ReTurn

Ignore the IG. Pic not even mine.

Chapter 12:

Logic Over Love

"Harden your heart, and walk alone."

I don't got this, she grumbled, panting as she again pulled herself out of the river. She was running out of chakra, and body was sore. Parts of her stung from the extra scratches and cuts she had received. It had been about another two hours into her training, and Kakashi had left to check on the boys progress then guard Tazuna.

She sat down on the riverbank and sighed.

Naruto and Sasuke were making great progress like in her last life, but she wasn't making much just like in her last life! She almost made it across! She may have better chakra control than them, but her chakra reserves were way smaller than theirs.

And it frustrated her to no end.

I wish I had my Yin Seal, Sakura thought before she smiled sadly. But I guess it'd be best if I didn't have it. The Seal would stand out especially on my big forehead, and it'd make me all the more suspicious.

"Oi, Sakura. Let's call it a day," Kakashi called as he came to stand at her side, a towel in his grasp. He offered it to her and she gladly took it. "You made great progress today. Kids your age don't usually get as far as you just did in a two hours. Keep practicing and you'll master chakra control in no time."

Sakura scowled. But I'm not like other kids! I should be able to master it now! She mentally yelled at him, but she refrained herself from speaking her thoughts and nodded as she dried her hair.

Kakashi continued,"Now, I need you to accompany Tazuna. He needs to head into town to go grocery shopping." Then he left, probably to check on the boys again, she thought wistfully.

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Once Sakura had finished changing into her clothes(Tsunami was so kind to wash and dry them for her), she grabbed her satchel and Tazuna and her immediately headed into town. As they walked through the village, without moving her head, Sakura's jade green eyes scanned the area, lingering on one thing then to another. Since she had become a chunnin in her last life, it had become a habit to observe her surroundings first, in case there was any danger or suspicious people hidden amongst the crowd.

As they walked through town, Sakura noted again how depressing the atmosphere was in the village as they entered the grocery store.

As I remembered, there's hardly anything here, Sakura thought, only her eyes moving to observe her surroundings in the shop. She smiled darkly to herself. Gato's death would be very entertaining. Inner Sakura smirked, silently agreeing with her. Then Sakura's eyes widened in surprise.

Sensing a presence behind her, by instinct, she growled and did a roundhouse kick to her attacker, knocking the person unconscious. She smirked. She hadn't bothered to put any chakra in.

As they exited the store, Tazuna spoke," You surprised me back there. Girls in this village don't fight like that."

She huffed. "Hm. Maybe they should."

Then she felt a hand tug at the end of her skirt and she whipped her head to look behind her, irritated.

The same young boy gazed up at her, a hopefully look on his face as he held out his hands.

He spoke up with a high, cute voice,"Gimme some."

Sakura studied him for what seemed like minutes, but meer seconds. She remembered the kid from her last life, and he looked exactly the same. Innocent, with shaggy hair and dark brown eyes, a bright smile on his face.

Although, unlike last time, she scowled and gazed coldly at him.

"Sorry, kid. I don't have anything on me that you would want, and even if I did, I wouldn't give it to you," she snapped at the boy before she turned away and continued walking down the street, but this time her steps were slightly faster than before. Tazuna apologized to the shocked child and hurried to follow her. Still walking, he spoke up.

"W--w-what was that?" he stammered in shock, his eyes wide and frantic.

"What?" Sakura replied, pretending to be innocent to what she said.

Now angry, he demanded,"Back there! What was that?" He referred to the way she acted so rude and cold to the boy. Tazuna had remembered that she agreed with Kakashi to escort him all the way home, and they still continued to protect him even after finding out that he was targeted by strong ninja. To him, he had thought that the girl was pretty kind and honorable.

"Hm?" She looked at Tazuna, tilting her head to the side innocently, acting confused. "I just declined his request to give him something," she answered lightly.

"Yeah, but you didn't have to say it like that! You didn't have to say it so coldly," he scolded. "It's been like this since Gato took over. It's not his fault he had to come up to you."

Sakura's innocent, confused expression changed and she stopped in her tracks, making Tazuna almost collide with her. Her face became serious, and she turned back at Tazuna, her gaze hard and sharp that it was as if it could pierce through him.

She responded calmly,"I never said it was the kid's fault." Her face became dark and her voice menacing. "Believe me, I would like nothing more than to see Gato's blood used as paint."

Tazuna's angry look changed to shock, and after a short moment when he didn't reply, Sakura turned away and continued on her path back to Tazuna's house.

Sakura understood what she said had been...a little rude, but observing the child made her realize that...

Her kindness was a weakness.

These feelings of sympathy, compassion, and warmth. Those feelings had ruined her life. She had loved the man that betrayed her unconditionally, even when he had attempted to kill her. She had let herself be blinded by that love, unable to see the logic. That was how she was back then.

Love over Logic.

It was because of those emotions that made her weak and blind to the things in front of her. She should have realized sooner that no amount of love in the world can beat logic. Those feelings would hinder her mission because her mission involved corrections, and things that others wouldn't believe in. The only things that belong on her mission was anger and strength and power.

No. It wasn't just that. The real reason why she snapped at the kid was because...

She realized she needed to learn to harden her heart.

When she remembered how she gave the kid candy, it reminded her of how she's been letting her guard down little by little to her team, like she had been before. She was getting soft. She almost let herself kiss him.

She didn't have time for friendship. She didn't have time for love. This was her mission, and her mission alone. No one can help her.

No one.

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TO BE CONTINUED.

Poor Sakura, thinking that love is useless against logic and shit, and that she has to walk on her path alone.

So what do you think of my fanfic so far? I've been thinking if you really like this, but maybe I should stop this story if you guys hate it.

Comment and vote on what you think I should do.