I is for Incredible

Sakura shifted slightly from her crouched position beneath the bushes and pressed the button on her headset.

"I don't see them over at this side," she whispered.

"Not over here, either," Naruto replied.

"They've managed to hide themselves well this time," Sai mused. "Don't you think so, Sasuke-kun?"

Sakura sweatdropped, "Sai, he's never done this before, so how on earth would he know?"

"Sakura-chan has a point. Where are you anyway, Teme?"

The three waited for a few moments for their fourth member to reply, but none came.

"Maybe his microphone isn't working."

Naruto snorted disdainfully, "Or maybe he's just –"

Swish. "Hurk!" THUMP.

"S-Sasuke-kun?"

"What happened?" Naruto yelled frantically into the mike. "Sakura-chan? Answer me! I'm heading over to your location!"

Sakura ignored the blaring of Naruto's voice in her ear as she stared at the person lying semi-paralyzed beneath her. Swiftly reaching her hand up, she switched her mike to off.

"Alright, they can't hear us. Now, Sasuke-kun," she addressed the person below her, "mind telling me why you were watching me instead of sticking to the drill? I know it's your first time, but you're not stupid."

His face being a part of him that wasn't paralyzed, he looked up at her, disinterest making up his expression, "Release the jutsu."

"Answer my question and I'll release you."

His eye twitched, "There is no reason. Now let me go."

"You're lying," Sakura told him, leaning down so that her face was directly in front of his. "Did you think I couldn't do this? That I'd be too weak and untrained to fend them off if they had found me before Naruto, Sai, or you?"

Her voice got a little louder and he looked away as she had finished speaking, not saying anything himself. Realizing she was going to get nowhere with him fast, and they still had to finish their drill, she sighed and brought a fingertip to his neck.

"Fine, have it your way," she muttered as she released the jutsu, then quickly shifted so she was no longer pinning him down. Free from the paralyzing jutsu, Sasuke sat up, his back facing Sakura.

"Just so you know, Sasuke-kun," Sakura began again in a whisper, "I'm a lot stronger than I used to be. I don't mess things up like I used to, and –"

"I know," Sasuke murmured sharply, cutting her off. Sakura quieted as he continued, "I know you have. That's why..."

He paused, hunching over slightly. Sakura could see the tips of his ears turning pink from where they poked out from beneath his raven-black hair. He began again, "That's why I was watching you. You've always been so smart, and now you have amazing strength ... well..."

He paused again. Turning slightly, he looked her in the eyes and Sakura could see his cheeks tinged the same deep pink that his ears were.

"You're incredible, Sakura."

She stared at him blankly for a few moments before her face turned pink like his and a small smile formed on her lips. And then, of course, Naruto came bursting through the foliage, knocking Sasuke face-first into the dirt in his haste to check on Sakura.

"Sakura-chan! You weren't answering on the mike, I thought something had happened!" he exclaimed, then turned around and pointed an accusing finger at Sasuke, who was wiping dirt off his cheek. "And you didn't answer anyone even once!"

Laughing, Sakura stood up, "Alright, well, now that you've found us, let's get back to the drill." Quickly giving Sasuke another smile, Sakura ran off into the underbrush, leaving the two boys behind.

"What was that smile for?" Naruto asked, confused.

"You're so stupid sometimes, Dobe," Sasuke scoffed, standing up and brushing himself off.

"Shut up, Teme!"

Plugging his ear against Naruto's loudness, Sasuke turned away from him to the opposite direction Sakura had gone in to throw Naruto off. Smiling to himself, cheeks turning slightly pink again, he left Naruto behind to contemplate his and Sakura's smiles on his own.

He had to find Sakura again, of course.