Work Text:
Starting her engine, Sakura glanced to her left, her eyes ablaze with determination. She met Naruto's gaze, and the intensity in his eyes mirrored her own—he wanted to win. Turning her head, she locked eyes with Sasuke, who appeared bored, but she could still discern the desire for victory in his expression.
As the announcer's voice boomed out of the speakers above, she could feel a shiver of anticipation go down her spine, giving her goosebumps.
The girls stepped in front of the cars, with the signature flags in their hands. She could feel her car thum with a steady hum as she breathed in through her nose and out her nose, letting it run through her. The only words filling her mind were the only words that should be there.
Ready.
Set.
Go.
Her foot slammed down on the gas pedal, and her car's engine responded immediately to her command. The car jerked to life, pressing her back into her seat.
Zooming past cars, leaving them in the dust, her wheels kicked up. She couldn't help but let the thrill of the amount of speed run through her but It wouldn't last forever.
As the first sharp turn came into view, she glanced to her left to see a giddy Naruto smiling ear to ear as he drifted around the corner. Preparing herself for the same thing, she pushed her clutch down smiling with the same giddy when she felt her speed increase, at the same time she pulled her handbrake up. She was delighted when she felt her car start to slide, she turned her steering wheel and began to navigate the sharp turn with the rest of the cars beside her.
Glancing up she saw hundreds of cars doing the same thing in her wake even though some failed, which made her feel even more euphoric than she likes to admit but she focused on the road. Once again shoving her thoughts of unimportant things to the back. Concentrating on the road again she realized the problem ahead of her, sasuke and Naruto both were gaining more and more space between them, each one chasing the other. She blinked but quickly righted her car and set off after them.
-
The only thing on her mind was to catch up to them but they were carer away from her. They were only half of the way into the race, but she knew this meant everything. The boys wouldn't tire out by themselves, if she knew a thing about them she knew that they could keep going this speed forever.
Drifting some more and going through cities to the grass field just outside of Konoha. It was a truly beautiful scene but she was too determined to be able to appreciate the scenery around her. This was no normal race, no. This was a race with her best friends in the entire world and she would rather die than lose to those idiots.
Speeding up again, Sakura started to listen to her car. Letting it tell her what it wants to do, letting the roar of its engine run through her body once. Igniting all of her nerves at once, starting from her toes to the top of her head and making its way down again. All she could hear her car tell her was that it was time to step up her game.
With a delicate flick of her hand, she lifted a unique clear latch on her dashboard, her fingertips lingering over the vibrant red button waiting just beneath it, begging her to push it. As she watched the cars speed past in a blur of light and dust, a strong longing welled up in her chest, making her wish to be right there with them.
The feeling of people leaving her behind made her eyes well up with tears. Making her relive all the time that it happened and tore her down to the bone. But the day she got a taste of racing and going so fast that you didn't have time to think about crying over such childish things. The only thing filling your mind was the want to win, that want to pass the finish line first. That was when she made an unbreaking promise to herself that she would never be put in that position ever again.
Observing the finish line, she imagined what it would feel like to drive through first, before anyone else. But she wouldn't have to imagine anymore.
Pressing her thumb down hard on the button, she could instantly feel the engine roar with excitement, that same excitement spreading to her before she could realize what was happening.
She instantly fell in love all over again with the speed. Inching closer and closer to the boys as they trade places for first. But as soon as she caught up to them enough to see through their windows, all she could register on their faces was conviction then slight horror and pure shock at her finally pulling ahead of them. Completely passing them, she pressed down hard on the gas.
The people on the sideline could only see a blur of bright pink pass the finish line first before all the rest of the cars came zooming past, leaving hair flying everywhere and dust in the air.
-
As she came down from her high of winning her first race and ceasing her car's movement. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see blue and orange cars do the same thing as her while getting out of her own car, before getting angry and slightly impressed looks as they got out of their respective cars.
Naruto stormed up to her screaming “ WHAT WAS THAT!?” she could feel a laugh start to break out of her, taking in Naruto's face. She turned her head toward Sasuke, expecting him to be the calmer of the two but was wrong. He had an exasperated expression on his face, she could see him start to question himself as he thought back to all the moments he looked at her car. But he wouldn't find anything useful. The last time Sasuke took a ride in her car was 2 weeks ago. Her new gadget had been installed last week, and by herself which was an achievement by itself.
A full-blown laugh attack hit her as she took in both of their faces at the same time. She started to try to explain but the giggles and tears of joy wouldn't stop.
An announcer walked over just as she composed herself to a few chuckles. Once the announcer got close enough, she could finally recognize the person.
“Kakashi!” Sakura exclaimed in excitement. Even with a mask on she could still see the smile blooming onto his face as he walked closer. “Sakura, congrats on the win,” he said, getting a nice look at her smile and then turning to observe her car. “But um, what was that random boost of speed?” he asked while still observing her car slowly, making sure not to miss anything with the most serious face he could manage at the moment. Smirking slyly, she said “Just a little something I added” A giggle threatened to bubble out of her mouth as her eyes shifted to the boys who were still listening.
“You do know that the next time I look at your car, I'll be looking for that “lil something’ right?” he questioned her with a smile playing at his lips, still scanning his eyes over her car in the hope of finding what she added. “Counting on it,” she said cheekily loud enough that both of the boys behind Kakashi could hear her while spinning on her heels and getting into her car.
“But until then,” She paused for a moment, waiting for the right opportunity. “I’ll be too busy winning” Then, she sped off leaving them to stare after her in shock.
As they should.