Hello, again.
So you know, starting now, not all of the chapters will be solely Sakura/Sunset perspective. There will be times that the others will be the main focus of the chapter, maybe even having a few interchanging throughout. The ones not among the foci will still show up from time to time, but they'll be more support roles.
This time will be two parts: First - Jack, Rarity, and Fluttershy; Second – Dash, Sunset
Don't own MLP or Naruto, by the way.
Dreams to Dream
"I'd have to say, Rare. You've really outdone yourself. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this became the new standard for uniform."
"Well I did promise them a gift. I just wanted it to be something meaningful."
"Just one question, bro. Why so much silk?"
Those lines were referring to Rarity's 'Congratulation' gift to Sakura, Ino, and Hinata. While each had a separate color scheme (red and pink for Sakura, purple and blue for Ino, and lavender and lime green for Hinata), the design was the same.
A halter top with connected bell-sleeves, with pants in a similar style to the sleeves that had kunai, shuriken, and medical pouches sewn in, and shinobi geta that had 1-inch heels added into the design. A pair of crisscrossing belts wrapped around the top of their chests, with a spot on the back for whatever actually pack, whether backpack or scroll, they chose to carry. The look was finished with finger-less gloves under the sleeves.
Needless to say, Sunset, Rare, and Jack were blushing at how their respective girlfriends looked, and were idly imagining how people would react the next morning when they went out looking like that.
In the case of their respective parents, they just thought the three looked like princesses and kunoichi combined, and couldn't help but be proud for some reason.
"Honestly, I'm not real sure." Rare continued the conversation, curious himself from Dash's question, "Silk just seems to be the most compatible for me to use. At the very least, it's the easiest to merge with my crystals. And no, I'm not talking about embedding gems like I usually do."
That was all Rare was going to say on that subject, and his brothers weren't the only ones that were curious about his little secret. But they weren't going to bug him about it.
Ino was the only one that knew, and she certainly wasn't telling either.
Just then, they heard Fluttershy's voice carry from where he and Hana were at, alongside Hanabi, Konohamaru, and their two new friends Udon and Moegi, and everyone went silent to listen in.
[Dreams to Dream – Sequence from 'An American Tail: Fievel Goes West']
"Dreams to Dream, in the dark of the night." he sang, adding to the tranquil/happy air of the party. "When the world goes 'round, I can still make it right. I can see so far in my dreams. I'll follow my dreams, until they come true."
At this point, a variety of animals had started showing up to listen in. Those that were enemies to one another stood near one another in Shy's presence, not wanting to cause trouble for what they all could tell was a divine spirit in human form.
Shy looked up at the clear night sky as he continued. "There is a star, waiting to guide us." He lightly poked Hanabi in the chest before grabbing Hana's hand. "Shining inside us." He started twirling the Inuzuka woman around into a dance. "When we close our eyes! Come with me, you will wee what I mean. There's a world in sight, no one else ever sees." The couple was now waltzing in front of the others, blissfully focused on each other. "You will go so far in my dreams. Somewhere in my dreams, your dreams will come true."
[End Sequence]
Their moment together was interrupted after a bit by applause, reminding them of there being an audience. Blushing, the two saw the entirety of the party attenders looking at them with serene smiles. Hana's attention, though, was quickly caught when she noticed Sakura, Ino, and Hinata's new clothes.
"Rare?" she asked. Upon there nods, she turned to said boy and stated, "They better not be the only ones that get at least something like that."
"Talk to the Hokage first, because custom designs are exclusive." Rare told her, knowing she was serious about her words. "The mass produced model will take a bit longer."
"That, and he doesn't quite have your exact measurements." Shy added. "You..."
Hana had the decency to look sheepish. "Right. While I have gotten some of his products before, I never did get one completely custom made from him. Usually been too busy to get one of his big specials."
However, before it could go any farther, they were interrupted by a few of the dogs that had showed up, smelling someone that wasn't invited coming near.
"Where?" Hana asked.
They turned in the direction of the incoming intruder, only to have an explosion go off in that direction, getting Jack to cry out.
"The trees!" he cried, running off towards the location of the explosion. Dash quickly passed him, reaching the site first. When Jack and the others showed up, he and Fluttershy saw what happened and instantly grew incredibly angry.
As it turned out, Mizuki had gotten hold of the Forbidden Scroll, and he had help in his attempt to escape. However, he had chosen a path that came across Sweet Apple Acres, and had an ensuing fireball and hit a few of the trees, incinerating a couple of bird nests. Not that he cared, considering only on the surface did he like Sunset and his brothers.
Unfortunately for him, he had angered the worst two of the bunch. Jack and Fluttershy.
[Music from 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,' when Thorin is marching down the flaming tree to Azog.]
While Shy rolled his sleeves up, the two of them strolled forward, their anger seemingly palpable in the air. The shinobi that were fighting Mizuki and his companion noticed, and backed off, scared. When the two criminals noticed their reactions, they turned around just as the two boys started speeding up, the animals from before forming a circle around the four. By then, Mizuki started realizing his mistake and tried to run, only for tree branches to suddenly spring up and trap the pair, leaving them helpless when the two got within striking range.
Jack showed his strength when the branches holding Mizuki's partner twisted around, giving him open access to kicking his back.
Everyone, including the animals, cringed at that.
But what shocked everyone was when Fluttershy jumped, twisted, locked his legs around Mizuki's head, flipped back and pulled the man clean out of the branches. Mizuki ended up braking his nose on a random rock once he made contact with land again.
[End Music]
The watchers blinked owlishly before Hinata asked, "Did Shy just do that?"
They could do nothing but nod in confirmation. No one expected the kind and shy...Shy...to do something like that.
"...Really? You just had to go that route with Fluttershy?"
Except for Pinkie, who's eyebrow was slightly twitching as he called out to the night sky. A moment later, Pinkie sighed. "Fine, you win. Rarity, you mind pinning them, including Jack and Shy?"
"Uh, sure?" Rare said before placing his hands on the ground. Next thing anyone knew, the four were covered up to their necks in crystal. "Now what?"
Hana and Hinata took the initiative then, coming up to kiss their respective boyfriends and distract them. Pinkie, in the meantime, lunged out from his spot, somehow stretching his arms, and made sure the two criminals were knocked out completely. While that happened, he cried out "You're certainly not welcome here!"
"Just roll with it." was the collective response to the shinobi that were fighting the two, which were a pair of ANBU that didn't have much exposure to Pinkie just yet.
Said shinobi just stuck to carting Mizuki and his partner to the I&T Department of Konoha's prison, leaving the party-goers alone.
After a time, with assurances to Jack and Shy that the damage will be fixed first thing in the morning, they ultimately decided on calling it a night. The party mood was kind of ruined from the incident, though it didn't mean that Pinkie wasn't going to do something about celebrating Jack and Fluttershy catching them.
It's just how Pinkie is.
*[Perspective switch here]*
"Remind me again, how did Pinkie get all of this set up, and still continue as though he didn't?" asked the Hokage, wondering just how Pinkie was able to single-handedly decorate the entire village within about four hours and not be the least bit tired.
Dash, ready to start the day of courier work, deadpanned as he replied, "You do realize just who you're talking about, right Old Man?"
Even the elderly pair in the room at the time had to agree with Dash. "We really need to do something about getting you a new successor if you're asking that, Hiruzen."
Said man frowned at the jab, but understood where they were coming from. Pinkie just wasn't the type that really can be understood easily, if at all. All they really needed to know was that A) he was fun, B) he was powerful, and C) he was NOT a bad guy.
"Speaking of which." Dash piped up. "What about that one granny? Sun-Aid or something."
"Senju Tsunade, my old student." Hiruzen corrected, nodding at the boy's words. "We just have no true clue as to her current whereabouts."
"Not to mention what happened to her before she left." said the woman of the elders, Koharu.
"Indeed. Her fiance and brother." said the last man in the room, Homura, in regards to what his old teammate was talking about.
"Why don't I try?" asked Dash, but Hiruzen shook his head.
"Wait until we know for sure." he told Dash. "Once we have her location, then I'll probably send you and Jack as at least part of the group that will retrieve her."
Dash pouted and grumbled, "I could've totally find and bring her over easily."
Hiruzen chuckled. "Now, now, I'm not doubting you, but the fact remains, Tsunade has had years to move around and keep out of relative sight. This land is pretty big, and who's to say that she's currently in the country. It's pretty much one kid searching the entire world. Best to keep the odds in your favor before you try. Now here you go."
Getting the boy's mind back on track, Hiruzen gave him a couple of scrolls that were standard messages for Dash to deliver.
"The first is to Iruka, so you know."
I wonder what happened last night at the farm. Thought Sasuke as he idly listened in to his nearly former classmates talking about the party last night, and the subsequent fight. Like just about everyone else in the village by then, he had heard about what had happened the night before. But it wasn't much to think about for him, as he was one st- "Hi, Sasuke!"
The boy jumped in his seat, before registering just who spoke and groaned. "Pinkie."
Said pink-colored boy then stuck his face down in front of Sasuke's from his position on top of the Uchiha. "You were about to brood again, weren't you?"
Sasuke gave a tired glare in response, getting Pinkie to pout and say, "Boo, brooding's no fun. Sometimes I wish I could go into Prime and spark some sense into Itachi. Even with what they were planning, it's still no excuse to turn yourself into a big meanie like he did." But before Sasuke could remotely register what he had said, Pinkie continued with, "Well, I got to get back to the shop. Those goodies won't sell themselves, and I've been wanting to try a new recipe: Bubblegum Cupcakes."
Bubblegum...Cupcakes. Sasuke mused, before shuddering a bit. I don't think I really want to know.
Just then, the classroom door opened, and in came Iruka. Sunset quickly noticed and got the others to quiet down and pay attention.
"Thank you, Sun." said Iruka upon noticing what the boy did. He then cleared his throat. "Well done, all of you that are still here. You are now well on your way to becoming full-fledged shinobi of Konoha. But that doesn't mean you can forget yourselves out there. You are the next generation of Konoha, so you need to act like it."
While some groaned internally, most agree with Iruka's statement.
"But enough about that. Time to tell you of you-" He was stopped when Dash blurred in, dropped a scroll on his desk, and sped off. Picking it up to look at, Iruka's eyes widened a bit before he continued. "Okay, it seems that there has been a slight change in plans for the team line-up."
He then proceeded to call out the teams, until the ones that would actually be affected by the changes.
"These are the teams that are being affected, although I'm not entirely sure just what the Hokage's reasoning is. Team 7 is Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Sparkle Sunset."
He could barely finish saying that team before a commotion came up from it, and he had to agree with them. Why exactly did the Hokage decide to switch up the Top-Bottom team-up now? All three of those on Team 7 are the top three of the class, so it shouldn't be allowed. And yet...
"HEY!" he shouted, getting their attention again. "Look, I know this is strange, but apparently that is how the Hokage wants. You want to complain, take it up with him. Team 8 is Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino. Team 9 is still in circulation, so Team 10 is Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji. You have about a half an hour to get anything like a quick snack before your senseis should show up."
With that, Iruka fell quiet, waiting as well for said adults. Let's just hope that he will be here on time as well.
Sunset and Sakura decided on brainstorming about just why the three teams were as such, but weren't too concerned. They were together, and their friends were together as well, and that's what mattered to them.
"Well, I can think of something for the reasoning behind Teams 8 and 10, at least." said Sakura.
Sunset raised an eyebrow in curiousity.
"Hinata, partly thanks to Jack, Kiba, and Shino are all centered around survival and tracking." she elaborated, "While it does limit their fighting capability, it would be harder for them to miss people that need help, hidden locations, and potential supplies."
Sunset then lightly joked. "Too bad that doesn't leave much for the rest of us."
Sakura smiled. "True, but that doesn't none of the rest of us are any good at that. They're just simply better." she regained a thoughtful look, "In the case of Team 10...I'm not entirely sure."
"They're probably thinking about how their parents were effective, and thus used that formula." said Sun, shrugging. "Personally, I think it might be more their clans being a bit of a surprise, all things considered."
Sakura ran that through her head, and then nodded. "That makes sense. Naras are lazy, yet smart. Akimichis are seen as physically inept, yet their techniques say otherwise."
"While the Yamanaka are 'dumb blondes' that can destroy your mind." Sunset finished, air-quoting the 'dumb blondes' comment.
Ino over heard and saw Sun, and chuckled, understanding his words. Blondes are stereo-typically 'dumb,' and those that don't know about the Yamanaka clan techniques, or her father's job outside of the shop, wouldn't think much beyond that. And those people had a bit of a tendency to have their minds annihilated by whatever Yamanaka they had angered. So she wasn't upset at what Sun was talking about.
"But what about us?" asked Sakura.
Sunset tried to think about it, but was momentarily cut off when the door opened again. In came a woman that Sun recognized as Kurenai Yuhi, friend of Hana and sister/mother figure to Hinata. Alongside her was a man that they saw had a connection to the Hokage, but they weren't quite sure how exactly.
"Teams 8 and 10, with us." Kurenai said, before turning to Sun, Sakura, and Sasuke. "You three might want to make yourselves comfortable. Your sensei is going to be a wh-"
Just then, Pinkie walked in. Moving to a window, he opened it all that way, then ducked. Next thing anyone knew, a silver-haired man was flung in through the open space, hitting the opposite wall. After that, Pinkie climbed out the window, saluted the people inside with a smile on his face, and closed it behind him as he went out of sight.
Said man, as he picked himself up, grumbled about 'stubborn pink-colored brats.' Straightening himself out, he saw Sun and his new teammates and asked, "Team 7?" After seeing them nod, he continued with, "To the roof, then." before disappearing. Presumably to the roof.
Everyone just stared for a moment before refocusing on their respective objectives.
"Since everyone is up here now." the silver-haired man said, not physically reacting to the fact that Teams 8 and 10 were also up on the roof as well. Although, for the record, they were a ways off from Team 7 and each other. "Why don't we follow them and introduce ourselves. Names, likes, dislikes, the basics."
"I guess I'll start then, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura said, getting a raised eyebrow from the man. "I'm Haruno Sakura. My likes are Sunset, his brothers, my mother, my other friends, the occasional book, and Sweet Apple Acres."
Sunset raised an eyebrow and teased. "'Occasional?'"
"Hush you." Sakura lightly punched him playfully. "My dislikes are the male donor that helped created me...and that's about it right now. My hobbies include helping out at the Acres, hanging out with my friends, and volunteering at the hospital. My dreams are just really try to help make the world a better place and help make a better family than what I had before."
As she was talking about her dreams, she turned and smiled at Sunset, who smiled back as he hugged her. Sasuke lightly gagged a bit, but not loud enough to interrupt the moment.
Kakashi cleared his throat, getting their attention again. "Now that I've got your attention again, your turn Sunset."
"Alright," said Sun. "but you better tell us about yourself too afterwards, otherwise it wouldn't be fair. Anyways, I'm Sparkle Sunset, and my likes are Sakura, her mother, my brothers, books, Sweet Apple Acres, and my friends. My dislikes are Sakura's, just add in anyone messing with my morning Zap Cider. My primary hobbies are reading, fuinjutsu, and seeing just what I can possibly do with my abilities. Dreams are the exact same as Sakura."
Kakashi said nothing until the boy was done, and didn't need to when he turned to Sasuke to indicate his turn. Neither noticed when some of Sunset's chakra silently latched onto Kakashi's feet.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke. I don't have any real likes to menti-" He was cut off when Sunset waved his attention over. "What?"
"Word of advice, keep any sort of emoness out of your intro." said Sunset. "As far as I can tell, you'll be less likely to get interrupted by Pinkie if you do that."
Sasuke was about to retort, but stopped as he thought about Sun's words. Considering the other times Pinkie showed up, he kind of had to agree. Add in the fact that Sunset, one of the people that knows Pinkie the best, was the one that warned him, and he had something that he should definitely listen to.
The Uchiha nodded before returning to his introduction. "My likes are nothing to really mention right now, while my dislikes are personal. My hobby is training, and my goal, not dream, is to avenge my clan."
He stopped and looked around, wanting to make sure that Pinkie doesn't show up again. When he didn't, Sasuke let loose a breath of relief, only to take it back when a note landed in his lap. Opening it, he read out 'It's not you that'll get it this time.'
That confused the others, but they didn't think too much about it, seeing as it was now Kakashi's turn.
"My turn then, huh?" he said to no one. "I'm Hatake Kakashi. My likes and dislikes...meh. Don't really have any hobbies, and as for my dreams..don't have ONE!"
As he said 'one,' he jumped and grabbed hold of his butt as though something relatively sharp poked him there.
That explains the note. The kids noted, realizing just what the note was talking about. That's when Sakura hit her fist in her palm.
"Sunset! Do you think this might have something to do with why we were put together? Because of our pasts?"
Sun looked thoughtful at that. "...That would make at least some sense, if things progress as they are. We're going to need more information on Kakashi to be sure."
They would have to speak to Hiruzen about it after the meeting.
Gaining an idea, he turned back to Kakashi and said, "Hey, sensei, you mind elaborating, or am I going to have to get Pinkie on the case?"
Kakashi paled at that, not wanting the party lover to go after him as well. Before, he's been lucky that most of Pinkie's antics bypassed him, but that didn't mean he was ignorant as to just how stubborn the boy could be. "Now, now, no need to do anything hasty. I'm sure we can work something out." Seeing that they weren't budging on the idea, he relented with, "How about we first talk to the Hokage? My file is kind of classified after all."
"Would that include your birthday, Cyclops?" asked Pinkie from right behind the man. "Because it did mention something about you be-"
Kakashi quickly covered the boy's mouth, knowing that what he was about to say wasn't something he was even remotely ready to reveal. He just hoped that Pinkie wouldn't say anything that night to his brothers, even with the look in his eyes saying that would most likely happen. I'm going to find a way to get back at the Hokage for this. I swear it.
"Let's just get moving, ok?" said Kakashi quickly, "Oh, and be at Training Ground 7 at 7:00 tomorrow. More will be explained then."
Leaving it at that, he took them to the Hokage to talk about it. And throughout it all, none of them seemed to notice that the other two teams were looking at them since Kakashi outburst when he was poked.
Granted, not everything may seem quite right for the respective characters (i.e. Pinkie), but this is currently the best I can do.
Until next time. Please let me know what you think.