Ehehe… I update slow for some reason. Anyway! Let's get back to the story…

Side Note: Even though I didn't mention this, but Naruto and Sasuke are wearing their Chuunin vests. Sakura doesn't, cause those things, for some reason, don't apply to girls.

Also, I'm not sure how to spell Jonin. And I can't make the upright triangle over the o to indicate that the o has to be stretched. Just bear with me…

PS: Tazuna lives in the Village of the Waves, not Mist. I've corrected this in chapter 2.

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Chapter 3

Sakura sleepily opened her eyes and looked around. Sasuke was nowhere in sight and Naruto was climbing trees. He never missed a chance to train.

Sakura got up and went over to the river. She filled her hands with the cool water, and splashed it on her face.

That felt good. I'm wide-awake now.

"Naruto!" cried Sakura to Naruto, who was halfway up one of the tallest trees. "Where's Sasuke-kun?"

Naruto's face showed a little bit of annoyance. He never liked to think that he was Sasuke's friend, but more like a rival, stuck on the same team for years.

"He went for more firewood," answered Naruto and continued to climb upward.

Sakura drooped her head sadly.

I didn't want to make him mad…

Sakura sighed and sat on a big boulder, overlooking the river. She turned her head to the right and for a few minutes, had her attention on the humongous waterfall.

She leaned back and lay down on the smooth rock. Her feet were dangling on the edge.

Even though I've gotten stronger, I'm not the better half that Kakashi-sensei was talking about. I'm not Jonin level.

Sakura closed her eyes and after a second opened them.

Can't I just lie here until the end of the mission? I'll probably just get in the way of the boys…

She sat up and looked out into the distance.

"Sakura-chan!" called someone from behind her.

She turned around and met face-to-face with Naruto. Their faces were so close that Sakura was only inches away from his nose.

"What is it?" Sakura asked, her voice shaking. She quickly made some distance from him on the rock and tried to make her heart stop beating so fast.

"I can see something is wrong with you," he answered. He looked so serious, unlike the clown he used to be a few years back.

Sakura was taken by surprise. She always did when Naruto noticed something that she thought would be hidden so well.

She didn't answer because her mind was still registering what he said. She just looked at him.

"See?" said Naruto, pointing at her. "Something IS wrong!"

"Eh!?" exclaimed Sakura. "N-nothing is wrong! Will you stop worrying?"

She turned her back to Naruto and tried not to think of how that will hurt his feelings.

After about a minute, Sakura wanted to see if he left.

I'm scared to turn around. For some reason, it's hard to stay alone with him. But…

Why?

Sakura closed her eyes and screwed up her face.

It's just Naruto! He's my teammate. There's nothing to be afraid of!

Slowly, she turned her head around and almost fell forward when she realized that Naruto never left his spot. He just looked determinedly at her.

"Would you like to tell me what's bothering you now?" he asked.

Sakura snapped her head back and in a small quivering voice replied:

"I don't qualify for this mission."

"What?" replied Naruto. He was obviously taken aback by this answer. "Yes, you do!"

"Don't try to be nice," said Sakura. "It'll only make it worse."

Naruto laughed and sat beside her.

"Really," he said. "You are strong. Don't bring yourself down, that will make you really lose confidence and be weak."

Sakura slowly looked into his eyes. They were the exact same blue as the river she was washing her face with some time ago.

"I --," she started but then she stopped.

His eyes are so… I'm mesmerized. Can't leave the sight…

She vigorously shook her head and got dizzy from it.

"I," she said. "I understand. Thanks, Naruto."

He stood up.

"Don't worry," he said with a smile. "Neither me nor Sasuke will let anything happen to you."

Sakura's eyes went wide and she felt her face burning.

Naruto jumped off the rock and went over to the burnt firewood, where Sasuke had just returned. They both made a new fire and put out the extra fish for cooking.

Naruto…

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It was time to more forward. They gathered their things and left the campsite.

Sakura and Naruto were walking behind Sasuke who was turning his head this way and that, trying to think of a shortcut to the bridge that Tazuna built so long ago.

Sakura wanted very much to look into Naruto's eyes again.

I'm such a stupid person, but his eyes were so beautiful! Just that! There isn't another reason! None.

She looked sideways at Naruto, who was looking forward. She leaned forward a little and Naruto looked at her.

Sakura quickly turned her gaze in the opposite direction, pretending that she was doing the same thing Sasuke was doing.

Naruto had a big question mark hanging over his head.

Even if just for a second, but I saw his eyes! That's enough for me! I admit they're very beautiful but that's it.

For the rest of the journey, nobody spoke or looked at one another. When they reached the big bridge, Sakura was amazed at how big it was, even though she saw it a few times before.

As they were progressing their way on the bridge, bad memories filled Sakura's mind. She felt very scared, seeing the mist again. She didn't want to get separated from the other two.

The mist was getting so thick, that Sasuke, who walked in front of her, was no longer in sight.

Panicking, Sakura reached her hand towards Naruto and grabbed the sleeve of his orange jacket.

He didn't object but just went on walking after Sasuke.

Wow, I feel so secure when I'm holding Naruto. Like I can walk blindfolded, and trust him to take me over the bridge safely.

When they crossed the bridge, Sakura quickly let go of Naruto, while he still didn't say anything.

They settled in Tazuna's home, Inari never leaving Naruto's side.

Inari has grown. He looks more like a worthy ninja than ever.

"Tomorrow," said Sasuke, when they were eating dinner. "We proceed with the mission. I studied Kakashi's map and the hide-out is at the very edge of the village. More towards the Village of the Hidden Mist."

Sakura felt disappointed again. More mist.

"They hope to be camouflaged by the mist. And since not too many people know there's habitation in that area," continued Sasuke. "Be ready."

With that, he stood up and went upstairs to his room.

I'm not ready. But I'm not backing down.

Naruto's words kept rewinding themselves in Sakura's mind and she stopped looking down on herself. She wondered how long it would last.

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Next Chapter: The mission!!