Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Back to the Past ❯ Chapter Two: Oh Great it Just Got Worse ( Chapter 2 )

"Sakura? Are you okay up there?" Mrs. Haruno calls after hearing a thud come from her daughter's room. "Sakura!" Receiving no answer, she walked up the stairs to find Sakura laying on her bed in a mild state of shock. "Sakura, are you okay? Honey, do you feel alright?" Umeko Haruno put her hand to her daughter's forehead. "You're not warm, is everything alright?"

"I'm okay, mom," Sakura replies rubbing a hand over her eyes. "Just nerves I guess, I'll be down in a minute."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine, really."

"Okay, well, breakfast is almost ready, so hurry up."

Her mother gave her one last searching look before closing the door and walking back down the stairs. Sakura sighed as she got off the bed and went into the bathroom. She avoided letting her eyes stray from her face for as long as possible, it was when she was tugging her hairbrush through a particularly stubborn knot that it happened. She set down the brush and looked sadly at where her top was just the slightest bit tight around her abdomen.

"How?" She whispered, "How did I manage to stay pregnant?" Her hands touched the spot that she hopes that no one else would notice. She stood silently for a few minutes letting the gravity of her situation wash over her before squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath. "No time like the present," She muttered to her reflection before leaving the quiet security of the bathroom. Sakura made her way down the stairs and to the kitchen table where her mother was finishing up the scrambled eggs she always made on special mornings. Her mother smiled as she handed her a plate.

"Ready for school?" Ringo Haruno asks his daughter as she took her seat across from him.

"Mmhmm," She managed with a nod through a mouthful of egg.

"Important day today," He observed, taking a sip of tea.

Sakura swallowed before answering, "You have no idea."

Before she left, Sakura hugged both of her parents and kissed them on the cheek, something she hadn't done since she was very young.

"What's that for?" Umeko laughed.

Sakura shrugged, "Just because it's an important day," She said.

"You'll do fine, you're a Haruno after all," Ringo smiled.

"That's right dad, I am a Haruno." On her way to the Academy, Sakura passed the Yamanaka Flower Shop. The door opened and the heady mixture of several different flowers filled the air. Turning, she saw Ino, her best friend and rival step out into the sunlight.

"Hey, Forehead, wait up!" The blonde called.

Sakura rolled her eyes and sighed. She'd forgotten what Ino was like at twelve. "Good morning, Ino," She replied as pleasantly as she could.

"Didn't you forget something?" Ino asked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you usually add 'pig' to the end of my name. Are you feeling alright? Weight of that forehead getting you down?" Ino laughed at her own joke while Sakura tapped her foot on the ground.

"Very funny...if we were eight," Sakura replied. "Aren't we a bit old for such petty name calling? I mean, it's behavior unbefitting a Shinobi, don't you think?" When Ino made no reply Sakura casually waved goodbye, "See you at school." Sakura hurried along leaving Ino staring open mouthed after her.

When she got to the classroom, she saw Naruto sitting at a table smiling at her. There he was, happy, healthy, and whole. She wanted to run up and hug him, tell him how much she'd missed him, but instead, she just smiled back. "Hey Naruto, can I sit by you?" She asked.

"Sure Sakura-chan," The blonde grinned like he'd won a prize, " but only if you sit in the middle next to Sasuke-teme."

"She's not sitting next to Sasuke, I am." A girl with a long braided ponytail cut in.

"No, I'm sitting by him!" A girl yelled, getting up from another table.

"No, he's mine. I sit next to Sasuke!" A girl sneered, coming to stand beside the black haired Uchiha.

Naruto leaned back in his chair staring helplessly from the angry mob of girls all vying for the same seat as Sakura. For her part, Sakura began laughing. The group of girls stopped arguing long enough to turn and glare at her. "What are you laughing at, Forehead?" A girl with flashing blue eyes asked accusingly.

"It's nothing really," The pink haired girl smiles sweetly. "Just that here you all are, ready to come to blows over who sits next to Sasuke, when quite frankly, I don't think he'd notice if the chair stayed empty." She chuckled, "The only thing that boy cares about is revenge, and the sooner you all realize that, the happier you'll be."

"How dare you say such things about Sasuke-kun, why don't you just go hide behind that enormous forehead!" One of the Fangirls growled.

Still smiling, Sakura waved her hand dismissively. "Think whatever you want about me, but if you're so sure about Sasuke Uchiha's feelings, why don't you ask him yourself," The jade green eyes suddenly narrowed into slits. "Or are you afraid to, because deep down you know I'm right? Now back off, I'm sitting next to Naruto." As Sakura slid into the chair between Sasuke and Naruto, the blonde whispered behind his hand.

"Uh, Sakura-chan, I thought you liked Sasuke too."

"Let's just say I got over it," She smirked.

Despite the bored look on his face, Sasuke's mind was racing. "How, how could she know his true aim? He'd never told anyone, how did Sakura Haruno, of all people suddenly know?"

Meanwhile, Ino Yamanaka had finally made it into the classroom. Spying Sakura's proximity to Sasuke, the blonde's face turned beet red.

"Oh no you don't." she growled. "Forehead, get out of that seat now!" She yelled marching across the room to stand behind Sakura, steam coming out of her ears.

"Ino, that's enough. Please just sit down somewhere." Iruka-sensei called appearing in a puff of smoke.

"Humph." Ino stomped over and made a production of sitting next to Shikamaru. The laziest kid in class barely lifted his head off the table to acknowledge her.

"Congratulations, as of today you are all Genin, or first level ninjas. By reaching this point you have proven that you can face difficulties and come through on the other side. As Genin, you'll find out that it was all in preparation for what comes next. All the Genin will be grouped into three-man squads. All squads will be led by a Jounin, an elite ninja. Now I'm going to read out the team assignments, listen carefully for your name."

"Team one consists of Amy Conner, Joel Shot, and Mick Lole."

Amy looks miserably at her teammates before shouting out, "There must be a mistake, and I'm supposed to be with Sasuke-kun!"

Iruka barely spared the distraught girl a glance. "Sorry Amy, no mistake. That's your team."

"Team two, Rocko Red, Trine Yuh, and Matt Iocko." Iruka paused waiting for another outburst, "as Team Two has no objections, I'll continue. Team three..."

Sakura watched as anxious faces became resigned. She remembered her original excitement and smiled slightly, she'd been so naive.

"Team Seven, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, ("Yes! I'm with Sakura-chan!" thought Naruto.)...and Sasuke Uchiha."

"I'm DOOOOMED!" Naruto cried. "Iruka-sensei, why does a great ninja like me have to be put on a team with Sasuke-teme?"

Iruka rolled his eyes, "Naruto, we put together teams based on individual strengths and weaknesses. Sasuke had the highest test scores while you had the lowest tests scores. "

Naruto put his head down, sulking, while Sakura peeked at Sasuke out of the corner of her eye.

"Sasuke," She wondered," how am I going to keep Orochimaru from giving you that curse mark? First though, how am I going to convince Zabuza and Haku to listen to me? Oh man, there's so much to do...don't you underestimate me, Sasuke Uchiha. I'm not some crazed fangirl, I'm stronger than you in many ways."

"Hey Forehead Girl, don't you touch my Sasuke-kun," Sakura was pulled from her thoughts by Ino's angry voice.

"Well, since we're teammates, I might have to touch him if he's injured. Or would you rather I heed your warning and keep my hands to myself? That might actually kill him you know," Sakura sneered.

"How dare you Billboard Brow!" Ino made to get out of her seat, but a look from Iruka froze her in her tracks. The instructor continued reading off teams.

"Team Eight, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuuga."

"It's like I said earlier, Ino," Sakura sighed. "Only children call each other names, and if you insist on being childish then it's probably best that you stop your training now. Being a Shinobi isn't child's play."

"You go Sakura-chan," Naruto smiled as Sakura got up and left the room.

"Team Ten," Iruka continued, unaware of what had just happened. "Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi.

"Not lazy ass and food boy..." Ino grumbled under her breath.

"Get together with your teammates; you will be meeting with your Jounin-sensei after lunch." Iruka smiled, "Good luck to all of you, class dismissed." With that, their first teacher disappeared for the final time.

It only took Sakura a minute or two to reach the training grounds. Finding it deserted, she smiled.

"This will do," she said taking a deep breath and focusing her chakra to her feet. She walked to the base of a large oak and began climbing up, up, and up. Looking out over the forest criss-crossed by sparkling streams she smiled softly. She'd forgotten how peaceful her village had been before the storm of war. A hawk landed in a nearby treetop, and as she watched it tend to its young, she was blissfully unaware of the fact that she herself was being watched.

Author's Notes: I wonder who that is?

Find out in the Chunin exams.

That will be in around eight to ten chapters.

Please review on your way out.