~3~ Test Results
It was me versus all the Genin guys in the Leaf Village. They had all challenged me when they had learned of my superior abilities. They wanted to see if I was as good as rumor has it. So there was only one of me, and 8 of the guys-including Naruto, who said he just wanted to practice.
All the girls just sat on the sidelines to watch their “boys.” I blocked out the girls’ words of encouragement to the guys. No one seemed to care about whether or not I got hurt.
Neji did a hand sign and his eyes got real big and the veins around them popped up and was seen through the skin. He was all business. Sasuke’s eyes went red when he did a few hand signs. Naruto created some clones. The others just took fighting stances. They didn’t think I would be able to get through the front line.
I took off creating some clones of my own while doing a transportation jutsu at the same time. The clones took on the front line while I popped up behind everyone. Tapping Choji on the shoulder, I punched him into Shino, who jumped up and called out his bugs.
Gross, I hated bugs. But, I kept my cool and summoned fire, spitting fireballs from my mouth- just as I had seen Sasuke do right before I had to go in for all my testing. It disintegrated the bugs on contact, and I transported behind Neji and kicked his feet out from under him, but he caught himself with his hands and punched me in the shoulder, using something he called Gentle Fist.
I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder that didn’t go away. Forming some hand signs, I used my medic skills to heal it. I decided to let them come to me. I wanted to see what they were made of.
Kiba and Akamaru took the bait first and called out, Fang over Fang. They were like two cyclones locked on Sakura. As they drew nearer, I reached up and grabbed Kiba’s arm, and holding my ground, I used Kiba as a shield against Akamaru, who tried to veer away, but caught Kiba and sent the two flying. Knocking them out.
Choji rolled up into a ball- the human boulder, and charged at Sakura. I held my ground and stopped Choji’s pursuit. Using him like a bowling ball, I threw him back at the others. They scattered, but Choji hit the back wall and went through it.
Rock Lee ran out and tried some of his Tai- Jutsu, but I merely blocked with my own martial art skills. I blocked every blow with one arm, and swung with my leg so fast, Lee didn’t have time to realize he was falling. I pinned him to the ground.
Someone took the opportunity to try and attack from behind. Sasuke. I spun out of the way, and Sasuke punched Lee in the stomach, knocking him out cold. Sasuke wasn’t going to be deceived by any gen-jutsu because of his eyes, much like Neji, so that was out. I’d have to use my own muscle to do any damage.
I waited for Sasuke to make the first move. It took off running at me. After a few hand signs, he spit fire from his mouth. Jumping out of the way within a millisecond from impact, I jumped behind him and kicked his legs out from under him, but he kicked out. I dodged, and continued to pin him to the ground.
The battle continued for more than two hours. I barely had any scratches, while everyone else had a gashes and gaping holes in their stomachs. Because of which, I was the victor. I walked over to everyone and healed them with a healing power, I still had not yet remembered I had.
“Sakura!” Kakashi-sensei’s voice broke through Sakura’s concentration. Everyone was healed; I was just trying to heal the small scratch on my face. I glanced up, Kakashi motioned for my to follow him. “Come on.”
I ran to catch up to him and fell in stride beside him, matching his easy-going pace. “So, what’s this all about?” I asked.
“We’re about to go over your test results,” he answered as he pulled out a book and began to read.
“You read?” when Kakashi raised his eyebrows at me, I continued, “I mean, you just don’t seem like the reading type.” I started babbling, afraid I had angered him in some way.
“Whoa, I was kidding. I know what you meant,” he raised his hands in surrender.
I smiled, glad that Kakashi wasn‘t some strict, mean teacher.
Once in the Hokage’s office, I took a seat in front of the old man’s desk. Kakashi stood off to my side. The Third Hokage took a deep breath before starting. “Sakura, as you know we are here to discuss your testing results.”
I nodded, eager to get the results, to get this over with. I wanted to learn who I was as fast as I could.
“Well, from what we have compiled, it seems that you are best with healing Jutsus, and you have strength like none I have ever seen before. You are smarter than your years, surpassing even my most intellectual of Jonin. Your chakra control is beyond impressive. It’s no wonder Orochimaru picked you.”
I frowned. Orochimaru. Should that ring a bell? Did I know this guy? “Uh, I don’t remember who he is,” I admitted.
“We don’t mean to frighten you, Sakura. But, we feel this Orochimaru person abducted you, then experimented on you. By doing so, he gave you immense power. That or because you have so much power is why he chose you. That dog-tag around your neck links you to him. It’s a cell number. We think that you tried to escape, and they followed you. Beating you so you couldn’t expose them. Kakashi’s team frightened them away, and they left you thinking you were dead. When they beat you, it cause memory loss. Whether it is permanent or not is uncertain,” the Hokage explained.
I was quiet for a moment, taking it all in. my memory loss could be permanent? Great, I’d be missing a huge chunk from my life. Was I just supposed to move on? Was I just supposed to forget everything. my parents, my friends, my life before imprisonment- if I wasn’t born and raised in the prison- I never know.
“So, what is the course of action?” I asked. That was the only thing to keep my mind off of how badly things had gotten, work.
“Well, we feel you should work your way up in rank, so I’m leaving you under Kakashi’s supervision. You will join the Chunins with the team, which starts tomorrow. I’ll pull a few strings to get you signed up, but with your prowess, I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about. It’ll be like a whole new life for you. New friends, and I hope you consider us as a part of your family.”
I nodded woodenly. They just expected me to continue with my life as though nothing had happened. But, maybe this was a good thing. Maybe my life had been so bad, my mind had blocked that out as a defensive mechanism.
“Oh, and alert us right away if you start gaining any pieces of information from your time with Orochimaru.”
I nodded before getting up and exiting the room.
3rd POV
Kakashi stood in front of the Hokage’s desk, “So you think she’s going to surpass everyone?”
The old man nodded. “Yes, I do. She’s quite gifted in the ways of the ninja, even if she doesn’t yet realize that. She’s wise beyond her years, which is probably why she was in with Orochimaru. Keep a close eye on her. I don’t want her wondering too far away.”
Kakashi nodded and disappeared out the door.
Normal POV
I was in my own room, contemplating if I should ask Naruto to go train with me. As I was arguing with herself, someone was knocking on my door. Naruto stood on the other side when I opened the door.
“Hey, want to go train with me?” he asked. I smiled and chuckled to herself. Naruto, it seemed, knew me too well for only knowing me a short time.
“I’d love to.”
At the training ground, the ran together on the track, working up their endurance. “So, I’m sorry about today, with the guys. They’re always looking for people to train with, and since you were supposed to be so good- which you are, you know- they figured they’d find out for themselves,” Naruto rambled.
I smiled. “I know, Naruto. I understand. I know you didn’t bring me out just to train. Don’t worry about it. It’s behind us.”
“You know, you’re pretty cool for a girl,” Naruto told me.
I laughed. “And, you’re pretty cool for a guy.”
They ran in silence for a few minutes. “So, I’m with you and Sasuke at the Chunins tomorrow. Now you’re a full team.”
“Really? That’s great, we’re so going to win now!” Naruto pumped his fist in the air, which threw off his balance and he tripped.
I stopped and ran back to him. “Naruto, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, believe it. I bounce back from anything!” Naruto jumped to his feet.
I smiled as I shook my head. “How about some ramen?”
“Sounds great! Race you there!” Naruto took off towards the heart of the village.
3rd POV
Naruto remained behind at the ramen shop after Sakura left, complaining of a headache. He watched her go. Kiba, who had been sitting in the corner with Neji, Choji, Shikamaru, and Shino popped up at his side. “So, you sure are hanging around with that Sakura chick.”
Naruto shrugged. “We’re on the same team, and she’s going to be doing the Chunins with us. I felt like I should get to know her.”
“Is that the only reason?” Kiba asked poking him in the shoulder.
Naruto glared at him. “I’m sure.”
“You know, I see the way she looks at you,” Choji put in, lying just to get some information from Naruto, knowing he’d take the bait.
“What do you mean?” Naruto took the bait. Hook. Line. Sinker.
“Oh, you know,” Choji shrugged.
Naruto looked thoughtful. “Well, she is kind of pretty and smart.”
“Don’t forget that she can beat the crap out of you if you make her mad,” Shikamaru cut in.
“That too,” Naruto agreed. “But, I don’t think I like-like her. Look guys, I’m tired. I’ll see you at the Chunins. Let the best team win.”
“Oh, we plan to,” Neji agreed.
When Naruto was out of ear shot, Kiba turned to the others, “He’s so clueless, even to himself. But, it’s still early. I can’t wait to see what happens. She’s not going to just take any crap from anyone.”
“True. Okay, I give him till the end of the Chunins to tell her how he feels,” Choji bet.
“Nah, I bet we’ll all be thirty years old and he still won’t have said anything. I bet he’ll be too chicken to ever tell her. I’ll bet she’ll have to tell him a month after the Chunins,” Kiba said.
“I bet Sakura will confess after the Chunins,” Neji put in.
“Sakura will tell him half way into the Chunins,” Shikamaru added.
“I bet no one says anything. I bet we will have to step in,” Shino replied.
They all pooled in a hundred dollars.
