"With summer around the corner, I think it's best if we start tracking Karin before things get out of control," Shisui commented as he sipped on his juice. "It's true, we have to act quickly. How's Idate?" Sakura asked as she flipped through the menu, wanting to order more food as they already had their drinks. "Hopefully with him being under the Tsukuyomi, he should be out for another two weeks but I don't know how long we can keep him with the Curse Mark," Itachi responded. "I think she's in Tokyo judging from her character in her past life. I don't know how much of her memories she has but I think she knows my relationship with Sasuke. If she didn't, she would've hunted him down long ago," the pinkette said as she set the menu on the table. They were in a small restaurant. "What is your relationship with Sasuke? Coz you said you had remembered a memory when we captured Idate, a memory about you and Sasuke but you turned beet red when we gave the chance to speak and passed out," the curly-haired boy said with a smirk. "It was from chakra exhaustion," she defended quickly. Shisui gave her an eye roll.
"I would also like to know your relationship with my brother. As far as I know, you were teammates but that's all," Itachi spoke. "Yeah, and I'm sure Uncle Fugaku would also like to know, though he doesn't show it," Shisui piped in. "Why don't you ask Lady Tsunade or Shizune?" the kunoichi asked as the waiter came and took their orders. "I don't want to be a recipient of the Godaime's fist. And Shizune isn't the type to gossip," the older boy replied. The medic sighed. She had never told them the extent of her relationship with Sasuke. Only Lady Tsunade and Shizune knew and they never talked about it. "It's complicated. I'm not sure if now's the right time to tell you," she told them. 'I'll never escape Shisui's teasing and Itachi would act weird around me if he knew I'm his sister-in-law, or was,' she said mentally. "Just give me a little more time and I'll tell you. What I can tell you though, is how we saved the world from Kaguya, the greatest villain during my teenage years," she said proudly. Shisui let out a groan. And so, she began to tell them of how Team 7 battled Kaguya for the umpteenth time.
"Finally, school is over!" Naruto said as he punched the air. The students of Konoha Ninja Academy filed out the gates with various expressions but one thought in mind: school was over. Well, at least for now. "Any plans this summer?" Ino asked Sakura who was standing beside her. The four girls were walking in front of the boys who seemed to be chatting animatedly if Naruto's loud gasps and shouts were anything to go by. "I have to go to Tokyo for the entire summer camp. I won't be able to join you guys," the pinkette replied as she stared at a random billboard. 'Billboard brow,' the name passed in her mind. In both the previous and current timeline, Ino had still given her the ugly nickname. "But we're supposed to spend the summer together. We made a promise," the blonde complained with a frown. "I have no choice," Sakura responded. "But we're friends. You aren't supposed to do this," Ino snapped angrily. "Well, if we're friends then why do you disappear for your stupid clan meetings and not ask me to join you?!" she shot back with a glare. It had been bugging her for years now and she needed to vent out her anger. She wanted to be with her friends when they planned whatever plan to protect Konoha or were given a stupid assignment by their teachers. But the look on their faces made her regret her words.
"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out like," she apologized as Ino's eyes glistened with tears. Hinata's lips were trembling and TenTen had her mouth open as if to speak. The boys had stopped and were huddled around them. "I just..." she trailed as she looked down at the ground ashamedly. She was being a terrible friend but she couldn't help it. "I'm sorry guys. I want to come with you but it's something I can't avoid. It's an assignment from the hospital if I want to become a successful doctor. I have to accompany my shishou," she lied. She was actually going to search for Karin with Shisui and Itachi for the whole of summer. "We understand Sakura. We just wished for us to be together throughout summer but if that's the case, we understand," Lee spoke but she could hear the hurt in his tone. "When are you going?" TenTen asked, trying to keep her voice calm but failing to do so. "Tomorrow," came the response. "Tomorrow?! You can't go tomorrow Sakura! You should at least have a break or something," Naruto complained. "If you guys are really my friends, you should support me in whatever decision I take," she said firmly.
She was standing in the middle and she felt very small but she had to stand her ground. "I support Sakura in whatever decision she takes. She would never do something like this unless need arises," Neji spoke cooly. "Traitor," Kiba muttered. "So do I," Chouji spoke. "Why don't we all go for karaoke before Sakura leaves for Tokyo? It's not really far away if you think about it. Just a few hundred kilometers, maybe we can even visit her," Shikamaru said as he stifled a yawn. "That's a great idea. Let's go now, we must utilitize every second!" Ino exclaimed as she grabbed Sakura's hand and began dragging her towards the bus top. "She changed her attitude that quickly?" Kiba said as he scratched his head. "It's to be expected of Ino? Why you ask? Because that's the way she is," Shino said as he adjusted his glasses. "Troublesome woman," the Nara said tiredly.
"I think we should have a girls vs boys competition," Ino suggested as the whole group settled themselves on the large couches. The girls were on one couch and the boys on the other one. "Why is everything a competition to you?" Kiba muttered but Naruto and Lee enjoyed the idea. "Yosh! A great idea Ino! Let us show the power of youth in blissful karaoke competition!" he exclaimed as he punched the air excitedly. "Count me in!" the blonde mimicked the gesture. "Well, I guess I have no choice but to accept," Kiba said nonchalantly. "What do you say teme? Up for a challenge?" Naruto asked. "Tch. I don't do karaoke, it's for kids," the Uchiha replied with an eye roll. "But you won't see Sakura for the whole of summer. Don't you want to make some memories?" he whispered to his best friend. Sasuke's eyes trailed over to where Sakura was staring absentmindedly at the screen. As if sensing his eyes, she turned to look at him. They locked eyes for several moments before she turned away a slight blush on her cheeks. He turned back to the blonde who was staring at him amused. "Fine," he muttered, ignoring the fluttering feeling in his stomach.
It was decided that Chouji would be the judge. It was a battle of seven boys and four girls. "Is there a price or something?" Kiba asked. "The best performer gets to choose something for us to do as a group," Ino spoke with slight smirk. "Why do I have a feeling this is some sort of a trap?" Shikamaru asked himself. "Okay, us girls will go first. We get to perform two songs as a group then we go solo. Since you guys are many, you'll perform only one song then go solo, plus we dance" TenTen suggested. "That sounds g-good to me," Hinta spoke. "Okay, it's decided!" Ino exclaimed.
The girls were standing with their backs turned to the screen, facing the boys with a microphone each. "Aren't they supposed to looking at the screening?" Lee asked. The song started to play.
"La, la, la, la-la-la
La, la-la-la, la, la-la-la"
"A hopeless romantic all my life
Surrounded by couples all the time
I guess I should take it as a sign
(Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why?)," Sakura sang in alto as she danced to the song.
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It reminded him of how he ignored Sakura's feelings for most of the time until she seemed to give up on him, though he was impressed by her voice. He didn't know she could sing.
"I'm feeling lonely (Lonely)
Oh, I wish I'd find a lover that could hold me (Hold me)
Now, I'm crying in my room
So skeptical of love (Say what you say, but I want it more)
But still, I want it more, more, more," Ino followed suit in alto-soprano.
"I gave a second chance to Cupid
But now, I'm left here feeling stupid
Oh, the way he makes me feel
That love isn't real
Cupid is so dumb," they sang together.
"Wow, Hinata's actually good at this," Naruto commented with an awestruck expression. He missed the glare Neji sent him. "I wouldn't expect any less from Ino," Chouji piped in proudly.
"I look for his arrows every day
I guess he got lost or flew away
Waiting around is a waste (Waste)
Been counting the days since November
Is loving as good as they say?" Hinata sang in a soprano.
"Go Hinata!" Kiba cheered. "Hey, that's not fair, cheering for your teammate," Naruto complained. The dog user stuck his tongue out.
"Now I'm so lonely (Lonely)
Oh, I wish I'd find a lover that could hold me (Hold me)
Now I'm crying in my room
So skeptical of love (Say what you say, but I want it more)
But still, I want it more, more, more," TenTen sang in opra-soprano.
"Woah, TenTen can sing that high?! Yosh, youthful indeed!" Lee gushed. Neji chuckled, planning to tease her about it later on.
"I gave a second chance to Cupid
But now, I'm left here feeling stupid
Oh, the way he makes me feel
That love isn't real
Cupid is so dumb," they sang in unison, dancing to the song.
"Sakura seems to be the best dancer," Shino spoke. "Hmm, I think Ino is best," Chouji spoke. "No, Hinata is best. And Shino, you're supposed to be rooting for Hinata, not Sakura," Kiba retorted. "TenTen is above them all," Lee exclaimed. "Why don't we wait until their performance is over?" Shikamaru suggested before an argument broke out.
"I'm so lonely, hold me tightly
Jjarithan geol wonhae who will really love me truly
Naege gidarimeun eopseo I can't wait
Deoneun mitji ana now I'm gonna make it mine
Love is a light, I'ma show my love is right
It's not a joke, so give it to me right now
No more chance to you
You know, hey, d-d-d-dumb boy," Sakura rapped, taking turns with TenTen.
"Is that Korean?" Kiba asked. Neji nodded, having been well-versed in most of the languages spoken in Asia.
"Hopeless girl is seeking
Someone who will share this feeling," Ino, Hinata and TenTen sang.
"I'm a fool
A fool for love, a fool for love," Sakura followed.
Her eyes glanced at Sasuke for a brief second before straying away but Shikamaru caught it. "Troublesome woman," he muttered as his mind began to imagine how she felt for having unreciprocated feelings.
"I gave a second chance to Cupid
But now, I'm left here feeling stupid
Oh, the way he makes me feel
That love isn't real
Cupid is so dumb
I gave a second chance to Cupid
(Hopeless girl is seeking someone)
But now, I'm left here feeling stupid
(Who will share this feeling)
Oh, the way he makes me feel
That love isn't real
(I'm a fool)
Cupid is so dumb
(A fool for love, a fool for love)," they finished.
Immediately, Lee, Kiba and Naruto began to clap their hands. "You rocked Hinata! Where did you learn how to do that?!" Naruto asked in unrestrained glee. The Hyuga heiress looked away with her face beet red. "Everyone hush. Now, for their second performance," Chouji spoke as he munched on his chips though his expression showed he was serious about it.
"BLACKPINK in your area, BLACKPINK in your area," Ino sang.
"Been a bad girl I know I am, and I'm so hot I need a fan
I don't want a boy, I need a man," Sakura sang as they started to dance.
Sasuke swallowed thickly as he looked around at his friends. The song had very, ahem, intimate dance moves if his memory served him well. He guessed that they all thought so judging by how they shifted in their seats.
"Click-Clack badda bing badda boom
Muneul bakchamyeon modu nal barabom
Guchi aesseo noryeok an haedo modeun namjadeureun kopiga pangpangpang
Pangpang parapara pangpangpang jigeum nal wihan chukbaereul jjanjjanjjan
Hands up! Nae sonen Bottle full o' henny
Nega malloman deutdeon gyaega naya Ino," the Yamanaka rapped her part.
"Chumchuneun bulbicheun nal gamssago done
Black to the pink eodiseodeun teukbyeolhae Oh Yes," Hinata followed.
"Chyeoda bodeun maldeun I wanna dance
Like ttaradaradanttan ttaradaradanttan ttudurupbau," Sakura sang as the girls danced to the song.
"Joha i bunwigiga joha
Joha nan jigeum nega joha
Jeongmal banhaesseo oneul bam neowa chumchugo sipeo," TenTen sang.
"BOOMBAYAH YAH YAH YAH BOOMBAYAH
YAH YAH YAH BOOMBAYAH YAH YAH YAH YAH
BOOM BOOM BA BOOM BOOM BA (Oppa!)
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH!
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH (Oppa!)
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH BOOM BOOM BA BOOMBAYAH!" they sang together as they moved their bodies according to how they had seen the girls of BLACKPINK do.
"Man, Hinata's too innocent for this," Kiba complained but he couldn't tear his eyes away from them. "I agree," Neji said. "I think it's good," Shikamaru said with a yawn. Sasuke pursed his lips tightly. The images he was conjuring in his mind about a certain pinkette made him disgusted with himself but he was a teenager after all, with certain needs.
"BLACKPINK in your area," TenTen sang.
"Uh ije dallyeoyaji mwol eotteokhae nan cheol eopseo geop eopseo man
Middle finger up F U pay me 90's baby I pump up the jam
Dallyeobwa dallyeobwa oppaya Rambo
Oneureun neowa na jeolmeumeul Gamble
Gamhi nal makjima hoksina nuga nal magado I'm gonna go brrr Rambo," Sakura rapped.
"Ne soni nae heorireul gamssago done
Front to my back nae mommaeneun teukbyeolhae
Oh Yes," Hinata sang.
"Ne nunbicheun I know you wanna touch
Like Touch Touch Touch Touch ttudurupbau
Joha i bunwigiga joha
Joha nan jigeum nega joha
Jeongmal meosisseo oneul bam neowa chumchugo sipeo," Ino sang.
"BOOMBAYAH YAH YAH YAH BOOMBAYAH
YAH YAH YAH BOOMBAYAH YAH YAH YAH YAH
BOOM BOOM BA BOOM BOOM BA (Oppa!)
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH (Oppa!)
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH
YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH BOOM BOOM BA BOOMBAYAH
Oneureun maen jeongsin ttawin beorigo
Haneureul neomeoseo olla gal geoya
Kkeucheul moreuge ppalli dalligo sipeo Let's go Let's go
Oneureun maen jeongsin ttawin beorigo
Haneureul neomeoseo olla gal geoya
Kkeucheul moreuge ppalli dalligo sipeo Let's go Let's go!" they finished the song with very big smiles whilst striking a pose.
However, the boys were staring at them with mixed expressions, not quite sure how they should feel themselves. "Urgh, I told you that this song was too much Ino," Sakura whispered to her best friend as they walked back to their seats. The blonde rolled her eyes in return. "Well, that was a very interesting performance," Chouji spoke as he cleared his throat. Shikamaru let out a long drawn yawn. "Indeed," Neji said.
"It's time for our performance," Naruto said as he stood up. The others stood up as well and they stood side by side as they took their microphones. The song started to play. Sakura immediately let out a groan. 'Why this song, of all songs?' she complained in her mind.
"They call me baepsae yokbwatji i sedae
Ppalli chase 'em hwangsae deoge nae garangin taengtaeng," Naruto sang.
"They call me baepsae yokbwatji i sedae
Ppalli chase 'em geumsujeoro taeeonan nae seonsaengnim," Kiba followed suit, the boys going through the choreography easily.
The girls were staring wide eyed at them, especially with their last dance which involved several hip thrusts. Hinata was on the verge of passing out. That dance was wrong on so many levels. All the girls were beet red with the exception of Ino.
"Alba gamyeon yeoljeongpei
Hakgyo gamyeon seonsaengnim sangsadeureun haengpae
Eolloneseon maennal myeot po sedae," Lee sang.
"Rul bakkwo Change Change
Hwangsaedeureun wonhae wonhae maintain
Geureogeneun an doeji Bang Bang igeon jeongsangi anya igeon jeongsangi anya," Naruto sang, being the most energized of the seven boys.
"Ah noryeoknoryeok taryeong jom geumandwo Ah ogeuradeureo nae du sonbaldo
Ah noryeok noryeok ah noryeok noryeok Ah noraguna ssaksuga," Sasuke sang, clearly surprised the girls judging by their shocked expressions. He chuckled inwardly.
"Yeoksi hwangsae
Noryeoktaryeong jom geumandwo Ah ogeuradeureo nae du sonbaldo
Ah noryeok noryeok Ah noryeok noryeok Ah noraguna ssaksuga," Neji sang in his microphone.
"Yeoksi hwangsaeya) Silmang an sikyeo
(Yeoksi hwangsaeya) Ireum gap hane
(Yeoksi hwangsaeya) Da haemeogeora
(Yeoksi hwangsaeya) Hwangsaeya," Shino and Shikamaru took turns singing.
"Why didn't you ever tell me that Shikamaru knew how to sing?" TenTen asked Ino. "In all honesty, it's my first time hearing him. You know how lazy he is about everything," she replied.
"They call me baepsae yokbwatji i sedae
Ppalli chase 'em hwangsae deoge nae garangin taengtaeng," Lee sang.
"They call me baebsae yokbwatji i sedae
Ppalli chase 'em geumsujeoro taeeonan nae seonsaengnim," Naruto part sang and part rapped.
"Nan baepsaedari neon hwangsaedari
Gyaenen malhaji 'nae darin baekman buljjari'
Nae ge jjarbeunde eojji gateun jongmok hani?
They say 'ttokgateun chowonimyeon gwaenchanjanhni' Never Never Never," Kiba rapped.
"Rul bakkwo change change
Hwangsaedeureun wonhae wonhae maintain
Geureogeneun an doeji Bang Bang igeon jeongsangi anya igeon jeongsangi anya," Naruto rapped.
"Ah noryeoknoryeok taryeong jom geumandwo Ah ogeuradeureo nae du sonbaldo
Ah noryeok noryeok ah noryeok noryeok Ah noraguna ssaksuga," Sasuke sang.
"Yeoksi hwangsae
Noryeoktaryeong jom geumandwo Ah ogeuradeureo nae du sonbaldo
Ah noryeok noryeok Ah noryeok noryeok Ah noraguna ssaksuga," Shikamaru sang, never loosing the beat and dancing his choreography easily, though a tad bit tiredly.
"Yeoksi hwangsaeya," Shino sang with a high that shocked everyone in the room.
"Nae tasirani neo nongdamiji gongpyeonghadani Oh are you crazy
Ige jeonguirani you mu be kiddin' me You mu be kiddin' me you you mu be kiddin' me," Neji sang.
"Ah noryeoknoryeok taryeong jom geumandwo Ah ogeuradeureo nae du sonbaldo
Ah noryeok noryeok ah noryeok noryeok Ah noraguna ssaksuga," Sasuke returned again.
"Yeoksi hwangsae," Shikamaru pitched in.
"Noryeoktaryeong jom geumandwo Ah ogeuradeureo nae du sonbaldo
Ah noryeok noryeok Ah noryeok noryeok Ah noraguna ssaksuga," Neji sang.
"(Urin baepsaeya) Silmang an sikyeo
(Urin baepsaeya) Ireumgabthane
(Urin baepsaeya) Gachi saljago
(Urin baepsaeya) Baepsaeya," Shikamaru sang, changing with Shino.
"They call me baepsae yokbwatji i sedae
Ppalli Chase 'em hwangsae deoge nae garangin taengtaeng," Kiba sang.
"They call me baebsae yokbwatji i sedae
Ppalli Chase 'em geumsujeoro taeeonan nae seonsaengnim," Lee finished.
They danced the last part of the song, ending with their backs to the girls. Immediately, the four females began to clap their hands. "That was awesome you guys! I never knew you could dance," Sakura gushed. "Maybe Naruto, Lee and Kiba but Sasuke? That was amazing," the pinkette practically beamed. And soon enough, they were being flooded with comments.
"I would have loved to stay around more but I gotta go and pack," Sakura said guiltily. They had ended their karaoke competition before either of them had a solo performance. It was late with the sun slowly setting. "It's okay Sakura. We'll get together when you come back," Lee said in a teary voice. As if a tap had been opened, all the girls burst out into tears and hugged Sakura tightly. "You guys," she said, taken aback as she also began to tear up. "Promise you'll come back in one piece otherwise I'm going after the granny," Naruto said as he joined the hug. Soon enough, they were all hugging with the exception of Sasuke who stood at the sidelines. He wasn't much of a physical contact person. "I guess I'll go now," Sakura said as she withdrew from them. "No, you are the one watching us go so we won't feel bad," Ino snapped as she grabbed Chouji and Shikamaru's hands, dragging them to the bus top.
TenTen waved her goodbye as she took her leave with Neji, Hinata and Lee. Naruto gave her another hug before leaving with Shino and Kiba. Which left her with only Sasuke. "Aren't you going?" she asked as she turned to look at him. The wind blew a little, ruffling his hair a little and she thought he looked amazingly hot. Love shouldn't matter because of looks but she couldn't help but admire how he had been her husband in the previous timeline. Would it be the same in this timeline? "You're staring," he pointed out. Sakura turned away with a slight blush on her face. "I'm just appreciating beauty," she grumbled out. Sasuke let out an inaudible grunt. "Let's go," he said as he grabbed her hand and they began walking. "Where are we going?" she asked. The Uchiha was never bold as to take a girl's hand unless he was about to be violent and he was restraining himself. "Home," came the reply. Then it dawned on her. If they were to take this route, they would walk the same direction for the next twenty minutes before parting ways at an intersection. She felt stupid.
She looked down at their entwined hands. How she missed that. But then she removed her hand from his grasp. Sasuke made no motion at that. They walked in silence and soon enough, they were at the intersection. "I guess it's goodbye then," she said as she looked at the sun which almost down. "Hn," came the reply. She thought about what she was about to do. She was treading on hot mercury but she wouldn't see him for the entirety of summer so she might as well take her chance. She turned around to face to find him staring at her with an unreadable expression. Tentatively, she wrapped her arms around his midsection and gave him a slight squeeze. Then she withdrew. "See you next term," she said with a smile before turning and walking in her direction. She wanted to run but that would be stupid so she forced herself to walk as normally as possible.
"Hn," Sasuke spoke, ignoring how his heart thudded in his chest. Since when was Sakura ever able to get these kind of reactions out of him? That was very un-Uchiha like, he thought as he began walking towards his house, a small glare on his face.
Long time no update, hope you enjoy this chapter. So for the songs sang in this chapter, the first one is Cupid by Fifty Fifty, followed by Boombayah by BLACKPINK and lastly Baepsae by BTS. I've been listening to Kpop these days.
Read and review.
Tozoonana
AfricanFire
