Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, if I did we wouldn't have an irrational hate of Sakura.
Description: What if Haruno Sakura betrayed all of Konoha and joined Sasuke because of her love for him? What if he killed her when she became useless? What if she was given a second chance to change it all?
Rating: T
Pairings: ?xSakura, NarutoxHinata, (MAYBE) SasukexOc
What if?
Chapter Three: ...
Recap: "What was that?" Shikamaru mutters.
"Me being nice." I smile at him.
"Troublesome girl." He smiles at me and I smile back.
I hurry to get my hair just right, I can't get my bangs to stay to the side. I rush to brush them down while I feel an annoying tug at the back of my head. Mom tugs my hair again to pin it up perfectly in a French hair roll, she's relentless. I finally smooth out my bangs and Mom gets the roll done the way she wants it, still fussing with the strands that frame my face. I glare at her reflection in my mirror while also trying to ignore the pictures of Sasuke she put up around the mirror. I sigh and look down at my clothes. A white button down shirt that has cherry blossom embroidery on the left, a red skirt that stops at the knees with white lace along the hem, and white sandals with red ribbons to hold the foot in place. Mom gave this outfit to me as an early gift to wear at my party; I have family from the Land of Tea coming to visit so I have to look "perfect".
"There, you look so beautiful. No one can compare to my little girl." She gives me a light squeeze then walks out of my room. I bite my lip; she still doesn't know Naruto is coming. If she did there would be no way in hell she'd be so calm. But she's happy enough because one of my aunts from Tea, Aunt Shiia, told her that they would be bringing a royal with them for me to get to know. Mom won't pass up the chance to have money in the family, none of the women in my family will.
There's a knock at my door, I tilt my head but open it. Dad stands there with a wide grin on his face. He hurries in pass me and sets a box wrapped in pink wrappings and white ribbons on my bed.
"Well? Open it." He's extra giddy. I go over and stare at the box and carefully open it; I want to save the wrappings and ribbon. A beautiful wakizashi is laying there with three scrolls around it. I stare for a second then pick up one of the scrolls; it has all the basics of kenjutsu with a wakizashi in it. This makes me hurry and look at the second scroll, it's about a style called Hana no Kisetsu, Seasons of Flowers. The last scroll has tips and designs on what kind of clothes will work best with Hana no Kisetsu. Finally I pick up the wakizashi, its light weight meaning I can be quick with it. The wakizashi's stunning tsuba is of cherry blossoms, the lacquered red with pink and white spots the saya, a white cotton tsuka-ito, and the cherry blossoms appears again on the kashira. I smile and hug Dad tightly, he hugs me back and rocks me before pulling away and winking.
"This is our secret, so don't show your mother."
"Hai!" I hug him again then let go slightly hoping my hair isn't a mess. As Dad leaves I turn to my wakizashi, I put the top back on the case and hide it in my closet. I stretch while standing back up moving towards my mirror to make sure my hair is still okay. I smile and head downstairs to leave; mom and dad are talking quietly amongst theirselfs. They stop when they see me. Weirdos.
"Ready?" Mom smiles at me sweetly and turns to dad who opens the door for us. Mom walks out, then me, and lastly dad; he closes and locks the door. As we walk to the benquet hall I get compliments and congratulations on my turning twelve. I say my thank you's and bow slightly, it seems mom has been bragging off about my birthday and me becoming a woman. I suppose for Kunochi we must be ready to handle whatever comes our way at any time so we are women by the time we graduate from the Academy. The life of the Kunochi faces torture, rape, death, betrayals.
Dad nudges me out of my thinking as we come to a stop outside the Hall. I gulp suddenly very nervous about my mom's reaction to Naruto when she sees him there. We walk in and are greeted by "Happy Birthday, Sakura" and confetti being thrown into the air. There's Hinata, Shikamaru, Chouji, and Naruto, next to them is my family Aunt Tsukiko, Aunt Shiia, Aunt Makoto, Uncle Shiro, Uncle Yamato, Cousin Yumi, Cousin Hiro, and two people I've never seen before. I guess that one of them is the royal and the other is his attendant. I didn't meet them before in the other timeline because I was so infatuated with Sasuke that mom had no reason to worry that I would ever stop liking him. I notice mom's eyes narrow when she sees Naruto and I can tell he feels the hate in her eyes.
"Thank you, everyone. It's really nice of you all to be here on my birthday and to celebrate it with me." I grit my teeth as I smile, my mom nods slightly happy I said what she told me to. I go to greet everyone but mom pulls me over to aunt Shia who is smiling smugly.
"Sakura, how pretty you are today, everyday really." Aunt Shia grabs my hands hard and her smile tightens as if to say 'don't fuck this up'. "Sakura this is Yamakawa Kyouya, a noble from the Land of Tea. Kyouya-sama, this is my niece Sakura."
I gulp as I watch ice blue eyes turn to me, Kyouya shifts then nods, "Pleasure to meet you, Sakura-san."
"The pleasure is all mine, Yamakawa-sama." I bow to him then straighten myself up, I glance at the man behind him but look away when scary murky green eyes stare me down.
"Now, now you two. Be more familiar, Kyouya-sama, Sakura wouldn't mind if you call her Sakura-chan. And Sakura call him Kyouya-san." I blush out of embarrassment, why do they have to try so hard?
Kyouya just nods and seems to tune out whatever my aunt is saying. Even I start to tune out the woman and her babbling. Suddenly someone playfully bumps me and wraps their arm around my shoulder. I look to my right and see Naruto.
"Sakura-chan! I see you have a cool looking friend! Can he fight? Is he a ninja?" Naruto's happiness starts to rub off on me and I smile brightly at him.
"No, Naruto this is Kyouya-san. He's a noble from the Land of Tea, he's here to visit for my birthday." Naruto looks at Kyouya and sizes him up slightly which is a bit funny since Naruto is short.
"No? You hurt me Sakura...chan... I'm a very good swordsman."
"Really?" I turn my gaze from Naruto to Kyouya. "How long?"
Kyouya chuckles and shrugs, "Since I could walk, very hard training it is."
"Your still training?! What's it like? Do you have your own sword?" Naruto bounces with excitement. Kyouya smiles at him and they both start to talk about different types of blades and which work better in what kinds of situations. Though it's mostly Kyouya doing the talking.
Shikamaru, Hinata, and Chouji come over and I greet them happily. Hinata moves close to me to try and shy away from my family's heated stares; well the females of my family anyways.
"Looks like Naruto stole Prince Charming away from you." Shikamaru smirks.
"It would seem so. Though I don't mind, as long as they're both having fun I guess." I nudge Shikamaru.
He sighs shaking his head, "Troublesome girl." Hinata and Chouji laugh quietly. Chouji starts telling us about the new items on the menu that is the most delicious thing you've ever tasted. I smile and watch Naruto and Kyouya for a bit they get along pretty well. Naruto is enthusiastic with every motion and word while Kyouya is calm and reserved yet listening intently. That makes them balance the other out, now I see why Sasuke and Naruto were best friends in the future.
"Hello? Earth to airhead, you still there?" I blink and look to my right, cousin Yumi is standing there with a frown fixed on her red lips. She quickly smooth's out her hair, shifts to the other foot, and stares at me expectantly.
"Y-yes?"
"You don't sound too sure, but whatever… Now shouldn't you be chatting up the Prince or do I have to do it?" Yumi's frown turns into a smirk. I shrug and turn away from the other pinkette; she's never been my favorite cousin but what can you do?
"Listen, he's here for your birthday not to entertain some demon brat." Yumi whispers harshly.
"And you should learn when to shut your petty mouth, cousin." I glare at her. Her eyes widen and she takes a step back, not used to being glared at by me. The old me would follow her around like a puppy, telling her she's the best and the prettiest.
She sneers at me, "What? You a demon lover now?" I lift my hand to slap her only to have someone catch it. I turn and see Shikamaru glaring Yumi down.
"I think you should go somewhere else right now, you're not needed nor wanted." Relief washes over me, I could have slapped Yumi and made a big scene. Yumi scoffs and walks away from us, I sigh and turn towards Shikamaru.
"Thanks for-" My breath gets catch in my throat as a notice how close Shikamaru is. My face is warm, my stomach is doing flips… Oh not again… Shikamaru raises an eyebrow. "T-thanks for that, I w-would have hit her if you didn't."
He let's go of my wrist and shrugs, "Way to state the obvious." He chuckles and I smile, Shikamaru's really nice I'm glad I got the chance to start over as friends with him. "Come on we should go over and stop Naruto from being a fan boy." I laugh. Naruto waves us over excitedly and starts going on and on about all the cool things Kyouya has done.
Chouji and Shikamaru join in the conversation Kyouya smiles slightly, Hinata looks at me and giggles. I nudge her softly, "Boys will be boys, huh?"
"Mmhm!" She nods happily and listens to the conversation; a cold stone drops in my stomach. Why the hell would I ever want to hurt her, she is such a sweet and kind-hearted girl.
Shaking my head and smile, "Come on let's go cut my cake!" I grab Hinata's hand and motion for the guys to follow.
Once we get to my cake Uncle Shiro grins at us and lights the candles, "Sakura-chan! Time to blow out those candles!"
I stare at the candles for some time, counting the twelve of them slowly. I'm really back in time just don't let it be a dream. I close my eyes, "I wish-"
"No! You're not supposed to say your wish out loud, or it won't come true." Chouji states helpfully. I shake my head.
"I know, but I sort of know this one will come true." My aunts and mom get excited as if they know what the wish is, I notice Kyouya frowns slightly. "I wish to stay close to my friends and protect them the best I can." Kyouya blinks then smiles, Naruto, Chouji, Shikamaru, and Hinata beam, my dad looks so happy, my mom and aunts frown, Yumi smirks, uncle Shiro still grins, uncle Yamato and cousin Hiro look indifferent. I nod and cut the first piece of cake setting it aside for me, then cut pieces for everyone else except my mom and aunts who are on a diet.
Everyone is eating, talking, and laughing; I wouldn't want it any other way now. Naruto is boasting to Shikamaru and Kyouya about becoming Hokage and learning awesome techniques. I nudge Hinata whispering to her about become a Hokage's wife, her blush turns her face into a ripe tomato. The party starts to come to an end, Kyouya and his guard leaves to go to their hotel; they have to leave early in the morning. I notice mom as she comes up to me with a tight-lipped smile.
"Sakura, where's Sasuke? I thought I told you to invite him to your party." She's smiling very sweetly.
"I did invite him but I guess he didn't want to come."
"Then you should have started talking with Kyouya-kun."
"But I did, I didn't need to have his attention on me all the time." That was defiantly not the thing to say to mom because she frowns and turns away to see our family to their hotel. Shikamaru and Chouji come over to me.
Shikamaru yawns, "Come on, Pinkie, we're walking you home."
"What about Hinata?"
"Naruto is playing Prince Charming for the rest of the night." Chouji smiles at me; I look over and see Naruto and Hinata leaving together.
"You mean he's not being oblivious anymore?"
"No, we just told him to walk her home, but she was still happy." Shikamaru scoffs and starts to walk out, Chouji and I hurry after him.
We walk in a comfortable silence, sometimes Chouji will say something to Shikamaru and he'll reply. I don't mind that I don't know what they're talking about, I just like being there. I stop in front of my house and bow slightly then hug both of them. I head up to my bedroom and let down my hair, and without taking off my party clothes I lay on my bed falling asleep instantly.