Author's note: well, this chapter is not so short but I have discovered that I write better the old way, with paper and pen, so here you are.

Thank you very much for your comments and follows, I didn't expect to have any! XD.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor any of its characters.

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CHAPTER 4:

Three months had passed since the male members of the former Team 7 had returned to Konoha and, just as when they left, life went on.

Sakura had followed her routine: Hospital shifts, occasional missions, organizing the medical staff, resources and facilities for the approaching Chunin exam… She had shared greetings with Kakashi and head's nods with Sasuke in acknowledgment of their presences, but nothing more than that. Naruto, on the other hand, was still adamant in his resolution to meet with Sakura in order to resume their friendship. They had several calm discussions regarding the topic, but Sakura didn't change her mind.

"It's not that easy, Naruto." Sakura tried to explain to him in their last exchange out of the Hokage tower, where they had crossed paths and where the Jinchūriki had invited her to lunch at Ichiraku with him. "There's an axiom that expresses it perfectly: 'Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair'. I know it's not fair, but life usually doesn't, so it is what it is".

"I understand, Sakura-Chan, but if you don't give me the chance to prove to you that I have matured as well and that I am trustworthy, how am I going to start regaining your trust?" Was his response. He was abnormally serious and concerned.

Sakura had to recognize the truth in his words and her resolution flaked.

"I'll tell you what we are going to do." She offered. "For now, focus on the chunnin exam and, once it is over, we will have lunch together. I can't promise that our friendship will be rebuilt, but you are right, and I will give us the chance to try if you are so willing." She smiled sweetly at him.

"I'll hold you to your word, Sakura-Chan!" Told Naruto, his mood already changing to his usual energetic cheerfulness. "I am going to train, then. I'll see you soon!"

He headed to the training grounds to meet with his team.

--

Tsunade was having her fun every time a report about the havoc the genin team was wrecking. She had included Hyūga Hanabi as the third member to join Sasuke and Naruto for the chunnin exam, and she knew that their personalities were sure to collide, as it had been proved by the training grounds' damages and arguments' shouts reported to her.

She had chosen Hinata's sister as a teammate for those two for a reason. She knew that the younger Hyūga was proud, bold and had a strong character, this last feature was needed to keep the young men at bay and the former two would ensure conflict. Hanabi too needed to prove that she could perform team work, as she used to train in the confines of the Hyūga compound with her family, so it was a perfect arrangement for Tsunade to evaluate if the three of them deserved to achieve the chunnin rank.

--

The chunnin exam arrived, and all three members of the recently formed team managed to get to the final round. They seemed to have gotten to an agreement for success' sake.

The two preliminary rounds had already finished. The first one of them, the psychological one, was devised by Ibiki, as it was usual, and it was kind of similar to the one performed by old team 7, the difference being that this time around the theoretical questions were to be answered orally in front of Ibiki, and the teams had to manage to help each other without being noticed by the watchmen. The last and definitive query of this part was for the applicants to decide if they wanted to answer one last question; if they answered correctly, they would pass to the next round, no matter what the evaluation of their previous responses were; but if they failed, all the three members of the team would fail the exam.

The first part of this round was thought to analyze the sneakiness the team was capable of, and the last question pretended to evaluate whether an individual would take into account his teammates' opinions or not.

The second round of the exam was designed by Shikamaru and Temari, and it consisted of a hostage retrieval from a chunnin team. It was intended to evaluate their team work, enemies abilities' analysis and strategic planning.

Now, the final round had arrived and only four teams had managed to pass. This meant that there were to be six preliminary fights and three final ones, in two consecutive days.

Hanabi won her first combat against a sand-nin, but her last contest ended in a tie against Konohamaru.

Naruto and Sasuke had smashed their opponents in their first fight and they had been paired for the last one. It hadn't been aleatory, Tsunade wanted to evaluate if they were able to restrain their rivalry and avoid killing each other.

This specific fight was taking place when Genma, who was performing as proctor, shouted to Sakura, who was observing from the medical area's entrance, to call for her attention.

"A little help would be highly appreciated here, Pinky." He shouted to her showing clear impotence.

Sasuke and Naruto were still fighting and, although they were avoiding mortal hits and jutsus, it was clear that there wasn't going to be a clear winner. Genma had been trying to call it a tie, but they were so focused that they didn't hear him.

Sakura smirked and headed to the edge of the arena. She gathered chakra in her fist and punched the ground, directing the crack produced in the soil to the point between the two contendants. The splitting ground separated the both of them and forced them out of their trance.

Genma took the opportunity and jumped in between of them with his hands up in the air and yelled.

"It's a Tie!".

The two young men were shocked by the abrupt interruption of their combat, and were surprised when they followed the crack on the ground with their eyes to find Sakura standing at the end of it with a smug smile on her face.

They headed to her, injuries and wounds clearly visible in their bodies, although none of them critical.

"Follow me, you two, you need those injuries healed." Said Sakura once they were reaching her location in the arena.

The three of them walked to the medical area and the med-nin guided them into one of the treatment rooms.

"Do you want to remain together or do you prefer to be healed separately?" She asked them.

"Together is fine for me, Sakura-Chan" Answered a tired but content Naruto.

"It is fine for me too." Added Sasuke.

"OK, then sit on the stretcher and let me check if there's something that would require a more complex treatment. Anything that's hurting too much?"

When they both shook their heads, Sakura approached Naruto first, gathered healing chakra in her hand and extended it through his body, to perform a checkup, by touching his arm. She performed the same procedure on Sasuke, a little more uncomfortable of being touching him, and once that she had made sure that their injuries were non-critical, she started healing Sasuke, knowing that the Kyūbi's chaka was already starting the healing process in Naruto's body.

Sasuke had some hairline fractures and a few small lacerations, and it wouldn't take Sakura a long time to heal them all.

"You surprised us, Sakura-Chan." Started Naruto, looking amazed at her from his place on the stretcher. "I didn't know you could crack the ground. How did you do it? Is it the same as Tsunade-OBāchan does?"

"Yes, she is my Shishou, as you probably already know." She answered without taking her eyes off Sasuke's shoulder, focused on healing the open wound there. "You two were doing well, but Genma had been trying to stop you for a few minutes already and you weren't noticing it. There, Sasuke, like new."

She lifted her head to look at him and saw that Sasuke was staring at her.

"Thank you." Was all he said, but his tone of voice was soft.

At that moment, Tsunade entered the room followed by Jiraiya and Kakashi.

"Well, isn't it a lovely reunion we have here?" Tsunade said, looking smug. Then, acquiring a more serious look and analyzing the injuries of both young men on the stretcher, she added: "Report, Sakura."

"There were no critical injuries, Shishou. Sasuke is already healed, he had three hairline fractures on a rib, his right hip and his scapula, and several lacerations but neither of them were too deep. Naruto has, or at least he had when we entered the room, several minor burns and inflamed patellar tendon."

Sakura noticed that, while she was explaining her findings to Tsunade, Kakashi was looking at her instead of at Sasuke or Naruto. She guessed that he too was surprised by her intervention in their fight.

Kakashi was indeed astonished. Although he already knew that Sakura had been Tsunade's apprentice and had been told about her descomunal strength and healing abilities, it was a very different thing to witness it. He felt that he had clearly underestimated his former student, back in her genin days, that he wasn't able to see her potential.

"Perfect." Was the Godaime's reply. She didn't expect anything less of her protegee and was proud of her show at the help request from Genma. Then, she spoke to Naruto and Sasuke. "You two will be promoted to chunin".

"DATTEBAYO!!!" Screamed Naruto.

"BUT" Tsunade cut, lifting her right hand. "You won't be allowed to apply for the jounin exam until you both prove that you are able to follow orders. If Sakura wouldn't have intervened, you wouldn't have stopped your fight, as you weren't paying attention to the proctor. Soyou better demonstrate that you are capable of accepting others' leadership.

Naruto seemed contrite and Sasuke's visage was contemplative. Both of them nodded.

"We will, Tsunade-OBāchan." Provided a more serious Naruto. "Sorry about that, we got a little too focused."

"OK then. You will team up with Hatake and he'll be your team leader. Rest for the remaining of this week and I will summon you the next one as soon as I have a mission for you". With that, Tsunade left the room.

"We will meet next monday at oh eight hundred hours in training field six." Said Kakashi. "See you!". ANd he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Jiraiya, the only one of the seniors remaining in the room, addressed Naruto then. "You have done well, boy. I'm leaving town for a few months, but you know how to contact me."

Naruto nodded and replied, "OK, be safe Ero-sennin."

Jiraiya left and Sakura approached Naruto in order to determine if any healing was needed for him.

"OK, let's see if there's anything left to heal". She gathered chakra on her hand again and surveyed his previous injuries to evaluate their status. "It is wonderful how your body heals on its own, I will finish in a few minutes."

Sakura proceeded to treat the much improved burns and inflamed tendon. She was just starting when Naruto spoke.

"Ne, ne, Sakura-Chan, when are we going to meet for lunch? You promised, remember?". He asked, a conceited smile recognizable on his voice.

Sakura returned his smile and answered, "I remember, Naruto. OK, take a breath for a few days and we can meet at Ichiraku in three days at lunch time." She offered.

"Great!" Naruto exclaimed. Then turned to look at Sasuke and added, "Teme, are you coming with us?".

Sasuke returned the look to Naruto and then shifted to look at Sakura. He didn't let anything show on his gesture, but he answered: "No, Dobe, I think this is something the two of you need to do alone."

Sakura was grateful to Sasuske for this. Although they were in civil terms, it didn't seem that any of them had the needed interest to pursue a friendship. They were fine the way things were right now. Maybe in the future, if Naruto and Sakura resumed their friendship, the three of them would share a meal or a drink together; but, for now, Sasuke's presence would only add tension to the meeting.

Sakura finished treating Naruto and took a step back. She addressed both men still sitting on the stretcher: "I have to go to check how the rest of contendants are doing, you are free to go whenever you want. I will see you soon Naruto. Take care Sasuke". She smiled softly at them and left the room.

--

Three days after the final round of the chunnin exam, Naruto headed to Ichiraku at lunch time. He hoped that Sakura would keep her word and show. He liked the changes he had observed in her. She was honest and had smoothed her sharp edges (ahem, her violent attacks).

He was determined to build a friendship with her. Their relationship in the past was uneven, as he had a crush on her and she was indifferent and very intolerant with him, but he thought that the changes experimented by the both of them would allow them to have a close friendship now.

Naruto entered Ichiraku and was pleased to find Sakura already seated in one of the corner stools.

"Hello, Sakura-Chan!" Greeted him to get her attention.

She turned to face him with a shy smile on her face and returned the greeting, "Hello, Naruto."

"You have come! I wasn't sure if you were going to, but I am glad you are here."

Naruto took a seat by her side. He looked thrilled, and Sakura couldn't fight to giggle at his expression.

"You look like a child with a new toy, Naruto." She teased him.

They ordered ramen and, just as Ayame turned to transfer the information to her father, Naruto turned to look at Sakura and started a conversation.

"Why don't you start telling me how you became Tsunade-OBāchan's apprentice and how it was your training with her. I'll tell you whatever you want to know about my time away as well." He offered.

They shared a surprisingly comfortable conversation while eating and continued talking once they were finished. They didn't notice that two hours had passed until Teuchi told them that they were closing to clean in preparation for dinner time.

They said goodbye, promising to meet another day, and headed to their respective homes.

On their way, they both had similar thoughts on their minds. Naruto was hopeful with the outcome of their meeting and thought that, although it maybe would take some time, Sakura was definitely going to be one of his best friends.

Sakura, was pleasantly surprised to feel excited about the prospect of their friendship; she was astonished by how Naruto had listened to her and how he related the experiences he had lived in the years they had been apart. She thought about how she had told him that she doubted that they were going to be friends again, on their first meeting more than three month ago, and was happy to find that she was mistaken. It certainly would take time for her to confide on him, but it didn't seem such a difficult thing for her to visualize anymore.