It’s an eerily quiet night, something he’s not used to. He much prefers the loud noises, the cries for help, all of that help him takes his mind off his own demons. His fists are itching for a fight. He passes a hand through his hair as he looks down the alleyways of Konohagakure from the top of an apartment building.
The past week has been slow, painfully so, and his long nights have been rather boring. He’s inwardly complaining until a loud scream tears him away from his thoughts.
So he does what he does so well, he runs and he listens. In a mere couple of minutes he’s there. He wastes no time in accessing the situation before he’s on them. His fist connects with a face and satisfactions surges through him in waves.
The two attackers are on the floor, bloodied, bruised, and unconscious and in a second he’s bored again.
He turns and is met face to face with a woman, just about his age, green eyes and pink hair interesting enough for any attacker. There is fear in her eyes but also gratitude. “Thank you.” She says, in a voice so relieved it almost takes him off guard, she has no idea she does it for himself.
“Can you stand?” He finds himself asking as he picks up a white doctors coat from the ground, already stained with mud. He turns to see her standing to her feet with much difficulty.
“I thought I was a goner.” She says, a sigh of relief leaving her lips as she slides her back against the concrete wall behind her. Too trusting. “You’re my hero.” She tells him with a large smile as she takes the coat from his hands.
“Tch.” He scoffs, not bothering to correct her. He’s as bad as her attackers, a maniac behind a mask itching to hurt. He walks away without another word and when he’s a good distance away he looks back and there she is still smiling at him.
. . .
The next time he encounters her she’s not in danger. He wears no mask, on that occasion he’s just a man who has been drinking a little too much and getting in one too many fights. He spots her in the distance through a glass window in the hospital, she sits beside a crying child.
The child looks pale, his remaining days could probably be counted with a single hand. He watches her as she consoles a crying, dying child with her words and her smiles. Soon the child wipes the tears away and she wraps her arms around him holding the child to her chest in an embrace.
He knows that for that child, that woman was a hero, he knows because once upon a time he needed one.
She wears no mask, works in the daylight, and she saves people with words and smiles. She’s more of a hero than he can ever hope to be.
Title: What were the chances?
Author: Ella / ff.net’s xElla8D / youtube’s xHawtAMV
Summary: Day 29: Superheroes - in which Sakura saves Sasuke from death, and thus he feels he’s coming back to life, literally as well as figuratively.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto.
Prompt: Superheroes
Rating: T
Warning(s): KakaSaku implied.
Comments: would this be a fine multichaptered fic?
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11349882/29/Daily-spices
"If we had superpowers," Sakura says on a summer evening, head on Sasuke's lap. It'd been too hot to eat inside so they ate on the porch instead, and now they're lounging in the cool air. "What would we have?"
He touches the swell of her baby bump, places his hand over hers. "For me, or for you?"
"Me first," she says. "Our little bean needs a superhero mama, don't you think?"
"Yes," he says. "Hm."
"I'm inclined to say I'd have super strength," Sakura says. "Like, strongest person in the world times fifty thousand. Destroying mountains, creating my own geographies, that kind of thing."
"You're ridiculous," he says, poking her lightly. But he's also seen Sakura bench press 175 before, so it makes sense.
She grins, as if she knows what he's thinking. "You've seen my biceps, haven't you?"
He grunts noncommittally, and she flexes, beaming at the definition in her arms.
"Fine, fine," he says, the tiniest smile on his face. "Super strength. But I'm inclined to think…you would heal, too, I think. Some super healing thing."
"That's fair, considering the whole pediatrician thing," she says, thoughtfully stroking her bump. "Then what would you be? A super engineer? Super engineering? Super Sasuke Computer Nerd."
He throws her a look, and she laughs.
"I know!" she says, clapping her hands. "You'd be able to shoot fire out of your eyes." His eyes narrow at this, and she reaches up to touch his cheek, grinning. "I can't tell you how many times I've thought your glare could've set something on fire."
He grabs her hand, laces it through his, and snorts. "Well, that'd be kind of cool."
"Kind of?"
"Alright," he concedes. "Very cool."
She nods, and they sit in a peaceful quiet, watching the sunset and tracing lines over her belly.
"Wait," Sasuke says, and she pauses in the midst of tracing characters on her stomach. "If you get two, I need two too."
"Oh my God," Sakura says.
"What?"
"Should your second super power be an inferiority complex? Fragile ego?" she says, laughing, and he scowls, fiddles with the ends of her hair. "What would you want?"
"Well," he says. "If my eyes can shoot fire, I also want to be able to breathe fire. Maybe redirect lightning."
"Fine," she says, and waves her hand in the air. "I grant thee, Uchiha Sasuke, the title of Fire Man."
"I grant thee, Uchiha Sakura, the title of Idiot."
"Hey!" She cups her hands over her belly. "Using language like that in front of our child!"
He pauses. Six months in (three to go, three to go), he thinks. "Can…can the baby hear, now?"
She smiles, and nods.
He nods back, reaches out to softly rub her belly. "Well, either way, you don't need to be a superhero," he says. "You're already kind of amazing, Sakura."
"I know," she says, squeezing his hand. "Believe me, I know."
He looks at her dryly, and she laughs.
"You too, for the record," she says, cupping his cheek in her palm. He leans down to kiss her, and her eyes are a million shades of green. "You too, Sasuke."
A/N: Almost wrote a Marvel crossover for this, but I wanted to do something more original. This was fun :) (I might continue it later)
She was an oxymoron, really. It was absurd that a tiny, pink-haired girl was the one with super strength, but there it was. She was barely over five feet, and on first glance looked as light as a feather. Her body was solid muscle, but still. It was ridiculous. The first time he’d seen her, he hadn’t believed anything anyone said about her supposed strength.
After seeing her in action, it was slightly less of a stretch to believe. Especially in a moment like now, when she was standing in front of a hole in the middle of the street that left a gaping, fifteen-foot opening in the concrete. There was a tear in her pants, but other than that she looked unscathed. along with the pants, she wore a red top and thick-soled black boots, and gloves. She always wore gloves, black ones that somehow didn’t come apart with the impact of repeated punching. By now, he knew that her knuckles were perpetually bruised, no matter what protection she used. Sometimes powers were too much for your body; he knew that all too well.
“They’re coming back,” Sakura called to him, and Sasuke heard the telltale whirring coming from inside the hole. Sakura backed up, bracing herself in a fighting stance.
The drones swarmed out of the hole like flies, and Sasuke channeled the energy into his right hand and sent a jet of fire at them, destroying a few immediately. The fire also caught the building beind them, and the glass shattered in several windows. The flames began to spread immediately, and Sasuke cursed silently.
The problem with his power was that it was always, always more harmful than helpful. A flick of his finger could incinerate someone, and when was that ever useful except in the most dire circumstances? He’d always be a threat, never someone who could be used for defense. If you needed total destruction, sure. But he was on the wrong side for that.
“Above you,” Sakura yelled, and Sasuke jerked his head up to see a new squad of drones coming down out of nowhere. Did that idiot Kakuzu really have nothing better to do then send swarms of mindless things out to hunt them? He watched the drones finding their target, partially hidden under some rubble, but then realized they weren’t aiming for him. They were aiming for...
“Get back!” His yell was hoarse, because he never yelled. But Sakura had no way of blocking them, and a strange feeling of urgency came over him. He rushed toward her just as they opened fire.
And then the huge, flaming skeleton rose above them, covering both him and Sakura and raining down streaks of fire. Sasuke focused, trying to breathe, and slashed out blindly at the cloud of drones with the skeleton’s arm. The air around him and Sakura was crackling with energy, he could barely hear anything.
The skeleton had happened once when he was at his most vulnerable, though he’d never admit it. It had burst out of him when bullets and shrapnel had been raining down, an unintentional wall to block the onslaught. The susano’o, someone had captioned it in a picture that somehow reached the newspapers. Everything coming own had disintegrated into dust when it hit the fire, and Sasuke still wasn’t exactly sure how he’d done it. But he’d found he could do it again, more and more frequently. It took everything he had to channel his thoughts into forming the thing, but it was coming easier. His mind was getting more relaxed, somehow. Maybe it was because he didn’t have to fight alone anymore...He could rely on the other two, even if he’d never wanted something like that to happen.
“You’re getting good at that,” Sakura said, staring up at the blindingly orange ribcage. She was strangely calm, but Sakura always held her cool in a low-stakes. It was one of the reasons he got along with her, Sasuke thought. Still, this fight was low-stakes. The skeleton had been too dramatic for drones, but it had appeared all the same. Sasuke pushed aside the thought that he’d created it because she was in danger.
Sasuke glanced at Sakura, knowing that the heat would be unbearable in a minute. She was sweating, her face red.
“Thanks,” he grunted, and then he whipped his arm forward to send a jet of flame straight into the pack. He felt a stab of pain in his shoulder and spots in the skeleton turned blue with heat. He’d probably been grazed by a bullet. Still, half of them were down just from hitting the skeleton’s massive exterior. “You have to get out.”
“Yeah,” Sakura said. “Open it up, the drones are all sinking.” He could tell she was itching to get at the remaining ones.
But letting her out was easier said than done. Sasuke attempted to give her an opening in the flames and it didn’t work. This was the problem, the scale of the thing.
“Just let it down!” Sakura called, “I can dodge them!”
Sasuke blinked and the skeleton exploded, shooting jets of fire into every direction. Sakura had taken off the minute it was gone, and Sasuke could hear the earth rumbling as she took on the grounded drones.
And then suddenly the whirring was gone. The smoke cleared to reveal Sakura standing in front of a pile of smoking metal. The two of them had made semi-clean work of the whole group.
“Once they’ve all been destroyed it always seems like we used too much force,” Sakura said, frowning.
Sasuke didn’t say anything but he agreed with her, only because the skeleton had been too much force. It drained him every time, and it had been unecessary in this case.
Scorch marks streaked the crumbling asphalt, and flames flickered here and there in small patches. Only one building was smoking because of Sasuke, however, and that was an improvement.
Sakura stepped over charred drone remains and came back over, examining the spot on her calf where her pants had ripped. It was bright red.
“You got burned,” Sasuke said, eyes narrowed. It must have happened when they were under the skeleton.
“It’s not a big deal,” Sakura said, waving a hand.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” Sasuke muttered.
“Well, your crazy flaming skeleton also saved my life, so I think it evens out,” Sakura said, and Sasuke couldn’t help rolling his eyes.
They both heard the sound of sirens in the distance, and Sasuke frowned at her.
“We should call Naruto,” Sakura said. “He’ll be able to help the fire department.” Naruto was the third member of their usual team (his skills with water usually offset Sasuke’s own powers, which was a good thing), but he was off dealing with something else.
“Aa,” Sasuke agreed. He wanted to get out before the police (and the press) arrived. The news that Kakuzu’s latest drone army had been defeated would get out quick, and the last thing Sasuke wanted was his face plastered everywhere...again.
“You really are getting better at controlling the thing,” Sakura said.
“Something feels different,” Sasuke said, realizing it was the first time he’d admitting that to someone.
“Of course it does,” Sakura said, and he frowned at her. “It’s trust,” she said, looking almost exasperated. “You trust yourself, and you trust us.”
“Hn.” He wanted to deny it, but couldn’t.
“You did save my life, after all,” Sakura said. “And Naruto’s, months ago. Don’t think I don’t know about that.” She gave him an infuriating smile that wasn’t nearly as irritating as it should’ve been. “Come on, let’s get back to headquarters.”
“How the hell is Marvel better than D.C! Batman, Superman, the freaking Justice League!” He scoffed.
“Keep your D.C shit we have the Hulk, X-men, and the Avengers!” She sneered.
“Wonderwoman is totally hotter than Black Widow could ever be.”
“Steve, hot-as-all-hell, Rogers, and that’s without needing to be in a fuckin’ bathing-suit like your damned Amazon princess!”
The hour’s long debate between the raven-haired boy and pink-haired girl had reached the point in which the two found themselves millimeters apart as they screamed in the other’s face. Emerald eyes clashed with onyx, and breaths were harsh. “Do you want to make out as badly as I do right now?”
“Hell-fuckin’-yeah!” The girl replied before the argument became something decidedly different. They parted for air breafly, “I swear if you’re still thinking about Wonderwoman...”
“Please, comic book art has nothing on you Sakura.”
“Good.” She promptly pulled him down with her onto the couch.
Summary: The eight-year-old Sarada observes her parents when they are going to leave home to do their duty.
Rating: K | Words: 915
Tonight has been rather quiet, with papa and mama busy in their office room and me bored to death in my room. It’s almost dinnertime so they should be out by now. They always spend most of their time in there.
I know papa and mama are busy guarding the city at night, that’s why they have all those monitors and radios hooked up in the office room downstairs. They don’t usually let me in and stay for a long time.
I may be an eight-year-old girl, but I can already understand what kind of work they have to do and the kinds of people they have to deal with. I pray every night that they come home safely and unharmed.
That doesn’t mean they are bad parents, no, they always make time for me.
Papa is usually the one who teaches me about sword fighting and martial arts. Papa said it’s always best to start early but mama would sometimes argue with him that kids should also be given time to have fun, play, and just be kids.
I kinda agree with both sides. I will always tell them I will play only after I train with papa and papa always takes care of me and never pushes me too hard that I can’t continue.
Papa will also tell me stories about the history of martial arts, and how our ancestors developed it, the culture and meaning behind every gesture, every movement, every terminology. He tells me about the statues in our house, which I thought was just an ordinary piece of art, and about the story behind every figure.
Mama seems to be as much eager as papa in terms of teaching me techniques. I don’t mind. Mama is very smart and strong, she teaches me how to properly punch people hard enough until their teeth break. I will be frustrated whenever I can’t punch as hard as mama but she will always say I’ll be able to do it once I get older.
Mama also teaches me about the various poisons that she’d made, how deadly each one is and which antidote should be used. Mama says when she was young, her sensei teaches her how to be immune to different kinds of poison. She said she would intentionally be bitten by a snake just to let her body build antibodies against the venom.
I wonder how many years did they spend to train?
During quiet times at home, I would hear them say,
“That daughter of yours is getting smarter already for someone her age.”
“Hn. Just as expected of our daughter.” It would bring butterflies to my stomach, knowing that they are proud of me.
xx
It’s already ten minutes past seven and they should be out ten minutes ago. My stomach can’t wait for them forever.
I tiptoe my way to the room and open the door.
Mama is already clad in her suit, a belt around her waist with a pouch placed on her back hip, boots already in place and gloves being fastened around her dainty yet powerful fingers.
Same goes for papa who’s buttoning up his collar and sleeves, his tools are also ready in the pouch on his hip, a katana slings over his shoulder, and gloves just ready to be put on any second.
“Aren’t we going to eat dinner together?” I ask them. I already know for sure what they’re going to answer.
“Papa and I have some work to do.” Mama tells me. I can tell she can sense my discomfort, she always does, both of them does. She crouches to my height and strokes my dark hair with such tenderness.
“We’ll be back before you know it.” She gives me that smile that I love so much, that smile that assures you that everything is fine.
I know they’ll be back.
“Okay.”
“Dinner’s in the microwave.” Papa says as he fastens his gloves and slides his white painted mask to cover his face. Mama does the same moments later.
I believe even when I grow older, as old as twenty-five years old, I will still admire them.
I’ve seen them in action, in television, and through the descriptive report written in newspaper articles, they are a great duo.
“The Nightkeepers”, that’s what the city calls them being that they always show up at night, keeping the city safe from harm doings and giving people rest throughout the night.
She wants to be just like them, just as strong.
“Be safe mama!” I hug her as tight as I can before I hug papa and he ruffles my hair. Always. I follow them to the backyard and watch as they lift a metal door that will lead them to an underground tunnel, that’s what papa had once told me.
He said that they built elaborate underground passages beneath that lead to different hideouts throughout the city. Of course papa is a man of strategy and efficiency, he told me it makes it more efficient for them to move without being seen and keeps their enemies away from me.
As soon as they leave through the hatch and close it, I act as what I was taught. I locked the front door, the back door, the gates, and activated the security system.
When everything’s all set, I can finally be a little at ease knowing that they will be fine, I will be fine, and they will come home soon.
Sarada knows her Mama isn’t just her mother—she’s a superhero..
“My momma stays at home and takes care of my baby sister and the house!” Boruto bragged. “She’s the best!”
“Psh, that’s nothing. My mom is the owner of a flower shop. When I grow up, I’m going to take over, and all the girls will love me,” Inojin retorted. “I know you’re jealous.”
“Oh yeah?” Shikadai crossed his arms. “My mother is the sister of the Yondaime Kazekage. So, beat that!”
“Well,” Chouchou said. She crossed her arms over her broad chest. “Sarada’s mom is the coolest of all! Tell them, Sara-chan!’
Everyone’s eyes gathered onto Sarada, who was placed on the spot. They waited intently for her answer, knowing that her mom, of course, wouldn’t be half as cool as theirs.
“Go on, Sarada,” Chouchou urged. “Say something.”
What should I even say? She thought. Should I tell them my Mom was one of the three sannin? Or the top medical doctor surpassing Auntie Tsunade? That she saved all of their Mama’s lives somehow?
“I knew it,” Inojin smirked. “Four-eyes can’t even come up with one thing. That means she loses.”
“Now hold on a minute!” Sarada shouted, a little louder than she intended. She stood up, glaring at the rest of the kids around her. “Don’t you dare say anything bad about my Mama!”
With tears bristling in her eyes, Sarada began, forcing her voice to be firm. “Mama is…she’s a superhero. Yes, in her youth, she was a powerful ninja, even more powerful than Auntie Tsunade was. And she was a healer. A really famous one, too. Everyone would count on her to fix their problems and she would do it. She would heal them. They would become all better.”
The room was silent. Inojin offered no snarky remark. His eyes widened in shock, wondering what else there was to say about Uchiha Sakura.
“And she fought the bad guys along with Boruto’s daddy and my own. She was a threat to all that dared to face her. At least, that’s what everyone keeps telling me. Yes, even your mama,” Sarada said, acknowledging Inojin. “Auntie Ino said Mama was the strongest woman in the village, and the bravest one, too.”
“But most of all, my Mama is the best because she’s my superhero. She doesn’t just take care of me. She looks out for everyone in the village, much like the Hokage, while being a great mother nonetheless. We play together. We dance to old songs, perform chores together, make dinner from scratch. She does all of this and more, everything a mother could possibly do, and loves what she does.” Sarada took a deep breath. “So, I guess that’s why my mom is the coolest.”
More silence. Then, Chouchou yawned, stretching her arms up and snaking it around Sarada’s shoulder. “I wish my mom were as cool as Auntie Sakura. But, unfortunately, she married an embarrassment like my Daddy. Seriously, who orders three combo meals at one time all for himself?” Chouchou flicked the side of Sarada’s head. “Adopt me.”
“Yeah, me too,” Boruto yelled. “I mean, Mama Hinata is great too, but yours is so cool, Sarada!”
“I guess being a sannin is cooler than being the sister of a kage…” Shikadai acknowledged.
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Inojin said, “I mean, if my mom said that yours was cool, I guess it has to be true…”
Sarada smiled at her friend and allowed herself to snuggle closer into Chouchou’s warmth. Pretending to be disgusted by the outlandish display of affection, Chouchou sneered, but drew Sarada closer.
.
.
.
“Pig, Inojin came over to my house today and asked if I would adopt him,” Sakura spoke through the phone. “Is there something going on at home?”
“That little bastard.” There was some cursing from the other line, before Ino said, “Don’t leave.”
“I’m afraid I can’t,” Sakura replied. “He’s waiting outside my house with roses. Is he—is he trying to seduce me?”
