HAPPY NEW YEAR, MIINA!! Wow, it's 2018, huh? Is it just me or are the years just flying by faster now? Sorry for not updating when I promised, but I just got so carried away with the end of vacation and rereading Harry Potter and writing this chapter! I've got a long one for you this time! So not excited to go back to school... TˆT Why did vacation have to fly by so fast? Oh, and just for those who may not know, onigiri is a rice ball. Gotta go to sleep to be up early for school, so here is chapter 9!

            Sakura woke up at the crack of dawn, unable to sleep anymore. She got to work as soon as she did, finding pleasure in her daily routine as it took her mind off of unpleasant things. As soon as she got ready and dressed, she went to the kitchen, took all food she'd bought the day before, and started cooking. Sakura had to admit, she wasn't a phenomenal cook, which was why she only chose things that would be easy to make: meat mostly and rice as well as lots of fruits and vegetables.

            She cut the meat up in slices, seasoned them, and let them grill while she sautéed some vegetables. As soon as that was done, she set to work on making onigiri. It took her around two hours to finish everything, and she packed it all in her basket, putting the meat in a thermos to keep it warm and setting aside a portion for Shizune.

            When that was done, she walked out of the living room and down the left corridor, entering the half of the house reserved for receiving and treating patients. She looked at the piece of paper pinned on the wall. The paper was a list of patients she had to either see or make medicine for. Thankfully, there was not a lot of people scheduled for a consultation today, so Sakura could go take care of Naruto and Sasuke for the majority of the day. Since it was still too early for anyone to come for in, she decided to get a head start and prepare the medicine that she would hand deliver later. She took down some herbs that had been drying for a couple days and set to work.

            Sakura always felt at ease in the consultation room; she was in her element there. It was also the only place that no one dared whisper about her because they needed her when they were in that room. They even seemed sincerely nice when she was with them individually. It was out there, when all the individuals converged, that they were scariest. For some reason, when human beings were in a group, it seemed to be as if they had no mind anymore; they only followed the strongest-willed one, which, as far as Sakura had seen, always seemed to be the worst of them. Human nature really was foul, but Sakura's faith in humanity continued to be strong because she knew that once in a while it produced a shining pearl, like Shizune. If it weren't for her, Sakura was sure she would have become a bitter person like the rest of the people in the village.

            No sooner had Sakura finished preparing everyone's doses for the day that the bell rang and her first patient of the day came in. She turned and smiled almost instantly when she saw who came in. A woman carrying a four-year-old on her hip walked in, and timidly smiled at her.

            "Good morning, Soraya-san," Sakura greeted amiable. "And good morning to you, Akio-kun!"

            The four-year-old, Akio, squealed in happiness and held his arms out towards her. Soraya allowed Sakura to take him and she held him up in the air. He was a chubby little thing with a mess of red-brown hair atop his head, and deep chocolate brown eyes, his eyes being the only thing that indicated that Soraya was his mother. Soraya was a gentle woman and very timid. She had wavy black hair that went just a little past her shoulders and the same brown eyes as Akio. She was small in stature and looked quite weak, but she never got sick surprisingly. She was also probably the only villager that tried to stand up for Sakura occasionally. Sakura would hear her voice poke through the whispers as she crossed the village, trying to get in a good word for her edge-wise. Soraya wasn't very imposing though, so Sakura doubted anyone else heard her, but she was grateful to her nonetheless.

            "Who is the cutest kid in the world?" Sakura cooed to Akio. "You are!"

            "Saku!" Akio laughed as he bopped her nose with his hand.

            Soraya laughed gently as she watched them. Sakura then balanced Akio on her hip and turned to Soraya with a sincere smile.

            "So, to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" Sakura asked. "Nothing bad I hope."

            "No, no, nothing bad. It's his four-year check-up that we've been delaying for a while. That, and Akio really wanted to see you," Soraya responded.

            "Did you want to see me? Aw, you're so precious! Sakura wanted to see you too!" Sakura cooed while ruffling Akio's hair. Soraya and Akio really did make Sakura's day; they too were some of the rare pearls the universe decided to produce occasionally, and Sakura had no doubt that with a mother such as Soraya Akio would grow up just fine. Soraya was actually a single mom, her husband having died when Akio was one in a bandit attack when he was off on a trading trip. Despite that, Soraya remained a good person, and never became bitter. Sakura respected her enormously for that.

            "Alright, let's check you out," Sakura said, placing Akio on the examination table.

            As she went about the normal procedures she asked, "How about you, Soraya? How are you feeling?"

            "Just fine, thank you."

            "You're sure you're not overworking yourself, right? If you need help, don't hesitate to ask me or the other villagers. Those lazy louts can help you, and they will, I'd see to it myself."

            "No, no need for that, Sakura-san. I'm doing just fine, and the men help me when I need it," she responded. "But I am grateful for the offer."

            "Good. If they're real gentlemen they should be helping you out. Not that I'm sure this village can produce any gentlemen, but still," Sakura grumbled.

            "Oh, don't be too harsh on them, Sakura-san, although you're probably right. Even I couldn't bring myself to marry anyone here despite the amount of men who asked for my hand and fell in love with someone foreign. I bet they just never had someone to teach them not to be such grumps."

            They both laughed and conversed for a little while longer, before Sakura had to bid them farewell.

            "Bye, Akio," Sakura said, giving him a kiss on the head. "You be a good boy and don't give your mama any trouble okay? And come see me soon!"

            "M'kay, Saku," he grinned.

            "Bye, Sakura-san. Thank you," Soraya said, as she inclined her head respectfully.

            Sakura did the same and watched them walk off. Then she grabbed a pencil and scratched Soraya's name off the list. Now just four more patients to go for the day, and then she was free.

            It seemed like an eternity when Sakura finally finished with all her patients although it was only noon. The four patients she had were grumpy old geezers, and it took a lot of energy for Sakura not to snap at their ungrateful asses. The only thing that kept her form doing so was imagining Akio's smiling face, and it would instantly put her in a better mood. Now she could finally go see Sasuke and Naruto. Normally she would stick around a while longer until working hours were over in case someone got into an accident during work and needed her immediate help, or Shizune had an emergency, but seeing as Naruto and Sasuke hadn't eaten in who knew how long, she decided that they were more important.

            She locked the door to the consultation room, taking the medicine she had prepared with her, and went back to the kitchen. She scribbled a quick note for Shizune, and tiptoed into her room. Shizune was fast asleep for once, which Sakura was glad to see; she needed some rest. She put the food in the small cooler beside her, and propped the note up on the nightstand beside it so that she would see it.

            She bent down and placed a small kiss on Shizune's forehead. She tucked the covers around her, and, as she turned to leave, caught sight of herself in the mirror hanging on the wall. She really looked terrible: there were heavy black bags under her eyes from sleepless nights, and stress lines were evident on her face; her face was pale and her hair unkempt. She stared at herself a while longer with a straight face; she really was unrecognizable, she and Shizune both.

            She closed the door of the room gently, grabbed the basket, and left the house, locking the door behind her. As she walked through the village, she ignored the stares and whispers and made her rounds. She soon finished delivering all the medicine, and was about to head to the forest when a group of men showed up in front of her. They were five. Sakura recognized them right away: although not officially, these men were the unspoken heads of the village after the elders, but it was clear to see that only one man was the head of this little group.

            Nashiro Shuichi was an imposing man: tall, muscled, with broad shoulders and harsh features. He had deep set beady eyes, a face wrinkled by the passing of time, a balding head, and a long white beard that went down to his rib cage. He was a crude man whose ideals were set in stone. He was what Sakura liked to call an undeveloped soul.

            "Can I help you?" she asked, staring at him head on.

            "The boys and I have noticed that you've been spending a lot of time in that forest there, past the limits. Care to tell us what you've been doing in there, missy?" he said in his usual gravely voice that somehow inspired authority.

            "So you've been spying on me, is that it?" Sakura asked, putting a hand on her hip, hoping she looked somewhat intimidating.

            "It's not spying, little girl, but I make it my business to know what the people of the village are up to," he responded, frowning.

            "Call it whatever you want," said Sakura nonchalantly. "I don't care, but last time I checked, there isn't any official limit to how far out you can go in the forest, it's just that everyone here is too scared to go past a certain point, so don't try to enforce non-existent rules on me. Furthermore, where I go and what I do is my business, so I'd appreciate it if you let me go about it."

            Sakura made a move to get through, but was caught roughly by the arm by one of Nashiro's lackeys. "You insolent little bitch. How dare you talk back like that! You're lucky we even allowed you to stay here, you freak!"

            Ah, that was the word she had been waiting for. A crowd was slowly gathering as their little confrontation was starting to attract attention.

            "Let her go, Jungo," Nashiro said, raising a hand.

            Jungo growled, but released her nonetheless.

            "You really are ungrateful though, girl. We saved your life, and allowed you to live here despite your circumstances. The least you could do is inform us of your concerning activities. Surely, all that time spent in that cursed forest can't only be spent picking herbs," Nashiro said.

            Murmurs started around them, and Sakura knew that Nashiro had succeeded in what he did best: manipulating people. Something inside her snapped. She laughed bitterly, and raised her head, looking him straight in his beady, little black eyes.

            "How long do you plan on holding the fact that you let me stay here over my head, huh? What do I need to do to repay you for your gracious act, that any same person would have done? Oh, I know! It'll never be enough! Because you guys can never get over the fact that I am different than all of you! That I don't fit into the perfect mold that you've created in your minds! That I'm a freak! Well let me tell you that I don't care anymore! I'm done trying to please you, because I WILL NEVER BE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE!"

            Suddenly, Sakura felt a flash of pain as Nashiro's hand connected with her cheek, and she was propelled backwards by the force, making her fall to the ground. Everyone was suddenly silent in shock. Nashiro had never lost his cool before. Never. Yet here he was, red-faced, eyebrows furrowed, and eyes glaring at Sakura in absolute loathing. He took a step towards her, and Sakura prepared for the worst, but just then a child's cry was heard, "Saku!"

            All heads turned to see that little Akio had somehow pushed his way through the crowd and had run into Sakura's arms.

            "A-Akio-kun. What are you-it's dangerous, go back to your mommy," Sakura said, stunned as she tried to get Akio off of her.

            "No! Stop hurting Saku!" Akio yelled, his big, watering brown eyes glaring at Nashiro.

            "Akio!" a breathless voice said, and Soraya pushed her way through the crowd.

            "S-Soraya, take Akio away from here. It's dangerous for him," Sakura pleaded, not wanting to involve the two.

            Soraya seemed to just be taking in the situation. She bent and touched Sakura's cheek who winced unintentionally when it stung. A determined look entered her eyes. She walked in front of Sakura, and took her stance there.

            "S-Soraya! What are you doing?" Sakura asked frantically. "Hurry up and get out of here!"

            Soraya turned to look at her with her own brown eyes. She smiled and said, "Sorry, Sakura-san, but this time it really has gone too far. I'm sorry I haven't done anything until now."

            She then turned to face everybody that had gathered around and spoke, "Do you all really think it's right, treating Sakura-san like this? Constantly ostracizing her? Sure, she may have come from the unknown, but she's been raised here in this village all her life just like the rest of you. She's grown up here, and has even become a fine medic, always helping anyone when they need it. Has she ever refused any one of you even if you've said or done something to her, hm?"

            There was a slight pause of hesitation before a chorus of no's resounded among the crowd.

            "Has she ever once shown ill intentions in her work or demeanor? Has she ever harmed any one of you?" Soraya continued.

            Silence.

           "Well?"

            Again the same response.

            "Then why are you so concerned with what she's doing in the forest? Just because the rest of us are afraid and she isn't does not automatically make what she is doing suspicious does it? And if it weren't for her not being afraid, we would never get the medicine we needed because she wouldn't go far enough to get the herbs needed. So, I ask again, is this treatment right in your eyes?"

            Sakura caught bits of conversation here and there: "She makes a good point..."; "She always delivers my medicine on time,"; "She helped me immediately when I cut my finger with a sickle last week even though I was really rude to her the day before...".

            Sakura couldn't believe it. Person by person, Soraya was making this mob of people start to think for themselves for what Sakura thought was the first time in their lives.

            "You should close your mouth, Saku," Akio said.

            Sakura hadn't even realized she was gaping, but quickly shut her mouth.

            "Isn't Mommy amazing?" he grinned.

            Sakura smiled at him, and wiped away a lingering tear. "Yeah, she really is.

            Seeing the results of her speech, Soraya pulled Sakura to her feet and turned to face Nashiro and his gang.

            "There seems to be no reason to continue to give Sakura-san a hard time, Nashiro-san, seeing as everyone is quite convinced that she is doing no wrong," Soraya said sweetly.

            Nashiro looked hard at Soraya and then at all the villagers who were no longer looking at him with respect. He visibly gritted his teeth and lowered his gaze, standing to the side, his lackeys copying his actions. Soraya had won.

            Soraya turned to Sakura with a bright smile on her face. "I told you they weren't so bad."

            Sakura laughed. "I guess you were right."

            "Now go," Soraya said, gesturing to the forest.

            "But what about you?" Sakura hesitated.

            "Oh, I'll be fine. I have a whole army to protect Akio and I now," she said, gesturing to the gathered villagers. "Go."

            "Thank you," she said, and hugged her.

            "Oof," Soraya said, surprised before she wrapped her arms around her as well. "You're welcome."

            Sakura then kissed Akio on the cheek and handed him to Soraya. "Thank you too, my little hero," she said, poking his nose.

            He giggled then said in all seriousness, "Akio will be your hero any time you need me, Saku!"

            "I don't doubt it," she responded.

            Then she grabbed her fallen basket, whose belongings had thankfully not fallen out, and, with one last glance towards Nashiro, strode off to the forest where Naruto and Sasuke were waiting for her.

             As soon as she entered the clearing, she saw that Naruto was already sitting up, and waiting for her. Sasuke was as well, though he looked as if he was deliberately not looking at her. That was odd.

            "Konnichiwa, Sakura-chan!" Naruto said, waving enthusiastically.

            "Hey, were you waiting for me long?" Sakura asked, sitting down in front of them.

           "No...." Naruto trailed off as his eyes zoomed in on her basket, and his nose started twitching.

            Can he smell the food? Sakura wondered. Sakura laughed, and took out the containers of food, pushing them towards him. Naruto's eyes sparkled.

            "Arigatou, Sakura-chan! Food, finally!"

            "Hey, that isn't all for you, Naruto. Share," Sakura said, looking over at Sasuke who was also staring intently at the food, trying and failing to look unimpressed. Cute, Sakura thought to herself. I'll pretend not to notice.

            As Naruto and Sasuke dug into the food Sakura realized that there was still a lot she didn't know about Naruto, and what kind of creature he was. She glanced to Sasuke. I wonder what he is. Surely, he's not human, especially with that cold skin of his. As if sensing her gaze, Sasuke paused in his eating to catch her eye. She blushed and quickly looked away, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

            "What happened to your face?" Sasuke suddenly asked, putting down the slice of meat that he had in his hands.

            Naruto stopped stuffing his face with onigiri to look at her. Sakura lifted her hand to her face and realized that her cheek had swelled; probably from the harsh slap that Nashiro had given her earlier. Apparently moving her hair had given Sasuke a full view of her injury.

            "Crap," she muttered.

Did anyone else love this chapter as much as I did writing it?? Because honestly I loved this. This chapter was totally not planned to go like this or be this long (not that I had a concrete plan), but I actually really enjoyed it! Soraya and Akio, bless their souls, sort of invented themselves in a manner of speaking. They sort of just controlled my fingers and created themselves. Nashiro and his lot too (but I don't like them). Just want to revive some faith in humans even though sometimes I really think we suck as a race. I actually wanted to make this chapter longer, but I decided that I wanted to write the rest of this interaction from Sasuke's point of view, and see where it goes. I think it will be interesting. Let's stir up some feelings! Anywho, it's getting late, and I'm probably gonna get yelled at for taking forever, so good night, vote, comment, share, and see ya next time. Ja ne!