The prodding of feet on soggy ground was heard as Sai briskly walked towards the Yamanaka flower shop, oblivious to the gloomy and tired poses of the civilians and ninja nearby. Lately, the weather had been so overcast that even Gai and Lee had stopped running through the village, scarring and blinding people for life.
But our young hero here, oblivious to it all, walked briskly, his genuinely fake smile placed on his indifferent face with his books on emotions tucked neatly under his arm, clueless to all the tired glares he received. Hearing the 'ting' as he opened the door only further widened his grin for it reminded him of who he fallen in 'love' with and who he had to spend the rest of his life with.
Any man would've grimaced if they had been in Sai's spot and decision, but considering that he didn't know how or what it meant, he just turned to the cashier where a pissed Ino sat. At the sight of the young man though, she perked up and lifted her cheek from her palm to greet him.
"Welcome to the Yamanaka flower shop Sai!" He noted the red handprint on her cheek with interest, but nevertheless, still replied with a polite tone.
"Ah, Ino-san. How are you doing?" She melted at his warm smile that he once again was oblivious to.
"Splendid. How areyou doing Sai-kun?" Her voice almost reached a breathy whisper at the last word as she batted her eyelashes at him. He moved away from the cashier, observing the flowers as he answered.
"I'm doing fine." She huffed at the lack of reaction at her flirting. Picking out a bouquet of flowers, he placed it on the counter.
"Are you sure you want to buy those flowers?" Ino asked as she glanced at the combination that he had picked out.
"Yes. The colors look nice enough. Is there something wrong with it?"
"Well, it depends on who you're going to give it to." She bit her lip and winked at him. "Is it a certain someone with blue eyes and blond hair?"
He stared impassively at her before replying. "Are you implying that I'm going to give flowers to Naruto-kun? My relation with him is completely.." he searched through one of his books "platonic."
He read another paragraph before answering further. "And I do not 'swing that way' nor am I.." His eyebrows scrunched in confusion as he read the book again. "walking out of the closet..?" His smile turned into a deep frown as he continued reading.
"I come out of the closet everyday. Is there something wrong with that? Am I supposed to not eat fruits?" The book had only managed to confuse the poor shinobi further and aggravate Ino as well.
"Are you mocking me?" Her face was red now in anger and she was slightly screaming at him.
"Please, Ino-san. I only want to purchase some flowers for the hag." He shut his book firmly with his hand and dug some coins out of his pockets. Placing it on the counter, he calmly waited for the fuming kuniochi to cash and provide him with his flowers.
Her anger faded in an instant and she placed on a broad fake grin. "It's for Sakura? Of course you can purchase them!" He smiled back, and lifted the bouquet of flowers.
"The hag better appreciate this." Sai muttered in a tedious voice.
"Oh, she will." Ino waved at him cheerfully as he walked out of the flower shop.
"Hag." A nod.
"Sai." A grin.
"What do you want?" She sighed in annoyance as she continued to work.
"Nothing actually." She watched the small children run and tackle each other. She grimaced as one child tripped over his feet and fell forward rather violently onto his face. But he only got back up and continued to play.
It was amazing how they were so strong for their age and innocence.
"It's amazing isn't it?" She smiled at the dark haired boy next to her and he glanced away from her to glance at what she had been talking about.
"What is?" He asked, his eyes following the movement of a child's as it ran towards its mother.
"The children." She was going to dismiss the topic, for somebody who couldn't grasp the concept of happiness wouldn't be able to grasp the concept of this would they?
Before she could say anything else, Sai started talking in his low voice.
"For shinobi, missing out on a fact or having too much innocence ends up killing them. But for these children.. Their innocence, their lack of knowledge, and their honesty.."
Sakura watched as his eyes lowered to his backpack. He brought out his treasured book and brushed a thumb over it.
"It's something I remember wishing I had when I was a child." Sakura bit her lip. She placed a comforting hand on his bicep and squeezed it to assure that she was there.
He never turned to acknowledge it nor did he utter any more words. They watched the children play in quiet for the rest of the time.
"Danzou-sama." The dark haired shinobi poofed into existence and kneeled in respect for the older man.
"Ah. Sai was it? Is that what they call you nowadays?" The older man coughed into his sleeve and wiped the blood onto his bandages.
"Yes, sir." Sai bowed his head to his leader, but didn't rush to help him when he had coughed up the blood.
"Do you have everything ready? Sai's gaze watched his master's feet walk and crush the bouquet of flowers beside him nonchalantly as he viewed the village of Konoha. He did not answer immediately to the question.
"You play a major role in this plan. You understand this well do you not?"
"I do sir." He stayed in the kneeling position but raised his head and grinned at Danzou.
Peeking out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Sai's large fake grin.
"I told you not to smile at me like that. It's sickening to see such a phony act."
His large grin dissipated into a grim line. "I will have to practice more for this mission to succeed then." Danzou closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath.
"Failure is not an option. Not like your previous mission." Sai raised his eyes to make contact with Danzou's.
"Punishment for this will be death." The last words seemed to echo throughout the hall as they were uttered.
His expression did not falter as he stood and made the appropriate seals to poof away.
"Hey, Naruto!" Naruto spun around to face Kiba and Shino. He grinned back at the dog boy.
"Hey guys. How's Team Ten going?" Naruto asked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Eh. Ever since Kurenai-sensei had to leave cuz of her baby, we aren't getting anymore fun missions you know?" Kiba whined.
"Yea, I know what you mean." Naruto nodded in response.
"Well, to get onto what we came her to tell you." Shino spoke for the first time since the conversation had started.
"Eh?" Naruto cocked his head to the side, wondering what they could've come there for.
"Yeah, well.." Kiba sighed in frustration.
"It's about our teammate, Hinata." Shino spoke in his careful monotone.
"Hinata? What about her?" It wasn't normal for people to ask him about the Hyuuga heiress.
Both their tones went grave. "Have you seen her anywhere?"
Sakura returned from her monthly duty of babysitting the hospital children and sighed in bliss as she sunk into her large chair. She closed her eyes in utter happiness at the thought of going home and having time for extra sleep.
"U-um, Sakura-sempai?" Her eyes snapped open and glanced at the nervous nurse.
"There's a note here for you." Sakura nodded.
"Leave it on the desk." The nurse nodded and scampered off after doing so.
Sakura hurried around the desk and placed her hospital outfit in the closet. Taking her purse and her items, she started to run out of there as fast as possible when she noticed the small not on her empty desk. Curiosity peaked; she picked up the small piece of paper and opened it up.
"Of loving beauty you float with grace.
If only you could hide your face.
Kind, intelligent, loving, hot,
I just described what you are not."
P.S. There were flowers attached, but they were crushed. Sorry.
That day was when the hospital cracked in half.
Hahahaha. Ha. Ha. Ha—uh yea..
Right. Where was I this whole time you ask?
Um…To tell the truth, I had the entire story planned out, but then I lost it, and then regained it, but didn't like it, so I changed it, so then I got all mixed up..
And yea. Sorry about that. Hope you liked it..[It's really short. Sorry about that.