Ballerina at Sea

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Cha7even

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It wasn’t until early next morning when Sakura woke up with a hangover that the true significance of her situation hit her. For the past few days she had done nothing but avoid the situation entirely when she could’ve been working to do something about it. Now all Sakura had was a day left… a little over twenty-four hours. How was she suppose to escape it in time?

All thoughts were forgotten when Ino invited her out for morning brunch. Sakura instantly thought of the man she met the night before, Hiromi. But that also brought back the memory of being forcefully removed from Hiromi’s presence by Kakashi a few hours after they had met.

Kakashi left her after a rather brief scolding. Though he had told her to go home Sakura didn’t listen. Rather, she went back into the bar to look for Hiromi. He was already gone. Sakura didn’t even have the opportunity to get his address or number.

When Sakura arrived at the corner café she was disheveled in appearance. Ino, however, was not. She was shining both on the outside and through her mischievous grin.

As soon as Sakura sat down her friend didn’t even bother to brace her for impact.

“Forehead, anything special happen after I left?” Ino asked, twirling her piece of bread in her coffee. “After all, I heard a lot of kunoichi lose their virginity around this time of year if they haven’t already.”

I bet you lost yours before you were a genin. Sakura thought darkly.

“No. I never even had the chance to get his number.” She replied, browsing the menu. After last night she didn‘t have much pocket change she could let go. Though her hospital hours had increased she got paid way more on missions. She wasn‘t used to being so low on cash.

A waitress came by and took Sakura‘s offer of just a coffee and pair of biscuits.

“Why? He didn‘t like you?” Ino inquired, a smirk on her face. “I had a great night myself. I was surprised that Hachiro was such a good guy.” She tapped her hands musically, her ego completely inflated. “I might actually call him tonight.”

Sakura rubbed her forehead, her nerves wrecked after so many drinks. She wasn’t used to letting her self go. “Are you sure he wasn’t after your body? Are you sure that you weren’t after his wallet?”

Ino smiled again. “Well, maybe that was our intentions to begin with… but I have to admit. We have chemistry.”

Sakura didn’t even want to know what she meant.

“You never answered my question. Why didn’t you get his number?” Her brows furrowed. “From the looks of things the flirty feelings was mutual. Did you mess things up again?” The waitress came by and set own Sakura’s order.

“Not exactly.” Sakura replied, taking a cautious sip of her coffee. “Kakashi came by.”

Ino’s eyes jumped. “Kakashi?”

Sakura nodded. “He practically dragged me off. When I came back Hiromi was gone.”

Her blonde friend giggled. “Hiromi?”

The kunoichi darkened. “What’s wrong with his name?”

“My aunt is named Hiromi, Sakura. What a fruit.”

“Shut it, Ino-Pig. He was really nice. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t talk to him longer.”

Ino figured that it would be best to avoid this part of the conversation. “So why did Kakashi pull you away? He catch you underage?”

“No.” Sakura shook her head, grimacing. “He was disappointed that I was out having a good time. Like I’m supposed to be at home, crying under my covers.”

“Well aren’t we?” Ino replied. “That’s what everyone expects. Except bartenders of course.”

She giggled again, staring straight at Sakura.

“I wish Asuma-sensei was still around to joke about that with me.” She said, not even darkening. She had since got over his death. “But he’d probably encourage it. Or even expect it. He was always so lax with us.”

Sakura wished Kakashi was like that. “I can never know with Kakashi. Sometimes he doesn’t seem to care at all. Other times…”

Suddenly Ino gasped. “Wait a second!” She slapped her hand against the table calling the attention of the people around her. She quickly quieted, and whispered back to Sakura. “How does he know about that? Is he that perverted? I thought he didn‘t know the other day…”

“I told him.” Sakura explained. “Yesterday I passed out in the hospital-”

“Passed out?”

“Over exhaustion.” Sakura lied, continuing. “He was there and just happened to overhear I was in the Nurses’ station. He was already suspicious, so I told him.”

“How did it go?”

Sakura paused, considering. “It could of gone better.”

They sat there then, for a moment, just considering everything. Neither of them spoke.

“I just wish we didn’t have to do this at all.” Sakura interrupted. “Like, just… avoid it. But it’s impossible. If you do, you get in trouble. Big trouble… it seems.”

Sakura didn’t think just not showing up would be as severe as Hiromi’s sister’s sentence… but harsh nonetheless.

“You’re right. I hate the idea all the same. But at least we have Ikebana and Dance. My specialties.” Ino piped, grinning at Sakura’s discomfort. Those were the classes at the academy Sakura nearly failed. She had a severe allergic reaction to one of the plants they picked and had to miss those classes entirely. The school didn’t have the best books on Ikebana and it was the one test Sakura didn’t ace.

“I just wish I could avoid the Sex-Ed classes. Maybe… find an alternative.” Sakura didn’t even want to imagine what else happened in those classes. “I don’t want to take part in the lectures, or in the final exam.”

Ino nodded. “I don’t want them checking to see if I lost my virginity or not. I mean, I heard it’s only a jutsu. But if you put up a counter-blocker they’ll bring in a nurse and everything. And from that point they’ll choose who you get to lose your virginity too.”

“Did that happen last year?” Sakura asked. “I heard some girl fooled them… but did it really?”

“No.” Ino responded. “The girl went out and lost her virginity right away. Either that or she improved the jutsu. They didn’t check her with a nurse the second time since they also put her under a lie jutsu.”

“But those don’t always work.” Sakura injected.

“She was weak willed. Apparently she even spoke his name.”

“Who was it?” Sakura could of imagined the guy would lie too.

Ino didn’t know him personally however, so she couldn’t give a name. “She was threatened with expulsion as a Ninja. I don’t think she’d lie. Tsunade stepped in, which is probably why they backed off.”

Sakura felt a little better with that.

“It’s a shame we can’t just have a shadow clone or something.” Ino suggested. “But I bet they also check if your re-”

“That’s brilliant.” The pink kunoichi interrupted. “Absolutely brilliant.”

Why didn’t she think of it before? Surely she could fool them if she tried hard enough? Naruto was an expert on making them. Sometimes she didn’t even know if they were real or not. As soon as he came back (which she hoped was soon) Sakura would offer him a date for some one on one training. He would never know any better. Nor would he nark on her if he did.

Ino wasn’t so sure however. “Brilliant? Nothing about that is brilliant Sakura. They must test for that. Anko may be a bit crazy, but she isn’t stupid. Nor are the observers.”

Sakura grinned. “Which is why I’ll show up to my other classes real, and sometimes to the sex-ed classes as myself too. They’ll never no the wiser. Plus, I’ll put everything I got into them. On the battlefield we don’t put all of our chakra into them because we need to fight. However…”

Ino was catching on. “We’re off duty! Maybe it will work. But what if it doesn’t?”

“Thinking of following me, Ino-Pig?” Sakura smiled. “It may be too suspicious.”

Her friend looked away. “It’s fine. I don’t want to follow you down your road of ruin.”

“You don’t have faith in me?” Sakura asked. “Just you watch.”

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About a half hour later Sakura finally left the café. Ino was doubtful of Sakura’s plan, but she was willing to swear by it. With enough training she should be able to fool them. After all, they had been fooled before. And if she put enough Chakra into them it shouldn’t be a problem.

But, the more Sakura though on it… it was a problem. She’d never pulled off a shadow clone for that long before. She wasn’t even sure how long the classes were going to be. What if it failed right in the middle of class? What if they caught her the first time? Would they be lenient on her? Would she have to do one of the sex missions?

Everything was looking pretty dismal even with her new idea going into action. She could mess up, no matter how good her chakra control was.


But I’ll do it. Sakura told herself. There is no doubt in my mind that I am going to try.

And she wasn’t going to let herself fail. She had at least at least two months before they checked to see if they lost her virginity. One of her plans was to send in a shadow clone. She would even send it to go have sex with someone.

An allibi. Or, if she was too skittish with that she could mask it to make it look like she lost her virginity.

Of course, did she even know what that looked like?

No.

But she had two months. A part of Sakura felt twisted for even considering sending out a shadow clone to sleep with someone.

Slowly Sakura made her way back to her residence, not mindful of the people around her despite being on such a busy street. She bumped into a number of people. She did nothing about it till she felt her purse being snatched away.

Not a smart thing to do in a ninja village, but Sakura wasn’t wearing her headband.

Without even thinking about it she pummeled chakra into her feet and ran into the direction of the thief. Within seconds she had him pinned down on the pebbled ground of an alleyway.

It was just a little kid.

Sakura let up after she pried his purse from his hand.

He stared at her with a face full of guilt.

She actually felt pity.

“I’m sorry…” He began, bowing his head. His tattered clothing made her wince. “I didn’t realize that… that you’re a ninja.”

Sakura frowned. “Expect the unexpected.”

“Can I go?” He asked, looking through her to the exit. “I won’t do it again… I promise.”

Sakura didn’t believe him in the slightest. But, she reached into her purse and grabbed a couple of notes.

His eyes opened wide.

“I don’t want it.” He said.

Sakura didn’t believe him again either, for his eyes were fill with greed. “Okay then.”

He reached out. “W-wait!”

The kunoichi turned around. “Still don’t want it?

He shook his head. “I want it, but I don’t want it given to me.”

She frowned. “You’d rather steal it? You don’t believe in an honest day of work?”

“You don’t either.” He replied, putting his hands into his pockets. “You ninja are all the same thing. Murderers. Mercenaries. Worse things than me.”

“I’m not bad. You’re not bad either. Just misguided.” Sakura explained. She didn’t like this kid. No matter how much pity she felt for him she shouldn’t deserve to hear this from someone in her own village. Not today.

The thief snorted. “Misguided? I’m just unlucky. No one hires a kid my age. Not even here.”

“You could be a ninja.” The kunoichi offered. “It pays well you know.”

He shook his head furiously. “I may be a thief, but I’m not a murderer.”

“What makes you think I am a murderer? I’m a med-nin. I save lives.” Okay, now Sakura was really frustrated. Who did this kid think he is? Sakura threw the notes of yen onto the ground.

The boy stomped on it, distaste present on his features. “If you were told to you’d kill someone. You’d kill an enemy. A villager, even your own friend. Ninja are scum because they do what they’re told. They are no better the enemy. They don’t even think that what they do is wrong.”

Sakura never thought she was right. But, he was wrong on one instance. “I wouldn’t do everything they told me.”

“Oh? What wouldn’t you do?” He asked, picking the notes off the ground. He slowly ripped them in half.

It made Sakura want to wring his neck. “I can’t tell you that.”

The thief smirked. “See, I told you so. You’re as hopeless as I am.”

He brushed by her, sprinkling the shreds of yen in front of her face.


As much as she wanted to Sakura didn’t go after him.

He was wrong again.

Last month she thought she was hopeless. Not anymore. Sakura had a plan, and she was going to stick to it. She wasn’t going to give up, just like that rude little kid.

And she’d have her pride, her avarice.

Slowly she stepped out of the alleyway, already aware that the kid was long gone. She could still feel the pieces of the yen notes in her hair, and figured she wouldn’t be able to get it all out until she looked into a mirror.

What a waste of money.

“Yo.”

Kakashi plopped down from the roof, a grin on his face.

“Just the other day you were in a fit.” He said, his eyes crinkling. “Then yesterday you were off flirting with a random stranger. Now your beating up little kids?”

The kunoichi wanted to punch him. “I’m still mad at you, Kakashi-sensei. He was gone when I went back. I didn’t even get his number.”

“For the better, I suppose.” He answered, reaching toward her face.

Sakura stiffened. “What are you doing?

His fingers casually brushed through her hair, catching a few flakes of yen.

“You had this in your hair.” He explained, examining it. “You shouldn’t of given that kid the money. I imagine after Madoka’s you don’t have much left. You wouldn’t really want to do a D class mission to pay your next bill… would you?”

He still doesn’t approve. Sakura thought.

“I’m fine. I can work another shift at the hospital, you know. Or even at the academy.”

She had before. Rather she did classes there often. Sakura began to walk off in the direction of her house. She wasn’t in the mood to talk with him right now. She wasn’t even sure when she’d see Hiromi next. She was a chunin after all.

“Speaking of the classes…” Kakashi trailed after her casually. “Any plans yet?”

She almost felt her heart jump. “Plans? What makes you think I’m going to avoid those classes. I can’t do that. I’ll get in trouble.”

The jonin nodded. “Yeah, like that Tsukuda girl who leveled the outpost.”

Sakura stopped in her tracks. “Tsukuda?”

Kakashi’s eyebrows rose. “You know her?”

The kunoichi raised her fist triumphantly. “Yes! That’s a start!”

Her teacher looked on, dumbfounded. “A start to what?”

All of a sudden he paled. “Oh… I see.”

The kunoichi smiled. “You know then, don’t you? The guy I met yesterday and the Tsukuda girl are siblings.”

He nodded. “You really shouldn’t hang out with him. He’s bad news.”

“Bad news?” Sakura didn’t believe that. He seemed to nice, even as a drunk with a family crisis. “I thought he was one of the nicest guys I ever met. You’re just being unfair.”

He didn’t let it go. “I’ve been on missions with him before.” Kakashi explained. “He’s emotional to the point where it gets in the way of a mission. And he tells terrible jokes.”

Is he joking? Sakura wondered. “Well, it doesn’t deter me in the least, Kakashi-sensei. Thank you for telling me his name.”

She turned the corner. Only a few blocks away from her house now. Then she could gather her equipment and go out for training.

“I’m serious. Don’t go out with him. It’ll only end badly.” He called out, not following her. “Why not go out with Naruto or Lee?”

Those were safe choices. He could always hurt one of them without guilt if they made his student feel bad. Well, maybe not Lee… but surely that strange boy deserved a little attention?

Just not Gai.

“Yeah…” Sakura yelled, throwing her head back. “But I don’t like them in that way. But Hiromi… just maybe.”

Kakashi didn’t like the sound of that.

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A Rotten Word with Biscuit

Here’s another chapter! Remember to review! It makes me happy.

I hope my update schedule is good for you guys. I had to take a little break since the last two chapters since I’m not used to writing so much at once.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has made it with me this far. All of you, I appreciate it. It’s such an incentive to keep on writing. This will be a pretty lengthy story, so I hope I can finish it and get started on my next one! (Which is much shorter). The one after that may be a SasuSaku, though.