Kunoichi amongst Heroes (mha x naruto) (naruto crossvoer) (bnha)

Sakura felt her breath-hold in her throat, she wanted to release it but it refused. She was doing nothing, sitting in her classroom as Shouta lectured them through another hero lesson. Her ribs were pressing into her heart like her own body was meaning to crush her. She broke out into a sweat but kept rigid to hide the pain. Trying to keep her breathing shallow until eventually, the feeling passed.

'It's happening more frequently,' Sakura rubbed her chest lightly. Leaning down to close her eyes in an attempt to recover. The heart palpation, the chest pains, muscles pulling, no matter what she did, Sakura couldn't stop these things from happening. The irony was bitter in her mouth.

Even so, she was able to go about her days, however droll they were becoming.

"Alright, that's it for class. There's only one week left until final exams, I trust you've all been studying,"

Shouta was tapping away at the papers on his desk as he spoke, but even his diversion did not make him less intimidating to his students as there was a promising warning behind his tone.

"There's not only the test but also the practical component. Make sure you train your minds and bodies at the same time, that is all."

Once he left, the class fell into their stupor of performance and dramatics over their upcoming exams. A few were already making plans to have study sessions together. It was a ruckus compared to mid-terms, but because Shouta had spoken to the class about a training camp that would be taking place over their summer break. Instead of getting away from school, they were just going to be relocated to the forest where they would be training to enhance their quirks. While Sakura had been looking forward to the break away from school so that she could dig up more information, Shouta had informed them that anyone who failed would not be permitted to go. Which would have been a fair option if only he hadn't added that they would have summer school instead.

Sakura had placed thirteenth in the class, but in this world, she wasn't familiar with most of the study topics, excelling only in the sciences and mathematics and what she studied, was what she had retained from her lessons. So subjects like history and English were her failing topics. Even though they were all irrelevant to her.

"Haruno, how have your studies been going? I know you don't enjoy languages very much." Tenya said, pushing up his glasses. She could tell that he didn't mean any harm, just stating what he had observed. During English class Hizashi had a particularly hard time with her, she couldn't read and she barely handed in anything.

"B-But we know you're great at maths and science!" Izuku said quickly. "And we thought about doing a study group together,"

"I'm fine guys,"

She hasn't even opened a book with the intent to study so of course, it was fine. Her days of studying hard and wanting to be the best in class were long over. Sakura already learned how pointless it was to associate intelligence with the grades from a report card. The first time Kakashi praised her as an individual it was because of her so-called brightness, but that could only truly speak of her book smarts. There was nothing else to speak of about her as a kunoichi, and she only realized later that it was an embarrassment.

Naruto was far from a good student, but he had the intelligence to think of solutions in the direst situations. That was a true gift.

So she learned that she prioritized incorrectly, and it was when her lack of ability almost lead to her friend's death that she understood how foolish she had been.

Now all she wanted to occupy her mind was solutions to finding a way home.

"It's just I understand that these aren't your strongest subjects, and for the sake of all of us going to the training camp together-

Izuku spoke quickly again, his cheeks red now. 'He looks like a chipmunk,' Sakura thought fondly. When she observed Izuku, his soft features, and warm eyes she could easily feel trust towards him. Then there were the moments his eyes would set ablaze with courage and it reassured a sense of protection she had only experienced with Naruto.

Sakura felt pain when she dug her nails into her thigh, 'He's not Naruto,'

"Izuku," Sakura said, giving a smile that Sai would call out for being fake. "Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it, but I wouldn't have time anyway. I'm working most afternoons, including weekends. You don't have to be concerned though,"

He hesitated but nodded then. "Oh,o-okay,"

Tenya then said, "Don't worry, our class rep will push forward so she won't miss the training camp."

After Tenya and Izuku left, Sakura saw Shoto coming toward her from the corner of her eye.

"Hey,"

"Are you going to be okay? Didn't you ask the hospital to give you some time off to study?"

Sakura glanced around, and spoke back softly, "This is community service, so I can't miss it less I want my guardian checking me."

For whatever reason, she hadn't heard a word from Keigo for some time and he even missed his visit day without warning. Sakura took this as a sign to accept the gift horse without looking it in the mouth, less she wants to lose an eye and simply go about her life. There wasn't that much going on in it recently anyway.

"You don't need any help then?"

Sakura quirked an eyebrow, "You offering help too?"

He gave a quiet nod, but Sakura shook her head, "I'm fine Shouto,"

Izuku, Shouto, and Tenya had been a bit more attentive towards her since the Stain incident. Although Sakura continued to insist they go about as they normally would. She wasn't affected by what happened, but she knew the main reason was they thought they finally understood her circumstances and couldn't help the sympathy. Even though she was going about as usual for the most part. Aside from ending up in the nurse's office and getting a little aggressive during hero training with a punching machine.

'It's sweet but where this is coming from could be problematic. It's not like I had any intentions to study or go on that training camp anyway,'

"You still think you can half-ass your way through everything here don't you Fivehead?" Katsuki's harsh tone broke the class into silence. His glare was piercing, willing to go straight through Sakura who wouldn't allow it.

"You still acting like what I do is any of your business," Sakura spoke with a cold detached tone that she honestly was attempting to mimic from Kakashi, which only further agitated him. Izuku attempted to step in before he blew up, but Katsuki had just a low tolerance as he did for Sakura, if not even more for his childhood friend.

"Kacchan, you don't have to say things like that to-

"Shut up, Deku," He hissed, and Izuku realized he had fixed Katsuki on a new target. "I don't know if you've figured out how to use your quirk a little or what, but you seriously keep rubbing me the wrong way,"

Izuku had found a new way to harness his power, and his movements were mimicking Katsuki's aerial techniques of launching.

"On the upcoming exams, we'll be getting individual scores so we're going to see who's better then. Deku, Fivehead, just wait. I'll beat you with an indisputable difference, so you better bring your all!"

He was certainly determined if nothing else. Katsuki was taking him losing to Sakura personal and he already had a strong disdain for Izuku, so his vision was clouded by their backs and he wanted to move past them as quickly as possible because he was getting sick of the sight in front of him.

Sakura coughed, getting up from her seat and gathering her books into her bag, walking towards the exit but taking a deliberate path to cross him. "Well Katsuki, I sincerely hope you do well in the exams,"

She paused next to him, "Because the only way you'll ever be able to beat me is on paper,"

When it came to conversations with Katsuki and Sakura, they were loud and short (easy to guess who was who) and could be counted on one hand. And yet their relationship had already blossomed and soured into what it currently was. They weren't rivals because Sakura didn't see Katsuki as such, but he had been trailing after her because of the way she had continued to humiliate and defeat him without a care for her actions, not even boastful over the defeat. Rather like he was nothing but a ghost she passed through while making her way to the top. That was until she made this statement.

Something snapped, and Izuku closed his eyes thinking Katsuki was going to blow up. But the room was filled with a terrifying silence instead. As the two just continued to stare at one another. Their classmates waiting for someone to make a move, like two tigers crouched, ready to go for each other's throats.

'I think I'd prefer when he yelled,' Izuku thought, getting a chill down his spine.

Instead, Katsuki just turned and walked out, followed shortly after by Sakura, so at least they could breathe easier knowing they would be at a distance from each other but also had to hope they didn't attack one another in the hallway.

"What was that?" asked Eijiro.

"Death battle," Fumikage said solemnly. "A silent death battle,"

Shouta's opinion of Sakura and Katsuki was in a similar category of troubling, because of his temper and her demeanor. Yet it was becoming clear to him that they were starting to develop into something worse than classmates at odds. For Katsuki at least, he was becoming worse in regards to Sakura and Izuku. Sakura was another ground of problems.

'What to do about this?'

"You just have to remember this equation, and you'll be able to answer the majority of this section. Get it?"

"Yeah, thanks. Did you go over the vocabulary words already?"

"Dammit yes!" Sakura huffed, shoving Hitoshi lightly as he glanced at the English paper he had given her to review.

While she had rejected her classmate's attempts to get her to enter a study group and study, Hitoshi was another matter she hadn't considered. That same day during break, Hitoshi had brought on the topic of exams and how he was struggling with mathematics, while Sakura knew he was in the top five in his class. He knew what topics she did well in, as well as what she was failing, and unfortunately, he was more insistent.

At first, she thought she would only be teaching him, but it turned out he had prepared materials to help her with her more challenging topics.

"I'd say you've become an expert manipulator Hitoshi," Sakura hissed. "Using this as an excuse to force me to study, I knew you were up to something but I never thought you'd sink so low."

"Don't be dramatic," He said flipping through the pages of his textbook. "You shouldn't have told me you weren't even going to bother studying and skip out on the training camp. You know that's to get you stronger. What are you going to do when your classmates finally get ahead of you? You're going to feel a whole other kind of stupid than when I end up replacing you in class."

She scoffed softly, her classmates were good but they had a ways to go still if they were going to pass her in terms of skill and experience. They were just trained differently. Their quirks on the other hand were nowhere near insignificant. It was just a matter of learning to use it as a tool and not their only resource.

"Feel free," Sakura's attention diverted to Licht moving to snuggling in her lap. Hitoshi was able to convince Sakura to come over to study in the morning and afternoon on the weekend before she had her hospital shifts. "How's training coming along?"

"It's hell since Aizawa is so sleep deprived, he won't give a moment's rest since it would waste time, as he puts it."

"Sounds like him," Sakura sighed.

"He is also fishing for information about you, through me. Just thought I'd let you know,"

She shrugged, downing a soda. "Nothing much to tell though,"

"He's concerned about you," That was all Hitoshi would say on the subject, but Sakura already had an idea of what he was referring to. Veils were starting to fall slowly, she would let them. These were minor. Whatever was necessary at the moment, she would do it. But what she hated was the ongoing need to justify every action she took. The actions that would have been praised in her world, were questioned and ridiculed. Sakura couldn't imagine living a life here, and she hadn't given up on her search, only that it was a cold trail now. Discouraging was what this has become but she wouldn't surrender yet.

"He shouldn't be,"

Hitoshi stared at her, as far as he knew Sakura hadn't had any more seizures. But he couldn't help watching out for her now. It was the first time he had seen her that vulnerable. The girl seemed to have so much power, becoming powerless without explanation, it was a terrifying feeling that gripped him when he saw her in that state. The worst thought entered his mind when he took her to the nurses. Thinking that she might not make it.

But she did, and she walked away as if nothing happened. It was a relief and disheartening when she didn't respond to him until the next day.

"I was too,"

Sakura gently cupped Hitoshi's cheek to get him to look at her. "I know,"

He didn't know if that was being kind or cruel, but he could feel the warmth, even though her hands weren't as soft as he thought. An unusual roughness from someone who spent a lot of time sanitizing her hands and dealing with patients. Of course, he wasn't aware.

Forests in this world weren't as vast in comparison to dwellings, with more concrete cities and metropolitan areas than natural land. But the mountain areas even occupied were still there. And they were cold at the start of the morning, right before sunrise as Sakura experienced many times, even so, she kept her clothing minimal to tights and sports bras because of working on the water and knowing she would get splashed wet with her jutsu.

There was an immediate sense of tranquility that Sakura could embrace when she was here. Forests were her usual training ground, and it was nostalgic. She found she loved it so much that Sakura began coming earlier in the mornings just so she could spend more time in the area. The weekends were best because it meant an extended time here.

Water fell around her in heavy droplets, even though the skies were clear and the sun had started to rise with a strong glow and warmth.

Sakura smiled watching it happen. Out of all the bad that has come her way, it meant greatly appreciating when something good falls to her.

The lake's water ripped beneath her, as she stood on it, glancing out into the distance at the ground that had been uplifted and shifted unnaturally and she felt proud. Of the reminder that she was still a shinobi.

It occurred to Sakura that while she was here, she couldn't let her skills go slack, even if she did not need to use them to the same degree as before. When she was becoming clouded in doubt and losing hope, training was her best cure to take her mind off the obstacles and allow another mindset to take its place.

Sakura stared at her hand, 'At least something good is coming from this,'

And maybe more was yet to come.

But not at the moment. Because a sense of warning filled Sakura as she looked up at the sky, he came swooping down drawing a shadow over her before landing on the ground right in front of the lake.

Keigo lifted his goggles, and she felt the way his eyes trailed they were intense and examining her for….injuries?

Sakura was a little more than agitated her only sanctuary was being, for lack of a better word violated by him of all people.

"What are you doing here?"

Keigo took a breath, holding up his phone with the screen showing a map of the forest area and a big red dot they were currently situated on. "When your wards location shows to be in the middle of the forest, in the dead of morning, miles away from home there are a limited amount of explanations and most of them include duck tape, crowbars, broken locks to your house, and a few hours later trees wrapped in yellow police tape, the other is your ran away so I had to come looking for you anyway."

Sakura crossed her arms, "Why are you here so early anyway? You haven't even been around for a while,"

Keigo smirked, "I thought you'd like your alone time?"

"I did," she shot back. "And you tracked me?"

"GPS on your phone,"

Sakura reminded herself that she shouldn't bring her cell phone with her to more discrete locations. At least now she knew that Keigo could track her like that. Sometimes her lack of knowledge of this world's technology could backfire on her. As she's experienced.

"There has to be some kind of violation besides personal,"

Keigo looked at her feet, he knew that the lake had to be at least a few feet deep and that she shouldn't be able to fully stand never mind hold her entire body on the surface. "Another ability to this so-called, strength-enhancing quirk of yours?"

Sakura scoffed, jumping out of the water. She caught the hero viewing her scar that was now visible and she shoved his face in another direction.

"I never said my quirk was super strength and healing, that was assumed. Not my fault."

"There's such a thing as responsible for the failure of correcting the error," Keigo shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her. She threw it on, with it specifically designed to handle the harsh winds from miles above, it was like a giant comforter wrapped around her body that had chilled from the water.

"So why are you here so early, or are you just bordering on stalking me now instead of making checkups?"

"I had some business in a nearby area, and came a little early, decided to stay at a hotel, and then come to you. Only to catch your sudden change of location when I tried to call you."

"AT FIVE IN THE MORNING?" So he was just trying to find a way to spite and irritate her. Keigo grinned in a guilt-free manner, her reaction amusing.

"Still didn't get the explanation on this little quirk development," Keigo pointed out, gesturing to the lake. "Walking on water huh?"

"It's the same concept as to how I'm able to stick to a vertical platform." Sakura shrugged, giving a smug smile as she fell silent.

"But I don't know that concept,"

"I know,"

After everything else she's pulled, walking on water should be the least impressive, if one didn't know how much control it took to learn that skill.

"So you've always been able to do this?"

Again she shrugged and Keigo sighed, "You know kid you're really making my job tough,"

"If that's the case then quit,"

"I can't even hope to get fired," He stated calmly. The commission had given him this assignment for a reason and he had an easier time extracting information from a group of villains he just met than a teenage girl. Keigo was subtly attempting to win over her trust, but Sakura was not budging as he thought.

"I wish I could fire you,"

He placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair wildly out of place. "Let's go back,"

Sakura quirked her brow, he was dropping the topic quicker than she anticipated. She was ready to wear him down until eventually, he realized that she wouldn't willingly give him any more information. Whatever was discovered about her power, was going to be on her terms and this wasn't one of them. Right now Sakura wanted to withhold whatever she could even if she was aware nothing could be done about or to her power by the people in this world.

'If the time comes, it will come,'

Again Sakura had to stop as Keigo held out his arms and she reeled back, "What are you doing?"

"Let's go," He jostled his arms and Sakura realized what he wanted.

"I'm not flying with you!"

"What's the matter scared?" He taunted, taking a step forward while she took one back.

"I'd rather crawl on my hands and knees through hell and high water," She confirmed harshly, taking a defiant stand. It didn't matter how fast Keigo was, he couldn't beat her in a physical stand. The blonde simply held out his arms, outstretched and inviting.

"What's the harm with a bird's eye view?"

"It's not the view that's making my stomach lurch for my dinner,"

Keigo gave an empty laugh, "I won't let you fall,"

"I can't promise the same," She warned then.

"I'll let you keep the jacket,"

The air was thin and the wind strong, Sakura realized there was a real function behind Keigo's jacket. It helped with the temperature, but on his own Keigo didn't seem bothered. Though he wasn't flying too high, just above the buildings and a distance that would keep them from being seen in clear view.

It was hard not to admit, but it was breathtaking, looking down at everything from the bird's eye view that Keigo boasted.

His arms were tucked around her torso so she could see clearly from below.

"Speechless?"

Sakura clicked her tongue, he had to ruin it by reminding her he was the reason she was able to see things from this perspective.

'The last time I was flying like this….' She had been in one of Kaguya's dimensions and it was one of her teammates keeping her up. Given the situation at the time, it wasn't something you could appreciate when it came to the view. Not when your life was on the line. First lava, then snow and ice, it wasn't a pleasant experience or battle.

The grand view was soured by memories, and suddenly the hero's arms felt too tight around her. "When does this ride end?"

"I can drop you, you know?" Keigo taunted, but Sakura didn't make a snarky remark in turn.

"Just set me down already,"

Keigo felt a shift in things and took Sakura thought he would just quietly take her back home but no such fortune. Instead, he continued to soar above the cities until coming to one of the cell towers and plopping her down on top. There was no exit or entrance leading up to that point.

"Why did you bring us up here?"

Keigo looked at the horizon that was now in full, he lifted his glasses speaking to the wind. "Do you think you're special?"

"What?" Now Sakura and the winged hero usually had odd interactions, with the front they put up it was like they were playing a game trying to unmask one another of their true intentions. Because of this, sometimes their conversations were empty and baseless.

"In a world where the supernatural becomes natural, it's amazing how many still think they're something unique when they make up more than 80 percent of the population. Heroes only came into existence because of quirks that gave birth to villains. Most people didn't know any other way to use their power. Because of this reality, the truth is you and I are just copper pretending to be gold."

"Okay," Sakura didn't care to dwell, he was likely trying to probe at her again. He had the skills for that, even if he hadn't openly stated so. Keigo behaved more like a shinobi in terms of mannerisms regarding approaching people to look for information and that's the reason it was so obvious to Sakura in the first place.

"I'm only asking cause the commissions have been on my case about you breaking the rules, causing trouble, and lying about your powers. Are you just convinced you won't get punished?"

Sakura shrugged, taking a line from his dialogue, "Not entirely certain, maybe forty percent?"

"Well, it has a lot to do with the fact you're a kid and your actions have helped more than hurt. Even so, you keep going off on your own eventually you'll draw suspicion and be placed on the bad end of society's radar,"

Her hair whipped around her face, as Sakura stepped closer to the edge where Keigo stood. "What makes you think I cared what side I'll be on?"

'This kid's tough to crack,' Keigo was supposed to watch her in case she displayed any troubling behavior and would be left to use his judgment on how she should be handled. It was nearly impossible to navigate through a normal conversation never mind gather intel. He was taking different approaches, but she didn't' change her tune.

"Be careful, if anyone else heard you say that they might decide to take everything away from you,"

She huffed, "I don't have anything left to lose,"

This was it. The crack Keigo had been trying to make for so long. It was low and that's why he had been delaying using her situation as a weapon of manipulation. He had considered this as well, the reason she does what she does is that Sakura Haruno was a girl who felt like she had nothing left to lose. He could use that to his advantage against her.

"Come on, you couldn't have fallen that much right? You're still here,"

"Yes," And that was the worst part of it. She was here with no way back. And it was becoming harder to keep herself tethered to hope because, from all the experiences in her world, Sakura knew that hope could only come from those who had power. But that was something she had always been lacking and right now she couldn't have felt more resentful for the case.

She was the team member who was always waiting in the background, she was the one that was begging to be saved, she was the one who couldn't do anything next to her friends. And even after years of training, bleeding, suffering and enduring Sakura was in the same helpless position as before.

When Keigo put a hand on her shoulder, Sakura didn't shrug it off and they watched the distant skies.