Chapter One: Raindrops

Bold Inner Thoughts

Okay so this is only my second fanfiction, I gave up on my first one because I felt that I had lost my passion for it. I'm sorry to the people who enjoyed reading my previous fanfiction, but I have a feeling this one is going to be a lot better . I'm open to suggestions for pairings and stories, anything is fine. Just send me an email saying what you want

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R&R

HAPPY READING!

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS (UNFORTUNATELY)

As she opened her eyes the first thing she set her eyes on was that photo, a simple photo with some not so simple memories. She sat up, hunching her back looking to the floor with an expression of sadness. The image of team 7 appeared in her mind, the day they had the picture taken. She was so happy to be having her first photo with Sasuke, who didn't really want to be in the picture, Naruto didn't seem to want Sasuke in the picture either. Sakura spent more time than usual getting ready that day, she didn't look that different but she felt different, more confident. She'd wanted to look perfect for Sasuke, even if he didn't notice her efforts. It took so long to finally take the picture; the photographer was steaming and decided to take the picture even if they weren't ready. Still, the picture turned out pretty good, with Sakura gleaming because she was with Sasuke, of course he was looking bored like he always does.

She unhitched her back and raised her head; the look of sadness had disappeared from her face. She smiled to herself as she stood up and readied herself for the day ahead. Peering out the window she noticed Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi and making their way towards her apartment, she wondered what they were doing. 'Oh crap I must have overslept, I forgot about our mission'. She dashed to the bathroom to check her appearance and swigged some mouthwash, she gargled then spat the mouthwash into the basin. She grabbed a hairbrush, full of long pink hairs, and hastily brushed her beautifully long strawberry hair, she then ran into her bedroom and rummaged through her drawers for clean underwear and socks. She went across the room to her wardrobe and clattered the doors open grabbing the first item of clothing close to hand then slamming the doors closed as she returned to the bathroom where she changed her clothes and placed the dirty ones in a woven basket behind the door.

Slipping her shoes on while she sat at the end of her untidy bed, as soon as her shoes where comfortable she leapt up and strived towards the door. Just as she grasped the handle in her pale fragile hand there came a knocking from the other side, "Sakura are you up?" Kakashi asked as he knocked again but louder this time. He was just about to knock on her door once again, when she opened it Kakashi's fist was just an inch from her face. His hand lowered and he shrugged his shoulders with a smirk while stepping back so Sakura could actually leave her apartment, recently she had hidden herself away from everyone and rarely left the building. "Hey Sakura-Chan" Naruto grinned as he jumped to her side, she just pretended like she didn't hear him and carried on walking. "What's herproblem?" He muttered to Sasuke

"Why are you asking me loser?"

"Thought you might know seeing as you two are pretty close"

"Well you thought wrong, okay. Just leave me alone"

"Well someone'smoody," he muttered just quiet enough for Sasuke to not hear him. "What's this mission about anyway Kakashi-Sensei?" he said glancing at his mysterious sensei.

"Well if you must know, Itachi has shown his face near Konoha. We have orders to find out his plans but we are to take no further action unless necessary, Sasuke" He replied glancing at Sasuke sternly. "Got it," they all replied in unison but with not as much enthusiasm as Kakashi would have hoped.

"Come on, are you really all that lazy?"

"We're not lazy! It's just no fun if we don't get to fight him" Naruto said with a slight scowl on his face.

The rest of their trip was quiet except for the occasional moments when Kakashi would try and encourage the three disappointed ninjas. Sasuke and Sakura had walked off ahead to escape Kakashi's ranting and Naruto complaining, Sakura was feeling strange, for once she didn't want to walk beside Sasuke attempting to convince him to go on a date with her. She glanced to the ground and watched as rain began to fall around her, puddles of clear liquid started forming on the path. "We should find some shelter," Sasuke said as he ushered her towards some shaded trees, it was beginning to get dark and they were further away from Kakashi and Naruto than they thought. Sasuke and Sakura were dripping with cold icy water by the time they reached a dry sheltered place to rest; Sasuke opened his backpack and pulled out a large crimson blanket. "You don't want to catch a cold, here" he said politely as he passed her the blanket, "I don't need it". She unfolded the blanket and placed it over her shoulders as she sat down on a dry patch of leaves to rest, she watched as Sasuke began to shiver while she sat next to him, warm, with 'Italics' his 'Italics' blanket. She moved closer to him and shared the warmth of the blanket, "You can't fight Itachi if you're ill" she said, but strangely there was no emotion in her voice, it was like she didn't care happened to him she just didn't want one of the strongest people in team 7 to be out of the fight with Itachi. He was a valuable asset to their mission, that's all she saw him as. "Thanks" he responded in a frail voice as he moved even closer still to Sakura.

"It is your blanket"

"Yeah but still, Thanks"

Sakura's eyes started to feel heavy and she started to feel drowsy, within a few minutes she was asleep in Sasuke's arms. As she leaned sluggishly on him he watched the rain, but soon his eyes turned to watch Sakura as she slept so peacefully. He wondered why she liked him so much; he was cruel to her and always told her she was annoying. Why does she love him after all these years? His thoughts began to wander and he thought of Itachi and the fight that was going to go down soon. What if Itachi has learned some kind of new deadly jutsu? Was he coming to finish off the elimination of the Uchiha clan? His hands became clenched into fists; his veins were almost popping out of his skin. Sakura began to stir, he looked to her and he soon calmed down, she appeared to be so peaceful and happy in his arms. The rain began to die down and Sasuke could see Kakashi and Naruto searching for him and Sakura, he didn't want to wake Sakura but he had to otherwise Kakashi and Naruto would get suspicious about the sleeping girl in his arms. He shook her shoulder gently and watched as her eyes opened. The light piercing through the clouds illuminated the shine in her eye; he just smiled to himself. "Kakashi and Naruto are looking for us"

"Ok" She said wearily as she stood up and sorted out her hair and dress. They ran over to meet with a worried and slightly irritated Kakashi. "Where have you been? We were looking for you everywhere." Naruto bawled with a tone of arrogance in his voice. "We had to find some shelter because it was getting dark and started pouring down" Sakura snapped back

"Oh, Ok. As long as you're safe, that's what matters" Sakura muttered something and stormed off, she was careful not to go too far away as Kakashi would scold her.

She noticed Sasuke appearing slowly at her side, she tried to ignore him but he soon spoke, "Are you alright Sakura? You seem upset, you're usually so chirpy and cheerful."

"What?! I'm not allowed to have a bad day."

"I didn't mean it like that, I'm just trying to help. That's all"

"Well, Don't, Okay!"

"Sorry, I even bothered" He sneered as he blustered past her at a vicious pace. 'I think I was a bit harsh on him, maybe I should see if he's ok.' She pondered as she watched him furiously blaze through a large clearing ahead.

As they moved closer to the clearing ahead Kakashi and Naruto had caught up Sakura, "We're going to camp here tonight. Sakura you will have to share a tent with Sasuke" Kakashi announced while he ran ahead to begin setting up their tents.