"Thank you." He whispered. A sharp pain filled her mind then suddenly, nothing. Lost in the black abyss of nothingness. What just happened, she wondered. She was stopping someone..who wa-Sasuke! Startled, she woke with a start. Nausea hitting her roughly. Looking around, tears streaked down her cheeks seeing the sun peak through the horizon. It was too late, she hadn't stopped him..she failed. Choking back a sob, she looked down at her hands and clenched them into fists. Damn it! If only..if only she was strong..if only..suddenly her lips tingled. Confused, she tenderly touched her lips feeling nothing but the tingle still lingered. It felt as if...no, that wasn't possible, but it did feel as if she were kissed. Could it...could Sasuke have kissed her? Shaking her head, she knew he wouldn't have done so. Some pervert must have or maybe it was all in her head. She didn't know..Maybe"

Sakura gasped softly as she stirred herself from sleep as a cool object was placed on her forehead, blinking serveral times. She realized someone was hovering over her, going on the defense; she raised her fists ready to punch if need be. But she didn't need to, she realized as the face came into focus. A soft sigh and slight chuckle escaped her lips, Naruto! It was Naruto with his usual bright grin though she could see the worry in his eyes. Carefully sitting up, she felt something drop on her lap and looked down seeing it was a rag. Just what had happened?

Naruto seeming to read her mind, spoke up in a unusual soft manner. "You fainted while you were tending to your patients. You over exhausted yourself." He scolded trying to sound stern though he failed at it miserably. The Kyuubi vessel was just happy to know she was okay.

Sakura frowned as she recalled the days events, sure she felt a bit of dizziness when she was healing a child, but had thought nothing of it. Taking in a breath, she rubbed at her eyes tiredly though as she did so, she felt wetness stain her hands. Biting her lower lip roughly, she realized she had cried and bitterly knew that it was because of a certain dream. Damn it, it was over seven years and yet that damn dream kept coming back. Given that it only appeared when things were going to get messy. Which made panic rise in her chest, that dream was some ominous sign that something terrible will happen and thinking back the last time it surfaced; Kakashi was in the hospital for over two months. Most of it spent in a coma.

"Naruto, has anything..strange happen?" She asked hesistantly, looking at her best friend. When Naruto shook his head, her shoulders slump in relief. There was still time to prevent whatever was coming. About to get up, she felt rough hands push her down. "Naruto! I need to see Lady Tsunade." She hissed about to get up again only to be pushed down again. As much as she didn't want to, she was probably going to have to knock him out.

Naruto seeming to read her mind again, tightened his hands around her wrists to prevent whatever she had in mind. Sighing, he shook his head at his female best friend. She was so stubborn sometimes. "Baa-chan said to rest and if you so much as leave, you'll be revoked of having any missions. She's worried about you Sakura-chan." He said softly, he himself overly worry about her. She was pushing her limits and it scared him that one day she could very well keel over from exhaustion. He couldn't imgaine a world without his beautiful and talented, pink haired best friend. It was like a world without a sun.

Sakura backed down and leaned back against the backboard of the bed when she saw the look he gave her, she looked up at the ceiling. "I had that dream again.." She whispered, her eyes stinging. She hated the fact that a stupid dream can bring her to tears. Naruto knew exactly what she was talking about, so he rubbed his thumb soothingly on her hand. "I'm terrified of what's going to happen, Naruto. After the whole incident with Kakashi-sensei..I'm so afraid of that dream. I use to hate it, now I despise it.." She sniffled and took the tissue Naruto had just given her gratefully. Blowing her nose, she wiped away whatever tears were left.

"Is that why you want to see Baa-chan?" Naruto asked, he knew how guilty the pink haired kunoichi felt after what happened to their older sensei. The hollow eyes he saw for over several months dug a hole in his heart. He never wanted to see it again, he be damned if he did and did nothing to prevent it from happening.

The kunoichi nodded, her eyes filled with fear. "I need to do whatever it takes to take all of our friends off missions and Lady Tsunade will understand. I won't be able to handle it if something terrible happens again especially when I could prevent it." Haunting images filled her mind, images of a dying Kakashi. Blood splattered everywhere, pain evident in his features. Chakra low and no one else to help, she did whatever it took to prevent him from passing the other side. Luckily enough, Naruto arrived in the knick of time, right before she passed out. All she could was muster up was a 'please save him'. After she came to, she desperately called out to Kakashi, sobbing when she heard he was in coma and in critical condition, she couldn't function properly for a while. Shaking her head of awful thoughts, she refocused her attention to the blond in front of her.

"Sakura-chan?" He said tentatively, he panicked seeing her face features twist into such a sadden look. "Kakashi never blamed you for what happened to him. He knows that you had no way of knowing that dream is a warning of horrible events coming." He said softly as he reached out and pushed her silk pink hair away from her baby soft face.

Sakura looked at him with a tiny smile, though her eyes had that same tint of fear. Naruto bit his lower lip before forcing her to lay back down, he grabbed the rag from her hand and dipped it into the cool water beside her bed. "Go back to sleep. You need some rest." He ringed the rag of the heavy water leaving it only to be damp, he placed it back on her forehead. Seeing her mouth open, he held up a hand before she could protest and his features harden. "Sakura, I can't stand seeing you exhausted to the point where you look you could very well die. Yes, I know your patients are very important to you, but the nurses are there for a reason. To help you and take over when you need rest. You have to trust them, Sakura-chan. Now sleep or I'll tell baa-chan to revoke your privileges at the hospital and you know she will." He said matter of factly.

With a defeated sigh, Sakura closed her emerald eyes. She felt Naruto come off the bed and walk away. Hearing the door creak open, she smiled slightly. She could always count on Naruto to be that someone who will stay at her side when she was injured or unable to move. To make sure she was okay. "Sleep tight, Sakura-chan." She heard him whispered before he left, closing the door behind. Thank you, Naruto, she said silently. Shifting to a more comfortable position, she felt a thousand years old. Maybe Naruto's right. She did feel very tired, she might as well take advantage of this opportunity before she woke up and go to Lady Tsunade tomorrow. With a small yawn, she snuggled into the covers and felt herself drift away into slumber.

Hoping that dream will keep itself at bay.

"Baa-chan, Sakura's serious! You have to pull in Sai, Kiba, Shino, Ino, Shika, Hinata, Neji, Tenten, Lee, and everyone else from their missions!" He said, practically screaming at the Hokage.

"Naruto!" She yelled, startling the Kyuubi vessel. "I can't just do that. I know how she feels about that dream, but the missions some of them are on are very crucial in getting done. I can't pull them in." She said as she rubbed her temples, a fairly large headache coming on. Seriously, what did she do to deserve this so early in the morning?

Naruto stared at her with determination written all over his face, he slammed his hands down on her desk. He knew the consequences of getting her pissed off. He spent a week in the hospital because he up and refused to do a petty mission which caused her to see red and punch him out the window for being a brat. As if she just hit him, he rubbed his shoulder. He was seriously sore for a while. "I'll do all the missions, I don't care of the danger. If any one of them gets terribley damage, Sakura will only blame herself. You saw how broken and messed up she was when Kakashi was hurt. She couldn't sleep decently for over a year without recalling his bloody body! Call them in, I'll do it. Honest." He said pleadingly.

The blonde Hokage stared at him for a minute then let out a sigh. "Naruto, you can't do them all by yourself." She said, her voice low. Scratching at her head frustrated, she knew of one solution on how to get them back here within a day. It'll take alot of connections, but she could do it. "I'll have some neighboring ninjas take on the missions." She grumbled, Sakura better be grateful and kiss at her feet for several months. This was going to costs a whole lot. With money in mind, a sadistic smirk appeared on her lips.

Naruto seeing that smirk, gulped. That's never a good sign. "Since you're so eager to go on a mission. There is this escort mission that was brought in today. Call it payback. Since we'll be losing a hefty amount of cash, we'll need this mission to be a flawless success. You and Sakura will be escorting the Fire lord's daughter, Ami. You remember her, don't you?" And oh, he did. Annoying little girl. All about Sasuke, Sasuke. He thought irritabley, his mood turned sour. Damn worse best friend of the year. The kyuubi vessel couldn't seem to make it through his promise of a lifetime to Sakura-chan by getting Sasuke back. He always apologized to her though she would say it's okay. She's over it. Though he knew she missed him as much as he missed him too. They were a team. Team 7. It hurt to know that Sasuke wouldn't come back, not for him or for Sakura. 'I broke those bonds a long time ago.' Sasuke's voice whispered in his head. Naruto scowled, he didn't break them! Merely shoved them aside, even if seven years have passed..

"Naruto!" Tsunade screamed to catch the brat's attention. "As I was saying." She continued knowing he was now listening. "You'll be heading out today. Go wake up Sakura and get ready. Be at the Gates before the sun rises up! Dismissed!" She yelled and with that, Naruto left hurriedly. Tsunade sighed before she began writing, asking for them to take over their missions. Of course they will, good money came with these missions! She inwardly groan, so much money that could be spent on gambling. Shaking those thoughts away, new thoughts coming into her head. Sakura, her precious apprentice, the blonde Hokage knew how torn up she was. Sure, it happened about two years ago. But still, it hurt to see her act so..mechanic. Just like Naruto, Tsuande will be damned if she let it happen again to the pink haired kunoichi. Rolling up the scroll, she opened the window and whistled, a hawk coming to her immediately. Quickly tying the scroll to its leg, she sent it away.

"Shizune! bring me sake."

This was going to be a long day for the poor woman.

"Sakura wake up!"

"Noff.."

"We have a mission and the sun's about to come up, high in the sky."

"Gimme a minute."

"Now, Sakura-chan!"

Groaning with irritation, she pulled up the covers to cover her head. It was too early and what happened to 'sleep Sakura-chan, you need your rest'? She thought sourly. When the covers were ripped away from her, she kicked her legs like an upset child.

Naruto clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Sakura, this is important especially since you want every one to come back. If we don't hurry up and do this mission, every one will be forced back to their missions and in harms way." He said and grinned when she quickly got up.

"Why didn't you say that sooner, baka!" She ran to the bathroom and took a quick shower, enjoying the warm jets knowing this will be it for a while. Finishing up, she wrapped a towel around herself and went out the bathroom door and to her closet. "Get out!" She screeched at her best friend throwing a shoe at him as he left. Quickly putting on her green shirt, the Haruno sign displayed proudly on her back, she slipped on panties along with her gray shorts. For once, she didn't want to just wear pink and red, though they went with her hair perfectly fine. She wanted a change and so, she changed the colors of her clothes. Given, her shirt was a lot shorter. Showing off her sleek stomach, the V lines peeking through her shorts. Naruto disapproved of her outfit, but the others appraised it. They said it was about time she showed off her figure! She smiled at the thought of her friends, they meant the world to her. She'd do whatever to keep them safe. She quickly tied her kunai pouch on her right thigh and slipped on her knee high boots. With everything packed in her bag, double checking everything, she was ready and practically flew out the door. Grabbing a startle Naruto, she ran towards the Gates.