If he had an option, he would have stayed back but because he was still the oblivious ninja they thought him to be, Sasuke was forced to retake his Chidori training. In his past life, or should he say future, he had been over the moon to finally learn a cool jutsu which would make him stronger than the dobe. But now having already mastered the technique, he felt he could have done more than do something he already knew. Thus he decided to master the jutsu as soon as yesterday. Then Kakashi would get off his back about passing his jutsu to the next generation and stuff. Maybe he could help Sakura with a new jutsu or two. She obviously needed it as she was going to face either the bug freak or the puppet guy. Plus it wouldn't hurt to spend a few alone moments with her, away from Kakashi's scrutiny and Naruto's loudness, he thought with a smirk. The dobe had already gone on a trip with Jiraiya after being introduced to him. That was when he was going to learn the Rasengan.
Forcing himself out of his train of thought, he listened to Kakashi explain something he had a lifetime's experience of. "Do you understand me, Sasuke?" the silver haired ninja asked. "Hai Kakashi-sensei," he said in a forced tone. "Now demonstrate for me," the jounin said as he moved back. Forming the seals at incredible speed, Sasuke created the Chidori and jumped towards the two-tone boulder in front him, smashing it to pieces. He turned to stare at Kakashi with an arrogant smirk. 'Eat that you big pervert,' he thought smugly. "Again," the man said unflinchingly. The Uchiha did as he was told and formed the seals before creating another Chidori and destroying the ground.
After a full week of repeatedly performing the Chidori, Kakashi began to grate on his nerves. "Again," the man said, engrossed in his Icha Icha Makeout Series. Sasuke seethed silently as he watched his sensei with a profound sense of anger. He had been asked to perform five Chidoris in a row, with his limit being seven. He didn't know what the jounin was getting at. "No," he said as he glared at him. "Mmmmmm?" Kakashi said as he looked up from his book. "I said no. I'm not going to repeat that stupid jutsu which I've already mastered," he said as his eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "That jutsu is not stupid. "It's a-" "-lightning nature version of the Rasengan which took you a long time to master without anyone to teach you but yourself. It's the only jutsu that you've created yourself that no one else has been able to do," Sasuke finished the all too familiar statement.
"I know Kakashi. I'm not some dumb kid," the Uchiha prodigy said with a growl. Kakashi decided to ignore that he had not been addressed by the -sensei honorific and decided to tease him instead. "Getting restless, eh Sasuke-kun?" the jounik teased. He got a murderous glare in return. "Don't worry. Sakura-chan is always around so don't stress. You'll get to her really quickly," Kakashi said with an eye smile. It took all of his willpower not to drive a Chidori through him. Rule no.1 of an Uchiha: Never, EVER, tease them about their feelings towards their loved ones. "Kakashi," the boy growled venomously, again not adding the honorific. "Don't worry Sasuke-kun. I'll allow a day to go and see Sakura before we proceed with our training," the lazy jounin said with a eye smile. Sasuke rolled his eyes. To say he was overjoyed was an understatement.
She had been at the library reading about Suiton ninjutsu. She was a Suiton user with a bit of Doton after doing the chakra paper test. And she had zero experience in that department and no teacher so she decided to teach herself. She knew she had a knack for chakra control so she figured ninjutsu would be easy. What she had not known was that she needed large amounts of chakra than she had now. Maybe as large as her forehead, Ino had teased her. The two girls had reconciled after the preliminary rounds, with Sakura having to coax her. Sasuke had told her that she needed a female friend she could rely on as there were some things she could not share with the boys. Thus she had befriended Ino againa and now she was helping her train in ninjutsu.
Ino had gone to her mother's flowershop so she had the afternoon all to herself. Flipping through the next page, the pinkette pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation. She was exhausted, she couldn't even read a single symbol. Checking out of the library with a few scrolls and books, she walked out of the library only to be greeted by a figure she had missed ever so dearly. "S-Sasuke-kun..." she muttered, shock evident on her face. Realizing that she was gaping like a fish out of water, which was really unattractive, she chuckled nervously. "To what do I owe this surprise?" she asked as she joined him, the two walking no where in general. "Just figured I should drop by and say hie. See how you're faring," he said with an all too nonchalant shrug. "I'm fine, just trying to learn a few Suiton jutsu or two," she said as she adjusted the books she was carrying. Soundlessly, he snatched the books our of her arms, carrying them for himself. "Don't try to berate me otherwise it's the last time I'm carrying," he said flatly, Sakura's berating words dying on her lips. "Thanks," she said meekly, her face tinged pink. How he enjoyed to tease her and make her blush! He was going to tease her about it one day...
They found themselves at the Uchiha compound with Sasuke offering to teach her a few Suiton jutsus he knew. He wasn't much of a Suiton user but he knew enough to which she could use. "I don't have to explain the part about precise chakra control since you're a master of that. However, this requires large amounts of chakra so be prepared," the Uchiha said in a flat tone. Her expression hardened in concentration. He formed some hand signs and immediately chains made of water erupted from the ground beside her, wrapping around her ankles and wrists and binding her in place. "That's the Suikisaru no Jutsu. It creates chains made of water and binds the target's ankles and wrists, rendering the target immobile and more vulnerable. It's a simple C rank technique which might be useful in battle," Sasuke explained. The chains around her dissolved and formed puddles at her feet.
They spent the entire afternoon practicing the hand signs before moving onto the performing the jutsu. She was having trouble creating chains as her chakra levels were still low thus she could neither create strong nor lasting chains. Every time she failed, she would stomp the ground childishly before starting all over again. Sasuke watched from his favorite tree where Itachi would often watch from when he was still young. The thought of his older brother and his last moments alive made his vision blur a bit. This time, he was not going to make the same mistake as last time. He was no longer the little boy hellbent on killing his only family member, Madara aside. It was almost midnight when she finally completed the jutsu. "I did it, shannaro!" she exclaimed as she punched the air. He jumped down from his spot where he had dozed and landed beside her. "Watch," she said and began forming the seals. Soon enough, water chains erupted from the ground and binded his wrists and ankles. He hummed in agreement. He stayed like that for a few minutes before the chains dissolved back to water. She was drenched in water, having been practicing on herself. "I finally did it," she breathed as she swayed. He caught her before she collapsed to the ground. She rested on his chest, her breathing ragged and shallow and shuddering a bit. Sweat matted her forehead and she looked purely exhausted.
She mumbled a few incoherent words before snuggling closer into his chest and starting to snore soundlessly. Sasuke activated his Sharingan, hoping to capture her blissful state forever. He was going to imprint that picture forever in his mind, scratch that, in his heart. Her lashes were long and a deep shade of pink, almost black. They didn't caress her cheeks however they made her eyes stand out more. Her nose was perfect, slightly upturned though. And her lips were small but full, with a light pink color to them. Her cheeks, still donned with baby fat, were flushed from chakra and physical exertion. She had a peaceful and content look on her face he would cherish forever. Suddenly, a picture of a bleeding Sakura in his arms with a hole through her chest flashed before his eyes and his gut clenched painfully. He held her closer to him, as if afraid he might lose her. He wasn't going to same the mistake as before. He was going to right his wrongs and protect her.
The desire to protect her was so strong that it overwhelmed him. But then again he was an Uchiha. Boy, the Uchihas knew how to love and loved terribly.
He dropped her off to her house through sneaking through her window. Her parents were fast asleep and didn't hear. As he gently laid her on the bed, he thought of changing her but brushed it off as improper. Just as he was about to leave, he felt a tug at his wrist. He turned to see Sakura holding his wrist, looking at him through bleary eyes. "Thank you for today," she said softly. "Hn," he replied, trying to ignore the heat pooling in his stomach. "Good night, Sasuke-kun," she said as she gave him a loopsided smile. "Good night Sakura," he replied with a small smile of his own. She let go of his hand and dropped down onto her bed, fast asleep. Again, he activated his Sharingan to capture this image as well before disappear out of her room in a poof of smoke.
They had finished their one month of training. "We have to leave today Sasuke. Today is the day of the final part of the chunin exams," Kakashi said as he eyed his student sprawled out on his back, enjoying the weather. He didn't receive a reply. "Oi, are you even listening Sasuke?" the silver haired ninja asked. "Hn," the boy replied boredly. Kakashi face palmed himself. At that, the Uchiha stood up. "I have to get a new outfit first," the boy said as he yawned lazily, reminding Kakashi of Shikaku. "We won't make it in time for your match. It's the first one, remember?" the jounin reminded him. "It wouldn't hurt to make a grand appearance, would it now?" Sasuke replied with a mischievous smirk. Kakashi smirked behind his mask in return.
I'm done with this chapter. Sorry for the late update, I was really busy. Anyways, I'm going back to school tomorrow so I might or might not update until December. So bear with me. Hope you enjoy the chapter. Don't forget to review.
Tozoonana
AfricanFire
