Parallel {My Second Life As Sakura Haruno}

Where the Heck is Kabuto?!

Sadly for us, Kabuto was nowhere to be seen. This meant that the genjutsu sound nin might not attack us. Looks like it's up to me to help us pass this exam!

Sasuke gave me and Naruto the newly-taken water from the river, subsequently sitting back down across from us. 

I scooched a little away from Naruto and cleared my voice, getting their attention. "So, any ideas on how to get our hands on a heaven scroll?" Naruto looked between me and Sasuke expecting one of us to come up with something. 

Sasuke simply grunted, much to my and Naruto's disappointment. Naruto then turned to me, because Sasuke has failed him. I began my little exposition. "Maybe if we go to the tower and set up some traps, a ninja or two could fall into one. Anyone heading to the tower at this point must have both scrolls, so we're sure to get one."

Nauto was satisfied and gave the two of us a toothy grin. "What are we waiting for? Time's-a-wasting!" I nodded and stretched a little. Naruto and I were about to get moving when the Uchiha interrupted saying, "What are you idiots talking about? We already have both scrolls."

The two of us stopped in our tracks and turned to face our brooding team member. Naruto spoke up. "Huh? What are you talking about?" He automatically looked at me for an explanation, to which I shrugged.

Sasuke took out the Heaven and Earth scrolls from his pouch. "There were some dead ninjas outside of the tree stump we rested in, did neither of you think to see if they had a scroll?" Me and the hyperactive Ninja looked at each other, and then back at Sasuke. 

The blonde knucklehead then started yelling, "Of course I noticed! I was just testing you two to see if you would figure it out!" I slumped over. 'I can't believe I forgot about the ninja I defeated, I really didn't think of that? C'mon Sakura, you're supposed to be smart!' 

Sasuke grunted and closed his eyes. "Shut it, dobe." The Uchiha and the Uzumaki bantered a bit more before I stopped them, saying we should go to the tower and finish the exam. Soon after that, the three of us raced off.

On the way there, I did the best I could to make small talk. "I wonder what the next phase of the exam will be. Do you think we'll have to fight someone?" Naruto was usually the one who answered my talking. "Whoever it is, I'll beat them up!" With Sasuke making small comments here and there. "Hn." 'Man, could that guy get any more infuriating? He barely seems to tolerate his teammates. Well, that's a lie, it's Sakura he barely tolerates.'

We continue on our trek. It doesn't take too long.

The three of us arrived at the tower and were now standing in front of a large poster that read, 'If you do not possess Heaven, gain knowledge and be prepared. If you do not possess Earth, run through the field and seek strength. If you open both Heaven and Earth scrolls, dangerous paths turn into safe ones. This is the secret of _______. It shall lead you on your way.'

'You know, I really hate riddles. They always appear at the wrong time, and they always seem to make whoever knows the answer feel superior to you for being confusing. To me, they just make the other person seem desperate to be in power.'

'The only way to combat these types of people is to either not take it seriously, and answer whatever the hell comes to mind, or simply know all riddle answers by religiously studying them.'

I usually fall into the second category although I always make sure to be a bit bitter by answering cryptically to any of their normal questions. For example, 'When's the next test?' and I say, 'Sometime before the school year ends.' Or 'What did you get for #3?' and I say, 'An answer.'

'I am a nucience, an annoyence. Ahh... Maybe that explains my lack of friends?'

'Back to the riddles, my memory tells me that Sakura was the one to solve it.' I glanced at the two mindlessly staring at the poster. Before Naruto started shouting again, I started talking. "Heaven and Earth... I think they're telling us to open the scrolls."

Naruto and I held the scrolls in our respective hands. Me holding the Heaven scroll and him holding the Earth scroll. We looked at each other and nodded before I say, "Alright, let's rip them open!"

We peeled them apart, smoke soon started spawning from the scrolls. Sasuke quickly yelled, "Naruto, Sakura! Let go of the scrolls!" 

The two scrolls were thrown a few feet before crossing over each other and rolling a bit.

Even more smoke was generated, and a figure emerged out of the smoke.

It cleared up to reveal... Iruka sensei?! How?? I thought summoning could only happen with animals or inanimate objects!

'Just kidding, I knew. I watched the show and read the manga multiple times.'

Sasuke and Naruto both seemed to gasp, but I didn't want to put effort into reacting. It's not like Iruka would look at me anyway. I'm not an Uchiha or Naruto, favoritism sucks man.

Iruka stood there, holding his arms crossed. "Hey, long time no see." Naruto looked back and forth between his teammates and Iruka. "Huh? Huh? Why was Iruka sensei summoned?"

Iruka was inclined to answer. "At the end of this second test, it's set up so we Chunnins meet up with the exam takers-" I cut into his dialogue. "So, in short, we pass?" Iruka looked at me, looked away, and then looked at me again, a bit surprised the second time. Most likely due to my haircut. 

He cleared his throat and continued. "Sharp as ever, Sakura. All three of you have passed the second exam. To celebrate, I wanted to buy you ramen but-" This time he was interrupted by Naruto jumping at Iruka and hugging him. "WE DID IT!!!" 'Man, he's really loud. I need to invest in some earplugs.'

Iruka tried to stop him, but the ever-enthusiastic and energetic Naruto just kept going. "WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT! I'M SO HAPPY!" 

He continued jumping around and yelling, while Sasuke sat on the ground. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, drowning out my surroundings. Am I really here, in the Naruto world? Or is this just another one of my daydreams?

From the slight breeze that Naruto created, to the dirt under my fingernails, I could feel it all. If I focused, I could even feel my own heart beating.  It felt... real. Real enough to make me think this might be the real world. If I could choose, I think I like this place. It's, exhilarating. There's more here for me than there ever was anywhere else.  I could do anything I want in this fantastical land.

This might just be where I belong. But how would I even be able to stay here?

Whoever forced me to be here is a real sicko. Making me see everything I want, and taking it all away when I fall asleep to go back to my boring life.