Title: Your friendly neighbourhood medic, Sakura-chan!

Date last revised: May 13, 2020

Summary: In which everyone has a superpower except for Sakura. That doesn't stop her from dreaming, though. Inspired from My Hero Academia. MultiSaku

Prompt: A man with power should do what he's supposed to do: what's right.

Un-beta'd, because that's how I roll.

Prologue: Ganbatte, Sakura-chan!

Little Sakura stared, awestruck, at the live coverage on television.

Tsunade-sama, one of the Legendary Sannin, emerged from the rubble, carrying several injured civilians on her back. Long, blonde hair swayed in the breeze. The camera zoomed in, crisp video quality capturing even the vein straining on the hero's neck and the sweat on her upper lip.

"Isn't she amazing, mama?" Sakura asked, turning briefly from the television to gaze at her mother's back as she prepared dinner. Mebuki hummed in agreement but said nothing. Rolling her eyes, Sakura made a face behind her mother's back before turning back towards the news. Her mother didn't understand, couldn't possibly understand the awesomeness that was Tsunade-sama!

"Amazing," one of the reporters asked off-camera, "Tsunade-sama, congrats on yet another successful -"

The superhero held a hand to stop the reporter. "What are you congratulating me for? We're nowhere near done. It's not enough to say we did a good job. Why did this happen in the first place?" She grabbed the microphone from the reporter and pointed an accusing finger at the camera. "Whoever built this house was an idiot of epic proportions and deserved to go to jail! You can't fucking expect me-"

The television abruptly turned off. With a cry, Sakura turned to her mother. Mebuki held the remote with one hand, the spatula with the other.

"Set up the table, Sakura-chan," her mother, wagging a finger. Obediently, Sakura stood up from her place on the floor and hurried to the kitchen. Not even her mother's lectures could stop her from being giddy and excited for the future.

She would become a great hero like Tsunade-sama, just wait! Shannaro!

Faculty room, Konoha Primary School

"Unfortunately Sakura, we can't recommend you into Konoha High School."

Sakura stood in front of Iruka-sensei, hands clasped behind her back to hide her clenched fists. The faculty room was buzzing with teachers chatting during lunch time, sharing notes and gossiping. Iruka-sensei himself was sitting at his desk, a cup of freshly brewed coffee and a ham sandwich on the edge of his table. She was intruding on his break time, but this was important.

This was her future.

And Iruka-sensei just trampled on it with his newly shined patent leather shoes.

"You know we can't recommend a student unless they've shown…" a superpower, Iruka-sensei's eyes stared at her meaningfully, "and you're fourteen now."

'It's too late for you' went unsaid but she understood it perfectly.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. It wouldn't do to have the teacher on your bad side, she told herself. When she was sure she wouldn't curse the adult in front of her, she opened them again and smiled.

Or tried to. Her lips wobbled and she felt the tears filling her eyes. If she blinked, she was going to embarrass herself.

"I'm the top of the class," she choked out, throat burning. "I've been the Aikido champion in the district for two years in a row. I've never missed a day of school. I know I don't have-" she hiccuped, "a superpower, but it's been my dream to study at Konoha High School since I knew what superheroes were." She angrily wiped the tears away, but they kept running down her cheeks. It wasn't fair.

Naruto was one of the dumbest people in her class, but he was guaranteed a place at Konoha High just because he inherited a superpower from his parents. Something that she had worked so hard for was just as easily handed to him by life.

It wasn't fair.

She lowered her head quickly, pink hair covering her face to keep the other teachers from seeing her pathetic state.

"If you had a superpower, any superpower at all, it would be my honour to give you my recommendation to Konoha High," Iruka-sensei said gently. "They would be lucky to have you, Sakura-san. They really would. But I can't sign your application in good conscience. There's a reason the process is so strict: most students die before they graduate."

Sakura nodded, sniffling. "I understand, Iruka-sensei. But even still." Determination and desperation coloured her voice. "This is everything to me, sensei. Please."

Iruka scratched his head before sighing.

"I can't give you a recommendation," he said. Sakura's shoulders slumped. "But there's another way you can get in." Her eyes shot up to meet her sensei's, hopeful. Iruka's eyes darted left and right before he leaned closer.

"You can get a superhero to sponsor you."

Private training grounds, Uchiha compound

Uchiha Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he evaded hit after hit from his cousin, Shisui. His cousin was impossibly fast, having inherited his father's superpower instead of the Uchiha's trademarked elemental fire control, and he served as a perfect sparring partner – he never declined a match and he always gave as good as he got.

Sasuke dodged a left hook and twisted his body away from his cousin.

Too late.

Shisui flicked a kick towards him that was too fast to counter and it sent him flying, body skidding across the private training grounds. He wheezed and started to sit up when he felt a kunai pressed at his neck.

"You need more practice, Sasuke-chan," he teased, before pocketing the kunai and giving his cousin a helping hand. Swatting his hands away, Sasuke pushed himself from the ground with a grunt, before dusting himself off as best he could.

Suddenly, a shuriken whizzed past the both of them and embedded itself on a tree. Eyes widened, the two turned their eyes towards the source.

Uchiha Itachi perched at a nearby tree, twirling another shuriken around a finger.

"It would be truly embarrassing if you lost to my otouto, Shisui," he said, leaping down from the tree branch and walking towards them. Sasuke frowned at his brother's insinuation. Itachi tousled his hair goodnaturedly.

He swatted his brother's hand away. "I wasn't even trying that hard." Shisui covered up a laugh and Itachi smirked, much to his dismay.

"Sure, sure," Shisui said. "You must be saving up all your secret moves for when you start Konoha High."

Sasuke looked down at hands, ears turning red from embarrassment. Was it that obvious? He had been careful to stick to basic fire attacks during the past couple of months, preferring to practice his signature move alone. Once he graduates from Konoha High, he would be unveiled to society as a superhero and he wanted to make himself different to all the other Uchiha heroes.

Better than Shisui.

Better than Itachi.

He would be the best of them all.

Somewhere in Sunagakure

Gaara had waited years for this moment.

Running into his room, he grabbed a suitcase he had packed since he was ten years old, grunting as he pulled it out from under his bed. He seized his backpack from his desk and dragged the suitcase down the stairs, each thud a reminder of his freedom. Darting towards the kitchen, aware of the time, he stuffed as many pre-packaged food as he could in his bag until it was ready to burst.

He knelt down on the cabinets under the sink, yanking it open and feeling for a loose panel at the back of the cabinet. After a few minutes of struggling, his hand finally clutched at a ziplock bag.

This was all of his savings for the past five years, and he shoved them at the bottom of his bag, before his eyes rested on a framed photo of his mother across the room. Slinging his bag on his shoulder, he pointedly ignored the photo before doubling back to grab it.

He would never go back to this house, and his mother was the only person he would miss.

Outside, the sun shone down mercilessly, the air hot and sticky. Quickly, silently, he made his way towards the train station.

Konoha

Sakura stood outside Tsunade-sama's house, checking her phone to make sure she got the address right. She straightened her school tie and cleared her throat before knocking hesitantly.

Calm down, Sakura, she thought to herself as she wiped her sweaty hands on her skirt. You're only gonna beg in front of your favourite superhero to sponsor you. No big deal.

Yeah, right.

What was she thinking? Why would Tsunade-sama sponsor a powerless girl like her? The phrase 'never meet your heroes' came to mind and Sakura nearly bolted.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the door finally…opened?

The door was opened by mere inches, and a brown haired woman smiled at her apologetically.

"I'm so sorry, Tsunade-sama isn't currently available for autographs-"

Sakura squeezed her foot past the doorframe. "I didn't come here for an autograph, I came here because-"

"If you follow Tsunade-sama's social media accounts, it will let you know when she's available for one-on-one fanmeets-"

"I'm not here for that," Sakura said, pushing against the door to keep it open. Besides, she thought grimly, those fanmeets were extremely expensive, she couldn't even afford those, "I really need to talk to her-"

"SHIZUNE!"

Both women stopped struggling against the door. Sakura heard a frustrated groan before the pressure against the door suddenly disappeared. She stumbled into the house, crashing spectacularly on the floor. Wincing, she ignored the throbbing pain on her temple and hobbled inside.

The house was large – the hallway itself was as long as Sakura's entire house! It was extravagantly furnished, with authentic period pieces framed along the walls. The frames itself were gilded with gold. A long, narrow table held various accoutrements – from signed photographs of political figures to antique figurines.

"- don't you think you're being too…"

"- time for this."

Sakura followed the sound of voices until she came into the sitting room. All occupants of the room looked at her.

"Tsunade, who is she?" Sakura's eyes bulged. Orochimaru-sama! One of the legendary Sannin! In the flesh! Only three steps away from her! The urge to shake his hand and take a selfie was nearly insurmountable.

Tsunade-sama shrugged. "Shizune, who is she?" The brown haired woman, who Sakura guessed was Shizune, sighed.

"She wanted to talk to you Tsunade-sama," she said, resigned. "I tried to tell her your schedule's full-"

"Please sponsor me, Tsunade-sama!" Sakura yelled, shutting her eyes and bowing deeply. She had to say what she had to say before she was thrown out (which was only a matter of time). She figured she only had a couple of seconds and she took a deep breath.

"My name is Sakura Haruno! I'm planning to study at Konoha High School! I would like you to sponsor me! I'm the Aikido champion in the district for two years in the row! I've been Rank 1 at school since I was five years old! Please say you'll sponsor me! Please!" She breathed heavily. Silence followed and she dared to raise her head.

Tsunade-sama avoided her stare and covered a hand over her mouth, stifling her laughter. Orochimaru-sama pursed his lips and Shizune-san looked as mortified as she felt.

Humiliated, Sakura righted herself and could only stare at the floor.

"What's your power?" Tsunade managed to say after a moment.

Sakura's hands shook. "I-I don't have any, Tsunade-sama." She heard Shizune mutter 'poor girl' and squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to die.

"You've got guts, at least," she heard Tsunade-sama say. "But Konoha High is not for civilians, little girl. You'd die before the first year is over. If you want to be a hero that badly, you can always become a police-"

She clenched her fists. "I know! I know I don't have any superpowers. I know there's nothing special about me! But I still want to go to Konoha High!" She glared at Tsunade-sama. "If you don't want to sponsor me, then I'll find someone who will!" She turned to Orochimaru-sama and bowed deeply.

"Please sponsor me, Orochimaru-sama!" she yelled, a tremble in her voice. She felt humiliated, disillusioned and completely out of her depth.

If Orochimaru-sama refused, well then she would walk out with one of those figurines and sell them off to the highest bidder. She refused to leave empty handed, damn it!

"Alright."

She could probably fit in around four or five figurines in her bag without breaking them-

Her head shot up and met his. "Really?" Orochimaru-sama shrugged and he regarded her coolly. Sakura gasped, feeling faint.

"Orochimaru…" Tsunade-sama warned. "You're taking her to her grave."

"Have a little faith," Orochimaru-sama said to his colleague. Overcome with emotion, Sakura jumped into his arms, wrapping her arms around him. Tears ran down her cheeks and she cried, sobs wracking through her body.

He would never realise how much those words meant to her at that moment.

Author's Notes:

I started watching My Hero Academia and I'm on the second episode, hehe (no spoilers!). This demanded to be written so I just had to write it. I'll continue it if people like it enough! Since it's MultiSaku, there will be more love interests for our Sakura, but I wanna know who you want to see?

Anyway, I'm focused on my other ongoing fic at the moment: Monsters, Old and New. (sorry not sorry for the self plug, haha) It's GaaSaku and a slowburn set during timeskip. If you like GaaSaku (even remotely!) it would mean a lot if you could read and leave a review!

And of course, if you like this and would like me to continue, please leave a review!