Bluebreeze27: Hello people. I am finally back from the grave. To all people who are still reading, supporting and waiting for HS:ADS, thank you so much. No words can express my gratitude, also, I am very sorry for making you wait. Here's the much(?) awaited Chapter 7! Hope you'll like it. Alright, on with the story.

Disclaimer: Do not own (cries).

(Important note: I know, I said in a previous chapter that Saku-chan's already 13-I'm working on changing that, and according to reseach, when she was placed in Team Seven, she was 12 and she's older than her boys. But hey! This story's mine. I'm changing her age okay? Please, please don't get mad. Hope you understand.)


Chapter Seven: Recommendation, Doubt and Resolve.

Recommendation.

"I don't like it." The blonde hyperactive ninja exclaimed for what seemed like the nth time that night.

Team Seven was traveling back to Konoha and when they were only a few miles away, Haruno Sakura's wounds bled. She healed it instantly and deemed herself good to go but her boys insisted they rest.

"What are you on about, dobe?" The Uchiha survivor asked irritably as he set up another tent. The two boys were given the task to set up tents while Sakura and Kakashi looked for twigs and logs for campfire and some food. Uchiha Sasuke planned to ignore the blonde but it seemed impossible. "You better help or I will not let you sleep in here."

"The way Kakashi-sensei looks at Sakura-chan." Uzumaki Naruto plopped down the earth once the tent was effectively and securely up.

Sasuke stared at him but said nothing. Truth to be told though, he was irritated too, but he'd rather die than to be caught agreeing with the dobe. Kakashi seemed too close with their teammate and that irked him.

"I mean it's great and all the he cares for her and protects her..but there's something I don't understand." Naruto scratched his chin.

Sasuke scoffed. "That's understandable. With your brain it's a wonder to nature that you could think at all."

Naruto bristled at the insult but calmed himself. "You don't think Sensei has a...you know..at Sakura-chan?"

"A what?"

"...a crush."

Both boys froze at the realization. It was improbable but not impossible. Not too far from them but still concealed, a smirking clone puffed out of existence.


Kakashi's lone visible eye widened as he relived his clone's memories.

"Sensei?" Haruno Sakura's sweet voice called out. Her sensei was in the middle of patting her head when his hand froze a few inches away from her hair. The two of them were going back to camp with fish, firewood and a few fruits.

"Yes, Sakura?" Hatake Kakashi berated himself mentally for spacing out. His hand continued its mission.

"Are you alright?" Sakura's emerald eyes bored into his lone one with such worry they shined brightly in the dark.

"I'm alright." His eye did that happy crinkle and Sakura sighed in relief. She was worried her Sensei was still tired from using his Sharinggan.

"You should rest though, Sensei. I know that you're just as tired as all of us. Don't over exert yourself." She smiled then continued walking.

'Crush huh? ...Hatake, get a hold of yourself.' Kakashi sighed and followed his student.

"That's stupid. Kakashi's a Jounin. It's immoral. Plus, he's what? 26. And Sakura's 12. That would make him a pedophile." Sasuke retorted as soon as he regained his capability to talk.

Naruto looked at him. "You're right. But you're wrong too, teme."

"What."

"Sakura-chan's just eleven." The blonde smugly replied.

"She's younger than us?"

"Who's younger than who?" Speak of the de-er, angel, and the angel shall apear.

"Sasuke-teme's just finding out you're younger than us."

"Is this true, Sakura?" Kakashi quipped, smiling in amusement as the boys glare at him subtly.

Sakura flushed. "Uh, yeah. Just a few months though. I'm born in March while the two of them in July and October.." She sat down and arranged the firewood. She nodded to Sasuke and the boy used a fire jutsu.

"Well. It seems that Sakura's the baby of the group." Kakashi reveled in the blush that rose in Sakura's cheeks.

"Shut up."


"Let's report to the Hokage and then rest for the day." Kakashi commanded as soon as the gates of the Hidden Leaf came into their line of sight.

The three genin nodded and the team headed off to the Hokage tower.

After the debriefing, just before her boys rushed off somewhere,she stopped them with a hestitant, "Hey.." Two pairs of eyes and a lone eye turned to her curiously. "Want to have dinner at my house?"

"Sure." "Yay! Dinner at Sakura-chan's house again!" "Yare, yare, if it's not much trouble."

The team then headed to the Haruno Residence.

"Tadaima, Sayaa-san." Sakura was immediately engulfed in a warm hug. In response, she hugged back.

"Okaeri, Sakura-san. How was the mission? Are you alright? Any wounds?" Sayaa asked the genin.

"I am more than alright. I am escastic. Team Seven just accomplished our first ever B-rank mission." Sakura smiled as she flopped down on their couch.

"B-rank?" The tone Sayaa used expressed her concern so much that Sakura froze.

'Uh-oh' Sakura fidgeted for a good minute, unable to utter anything.

"Well?"

As if to save her, her boys came into view.

"Ano, Sayaa-san, I invited the boys over for supper..is that alright?" The girl looked so hopeful that Sayaa smiled.

"Ofcourse." Sakura's beaming smile practically lit up the room.

"Good evening and sorry for the intrusion." Kakshi took it upon himself to be the respectful one.

"Nonsense, all of Sakura-san's friends are always welcome here." Sayaa smiled, her eyes looking over at Kakashi and both adults saw the recognition flash in her orbs. "It's nice to see you again, boys. How are you?" She looked for injuries and finding none, sighed in relief.

Both orphaned boys returned her sentiments politely.

"Alright then. Who's up for some curry?"


"Hatake-san."

"Fujisaki-san, I assure you she's ready for it."

"But she.."

"She'll be fine. Besides, I already recommended them. I just thought it would be polite to let you know." Kakashi stared at the pink haired guardian of his favorite student.

"I hope you're right. Because if Sakura-sama gets hurt, I assure you, you'll regret living." Sayaa spoke in a monotone, so unlike her usual kind voice and promised too much threat that the Copy Ninja flinched. Subtly ofcourse.


Doubt.

"I hate this!" Naruto whined.

"Stop complaining Naruto." Sakura sighed. The team just finished a rather boring D rank mission and Kakashi gave then the rest of the day off. Sakura gathered her hair and tied it into a messy bun. Both boys turned to look at her. "What..?" She squirmed, suddenly self conscious under her friends' scrutiny.

"You look different." Sasuke commented.

"Oh.." Sakura sighed dejectedly. Maybe her forehead looked larger?

"Teme means you look nice. But just in a pretty, different way." Naruto exclaimed, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he grinned.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted his approval, still not looking at her. The tips of his ears pink.

"Thanks boys" Sakura smiled.

Suddenly, a rock moved. The three genin snapped in a formation, ready for an attack. The 'rock' exploded and smoke surrounded them. Three kids came out and coughed on their knees. The genin relaxed their tense positions.

"What are you three doing, Konohamaru?" Naruto deadpanned. His teammates just at him.

"As expected of my rival and the man I respect." The boy in the middle grinned, showed off his teeth, one was missing.

"I'm Udon!" The boy with glasses and snot presented himself.

"I'm Moegi!" An orange haired girl proclamied then posed.

"I'm the future Hokage! Konohamaru!"

"Yeah, yeah. So what do you guys want?" Naruto watched, unamused.

"Let's play ninja!"

"This is stupid. Sakura, I'm going to train. Call me if something comes up." Sasuke headed out.

"Sure." Sakura waved. "So, why are you going to play ninja if you are ninja, Naruto?" Sakura turned to the blonde, amused. Naruto flushed.

"Ne, Naruto-niichan! Who's this?" Konohamaru grinned. "Is she your?" He held out his pinky. Enjoying the blush on Naruto's face, ge teased him some more.

Naruto, getting fed up with the teasing, started to chase Konohamaru around.

Sakura, laughing with the other two kids, suddenly tensed up. "Nar-"

"Watch it!" A boy with a hoodie and purple face paint grunted as Konohamaru bumped into him. He grabbed the kid by the collar menacingly.

"Urk.."

"I hate brats like you!"

"Hey! Let Konohamaru go!" Naruto shouted.

"Oi. Kankuro. Are you serious?" A girl with her blonde hair up in four ties sighed. "Fine. Don't blame me if you get in trouble."

"Excuse me. Would you please let Konohamaru go." Sakura calmly said, ignoring Naruto's complains as she held him back.

Kankuro looked at her. And promptly let go of Konohamaru, dropping him on the ground.

"And who might you be, cutie?" Kankuro grinned.

"..." Sakura felt her courage diminish but held her ground. "I don't feel compelled to tell you my name." She felt the guy's irratation and her body tensed.

"Why you!" Just as Kankuro's hand was about to hit her face, a stone hit his hand.

They all looked up to see Sasuke calmly playing with a stone in his hand.

"Sorry. My hand slipped." Sasuke said, not sounding sorry at all. If anything, he sounded livid to Sakura and Naruto. "What are you foreign ninjas doing in Leaf?"

"We're here for business. If you must know, the Chunnin Exams." Kankuro growled.

"Where are your passports?"

"Don't worry, we have them." The blonde girl answered, smirking.

"Fine. Get your pathetic face out of my sight. Get lost." Sasuke answered. Crushing the stone in his hands, "Don't ever raise your hand against my teammate, fag."

"I've had enough of this" Kankuro took off the thing behind him.

"Oi, oi. Are you bringing out Karasu for this?" The girl seemed tense.

"Kankuro. Temari. Stop it." A voice said. It sent a shiver down their spines. Sasuke turned to see a red haired boy, hanging upside down behind him. 'When did he..'

"Gaara!" Kankuro and Temari exclaimed. If Sakura knew those two, she would've sworn they sounded terrified.

"Sorry for the trouble they caused." The red haired boy said, like Sasuke, sounding not too sorry. His jade eyes looked at Sakura.

"It's nothing." Sakura squirmed under his gaze and eventually scooted closer to Naruto.

Sasuke jumped to their place and stood at Sakura's other side.

"What's your name?" The red head asked, looking at Sasuke.

"Uchiha Sasuke. You?"

"Gaara of the Sand" And with that he jumped to face the Konha nin. "And you..?" He turned to Sakura.

"..." Sakura hesitated. "Haruno Sakura." She murmured.

"Sorry for the trouble." He turned and left, Kankuro and Temari following him.

Silence ensued.

"Are you okay, Konohamaru?" Sakura asked. The boy nodded tearfully.

Naruto fumed silently.

"What's wrong, Naruto?" Sakura asked.

"Those bastards didn't ask for my name!"

"Hn. Why should they want to know your name?" Sasuke scoffed.

Sakura sighed.


"Man, I hate these boring missions. Bah." Naruto exclaimed as the three of them sat on their usual places at the Team Seven's bridge. They finally get to rest after mowing lawns, cleaning rivers and walking dogs.

"Now, Naruto..you know we are still genin. So we probably won't get any missions higher than D-ranks. Especially, not after what happened in Wave." Sakura calmly explained.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted. "Shut your whining dobe." And with that, another arguement started between the two boys.

"Yo." Their chronologically late Sensei finally arrived with a cheerful wave.

Sakura sighed in relief. Though she was, technically, the "baby" of the group, she felt years older.

"Ne ne, Kakashi-sensei! Don't you have any interesting missions for us?" Naruto asked. 'So that I could show Sasuke-teme who's cooler! And I can woo Sakura-chan! And show I'm more date-able than our Sensei!' Naruto's eyes lit up.

"Hn." The Uchiha agreed.

"Sensei, you're late! But I'm beginning to think you forgot us." Sakura beamed then pouted cutely. Don't get her wrong, she respected her teacher and looked up to him to death but that doesn't mean she can't whine to him.

"Maa maa, how could I forget my kawaii genin?" Kakashi patted Sakura's head. Chuckling at her rapidly coloring cheeks and the blatant glares he received. "Anyway. I'm here to inform you that we don't have any missions for today."

"What!" "Hn." "..."

"Ahahaha..Uh, I have something for you three." Kakashi then produced three slips of paper and handed them out.

"What are these Sensei?" Sakura asked politely, though she was peeved at having nothing to do.

"Last night I recommended the three of you to take the Chunnin Exams."


Haruno Sakura stared at the current bane of her existence, a piece of paper. And it's not just a piece of paper, it is the pass to take the Chunnin Exams.

"Hey Dad, Mom. So~ what do you think? Should I.." She trailed off. "I want to but I don't think I can..."

She was again struck with insecurity. She knew she was no prodigy like Sasuke or..dare she think it..her sister, Renge. She was no source of ultimate courage or endless energy like Naruto. She knew she was not enough.

With a sigh and a heavy heart, she left the hills and headed back home.


Resolve.

"Hey! Forehead~" Yamanaka Ino waved wildly.

"So noisy..troublesome.." A boy with a pineapple-looking hair muttered beside her as another chubby one, munching on chips, nodded in agreement.

"What did you say?!"

"Pig." Sakura greeted cheerfully at her friend, who was glaring at her teammates. "Oh.."

"What's up, forehead! Oh, these are my lazy ass teammate Shikamaru and chips obssesed Chouji." Ino waved a hand at her teammates.

"Pig, you do realize that we all attended the Academy together and that we practically know each other since we're toddlers?" Sakura sighed. "Hey..Shikamaru-kun, Chouji-kun." She waved. Her shyness and reluctant attitude coming up again.

"Hey." "Mffey."

Sakura suppressed a giggle at the boys' antics. They are like his own boys.

"So what's up?" Ino asked her. "Any progress on your relationship with Sasuke-kun?"

Sakura spluttered. "W-what?"

"You like Sasuke too? Troublesome.." Shikamaru sighed. 'Why does everyone fall for such a troublesome guy? And I thought Haruno-san's different..because she..' The boy sighed.

"NO! I mean, Sasuke and I are just friends! Team Seven, the four of us are like family! Ino-pig, stop with the Sasuke Crush Thing you think I have on my teammate.." Sakura blushed.

"Really?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yes."

"That's...good." Shikamaru sighed again. Ino looked at her teammate oddly.

"Whatever forehead. Deny all you want. I just remembered. Here." Ino handed her a red envelope.

"What's this?"

"While we were in a mission, just the three of us without Asuma-sensei, We bumped into Renge-neechan. We were close to Konoha and I thought she was going out for a mission. She asked me to give you that."

"..." Sakura stopped listening to her friend after she heard her sister's name. "I gotta go..see you guys later." And on that note she ran, desperately contrlling the tremors of her body and tears from her eyes, oblivous to a pair of dark eyes watching her lazily.


Wiith trembling hands, she ripped open the letter.

"My dear imoutou,

How are you? Have you been well? Did you like encountering Zabusa and Haku? I hope you improved by fighting and killing them, otherwise I would be disappointed. It took me some time planning that out for you. Oh well, what a nice team you have there, little sister. You seem close to them. The Hatake, Uchiha and Uzumaki. Quite the useful team, eh? You could improve yourself by using them. I would hate to kill you if you don't put up a fight. So, I was thinking of giving them a visit..maybe this Chunnin exams?

Be well, my imoutou.

Haruno Renge."

"No..I won't let you hurt them." Sakura vowed as she pocketed her letter. She dimly wondered if she should talk to the Hokage or Sayaa but she'll deal with that later.

"See you soon, Renge-nee."


Bluebreeze27 : And that's a wrap! How was it? :) Did you like it? Review please! And the age mix up, I have something in mind so please do not get mad at me for making Saku-chan the baby here. And oh! I love Shika. Watch out for him, okay? Tell me your thoughts! And watch out for chapter 8 by the end of the first week of February :)

Love you guys! Caio :*