AN: I'm planning on this being a small multi-chapter fic. Enjoy!

The Board

{-the moon festival-}

They had met each other that morning like any other. On the small bridge that may have held different memories for each, they moved as one further into the trees that held their signature training grounds. The training itself was kept to a nice and light, friendly spar to which the loser would buy ramen for all following their training.

With a light coating of sweat already drying on their skins, Team 7 walked down the road that led them to Itchiraku's Ramen shop with the intention of a big breakfast —all made possible thanks to Naruto's more than generous offer to pay, of course.

"Will you just admit you suck, already?" Sakura's laugh was twinkling with merriment in the early morning glow of the sun as she nudged her raven-haired teammate's side for conformation.

Sasuke couldn't help but smirk and taunt his best friend in turn. "Hn. Loser."

"For the last time I LOST ON PURPOSE." Naruto may have lost the annoying habit of shouting like when he was a genin, but Sasuke and Sakura still got the impression his loud talk would never diminish. "Can't a guy just treat his teammates to a breakfast without any reason whatsoever?"

"Of course he could, Naruto."

"THANK YOU."

"However, you're not one of them. So unless you're planning on asking either Sasuke-kun or I a favor and you know you'd need to butter us up in the first place or-"

"Or you're dying."

"Right, dying. It can never be just free breakfast with you. Let alone, ramen."

"You two think you're SO…" The blonds' mumbled words drifted off as he walked ahead of his comrades, into the establishment, and plopped unhappily on a stool, all while the remaining two Team 7 members chuckled and snickered at their teammate's expense.

After many bowls of ramen later (12 to be exact, and more than half belonging to one Naruto Uzumaki) the group of ninja stood to leave when the owner, a man with an open smile and warm voice said, "You three going to attend the Moon Festival tonight?"

"The Moon Festival?" Naruto asked, perplexed. "What's that?"

"Eh?" Teuchi stared at the young man as if he'd just grown a second head. "You don't know what the Moon Festival is? It's the second time the village celebrates it!"

"Well…" Awkward scratch behind the head. "I was sort of... not here," Naruto finished, embarrassment clear in his voice.

As true as it was, it wasn't Naruto's fault completely. The hyperactive ninja was in the company of Kakashi and Shikamaru as they traveled to Suna as key witnesses in Sasuke's hearing there. Kakashi as Sasuke's former teacher, Naruto as his best-friend, and Shikamaru who was one of the men in the assistance of Sasuke Uchiha's capture, arrest, and eventual parole officer.

It had been five years ago that the last remaining Uchiha had returned to Konoha. The first two years Sasuke was interrogated, imprisoned, and set on strict parole with C and D rank missions. A year with the parole lifted but still kept under a watchful eye. Then it was two years to do the same routine all over again, only this time in Suna where Team Hebi were stationed.

Sasuke had been re-entered into Konoha's lifestyle again, since his two year absence, not even three months ago so it was perfectly understandable how he and Naruto had never heard of such a festival.

"Oh yeah, that's right. You two went to train for the upcoming exams," Teuchi recalled thoughtfully. Although it wasn't entirely correct.

To keep news out of Sasuke's relocation of imprisonment out of the spotlight, Tsunade had mentioned to the general public that the two young men were simply training under Kakashi and Shikamaru for the upcoming Chunin exams, since that was just around the corner at the time. And since no one dared question their scary Hokage as to what Shikamaru could possibly contribute, being known as the most laziest person in the entire village, the matter was settled. Naruto could have come back to the village after the trial and punishment had been dealt out but wanted to return home with his brother at his side, thus, the cover story.

"All that training sure paid off, am I right?" The cheerful man said, punctuated with a hearty laugh.

And since there was no way that two of Konoha's finest, and not to mention direct prodigies of Legendary Sanin, could come back with lack of Chunin title, both friends eventually entered the exams. With only less than a month for actual training, but neither man feared for the worst. They were very powerful and feared; the Chunin exams were a cakewalk for the two.

It was obvious to trained shinobi like Sasuke and Sakura that the laugh emanating from Naruto was forced. They knew the ninja hated lying to the old man and so kept up the farce sentiment without saying anything.

"It's okay. I'm sure Sakura-san here could fill you in on what you two are missing," Teuchi smiled.

Upon hearing her name, the only female shinobi glanced up. "Hm?"

"Go ahead, Sakura-san. Tell them about all fun things to do at the festival."

"Uh, well, you see…" Sakura fidgeted in place, staring at the counter's shiny surface. "I wouldn't really know, Teuchi-san."

If he was surprised before, the man was in shocked now. "Eh?! Not you, too!"

Indeed. The young woman had not been apart of the festivities the year prior but would actually be her first this year. Although, her reasons for being absent were a lot more guarded and more confusing than her teammates', if that was even possible.

The young Haruno had left the village under the guise of training and entering the Jounin exams that were happening in the next village over. And since she too, like her well-known teammates, wasn't known for failure, Sakura was easily appointed to Jounin status.

"That's right. You took the Jounin exams last year, huh, Sakura-chan?" Naruto's blue eyes crinkled shut in an expression of mild-annoyance. "I still say you should have waited for us."

Oh, how she wished she could have too. However, with her mission being one of extreme secrecy (only she and Tsunade had known!) it meant it was the perfect opportunity to strike. With the idea planted that Sakura was off training, the young woman actually made her way to Suna for Sasuke's case and, eventually, being the reason her teammate got a lighter sentencing of two years maximum.

Here was the twist: making sure she was not seen by any of Konoha's ninja. But with Sakura's finesse in chakra control, it wasn't much of a challenge. Working mostly behind the scenes, anyway, Sakura managed to convince the Suna investigators to cut back on the sentencing. It also helped that she was the apprentice of one of the Legendary Sanin, she supposed.

Putting on a small smile she hoped looked anything but fake, Sakura turned to her usually cheerful friend. "I said I was sorry. What more do you want? I told you, both Tsunade-sama and I agreed it was time and so I thought, why wait?" When in fact, she would have wanted her team at her side at that time. At least Sai was there for support. Or what he thought was support. "Besides you were off training, remember?" It was a low blow, she knew, but Naruto had to understand it was his choice to leave her behind first.

The blonds' annoyance seemed to dissipate at the comment, just like Sakura knew it would, yet she couldn't help but add, "You don't see Sasuke-kun moping about this," to make fun of him, since it was no secret that Sasuke and Naruto's rivalry went as far back as their friendship.

Sneaking a peak at her raven-haired friend, Sakura would be forever reminded of why Sasuke could never know of her involvement in his case. She was scared if he found out she was the one who, in the end, saved him, Sasuke would take that as a sign of weakness.

The girl fought hard not to roll her eyes. Men were so sensitive.

Truer words had never been spoken, as the two shinobi turned to look at their third. Sasuke's expression seemed void of any emotion. However, when sky-blue eyes met onyx, the Uchiha's mask cracked and let slip a smug smile followed by an arrogant "Hn."

After that, it was nothing but name-calling and seeing who was truly the strongest. Sakura was a bit sorry she had turned Teuchi's once quiet restaurant into their new battle zone, but one look at her boys, and she knew she wouldn't change them for the world.