Saul chuckled, "I'm happy to see you with Sakura, by the way. Did she finally decide to give you a chance?"
Naruto looked back at the pink haired girl, who was looking at him with twinkling green eyes. She had drilled him multiple times on what to say, how to say it, etc. He wouldn't let himself mess this up for her.
"She still likes Sasuke... Actually I came here because of that! Sakura-chan said there must have been some sort of misunderstanding between you previously, and..." He paused, trying to remember the exact words she had repeatedly emphasized for him to use, "she's here to apologize!"
Cha! Just like that, Naruto!
Sakura bowed her head right on cue. Her long pink hair fell down in strands over her face as her body formed a full 90 degree angle. She was certainly pretty now, he'd give her that.
The petite woman had soft lips, long, beautiful pink hair, and beautiful crystalline green eyes that made her look pretty when she smiled. She knew how to dress stylishly as well. Even her ninja outfit looked good. Sakura wore a long red and white qipao with a high side slit that let her move properly while still managing to look both classy and practical.
Her upper thighs and butt were the only thing Saul could nitpick on - rather than panties they had been covered in spandex shorts. The modesty offered by such a covering did not compliment her body like a pair of stockings or pantyhose would.
"Saul-san... I'm very sorry about my attitude the other day. That's not how I wanted to come across." She smiled demurely, "Could you please tell me how to pursue Sasuke-kun? I promise to really listen this time."
Saul narrowed his eyes. "Really, Sakura? Do you remember what I told you to come back with next time if I was going to help you?"
The pink haired woman put a finger to her lips. She really hadn't been listening at the time. Didn't she storm out angrily? Cha! How was she supposed to remember!?
Still, she was desperate now. Sasuke was slipping from her fingers, and she didn't know if she even had a chance anymore. His contempt made this clear. Sakura smiled sweetly.
"I forgot. Could you remind me?"
"Sakura. I'm not going to do it for free." He almost had her now, "You'll have to pay me somehow for it."
"Saul-sensei! It's just advice, right!? If you need me to do something for you, I can!"
Sakura lowered her head, "Please, Saul-san. Sasuke is everything to me."
Great. The idiot duo was now teaming up against him. Naruto was admittedly being manipulated by Sakura to go against him here, but two could play at that game.
"Naruto, that's really nice of you to do for your teammate, but... Sakura is the one receiving help here, not you. Isn't this about pursuing Sasuke? Why should you have to help in her romantic endeavors? Wouldn't that just hurt your feelings?"
Naruto clamped his mouth shut.
"And Sakura. Don't you have any shame? Why have you come here, using my friend, to seek my assistance for free?"
Sakura suppressed her temper. Not again. She could act out later.
"How much do you want then? It's just advice," she seethed, "so don't expect much."
"In your case with Sasuke... It's not. But how about I humor you for a moment. 20,000 ryo for just advice."
That was what she'd make in 2, maybe 3 D-rank missions split between her team. She could afford it due to their 'B' rank mission in the land of waves, but... Why the hell was he asking for so goddamn much?
"Saul. What the hell? What could you possibly tell me that is worth that much?"
"Is Sasuke's heart not even worth 20,000 ryo to you?"
How dare he try to try and manipulate her like that? Familiar with this type of tactic - Sakura did not fall for his little games.
"That's not the point! You think you can just say a few words, and just like that you earn a D-rank mission in terms of fees?"
"It won't be just a few words, Sakura. You're lacking something even more crucial to begin with in regards to Sasuke."
"What?"
Saul wagged his finger from side to side. "Pay up first."
This arrogant asshole... Still. He had already provided more insight into Sasuke to her than she had learned in five whole years. Maybe his price wasn't too expensive. He just wanted money, right?
"Fine." Sakura reached into her back ninja pouch, fiddling around before pulling out a stack of Ryo. "There is 5,000 ryo. I don't have a full 20,000 on me, but this can be a down payment."
Saul accepted the money. "Alright, I'll be expecting the rest later." He pocketed the cash. "What exactly did you want to know?"
Finally. She'd start with the question he had begun with. "What am I lacking that's crucial to pursuing Sasuke?"
"This one is simple. Strength. If you were stronger than Sasuke, then he might have fallen for you already."
Sakura frowned. She had figured out that one already. But she was useless! How the heck was a civilian like her supposed to beat Sasuke?
"You were supposed to help me. How does something like that help? No matter what I do, I can't beat Sasuke."
"I never said you had to beat Sasuke. There is a difference between beating him and being useless."
He had been talking down to her for a while now already. And then those words, which aligned with how she felt during the Chunin exams, pushed Sakura over the edge. The truth was way harder to ignore than a lie. It stabbed like a knife. Sakura had enough.
"Who are you calling useless!? You're a civilian ninja, just like me! If I'm useless, so are you!"
Saul openly sighed, but internally he was ecstatic. Perfect.
"Would you like to put that to the test? Right now I'm exhausted from training - I have no chakra. Sakura, I wonder. Can you beat me even if I don't use any Ninjutsu?"
Sakura's mind went to work instantly, analyzing his build. Saul was a civilian like her, so he likely didn't even know powerful Ninjutsu in the first place. The muscles on his arms indicated he had put a major focus into his physical training.
"Don't take me for a fool. You probably only know one Jutsu aside from the academy Ninjutsu at most. That's not a handicap at all."
Saul smiled amusedly, "Naruto. What Ninjutsu did I learn from you?"
Naruto, who had been chilling with his hands behind his head, widened his eyes in shock. What was Saul asking him now? He wanted him to contradict Sakura chan!?
"Well... Hehe. I taught Saul the multi-shadow clone Jutsu."
Then why hadn't he taught it to her then? Sakura glared at Naruto, who returned a sheepish grin. He wanted to leave before she got too angry with him.
Saul continued, "And what Jutsu did I teach you?"
"The body flicker Ninjutsu..."
"That's right." Saul smiled, "Aside from those Ninjutsu, I also know the Mystical Palm Ninjutsu, the Mind Body Palm and The Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique."
"Mystical Palm Ninjutsu? You're a medical nin?" Sakura questioned,
"Not quite. If that was the case I'd already be promoted to Chunin. Regardless, I specialize in utilizing the body flicker Ninjutsu combined with the Shadow Clone Ninjutsu and Genjutsu techniques to blitz my opponent and finish them off in an instant. Without Jutsu to augment my prowess, I'll be much weaker."
...Maybe she could win, then, if he was handicapping himself that much. Sakura wanted to prove to him just how wrong he really was. She'd have her revenge for his casual disregard.
"Alright then. But if you lose, I'm taking back my 5000 ryo."
She wanted to make stakes? Saul smiled,
"So what do I get if I win then. Will you pay an additional 5000 ryo?"
Naruto took a step back, seeing that Sakura was getting frustrated.
"Saul-sensei, Sakura-chan, actually I have to shop for some groceries soon. I'll catch up with you guys later, believe it!"
Both of them ignored Naruto's hasty retreat.
Sakura frowned, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "You're the one who wanted to fight in the first place."
"I proposed a fight because you seemed to not be taking my words seriously. You just don't know your place-"
KNOW YOUR PLACE!? Sasuke's earlier words and Saul's casual provocation merged into one at that moment.
"FINE!!! If you want to fight, I'll fight! Let's go. If you win, I'll pay you an extra 5,000 ryo like you asked. If you lose however... I'm not paying you anything more than the first 5,000! And I want you to speak with me with respect from now on. Don't you dare talk down to me like I'm beneath you or something. It's infuriating!"
Author's Note: And the fight begins... Time to put Sakura in her place.