Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"If you really are looking for hostility then I'll give it to you. SEXIST ASSHOLES." 

With one look to one another the two men lunge towards her, dirt flying upwards with their large bodies. The redhead doesn’t even bother to grab his sword, arrogance seeping off of him in waves. She is going to show his stingy ass. 

The brunette man claps his palms together once before his fingers come together to form a summoning jutsu. Instead of nicking his thumb and summoning a creature, an intricately decorated scroll appears. 

Releasing the flashy scroll, the brown haired man reveals a grass cutter sword. Not unlike Sasuke’s. 

The brown haired man comes in on Sakura’s right and the cocky redhead to her left. In one swift motion Sakura rises up in the air above them. Then lifting her toned leg up she splits the Earth open with the heel of her open toed boot. An easy distraction. 

The rocky ground doesn’t faze her. While her opponents are caught with their eyes bulging out, Sakura races to deliver a final attack to each of them. Deciding on using her chakra scalpels to serve the nerves allowing their limbs to move, Sakura’s arm raises to first incapacitate the redhead. Inconveniently however, the man snaps out of his trance and delivers a hard punch to her nose. 

Sakura’s green eyes begin to severely water. Blurring the images around her of rocky Earth, blue water, and loud clothing patterns. Her head wobbled back with the punch forcing her body to follow. Sakura topples back a yard before regaining her footing, she lost four crucial seconds. 

Instinctively healing her broken nose, Sakura then raised her hand quickly enough to block the brunettes' attack with his grass cutter to her abdomen. Getting back to her plan, Sakura activates her chakra scalpels once more and serves several nerves in the man’s muscular legs.  

The brunette’s knees collapse inwards, folding himself in half. He lands with a pained grunt and his sword clatters next to him. That’ll teach the bastard some manners. Jeez. 

Lastly, turning to the redhead, who is finally using his sword, Sakura sends an enraged glare toward him. He remains unaffected and charging. Still cocky? Sakura cracks her knuckles, releasing tension in her hands and a sickening pop.

Latching her hand onto the sturdy tree behind her, Sakura yanks the tree (roots and all) out of the ground. Using the plant as a shield and a sword, Sakura easily traps his sword in the tree.

These shinobi must be low ranking. But to be so snarky. Was it really just because she’s a girl? 

Then Sakura also severs the redhead’s nerves, leaving both men unable to stand. Finally being able to quench her greedy thirst, Sakura drops near the river. The cool liquid rolls down her chin as she kneels next to the rushing river and feeds her need for water.

Her chakra depletion and concussion finally getting to her, Sakura’s body suddenly begins to feel as flimsy as a leaf in a storm. Sakura sways until she inevitably tumbles into the cold river water. Dizziness betraying her. 

The icy water stills her breathing and raises every one of her hairs. Shit. Sakura found herself repeating encouraging words to herself as she struggled to swim against the pushing current–a strategy Shizune-san taught her years ago. The doctor in her screamed at this fucking awful situation. The cold water crisped the air in her lungs and numbed her aching limbs. It stung her thin cuts and Sakura briefly wondered if the water would infect them. 

Sakura’s body finally stilled to a harsh stop once her back crashed into a large rock. Her hands frantically grasped the rock and she pulled herself on top of it. Rolling off the moist rock into the plush grass, Sakura gasped and dry heaved. Her green eyes glanced up at the sky and noted the evening shift. 

Pushing her torso up into a sitting position, Sakura teetered back and forth. She contemplated what she should do. There was obviously shinobi here and she had no clue where the nearest village was located. 

“Good evening, are you lost young girl?” An old firm voice questioned. Shifting her body to the side, Sakura saw an old woman. She was tall, taller than Sakura, with a blue and black kimono. The kimono was decorated with constellations and was well worn. Her gray hair was pinned up into a sophisticated bun, her face was lean, and the old woman was blessed with striking foxy features. 

“Yes, I am.” Sakura admitted. The old woman’s face flashed with empathy. “My name is Taibana Hasuno, I will assist you young girl.” Hasuno spoke with stern kindness. Leaving nothing for debate. 

Willing herself to stand, Sakura’s cloak ripped in half revealing her ‘uncanny’ outfit. Hasuno’s eyes widened comically. “What are you wearing?” Hasuno demanded. Now fed up with this–assumed–far away place, Sakura decided on a story to tell. A half truth, mostly lie. “Well... you see I have traveled wide after my village was recently destroyed.” Memories of Pain’s destruction still left stinging wounds making this even more believable. Even though it pained Sakura to fib to such a kind civilian. “I come from very far west, where this attire is normal.” Finished with her story, Sakura held the woman’s gaze. Hasuno’s deep blue eyes calculated Sakura and the latter couldn’t help but appreciate her need to be thorough. “I see.. I will bring you to my home and help you to your feet again.” 

Hasuno’s hospitality was grand and beautiful. Hasuno’s face crinkled, a determined smile blooming. “Thank you. Thank you very much.” 

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