Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Naruto Universe. All credit goes to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 7

"Sakura! Let's go eat some Ramen after this!" Naruto untied the ropes holding me to the log.

"Thanks, Naruto and see. Sasuke would you want to come?" Naruto held out a hand which I took and stood up.

"Hn, fine. But, not for too long." And with that comment Sasuke turned around and took off in a random direction.

"Eh, Bastard, you're going the wrong way!" Naruto shouted, and began to laugh. That's right. Sasuke hasn't gone to Ichiraku yet.

Sasuke paused, and turned. "Well, what way then. Hurry it up." His face was turned, but I swore I saw red dusting his cheeks.

"It's this way. Come on." I grabbed both of their hands and started to tug them with them.

"Sakura—." Sasuke began before I cut him off.

"Hush. We are a team after all."

*

It was nice. We hadn't done this at all before in the previous timeline. It had been silence the whole time, since I had pulled them along. A comfortable silence, I suppose.

Naruto ordered another bowl, and Sasuke silently swished the noodles around in his bowl. I leaned towards him.

"Not hungry?" He stopped playing with his food and looked up.

"Why are you so different from before? It's like you're another person." Naruto looked over, interested. My teammates waited, expectant looks on their faces.

"I suppose I realized how the world is. Life's too short to be playing around. I realized if I want to be someone who my friends can rely on, then I'd have to become stronger." Sasuke didn't seem to buy it, his dark eyes boring into mine. Naruto, however, nodded his head in agreement.

"On a different note, I just had an idea." I quickly changed the subject. Being under Sasuke's scrutiny made me a bit uncomfortable. "What if we met here or at someone's house each Wednesday. So we can train, strategize, or even just hang out. I think if we want to become better as an individual our team will have to too."

"I like it, Sakura. I'm in!" Naruto mumbled in between bites of his food.

Sasuke's eyes still hadn't left me the whole time. He looked away and gave a simple, "Hn."

"That's a yes, I'm guessing. So, how about we do it at my house first." I slid off the stool, sensing a familiar chakra outside.

"I'll be back in a bit." I walked out, throwing a hand up behind me. I darted after her figure.

"Uh, excuse me. Kurenai Sensei?" Kurenai stopped, her red eyes looking at me with interest.

"Is there something you need?"

I bowed my head and asked, "Will you please take me on as a student?" I could feel her surprise at my question.

"Your name? You may rise, by the way." I straightened and looked in the eyes.

"Sakura Haruno, member of Team 7."

"Oh, one of Kakashi's huh? And you passed, too. Impressive." She paused for a second. I took a step back as a genjutsu began to form. A lower level one. She must be trying to test me.

"Kai." Kurenai took a better look at me.

"Genjutsu type?"

"I suppose, but I only know the basics. I heard you're the best genjutsu caster in Konoha and I want you to train me, please." I informed her. She turned around and began to walk away.

"I do have my own team now….but I don't see why not. Meet me here Thursday on. I'll show you where we'll train be able to train every Thursday."

"Thank you!" I smiled in appreciation and waved her goodbye as she left. I turned around made my way back to my seat. Got that covered, at least.

"Sakura, what was that about?" Naruto inquired, finishing another bowl.

"I want to learn more genjutsu, so I asked Team 8's sensei to teach me. And she will every Thursday." I finished my now cold noodles and set aside the bowl.

"Will you be able to handle that?" Sasuke questioned.

"Of course." I'll have too.

"Hn. I'm leaving, goodnight." Sasuke paid for his meal and gave me one last look before leaving. All the while Naruto was screaming bastard at him.

After Naruto finished his meal we traded a few words and parted ways. Today wasn't too bad, I thought to myself. I got some necessities done. What could be better?

I jerked to a stop as a chakra nearer mere. Chakra, that was a bit familiar but not enough to identify, it seemed to pause as it neared me before disappearing all together. Oddly, I have a feeling it came from somewhere in the sky. Weird.

AN:

Happy New Year!

Published 1/1/19