Tiger- --jumping up and down-- New reviewers! I LOVE YOU ALL!! Sorry 'bout that, I just had a moment.

Sasuke- And you don't when?

Tiger- --glares-- Your secrets safe with me.

Sasuke- --raises a brow-- I have no secrets.

Tiger- Right… --looks at reviewers-- SASUKE LOVES SAKURA!!

Sasuke- --jumps at me-- I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!

Tiger- --runs-- Man, stop! You can't kill the author! What's the matter with you?! My wonderful reviewers won't see the end of the story! Hey, don't look at me like I'm Itachi! –disappears through door with Sasuke high on heels and screams--

Ch 4: Training

Morning had come quickly and the sun was shinning brightly after the rainy night that had engulfed Konoha in clean air around the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Puddles littered the streets as the citizens went about their daily lives, though they were still worried about their Blossom of Konoha. News had spread that she was well and out of the hospital. The villagers were relieved to hear that she was healthy and that the mission was a success and she would be fine.

It was nine o'clock when she stirred, soft green eyes slowly opening and surveyed the area around her. This was her room, but the master bedroom of the house. She had taken it after her parents died and the house was part of her inheritance, left to her in their will. They had left her everything; of course she was their only child and no known living relatives, so it was just her. Sakura didn't really need to worry too much about money, but working wasn't a bad thing, when you're saving peoples lives and all. Working at the hospital was a hobby and habit; it entertained her when she needed it. A way to escape some of the troubles.

As a Genin, it was to become stronger to get her beloved Sasuke back. But it became something else. She had come to love it. Her feelings for Sasuke were now somewhere. Somewhere hidden, truthfully, she wasn't sure where they were. Perhaps she'd grown out of her crush stage. Her feelings seemed to have runaway somewhere, but for how long? Temporary or forever? She didn't know. What she did know was that she still liked him, but perhaps not as anything romantic like she would have as a twelve year old girl.

Yesterday, she remembered at the hospital he was watching her almost as if she was going to attempt to kill him if he turned his back. She was nervous with the blank expression on his face, though she remembered it quite well as a Genin. 'What was his problem?' she asked herself as it entered her mind. Just then, her phone rang. She leaned over to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Sakura, this is Tenten."

"Oh, hey Tenten, what's up?"

"Ino told me that you were out of the hospital and that you were off duty for a week. Is she right?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, well the reason I called was to ask you if you wanted to come over tonigh?. You know, a sleep over? Ino and Hinata are going to. And since we haven't seen you in who knows how long, we thought you should come over too as a girls' night. Oh, please say you'll come!"

Sakura smiled as she thought of what they would do. Girl talk, Ino would mostly talk about boys and fashion. "Sure, why not? I'll be there later."

"I can't wait! Is six o'clock too early?"

"No, I'll be there. Your house, right?"

"Yeah, see you then. Bye."

"Later." She set the phone down with a click. Well, at least she would have some fun; a few times she was feeling that her life was taken away from her as she worked at the hospital.

A soft knock on the window claimed her attention. On the windowsill was a small piece of paper. She threw her legs over the side of the king sized bed and walked over to the slightly opened window, grabbing the tiny note.

Ah Sakura,

You're invited to training today since you have the day off. Meet us at Team 7's training grounds at 9:30.

P.S. I won't be late!

Kakashi Hatake

'You say that now but you will be,' Sakura's eyes narrowed on the small p.s. part. She blinked when she realized the tone she used. It sounded almost bitter. 'Did I just think that? It's not like me to be rude.' She sighed, 'As long as I don't say it out loud in that kind of tone I should be fine.' The kunoichi turned her head to see that it was 9:20. 'What?! I've already wasted twenty minutes?!' she ran over to her dresser and pulled out a scarlet tank top with the white circle on it and a pair of black shorts before running into the bathroom to change. Just as quickly as she went she came out. Running down to her front door she grabbed her ninja sandals and placed them on quickly before sprinting out her house, locking the door behind her.

----

"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto ran up to the bridge, waving madly to his dark haired best friend. Sasuke was leaning, as much as he could, on the red bridge with his arms crossed. Since he had grown – he wouldn't be able to lean his elbows on it. "It's good to see you here!" he stopped beside him.

"You seen me last night, remember?" Sasuke stated impassively, not even looking at him.

"Yeah, I know," the blonde said happily. "So… do you know what we should be doing?"

"Hn." The older boy replied.

Naruto folded his arms, seeing as how that was going to be all he could get out of his friend. After moments of silence, other than the birds chirping, he spoke, "I wonder how Sakura is. Hopefully she's feeling better. What do you think, Sasuke?"

"Hn."

"What an answer." The sound of the water flowing by peacefully soothed their senses. 'He's himself again,' Naruto thought.

"Hey Stupid," the blonde boy growled as he heard a familiar voice. He turned to see Sai walking up with his sketchbook in hand.

"Will you stop calling me that?"

"Why should I do that? Besides its fun to see your reaction." Sai gave a smile, one that had always been fake. "How was Sakura when you seen her last night?"

"Sasuke and I walked her home after Grandma Tsunade dismissed her. She has the week off and I haven't checked on her."

Sai glanced at both of Sakura's teammates, the last Uchiha was staring straight ahead, his face shown that he was bored. Of course, Kakashi was late – as always. Naruto was exited and worried for his female companion.

"Hey, Sakura!" Sasuke's eyes shifted in the direction Sakura was running toward them and he returned his attention to forward, ignoring the three. "Sakura!" she ran up to her blonde comrade and placed her hands on her knees to catch her breath. "Hey Sakura," Naruto put a hand on her shoulder as she hunched over. "What's wrong? You don't usually heave when you run long distances."

"I'm fine… Naruto," she assured him, while panting. "Honestly I don't know why I'm out of breath. Perhaps I'm still not rested."

"Ok, I'm still going to watch you though."

"Hey Ugly, what are you doing here?"

Sakura tilted her head upward to grin, "Kakashi-sensei invited me, since I have the week off."

"Well, I'm glad I get to spend some time with you," Naruto smiled brightly.

"Oh, which reminds me, how'd your date with Hinata go?"

Naruto started blushing, "Well… we… uh…"

Sakura's eyes widened, "Naruto…" both Sai and Sasuke turned to look at them. "You didn't?"

"How would you know?" the kyuubi vessel asked, turning away, blushing a little more. His face was almost as red as a cherry.

"You kissed her," Sakura pressed, grinning. "How'd that go?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he continued to deny everything.

"Well…" Sakura stood up and walked away innocently. "… I guess I could ask Hinata myself when I see her."

Naruto sprang at her. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What do you mean when you see her?!"

"Oh… that…" she started scratching her back of her head, she still holding the other two's attention. "Well, I got a call just before I was invited to train for a girls night. With Ino, Tenten… and Hinata."

"Alright, I kissed her you happy?!" Naruto threw his arms in the air.

"You kissed a girl?" Sai asked in disbelief. "How is that possible?"

"Sai!" Sakura scolded and he shrugged her off.

"I was just curious."

Sasuke also looked at Naruto, not really sure what to think, his face would have told you that he wasn't listening. But his thoughts were drifting on it, arms still crossed, 'Naruto? Would he actually kiss a girl? And Hinata Hyuuga? Who knew Loser could do something like that? You shouldn't waste your time, Naruto, especially on a girl.' His thoughts stopped when he heard the two continue.

"Oh, c'mon Naruto?" the kunoichi whined. "Tell me!"

"Alright, I…" he was grinning sheepishly and scratching the back of his head as he carried on. "Before I walked her home, I told her that… that… that I… I loved her and then gave her a little kiss. Ok!"

Sakura blinked before smirking, "It wasn't just a little kiss, was it?"

"… Fine, it was a little longer than a normal one…" he was now way red. Sakura was enjoying every moment of this.

"I see," she walked away; walking passed the Uchiha and replacement – who were watching her with their eyes. "I'm still going to ask her about it, Naruto, so don't think you're off the hook."

Sasuke was back in his thoughts, he huffed, 'He loves her? Why would you do that?' Sooner than he had realized it, his eyes wandered to his pink haired teammate, suddenly remembering her declaration of love to him before he left. 'She said that also. Why? I care because? Who cares who loves who? It's just a wasted emotion, one that should remain unused. One that doesn't belong in the life of a shinobi.' His eyes darkened at the thought. 'No should need love. It's a waste. Love gets in the way. Give your life for someone, to protect them. Why waste your time protecting someone when it's yourself you care about? I would never stick out my neck for someone.' He said almost sick with what he was hearing, but then he blinking when he hand another idea cross his mind. 'Before I joined Orochimaru, didn't I do that? I never loved, but I did stick my neck out for them.' Sasuke's eyes traveled to the other members of Team 7. 'And they for me. Naruto and Sakura got to me after the Chunin Exams, Sakura stepped in Gaara's path when he was after me.' He then remembered what he said to Naruto.

"Get Sakura out of here and run as far as you can. If I don' make it, this was as far as I was meant to go."

'Naruto was the one who protected both of us. In the second stage, I was the one who stepped in after the Sound ninja attacked Sakura as we were unconscious, with the curse mark.' His right hand moved to his neck. 'She stopped it. She stopped me from doing something that could have made me worse. But I almost killed them, both of them once, and Naruto a few more times. I have protected them years ago. Naruto, at the Chunin Exams when we first met Orochimaru saved us when I wasn't thinking straight. He saved us on more than one event, with Idate and a few others. Naruto has always become stronger when he was trying to protect someone. What does it mean to protect someone you love? Can someone become unstoppable when it comes to protecting someone? Can love help you become strong when physical strength is not enough?'

"Yo," a familiar voice greeted.

"You're late!" Naruto and Sakura shouted.

"Actually, I'm on time. I had something to do early." Kakashi tossed a watch to Sakura.

"You're actually early. How can this be?"

"So what are we gonna do first?" Naruto was bouncing off the walls at this point.

"Spar."

"I get so take on Sasuke!"

"Sakura and Sasuke shall spar each other," the scarecrow replied and the blonde started pouting.

"What?!"

"You two can begin anytime you are ready."

They spread out, far enough away from each other and from the others. Opponent facing opponent. "I'll try to go easy on you," Sakura smirked confidently."

"Hn." Sasuke answered coolly. "I'll try to hold back for you."

Sakura lunged at him with surprising speed. Her fists filled with chakra and she thrust her fist forward. Something had set her off. As if someone had planted a time bomb in her head without her knowledge. She wanted nothing more than to knock some sense into him. 'What's this feeling? I feel the need for blood. I want all of them dead! All of Konoha! Why would I want that?' she wasn't sure what was going on. Her mind told her to attack with everything she had. 'I hate all of them! Everyone in Konoha!' she tried to stop herself from thinking such things but they weren't stopping. 'Konoha will burn!!' Something was wrong. She wanted blood on her hands. Konoha was her home and she wanted it to burn.

Sasuke dodged as her chakra filled fist flew by his face. He grabbed her arm and realized her skin was cold. Something was different. When he looked at her face he could see that her eyes had dulled a bit and a menacing grin found a place on her face. He discovered Naruto had stopped cheering when he and the others had seen the attacks she was using. Something was wrong. His eyes shifted as he seen her launch her other fist at him, more chakra infused with it. 'She's trying to kill me!'

The chakra fused fist collided with the ground as Sasuke jumped way, nearly being hit by her. Dirt flew upward and the ground cracked with the brute force she used. "Sakura?!" Naruto shouted as she went for Sasuke. "Sakura why are you trying to kill Sasuke?!" he and the other two sprinted toward her to stop her from killing the Uchiha. "Sakura?!"

Just that moment, she stopped. Her head bowed and her arms fell limply to her side. She looked like a puppet who was no longer used by the puppeteer. "Sakura?" Naruto was about to grab her shoulders to shake her, but before he could touch her she jumped away. Naruto watched her, being the closest. Sai and Kakashi were just behind him and Sasuke was behind them all, his dark eyes examining Sakura emotionlessly.

'What's with her? I didn't do anything, only that I'd try to hold back.' He surveyed everything.

Sakura's head was still bowed, as if she were a child being scolded by a parent. Naruto was bombarding her with questions. She tilted her head so she could look at Sasuke, she met his gaze, "I'm sorry Sasuke. I don't know what came over me."

"Hn." He stated. "You shouldn't take things too personally."

"You're right. I shouldn't." Sakura said. "If it's all the same to you, I have somewhere I need to be." With that, she disappeared leaving the four males behind to ponder on what happened.

"What did you say to her?" Naruto turned to Sasuke.

"All I said was that I'd try to hold back."

"Well," the scarecrow sighed, "should we continue?"

"I get to go against Sasuke!"

"Hn."

"Whatever." The four of them were starting to think that something odd was about to happen.

Tiger- --still running from crazy Uchiha-- ITACHI!! –runs behind big brother and clamps onto him--

Itachi- --annoyed-- What?! Get off of me! –turns to see Sasuke--

Tiger- --sticks tongue out at Sasuke-- Please review, my wonderful reviewers. Sick 'em Itachi!

Itachi- --glares--

Tiger- Never mind. This chapter was a little shorter than I was trying to so sorry about that. I was finished and somehow it was deleted and I forgot what I wrote which stunk so sorry again.