Disclaimer- I Don't own Naruto, the anime, or any of its content.

Sasuke rapped his fingers gently over the door to Sakura's place. He could hear the sounds of many people inside. He heard the sound of shattering glass, and the the scolding shouts of Sakura's mother. He knocked again louder this time, and was surprised when the door swung open immediately. Standing there was a young boy, perhaps seven or eight years old. He yelled, "Mom! There's someone here." Sasuke just stood their, looking a little perplexed. There were four children downstairs, and the mother seemed thoroughly swamped. How could so many people live in such a small house? There could hardly be even three bedrooms.

Sakura's mother, a middle aged woman with pink hair touched by a few grey specks, walked over, "Sasuke-kun?" He nodded pertly. "Sakura will be out in just a minute. She slept in, and it takes her time to do her makeup and such." Sasuke managed not to roll his eyes at that. They were training, not going on a date. "Sasuke-kun, would you like some breakfast? I know that you don't..." Sakura's mom caught herself before making the fatal slip, "I mean, probadly aren't much of a cook." she said, smiling at him.

He was about to decline her offer, but caught himself. His corn flakes had been particularily foul this morning, stale, and since his milk had gone bad during the time team seven had been in the forest, they had been doused in water. He had barely managed to choke down half a bowl. The smell of the bacon was maddening. He nodded to Sakura's mom, who still smiling, began to make him a plate. Sakura came down a few minutes later, hair still damp, yelling at the top of her lungs, "Sazami! Where are you, you little-" she instantly stopped when she saw Sasuke. The eight year old boy, whom Sasuke could only presume was Sazami, had dove under the table, obviously hoping to hide from his sister. "Sasuke, your earl... she looked up at the clock, "right on time, of course." "I'm sorry." she said as he raised one of his hands to silence her, and rather pontedly took another bite from his omelet. She sat down at the table, beside him. Sasuke smirked a little as Sazami sat down on his other side, still using Sasuke as a shield from his sister. "Just some toast Mom, I'm watching my weight." Sakura said, then turned and looked in horror at Sasuke, who was sitting right beside him. He didn't need to know that.

"Sakure, if your too hungry to train properly today I won't be pleased." Sasuke said, his voice calm and level. "Haruno-San," Sasuke said, adressing Sakura's mom. "Make sure she eats something."

Sakura's mom was still smiling. "See Sakura, your handsome friend agrees with me." Sakura look mortified, and threw a death glare at her mother, who, unlike nearly everyone else, seemed completely immune to Sakura's threats. Sakura', s mother threw some food down on Sakura's plate.

Breakfast proceeded normally, with Sasuke sitting silently, not joining in on the conversation. Sazami, Sakura's only brother, was going on about how excited he was to be at the academy. He looked over at Sasuke, "Sis says that your the best ninja in the whole school! Is that true?" Sakura's face was beet red. She looked like she was going to strangle Sazami, only restraining herself because of Sasuke.

"I was best in our year, yes." Sasuke said simply.

"Wow! Think you could help me with my shuriken techniques when I get home from school."

Sakura yelled, at the top of her voice, "Sazami! Stop bothering Sasuke!" This whole thing was surreal. Sasuke thought. I've had this same conversation before. From another perspective.

Before he could stop himself, Sasuke had flicked the boy on forehead. "Not today." Sasuke felt a little sick. Since when did he act so much like 'him'. He refused to be like 'him'. "Tommorow." Sasuke said, his voice cold.

"Awesome!"

Sakura and Sasuke left the house about fifteen minutes later, having finished breakfast. "Sasuke, sorry about Sazami, he's such an idiot. Just like Naruto." Sakura said, an apolegetic note obvious in her voice, even as she giggled a little, and started to smile.

"It was no problem Sakura. We're going to have to use my backyard for this. The training grounds are all booked."

"Oh. Ok. Sasuke." she said, still smiling in that rather odd way at him.

This was starting to get on his nerves. "What." he didn't bother to keep the edge out of his voice.

"Thanks." she said.

They arrived at his mansion, and Sasuke forced the rusted back gate open, and then led Sakura into the back yard, which had been nearly overrun by weeds. Sakura had been struck by how empty the Uchiha complex had been. There were shop fronts, houses, apartments, the police headquarters, and the Uchiha mansion. Nothing was being maintained, there was no movement, not even the familiar chirp of birdsong. There was a crisp breeze in the air this morning, and the sky was overcast. The chill that permeated this place didn't seem to have anything to do with the cold though. She couldn't even picture how the place would look on a nice summer day. How could Sasuke tolerate this day in and day out. She already hated this hollow place. "Sakura." Sasuke said, in a tone that clearly said that he'd already said her name once before. "We're going to begin now." He took of his jacket, leaving himself dressed in just shorts and a short sleeved, black t shirt, which bore the Uchiha emblem on one of the arms. "Personally, I believe we need to improve your taijutsu." He fell into a fighting stance. "Come," was all he said, his face impassive, as he activated his sharingan.

She charged straight in, throwing a rather clumsy punch at his face. He caught her arm, bent it, and forced her to her knees. Then he broke the clinch. "Keep your arm bent. A straight arm is a locked arm." She came again, and this time her punch was improved. She learned fast, he thought. He caught it with one hand, easily. There was no strength in her thin arms, he thought, sighing. He let her try to hit him for nearly five minutes before he stopped her. He motioned over at a partially rotted bench, and sat down. She did the same.

"Well, Sasuke. How did I do." She tried to put a good face on it, but by his thoughtful frown, she was pretty sure that she had done terribly.

"Your form is... passable. Your footwork is excellent. You analyze the situation very well." With each additional compliment she blushed a darker shade of red, only to turn a delicate shade of white with his next comment. "and yet, you, like most Kunoichi, are completely incapable of being a brawler. People should focus on their strengths." he paused, as if thinking for a moment.

"I'm... Tsunade-sama is a brawler." she said, indignant, thinking of the legendary Kunoichi.

"You don't have her arms. I'm not sure that you ever will."

"Well what the hell am I supposed to do!" she yelled. Sasuke looked a little shocked. That was the first time she had ever raised her voice or stood up to him in any way, no matter how cruel he had been. He found it quite refreshing refreshing actually.

"Theres a simple way around that. Weaker shinobi, those who don't have a lot of muscle mass, usually use an edged weapon for melee, people like Kakashi and me." he said, completely unperterbed by her outburst. People like Lee, Naruto and Kiba use their fists, because they can. Your teacher was Jun-sensei before Iruka-sensei, yes?" Sakura nodded, a questioning look evident on her face. "Teachers tend to be biased towards their own specialties. Yun hated blades, so probadly didn't teach them too you. Its not her fault though. All teachers are like that to an extent. Look at team Gai, there's three Taijutsu users, from a Taijutsu specialist teacher."

"Does that mean you're going to teach me blades? Alright!" Sakura was smiling again. She rather tentatively drew a kunai, and took it in a two handed grip. Sasuke just looked at the tiny knife she was holding like a sword, and scoffed.

"I'll be right back." He said, and walked inside. Sakura sat on that bench. It was so quiet, she thought, and couldn't help but start to shiver. She was thoroughly unnerved by the time Sasuke returned. He was holding a daisho, a katana and a wakazashi. She roughly tossed the two swords to her, and drew his own katana. The two swords were beautifully decorated, the hilts each bearing a complex, handcrafted lily pattern. The swords' sheathes were a dark, cherry red, and looked to be very old.

"Sasuke I couldn't. These, there way too nice." she said, more than a little embarrassed about his expensive gift.

"My father won't miss one piece of his collection." Sakura couldn't help but notice the irony in his statement. She tentatively drew the Katana, and noticed there was a beautiful acid stain pattern trailing down the blade. Sakura blossoms, she noticed, her cheeks red. Sasuke noticed how uncomfortable his grand gesture seemed to have made her. Perhaps he should have gone with something mores simple. He drew his own sword, which was marked with the Uchiha family emblem. You may use one Katana, as I do, or combo it with the Wakizashi. Using the Katana in two hands grants you more speed, and more power. Using the pair gives you far more parrying power."

She gently set the two sheathes down on the bench, and drew her second sword. She gave Sasuke a playful smirk. "Then, using the hand holding the Wakizashi, she waved over her head. "Hey Naruto!" Sasuke immediately glanced over his shoulder, looking for his blonde friend. Where was- His thought process was interupted by Sakura's charge. He let out a small laugh, even as he backpedaled back trying to dodge both her blades.