I do not own Naruto.

Setting: An everybody lives AU

Training Partners

1 month. She only had 1 month to prepare for the fourth round of the chunin exams. Sakura never felt so accomplished in her life. She, like Naruto and Sasuke all passed the written test, came out alive from the Forest of Death, and won their individual matches. Sasuke easily defeating a Sound ninja, Naruto beating Kiba, and Sakura by escaping the mind transfer technique Ino casted on her. She counted herself lucky to beat her best friend and rival. It turned out that those sparring sessions with Izumi-senpai paid off.

Her inner victory got shattered when she learned who her opponent for the final round would be, Neji Hyuga. At the revelation of that, Naruto urged her to drop out which angered her greatly and was this close to beat him up until his father , the Fourth Hokage scolded him for discouraging her. Sasuke's words on the other hand made her feel giddy.

"I don't see why you're so worried Naruto, Sakura's very sharp, I'm sure she'll figure out a way to outsmart Hyuga." He confidently tells him, hands in his pockets, "If I were you, I'd start training really soon considering who your opponent is." He refers to Shino, and at that, Naruto's face turns green at the thought of being exposed to a 1,000,000 insects.

"Likewise Sasuke, along with your mother I will also be training you" Kakashi intervenes, and then turns to Sakura, smiling underneath his mask "you as well Sakura." Sakura's eyes widen at hearing that.

"Hey no fair sensei!" Naruto whines at feeling left out.

"Now, now Naruto I will only be teaching Sasuke a new jutsu that can help him win against Gaara, everything else he'll do with his mother and possibly with Itachi and Shisui." He explains to his sensei's son.

"As for Sakura, since she doesn't come from a family of trained shinobi, it is only befitting that I be the one to train her." He further elaborates saying "After all..." He closed his eyes and smirks at Gai before continuing "She is up against my rival's genius student."

"Oh alright sensei, you win." Naruto pouts knowing that there's no way to change his sensei's mind.

After Kakashi left, Sasuke notices Sakura looking very pale as if she released herself from a gruesome genjutsu. He walks up to her, and lightly taps her shoulder, "Hey you shouldn't worry too much. The more you worry the less you'll be able to unleash your full potential."

"That's easy for you to say Sasuke-kun, you were named rookie of the year, and you know my stamina can't be increased in just one month." She shyly plays with her newly chopped short hair.

"How about...we train together." He suggests with a tiny blush forming on his face. He tells himself that it's only to be a good teammate to her, after all she practically fought to death for him and Naruto at the Forest of Death exam against team Dosu.

"Are you sure? I don't want to hold you back on your own training." Trust Sakura to be so annoying, sighing he says "Yes Sakura I'm sure. We'll start today at sunset. Don't be late." He then quickly walks away from her before she sees the redness forming on the apples of his cheeks.

***X***

And that's a wrap ;) Please review ^_^

OXOXO

~ walkingspring