Alright at the moment I am both congragulting myself and wanting to kill myself on how long this took, but finally it's her every ones happy neh? So read and enjoy andddddddd review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto...sigh

So here she was just past 4:30 and wide awake as could be it had been a couple days since the funeral, a week if she remembered correctly. Her mission, her nindo that she had decided for herself the day she said her final goodbye to her teammate, brother and friend was what she stuck to, what got her going through the days. Training with Kakashi always helped and Naruto made it a priority to spend a lot of time with her, all the rookie nine actually made the effort to help her in some way.

There was the cherished memory of their outing together all of them the rookie eight now, but she reasoned as long as they weren't all gone she'd survive, as long as she had someone that she had grown up with, with who she become deep friends with, formed unique bonds with she'd carry through life some how. Accumulating sadness, grief her heart would grow weary and then she'd see Naruto smile, or hear Ino call to join her for some gossip and the weariness of living would slip away for awhile and she'd enjoy living, it was very pleasant.

Pulling her jôunin vest snugly onto her upper body she tied on her hitae-ate, facing the mirror she gazed at the crimson weapon of blood in her right eye, she was endlessly fascinated with it. She'd experimented with it a few times seeing the effects but only slightly as the black tomoe's whirled around the black pupil. She'd found beauty in it, it was ironic at least to her that something so coveted and so powerful could be well so…beautiful. Just gazing at it and taking her time admiring the deep red of it, her hand grasped her hitae-ate above her right eye ready to tilt it down to cover it, she felt no desire to yet though, she studied the effect it had with her jade green eye of new spring and fresh buds of trees, finding that she…rather liked the look not really cute or pretty more of a hauntingly dangerous beauty if she could describe it like that.

The Sharingan seemed to cast this light on her face and it transformed her fair skin, her pink lips her top slightly smaller then the bottom, her straight nose and oval-shaped face into a visage of commanding power. She had slowly seen it as she had gotten up each morning from the few minutes or small amount of hours she could get of sleep, she'd take time, a few minutes to just gaze at her face or more specifically her crimson weapon.

Sharingan…the weapon of the prestigious and genius Uchiha clan, a kekkai genkai feared and wanted in times of war and peace it didn't matter. Sakura had no doubt that a bloodline limit such as this could be gazed at with hunger and fear. A chill swept through her body, the hair on her arms rose to a standstill point, small bumps crept upon her arms as the thought of what she could do pervaded her mind and she wondered, not being able to help herself but think, the enemies of the Uchiha did they feel a black bottom abyss of a pit as those red eyes, those crimson red eyes gazed at them, pin them in place, and they knew deep within their soul and mind that those eyes would be their silent watcher as they died and if they survived which was highly unlikely that those bloody eyes would they haunt their dreams forever, a shiver coursed through her with those thoughts.

Where had they come from? It was frightening how they just seem to flood into her mind and before she knew it they led her on a trail of dark thoughts that shook her to the core and caused a shiver to travel from the top of face originating in her eye down to the very toe nails of her feet. Seeing his face in the mirror staring back at her through her bloody gift she watched her hand slip the swirling leaf hitae-ate down her forehead and over her right eye hiding it from view. Turning away so she wouldn't have to look and see the original owner of the eye looking back at her.

'Do you haunt me Sasuke-kun?' she wondered drifting her fingers of the hitae-ate 'Is your soul stuck to me, forever going to be beside me and behind me so that I can see you in every mirror I see do you haunt me Sasuke….-kun?' Dropping her hand she picked at her long jôunin-sleeved shirt as she left her room for some tea.

Slipping out of her house, she faced the street it was practically empty everyone was still asleep, dreaming of pleasant things, she felt envious of them, but this was her burden to bear besides maybe a walk to the Hokage's monument would do her some good it always did. Allowing her feet to guide her they knew the way she'd been on the same path oh…she lost count but a lot of times would suffice. Moving past some training grounds she cast her eyes in disinterested cursory on them. Torn ground, various holes of different depths and widths from attacks and weapons, it was all familiar to her as it was to all shinobi from genin to ANBU.

It was with great surprise though, that she found one person not in bed, sleeping their pleasant dreams, long coffee-dark hair tied back in a low loose tail. A regular jôunin shirt and pants was all he wore with his holster. Hyuuga Neji, a prodigy dark and brooding just like Sasuke, they were so alike the two of them. Both had cursed lives and high expectations, if that was the burden of having such power as theirs then she preferred not being of one of those clans where everything was dictated to you with strictness, no negotiation no nothing it was demanded of you to follow your clans laws.

Sakura knew that he knew she was here, as she watched him finish his workout his muscles tensing and contracting smoothly, toned form going through its required practice. When he finally stop, relaxing his muscles allowing them to drop, stretching slightly he turned to face her.

"Sakura-san" he said smoothly stretching out his nicely muscled triceps

"Neji-san" she said back "training?" she looked around her question answered with her view of his mess of a training ground. He grunted what could be taken as an affirmative, what he asked next surprised her she'd trained with him before and quite proudly she could boast hold her own against him but being asked by him was nothing short of…shocking.

"Do you want to train with me?" she didn't hesitate her zeal to improve herself and become the better of what Sasuke could have been if his life turned out to be different made her eager for any training provided even if it was an arrogant Hyuuga that had practically zero humor.

"Sure" and that was that they loosened their limbs and stood a good measure from each other tensing eyes searching each others forms assessing and analyzing what movements to make that would give them an upper hand.

"Use your Sharingan" he said suddenly she paused startled, use her Sharingan it made sense but should she use it? Or the better question…could she use it and efficiently at that, her indecision with it cost her dearly as Neji launched himself at her and without thinking she swept her hitae-ate up to her forehead executing the ancient shinobi principal of 'use what ever you got'.

His attack was fast and with her quick subconscious decision of using her Sharingan she was able to just dodge it. His chakra-laden fingers came inches to stopping her tenketsu, allowing herself a brief sigh of relief that she had avoided it. Jumping back so she could better look at the situation, her Sharingan alerted her to his movement to the left of her, dodging under his fingers again she was caught unprepared when a foot slammed into her stomach he was moving fast. Mentally shaking her self and giving some encouragement

'Alright Sakura pay attention, you know he's fast so we'll just have to match his speed' focusing on him with her Sharingan she saw the attack to her….right, a successful block she turned her body twisting her hips to slam an elbow into his ribs, it was a glancing blow but it uplifted her spirits to find that she could strike him and that he wasn't infallible especially to her Sharingan.

Her comma-spinning eye wide to view everything, a ping sounded followed by a shranng and shriek of metal as two kunai slashed together and broke apart to come against each other again in different positions. Neji didn't throw any projectiles, knowing that they wouldn't do any good against her right eye, but he also was careful to avoid looking directly in to it, which was a good idea for him because if he did she'd immediately cast a genjutsu on him, effectively ending the spar. He had long ago summoned up his Byakugan and they both found a thrilling pleasure to pit Konoha's two most powerful kekkai genkai against each other. Crimson-red Sharingan flashed in the rising sun as Sakura spun around her opponent, her kunai slipping against his as she passed and deflected a lunge to her side.

No words were spoken between them, no passing of sneering and taunting jabs that would usually accompany such a fight, no this was a fight of skill and battle you did not waste energy on silly threats and remarks. Her Sharingan kept Sakura equal with him and she moved herself according to his moves, a swift side turn followed by a fist of Tsunde's technique of super strength at his chest that would have broken bones easily. She miscalculated, a fatal mistake sweat pouring into her eyes she misjudged her position and for a minute lost her sure footing as she slid under his arm, Neji didn't lose any time and used a Hyuuga family technique, Hakke Rokujuyon Shō to seal her tenketsu and cripple her. She viewed it for a split second with the Sharingan before it happened but she didn't have enough time or speed to react appropriately. Sakura found her left side paralyzed from employing chakra. Cursing she moved her self around him swiftly, and sent her right fist to his shoulder, catching his shoulder plate and collar bone they broke with sharp cracks that split the air harshly.

Moving back at the same time she kept an eye on him alert for any of his movements, both were breathing hard, both were wounded, and both were having too much fun to even begin to describe it! Shifting her weight to her back leg, she paused running her Sharingan over his form, he was on attack, set up in the Jūken stance she warily scuffed her foot across the ground, widening her own stance to be able to successfully dodge or block. Her Sharingan swung 45˚ degrees to the left he was going for her paralyzed part, she pivoted on her foot, her eye swung to the right as he appeared and she moved without thinking down and to the side to avoid his palm. Seeing his foot come up, and then feeling the breeze a few seconds later as it actually happened and missed her head, her roseate colored hair lifting up with the draft; Her one eye tracked him she kept her left, the normal one still open but half-way she found that when she kept both it got confusing when she tried to see the difference between what was a future image or present image, keeping it half-closed helped solve the problem a bit when she got enough training and the nerve also she'd keep it closed all the way. What she was learning now not just from Kakashi's training but from trial and error made her see why Kakashi did some of the things he did. Admitting to herself that it did unnerve her with only having one eye open while fighting because it made her blind in her left side where her Sharingan had to compensate for it by automatically reacting to everything that came from her left side. It'd be a popular opening for enemies to exploit when she'd be put back in the field.

Seeing a shift and clenching of legs muscles and finger joints, the image and knowledge of where he would strike shot into her mind, becoming known to her and she reacted blocking the downward leg as it crashed from above, her arms jarred and held his leg before he flipped and sent another hard kick at her midsection she already saw it though and reacted with stepping to the side and punching at his ribs, he twisted his body and the battle continued.

Moving around each other in an exotic and beautifully deadly dance, each action replied with a reaction that was either a block, dodge, or retaliation. Swirls of coffee-brown and a healthy pink like that of a medium rare steaks center swirled in the sun flashing in intricate loops and twirls. The sun lighted on sweat-pouring bodies pushed to the max to prove who was better, faster, smarter. The world's ancient dance of power and control centered on that fight, making both combatants aware of nothing but the opponent, short gasps and grunts of pain sounded and stretched in the air signaling pain or triumph both short-lived.

He had the upper hand due to the newness still of her Sharingan and her using of it in a fight, thus it was surprising when he called a sharp

"Stop!" pausing in place to look at him one arm bent to her side, fingers clenched in a tight fist she breathed deeply studying him from under limply hanging pink hair. He stood breathing just as hard as her, she saw to her secret satisfaction his pearl eyes turned to her and he met her gaze.

"It's enough, you've proven that you can take your fate into your own hands, thank for the good fight" he said in that deep voice. Unbalanced at the sudden turn of events she could only stand and blink in shock at what he just said.

"Your uh…. Welcome…" she said hesitantly, not being able to find anything else to say for the moment. Watching him stand straight and approach her, still a bit perplexed at the sudden change over him she nonetheless pushed her hitae-ate down to cover her Sharingan.

"I hope to spar with you again, Sasuke-san was a good opponent I look forward to seeing the same in you" he spoke solemnly and she paused weighing her own words to match the compliment that he just gave her, if it was a complement it was cryptic and difficult to understand the meaning underneath just like Hyuuga Neji.

"I'll be sure to give you a better fight next time Neji-san" she finally settled on what to say and the words were out of her mouth as she thought of them. He gave a respectful nod, bow and just…left. She blinked at his sudden departure perturbed at what just happened, but the thrill of the fight had yet to leave her not that she wanted it to leave her she felt truly alive and for that she was grateful to Neji all thoughts were driven from her head when she was sparring with him it was wonderful. Shaking her head with a low chuckle she turned to face the sun, the blush of colors signaling a new day uplifted her spirits making a smile curve on her lips with contentment, she was surprised she didn't think she'd be so happy after his funeral just a few days it was gratifying and upsetting at the same time, stretching her muscles and limbs she turned and with a small quirk on her lips headed back to her house for a shower.

'Today' she thought 'will be a good day' she didn't know how she could tell she just knew something would happen to day that would excite her and make her thrilled to be alive.

Approaching the hospital, she mused as she looked at the doors with the red plus sign on them with a backdrop of white slightly covered with the dust and dirt of being there so long that she was usually the one fixing up the nins that came in not the other way around, but Shishou had demanded it of her and she was not one to disagree with her master it would not be good for her heath if she refused an appointment with her, Tsunde-sama knew where she lived a fact that worried her sometimes. Pulling open the door she stepped in, tracing her gaze and taking in everything of the hospital, nothing changed there was the desk that people signed in at the stiff but plush chairs that people sat in and the ever constant smell of disinfectant that hang around everywhere. She remembered when the smell had hung around her had it been so long ago, she wondered slightly startled then shrugging it off with a small smile she wandered in, she was in no hurry to get to the appointment. The nurse behind the desk gave her a nod and smile of familiarity that Sakura returned immediately and automatically.

Listening to the slight tap of her standard shinobi sandals on the white tiled floor she hummed to herself quietly as she approached the already agreed on room that she would go to. Pushing it open she looked around seeing the white hospital bed with light blue fabric cushions and a thin paper sheet over it see through. Taking a seat on the only chair, she swiveled around to face the door and wait, she didn't glance at the clock or anything for that matter it was all to familiar she'd been here both as patient and worker, more of the latter then the former thankfully. Still humming absently she stared at the equally white-tiled ceiling, hearing the door open silently on its hinges she pulled her gaze to look at her Shishou watching her step in and close the door behind her.

"Sakura-chan" she greeted affectionately but with the undertone of professionalism that she always acquired when she was working. Greeting her with a

"Shishou" in return

"This is just a checkup on how your eye is doing" Sakura nodded already knowing what it was and stood up walking the three steps to the hospital bed and sitting on the edge, the thin paper sheet crackled beneath her as she sat and she shifted slightly the paper voicing it's noisy protests with each movement.

"Take off your hitae-ate" Tsunde said as she approached her with a small penlight, wrapping her fingers on it she grasped the metal and fabric pulling it up and away from her eye, it brushed her strands as she pulled it all the way off and kept it beneath her hands as she put her arms she either side of her. Lifting her face to gaze at Tsunde-sama, she didn't seem at all affected by the burning red eye.

Instead she approached and widened it with her fingers, clicking the penlight on and letting the beam of light slide into her eye, her pupils dilated slightly with the bright light and her eyes teared at the stark brightness of it. Another click and the light was gone, a hmmm and the familiar tingle of her Shishou's chakra flooding into her swept into her body focused on only in her right optical nerves. She relaxed with the feeling and let it do its work of checking up on her making sure everything was in order.

"Hmmmm" Tsunde sounded, Sakura couldn't detect what she was feeling from it or what the diagnose would be hopefully good.

"Well the eyes accepted you just fine and there seems to be no lasting effects of it being transplanted into you" Tsunde stood back and frowned slightly her gaze still on her apprentice, Sakura recognized the sign of her master thinking of something and wondered what it was. Silence descended as Tsunde appraised Sakura's eye and then the rest of her body as though searching for any injuries finding none her gaze came back to the Sharingan.

"Since your Sharingan is doing so well how would you like to go on a mission it's only C-rank…but I want to start you slow, Kakashi say's your doing well with your training of using it effectively" she was still frowning though.

Sakura couldn't believe it after her training she was getting a mission she'd be able to go out and do something even if it was low-rank it was something and she was excited, no she was more then excited.

"Shishou you really mean it, a mission, please say your not joking and its true" she begged "I want to go, look I'm fine I can use my Sharingan I have complete control over it" 'almost' she added to herself mentally.

"It'll mean everything if I could do it please…" she asked pleading with her tone and eyes for her to go. Tsunde gazed at her still thinking silent, Sakura tried to convene how much she wanted to go through her eyes 'please Shishou please' she thought desperately.

"All right" she relented finally, Sakura gasped with happiness

"Thank you, Shishou you're the best when I get back I'll buy you ten jugs of sake, thank you" she jumped off the bed, a smile splitting her face that it hurt her cheeks with how large it was. Not resisting from being able to give her a hug she clutched at her teacher

"Thank you so much" she said and was patted on the back,

"I'm going to tell Naruto the good news" she shouted her spirits were high and it was like she had just been told that Sasuke was alive again almost at least. Racing to the door not able to contain her excitement or she would burst she pulled the door open acknowledging and catching the scroll that Tsunde tossed to her.

"Thanks again Tsunde-sama, you're the best!" and she was gone like the wind.

Tsunde smiled slightly at her apprentice's happiness, seeing her whirl out of the room with happiness of her upcoming mission. Walking out of the room a lot calmer then her student, she chuckled thinking that Naruto had rubbed off on her if she could be so loud when she was excited. Sometimes it was like Sakura was the middle of team 7 with Sasuke's part obvious in her now and not just with her new eye. Frowning at that, she had tried to keep the knowledge that the Uchiha kekkai genkai was still alive in another nin away from anyone who was not supposed to know, this was the real reason that she was so hesitant on her student going on missions but seeing Sakura's face light up like never before she would stick with her choice for better or worse. When the knowledge that the Sharingan was still alive in not one but two nin Sakura would have a whole new set of worries on her shoulders.

Heading to her office, she sighed at the knowledge of all her paper work still due to be done and steeled herself to get back there and working, but it was difficult when she saw the bar and was tempted to grab some…special medication for herself.

"She looked quite happy" a familiar voice said as the other Sharingan-wielder fell into step beside her.

"She got her first mission" she explained distracted between getting sake or doing her Hokage duties.

"Ah…so that's why, it'll be good for her to get out and use it" Tsunde glanced at the Copy Ninja

"You think she's ready" his silver hair glinting in the sun was somewhat distracting

"Yes" his head was turned as though he could see Sakura now, probably being hugged and congratulated by Naruto.

"She picks up on it so easily, it makes me wonder if she wasn't born with it" Tsunde gave a frown,

"Be glad that she wasn't or she might have been already dead by now" she muttered darkly.

"That's true" he said and she could detect that constant note of grief at the memory of the mission with his comrade Uchiha. Secretly Tsunde thought that team 7 would follow in the footsteps of her team the three Sannin but now…she began to think that they'd follow the path of The Fourths team with there ill-fated demise and only one left out of the team of four, both paths were dark and filled with blood, it was frustrating that she couldn't somehow do something more for her student and Naruto except watch over them, help them and guide them as she could.

Next Chapter: "What's this Sakura, thinking of joining Ne" he looked slightly puzzled and curious but the dominating emotion was anger. It was difficult to tell though that damn mask always made things so complicated sometimes she just itched to take it off, but now she had to deal with this. "No" she said absently "Not inthis lifetime or the next but I haven't thrown it away, just forgot about it that's all" she shrugged her shoulders "It's my problem, don't worry about"

Woooo that was wicked right? So any questions comments or concerns please just review I'll appreciate it greatly and I'll be getting into the main plot soon, so don't worry I'm hoping to make this a longgggg story so I'll keep my fingers crossed to get the next chapter out quickly. I'm also thinking about revising my first chapter because of how many spelling mistakes were on it, it makes me cringe. blugh