Please bear with the names people. They were the only Japanese ones that I could think of. Plus, I had to study in the last four days. Big test coming up on Monday.

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Sasuke, the man, glared at Hikaru, his sharingan piercing through like flaming arrows. "Still think you've got what it takes?" he asked crossly. He secretly put an item inside the teenager's pocket and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Hikaru gasped and coughed as he fell on his knees. Ryo and Hikari were free of the strings and ran over to help the fallen boy. "Hikaru!" Hikari yelped, "Are you okay?"

Hikaru nodded and sat down.

Ryo saw a small scroll peeking out of Hikaru's pocket and quickly grabbed it. "It's an Earth Scroll!" he exclaimed and showed it to his team mates, "Just the scroll we needed!" He jumped around excitedly.

Hikari smiled. "That man must've dropped it," she chimed, "We're in luck."

Hikaru knew that the mysterious man placed the scroll in his pocket. Nevertheless, he just said flatly, "Yeah." He stood up and headed for the tower, the other two following close.

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Sasuke was at the park sitting on the branch of a cherry tree. It was already pitch black late at night, but he enjoyed staying up at such time and condition. "Why did I help him?" he asked himself, "That kid could've learned some things by himself." He snatched a descending petal and blew it away. "I'm beginning to become soft... That's not good."

"Hiyah!" a voice shrieked, "Chya!"

Curiosity overcame the sulking Uchiha, so he went over to investigate the noises. To his surprise, he saw a very familiar young girl throwing kunai knives at a firm tree stump. "H-Haruka?" he whispered to himself as he remembered her name.

Haruka threw another kunai at the stump and charged at it with a powerful "ending kick," causing the stump to lose quite a lot of barks. She panted and glared at the innocent stump. "Dangit!" she cursed and let herself fall on her back with a heavy sigh. She was fatigue, frustrated, and dirty...making her cranky. "I'll never be as good as Hikaru!"

Sasuke couldn't hold back a small smile that formed on his lips when he heard her say those words and approached her cautiously. Despite her small form, she was capable of disabling him at one mis-step. "It's late," he started.

Haruka gasped and sat up. She was frightened when she saw Sasuke standing in front of her and quickly stood up in an offensive stance. "Who are you?" she hissed, "A-and why are you here at this time?"

"That's none of your business," Sasuke replied coldly, "Instead, I should be asking you that question." He calmly sat down and looked at the frightened girl. "At ease. I mean you no harm."

Haruka calmed down. She didn't know why, but she trusted him. She sighed and sat down. "I'm Haruka," she greeted sweetly, "Who are you?"

Sasuke's onyx eyes narrowed. "A friend of Sakura Haruno...your mother. Just promise not to tell her about me, okay? It's a surprise visit. We haven't seen each other in years."

Haruka admired his slightly spiky raven hair and onyx orbs. His manly physique was also quite dashing. "I promise," she squeaked, "You know, sir, you're very handsome. I'm happy that my mom knows you." She giggled.

Sasuke blushed a bit, but it was hardly visible. "Um...thanks," he mumbled. He looked at the damaged stump. "So what were you doing?"

"I was training. You see...I'm trying to become better than my brother, Hikaru. He always seems to be good at everything." Her face saddened.

Sasuke...chuckled? "That's not true. I'm sure there are some things you're good at that he's not." He saw that he wasn't helping and offered, "Would you like me to teach you some techniques? But you have to promise that you won't tell ANYONE about your lessons...or me."

Haruka nodded happily and changed the subject, "You look like my brother, but you're a lot more better looking."

Sasuke stood up. "I'm afraid it's time I go. You have to go home right now and get some rest, okay? First lesson starts tomorrow after Genin class."

Haruka smiled and said, "Thank you!" and ran back to her house.

Sasuke didn't leave. He followed her to make sure that she got home safely. "I really am becoming soft." He sat on a tree branch attached to a cherry tree that was next to Sakura's house and watched sadly as Sakura scolded her young daughter for going out by herself. He smiled a bit when he saw Haruka walk up to her room and go to bed. "Sakura's really grown up," he mumbled and laid back, gazing up at the stars peacefully. Moments later, he fell into a light sleep.

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Bang! Sasuke woke up to the sudden loud noise and looked around, alert. He found that Sakura had fallen on some metal objects and became worried. Is she okay? When he saw her stand up and brush some dirt from her kimono, he calmed down.

Sakura sighed and fixed her hair. "Hey, Sakura!" she heard someone say. She looked up ahead and saw her best friend Ino waving at her. "How are you doing?"

"Just fine...I think."

Ino smiled. "Do you think you can play hookie and come shopping with me?" she asked mischievously. She twirled her longs bangs with her index finger playfully. "Plleeeaaaassseeee?"

Sakura frowned and answered maturely, "Ino, you know I can't. I have to take care of the house and the kids. I also have dinner to cook. You know? Despite your age and status, you're still the same old Ino I used to know when I was only twelve. Grow up already."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Man, how could it be that I was older than you, but you're more...well...motherly." She pouted and muttered, "You need some time for yourself. Have some fun!"

Sakura shook her head. "I can't." She was about to bend down to pick up her cherry blossom hair pin, but gasped when she was forcefully dragged away. "What the? Ino Yamanaka, let me go this instant!"

Ino scowled and said, "Sakura, I'm not one of your children! Besides, I'm sure Sasuke would-" She instantly stopped and let her friend go. "I-I'm sorry," she mumbled, turning around to face her, "It just slipped."

Sakura wiped away small tears and sniffed, "It's okay."

Sasuke's sharp ears picked up everything. "Why are they overreacting to my name?" he asked himself.

"Sakura," Ino muttered, "I know you don't want me asking this, but... If you see him again...will you tell him that the father of your children is-"

"I can't answer that question right now!" Sakura snapped. She looked at Ino apologetically, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

Sasuke felt his heart race and his blood boil. "Who's the father, damn it?" he asked himself once again. His sharingan activated without him noticing. "Talk!"

Ino smiled her best and nodded understandingly. "It's okay. I should've never asked such a thing." She bowed politely and left saying, "Have a good day, Sakura."

Sakura sighed and went back inside her house, forgetting her hair pin.

"Ugh!" Sasuke growled and slumped back on the tree. "Who's the father?"

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I am SO good at cliffies in this story! Haha! You guys have to wait for the next update. XP