Date: 5/31/13
Rating: T
Genre: Cute, Humor
Prompt: Sasuke tries to compliment Sakura á la Shang to Mulan

***Fave!

The Iwa nin was the last straw.

When Sasuke overheard shinobi talking about the infamous love letter given to Sakura, he immediately stopped what he was doing and marched over to the medical tent. Naruto was one thing—he could deal with him another time—but this was someone he didn't know. Someone nameless. Practically a nobody. Sasuke scoffed. Well, now it was his turn. He was going to tell Sakura exactly what he thought of her—that he was impressed, that she was stronger, that she was incredible.

Sasuke stopped mid-step, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. So he wasn't going to use those exact words, but he was definitely going to tell her something, anything to let her know how proud he was of her growth.

And when Sakura turned around—confused, and yet, pleasantly surprised—after he made his grand entrance into the tent, Sasuke never felt more confident. He took a breath. "You—"

He froze, the rest of the sentence dying in his throat. Sakura raised a brow. "Yes, Sasuke-kun?"

But Sasuke didn't know what happened. For the first time, his mind went completely blank. He tried again. "You," he said and, for reasons he couldn't explain, patted her on the back. "You fight good."

Baka.

"Oh." Sakura made a face—the same one you make when you try a new food and you're not sure whether you liked it or not—not exactly sure what to say. "Uh, thanks, Sasuke-kun," she said after a period of awkward silence. It was odd, but, she told herself, it was Sasuke. And if that was his way of recognizing her strength, she'd take it. Sakura gave him a small grin and went back to work. However, she turned around when he noticed he still hadn't left. "Or is there something else you want to tell me?"

"Hn."

Sakura shrugged. "Okay, then I guess I'll see you later, Sasuke-kun!" she said brightly.

Sasuke nodded and walked stiffly to the exit, embarrassed, mentally kicking himself. However, Sakura's voice stopped him. "Hey, Sasuke-kun!"

He turned his head, hand still on the tent's flap. "Yes?"

Sakura winked. "You fight well, too."