Yay I'm glad some of you find it nice. Special thanks to the reviewers! To 'lexy499', yes Orochimaru is gonna get Sakura instread! Hehe Well I'll try to update ASAP. Arigato minna!

Chapter 3

Sakura is now heading to her sensei's office. 'Sakura-san, Tsunade-sensei asks for you in her office as soon as possible' Sakura remembered Shizune said. Sakura seem to be thinking of the dream she had. 'Why does it keep bugging me?' she furrowed her eyebrows. Before she know it she arrived at the Hokage building already.

Sakura entered Tsunade's office and bowed in respect. "Sakura, you will be assigned on an S-class mission" Tsunade said straightly. "But Tsunade-shishou… I'm still a Chuunin" Sakura seemed confused. "I know… So that's why you are assigned with the Kazekage and other 3 Chuunins" Tsunade assured. Sakura nodded, "So who are the others?" she asked. "The others include Gaara, Neji, Naruto and Shikamaru. They're waiting for you at the gates. So get prepared, Shikamaru will tell you about the mission" Tsunade said. Sakura bowed and left.

Sakura rushed home and packed. She arrived at the gates and saw 4 figures waiting. "Sakura-chan!" Naruto waved his hand vigorously. Sakura sighed but smiled nonetheless. "Hey Naruto, Shikamaru-san, Gaara-san and… Hyuuga" Sakura practically smirked at the last name. Neji glared. "Drop the –san Sakura, don't need to be formal" Shikamaru said and Gaara nodded. Sakura shrugged, "So what is this mission about?" Sakura asked.

Shikamaru took out a scroll revealing a map of Hidden Sound Village, "We are ordered to investigate Orochimaru's plans" he said. We tensed a bit. "Hokage-sama received news from the ANBU that Orochimaru might be planning on an attack" he continued. "And we are ordered to investigate and stop this?" Naruto asked eagerly. "Naruto, don't be hasty" Gaara said. "We are only told to investigate, as for the stopping we discuss with Hokage later on" Shikamaru said. All of them nodded. "If there are no questions, shall we take off soon?" Sakura said, and again they nodded. They sped off towards Sound.

(Somewhere in Sound)

"Kabuto… Have you done what I ordered?" a voice asked. "Hai. They are now heading towards us" Kabuto replied. The voice laughed, "Good. Come towards me little one" the voice said. "But why didn't you choose Uchiha clan's survivor? Why 'that' person?" Kabuto asked. The figure looked at Kabuto with a sick look in his eyes, "Are you questioning my choice, Kabuto?" the voice hissed, like a snake. (I'm sure you all know who it is right?) "Iie, Orochimaru-sama. It's just that the person looked weak and pathetic" Kabuto replied, causing a snicker from Orochimaru.

"Yes… 'She' might look weak, now. But 'she' had something that could fulfill my requirements…" Orochimaru whispered. "Kabuto! Make sure they 'she' reaches here safely. As for the others…" Orochimaru stopped and laughed. "Just do what you want" he continued. Kabuto nodded and left the room.

(Back to Sakura's gang)

They were leaping from trees to trees, none of them seemed tired. Gaara sensed something and tackled Sakura on the ground. "What the-?" Sakura asked. Then a knife came out of nowhere hit a tree Sakura was at just now. "Neji!" Gaara called. Neji nodded as he activated his Byakugan, "There are 10 of them…" he said. Naruto grinned, "We're not even half a day yet and there are ambushes…" he said. "Get ready!" Shikamaru said. Gaara got off Sakura and got ready. "Sound ninjas?" Sakura asked as she took out her kunai. "No… Their chakra is not strong enough" Neji said. "That's why Sakura-chan can't sense them?" Naruto asked. "Aa" Gaara said.

Then 10 people surrounded them. "Who are you?" Shikamaru asked. "Give us all you belongings" the person who seemed to be the leader demanded. "Shikamaru, looks like they're just burglars" Sakura said. Naruto pouted, "And I thought it could be interesting" he said. "Hn" Neji and Gaara said in unison. "Teme… Don't underestimate us" the other burglar said. They were about to attack but they noticed that they can't move, "What the hell! I can't move" they said. "Yare yare…" Shikamaru said. "Nice going Shikamaru! Kage mane success!" Naruto exclaimed. Shikamaru nodded to Sakura then Sakura injected them with something causing the burglars to drop to the floor.

"What's that?" Naruto asked. "Paralyzing medicine" Gaara muttered. Sakura smiled, "They're gonna be okay after 2 days" she said and kept the needle back into her holster. "That's why they say you're weak. You don't dare to kill" Neji smirked. Sakura glared at him, "They might be burglars but they ARE humans like us" she hissed. "Let's get moving" Shikamaru said and sped. Others followed. "Tch…" Neji said and followed suit.

Shikamaru signaled us to stop. He then signaled Gaara to look around first. Sakura sat on a tree branch.

'That Hyuuga is such a bastard!' inner Sakura pumped her fist into the air. Sakura inwardly laughed. 'Ya know… You're much better that way' inner Sakura said. 'What way?' Sakura asked her inner self. 'Oh… You know, cheerful a bit and all' inner Sakura said. Sakura rolled her eyes 'Yeah right' she thought sarcastically. Inner Sakura giggled and left. "We'll camp here for tonight" Shikamaru said as soon as Gaara nodded signaling it's safe.

Everyone is busy with their tent. "I'll prepare dinner for tonight" Sakura said as she went off to find fire woods. Naruto went off to fetch the waters while Gaara hunt. Neji and Shikamaru waited patiently for them. When they were back Sakura began to clean the animals Gaara hunted and boiled the water. She noticed someone is watching her but she didn't care as long as it's not the enemy. When she's finished she handed Shikamaru, Gaara and Neji the food while she handed Naruto his beloved Ramen, "Sakura-chan! You know me best!" he grinned sheepishly. Sakura smiled and ate.

All of them were sleeping now except Neji. He can't seem to sleep so he took a walk. When he reached the lake he sat down and meditates. Sounds of water are heard and Neji snapped open his eyes and saw something pink at the edge of the lake. 'Pink? Sakura?' he thought and approached the figure. He's right. It was Sakura, she was swinging her legs in the water. And for once Neji had ever saw Sakura this, beautiful. He sat a bit far beside her.

"Hey Hyuuga" she greeted slyly. Neji nodded in response. "Can't sleep too huh?" she lamely asked. Neji raised an eyebrow at this. Since when did Sakura talked so casually with him? He thought. Sakura sighed and lay on the grass staring at the sky. "Haruno there is something wrong with you" Neji said calmly. Sakura furrowed her brows and shifted, "Nothing's wrong" she protested. "You're not a good liar Haruno" Neji said and Sakura could feel him glaring at her. "Whatever" she simply said.

Neji kept on glaring at her and it made Sakura annoyed, "Alright already!" she snapped. "I'm just troubled…" she mumbled. Neji raised an eyebrow, "What?" he asked. Sakura frowned 'Must he ask? It's not his problem…' she thought. "None of your business Hyuuga" she said as she stood up and wore her sandals. She was about to leave but "It is damn well my problem. You got a problem and what if because of your problems we failed this mission?" he said coldly.

Sakura growled a bit hearing that remark. "I can manage my own things Hyuuga" she muttered and walked off to the tent. 'And to think that he cares!' inner Sakura yelled. 'Well I guess you misjudged' Sakura told her inner self. Inner Sakura sighed. Sakura lay on her sleeping bag and fell asleep.

When Neji walked back to the tent he was thinking. 'That's her problem, why should I know?' he thought. 'You got a problem and what if because of your problems we failed this mission?' He remembered himself said. 'What a stupid reason' suddenly a voice said. 'What the hell? Who are you?' Neji asked. 'Damn you're slow! I'm your inner self!' inner Neji said. 'What is that?' Neji is confused. 'In short I'm you're conscious' inner Neji said. '…' 'And I knew you cared so you asked' inner Neji said. 'What? No way! Why would I care for that Haruno?' he protested. 'Simple, because you're falling for her since in the academy' inner Neji said. Neji is left speechless. He entered his tent and fell asleep, ignoring 'inner Neji'.

------------------------------Chapter 3 end--------------------------------------

Wow… at least this had a bit NejiSaku. Oh well… I followed your advice and separate the paragraphs into smaller ones. Hope readers can read it with ease now! Sorry Is this chapter okay a bit?