Comments: Just like the last chapter, just some very minor changes as well. Hardly noticeable if you still remember what the story was about.

Summary: When all that she has known slipped away from her grasp, Sakura struggles to carry their dreams, goals, and values. When all that was lost returns to haunt her, Sakura tries to cope with the suddenness of it all. What's more, a war is once again looming over the horizon.

Dreams in a Lifetime
Chapter 1
Genin to Chunnin
By V-Oh

-"I will become strong. I will not watch their backs. Not anymore."

Summer - 13 years old – Genin – Training Ground

Sweat dripped from Sakura's forehead down to her chin. Her body aching from the strain it was carrying. Weights strapped around her waist, wrists, and ankles. All the weight totaled up to nearly 75 pounds. It was the fourth month of training vigorously with the Hokage.

The Hokage knew Sakura needed to boost her stamina, a lot. They started out with letting her body get used to the strain by running laps around the village and climbing up and down trees and occasionally small hills created by the Godaime.

Then the weights came. It started out with a much lighter weight however, her body was unused to the strain. Her speed was far too slow, her chakra control wavered, and for the first few weeks, it was hell.

When she got used to the added weight, Tsunade would change then change them to heavier ones. The blonde Hokage was brutal. But that was what Sakura needed. During all her time being with Team 7, she was the one that did the least training. And if she did, her training barely matched up to either Naruto's or Sasuke's training program.

Sakura continued to do push-ups as her brows furrowed. Naruto left nearly two months ago with the perverted Jiraiya. She constantly wonders where he is and what he is doing now. But he wasn't the only one Sakura was worried about.

Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke; her other teammate and the boy she loves. She never failed to think about the raven haired boy that was filled with revenge against one man. She was working to be stronger, to be better to help Naruto bring him back and reform her team; Team 7.

She heard rumors and whispers that her team was the one most likely to follow the Legendary Sannin's footsteps. Many said they're fate was doomed, but others contradict. Some still believe that the young Uchiha will not follow the Snake shinobi all together. They knew about his past; the past that Sakura wants to unveil.

Sakura knew that Sasuke lost his family, no, his clan. But who killed them? It seems that Sasuke knew who this person is, that much Sakura could comprehend. She was itching to find out what happened, but as of now, her training matters.

Last one…

Sakura heaved her heavy body up. She panted heavily and turned to look at her master. It's been two weeks since the weight placed upon her increased. Tsunade eyed her, satisfaction evident in her eyes.

"Good. You may take a break."

Fall - 13 years old – Genin – Konoha Hospital

Sakura was here assisting her mentor with a few patients. She had learned well and sucked in all the knowledge that the Godaime had given her. Not only has she worked vigorously physically, but also mentally.

Her training schedule was cut in two parts. One part was training as a medic-nin, the other as a kunoichi. Her schedule was full and busy. She barely had time to stop and chat nowadays, and it has nearly been a month since she last ate a meal with Ino. Speaking of meals, the Hokage strictly ordered her to eat without withholding herself through "dieting". Tsunade-sama had been very thorough when she missed a meal and nearly fainted in the hospital, explaining that she wasn't going to help anybody if she faints from malnutrition. All she was doing was losing muscle mass that could help her win in a fight. Since then, Sakura has religiously made time to eat her meals everyday; one of them being ramen.

"Tsunade-sama! A patient needs medical attention! He just came back from a mission after being ambushed."

Sakura looked at the older woman, Shizune. Not much was known about her, yet. She got to spend some time with her and Sakura found that Shizune was a worrywart, but a good kunoichi and medic-nin. The pink haired girl was amazed by her talent at healing.

Tsunade stood up, beckoning Sakura to follow her.

"What's his condition?"

Shizune looked over some papers and her eyes quickly scanned the pages and reiterated to Tsunade.

Sakura's eyebrows furrowed. His condition didn't sound so good. Tsunade opened a door and Sakura immediately smelt the metallic blood coming from the patient. Her eyes widened at the sight.

Blood was all over the bed and the man was unconscious. Sakura clamped a hand to her mouth. She has seen bloody animals near death, but not humans. She has seen cuts and wounds, but nothing big and major like this one.

All of a sudden, Sakura couldn't breathe. She didn't know the Konoha ninja lying there, but then it changed to Naruto, then to Kakashi, and finally, Sasuke. She scrammed out of the door and ran. She didn't know where she was going, she let her feet just take her away.

A gust of wind met her and she found herself in the rooftop. The images of her teammate's bloody bodies lying there kept flashing in her mind. She regurgitated her last meal took quick breaths of fresh air. That was her first bloody encounter.

Spring – 14 years old – Genin - Chuunin Exams – Hidden Village of Rock

Sakura watched with anticipation the fight that was going on down below. She came with Ino and Chouji. She had spent part of fall and winter training with them and practicing their teamwork.

The fight ended and the ninja from the Hidden Village of Cloud won against the Mist ninja. She took a deep breath as the screen on the wall randomly picked out the names. The beeping stopped and Sakura looked at the screen.

Haruno Sakura VS Ayaomi Nakao

Sakura took another breath as she jumped down from the balcony and down to the arena. The arena had rocks and small trees. Her opponent was already stationed across her and his forehead protector, the symbol for the hidden Village of Rock, and he was ready to fight her. He had a small smirk on and Sakura frowned slightly. She got into her fighting stance and waited to the signal.

"Go!"

Summer – 14 years old – Chuunin

She just came back from her first solo mission. It was successful. She just had to dispose of a small band of thieves and retrieve the child they held as a hostage. It was quite easy asthe thieves weren't the smartest of the bunch. The pink haired chuunin made her way to the hospital where her mentor was.

"Tsunade-shisou." Sakura greeted the blonde Hokage, who in turn nodded her head.

"How—"

"Tsunade-sama! A patient is in critical condition!"

Both Sakura and Tsunade followed the nurse.

"His condition?"

Sakura took deep breaths as the nurse hurriedly explained his considtion. They reached a door and the nurse opened it. The stench of blood filled Sakura's nostrils and the flashback of dead bodies showed itself in Sakura's mind. She took a gulp and composed herself. Tsunade looked at her.

"I'm staying. I'm a medic-nin, I'll help."

"You will assassinate a man named Raishi Touya. He is a missing-nin with valuable information about Konoha. Our sources say that he's meeting with some contacts from Rain."

The Hokage gave the ANBU commander a folder, who skimmed through it quickly.

"The information is in the folder. You're dismissed."

The ANBU team disappeared from the office and the Hokage leaned back on her chair and sighed. The door opened and a chuunin came in.

"Rokudaime-sama, the Hyuuga leader and the elders request an audience with you along with the Godaime-same 3 days from now."

Sakura sighed and thought for a while.

"Tell them we will be there."

The chuunin nodded and left.

Sakura let out a growl of frustration. This place was a wreck. An orange cloth caught her eye. An orange and black jacket that was torn and a bit burned was stuck on a tree branch. She grabbed the piece of cloth and examined it.

A shiny glitter caught her eye. She jumped towards it and crouched down on the ground. Amidst the blackened ground, Sakura picked up something covered in ashes. Her eyes widened in realization and she quickly brushed the ashes and the dirt away.

There in her hand was a beautiful green crystal; Naruto's necklace that was given to him by her mentor.

Comments: very minor edits. Next chapter will have more of the changes