Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Or Sakura. But I do like to mess with them.
Author Notes: In this story, I decided to see what I can do with Sakura's character. Tearing her down and making her the bad guy is really easy for me since I don't really see anything that's good in her to begin with. I have been told by more than one reviewer how unfair I really am to her since she is a much nicer girl in the Shippuden episodes but having watched many of them I know she is still an abusive bitch who is only ever nice to Naruto because she knows she needs him if she is to survive. She is not ever nice to him for any other reason. And when he gets punched because she got knocked out and he was sitting holding her head off the ground until she came to, I refuse to see her as having changed her opinion of him in the slightest little way. And yes people she did punch him for that very reason. When she is asked about it she says she cold cocked him because he was looking at her. That was her canon given response. He did nothing and said nothing but she punched him and screamed at him for trying to take care of her.
Anyway in this story I will try to see if I can redeem her once I finish ripping her a new one. But building her back up after I tear her to ribbons . . .well I just don't know if I can do a good job on it. So I decided to give it a try. This is not a hate Sakura fic though it may seem like it at first. It really isn't meant to be. But I will warn you, she will fall far from grace before I let her climb back up. One must hit bottom before being redeemed. And it really is a writer's exercise for me. To see if I can take a character I don't like and make them into someone worthwhile in some manner or another.
On a more troubling note, I am sorry to say I am having difficulty with the next installment of Stubborn. I just can not get the prank chapter up to my specifications and I know better than to publish something that is not up to snuff for me. It will eat at me and tear at me continuously until I figure out what is wrong with it and fix it so I might as well do it before I post it. Therefore since this story is ready to go, I am giving it to you to enjoy until I can get my prank loaded the way I want it. Hope you enjoy the story.
Sakura's Downfall
Chapter One: The Beginning of the End
"Naruto! Will you slow the frick down? Sheesh," yelled Sakura. The team was on their way home from another attempt to bring Sasuke back to Konoha and therefore back to his senses. Naruto was leading the team through the trees all his senses on high alert. They had already had three run-ins with Sasuke and his new team. But each time Sasuke had gotten away when his team had interfered and allowed him to escape them.
Naruto didn't bother to even show he had heard her. He just kept leaping through the trees trusting Kakashi and Yamato to keep the group moving along behind him as he turned his head from side to side using all his senses to watch for anyone that might be tracking their movement. He was almost hoping Sasuke's group would decide to attack them again. He was itching for a good fight after what Sakura had done to them that morning.
Sai was using his ink creations to keep a look-out to the right of the group and Yamato-Sensei, someone who had joined them as a permanent member when Naruto returned from his training trip with Jiraiya, was doing the same only using a wood clone instead of ink to their left.
Kakashi brought up the rear of the party and was keeping an eye on their back trail. He was also struggling to keep control over his temper. He also knew what Sakura had done to the group in the early hours of the morning. He wasn't as angry as Naruto was but then he also hadn't invested as much of his time and effort into the girl as Naruto had.
When Jiraiya had returned to the village with Naruto, he had gone straight to the council and told them all off for the way they were trying to manipulate and destroy Naruto and exactly what would happen should they ever succeed in their endeavors. Then he had laid out the changes that would be made in Naruto's living conditions that were only necessary because they were a bunch of ignorant fools who thought because they did not understand something that gave them the right to treat it as if it were insignificant. Yamato had joined team seven to aid Naruto in keeping the Kyuubi contained and Naruto had moved in with Kakashi since he needed the companionship the silver haired ninja would give him without judging him. Kakashi had always seen Naruto as himself and the demon as the demon. The two had never been one and the same to him and he knew Naruto did not wish to give in to the demon and his failing seal but the council had set so much shit up for him to deal with containing it was more difficult than anyone believed. But by believing in him and letting Naruto know he believed in him, Kakashi could help him contain it unless Naruto was fighting. And that was why Yamato was on the team. Yamato's bloodline allowed him to trap Naruto in his Kyuubi form until Naruto could force the demon back behind the seal.
Sakura was the only one of the team who did not understand the changes that had occurred in her team. She thought she was the important one to the team now and to the council as well. She did not understand the team was designed around what Naruto needed in a team. She knew Sai was a replacement for her precious Sasuke-kun and was not therefore a valid member of the team as he would leave as soon as Naruto kept his promise to her to return Sasuke to the village. But she honestly thought Yamato was only there because the council did not trust Naruto to defend her. As far as Naruto living in Kakashi's house, she honestly thought Tsunade and the council did not know the truth of the relationship between the two. In her mind, Kakashi was using Naruto because Naruto didn't know any better. To her, the only real reason Kakashi was using Naruto was to make sure Naruto did as he told him to do when they had a mission and remembered his promise to return Sasuke. She simply could not believe Naruto was actually important to Kakashi. She honestly believed Kakashi missed Sasuke as much as she did and wanted the drool worthy boy back safe and sound in the village the same way she did. Sasuke had been Kakashi's favored student before Naruto let him get that awlful bite on his neck and then just let him run off following the whispers of a deranged man. Sakura simply could not believe Kakashi did not want his protege back again.
Normally the team showed a great deal of patience with the pink haired girl since everyone else on the team knew Naruto protected her and anyone Naruto protected, it was a bad idea to mess with. A very bad idea. Even the Hokage and the council knew to leave alone anyone who had Naruto's protection.
But for now the team was leaping through the forest on their way home from a long drawn out mission. The only one not scouting her surroundings was Sakura and she would be the only one taken by surprise should the group have another confrontation with her would-be boyfriend. But she was also the only one who could not seem to understand Sasuke did not WANT to return to Konoha and would fight them every step of the way. All he wanted was to kill Naruto every time they encountered him. It was for this reason, that Sakura always traveled in the center of their formation. She never thought to scan her surroundings for trouble.
But for now all Naruto did was turn his head slightly without looking at her and reply, "Gomen, Sakura. I thought you would prefer to sleep in a real bed tonight and have a real bubble bath for a change. If we keep moving at this pace, we will reach Hi no Sato and that hotel with the scented beads for you. Ero-Sennin said they just got a new shipment of oils for the massage room too. I thought you'd like to have time to give it a try before we have to be back in the village." He turned his head in the other direction scanning his environment slowly as he did so.
"Oh. A new oil? That would be nice, Naruto, but sheesh. Can't we take a break?" she asked.
"Not if you want to buy the beads for your bath before the little shop closes," Naruto said. "I do know how much you like to relax in a full tub of sweet smelling bubbles after a long mission." He did try to hide the sneer in his voice but for anyone who knew him, the insult he had just given her was clear.
Yamato knew Naruto was angry with Sakura and he had picked up on the insult Naruto had given the girl but he didn't know why Naruto was angry with her. He started trying to think of things he could do to smooth things over and calm the angry blond down. An angry Naruto was one of the most fearsome sights anyone ever wanted to see. For allies, it always meant pranks from hell until the person he was angry at figured out what they did and either fixed it or apologized. Best off if you did both. For enemies, it meant you were gonna die horribly and painfully. Either way it wasn't a good thing.
Sai, for his part, took the words at face value. He knew Naruto was angry with Sakura by the simple fact that Naruto had not immediately dropped his speed for the girl and would not look at her at all. Like Yamato, he did not know why Naruto was angry with Sakura. Unlike Yamato, he knew Naruto was not the only person in the group who was angry with the pink girl. And that was a very strange conundrum since reading human emotions was not Sai's strong point. But none-the-less Sai knew Kakashi was almost as angry with Sakura as Naruto was, though he held his anger closer to the vest so to speak.
Ouch, Kakashi thought as he mentally sighed. Kakashi had known Naruto knew what Sakura had done during her watch, but he had hoped Naruto would let it slide as he had let so much else slide where she was concerned. Kakashi and Naruto shared a tent so he knew the teen was always awake during Sakura's watches, which had surprised him at first as he came to realize Naruto never let Sakura handle her own shift. He didn't trust her to keep awake during her shift, or aware, and with good reason it seemed. For that matter, there was very little Naruto did trust Sakura to do. He even went so far as to create shadow clones to gather herbs or firewood if that was the camp chore given to her knowing she would only come back with a handful of sticks and twigs or pretty flowers if left to do it on her own.
It was during these times, though, that Kakashi had grown to see what a good ninja and friend Naruto really was. Together they had sat up many a night, either discussing the plans for their present mission or discussing training methods, which with Naruto usually meant talking about a new jutsu he was working on, or reaffirming their vows as life partners in a chaste manner. Both were too professional to actually have sex in the field unless it was a part of the mission parameters. More than one ninja had met their death that way because they were caught off guard and defenseless. And their team did not take missions where having sex would be required. The council had tried to force it once but Jiraiya had caught wind of it and paid them another visit. Kakashi didn't know what he said, or did, to them but the subject was dropped and had never been brought up again.
But during those long quiet nighttime hours Kakashi had also learned why Naruto wore his bright orange suit and threw himself into the midst of every battle. It had surprised him to know he only did it because he knew, of everyone in the group, he was the one who could best withstand the physical onslaught of their enemies. So he did everything he could to make sure the enemy focused on him even if people like Sakura thought it made him stupid. At least she was alive to think so.
Naruto knew he could take punishing blows that would leave the rest of them fighting for their lives and unable to defend themselves and his ability to massively spam solid clones allowed him to engage multiple enemies all at the same time while his seemingly inexhaustible supply of chakra allowed him to keep the clones coming until the enemy was worn out. This allowed the rest of the group to surround their enemies in order to pick them off one by one. The only time a new strategy was needed was if the enemy got lucky and found the real McCoy. Then they would have to wade into the battle to free Naruto from the conflict until the enemy lost sight of him, which sounded really strange for a ninja in bright neon orange until you remembered his clones were also wearing bright neon orange. Battles involving Naruto often resembled nothing so much as an orange grove during a high wind storm with sound effects but he did keep his team alive and healthy enough to bitch at him the next day.
But last night Sakura had gone too far and it appeared Naruto was still very angry with her for it. Usually he was quick to forgive her no matter what she had done. All it took was a complaint from her and he would slow down and swallow his anger. But not this time. This time she needed to do a lot more than whine and complain if she wanted him to get over what she'd done. Not that she would, Kakashi sneered mentally. To do anything actually productive and conductive toward team harmony, she had to first be aware she was tearing the team apart because he was angry with her. Years of dealing with these two told Kakashi she would not realize it until someone, probably several someones, pointed it out to her. Then she would spend days denying he had any cause to be angry with her and trying to force him into realizing he was out of line before finally settling down and attempting to sweet talk him out of his anger. But it wouldn't be until after she found that would not work that she would actually think about what she'd done to tick him off and actually try to make it right. She would apologize then but Kakashi knew Naruto was well aware of why she would actually apologize and knew the blond knew she didn't actually mean a word she would say then. But he would let the anger go knowing she wouldn't make the same error again and yet she wouldn't actually ever learn from it either.
Granted none of them had Naruto's stamina or his true speed but he didn't normally try to kill his teammates with them either. However, Kakashi didn't feel stressed by their current speed. He didn't feel the least little bit strained, winded or tired. But then Yamato, Sai and he were all ex-Anbu. They were used to going fast when they traveled. Kakashi did a mental calculation. No, Naruto wasn't going all that fast right now. In fact, he seemed to be moving slower than normal. Even Sakura should have realized they weren't moving that quickly right now. What was she up to, Kakashi wondered. He pondered the situation for a few minutes before it came to him. She wanted to stop to give someone time to catch up to them. His eyes narrowed and his anger spiked as he realized who she thought would catch up to them. She actually thought that bastard would catch up to the team and Kakashi knew exactly why she would think so.
His spike of anger caught Sai and Yamato's attention and he signaled them to increase their watchfulness. Kakashi sent Naruto a signal to pick up the pace. Naruto nodded, noting both Sai and Yamato had caught the signal as well. If she had set them up, she would live just long enough to regret it, Kakashi vowed, as he increased his own awareness. She wouldn't be the first teammate he'd deliberately made disappear for such behavior. There was only one reason now why Sasuke would desire her to delay the team and damned if he was going try again to kill Naruto for his damned dojutsu. Once sure their trail was clean he let his thoughts go back to his partner.
But it wasn't Naruto's speed or his refusal to stop for a rest that told Kakashi how angry Naruto was over what Sakura had done. It was the fact that he had not looked at the girl once all day as well as the words he said to her. He also knew Sakura was not nearly as smart as everyone thought she was. After five years of being Naruto's teammate and four more years as his classmate plus the years they had known each other before the academy, you would think the girl would know the boy well enough to know when he was telling her she was a useless, traitorous bitch and a slut but she didn't.
The group traveled on with a constant stream of complaints coming from Sakura about the speed at which they were traveling and none of which Naruto or any of the guys listened to. Even when they took a short break for a cold lunch, Sakura did not cease her steady stream of complaints over the speed they were traveling. She tried to convince Kakashi, and then Yamato, to stop for the day and set up the tents claiming they could all use the break. In her eyes, they were the senior members of the team and Naruto was taking too much on himself in forcing them into keep traveling when she didn't see the need. Because she thought she was smarter than Naruto as well as more capable and important she just couldn't see how either Kakashi-Sensei or Yamato-Taichou could take his side over hers. She claimed they were ahead of schedule and could afford to take their time getting home so why not rest a little.
It didn't work and when Naruto hitched his pack a little higher on his back everyone, except Sakura, fell into place around him. They moved out. As the last of the group, Kakashi prodded her into movement while she griped at him for letting Naruto take charge like he was. He gave her a single warning in a very flat voice that held not an ounce of give, to get her butt in gear or he'd leave her behind. She moved, not trusting him not to do exactly as he said he would.
The rest of the afternoon passed in much the same manner as the morning had. Sakura kept trying to slow them down but everyone ignored her complaints and kept up the pace. She'd even tried to fake a twisted ankle to force them to stop for the day. Yamato just made a wood clone to carry her instead so she wouldn't hold them up. He told her, "I'll carry you so you can rest your ankle and when we get to the hotel you can have the masseuse massage it for you. You'll be able to walk on it by tomorrow. The guy is good with legs. By the time he's done, you'll feel so good you'll forget it was ever injured in the first place."
She simply muttered a, "No thanks," to him and walked on, showing no sign of injury as Yamato cancelled the clone. She didn't see anyone smirking as she walked on in her spot of the formation. Towards day's end, Kakashi had realized every single complaint was being met with a slight increase in Naruto's speed which the rest of them had unconsciously agreed to match and thereby forced her to meet as well. They were actually jogging now at a slow trot and Kakashi knew it would continue until either they reached Hi no Sato or Sakura grew too winded to complain.
They did reach Hi no Sato just after sunset and Sakura, who did little to work on her stamina, was sweaty and gasping for air as they checked in. But they all noticed she made a bee line for the little boutique with it's wide variety of scented lotions and oils all the while holding her side as if she were in serious pain. They had run the last mile at a full jog and all the guys felt good for being able to actually stretch their legs on the run. She didn't even wait to check in herself and get the key to her own room. Sai had to take it to her since Naruto handed it to him and inclined his head towards the shop.
Normally in a team like this the younger two men would share a room while the older two did also or got their own rooms. But Naruto had told Kakashi point blank he wouldn't even consider sharing a room with Sai, who was in his opinion, strange. Not that Kakashi had ever had any intention of sharing a room with Yamato nor Yamato with him. Both older men knew the other had a relationship with one of the younger pair. So Yamato shared with Sai instead which suited them just fine. Sakura got her own room. Not only would it be inappropriate for her to share with the guys when it wasn't necessary, none of them wanted to listen to her any longer than necessary and she found reasons to criticize all of them.
Whenever it wasn't possible for them to have separate rooms or when the danger or risk was too high, she would have to bunk in with one of the pairs of guys if there wasn't a large enough room for them to bunk together as a group. She usually chose to share with Sai and Yamato, claiming she didn't really need to see her Sensei molesting her teammate. That comment had both Kakashi and Yamato snickering behind her back. Sakura didn't know it, but Kakashi was the straight adult in their group while Yamato was involved in a semi-open relationship with Sai. But tonight it wasn't an issue since the hotel actually had three open rooms for them.
Naruto went straight to the room he would share with Kakashi. Kakashi followed as soon as he knew everyone was signed in and had their key. He dropped his pack once he had shut the door. He noticed Naruto had already taken off his jacket and shirt and laid down on the double wide bed. Kakashi walked over, divesting himself of his shirt, mask and vest as well.
Hi no Sato was a safe hotel for Konoha ninja and the manager had set up an alarm system to let any visiting ninja know of any problems they might need to be aware of. The manager tried to make sure Konoha ninja were well cared for within his establishment knowing their lives were often short and brutal but it was because of them, and the work they did, that men like him could live as well as they did in relative security.
So Kakashi resigned himself to the task of settling Naruto's anger down so it would not overwhelm the teen before they could reach the village. He opened the night stand and pulled out the massage oil the hotel provided for all their guests. He climbed on the bed and settled himself on Naruto's butt. He poured some on Naruto's back and set to work kneading the knots out of Naruto's muscles. Once he sensed Naruto had relaxed some, he said, "Relax, Naruto. You need to keep it cool until we get home."
"I know. She just. . .makes me so angry."
"Yeah well, at least she might get the rest she spent the day claiming she needs now. For sure, she'll visit the masseuse. Maybe he can take away her tension and frustration."
"You know he's really just a spy, Kashi. Why would you think that?"
"Because that's not all he is. Yamato is correct. He is good with his hands and he will give her what she is wanting."
Naruto lifted his head and peered back at Kakashi questioningly. "He's not just a spy Naruto. He's also a whore. He works in the information trade but he does so as a masseuse so he really does know how to give a good massage as well as anything else his clients need. His posting here is mainly to see what information he can pick up for Konoha and the manager knows that. So the Masseuse has his own quarters here in the inn. He still takes care of Konoha ninja when we stop in but anything we say while with him goes no further than his ears unless he feels the nin's lips are too loose. Then he will inform the Hokage what was said and by whom but that's all he'll tell." Kakashi leaning forward to massage Naruto's neck muscles. His groin rubbed against Naruto's rear and almost caused him to moan but he bit it back. It had been a long mission and he was really wanting to get back home now. Instead, he continued to work on Naruto's muscles until the teen fell asleep. Then Kakashi recapped the oil before putting it back in the drawer of the stand just in case Sakura did not take all the little bottles. The manager kept track of what types of oils and lotions the customers used so he would have the right and most popular choices on hand for them when they came again. Then he slid to Naruto's side and wrapped his arms around the blond. It had taken him some time to wrap his mind around sleeping this close to Naruto while knowing he was straight in his own preferences. But they'd been together for a long time now and he was used to it, he thought as he snuggled in to the teens warmth and drifted into sleep. One thing about sleeping next to Naruto. The boy was always warm and he would share that body heat with whoever was lying next to him so long as that person was not a threat to him.
After a night in Hi no Sato, where true to Naruto's taunts, Sakura got her scented bubble bath, the team left the small village with Sakura's complaints ringing in their ears. She wanted to stay and shop a little bit since they were not scheduled to return quite yet. Though both Naruto and Kakashi had lost some of their anger against the pinkette, she brought it all back with her steady stream of morning complaints. First, she complained of the hour she had been roused from her bed. Then she complained over the poor quality of the food that was served to her though the waitress had told her the fruit compote she wanted was preserved instead of fresh since it was currently out of season. Then she complained because Kakashi and Naruto as well as Sai and Yamato had already checked out of their rooms while she had lingered over her breakfast. Naruto and Sai had actually checked her out forcing her to finish and get her things packed before the maid went in to clean her room. Or worse, Sai did her packing for her.
Naruto headed straight for the village entrance and the road towards Konoha. By this time even Yamato had picked up on the fact that Kakashi was just as angry with the pinkette as Naruto was. Both Yamato and Sai were bemused as to just what the girl had done to tick the normally calm pair off since both Naruto and Kakashi were well known for their patience with her and their tolerance with her shrewish temper. But neither were inclined to hang around the small village either just because she wanted to shop. They knew she had taken the oils from their rooms as well as any other products left in the night stands of their rooms for the customers enjoyment. She had already commented on the fact that Kakashi had made use of the massage oil from his room. He'd just looked at her and said, "Are you sorry I didn't call you in to watch? Or is it that you think you can get a massage while on a mission but no one else is entitled to do the same?" He tapped the side of his nose daring her to deny she had gotten a massage as well.
While Yamato hid a grin, Sai pretended to be offended at not being called in to watch if Sakura was. She narrowed her eyes as a flush of anger stole it's way into her cheeks. She actually had the nerve to tell Kakashi, "Maybe I should show Shishui this bottle from your room. I doubt she'll believe either of you just gave the other a simple massage. Naruto may be an idiot but she cares about him and when she finds out how you are perverting him. . . . I want to go shopping here before we leave, Sensei, and if you want to keep your playtoy you will let me. Personally I don't care what you have to do to keep that Baka on the job but she does. And if I have to tell her you are perverting her so-called little brother, she won't be very happy with you. So go find a place to sit down and wait until I am done shopping." She started to walk off but stopped to look over her shoulder and say, "Oh and you might want to call him to heel since we both know we aren't going anywhere until I say we are."
Yamato and Sai followed Naruto not wanting to witness what Kakashi would do to the uppity girl. Sakura stood there smirking thinking she had won. She was therefore more than a touch frightened when he grabbed her arm and threw her towards the village entrance. He growled at her, "I lead. You follow. Now! Or I will write you up for dereliction of duty."
Within an hour of rising, they were on their way home. Yamato had told Sai in a whisper to do what he could to keep the pinkette from annoying either of the other two any more than she already had. Otherwise one of the two was likely to kill her before they got her home again. Kakashi kept his eye on Naruto all that day. He knew the idiotic comments she had made about the opened oil bottle had set his temper dangerously close to the flash point. And he knew Naruto had heard the comments. Naruto had not been that far ahead of the main body of the group when Sakura tried her little bit of blackmail and the boy had damn good ears. Hell, Kakashi's temper was dangerously close to that same point and he didn't care half as much about what happened to the girl as Naruto did. But Kakashi realized he needed to stomp down his anger if they didn't want things to blow up before they made it back to Konoha. He knew all too well that if anything were to happen, to the girl before they returned home and handed her over to Tsunade-sama, Naruto would get the blame for it no matter who actually did it or caused it.
When they stopped to make camp for the night, Sakura did as she usually did and sat near the center of the clearing, doing nothing to help set things up while Naruto erected her tent for her. Kakashi had once complained to Naruto about how he was always setting up her tent for her and Naruto had explained it was bad enough that her tent was bright pink but did Kakashi really want her to set it up herself given her feelings about dirt and the wild? Naruto had told Kakashi that he set it up for her because, although she didn't know how to set it up, she would place it in a spot guaranteed to be seen by anyone traveling through the area and that included enemies who were actually trying to find them. It was the same thing with the other chores involved with setting up or breaking down a ninja camp. She simply did not know or care to learn how to do it correctly.
As soon as he had it set up, she complained about where he had placed it but disappeared inside to freshen herself rather than be available for any of the dirtier camp chores. Not unusual behavior for her since she had gotten a swelled head as the apprentice of the Godaime Hokage and legendary medic-nin of the Sennin. She thought it appropriate, that since Naruto was the lowest ranked member of Team Seven, that he should wait on her hand and foot. And there was no way she would ever believe Naruto might actually outrank her both socially and shinobi-wise.
But everyone in Team Seven knew why Naruto did her share of the camp chores and Sai helped him whenever he could. The two older men refused to enable her uselessness but they did keep watch over the boys as they did the chores.
Naruto, with Sai's help, got a fire going and, being the best cook out of them all, fixed dinner for the group. Everyone noticed he did not either take a plate to Sakura or call her out to get her own. She, who couldn't so much as boil an egg without scorching it, would have eaten every bite while doing nothing but complain over the poor flavor and quality of his meal no matter what it was that he made so no one really missed her presence. They sat around the fire for a couple hours after the two teens took care of the after dinner chores and then Naruto disappeared into the tent he would share with Kakashi.
Kakashi told Yamato to divide the watch among the four guys and to make damn sure Sakura did not take a shift. He also told Yamato to keep an eye on her and if she tried to leave the camp for any reason to notify him so she could be followed. If she so much as left her tent he wanted to know about it. Kakashi said he would tell Naruto but he'd leave it to Yamato to tell Sai. Then he went into the tent he shared with Naruto to find the teen staring at the ceiling of the tent. He sighed and lay down beside his blond. He pulled Naruto to him and stroked his back, telling the teen, "Sleep, Naruto. It'll be over soon. Just get some sleep now." He stayed awake just long enough to be sure Naruto actually did go to sleep before he drifted off himself. He knew he could trust Yamato to make sure they were safe as they slept.
Yamato concealed his puzzlement, since always before Kakashi had insisted the pinkette take a watch shift as well as he told Sai they would take the first half of the night watch. Naruto and Kakashi would have the second half so Naruto could watch the sunrise. Watching that usually calmed the teen. But he knew both the older members of team seven were extremely angry with Sakura for some reason. Clues were dropping right and left though and he somehow had a feeling he really didn't want to know what she had done to upset the pair so much. Logic was telling him it had something to do with whatever had happened the last time she had taken a watch but for the life of him he did not know what that could have been. Nor was he inclined to ask. Asking could very well turn painful in a hurry for the one doing the asking. And he just wasn't that into pain. At about ten, Sakura did leave her tent to go for a walk along the perimeter of the campground. Yamato made a wood clone to follow her at a distance to make sure of what she was doing choosing not to awaken Kakashi until the pinkette actually did leave the camp. Luckily she chose not to leave the safety of the camp and made her way back to her tent.
The next day they were up before the sun. Naruto had been unable to settle and so he had stirred up the embers and fixed breakfast for everyone while Kakashi woke the others. Sai took down his tent and Sakura's while Yamato told Kakashi about Sakura's late night walk. Of course Sakura was complaining the whole time Sai was taking down her tent since she was still in it and refusing to come out but all of them were used to this from her and Sai just kept busting down the tent while she scrambled to get herself dressed and ready to move out. She complained about the early hour and the rush when it was unnecessary since they weren't due back yet but made sure she got some of the freshest of the food though Naruto glared at her for it. Kakashi just laid a hand on his leg and Naruto kept his mouth shut when Sakura sneered at them both.
"If you wanted to be perverted, Sensei, you could have left the tents up so the rest of us could get some decent sleep. Do your perverted crap in private. I don't want to watch it and I am sure neither Sai nor Yamato do either," she said. "Just because you're abnormal doesn't mean the rest of us are."
Kakashi scooted closer to Naruto as the boy tried to eat his meal. Naruto leaned his head on Kakashi's shoulder as he poked at his food with his chopsticks. That told the jounin the boy was getting really upset with her constant harping on them both. Kakashi narrowed his eyes. If she forced Naruto to abandon his food. . . "Maa, Sakura," said Kakashi a rough burr to the normally placid tones. "From where I'm sitting it appears you're the abnormal one."
"I am not perverted, Sensei. You forget I am engaged to marry Shino." An audible snap brought everyone's attention to Naruto. With that one comment Kakashi knew exactly why Naruto was so extremely ticked off with Sakura. Kakashi hadn't thought about the ramifications of Sakura's bad act upon the village but clearly Naruto had. And with his bugs Shino would know immediately what Sakura had done. Whether he would know who it had been with was not something Kakashi had any clue of but he also knew it wasn't important if the teen knew that information. Kakashi slipped the broken sticks out of Naruto's hand replacing them with his own.
Yamato grinned, hiding his fear, as he ate. The snapping of the chopsticks had told Yamato how close Sakura was to crossing a line that should never be crossed if one wanted to live. Let's just break the camp and get going, he prayed silently as he watched Naruto force some of the food down his throat. This was a very bad situation, he thought. Naruto was walking a very fine line right now and if Sakura kept her behavior up there wasn't going to be enough of her left to bury in a shoe box. If Naruto didn't snap and kill her, Sempai would. Especially if the pinkette kept taking digs at them the way she was. Yes, Naruto and Kakashi were close. But they did not behave in a perverted manner as she suggested. When in public they were more brotherly in their actions and body language. Family. To anyone but Sakura that was. To her, every touch between them, whether deliberate or accidental, was a sexual one and therefore deviant and twisted. He nudged Sai and saw the pale boy nod gravely. It was time to intervene before all hell broke loose on earth again.
Sai made his opinion clear by playing the game Naruto had taught him that he loosely called the Annoy Sakura Game. It was a game they all played to a degree whenever Sakura was too bitchy and someone was getting annoyed with her. Usually that person wasn't Naruto but just because it was now didn't mean they wouldn't drive the Pinkette crazy on his behalf. Hell, they'd drive her beyond crazy if he let them simply because he was the one annoyed with her this time. The guys all knew it was a game and she was the only one who didn't know she was playing. Sai's job was asking questions of a sexual nature which annoyed the hell out of Sakura as there was no way in hell she could believe he actually knew exactly what he was asking and referring to. No one would even try to answer for him knowing he really didn't need the questions answered since he was not half as innocent as she thought he was but by not answering it gave him room to play the affronted innocent who really was just trying to figure things out. Sakura kept trying to get Sai to shut up but every time she did Yamato would say something, or, behind her back, either Naruto or Kakashi would do something that would have Sai asking another question.
And so it went until they got back to the village late the following day. Anytime either Kakashi or Naruto would start glaring at nothing Sai would start the game and she'd forget about them to concentrate on him. It wasn't really all that easy for Sai but for Naruto he'd do it. Naruto had saved him from being a mindless drone and that was worth the annoyance of being harped at by a walking talking carnival treat.