Disclaimer: This piece is created based on Naruto series, which is created and solely belonged to Kishimoto Masashi - no profit is made from this piece for it is used resolutely for fun. No copyright infringement intended.

Warning: PG-13 cusses, twists, -cough- and an... ahem... -cough cough- imaginative dream...

Author's Note: My deepest apologies to the readers who have been waiting for this chapter to be posted, and thanks to a new fella, artsaffron, who thankfully kicked me on the shin and reminded me that I had a story to update with those kind words :) This week's just been hectic with all the exams and contest and accidents. Anyway, off to the fourth chapter, and enjoy ;)

XXXXX

CATASTROPHE

By Silbi

Chapter Four

"A dream is just a dream, and will always be a dream." -- Anonymous

XXX

It was morning once again: the bird chirped, the sky was blue, sunshine filtered beautifully through the half-opened shades in a room, somewhere in the middle of Konoha village. The room owner cracked open an eye and closed it again half-heartedly.

Never thought I'd hate morning so much. I announce this three days ago and I'd laugh my face off.

She pulled the warm bed cover covering her body down to her ankles hopped off the bed. That almost pulled off nicely if her foot didn't get stuck, resulting to her falling face-first to the floor with a satisfying 'thump'.

"Aw, fuck."

Haruno Sakura just knew that this was going to be such a looooooong day.

Outside, however, on the contrary, a blue bird passed by her window and chirped in glee.

XXX

Naruto stole a glance over his shoulder, staring fixedly at something and followed its beeline around the clearing, looking baffled.

Sasuke turned to him and cocked his head aside, not understanding the presented view as well.

They two were exchanging looks more often than they'd ever had, both reporting to each other about the littlest bit of change on a certain pinkhead, who was running in full vigor around the clearing they were practicing at. They had turned to Kakashi, hopefully getting information, but the silver-haired jounin just shrugged it off, saying that it was perhaps 'her time of the month' and that they needed to give her a room for herself.

"But Kakashi-sensei, aren't you worried seeing Sakura-chan pushing herself over the limit like that?"

Kakashi lowered Icha-Icha Paradise to the level of his hidden nose, sighing heavily. The words written all over his masked feature were 'All that I see is the young lady is honing her skills, and all that you, the incredulous brat over here is doing, is worrying over her like a mother hen.' What came out was the simplified version, of course.

"That is one reason why she was overexerting herself. Have you ever thought maybe it was because she wanted to be treated as equal?"

"That's a pretty safe answer that doesn't involve you, does it? Because what we discovered other than her sudden vigor was she was practically avoiding you." Sasuke stated dryly, hands in his pockets while throwing an accusing glance at his teacher.

A soft thump could be heard as Sakura threw her body down to the ground, landed on her knees and palms, and began her push-ups.

The Icha-Icha Paradise slid back into view, up to Kakashi's eye-level, blocking unwanted distractions from every direction. "Twenty laps, starting NOW."

"Kakashi-sensei, all morning Sakura-chan has been doing TWICE of what we're asked to do, if you're not paying attention! She did twenty sets of push-ups and sit-ups when she heard you ordered us to do half of it, she ran ten laps instead of five, and she had - "

The blond ninja looked over to the pinkhead, faintly catching numbers she recited as she moved, "Thirty-three - thirty-four - thirty-five - "

"...been working out manically!"

"Naruto, that is exactly where I'm getting you to. You have to understand that being a girl, she thought she was weaker than you guys, and that's why she's doing all of the hard work to keep up. You don't have to stress over her. We knew that she knew and has her limits. Now, twenty laps."

Satisfied with Kakashi's explanation, Naruto nodded vigorously and began his running, chasing Sasuke who already had a lap start all the while shouting obscenities. Kakashi shook his head disapprovingly, but he smiled anyways at his students' antics.

He brought his gaze back to a certain kunoichi - in the direction where Naruto had shot an unbelieving look and exchanged the same confused expression with Sasuke who witnessed the sight as well - stretched over dirt on all fours, still trying to do another set of push-up but anyone can see her muscles tremble as she pushed herself up yet again, her dirty limbs wavering a little when her body was perfectly lifted. The pinkhead was far on the side of the clearing, too far for him to call her to a halt.

Her muscles were burning of exertion, her skin was hot under the scalding sun. Carefully lowering herself to the ground, she muttered in-between intakes of breath, "Fifty-five..."

Ugh, not fast enough... And a certain man somewhere out there can do this much faster with me on his back.

"Yo."

Heh. Don't expect to carry you on my back all the time, the burden is just too much.

Her brows furrowed in concentration as she lifted herself up again, the trembling of her muscles became more intense. She bent her elbows and lowered herself once more, fighting the overwhelming exhaustion that took over her limbs. "Fifty-six..."

"Wanna grab some food after this? My treat." He offered kindly, smiling at her.

It was so typical of him, Inner Sakura noted. That smile, a kind offer for lunch, and he actually didn't ask you to stop training. Unlike those pestering toddlers...

She looked from the corner of her eyes, thus all that she got clear were the pair of Kakashi's aging sandals and his dancing left toe, tapping up and down as he waited.

"I've laps... to finish and... some push-ups," Sakura said while sucking an amount of oxygen into her exhausted lungs. They had begun to burn, too, adding itself into a list of her body parts that had showed initiation of needing rest.

"We'll wait."

'We'.

What, exactly, do you mean by 'we'? she wondered, Does it mean the whole Team Seven or was it actually 'me and my twisted self' you'll be waiting for?

I'm supposed to tell him, aren't I?

Her mind flew back to the aging book in her kitchen, hidden on the top shelf of the cupboard behind sacks of food and brown paper grocery bags, remembering the layout of the book.

Practical Potions...

Potions of Enchantment...

Potions of Enchantment and the Antidotes...

Potions must have antidotes!

Sakura felt a spark of optimism rose within her. The burden her limbs were carrying suddenly felt a bit lighter...

But your potion was deformed... better found what was wrong with it first.

Her hands gave way and she fell with an 'oomph' to the gritty sand, the golden dust staining the front of her knee-length dress and her visible limbs.

The kunoichi replied neither after she finished her push-ups, nor even until she dashed for a two-times-twenty-lap run and leave the silent jounin rooting on his spot - Naruto's hunch was beginning to make sense.

The muscles on her legs were stretched comfortably as she ran, or more like leapt, since she felt so light despite her former condition. With wind caressing her ears, hearing nothing, Sakura was relaxed at once. No more thinking of foolish matters. No more childish banter. No more...

...footfalls?

The wind that had generously caressed her face and hair, now was playing with a certain jounin's messed hair and masked face. The footfalls came from him, who was now running along with her. Wider steps and more controlled pace, she would be outrun any minute, but he kept the pace so as to run side-by-side with the pink-haired young lady.

"What are you doing... Kakashi-sensei?" Controlling her breath didn't need that much energy now, for running was almost daily for her - chasing Naruto, keeping up with Sasuke, and running to get Kakashi - she could say that loud and coherent enough for him to hear.

"As you can see, Sakura-chan, running."

She hated how he could do hundreds of tasks and jutsus with no sweat, just like flicking a dead fly off a table. He sounded rather like he was striding casually along the streets of Konoha wanting to buy some canned peaches and replying to a neighbor's greeting warmly rather than running alongside a student in high velocity.

"Old man, what are you doing?" exclaimed Naruto, who had just ran through the gap Kakashi and Sakura's close proximity created. He sounded jealous, obviously, for he hadn't gotten over her yet. Maybe he had, but he still had that deep affection for his only female teammate that wouldn't wear off. "Get away from her and stick to Ero-sennin's masterpiece - OUCH! What was THAT for?" He rubbed the back of his head, irritated, where Kakashi had bopped him hard enough with his fist.

Sasuke, who didn't miss a second of what was rolling, snorted and increased his speed.

"Oi, wait you sonofa - OW! STOP IT ALREADY!" Kakashi had prevented Naruto from uttering the dirty word with another endearing smack.

"Dirty words and no ramen, Naruto."

His tone was final. The vibrant blonde jogged away with a hurt and betrayed face, which didn't last long when he spotted the Uchiha heir already getting two laps further than him.

A giggle escaped Sakura's throat. It was almost like reminiscing, the day they were having that day. Except for the taller Naruto and Sasuke and their ages, almost nothing had changed -

...and she took Kakashi's change into account. Her mood instantly went ugly.

"Carrying the world on your shoulder while you're training is not good, you know."

So true...

Hotness rose in her eyelids, and the tears were already threatening to fall. She blinked them away quickly. Until that day, she still couldn't fathom why she always wanted to cry at his way of understanding her. She, too, still couldn't fathom why he couldn't do the opposite.

Sakura slowed down her pace, waiting for Kakashi to do the same thing, and gathered her courage. I can put down the world for just a minute, can't I?

"Kakashi-sensei... A moment please?"

The addressed guy silently made a beeline, following her to a shadowed spot under the trees on the side of the clearing. Kakashi looked at her intently, and she mustered all of her might to meet his visible eye, a glinting brown orb under the sun.

She cocked her head aside, Yesterday, wasn't it - ?

"Well well well, good day, isn't it, Kakashi, Sakura?" A loud voice of a woman rang clearly across the clearing, every head turning to its direction. Striding confidently to them was the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, smiling brightly.

Her near realization was quickly brushed aside, replaced with bubbling irritation.

Damn, can't I have a second in private?

If I were you, I'd say she had a crush on him and were trying to get you both out from intimate situations, the voice in her head - the one that she had learnt to ignore - piped in quickly.

"So, how is everybody?" Tsunade started, casting a glance around the place, watching the unhealthy quarrel between Naruto and Sasuke in pure interest. It was quite a spectacle, Naruto trying to tackle Sasuke from the back, and later when he was clearly unsuccessful with his current method he switched to his Sexy no Jutsu, which in a puff of smoke spread naked blond ladies all over the place. Sakura slapped her forehead as waves of migraine hit her; Kakashi was looking distracted as well, since the orange book was safe somewhere in one of his pockets to keep him off the glorious curves in that hot morning.

"They are all progressing well, Godaime-sama. Even the couple over there has fought less and less, though it is rather unseemly," Kakashi reported in a mission-wise-voice, earning a good laugh from both the ladies.

Isn't he just a heartthrob? A sound in her head complimented between delighted cackles, And do cut him some slack, he's a pure man after all! No wasting the served meal, even in the form of a porn book or a Jutsu!

"I see," Tsunade said, hands put together on the small of her back, looking poised and regal. "I am very proud to hear that. And I am proud to inform you, too, that one of them is going to be progressing even more," stated the elder lady, and Kakashi raised and eyebrow, "under my guidance."

The young kunoichi gasped, while Tsunade gave her a small smile.

"Yes, Sakura, you're going to be learning how to be a medic nin, a real medic nin, with me in two months. Enough for you to prepare yourself and make up your mind."

Her eyes fell upon Kakashi, asking for support. The nervous gesture was caught by the Fifth Hokage, and she smiled affectionately.

"However, you can still refuse to receive the lesson if you don't want to - it's your choice to accept or not." Tsunade told her wistfully, giving her a reassuring look.

"There is a thing, however, that you have to complete before you can proceed to be my apprentice."

Naruto and Sasuke, on the other hand, had progressed to a hassle in a messy tangle of limbs - Naruto had his hand curled around Sasuke's neck, strangling him while holding him down by sitting on the brunet; Sasuke was looking like a hard-boiled crab, yet he hadn't let go of the blonde's head squashed stiffly between his ankles.

"Uzumaki Naruto! Uchiha Sasuke! Stop that catfight and GET YOUR ASSES OVER HERE!" The medic nin shouted at the top of her lungs (though, by the waver in her voice, it was clear she tried hard not to laugh), startling the pair who hastily stopped pulling each other's tee collars and did as they were told.

Once they were gathered in a circle, ears opened wide, the Fifth Hokage continued her speech. "You are all to be sent for..."

"Gah, it's the buxom Grandma! What do you want?"

Sakura glared daggers at Naruto, who visibly shrank and zipped his mouth shut, and in less than a second their attention was fully back to Tsunade, who still looked pissed by the weird arch on the left corner of her mouth and the pulsating veins on her forehead and balled fists.

"...a Grade-B mission. Finish in two weeks and report to me if, and only if, you bring success. You'll be briefed in the evening, Shikamaru will tell you then what to do."

Sensing something evil in Tsunade's words, Kakashi spoke up, "Does that mean..."

"Yes, you are in, too."

Though a little out of place, across the blue sky that morning, the blue bird flew past once more.

XXX

Sitting comfortably was not a circumstance one could address Haruno Sakura's situation with right now.

She was awfully jittery, chewing her bottom lip in anxiety while Shikamaru laid out the circumstances (a jounin taken hostage in the middle of a mission, and the kidnapper wanted their ninjas back; it turned out that the one she saw some weeks ago in the ANBU headquarters was one of them), the dangers (possibility of not coming back and all that missing-limbs-and-severe-injuries crap), and the plan before them in the meeting room. She propelled her chin on the back of her hands, arms bent on the table, carefully out of the white styrofoam cup's way, which contained a dark liquid that took part in straining her nerves. The coffee tasted awful, as always, and all it did was thickening the haze in her head.

How can they be sent out at such a purrfect situation like this: a team consisted of two rabid boys couldn't wait to tear each other's head off, a guilt-ridden kunoichi, and a split-personality jounin, for a B-grade mission that was to be finished in two weeks? They needed much more than just a plan if they expected something a little better than 'Pass'.

Plans.

REAL plans, Inner Sakura popped in evilly, and Sakura's brows knotted. How so very ironic.

"...so when you are done cleansweeping the outskirts of the area, you are positively in a safe state."

...what did he just say?

Okay. Listen again carefully, maybe you only have missed a paragraph or so. Not a whole project...

Now it was all coming to her ears as clear as a bell in a silent night (cut out the Hail Maries and choirs and you got the picture). "However, checking for other signs of hidden guards might be useful. If you have the place cleared, you can proceed with the steps as outlined before. If there's no question, I think that wraps up for today." The mastermind, Shikamaru, finished with swelling pride and smiled politely as some of the audience gave him an appreciative applause. One guy actually came up to him and pat him on the back, telling him how perfect his strategy was, and looking forward to be sent on a mission together with him, which Shikamaru replied with a rather forced smile.

"Oh crap." She realized everyone had started shuffling their papers and notes, Shikamaru collecting his maps and stacks of information he had spread during the one-hour briefing, and that she had missed the whole three-quarters of it.

She felt a poke on her rib, and turned to answer the call.

"Hm?" Naruto stared back at her with a stupid grin in his face - weird enough, Sasuke behind him looked like he was trying really hard to normalize his face-splitting grin - they two looked like a pair of schoolgirls confronting an idol. Sasuke must've taken that look from one of his fans, because it had looked very real, despite the muscles in his face hadn't been used for hard tasks. The strains they had taken must have only formed a scowl, a smirk, or a deranged face.

"Real masculine, hm? Betcha were... hmf... rooting for him, but unfortunately... haha... he's taken." Naruto finished with much difficulty, started guffawing along with Sasuke's stifled laugh as soon as the last world went out safely from his mouth.

"What are you talking about?"

Grr, if only everyone would stop looking so smug... Genma on the corner, drinking a cup of coffee with Kakashi, was seen stealing glances on her, and hiding his smile in the styrofoam cup.

"What is wrong with you guys?" she said incredulously, and added critically at an innocent-looking Shikamaru who was finally done stacking the material and wanting to get out of the room, "And Shikamaru, do I see you running away from this scene? Defend me or something, will you! I swear I'll tell Ino about - "

Genma put down his white cup on the table coolly. "Sakura, everyone in this room has witnessed that all, and I mean all, this evening you were looking dreamily at the genius mastermind Shikamaru. Right, Shikamaru?"

"No I DIDN'T!"

"Did too," Genma shot back almost childishly, and patted Kakashi on the shoulder as he briskly made his way out. "Keep her off coffee. I see that made her a little too sensitive," he advised seriously. Naruto dissolved into laughter, almost fell onto the floor laughing madly.

Kakashi somehow kept himself out of the upcoming war, nursing his cup of coffee almost too lovingly while Sakura was shooting murderous glances all around.

"Har har," the irked kunoichi muttered, marching out of the meeting room with unwavering anger, her heavy stomps resonated in the hallway.

"Sakura-chan!"

Quickening her walking pace, she ignored the boyish voice calling at her from the other end of the alley. He didn't sod off and caught up with her instead, breath coming out in short pants.

"Sorry, Sakura-chan... Didn't mean to piss you off like that..." he said apologetically, head bowed down in shame as he scratched the back of his head, looking like a kicked puppy.

"Didn't sound like you didn't," uttered Sakura, who bit her lips, pressed her eyes shut and quickly looked away, ashamed that she had tried to bite off someone who gave an apology trial a try. Naruto looked forlorn, yet he forced a nervous laugh at her sharp tongue.

"Ne, I'm really really sorry, Sakura-chan... I'll buy you ramen, if that helps - I always find it comforting when I have a bad day!" added Naruto quickly, suddenly bursting with newfound energy even only at the mention of that favorite dish of his.

Naruto, in Sakura's humble opinion, was just an unchangeable factor. He might lost his whining pattern, yet he still adored that bowl of ramen of Ichiraku dearly - he always stopped by the small restaurant and ordered the same thing every now and then after his practice, and he didn't quit asking people to treat him there everytime he got the chance. What Sakura thought was very sweet was the blonde ninja with the hidden Kyuubi inside him had never been heard asking Hinata to treat him - Sakura had only heard that he'd done the other way round, which was very occasional, with the shy kunoichi giving 'yes' as a reply.

"Anything I like?"

He nodded vigorously, as if unwanting to miss the chance of apologizing.

The pink-haired kunoichi smiled, the first real smile she had ever given since the sullen morning she'd woken up with a hangover and a deviated teacher in her house, and she could see all the worries in Naruto's eyes and face evaporated.

"You always look pretty when you smile, Sakura-chan," Naruto said softly, sounding relieved. "Good to have you back."

The raven-haired Uchiha strode past them quietly and said, "You don't want to keep the customers waiting, do you?"

"Hey, I'm not treating YOU!"

"Seriously, Dobe."

XXX

Team Seven minus Kakashi went out of Ichiraku Ramen feeling full to the throat, Naruto rubbing his stomach appreciatively, Sasuke cleaning his teeth with a chewed toothpick and Sakura dragging her feet, huffing, "Gosh, I just can't walk. I'm too full to breathe," she poked her slightly bulging belly with a finger.

"I'll escort you home then, if you want!" Naruto ventured.

"You're forgetting something, or someone, if I may say so," claimed Sasuke in-between chewing his toothpick and kicking stones or pebbles on the road, watching them spread dust and rolled somewhere off the road.

"She has nothing to do with this!" the blonde bemoaned, "What's your problem, fool?"

"Chill, you guys," the only girl in the group parted them before there was bloodshed, "we've just eaten here, let us digest the food before you two do anything stupid. And don't complain if you get a stomachache." She implored, and let out a laugh when both of her companies looked baffled at her insensitive statement. Poking Naruto on the side, she teased, "Come on, you know I'm just kidding right?"

"At least you don't drag Hinata in this whole conversation, unlike an asshole next to you..."

"Did I say something about that Hyuuga girl?"

Naruto, pink cheeks and all, seethed at Sasuke who grinned smugly, feeling he'd just won the conversation.

"Quit it, will you, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun?"

They stopped at a junction of roads, and Sakura looked at every face before her affectionately. "Thanks for today. See you guys later." She said, meaning every word, and waved. They parted, going to their own ways silently under the obscured sun.

XXX

Tightly wrapped in a thick, fluffy white towel, heat emanating from her body after a long soak in the strawberry-scented bubble bath, Haruno Sakura flopped on the bed and sighed in bliss. "This whole thing is just divine," she told herself, a hand went up and traced the framed photo of Team Seven on the bedside table lovingly, "you guys must be proud I am finally promoted for something that I deserve."

Thinking about the tutelage that was going to be given to her in two months by none other than the legendary medic-nin herself, Tsunade, twisted her guts in knots; but the pride leaping in her heart had defeated the unpleasant churning.

'...you're going to be learning how to be a medic nin with me in two months. Enough for you to prepare yourself and make up your mind.' Godaime's words resonated back in her brain, reminding her that she needed to fix whatever unfinished businesses she got enlisted in her to-do list. She had ticked most of the first on the ever-growing list, one was 'loosen up, doll!', and another was 'stop having people worrying about you', which was right under 'getting your way with dear sensei', the one that got a long, red line crossing it in the middle defining a crash.

To top it off, the aforementioned 'dear sensei' would be with her along the mission, and they were expected to work as a perfect team that they were. Or that they had been, she didn't know - how was she to explain to Tsunade if in the middle of a heating battle Kakashi suddenly lost his usual side and ended up flirting with the opponent?

I couldn't survive this for long...

...have to... tell...

...someone trustworthy...

Seconds later, Sakura, clad only in a thick, fluffy towel had fallen into peaceful slumber on her soft bed, the ends of her mouth curled into a contented smile.

XXX

FLASH.

He was hiding in the darkness, lurking behind the shadows that were his friends, eyes following the movements of a beauty lounging in the backyard garden. The center of his attention looked about, a slight tone of indignation flawing her vixen-like features as she kept on glancing behind her at every rustle of leaves or every whisper of the wind. It was pitch black, only the reddish light from the small house she came out from helping making out the gorgeous outline of a lady, convincing everyone that the face was absolutely stunning.

In a slow, calculated steps, he approached the lady from behind, grasping the hilt of his katana.

This isn't a dream, Kakashi told himself. It is too real.

Then what is it? A voice wondered aloud afterwards, voicing his own question mentally.

XXX

FLASH.

She was feeling agitated. Nervously stepping out of her chamber, tip-toeing to the terrace, she settled down and slipped into her wooden sandals. Bringing herself up, she smoothed her wrinkled kimono.

Kimono? Sakura inquired, Am I actually wearing this to sleep?

She walked to the middle of the garden, to the dark fish pond surrounded by grey pebbles. As the clouds parted it glinted beautifully under the moon, the silvery reflection was simply breath-taking to her. Tempted to see her reflection in it, she walked silently to its edge, bent forward and held her breath - it wasn't because she was dressed in an ancient Japanese style and her face was absolutely gorgeous, the rosy pink lips were full and her eyelashes were long and black, but it was because there was another reflection looking back at her with a spine-chilling gaze.

XXX

FLASH.

He was right behind the kimono-clad lady, the woman oblivious of his presence. The katana in his right hand was raised high, ready to strike... he still couldn't make out her looks, much less from her backside in the poor lighting... she could be seen approaching the pond, though...

Kakashi became anxious. What am I doing? Am I going to kill her - is this a mission? When is this happening?

The clouds parted, and rays of silvery light brought everything into his hungry eyes. Pink locks glared back at him, pulled into intricate bun at the back of her head and adorned with various hairpins embedded with jade stones - the owner whirled back with a soft gasp, the soft hair brushed his face and it almost felt real, and he was staring right into two endless emerald orbs that he knew too well.

XXX

FLASH.

She was startled.

That face -

The other feeling she was experiencing at the sight of him was stronger than her fear; and soon, she was pulling him to her close.

XXX

FLASH.

The orbs ascended, no, he descended to greet the eyes, and their lips crashed together in a frenzied kiss, their hands scrambling and feeling sensuously, hotness spread on her lips almost painfully -

Hatake Kakashi shot up from his bed, sweating all over and breath laboring, the blanket had been kicked away moments ago and now laying innocently on the floor.

Blocks away, Sakura gasped and shot up from her messed-up bed, glorifying red coloring her sweaty cheeks as she was awoken from the same dream.

The two calmed themselves, trying to tone down their erratic breathes, a thought ringing in two different minds.

What was that?

Minutes later, after staring into the blankness of his bedroom wall, Kakashi laid back heavily onto his damp mattress, and tried to give himself a second restless sleep.

Sakura tried hard to brush the dream aside, and when she thought she had gotten rid of the burning from her cheeks and lips aside, she buried her face onto the pillow and cursed.

Now I can't see him in the eye anymore, and I just can't tell him why.

XXXXX

TBC

Author's Note: By the way, why do people tend to forget to tell me how they think? -wonders questioningly- Hehe, but thanks for sparing some time to read this crappy story, it was worth it and I appreciate it very much. Thank you for reading and have a nice weekend! Valentine's coming up, expect some lovey-dovey stuff so stick around :D