Rated T for the inevitable "minor action violence" that comes with the shinobi life.
His mind was still reeling—Sakura was quiet beside him but from what he could gather from the whispers of their classmates shuffling around them, the three Sound ninja that had just left and offered Sasuke their scroll in exchange for their lives were all very strong, and the Konoha genin would have most likely died, if not for…
A sudden stab of pain pierced through Sasuke's left shoulder and he couldn't help but twitch, causing Sakura to glance worriedly at him and reach out with her right hand to touch the mark which at the moment was known only to them.
Sasuke didn't want to draw the attention of the other genin towards it, though, so with what remained of his strength he grabbed Sakura's hand and held it between them.
The pink-haired kunoichi would have blushed, and he would have too, if not for the utter exhaustion that had drained them both.
Instead, they stared at each other—Sakura with concern in her eyes and Sasuke with curiosity in his.
He didn't remember what happened during the whispered narrations of the other genin, but right now he could see clearly that his teammate's face was horribly injured, her right eye swollen, and her long, beautiful pink hair cut with what looked like a sharp object, probably a kunai. He gritted his teeth and squeezed her hand.
"Who—"
Sakura shook her head, glancing around.
"It doesn't matter, Sasuke-kun," she whispered. "I simply tried my best to protect my comrades. It's what's expected of a kunoichi, even a weak one like me."
Sasuke was about to argue, but Sakura smiled and continued.
"I know what I'm capable of. I know that I am smarter than both you and Naruto but I have a long way to go in taijutsu and ninjutsu… but I'll catch up to you both. That's a promise."
She was still smiling, and upon discovering that Sasuke's left hand was still on hers, she looked at them and spoke in an even softer voice.
"I was so scared earlier. I thought both you and Naruto and Lee would die on my watch and I couldn't forgive myself if that ever happened. In the end, you saved us all, Sasuke-kun. Thank you," she glanced up at him. "But I don't trust that mark. I don't like what it did to you, Sasuke-kun. You weren't—"
"What are you talking about?"
"I—huh?"
"If not for you, Naruto, Lee, and I would be dead by now. You did well," he muttered, looking fiercely at her.
"I—thank you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered, all red now. "Maybe Lee-san would agree to train with me on taijutsu…" she babbled.
Sasuke frowned.
"I'm just as—"
"Sakura-chan!" they heard their loud blond friend scream, apparently awake now.
Both of them looked behind them at Naruto, who had a worried look on his face. The latter seemed oblivious to their still clasped hands.
"What—what happened to your hair?!"