Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of it's characters or anything. Please don't sue the poor university student.

Authors note is at the bottom.

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Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Held by a thread
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Konoha.

Naruto looked around the Hokage's office, one day it would be his. He would sit in that comfortable chair and order, Sai to go on stupid D-rank missions, oh the joy! An evil smile took over his face.
Sai looked at his teammate and kicked him swiftly bringing him down to earth.
Naruto glared…then noticed that ..

Yikes Tsunade baa-chan was saying something! Naruto quickly stood straight.
"As you may or may not be aware , 30 minutes ago a team of medic nins brought, Shino, Hinata and Lee in from their mission."

"WHAT?" Naruto screamed. "What happened to them? Are they all right? What happen…" He was interrupted by Tsunade's glare.
"I'm guessing something went wrong in their mission and resulted in a fight. All three are under stable conditions, although I am a bit worried about Lee…"

Naruto couldn't help but interrupt again, "THREE? What happened to Sakura-chan?"
"I was getting to that part, if you would kindly shut up and STOP interrupting me!" Tsunade had her hands braced on the table. This wasn't easy for her, Sakura was her apprentice.
Sai rolled his eyes. Naruto could be such a moron. Couldn't he just shut up and listen like the rest of them?

Kakashi looked over at the fuming Naruto. He had lost one important person, he knew the blonde didn't want to loose another.
Kakashi him self didn't want to lose another student.

"To make a long story short, I'm sending you Naruto, along with Sai, Neji and Kakashi as the leader, on a search mission. Find Sakura, bring her back. You leave now."
All four shinobi nodded their head at the fifth.
"I will meet you three in front of the Konoha gates in an hour." Kakashi instructed before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

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Naruto ran home and packed, he had just enough time for a quick visit to the hospital.

He was relived that Hinata was all right…but Sakura was out there still.

Naruto ran by Ino's flower shop. Quickly grabbing some pretty blue flowers, like he knew the name. Konoha's loudest ninja didn't bother gathering his change or exchanging pleasantries with Ino. He had a mission. With a, "Sorry Ino I gotta go!"

He was off to the hospital.

Ino simply rolled her eyes. There went another hopeless male.

"Sakura-chan I hope your alright wherever you are." Naruto muttered a small prayer as he raced along the corridors of the hospital until he came to Hinata's door, and flung the door open. He almost ran back when he saw who was in the room.

"Um..Hello Hiashi-sama." Naruto said bowing. Oh he was nervous, Hinata's dad made him very nervous. The man was intimidating enough, but the fact that he was dating the Hyuuga heir, (Hinata) in secrete was also enough to make Naruto more nervous. He quickly hid the flowers behind his back.

"Uzumaki." The man didn't even bother to look at him.

Well all the better. I bet I look guilty. Just get out ASAP.

Just thinking about how he had his hands all over the petite Hyuuga heir before her mission departure made him blush. It had been the first time they had frenched. It was amazing that Hinata hadn't fainted. Quiet a miracle, really.

Naruto stole a look at Hinata who was sleeping, she didn't look too bad, a few bandages no machines attached to her. Still he wanted a closer look, which he knew was impossible at the moment. But what about the flowers?

Ah! I've got it! I am so smart!

"Kurani- sensei wanted met to deliver these flowers on her behalf to Hinata-chan."

The lie sounded good to his ears. He stole a quick look at his girlfriend's strict father. The man had his eyes closed! Naruto was in luck. Quickly depositing the flowers in a vase that luckily happened to be standing on the bedside table, he stole one last glance at Hinata, bowed, and fled the room.

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Naruto was breathing hard as though he had run a marathon while he stood behind the closed door to Hinata's hospital room.

He had to learn to get a grip around that man.

No time to think about it now. Have to go find Sakura-chan! With determined steps he was off again.

(Meeting point)

Neji eyed Naruto as he made his way to where he and Sai were waiting. The blonde had a serious look about his face. His ever present smile, missing. But the optimism was still in his eyes.

"Why does the moron have to come?"
Sai didn't bother answering Naruto.
Neji only gave the blonde shinobi a look of warning. When suddenly Kakashi and Pakun appeared.
"Yo."

"Well would you look at that, for once your on time." Kakashi didn't even bother dignifying Naruto's comment with a reply. The ex-ANBU quickly leapt into the trees setting a quick pace, while the three younger nins followed suit.

"How do we know which way is right?" Pakun answered Naruto's question.

"Shino was awake and gave us the directions to where he last saw Sakura. We go there first. Kakashi has brought Sakura's shirt, so my friends and I will try and sniff her out. While Neji uses his eyes to see if she's near by."

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"I can't believe you couldn't figure that out, Naruto."
"Sai, if we weren't in such a rush , I'd beat your wimpy ass in so bad…"
"In your dreams, ramen boy!"
Neji only shook his head. Naruto would never change, no matter how much he aged. And that brought a small smile to his face.

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Sakura slept all night with out uttering a sound. Even without her feverish babbling Sasuke found it easy to stay awake. His gaze rotating from the fire place to her sleeping face. The words she had uttered, he couldn't shake them off. The girl he called once weak was throwing it all back at him. That act alone surprised him and showed how much time could change people. It was hard to accept.

Why he cared he did not know.

In the middle of the night Sasuke changed her cold compress. Her Fever which had abated, had come back. Instead of conserving her energy she spent it arguing with him. She thrashed in her bedding during the night mumbling incoherent words.

"Foolish onna." He muttered as he mopped her brows and face as the sun climbed higher and higher. He pushed one pill then another into her mouth for the fever.

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Sakura's eye lids twitched twice, before she opened them. It was dark outside, the night clear with thousands of stars winking at her through the windows. The fireplace still burning.

Sasuke was sitting on his chair…sleeping? His head was resting in the chairs back, his long legs braced apart his arms folded on his chest. He looked exhausted. And that chair did not look comfortable at all.
Sakura gently shifted and sat up, a white peace of cloth, now dry, fell from her forehead.

Ne, he's exhausted because of me? A soft smile graced her lips as she gazed at her one time, team mate.

Sasuke stirred. He opened his eyes, alert and ready sensing the change in the air that her awake breathing pattern had caused.

He can't even sleep with out being on the edge. Always ready for a fight. What kind of a life have you been living Sasuke? Her heart cracked some more, all she wanted to do was hold her to him and protect him. Protect him from, Orochimaru, Itachi, his past, the cursed seal, everything and anything. The urge was so strong she almost left her resting spot.

"You slept all of last night and today."

That was a total of three nights I was out, this is the fourth night, I have to leave tomorrow.
Her tone didn't betray her thoughts and emotions. "Nice to see you know how to count, Uchiha."
He ignored that comment. "What are you doing?"
"Giving you a strip show." She was serious, or Sasuke thought …then she winked at him. And started to unzip her top. He quickly turned his head.

"Oh look at that, big bad Uchiha is shy, is that blush I see?" Jade eyes met obsidian.
He watched her strip from her dress slowly enticingly drag it down to her hips. Then she started to unbind the white strips that he had bound around her chest, still staring at his eyes.

She was only left in her bra, and she sighed.
Now this is where you look away because I'm only wearing a bra.
He didn't.

"Damn, if you stayed with Kakashi-sensi I think you would have picked up his reading habits."
He smirked. "Your face is turning red."
She gave him the finger.
"Go to hell, Uchiha."

Already their Sakura. The longing in his eyes went missed by Sakura as she had looked away from him.

Sasuke watched as she quickly went about healing her self. He could see her getting tired, he turned his Sharingan on to copy her healing Jutsus's. He did that whenever he could.
Her persona had changed some what the Uchiha noticed.

Who was he kidding she had changed so much not just in appearance, but in skill and personality. More profanity came out of her perfect lips.

Perfect lips?

With her ribs done Sakura zipped the top back up and reached for her ankle. Sasuke it seemed had used a paste to numb the pain for a while.
Her heart again softened toward the youngest Uchiha off-spring. She had to get away from him before she said or did something she would regret. His actions always left her to doubt his cold heartedness. He would worry about others but hated making others worry about him.

A flashback sped through her mind, of Sasuke demanding she not tell Naruto about the cursed seal during the chunin exams.

"Naruto's going to be worried." As Sakura voiced this worry she swayed, unsteady.
"Sleep." It wasn't a suggestion but an order.
"Screw you Uchiha."

She lied down, but didn't sleep. Oh she was not through with him! Inner Sakura raged. Two parts were warring inside her. One that still foolishly, wholeheartedly, still cared about him and the other fed up with his cold treatment of her.

Both sides warred with equal ardor. However, right now his cold commanding tone he was utilizing with her brought out the side of her that wasn't so loyal to the Uchiha.

I'm not weak , I'll show you, I just need a moments rest.

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Five minutes later she broke the silence with a pleasant voice.

"I think Neji-kun is better then you when it comes to manners and how to deal with a women." She went silent and let a dreamy smile caress her lips. Oh she was so cruel. Sasuke started ignoring her. He moved around getting some soup for him self.

"That date with him was so amazing! He's a perfect gentleman! Sigh, silky black hair amazing eyes!"

I won't mention that the date was a setup devised by Naruto and I to get Tenten jealous and make a move.
"Dinner was perfect. It was candle lit cozy and romantic." Sasuke continued eating.

Except the only words he spoke to me were.
'Was the food to your liking Sakura-san?'
'Would you like more water Sakura-san?'
And 'are you finished Sakura-san?' The guy can be too formal sometimes.

"It was raining as it is right now, and we decided to walk in the rain."
Cause he is an impatient hottie who couldn't wait till the rain was over. Don't know what Tenten sees in him!

Sakura's voice softened, it was intimate, cherishing.

Sasuke stopped eating.
"He offered me his jacket. And I felt cared for."
The jacket part was true. Neji was if anything, chivalrous.
We actually ran full speed to my door in two minutes. But no point in saying that.

She wanted to hurt Uchiha Sasuke so badly it was scary. The tormenter of her dreams. It was either seeing his bloodied body that had her screaming at night or him leaving her again and again. And always, his betrayal of Naruto, her, their friendship.

Naruto, Kakashi and she were all so easily overlooked and ignored by the Uchiha. The selfish narcissistic bastard! And it pained her more, knowing that nothing could go back to the way it was.

Team 7 . They could have been Konoha's best! They could have gone on missions together like, Ino did with her team! Naruto and she wouldn't have to be split up and sent with the other teams.
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Sakura built up excitement in her voice. Sasuke put the bowl on the floor. And got up his legs carrying him towards a window.
It was starting to rain again.

"Then at my door Neji-kun leaned down…"

He abruptly cut her off his voice frigid. "I don't care Sakura."
…to tell me it wasn't going to work when Tenten threw a good 50 kunies at me!

Sakura laughed softly. The memory still fresh in her mind since it only happened four weeks ago.
"I'm only updating you on how everyone is doing."
"Your annoying." He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and watched the rain continue to fall in sheets.
It's none of my concern that she is with the Hyuuga, my rival.

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Yes she was annoying. Wasn't she always? And he was a prick. An insensitive prick. He knew even now how she felt! He had her trapped. She couldn't be with another person with out him haunting her.

He haunted her when she slept and when she was awake. She strived to become stronger because of him. She disliked him so damn much! She couldn't express it enough! She hated the control he had over her heart, mind, her freaking soul! She couldn't be happy…and it was all his damn fault. And it looked like he didn't like it when she mentioned other men.

"This one time Lee-kun…"
Fuzzy eyebrows? She dated him too? Did she date Gaara too? How about Naruto?

"Enough Sakura! I know what your trying to do, it's not working."
His voice was so cold she shivered.
"What am I trying to do Uchiha?" Her whisper meant to cover her shaking insides.

When did she get behind me? He didn't turn around but was surprised she could move so quickly and silently. And shouldn't she be a sleep? Tired and exhausted in pain? Recovering?
Her voice was dark. "I haven't told you the men I slept with and…"

"Enough!" Sasuke thundered his red eyes bore down into hers. That was the last straw. And still he didn't know why this bothered him so much. But it did.

Haruno Sakura smiled.
Comparing him to his old rivals was low. She knew that. Sasuke never liked being one upped.

"I just thought to catch up with an old team mate. Like you said we all did go down different paths. Just thought to share mine with you, Uchiha."
She reached up, not knowing where this courage was coming from. She was being reckless she was going to get hurt again. But she didn't give a damn anymore. She would torment him till he died, like he would her.
Her index finger slowly outlined his strong square jaw.
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Sasuke felt like he was being burned, he gripped her wrist, stopping her. Sakura stepped closer, his eyes melted back into dark orbs. His scent had beckoned her closer.

She was invading his personal space. Something she knew he didn't like.
Sakura's voice dropped an octave. Her lips fanned his chin. While her eyes pierced his.

"Neji has white eyes…" did she feel him relax? She bit her full bottom lip with her pearly teeth "..it's Sai-kun now, you know I like tall, sexy, onyx eyes and black hair, don't you U-chi-ha?"

Sasuke lost it.

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To be continued…..

Onna - women

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AN: Firstly I have beta! Alory Shannon. Thank you so much. But she will be on vacation for a week so the next two chapters...you will have to deal with little errors. But i will try my darn best to make sure the errors are minimal.

So what do you think? Is he going to kill her? Fight her? Or Leave?

Remember to review. Its good for the soul. And thank you so much to all those who have reviewed, I think i have replied to all the reviews (the singed in ones).

And someone mentioned no OC's thus far. I hope not, because I watched Naruto 4 times from ep1-192, (the filler with Ino and the princess was sooooo funny!) and I still watch some key episodes,that have Sasuke's history, or what Kakashi says to Sasuke. I'm sorry if there is OC-ness, I try and keep it to a minimum. I'm trying to portray these guys when they are older. And remember hell hath no fury like women scorned. And with age comes wisdom. Lord do I know that or what. Again thanks for the reviews guys:)