Hey Reader, so this is my first Fanfiction story. Not my first story by any means, I have one on Fictionpress, and I'm in the process of write quiet a few others. But anyways, I hope you like this one. Comments and critiques are welcome and wanted. Also, I'm not REALLY sure how close this is to the Naruto Story...I've only seen it to a certain point, as well as looked up some things. But if something is wrong, I apologize.

Lady-of-Laughter

Also: I cannot claim ownership to Naruto. Standard Disclaimer applies...ect. ect. you know the drill!

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The battle was over, yet there he stood, simply watching. Sakura Haruno stood inside the huge crater-like hole in the jungle floor. Looking up at its edge she could see him. For the first time in years she saw him, just as cold and unattached as always. Although this time was different than the time team Kakashi had infiltrated one of Orochimaru's underground lairs seeking to bring him home.

This crater wasn't an underground room with the top blown off. This was the result of a battle, although why the Sound ninja's had run left her unsure and wondering. This crater had tall curving, dirt packed walls, with a large pile of dirt and rock in the center, showing where the bombs had gone off in a large circle. That column of dirt and rock had crumbled into the pile as the fighting continued.

Even amid the settling dust Sasuke, from far above them, was even better looking than he had been when she'd last seen him. He had changed even more than she had thought possible, outwardly anyways. His smirk was still the same, although she didn't know why he was smirking. He was no longer a fifteen year old boy. He looked every bit the twenty-two years of age he was.

Anger filled her as she lifted her chin and turned her back. Such a fatal mistake that anyone would have known never to do when an enemy was near. But she didn't care, she wasn't that same girl. Physically, she was taller with the perfect figure, nice curves and beautiful face. Her figure was clad in shorts with white cloths covering the front and back and a shirt with the usual white circle of the Haruno family.

Also physically she had surpassed her mentors Tsunade the Hokage and Shizune in strength and medical skill. It truly was amazing; she had surpassed the legendary sanin who had become legendary because of her medical skill. That great training and intensive drive to be the best, to someday bring back the man above, was what had made her even better than they that trained her.

Turning she found Hinata, laying flat on a large bolder with a broken nose. Even though it looked bad Sakura knew that it wasn't fatal. Of course Naruto hadn't known that, that being the reason he was currently on the ground where he had fallen as he had passed out.

He had made such a scene, yelling and screaming that it wasn't fair that he had lost his fiancée only two months before their wedding. And then promptly fainting away like a child out in the heat too long without enough water. Over dramatic Baka!

As a soft green glow came around her hands Sakura Haruno 'The Cherry Blossom of Konoha' eased Hinata's pain and healed the damage before kneeling to check on the closest thing to a brother she would ever have. He was fine. Like the rest, he was also twenty-two, and grown into a fine man, one Sakura was proud to stand and fight with. Well, some of the time, but he was mostly still his irritating self, the one she restrained herself from punching every now and again.

Sasuke Uchiha, the one watching, had grown to be taller, his muscled frame was well developed and he still sported the same hair style and the open shirt showing a very nicely tanned chest. If they had thought him in his Prime at sixteen, they were sadly mistaken, because here at twenty-two was a man full grown in his prime. It was no wonder the girls chased him then, but now there would be no stopping the stalking women.

In a matter of seconds Neji Huuyga bounded around the rubble and slid to a halt. His pearl eyes stared at the Uchiha up on the jungle floor above them. But Sakura was in charge here, so she got his attention and asked him what he wanted.

"We can't get out with all the injured with a jump like that. Can you do something? Oh and Ino, Shino and Kiba need you." His voice was flat, he was now in a fighting position, as if Sasuke would come and fight all of them himself.

Without a word Sakura walked to a part of the wall like hole and punched it. Rubble fell in something of a ramp all the way to the jungle floor making it easy for everyone to get out. She had been prudent enough to keep the ramp area far from the silent and watchful ex-teammate.

Handing Naruto to Neji, Sakura picked Hinata up gently making sure nothing was wrong with her, carefully moving so as not to wake her. Again turning her back on the one the old Sakura used to love Sakura and Neji moved around the rubble and bodies to the other side where everyone had gathered.

Whoever had come to fight them were rookies, they had been easy to take down with all of them being ANBU. Their informant had sent in word that the Sound ninja had a training ground around this area and that Sasuke Uchiha was their instructor. Sakura handed Hinata off to TenTen who was being carefully studied by her ever protective Neji, husband of eight months. But her mind was soon moving on as she went to Ino first.

Shikamaru held Ino, his fiancée of two weeks, protectively at his side while she bit her lip to keep from making a sound. Her wrist was fractured, but it didn't take long to heal so Sakura quickly healed her closest friend before moving on.

Moving to Kiba she rolled her eyes, when would he learn that talking to the enemy and taunting them was going to get him hurt? Especially when that enemy had the power of long range fire attacks on their side. She hoped that this time he would get it, and stop the taunting.

Healing the burns on his hands and arms Sakura muttered about insane dog boys and their crazy ideas. Kiba never heard a thing; he was too busy telling Lee about how he had beaten the fire user. And Lee simply commented on how well he had done with the use of his youth and some such nonsense.

Shino was another thing altogether, since when did the enemy girls start trying to seduce him? He looked like he was going to die from all the girls surrounding him. Yes, they were all dead now, for whatever reason they all had collapse on top or around him. And a few had hurt him with the weapons embedded in them.

Helping him out of the mess Sakura healed the cuts and two or three deep gashes before turning and telling everyone to get out. Kiba had stopped talking and told her that he could smell others coming right before she went to Shino.

As all helped each other up the ramp the mass stopped in time for Sakura to run into Lee from behind. But he didn't turn or speak; he simply strained to see the front. So Sakura jumped around people to the front to find the Uchiha standing in the way.

"We need to hurry, the others are coming quickly, and we have to move it." Kiba whispered to her as she passed, but that was easier said than done. So Sakura took the lead, as was her place as leader of the team, and spoke to the unflinching Uchiha.

"What do you want?" Still nothing, only silence but then his eyes moved. He looked strait at her and lifted a brow. Then he turned and walked away without as much as a backward glance.

Sakura had to grab a hold of Neji as he tried to pass and go after the Uchiha.

"Let him go, we have more important things to do." Only the anger and authority in her voice stopped him, along with the knowledge that she was right.

After fleeing into the jungle towards home they stopped for the night, hours later when Kiba and Neji were sure they were safe. Sakura of course still had plenty to do, such as heal cuts and bruises while everyone else worked on making dinner, setting up camp, and working to make the injured more comfortable.

Their group had met up with another group coming back from another mission, so now she had three more to heal. And yet they were all slightly more relieved because there was more protection with the added numbers.

As Sakura and Ino talked during dinner Ino told her about when Shikamaru had proposed. As they usually did Ino and Shikamaru had gone to a field to talk and hangout. Shikamaru had lain down with and arm wrapped around Ino's waist to gaze at the clouds as she sat and picked flowers and arrange to put in her room.

But this time, while Ino went along picking, adjusting them here and there, and patting his hand every once in a while Shikamaru had sat up on his elbow and slipped something on her finger as he leaned up to kiss her.

Ino simply smiled and went back to her flower picking, it wasn't anything new for him to touch her hand or for something to touch her hand. Many times he had slipped flower rings on her hand, or flower bracelets over her wrists. He often absentmindedly made them while lazily watching the clouds. She was out in that field deep in thought about Hinata and Naruto's upcoming wedding, which she was providing flowers for, so her attention was somewhat distracted.

She was doing the flower arrangements in her head, planning everything just so, wondering what would be best and what would look better. Not until she was headed home and looked to see which flower he'd used this time and saw the actual metal ring on her finger did she run to Shikamaru's house. After yelling, yes, loud enough to wake the dead, and giving him a happy hug and kiss when he opened the door, did she settle down enough to talk with him.

Sakura smiled, she knew it was something that would never happen for her, she was going to be an old maid, and she knew it. And being on the 'Top 20 Hottest Women of Konoha' three years running didn't help her chances a smidge. It was something she had resigned herself to.

But their dinner was interrupted when a shadowy figure fell from the tree a foot from the fire. It was the Uchiha, how unexpected…no, really it was. And, of course, no one would have guessed that when he spoke his voice could be dead, unemotional, bored and cold.

"I want the apprentice, give her over and no one will be harmed." Immediately all the ninja who could stand were around her. They knew it was her he spoke of; she was the only one who could heal in this group worth stealing to heal someone badly injured. And just yesterday, they had received intelligence that one of the higher ranking Sound Ninja had been hurt. And that Sasuke was trying to get him healed at all costs. That in itself caused more speculation than was warranted.

It didn't really matter though, because another shadow came from the ground and lifted her up before jumping away with her. The others pursued, and Sakura fought, but she couldn't land a blow on the real Sasuke Uchiha, the others didn't have enough chakra to keep up after the battles and when more Sound Nin came to block the pursuers she knew it was hopeless.

And then all faded as twenty other Sound Nin came up and one gave her a sound hit to the head knocking her out. Only somewhere in a corner of her mind at later, random times was she even slightly aware of a jarring as they moved along. Finally losing herself fully to the darkness after quiet sometime of moving at an unusual speed, did she find herself waking up in a strange place with tubes and all manner of things in or on her wasn't a fun thing. And in true Sakura fashion, she ripped everything off and jumped up ready to beat any and all who dared to oppose her.

He had taken over a few of the lairs, and commanded loyalty from the remaining Sound Ninjas. He'd finally met his goal and gotten his revenge. So what did he need now but to rebuild his clan? She most certainty was NOT needed for that, she wasn't going to be some brood mare for his demented plans! So what made that one injured Ninja so much more important than the rest, to make him demand her help?

In less than five seconds Sakura found herself held within a firm and unyielding grasp. The man Juugo stood over her, looking as if he were surprised and trying to stay calm. Suigetsu sat in a corner watching her, not seeming to care what happened one way or the other. But Karin stood just inside the closed door, smiling with very real malice.

"Oh, look what the wind blew in. Sad nothing more impressive could be found."

Pulling free from the vice-like grasp by turning her wrists and pulling, the giant man left surprised, Sakura then quickly and smoothly danced in a flourish over to the door thinking 'oh good, all of hebi is here, just wonderful.' Quickly enough to surprise her opponents Sakura had punched Karin, sending her to the ground, and kicked the door in her usual fashion; it flew down a long hallway to slam into the farthest wall. A man of about twenty seven or so looked around the corner with wide eyes. Yeah, try that on for size!

But before she could take her chance and run she was, once again, fading into darkness; never turn your back on the enemy, rule number one. It was only moments later that a foul stench invaded her senses as she was called awake by the Uchiha. Why did this always happen to her? When had he entered the equation? His words stopped her though, and she decided that now was the perfect time to complete her mission.

"Still so weak and annoying I see, Sakura."

Feeling a sense of déjà vu Sakura found herself sitting up, jumping to the ground and spinning on him, although this time she was smiling.

"You know you have the wrong apprentice don't you?" His mild look of unemotional boredom told her he didn't believe her. But it didn't matter, he would see that soon. A tug on her arm sent her flying down the hall with Sasuke pulling her at his unusual speed. And after who knows how many turns, Sasuke opened a door and yanked her in.

"Heal Him." This one wasn't a man of many words. Never was.

Looking to the wounded on the bed, if that is what it could be called, Sakura cringed. Someone had done a real number on this poor sad heap of misery and pain. And although she was going to refuse him, something in his eyes made her move forward. He was young. Eighteen at the most, and from the looks of him, he had been with Sound for a while, but the eyes spoke of something that Sound did not have. A heart, and in that Sakura saw that he was different, she couldn't refuse him healing. He was just like everyone on the outside, only trapped here on the inside of this cruel world.

It took some doing, but nothing really big. Not enough chakra to hurt her, it was only a complicated thing because of where and how he had been hurt. Internal things needed help, only a skilled medic could diagnose and heal the problem. Once he was healed the poor lad slipped into a grateful sleep. And then she realized that the perfect time was here, she was alone with Sasuke. With a few hand seals and a poof Sakura changed into Shizune. Shizune smiled as Sasuke looked at her, he didn't believe her still.

"Did you really think we would let you get your filthy hands on Sakura? No, you don't have the one you want, and you won't ever get her. But unlike you, we have the one we want, time to go now Uchiha." With that Shizune made some hand signals and grabbed Sasuke's shirt as the teleportation jutsu took them away. The plan had truly worked, if ever she wanted to brag about anything she now had the perfect thing to bring up, she only hoped that this wasn't a decoy Sasuke.

The next second they were in Konoha, in a back room by the Hokage's office. And for the first time Sasuke showed emotion, there was the slightest hint of surprise mixed with anger and uncertainty in his eyes, his face was a stony indifference. Oh yes, this was going to be sweet to watch!

Quickly tying him to a chair with strong Chakra cords Shizune opened the door. About twenty ANBU filed in before Tsunade did. Shizune grabbed a padded stool and set it in front of Sasuke Uchiha. He didn't resist because he couldn't, this room had a seal on the floor, affecting only him, rendering his body useless.

"You want to see the real Sakura and make sure I'm not lying? Alright, fine. I'll get her for you." Shizune left him to Tsunade and the ANBU with him, but, Oh! How she wanted to be there to watch him sweat bullets! Although she knew that this next part of his first time home would truly upset him, even if it didn't show on his face.

While Shizune was away Tsunade took the time to get some information. With only the use of his face, unable to turn his head, Tsunade hoped that she could get him to talk enough to get some kind of leverage and keep her promise to Naruto. Getting Sasuke to stay. And with the knowledge of Sasuke's goals in mind, she thought that she might have the right thing to get him to want to stay.

Ten minutes later Shizune walked back into the room with Sakura beside her, Sakura's arms linked with hers. She was tempted to laugh when she saw the flicker in Uchiha's eyes at the appearance of Sakura. She wasn't anything like the way he'd seen her before, this Sakura was twenty-two, and very much changed.

"Shizune, why did you make me leave the hospital? You never did say." Sakura's voice was still very much the same; the only difference was maturity and a soft, gentleness. She was no longer yelling and smacking Naruto left and right. Instantly Tsunade's pink pig was at Sakura's feet squealing.

"Hello to you too, TonTon! I see you're feeling better since last time I saw you." Kneeling Sakura patted TonTon then stood and linked arms with Shizune again.

The form Shizune had used of Sakura Haruno was from four and a half years ago. Now Sakura wore something different. She wore a skirt that was long in the back and the front with the Haruno circles at the bottom near her ankles. The sides though, well there really were no sides, they were about an inch wide, only holding the skirt on, much like a wide bikini.

Her shirt was, well not normal for her. It was a v-neck tank top that showed her matured figure.

It stopped just below her chest to show off her perfect hourglass figure and had the same Haruno circle on the back. A sword hung from her hips glinting with a lethal twinkle. This dress code wasn't to be expected from Sakura Haruno was it? Maybe Ino, but not her!

And her hair had grown long again, to her hips in strait glossy pink that swayed as she walked. Of course her face had too, she had grown into her forehead long ago, her mouth was still prone to smiling, and was indeed a beautiful thing. Her high cheek bones made her look like the model that all the girls wanted to be. From where he sat Sasuke could see a red tattoo on her right upper arm. The sign of an ANBU was on her left.

But the one thing that had caught the Uchiha's attention after staring at her figure was her eyes. Still the same bright jade green, but they were harder to see now that the milky white haze covered them. What was that about?

Leading Sakura to the padded stool where she knelt down, Shizune watched Sasuke. Yes, he was staring as if there was no tomorrow, with an uninterested detached expression of course. And likewise Sakura stared back, but hers was a different stare. Her stare was an unseeing, searching the blackness, stare. There was no way that Sasuke could know that Sakura had been blind for three and a half years now.