#sasuke fake nonchalant

[sparklykaminarii]

PATCH UP DUTY! ༉‧₊˚.

synopsis: your shinobi boyfriend got hurt on a mission, and luckily for them their trusty girlfriend is here to help! (mentions of wounds and blood, SFW) FT. Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru

a/n: finally im back!! missed writing more than I expected lol also sorry naruto fans I didn't know what to do with him really!! (⁠ ⁠≧⁠Д⁠≦⁠)

☆ SILENCE. (FT. GAARA)☆

"You don't have to do this, (Y/N)." Gaara murmurs, resting his arm on the table. You ignore his comment, unraveling a roll of gauze. Sitting there patiently, he watches as you carefully formulate your supplies with precision.

Grabbing a chair next to him, you begin to treat his wound. A large slash down his forearm, yet shallow enough to not cause any substantial issues. But the bleeding alone was enough to make you pout.

Meticulously dabbing a cloth over his wound, not a single word escapes from either one of you. Steady breathing fills the empty silence, a comforting phenomenon that always came along with Gaara. He wasnt the type to speak unless he had to, even then his sentences remained short and meaningful.

Picking up a swab coated in sterile saline, then patting it along the gash, You glance up to check Gaara for any signs of discomfort, an instinct that came along with treating injuries.

Suddenly, your rhythmic movements halt abruptly.

Your eyes meet.

For a moment neither of you move. His cold teal eyes grasp yours, indecipherable but fierce. Almost like he was studying you, memorizing the way your eyebrows furrowed with concentration, the way your eyes squint slightly as you focus. There's no falter nor embarrassed look away—only fixed tranquility.

He still doesn't look away.

Gaara isn't the type of person to shy away when he's caught staring, especially if it's something he's infatuated by. Instead his gaze intensifies, as if he's trying to understand something—himself. Why does he feel this odd warmth in his chest every time he's around your vicinity? Why does his heart slow but his breathing quicken as soon as he feels your delicate touch? It's all so new to him.

You catch a glimpse of something that crosses his face. Although hard to catch, you still caught it. A rare tenderness he rarely allowed himself to show.

"...Does it hurt?" You ask gently.

Immediately, his lips part, like he wants to say something. But instead, he simply shakes his head "No. It's fine."

However, his eyes still haven't let you go. At least not yet. Not until you look away first, flustered by his silent potency. And even then, he's still watching, his thoughts unsolvable, his heart struggling to make sense of feelings he's never felt before.

☆ BIG BABY! (FT. NARUTO) ☆

"Ow, ow, OW— (Y/N), you're killing me!" Naruto whines throwing his head back like he's just been stabbed in the chest.

You glare at him, pressing the antiseptic soaked rag against the scrape on his cheek. "It's just a tiny scratch, you big baby."

"A tiny scratch?... Do you see the SIZE of this thing? I was fighting for my life out there!" He puffs, pointing at the scrape. You sigh loudly, muttering about how ridiculous he is, Naruto crossing his arms childishly at the comment.

Tossing the rag aside, you grab a glass bottle filled with ointment. "You literally get punched through walls, but this is where you draw the line?" You retort, leaning in closer to spread the ointment more precisely

But unknowingly, you closed in the last bit of space between you two, the lack of air making Naruto's brain go fuzzy. Actually, he was completely frozen. Too stunned to speak. His usual goofy demeanour falters for just a moment, his breath pausing as heat rises to his face. He's blinking rapidly, unsure of where to look. He's lost in the way your fingers gently grasp his jaw, tilting his head slightly backwards. And he's fixated on the pacing of your breathing too, feeling the warm air against his cheek.

Fuck. You were way too close. He swallows hard, "Uh..." He scrambles to find his words, for the first time, the Ultimate Knucklehead Ninja is speechless.

You raise an eyebrow, feigning innocence as if the close proximity wasn't a part of your plan. "What? You were just talking a mile a minute, and now you're quiet?" You spit, lips curled slightly as you spread the thick medication across his cheek.

Naruto quickly averts his gaze, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "N-Nothing... Just... uh... you must be really focused, huh?" He lets out a nervous chuckle, trying to slow down the sudden pounding in his chest.

Rolling your eyes, you twist the cap back onto the bottle. Adjusting himself on the couch, Naruto tries to retrieve his cool, as if his face weren't a bright tomato red. You continue patching Naruto up, still bickering back and forth with him. Only this time, he seemed to be a bit more jittery and shaky with his responses.

But later, when you're finished and packing away your supplies, you swear you hear him mumble something under his breath. Something that makes you smile not matter how much you stifle it back.

"Man... I think I just feel for you even harder..."

☆ STUBBORNESS (FT. SASUKE) ☆

"I'm fine."

You exhale sharply, ignoring Sasuke's regular resistance. Placing a cloth over the gash and then applying mild pressure, you attempt to stop the bleeding from his neck. "You're bleeding, Sasuke."

He doesn't flinch, nor does he wince. Instead he's just sitting there, stuff but compliant. His arms are crossed, like this whole situation was just some minor inconvenience. Of course. It wasn't unusual for Sasuke to act so detached, always pretending to be unaffected yet his body always said the opposite.

You shake your head, "Just let me help, okay?"

Sasuke sighs through his nose, but doesn't dispute with you any further. That was the most compliance you'll ever get out of him.

The wound on his neck wasn't deep, simply messy. Dried blood strips near the opening, and despite his bluffed collectiveness, you could tell he's exhausted. It wasn't uncommon to see Sasuke injured, oftentimes training tirelessly, or engaging with enemies he underestimated way too much. But this time, you could tell he wasn't just worn out physically.

Too lost in your thoughts, you accidentally prod the cloth a bit too harshly, making him tense up for a moment. Not a flinch, but you swore you heard his breath quietly hitch.

"Sorry," you murmur.

Sasuke though, doesn't say anything. But as you continue, grabbing other materials, you treat his wounds with extra care. Fingers grazing his skin with gentleless, you begin to notice something. His breathing slows. His once taut shoulders are now relaxed under your touch.

He isn't just tolerating this, but he's allowing it.

There's something strangely intimate about this silence. Perhaps it's the way, you're the only one he lets close like this.

Then you feel it. His gaze locked on you.

Holding the gauze in your hand, you pause.

"Sasuke?"

But still, no answer.

You peek up at him, expecting his eyes to rush away like they always do, but he doesn't. His distant black eyes are now fixated on you, unreadable, steady, yet softer than usual. They lacked their usual sharpness, but instead grew of quiet observation.

The sight sends your heart into your throat.

"...What?" You ask, voice barely above a whisper.

He blinks, laggard and calculated. His lips part ever so slightly, like he's about to speak but he doesn't. Instead, after a moment, he exhales and mutters, "Nothing."

Taking in his answer, you continue on with patching him up. But his gaze lingers, still focused on you. Even after you finish patching him up. Because as he stands to leave, his lips part open again, like there's something on his chest that's dying to come out.

And then, he turns away, his voice—low and nearly inaudible.

"...You don't have to worry about me so much."

☆ GENTLE (FT. SHIKAMARU) ☆

"This is such a drag..."

Shikamaru groans, resting his head against the wall as you kneel beside him, tending to the slash across his chest. He's always complaining and always acting like everything takes up so much of his precious energy. But he hasn't moved an inch since you've started.

"You say that like I'm the one who got you hurt," you mutter, blotting a rag over his wound.

A long and slow breathe escapes his lungs, "Tch. Guess that's fair."

His voice is low and sluggish, like sitting here was simply exhausting. Despite having a fresh injury, he seems to be half asleep. Typical. You should've expected him to act like this was more tiring than the actual fight.

"Hold still," you say, pressing a bandage against his skin tightly.

Shikamaru doesn't even flinch. Doesn't really react at all, really—except for the way his eyes flicker downwards watching the way your fingers dance over his chest, you brows knitting together in silent concentration.

You don't notice at first, only until the silence begins to grow way too suspicious.

You glance up, only for him to be looking back at you.

You waver, gripping the roll of bandage.

"What?"

But, he only blinks at you, hushed but calculated, unbothered at the fact you just caught him staring. In his eyes, there's no sign of embarrassment nor instant divergence. Just quiet deliberate eyes, like he's studying a foreign topic.

"You're being weird," you comment, focusing your attention to bandaging him up.

Shikamaru's lips twitch into a lazy smirk. "Nah. Just thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

He pauses, and so do you. His eyes dart towards something—not away but lower, to where your hands are still resting on his chest, rising up and down as he breathes.

"You're pretty gentle," he murmurs.

Your breath catches to the back of your throat. But before you can respond, he leans his head back again, shutting his eyes like he's done speaking.

Shaking off the unexpected heat in your cheeks, you huff "You say that like you expected me to be rough."

"Didn't say that," He mutters, eyes still shut.

"Then?"

He exhales a small tired sigh. And then without opening his eyes:

"I think I could get used to this"

Your hands still for half a second, but he doesn't say anything else. Instead he lets the silence between you two settle, as if it were meant to be there.

And when you finally pull back, he doesn't move right away.

Like he's in no rush to leave your touch.

[astrow1zar6]

Sun Sign Observations- 012

Every Scorpio Sun male I met gives the same vibe as Sasuke from Naruto lol. They all give off this mysterious nonchalant vibe. They come off as very uninterested in others but this is lowkey what draws so many people to them. They are sooo magnetic (especially with libra placements) these guys are very sexy and a lot of ppl obsess over them men and women whether it be good or bad. Also I notice they are quite pessimistic.

I notice Gemini Suns are either so chatty or very mute lol. I feel there’s no in between. I feel like Gemini’s are the introverted of the extroverts. But even the quiet ones are very good conversationalists when you really start to get them going lol. They get the reputation of being flakey and fake but really it’s not the case a lot of the time. Geminis need a lot of mental stimulation, it’s energy is very restless so when things are stable for too long they can become irritated more than most. Bringing in new ideas and social connections help their fast paced minds feel at ease. This however can cause them to be very misunderstood and have a harder time with holding long lasting relationships.

Libra suns are all so naturally pretty (men and women) they are so easy to spot because they all have this conventionally popular look to them. Also the flirt A LOT, a little too much at times. I feel like this sun sign enjoys leading others on more than most. They love attention especially from attractive people. They are so charming and can make you feel so special (even if it’s completely fake). As much as they flirt it’s actually rare they really fall in love but when they do they become so devoted to their partner & very obsessive (especially with Scorpio placements). But overall they are genuinely nice people even if it can be a little fake they try so hard to make people happy and comfortable which is so respectable.

Capricorn sun people I notice find a lot of humor in being mean to people😭 and you never know if they really mean it or not cuz they have such a dry humor (I honestly think most do mean it tho)😂. But their serious tone can be so hilarious. It can come off as intimidating sometimes cuz they can be pretty cutthroat.

Pisces suns will say some of the weirdest most random shit outta nowhere. It can be so funny tho cuz it’s usually so out of context😂 I feel like Pisces are more of oddballs than Aquarius. They have this feral energy they keep hide around these calm sweet auras. But they only show this side to people the trust.

All the Sagittarius suns I met are all surprisingly very emotional people. They normally hide their sensitive souls under this really confident flamboyant carefree mask. But really their huge animated personalities are defenses to hide how vulnerable and scared they really fear. They come off as childish but when they really open up to you they are some of the wisest people you’ll meet. One big thing I respect about this sign to is their inability to discriminate against others, they have such an non judgmental nature about them & are always so open to learn even if it normally goes against what they stand for.

Cancer suns are soooo clingy to their partners. Once they feel they found their soulmate I see a lot kinda isolate themselves and their partner. They can become a little codependent. It’s hard for cancers to feel comfortable around people because of their softer nature. So when they find someone that finally feels like home it’s hard for them to separate themselves.

Taurus suns can be very jealous of others. I honestly think more than Scorpios. A lot I met tend to be very bully like if insecure about themselves. They don’t like when others look better or have more money than them. Most feel like they have to be the best to feel good about themselves and many can find it hard to see the beauty in themselves:( but when healthy these people can be the rock to their families and relationships they are so stable and reliable once they love you they will do anything for you. These people genuinely do have big hearts but their egos can get in the way a lot.

I’m so jealous of Leo Suns, they are just so confident in their authentic selves it’s so admirable. It’s so hard for this sign to feel embarrassment because they love the attention and expression so much. I’d die to have this trait. This is why so many people want to be around them the shine like the Sun 🌞

[amenomiko]

The Lords, in Haunted House, attacked by a ghost.

Nobunaga: *Appears nonchalant at first, until his konpeito stash disappeared* How dare you..

Hideyoshi: NOBUNAGA-SAMA! I WILL PROTECT YUH OAO! Masamune! Keiji! Don't pick a fight with it (　☉д⊙)! Ieyasu don't push Mitsunari like that! *Carries Mitsunari like a rice bag*

AND YOU! WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING WITH THAT GHOST ୧( ಠ �� ಠ )୨??

Masamune: Ooooh this guy took a shape like MC! But you are wrong. MC's 3 sizes is __ cm, __cm and __cm 😏😏😏😏😏✨

Keiji, real self mode: And since when MC has big boobs? This ghost is bad at disguising :v

Hideyoshi: What-

Keiji, fake mode: Thisss..... Ghost is not as cute as our princess, right??

Ieyasu: ಠ_ಠ

Also Ieyasu: *Try to yank Mitsunari from Hideyoshi's shoulder to throw him to the ghost*

Mitsunari, on Hideyoshi's shoulder: (ㆁᴗㆁ✿)🌸🌸🌸 Oh hi Lord Ieyasu!

(❁´◡`❁) you are so kind to save me away from the ghost!

Ieyasu: Wear glasses mother f-

Hideyoshi: *Turns* ಠ_ಠ

Ieyasu: ...Fish in the pond.

And Mitsuhide: What? Plan what? I don't talk to ghost Hideyoshi, don't be ridiculous ( ͡^ ͜ʖ ͡^)

Also Mitsuhide, gives a thumbs up to the ghost when it pulls Hideyoshi's pants down, revealing his butt:

( ͡^ ͜ʖ ͡^)👍✨✨✨

------

Yukimura: Why.. Why am I here.. Whyyyyyy ಥ‿ಥ

Shingen: Now now, Yuki. We should calm down and eat something sweet, no? *Pats his chest and his chestnut bun went missing* ( ͡^ ͜ʖ ͡^)....

Kenshin: Serves you right, old man (눈‸눈).

Yoshimoto: Don't say that, your own bag of plums went missing too.

Kenshin:

Kenshin:

Kenshin: *SLICE EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE*

Ghost: (/QAQ)/ *Fly away*

Kanetsugu: As expected of Kenshin-sama. He is majestic wherever he goes, even the ghost retreats away ✨✨✨✨✨

And Sasuke: *Takes note* So this is how they act when they in a haunted house. Hmhm.

-------

Ranmaru: You are a bad ghost! How dare you disguise as our beloved princess >A<!

Kennyo: May its soul rest in peace.. *chants sutra*

Ghost, disguising as MC, pulls its collar down: 😏😏😏😏

Kennyo: *CHANTS FASTER*

Motonari: BAH! How lame. MC's size is only __cm!

Kicho: And B cup too.

Motonari: What-

Kicho: What?

[suimin-chan]

Another fic idea that I might never write.

What if Naruto didn't trust Kakashi at all at first? This is a child who has seen the worst of the village people. He's seen the ones who have no reservations showing their hate for him. Those that hurt him out of an anger he doesn't understand. Those that ignore him, like he doesn't even exist. Ignore his suffering and attention seeking. And those that plaster fake smiles, that pretend that they don't hate him. Those who keep a distance, pretend kindness in order to get him to leave faster. He hates that last one the most. He had learned to recognize those fake smiles better after Mizuki conned him into stealing the Forbidden scroll. Fake smile that didn't reach his cold eyes. Honeyed words encouraging him. When Naruto should have known, that this man with such a care free attitude, who never gave a damn about him passing, suddenly wanted to help. He nearly lost Iruka to him. Iruka who had just started to care about him. Giving him the attention he craved. Scolding him like a parent. Taking him out to ramen. Iruka who took a shuriken to the back and told him to run and not listen to the hateful words Mizuki was spouting about Naruto having a demon in him.

So he's rightfully suspicious, in his mind, of another pale haired man with fake smiles, cold and calculating eyes... eye? Who's too nonchalant to be truthful. Who is always late. Lies about everything. Doesn't show much concern as of yet to their safety. Can be too harsh with his words at times while others are sickeningly sweet at times. Manipulating is what Iruka would say. That's what Mizuki had done to him. Said things that made Naruto feel on top of the world, just to get him to do what he wanted.

So he keeps his distance. Doesn't try to show off to get the man's attention. Let him praise Sasuke all he wants. Doesn't take his bait when he tries to rile Naruto up. Keeps away from any hair ruffles. Doesn't accept the invitation to have ramen along with his other teammates. He's not hungry, Iruka is expecting him, he wants to grab something else to eat but will be right back when Kakashi and the other two are done.

He complains to Iruka constantly. Tells him he doesn't like the man. Who reads porn in public and around children? That had gotten a rant out of Iruka. He doesn't try to get to know the man, and Iruka had said that while he trusts Kakashi, he also knew nothing about the strange man; no one really does other than probably Guy. He won't force Naruto to trust the man, but tells him to be sure to follow orders. Iruka had tried to convince him to trust the jonin sensei, but after Naruto pointed out that he doesn't have the best track record when it comes to trusting people, it was dropped. Grudgingly.

Naruto thinks the man was forced to be his sensei because of the demon. And isn't sure if the man would let him die to rid the village of the creature and Naruto. Iruka can't reassure him either, it's a possibility. One neither of them like. Iruka doesn't ask the Hokage for advice, both he and Naruto know that their concerns would be brushed off. Kakashi is a very loyal ninja. And the Hokage is a bit of a tattle-tale. He would tell Kakashi.

Kakashi is obviously confused. Naruto is nothing like he's seen and heard of. Bribing him with ramen doesn't work in opening him up. Neither does teasing him. He's never home when he checks, apparently he stays with Iruka. Naruto violently chases him off when he tries to drop in on the both of them eating at the ramen shop, or drags Iruka away.

It's obvious Naruto doesn't like him. But Kakashi doesn't know why. Iruka, when cornered, refuses to betray Naruto's trust. All attempts at getting close fail. He tries to ask Naruto about it when he's alone. But that just gets him a sexy jutsu and a Naruto who hides better than some ANBU. Calling him out about his dislike in front of Sasuke and Sakura has an embarrassed Naruto closing up tighter than a clam and refusing to so much as look at Kakashi. It also makes Sakura fuss at the boy and makes Sasuke draw away from him too. Casting suspicious eyes on Kakashi. After all, Naruto likes everyone, mostly, so if he doesn't like Kakashi, then clearly Sasuke missed something. Sakura, the goody-two-shoes, trust the adult in charge and looks at the two boys like they've lost their minds. Kakashi just doesn't know what to do.

The mission to Mist, goes horribly. But it does seem to shine a favorable light on Kakashi. Sasuke is back to treating him just like before. Naruto only warms up a little. The chunin recommendations ruin that. Naruto picks up on Iruka's anger and who it's directed to. The trust is out the window in the blink of an eye. They pass the preliminary test, and Iruka's side ring up to him again breaks the cool glares from Naruto. Brushing off training Naruto and choosing Sasuke seems to sting like a rejection to the child. Who according to Iruka, sees at as Kakashi not wanting to bother with him anymore. But there's nothing for it, Sasuke can learn more from him than Naruto could. And there is not enough time to spare. Naruto would probably only learn one thing where Sasuke could probably learn four. Sending him to Ebisu might have been a royal fuck up. So he's surprised to learn that Juraiya trained him.

They are all a bit distant with each other after all the funerals have ended. Naruto and Sasuke are at each other's throats more often than not. Kakashi rarely has time for them. Itatchi's return sends the one he was worried about the most but though would listen to him more, right out the village and chasing Orochimaru. It also leaves Naruto feeling betrayed. Kakashi spends every day in the hospital with Naruto and Iruka. Naruto slowly opens up around him. But then Naruto is leaving and Kakashi thinks all chances of having the boy trust him are gone. Until he gets a letter.

He really cherishes that letter.

[justwritesome]

a vacation, perhaps

(part 3)

Hinojima. That's the island where Konoha stood. Unlike the main island of Okinawa Prefecture, which have been urbanized, the island remained untouched from the changing times. It's practically a middle of nowhere.

The only evidence Madara knew that he hadn't travelled back to the past were the mini-Airport, the telephone pole they just passed by and the dingy truck he'd been riding for fifteen minutes now.

So far, Madara is just seeing a lot of trees. The bustling and convenient city of Tokyo spoiled him, the Uchiha realised. Besides the occassional trips to the mountains of the countrysides in his youth as a college student indulging in the hobby of Falconry, he never had to leave from the civilization he's used to. And whenever he travelled to Okinawa when he was young with either relatives or schoolmates and friends, they never strayed from the main island where the popular tourist spots they had visited.

Madara had stepped foot in the island for the better part of half an hour, but his gut instincts told him this trip would definitely be different from his previous trips.

"Madara-san?" The driving pink-haired woman called him from his thoughts. "Can I call you Madara-san?"

"You're already addressing me as such." Madara replied blandly.

Sakura made a face while staring down the road, "Whatever. I'm Sakura Haruno. Or is it Haruno Sakura to you?"

Madara felt the corner of his eye twitching at her nonchalance. For someone whose job is supposed to be amicable and polite, she's a real impudent one.

"Anyway, I need to drop by real quick in the marketplace before I take you to the place you're going to stay at." She added as she made a turn the right.

"What? Why? Can't you do it in your own time?" Madara inquired as he frowned at the girl's professionalism.

Sakura scowled. What did he think she's doing?!

"I'm already doing it in my own time!" She snapped, uttering those words through gritted teeth. "It seemed to be you're mistaking me for a servant or the hotel's staff, but I assure you Uchiha-san, I'm only doing Sasuke-kun a favour."

After that, Sakura harshly stepped on the brake pedal and removed her seatbelt to get out of the truck. Madara watched her marched towards the wooden fern green gates, which made him realised that they arrived in the small village of Konoha. He pondered if he should follow her to the village, but it's hot outside, so he decided to stay put inside the truck. He's going to be in this island for two weeks. He will just visit the village after he settled down in his temporary lodging.

For now, he will work on the paperwork he couldn't read properly because of all the jostling from the uneven roadway of this island.

xxx

Sakura gently placed the beige eco bag in her hand to one of the six red stools in the Ichiraku Ramen Stall before dropping the two sacks of rice from her shoulder to the foot of said stools.

"You looked like you're about to explode." Kakashi commented when he saw Sakura sliding to the seat beside him.

"No, I'm not!" Sakura vehemently denied as she reached for the cold glass of water beside the bowl of ramen in front of the silver-haired man.

"Hmm..." Kakashi hummed. "Are you Outer or Inner?"

"I'm Sakura! There's no difference!" She insisted, having the urge to raise her fist at him as she quenched her thirst.

"Of course. Of course." Kakashi nodded, placating the young woman. "So, did you already take your meds? It's for your own good, you know?"

Sakura grimaced at the scolding tone he's using. Like she's a petulant child, refusing to eat her leafy green veggies. Kakashi, on the other hand, just kept smiling with his eyes while the lower half of his face was covered with medical mask. She glowered at nothing before pulling her pill case from her hip pouch, popping a white tablet to her mouth and biting it with a crunch.

"It never failed to amaze me how you can chew that bitter pill like it's chitose-ame, Sa-ku-ra." Kakashi nonchalantly remarked at the pink-haired woman.

The nonchalance in the silver-haired man may seemed indifferent, but there's a hint of concern and clinical scrutiny in his tone.

"Yeah, well, always be amazed."

Since she was twelve years old, Sakura had been staying in this island. It was to hide the dirt in her family: her. Beside the fact she's a bastard child of the family's illegitimate son, she also have another her inside her head and was diagnosed with split personality disorder. At pre-teen, it was decided that Sakura had no hope to marry because of her apparent mental disorder.

Like, she could care about that, really. The voice in her head had helped her in many ways than her own flesh and blood could before she met her bond family.

"One miso and chasiu ramen on the go for you, Sakura-chan."

Teuchi smiled at the friend of his favourite hyperactive blond customer. His ramen is one of the reasons Uzumaki Naruto was persuaded to live in this remote island in the first place. The main reason was to help and accompany Sakura, one of his childhood friends, of course.

Sakura stood up from her seat and placed the appropriate bill on the counter before taking the ramen take-out from the old man and putting it inside the eco bag she deposited Sasuke's tomatoes and Sai's ink bottles and sticks along with the things one of the guests in the hotel had asked of her to procure.

"I'm leaving! See you tomorrow, Kakashi. Ah! Sasuke's uncle also arrived. He's with me in your truck." Sakura informed him, noticeably calmer than before.

"Alive and in one piece, I hope." Kakashi teased.

"You can always hide the body." Sakura quipped back.

"Always nice talking to you, Sakura. I will come up there when I have time later." He told her before turning his back to eat his ramen.

Sakura sceptically looked at Kakashi. His later may mean tomorrow or the next day bearing ridiculous and over the top excuses simply to troll people and to put them off. She left the ramen stall with her purchases. Before she could completely step away from the place, the silver-head man reminded her with a holler,

"Also, don't forget to eat! You're not you when you're hungry."

xxx

Madara was about to sign his signature of approval on the last paper in one of the files he'd been working on when he saw a flash of pink in the corner of his eyes. He looked up from his work and saw her.

She's carrying two sacks of rice on her one shoulder and a large beige eco bag in the other hand as she walked out of the village's gate with no difficulty. He felt his lips parting slightly at the shock of seeing this delicate-looking, pink-haired woman of five-four lugging two sacks on her left shoulder...

How exactly strong is she?

Madara closed his eyes and firmly shut his lips, arms folded over his chest. She could probably bench press him with that kind of strength. He concluded.

He opened his eyes to look behind him- at the tinted back window to observe her feat of strength: she unloaded the two sacks in the back of the truck with ease before pulling the latch to close it.

When Madara saw her coming near the door of the backseat, he hurriedly turned around and stared at the paperwork in his hand. He discreetly observed her pushing the eco bag beside his own travelling bag before she closed the door. His dark eyes drifted to the fountain pen in his hand and he became conscious that his grip on it had tightened.

Just as Sakura settled down once again on the driver's seat, the older Uchiha was signing on his paperwork before arranging them and putting them back inside his suitcase. Sakura coughed lightly to gain the older man's attention. Madara looked her way and saw that her face, flushed from the heat outside and from something else.

That something else is probably because of the thing or two in her hand, which she thrusted in his direction, seemingly abashed.

"Here, Madara-san." She whispered, but loud enough for him to hear.

The sudden change in her mood intrigued him. What happened to her between the period she'd gone to the village? Did she realised the error of her ways?

"Thank you, Haruno." Madara said with a tint of amusement in his eyes, taking the paper box and pineapple juice in can from her hand, their fingers brushing briefly.

Sakura almost squeaked at the contact, but she refrained herself from doing so. But inside her hear, Inner Sakura yelled at the hotness of this Uchiha. They're all hot to her.

Sakura cleared her throat to stop herself from blushing bright red. Sure, the voice in her head helped her a lot when she was a young girl being bullied by her so-called playmates in pre-school and early grade school because of her bizarre appearance and the fact she's a child from a reputed family, but born out of wedlock... However, this is too much!

"There's no bento left and I couldn't get you a proper lunch beside ramen, but that stir-fry bitter melon and inarizushi would hopefully do to fill you up a bit. It's nothing special, but Akimichi-sama cooked the most delicious food here in Konoha." She babbled awkwardly to drone out Inner's perverted ramblings before Sakura bit her lips and started to pull over from the gate to drive him to Fire Kitsune's.

Madara removed his dark obsidian eyes from her lips before opening the box when she said his favourite food. Upon seeing the four pieces of inarizushi beside the stir-fry bitter melon separated by baran, Madara chuckled inwardly. This woman is after his own heart. Giving him his favorite food in their first meeting, albeit without her knowing it is his favorite food, is quite endearing. And added by that display of strength, despite her mood swings and temper, Madara would like to get to know her better after he's finished with this sham of a business trip.

xxx

"Welcome to Fire Kitsune's Hotel & Resort, City Boy." Sai greeted Madara with a fake smile pasted on his pasty face. "How can I help you?"

The older Uchiha's jaw tightened at the person inside the receptionist box of the three-storey establishment. His attempt to pronounce the "city boy" in the English Language sounded like "shitty boy". What kind of place is this? Did Itachi seriously think a partnership with this place will benefit their company?

The treatment of the staffs to their guests were rather appalling. Seriously. Well, he's not that certain for what the other guests thinks, but he would like to speak for all of them.

"Sai! Stop giving people nicknames. It's not appropriate!" Sakura chided as she dropped a brown paper bag with the ink bottles and stick inside it in front of him.

Sai continued smiling as he rummaged the paper bag. Upon seeing the brand of the ink sticks, he faced Sakura and bluntly said,

"What's not appropriate here is the wrong brand of this ink sticks you bought, Ugly."

Sakura was about to open her mouth to retort at Sai when Sasuke appeared at the wooden staircase of the ryokan.

"Sasuke."

"Madara-ojisan," Sasuke coolly greeted back his relative as he stepped down the stairs, taking his sweet time.

Some of the women guests in the hall who just came from the man-made hot springs of the resort sent their pink and red heart eyes at the cool and hip Uchiha when they saw him. Naruto left the kitchen he often manned with Chouji to see the commotion in the lobby. When he saw Sakura in the midst of the dark-haired Uchihas and Sai, his blue eyes immediately landed on the box of instant ramen inside her foldable eco bag with his Ichiraku ramen.

The automatic response to this, is what followed:

"Sakura-chan~!!" Naruto blissfully called as he tried to embrace his sister in all but blood when she remembered to get his ramen from Ichiraku. It almost skipped his mind because they're slammed from work.

Sakura briskly stepped away, so Naruto crashed and fell on the wooden floor. His face first. Sasuke sighed inwardly when he saw the arrival of comedy skit between his friends. Before they could even begin their antics again, in front of his uncle no less, Sasuke told Naruto that the noodles in his ramen will get soggy and that he shouldn't leave the kitchen with Chouji when Ino or Sakura wasn't around to help. After that, Naruto went back to the kitchen with his ramen take-out and his instant ramen in his arms- a look of utter joy on his face.

Sasuke visibly sighed before looking at Madara again, "I'll show you to your room, ojisan."

Before they left, Sasuke's eyes landed on the package of ripe tomatoes Sakura had withdrew with Hinata's parcel. Seeing his attention on the fruit, the pinkette beamed while folding her eco bag to store it back inside her hip pouch.

Madara gazed at the beautiful and bright smile on her face, noting the faint dimple on her cheek. The strands of her silky pink hair cascaded down her pale neck and barely touched her shoulders. He studied the three young adults with concealed interest in his eyes.

"Ino and I made a good harvest!" Sakura happily exclaimed, her forest green eyes shining. "When you and Sai are done with your shifts later, come down with Naruto to pick up the pineapple and watermelon we planted this season to share with everyone here."

The faux smile on Sai's face significantly dropped, but his expression lightened and softened genuinely when he and Sasuke saw the guileless and peaceful smile on their precious friend- almost sister's face.

This is what they wanted to protect when they all resolved to join Sakura here after college and left Honshu.

Sasuke subtly smile on his own way as he gestured for his relative to follow him. The older Uchiha knew he hadn't mistaken the determination burning in the eyes of his nephew and the rude boy in the reception box.

Maybe agreeing with his cousin, Mikoto, to take this vacation otherwise known by his scheming relatives as business trip in Okinawa will not be tedious as he had first thought.

part 1 || part 2

[crazyinthebestway]

The Breakfast Club

⚔️Warlord Style⚔️

If you haven't seen The Breakfast Club (1985), I recommend that you give it a shot! It's a fun film about a group of all your stereotypical high school cliches end up spending a day in detention.

----------------------

Having a little fun with the men of Ikemen Sengoku—specifically the Oda forces. The ideas presented are for fun and as if they were modern teenagers! Enjoy <3

The Detention Monitor: MC (God help her)

The Reckless Bad Boy: Masamune

Is always tardy to 1st period

Received detention for being late one too many times to 1st period

His smile and charm have gotten him a free pass in the past, but after 30 tardies, even *his* charming flirts weren't enough to get out of it

Arrives to detention late, but brings food for everyone, so the slight is overlooked

Flirts with MC by simply smirking at her as she periodically glances up from her book

Is asked to refrain from putting his feet up on the table...proceeds to kick his feet up on the table

Everyone around him is rolling their eyes at his nonchalance, but all he does is recline and smirk right back at them

Asks how much time has passed every time MC walks by

Leaves detention with another five detentions lined up

The Goodie Two Shoes: Hideyoshi

Hall monitor since kindergarten

Teacher's pet

The first freshman in his school to become student body president—was elected in 4th grade, but wasn't made official until 9th

Arrives at school early and greets the teachers

Received detention for being a little overzealous as a hall monitor—another student was interfering with Nobunaga's being on time to class

Would do Nobunaga's homework if he asked

Arrives to detention fifteen minutes early and greets MC with a sweet smile

Sits quietly during detention, reading and periodically checking to see is Nobunaga needs any help with the homework he's *not* doing

Flashes chiding glares in Masamune's direction each time the guy attempts to flirt with MC

Is the one who asks (tells) Masamune to put his feet down

Frets over how this one infraction on his record will result in being denied entry into a number of universities

Vows internally (under his breath loud enough for those next to him to hear and say something snarky) to be the best detentionee EVER

The only student to leave detention with a gold star

The Cocky Jock: Nobunaga

Knows with absolution that he's the best athlete in the entire school—nobody dares argue with that notion either

Commands classroom attention and respect for the teachers when they can't seem to

Only has to glance in a misbehaving student's direction for them to chill

Is smarter than most people give him credit for

Doesn't need Hideyoshi's help with homework, but occasionally asks him a question just to make him feel better

Received detention for intimidating other students out of their desserts at lunch time

Arrives at detention on time, with all the confidence of the record breaking athlete that he is

Smuggles in several bags of candy to snack on throughout the day—inside a fake textbook

Repeatedly tells Hideyoshi he doesn't need help with his homework every time he opens the book to sneak some sweets

Finds the banter between Hideyoshi and Masamune quite amusing

Also finds Masamune's flirting with MC amusing, all the while knowing she will soon be his, so eye patch kid doesn't stand a chance

Waits until everyone leaves detention, before approaching MC, tilting her chin, and telling her his bed is quite cold without her in it—then promptly leaves her there, mouth agape

The Geeky Brain: Sasuke

A+ student in every subject, except home ec

The perfect student for every teacher

Has been spending most of his time in the home ec room practicing sewing with MC

Received detention because he wants to try everything once—basically assigned himself for research

Arrives at detention a few minutes early to scope out the best seat for observing

Realizes exactly *who* he will be observing and has a fanboy meltdown

His notebook soon fills up with all the information he can gather while detention ticks away

Most of his notes are about Ieyasu and his quips

Chalks the day up to one of the best he's ever experienced in his entire life

Helps MC clean up, including collecting the sign in sheet—sees Ieyasu's signature on one of the lines—

Sasuke.exe has stopped working

The Quiet Weirdo: Mitsuhide

Nobody really knows much about him

He keeps to himself and is rarely seen outside of the classes he attends

Roams the halls every now and then, when others are in class, which sets off Hideyoshi's hall monitor alarms

Has a mental checklist for every student that includes everything about them, down to the color of their underwear each day—and what color they'll put on tomorrow

Brings teachers apples, yet nobody knows he's the one delivering them

Receives detention for provoking a Hide-fit during lunch time, when he encouraged another student to run back to the lunch line for seconds

Sits at the back of the detention room

Nobody knows how or when he got there

Answers questions MC hasn't even asked yet

Passes Nobunaga an extra special bag of rare candy without Hideyoshi noticing

Leaves detention before the rest, most left wondering if he was even there at all

**Two Special Additions just because**

The Grumpy Loner: Ieyasu

Keeps to himself—or tries to, often unsuccessfully

Can often be found glaring at his shadow or sulking at a table in the lunch room

Brings his own mix of spices to add to the food each day

Rarely smiles, especially when girls try and flirt with him

Often has something snarky to say if approached—don't ask him what he uses on his hair!

Received detention for calling his teacher an idiot when he quoted the wrong scientist during a lesson

Arrives at detention with a glower, yet seems to loosen up when he sees MC is the monitor

Doesn't admit *she's* the reason his mood has suddenly lightened

Takes a seat away from everyone else and plans to just sleep until it's over

Is instantly irked when Mitsunari sits down beside him with a cheery smile

Sighs and sighs some more, mumbling under his breath until it's over and he can escape

The Naive Nerd: Mitsunari

One of the best students in school—when he remembers to turn his work in

Is often forgetting deadlines, but still manages to get his impeccable work turned in with the help of the many alarms Hideyoshi's set on his phone

Can be found carrying multiple books at once, almost always

Has a special library card that allows him to check out double the amount of books other students can

Carries a lint roller to remove the cat hair he accumulates

Received detention for standing up for Ieyasu after the fluff ball called their teacher an idiot

He tried correcting the teacher on Ieyasu's behalf and ended up inadvertently making the teacher appear even more stupid in front of the class

Arrives at detention with a pep in his step

Is determined to serve his time and repent for his mistakes—oh! And sit beside Ieyasu for moral support

His nose is buried in his book most of the time, time ticking by, conversations going unnoticed, but noticing each time Ieyasu says something

Smiles sweetly at MC and hurriedly follows Ieyasu out the door once detention is over

----------------

The picrew maker for the girl can be found here

The picrew maker for the guys can be found here

[sns-tropes]

heart in your hands: ch11

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6,

Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10

chapter summary: on tonight's nine o'clock news: team seven has emotional constipation

pairing: sasuke/naruto (ninja!verse) post-698

rating: Mature

warnings: angst, hurt/comfort

A/N: i haven't posted in forever don't hate me. this one is a little short but i'll be posting again very soon. sorry for the angst.

- jeni

Naruto blinks awake blearily. It’s a gloomy morning, there’s no sun streaming in. It might rain today. He looks to his side and Sasuke is awake, just staring at the ceiling above them quietly. Naruto doesn’t think it’s a troubled look. It seems pretty neutral. He’s aware that he maybe acted a little clingy with Sasuke last night. He was beyond exhausted, so he feels like he can’t really be held accountable for anything he said or did. Even if it might have annoyed Sasuke, he doesn’t seem bothered by it now, after everything. 

Sasuke looks like he’s thinking really hard about something. Naruto scoots closer, making Sasuke look at him. Sasuke winces a little, not quite sure if he should speak up. 

“I want to tell you something. I did something without your consent.” 

Naruto’s brow furrows in confusion. “What are you talking about?” Naruto scoots in even closer, concern drawn on his expression. It’s worrisome. Everything with Sasuke is potentially worrisome.  

Sasuke’s eyes fall from Naruto’s. His intentions for this conversation are good ones. He’s trying to accomplish something here. But this is hard. This is too difficult to open the subject. Because even though they’ve got used to so much together and have experienced this new dynamic between them, there’s still a lot of things that Sasuke thinks they’re in the dark about.  

They don’t know how to do a relationship. They never knew how to anything other than fight. Everything is still new even when it’s not. But Sasuke is trying. He just doesn’t want this to go in the wrong direction. 

“I looked into your dreams the other night.” He regrets it the moment the words leave his mouth. The old him would have suggested Naruto simply get over it. But things are so much different now. Naruto’s eyes widen in brief realization that Sasuke means that he saw  that  dream. Sasuke’s heart beat quickens in his chest and he’s experiencing something rare. Something that he doesn’t usually feel. He thinks it might be fear. He doesn’t have a first instinct unfortunately. He doesn’t know what Naruto is thinking. And poking around in his head any more than he already has will just make it worse.  

Naruto sits up a little away from him and looks in the other direction. Sasuke can’t tell if he’s angry or sad or what, but something in Sasuke hurts at the sight. 

“What did you see?” Naruto says numbly. 

“Enough.” 

Naruto huffs out a defeated breath, that same stress from last night radiating off of him. Sasuke eyes his prosthetic arm wrapped up in those white bandages. Naruto rests his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Sasuke waits. 

“It’s pathetic isn’t it?” Naruto rasps out, voice rough and thick with sleep. “You’re right here. Living in my apartment with me. And I-” Naruto closes his mouth. He stops himself. Sasuke doesn’t want to push too much. He doesn’t want to scare Naruto away. 

“You’re afraid.” Sasuke suggests softer than he’s ever spoke to him before. 

Naruto shakes his head no, eyes shut, throat tight.  

“I’m- I’m terrified.” He admits begrudgingly.  

“ Why ?” 

Naruto laughs bitterly, sounding like he’s trying not to cry. “Track record.” 

And Sasuke supposes that he’s right. That’s what Sasuke has always done. He always runs away from the things that are good for him. But he can’t even be bothered to think about himself in this moment. He’s only thinking about Naruto. He can only think of what Naruto needs. 

“Naruto-” 

“No- You don’t- You don’t have to say anything.” Naruto says decidedly. “It’s not your burden that I'm insecure. That’s not fair.” 

“It’s fair. I did this.” And Sasuke almost  wants to cry at how true that is. How he really did put those thoughts and fears in Naruto’s head. “I put that fear there.” 

“It’s not your fault I'm so dependent.” Naruto states logically. 

“I’m no better.” 

Naruto laughs again, finally looking up at Sasuke. Sasuke missed looking at them for just those few minutes.  

“You’d be fine either way.” Naruto bites out, and that hurts because it sounds like Naruto really believes that. 

And something flares up in Sasuke at the words. At first, it’s anger because that is so far from the truth. But the flame dies down a bit and it just feels like desperation. If this is what Naruto thinks of what they are then he’s so very wrong. He can’t have an emotional, existential crisis over what to say anymore. It’s just too important.  

“Naruto,” He says, voice uncharacteristically thick with emotion. “I think I would die. I would die without you. Almost did a few times.” 

Naruto just stares. He stares and searches Sasuke’s eye for even the slightest hint of deception or fallacy. Sasuke palms his face, drawing in as close as he can. He isn’t sure if kissing him is the right thing to do, but it just feels right to him. Usually Naruto is the one asking.  

“Can I?” Sasuke asks tentatively, the words foreign on his tongue. His breath ghosts gently over Naruto’s lips. Naruto lets his eyes flutter closed as he nods.  

He kisses him fully and sincerely, and they move like there was never a disagreement in the first place. But that wasn’t even what he wanted to tell him. Not really. He wanted to ask him about the field study. But now he can’t be bothered to with the feeling of their lips connecting like this. 

“I wouldn’t let you die.” Naruto mumbles. 

“I know.” Sasuke smiles against his lips. “Track record.” 

 ____________________________________________________________

Sakura comes to give him some paperwork later that day. Naruto has gone out in the heavy rain to fetch a few food items, for lack of anything to eat in the house. 

Sasuke lets her in wordlessly and she scans the place for any sign of Naruto, wondering if Sasuke has brought up the topic yet. 

He sits down at the table with her and sifts thought the standard documents, eyes briefly scanning the places where he’s meant to write things in. 

“It will be easy to clear you.” She states in a measured tone.  

“I figured.” He says, voice nonchalant.  

“You haven’t asked yet.” It’s not a question. 

Sasuke knows she doesn’t want him to leave. She doesn’t want either of them to leave. She’s not the type to feel secure without a team by her side. That’s what Sasuke knows to be true. But he can’t be sure now. He’s still getting to know this version of her after being awaay for so long.  

He doesn’t address her statement right away. He feels something twist in his gut, an apology on the tip of his tongue.  

“I’m sorry, Sakura.” 

She balks, confused as hell. 

“Huh?” 

“I’m sorry.” He says again, setting the papers down. “For everything I put you through.” 

She doesn’t say anything, eyes unreadable.  

“For hurting you.” 

“Mentally or physically?” She laughs. But it’s just not funny. How can it be? 

“Both,” He se says quietly, having no expectations from her. He just wanted to say it.  

She seems to think for a moment, not sure on what she’d like to say.  

“That was a long time ago.” She says. “It doesn’t matter now.” 

Sasuke doesn’t understand anything. He might never. In a way, He’s jealous of her. He’s jealous of her confidence, her stability, he independence, her resilience. Everything that he never thought she would live up to, but unexpectedly surpassed him despite how average he thought her to be. He was so very wrong about her. He eyes the Strength of 100 Seal on her forehead and smirks in defeat.  

It doesn’t seem like she’ll accept his apology. Not because she’s unforgiving, but because it truly doesn’t matter anymore. It’s too late. 

And at that moment it occurs to him that he doesn’t want to be late for anything else. He’s in no position to ask her for a favor.  

“Sakura, will you...” He takes a breath, “Will you stay until Naruto returns?” 

Her brows furrow. “For what?” 

“I’m going to ask him.” 

“And you want me here for it? Are you joking?” 

“Does it look like I'm joking?” 

“Now you need moral support?” 

“Yeah?” 

She sighs deeply.  

“If you two start fighting, I’m out of here.” 

He’ll take it. 

 ________________________________________________________

Naruto puts away his groceries after greeting Sakura in mild suspicion. He has no idea what they’re up to over on the table, but he sees paperwork and it looks important.  

There’s a bit of an uncomfortable feeling in the air. He doesn’t know what to expect, but Sasuke looks... Nervous? He really hopes he hasn’t gotten himself into any trouble. Naruto doesn’t think he can handle any more of that. 

He sits down at the table and tries to look relaxed. He purposely avoids looking at the paperwork. He’s sure they’ll tell him.  

“Naruto,” Sasuke starts. “I’ve found something. A job, I guess?” 

Naruto relaxes a little, he fakes a smile, because he’s not sure if there’s anything to be glad about yet. “That’s great!” 

“But there’s conditions.” 

He eyes the both of them, suspicious all over again.  

“What’s going on here?” 

“It’s a field study, Naruto.” Sakura pipes in. “A two-year field study.” 

He bites his lip. He’s not quite sure he heard her right. And even if he did hear her right, he doesn’t know why the hell she’s promoting something like this. That strange uncomfortable feeling rises up in his chest. The kind where it gets too tight in his lungs and he can’t quite breathe. He scratches at his hand on the table, refusing to look up at them both. So, this was what Sasuke was talking about. On the docks he said he'll stay a while. Just a while and then he’ll leave when he’s ready. Naruto didn’t think he would be ready to go so soon.  

He didn’t think he would be ready to go right after that heart to heart this morning that meant so much to Naruto. That talk that made him finally feel like there’s no way he could possibly lose him. He can feel his eyes getting damp and he hates it. He would rather not show it at this point. He feels a little betrayed. Not just by Sasuke but Sakura too, just because she’s clearly involved and sitting right here. His heart is in his throat but he just wants to close off. He doesn’t want Sakura to see him break down like he did those few months ago on his kitchen floor, where Sasuke had to urge him back into breathing properly.  

He feels it getting closer, creeping up on him, darkening his mind and tearing at his throat. There’s nothing he can do. There’s nothing he can say to stop this. Because something that comes up time and time again like this is bound to happen regardless.  

He shuts his eyes tight. 

Suddenly there’s a hand on his. He opens his not quite dry eyes to look up. Sasuke’s expression is like one he’s never seen before. Open, pleading, practically desperate. He squeezes Naruto’s hand tighter across the table, not caring at all that Sakura will see them this way.  

“Naruto.” Sasuke’s voice cracks. And he’s not sure why he asked Sakura to be here now, because he feels so pathetic. He was terrified to do this. He was terrified to ask in the same that Naruto is terrified of him leaving again. “Come with me.” 

Naruto releases a breath, never really aware that he had been holding it. 

“What?” 

“Come with me, Naruto.” 

They stare at each other for an immeasurable amount of time. He can’t speak. He doesn’t know what to say. 

Sakura leans in slightly as if she we’re wordlessly asking if she should leave. She hopes that Sasuke remembers what she told him.  You might not like his answer.  

Naruto feels too much in the moment. He feels so much that it amounts to him being unable to identify any of his emotions. As if they we’re all cancelling each other out, he almost feels nothing. 

His vision tunnels and before and one can stop him, he pulls his hand back from Sasuke’s and he stands from the table. His expression is blank. They don’t know what he’s thinking. He leaves the house again, without a word uttered in reply to that weighted question.  

Sasuke stares down at the table, fist clenched where his hand was holding Naruto’s tightly just moments ago.  

Sakura places her hand on his shoulder that shakes in anger, frustration, sadness? She doesn't know. She says something about letting Naruto be for a while so he can think properly about it. Sasuke doesn’t hear it.  

He doesn’t hear anything.  

[darquedeath4444]

First Time to See the World

Chapter ELEVEN

"What if-" he asked,

Sakura was jolted form her state of blood lust.

Her sudden movement knocked away the balance she had managed to keep in mid air. Her sword weighed her down and she swung it backwards, the weight of it allowing her to change directions. Sasuke used this chance to catch his balance and create space between them. He watched the girl with narrowed eyes but made no further moves to attack.

Sakura brought a hand up to her head and took in a shuddering breath.

He smiled, and reached out his hand towards her.

"Go away..."

"Hey, Sakura." Warm arms wrapped around her.

"You're not here anymore. You're dead, so just leave me alone." She whimpered.

The smile, his smile, flashed through her mind. That gentle smile that chased away the bloody nightmares during the night.

"It's okay, Sakura." He'd say.

"No, it's not. You're dead. You left me behind, so you have no say in this!"

Sakura was breathing heavily at this point. She stabbed her sword into the ground and leaned on it. She was shaking badly, her knuckles white from her grip on the sword handle.

"No. No no no no no..."

'Don't say it. Please.'

"We weren't killers?"

Sakura yanked out a kunai, something she had been trying to forgetting threatening to overwhelm her mind. Sasuke tensed, only to jump when Sakura stabbed her kunai into her arm. Her Shikotsumyaku blocked the blade from going in too far, but the pain was still enough to shake her out of the moment of panic.

"Maybe I would have been pure and innocent like you," Sakura said, firmly, to the image in her mind in her mind. Then, she smiled. "But probably not. I can feel it, you know? The blood lust. The crave, the need to feel the life ebbing away from my opponents. I am a Kaguya. I was born a killer. I cannot be pure like you."

She could feel the names of the deadly dances of bones at the tip of her tongue. All she needed to do was say them and this would end, with her as victor.

Sasuke was watching her now. Just standing there and watching her, no signs of moving in to attack her vulnerable state.

Had it been another time, Sakura would have laughed at his fake sense of mercy. Or maybe he was just curious.

But it wasn't another time, and Sakura, for once, was grateful.

"But I wish I was, sometimes. I really do." She pulled out her sword form the ground and slowly reached behind herself with her free hand. "I could have been free. I could have lived life like all the pampered little children with choices they can make of their own free will whenever they want."

She was no longer in the arena; none of it existed. It was just her, the phantoms of possibility, and the ghosts of what she had lost. She brushed the back of her neck before pressing a pressure point, knocking herself out.

'Maybe then, I would have been worthy enough to stay with you, Haku.'

"Hokage-sama."

Minato looked up form where he had been looking at the match. He, too, had been surprised by the turn of events.

"Orochimaru," he nodded at the Snake Sannin.

"Would it be possible for you to let the girl advance into the next round?" He asked.

Minato raised an eyebrow. It was true that he could do this with his authority. However, "Why would you ask for something like that?"

Orochimaru smiled. "There is someone I want her to meet, and I want to see how much of an impact it will have on her. Wouldn't the best way to test a Kaguya be on a battle field?"

After a long silence of shock, Gekko opened his mouth to declare Sasuke the winner. However, he was interrupted when Sasuke himself raised his hand.

"I...I, Uchiha Sasuke, forfeit this match!"

The crowd became quiet again, before there was an uproar.

Sasuke ignored them, and looked at Gekko determinedly. "Sakura would have won that fight. It was obvious. I don't want to pass through as the winner just because of something like that." 

Each word felt like needles in his throat, but he forced them out. He would never live it down if he advanced only because his opponent suddenly deemed herself unworthy of advancing. 

He and Sakura had been living together for a few weeks now. They had slept under the same roof and ate at the same table. However, all that had made him forget that just mere weeks ago, Sakura had been an enemy. She had slept alongside Zabuza and Haku, and had eaten next to them too. 

Her entire life had changed in mere moments, and something must have brought it all back to the girl who had acted so nonchalant about it until this point.

Gekko looked uncertainly at him but when Sasuke stood his ground, the man slowly nodded. However, before he could make an announcement, the Hokage stood up. Everyone became quiet again, to hear what the man was going to say.

"It is clear that Sakura is very advanced skill wise,” Minato began. “However, it is obvious that there is some sort of emotional wall holding her back. I wish to see how far she can advance with the right kind of teaching. Sasuke has a vibrant Will of Fire burning within him. He has decided to choose his teammate rather than take advantage of the turn of events." He straightened. "Both Uchiha Sasuke and Kaguya Sakura will move onto the next round."

Sasuke climbed the stairs back up to the stands where his team was waiting, looking dazed and deep in thought.

Naruto didn't say anything.

Kakashi simply patted Sasuke on the shoulder.

Sasuke just nodded at them numbly before he sat down on one of the seats.

A while later, all the winners of their rounds were sent down to the field, where the match ups for the next rounds, which would be held in a months time, was introduced.

Namikaze Naruto VS Aburame Shino

Hyuuga Neji VS Kaguya Sakura

Rock Lee VS Gaara

Temari VS Nara Shikamaru (Winner VS Uchiha Sasuke)

"Why don't we go see Sakura?" Kakashi asked. "We will discuss training once she wakes up."

When they reached the room Sakura was resting in, they realized that they weren't the only ones there. Someone had beaten them to her.

Kakashi opened the door and nodded at the person standing beside Sakura's bed. "Orochimaru-sama."

Orochimaru turned around and returned the gesture. "Hello, Kakashi-kun." He spared the Genin behind him a glance before he turned back to the girl lying unconscious on the medical bed. 

"Sakura-chan will be fighting the Hyuuga?" He asked, but it wasn't really a question. After all, Kakashi was sure he knew the answer.

He just nodded, though, and was about to speak when Naruto interrupted him. "Orochimaru! What’re you doing here?”

Sasuke whacked him upside the head. "Be quiet,” he hissed. “This is the hospital.”

Naruto scowled. “Did you just hit me?” He demanded.

Orochimaru chuckled, then turned back to Kakashi. "You have a month to prepare for the finals," he said. "I would like to train Sakura-chan here."

Kakashi tilted his head. "Oh?" It was very rare for any of the Sannin to offer training. 

Orochimaru folded his arms. "Well, actually, I want one of my...someone I know to have a go."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes just a little. "And who will that be?"

Orochimaru smiled and turned towards the door. "Come in."

A boy slightly older than Naruto and Sasuke stepped into the room. He nodded respectfully at Kakashi and Orochimaru, before giving nods of acknowledgement to the two Genin.

Orochimaru beckoned the boy over and placed his hands on his shoulders. "This is Kimimaro, Kaguya Kimimaro."

Chapter TWELVE>

<Chapter TEN

Chapter List

[pain-somnia]

For your winter prompts...I know it’s not 1-2 words, but I immediately thought “accidentally setting Xmas tree on fire” :P

I had to do this one ‘cause I thought it was too funny.Here’s a Real Life Non-Mass AUWarning: slight mention of ShiItaIzu; if you read my fics you will know i ship themyou can still send me winter themed prompts I will be continuing on in January

Accidentally Setting the Christmas Tree on Fire

It wasn’t until he smelled smoke and plastic burning that Sasuke remembered what his mother had told him about the outlet under the bay window.

Having moved out to his own place after knocking up his girlfriend, Sasuke no longer knew the ins and outs of his childhood home. He dropped by occasionally to spend time with his mother but ever since he was accepted into college he was barely at his parents’ house and wouldn’t know anything about faulty outlets.

He should have been paying attention to his mother more.

Sasuke had one job: decorate the Christmas tree. He could have gone to pick up Itachi from the airport but sitting in a car with Izumi and Shisui for forty-five minutes was something he wanted to avoid. He couldn’t argue against their inclusion because if Sasuke could bring his significant other why couldn’t Itachi bring his? Even if those two were some of the most annoying…

It was too late to regret switching tasks with his parents. What was done was done.

“Hello?” The front door clicked open and there was a rustling of someone carrying multiple bags through the doorway.

Tossing the fire extinguisher to the side, Sasuke stood in front of the burnt tree trying his best to hide it.

“It smells awful in here!” Sakura waddled into the family room, arms full of gift bags.

“Should you be carrying so much?”

“I’m pregnant not an invalid.” Sakura scowled before plopping down on the couch. She had a slight waddle in her walk now but that wasn’t going to stop her from carrying on with her life. “Okay. What did you do?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sasuke crossed his arms trying to act as nonchalant as possible. Sakura simply raised an eyebrow and then lifted herself off of the couch, using both arms for support.

“You destroyed your father’s fake tree.” Sakura bit her lip to try and contain a grin from spreading on her face. “You somehow burned down his flame retardant tree.”

“Can you open some of the windows? Maybe the smell will go away before they get back.”

Sasuke began to disassemble the tree, trying to think up a solution to his predicament. There was no way he was going to be able to get a tree three days before Christmas and before his parents came home. It was a good thing all he had done was plug in the lights. No way he was going to get away with destroying his mother’s precious handmade ornaments.

Although he did wish she would toss out the tomato ornament he had made for her when he was seven.

“So what are we gonna do?” Sakura shuffled back into the family room with a trash bag for the tree.

“We can always go steal Naruto’s tree,” Sasuke suggested. He wasn’t being serious. He knew Sakura wouldn’t agree to that.

“No we can’t━”

See, exactly as he thought━

“━he somehow convinced his mother to use a cactus Gaara sent him instead of a traditional tree. Mikoto would never go for a cactus.”

Or not.

Sasuke should not have been surprised that she had also contemplated stealing Naruto’s tree and throwing him to the wolves. Better him than them.

“Do you think your parents would mind if we borrow theirs?”

“They didn’t get one this year since they’re on that cruise.” Sakura rolled her eyes. Kizashi and Mebuki hadn’t even thought twice about spending the holiday on a cruise.

Sighing, Sasuke tied up the garbage bag and took it out. He would just have to endure his father’s disappointed looks and his mother’s sniffling.

He was just about to turn back up the drive when Sakura called out to him.

“Heads up!”

Sasuke caught their car keys at the last moment before they hit him square in the chest.

“What?”

“I know how we can get another tree.”

-

-

“A-and I forgot about the outlet ‘cause of this stupid pregnancy brain,” Sakura sobbed, face in her hands. “And now Mikoto is going to be mad at me! I’m so stupid!”

Obito didn’t know what he had expected when he opened the door but it definitely wasn’t his cousin and his pregnant girlfriend. His cousin’s crying pregnant girlfriend.

“And I-I just don’t know what t-to do!” Sakura wailed.

Sasuke shifted on the balls of his feet nervously. On the ride over to Obito’s house Sakura told him to just be quiet and let her do all of the talking. He hadn’t expected her to spontaneously burst into tears when they parked their car in Obito’s driveway.

“It can’t be that bad.” Obito made to comfort Sakura but pulled back when Sakura let out a loud wail. “Sakura it will be fine, Auntie loves you! She won’t mind at all━”

At that Sakura uncovered her face and looked up at Obito with glassy jade eyes full of hope.

“A-are you sure?” Sakura hiccuped and tried to calm her breathing. “Because it seems like I’m always screwing up. Like first I get knocked up while I’m still in school,” Sasuke choked on air, knowing he had taken part in that, “and now I’m destroying their Christmas decorations.”

“Look how about you just take my tree.” Obito scratched the back of his head nervously. “It’s not like I need one. I’ll be spending the holiday with you guys anyway.”

“R-really? You’ll let us have your tree?” Sakura gave a watery chuckle and shook her head.  “That would be so nice of you, Obito.”

“Yeah, of course! What’s family for, right?” He nudged Sasuke in the ribs and nodded his head toward his living room. “Come on, Sasuke. Let’s load it onto your car.”

After a bunch of struggling to strap Obito’s live tree onto the hood of their car, Sakura and Sasuke were pulling out of Obito’s driveway as he waved goodbye to them.

“See? Problem solved.” Sakura pulled out makeup wipes from her purse and cleaned up any mess her tears could have made with her mascara.

“Do you do that all of the time?” Sasuke had to ask. “Like with me?”

“What? Of course not!” Sakura laughed and punched him playfully on the arm.

“Not even when you want me to rub your feet? Or when you don’t want to go to the store?”

“Never!” Sakura held her hand to her chest dramatically. “I don’t like what you’re insinuating.”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her but just rolled his eyes and kept his eyes on the road.

At least they had a new tree now. Even if it was through a dirty trick he had to admit, Sakura’s brains really did save him.

“But seriously, how about that one time━”

“Are you really accusing the mother of your child of manipulation?”

“Whatever. Just know that I’ll be on the lookout for that now.”

“Like you could even tell the difference,” Sakura challenged.

“I bet I could.”

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him and he just smirked.

“You haven’t been able to tell yet,” Sakura muttered.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing!”

[gigiree]

A matter of words, a matter of time

a/n: day 9:pen pals day!:) still the same story!

He’s starting to feel stifled. He envied the ease with which the others can leave the village. They speak of their adventures in raucous tones, laughter and punctuating the conversations that echo in Yakiniku BBQ.

It’s not that he’s forbidden from leaving. Besides the few villages that hadn’t wanted to join the Alliance, everyone else has pretty much followed Konoha’s lead and given him freedom to travel through their borders. This had given him some measure of irritation because he felt as if he hadn’t earned it.

He finds himself bound by circumstance. With the countersuit still underway, his assets are all in review. The entirety of the Uchiha compound has been combed over for any more evidence of duplicity.

There are too many details to take into account and his missions to the far flung corners of the continent had been assigned less and less. He has no entertaining stories to tell, so he simply watches.

There’s Naruto and Sakura, illuminating the entire table like living bits of sunlight. There’s Shikamaru, a decidedly more calm discussion streaming lazily from his mouth.

Sasuke’s eyes are inexorably pulled to the next table, where Team Kurenai interacts quietly and sweetly with Team Gai.

The Aburame, Sasuke can’t remember his name, sits near the edge, leaning forward intensely to debate with Lee about the merits of long range attacks versus close combat. There’s TenTen idly comparing the sharpness of her kunai to Kiba’s claws.

And then, there’s Hinata. Sweetly paying attention to both conversations, giving Kiba the assurances his ego demanded and passing cooked bits of meat to everyone before serving herself.

There’s something strange about her. Sasuke hasn’t seen her in weeks. Not since she departed for Mizu with a determined look and a small pack of notebooks.

She looks tired, paler than usual. Her cheeks are sallow, and her wide eyes are more prone to staring off into the distance than usual. Her bangs hang lank over her forehead, longer than before. They nearly drape over her eyes.

Something’s not right and he wonders how no one’s noticed. — That night Hinata is pulled from her restless sleep by a delicate tapping on her window.

She slides out from under her many covers, barefeet landing on smooth cold wood. She shivers, eyes shifting warily to catch the silhouette that perches on her windowsill.

When her bleary sight clears, she sees that it’s a small crow. Its beady eyes are illuminated by the moonbeams, and it’s inky feathers ruffle with agitation as it waits for her to answer its call.

She slides open the window with hesitation, eyeing the letter attached to the bird’s leg.

“Who sent you?” She asks it quietly, scratching under its chin.

It rubs its head against her fingers, blinks curiously and lets out a soft caw before extending its leg out to her.

She detaches the rolled up letter, and her heart skips a beat or two when she reads Sasuke’s name in the signature. She recognizes the neat, no nonsense handwriting.

‘What’s wrong? You look like crap.’ -Sasuke

She laughs a little, wincing when a sharp pain threads through her head and she rubs at her temple a bit to quell the sensation.

She grabs a pen and writes just under her terse message.

‘What’s wrong is that you woke me up from sleep. Thank you for the honest, unneeded opinion.’ -Hinata. She ties off the letter to the crows leg with a white ribbon and watches it fly off into the night with a soft smile. —-

The correspondence continues. Even when he must leave for an extended period of time, they send brief but amusing messages to each other. It’s a natural continuation of the pattern she’d set when she left him a cheeky message on a fake scroll all those months ago in the library.

It’s…surprisingly pleasant. And grounding.

Here in Amegakure, with the rain falling perpetually, Sasuke feels a bit like he’s in a dream. There had been a search through old Akatsuki properties and a few of Itachi’s belongings had been found and deemed too innocuous to be kept for evidence and too personal to be thrown away.

So in between these broken reminders of the brother he lost, her letters give him a shred of reality to cling to. Something that doesn’t hurt too much.

His messenger crow arrives today with another scroll. It preens its wet plumage, before raising its leg in Sasuke’s direction with an almost resentful glare.

Sasuke gives an amused huff, before untying the letter and tapping the pretty red ribbon tied around the crow’s neck.

“You keep letting her decorate you, Kuro. You look stupid.”

Kuro merely caws balefully, before flying inside to roost on the dresser.

Sasuke shrugs and opens her letter with practiced nonchalance. He ignores the beating in his heart that threatens to pry open his heavily armored emotions, the gentle, soft manner in which Hinata has managed to inch under defenses.

“Hope all is well in the land of never ending rain. Is the umbrella you stole from me helping you at all? Kuro likes the new ribbon. Leave it on please.

Also I heard from Naruto-kun that this mission is a bit more personal. I checked with my cousin, Hiromi. Your affairs are all underway and I mailed the documents you needed sent out.

I pray that you find what you’re looking for.

Your friend, Hinata.”

He’s not sure if he feels angry that Naruto was out spouting his business to overly curious Hyuuga girls or if he’s touched that she even made an overture like this.

Her umbrella rests against the side of the cabin’s only bed, and it’s served him well. He’s still unsure of where she stands in his life.

Sakura and Naruto he calls friends. Karin, Suigetsu, Jugo could even be termed that. There are very few people he considers precious, and Hinata has managed to come startlingly close to becoming just that.

He’d be the worst sort of liar if he tried to tell himself otherwise. She clearly considers him a friend, and had he known her less, he would have placed less emphasis on her declaration.

But Hinata, as kind as she is, doesn’t bring many people into her inner circle. She’s as enigmatic as the starlit sky. The more you look at her, the more you find that shines within her depths.

He looks at the tarnished silver bracelet that rests on his nightstand. A delicate, silly trinket with one charm made of moonstone dangling from it.

He had heard the rumors of Itachi having had a lover in his early days. Itachi, nothing but a mere slip of an adolescent, young enough to love, old enough to kill that love for the sake of the village.

Sasuke takes it in his hands, applies a bit of chakra until a thin current runs through it, making the moonstone glow hot white. It leaves little spots of light where it shines, points of brightness that look like starlight against the cherry wood of his ceiling.

He remembers her painted in starlight, mourning over someone who isn’t quite lost. He wonders if he’d prefer to be in her situation, or if he’d rather just have the suffering end. If he would rather know that Itachi was for sure good and gone than wait by his bedside as he wasted away.

He stuffs away that thought. He never had a choice. She didn’t either. Different circumstances, yet similar enough to make his pity for her branch into empathy.

She’s trying so hard to find her place in this world. So is he…perhaps all they need is a little guiding light.

The rain is heavy outside, as the next letter he sends her containing a few brief words and a tarnished bracelet of little value. —

“I’m fine. How are you? You looked tired last time I saw you. The umbrella is working great. Thank for giving it to me.

Here’s a gift. It reminded me of you.

-S. –