Alright you guys, sorry for the lateness. I've been discovering my spiritual self and whatnot :p

Anyways, I'm writing a chapter for each of my stories to make up for it! Read & Review please.

60 for next chapter::..

By the way, can someone help me with chapter names? I'm drawing a blank...

Cherry Blossom Falls

Sasuke had disappeared, deciding it was best for him not to be there. After all, he had more important things to worry about rather than getting attached to his teammates.

Sakura though, was still at it. Her body barely having the strength to stand, much less throw kunia with speed and precision. She could feel that she was going to give out soon, but she refused to give up. She had to become stronger, had to prove to the world what she was made of.

Another kunia hit, exactly where she had wanted it to. By now, she had a line of them piercing vertically through the stump. She hadn't been missing near as much after Sasuke showed her how to throw the star. But she wanted to get to the point where she never missed any. Therefore, she wouldn't stop.

Her hair was sticking to her arms, clothes drenched in sweat and the humidity of the night. It was almost winter, and she'd be so happy when it was. She groaned as her arms cramping began again. It would happen in short sports every couple of minutes, she could barely move it.

Tears threatened to spill, how could she ever become anything if she couldn't even overcome a mere cramp? She tried again, but her arm refused to move. Pretty soon, her vision started wavering, and the affects of over-exhaustion began to take their toll. Sakura crumpled, to her knees first, then onto her side. She lay on the dewy grass, clutching her right arm with her left. The world seemed to spin, taking her mind with it. Then she couldn't see at all, and her breathing slowed and her heart calmed. For a minute, she thought she was going to die, she had never practiced this hard before. Then even her mind stopped, forcing her into a peaceful, sleep. Well, really she was just unconscious, or else there would have been nightmares.

..::The next day, team 7::..

"Hey, where's Sakura?" Naruto piped up, he hadn't seen her a lot lately, and being the outcast he was, hadn't heard of her mother's death.

Neither had an answer, for Kakashi and Sasuke had been wondering the same thing.

"Teme? Sensei?" Naruto had stopped walking. The other two turned around.

"What dobe?"

"Well, everyone's been quiet lately... And not just you guys, but the whole town. What's going on?"

Kakashi, a little shocked that Naruto had observed this, said, "Well Naruto...Didn't you hear about Sakura's mother?"

He looked confused, "No. What about her, sensei?"

Kakashi sighed, looked like he'd be explaining this one, "Well Naruto, she was murdered." There, right to the point.

Naruto didn't say anything, he was looking at the ground. When he looked back up, he said, "Who would do that? I mean, why would they kill someone, especially a civilian, I mean, what gives them the right-" he cut himself off. He was pretty sure Sakura's mom was a civilian, and would bet she was nice too. So why would someone kill her? Why?

"Calm down dobe" Sasuke said, turning back around.

Naruto grumbled something, and followed Sasuke. Kakashi stood there a moment. Still pondering what had happened. What Naruto said made sense. This, he thought, may be more than its made out to be. Then he started walk behind the too boys, as they continued on their search for their female teammate.

Poor Sakura, Naruto thought, I bet some ramen will help to cheer her up! He smiled, Sasuke gave him a funny look, and Kakashi didn't even look up from his book.

..::A little while later::..

Sakura was still unconscious on the ground. Both arms lay limp beside her as she was now lying on her back. Her nappy hair fanned out from beneath her head. She was dirty and scratched up, and sticky now that the fine layer of dew had dried up thanks to the sun.

This is how the boys spotted her. After going to her home and finding no one there, for her father was at work, they began to search. Sasuke eventually mentioned that he had seen her training last night. They went to the field, and sure enough, spotted her line of kunia and the pink that signal on the ground.

Naruto, worried she was dead, ran up and hugged her body. "Sakura-chan!" he yelled, "Sakura-chan! Don't be dead, we're here now!" He shook her roughly, but to no response.

Kakashi, sensing her chakra, as weak as it currently was, wasn't worried. He had trained until he passed out many times when he their age. He was a little shocked the Sakura had the endurance to do it though.

"Sakuraaaaaaa!" Naruto whined, picking her limp body up.

"Naruto!" Kakashi yelled sternly, startling Naruto so bad he nearly dropped Sakura.

"Sakura is alive" he stated calmly.

Naruto's mouth took the form of an 'O', before he jumped up and down. "Yay! Sakura-chan you're still alive!"

Kakashi and Sasuke both sweat dropped.

Finally Naruto stopped, panting. "You know, she's kinda heavy"

Do what? Inner Sakura had awoken.

"Hey" the blonde stilled, "I think she's coming too"

Oh he is so going to get it now...!

All three members of team seven were looking down at Sakura, waiting for her to wake up. The next thing they knew, Sakura's fist had collided with Naruto's face. Naruto sat on the ground, propping him self up with his arms. "Hey! What was that for?"

Sakura, who had fallen, slowly got to her wobbling hands and knees. "For calling me fat."

Kakashi internally sighed, That's a women for ya.

Sasuke stood there, hands in pockets. Sakura stood up, a little frustrated no one had offered her help. Whether she was trying to get stronger or not, she was still a lady and it would have been the polite thing to do. Brushing off her clothes, she looked towards Kakashi.

It was quiet other than Naruto's grumbling from the ground about how he always got hit and never deserved it.

"Well" Kakashi said. Sakura looked back towards him, she had let her eyes wander towards the log she had trained with. "We were going to train today, but I think it's time for you to go home and rest Sakura."

"Oh no!" she took a step forward, "I'm completely fine! I can trai-" her legs gave out and she collapsed into strong arms. She looked up, seeing Sasuke who wasn't looking at her.

"Sorry" she mumbled, straightening again. Sasuke quickly removed his arms, Kakashi noted. I wonder what's been going on between those two... They have been rather chummy lately.

"But sensei" she started again, he gave her a questioning look. Did she really believe he'd let her train in a condition like this? "I don't want to go home. I need to go to the Hokage tower in order to file paperwork for a new apartment."

"I understand" he replied. "But you'll have to have an escort. Sasuke and Naruto here will take you while I...catch up on my reading" he smile beneath his mask.

"But sensei!" Naruto whined, before thinking about how this would be the perfect opportunity to invite Sakura to ramen. Even though she had hit him, he still liked her.

"Hn" Sasuke said, starting to walk off the training grounds. Sakura followed, and Naruto ran to catch up.

Those three, just what will become of them? Kakashi sat down beneath the tree Sasuke had perched on the night before.