Sakura got about halfway around the village walls until she could not run anymore.

She had wanted to stop so many times, but everytime she closed her eyes all she could see was the scene of the battlefield, and so she had pushed herself; she truly had. The running, however, tore at her thin, undeveloped muscles. The pain was physically overwhelming, and made the academy student's vision swim. The damaged was represented quite clearly to her, thanks to the game. She had a health bar, and after the running it was dangerously low.

And so, she sat slumped against the village walls, panting heavily, every breath sending a burning sensation for her chest. If she pressed on she would die, she had no doubts about that.

'How am I supposed to level up if I can't even do the quests? I'm stuck!' she wailed mentally, as tears rolled down her cheeks; not that anyone who saw her face would be able to tell with the coat of sweat that covered every inch of her. Her hair was damp, and clung to her in the most unflattering way. Sakura would have been devastated if she could focus on anything more than her shaking, beaten body, and her feeling of despair.

"Are you alright?"

Sakura jerked her head up from where it had collapsed against her thighs about a foot before the pain of doing so made her whimper in pain. Suddenly she felt hands on her arms pulling her upright. "Here," she heard the person - male, young, and unfamiliar - say, as a bottle was held in front of her face. She took it with trembling hands, though the person did not let go, helping her hold it as she started to gulp down the liquid. "Slowly, you'll make yourself sick," the boy cautioned, and Sakura listened, taking small sips, as she watched in astonishment as her HP bar slowly started to refill. As it did so her vision started to clear, and she saw that the hands helping her hold the bottle were covered in bandages. She raised her eyes to trail up the boy's wrapped, but clearly muscular, arms, until she was face to face with the stranger.

She heard him inhale sharply as she met his eyes.

He was not unattractive, - she noted - or at least he wouldn't have been if not for the gigantic eyebrows marring his face, and the unflattering haircut that through what was left of his attractiveness out of whack. She hadn't looked good with bangs either, but she hadn't known either until someone had told her. She felt her fingers twitch with her desire to sweep the offending hair from his face.

'He's staring at me.' she thought. 'You're staring at him.' she replied to herself.

The flush that had started to fade from her face came back full force, and she dropped her gaze from his, pulling her hands back from the bottle of life saving water.

'Say something, stupid!' she yelled at herself.

"Um, I'm Sakura," she said, peeking back up him.

He blushed. "I'm Rock Lee," he paused for a small moment, then a look of determination came over his face - he was an open book with his expressions. "Sakura, please go out with me! I'll protect you with my life!"

Sakura felt her mouth drop open, but she quickly snapped it shut. She couldn't look away from his eyes that were filled with determination and fire. He was being serious. "Um, I have someone I like already," she answered honestly. She watched his emotions change to disappointment for a brief moment, but changing to understanding.

'Sasuke has never looked at me like that… He's never looked at me at all.' And for a brief moment Sakura felt angry at the Uchiha. "Sorta."

"I understand." He replied. "I'll wait until you're sure."

She didn't know what to make of that. "You don't even know me," she said after a moment.

His mouth opened, then closed. Then, after a moment, he spoke, "We went to the academy together. We never met, but I saw you. I never had friends, everyone made fun of me," his words started to come out faster at the end, "You were alone too. I guess I just thought we were alike. I…" he trailed off. Then he smiled at her. "You were like a beautiful flower, lighting up my day. You made me not feel quite so alone." He let out a chuckle. "I've always wanted to say hello, but I was waiting for the right moment, and then I graduated, and," he shrugged.

It was bizarre, hearing her own thoughts spoken back to her. She had always felt like she and Sasuke were similar; two smart, but lonely people. After Ino, she had not really made any friends, but Sasuke didn't have friends either, -he didn't even seem to want them- so it made her feel like her seclusion was okay.

She wondered if Sasuke too had no idea how big of an effect he had on someone else. It was sad, really. And embarrassing. It was all Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke. He was like her life jacket in the flood that was life, and he didn't know she was there.

She wanted him to know.

"Lets be friends, okay?" she offered, her voice filled with her new determination. She would be Mrs. Uchiha one day, she was sure of that, but for now she just wanted Sasuke to know her name. They weren't going to be lonely anymore.

"Yes!" Lee agreed, fist pumping in excitement.

Sakura started to push herself up. Her HP was almost completely restored, and she hurt a lot less. Which, on one hand, made her feel happy, but on the other hand she had to assume that it was only because her HP was so low. Otherwise just drinking would be way overpowered, and she didn't think They wanted to make things that easy on her.

"Do you want me to help you home?" Lee offered.

"No! Ah, no, I have to finish this lap. I will do it." she said, the last part more for herself than anything.

"Such determination! I too never give up! Lets vow to get stronger together, my flower!"

He was so weird that is was cute. She couldn't have stopped herself from smiling up at him if she had wanted to. "Yeah!"

Sakura felt like she was dying again by the time she made it to her home, - Rock Lee was at her side, making sure she got there - but instead of despair she felt hope. Pain, too, mostly pain, actually, but the hope was there too. Before she had been beaten down by bullies, before her dreams had been stomped on, and before she had given up on her goals to pursue Sasuke wholeheartedly she had dreamed of being a true kunoichi : skilled, strong, and beautiful. She wanted that again. Just for her. At the start of her run she had gained a new ability called… Running. Completing the run had given her a bonus point in Fortitude, a level in her new ability, plus it completed the quest which granted her 50 EXP. Then, to top it off, for making a friend she had gained another 100 EXP, plus a point in Charisma and a point in Wisdom. She was getting closer already.

"I'll see you later, okay?" Sakura said as they stopped in front of her house.

"Will you train with me tomorrow?" Lee questioned. His hope filled expression brought a smile to Sakura's face. A small one, but that was quite the feat thanks to the stitch in her everything.

"You bet! I can meet you after school?"

Lee nodded. "I'll meet you there!" he exclaimed. Lee exclaimed a lot, Sakura was finding.

"Can't wait."

"Sakura?" the pair heard Sakura's mother call from inside the house.

"Gotta go. See you! And… thanks Lee-san." And with that Sakura made her way into the house, closing the door behind her to come face to face with her mother who had this bemused smile on her face.

"Who was that boy, Sakura?" her mother questioned with a knowing voice that Sakura found both infuriating and embarrassing.

"He's a friend," she muttered, crossing her arms under her woefully small chest.

"Ah. A friend," the older Haruno female said, smiling a smile that Sakura did not like. "How nice. Go get cleaned up, then. Dinner will be ready soon. You look… ah… messy."

"I was training," Sakura explained, scowling.

"I'm glad," her mother said simply. "Thats really important, you know."

Sakura huffed and spun to head up the stairs. She was so not ready for a lecture.

"Plus, having some muscle on you can only make you look better. Everyone knows that."

"Boys do not want to date a giant monster!" Sakura replied, indignantly.

"I never said they did," her mother replied serenely.

'What does that mean?' Sakura pondered as she headed towards the shower. She stepped into the bathroom, took a look in the mirror, and let out a whine of despair. "My hair!"

Haruno Sakura

Level 1

150 / 532 EXP

Stats

Strength - 4

Agility - 4

Fortitude - 5

Intelligence - 20

Charisma - 8

Perception - 4

Willpower - 4

Wisdom - 8

Luck - 7

Skills

Ninjutsu : 38

Genjutsu : 28

Taijutsu : 17

Bukijutsu : 14

Ranged Attacks : 4

Crafting : 15

Influence : 8

Survival : 5

Stealth : 4

Medicine : 16

Acrobatics : 14

Knowledge : 16

Handle Animal : 7

Abilities

Academy Taijutsu : lv 1

Body Replacement Technique : lv 1

Clone Technique : lv 1

Transformation Technique : lv 1

Running : lv 2