Chapter 2 - Underestimating Opponents

Sakura sidestepped and grabbed Ino's oncoming leg, she pulled it forward knocking the blonde off balance. They were having a four – way battle between Ino, Hinata, Ten Ten and herself; where you had to try and get each other's tag, the one with the most at the end of the match was the winner. Ino was about to use her other foot to kick Sakura but she moved away, evading a barrage of kunai. "Hey I almost had her," shouted Ino, throwing a shuriken at Ten Ten.

"I'm sure you did," Ten Ten replied sarcastically.

In that moment of conversation Hinata appeared behind Ino and snatched her tag. "Thank you Ino," the Byakugan user remarked.

"Hey, give it back," Ino demanded, preparing for a taijutsu battle with the girl.

Meanwhile, Ten Ten and Sakura were going all out, as kunai met shuriken in a weapon frenzy. Secretly performing a 'Shadow Clone Jutsu', the medic made her clone flank Ten Ten to steal her tag. Once her clone came back with the tag, Sakura jumped up to a branch. "That was fun, but now I must see Hinata for her tags," thanked Sakura.

"Huh? What?" Confused Ten Ten checked her waist, "When?"

Sakura kicked a crater between the close quarter brawl, and they both jumped away when they sensed their friend. "You have 10 minutes left, and within those 10 minutes I plan to win," Sakura lectured.

"Save your cocky speech when you get your tags back," Ino whispered from behind, waving the stolen tags.

Sakura did a spinning kick, aiming for her blond friend's chest but Ino jumped back before the kick could hit her. Ignoring Ino for now, she approached Hinata whom was prepared for her attack. The battle between was intense; both were proficient taijutsu fighters. Sakura finalised it would have to take a bit of tactical thinking to retrieve the tag, and fortunately her next kick provided the opportunity. The smooth silk fluttered in her hand as the timer rang throughout the field. "So close," Sakura murmured.

Gathering in the centre, they showed their tags. "Looks like I win," Hinata cheered. Ten Ten had grabbed one tag off Ino whilst they were fighting. "Good job, Hinata, at least Pig didn't win," she congratulated.

"At least I got a tag," Ino mimicked, flicking out her tougue.

"Whatever, I got training with Team 7, see you later," Sakura said, disappearing into the forest.

"Damn Forehead, leaving us to clean up," Ino cursed.

"I've got something to do, later Ino!" Ten Ten called.

"Uh me too," added Hinata.

"What! I've got to clean this up?" Ino exclaimed, as she collected the tags and weapons.

"Morning, Sakura!" A voice greeted.

"Is it still morning?" Sakura wondered, "Morning Naruto! Where's everyone?"

"They're not here yet, oh wait here comes someone."

"I was passing the Hokage Tower and apparently Sai and Kakashi are going on a mission," told a new voice, "But I persuaded my brother to join us."

Sakura and Naruto turned around, Sasuke and Itachi stood on the opposite end of the bridge's railing. "So I take it I'm sparring with Naruto?" The medical ninja asked.

"No, I'll still spar with Naruto like always. What makes you think that?" replied Sasuke.

"I'd assume you'd want brotherly bonding time-" she trailed off seeing Sasuke's glare, "Okay, I'll just show Itachi the field then."

Sakura left Naruto and Sasuke to their own devices, and lead Itachi to their training grounds. She was a bit reluctant to spar with him, especially after last night's affairs, unlike ANBU 4 he actually posed a threat, this morning when her tags were stolen she wasn't really trying, and they knew that. Those training sessions were designed to put everyone in real life scenarios without murderous intent.

"You know you don't have to spar with me, I'm sure you have better -" Sakura said, nervously scratching her pink lock.

"No, I'd like to see Sasuke's team's capabilities," he interrupted.

"Suit yourself," she shrugged.

It was a vehement start; they were analysing each other. Unfortunately patience was not her forte, hence she began the first set of hand signs. "Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire," she muttered.

Predictably, Itachi disappeared. She pinpointed him and feigned ignorance as she passed him muttering, "Illusion Technique: Butter Fly Fire Works."

Glancing behind noticed he was stationary, but being an Uchiha he quickly realised the genjutsu. She smirked and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. She waited for him to approach. "Hn, really? genjutsus like those won't work," she thought.

Dispelling the jutsu using Inner Sakura, she remained motionless under guise of being caught. He cautiously approached up to her, when he was a foot away she did a lower spinning kick.

"You dispelled the jutsu," Itachi stated.

"Yes, that was a basic genjutsu," she commented.

It appears he has severely underestimated his opponent, she attacked with various elaborate taijutsu moves. He activated his Sharingan, her moves were quick and almost unpredictable. But that didn't deter him; he returned her attacks with equal force. They were at it for thirty minutes until she broke the taijutsu spell with a 'Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb', which he met with 'Water Style: Water Fang Bullet' from the underground water.

The steam the two jutsus caused fogged the area, however that obviously didn't stop her because he could see her beginning another jutsu. Her yelling 'Lightning Release: Flying Thunder God' and the crackles in the skies was all he heard before a lightning strike went for him. Of course he effortlessly dodged it.

He was about to perform another attack when he heard his little brother shouting. He followed the voice to found everyone had gathered outside the steam. "We saw all the steam assuming you'd kill Sakura, are you guys alright?" Naruto asked.

"Does her team really doubt her abilities that much, that they assumed he killed her, hell he was sweating," he thought, glancing at the pink – headed girl, he was glad to see she was in a similar state. He'd acknowledge the girl; to be on par with him was an achievement, how did Sasuke have a talented ninja like her in his team and not notice.

Broken from his reverie by the chatter around him he offered her to join him in his morning sessions.

"Uhm, we'll have to see," she hesitantly answered.

"Hn. See you at dinner Sasuke," he said, then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"What the heck happened?" asked Sasuke.

"What? Shocked I stand a chance against your big brother?" she questioned offended by his reaction, "Well, guess what the last time we sparred were when we were genin, so I wouldn't be surprised."

Waving good – bye she walked away from the training field, leaving two confused ninjas.

"Hey idiot? When was the last time you fought Sakura?" The raven - haired boy asked.

"Uhm, I actually don't remember," answered the blonde scratching his head.