No one had seen Sakura in two weeks. The Chunnin exams were currently in their last stage of qualifications. Instead of one on one, Tsunade wanted them to fight in groups. Team Seven was currently about to engage one of the last teams. The announcer on the field introduced the teams. Something caught Tsunade's eyes and she held up her hand to indicate hold the match. The man on the field nodded in understanding. But neither team noticed, because Nami already started. Her fist was stopped five inches away from her opponent's face. They all turned to see an Anbu had stopped her advancement.

"Hokage-sama did not say start."

The Anbu flicked their finger lightly but it sent Nami flying back. Naruto caught her, but the force still caused them to tumble back. The Anbu then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Said Anbu then reappeared in front of the Hokage. Tsunade accepted the two scrolls, and then the Anbu disappeared again.

The Anbu left the uniform beside the Hokage. Sakura reappeared on the field.

"Captain Haruno!" The man exlaimed while saluting.

"I'll be taking over the rest." Sakura addressed the Jounin.

"Yes ma'am!" He disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"So you all already know the rules." Sakrua said, not really caring, just tightening her gloves. "Do not start or I'll disqualify you." Sakura turned her glare onto Nami. "Understand?"

"Yes ma'am!" The other team screamed, because they knew of Anbu Captain Haruno Sakura's reputation.

Taka Nami knew too. She just chose to ignore it. The boys didn't understand at all. They were kind of surprised to see Sakura in an Anbu uniform. Just then a puff of smoke appeared and out came Hyuuga Neji.

"I imagine you want updated."

"Please and thank you."

Neji handed Sakura the roster. Sakura rose her arm straight into the air.

"You can brief me while they fight. It shouldn't take long."

"Which one?"

"Either."

Sakura looked at Tsunade, who nodded her head. Sakura nodded her head back. She brought her arm down signalling the start of the fight. The other team quickly advanced Team Seven, who quickly reacted to them Sakura went over the notes made by whoever. She heard Neji talking in her ear as she flipped thorugh the pages. She would briefly look up every once in awhile to see how the battle was progressing. When she finished and Neji stopped talking, the battle was clearly over. However, Nami had pumped chakra into her fist for a special attack. Her victim was already drained and could no longer move. Sakura intervened making Nami clearly upset.

"Stop. The match is already yours." The venom in Sakura's voice scared the boys, but those who have had the privilege of attending a mission with her knew, that voice was restrictly for killing.

Nami however ignored it. She threw he leg out at Sakura. She duked and brought her arm out across Nami's back. Nami stumbled forward since Sakura didn't even begin to use her power. Nami went for a punch and Sakura grabbed her fist and broke Nami's arm. The girl crumpled to the ground with a loud scream. Sakura turned to Naruto and Sasuke.

"Control your teammate or you're disqualified."

The intensity in Sakura's eyes threw both boys back a bit. It instantly stilled their movements. It was only when Sakura turend away, did they find air to breathe. Sakrua looked up to Tsunade who waved her hand. Sakura waved over the medic teams on standby. They carried away the fallen team. The other deal with Nami's arm over in the standby area. All of Nami's screaming was pissing Sakura off. She glared at the medics, who gave Nami something to bite down on.

"Bad mission," inquired Neji.

"Yes." Sakura picked up the fallen roster.

The day after the Chunnin exams ended was anxious for those who took the test. Many of them found it difficult to function because of their nerves. Team Seven with their Sensei; possibly soon to be equal, walked into the Hokage's office. Naruto couldn't wait any longer. They barged in to see Tsunade asleep at her desk. Shizune was fluttering around trying to file all the paperwork. Sakura was in a dark corner of the room watching a television. She was currently going over all the Chunnin exam tapes. There was a yellow pad filled with notes as well as tons of junk food surrounding her. There were tons of wrappers thrown everywhere as well as empty dishes long since whatever was in them eaten. Sakura was currently chowing down onigiri and downing tea, but her eyes never left the screen. She paused the tape, stood, passed them at the door, entered another door, stayed in for five minutes, they heard the toilet flush and the start of running water, then Sakura came out wiping her hands from washing. Sakura then plopped herself back down and started the tape again. Everyone sweatdropped at Sakura. Apparently though, Shizune was used to this behavior from Sakura.

"How's it going Sakura-chan?" Shizune asked finally finished with filing.

"Average."

Sakura stopped the tape and woke Tsunade by kicking her to the ground. Tsunade shot up angry as hell. When she came face to face with Sakura's blank stare, she calmed down. Uprighting her chair, Tsuande sat back down and looked over at Sakura.

"Why do I need to do this?"

Tsunade hugged Sakura tightly. "You're eyes are better than mine, and as one of my captains I need your opinion on everyone."

"Damn it Tsunade-shisou, you don't require the rest of the captains to do it." Sakura tried to pry Tsunade off of her.

"They're not my special apprentice." She began to squeeze tighter.

"You don't make Shizune."

Everything went quiet then. Shizune gasped.

"Don't you treasure me Tsunade-sama!"

"Of course Shizune! You're my drinking buddy. Speaking of which," Tsunade pulled out a huge bottle of sake out of thin air.

"Yay!" Shizune cheered, obviously still a little drunk from the last bender, fifteen minutes ago.

"Drunken fools..." Sakura muttered as she sat back down and started the tape again.

"Um... Obaa-chan?"

Naruto was hit across the head with a sake cup.

"What?" Tsunade growled out.

"Well it's about if we passed the Chunnin exams..."

"Ask Sakura." Tsunade cut him off.

Sakura went rigid feeling their stares. "What?"

"Did we pass Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked eagerly with large eyes. He clearly found no trouble crossing Sakura's line of trash and food.

"I haven't finished reviewing yet." Sakura turned her attention back to the screen.

The last scene passed that happened between Team Seven and Team Three. Team Seven obviously being the victor. Sakura stood and gathered all her trash as the television shut off. She tossed all the trash and stuffed the left over food in the cabinets, saving them for later. Sakura walked over to the coat rack and took off the satchel bag.

"Shisou, I'm off to work."

"Wait Sakura!"

Sakura stopped halfway to opening the door and turned to face her sensei. Even though she was drunk, Tsunade wore a very serious expression.

"You're currently off of missions and shifts at the hospital."

Sakura turned fully and stared at her in astonishment. Nami chuckled.

"Looks like the great Haruno-san is being punished."

Tsunade glared at Nami.

"Taka-san, you will refrain from speaking out of place."

"Hai... Hokage-sama." She answered in a very small voice.

"I don't understand Tsunade-shisou."

Tsunade looked at Sakura with great sympathy that everyone in the room except Shizune was confused."

"Your health comes first Sakura." She said gently.

Sakura's expression became a very sad one. She immediately excused herself and Sasuke was the only one that followed. He caught up with her in a unused alley path. Sakura stood and rounded on Sasuke.

"What? Is it because I broke your precious teammate's arm? Oh I'm so sorry that I snapped Sasuke-san. I guess I'm weak just like you already suspected right? Fallen into someone else's provocations." She pushed Sasuke back and he just looked at her in surprise. "Oh is it that I didn't tell you I was Anbu? Don't think I deserve the rank even after all the effort I put into becoming it? Let me guess, Hokage-sama must be lowering the qualifications that make one Anbu right? Nope wrong Sasuke, no it's Uchiha-sama right? That's what you want to be called because we're not equals. I'm dirt to you aren't I?"

Sasuke caught her fists. He pulled her into him. Wrapping his arms securely around her thin frame, he made shushing sounds.

"Just calm down Sakura. Sasuke is still fine." He gently stroked her head even though she tried to separate herself from him. "I just wanted you to let some of these emotions out. I'm sorry if I pushed too hard."

Tears came and Sakura couldn't stop them.

"I really am weak."

"No Sakura, you've always been stronger than me or Naruto."

Sakura stayed there in Sasuke's arm, even though she knew she needed to go home to her father.

Sakura was sitting on a bench in a park near the Uchiha district, close to Sasuke's house. Sakura knew that he was slowly renovating it all. She guessed he was preparing for heirs, but when she said as much, Sasuke had just blushed. She currently waiting on said boy to return with the drinks. He soon did and handed Sakura a warm can of tea. Sakura thanked him graciously with a small smile. It held a tint of sadness that Sasuke had grown somewhat accoustomed to. He preferred the untouched smile of hers, but there was something that blocked it. Maybe she would tell him soon. However, by then it would be too late. Sakura turned and looked at Sasuke and really took in how much he had changed.

"You've really become stronger Uch... Sasuke..."

"Kun, Sakura."

Sakura smiled that sad smile again. "Sasuke-kun. I guess Orochimaru taught you some things that were useful."

Sasuke turned to her and answered her seriously as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Yes, there were just some things only he could teach me Sakura. I am sorry that decision hurt you so much. If I had realized that the real power to help me kill my brother had been here, I might not have gone."

"Might not have is a huge gap still Sasuke-kun."

"It is, but I honestly don't know what the me then would have done. If he would have stayed or if he would have left still. Whatever it was I still don't know if the me would be capable of returning all that love you tried to give me Sakura."

Sakura looked at him with a small blush. Sasuke found it cute, but her next sentence dropped his heart.

"You don't need to worry about it anyways."

There was an awkward silence between them for a few minutes.

"How was your last mission?" Sasuke inquired, clearly trying to steer the conversation to something else.

However, the look on Sakura's face made Sasuke realize it was a bad turn. Her eyes had grown hard again as did the line of her mouth.

"Sakura?" He asked a bit worried.

"I was sent..." She worked her jaw a little and Sasuke waited patiently. "I was sent to kill a B-rank criminal. He had murdered his wife and son by beating. He has a daughter."

"Has?"

"I didn't kill him."

"Why?"

"Because she begged me not to."

"The daughter?"

"Yes."

"Does he not beat her?"

"He did."

"Then why?"

"I couldn't... The very look in her eyes and her pleading. It just made me too sick to do it. I requested someone else to handle the mission. Tsunade-shisou agreed. She wouldn't have sent me if she knew that he still had a daughter. It was bad information."

"Why wouldn't she have sent you?"

Sakura didn't answer him, and once again Sasuke did not push the topic. Sasuke was growing accoustomed to this more shut off Sakura. Maybe in time she would open up more. Until then, he would wait, because after all, he had no right to pry after leaving her. Sakura turned to see Sasuke looking over her carefully. As if he was finally taking in how much she had changed. Sakura couldn't bring herself to tell him that she had seen herself in that girl's eyes. Her grip tightened on the can. She couldn't tell Sasuke, that she was like the girl. She was unable to kill her own father. Just then rain drops started to come down. It was a couple at a time before it began to down pour.

Sasuke quickly grabbed Sakura's hand and led her to his house. Sasuke realized he had chosen one of the houses only halfway through renovating. Some of the roof was still broken and the rain fell through into pots that Sasuke had earlier placed down in several of the houses. He saw Sakura shiver and Sasuke knew he left some emergency stuff somewhere. He walked back to the master bedroom with Sakura right behind him. He opened the door after having it stick for a bit. He marked it as needing it to be fixed. He moved to the closet and pulled out a duffle bag. He unzipped it and pulled out two towels. He tossed the one to Sakura how graciously accepted it. Sasuke blushed and quickly turned around seeing Sakura undress. He pulled his own shirt off and pulled out some extra clothes. Only did he realize he only had one shirt and one pair of pants. Sasuke cursed himself for not thinking more ahead. Sakura's arm snaked around from behind and took the shirt. Her hand on his shoulder was warm and it sent shivers down his spine. Sakura slipped on his shirt. Sasuke quickly disgarded his wet pants and put on the clean ones.

"This house is nice." Sakura quietly commented.

"Ah, it was my aunt's and uncle's. Well one of them anyways. She was pregnant when the massacre..."

Sakura had placed her fingertip on top of his lips. "Sh, I don't want to hear that word anymore. It happened, it's over, you got your revenge, so let it go Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke tilted his head and took in this very beautiful Sakura. Her skin was creamy pale and her hair stuck to her in a very nice way. Her pose seemed a little suggestive since all she had on was her wet underwear and his shirt. What caught his eye though, were the unshed tears that made her eyes sparkle. Sasuke took her hand and gently kissed the palm.

"I'm sorry."

He went into the closet as he saw her shiver some more. He pulled out a box and found the clean sheets he left in there. He pulled the quilt out and wrapped it around Sakura's frame. Then he opened the other box and found the firewood and matches. Sasuke tossed some wood into the bedroom's fireplace, took some old newspaper out of the box and lit it on fire. Soon, they had a good strong fire going. Sasuke picked Sakura and moved her closer. Once she was situated, Sasuke pulled the rest of the sheets out and made the bed. The bed was one of the things he had gotten fixed. Sasuke was glad he gotten this place fixed up enough incase something happened. Sasuke sat on the bed and watched Sakura. She was lost in watching the flames. After a couple minutes, she blinked out of it and looked side to side for Sasuke. He lightly chuckled. She whirled her head around and gave him a miffed look. She stood and literally tackled him.

"Sakura that's called cheating."

"Shut up! You were laughing at me."

"I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing with you."

"I wasn't laughing! It doesn't work.

"It does if I say so."

"It doesn't always go you're way Sasuke!"

Sasuke and Sakura finally stopped tossing around and somehow Sasuke was left on top. Sakura pulled down the shirt more so Sasuke wouldn't get a pervert view. Sasuke finally took notice of some bruises on her neck. He looked at her arms and legs. Sakura blushed under his inspection.

"Sasuke-kun?"

"Did you get these on your mission?"

Sasuke gingerly touched one of the bruises. He instantly retreated his hand seeing her grimace.

"Sorry."

Sakura laughed.

"What?" He poked her in the side.

Sakura turned her head slightly after trying to muffle it in a pillow. "I'm not used to this side of you."

Sasuke blushed and just began tickling Sakura.

"Be quiet you."

The house rotten with holes was filled with warmth and laughter. A memory that was forever embedded in that house.

Sakura stood in front of Team Seven, but behind Tsunade in the Hokage's office. Sasuke and Sakura had shared a secret smile before anyone noticed. Sasuke was glad he was able to be the one to put that type of smile back on her face.

"I am happy to report that the members on Teams Seven, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, have been promoted straight to Jounins."
"Yes!" Naruto shouted.

"Taka Nami."

"Yes Hokage-sama?"

"You have not been promoted today."

"What?" Seeing Tsunade's glare. She continued on meekly. "Why not?"

Sakura and Shizune were both glaring at the girl for lack of respect.

"I don't need to explain my decision to you. This decision is finally. You are all dismissed." After everyone left, Tsunade turned to Sakura. "You can also leave. Try to get some rest."

"Yes Shisou!" Sakura left the office.

As soon as she stepped out into the street, she bumped into Sasuke. She grinned up at him sheepishly. Sasuke smirked down at her.

"Dobe what's us to meet him for ramen."

"Can't. I need to run home. Tell him sorry." She pulled Sasuke down to her height and kissed his cheek.

Sakura waved bye and ran off. Sasuke just stared after her while touching his cheek. He numbly walked to the ramen stand.

Sakura unlocked the front door and entered her parent's house. Well it could basically be hers since she paid all the bills. She instantly hit and empty bottle as soon as she took one step into the house. Sakura felt the blood drain from her face. She had been with Sasuke all night and she hadn't been back in a over two weeks due to a mission. Her father was most likely drunk and her staying over night with Sasuke had probably infuriated him. It's not like he knew that Sakura had been with Sasuke, but he knew she was supposed to be back yesterday. Sakura walked more into the house. She was instantly hit over the head with a bottle. It shattered on impact and alcohol ran down her head. Sakura turned over and looked up at her angry father.

"You! Where have you been?"

He picked her up by her collar and slammed her into the wall. The wall crumpled under the impact.

"Hey guys!"

Team Seven boys turned to see Ino and Hinata walking up to them.

"Hinata-chan!" Naruto embraced her. "Guess what?"

"Jounin, we heard."

"Where's Sakura-chan?" Ino asked while looking around.

"Went home." Sasuke answered. "I imagine she wanted to check in since she got stranded by the storm yesterday."

"She didn't go home?!" Ino's voice startled everyone.

"No, why?" Sasuke was a bit worried.

"You idiots! Sakura's father is going to kill her."

Ino quickly dashed out and everyone followed.

"Kakashi-san, you're the fastest. Tell Hokage-sama she's needed at Sakura's immediately."

"Okay!" Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"That was a just a figure of speech right?" Naruto asked nervously.

"No Naruto. I'm dead serious. Sakura's father beats her."
Something broke inside Sasuke's head and everything began to fall into place. They all finally made it and came to a stop. Tsunade, Kakashi, and Shizune appeared out of smoke.

"Ino-chan, what's this about?" Tsunade asked rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

That's when it happened. The top window shattered as Sakura was thrown threw it. Her body landed with a sickening thud as her body bled out too much blood.