So its short…I'm sorry. I decided to add a splash of SasuSaku if you squint real hard. I wanted to get this chapter out before I had to go back to school on Monday, I'll still update as regularly as possible.

So the training will start next chapter. And I'm not sure when the romance will start. And for anyone wondering about Genma's friendship with her. They both practically live in Hokage Tower. It's a friendship that was built from circumstance and though I like the pairing a little bit there will be none in there.

Disclaimer: Nope I still don't own Naruto…

She had known they'd be late. It wasn't like they had watches or alarm clocks. Those two just had to be like Kakashi. It was annoying. They probably hadn't meant to do it. But then again it gave her more time to get ready. And time to think about something that had been weighing on her. Stepping into the shower Sakura just stood there letting the waves cascade down her body. The feeling was really very nice.

The tight knots of her muscles finally began to release. She may have over done it with the push ups. She never really had to work that hard since she began her training with Tsunade it was strict as the woman had said it would be. But it was not physical. A lot of it was knowledge based. This she was used to. Not the physical that Sasuke and Naruto had been so good at. It was the stuff that they had no talent or patience for. Depending on who you asked. Sasuke was decent enough with his chakra. But she was leaps and bounds above him. He was great. She was perfect. Naruto…he just used his chakra sloppily. He never needed to use it well. It was kind of unfair. But well everyone had to have strengths and weaknesses. Her chakra level wads her own.

The pipes groaned as she turned the knobs. It had felt nice to rinse off all the gunk and grime that always seemed to stick to someone after training. Green eyes peeked around the shower curtain her reluctance to get out of the warmth of the shower to the slightly cooler bathroom would have amused anyone had they seen. Reaching for her cushy white towel Sakura quickly toweled off. A technique she learned from Tsunade who explained her self with a simple "You'll need it" it involved channeling a small amount of chakra to the towel to warm it. Really useful on cold winter mornings.

With a speed that was really unlike the kunoichi when getting ready. At home at least.

"You really like doing things the hard way." She sighed to herself. She just had to tell them. Well it wasn't like they wouldn't find out. But she'd rather not have them breathing down her neck about it.

Especially when both do stupider things than she would ever dream of on a constant basis, like their inability to listen to anyone, or that stupid rivalry, Naruto and Sasuke hadn't changed since they were twelve. At all. Sasuke and that stupid burning desire to kill his brother, ok so it wasn't stupid so much as borderline psychotic. That would be the best word for it really. And Naruto for being a bundle of energy and a chakra presence large enough to engulf anyone in a one on one battle, this was unfair in Sakura's opinion.

May as well get it over with…

Sakura arrived at the small café at eleven fifty. She had thought they'd be late. But if boys complained about the predictability of girls, or lack there of, the same could be said about boys. They had already ordered too! Bastards!

"Well gee thanks for waiting." She'd found their table pretty easily Naruto sucked at masking his chakra.

"But I was hungry Sakura-chan!" Sakura felt her eye twitch and her fist clench.

As if sensing danger to his foxyness Naruto scooted closer to Sasuke trying to seek protection. Sakura snorted and asked, "Do you really think I won't hit you if your cowering against Sasuke?"

The blonde's quiet response of "Yes…" and Sasuke's glare was enough for Sakura. She sat across from them.

Deciding to speak up Sasuke asked, "So why did you have us out here? We had our weekly lunch for this week already."

"Oh well if a girl can't hang out with her boys for lunch then I guess I'll be going." Baiting Sasuke was too much fun. He allowed it to happen now. More to keep things normal than anything else really.

Sasuke smirked slightly, "Stop. Stay. We ordered your favorite."

Sakura looked torn before she decided to 'grace' them with her presence. Not knowing where to begin, especially under two inquisitive stares.

The kunoichi cleared her throat and asked, "Do you promise not to overreact?" Yeah like that'd happen.

Their affirmative answer came unanimously and quickly. A little too quickly. 'Damnit they're so going to fly off the handle. Well, Naruto will. Sasuke will probably brood or something.' Inner Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Well, I…how do I say this?" The boys leaned forward slightly to hear her better. It'd probably have been smarter on their part to stay away. They knew if they made a scene…they'd be hit. Pretty hard.

"Just say it already!" half-shouted Naruto. Sasuke nodded his silent agreement.

"Fine! I'm going to join the ANBU." 'Ha! Shut your dumb-ass up Naruto. And you look a little stunned too Sasuke-kun.' Sakura began to smirk.

"I…uh…I…" Aw poor Naruto. Sasuke just sat there blinking.

"Is that all you guy's can do gape at me like idiots?"

"You're what?!" Well that's a start from Naruto. A quick glance to Sasuke you see him cross his arms and lean back. A slight glower was noticeable.

"What? It's not that big of a deal." Yes try and calm them down.

"It's too dangerous." Sasuke's response was typical. Always protecting when she didn't need it. And then he always left when she did.

Sakura rolled her green eyes skyward, "You, Uchiha Sasuke, have no right to tell me not to do something because its 'too dangerous'," Sasuke made a move to speak but Sakura cut him off, "I'm not done. How can you be so selfish as to think I should listen to you!" She knew he would get what she meant from her sentence.

"I…" Naruto just felt the waves of tension coming from between the two glaring ninja.

Sasuke stayed quiet but stared at her with a near blank expression. One that Sakura wasn't sure how to read. It looked as if he wanted nothing more than to get up and leave. But unfortunately Naruto was in his way.

"Listen. I know you're worried. But I wouldn't do this if I didn't think for one second I couldn't do it." The words were from her heart she didn't get why he made such a big deal about nothing. The next thing that happened surprised Sakura.

Naruto just grinned big and said, "Well if it's what you want Sakura-chan, then who are we to tell you no?" The blonde shot the sharingan user a look that said relax and deal with it. She did waste the time to at least tell them what was going on with her.

"Hmph." Sasuke was pouting now. Sakura had to resist the urge to reach out to him. There were still feelings. She wouldn't deny that. But she wouldn't say she was in love with him anymore.

"Sasuke…" Why was he being so damn stubborn about it? It wasn't like he'd ever listen to her. "Are you just angry you won't be there to protect me or something?" Judging by how he reacted to that made her think that was exactly the case. "It is, isn't it?" The pale young man looked away.

"Sakura…" It was a growl. Telling her to drop it.

"What ever Uchiha. If that's how you want to act go ahead I'm doing this and there is nothing you can do about it!" She her nails bit into her palms from how she clenched her fists.

"I don't want to see you dead!" There he admitted it. It was like pulling fucking teeth with this boy.

"It's not about you! This is all about me Sasuke. For once since I've known you I'm doing something for me!" With that Sakura hastily paid for her untouched food and walked out of the café. She had promised her self years ago that she wouldn't cry. But the look on Sasuke's pale face made her want to.

But being who she was Sakura stubbornly shook the thoughts of that out of her head when she suddenly ran face first into the chest of her 'stalker' Shiranui Genma. "It's not fair! He shouldn't be that way about anything I do."

Genma sighed softly as he wrapped his arms around her, "Hey, Haruno buck up. Think about it you've got him right where you want him. Squirmin' like a worm. And scared out of his wits. I think you did a bang up job." Letting go of the young woman he asked, "Wanna go out for another drink later? You look like you might need it. And you'll look worse when Hatake gets through with you.

Sakura just shrugged numbly, "If I live through his training…" She assumed the man would just find her. He usually did. An eye crinkle and a 'yo' and it would begin. Well that's how it used to be. He might have changed with his new students. A fact that still surprised her…he went back to teaching. She always thought it had something to do with Asuma, the man loved teaching and sparring with the younger generations before his murder. Sakura pushed the depressing thoughts to the back of her mind. She was a ninja. Death was part of the job description. "So are you still trailing me?"

"Unfortunately," What more could he say on the subject?

"I'm surprised she didn't send Kotetsu or Izumo to annoy it out of me. She knows we hang out more than regular co-workers." Tsunade wasn't totally smart when it came to things like that.

"Well I think she just wants me out of her hair. They listen to here. I don't, until she threatens me at least." Genma spit out his senbon into a near by telephone pole. "Besides Shizune thinks I need a vacation or something stupid like that. She thinks I'm old." Genma scoffed at the idea. Shizune was his old teammate she was as old as him.

"Aw, she finally gave you that walker she had made for you?" The look on his face was utterly priceless.

Shiranui Genam, elite jounin of Konoha spluttered, "She had what made for me?"

"A walker. I thought she was waiting till you were forty. I figured she may have sprung it on you early" Sakura shrugged, "Come on it's not like you guys haven't been plotting Tsunade's sixtieth birthday since she became Hokage."

Genma smirked a bit, "She won't know what hit her. It's going to be great. But now I have to retaliate against Shizune too. I should get her knitting needles or something." He became more devious looking by the second. Even going so far as to rub his hands together.

"Well…since someone decided to take a trip to the deep end I guess I'll head down to the training fields." She shook her head slowly in amusement and began to walk away. After a moment Sakura turned and said, "Thanks Genma for, well you know."

The elder man nodded and smiled as she dashed off. 'Kakashi doesn't know what he's got himself into. He remembers the little girl who was just coming into her own. Not this. He's dead meat. Gonna be funny to see…but I've got bigger fish to fry…oh Shizune!' With that little inner monologue Genma launched onto the roof tops heading for the Hospital. Where no doubt the woman was.

Back in the café Naruto looked at Sasuke, "You're an ass."

"Shut up." He was feeling guilty enough.

Expect an update soon!