I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 9: Idiocy

Monday morning arrived and Sakura made it to Tsunade's office bright and early ready to begin developing her jutsu. She chatted with Tsunade until Hiashi arrived.

"I apologize for being late, Hokage-sama."

"You are not late, Sakura is just always early." Bowing Hiashi turned to Sakura.

"Sakura-san, Neji asked me to inform you that he was called away on a mission last night and will regretfully not be able to join you for the scheduled training session."

"Oh, well, thank you for letting me know." Sakura said as her good mood dissipated. "Do you know when he is scheduled to return?"

"Unfortunately I do not; however, you are more than welcome to come to the compound whenever you would like. My daughters and I will be sparring after this and you are welcome to come join us."

"Thank you." Sakura said, although her face didn't seem to lift at all. Tsunade mentally shook her head. That girl has it bad.

"Well, why don't we begin?"

As Neji leapt from tree to tree, he couldn't help but be less than enthusiastic about this mission. Usually he loved the adrenaline rush that came with his mission, but today he couldn't focus – pink and green kept getting in the way. He was so preoccupied with his inner musings that had his byakugan not been activated the shuriken would have done more damage than they did. As it is, Neji managed to avoid lethal damaged as he and his team turned to face the rogue ninja.

Neji was mentally cursing at his luck. It seemed that rather than wait for Konoha ninja to try to recover the stolen scrolls, the rogue ninja had laid a trap. Quickly forming a plan in his head Neji relayed his orders to the team. It took several seconds but the ANBU from Konoha took control of the fight and retrieved the scrolls.

After disposing of the rogue ninja's bodies, Neji assessed his team. Apparently, he was the only one injured, he scowled at this realization. Then he realized that he had a legitimate reason to go see Sakura. Turning to his team, he informed them that they would return immediately to Konoha.

Sakura slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She could hear voices near her, and slowly realized she was in the Hokage's office. She vaguely remembered talking with her shishou and Hiashi about her jutsu. HER JUTSU! Sakura immediately sat up only to reach for her head. Tsunade was at her side quickly while Hiashi went to get a glass of water.

"Welcome back. How do you feel?" Sakura attempted to talk but found her throat too dry to do so. Just as she was about to try and ask for water and elegant hand reached out and handed a glass to her. She looked up and smiled gratefully at Hiashi and he nodded in response. After drinking the glass of water, Sakura turned to Tsunade to answer the question.

"I am not really sure. I have a bit of a headache and feel slightly drained but that is it."

"Good, Sakura, I am impressed you handled that well and completed the jutsu with no problem."

"So it worked then?"

"Yes it did, take a look." Sakura did as she suggested and lifted up her shirt. There directly over her chakra core was the symbol for the village hidden in the leaves. Sakura looked up and gave Tsunade one of the most brilliant smiles Hiashi had ever seen. Much to his chagrin, Hiashi found himself envious of his nephew. He was brought out of his musings by the subject of said musings.

"Hiashi-sama, have you used your byakugan to examine it yet?"

"Not yet, Sakura-san, I felt it was best to wait for you to awaken to get your permission."

"Thank you for respecting my privacy, you may go ahead and examine it now." Hiashi activated his kekkei genkai and scanned Sakura.

"Congratulations, Sakura, you have accomplished your goal. Although there is a slight distortion lying over your chakra core, only those with the keenest abilities would be able to sense it. Even then it would most likely be written off as a natural variance in your chakra system." Hiashi had been prepared for the young woman to show her excitement much as her teammate would have; however, she remained subdued impressing him once more.

"Thank you, Hiashi-sama. When may I begin the next step, shishou?" Before Tsunade had, a chance to answer Hiashi spoke up.

"Sakura-san, your chakra reserves are depleted. I feel it wise for you to rest for the day. You can always stop by the compound tomorrow." Before Sakura could protest, Tsunade spoke up.

"I agree with Hiashi. Now I know you have a shift at the hospital later, so I am going to tell you to eat something and rest in the doctors' lounge. If you are needed during your shift a nurse will wake you, if not you will be woken at the end of your shift to go home. I do not want to see you in my office until noon tomorrow, and no chakra use unless absolutely necessary until then." Sakura nodded her head in understanding, knowing it would be pointless to argue.

"Okay, I will see you tomorrow, shishou. Hiashi-sama, could you let Neji know where I am if he gets back tonight?"

"Of course, Sakura-san." After Sakura left, Tsunade pulled out a bottle of sake and two dishes.

"Now, about those two…"

Neji pushed his team to the limits in the effort to return to Konoha. Several times the members were so concerned for their captain's well-being that they went so far as to voice those concerns. Each time they did so Neji's only response was to increase the speed. As a result, the team arrived at ANBU headquarters in record time. After delivering the scrolls and a verbal report, Neji's team was dismissed and Neji had direct orders to report to the hospital. No one saw Neji smile behind his mask.

Sakura felt like she had just closed her eyes when a nurse entered the lounge and woke her up.

"Haruno-san, an ANBU captain has just returned from a mission and requires your attention."

"Okay, um, what time is it?"

"Ten-thirty. Shizune-san said you could go home after this patient."

"Very well then. Room number?" Sakura asked as both women exited the lounge.

"ER curtain 2."

"Name?"

"Hyuuga Neji…" The nurse said although she is sure Sakura hadn't heard her as she had taken off as soon as the name left the nurse's lips.

Sakura could not remember ever being this scared in her life. As soon as the nurse started saying the patient's name Sakura knew who it was. She was in such a hurry to get to him that she nearly ran past his room. Sakura heaved the biggest sigh of relief as she pulled the curtain aside and saw him sitting up without his shirt on. Once Sakura's brain registered Neji's state of undress, she held her breath for a completely different reason.

"Sakura, are you okay?" Neji asked when she came into the room. Shaking herself out of her stupor, Sakura was quite happy her voice still worked.

"Yes, Neji, I am fine. It's just that when an ANBU captain arrives at the ER he or she is usually in critical condition. Although your injuries don't seem that severe."

"No they are not."

"What happened?" Sakura asked as she moved behind Neji to assess the wounds at the back of his left shoulder and arm.

"I was hit with several shuriken while leaping through the trees."

"These wounds don't look too severe. Why did your medic not heal you?"

"We only travel with a medic on certain missions."

"Oh, I keep telling shishou we need more medics. Well since you travelled back to Konoha with these I am going to have to disinfect them before I heal them."

"That's fine do what you need to do."

As Sakura moved around the room gathering what she needed, Neji was pondering her response to the fact that his team did not regularly travel with a medic. Just something else we have in common, our passion for our duty to Konoha.

"Ready, Neji?" He nodded in response and slipped into a light meditative state. Sakura gently applied the disinfectant to Neji's wounds and was not surprised when he didn't flinch in the slightest. This was Hyuuga Neji after all. However, the way his muscles trembled every time she touched him quickly became very fascinating to Sakura. She couldn't help but wonder if she would get a chance to do this under different circumstances.

Neji was mildly aware of the stinging sensation as Sakura applied the disinfectant. However, he was most definitely aware of her hands as she massaged the disinfectant into his wounds. Her touch never ceased to cause new reactions in him – not to mention new fantasies. Before he could wander down that road, Neji felt Sakura remove her hands.

"The wounds are clean, Neji, now I am going to heal you."

As Sakura made the last statement Neji caught himself thinking just how much he could really relax when around Sakura. He felt her chakra withdraw from his body, and realized she was finished the healing.

"Well, Neji, those are healed, anything else you need?"

"No, at least not from your medical skills." As Neji stood and turned to face Sakura, he mentally cursed realizing he had said the entire sentence aloud, if Sakura's blush was anything to go by. Trying frantically to think of something to say Neji was saved when Shizune walked in.

"Oh, Sakura, you are finished." Shizune waited for Sakura to nod. "In that case you are free to go, just remember what Tsunade said."

"What, um, oh right. I can't do anything until I see her at noon tomorrow." Turning to Neji Shizune continued speaking.

"You are free to leave as well Neji, although the Hokage asked a favor."

"And what would that favor be?"

"She would like you to walk Sakura home." Not expecting that Neji didn't answer right away. Rather he looked at Sakura who, after finishing the note in his chart, was looking at him expectantly.

"Tell the Hokage that it would be my pleasure." In addition, for the second time in twenty minutes Neji was trying to figure out what happened to the filter between his brain and his mouth.

As Neji waited for Sakura to collect her belongings so they could leave he was trying to figure out why the Hokage and Shizune were so concerned for Sakura's well-being and why she was on restricted duty. Did something happen, while I was away? If someone hurt her, he or she is going to have to deal with me. Neji paused and tried to figure out where these thoughts were coming from. He had never reacted this way to anyone before, and these reactions were beginning to unnerve him.

"Neji, I'm ready." Neji nodded and walked with Sakura, discreetly he activated his byakugan to examine Sakura. He narrowed his eyes when he realized her chakra was depleted, more than it should have been after the healing.

"Sakura, why is your chakra depleted?" Sakura turned on him sharply.

"What do you mean?"

"Your chakra is lower than it should be after what you did."

"And how would you know?"

"I examined you with my byakugan."

"Excuse me!"

"I examined you…"

"I heard what you said. What I don't understand is why." By this time, they arrived at Sakura's house.

"I wanted to know why the Hokage and Shizune were concerned about your well-being."

"So rather than asking you invaded my privacy with your eyes?" Neji wasn't sure why she was so irritated. He just wanted to make sure she was okay.

"Never mind. Thank you for walking me home. Good night." Before Neji had a chance to respond Sakura had gone into the house and shut the door. Neji debated on knocking but then decided against it. If she didn't want to appreciate his concern than he didn't want to deal with her.

Hiashi heard Neji enter the compound and wondered what had aggravated him this much. Part of him knew he should be concerned with Neji's uncharacteristic display of emotion, but he let it go. He needs to learn how to deal with emotions.

Despite her irritation with Neji, Sakura slept like a rock. After eating breakfast she decided she would see if Ino needed any help (at least that was her excuse).

Ino looked up as the bell to the flower shop rang.

"Hey, Sakura, what's up?"

"Not much so I figured I would see if you needed help today."

"Besides some girl talk, nope I'm good." Sakura smiled, Ino always knew when she needed to talk. Sakura proceeded to tell Ino about last night with Neji.

Neji could not sleep; he tossed and turned all night. Something was bothering him, he just didn't know what. The lack of sleep put Neji in a rather foul mood during breakfast. As Hinata and Hanabi were trying to decide how to talk to Neji he decided for them.

"Hinata, did Sakura always react to someone showing concern for her with spite?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when I walked her home last night I used my byakugan to look at her." Neji couldn't figure out why both of his cousins looked so shocked Hanabi recovered first.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to make sure she was okay." Hinata shook her head at her older cousin.

"Why didn't you just ask?" At this it was Neji's turn to look at his cousin incredulously.

"He didn't."

"He did and the worst part is I don't think he has any clue as to why I was upset." Ino laughed, no wonder Sakura needed to talk.

"Well, Sakura, it looks like you have your work cut out for you. What are you planning to do?"

"I am not sure. I have a meeting with Tsunade this afternoon and his uncle will be there. I thought maybe I would mention that his nephew needs to learn some manners." Ino smirked; she loved when Sakura was so devious.

Tsunade and Hiashi were sitting in the office talking about the "relationship" when Sakura came in.

"Good morning Sakura. How do you feel today?"

"Physically fine, emotionally irritated." Both Tsunade and Hiashi were slightly confused.

"May I ask why?"

"Boys with presumptuous eyes."