Back to Normal?

The Chuunin Exams were finnally over. As a result, Sakura had shorter hair, Shikamaru became the only Chuunin, Rock Lee got a badly injured arm and leg and might not be able to stay as a ninja, Sasuke got a seal on his neck that people questioned, and other than that, everything was back to normal.

Well, except... feelings were different. Things were WAY different. Well, it's complicated.

Flashback

"Move, Sakura!" Sasuke moved Sakura instead. Running away from this Nin was hard. "Sasuke! Watch out!"

"Ugh," Sasuke yelped with pain. "UGH!!"

-

-

-

After that battle Sasuke passed out. Naruto too. Sakura took care and looked out. She looked at Sasuke's face. Hard, blank, but smooth. It startled her as he winced, washing away the sight. Then her eyes settled down at that- that nasty mark that Nin left. "Sasuke..."

-

-

-

"Sakura..."

"Huh?" She sat up. Must've fallen asleep. "Who said-..." She stopped herself. She looked at Naruto then to Sasuke. Naruto looked peaceful. Sasuke... not so peaceful. He was turning alittle and sceaming out random things. "..tomatoes.." "..Naruto...you dumbass..." "green..." "..hn...whatever.." "..pink..?" "avenge...aven...ger.."

-

-

-

Sasuke stood up. It terrified her, Sakura. He was covered with that... mark. All over.

"That...is that...Sasuke?" asked Shikamaru, hiding in the trees.

"It-it can't be..." answered Ino.

Munch. Munch. Chouji took one look at Sasuke and dropped his bag of chips.

Sasuke walked slowly towards the outside of the cave. "I repeat," Sasuke started. He paused again. "Sakura, who did this to you?" He turned to look at Sakura. Her green eyes grew wide. Her bottom lip started to shake. "S-sasu-..ke..." A tear rolled down her dirty face, a hair fell onto her shoulder. She watched as Sasuke concealed, as if a new mask was covering his blank old one.

The purple strong chakra encircled and swirled around him. "It was I." Said the sound Nin. "I did it."

"Ugh," Sasuke turned walked to the sound Nin. "I see." The Nin forced air out of his hands. "I'm ready."

They fought. Grunting, screaming, jutsus being called out, as a result, Sasuke pulled out the arms of the Nin, breaking them. Sakura winced at the sound of cracking and screaming. "No... Sasuke no."

"You," He pointed to the girl Nin. "Your next." He strided forward chuckling as he went. "Sasuke, NO! Don't Sasuke!" Sakura ran after him and... hugged him. It was what she always wanted to do but, at this time it felt like it was needed. "Stop," she sobbed. "stop, it doesn't have to be this way." She cried out. There was no noise, nothing. Sakura opened her eyes to see the marks were swirling and disapearing. The chakra were fading too. "S-sasuke-...kun?"

"Heh, Sakura... you're heavy..." Sasuke then fainted. Again.

-

-

-

"Sasuke!" Sakura shook her head. "Don't, please don't. You'll hurt yourself."

"You're annoying." Shit. I knew this was going to happen.

Sakura slowly tried to raise her hand. "No." Sasuke grabbed her wrist and pulled it down. No one seemed to notice except Naruto.

Sakura gasped. "Cha cha cha!" said inner Sakura. I thought I only said 'Cha' when I was happy...

"I repeat," cough "if you are injured or unsure of this test," cough "then raise your hand now." said the seamingly sick instuctor.

"Sakura," whispered Sasuke.

"Sasuke please. I don't want you hurt."

"I won't. Don't raise it." He said eyeing her hand. "I mean it."

"How will I know for sure you won't get hurt?" I don't want it to happen again. She meant to add but, Sasuke appeared to not recall the event of the evil that came out. She wimpered out alittle but kept strong so Sasuke would not lose his cover. It would be easier if he didn't cover that side of his neck with his hand and act more natural...

"Sakura, I won't get hurt. Because... something keeps me going."

"Hmm? Something?"

"Hn..." Ugh! Freaking Sasuke-kun, cha! Go to hell, cha!

"Okay, let the test begin..." cough

Sakura turned to glare at Sasuke and stuck out her tongue then turned back. Sasuke let out his all famous smirk.

"First up is Sasuke." cough

Flashback End

After the Chuunin exams, Sakura was a nervous wreck. There was so much tension between Sasuke and Naruto. Was it true? Were her teammates going to become broken and forgotten? And Sasuke, that seal... And Sakura's feelings... for Neji or... for someone else?

-

-

-

-

"Ello Sasuke-kun! Hehe, get it? I'm pretending to be a british!" said Sakura.

"What the hell? I thought we were freakin' Japanese!" said Sasuke.

"Well, yeah..."

"..."

"...uh, Sasuke-kun? Remember when you..."

"When I what?"

"..nevermind.."

"If you start a question then you should complete it."

"Well, um, remember when you gave me a... necklace?"

"...hn.."

"Huh? Huh, huh, huh, huh?!"

"...yeah..." Sasuke said in the smallest voice he could.

"Why didja? Why didja give it to me??"

"..I didn't want it."

"Sure. Yeah, you would just give a necklace of your mother's to any annoying fangirl because you didn't want it." Ouch. The sarcasm sank in.

"..then don't ask me."

"Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Te-"

"Fine! Just shut the up." Sakura took her hand and pinched two fingers together and made a motion in front of her mouth like she was zipping it up.

"Well, um, you were mad at me."

Sakura gasped. "Seriously?!"

"Yeah, well don't flatter yourself." He started to walk away.

"Wait, Sasuke," Sasuke stopped and turned around. "thank you."

-

-

-

-

-

A blonde shinobi walks down town seeing Neji had finally healed from the exams. "Yo." He needed to get something straight. What did Sakura see in him? Everyone sort of knew that she had feelings for him. Well, actually only Sasuke and Naruto. But lately, she hasn't mentioned Neji.

Neji looked up but said nothing and looked back down.

"Haha! Are you still pissed that I beat you and you kept on it with the destiny stuff?"

"You have proven me wrong. I do not deny."

"Haha, well anyway, I wanted to ask... Do you know a Sakura Haruno?"

"Um, pink hair, green eyes?"

"That's the one."

"What about her?"

"Do you know anything about her? Like other than her name and what she looks like?"

He thought for a second. "No." He said flatly. And that was it.

Neji knew NOTHING about Sakura Haruno.

-

-

-

-

-

-

Thanks! For! Reading!

I really hate writer's block!! It's been like months, I'm terribly sorry. I'm trying my hardest. crosses fingers Help me get motivated, R&R. : oh and comments please!!

Luvs ya!