Disclaimer: i do not own Naruto are any of its characters, just the plot. And the OC's.
Title: Bearing an Hourglass
Author:fourthfireshadow
Language:English
Form:Multi-Chaptered
Genre:Romance/Adventue
Pairing: Sakura Haruno/Sasuke Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki/Minato Namikaze
Summary: What would you do if you found out you are one of the only two people exclusively chosen to trade your existing time line for another one to fix past mistakes, so that the entire fate of the ninja word effectively lies on your shoulders in just a single minute? That's what Sakura and Sasuke have to figure out.
Dedicated to: Faithfullywicked,Bad-Kitty-Kill, Excited, Xoxo, SasukeHaruno, guest, jus4theheckofit98, miss147peach12, angel897, Hola, Crab cakes, tikaorangefan, purveyor of lost socks, Btralox, Princess Ren, Skyblossom8173, the-clumsy-one, OneCrimsonMoon, KisshutheKiller—for all your wonderful, awesome, fantastical reviews!
As for the poll, right now it is—Kushina-4, Sakura-4—so, it's kind of a tie right now. Im keeping the voting on for this chapter too so please tell me who you'd like to see as the Kyuubi's jinchuuriki!
Bearing an Hourglass
by fourthfireshadow
Chapter 3-A Timeline Fellow Trader
"—ost important thing in a shinobi's repertoire, is chakra control. Now, I'm sure everyone remembers what chakra is and can do. We have already tried a chakra moulding exercise, but last time not everyone did it properly. So, in today's class—"
Sakura did not register any of it. It was like white noise to her. She doesn't really remember how she had gotten to her current seat and she hoped with all her might that her expression was controlled and not revealing. She finally snapped out of her stupor as she clicked her tongue and furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief.
I mean, really?! Did the sage hate me…? Did I do something to him..?!
Her eyes glanced at the crescent shaped marks on her palms—the result form clenching her fists so tightly. She avoided looking at the right side of the class as much as she could. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her back. She didn't really know how she felt about that. Curl up and die, crawl away in disgust, scream for joy that she wasn't alone anymore, cry at these circumstances she seemed to always fall in…she grinded her teeth, all such conflicting emotions…!
"—kura-chan! Oi! Are you lisenin'?"
Sakura's eyes snapped to her side to meet Kushina's worried and confused eyes. Forcing herself to relax a bit more—which was a bit useless, since she was high strung—she tried to smile.
Kushina raised a bewildered eyebrow, "eh, what's with you?" she questioned, "one second you're all cool, and then you just looked wide-eyed after looking at that pretty boy next to that flaky boy..!"
…flaky boy? Does she…mean Minato? And don't tell me pretty boy's…
Sakura stifled a small giggle at that. Imagine that, the Yondaime Hokage reduced to a flaky boy. By his future wife, no less! But then internally sighed. How could she ever explain that to her? She couldn't, but what excuse to give…?
"Oh, I just found him really cute. Didn't you?"
The pinkette wished she could take back her words as soon as she said them. Cute?! What the hell is wrong with me?! Kushina's wide-eyed expression also really wasn't helping her much.
She sighed depressingly. Did I just…totally destroy…my image in front of her?
"Y-you find…someone c-cute?" Kushina mumbled, her hand covering her mouth as snickers escaped her. She was like that because of some pretty boy? Her snickers grew louder.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at the red head before nonchalantly looking at her nails. "Hn. So? I also found the other boy with the blond hair cute. Don't you think so too, Kushina?"
Her snickers abruptly stopped as Kushina's eyes widened at the question. "u-uh, n-no! No way! Of course not."
"Hmm, that's too bad," Sakura continued as if she didn't notice her sister's face growing redder and redder, "cuz' from the way he stuck up for you, I'd say he liked you."
"U-urasai! Don't say s-stupid things like that!" Kushina yelled as she covered her ears childishly and pouted at the teasing. She could feel the heat on her face. Her eyes narrowed at the mischievous smirk on her sister's face as she huffed. No one ever believed her when she said her sweet, innocent older sister had a dark side!
Sakura smirked in amusement at the fully red girl. It really was fun teasing Kushina about her future husband. She internally cackled. Think of how much fun it'll be when I can actually set them up! Ha!
That's when she noticed the small slip of paper by the leg of her table. Glancing around from the corner of her eyes, she reached down to pick it up. She looked at the carefully folded paper; the chakra trace on it was very faint, but she could bet on who it was from. Narrowing her eyes, she could feel herself tense up as she cautiously unfolded the paper and held it between her index and middle finger. Her eyes moved over the single sentence once, twice, three times, imprinting it to her brain as her eyes stayed fixed on the insignia.
Meet me at the academy rooftop at noon. We have to talk. Don't be late.
—S
She only felt the faintest pulse of chakra before she realized what was happening. She swiftly hid the paper in her palm as she felt a scorching heat inside only for a second. When she opened her hand, the paper had disappeared and only ashes remained. She stared at her now sooty hand as the ashes blew away.
He had written it on chakra paper.
Not just any normal one either, but a sensitive one—one that activates just a few moments after a person comes in contact with it. No wonder his chakra trace on the paper was so little. He had avoided touching it as much as possible. A pretty clever trick to destroy any evidence. Which meant this talk they were going to have was probably the talk she was dreading.
"Aishh…" she groaned quietly.
…and it seemed as if his superiority complex stayed intact even as he travelled more than twenty years in the past. She fumbled with her shirt sleeve as to hide the slight trembling—she did not want to acknowledge that fact yet.
Her head hit the desk in annoyance.
She was so not looking forward to this.
.
.
.
"Uh, Kushina, I'll join you later, kay? I just need to talk to someone for a bit."
"Eh? Who?"
"The uh, sensei."
"Oh. Well, I'll stay with you too—"
"No! No, that's really not necessary. You go and explore, I'll be with you in a few."
"…okay, I guess."
Sakura took her time to climb the stairwell that led up to the roof. It was already two minutes later than the specified time, but she never did like taking orders from anyone. If she could defy him by coming just two minutes later, then that's enough.
Her legs literally felt like lead as she climbed. She could feel the grittiness of the railing as she gripped it hard, careful not to apply chakra lest she crush it. She wasn't exactly sure how she was supposed to be feeling, it was a clutter of memories and emotions clashing with each other.
She could faintly make out a single figure standing, his back to her. She gulped, feeling…something unpleasant. She could feel the waves of anxiety practically buzzing in her blood. She made a noise in the back of her throat as he turned.
It was, in a way unreal—the way he looked now. He was practically a stranger, yet at the same time, not. How long ago had she seen this Sasuke? He looked exactly as she remembered from her original academy days—the way he was when she first developed her crush on him. The cool, mysterious boy who excelled at virtually everything.
The only thing that stood out—that was different from the last time— was the look in his onyx eyes—contentment.
This was a hard pill to swallow for Sakura. When had she ever seen this boy actually content with himself and his surroundings? Maybe a glimpse or two during the Team 7 days, but even then the look never stayed for long.
Now, the glint never went. There wasn't even annoyance as he gazed back at her—probably trying to figure her out just as she was doing. There was just…maybe peace. And something she couldn't even begin to understand. She felt it as hope, but maybe that was her mind just playing tricks on her.
"…Sakura."
"Sasuke…"
Why did their reunions always start that way? Sakura wondered wistfully.
Maybe others would find it impossibly hard to take this meeting seriously—they were both ridiculously small with ridiculously high-pitched voices of children, after all. Not at all the adults they had been—but in her mind, she kept flickering between the older Sasuke and the present one, feeling this reunion just as important as serious as the others, if not more. Probably not as deadly, she mused.
"You are the other time-trader the old sage had been talking about, then."
Obviously. "Yeah."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed a bit at the curt tone.
He had been analyzing the new her as well. In appearance, she looked exactly as he remembered in his childhood as well, except with a few minor differences excluding her attitude. Apparently he'd have to get used to this new side of her. But what caught his interest the most after the initial shock wore off was her new last name—Uzumaki.
So, Sakura became an Uzumaki.
And based on the impeccable accuracy she had displayed in the classroom, aim that a normal nine-year old would've never possessed, it seemed she hadn't been idle since she had been sent back. Good. Neither had he.
"He made you an Uzumaki?" he questioned.
"…Yeah. Not sure why, but he did…" she muttered, her voice fading as she ran out of anything to say. They were both avoiding talking about the taboo topic—their past lives. And she had no idea how to bring it up in this tense air. Should she say something or follow his lead?
"I—"
"I have a family now."
Sakura's eyes snapped to his as her face turned to one of surprise. He looked reflective, his eyes lowered. He looked so innocent…
"A mother, a father, and a little sister," he continued as he struggled a bit to convey what he wanted to say, "…it's not the same. Not at all. But it's enough." He finally looked up to meet her own eyes, "it's more than enough. I'm…content…with this."
Sakura finally controlled her expression, morphing into one of understanding. She understood what he was trying to say—that he had a family; he had friends; this was the life he never had, but always yearned for. In a way, this made her a bit incensed. How could he be so at peace with this new life, this new world, while she was still trying to cope? How is this so easy for him? Didn't he feel like everything was different? It wasn't the same—it's not his original parents, there's no Itachi as his older brother now, no Naruto. Nothing. Everything was different, unrecognizable.
As soon as her anger came, it subsided. She could feel herself growing guilty for thinking those thoughts. Of course he would be happier here. There was no ignorant parents, no bloodshed, no war, no betrayal and no coup d'état. His life wasn't tainted with blood here. He could have a fresh start. She had no right to feel bitter. No right at all.
Then why did she?
"That's…great, Sasuke." She tried to say without sounding bitter at all, but she doubted she succeeded at the look he gave her.
"Both Okaa-san and Otou-san aren't anywhere near the position of head, but…they're always there. So is my imouto. It's different and new and…" Sasuke stopped his words, choosing to look at her instead.
"You're…talking more than I'm used to…" Sakura said with a small smile starting to form.
"I had two years to think about my actions clearly…" he said as his lips twitched, "but I suppose it may be surprising to you."
"Yeah…"
"Hn…What about you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, looking expectant and, Sakura was surprised to note, uncertain.
Finally feeling some of the tenseness leave from her shoulders at the uncertainty, she smiled half-heartedly, "I'm…fine. I mean, I desperately miss our old…but I'm coping. I have a great sister now and…and I'll always have Naruto with me now, at least in a way."
She noticed Sasuke looked a bit more quieter after that. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned Naruto's name. She disregarded that thought immediately—no, it's best to get it out of the way like this.
"…Yeah."
"…Hey, at least this way, I can finally kick your ass thoroughly without getting exhausted at all." Sakura said lightly with a small grin, very much wanting to ease the air.
She grinned in slight relief when she saw his lips quirk in a small smirk as he looked at her with raised eyebrows, "You're still annoying as always."
Was it weird that she actually missed that line?
.
.
.
The silence was somewhat tolerable.
There was so much between them, so much history, and so much baggage. So much blood. It was by no means a small measure. Each one was deliberate and told volumes about their past. And their one common link, their one bright ray of sunshine…was not even here…
The slightest twitch or the smallest movements from him seemed to put her on edge. Sakura knew why she reacted that way—the chirp-chirp-chirp of a chidori inches behind her head, his rough and calloused hand blocking her airway, the infinitely blank eyes, the maniacal laughter—all those images just kept on attacking her mind in flashes. It wasn't easy to forget anything, even if the boy who was now waling next to her looked anything like that person…
She wasn't deluded enough to believe they were friends, at least not as deluded as she was to believe he considered her a friend during their team 7 days. She could freely admit that she was more than wary of him, even if he had seemingly changed. Maybe two years could really change a person; she knew she had, after all. She could even admit now that her determination to bring Sasuke back to their side had more than slightly waned during the end. It was only due to some call of fate Sasuke decided to return himself. And even then, she had never trusted him completely, always fearful of how and when he would run again.
They were both sent here before she could find out.
It was Naruto who never gave up, Naruto who trusted without a second thought. She couldn't help but think with a slightly melancholic smile the differences there would already be if it were the Child of Prophecy that had been sent here instead.
What difference had she exactly made? What about Sasuke?
She didn't exactly understand why the Sage had sent her and Sasuke—an emotionally broken girl that supports from the sidelines and a mentally shattered boy with severe traumatic issues—to the past.
It should've really been Naruto. The one who was destined to change the entire ninja world one day. And now she'd never see him again for another ten or more years. And even then…
She ignored the whisperings in her mind and glanced at the boy next to her. She faintly remembered how she had seen his profile in exactly the same way when she was in the academy, looking at him from a distance. She'd have been so euphoric then to even spend time with him.
But now, she just felt nervous, wary and excited all at once. She knew she hadn't really relaxed yet and neither had Sasuke; truthfully, she couldn't blame him. She fought the urge to sigh loudly. How could she make this any less uneasy exactly? She glanced at him again slyly, but scowled when she saw his perfectly unemotional face—or as unemotional as a nine year old could get.
Just then, she heard the faint sound of rustling and then a soft audible giggle. Whipping her head back, she spied two or three girls her same age or younger giggling or blushing. Her eyes widened as she turned her head mechanically to look at Sasuke. A tic had formed in his jaw as his brows furrowed.
She couldn't exactly disguise her bubbling laughter very well. Her snickers eventually escaped her as she covered her mouth with her palm when Sasuke directed his annoyed glare at her.
"Seems like you have fan girls wherever you go. You lucky guy, you." She teased, thankfully relieved that she something to break the ice that was forming.
"Shut up."
"Oh come on, it's good. It's just; you're present fan girls were actually old women in our time-line. That's just…ha…funny." She said before erupting in snickers once more.
"I don't really understand why you're so amused, seeing as you were one yourself once." Sasuke snapped at her as he crossed his arms. She was amused to see him responding like so. He had never ever participated in something like this with her, ever.
Sakura simply smiled and didn't reply to the jab. Though her smile turned slightly strained as the seconds ticked by and the silence reigned over them again. She let her hair cover her face as she glanced at her shoes. She really couldn't make up her mind over this whole…encounter.
Due to some fortunate stroke of luck, she spotted a flash of red as she looked up. Kushina.
"I'll leave first then. I need to go now anyway…" Sakura said as she looked at Sasuke.
She saw Sasuke still for a moment before nodding his head once. "Hn."
"…ja."
And before she knew it, she registered the light tap-tap-tap of her feet hitting the pavement as she sprinted to where Kushina was, leaving behind the boy she had declared her love to in what seemed like a millennia.
"Kushina!"
The redhead whipped her head to her name being called and scowled as she saw Sakura's form.
"Oye! Do you know how much time you took?! I was all alone, ttebane!" Kushina crossly said. She scowled even more as she caught a glimpse of that pretty boy from class, "wait, don't tell me you ditched me to hang out with pretty boy!?"
Sakura barely registered the redhead's common antics as an ephemeral thought passed,
Was I running away?
.
.
.
The day was particular sunny, with no clouds in sight. It was as if the day itself was symbolizing peace and tranquillity.
Thud.
The girl named Rieka ducked from an unimpressive punch from her opponent, and delivered a strong uppercut, making the boy cry out in pain at the force and fall to the ground in a heap. The girl grinned at the cheers from all around her, and then helped the sniffling boy to get up on his feet. They both performed the reconciliation seal under the watchful eye of Tadashi-sensei before going to their respective groups of friends.
One week and three days.
It had been one week and three days since their meeting. Now, there were just awkward glances and wary looks. At least from Sakura's part, there was. From Sasuke's, it was mostly silence or blank stares.
Sakura just didn't know how to handle this, and she hated situations she couldn't handle. She wasn't a go-getter type at all. And this had been affecting her everyday routine more than she'd like to admit. Even Kushina had noticed her strangeness. But how could she just move past everything…just like that? It wasn't possible.
"Uh, next is Himawari Aoki and er, Kushina Uzumaki. You're up!" Tadashi-sensei called out.
Sakura was jolted out of her thoughts as she heard her sister's name. All the students of class 3 were taken outside for academy spars. The students were all crowded as a circle, leaving a huge space in the middle for the spars to take place. Only three or four spars were over till now and a large number of students were still left.
Himawari…where have I heard that name before?
The redhead next to Sakura jerked as she heard her name being called out. She scowled as she saw her opponent standing. She looked like one of those dolls who only cared about looks and materialistic stuff like that. Kushina could feel her annoyance growing. Girls like that are the ones that give a bad name to Kunoichi.
"Good luck, 'Shina." Sakura wished with a smile as she patted the girl on the back. Kushina directed a grin at her, "Don't worry! This'll be over before you know it, ttebane!"
"Okay, remember, this is just to show what all you have learnt till now. This spar is not to seriously injure your opponent all right? Remember, only Taijustsu. Now, before you start, make the seal of combat."
The two girls faced each other, one smirking and the other scowling. They both raised their dominant arms and made the seal.
"All right, now begin!"
For a moment, the girls simply waited for the first move. Kushina remembered Sakura's advice, always wait for the first move and try to analyze your opponent. Well, that's what she was going to—
"You know, I had heard from the others, but I hadn't seen it for myself. You really do look like a tomato with that face and hair of your's." Himawari taunted with a sly, but somehow cruel smirk.
Kushina's eyes widened at that. "Wha…?"
"You're hair really is weird. How can you even show up every day with hair like that? It may be brave but also kinda stupid." Himawari continued as she inspected her nails in a show of indifference.
"Shut up!" Kushina growled, "at least I don't sit around and look at the mirror all day! Unlike you, I train!" she yelled as her fists clenched.
"Maybe so, but at least I don't look like a fat fruit. I really wonder why you and your freak show of a sister came here…"
Sakura's eyes widened. Oh no…she's losing focus.
Kushina had already gotten the stupid nickname of 'Tomato' from their seriously immature classmates. Sakura could only do so much. They never dared to make fun of Kushina in front of her after her display on the first day, but she knew this bullying took place when she wasn't present. It was obvious from the way Kushina's expression was happy one moment and wilted the next.
She was just waiting for the day Naruto described—the day when she'll get her second nickname-the red Habanero.
In some way, this spar reminded her of her own pitiful one in the original academy days. She had been pit up against Ami, one of the main people who had bullied her endlessly.
"Kami, you're so pitiful! How can you even stand with that billboard as a forehead?! Hah!"
"S-stop it…!"
"Get up, loser! Or is your forehead weighing you down?"
Thud.
Kushina had kicked the girl in her mid section, making the girl fly back a few spaces. Not giving any time to think, the redhead pounced on the helpless blonde girl. Himawari cried out in shock and fear as she attempted to dodge.
She rolled to the side and flailed her arms and legs to ward off the crazy redhead, but it was futile. Kushina straddled the girl and punched her on the face again and again as hard as she could.
"don't—punch—ever—punch—ever—punch—call—punch—me or my sister—punch—a freak!—punch—understand?!—"
Her small arm was caught by the chunin sensei and she was roughly pulled up as he looked at her with a stern expression, "That's enough! Didn't I tell you to not seriously injure?"
"Eh? She provoked me, ttebane!" Kushina cried out, indecrulous.
"That may be so, but in a real life situation, Kushina-san, you should not be so quick to lose your temper. That may one day prove to be fatal." He said with finality in his voice.
Kushina huffed but said nothing in return, instead looking at the bruised girl wiping away her tears standing to the side.
"Now both you make the seal of harmony and we'll move on—"
"No way I'm gonna do that, ttebane!" Kushina said as she stamped on the ground, as if to emphasize her point, "that's stupid anyway! As if anyone's gonna do that after a real fight!"
"Shinobi spars are a sacred tradition, gaki!" Tadashi-sensei yelled at the ignorant girl, "Now make the seal of harmony now before I make you clean the toilets!"
Kushina's head immediately snapped up as she glared, "mou, you can't make me—"she stopped at the menacing glare on sensei's face. Scary…
Reluctantly, she made the seal of combat and extended it to the girl, looking away. As soon as their fingers locked in the harmony seal, Kushina wrenched her arm away and stalked off to where Sakura was standing, ignoring the clutter of whispers.
"So, how'd I do?" Kushina asked, grinning expectantly.
Whack!
"Itai! What was that for?!" Kushina howled, clutching her head in pain and glaring at the pinkette in irritation.
Sakura just shook her head, peering at her with one green-blue eye open. "baka."
"Hmph!" Kushina huffed and crossed her arms.
"Uhh, next are…Uzumaki Sakura and…Uchiha Sasuke. You're up!"
.
.
.
"Che. That brat was less than impressive if you ask me."
"Well, it's a good thing no one asked you then, Tsunade-chan." Mito Uzumaki said with a calm smile, her grey eyes fixed on the scene playing out in front of her. Both Mito and Tsunade were watching the academy spars from beneath the trees, the shadows effectively hiding them.
"I'm gonna say it even if no one asked me," a blonde woman—Tsunade Senju retorted before she narrowed her eyes, "after all, that's why you brought me along, isn't it? For my opinion?"
"No." Mito said bluntly, "I invited you along to keep an old woman company."
"Che." Tsunade grunted as her red painted lips twisted and mumbled, "Obaa-chan can't even admit anything…"
"What was that?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Tsunade hastily said as she smiled, nervously eyeing the old woman. Why is she the only person who can intimidate me?!
"Good," Mito said, still not looking up from the ongoing spar between a blonde girl and Kushina. While Kushina was clearly emerging as the victor; it was obvious how the other girl had successfully taunted the redhead. "However, since you are here, you can explain to me why you think Kushina-chan was less than impressive, as you put it."
Tsunade could feel her annoyance growing at the slightly mocking way she said it. Is it possible for a person to love someone and hate someone all at the same time? She'd think so. Resisting the urge to sigh, she replied, "that brat's easy to anger, which may prove to be a fatal flaw in the future and—"
"But the girl won the spar." Mito interrupted, looking at Tsunade thoughtfully.
"—Yes, but, this was a friendly fight. Out in the real world, she may not prove to be—"
"It seemed like her anger increased her strength."
"—that may be so, but a proper shinobi must always have a tight rein on their emotions! Maybe she got a slight boost because of her emotion-which is just adrenaline, by the way-but, by losing focus like that, it may put her in—"
"Tsunade-chan," Mito interrupted again, making Tsunade sigh out loud in frustration, "there are two types of shinobi—shinobi who act indifferent and emotionless are one type. If these types, who lock away their emotions, let their emotions for just one moment of weakness control their thoughts, it gives them tunnel vision that ultimately leads to their demise. And then there are shinobi who embrace their emotions whole-heartedly and use those emotions as a means or a tool necessary to protect their precious ones and emerge as triumphant."
"I have always noticed, that while the former type are the ones who are efficient and powerful, it is the latter who always come out on top in the end," Mito said, a sad smile playing on her lips, her steel grey eyes far away, as if reliving some distant memory, "I know Kushina-chan looks to be one of those who wears her heart on her sleeve, but if she continues to do so in the future, I feel she'd be extremely fortunate."
Tsunade kept quiet, a small accepting smile on her lips. She knew her grandmother was talking about her grandfather, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. From the memories she had of her deceased jiji, she remembered the large grin he always had on her face whenever she was with him.
He was the true epitome of the latter type Mito-Obaa-chan had just described. She looked back at the redheaded girl, who was now—Tsunade noted amusedly—caressing her head from someone with pink hair. That hair's definitely odd…
"…Who's the next brat?" Tsunade asked after few moments of peaceful silence.
"Uhh, next are…Uzumaki Sakura and…Uchiha Sasuke. You're up!" the chunin instructor's voice reached them.
"That would be it." Mito said, already interested at the outcome. Her prospective candidate against one of the rookies of the year. This was bound to either be impressive or disappointing.
.
.
.
"Uhh, next are…Uzumaki Sakura and…Uchiha Sasuke. You're up!"
For one split second, the whole world was a blur. As fast as it came though, it also went. The blast of noises crashed onto her senses as her eyes wildly searched for Sasuke. Her eyes caught his in the crowd. His surprise could be seen from the slight rise in his eyebrows as well as his slightly widened eyes.
She didn't exactly know why she was so surprised at this. The Fates did always love to play with them. Suddenly, she felt the sensation of being watched; a tingling feeling in the back of her neck. She turned her head a fraction but there was nothing.
Of course it could've been most of the students who were alternating their stares between Sasuke and her but she felt like that wasn't it.
"Hey, it's the pretty boy…" Kushina said before grinning widely and slapping Sakura on the back, knocking the breath out of her, "pshh, you can take him! He doesn't look that strong!"
Sakura glared at her before picking off the offending arm and slowly walking to the centre, facing Sasuke properly. The cheers for Sasuke increased in pitch as the girls screamed and yelled their support. This brought an ironic smile on her face, remembering a spar similar to this between Naruto and Sasuke-their first ever.
She belatedly realized she had never once had a proper fight with him before, ever. It was always deceit and manipulation or a quick kill with them. Never a proper spar, a full blown out fight.
She oddly felt the first tendrils of excitement and nerves running up and down her limbs.
Sasuke did show anything on his face as he raised his hand to form the combat seal. Quickly following, Sakura also performed the seal. Nodding in satisfaction, Tadashi-sensei gave them the signal to start.
"Are you ready?" asked the instructor.
Sakura felt a buzzing start in her toes as she stared across the few feet separating him from her—friend? Teammate?—old acquaintance. It travelled up her legs until it was beating through her like a second pulse. Was she ready? She nodded.
"All right. Begin!"
For one moment, their eyes locked— Green to onyx.
Sasuke's stance shifted.
Sakura's fists clenched, ready.
The next moment, they moved.
Both were blurs, at least according to the student's standards. Sakura aimed a punch which Sasuke caught in his hand, his own hand aiming lower. Expecting that, she twisted her arm and slipped down between his legs, breaking the lock. Jumping upright, she turned just in time to catch his foot with both her hands, the force pushing her a bit backwards. Not giving her any leeway, he directed a high kick at her making her loosen her grip on his foot to block the other one. Taking the opportunity, Sasuke jumped away to a safer distance.
They both dashed at each other again, their fists aimed to strike.
What did...Naruto say again…?
Sakura caught a hold of his shirt collar and kneed him in the stomach making him buckle. But Sasuke took that chance to do a low sweeping kick, making Sakura jump to avoid it. Using his shoulders, she did a back flip, landing safely on the ground.
That when a shinobi's fists meet in battle, that's all it takes to see what's in their heart…
This time, Sasuke charged first with both his fists. Sakura countered both fists, but was too late to notice the foot coming at her at full force. So she did the only thing she could—she took the hit, her breath knocked out of her thoroughly. The next few seconds, she was forced to go on the defensive, blocking, dodging and countering however she could. She pirouetted away from a particularly fatal blow and gave one of her own.
Then…can you…tell what I really want to say, Sasuke…?
Her eyes narrowing at the small opening in Sasuke's stance, she jumped to take it. Fighting a little unfairly, she stamped on his shin roughly making his eyes widen in surprise as she used her other leg to kick his chest, hard. But she didn't count for Sasuke to take a hold of her ankle, pulling her along with him as he fell. They both fell to the ground hard, their skin dragged on the rough surface.
Do you see…that I really want…a new start?
They were both panting a bit by now, their fight going on for a few minutes and not one of them giving any indication of losing. But their stamina was reaching their limit in this body; they had to end this now. They both stood up, both their hands clenched and eager at their sides. Their postures tense. They may have not had any S-level techniques in hand like the Chidori and the Rasengan, but their fists were enough for now.
They both moved at the same time, their eyes locked on each others, determination and something else glittering in both pairs of eyes.
I'm trying to say that…
Both their fists reared back, aimed to strike.
…I would really like…
They swung forward, like a coil being snapped. Green-blue clashed with Onyx.
…to be your friend again…
Both their fists hit the desired mark on their face, making both of them fly back at the sheer force packed in the blow. Sasuke performed a rough back flip in the last moment while Sakura also landed properly, albeit ungracefully.
Sakura vaguely registered the cheers and shouts of amazement from the students all around her as she heard Tadashi-sensei announce the spar as a draw.
"If both of you'd make the seal of harmony, we'll move on…" Tadashi-sensei said, looking at both of them with a smile.
Sakura walked to the centre, not knowing why she was feeling a bit shy all of a sudden. Her eyes once more clashed with his onyx ones, not able to read the emotion in them. Her hand reached out to where his was, her index and middle fingers extended.
She wondered if he felt the same emotions she did in their brief but intense spar. She finally understood what Naruto said about communicating with fists—she truly felt as if she could understand him in that moment, in the heat of battle. But she still had her doubts; did he?
He shot her a soft smirk, his eyes less dark than she had known. Her eyes widened.
His index and middle fingers curled lightly around hers.
She slowly smiled back, her eyes lighter than they had been for quite some time.
Maybe this could their chance for a real friendship.
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"Now, that was impressive for a pair of toddlers." Tsunade whistled under her breath. The spar was actually interesting. If they had been able to use ninjutsu and genjustsu, not just taijutsu, it would've been extra note-worthy, she reckoned.
"Hmm, yes, it really was, wasn't it?" Mito asked, though it was more like she was thinking to herself.
"Yeah. They both look like they could compete for Rookie of the Year. Along with that Namikaze. I heard he was also good. That hot-headed brat was also okay, I guess." Tsunade smirked, soft pride reflected in her eyes, "looks like we have a good batch this year, actually."
"Yes, but you do realize what this means don't you?" Mito asked softly, concern displayed on the aged face.
Tsunade looked down at the worry on her face and grimaced, her lips turning down at the corners. Of course she knew what this meant. "…they'll be recruited early because of the upcoming war."
"Yes." Mito sighed, "I always thought that was barbaric—sending younglings to the front lines with no experience, but on the other hand, I can also see why manpower is necessary…"
"Such is the way of life…" Tsunade weakly said, but knew it was no excuse. It was barbaric and she had never supported the cause. She and her teammates had already seen the horrors and bloodshed of war and it had considerably scarred them all, albeit to different degrees. To think that young children are to be exposed to such harsh lights…
She was jarred out her thoughts to see the contemplating look on her Baa-chan's face. "Obaa-chan, what're you thinking about?"
A small yet weary smile lit up Mito Uzumaki's face, "I think it's about high time I meet my relatives."
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