Sorry people. College is a real doozie. But here is the third chapter with the fourth hot on its heels. Hope you all enjoy it. Oh, and thanks for all of the encouragement. I appreciate all of your support.
Disclaimer: Do know own Naruto, but damn, do I wish I did.
Chapter 3 – Training Gift: Part 1
The warm days of summer were gradually becoming cooler with the encroaching promise of Autumn. That meant another year was slowly coming to a close. That meant another year-end exam was drawing closer and closer. And that meant that her days at the academy were numbered if she wasn't able to awaken her Sharingan.
Which was an impossible endevour, she knew, but it was all that kept her going. If she didn't make Genin soon she would be forced into young lady training where her individuality would be shot and her ideals would be beaten out of her. She knew what it meant to receive that kind of training. She knew that if she was to take that road all that would be waiting for her was an arranged marriage and getting to be a baby maker. And probably more scorn. Oh yeah, that was the life she wanted.
That was why, for her, this next exam meant life or death. There was no way in hell she was getting married to a man who didn't like anything about her but her families name, even if she was the black sheep of the family.
Her mother was all but salivating at the idea of getting back into good graces if she married her daughter off for a political marriage at the orders of the council. Her father would do anything it took for him to not be disgraced any longer. And if that meant marriage to the highest bidder than so be it. And seeing as marriage wasn't on her to do list that kind of put a dampener on things.
She wanted to become a kunoichi. Her parents wanted her married and gone. Not really the best situation for a girl to grow up in.
But she wasn't complaining because her only ally had struck a deal with her parents. The proposal: If Sakura makes Genin at the age of ten, then she gets the chance to become a kunoichi. If not, she will immediately be sent to the school for young ladies, no questions asked. A pretty risky proposal, but one she intended to milk for all it was worth. No way was she getting sent to a school like that!
The only drawback was that in order to graduate two years earlier than anyone else she needed something extraordinary on her side. The Sharingan. Her family bloodlimit. What all Uchihas were born with. Even her.
Now if only she could find a life-threatening situation that she could inevitably survive she was good. Except those kind of situations didn't exist in the real world. It sucked but it was fact.
The banging on her door promptly drew her our of her thoughts, reminding her that the real world also didn't allow little girls to lay in bed all day thinking. Boo on reality. Seriously, who needed it?
"Sakura! You better not be late for school! Your father and I are paying a lot for you to be there and we don't appreciate when you disgrace us with troublesome behavior. Now get to the academy!" Her mother screeched through the door.
Sakura winced at her words. Oh sure, she had to make her tardiness go and sound like a smear on the entire family name. Again. God she really hated reality.
Rolling out of bed she grabbed a plain red shirt and a pair of tight black shorts. She drew a white skirt over her hips before dashing to her vanity. Pulling the brush through her long pink locks a few times she parted her tresses into two separate pieces. Taking two white ribbons she wrapped one around the top of one tail, keeping it close to her head. Finishing she did the same with the other ribbon. Brushing her pigtails over her shoulders she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Twin pools of emerald and jade reflected on the crystal surface. Dark dusky lashes swept around her almond shaped eyes like delicate half moons, emphasizing the striking colors. Stray strands of wispy pastel hair caressed the sides of her heart shaped face and curled slightly inwards below her chin. Clear, unblemished pale skin threw a sharp contrast to a mouth flushed with the color of a blush. And all of this came together to form one of the Uchiha clan's biggest failures. How stupid.
She had long forgotten what the bite of harmful words felt like, but the rise it got out of her was still present. Verbally abusing her until her will was broken had quite the undesired effects. Instead of being scared of her own shadow and too terrified to say anything she was easily riled and over eager to let people get up and personal with her fists. Her attitude could use some adjusting, but not In the face of insults intended to scar. What was a girl to do when the world was out to get her and the only way to go on was to raise arms and hoist a shield in order to attack and defend? He had taught her that words couldn't harm you if you were willing to let them slide across you like water. The real harm came from a pliant will and an easily shattered mind.
He had taught her where true strength lie.
Scoffing a the sound of hurried footsteps stomping up the stairs she turned and opened her door before her mother could once again pound demandingly on her door. Her mother was slightly taken back by the suddenness of her action but she quickly regained her composure and sneered down at her.
"Your escort is here. Treat him with the respect he deserves. I don't want to hear about you being an annoyance to him, do you understand? Remember, without him you would already be in training to be a proper wife. Be grateful he saw something in you to hone." And with that she tossed Sakura's kunai bag and turned to around to swiftly descend.
Rolling her eyes at her mother's retreating back she strapped her weapons pouch to her right thigh and quickly followed her mother down the stairs. No need to keep her escort waiting.
Closing the front door behind her she finally met the eyes of her only ally. "You know, Its not that I don't appreciate what you've done for me though out my life." Striding to his side she began to walk along side him. "But I'm beginning to get a little tired of being constantly reminded of your 'saintlyness' by my mother. Oh! And I can't annoy you at all. Because without you I would be a wife in training already."
He snorted softly. "Not supposed to annoy me, eh? It appears your mother was ten years too late."
She scowled up at him. "Why ten?"
He stopped and turned to address her with a smirk. "Because that was about when you started talking." Then he turned and began to walk again.
Sakura stomped her foot angrily and pointed her finger at him. "One of these days I am going to wipe that smug little smirk off of your aristocratic face! Then we'll see who's the one smirking you pompous ass!"
He tsked at her over his retreating shoulder. "Language Sakura. Language."
Huffing she ran back to his side. Glaring at him from the corner of her eyes she began to form a plan for retaliation. Sweeping her gaze from side to side she made sure no one was looking before swiftly elbowing him in the ribs. She heard a soft 'ooph' but didn't stick around to watch his reaction before bolting down the street and away from a now pissed ANBU.
She was only two blocks away from the front doors of the academy when she was lifted off the ground by the scruff of her shirt. Now dangling like a kitten having been caught after doing something bad she pulled out her last weapon. The smile.
"Now Itachi, I know what you might be thinking but I swear to you I was only defending my honor. You were slandering me and I was only retaliating how I saw fit."
His black eyes smoldered back at her causing her to gulp. Okay, maybe she really was screwed this time. You could only pull the tigers tail so many times before he swiped back.
"You should be grateful there wasn't anybody watching, otherwise I would be obligated to punish you accordingly." He promptly released his hold on her and her body became reaquanted with the ground in a very painful way.
Biting back a yelp Sakura glowered back up at him from the pitiful heap she made. Seeing his unwavering stare she sighed resignedly. "Fine, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
He hummed and began to walk towards the academy again. "Come on, you can't be late."
Rising to her feet slowly Sakura followed after Itachi like the chastised fool he made her out to be. But she swore to god he was going to feel her wrath one day!
Arriving at the front doors to the academy Itachi turned to look at her. Giving her a once over he raised one single eyebrow. That look told her everything.
Sighing she bowed her head. "I promise not to pick any fights unless thoroughly provoked and I also promise not to insult your brother. 'His pride can't handle it and even you can't save me from the punishment for insulting one of the clan heads sons.' There, you happy." She threw up her arms in agitation.
He simply bowed his head slightly. "That will do for the present. I won't be back for a week at the most, so please get yourself to and from school without any needless distractions. You need to remind yourself before every fight that your parents are just waiting for you to screw up before they pounce and drag you way to that school. Also, keep a lookout for my brother. I have a feeling that this time when I'm gone he's going to confront you and engage you in a physical battle. Don't let him get close enough for this to happen and you'll be fine."
She scoffed. "I'll be fine even without the warning. I can take care of myself Itachi. I am a kunoichi you know."
"Not yet you aren't, and you do not possess the skills to make it through this world by yourself yet. Just head my words for the present and soon you won't have to listen to anyone else but your Hokage ever again." He bowed his head and turned to leave.
"Anyone but you."
He stopped and turned his head back to look at her.
"Anyone but you you mean." She saw his eyes still glazed with confusion.
"Because even when you do become the next Uchiha clan head I'll still listen to you. You are, after all, the only real family I've got."
Itachi turned his head away so she couldn't see the small smile playing at the corners of his mouth and raised his hand to wave goodbye over his shoulder.
To Be Continued…
The next chapter will be a direct follow-up of this chapter so no time jump.
Review! I do listen to good advice and will insert anything my fans direly request!