"Today we'll be escorting Mr Tazuna to The Land of Waves. It'll be your first mission outside the village, exciting right?" Kakashi grinned behind his mask, it will for sure be a memory they will never forget.

The mission had gone from a C rank from protecting the man to his destination to an S rank when Zabuza turned up. This took all four of them off guard and had them on the alert. Apparently, it was to reduce the cost, which Kakashi was not amused about. Sure, in hindsight it made sense. However, wouldn't having someone strong to protect you be more ideal? Not a bunch of genins.

Move, move, why can't I move? Sakura thought to himself as he just helplessly watched his two teammates work together on helping Kakashi defeat Zabuza. They were already coordinated with one another.

Although afterwards, they said that they needed someone to guard and protect Tazuna Sakura still wished he could have done something?

I should just be happy the client is safe, Sakura thinks to himself. He got away with the help of Haku so no doubt they would be back. That's what scared him most.


"Naruto!" Sakura called relived that the boy was fine.

"Hey, where's Sasuke?" The blonde seemed to freeze upon hearing the name which made his stomach turn. They were okay right. The two of them, after all, they were both working together to take Haku down so if he was okay then why not Sasuke?

"Naruto…"

"He…" Sakura didn't give Naruto a chance to respond. He could see it in his eyes, the way of how impossible it was for him to talk. Something went horribly wrong.

Sakura ran past Naruto, Tazuna following behind. Maybe they could do something, the boy had bandages on him knowing how Naruto and Sasuke were. Perhaps, he could fix him.

Or maybe not.

"Sa…Sasuke?" His body froze on the spot. The Uchiha laid there on the floor, lifeless. Sakura wasn't sure how to react, of course, it was natural to expect death during a mission. Especially with an S Rank one. But so soon?

"Don't mind me, if you want to let out a few tears," Tazuna spoke softly.

"Tears? What good would that do? Bring him back?" Sakura spoke coldly. No really, what good would it do? Crying would make you weak… like him.

"Besides we're on a mission, that's what comes first."

"Mission or not, you are still human. It's normal to grieve."

"Not in our world. No matter the situation, a shinobi must never show emotion. You must make the mission your top priority, and you must possess a heart that never shows tears." However, even with those words, tears spilt down his face. They just wouldn't stop.

I can't show emotions. I can't…

Tazuna looked at the boy sadly, it was cruel to suffocate children with showing no emotions. Ninjas or not, they were kids. They deserved to enjoy life and grieve over their loved ones.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." His knees trembled and Sakura collapsed crying onto Sasuke. Maybe if he was strong enough to help things could have been different.

Even if he was the one who died instead, it would have been better right? How was he supposed to tell Ino? Sakura promised her to be her to get them together, even if they were rivals. Yet now he was supposed to break the news that Sasuke died?

It would be unbelievable as well considering how strong Uchihas were.

I'm so sorry.

Due to all the crying and frustration, Sakura never noticed the raven-haired boy underneath him begin to shift and gain his conciseness back.

"Sakura?" He immediately lifted his head showing his now puffed up face.

"Sasuke… you're okay?" The Haruno let out a teared up smile.

"You're heavy." The boy groaned.

"Sorry."


"You were totally crying all over him." Naruto laughed.

"I was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too, just ask Tazuna. He saw you."

Sasuke just watched as the two continue to bicker. Did they forget he was right there?

"Okay fine, so what if I was? I thought he was dead, it's natural to cry." He pouted crossing his arms with a huff.

"Besides, you were upset when you thought he died too."

"Hey, I wasn't the one over him with snot and tears." Sakura just punched him turning red, Naruto deserved it.


"Hey there Sakura, Sasuke-Kun." Ino put on her flirtiest smile towards him sitting next to the Uchiha at Ramen Ichiraku's. Naruto made a gagging face mumbling I'm here too dattebayo.

"Yeah, well it's not you I want to see."

"We don't want you here either. This is a team bonding exercise. Go bond with your own team." Naruto stood up from his seat shooing her away.

"Don't be rude Naruto." Sakura scolded glaring and pulling him down.

"Oh, well of course you would take her side." He stuck his tongue out childishly.

"Yeah well, unlike you Sakura and Sasuke-Kun are gentlemen. Besides my teammates are coming, we just happen to want some Ichiraku's ourselves. Is that so bad?"

"Oh please, and Sasuke hasn't even done anything." Said Uchiha just continued to eat his food not paying attention. It was annoying.

As Ino ordered, she continued to flirt and talk to Sasuke, whilst he didn't reply.

"Why do you like her again?" Naruto whispered to Sakura, considering he sat in the middle between Naruto and Sasuke he had a good show of watching the way Ino acted and whispering to Naruto.

"I can't control my feelings. She's cute, not to mention my best friend." The two watched on as Ino made failed attempts at speaking to Sasuke. She gave Sakura a look as if to say 'a little help here.' He sighed in response.

"Hey Naruto, don't you remember that thing we should be doing?"

"What thing, I don't remember-"

"Of course you would forget, well don't worry I remembered. We need to get going, like right now." He tried to drag the Uzumaki boy away but Naruto flailed his arms. "Wait, I haven't even finished my ramen."

"I'll go," Sasuke shrugged making a move to stand up. It's better than being stuck here with the Yamanaka.

"NO! Uh, I mean Naruto already promised and it HAS to be Naruto." He looked at the two suspiciously but before getting a word in Ino bounced up clinging to his arm.

"You can stay with me Sasuke-Kun, I would like the company." She beamed at Sakura mouthing a thank you dragging the annoyed Uchiha away whilst Sakura finally manage to pry Naruto from his ramen.

"Noooo."

"I'll buy your next lot, it's the least I can do." Naruto pouted, but he supposed he could use it as an opportunity to buy as much ramen as he wants.

"Okay, and what are YOU getting out of this? Letting Ino and Sasuke have some alone time? Uh, that's the complete opposite to what you should be doing?" Sakura rolled his eyes.

"She's getting to know him, Sasuke can do with a bit of socialising. Especially as he's horrible with girls."

"You shouldn't be letting your rival spend time with your crush, what if they start to like each other and go out?"

"Then I'll accept it, besides I'm not going to purposely ruin her chances with him so she can be with me. What kind of friend would that make me?"

"A normal person? At least sit with them so you know what they're up to."

Naruto." Sakura gave a stern warning.

"I'll still beat him, just... in my own way. I'm not giving up on her, just... giving them a fair chance."

"Bah, okay fine. But don't come crying to me when it gets too painful." He huffed walking away, maybe he did have a point. Still, Sakura couldn't find it in him to stop helping Ino with Sasuke. Maybe he stood no chance after all? No, don't think like that. You will beat Sasuke and win her heart.


"How did it go?" Naruto asked grinning away.

"I hate both of you!" Sasuke seethed with his hands in his pockets.

"I take it the date went well then?"

"It wasn't a date and why did you both abandon me?"

"Sakura was the one who dragged me away so don't pin this on me."

"She just wants to get to know you Sasuke. Where's the harm in that?"

"You could have asked me first." At that Sakura snorted.

"Like you would have said yes." Well, he had a point.

"You can spend a little time with her and get to know Ino. She's amazing!"

"Well, I did and I don't like her. If you want her so bad you have her." If only.


"Do you like Sasuke?" How did they get here so fast?

"It's fine you know. I just didn't picture Sasuke as your type, I mean we're two completely different people." But I don't even like Sasuke. Suddenly there was another version of him in front along with said teammate.

"Hey um, Sasuke. I like you, a lot." No, wait, why are you confessing? Idiot!

"Ew, why would I even like a guy like you? Your pink hair is weird and you have a massive forehead, besides you're a guy. I'm into girls sorry." See now look what you have done, he probably hates us now.

"Freak, I hate you!"

Sakura woke up with a start, ah only a dream. Of course, it was. Why would he even be confessing to Sasuke in the first place? Mind you, everything else in the dream did happen. Just the weird confession and Sasuke's reaction.

Did this mean it would happen in the future?

"Can't sleep?" Said Uchiha asked. Sakura blinked snapping out of his thoughts. Ah, that's right, they were still taking the Chunin exams.

"Uh, I just… had a nightmare?" Was that the right term for it, ever since Ino put that thought in his head Sakura couldn't stop thinking about it. No way, Sasuke's a great guy. He's cool, handsome, smart and skilled but everyone knew that. It didn't mean he liked him in that way... did it? Sakura's hands started fiddling with the grass. Great and now of all times? There were more important things to worry about.

"What about you?" Don't overthink it, don't overthink it.

"I couldn't either, I kept thinking about what happened before."

"Oh..." Right, the curse mark. How could I forget?

"I didn't hurt you did I?" Immediately the Haruno shook his head.

"No, no and well... even if you did. It would be my fault for getting in the way. Sorry, but I didn't know what else to do to stop you."

"Ah, you don't need to explain. I'm just glad no one got hurt. I wasn't in control." Sasuke clenched his fist frustrated, Sakura noticed and got up to sit next to him. Thankfully Naruto was still sleeping, or rather snoring away. He lightly took Sasuke's left hand into his own unclenching it.

"It's fine, you helped me and Naruto when none of us knew what to do. Even Lee struggled and Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji. I know this... curse mark is... tricky. None of us know what we're getting into but we're teammates now. We can work on this together no?" He smiled at him, and Sakura really believed that everything would be okay. They just had to work together.

"Ah thanks," Sasuke let out his own small smile feeling a bit better and it was only then Sakura realised just how close they were and the fact he was rubbing soothing circles around Sasuke's wrist.

"Sorry," he immediately let go and went back to lay on the spot he was previously hiding the blush.

"I'm getting tired now and we got a long day tomorrow, we can talk more in the morning right? Night." He didn't give a chance for Sasuke to speak as he turned his back on him. Sasuke sat there for a bit unsure of what to process. He looked at his hand and towards Sakura but decided better against it and went to sleep.

Yeah, definitely not a crush.


"Something wrong?" Naruto looked at his friend wearily.

"How do you know if you like someone?" Sasuke asked.

"Eh? You're asking me for advice?"

"Fine, leave it!" Sasuke was about to walk away before Naruto ran in front of him.

"Hey, hey, I was just shocked. Give me time to recover at least and eh I don't know. I guess you get butterflies in your stomach or you always look at them without realising. Like what you do to Sakura." Sasuke froze.

"How did you-"

"As I said I'm not an idiot but you sure are." His lips tighten and he made a face, almost like... in disgust?

"Is it weird for a guy to like another guy?" The Kyuubi frowned, since when did the Uchiha care about this type of thing?

"I don't think so, but if that's what your worried about who cares what others say. If you like him, you like him, that should be it."

"Ah, thanks."


"Ino," this was it. Now was the time. After the Chunin exams, everything had been... tense. Really tense. So after leaving his two teammates he happened to come across Ino alone. They started to chat and talk and with everything happening at the moment Sakura figured now would be an as good time as any to confess his feelings for her.

Even if she still did like Sasuke, he could move on and get past this knowing he tried.

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you. For a while now, a long time. Although, I think you might have already guessed." Ino's eyes looked at him with curiosity. No backing out now.

"Ino I…I...I like you. I always have and always will. I've never stopped, I know you like Sasuke and there's probably no chance of us happening but I still wanted you to know." His emerald eyes never left hers. He wanted her to know that he was serious. His feelings were genuine.

She blinked a bit perplexed at this, biting her lip nervously.

"Oh, uh to be honest. When you said that I already guess, this… wasn't what I had in mind…" Sakura looked at the blonde confused.

"What did you think I meant?"

"I mean your feelings for Sasuke." What? This again?

"I told you, I don't have feelings for Sasuke." Ino shook her head.

"I don't believe that, and I know you don't either." He just continued looking at her unsure how to respond. Ino sighed.

"Look, there isn't anything wrong with it. You know I'll gladly support you, I just don't get what's not clicking."

Sakura was getting frustrated now, were his feelings for her a joke? Sure, he expected to be rejected but not like this.

"I'm not the one who likes Sasuke, you are. And I've always been here supporting you with it, I just thought that I should be selfish for once. Again, I'm not expecting you to like me back just-"

"Sakura, it's not about my feelings for Sasuke. I mean I still like him and I only see you as a friend. But I don't think you're being truly honest with your own feelings."

"I am being honest. I confessed to you, didn't I?"

"I think your confused."

"I'm not confused."

"Sakura please, give it some time. And if you still like me come back and confess to me again, okay?" He remain quiet and said nothing. Now what?


"What's wrong with me?" Since when did I become the smart one? Naruto thought amused.

"There isn't anything wrong, I just think maybe you don't like Ino in the way you think you do."

"But I've been crushing on her for a long time. Why would it change so suddenly?"

"Meeting someone else? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you never liked her. You obviously did and perhaps still do, but maybe you're starting to like... someone else?" He prodded hoping Sakura would put two and two together.

"I... but we..." Maybe I do like him. But what about Ino?

Perhaps he was starting to feel something, but it was wrong. So wrong.

"Maybe I do... like Sasuke." Finally, Naruto thought.

"So, you do like him?" Of course, it wasn't surprising as he first-hand witnessed everything they went through.

"I don't know… perhaps. It doesn't matter."

"Of course it does, why wouldn't it?"

"Because Ino likes Sasuke and she would be upset if we got together. I can't do that to her."

"But, what if…" What if Sasuke likes you back? He kept his mouth shut though thinking if he did, it would slip something that Sasuke wasn't ready for.

"Besides, he would never like me like that anyway." Naruto groaned, he had the two stupidest teammates.


I'm still working on chapter 3 but I hope you enjoyed it.