Chapter-31

Sakura was sitting on the floor, sitting casually in the hospital room. She kept thinking about Orochimaru and what he would plan next. I know Oto and Suna village will collaborate to attack Konoha. But that I cannot stop so I'm just going to have to focus on the stuff I can control. The problem at hand right now is Orochimaru. She was deep in thought when suddenly her door busted open revealing an excited Naruto and irritated Sasuke.

"Hey guys."

"Hi Sakura-chan! How are you? You can speak now right?"

"Haha yeah yeah. Im fine. And as you can see I am talking."

Naruto just grinned sheepishly.

Sasuke wasn't listening since his focus was on the fact that she is sitting on the floor and not on the bed.

"Why are you sitting on the floor? Lie down on the bed and rest there."

"Nah. I'm fine like this."

The reason she didn't want to stay in bed was that because always wondered of horrible memories and feelings that make her scared like hell. She has panic attacks because of that.

"Tch. You're really annoying, you know?"

"I do. And thanks for the complement!" said Sakura with a wide grin, teasing him

Sasuke just scowled and turned his head away.

Naruto was lying on the bed turned sideways, Sasuke was sitting in the chair for visitors and Sakura was still on the floor. As usual Naruto and Sasuke engaged in a useless banter which was making Sakura hell lot of annoyed. They didn't stop.

"Ahem."

Sasuke ad Naruto both froze when they heard the voice. Mechanically turning their heads, they saw an annoyed Sakura staring at them. Then she smiled sweetly and said, "If you fight in the hospital one more time, I'll make sure to give you a good punch to send you to the center of the earth. Got it?" she finished, still smiling sweetly.

Both of them were at a loss. Shit, she got pissed. Thank god she didn't hit us but the threat was too scary because Sakura could do that. They shivered and apologized.

Suddenly, the curse mark throbbed. but Naruto was here so she controlled it to the best of her ability. It was throbbing badly. She bit her lip to stop from making any sounds and had one eye shut because of pain. They couldn't see her as she was sitting on the floor.

"Man! I'm hungry! Lets go find somewhere to eat!"

"it's 10 am dobe. How can you be hungry? Didn't you have any breakfast?"

"I did. But I am hungry so let's goooooo"

"Im not coming. You go to Ichiraku's or something."

"Oh yeah! That's the best idea. Thanks teme. Bye Sakura-chan" and he sped off and didn't even notice her eyes were closed because of the pain.

Sasuke looked at Sakura. she always replies. So why didn't she?

Sasuke stood up from the seat and knelt down to see her but that's when he noticed that she was shaking and in pain. She was trying to keep it in so as to not draw attention. Her eyes were shut tightly. What do I do?

"Sakura..?"

No reply

"Sakura"

Again, no reply

He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Sakura!"

"Sasuke…?"

"Yeah its me. Are you okay? You were in pain."

"oh yeah that mark acted up a little but im fine now. thanks."

She shakily stood up and walked towards her bed and lied down. She took deep breathes and counted till 10. And then she felt fine. She turned to Sasuke and smiled as usual.

I hate this. This stupid fake smile of hers. Why does she try to be alone all the time? Did she really mean it when she said I was special to her?

Sasuke looked up at her went to sit beside her bed.

"Sakura?"

"hm?"

"Did you really mean it when you said I was special to you?"

Sakura flinched when she remembered her words. But she didn't lie. It was the truth.

"Yes. I meant every word."

"Well then why do you always try to be alone? Why don't you talk? You just read, train or go on missions. You are hiding something from us and I want to know what that is."

Sakura gulped. Damn. I never imagined Sasuke would be like this.

"it is my personal problem, Sasuke. It has nothing to do with you. So just leave it alone. Okay?"

"Like hell I'll leave it alone! I don't care if it's a personal problem. You just sit on the damn floor for no reason, you butt in between fights to save Naruto and me, you don't eat much and you just pretty much train. I know all this stupid stuff that everyone knows but I want to know the real reasons of your turmoil."

"just let it go, Sasuke."

"NO, I WONT!"

"Why not?" she asked in a low voice

"Because you are special to me too!"

Sakura stared at him wide eyed and mouth open a little. Then slowly she relaxed and kept a hand on Sasuke's cheek. She looked at him with serenity with her beautiful emerald eyes.

"I'm fine, Sasuke. Sometimes I just overthink that's all. Its mostly non sense in my brain but I get lost in my own world. Recently though, I only have Orochimaru on my mind. So that's troubling me."

Sasuke listened to her and then relaxed. He felt her hand on his cheek and quickly kept his hand over hers so she wouldn't let go. But she did. Damn it. What is wrong with me?

An awkward silence followed which was melted by a new visitor.

"Hey Sakura"

"Hi Kakashi-sensei!" she gleamed

Sasuke felt weird getting in between them so he stood by the door as he watched Sakura chat away with Kakashi without a care in the world. Tch. Annoying.

"Well I'm going to train. Kakashi don't be late." And with that he left.

"oh so you're training him. You taught him Chidori last time. Is that what you're doing this time too?"

"Yeah. It's a great weapen for people with lightning style chakra."

"I see."

After a comfortable silence, Kakashi asked her

"So who are you actually? I want to know you."

"haha sure. Okay. Im actually 17 years old. And I am the apprentice of Senju Tsunade, one of the three legendary sannins. She was also the 5th Hokage. As you know, she is a brilliant medic so I begged her to take me in as an apprentice. She agreed. And now, according to Shishou, I have surpassed her. She tells her students that medics shouldn't get themselves killed so they must not be in frontlines. But since I was her apprentice she taught me something. The Byakugou Seal. Have you heard of it?"

"Hm. I think I have but I don't really know much about it."

"okay. So this seal is activated when you continuously collect chakra for years and then you have such a large chakra capacity that you can literally just swash your hand in the air and the force would be strong enough to knock down the enemy. My plus point of having this seal is that since I am a medic ninja who fights in the front can take any attack and heal themselves in seconds. Of course its not easy. It took me 3 years to achieve this seal."

Kakashi was amazed by her. She's a prodigy at chakra control. I've never heard of someone who Is this talented. I know Naruto and Sasuke are strong but Sakura is a hard working person. She struggled to get this far.

"You're amazing, Sakura. I cant believe you're my student. Haha"

" what are you talking about sensei? You were the one who always encouraged me when Naruto and Sasuke left the village." After saying that her eyes got dull. Even still, it feels as bad.

Kakashi saw her and slowly patted her head.

"I know those two are idiots but really love you Sakura. Team 7 will always support you. You're not gonna be alone anymore."

She just nodded and gave a small smile. Then she remembered.

"Kakashi-sensei. You must know this. When we met Orochimaru last time he specifically targeted Sasuke because he had Sharingan. This time too he had the same goal but I got in between them and he bit me instead. But he still said 'You will be good enough. You have caliber'. Does this mean he's gonna come after me?"

"hm. I think yes he will. Don't worry I'll be in your proximity so that I can arrive to help as quickly as I can. Why were you so determined to save Sasuke from Orochimaru?"

"Because… because the last time he got the curse mark, he went crazy. He didn't even think straight. He just killed. And that mark was the reason he went to Orochimaru. Orochimaru offered him power and a promise to make him strong enough to kill Itachi-san. Sasuke was so deep in hatred that he actually left."

Sakura looked gloomy. Well, its no surprise that Sasuke chose power before his comrades.

"Sakura. You know you have changed Sasuke a lot. Now he worries about others. He comes to visit you to see if you're okay. And he even said he wanted to protect the people who were close to him. I have no doubt that includes you too. You have done very well so far."

Sakura smiled at Kakashi who just gave her a crinkled eye.

"Sensei, one month from now, When the last round of Chuunin Exams will be held, Oto and Suna will collaborate to attack Konoha. Orochimaru will also be there. We will have to be careful. Their main weapon is Gaara who has the one tailed beast stored inside him. They plan to unleash it and create a disaster." Sakura said gravely.

Kakashi was deep in thought. So Oto will rebel against us. The biggest problem will be Orochimaru and Gaara.

"Well, this is a pickle. What do you suggest we do?"

"I was thinking that the last time Sasuke ran off behind Gaara as he and his two siblings started going farther. Naruto and I followed Sasuke but he had no chakra left so Naruto fought Gaara all on his own. And he beat him. So I think we should leave things as they are. If we do something it will be suspicious. So this time three of us will go to fight Gaara. You can trust me with this. I think Chuunins and Jonins should focus on battling shinobi of Oto and Suna. There will be many."

"hm. That's a good plan, but what about Orochimaru?"

"3rd Hokage will fight him and die. That's what he wishes." She said sadly.

No way. Hokage-sama will die?

After a heavy silence, Kakashi noticed that Sakura was sleepy and tired.

"Well, I better get going. You rest, got it? Sleep. Bye"

And then he left. Sakura had a small smile on her face as she drifted in dreamland.