Chapter 11 – Numbers.
1
It took Shikamaru one minute, a whole minute, to actually comprehend what the newly appointed Godaime had just said.
He, along with Neji and Sakura, were just promoted to Chunnin.
"But, Shisou, I didn't even get to have my match in the final round! How could I be promoted and the ones who actually fought, don't?"
"That's because I'm your teacher, and so is that pervert standing in the corner," Insert glare at said pervert, "And we both deem you ready to be Chunnin, and well on your way to train for the Jonnin exams, too. But we're going to wait for that until you deem yourself ready."
Needless to say that Konoha had three beaming idiots with Chunnin vests celebrating around the village.
2
It took Shisui two hours to find Sakura and Neji, and what he found, though it was payback, disturbed him greatly.
Making out in the woods should be banned for everyone's sake.
After having the couple awkwardly separate from each other he announced, "Sasuke has left. Tsunade-sama has requested Neji to go on the fake mission to retrieve him.
Sakura spent the night crying in Neji's arms. Not that he was complaining. He loved it when she relied on him. But he also hated it when she cried. Although she did look cute with a red nose.
He got a bruise on his chest when he told her.
3
It took the assurance of three of her most trusted people, for her to believe that Neji and Naruto were going to be fine, and come back alive from this mission: Tsunade, Kakashi, and as hard as it was to believe, Shikamaru.
Yes, she trusted Shikamaru because he was a genius and because he would always look after her in class should the need arise (a.k.a: when Neji wasn't around and Sasuke and Naruto were beating the crap out of each other).
4
It had been four days since the retrieval team came back, and Sakura hasn't left Neji's unconscious form ever since. She slept by his side, holding his hand. As if it would ground him to her.
She knows that he isn't in critical condition, but she just doesn't want to risk it.
Kakashi, Tsunade and Hiruzen couldn't do anything to make her leave. It had been Neji who got her to leave her 'fathers' side, and now Neji was in no state to have her get away from anything, much less his own side.
5
It took Neji five seconds to realize what the weight on his chest was, and it took him just as much to haul up the body attached to the head resting on his stomach next to him, so he could snuggle in the warmth of her body.
He missed her dearly on that mission, and he knew for a fact that she had stayed by his side, if the numbness in his hand had anything to say about it.
He was so grateful for her being in his life.
She stirred, "Neji-kun?"
"I'm here, Hime."
She smiled, "Happy sixteenth birthday."
It was his turn to smile. Of course she wouldn't forget.
6
It took Neji six months to become a Jonnin, and it was that night that Sakura decided to start training for her exam, too.
She became a Jonnin three month after Neji, and the Hyuuga rubbed it in the face of the Uchiha for months.
The kids would sigh when the subject was brought up, and shake their heads. At least they were somewhat friendly jabs. No real hostility came from behind them.
What agitated the Uchiha even more was when the Godaime announced that Sakura has surpassed her and would be heading the hospital.
7
It was the number seven that tied her with her teammates. So she would light a lantern with the number seven on it, and release it every full moon, with Kakashi-sensei at her side, in hope of guiding her loved ones back to their home.
It was a private affair that not even Neji dared to intrude on.
8
It took Neji eight days to get back together with Sakura after their first real fight as an officially dating couple.
The fight involved Neji, a fangirl, a kiss and some petting.
Needless to say that it took Sakura a lot more than eight punches to the girls gut before she started the fight with Neji, and stomped off to her parents' house for the first time since the accident.
It took him two days to find her, and he wouldn't have been able to, if it wasn't for Shisui and Itachi, who were about to kill him for what he had done to her. He was in the wrong when he started yelling back at her, and when he left her to 'go let out some steam' as he dubbed it. And the other six days were spent trying to calm her down enough for him to even go near her.
"Why do you want to even come near me? You could go find that … that thing and go close to her!"
"But I love you! I don't even know who she is!"
Those were the longest six days of his life. He shuddered when he thought about what Naruto and Sasuke would do should they find out.
9
It took her nine minutes to get out of her shower, get dressed and be at the gates when Neji had knocked on her door and told her that Naruto came back from his travels.
They hugged the living daylights out of each other, much to Neji's annoyance, and when they pulled back Naruto started laughing.
"What is it Naruto? What's so funny?"
"Nothing, I just never thought that you would grow like normal women do. I always took you for a tomboy more than anything." Said Naruto as he tried to stifle his laughter behind his hand.
He found two fists in his face, courtesy of Neji and Sakura.
Everyone was surprised by Ino, who stomped forward to the sixteen year old young man, bunched up his shirt and yanked him down to meet her lips.
Among all the surprise, no one noticed a white haired pervert, pulling out his note pad and begin taking notes. No one except the copy-nin, of course.
Kakashi grinned underneath his mask. His favorite book series was going to have another book soon.
10
I had to take out ten chapters out of this fic because you guys kept insisting on going into depth about Neji and Sakura's relationship.
I would like to inform you that I won't be updating as frequently as before, because I'm currently working on my graduation project, and it's taking a lot of my time.
This is just a little something to keep the story going, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Till next time,
Zee