I'm so so so so sorry for taking forever on updating! I hope you guys can forgive me! I hope the fact that I made this chapter longer helps!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Emiko was the last of her squad to arrive at the training grounds on the morning of their survival test. Her two teammates looked worn out and Hisoka glared at her.

"You're late," he stated.

She rolled her eyes at him and exclaimed, "By like ten minutes!"

He just really got on her nerves. He acted like he was better than her and that's what angered her the most. She had to work harder than he did to become stronger. He was blessed with his special abilities and his clan status. She had to work to get people to respect her.

"Sakura-sensei isn't here anyways," Akira said quietly.

Both Emiko and Hisoka turned their attention to their small teammate. It was still so weird for them to hear her talk. Emiko smiled at her and Hisoka turned away from the two females.

"Thanks, Akira-chan," Emiko whispered to her teammate.

Emiko's smile widened when she noticed the girl blush. Apparently she wasn't used to people talking to her or adding a suffix to her name. Emiko herself isn't socially talented either, but she isn't afraid or shy.

Akira glanced at her teammate with her sky blue eyes. Emiko had been nice to her so far, and she seemed like she wanted to make friends. The boy, Hisoka, scared her a bit still though. She isn't used to talking to people or for them to talk back to her. She has always been extremely shy.

Each of the genin's attention went to Sakura as she appeared in the clearing finally. Sakura smiled at each of them and had been watching them curiously from afar. She was going to be late like Kakashi always was, but decided that she just could not do it.

"Good morning," she greeted.

Emiko smiled widely at her and returned, "Good morning, Sakura-sensei!"

The other two just nodded to show that they returned the greeting.

Sakura smiled at each of them and pulled out the old two bells that held so many memories and jingled them together. She watched as her students looked at her and the bells curiously.

"You have to get a bell from me by lunch time. Use any techniques, even your powerful ones. If you don't get a bell, you don't get to eat and you fail the test. If you fail the test, then you will be stripped of your ninja status and remain where you are forever," Sakura explained.

She could remember when she had heard the exact same thing from Kakashi all those years ago. Now she was the one on the other side, hoping that her team could pass the test to become genin.

Sakura watched as their expressions turned to mild curiosity to complete shock.

"What do you mean, Sensei?!" Emiko screamed.

"I thought we already graduated…?" Hisoka asked.

Akira remained silent the whole time.

Sakura sighed and said, "Just get one of these bells, and you will be okay."

All three of her students gulped as their sensei said, "Begin!"

Sasuke could feel a migraine coming on as he listened to Naruto ramble on and on about Hinata and other things that Sasuke did not really care much about. Naruto was currently talking while slurping ramen and the juice and food was getting everywhere. Sasuke inwardly cringed and decided for the millionth time in his life that Naruto is officially disgusting and annoying.

"Say Sasuke-teme what's been up with you and Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked out of nowhere.

Sasuke choked on the food that was currently going down his throat and started to cough uncontrollably. Naruto patted him on the back and his mischievous grin widened when Sasuke gave him an evil death glare.

"W-What?"

"I asked what's been up with you and Sakura-chan." Naruto repeated himself.

Sasuke shrugged and answered, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're always going to the hospital constantly and giving her walks home! Almost every time I go to Sakura-chan's apartment, you're there! One time I even came over early in the morning through the window and you two were sleeping in the same bed all cuddly-!"

"There's nothing going on, Dobe," Sasuke interrupted.

Everything Naruto had said was true, but it wasn't what Naruto thought. Sasuke was simply just watching over her because that Goro guy wasn't good enough for her. Yeah, that was his reason for doing what he was doing. And he was not jealous. He enjoyed her company that was all.

Naruto was about to retort to that, but someone sat down beside Sasuke. Both Naruto and Sasuke turned to see none other than Goro Arato. They each turned towards him and he smiled back at them.

Naruto grinned and said, "Hey, Goro!"

Sasuke turned to Naruto then, in shock. Naruto knew this guy? How does he know him? A scowl formed itself on his perfect lips.

"Naruto," his chocolate eyes turned to Uchiha and said, "Uchiha-san."

Sasuke just glared at him icily. Naruto noticed the evil glare and had to wonder what Goro had done to his best friend.

"So what's up, Goro?" Naruto finally asked to break the tension.

"Well, my students just passed their test."

Naruto grinned and asked, "So you're a sensei just like Sakura-chan?"

Sasuke noticed the way Goro's face lit up when Sakura was mentioned. He gritted his teeth so he wouldn't punch the idiot.

Goro grinned and said, "Yeah. Where is Sakura-chan by the way?"

Sasuke couldn't contain himself any longer. This guy had no right to even speak her name.

Before Naruto could even reply, Sasuke said evenly, "That's none of your business."

Naruto turned to look at Sasuke in shock and Goro glared at the man sitting beside him. Sasuke just looked at him with complete and utter anger.

"And it's not your job to tell me if it's my business or not, Uchiha," Goro said evenly.

Naruto gulped and could feel the tension in the air. The shopkeepers also noticed the tension and went into the back just in case there was going to be a fight.

It took everything Sasuke had to not have his sharingan fully activated at this point. He had already thought of a hundred different ways to kill Goro, each better than the last.

"Stay away from her," Sasuke said maliciously.

"The only way I will stay away from her, is if she tells me to do so. And she hasn't," Goro said arrogantly.

Naruto saw Sasuke's eyes change to red, and he sprang into action. He grabbed Sasuke's arm and whispered in his ear, "Let's just go, Sasuke. Don't do anything stupid."

When Sasuke didn't move, Naruto decided to drag him away from Goro because Naruto knew that look. Sasuke was literally going to kill Goro. He saw the murderous intent in those swirling red eyes.

Sakura smirked as she stood in the clearing. She knew where her students were hiding. Hisoka was up in the tree towards her left, Emiko was in the bushes, and Akira was….wait…where was Akira? Akira's chakra had suddenly disappeared. Sakura actually strained herself to find her, but even then she still couldn't. She knew that the girl was pretty strong for her age, but to be able to completely conceal her chakra from Sakura was amazing.

Hisoka took advantage of her distractedness and threw some shurikan at her. She easily dodged out of the way and then she blocked his fist as it tried to connect with her face. Sakura grinned at him and kicked him back into the forest like a bug.

Emiko gulped from her hiding place. Sakura sensei is very scary, she thought to herself. She watched as Hisoka tried to attack her again. He was hit back into the forest, but this time straight at her. It was so fast, that she didn't even have time to move out of the way.

Hisoka crashed into her like a boulder and she took the full blow of the landing. They each groaned and Emiko pushed him off of her.

"Ow! Watch where you freaking land, idiot!" she yelled at him.

She gripped her side from her outburst. It was painful as she stood up as well. When she looked over at Hisoka, he was in pain as well, probably more than herself.

"Sorry," he said meekly.

Emiko looked over at him confusedly. He looked tired and his mouth was bleeding. He was also gripping his side. She figured that he would have snapped back at her, but it appeared that he did not have the energy.

She stood beside Hisoka and said, "How about I help you? Two against one is better odds."

He snorted and said, "Fine. Where's Akira?"

"That's a good question."

Before anything could be said Akira jumped down from a tree and landed beside them.

"Akira! There you are!"

Akira blushed and smiled at them both.

Hisoka coughed and then gripped his side in pain. Emiko and Akira's eyes were instantly drawn to him.

"Are you okay?" Emiko asked him.

He nodded and said, "I'm fine. We need to attack as a group. We'll have more of a chance then."

Emiko and Akira nodded in agreement. Then they formed their plan.

"Sasuke, what the hell was that all about?" Naruto asked as calmly as he could.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and just continued to punch the dummy in front of him and imagined that it was Goro. His knuckles were ripped open and they burned every time he punched it again. He could feel droplets of blood trickle down his hands and land on the floor.

Naruto watched him and didn't quite know what to do. What could he even do?

"Sasuke-teme!"

There was no answer.

"Sasuke!"

Still no answer.

"Sasuke fucking Uchiha! Answer me dammit!"

Sasuke stopped punching the torn dummy and let his arms fall back down to his sides. His muscles burned from the exertion, but he reveled in it. He reveled in all the physical pain he was feeling, because it helped distract him.

"I don't trust him."

Naruto frowned and asked, "Why not-?"

"Because he's trying to…he's a…he likes Sakura."

Naruto studied Sasuke's face and then it all hit him: Sasuke's attitude, Sakura and Sasuke spending time together more and more, Sasuke hating Goro for liking Sakura.

Sasuke is in love with Sakura.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he watched Naruto's face light up and a big grin formed on his face. Why was that idiot grinning like that? It didn't make any sense.

"Sasuke, I understand now," Naruto said simply, still grinning.

"What are you talking about, Dobe?"

Naruto wiggled his eyebrows at him and yelled, "You're in love with Sakura-chan!"

Every bone, fiber, and molecule froze in his body. What the hell was Naruto thinking? He couldn't possibly love Sakura… Sure, he loved the way her body seemed to melt next to his. He loved the smell of her hair, even if blood was in it. He loved how she was the same Sakura, yet she wasn't. He loved how much stronger she had become. He loved how compassionate she is. He even loved how annoying she is.

Wait a second, did he just say that he loves all those things about her. Love? Was he even capable of it?

He didn't even have to think about it to answer that question. He knew the answer and he wanted to hit himself for not even realizing it before. He is such an idiot.

He, Sasuke Uchiha, is in love with the beautiful, smart, strong Sakura Haruno.

Sakura smiled when Hisoka came at her again. She grinned when Emiko came from behind while she was engaged in fighting with Hisoka. So they were going to work as a team? She was so proud. Once Akira joined in, they would pass, but she wouldn't let them know that just yet. Wait, where is Akira anyway?

Sakura punched Hisoka and he landed in the water. Emiko moved to her blindside and actually almost touched one of the bells. Sakura immediately moved out of the way and blocked her. Emiko made to punch Sakura, but Sakura blocked that as well. So Emiko tried kicking her, but it was blocked too.

Sakura was so engrossed in fighting Emiko that she didn't even notice or feel Akira come out of nowhere and grab one of the bells. Sakura smirked and felt a bubble of pride well up inside of herself. They were so talented.

Sakura knocked them both away from her then the lunch bell went off. They each wore frowns on their faces and Sakura had to suppress her grin as they made their way to the timer and the lunch boxes.

"We were so close!" Emiko whined.

Sakura looked at all three of them and asked them, "What do you think the point of this test was?"

Sakura watched them go deep in thought and waited for an answer.

"To get the bells, duh!" Emiko said.

Sakura shook her head and said, "No."

"What? Then what was it?" Emiko asked.

Sakura waited patiently.

Then, out of nowhere, Akira's soft voice spoke up.

"The purpose was teamwork, sensei."

Sakura wanted to jump up in the air with joy, but that wouldn't be very professional. She smiled brightly at all three of them and said, "Yes, that's correct."

Then she looked at them seriously and said one of her own sensei's most famous lines, "It is true that in the shinobi world that those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."

She still remembered that day that Kakashi had told them that. It was one of the greatest lessons that she had ever learned. It was ingrained into her memory.

She looked at each of their amazed faces and smiled at them. She was glad that she could teach them what she had been taught.

"You pass."

"Teme! Where are you going?" Naruto screamed at his best friend's retreating back.

Sasuke Uchiha knew exactly where he was going. He was going to Sakura. He didn't know where she was, but he was going to damn well find her. He ran through the streets of Konoha searching for her chakra. There! She was at the ramen stand with her students.

People screamed at him in protest, but he just ignored them. He needed to see her after what he had just realized. All these feelings have been bottled up inside of him and now he feels that they need to just come out. This was so unlike himself.

He slowed down when he came close to the ramen stand and just started to watch her for a second. One of her students, a girl with auburn hair, was arguing with a Hyuga boy. The third one was watching them curiously. Then his eyes finally landed on the pink haired girl. She was shaking her head at them, but also laughing. She said something to them and the two stopped fighting.

He smirked and made his way to the ramen stand and sat down beside her. Sakura jumped in surprise.

"Sasuke-kun! What are you doing here?"

She blushed when he made eye contact with him and she noticed this intense look in his eyes that made butterflies flutter around inside her stomach.

Hisoka, Emiko, and Akira all turned their attention to the new handsome arrival. Emiko had to fight herself back from squealing. She has only seen him in person a couple of times and she knew all of the stories of what he had done and knew that he was a part of team 7. She had never seen him in person this close before and she could safely say that he was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.

After Emiko got over her little squealing inside her head and drooling, she noticed the look Sasuke Uchiha gave her sensei. She also noticed the blush on her sensei's face. Do they like each other or something?

"I was looking for you," he answered.

Emiko watched as Sakura's blush deepened and a confused expression formed on her sensei's face.

"W-Why?"

"I need you," he paused, "….to heal my hands."

Sakura gulped because of the pause and then her green eyes went straight to his hands. She gasped then looked back up at his face with a glare fixed on her beautiful face.

"Sasuke Uchiha! I've told you time and time again not to overwork your training sessions!" Sakura scolded him.

Emiko watched as his beautiful lips turned up into a smirk. She was surprised that he didn't even seem the least bit scared.

Sakura looked over at her students and said, "I'm sorry, but I have to go. Be at the training grounds tomorrow at noon."

She paid for their meal and said, "You guys did well today. I'm proud."

Hisoka, Emiko, and Akira watched as their sensei walk away with the Uchiha.

"They look really good together, don't they?" Emiko said softly.

Sasuke sighed as Sakura's healed his hands. All pain went away with her touch. That is another thing that he loves about her.

As she healed up the last of it, she wrapped them in bandages and said, "There you go, Sasuke-kun!"

As she started to turn away, he grabbed her hand. Her skin is so soft and smooth. She gasped in surprise and he rubbed the pad of his thumb over that smooth skin.

Everything about Sakura is soft and innocent, unlike himself. He is dark and she is light. He has done horrible things and has lost count of how many people he has killed. As his dark eyes met her light green ones, he couldn't see how he could possibly deserve her. He gritted his teeth. Sakura deserved better than him.

He let her go and stood up. Sakura looked at his back and tried to calm her breathing down. What was that he just did?

"I don't deserve you, Sakura…" he said softly.

She was in too much shock to even say anything.

But as he started to walk away, she started to move into action. She grabbed his shoulder and spun him around so that he could face her.

"What does that even mean, Sasuke-kun?" she asked.

He just gave her this regretful look that even she couldn't decipher.

"It means that I have done horrible things in the past-."

"Now listen here! You're right! You have done horrible things, but that was in the past! You have made up for all of them now!" she yelled at him.

He smirked at her. Of course Sakura would say something like that. It doesn't change anything though. It doesn't change who she deserves.

Sasuke closed the gap of space between them and Sakura gasped when his breath was on her ear. Sakura shivered.

"Sakura…you're beautiful," he whispered softly into her ear.

Then he left her standing there stunned and in complete and utter shock.

"The ones who are the hardest to love, are usually the ones who need it the most."