A/N: *Sigh*, Okay readers, I'm going to put this into action in advance. Once this story is finished do you want me to edit the begining or start the sequel. I really think the beginning needs to be edited because Failing Mentality madesome very valid points that I completely agree with and have planned out, they just need to be written. Or do you want the sequel? Keep in mind that the first few chapters shape a story and those chapters are over a year old. Theres a poll on my profile, please share you're opinion. Thank you.

I forfilled a promise this chapter, they'll know who they are xD

Disclaimer: I lack the ownership of all things Naruto-esque. That honour belongs to masashi Kishimoto.

Raibaru

Rivals

Sparks flew and tears fell

It was only a matter of time.

-----x-----

He followed Sasuke silently, up one set of stairs and then another. It seemed to take forever, the sound of their footsteps seeming to echo. They arrived on the roof, he noticed bed sheets had been hung up to be dried by Mother Nature's hand. They stopped near the middle, standing opposite one another, fierce cerulean locked on blazing Sharingan.

'What is this feeling?' Naruto thought, a slight shake wracking through his body. 'The bottom of my stomach is twitching.'

"I want to fight you too."

'And, it's giving me a thrill.' Naruto looked up with an excited grin which Sasuke scowled at.

"What's so funny?" The Uchiha demanded.

"Nothings funny dattebayou. I'm excited. To think that I can finally beat you here," Naruto said. 'I only wish Kari-chan were here to see it.'

"Our priority is to take Naruto-kun and Kari with us, as ordered by our organisation Akatsuki."

"Nan da to?! Cut the nonsense you dropout!" Sasuke snapped.

"I won't be anyone's burden, nor a dropout forever."

"I have no interest in you right now."

Sakura appeared at the doorway with Kita by her side. They looked on worriedly as Sasuke's glare intensified, both boys ignoring their added presence.

"Temee usurakontachi! Why are you so full of yourself?!" Sasuke shouted.

"Ha! You who's always been so cool-headed is talking more than usual! That's not like you," Naruto retorted. "Could it be that you're scared despite the fact it was you who picked the fight, Sasuke?"

"Whatever, let's get started," Sasuke said, a smirk coming to his face.

"Before that, put on your hitai-ate," Naruto said. "I'll wait."

"I won't need it," Sasuke said confidently.

"I don't care. Just put it on!" Naruto shouted.

"You won't even be able to scratch my forehead," Sasuke said, pointing his thumb towards his bare forehead.

"Tch, that's not what I mean! This Konoha hitai-ate is proof we're fighting evenly!"

"That's what I mean when I say you're full of yourself!" Sasuke shouted. "You think you and I are equals?"

"Aa, we are! I've never thought of myself as any lower than you," Naruto said confidently. 'Kari-chan never let me, she always looked up to me and treated me as her equal, as Sasuke's equal, everyone's equal.'

"You're an eyesore!" Sasuke snapped.

"That's because you're still weak Sasuke-chan!" Naruto mocked.

And that was the final straw, the fight begun and Sakura could only watch and desperately pray for Kari to wake.

"Naruto!!"

"Sasuke!!"

Both boys charged with a punch, catching each others fist in mirrored movements. Sasuke went to kick him in the gut but his foot was caught and Naruto pulled him into a spin, eyes narrowing Sasuke pressed his palm to the floor and kicked Naruto off. Naruto quickly jumped back with a punch, but Sasuke threw him over his shoulder. Naruto landed in a crouch but straightened to block Sasuke's flurry of punches but was caught off guard by a kick which sent him falling into a sheet pulling it down on top of him. Sasuke charged forward and grabbed the sheet, only to find Naruto gone. He looked around but couldn't see him so jumped into the air so he could scan the roof. He caught sight of Naruto standing on the water tower but squinted due to the Sun being behind him. Naruto immediately sprang into action jumping down towards him and landing a punch through his block.

"Don't be so overconfident!" Sasuke shouted, springing off the fence and landing a punch to Naruto's jaw. Naruto managed to catch his fall and raced off, Sasuke immediately catching up and running parallel to him, sheets blocking most of their view of each other. Naruto was caught off guard when a kick hit him through a sheet and he flew into the fence, the sheet tangled around him. Sasuke pulled him up and punched him into the fence, the sheet over his head.

'Naruto…' Sakura thought worriedly closing her eyes, only to open them a second later to see Naruto kicking Sasuke off.

"Cut it out already dattebayou!" Naruto shouted as they both jumped off the fence and into the air. Sasuke quickly punched Naruto in the chest before scissor kicking him down towards the roof. Both landed, panting lightly. Naruto glared and made a familiar hand sign.

"Tajuu Kage Bunshin no jutsu!" Clones surrounded Sasuke, outnumbering him a hundred to one. They all charged and Sasuke's Sharingan gleamed with the urge to use Kari's Meiken Taijutsu style. He sprung into action, movements becoming more fluid, more graceful as he span, kicked, punch and threw the clones into smoke. Switching into a handstand he span kicking two clones into the air. His eyes widened when he saw four clones sliding towards him.

"U!"

"Zu!"

"Ma!"

"Ki!"

He was kicked into the air and quickly began making hand seals.

"Naruto Rendan!" Naruto cried appearing behind Sasuke, his leg raised in preparation for a kick. But he was blocked by Sasuke's elbow when the Uchiha suddenly turned. Naruto's eyes widened, remembering the sign.

'A tora seal?'

"Katon! Goukakyuu no jutsu!" Sasuke cried his lungs expanding before he exhaled a huge amount of fire covering the roof in flames. Puffs of smoke rapidly appeared out of the fire the familiar 'pop' noise of the clones disappearing.

"Naruto!" Sakura said worriedly while Kita crouched behind Sakura slightly, her eyes reflecting the orange hues of the flames. The fire began to spin and Sasuke's eyes widened in confusion as Naruto and a clone stood in the middle the same jutsu as in the Tea country spinning between their palms.

'What is that jutsu?' Sasuke thought crossing his arms into a block. The clone disappeared once Naruto finished preparing his Rasengan.

"Damn you," Sasuke growled gripping his wrist and holding it down, Chakra spraying from his palm. "Chidori!"

"Yamete…" Sakura whispered, but they didn't hear her. Only the sound of their techniques and the beat of a rapid heart pulsing in their ears.

"I will win!" Naruto shouted.

"Don't be so confident!" Sasuke shouted.

"Yamete, you two…" but they didn't listen to her, she had to do something. "YAMETE YO!"

-----x-----

She was in the forest, yet she didn't recognise the area. She was walking with her team, apart from Kakashi who seemed to be missing. A mission perhaps? Sakura suddenly stopped and Kari looked around in confusion.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" the boys kept walking, seeming not to have noticed. "Guys wait! Sasuke! Naruto!" they turned and started walking in different directions getting further away from the girls and from each other. "Matte!" Kari cried, going to run after them, but she found that her legs wouldn't move. She heard a thud as Sakura fell to her knees behind her and began to sob. "Sakura what's wrong? What is it?" The crying seemed to fade and looking around, Kari saw Sakura moving away from her, as if the ground was moving, pulling Sakura into the shadows until she could no longer be seen. "Sakura, SAKURA!"

Why couldn't she move? What was happening?!

She looked down and bit back a scream of horror. Her body was coated in blood, her clothes and hair drenched in it. She didn't see any wounds on herself and became confused.

What did it mean?

Her confusion began to fade an unexplainable fear travelled through her from the inside out. She felt tears spill down her face and her body shake, but it still wouldn't move.

"Time to make some choices little one." And the voice cackled with sickening glee as cracks appeared in the forest floor, slowly growing wider and cutting her off from her team. The forest around her disappeared and she was stranded on the small piece of land surrounded by darkness…

Kari was barely aware as she regained consciousness somewhat, hovering in the state between sleep and wakening. She supposed she'd had some medication; she felt better, her lungs felt lighter and her arms didn't hurt anymore. She felt sleep pull at her, and allowed herself back into her dreams.

It was darkness, pure black as though she were blind with no hint of colour or light. She could hear faint noises but nothing was clear, there was only nothing. She could here Sakura calling her asking her to help her because of Naruto and Sasuke.

Naruto and Sasuke? Were they arguing again?

She could feel blows brushing her body, feel knuckles press into her jaw. They were fighting? Why were they fighting? She searched through Kita and saw that Sasuke had challenged Naruto to a fight.

Why was his Sharingan activated? Why was he so angry?

Naruto accepted, but he too seemed different. Too serious, it was probably just determination. But why did it seem so tense? The tension was clearly scaring Sakura yet neither boy even acknowledged her no matter what she said. Sasuke had slapped a plate out her hands. Why was he lashing out at Sakura? What was wrong with him?!

She had felt them leave, and it had distressed her. Her body reacted instinctually, pumping adrenaline through her, her heavy heart beating faster and faster. She could faintly hear the beeping.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

The tingling heat of fire… Why was Sasuke using a fire Ninjutsu it was only a spar.

That chirping noise, as though a thousand birds had been startled. Birds… Birds… Tori… Chidori?! A-and Rasengan?! No… No! Why are they taking this so far?!

"YAMETE!!"

Sakura, Sakura NO!!

Her eyes snapped open and she sprang up, ripping the mask off her face and an electric current shooting into the machines silencing them. She shot off her bed, running out the room and down the hall, heading for the stairs.

"No, no, no, no, no, no!" she begged and in her panic she slipped, falling down the stairs and slamming against the wall. She scrambled up and ran up the stairs as fast as her legs would take her. 'No I won't get there in time!!' Kari thought desperately pooling Chakra into her legs. "Sakura… Naruto… Sasuke… IIE!!"

-----x-----

"YAMETE YO!"

"Sakura-chan!" Kita cried in alarm as the pinkette kunoichi ran from her side, towards the two fighting boys.

'K'so!'

'I can't stop!'

She ran forwards eyes clamped shut, desperate to stop them. She felt a gust of wind and was thrown to the side, gasping as she hit the concrete floor. Looking up in shock, afraid at what she might see, she gasped.

"Kari-chan!"

The blonde kunoichi had ran in the middle, her legs a blue haze of Chakra increasing her speed and she had thrust her hands out, her fingers managing to interlock with the hands holding the attacks and locking the muscles in her arms she forced them to stay apart.

"Kari-chan!!" Naruto cried in alarm as her arms shook and her elbows begged to bend. One of her eyes was closed in pain as her newly almost healed arms were torn and burned by lightning and Chakra. As her arms caved under the strain, another set of hands grabbed hold of their wrists and with a spin, both boys were sent flying.

'Kakashi-sensei!' Naruto thought as the silver-haired Jounin steadied Kari, her arms falling limp at her sides.

'Naruto that's…' Kakashi thought in surprise. 'And that means Kari also…' There was a clang as both boys hit something metal.

"What do you think you two are doing on the top of the hospital?" Kakashi asked straightening up. "Isn't this a little bit too much for a sparring match?" Naruto pulled his hand away from the tank for a small leak of water to spring out. 'That technique was without a doubt the Rasengan. What's going on? How can Naruto know that technique? And if he does, Kari most probably knows it too.' Sasuke dragged his arm out the tank, causing water to gush out quickly.

"Heh," Sasuke scoffed, seeing the tiny leak Naruto had made.

"Sasuke were you planning to kill Naruto?" Kakashi asked. Sasuke looked round at his sensei. "Why must you insist on being superior? Chidori is not a move to be used against someone from the same village. Why did you act so childish?" Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. 'Could it be from seeing Itachi again?' "And you Kari,what in the world were you thinking running in the middle of those two when you've only just been healed from heavy injuries, eh?"

"Kari-chan!" Sakura said when Kari suddenly turned eyes in shadow. In a few strides and a leap she'd landed on the top of the fence, only to push off it, over the edge.

"Kari-chan!!" Naruto cried in alarm as she straightened her body horizontally, starting to fall. In the next moment wings ripped from her back, spreading out either side of her and with a light flap kept her airborne.

"Sugoii," Sakura breathed, having forgotten about Kari's wings. They were amazing with a wingspan the length of Kari's body at least, sleek white feathers like what you'd expect of a swan. They were beautiful. Her awe immediately shattered when Kari flinched in pain, her wings becoming stiff and she started to fall. Kakashi went to go to her rescue but was stopped when Naruto jumped off the fence after her arms outstretched.

"Kari-chan!" Naruto cried reaching out to her. Her eyes opened slightly and she felt his arms around her, pulling her to him in a safe embrace. He managed to jump off another building and landed on the fence before jumping down. Setting her down as Kakashi appeared next to them.

"Baka," Kakashi immediately scolded taking hold of her Chidori-ed arm and beginning to wrap it. 'Sasuke put a lot of power into that… This could have ended a lot worse.' He then took hold of her Rasengan-ed arm and wrapped it in the same fashion.

'It's always him that saves her…' Sasuke thought feeling a twinge in his gut. He turned, jumping on top of the fence and landing on a ledge halfway down. But his attack? Pathe— His though was stopped when he heard water. Looking up he saw that the back of the water tank Naruto had hit had all but been blown off the hole was so large.

'K-so!' He thought his fist slamming into the wall. 'Naruto, just how much stronger are you getting?'

He heard the soft thud of feet land behind him but didn't bother to look round, already knowing who it was. He hoped his cold aura would get rid of her, but like always it never did. He felt her arms wrap around his stomach as she pressed against his back, probably listening to his heart.

"Get lost," he said venomously, but she didn't move. She didn't even flinch. "Are you dumb? Let go!" he snarled his hand grabbing hold of her arm.

"Iie," she whispered her forehead pressing into his back as she tried to keep her tears at bay. "If I let you go you might never come back."

"Kari," he said warningly. He hadn't missed the crack and shake in her voice, hadn't missed the slight tremor in her body. Why did she cry when she hated it so much? Was it merely the thought of him being gone that hurt her so?

"Onegai…" she whispered. "Please don't leave me."

He didn't give her an answer, but placed his hand over hers, watching as bloodstains blossomed across the bandage encasing her slender arms. She wouldn't let go, no matter how much it hurt her. She had promised hadn't she?

"I'll never leave you alone…"

Indeed she'd tried everything in her power to stay true to her promise. But was it just the promise that drove her to him? Was it only her word that caused her to run after him?

"Gomenasai," she breathed, "Gomenasai Sasuke."

She needn't have apologised. She was here with him and that was what mattered. She'd run after him, instead of reassuring them or running to the comfort of someone else. It was him she had run to.

Their somewhat tender moment was ruined at a new arrival.

"Hikari?" Looking to the side she saw a Chuunin, Kotetsu she believed his name was. "You're needed by the Hokage, I'm afraid you'll have to come with me."

"Hai…" Kari agreed, her hands loosening around Sasuke and falling to her sides. "I'll be back soon Sasuke." With that, she turned and followed the Chuunin.

'Just please, be there for me to come back to…'

-----x-----

Kakashi looked from Naruto to Sakura, who was now sobbing. Kita had sat beside his foot, confused and worried, but reassured that Kakashi was near.

"Kakashi-sensei…" Sakura sobbed and Kakashi sighed.

'Where is the teamwork? Kari's the only one who even tries to enforce it, yet they'll only cooperate with her and not each other' Kakashi thought grimly. He'd seen her expression, and like always she blamed herself. Probably angry that she hadn't been awake to calm the boys down before it got too far. With a sigh he jumped on top of the water tank and sat down.

"Were you the one who taught him that technique?" Kakashi asked, sensing Jiraiya behind the tank Sasuke had pierced. "I believe Naruto is still too young to be using that technique. If he screwed up, if Kari hadn't stepped in, he could've killed Sasuke. Even if it was a measure against Akatsuki, teaching that technique to Naruto is…"

"Same goes to you," Jiraiya said. "That Chidori's very dangerous. Still I didn't think he would use that technique against his friend. Unless there is something much deeper between them."

"Maa, a few things."

"A few things?" Jiraiya asked.

"Simply put its like the relationship you and Orochimaru had," Kakashi said. Jiraiya pulled a huffy offended face.

"Oh?"

"To him, Sasuke is his friend but at the same time his rival as well, and well, he's someone that just wants to be seen as an equal. He probably wasn't able to deal with Sasuke's provocation. He tried to catch up to Sasuke in his academy years, and that continued after graduation. The current Naruto doesn't want recognition from me or you, but from Sasuke. Because of that, Sasuke has noticed Naruto's growth in such a short period of time, creating a feeling of inferiority. Almost as if himself hasn't grown at all. Naruto has become strong. And besides Sasuke has…"

"Revenge huh?" Jiraiya finished. "So Itachi is rushing him."

"That's why Sasuke doesn't want to recognise Naruto. If he does it will negate what he is. Rivalry is a difficult thing."

"It's not something to admire," Jiraiya agreed.

"And on top of all that…"

"Kari huh?" Jiraiya guessed. "She's easily at their level, and has both Chidori and Rasengan under her belt, yet neither of them feel threatened by her strength."

"Aa. Both seem to be developing strong feelings for her as time goes by," Kakashi agreed.

"From what I've seen she and Naruto are pretty close. He's always squawking about how she's his best friend and she treats him like a brother of sorts, encouraging him, admiring him and being extremely affectionate and protective over him."

"Yet Sasuke she treats like an arrogant human being, a brother that she picks on, scolds and looks up to. She ignores his attitude and seems to have broken through his shell. But seeing how openly affectionate she is with Naruto probably makes him feel insecure, as though she would cast him out of her heart," Kakashi said with a slight sigh.

"Afraid you'll be cast out eh?" Jiraiya asked with a lecherous grin.

"Why do people always assume that? As much as I love Kari in the way of a sibling our ages are far apart, 14 years apart, and she's my student," Kakashi grumbled.

"Ah, you know how student-teacher relationships are," Jiraiya said wondering if it would do well in a new book. Hmm… "Love is a difficult thing, perhaps worse than rivalry. Maybe I should lecture Naruto," he said changing the subject but still sending an evil smirk to Kakashi behind his back.

"I'll leave Naruto to you then." Kakashi jumped down landing in front of Sakura. "Sakura, everything will be fine. It'll be like the old days again. Cheer up. Ja ne." With that Kakashi jumped off.

"Naruto?" Sakura asked hearing him come up behind her.

"Sakura-chan," he didn't look at her but at the ground, clearly upset. "Don't interfere."

-----x-----

Kari stepped into the room after Kotetsu feeling slightly awkward. She noticed Shikamaru in the middle of the room as well as Izumo, Genma, Shizune, Anko and Ibiki standing behind Tsunade's desk. Catching her eye, Shikamaru gave a shrug showing he didn't really know what the hell was going on either.

"Geez, and I just healed you," Tsunade said, looking at Kari's arms. "Come here," she requested, beckoning her over. Kari obliged and her hands were taken by Tsunade's glowing ones. The pain began to recede, the burns soothed and the cuts closed. By the time Tsunade was finished, the skin was only a little pink, but otherwise as good as new.

"Arigatou gozaimasu Hokage-sama," Kari said politely, before going to stand beside Shikamaru. Tsunade sighed slightly before looking up at the two Genin.

"To tell you the truth I have no idea what to do. There were some opinions there should be no qualifiers this time due to the final part of the exam being incomplete. However, I've heard that the Sandaime was extremely impressed with both your fights and considered recommending you both as Chuunin," Tsunade said, picking up a brush and signing a document. Rather comically, Shikamaru raised an eye brow as both his and Kari's mouths fell slightly open.

Chuunin?!

"All of the feudal lords watching from other countries, as well as other examiners agree with this. Since that's the case, there isn't anything more for me to say about it. Therefore, keep up the good work and do not bring distress to your hitai-ate's. Congratulations." A smile spread across Tsunade's face. "From this day forward you are both Chuunin."

"Hontou?!" Kari cried as her shock turned to excitement as a smile lit her face. Izumo stepped forward with two Chuunin vests and gave one to both her and Shikamaru. They both slipped them on.

"Troublesome…" Shikamaru sighed, feeling stupid wearing the bulky green vest. Still, at least his fit him somewhat, Kari's was clearly too big on her. She looked as though shewas playing dress-up with her sensei's vest.

"How will I get my katana's on this thing?" she wondered. She felt it's bulkiness. "And I don't think I can twist properly in it."

"Ne, leave it behind for missions. It's a reward, a sign of authority, you don't need to wear it if you don't want to and it will hinder your ability," Tsunade said simply. "And besides it's far too big."

"But it's my Chuunin vest ne?" Kari asked grinning. "Chuunin… AA! Shika-kun we're Chuunin!!" Kari cried pulling him into an excited hug.

'Glad to see someone appreciates it,' Tsunade thought. Shikamaru blushed at the sudden personal space destruction and she let go practically dropping him to the floor.

"Arigatou gozaimasu!" Kari cried and bowed, the vest shifting with the movement. She then shot out the room to go and tell everyone while she was excitable.

"For an amazing ninja Kari-chan is awfully kawaii," Shizune chuckled.

"A kawaii kid that kicked a guy in the balls during the preliminaries," Anko remembered fondly.

-----x-----

Shino had been walking to meet his team-mates for a hard afternoon train, peacefully minding his own business and enjoying the quiet when he was promptly glomped.

Glomped by a certain blonde kunoichi he hadn't seen in quite a while who seemed to have been fed far too much sugar judging by how excitable she was. She was so excitable in fact, she kissed him on the cheek and then jumped onto Kiba who had just arrived, before turning and hugging Hinata in a flurry of movement.

"Ne! Ne! Look!" Kari cried bouncing up and down while Shino tried desperately to return his face to its original pale stoic nature and not have his cheeks tickled pink.

"Kari-neechan!" Hinata cried in delight. "You got promoted to Chuunin!"

"Aaaaah! I'm outranked!" Kiba cried but his complaints were stopped by a suffocating hug. Shino had a tiny sulk over the fact he didn't get to shine in the tournament and had missed out on the chance to have his own vest first time round. "You'll be going on all kinds of cool and dangerous missions! You're so lucky!"

"Hai! I'll have to work hard to set a good example for when the rest of you join me," Kari said grinning. "I'm sure you three will pass next time!"

"Easily," Kiba said cockily and Akamaru yipped in agreement.

"A-anou…" Hinata said with a smile.

"Believe in yourself Hinata-chan! You are an outstanding kunoichi and I'm proud of you!" Kari said sternly and Hinata giggled. "And I'm proud of Kiba-kun, Shino-kun and Akamaru-kun too!"

"Heh, we should be the ones saying that to you," Kiba said slinging an arm around her shoulders. "You're growing up ne?"

"Matter of opinion," Kari said with a smile and Hinata giggled. "Seriously, ask Neji-kun if I've matured at all, he'll soon say I haven't. Speaking of which, how is Neji-kun?" Hinata knew what that look meant and smiled.

"He's been a lot friendlier and h-he's agreed to t-train me," Hinata said happily and Kari hugged her happily.

"Good! Work hard and tell him off if he's too rough. If he's being too full of himself kick him in the shins he won't expect it," Kari said protectively. Hinata smiled and nodded even though she knew she wouldn't scold her cousin and kick him in the shins to take his ego down. "Well, I best be going."

"C-congratulations on passing Oneechan!" Hinata said shyly, delighted at Kari's glee over her promotion. Kari waved goodbye, shooting off into the crowd.

-----x-----

Shikamaru on the other hand, lacked Kari's enthusiasm. He felt embarrassed in his Chuunin vest and didn't like the odd bulk of it. He felt stupid. Asuma seemed to disagree because he had delightedly treated the team to barbequed meat on him.

"Ohhhh?" Ino and Chouji said as they sat down and heard the news.

"Even though you always lack the will to do anything you look a little more serious now," Ino said.

"It doesn't look good on you," Chouji laughed.

"Stop laughing," Shikamaru grumbled.

"Well for now lets have a toast to Shikamaru's promotion to Chuunin," Asuma announced.

"Ittadakimasu!" Chouji cried and promptly loaded meat onto his plate.

"Oi Chouji! Don't start eating the meat before we make the toast!" Ino scolded.

"Well it would be a waste if we burn them," Chouji said simply.

"There's plenty of meat so eat up," Asuma said.

"Yatta!" Chouji cried and ate with gusto.

"You'll end up in hospital again Chouji," Ino pointed out. "Don't you know how to enjoy your food more?"

"No problem, I know how to enjoy food even if I eat a lot," Chouji reassured. He grabbed the last piece.

"Chouji! That's the last piece I put on the grill!" Ino complained.

"The last bite," Chouji said seriously. "Is the final one and the one most suitable to be enjoyed the most. No matter what the cost I will not give it up," and with that he shoved it into his mouth.

"What are you trying to act so cool for?! Baka! That's why everyone makes fun of you, you fa---!"

"Ino, that is a taboo," Shikamaru interrupted. "And Chouji, eating isn't a battle. Why don't you relax while you're eating?"

'A glutton, a foul-mouth, and a slacker… Will these three be okay in the future?' Asuma wondered. 'Especially…'

"Chouji, all you do is eat. Train sometime!"

"Hai," Chouji replied sadly.

After their meal, Shikamaru went to the bathroom. He heard Ino and Chouji talking, so waited in the hallway for them to finish.

"Chouji, you have such a nice character, not caring about how much you eat," Ino said. "I'm having so much trouble dieting."

"Why are you dieting Ino?" Chouji asked.

"A girl wants to look good for the guy she likes," Ino said happily.

"But what if that person doesn't like thin girls?" Chouji asked.

"In the end they like girls that aren't fa… I mean, who are thin," Ino said, correcting herself mid-sentence. "The same goes for the opposite." She giggled. "Chouji, you should care more about your looks or no one will like you." She waved and walked away.

"Heh baka, she has no idea does she?" Shikamaru said, making himself known. "Guys don't like skinny girls as much as she thinks, the most preferred ones are well rounded girls and 'the same for the opposite' right? Ino would be twice as popular if she gained a little weight I'm sure." And Shikamaru pulled a bloated face making Chouji laugh. "Take Kari for example, she's thin for her speed yet she'd look much better if she gained a few pounds." Chouji found himself nodding and smiling.

"Shikamaru you're always so funny as well as smart. I've always known that you are a far greater person than Sasuke or that Neji guy Shikamaru."

"Hm, I've never thought about that. I'm just me," Shikamaru said simply.

"Well you are the only one besides Kari who became a Chuunin this Chuunin exam," Chouji pointed out.

"But if we had a fight maybe you'd be stronger, right?" Shikamaru asked. "If I had fought you, I might have given up as well."

"But sensei just said that all I do is eat and not improve…"

"I told you that I am me, and you are you. It's stupid to think about who's better at what." Shikamaru placed a hand on Chouji's shoulder and smiled. "Don't let what Asuma said bother you too much. All you need to do is live your life naturally and comfortably. I've got to go now, my dad said he'd pass on a new technique to me."

"Shikamaru, train hard," Chouji said with a smile.

"Aa." 'You're a nice guy, Chouji.'

-----x-----

"You are weak. Why are you weak? Because you lack hatred."

'What have I been doing with myself up until now?'

"You're back," Sasuke stated, casting his thoughts aside for now. An hour was enough time to think without pause. He'd found a shady tree and was sitting comfortably on a thick branch. He knew she'd find him, she always did. "What did they want?" She crouched in front of him, knowing he'd been thinking too much.

"I've been promoted to Chuunin," she said and saw him scowl slightly. She pressed her forehead against his before he could look away and knelt between his legs.

"You'll get yourself killed," he said bluntly. She smiled, glad that was what bothered him, and not that she had been promoted while he had not. She'd left her vest back at the apartment, not used to moving in it and managing to fall into a wall when she tried to jump it.

"I'm too stubborn," she said simply and he huffed, his breath cascading over her face.

"That's true, the amount of times you should have died yet didn't."

"Glad to hear you sound happy about that," she said leaning back. Her ears twitched and she stiffened as shuriken attached to wires shot around them. They suddenly tightened pulling them together and tying them against the tree. Sasuke looked up with a glare to see Kakashi holding the end of the wire. So that was why Kari hadn't attacked, she had sensed it was Kakashi. "Ne, what's with tying me up as well?" Kari mumbled through Sasuke's shirt. She was sure she had bruised her poor nose in the sudden collision with Sasuke's chest, it was all bone and muscle and therefore hard. She managed to turn herself around after some wiggling and elbowing Sasuke a few times.

"What's the meaning of this?" Sasuke asked his temper sparking, straining against the wires. Kakashi had managed to get some between them so Kari could easily be freed while still leaving Sasuke bound.

"If I don't do this you'll run away wont you? Since you're not the type who sits quietly and listens to lectures."

"No?" Kari said confused. Kakashi rose an eyebrow at her lightened mood. He'd expected her to remain depressed like the rest of the team for a while longer. Still, he wasn't going to complain while she was reasonably happy.

"I'm here to talk to Sasuke, Kari. But you may as well listen too," Kakashi said and she nodded falling silent getting the gist of it. Kakashi frowned slightly, noticing her happiness had already mostly drained away.

"Tch!"

"Sasuke…" Kakashi said. "Forget about revenge."

"Nani?" Sasuke hissed.

"Maa, I've seen a lot of people like you, and the fate of those who seek revenge is grim," Kakashi explained steadily eyes locked on Sasuke's. "It's tragic. You will end up suffering and hurting yourself even more. Even if you do succeed in getting revenge the only thing that remains is emptiness."

"Damare! What do you know?!" Sasuke shouted and Kari flinched slightly, her ears falling lower. "Don't lecture me as if you know what it's like!"

"Na, calm down."

"Then how about it, should I kill the most important person to you right now?" Sasuke asked with a wicked smirk. Kari's eyes widened and she turned her head to give him a horrified look out the corner of her eye. "That way you'll know that what you just said is way off the mark!"

"Well, I won't mind if you do. I no longer have anyone left important to me they've all been killed already, unless you count the girl sitting in front of you."

"Kashi," Kari murmured looking back up at him with sorrow. He simply smiled back at her, silently reassuring her.

"I've lived much longer than you; it was a bad time too. I know very well how it feels to lose important people," Kakashi said. Sasuke looked down his anger fading. "Maa, I'll just say that we're both unlucky people, that's a fact. But we're not completely out of luck. You and I have important friends now don't we?" His visible eye closed, crinkling into a smile.

'Naruto, Sakura, Kari…'

"You understand because you lost important people. You were given the power of Chidori because you made important friends." With a light tug, the wires loosened around their bodies. "That power isn't used against friends or for revenge. You should know what that power is for. Think about whether or not what I said is off or not. Hmm?" Kakashi looked down to see Kari's face pressed into his vest, arms tight around his waist.

"You're important to me too Kashi…" He wrapped an arm lazily around her shoulders, feeling a smile form under his mask.

"I have places to be. Congratulations on your promotion to Chuunin Kari." He fondly patted her on the head and she managed a smile. "Cheer up ne?"

"Be safe," she said releasing him and he jumped off, heading to wherever he needed to go for his mission.

-----x-----

"Let's get going shall we?"

"That's the copy ninja Kakashi. It would be a bit difficult if a ninja like him was around, so lets wait a bit."

"Shit's like you guys can't do it, but I can."

"Hn! I don't know about that. If there are two there would be more than enough to win."

"Stop butting in, you piece of shit."

"Tayuya, women shouldn't be saying words like that."

"Urusai, fat ass!"

-----x-----

Sakura rested her head on the top of the balcony wall, looking out over the village. Her mind was a river flowing with memories, of the old days. Back when they were new Genin and Kari had only just started settling in. The way the boys would fight, she'd egg Sasuke on, Kari would cheer on Naruto and Kakashi would look over it all irritated. And in training and between missions they'd stop for lunch and talk and laugh, just enjoying each others company. And when their missions finished late, they'd watch the sun descend and the sky darken together.

Where had those times gone?

-----x-----

Naruto was thinking along the same lines, sitting on a shop roof with Kita silently at his side. She was an extension of Kari and despite his troubled thoughts, he felt a slight comfort.

Back in Nami he and Sasuke were still rivals, even over stupid things like eating contests. Yet that was where they'd become friends with Kari as the catalyst, knocking Sasuke's ego a few times and sticking up for Naruto, helping him feel more confident and relaxed, enough to start to bond with Sasuke. And when they'd both managed to climb their trees, that sense of pride and contentment. They were happy together, proud of themselves while Kari watched on. They'd all had to hobble back to Tazuna's, with Kita leading the way.

Where had those times gone?

Picking up Kita, he jumped down and started walking down the street bathed by the light of sunset. He was almost home when he spotted Sakura waiting against the wall next to the stairs.

"Sakura-chan?"

"I need to tell you something. We'll make it a date, so walk with me for a bit."

-----x-----

The hours he spent thinking, she didn't make a sound. She didn't move, try and make eye contact or anything. She just sat there silent, letting him think. He could sense she had become on edge, probably sensing ANBU doing their patrolling or something. Or maybe she was thinking too, thinking too much. He knew it was getting late and they should get back but he didn't want to. What would be waiting? Emptiness and letters from the hospital.

"Chikusho." How could he choose between his team, his friends and revenge. He knew now that no matter how much he had denied it till now, his team had managed to worm their way into his heart. "Chikusho!" Kari's body went rigid and her eyes snapped up to the moon. Following her gave he noticed four silhouettes jump in front of the orb. They landed in front of them surrounding them. Sasuke got to his feet as Kari shot to his side, Chakra prickling against his skin. She growled baring fangs, immediate distrust sparked by a familiar scent.