Title: A Change of Heart

Author: Slytherin Prince

Disclaimer: I definitely don't own Naruto.

Genre: Romance/Action/Adventure

Warning: Some words are not appropriate for 13 yrs. old and below.

Summary: Sakura had a change of heart. Since Sasuke don't like her, she given him up and put all of her attention on practicing and making herself strong. She doesn't want to be weak. But she doesn't know that this change might catch some unexpected attention... (NejSakSas)

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It was a sweet Tuesday morning. The sun was already rising with the clouds readying it to cover it sufficient heat.

That was why almost people love mornings... but there are people who were not too.

"Arrgggg!!!" Naruto clenched his blonde hair as if it was his life. He was sitting in one of the many chairs prepared just for them. Naruto was in the middle of a clearing, also others, but he was still problematic about something.

Sasuke sat in a chair silently a couple of chairs far from Naruto. He was still feeling guilty about what he said to his teammate yesterday to glance at the overreacting Naruto.

"Why does it had to be super early?! It's only f#$!ing six!" Naruto yelled to no one in particular. He didn't seem to have a shame at yelling like that in front of Kakashi, which was unexpectedly early, and other ninja's like Rock Lee and his teammates, Hinata, Ino, Shikamaru, and any others. And yet, the others didn't seem to notice him either, that was what he observed.

A vein pop out of Naruto's forehead and demanded at his sensei without looking directly at him,: "What the $# are we waiting for, Kakashi-sensei?! I'm so damn sleepy!!!"

"We're waiting for Sakura,"

"She didn't know about the meeting!! I'll tell her what things we talked about later!" Naruto exclaimed.

"...Ok.." Kakashi said, no choice since he had a trust at Naruto. And besides, why shouldn't he? They had been waiting for Sakura for at least 30 minutes. Sakura still didn't showed up. Kakashi stood up and walk in front of the ninjas. He looked at his watch and sighed. It's 6:05 a.m. It's time to tell.

"The reason why we called you for a meeting here is-" Kakashi stopped when he felt a familiar chakra. He took a glance at his back to see Sakura soothing out the wrinkles in her outfit.

"You're late." Kakashi said; He could not see Sakura's face, her head was a little bowed and her bangs covered the large portion of her face.

"Sakura, you're late. Tell me why you're late before you sit besides Naruto." Her team leader said, lifting his left eyebrow since the other was covered.

The others are staring at her, thinking that she would be in a lot of shame now.

When Sakura lifted her head, all of them almost gaped in shock.

Almost.

They had expecting Sakura to be blushing in shame, but to their surprise, she didn't even move a muscle at their reaction.

She looked so calm, cool and collected. Sakura take a glance at her sensei for respect and said, "I didn't know the meeting. I was not informed. And being late isn't that shameful as expected."

Naruto and other just stared as she spoke. Her voice, it was so cold.

Like she was some kind of robot... A machine... marionette... Sakura, a marionette...?

This was not the Sakura they know!

Sakura gave her iciest look at the students behind her Kakashi-sensei and glazed at her leader for a while before walking ahead. She could feel others eyes follow her movement as she gracefully sat at the very isolated part of the chairs they prepared. She wasn't feeling well to sit beside Naruto. Sakura was sure... Naruto would rain her incredible questions that she herself could not answer.

She nodded her head curtly to inform them that she was now listening.

Seeing this, Kakashi cleared his throat to catch the attention of his distracted students and others. "As I was saying, there is a reason for this meeting. That is to let you all know that there was an incoming tournament for all the ninjas that participated in the chuunin exam, from your batch down and for others that expected themselves to be strong. The purpose of the tournament is," he paused, sighed and continued, "to know had the responsibility and opportunity to defeat Orochimaru. The tournament will start after 6 months. Which means, you had six months to prepare and train. That's all, meeting adjourned."

After his little speech, Kakashi made a simple ninjutsu and disappeared with a white smoke, leaving others unmovable. Sakura's presence was unnerving in some ways.

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Sasuke must admit, he had been surprised when he had seen Sakura's serious face.

It was so cold... much colder than his and the way she talk.. it became more serious and mature.

What happened to her? What it because of him...?

Sasuke shook his head and sat still, waiting for others to make the first move.

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Naruto stared at his sweet Sakura. What happened to her...? Was she possessed or something..? Why wasn't she... smiling..? Her reaction minutes ago were not what he expected. And he expected her to sit beside him, not alone in that corner.

Deciding that this was too much, he stood and marched his way to the closed eyes pink haired girl. "OI!! SAKURA-CHAN!!! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?! ARE YOU SICK?!!" Naruto yelled at Sakura's face, after yelling he gasped for air and waited for Sakura's reaction.

To Naruto's surprise, Sakura didn't even flinch and instead raised an eyebrow at his actions. "If you didn't mind, kindly take your face out of my view. It's annoying. No offense." she said indifferently.

Naruto winced but did what she said. Now, at this very moment, he Sakura stood and turned her back at everyone else, sensing that all eyes were in the scene Naruto had made.

"I'm fine. Thank you for caring though." With that she walked away and did not look back at them. She only left others to think what happened to her.

When Sakura was out of sight, Naruto kicked the chair that was in his very front with his all might as if in kicking it, his anger would be vanished.

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Sakura walked west searching for someone's chakra. She jumped into a tree and started traveling. She had known him for quite a long time now. She did know where he hang-out when he wanted to be alone.

She was now wondering what would be his reaction when she asked him to train her seriously. Maybe surprised, or not. But she doubt that he would agree without hesitation.

What if he asked for a payment? Sakura thought, jumping down from the branch and walk forward.

Obviously, she would convince him not to tell anything about it.

She was near... Just one turn and...

She was too preoccupied to notice that someone was nearing her. Then, all of a sudden, Sakura felt something hit her neck...

Sakura fell on the forest floor with a thud.

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REVISED VERSION