Chapter Five: Day 1.4
Sakura's alarm clock jangled on her nightstand. When she'd gone to bed it had been gone and it took her a minute to remember that she'd thrown it out the window that morning. But unfortunately with today again arriving instead of tomorrow, her alarm clock was on her nightstand at usual. She smacked it to shut it off and sat up, rubbing her eyes. It's weird how I always feel like I've slept.
She got up and dressed quickly, telling her parents that she loved them as she left. When she arrived at Ino's house, Ino was out front putting up the flower displays for the day.
"Good morning Ino," Sakura said, she didn't wait for a response. "I have orders from the Hokage to bring your father to his office." It technically wasn't a lie but today's uninformed Hokage may find it a bit odd at first.
"Oh okay hold on," Ino said brushing her hands off on her apron. She ran up the stairs into the apartment and returned with her father.
As the two walked to Hokage Tower, Inoichi said, "Kakashi has you running errands for Lord Third now?"
Sakura chose her words carefully. "No. The Hokage asked me to do this himself. Kakashi will find out about it later today."
The blond man looked at her. "That's odd."
Sakura quickly agreed. "It is an odd situation but it'll all be explained when we get to his office."
Things were a little awkward when they did get to the Hokage's office. The first time this had happened she'd had her sensei's and the clan head's support. Now that it was just her, it took a little more convincing to keep the Hokage from sending her away and to get Inoichi to look into her mind.
"There are code words you could have used Sakura," Inoichi said after he'd read her mind. "Things you could have said that would have made us believe you instantly. I can't believe we didn't tell you what they were before."
They recited the words for her. "If this happens again just tell me that and we'll get here right away with no arguments," Inoichi said smiling. With that they proceeded to business. The forbidden scrolls were secured and the wall guards forewarned.
"After the wall guards were notified nothing went amiss?" the Third Hokage asked. Sakura shook her head. "Then why don't you go train with your team as usual and we'll see how this plays out."
Sakura bowed and departed to the usual training ground. As she had expected, Sasuke was there building chakra. She sat down next to him and did the same. As they sat in silence, Naruto joining them several minutes after she did. She thought about all that had happened.
Maybe today would be the last time she'd have today repeated. Maybe tomorrow would actually be tomorrow. She smiled to herself. She had panicked at first but she'd gotten over that and protected her village in the end. She was quite proud of herself.
When Kakashi arrived an hour late and gave his explanation about the flooded road and schoolchildren, they began to spar. Kakashi and Sakura were partnered while Naruto and Sasuke fought each other.
Sakura was careful to avoid sweating too much as she sparred with the jonin. As usual, however, he noticed and found ways around her strategies to not train as hard. By the end of their session her long hair was sticky with sweat and she pulled it back into a ponytail to get it out of her face.
She looked at her sensei, idly reading his book until his students were ready to change partners and begin again. It amazed her how she could interact with the jonin without reacting to that first day anymore. The memories of struggling to find a pulse that wasn't there or the enemy ninja picking over his dead body still haunted her but she kept them at bay.
Half way through the afternoon Kakashi called it a day. Naruto walked to the side to collect his jacket. Sasuke began to walk home.
"Aren't you going to treat us to ramen or something?" Sakura called at Kakashi's retreating back. The boys turned and stared at her.
Kakashi turned around, "um, no?"
"Why would he treat us Sakura? He never does, cheapskate," the last word was a mutter.
Sakura looked back at Kakashi but he was gone. She'd forgotten that she hadn't told them that this was the fifth time she'd lived this day and that Kakashi had previously treated them to dinner. That's okay though, Sakura thought, because tomorrow's finally going to come. I did everything I could possibly do.