It had been two days since her talk with Tazuna, and every night since she hadn't gotten much sleep. Naruto and Sasuke trained hard, probably harder than her. Kakashi had them up late running drills and climbing tree after tree. She received her breakfast with a thank you, and turned to her sensei, noticing the two empty seats.

"Kakashi-sensei, where are Naruto and Sasuke-kun?"

"Naruto never came in last night. Sasuke left after an early breakfast."

They ate in silence, and when they were done, Sakura helped with dishes before looking for her team mates.

"What are you guys doing?"

Naruto and Sasuke hung on equal height branches on different trees, upside down, arms crossed, and glaring at one another.

"Don't break my concentration Sakura-chan!"

"Hn."

"You guys are idiots."

Giving them a hard stare, she left to guard Tazuna, hands on her hips and head in the air.

Let those two waste their chakra.

What do I care?

But when she arrived back at dinner time, she noticed a lack of her team mates again.

Standing up from her seat, she announced she would go get them with a huff, and left for the small forest of trees behind the house.

"Naruto! Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura called out their names for a few minutes before finding them leaning on each other at the base of a large tree, softly snoring.

She gave a warm smile at the scene and memorized it for safe keeping before shaking them both on their shoulders.

"Hey, you guys. It's time to eat."

Sasuke's eyes opened first, and they made a connection. She smiled softly and blushed before turning to Naruto.

"Hey, come on. Aren't you hungry?"

"Sakura-chan, five more minutes."

"Come on idiot."

Together they picked up Naruto, placing him between them. The walk back was quiet, but nice. The sun faded behind them, night coming in with a slight chill. Her hand moved the door open, and everyone was at the table waiting for them.

"Ah, so he overdid it?"

Kakashi's eye crinkled with a smile.

They plopped Naruto down in his seat, waking him up for food.

"Actually, they both did."

Sakura smiled at them both before starting her own meal. That night she didn't sleep well. And when she woke up, she couldn't shake a bad feeling she had.

"Sakura, what's wrong?"

Kakashi must've noticed her lack of eating. She offered what she hoped was a sincere smile and gave a reply of 'nothing'.

They left Naruto behind, for he was beyong passed out. Sasuke and Kakashi went along to help with the finishing of the bridge. They were really close to finishing it. That thought brought a smile to Sakura's face. Soon they would be back home, and she could see her parents again.

I wonder if they got me something for my birthday.

Shaking away the selfish thought, the almost fifteen year old picked up her pace to walk with the small group, bridge site coming in view.

But when they got there, the feeling of dread came on.

"What's going on? What happened?"

The workers were bruised, and weakened, but not seriously hurt. Sakura gasped as the fog started to come up quick.

"Run, everyone!"

The workers wasted no time, but Tazuna had to stay where they could see him.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Kakashi. I see you're missing a brat today."

Fear griped her again, and her hands started to shake.

Six clones of Zabuza appeared around them.

"Do it, Sasuke."

Sakura moved her head just in time, for after the next few moments, the clones were gone, and water lay in their wake.

"It appears, that you have a challenge Haku."

The boy from before was standing beside what she assumed to be the real Zabuza, but even now she couldn't be sure.

"So it seems."

To her they moved like blurs, but Sasuke could keep up with Haku it appeared.

She only caught glimmers of their fight, but they looked equal in skill level. Sasuke was obviously using their recent training to propel himself into the air at odd angles, but she didn't know if that was a good thing. Her teeth chewed on her bottom lip as she tried to keep her focus on Tazuna's safety. Kakashi however was watching Sasuke's fight just as eagerly as Zabuza was.

Finally they paused in their fight, and Haku was leaking out a blue energy.

"Cold air?"

Analyzing the situation, Sakura saw Haku's hand sign a second to late.

"Sasuke-kun! Watch out!"

In seconds, mirrors formed a dome around Sasuke, and Haku dove inside.

"Crystal Ice Mirrors!"

"Hang on Sasuke!"

Kakashi ran forward, but was stopped by Zabuza.

"I think it's our turn."

Sakura's fists started shaking as she clenched them.

I have to think of a way to get him out of there.

It drew deadly quiet, then you could hear Sasuke's sounds of pain, and the sound of metal hitting the ground.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Abandoning Tazuna, she ran to the dome and pounded her fist against the mirror, trying to break it.

"Stop it! Let him go!"

The next time her fist hit the ice, it burned her knuckles, causing her to wince.

She threw a kunai between the gaps, but Haku caught it, by reaching out of the mirror.

"I suggest you back away from here, little girl. No one wants to see your pretty face get hurt."

That's when a ninja star caused Haku to fall out of the dome, purely in shock. The star also left a crack in the boy's mask.

Immediately Sakura kneeled down and reached in her arm through the gap, trying to reach Sasuke who was on all knees. The cracking off the fire works Naruto set off dramatically were enough off a distraction for her to try and get Sasuke out.

"Sasuke-kun, come on!"

Haku quickly dismissed that with a kunai between their hands.

She turned her anger to Naruto with a clenched fist.

"Naruto you idiot! The art of the ninja is to be deceitful, not a show off! This isn't a game, lives are at stake!"

Getting off of her knees, she backed her way to Tazuna, hand on a new kunai. If Zabuza decided to just kill Tazuna right now, by side stepping Kakashi, she'd be his only defense.

There's something that I noticed about Haku though.

If he had wanted to kill Sasuke, he wouldn't use senbon.

And even Naruto, who's defense isn't up in the slightest could've been taken down in seconds with a surprise attack.

Is he just playing with us?

No, that doesn't seem likely.

I don't think he wants to hurt any of us.

He is our age.

"Yo, Sasuke!"

She gasped as it seemed Naruto had slipped inside the dome.

"You idiot!"

Thus the argument started. Sakura sighed and bowed her head in defeat.

That idiot.

Their fight was cut off however, as Naruto and Sasuke cried out in pain. Her fists tightened again and she looked away from the dome, only to realize Kakashi and Zabuza weren't fighting. They were both studying the dome intently.

But when Haku announced he was done 'playing', Zabuza was too. Kakashi had time to reveal his sharingan again before the attack, but it was close.

The mist rose suddenly, and grew thicker by the second. Zabuza was using the hidden mist jutsu, but it seemed more planned out than before.

Things grew quiet, but she could hear them clearly either way. By the number of fire jutsus Sasuke was using, he was starting to get a hang of the dome. But this time, their sound of pain was sharper, louder. Like it really, really did hurt.

What's going on in there?

She wanted to move. She wanted to attack from the outside. But she had to protect Tazuna, he was the mission.

A footstep was heart behind her, but it was slightly too light to be Tazuna.

The next thing she knew, blood was on her clothes, her arms, and her thighs.

She couldn't help it.

She screamed.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

"I've seen through your tricks Kakashi. In our last fight, Haku stood by and watched the whole thing, and he saw things. What I thought was mind reading turned out to be tricks of the eye, that I didn't see before. Haku will destroy those boys, and when you're dead, I'll get the girl and the bridge builder. Say your good byes!"

"SASUKE!"

Her heart sunk at Naruto's cry of disbelief.

What happened to Sasuke-kun?

"I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!"

Her throat constricted at the dark chakra pouring out of Naruto at the moment.

Kakashi sighed in front of her, shaking his head.

"Naruto."

"Kakashi-sensei, what's going on?"

"I'm not quite sure."

She knew she shouldn't distract him, at any point Zabuza could attack again.

But maybe even he too was fascinated by what was happening in the dome.

Kakashi pulled out a thin scroll, marked his thumb with blood from his chest wound and wiped it down the ink of the inside of the scroll. He rolled it back up and performed hand signs around it.

"Zabuza, we're both very busy people. Let's finish this fight in one move!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Haku came flying out of the mirrors, and they shattered around Naruto. She could see him almost clearly now through the fog.

His posture was cat like, with a body arched defensively. Red chakra swirled around him, and it felt incredibly dark. His teeth were bared, his eyes were wide, and he couldn't look more different. Moments after, he halted his attack. His fist was mere inches away from Haku's true face, and the presence of the evil chakra was gone. His mouth closed, his eyes were bright blue again, and clouded with confusion.

"You're, that kid!"

She watched him falter, before landing a soft punch to his face. Haku got up quickly, but she couldn't hear their conversation without Naruto yelling.

"Ninja Art, Summoning, Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!"

It grew quiet, but the growling of dogs could be heard.

"Bastard."

The fog was slightly cleaning where Zabuza stood. Dogs covered his body, teeth sunk into his shoulders, arms, knees, legs, and back. A growing sound of chirps was heard from where Kakashi stood, and a light blue light shone in the fog.

That's his chakra!

It was true, Kakashi was using his own chakra outside of his body, but for what?

"Chidori!"

The fog lifted greatly, clearing her vision of the fight in front of her. Once again, Sakura screamed. There was blood, everywhere. It covered Kakashi, and Zabuza, but Haku had the most.

Because Haku took the attack meant for Zabuza.

Naruto ran from where he was and stopped beside her.

"HAKU!"

Zabuza went to attack through Haku, but Kakashi moved them both out of the way. From her view, she could see him close Haku's eyes for good, leaving an even more peaceful look on his face.

"I won't forgive you!"

"Naruto! Stay back!"

Kakashi's harsh voice rang loud and clear.

This act wasn't forgivable.

And Kakashi was going to let Zabuza know that.

"Hey, Naruto, where's Sasuke?"

Her eyes caught Naruto's body tensing, and his eye slowly close.

His teeth grit together, and his head turned away from her as his fists clenched.

"Naruto? Where's Sasuke?"

Her head whipped back to where the dome had been, and in the distance she could see someone laying down.

Tears filled her vision and she shook her head.

"Liar! That's not Sasuke! Where is he?"

Her fists grabbed at his jacket, and their eyes met. Blue eyes usually so bright and happy were filled with nothing but sadness, regret, disappointment, and bitterness.

A large hand was on her shoulder.

"Naruto can protect me. Go."

She spun on her heel and ran, footsteps echoing on the pavement.

Her feet skidded to a halt as she saw his body. It was covered in senbon, everywhere. She felt her legs give, and she was kneeling beside him, fingers moving along his arm.

"Sasuke-kun?"

There was no movement. She brushed his hair out of his eyes, seeing them closed in peace. A tear slid down her cheek and onto his, falling off the side of his face.

"You're so cold already."

Time lapsed and she felt the tears well up in her eyes.

"Hey Sasuke-kun, do you remember the first test we ever took at the academy? I got a better grade than you, so I guess you might remember for that reason alone. It was on the rules of a shinobi, and there was one that made all the sense in the world. On missions, Shinobi must not show emotion. Emotions can complicate a mission, they make you make rash decisions."

Her fingers grazed over his hand, and she put it in her lap.

"Naruto, he couldn't kill Haku. Surprise, Haku took a fatal blow for Zabuza. Kakashi-sensei, he's taking care of Zabuza now, once and for all. And then we'll go home, all of us."

A sob escaped her mouth.

"Dreams, you had them. But you couldn't fulfill them. I'm sorry. If I could've gotten you out of that dome, you'd still be alive."

Tears fell down her face without holding back, and another sob escaped her mouth.

"Sasuke-kun, wake up!"

She started to shake his shoulder.

"Hey, you have to wake up! You can't, you can't be dead! Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura let out a heart wrenching cry.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Her hands were balled on her knees, tears falling off her face as she kept crying.

You're such a baby Sakura.

You're finally fifteen, and you can't even be a shinobi right now.

You're putting the mission in jeopardy!

A groan beside her snapped her head up to attention.

"S-Sasuke-kun!"

He was sitting up, staring at her.

"Sakura. Why are you crying?"

She wiped her eyes immediately, and helped him stand up.

"Are you okay?"

"Aa. Sore."

She nodded and turned to Naruto.

"Naruto! Kakashi-sensei! Sasuke-kun, he's okay!"

Relief flooded Naruto's face and he grinned a foxy grin.

"Way to just now wake up teme!"

"Tch."

Sakura smiled and looked on, noticing the dead Zabuza and Haku, and the villagers standing with looks of victory on their faces.

What did I miss?

xxXXxx

Sakura pulled out each Senbon, with the help of Kakashi."Alright, now let's get you all salved and bandaged up, and we can sleep. We leave in the morning."

Sakura nodded and Kakashi moved to his cot, sighing as he laid on it. She smiled at him, they were all in their pajamas already. Naruto was in the kitchen telling the story of what happened on the bridge to Inari.

"And then Sasuke collapsed, totally exhausted! I knew he was alive though-"

"Tch."

She giggled as she applied the salve to each puncture wound. Her blush on her face was bright, for Sasuke was shirtless, and his pants were rolled up so she could get to his calves.

"Sasuke-kun, let him go. He'll be telling that story for months. It's probably the only exciting mission we'll do as genin."

"Aa."

She bandaged his calves, and started to bandage his torso, bringing it around his shoulders and around his chest. His breath fanned her ear at points, awakening her hormones, but she bit them down as she bit her lip in concentration. Tying the knot, she finally looked up to his face.

"Is that too tight?"

He shook his head no.

She smiled brightly at him.

"Well then, good night."

"Oh, Sakura."

Kakashi rolled over to his side.

"Happy Birthday."

"Thanks sensei."

She smiled at him and stood, bringing her general medic kit with her, leaving the room. Walking down the hallway, she called to Naruto saying that he should get to bed soon, and walked up the stairs to the small room she was given.

Laying on the cot, she snuggled into her pillow.

I just wish today had a happy ending.

But maybe it did.

Haku is dead, but he's with Zabuza again.

Just like it should be.

With another smile, she drifted off to sleep.

xxXXxx

Sakura ran for the bathroom ten minutes ago, smiling as she beat Naruto. Now she had her hair pulled up in a pony tail, and she dressed in her last pair of ninja clothes, freshly washed. Tazuna's daughter politely washed their clothes before their trip home, and she for one couldn't be more grateful. Adjusting her shirt, she felt her chest and frowned, still not happy with the size.

Ah well.

It's not like a have a love life.

Opening the door, she put her towel in the hamper and bumped into a sleepy Sasuke.

"I'll re-bandage you after your shower, okay?"

He just nodded and walked past her into the foggy bathroom.

She looked a the closed door one last time before moving to the kitchen, ready to help Tazuna's daughter with breakfast.

Inari, who she fount out was twelve, stared at her from the table before blushing pink. He did this a lot during their meals, and it was no different with their last breakfast.

As she did dishes, she felt him beside her. Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke were still eating however, their low chakra levels from yesterday demanded more nourishment as their supply built naturally.

"Sakura-san?"

"Yes Inari?"

"You live in Konoha, right?"

"That's right."

"And you're fifteen?"

"Yup."

"Well, in five years, when you're twenty, and I'm seventeen, I'm going to find you and come marry you!"

With that he gave her a necklace of beads and a large sea shell.

Taking it in her hands she smiled and ruffled his hair.

"It's beautiful Inari! And of course I'd love to be you're bride!"

He beamed up at her.

"Happy Birthday Sakura-san!"

He then pointed to his cheek expectantly. Growing confused, Sakura just stared at the spot. Finally she got it. Smiling wider, she gave him a peck on his cheek, pulling back just in time to see him blush pink and smile at her.

"Cool! Grandpa, I got my first kiss!"

When Inari left the room to go tell his grandpa, Kakashi started laughing. He walked up and put his empty bowl on the counter, and kissed her own cheek.

"Just wait until your father hears you came back an engaged woman!"

"It's not fair! Sakura-chan, you're going to be my wife! OUCH!"

Sasuke moved beside her, with two empty bowls, one of them being Naruto's.

"I'll come to your cot in a minute, let me finish up here."

He brushed her bangs out of her eyes, and placed a piece behind her ear. Their eyes caught and her cheeks blushed but he just moved on.

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and sighed.

When she finished the dishes, she found Sasuke already with his shirt off again, and she almost stumbled.

"Alright, this should be the last time, they're healing quite nicely."

Her hands worked without her mind, because she couldn't let what just happened go. He was so close to her.

Just like now. She started to wrap his torso when he spoke.

"Happy Birthday."

She smiled up at him.

"Thank you Sasuke-kun."

She tied the bandages and when she looked up, their lips connected. Her eyes widened but she soon closed them, enjoying the simple press of lips together. However, he pulled away first and looked at her. Without a word she grabbed her med kit and left the room, heart beating wildly.

"Sakura-san!"

Tazuna stood in the hallway, something wrapped in his hands.

"Tazuna-san, can I help you?"

"Ah, no. I remember something you shared with me the day you fist guarded me. The men were working over time last night, and well the bridge is finished. But I got something while I was there for you to take home."

She opened her present to find a jar, half filled with sand, the other half was sea water. Sakura smiled brightly at him before hugging him.

"Thank you! I love it!"

Not even an hour later, they were packed and standing at the beginning of the bridge. Sakura hugged Tazuna, his daughter, and Inari once again. Kakashi and Naruto gave a slight wave, while Sasuke simply nodded.

"Wait for me Sakura-san, I'll come back for you!"

Sakura laughed and gave one last wave. Sasuke stuffed his hands in his pockets while Naruto placed his hands behind his head, in a relaxed manor. Kakashi had his hand in one pocket, the other hand holding the perverted book he loved.

She looked at her team once more, a smile on her face.

End!

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