Everyone has never expected her to be strong. Always seen as an annoyance
But why was she like that in the first place?
What made her?
What had made her into who she is?
But has she always had the perfect life like everybody thought?
Parents and lo...
Sakura stared at the tall man in front of her as she scanned Zabuza's apprentice in her peripheral vision. Haku was fidgeting as he observed the coral haired woman in front of him. He wasn't sure just how she thought she was in the position to make such offers as she had, being a genin and seemingly way over her head, but something in her eyes and actions told him that she wasn't the average genin. She was certainly stronger willed than Zabuza had made Konoha shinobi and kunoichi to be, that was sure.
"What makes you think you're able to make that offer, brat?" Zabuza asked, his tone conveying more confusion than threat. Beside Sakura, Naruto had frozen, his body tensed. He didn't like the development, that much was fairly obvious, but he seemed to make an effort to restrain himself from speaking out against her.
Sakura raised one pink eyebrow, her eyes seemingly sparkling with a hidden thought as she cocked her head to observe the two.
"I would think that by being a rogue ninja, hunted and chased for so long might have made you want to be reinstated into a functional ninja village again, although that is your choice, no? I only offered a suggestion." Her voice chimed out, making her teammates stare at her with curiosity and confusion. Kakashi himself had to gape at her ridiculous offer. A mere genin was offering to bring two rogue ninja's back to her home village, what would she gain?
The girl exuded an air of demanding and confidence, her hand on her hip as she stared at the two. Haku felt slightly uncomfortable as he looked up at his most precious person, waiting for his long awaited answer. Zabuza frowned slightly, his mask hiding what he really expressed.
"Brat... You make a very confusing offer. Yeah, we've been chased and hunted like rabid dogs, but are you not aware of the civil war in Kirigakure?" His raspy voice slightly echoed in the foggy clearing.
Sakura's eyes hardened as she gave a sickly sweet smile, her lips stretched as she could see the man's muscles tighten up. "Of course I realize Zabuza-san, I merely offered my suggestion about what I think you should do. If you live in Konoha, you could have a fresh start from your bloody past in the hidden mist village." She paused for a second and made a small show of a thought 'occurring' to her. "Of course, you'll always be the demon of the mist. But on paper, fresh slate." She didn't say it outloud, but they all heard the unspoken legally in her voice.
Zabuza gave a raspy hum as he narrowed his eyes at her, the tone of her voice almost made him believe her, and to his side, Haku was almost bouncing at the offer. The possibilities that could be once again given to them if he agreed to the rosette's offer. It was tempting as he folded his arms to ponder, the fog lessening around them but the silence was overwhelming. It occurred to him, almost seconds too late, to ask arguably the most important question that hadn't been voiced.
"What's in it for you?"
Sakura's lips danced with a sadistic smile as she tilted her head, her smooth voice echoing slightly as she replied, "That's for me to know and you to wonder."
Naruto wasn't completely sure what to think of this somewhat new side of Sakura. She had always been cunning, but this seemed slightly foreboding. Not that it mattered to him, exactly.
Sasuke narrowed his onyx eyes at this new... stranger? A comrade? Someone new that's for sure. He glanced at his teammate's smile and inwardly shivered. He wasn't sure this was the same girl that comforted him that night, that forced him to open his eyes and understand the events more than he had before.
Kakashi felt that same fear from before, when they were leaving the Demon Brothers in their dust early on in the mission- that unexplainable creeping fear. He couldn't understand why it was rearing it's head, as he had no doubts he had faced far stronger opponents than this pink haired teenage girl, but the feeling persisted. The way she held herself when she spoke, or how calm she was in dangerous situations made her seem as if she had faced the music before.
"So, What is your answer, Zabuza-san?" She icily spoke as she smiled, her eyes glinting. Naruto beside her, his face impassive, merely watching how the exchange went, his fingers wrapped around his weapon pouch. He hadn't grasped a weapon, but he was ready to at a moment's notice.
Zabuza grunted as he thought, finally coming to a decision that could change how he had always lived, how he was raised. Kirigakure wasn't based on loyalty as much as Konoha, it was based on brutality and how strong the military force was. If he took her offer, he would have to try and fit in, as well as Haku.
"I... I'll accept your offer, brat." Zabuza sighed as he scratched his head, although Haku was smiling to himself, his doe brown eyes shimmering with hope.
Tension none of them had noticed immediately lifted from the area, the air coming into their lungs easier. It had been so subtle but so powerful that Sasuke and Kakashi felt their legs tingle with the sudden shift in atmosphere. Naruto, himself, blinked but did his best not to seem like he was affected. Some part of him had been on guard, the more animal part of himself, and he hadn't even realized it until he felt it relax. One of Zabuza's practically nonexistent eyebrows twitched with what Sakura thought might be amusement when he noticed the mood shift.
Clapping her hands, Sakura let her shoulders roll back as she pivoted on her heel, showing the team her back. "Well, shall we head back and finish this mission up? It would be nice to head home." She hummed as she began to walk, Naruto immediately stuck to her side like glue, his hands tucked into his pants pockets. It seemed he hadn't been kidding when he said he wasn't going to her her out of his sight again, after the 'dead' scare. The remainders of team seven and the rogue nin left behind didn't move for a fee long moments before Zabuza shook his head, sighing in a long-suffering manner.
"She's somethin' else," he muttered in an almost resigned way before being the first to follow after her and the blonde, a small wave of his hand all but summoning Haku to his side.
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