With registration done, there wasn't much left for Sakura to do besides wait to match with her team. She drew a paper from a box which held a location and a time. Luckily for her, she didn't have to go very far. She was to meet with her team at 7 pm in waiting room number 7 at the arena. Genma wasn't allowed to go any further with her and promised he'd be back shortly after her meeting time to escort her back to her hotel.

She entered the room and was met with tan walls decorated with a large, rectangular, white table in the center, adorned with mismatched chairs all around the sides. A small clock hung on the wall just above the door but that was it. No other decoration. No tv. No radio. Thankfully, along the back of the room was a small book shelf filled with reference books for her to read.

As the clock ticked away, Sakura found it hard to make do with the downtime given to her. She could have gone with Genma and come back before the meeting time, but she couldn't handle being around him just yet. Not after their little exchange the night before. She needed this time to calm down and focus.

Minutes had passed and finally three hours had gone by. Sakura had read through a few reference books about Tanigakure and what they were famous for, notable landmarks and their history, etc. It kept her busy although very bored. By the time the clock struck 7 PM, Sakura tried to look as proper as she could as she read another reference book. Whoever was supposed to walk through that door would be a part of her team for the next portion or the exam and she wanted to give a good impression.

A chorus of footsteps echoed from outside the door and in the hall only filling Sakura's stomach with butterflies. This was it. Someone was bound to walk through that door. After the noise died down, Sakura wondered if anyone would walk in at all until the handle turned and finally opened.

Her stomach dropped immediately at the man who entered the room.

"Hnn... I didn't expect this..."

Sakura stared in horror at the Uchiha who lazily entered, closing the door behind him in a smooth motion. His face mixture of disinterest and amusement.

This wasn't funny. If god was playing a joke on her then hardy har har. Why of all people did she have to be on the same team as Sasuke?

Sakura carefully eyed him as he made his way to the seat across from her, casually leaning back into his seat and shut his eyes.

This couldn't be happening. Sasuke wasn't here right now. He couldn't be. He shouldn't be! Sakura swallowed hard and sat up straight. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her.

"Why are you here?" She spat, watching for any sudden movements.

He opened one eye and looked her over with disinterest and shrugged his shoulders. "Same reason why you're here."

Sakura shot him an annoyed look earning her a small, smug smile.

"It's not exactly a secret that I'm still considered a genin. Though I can say for a fact that I exceed far beyond a chunin level. But I suppose you didn't know anything about that judging by your reaction."

Sakura raised her brows, but her frown remained firm and hard. Sasuke was still a genin? Why? Wasn't he a little old to be one? Did he have a late start too?

A loud pounding of shoes hitting the ground raced across the hall outside but Sakura didn't care. Her curiosity got the better of her.

"What do you mean you're—"

The door bust open and Sakura squeaked in surprise. She definitely hadn't anticipated to see another familiar face fumble through the door.

"Wooh! Just in time!" Shouted a flustered, boyish blonde Sakura knew all too well.

"NARUTO?!" She gasped, and stood from her chair.

"No way! Sakura-chan! This is awesome! What are the odds?!" He shouted with glee and ran to her side to give her a big hug.

"What the heck is going on here? Why are both of you here?"

"Both of you?" Naruto asked, completely oblivious to Sasuke's presence. Sakura nodded over towards the dark haired Uchiha and dropped onto her seat in disbelief.

"What the—! Sasuke what the hell!? You're here too!?" Naruto shouted. His reaction was a mixture of both excitement and anger as the reality slowly hit him. He quickly looked between Sakura and his best friend, unsure for a moment which side he should sit on, before firmly planting himself beside Sakura.

He ran a frustrated hand through his blonde locks and grumbled for a moment before slapping his hands onto the table.

"Look, I'm just putting this out here right now. It's none of my business what happened between you two. It's hard for me to believe what I heard but I can't deny the evidence I was showed either. I can't play favorites and you're both my friends. Seeing that we ended up here, together, it's got to mean something. So, we'll need to make the best of this so we can all pass. We're team now and I don't want any funny business! Do you understand?"

"Whatever." Sasuke exhaled, as he folded his arms and closed his eyes again.

Sakura gave Naruto a reassuring smile and a pat on his arm, quietly thanking his protective behavior.

I guess one good thing came out of this… she thought warmly.


As the minutes continued to pass, Sakura found herself watching the clock much too diligently for her own tastes. They were waiting on a team leader to walk right through that door.

"How much longer do we have to wait?!" Naruto complained. "I'm hungry! Is someone actually coming?"

"Just be patient Naruto. I'm sure there's a good reason." Sakura cooed, but inside she too was growing impatient. Just how much longer was she supposed to wait? Sakura already felt bad at the thought that Genma was most likely waiting outside for her. She still hadn't sorted out how she was going to approach him afterwards. It was now 7:45 PM, and she didn't even have a phone to contact him with. He at least needed to know they were running late. He at least deserved that much courtesy from her.

Naruto's stomach gurgled loudly and he groaned.

"I'm huuuungry!" he wailed.

Sasuke remained as silent as ever in his seat. His presence continued to make Sakura's blood boil but she needed to be calm. This had to be a test on her mental strength. There was absolutely no way things would fall together this seamlessly.

Just as the clock slowly inched towards 8 PM, there was a slow, clack of foot steps echoing from outside the room. Everyone shifted in their seats. This was it! They could finally move forward with the exam if their leader just opened that door.

The footsteps finally stopped just outside the door. A moment had passed but no one entered as the footsteps picked up again and began to fade. This was not their leader. Naruto and Sakura shared an unsure look. Sasuke had even peaked through one eye. No one was coming.

"What the hell?!" Naruto complained. "Why bother setting up a team if the leader isn't even going to show!? I say we decide on a team leader right here and now. I vote for me! Any objections?"

Sakura rested her face onto the cool table beneath her.

"I have a few objections." Sasuke droned.

"Yeah? Well I don't see you carrying any leadership skills, lone wolf." Naruto jeered. He turned to Sakura. "Sakura, you'd vote for me, right?"

Sakura heaved a heavy sigh. "Sure Naruto. Whatever."

"Hah! Two votes! Then it's settled! I'm—"

A large puff of smoke exploded into the room prompting everyone to take a defensive stance.

As the smoke began to clear Sakura's stomach dropped to the last big surprise her mentality could handle.

There he was. Standing lazily before them. Hands in his pockets, mask concealing his face. Silver hair and all.

"No way!" Naruto screeched in excitement.

"Yo."


Seated at the last table in the far corner of a Mexican restaurant, Sakura was ready to go back to her hotel. She sat with her back against the wall. Naruto sat across from her. To her left was Kakashi. Her right Genma. And across Genma sat Sasuke.

A waitress had just arrived and dropped off a round of beverages Naruto insisted on ordering for everyone.

"To fate!" Naruto cheered, as he raised his shot glass high in the air. "Because who else can ever be so damn lucky in a time like this?!"

Sakura and Sasuke not so enthusiastically raised their drinks. Kakashi and Genma raised their beers and clanked them together with Naruto's.

Naruto tipped his head back and downed his shot while Genma did the same with his beer. Sasuke sipped at his brandy, Kakashi had magically inhaled his beer without anyone noticing, and Sakura avoided drinking her mojito all together. She just wasn't in the mood.

Naruto continued on about how lucky they were to have been put into the same team. Genma chimed in. Apparently, stuff like this didn't happen since teams were always drawn at random-that there was no way to cheat the system. Naruto stressed that it had to have been a sign from the universe that everything was going to go perfectly. But Sakura didn't feel the same.

She shared a smile and gave her own input, boosting Naruto's confidence into the whole "universe" theory. She only wanted to appease him. But here she was inwardly cursing that the universe put her into the last possible team she ever wanted to be with. Genma just happened to be tagging along which made it even more awkward.

Sakura finally downed her drink and raised her hand to order another one.

"That's the spirit!" Naruto cheered and ordered another round for the table. "Tsunade would be so proud!"

Kakashi glanced sideways at Sakura but said nothing as he accepted a second round of drinks.


Two mojitos, a long island ice tea, and a tequila shot later, Sakura bobbed in her chair as she picked at her plate of nachos; carefully taking small bites. She laughed as Naruto clung to Sasuke who kept pushing him off, but Naruto managed to steal a kiss that almost got him killed. Genma rushed over, grabbing Naruto by the shoulders and wedged himself between him and Sasuke.

"Ok I think we've all had enough." Genma laughed. Sasuke downed the rest of his brandy and violently wiped his lips with a napkin.

Sakura stood up, squeezing herself behind Kakashi's chair and into the walkway. She wobbled for a moment and let a giggle escape her lips.

"Going somewhere?" Kakashi mused.

"Nowhere special." She sang as she wobbled away from the table.

Naruto clung onto Genma, trying to offer kisses his way. "Naruto stop that!"

Kakashi chuckled and stood from his chair, pointing towards a tipsy Sakura. "I'm going to make sure we don't lose that one."

"Hey, get the check too will ya?" Genma shouted after Kakashi. "Naruto stop—!"

Sakura stumbled and nearly crashed into a few waitstaff as she continued to walk through the restaurant. Her head swung left and right but she trudged forward; Kakashi keeping a quiet pace behind her.

Miraculously she had made her way towards the back of the restaurant and down a hall where the bathrooms had been and stumbled inside; leaving Kakashi to wait outside.

She braced herself against the sink as nausea hit her hard in the gut. She could feel the acid creeping along her throat but quickly swallowed it down. She should have stopped after the mojito. She definitely wasn't a drinker like Tsunade and knew she overdid it. Yet she still kept packing on the drinks. She just wanted to forget about everything for a moment and relax. She wanted to drink to take her mind off the fact that the universe was out to get her. She wanted to forget the fact that Sasuke was there. She wanted to forget that she came onto Genma. And she definitely wanted to forget whatever her troubles were with Kakashi.

She rinsed her mouth with water and patted the hot skin of her face. Upon inspection of her reflection, Sakura snorted at how stupid she looked.

Her vision blurred and Sakura swayed once more before her knees collapsed beneath her.

She shrieked as she made contact with the floor; her thud echoing loudly through the bathroom. She couldn't believe she was such a mess. The rational part of her brain scolded her but was also just as drunk. The alcohol swimming through her veins made her feel light and warm and very tired.

Was this why Tsunade always drank? Did she feel this relaxed? Sakura pondered for a moment as she sat there on the floor, swaying left and right. She could have sworn she heard knocking coming from the door, but she also could have sworn she heard herself laughing at the fact that she fell. There was a small blank lapse between her memory and the present and Kakashi was inside the bathroom looking her over with a raised brow.

He folded his arms and took in the wasted, giggling Sakura sitting on the floor.

"I... fell..." she laughed and raised her finger up to her lips "Shhhhhh. Don't tell anybody..." she laughed again and tried to stand.

Kakashi made his way over and helped steady Sakura, placing a firm hand on her arm and braced her back against his chest.

"You need to sober up." He sighed. Kakashi never would have taken her for a lightweight but he should have known better. Sakura never drank in the house. She never ordered anything alcoholic if they went out to eat as a group. He remembered the night of her birthday when Sakura only took a sip of her drink to appease Tsunade.

He reached for a paper towel from the dispenser by the sink, and turned the water on; lightly running the paper towel under the cool tap. He swiftly squeezed the excess water out and dabbed it around her face.

Sakura let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes.

"That feels nice." She slurred.

"You're a little drunk. Of course it feels nice." He mused and dabbed it behind her ears. As the paper tower barely grazed her neck, Sakura let out the type of sigh that made the hair on Kakashi's arms stand and the back of his neck grow warm.

"Scratch that, you're really drunk..." He muttered, and swallowed hard.

He dabbed along the back of her neck listening to her sigh and mewl at his touch. Her back arched slightly and Kakashi quickly stopped dabbing, trying to clear his mind and think of something else.

"Could you please stop making those weird noises?" He coughed, and grabbed for a dry paper towel. As he tried to wipe her face, Sakura began swatting at the paper towel, laughing each time Kakashi pulled it back.

"Sakura, please keep still." He huffed.

He raised it higher out of her grasp and Sakura quickly turned, trying to reach for it. An earnest attempt to help her out turned into an unnecessary game of keep away. After a few more pulls out of her reach, Kakashi was quickly taken aback when Sakura pulled her arms around him and nuzzled her face into his chest

"Sakura…" He placed his hands onto her shoulders, prepared to peel her off. She was a lot more troublesome drunk than he had anticipated. "Sakura, it's time to leave."

"…smell..." She mumbled, nuzzling herself deeper into his chest.

Kakashi, for the first time in a very long time, could feel the heat in his cheeks slowly rising from under his mask. "Excuse me?"

"…my favorite smell…" she mumbled some more.

"Sakura, I think its time we get you back to your room." He exhaled.

Sakura clung onto him tighter. And for a moment, Kakashi stood there, taking in Sakura's warmth. The faint scent of strawberries filled his senses, luring him to take in a deep breathe of it.

She inhaled again and hummed in content. "This smell…I… love… the most…"