AN: Hmm… I think I'll add Shika/Ino… I'm not sure. Would you guys like that? It all depends on you guys, so tell me eh? By the way, thanks for your lovely reviews! ^^
Hidden Chapter 5: Mission Time
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
'Sakura…' She glanced around. Again, fog and mist surrounded her. "Who are you?" She questioned. No answer came. "Who are you?! What do you want from me?!" She asked again desperately. "Please… tell me." Silence.
'You'll be mine.' Her eyes widened. "Go away! Just leave me alone!" she felt uneasy. She sensed someone watching her, with their eyes boring into her. A hand slightly caressed her arm. A frigid chill ran down her spine. "G-… go away!" She waved her arms psychotically around her trying to get rid of the feeling. It grabbed her and began to drag her. An opening from under her melted away, and she began to get pulled under.
'I can't… I can't breathe!' Sakura thought. She tried to free herself but it was of no use. She continued to sink under. "Let go!" she attempted to scream. She began to give up, and felt herself surrendering to unconsciousness. It let her go.
Sakura woke up with a start. She found herself gagging on her sheet and immediately removed it from her mouth. 'Uhhrrgg…no wonder I couldn't breathe.' She brushed her uncombed her away from her face and looked outside. It was still dark, in the early morning. Konoha village was just waking up. She couldn't go back to sleep, and she didn't have to meet the others for a while. So, she decided to go for a walk.
Sasuke couldn't sleep all night. His thoughts continued to interfere with everything he did, and a certain pretty pink haired girl infested them. He couldn't get it. Why did Sakura bug him now more than she ever did, especially when she stopped bugging him? He ran his hand through his hair and looked around. He was right in front of Sakura's house. 'Crap.'
A window slammed above him. He looked up and found Sakura currently slipping out. She jumped down below. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Sasuke?" She asked confusingly, "What are you doing here?" He was extremely tempted to say, 'its not what it looks like.' But she took his silence as an answer instead, and began to walk away… slowly.
"S…Sakura?"
"Hm? Sasuke?" she turned around. Her green eyes landed on him. He couldn't answer. He just turned away and inwardly slapped himself. She gave him and awkward glance. "Sasuke, why are you up this early?" He shrugged. Sakura sighed. She almost looked irritated. "Aa… you were probably training, am I right?" she asked. He looked away again and nodded uncomfortably. "Hm, well your probably on your way home. I'll leave you then." She walked away. He felt flustered. His palms were sweating, and his cheeks felt warm. 'What's wrong with me?!' his eyes followed her retreating back.
Awkward… she seemed to lighten up a bit. Perhaps Naruto was right; maybe it was just a phase. Still, he couldn't be too sure just yet. He growled. Green eyes joyfully bounced around in his mind. 'Leave me alone Sakura…'
Naruto, ironically, met Hinata down at the ramen shop again. He was beginning to believe that Hinata's favorite food really was ramen. He asked her about it and she confessed: it was ramen. He couldn't wipe the smile off of his face when he heard that. He met her at the ramen shop almost twice a week after that, four times even. They were strictly not dating. They just got closer. Though, Naruto was leaning toward the dating option, and he believed she was too. He wondered if she would go out with him. She liked him… didn't she?
He scratched the back of his head. Hinata has always been shy. Would she finally come out of her little shell… for him? Would Neji approve of him? He gulped at the thought. Well, Hinata was cute, and she liked ramen. Was there more to it than that? She's so quiet all the time, and he realized he didn't know much about her. 'But I'd like to…'
He placed a hand under his chin. Didn't he like Sakura anymore? He constantly asked himself. A pair of pearl eyes flashed across his mind. Naruto blinked. No… he didn't have the same feeling for Sakura anymore. So… what's holding him back? *Sweatdrop, Rejection. His face darkened.
"Naruto." A familiar monotone seethed. The blonde boy looked over toward the owner of the voice.
"Eh? Sasuke… what do you want?" he asked. Sasuke walked toward him.
"I need to talk to you." Naruto gaped at him slightly, but nodded.
The duo walked to 'the bridge.' Sasuke had been silent the entire time and Naruto, well, he was being Naruto. The two remained distant from each other the whole time, and would occasionally bump into some strange things, or Naruto mostly would anyway. Konohomaru jumped out of nowhere and climbed on him, later on, a shinobi challenged him, water was poured over his head, and a few girls from the public baths chased them half way across town. After that another group of girls ran after their precious Sasuke-kun… which was another run halfway across the town. 'This is will be the last and only time I walk anywhere with Naruto.' Sasuke thought grimly. They finally reached the bridge and were almost ready to fall over. Naruto did…
"So… Sasuke, what?" Naruto asked from the ground. Sasuke stayed silent for a while. Naruto began to drum his fingers impatiently.
"It's about Sakura…" the black haired boy finally whispered. Naruto stopped his drumming and looked at him. A sly grin appeared on his face. "She's hiding something," He continued, "I think… we should find out what that is."
Naruto blinked and picked himself off the floor. "Are you sure Sasuke? That might be a little dangerous duncha think? Sakura-chan developed quite a temper."
"Hn… I know, but there's something wrong with her." Naruto's grin got wider.
"Don't tell me Sasuke-kun has developed feelings for Sakura-chan." He taunted.
"Where'd you get that idea?"
"Why are you suddenly interested in her well-being?" Naruto countered. Sasuke sighed.
"Tsunade said there was something wrong with her right? She's been over working herself. She'll be a nuisance if we bring her on a mission and she's not in good health."
"So she won't go."
"Sakura's stubborn. She won't give up that easily."
"Oh? I'm sure she would if Sasuke-kun convinced her not to." Sasuke's fist clenched. He grabbed Naruto's collar.
"Listen here Naruto, Sakura grew up, shes changed. She doesn't cling to childish things anymore, and her feelings for me-…" his eyes widened, …'Are… gone?' he finished silently. It felt like a large boulder just fell on top of him.
"Aren't you going to finish?" Naruto asked. Sasuke let go of his collar and looked down at the ground. "Hm, She grew up alright. She has nice curves ne?" He tried to ease the discomfort surrounding them. Sasuke glared at him. "Ehhe…he..he..he…" Naruto put his hands up defensively.
"Shut up Naruto…" Sasuke said lowly, "I-… we, need to know what she's hiding. For all we know it could be a danger to her and us." Naruto nodded.
"But, maybe Sakura doesn't want anyone to know. It could just be something personal." He suggested. Sasuke shook his head.
"I saw the seal Naruto."
"Eh? You've… seen it?" Sasuke decided to stay silent. He simply nodded. The two stayed silent for a while before Naruto broke the silence.
"Sasuke, that's the most I've ever heard come out of your mouth." He stated. Sasuke coughed.
Sakura's panted and wiped the sweat off her forehead. She'd been out training all day, secretly, of course. She didn't want the others to know. She struggled to get up, but she couldn't. Her knees began to wobble before they gave out completely. She sat up against a large tree and sighed. 'I need to get stronger…'