Disclaimer: I do not own the character of Sakura Haruno, or Hatake Kakashi, or any of the characters in the Naruverse; they are owned by Masashi Kishimoto. I also make no money off my spiel. I do it cause I can. Deal with it.

Chapter 2

"Do you think I'm fake?"

"Um...What do you mean Sakura-san?" Hinata asked with a surprised look.

They had bumped into one another after they both returned from their respective missions and decided, time and a pang in their stomachs warranting it, to go for lunch.

They pulled out of the shack after tucking their wallets back into the pouches that hung around their waist.

"I mean do you think I've been true to myself?"

"…I can't say I know you that well Sakura-san. But you seem to do what you want, if that's what you mean."

"I just have this idea that throughout all of this—just everything-I've had one identity or another, depending on who I was with, or what I was doing. I feel like I never really considered what I really want."

Sakura continued thoughtfully. "And I also never noticed, but my choices and actions revolved around Naruto and Sasuke. I would berate Naruto for acting up, just to get into Sasuke's good graces. And I would pretend to be extremely composed or scholarly when Kakashi-sensei or Iruka-sensei called me to answer a question or asked my opinion. I was always catering to what I thought people wanted to see. I was brainac with a large forehead, so I acted the way I thought would be appropriate. I had a crush on Sasuke from a young age, and so I fell in line with all the other girls who followed him around and wanted him to see them. And I was superior about a lot of things that I had no right to be. I cringe to think of them now."

Hinata looked a bit overwhelmed. She was trying to think of what part of Sakura's words to address. She wondered if Sakura had a disagreement with Sasuke-kun or Naruto-kun? "I think you're fine the way you are."

"That's because you're too nice, Hinata."

"Mm." Hinata shook her head softly. "I kinda get what you're saying. I don't think it's true though. Is there something bothering you? You seem a bit down."

Sakura waved her hand, laughing it off. "Oh no! I'm not really! I just thought I should seriously think about things from now on. I'm mouthing off to you because I feel like you'd be the last person to judge me."

"I'm here if you ever need to talk."

"Thanks. I feel like this is the perfect time to get my thoughts in order, things have finally settled down for the time being. And I'm a Jonin as well! I just don't want to spend the rest of my life pretending to be something I'm not."

Hinata gave a light frown. There wasn't anything that came to mind that she could say to ease Sakura's mind. She felt like there was a distinct problem that the girl was circling around. Hinata tried to identify what that could be. She simply nodded as she studied the pink haired girl's face. She would listen for now. The medic nin seemed like she needed an listening ear for now.

Sakura had her hands behind her back, as they strolled leisurely across the village.

The two didn't spend any real time together, but it was nice to work off this afternoon's lunch by taking an extended walk with no particular destination.

"I just want to been seen differently. I'm not going to be the same girl who rushes into making decisions. I want people to see that when I do make a choice, I've done it after careful thought. I want to prove that much."

Hinata looked lost at this point. She managed a weak sound of ascension to Sakura's words. She didn't know what the Kunoichi meant so she wasn't sure if she should be cheering her on.

Sakura winked. "Don't worry, you're not meant to understand."

They were silent for the rest of the walk, just enjoying the breeze and casually waving at the passerbys.

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"Um, Sakura what are you staring at?" Naruto peered at his female teammate, raising a curious eyebrow.

For the first time in quite a while, Team 7 was supposed to meet to discuss a potential mission.

Sasuke and Kakashi were on the other side of the field talking about something. Naruto and her were waiting patiently for a good 10 minutes.

"I'm looking at Sasuke." She answered. She was eating a cup of cold ice cream, the spoon still in her mouth as she answered. It was a really hot day.

"Yeah. That's what I thought. But why?" Naruto's voice was a bit more hushed. He might not seem like it but he made a good confidant. Naruto was very sensitive when it came to teammates feelings.

Sakura thought Naruto's line of questioning was weird. Was there ever a 'why' that was needed when it came to staring at Sasuke. The answer was pretty obvious.

But he no doubt sensed the lack of her usual euphoric cloud and blush tinged cheeks. Her voice was spoken clearly without any lingering on the raven-haired boy's name.

Naruto gave up when she didn't answer. He followed her line of vision.

Sasuke was standing to Kakashi-sensei's right, his dark hair fallen over his eyes. His svelte build accentuated in his Jonin attire. He had a long jacket under his button up Jonin vest that hung down to his knees, and gave the impression of a cape.

She had seen a picture of Fugaku Uchiha, Sasuke's father, to see that it resembled his outfit.

In fact, he looked very much like him. Sasuke didn't have the tired lines down his face that were characteristic of his father and elder brother.

And where Fugaku had brunette hair hanging down, Sasuke, whose obsidian locks were framed around his face like the Jinchuuriki, Utakata, looked like a pale, black haired version of Fugaku.

'Does Sasuke look different to you?" She posed the question to Naruto.

He smiled wistfully before he answered. His voice sounded aged when he spoke. Sakura kept expecting the childish screech of his voice, but she had to resign herself to his deeper tones. "Yeah. He does, he's working with the Leaf police. As sort of an intern position, I don't think he wants to work there forever. He told me last week that he wanted to experience it for a while. I think he just wanted to do something that would help connect him to his family, even if it's just for a short period."

Sakura felt put off. None of this was ever mentioned to her, but she nodded thoughtfully along with Naruto and pretended she knew. Because she was supposed to have known.

Although, Sakura did share Naruto's pleasure of seeing their teammate 'make something' of himself.

She cleared her throat before she spoke. "I just meant does he looks hotter than usual. Damn."

Naruto who was caught off guard by this line of conversation and who happening to still be looking at Sasuke, blushed with embarrassment. Sakura had never been that direct with her speech, outloud at least. Although, no doubt, many times in her head.

But It was the feeling with which she said it. As if it were that fact were an immutable law of nature.

Kakashi and Sasuke started to walk back in their direction.

"You guys are here early." The calm Jonin waved with a friendly smile. He easily tucked his other hand into his pocket.

"You know very well that we've been waiting on you guys for some time now."

"Ah, yes." Kakashi turned toward Sasuke, but addressed Naruto and Sakura. "When we get back from this mission—we are to report to Sasuke. The Konoha police want to be kept informed about this one. Sasuke won't be going with us."

Sakura spoke up. "So what were you guys talking about that we couldn't hear."

Sasuke who heard the challenge in her voice, actually looked up at her, albeit warily.

Kakashi who was a master at navigating a minefield answered without pause. "Just catching up, nothing you'd be interesting in. The both of you." He stressed the last part, making it obvious that it he was excluding both and not just one of them.

Naruto intervened. "Oh. You guys weren't discussing the case?"

"Nope. Just personal things." Kakashi answered simply.

"So what gives Sasuke, why can't you go with us on this mission?" Naruto asked.

"I considered it. But you guys don't really need me. I'll be put to greater use here." Sasuke said lifting his eyes slowly.

Sakura adjusted her gloves. "Well, alright. Do you have a plan in mind Sasuke, since your division is investigating this case, or are we allowed to wing it?"

"Pretty much do what you want within the perimeters of the mission. No more, no less." Sasuke was looking off to the side when he spoke to her, not so much looking in her direction as gazing somewhere between Naruto and Kakashi.

"Alright!" Sakura looked pleased. "What are we waiting for, let's go."

There was a lull of silence where they all seemed to exchange glances, before coming to the conclusion that they weren't waiting for anything, unless someone had a question about something.

Sakura headed off before any of them. Their destination was the gate, and she took off without looking back. Naruto followed with a grin and Kakashi paused to wave at Sasuke before he departed as well.

Sasuke who was left standing there, folded his arms. An errant black strand covering his other eye as well.

He was curious as to the way Sakura hardly seemed to linger around him. She hadn't tried to catch his gaze or initiate meaningless conversation with him. She seemed genuinely into the mission and had not attempted to flirt or keep herself in his company too long.

His brow furrowed before he took off in the direction of the leaf police force.

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"You'll have to run that past me one more time, Sasuke." Kakashi stated interested.

"I don't think it's a good idea for me to go on this mission, with Sakura going as well."

"And why is that?"

"Kakashi, I hope you won't play dumb. I don't want to encourage her more than being in her presence would. I'm just not interesting in pursuing anything right now. As you know, Sakura's of the opposite mind. I don't need the trouble right now. I have bigger things I have to focus on."

Kakashi gave a slow 'hmm.' "And you are sure you can't return—"

"No." Sasuke's reply was absolute.

"Alrighty then. I certainly have no right to tell you otherwise, you're free to make whatever choice you want. But Sakura is a great ninja, an exceptional medic—so I'm not going to exclude her from the mission. Since you requested not to be put on a team with her—you'll have to sit this one out."

Sasuke gazed leveled with his sensei, before he spoke. "I can live with that."

Kakashi gave a wondering 'hm' inside his head. As if amazed by the whole thing. Maybe he expected Sasuke to change his mind. The length he was willing to go…

"Okay. Then. After you." Kakashi said with resignation, gesturing with his hands, his poker face back on.

They headed toward the other members of team 7.

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