Yin and Yang
chapter 3
( i do not own Naruto)
"I can't believe Jiraiya died..." Naruto mumbled as he tossed a stone into the pond, watching it skip. The scratching of Sai's charchol paused as his curious dark eyes studdied Naruto.
"Is this another 'bond' of yours?" He asked.
"Yeah..." Naruto sighed, skipping another rock without thinking.
"Jiraiya taught Naruto for the three years he was gone." Sakura said. Sai thpought a moment.
"A, 'student teacher' bond, am I correct?" Sakura nodded. Happy with himself, Sai turned back to his pad and continued to draw.
Over the fast few weeks and shared missions, Sai had become a member of team Kakashi and a welcome freind, despite Naruto's efforts. For Sai, he was what books described as 'happy' for the first time since before his brother died. He liked having freinds, and the feeling of belonging that seemed to come with them.
Sakura sighed and fell back into the grass, gazing up at the clouds. She frouned as she thought about Tsunande. hse was quieter than normal, lost in thought. It was understandable as she'd lost a close freind, but she would sometimes sit, muttering to herself, like she was solving a puzzle.
"Hey, Sakura, you okay?" Naruto asked, sitting next to her. Sai's pencil stopped again as he looked over his shoulder at them, a look of puzzled concern on his face.
"Yeah, i'm okay."
"Is it Sasuke?" Sai asked. Naruto glared at Sai as Sakura flinched a little, but she nodded.
"A little. I'm okay though, really. Things have just happened a little to fast."
"At least it's slow today." Naruto said. Sakura nodded and Sai answered by continuing to draw. THe picture was aenough to depict his mood, as it was a calming one. A moment later, he looke dup at his team mates.
"I'm hungry, lets go eat." He stated.
"You don't need to make it sound like an order, Sai." Sakura smiled. Sai paused as he packed up.
"Was it? I'm sorry..."
"Dude, learn to take a joke. she's smiling, she didn't mean it." At this point, Sakura was actually holding her sides she was laughing so hard. Sai smiled lightly at his own foolishness and closed his eyes happily.
"Alright you goofs, lets go get dinner." Sakura smiled. THe two young men came up on eaither side of her.
"Lets eat ramen, we got Sai's sushi yesterday." Naruto said, rubbing his growling stoumach.
"Ramen will shrink your-"
"Don't even SAY it Sai...don't even say it..." Naruto growled.
"Why not? it's true!" Sai said, shrugging in his defence. He kept a straight face, even though he was laughing inside from Naruto's reaction. Sakura giggled silently as the argument escalated on either side of her.
Naruto and Sai only quieted once they reached the now expanded Ichiraku Ramen stand. It made a fine small resturant. This expansion was a good thing, as all the 'rookies' who had been entered in the first Chuuin exam Naruto had been through had taken to hanging out there almost once a week. As they all filed in, News of a new Chuuin exam came from Shino, Hinata, and Kiba, who rode in on Akamaru. The giant dog lay near the door, while the six ninja dragged a few tables together. Soon after, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino came in, doubling the noise, and then, with his usual gusto, Lee burst in, followed by Ten-Ten and Neji. the noise almost quadrupled, but no-one minded. People walked in and out of the resturant, and greeting were given along with small talk.
When the twelve were finished, there was an uproar of farewells and goodnights. The group of twelve split into four smaller groups of three, each young man of the teams feeling the resposibility of walking the girls home.
At Sakura's house, the three bade eachother goodnight, and the boys flew off home. All three hit the pillows with high spirits.
