My luv goes out to:

Kakashi500

MimoriFanForever

NarutoSakuraSasuke4ever

SheWhoLaffsAtCheese

ayane04

clenalyn

uchihasakurah26

eek21

cherryblossom418

and I hope I didn't miss anyone…

I luv u all sooo much!! This one's for u guys!!

Be patient with me plz! Tell me if things get a little confusing, but itll clear up eventually! Promise!!

Sorry the last one was so short… it was a prologue after all! But my internet is really stuffed up!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto… :sigh:

Chapter 1:

Sakura made her way across the village humming to herself quietly. It was the first day of spring and the cherry blossoms were out in full bloom. Too bad she couldn't enjoy it. The streets had already filled up with busy people getting on with their busy lives. It was mid-afternoon, and she had just finished another training session with her team. As intense as they were, she enjoyed them. Plus it gave her a chance to prove herself. Sasuke really had been spending too much time with Naruto. Both of them were strangely overprotective. It was nice that they cared, but she wasn't twelve anymore! But it was sad that the four of them didn't train together as much as they use to. They all had their own lives to get on with, now.

She enjoyed the feel of the soft wind blowing her freshly washed hair dry, as immersed herself in her own thoughts.

Sakura looked up suddenly. She searched the street and its roof tops. She frowned, she could have sworn… She shook her head wearily. She must be imagining things.

'I should really be getting more sleep…' she muttered quietly to herself.

'Hey! Sakura!' Sakura looked up to see a familiar figure or rather, two familiar figures and smiled.

'Hey Kiba! Akamaru!' The large dog barked acknowledging her. Kiba grinned, revealing his large canines. He slipped off the white dog easily.

'Watcha doin'?'

'Work' She sighed and cocked her head in direction to the hospital. 'What about you?'

'Walking!' Akamaru barked in agreement, and nuzzled against her. She giggled and stroked his soft fur.

'Tsunade-sama's going to have my head if I'm late! Talk to you later. Okay?'

'See ya!' Akamaru gave Sakura a long lick across her hand as a goodbye present. She gave him another quick stroke before waving goodbye and taking off quickly.

A certain Uchiha watched Kiba approach Sakura, frowning. That had been pretty close. Drifting off into his own thoughts he had forgotten all about concealing his chakra from her. Now he watched her closely from between the branches of a large tree. He was only secretly watching her because he was concerned for her… welfare. She was a medic nin after all, and that would probably drain a lot of her energy. So this was all out of concern for her health. Anyone in his position would do the same. Satisfied with his own reasoning, Sasuke continued to watch the pair closely. He didn't like Kiba, he decided. Why the hell was that guy even allowed outside! For all they knew he could have fleas, or rabies, or some other strange dog related disease. And those teeth!

He felt somewhat relieved as she ran towards the hospital.

Akamaru gave a short bark, and Kiba looked up, his eyes searching. And smirked when he found what he was looking for.

'Uchiha'

Shit.

'Afternoon, Shizune!' Sakura called out cheerily to the Hokage's secretary.

'Morning, Sakura!' Shizune wore her night black hair below her ears, her eyes a sparkling black. 'Oh! And careful when you go in there… it's been a long day for her.' Sakura nodded knowingly, and knocked on the heavy wooden doors, stepping in when there was no reply.

She sighed at the expected sight in front of her. The 5th Hokage was asleep at her desk, sleeping off another one of her hangovers no doubt. And still with a bottle of sake in her hand. Sakura expertly pried it out of her finger tips, settling the bottle on the far side of the room, and then proceeded to tidy up the avalanche of papers on her desk.

'I felt that.' Her blonde master lifted her head up groggily and wiped the saliva around her mouth. 'Now get out.' She ordered, massaging her sore head. Sakura bowed and turned around quickly, hiding her smile, experience told her not to test the hokage's patience while she was in one of these moods. Sakura grabbed her white medic uniform as she left. Slipping her red vest off, she slid on her white uniform on. She quickly gave them to Shizune, and ran off to her rounds.

Sasuke resumed his spot on the roof. But only after he had managed to disappear at a speed even he thought wasn't imaginable. He cursed himself for an hour before coming back, but not before he was sure that Kiba had left the area. Damn that stupid dog.

'Oi! Teme!' A familiar loud yell broke him away from his brooding thoughts.

'Hn.' Naruto landed beside him. 'Wanna go grab a bite to eat?' Sasuke shrugged.

'Sure.'

'Hey, maybe Sakura's free too!' Sasuke stiffened slightly at the mention of her name, but the blonde didn't seem to notice.

'C'mon, let's go!' Sasuke reluctantly stood up.

'Last one there's paying!' Naruto cried as he ran off towards the hospital. Sasuke smirked and took off after him.

'No, I really can't Naruto.'

'Aww… Sakura-chan!' Naruto pleaded.

'Just go, Sakura. I'm sure you can finish off later, after lunch'

'But I-'

'Go.' Tsunade said firmly. Sakura bit her lip. She had missed a lot of her shifts lately due to missions and training. From the look of Tsunade's face, there was no getting out.

'Umm…' Her stomach emitted a low rumble. She smiled, defeated. 'Ok.'

'Yay! Ramen!' Sakura and Sasuke shook their heads. Sakura wasn't sure if she'd be surprised Naruto was made of ramen, instead of muscle and bone like the rest of them.

The three of them made their way through the streets to their favourite ramen stand.

'Hey! Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, long time no see!' They turned around to find the source of the voice.

'Temari!' Sakura smiled at the blonde jounin. She hadn't changed since the last time they had met. Clad in a black v-neck short sleeved dress, with a large red sash around the middle, and as always, with the large fan on her back, her hair still done up in four pony tails.

'Yo.'

'Hey, Shikamaru!' Naruto called as Sakura walked over to catch up with Temari.

'What are you doing here?'

'Ambassador for the Suna, again.' Temari rolled her eyes.

'Guide for the ambassador for the Suna, again.' Shikamaru retorted, rolling his own eyes. Sakura giggled, the chemistry between the two was evident. Too bad they were both too dense to notice it.

'What for?' Shikamaru lifted his eyebrows up in surprise.

'The chunin exams, of course.'

'Really?! Awsome!' Naruto crowed happily. Shikamaru and Temari nodded.

'Anyway, we were going to grab some lunch, want to come?' The pair glanced at each other for a second before nodding.

'Sure, why not?'

Shikamaru sat next to Naruto, who sat next to Sasuke, who sat next to Sakura, who sat next to Temari. Sakura chatted away to Temari, while Naruto talked Shikamaru's ear off. Sasuke stayed silent, observing, like he always did. He noticed small things that other people didn't. Like when she laughed her emerald eyes would light, or how in a moment of lapse in concentration, her ramen would slip through her chopsticks and soup would splatter onto her delicate nose, or how-, he stopped himself, frowning, cursing.

Temari smirked, seeing what Sakura didn't see. But quickly changing her smirk into a smile when Sakura glanced in her direction. Sakura shrugged it off, and returned to her own steaming bowl of ramen, but not before sneaking a glance in Shikamaru's direction, who quickly glanced back down at the sight of Sakura. A smirk crept onto Sakura's own lips.

how was that? im open to any suggestions!! i might update this one later, to lengthen it some more...

and plz review!! review and ill update faster! its u guys who keep me going!! XD