Pretty soon things fell back into the same old patterns. Naruto and Sasuke bickered like children, determined to dislike one another whilst secretly wanting to grow stronger than the other and I was caught in the middle. Rubbing my aching head as I walked I exhaled wearily having just broken up another fight between them as it had grown slightly out of hand and had involved a few smashed watermelons which I had to pay for. I was now out of money for the week and I wasn't sure I could make the food last for Naruto as he ate so much, I'll have to skip a few meals to make sure it's enough. All our allowance went into rent and bills, barely leaving enough for everything else.

With Sasuke it wasn't so bad as he received a little more from the Hokage because of his circumstances, but still I would have to make sure he had plenty to eat as well, plus if I use some of my savings then his gas and electric bill will definitely be paid off for this month as well as what we owe from last month. Being an adult really sucks sometimes. "Hey Yume-san, Yume!" Sakura called out politely at first so I stopped and turned around to face her.

"Hello Sakura, is everything alright?" My face dropped in despair. "Please don't tell me the boys are fighting again."

"Huh? Oh no nothing like that, I was actually going to ask for your help." Sakura said to me before blushing with embarrassment. "You see I'm falling behind with my training since Sasuke and Naruto are getting so good and I want to be stronger so I don't have to rely on them all the time. I would ask Kakashi-sensei, but I feel like I'm just a disappointment to him but then I overheard Naruto saying that you used to help him practice for his tests when we were in the academy, and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind showing me a few techniques." Sakura really was cute and very modest too so I smiled at her.

"You're plenty strong, Sakura, I think your problem is that you haven't found your true strength yet." I said and she blinked up at me, echoing my words thoughtfully. "Everyone has something that they excel at, you just need to find out what your talent is. However, I wouldn't mind helping you out if that's what you want, so follow me." Beaming happily Sakura rushed to my side, glowing with excitement as I took her somewhere we could train. "How are you getting on with my boys? I hope they're being nice to you."

"Naruto is always a pain and acts like a kid all the time, but Sasuke is always perfect and dreamy, he's just so cool and everything he does is just awesome!" Sakura immediately launched into an in depth biography of Sasuke Uchiha which overwhelmed me a little but I was glad to learn that her feelings were sincere and not just trivial. She truly admired and respected him above all else, though I was disappointed for Naruto. When we arrived at one of the training grounds I faced Sakura, placing my hands on my hips.

"Now don't worry about trying to defeat me or anything Sakura, I am a highly trained ninja with twelve years worth of experience over you. I'm going to teach you a few techniques that will help you protect yourself and deal some damage. Kakashi tells me that you have excellent chakra control, so this should be perfect for you." I told her before explaining everything in full detail and she nodded her head, understanding absolutely everything straight away. This was different to how I had had to teach Naruto but it was certainly refreshing. I taught Sakura to move her chakra flow to her arms and legs for more powerful hits as well as a few attacks that would stun her opponents and give her time to either escape or subdue them.

We sparred against one another and I was impressed with her determination and hard work, offering praise where it was due and giving advice on how to further improve. She was smart, level headed and extremely intelligent for her age. She'll be just fine. Stepping back I rubbed my head, still feeling it throb and ache and I couldn't help but notice how heavy my body felt. It must be from those sleepless nights jumping between Naruto and Sasuke as well as keeping them from killing one another. I was bound to start feeling the repercussions sooner or later.

"How did I do? Was I any good?" Sakura panted so I quickly hid the pain I was feeling to smile at her.

"You were excellent, Sakura. Have more confidence in yourself, you are more than capable of protecting yourself in a fight." I assured her as my vision started to split but I pushed through it. I just need to get home then I can lie down for a bit. That's all I need, a little rest. As Sakura grinned happily up at me I looked up as I sensed Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi approaching, Naruto waving excitedly.

"Sakura! Yume! What're you guys doing?"

"Oh nothing, just a little private training." Sakura boasted slightly with a proud expression. "Yume-san was teaching me these super cool techniques which I'm going to use on our next mission so that I can totally save your butts." Her eyes turned to Sasuke, probably hoping that he would praise or acknowledge her efforts but he just stared off into the distance with his usual expression of distaste. Instantly Sakura slumped in disappointment but Naruto bounded over obliviously.

"What no way?! Teach them to me too aunty, no fair!" He begged and Sakura punched him in the head, yelling that he wasn't allowed because they were jutsu I had taught specifically for her and he couldn't butt in. "Come on Sakura she's my aunt of course she'll teach me! Right Yume?" He asked however I just gave a tired smile, rubbing my temple a little.

"Maybe next time Naruto, I'm a little tired, ya know?" I said truthfully and he immediately looked crestfallen.

"Aw man. Okay but you have to teach me something super cool and powerful, deal?" Nodding my head I pressed my fist against his to seal the promise, a habit we had picked up recently.

"You're such a nuisance." Sasuke drawled at Naruto who immediately reacted.

"Can it you! At least I work hard at my training, you don't put in any effort at all!" Naruto accused grumpily whilst pointing at Sasuke. Not again, I just broke up their last fight. These boys were exhausting. "You just expect that you'll get everything straight away but I bet if you actually tried more you'd be way better!" I looked across to Naruto but bit my tongue. I was tempted to tell him that Sasuke actually put in just as many training hours as he did, sometimes more and that was the reason why he was so good. He just didn't tell people how hard he had to work.

"What's it to you? It's not my fault you're lagging behind. At this stage Sakura will probably overtake you again then you'll be the worst of us, just like before." Sasuke retorted, both glowering at one another. It was a little funny, Naruto was the only one who seemed to elicit any kind of emotional response from Sasuke. Those two were growing to be really close friends, it made me happy.

"Take that back! I'll fight you right here and now if I have to!"

"Bring it on!" Suddenly they were fighting one another again, exchanging blows though Sasuke started to wipe the floor with Naruto, easily dodging and countering his attacks until Naruto got really angry and frustrated.

"That does it! Take this!" He reached for his weapons, grasping them in his hands and instantly my eyes widened.

"Naruto!" I had to stop them before it got too far, this was ridiculous. Sasuke answered by throwing his own shuriken at the same time, the first wave cancelling the other out however he had not sensed Naruto's doppelganger behind him, falling from the air and flinging a kunai knife downwards with a yell. "SASUKE!" I moved without thinking, my head in too much pain to react more sensibly. Kakashi moved forwards to stop them as well, grabbing the real Naruto and restraining him however I barely had time to jump in front of Sasuke and push him to the ground, throwing my body over him to protect him.

The cold blade slid into my body and I gasped with a pained shudder, hot blood bursting free from my shoulder where the knife sunk deep into my flesh. That hurt. "Sasuke, are you alright?" I asked, sweat racing down my face as I struggled for breath but his eyes were just staring up at me, speechless. "Sasuke answer me!"

"Yume!" Naruto yelled with a shrieking fear and shock as I pushed myself up and set Sasuke on his feet, the pain dulling as everyone rushed forwards. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you! I'm so sorry so sorry!" Naruto gripped onto my arm tightly but I smiled at him shakily, wanting to reassure him that I was alright.

"It's nothing, don't worry about me Naruto. Just please don't get so angry and frustrated like this so much, you could have hurt Sasuke and he's your friend. You should protect one another, not fight like this." I scolded them before suddenly Kakashi was standing behind me with one hand at my waist and the other pressing over my brow.

"You have a fever." He told me and Naruto's eyes widened further so I waved it off.

"It's nothing, I'm fine I'm fine don't fuss so much."

"I'm sorry Yume-san, I asked you to train even though you're not feeling well, I didn't mean to be so selfish!" Sakura bowed her head so I ruffled her hair affectionately, telling her that it wasn't a bother. Sasuke still hadn't said anything but before I could try to comfort him, Kakashi lifted me off the ground without allowing me to protest against it.

"Kakashi I'm fine to walk, you know."

"Out of the question. I'm taking you home and you're going to rest, no arguments." He told me sharply and I blinked at the tone before suddenly he whisked me away from the kids. As he said he took me home and pulled out the knife, treating the wound for me so that I could heal myself, leaving a smaller wound but he placed a patch over it just to make sure that it didn't open and bleed. All the while he had been silent, washing my shoulder and back clean from the blood as I held a blanket against my chest, blushing slightly in embarrassment. I should have been faster, blocked the knife and kept everyone from getting hurt but in that moment, all my mind could think to do was scream in fear for Sasuke. "There. You should take some medicine and sleep for a while."

"Kakashi, are you angry with me?" I asked him and he stopped, his tense figure not relaxing at all as I watched him, sliding a shirt over my head to cover myself once more. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to cause you to worry."

"You push yourself too hard." Kakashi cut me off, surprising me again. He was acting strangely. Everything about him radiated anger but he had tended my injury with such gentle fingers that it seemed paradoxical. "You never ask for help, don't rely on anyone else and take on everyone else's burdens. Would it kill you to ask me to help you, Yume? I can't stand seeing you working yourself into this kind of state. It makes me angry."

"I'm sorry…" I couldn't think of what else to say to him. Of course I felt guilty but this was such a rare side of Kakashi that I was uncertain of how to proceed. "I didn't mean…"

"Just reach out to me sometimes, Yume. Lean on me, depend on me, even if it's just a little. That's all I want." Kakashi informed me darkly as he turned and crouched down in front of me, taking my hands in his. "I want to be there for you whenever you need, I'll come running to your side if ever you call out. Just…just ask, Yume. You don't have to do everything by yourself." His head bowed over my hands, resting against them and for a startling moment, I realised just how much Kakashi cared for me. I'd caused him pain by inflicting it upon myself so I instinctively placed my arms around him, wrapping him up with my warmth.

"I will try to depend on others a little more, Kakashi, I promise." I murmured to him softly. "And I'll let you fuss over me a bit if that'll make you feel better. Carry me to bed?" I heard him chuckle softly before he drew in a breath and exhaled, letting go of his anxiety and anger to then lift me up carefully, making sure I was comfortable and that he didn't jostle my shoulder before carrying me to my tiny room where only the futon fit. He lay me down then placed a cooling cloth over my head, making sure I was comfortable before sitting down next to me and keeping me company.

Sakura and the boys came by a little while later and Naruto immediately sat down on my other side, holding my hand as I slept though I could still sense him even as I dreamed. His warm chakra made a smile curl on my lips and I whispered his name before instinctively reaching out further. "Sasuke…Sasuke…" Sasuke's head jerked and he quickly looked away, looking guilty and ashamed but Kakashi waved him closer and he took his place.

"Is Yume-san going to be okay?" Sakura asked with worry and Kakashi reassured her with a pat on the head.

"All she needs is rest and plenty of fluids."

"We'll take care of her. Leave it to us sensei." Naruto whispered determinedly and Kakashi nodded. He left so that Naruto and Sasuke could have some alone time with me and they both diligently watched over me all night, keeping my head cool and helping me to drink and even eat some soup that Sasuke made. They were my little guardian angels and when Kakashi returned the next morning, he found them both curled up next to me on either side, fast asleep and holding my hands as if they were afraid I would disappear from their side. I came around slightly at this point, eyes fluttering but immediately smiling as I sensed them next to me.

"Kakashi." I murmured, managing to lift my head slightly and instantly he was there, supporting my neck and giving me something to drink. Although I felt terrible, I felt happy and content to have everyone here with me. "Thank you."