Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Different Road ❯ Rude Awakening ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Don't own it. Wish I did, but alas, I don't.

It was a nice day, with the sun shining overhead, but not too bright as to blind the two teens. The light breeze tousled the Uchiha brothers' hair as they held an unusually thought-provoking conversation.

Sasuke sat down on the grass. “So why'd you choose them?” he asked.

Itachi smirked, “Do you really want to know? Are you worried about losing your precious Sakura? Afraid that she won't be able to handle the pressure?”

“No. I'm more worried that you won't be able to handle her.” The brothers chuckled at the thought. Sasuke's expression suddenly became more pensive. “Seriously, though. Why her? I mean, Ten Ten, Temari, even Hinata would be a better choice! I know she was my teammate and all, but she's so weak.”

Itachi thought about his brother's words for a second. However, only a second. “Due to your,” Itachi paused, “extended journey in hunting me down, you have obviously failed to receive the weekly Konoha newsletter. Ten Ten is dead. Something about a suicide mission. Temari is married to Shikamaru and has a kid. Poor child. He's going to have a rough upbringing. Anyways, the kid would be a weakness. Finally, Hinata is mentally weak herself. She's a physically strong ninja, but her self-esteem is at zero. Even if she were to somehow overcome it, she could have a mental crisis and all that work would be in vain. I can't afford the time nor the possibility of that on my team.”

“And Gaara isn't emotionally unstable? Ha! Never thought I'd hear that one.” Sasuke stated sarcastically, while leaning back on his elbows in the grass. This brother bonding thing was weird. He never in his wildest dreams of the past seven years thought he would be having a civil conversation with his brother. It was somewhat disturbing. “One more question.” Itachi nodded for him to continue. “Why do you need a team in the first place?”

“Basically, I need a team that is young enough to train mentally, yet old enough to be able to cope.” He answered succinctly.

“Not that you answered the question, but cope with what?” Sasuke asked.

“That, my dear brother, is none of your business.” Itachi answered smugly, then leapt to his feet.

“Fine.” Sasuke sulked.

Sakura groaned. She looked up at the gray ceiling. Where the heck am I? Her vision was slightly blurry as she slowly used her arms to ease herself in a sitting position and shove her way back to lean against the wall. The stone floor felt sent shivers up her arms. Sakura raised her head, ready to start recording the details of the room into her brain, as was taught in the ninja academy. Her eyelids fluttered open and she looked around, only to experience a wave of nausea and a pounding in her temples. Whoa! Room is spinning again. She squeezed her eyes tightly, waited a minute, and then opened them once again.

“Ahh!” Sakura screamed. Dark, ringed eyes bored into her six inches away. It was Gaara of the sand crouching before her, peering at her as if she was a lab rat. She banged her head against the wall reflexively. “Ow!”

“What are you doing here?” She asked groggily, while rubbing her hand to soothe the bruise forming on the back of her head.

“Shino! She's awake.” Gaara called out to their roommate. He got up to sit against the bare wall adjacently between them.

Come to think of it. The whole room is bare. Sakura thought, blearily.

The bug boy was sitting on the far wall, obviously dazed at having been recently awakened.

“Geez, Gaara. You didn't have to scare the girl. It would make my job easier if you wouldn't frighten her to death.” Shino rubbed his eyes.

“Hey, you were the one who lost the bet. You get to do the explaining.” Gaara answered curtly.

“You're the one who gave me the short straw!” accused an exhausted Shino.

“That and you lost Paper Rock Scissors.” Gaara smirked.

“Shut up.” Shino was getting annoyed. He never did “wake-up” quickly.

“You better get your voice warmed up. You gotta lot of talking to do in the next hour.” Gaara smiled gleefully, glad that he hadn't lost the bet. Well, smile as much as one that never sleeps and constantly is having to deal with a material inner demon.

“Will somebody please just tell me what's going on?” Sakura finally spoke up. “I can't even remember how I got here.”

“You better sit down-”

“I am.” Sakura was in no mood to play games.

“Oh. Heh. Right. Anyways.” Shino looked awkwardly at the floor, rubbing his neck, then glanced up at Gaara. “This really is going to take awhile.”

A/N: Ok, I know that this chapter is really short and I promise that there will never be another chapter this miniscule. Plus, I should have future chapters scrutinized, picked apart, and edited by a friend of mine, so please don't give up on me already. Oh, and don't forget to review! I especially appreciate constructive criticism.