Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Stages of Love: Team 7 Style ❯ Fists and Shuriken ( Chapter 2 )

Title: Fists and Shuriken

Author/Artist: mischief maker

Theme: Romance

Rating: PG

Author's Notes: XD

 

 

The sounds of grunts and fists pounding upon flesh were all that could be heard at the training grounds where Sakura sat watching her teammates try to beat each other senseless. She sighed.

 

It hadn't taken long for things to return to almost normal. Well, as far as team seven's group dynamics were concerned anyway.

 

For Sasuke, life wouldn't be returning to normal any time soon, but that was to be expected. With the villagers' distrust, ANBU tailing him everywhere, restriction to only D-rank missions, and everything else his return entailed, training became a much needed outlet for his frustrations.

 

Despite all that, things between the three teammates were pretty much the same as they ever were, Sakura noted with annoyance. Old habits really did die hard, it seemed.

 

The bond between Sasuke and Naruto had always been different from the ones they shared with her, and it didn't used to bother her. It shouldn't bother her now, she told herself.

 

But it did.

 

She no longer needed to be protected like the weak kunoichi she once was, and though they didn't really treat her that way, it had been easy to unconsciously slip into their previous routines. The boys sparred with each other almost to the point of brutality, while she did her own thing. It irritated the hell out of her.

 

It wasn't the implication that she wasn't good enough, because no such implication was ever made. It was common knowledge that she could seriously hurt them if given the opportunity. Sure, she'd have to catch Sasuke first, which wasn't easy with that damned sharingan. And the kyuubi's chakra would heal Naruto immediately after she was done with him, but that wasn't the point.

 

It was her being excluded for no legitimate reason that made her… jealous? The thought surprised her, but yeah, that's exactly what it was. They had each other back, and she was just… there.

 

Well, she most definitely was NOT the same old Sakura. She'd trained under Tsunade-sama so she and Naruto could retrieve Sasuke together, which was exactly what they'd done. She'd be damned if she was going to let them ignore her.

 

“Hey!” she yelled, launching herself into the middle of their fight. Catching them off guard, her punch sent Naruto flying into Sasuke and knocked them both several steps back. “When's my turn?”

 

They looked up at her in mild surprise as they picked themselves up off the ground.

 

“You want to spar with us, Sakura-chan?”

 

“That's what I said, right?”

 

Her teammates looked at each other and shrugged.

 

“Don't expect us to go easy on you.” There was a hint of amusement in Sasuke's voice, although his face was as serious as ever.

 

She couldn't stop herself from smirking.

 

“I wouldn't have it any other way.”