- Created By NormalHuman
Returning the Favor
CHAPTER 1 “ She’s just an ordinary kunoichi with no special talents. Sure, she has perfect chakra control, but that’s just about it.” “She’s the weakest among th...Team Seven is back!!!
I couldn’t sleep. My eyes were red and puffy, because of all that crying. My heart is still torn apart, but tonight, I didn’t cry. I guess I’ve used up all my tears. It’s been three weeks, since Sasuke-kun left the village. But I could still hear his last words.
~
“Don’t leave! If you do, I’ll scream, and–!!!”
Suddenly he disappeared.
“Sakura,” I heard his voice behind me. “Thank you…”
“Sasuke-kun…”
~
Lately, it wasn’t sadness that I feel. I felt, anger. I’m beginning to hate him. It was quite rational, really. He never appreciated my affection. And he never cared about other people’s feeling, especially my feelings. He was always cold, mean, quite, and somewhat self-centered. I never should’ve liked him.
~Four years later~
Well, now things begin to get better. I heard that Sasuke killed Orochimaru, but I didn’t really cared. I was too busy doing my work in the hospital. But the latest news that said Sasuke had killed his brother Itachi; I have mixed feelings about it. I was relieved, that one of the Akatsuki members was now dead, I was happy for Sasuke, because he got what he really wanted, but depressed at the same time, realizing that Sasuke finally getting his revenge, wasn’t a good thing. It might mean that he doesn’t care at all about other people. It meant that I was right; he is a very self-centered person.
~ Couple of weeks later~
“Hey Sakura-chan!”
“Hey Naruto. What’s up?”
“Uhm, Tsunade-no-baachan said you should go to her office.”
“Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
~
KNOCK, KNOCK
“Come in.”
“Tsunade-sama?”
“Oh, there you are Sakura. Come here.”
“What is it?”
“Well, after I heard that Sasuke killed Uchiha Itachi, I sent an ANBU team to retrieve him.”
“But they didn’t get him, did they?”
“Unexpectedly, they got him.”
My jaws dropped. I cannot believe my own ears.
“He’ll be arriving in two days time.”
“Sasuke-kun is…. coming back….”
“Yes, Sakura. He is.”
“Will he go to jail? I mean, leaving the village without your permission is a crime…”
I can tell that Tsunade-sama wasn’t expecting that question.
“Hmm, well, since he was under Orochimaru’s control at that time, I guess, there’s no reason to arrest him.”
I was relieved, when I heard that. Because, well, it doesn’t make any difference, if he finally went back to the village, but got arrested and go to jail for the rest of his life.
~Two days later~
Today’s the day I’ve been waiting for four years. I’m waiting for him to arrive at Konoha’s main gate. My heart is beating so fast. I’m anxious and excited at the same time. Will he still be the same? Or will he be a lot more violent?
Then, I saw him. He was bruised and battered. I stared at him. And he looked back at me, with the same, cold eyes. To tell you the truth, I don’t know what to feel! Should I be happy? Angry? Scared? I don’t know. Sasuke, on the other hand, looked like nothing ever happened. And he walked straight to the Uchiha mansion.
~
The next day, I decided to visit Sasuke. I didn’t invite Naruto, because I was afraid that something bad would happen. I brought some food for Sasuke. But I doubt that he’ll eat it.
~
I took a deep breath.
KNOCK, KNOCK
“Sasuke-kun?”
“Come in.”
I slide the door open. I sat down, and in front of me is Uchiha Sasuke. The same Uchiha Sasuke that knock me out, and left me on a bench that night. The same Uchiha Sasuke that almost killed Naruto. I was beginning to get angry, very angry.
“AUGH!!”
I punched him. And it felt so, so, good.
“WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!” He yelled at me.
“That, was for knocking me out, leaving me on a bench, and made me cry nonstop for three weeks!”
After we both calmed down a bit, I tried to start a conversation.
“Uhm, I don’t really know what you like, so I brought you some ramen.”
“Thanks.”
“Um… Kakashi-sensei said that he wants to meet us on the old training grounds.”
“Is Naruto coming?”
“Huh? Naruto? Yeah, he’s coming.”
“Fine. I’ll come.”
~NEXT DAY~
Naruto and I already waited for Kakashi and Sasuke for half an hour.
“Hmm, Kakashi-sensei is late again…”
“Sakura-chan.”
“What is it?”
“Is it really true…. Is it really true that Sasuke’s back?”
I glanced at Naruto. His face was really serious. I only saw that kind of expression on his face when he’s thinking about Sasuke.
“Of course its true, Naruto. In fact he’ll be joining us today.”
“Really?”
I nodded. I haven’t told Naruto about Sasuke joining us. I want to make it a surprise.
“Yo, Naruto, Sakura…” I heard Kakashi’s voice behind me.
“YOU’RE LATE!!!”
“Hehehe… Well, you see, I have to pick up somebody…”
“You know, you don’t have to pick me up…”
“SASUKE!” Said Naruto.
I was very happy. I looked at Naruto, then Sasuke, and then Kakashi-sensei. It was like old times…I smiled.
“Team seven is back…” I murmured.
“Indeed, Sakura.” Kakashi-sensei replied “Team seven is back.”
~FINISH~
Team Seven is back!!!
I couldn�t sleep. My eyes were red and puffy, because of all that crying. My heart is still torn apart, but tonight, I didn�t cry. I guess I�ve used up all my tears. It�s been three weeks, since Sasuke-kun left the village. But I could still hear his last words.
~
�Don�t leave! If you do, I�ll scream, and�!!!�
Suddenly he disappeared.
�Sakura,� I heard his voice behind me. �Thank you��
�Sasuke-kun��
~
Lately, it wasn�t sadness that I feel. I felt, anger. I�m beginning to hate him. It was quite rational, really. He never appreciated my affection. And he never cared about other people�s feeling, especially my feelings. He was always cold, mean, quite, and somewhat self-centered. I never should�ve liked him.
~Four years later~
Well, now things begin to get better. I heard that Sasuke killed Orochimaru, but I didn�t really cared. I was too busy doing my work in the hospital. But the latest news that said Sasuke had killed his brother Itachi; I have mixed feelings about it. I was relieved, that one of the Akatsuki members was now dead, I was happy for Sasuke, because he got what he really wanted, but depressed at the same time, realizing that Sasuke finally getting his revenge, wasn�t a good thing. It might mean that he doesn�t care at all about other people. It meant that I was right; he is a very self-centered person.
~ Couple of weeks later~
�Hey Sakura-chan!�
�Hey Naruto. What�s up?�
�Uhm, Tsunade-no-baachan said you should go to her office.�
�Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know.�
~
KNOCK, KNOCK
�Come in.�
�Tsunade-sama?�
�Oh, there you are Sakura. Come here.�
�What is it?�
�Well, after I heard that Sasuke killed Uchiha Itachi, I sent an ANBU team to retrieve him.�
�But they didn�t get him, did they?�
�Unexpectedly, they got him.�
My jaws dropped. I cannot believe my own ears.
�He�ll be arriving in two days time.�
�Sasuke-kun is�. coming back�.�
�Yes, Sakura. He is.�
�Will he go to jail? I mean, leaving the village without your permission is a crime��
I can tell that Tsunade-sama wasn�t expecting that question.
�Hmm, well, since he was under Orochimaru�s control at that time, I guess, there�s no reason to arrest him.�
I was relieved, when I heard that. Because, well, it doesn�t make any difference, if he finally went back to the village, but got arrested and go to jail for the rest of his life.
~Two days later~
Today�s the day I�ve been waiting for four years. I�m waiting for him to arrive at Konoha�s main gate. My heart is beating so fast. I�m anxious and excited at the same time. Will he still be the same? Or will he be a lot more violent?
Then, I saw him. He was bruised and battered. I stared at him. And he looked back at me, with the same, cold eyes. To tell you the truth, I don�t know what to feel! Should I be happy? Angry? Scared? I don�t know. Sasuke, on the other hand, looked like nothing ever happened. And he walked straight to the Uchiha mansion.
~
The next day, I decided to visit Sasuke. I didn�t invite Naruto, because I was afraid that something bad would happen. I brought some food for Sasuke. But I doubt that he�ll eat it.
~
I took a deep breath.
KNOCK, KNOCK
�Sasuke-kun?�
�Come in.�
I slide the door open. I sat down, and in front of me is Uchiha Sasuke. The same Uchiha Sasuke that knock me out, and left me on a bench that night. The same Uchiha Sasuke that almost killed Naruto. I was beginning to get angry, very angry.
�AUGH!!�
I punched him. And it felt so, so, good.
�WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!� He yelled at me.
�That, was for knocking me out, leaving me on a bench, and made me cry nonstop for three weeks!�
After we both calmed down a bit, I tried to start a conversation.
�Uhm, I don�t really know what you like, so I brought you some ramen.�
�Thanks.�
�Um� Kakashi-sensei said that he wants to meet us on the old training grounds.�
�Is Naruto coming?�
�Huh? Naruto? Yeah, he�s coming.�
�Fine. I�ll come.�
~NEXT DAY~
Naruto and I already waited for Kakashi and Sasuke for half an hour.
�Hmm, Kakashi-sensei is late again��
�Sakura-chan.�
�What is it?�
�Is it really true�. Is it really true that Sasuke�s back?�
I glanced at Naruto. His face was really serious. I only saw that kind of expression on his face when he�s thinking about Sasuke.
�Of course its true, Naruto. In fact he�ll be joining us today.�
�Really?�
I nodded. I haven�t told Naruto about Sasuke joining us. I want to make it a surprise.
�Yo, Naruto, Sakura�� I heard Kakashi�s voice behind me.
�YOU�RE LATE!!!�
�Hehehe� Well, you see, I have to pick up somebody��
�You know, you don�t have to pick me up��
�SASUKE!� Said Naruto.
I was very happy. I looked at Naruto, then Sasuke, and then Kakashi-sensei. It was like old times�I smiled.
�Team seven is back�� I murmured.
�Indeed, Sakura.� Kakashi-sensei replied �Team seven is back.�
~FINISH~
Don't look back!
�Daddy what�s happening?,� a six year old girl asked to his father. She could feel the intense atmosphere, as the three men dressed in black begun to approach her father. They were holding kunais, and their headbands suggest that the three men are ninjas from the Rain Village.
�Listen Keiko. I want you to run back to the Leaf Village, and don�t stop until you get there!,� the father said.
�But, dad��
�NOW KEIKO!!!�
Not knowing what to do, the girl ran back to the village. She then glanced at her father. Tears are running from her eye. She knew, deep inside her heart, that she would never see her father ever again. She couldn�t take it. It was just too painful.
�DAD!!!�
~
Keiko woke up. Her heart was beating fast, and she was sweating. �It�s okay Keiko,� she told her self. �It was just a nightmare.� And with that, she got up, and took a shower.
But, she couldn�t help but thinking about it all day, even during training. She couldn�t focus on anything else other than the nightmare. Kakashi noticed this, and he was sure something is wrong.
�Is something wrong Keiko? You look like you had a horrible nightmare last night.�
�Huh? I mean, yeah, I did have a nightmare last night.�
�Wanna tell me why it�s bothering you so much?�
�Uh, no thanks, Kakashi-sensei. I�m fine.�
�Okay then. But you really should pay more attention during training.�
�I�m sorry.�
~
Later that night, Keiko couldn�t sleep. So she jumped off her bed, open the bottom drawer of her desk, and took a photo album out. It has a red cover, and very dusty. Keiko sat on the floor, put the album on her lap, and stared at it. It seems that she�s thinking twice about opening the album. Finally she made up her mind. She took a deep breath, and opened the album.
It was like traveling through time. She saw herself on an old photograph, with her mom, dad, and her older brother. They were walking on the beach. Keiko could still smell the saltwater. She closed her eyes. �Look how happy I was back then.� She murmured. She opened her eyes again, and decided that she should probably sleep, rather than hurting her self by going back to the past.
~
�Keiko! Keiko, wake up!,� someone said. The voice was very energetic, and it sounds like, whoever it is, is excited about something. But Keiko simply shifted her sleeping position, and ignored the voice.
�Keiko, c�mon! You can�t stay in bed all day!�
But again, Keiko made no response.
�Fine, you leave me with no choice. KEIKO!!!�
�YES, WHAT?!?!� Keiko jumped right up. She saw Naruto beside her bed, Sasuke crossing his arms, standing beside Naruto, and Kakashi leaning on the wall, while reading the latest Icha-Icha Paradise.
�What are you guys doing in MY BEDROOM?!?!�
�Doesn�t matter! Now get changed! We�re gonna wait outside.�
�Grr, fine.�
Keiko�s teammates went outside.
�Naruto, I think this is a bad idea.� Sasuke said. �She�s quite smart, she could figure this out before we even get there!�
�Don�t worry Sasuke. I�m quite sure it�ll work.� Naruto said.
~
�Alright, I�m done!� Keiko went outside.
�Hey, where�s Ka� WHAT THE?!�
Before she could finish her sentence, someone put a blindfold around Keiko�s head, so that it covered her eyes.
�Sorry Keiko. But don�t worry, it�s gonna be worth it.�
They walked for a while, and by the sound of the rustling leaves, Keiko knows that they�re going through the forest. Then they stopped.
�We�re here!�
Someone untied the blindfold. Then, as soon as Keiko opened her eyes,
�HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!�
There, Keiko saw Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, Ino�s team, and even the Sand sibling. It�s my birthday! How could I forget? She asked herself. Then Keiko smiled, and joined the party.
~
Everyone was having fun. Then someone tapped Keiko�s shoulder. It was Gaara.
�Hey. Umm, I heard it was your birthday.� Gaara blushed a little.
�So I brought you something.�
Gaara reached into his pocket, and pulled out a little red box.
�Here.�
�Can I open it?�
Gaara nodded. So Keiko opened the box. Inside the box, was a beaded bracelet.
�Gaara, it�s so pretty!�
�I just, bought it on the way here.�
Keiko hugged Gaara. At that point, everybody was shocked, including Gaara. Keiko then lets go of Gaara. Both of them were blushing.
~
Later that night, Keiko didn�t worry about her past, or the nightmare anymore. The surprise birthday party teaches her a lesson. �I�m so silly. Why am I so worried about what�s passed? I�ve got great friends now. I shouldn�t look back.�
~FINISH~
End
