Between Onyx and Silver

AN: I do not own Naruto!

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Chapter 1 – Arrival!

It was a fine day in Kohana. The sun was out, clouds of various shapes appeared in the brilliant blue skies. Sakura was just walking down the streets with Ino looking through shops, and admiring the merchandise. They had a day off from going on five straight missions that consisted of at least four days each. In other words, if they didn't get a brake soon, they'll crack.

"God I needed this!" Ino exclaimed while raising her fist in the air.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Sakura stated while taking in the rich smells that came from the restaurants around them.

"Hey, you want to go get some ramen?" Sakura asked her blond friend.

"Sure. We might even find Hinata and Naruto there." "Man, I didn't see Naruto for a while now. How long has it been? Two three weeks? I hope he didn't get himself hurt on the mission he was assigned to." Sakura got her mind off of Sasuke after the second attempt to get him back. Well, no not really, but she's more successful in losing that train of thought now. They failed to convince him, even with Sai's and Yamato's (sry 4 the spelling…) help. Since then she concentrated on her other friends, that's when she decided to play matchmaker with Naruto and Hinata. She brought them together, which was pretty easy, since they already liked each other. "It's nice to seeing that baka happy, and Hinata too. They're so perfect for each other! God, I'm a genius." Sakura thought while heading over to the ramen shack with Ino.

At the ramen shack the two girls were surprised to see their friend Hinata alone. She seemed sad and lonely, all by herself with a bowl of soggy ramen in front of her.

"Hinata!" Both Sakura and Ino exclaimed while sitting next to their depressed friend.

"Oh hi Sakura-chan, Ino-chan." Hinata said, giving a small smile.

"What's wrong Hinata?" Sakura asked.

"N-nothing Sakura-chan, why?"

"Don't lie to us. We know something's up." Ino said with a stern look.

Hinata paused for a moment and then let out a sigh in defeat. "I-I just miss Naruto-kun." She mumbled, while staring at the old ramen. Sakura and Ino couldn't help feeling sorry for the girl.

"Don't worry Hinata, we all miss that baka too, but you know him with his missions. Plus I bet anything that if he knew you were sulking like this, he'd go nuts!" Sakura said, trying to help her friend. Hinata smiled at this.

"Yeah, you're right. Thank you Sakura-chan." Hinata said as she paid for her ramen.

"Yeah, that's it girl!" Ino exclaimed as the three left the shack.

"Oh, Hinata! Do you know what time it is?" Ino asked out of the blue.

"Ummm, it's a quarter past five, why?"

"What! Aww shit! I promised Choji and Asuma that I would meet them at five sharp! See you later guys, and cheer up Hinata!" Ino yelled as she ran to some place unknown to the two friends. Hinata and Sakura both sweat dropped.

"Being late for training is something I'd expect Shikamaru or Kakashi." Sakura said.

They both shared laughs as they went to Hinata's house. They spent the rest of the afternoon sparring. It was a little dark outside, and the two then just started to talk about their day. After a while, Hinata asked Sakura if she wanted to stay for the night. Since Sakura's parents weren't ever at home anymore, she said yes and a quick thanks as she left to her house to get her stuff. While walking home the old fashion way, she decided to take a short cut through the woods. Since she would train with Hinata, Neji, and Naruto at the Hyuuga mansion a lot, she took the liberty in finding a short cut to her house, which unfortunately was almost across town. While walking through the woods she sensed a very low chakra signature. "What the hell?" Sakura thought as she took out a kunai and stealthily made her way toward the weak chakra.

She stayed low to the ground and hid behind bushes and trees until she was within attacking distance. She was currently behind a shrub, and was ready to attack. She was about to lunge at the intruder, but two kunais came zooming straight at her. She quickly dodged the attack as she noticed the figure was armed with a kunai as well. She couldn't tell who the person was because they were both surrounded in darkness, as the moonlight was block by passing clouds. The two lunged at each other, both kunai let out a 'clang' as they clashed against each other. Sakura put some chakra into her left heel as she stomped the ground, crating a small crater, which made a good distraction from her right fist as she imbedded it into the dark figure's gut. The figure let out a gasp as he was flung onto a nearby tree. Seeing his slow movements in trying to get up, Sakura could only guess that her opponent was either extremely tired or freakishly weak.

But what she didn't expect after her speculation was when the enemy was right behind her! "What the fu-", but before she could finish that thought, she felt sharp pressures on both her shoulders and back. Then she was hit by a forceful blow to the back, which sent her flying ten feet away. As she landed on her side, she quickly composed herself as she faced the figure, wiping blood off from the corner of her mouth with the back of her right hand. Panting slightly the figure charged straight for her. She was about to punch the ground with a chakra-powered blow, but found that the chakra reserves in her arms were blocked. "What! Aww come on!" She thought as she could only use simple tai-jutsu with leg attacks. When the figure was close enough, she swung her leg straight at him, only hit a clone, which disappeared in a cloud of smoke. "Where is-", but found herself being grabbed with one strong arm around her while the other held a kunai to her neck.

"Give up, or die." Came a husky yet familiar voice.

"….Hell no!" Sakura exclaimed as she thrust her head back with great impact.

The kunai gave a small cut to her neck, but she didn't have time to heal or care about it as the enemy pinned her to the ground. She was exhausted from the sparring she did with Hinata, and from the match she had right now. "Great…Well I'm screwed." She thought as she tried to knock the guy off of her. She felt wet drops of blood fall onto her cheeks. She guessed that she broke the guy's nose. She could tell that the guy was barely a few inches away from her face as she felt the heavy breaths of her opponent fall upon her face. She was trying hard not to panic. It was then that she noticed the clouds were moving away. Slowly, but gradually the clouds were dispersing, revealing the unknown shinobi on top of her.

As light showered over the two, Sakura came into full view of her opponent.

"Neji!" She pretty much yelled.

"Why did you attack me?" He asked, still panting.

"Umm…..Can you get off me first?" She asked, while feeling blood rush to her cheeks.

Embarrassed, Neji quickly got of her and sat down next to her.

"So….Why are you here? Did you, Naruto, and the rest come back from the mission from sound? Was it successful?" She asked.

"First answer my question. Then I'll answer yours."

"Oh, ummm. Usually no one comes here at night, and plus you threw two freaken kunais at me. I thought the great Hyuuga clan could differentiate chakra patterns." She said.

"I'm tired, and now injured."

"Oh, sorry…Where's Naruto and the rest?"

"In the hospital." Sakura sweat dropped.

"Why didn't you go there too? You look beat up."

"You're a hell lot better nurse than the others." Sakura blushed at the comment. "Thank god it's night." Sakura thought, hoping Neji didn't see her blush.

"Sakura." Neji used a serious tone. She was confused, why so strict? "While we were at sound, we picked up something that got everyone except me and Sai in the hospital…"

"What?" Sakura said in surprise. "What could have sent Naruto to the hospital and beat you up like this?"

With a sigh he said, "Uchiha Sasuke."

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Next Chapter: "Naruto…Is it true?"…"Sai. Whatever's wrong Sakura-chan and I will understand."…"What's wrong with you Hyuuga?"

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AN: Cool, now who do you think I should pair up? Neji and Sakura or Sasuke and Saskura? Help me! I can't decide!