Chapter 9

"What the hell is …" yelled Naruto as he lunged as his male teammate. "Get off her you bastard!!"

Sasuke quickly turned around just in time to catch Naruto's punch. "Haven't you heard of knocking dobe!"

Sakura, on the other hand, reached out to grab a pillow to cover herself up. She was past mortified that Naruto had seen her and Sasuke in such a compromising position. Sakura hopped off the bed to avoid any physical contact between her boys. It only took a couple of minutes for the medic to find her voice as Naruto accidentally shattered the lamp next to her bed. Screaming at the top of her lungs, "Both of you cut it out, you're destroying my bedroom."

"Uh, Sakura-chan shouldn't you cover yourself up," blushed Naruto as he tried to focus his attention on a strip of floor. Sakura went red in the face and spun around so her bare back was facing the boys. Sasuke quickly bent down and retrieved her shirt from the floor. Without stealing a peak, he handed off the top and began to walk out of the bedroom, "Come on dobe, we'll settle this in the living room." Naruto nodded his head, and quietly followed Sasuke's lead. As the door was pulled shut, Sakura's knees buckled under the pressure and she curled up on the floor. Her mind was trying to process what just happened, a week ago Sasuke barely spoke two words and now he was touching her in all the right places. She wanted to scream, but before she fell apart, her best friend deserved an explanation. Feeling the tank top was far too revealing, Sakura opted for a grey sweater shirt, instead.

She straightened herself up and slowly walked, trying to think of the best way to describe everything that's been going on. The last thing the kunoichi wanted was to hurt the only guy that has been a constant in her life. Sakura felt even worst when Naruto didn't even acknowledge her presence. He seemed satisfied flicking his thumbs and counting the stains on the rug.

In a sober tone barely above a whisper, "I know something been bothering you for awhile, but I never dreamed you be the type to do something so irresponsible. He'll break your heart again, and I don't know if I can be there to pick up the pieces." Naruto paused for moment as lifted himself off the couch and approach his long time friend, "I just wished you would have come to me, instead of doing all these stupid things. You're being way too reckless! What happened to the self-assured medic, I used to know?" The normally hyper ninja took the fragile girl's hands and squeezed them, "Please slow down, and use that brain of yours" as he leaned in and kissed Sakura on the cheek. "We'll talk more tomorrow, okay."

Sakura didn't even realize she was crying until Sasuke wiped the tears gently with his fingertips, "Sasuke, you need to leave too! He's right this is mistake, I should have never invited you in."

"What are you saying, Sakura?"

She began reaching for the door, but couldn't work up the nerve to look her crush in the eye, "I'm saying that maybe you believed I was going to die, and saw a perfect opportunity. You get me in bed with no strings attached. I'm not stupid, Sasuke, I heard about several of your one-night stands; I don't want to be another girl in your black book."

The raven-hair boy felt a slight sting of guilt, when he had return back to the village while waiting out his probation, he had several flings. He only hooked up while Sakura and Naruto were away, and those girls really meant nothing to him, just a way to kill time. Sasuke never thought much of it, until he saw the wounded look in his cherry blossom's eyes. "I never thought you were going to die, Sakura, and for the record I would have never treated you like that."

"Part of you believed it, that's why you let me in. That's why you stayed with me, kissed me, touched me all because you would not have to commit. I know the last thing you want to do is alienate Kakashi and Naruto. So, I'll make it easy, WE'LL PRETEND THIS NEVER HAPPENED!"

Sasuke reached out for Sakura, but she didn't want any contact with the Uchiha, "You know why I opened up, Sakura. This last week, I finally saw the real you, and not just another annoying fangirl." On impulse, he grabbed Sakura and kissed her forcefully trying to push all the doubt out of her head.

The pink kunoichi resolve was weakening, that kiss produced the most intense feelings she had ever felt. As he pulled away, the look in his eyes told her everything he said was the truth. Without thinking she gave her answer, "Please leave, Uchiha. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

"If that's what you want fine," replied the angry Uchiha as he shoved his hands in his pockets; like he didn't have a care in the world, "Find me, when your done being childish."

Sasuke felt horrible as he felt the breeze from the closing door on his backside. On the other side he could hear mumbling and uncontrolled sobbing. The stoic ninja was not really mad at Sakura, more at himself. He had gotten too close and this was the first time he had been burned.

It didn't matter how late it was, his loner self decided to roam the streets looking for a way to clear his mind. 'If that idiot hadn't intruded, could he have stopped himself?' The last thing he wanted was to take advantage of his pink-hair teammate while she was vulnerable. Sasuke hated the fact that she was so damn responsive to all his touches. He could picture her waking up next to him in his bed with no regrets. This whole situation was becoming very complicated, and it all started with that damn seer. His step faltered when he recalled the prophecy, "She has no future with you, or anyone else for that matter. The girl will die very soon, like I told her, I'm sorry." Sasuke somewhat smirked, he had just proved Kyo wrong; they had gotten together, well sort of. Regardless of the consequences, first thing in the morning he would pay a visit to that lying piece of shit.

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As Sakura leaned on the door for support, she couldn't stop the tears. She didn't understand why she told Sasuke to leave, maybe part of her thought he would return and embrace just like in the movies. But minutes passed and no Sasuke, he had left her again. Sakura shook her head in disappointed, Naruto was right; this boy was nothing but a heartbreaker. The medic felt the needed for female advice; so she staggered over to the phone to call in a relationship expert. Sakura did her best to stay in control, but when she was informed Ino was on a mission and would be back no later than Saturday. She fell apart all over again; there was no one else who could offer counsel. Hinata was as dense as her crush and Tenten saw her as an enemy. She reprimanded herself for destroying such a priceless friendship in her hour of need. Her last resort was Kiba, and she would have to tell him the entire truth, and hoped he could offer words of comfort.

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Tenten felt incredibly stupid for waiting at her old training grounds, a mysterious note informed to be there exactly at midnight, now it was past one o'clock. She was getting ready to leave when she hear a rumbling in the bushes. Pulling a kunai, the weapons mistress stood at the ready, "Identify yourself!"

"Pardon my tardiness; I had to make sure you were not followed," coolly replied the deep voice, "I honestly didn't think you had the courage to show up."

"I was just about to leave," replied Tenten, "You have two minutes, and then I'll leaving."

The stranger chose to continue hiding in the shadows, demonstrating to his partner how cautious a ninja he was. "Tell me, how long have you admired Hyuuga?"

Tenten rolled her eyes, so far she wasn't too impressed with the cloak and dagger scene, "Long enough, and if you have nothing to contribute then goodbye."

"I have it on good authority; he plans to ask that girl to the Masquerade Ball. Since Uchiha is out of the picture, chances are she'll say yes."

"It's not enough that she was on the infamous Team 7, the Hokage's apprentice, and head of her own division; she has to have Neji too," grumbled Tenten, she could less that she was telling this to a complete stranger. The weapon mistress knew her friends wouldn't tolerate her bad mouthing Sakura. Lee constantly reminded Tenten how Sakura started as a weak genin and grew into a successful elite jounin. Even Neji commented that whoever dated her was one lucky guy.

"Sound like you've loathed her for quite some time," cackled the stranger, "But by Saturday, Sakura will be an afterthought on Hyuuga mind."

Putting away her kunai, "Loathe is a strong word, Sakura is selfish," Tenten replied as she placed her back to a tree, "Sometimes she is clueless about feelings of others, and some how it always bounces back to her." Tenten began mocking her former friend, "Poor girl, her team left! She failed to save that ninja! Oh Sasuke's back, how is she going to handle it!"

"Judging by your response I guess you're in," Tenten nodded slightly as the mysterious man continued, "The night of ball, all you have to do is lead her through the side exit, and I'll take over."

Tenten's shoulders dropped; if that was all we wanted her to do than forget it. She wanted a more active role in this conspiracy; she was no decoy, "No Deal! Besides what to you have against Haruno, anyway?"

"Let's just say, payback is a bitch! She never noticed my sacrifice and now is it time to pay the piper."

"What's the plan, why do you need me anyway? It seems you have everything in place."

"I want to destroy her reputation, in the alley; she'll be caught making out with someone who is not her date. I need you because I can't get close enough," answered the outsider.

"Sakura holds her liquid pretty well, I doubt Uchiha would let her out of his sight."

"I've already taken care of him, and one of her drinks will be spiked with a drug that distorts her judgment and lower her chakra."

"Let me give her the drink, when Neji sees that she is a slut, then he is a good as mine," grinned Tenten. "You know its bad business not to see the face of your partner."

A chuckled could be heard in the wind, as he emerged into the moonlight. Tenten was speechless, she never figure him for the jealous type, "Here is the drug, make sure she takes it an hour before taking her outside, partner." She raised the vial to eye-level, "Whatever you said," Tenten disappeared into the forest anxiously waiting for Saturday. Then all her dreams would come true, and Sakura Haruno would know misfortune and misery. Tenten would swallow her pride, repair her damaged friendship, and keep a straight face through it all.

AN notes: Sorry for the lateness, I couldn't decide if this chapter should have a lemon. I promise before it is over, it will happened. Please no flames on making Tenten the bad guy. I would love to hear you thoughts about the mystery man.

Thanks for all the review, I am so close to 100, it is my first time!!! 71 alerts, 32 favorites, and 5 C2's!!! Free suckers to all who reviewed!!