Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto"

Chapter 7: Secret

Sasuke sat in the dark. The events of the pass few days were on a loop in his mind. Each passing day was worse than the one before… he'd be tossed in the dirt, spat upon, and then mocked by words of comfort. He could handle the grueling training, what he couldn't take was constantly losing… constantly being crushed. He was putting everything he had into these duels with Orochimaru, but it was never enough. He wasn't strong enough. Powerful enough. He wasn't smart enough to grasp the jutsus that his master was teaching. He could perform them, but they were never good enough for Orochimaru. He was a genius for goodness sake! Why couldn't he perfect the skills he was learning? He labored at it. He trained early and late, his mind was restless. Sleep was not forthcoming. If and when sleep graced him, it was full of nightmares… visions of the past. There was only one dream that he welcomed, and it was that of a certain pink-haired kunoichi.

Sasuke sat in the dark. He didn't have the will today. He truly felt void of strength. Perhaps his body had succumbed to some sort of illness.

"Tch."

The idea amused him. He was not ill. He simply didn't want to train today. A simple enough explanation…

A dull throbbing pulsed in his left temple. He closed his eyes and leaned against the cold wall, allowing his mind to wander. And it was when he had just relaxed, that the door crashed open, letting yellow light invade his darkness. Sasuke's dull headache flared with pain as light assaulted his eyes. Kabuto stood there, the light reflecting off his glasses to make his eyes disappear. He had a cocky grin on his face.

"What do you want?" Sasuke's voice was laced with poison.

"Afraid there's no time for sleeping in, Sasuke." Kabuto replied just as sour. "You have training. I think you'll enjoy what Orochimaru has planned… I know I certainly will."

"Whatever." Sasuke replied without moving.

"Am I going to have to tell you twice?"

"Go away," Sasuke said darkly.

Kabuto grasped the raven-haired boy's shirt and slammed him against the wall. Smiling menacingly, Kabuto held Sasuke a few inches off the ground as he reprimanded him.

"I'm getting tired of your attitude."

The bridge of Sasuke's nose crinkled as he glared at Kabuto, but he said nothing.

Kabuto's smile broadened. "Good, the Uchiha brat knows when to keep his mouth shut." He sneered.

He released his grip and Sasuke landed on the ground. He straightened up and followed Kabuto to the training pit. It was then that he noticed three very large, very dangerous looking men waiting in the center. Sasuke looked up at Kabuto.

"What is this?" he asked.

Kabuto didn't return the look; he simply stared forward with a smirk on his lips. "Last time Orochimaru needed a body, you were late. We held a contest to choose his next body. A battle to the death." That's when he looked at Sasuke. "Consider this a final test to prove yourself worthy of Orochimaru's precious time."

Sasuke looked back at the three men and glared.

Sakura sat around the campfire with her team. She had never been on a mission with Shikamaru and Tenten, so she felt just a little awkward as they all stared at each other. The situation wasn't made any easier, since Kakashi was immersed in "Icha Icha Paradise." Sakura sighed.

"Well, I guess I'm going to turn in for the night." She said.

"Don't forget to take my watch." Kakashi said.

She smiled. "I won't."

As she was lying awake in the tent, Sakura couldn't get her mind off the mission. It was an escort mission that was to be carried out in complete secrecy. As far as she knew, they were protecting a messenger carrying restricted documents. The messenger's employer had hired the shinobi on the premises that he had already been attacked by assassins. The messenger had narrowly escaped. They would be meeting him the next morning. It had been a long week to get to the rendezvous point.

What Sakura had a hard time grasping, was the fact that she was on this mission as a medical nin. She was assigned the roll of a medic. She knew she had been doing good… but that good? A content smile graced her lips. This was all part of the training; she knew it and was alright with it. It wasn't official that she was a medical nin… but maybe this was the opportunity to prove she could do it. Maybe Tsunade was giving Sakura this chance as a test, to prove that she could make the Godaime proud.

After some hours, Sakura woke and went to relieve Kakashi sensei from his watch. When she found him, "Icha Icha Paradise" was lying on his chest and his eye was closed. She held back a snicker. She couldn't believe that her sensei had fallen asleep on his watch. And then, before she could stop it from coming, an idea erupted in her head. It stemmed from years of wondering what was hidden behind that mask. And then, going against her better judgment, Sakura's reached out to remove Kakashi's mask. She was so close, but in the blink of an eye, his hand grasped her wrist with an iron grip.

Without opening his eyes, Kakashi asked, "What are you doing, Sakura?"

"Well, I—"

"You didn't really think I was asleep, did you?" He asked bored as his eye opened.

"I just wanted to see your face." She said boldly, even though her cheeks burned.

"Why?"

Silence.

He sat up and looked at her intently. "Sakura,"

She frowned. "I was just curious what the big secret is, I didn't think you'd mind."

For a second, she thought he was going to reveal a second mask just like that time long ago. But he didn't. His eye became very hard.

"I told you that I'm here for you. BUT," that was a very harsh sounding but. "I am not here for you to release your pent up emotions."

Sakura looked at him with wide horrified eyes. "Kakashi sensei!"

"Sakura, you need to get a grip."

Her eyes sparkled with tears. "You don't understand. It's not like that…" Eeewww! She squealed mentally.

Kakashi's eye softened when he saw the girl's tears. He sighed. "I'm just tired." His voice took on its usual aloofness. "It's your watch, Sakura. It's time I got some shut eye. Keep your eyes open." You wouldn't want someone to steal your secrets.

After an hour or two, she wasn't quite sure. A hawk landed beside her, a scroll attached to its back. Sakura eyed the bird suspiciously. Who would have sent her a message? She slowly reached out and grabbed the scroll and read it with wide eyes.

Stop writing to me. I don't need you lecturing me every day.

You're so annoying.

She stared at the message in disbelief. Sasuke had written back? Sasuke had written back! She didn't care that he called her annoying; all that mattered was that he was getting her letters and reading them. Beneath the joy, she felt a twinge of guilt. It had actually been a few days since she had written to him.

Sasuke stood in the center of the training pit. We was victorious… he had proven himself. Just barely. He collapsed from exhaustion.

A/N I don't feel this as good as it could be. But, doesn't matter what I think, what do you guys think? A little ooc...? Maybe? I dunno, let me know. R&R please!