Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Struggling Hearts ❯ Ramen on me ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3:

Ramen on me!

 

Disclaimer: The usual…. I don't own anyone!

CAUTION: I've changed the rating, because of language… It's very little… but, I have a feeling, later on into the story it might be a bit more.

 

 

Slowly, the pink haired kunouchi woke up. Her arms stretched and her mouth let out a huge yawn. Her jade eyes blinked a few times, until she realized where she was. She jumped up from the chair she had fallen asleep. Damn, she though, Kakashi, I'll make you pay for making me miss seeing Naruto off.

 

She let out a deep sigh and walked over to the window. She placed a gentle hand on the window sill and looked outside. The sun was up and shining brightly, hardly any clouds in the sky, “Such a beautiful morning. I wonder how long I've been asleep.”

 

“Nearly two days ago. We were starting to wonder whether or not we should wake you up.” The girl that Sakura had given the note to for Naruto was standing in the door way. “But now you're up, you should probably get some food.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to Sakura, “This is from Tsunade, a sort of apology.”

 

Sakura took the slip and looked at it. Laughing she said, “Two free bowls of ramen?” Snickering, she stuck the paper in her pouch and looked back to the girl and bowed. “Thank you for everything. Were you able to get the note to Naruto?” She asked, her voice filled with concern.

 

To her relief, the girl nodded, “Yes. And Kakashi-sensei was there. Tsunade had told him about the Chuunin exam and how Naruto would be participating in it. So, he went to see him off.” She smiled, “I was able to give the note to him, and he gave it to Naruto.” There was a knock on the door, one of the other girls appeared.

 

“Tsunade needs you for training, Ruki.” The other girl said, then smiled at Sakura and bowed. “Sakura-sensei, you're awake. I hope you are feeling better.” She bowed again after Sakura nodded and walked out of the room.

 

Ruki, the girl that had given the note to Naruto, looked at Sakura and bowed too, “Thank you for letting us help you. It was an honor working with you.”

 

“And thank you for all your help.” She smiled and bowed back and watched as Ruki left. Sighing she turned back to the window, “I guess I should continue training. Naruto should be done with the Chuunin exam in a few days. And I still have a few more techniques I'd like to learn before the ANBU exam.”

 

Sakura had not forgotten her promise to Naruto. Since he was so intent on finding Sasuke by becoming an ANBU, Sakura had promised him she'd be there taking the test with him. She couldn't deny the fact that she still wasn't over Sasuke. Taking one more sigh she opened the window and jumped over the ledge, landing gingerly in a tree. She hopped out of the tree onto the ground, but hadn't fully woken up yet and fell on the ground, scraping her knee. Though, since it was only a scratch, she didn't even bother healing it and just started walking to the usual spot that she and Naruto had been training.

 

It was a long walk to the forested area of the training grounds. But it was worth it. Sakura had stopped and gotten breakfast, and ate it on the way. But seeing the area brought back such memories. It was the same area where Sasuke, Naruto, and she had trained with Kakashi for the first time. Those damned bells. She growled, her fists clenching.

 

“Well, they're not here now, nor will we ever be together again, so I should just stop thinking about it.” Sakura started to make a few hand signs to perform her first jutsu, but halted as she sensed someone on a near by branch. In the blink of an eye she had pulled a kunai from its holster and thrown it directly where the person would have been.

 

“Your precision astounds me,” spoke an oddly familiar voice.

 

Sakura just smirked as she turned to look up at the branch she had thrown her own kunai at. But to her own surprise, there was no one there. Only a bright orange book pinned to a tree. Sakura couldn't help but snicker, until she felt a strong arm wrap around her neck.

 

“That was my limited edition, signed copy of the newest Ichi Ichi book,” spoke the voice from directly behind her, “I thought I had taught you better, Sakura. Never turn your back on your opponent.”

 

Sakura's body turned into a log in the arms of her opponent, and she couldn't help but laugh from the branch that the book was handing from. The face of her former sensei was priceless. “Did you not think I could perform such a simple jutsu? You look as though you're in shock. Unless you are not my real sensei.” She chuckled

 

The silver haired jounin scratched the back of his head, a smile could be seen through his mask. “Guess I just forgot that you were so good.”

 

At this Sakura became very aggravated. Even when they first met, she had been able to perform a simple transfer jutsu. Was he just trying to get her mad? Well, I need to practice hand to hand anyway. She grabbed the book and pulled the kunai out, kept the kunai in her hand and pocketed the book. Her eyes widened as a kunai came whizzing by, nearly stabbing her in the leg. Her eyes narrowed.

 

She remembered there first training session, Kakashi had said something about `coming with the intention to kill'. With that Sakura grabbed the second kunai that had been thrown and vanished from sight, reappearing behind her sensei, both kunai at his neck.

 

“Don't ever turn your back, remember old man?” Sakura's voice was filled with malice.

 

Kakashi only laughed, and to Sakura's surprise, Kakashi's hands quickly grabbed onto her wrists and flipped her over him and onto her stomach. Kakashi grabbed the kunai out of Sakura's hands and tossed them away, pinning her hands to her back.

 

“Now is that anyway to greet your own sensei?” Kakashi grinned at Sakura's anger, and took his tattered book out of her pouch. “Now I guess I'll have to buy a new one.” He sighed.

 

Sakura growled and struggled to get up, “Now that we've had our fun, can you get off me please?” Kakashi let out a playful sigh and let go of her arms and then leaned up against a nearby tree.

 

“I heard you were taking care of my team and passed out of exhaustion.” Kakashi looked at her and narrowed a concerned eye, “I may not be your sensei anymore, but I still care what happens to you.”

 

Sakura felt her cheeks burn a bright red. She didn't like Kakashi more than just a friend, but hearing that anyone was concerned for her always made her blush and she felt embarrassed.

 

Kakashi realized what he said and shook his head, “I must apologize. I only mean that I don't want to see you go and kill yourself.”

 

Sakura sat up and shook her head, all redness in her cheeks had vanished, “Kakashi-sensei, I'm not an idiot. I know when I've done too much.”

 

Kakashi sighed, “Obviously not. If I'm not mistaken, you were the one passed out for two days.”

 

Sakura stood, fury filling her now, “I wasn't passed out, I was asleep. Training with Naruto for his Chuunin exam and then going to heal about 10 of your men is enough to wear anyone out. I was just doing my job.” She crossed her arms.

 

Kakashi stared at her, he had nearly forgotten about her fiery attitude as well. Her smiled again, and crossed his own arms. “Well, I just came to see how you were doing. I heard from Ino that you've been training yourself for the ANBU tests. Is this true?” His tone wasn't worry or anger. Rather, it seemed like he was interested.

 

Being ANBU himself, Kakashi knew exactly what she would have to go through, and he knew it wouldn't be easy.

 

Sakura nodded and clenched her fists. When did Kakashi talk to Ino. Though, there was plenty of time when she was asleep to talk. She shrugged it off, no big deal. “I promised Naruto, since he won't give up on the search for Sasuke, I won't either.”

 

Her expression remained almost emotionless, which nearly concerned Kakashi. Usually, the mere mention of his name either made her giddy, or anger. But this time, there was nothing. Had she finally gotten over him?

 

“I see,” he said, still in a calm tone. “Well, if you need help with your training while Naruto is still taking the Chuunin exam, or even afterwards. I'll be glad to help both of you. As I said, I am no longer your sensei, but I am still free to help a friend.” Kakashi looked at Sakura and smiled, she had definitely grown, but he still though of her as the same old Sakura. Though, he admitted, he hadn't been around her enough to know if she had changed. Though, the situation with Sasuke confused him.

 

Sakura nodded, “I think that would be very helpful, since you've taken the ANBU test.” She looked oddly at Kakashi for a moment, “But aren't you supposed to be helping with the Chuunin exam? On the third test, don't you have to help train Naruto?”

 

Kakashi shook his head and gave her an odd look right back, “Haven't I told you twice already? I'm not your sensei anymore. I won't be training anyone for awhile, since I just got back from a mission, they're letting me have a break for awhile.” He sighed, “Though, honestly, I'd rather be on a mission then have nothing to do here.”

 

Sakura smirked and took a step closer to him, remembering the free Ramen tickets she had gotten from Tsunade, “Hey, since it's been so long, how `bout we get something to eat.” She started to walk out of the training area, leaving behind a rather confused Kakashi. “It's on me! A celebration for a mission well done.”

 

Kakashi sighed and looked at Sakura, he was a little bit hungry, and it was the least she could do for shredding his book. He shrugged, and with his hands in his pockets walked with Sakura to the nearest Ramen restaurant.

 

 

Author's Note: Let the relationship begin! So yeah, thanks again for the reviews. And I hope I'm not updating too fast, but I'm just trying to get a few chapters up so it doesn't seem to short at the moment.

 

Gotta love Sakura's moodiness.

 

And yes, Kakashi and Sakura are just friends at the moment, they haven't even thought about being more than that, so if it seems like more, it's really not… not yet at least.

 

So, keep on reviewing, and I'll get the next chapter up soon. But don't expect and kissing or anything of the sort any time soon. :P