—— Bloom Again ——

“When you've been hurt,its easy to be in pain. Healing is the hard part. ”

———————————

"Did you hear about what happen last night?"

"Apparently someone had attempted to betray Konoha and steal the Scroll of seals!"

"I don't know what's that but it does sound important."

"Do you think this person manage to steal it?"

"I'm not sure about that. There were rumours saying that he was caught in the act and yet managed to escape but there were also rumours saying he was caught by someone and is now in T&I."

"Hm,being ninja seems very dramatic."

"It sure is."

::

"Hey mom,I'm about to leave now!"

"Sakura, are you sure you didn't forget anything?" Mebuki Haruno eyed her daughter. She truly had grown up to be a girl who has spunk unlike the shy and timid girl she once were.

"Yes,mom." Sakura nodded her head, shoving the last piece of toast into her mouth

"Hey kura-chan, I have one more." Kizashi grin, his eyes fill with playfulness. Sakura inwardly groan,she knew what is coming. This is going to be the tenth dad joke she endured today

"Why don't eggs tell jokes?"

"I dont know dad,maybe because they're not alive?" Sakura sarcasticaly replied

"Nope, because if they did, they would've crack each other up."

"Oh my god. Mom, remind me again, why did you marry him?" Sakura groan as her hands fly to her face cringing from the dad jokes

"Sweetie, shouldn't you know the answer by now?" Kizashi said, pausing to see if Sakura knew the answer before continuing, "Isn't it obvious, it's because Mebuki loves my jokes of course!"

Mebuki rolls her eyes and kiss Sakura's forehead before nudging to her husband to do the same. Sakura gladly welcome both forehead kisses. She misses the forehead kiss her parents would give her everytime she would go to the academy.

"Bye mom, bye dad!" Sakura shouted before she exits the door while the remaining Harunos stare at the door where their daughter had just left.

"You know,our daughter seems different."

"I know, she doesn't do the same stuff she usually does. Ever since that one time I found her having a nightmare, she's been different."

"She has changed."

"I hope it's a good change."

"Speaking of change, I know one change we both can do. How about we give Sakura a little sibling?"

"Kizashi!"

"I was only joking....Or am I?"

A loud smack echoed throughout the room.

::

"Oh,you're oddly early today,did Yoshina-san force you to do so?" Sakura greeted the spiky pony tailed boy.

"As usual." Shikamaru mumbles out a reply

"Well are you excited for today's team assignment?" Sakura asked Shikamaru as she took her own seat behind his.

"No, I already know who are my teammates."

"Ino and Chouji huh?" Shikamaru lifted his head and stared at the pinkette.

"What? It's the clan's tradition,is it not?" Sakura shrugged her shoulders

"See this is what I meant when I said the others don't think like we do," Shikamaru pointed out and Sakura shrugged once more.

"Okay, maybe we are a little different. But that doesn't change anything." Sakura retorted. She didn't knew why Shikamaru is trying to achieve by pointing this fact out.

"No Sakura, it changes everything."

Hearing those words coming from Shikamaru, Sakura knew that she was hovering around a danger zone. Shikamaru was not someone you would like to play brain games with even with a brain like Sakura's. Afterall, Shikamaru in the future was a powerful ally to have and possibly could have claimed to be the world's best strategist if it weren't for his sacrificial death.

"Whatever floats in your boat,Shika-kun, whatever floats in your boat," Sakura said as she turns to face the blackboard. She wonders if Shikamaru would be the first person who figure out her current situation.

"Sakura-chan!" The loud cheerful voice couldn't have possibly fooled anyone on who was it. It was as expected, Naruto.

"Morning, Naruto!"

"You're early today, Naruto." Shikamaru mumbles out 

"Eh,shikamaru, you're here too? I'm here early so I can sit beside Sakura-chan!" Naruto excitedly replies with a cheeky grin and somehow oblivious
To Shikamaru's mumbles of what sounds like a snort and a "Of course it'll be her,"

But Sakura wasn't Naruto and she had notice Shikamaru's mood that had dampen after the arrival of the said blond. She sigh and stood up.

"Sakura-chan?"

"Come on, Naruto, we're sitting beside Shikamaru."

"W-what?"

"Or would you like to sit beside Sasuke-kun so you could continue and develop your bromance?" At this Shikamaru's ears perked up, probably curious. Sakura slides into the same bench as Shikamaru and watches how Naruto sputter from embarrassment.

"Oh come on Sakura-chan! I told you already, I spilled my ramen broth onto him. That's why he was undressing. There was nothing more!"

"Mmhm," Sakura hums teasingly while trying to poke Shikamaru to get a reaction. To her annoyance, there was none. Naruto wanted to argue more, but a sudden screech stop him.

"You. Did. What?!"

Shikamaru turn to look at Sakura in the eye, trying to convey his feelings.
Sakura wholeheartedly agrees with him. She nods her own head and inwardly sigh.

Naruto turn and meet the blue eyes of one pissed off Yamanaka. "You spilled ramen broth on Sasuke-kun? How dare you! Of course, the village pariah would be the one to—"

"Don't talk about things you know nothing about, Ino." Sakura interrupted, her emerald green eyes narrowed. It was one thing to be offended on behalf of Sasuke, but it was another to bring up a very, very sensitive topic.

"Please, I know alot about Naruto, actually. He has no family and that's why he's acting this way. If I was his family, I wouldn't want him too." Ino's sneer made the blue eyed boy flinch and Sakura swore her vision had gone red.

"Ino, enough that's too far." Shikamaru stood. He knew it was going too far and if he doesn't stop Ino, Sakura will take matters to her own hands.

But before Sakura could stood up,the front door slide open, and in walk a duck ass haired boy. "Tch, you say as if a family could guide someone to the right path, but look at you now? You have a family, but who's the one that is insulting—no bullying other people?"

"S-sasuke-kun?"

"Naruto accidentally spilled his broth on me after one civillian had purposely push him. You immediately assume that he had purposely spill his broth onto me, just because I'm your so called crush. How low can you be?" Sasuke ended his small speech with a sneer as he slide in into the sit beside Sakura's.

No one registered Ino running out, furious with angry tears rolling down her cheeks. Sakura and Naruto blink blankly.

"Sakura-chan, was that really Sasuke teme? I never heard him talk this much before." Naruto not so obviously whispered to Sakura, eyeing the raven haired boy once more

"I'm afraid that is actually Sasuke, Naruto. And to think he even talk this much to defend you. Awh, Naruto, your bromance with him is developing so much, should I be worried?" Sakura teases the boy, oblivious to the other boy whose neck had became warm.

"S-sakura-chan! It was a one time thing! There's also nothing for you to worry about!"

Shikamaru sigh, and start to walk away to find for the obnoxious Yamanaka.

Sakura turn to the moving pony tailed hair boy "Shika-kun?"

"I'm gonna go get Ino. It'll be troublesome for me if she runs away before the team was even assign."

"Wait you know your teammates already? What?! I want to know mine too!"Naruto exclaimed

"Shikamaru-kun only knows because it's his clan tradition, Naruto."

"Ah, I see Sakura-chan." Naruto sheepishly replied, his cheeks dust pink

"Hm, you better put a muzzle on that girl's mouth Nara." Sasuke muttered smugly, making Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. Again, it's alright to be upset with what Ino said, but indirectly implying she's a dog is a good way to end up in the Nara's bad side.

"She's not a ddog Sasuke." Shikamaru replied rather plainly but there was a hidden edge to it as if challenging Sasuke to disagree. Sasuke scoffed in disagreement but said nothing to defend his point. He then proceed to look out of the window ignoring everyone else as students who had pass the genin test starts walking in. A pair of emerald green eyes studied the two boys sensing some animosity between both boys. 

She has made her decision.

"I'll follow you, Shika-kun."

She ignored both shocked stares from Naruto and Sasuke.

::

"You don't need to follow me you know. I can find her myself."

"Oh I know, but trust me, with me along, we'll find her in no time. I know just the right place she'll go." Sakura replied, speeding up leaving the pony tailed boy to eat the dust she left behind.

"Hm, what a drag." Shikamaru grunted, turning around the corner and speeding up as well to catch up with Sakura.

"I already have one Uchiha grunt I have to handle, I dont need another one, Shika-kun." Sakura's voice echoed throughout the hallway.

Her eyes scanned the hallway and falls to a familliar looking door leading to the academy's garden and training grounds. It was the door that led to the start of her friendship with Ino and the end of it.

Literally and figuratively.

::

"Hey you loser! How does it feel like living like a loser with a huge forehead and ugly pink hair?"

"I'm not a loser!"

"Says who?"

"M-my mama told me—"

"Your mama is a liar. She only says that to make you feel better. The truth is you have a very huge forehead. You couldn't even defeated Ami with that huge forehead of yours! You're just a pink haired freak!"

"N-no,my mama is not a liar. She loves me so she wouldn't lie to me. "

"Exactly. She don't love you and that's why she lied. Look into the mirror for once, you mutt. You're just a nobody."

"Hey bug someone else, why dont you?!"

"Oh no, run, it's Yamanaka-san! Don't let her see your face or else she'll recognise you."

"That's right, keep running while you can!" The blond haired girl shouted towards the running kids and the pinkette flinch at the loud and brash voice.

Two blue eyes eyed the pink haired girl who had curled up into a ball.  "Hey, you're not hurt, are you?"

"I-I'm doing fine." The shy and timid pinkette stuttered out.

The blonde girl doesn't take any offence to the stutter. In fact, her smiles only widened, "I'm Yamanaka Ino, at your service."

"M-my name is Haruno Sakura and I'm 5 years old!"

Ino took a step back,"Woah, you have a fire in you, little bud."

Sakura let out a yelp and flushed pink. "My mama taught me that if I were to introduce myself, I should do it with confidence and pride."

Ino nods her head in agreement  "That's good. Ne, Sakura-chan, let's be friends yeah?"

"I-I'd like that!"

::

"For the hundreth time, stop bothering Sakura-chan! She's my friend!"

Sakura smiled, Ino always somehow know when she was being bullied."Thank you Ino-chan."

"Welcome, Sakura-chan. Those idiots should know better than bullying others." Ino huffed with pride

Sakura frowned. "Ino, thank you for everthing you've done. You guide me to be more brave and confident but when it comes to them,its like all the progress is gone."

Ino's blue eyes widen,and she quickly hugs Sakura."Don't worry Sakura-chan, I'll always be there to protect you from them!"

"N-no, I don't want to burden you,Ino-chan. That is why, I've decided to join the academy. I want to be strong."Sakura spoke proudly and eyed her friend's reaction. To her suprise,the reaction was the opposite to what she had expected.

"I don't think you're even a full fledged flower yet. You're still a bud, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura's smile and confidence wavered. 'I'm a bud huh..?'

But Sakura manages a wider smile. "Hehe, I guess so, Ino-chan. But even so I still want to join the academy!"

::

"What? Sakura,you can't just like the guy I like!"

"Why not? Sasuke-kun has other followers too!" Sakura crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes

"Yes, but you can't like him because you're my best friend!" Ino exclaimed

Sakura sigh and prepared herself for either the best decision she ever made or a decision she might regret later on. "Is that so? From now on then, you're my rival, Yamanaka Ino. We will fight for Sasuke-kun's heart."

Ino's blue eyes widen in horror. They have been bestfriend since they were 5, so how could Sakura just break their 3 years of friendship? Yamanaka Ino did not understand Sakura's reasoning "What? Sakura you can't just decide that!"

"I will be Sasuke-kun's wife! May the best girl wins Sasuke's heart!" Sakura exclaimed loudly

Yes, Yamanaka Ino didn't understand, but for Sasuke-kun's heart, she did not need to understand. She will fight for Sasuke-kun if that is what Sakura wants.

"No, I will be Sasuke-kun's wife!"

"Keep dreaming, pig."Sakura sneered, and it was as if someone had switched on the violent switch in Ino.

"What did you say, Forehead?!"

'I'm sorry, Ino. I have to do this or else I wont ever grow up especially if you're blocking the sunlight from hitting my flower.'

::

There was fire everywhere. Houses were destroyed,families were missing and the Hokage was missing. Kakashi Hatake, Konoha's Rokudaime was missing.

"Shadow, have you seen Scarecrow?"

"Negative. There's no sign of him, Cherry blossom."

"Fuck. Knight,can you search this area with your eyes?"

"There's no traces of his chakra anywhere,but there is one weak chakra pulsing at the academy. Wait, it's Cosmos! She's injured!"

"I'll head there immediately. Knight, keep looking. Contact Fox and Ink and inform them about Scarecrow's disappearance. Shadow, I think you should come with me."

"Noted. And Cherryblossom?"

"Yes knight?"

"Please be careful. I love you."

"And the same to you too, Neji. Shadow, let's go."

Both shadow and cherry blossom shunshin away.

"We're loosing her, cherry blossom."

"You think I don't know that?!"

The pair finally reach the entrance to the academy,trailing carefully. Ino being injured had meant someone might still be hanging around either to finish her off or to lure others. Shikamaru and Sakura was leaning towards the latter.

'Left' Cherryblossom signed to Shadow and he nod. Shadow quickly reaches out for the threat hidding behind a tree with his shadow and force the man to plunge his own Kunai into his neck. The threat did not last long.

Cherryblossom followed what was once a familliar place fill with kids, and stopped when she reaches a familiar door. Her heart clenches painfuly at the sight that awaits her when she open the door.

There was Cosmos, Yamanaka Ino, lying on the cold hard ground, with both her hands and legs broken, her stomach stabbed with a blunt Kunai more times anyone could count and was living the last seconds of her life. Cherryblossom hand's immediately glowed green hue of medical chakra and hovered desperately on one Yamanaka Ino's body.

They were too late.

Cosmos did not make it. They went back to Knight, with a dead body in tow and two griefing people that day. 

::

"We're here," Sakura snapped out of her thoughts of the future and focus at the matter at hand. It's time to fix her friendship and this time she will do it, the proper way.

Both Shikamaru and Sakura walk through the door that leds them to a training ground and the academy's garden. Sakura thought how ironic her situation is. Here she was meeting Ino, at the same place with the same accompany only years too early.

"Ino?" It was Shikamaru who had called out Ino first.

Ino's reaction was immediate and came from a nearby tree. "Go away Shikamaru!" Sakura hears another sniffle from Ino and Shikamaru sigh.

Sakura took this as an opportunity to speak. "Ino, remember we used to play here all the time?"

"S-sakura? What are you doing here? Why aren't you with S-sasuke-kun?" Ino stuttered out.

"She help me to find you." Shikamaru explained and Sakura continues

"I knew you'd be in here. This was our favourite hiding spot,afterall."

"Our? It no longer became Our when you broke our friendship, Sakura."

Shikamaru raises one of his eyebrow at that but Sakura only shook her head and whispered 'Later' to him. Shikamaru stiffly nods and stands back.

"I had to do what I had to do Ino. You were disrupting my growth as a person. You were getting used to protecting me that I feel that if we stayed in that type of friendship I'd forever be a bud to you." Sakura spoke, and hearing this, tears sprung to Ino's blue eyes in understanding.

All this years, Ino had thought she didn't need to understand because of Sasuke, but now Yamanaka Ino finally understood. Ino stood and came out of her hiding spot, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

Both Shikamaru and Sakura eyed Ino's crying form."I-I understand. I'm sorry that I always make you feel like a bud. I knew you had potentials to grow into a beautiful flower,but I didn't want you to. I was scared of being left behind." Ino explained

"Oh,Ino. I'd never leave you behind. You were my bestfriend for 3 years after all. What do you say we start over?"

"W-what about Sasuke-kun?"

"Ino, don't tell me just because of a boy we're going to loose our friendship again."

"No, I won't let that happen. Not anymore. From now on Yamanaka Ino is not interested in Uchiha Sasuke anymore!"Ino proudly exclaimed as she raise her hands in the air

"That's my girl!"Sakura cheered and brought the blond girl into a hug

"I'm sorry to interrupt but can we get back to our class now?"

"Tch, trust Shikamaru to always ruin the mood."Ino huffed ,clearly annoyed  by the interruption. But Sakura saw the whole situation in a different light.

"Awh, Shika-kun,you're just jealous you didn't get a hug from me, isn't it? Come here you!"

She proceeded to drag Shikamaru into their hug and hug the life out of him while his cheeks were burning red from embarassment.

What a pair of troublesome woman indeed.

::

"Jiraiya-sama, I believe there's a fan of yours who is more than willing to meet you in person!"

"Well, what are you waiting for then,bring them in!"

"Hello Jiraiya-san. My name's is Yuri and I've been a fan of yours for years now!"

"Yuri-chan, you're making this old man blush! What do you say we talk about my work in my hotel room?"

"I'm more than glad to accept,Jiraiya-san. I have a few things I'm sure you'll be interested in,"

"I'm sure I'll enjoy all of them equally."

—To be continued—
Hey ,I'm back with a chapter that has 3000 words and more!
Here's their codenames:
Knight=Neji

Scarecrow=Kakashi
Fox=Naruto
Shadow=Shikamaru
Ink=Sai
Cherryblossom=Sakura

First, I would like to clarify how important this chapter was for Ino and Sakura's friendship development. The words where Ino belittle Sakura by saying she was a bud was canon and not many Naruto fans know about this.

Thus, this is why I'd like to believe their rivalry over Sasuke just gave Sakura a reason to distance herself with Ino for her to grow up as a person of her own.

Okay now that's clear, I have a few questions for you readers.

Anyone want to see the Haruno family with a little addition?

Favourite pairing so far?

And, your thoughts on the last section that includes Jiraiya and Yuri who claimes to be Jiraiya's fan. Any idea on how that'll play out?

Merry Christmas everyone and enjoy your holidays!