Sakura walked through the streets with a giddy feeling in her chest. Beneath her arm was a basket with various foodstuffs wrapped up inside, including a bottle of sake. The last had taken a bit of convincing when she talked to her parents, but had eventually managed it when she explained the situation.
Humming as she near skipped along, she couldn't help the smile that bloomed across her face.
Sasuke had invited her and the rest of Team 7 to his home for dinner.
Intellectually, she knew the invite had been aimed at the team as whole, but she could not keep her mind from imagining various and unlikely scenarios. Some of which would make even Kakashi blush. All of these scenarios were also entirely unlikely, but a girl could dream, couldn't she?
Slowing down a bit, she smiled wryly to herself. In all honestly, she knew the chances of Sasuke ever reciprocating her feelings was slim. For now, at least, young as they were. She also knew her own feelings were born more out a sense of competition and rivalry with Ino. At some point, Sasuke had become more of a prize to be won, rather than the small bit of genuine affection she had for him as a girl.
Now that they were a team, though, she would have to try and put that kind of thinking to rest.
Her parents, as chuunin, had instilled in her a very healthy respect for one's genin team. Even now, her father and mother's teammates were close family friends. That was, in fact, how she had met Ino, their mother's having been on the same Genin Team.
Which was why she was making an effort to hold back. As well, when those screens had popped up and given a very in depth examination of their current abilities, Sakura had gotten quite the awakening as to just how much she had neglected her training. Her physical stats had been abysmal, only outweighed by her higher intellect. Several of her statuses had been flaws more than anything.
Well, at least some of Naruto's statuses had been just as bad. Sure, she'd only gotten a small glance, but with names like 'Delinquency' and 'Prankster,' she was sure he was better off without them.
Not that some of his pranks hadn't been funny, now and then...
Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Sakura looked up and found she had finally arrived. Sasuke lived in one of the nicer parts of town, and the apartment building itself looked fairly well kept. Making her way up to the 4th floor, she knocked on the door with the number her teammate had given her earlier and waited.
After a few seconds, there was a click as the door opened and Sasuke stood there with a flat gaze.
Sakura smiled. "Hi, Sasuke-kun! I brought some food, as well, since you asked!"
His eyes glanced down at the basket in her hands, before grunting in approval. He turned and waved her in. "C'mon. Kakashi-sensei and the idiot are already here."
Nodding, she stepped inside, making sure to leave her shoes by the door. As she did so, she couldn't help but look around and take in Sasuke's apartment, with cream colored walls and blue lining. While it was all very tidy and neat, she could see hints of unruliness in a couple shirts that had barely missed the hamper, and several bandages or kunai and such laying around. He must have cleaned up in anticipation of their arrival, but missed a few things.
"You can set the food over on the counter." His voice came from down the hall.
"Ah, thanks." Doing so, she made sure to grab a couple things from the bottom of the basket, each of them wrapped in brown paper. Then, she made her way to the living room where the rest of her team was already lounging.
"Hi, Sakura-chan!" Dual voices called out, and drew her attention to Naruto who was sitting on the floor...with several clones, all of whom were playing cards. Somehow, she knew that would not end well.
"Sakura." Kakashi nodded from where he sat on a chair, leaning back as he read from his ever present book.
Smiling back in greeting, she said, "Naruto, Kakashi-sensei."
Sasuke had yet to come back yet, from wherever he had disappeared to, so she looked around for a place to sit, before finally deciding on the couch behind the Narutos. As soon as she sat down on the couch with a sigh of comfort, their wayward teammate finally reappeared.
"Oi, Bastard, can we eat yet? Sakura-chan's here now, so we can, right?" One of the Narutos called out in a whine.
The ravenette rolled his eyes. "No. I already told you, it's tradition. Pay attention dumbass."
"Hey, who're you calling dumbass, you damn pretty boy!"
Annoyed, two shouts of pain echoed in the room as Sakura's fist bopped into Naruto's head as her other hand latched on to Sasuke's ear. The fist that boped naruto ont he head soon did the same to Naruto's.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Twin voices resounded.
"What have I said about calling eachother names, dammit!" She all but growled out.
"We're sorry, we're sorry, we're sorry!" The two boys cried as she twisted harshly, all the while she kept a calm and serene expression on her face. For a moment, she let them wallow, before finally letting go.
"Good. Now don't do it again."
As soon as she let go, both of them darted away from her, as far as the room allowed. Huddling, they whimpered as they clutched their sore ears.
"Maa, so scary Sakura-chan. Do you really have to be so harsh with them?" Kakashi drawled as he turned another page in his book.
"If they learn to stop acting like idiots, it won't be a problem." She said resolutely.
He chuckled. "Well, i suppose I can't argue with that."
"Sakura-chan is mean." Naruto whined, and Sasuke grunted in agreement.
That simply made Sakura sigh in exasperation. "Boys."
It took a few minutes for things to calm back down, but eventually Sasuke had brought out a small wooden table and the bottle of Sake Sakura had brought. Setting down several sauces, he knelt in front of the table and brought out several small candles.
"Hn. If were all done with that, now, we can begin." He said.
"Finally!" Naruto cried as he dispelled his clones. As he did so, he paused, before cursing. "Dammit! I knew Clone on the Left was cheating!"
"Ignoring that." Sakura said as she moved to kneel in front of the table as well. After a moment, Kakashi joined them.
Clearing his throat, Sasuke shifted a bit uncomfortable before settling in and finally deciding to get it over with. "So, for the Uchiha Clan, whenever we would gain new comrades or allies, it was customary to seal our bonds with a celebration. While this was usually meant for alliances between our clan and another, from what I found it would technically apply to the forming of one's genin team as well."
Sakura nodded along, taking in everything with rapt attention. Not coming from a clan herself, she was always fascinated by the traditions and unique cultures clans would have, and how diverse they could be.
Pausing for a moment, it was clear that Sasuke was uncomfortable talking so much, but persevered through it anyway. "While the celebrations would usually be much larger and more festive, the main thing was the sharing of food and drink, as well as the giving of gifts. The last is especially important, because the more precious the gift, the tighter bonds between comrades would be."
And with that, he took out three small wrapped packages from his pouch. Soon, the rest of team 7 followed suit, and Sakura noted that Naruto was unusually subdued for once. Internally, she winced when she remembered Naruto was an orphan and didn't know much about his family. Things like this must be important to him.
"Now, for the exchanging of gifts. Sakura." He picked up the package on the right, and held it out to her.
Smiling, she took it gently, before handing him her own gift.
Hesitantly, she peeled back the wrapping, revealing a fine, black jeweled comb with flower like imprints carved into it. Several blue sparkling sapphires were arranged in one of those flower like patterns, and the item took her breath away.
"It's beautiful..." And was probably worth quite a bit. Now sh couldn't help but worry her own gift had been subpar.
"It was my grandmothers." Sasuke said. At some point while she was admiring the decorative hair comb, he had unwrapped his own present, an old, weathered, metallic flute.
Ducking her head in embarrassment, she said, "It was, uh... my great grandfather's. Apparently it had seals worked into it, so that he could cast jutsu. Mostly genjutsu, though it can apparently simulate other low level techniques too, if you play it right."
Surprised, he blinked, before looking down at the instrument in his hands appreciatively.
"Ah, me too Sakura-chan." Naruto said, quietly, as he held out his own gift, wrapped in pink paper, towards her. Taking it, she handed him the present she got for him. Nervously, he twiddled his thumbs as he looked down.
"I uh, don't really have much, so I had to talk to the Old Man for some ideas, but I hope you like it!"
Slowly opening up the pink paper, an old leather bound book was revealed to Sakura. Cracking it open, she found it to be a journal, of courts, detailing all sorts of useful medical knowledge.
"He said it belonged to his student or something. Uhh...Tsunade, I think? Apparently she was really good at medical stuff or something..."
At that, her eyes widened. "Wait, this is the Journal of THE Tsunade? One of the Three Sannin?!" Her voice was disbelieving, and she looked at Naruto in shock.
"Uhm...yeah? One of 'em, at least. The Old Man said he had a bunch of 'em just lying around from her genin days." He squinted his eyes in confusion. "Why? Is there something important about 'em?"
Pinching her brow, Sakura sighed. "Never mind Naruto. But thank you, I'll make sure to put this to good use." The last was truly heartfelt, as this was an extraordinary gift. Much better than what she had gotten him, even if she knew he probably wouldn't care.
"Thee scroll was also my great grandfather's. It's notes on sealing, from back when he was on a genin team. Apparently his sensei taught him a lot. I think her name was Mito?" She was unsure on that last one. Generally, she knew her history, but the focus in the academy had been more on world history and politics, rather than village history.
"Ah, thanks Sakura-chan! I'd been thinking about getting into it, but wasn't sure who to ask." The blonde said scratching the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Maa, well if that's how we're doing it, then here's my gift, Sakura-chan." Kakashi said, as he handed her said gift. Unlike the others, his was not wrapped, and plain to see.
It was a simple maroon bracelet, made of a smooth stone Sakura was unable to identify. While it was not as ornate as the comb Sasuke had given her, there was something about it. Rather than an obvious and eye catching radiance, the bracelet had a more humble beauty to it, that made it stand out all on its own.
"It's very beautiful, Kakashi-sensei. Thank you." She said, putting the bracelet on.
He eye smiled, his hands having deftly opened his own present in record time to reveal a book. A very familiar, orange book.
Sakura blushed.
Kakshi held the book aloft, a look in his eye as if he had just found the greatest treasure in the world.
"It was my grandpa's on my mother's side. Apparently he knew the author and got an unedited copy? I think it's also signed..." Looking away, she tried to ignore the odd looks her male teammate's were giving her.
"Sakura." A hand patted her head. "You're my new favorite."
"Stupid perverted sensei." Naruto and Sasuke both grumbled. Simultaneously, they both threw their own present at the man, who still managed to catch them.
"See? See how my other genin treat me? You're the good one Sakura. These other two are just little hellions."
That simply caused the girl to groan.
Before too long, Kakashi had both their presents open, having gotten a decorative scroll with three tomoe on it from Sasuke, and Naruto having given the man an orange, spiraling patch, with red, intricate markings woven into it.
The last one made the man blink as he peered down at the blonde.
"Naruto, you do realize the significance of this kind of gift, right?"
"Eh, Kind of?" The blonde said scrunching his face. "The Old Man was kind of vague and said it had to do with clan stuff. But he said you'd appreciate it, so I went with it."
Kakashi sighed, and muttered something under his breath, before ruffling Naruto's hair. "I do appreciate it, Naruto, but you may really want to talk with the Third about your clan. The Uzumaki were very good allies and had a lot of clout with the village, which is why we honor them by emblazoning their symbol on our uniform. But this one is very unique and was worn only by the Uzumaki themselves. Giving me this basically means I've been adopted into the Uzumaki Clan."
Naruto cocked his head to the side. "Eh? Well, I don't really see the problem and it's not like I mind. I don't really have any actual family, so if you want it, it's not like I'd mind having some new family. Adopted or not."
Chuckling, Kakashi pocketed the patch, a distant look in his eye. "Very well then, though I still think you should talk with the Third."
Sakura blinked at the exchange, sharing a glance with Sasuke. It seemed neither of them really understood the subtext, there.
"Now then, you evil little brats, here's your presents." To Sasuke, he handed a short, straight bladed tanto with a circular hilt that made the boy blink as he took it.
"Is this..?" He trailed off, unsure of himself.
"Yep." Kakashi said succinctly as he handed Naruto and old and worn book.
"Huh, a book? This isn't one of your perverted novels, is it?!"
"Maa, don't worry, you'll like it. It was my sensei's, after all." The silver haired man said.
"Hrmm...'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi.'" Naruto said, reading the title. Hesitantly opening it up, he read, "'To my dear student, Minato. Jiraiya.'" Blinking, he said, "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Sakura barely kept herself from slamming her head into the small table. Massaging her forehead, she said, "Dammit, naruto, did you not pay attention at all! I think you'd at least know the name of the Sannin and the Fourth Hokage!"
"Ehhhhhh?! Kakashi's sensei was the Fourth?!"
"Grk." Why did she feel the sudden urge to throttle the boy?
"Ahem. Ignoring Naruto's rampant idiocy, we're not yet finished. Catch, dumbass." And then Sasuke a wrapped package at his teammate.
Scrambling to catch it, Naruto almost dropped the small little package. "Bah, not so fast, bastard!" Scowling at the Uchiha, Naruto chucked his own gift at him.
Sasuke caught it perfectly.
Naruto scowled harder.
Sasuke smirked.
"Grrrr."
"Hnnnnn."
Cracking her knuckles, Sakura menacingly said, "Boys."
"!" Twins gulps of fear met her ears and they both set to unwrapping their gifts.
In the end, Sasuke was left with an ornate, bladed fan that had the Uzumaki Spiral on one side, and the Uchiha Fan on another. While a bit taken aback by it, Sakura note he curiously did not seem too surprised. For her part, Sakura was wondering why there'd be a fan with both clan symbols on it...
"Sasuke...what is this?"
In his hands, Naruto held a replica of the exact same fan. Except in his other hand, there were two pictures. From where she sat, Sakura could barely make out two young girls, one with dark hair and the other with a vibrant red. In another picture, it was the same people, but older. On the back, it looked like there was writing.
"Hn. I found it in with my mother's old things."
From across the table, Kakashi looked at the pictures, and the red haired woman specifically with a forlorn expression.
"Like I said, Naruto. You should talk with the Third."
Sakura (Choose 1):
[] Train on her own.
-[] Train What? (Write in Skill or Stat)
[] Socialize!
-[] With Who? Write-in. (May write in a group or set of people)
[] Research
-[] Something Else? (Write in Topic or Skill)
[] Experiment! (Chance to advance or gain a random skill or trait)
Sasuke (Choose 1):
[] Train on his own.
-[] Train What? (Write in Skill or Stat)
[] Socialize!
-[] With Who? Write-in. (May write in a group or set of people)
[] Research
-[] Something Else? (Write in Topic or Skill)
[] Experiment! (Chance to advance or gain a random skill or trait)
Naruto (Choose 1):
[] Train on his own.
-[] Train What? (Write in Skill or Stat)
[] Socialize!
-[] With Who? Write-in. (May write in a group or set of people)
[] Research
-[] Something Else? (Write in Topic or Skill)
[] Experiment! (Chance to advance or gain a random skill or trait)
PoV of Next Update:
[] Naruto
[] Sasuke
[] Sakura
Near 3k words. I am exhausted.
As always, use Plan Format!
And man, really? Missed out on so much, because this wasn't from Sasuke's PoV, since a lot of his stuff is internal.
