Me: Do I HAVE to say it?!
Kakashi: YES! YOU DO!! Or, I will kill you with my sharingan
Me: WHAT?!? You would never hurt me, would you? puppy eyes
Kakashi: Aww...but, that's not going to work...no, GO!! SAY IT!
ME: Okay...pouts I don't...own...Naruto... THERE! I SAID IT!! YOU HAPPY?!?!
Kakashi: Yes... (actually..it should be )

Medicine

Chapter 5

Team 7 and Hinata continued spying on Kurenosuke and the criminals, and by the end of the third day, they compiled a schedule of what they usually do. On the last night, just before they were about to pack, the 5 went to the spring, and decided to enjoy the special privilege to be here.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi sighed as they entered the water.

"Ahh...This feels sooo good..." Naruto sighed.

"Hmm...I think dead last is right for once..." Sasuke agreed, slightly nodding.

Kakashi chuckled as his two students started bickering about which one of them was the bastard, and looked up to the sky. [I've been with my students for 3 years now, and I watched them grow. They have changed so much, in so many different ways. Yet, they remain the same...] Kakashi sighed, and smiled.

. . . .Meanwhile. . . .

"Wow...the moon is so bright tonight!" Sakura said, as she looked up to the beautiful sky.

"You're right! These few days have been totally awesome!"

"Why's that? We've been hiding in bushes, spying on some weirdoes, and getting itchy from the leaves and twigs..." Sakura complained.

"Yes, but...but...I now know that Naruto-kun l-likes me..."

"REALLY?!?! WOW!! When did he tell you?"

"Uhmm...a-after the f-first day of s-spying..."

Sakura sighed, and thought if she and Sasuke-kun will ever be together.

"Well, I hope you two will have an amazing relationship together! I know how much you like him, ever since you met him." Sakura smiled teasingly.

Hinata giggled, blushed, and looked down to the steamy water.

"Yeah, and now, I know that he likes me back! I'm so happy!"

"Well, I'm happy for you"

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The next morning, the 4 genins and the jounin packed their bags, and left the Mirosaki Spring.

During the walk back, everyone was silent, except for the giggles coming from Hinata and Naruto, as they walked beside each other, hand in hand. Sakura sighed and looked to Sasuke-kun hopefully. Unfortunately, he was wearing his usual, cold, I-don't-care-for-anything look, and looked straight ahead. Sakura sighed again, this time with disappointment.

"Sakura? What's wrong?" Kakashi-sensei asked with concern. Over the years with his three students, he's really scared that one of them would get hurt. Naturally, he is mostly concerned about Sakura, so seeing Sakura in depression really gets to him.

"Nothing..." Sakura said hopelessly as she looked down at the ground her foot was stepping on.

"Sakura, I know something is wrong. Are you hurt? Did someone...or something do something to you? Just tell me about it..."

"It's nothing like that. It's just that...I'm just having an emotional breakdown...okay?" Sakura made up, trying to shake Kakashi off.

"Okay...If you say so" Kakashi sighed, letting the subject go.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

After a silent walk, they finally reached the Konoha main streets. From there, they headed to Hokage-sama's place to report.

"Over these few days, they have been doing pretty much the same things, Hokage-sama. Here's the schedule we compiled" Kakashi informed.

"Aa...Very good. I shall discuss it with Kurenosuke's family, and then decide what is best. You are dismissed" Tsunade replied.

"Well, you kids can have the rest of the day off! Team 7 will be meeting me at the bridge tomorrow morning at 6 AM sharp! Hinata will regroup with her team. " Kakashi told them, as they walked out of the office.

Sakura and Sasuke nodded, and walked off in separate directions, as Naruto jumped up, and pumped his fist into the air. "I'm going to have RAMEN with my girlfriend!" he gloated.

"Aa...Yes..N-Naruto-kun..." Hinata blushed.

As Hinata and Naruto walked off, Kakashi became very interested in why Sakura was acting so depressed. He decided to follow her.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Sakura walked lazily to the bridge, dragging her feet as she went. [Why won't Sasuke love me?! Am I just a little brat that annoys him?! No, he...no...he wouldn't think that...not after these years. He's clearly shown that he cares for me, after all those times he's rescued me. But...] Sakura let out a sigh, and looked at the shimmering river, under the sunlight.

Kakashi followed Sakura, and stopped at a fairly good distance. He watched her, and decided to confront her.

"Sakura," Kakashi said, walking to her slowly, "What's wrong? You haven't been acting yourself lately"

"Nothing is wrong...I told you!"

"No, something is clearly wrong. Something's bothering our little cherry blossom, and disturbing her cheery presence. Now, what is it? You can talk to me..."

"That's EXACTLY the problem! I'm not 'your' little cherry blossom anymore! I have feelings...and someone's not returning them!" Sakura huffed.

"Aa...So that's what it is...Sasuke...Well, I must tell you, he is struggling himself. It's not that easy for him either. I've told you this before, Sakura..."

"I know...buut...It's just so hard to get to know him better if he shuts himself up like that!" Sakura sobbed.

"There, there..." Kakashi wrapped his arms around Sakura's shoulders, and held her in a protective, parental way as she sobbed.

"Everyone's got their own boyfriends, while I don't. I-Ino's got Shikamaru, and TenTen's got N-Neji, and...now Hinata has Naruto!! I'm the only one left! ME!! It's n-not like I'm not left behind in everything else...Now, even the only thing that I thought I could do better...I've lost it all..." Sakura bawled into the Kakashi's vest.

"It's okay, Sakura...I'm sure that umm...Sasuke just needs some time...Yes...That's all.." Kakashi reassured.

"I don't think that's going to work, sensei..."

After a few more outbreaks of crying, Sakura finally calmed down, and headed back home.

"No, it's okay...You don't need to walk me there...I'm not a baby."

"Alright, then" Kakashi gave in.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

After working out with his weights, Sasuke decided to have a jog. Though it was already 10:00 PM, he kept jogging. It was getting harder to breathe, because of the trees ceasing to release oxygen, so naturally; he stopped and had a rest. Coincidentally, he had stopped near Sakura's house. But of course, Sasuke didn't notice. Sitting on a bench, he took his sweaty towel, and wiped his face. Letting out a sigh, he ran his hand through his dampened raven hair.

"Sasuke-kun?" someone called from above.

Sasuke's head automatically snapped up and looked at the sky. He looked around, and saw nothing but stars. He heard a giggle, and looked behind him. [Aa...It's Sakura, isn't it?], he thought as he saw the familiar building. He looked up, and saw Sakura leaning out on the balcony.

"Hn...what are you doing, leaning out the balcony...It's late. I think you should get to bed." Sasuke said flatly.

"It's not that late. Besides, I always come out onto my balcony at night. Aren't the stars beautiful ? So, what are you doing out so late?"

"Aa...I was jogging. I think I should go now. You should go to bed too. We probably have training tomorrow."

"Oh," Sakura said, disappointed, "I'll see you tomorrow then, Sasuke-kun"

"Hn"

And with that, he walked off, his hands in his pant pockets.

[Is he avoiding me? Why do I even like him anymore? I've tried to talk to him, impress him with my looks, impress him with my actions...but NOTHING WORKS!! WHY?!?!] Sakura was so angry, she slammed the door shut to her balcony, and flopped on the bed. She fell asleep after a while.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The next morning, Naruto staggered to the bridge sleepily, only to find Sasuke there. He perked right up, and thought [Huh? I wonder where Sakura is...].

"HEY! BASTARD!!! DO YOU KNOW WHERE SAKURA IS?!"

"Hn...What makes you think I do, dobe. But I'm sure it isn't your brain considering you don't have one." Sasuke replied, getting annoyed. It was early in the morning, and he didn't get to bed until at least 2 last night.

After about 3 hours, Naruto had drifted off back to sleep, and Sasuke sat on the bridge, thinking about revenge again.

"OH MY GOD!! GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN!!! I'm so sorry, you guys!" a voice coming from a few meters away.

Sasuke moved his eyeballs up, and saw a flash of pink running at them. [Sakura's late. I wonder why]

"SAKURA-CHAN!!!" Naruto chimed as Sakura's figure came in focus.

"I...woke...up...late..." Sakura panted, desperately trying to catch her breath.

"I told you to go to bed last night..." Sasuke blurted out, surprising his teammates and himself.

"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura blushed.

"Uhh...umm..." Sasuke stuttered.

"Oooh...hehhehheh...Sasuke was visiting Sakura-chan last night?!" Naruto snickered.

"No! No, that's not it!" Sasuke panicked.

"Yeah...umm...I just..."

"It's okay, Sakura-chan! It's not your fault. It's all SASUKE-BASTARD'S FAULT!! Hehehe"

POOF!

"Yo!" Kakashi had appeared on the arch he always appears on. [Hmm...I wonder what they were talking about before...] "What were you guys talking about before, hmm?" Kakashi wanted to know.

"NOTHING!!" Sasuke and Sakura said at the same time. Blushing, they looked down on the ground, and fell silent.

"This bastard," Naruto pointed at Sasuke, "went to visit Sakura-chan last night! Heeheehee"

"Ooh...I see..." their sensei replied.

"But...But..." was all Sasuke and Sakura could manage.

"It's okay...we'll just be training today" Kakashi interrupted, trying to change the subject.

"AAAALRIGHT!!" Naruto said, punching into the air.

"Naruto, why must you be so noisy?" Sasuke asked, annoyed.

"Hinata-chan said that she would meet me at the ramen store at the end of the day. Seeing as how we don't have a mission, I'll be able to go for sure!"

"Stupid dobe" Sasuke muttered.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY, SASUKE-BASTARD?!?!?"

Sakura and Kakashi sweat-dropped, and walked away, leaving the two idiots to fight.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

After a day of training, Sakura found new courage again, forgetting all about the thoughts she had last night. And with this new courage, she went back to what she always did before.

"Sasuke-kun! SASUKE-KUN!!" Sakura called as she was trying to catch up to Sasuke.

"What?" Sasuke asked, turning around.

"Ano...Do you want to go out on a date?"

"No"

"Why?!?!"

"I told you...I will never go on a date with you!"

"Oh...right...I guess I forgot...sorry for bothering you..." Sakura replied, her head down, and her hair covering most of her face. She brushed past Sasuke as she headed in the direction of her house.

"W-wait!" Sasuke stuttered, feeling sorry for what he just did.

"Yes?"

"I-I'm s-sorry...I didn't mean to yell at you..."

"It's okay, Sasuke-kun. I know I'm annoying...I'll try and change..." Sakura said, her voice quivering. She turned back and continued walking.

"Sakura...D-do you want to go for a drink?" Sasuke asked, unsure.

"Are you sure? I mean...don't you have to train?!" Sakura asked, trying not to get her hopes up.

"Uhmm...well...I supposed it wouldn't take THAT long..."

"Okay!" Sakura agreed, her face lit up with her cheerfulness again.

Sasuke smiled inwardly. [THIS is the Sakura I know]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

END OF CHAPTER

Ok...well....Sasuke felt bad for her...so...I guess that's that...ANNYWAYS i'll be updating the "Secrets Revealed" soon...i'm working out that LEMON...lmso...so...thats about it...please review and tell me what you thought...i was sort of in a rush when i did this chapter....-.-'