Yea, next chapter! I'm on a roll! Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto (of course not...this is fanfiction, so why do I have to continue to say that? Aw well...I just did it anyway.)

Sakura wouldn't forget the day Naruto came back to the village, cocky as ever, along with two Sannin. Yes, along with the Toad Sage, Master Jiraiya (also the author of the Make Out Paradise books), was Tsunade….a somewhat cocky, never-wins-at-gambling woman, but strong, powerful, and a great leader. Sakura looked up to her as a sort-of role model; she wanted to grow up to be as strong-willed and as powerful as her…..as a ninja. Already she needed to become a good 'soul-watcher,' secretly doing her duties whilst away from the living….but not completely, in all the same sense. Miss Higami had told her, sounding as wise and dead-on as ever, that she shouldn't compare ninja ways with the bridge between life and death. Being a ninja was one thing, in life….but there was something else….afterwards.

Sakura now sat before an unconscious Sasuke, holding his hand gently. Tsunade walked in and immediately healed the Uchiha with glowing, green hands. The young kunoichi stared at those hands…..at that chakra; it was like bringing someone back….saving them. She wanted to learn how to heal as well….she had already begun to read books, and figured out how to control her chakra and change them to a slime green color. The gentle hum sent good shivers down her spine and excited her; she felt like she could help even more people, and thus prove her worth to the world. But for now, she would just have to watch the Master of Healing do her arts.

Sasuke's eyelids fluttered opened, and he sat up groggily. She could tell that he was only half-awake, but she wrapped her arms around him all the same. He didn't protest or become annoyed; it was as though he let her. Still, part of that was from being asleep for so long.

"Sasuke! I'm so happy you're awake!" she said happily, much emotion in her words.


That night, within her living body, the Haruno sat in the old woman's shop, sipping tea. She loved to listen to Miss Higami; she always sounded so wise and kind, and Sakura completely trusted her. She was like a mentor; just not in a ninja sense.

"You're connection is becoming more define….and you are helping so many. I must thank you for all that you have done, and for coming to me." The woman said gently, and kindly.

"Uh….yeah, you're welcome. I don't know why I came to you….I just, felt the need to."

She sat back in her chair, thinking of a response. "Perhaps it's because a small part of you knew that I could see you….sometimes I get spirits like that. You have an extraordinary gift…. and you're so kind….I know you'll turn out to be a very good person."

Sakura smiled, the woman reaching out to touch her hands.

"You know….I think that I should be thanking you….for all you've done…." The pink-haired kunoichi said nicely.

"You welcome, my dear….."


The next day, the young teens (and pre-teen) of Team 7 stood on the bridge, waiting for their extremely late sensei once again. Sakura was quiet as she listened and reminisced in past thoughts and memories. Sasuke watched her with interest; it was only yesterday that he had woken up from, what his female teammate had told him, a long sleep, in which she responded with a hug and her relief shouts. That was the Sakura he was accustomed to. But the way she had been acting, and is acting now….was a bit out-of character for her. She has been so quiet….giving straight forward, wise answers to questions, and she wasn't bugging Naruto, or even him. She was so….not-annoying. The real question was: how did she suddenly mature so quickly?

He watched, his eyes narrowed as Naruto tried to talk to her, but she only answered when she had to, in a gentle, kind way. The kyuubi vessel looked as perplexed as Sasuke felt, but he quickly ignored it and chatted away with her, happy to be on Sakura's apparent 'good side.'

"You know, Kakashi-sensei is always so late all the time! There's gotta be a reason!" he said in a loud fashion, as if proclaiming something.

The kunoichi merely nodded her head. The Uchiha knew that there was something wrong with this picture. Even though he continued to tell himself that he didn't care, his curiosity got to the better of him, so he shifted over towards the Haruno. When his arm was nearly touching hers he stopped, and cocked his head to see her reaction.

Both he and Naruto were shocked to see her only turn her head and smile at him genuinely, and then lean her body weight against the side railing and stare at the sky.

Of course, the loud-mouthed Nine-Tailed Fox holder was the first to speak.

"Hey, Teme! Back away from my Sakura-chan!"

"Hn," was the raven-haired teen's only response. He then realized how close he really was to his female teammate and backed off a bit, heading towards his original place on the bridge. He also noticed how she didn't even react to any of this, including Naruto's response. In his head Sakura would have yelled at Naruto, say something about how the Uchiha could stay that close to her as long as he wanted, and bring her fist down on the crown of Naruto's head. Not that Sasuke would have cared.

Eventually their silver-haired sensei 'poofed' above the bridge, his hand raised in a hello. Naruto's outburst to his latest excuse for his tardiness was to be expected, but Sasuke couldn't help noticing that his female teammate said nothing, and instead smiled genuinely. Her quietness and seeming mature-ness shocked him slightly, even if he did tell himself not to worry or care.


During their training session, Sakura actually was doing much better than she usually did. Kakashi had decided to have her spare against Naruto. The kyuubi vessel did his classic Shadow Clone Jutsu, his doppelgangers charging, but slower than usual (Gotta go easy on my Sakura-chan! he thought.) Sakura was able to dodge a few, but a couple had managed to strike her ("Sorry, Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled).

The thing that puzzled Sasuke the most was how she immediately went to a certain Naruto, and began to punch and kick him, without the Naruto disappearing.

How would she know that was the real Naruto? Even my sharigan has a few difficulties with that, since Naruto distributes the same amount of chakra to each clone. How could she have figured out how to do this?

What also shocked both he and Kakashi was how she backed off, her hands beginning to glow a faint green, and healed most of her wounds.

Hm….I don't know how she learned to do that….I'll have to ask the Hokage later if she's been giving Sakura a few lessons….. thought the Hatake, his eyes now averted from his orange book.

Naruto made more clones, and charged in again, obviously a little angry that Sakura had found the real him the first time. He didn't hold back as much as the clones made fists, ready to punch the girl. Sakura evaded the attacks, however a little un-gracefully, and went to attack where she felt the real Naruto's soul.

She didn't hold back as her fist came crashing into his face. Naruto, who was not ready nor had enough time to dodge, felt the full force. His nose bled profoundly as he went crashing into a nearby tree.

"Loser….." Sasuke muttered under his breath.

"…." Kakashi was a little shocked by this display. Even though he knew that Sakura had been improving since the beginning, he wasn't sure how she could tell the Naruto's apart so easily. He made a mental note to talk to Lady Tsunade after training.


The kids of Team 7 were quite tired after sparring. Sasuke and Kakashi had a sparring session after Sakura and Naruto's, and overall they were all exhausted. Sasuke kept a skeptic eye on Sakura, who seemed to be in a daze and didn't speak at all.

They broke away and went their own, separate paths. Sakura, making sure she felt the boys walk away, decided to go to Miss Higami's.

As she walked down the road, she felt one of her teammates following her. She knew a little bit on how to sense chakra, but didn't feel any, so she was sure whoever it was was hiding their signature. Sakura could still feel their soul, either way.

She walked a bit further, and mused that the person was Sasuke. His feelings were too serious to be Naruto, and she had been around him more than Kakashi, so his feeling was more familiar.

She decided to tell him that she knew he was there. After all, he would just think that she could sense chakra, and therefore isn't as much of a weakling as he would have thought before.

"Sasuke!" she called. "I know you're there!" She tried to hide the smirk that was forming on her face.

The said boy jumped down, a slight scowl in his features. He felt angered and irritated, but also….curious?

"How did you know I was up there?" he demanded. "I thought you couldn't sense chakra that well. Also….how can you suddenly know how to heal?"

His questions were quick and he wanted them answered right that second. Sakura knew that she could feel his changes in emotion, which was a huge advantage when it came to Sasuke. He almost always had his 'expressionless mask' on his face, which generally went away when he was angry.

"I can sense chakra, Sasuke. I also taught myself how to heal through books," she responded in the most straight-forward and mature voice that she could muster. After all, part of what she said was true.

"How? How do I know you're even Sakura?" he said with cold eyes. The pink-haired kunoichi knew that he was more curious than angry. She tried to think of a good way of telling him.

"What do you want me to do to prove that I am?"

His eyes relaxed as he thought, and then his frown turned into a smirk. "Recite the password we used in the Forest of Death."

Sakura relaxed. She felt the slightest tinge of excited-ness as she felt his emotions. She didn't feel any harsh emotions, or any that would indicate that he would try to hurt her…..which might suggest that he didn't want to test that. This told her that he cared for her in some way, and really didn't want to hurt the real Sakura.

Maybe he does care…..

She recited the poem, answering the silent question of "when is the moment for a ninja to strike?" Sasuke seemed somewhat pleased.

It would be almost impossible for an imposter to say that…..unless they were actually in the Forest of Death with us, which I doubt. If that is true, than what's with her sudden change in behavior?

"Hn," was all he said as he shoved his hands into his pockets and jumped away. Sakura was content when she no longer felt his presence, and continued towards the shop.


The old woman poured herself a cup of freshly brewed tea, and then looked to the Haruno who was sitting quietly in her seat, lost in thought.

"More tea, dear?" she asked kindly.

"N-no thanks….I actually came here to ask you a question….or….it's more for advice…."

"What about?" The woman seemed interested.

"….You know about the Uchiha massacre…right?" she asked, almost chocking on her words.

She looked shocked. "Y-yes….I've heard the awful news….and you're teammate is the sole survivor, correct?"

"Yes…..he is…."

"….And I suppose you wish to go and investigate the grounds for any wandering souls, am I right?"

Sakura looked up with widened eyes. "W-well, yeah. How did you know?"

"Dear….I had a feeling you would want to investigate….especially since the one you love is an Uchiha. You should head over there now, while it's slim that anyone is there." Miss Higami said with a smile.

"Yes….Oh, and thanks…." Sakura replied as she ran out the door.


Walking under the "Do Not Cross" lines, she found herself in the mists of a small town.

To think that all those people died here….all under Itachi's hand. It must be so horrible for Sasuke to have to live with this….

She continued to walk, and felt a soul. Craning her neck she could see a woman, her shirt sporting the Uchiha crest. She looked at Sakura with question.

The living girl was distracted, trying to feel this soul's emotions. She felt….depressed….and longing.

Another presence was felt, and Sakura knew that it was coming from behind. Her eyes seemed to not want to stop studying the ghost woman already to her right.

"What are you doing here?" A familiar, deep voice yelled from behind.

Sakura gasped as she turned around, because right behind her was…

"Sasuke."

Muhahaha Cliff Hanger! Review...and maybe I'll update...