Sasuke landed on his back. Kakashi fended off several of Naruto's clones before Sasuke attacked again.

Sasuke threw several kunai. Kakashi caught one and dispatched the last of Naruto's clones. Sasuke lunged, kicking several times at Kakashi. Kakashi dodged his first few attacks and performed fast hand signs. Sasuke jumped, a moment too slow.

The earth stretched under Sasuke, grabbing his foot. He was pulled into the ground, up to his chin. Sasuke cursed, struggling.

"You're wide open!" Naruto appeared, swinging at Kakashi. Kakashi caught his fist and kneed Naruto in the side. He landed on his face with a grunt.

Kakashi glanced at Sakura, watching nearby.

"Aren't you going to help?" He asked. "The three of you need to be ready if you're planning on participating in the Chunin Exams." He crossed his arms. "In your last mission, you two performed excellently." He gestured to Naruto and Sasuke. "But you," He turned to Sakura. "You've been lagging behind. Ever since we left the Land of Waves."

Sakura lowered her head. Naruto and Sasuke stared at her.

"I'm fine!" Sakura snapped. Kakashi shrugged his shoulders.

X

After the training session, Kakashi warned that if they couldn't work together, they would fail. The three kids went to Ichiraku as night fell.

Sasuke was the first to speak as they waited for the food.

"What's going on?" He turned to Sakura. Sakura stared at the counter. Naruto, sitting between the two of them, glanced between them. "Do you want to drag all of us down?"

"I don't know if I can do this," Sakura admitted.

"What?" Sasuke jumped from his seat. Sakura avoided his glare. "You've got to be kidding," he hissed. "Well?" he asked. "Are you going to quit?" Sakura didn't answer.

"Those goons attacked Tsunami's house," Sakura said finally. Sasuke waited for her to continue. "I killed them."

Teuchi stood silent, holding three bowls of ramen. Sakura looked up at him and ran from the shop. Teuchi looked to Naruto and Sasuke. Sasuke thought for a moment before chasing after her.

Naruto looked up at Teuchi.

"You'd better go after them," Teuchi said. "I ain't going anywhere."

X

Sasuke found Sakura just outside of the village.

"Where are you going?" He called out. "Quit running!"

"Leave me alone!" Sakura shouted. "Back off!" Sasuke watched her for a minute. She was illuminated in the dim moonlight.

"Those goons you killed… You gonna let them take you down with them?" Sakura glared at him.

"What?" She asked.

"Who cares if you killed them!" Sasuke added. "They're scum!" He started for her. "You did what had to be done!"

"I said back off!" Sakura spun on Sasuke, throwing a punch. Sasuke caught her fist.

"What are you going to do then?" Sasuke tightened his grip on her fist. "You're gonna quit?" Sakura struggled against him. "I thought you wanted to be stronger!"

"You did it!" Inari cheered. Tsunami panted. Sakura stared at the destroyed house. She looked down at her hands.

"Sakura?" Inari turned to her. "Are you okay?" Sakura buried her face in her hands and started to cry. Inari tried to comfort her.

"Back off!" Sakura kicked Sasuke. He stumbled backward. "You don't know anything!" Sasuke regained his bearings, glaring.

"If you cant handle killing two pieces of garbage," he said. "Maybe you should quit. You're worthless as a ninja!" Sakura rushed him. The two of them exchanged a few blows. Sasuke knocked Sakura back and advanced.

Sakura tackled Sasuke. The two of them rolled across the dirt, grappling.

Naruto appeared further down the path.

"Hey!" He called out, running at them. "What are you two doing?"

Sasuke got on top, pinning Sakura's arms down with his legs. He raised a balled fist. Naruto shoved Sasuke off of her.

"She's being an idiot!" Sasuke hissed. Naruto looked down at Sakura. She stared past him at the sky above. He groaned.

"Sakura… What's wrong with you?" Naruto asked. Sakura grunted. Naruto and Sasuke shared a look.

"I think I'm going to quit," Sakura said. "I can't do this."

"That's a shame." Kakashi appeared, standing behind Sasuke and Naruto. The boys flinched, moving away from him.

"Where did you come from?" Naruto asked. Kakashi shrugged.

"I forgot to mention something," Kakashi said. "You need all three of you to participate in the Chunin Exams."

"What?" Sasuke spoke up. Naruto was stunned silent. Sakura didn't move.

"If one of you decides not to participate, none of you can participate." The boys turned to Sakura. Kakashi sighed. "Don't feel too pressured… You have two months." With that, he left.

The kids were silent. Sakura whimpered.

"I'm sorry."

X

Rock Lee spun in the air and landed on his feet. Four kunai landed in the ground in front of him.

"You're just too fast, Lee," Tenten laughed. "I'll never hit you." Lee stood up straight with a grin. The two of them were on the training grounds. The area was littered with kunai shuriken and the like. Lee noticed blood on his shoulder. He'd been grazed.

"Don't doubt yourself, Tenten!" He beamed. "You're improving so much!" Tenten scoffed.

"Nowhere near as much as you," she said. "There's no way we'll fail this time. I promise…" She hesitated. "I won't hold us back again."

Neji watched from the edge of the training field. A smile formed on his face. He noticed three kids walking down the nearby street. He recognized them as Kakashi's team.

X

Sakura got home late at night. She went straight to bed.

"I've been expecting you, Sakura." Sakura jumped up, scanning her dark room. She'd recognized the voice.

Ino was sitting in her bedroom chair. Sakura turned on the light, frowning at the girl.

"How did you get in here?" Sakura asked. Ino nodded at the window. Shikamaru and Choji were sitting on Sakura's balcony. The two of them were sharing some chips. They waved at her.

Sakura grumbled and sunk into her bed.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"We just got back from a hard mission," Ino said with a drawn-out sigh. "I thought I'd visit my very best friend!" Sakura blinked.

"You couldn't have waited until morning?"

"Nope." Ino grinned. "I've had an epiphany." Sakura waited for her to continue, disinterested. Ino simply sat there, staring at her.

"What kind of epiphany?" Sakura finally asked.

"I'm glad you asked," Ino said. "I'm gonna take over the world!" Sakura blinked.

"That's nice." Ino frowned.

"Well… I'll see you around. Maybe in the Chunin exams." Ino got up and walked to the window. Sakura watched her climb out, stepping on Choji's hand. The three of them argued for a few minutes before leaving.

Sakura slept.