Because We're a Team

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Prologue

Devastation. Fear. Uncertainty.

These were only a few of the things a twelve year old Sakura Haruno felt as she sat on the forest floor, arms wrapped securely around her teammate, whom she'd loved for as long as she could remember.

They'd been attacked, but what had her so worried was Sasuke's current state. Her teammates were both strong. Sasuke had always been strong, but that person had bitten Sasuke's neck and he'd collapsed. He leaned against her helplessly, wailing in pain and all she could do was hold him, cry, and pray he would be okay.

If she were to ever lose Sasuke, Sakura didn't know what she'd do.

Glancing down at her trembling teammate, she noticed the mark on his neck just under his hand as he held tight to that spot. His other hand was squeezing her own so tightly she feared it might break, but she would never pull away from him.

It wasn't often that Sasuke actually needed her help. Sure, she'd helped him over the course of their time together as a team. If ever an opportunity presented itself for her to useful, she jumped on it- and at this moment, she was all he had...

Sasuke needed help, they all needed help. Naruto was nowhere to be seen and the three of them were on their own in this forest of death. She'd thought they were ready for this, thought even herself was ready. These chunin exams seemed to be perfect for them at the time, but as she sat there then, holding Sasuke until his screaming faded and he fell unconscious against her, she knew she was far from ready for this.

What had she been expecting really with her skill level? With Sasuke down, how would she protect him against any enemies? She was smart, she was resourceful... but, she was weak. As much as she hated it, she needed Naruto. She had to find him. Still though, she had no idea what they were going to do.

The chunin exams already seemed over for the three of them. Sakura didn't care though, as long as Sasuke and Naruto would be okay, nothing else mattered.

...

Unfortunately for her Naruto had come to his limit as well, and Sakura was left with two battered and unconscious teammates.

She did all she could, finding them a safe hidden place to rest. She was exhausted herself, but with those two out, she had no choice but to keep watch. With the supplies they had, she cleaned their faces and left damp cloths on their foreheads as they slept.

Even in his sleep, Sasuke appeared to be in pain and each time his face twisted, or he grunted uncomfortably, her heart ached for him. Naruto was a quick healer, so she wasn't as worried about him. Something had happened to Sasuke though and she didn't know what, but she was scared.

She was so scared.

The moment they were settled and there was nothing else she could do for them besides look after them, Sakura carefully created a trap just outside of the cave they were taking refuge in, just in case an enemy did appear, she needed to have something to help her case.

Having one trap on the ground, and one in the air gave her an initial advantage at least, but she was still worried about what would actually happen if someone did happen across them. It wasn't like it would be just one person either. Everyone had their own three-man team so she'd be outnumbered, and more thank likely out-skilled as well.

She'd trained with her weapons, she knew well how to use them, but her strength was little to nothing. Her frail arms made her feel pathetic just looking at them. For a while as she fought to stay awake and keep watch, she thought she might not have been cut out for the life of a kunoichi at all.

When she thought of the other girls in her class, what did she really have compared to them? Ino had inherited the Yamanaka's mind centered techniques and she had already began to hone her abilities greatly. Hinata was of the main branch from the Hyuga clan and with her byakugan and gentle fist style, she was even a force to be reckoned with.

Even the other kunoichi she thought of, all had their own special skills... And yet, Sakura had nothing. All these fancy things in the shinobi world, and she was left with excellent chakra control. What good would that ever do her? Even her smarts... She could be top of her class, she could ace every written exam ever given to her, but in a battle... all of that was useless.

Useless, just like her.

Her eyes drooped in her exhausted state and she half wanted to cry again because she felt so tormented by her wayward thoughts, but she was even too tired to cry. She also wanted to be stronger. If only she could make it through these exams, if she and her team could heal and move past all this... She would do all that she could to become stronger. And only then would she ever reconsider taking these stupid chunin exams again.

That was if she could even continue with her dream of being a kunoichi.

...

There was an enemy. With a start at the slightest sound, she'd readied herself from the cave entrance, but then all she'd noticed was a squirrel. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't just a squirrel who'd almost triggered her trap, there was indeed a group of foes who'd found them.

Formidable as they appeared, Sakura knew she couldn't lose herself to fear now. Useless as she was, she had no choice but to face them, if not for herself then for her team. They needed her now unlike ever before and though she would more than likely lose, she wouldn't be going down without a fight.

It was Sasuke they were after. Sakura was taken aback to know that they had come to target Sasuke specifically, but it wasn't like she was about to let that happen. Not as long as she was still able to move anyway.

Unexpected as it was, help did come to her. Rock Lee, who was a fellow genin from the Leaf appeared between her and the enemy, swearing once again to protect her with his life. If she was being honest, the guy had given her the creeps and she was downright repulsed when he asked her to be his girlfriend, but as she watched him stand up and fight for her, she held nothing but respect for the guy.

After all, in this exam, he wasn't her ally, but her enemy.

Unfortunately though, the sound ninja that they were facing had skills far beyond even Lee's and in the end he was no match for them. Sakura was once again at a loss for what to do, but she knew no matter what she had to stand her ground. This time, she had to fight. She would do it, even if it killed her. She would try with all her might to protect her friends.

The girl sound ninja had came up behind her, grabbing a tight hold of her hair as she cried over her thoughts, her weaknesses, and her fears. She had to do something, anything to get through this. When she could ignore the girls snide comments no longer, she pulled out a kunai and held it firmly, teeth clenching as she went about accepting what she had to do.

Her hair meant a lot to her, it was a veil of happiness to her in ways and she'd been growing it out for quite a while. It was after she'd found out that Sasuke liked long hair on girls that she'd made the decision, but since then her long hair had stuck with her and she had always adored it, but her hair wasn't everything. She was a ninja of the hidden leaf and looks weren't what mattered. So, she'd chopped her hair off at the neck to free herself, shocking them all.

Once she was free, she went at the first guy with everything she had. Knowing substitutions came in handy and after a few times, she'd even managed to trick the guy, but she was slow, and she had no secret abilities to help her fight and so in the end, she latched onto his arm with her teeth pitifully, knowing nothing else to do and all the while, she was pounded on her head relentlessly.

There were tears in her eyes, but she took each hit he delivered, fighting hard to keep biting him as hard as she could. In reality, it was over for her before it even began. Even now when they needed her the most, Sakura was only a hindrance to her teammates. She wouldn't blame them if they hated her forever after this.

Why would two ninja as skilled as Sasuke and Naruto want a failure like her on their team? She constantly needed protecting, and they were always delivering that protection. What was she offering them at all? Nothing but pain and misfortune.

Once she'd finally been forced off the guy, she knew it was the end. She had no more energy and her vision was blurring from her swollen lids and aching head. But just at the last moment, team ten came out of nowhere and stood before her as if they'd fight for her too.

She called to Ino in surprise and confusion. The girl had been her best friend at one time but they'd long since became rivals, especially when it came to their infatuation with Sasuke. But to see Ino taking up for her after all this time, it filled Sakura's heart with warmth and happiness, even if Ino tried to act like she wasn't doing it for Sakura, but for herself.

...

Seeing Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji in action was a thrilling experience, but it only made Sakura more aware of her lack of skills. They were good, but still, even they weren't good enough to take on these sound ninja.

Another unexpected arrival showed however, Lee's team appeared and Neji seemed ready for blood. She knew well enough that he was very skilled and maybe with him and Tenten on their side a well, they would stand a chance.

However, just as Neji fell back, claiming things appeared to have been taken out of his hands, a dark and ferocious aura omitted from inside the cave. Her heart dropped when she found it to be Sasuke.

She watched as he came out of the cave, dark chakra surrounding him like a whirlwind. His sharingan was activated and there were dark marks covering his entire right side. Her breath hitched as she took him in, noticing this peculiar and unfamiliar look about him.

Was this... Sasuke?

He'd taken her in, his entire presence chilling. His cold calculating eyes assessed the open area that had become a battlefield and most of the reinforcements they'd had just moments ago already vanished, though Sakura was too preoccupied with observing Sasuke to notice. She was so distraught by what she saw as she looked at him that she couldn't even respond when he questioned her.

"Sakura... Who did this to you?" He asked, his voice icy and full of venom. When she didn't answer, he asked again. "Tell me, which one of these guys did this to you?"

"I did." The guy she'd fought smirked proudly, ignoring his teammate who seemed worried for the first time. He'd been so sure of himself just moments before.

Sakura's eyes widened slightly as Sasuke's eyes cut towards the proud sound nin and in the blink of an eye, Sasuke was next to him. Sakura gasped in surprise at his quick movements and watched silently as he sent a hit to the guy that sent him flying off by several feet.

The guy wasn't giving up though, even as his teammate begged him to fall back. He was going to come at them with one of his sound moves, a blast wave that was sure to wipe them out. But in the same instant he released the move, Sasuke was at her side and had grabbed her and Naruto both up and moved them clear out of the way.

She was stunned. Sasuke had always been amazing... But, had he always been so fast?

Sasuke lost it after that. Sakura watched bewildered, and shocked as he went for the man, going as far as dislocating his arms from their sockets and leaving him useless. Sasuke was ruthless in his movements and even when he was done with that guy, he was going for the other.

This wasn't Sasuke... This wasn't her Sasuke, the boy she cared so deeply for. Tears welled up in her eyes as she pictured him, smiling a carefree smile, his beautiful face not marked by these strange and unknown black markings that had suddenly appeared and changed him so.

"No..." She croaked, getting to her feet as he walked along. This wasn't Sasuke. "No! Stop it!" She ran after him, her tears falling in waves as she hurried up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

He stopped at her touch, glaring back at her over his shoulder and that look in his eyes was more than enough to assure her that this wasn't her Sasuke. He was darker, colder, but miraculously, his eyes softened as he took her teary, fearful eyes in and the marks marring his skin receded.

She fell to her knees to lessen his fall when he collapsed, breathing heavily as he came back to himself. His pink haired teammate was able to tell right away that he'd returned to normal and she held onto him reassuringly as he panted and shook against her.

The sound nin handed over their scroll, but in the end couldn't give her any information about this 'Orochimaru' person who'd done this to Sasuke, and who'd put those sound shinobi up to targeted Sasuke as well. Apparently, the only reason they were even taking the exam at all was just to be able to come after Sasuke.

Nothing made sense, but more than anything... Sakura was worried about Sasuke.

...

The other Leaf genin helped to look after the wounded, Naruto included. However, Sasuke wouldn't allow anyone to get close to him aside from Sakura. She'd sat with him as he gawked at his own trembling hands in shock.

"Just... What am I?" He asked himself, and Sakura knew then that he was just as afraid as she was.

For a long time, she just watched him quietly. Until he looked at her with sad onyx eyes, his black hair framing his face. His lips mulled together as he took her in, looking over her face before his eyes finally settled on her hair which had been chopped off by herself. He looked so disappointed, so apologetic. Sakura only felt worse about herself even imaging that Sasuke would feel guilty for her ending up like this.

Even he had to know that he couldn't always protect her.

She had to get stronger.

"I'm okay." She finally whispered after a long time, because she knew he needed that reassurance.

And he did. Sasuke had never seen Sakura in such a state. Any mission they had, he'd go out of his way to prevent it, as would Naruto. He knew Sakura had potential, she was still learning though, and he didn't mind protecting her until she was able to do so herself. Just imagining not being there to protect her when she needed him though, it wounded him on several different levels.

Ino called for her, saying she'd help fix her hair and Sasuke watched as she walked off with a smile. She was stronger than she thought she was. He knew it. His eyes didn't leave her as she knelt down before Ino who quickly went about straightening the ends of her hair. Why did he feel so guilty?

He knew why... Because he never wanted to see those close to him hurt again, and the only people close to him were Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi.

Annoying as she was, Sakura cared deeply for him, she always had. Sure she had a crush on him just like most girls did, but with her it was different. She cried for him, she wanted him alive and well above anything else. If he asked it of her, she would be anything he wanted her to be.

That day as he watched her, Sasuke's respect for her grew and he silently made a vow to himself never to let anything like that happen to her again.