A.N: I want to apologize since I wasn't able to update as soon as I hoped. I have a terrible stomach flu right now, and let's just say I am so exhausted right now it isn't even funny. It's actually troublesome. I don't know if I'll be able to update again over this break, but I'll try my best! And I want to thank everyone who reviewed! I don't know why I thought people weren't interested in it, but I'm glad that you guys cheered me up. And guess what, they are now old enough to graduate! Yay!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Tough
Chapter Six
X X X
"Oh, good morning, Sakura-chan!" Mikoto greets happily while setting a plate of food in front of her, "I hope you slept well?" Sakura, who is barely awake, nods politely and rubs her eyes, trying to stay awake.
"Good morning, Mikoto-sama." Sakura greets back while looking down at the food with a small smile. Mikoto cooked her favorite; french toast with scrambled eggs. "Thanks for the breakfast. Are the other two awake yet?"
"No they aren't. Itachi is up though. He is supposed to train you guys later on, right?" Mikoto asks while tilting her head to the side, "And I told you not to call me Mikoto-sama! It's Mikoto-chan or Okaa-san, darling!" Sakura smiles softly at Mikoto and nods.
"Of course, Mikoto-chan." Sakura replies. Mikoto walks back over to the stove and continues to cook more food for the other members of the family. Sakura glances up at the dining room door when she heard it open, "Aa, good morning, Itachi-kun." Sakura greets sending him a small smile before eating some of her food.
"Good morning, Sakura." Itachi greets back and sits down next to her.
"Sakura-chan! Stay away from him!" Naruto yells, rushing into the kitchen and attempting to tackle Itachi to the ground. Itachi easily dodges and walks behind Sakura, picks up a piece of her french toast, and disappears.
"Oh, Naruto." Sakura groans out in embarrassment, shaking her head, "Itachi-kun wasn't doing anything bad, okay? He was here to eat breakfast. When did you, Sasuke, and Itachi become so... competitive anyways?" She asks, finishing her food. She stands up and picks up her plate, sending Naruto a glare, "You and Sasuke better hurry up. We are leaving in five minutes, got it?" Naruto nods weakly and rushes into the kitchen, gets two plates, and runs back into the dining room. Naruto hands the other plate to Sasuke, who just arrived in the dining room.
Sakura walks into the kitchen and greets Fugaku, who is sipping on a cup of coffee. She walks back over to the sink and takes over the dishes that Mikoto was working on.
"Sakura-chan, you are the guest, let me do it." Mikoto says, trying to get back in front of the sink. Sakura sends Mikoto a gentle smile and shakes her head.
"No, Mikoto-chan. I visit here often, and Naruto is basically always over here. I think it's the least I can do, okay?" Sakura replies, "Anyways, when we all graduate, we might not be able to see each other as much. We all might be put on different teams, thus making it almost impossible for us to see each other." Sakura explains while finishing the dishes.
X X X
Sakura enters the classroom quietly, standing in between Naruto and Sasuke. She walks over to the empty table and slides all the way to the end while Sasuke slides in next, then Naruto. Hm.. They are talking again, eh? Sakura thinks to herself while closing her eyes, ignoring the squealing fan girls.
"Sasuke-kun! You're so cute! Let me marry you? No! I want to have your babies!" A random fan girl screeches, trying to push Naruto out of the way. With that said, more of Sasuke's fan girls start to surround all of them, having them all fight with who will win Sasuke's first kiss.
"Hey," Sakura calls quietly, opening up one eye, "Naruto already stole Sasuke's first kiss. Matter of fact, I'm sure they have shared secret kisses." Sakura mentally smirks to herself while closing her eye again. You are too sarcastic than you think, Idiot. Or maybe you are finally turning into a sadist? Just shut up, alright? I really don't feel like arguing with an idiot. I also don't know what the hell you are. I will find out! And I'll get rid of you if it's the last thing I do.
"S-Sakura-chan!" Naruto yells blushing, "The kiss was an accident! We were planning to prank Itachi-nii and w-we tripped. You promised you wouldn't tell anyone!" Sasuke glares at Sakura while crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh, I'm sorry guys, I just thought it would be nice of me to not let them dream of something that is untrue." Sakura whispers quietly with a small smile, "I do have a picture, if you think they don't believe me."
"Hn," Sasuke grumbles, turning his attention away from his best girl friend with his eye twitching in annoyance.
X X X
"Alright class, today is your last day of the academy, tomorrow we get to see who becomes a genin, and who doesn't. I want to say I am proud of all of you, and hope for the best for each and every one of you." Iruka starts, his eyes glazing over the classroom, searching for his favorite student. "I hope you guys do a good job, and I am having a surprise quiz for all of you. I insist that you practice this jutsu if you don't do well. We do want all of you to pass, after all." Iruka smiles more while staring at Naruto Uzumaki, "I want you all to line up and do the shadow clone jutsu."
Everyone in the classroom lines up, letting Sakura go first. She walks into the middle of the room, forms the hand signs, and creates a total of three shadow clones. She watches as Iruka smiles happily and nods his head before dispelling them and walking back to her desk, passing Ami.
"You cheated, you forehead freak!" Ami accuses, pointing a finger at her in annoyance, "You can't create three clones, especially a nobody like you! You come from a civilian family!" Sakura turns around and narrows her eyes at Ami, clutching her fist in annoyance.
"Listen, Ami-chan. I'll appreciate if you stop talking to me. I'd rather stop talking to a physco like you - and don't say you aren't. I have proof." Ami opens her mouth, about to reply to her when Sasuke appears in front of Sakura and sends Ami a glare.
"Leave her alone," He orders, wrapping his arm around Sakura's waist protectively and walking her back to their desks. He pushes her down in the seat and forces her to the last seat before sitting down with his eyes closed.
X X X
"Sasuke, you didn't have to do that..." Sakura mumbles under her breath while walking down the street with her boys. "She isn't even suppose to come by me, not after that... incident. The Hokage himself told her to avoid me at all costs." She glances up at Sasuke from the corner of her eye, "After the ANBU told me to leave, he questioned her as to why she did it." Naruto sighs softly and ruffles Sakura's hair playfully.
"Sakura-chan, we already told you that we will always be there to protect you." Naruto reminds her smiling, "Everyone is on your side, too; well, except Ami's little posse."
"She doesn't really need us to protect her, Dope." Sasuke says with his eyes closed, "If you don't remember, she can beat you most of the time, and she defeated me a few times too." Sasuke mumbles the last part with an embarrassing blush on his face. He doesn't like admitting that Sakura can beat him, but he doesn't want Naruto to upset her by saying she needs protected.
"That is true..." Naruto pouts, crossing his arms over his chest, "Hey, Sakura-chan?" Sakura looks over at Naruto and tilts her head to the side, "Are you spending the night at Sasuke's again? Or are you planning to go home to Kenji-san?"
"Oh, I think I'm going to go home today, Naruto." Sakura admits glancing over at Sasuke and smiles gently at him, hiding her laughter. His face is still a soft pink. She turns her attention back to Naruto and gently grabs his hand, "If you want though, I can come over there in the morning to see you?" Naruto shakes his head.
"No!" He shouts, pulling her into a hug and burrying her face in his chest, "Sakura-chan, we are the men, we will come and pick you up tomorrow!" Sasuke sighs softly and closes his eyes tighter. Why am I their friend again? Sasuke thinks to himself before hitting Naruto on the head.
"Don't say that so loud, people already think we date." Sasuke growls out, sending Sakura one of the famous Uchiha's glares, "As for you, Sakura, why did you tell them about the accidental kiss?"
"Well..." Sakura giggles, rubbing the back of her head nervously after pushing Naruto away from her, "I kind of let it slip...?" She tries, turning on her heel and running in the other direction, "Oh! Look at the time, I better go see Kenji-sensei!"
"Were you even listening to me, Sasuke?" Naruto growls, clutching his hand into a fist. Sasuke shakes his head and dodges the punch Naruto threw. "Teme!"
"Dope!" And the fight in the street starts.
X X X
"Kenji-sensei," Sakura greets, walking into the house, "I'm home." Sakura takes off her shoes and walks into the kitchen, noticing a note on the table. "Hm?" She asks herself while picking it up and reading. He'll be home at night, eh? Maybe I'll go take a nap. Sakura thinks to herself, walking into the living room and laying down on the couch. She went to sleep immediately.
X X X
Sakura walks through the dark room nervously, holding onto her kunai knife. "Hello? Is anyone here?" She calls. Silence. "Hello? Where am I? Is there anyone alive?!" She calls again, this time louder. This is weird, why can't I hear anything? I can't even hear my own footsteps. Wherever I look I am greeted with more darkness. This is...confusing! Inner? Can you hear me? Sakura thinks to herself, trying to get her inner to talk to her. Oh Sakura, you are so naïve it's ridiculous. You want me to talk to you, and yet you threaten to find out what I am? You are such a silly little girl. You don't know what I am planning for you, and I can guarantee that you won't like it either. I won't let you find out what I am, little Sakura. When you find out, you won't like it. But it'll be okay little one, I won't let you find out, unless you die. Sakura narrows her eyes, listening to her inner self speak, but out loud. "What the hell are you? Why can't I know? Are you something that can endanger my life? I...I have to tell someone about you!" Sakura shouts, feeling something cut her skin, "You aren't an illusion. I know that for a fact," She whimpers, "You've been with me since I was a baby...so what, just what the hell are you?!" You are such a silly girl, Sakura-chan. Her inner giggles before Sakura gets hit with more kunai knifes, making her bleed everywhere.
X X X
"Sakura, wake up!" Kenji yells shaking her shoulders roughly, "I need you to get up right now and tell me what's going on." Sakura slowly opens her eyes and stares at Kenji blankly. "Sakura, tell me something, why are you bleeding with cuts all over your skin?"
X X X
Phew, it's finally done. I want to apologize for updating so late, I'm still kind of sick, but I finally got it done. I'm sorry if it's not much, but I like how I ended it and yes, I've finally put some more plot in, thankfully! I hope you guys liked it, and thank you so much for reviewing and helping me feel better! I want to thank the following for reviewing: Winged-angel21, MoonlightMidnight, Black n' Blue sun, LostWOLF-KING, 1Animefreakgurl, Dina Sana, MiyatheEarthninja, Find-A-Way-Today, L, Guest (#1), PicturePerfect, SilverThornz, Guest (#2)
Kimi-the-Writer