Chapter 1

Sakura stared out the window and into the forest. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered visiting those woods as a genin with her team. Now that Sasuke was back everything was different.

She remembered that day like it was yesterday. Sakura had been collecting plants for her shishou Tsunade. After several years of hard work, sweat, and tears Sakura had finally lived up to her potential and had become one of the finest medic-nins in all of the 5 nations. Of course that came with a price, Sakura was always in high demand for missions. Although, that day her only task was to find a few plants.

Sakura had just bent down to pick the plants she needed when she sensed it. Off to the left, she felt a spike of chakra. It wasn't familiar to her, so she decided to investigate. Sakura melted into the trees, and crouched on a branch high above, careful to completely mask her chakra, but what she saw almost made her lose her perfect control. There standing in a clearing was Uchiha Sasuke.

She later found out that he had come back home after defeating Orochimaru, Itachi, and Madara, but those experiences had changed him. Sakura knew that he wouldn't be the same as when he was a genin, but she hadn't expected him to immediately hole himself up in the Uchiha compound and refuse all visitors. That had broken Naruto's heart. His "brother" had finally come home and wanted nothing to do with him. Sakura too was heartbroken, but she hid it behind a mask of anger, the only person who could see through her was Kakashi-sensei. She hadn't known there was still a foolish part of her that hoped and prayed that Sasuke would fall in love with her. Of course he hadn't.

Eventually Sasuke had come around and reluctantly allowed Naruto to begin training with him, but he had refused to even look at Sakura. This tore her apart. She remembered clearly what she now knew was her most embarrassing moment.

It was a clear night when it had happened. Sakura had felt the lonilessness pressing down on her, and with it came great anger. She decided foolishly to confront Sasuke and demand to know why he was ignoring her. In retrospect, that probably wasn't the best idea. To her credit she did manage to make it all the way to Sasuke's bedroom window, but when she saw his perfect angel face all her anger dissipated. Instead she felt cool tears slide down her face and all she managed to murmer was, "Why?"

Sasuke didn't even spare her a second glance before saying, "Because you are weak." Sadly, that was the most words he had spoken to her for over 5 years, and it broke her. She could actually feel the part of her heart shatter, pierced by his cruelty. She wished she had slapped him, done something to show her anger, to show she wasn't weak. Instead she stood there tears streaming down her face, until he told her she was annoying and to get out.

Sakura still remembered that moment, and as she stared out the window, her rose colored hair framing her face, she cried tears of regret, tears for what could have been. A sudden tapping on the door interrupted her reverie. "Sakura-chan," a voice exclaimed. "Sakura-chan, baa-chan wants to see you!"

Quicky Sakura wiped her eyes and turned to face the door. "Naruto, you baka, there's no need to yell. I can hear you just fine!" Sakura roared.

"Neh, Sakura-chan please don't go scary on me!"

Sakura sighed. Naruto was just as loud and obnoxious as ever, but she loved him like the brother she never had. Grumbling Sakura said, "Im coming, I'm coming." With that she put her hands together and in a flurry of sakura petals she teleported outside of her shishou's door.

"Ah, Sakura," said Tsunade. "Come in."

"Hai," Sakura said and entered. She bowed quickly and continued, "I am at your service."

"I have a mission for you, should you choose to accept it," Tsunade said carefully. "The Kazekage has requested your medical knowledge for an extended period of time. Should you decide to accept, you will leave immediately."

Sakure thought quickly. This could be her chance to escape the embarrassment and feeling of failure that folowed her wherever Sasuke went. "I accept," she stated.

"Good," Tsunade grumbled. "Oh and Sakura before you leave you better tell me where Shizune hid my sake!"