Preventing The Inevitable

Chapter 19

Mebuki was doing dishes, scrubbing off plates and cups. They had just finished eating.

Now seemed like a good time, Sakura thought.

"Okāsan, I'll join the Academy."

This was the first step to her goal. It seemed like nothing–miniscule progress compared to the road that lay ahead. But it was crucial to her plan. Becoming stronger, saving everyone–it all started with this.

Once the school year started, she would begin building up friendships and bonds with the others–

"You can't."

Her mother was looking at her with a strange look. Guilt, sadness, disappointment, pity. She lowered her head and reached for another plate.

"Huh?"

Why?

Sakura sat up, leaving the tangerine she had been peeling on the table. She hurried to stand next to her mother.

"But– Why?"

"We have already talked about this."

"You don't understand, I have to."

"No, you don't. Sakura, get me another pack of soap." She was nudged away, a gentle push that was not at all like the firm tone of her voice. It was no use defying her and would only serve to irritate her mother, so Sakura left the dining room.

Coming back with an unopened pack of dish soap five minutes later–it took some time to find one in their cramped storage room–Sakura handed it over to Mebuki and quietly waited for the explanation she had been denied earlier. But, as nothing followed and her mother simply continued scrubbing and cleaning, she grew impatient.

"Why can't I?" She tried sounding desperate and sad in hopes of getting through to her. That wasn't quite difficult, considering that the unexpected rejection on this topic was stirring up just those emotions within Sakura.

"It's dangerous. I'm not allowing it."

"But Okāsan! It's my dream!" She whined screechingly. (Ugh, what a pain it was to be four.)

"No." Not a single glance.

"Why?"

"Sacchan, we aren't a ninja family." Finally, her mother was looking at her. "There's no need for you to do something so dangerous. You have enough time to grow up and decide carefully what you want to become one day."

Her eyes held warmth, like always, but that wasn't enough to hide the stern look directed at her. Then she turned away once more.

"Okāsan, I already decided! I want to do this!" She was panicking, Sakura vaguely noticed.

"You don't understand the gravity of that decision yet and what it means to be a shinobi."

"But– But Nīchan is one! Why can't I?"

Her mother's hands stilled for a fraction of a second. "Yūta is different."

"How?" She needed her mother to compromise on this. She could lie and claim to not actually become a shinobi. She could promise to remain a Genin after graduation. She needed to do something–

Mebuki wiped down the last of the plates and crouched down to her height, a pleading look in her eyes. "Sakura... I don't think this is something we should be arguing about. Trust me once, alright? I just... want the best for you. Especially after–" She cut herself off.

After what? But she couldn't ask that.

"You know... the world is dangerous. More so than you think. I don't think it's the right place for a gentle, innocent girl like you, Sakura. Won't you listen to Okāsan?"