Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
I'm going to try my best to keep up on this story and see if I can update once a week if not at least once a month. I did in fact post this story on A03 as well so if you see it there that is me posting it not someone else. I decided to have a lot of Shisui in this chapter before they start heading out to go to the Chunin exams. I wasn't sure what to do at first and Shisui came along, and it seemed to help me write.
Also, I think I might have background relationships for Shisui and Hana but not sure who for either of them at the moment. What do you guys think?
Should I have Sakura meet little Gaara I had planned on her meeting Sasori, not as a missing nin, and him being closer to her and Itachi's age (maybe becoming friends) or should it be Kankuro and Sasori be a sensei?
Chapter 12
Over the next month Sakura, Itachi, and Hana trained and perfected their jutsu's. It took Sakura some time but with the help of Itachi and Kakashi mainly she was able to figure out how to combine her chakra natures using it to cause explosions with her fists. She was only able to do it in close combat though. Her breakthrough with it in fact did not come from Kakashi or Itachi but Shisui on the day before they were supposed to leave for the exams.
He was coming stopping by to hang out with Itachi and happen to see them training. The thing she was missing was so simple and she smacked her head against a tree when he mentioned it. Shisui being his normal self just laughed at her reaction and gave her a pat on the head. "We all miss things at times. Sometimes it's something difficult and other times like this case it's something so simple that you don't even think about it. You assume it's more difficult and just think you are already adding the simple equation. Both of you are practically geniuses at times. The problem with that is it makes it easy sometimes to miss the little things." Shisui said with a smile as he looked at his cousin and friend.
"If you weren't so busy with ANBU missions then you could have helped me with this at the beginning of the month." Sakura replied with a pout and her arms crossed across her chest.
Shisui laughed again and said with a grin. "Well, you would have to take that up with your dear old dad if you don't want me to go on so many missions. Then again you might end up falling for me instead of little Itachi and he would just be jealous of me at that point."
Shisui's comment was met with excessive force as both Itachi and Sakura launched themselves at him. He flickered out of the way and soon the anger was forgotten and became a game of tag as both Itachi and Sakura did their best to catch Shisui. Shisui mainly just laughed at them and used his speed to his advantage as he took them all over the village. When the three of them, mainly Sakura and Itachi, were tired they stopped at a nearby tempura shop and sat down for a meal. Itachi sat next to his cousin and elbowed him with a smile and said "It's nice to see you again Shisui. It's been too long since you were able to be with us or even just me for more than a few minutes."
Shisui quickly hugged Itachi to his chest with a non-Uchiha like squeal. "Aww, I'm so glad to know that my little cousin loves me and misses me."
Sakura giggled as Itachi struggled to get out of Shisui's grip and was failing horribly. He was finally let go and he playfully glared at Shisui with a hn. The playful banter is interrupted as the waitress takes their orders and walks away. "So, what are you up to next Shisui?" Sakura asked before taking a sip of her green tea.
"Well, I get to be part of the detail protecting the Hokage when he goes to the exams in a few days. So, I have time off until then. That and I get to see your guy's final fights for the third part of the exams. It will be fun to watch, and I know you both will win." Shisui replied.
Itachi perked up when Shisui mentions that he will be there for the final part of the exams and will be able to watch their fights if they make it that far. Genma Sensei and Shisui seemed to think it was, but he didn't think it was going to be as easy as they seem to think it is. He did not want to get overconfident and make a fool of himself, his family, and his team. "Means you get a little bit of a break away from your normal missions. That's good at least." Itachi said.
Not long after he said that part of their order arrived for them to snack on while they waited for the rest of their food. Sakura and Itachi ate the gyoza as Shisui ate some miso soup. As they waited for the rest of the food they chatted about the exams and how they thought they might go. Once again Shisui told them that they would more than likely make it to the finals no problem and not to worry about it too much or they might get stuck in their heads and fail because of that. Once the rest of their food arrived Sakura took a bite of her tempura with a slight groan. Itachi stilled and blushed bright red as he watched Sakura eat her second favorite food while making indecent sounds. Shisui bust out laughing making Sakura pause and look at the two of them. She looked confused at Itachi's blush and said "What? I haven't had tempura in it seems like forever."
"Maybe you should leave those sounds for the bedroom Kura-chan" Shisui said with a huge grin.
Sakura's face turned bright red, and she stuttered before just dipping her head down and started to eat again, this time silently. Itachi shook his head at Shisui and said "You didn't have to embarrass her cousin. You could have just ignored it."
"Tachi-chan if I just ignored it and I could have either you never would have eaten or would have chocked on your food while staring at her."
This time at Shisui's comment Itachi turned bright red as well and he dug a sharp elbow into Shisui's side causing him to yelp before apologizing to the two younger ninja. "Come on I can't help but give both of you a hard time. I'm sorry if my true comments cause you to be uncomfortable but you know I'm not one to beat around the bush."
"Just like you usually will also take home anything in a skirt." Sakura said with a smile.
Shisui put a hand over his heart and looked insulted. "Hey, I have some standards, they have to be other ninjas for me to take home. Civilians just aren't aggressive enough for me in bed."
"Shisui have you ever heard the term too much information." Itachi replied blandly.
"Nope! You both will learn this eventually and you're not little kids anymore so why should I watch what I say?"
"Umm maybe, because we don't want to hear it and your bedroom preferences should stay in the bedroom or wherever you decide to have sex." Sakura replied with a raised eyebrow.
"You're both like family and my closest friends so why hide anything about myself."
Itachi sigh and looked at Sakura. "Don't even bother Kura. No matter what we say he's still going to tell us and frankly knowing him it might get worse if we protest more then we already have."
Sakura looked slightly disgusted and looked at Shisui who just nodded with a knowing grin at Itachi's comment. He totally would make it worse and go into more detail just to embarrass them and make them even more uncomfortable if possible. She stuck her tongue out at him and just continued to eat her tempura before it got cold. She was not going to let him ruin one of her favorite meals. Shisui internally laughed as he watched her give up. He always enjoyed giving his cousin and friend shit especially since he knew they both had crushes on each other but refused to admit it to the other or even voice it to anyone. As it was between both families there was a bet going on as to when they actually will admit anything. His bet was on when they are between fifteen and sixteen though he was willing to lose the bet just as long as they were happy. After what they went through, they deserve all the happiness in the world. Thinking back on it made him grit his teeth in anger at the fact that Danzo still was out there somewhere looking for the eyes he wanted. When Sakura and Itachi noticed how he was gritting his teeth they both looked at him with the same expression. Shisui put a fake smile on his face and forced a laugh while he rubbed the back of his head "Don't worry about it just got stuck in my head. Now let me eat before my food gets cold."
Itachi and Sakura looked at each other before looking back at Shisui and figured that there was no point in pushing since Shisui will just dance around the issue when he wants too. He might have mentioned earlier that he doesn't beat around the bush but that was mainly with people other than him or things he was willing to talk about. If he didn't want to talk about it, then they would never get it out of him even If they wanted to resort to torture which they would never do to their friend. They would let it go for now but would be there for him if he ever did want to talk.
Shisui gave them a true smile this time when he noticed that they were willing to drop the subject. He then looked down at his food and they ate in silence until they were done and started to walk home. Shisui and Itachi walked Sakura to her house before they started walking home to the Uchiha compound. "Shisui, you know you can talk to Sakura and I about anything and we won't judge you for it right?"
Shisui stopped in his tracks and looked at his younger cousin with a sad smile. He hugged his cousin when he stops as well and says "I know Tachi. You and Sakura might be best friends, but you guys are my best friends. I may not be around that often anymore due to missions but when I am with you guys, I am more at peace than anywhere else."
Itachi hugged his cousin back tightly and rubbed his back in comfort. "Well, you can hang out with us anytime you need. I know I won't care, and I doubt that Sakura will care either. If you ever need help, we are here for you. You are our best friend outside of each other and we love you."
Shisui hugged Itachi tighter and hide his face in Itachi's hair to hide the tears in his eyes. Once he got his tears under control, he let Itachi go and started walking back towards the compound as if nothing happened. Itachi smiled softly and let his cousin keep up his act.
At home with Sakura
When Sakura went inside her house and was almost knocked over by Naruto and Shadow. She pulled chakra to her feet to keep from being knocked over by her brother and 200-pound German shepherd. Naruto is talking a mile a minute and Sakura cannot understand a thing he is saying and cuts him off "Naru stop talking, breathe, and slow down I can't understand anything you are saying at the moment."
Naruto stops mid word and takes a couple deep breathes before speaking again "Can I go with you to Suna? I promise I'll be good. I won't do anything and won't play any pranks I promise."
Sakura kneeled down to look Naruto in the eye so that she could talk to him a little better and look him in the eye. "Naruto, I wish you could come with me. I'm sure you would love to see the fights that will happen but it's a different village and unless you are part of the exam, a sensei, the Hokage, or someone on his protection detail you can't go to the exams. You may learn a lot if you could go but its just not possible. Anyways you have to go to the academy with Sasuke or he might get better than you." She said gently as she poked her brother in the forehead similar to what Itachi frequently does to Sasuke.
Naruto grumbled under his breathe before saying "Your just like dad. He said no for the same reasons. I don't understand why I can't go. It's not like they are enemies so what's wrong with me going?"
Sakura smiled gently at her brother and rubbed his head gently before pulling him in for a hug "It's all politics and secrets. Unless you have a reason to be there or are a civilian, and even then, you usually need a reason, then different villages don't like people being in their village. We all have spies in other villages but that's always low key and under the radar. For the Hokage to bring his son who is about to graduate the academy in 2 years it looks suspicious. I can almost guarantee that dad is leaving mom at home too. You have to remember that both you and mom are important to the village, and we have to try to avoid putting you in harm's way until you learn to protect yourself a little better."
"But once I become a ninja, I can leave the village, right?"
"Yes, if you have a mission outside the village once you are a ninja you can leave the village no problem. Now I smell something good that either mom or dad are cooking. I'm going to see if they need any help. Why don't you go play with Sasuke for a while until dinner is ready." Sakura said as she let go of her brother and let him go.
Naruto yelled and ran off outside to go hangout with his best friend. Sakura looked at Shadow with a smile still on her face. "At least he somewhat understands even if he is stubborn as hell and tries to play all of us against each other whenever he can. Whoever his sensei will be will have their hands full. Especially if they put Sasuke on the same team." She said as she pet Shadow's head.
"Well, he is related to your mother, and you know how stubborn she is. That and has a violent temper, at least Naruto is not as violent as her." Shadow replied as he rubbed against his partners side and front.
Sakura laughed at Shadow's comment and pet him a few times before continuing on to the kitchen to help her father. At least she assumed it was her father from what she was smelling. Mom tended to cook something easy or ramen. The more complicated dishes were usually cooked by Minato when he had the time off or left work early enough. As she walked into the kitchen she was proved right as she saw the blond hair of her father at the counter chopping some vegetables for a hot pot dinner. "Hey, dad do you need help with anything?"
Minato looked back at his daughter and wiped his hands on the white apron he was wearing before pulling her into a hug. "I heard you were able to perfect the technique you had been working on, so I left a clone to finish the last little bit of paperwork for today and came home early to cook something nice. I have the base for the hot pot cooking slowly on the stove and have some dough raising for bread. I was also going to make some dango for dessert. You can help me prepare the meat if you want. Its always nice to spend whatever time I can with you. Seems like between my duties and your missions I only ever see you in the office when you are taking or reporting on your missions."
Sakura hugged her father back tightly. "I know dad, at least you try to make time where you can. I'm sure Naruto and mom appreciate it I know I do."
Sakura and Minato worked around the kitchen for the next few hours getting everything set up for dinner that night. Right as dinner was ready Naruto came barreling into the house yelling as usual. "Naruto keep it down. Go clean your hands before dinner and tell your mother that everything is ready." Minato said within seconds before Naruto could touch any of the food with his dirty hands.
Naruto deflated slightly before saying "Yes dad."
He took off up the stairs to the bathroom and their parent's room where Kushina was taking a short nap since she had been tired after training with Mikoto earlier in the day. Not long after the family was sitting around the table and Shadow was at Sakura's feet, hoping for scraps. They joked and ate dinner and dessert for the rest of the night. Before bed Kushina and Minato both hugged Sakura again and wished her luck since she would likely not see them in the morning before she left. Naruto also got one final hug in before he darted off to his room to see if he could get away with staying up for a while longer.
The next day
Sakura, Itachi, and Hana waited with a few of the other teams at the front gates of Konoha waiting for their sensei's so that they could leave for Sunagakure so that they could rest for a day or two before the exams. It would take three days to get there as long as they don't run into any sandstorms that will delay them. They did not have to wait long for Genma to arrive and he soon did along with the other team's sensei. "Ready to go my little Genin?" He asked as he came up to his kids.
