.Oh my god I'm sooo sorry! You know how I promised to update at the beginning of each month? Well…lately I have been SWAMPED by work. Not even kidding, like over load, about to suffocate, do-or-die, take a single break and you will be behind ,kind of work-load. So for the next few months I WILL update, but like its gonna be a few days late. But it will ALWAYS be within the first week! Promise!

I want to thank

mouse123

Twisted Musalih

BrightAngel3

For being the first three to review! Each reviewer makes me soooo happy! Enjoy!

"Sakuras thoughts"/ flash backs, I'll make sure you can tell the difference…somehow

"Inner Sakura thoughts SHANNARO!"

Normal

All Naruto characters are copyright of Masashi Kishimoto

As Sakura finished her ramen, she looked at her teammates. Naruto was arguing with Sai and Sasuke at the same time, while Kakashi was reading his little orange book. She smiled a little.

"It's been a long time ne?..."

"…"

"I'm so happy we're all together as a team. Now I just hope I'm strong enough to protect them."

"Shannaro, I was hoping to kick the Uchihas ass just a little more"

"We'll do it someday during training, but right now I have lots of paperwork to catch-up on."

"Shishou gave us off so we could babysit the Uchiha remember?"

"Oh yeah… this might be kinda awkward."

"Whats so awkward? Just give him a good ass-whupping"

"But it's Sasuke…kun"

"Are you still hung up on him? Tch, you're 18. It's pathetic to know that you only dated a handful of guys."

"Oh shut - "

Just as Sakura was about to retort, Naruto broke her out of her reverie.

"Sakura-chan! You have been really quiet, whats wrong?"

"Nothing, just thinking. It's getting late, I should be heading ho- I mean Sasukes place. Ja ne(1) Naruto, Sai, Kaka-sensei. Come on Sasuke."

As she was about to take out her money, Sasuke paid for hers too, and left. She raised an eyebrow but followed him. Apparently Sasuke knew a shortcut through the nearby thicket. The walk toward the Uchiha Manor was quiet. Halfway there, Sakura heard a sound. She brushed it off, and thought nothing more of it until she heard the sound repeatedly. She heard a rustle in the bushes. A bunny leapt out and she shreiked. She tripped on a rock and toppled backwards. Sasuke caught her and looked at her. With a smirk he said

"Are all jounins this wimpy?"

"Urusai!(2)"

With a huff Sakura walked off.

"Sakura do you even know the way? I believe I know the shortcut, and it happens to be this way."

Sakura felt her face blush slightly and was thankful for the dark surroundings. The rest of the walk she was determined not to get scared. When they arrived, Sasuke opened the door for her. Sakura didn't know that they taught chivalry in Sound. Sasuke wasn't all that different maybe, or was he just doing it out of his prominent clan up-bringing? Whatever it was, Sakura didn't mind the treatment. As she stepped into the guest room she forgot to lock the door while changing. As she was about to put on her shirt, Sasuke walked about to ask something.

"Sakura what are –" he stopped mid-sentence as he looked at her half-nude. He promptly left the room in embarrassment. Sakura could have sworn he gave her an once-over. Did he just check her out? It was possible, after all, one of his goals were to revive his clan. Reviving meant reproducing…reproducing meant sex. Wait Sasuke was-what? About 12 when he said this? That was scary, 12-year old Sasuke thinking about sex. She let out a small giggle. Sakura shook her head. She shouldn't let her thoughts drift. Some memories were just too painful.

As she stepped out, Sasuke was waiting outside her room. Was it just her, or did he have a slight blush?

'Er…gomen(3) Sakura, but you know there's something called a lock on the door?"

"There's something called knocking too. Were you gonna ask me something?" asked Sakura, trying to avoid awkward conversation.

"No, its nothing, good night." With that he left for his room. That was an awkward exchange she thought. She stepped back into her room and climbed into bed.

Sasuke hurried toward his room. He slammed the door shut and leapt onto his bed. What was he doing? Couldn't he have knocked? Now he couldn't get the image of Sakura in her bra out of his mind. Sigh, prefect. Another sleepless night. Oh no he wouldn't be thinking of a scanty-clad Sakura, no he wasn't that bad. He probably would think about his conflicted feelings. He thought he was…falling slowly in love with Sakura. In their genin days, she always needed his help and adored him. Now she was independent and probably didn't give a rat's ass about him. Tch, everything was so complicated.

Sasuke woke up to the smell of scrambled eggs and bacon. He walked to the kitchen to see Sakura humming cheerfully as she made breakfast. She maneuvered expertly around his kitchen multitasking. After a while she noticed him at the leaning on the door frame.

"Go get dressed."

"Hn. What's for breakfast?"

"Eggs, bacon, and toast."

"What are we doing today?"

"Well I never get a lot of days off, so I guess we're gonna go train with Kaka-sensei and Naruto."

Sasuke nodded and went to change. After a quick shower and breakfast, they headed out to their old training ground. Naruto, Sai, Kakashi, and Yamato were no where to be found.

"We got him now! Let's kick his ass and call it training!"

"How about we meditate to keep the peace?"

"But there's so much tension! Its awkward after five years and seeing your teammate."

"I doubt fighting would the best way to patch it up."

"Better than nothing right? Come on… don't tell you're scared of him."

"No!I'm stronger…right?I can do this. I can handle him."

Sakura stood up and calmly walked over to Sasuke.

"You, me. Spar. Now." Sakura was surprised at how cool she sounded. Cool, but emotionless. Sakura didn't do emotionless. She could maintain a façade, but she couldn't erase her feelings.

Surprisingly Sasuke grunted and proceded to stretch. Sakura charged at him without warning and did a few jabs. Sasuke barely managed to evade the surprise attack even with his unnatural speed. As he leapt in mid-air Sakura punched the ground just as he was about to land on his feet. Stunned by the lack of landing area, Sakura took advantage of his lowered guard and dealt him a great blow to his jaw. Stumbling back, Sasuke proceded to hide behind a tree. As he regained his composure, he heard the tree splintering with Sakura smiling triumphantly behind it. He cursed softly. At this rate with his chakra sealed off, she would pummel him. His only advantage was his speed and size. If he could just distract her. Sakura called out tauntingly

"Come on Sasuke, you're not afraid to face me are you?"

He tread stealthily around her. Speeding up behind her with his sword drawn, he was about to pin her down. She jumped to the side and kicked him right in the gut which sent him flying to a tree a few feet away. He was so close. He charged at her and ducked her fists. He came from behind and slammed her into a tree. Just as he was about to declare a minute victory, he noticed a bright orange figure sitting on a tree. Well if it wasn't Naruto. After all these years, and after his capture, Naruto still greeted him like nothing had happened.

"Oi! Teme! I wanna spar too!"

"Che…Dobe." Sasuke stepped away from Sakura and walked to Naruto. Just he was about to spar with Naruto, he went flying into another tree…again. Sakura smirked.

"Never turn your back on your enemy. Basic rule Sasuke. Didn't they teach that to you in Sound?"

'Teme you got played!" Naurto exclaimed with a cheeky grin.

"Tch." Sasuke looked away. Naruto then walked over to Sakura smiling. Sakura smiled back. Then she sent him flying as well.

"Why didn't you take me with you? I wanted to capture Sasuke too! We're a team Naruto." She said with a frown.

"Eh heh…you see Sakura-chan. It wasn't a mission to capture him..we just kinda bumped into each other. That's all. I swear if I knew I would have taken you with us. Maybe even Sai."

She scoffed and muttered something about men. She turned to both of them and held them in a hug.

"Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I didn't have you guys as a team. Probably wouldn't be so emotionally scarred. Maybe not as strong either…Either way I'm kicking your ass for being so mean. Never letting me fight."

"Ugly, is it normal to hug two people? I thought you hug with just one person. Is this what they call a group hug?"

"No Sai, I'm clearly shaking hands with both of them." She jabbed sarcastically. She reached over and grabbed Sai as well. Sakura smiled, here she was, with her abnormal, lovable team.

"Ugly, this isn't very comfortable." She squeezed them even tighter in a vice-like grip. "What did you say Sai?" At this point, all three were slightly blue from the lack of air. A sudden poof brought their attention to a certain silver-haired sensei. Kakashi was about to give another lame excuse about being late, until he saw the position his former students were in. If possible, Sakura had what appeared to be a headlock on all three of them.

"Are you guys kidding me? You're letting someone half your weight headlock you? …she's a girl too." He sighed. Sakura smiled at him, then added him to her victims as well.

"Kaka-sensei, you ought to keep your sexist comments to yourself, ne?"

Sakura soon released them, and they started to spar. She wanted to continue sparring with Sasuke, seeing as she was kicking his ass at first. But it was decided for him to sit out this time, or until his chakra had been unsealed. So instead, Sakura opted to spar with Naruto. Punch. Kick. Dodge. Punch. Swerve. Jump. Sakura wasn't really into the fight. In the end it cost her, Naruto won with his shadow clone at her neck. She panted slightly. Her stomach grumbled slightly. Sakura sighed. Lunch already. This meant Ichiraku because Naruto was around. She complained to Naruto.

"Mou, can we get something different today? Naruto, you have too much sodium from all that ramen!"

"Heheh, Sakura-chan…demo(4)..its good! Hinata-chan likes it! Why can't you?"

"Baka(5), I'm not Hina-chan. Let's go somewhere classy. Like a café! At least some dango for a change."

So it was decided. The team went to a dango shop, and started eating the delectable orbs of sweetness. Sakura went on rampage and started scarfing down stick after stick like Anko. Her teammates twitched. Kakashi spoke up.

"Sakura don't you think you're going a little too fast there? You might gain some weight-"

Sakura silenced him mid-sentence with a glare. She stood up. Sakura chomped off the last dango and threw the stick down at the table with so much force it was lodged deeply in the table.

"What did you say Kaka-sensei? Perhaps I misheard you.." She said menacingly.

"Uuh… I said I was gonna get the bill, so you might want to finish up…?" Kakashi spoke nervously. Sakura sat back down, her expression completely happy and innocent.

"Okay! Thanks a lot Kaka-sensei!" Kakashi mentally berated himself. He should have known this from treating Anko to some dango. He missed young, naïve Team 7. They weren't so fierce. They sure do grow up fast huh?

(1) See you later, or good bye.

(2) Shut up, or be quiet.

(3) Sorry

(4) But

(5) Idiot

I'm very sorry for the late update! I have been extremely busy, thank you so much for standing by me. Next time I go hiatus, I will notify you guys. Cookies to all of you for being patient. I'm gonna update more frequently to make up for the past months okay? Next chapter will the be the club scene hopefully….So PLEASE let me know. Ino x Sai? Or Ino x Kiba? If you squint, I guess you could say there was Kaka x Saku in there…SQUINT. Click that little button down there. Yes that one that says review. Thanks :D