Sakura loves Team Seven, but she doesn't really consider herself part of them.
They're at team, the three of them. Kakashi-sensei, Naruto and Sasuke.
They are Team Seven.
She is Sakura Haruno, resident Sasuke fangirl and Naruto hater.
Oh yes, she loves them to bits, but she is not part of their team.
She supposes it's her own fault and quirks a half-hearted smile as she twirls a lock of long pretty pink hair around her finger.
She looks at the strands with an unreadable expression and thinks that if she starts to put as much effort into training as she does into her hair, she'll be the strongest kunoichi ever.
Because Sasuke is an Avenger. He's got Uchiha blood running through his veins and a new dojutsu called the Sharingan that he just awoken and he's pretty darn strong.
For a second she tries to blame her weakness on the fact that she's not from a fancy ninja clan but all of that washes away when she thinks about Naruto.
Because Naruto is fierce and passionate and has a strength that most shinobi could only ever dream of having-she knows because she's had that dream.
His strength is different from Sasuke's, because he draws it from the people around him and that make him a lot stronger. His brain is his downfall though, because even that he has the strength and passion, he lacks severely in the brain department.
But that never seems to matter because Naruto is always smart enough to come up with crazy ideas to help him get out of sticky situations.
And Kakashi-sensei likes the two of them because of that.
Sasuke and Naruto are strong. They work hard and they have goals and he helps them when they fall and pats them on their heads when they end up saving the day.
She stands there with a sad smile, ("Sakura, protect the charge!") but hides it and instead of feeling sad, she praises Sasuke and ignores Naruto because that's what's expected of her.
When Kakashi pats he head and says "Well done." She doesn't know what it's for, but she savours the moment anyway, because they are few and she'll take the praise and pretend it means something to her.
When Kakashi takes his hand off of her head, she allows her smile to drop and her shoulder sag. Sasuke's ever observant eyes catch her change in mood and they narrow suspiciously and for once Sakura ignores his gaze because if he can't see why she's upset, then he clearly doesn't know her.
She should at least be happy he noted her change in mood though, Naruto and Kakashi didn't even notice.
When they start the lengthy trudge back home to the Leaf, Sakura dwindles behind and stares at the familiar image of the backs facing her.
She thinks-knows- that when she finally gets stronger, maybe she'll finally be a part of Team Seven.