Disclaimer: I don't Naruto. There. You know, I've been toying with the idea about chapter size and frequency of updates. I only write about 3 hours a day. So I can either crank out 1 small chapter each day or a big one every week or so. Any preferences?

Sasuke smirked.

The day, although slightly overcast, was perfect weather for another day of shinobi training. A cool breeze ruffled the leaves in the trees, taking the edge off the midday sun. Smoke curled lazily around the rooftops of Konohagakure, while birds sang of spring in the forest. It was one of those days when he could definitely see Shikamaru's attraction to simply lazing around, watching the clouds drift aimlessly by. It wasn't as if he couldn't afford to take a day or two off.

Orochimaru and the Hidden Village of the Sound had been slain, to the last man, woman and child, last year. He chuckled at the thought of that snake-bastard's last feeble pleas for mercy. Wasn't his head gracing some unimportant case in the Hokage's office? Something like that. His elder brother Itachi had finally been put to rest and Sasuke could finally break free of his past and begin to rebuild his clan.

Wasn't there something else? Kakashi-sensei had mentioned it. Ah, yes. He still had to beat that damned demon fox brat, Uzumaki Naruto. His smirk twisted into a sneer as he proceeded to train himself again, in earnest.

"SASUKE-KUN! Ohayo, Sasuke-kun!", Sakura cried out exuberantly as she ran into the clearing.

Oh great, it was the troll.

Sure, Sakura was pretty by most standards but she was so weak and nattered on about the most mindless things. If it weren't for the fact that there was no Uchiha heir apparent yet, Sasuke would have slit his own throat ages ago. It really wasn't even worth the effort of even talking to her. Better to just tune out the incessant drone.

Kakashi appeared on a branch in a small plume of smoke. He wasn't at all surprised to see Sakura talking animatedly to an already hard-at-work Sasuke. It was interesting to note that Naruto wasn't already here.

Maybe he was more injured than I thought. This could be serious.

"Ohayo, everyone.. I got a little lost but managed to...", Kakashi began.

Both Sasuke and Sakura were incredulous. Looking at the shock that was written on their faces, one might of assumed that the world was coming to an end. It was clear that something was up.

"Kakashi sensei? You're on time! Are we under attack? Itachi's risen from the grave?", Sasuke asked with a slight shudder. He had obviously completely lost his composure .

The elder ninja simply waved his arms, assuring them that nothing was wrong. He had simply rearranged his schedule to take a few recent events into account.

"What events?",Sakura grimaced," Did something bad happen to all your porno? Or have you finally grown up and gotten a life?". Then she proceeded to vent exactly what she thought of his personal habits and professional ethics. Many of her words were colourful and were frequently punctuated with stabbing motions from her kunai. Sakura could feel herself shunted off to a small corner of her brain as the Inner Sakura took control.

"WHY DON'T YOU GO AND TAKE THAT FILTHY SMUT AND RAM IT UP YOUR ARSE, YOU DEGENERATE, PERVERTED STREAK OF ....."she roared, before trailing off and realizing exactly who she was yelling at.

Meanwhile, in the deep recesses of Haruno Sakura's mind, a psychic war was taking place. Outer Sakura had managed to get Inner in a headlock and was attempting to choke her to death. Inner managed to break free and counterattacked, slamming a fist and then a kick in quick succession to her opponent's midriff. Caught up in her own fury, Inner Sakura over-extended and was subjected to a mean left hook that caught her and jarred a few teeth loose. Sparks flew from between each other's eyes and then they both simultaneously drew their kunai.

Sakura's chest was heaving with exertion. Sakura's face was showing the after-effects of her personalities' struggle for dominance. At one moment, her face would be calm and sickeningly sweet but then be twisted into a feral snarl that threatened to emasculate any poor suspecting bastard that got too close. Her features continued to twist and morph with so much alarming speed that her face resembled two cats fighting in a sack. The noises coming from her mouth didn't fail to contribute to this conclusion.

Kakashi and Sasuke both were getting to be more than a little bit disturbed by this. "Disturbed" probably wasn't even a strong enough word. "Terrified" was probably a better substitute. Perhaps "Wetting their pants in primordial fear" summed up their feelings best at this point. It was clearly not safe to approach until she had calmed down.

Hmm.... whatever had torn up Naruto hadn't been any outside malevolence but been a member of his own team. Obviously Sakura has become increasingly jealous of her team-mates' successes and her own inadequacies that she's been driven mad. But where had that prodigal strength come from? I wonder if it's really safe for anyone else that gets caught up in her path?

Sasuke was dumbly sitting on his backside, staring at Sakura twitch maniacally as if he didn't really know her. No help there then.....

He leapt down from the branch and attempted to put her out of her misery before she got out of hand, but Sakura collapsed in a heap before he could get close.

Maybe we can talk when she wakes up. If she wakes up.

There was a polite cough from behind him. He whirled around to see Kurenai's team staring dumbfounded, from the forest line.

"Ano, is this a bad time?"

Sakura groaned, wearily brushing a lock of hair away from her face as she opened her eyes. Sticks and pebbles were poking into her back and becoming an irritation. What she saw brought a flutter to her heart.

Sasuke-kun was staring down at her. His clear black pupils staring intently into her own emerald orbs as if concerned about something. She could clearly see a faint sheen of sweat that covered his face and he was breathing heavily and leaning over her. She was thrilled.

"Are you alright?", he asked slowly in a breathy voice.

WHEEEEEE!, Inner Sakura trilled, SASUKE-KUN CARES FOR ME! HE LOVES ME!

She didn't notice the kunai that was clenched tightly in his fist.

With a joyous cry she flung her arms around him and hugged him close to her. She didn't care that this may all be some fever-dream that was occurring right now. That is, until she felt a sharp blow to her stomach.

"Gah!" Sasuke punched her another time as he broke her bear-hug, backflipped a safe distance away and crouched into a ready fighting stance.

"It's the insane one! Everybody, look out!", he shouted to the trees as he drew another kunai and activated his Sharingan.

Sakura was shocked. Sasuke-kun had hit her! Twice! She glanced around the clearing and was alarmed to see no less than half a dozen ninja crouched behind barricades, each having drawn weapons, determined to sell their lives dearly. Kakashi-sensei was lurking in the trees with an intent scowl. Naruto crouched below him, tensed as if to spring at a moment's notice. To her right knelt Shino, arms extended, Destroyer bugs already swarming in the grass around him. Kurenai-sensei and Hyuuga Hinata stood opposite in battle stance, Hinata's Byakugan already activated. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kiba and Akamaru snarling behind her, looking as feral as ever.

This couldn't be right! What was wrong with everyone? Why was everyone acting this way? She got up on her feet and stumbled a bit, her legs feeling a little woozy.

Kakashi called out to the ninja below him, "Easy everyone, don't make any sudden moves. She's clearly disturbed at the moment. She may go berserk at any time now."

She was disturbed, was she? Insane, huh? She spluttered a bit, not noticing seven pairs of hands tightening around their weapons. Then it dawned on her. This was one of Naruto's practical jokes! It had to be. There was no way that everyone would have it in for her. He must still be angry at her rejection yesterday and this was his immature way of getting back at her.

"You can give up now Naruto", she crowed," I know it's just one of your baka pranks you god-damned baka. I don't like you alright? I thought I made it clear to you yesterday that I never will like you that way. Now that I think about it, I don't think that I ever really liked you at all", she sneered before continuing," You're hopeless, you know that? Just accept the fact that you not worth my time."

Sakura turned to the nearest figure and pointed an accusing finger.

"I can tell that it's really you, Naruto! Look! You think that you're so good and you get the transformation all wrong! Hinata doesn't look like that! There's no way that she's ever going to have an expression like that on her! She's always timid and scared and looks like she's always on the verge of shitting herself in terror. You've got her appearance all wrong, you moron!"

Angry at the continuing pretense, Sakura charged the pseudo-Hinata and made as if to strike. Hinata ducked the ineffectual attack and delivered a shattering uppercut with her Hyuuga Ryu. The result of which was sending Sakura flying in the air before she hit the forest floor with a wet thump.

Six pairs of eyes swivelled in her direction, flabbergasted.

Hinata decked Sakura.