A/N: Ok, so just to let everyone know, this is my first attempt at a Romance/Angst

story. My other stories, usually revolve around Action, and very little Romance/Angst.

So, this is my first shot, and I hope you like it. I will accept flames, seeing as I probably

will get some bad reviews, if you think my story is bad. Anyways, I hope you like it,

regardless. I had fun writing it, and thought I did an Ok job. Let's see if you feel the

same way. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Remembering a Great Ninja

Dark Grey clouds began to roll in, and started raining down on the GraveYard. Sakura stood at

the top of the hill, in front of the Tombstone. Even though it was raining, Sakura did not have an

Umbrella to cover her. A large tree, shielded her, from overhead. Because of a few droplets of

rain that were able to find their way through the branches and leafs, it was sometimes hard to

tell the difference, between the rain drops, and her tears.

"sniff...," Sakura choked out, as she bent down to place a bouquet of flowers, down on the

ground, in front of the Tombstone.

Already, there were a bunch of flowers, placed by the Tombstone, from the Funeral Ceremony,

earlier. Sakura did not attend the Ceremony. She was too, devastated and heartbroken, to stand

there with all the other people. It was now 3 hours later, and she had worked up the courage,

to come and say her last goodbyes. She had been there when he was killed. She had watched it

happen, and was horrified by it. She hasn't been able to sleep at all, since that day, 3 weeks ago.

The rain, once starting off a light sprinkle, had now become a heavy downpour. The large tree

overhead, did nothing to help from this onslaught of water. In just a few short seconds, Sakura

was totally soaked, from head to toe. She was definitely now prepared for the weather. She had

come here when it was only slightly overcast, and there was even some sun to be seen, poking

through the slightly, grey clouds. All she had on, was a light, robe gown, that reached her feet.

With all the rain, it now clung to her, like glue. Just then, from the bottom of the hill, a person,

with an umbrella covering himself, walked up the hill, and stood behind Sakura. The person lifted

the umbrella up a little, to show that it was Rock Lee. He stood there for a few minutes, not

saying a word. He just stared back and forth, between the Tombstone, and Sakura.

"Sakura...," Lee gently whispered, trying not to startle her. Sakura flinched a little, but didn't

freak. She turned around to look Rock Lee in the face. She quickly looked down at the ground,

when she knew who it was. She then, turned her attention back to the Tombstone.

"What are you doing here, Lee...," Sakura managed to say, although it was very weak.

"Naruto said that you had I could find you here," Lee answered, still using a soft voice, "why did you decide to come here?

Sakura didn't say anything.

"I, like much of the Leaf Village, knew that you had feelings for him," Lee began, looking once

more, at the Tombstone, "but you make it look as if you are blaming his death, on yourself..."

"but...I could have...saved him...," Sakura cried, sniffing and rubbing her eyes, "...I could only

watch...and do nothing. I should have stepped in, and helped out...maybe then...he would still

be alive..."

"No, Sakura!..." Lee protested, shaking his head, even though Sakura could not see him, "you

could do nothing! If you had stepped in, you would have been killed, too!"

"I know...but...," Sakura began, but started too cry instead. Lee sighed, and walked up beside

her.

"Let's go, Sakura," Lee told her, placing the umbrella up, so that it covered the two of them,

"you will catch cold, if you stay out here, in this weather!"

Sakura hesitated for a moment, but did as Lee asked, and turned around. Both of them,

descended the hill, and walked back through the forest, towards the Village. Sakura took a look

back at the Tombstone, closed her eyes, and turned back around. Forever, those words on his

Gravestone, would be etched in her memory.

Here's lies

SASUKE UCHIHA

A Devoted Ninja, of few words

Rank: Chounin

Once Back in the Village, the heavy rain, had now, become what it had been in the beginning; a

little sprinkle. Lee pulled down his umbrella, and placed it down at his side. The two walked into

the Village, and walked through the streets. After about 20 minutes, they came across Naruto

and Kakashi, coming out of the Ramen Shop.

"What a great meal that was...hey! Sakura!" Naruto cheered, then realized that Sakura was back.

Kakashi did nothing but stare.

"I'm sorry to worry all of you..." Sakura laughed, wiping away the last of her tears, "you must

think I'm a complete weirdo, huh?"

"No way!" Naruto answered, non-subtly, "you're still the same old Sakura!"

"sniff...thank you, Naruto...," Sakura smiled, lightly.

"I hope that you are feeling a little better...," Kakashi spoke, finally, "you haven't been eating or

sleeping very good, the last few weeks."

"Yeah...," Sakura said.

"That's good," Kakashi smiled.

"I am also glad that you are alright, Sakura!" Lee joined in, "I hate to see such lovely girl, such as

yourself, not take care of yourself, as needed!"

"Thank you, Lee!" Sakura turned, to face him, "you have been the one person, who has helped

me the most, through this event."

"I am glad to do it, Sakura," Lee smiled, giving her a wink of approval.

"You seem to understand what I'm going through, the most!" Sakura pointed out.

"...well, that's because I also have had somebody, close, die before me...," Lee told everyone.

"Hmm?" Sakura wondered, "what do you mean?"

"..um, nothing!" Lee halted, avoiding her eyes, "it's nothing! I should be going now...my Sensei

will wonder where I am! Goodbye Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi-Sensei!"

Lee turned around and ran off. Sakura watched him in wonder, trying to think of what he meant.

The next day, Sakura woke up, after finally getting a full night's sleep. The first actual sleep, since

that tragic day. She woke up with a great big, happy sigh. She scared the pants off Naruto, who

was sleeping, only a few feet away.

"Man! I haven't slept that great in a long time!" Sakura sang, as she got up, and danced around

the room.

"You know...some of us, would like to sleep a little longer!" Naruto grumbled, putting his pillow

over his head.

"Well, I'm not going to spend another minute in bed!" Sakura laughed, "Kakashi-Sensei says that

he has a mission for us to start today! I want to get an early start!"

Sakura, then began to unbutton her shirt, and pull it off behind her back.

"Gahhh!" Naruto screamed, looking up at Sakura for a brief moment, "wait Sakura! I'm still in the

room!"

Naruto jumped up out of bed, and ran for the door. He ran outside, still in his pajamas.

"Gahh!" Naruto yelled, again. Everyone outside, that saw Naruto, laughed at him.

Later on, Sakura and Naruto, met up with Kakashi, who was waiting for them, just inside the

gate, at the front of the Village.

"Hi, Kakashi-Sensei!" Sakura smiled, waving to her mentor. Naruto only grumbled, as Sakura made

her announcement. Kakashi smiled and waved back.

"This mission better be worth it, seeing as I got stuck outside the house, with Sakura having to

undress!"

"Well, it may be a worthwhile mission," Kakashi told him, still smiling, "today, you will be assigned a

"B" ranked mission."

"A "B"?! Naruto yelled, now fully awake, "oh, wow! A "B" mission! This is awesome!"

"What's so important about this mission, that requires it to get a "B" grade?" Sakura asked

Kakashi, not quite as enthusiastic as Naruto, at the moment.

"It seems that a few village's around have been attacked, and not even the Jounin of the Village's

have been able to stop this threat!"

"Wow!" Sakura gasped, "but why are they letting some group like us, take care of it?"

"Because any close by Village has too much on their hands, at the moment, to sent out a group

to investigate it. Most of them are trying to help out with the injured and the destruction that

has taken place, in their Village's!"

"Oh...," Sakura sighed.

"So, let's get this show on the road!" Naruto urged the group, already halfway out the door.

"Wait a second, Naruto," Kakashi called to him, "I have something to show you, before we go

off!"

"What is it, Kakashi-Sensei?" Sakura asked, not sure what he would needed to show them.

"Because of the unfortunate death of our friend, Sasuke...," Kakashi began.

Sakura winced, but kept listening.

"...we need a third person, in order to be able to qualify for a mission, "Kakashi continued, "since

you are at a chounin level. The Hokage has just made this an official rule, since a lot of Chounin

missions, rank in the high risk category. So because of the circumstances, I have invited one of

the other Ninja's from another group, to help us out!"

"Huh?...," Naruto gasped, running back to the group.

"Who did you get?" Sakura asked, unsure as to who Kakashi could have gotten to help them out.

As Sakura was finishing her question, Rock Lee, popped out from behind a tree.

"Lee!" Sakura gasped, as she saw who it was. As he emerged onto the road, Sakura looked at

him, with a goofy, smile. Lee looked at Kakashi and Naruto with a winning grin, and then turned

his attention to Sakura. Sakura, still in her trance like goofy smile, realized that Lee was now

staring at her, as well. Sakura quickly turned away, and blushed deeply.

Oh, my god! Sakura screamed, in her head, did I just flirt with Lee? Did he notice?

"The reason that I invited Lee here," Kakashi began, "is because, Lee's group suffered some

injuries, so they won't be participating in any missions right now. They agreed to let us have Lee

for a while! Lee won't be with us for good, just until his group is able to move on!"

"That's great!" Naruto yelled, jumping on Lee's back, "welcome to the group, Bushy Brow!"

"Thank you, Naruto!" Lee smiled, giving him a thumbs up.

'Yeah, welcome to our group, Lee...," Sakura mimicked Naruto, but too low for Lee to hear.

"Ok, then," Kakashi announced, turning his body, towards the gate, "let's head out!"

Naruto got off Lee's shoulder's and ran up beside Kakashi. Lee turned to leave as well, but

stopped to take a short look at Sakura.

"Hey, Sakura?" Lee asked, that caught her off guard.

"Y..yeah?" she answered, blushing little.

"I'll be there to protect you, if you need someone by your side!" Lee told her, with a smile,

"hehe!"

He flashed her, a thumbs-up, and then ran to catch up with the others. Sakura turned away

again, and blushed, some more. Sakura hesitated a little before, attempting to join the rest. The

group began to start their mission, Sakura finally got the courage to walk, while avoiding Lee's

eyes. Along the way, Sakura smiled, while watching the rising, morning sun.

Goodbye, Sasuke! Sakura whispered, to herself.