting to fill with tears.
"I-I know about your feelings for me…" Sasuke replied, unsure of whether it was the right thing to say to Sakura. It made Sakura cry even more.
"I don't understand, Sasuke." Sakura said, walking away to the house. Sasuke looked at her for awhile before following her.
The house was empty, and when Sakura came in she was surprised to find Master Tsunade and Naruto talking. She was all in tears as she ran to Tsunade, who gave her a sad and understanding look. "What does this mean, Master? How did Sasuke remember?!" Sakura exploded out. Tsunade looked around the room and spotted Sasuke. He went towards Sakura.
"Sakura… we'll have to explain. But… forget about me now. I know your feelings for me but please, forget about me. Forget about everything – how you feel for me." Sasuke said. Sakura cried even more and looked at him in puzzlement. "Why are you saying this, Sasuke? It's hard, you know. You just didn't know how much you hurt me and caused me so much pain." Sakura sobbed.
"That's why, Sakura. I've already hurt you deeply and for that, forget about me because I never loved you in the past. I don't want you to get hurt and Naruto is still here waiting." Sasuke said.
Sakura turned to him and glared at him piercingly. "Do you know what you're asking, Sasuke? You don't understand and you never will. You don't know about all the pain you've caused me when you left Konoha. You left me here all alone without knowing that I'd never be complete without you. Do you know that? It's hard to move on, Sasuke. It's hard to forget about you – all the memories we've shared together and how much I once loved you so much…." Sakura paused to contain herself.
"From the very start, I already loved you and it always hurts me whenever you stay away from me and tell me that I am annoying. Until now, I feel the pain whenever you're with Ino. Sasuke… you don't understand about all the pain I went through! Do you even know that I'm still waiting here? Do you even care that you once hurted me? And now you're asking me to forget about you! Why, Sasuke? Why do you have to do this to me? What have I done wrong?" Sakura was crying out. Sasuke couldn't do anything but freeze there at that moment. He felt so helpless – unknowing what to do.
Naruto hugged Sakura tightly. Finally, her true feelings which she was hiding for a long time came out and no matter how hurt he was, he still loved her so much. "Sakura…" he mumbled gently. "I'm sorry, Naruto-kun…" Sakura whispered back, still crying. Naruto nodded, assuring her that he understand everything.
"I'll explain everything. I'm sorry, Sakura, if I had to keep this from you for a long time. Forgive Sasuke for he has nothing to do with this." Tsunade replied seriously but in a sad tone. She went to her room and Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke followed her there.