Chapter 4- Invisible

Summary: She was just a sickly girl back home, living her short life to its fullest. She was supposed to die, but she woke up in an entirely new world as a completely different person in a baby's body

A/N: These are some scenarios of Sara's Academy days before the official team assignments.

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"Here's to the lives that you're gonna change

Here's to the infinite possible ways to love you

I want you to have it"

Sara swayed her head, her long braid swinging behind her, as she sang heartily. The crowd around her clapped their hands to the rhythm of the song. She was glowing as she strummed her guitar, beaming at everyone who sang along. Not only was her voice magical, but her happiness was infectious. The crowd was swept away by her performance.

Past life, new life, ordinary person, ninja, through it all singing was always her favorite passion.

The blanket she laid down was full of coins again thanks to this gig. It was amazing how she was able to maintain her tuition in the Academy and buy ninja equipment without other means of support but just singing. Her caretakers at the orphanage were certainly very proud of her. The other children at the orphanage were inspired by her step up, so now they were all motivated to fight for their own dreams.

But really, Sara just felt lucky because she was able to take this talent from her past life to this new one. Singing had always been her coping mechanism, then and now.

After her song, she gracefully bowed down and sent flying kisses to her audience. The crowd cheered and some others came to her to embrace her.

"Hey you."

Sara turned towards the voice and found her friend, Hinata, waving at her with a smile. Sara raised her hand in greeting and signaled Hinata to wait. Sara scooped down her collections for today and packed up her guitar.

"Well you certainly had a packed crowd earlier." Hinata commented, gesturing to the dispersed crowd.

Sara shrugged. "It's Saturday. It's always full on weekends." She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Tomorrow, I'll sing a set dedicated to you! Will you come?"

Hinata gasped, shaking her head. "No don't do that! That'll be embarrassing!"

Sara raised her brows teasingly. "I'll even call out your name and point you out."

Hinata hand covered her face, twitching at the image of it. "No. I'll totally faint on you. Then you'll have to explain to Tou-san why I'm dead on your arms."

"So melodramatic! I'm rubbing off on you little princess." Sara chuckled, nudging Hinata's shoulders. "Besides, you won't faint. You'll probably duck out of sight and threaten to punch me later. Note the word, threaten, because you'll still be too nice to actually do it."

Hinata rolled her eyes. "I'll faint on you, then punch you when I wake up."

"Nah. You totally won't. Besides, you only faint around Naru-"

Hinata's hand quickly clasped on her mouth, staring at her in panic. Sara laughed out loud, shaking Hinata off her.

"Shhh don't do that! You never know when he's around! He might be around the corner pranking someone!" Hinata's voice was so small now that Sara had to read her lips to fully understand the sentence.

Sara raised her hands in surrender. "Yeah yeah. But that boy is so dense that even if I say it to his face, he probably still won't get it."

Hinata giggled but shook her head. "No way. He'll get it if you say it clearly."

Sara mock gasped. "Does this mean you'll be confessing soon?! Aww my little baby is all grown up!"

Hinata turned red, her eyes widening. "No! Confess to who? Who's confessing? Who likes someone? Noone likes anyone."

Sara's eyes flickered with amusement. "You're so adorable." She reached Hinata's red cheeks and started pinching it.

Hinata sighed but she let her pinch away.

As they walked home in comfortable silence, Sara started humming her favorite songs in a medley.

Hinata listened to her and hummed along, all out of tune. Sara giggled.

"I wish I have a voice like yours." Hinata said wistfully. "I think it's nice to sing and tell stories with it."

Sara nodded in agreement. "Singing is definitely awesome. But you have talents of your own you know. You can make soft bean jams and cinnamon rolls like nobody's business. I can't cook an egg without burning it."

Hinata laughed. "That's because you don't even try! I told you I will teach you whenever you want."

Sara shrugged. "Yeah but there's so many other things to do. I'm still trying to perfect that other elemental seal I was making."

Hinata shook her head in disapproval but let it go. "You know what you should do? You should find a way to use singing in battles."

Sara blinked at that. "Huh. Like, maybe a genjutsu?"

"Yeah. Singing is sweet to the ears so the senses wouldn't try to reject it?" Hinata suggested in question.

Sara slowly nodded, ideas whirring in her head. "That's actually a pretty great idea, Hinata. See, you're pretty awesome too!"

Hinata waved it off. "Or maybe it's just me wanting to hear more of your songs. It would be relaxing when we're all tensed up in a battle field."

Sara shook her head, sticking her tongue out at her modest friend. "Nah. You're just awesome and you know it! You just gave me a brilliant idea! But…..don't tell this to anyone okay?"

Hinata rolled her eyes. "Of course I won't. Just like I didn't tell anyone that you're a super genius in seals."

Sara pushed Hinata lightly. "I'm not a genius at it. I just learn easy."

Hinata pushed her back. "You're a genius and you know it."

"Touche." Sara chuckled, shaking her head.

"I don't understand why you think you need to hide all your skills. One day, you'll fight all out and the teachers will have a heart attack." Hinata said, sighing.

Sara wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at the night sky. "A lot of things are about to happen. We just need to be prepared, that's all."

Hinata raised her brows at her curiously. Sara just shook her head and shrugged.

With Hinata's idea, Sara started playing with the possibilities in her head.

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Fighting Sasuke was like playing a game of chess.

Sasuke feinted a kick on Sara's chest, just to pull back and try to punch her abdomen. But it was another feint, he was really aiming to swing his punch then elbow her face. Sasuke always made an opponent think while fighting. On top of being a natural prodigy, this skill made him formidable. His hit was strong and precise, he was fast, and he was smart.

Sara wondered why then did it still feel easy for her. Maybe it was the years she invested in training. She did start torturing herself since she was 3. But she was pretty sure that Sasuke also trained from a very young age. He was able to master the fireball jutsu in no time after all. But Sasuke still had time to bother his brother. Sara focused on nothing else but improving all the aspects of herself.

It wasn't like she was trying to outdo people. She wanted to be invisible after all. It was just that she was so fascinated by her new body and everything that it could do. Well, she also wanted to survive the coming war so she was taking extra precautions.

As she evaded what could have been Sasuke's fifth attempt of trying to land a hit on her, she considered throwing the match. She didn't need to be the top 1 in the academy after all. Sasuke probably wanted it more. She suddenly wondered what his family had said when he couldn't get the top rank in the Academy while they were still alive. It was a subtle change she caused, and she didn't even notice it. She wondered if Sasuke hated her because of this.

Her mind was lost in thought as she continued stepping away from his hits. She could see that it was starting to frustrate him. She was going to throw the match one of these days. But she decided it wouldn't be today. Sasuke would be one of the heroes one day, she wanted him to see what he was doing wrong now.

So she finally made her move, not falling for his feints and hitting his last attack straight on. She caught his arm and twisted it around. He attempted to jump back to kick her, but she pushed down on 10 of his tenketsu on his legs in quick rapid successions. The beauty of the gentle fist. She winked at Hinata who was watching. Hinata grinned at her.

Sasuke winced, and that moment of pain gave way to an opening. She clutched his head and pinned him down to the ground, his arm still twisted around.

"Yield." Sasuke grumpily mumbled.

Iruka stood over them as she let Sasuke up, offering her hand in the seal of reconciliation. Sasuke exhaled a heavy sigh as he locked his fingers on hers.

"Yeah Sara chan! Kick that teme's ass!" She heard a loud boisterous voice cheer from the stands. She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. She didn't want to make Sasuke sulkier.

As she walked back, she saw Naruto give her the thumbs up. She could feel Sasuke's gaze pinned on her back. His fangirls were glaring daggers on her.

Time to escape.

She caught Hinata's eye, and the latter quickly nodded, stepping back from the crowds and disappearing.

Sara subtly slithered to the shadows too.

Iruka bristled and gave Naruto a disapproving look. "Okay Naruto, maybe it's your turn to fight. Sara chan can you still-" Iruka looked at the place where he saw Sara last. She wasn't there. Iruka blinked and looked around. The other students blinked up curiously at him. Iruka sighed. Sara always vanished after her fights. Iruka let her be since she always performed spectacularly. She would come back when it's time for another activity anyway.

So Iruka turned to Sasuke instead. "Sasuke, can you still fight Naruto?"

Sasuke just raised his brows and turned his glare on Naruto. Naruto scowled at him. "Bring it on! You will lose!"

Their other classmates started cheering for Sasuke and shouting demeaning words to Naruto.

Iruka sighed. This will be a long match.

Meanwhile, Sara and Hinata were sitting on the roof of the academy, hiding behind one of the pillars, watching the fight.

"Naruto's going to lose." Sara casually commented, eyeing the match.

Hinata shook her head, her eyes glued to Naruto. "You don't know that….?"

Sara clicked her tongue. "His attacks are too straightforward. He's like a bull. Sasuke will just play around him."

Hinata sighed. "But that doesn't mean that he's not strong."

"Of course not." Sara agreed. "He just needs to fight smarter. Naruto is really one of the strongest one here you know. He'll find his way to be."

Hinata smiled and nodded. "He will."

Sara chuckled. "You and your crush."

Hinata's face snapped towards her with wide eyes, face turning red. "No, I don't! I don't have a crush! Who has a crush? What does crush mean? Does crush exist?"

Sara laughed now, poking Hinata's rosy face. "Calm down. Noone's up here."

Sara looked down again and watched as Sasuke definitely kicked Naruto down. They just clutched each other's shirts in the end, not even bothering to do the seal of reconciliation. Iruka looked exasperated beside them as he tried to break up the fight.

"Man, the two of them would have a pretty intense rivalry, don't you think?" Sara said, looking amused and shaking her head fondly.

Hinata turned towards her. "But technically, you should be Sasuke's rival, right?"

Sara sniffed. "Naw. I don't want to waste my energy on rivals."

"But Sakura and Ino are rivals." Hinata said, gesturing at the two friends who now sat far away from each other.

"And now look at them. They broke up their friendship over Sasuke. Their rivalry is actually a little unhealthy. I think Ino just pushes herself so much on Sasuke to piss Sakura off." Sara pointed out.

"You don't think Ino really likes Sasuke?" Hinata said incredulously.

Sara laughed. "Oh she likes Sasuke. But she's just super aggressive about it for Sakura. I don't know, I think it's a weird rivalry. I like Naruto's and Sasuke's more."

Hinata shrugged. "Well, Sasuke only ever takes his fights seriously with you. And with Naruto too though, surprisingly."

"Yeah. He could beat Naruto easily." Sara agreed. "But he takes his fights with Naruto really seriously. You'd think that Sasuke would flat out reject the concept of his rivalry with Naruto. But he bites it anyway."

Hinata shook her head. "I still think that you should be Sasuke's other rival. He must be pretty frustrated for failing to defeat you each time."

Sara gestured around. "And that's why we're hiding." Sara paused. "You're right though. I mean, not about the rivalry. But Sasuke must be frustrated."

She wondered again if Sasuke hated her. Maybe he didn't care that much. But he was torturing himself now to improve. Maybe he only hated losing to her because she was goal-less.

"Maybe I should make up a personal goal so he would feel like his defeats are not so meaningless." Sara ventured.

Hinata tilted her head. "Don't you have a goal Sara?"

Sara perked up. "Of course I do." She opened her arms and gestured to the blue sky. "To live, in this gifted body, in this wonderful world!" She looked down on Sasuke who was looking thoroughly pissed at Naruto. "But I don't think he understands that. Maybe I should put out a particular goal."

Hinata only smiled at her. "You shouldn't make up a fake goal for him. That's an insult to his dedication."

Sara sighed. "I know. So I'm thinking of actually having a specific goal. What's the harm, right?" The harm could be plot changing. She needed to be careful. But she would think about it.

Sasuke's goal was to kill. Maybe she could have a completely opposite goal. To save.

Itachi.

Okay, that would be totally disastrous. When she thought about saving someone from this world, all she could think about was Itachi. Itachi had been her absolutely favorite character in Naruto. He was selfless and he was purely dedicated to protecting the village. His death was very painful, on the hands of his beloved brother who hated him his whole life. Even on his death, he tried to save Sasuke, gifting him with the Amaterasu in case Tobi came to get him. And when he was resurrected with the Edo Tensei, he still saved everyone and no one knew. He watched his broken brother and told him that he would love him no matter what.

Sara remembered crying and crying on those episodes.

But it was a catatonic idea to make a goal COMPLETELY opposite from Sasuke's, when she originally wanted to make a goal for Sasuke's benefit.

Then again, Sasuke would want Itachi alive in the end anyway.

It was too complicated.

"Okay, where have you gone to?" Hinata broke into her thoughts, nudging her with a curious expression.

"Oh, just here and there." She answered with a smile.

She'll think about it.

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"Sara, do you have a crush on anyone?" Ino asked her, twisting around on her chair to face her.

Today, Sara and Hinata were seated just behind Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji. In front of them, Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto were seated.

"We're having a class work Ino." Sara answered noncommittally.

Ino raised an eyebrow. "I'm done with it. And so are you, I know you're just making notes on another book again."

Sara grinned sheepishly. "Okay okay, you got me." She raised her hands and turned her attention to Ino.

Ino rolled her eyes. "So come on Sara, tell me, who have you got a crush on?"

"I thought you declared that every girl in this class has a crush on Sasuke?" Sara countered, fiddling with her pencil. Sasuke tilted his head a little in their direction.

Ino huffed. "Well I know you don't. Otherwise you wouldn't be kicking his ass around."

Sasuke threw a glare at Ino. Ino gasped and immediately clung to his neck. "Sorry sorry. I don't mean it! You're still the greatest and the most awesome!"

Sakura jumped on her feet and started yelling at Ino and trying to pry her hands away from Sasuke.

Sara sighed and went back to her notes.

After a while, the yelling had stopped and Ino propped her arms on Sara's desk.

"Anyway." She continued, as if a commotion didn't just occur. "I know you don't like Sasuke that way." Then she lowered her voice and glanced at Hinata. "So don't you." Then she twisted around to face the desk at the front row, then called out loudly. "Right, Naruto?"

Naruto immediately perked up and looked at them. "What was that? What was that?"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Nothing. Go away."

Naruto pouted but went back to his seat. Hinata fainted beside them.

Sara giggled. "Don't do that Ino. Okay, so I don't like Sasuke. So what?"

Ino tilted her head. "So who do you like then?"

Sara's brows furrowed. "Noone. I'm not thinking about those kinds of things yet."

Ino huffed. "Come on, there must be someone you really like!"

Sara just shook her head with a smile. Hinata woke up beside her and buried her head on Sara's shoulder. Sara patted her head.

"Okay then, if you will like someone, who would it be?" Ino pressed on, leaning closer to them.

Itachi baby.

She shook the thought away with a laugh. "What's the difference?"

Ino sniffed. "Well this time we're talking about the one who would have the most chance once you finally consider dating."

Itachi baaaaabyyyyyy.

Sara adored Itachi's character. And she loved reading romance stories on Itachi in fanfictions. But she was sure that Sasuke would murder her then and there if she declared right now that she had a crush on Itachi.

So she thought about it. She was in her favorite anime and if she could actually date someone….

She glanced out of the window, thinking. That's when Team Gai walked by.

"Oh! I got it." She announced. Ino straightened her back and looked at her excitedly. Sara chuckled at her enthusiasm. She really didn't understand why Ino wanted to know about this in the first place.

She pointed out the window. "Hyuga Neji."

Hinata gasped beside her. Ooops. She forgot that Neji was Hinata's cousin.

"Y-You h-have a crush on N-Neji niisan?" Hinata said, looking gobsmacked. Sara couldn't help but laugh at her expression.

"I said if I will have a crush on anyone, it will be Neji. But as I'm not thinking about it right now, I don't."

Hinata shook her head. "But still! So if you will have a crush, it's Neji niisan!"

Ino looked out the window and considered Neji, nodding. "Okay, he is an eye candy so I can see why physically. But Sasuke's also gorgeous but you don't like him. So why Hyuga Neji?" She asked Sara curiously.

Sara shrugged. "He's a year older than us, so it's more exciting. He's a prodigy and a genius. He's a Branch member of the Hyuga but he's extremely talented. Isn't he, Hinata?"

Hinata blinked fast, nodding slowly. "Well….yeah. He is really strong."

Sara twirled her hair and stared at Neji out the window. "He's dedicated and passionate too. Plus he's really beautiful. If I will have a crush, I'd like him."

She turned to Hinata and wrapped her arms around the girl. "But don't worry Hina-chan. I still love you the most. If he bullies you, I will kick his ass."

Hinata hiccuped. Sara pinched her cheeks. Adorable.

Iruka came back to the classroom and collected their work. After he did, the bell rung, signaling the lunch break.

All the girls, except for Ino and Sakura, suddenly jumped up and rushed out of the room.

They headed straight towards Team Gai.

"Uhhh…what are they doing?" Sara asked, surprised, watching the girls crowd around Neji and gushing on him. Neji looked murderous.

Ino grinned at her. "They were probably listening in on our conversation earlier."

Sara blinked. "So?"

Neji started fighting off the girls. Lee was loudly cheering on the side. Tenten looked amused. Gai was yelling about the fires of youth.

Ino stood up and flipped her hair. She walked out with her head held high and marched towards the girls. She pounced in too, and she was harder to push away so Neji started even blocking her tenketsu, screaming that it was self-defense.

Sakura was fidgeting in her seat. But she jumped up and mumbled an excuse about the restroom and ran out. After a beat, a flash of pink joined the crowd.

"Okay, I'm really confused. Why did they all attack Neji?" Sara asked, curious about the odd behavior.

Hinata giggled. "They weren't attacking him. They're probably fangirling him to death though. You're a trend setter. Didn't you know?"

Sara blinked owlishly at her. "What?"

Hinata inclined her head. "Come on Sara. You can't honestly say that you didn't notice when girls started wearing their hair up in a long braid after you did? You did it, everyone followed."

"Eh?! But why would they do that?" Sara asked incredulously.

Surprisingly, it was Shikamaru who answered her. He had one eye open as he slept on his desk, gazing down at her. "Because you're not as invisible as you think."

Sara shook her head. "What does that mean?!" She demanded.

Shikamaru sat up and rested his chin on his hands. "You're talented, friendly, smart and powerful. You're badass. They would have been jealous, but you don't come out and bask in your own glory. You hide away. So they ended up idolizing you."

"Even Ino?!"

Shikamaru shrugged. "Nah Ino's just humoring them. And Sakura just followed because Ino went. But they both like you as well."

Sara gaped at the girls mauling Neji. Neji, though, was impressively knocking them out cleanly. The girls squealed.

Sara winced. "Uh oh. I hope he never finds out that I was the one who set those girls on him."

Hinata laughed. "He'll probably find out. You better hide."

Sara groaned. "Aw this is so troublesome! Anyway, you're welcome then Sasuke." She called out. Sasuke turned his head to her, frowning.

"Well, I got those girls to get off you and set them on someone else. You should have a peaceful lunch today."

Maybe it was her imagination, but she saw Sasuke smirk before he turned away.

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Today were the team assignments.

The Finals was so easy that she practically just breezed through it. Hinata said it was okay, but Sara knew that her sweet friend was probably just being modest. Like in the canon, Naruto couldn't conjure a clone at the last test. So he failed. Hinata was all crestfallen about it. Sara was so tempted to tell her the spoiler.

They received their headbands yesterday. Like Hinata, she put the headband around her neck. Matchy matchy. She and Hinata giggled over it when they tried it on in Hinata's room last night. She was invited again for a celebration dinner at the Hyuga household. It was strange but she felt like Hiashi welcomed her presence around Hinata.

It must be because Hinata looked a lot happier with Sara. Her positive influence began to push Hinata towards being more confident. Her stutter had virtually vanished when Sara was with her. Sara knew that a little more push from Naruto would make Hinata really bloom.

They sat at the back again, looking around at the excited students.

Hinata had a bitter sweet smile on her face though.

Sara sighed. "Naruto will be here."

Hinata squeaked. "I wasn't thinking about that. Who's thinking about that? Who's thinking about anything? Nobody thinks about anything."

Sara laughed. Hinata pouted at her, her face reddening again.

Shikamaru glanced back at them. "But Naruto didn't pass. Why would he be here?"

Sara grinned knowingly. "Because he's the number one surprising ninja. Why wouldn't he be here?"

And with timing that only existed in this world, Naruto suddenly barged in, proudly adjusting his forehead protector.

Shikamaru threw him an incredulous look, then back to Sara. Sara winked at him.

Hinata looked ecstatic beside her. "H-H-H-H-H-He p-p-p-p-p-passed-"

Sara rubbed her hand on Hinata's back soothingly. "Breath, princess."

Hinata turned to look at her with a glowing smile. Awww. "I told you everything would be alright. See?" Sara whispered.

Hinata happily squealed and wrapped her arms around Sara.

"Well you two certainly look happy." Ino said, just arriving and sitting in front of them. The other girls were already fighting over the seat next to Sasuke at the front row. It looked like Ino abandoned the battle. Sakura was still fighting at the center though.

Ooooohhh I know what's gonna happen next! Sara jumped up at her feet and stood on the chair to get a better view. Ino and Hinata looked at her curiously.

There! Naruto crouched on Sasuke's desk, looking at him straight in the eye. It was an intense stare down. But a boy infront of them accidentally bumped on Naruto's downside, shoving him forward into Sasuke.

The screams of agony from the girls in class were bloodcurdling.

Poor Naruto, running for his life around the classroom. Sakura and Ino were at the front of the chase, screaming murder at the boy who stole Sasuke's first kiss. Naruto was also violated and he had a disgusted expression, but he had to keep running from the crazed girls.

Sasuke was adamantly wiping his lips and wincing minutely.

Over the chaos, Sara laughed her heart out. Sasuke heard her and threw her a deadly glare. Sara merely smiled sweetly at him and winked.

Hinata looked like he was torn between laughing because of our hyper classmates or crying because his crush lost his first kiss. Sara nudged Hinata, and Hinata settled on a weak smile.

"Our classmates are so energized this morning, aren't they?" Sara told Hinata, watching the ongoing chase, screams, and crying.

Hinata only shook her head in amusement. "Well it is the team assignments. I wish I'll be teamed up with you." Hinata looked nervous. She and Sara had been sticking with each other for some time now. Being around a different group was certainly terrifying.

Sara poked her cheeks. "Relax, we'll still visit each other. Besides, your awesomeness will make your new team adore you, just like I do."

Sara looked forward and clapped her hands together. "Personally, I want a civilian team!"

"You definitely won't get a civilian team, Sara." Ino said, sitting back down in front of them.

Sara blinked at her. "Oh! Is the chase over?"

Ino grinned wickedly and gestured towards the beaten-up Naruto at the corner. Hinata fidgeted.

"You should go to him." Sara said, bobbing her head towards Naruto's direction. Hinata squeaked, looking terrified.

Ino rolled her eyes. Sara gave Ino a look, making Ino turn away, pouting. Hinata took a deep breath and stood up shakily. But just as she started to walk towards Naruto, Kiba came in the classroom and called out Naruto. In a flash, Naruto was on his feet again and showed Kiba his shiny forehead protector and grandiosely talked about how he got it.

Hinata sat back down, dispirited. Sara rubbed her back comfortingly. "Not yet time, my friend." Hinata sighed.

"So anyway." Sara called back to Ino. "What do you mean I won't get a civilian team?"

Ino turned around and raised a brow. "Well there's nothing wrong with a civilian team of course. But as the top Kunoichi, I'm sure you'll be paired up with at least one of us."

Sara blinked. "I'm not the Top kunoichi." Didn't I already throw off my game to get off the rank?

Shikamaru got up from his slouch. "You're not just the top Kunoichi, you're ranked 1st."

"But…But I already lost that rank didn't I?" She demanded, chills running down her spine.

Ino flipped her hair and gazed at Sara questioningly. "Oh you mean last semester? Yeah you slipped a little, got behind Sasuke and Sakura. But you got it back this finals. Don't you look at the ranking board?"

Sara turned white as sheet, thinking about what could happen if she really was at the top. She already consciously performed less last semester. Maybe she subconsciously performed good again this finals. Whatever the case was, she must not be at the top.

Hinata touched her arm, looking close at her. "Sara, what's wrong? You're pale."

Ino tilted her head. "Why are you so afraid to be on top? Don't you like it? You'll be in a good team."

Sakura bristled at the front. "Yeah. You'd be distributed to a good team because of it. You're really well off." Sakura casted her an envious look, morphing into worry when she saw Sara's expression.

"I-I….I-I-I…mmmmm…" Sara stammered, panic building up in her. Hinata quickly grabbed her shoulders.

"Okay, listen to me. Breath Sara. Breath. Breath in, Breath out." Sara listened to Hinata's voice. "Come on, breath with me. Breath in, Breath out."

Hinata's voice was a breakthrough to her trance. She breathed with her help, her fingers still shaking, but her mind definitely clearer.

"Okay, now. Tell me, what happened? What's wrong?" Hinata's voice was soft, but even.

"I…..I-I-I-"

"Okay, wrong question." Hinata cut her off, her eyes full of worry now but determined. "How about we start with team ups? Who do you think will be in my team?"

Easy question. One she had an answer to. Sara took a quick breath. "You will be with Kiba Inuzuka and Aburame Shino."

Both Kiba and Shino looked towards them at the sound of their names.

"Hey hey! You think the three of us will be teamed up together?" Kiba asked her loudly, his mouth forming an O.

Shino just gazed at them, interested in their conversation.

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh. Why do you think so?"

Sara blinked. "Tracker team. Byakugan. Nose sense. Bugs."

Hinata thoughtfully nodded. "That….actually makes sense."

Kiba grinned and gave a thumbs up to Hinata and Shino. Shino nodded in agreement.

Ino tapped Sara's desk. "How about me? Do I get to be teamed up with Sasuke kun?"

Sara shook her head. "You will be with Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chouji."

Ino grimaced. "Ewww. I don't want to be with them! Why them?"

"The Ino-Shika-Chou is tradition. You'd make the perfect capture and assault team." Sara nonchalantly said.

"But Shikamaru is a lazy ass!" Ino groaned, stomping her feet. "And Chouji does nothing but eat!"

Sara raised her brows at Ino. "Shikamaru is a genius."

Ino gaped at her. "He sleeps in class all the time."

"And he still passed everything. Imagine what would have happened if he focused." Sara countered.

Ino opened her mouth to retaliate. But quickly closed it again, considering it. "What about Chouji then?"

Sara shrugged. "He needs to keep eating to keep his monstrous strength."

Ino threw Chouji an assessing look. Chouji smiled awkwardly at her, still eating his chips. Ino sighed and nodded in acceptance. "Eh. Whatever. It shouldn't be so bad."

"Wow, we're excited to have you in the team too, Ino." Shikamaru mumbled, his eyes only half open this time.

Ino rolled her eyes. "Whatever Shikamaru. You should be happy you have a beautiful girl on your team."

Shikamaru snorted.

Hinata turned back to Sara. "Okay, now how about you? Who do you think you'll be teamed up with?"

The Top shinobi. The Top Kunoichi. And the Deadlast.

Sara blinked fast, expelling the thought from her head. Maybe she's wrong. After all, that team up pattern was just a cover for the real reason why Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto were paired up together. The true reason was Sasuke's sharingan should be able to help with the Kyubi incase Naruto ever lost control. Sakura was there because she could help encourage Naruto by not paying him attention. She would also continue giving a touch of connection to Sasuke by poring over him.

But it wouldn't work in her case since Naruto didn't like her, and she didn't like Sasuke.

Maybe she just overreacted.

Sara chuckled weakly. "No, no. I'm fine. I'm going to have that civilian team!"

Shikamaru eyed her. "That what you think?"

Sara nodded firmly. "Yes. I just got it wrong. I'll definitely be in one."

Ino pouted at her. "Why do you even want to be in a civilian team? I'm not degrading them or anything but wouldn't it be more helpful if you have someone from a clan in your team?"

"Because Sara likes being invisible." Shikamaru answered for her, but his tone implied that he clearly thought she shouldn't be.

Ino clicked her tongue. "Oh honey, you're not invisible."

Hinata rubbed her shoulders soothingly. "It'll be fine, Sara. Whatever happens, I'll be here for you."

Sara smiled weakly at Hinata.

The door opened and Iruka finally walked in with the list of teams.

Sara closed her eyes and prayed that she was right.