Of Tales now and Long Ago

Of Lost Time and the Academy

Chapter SIX

Sakura spent around thirty minuted every night before she slept studying. She still had problems reading some of the words, but had greatly improved. Her books were pull of post-its and hand written notes. Sometimes Sasuke joined her and they studied together.

Sakura sat back on her chair and stretched. School started tomorrow. The Uchiha clan had supplied for everything she needed. Mikoto had insisted she carry a few hidden weapons with her and Sakura had gladly taken them.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Sakura woke up the next morning feeling giddy. She looked out the window and decided that it was around six. School started in around two hours. She got out of bed and changed into her Ōtsutsuki robes. She knew that it looked very impracticable, but she was the most relaxed and comfortable in the familiar material. She tired her green sash over her shoulder and got ready for the day. Her wardrobe now held three more sets of the Otsutsuki clothes, which Toneri had taken from the Haruno compound.

She wrapped bandages around her arms, scowling softly as she caught sight of her tattoo and remembered Toneri's harsh treatment the first time round.

'We should make him buy us lunch when we next see him.' Inner said. 'I forgot to mention it to him.'

Sakura nodded in agreement. She straightened out her hair and stepped out of her room. Mikoto had already set up breakfast. Sasuke was already sitting at the table, waiting for her. Sasuke was awake, and that meant that it was around seven. Had she spent an hour in her room?

Mikoto had taken it upon herself to walk Sakura to her first day at the Academy. She had decided to drag Itachi, who had the day off, along with them.

Sasuke had offered to stay with her for at least the first few days, as despite her cheerful personality, she was 'socially disabled', as Sasuke claimed.

Sakura had pouted, but had inwardly agreed; she had never interacted much anyways.

They left the house early, and made their way towards the academy.

"You'll make so much friends!" Mikoto told Sakura. Sakura smiled.

Sasuke shrugged. Instead, he turned to Sakura. "Are you sure you can move around in that thing?" He indicated towards her clothes.

Sakura nodded. "I've lived in this thing my whole life, and not once have I had any problems moving."

Sasuke nodded slowly. "Okay."

They entered the academy with half an hour to spare. Mikoto and Itachi bid them farewell and left. Sasuke led Sakura towards their classroom.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Ruka-sensei!"

Umino Iruka, their teacher, looked up from where he had been going through the final teaching plans of the day.

"Hello, Sakura-chan." He glanced at her clothes. "Those are pretty different from what we see in Konoha."

Sakura grinned. "It's my clan's standard clothing." She told him.

Iruka had been introduced to Sakura by the Hokage a few days before the first day. Sasuke scowled, knowing that it was anything but 'a friendly meeting between future teacher and student'. Though the Hokage genuinely like Sakura, it was more to warn Iruka of her Inner.

"Can I sit wherever I want?"

Iruka smiled. "Sure, go ahead and pick a seat."

They were one of the earliest ones. Sakura turned to Sasuke. "Where'd you sit?" She asked.