Chapter-30

Finally it's my turn. Thought Lee.

"Naruto-kun. Please relay this message to Sakura-san. Tell her that if I win I want her to go out with me." He said and jumped down.

Naruto just gave him a weird look while Sasuke was fuming. That wimp! He scowled and looked down at Gaara. I saw what he did to those ninjas in the forest and I think Lee will have trouble. Lee had told them that he can only do taijutsu. He didn't have any talent in ninjutsu or genjutsu. Taijutsu requires you to be in close proximity but Gaara is good at both kind defenses. They saw as the match began. Lee kept trying to land a blow but the sand just kept interrupting him. Its as if it had its own will to protect Gaara. Gaara sent his sand towards Lee but Lee dodged. He stood on the statue of the tiger hand sign and contemplated what to do next. Suddenly, Gai screamed

"You can take them off Lee. I give you my permission!"

"Thank you, Gai-sensei!" he said as he saluted him

He dropped his leg warmers and took off the weights tied around his legs. He dropped them on the floor and the floor crumbled.

Isn't that going too far Gai? Thought Kakashi with a grimace.

"Now I can move more freely!"

Lee went down and started circling around Gaara with a much greater speed. The sand couldn't keep up. And finally, a kick got through and Lee jumped and kicked Gaara's head down. Gaara looked up and everyone saw that he was wearing an armor made of sand. Lee decided to open his inner gates to perform Primary Lotus. He kept trying to land blows and then he opened the third gate. He was red and his nerves were visible on his face. But he became even more faster. He landed some blows and Gaara stumbled back. Then Lee opened the sixth gate and ran towards Gaara and kicked him upwards. He wrapped his bandages on his arms around Gaara. He started spinning holding him and kept going down. Gaara crashed on the ground. Smoke filled the room. Lee dropped to the floor because of the screaming pain he was feeling in his body due to opening inner gates. When the smoke cleared, they saw Gaara lying above sand.

What? He turned his gourd into sand to soften the blow? Gaara just smirked sinisterly as he commanded his sand to capture Lee. Lee couldn't move so he started the sand caught his left arm and left leg. Gaara crushed the sand and broke Lee's arm and leg. Lee screamed in pain. Damn it! Now I can't fight. Gaara sent his sand towards his to capture him completely and crush him but Gai came in between and deflected the sand away.

"That's enough. This match is over."

"Why? Why did you come between?"

"because he is my student who I love dearly."

Love? There's no such thing. Thought Gaara as he walked past Naruto who was also checking on Lee. Naruto glared at him but then went to the medical team. The medic was explaining the situation to Gai. Naruto heard that Lee couldn't be a ninja anymore. The damage was too much to heal. Gai just looked at Lee feeling guilty and kept apologizing while Naruto clenched his fists and started walking back.

The Hokage and Jonin came in front of the winners who were in a separate room. Sasuke just kept thinking about how strong everyone was. Heh this sure is exciting. All of them looked up when the Hokage spoke.

"Congratulations, you 10 genins have been selected for the final round. It will be held in Konoha duel ground. You will have one month to prepare. Now, to choose your opponent, we have prepared something. There are papers and each of them has a number. The two people who get the same number will face each other. Understood?"

"Hai." They all said collectively.

They went and picked up the paper.

"Now that you have the paper, raise your hand when I say your number. Number one."

Everyone say Neji and Naruto holding their hands up. They both glared at each other.

"Number 2."

This time Shikamaru and Temari raised their hands. They studied each other not sure what to think about them.

"Number 3."

Kankuro and Shino raised their hands.

"Number 4."

Dosu lifted up his hand but nobody else did.

"you will be facing Haruno Sakura who is right now recuperating. Alright. Looks like only Sasuke and Gaara are left. Train hard for the next month and show your skills. That is all. Dismissed."

All of them started leaving for their home.

"Hey teme! Let's go meet Sakura-chan! She must be bored without us."

" And what makes you think I will come?"

"Because you're worried about her? I mean its written all over your face."

"No no no no! im not concerned ."

Naruto starting laughing after seeing denying the truth so stupidly.

They started walking towards the hospital.

"Hey Sasuke? Did you see some kind of weird markings on Sakura-chan when she was fighting Ino?"

"No." he lied.

They reached the hospital and asked at the reception about her room number. They thanked her and left. Sasuke was unintentionally walking faster. She's fine right? The images of her getting injured passed through his mind and he just walked forward quickly.

"Hey teme! Wait up!"

They reached Sakura's room and went in. What they saw was Sakura had a oxygen mask on, her arm connected to IV bag and medicines. She looks so weak. They went ahead and saw that she was sleeping. They sat down beside her bed and waited in silence. The nurse said she could wake up anytime now. Naruto was already asleep with his head rested on Sakura's leg. Sasuke scowled at him and turned to face Sakura. She looks so peaceful. She never tells us her worries but she listens and helps everybody. Seeing her so relaxed…she looked nice. What? Wait! Where the hell did that come from? I have got to control my mind. Sasuke scolded himself.

Suddenly Sakura's fingers twitched and Sasuke quickly held her hand and squeezed it. Please wake up, Sakura. I cant see you like this. Sasuke had his head down when suddenly he felt her grip his hand back. Sasuke's head shot up and he found her lying there with a small smile while her emerald eyes shined.

"Sakura? Are you okay?"

Sakura just nodded and smiled.

"Can you talk?"

She shook her head and smiled apologetically.

" don't give me that expression. Anyway we came to tell you that all three of us have entered final round. We know our opponents. But we'll talk about this when you get better."

Sakura nodded. A silence followed which was broken by Sasuke's question.

"Why did Kakashi take you with him?"

She shook her head. Kakashi had told her not to tell anybody about it.

"Damn that guy."

When Sasuke yelled, Naruto woke up from his slumber. He saw Sakura was awake.

"Hey Sakura-chan! How are you feeling? Did you know we passed the elimination round? All three of us! That's so awesome!"

Sakura just watched him with gentle eyes and a small but soft smile. I'm really starting to hate seeing her smiling. It makes me feel weird. And when she smiles at men, that just pisses me off! Sasuke thought while he saw Naruto telling her everything that happened in the matches.

"don't talk too loudly Naruto. This is a hospital."

"oh yeah. Sorry about that."

They spent some time together and finally Naruto and Sasuke left. Sasuke was walking home with a heavy heart. She got hurt…because of me. She is even willing to sacrifice herself for others. She is nothing like the girl I thought she would be. She's…different. Yeah that's the word for her. Different. He kept thinking about how she looks so frail but still be strong enough to take on anything. She's very determined. This might be the only girl I've thought about so much. And then he reached home.

Sakura was lying on her bed when with a poof, Kakashi appeared beside her.

"You don't have to pretend anymore. You can take off the mask." Said Kakashi.

"okay sensei. But don't make me wear that again. It's so irritating!"

Kakashi chuckled. " Well it was the only way keep your screams in slow volume."

She removed her oxygen mask and relaxed. She checked the machines and adjusted them according to her body requirement. When she saw Kakashi's curious gaze she blushed.

"You know how to do this stuff?"

"Yeah…"

Should I get the truth out of her now? she is just hiding her true self from everybody. Suddenly Sakura spoke.

"Kakashi-sensei. I have to tell you something important. I would like to have your full attention and as much unrealistic it seems, it is in fact truth."

Kakashi was skeptical but decided to put up a genjutsu outside the room.

"Okay what is it?"

Sakura took a deep breath and clenched her fists. I have to tell him. He's the only one I can consider trustworthy with my situation. She looked at Kakashi.

"Sensei, please activate your sharingan. Then read my memories. Whatever you see is real."

"That's just weird. How can I trust that you didn't make up those memories?"

"Well…making up memories is very difficult and besides im only showing you something important for the whole shinobi world."

The whole world? What the hell?

"fine. Let me look in your eyes so I can read the memories."

They sat there for 30 minutes and then Kakashi stopped himself from fainting.

"You-You weren't lying? You came back to save all of us from that horrible reality. And im the one who sent you back in this time? "

Sakura slowly nodded with a small sad smile.

"you put your faith in me. And I would have done it regardless of the risks. I just couldn't see the people I care about dead. You almost died too and I managed to keep you up. But what haunts me is Naruto and Sasuke's deaths. They were too much for me. I love both of them so much. I love Team 7. It's my home."

Kakashi was in shock…what the hell did I just see? It that really our future? And this girl left everything behind just for others. For us.

"Sakura, do you have any kind of proof from that war period that you had?"

"Hm. You made a seal on my left hand with your blood. You also said not to tell anybody about it."

"Show it to me."

Sakura nodded and started taking of bandages from her left wrist. Then Kakashi looked at the seal and he could easily tell it was his writing. Even if I run a blood test of this, I know it will show that it is mine. Shit, this is too much to take in.

Sakura saw Kakashi's troubled expression.

"Sensei, I know this is a lot to take in so maybe we should stop now. you should rest otherwise your head will hurt. We'll continue talking about this some other time."

Kakashi knew that would be the best thing to do. But he just couldn't move. He was still in shock. Sakura reached out her hand and rested it on top of Kakashi's. Kakashi looked up at her with worry all over his face.

"Don't worry. I'll do anything for you guys. I'm happy I got this chance because of you. You are the best sensei I could have asked for!" she finished cheerily

Tears threatened to fall from his eyes. She thinks im a great teacher? I couldn't protect anybody important to me. Not even my own students and she is grateful to me? He lowered his head kept muttering apologies to her.

"Sensei?"

"yes?"

"Thank you. For everything. Ill definitely buy your favorite book for you. I promised didn't I?" she said cheekily

Kakashi face that was distraught slowly formed into a smile. So that's why my sharingan throbbed whenever I was near her chakra or blood.

"Sakura, Im proud of you. I will help you with anything that needs to be done. I will always be there for you. Just don't fight alone. You don't deserve such a heavy burden. Let me carry it with you."

Sakura looked at him with watery eyes and fiercely nodded. I'm not gonna cry anymore. I'll become stronger to protect everyone.

"Well, I guess I should go. You need to rest for 3 days at the hospital. I'll keep visiting and we'll discuss what we should do next. Alright?"

Sakura smiled at him and gave a happy nod. Geez she is so innocent. Kakashi then ruffled her hair like he used to and went out. Sakura put a hand on her hair where Kakashi ruffled them. And then slow painful tears starting flowing. About her previous life. About the war. Looks like its gonna be an all nightery today as well.

After she calmed down, and tried to do meditation. The curse mark wasn't bothering that much anymore. Maybe the seal is working. And she continued to meditate.