The morning of the sixth of June found Konoha Village rising to the subtle sounds of chirping birds & a dawn so picaresque it caused Sakura's breath to hitch. The trees bloomed lively green against their backdrop of warm colors as wisps of purples and reds flew together among the clouds and the sun bore witness to the fruitful land as it appeared from behind lush green hills.

Sitting on the wood engawa, Sakura was alone but a sweet placidity settled around her like a fuzzy blanket. She closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh, clean air and faintly smelling the saltwater of the Uchiha's lake. It wasn't until she heard the fusuma slide open that her large, bottle-green eyes revealed themselves from behind thick pink lashes. Sakura paid no mind to the new warmth next to her, allowing her pink lips to quirk in a slight smile of contentment.

The sozu fountain bobbed and clacked repeatedly and Sakura simply listened to her surroundings, absorbing the tranquility and leaning into the arm around her waist.

"Here," her companion said to her, drawing her attention to the yunomi he was offering to her. It was filled three-quarters the way with the sencha tea she fancied and preferred to drink unsweetened. Sakura thanked him quietly, and they sat in the silence for a while, the steaming cups sending vapor into the air.

When the aftermath of the sunset came, the two yunomi were set aside on the engawa and the sky was void of clouds. Sakura watched as a bird pecked at the seeds she'd thrown on the ground only to fly away as she stood abruptly. "It's about time we get going," she remarked and offered her hand to the sable headed boy.

Sasuke stared blankly at her and his gaze went to her hand. He grasped it and she pulled him up easily. They shared a look before Sakura walked off wordlessly, her waist-length braid bobbing behind her.

He knew she was in a hurry for the genin exams. Sasuke had no doubts about her passing, as he was fully confident in her ability and readiness; nothing Iruka sensei could throw at her would faze her. After all, he had trained her himself.

...

Sakura ambled out the room adjusting a blue-clothed hitai-ate to her forehead with a wide smile on her face. Sasuke smirked at her, but his sparkling ebony eyes said everything he couldn't say for him. He was proud.

The pinkette bit her lip and flushed when Sasuke pressed the chaste kiss to her knuckles that made her heart flutter. She still wasn't quite used to this kind of attention but the fact that Sasuke was indulging her-

"Sasuke Uchiha!" Mizuki sensei called and the Uchiha gave Sakura a pat on the head. She watched as he walked away from her and her fingers crossed anxiously.

..

"Alright, Sasuke-san," Iruka smiled warmly to him as he came into the room and stood before the two senseis. There were ten forehead protectors lined up in three incomplete rows. The first row only had three bands left.

"You only need to perform the three basic ninjutsu."

Sasuke blinked owlishly. That ..was it? He was genuinely expecting a strenuous combination of endurance tests, beep tests and an unforgiving rain of sense-manipulating genjutsu after genjutsu. This, however, was underwhelming, unexpected and- and...

Simply genius.

By giving purposely vague info in regards to the test Iruka and Mizuki could easily filter out the slacker clowns who, at the very last moment, crammed for the test. This method would allow them to see just who was training and actively perfecting their ninjutsu. Whoever came up with that deserved an applaud.

"I'm ready," he said. Iruka brandished a blunted kunai in his right hand, easily dispatching them toward the Uchiha. Sasuke put his hands together for the first seal, then the second and third. He skipped the fourth as he had done the Jutsu hundreds of times before.

The knives embedded themselves in Sasuke's arm, and a log fell to the ground in his place shortly after. Iruka congratulated him briefly.

The trials after that were unremarkable. Sasuke smirked as he collected his new hitai-ate. He tied it around his neck and allowed himself a small, genuine smile. "Hn. You truly are the academies best sensei, Iruka."

Iruka sputtered at the praise even after Sasuke left.

...

Sakura easily kept pace with Sasuke as their knives collided, the legit blades creating a faint spark before she pushed him away and they both leaped back. The breeze swept up her braid and strands came loose, sticking to her sweaty and flushed face. Simultaneously, they surged forward and the kunai slid against one another, Sakura dodging to the right as Sasuke aimed a kick to her head. She snarled, twirled and the Uchiha bent backward as the kunai came hazardously close to his cheek.

Sakura dove for him but Sasuke flipped, kicking her in the jaw and sending her flying several meters away. She gasped, spitting out some blood off to the side. She cursed and charged him. Their kunai clashed for a while before Sakura saw an opening in Sasuke's defense.

She was so ready to hook her strong arms around his neck, manhandle the boy into submission and slam him into the ground. She was ready to brandish her kunai dangerously close to his jugular and call time. She was ready to claim a victory-

A timer sounded. Sakura froze in her movements, her arms having already latched around Sasuke's shoulders. She had initially planned to turn him around and apply her weight to push him to the ground, but the ten minute time limit was up. Now, they were left with her body pushed up against his, both breathing heavy and their noses nearly touching.

Tension seemed to hold Sakura in place. Sasuke blinked rapidly down at her. His ebony eyes traveled lower and lower, beneath her collar. Sakura tore away from him with a squeal, crossing her arms over her chest protectively.

As much as she liked her kind of sort of, in some very loose terms boyfriend, Sakura didn't think she liked anyone thatmuch.

Sasuke cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. "Let me take a look at that bruise."

As dusk came upon them Sakura and Sasuke had already participated in several taijutsu only spars. Sakura was kneeling by the sozu, splashing her face with the refreshing water when Sasuke came out to the engawa with two steaming yunomi of oolong. Sakura smiled widely. "My savior," she joked and went to sit next to Sasuke who handed her a cup.

Silence reigned between them and Sakura merely sipped at her tea, her bottle-green eyes seeming larger, her lashes darker and thicker in the yellow light of the setting sun. She sidled up to the Uchiha, resting her head against his shoulder and giggling at the familiar feel of his arm around her. "Team placements are next week," she said to him quietly. Sasuke didn't look at her and instead drank the last of his tea.

"I hope I can at least be placed on Kiba's team. His skill in taijutsu strongly contrasts my fighting style, whatever it is," she sighs. "I'd be a good support nin."

"We have a week until assignments," Sasuke began in almost a murmur. "I'm guessing that as rookie shinobi and kunoichi of the year, we'll be placed on a team with the dobe of class. It's a balance of power."

Sakura looked up at him. So that meant...

She groaned, and all too suddenly the sunset seemed to dull in its beauty. Sasuke stood and retreated toward the fusuma. Sakura watched him until he turned around, his eyes smiling but his lips smirking. "Are you staying the night?" He inquired and Sakura wasted no time in rushing inside, a zealous grin on her face.

The next morning, they found that the tea had dried to the bottom of the yunomi and permanent rings were left on the engawa. To Sasuke, the previous night was worth it.

…

A/N; There was no sex or anything like that. They're just good friends.