Sakura yawned loudly, the Sakura in the mirror doing the same. She had already eaten a large breakfast, and with staying up late to study katas, she could feel her eyes growing heavy.
"Do I need to set a bedtime, hatchling?" Orochimaru chuckled behind her, and she could see his eyes meet hers in the mirror. Smiling back, she shook her head.
Standing still, she let him continue adjusting the elaborate kimono he had gifted her. As soon as she had laid eyes on it, she could tell it had been made with the finest silk found in Fire Country, no doubt coming from the capital itself. She had been raised by merchants, and it would have been a poor job on their part if she couldn't identify different types of silks.
The base color was red, while gold and white flowers adorned it. The still early morning light shone off the embroidery beautifully and Sakura's fingers itched to feel along the stitches. One of the reasons she had gotten so enamored with ninja wire was because it reminded her of all the hours she had spent sewing and embroidering when she had been little. Other kids had made fun of her calloused fingers, but she had been proud of her work. She faintly wondered if she hadn't become a shinobi, maybe she could have made kimonos as beautiful as this one.
At the moment, Orochimaru was fiddling with her obi and had yet to settle on a proper knot to accompany the kimono's elaborate design. Staring at him in the mirror, she couldn't help but admire how stunning he was, even if his face was scrunched up in concentration and his tongue was stuck out slightly.
Before he had pulled her in front of the mirror, he had gotten himself dressed in an equally beautiful, silk kimono. While it was black, purple and white flowers flowed down the long sleeves and made him look more feminine than before, but it only added to his already exotic beauty. His long hair was wrapped up in delicate hair pins, and Sakura had to wonder if they held any kind of weapon or poison. If there was anything she had learned while staying at the Orochi compound for the last two days, it was that every occupant was armed to the teeth at all times.
So much so, Sakura could feel the leather straps on her arm, keeping a newly gifted knife up her long sleeves, but ready to be used at any moment. She had been practicing throwing it throughout the day before, even managing to shave off a few of Jiraiya's hair when he wasn't paying attention.
Orochimaru had handed her a piece of daifuku as Jiraiya yelled about encouraging bad behavior.
The last few days had been a blur. From reading scroll after scroll on mokuton, then mixing medical jutsu and poisons into the mix, Sakura felt her body thrumming with her newly acquired knowledge. She desperately wanted to use everything she was learning, but Orochimaru had warned her that she needed to increase her chakra reserves to really be able to practice anything. That left her schedule full of reading, meditating, and practicing katas.
She couldn't wait until next week when they would work on her endurance, and she could start sparring with her siblings.
It still felt odd calling them that.
Sakura had grown up as a single child, receiving every drop of affection and love from her parents, but as she had begun her journey to becoming a shinobi, life had shifted. Her parents didn't love her any less, but their time had started to dwindle. With her graduation from the Academy, her parents had begun taking on more trips out of the village, trusting her to be busy with her own career and being considered an adult by village as genin. She still loved them, but desperately missed their constant attention.
However, staying in the Orochi compound made her wonder what it would have been like if she had had grown up with older siblings. Even though there were many of them running around, Orochimaru made sure to save time with each of them, even if that meant a simple conversation at breakfast before they were running off. Kabuto and Anko had been the first to leave, but they had both stopped to give their parent a hug or kiss on the cheek. Kimimaro had received a bento box and a pat on the head before he left as well. Jiraiya had received a narrowed look and a reminder not to be late for dinner.
Then she had been left alone to receive all of Orochimaru's attention. She very much didn't dislike it. While strict, and having an aura of danger around him, he was quiet and attentive. When she asked a question, he would answer fully, never one to mince any words or facts in the pursuit of knowledge. Kakashi had blanched a few times when she had asked questions about certain jutsu and their affects on the human body, but she had filed that little fact away to tease him with later on.
Feeling the obi tighten and Orochimaru's hands disappear, she smiled at herself in the mirror. The only time she really dressed up was for the New Year's celebrations. The two layers of robes was a lot, especially in the summer, but she had to admit that she and Orochimaru would put many royals to shame.
"Who are we visiting first?" She asked as Orochimaru combed through her short hair, and clicking at the way it had been cut. Her mother had done the same whenever she hacked away at it was a kunai.
"The Uchiha district," he informed her. He pulled her hair away from her face and put it into a low bun, and she couldn't help but frown at the way her forehead was put on full display. Sure, she might be an apprentice of a Sannin, but she still had insecurities. While her hair wasn't as adorned as his, Orochimaru pinned her accessory from Jiraiya into her hair before checking if she had filled it with crushed up bloodroot. "Fugaku sent a message asking for a meeting with us. Are you willing to forgive his youngest?"
Lips thinning, Sakura met her own eyes in the mirror. Was she ready to forgive the way Sasuke had treated her? She could still see the hatred and disgust in his eyes, his face being cast into a haunting light as electricity played around his hand, the intent to kill obvious. However, she already heard the rumors: Sasuke was no longer a ninja. He was being sent to the Academy to earn his hitai-ate back before he would be allowed to be even considered being put on another team.
"It would be unseemly for me not to," she settled on. She had always prided herself on taking the high road after all.
"The Uchiha will owe you a debt for accepting so graciously," Orochimaru smirked, and Sakura found herself matching his expression.
Standing together, side by side in the mirror, Sakura couldn't help but straighten up in pride. She had received an apprenticeship with one of the most fear shinobi in Konaha, and by herself at that. She wouldn't disappoint him, her new siblings, nor herself.
She was going to be great.
Sasuke snarled at his reflection. He looked as if he was ready to attend a funeral. Most likely his.
If Itachi could hear his thoughts, he had a feeling his older brother would roll his eyes, but Sasuke didn't care. The dark yukata looked far too formal and stuffy, but his mother had given him a strict look before telling him to get ready for their guests. Sasuke scoffed. Their guests.
It didn't take a genius to figure out exactly what was going on. Both his parents had been drilling etiquette and how to give formal apologies since the morning after the mock-tests. They were going to be meeting with Orochimaru and his apprentice.
He couldn't even think of his former teammate without boiling with rage. What was so special about her that she had been chosen? But, as he thought back to that, he wasn't surprised he hadn't been chosen. He didn't know what had come over him and made him question someone as powerful as the Sannin, but he had immediately regretted it. In that moment, the killing intent that had washed over him had convinced Sasuke that he was going to die right then and there.
The fact was, Sasuke wasn't strong enough to fight anyone higher than a genin, and he hated it. How was he supposed to grow and finally catch up to his brother? Itachi was already in Anbu and he wasn't even twenty yet! Every day felt like a waste if he couldn't train and become stronger. Becoming the apprentice of a Sannin would have been the best way to close the gap between the brothers, but Sasuke had screwed that up immensely.
Clenching his jaw, he took a deep breath.
Getting angry and lashing out had been what had gotten his headband taken away, and another year at least in the Academy. If he had controlled his emotions, acted maturely, and respected those above him, then this wouldn't be happening. He wouldn't be feeling the loss weight of his hitai-ate, wouldn't be forced to apologize, and he wouldn't be looked at with disappoint be just about everyone in the Uchiha district.
"Sasuke! Our guests are almost here!" His mother called. Balling his fists, Sasuke sent one last sneer at his reflection before leaving his room.
His parents were dressed similarly to him, with his mother wearing a dark blue yukata instead. While his mother looked stressed and exhausted with the whole situation, his father's face was pinched in nearly unrepressed irritation. Sasuke had never known a time his father had bowed to anyone, but because of his actions, the family would need to beg the Sannin for forgiveness.
Together, they stepped outside to greet the pair who had been lead to their home by the guards at the entrance of the district. As soon as Sasuke's eyes landed on them, his heart jumped.
Even the way they walked, it was obvious that he was looking at a student with her sensei. Sakura's shoulder were leaned back in confidence he had never seen in her, while she radiated deadly elegance that matched Orochimaru perfectly. However, the silly frog-looking hair pin took away from all that and reminded Sasuke that she was just a kid, just like him.
"Orochimaru-sama," Fugaku bowed just enough to follow what was dictated of him, but not a centimeter lower. Sasuke and his mother followed suit. "We appreciate you and your apprentice taking the time to visit."
"Of course, Fugaku-san," Orochimaru nodded his head. "We are quite humbled to be invited into the Uchiha clan head's home."
"Please, come inside," his mother smiled, but it was the same smile she used when dealing with the clan's elders. Completely ingenuine.
Glancing at Sakura, Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Did something move inside her sleeve? Was she planning something? But, before he could examine her, his father's hand had grabbed his elbow and forcibly dragged him back inside.
"And where is Itachi-kun? Busy, I presume?" Orochimaru asked, voice light and friendly.
"On a mission," Fugaku answered tersely.
"A pity."
Mikoto led them into the tatami room they only used for important guests, and Sasuke felt distinctly uncomfortable as he sat between his parents. Across from them was Orochimaru and Sakura, both looking refined in their nearly matching kimonos. The room was quiet as Fugaku graciously poured tea for all of them, and all the while, Orochimaru's calm smirk hadn't left his face. They all knew exactly what was going on, and the sadistic asshole was enjoying every second, Sasuke growled to himself.
Once the tea was set in front of everyone, Fugaku sent him a pointed look before speaking.
"Like I said, Orochimaru-sama, Haruno-san, we cannot express our appreciation for your visit. I believe there are a few things for us to discuss." That was Sasuke's cue. Nails biting into his palms, Sasuke forced the rehearsed words out of his mouth.
"Orochimaru-sama," he began, trying to keep any venom out of his voice, but wasn't sure he succeed as the man's smirk grew larger. "I ask for forgiveness for the way I spoke to you during your tests. I spoke out of line, and should have known better to respect yourself and your decision. I understand if you do not overlook the way I spoke out of turn, and promise you that I am working on thinking before I speak."
Bowing low, Sasuke wondered if he was going to have a cracked tooth by the time this whole thing was over. He didn't grovel to anyone! No Uchiha did!
"You are forgive, little Uchiha." Straightening up, Sasuke hated the smugness on the Sannin's face. "I was much like you when I was your age. I can only hope you will learn quicker than I did to respect those above oneself."
Biting words were on the tip of his tongue, but a sharp nudge from his mother had him turning his eyes on his former teammate. Sakura's previous confidence had seemed to dimmish since entering their home, and Sasuke bet she was shaking on the inside. He doubted she had been a clan compound before all this, and the unfairness of all this was rearing its ugly head inside of him. Burying his resentment deep, he chewed on his next words.
"Sakura-chan," he ignored the narrowed eyes of the Sannin at the familiarity. "I have thought on the things I said to you during our fight, and I sincerely regret saying them. They were cruel, and untrue. I hope you can forgive me for my actions. I was not acting like a real comrade to you like I should have, and I am sorry."
A lot less flowery, but if he continued, then he was sure his Sharingan would activate with how much hatred was rushing through his blood. He had meant every word he said during their match; Sakura was weak, she never tried in her training, and she wouldn't amount to much other than a paper-ninja. Even with her sensei being a Sannin, it would be a waste on her.
Staring intently at the girl, Sasuke swallowed down a noise of disgust at the silent communication that had already formed between her and Orochimaru. Her cheeks were slightly pink, but she took a deep breath before meeting his eyes. Her false confidence was almost convince. Almost.
"In my short time under Orochimaru-sensei, I have already learned quite a bit. One lesson amongst my learning, is that there are more important things to worry about in life. So, I forgive you for your words and actions, Sasuke-kun. I do hope we can fight properly in the future."
"I look forward to it," he said through gritted teeth. He sneered internally at the idea of throwing the girl around as her precious sensei watched on, and finally realized what a waste she was as an apprentice.
"I am glad the Uchiha clan has raised apologetic children, even if they are still learning respect," Orochimaru smiled charmingly and took a sip of his tea. How dare he—! "I do hope your time at the Academy is enlightening, Sasuke-kun. My son, Kimimaro, will be interning there this semester. Feel free to seek him out if you need extracurricular lessons in how to be a proper comrade to your teammates."
Sasuke could feel fire bubbling inside his throat and his chakra pushing at him to release the katon. He could feel the way his parents tensed on either side of him, no doubt feeling the same way. His mother rarely showed off her ninjutsu, but he knew her katon was just as deadly as his father's, perhaps even hotter.
"We are sure Haruno-san's training will go just as well," Mikoto's voice was light, not relaying any of the anger at the underhand insults. "What will you be studying, dear?"
"I am working on the theoretical side of the mokuton at the moment, but will be moving onto training with it soon."
"The mokuton—?!" Fugaku choked out.
"Yes," Orochimaru practically purred. "We were very shocked when she started sprouting sakura flowers of all things. However, since I am the only one to have trained two mokuton users before, it is only natural that Sakura-chan be my apprentice. I am sure you understand."
The last part was directly spoken to him, and Sasuke just barely kept his mouth from hanging open. How the hell had a nobody like Sakura gotten the mokuton?! Only the Senju could perform that jutsu!
"Thank you, Fugaku-san, Mikoto-san," Orochimaru didn't seem to notice their collective shock, or rather, he didn't bother acknowledging it. "I am pleased that we could have this chat, but unfortunately, Sakura-chan and I have other meetings to attend to today. I look forward to seeing you at the next council meeting, Fugaku-san."
The rest of the meeting was filled with niceties as they led their guests out. Standing between his parents, Sasuke watched as Orochimaru and Sakura left the way they had come. His eyes widened as a small, brown snake popped out from Sakura's hair and it felt as if someone had punched him in the gut.