Chapter 8: Time-Skip
[1 Year Later]
Konoha.
In the morning rays of sunlight, the leaf village burned bright in its majestic right. The streets crowded by civilians, Shinobi and lazy bastards.
Amidst the crowd, a pink-haired teenage girl walked through the street. Her eyes shone a brilliant jade glow under the star's watch.
"I wonder who I was sent to pick up?"
She blurted out, her gaze locked at the main gates in the far distance.
"Big sis Sakura!"
She halted in her steps, she wiped her head back to see who called her. To her surprise, it was someone she was quite familiar with. Konohamaru... And he wasn't alone, with him were his two comrades in crime. A girl, and another kid she never bothered to associate with.
"Where are you off to, Sakura-chan?"
The grandson of the third Hokage asked, his spiky brown hair ruffling in the wind.
Sakura pondered before she replied. "The Village's main gate. I have to pick up the morning pedestrian traffic ledger for Lady Tsunade... You want to tag along?"
Konohamaru and the others exchanged glances before nodding. Sakura chuckled, however, she froze as a man... or woman wearing a robe go past her.
She stayed motionless as she watched the person blend into the crowd and disappear. Seeing her in a trance, Konohamaru shook her to snap back Sakura to reality.
"Is something wrong, Miss Sakura?"
"Oh... Uh... Oh no, everything is fine!"
She awkwardly laughed as she continued walking, the trio following behind. However, Sakura couldn't seem to think enough of the unknown person who passed her.
'Why did that person feel so familiar?'
Lost in her thoughts, she reached the main gates before she even knew.
"Oi, Sakura!"
A person near the main gates called out, his hair was spikey and black in colour. The most noticeable was a white bandage across his nose.
Sakura glanced at the duo who were smirking.
"You should go to the Hokage's office... Who knows, you might find a surprise there"
The grin on his face seemed plastered, confident in his words. 'Surprise?' Sakura thought, puzzled as to what would make her surprised, and why at the Hokage's office.
Giving a sceptical look at the gatekeepers, she rushed toward the main building, Konohamaru and his friends right behind.
Suddenly, a thought crossed her senses. Making her mind race.
'No... I couldn't be. But then again, it's already been 3 years'
Her heart pulsing like a wild animal against a cage, her blood pumped like never before, her face turned beat read.
Sakura crossed the gates of the Hokage's office, she frantically ran towards the office and slammed it open like a madman.
Thud!
The sudden burst of sound attracted the gaze of the people present in the room. Sakura's eyes sniped the present characters.
Tsunade, Sizune.
And a familiar white-haired man. 'Jiraiya!' Sakura's eyes drifted off toward a man in black, his back turned to her.
However, she did not miss the striking blonde hair.
"Naruto! You're back!"
She walked towards him. But before she could hug him... or whatever she was going to do, Naruto tilted his head and glanced at her.
Sakura halted in her steps, a cold chill ran through her spine as his eyes scanned her.
His eyes, once warm and vibrant... Seemed so cold and distant, for a second she thought she was looking at someone else. Those cerulean eyes were deep like the ocean, and cold like the north.
But she knew it was Naruto...
"Hello... Haruno"
She stayed motionless... Haruno? Why would he not mention her as Sakura?
She wanted to voice her thoughts, but Tsunade raised her hand, making her shut up. The Fifth Hokage shifted her gaze toward Naruto.
"Welcome back, Naruto." Tsunade smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Naruto nodded, his face stoic.
"I would love for us to discuss your journey with... Jiraiya. But duty calls first. I have a job for you, Naruto. Can you do it?"
Naruto stayed silent, then he turned his back to the Hokage.
"No"
With a straight face, Naruto walked out. Sakura stared at his parting figure, he had not given her the slightest of attention, making her wonder.
Tsunade stared at the closing door with a dumbfounded expression, then looked at Jiraiya.
"Did... He just decline my order?"
The Sanin rolled his eyes.
"You made a request. Don't blame him, he got things to do..." Jiraiya's flickered away, leaving the three women to stare at each other.
Sakura furred her brows, a silent sweat rolling down her forehead.
"What... Is happening?"
Tsunade stood up, her eyes stern.
"I don't know. However, if you find out something, let me know"
Sakura hesitantly nodded and left the room.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone