Some language again. Plus we get to see from some other character view points, not just Sakura because I couldn't really figure out how to do this any other way.

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Disclaimer: Not mine. And if they were I'd change Orochimarus voice actor. Why doe he sound like an old woman sometimes? Almost turns me off…almost.

Confrontation, Chapter 5
"Sasuke! Sasuke stop!" Naruto reached out and snagged his best friends arm before he could jump to another roof. He didn't seem to be heading to Jounin Headquarters.

"What!" Sasuke snapped back whirling on Naruto like an angry black cloud. Naruto just gripped him harder and gave his arm a little shake. Sasuke looked away and took some measured breaths before turning back "What Naruto?"

"What did we just see?" He asked softly not looking into Sasuke's piercing eyes.

"You know exactly what we just saw baka." Sasuke turned away again as Naruto's hand slipped from his arm.

They stood there watching the few nin and villagers making their way through the center of the village. Naruto could hear a family stirring beneath his feet as someone took a shower and the radio turned on. He itched to ask his next question but worried about what kind of answer he might get from his perceptive friend.

"Sasuke, when we went to find Sakura this morning, do you think…?" He gulped back the last part of his question.

When Naruto had gotten home he immediately went to find Sasuke. Sasuke had been called away from his previous mission to help retrieve an ambushed anbu squad. Kakashi's group had also been sent along with one more group sent on patrol to help retrieve the injured and protect them.

Naruto had found Sasuke at the hospital and they went their separate ways to clean up. They met back up a short while later and headed to Sakura's apartment only to find it empty with the bed still made.

"If you even think about finishing that sentence Naruto..." Sasuke's fists were clenched and he refused to look at Naruto. Naruto tried to calm him quickly before he did something stupid.

"No, no! I mean…No! We don't really know what's going on. Maybe she just left early to go back to the hospital this morning…" He finished lamely. His instincts and what he'd just seen at Anbu Headquarters were screaming differently.

Sasuke turned fully to face him and the look in his eyes was very hard to read.

"Naruto, she was pressed against him, she was kissing him, she wasn't wearing a bra, she wasn't wearing underwear, she was wearing his clothes, he had his hand up her shirt, he wasn't refusing her, his hand stayed there-"

"STOP!" Naruto actually put his hand over Sasuke's mouth to stop him, but their gazes never left each other. "They didn't have sex!" He shouted at Sasuke. It left his mouth before he could control himself.

"Quiet!" Sasuke said yanking Naruto's hand away from his face and drawing him closer. Two nin passing on a nearby roof had stopped to ogle at them. Sasuke grunted in annoyance and yanked Naruto down into the alley they were above.

"I wasn't going to say they had sex. I really don't see how they would have had time last night. They also didn't seem that close when we left a few days ago. They would have had to have sex practically the next day." Sasuke couldn't think of any more plausible reasons to hope she hadn't had sex with their sensei.

"Oh." Naruto said with obvious relief written all over his face. Sasuke frowned but was glad he eased Naruto's fears at the very least. "What the hell are we going to do now?"

"Shut up I'm thinking."

They stood in the alleyway as more people woke up and made daily noises of chores and conversation around them. Naruto waited as patiently as he could. Finally he couldn't take it anymore but Sasuke must have felt this.

"We should talk to Kakashi…sensei." He added the last with a frown. Naruto liked this idea but wondered what the hell they'd say to him. Sasuke already had that part figured out.

"We'll tell him to leave her the fuck alone." Sasuke said without any trace of emotion. Naruto blinked slowly. He wasn't in complete disagreement but couldn't find the words he wanted to argue.

"Er, shouldn't we talk to Sakura first? Maybe ask her what's going on?" That was the best he could do under the circumstances.

"No. We'll just make her more uncomfortable, you saw the way she acted. We'll just tell Kakashi to leave her alone. For God's sake he's almost twice her age!" The last part made Naruto flinch. "Not to mention her teacher." Sasuke added calmly as an after thought.

Sasuke felt possessive of his team mate even though he refused her on almost every level. Things that belonged to him were not to be meddled with. Naruto still felt a deep attachment that still bordered on more than friendly love and found it hard to imagine her with someone else.

"Okay." Naruto agreed and immediately wanted to turn back time as much as possible. If he had just made Sasuke stop for something to eat instead of checking in at Anbu Headquarters first this wouldn't have happened.

"Good. Agreed. Let's get something to eat." Sasuke turned and left Naruto scrambling after him.

Sakura wasn't able to sink through the floor even after much waiting and desperately wanting. An anbu had come in to ask her if anything was wrong and that's when she decided it was probably time to get back to life.

Her way to Konoha's hospital was slow on purpose; she didn't want to cross paths with Naruto and Sasuke but also didn't want to catch up with Kakashi. When she finally made it to the doors she was ecstatic that at least one of her wishes was granted.

Why? Why me? What the hell did I do?

You know what you did, you just didn't think you'd get caught-

Caught means I was doing something wrong! But nowhere does it say I can't-

True, there's no concrete rule that says you can't be with him. But you knew Sasuke and Naruto wouldn't take this very well if 'it' ever happened.

Enough.

Sakura agreed with herself to go find the boys as soon as she was done checking on a few patients. She went to the anbu who was slashed numerous times first.

When she came to his room she noticed an anbu stationed in the corner watching over him. They weren't taking any chances that more than a few of the nin had been affected. She exchanged a nod with the anbu before looking at her patient. She picked up the clip board at the end of his bed to check his name. Masahiro.

His skin wasn't as pale as the night before but his breathing was still shallow and his eyes had large circles under them. She pulled down the sheet covering him so she could press her palm to a small area of exposed flesh. He hadn't been placed in any hospital clothes because of his bandages. The bandages were only laid on top of the still healing wounds, they needed to be changed often and it was easier to leave him unwrapped.

As her chakra flowed into him, gently touching the various wounds, his hand came up and grasped her wrist weakly. The anbu guard was there the moment he grasped her. The anbu guards hand squeezed around the injured nin's wrist.

"It's okay!" Sakura said quickly seeing the look in the injured nin's face. He wasn't trying to hurt her. He looked as if he could barely keep his eyes open. She pushed the anbu lightly against his vest until he let go and took a minute step back.

"You're awake. That's good. I'm Sakura, I'll be assisting in your healing Masahiro." She smiled and wiped some of his medium length brown hair away from his face. He gulped and tried to speak. "It's alright, you should just try to rest for now."

A frown crossed his face and he gave a questioning look to the anbu who was hovering over her.

"Some or our nin were a little confused last night. He's just here to make sure everything stays, um, under control. Don't worry I can see you know who your friends are Masahiro." His hand gripped her a little tighter. "I'll be back later in the evening. Just do whatever any of the medics tell you, okay?"

He nodded and closed his eyes. Sakura freed her wrist and drew back the sheet to his shins to quickly look at the rest of his wounds. They were weeping in places but looked altogether in a stable healing condition for now. She covered him back up, left to check on the rest of her patients and find her vest.

Sakura quickly left the room of the anbu that had attacked her. He was currently being restrained by three of his fellow anbu after she'd tried to give him a little check up. She hoped the medics giving him routine check ups weren't having as much trouble.

She adjusted her green jounin vest a little and went to see how Genma was doing. She shouldn't have been, but she was surprised when she saw Kakashi reclining lazily in a chair next to Genma's bed still.

Genma spotted her so she couldn't turn around and run away. She gave Kakashi a little smile as she came in. He held up a hand in some sort of greeting.

"Hey Sakura-chan." Genma said giving her his usual grin with something a little extra in it that he showed to women.

"Hi Genma, feeling better? Sorry I left so quickly earlier." She reached down and pressed her hand to his cheek. His eyes dropped shut as she pushed some chakra into him. She noticed how he reacted and wondered again what her chakra felt like to other people.

"No problem. I know how Hatake can be. He's afraid of needles." Genma said lazily. Kakashi seemed to be ignoring them or at least completely disinterested as he stared at the ceiling.

She felt a slight swelling on the side of his brain and removed the fluid immediately, it was hardly anything, nothing his body couldn't fix but she did it anyways. He had a large bruise and cut in his scalp over the swelling but it would be covered by his hair after he healed.

He wasn't actually that badly injured. They'd probably release him later tonight if they could even keep him that long. Jounins had a habit of checking themselves out once they could stand for more than a few minutes without falling down.

Sakura laid her head down on his chest and hugged him, closing her eyes and feeling his heartbeat strong underneath her. He stiffened a little before putting his arm around to give her a squeeze.

"How come I'm getting special treatment?" He joked but continued to press her shoulders.

"You came back."

"I'll have to leave more often." Sakura sat up and punched him in the stomach but wasn't able to keep the smile off her face. "Ow, abuse. I should report you."

"You like it violent Genma." She said playfully.

"What I can say. I want you to tie me down Sakura-chan." He seemed extremely better now and Kakashi was actually shaking his head at Genma.

"I'm leaving now Genma." She said and stood still smiling at him.

"That didn't sound like a no…"

"Good BYE Genma." She walked out of his room and found Kakashi following close beside her.

She waited until they were outside of the hospital before turning to him. He watched her anxious glances at his face, the way her muscles seemed tense and her awkward posture, as she stood near him. His gaze traveled to her exposed forearm.

"You've got another bruise." She looked down. Her hair fell into her face as she moved the sleeve up to get a good look. His hand came out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Sakura closed her eyes in relief. He would keep touching her. She brought her face back up to his and smiled brightly. He blinked and smiled back and then started walking again, but his face stayed turned toward her, seeing if she'd follow.

She caught up to him while vowing to make sure Naruto and Sasuke would understand this.

"We'll have training tomorrow evening. Tell them." Kakashi said simply. Sakura bit her lip. She figured that at least she'd have time to talk them by then.

"Okay. I'll see you later then?" She wanted to pin him down for a time but thought better of it. She didn't need a repeat if Sasuke or Naruto tried to come and find her before she could get to them.

Kakashi nodded and watched her make her way quickly towards her apartment. She went to her apartment for a bite to eat and to clean up a little bit more.

She didn't change her clothes though. She knew Sasuke would probably have noticed but she didn't want to make this a wrong or right situation. It was as it was and she needed them to understand that.

When her apartment was spotless and her mind could handle what was going on a little better she went back to the hospital for another round of check ups.

She went to Genma's room but he was gone. She'd have to make sure and check up on him since he probably wouldn't come back on his own.

Sakura left the hospital once she was done making notes on her patients and went to find Naruto and Sasuke.

It didn't take her very long since they had been looking for her as well.

"Sakura-chaaan!" Naruto called out to her as he hopped down from a roof with Sasuke at his heels.

Sakura felt her lip quiver and almost started crying as Naruto smiled at her. Seeing her look he quickly ran up to her and gave her a hug.

"Don't cry! Here look, I got you a present like you asked!" He pushed her back a little while shoving something towards her face.

"Don't poke her eye out baka." Sasuke said calmly while taking a step closer to her. This also made her eyes water but she took the proffered gift in her hand.

It was a bracelet with tiny intricately carved leaves made of what seemed to be bone. They were so tiny she couldn't believe the maker hadn't snapped each and every one of them while trying to put a thin hole through for the black thread. The leaves were all different kinds that could be found on the trees in Konoha's forest. A little piece of string dangled at the end so it could be tightened and at the end of it hung a little carved fox. She brought it closer as the tears from her eyes cleared. It had tiny red stones for eyes and they flashed as she moved it.

"Naruto, it's beautiful!" She slid it over her wrist and up her arm so it fit over her bicep and would be less likely to fall off. The fox hung down against her arm and its eyes flashed at her again.

"I didn't bring you anything." Sasuke said looking her over again.

"Coming back has always been enough." She hesitated and then put an arm around each of their necks. She hugged them close and they hugged her back.

She didn't want to let go of them, but it seemed to her that they weren't angry with her.

"Sakura-chan, I'm hungry." Naruto said against her hair. Sasuke sighed and pulled away from them both.

"Okay?" Sakura said hesitantly ignoring Naruto's comment and looking for something from them to make sure.

Sasuke nodded at her and Naruto just grinned. Sakura smiled and laced her arms through theirs.

"Then let's go to dinner."

Kakashi walked along a busy street idly with is hands in his pockets. He hadn't seen Sakura since yesterday at the hospital but he figured she was busy and he'd see her later for training anyways.

I waving arm caught his attention and he saw Genma with his head now wrapped in his hitai-ate instead of bandages. Raidou was standing next to him and they motioned for him to come over. He had almost reached them when first Sasuke then Naruto jumped into his path.

"We need to talk to you." Sasuke said; his arms carefully loose at his sides. Naruto nodded in agreement and crossed his arms.

Kakashi blinked as a way of acknowledgement and waited. Genma and Raidou stood watching behind the boys.

"We want you to stay away from her." Sasuke said staring Kakashi straight in his eye. Both Genma's and Radiou's eyebrows rose slightly. Kakashi didn't say anything right away but looked between the boys.

"I'm her teacher. It would difficult to teach her if I weren't allowed near her." He said quietly and without any trace of emotion. Sasuke's arms crossed in front of his chest and his eyes narrowed. Naruto looked between them quickly but wasn't able to interject.

"I'm not sure what the hell you think you're doing, I don't even know if you realize exactly what you're doing, but you have to stop." Genma's senbon hung loosely from his mouth as he watched Sasuke all but outright threaten his sensei. Raidou was blatantly staring at them in disbelief.

"No, I know what I'm doing. But I don't think you do." Kakashi said turning away from them.

Kakashi spotted Sakura's pink hair bob in and out of the crowd. She saw him and waved.

"Kakashi! You can't be the first! We won't let you." Sasuke practically hissed at his back. Kakashi turned his head to look at them. His eye went a little wide as what Sasuke said sunk in.

He'd seen Sakura hanging around plenty of boys and men but she was usually accompanied by Naruto and Sasuke. They quickly scared of any real interested nin before they could get far. But Sakura was the same. Whenever a female came within her range when she was around either of them she'd immediately bristle and a look would send the intruder skulking away.

Kakashi turned back and watched her struggling through the crowd slowly. An almost laughing smile was on her face. She was wearing his shirt again.

He turned back and walked the few paces separating him and his two male students. Everything about his posture was threatening, from the set of his shoulders to the way his hands were held at his sides.

Both Sasuke and Naruto took a step back before they could stop themselves. Kakashi used his few inches of height he still had on them to lean over menacingly. Naruto actually braced his arms like he was about to be in a fight. Sasuke kept his arms crossed but it was with a great amount of willpower.

"Sakura is a woman now. What she chooses to do is completely up to her. You left her behind first, but now she's left you behind. There's nothing you can do but try to catch up. " Kakashi straightened and looked down at both of them. "You won't be fast enough."

Naruto's mouth was hanging open in shock. Sasuke was shaking with anger as Kakashi's words raced through his brain.

'You can't beat me.' They had both heard Kakashi's message clearly, even if those weren't his exact words.

"We'll see who the better man is Kakashi." Sasuke spit out. Kakashi raised his eyebrow in a condescending matter. Sasuke's fists tightened at his sides but Kakashi narrowed his eye slightly.

Sakura was getting closer and she waved again as she saw the boys standing in front of Kakashi. They didn't seem to see her as they jumped up and back at the same time; taking off across the rooftops.

Kakashi felt a horrible sensation of ice hardening his insides as he watched his male students take off. His eye darted back and forth as he thought quickly. A sigh escaped his covered lip as the realization of what he'd just done hit him.

"Hey!" Sakura said a little put out. She stopped at Kakashi's side and looked at the rooftops. "Where'd they go off to in such a rush?"

Kakashi turned to look down at her. She was frowning but as she turned to look up at him a huge smile spread across her face. But in there was another look and it made the ice in his body melt and he just shrugged at her.

"Going to train some more probably." He said but turned to look back at the rooftop as well.

"I told them we were meeting tonight! They need other hobbies." She sounded like she half meant it.

Her talk with them the night before had calmed her fears a little but she ignored the fact that they had been talking to Kakashi and then left abruptly.

Sasuke said everything would be okay. Naruto told me he loved me like he usually does. Things will probably be weird but…nothing I think we can't handle.

She looked over at Raidou and Genma who were still standing only a few feet away.

"Are you feeling okay Genma?" She asked seriously.

His mouth was actually hanging open and his senbon was clutched in his hand. He was staring at Kakashi like he'd never seen the man before. Kakashi looked back him with a completely calm face. Raidou looked between them before shoving his elbow into Genma's side.

"I'm fine. Perfectly fine…" But he didn't put the senbon back in his mouth and he continued to stare at Kakashi.

"Want to go to lunch?" Kakashi said, drawing Sakura's attention away from Genma. She smiled and wrapped her arm into the crook of his.

"Yes. Do you guys want to come with us?" She asked Genma and Raidou. Even though she wanted to be alone with Kakashi she was worried about the way Genma was acting. Maybe he was hurt worse than she thought.

"We'd love to Sakura-san. Thank you." Raidou said glancing at his still bewildered friend. "But I have to talk with Genma first. You guys walk ahead." With that he grabbed Genma by the arm and hauled him off a little bit as Kakashi walked away, hands in his pockets, and Sakura on his arm.

"Where do you want go?" She asked him.

"Hmmm…"

"Some place with a dark booth? Maybe then you'll eat something…" Her voice was lost to the crowd as they got further away.

"Holy fucking shit. Did Hatake just threaten his own students?" Genma asked while shoving the senbon back into his mouth. From the swearing and speed of his sentence Raidou guessed he was recovering from the shock quickly now.

"Yep. Kind of. As close as I've heard him come to threatening someone anyways." Raidou said starting to follow the form of his grey haired friend through the crowd.

"He just threatened his own students. The Uchiha and that Kyuubi brat."

"Yes."

"It's almost sad. They don't really stand a chance."

"Nope."

"He is stupid though, right?"

"Mmm-hm."

They didn't talk for a few minutes as they both watched Sakura smiling and laughing. Kakashi smiled and looked down at her. His hand came up and stroked a piece of hair before tucking it behind her ear.

"What should we do?" Genma asked watching Kakashi's display. Radiou cocked his head to the side as he watched his long time friend and Sakura interact.

"I think you should stop hitting on Sakura. Hatake might castrate you in your sleep if he ever found out you were actually serious." Genma snorted and punched Raidou in the side. Raidou grimaced retaliated by putting Genma in a headlock against his waist.

Sakura turned back to watch them wrestle a little before motioning them forward with a wave of her hand. They disengaged and caught up, still at a walk and considered her carefully. Both thought she was beautiful and hoped Kakashi knew what he was doing.

"What?" She said laughing at them.

"Just hungry." Genma said.

"Boys, all you ever think about are your stomachs." But she just laughed at the faces they made and pushed all three of them ahead of her as she picked the closest restaurant.

Your Nushi