The next day came in the blink of an eye. Sakura awakened to the sound of the cicadas in their endless chorus over the rooftops of Konoha. This sound that she had heard so many times in her life was still as annoying as the first time she had heard it years ago. Although she wanted to sleep a little bit more, she knew those damn insects wouldn't let her.
Just when she stood up from the bed, it happened once again, that same strange feeling from yesterday. It came and went in the blink of an eye, leaving her stunned and without answers. At least, feeling her stamina shoot through the roof, she decided it wasn't anything bad, so she simply put it at the back of her mind.
With a sigh, she quickly stood up and prepared herself for the day ahead. Tying her long pink hair in a ponytail, she wore a long red shirt and dark blue shorts after her morning bath.
Downstairs, in the kitchen, she prepared her bento for today, bade farewell to her family, and left through the front door in a hurry.
The time passed quickly; before she realized it, a whole day had slipped by without much happening.
Besides fooling around with Ino and studying, she didn't do much of anything else. She also didn't talk with her new deskmate. It seemed he was caught vandalizing the Hokage Rock and spent the whole day in detention, fixing his mess.
"Hmmm! Damn, I hate the academy, like, how can any place be so boring?!" By her side, Ino complained loudly as they passed through the gate, heading towards training grounds number 8.
"Isn't that because you don't take the classes seriously?" Sakura rolled her eyes. "Iruka-sensei asked such a simple question, how can you not know the Nidaime Hokage's esteemed name? Do you even know what your grandpa's name is?"
Ino waved her hand dismissively. "Of course I know my grandpa's name, that's not an issue. But why should I remember some old boring guy? He's not here anymore anyway. I'd rather learn who the top ten hottest guys in Konoha are!"
A twinkling star lit up in Ino's eyes while drool dropped from her mouth.
Sakura slapped her forehead while looking at Ino. This girl is helpless!
"Why are you so desperate anyway? You're still young, wait a few years."
Ino shook her head disapprovingly, and gave her a serious look. "No, no, no! You're completely wrong, Sakura! Let me enlighten you before you grow up old and lonely without anyone by your side.
You see, those girls are even worse than me! While you're here thinking you can wait, they're out there making beautiful childhood memories with the boy they like to brainwash him into liking them when they get older! By then, the competition will be so fierce, that it will be unlikely for you and your loved one to end up together!"
Ino spoke with a certainty and confidence that almost gave her the aura of a professional who had studied the subject for decades.
"Therefore, we girls must not only try to look as beautiful as possible, we must also influence who we like so they like us back when we get older.
Of course, if you're as rich and beautiful as me, it's not that important. Alas, it seems you will have a hard time, Sakura, but don't worry, when the time comes, I can lend you some money."
Ino looked at Sakura with heartfelt pity.
Seeing this look on her face, Sakura laughed out loud and suddenly punched with all her strength.
As if expecting this, Ino chuckled and sidestepped, dodging the punch by a hair's breadth.
"Come here, Ino! Let me show you who's poor and ugly!"
"Haha, you aren't strong enough, Sakura!"
Sakura lunged forward with a sharp jab, her ponytail whipping behind her. Ino caught her wrist with a quick twist and shoved her back, grinning.
"Too slow, forehead! You're leaving your arm out way too long after a punch. Someone stronger would've snapped it in half."
"Tch, shut up!" Sakura growled, sweeping low with her leg. Ino hopped back, dirt scattering under her sandals, and stuck her tongue out.
"Better, but you're telegraphing your moves. Don't swing your whole body first, it gives it away."
"Oh, and what do you know, Miss Clan Heir?" Sakura shot back, throwing another punch. This time she managed to graze Ino's sleeve.
"More than you, obviously!" Ino ducked, catching Sakura's ankle as it came up for a kick, then pushed her away. "Balance, Sakura, balance. Keep your center low."
Sakura stumbled, caught herself, and charged again, fists raised. They clashed in the middle of the training ground, trading blows with more laughter than anger, their shouts echoing through the trees.
"Don't just swing wildly! Think a little!" Ino snapped, blocking another punch.
"I am thinking! I'm thinking I'll knock that smug look off your face!" Sakura retorted, her cheeks flushed red with effort.
They broke apart, both panting, both smiling despite the sweat on their brows. The sun sank lower, staining the sky orange. Neither was willing to call it quits.
Again and again they clashed, Ino pointing out mistakes here and there, Sakura stubbornly correcting them and then immediately making new ones. They fought, teased, scolded, and laughed, until shadows stretched long across the training ground and the cicadas' cries mixed with the chirping of crickets.
By the time dusk settled over Konoha, the two girls were flat on their backs in the dirt, arms spread wide, staring up at the fading sky.
"See?" Ino puffed between breaths. "You're getting a little better already. If you keep training with me, maybe you won't embarrass yourself in front of everyone."
Sakura groaned, turning her head to glare at her friend. "One day, Ino, I'm going to wipe that smirk right off your face."
Ino just laughed, her voice tired but cheerful.
Although she laughed at her words, unbeknownst to Sakura, she looked at her with a slightly suspicious expression. Having known this friend for so long, how could she not know her strengths and weaknesses? Today however, Sakura was extremely powerful! To say she had improved by leaps and bounds would be no exaggeration.
Stamina, strength, reaction speed, even her instincts seemed a little sharper today.
For Ino, who had the training of a clan before joining the academy, such a thing wasn't worth paying much attention to. But for Sakura, a complete civilian, this was actually the mark of a genius.
Could it be that Sakura is actually very talented? How come she never showed such a powerful physical talent before?
With a sigh, Ino complained inwardly that her good days were over. She couldn't allow herself to be surpassed by Sakura. Silently crying over her days of slacking off, she cursed Sakura for approaching her strength.
Unaware of what was happening in her best friend's mind, Sakura reviewed their fight in her head and also noticed the abnormality within her. It was almost as if she had gone from being a genin to a chunin in just a couple of days. But how was that possible? Ino and her didn't do this kind of training often, mostly once a week. Anyway, the other girls in the class were so weak, besides Hinata, they could basically hog the second and third place for themselves, so there was no need to practice much.
But looking at her performance now, it was almost as if she had been training a lot for at least a month, otherwise there wouldn't be so much improvement. Is it because I'm in my growth period? This was the only explanation she could think of.
Even so, at the back of her mind, a suspicion kept reminding her of that inexplicable feeling she had been having recently.
...
The next day came like a bolt of lightning.
Standing on the road, hiding under the cover of an umbrella, Sakura stared at that boy that made her heart flutter.
The thundering rain was so powerful, as if the ocean was crashing down on the land, and yet, the scene of his cool profile walking calmly under the rain was enough to make her heartbeat speed up considerably.
By her side, Ino watched him with stars in her eyes, as if she were seeing the most delicious snack in the entire world.
"Ah, my dear Sasuke is so cool... Just looking at him, like a hero in a fairy tale..."
The corner of Sakura's mouth twitched. What an apt description. Feeling a little sour, she scoffed and averted her eyes. Although she didn't want to pursue him anymore, that didn't make it any easier for her.
But looking at the gathered crowd of girls watching him from afar, she felt somewhat comforted. It was impossible after all. How could she compete with so many of them? Especially Ino, she didn't want to harm her good friend.
"Ino, Ino!!"
Seeing her like that, completely in a trance, Sakura rolled her eyes in anger and left with a hmph!
"Brainless, lovestruck girl! What happened with besties before hotties? Traitor! Pig! Blind fool!"
Complaining endlessly, Sakura walked under the storm, trying to reach the academy.
Suddenly, a loud boom shattered the surroundings.
Startled, she jumped back, and after the light of the explosion disappeared, she discovered a tree blocking her way.
Thank god! She sighed in relief. The feeling of almost getting struck by lightning was truly frightening.
Turning around, she took a detour.
Although she had never taken this path before, leading further inside the residential district, she didn't mind since there were many main roads that connected with the one leading to the Hokage Office.
But on her way there, she saw someone unexpected.
"Huh, is that Naruto?"
Seeing a lonely blond boy sitting gloomily under a cover, staring at the road with a blank look in his eyes, Sakura was stunned for a moment.
Could it be that he lives nearby?
Seeing the people avoiding him, she felt strange in her heart. What's going on?
Following his line of sight, she saw a store that, by coincidence or not, seemed to sell umbrellas.
Confused, she approached him in quick steps.
"Hey, Naruto, what are you doing?"
The boy flinched at the sound of her voice, almost as if he hadn't expected anyone to bother talking to him. Slowly, he turned his head, blue eyes meeting hers under the shadow of the cover. For a second, there was surprise written all over his face, but it was quickly masked with a crooked grin.
"Eh? Oh, uh, nothing really. Just, y'know... waiting for the rain to stop. Heh." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, forcing a laugh that didn't reach his eyes.
Sakura tilted her head, unconvinced. "You're just sitting here, staring at that umbrella shop across the street. What's so interesting about it?"
Naruto's smile faltered, and for a moment he looked away, cheeks puffing out in frustration. "Tch, nothing. It's just stupid anyway. I went in there and the guy threw me out. Said he didn't want me messing up his store." He laughed again, but this time it sounded hollow. "Can you believe that? Like I'd ruin his stupid umbrellas by looking at them."
Sakura blinked. "He… really said that?"
Naruto shrugged, pretending it didn't matter. "Yeah, but who cares, right? I don't need some dumb umbrella. I'll just wait till the rain slows down, then run for it. Easy!"
He grinned again, wide and careless, but his voice wavered just enough that Sakura could hear the truth beneath it. She felt something twist in her chest. Looking at him, sitting alone with his knees tucked in, rain pouring all around while people hurried past without sparing him a glance, she realized how lonely he looked.
For some reason, it made her heart ache.
"You're going to catch a cold if you sit here like that," she said softly, stepping closer under her own umbrella. "Come on, you'll be late to class."
Naruto blinked up at her, clearly not expecting the offer. "Eh? You mean… share?"
"Of course. Do you see me carrying two umbrellas? What else would I mean?" She rolled her eyes, cheeks warming slightly under his stunned expression. "Hurry up before I change my mind."
For a moment he just stared, mouth slightly open, as if he couldn't quite process what had just happened. Then, with a sudden flurry of movement, he scrambled to his feet and ducked under the umbrella beside her.
He was so close now, his shoulder brushing against hers, his hair dripping rainwater onto the ground. "H-hey, you sure? I mean, won't people… you know, talk? If they see you with me?" His voice dropped at the end, quieter, almost cautious.
Sakura frowned. "Why would I care about that? You're my classmate. Besides, you'll get sick if you run through this storm."
Naruto's grin returned, but this time it wasn't forced. It was smaller, softer, and somehow more real. "Heh… thanks, Sakura-chan."
The words were simple, but the way he said them made her chest tighten again, and she quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the road ahead. Together they walked through the rain toward the academy, their steps slow and a little clumsy as they tried to stay beneath the small umbrella.
The storm raged around them, but under that narrow cover, Sakura felt strangely warm. However, she quickly shook her head and erased that thought.
"Hmph! Keep your distance. If you try something funny, I'll teach you a painful lesson!"
Stunned, Naruto laughed slightly, and nodded quickly. "Of course, of course! I'd never do that, y'know?"
With that, the two hurried together, otherwise they would really be late for class.