A.N: Well, I'm surprised I finished chapter three so soon, honestly! I really don't have anything to say about this chapter...except I hope you like it! Oh, I am going into winter break soon, so I might be able to update many chapters in the next few weeks!
Banglamiss: They are around seven years old currently! I'm sorry for the confusion!
Passionforcandy456: Naruto does have is own room in the Uchiha household, and he does stay over there most of the time, but he does own his own apartment room. But, since the villagers still want to beat him up, the Uchiha's have him live with them so they can protect him.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Tough
Chapter Three
X X X
"K-Kenji-sensei.." Sakura groans out, falling to her knees and breathes heavily, "C-Can we take a short break? I haven't eaten a-anything since the morning." Kenji looks down at his new daughter and student, examining her. She has a huge bruise under her left eye, a huge scratch on her cheek where she was hit with a kunai knife, and a couple more bruises and scratches scattered all over her body from her tough training. After a few minutes of silence he looks into her emerald-green eyes and nods, sending her a small smile.
"I suppose you've earned yourself a small break, Sakura." He replies while jumping down from the tree he was sitting on and nodding once more, "Not to mention you have class tomorrow, and we wouldn't want you to be too tired. I'm going to go to the Hokage's tower to get a mission, so I might not be returning home today." He walks over to the kneeling pinkette and places his hand on her head, ruffling her hair, "I have to get some payment for the bill next week. Please remember to continue your training while I'm gone. And when I get back you better of gotten better with your aiming." Sakura looks up at him and smiles lightly nodding, "If you hurt yourself, go to the hospital, don't be stubborn."
"Kenji-kun, sometimes I think you remind me of an overly protective older brother." Sakura replies with a small grin on her face. She stands up and wraps her arms around his legs before waving to him, "I promise to behave myself, and I will get better at aiming. Please be careful while doing your mission, and try to return home safely." Kenji nods, sending her a small smile before forming a hand sign and teleporting away.
Sakura leaves the training ground and walks through the village's busy streets, only focusing on the path in front of her, and heading towards Ichiraku's. Feel tough now, Saku-chan? Her inner asks mockingly with a smirk on her face, All it took was a death? If I knew that, I would have killed our worthless father sooner! Sakura twitches slightly at the thought while entering Ichiraku's and smiling polietly at the owner and his daughter. She takes a seat on the stool and closes her eyes. Be quiet, Inner. I'd rather eat in peace, and quite frankly, you really annoy me. It's my pleasure to do that though! It's my job after all, stupid. Why don't you shut up and go crawl into whatever hell hole created you? Oh, darling, if only you knew.
"Sakura-chan, it's nice to see you again!" Teuchi, the owner of the place, greets with a smile on his face, "I'm assuming you want the usual?" Sakura looks up at him and smiles lightly, silently thanking him for breaking up the conversation she was having with her inner self before nodding.
"Nice to see you too, Teuchi-san." She greets softly, "And yes please. I just want a small bowl of miso ramen, thanks." Teuchi nods once and turns around, working on her ramen. He quietly steals glances at her, trying to count the number of bruises and cuts that were on her.
"Hey, old man! I want my regular!" A loud child announces while sitting a few stools away from Sakura, not noticing her, "Sasuke is coming too, so his regular would be nice too!" While the young male talks, Sakura stares at him from the corner of her eye before blinking, recognizing him. I believe he was the boy who saw me crying at the park. What was his name? Naruta? No. Naru? Close... Oh! It's Naruto Uzumaki...the boy my dad always told me to befriend, why?
"Be patient, Naruto-kun." Teuchi replies laughing and turning his gaze to Sakura, who was lost in her thoughts, "I have to serve her first. She did arrive here first, after all." Naruto turns his attention to her and gasps.
"Sakura!" He whispers loudly, "It's been awhile hasn't it?" Sakura turns to him and sends him a polite smile while her eyes stare blankly at him.
"I suppose it has." She agrees before thanking Teuchi after he put her bowl in front of her, "How far did the academy get in the lessons? I'm going to need to work hard to catch up."
"When are you coming back?" Naruto questions while his eyes soften, staring at the pinkette with interest, "Iruka-sensei told us you should be coming next week sometime."
"Aa, I'm returning tomorrow." She answers, breaking her chop sticks and whispering her prayers before picking up the noodles and closes her eyes, taking a bite. Naruto's eyes slowly shift to her bruise on her cheekbone and frowns.
"Hey, did someone beat you up? How did you get those bruises?" Naruto demands, his eyes narrowing at the sight. When he was younger, he too was beaten up, until the Uchiha's stood up and scared away the villagers, "It isn't Ami-san, is it? Or maybe your new guardian? Do you even have one? You aren't living on the streets are you?!" Sakura quietly finishes her food and places the chopsticks on the bowl before turning to him.
"I guess you can say I was beaten up, but not by anyone in general." She hums out lowly, "I haven't seen Ami-san in a while, and I plan to avoid her. Yes; I do have a guardian, and he's probably one of the best ones I could ever have. I'm not living on the street. As for your first question, I did this too myself." She stats calmly, watching him to red with anger, "Not to hurt myself on purpose, just to train."
"Oh," Naruto breathes out softly, his face returning back to its orginal color, "I thought you were...harming yourself." He looks down at his food and smiles, "Thanks, old man! Sasuke should be arriving soon!" He turns his attention to Sakura one more time and smiles even more, "How about I come pick you up? I wouldn't want you to walk alone." Since Ami is waiting to beat you up. He adds to himself before turning to his food and inhaling all of his food, ignoring his burnt mouth.
"Dope, I told you to eat more proper." Sasuke grumbles, sitting next to his best friend and nodding his thanks when his food was placed in front of him. He takes a small bite out of it before turning to Sakura and blinking, "Oh, nice to see you, Sakura." He greets, watching her eyes widen. No. Don't be a fan girl... He pleas quietly, although his face stays blank on the outside.
"Sasuke-san." She greets, "It's nice to see you too." She pulls out some money for her meal and places it on the table, "Thanks for the meal, Teuchi-san. I might be back later, unless I feel like cooking." She turns to her classmates, "I will see you both tomorrow." She leaves the restaurant.
X X X
Sakura yawns softly to herself while walking into the kitchen and rubs her eyes. She walks over to the refrigerator and pulls out an apple and takes a small bite. She walks over to the counter and notices a note on it. She tilts her head to the side and picks it up, quickly reading it:
Sakura, I'm sorry I won't be here for your first day back at the Academy, but remember to eat food and train. If you need any help go to the third Hokage so he can help you. I should be back in three days, if I'm not don't worry too much. And don't forget I love you.
P.S: You better work on your aiming more, Saku.
Love,
Kenji
"Love you too, Kenji-kun." She mutters quietly before setting the note down and finishing her apple. She throws the core away and walks outside, heading towards the Academy.
X X X
"Good morning, Iruka-sensei." She greets softly while walking into the classroom and sitting down in her old seat.
"G-Good morning, Sakura." He greets back while walking over towards her, "Are you sure you can be here? Do you want to get off a few more days? Are you-" Sakura silently holds up her hand to stop him from ranting.
"I've had weeks to mourn over his death." She replies indifferently, "I am as ready as I'll ever be." No you aren't. Shut up. It's hard enough with your stupid hateful attitude. Here we go... She thinks to herself after the last student enters the room.
X X X
Ami glares angrily at the student in front of her while clutching her hand into a fist. She will beat the pinkette until she cries, and then her Sasuke will love her forever and ever. Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll beat her up, and make her cry since she's so pityful. A wimp. Ami thinks grinning evilly.
"Today, we are going to have practice matches. I am going to let you pass this one without a fight though, Sakura, since you just got back. As for everyone else, get ready to fight. We aren't doing any genjutsu or ninjutsu since most of you don't know how too." Iruka announces while standing up and clapping his hands loudly to wake up any of the sleeping students, "Let's go head outside now." Ami and her seatmate, Ino Yamanaka, stands up and walks outside after Ami roughly pushed Sakura out of the way.
"Sensei, how is it fair that Sakura isn't fighting?" Ami asks, sending him an innocent look, "I missed yesterday, but I still have to fight." Iruka turns to her and frowns, since he never forgave her for her rude comments.
"You were absent for a day, Ami. Sakura's been gone for over a month if not longer. I believe she isn't capable to fight right now." Ami opens her mouth to protest when the pinkette walks over, cutting her off.
"I can fight today, Iruka-sensei." She comments, her voice empty, "I really don't mind. It will help me see how far you got in training." Iruka looks at her and sighs, knowing she won't give up.
"Fine, I guess I'll allow you to fight." He mutters while thinking about who she should fight.
X X X
"Sakura Haruno vs Ino Yamanaka! Remember, no ninjutsu or genjutsu! We will only be doing taijutsu here." Iruka announces, watching Sakura and Ino stand in front of each other.
"Sakura-chan! You can do it!" Naruto cheers before getting hit by Sasuke.
X X X
Yet again, I'm blown away with all the reviews! It makes me smile everytime I get a review, so thank you very much! Thank you to the following for reviewing: Passionforcandy456, ChicFreakSistaFierce, Banglamiss, Topsilog00, LadyCalus, Guest, MrClosedEyes, L, Bloody. 5507, Dina Sana, and Nami Corso! Of course, I want to send out my thanks to all of the people who favorited my story and put it on alert! I hope to update soon, and I hope to see more reviews!
Kimi-the-Writer