Chapter Text
Obscured night sky, painted with grey clouds covering the luminescence of the moon. A midnight in which nothing, not even the stars, could shine bright enough to expose the ghastly presence beneath the night’s casted shadows.
She was a star amidst the inky space, she stood, her pink bright hair ruffled, almost like she had just woken up. Her hands clenched to her red qipao dress.
Her eyes gleamed, it wouldn’t be long before that glimmer would dwindle and die out.
Sakura was near innocent, kind, ethical, courteous.
Her footsteps were as quiet as the dark’s shivering breeze, calm and collected. She couldn’t say the same for her emotions.
As her luscious pink hair tickled her skin, the wind ferociously howled as she interlocked her hands in sudden fear, for warmth, for closure.
Sakura stopped, turning over to the wood’s, a dark company would shield itself with the heaving lofty trees. The visitant could not hide from her, not even the night that bestowed the gloomy dims.
For the presence allured her, and in return, it yearned for her.
Sakura turned her body, giving into the drawing feeling, walking towards the tree’s that flowed simultaneously with the wind.
And although this feeling of attraction lured her in, she felt herself shiver, it wasn't a gust of wind that oh so glided along her skin.
The forest ceased, and a training ground was now present. This is where this feeling wanted her. Near him. She stood not quite alone, the silhouette of a man, who seemed to have awaited her, the one who called for her.
His frame turned around, eye’s resembling the night. His eyes, so—
“You’re late.” Itachi furrowed his brow.
Hesitantly she approached, staring at the ground until his voice snapped her back to earth. She bowed her head. Losing her contact with his eyes quickly. “I’m sorry,”
Sighing, he walking towards her, his intent unclear as Sakura’s leg’s fought the urge to move, to flee as far as she could. Though the lure was too enticing, just what did he do to her?
He stopped, eyeing the way she uncomfortably shuddered whenever he would slightly move.
“Sakura, you’re making me do this, relax.” He said with his brooding voice, in a way that was soothing
Oh of course, that feeling of attraction— No it wasn’t romantic, more like a bond between siblings. She felt for him, was it a jutsu? Some mind shit like what the Yamanaka did?
As reassuring as it sounded, no comforting words could sway her from the fact she was standing in front of a rogue.
—And as strong as some kind of jutsu he put on her, a truth would prevail. In no way would she want to give in to a man who had bloodlust in his eyes, where only power was a true significance by his perspective.
But it seemed her body, her mouth, had their own mind.
“I’m sorry,” She spouted. “I’m here so we can start.”
He simply sat down on the plush grass beneath him, “Sakura, in order for this to work, you need to accept what has already become.”
Sakura, surprised at the sudden gesture, caressed her arm. “Okay.”
He held up two fingers, “I’ll answer two of your questions, if you can take down that tree right there.”
An assessment of power.
He pointed over to one particular tree, it definitely stood out from the rest considering it’s thickness, what concerned Sakura was that she was in no rank, or class to even impale that tree deep enough to even its core.
“I know I’m training and all but isn’t it a bit too much—?”
“Chakra.” He answered.
His straightforwardness nearly scared her to death. For if it were like he was starting to get impatient. She didn’t push it any further, and instead, complied with his asking.
Sakura was intelligent enough so that a few words could spark a good enough idea in her head, even if it were too vague.
She walked over to the tree standing defensively, holding her wrist and flowing a considerable amount of chakra through to her hand, much like how she did it to her feet.
She wasn’t quite sure it’d work, her knowledge was from a textbook, and being knowledgeable on something isn’t the same as actually knowing how to do it.
It wasn’t easy, flowing the amount of chakra to her hand, yes it came simpler to her than most, but easy was an understatement.
Looking back at his stoic face, she threw her fist against the large bark tree. His face had definitely thrown her off a bit,
Flinching in pain, she brought her fist to her chest to soothe it from the now burning sensation.
She hoped she wouldn’t have to get used to this.
Despite her perfect chakra control, the hit was more than just ideal. It had to have worked.
Peeping her eyes from the burning pain, upon her was a small hollowed chunk of the tree with its sharp fly-offs this is all she managed? Bestowed her embarrassed expression— and also scare. her confidence had diminished the second she laid eyes on it.
She smiled despite it. But what was appalling, is that in no world could she dent a tree let alone scratch it. A surprise and a blessing altogether for her.
What worried her was Itachi’s standards… From what she’s heard he was a formidable ninja despite his status as a rogue.
Turning back to him, she swallowed, as a drop of sweat ran along her forehead. “I don’t thin—”
“Keep trying,” He interrupted, his eye’s not on her, but the tree.
She couldn’t make out his expression, was he surprised? Disappointed? God if only she could read the Uchiha’s blank faces.
Turning back to the tree, she focused her chakra once again, contemplating how many times she could even do this before she ran out of chakra
Again punching the tree as hard as she could once again, before mumbling. “It’s not the same when I’m climbing a tree.”
“Ahh,” He said. “Try releasing your chakra right as you're about to hit it— But not too early, otherwise you’ll hurt yourself.”
Her first run wasn’t a success, but her fist came around the second time, with a little more strength and confidence.
Sakura stood in awe as she held her fist in pain, it hurt, but the excitement and triumph had sure numbed it by a mile.
She couldn’t help but turn over and grin at the man who smiled softly. A comforting gaze.
Brushing off the pain, she proceeded to punch the tree again, but this time with way less force than previously attempted.
The tree left the sound of a large thump as it fell to the ground.
Sakura turned over to him once again. “Two questions?”
She stalked near him carefully, still wary of the feeling he gave her, and him altogether considering he was rogue.
That attraction jutsu was still in play, otherwise, she’d be running in the opposite direction, and not giving in to the now faint feeling.
He nodded. “Yes, anything, I will answer to the best of my ability.”
Sakura was perceptive and bright, intelligence being her strong-suit. If it were anyone who could squeeze as much information as she could, it was her– and Shikamaru.
One thing meandered her mind, and it was the reason for her quivering legs. How could one murder their family in cold blood in attempt to test their power.
“Why’d you k– Massacre, your clan? It just doesn’t seem like you want power.” She quieted.
He stilled for a second, before patting down the grass before him, signalling for her to sit.
She stood there, a bit surprised before hesitantly walking toward him. Sitting right next to him sighed heavily.
“Konoha… Is not as innocent as it seems, though not everything can be achieved through peace. Say great every nation now needs to sacrifice something for the better good.”
She kept quiet, “A Mission, I was appointed…. I suggest you don’t pry any further, that’s your answer. Unless you wanna use your second question to get a little more?”
“The whole thing… A mission?” She said wide-eyed.
Infact, she didn’t dig further.
“No, I’ll ask something else," she paused, “I wasn’t able to focus my chakra so well before… I mean I was pretty good but not that good.”
He nodded in understanding, and awaited for her next word, and Sakura’s eye’s flickered back to his.
“Who sent you.”
It took an obvious turn, a very dramatic one indeed.
“I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not that.”
“I feel different.” She added.
Different as in more– Strong? Like a surge of power that, to her, happened randomly.
“Of course, your question is… Hard to answer. I guess you sent me…” He brought a hand up to his chin and tilted his head toward the sky. “...Or perhaps I sent myself.”
Sakura cocked her head to the side. “I-I’m not following.”
How could she have possibly ‘sent him?’ she doesn’t swell in the business of rogues, especially ones who have done wrong to her friends.
“Let’s discuss sometime else, no? After tomorrow, Same time, don’t be late again,
Before Sakura could react, the man was gone. Two crows took his place as they ascended into the dark.
Her question stood still unanswered for the most part, unless she could figure out what in the hell that meant.
She had enough sleep, more than enough in fact, though, maybe it’s her nerves keeping her awake, but she wouldn’t say she was well rested.
But she could not put off training with her team. Taking this, she forced her flimsy body up and stared at her wrapped fist.
She was walking now to go meet with her team, she felt her heart pumping a little too much blood and her blood pressure was no doubt off the charts.
They’ll be asking how she got all injured, when she should’ve been at home, and nurturing herself back to good health…
Her fist, even though she never attempted it, she knew it was all too out of her skill range. She clenched her fist tight
—And the way she came to him without any issue whatsoever, he was a rogue, a killer, some lunatic. How could she talk to him without losing her breath? It had to be some kind of jutsu.
His words were vague. Too vague she had thought. She contemplated it many times but that big head of hers was of no help. This was no textbook, she was always hitting a dead end
Running through several possibilities, processing his words over and over again through her head— reaching a conclusion that those theories were otherworldly and otherwise impossible.
Shock had long died out, and as a student who excelled in her academics and who paid the most heed to the rules, getting in trouble was not an option.
So it was a little secret, for her and the murderer of the Uchiha Clan.
She was forced out of thought when she reached her destination. A familiar raven haired boy came into view as Sakura trudged towards him with a grin.
“Good morning, Sasuke,” She spoke in a different tone today, it was much more bland, lacking her usual charm. Who could blame her?
He nodded, in understandment to the gesture before making his eyes down to the wrappings on her hand.
Hm… She didn’t seem to have her hand wrapped before.
“What’s up with your fist?”
“Oh I accidentally nicked myself with a kunai.”
“Was it that bad that you had to wrap your whole fist?” He asked suspiciously,
“Well, I’m just taking precautions, no? I get if you’re worried!”
He scoffed, It was a surprise Sasuke cared, not anything to gawk or fan herself over, he said it plainly to cure his suspicions. Maybe he even thought she couldn’t handle such pain.
But he was wondering, what if she just playing with kunai while she was supposed to be resting?
However she did notice his close eye on her fist, he probably had his skeptics.
The quiet atmosphere held up for a few minutes before she heard a loud yell from afar as she turned around to the commotion.
“Sakura!” He stopped right in front of her, she jumped in surprise as he leaned in towards her.
“Practice yesterday was so boring without you, y’know?” Said as he raked in hair with a clear blush on his face.
“Would it kill you to quiet down?” She said.
“Sorry, it's just been so long since we’ve seen each other.” He shouted excitedly, before diverting his attention.
“Hey, what's up with your fist?” He pointed.
“Oh I just hit it on my desk this morn—“
Her eyes momentarily widened, “—This morning.”
“I'll beat that desk up for you Sakura!” He threw some air punches.
“No it’s fine, it might kill you in the process anyway.”
Ignore, she told herself, pretend you haven’t said anything wrong, he for sure hasn’t remembered right? He never does.
“No way, future Hokage can’t let a desk beat ‘em.”
No way in hell could she focus on Naruto, not with the fact that she just messed up. She felt a gaze pierce right through her back as she kept her field of view as far off as she could ‘Focus on Naruto, Focus on Naruto’
“Hey Sasuke! What’s your issue?” Naruto stomped right past her,
God did she want to punch Naruto in the gut, it always had to be him.
Don’t look at him she told herself as the blonde just had to shout out something that was of course,, concerning her
“The hell are you staring at Sakura like that for? Come on— You and me let’s go!” He held up his hands to summon shadow clones.
“Could you get any louder?”
“Well if you didn’t stare at Sakura like that—!”
He scoffed. “Mind your business.”
“Naruto stop provoking him.” Sakura stepped in.
“I’m just trying to—“
“Shh, Naruto, you’ve probably woke up the whole village.
Naruto spared a small breath of disbelief and anger before quieting down— for the most part.
The Uchiha’s gaze still lingered on her, specifically her wrapped fist.
Kakashi arrived hours late, nothing too unsual.
“Ahh, Sakura you’re back huh?”
She nodded, “I’m ready to continue your training.”
“Great, today’s sparring.”
Sakura deadpanned. “You know I hate sparring.” she mumbled.
“Should’ve known, It’s wednesday, Isn’t it?”
Wednesday is sparring day, or in other words, hell for Sakura.
She never got to spar with the boys, she didn’t mind much, her power was significantly lesser than the two boy’s in her cell.
Kakashi always told her ‘The one with strategy is most likely to win, not power’ He had probably told her that in order to make herself feel better being the smartest one— In terms of textbooks and academics she believed. Kakashi probably didn’t understand that though. Because she just glowered and offered to stay on the sidelines everytime.
Not this time, ever since that day, the new, but not really distinct power had definitely gave her a confidence boost in terms of her on-field shinobi skills. She looked at the fist she punched the tree with, could she possibly use this power on a ninja?
Kakashi looked at her hand, a thought about how it could have occured arose to his head before an idea spiked in his head.
“Sakura and hm… Sasuke.”
The team gave wide eyes and jaw-dropping looks.
“What? You never team Sakura with Sasuke!”
“Way to insult me.” She told him. “But he’s right, I don’t even spar with Naruto!”
Kakashi closed his orange book. “We shouldn’t waste time, so get on with it.”
“I think you’ve wasted most of the time on your stupid path of life.” Naruto whispered quietly
Sakura took one look at Sasuke before walking toward the middle of the field
Her legs shook, telling herself constantly to stop shaking. She took slow deep breaths closing her eyes. Telling herself she could do this. Right she could.
Opening them, she saw Sasuke right in front of her, battling position. His expression, well— Bored.
That’s when she heard him. The man of enticement and murder.
‘I’ll guide you through this fight.’
It was like he was there except in her mind, and she couldn’t help but lose her guard as she tried so hard to process how.
“Start!” Kakashi yelled.
Sasuke ran at her with a kunai while she still stood shell shocked.
‘Right hand, block’
His voice was demanding, enough for her body to comply with it too. Yes the jutsu, it had to be that.
However, being terrible at taijutsu meant you were bound to get toppled.
‘Left hand block’
She blocked again, how? It felt like too many seconds had passed. Enough for Sasuke to land a hit, enough for him to win.
‘Right hand punch, no chakra’
She landed a hit, though feeling absolutely terribly about hitting her boy crush, he quickly recovered after flinching from the jolt of pain.
Sasuke came at her with a punch, even if she wasn’t a taijutsu master, Sakura could definitely conclude that it was impossible to block it. Well, at least she landed a hi—
‘crouch and dodge that hit. Use you unwrapped hand now… uppercut’
It felt like cheating, like a puppet that was controlled by the strings of its master, but with a voice.
And follow through she did, lastly crouched down, and put a bit of momentum to her upper body before flowing a considerable amount of chakra to her fist and connecting it right below his chin.
To her surprise, he blasted metres back, which she didn’t intend because firstly, she didn’t have this power no, not even yesterday
His fall was however stopped by a tree.
She stared at her unwrapped hand, and she breathed heavily. which now held a bruise, not as bad as the other one. But why was there more power? She couldn’t do that yesterday.
After snapping back to reality she realised the whole extent of the situation.
Oh she was so going to get interrogated by Kakashi.
She ran over to Sasuke. Kneeling to assess his injuries. “I’m so sorry.” She cried out.
“Why lie?” He groaned.
“What do you me—“
“Why lie about training?” He sat up against the bark tree, refusing her help.
“I just—“
He ignored her before getting up. “Again. Let’s go again.”
“But—“
“Now Sasuke, she won fair and square.” He interrupted as he stood with his book closed against his palm.
“Sakura, you totally beat up Sasuke! We should spar next, eh?”
“Uh-“ She looked at Naruto then back at Sasuke who was giving her a look of offence.
He grit his teeth and bit out. “Why lie?!”
“Lie about what—?” Naruto questioned.
Kakshi merely glazed the situation, picking out smaller details— Even he, a child prodigy, couldn’t accumulate power in a mere day.
And Haruno Sakura is not one to hide her power from others, especially when it could be used for the greater good. There’s no doubt she would’ve used it in the Land of Waves.
“I think we should cut training short, Sakura, why don’t we have a talk like we promised?”
“Of course but I—“
“Sasuke, don’t frown upon your teammate that has honed their skill. Especially one who has bested you in one aspect.”
Sasuke was about to throw a series of complaints before Kakashi continued. “Naruto, you go treat yourself.”
Kakashi held out a fist in front of Naruto, who opened his palm to feel coins in the middle of his hand.
“Hell yeah, ramen time! Hey Sakura, once you’re done talking to Kakashi sensei, why don’t we go out for Ramen— Oh! And also you can also tell me what you talked about with sensei and how you got so strong in a day—“
“Naruto, go get your ramen.” Kakashi shoved him lightly with a tired look on his face.
“Geez, I’m going bye Sakura, bye idiot.” Naruto ran across the training field and disappeared into the forest.
“Now now Sasuke, me and Sakura should really get going, and don’t train for too long. Hm?”
He raised his hand and waved it goodbye before putting his hands on Sakura’s shoulder’s they turned into a white puff of smoke.