AN: Damn it, how did I ever fall into a cannon pairing. Ugh…serves me right. At least the Sasu/Saku fanart is pretty. This is such a dark and angsty fic if you haven't figured that part out yet. Be ye warned.

Sai dodged her taijutsu combos nimbly, round house kicking her as she went skidding across the training field, before her hand found purchase on the ground, dragging it to stop her flight.

"You're distracted Taishou-Hag" He told her. "Is it Dickless or Fake? They're the only two who ever want to get into your pants"

Sakura cracked her knuckles, rubbing her bleeding chin and green eyes narrowed.

She flash stepped and suddenly the battle went up a notch as Sai was forced to use chakra to protect and deflect her own chakra enhanced blows. She sent him tumbling after ten minutes, taking deep rattling breathes, her eye swollen from a glancing blow as she felt a certain set of eyes on her. Uchiha Sasuke sat in the cherry blossom tree, watching their spar. He smirked as he knew he had caught her eyes and leapt from the tree landing deftly onto the training grounds in a crouch.

"I'll let you talk with Fake on the subject, Taishou-Hag" Sai said with a smile disappearing. Sakura half growled at her subordinate as she caught her breathe.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"Spar with me" He implored her, Sharingan eyes whirling with his small smile.

She turned jade daggered eyes to look back at him "No."

"Why not?" He said, gloved Anbu hands on her shoulders as he murmured it into her ear.

"Don't touch me" She snarled turning with lightning reflexes and punching him with chakra, sending him skidding across the court.

He had been surprised by her boldness though her shouldn't have been. He had been pushing her recently and so of course she would respond with violence. He caught himself before he could disgracefully eat it, face first and leapt to the offensive, katana flashing. He smirked. He was getting to her.

Sakura's eyes widened as Sasuke lept to the offensive. had no choice but to bring her sword up. The look in his eyes was predatory again and it scared her.

"See this wasn't so hard" He said slashing, as she parried, and leapt up and backwards, retreating into a defensive crouch, sword raised.

"I don't want to do this" She said, throwing her sword to the side as she turned her back on him.

"Don't be like that" Sasuke said, sheathing his sword as he jogged after her.

"Like what, Sasuke? Like you're an asshole or a traito-" the words died on her lips as she felt his sword coming at her.

She tumbled to the side, grabbing her own sword and barely parried the next blow, arms straining.

"You were going to say Traitor, weren't you, Sakura?" Sasuke snarled as he pushed her back.

Sakura's eyes widened and she was forced back from his slicing blow. Blinking back the sweat in her eyes she realized she was far too close to the wall for her comfort. Jade eyes crystallized and narrowed as she crouched in her defensive stance.

"That's what you did, Sasuke. You betrayed me. You betrayed your best friend. And you're doing it again" She provoked.

"No. I'm not" and he disappeared.

Sakura's heart leapt in her chest as she barely brought the sword up in time to keep him at bay as he launched blindingly fast at her. His sword and hers whirled an intricate deadly dance of parries and thrusts, tumbling and jumping and twirling in their fury. When she tried to push left, he pushed right when she launched herself forward he would force her back. She couldn't get around him, much to her discontented fury.

"You were mine before he touched you" He said, and Sakura's back hit the wall, pinned by him.

She glared her fury at the man she loved, the man she hated.

"And you know it" He said throwing his sword aside, as he kissed her hard.

Sakura gasped, startled by the wave of emotion that came with his mouth pressed against hers and clenched her fist. She would wipe that sick grin off his face if she had to do it herself. He caught her grip and kissed her knuckles. Sakura snarled and launched taijutsu at him all the while those damn Sharingan regarding her intently.

"Foolish and impulsive as always. You always were weak in Taijutsu, Sakura" She hated the way her name slid off his lips because the dark twisted part of her liked it.

Sakura recoiled. "Things change, Sasuke Kun" She countered darkly, slamming the court with the ball of her foot as he backed up, but she was there behind him stopping him from retreating, smart kicks hid what she was really after and he saw it. He blocked the kick she'd aimed towards his groin but in doing so he'd turned his back on her.

He turned, smirking, before he felt her knuckles graze his skin. Substitution jutsu. Clever. He hadn't counted on her making a clone before Sai had left. His cheekbone broke instantly face throbbing, but he wouldn't be beaten like this. No letting her win would be too much. And so his foot lashed out, tripping her as she hadn't planted her feet well enough (her footwork had always been lacking even if she'd improved) and he pinned her to the ground.

"Get off of me" She snarled, struggling against his hands holding her wrists.

"No" He said simply, as he straddled her to keep her down.

"So help me, Sasuke if you don't get off of me this instant-"

"Is there a problem?"

Sasuke was up and off of her in milliseconds, helping her to her feet, and brushing the dirt off her back as he clapped her shoulder.

"We'll finish this later" He promised, walking off nonchalantly as he regarded the Hyuuga prodigy with a smirk.

Sakura trembled from his touch, from their fight, and swallowed the sob she felt.

"Haruno san?" Neji asked her, steadying her with his hands.

She swatted the touch instantly, and Neji's eyes widened, startled by her defensive act. Jade eyes cracked and broke, tears filling them.

"I-I'm sorry-"

"Sakura" Neji said giving her a no nonsense tone. "What's the matter?" Neji asked, seeing her shaking form.

"I-I'll be alright." She told him, giving him a weak smile.

"You're a terrible liar. What's going on between you and the Uchiha?" Neji asked, pearlescent eyes narrowing in the direction Sasuke had taken off.

"Nothing. I-" Sakura replied hastily

"Did he do…something to you?" Neji frowned lacking the want to use the words he felt might have occurred at the interaction between the two. He didn't want to assume something along that line… had happened between them but… Sasuke was a strange sort of person, especially after he had returned.

"Neji!" Sakura scowled, impatient. "I'm perfectly fine. Things got a little heated during our spar is all." She replied.

Pearlescent pupil-less orbs searched her green eyes. "It didn't look that way, Sakura." He prompted. "You can be honest with me."

Sakura sighed, defeated. She desperately needed a friend right now, but she couldn't tell Naruto. She needed someone who wasn't partial, someone who would give her the best advise not the advise she wanted to hear. Ino would break Sasuke's face off, if she told her. Sai would laugh at her. The rest would probably just report him to the Hokage and that wasn't what she needed right now. She loved her Shishou, but Tsunade would not overlook this.

Neji looked at her, waiting for some sort of explanation. Sakura crumbled, after holding all of it in for the past two days, she was falling apart at the seams. So she decided to trust Neji.

"I don't know what to do" she murmured, sniffling tears.

Neji's eyebrows lifted. "Tell me about it" He said coaxingly, sitting her down on a bench. And Sakura ended up telling him the entire tale, while her tears fell. Neji handed her a handkerchief during the tale which she dabbed her eyes and blew into at occasions during her tale.

"So you see. I can't tell Naruto" She sniffled. "He's his best friend. But he won't give up. This is such a mess" She said, burying her face in her hands.

"You wont like what I have to say" He told her gently.

"I know. I probably need to hear it, though" She replied, fixing red rimmed green eyes on him with a weak smile.

"You need to tell him." Neji said with finality. "He deserves to hear the truth from you"

"The problem is that I can't get away from Sasuke to tell him." She replied.

"Is that all?" he scoffed.

Sakura winced.

"You don't understand, he's been..following me, it seems."

"I can solve that. How would you and Naruto like to be special guests at the Hyuuga residence tonight?" He said with a smile.

"Neji? You could do that?" She asked, eyes glowing in hope.

Sakura beamed, reassuring Neji of her seriousness to come clean about her encounters with the Uchiha to Naruto. It made him feel better, as Naruto was one of his good friends. Looking down on her bright face, he was startled to realize that she was too.

He nodded. "Easily. Hiashi sama enjoys your company since you healed Hanabi last spring, and I'm sure Hinata sama would also appreciate the feminine company." He said.

Sakura launched herself into his arms, hugging him. "You're the best"

"Nothing less from your best patient" He told her with a grin.

"No, you're a handful in the hospital…but you are my favorite" She said with a bright smile.

…………………………………………….

Naruto looked at the brush helplessly as he considered his wet hair. He felt the familiar chakra signature of his best friend in the window seal before he saw him.

"Dobe." Sasuke greeted

"Teme." He acknowledged, brow furrowing as he looked at himself in the mirror.

"Did Sai finally kick your ass?" He motioned at the bruise.

"Chee. As if that freak could ever manage to touch me" Sasuke retorted.

"Then who did?" Naruto posed.

"It's not important. Why's a dobe like you getting dressed up?"

Naruto only grinned.

"Taking Sakura out on a date?" He wondered, after all Naruto hardly ever got dressed up.

"Something like that" Naruto replied, trying to do something with his hair.

"Where?" Sasuke prompted, curious.

Naruto chuckled. "You'll never believe it. The Hyuuga clan invited us both to stay the night. Neji and Hinata insisted since we both have been on alternating missions and haven't been able to get together lately. They wanted to spend extra time. Apparently the girls are having a sleep over" He said, blue eyes beaming.

"The Hyuuga compound?" Sasuke asked, eyebrows widening.

"Weird, I know. But Sakura Chan and Neji have been friends since she made Anbu. She said he'd personally invited us and didn't have the heart to turn either him or Hinata down. Besides I like Neji." Naruto replied.

"Aah. Comb your hair down, Dobe." Sasuke said helpfully, though his thoughts were far from his Dobe friend and his dressing problems.

No, his thoughts centered on one bright petal haired kunoichi and the suspicions he harbored on this particular problem. Just what game was she playing here? She'd obviously told the Hyuuga her dilemma and wanted him out of the picture. It hurt. It irritated him.

"I can't wait to see Sakura Chan all dressed up" Naruto confessed, eyes gleaming. "I hope she's going to get dressed up" He frowned. "I imagine she's aware it's a formal event" he sighed wistfully towel drying his hair.

Sasuke felt like he'd been kicked in the gut. Naruto had been crazy about Sakura for years, since they were kids. But then again so had he…he just hadn't been able to communicate it as loudly or boisterously. But Sakura was supposed to be his. He knew this. He knew all of it….but his resolve crumbled from Naruto's genuine look. He knew. He knew and he hated it. He couldn't do this. Naruto was his best friend.

"I've got some things to take care of" Sasuke said.

"Later, Teme" Naruto waved, as his best friend disappeared.

………………………………………..

Sakura placed the blue hair comb in her hair, pulling back the portion of her bangs that would hang in her face as she finished, eyeing her handiwork in the mirror. She wore a light blue kimono with a pink obi and a gold obijime. Her makeup was done tastefully the blue rimming her eyes making the green stand out. She smiled, demure soft pink lips until she saw his outline in the mirror behind her and turned, senbon in hand as she glared.

He held up his hands in the sign of surrender and she lowered her senbon.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, throwing things hastily in her silk bag for this evening.

"You look…" He paused. "Lovely" he tilted his head to side, as he took in her appearance.

"I asked you a question" She snapped.

"You told him?" He prompted.

"What do you think?" She whirled, knocking straight into him.

He grabbed her wrist, and backed her up into the wall. Jade eyes were flaming in her rage until she looked into his eyes. His touch wasn't painful and overbearing by light, leaving room for her to break his hold. Regretful coal black met her fury with a look that said more than any words he could ever offer would or possibly could. The flame in Sakura's eyes snuffed out at that tender vulnerable look, his cheek black and blue and still swollen. Sakura choked on that look and looked at her geta, swallowing.

Calloused hands gently traced his cheek. He winced in pain, but couldn't help but shudder in pleasure at her touch, and then felt the cooling relief of her chakra flowing into him, healing him. He sighed and leaned into that tender touch, hands unconsciously finding her own, rubbing light, tender circles on the wrists that encircled his face. Sakura felt the tears, and she inhaled sharply. She wanted to touch him, gods she wanted to and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she couldn't…she shouldn't….

She gave into impulse and swept her thumb delicately across the healed cheek. Charcoal eyes flashed open, startled at the affectionate touch, and he eyed her hesitantly, desire blooming in those slowly fading charcoal to Sharingan eyes. She couldn't tear her eyes away from that startled gaze. She took a sharp breath at the open ended look on his face, and those eyes turned predatory, as he slammed his lips on hers.

She gasped into the kiss, arms wrapping around his neck as her defense, her reason all logical thought left her. She ran her fingers through the nape of hair, drawing him closer, letting herself go, letting everything that held her back go. She could never fight him, on or off the battlefield. He groaned into the kiss as he felt her tongue sweep slowly alongside of his. Feral sharingan eyes glanced into hers, before he grew restless pinning her against the wall as his mouth amply had it's way with her.

She closed her eyes, lost in the pleasure of his kiss, his touch. And when she closed her eyes, alone in the darkness lost in those pleasurable sensations, she saw them. She saw those blue eyes, brighter than any summer sky, and she broke off the kiss, pushing him back with chakra enhanced strength and stumbled away as she choked on a sob.

"Wait! Don't-" He pleaded, arms wrapping around her from behind.

"Let me go, Sasuke" She ground out, trying to hold her tears. She'd cried too many over this man to waste more.

"Please, Sakura-" Sasuke gasped.

"NO!" She screamed it, trying to fight the grip as her eyes blurred by tears.

"I'm sorry!" He strangled out. "I'm sorry! I didn't come here for that." He pleaded.

"I came here to apologize. I went to go see Dobe before I came …and I saw the way he looked… when he talked about you. He's my best friend…you're my best friend though we haven't acted like it…and I'm a lousy excuse for a sapient being. I didn't mean for that…this to happen. I didn't mean to hurt you. I never meant to do any of this to hurt you. Please, Sakura" He strangled out.

Sakura's eyes filled with tears. "Sasuke…I can't do this…I love him." As she crumpled into his touch.

"I know." His remorseful tone, caused the tears to spill from her cheeks. She cursed her weakness.

"I know" He repeated, painfully. "That's why I came to apologize."

"I'm going to tell him tonight." Sakura said, resolved as she hung her head, hand on her silk pouch.

Sasuke swallowed and closed his eyes against the familiar pain he felt threatening to wash over him. Clearing his voice, summoning his gumption he dared to ask; he needed to know, even if the knowledge would destroy him.

"Tell him what?" Sasuke asked finally when the silence was too much to bear.

Crystallized green eyed him brokenly with a fresh glimmer of tears in them and he felt like he'd been punched in the gut again. He had caused that look. He felt sick.

"I don't know." She replied, wiping her tears, taking a deep breath and walking out the door.

He winced as the door shut, and knew that she was gone for good this time.

…………………………………………..

Naruto was nervous, probably the reason he didn't notice Sakura's nerves during the course of dinner as they made small talk with the Hyuuga clan.

"Are dinners always this…formal?" Sakura whispered to Hinata, nervously.

Hinata smiled, looking absolutely serene in her purple kimono with her orange obi. Her hair was done up elegantly with chopsticks and she ate her food gingerly and delicately.

"Aah." She nodded. "I guess you could say we're used to it" She said covering her laughter with her hand as she smiled.

Neji eyed Naruto and Sakura who sat up straight both looking stoic and nervous. He would have laughed if it weren't rude. The two were the most ill mannered of the old rookie nine and everyone knew it. He derived a secret pleasure at seeing them attempt to interact in upper society, particularly one Haruno Sakura in her light blue Kimono with Gold obi and silver obi jime. Hinata caught his glance and smiled.

Feeling the slightest bit tense, Hinata, who sat between Naruto and Sakura leaned over and whispered to Naruto.

"Erm…Na-Naruto Kun" She said fighting the stammer she felt returning. Steeling herself, nails biting into the pads of her hands she forced it out.

"You look handsome, this evening" She said, cheeks flaming as she averted her pale irises.

Naruto beamed. "Thanks! You look great too, Dattebayo" He smiled scratching behind his head. "Doesn't she, Sakura chan?"

Sakura eyed the pale eyed Hyuuga with an envious glance as her boyfriend admired her. Hinata filled out her kimono and managed to look elegant like she belonged in it. She moved with the grace of someone born with class. Sakura looked nice in her kimono but really, it only looked like Haruno Sakura in a kimono, trying to dress up who she was, who she had become. Then again, Hinata wasn't half the kunoichi she was though the girl was certainly working on it. She was ninja and that should have been enough. Sighing, Sakura nodded.

"You look lovely, Hinata chan" Sakura admitted with a genuine smile.

"Thank you, Sakura senpai. Blue is a lovely shade for your skin and hair." She complimented formally, though she smiled and winked at Sakura through formalities.

Hiashi briefly talked with each of them asking Sakura about how her missions and hospital patients were, thanking her for healing Hanabi that past spring and for bringing Hinata back safely with the other Anbu. Hanabi perked up as she eyed Sakura and also formally nodded her thanks. The girl was growing by leaps and bounds, already Neji had taken over her training. Hinata flushed, but Sakura winked back at her, a sure sign of the Hyuuga's improvement.

Hiashi turned to Naruto with a small smile asking questions regarding his team. Naruto launched into a passionate tale of his team, pride bursting from the seams in his eyes through his speach. Hiashi smiled at the whisker cheeked jounin and nodded approvingly. Finally after dialoging with each and every one of his dinner guests and serving the several courses, Hiashi dismissed them inviting them to look at the gardens or take tea in the other room with him. Neji offered his arm to Sakura and Hinata offered hers to Naruto as they led them out of the dinner hall.

"Hinata sama wanted to train tonight, so we will leave you here. The gardens are lovely in the evening. You can find your way to your quarters from here?" Neji asked.

Both nodded, though Sakura was sure she would have to lead Naruto back to his quarters through the halls.

"I wanted to see the gardens, anyways" Sakura said, looping her arm through Naruto's as they walked towards them.

"The moon is so bright tonight" Sakura commented, leaning her head on his arm.

"Mmm. You look great, Sakura Chan" He told her, eyes softening as he looked down on her.

She blushed. "Thank you. I'm no Hyuuga heiress but I suppose I'll do, ne?"

Naruto took her chin beneath his hand and delicately lifted so she was looking into his eyes.

"You've always been the most beautiful woman I've ever seen" He told her kissing her softly.

Sakura clung to his haori, desperately needing the contact.

"You're all I ever see, Dattebayo" He told her, tucking her pink strands behind her ear. He led them to the center of the gardens, and Sakura had a seat ushering for him to do so as well.

"Naruto. I need to talk to you" Sakura said, feeling the pit in her stomach.

"About what?" He replied, taking a seat. She grabbed his hand gripping it for strength. Gods she had to tell him.

"It's about Sasuke." She said.

"Teme? What about him, Sakura chan?" Naruto asked with confusion.

"Naruto…I-" she closed her eyes. "I love him"

"Well duh." He replied.

Sakura froze. "N-Naruto-"

"I could have told you that" He said, with a chuckle. "You were in love with him all through out our child hood and into your teens. I know all of that, Sakura Chan. It's all in the past."

"Naruto, you don't-" Sakura interrupted and he placed a finger on her lips.

"Do you love me, Sakura Chan?" Naruto asked eyes sparkling mischievously.

"You know I love you, you idiot, but there's something-" She protested

"If you love me, here and now, then it's all in the past." Naruto replied.

"Damn it, Naruto…" Sakura sniffled. "You don't understand at all, you baka" Then both sensed it.

A Hyuuga Nin landed in the center of the garden and both Naruto and Sakura were armed, and crouched, Naruto summoning his rasengan shuriken, and Sakura the chakra to her fists, as he pushed Sakura behind him. She scowled at him, irritated that he was still trying to protect her after all the years.

"Forgive me, Uzumaki san, Haruno san, but Hiashi sama requests that you return to the main house." The Hyuuga bowed, gesturing for them to follow.

Naruto dropped the jutsu, as Sakura's fists stopped glowing, but neither sheathed their kunai as they make their way back to the house.

"Did something happen?"

"I am not at leisure to say, forgive me" He replied.

Sakura and Naruto exchanged knowing glances. There was an intruder on the Hyuuga compound.

Naruto quirked his eyebrow, suggestively. He wanted to hunt the person down.

Sakura shook her head slightly with a slight glare. It would be too troublesome. Let the Hyuuga clan deal with their business Her look said.

Naruto hung his head, giving her a look meaning clearly You take all the fun out of it. He half pouted.

Sakura scowled, irritated as she had a good guess at who had infiltrated the Hyuuga compound. She would kill him. Not only had he interrupted her date night with Naruto not once but twice but he'd succeeded in keeping her from telling Naruto the truth. Damn him! SHANNARO!