Well.. *coughs* HI GUYS! It's been so long, I know, but so much has happened. Well, mainly school. I got in the International Baccalaureate program this year, and thus life's been really hectic. I'm so sorry for the long wait! Now that it's spring break I've finally gotten the opportunity to update. Without further ado, enjoy!

Unwinding Time

by Reveri

(and since I haven't really written this for many chapters, STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES)

Chapter 13: Forgive and Forget

"I've nominated all of you for this year's Chunin Exams."

"Chu..nin ... Exams?" Naruto looked dumbfounded, his head cocked to the side in a questioning manner. Suddenly, as if a light switch had been flipped out, he shrieked, "THE CHUNIN EXAMS! Kakashi-sensei -!"

"I'm glad that you're glad, Naruto, but now isn't the time for plesantries. Unfortunately I need to go on a, ah, mission. I'll be back before dawn to see you guys off tommorow."

"Wait," Sakura said, furrowing her brows. "Tommorow?"

"That's right.. unfortunately we were delayed with our previous mission," Sakura blushed at her sensei's words, "so we won't have much time for preparations - not that you should require it, of course. Anyway, I'll give you guys your forms."

He handed his three genin students each a crisp sheet of white paper. Naruto looked absolutely elated; bouncing up and down in his position. Sakura spared a quick glance towards Sasuke. His fists were clenched, and she inwardly sighed - knowing him, he was probably reminded of his brother, Itachi, and how he had achieved Chunin status when he was much, much younger.

Finally, Kakashi faced Sakura. For a moment, steel grey met jade, Kakashi's single eye gauging Sakura's reactions.

Noting Kakashi's look, Sakura muttered, "I'm not afraid, Kakashi-sensei."

"I figured. Good luck."

The rosette smiled. Then, she turned her attentions towards the paper she had received, and chuckled. It was a simple form, really, asking basic details such as age, name, date of birth, as well as a space to sign, confirming that if one lost his or her life in the exams, the Village of Konoha was in no way at fault. She folded the form, and tucked it into her pocket. She then said, "Well boys, I think I'm going to leave too. Bye Sasuke-kun, bye Naruto."

Said boys both nodded. Some time after she had disappeared, Sasuke began to ascend from his position against the bridge.

"She's different," remarked Naruto. He was completely serious - not a trace of his childish manner in sight.

Sasuke paused. For a moment, he seemed as if he was about to remark something . Then, without a word, he left.

Naruto snorted, and looked skyward. His eyes were a deep, dark cerulean blue. Had Sakura - or any girl for that matter - seen him at that moment, she might have even considered him extremely attractive.

"So you've noticed, too."

He wasn't referring to Sakura's sudden gain in strength which, in itself, was quite a mystery. Naruto always knew Sakura had talent, though. No, it was her change in demeanour. She could pretend to be happy, she could pretend to be sad, she could pretend someone else. But her eyes - her eyes couldn't pretend. She couldn't hide the sorrow, the pain, the secrets in her eyes. Naruto recognized that look, that look of pain, because he saw it in his own eyes, every morning in the mirror. For weeks, she hadn't bullied him, or been mean to him, if you didn't count the occasional beating and scolding that, face it, he probably deserved.

But... she never had to live with a demon in her, she never had to be ridiculed with a passion, tortured, beaten for something she had no control over. She never had people look at her with such pure, furious disgust and hate. She never -

"Stop it, Naruto," he muttered angrily. She had had her fair share of pain too, he figured, being bullied by her classmates and all. But, Naruto reasoned, surely a bit of bullying wouldn't have affected her that greatly? And why now, rather then before? It was odd.

Or maybe, she'd been hiding it all along. But now that he got to see her nearly every day, for hours at a time, she'd finally opened up a bit. that was certainly a possibility.

His blood ran cold. So even Sakura had things to hide.

It wasn't that surprising, he knew. After all, when it came down to it, everyone had things to hide. Everyone was a mystery.

But he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. To him, Sakura wasn't just a pretty face. True, to an outsider she might've been; she had been mean to him in the past just like all the other girls, but... she was so, beautifully, utterly, simple. And to Naruto, the boy whose life had been complicated ever since he was born, it was a dream come true. To meet someone that didn't have the pain or the past of a jinchuuriki, someone who didn't belong to some noble clan and had to adhere to all the rules, someone who was completely free and happy. But it wasn't just that. She had a burning desire for recognition, just like he did, even if it stemmed from a certain Uchiha. He could connect with her on that aspect.

And it was probably for that reason Naruto began to love the rosette. True, she didn't like him, but at least she never hated him, not like girls like Ami or Ino. He could see it in her eyes. Heavy dislike, yes, but not hate. Certainly not hate. And for Naruto, that was more than he could ever ask for.

But, he supposed, he was blinded by his love for her. He never really knew the true Sakura Haruno, beyond "the pretty, simplistic girl". Love, he supposed -

No... he sighed. Not love. He was smart enough to realize that now. He did not love Sakura. He certainly liked her as more than a friend, and he supposed it would certainly stay that way for quite a while, but... not love. You couldn't love someone you didn't even know.

Perhaps her "simplicity" had been enough for him back then, but it certainly wasn't enough now. He'd get to know her this time. He'd try and crack her open, and in turn, reveal his own secrets. Maybe, at the very least, he could salvage a good friend.

Naruto closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were a bright, glossy baby blue.

"NA-RU-TO! I'VE FOUND YOU AT LAST! COME BACK HERE AND REPAINT THE DAMAGE YOU'VE DONE TO MY FENCE!" An old man, stick in hand, hobbled towards the young genin, a deep scowl grooved into his wrinkles.

Naruto cackled for a moment at the man. "Catch me if you can, oji-san!" He sprung away, a grin plastered on his face.

Sakura entered the Konoha Library and made a detour to the left hallway, which was blocked by an old, wooden door. A neat gold plaque titled, "Shinobi Section - RESTRICTED TO CIVILIANS AND MINORS" had been hammered onto the rough surface of the wood. The kunoichi wrenched the door open. A young woman with thick glasses perched on the bridge of her nose was flipping through a book. The bright rays of the afternoon sun shone conveniently down on her book, and her lamp was shut off. Dark shiny curls fell from her messy bun that had been pinned on her head. At the sound of the door, she glanced upwards.

"Card, plea-? Oh, it's you." She performed a simple disillusionment hand sign. When Sakura had not changed in appearance, she smiled. "Just checking. Hi, Sakura. I swear, you're one of the few genin that ever come here nowadays. Genin these days... treating the shinobi arts like a game! Anyway, you know where to go."

Sakura's face heated - after all, she had been one of those "genin these days" too, at one time. Clearing her throat, she replied, "Thanks, Ashita-san." She headed towards the end of the hallway, towards a section titled "Main Branch", before glancing at the other sections, such as "CHUNIN AND UP ONLY" or "JOUNIN AND UP ONLY" or even "ANBU ONLY". She frowned. If she had been in the future, she could've accessed the Chunin section, or the Jounin section with permission from Tsunade...

She glanced back. And grinned. She was a fool for not thinking of this the first time she had visited the library, several visits prior.

Long ago, back in her chunin days, Sakura had wanted to access the higher-level sections for some extra research. Tsunade, that sneaky woman, devised a small jutsu Sakura could perform to outsmart the barrier jutsus on the libraries.

Well, it wasn't hers, exactly.

"Perks of being a Hokage's granddaughter," Tsunade had muttered cheekily while Shizune had scowled in a corner.

What if...?

Sakura approached the Chunin entrance, her hands performing several subtle hand signs.

Gingerly, she stepped into the room.

Nothing had happened.

She grinned mischeviously, and instantly began perusing the worn down texts with a renewed eagerness.

"Sakura-san."

She froze, whipping around, thoughts of instant regret and excuses coming to mind.

It was Shikamaru Nara. She raised an eyebrow, all ideas for an excuse slipping from her mind. She had certainly not expected him of all people. Shouldn't he be at his usual spot in the hills, gazing amongst the clouds?

"Oh, hi Shikamaru-san. What brings you here?"

For a moment, Shikamaru looked the slightest bit surprised, but that look was soon replaced by his usual, bored face. "Dad wants me to prepare for the Chunin exams. Being in a renowned clan has its perks, I guess, so I was able to access the Chunin section. What about you? Out of all people, I'd have expected you to be here the least. That is, besides Ino."

Sakura said nothing, frowning. She was a chunin for god sakes, not a genin - at the very least she could have performed a genjutsu to hide her appearance.

Noting her discomfort, Shikamaru said, "You don't need to tell me anything if you don't want to."

Relieved, Sakura muttered a short thanks before returning to the shelves.

"Say," remarked the young boy, leaning on the mahogany table placed neatly next to several shelves, "you don't seem like the type to be here, let alone in the Chunin section."

"You don't seem like the type that would go out of his way to make conversation."

Shikamaru's face cracked into a small smile. "Touché. It's troublesome, but it beats the boredom."

Sakura grinned. That's the Shikamaru I know. "What have you been reading?" she queried.

"Just a few books on increasing stamina," the black-haired genin replied casually.

"Oh?"

"Well, I guess it'll be useful in the long run. What are you looking for?"

"Coincidentally, the same thing. My stamina's quite poor, actually."

"No kidding." Suddenly, as if remembering something, Shikamaru muttered, "Oh great." A scowl adorned his features as he scratched the back of his head.

Sakura had not said anything, merely rolling her eyes. "What?"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "I was expecting you to... never mind. You know, you're a lot better to deal with when you're not around Sasuke or Ino."

"So I've been told. Could I take a look at your book?"

"Sure." He gestured towards a book to his right.

The rosette approached the table, and sat down where a dark green book had been opened to somewhere in the middle of its pages. She flipped through absentmindedly.

"Your hair's shorter."

"No, it just decided to cut itself off," she retorted sarcastically. She couldn't help but smile, though. As she had grown older and started to notice the people around her rather than just Sasuke, she had realized Shikamaru was actually quite the decent companion, especially on missions. He wasn't overbearing and loud like Naruto, or emotionless and annoying like Sai. She felt a bitter wave of nostalgia.

"It looks better."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. Did Shikamaru, of all people, just complement her?

"Don't tell Ino I said that though, or she'll tease me to no end. Seriously, troublesome girl..." he muttered.

The rosette grinned. Perhaps she could find a friend, a beacon of support on her mission. Shikamaru was logical; and maybe, just maybe, if she trusted him enough, she could reveal to him her deepest secret. If he didn't think she was absolutely batshit insane, maybe he could even help.

"Say, maybe we should -"

Soft snores filled the room. Sakura glanced up towards the Nara boy, who had taken a seat opposite her and had fallen asleep in his arms.

She smiled and continued to read to her heart's content.

Several hours of practice later found Sakura winded and panting, leaning against the smooth bark of an oak tree. It was quite warm this time of year, and the sun was glowing ever-so-brightly; thus, the girl had naturally taken refuge in the sweet coolness of the shade the trees had to offer.

"Sakura.."

Instantly, the girl perked up at her name. So whoever it was had finally decided to reveal his or her identity, huh?

"Oh please, I've been waiting for you to reveal yourself. Who are you? Some genin, perhaps, for I've noticed your chakra signature for quite a while. Tell me, what've you been doing, watching me for the past thirty minutes?" Finally, Sakura looked around to see her hidden watcher. Her jaw dropped.

"I-Ino?" Great. First Shikamaru, now Ino. Who next? Chouji?

"That's right!" Ino crossed her arms over her chest, leaning on one leg. A frown graced her features; she looked overwhelmingly confused.

"What's wrong? You look... distressed." Sakura frowned.

Don't get emotional, Sakura, don't get emotional just because she looks sad, she's not your friend right now, just -

"I'll tell you what's wrong. You're what's wrong. I just don't get you!"

Now that hadn't been what she'd been expecting. "I confuse you because ..? What, does me training or doing something besides attending to my looks really surprise everyone that much? Dear Kami, this is -"

"Exactly! You're so... so... different! And, I don't even know why I'm so frustrated over you!"

"..What do you mean?"

"I just don't get it! Why are you acting so different around everyone, around me? Don't tell me you aren't, I can tell. Stop looking at me that way!"

"I'm not! What are you talking about -"

"Like you're sad! Like you pity me! It's aggravating!"

Sakura blanched. Had she really been that obvious? "I..."

"No! I've already started, just don't interrupt me - I just hate this feeling that's been bubbling inside. Every time I see you, you aren't doing something about your appearance, or using your chances to get with Sasuke. I don't understand! Why don't you care about the fact that your hair has a dozen split ends? Why don't you do something about those horrid scars of yours? You look hideous but you don't even care!"

"Now hold on a minute," shouted Sakura, her temper rising by the minute, "just because -"

"Shut up!" Ino shouted, clenching her fists.

Sakura froze, shocked, staring at Ino.

"I told you not to.." she panted, "interrupt." She frowned, trembling. "Please, just... help me stop this! Why, why is it always you? Why is it you? You're the one that gets to be with Sasuke-kun, and yet you don't even realize how lucky you are! Girls would KILL just to be in your place! So why? And what's worse is, the fact you're so... so, carefree, it just angers me! Do you know how much I wish I could just, escape this horrid bubble of caring, of having to feel like I'm worthless without my looks? We both grow our hair long because Sasuke-kun likes girls with long hair and yet without any care you've cut practically A YEAR'S WORTH OF HAIR!"

"I-Ino, I -"

"Sakura, don't do this to me. I just, I .. why did we stop being friends? Wasn't I a good enough friend?" Tears began to well in the blonde's eyes.

Emerald eyes widened. What was happening? "Ino..."

"Don't just Ino me! I admit, Sasuke-kun is the most important person to me, but, Sakura, you're, you're..."

Sakura was rendered speechless. Never in her life had she seen Ino like this. Not ever. Had her best friend been keeping these feelings in all this time, even after they had rekindled their friendship?

"You know... I... I'm.. I'm jealous of you, Sakura. There, I admitted it. You're so lucky - you have a skinny, well built figure. Sasuke-kun practically respects you, even though he'd be hard pressed to admit it. And... your confidence. You've grown so much, you've become a better person than I could have ever -"

"Shut up, Ino. I'm not better than you. You can't just determine whether someone is better than another so simply like that. You can't just say I'm better than you, or you're better than me, got it? Besides... Sasuke-kun? Respect me? That's impossible. He's an arrogant little prick, and he needs to get off his high horse or I'll knock him off it for him."

It was Ino's turn to freeze. For a moment, she seemed to be in some sort of reverie. She frowned. "Don't insult Sasuke-kun! Anyway, I'm sorry, Sakura. That was really embarrassing of me. You never heard this from me, alright?" As an afterthought, she muttered, "Forehead-girl."

Sakura could feel her heart pound against her chest. Tears threatened to spill out of her own eyes. Her vision blurred. "Shut up Ino, you can't just deny your feelings."

"You can't tell me what I can't and can do!"

"No, but I can tell you the truth. Do you have any idea how jealous I've always been of you? You're perfect. You don't just have the perfect blonde hair, the baby blue eyes, the gorgeous clothing, you have the popularity, the smarts. You've always been better than me. I've always been outsmarted by you, whether it be ANYTHING. Do you know how horrible that feels?"

"If you want to be first so much, why aren't you even fighting for it?"

"Because I know now, it isn't just about popularity, or looks, or smarts. Sure, it's nice, but in the long run... does it really matter? Does it really matter how soft, silky, and long your hair is when you're out on a mission with your teammates and you have to endure seeing them being tortured, and realizing there's nothing you can do about it? Does it really matter how skinny or well-built you are when you've failed the people you care for you, when everyone relies on you but you just fail everything? Does it even matter?" Her voice had grown to a deadly hiss.

"Oh, please! Save me the shinobi talk! You haven't even been on a serious mission before, let alone experienced real pain! Who are you to tell me things like this?"

"Because-" Sakura's voice faltered. She blinked away hot, angry tears. "Do you know how it felt, not being able to do a thing while my teammates were practically dying at the Land of Waves?" Her voice was a hoarse whisper. Memories of the incident, back when she was a helpless genin, made her shiver.

"Popularity didn't save the young boy who died to save his master, back at the bridge. Looks didn't save that master who spent the final minutes of his life avenging that young boy."

"Then... why, Sakura? Why did you want to stop being friends?"

"I'm sorry for that, I really am, Ino. I've been an idiot."

There was a long silence. It dragged on for what seemed like hours. The air was thick with tension, but Sakura knew it was only a matter of time before -

"You know, I think I'm alright. With, well, being your friend again. Only if you want to, of course."

"W-what?"

"Forehead girl, I'm pretty sure you aren't deaf. Now answer me before I get even more embarassed."

"I.. you want to be my friend?" Sakura couldn't believe her ears. Was this even happening?

Ino, I'm really sorry, I know I've been a real horrible person. I can't believe I sacrificed you for some boy. Can we... just be friends again?

No, Sakura. We may be on speaking terms but that doesn't mean we have to be friends.

"Heck, Sakura, you are deaf!"

Ino, please... don't deny it, you were obsessed with Sasuke-kun too! And you know how hard it is for me to -

No, Sakura, I can't. I just can't. You still call him Sasuke-kun. You have to do better than that if you want to be best friends again.

"I... Ino, I've wanted to be your friend again ever since we made that stupid promise."

Ino! Don't die on me! You're not allowed to die!

Calm down, Sakura. I'm not dying anytime soon, geez. Do you really think it'd be that easy to get rid of me?

Ino...

"Me too... we're just a bunch of stupid lovesick girls, aren't we? At least, me, I guess."

I'm sorry, Sakura. I've just been bitter, you know? I know it wasn't your fault. It was mine, too. I guess you could call me stupid.

Ino, that's not true and you know it.

A smile. Kami, I've missed playing around with that pink hair of yours. None of my dolls ever had pink hair.

"That's not true and you know it." Sakura grinned.

Oh gosh, Ino, that's really creepy.

I know right? I totally didn't say that.

Totally.

Ino flashed Sakura a grin. "See you tommorow. And, uh.. good luck." She left.

"You too."

Sakura clenched her fists tightly. This was why she wanted to save the people she loved. To bring back moments like this. To bring change in her life. To do something that wasn't just to benefit herself, but also everyone else. To be selfless, for once.

Feeling a surge of adrenaline despite the physical and emotional fatigue she felt, she began her training with a renewed vigor.

Maybe tommorow, before the written test, she'd find Kurenai. Maybe even Anko.

A small figure was perched on a the tallest branch of the old oak tree. It was impossible to discern the identity of the figure. One thing was certain, however. Sakura did not take notice of the figure; she was much too preoccupied with her goal.

The silhouette disappeared into the midst of the descending sun.

Perhaps now was not the time.

A/N: HI :) Well, this has been a rather... I don't know, cheesy/meaningful/deep/sappy/monologue-y/tearjerking chapter? Well anyway, this chapter sort of sets the stage for friendships and more to blossom or.. er... unblossom? Who knows ;) Anyway, I'll try and update ASAP! Like within this week! Seriously! Not joking!

(and also.. as for the "figure" at the end of the chapter... Guess who? ;)