How was she ever going to take him seriously again? Sheep? Even she didn't take it that far with the use of cartoon animals! Lampshades, cutlery and scroll cases was as far as she took it, but he was so adorable in his little sheep jammies...She cut that thought of before she could finish. There were quite a few things that could be said about Neji and 'adorable' was not one of them. She glanced at him as he poured over a street map, frowning slightly. Then again...

"Where are we going?"

"In this direction."

"Oh, thanks for that. I feel enlightened, truly I do. You are hiding something from me but isn't this taking it a bit far?" He stared at her in mock shock.

"Me? Hide something? How could you come up with such a conclusion?" She used her death glare/pout at him

"I can see you are not going to be agreeable this morning so I will leave it right here!"

"You do that then."

"You're meant to disagree with me!"

"Am I? Why? You have stated you withdrawal from the conversation and I would be more than happy to have you shut up. I do not wish to risk prolonging this talk."

"Wow Neji, you are so caring! You're going to make someone so happy one day!"

"I'm sure I already make plenty of people happy."

"You're modesty is astounding."

"Thank you, it is isn't it?"

"I hate you, you know that."

"How surprising! I hate you too." She hit him. He deserved it. He half smiled at her. She turned away.

"It's...hot today isn't it?"

After another half hour walk and ten minutes of Neji complaining about how wrong the maps were and trying to figure out where they were, they had gotten to the very outskirts of the town. In front of them lay a small, sweet looking cottage.

"This doesn't look like an evil geniuses dwelling."

"Oh, he must have taken the sign down." She laughed.

"Don't do that! It scares me when you act like a normal person." He grunted his good humor.

"How can I not when you set yourself up for those comments so easily."

"Let's just get on with the mission."

"Okay. You wait out here. I'm going in."

"WHAT?"

"That's the plan Sakura, It's not my choice."

"Fine then. Go in and be the perfect Ninja. I will wait out here in case you break a nail!" He must have taken that as a dismissal as he did just that. She stood fuming. How dare he or anyone treat her like this? She wasn't a handy medic carry bag! She could fight if the need arose! How was she supposed to feel if something happened to Neji but she had been stationed outside? It was all crap, she decided as she let herself in the front door of the building. Not that she was just going to barge in! She would approach with caution, observe the situation and proceed with what actions were necessary.

Peering into the first room, she noted a man she did not recognize, unconscious on the floor. Neji's work. A tray was upturned on the wood with shattered glass surrounding it. Carefully she picked her way through to examine closer. The man was plump, middle aged with a receding hairline. He roughly fitted the description of the man they were after. So what was Neji up to now? Avoiding a spilt substance near the top, she slowly descended a staircase. She heard Neji's voice. What was he doing chatting when he should be pulverizing? She was low enough now to peek at the room through the gaps in the banister. Neji was positioned just below her. Still crouching, she made her way down another step. Across the room stood...She blinked. Chemical fumes could do funny things to you sometimes. She would probably look again and think she had seen Ino or something ridiculous. But he was still there.

"Sasuke?" Both men looked up.

"Sakura? I told you to wait outside."

"Sakura?" Sasuke looked at her.

"Sasuke!" She couldn't believe he was standing there like he had never gone anywhere!

"Sakura, it would be best if you would just leave." She ignored the rational voice that was supplied by Neji.

"Sasuke!" She jumped down the stairs and approached Sasuke. He looked the same, and hadn't done a thing about his chicken hair. "Do you know what an idiot you have been?"

"I do not need a lecture about my loyalty to Konoha."

"What and you think I am going to give you one?" He looked a little surprised. "You left me!"

"Sakura, I never returned your girlish crush feelings. I made that quite clear. I have no room for such things."

"I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT! YOU LEFT ME ON A BENCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A VILLAGE THAT HAS A PREDOMINANTLY MALE POPULATION! ANYTHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED! THERE IS A LINE BETWEEN NOT CARING AND PLAIN STUPIDITY! I WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU AND YOU MAY AS WELL HAVE THROWN ME INTO A PACK OF WOLVES! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KINNAPPED OR WORSE BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE YOU NEED POWER TO AVENGE YOUR CLAN AND COULDN'T HAVE SPENT FIVE MINUTES MOVING ME TO SAFTEY! WHAT IF SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO ME? WOULD YOU HAVE KILLED YOURSELF FOR REVENGE?" If Sasuke had time for daydreaming in amongst his avenging, he may have wondered how Sakura would have reacted if he ever saw her again? Whatever he had come up with probably went along the basic lines of her dashing into his arms crying that she still loved him. Maybe, he could have decided she would tell him how hurt and betrayed she was that he hadn't stayed with her, then rushed into his arms sobbing she still loved him. Perhaps, he would have decided she would summarize, and then repeat what she had said on the night he left, before throwing herself into his arm with tears streaming down her face. She didn't of course, as any woman with half a teaspoon of pride in her situation wouldn't. Instead she abandoned all her ninja training and slapped him across the face. She had discovered that such a move could be much more effective at times like these. Then she walked towards Neji who was standing very still and showing no emotions.

"And you tried to hide all this from me?"

"Sakura, please just wait outside."

"I want answers! How long has everyone known about this?"

"I will speak to you later."

"DON'T KEEP TRYING TO CUT ME OUT OF THIS!"

"Sakura please, right now it is the best thing you can do." She took the opportunity to slap him too, although not nearly as hard as she had Sasuke whose cheek had a welt blossoming. Then she made her way to storm out in a dignified manner. She hated them all. She tripped on the the first step and glared at both men, daring them to laugh at her. Neither did.

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Neji watched her leave. Part of him was cheering her, another was angry at her and another was just half collapsing from relief as she no longer had any affection towards Sasuke. Not that he had needed his Byakugan to see that. Still, now that the woman's business was over with he could continue with the mission in a more proper and dignified manner. How could anyone that let their emotions lash out like that be called a real Ninja? Trying to convince deserters was no time to run at them. True skill needed to be applied calmly with diplomatic suggestions and insightful comments. Couldn't she understand that was why he could do this while she couldn't? Sasuke spoke.

"You know, when I realized she was there, I wondered why you were able to work with someone so useless" Neji was angry but unlike Sakura it wasn't going to get the best of him. "But when I saw her I realized. No wonder you allowed yourself to be teamed up with her if that's what you're getting." Neji launched himself across the room. Sasuke was taken by as much surprise as Neji. How dare Sasuke insult him like that? How dare he label Sakura in such a way? How dare he suggest that...Sasuke was such a bastard. He attacked with full force, and as soon as he could, Sasuke fled, either frightened by the sudden attack or deciding he had better things to do with his time. For ego reasons Neji decided it was the first option.

Now he needed to face Sakura. She would be outraged when she found out Sasuke had gotten away. He was outraged because he knew why he had. What had happened to him? He had just failed a mission because of personal feelings. Personal feelings about a girl. A girl who was probably at present, plotting the most painful way for him to die. Why couldn't he be in love with someone less dangerous?

Nut2: Go Sakura! Sorry I'm not trying to bash Sasuke in this either but I hate the thought that Sakura would just forgive Sasuke and be all in love again (at first anyway...). I hope she really does slap him in the manga and anime because he really deserves that from her. In fact I would love it if that happened! But right now my interpretation will have to do. I didn't really emphasize upon Sasuke's character but I don't want to go into a lot of other details away from the mains. The story will be to short for that. Sorry if anyone was annoyed.

Please review! It's a lot of fun! Um that's a bit of a lie but you never know until you try! I never realized just how little people review stories until I started my own. Sorry to anyone I didn't review for! I might just stop talking now. Thank you again! Oh sorry...Just a reminder that new chapters come faster when I have a lot of reviews! Right, be quiet, I know...

Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto.(Lucky for Naruto fans I'm not out there desecrateing their show or read.)