Kei-Kei Yuki: Here is the next chapter~! I know I still have long to go, but please continue to support this story.
Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades
Drabble Eighteen
The Light that Holds them Together
Sakura sat on her knees, trembling, wide eyes staring at the scene before her. After having Team 10, which consisted of her ex-friend and rival Ino, come to her aide, Sakura was happy upon their arrival, but it seemed even they encountered problems with sound ninjas. Just when things were looking bleak, Sasuke finally awoke from his coma, something which brought forth relief and utter happiness to Sakura, until she sensed the ominous dark chakra that cloaked him.
After watching him ruthlessly break Zaku's arms, Sakura couldn't help but become paralyzed with fear, telling herself, 'This is not Sasuke-kun. Something is obviously wrong with him.' Sakura wanted so badly to reach out to him, to stop him, but something kept her from moving forward. Though her mind commanded her body to move, it was all useless.
Before Sakura realized it, she was mentally chanting. 'Naruko, you gotta wake up. You gotta wake up and stop Sasuke-kun! Please, Naruko! Wake up!'
Suddenly, as if Naruko could hear her plea, an orange blur appeared before Sakura, tan hands clutching Sasuke's pale ones. "Stop, before the darkness takes hold of you. Come back to us, teme. Listen to my voice, Sasuke!" Naruko's blue eyes locked with Sasuke's onyx ones, snapping him awake as the marks on his body began to disappear.
Turning around, Sasuke leaned forward, touching his forehead against Naruko's as a breath of relief was released from him. Just the sight of Naruko vanished all his hatred. Seeing how the last time Sasuke saw Naruko, she had been knocked unconscious and discarded away like trash by the same person who gave him this new source of power. After having brought Sasuke back to his senses, Naruko felt a little weak and suddenly dropped to her knees.
This action caused both Sasuke and Sakura to worriedly call out to her. "I'm fine. Just a little weak," Naruko weakly comforted them. One moment Naruko's entire world had been nothing but darkness and the next, she had felt her instincts screaming at her to move, forcing her eyes to open as before she knew it her body had moved towards Sasuke.
Shooting her eyes towards Sakura, Naruko saw how beat up and tired the girl appeared and quickly understood the troubles Sakura must've gone through protecting both herself and Sasuke. Reaching out a hand, she cupped the pinknette's cheek and said with a sincere voice,
"You did good, Sakura-chan."
Four simple words, yet for some reason, those words, combined with that smile which seemed to have the powers to wipe away people's pain, sent Sakura hurling towards Naruko. Hugging the shorter blonde's waist, she cried on Naruko lap. Naruko said nothing as she affectionately patted Sakura's head.
After the three sound ninjas took their leave, those left behind didn't know what to say or do upon witnessing such a touching scene. Sasuke was still clutching Naruko's hand with the intent of not wanting to let go. Sakura was crying on Naruko's lap, venting out all her sorrow with her tears, and in the middle of those two sat Naruko, with a soft affectionate smile on her face, tending to both of them.
Watching the scene, Shikamaru couldn't help but utter, "She really is the light that holds them both together."
After parting ways with Kabuto, once both scrolls were open, a cloud of smoke appeared. From within that cloud of smoke, Naruko expressed a wide grin, pointing towards that familiar face as she happily yelled out,
"Iruka-nee!"
"Huh? N-Naruko?! Sasuke-kun and Sakura-chan?!"
Upon seeing the two familiar faces of her old academy students, along with Naruko, who was like the little sister that she basically raised, tears welled up in the chunin woman's eyes as she rushed out and ambushed the three in a tight hug while sobbing out loud.
"I'm so happy to see you all alive and well! You don't know how worried I was about you three. You especially, Naruko! Just look at you. How on earth did you end up in this state?"
Both Sasuke and Sakura couldn't help but sweatdrop at their old academy teacher; one moment she was sobbing tears and the next she was standing in front of a pouting Naruko, scolding the younger girl.
"Iruka-sensei really is a mother-hen," giggled Sakura, happy to their see old teacher again. Sasuke said nothing but silently agreed with his teammate.
After congratulating them for passing their exam, Iruka wished them good luck before parting ways from them. Though while Sasuke and Sakura walked on ahead, Iruka held back Naruko and hugged her once again. "I'm so happy and proud of you. Just promise me in the next round you'll be careful. So when all of this is over I can treat you to ramen."
Such gentle and sincere words deeply touched Naruko, seeing how besides the Old Man and Hinata, Iruka was the one who truly treated her with kindness and affection. A girl born without the love of family, scorn by the village, treated like a pest by everyone. Yet when it came to Iruka, she was the only one to treat Naruko like family, something which Naruko was so grateful to have.
"Don't worry, Ruka-nee. I'm Konoha's #1 Orange Prank Mistress and future Hokage! Nothing can stop me! So you better prepare your wallet as I'm going to order a ton of ramen once I finish the Third Exam!" proudly exclaimed Naruko, earning herself a soft smile from Iruka, only to cry out when the chunin suddenly slammed her fist on top of the shorter girl's head.
"What have I told you about acting all cocky!?"
"I'm not being cocky; I'm just stating the truth!"
While the two argued with each other, both were unaware that their little moment was witnessed by both Sasuke and Sakura. The first remaining silent, while the second couldn't help but shake her head at the arguing duo.
'They really do act alike,' thought Sakura, overhearing Naruko cry out yet again when one of her smart comments earned another smack to the head by Iruka.
End of Drabble Eighteen