Sakura woke up bright and early, she couldn't help but feel giddy. After all today Iruka would be training her, just the two of them! She didn't realize how her smile became brighter at the thought.

'First you gotta dress to impress girl.'

Sakura blinked, 'What was that?' she wondered.

Even so she took the advice and rummaged through her clothes. What should she wear anyways? She was going to train so she couldn't go for any of her fancier clothes. She needed to be able to move. But she wanted to look good too.

And how should she do her hair anyways? After all loose hair wasn't exactly recommended for training.

In the end she decided to just go for a long-sleeved red shirt and a pair of black shorts. She had bandages wrapped around her legs in order to look a bit stylish. For her hair she simply decided on a neat bun tied by Ino-chan's ribbon.

'You look nice!'

Sakura paused, once again wondering where that voice came from as she looked around her room. "Is anyone there?" she asked.

'Eh? I didn't see anyone come in while you were changing.'

"Come out!" Sakura ordered.

'Have you gone crazy? There's no one in your room.'

"Then where are you?" Sakura asked crossing her arms, she would play along...for now.

'Wait...are you talking to me?'

"Who else is here?" Sakura asked in a matter of fact tone.

'That's so cool! You can actually hear me. I thought I was just your eyes or something.'

"Where are you anyways?" Sakura was honestly getting tired of not being able to see this mysterious person.

'In your head. You can say I'm kind of like a bystander that's always with you. I specialize in commenting on situations, Inner's the name! Pleased to meet ya Sakura Haruno!'

'...yeah, you too.' Sakura didn't have time for this anyways.

So she didn't say anything else as she made her way downstairs for breakfast. Her mother had prepared some omurice.

'You're not going to ask anything else?'

'Nope.'

'Just like that?'

'Yeah. Who knows? Maybe you may disappear.'

Sakura heard a snort.

'I've been here since you were three. I'm not going anywhere.'

'Prove it.'

'You once build a small shrine for Ino before you got rid of it one day when Ino was going to come over.'

Sakura's cheeks colored pink at the memory, 'Okay I believe you.'

'Heh.'

'So what did you say you were again?'

'A bystander.'

'That's lame.'

'Shut up. It's not like I know what else I can do.'

'Is that so? Then go figure out what you can do. I have plans.'

'Yeah, ignore me for your date.'

'It's not a date. It's a training session.'

'It's obvious you have a crush on him.'

Sakura rolled her eyes at the bystander's comment. She would ignore her, simply because she knew that only she herself could know whether or not she likes someone. And she didn't think she was ready to like someone yet. She didn't want to turn into Ino.

She shivered at the thought of turning into a constantly love babbling girl, she just couldn't imagine herself thinking so highly about love and what not. And as much as she loves Ino, she really wanted Ino to stop going on and on about Sasuke. It's always Sasuke this and Sasuke that. Bah, so annoying!

But she guesses that maybe that's the way love works. Always thinking about a person.

The thought of thinking so much about someone simply scares Sakura a bit. Because she knows that if she falls, she won't ever stand up again. That's why it's better for her not to fall in the first place.

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Seventh stage she was scared of falling

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"Umm, what are we going to d-do today?" Sakura asked glancing to her left in order to see Iruka.

"I was thinking to test your Taijutsu, Ninjutsu and other skills, then I can figure out what we're going to work on specifically." Iruka explained, "Is that okay?"

Okay? It was perfect!

She knew she had improved lately, and she wanted to show her savior that. For some reason she felt the need to prove herself to him. And she'd be damned if she fails.

"O-okay..."

Why was she always stuttering near him? Maybe it's because she hasn't known him that long and isn't very comfortable with him yet? It makes sense seeing as Iruka's the first male she actually spends time with aside from her father.

"And maybe afterwards we could get lunch at this place I know."

"S-sure, sounds nice."

'Totally a date.'

'Is not.'

'Is'

'Is not.'

'Is'

'Is'

'Is not.'

'Ha!'

'Tch! You win for now.'

Sakura sported a victorious smile all the way as she and Iruka talked about trivial stuff.

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Eigth Stage we talked about nothing.

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