Sakura
Tobi sat in the corner of my room doing nothing as I got ready to the Hokage's funeral.
"Sakura-hime-sama…Tobi wants to know about the weapon Sasori-sempai gave to Hime." I put my brush down and glanced at the weapon hanging from its holster on the wall, waiting. I felt the need to take it down and attach it to my belt once again, but I resisted.
I was going to a funeral, not a fight.
"The Saigo? Oh, well, Master Sasori says it was used during the battle between the first Hokage and Uchiha Madara –you know about that fight?" Tobi nodded eagerly. "I don't know very much, but it is said that this katana was driven through Madara's heart at the end of the fight, stealing his chakra and his last breath. A very sad way to die, I could only imagine how it came down to just an ordinary katana in a battle of the world's two greatest ninja." Tobi titled his head.
"Sakura-hime, Tobi wants to know more about Mad-era." I laughed.
"It's Madara. Hmm, I don't know much aside from he was the Uchiha clan leader and he and his brother were the creators of the Mangekyou Sharingan. There's not much else other than that in Konohagakure records, it's like Konoha is trying to make us forget. You should ask Pein or my mother, they'd probably know more than me." Tobi watched me silently for a second and someone knocked at the door to my room.
"Sakura, we're leaving now." Nala called softly from the other side.
"Ah, gomen, I'll be right there." I grabbed my white rose from its place on my nightstand and looked back at Tobi who seemed a little put out. "I'll be back later, bye."
Staring awake at the ceiling of the hotel room I wondered why I was remembering a conversation Tobi and I had the day of the Third's funeral. I'd just woken up from a dream about red eyes, which for some reason made me think of Tobi and our conversation about Uchiha Madara.
It made no sense, but then again I was half-asleep.
I turned over in my futon on to my side and faced Naruto who had been watching me quietly. "Did you have a bad dream?" He asked after a moment.
I thought for a moment and shook my head. "No…no actually it was a very nice dream." Those sweltering Uchiha ruled eyes had analyzed me and a felt a dark, warm security in their depths meant especially for me.
"Then why do you look so scared?" The blonde whispered back and I stared at Naruto for a long time. Why'd we even get stuck in the same room as each other? Oh, that's right because Jiraiya and Tsunade had to have their own rooms and Shizune snored…loudly.
"I don't know." I buried my face into my pillow and inhaled and exhaled raggedly, feeling as though I might cry I didn't want Naruto to see. I heard the whispering of blankets and then the sound of a kunai pouch being opened. Then a hand laid on my shoulder.
"Hey, hey, Sakura-chan. I forgot to tell you. Sasuke and I bought you a birthday present." I glanced up through the dark to see Naruto's big grin. "We meant to give it to you earlier, but…" His voice trailed off and my eyes darted to the thing dangling from between Naruto's thumb and index finger. It was a thick, black choker that sort of resembled a dog collar and on it was a smooth gold medallion with, from what I could tell, the engraved kanji symbol 'hime' on it.
I stared at it a moment longer and Naruto's smile fell a little. "Well, it's a half and half present, I got the choker and Sasuke got the medallion. He said it looks cheap…" I cut him off with a hug, jumping out from under my blankets and wrapping my arms around him.
"No, no it's perfect." I took it from him and clipped the choker around my neck, the gold charm felt cold against my skin. "How does it look?"
Naruto glanced away for a moment and I could have sworn he was blushing. "Good…"
Pein
A curt, loud knock interrupted my trail of thought and I glanced up from my paperwork before returning my gaze immediately back to it.
It was Kisame.
"Enter." The door opened and closed and Kisame walked through my office, stopping in the center of the room like anyone else would after a mission to give me a full report. But his last mission wasn't just any other. It was to capture the Jinchuuriki and since Itachi wasn't here, because of returning back to his post in Konohagakure with Sakura, I'd have to settle for 'bitching out' –as Hidan put it- him instead of both. I folded my hands on my desk and did my best not to jump over it and chock the Shark-Man to death.
"What's this? You fail to bring me the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki and now you dare to show your face before I can even have the chance to calm down?" I asked and Kisame's blue face remained a stone without its usual crooked smirk. My silver eyes reflected in Kisame's black ones.
The rain outsid began to fall harder.
Konan shut the book she'd been thumbing through, returned it to the shelf, and turned her attention towards the two of us.
"Sakura-hime is back in the village safe and sound, Leader-sama." That I'd already learned from Tobi after I'd relieved him of his babysitting duties. Then Kisame's smile grew wider. "And the moment she got there she sprinted towards the hospital to check on Uchiha Sasuke. I think the princess has a crush."
Konan bit her bottom lip and I made my face a blank sheet of paper, no emotion. "Uchiha Sasuke?" Kisame nodded. "Itachi-san's younger brother?" Kisame nodded again. "He is on her team…" Kisame dismissed himself and shut the door behind him.
I swiveled my chair around to glare out the window.
A sort of 'fatherly instinct' always seemed to come whenever Sakura was in danger or had made me proud of her, but now I was starting to feel scared. She has a crush on her teammate? The irony of the story reminded me of my much younger self and my two friends, Yahiko and Konan. "Nagato..." Konan grew worried at the silence.
"I'm going to Konoha to visit her." I announced.
Sakura
We brought Tsunade-sama to the Hidden Leaf Village a few days ago and already she's making the village a better place. Sasuke and Kakashi were healed, bedridden for the next three or four days, but still as good as new. When Sasuke woke up yesterday I pretty much jumped him –completely against the new medic rules I abided by, but no one seemed to care. I threw my arms around his neck and Tsunade had to drag Naruto out of the room so we could have a moment. Sasuke then slung one arm around my shoulder and smiled.
Actually smiled.
Then he kissed me.
I still blush whenever I think about it.
Anyway, when that blushing and stutter ordeal was over I'd caught up with Tsunade and helped her diagnose Lee. She'd come to the conclusion that'd he'd never be a ninja and, after I took a look, I recommended a surgery I'd read about in one of the many medical-nin books Tsunade had given me to study. She'd shot me a look and went over the basic protocol of the surgery and said it'd take her a month to prepare, but –if she failed- there was a very good chance he'd die during the procedure, so we'd given him a while alone to think about it.
Lee decided to take the risk and Tsunade and I began planning.
For the first time in weeks I didn't worry about the Akatsuki or Konoha or training or anything else. I was living in the moment and enjoying every second of it. But then a carrier pigeon landed outside my window and it held a letter that was summoning me to the Hokage's office; my stomach had turned.
What if they found out about me and the Akatsuki? I shouldn't have said that Pein was a Kage.
But he is and Tsunade-san trusts you. Stop worrying, it's not about that.
I entered the circular office, with confidence due to Saku's reassurance, and my eyes widened. All the Jonin I knew were in the room smiling at me. Tsunade sat behind a large desk. Hands folded under her chin and she smiled devilishly like she did before she sent me off on some wild, crazy erran. Shizune held Tonton in her arms and smiled widely too.
At least I know my Akatsuki secret is safe.
Or maybe their trying to trick you.
AH! Saku! SHUT! UP!
"Um, what's going on...?" I noticed Shikamaru standing in the center of the room looking as confused as I was.
"Sakura-chan so good to see you. Come forward." Tsunade said with a motion of her hand. I raised my eyebrows. She never talked like that unless she had a big secret or she was drunk –most of the time it was later. I stood next to Shikamaru and waited for her to speak.
I ran my fingers through my short hair wishing it was long again, when I was nervous like this it helped to twirl it. The stupid bird had caught me on my way out to visit Sasuke in the hospital. I wasn't dressed for a meeting, I was dressed for a date (well, we weren't exactly going out, but you know what I mean). A red tank top with a V neck, a fishnet top underneath and a black mini skirt with fishnet stockings that stopped above my knee and two inch ninja heels. All of it tying in nicely with my short, bob-like hair.
"Shikamaru, Sakura. Since the attack on the village we had decided that no one will pass this year's Chuunin exams. But the Third Hokage had high hopes in the both of you and we are proud to present you with the title of Chuunin."
Sasuke
Naruto was growing stronger. He summoned that large toad and then he defeated the Kazakage's young son who was possessed with a Sand demon. Sakura improves too with her mysterious background and other various talents. She helped us fly through the Chuunin exams and helped Naruto defeat that Sand demon with a creature she'd summoned herself. Then there's all that 'stuff' she knows about my brother that she still won't tell me.
I'll say it, I like her.
I, Uchiha Sasuke, had a small crush of the pink-haired, blue eyed kunoichi known as Kurosu Sakura.
But she could be so full of mystery sometimes that it made my head hurt.
Then I look back on what I learned: Chidori. And I didn't even get the chance to use it on my brother. He had taken me down easily –as I remembered-, then he escaped and I find myself laying here after being knocked out by his Mangekyou Sharingan for a month and while I was asleep: Sakura and Naruto had brought back a new Hokage, Lady Tsunade, and both of them become more accomplished than me.
My mind begins to wander back to Orochimaru, an ex-teammate of my friend's master's. He had promised power and revenge on my brother. That's why he gave me this mark. Sakura and Kakashi are worried about it, which I don't understand. They seem to know the danger of it more than I do.
I heard footsteps outside and I freeze.
One set of them is light and the other is at running pace.
Sakura and Naruto.
My fists clench. I don't want to see either of them right now.
The door slides open just enough for Naruto to stick his head in. He's grinning like an idiot, as usual. "Drum roll please." He said.
"What are you doing here?" I quipped. Naruto recoils at my sharp tone.
"Just something," He laughed. "Presenting the newest Chuunin of Konoha! Kurosu Sakura!" He yelled. The door slides open more to revel Sakura, blushing with embarrassment, her attention focused on Naruto.
"Shhh! Naruto we're in a hospital!" She snapped, although she laughs along with him. My eyes widen at the new forest green Chuunin vest she wore, unzipped so people could see the red shirt underneath. Sakura smiled at me and Naruto prances over to my bedside.
"Sasuke...you're not mad that I made Chuunin before you are you?" Sakura asked anxiously, her smile fading.
Naruto answered for me.
"Of course he's not! We're proud, although I am the better ninja." Naruto adds in a whisper to me, I guess, but Sakura smiles again. "We should go out and celebrate. Grab Master Kakashi, Iruka-sensei, Hinata, bust Sasuke out of the hospital and go out for ramen!"
"We always go for ramen." Sakura said. As they start talking up plans I feel myself falling into the background.
She made Chuunin before me...
I shot the death glare at Sakura and Naruto.
"Hey, Sasuke why are you staring at us like that?" Naruto asked, all humor drained from his voice. Sakura's eyes widen and she takes a step back. The curse mark starts to burn and I grow more irritated.
He's is looking at me funny. My mind taunts.
"Naruto, I want you to fight me."
"Wh-what? You're still recovering. What are you talking about?" I growl and yank the bed sheets off me.
"Shut up and fight me!" My eyes turn red and shock is written across their faces. "You think you saved me? I don't care if she's the Fifth Hokage...you shouldn't have let her."
"What?" I stand from my bed and square my shoulders, trying to intimidate him, which I know I can do.
"Sasuke stop...Naruto say something!" Sakura begs from the sidelines while trying to push us apart, exceeding in catching Naruto'd attention, but not for long. Naruto smiled.
"The timing couldn't be better! I wanna fight you too..."
"Cut it out you two! You're not fighting!" I ignore her and yanked my shoulder from her grasp and in return she gave me a shove backwards. I stumble a little but then walk out of the hospital room. Sakura's eyes are set on the curse mark. I, again, ignore her and soon we all stand on the hospital roof. Naruto starts laughing and says he's excited to finally beat me.
"Dream on."
Sakura
Naruto and Sasuke charge at each other. Naruto with the Rasengan, Sasuke with the Chidori.
"STOP!" I yelled. I ran forward standing between both of them. "Both of you! Your friends! You shouldn't fight like this!" I got ready to use my Push, while standing dangerously in the way of the two war path Genin, but suddenly the lightening crack of Sasuke's Chidori stopped. I watch as Naruto and Sasuke go crashing into two separate water towers of the roof.
Kakashi had thrown them.
Naruto's Rasengan busted into water tower and water started to spray out in a small stream. Sasuke's Chidori had gotten his arm stuck in it and when he yanked his arm out and water started to gush out in a fast flood. Sasuke's eye darted towards Naruto water tower and smiled; proud that his attack had done the most damage. Kakashi tsked and then appeared on top of the water tower.
"Sasuke...what do you think you're doing? That Chidori wasn't the size you'd aim at a friend and comrade...where you actually trying to kill Naruto?" I gasped in shock and Sasuke shot his glare towards me.
His face twisted in disgust and then he spoke. "And to answer your question...yes it does bother me you made Chuunin before me." He looked behind him and flipped over the chain link fence and down to the alley below.
I bit my lip and Kakashi sighed again. "Don't worry Sakura, I'll talk to him." He disappears in a cloud of smoke and I stare at the place where he had been for a long time. Then my gaze falls lower and I see Naruto flexing his right hand, I walked over quickly and took his hand in mine. Healing chakra glowed around our joined hands then faded when the sprang and few scars were healed.
Naruto's face was twisted into a look too, not anger, not disgust, but annoyed."Sakura..." he began. "Don't get in my way again." I dropped his hand and my face fell and Naruto frowned too –seeming to feel guilty for what he'd said.
"Naruto...remember at the Chuunin exams Sasuke had that weird mark on his neck? That's not just a mark," I studied his face. "It's a...curse mark."
OMG! I'm running out of chapters! This stories almost done! AHH!
AHH! My new story is going so well!
Anyway, during my insane/ill tyraid I watched the older verisons of The Chroniciles of Narnia, re-rearranged my bookshelf and dusted it off, started an un-fanfiction story and a trailer to go along with it, then ate some dumpling soup.
I've been thinking alot about relationships lately and I've decided my parents are like King Henry VIII and Anne Bolyen. But if dad ever tried to behead mom, she'd start a muntany and lock him up in the Tower...er, I've been watching a lot of the The Tudors I'm still on season one and I feel so sorry for Katherine, but I love Henry too! T~T
Please reveiw or I'll find you,
~QueenVamp