AN: It has been a while but reviews have inspired me to write this story again! I still haven't gotten used to the rush of the university life. But I'm getting there. Yes, yes, I read the Naruto manga too, so I'm very updated as to what has happened. But this, of course, is Alternate Universe. There will be some similar things that reflect with the canon, but it won't be too much.

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 3
Chuunin to Jounin
By Scarred Marrionet
- "I got lost in the road of life."

15 years old – Chuunin – Konoha Tower – Beginning of Fall

Tsunade stared at her pupil.

Sakura looked back with a bit of unease. She did not like the way her mentor was looking at her.

"Sakura."

"Yes?"

Tsunade sighed. "Kakashi has been declared MIA. ANBU have been dispatched for the past two weeks, searching for his whereabouts.

Sakura blanked. Kakashi has been declared MIA.

MIA.

Missing in action.

Kakashi is… Sakura could not warp her head around the idea.

"M..IA…?" Sakura dropped down to her knees. "Kakashi-sensei is missing?! When?!"

With that, she stood up and ran towards the desk where her shishou sat. She was in the brink of tears, and her chest felt like exploding.

"Three weeks ago." Sakura tried to breathe. "I gave Kakashi a leeway of one week. After that, I sent in ANBU."

Sakura stood straight, breathing hard, "Tsunade-shishou… what was Kakashi-sensei's mission…?"

Tsunade stared hard at her. After a moment of silence, she sighed, "Ame."

Sakura stared, confused, "The Hiden Village of Rain?"

Tsunade nodded, and that was all she said.

15 years old – Chuunin – End of Winter

Winter in Konoha consisted of wet snow, pelting rain, and chilling winds; dry snow rarely came. Dry snow was a sign of a longer winter. Sakura was glad with the knowledge of a short winter this year. In the cold, crisp morning, Sakura did her warm up.

Sakura is going to be training with Kurenai for genjutsu. The woman was on leave due to her pregnancy. But, she asked to be taught the jutsu without having any damage or fatigue for Kurenai and her baby. Besides, it was good for the older woman; something to keep her mind off from Asuma's death. It has been eight months since then.

Sakura has been training under Kurenai for five months. Sakura learnt and Kurenai guided. She had a keen mind for genjutsu, and she tried each and every one of them in combination when she got the chance to spar with anybody. Her sparring members understood her situation and accepted her challenge, and found themselves surprised at her immense growth. Due to the diverse opponents that Sakura sparred against, she is able to adapt to the different types of attacks.

The gray clouds covered the sun that should have already risen. Within twenty minutes or so, she heard the careful footsteps of Kurenai. The pregnant Kurenai came into view dressed warmly but comfortably. Sakura stopped her warm up and turned to Kurenai with a smile.

"Good morning." The older woman smiled back.

"You done with your warm-up?" Sakura nodded. "Good."

Kurenai walked up to Sakura and placed her arm on her pregnant belly, "To be a jounin, you need to be diverse and strong." Her red eyes stared deeply into Sakura's green ones, "To be a jounin, you need to be a shinobi."

"Shinobi…?" Wasn't she one already?

"Right now, you are a kunoichi. To become a jounin, you need to be a shinobi. Only then, there will be no difference between you and the others. The 'Shinobi Code' is called the Shinobi Code for a reason. It is made for shinobi."

Sakura looked at Kurenai and understood.

Sakura chewed on her lip as Tsunade looked over the document. Tsunade put down the paper.

"Ever since Kakashi's disappearance, I saw what you wanted to do. I've trained you with higher level offensive taijutsu and offensive medical jutsu. I taught you them not just for the Jounin Exams but even for after that."

Sakura sighed in relief and stared in determination at her shishou, "I want to be a Jounin. Kakashi-sensei was investigating something in Ame. I will not be able to have access to the mission unless I grow in rank. If I can bring back at least one of them, I will try with all my strength to do everything I can. This is the road where my life is headed."

"His mission was ANBU level."

"I know."

Tsunade then realized how determined and strong Sakura was becoming.

16 years old – Jounin Exams – Hidden Village of Rice – Summer

The village of Rice was three days worth of travel. She was not the only one travelling to become Jounin. She is with a handful of Konoha nin like Neji, Shino, Lee, Kiba, Ten-Ten and Shikamaru, who, more or less, was forced to take the exam.

Sakura's growth over the past four years has been immense. It is proven now, where she is taking the Jounin Exams at the same time as Neji and Shikamaru. None of them would have believed it four years ago. Her determination and will to become strong has been one of the driving force. But they knew the hidden reason for her need to be strong. Shinobi from all countries gathered in the small village.

"Sakura-san!" Sakura turned found Morino Idate, the young runner that she met when she was still a genin. "I don't think I could ever forget that pink hair of yours."

Sakura smiled. "It has been a while Idate-san."

"So, you're here for the Jounin Exams?" A mild surprise shone in his eyes and Sakura nodded her head.

Idate looked around for a familiar blonde, but found none. He frowned, "Is Naruto with you?"

Sakura just gave a sad smile and shook her head. She did not say anything.

"I've got to go now, Idate-san. It was nice seeing you again." After a few moments, Sakura bid goodbye to the young man.

Idate stared as the pink haired girl walked away from, noting the immense change.

Last Round of the Jounin Exams

Sakura panted and looked at her opponent. This man from Mist is strong. They are both desperate for victory. She's been hit many times. She too, landed many blows; but not enough to kill. That was her mistake. The Mist Nin did not stop his killing intent.

To be a Jounin, you have to be a shinobi.

This man is a shinobi.

The man performed one of his most deadliest attacks with his sword. Using a jutsu, his sword turned blue, almost like water. Then it hardened like ice, and spikes grew on the side. This jutsu had a time limit. It could only last for three minutes every time it was performed. This was his third time performing it. Anything the sword touched turned into ice. A part of her arm was still icy from his earlier attack. He came at her, performing another jutsu, iced dragons came out and ran with him.

This man is a shinobi.

To be a Jounin, you have to be a shinobi.

Kurenai's words rang through her head.

Shinobi.

I have to become a shinobi.

She steeled herself and performed a genjutsu. The dragons attacked her, but all three went right through her as she faded into a genjutsu. As his dragons were immobilized, Sakura slipped through them and towards the Mist shinobi. She parried his sword with a kunai, which immediately turned into ice. With that, she sidestepped, so all the force he put into his swing would leave him off balance. Her left arm was already glowing green, performing the offensive medical technique. She touched the shinobi's arm, and immediately his muscles became useless. He dropped the sword. Letting go of the iced kunai, Sakura gathered chakra in her hand. Her eyes hardened as the killing intent rolled off her. She punched him on the gut and let her chakra explode.

Winner, Haruno Sakura of Konoha!

Sakura straightened herself and walked away from the ring where the lifeless body of the Mist shinobi laid. Today, she killed a man.

She walked away with a new glint in her eyes.

16 years old – Jounin – Konoha – Summer

"Congratulations on becoming a Jounin." She looked down from the branch she was sitting and saw Kurenai. She's due anytime now.

"Thank you." Sakura hopped down and faced the dark haired woman. Silence seemed to echo around them.

"I heard you killed your opponent." Kurenai broke the silence.

After moments, Sakura answered, "It's just going to keep coming, isn't it?"

Kurenai did not say anything. Sakura nodded her head, more to herself than anyone else. Kurenai started to walk away.

"And Sakura? Congratulations on becoming a shinobi."

16 years old – Jounin – Suna – Fall

Sakura arrived at the warm climate of the Hidden Village of Sand just under two hours ago.

"Good afternoon Gaara-san." She bowed towards the Kazekage.

Gaara nodded back as he led her to his office. "I received your message earlier on."

Gaara's dull green eyes stared into her. But Sakura learnt to harden and keep herself in check. She nodded her head.

"It is not up to me whether to give you permission or not."

"I had thought so."

The door opened and an old man came in. Sakura turned around and bowed.

"It has been a long time, Ebizou-jiisama." The wrinkly old man stared at her.

"I have informed Ebizou-san about your request. It will be up to him whether to give you access to Chiyo-san's work."

"For what purpose do you want to access my sister's work?" He asked Sakura in a raspy voice.

Sakura took a moment to answer. Truth shone in her eyes as she looked at Ebizou, "I want to grow strong to be able to find the people I care about."

Sakura looked down, trying to hide the moment of weakness that she has shown him.

"Time sure flows. Come, my sister would have been proud to have taught you." Sakura looked up and smiled.

Chiyo's work was not allowed to leave the compound where she had resided. So, Sakura analyzed and studied within Chiyo's room, surrounded by lifeless puppets.

It was two years ago when she first met the old woman. The mission to save Gaara. It was also her last mission with Kakashi. She, Kakashi, and Sai came together. She fought with Chiyo against Sasori. Before she even became a Jounin, she had the death of an Akatsuki under her belt already. Chiyo was a poison specialist. Sakura wanted to learn more about them., possibly combining more than one poison to make it stronger. But Sakura wanted to learn about the Tensei Ninjustsu, the Life Transfer Technique that Chiyo performed to save Gaara's life when the Bijuu was extracted from him. Ebizou seem to know her intentions but did not mention anything about it. He gave her everything that would be of use to her.

For five months, Sakura stayed in Suna, learning and training there. She was not only here to learn about Chiyo's work, but of anything that would make her stronger and diversify her attacks. Gaara acceptingly sparred with her whenever he had free time. She also helped in developing their hospital and medicine. She copied many recipes for antidotes and such for the doctors and nurses to use; she taught them medical jutsu to improve upon. This was the trade for granting her permission in accessing Chiyo's work. For five months, Sakura learnt how to be a Sand shinobi.

Sakura massaged her back as she walks down the hospital hallways. She decided that despite being the Rokudaime, she still wanted to work in the hospital at least once or twice a week. During her visit, she worked on surgery and the worst cases in the hospital. In quiet days, she went to ward where people with multiple diseases. She examined and studied, hoping to find the cure for the unknown diseases or illness. So far she has cured two diseases by isolating the strain. Five people were saved. She has cured countless of illnesses that the other doctors were unable to cure.

"Rokudaime-sama!" Sakura turned around and saw a genin girl running up to her. "Thank you for curing my brother." She bowed deeply.

Her younger brother had been one of the patients with the disease. Sakura smiled at the girl and patted her head.

"Now, you should take good care of him." The girl looked up and nodded her head vigorously. With one last grin, the girl ran off.

Authoress' Notes:

This was a tad harder to write, especially since it's been a while since I last wrote anything. But here it is! Hope you guys enjoy it. I still have yet to think about what the next chapter will be about.