Authors Note: Hi Guys, so sorry for the wait, University is getting in the way of me writing this! Hehe! Anyway, thank you all again for the lovely reviews and comments! Its always good to hear what you think:) Hope you enjoy this chapter! xXx

Chapter 4

The Old Team 7

March 29 (5.40pm)

'Before I go out and meet Naruto and Sasuke, I wanted to have a quick write down of the days events so far, just to keep my mind off the up and coming evening, which may possibly be real life hell if Kakashi turns up. If he knows what's good for him he won't. It makes me laugh thinking about that last sentence, me saying I would kill him, when really I wouldn't want to lay a finger on him, other than fingers of trying to undress him...Okay Okay bad thoughts. Damn it, He's going to send me insane. I need a cattle prod, so I can prod myself every time I think of him. That might make me realise anything to do with Kakashi is just...painful. Which a woman of my age and already have been there I should associate him with pain and hurt already really.

Anyway, I'm going off topic yet again, so my meeting with Tsunade went quite well actually. Konoha's hospital is doing brilliant, a lot of new medical equipment and a hell of a lot of new staff. Tsunade gave me a list of people who are now running each department in the hospital, I only knew Dr. Kobi Saito who was now currently running the new maternity department. He was a lovely Doctor from what I recall, he's in the right field really as he was a trained gynaecology doctor. Lovely man actually, and not bad looking. Actually very good looking.

(Note to self: I must stop fantasying about the male population of Konoha)

I had no idea who half of the new doctors who are now working in the hospital. I did know quite a few of the nurses, but Tsunade says that most of the new doctors have all been on missions and have now been fully employed to work in the hospital to improve the hospital and new medical techniques. Which by the sounds of it they are all doing a wonderful job.

Tsunade has given me my timetable for my first week back at work and where I will be working, which is surprisingly on the maternity unit, then the week after that is the children's ward and the children's trauma and emergency surgery.

I am very confused at why Tsunade is putting me on wards with children as I've had no experience with children before, I suppose logically that could be the reason why she's putting me on those wards in the first place, but either way, I am not looking forward to it.

Then I think I'm in the emergency clinic for 2 weeks, which I am quite used to as I spent a lot of time in Grass Country dealing with emergencies, So I'm quite looking forward to that. I am especially looking forward to working with the new doctors, all though I just hope they aren't all arrogant idiots, like a certain select few I've worked with over the years. But I suppose I will just have to wait and see.

Now off the topic of work, I was so very surprised to see Sasuke back. And what's even more surprising is that I did not know. I haven't even got a clue if he did kill Itachi, I would assume so as I have heard a mention at all from Naruto about Akatsuki. I feel so in the dark, I really don't feel I have a clue what has gone on in my home town while I have been away. What is even more frustrating is that Naruto nor Ino have kindly kept me up to date on Konoha's affairs while I've been in Grass Country. They were both too busy talking about their own love life's to think about telling me. Which I believe, when they have to deal with it daily, maybe they didn't want to burden me with this information, as well, they probably knew I would want to come back to Konoha and help.

But still, It would have been nice to know about Sasuke, I do not think asking Sasuke over dinner this evening "Oh I forgot to ask? Did you achieve your life time goal of killing your brother Itachi?" Hmmm! Yes not the best dinner conversation in the land really is it? I will have to think of a cunning way to ask him, or I could go for the much simpler option...just ask Naruto! Yes I think I may go for the latter of those options. I think that may be the safer option.

I am feeling rather nervous about tonight, and for once it has nothing to do with Kakashi. I feel nervous about being around Sasuke again. He seemed very different. Actually, different is not a strong enough word. He's changed...A LOT.

I've seen Sasuke smile before, not for a long time though. But his smile today, it seemed like a contented smile. He seemed happy, which was not the Sasuke I knew before he left. He actually seemed relaxed as well, but something else was different...That's it. His arrogance, it seems to have disappeared (That or he lost it along the way to adult hood.) It's so very strange, everyone has changed around me, all the old friends I once thought I knew, they have all gone and changed on me. Even Naruto, OK Naruto may have changed the least, but still he's changed. I think Naruto has changed more physically than most of us, He's very tall now, he face has become more chiselled, he has extremely large muscles but he has matured. I never thought Naruto and mature would ever be in the same sentence, well other than if we was talking about cheese. But he has matured, he's always been caring and I think it's just in his nature, but the way he is with Hinata has astounded me. I actually believe he thinks the world of her. Which in a way doesn't surprise me of Naruto, all though one thing about Naruto has never changed over the years his hyperactivity. I suppose that's just Naruto.

As for Kakashi, well he's the same lazy, annoying bastard he has ever been. I suppose on a positive note, not everyone has changed!

Well, my little diary I am going to get ready for whatever may lye ahead this evening.'

I closed the diary and proceeded to get ready for my meal with Naruto and Sasuke. As I approached my wardrobe, I was really stumped at what to wear.

"Okay, I really want to look nice tonight! I really want to make an impression and I don't think my clothes say subtle but sexy...I really need to go shopping" I thought picking up every item of clothing in my wardrobe.

After 30 minutes of searching, I decided on a pair of fitted jeans and just a plain white t-shirt, with a black jacket over the top. As I really don't want to go out for a casual meal in a sodding cocktail dress really do I?

At 6.30pm I locked up my apartment door and made my way to the new restaurant in the village. As I began walking down the streets leading to the main part of Konoha my stomach started doing somersaults, I was beginning to get nervous about both Sasuke and Kakashi. As I began to get nearer and nearer to the restaurant I didn't have chance to be any more nervous as I could see Naruto standing outside waving his arms like a mad man.

"Sakura-Chan, so glad your already here" Naruto shouted, looking as if he was going to start jumping up and down.

I walked closer and noticed both Naruto and Sasuke looking extremely smart, Naruto in a Blue shirt with black jeans and Sasuke in a red short sleeved shirt with lovely fitting jeans.

"That cocktail dress doesn't seem like such a bad idea now does it?" I told myself as I approached the 2 men.

"Good evening Naruto and Sasuke" I said looking from one to the other.

"Come on lets go in, It's cold and we might be waiting for hours for Kakashi to turn up" Sasuke laughed, putting his arm towards my back to usher me into the restaurant.

I began to feel myself turning from a nice shade of pink to very dark crimson as Sasuke's hand touched my back.

We then got shown to a table for 4 next to the window, showing such a beautiful view of the tree's in Konoha, which were lit up by the beaming lights from the many new restaurants and shops that had opened in the village.

"Sakura-Chan isn't it lovely to all be back together, it seems such a long time ago since we have done this" Naruto said grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes, it's really nice indeed" I said looking directly at Sasuke who seemed keen to order his food as his nose was stuck in the menu.

Silence.

For about 10 minutes none of us said anything apart from what we were ordering to eat and drink. It was a very awkward silence, a silence I never thought I would experience in the same room as Naruto. I decided I couldn't settle sitting in silence all evening as it was unnerving me.

"So Naruto, how are all the plans going for the wedding? You have set a date haven't you?" I asked looking at Naruto who was eyeing up the bowl of noodles on the table next to us.

"Yes Sakura-Chan, we have set a date. It's going to be the 14th September, so just under 6 months to go now" Naruto laughed nervously. " Most things are sorted now, Hinata has her Kimonos, the venues are booked, I have my Kimono and other bits and pieces. Hinata is choosing all the flowers, the cake and all the table decorations." Naruto said smiling.

"Well Naruto you must ask Hinata if she needs any help as I am more than willing to give her a hand" I asked looking at Sasuke who was playing with his napkin on the table.

"Shouldn't we have waited for Kakashi-Sensei before ordering?" Sasuke asked glancing at me.

"No Sasuke, 'cos we might be waiting all night. And I'm starving" Naruto said as both myself and Sasuke laughed at him.

"He never changes" I laughed to myself.

For the next 30 minutes, we all talked about Konoha, what I had been doing in Grass with Sasuke asking about Takato followed by Sasuke telling us both about being accepted into ANBU. It was nice talking about what we were all up too, but I really just wanted to ask Sasuke about Itachi and Akatsuki. But I refrained from asking feeling it wasn't the best time, then suddenly from behind me I just heard;

"Yo"

"Kakashi-Sensei so glad you decided to show up" Sasuke said smiling.

"And you are only an hour late" Naruto laughed looking at Sasuke, making both men smirk.

"Yes well, I keep getting lost on the path of life at the moment" Kakashi said sitting down next to me. "It's good to see the 3 of you again" Kakashi said, with his dark black eye closed and crinkled.

"I haven't seen you around for a while Kakashi-Sensei what have you been up too?" Sasuke asked.

"I have been on a 3 month mission Sasuke-Kun" Kakashi replied looking directly at me.

Naruto and Sasuke noticed I had gone quiet and with Kakashi staring at me, I couldn't go as incognito as I had hoped.

"You're quiet Sakura-Chan, are you okay?" Naruto asked with all 3 pairs of eyes on me.

"Yes I'm fine, just a little bit tired" I replied hoping my food would arrive soon so I could just put my head in the bowl and wish this wasn't happening.

"So Sakura, I haven't heard how your mission went in Grass country?" Kakashi asked.

I decided I wasn't go to show him he was affecting me and proceeded to look at him, which surprised me. He wasn't in his Jounin uniform again. He was wearing a tighter fitting shirt to show of what a wonderfully toned body he has and it seemed like he was wearing a pair of jeans as well.

"It went very well Kakashi. I had some of the best years of my life there, it was an amazing learning opportunity as well." I replied trying to force a grin onto my face.

"Has Sakura-Chan told you anything about her fiancée Kakashi-Sensei?" Naruto said speaking the dreaded words I did not want to face tonight.

Kakashi seemed shocked by the news actually, his eyes had widened and he was staring at me awaiting an answer.

"No you haven't Sakura-Chan" Kakashi smirked.

"Well there isn't much to say is there Naruto now. I don't have a fiancée any more, as he died last year" I said stubbornly, feeling more and more upset with thinking of Takato.

"Well done you bloody idiot" I heard Sasuke whisper to Naruto.

"Sakura, I am...I am really sorry to hear that" Kakashi said, abut to place his hand on top of my own, but I moved it away before he could touch me.

The evening went on, quieter than I thought. Naruto and Sasuke got back to bickering, Kakashi sat looking on at what was happening around him and I just kind of sat there. It was a very strange feeling, one I really didn't want to feel again. I did participate in some of the conversations, but it just didn't feel right with Kakashi around.

We then got talking about Tsunade and the hospital, which made me feel more comfortable and as the hours went on and on, we all, meaning all 4 of us started to enjoy each others company again, feeling more and more comfortable around each other once more.

Naruto and Sasuke just like many years ago, entertained me beyond belief, even Kakashi sharing a rather amusing story about Tsunade and a pair of thongs.

It was strange, but a nice strange. I was starting to feel more relaxed around all 3 men again, which seemed like an achievement as I never thought I would be able to laugh and joke with Sasuke let alone feel comfortable to laugh and joke with Kakashi once again.

It was a rather enjoyable evening until Sasuke opened his mouth.

"So Kakashi-Sensei, how come you broke up with Sakura and let her go to Grass on her own?" Sasuke asked after taking a sip of his water.

"What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck?..." Was all that was gong on in my mind as soon as the question left Sasuke's lips, followed by "I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM"

Kakashi just seemed puzzled. "Excuse me, Sasuke?" Kakashi said, not showing any emotion at all as normal.

Naruto however, was currently sitting with his mouth wide open and looking like he was watching a tennis match, looking backwards and forwards from me to Kakashi.

Then, "WHAT" Naruto shouted, causing everyone in the restaurant to look at the 4 of us.

After 5 minutes of us all staring back and forth at each other, I couldn't hold back any longer "Sasuke, I have no idea what you heard and whom you heard this from, but I can quite clearly state that it is none of your business and quite frankly wont ever be" I snapped, feeling red hot anger burning up inside me.

"Who the hell does he think he is? I thought he changed, he's sitting there like a smug bastard and grinning like a Cheshire Cat that just won sodding first prize at a contest." I shouted at my inner self.

I stood up from the table, until Naruto put his hand on my arm.

"Sakura-Chan?" He asked, his blue eyes as soft as ever, with no trace of anger. The eyes I was so used to seeing every time he came to see me in Grass Country and would listen to me talk about Takato, and those same eyes I would see before he would hold me as I cried.

"Naruto, can we talk about this tomorrow. I really don't feel up to talking right now, okay?" I asked, not wanting to look at him to see the hurt on his face that he probably feels for me not telling him any of this.

"It's okay Sakura-Chan, we can talk tomorrow." Naruto said letting go of my arm that he was still holding.

I walked out of the restaurant and made my way back home, with my mind swimming in thoughts. "Why did I just walk out? Why didn't I just tell them? Why did Sasuke have to ask in front of both Kakashi and Naruto? How did Sasuke know about Kakashi and myself? Why was he sitting with a smug look on his face like he had achieved something?"I thought to myself, not knowing the answer to any of my own question, I walked what seemed like forever to reach my apartment.

When I finally did, I opened my door, kicked off my shoes and turned on my hallway light...when I heard.

"Sakura?"

Hope you enjoyed :) Fingers crossed the next chapter wont take as long! Please review xXx