Tobi vs Inner Sakura

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Pant. Pant.

Sweat. Sweat.

Heave. Heave.

Sakura's muscles burned as she sprinted away from the prank location. Somehow in her blind escape, she ended up here.

The Memorial Stone that the old grandma kept telling her to visit, but she never did. I always put it off because I have better things to do than stare at some names on a stone. I'll never understand what old people think.

Despite so, Sakura stood before the stone and stared. (There wasn't anything better to look at anyway.)

Finally finding the name, she grinned. "Sorry I'm late, Obito!" Like, really late.

"Hana-san wanted me to visit you and I never got the chance-" I never planned to come...

A jolt of shame dug into her emotions. That would go against what the old people's feelings. Then, her feelings switched sides Flashbacks and memories of what the old women say.

They only think of me as Obito's replacement. They don't see me for who I really am and they don't really appreciate my help. They only want to be reminded of Obito! These goggles prove it. Wait, do I still have them on?

"Oh did I drop-Ah whew, look I've got your old goggles. Aren't they cute? Oh wait, you're dead, haahaha!"

Your death is the reason they're so nice to me. Hahaaha, it's obviously why they bothered to teach me anything!

"They said you were just like me, you helped old people out. Did you do it because you felt useless and weak?" Because that's how I feel! "Ahahahah!" Sakura giggled hard, clutching her stomach.

She felt insane, sad, selfish and relieved, happy, and hurt, all at the same time. She tried to stop these flurry of unwelcome feelings, Rule #25. "A shinobi must never show their emotions." Yet no matter what she tried, she felt nothing could stop these strong emotions.

Then, something suddenly froze all those emotions, and Sakura was, once again, proven wrong.

Forehead! Someone's trying to invade your mind!

Her eyes widened in trepidation. What do you mean someone?! I checked and there's no one here! It's impossible to cast a genjutsu at this distance! Trust me I tried-

Save the thought for later! I can't hold it back much longer!

DON'T! I CAN'T LET HIM INSIDE! I HAVE TO FIGHT!

Iruka-sensei hadn't taught the class how to dispell genjutsu yet. Sakura learned to cast genjutsu from the Uchiha elders, but they hadn't thought to teach her how to dispel them, since they always relied on the Sharingan for that task. Sakura, in panic, had to improvise. So, she powered up her Inner to meet the enemy head-on.

There was the sound of two strong spiritual forces colliding, a hundred explosions slamming her eardrums.

Sakura clutched her head and screamed.

There was the sound of a blanket thin membrane squishing out a wet, gummy sound right in between.

The barrier will be crushed by the pushing of my force and the outsider's force! AT THIS RATE YOUR BRAIN WILL TURN INTO MUSH!

Then, there was the sound of paper tearing.

It was all in her head.

God god god what do I do, I can't go brain dead now!

She resolved herself. My mind is is MY domain! I'll win this! So, stop resisting and let the enemy inside! Just protect my vitals and make sure I get no permanent brain damage, Inner! The rest I'll handle myself!

It was a brave thought, but Sakura was scared as fuck. She sweated. She shivered. Is this what a real battle is like? I'm not ready to be a ninja. Against her will, tears formed in her eyes as she started crying. Naru-no, why am I thinking of that useless idiot. Sasuke-kun, save me! Even though she knew that wasn't going to happen. Um, nevermind, don't save me.

Then, the foreign entity slipped into her mind, much smoother than before, without Inner Sakura's interference.

Inner?

Inner didn't respond.

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