The Difference

Yamato x Sakura

Kakashi has left them.

Sakura has expected better from him. He wasn't just their teacher; he was a father-figure to them. A father who isn't as caring as he should be, but a father nonetheless. She wasn't happy when she heard the news from Naruto the morning after their most grueling training under his watch. She was upset… no, she was furious.

"What?"

Naruto cowered under the glare she sent him. "H-he… left. Tsunade told me to tell you t-that—"

"How can he leave us in the middle of training? How can he just abandon us? That son of a b—"

"Sakura."

The sound of the unfamiliar voice halted her ranting as she whipped her head to the source in a rush. A blush crept towards her cheeks and she stuttered in a nervous heap. "O-oh. I apologize for my words… um…"

A smile appeared on his lips. "Yamato."

Naruto blinked at him in confusion and Sakura could only tilt her head, curious why he was there. He looked at them expectantly and only diverted his attention when he noticed a new presence had decided to join them. He nodded at the newcomer.

"Sasuke, glad you can join us."

Sasuke arched a brow at him and stayed beside Naruto's side. The three waited for the man's obvious announcement. After a few moments of silence, the three's patience had started to run thin. Naruto had decided to make the first move.

"So… Yamato-san, what are you doing here?"

Yamato's eyes glistened mischievously. "I will be your temporary teacher… while Kakashi is away, that is."

And those were the words that started the conflict within Sakura.

She watched the man through her peripheral vision as he looked at them with a lazy eye. He proceeded to tilt his head up to the sky afterwards and relax as the grunts of their training echoed in the grounds. She gritted her teeth and threw a rather strong punch at Naruto. He yelled in surprise and pain.

He bled.

Yep, definitely pain.

"Heal him."

He didn't even bother to lift his head for them. What an insufferable bastard!

Her brows furrowed and her eyes turned into slits, her anger directed at the man who was supposedly teaching them. He was no different than Kakashi! She seethed in silence as she pushed her chakra in the wailing boy's body, healing him as quick as she could. Sasuke could only give out a teasing, "hn" at Naruto's direction.

Naruto screamed at him.

"Weak," Sasuke replied back smoothly. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"That's enough for today." The three of them looked at the still comfortable ninja, his body resting on the soft grass of the field. "Tomorrow. Same time. Don't be late, Naruto."

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. They left the man to wallow in his own senses, except Sakura's fury was never dissolved in the slightest.

Yamato had been training them for days. No new techniques, whatsoever. Sakura was being riled up inside as she did the same jutsu over and over again. He wasn't like Kakashi-sensei who had driven them to understand more jutsus than they could muster. Even though it was hard on them, they have learned so much more. She screeched at Naruto, "Why is he doing this?"

He looked at her, confused. "Why… is he teaching us?"

Sakura ran a frustrated hand through her pink hair. "No, you idiot—" Naruto's eyes widened. "Why is he making us do this jutsu everyday? He's not exactly teaching us anything new!"

Naruto has always been scared of Sakura. Although, for the past few days, Sakura seemed as if her patience had started to grow thinner. He loved her, don't get him wrong… but with how she was acting, it was all too odd. Was it because of Kakashi's disappearance? Was it because of Yamato-sensei's indifference with them?

He looked at the man in question. He was still in the same position as the rest of the days they have been training. Almost like Kakashi but without the pornographic book in hand. Sasuke didn't really care for the man so he didn't share the passion Sakura has. Naruto was in the middle. He liked Yamato-sensei because he reminded him of Kakashi-sensei. It comforted him.

But the effect wasn't the same with Sakura.

"After this 'training', I'll definitely give him a piece of my mind!" She jostled Naruto into a fighting stance. He knew then that it would be a rough day for him.

"Yamato-sensei."

He curiously opened his eyes and smiled. "Sakura."

"Why aren't you teaching us?"

He was taken-aback with her question. It seemed as if Sakura had finally gotten him figured out. He was slacking off because he knew that they were Team 7. Because he knew their capabilities—because everyone else thought that they didn't need it. Then he laughed.

He fucking laughed.

Sakura's anger flared.

"Why are you laughing?" She snarled. She didn't mean to disrespect but this man in front of her had suddenly embarked in such a way that annoyed her. It wasn't fair to him. She knew she was angry at Kakashi for abandoning them but he didn't make things easier either.

"I'm sorry, Sakura," he grinned. "I didn't know that you had such a temper. I've heard that you were quite shy and timid… but I guess it was just an unjustified rumour then."

She blushed. "I—"

He shook his head. "No apologies, Sakura. I know that this training I've been making you go through seemed utterly pointless but…" He lifted himself up into a sitting position. "I'm making you stronger in my own terms. I know that Kakashi has taught you well and advanced for your positions, however, a good ninja always knows where it all began."

He let out a toothy grin. Sakura blinked.

"Now off you go!" He cheerily said after a while.

She could only comply.

After a fortnight, they were finally taught a new technique. Sakura's judgment of him had also drastically changed. She noticed after a few tries of the newly introduced jutsu that it was easier to do. She had belittled him so much that she didn't notice that even though he wasn't Kakashi, he was definitely someone who was worth listening to. He knew what he was doing and rather than just teaching them, he made them understand.

"Good job, Sakura." He praised.

She blushed and smiled at him. Naruto looked at her oddly and shook his head.

"Girls."

A/N: It's been a while (more like years, I'm sorry)! I've just finished with university six months ago and been freelancing and doing stuff. Writer's block had also taken a serious toll on my fanfictions so I haven't found the inspiration to update. I hope that you guys still want me to continue these little drabbles. I love hearing from you guys! I've just recently posted a new fanfic called "Redikyulus". Would love it if you checked it out! With Purely Physical, I'm still thinking whether I'd risk on updating it while not having the inspiration to do so. Still thinking about it, though. Reviews will result into you getting a cookie! You like cookies, don't you?