Now, this time, Sakura's eyes widened as she stared at Sasuke. Soon, she turned around and started to leave.

"Wait." Sasuke called out as Sakura stopped but didn't look at him.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Sasuke asked, as Sakura sighed.

"No."

"But still, I wanna ask you a question." Sasuke said. Sakura realized that Sasuke was getting into her nerves… now she knows what it feels like to be annoyed.

"Make it snappy. I still have some work to do."

'AFTER WHAT HE DID TO ME! HE JUST REALIZED THAT WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG!'

'She has really changed. And she really hates me now. After what I told her?'

"What—what did you feel when I left you?" Sasuke asked. He knew what Sakura left, Tsunade already told him but he just wants to make sure.

"And am I the reason that triggered your body to have lust for power?" Sasuke added. Sakura smirked. She turned around, her eyes showing full hatred and her hands were shaking.

"What do you think Sasuke?" She asked through gritted teeth. Sasuke just fell silent as he stared at her.

"The time that—that you left me… that was the time when my eyes opened to reality… and realized that love isn't that important when you're a ninja."

Sakura smiled, but her smile was tainted with a drop of sadness.

"Whenever I remember the times when I was still chasing you, I realized how weak and annoying I was. That's what you said right? That Naruto is much stronger than me and I was weak and annoying? Remember?"

"…" Sasuke was shocked that Sakura even bothered to answer him. But at the same time, he felt happy that she did.

"I was so shallow at that time. A disgrace if I may say. Thanks to you, I became serious with my duties as a ninja and because of you, I am here now, and I have accomplished a lot of things. But you're not my inspiration… that's not the word for it."

"Your hatred… right?" Sasuke asked as Sakura nodded. Soon, tears fell down after a failure of attempting to stop it.

"Yes, my hatred! And now you're going to tell me that you did the wrong thing? After five fucking years that you left me! And this is when you JUST realized that!" Sakura yelled. Sasuke looked away, feeling guilt mounting up inside of him.

'I can't blame her though… I broke her heart…'

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Sakura quickly wiped her tears.

"Come in." She said, her voice almost hoarse.

Kakashi came in, and when he realized that Sakura had puffy red eyes, he guessed that the two were having quite a… bad conversation. Sakura nodded at him, and left the room. She even slammed the door shut.

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke snapped. Kakashi smiled behind his mask.

"Now… now… is this the way you greet your teacher?" Kakashi said.

After a few days, Sakura was inside the Hokage's office, as Tsunade was reading something from the file folder that Sakura gave her. Soon, Tsunade looked up.

"Are you sure about this Sakura?" She asked worriedly. Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"Naruto? You're going to take Naruto off the team and make him as a team captain?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. On one mission, Fumihiro, the team captain on team nine of the ANBU squad died. And Naruto is the only one capable of doing it. He maybe a dumb ass but he has the potential." Sakura said, crossing her arms while smiling at her teacher.

"Yes, yes. I could see that. But who will be the replacement of Naruto's place in team two (Neji's team)?" Tsunade asked. Sakura smirked.

"What? An ANBU exam?" Ino asked.

The four girls were lounging inside the Hyuuga estate, while drinking some refreshments.

"Yes, there would be an ANBU exam in six months." Sakura replied, taking a sip of her strawberry iced tea.

"That seems so far away but why the early notice?" Tenten asked. Tenten was drinking a strawberry milk shake while Ino was drinking a mango shake. Hinata however preferred only a soda.

"Of course, we're still going to search for candidates for the exam." Hinata said.

"Yes, Hinata's right."

"How many candidates are needed then?" Ino asked.

"About twenty or so. And if you're going to suggest a person to me, make sure that person could stick out alive in this exam. Remember, the last ANBU exam, fifteen ninjas died." Sakura said.

"Talk about brutal." Tenten slowly shook her head.

"And four of the passed ANBU's all died in action." Hinata added.

"Yeah. Saito was the only one who passed. But I can't help admit that Saito is really talented. Imagine, out of twenty he was the only one who lasted long."

Sakura chuckled. Soon, there was a moment of silence…

"I heard you moved Naruto as the team captain of team nine?" Ino asked as Sakura nodded.

"Naruto was really happy. He was jumping up and down while running in happiness all around Konoha." Hinata giggled. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Typical Naruto."

"So, who's going to be the replacement?" Tenten asked. Sakura smirked.

"Him."

Dead Silence…

"WHAT!" Ino yelled as Sakura dug a finger at her ear.

"Geez Ino, pipe down." Tenten said.

Flashback

"Naruto? You're going to take Naruto off the team and make him as a team captain?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. On one mission, Fumihiro, the team captain on team nine of the ANBU squad died. And Naruto is the only one capable of doing it. He maybe a dumb ass but he has the potential." Sakura said, crossing her arms while smiling at her teacher.

"Yes, yes. I could see that. But who will be the replacement of Naruto's place in team two (Neji's team)?" Tsunade asked. Sakura smirked.

"Uchiha Sasuke."

Tsunade's eyes widened.

"Are you sure about this Sakura? Maybe he could get killed."

"No he won't. And if he would get killed, it would be better. But, I know he won't refuse this exam. I know how pretty annoyed he is knowing that I am now stronger than him."

"You'll make Sasuke skip the Jounin Selection Exam?"

"His abilities are on the ANBU level, Tsunade-sama. There's no point on making him take the Jounin Selection Exam. We're just wasting time."

"So you're going to make him get the ANBU exam? But he's injured."

"Sine you still haven't announced the event, we can move the schedule to six months Tsunade-sama. Only twenty people could enter, as usual. Joining the ANBU exam is no joke so they better be well prepared to lower the probabilities of dead ninjas on the exam."

End of Flashback

"How was the 'healing Uchiha Sasuke'? Was it good or bad?" Tenten asked.

"Both." Sakura scowled.

"What? Why?" Ino asked. Sakura started to tell them everything. After that, all three had their jaws dropped.

"What! He really said that!" Tenten said. Sakura nodded.

"Dammit! Was it only now that he realized that!" Ino said.

"You know, Sakura-chan… I was thinking…" Hinata said as Sakura looked at her.

"Maybe Sasuke said that because you're now strong."

After an hour of chatting, Neji arrived as he glanced at the girls, as the girls became quiet. Tenten smiled and waved at him as Neji approached them.

"Hey Neji-kun…" Tenten said as she gave Neji a peck on the cheek. Neji blushed a little as Ino and Hinata giggled. Neji nodded at Sakura as Sakura nodded back. Then, he turned to his girl friend.

"Tenten, I need to talk to you."

Tenten looked confused as she excused herself from the girls.

"Let's talk at the garden." Neji said. Tenten followed after him.