HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Or Soon to be. I hope you've got your costumes ready, I'm living mine as a zombie after this terrifying month. But it's always worth it to know that at the end of the day you can kick up your feet, lean back and enjoy a good story.
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The rules of shinobi, there were over a hundred, and diligently drilled into the hearts of every young perspective. Shinobi training went beyond the development of physical status, but also one's mentality, affecting them. It was a common experience, especially for greener shinobi starting in the field.
A shinobi must always put the mission first. Sakura couldn't count the ways and number of times that rule had been thrown away in the heat of a mission. Naruto had the strength to completely disregard the rule, for the sake of his friend's and what he believed was right, Sakura on the other hand, thought she was just biased, willing to obey the rules when it didn't create cognitive dissonance for her. On the other hand, there was Sasuke, who had enough strength to follow the rules but would get pulled away with Naruto who was too stubborn to let anyone keep him from doing what he wanted.
Then there were the rules Sakura just broke because she didn't have the strength to hold onto their convictions, a shinobi must never show their tears during a mission. A shinobi must follow their commander's instructions. A shinobi must never show any weakness. Those were indeed her biggest blunders, but the only one who ever faulted her was herself. And that's when Sakura understood she could not be resolute in following rules that required her to conquer herself. Although it wasn't for lack of trying, her emotions ran hot without her permission, a strong reminder that she was human even if she was conditioned to be a tool.
Her stubbornness might've been the real source of her strength, and capability, and the reason she had survived for as long as she had. When she wanted to shine as brightly as Ino as a child, she pushed herself to compete, discovering she could be clever when she wasn't self-conscious. It allowed her to become bold, and believe in her goals. No matter how foolish they seemed to an outsider.
That stubbornness also kept encouraging her to believe she could do this alone. That she could find the key to the lock, and open a door back to her life. No matter how much time it took. But her stubbornness was a powerful rock that lay next to the ocean, being beaten by the waves, it would eventually be worn out to the ocean's making. Normally, despite the pain, Sakura wouldn't be moved in her stance but as of late, her convictions were dwindling.
The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Sakura's room, joining the fresh chill in the air. Sakura stood in the mirror, adjusting her uniform's skirt, and fixing her hair, which took a bit more time when she didn't have it tied back with a headband.
She turned to the wall, her eyes lingering on the painting, those brush strokes came together to rip the covers over her head, revealing the reality that she needed to accept.
Sakura let out a small sigh, her lips curving into a tender smile. She reached out, gently tracing the outlines of their figures with her fingertip. "I'm off," she whispered, as if they could hear her through the canvas.
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Her routine had nearly returned, yes she now had her school routine in full and admitted it wholeheartedly if not a bit reluctantly. She went to Eri's room and helped get her ready, which was becoming more infrequent as the girl started to prepare herself for the day, but Sakura was just eager to see her smiling face in the morning. Then it was breakfast with class A before homeroom.
Classes also went without disruption, although Sakura returned, there was a noticeable difference in her demeanor; she was more engaged and more present. She answered questions she knew the answers to, her hand raising confidently instead of lingering on her desk.
Aizawa discussed this with her therapist Noriko, who only said that Sakura may have come to a new resolve and didn't want to be swayed from it in case she landed back in bed. It was suggested that perhaps Sakura had somehow managed to come to terms with herself in that instant. He hoped that was the case because it was better than the alternative of suppressing her emotions.
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When lunch break came, Sakura slipped out her phone which had been buzzing during class, to check for any messages. A small frown creased her forehead when she saw the missed calls and texts from Hawks that she had been ignoring for the last few days. There were several messages.
Hawks: Hey kid, just checking in. Are you doing okay? Haven't heard from you in a long while. How are the dorms? Are you playing nice with the other kids?
Hawks: Hey. I found this great restaurant in your area, can't believe it just showed up after you came back to school huh? Anyway, I heard they're putting you in therapy. How's that going?
Hawks: Guess who's gonna be on TV? The Heroes Billboard Chart is happening soon, do you wanna watch your favorite hero get gawked at on stage?
Sakura's grip tightened on her phone. She hesitated for a moment, her thumb hovering over the screen as she debated whether to respond. Hawks was difficult, infuriating, and in Sakura's opinion, a grand deception. He was the curtain on a stage that refused to draw back, that's what made him hard to engage with. No one could truly tell what he was thinking because everything he did was deliberate. Genuiety could only be accompanied by thought-through actions. For anyone else, it might show a man who was dedicated, but to Sakura, it revealed a man who had too many secrets. As a shinobi engaging with that kind of person meant you always had to keep your guard up in turn.
There was no longer any reason for Hawks to contact her, as she understood his responsibility towards her was revoked. But that didn't stop him from checking in on her through texts and missed calls, no matter how many she'd deliberately ignore. He even sent her gifts, from sweets he knew she enjoyed, to products she was particular with, which he had learned from his visits with her.
'Idiot'
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Sakura had planned to ignore Hawks for a bit longer, despite his persistent messages. She was sitting comfortably in her room, helping Eri with her homework. They were reading together through the material when a loud commotion traveled in the hallways. This was typical in a dorm setting, however something was feeling off as the voices seemed to be deliberately oppressed.
"Eri," Sakura glanced at Eri, who looked up from her homework with wide, curious eyes. "Can you finish your homework on your own for a bit?"
"Yes, Sakura,"
As soon as Sakura exited her room, she was met with the sight of her classmates gathered around the common room television. It felt like she was stepping into a fog of anxiety and anticipation.
"What's going on?"
Eijiro turned to her, his expression serious. "This is live footage... Endeavor and Hawks are fighting a Nomu in the city!"
"Nomu?"
Those creatures had vanished with the arrest of All for One after the factory was raided in Kamino. Everyone thought that was the end of the league's mindless minions, but, from what they saw now, that wasn't the case.
Sakura's eyes flicked to the screen, clenching her fists as she saw the scene unfolding. There was Hawks, those familiar wings flaring as he darted through the air, dodging attacks from Nomu and striking them down with his feathers. There were Nomu scattered all over the area, but one stood out above all others. Pitch black, with its skin hooding over the face. But it had enough distinctive markers to be labeled as a Nomu. And the one fighting it was none other than Shouto's father, Endeavor—Enji Todoroki.
But it was clear that they were struggling. The Nomu was faster and stronger, from what Sakura could determine and it seemed capable of regenerating from the heroes' attacks almost instantly. The devastation around them was overwhelming—buildings crumbled, cars were tossed like toys, and people were still very present forming a flimsy battle ring that could easily be broken through if the heroes weren't careful.
The Nomu was relentless, its movements almost unnatural as it adapted to every strike from the heroes, maneuvering through the air like a feather in the wind.
"Where is this happening?" she asked, her voice tense with urgency.
"Fukuoka" Momo replied, her eyes never leaving the screen. "It's a densely populated area. They're trying to minimize the damage, but..."
Endeavor released a powerful attack, his flames lit up so brightly that all the camera could catch was a spot of bright light in the sky. Flames encased the Nomu, and it looked like this was Endevors decisive move to end the battle. However, the creature, or rather its head was freed from the grasp of the flames. And the Nomu, even limbless was able to manipulate its remaining flesh and strike down the new number one hero.
The room was silent as everyone held their breath. Sakura couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Endeavor fell, and the one who had the most reaction to this sight was none other than his son. His father's flames waned while he fell to the ground.
People were in a panic and it could be felt through the screen, as they pushed through the streets. No longer eager to be onlookers to the hero's actions as they were before, now there was a true fear of reality. The sinking realization that had come after All Might's retirement, was that sometimes heroes wouldn't win.
Even the reporter who was on the ground had fallen from her professional persona and became victim to the hysteria amongst the crowd.
"This is what it means to have no symbol…."
"You've got to be kidding me," Looking at Shouto, the expression he made on his usually still face said a thousand words in the short sentence he sputtered out. It was true conflict. Shouto didn't think fondly of his father. But he couldn't help remembering Enji's promise, that he would strive to become a hero Shouto could be proud of. Even now he was still fighting despite his injuries, despite being severely outmatched by this opponent. There were still flames burning in the background.
The camera was now turned in a new direction away from the panicking crowds, to the nomu and Enedevour in the air. Keigo joined him, his speed equal to the creature and able to turn its head away from the fire so that it could reach it.
Finally, after a struggle in the sky, Endeavor lit his flames to the point that it was blinding, intensifying the heat to stop the regeneration of the Nomu. He brought them higher into the air through the clouds where the heat would only surround that upper atmosphere.
The nomu's body charred as they reached for the ground again, and Endeavor was standing over, his arm raised in a sign of victory as he barely clung to consciousness. The panic subsided at the sight. Shouto sank to his knees, feeling the weight off of him, his friends surrounding him for comfort. And Sakura couldn't' help watching out at the screen for the sight of Hawks, relieved when she saw the now featherless hero.
Who knew watching television could be so exhausting?
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Sakura went back to Eri's room, and the girl was still at her desk doing her homework, as she was still learning how to read and write it took some time for her to grasp instructions on her own.
"How's it going?"
Eri looked up and smiled, "I'm almost done."
Sakura gave her a warm nod. "That's great, Eri. How about I help you finish this up, then you can play?"
True to her word, when Eri was finished with her work, the two were playing games together until Eri's bedtime. This was a pleasant distraction from the news Sakura had witnessed and she was feeling much lighter as she tucked Eri into bed.
The girl yawned, her eyes drooping as the day's fatigue caught up with her.
Sakura sat beside her, smoothing out the covers and brushing a few stray hairs from Eri's face. She leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on Eri's forehead. "Goodnight, Eri. Sweet dreams."
Eri murmured a sleepy "Goodnight," her small hand gripping Sakura's for a brief moment before she drifted off to sleep.
Eventually, Sakura stood up and left the room quietly, closing the door behind her. She sighed, leaning against the door frame for a moment, allowing the silence to wrap around her.
She pulled out her phone, her finger hovering over the screen as she scrolled through the numerous missed calls and messages from Hawks. Her gaze lingered on a particularly annoying picture he had taken on her phone—a goofy selfie of him making a ridiculous face.
As a shinobi, she knew that her social circles could have early expiration dates due to the nature of its candidate's job, and that she had to always be prepared for the worst. But this was still something Sakura couldn't fully accept. She would grow anxious if her friend's lives were in danger, and she would cry. Despite what she was taught. She was a kunoichi in title, but human at heart.
Sakura's thoughts wandered to Shouto, remembering how he had quietly retreated to his room after the broadcast ended. If this was how she felt, Sakura could only imagine what Shouto must be experiencing right now.
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Shouto was taken aback when he heard knocking on his door. He kept a neutral expression when his eyes landed on the girl standing at the threshold of his room. "Sakura. What are you doing here?"
"Hey," Sakura said, offering a small smile. "I was just wondering if you had time to talk."
Shouto tilted his head in a manner that reminded Sakura of a cat, with genuine curiosity in his eyes. It didn't even occur to him that this might be a courtesy of concern. Sakura could probably tell that as well since she didn't take offense when he asked. "About what?"
Even though he asked, Shouto had unknowingly made space for her to enter.
"I wanted to know how you were doing," Shouto's room was as neat as always, with minimal decorations and everything in its place. "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm not sick," Shouto said, misunderstanding her intent once more Sakura knew that they could talk in circles like this forever, so she decided to get to the point and stick him with it.
"Did you call your family after the news broadcast?"
"My sister called me," Shouto said. "She and my brother also watched what happened."
"Are they fairing alright with the news?"
"I think so," He still couldn't quite grasp what she was insinuating, so Sakura decided not to veil her words and pull down the curtain.
"Shouto, you just watched your father nearly lose his life, I'm checking in to see how you are feeling after seeing all that." Especially since she knew he had such a contemptuous relationship with the man not only a few months ago. That turmoil and hatred had mixed and reflected on himself as well. Shouto was finally able to use his flames, even with the hindrance of his father's expectations attached.
"I appreciate you checking on me," he said.
Sakura studied him for a moment, recognizing the familiar mask of calmness he wore. She smiled slightly, trying to lighten the mood. "I've learned a long time ago not to let emotional constipation build-up, or it can result in something really stupid," she said, throwing in a small joke.
Shouto blinked, a puzzled expression crossing his face. "Emotional... constipation?"
Sakura chuckled softly, shaking her head. "It means bottling up your feelings until they're so packed in there that you explode. Not the healthiest way to deal with things."
Shouto looked down as if contemplating her words. He let out a small sigh. "I see,"
Sakura's smile softened, and she took a step closer. "How are you feeling right now, Shouto? After seeing your father like that on the news? The way you reacted, surprised me,"
Shouto was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. He then spoke, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of emotion. "I couldn't understand it myself. Watching him fight... I felt something I wasn't expecting. It's like this... this confusion." He paused, taking a breath before continuing. "My father told me that he'd become a hero I could be proud of. That he'd become the number one hero. At the time, I didn't know how to feel about that. Part of me was still... angry. Resentful. But tonight, watching him fight, I thought about what he said, and it was like... something changed for me."
Shouto's eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions. "The world seems to be slowly changing its perspective of him. The public is starting to see him differently. But I'm not sure if I should follow that shift. Everything he did to me, to my mom, to our family…"
Sakura listened intently "I understand. He's saying he's changed and the world seems to see it too, but that doesn't change what happened in the past. Although I'm impressed by you,"
"What do you mean?"
"Because you felt something when you saw him, I think that says a lot,"
"What does it say?" Shouto asked but Sakura tightened her lips.
"That's for you to decide,"
"I don't understand,"
"I don't expect you to, not right now,"
They stood there in comfortable silence for a moment, the tension in the room easing.
"Well," she said finally, breaking the silence with a light tone, "I'm going to head back before Aizawa catches us. Goodnight Shouto,"
"Goodnight,"
Shouto watched her back, realizing how narrow it was, how thin her arms were, and how it seemed as if any additional weight could crush her shoulders. As if he was looking at a branch on the verge of breaking. He didn't know when his hand reached out, but it was only after he felt the foreign texture of another's skin that he realized his fingers were wrapped around her wrist.
When she looked at him, Shouto could read her expression, and see that she was confused as to why he stopped her.
"Sakura,"
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
It wasn't a particularly interesting question, or uncommon, yet it chipped into her armor that made Sakura recoil.
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!
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-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia
Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) ( 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (72, 73, 74)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter ( 30, 31, 32)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter 21, 22, 23, 24
-Through the Looking Glass chapter 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi
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