#ibiki x sakura

[wipbigbang]

Round 2 Of Artists Claims For The Regular WIPBB Are Open! Round 2 lasts until July 31st! You may claim 3 fics this round!

These are some of the fics open for claiming...

Naruto #078 Title: My Father's Temper Pairing/Characters: Sakura/Shikamaru, Madara/Tobirama Rating: Explicit | E Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence Stillborn child, swapping babies without consent, death of an OC child, teenagers kissing Summary: Just before Sakura turned twelve, something happened that changed her life. However, she didn’t know just how much yet. And she certainly didn’t know that in time she would help change the future for the whole world. Because, finding that she had the Sharingan was not nearly as bad as figuring out just who her father was.

#079 Title: A season for change - Iruka's experience Pairing/Characters: Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi & Umino Iruka, Namikaze Minato & Uzumaki Kushina & Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka & Uzumaki Naruto, Rookie Nine & Umino Iruka. Also has other characters in minor roles Rating: General | G Warnings/Tags: No Warnings apply No warnings but this is a royalty AU so someone doesn't have to be a Naruto fan to draw this... Summary: To his surprise, Iruka becomes the tutor for the Uzumaki royal family and a number of other students. Life is great! He has a great job, eager students, a lovely place to live, and all the palace staff are so friendly and welcoming! And it doesn’t hurt that a certain royal guard has caught his eye. But when it turns out Kakashi isn’t who he says he was, what’s Iruka to do about that?

#080 Title: Of Monsters and Family Pairing/Characters: slow burn Hoshigaki Kisame/Momochi Zabuza, Background Terumii Mei/Hoozuki Mangetsu, focus on Found Family Kisame & Juugo & Karin & Kimimaro Rating: Mature | M Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence Alternate Universe: Canon Divergence! All the Naruto staples: child soldiers, trained killers, blood and violence etc. Kiri/Mist focused so also: That Graduation (murder) Exam, politics, mind control, wanton cruelty, and broken, fucked up (young) adults trying to "mentor" fucked up, traumatized kids. Orochimaru is his especially creepy early canon self. Summary: AO3 starter Summary: What makes someone a monster? Is it appearance, urges, or reputation that earn the labeling of others? Or is it the actions and choices one makes?

And can a monster ever become something else? Can new choices ever wash away the stain of blood?

Meeting a young boy with a monstrous visage in the middle of a destroyed village sets Kisame on the path to looking for the answers to those questions. And more.

Maybe the outcast men and woman that Bloody Mist tried to shape into monsters and demons can band together and raise a new, better Kiri out of out of the bloody ocean of its past.

Nitty-gritty spoilerific summary: Kisame falls ass backwards into a found family with first Juugo, then Karin and Kimimaro, and finally a relationship with Zabuza. He ends up joining the revolution Mei is heading, but things don't go to plan and he gets dragged into politics while officially a missing-nin (but preparing for a second go at taking over Kiri). The politics feature Orochimaru and Konoha. Also Juugo is a sweetheart, Karin is a tiny menace, and Kimimaro is handling his trauma slightly better than in canon. (and Haku is in the background being an unrepentant meddling matchmaker)

#081 Title: Out of the Mist, Into the Forest Pairing/Characters: Hoshigaki Kisame/Morino Ibiki Rating: Explicit | E Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence, Non-con/Rape Alternate Universe: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics (non-traditional), explicit sex, attempted rape, attempted brainwashing/conditioning, mating/in heat, mpreg (technically?), everybody has both sets of genitals/reproductive organs in this fic, enemies to lovers, no rape/non-con between listed pairing, full consent, kink negotiation Summary: AO3 summary: In the middle of a mission in Fire Country, Kisame not only discovers he's an omega, but that he's going into heat. Worse, the enemy alpha smells so good. This leads to some very unpleasant discoveries about Kiri, his master, and his own upbringing. It's a very bad week.

After receiving a very disturbing note from the Kiri mole feeding Konoha information, Ibiki leads a capture mission only to end up faced with the Monster of Kiri as an omega in first heat. Worse, the enemy omega smells irresistible triggering his rut, and things only get more complicated from there. It's a very bad week.

Finally getting to indulge in their now desperate heat-rut-fuelled desire at the end of the bad week makes everything worth it, right?

(Eventual happy ending)

Quick and dirty (pun intended) spoilery Summary: Kisame is an omega, goes into heat on a mission where he's opposed by Ibiki's squad. Ibiki is an alpha and the attraction between them is instant and intense. But they're enemies so they fight anyway and all but them and one member of their squads (Miru) is killed in the fight. Ibiki is captured and there is sexual tension on the trip back to Kiri. Kisame is having doubts because he just found out Suikazan is a traitor.

Suikazan is also a VERY BAD MAN who's been planning on forcing Kisame to become what amounts to breeding stock. Kisame resists, and kills him, and then things go from bad to worse because somebody else is controlling the Mizukage. Short version: Kisame and Miru decide to defect to Konoha and flee Kiri with Ibiki. Much sex is had on the way.

But at Konoha, Danzou is a scheming bastard and needs to be dealt with. But spoiler: he is indeed dealt with. Epilogue is years later with Kisame happily integrated into Konoha and a Most People Live ending.

#082 Title: An Echo of Things to Come Pairing/Characters: Sakura/Itachi Rating: Explicit | E Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence, Chooses not to use Warnings, Temporary Character Death, sort of underage except they are 28 and 33, Summary: Sasuke dies, and that is unacceptable to Itachi. He falls back on a plan that he never thought he would need to try, but in his grief he fails to notice that someone is following him. In her grief, Sakura does not stop to think, she just acts. And that has far-reaching consequences. Far into the past.

The list of remaining fics and the link to sign up are below!

[frontlinefanart]

A mashup of X-Files and Naruto, where I have Kakashi as Mulder, and Sakura as Scully. Kakashi is good as Mulder because he is a lil tardy and spooky and a wee bit difficult, and Sakura is a proper woman who often stands for reason, also she is a medic-nin, and Scully is versed in medicine.

I'm thinking that it would be fun if they had a sort of "X-files" in Konoha, where they investigate weird happenings that can't be explained by jutsu. I want to bring more Naruto characters into being X-Files characters (Ibiki as Skinner, Danzo as Cancer Man, and I'm thinking of Kotetsu, Izumo and Gekko as The Lone Gunmen, but everything's up in the air).

[kagami--uchiha]

Meme: 'Only One Rule' and two questions, Which top 5 muses do you ship with your Kagami? And the question for the Edo-Tensei muse Kagami (once he is fully informed about how the lives and choices of his teammates ended), Would you rather have slept with teammate Danzo or with teammate Hiruzen?

EYYYYY XD

Oh Jesus that's a difficult one... Since sadly there are ships that have broken off again over time.. but I think what will always and forever rule my heart is

Ibiki x Kagami with the lovely, lovely @konoha-interrogation

Danzō x Kagami with my absolute love mar @shimura-rp / @uchihashisui-kun (always filling my angsty/dark pleasures.. I still dream about it.)

Practically any ship I built up with @hatredcurse . (I'll still just count it as 3 xD because we got one absolutely wonderful main ship between Kagami and Obito.)

Now it's getting a little more difficult... But-

There is a private ship on discord between a younger version of Kagami and Hidan... And it's as toxic as one might imagine, but I am still absolutely in love with it.

And the number five that is ATM really digging itself into my heart is the rather fresh, still developing ship between Sakura and Kagami in the arranged marriage au with @hana-akari .

And now that's a tough question.. because by extension, both are at fault for the massacre of the Uchiha.. Danzō more actively so, but Hiruzen just sat at the sideline and watched him do it. (Can't convince me that he didn't know, he did know.. he just didn't want to speak out against a friend.. there is a lot more HC I got about the three of them, which I would gladly elaborate on if you like to hear it). It would be a tough decision... But knowing what he did to Shisui... Kagami would then rather have slept with Hiruzen.

[kason-nvidiade-art]

IBIKI AND SAKURA DOODLES

B/c I love then, and am figuring out hoe to draw Ibiki, he has....such a Face. It’s a nice face, but it’s not one I’m used to drawing.

These are inspired by various art memes, because *I* can’t draw people/characters without a crutch.

The first one is from my Shitfic Trust, which you can read on Ao3. I’m writing it purely to make myself laugh, and sharing it to maybe hopefully make others laugh too.

[kyoties]

some things never change...

[naruto--imagines]

Glad to be Home

[Sasuke x Reader]

Second Part

Warnings: Female Reader, mentions of being pregnant,

Kaguya was defeated, and the village was being rebuilt. Sasuke and Naruto had their fight and both wound up in the hospital. While they were there, you and Sakura frequently visited to take care of the two. Often bringing food for the two to enjoy.

Once the two were healed they were released from their sterile prison, only for Sasuke to be locked into another one. While he was detained Naruto and Kakashi worked to get him pardoned of his crimes. Not an easy feat due to the crimes he was charged with. When the time allowed it, you would go to the facility and read to him. You and Sasuke had been friends with one another before his life went to hell in a handbasket. So, you were excited about the opportunity to finally reconnect, given that you were no longer tasked with tracking him down.

For almost 7 months your routine was, help rebuild the village in the morning, in the afternoon run by the hospital to see where your medical ninjutsu could help, then you would head to work at the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force. You were trained in acupuncture, and Ibiki took a liking toward you when you became a jounin and he learned you could use your acupuncture for inflicting pain. This was how you were able to meet with Sasuke so frequently. When you got off work, you would take whatever book you brought with you to Sasuke’s cell and would spend a few hours reading to him and sometimes assisting with feeding him. Every now and again Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi would come and visit as well, providing updates on Sasuke’s case, or to sit and talk with him.

Eventually, Kakashi and Naruto were able to get Sasuke released. While relieved, Sasuke still felt the discomfort of being in Konoha. He decided he needed to do some soul searching in order to better himself, so he could also serve the village on his return. The day he decided to leave, Sasuke said goodbye to Sakura, thanking her before running into Naruto. The two talk before separating, Sasuke how with his forehead protector back in his possession. Further down the path, he runs into you. You have your own bag and gear packed and are ready to head out.

“What are you doing?” Sasuke questions inquisitively looking at you.

“Hokage’s orders, you have a traveling partner.” You tell him with a small smile on your face.

“No, I need to do this on my own,” He replies attempting to move past you.

“No can do,” You tell him, “I have orders, I’ll keep some distance, but I’m not leaving you on your own.” You explain. Sasuke reluctantly accepts your company, and the two of you head off on his trip.

---

You spend almost two years traveling with the ravenette, returning to Konoha after Naruto and Sakura were married. The two grew into a relationship while you were gone, not surprising to you or Sasuke. Something of great shock to those around you though was the pregnant stomach you were supporting.

Your unborn child is one of the many reasons the two of you decide to return to the village in the first place. The second was that Sasuke was finally forgiving himself. Once back in the village the two of you moved into your old two-bedroom apartment, the Uchiha compound needed to be fixed up still. You were sitting at about 4 months pregnant when you moved back in, and Sasuke was becoming more protective with each month that passed.

“Be careful, the floor is worn, there could be weak spots,” Sasuke said placing a guiding hand on your hips, directing you toward the wall where there was a guarantee for support. The two of you were surveying the Uchiha compound and making notes of what needed to be fixed in his old home in order for you to move in.

“I am a Jonin, I think I can handle some busted boards for now,” You told him with a smile on your face. Sasuke leaned in and pressed his forehead against yours.

“I know, just, take it a little easy.” He told you placing his hand against your stomach.

The two of you, along with the help of your friends quickly got the Uchiha home in working order. Then, you moved into the home not long after, sitting at 8 months pregnant Sasuke wanted to get you settled as quickly as possible.

The two of you were setting up the baby’s room. Currently, Sasuke was attempting to assemble a bassinet, missing an arm was not doing him any favors with this task. You were sitting on the floor not far from him watching the struggle happen. Sasuke moves clumsily, dropping a few parts here and there, this went on for a few more minutes before he gave a frustrated sigh and dropped the parts he was holding again. With a laugh, you scooted closer to him and helped him with the assembly, Sasuke sporting a small pout. With your added help, the bassinet was quickly assembled, and the room was ready.

And not a moment too soon, the next week you went into labor and after almost 8 hours your daughter was born, Yuki Uchiha. She has her father’s pale complexion and dark eyes, but your facial structure and hair.  

Sasuke was immediately enamored. He sat beside your bed, Yuki tucked in his arm, and he simply stared down at her. Once everything in the delivery room had settled, Naruto and Sakura showed up. You had already declared that the two were to be the God Parents of your child, should anything happen to you and Sasuke, Naruto promptly had tears in his eyes as he was handed the child to hold. Sasuke stood beside you while Naruto held Yuki, Sakura by his side peering down at the child the both of them coo-ing down at the newborn.

The next day you were sent home. Sasuke placed Yuki into the bassinet while you took a careful seat on the floor leaning up against a wall. Sasuke sat down beside you, he dug in his pocket for a brief moment before dropping a box into your lap and wrapping his arm around you, pulling you into his side.

“What is this?” You asked fingering the small cardboard box.

“A gift,” Sasuke replied pressing a kiss to your head, “Open it.”

You follow his request and open the box revealing a simple steel band. Nothing too flashy, but definitely elegant in its own way. You turn your head to look at the man sitting next to you, brows furrowed in a silent question. Sasuke pressed his forehead to yours, pulling you tighter to his side, and letting his breath fan across your face.

“Marry me,” He says, eyes peering intently into yours.

A smile immediately splits across your face, “Of course,” You reply, setting the box down next to you before placing your hand on Sasuke’s face and pressing your lips to his.  Not long after that day, you held a small ceremony at the Uchiha compound. Your friends attended and helped you celebrate your marriage and the birth of your child. Now, it has been almost a year since Yuki was born. Meaning that you had been off work for over a year, and you were ready to get back to it. Luckily for you, Kakashi had a mission that needed a healer and you were giddy to take it. The mission involved tracking down a rogue ninja and bringing them back to be interrogated by Ibiki.

You were back at your home preparing your gear. While Sasuke stood beside you, holding Yuki in his arm while she babbled in a content manner.

“How long will you be gone for?” He asked with a crease in his brow. At 20 years old, he was very unsure of his ability to keep a baby alive without you.

“According to the intel we got it should only be a week.” You casually replied.

“A week.” He restated to himself, face scrunching tighter in thought. You look at your husband and press your index and middle finger to the crease in his brow gently rubbing.

“Don’t look so worried.” You tell him with a smile on your face. Yuki looks up at you and gives a coo that turns into a giggling yell. “See, Yuki isn’t worried.” You say rubbing your daughter’s head.

“She doesn’t have to worry about the safety of another human.” Sasuke mumbles looking at you. You place your hands on either side of his face and draw him into a kiss.

“You’ll be fine.” You reassure him, pressing your forehead to his. “It’s only a week.”

You say goodbye to both of them and then leave to meet up with your assigned team for the next week.

[saikuras]

NARUTO MASTERLIST. PART ONE.

THIS LEADS TO MY OTHER ACCOUNT. faevi is now aot / levi focused and i wanted to make this account for other writing. if you're confused, please ask and i'll try to explain! Please forgive me!

GAARA:

SCENARIO: TRIGGER WARNING (Self-Harm & mental health) Gaara comes home to find that Y/N self-harmed.

GENMA:

SCENARIO: Y/N bakes with Genma.

HEADCANONS: Boyfriend Genma with a citizen girlfriend & what people think.

HINATA:

SCENARIO: Y/N & Hinata being intimate in bed. NSFW.

IBIKI:

HEADCANONS: Ibiki having a secret wife and children.

IRUKA:

SCENARIO: Y/N & Iruka take care of little Naruto. Naruto senses something between them and so decides to help them in his own mischievous ways.

ITACHI:

HEADCANONS: Boyfriend Itachi with a citizen girlfriend& what his parents think.

HEADCANONS: Boyfriend Itachi with a shy girlfriend who is secretly a pervert. NSFW.

KAKASHI:

SCENARIO: Y/N taking care of Kakashi and expressing feelings.

SCENARIO: Kakashi finding out his friend (Y/N) is a lesbian.

SCENARIO: TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual harassment. ANBU Y/N and Kakashi fled from an ambush & Kakashi protects Y/N from another shinobi who sexually harasses her with comments. NSFW.

SCENARIO: (TW: Self harm, etc.) Kakashi discovers self harm scars on Y/N.

SCENARIO: Kakashi meets his newborn son.

SCENARIO: Kakashi catches Y/N reading his erotica novels and decides to have fun with her. NSFW.

SCENARIO: (TW: Abuse, torture, etc.) Y/N is a longtime friend of Kakashi and even his first kiss. In their teenage years, Y/N was abducted with her team. Kakashi felt lost till years later, he is put on a mission by Tsunade after rumours appeared about shinobi being tortured by the memory. Kakashi meets Y/N once again, after years of feeling empty.

SCENARIO: Y/N gets off by using Kakashi’s thigh. NSFW.

SCENARIO: SOULMATE!AU - Kakashi feels things that he shouldn’t supposed to. NSFW.

SCENARIO: Painful Love. - Y/N is being forced into a marriage that’s not out of love and is escorted by Kakashi.Chapters: ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | COMPLETED

HEADCANONS: Boyfriend Kakashi with a citizen girlfriend & what people think.

HEADCANONS: Kakashi introduces his citizen girlfriend to team 7.

HEADCANONS: Kakashi’s wedding & honeymoon.

HEADCANONS: How Kakashi found out his student is ill and how he treats them.

HEADCANONS: Drunk S/O and drunk Kakashi. What happens?

KANKURŌ:

SCENARIO: Y/N had a childhood crush on Gaara but realises Kankurō truly has her heart. Kankurō still believes Y/N is crushing on Gaara and tastes bitterness. A misunderstood love.

KIBA:

SCENARIO: (TW: abuse, trauma, etc). Team 8 finds an injured and abused girl that was left to die by the bandits they were chasing. They bring her back to Konoha for treatment. Y/N is too traumatised to talk but finds comfort and joy through Akamaru who is protective of her. Y/N comes to realise that his owner, Kiba, can be just as a sweet and comforting in his own special way.

NARUTO:

SCENARIO: Naruto asks Y/N to pretend to date him. Only to realise there are actual feelings.

HEADCANONS: Boyfriend Naruto with a shy girlfriend who is secretly a pervert.

NEJI:

SCENARIO: Neji & Y/N go on their first date.

RIN:

SCENARIO: Adult!Rin (Alive, too) being sort of grumpy at her girlfriend.

SAKUMO:

HEADCANONS: SFW and NSFW Dating HCs for Sakumo Hatake.

SAKURA:

HEADCANONS: Sakura taking on an apprentice like Tsunade.

SHIKAMARU:

SCENARIO: Y/N watches the clouds with Shikamaru.

SCENARIO: Y/N couldn’t save a friend. Shikamaru comforts you.

SHINO:

SCENARIO: Shino takes Y/N, his civilian girlfriend to meet his parents.

SCENARIO: SOULMATE!AU - Shino has always been insecure about his grey eyes. Being bullied through childhood does things to some people. Shino is very comfortable with his shades. As an adult, he meets Y/N and their eyes change colour but sadly, Y/N think it’s one-sided.

YAMATO:

SCENARIO: Y/N and Yamato accidentally fall asleep together on the couch.

MISC:

HEADCANONS: Songs for Sakura, Kakashi & Jiraiya.

HEADCANONS: Konoha Boys & Senseis; How they’d deal with their partner on their period.

—————————————————————————————-

CRACKSHIPS:

Kakashi x Mercy (OW): Kakashi gets injured on the battlefield and Mercy is there to save him.

————————————————————————–

MATCHUPS: Click here for matchups tag :)

[wing-ed-thing]

... Ninja Info Cards (Kabuto x Reader)

Request: “As a secondary request literally anything where Kabuto doesn’t make me wanna kick him? I loved him so much during the Chunin exams and then he just went down hill from there. So like any kinda redeemable Kabuto situation.”

Word Count: 953

Tags/Warnings: Chunin Exams, Attempt at Humor, OG Naruto, Slight Canon Divergence (to accommodate RI) @emeraldwitches​

Notes: So like per usual, I just latched onto a certain section of the request and ran with it. At the time of writing this, I had just seen the “Ninja Info Card” remix. So I mean, I had to.

Kabuto knelt down onto the floor and placed the deck in a neat pile in front of him. The Rookie Nine gathered around the senior ninja, listening intently to his lecture. All of their eyes remained glued to the tiny stack of papers in front of Kabuto.

“I spent four whole years gathering information for this Exam. There are close to two hundred of these cards.” He flipped one over, revealing a blank surface. He placed a single finger at the center and the card began to rotate. “They are pure white to the eye. To open the data on these cards—”

“What're you doing?” Kabuto hardly batted an eye at his junior’s question.

“The way it works is that no one can see the info without using my Chakra… For example... Like this…” Kabuto made a single-handed sign. The card began to spin faster before erupting in a cloud of white smoke. A map appeared.

“Whoa, awesome! What information is this?” But before Kabuto could answer, he was roughly pulled yanked up by his collar.

“Are you filling these kid’s heads with some nonsense, Yakushi?” He smiled sheepishly in your grip, turning his attention back to the gaping Rookie Nine. Your lips turned downward in an unamused scowl.

“Might I introduce the lovely—”

“Oh, flattery will get you nowhere.” Your brow twitched as you shoved him away. Kabuto scrambled back to his deck. You huffed, crossing your arms over your chest intimidatingly. You scanned your gaze of the group of junior Genin who collectively took a half step back. Naruto, apparently, missed this united decision and had been left standing at the front of the pack. And as you made sharp eye contact with him, he finally noticed that he had been hung out to dry. “Has he been talking your ears off about his fucking ninja info cards?” Naruto felt almost afraid to answer. He twiddled his thumbs.

“W-Well, yes.”

“A lot of good they’ve done him.” You rolled your eyes, blowing a stray piece of hair from your face. “His seventh year…” Kabuto looked up, forehead crinkled and eyes cast down in a bashful expression.

“Isn’t it your seventh year too?” You scoffed, opening your mouth to protest. Sakura looked between the two of you, puzzled.

“So, uh, I guess you’ve known each other for a while then?” Kabuto’s attention shot up and your teeth clenched.

“No way!” You exclaimed with a certain amount of urgency. Kabuto pouted up at you, slowly shuffling his cards. “I’ve been fortunate enough, or perhaps unfortunate enough to have met this one for the first time this season.” Kabuto sat back on his heels, sulky expression apparent.

“That’s rather harsh don’t you think?”

Sasuke pushed through the gathering of rookie Genin, teeth clenched. He had had enough of this bickering.

“Of those cards, are there ones with detailed individual information?” You watched on, paying little mind to what Kabuto had to say. And as the child sat down in front of him, your focus on the other contestants only heightened. Surely, not all eyes were on you, but you knew for a fact that ears all over the room were honed in and listening. You glanced towards Kabuto as he spoke, his cards spinning on the floor. He might not be on your team, he might be a complete stranger, but you knew a softie when you saw one. He should know better than to be flaunting that kind of information about.

“As far as the Village Hidden in Sound goes, it's a village of a small nation that just sprang up in recent years, so there isn't much information…” You inwardly cringed, scanning the group of Sound ninja out of your peripheral. That’s definitely not something that he should be saying. But before you could dwell too much on Kabuto’s choice of words, a shout came from the gathering of rookies.

“My name's Naruto Uzumaki! I won't lose to any of you! Got it?!” You gaped.

If you didn’t have the attention of the whole room already, you definitely did now. A hushed roar went over the crowd of participating ninja. You probably caught it before anyone else: the shifting of weaponry. Despite coming to the Chunin exams for the umpteenth time, you certainly weren’t slacking. A blur.

One of the Sound ninja leaped forward, coming at Kabuto with kunai drawn. The spectacled ninja expertly dodged out the way only. Kabuto slid back near the wall only to be ensnared by another member of the Sound team. And as the ninja swung, you ran forward. Kabuto managed to avoid the attack once again, but he stopped short. The glass of his frames began to crack before shattering completely. Just as quickly, he fell to his knees, the contents of his stomach emptying onto the tiles. Just as the Sound ninja cocked his arm to land another hit on the fallen Kabuto, you skidded to his defense. The sharp of your sword pressed against his forearm armor.

“Save the fighting for the Forest of Death!” You growled, kicking the masked ninja away. And before any more action could ensure, a white puff of smoke erupted at the far side of the room.

“Silence! Degenerates!” A stern shout cut through the tension of the room. “Sorry to keep you waiting... I'm Ibiki Morino, proctor for the first test of the Chunin Exam!”

The two children from before helped Kabuto up from the floor. You frowned deeply, wondering just how he’ll survive this exam. Meanwhile, you’ve officially gotten Kabuto’s attention. Unbeknownst to you, he had his own mission to execute, but perhaps he’ll come up with one excuse or another to follow your progress as well.

Notes: Did you know that the word “crackerjacks” actually came out of Kabuto’s mouth? I never usually do these kinds of fics, but it was pretty fun! Hope it wasn’t too cliché for y’all. That’s another series. Ba-dum-pssh.

Thank you to everyone who liked, reblogged, and followed. Your support means so much and is greatly appreciated.

[kankuroplease]

Request list (in no particular order): CLOSED

Anko

KakaIru 🖤🖤🖤

Izumo and Kotetsu

Sai and Shin

Shino ❤️‍🔥

Utakata

Obito and Kakaobirin baby

Mabui 🖤🖤🖤

Inoichi

Minato x Kushina

Sakura (roaring 20s)

Yamato 🖤🖤🖤

Ibiki

Neji 🖤

Shizune x Ayame

Temsari x Tenten (I literally deleted this ask accidentally but I remember the jest of it 😭)

[snickiebear]

Hello, snickiebear! Congratulations on your 200 followers! If you have the time, would you mind writing Shisui x Sakura in a nonmass au? I’m actually curious about your take on a time travel scenario with this pairing, but I also understand that a lot of works have been written on time travel already, so it’s still awesome if you don’t do the time travel part!

Congratulations again and thanks for taking the time to read this ask! Your works are really enjoyable to read. Thank you so much for writing and for doing this 200-follower event!

hello lovely anon!!! thank YOU for reading and requesting!!!! this one was so much fun to write! you ask for time travel + nonmass + shisaku? i am helpless to deliver!! this is a bit more angsty than i wanted but are we surprised? (nope, not at all lmao) this is also now on AO3 bc i really liked it!

also, apologies that this took a bit!! lifes been a real fuckin bitch and the wall of writer's block hit me like a train AHAHAHA but i hope you like this one!!! :)))

The sky is sunny and the spring beautiful when the sky splits itself in half with a brillant, blinding flash of light.

Shisui, masked and riding the after mission high, can only stare as a body plummets from that crack, limp and silent.

It is as if the heavens have spit out what they have deemed unworthy.

Or perhaps, the heavens are dropping a gift on their doorstep.

Either way, Shisui is moving before he knows what is happening, catching that body— a woman with shaven pink hair— and holding her close, head tucked under his chin.

She’s breathing, chest rising and lowering feebly.

Shisui catches his breath as the fracture within the sky closes and only then does he notice the mask.

Porcelain and painted. A combination of a snake and fox, a wolf and slug.

His ANBU team materializes next to him, Dog-taicho’s chakra going from lazy to alert at the sight of the woman. “That’s…”

“Yeah.” Shisui says hoarsely. “She- she needs medical attention. I think.” There is a lot of blood, she’s dripping in it. But he can’t see where she’s bleeding from… or if all that blood is even hers.

“Let’s go.” Dog-taicho cuts through his thoughts, voice hard and a bit panicked. Afterall, Kakashi owes his life to this woman, they all did.

Team Ro blurred out of existence in their race to Kohona, their Savior clutched within his arms.

.

.

.

It's funny, really. When she looks back, as she so often does now, it's laughable. The fact that Haruno Sakura, the civilian born, the nobody, the weak one of Team 7 is the only one left.

Sakura was the only one left in the war against Kaguya and she had done what she has always done; what was needed.

So, Sakura was the only one left and she figured out what was left of Naruto’s seals and shot herself through time to fix everything, to save everyone. To take down Danzo, Hanzo, Madara, to save Sai, the Uchihas, Kakashi.

She was the one to heal Obito, to save Rin, to make sure that Itachi’s hands would never be stained with his family’s blood.

And now, now she sits in a T&I room and she laughs, laughs herself hoarse because she succeeded, she won. And now she is in the future, her intended destination, but it is not the same.

In this future, Haruno Sakura does not exist. She is nothing and no one.

Naruto and Sasuke are alive and well and happy. They get to live the lives they could have only dreamed about.

And Sakura. She doesn’t exist.

She laughs herself hoarse, the laughs turning into broken sobs and she drops her forehead to the table, hiccuping and clenching her hands into blood inducing fists.

Alone. As she always has been.

The door creaks open and Ibiki steps in, a folder in hand.

Sakura’s head snaps up, wiping her face as she almost sighs in relief. She loved (loves?) Ibiki, he once was one of her closest friends near the end. She knows Ibiki, trusts him. Or, at least, she had.

Sakura straightens in her chair, careful of the chakra suppressing handcuffs that really do nothing for her, just acting as a hindrance. But, she does not remove them because she is not a threat to Konoha, she never has been, never intends to be.

Ibiki sits down in front of her, eyeing her carefully and it almost feels like coming home. “You say your name is Haruno Sakura.”

“Yes.” She rasps, licking her cracked and bleeding lips. “That’s right.”

Her eyes flit to the glass window, ignoring her own reflection as she narrows her eyes at whoever is behind the wall. An unknown chakra signature, wild and worried. And— and—

Kakashi.

His cool and lazy chakra, almost like a current of electricity. She would know that chakra any where, as if it is engrained deep in her bones. And right now he’s interested, almost antsy.

Swallowing, Sakura looks back to Ibiki, who had been watching her keenly. “You already had Inoichi-san do a mind walk. You know everything I do.” Shoulders back, chin tilted, spine steeled.

The dead man that sits in front of her hums and opens a folder, “We believe you—”

“It is not a matter of believing.” Sakura snaps, eyes flashing. “You know it is a fact. He saw, he showed you, you saw. How could I ever make something like that up?”

“What we know,” Ibiki says too calmly, too pleasantly, “Is that you are severely traumatized.”

And Sakura well, she laughs again. Because. Because what else is she supposed to do? She gives and gives and gives and is given nothing back.

There are no fruits for her labor, no reward for her sacrifice.

Shoulders shaking as she cries and laughs, scrubbing at her face. “We were friends, you know.” She manages. “I made you laugh twice, once after I lost my middle finger,” Sakura holds up her hand to show him, unsure of why she is even talking. “The second when you were dying in my arms.”

Silence rings out as Sakura gathers herself, swallowing harshly. Ibiki is still looking at her, but the way is no longer cynical, no longer studying.

“Haruno—”

“Just Sakura,” She says wearily.

“Sakura-san,” He continues, “When you were brought in you had a mask on. A mask that has been seen countless times saving Konoha shinobi.”

Sakura does not dare mention the fact that she has also interfered with Suna, giving Gaara the childhood he deserves. And with Mist, cutting the head off the snake quickly enough that the caste system would never truly solidify.

So, she nods. “I am aware.”

“And you claim you are the person behind the mask on every occasion.”

Sighing, she runs a hand over what is left of her hair and makes direct eye contact with her once friend, giving a curt nod, “I am the person behind the mask.”

“One last question, Sakura-san.” Ibiki murmurs, jotting something down in his folder. Sakura forces herself not to read the familiar writing. Though, she is well equipped to read upside down. “How did you come to possess the rinnegan?”

The air drops from mildly uncomfortable to freezing and Sakura does not balk at the question. “You saw it for yourself, Ibiki. It was a gift.”

“Yes, but from who?”

Her heart aches, squeezes at the thought of Naruto, of Sasuke, phantom pains. It is as if she has lost a limb, a piece of her heart when they had turned to ash between her fingers. But Sakura does not waver as she says, “It was a parting gift from Uchiha Sasuke before he died.”

The unknown chakra behind the wall erupts into a mess of emotions while Kakashi’s is mildly surprised if not wary. There is tension between the both of them though.

Which is incredibly amusing considering it wasn’t until much, much later did Kakashi ever see anything to be wary about in her.

(It took her flicking the ground and allowing it to split open and swallow any of their pursuers to convince him that she could very well tear him in half without a second thought.

She wouldn’t though. Team 7 and its members will always be a soft and deeply bruised spot for her. A wound she could never quite heal. Sakura cannot remember a time when she has ever been bruiseless. She has come to terms with being wounded.)

Ibiki closes the folder and taps it on the steel table between them, he motions over his shoulder and the door opens swiftly, revealing Kakashi and another Uchiha with curly hair.

He’s just as she remembers him, except not. Her Kakashi had slouched, had a certain energy about him.

This one, he looks the same, has the scar, the slight slouch. But it is clear that ghosts no longer beat on his back, the world's weight no longer bends him to its will.

Pain races through her heart, echoing physically throughout her body. It hurts. It shouldn’t, seeing her old sensei, her once friend, happy. But it does.

Because while she cannot live without Team 7, it is clear Team 7 can live without her.

She straightens, eyes sharp and body tense as Ibiki stands, chair scraping harshly against the floor and then takes her hands into his, calluses and scars scraping against each other.

Sakura could only imagine what Tsunade-shishou would say if she were to see her, riddled with scars and missing fingers. She could have healed them without a second thought, but chakra had been precious then. Every single ounce had been poured into keeping her precious people safe and herself alive enough to keep fighting.

Her once friend produces a key and unlocks the handcuffs, letting them drop heavily into his awaiting hands before standing up, “Sakura-san, this is Hatake Kakashi,” Her former teacher gives her a hard once over. “And Uchiha Shisui.”

Her skin itches and crawls at Kakashi’s look, cold and unfond, nothing like how she remembers him. And of course, of course he wouldn’t be the man who she had come to adore. He is someone else in this carefully constructed future of her own doing.

The blame, as always, rests upon her weakening shoulders. Sakura is crumbling, her sanity chipping away ever so slowly. It is laughable, really. She wants to throw her head back and howl, she wants to bow and allow herself to scream.

But, if she were to begin to scream, she is not sure she would be able to stop.

So, she gives a curt nod, “Hatake-san. Uchiha-san.”

“Shisui, and therefore the Uchiha, have volunteered to bring you into their custody.” Ibiki goes on, taking a step back. Sakura stays where she is, rooted.

A chill runs up her spine and she looks to Ibiki almost pleadingly. “And you can’t simply dump me into ANBU instead?”

“Mah, Sakura-san.” Kakashi drawls and Sakura’s will cracks. (That bruise will never quite heal.) “I can promise that the Uchiha aren’t as bad as they seem.”

Shisui smiles and it is unlike any smile she has seen before.

She cannot remember the last time she had seen a smile.

“Don’t listen to the old man, Sakura-san.” Shisui says and she’s caught off guard at how friendly he sounds, deep and welcoming. Sakura swallows harshly. “We’re a bunch of assholes but no harm will come to you, we can promise that.”

Uchiha men, she thinks with distaste, will always hold a knife to her heart. And they will always know how to twist the wretched blade to get her to bend for them.

But. But perhaps Sakura could bend, bend and lay and rest. Just once. And this time she'll bend for herself. Perhaps.

She finds herself nodding, hands shaking despite the steel in her spine, her shoulders still straight. “You’re going to just let me go.”

Ibiki gives her a hard look and Sakura’s lips twitch. Ah, of course not. The Uchiha compound is just a glorified prison. Then again, it is much better than anything she thought would happen.

Then again, Saura never thought this would happen.

Too desperate, too blind with the possibility of a chance to see them again, to be whole again. She, for all her brains, all her genius, had not even stopped to think of the possibility that her future would no longer exist.

It is laughable, really.

So she laughs, she clutches her stomach and laughs because what else can she do?

Sakura has done what she has always done; what was needed. And once again, like every other time, there is nothing but black at the end of the tunnel. No light exists for her.

She is to blame for her own destruction, her own crumbling.

.

.

.

“You can come out,” Sakura’s voice calls out and Shisui grins.

He steps from the shadows, two mugs in hand as he comes to sit next to her, offering her the drink. She takes it without hesitation but swirls it before sipping from it, Shisui watches as her eyes light up just a little bit.

Hot cocoa with peanut butter. He had noticed, the last time the clan had it, that she’d snuck four mugs worth.

If Sakura was surprised he noticed, she didn’t show it. She was like that, a one way mirror, giving nothing away even as she saw everything.

“Did you want something, Shisui-san?” She twitches as he scoots a little closer, the fireflies floating around the backyard. “Or did you just want some company?”

Shisui smiles boyishly, tilting his head back to look at her, “Heard that Minato-sama called you into the Hokage’s office again.”

“You mean you heard from Genma, who told Itachi while on their date, who then told you that the Hokage summoned me for the fourth time this week.” Sakura snorts, taking a long drink from her mug. There's a little foam on her upper lip that he fights to not wipe away. “He and his wife keep trying to convince me to let them look at the seals I used.”

Shisui pauses, eyes trained on Sakura as she looks to the sky, head leaning back. Her hair has grown out a little, more fuzz on her head than anything, she looks more alive, well fed. Deep bags under her one visible eye, three nasty scars dissect her face and the rest of her body isn’t any better.

She is the most beautiful, most terrifying, most devastating thing he has ever seen.

“The seals you used…”

“To go back and hop through time like a jack rabbit to save the entire world?” She asks, a wry smile on her face. “Yes, Shisui, those seals.”

He hums, leaning back on the heels on her hands, “Why don’t you just let them look?”

“They aren’t my seals to share.” Sakura half snaps, shoulders curling in, her body strung tight. “Naru— my friend was the one to draw them out, I just figured out the last bit of it. Plus, there is no reason why they need to see those seals.” Her tone sharp, unyielding almost pleading.

Shisui stays quiet until Sakura begins to slowly relax. She gets like this sometimes, tense and defensive. As if trying to convince herself rather than him of her deeds. He knew better than to push, he knew that she had gone through more than anyone would ever go through.

The way Ibiki and Inoichi look at her with the utmost respect can verify that. The way Kakashi and Rin and Obito have gone out of their way to greet her, to help her speaks volumes.

He takes a drink from his mug, studying the stars winking above them. “Hey Sakura,”

“Yes?” She sounds oh so weary. His very soul aches.

“Thank you, for everything.” He doesn’t dare look at her, barely hearing himself over the pounding of his heart. “You don’t talk much about what happened but I know, I can tell that it was horrible. And thank you for saving us, the world.”

She had lost everything, everyone. In that future that she had protected them from Sasuke died, Itachi died, he was dead. He could only imagine what the ruins of that world looked like. He could only imagine what Sakura had to do to survive.

Sakura’s fingers are cold, freezing as they brushes the back of his hand. Shisui fights a shiver, the trail of goosebumps, the thrill. “Oh, oh Shisui.” Her voice is heartbreaking and full of nothing but steel. “I would never allow anyone to endure that. You will never have to endure that, I made sure of it. Never. No one will. I promise.”

Her hand draws back as she brings her knees to her chest, eyes far away and breathes quick. And Shisui, he doesn’t know what comes over him as he scoots even closer and carefully wraps his arm around her strong shoulders, drawing her closer.

And. And Sakura, she allows it. She moves to his side, not quite leaning but touching.

“Are you happy here?” Shisui finds himself asking after long minutes of silence. Sakura’s breath evened out and she sits with her chin on her knees.

Her eye flits to him, weighing and heavy. She looks at him and Shisui cannot help but see the age, the ancientness that has taken root. He wants to pull out the misery within her, wants to hold her tight enough that she will never fall apart without somewhere there to catch the pieces.

He wants to love her, he wants her to let him love her.

“No.” Sakura whispers, as if her unhappiness in a world that does not know her, that has done nothing for her is such an awful, wretched thing. “I miss everyone.”

Shisui cannot say anything so he does what he does best; what he wants.

He stays with her, arm resting on her shoulders and slowly, Sakura allows herself to lean into his side.

Around them, the night settles and the crickets chirp. The heavens had nothing to do with Haruno Sakura, with their Savior, coming to them. No, Sakura is the catalyst of this, of this paradise they now all reside in.

If anything, she is the heavens themselves. And it is about time someone tells her that, shows her that.

.

.

.

Sakura sees them for the first time in the five months she has landed in this new future. Itachi invited her to meet his genin team. Itachi, the man who had once been a mass murderer, is now a mednin and a jounin sensei.

Shisui joins her because of course he does, he has been the one constant throughout this entire ordeal. The Uchihas are nothing like she thought they would be. The Uchihas are everything she hoped they would.

They are loving, friendly, welcoming, and thankful. Mikoto is nothing but heaven sent sunshine and cloud soft embraces, Fukago is nothing but a deep rumbling laugh and fond looks.

No one is the same, nothing is the same.

Shisui is there though, at her side, at her back. She trusts him, gods, she trusts him. Despite her better judgement, despite everything. Sakura trusts Shisui.

So, Shisui joins her as she takes to the roofs and to training field 7. She’s finally been cleared for the mission roster and given her jounin blues. Though, Sakura has yet to decide if she even would enjoy going on missions.

Maybe with Shisui.

But she does not think she has a taste for violence anymore, for killing. Maybe she'll spend her days with Kakashi's dogs and holed up in the libraries. Maybe she'll visit Gaara or Chojuro.

She had yet to meet Tsunade, who had been hunting for her since Minato (the bastard) had let it slip that Sakura was in possession of the rinnegan and the byakugan seal. Shisui is exceptionally good at playing discractor as Sakura flees to rock in a corner until he finds her. He's good at that, holding her, letting her breathe, allowing her to find solace within his arms and his space.

They step onto the training fields and Sakura freezes mid step to watch as Sasuke, Naruto, and Sai (oh, oh Sai. Sweet Sai, oh.) attack in perfect sync.

They’re fourteen if her math is correct.

They move smooth and swift, nonverbal communication as if they had been working like this for years. It's beautiful, really.

Something ugly claws at her heart, catching on an already scabbing part to rip open a new wound. Simply another reminder that Sakura is not needed. She never was.

It's laughable, really.

Shisui’s fingers massages the sides of her neck with his fingers, the spot where her skull and neck meet. “You’re tense.”

“They have beautiful teamwork.” She chokes out.

He looks at her, long and open, “We can go home, if you want.”

Shisui’s good at that t00, the open ended question, the way of making her not feel trapped. He's too perceptive for his own good, she has yet to tell him anything except what is on record. But, but. He knows. He knows of Kakashi, of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sai. It is both a relief and a terror. “No.” She manages, curling her hands. She is Haruno Sakura. She has faced the impossible her entire life. Ghosts are nothing compared to gods.

At least, that is what she tells herself.

“I’ll be fine.” Sakura glances up at him, licking her lips. He watches the movement before his eyes flit back up hers and he offers one of her favorite smiles. The one where his dimples are visible, where she can see the small chip of his front tooth and the way his top canin is a little crooked.

Itachi calls the spar minutes later, the boys slumping onto the ground and breathing heavily. Sakura offers a small smile as Itachi nears them, waving a hand in greeting.

“Ah, Sakura-chan.” He grins, then looks to Shisui, dry amusement clear in his tone, “Shisui.”

“You’ve trained them well,” Sakura praises, watching as Naruto (oh gods, Naruto with his big blue eyes and blonde, blonde hair) pulls a limp Sasuke (a Sasuke who laughs freely, who smiles, and is loved) onto his feet, Sai huffing a chuckle from the ground.

Itachi practically beams at the praise, “They are very talented. And you would like to meet them, yes?”

Shisui’s thumb traces the bumps of her spine and Sakura is reminded that she has forged herself from the ashes of her friends, that she is borne from war and steel. She can do this. Shisui is here and she can do this. “Yes, I would love to, Itachi.”

Shisui’s hand burns through her clothes as they follow Itachi, the boys immediately catching sight and freezing at the sight of them. Sakura will never admit it out loud that she has been avoiding any and all people from her past (present? future?).

One look at Ino, whole and happy and sassy, and Sakura had almost gone insane. And then Shikamaru and Chouji, all together, all smiling. Gods, Sakura had fallen to her knees at the sight. Such grief, such loneliness—

She’s better now. She is.

“Team 7.” Itachi says, “This Haruno Sakura, and you already know Shisui.”

Silence.

Sakura shifts under the wide eyed gazes of the boys, the men she loved (loves?) with her entire being. “It is a pleasure to meet you,”

Naruto recovers first because of course he does. And he smiles at her, he smiles at her and Sakura wants to claw at her skin and cry. Shisui intertwines their hands, as if sensing that urge.

“I’m Uzumaki Naruto!” He’s fourteen and he's alive and he’s happy. He isn’t out of the village, he’s here because he has a clan, he has a family. “Is it true that you’re the Savior?”

Sasuke smacks him in the back of the head with a scowl, “Be polite, dobe.” To Sakura he offers a bow, “It is pleasure to meet you, Haruno-san. I am Uchiha Sasuke.”

Sakura’s lips twitch despite herself. Never, not once, did Sasuke ever bow to anyone. He had always been arrogant, but here? Now? It's laughable, really.

She glances to Sai and he isn’t as pale as he once was, his cheeks are full of color, his eyes brimming with life. “I am Senju Sai, Haruno-san.”

And. Sakura pauses at that. Senju Sai, huh. Perhaps she'll have to face Tsunade sooner than later. The thought added to the dread filled pool in her stomach. But. But, she could do it. Maybe.

“It is very nice to meet you all,” She croaks and then offers a very brittle smile. “And Naruto-kun,” She fights a shiver at the honorific. “That information is S class, but find me when you make jounin, hm?” And for a moment she could pretend that everything was okay and she was teasing her Naruto. Just for a moment.

Much to her amusement, all three boys pout, looking to Itachi who shrugs, “You heard Sakura, now, let’s see formation Alpha but reverse.”

The boys groan and Sakura can’t help the smile, a smile with teeth.

She can feel Shisui’s eyes on her before she even turns to look at him. Her body is shaking, Sakura realizes blankly but Shisui still holds her sweating hands, squeezing ever so slightly. “Ready to go?”

Sakura swallows, staring up at him, studying him. And oh, she is so tempted to uncover her eye, to memorize his face. “Yes. Let’s… let's go home.”

.

.

.

He wakes to warmth pressed against his chest, warm breaths against his neck. Their legs are tangled, her arm thrown over his side and brushes against the bare skin of his back. Both of them are missing their clothes, Sakura preferred being able to feel the skin on him, the brush of flesh between them.

What they have, it is something deeper than any type of physical act. No, what they have… well, Shisui can not put it to words. There are no words. There will never be words.

It is rare for Sakura to sleep soundlessly and through the entire night. Shisui kisses her forehead, above her seal, on one of the many scars of her face. She doesn’t stir except to shift ever so slightly, hugging him closer.

And if Shisui’s heart melts, no one else is there to see the absolute brilliant smile on his lips.

“Sakura,” He murmurs because if she doesn’t get up soon, she’ll miss her lunch with Ibiki (who gets very grumpy when his time with Sakura is cut short), “Sakura.”

She grumbles, limbs tensing for a moment, a single breath before melting once more. “Shisui,” Her voice is rough with sleep, the sound swirls and dances around his bones. “G’mornin’.”

Shisui laughs, a soft push of air, as Sakura leans back to peer at him, both eyes uncovered as she studies him, the look like a physical caress. “Good morning.” He whispers, kissing her forehead once again.

“What time is it?” She murmurs, eyes drooping closed.

“You’ve got about an hour before Ibiki comes knocking.” Shisui chuckles.

Sakura snorts, pulling away to stretch her arms above her head, arching her back in the way that Shisui can admire every muscle, every scar, every part of her. “Then I better get up,”

“Or, you could always stay,” Shisui cajools, to which Sakura only laughs. The sound is beautiful and full and makes his heart beat a little faster.

“The last time I canceled on Ibiki was when I had to help Itachi with his and Genma’s wedding plans, and he sent little Terror Ino after me for a week.”

Shisui cracks an even wider grin, “Well, at least you got some nice clothes out of it.”

Laughing again, Sakura leans down to kiss him, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Go on,” Shisui shoos, making a little gesture with his hand. “Have fun, I’ll be here when you get back.”

“Promise?”

“Always.”

She cups his face, thumbing the sharp of his cheek bone before leaning forward to kiss him again, "I love you." Then. "I am glad that my suffering brought me to you, that I landed here."

"I love you." He returns, barely a whisper as he brushes hair behind her ears. His heart beats for her, cracks and aches and swells. All for her. "There will never be a time that I will not love you. There will never be a time where I do not see you and see everything you are, everything you have done."

The sky is sunny and the spring beautiful as Sakura, the very heavens themselves, mouth splits into a brilliant, blinding smile.

(Sakura has crumbled and broken, she has fallen apart over and over. She has always known how to put herself together, until she couldn’t.

But Shisui, oh Shisui, he has always been readily available with glue and tape. He will always be there to hold her together with his bare hands, ready to bleed for her, with her.

She has given and given and given. He is willing to give everything back to her tenfold.

It is the very least she deserves, the very least the world can gift her. Shisui will always be willing to give more.)

[depressedhatakekakashi]

I got a really cool ask that I would like to share with you!

Your last non rare pair fights your latest rare pair! Go!

I did at the following moments! First Chunnin Exams, Time between Naruto and Shippuden, Shippuden, Blank Period and Onwards 😁

So... my latest rare pair is *glances at Ibiki and Kakashi* yay XD

My last non rare pair though hmmm if I don’t include Kakashi ships I’d have to go with Sakura/Ino and ummm.... ya I might get hate for this

Chunin Exams

Let’s pretend there’s an incident that make’s Kakashi and Ibiki the same age as the girls for until the blank period maybe XD

I think Kakashi and Ibiki would win largely because of Kakashi’s intelligence. He’s be able to come up with a plan quick to be able to put it into action. Neither Sakura or Ino are shown to be as tactically skilled as Kakashi. Which means Kakashi and Ibiki would win

The time between (XD)

Sakura and Ino certainly grow quit a bit during this time, but Kakashi and Ibiki still win in my mind. Kakashi still has the tactical mind, and the forethought of knowing their moves and skill sets. He’s at a huge advantage and Ibiki knows to work with Kakashi easily.

Shippuden

Ya, it’s not changing XD don’t get me wrong Ibiki and Kakashi are definitly avoiding Sakura’s punches and Ino is an externally gifted shinobi. But Ibiki works side by side with Inoichi. He knows exactly what to watch out for with the Yamabaka signiture jutsu’s. Plus Kakashi still has the high ground with tactical planning. He can change plans on the spot to adjust to win. (Remember the only reason Naruto and Sakura got the bells from him was Naruto was shouting spoilers at Kakashi and Kakashi closed his eyes and ears giving them an opening. Sakura doesn’t have that advantage cuz she never reads the books (and Naruto shouldn’t have either but you know... Jiraiya...)

Blank Period and Onwards

Now this is where I may get some hate because a lot of people like to talk about Sakura being stronger than Kakashi at this point but...

She’s not

Kakashi is actually still more powerful and without the restriction of the sharingan on him he is far more lethal. Plus he still has all the jutsu’s he learned with the sharingan

Ino and Sakura aren’t going to be easy to beat at all, don’t get me wrong. They’re a terrifying duo if they put their minds together.

But Kakashi is the strongest out of the all. While Ibiki might end up losing to Sakura and Ino, I can’t see Kakashi losing

(All of their stat sheets above. Ino, Sakura and Ibiki are in the 20’s, while Kakashi is at 34. He has the most versitial set of skills allowing him to fight however he needs to to win. This is why I get so pissed about him not training Sakura in Taijutsu, because he has a lot of skill in taijutsu. Not Gai level skill, but a lot of skill)

At the end of the day, because Kakashi is my boy and I have a love for rare pairs with him, Kakashi’s team would win

HOWEVER

if I did go with a non rare pair including Kakashi, I’m afraid Kakashi/Ibiki would get their butts handed to them in all areas? Kakashi and Yamato? They’re going to win because they’ve worked together longer and while Kakashi vs Kakashi is even, Yamato is stronger than Ibiki.

Kakashi and Gai vs Kakashi and Ibiki?

Lol, Sorry To IbiKaka but they need to go sit down in a corner. No way are they winning XD

And if I put Sakura and Ino against a rare pair like Shino X Tenten (which I blame fully on you lol) I’d have to agree with your results with Ino and Sakura ultimately coming out as the winners in the end

[redvoid-40]

Chapter 9 - First Phase

I know this fic isn’t as popular as my headcanons/one-shots but this chapter has been sitting in my Drive for a while now so I’ve decided to post it instead. =.=

Hope you all enjoy it! As always let me know your thoughts and if you have any requests! :)

Fanfic title: ??? Word count: 3097 Fandom: Naruto Pairing: eventual Gaara x OC, cannon pairings Genre: Friendship, Adventure, Hurt/Comfort Warnings: None

Previous chapter / Next chapter

No way. I thought the written exams would end with the Academy!

Shin was freaking out at the prospect of a written exam. Sure, she had gotten average scores when she graduated at the Academy, but it was mostly thanks to her Taijutsu. Her grades in written exams were nothing to be proud of.

“Don’t worry, Shin-chan.” Hajii reassured as they waited in line to get their numbers. He had his pinky wrapped around hers. “I’ll be able to carry us on this. Just do your best, all right? You too, Ao-nee.”

Aoni looked at her from her brother’s other side. “Hajii is a real nerd, Shin-chan. I’m sure his grades will make up for ours.”

“But what if they score our tests separately?” Shin asked.

“Then why would they demand that we take the Exams as teams of three?” Hajii pointed out. “At least in the beginning I believe they will only look at us as teams instead of individuals. It’s important to test teamwork, and it also makes it easier to cut down on the number of applicants.”

Shin hummed as she thought about Hajii’s words. It made sense.

“I guess you’re right.” She spoke as she pulled her seating number. “I’ll see you two later then. Let’s do our best and pass this!”

Aoni and Hajii nodded. “Good luck!”

---

There were actual tears streaking down Shin’s face as she looked down at her test in despair. Ibiki’s rules chanted in her mind like an anxiety-inducing mantra as a finger looped around strands of her hair.

“The teams will be qualified - or disqualified - in accordance to the total score achieved by its three members.”

“One more thing, if anyone in your team gets a zero, the whole team will be disqualified.”

Shin read and re-read the questions in her exams, not believing her eyes.

I can’t answer any of these questions. Am I really that dumb?

Shin couldn’t believe someone just out of the Academy like her could ever solve those questions. She might be nowhere near as brilliant as Sakura, but she wasn’t that unprepared either; she should be able to get at least a 5.0 from a written exam such as this. But not being able to answer any of the 10 questions was something else entirely.

Wait-

Once again Ibiki’s words came to the forefront of her brain.

“The censors here will also keep an eye on you if you try to cheat. And at every seen incident they will discount 2 points from your total score. If they catch you five times, you’ll be disqualified and your test will not be graded. That’s right. Anyone who gets caught cheating doesn’t deserve to be a Chūnin.”

Shin’s hand stopped moving around her hair as her eyes widened in realization.

Anyone who gets caught, he said… Of course. They want us to cheat.

Shin swallowed and looked around her. Many of the candidates were frozen like her, having noticed how impossible those questions were to answer. But others were writing furiously on their exams.

Some people here already realized it. 

“Excuse me!”

Shin startled, looking to the direction the voice had come from. Kankuro was a few rows in front of her, hand raised in the air and an apologetical smile on his face. 

“I need to use the toilet.”

Shin watched the older boy be escorted outside the classroom with his wrists in shackles. As he passed her by he glanced down at her test and, seeing it completely blank, scoffed at her.

She pouted at him, turning her face to the side to hide her blush.

As she did that, her eyes crossed with Hajii’s green ones. The boy was on the other side of the room, but on the same row as her. It seemed he had been staring for some time now and, when their eyes met, he gave her a winning smile.

Despite her sad situation, Shin smiled back at him.

Then she almost leaped out of her chair at the feeling of something creeping up her ankles. 

Shin’s hands flew to her mouth, pushing back the girlish squeal that threatened to escape her as the… thing continued climbing up her legs, leaving a trail of goosebumps on its wake. Swallowing hard, Shin dared to look down at herself and almost fainted at what she found.

Your Chakra Creatures are creepy, Hajii-chan.

There was a spider-like thing standing on Shin’s lap, with the black colour of clotted blood. The thing was almost as big as her fist and had four thin legs that connected to a small round black body, and on top of its body there was a human face smiling up at her.

“H-Hi?” Shin whispered, daring to reach down to it with an outstretched finger.

The creature straightened its legs, reaching up to her finger and nuzzling against it. Shin relaxed slightly, allowing a small smile to pull on the corners of her lips. So needy… there was no doubt it was one of Hajii’s creations.

It’s kind of cute.

Then, satisfied with the attention it received, the creature opened its smiling mouth at her and vomited a tiny scroll covered with blood onto her lap. 

Shin’s entire body tensed and she felt a bit of bile rise in her throat.

What the-

The creature gurgled happily at her and with one last nuzzle against her frozen finger disappeared in a puff. Unbelieving of what she had witnessed, Shin turned to face Hajii once again. His smile was as bright as before as he winked at her.

With a sigh, Shin swallowed the bile in her throat and opened the scroll beneath the table with one of her hands, trying to ignore the blood staining her fingertips.

Immediately she copied the answers from the scroll onto her test.

---

Soon enough it was time for Ibiki to give them the Tenth Question. And with it, came new rules.

“You can take the Tenth Question or not. But if you choose not to do it, all your other questions will be discarded and your team will be eliminated. If you choose to answer this question and get it wrong, not only you’ll be eliminated but you’ll also be prohibited from ever taking the Chūnin exams again!”

Predictably, there was an uproar in the classroom as some candidates protested the rules, while others stood up and left to try again next year. But Shin didn’t pay them any mind. Her sole focus was Naruto. The boy was sitting a few rows in front of her and she could easily spot his orange suit and head of blonde hair.

Naruto-chan… you’re shaking.

Shin clenched her fists in her lap in tension. She didn’t want Naruto to give up now, not after everything they went through. She knew that, just like her, he wasn’t good with written exams, but she also knew that from everyone in this room, he was the one who could overcome any obstacle put in his path.

When he raised his hand in the air, she jumped to her feet.

“Don’t!” Shin yelled, making everyone look to her. And when Naruto’s wide, baby blues found her brown ones she continued. “You didn’t come all the way here to give up now, Naruto! So please put that hand down!”

Naruto’s eyes widened even further at her outburst and Shin could feel her cheeks heating, but refused to sit back down.

To her surprise the boy smiled at her. “As if you needed to tell me that, Shin-chan.”

Turning back to face Ibiki, Naruto slammed his hand on the table.

“Don’t underestimate me! I don’t give up! If you want to be though, go ahead. You won’t make me chicken out. I don’t care if I’ll be a Genin for the rest of my life! I’ll still become Hokage one day! Believe it!”

Shin dropped back to her seat with a nervous laugh.

Of course.... You had to make a scene, Naruto-chan. Her eyes roamed the classroom again, and she couldn’t help but smile. You have no idea how infectious your words can be, huh? Everyone is looking up now. I bet no one is leaving after that.

There were a few more moments of tension as they all waited for the question. Then, to everyone’s surprise Ibiki’s next words were-

“You all pass!”

---

On the following morning all candidates met their new Censor, Mitarashi Anko, at the entrance of the place where Exam’s Second Phase would happen.

The Forest of Death.

—-

“Before we can begin the Second Phase I have something to hand out to you. It’s a consent letter.” Anko said. “You all need to read and sign this. Some of you might not return from this and I need your written consent that you’re willing to take the risk. Or else it would be my responsibility!”

Shin swallowed as Anko laughed out loud, as if she had just told some funny joke. This new Censor was kind of crazy, throwing kunais at Naruto and then laughing at the fact that some candidates might die in her exam.

“Here, Shin-chan.”

Shin thanked Naruto as she took the pile of forms from his hands, removing a single sheet of paper for herself before passing the rest along. 

“Now, let me explain how this will work.” Anko continued. “This is a survival exercise-”

---

Shin listened to Anko’s explanation carefully, hands closed tightly around her consent form.

“Shin-chan…”

The girl blinked, turning her attention to Naruto. He was looking at her with a weird expression on his face, as if he didn’t quite recognize her.

“Is there something wrong, Naruto-chan?”

“It’s just… you look excited about this whole thing, believe it. It’s weird because you’re usually so, you know… the peacemaker.”

Shin pondered Naruto’s words. More often than not she kept herself neutral in conflicts involving her friends, always trying to de-escalate the arguments and fights that would every so often break out among them. She wasn’t someone who’d usually jump at the chance of an all-out fight with dozens of Genins just to win a survival exercise.

However, this wasn’t a fight amongst her friends; it was a competition, and everyone taking part in it knew exactly what they were getting into. And there was something to be said about winning things: it was satisfying.

“I guess the Ninja life is growing on me, Naruto-chan. I’m looking forward to see what everyone here is capable of.” Shin explained, smiling at her friend as her eyes focused on him. “You especially. I can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with, Naruto. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m kinda hoping we’ll get to face one another soon. I know we’ve trained together countless times before, but it’s not the same as an actual battle, is it? You’ve grown so much, Naruto. I’m wondering how I compare.”

As Shin spoke she noticed Naruto wasn’t the only one staring at her with wide eyes. Sasuke and Sakura also had their gazes fixed on her, as did the rest of the Konoha Genins. 

Her friend’s surprise was short lived. In a blink of an eye, Naruto had laid his hand on her shoulder as a cocky smile stretched on his lips.

“Heh, I’m glad you feel that way, Shin-chan. Ever since you told us you’d take part with another team, I’ve been thinking we’d have to fight each other. And every time I think about it, I get all excited. I’ve always thought you were one of the strongest in our class, and I can’t wait to see how I compare. Believe it.”

Shin nodded, clasping Naruto back on the shoulder.

The challenge was made and accepted.

---

After handing in their consent forms and receiving their scroll, Team Rashu awaited  in front of gate 8. Shin was twirling her hair nervously as Hajii held onto her other hand and Aoni’s, moving their joined hands back and forth.

“You two are full of energy.” Aoni commented, smiling at them. “I’m glad you don’t seem scared about the whole thing, Hajii.”

“Why would I be?” Hajii asked.

“We will spend some nights in that forest. You hate the dark.”

The boy shrugged, but didn’t stop moving his hands. “I got you two with me. As long as I can hold on to you, I’m okay.”

As if to prove his point Hajii squeezed their hands one last time as the Jonin in front of them unlocked the lock of their gate. He let their hands go just as the lock fell to the ground and the Jonin pushed open the gates for them.

“Begin!”

Without hesitation, the trio charged inside the forest.

As soon as she stepped foot into the training grounds Shin joined her hands in front of her chest, her thumb and forefinger up in the air. Her eyes were closed as she focused on her chakra, but that didn’t slow her down.

She could feel exactly where she was going.

---

“This looks like a good place for our rendezvous.” Aoni stated.

Team Rashu stood together on top of a thick tree branch, the thick foliage around them providing for a flawless cover.

“Shin-chan-” Aoni continued. “-anything?”

Shin shook her head. “Not yet. There’ are a lot of powerful lives in this forest though, so it’s hard to differentiate the animals’ chakras from the other candidates’. I don’t think anyone is onto us yet, but I might’ve missed something. Also, if they’re following us from a distance, I don’t think I can feel their chakra until they get closer.”

“That’s all right. Finding them before they find us isn’t pivotal to our strategy.” Hajii commented, green eyes roaming their surroundings. “As long as we all keep on our toes we can react to any attack. The key to our strategy is how we’ll engage our enemies. You must take the first step, Shin-chan, and we’ll follow your lead.”

Shin nodded, full of determination. “I’ll be ready.”

“Good. For now, let’s keep moving together in a 2 kilometer radius from this point. If we get separated, we meet back here as soon as possible. If there’s anyone missing by sundown, we’ll go out in a search.”

Aoni and Shin nodded, and as one the trio leaped off their spot.

---

“It’s taking too long.” Aoni complained as the trio jumped from tree branch to tree branch. “It must’ve been a couple of hours already and nothing. The sun will set down soon.”

Hajii hummed but offered nothing else as a response. His sister had always been on the impatient side; never one to be kept waiting by anyone, so he had expected her frustration at this point. Thankfully, he and Shin were there to help her keep her temper in check.

“Maybe everyone’s busy with something else.” Shin offered. “There are many powerful creatures in this forest, as well as every other candidate.”

“Still… I was sure it all would happen much quicker. I want to finish this and get to the tower as soon as possible. No one deserves to spend more than a day without a hot shower.” Aoni said, nose upturned as the corners of her mouth pulled down in disgust.

Shin chuckled. “If you guys want, I can try to reach out with my chakra again. See if I can expand my sensory area and pinpoint something.”

“I think that’s a good idea. Hajii, let’s stop for a moment.”

The boy hummed again. He didn’t want to stop moving. Even being careful, it was likely they had left little marks of their presence as they roamed their searching area, so if they stopped now they could just become a sitting target for anyone following those little signals.

However, it could help ease some of his sister’s anxiety and Hajii knew first-hand she tented to make bad calls when her rage-o-meter was reaching its peak.

“Okay.”

The trio jumped to a higher tree branch and stopped. All of them were breathing hard, with a thin layer of sweat covering their skin as Shin performed her hand sign and closed her eyes, allowing her chakra to spread out into the surrounding forest.

Aoni and Hajii’s vibrant energies were the first she felt, warm and taut besides her, ready to react at a moment’s notice. She took a moment to appreciate it before letting her own energy seep deep into the tree’s chakra flowing steadily beneath her feet and branch out as wide as possible, trying to feel any creature that passed by, allowing her chakra to touch theirs for a moment before moving on.

Shin’s radius was barely half a kilometer wide, and it missed a lot - there was too much chakra around her for her to discern every living creature that crossed paths with her - but it still gave her a good perspective of what was surrounding them. Rabbits and squirrels, insects as large as her skull, a couple of gigantic snakes, poisonous flowers…

There were so many types of chakra around her… It was overwhelming, but also a bit intoxicating. 

More… I want to feel more, have more. So much chakra, all around me…

Shin inhaled sharply as those thoughts came to the forefront of her mind. It wasn’t the first time she thought of something like that. Ever since she learned how to control her chakra better, Shin found herself hungry for more of it, especially when training with Naruto.

His chakra is just so… plenty.

It was a mysterious train of thought, this one. Shin didn’t quite understand where it came from - she couldn’t just take others’ chakra for herself - and because of that it scared and intrigued her at the same time. Every time she tapped into someone - or something - else’s chakra, she dared to go further than before without even meaning to. It was instinctual for her and she worried sometime she might go a bit too far.

What would even happen if I did? I don’t want to hurt anyone, but… I’d love to feel more of this energy. It feels right. But is it?

Shin was pulled from her musings by a sudden burst of chakra just at the edge of her radius. It was violent, explosive… and going straight towards them.

“Get down!”

Shin grabbed the back of her teammates clothes and pushed them down to their stomachs just as a fireball flew over their heads.

Hajii glanced at the singed leaves above them and turned to smile at his sister.

“Well, Ao-nee. It’s happening.”

[kason-nvidiade-art]

Protect by KasonSama

Ibiki x Sakura? Yes. She's his ANBU guard for a mission, what's the mission? Uhhhhhh..... some BS vacation date thing Hokage sent them out on, only for it to end up actually dangerous, because Of Course it does. Anyway, this took way longer to do because I was fuckin LAZY.....this was also drawn/painted as procrastination for another painting I'm working on and don't wanna work on any more so.... ALSO made for myself for Valentines day, because No One else is gonna do it so I have to QwQ

[thechaoscryptid]

WAIT

HOLD ON

IBISAKU?

AS IN IBIKI X SAKURA?

Yes, big fan! I'm not so much into Naruto as a whole these days, but I do keep a soft spot for a few ships - IbiSaku is definitely one of them.

They may be present in one of my advent calendar stories this year 👀🥰

[hermadnessmac]

SasuSakuMonth17 Day 2

Title: And Nothing More Summary: In pointing out everything Sakura’s not, Sasuke starts to figure out just who she is. Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto--I just like to play in the universe. Prompt: Something More from day two of the SasuSakuMonth Prompts. Rating: T Words: 2,880 Warning(s): None

When a girl with bubblegum pink hair walked into Sasuke Uchiha’s life at age twelve, he had no intention of letting her stay.

Sakura Haruno was smart, that much was true. It was also true, however, that one glance at her too-wide stance and weak grip on her kunai would tell even the lowest ranking chunin that this particular ninja-in-training had very little aptitude for the more practical aspects of her chosen career. What was her plan for facing an opponent, anyway? Lecture them on chakra pathways until they got bored and left? Stun them with her brilliant use of the most basic substitution technique? Startle them by throwing kunai in their general direction?

No. This girl with bright green eyes and innocence wrapped around her as tightly as a swaddled baby was not going to last. Innocents made great sheaths for the monsters of the shinobi world; Sasuke was only too aware of this.

At best, he concluded, Sakura was an accessory. A shiny bauble that dangled off the arms of nin far stronger and more menacing than they. At worst, she would become canon fodder. The unskilled foot soldiers that provided the numbers or distraction of any large scale operation.

Even Naruto, dead-last imbecile that he was, had the unwavering resolve to get better. Grow stronger. He knew the cold ache of loneliness that had long since taken root in the very marrow of Sasuke’s existence. While Naruto dealt with that sickly sting differently than he--choosing to shout out instead of shut up--Sasuke could respect that the blonde was still racing in the same direction as him: forward. And if his teammate had set his sights on Sasuke’s back as some sort of target, so be it.

Maybe he would use him as a springboard.

Sasuke had no need of arm candy with appropriately colored hair, however, so he elected to leave Sakura behind.

She was dead weight. A liability. A nuisance. Annoying.

And nothing more.

--x--

When a girl with wide, innocent eyes stepped in front of a deadly opponent with nothing but a poorly grasped kunai, Sasuke’s brain told him it was only a matter of time.

His feet apparently responded to different sort of logic, and he found himself acting as a human shield for his terrified female teammate before his brain had finished its smug, “I told you so.”

Luckily Kakashi had intervened, but later, when the threat of danger was no longer imminent, Sasuke had to wonder about his actions. Why was he so willing to throw his life away for a meaningless girl? He had goals to achieve. Threats to eliminate. Family to avenge. Offering himself up as a pincushion would bring about none of the things he strove for.

So why? Why?

Sasuke found sleep more elusive than it usually was for the duration of the mission. He wasted nights he should have been resting weighing the restless souls of his clan against the bright life of his teammate. Perhaps that--the fact that she still had a future ahead of her--was the reason he intervened. But was it forgivable to put the needs of an outsider above the needs of his family--even if they were dead?

When, no more than a few days later, Sasuke found himself protecting Naruto from sure death, he was annoyed, yes. Annoyed, but also a little relieved.

His apparent death wish wasn’t reserved only for Sakura but also for his teammates. Sasuke had been reporting to Kakashi for less than a month, and already his first lesson repeated like a mantra in his head: those who don’t take care of their comrades are lower than trash.

Not that, Sasuke told himself, he particularly cared what Kakashi thought. He needed the Jonin’s jutsu expertise--not his life advice. Still, the man was a legend. Not as legendary as the man he wanted to kill, but legendary enough that Sasuke could forgive himself for letting Kakashi’s words take root in his subconscious so quickly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Sasuke observed Sakura as she walked in a subdued manner beside him. Although the tear tracks staining her cheeks were no longer, her eyes were bright red and puffy. That was because of him. When she had thought he was dead, she had cried for him. Not dainty, fake tears. Messy, snotty, heartbroken tears. For him.

And even though it wasn’t useful, even though it broke shinobi rule #25, and even though he normally found her attention grating to an extreme level, somewhere a lot less deep than he wanted it to be, Sasuke was touched. It felt..nice to have someone care about you. To know someone would have his back and care about his well-being.

Sasuke looked at Sakura for a second longer before glancing at Naruto. The barest of grins fell into place. If this was what teammates were, Kakashi’s rule might make sense. And, therefore, so did his actions.

She was a person worthy of his protection. A fellow nin. A comrade.

And nothing more.

--x--

When his female teammate stood in front of him covered in an alarming numbers of bruises and scratches and swollen bits, Sasuke Uchiha never meant to act with anything but indifference.

Injuries were a constant companion of every ninja that ever was and ever would be.

So why was he burning with rage instead? The last time Sasuke could remember being this furious was the day he swore to himself he would avenge his clan’s death with his brother’s head on a pike. He could barely look at her without wanting to burn the whole fucking forest down.

On Naruto the deep wounds decorating her arms would be battle scars. Although Sasuke personally felt walking away from a fight unscathed was a stronger testament to a ninja’s adroitness than a brocade of scars, there was no denying that they were evidence of survival. After all, no one picked a fight with Ibiki on a whim.

Sakura, though--Sakura’s skin was supposed to stay unstained. She had chosen to place herself on the front lines, true. Just like him, just like Naruto, and just like every other Leaf nin. She was Sasuke’s sister in arms, technically. A back to place against his when the kunai were dense and escape routes were few.

But Sasuke saw the soft in Sakura all too easily.

There was affection in her eyes as she groused at Naruto and a playful tilt on her lips as she scolded Kakashi for his choices in literature. He knew that she adored sunrises and sunsets and butterflies and fireflies. She would rather be curled up in a patch of sunlight reading a book on genjutsu than training with her weaponry, but Sasuke had noticed the calluses that slowly grew on her hands.

It seemed, slowly but surely, Sakura was evening out the number of hair products and weapons she owned. Her bravery was matched equally with her fear. Labeling her the ‘weak link’ of the team would be easy--Sasuke had thought the same thing at first--but the exact same characteristics that made her weak made her a crucial component of their team.

She was Sakura, and, somewhere along the way, she had snuck up in Sasuke’s ranks from ‘comrade’ to ‘precious person.’

Because Sasuke cared that Sakura felt confident and not dejected, and not just because her insecurities could be the downfall of their team. He knew it was naive to think so, but in the last couple of months he had convinced himself that he and Naruto could shield her from any harm. If they could just grow strong enough, move fast enough, learn enough jutsu, Sasuke would never have to hear her scream in fear again. Never.

Idiot.

It didn’t matter that she was just one person or that Sasuke was older; he could no better protect her than he could stop his brother from annihilating everyone he had loved.

She was a pink target. A fleeting ray of sunshine. A doomed precious person.

And nothing more.

--x--

When a worried friend placed herself between him and the path out of Konoha's smothering walls, Sasuke Uchiha had every intention of brushing her aside and never looking back.

Sakura was a weakness, but her liability didn’t stem from her overly-conditioned hair and practically empty repertoire of useful ninja techniques as he had initially assumed. Sakura was his weakness specifically. She was his siren’s call.

In retrospect, he should have figured it out sooner. Sasuke had tasted power, just the smallest nibble, before Sakura’s arms and voice drew him back too soon. Instead of begrudging the loss, though, he spent his time mourning the blemishes on his teammate’s once-porcelain skin. Weak, unfocused, pathetic.

The twine-like bonds she had laid on him as a teammate had already transformed into shackles, and Sasuke could bear nothing holding him back if he wanted to move forward.

He had it right in the first place; Sakura was a shiny bauble. A distraction. To hell with Kakashi and his lectures on teamwork. Throwing himself between Sakura and danger wasn’t admirable. It was folly. Pure and simple.

So when Sakura cried, unshielded and honest, loudly enough for any to overhear that she loved him, Sasuke told her how annoying he found her.

But he also told her thank you, because he hadn’t yet squashed the part of himself that responded to those pure eyes, hopeful lips, and honest heart. He laid her down because he couldn’t bear to throw her aside like nothing, and he did it gently because the thought of hurting her any more made his stomach turn.

“It’s because your heart is lacking...lacking in hatred.”

And it was. His actions of the past few months with Team 7, towards Sakura now, proved that. But no longer.

She was a temptation. A moment’s weakness. A comfort.

And nothing more.

--x--

When a furious femme fatale  stormed the walls of Orochimaru’s crumbling hideout, Sasuke Uchiha hadn’t meant to call to her.

Striking Sakura down before she realized the threat would have been the more disciplined approach. It had been two and a half years since they had laid eyes on each other, though, and Sasuke was curious to see what he would find in those eyes. Were they still as unshielded and innocent as when he had left her behind?

Immediately Sasuke cursed his own weakness. He thought he had squashed the softness from his soul years ago. Yet not even a minute had passed in Sakura’s presence, and he was already seeking out her attentions--longing to see her look up at him in awe. Wanting to see her recognize how powerful he’d become without her to drag him down.

As he drew his sword to strike Naruto down, he told himself it was only her strength that captivated him now. He had heard the rumours, of course. Shutting out news of old teammates was hard when each member had landed themselves an apprenticeship from one of the legendary Sannin. So, yes, Sasuke had heard about Sakura in their time apart. Stories of a young medic already stepping out of her mentor’s shadow flitted about most villages. Already whispers of a pink-haired kunoichi who downed Sasori of the Red Sand could be heard in the shadows.

Reconciling the image of the trendy and polished girl he had left behind with the practically dressed young woman before him was difficult, though. Once painted nails were chipped and full of grime. Then enchanting, calculating green eyes narrowed beneath long, full eyelashes, and Sakura charged.

At that moment, Sasuke became certain that his fascination with the temptress before him was...professional.

She was a kunoichi. A fellow apprentice of a Sannin. A force to be reckoned with.

And nothing more.

--x--

When a Leaf kunoichi held a poisoned kunai in her hands and lies on her lips, Sasuke Uchiha felt the last fraying cord of his sanity snap.

There was not one thing, he was certain, not one single thing about Konoha that was worth saving. They thought they were so good and noble. Playing at being samurais in shining armor while war, death, disease, and famine sprung forth in their wake. How dare they preach morality from pedestals forged from his clan’s bones?

And it was all of them.

Not just the leaders or the politicians. Not just the Anbu and the elites. The Jonins and Chunins. The blacksmiths and doctors and civilians, too. Until this very second, he had considered the Genin and children an unfortunate casualty. He had only considered them guilty by associated with a tainted system, but now he knew that they too would rot from the inside out as time passed.

Of all the terrible things he had thought of Sakura, Sasuke had never considered her a deceiver. They stood on opposite sides, but he had expected her to approach him as openly as she always had. Yet here she stood with falsehoods forged to suit her own goals.

She was an enemy. A backstabber. A liar.

And nothing more.

--x--

When a Konoha colluder broke the horn off of a Goddess’s head with only her fist, Sasuke found he wasn’t the least bit surprised.

The moment Sakura jumped up onto the rock overhang with Naruto and him was the moment she came into her full power, and she had been turning heads ever since. Even the dobe, the one teammate who had been around to see her grow the most, had been shocked by the monstrous strength she suddenly channeled. It wasn’t that Sakura’s display left him unfazed. Instead, reunited on the ultimate battlefield, Sasuke felt a surge of pride for the mountain-leveling hellion before him.

They had separated once more soon after, but Sasuke saw the miniature versions of Katsuya attached to the cannon fodder nin of the Alliance. Saw shinobi up and fighting that should have already taken their final breaths.

Later, when Sasuke had felt Sakura falter under Madara’s gaze, he was almost hopeful she would let his ancestor focus on Naruto and him and stay out of sight. It proved to only be a moment’s hesitation, however, because Sakura shot past the both of them with the order to use her as a diversion.

Then she went and got herself impaled.

His heart seized when he saw the chakra rod holding Sakura aloft poking through the back of her flak jacket. She didn’t cry out, though; she just gritted her teeth and raised her fist to deliver a devastating blow. Of course, one of Madara’s shadows acted as an invisible shield, but the fact of the matter was she had tried to face down Sasuke’s ancestor--she had surprised Madara, even. After all, not many people still throw earth-shattering punches when they’ve been impaled.

As far as he knew, Sakura hadn’t spoken with the Sage of Six Paths. She hadn’t received any insights or gifts from one of the first chakra wielders. So, when Sasuke told her there was nothing she could do anymore, it was just because he wanted her to understand that, just like that time in the Forest of Death, she was facing opponents far above her pay-grade.

Sakura refused to back down, though. Madara’s murderous gaze made her falter but didn’t make her flee. Kaguya’s overwhelming reservoir of chakra made her wary but didn’t make her retreat. Had Sasuke not placed a genjutsu on her, she probably would have tried to interfere with Naruto and his fight, too.

Because, power ups or no, Sakura Haruno was one of them.

She was an elite. A Neo-sannin. An equal.

And nothing more.

--x--

When Tsunade’s successor crouched over his prone form and focused on knitting his mortal wound closed, Sasuke Uchiha wasn’t overwhelmed with relief at his survival.

He was overwhelmed with guilt.

Kami, how had he gotten everything so wrong and twisted up? Labeling Sakura--who she was to him, what she had accomplished--had become something a habit. As if summing up her existence in a few tidy words would make his feelings for her easier to contain.

Of course, it didn’t. Demeaning her and idolizing her had failed in equal measures. It had been like using explosive tags to try and defy gravity. Sasuke wrought plenty of wreckage in his wake, his fevered attempts at escape, but sooner or later physics became an inevitability.

And Sasuke was left to face the fact that he had spent his life hurting the person he loved the most.

The fact was that he had understood so very little. It had been a long time--ten years, to be precise--since Sasuke had allowed himself to love. Not lust for or admire, but love unabashedly and unfiltered in the way that Sakura had her whole life. So, for the first time, Sasuke was beginning that Sasuke loved every facet of her--not just this label or that description or that characteristic.

Because, the truth was, she was all of that. Annoying. A comrade. A precious person. A comfort. A force to be reckoned with. A liar. An equal. Sakura Haruno was all of those things, every single one and sometimes none of them at all, but still--still, she was…well.

His soulmate. His future. His second chance.

And still something more.

[actuallydeglace-blog]

I really really like your blog and stories, so much I find it a little intimidating to talk to you but I just want to let you know you're awesome! Have a nice day 💖

I am a huge dork, please do not be intimidated by me, I love talking to people and giving my opinion on matters I know little about!

Anonymous said:Hello! First of all, I love your fanfics a lot,specially Marrow. And now for the real question: who is the character that you enjoy writing and developing the most? Kisses, hoping for an update soon! You are too kind. Sakura’s struggles with Being In Love have been fun – maybe overwrought, now that I reread them, but fun. But they have come to an end in the latest chapter I uploaded, so I guess Ino learning not to be a spoiled rich twit in Flash Point is my current fav!

Anonymous said:InoKiba

AGREE

bouncyirwin said:So I finally fell into the KisaSaku hell and I read Uneasy Coexistence and h o l y s h i t you killed me (you could probably tell, kinda spammed your reviews)—EHM, anyway, amazing, you’re amazing.YESS MORE KISASAKU. Ok, not gonna lie, UC still has a lot of glitches and I want to rewrite the first 8 chapters, but it was such a carefree and fun writing experience because it was like… KisaSaku, man, who will even read it anyway. I hope to write a sequelish thing one day. And thank you for all the reviews – I am so far behind on reviews, much more than asks, but I try to respond to each one (better late than never). *cries @ mounting pressures*

thefreakykitty13stuff said:Heyo! I was just re-reading some of your work and I feel the need to let you know that you are my absolute favorite writer in ff!! Just out of curiousity, what are your favourite ships (crack or otherwise) ?Eyes brim with happy years. I don’t deserve this… My fav crack ships are whichever ones inspired me to write a story, but there are others that Intrigue me that I haven’t written about: anything involving TenTen, HidaKona, Sakura x any obscure character who is probably dead, Ino x anyone hot enough to deserve her (though hardcore Deidara at the moment because Flash Point, but GenIno one day ok promise), I think Kabuto deserves more love, the creep, I find Ibiki weirdly sexy and probably have some issues of my own to resolve there, and Kakuzu and his stringy thingies might be my first foray into darkfic one day, we’ll see.

~GENERAL PSA~ I’m AFK most of the summer. Please also consider this an answer to any entitled asks about updates: no, the free story on the internet is not going to be updated this summer and also, reminder, the writer owes you nothing. Paypal me a grand and let’s talk