A/N: Le gasp! Tis the sequel of Tests of Time. Huzzah! Ok so I'm going to be updating this very slowly (not too slowly, but slowly) since I want to make sure I tie all lose ends and meet everyone's expectations for this…if possible hehe. I don't want to disappoint anyone by ending it on a crappy note. I have the basic outline for it but nothing's permanent. I usually adjust things based on my mood. So yeah…enjoy, tell me your thoughts and if you have any suggestions or things you're hoping to see let me know. Who knows it might just come true.

I enjoy messing with their lives but unfortunately I do not own them.

Chapter 1: Lack of Progress

"Let's see, cake? Check. Food? Check. Decorations? Nope. Naruto? Nope." Glancing at the time Sakura frowned. He was late, very late despite all the reminders, warnings and slightly aggressive notes (which to some people would sound an awful lot like threats) he was still unable to make it on time. "He's turning out to be like Kakashi-sensei." She muttered irritably. Rising from the wooden table, Sakura placed the cake in the oven, just as the front door opened, heavy steps making their way in. Turning around angrily, Sakura's brow furrowed, she began to scold her tardy teammate. "Naruto, I thought I told you to…Sasuke?" She stopped taken by complete surprise. The Uchiha annoyed by her loud outburst as well as her appearance in his home, stared straight at her his expression none too happy to see her. "W-what are you doing here?" Making his way towards his bedroom, he was tempted to ignore her inquiry, not in any mood to deal with stupid questions.

"I live here." He deadpanned momentarily locking himself in his room. The kunoichi began to pace nervously, quite thankful that her dimwitted teammate was late and she prayed to kami he'd be even later.

"Sakura-chan!" Someone really hated her, really really hated her. Running towards the front door, she quickly pushed the blonde out of the Uchiha's residence, hissed to him of Sasuke's early return and then shut herself back in.

Blinking repeatedly, Naruto found himself back outside, a closed door before him. Dumbfounded to say the least he tried to piece together what had just taken place. He had arrived, was about to apologize, gagged, pushed and locked out. Why had she locked him out? She couldn't have been that mad at him. Thinking back to her expression he gulped. Then again she could have, she really could. Tentatively he reached for the door, his tanned hand shaking slightly, afraid to open it and have the rosy headed girl's fury unleashed upon him. Perhaps if he apologized, a lot, she'd let him off the hook. Settled with the idea, he proceeded to open the door when he heard her speak. Nani? Who is she talking to? Listening in, his eyes widened when he heard Sasuke's name. Eh! What's he doing back so soon?

Having stepped back out of his room, Sasuke's brow rose, finding Sakura still in his home. "Sasuke." Sakura called nervously, trying her best to look calm, though based on her situation it was rather hard. "You're back early. I thought you wouldn't get back till tonight."

"I finished early."

"Oh, I see that's, that's nice." She laughed uneasily, desperately trying to think of a way to get the Uchiha to leave, but so far nothing was coming to mind. So deep in thought, she didn't hear when her name was called.

"Sakura." Sasuke repeated his voice sterner as he continued trying to get her lost attention. For some reason it bothered him more than usual.

"Huh? Oh sorry, what did you say?" The dark haired teen stared at the kunoichi, his expression clearly showing his displeasure, held back his urge to snap at her.

"What are you doing in my house?"

"Huh?" She only received a cold stare. "Oh, why am I here? I, uh just wanted to…" Think, think, think! "Clean!" Please believe it, please, please oh please! Again the raven-haired boy's brow rose. That made it twice in a day, things were beginning to enter a dangerous zone, and Sakura knew it. Her uneasy laughter sounded from her pink lips as she smiled broadly to hide her guilt of lying. Sighing he turned away, not wanting to deal with her at the moment. Next time he'd have to make sure to lay some traps before he left. Many, many traps.

Heading for the kitchen he reached for the fridge when he felt someone tugging his arm. Twitching slightly from the contact, Sasuke turned towards the agitated looking girl. "What are you doing?" Again, with the obvious, he really wanted to ignore her; frankly, he wanted her out of his house. He was tired, hungry and now irritated beyond all belief.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Getting…something to eat?" She responded, feeling completely stupid at the moment, but she would have to overlook that. She needed to get him out of the house. Again the sharigan user tried to step away only to be pulled back. Another cold stare. Sakura knew she was racking up negative points. She knew it and she knew it well enough but for the moment, she'd have to live with that. "Uh, say Sasuke how about we go out to eat?"

"No." She frowned, beginning to lose her nerve. He had to be stubborn.

"We should, my treat for completing your mission." She smiled up at him expectantly praying to every god she could think of.

"No." She really was hated by the higher ups. Pulling free from her hold Sasuke opened his fridge, stopping at the sight of the extra and completely unnecessary amount of food there. He turned towards his female companion, she just laughed, that same nervous laughter she had been doing since he arrived. "Sakura."

"So how about that restaurant."

"Sakura."

"I hear there's a new one that just opened. It should be good."

"Sakura." Her green orbs nervously avoided those dark eyes staring down at her. By mistake, her gaze lingered at the oven just enough for him to notice. Things were getting worse, all her planning, all her work was being taken apart in rapid succession. Reaching for the bar, Sakura's eyes grew as she frantically tried to think of how to stop him without looking anymore suspicious if that was even possible.

The oven door was opened, revealing the neatly decorated cake that had been placed inside and a stilled Uchiha. Before he could question her further, the front door burst open; a loud, obnoxious voice ringing out. "Oi, Sakura-chan is the teme gone yet?" Really, really hated. Looking over briefly towards Naruto and then back to Sakura, Sasuke waited for her explanation.

"Hehe, Happy Birthday Sasuke."