Author's note: First I would like to apologize for the long ass wait. I really had lost interest in this story and well, my mind wondered and life happened, then BAM I forgot about ever revising this. But to make up for it, this chapter will be long. Anyways, I would like to thank those that reviewed the first revised chapter of this. Especially Nuria Sato for inspiring me to get back on track with this story. ( :

On another note, this chapter will be about them heading to the Land of Waves and somethings that happen along the way. Of course, it doesn't follow the canon side-by-side. There are differences and things added in. Obviously. Please leave a review!

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REVISED EDITION

Chapter Two: One Old Dude And A Couple of Ninja

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The moment they entered the Hokage's office, Sakura's heart clenched painfully in her chest, her apple green gaze wide and quivering as she locked eyes with Hiruzen Sarutobi himself. He had suffered an untimely death at the hands of Orochimaru in what she had dubbed the 'old' future, and she remembered the pain she and everyone else had felt after losing such a kind, caring, influential being. It had been hard. And it was just as difficult and surreal to see him alive, well, and in the flesh, right in front of her no less.

All she wanted to do was run up to him and warn him about the Chunin Exams. But now wasn't the best time. She bit down on her bottom lip hard. She couldn't blabber, 'Hey! I'm from the future and I know for a fact if you hold the Chunin Exams this year in Konoha that you will be slaughtered by the slimy hands of your former student, Orochimaru!' There was no way that he, or anyone else in the room would believe her. Especially since at this point in time Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke didn't really have a good grasp of her character. They would think that they were working with a deranged, hormonal preteen with a whacked up imagination.

"Kakashi, is something wrong?" Sarutobi inquired, placing the pen he had in his hand down on the wooden surface of his cluttered desk, his gray eyebrows arched high on his tan and withered-with-age forehead. Sakura saw Kakashi shrug his shoulders out of the corner of her eye.

"Well -"

"We're sick of having stupid missions where we go on wild goose chases for stray animals or where we pick trash up out the river because some people got too lazy to walk five feet to a trashcan! We want a real mission!" Naruto blared, enthusiastically pumping a tan fist in the air. Iruka, who had was sitting beside the Hokage blinked in surprise. Sakura bit back a chuckle. Same old Naruto.

"Naruto!" Iruka screeched, "Don't speak to the Hokage like that!"

"It's fine, Iruka," the Hokage said, waving his subordinate off. "Naruto, being a ninja is so much more than mission ranks. It's about helping and protecting those you care about. The village -" After that Naruto drowned out the elderly Hokage with his own rant about ramen.

"So, do you guys like ramen?" Naruto inquired. Sasuke 'hn'ed as usual and Sakura nodded her head.

"It's okay. A certain friend of mine burnt me out on it though." she said, her eyes accusing him silently. Naruto looked back at her flabbergasted.

"How could you get burnt out on ramen?!" he screeched, plopping down on the floor Indian-style. He propped his left elbow up on his knee and rested his head in the palm of his hand. "Like this one time I had miso ramen, but it was spoiled, and I didn't know it was spoiled, so, like, I ate it anyways, even though it did have some questionable green stuff in it. I was like well, hell, it's still ramen, no point in wasting it -"

"Naruto!" The three Genin plus their Jonin leader jumped, their attention back on the fuming Hokage. "Have you even listened to a word I have said?!"

"Come on, old man!" Naruto said, standing to his feet. "Haven't we done enough of the same missions here in Konoha?"

"Yeah." Sakura interjected. "If we ever have any hope of becoming Chunin or Jonin ranked ninja, we'll need experience outside of the village." Sarutobi sighed in defeat and shook his head. Perhaps it was time to let Naruto spread his wings.

"Fine."

"YES!" Naruto whooped, jumping up and down in the air excitedly.

"I have a C-rank mission for you four then." he stated, snatched up one of the scrolls off his desk, and tossed it to Kakashi. The Jonin caught the scroll with ease and unrolled it. "You four will be escorting a man by the name of Tazuna to the Land of Waves, where you will then oversee the construction of a new bridge. This mission will last until all construction is complete."

"Awesome!" the young, blonde haired shinobi chimed enthusiastically. Sakura smiled softly at Naruto's energy. He always had been so hyped about their missions. "So, where's this Tazuna guy?"

"Come on out, Tazuna." Sarutobi said loudly. The door behind them flew open to reveal a middle-aged man with tan skin, gray hair, bespectacled opal eyes, and a thick middle-section. In his hand he carried a bottle of sake. Sakura felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. She had actually missed that man, despite his tough, drunk demeanor, he was actually kind and caring. He had just seen rough days.

"These are the ninja that are suppose to escort me?" Tazuna growled in disbelief. "Is this a joke? Especially that idiotic short one." Naruto burst out laughing.

"Haha, he so called one of you guys stupid!" the blonde exclaimed huddled over.

"Actually, he was talking about you." Sakura said, pulling Sasuke and Naruto close to her to measure their height. Naruto jumped in horror when he realized that he was, in fact, the shortest of the three, Sasuke being the tallest.

"Who are you calling an idiot, you stupid old dude?!" Naruto barked, leaping at Tazuna. Sakura and Sasuke both latched onto his arms and held him back.

"Point proven." Tazuna said with a roll of his eyes.

"There is no need to worry, Tazuna-san." Kakashi intervened, stepping around his students so that the bridge builder could view his face. The white-headed Jonin crinkled up his visible eye. "I am a Jonin ranked ninja fully capable of taking care of you if my students fail to do so. Which these three are skilled despite their young age."

"Yes, Kakashi is one of Konoha's best." Sarutobi corroborated with a nod. Tazuna glanced between the two before his shoulders slumped and he bobbed his head in defeat.

"Well, alright then." he said, taking a swig from his bottle then wiping his moistened lips with the back of his hand. "I'll take your word for it." he muttered, finally caving. Kakashi nodded and averted his attention to his three subordinates.

"You three. Get ready and meet up at the village gates at noon."

"Your first mission outside of the village and you could possibly be gone for a month." Sakura's mother complained, watching her daughter pack some extra clothes in her yellow, one strapped backpack from the doorway. Sakura sighed and stuffed a pair of striped underwear in her bag.

"Mom," she said, stood, and headed towards her bedroom door where he mom was, "you act as if I'm not coming back or something."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of!" she clucked, following her daughter into the bathroom like a worrisome hen.

"I'll be fine. Promise." Sakura assured her, raiding the cabinets for her toothbrush, deodorant, razor, and some necessary feminine products such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, ectera.

Once she was done packing said items into her backpack she turned to her worried mother and embraced her tightly. "Please be careful out there."

"I will! I promise!" Sakura said with a laugh. "I have three strong men to protect me, remember?" she added and stuck out her tongue childishly. Her mother shook her head and rolled her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.

"They better protect my little girl or I'll have to kill 'em."

"Exactly!" the pinkette encouraged as she headed out to the hallway. "Now, I've got to go." she added as they neared the living room. "Tell dad that I love him."

"Okay, I will Saki." she said and plopped down on the black, leather futon in the center of their insanely small living room. Sakura gave her an appreciative smile as she slipped into her navy blue ninja sandals. She really had to pick up some boots. They were much more comfortable than her ankle sandals. Plus they gave her half an inch in height.

"Bye mom," Sakura said, giving her mom a glance before she opened the front door. "I love you."

"I love you too."

The streets of Konoha were bustling as usual during noon. Women and men all went about their daily lives, either rushing to work or running errands or just relaxing with their friends. Some of the children that were too young to be in classes played happily near the base of trees with their friends while others were being mischievous.

Sakura smiled softly at the innocence of everything. The familiarity of it all.

Because of the war in the old future things in Konoha or any of the other ninja villages had been tense. People were afraid to leave their homes while others worried that if they stayed inside that they wouldn't be able to flee in case of an invasion of some sort. They worried about if they would just make it to the next day. It was rough. Therefore, seeing the village before it was destroyed by Pein, joyous and homely, warmed her heart to the very core. She bit her lip.

She truly never realized what she had until it was gone.

Sakura turned the corner and started walking down another street. A very familiar street actually. As she passed by Ichiraku's Ramen stand she felt herself shake her head. That's why it was so familiar. Even after renovations in the old future it still had the same, exact look and smell. And despite the fact that she could barely stomach ramen, the place brought her comfort. She had spent many hours in that booth with Team Seven- the original and the reformed. Because of that the place beckoned her. It was like a piece of home outside of her house.

"Look who it is guys," came a bitter voice from behind Sakura. The pinkette blinked and turned on her heels only to come face-to-face with the three Genin that formed Team Ten: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji. The female of the group, Ino, had her left hand on her hip, the upper right corner of her lip snarled up, and her nose scrunched up in distaste while Shikamaru had an irritated look on his face and Choji, who was a little hefty, was stuffing potato chips in his mouth.

"Come on, Ino. Do you have to pick a fight right now?" Shikamaru questioned, tugging at the spiky brunette ponytail on the back of his head.

"Yeah, I'm on my way to meet up with my team." Sakura accorded. "But it's nice to see you three." she added kindly. Ino's eye twitched.

"I don't know what you're trying to do, Billboard-Brow, but it won't work on me." Ino said, pointing a slender, pale finger in her direction.

"I'm not 'trying' to do anything but get to the village gates." she retorted with a sigh. Ino and her had been such bitter rivals before that it was ridiculous. Of course Sakura had initiated the rivalry between the two, but she had done it for good reasons. She had lived in Ino's shadow for far too long as a child - and if she hadn't provoked the girl into becoming her rival, she never would have blossomed. She would have kept following the blonde around, shy and dependent. Her confidence never blooming.

"What kind of mission do you guys have?" Choji inquired, motioning to her packed bag. "We haven't even got to leave the village yet."

"It just a simple escort mission." Sakura answered, snickering inwardly when Ino's cheeks went red with anger. Even though she and Ino were destined to become best friends again, she couldn't help but enjoy it when she one upped the other girl.

"Damn, the Hokage has been holding out on us." Shikamaru grumbled, crossing his arms.

"Whatever. Let's go." Ino snapped, stalking off angrily.

"Later." Sakura called, turning back around and heading in the general direction of the village gates. She was glad to have Ino off her case for the time being, but she really needed to make up with her and soon. She didn't want things to stay the same, bitter and bitchy, for too much longer.

Sakura took a right at the end of the street, the village gates visible from where she was, yet still quite a distance. She frowned. She felt a familiar presence and looked to her left. It was Sasuke. Her heart nearly leaped into her throat in shock. Since she had came back to the past, she hadn't been in too close of quarters with Sasuke. Not that she really had the time. Still . . .

A part of her had been avoiding close contact with the Uchiha.

After seeing what he had become in the old future, it was hard for Sakura to even look at him the same. She knew that Sasuke and Naruto had to fight to have closure and that she shouldn't have intervened. But she couldn't stand by and watch Naruto die. Had Sasuke been the one wounded and about to be killed, despite her anger toward him, she still would have jumped in the way. If not to protect him, then to prove a point to both of them. That fighting wasn't always the answer. Especially in that certain situation.

"H-Hey, Sasuke." Sakura stammered, glancing over at the Uchiha with uncertainty. She mentally kicked herself for stuttering. She had come off as a needy fangirl unintentionally. She could feel the tension thicken around them.

"Hn." he said with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his white shorts. Sakura sighed and after that they were left in silence until they reached the gate.

Naruto waved enthusiastically at them as they arrived, his other hand wrapped around one of the straps of his backpack. Beside him stood Kakashi with a bored expression and on the other side of Kakashi stood an irritated Tazuna. Sakura nearly wanted to tiptoe away the awkward tension was so thick. "So, how long will it take us to get there?" Naruto suddenly inquired.

"We will reach the Land of Waves by tomorrow." Kakashi stated and turned to Tazuna, "Are you fully prepared?"

"Yeah, let's just go. The sooner we leave, the sooner I'll be home." Tazuna grumbled, stepping through the gate without hesitation, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke right behind him. Sakura took a deep breath and followed.

Five hours. Twenty minutes. And forty seconds.

That was how long they had been walking and it was barely past five o'clock. They had taken a ten minute break two hours ago, but Sakura's untrained body was already fatigued, the bottoms of her feet sore, and her breathing hitched. She would have to commit herself to endurance exercises when she got the chance. That much was certain.

Beside her Sasuke walked in silence, a contemplative look upon his face, eyes blank. There wasn't a drop of sweat on his skin, or what was of visible of his flesh. Same for Kakashi and Naruto. The only one that even looked remotely as tired as she was feeling was Tazuna, but that was expected of a civilian. Especially an older civilian with a little weight packed around his mid-section. She was a twelve-year-old kunoichi, well, physically, with little fat latched to her frame. There was no excuse for her exhaustion.

Sakura was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt something wet and cold splash up on her shin and toes. She blinked and looked down. A water puddle? It hasn't rained in the Fire Nation in weeks! She tensed up. She had forgotten about the Hidden Mist shinobi that ambushed them on their way to the Land of Waves.

A glance in Kakashi's direction let her know that he had noticed the puddle as well. His hands weren't as deeply tucked into his pockets anymore and his shoulders were pinched back slightly, spine erect yet relaxed enough to appear casual. He didn't want to alert Mist ninja. Smart thinking.

Sakura kept her body lax, her emerald gaze darting toward the tree tops. She attempted to sense the mist-nins' chakra to no avail. Sasuke and Naruto's immense chakras blocked her senses, mainly Naruto's however, as he did not yet know how to mask his. Sasuke's was only noticeable because he was directly beside her.

The kunoichi sighed and decided to anticipate their attack, whenever it may be, prepared to protect her teammates and their client at all cost. That was her duty after all.

Thirty minutes passed before the Hidden Mist shinobi made their move. And just like before the enemy went for their highest ranked: Kakashi. Chains shot out of the bushes lining the dirt path on which they traversed, winding around Kakashi's slender body. The man feigned pain with a deep, throaty holler, the sharp chains digging deep into his skin. The chains shook from resistance momentarily, before tearing Kakashi to shreds. Blood, meat, and bones flew everywhere. The sight was repulsive. Sakura placed a hand over her mouth in disgust.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto howled in despair, eyes wide, voice quivering and loud. Tazuna looked at Kakashi's 'remains' with a horrified expression, body rigid. Sasuke didn't hesitate however. He pulled out a kunai and crouched into a defensive stance, a dangerous look in the depths of his onyx irises.

"You're all going to die." one of the Hidden Mist ninja stated, leaping out from the bush, his comrade joining him. They were both cloaked in dark-colored tattered ponchos and camouflage pants, bindings on their upper arms, and strange masks on their faces. But what stood out was the claw-like gloves upon their hands, lethal and intimidating. Not that she was the least bit frightened. Not like the first time she faced the two men.

"And you're next." the other trilled coming up behind Naruto, right arm pulled back tightly. The second mist ninja was quick to join his comrade, circling around Naruto, arm drawn back as well. Then both shot a chain from the strange contraption on their arms that flew toward the orange clad ninja, but like last time Sasuke leaped into the air and threw a shuriken and kunai, pinning the chains into the trunk of a nearby tree with a loud 'clang'.

"I can't get loose!" The mist ninja barked, tugging at his arm. But it was no use. Sasuke executed a perfect front flip and landed with one foot on the trapped arms of both mist-nin. He then commenced to drop his weight onto his palms and use his momentum to kick the enemy ninja in the face, successfully breaking their chains and sending them backwards.

Both recovered quickly however, stumbling to their feet. One stayed by Sasuke to preoccupy him while the other started charging in Tazuna's direction. This is it! Sakura reminded herself, aligning herself in the path of harm. She readied her fist with a small amount of chakra and lunged on her tiptoes forward, mouth pulled down into a tight, focused scowl.

"Charging at me with nothing but your bare fist. Ha. Pathetic, little girl." the man snapped as they neared each other. Sakura smirked and threw her fist at the man's face. He managed to dodge her fist by ducking and throwing his own punch. Sakura gasped and evaded the brunt of the attack, receiving a small gash in the side by his claws.

Damn it! My body's slower than my mind! It was a con to being in her younger body. She grunted and brought her leg around, more chakra pumped into the limb this time, humiliated that she had been wounded. The kick connected, breaking each and every rib in the man's frame and sent him flying into a nearby tree, unconscious.

Sakura panted and stared at the limp ninja, hand over the bloody wound on her side. Based on her slightly blurred vision, the claws bore poison. Suddenly she heard the other mist ninja grunt and the commotion cease. She blinked and turned around to see Kakashi standing beside Sasuke whom had his foot on top of the other mist ninja's head, arms crossed.

"Sakura, that wound." Kakashi muttered approaching her side. "You and Naruto both got injured. We'll have to return to the village right away." he said, concern focused on her side before turning toward Tazuna, a flash of anger in his eyes. "As for you, you lied to us. This is at least a B-rank mission or higher."

Tazuna looked ashamed as he opened his mouth to speak. "I -"

"Don't worry about it." Sakura interjected as she pulled Naruto over to her with one hand, a kunai in the other. Naruto looked at her, startled, eyes wide.

"What are you doing?" he inquired as she pierced his hand with the kunai. He didn't even flinch this time, instead he allowed her to squeeze the poison out of his skin. She then put the kunai back in her pouch and hovered her hand over his wound, her emerald hued chakra visible once more. A moment later his wound was healed up completely. "Oh, thanks!"

"Well, we still have to get you back. You're wound is a lot worse." Kakashi stated with a stern shake of his head, "There's no need to push our luck."

"I can extract the poison." Sakura retorted, lifting her shirt with her right hand while she focused her chakra around her left. She commenced to place her hand over the gash on her side and clamped her eyes shut. She focused hard and found the poison trying to invade her liver. She quickly extracted the venom and jerked her hand back, the poison in her palm. She discarded the substance on the ground and cleaned her hand up.

"I'm impressed with your medical jutsu, Sakura. As with your sudden strength to combat an opponent hand-to-hand." Kakashi said. "But you need to work on agility and evasive techniques. But over all you did well." he added then turned toward Sasuke. "You did a good job as well, Sasuke. You were the first to react to the situation. As for you Naruto, I . . . didn't expect you to freeze up like that."

"I know." Naruto said hotly, voice deep and low, a thoughtful look on his face. Sakura was about to ask if he was okay when his eyes suddenly snapped up, a fire in them. "I'll prove to you that I'm better than that. I'll prove to you that I have what it takes. I refuse to back down from this mission."

"I believe you." Kakashi remarked, a strange look in his eyes. He then averted his attention back to Sakura. "Heal your wound and we will be on our way."

"I'll do it later. I kind of need to recover some chakra first." Sakura muttered, a blush on her face. They all probably thought she was a weakling, again. They didn't know she had super human strength that also took a toll on her chakra reserves.

"Then we will set up camp here for the night." Kakashi said in a tone that left no room for argument. Or at least was supposed to. Sakura puffed her cheeks out, lugged her backpack off of her back, and plopped down on the ground with her legs crossed, bag in her lap. She could clearly see Sasuke and Tazuna's irritated expressions.

"That won't be necessary, sensei." she retorted, unzipping her bag and thrusting her hands into its stuffed depths. She fished around for a bit until she found what she was looking for. She then uncrossed her legs and settled on her haunches, a roll of bandages in her hand. She held the tip of the bandage roll against her naval and began wrapping her abdomen. She was done with the task in a little over a minute and a half.

Kakashi was silent. Hesitant. Then tucked his hands into his pockets and sighed, shoulders relaxed. "Let's move on then."

Night fell sooner than anyone anticipated. They had been so busy walking and thinking that they didn't even notice the sun's descent. They had set up camp just off the dirt road, all but Tazuna sleeping outside in just a sleeping bag. Kakashi assisted the older man in putting up his tent which took five minutes as it was a rather large tent.

"I'm going to go wash up and refill everyone's canteens." Sakura said, collecting her teammates and client's water containers. When she got to Sasuke he merely nodded in approval from his perch in a tree. He had a few thick branches in his arm so that they could have a small fire to cook on no doubt.

"Once you're done I want you to get a few branches and sharpen them into points. For fish." Kakashi directed. "Sasuke and Naruto, you two will have the honor of catching the fish."

"With what fishing poles, huh?" Naruto inquired, sitting cross-legged on top of his navy blue sleeping bag.

"These." Kakashi said, doing a few hand seals then touching the forefinger and middle of finger of his left hand to the band around his right wrist. One second and a puff of smoke later a seal appeared on his wrist and out came two fishing poles.

"You've got to teach me how to do that." Naruto said in awe. Sakura rolled her eyes and lifted her backpack up from the ground.

"I'll be back soon." she said, heading toward the river that was just a small distance from their campsite. Thankfully there were a thicket of bushes and trees that obscured ones vision to the river. Had it been otherwise she wouldn't be taking a dusk time dip.

"Be on constant alert, Sakura." Kakashi called after her. She nodded back to him as she disappeared into the thicket of woods, the shadows from the treetops engulfing her entire being.

Sakura traveled through the thicket with ease, sprinting through with carefully placed chakra in the bottoms of her feet. Not even a minute passed before she found herself at the river. The bank was covered in boulders and pebbles of all shapes and sizes. She frowned and neared the water, placing her bag on top of a boulder that was halfway immersed in the cool liquid and pulled out the canteens along with her bandages to re-wrap her wound. She figured it would be better to save her chakra than waste it on a small injury like the one she had sustained. It was just one, five-inch gash on her side. It was a little deep, but nothing too serious.

And nothing like when Saosori pierced straight through her stomach with a blade.

The memory sent shivers down her spine. Now, that had been painful. Of course, when Naruto had clawed her arm in his Kyuubi form she nearly fainted from the pain, the dark chakra invading her body like a lethal poison.

Sakura sighed, cleared her head, and bunched the end of her shirt up in her hands. She then removed her shirt and settled on her haunches, dipping the shirt in the water and scrubbing the material together. The blood more than likely would leave a darker patch on the shirt, but because the material it was sewn of was nearly black, it wouldn't be a problem. She had two of the exact same outfit in her bag, but she wanted to save them.

After she washed each individual piece of clothing she had been wearing and laid them out on another boulder separate from the one her backpack was on, she removed her soiled bandages and stuffed them under a rock so they weren't visually available for passing ninja. She then dove into the river, the cold water forcing her to feel more alert.

The thirteen-year-old surfaced and inhaled as much oxygen as she could then sighed, fully relaxed, despite the chilly water temperature. "Finally I can scrub the dirt and sweat out of my hair and off my skin." she murmured, sighing contently as she scrubbed her filthy scalp, her hair heavy with moisture. Once she was finished with her hair she then washed off her skin and climbed back out of the river, content with her little dip.

She threw on her sandals - the rocks were too sharp to tread on without them! - and grabbed her damp underwear and shorts. Thankfully, because of the warmth from the stones that had sat in the sun all day, her clothes weren't as wet as they normally would be had she let them air dry on a line. Before she put them on, however, she removed a towel from her backpack and dried herself off. She then put both items on along with her simple, black bra. She couldn't put her shirt on until she put fresh bandages on her wound.

Sakura discarded the towel underneath another rock, not wanting to spoil her fresh clothes inside, it was tattered anyways and would not be missed, then put fresh bandages around her mid-section. She sighed and reached for her shirt, only to pause when her ears picked up a sound. It was a tree branch groaning from the weight of something - or someone - perching upon it. She squinted and peered into the veil of darkness that the trees across the river created.

The only nearby chakra that she could sense was Naruto's and he was behind her, back at the campsite. She tensed up and pretended as if nothing was there, reaching for her shirt, when a mist ninja leaped from the forest tree tops, a menacing gaze set on his face. He landed beside her and directed a slash towards her abdominal.

"Damn it!" Sakura hissed, executing a neat back-flip to get out-of-the-way, her arms crossed over her chest. She may not have had much cleavage when she was thirteen, but it was still cleavage nonetheless. She glared at the ninja, taking in his appearance.

The mist ninja was probably in his mid-twenties. He had short black hair with matching eyes and lightly tanned skin. He was clad in a tattered poncho like the other mist ninja and even had the same type of gloves. The only difference in attire was that he was missing the strange mask the other two bore.

"Where are your comrades and the bridge builder?" he demanded suddenly, his voice deep and low. "If you tell me, I'll let you live."

"Actually," Sakura began, smirk on her lips, "you should be asking me to let you live."

"Ha. Don't make me laugh." he retorted, removing a large, steel battle-axe off of his back. Sakura stared at the object for a moment. It was a fine piece of art, and perhaps a new tool for her. Sasuke used a sword in the old future, really, a lot of ninja did. Perhaps it was time she learned?

"Let's finish this." Sakura snapped back, chakra pumped into her hands. The man smirked and lunged forward at her at high speeds. Once in reach he slung his blade at her throat. She ducked just in time, the wind from the attack grazing her head.

"Is that all you got?" he asked, swinging his blade downward. Sakura rolled out of the way and spun on both hands and one foot, the other pumped with chakra and extended outward. Her foot connected with the front of his knee, successfully shattering the kneecap and shin of his left leg. He cried out in pain and dropped to the ground, his hands cuffed over his leg.

He laid on the ground, immobilized.

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a girl." Sakura growled just as Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi, and Tazuna came out of the woods, all with wide eyes.

"What happened here?" Kakashi inquired as he approached and kneeled down by the mist ninja, his eyes never meeting Sakura's. Naruto and Tazuna were also staring down at the ground, the former being unusually quite, while Sasuke had his hands stuffed in his pockets and was looking to the side in an almost awkward manner.

"He didn't try anything funny on you, did he, Sakura-chan?!" Naruto demanded, cheeks red. Sakura blinked and shook her head in confusion.

"Um, no, why would you think that?" she inquired, head cocked to the side.

"You're shirt! It's . . . gone!" Naruto answered, his voice high-pitched. Sakura's face suddenly felt really hot.

"Eek! I forgot!" she squeaked, throwing her hands over her chest. The heat of the battle made her forget. She rushed over to the boulder where her shirt was and tossed it on, her cheeks burning. No wonder no one would look at her.

"Now . . . that, that's solved, can you explain what went on?" Kakashi once more asked, the tension in the air gone. Sakura nodded as she put backpack where it belong: on her back. She then went back to Kakashi's side, her eyes on the whimpering ninja writhing on the ground, his entire frame quivering with pain.

"Well, I heard a noise then out this guy popped. From across the river," she pointed in the direction, "there."

"I'll go investigate. You three keep Tazuna safe - and one of you tie him up." Kakashi commanded sternly before heading off toward the forest to search for other enemy ninja.

"You're a lot tougher than any of us thought, Sakura-chan. You've already whooped up on two mist ninja!" Naruto exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air. Sasuke didn't say anything as he bound the ninja's arms with a thing of rope from his backpack.

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or as an insult." Sakura grumbled, hands on her hips. "Whatever the case, I'm going to try out this battle-axe." she said, licking her lips, hands now out in front of her as she approached the area where the mist ninja had dropped his weapon. She bent over and picked it up with ease.

Oh, the perks of super human strength. She thought with a smirk, her hands readied on the ax's handle. She gave it a swing and nearly toppled over. She may have her abilities from the future, but her body certainly wasn't up to par. She frowned, disappointed. She would just have to buy a weapon better fitted for her back in Konoha.

"Let me try!" Naruto interjected, holding his hands out for the weapon. Sakura nodded and handed him the weapon, the top immediately hit the ground and burrowed itself into the soil. Naruto looked at the object, flabbergasted, mouth gaped open. "I didn't expect it to weigh so much." he muttered, lifting it up. He then gave it a swing and toppled over to the ground.

Sasuke looked at him with a blank expression. Naruto glared back in return. Sasuke kept his blank gaze in tact. Naruto crossed his arms, the weapon forgotten. "It's a stupid weapon anyways."

" . . . Dumb ass."

It was her turn to keep watch. And of course, it was the second shift of the night. Naruto had got first, which was the easiest shift of all in her opinion. With first shift you were still alert, not sluggish from a few hours of sleep like she was. Sakura rubbed at her eyes with the backs of her hands, a yawn passing through her lips. It was probably one o'clock or a little after.

They had settled in for the night around seven, but didn't sleep until ten. Naruto took the first two-hour shift, guarding until midnight. She was the next two-hour shift, twelve to two. Then Sasuke, two to four. Then Kakashi would get up at four and stay up for the remainder of the day. He would wake them around six and they would eat a small breakfast consisting of fish no doubt, refill their canteens once more, then pack up camp and head out.

At least that was always the plan before.

Sakura stretched her arms above her head, her foot steps quiet as she paced around the camp, her eyes adjusted to the darkness in the forest. The fire was snuffed out just before they laid down. They didn't want to alert any nearby ninja. Again.

"Just twenty more minutes." Sakura murmured to herself, her sleeping bag calling her name from a few yards away. And oh did it look warm and comforting.

"You can go on and sleep." a deep, husky voice said behind her. Sakura jumped and turned on her heels, one hand over her heart, the other wrapped tightly around a hastily drawn kunai. She relaxed once she realized whom it was that had snuck up behind her.

"Sasuke," she said, her breath returning to equal intervals. She didn't catch him twitch. "Um, it's fine. It's just twenty minutes."

"I'm already awake." he stated, arms crossed. That was his 'don't argue with me' stance at the current moment. Sakura huffed and shook her head.

"But - "

"Just do it." Sasuke insisted, walking away, eyes already scanning the perimeter.

"You're so stubborn." Sakura retorted, cheeks puffed out as she stormed after him like a child about to throw a tantrum. "I know you don't think I'm a capable kunoichi, but I can do this."

"I don't recall saying that." Sasuke bit back, causing Sakura to freeze up. Did he just say that?

"But . . . during our survival test, I was useless. Just dead weight - a hindrance - to our team." Sakura murmured, now staring down at her feet. She never did forgive herself for her weakness before. When she thought about it, she felt ashamed and humiliated.

"Hn. You're annoying." Sasuke said, turning away and heading deeper into the forest. Sakura felt a small smile tug at her lips. He didn't insult her like she had thought he would. Maybe being called annoying wasn't so bad, after all.

"Um, thanks for taking over my watch. I'll repay the favor some time." Sakura called softly after him. Sasuke paused in mid-step and shrugged his shoulders.

"Hn."

"Sakura-chan! Wake up!"

"Eeeha!" Sakura screeched slamming her fist into Naruto's face, sending him flying ten feet into the air. She sat up, panting. "What the hell, Naruto?" she snapped, shivering as the cool morning air enveloped her body. The sun was barely up in the sky, there was a small fire in the center of the camp, and Kakashi, Tazuna, and Sasuke were already cooking their fish.

"Ow, ow, ow. I don't think I've ever been punched that hard in the face - and believe me, I've been sacked in the face a lot." he whined, sitting up, two sticks in his right-hand with fish jabbed on the ends, his other hand rubbing the knot forming on the side of his face.

"Well, you should know better than to surprise a ninja when they're sleeping, you oaf." Sakura grumbled in response, getting out of her sleeping bag. She then pulled her hair up and adjusted her headband in her hair, her bangs down cuffing her face.

"Yeah, yeah. Here's your fish by the way." Naruto muttered, standing to his feet, taking a stick in each hand and extending one out to her. Sakura smiled appreciatively and took the stick.

"Thank you." she said, going to sit in-between Kakashi and Tazuna on the ground and stuck her fish in the fire. Naruto followed suit, sitting beside Sasuke, his fish immediately being dipped into the fire.

"It was nothing." Naruto said, turning the stick in his hands, "Kakashi-sensei, how much longer until we reach the Land of Waves?" Kakashi, whom had eaten his fish without everyone noticing, cuffed his chin between the forefinger and thumb of his right-hand gave a thoughtful hum. Then he moved his hands back to his lap.

"We have about a two-hour walk until we reach the coast. Then we'll have a ten minute boat ride to the Land of Waves and so much walking to reach Tazuna-san's house." Kakashi answered. Naruto groaned.

"My house is about a thirty minute walk from the docks. Not too far actually." Tazuna pointed out and then took a big bite off of his fish's side.

"Righttt." Naruto, the most impatient of them all, grumbled as he pulled his fish out of the fire. He blew on its scales until it cooled then took a ginormous chunk out of it.

"After you get done eating, start packing." Kakashi directed as he stood and headed in the general direction of his sleeping bag and backpack. Sasuke and Tazuna were the first to join in cleaning up. Then Naruto. Then Sakura.

It didn't take long for the ninja to pack their belongings. They just had to roll up their sleeping bags and snuff out the fire after all. Tazuna on the other hand had to pack his sleeping bag and tent. Of course, the men joined in while Sakura ventured back to the river to refill their canteens. Everyone had gulped all their water down after breakfast.

By the time Sakura returned from the river, the tent was taken down and stored in Tazuna's backpack. She blinked but didn't speak as she went around and handed everyone their proper canteen.

"Let's be off."

"This fog is impossible to see through, dattebayo!" Naruto murmured from his position on the gondola, hand cuffed to his forehead as he looked around, seeing nothing but a white wall of mist on either side.

"Quiet, kid! Do you want someone to hear us?" the boat's guide snapped quietly, "We're using the mist as a cover. Hell! I'm even rowing instead of using the motor!"

"Sorry." Naruto squeaked, his voice muffled by the hand he had clamped over his mouth. Sakura held back a chuckle, Zabuza and Haku were their main problems. Not the poorly trained mist ninja that they had ran into thus far. Therefore, they didn't have much to worry about until they reached land and were isolated on the forest-clad path to Tazuna's house.

"Tazuna-san, I have to ask something of you." Kakashi interjected suddenly, a serious expression in the depths of his only visible eye. Tazuna bowed his head forward slightly, his lip pursed.

"Yes, what is it?" he inquired, knowing well what Kakashi was about to request.

"I need you to tell me the truth. Why you didn't request a B-rank mission or higher, knowing well that this was beyond our job description?" he said, "Or else the moment this boat reaches its destination, we'll leave."

"Do you know Gatoh? I'm sure you've heard the name at least." Tazuna began, everyone was silent. Well, Naruto had a dumbfounded look on his face. "Recently he used his wealth to buy out a majority of the Land of Waves businesses, including our trading company on the water. The citizens - even our Feudal Lord - have become broke because of it. And thugs wonder around threatening our people."

"The point?" Kakashi goaded, crossing his arms. Sakura sighed, knowing what was to be said.

"This bridge's construction threatens Gatoh's wealth." Tazuna answered.

"And since you're over the construction he's coming after you." Sasuke stated, a thoughtful look upon his stoic face. Tazuna bobbed his head.

"Yes, and if you abandon me, I'll be killed on my way home no doubts." he said, "My poor grandson will cry and cry for his grandfather. While my daughter will come to hate Konoha and its ninjas."

Oh, right, she had forgotten about the pity story. Sakura looked at him in disbelief. Naruto shook his head, mouth hanging open. And Kakashi gave a sheepish chuckle, his hand scratching the back of his head.

"Well, I guess we can't leave you then." he remarked. Tazuna noticeably relaxed, his shoulders humped over with relief.

Sakura leaned back against the boat and sighed, the mist cool against her cheeks. She dreaded their inevitable run in with Zabuza and Haku. She had no doubts that she desired to assist a little more this time around. But how? During this mission she had always been assigned to Tazuna's hip. But that was because she was the weakest link in the team before.

Suddenly the boat jerked as it collided against something hard, resulting in Sakura toppling backwards - straight into the water below. The cold water enveloped her immediately, much to her dismay. She resurfaced, a foul look upon her face. Naruto, whom was standing on the dock now, hunched over and laughed for a moment. Sasuke climbed out, an amused smirk on his face while Kakashi and Tazuna just joined in chuckling as they calmly evacuated the small wooden boat.

"It's not funny, assholes!" Sakura barked, cheeks red with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, are you okay, Sakura?" Kakashi inquired, his only visible eye crinkled up happily. She rolled her eyes.

"I should just swim away to somewhere where I'm actually appreciated." she murmured when a hand was thrust in her face. She blinked and looked up at the owner of the hand and was surprised to see that it was Sasuke. "Oh, now you help." she said with a smile she couldn't resist upon her face. She then snatched his hand and allowed him to pull her up onto the dock.

"Hn. I guess I could have let you drown." he said, hands back in his pocket, back turned to her. Sakura shook her head and laughed.

"I think living is preferable." she said, quite pleased that she was actually able to have a few small conversations with the Uchiha already. But his personality was so much different when they had been Genin. It was like a cool summer night, warm but with a bitter breeze. In the old future it had become like the coldest of winter days, without warmth or compassion whatsoever.

As Genin, he would actually speak. Not try to come after them with the intentions of slaying them where they stood. Of course, before, when she had acted like a complete bimbo fangirl, Sasuke didn't give her the time of day. But now, since she stepped up some, he was treating her with respect. She was grateful because she honestly expected him not to even slightly warm up to until the Chunin Exams. She froze. The Chunin Exams. What was she going to do about them? She would have to plot something.

Sakura mentally shook her head, silent as she followed Tazuna and her comrades across the dock. Like before the streets were abandoned. The only sign of life was the occasional head sticking out from a window. But the moment they were spotted the person would slam their window shut and hide.

"What a ghost town." Naruto murmured, looking around with a curious azure gaze. Tazuna looked disheartened at the boy's words.

"It's because of the thugs and Gatoh's other hirelings." he stated, "Most are too afraid to come outside anymore unless they absolutely have to."

"That's a sad way to live life." Sakura said, eyes downcast. She had forgotten how the Land of Waves suffered before the Naruto Bridge was built. Before Gatoh was killed by his own hireling's hands.

"The bridge is our only hope to restoring this country to its former glory." Tazuna retorted, "That's why I've risked my life out there every day, trying to finish it. But my men keep getting killed off, day-by-day, like flies. I'm sick of it."

"We'll make sure that won't happy anymore." Kakashi stated as a path through a thicket of trees became visible.

"Thank you." Tazuna said, one hand adjusting his hat on his head, the other limp at his side.

As soon as they entered the forest Sakura felt a tingling sensation run up her spine. They were being watched. And had been since they reached the docks. She wondered if Kakashi had known the whole time. His collected composure told her otherwise, but he was highly skilled at pretending a calm façade. She decided to let things fall into place.

"There's someone there!" Naruto announced, throwing a kunai into the tree tops. When nothing happened he turned around and aimed for the bushes. "There!" he yelled, throwing the kunai. But instead of forcing any hidden ninja out of their hiding spot, he nearly took the head off of a snow rabbit.

"Naruto! Stop using your kunai carelessly!" Kakashi hissed. Naruto huffed and went over to where he threw his second kunai and picked up the rabbit.

"I'm sorry, little guy! I didn't mean to nearly decapitate you!" he wailed, holding the traumatized animal to his chest. Sakura rolled her eyes, a fond smile playing on her lips. Once an idiot, always an idiot. But the thought was lived short.

"Duck!" Kakashi hollered suddenly without warning. Everyone did as he said and not the beat of an eyelash later did a sword fly over where their heads had been just a moment ago and then lodge itself in the thick trunk of one of the trees a few feet from their position.

Sakura and the others raised up, eyes never leaving the sword. A second later a man appeared out of nowhere, standing on the hilt of the blade, his body toned and motionless.

"Well, if it isn't the Copy Cat Ninja of Konoha."

Okay, that's it for now! I know it probably felt like I rambled on in this chapter. But it wasn't exactly the most fun to write. I had a hard time getting in what I wanted. But hopefully I showed what I wanted to show, which was that Sakura is getting more respect for stepping up to the plate while still making a few errors, such as getting injured, her chakra reserves being small, and her body being slower than her mind. I definitely don't want her to be some god-mode character.

Anyways, please tell me what you thought!