A Kunai to His Almighty Ego…and Heart
ms.heartbroken
"SAKURA-CHYAAAN!!!"
"Yes, Naruto?"
Sasuke winced as he heard Sakura's sweet voice towards Naruto. His teammates didn't notice because:
-Naruto had his two large rounded eyes on Sakura… and on Sakura only. He could have been attacked by enemy nin at the moment and, despite him being the kyuubi, he wouldn't even notice until he would be stabbed in the back by a kunai. That's how much Naruto really loves Sakura. Even on the brink of death, it was Sakura this and Sakura that.
-Sakura had her eyes on Naruto too, apparently…. Period…
"Would you like to eat Ramen with me after this briefing from Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto enthusiastically asked his pink-haired teammate.
Sasuke brooded over the fact that Sakura now refrained… stopped altogether… from punching Naruto, even with her new super strength. Contrary to her past behaviors, his ears itched when he heard Sakura say, "Sure, Naruto. If Kakashi-sensei doesn't overdo his usual routine, I might be able to spare a few minutes before my shift at the hospital begins…"
Sasuke inwardly ranted, 'What!!! What happened to, "Naruto you idiot! How could you ever think of such a thing!!! -giggle- Sasuke-kun!? Would you like to go on a date with me?" Ever since Naruto and Sakura dragged him back to Konoha, Sasuke has had to endure these… painful… conversations, in which he was not included.
Sasuke frowned at the bridge's railing, 'How am I not included? Am I not the sole Uchiha survivor? Am I not the greatest shinobi to ever walk this earth, regardless of those kyuubi bastards?'
"Sasuke-teme! Where do you think Kakashi-sensei is?" Naruto whined.
"I don't know, Dobe…"
Sasuke waited for Sakura's back-up and her praise at how amazing HE was…
"Don't be rude, Sasuke…" Sakura merely sniffed.
'No -kun!!!! What has this world gotten into!!! That's it!!! Maybe I'm still trapped in Itachi's Mangekyou… Maybe I'm still battling my damned brother half-dead, half-alive…'
Sasuke squinted at his surroundings, and then he activated his sharingan…
Naruto and Sakura flinched as the comas in Sasuke's blood red eyes spun.
Unsatisfied, Sasuke formed the hand seals for his Mangekyou…
"Teme!!! Are you trying to kill us!!!"
Sasuke stopped… He felt stupid for acting the way he did just for that stupid thought… Stupid indeed… And why can't he use other words than stupid, stupid….
Sasuke felt blotches of red, the beginnings of embarrassment, spread throughout his face. Being an Uchiha, he never gets embarrassed, so the tiny microscopic blotches quickly faded into nothingness.
"Hn…" Sasuke lowered his arms.
"Do you think we're immune to that Mangeki-whatever? Or do you think we're your long lost clan having the same bloody eyes?!..."
Naruto ranted on and on as Sasuke drowned out the Dobe's words… As much as he hated ever crossing the very idea of being 'related' to the Dobe, he doubly hated being related to Sakura as well.
Poof!
"Yo!"
"KAKASHI-SENSEI!!! YOU'RE LATE!!! AGAIN!!!"
"Ah… Well… I got lost on the path-
"OF LIFE!!! WE KNOW!!!"
Kakashi stopped, then, "No, no. I was helping-
"AN OLD WOMAN TO CROSS THE STREET!!! WE KNOW!!!"
Kakashi frowned, " I was having a date with Kurenai…"
"WE--- WHAT!!!!"
Naruto and Sakura's mouth hung open. Sasuke almost lost his composure too, almost.
"Oh!!! A love story!!!" Sakura squealed. "Tell us about it, Kakashi-sensei… Please?"
Kakashi started to refuse when Sakura used her most powerful jutsu against him.
The Super Puppy dog Pout Sakura Style Jutsu! No hand signs, no seals, no chakra… Just plain old Sakura… With her luscious pink pouted lips, long dark eyelashes, the soft pale skin, the cute cheeks, the shimmering emerald-
Sasuke looked away. He could very well drown in those emerald pools if he didn't turn away. He glanced at the river below. Drowning in THAT might be better, and if he was lucky enough, Sakura would be the one to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and he would at last feel those pink-
'Stop thinking, Sasuke Uchiha…' Sasuke berated himself. He would have preferred to battle the whole Akatsuki than to think about a certain pink-lipped -ahem- a certain girl every day, every hour, every minute, and occasionally, every second.
Sasuke hated to admit that he had fallen.
'Fallen where?' Sasuke simply refused to think of it himself.
'Fallen in love with Sakura…'
Sasuke felt even sadder, alone-er, miserable-er, distressed-er, depressed-er, -you get it…-er
He had long since noticed the change in his female teammate. Of course, being a genius, he had already noticed that she was indeed a female. It wasn't until his hormones kicked in that he finally saw the dangers that accompanied the fact that Sakura was undeniably and unarguably, female.
He couldn't care less about her when they met at Orochimaru's lair. Sure, she had grown stronger and -uhm- taller? Whatever… The point is, out of all the members of Team Seven (probably even the ninjas in their age group), she had the greatest improvement. She might have been the weakest of the weak two or three years ago, he didn't really care. But what impressed him the most was that:
She was the Fifth Hokage's apprentice.
She had her perfect chakra control put to good use when she acquired the Fifth's monstrous strength 'and' medical abilities.
Only the Fifth surpassed her in the medical field.
Only the Fifth surpassed her in the afore-mentioned monstrous strength.
No one, and absolutely no one, surpassed her long list (and still counting) of passionate suitors, not even the busty Tsunade.
She kicked Sasori's sorry arse.
She was THE most sought after girl in the whole village, even in their neighboring villages. It had become difficult for her to go on missions unidentified because almost everyone (notice the everyone, not the almost) knew her. She had almost failed an important mission just because she was run over by a stampeding horde of fan boys. Sasuke had pulled out his katana and almost started on a killing spree (much like what Itachi did to his clan) when Kakashi and Naruto rushed to stop him. After that, Tsunade had refrained from giving Sakura missions and had told her to stay at the hospital. She also said that she would be giving her missions again when the time comes that her face would be all wrinkly and no one would notice her. Of course, that was not true.
And, who would be the most suitable boyfriend for the most beautiful girl? Of course, it's Sasuke... Uchiha Sasuke...
The list could go on and on but Sasuke didn't want to waste precious time in thinking about Sakura.
'What time? As far as I know, you do waste all your 'precious' time in thinking about Sakura…'
'Tch.. Whatever…'
Sasuke dropped back to earth when Kakashi finally succeeded in maneuvering around the curious Sakura and the blanching Naruto.
"Well, I came here to tell you that we would all be attending someones wedding this weekend. I forgot who it was but they are well-known ninjas from prodigious families. Naruto and Sakura, the two of you are partners as groom's man and bride's maid. Sasuke, you'll be sitting with me as guests of honor…"
A sharp pang hit Sasuke's… heart?
'Hmmm… Didn't know I had one… Interesting surprise…'
'Forget that, why does the dobe get to be partners with Sakura-chan? -er- Sakura?'
Sasuke inwardly fumed, 'Why does the dobe always get what HE wants? Forget the itchy yukata or tuxedo. He chanced a glance at Sakura. She was chatting happily with Naruto. Sasuke grimaced visibly.
Unaware, Sasuke didn't notice Kakashi watching him.
"Sasuke, you're not mad that you're paired off with an old man like me, are you?" he asked, deeply concerned.
"Hn…"
"Promise I won't be late…"
Sasuke glared at him.
"Well, maybe a 'little' late. Who knows, there might be five old ladies waiting for me to help them cross the street." Kakashi said as he scratched his forehead.
"Do you really prefer old ladies? I'll gladly be your best man if you marry one of them some day…" at that, Sasuke turned away to glare at a tree.
Silence ensued.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Naruto literally rolled on the ground, banging his fists as he went.
"Hehehehe! That was really good Sasuke! Maybe he won't be late anymore!" Sakura giggled. Sakura's melodic laugh brought warmth to Sasuke's ice cold heart. Like a heater in the middle of the Arctic.
'You sound sappy… What have you done to Sasuke!!!!'
Sasuke forced down a grin and maintained his stoic façade. He was risking his reputation just by telling a joke.
'What reputation? You mean the 'heartless block of impenetrable ice -bastard?'
As much as Sasuke hated to admit it, he was a heartless bastard. Naruto was right all along. But what could he do about it? He was Uchiha Sasuke. The bastard-ness comes with the territory, or contract, or whatever you call it.
Meanwhile, Kakashi, who tried to save some of his dignity (if he had any to start with), said, "What if I told you I am currently engaged to Kurenai? And that I was here to ask you your opinion about the married life? Being my team and all…"
Dumbstruck silence greeted his announcement.
"Is that true!!!! Oh my God, Kakashi-sensei!!!!"
Naruto and Sasuke had both run over to the edge of the bridge and took all of their breakfast out on the water below them. Apparently, their sensei's predicament was… simply revolting.
"Oh don't mind them Sensei… They're just over reacting."
"Bu-but, Sakura-chan!!! Just imagine his life with Kurenai-sensei! He won't have time for us anymore!"
"Naruto, Kakashi-sensei doesn't spend that much time on us anyway. Most of the time he is supposed to be with us, he's off helping 'certain' old ladies…"
"Mmfffhhttt…" Naruto fought down a laugh.
"Well," Kakashi started, they all turned to listen to him. "I'll be going now. And, by the way, you're all too naïve to think that I would go off and marry someone. I plan to spend my youthfulness reading -ahm-… I'll see you 'early' tomorrow morning with further details...Ja!" with that, Kakashi poofed off to who know's where.
"LIAR!!!!"
'Liar…' Sasuke thought to himself. Remember, he had a reputation to uphold. He couldn't go shouting with Naruto and Sakura. It was too 'un-Sasuke-ish'.
Still, Sasuke wondered about the 'married life' as his sensei put it. A few years from now, they would all be of age. He thought about his appearance in the future. He had discarded off the weird Orochimaru clothes for normal ones. Maybe he would still be his usual handsome self and-
"Sakura-chan! Let's go and have ramen now!"
'What!!! Dobe!!!' Sasuke had, by now, glared a hole at the nearest tree he could set his Mangekyou eyes on.
"Sure, Naruto! Come on, Sasuke! Aren't you going as well?" Sakura turned to wait for his answer.
Sasuke quickly turned off the blood red eyes. "Hn…"
"Come on, Teme! We haven't got all day you know!!!" Naruto stomped childishly, impatient for his ramen.
As Sasuke walked towards Ichiraku beside his teammates, he thought at the invitation. Naruto had clearly invited Sakura. But he wasn't with that invitation wasn't he? Does that mean Naruto and Sakura are not on a date? Does that mean they're really not 'into' each other?
Well, of course they're not 'into' each other. YOU are the hottest, most eligible -handsomest- bachelor in town, possibly even in the whole Fire country and the rest of the Hidden Villages. Who would replace you for that loud-mouthed blonde? Huh?
He quickly re-emerged to the real world, hating the thoughts that came with thinking too much about -someone-.
He ate silently as he listened to what Naruto and Sakura were talking about. They had started a casual conversation about Sakura's admirers and he, Sasuke Uchiha, was 'interested' to know about his 'rivals in love', as a certain bowl-haired green monster put it.
"Well, there are too many to count, actually. And they come from different villages." Sakura casually said.
Sasuke had found it surprising when Sakura confided to Naruto about these affairs. It was 'girl talk', and Sakura knew that Naruto was no girl, Sexy Jutsu or not. He finally came to the conclusion that since they were her teammates, she found it more comfortable talking with 'them' than other girls. She didn't talk to Tsunade about these, fearing the amazing drunk woman her sensei was. What if her sensei accidentally 'spilled' on the 'many' drunk sessions? Sakura would probably die of shame. So, at it is, she talked openly to Naruto and Sasuke only. Note that she included Sasuke, who was currently boiling in anger…
"The funniest one of them all is, of course, Lee-san. He has now started giving me bouquets of grass. He says he likes it much better because it was green and he preferred to have his 'offerings of love' with a touch of his -ahem- 'fashion sense'."
How dare that round-eyed freak give 'bouquets of grass' to his cherry blossom!!! Ah!!! He's starting to think like the freak!
"Sakura-chan, what about the other villages?"
"There's Gaara and Kankuro in the Sand-
"WHAT!!!"
Surprisingly, it wasn't only Naruto's voice that was heard after the astounding statement.
Sakura quirked her eyebrows at the two of them, "What's wrong with that? I don't care if Gaara had a rather 'disturbing' past."
"Not that Sakura-chan! He's a Kazekage now! And he lives in Suna! We won't be able to hang out at Ichiraku when you get married and have kids-
"NARUTO!!! That has gone too far!!!"
"Dobe…"
"TEME!!! WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!!!!?"
"Dobe…"
"Stop it you two. Well I'll be going now, gotta go to the hospital…"
"Sakura-chan, are you the reason why Gaara is coming to Konoha tomorrow?"
"Of course not Naruto! How could you say that?"
"Well, I was just thinking-
"Well, I'm surprised that you could think, dobe…"
"TEME!!!!"
While Naruto ranted on and on about how rude Sasuke was, Sasuke deeply contemplated the current situation. As far as he knew, Suna and Konoha were in good terms. Maybe Tsunade was thinking about a way to 'deepen' their treaty. And the best way to seal an agreement in the old days (Tsunade's age perhaps) was by an 'arranged marriage'.
Sakura's going to be married off to the Kazekage…
Stop thinking Sasuke…
I'm not like the dobe, he can stop thinking in a matter of minutes.
Bless the dobe then, and kiss the ground he walks on.
And besides, Sakura can't possibly consider being married off to the Kazekage, Gaara. Remember how he almost killed her when we were only genins?
And Tsunade doesn't have a right to marry someone off to someone else.
What if she gives it to Sakura as a mission? A 'lifelong' mission? Sakura can't disobey the Hokage's orders. She could be banished from Konoha and become a missing-nin.
Then be a missing-nin like her. And the two of you could be together-
Stop thinking…
And also, did you forget who you are? You're the super handsome Sasuke Uchiha. Who would choose eyebrow-'less' Gaara to chicken-haired Uchiha?
Thanks for those words of- comfort.
That is besides the point, Uchihas don't back down from -ah- 'love challenges'. We WILL get her heart, even if it meant kissing Naruto again. Seriously.