When Sakura awoke the next day, it was three am and yesterday's events plagued her mind. She sits up in her bed, recalling many minor details. For example, she had defeated Sasuke, but he had let her win. He didn't even find her commendable enough an opponent for his Sharingan. Isn't she worth that much? Also, Kakashi had snubbed Sasuke's appearance and the obsidian eyed prodigy merely ignored it. Something is bugging the Uchiha.
The second event of the previous day was Sakura's discussion with Naruto. They were seated on stools at the Ramen stand, Naruto prattling about his miraculous fight with their perverted sensei. In the middle of their idle conversation, the blonde boy she had grown to appreciate, blurted out a declaration of love.
Sakura blinked twice. "What?"
"I um-love you. I want you to be my girlfriend." He said hopefully, Sakura remorsefully rejected him. "I think Hinata might be interested? " She suggests, but Naruto's frown stayed on his lips. "Naruto, look…" She began, but the golden-haired boy was lost in another world, refusing to look at her.
"Naruto-kun." She begins again and his cerulean eyes gaze at her sorrowfully. "I treasure our friendship more than anything in this world. I'm not ready to throw that all away." She says. Naruto's face cheered up instantly.
"You aren't ready yet, which means I have a chance in the future!" Better let him think so, she thought shrugging. "Besides, Hinata is dating Teme, they are supposedly going strong…"
Sakura tried not to laugh "Says who?" The thought of the Uchiha with the Hyugga heiress…priceless.
"Ino informed Shikamaru, who told Kiba who mentioned it to me." Naruto states between bowls of noodles. "Neji is going to slaughter poor Teme."
"What Hinata would see in Uchiha is beyond my knowledge…" Of course Sasuke happened to hear this as he passed the vendor. "He's a conceited, self-centered swine. "
"Hinata and Teme's families are overloaded with cash. Maybe they found they have that in common? Hinata deserves better,' Naruto says and Sakura snorts.
"Agreed." She says with a hysterical giggle. Although, Naruto's statement made sense and could be a possibility. Both are heirs to the most elite shinobi clans, what if they found solace in this shared detail? Impossible, Hinata's heart lies with the blonde boy that sat next to her and the Uchiha…well, he simply reserved emotion for himself and his hatred for Itachi. "Naruto-kun, I must go, I've got a busy day at the hospital tomorrow. " Naruto offered to walk her home but she persistently declined.
The final event that occurred to Sakura that day, ensued on her way home, just as she passed the old training bridge. "Sakura. " He had said. He always had a pleasant, masculine voice enough to make anyone melt.
"Uchiha." She had barked. Well almost anyone. "May I help you?" She asks placidly, pausing her walk. He grunts and catches up to her in a few short paces. He walks, motioning for her to continue walking too. They walk in a peaceful silence. "Uchiha, why don't you fight me back?" She asks, Sasuke grunts in reply. Wanting the blissful silence to proceed, but Sakura insists.
After many repeats of the question, Sasuke replies "Why don't you address me by my first name?" Damn it. She had managed to annoy him, to provoke a reaction, an emotion. Sasuke continues onwards and observes her home, appearing in the distance. Sakura thought it was odd of him to ask that question. It is very peculiar for him to be so communal. Plus, the query was difficult for her to answer. She could reveal the truth…but it would release a pained, pathetic side of her she had concealed. So much agony… She instead opts for not responding at all. His lips held in scowl, irritation etched on his dashing features. He looked adorable. Sakura tried not to laugh at the thought of tickling him. "I heard what you said about me, you couldn't be more wrong. " What had he meant by that? What an infuriating pig this man is!
"What's troubling you Uchiha, lately you've been acting…bizarre." Sasuke stops in his tracks. He actually opened his mouth to speak! But thought better of it. He continues walking. Eventually they stopped in front of her home. "May I ask why you walked me home?"
"I'm simply escorting you because I was concerned about your safety. Think nothing of it." Sakura sighed.
Sakura deliberated the questions haunting her mind. Doubt continues engulfing her thoughts. She hates being fragile and weak. No matter how hard she trains, she will always be unequal in Uchiha's eyes. She could never compare to Sharingan. She simply knows she is no match for it, but she wants to prove herself to him. I will prove myself a worthy opponent!
That was when the idea come to her, the easy, spur-of-the-moment scheme arrived in her mind and as soon as it did, it was confirmed. I need to train with someone who wields the power of Sharingan, someone other than Sasuke to gather experience with it. That was it. Come morning, Sakura would attend work, make a quick stop at the library and finally beckon Kakashi for a small request. Her plan is quick and simple.