Chapter Text
Sakura huffed and tried to catch her breath as she kneeled on the dirt ground, in front of her Knight. She tried to look up at him through her tattered bangs, plastered to her sweat drenched forehead. The blinding sun beat down on her and was soon blocked out by a leering figure.
Sasori, her appointed master for the next two years of training, looked over her, sneering sown. Sakura's eyes tried to adjust and she thought of how she got here.
{Flashback several months before}
Sakura watched as her fellow squires were lined up in front of the Queen. The Queen was yelling out names of Squires to be appointed to their Knight Masters that would train them. There were several dreaded masters; there was Itachi the heartless Knight, known for his reputation in sacrificing his family for his country. There was also Kakashi the Lone Wolf knight, who wasn't known for keeping his students very long, most likely to be passed off within a few months of training with him. Then there was Sasori, the Sadistic Puppet knight, known for chopping up his foes and sewing them together to send back to their countries as a warning. Sakura knew each Squire feared him the most, but she had fought so hard to get to where she was that when her name was called to join him, she merely nodded.
She walked up to his slowly grinning face. He towered her stature and simply cocked his head down at her before snickering. His vermillion hair was stark against his paler skin and his knights uniform had a black cape that hung low behind him. Sakura tried to remain unwavering, as she looked up at him and took a knee, bowing to her new master.
She saw out of the corner of her eye, he two friends. Naruto, who was appointed to the perverted Knight Jiraiya. She wanted to laugh as she realized that may be a good fit. She then heard Sasuke's name, her other academy friend, called to join the lone wolf Knight, Kakashi. Sakura frowned a bit, wondering if that was a good choice. She supposed it had to be better then sticking him with his brother, for whom he hated. She froze in her thoughts when the man before her cleared his throat.
"A woman?" He chuckled sadistically, his laugh sounding heavy and dark. Sakura rose her head and nodded. "I've never trained a female squire before. From now on you will listen to my every command, and only call me, Master."
{Flash back over}
From then on she has been trained everyday until almost sunset. Her body always aching, with bruises covering her body, and some bandages covering her wounds. He was ruthless, he was sadistic, he was uncaring. Other knights at least showed a guidance towards their squires, but all she received was ridicule and public shaming.
Her legs were burning with he sign of overworking he muscles, she grit her teeth. She could feel him still staring down at her viciously.
"Get up, Squire." Sasori kicked at her knee making it pulse and vibrate as he struck a bruise. She grunted and lifted herself slowly up. Her legs trembling from the immense amount of training they had already done today in the training yard. "Your shield form is still pitiful. You're relying too much on close combat. You'd easily be dead right now if we're an enemy."
Sakura could barely hear him over the crowd of knights and squires around them. Her eyes squinting at him, trying to focus. She was probably dehydrated, definitely needed rest. She nodded quickly and pulled up her shield again, waiting for him to attack her again. He grinned sadistically, a twisted pleasure from pushing her to her limits. He charged after her and she felt a swift blow to her shield that sent it flying. Her back hitting the ground quickly, she coughed out as her lungs released all their air.
"Get up." Sasori said over top of her and when she was still catching her breath she felt his fingers thread through her hair, yanking her up to her knees. "Get. Up."
"Oi." Sakura dared to open her eyes at the intrusive voice. She saw Kakashi pushing his way through the crowd of bodies to Sasori. Sasori let go of her hair and she caught herself with her hands. "Don't you think that's far enough for today?"
"Oh, Commander Kakashi." Sasori grinned, he has no respect for his leaders. Sakura learned quickly that the Queen favored Sasori's tactics because he bred hearty knights, those hat made it at least. "Nice to see you, but if you wanted to give someone orders on how to handle themselves, maybe you should have kept your Squire." Sasori bit out, a grin still plastering his face.
Sasori was referring to Sasuke, who was appointed Kakashi's squire. He had defected and train under another knight, in another kingdom. Hell bent on destroying his brother Knight who, for many reasons, had a deep mistrust and trauma towards. Sakura winced and looked to the Commander, it was a low blow.
"Well, you know how my squires typically go anyway." Kakashi flashed a dangerous eye crinkling smile under his mask. Sakura had caught her breath fully and began to stand up. Sasori turned to her with stoic eyes, she looked away to grab her shield.
"I'm fine Kakashi-san." She bowed lightly to him and Sasori scowled, but made no move to stop her. "I'm a female, I have to train hard to prove myself to these men... I don't mind. I want to be a get stronger."
Kakashi looked at her, studying her face before turning to Sasori, who he glared at deeply, before walking away. Sasori looked to her and grinned, Sakura felt her spine shiver.
"Maybe he's right, go clean yourself up ragdoll... Then go eat. We will be going on a little trial tomorrow." He turned away from her, his energy lingering in the air like smoke. Sakura let go of a breath she didn't realize she was holding and slouched. Her body thanking the confrontation, so she could get some much needed rest.
•••
After a fairly long soak in a hot bath Sakura was feeling much needed relief. She dressed in her more slack attire and headed towards the mess tavern for food. On her way she was joined by Naruto, her friend from the academy.
"You look beat." He frowned and placed a hand over her new bandage on her cheek. She shrugged.
"He's harsh, but better than being with a pervert." She snickered at him, trying to believe in her own words.
"He's not that bad, besides I'm learning a lot of new stuff." Naruto cheered as they walked.
"What, about the female body?" She didn't bother looking at his face, she knew it was red. Naruto had a hard time with women, he wasn't unattractive, he was just a bit oblivious and well; loud. They walked into the large tavern hall where there were multiple knights and squires sanctioned on either sides, eating.
"Wanna sit together?" He asked and nudged her shoulder. She nodded and gave a small smile. Sakura needed a good lager with her food, knowing the trial tomorrow would be hell, hangover or not.
They got their food and sat across from one another, some of the squires giving her pained looks. She had quickly become the damned squire amongst most of the bunch. People gave her disappointed or pained looks depending on their opinion. She began eating and talking with Naruto, paying them no mind.
"Are you sure you can't ask to switch?" Naruto tiptoed the same question each time. It wasn't like Sakura hadn't tried already, it earned her the hardest training she had ever received from Sasori, a punishment on wanting to leave.
"I'm fine, really it's not horrible. I find it's gotten easier." She lied and took another sip, the beer didn't taste great tonight. Maybe she just wasn't in the mood.
"It's just that-" Naruto's mouth clamped shut and Sakura looked up at him, his eyes somewhat glaring at someone behind her. She didn't need to glance behind her, she knew.
"Yes, master?" She calmly asked and he chuckled.
"Squire, I wanted to brief you a bit about tomorrow's trail before you sleep tonight." Sasori sounded over her, kicking the back of her bench so she would look up at him.
She turned her head upwards, giving him a face that was void of emotion. She really just wanted to eat then rest, she didn't even care if the trial was awful or surprising.
"Master i-" he grabbed the back of her braid. Sakura's hair had gotten long in the academy she was in. She hadn't bothered to do much with it, so she allowed it into a long braid most of the time. Sasori found it made an excellent leash.
"Now would be best." He growled. Naruto stood up quickly.
"Can't she just have a damn minute you freak?!" He bit out and the whole hall stilled and quieted. Sasori smirked and began a low chuckle that turned wild. Sakura watched as Commander Kakashi made a move to come over to us, but Jiraiya stopped him.
"How cute squire, you have a man to stand up for you." Sasori grabbed her neglected beer and took a swig. He eyed Naruto and pulled the cup from his mouth. "If you want to fight me for her attention tonight, we can go outside. We can wager which chamber she goes to."
Naruto's eyes shot red and Sakura reacted. She stood up quickly mistakenly bumping Sasori a bit. She stammered to break the tension.
"No-no master, I'll go listen on the briefing as instructed." She said and her eyes gave a soft plead. He smiled down at her and then to Naruto.
"A loyal girl." He laughed deeply and very quickly his smile faded. "You smell very good."
His eyes were cold and judging as he took her mug of beer and dumped it over her head. She could hear some laughter bubbling from the knights side of the hall, which caused some of the squires to join. Sakura clenched her jaw and her fists as she stared at her knights chest plate in embarrassment.
"Too good for a knight in training." Sasori dropped the mug back on the table and left to go outside waiting for her to follow. Sakura's eyes brimmed with tears she refused to let fall, she bit the inside of her cheek harshly. Her eyes met the laughing Knights who were instantly hushed by a small glare from their commander. She was at least thankful for that.