So I feel kind of bad that you guys gave me my most reviews for a chapter ever, got me to over 600, and this still took so long. But I was pretty busy for the last month or so, and before that I just – well. I won't make excuses. But really, thank you all. I really will try to make future chapters faster, but I make no promises. I spend the most time on the updates for this story; doesn't that count for something? Hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Flipped

"Sakura-san, you're going out with Sasuke Uchiha?!"

Sakura grinned, leaning back against her desk. She had been getting these comments all day, ever since she and Sasuke really became public (meaning Naruto and Ino had spread the news, and Lee sobbed about it).

She sipped at her coffee. It was cold, but the look on the faces of the group of girls waiting for her answer was too good to pass up. Finally, she put the cup down, straightened out her files and replied with a nonchalant, "Yeah, I am. Why d'you ask?"

Immediately, her eardrums were assaulted by a collective, high-pitched squeal, right before they started pelting her with questions.

"How long have you two been dating?"

"Did he ask you to marry him?"

"Is it true he dueled with Rock Lee over you?"

"Boxers or briefs, Sakura-san?"

Sakura laughed. "Two months, no, not quite, and that, Hikari—" She winked at the bold brunette who had asked the last question—"Is a secret between the two of us."

So they were half-lies. Naruto told Sakura that it wouldn't be natural for she and Sasuke to have only just started dating; Sasuke would never ask her to marry him – even if they were really going out, he would just expect marriage as the next logical step; he had glared at Lee a bit, but fighting him seemingly wasn't worth The Great Avenger's time; and Sakura knew that Sasuke preferred boxers, but not due to any bedtime adventures – Naruto had once sold them in an under-the-counter business to help him fund his ramen bill, and she had jokingly bought a pair.

"And now, ladies, I have patients to see, and a boyfriend to meet," Sakura added, not without some relish.

And then she walked out.

-o-

It was late afternoon when Sakura got out of the hospital and headed for Team Seven's usual meeting spot by the bridge for some light training with the group. Sasuke, as usual, was already there, fully decked out in ANBU gear. Sakura had shed the fangirl image years ago, but the sight of Sasuke in all that black, his muscles out for full view, very nearly made her swoon. Just a little.

"Hey, you," she said, sidling up to his side and dropping her bag by her feet. "Missed me?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her, and she responded with a meaningful look. Evidently, he heard the nearby giggles, and knew how to react.

Well, he didn't shove her away, anyways.

Sakura pinched him in the side. Sasuke didn't even flinch. But he did grab her hand irritably, so Sakura took the opportunity to lace their fingers together and beam up at him. In turn, he shot her a half-amused, half-exasperated look.

"Never give up, do you?"

She could tell the truth, or she could lie through her teeth without him ever knowing what she meant. "No, I don't," she responded brightly.

"Annoying."

"And you love me for it." When he didn't reply, she pinched him again with her other hand. "Right?"

"Hn," Sasuke responded indifferently. Sakura knew that wasn't a yes, but judging by the chorus of fresh "Aww"s, she was the only one in a five-mile radius who did.

She gave him an inconspicuous thumbs-up, then slid down to sit by her bag, from where she pulled out an apple and a textbook Tsunade had given her earlier in the morning.

Sasuke watched her study. At random times she would stop eating entirely, her lips on the apple and eyes speeding down the page. Every so often she would look up thoughtfully, mouthing the words to herself. Sometimes she would shake her head at the book, as if she knew better. Which, Sasuke admitted, considering Tsunade had taught her, might be true.

Finally, Sakura set down the book and the core of her apple, smiled at him, and said, "They're gone."

Sasuke blinked. He hadn't even noticed their audience had left.

"Naruto's late," he commented abruptly. Naruto was never this late for training.

"Hmm." Sakura shrugged, not looking too bothered. "Maybe he realized the first three hours are basically pointless, waiting for Kakashi-sensei." She stood up, stretching the knots in her back.

Sasuke wasn't convinced.

"Train with me, Sasuke?"

He nodded, glancing in the direction Naruto usually arrived from. He had a bad feeling…

-o-

"You're losing your touch," Sasuke chided, nicking Sakura with a kunai. She made a face at him, healing the cut with an impatient swipe of her hand.

"All I need is one solid hit to take you down!" she reminded him.

"Yeah, but you're not getting that hit in, are you?" he countered smugly.

Neither noticed their audience until Sakura, exhibiting the speed she had begged Sasuke to teach her, tackled him from behind and they both tumbled to the ground, each with a kunai at the other's neck.

Kiba applauded. "Alright! Foreplay!"

Sakura yelped from the surprise and leapt off of Sasuke. He was slower to get up, glaring at Kiba, Naruto, and Hinata.

"Yeah, Sakura can be pretty wild," Naruto told them as they walked closer. He beckoned Sasuke closer. Sasuke ignored him.

With a scowl at his so-called best friend, Naruto went on, "He has these scratches on his back. Guess who gave them to him?" The idiot failed to mention that Sakura had given him those scars when she slammed him against a tree for accidentally burning her gloves and not apologizing for it.

Hinata was turning steadily redder, so Kiba leaned over and covered her ears. Then he laughed. "Seriously? Wow. She tops, I guess?"

Sakura looked as if she was going to kill the two of them right then, so Sasuke rolled his eyes and rose to his feet to save Naruto's sorry butt – again.

"I – Nar – Sasuke-kun – pervert—" The poor girl didn't seem to know quite what to say as Sasuke approached. He didn't blame her.

"Your friend's about to faint," he informed Kiba coolly. Kiba looked at Hinata and noticed with a startled yelp that, indeed, she was looking very shaky.

"We'd better go," he said hurriedly, turning to leave. He leaned over to whisper soft words of encouragement to the obviously virginal Hinata.

"Thanks for lunch, Hinata!" Naruto called after them. Then he turned to Sakura and Sasuke and the smile dropped.

"We need to talk."

-o-

When Kakashi-sensei finally arrived, the four of them gathered around. Naruto was nodding to himself, one hand under his chin in a meditative stance. Sasuke snorted at this.

Naruto threw him a sour look. "So the thing is, guys, it's been a week since Kakashi-sensei gave us this 'mission' and we haven't completed it yet."

Sakura cocked an eyebrow. "This isn't even official. Like we even need a time-limit."

"Enjoying yourself, Sakura?" Kakashi teased, waiting for her to turn red from anger and embarrassment and start shouting or stammering.

She did neither.

"Yeah, actually, I am."

At the surprised faces – Sasuke's startled, almost frightened expression; Kakashi's widened eyes; Naruto's flat-out gape – Sakura hastened to elaborate: "You know, it's a huge status symbol, and people keep asking me to sign their Sasuke Fanclub t-shirts and steal them some of his underwear—"

"Sakura, you're going to give me nightmares!" Naruto protested. Sasuke turned to hide the flush creeping up his neck.

Sakura laughed. "It's fun being Sasuke-kun's girlfriend. I get to tell everyone he buys me flowers and chocolate and jewelry. And then they ask me where it is, so Sasuke-kun—" She batted her eyelashes at him—"You should start shopping."

"So shallow, Sakura," Kakashi said with a sigh. "Get him to buy things for your sensei, too."

Sakura stuck her tongue out at him. "No. Anyways, he loves me the most. Right, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke could feel a headache coming on.

"Well, the point is," Naruto interrupted loudly, "That Neji isn't going to ask Sakura out if she already has a boyfriend."

Sakura stopped laughing, and Kakashi picked up Naruto's train of thought. "Meaning that you guys have to break up – loudly, dramatically, emotionally. Perhaps even in the rain."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances. They were dreading this already.

-o-

"Every day, Neji leaves the training grounds at precisely five-thirty. We just need the two of you to be on the path he takes to his apartment around then."

"But it shouldn't be too obvious. We have to make it seem natural that he finds you there. A coincidence."

"But he needs to be surprised. He needs to watch."

"But don't act like you know he's watching. It should be like he's intruding on your private moment."

"But not so he does the polite Hyuuga thing and leaves."

"I think that's about it," Kakashi said. "Now – the script!" He plucked out his favorite book from his back pocket, and flipped it open. Before he could begin to read, however, Naruto and Sasuke covered Sakura's eyes and ears.

"Okay, now you can read, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said eagerly. Unfortunately, he wasn't covering Sakura's ears very well, and she twitched.

"Pervert," she muttered, elbowing him in the gut. Sasuke wisely stepped away before she could do the same to him.

Kakashi looked offended. "I'll have you know, Sakura, that this book is an invaluable source of information. It taught me all I know!"

Sakura made a face. "That is so gross and I think I'll be scarred for life, just so you know."

Kakashi looked as if he wanted to argue, which – Sasuke gagged inwardly – might involve examples, so he nudged a wheezing Naruto to speak up.

"Whatever. We need a reason for Sakura to dump Sasuke's sorry butt – one that doesn't involve whipped cream and handcuffs."

Sasuke frowned. "Why is Sakura dumping me?" he wanted to know.

Naruto snickered. "You're a whiny little baby. And Neji's going to think something's wrong with her if she gets dumped. Duh."

Sasuke already didn't like this plan.

"But," Sakura began bemusedly, "Why would I ever want to break up with Sasuke?"

Naruto scratched his chin, waiting for her to elaborate, but Sasuke stared at her. He wondered if she realized how her words had sounded.

"I mean," she explained, "Sasuke is one of my best friend's. He's strong. He's a decent person – on occasion. He's smart. I've known him for years. I trust him as much as I trust Naruto. Everyone thinks he treats me like a queen, and well…" Sakura glanced at Sasuke. "Not to be shallow, but he is really pretty."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at that. He had never been called pretty before.

Kakashi was quiet, watching the two of them. Finally, he spoke. "Sakura, what does Neji have that Sasuke doesn't?"

Sasuke scowled; he didn't want to hear this. But Sakura only laughed and said, "Better hair?"

Naruto grinned. "Maybe you could dump Sasuke for being better-looking than you are, Sakura?"

Sasuke looked disturbed. Sakura looked mad. Kakashi looked thoughtful.

"Sakura," her sensei began, beckoning to her, "Come with me."

With a puzzled look at her teammates, Sakura left with their teacher.

Sasuke inched away from Naruto. The blond scowled.

"I am not lusting after you, jerk!"

-o-

Sakura kicked at a pebble, reluctant to answer Kakashi's way-too-personal question. She didn't even know how to answer.

What had changed her feelings for Sasuke?

Sakura smiled bitterly to herself. She didn't even know when her feelings had changed.

Kakashi was sitting under a tree, reading Icha Icha Paradise. He wasn't looking at her, but Sakura still felt the pressure.

The only time Sakura had felt anything less than love towards Sasuke was when he left. The resentment and loneliness had overpowered even her strongest feelings. But she had gotten past that. She had. Sure, it had taken time… and tears… and a lot of bottled-up pain, but—

"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said suddenly, whirling around to face her teacher. He held up a finger, his eyes not leaving the page. Sakura frowned, turned on her heel, and stalked away.

She had something to say to Sasuke-kun, and she wasn't about to wait around to do it.

-o-

"Sasuke," Sakura began in a low voice, trying to contain her rising frustration, "This isn't working."

Sasuke, expecting this line, muttered a "Hn."

Naruto and Kakashi couldn't be too close by or Neji would find them, either by their chakra or his Byakugan, so they couldn't watch, but if he could, the blond would surely be cursing Sasuke's utter failure at acting right then.

"You—you have no idea what you've done," Sakura went on. She was shaking. Years of pent-up emotion, of holding her tongue when all she wanted to do was scream, had built up to this one explosion.

Sasuke looked at her then, expression curious.

"You left me! I told you I loved you and you left me! You left me for so long—didn't you ever wonder about me?" Sakura's breath was coming out in ragged gasps now, and she curled her hands into tight fists. "You said some things to me that I'll never forget. You—I hated you."

Sasuke was downright alarmed now. He sensed Neji arriving, but he didn't know how to react.

"Sakura—"

"But you didn't know. You never knew." Sakura half-turned from him. He could finally see the shimmer of tears on her cheeks. "You never get it, Sasuke."

Those weren't fake tears…

The moment Sasuke came to this realization, Sakura said, "This was a mistake."

And then she disappeared.

-o-

"So Neji was totally shocked. Seriously, the guy practically walked into a tree, he was so confused," Naruto told them gleefully.

Sakura smiled, all traces of her previous distress gone. Sasuke wondered if he might have imagined the whole thing.

"That's great, Naruto," she said enthusiastically. She winked at Sasuke, "Try not to be too jealous, huh?"

Kakashi smiled. "Don't tease him, Sakura. Sasuke's feeling very lonely since his only girlfriend ever broke up with him."

It was only when Sasuke returned to the privacy of his own home that he admitted, much to his dismay, that his teammates weren't entirely wrong.