A/N: Okay, I'm trying to really update constantly, but it's hard when your mind wanders as much as mine does. Anyways, I hope you all keep on reading and recommend my stories to friends!
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Unspoken
By: Goth-VampireNinja
Chapter Four: Fight
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Sakura had pondered over what she would do when she met Sasuke—if she lived long enough to do so—in an uncontrolled environment. She had thought of countless ways in which she could murder him; ways that would make even Orochimaru step back in horror. It was the only comfort she could find whenever she was being submitted into the unthinkable. Her mind and her body would separate, and while her body was being taken advantage of, her mind rejoiced in the day-dreams it created.
Most would wonder why she hated Sasuke so much; and she herself wondered sometimes too. But then she would think about it and she would find that all her problems somehow seemed to link directly to him:
Her Abduction: Orochimaru had said that Sasuke had requested her specifically for the experiment.
Her Rape: Sasuke had been the first one to ever touch her in those sorts of ways on the very fist night of her kidnapping.
Her Misery: Though she held no grudge for him not loving her, she hated that he was so heartless. How was she supposed to react when someone says "Thank you," and then runs away? He left her empty and miserable from the very first night he left. All that emptiness had to be filled up with something, right? Soon, it did fill up…but with all the bad kinds of feelings: Hatred, loneliness, blind rage and motivation, and most of all…angry determination to bring him back no matter what, hoping that when she brought him back, he would be hated by the town and looked down upon by his friends. Then he would know what she had felt like. That's why she trained with Tsunade until she trained herself to the ground and would be nearly out of chakra and moments away from death. But, annoyingly enough, someone would always find her before it was 'too late.' How annoying…She felt looked-down-upon by everyone, yet they wouldn't leave her alone to rest in peace as she hoped. It truly was annoying, in her opinion.
"Well," Tsunade said after a while. "I need to keep an eye on you Sakura, just in case anything happens. Gaara and Naruto should be here in a little; they will be the ones to watch over you. I found this to be the most fitting arrangement." Sakura smiled warmly up at her; the smile was completely fake, but Tsunade smiled back at her, not noticing her pupil's acting. "As soon as you feel like you are able to, I need to examine your abilities to be able to analyze your skill level. I will have you fight against Gaara or Naruto, your choice."
"I'll do it today," Sakura said bluntly. Tsunade stared at her in shock and started to protest, but Sakura interrupted. "After I eat a little and get new clothes, I'll be more than happy to go down to the training grounds for a fight!" She said with fake cheerfulness. Nobody noticed. She was a very good actress, and to them, Sakura was completely back to normal. And they were right: this was her normal state…or at least it was now. She had been something like this since before she was kidnapped; but after Sasuke left. Every smile was faked and forced.
Giving up, Tsunade sighed and handed her 100(A/N: I don't know how to convert to their currency). "This should be enough to get you some food and some good clothes." She handed her the bill just when there was a knock on the door. "Come in!"
Gaara and Naruto stepped through the door, Naruto grinning like an idiot and Gaara...well, Gaara was looking like himself. Strangely enough, Sakura felt a strange appealing sensation towards both of them. They both appealed greatly to her, for some unknown reason. Maybe it was that she was now like them and felt connected.
"You called," Gaara stated. He was trying to be polite, but he wasn't used to opening up even a little in front of other people other than Naruto. He turned and saw Sakura. She seemed different. She felt different: her presence was stronger and it mingled dangerously with pure hatred. Nobody else seemed to notice it, so he kept his thought to himself, but he would be watching her closely for any signs of danger. As he stared openly at her, she turned to him, her eyes swimming with leftover tears, and smiled warmly at him. He noticed that her smile lacked reality or truth. His eyes narrowed.
"Gaara, since you will be staying in the village as a Sand Konoha shinobi for an undetermined time, your first mission will be as an all-day escort. You will accompany her wherever she goes closely, just for precautions. Of course," Tsunade added, noticing Sakura's glare and growing uneasiness, "you will give her any privacy needed or requested, as long as you find it safe. Naruto will be your replacement in the case of an absolute emergency. But unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave, you will stay with her at all times. All right. I will meet you three in the training grounds in an hour. Dismissed!"
"Yes," they all chanted politely, and left.
Once outside, Sakura grew nervous being so close to so many people. Naruto and Gaara watched her closely, but they could hardly be prepared for when she suddenly seemed to evaporate into thin air. "Wh-Where did she go?!" Naruto stammered.
"She ran," Gaara said plainly. He could still feel her presence, moving swiftly through the shopping district and countless restaurants. He sighed, secretly impressed at her speed, and started walking towards where he though she was. After he felt her leave for the training grounds 45 minutes later, he told Naruto and they both walked in that direction too.
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Sakura felt bad for running away; but having two males walking so closely behind her, even if they were harmless, made her so nervous that she had run without thinking.
After half an hour of visiting any restaurant in view and stuffing herself with anything edible, she found herself finally full and looked at what was left of the money. She stared horror-stuck at the purse she had. She only had 14 left. She sighed and walked at normal speed to the cheapest store she could remember. She bought a crimson shirt the color of dried blood and the cheapest pair of shorts she could find, which just so happened to be so short that she could've just been walking in her underwear and it wouldn't have made a difference. She sighed again and paid for her clothing. She had 1 left. After she dressed and looked at a clock, she started for the training grounds. She ran there, because countless males were staring at her with the same expression the guards had had on their faces whenever they…
She shook off the thought and disappeared invisibly towards the training grounds. When she arrived, the Konoha Eleven, Tsunade, Kakashi, Kankurou, Temari, Gaara, Jiraya, Shizune, most of the other instructors and gennin…and Sasuke were waiting for her. She shifted uneasily.
Tsunade looked her over with annoyance. "I gave you enough money to buy proper clothes, Sakura!" she scolded. "That couldn't have cost any more than fifteen bucks!"
"It didn't," Sakura mumbled, still shifting uncomfortably under the weight of all the male's stares. "I ran out of money after I was finally full. And before you say anything, I eat a lot more than any human ever could."
Tsunade sighed. "Whatever." She looked up rigidly. "Sakura!"
"Yes!"
"Choose an opponent between Naruto or Gaara." Tsunade smirked.
Sakura looked at both their faces: The smirk on Naruto's face and Gaara's empty, analyzing stare. "Gaara," she finally said. The air shifted as everyone waited in wondering anticipation. Gaara approached her and lifted an arm lazily to catch something Tsunade threw at him. She saw Gaara smirk and thought that maybe it had been a bad idea to pick him.
"It will be the same test you had with Kakashi, Sakura. Only one goal: get the bell from Gaara. Oh! One more thing. Gaara…?" He turned to look at her wearily. "Don't kill her please. You may not use your 'Desert Burial' technique, or whatever you call it, since that could be messy. And don't use your 'Sand Coffin' to kill her. Got it?" Gaara turned back to Sakura, uninterested. "And Sakura? Don't kill him either." Sakura nodded. "You may begin." Everyone leaned forward expectantly.
Sakura and Gaara were both at the center of the clearing. Sakura shifted from foot to foot, and Gaara just stared. Sakura thought that maybe she could defeat him on only brute strength, but she didn't want everyone knowing just how strong she really was. So she decided that the best way for her to win—other than beating him up and taking the bell when he could no longer move—was for her to make him wear himself out attacking her. She smirked evilly at him, acting out the part in her mind. It would be easy. She was a good actress.
"Stop staring, Panda boy!" Sakura yelled rudely at him. Gaara only frowned, but didn't move. She couldn't help but notice some changes in him: He was taller, of course. At least 5'11'' and his right ear was pierced and he wore it in much the same manner Shikamaru wore his. Only, Sakura thought, It looks sexier on him. Realizing what she had just thought, she blushed as if she had said it to him out loud. She cleared her head and tried again.
"Why are you staring? You like me or something?" She teased bravely. His face became emotionless once again. Sakura frowned and decided to go on to plan B: Attack with one of her weaker, yet very powerful attacks.
Sakura closed her eyes and summoned forth the power which was sealed within her. Gaara watched her closely, and jumped back when huge flames seemed to engulf her. But she wasn't burning. It looked as if the fire was coming from her. The fire seemed to take the form of a tiger grinning evilly at him with bright, glowing, green eyes with the edge of the iris and the pupil the color of blood. Sakura's eyes turned the same color as the beast's. Her fingernails grew into claws and her fingers curled, cupping the most brilliant and dangerous-looking flames he had ever seen. He sent his sand at her when she started running at him, but the flames around her turned his sand to glass. She bared her teeth, or more like her fangs, and rushed at him. (A/N: This is where you look at the picture, folks! The website is: goth-vampiregirl./art/Sakura-Tigress-89661162)
Crap, he though as he jumped as high up as he could to avoid getting burnt.
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A/N: NOBODY HAS COMMENTED ON MY SUCKY PICTURES YET! I'm disappointed! Shame! Someone better tell me if they're actually looking at the pictures, otherwise the story goes 'Bye-bye.' Yes, that is a threat. Anyways, see you next time!