A Hundred Steps Ahead

Rookie 9

CHAPTER 5: Rookie 9

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"I believe congratulations are in order," Itachi spoke as he sat beside the reading pinkette at an empty library table. "Sasuke has been crying since this morning when he saw the results."

Emerald eyes looked at him with amusement, "Has he?"

The heir nodded, "You are now the official holder of the 'Rookie of the Year' with a final written score two points higher than mine and a physical exam score equal to Hatake Kakashi – senpai's record." He smiled at her, "Good job, Sakura."

Sakura shrugged, "Thanks... I guess? But I think Sasuke – san's crying because he and Shikamaru are tied as second." She said as she laid her book about The Legacy of the Hiraishin: From Discovery to Perfection down in front of her.

Itachi titled his head for a moment, "That could be why. I'm surprised Nara – kun decided to exert some effort." He said before he asked, "Has it something to do with Yamanaka – san's influence?"

The pinkette snorted, "You call 'nagging' as an influence?" She asked with a raised brow before she shook her head, "But, no. It was actually Yoshino – baa's nagging that got him to do some work. Auntie can be really scary when she's mad."

Onyx eyes glinted with mirth, "Scarier than when you get angry?" He teased.

"I'm not scary. I have pink hair and green eyes, how scary can I get?"

"I beg to differ, Sakura."

"I'm intimidating. You, on the other hand, are the one who's scary, Itachi – kun."

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"Forehead!" Ino yelled with glee as she jumped on the reading pinkette, "We're getting our team assignments today! I'm so excited!" She squealed, completely ignoring the pinkette's bored aura.

"I'm pretty sure everyone knows that, Pig." Sakura casually said as she tried to shrug the loud blonde off her shoulders. "And stop jumping on me." She added.

"Hah? But I've been doing that since we were kids," Ino whined as she hugged on tighter, "Just because you're the Rookie of The Year doesn't mean that I have to follow every word you say." She blew the pinkette a childish raspberry.

'Kami, please help me get through this day.' Sakura prayed as she continued to walk to their assigned room with Ino still hanging on her shoulder.

"You know, I was pretty surprised when I saw the rankings yesterday. Shikamaru really hauled his ass during the finals but I never thought he actually tried that hard, 'ya know?" The blonde said as she placed her arms around the pinkette's elbow instead, still mindful to not knock the book off the reading girl's hands, "Yoshino – baa must be proud of him." She grinned.

Sakura hummed as she read her book, "I'm surprised you're okay with Sasuke – san and Shikamaru being tied for second place." Her emerald eyes shifted to her sunshine – filled bestfriend, "You matured in a short amount of time."

Ino grinned at the pinkette. Having grown with the prodigious pinkette, Ino wasn't as blind or as dense as the village thought. Sure, she was loud and would rather take care of her appearance rather than get mud all around her new shoes, but she was still a kunoichi. Plus, she was blessed to have a very patient and understanding bestfriend that liked to snap her back to reality whenever she became too stuck up with her own self.

"Be proud of me, Forehead." The blonde snorted with confidence, "I have reached 1/4th of your thought process and I can say, with confidence, that I can now set aside my feelings as I strive hard to be one of the best kunoichi in the village!"