Sakura glanced at Shisui with a pointed look while absently washing her hands.
"Err, is something wrong?" Shisui sheepishly asked
Sakura nodded mutely still staring blankly at Shisui as if expecting him to know what the problem is.
"You're mad at me?" Shisui guessed
Sakura shook her head
"Then what?" Shisui sighed in defeat
"Ino-chan wanted a girl meeting, which means girls only." Sakura finally said
"But she can't see me" Shisui pointed out
"But I can"
"So?"
"It'll feel like I'm lying to Ino-chan" Sakura murmured
"Ehh, okay, then I'll leave since you don't need me anymore, I'll go to my spot feeling lonely since the only one who can both see and talk to me is too busy with her girl meeting" Shisui dramatically sighed making Sakura feel guilty, her decision wavering.
"But I'll see you around" Shisui gave Sakura a sad smile turning around to leave
"W-wait!" Sakura called missing Shisui's very Uchiha like smirk before he turned back to her with a questioning look "You can stay. Don't leave, okay?"
"But I'm not a girl" Shisui pointed out
"Eh...it doesn't matter. You're a Shisui" Sakura insisted
Shisui almost chuckled at the logic before asking "Are you sure?"
Sakura swallowed fighting back the guilt towards Ino as she nodded "Positive"
"Oi, Sakura! You almost done?" Ino asked barging into the bathroom
Sakura jumped turning back around to face her best friend "Ino-chan.." she muttered before smiling slightly "I forgot what I was supposed to do in here"
Ino sighed shaking her head at Sakura, "Seems like your sudden confidence came at the prize for your brains"
Sakura flushed at the words "Sorry.."
"I didn't mean it like that" Ino quickly assured lifting up a bag she had "You were supposed to fill the tub with water while I get our stuff"
Sakura's eyes widened, "Ah!"
Ino smiled at her strangely airheaded friend, "But I guess we can talk as thr water fills"
Sakura nodded in agreement already turning on the water, creating an oddly beautiful background noise as she sat down on the floor along with her best friend.
"First things first, did you see Ami's nose?"
Sakura shook her head
"It had a pipe attached to it since someone broke her nose! The medics couldn't do much so they don't change Ami's nose structure or something. It's hilarious!" Ino laughed
Sakura awkwardly laughed along, "I can imagine.."
"Hey isn't Ami-"
"I finished the book you lent me!" Sakura quickly said cutting Shisui off, but Shisui was amused at her red ears.
"Already? Wow, you finished it two weeks earlier than I did. As expected of a bookworm like you"
Sakura flushed in embarrassment
"You can pick out another book tomorrow. If I knew you were interested I would have lend it to you years ago"
Sakura meekly nodded, "I'm planning on helping out in the hospital and learning a thing or two about being a medic-nin"
"Eh? You're interested in being a medic-nin? That's unexpected of you, but I'm rooting for you" Ino smiled at Sakura's big smile.
"Yeah! Now all I need is for Iruka-sensei to sign some papers along with my parents"
"That's great Sakura" Ino genuinely said, glad that her best friend, the flower she was nourishing, had found something she wanted to do.
"How about you Ino-chan? What are you planning to do?" Sakura asked
Ino sighed closing her eyes as she waved Sakura off, "With the academy and clan training I don't have time for anything else" it was because her eyes were closed that she missed Sakura's frown
°•○●○•°°•○●○•°°LATER•○●○•°°•○●○•°
Sakura hugged her knees to her chest humming slightly as Ino brushed her hair, both girls were wearing matching yellow pj's with flower patterns. Shisui was kind of dozing off to Sakura's humming.
"I'm going to let my hair grow out" Ino suddenly said
Sakura paused her humming, "Why?" she asked
"There's a rumor that Sasuke-kun likes long hair" Ino giggled, perhaps a bit perverted making Sakura conclude that her friend was lost in fantasy land.
"Hmm..." Sakura grabbed a strand of her hair, her eyes on a sleeping Shisui "I wonder if he likes long hair..." she muttered to herself
Unfortunately Ino heard evident by the sudden pause "He?" she echoed arching her eyebrows up
Absently Sakura nodded, "He" she repeated
"Who is he?" Ino tried to pry it out of her best friend, an excited smile playing on the blond's lips
"Him" Sakura answered
"Sakura, stop being so cryptic" Ino complained
"...huh?" Sakura blinked glancing at Ino with a confused look "Oh, I was just talking about the person who helped me realize some things"
"Who is he?" Ino asked
"Way older than us" Sakura had a small cheeky smile
"I didn't know you like older guys" Ino noted
"I don't like anyone!" Sakura suddenly exclaimed out
Ino giggled, "No need to be so defensive"
Sakura pouted crossing her arms, "Mou, you're so mean Ino-chan"
"Tehehe, it's just the way I am Sa~ku~ra" Ino winked braiding Sakura's hair, "You should let your hair grow out too, it'd be a shame not to with your pretty hair"
"Your hair is prettier" Sakura absently pointed out as she contemplated whether or not to follow Ino's advice
"But yours is unique, one of a kind. How many other people do you know have pink hair?" Ino asked
Sakura stayed quiet knowing there wasn't an answer to that.
"Oh, and we're going shopping tomorrow. We need to get you some better clothes"
°•○●○•°°•○●○•°NEXT MORNING°•○●○•°°•○●○•°
She was having a very pleasant dream, in her dreams Sasuke had confessed his love to her and even went as far as proposing to her.
But suddenly the dream became fuzzy
"Ino-chan wake up"
Ino groaned rolling over the bed further twisting the pink sheets "Go away, it's too early for this...!"
"But there's only ten minutes left before academy starts"
Ino shot up, her eyes widening in alarm as she glanced at the clock...only to see that there is still roughly an hour and a half time. "Sakura..." she whispered darkly at the giggling girl
She absently noted that Sakura was already ready, wearing a pair of blue legging like pants coupled with a white shirt that had a leaf engraved at the front while her hair was in a braid, the end tied with a red ribbon.
"It's too early"
"But I want to introduce you to someone!"
"Can't it wait?" Ino complained
It was obvious by now that Ino is not a morning person, eh? Even her father was weary of waking Ino up when Ino was in a bad mood. People still wonder where he got that thin cut on his neck.
"B-but..."
Ino's sleepiness immediately began to fade as Sakura looked down timidly "Okay, give me ten minutes!" Ino exclaimed bolting out of Sakura's bed with speed she didn't know she had
"See~? I told you it would work" Shisui cheekily said
"I still feel a bit guitly"
"But now things are going the way you want it to"
"I guess...but the means of getting it done is..."
"Sometimes the ends justify the means Sakura, always remember that"
Sakura straightened at Shisui's serious expression, "Hai"
°•○●○•°°•○●○•°SOME TIME LATER°•○●○•°°•○●○•°
Ino had a simple light blue kimono on with a purple obi, her clothes the opposite of Sakura's.
"Now I know how Shikamaru feels..." Ino swears she'll never critisize that bum in the morning before nine again.
"You talk about him a lot" Sakura noted
"Of course! He's so annoying, lazy, mean, and he hates Sasuke. Who hates Sasuke anyways?"
Sakura couldn't help but sweat drop at her best friend "Sounds like you hate him"
"Nah, Shikamaru's kinda like a brother to me along with Chouji. I've known those two for a long time"
Sakura had to admit it was kinda painful to her seeing Ino's nostalgic smile. It reminded Sakura that she never had any friends before Ino.
To Sakura, back then it almost seemed like she didn't matter. Like no one cared. It was so painful. But then she met Ino. Ino saved Sakura from her loneliness.
Sakura couldn't imagine what she would do without Ino. She couldn't imagine not being friends with the blond.
"She complains a lot, that's because she cares, huh? I misjudged your friend Sakura" Shisui stated with an apologetic smile
Sakura discreetly nodded letting him know that it's alright.
"YOUTH!"
Sakura jumped in surprise, her eyes falling on a...weird man. The man was a tall with high cheek-bones, a somewhat bulbous nose, dark hair, thick eyebrows and very noticeable body hair on his wrists and forearms. His hair was cut in a bowl style that was combed to his right and lifts slightly. He also has a bristling moustache with a small goatee and stubble which made up the rest of his beard. He was wearing a green jumpsuit, orange striped leg warmers, and a yellow scarf around his neck.
"..." Sakura glanced at Shisui who also seemed dumbfounded
"I have no idea, he looks like Guy-san though..." Shisui stated
"How unyouthful of me to lose sight of my very youthful son, if I were still alive I'd run a hundred laps around the land of Fire!" The man exclaimed
"Yep, definitely Guy-san's dad" Shisui had a small amused smile
"Oh? You two youthful souls know about my son?"
Sakura jumped in surprise as tnhe man stood in front of her and Shisui.
"Sakura's not a ghost sir" Shisui informed
"Thankfuly, such a young youth being dead would have been sad" the man seemed relived which was odd to Sakura.
How could someone be relieved for a stranger?
"Indeed, so is there anything you need sir?" Shisui asked
"Ah! Right, I'm looking for my youthful son, Might Guy!" The man informed, "Could any of you two youths have seen him?"
"Knowing Guy-san, he's probably at training ground eleven"
"Thank you!" The man flashed the two a smile before running off
"...that was weird.." Sakura mumbled
"Now I remember! That was Might Duy, the eternal gennin. Well at least that was his tittle before he died, during the war he fought the seven swordsmen of the Mist to save Guy-san's team and managed to take down four of those monsters. He's a legend to Gennin!" Shisui explained, his voice was filled with admiration
"Wow baby..." Sakura murmured in awe
"Sakura, oi, where are you?!"
Sakura jumped having forgotten about Ino for a moment. Without a second thought she ran to catch up with her friend absently wondering more about the youthful spirit.
°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°TEN MINUTES LATER°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°
"I didn't know you were friends with Inoichi's daughter" Anko whistled
"Anko-san, this is Ino, Ino-chan this is Anko Mitarashi" Sakura introduced the two as she grabbed a dango stick from the table
Ino looked surprised, probably not expecting Sakura to introduce her to a ninja.
"Pleasure.." Ino absently said grabbing a stick of dango herself, her diet wasn't as important as her surprise.
"So, Sakura, what do you want to ask today?" Anko raised an eyebrow at the pink haired girl
"Poisons please" Sakura chimed
Ino herself couldn't help but get into the explanations Anko was giving of various poisons, some that even Ino didn't know.
And Anko had a way of explaining that was unorthdox yet effective, mixing in how she herself used the poison or even telling them the history on why the poison was named that way.
Ino had to admit that she underestimated Anko, because she didn't even think Anko could have such a wide knowledge on poison.
Before they arrived at the academy Ino couldn't help but ask Sakura to tag along in the morning starting from now.
Sakura eagerly agreed as she wrote down everything Anko had said. Well, the important parts.
As usual Ino was impressed by Sakura's ability to memorize things like that.
°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°NEXT MORNING°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°
Naruto grinned seeing his Sakura-chan walk in the class. "Sakura-chan, morning~!" he waved at her with a big grin
Sakura smiled politely at Naruto, glad that she made a second bento for her friend "Good morning Naruto-kun, and to you too Shikamaru-san"
Shikamaru groaned "Too early to be good..."
Sakura sweat dropped at the boy, Ino and Naruto were right, he always complains.
"Classic Nara" Shisui commented
"Eh, forget about him Sakura-chan" Naruto said grabbing Sakura's wrists "We have a prank to plan"
Sakura blinked in confusion "But what about cl-"
She was cut off as Naruto dragged her "No time for that!"
"I guess you're skipping?" Shisui shrugged at Sakura's dilema but followed the two nonetheless
Sakura briefly wondered how a ninja could not care about academy students skipping class. Then again this is Shisui she's thinking about.
°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°LATER°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°
Ino yawned flipping the magazine of one of her mother's magazines as she stood in front of her clan compound waiting for her best friend. She would have to ask Sakura where the pinkette was after the academy. Does she know how embarrassing it was to find out from others that her flower, her best friend was being tainted?!
The sound of rolling wheels made Ino look up to see a heavily sweating Sakura walk towards her, suitcase and messenger bag in hand looking a bit pissed.
So like any best friend would do Ino took the suitcase from Sakura and said "There's some chocolate cake in the fridge and I can ask my daddy for us to use the training grounds, there's a dummy in there"
"...that would be nice..."
Ino was sure this was the first time she saw Sakura mad. It was slightly unnerving, not to mention how venomous her friend's polite words sound even though Ino knows it isn't directed at her.
Oh, well. Ino merely stayed quiet knowing to ask once Sakura had a chance to vent out on a dummy. She was glad her clan had a few small training grounds.
"Welcome Sakura-chan~! We're glad to have you"
Ino had to admit Sakura freaked her out by giving her mother a very sweet smile and said "No, I am glad you allowed me to come auntie" in the most normal tone ever
"As polite as always, you're always welcomed here Sakura-chan"
Ino blinked at the exhange, "Umm where's daddy mom?"
"In your room"
"Why?"
"You know how overprotective your dad can be"
Ino flushed at the implications "Me and Sakura aren't going to do anything bad!"
The woman merely giggled ushering the two girls inside.
"Ugh, sorry about my daddy"
Sakura cracked a smile, "No, 's okay"
Ino sighed opening the door to her room. And sure enough her dad was there inspecting her closet.
Ino felt the need to vent herself.
"Daddy can Sakura and I use the training grounds?"
Inoichi nodded at his daughter's request, he could never say no to his princess "Don't overwork yourself, okay?"
"Yes daddy"
"Thanks for having me uncle" Sakura politely bowed
Inoichi couldn't help but notice the slight strain, but he gave Sakura a polite smile before going back to his blatant inspection.
°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°Later (again)°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°
"Eh, Sakura you've been at it for almost thirty minutes now.." Shisui reluctantly spoke up
"So, why are you pissed?" Ino asked arching an eyebrow at Sakura
Sakura let her hands fall limply to her sides, "My parents didn't want to sign want to sign the hospital paperwork"
Ino's eyes widened in understanding of Sakura's frustration, after all she knew how much her friend wanted it, and to have your parents not support you...Ino couldn't imagine that. Sakura's parents were good, but Ino knew they were too strict on Sakura.
"Isn't there any other way?" Ino asked
Sakura sighed, "You're right, there has to be another way, I just have to find it"
"How about we go for that cake?" Ino suggested, her smile widening when Sakura gave her an eager smile
°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°SATURDAY°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°
Sakura stuck her hands in her pocket, her mouth still pouting at being once again denied her parents' signatures.
She'll have to vent by training harder today despite it being Saturday. And she still needs a way to get money to buy supplies.
As her lazy classmate would say
"Troublesome"
"You really are easy to influence" Shisui noted
"I'm an impresionable kid" Sakura couldn't help but snark
Shisui seemed to notice and chose to hum a song or something.
Sakura mumbled an apology as she entered the Dango shop, not at all surprised to see Ino and Anko there first. She was ten minutes late after all.
Maybe she should ask Anko for the poison that makes one disorientated? No...she couldn't poison her parents. It was just wrong.
"G'morning" she greeted taking a seat next to Ino
"Yo!"
"Good morning"
Sakura smiled slightly at her two companions, she did enjoy this moment that they could just eat sweets and talk. Nice girl time.
"So, I heard there was trouble in paradise" Anko started
Ino giving Sakura an apologetic look, but Sakura didn't mind Anko knowing. Anko was cool after all, crazy but still cool.
"Things just get complicated for no reason" Sakura said with a sigh
"I know how you feel kid" Anko nodded in understanding, "But there is a reason I told you to call me Anko-sama"
Sakura blinked as the woman shoved a paper in her face.
"You have my signature, Inoichi Yamanaka's, Ibiki Morino's, your old teacher's and your new teacher's signatures. You won't need your parents' signature anymore, and from now on just rely on others too, okay?"
Sakura blinked, a warm feeling spreading over her as her eyes teared up in joy.
"You don't have to do everything on your own, learn to trust us a little, we are comrades after all" Ino wisely said
Sakura didn't notice Shisui leaving with a contemplative look on his face, too happy that she could now add something else to her skillset.
°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°SECRET SCENE°•○●●○•°°•○●●○•°
The three females never noticed another client that happened to have been there, the client having had a small interest in Sakura Haruno since overhearing Sakura's conversation with Naruto Uzumaki.
And now finding out that Sakura had a connection to both the Yamanaka and Orochimaru's former student Anko Mitarashi.
Interesting...
°•○●●○•°CHAPTER END°•○●●○•°°••°°•°
A/N : Ha! Bet you weren't expecting Sakura to see Might Duy first, eh? Anyways I read over all your suggestions for who Sakura should see next and picked out those who matches the limit of Sakura's ghost seeing ability.
Questions :
1. Favorite Naruto Pairing
2. Your opinion on the Sharingan?
3. Who would you befriend in the Naruto world?
My own answers :
1. Minato and Kushina, they were the best developed pairing in my opiniom compared to the rest. A close second being Asuma and Kurenai. With third place going for Shikaku and Yoshino Nara.
2. I don't really have an opinion on it. The only thing I know is that if I were Naruto or anyone else I would have just used pepper spray on those eyes or a flash bomb. Though powerful, the Sharingan is still eyes. Therefore they have a normal eyes weakness.
3. To be honest, I'd befriend Shino...he seems so lonely...especially in the anime. To me it isn't even funny how they forget him all the time. But that's just my opinion.