"The last Guardian"

Chapter 5

New Beginnings

Disclaimer: how many times am I gonna have to say this! N-O!

Author notes: Hey guys!

Sorry for taking so long in updating! I kinda hit a little writers block with this thing and so ya,. But anyway please review me so I can know what to do better! And I would also like to know what you guys want as far as pairings go, im a nejisaku person or itasaku (ik weird right?) but what do you guys want? Please tell me! Greatly appreciated-

SF Geronimo

"Finally, I swear if I have to hear one more lecture on the 'importance of youth fullness' I'm going to permanently cut off those two's chakra." I muttered to myself as I made my way to my favorite training grounds. My footsteps fell silently as I hiked up the backside of the Hokage monument to the best training grounds, the best because no one ever comes here so I can train in peace.

Suddenly I felt the air tense as a chakra signature spiked dangerously high, "Who would be training at this time of night?" I wondered as I activated my Byakugan and crept towards the peak.

As I neared the top of the monument the air became increasingly dry and arid, "Whoever is up there is a fire style user." I whispered as I took in the damaged path that cut up the middle of the forest. The path I walked on was still warm from being carved out of the ground by its fiery creator, the trees around it resembled matchsticks, their tops still smoking from the after-effects.

"Hn, maybe I should report to the Hokage about this." I thought but then decided against that idea, as our infamous Tsunade was probably dead drunk by now. So I pressed on straining my Byakugan further as I neared the top of the clearing.

My legs locked up, slamming me into an instant halt as I stared harder into the clearing. "You have got to be kidding me." I mentally grumbled before looking even harder to make sure that my vision was correct.

"Troublesome." I retracted my Byakugan quickly as I pondered somewhat anxiously over the sight I just saw.

"No, it couldn't be. They don't exist anymore; the last clan was wiped out 14 years ago. No one survived no one bears the mark anymore." I mumbled as my heart rate picked up. Suddenly it froze, memories clicked into place and everything started making sense.

"But, today in the hospital Sakura- I saw her shoulder- that mark- that brand- maybe she really is? No- impossible, but I know I saw it. Yes, it was there she must really be one. So there in the clearing is a-" my thoughts screeched to a halt as my mind lost control and began to freak out- no wait Hyuuga's do not 'freak out'. My mind was just thinking a lot of random things at once, yeah that's it. But still I can't deny what lies up there in that clearing, because if I do ill most certainly is in trouble.

"Dragon-"

"I just want the pain to go away, is that too much to ask? My whole life I have only asked for one thing, I've only asked that my precious people stop leaving me! But, I guess that is still to much to ask because I find my heart still breaking!" I roared out into the inky blackness of the night, my body trembling with pain when the sobs rushed through. I just wanted nothing more than to give up and die right there, just to die right there in that cloak of flames that I wore as a result of my new 'inferno' Juutsu as I looked down upon konoha's nightlife.

"Is it because I'm not strong enough? Is that why everyone I love has left me alone?" I questioned, asking no one in particular just wanting an answer. I had always been told my whole life that I was always weak, useless, pathetic, scrawny, frail and fragile.

'Your to weak to be a ninja'

'You bother me'

'Give up'

"Huh." I chuckled as the plan for revenge that had been resting in my mind became alive again.

"So, you all think I'm weak huh? You all left me behind because I wasn't good enough for you? IS THAT WHY? Well, ill show all of you! Ill prove to you that I am stronger when you get back! And if you don't come back!" I screamed finally giving in to the vengeful demon that I had forced to sleep for so many years.

"And if you don't come back, then I guess I'll have to hunt you down myself and prove to you that I could become stronger!" I growled darkly, not caring if I let the pain consume me because quit honestly at least I'd feel full. At least it would be a break from feeling like an empty, hallow shell of what I had always dreamed I would be one day.

"Sakura! Stop it!" I quickly snapped out of it, and slipped into that strange realm again. And when I finally grasped what I was just planning to do I had become suddenly disgusted with the fact that even for a moment I had considered walking down that path.

"Oh god." I whispered, feeling more tears accompany the wave of guilt that washed through me.

"I-I- I'm sorry!" I cried out, apologizing to the ones that I was crying over. Somehow apologizing to the people that cracked and shattered my heart like the fragile glass it was felt wrong.

"Sakura, honey you've got to stay strong okay? What happened to that girl in the hospital who was promising not to turn out like 'he who shall not be named' huh?" Conscience continued, her voice suddenly sympathetic.

"I- I don't know! I don't know anything anymore! I don't know who I am! Or who I am supposed to be!" I yelled back, shamelessly sobbing atop the four great leaders of Konoha.

"You are Sakura Ryuu! You are an amazing dragon and a unknown prodigy who was lucky enough to be picked as the next guardian!" Conscience said, her tone strong and firm. I suddenly felt my tears seize to fall as my honor began to return back to me.

"You are the 14 year old girl who swore in front of the fifth Hokage that you would travel a different path than him? You are the girl who swore to be the guardian she was meant to be, who swore to become a protector of her precious people! Who swore to do what others had failed and not turn to evil for their power!" She was practically yelling now, but that was okay. Because the more she said, the more she yelled, the prouder I felt and the stronger I got.

"Thanks conscience, you might be a real bitch in the ass sometimes but you come through for me." I thanked, mentally hugging my sub-conscience mind.

"I feel so loved." She spat bitterly before retreating back into her little world for some 'alone time.'

Sakura still sat, half-slung over the edge of the Hokage monument under the grace of the silent stars. Now, she felt warm again, she felt like living again.

"Thanks conscience." She whispered before gracefully getting up and turning around, gathering her body under the impressive muscles that writhed and trembled under her fur with intentions of taking off.

But, just before she did Sakura noticed something that she had somehow failed to notice before. The thought pulled her back down to earth- literally as she slowly walked over to three cherry blossom trees. The triplet trees stood in a triangle formation, the two in back were bare from any blossoms, dead to the eyes. But, the one in the front was vibrant with life, bursting with color in full bloom.

"I think- I think I've been here before" she stuttered mentally, while whining outwardly as she was still in dragon form. A lone cherry blossom strayed from the breathing tree, drifting down on a breeze and landing softly on the dragon's nose. Suddenly Sakura's vibrant shamrock eyes flew open as an army of memories attacked her, and became enveloped in a glazed pearly white that made her own orbs resemble the eyes of a Hyuuga.

The top of the Hokage monument was buried underneath a carnation bed of sakura blossoms that were drifting down from two mother trees. The air was sweet with the blossoms smell as it hung lazily atop the mountain, only two be enjoyed by the three beings that were currently atop its peak.

"Raiden, Honey?" called a voice whose melodious tone rivaled that of the sakura blossoms. A man with spiky golden hair and forest green eyes turned to his wife and child, an obviously contented grin adorned his face.

"Ya Hikaru, dear? What is it?" he asked, lazily standing up from his perch upon a mossy rock to be near his wife as she fondeled over a small, clothed bundle under the shade of the tree.

"I think our little cherry blossom is finally waking up. Kami knows she sleeps as much as you do!" The woman teased, gently lifting back a bit of clothe to reveal the innocent face of a baby who stirred in response.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, grinning broadly as he threw his hands up in defeat. "I can't help it if I like to sleep! Just like you cant help your strange obsession for ramen!" Raiden teased, flashing a loving grin at his wife as he snuggled up to her.

"Ugh, Raiden I am not 'obsessed' with ramen. I simply happen to find its taste rather appealing that's all. Oh, look!" Hikaru exclaimed, her misty lavender eyes lighting up as she pointed a slender finger toward one of the many falling cherry blossom. Raiden let out a small chuckle as the soft petals descended upon the innocent face of his daughter causing her to open her brilliant green eyes and smile.

"Hehaha!" the child gurgled, her emerald eyes glistening with excitement as the blossom came to a rest upon her nose earning a small chuckle from her parents.

"She's got your eyes." Hikaru coed, looking up at her husband with pure happiness as she compared the vibrant emeralds of her daughter to the bold forest green eyes of her eternal love.

Raiden smiled lovingly upon the two most important girls of his life, planting a small kiss on the forehead of both. "Which ones?" He teased, momentarily switching between his sharingan eyes and his normal ones. A squealing commotion attracted the attention of the couple and they looked down at their little pink-haired bundle, watching intently as she stared hard at the blossom that tickled her nose.

Suddenly the child's eyes began to change, her green eyes suddenly began to show faint traces of black circles that flowered from her pupil. "Raiden, is it?" Hikaru whispered, staring in shock at her little girl.

"I think so." He answered, waiting for his cherry blossom to do something that made him sure he wasn't going blind with age. And his daughter never failed to meet expectations.

The pink-haired girl awkwardly raised her hands together like she was about to clap them, but instead stared harder at the flower and babbled happily when small flames flickered from her palms momentarily. Hikaru looked like she was about to faint, but Raiden had the most overjoyed look on his face.

"That's my girl! So she'll be a Fire style ninja just like her old man huh?" He said, eyes twinkling with pride as he stuck his tongue out childishly to his wife who in turn only rolled her eyes at her husband's silly antics. Raiden then smiled and took his index finger and middle finger and poked sakura lightly in the forehead, something he did every day since she was born.

"Huh, so sweetie no water or ice style, not even a little?" Hiruka asked, somewhat disappointed that her little girl took after daddy and not her.

The child only stared somewhat sadly at the singed blossom now, obviously regretting what she did. So, the young child brought both hands together again, but this time a small little stream of green chakra flowed from her palms. The burned blossom began to perk back up again, it no longer looked like it had ever been burned but like it was freshly bloomed and at its peak of beauty.

"Hah! And that's 1-mom 1-dad to you mister! Guess my little girls got more of mommy in her than you thought!" Teased Haruko while playfully poking her husband in the nose. Raiden only looked at his daughter with wide eyes for a moment before bursting into laughter- after all he had just eaten his wife's words.

"Alright alright you got me, so she isn't all me. Hopefully she didn't inherit your abnormal obsession for ramen, ugh!" mocked Raiden, his eyes playfully dancing with joy at his daughters newfound gift. "I swear, first it was Kushina and her salt ramen and now you've picked up on it! Ill be darned if Sakura doesn't end up with some friend that s obsessed with it too." He joked lightly, dancing on glass around the topic of their deceased friends.

Raiden wasn't born in Konoha but moved there at the age of two, quickly becoming fast friends with a six year old Minato. Many said that the two had to be related because of their appearance which was almost identical save Raikens hair was a browner gold and his eyes were green, not blue. While Hikaru was born in Konoha (although she was from the same clan as Raiken, just different branches) and had been friends with Kushina since they could walk. Both knew of the sacrifices that their friends made to save the city of Konoha a little over a year ago, and they had wept the most over the sad news. The shinobi hadn't been close enough to aid in the effort and the couple knew that Kushina and Minato would refuse their offers of help no matter what.

"We'll have to seal her powers Hikaru, you know that right?" Raiden asked, his tone suddenly becoming various serious to match the complexion of his face. Hikaru's face tightened in response to her husbands, accepting the sad fate that now rested heavily upon her daughter.

"I know, it's because of Orochimaru right?" She asked quietly, cradling the child closer to her as she looked at the girls sparkling green eyes.

"Yes, if he gets wind that she is the next rinnegan user, he wont stop until she is either dead or until he has control over her either way we have to do this to protect her Hikaru, it's the only defense we have against him once we are gone." He replied, the slight pain of sorrow tainted his voice as he looked down toward his daughter wondering why it had to be her. True, Raiden was the proudest father in the world right then, but it pained him to know that his daughter may never lead a normal shinobi life (if there was such a thing) and would always be in danger.

But the little girl, smiled. She grinned the broadest, happiest, most heart warming grin that either of them had ever seen in their lives. The smile of their little girl seemed to reach their hearts, almost feeding their very souls with joy and happiness.

"That smile…" Hikaru breathed, entranced by the enlightening qualities of her almost newborn child.

"It's just hers." They whispered together, both meeting eyes and then snuggling into a hug as they stood under the shade of the cherry blossom tree's overlooking Konoha.

"We will always lo-"

*Snap*

Suddenly the whole memory began to shatter like a glass mirror, and I could only watch as the pleasure of my past wilted away to the pain of the present.

*snap*

I whipped my head around, eyes flaring with anger as I growled deeply in my throat and searched for whatever creature had dare disturbed the one moment I had of happiness.

"There!" I hissed, lunging at the shinobi with unmatchable speed as I easily grabbed said imposter by the back of their robes, flying back to the very edge of the mountain where I dangled them over the edge of the cliff. The bloodlust that emanated from me hung thickly in the air as I held the life of a shinobi in my grasp, giving them a spectacular view of the Konoha nightlife.

Neji Hyuuga didn't have time to figure out what was happening, until it happened. One moment, he was spying on a seemingly trance induced, flame engulfed dragon throw a complete hissy fit over nothing. And the next, he was perceruosly suspended over the edge of the Hokage monument with the only thing separating him from a very painful death was a pair of deadly jaws that belonged to a very pissed off dragon.

"Hyuuga! What the hell are you doing here?" The dragon growled a deep, menacing guttural growl while she interrogated him mentally. Obviously succeeding in the area of multitasking.

"Hn" Neji replied, his face stoic as ever as he stared with the dragon, eye to eye.

"You know Hyuuga, I could just drop you here and now and you'd die, and id think you'd love to know that I don't feel like saving your worthless pearly eyed ass today!" Sakura hissed, her eyes pulsing madly with the emerald hatred, black lines faintly peeking through. Neji seemingly un phased let out "hmph" daring her to do it.

"Then why don't you?" he challenged; shooting sakura with a painful glare as her eyes throbbed more violently with every breath she took. Suddenly an unsettling smile crept onto the face of the ivory dragon, causing Neji's heart to suddenly stop.

"Now I've done it." He thought, suddenly realizing that he was messing with something that was literally made to kill, but nonetheless kept that damned stoic mask.

"Fine, I will." She replied maliciously, opening her jaws and releasing the Hyuuga with no intentions of saving him what so ever. In fact, a feeling of success washed over her after the drop.

"Sakura, you know you should probably go save him before he becomes a pancake right?" Conscience nagged causing Sakura to snap out of her bloodthirsty trance that rivaled the lust of shukaka's.

"Dammit Hyuuga, Your ass is fucking lucky that I have a god damn conscience!" She sheepishly replied while letting out a sigh of irritation.

" I think someone just fucking beat my fucking swear record." Hidan cussed.

Kazuko turned and glared at his speech-challenged teammate, "Shut up." He droned.

Hidan glared back at Kazuko. "Fuck off would ya stitches."

"Your welcome by the way Hyuuga." The carnation mained dragon hissed, stealing a glance back at her clearly pissed off cargo as she made her way off to the Hyuuga complex. Groaning angrily to herself about how 'I shouldn't waste my time on his sorry ass' and such.

"Hn, I didn't ask you to save me?" Neji asked blankly, the emotionless mask adorned his face as he clutched onto the dragons ivory horns for support. Neji wasn't supposed to feel emotions, but still he found his body betraying himself as he looked down upon the Konoha nightlife from the back of a legend.

"Well I suppose you were just going to fly yourself out of there before you resembled my breakfast hmm? O wait, I forgot you weren't." Sakura snapped, her voice overflowing with sarcasm as she emanated annoyance from every pore. But Neji knew that she wouldn't of let him fall, he knew that wasn't in the nature of a dragon. In fact, Neji knew more about dragons then sakura did herself.

"You're a Ryuu aren't you?" He asked nonchalantly looking down at the dragons face but finding her eyes gave away NO emotion while she was like this. It was almost creepy how void they were, but sakura allowed one thing to fill them – utter shock and heart braking sorrow.

"How did you know Hyuuga? Conscience told me that nobody knew about my clan." Sakura growled dangerously, warning him to keep his trap shut now that he knew the secret. Neji eyed her suspiciously, storing away that little 'conscience' information bit for later.

"My Uncle, when I was young he made me read through the entire Hyuuga library in one year. The last book I found was fairly old and bound in dragons hide." Neji explained, receiving a visible wince when he said 'dragons hide'.

"That was the only book on the infamous Ryuu clan, the purest dragon clan in the shinobi world. The book mainly held tales of the brave dragons who cherished their teammates more than missions and such, but no new information has been added since fourteen years ago. The book also told of the new generations who had ninja forms as well for safety, and how while in ninja form the pure main members bore a brand of the Ryuu clan and whilst in dragon form they wear the markings of their hidden village as a sign of loyalty." Neji drawled, allowing his eyes to nonchalantly flicker to her shoulders for a moment ensuring that she did bear the Konoha symbol.

"I'm impressed Hyuuga, you actually managed to say more than a couple of words! But how did you know it was me huh? I could've been any old dragon but you knew who I was before I even growled one word in your mind didn't you?" Sakura concluded, feeling slightly uneasy as to how fast Neji cam to the conclusion that she was a Ryuu.

"Pink hair, Green eyes, and in the hospital I saw you brand mark on your left shoulder blade." Neji said, sounding quite bored with the whole conversation, which successfully ticked the dragon off to her wits end.

"Neji, I need you to promise something to me." Sakura said, her voice suddenly hinting 'I'm fucking serious don't think this is a joke' as she stole a glance back at Neji who actually managed to raise an eyebrow at her.

"Hn." He uttered, but that was enough of an answer for sakura to know he meant yes.

"Promise you wont tell anyone about what was said tonight, what you saw or what you know about me okay? Please promise me that." Sakura pleaded, training her eyes forward as they advanced upon the gates of the Hyuuga estates.

"Sure, but why are you so worried?" Neji asked, suddenly catching himself at the thought he was actually semi- concerned for the pink Kionochi.

"Because Neji-San, he will come after me if the word gets around. And I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me." Sakura felt her heart began to descend into the inky blackness of despair knowing what his next question would be.

"Who?" Neji once again caught his tongue at his concern for the girl-erm dragon that was now lightly touching down a safe distance from the main Hyuuga courts.

"Huh, Orochimaru Neji. Orochimaru that's who. That snake-bastard took everything from me and as if that weren't enough he wants me too now." Sakura stated coldly, her eyes zeroing in on Neji's own pearly ones as her gaze hardened with sadness.

"Why would he want you?" He said it in such a cool manor that one would never think that he was actually quite angry inside, mad that the sound leader couldn't just leave with Sasuke he wanted sakura too.

"Neji, do you want to know what happened to the Ryuu clan?" Her voice became heavy with that 'this is fucking serious' tone again as Neji's eyes widened just a fraction of a bit, so small that maybe if you had a magnified glass you could see them open up.

"Hn." He replied, his tone matching the emotionless one of sakura's as he glared back at her. He knew something wasn't right, and he needed to know what the heck was going on.

Sakura sighed heavily with grief; chocking back a sob (yes dragons can cry) as she began to rely what she knew to Neji.

"The Ryuu clan was murdered Neji, slaughtered." Neji's eyes opened another fraction as he looked at sakura with newfound feelings.

"I was very young when it happened, but dragons can remember everything from the moment they first open their eyes till the moment they die. I was there, I watched him kill my parents! I watched him slaughter them like filthy pigs! All I could do what watch as Orochimaru eradicated the entire Ryuu clan, he stormed the village with every sound ninja and allied force he had. And that fucking snake was from our own village too! He was half Ryuu! And he killed everyone in his own fucking village!" Sakura hadn't noticed that she had changed back into her Kionochi self, and was now shamelessly sobbing out her words as she hunched over on the ground. Neji was needless to say somewhat shocked, and immediately made a somewhat disturbing connection – Massacre – family – UCHIHA!

"No! Why do you care about her? She is just another weak Kionochi with a suckish past big deal!" Neji thought, but his emotions betrayed his rational thoughts and he couldn't imagine the hell sakura was going through then.

"He wanted me because of my powers, I was supposedly the next Ryuu prodigy, but look at how weak I am Neji! You're a prodigy, not me. You're smart and brave and really skilled at everything Shinobi, while I can only manage to stand by and watch everyone take my hits for me." Sakura whimpered, suddenly realizing how pathetic she seemed she went to get up and walk away but felt something brush against her shoulder.

"Neji-kun?" she gasped as he sat down next to her, an emotionless mask still plastered on his face as he looked toward the glittering stars, trying to take in all of the information sakura had just put through him.

"EEK! Say something! Say something dammit!" Conscience screamed before fainting.

"But, that's when I awoke my true form Neji-kun. When we battled Orochimaru on the bridge, I just felt like I was done having other people fight my fights and take my hits so for once I stood up for myself and found that gave me the strength to protect my teammates." Sakura said, catching Neji slightly off guard as he voice had stopped stuttering and was now calm and easy. Not peaceful in any way, no Neji knew very well that Sakura could be anything but peaceful right now, and in a way he kind of pitied the poor girl.

"So why keep fighting? You should have just become a civilian and then Orochimaru would've never found you." Neji couldn't stop the words from coming out and by the time he realized what he said it was already too late.

"OH Neji, you've really done it now haven't you?" he thought to himself as the pink Kionochi turned slowly to face him, her face eerily blank of any and all emotions- It was like her poker face just this one said 'die'.

"So Neji, you suggest I just give up huh? Do you know how many times I've wanted to give up, how many times I just fucking wanted to call it quits and go home because no one ever saw me as a ninja! Do you know how many times I've been called weak, annoying, useless-by my own team!" Sakura hissed, her voice suddenly rising to a dangerous scream as it reached 'team'.

"Whoa there sakura, easy!" Her conscience reminded her.

"This is not about Sasuke remembering! Neji doesn't deserve to feel your wrath!" She chastised as sakura felt guilty for poor Neji but still couldn't quench her thirst for a good screaming banter.

To many times Neji! My whole life its been 'Give up' and 'your annoying' and 'your weak' and Ugh! I'm done doing what people say, from now on I'm going to live by my shinobi law, not by the words of others!" Sakura screamed, her eyes turning feral again as her face grew hot under the anger she held. Neji cocked an eyebrow, actually miniscually impressed with this girl's bravery to yell at him like that.

"And what might your Shinobi law be huh?" Neji mocked, engaging in a glare to the death as he waited for her to answer.

"My shinobi law is that I will do anything and everything to protect my precious ones. And that my mission is to die protecting them." Sakura growled, suddenly leaning right next to Neji's ear, he felt a hot flash go through him as he felt her breath tickle his neck and for some reason he couldn't move.

"I was born with the mission to die, to protect my precious ones, bring peace, and accomplish what other chosen ones have failed to do. And if they claim it cannot be done, claim it's impossible for a little girl like me to do a big thing like that. If they say there is no way, then I'll laugh. Because if I can't find a way, ill make one." She breathed, and suddenly Sakura was gone, leaving a storm of cherry blossoms and a very confused Neji to sit by himself for a moment on the cool soft grass under the moon thinking about what the hell just happened.

"What the hell just happened?" he thought as he watched the blossoms wilt and drift down to the ground.

"She isn't anything like I thought she was, a lot stronger and braver." Neji thought before feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. That greatly confused him, why was he feeling this way? Emotions just get in the way of the mission! Hyuuga's have no emotions!

"So why do I feel like this?" Neji whispered before immediately turning tail and walking back to the main Hyuuga compound.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered, the tingle of warmth spreading on my cheeks as I watched the sun break from behind the mountains. Sleep hadn't come to me; instead I restlessly tossed and turned for a grand total of 5 hours before concluding that watching the sunrise would calm me.

"I don't know, fucking tell everyone the damned secret already!" Conscience chimed in, of course right on time.

I inwardly glared, "Save it conscience, I'm not in the mood today." I growled at her. Conscience huffed in annoyance and returned the glare, oh how I wish she were real so I could kick her sorry ass!

"Well outer, you never seem to be in the mood for me." Conscience nagged, sticking her imaginary tongue out at me to which I rolled my eyes.

I decided to ignore my conscience for now and just enjoy the sun as it rose up in the sky, something that helped soothe my fried nerves and calm me down. But suddenly I sensed another chakra signature and recognized it immediately, drawing a smug grin as I faced toward the sun.

"Sakura Haruno." He asked, the shinobi obviously addressing me.

"Ahh, Captain Yamato, to what to I owe this delightful visit hm?" I answered, turning around to face the ANBU captain sweetly.

Captain Yamato smiled a sincere smile, "The Hokage requests your prescience at her office immediately," He stated simply before poofing off in a cloud of smoke.

"Ahh" I breathed out, slightly annoyed that I never seemed to be allowed more than a few moments of peace. But, it's not my sensei's fault that she has the most ironic timing of anyone I knew. I felt a small smile tug at my lips as I took off running toward the Hokage tower, I don't know why but I had a feeling that today everything would change.

(Fast forward)

Sakura stood before the Hokage's door, fist raised and ready to knock. Several things were running through her mind, like why is the whole Konoha 10 inside her office? Whatever it was Sakura knew that it had to be important to call everyone in.

Sakura felt another chakra signature walking up and turned to greet Shizune, smiling warmly as she played with her carnation pink hair. "Hey Shizune, what's up?" Shizune smiled as she opened the Hokage's door.

"Sakura Finally! Haven't I ever taught you anything about punctuality?" Tsunade screamed, slamming a fist down on her poor wooden desk causing a nice tremor to form in it.

Sakura glanced around at the rest of the Konoha 10, who each had the same anxiety ridden anxious expression that she had on, well all except for Neji who had his damned pride and shino who hid whatever he was feeling behind a high collar and a pair of sunglasses. "Sorry Tsuande-Sama, I promise I wont let it happen again." Sakura said, amazed that she managed to not sound like Hinata the whole time.

"I hope so for your own good Sakura." Tsunade teased while pointing at the line of ninja. "Now go line up, I have a very important announcement to make."

"Hai!" sakura nodded before high-tailing it over to Ino, barely able to resist the urge of hiding behind her like a lost puppy who had been kicked one too many times.

"Alright you Ninja, there are a few things that I have noticed lately about our shinobi here that need to change. First up, the teams seem to be having problems lately-" everyone began to glance nervously back at each other, even akamaru let out a small whine.

"So, I'm splitting up the teams!" The whole room fell deadly silent, not a single breath could be heard and then- utter chaos!

"WHAT? YOUR DOING WHAT!" Ino screeched.

"BUT OUR TEAMS WERE FINE!" Kiba piped in, not half as loud as Ino of course.

"YES! THEY WERE VERY YOUTHFUL!" (Do I even have to say It.)?

"SHUT UP!" Tsunade roared, glaring at everyone with satisfaction as they all shrunk back into their own little corners. Sakura glared at Ino, who knew that the glare was a 'your so going to get it from me later' glare and silently gulped. Sakura smirked upon seeing this and suddenly thought how if Naruto were here right now she would've punched him into next week and then some.

"Ugh, now then what was I going to say? Oh yes, your current teams are being disbanded and then re-assembled due to some erm- difficulties with a certain team." Tsunade said, obviously referring to sakura's little problem, as she was the only remaining member of team seven.

"And as of now you all have been demoted to genin again." Surprisingly no grunts of annoyance or protest rang out, but then again none of the ninja really wanted to get their heads pounded into oblivion at the moment.

"Due to the obvious problems with the previous Chunin exams *cough*cough* Orochimaru-Sasuke-Gaara*cough*cough* the elders and I have decided to re-run them in exactly one month got it?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, questioning them on if they dared refuse her or not.

Suddenly the Konoha 11 shot forward from their places against the wall, standing straight. "Hai!" they all chanted together earning a nod from Tsunade as she glanced to Shizune, signaling her to bring a freshly done scroll.

But, of course it couldn't be that simple now could it? Just as Tsunade way tearing open the scroll someone started pounding on the door, yelling about something or other. "In." Tsunade grunted, rubbing her temples as she gestured to the door and it opened to Asuma, Kurenai, Might guy, and Yamato who stared around obviously wondering the same thing Sakura had.

"Hokage sama, what's this all about? It doesn't seem very youthful" All eyes turned to a green spandex clan ninja, wondering what the hell he was thinking and sakura in particular thinking that he obviously didn't care about youthfulness as much as he claimed to.

Kurenai nervously glanced back between the clearly pissed off blonde whose sake levels were getting dangerously low, and an oblivious furry-browed ninja who was about to get his ass whooped in the next five seconds. So, taking after the ritual she had seen sakura perform on a daily basis and promptly smacked Guy upside the head. "Hokage, please excuse him." She said, her voice coated with that unsettling sugary-sweetness that just made you want to take off running.

Tsunade glanced back at sakura, and the two silently snickered at Kurenai's familiar actions before she finally opened the scroll. "Alright, So the original Konoha 11 teams have been disbanded and I have the new ones right here. You each will be under a sensei prior the Chunin exams and if and when you pass you can decide as a team if you wish to continue under their training or not." Tsuande's eyes darted around the room, taking in everyone's reactions and practically breaking into a fit of laughter when she saw rock lee and might guy practically sobbing as they 'man-hugged' their last moments as sensei and student.

'So much for not showing your emotions because you're a ninja.' Sakura huffed, eyes them critically before glancing back at tenten who looked just about ready to smash her head into a wall-repeatedly.

Tsunade cleared her throat before continuing, "So the first team is "Team San" under Asuma. The respective members of his team are as follows-" The stress and anxiety in the air was so tangible that Sakura wondered to herself for a moment if releasing her chakra into the air would calm it down, but decided against it because it would most likely end up like one of her other humiliatingly numerous failed attempts to calm multiple people with chakra.

"Hinata Hyuuga." Hinata somehow managed to keep herself from fainting when she heard her name, " Chooji" said ninja just continued to munch on his chips as Asuma groaned, thinking that at least he already knew how to deal with one of the worlds only obese ninja. "Kiba" The canine-like teen flashed a smile at his former team Kurenai teammate, glad that he would know at least someone on the team.

"Alright Team! Let's get going we ha-" Asuma began before noticing the irritated 'I wasn't finished' look that was plastered to the Hokage's face and promptly snapped his jaw closed really wanting to avoid being pummeled into the basement.

"Thanks." She hissed "And finally, Tenten." The weapons master practically squealed with delight as she ran to hug Hinata, truly happy she wasn't going to be stuck on an all boy team. "Alright Asuma, I'm done now. Take this scroll and head out immediately. Each team will be tested immediately with a mission to see if they can cooperate with one another." Asuma nodded nervously before snatching the scroll out of the Hokage's hand and quickly rushing his team out the door, anxious to get out of Tsuande's sight before she put him in the hospital for a week.

Tsunade watched as the five shinobi scurried out of her office, letting out an annoyed huff of air as soon as the door was closed and the sound-sealing Juutsu re-initiated. "Ugh, Kurenai how do you put up with that?" She asked in a slightly disgusted tone, to witch Kurenai laughed lightly shrugging her shoulders.

"You know, I ask myself the same questions sometimes." Kurenai responded sweetly. Tsunade just nodded and unfurled the scroll further.

"Moving on, the second team is "team ni" and that will be led by Might Guy." She said, eying rock lee with delight as she saw him practically tremble with anticipation. 'Good, let him suffer this will teach him to pay for his loud mouth,' she thought deviously.

"So the members of Team Ni are Ino" Sakura just patted the platinum blonds back re-assurngly, pitying the poor girl for having to deal with bushy brows senior for the next month. Ino sighed and eyed her pinkette friend before grumbling over to stand next to her new sensei.

"Moving on next we have Shino Aburama." Who of course, just walked silently over to stand next to Ino his mask and glasses hiding any flicker of emotion that made the guy human.

"Sai will also be assigned to your team as soon as we retrieve him so for now you guys will be one short." Guy inwardly groaned, cursing Tsunade for giving him two emotionless drones as half of his team and a bratty blonde for the other. But nonetheless both he and his 'mini-mi' were biting their youthful nails, youthfully hoping that for their youthfulness they were assigned to the same youthful team.

"And finally- Neji Hyuuga." The room fell deadly silent and then suddenly burst to life as anger spiked chakra flared throughout the room.

"HOKAGE-SAMA? LET NEJI GO ON ANOTHER TEAM, IT ISNT VERY YOUTHFUL FOR HIM TO STAY IN ONE PLACE FOR LONG!" Guy yelled, trying desperately to maintain his youthful composure and not totally loose it in front of the genin.

"What-" Neji grunted dangerously eying the Hokage like she was some Ludacris mental that had just escaped from the insane-asylum for blonds.

"WAA! HOKAGE-SAMA! WHY? WHY BE SO UNYOUTHFUL?" Screamed lee, waving his arms around frantically for emphasis. Tsunade growled slightly and felt a vein pop in her forehead, no one dared to call her un-youthful in any sense unless they wanted to die within the next five seconds.

"Why I outta-" she began, making way to punch lee all the way over Konoha but before she could he fell limp to the ground- knocked out and totally unconscious with a smirking sakura dusting her hands behind him.

"Your welcome Shishou." She teased before turning to Neji and Guy with a 'you guys are so stupid' look on her face.

"You two are so dense! I mean C'mon Neji you have the fucking Byakugan- Use it! You could've just looked straight through the paper to see it for yourself!" Sakura said, rolling her eyes at the shinobi's oblivious state. Guy simply just stood there with a confused look carved into his face while Neji eyed her critically daring her to say that again.

"She's right!" laughed Tsunade, barely able to contain herself enough to look remotely professional. "I was just toying with you, Rock lee I s the final member of Team Ni." She sputtered before burying her head in her robes hopelessly attempting to dull the booming laugh that wiggled out of her. Even Sakura found she couldn't help but giggle slightly at the coffee-haired boys strange behavior.

"Alright now, take your stupid scroll and GIT!" Tsunade yelled, chucking the small rolled up parchment at Gai's head, despite thinking of the new youthful techniques he could teach lee the elder spandex ninja caught the projectile. But of course, that was to be expected he is a ninja, is he not?

Tsunade turned to the remaining four ninja after seeing Kurenai off as she had to go oversee the new teams and make sure that they weren't beating the shit out of each other yet

"Troublesome." Muttered a voice in the corner, causing sakura to practically jump out of her own skin. Shikamaru smirked at Neji before returning to his bored, lazy, inactive posture.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry shika-kun. I forgot you were there you know because your so damn lazy talking is a challenge hm?" Sakura taunted, playfully punching the pineapple haired boy in the arm as he smirked.

"Hn." Sakura growled lowly, more than ready to beat that stupid pearly-eyed freak to a pulp for his limited vocabulary.

"Alright you four, as you might have guessed you are the last team to be assembled." Tsunade said, eying them all with a certain pride.

"Now, you may notice while the other teams have four, you only have three. That is because I specifically put you three together because I believe you are the most accomplished of your class." Sakura snorted at the 'most accomplished of your class' part, for Neji this was totally applicable, but all Shikamaru did was lie on his lazy ass and play Shogi which doesn't really get you anywhere when you're a ninja.

"Understand that I have HIGH expectations for you three as the new members of team Ichi. Captain Yamato is a highly accomplished ANBU leader already so I can assure you he is more than capable of leading you successfully, right Sakura?" Tsunade glared at the pinkette, who suddenly drew a breath remembering how well the last mission went.

Sakura laughed nervously before scratching the back of her head with one arm, "Hai sensei, never late once!" she chirped acknowledging the fact that Yamato had actually been on time for the mission unlike another silver-haired bastard.

Tsunade eyed sakura with a look that said, 'did you really just do that?' before sighing and plucking the final scroll from her pile. "So, Team Ichi will be led by captain Yamato and trained for the following month, the team members consist of Neji Hyuuga, Shikamaru Nara, and Sakura Haruno." Sakura hissed at the mention of 'Haruno', she no longer wanted to be referred by that name anymore, it made her seem weak.

Suddenly sakura was aware of the awkward feelings that hung heavily in the room and glanced around taking note of Neji's disgusted glare, shikamaru's confused and slightly concerned gaze and Yamato's worried eyes.

"Here Yamato, your mission will be particularly harder than the rest and I expect you to report to me within one week. Also, it has come to my attention that having a summon increases ones abilities during battle so I met with the council and we decided that in order to become a Chunin you must have an animal summon." Sakura's eyes went as round as dinner plates, all she could think was 'oh shit oh shit oh shit!' Tsunade noticed her student's anxious contortions of the face and immediately realized the problem, and on glare was all sakura needed. That glare said 'get one on this mission or your screwed! Got it!'

"Alright Team Ichi, gather the necessary supplies for a week long mission and meet me by the gates in exactly 30 minutes. Be prepared and if your not, don't bother showing up." Yamato said, bowing respectfully to the Hokage before poofing out of the room in a cloud of smoke.

But not before he began mentally cursing the Hokage for somehow misinterpreting his 'I agree to temporarily take over team Kakashi' for 'yes, Id love to teach an entire new team of brats for you'. Sakura happened to be standing conveniently next to him and coughed, inhaling the juutsu's fumes as she waved her hand.

Sakura stared around as Neji proceeded to poof out of the room in a similar fashion; only he made sure not to smoke them out of the room. And Shikamaru, just sauntered out to go do whatever shikamaru's do.

"Lazy ass" Sakura muttered under her breath, before starting to make her necessary hand signals to have an overly dramatic exit as well.

But just as she neared the final ones, "And Sakura-" The pinkette stopped moving dead in her tracks, and slowly turned to face the Hokage who had an unusually smug face on- it scared her.

"Y-yes Shishou?" She asked hesitantly, worried that she might be deemed 'not strong enough' and stuck on the sidelines as a medic nin- again.

" Try not to pound their heads in too hard, and remember to have a summoning animal by the time you return or don't even bother with the team." Sakura nodded with a yes, and turned to leave the old fashioned way using that weird door thing.

"Oh and Sakura-" Tsunade said, her tone suddenly taking on one that alerted sakura to a 'she wants revenge' attitude on her sensei.

"He HATES spicy food." Sakura's eyes flew open as she turned to thank her sensei with an equally smug grin on her face.