A/N – I want a soft pretzel.
.Disclaimer.
.Chapter Two.
Sakura leaned on the railing of her balcony, looking out at the wreckage that was Konoha. Her eyes skimmed across the gaping hole in the eastern wall, pausing at the new frame work that was being built. Her gaze swept over the city streets and the rooftops, it seemed as if the whole village was out and about repairing their homes and business. The sound of hammers pounding away murmured through the air, mixing with the usual rustling of leaves and twittering of birds.
She looked over to the monument, looking straight at the Third's visage, tracing the scar that had broken over his nose. It was hard to believe he was gone… Sakura hadn't been any closer to him than the other Genins, but he had always been kind to her and the thought that she'd never see him again was…
For living in a shinobi village, this was the first time that Sakura had to deal with the death of someone she knew. It might sound odd, but at the tender age of twelve, Sakura had been fortunate enough not to lose anybody precious to her. Her family was composed of average citizens. Her father was an accountant. Her mother was a teacher at the school for civilian children.
Therefore her family didn't really have many shinobi friends to ever mourn for. They did pay their respects of course, but it was never really anything personal.
At the academy death was glorified. It was honorable. It was a part of the shinobi way of life. A year before graduating, each child sees a physiologist on how to handle it. Sakura remembers her session quite clearly, and she supposed it served its purpose. However, it didn't really prepare her for the sense of… incomprehension.
It was so odd to think that, in a sense, people just… disappeared. About a week before the final matches, she was buying groceries for her mother and the Third was walking through the streets; as was his custom. He was buying his own groceries and together they searched through a box of peaches. He asked her about her training, she asked him about the exams. Naruto came up, and both expressed a soft affection in their words that instantly linked them.
After helping him pick out the freshest peaches (apparently it had been a while since he bought his own groceries), they bid a friendly goodbye. It felt so unsettling to realize that it had been a permanent one. That she would never see that person again, speak to him, interact with him. His life was over.
How could someone be alive and be gone the next?
In some ways it just didn't make sense. Where did people go when they died? Did they just cease to exist? Leaving only a shell of a body behind? What was life then…? Sakura sighed.
She supposed that the Hokage was lucky, he had an amazing life, so many accomplishments, so much honor and fame. The entire village loved and looked up to him. It made Sakura think about her own life, her own accomplishments, and instantly her brows dipped in sorrowful shame.
Sakura was officially the weakest member of Team Seven. Something inside her told her she always was, but she didn't want to think too much about the beginning. Instead her mind went over the Chuunin exam.
She had been fine in the first part of the exam; heck, she aced it. Well, sort of.
She didn't want to admit that she hadn't caught on that the point of the test was to cheat. But she hadn't needed too, so it didn't occur to her. Actually she finished in record time.
There was no denying she was smart. Book smart. She could deal with a strategy on paper, with a hypotheses on jutsus, calculating the speed, trajectory and distance of a thrown kunai, or even make a proper graph on it. But never once did she apply those skills to life. So effortlessly, she debunked the entire point of learning them.
Sakura gripped at the railing. If only she was like Shikamaru. Sakura shook her head in amazement, just remembering his feats of intelligence. She learned more about him in a single day, than she did in the seven years of knowing him. At the academy she wrote him off as Ino's boring friend. Even by the time she should have grown out of that view, she still looked down at him, at his grades. He was nothing compared to her perfect marks.
He was a nobody to her, despite the many times he had let it slip that he was at least on par with her intelligence. Looking back, she remembered so many moments she should have picked up on it. The time she was assigned to help him catch up on his paper work or when they were partnered together for the mock-missions.
It was only now that she realized his tendency to keep her after school for hours, make her so frustrated with him that she finally did the assignments herself, was all just a tactic. That he had always found cleaver strategies to go through the missions as quickly and easily as possible. Instead of seeing it for what it was, Sakura just called him lazy, thought he was a good-for-nothing boy.
One of the most shameful things had been when she thought he would run out on Naruto and her while they were pursuing Gaara.
It was only now that she remembered that time she was looking for Ino, and despite his obvious reluctance, Shikamaru spent the whole day helping Sakura find her. That on the few occasions she didn't know the answer to Iruka-sensei's questions, he would occasionally whisper it from behind her. When Ino was sick for a week, and Sakura was too shy to talk to anyone else, Shikamaru had kept her company everyday. He made conversation and jokes while she stuttered with watery eyes.
Back then she had completely disregard all this and thought nothing of it. It made her think off all the other qualities she missed about the people around her. It was like she didn't see them. Any of them. Only one.
Her mind flew back to herself. She was rude. Immature. Sakura was a mean person in general. Her mind flew to the person she had constantly took it out on.
Naruto. She looked at him with such scorn. Completely judged him.
All the times she made fun of him, called him names, when she was outright cruel to him. At one point, Sakura sincerely thought that he was out to get her or something. She squeezed her eyes shut in shame, as if willing it never to have happen. Her mind went back to Wave Country, even when he had showed quick thinking and determination, she didn't see it. In fact, she still had the gall to look down on him.
In the Forest of Death… everything changed… And it wouldn't be till many years later that Sakura would realize just how much.
From the very beginning her attention was on Sasuke, her goal to impress him. She was still looking down at Naruto then, and what happened? They weren't even in there half an hour before the got attacked by a Sannin. A Sannin. A Missing S-class criminal.
She remembered how Sasuke had been terrified. Screaming at her to run. On one hand, she was glad that for once, she saw the situation exactly how it was. But on the other, the only thing she could do was cry for Sasuke to protect them. Sakura couldn't do anything herself.
It was Naruto, who saved them. Sakura had never been so happy to see him in her life. She felt outright jubilation looking up at him, standing there, with his arms crossed and that cocky smile on his face. Then once again her heart plunged into horror when that massive snake was summoned. She could only watch as that snake was careening towards Sasuke, and it was Naruto, who shot out of nowhere and stopped the snake with nothing but two kunai.
The only thing her mind could do was question, when did he get so strong? How in the world did Naruto get so strong…? Sakura sighed, maybe if she had paid more attention to him, she would have noticed…
She remembered screaming at Sasuke that he was coward, which is the only thing she wasn't ashamed of. Whether it was seeing Naruto's strength, or Sakura's desperate cry, or maybe a combination of both, whatever it was, Sasuke fought that guy. And no matter how hard Sakura tried, her eyes couldn't keep up with them.
She always knew Sasuke was strong, but his moves were unreal. But he couldn't keep up with a Sannin. When she had looked down to see Sasuke at that guy's feet, her heart had stop, fear streaming through her blood like shards of ice. Even then all she could do was watch as that guy advanced on Sasuke.
Luckily Sasuke was on top of it and flew into another barrage of attacks. Then she was so sure that Sasuke had beaten him, she let her guard down completely, and frolicked over to him.
It was then, like a rokurokubi, the enemy's neck extended and he bit Sasuke. That was one of the most disturbing and terrorizing things she had ever seen. Sakura placed a hand at the base of her neck, a shiver of disgust running through her.
During that entire fight her nerves had been shot with terror. Everything about that guy put her on edge. When he swallowed the scroll whole, the way his body coiled around the thick branches, when his tongue wrapped itself around Naruto, suspending him in the air, even the overly affectionate way he spoke…
Orochimaru. His name alone made her cringe with disgust and her stomach drop with dread. A Saanin. Sakura still couldn't wrap her head around it. They were practically legends, their strength spoken of with nothing but awe at the Academy. Naruto and Sasuke managed to impress one of those people…
And all she could do was watch and pick up their pieces.
She still didn't understand what had happened to Sasuke. Her mind ran over how he squeezed her hand as he cried out in pain, and all she could do was call for Naruto.
It was then that she experienced the most crippling fear imaginable. When she looked to realize that Naruto was still knocked out, that Sasuke was completely incapacitated, it hit her that they were depending on her.
Terror gripped her like a snake, crushing the breath out of her lungs. The only thing between her comrades and danger, was her. That was the longest night of her life. Her entire body was tense, her eyes frantically swiveling between their still bodies and the darkness outside. She griped a single kunai the entire time, as it was her life line.
Then when the enemies she hoped against hope wouldn't show up, did, there was nothing she could do about it.
Of all people, Lee showed up. Lee.
Someone who she had been rude too, someone she disregarded. He didn't even have an obligation to protect her, just that he said he would. She had completely ignored the statement when he said it, judging him on his looks. Had she always been that superficial? How long had Sakura been surrounded by amazing people and never took note of it?
Sakura folded her arm over the railing and cradled her head, the other hand running and pulling at her hair in frustration.
In the end though, Lee was simply out numbered. He was really hurt because he chose to protect her.
Then three people were depending on her.
When that girl was ready to scalp her, Sakura could only wonder how it had gotten to this point. Wondering if she had always been this weak. When that girl taunted her, about caring more about her looks than her training, Sakura realized she was absolutely right. And her friends paid for it.
It's an overwhelmingly bitter disappointment, a harrowing pain that fills when you realize you've not only let yourself down, but the people you care for...
"Sakura!" A voice sang out to her from the street bellow.
Sakura looked down to see a blonde haired girl waving cheerfully to her. Ino. A soft affectionate smile found its way on Sakura's face. Without delay, Sakura vaulted over the rail and landed beside Ino gracefully.
There was one thing she was thankful for, Sakura had gotten her best friend back. Ever since the exam, their friendship had been rekindled. Though, it wasn't where they left off, because both had changed, and too much had happened. Sakura didn't think their friendship could be back to the way it was.
But Ino was back, and that was enough.
"What are you up to, Forehead?" Ino asked cheerfully. Their rivalry couldn't be forgotten, but it had turned playful instead of malicious.
"What do you have in mind, Pig?" Sakura said easily. Outgoing friends were perfect when you just didn't want to think about life anymore.
"Oh, nothing special." Ino shrugged, leading them down the street "How about lunch?"
Sakura walked beside her. "Yeah, that sounds good. No training for you today either?"
"Nope, Asuma-sensei gave us the day off. But I think he just had a date with Kurenai." Ino said slyly.
"Really?" Sakura asked interested. Ino had always been good for gossip, and just about everything else. Sakura suppressed a sigh, this was another person she disregarded, no someone she completely threw away. Sakura harshly bit her lip in bitter regret at all the time she had lost with her best friend.
They made their way to the commerce side of Konoha. Mothers were shopping for families, venders called to potential customers and cooks fanned the smell of their foods into the streets. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun shone brilliantly, warming Sakura's skin.
"Let's get some dango." Ino suggested. Sakura agreed and they walked into the small establishment.
Sakura noticed two men sitting at a table. This wasn't very peculiar, because all genders were allowed in the restaurant. But they wore long black clocks and straw hats. They were familiar.
Though their cloaks were covered in red clouds, she knew it was the same two men she saw in Water Country. Because really, how many people walked around like that?
Besides, the taller of the two men had a familiar sword strapped to his back. Sakura looked at them as she followed Ino to a table. Ino sat with her back to the shorter of the men and Sakura was left to face the giant. He was looking at her.
Kisame.
If she remembered correctly (which she did), he had not thanked her when she had practically bought lunch for him. Sakura still couldn't see his face; he was a black silhouette against the bright sunlight from outside.
"What can I get for you, ladies?" The waitress asked politely, a small notebook and pen in hand.
"One serving of bocchan dango, please." Ino ordered.
Sakura was in the mood for something sweet. "Chichi dango, please."
"Sorry, that man just ordered the last one." The lady said, and nodded to the table next to them. Sakura looked over and saw Kisame looking at her. She felt the weight of his gaze, like a heavy cloak had been placed on her. It didn't intimidate her like last time. Those strips of white clothe fluttered around his face, making an amusing silhouette.
Despite the shadows giving nothing away, Sakura knew he remembered her. She smiled, letting him know she remembered him as well. After all, neither was very forgettable.
He looked back to his partner and seemed to be drawn into a conversation.
"Sakura, what do you want to order?" Ino asked, then looked over her shoulder to see what Sakura was smiling at.
Sakura glanced at the menu and then back at the waitress, "Um nothing, thanks." With a nod, the waitress left.
"I don't want to eat by myself." Ino complained, with squinty eyes, "I hate eating when no one else is eating."
"Don't worry, I'll get yakitori from the stand down the block." Sakura reasoned with a shrug. Actually, that sounded really good right now. Though she'd have to find something sugary to satisfy her sweet tooth later.
"Then I'll have it to go." Ino informed both Sakura and the waitress as she served Ino some green tea. Sakura watched as the waitress then took a plate of dango over to Kisame. "It's such a pretty day, anyway."
"Yeah, it is.…" Sakura murmured as her eyes wandered back to the men. Her gaze ran over the shorter one's back, tracing the crimson clouds. She never did catch his name…
They were just so memorable, and intriguing.
Sakura felt… curious. What were the chances of bumping into the same set of strangers in two different countries? Besides, looking back, the whole situation seemed so absurd and funny; she couldn't help but feel familiar towards them. Her eyes went back to Kisame for a moment, after all, she had taken a sip of his drink.
The waitress dropped of Ino's dango in a nice little carry bag. With that, the pair stood up to leave.
Sakura was mildly surprised to find herself feeling disappointed. She supposed it had to do with the fact that she hadn't gotten a chance to interact with the two men. She knew it was silly. It's not like they were even acquaintances. Heck, she didn't even know what they looked like. Complete strangers.
Despite what her mind was telling her, Sakura couldn't take her eyes on the pair as she followed Ino out. Right when she was about to pass their table, Kisame's nonchalantly outstretched arm stopped her, two dango sticks in his grip. Sakura's eyes stayed on the dango for a small moment. Then to his hand. Her brows dipped in confusion.
Wait blu-
"Do you want it or not?" His low voice said, calm and casual.
Sakura glanced between the shadowy face and the dango stick, once, before taking the dango sticks with both hands as if receiving an important gift. She smiled, her eyes lighting up. Sakura supposed this was the long over-due thank you.
He withdrew his hand. And Sakura stood for a second and she wondered what was beneath the cloak.
"Sakura!" Ino called impatiently, already outside.
Sakura looked forward to see Ino giving her a questioning look as she stood out in the sunlight. Sakura gave Kisame one more beaming smile and hurried after Ino.
"She didn't even say 'thank you'." Kisame remarked, feigning offense as he picked up a remaining skewer to pick at his teeth.
"What was that about?" Itachi asked. A waitress came up and gave Kisame a chance to think as she refilled their tea cups.
It was impulse really. Besides, he had already eaten seven dango sticks; he was satisfied. She wanted it, he was indifferent; it made sense to him. Then there was Wave Country, not that he gave a rat's ass about fairness, but that was probably Itachi's train of thought. So Kisame went with it.
"I don't like owing people stuff." He said with a shrug when the waitress walked away.
"You think a little pink haired girl would have one up on you? She'd ask a favor?" Itachi asked, one brow raised just a fraction.
Kisame let out a light snort, "You never know now a days." He reached to take a sip of his tea.
"She recognized us…" Itachi said, contemplating. Kisame rolled his eyes, with a smile on his face; Itachi could be suspicious about a church bake sale. Then again that paranoia had saved them on numerous occasions. One of the reasons Kisame usually listened to the kid without much ado. However…
"She doesn't see us as a threat." Kisame said simply with a shrug.
Yeah, Kisame had been accused of being reckless on more than one occasion. But really, this was little girl with pink hair. Besides, all she knew was that they happen to have the same taste in food, not exactly useful for taking down Akatsuki.
Let it also be repeated, pink hair. That had to lower some of her credibility.
Itachi was quite for a moment. Most people would assume this was just usual Itachi silence, but Kisame could tell that he was sorting out various scenarios of how this girl could possibly affect them. Analyzing every point and possibility.
Itachi finally spoke in his muted voice. "I guess you can keep your little friend."
Kisame smiled, his chest rumbling with a silent chuckle. Itachi was teasing him. After years of knowing the kid, Kisame could catch the slightest lilt in his tone (not to mention that Kisame had superior hearing).
Kisame always took advantage when Itachi was in a good mood. So with an unnecessary amount of cheer and enthusiasm, he sarcastically gushed out "Aww, this is the best day ever!"
Itachi simply took a sip of his tea.
"Sakura did you just take food from a complete stranger?" Ino asked looking at Sakura as if… she had taken food from a complete stranger.
"Maybe…" Sakura said with shifty eyes as she bit into the mochiko ball. Well if Ino used that tone, she could make anything sound bad.
"That could be poisoned." Ino stated matter-of-factly.
"We saw the waitress hand it to them." Sakura pointed out. Even if they hadn't she still would have taken the food, because…
"And you didn't just take it from any strangers, but creepy men in black cloaks…" Ino said looking a little worried as Sakura took another bite.
"Creepy…?" Sakura thought of the blue skin she had seen. Blue skin. She couldn't decide whether she was disgusted or fascinated, but she was definitely intrigued.
"I think I've seen them somewhere before…" She added the doubt because she didn't want to answer all the questions a definite answer would raise.
"Where?" Ino asked giving her a weird look.
Sakura was about to simply answer Wave Country, but she suddenly felt possessive of the memory. That the memory was hers to look back on and laugh. She wasn't sure Ino would find it as funny as Sakura did. And would she really get why she felt familiar with them any? Sakura herself didn't get it.
She was spared having to answer and think about it when she caught sight of Kakashi walking towards them. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei!"
"Yo, Sakura." He said with the wave of his hand, his one eye half-lidded, and the sides crinkling with a smile.
"What are you up to?" Sakura asked cheerfully.
"I'm meeting someone at the dango shop on my way home." He said casually.
"Is it Sasuke?" Sakura said with way more indictment then she probably should of. But- she couldn't help it…
"Yes…" Kakashi trailed off with shifty eyes, clearly confused at her tone.
"Training?" She shot out, with a small frown. He told her there was no training today. Why wasn't she included? Her Sensei kept neglecting her and she was clearly the one that needed the most help!
Kakashi began, his tone slightly unsure now, "I just needed to talk to him, then-"
"Train?!" Sakura finally accused, pointing "Is Naruto training with you guys?" She was going to be pissed if she was left out of it. That just wasn't fair!
"No, he's doing something else…" Kakashi scratched at the back of his head, "It's a nice day, Sakura. Enjoy the sunshine." with that he walked away.
Sakura frowned. How was she supposed to get stronger? What that Sound-nin said in the forest had been true. "People like you have no talent. They have to work harder."
During the month between the preliminaries and the finals, Sakura did her best to train. However, she had no one to direct her. Kakashi was training Sasuke, so it made her feel much too awkward to ask him to personally train her. And Kakashi found Naruto a trainer as well.
To be honest, she felt like he kinda forgot about her… One part of her was telling her he was just preoccupied with Sasuke and Naruto. After all, they made it to the finals.
But what was his excuse now?
"Since when do you want to train so bad?" Ino asked dryly, biting into her dango.
Sakura sighed, "Naruto and Sasuke are strong…" She wondered if Ino would understand, "I have to be strong." She didn't want to be left behind.
"Naruto…." Ino began, her eyes narrowed in thought, then shook her head, "Yeah, I still don't get how he beat Neji. I mean- remember the time he had his pants on backwards, and Kiba called him on it, so Naruto just looked between his pants and Kiba for like a full minute, before he finally just tackled Kiba to the ground?"
Sakura started to laugh. "I completely forgot about that. We were like nine, weren't we?" Sakura shook her head. "Yeah, he's definitely not that kid anymore…" With a jolt of realization her good humor left her.
Sakura was exactly the same. It seemed as if everyone was growing, and she was the same person she'd been back at the Academy.
Sakura glared down at her feet. She needed to change. "Ino, lets go train."
"What? You crazy? It's our day off." Ino said with the wave of her hand.
"I need to get stronger." Sakura said stomping her foot. In her subconscious she noted that that was immature, but it didn't really register. Well, one thing at a time.
"You can get stronger tomorrow." Ino said rolling her eyes. Then with sudden knowing look and a teasing smile, she added,
"Sasuke's not going anywhere."
.To Be Continued.
A/N – Hey everyone! I need Sakura to mature a little sooner than she did in canon, so that's way most of this is her realizing what a little snot she was.
Let me know what you think about the chapter. What needs improvements, what's just right, any lines you liked, if anything look out of place, you know the whole spiel.
Oh, and I forgot to warn you, but I hate instant love. So do not expect that here. Sakura and Kisame got a long way to go. Should be one more chance encounter till we get the ball rolling.
By the way. A rokurokubi, is a monster from Japanese folklore. Basically it's a person (usually a woman) who can extend her neck. Probably where Kishimoto got the idea for that freaky deaky technique.