Grey

As soon as they reached Hebi's temporary camp, Sasuke burned her mission scroll. Sakura watched the parchment curl in the flames for a moment before panic began to seize her. She was betraying Konoha. Tsunade-shihou, Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, even Ino-pig would consider her a nukenin. A traitor to the Village. She began to take thoughtless steps back, away from the slowly burning scroll. Away from the campfire. And away from Sasuke.

Dark eyes tracked her movement for a moment before he deigned it necessary to act.

A steely grip caught her upper arm. No words were spoken, but the utterly foreboding look on Sasuke's face was enough to give her pause. He was really serious about her joining him. Making her a part of his team. The pinkette slowly shook her head. "I can't do it. I won't betray Konoha!" As she shouted the name of her beloved home, the kunoichi jerked away from the dark shinobi's grasp. Pacing backward, Sakura continued, "Find another med-nin. There are plenty willing to help your cause, I'm sure."

She didn't see him move. She simply felt the air pressure in front of her suddenly drop, causing a slight breeze as air rushed to fill the empty space. His slightly deepened tone startled her when it sounded at her ear. He had moved to hover behind her, close but not touching.

"If you run, I will hunt you down. You have no choice. You are staying." When the pinkette drew in breath to protest, he leaned a little closer, until his breath stirred the hairs near her cheek. "Do not test me, Sakura. Or the next time I see the idiot...I won't be so lenient."

Her defiance drained away with the implied threat and her face paled. She'd seen the way he moved now. Naruto, even with all his training, wouldn't stand a chance. Not against the Uchiha's sheer speed. Instead, she raised her hands to her head. He moved away as her elbow came into contact with his bare chest. Sakura didn't pause. The wear-softened fabric of her forehead protector met her searching fingers and she tugged until the practical knot came loose. Gazing down at the shiny, spiral symbol of the Hidden Leaf, she let the slight weight of the metal plate pull itself through her numb fingers.

As the band made contact with the forest floor, she felt her stomach drop to her toes. She would not put a scratch through her Village's mark, for she wasn't leaving of her own violation. Sakura's eyes broke away from the tragic scrap of metal and fabric as she reasoned that she just couldn't bear it proudly as she assisted someone who had.

Sasuke watched with a cold gaze as the kunoichi discarded her hiate-e. The light clink of it falling to the dirt didn't change his expression. He watched, unmovingly, as Sakura stepped quietly over her fallen headband. When she sat stiffly next to the still roaring fire, eyes fixated on the flames, he finally made his move. Crouching silently, he retrieved the forehead protector and tucked it into his nearby pack. The pinkette didn't look back to ask why, nor he didn't bother himself for an explanation. He simply did as he pleased. As the sounds of his remaining teammates' return became more and more apparent, he melted back once more to the shadows. He was curious how the three would interact.

A loud crunch of branches underfoot drew near and a female voice hissed, "I could have taken her! I could have! Ugh!"

Breezily, a mid-level baritone replied, "Sure you could've, Karin." A loud slurping sound followed the dead pan speech.

There was a slight commotion as Karin shouted, "And stop it with that water bottle already! If it needs to be refilled than do it! I hate when you just keep doing that!"

A distinctly more condescending amusement entered Suigetsu's tone. "Are you still sure you could've landed a hit on that little kunoichi? You can't even get a hold of this bottle!"

There was a frustrated scream and a small yelp before the laughing form of the Mist-nin burst into the clearing, half-tripping as he went. "Kicking me doesn't get you any closer to getting the bottle, you know. You're loosing sight of the goal with all your emotions. What would Sasuke-san say?"

The now fuming red head appeared from the shadowed trees as well. Shaking a fist, she railed, "Don't speak for him! You have no-" She cut herself off at the flash of pink she noticed near the campfire. "You!"

Sakura didn't turn, nor respond. She just continued to stare blankly forward with a mostly neutral expression. Only a slight shift of her right hand indicated she'd even heard the outburst. When heavy steps approached her unprotected back, the pinkette continued to sit still. The same voice dropped an octave and sneered, "What are you doing here?"

When the smaller girl still didn't react, Karin narrowed her red eyes. Raising her foot to prod the curved back of the enemy nin, she only narrowly escaped having a senbon gouged into her ankle. As she hopped back, resettling her foot, Karin looked to Suigetsu who'd caught the girl's wrist.

He pressed a finger into the muscle below her thumb until Sakura was forced to drop her needle. As it fell, the former Mist shinobi growled, "I'm really getting tired of that little trick of yours." Grey eyes flicked pointedly toward his knee before he quipped, "It hurts, you know?"

The Leaf kunoichi just nodded slowly and retracted her hand from his loosened grip. She didn't need to make friends, but it wouldn't do her any good to make enemies. Drawing in a slow breath, she mumbled, "Just rub the muscle I hit down, it'll free it up. I didn't use a dosed senbon."

The nukenin, who'd stood to walk limpingly away, stopped and shot the kunoichi a strange look. After a moment, he nodded. Slurping from his water bottle, he amended, "I barely feel it now, anyway."

Sakura smiled faintly and turned back toward the fire. Sasuke's voice rang out from behind her. He'd stepped back into the camp, then. "Where are the supplies?"

Heat from the fire was making her face feel tight and hot as she continued to sit before it, listening quietly. Karin's voice answered, "We couldn't get any. That is responsible." Sakura assumed that she was being pointed toward. Slight annoyance rose in her chest as she jibed, "Or maybe it's because you tried to kidnap a child." She laughed a little, "In my book, that doesn't usually inspire hospitality, but I'm a little old fashioned."

Green eyes sharpened in concentration as she heard footfalls approach her once again. Before they came close enough for any sort of physical blow, a low voice said flatly, "Karin." The steps ceased. She heard an intake of breath, as though the kunoichi was going to protest, when Sasuke spoke again. "Sakura will go to the village and purchase supplies."

The pinkette stood and rounded on her new 'team leader.' Setting her face into a blank mask, she began with only a slightly annoyed air, "I joined under the guise of being a medical specialist, not an errand runner."

A slow smirk and Sasuke said levelly, "I remember no such stipulation." He stepped closer, purposely towering over her diminutive form. "Do as I say."

Her blank look flashed quickly into a stormy frown. She said nothing further, only made to brush pointedly past the dark shinobi. The Uchiha allowed her to bump bodily into him, muttering as she passed, "Make sure you return quickly. For Naruto-kun's sake."

Sakura paused for a moment at the sarcastic suffix before moving once more, moodily grabbing a wad of ryuu from a confused Suigetsu. She didn't bother to grab her pack, she simply stomped off toward the little town.

Life had begun to trickle into the dusty streets now that the 'bandits' had passed through. Sakura stood at the end of the little main drag for a moment before she decided to head back to the general store she'd used earlier. Her feet carried her quickly and soon the tinkle of the bell above the door greeted her ears. The gruff man from before looked up sharply and seemed surprised to see her again.

Sakura just kept her eyes downcast as she stepped up to the still half-smashed counter. Tapping her fingers on the ledge, she mumbled the list Suigetsu had shouted after her. "I'd like two canteens, a filter and three pre-packaged meals." Glancing behind the large man to the shelf full of jarred medical supplies, she added, "And some peppermint oil. Um, ten ounces is fine."

As the store owner slowly packed the supplies into a cheep, woven basket, he wrapped the final order carefully in a square of cloth. Once everything was placed inside, he took her payment and rang up the purchases. As he handed her the change, he kept a firm grip on the bills and asked, "Do ya need me ta send any letters for ya today?"

Sakura looked up at the abnormally kind request from the man and slanted a look to the wooden box next to the register marked 'Post.' Maybe, if she could get a message back to Konoha...A sudden glint against the glass display behind the salesman's head made her think twice. The shadowy form on the roof of the building across the street was reflected waveringly on the smooth surface. She somehow doubted she was seeing the shadow of a chimney.

Refocusing her eyes on the cashier, she shook her head and smiled a litte. "Thank you, but no." His grip on the ryuu slackened and she tucked the remaining money into her pocket. Biting her lip, she grabbed the basket and shuffled toward the door. As she began to push the door open, he called, "Ma'am?"

Sakura paused and faced the man once more. "Yes?"

Coughing a little, he asked in a gravelly tone, "Wha was yer name again?" At her surprised expression, he clarified, "I wanna make sure I get that money, after all."

A gleam of hope entered her jade eyes as she replied, "I'm Uchiha Sakura. From Hidden Leaf. I didn't want to...break your counter that is." Before anymore could be said, she hastily exited the shop.

She was just out of view of the town when a figure alighted beside her. Sakura didn't bother to look up from the path. She already knew who it was.

Sasuke's distinct tone stated rather than questioned, "You told him something."

Her features betrayed nothing as she denied it. "I didn't."

He was suddenly before her, blocking her path. "Then why did you hesitate?"

Sakura raised her eyebrows, she had been correct about him watching her from the opposite side of the street. Thinking quickly, she fibbed, "He told me to 'have a nice day.' I stopped to wish him the same."

Black eyes were reduced to slits as the shinobi decided rather or not he believed her. When he was silent, Sakura moved around him, continuing toward the clearing. Glancing up through the canopy toward the setting sun, she questioned, "We'll be staying here for the night?" She saw his small nod out of the corner of her eye and adjusted her grip on the thin basket handle.

Soon the pair had reached the place they'd be staying for the night. Sakura dropped down next to her pack and unloaded the supplies from her basket. Once everything was emptied out, she scooped up the bundle of linen that was the little bottle she'd purchased. Pulling the square of coarse fabric free from the glass, storing it in her pack before she glanced around for the Mist-nin. She found him polishing his large blade nearby. Standing and pacing to his side, she offered the oil to him and said, "It's peppermint, if you put a little on your hand when you massage your knee, it'll help get rid of the ache."

When both the white haired shinobi and Karin stared at her, she added, "It'll keep that from becoming a welt by tomorrow, too." As she spoke, she gestured to the growing purple splotch on the Sound kunoichi's exposed stomach. The spot where she'd kicked her during the fight had begun to bruise heavily. Even the pattern of her boot's sole was discernible. Karin just scoffed and crossed her arms over the spot, while Suigetsu hesitantly accepted the little vial.

Sakura gave a lopsided half-smile at the shinobi's barely uttered thanks. She ignored Sasuke's heavy stare as she settled back down next to her pack and began to reverse the weave of the basket she'd gotten in the village. His thoughts on her buying the ointment didn't bother her, anyway. He'd asked her to act as the team's med-nin and that was just what she was doing.

A rustle of fabric and a heavy thunk made her pause in her work. Looking up, she was surprised to find Suigetsu crouched down beside her, watching her hands. After a moment, she continued her tedious task of unravelling the basket. His curious voice made her jump a little.

"What are you doing?"

Slanting him a glance from the corner of her eye, Sakura continued her motions as she replied, "I'm making my own supplies. I'm a med-nin."

Grey eyes remained a little confused as he observed her work. "I figured. What sort of supplies are those going to be?" He asked his second question and pointed vaguely toward the thin wooden strips she'd salvaged so far.

A small smile tilted her lips. His relentless demeanor reminded her slightly of someone at home. "They'll be slats or braces. They're a little small, so they'll probably only be good for fingers or wrists."

The pale shinobi settled back onto his ankles before sliding into a sitting position beside her. "As long as you aren't making anymore damn needles." Her little laugh made him smirk as he rolled up his pant leg to apply the oil she'd bought. The strong scent of the peppermint concoction filled her nose as he dabbed a small drop onto his palm before shoving the stop back into the bottle. She watched with amusement as he considered the red, inflamed skin at the side of his knee cap. "Is something the matter?"

Before he could answer, Sakura pressed a single, chakra-laden finger into the pin prick she'd put on his leg earlier. Smirking, she quipped, "There. Now it won't sting."

Suigetsu 'tsk'd and rubbed the liquid vigorously onto his leg. "That wasn't why I waited." At her disbelieving look, he shouted, "It wasn't!"

The pinkette quieted and asked in a drawl, "Then why did you?"

The nukenin just glared at her a little and sniffed, "I was deciding rather or not I trusted something you gave me."

Sakura sobered instantly. Nodding, she muttered, "I see."

Jerking his pant leg back down, Suigetsu joked, "No need to get all mopey again. Believe me, it's nice to have someone half-sane and not bitchy to talk to. I was just saying-"

"I understand. It's fine." Sakura glanced across the campfire to find Sasuke sitting dependently on a fallen log, the red head from before close at his side. His eyes were locked onto hers.

Following her somber gaze, the grey-eyed teen snarked, "Now you're really starting to act like Karin." Tugging his heavy sword onto his lap, he asked rhetorically, "What's so irresistible about that guy, anyway?"

Ignoring his barb, Sakura picked up the small vial and made to take it to the other injured ninja. Suigetsu's absent voice stopped her. "Don't bother. She won't use it."

Green eyes flickered to the pale shinobi as she asked, "Why is that?"

Suigetsu raised a single brow. "She doesn't like you." The pinkette blinked at his frank assessment. Either way, it was her responsibility to see to the kunoichi's health. The shinobi's quiet tone gave her pause for a second time as he stage whispered, "She probably thinks Sasuke likes you or something." He rolled his eyes. "That always makes her super bitchy."

When the petite kunoichi sat back down, Suigetsu added thoughtfully, "He has been staring at you an awful lot." He gave her a crooked grin. "Maybe she's onto something."

Sakura just watched as Karin tried unsuccessfully to feed her new team leader some rice from her plate. A morbid sense of deja vu flooded over her. It was almost painful irony. Turning back to her companion, she laughed, "Hardly. He's just making sure I don't try and run for it."

Nodding sagely, the swordsman allowed, "I suppose. How do you two know each other anyway?"

At his blunt question, Sakura blanched. "You're the most talkative nin I've met in a long while, you know that?"

He just shrugged unrepentively. "Like I told you, I've been starved of decent conversation for a while. So how?"

The kunoichi just sighed and condensed, "We were in the same Genin squad."

Suigetsu looked genuinely intrigued. His eyebrows leapt up as he asked, "Really? Huh. I knew that blonde freak was, but you've never come up before."

Sakura narrowed her eyes a little at his name for Naruto, but simply agreed, "I'm sure I haven't. He doesn't like me much."

"If you say so." Suigetsu looked up to his normally absent team leader, sitting quietly in plain sight and reiterated, "If you say so."

Yay for Sakura / Suigetsu bonding! :D This chapter's a bit of a filler, just to set up some bonds and situations that'll come into play later. A little boring (I tried for some humor) but necessary.

30+ Reviews on a single chapter in two days? You guys are awesome! :3 Makes me wanna write all the more! XDD

Next chapter up by Thursday!

As always, thanks for reading and please review!