~March 15, 3:20 p.m.~

Rushing through the halls, a pink haired Sakura searched in every crack for her friend, Naruto. She passed classroom after classroom but there was still no sign of the obnoxious blonde- spikey headed boy. With every second that passed Sakura became more impatient, she had to get to Sasuke as soon as she could! She had to see him. She had to hold him just one more! Just to make sure that he's going to be okay… WHERE THE HELL COULD HE BE?!

Sakura Thinking: Where the hell is that baka?!

She soon came upon a young man sleeping on a dark wooden bench that was placed on the outer edges of the hallway, it was mostly to be a place where when a student got into trouble he or should would be able to go fore they were sent to the office. He seemed as though he was fast asleep, his snoring was what caught her attention and Sakura could quickly see who it was because he wore his dark spikey hair up in a pony-tale on the top of his head which, held the brains of a genius. Stomping her way over toward her friend, grabbed him by his thin arms and began to yell at the top of her lugs. She knew, out of everyone, he was a heavy sleeper.

Sakura: "Shikamaru?!" She said holding him by his shoulders and shaking him vigorously. "Wake uuuppp!"

Shikamaru: I'm not even asleep yet woman!

Sakura: Then why were you snoring?

Shikamaru: The sound puts me to sleep…

Sakura: "You're and idiot…" She said letting out a small sigh.

Shikamaru: If you just wanted to wake me up, you did your job. But if you don't mind, I would like to get a nap in before lunch is over and class starts again. So could you do me a favor and let go of my arms?

Sakura: "Sorry." She said letting him go. "Can you at least tell me if you've seen Naruto anywhere lately?"

Looking at her like he had just seen a ghost, The pineapple man jerked his thumb behind him to the large white building in view. His eyes glassed over and Sakura knew this conversation wouldn't last much longer, he had almost been asleep by the time she got there, he was pretty close to crashing at this point. Looking back into his chocolate brow eyes she looking series and in one hell of a hurry. The slow man still didn't seem to speak fast enough.

Shikamaru: Huh? That guy? Maybe, I saw him with Hinata going into the gym not to long after you yelled at Ino.

Sakura: Y-You heard that?!

Shikamaru: "Sakura," He said with a little laugh "everyone in school heard it."

Sakura: Crap…

Shikamaru: I don't know what those two are doing in the gym, but I would check there first if I were you.

Sakura: You're right. Thanks Shikamaru!

Shikamaru: Damn, women are so troublesome.

The pink cherry princess gave off a sweet smile to the life-time pineapple boy as she turned on her heels and ran in the same direction in from which she came. Going back down the flight of steps and running back out the doors that led to the outside world. Shikamaru quickly rested his head back onto his tan colored arms and began to drift off into a long slumber. But, much to his dismay, a loud sound soon caught his attention, one that made him hate the world and the pinkette who caused this.

RIIING!

Shikamaru: Damn bell…

Rin: Kakashi…

A gray haired man slumped down in the brown leather chair which sat in the corner of the room 307A. The room was covered in many things white, just like any other hospital. White floors, white walls, and even white bedding. His black eyes were slightly crusted over and his eye whites were a darkened pink color now. The young wolf man's attention shifted to the young woman with short brown hair who stood right next to him. She had a look of annoyance on her face, was there a little bit of concern in there too? He couldn't tell, he didn't really care either. Speaking her name softly, he once again looked up at his lint-time friend.

Kakashi: Rin?

Rin: How are you feeling?

Kakashi: I'm just fine. How are Sasuke's vitals?

Rin: "He's been completely fine after Tsunade came in to look at him. He's a fighter, I'll say that."

She said looking at the still unconscious boy who lay in the hospital bed. There seemed to be a small smile on her face. Once again, Kakashi brushed it off, knowing her actions all too well. They, after all, have been friends close to twenty years. Every detail about one another was never missed, something, just ignored. Nothing about the other person had to be thought about for very long, they knew everything. A small smile crossed his covered lips following hers to the young man who lied in the bed. He was stubborn kid, he'll sure as hell give him that one. He was his student after all.

Kakashi: Yeah.. he's one hell of a trooper.

It wasn't hard to tell that the silver man's mind drifted from the past to the present. After all, it didn't seem that long ago that he was in a position like his, his age may have caught up with his body but he still had the heart that would burn with The Will of Fire until the day he died. Missions didn't come easy, he knew that deep within him but seeing his student in such a poor state made his heart clench. It hurt, but he'd never day it out loud.

Rin: You've been up for a couple days now, you should be like him and catch up on your sleep. It'll be good for you. Want me to bring you in a blanket?

Kakashi: No, I'll be staying up a little longer. Naruto and Sakura should be here in a little bit.

Rin: Sakura.. She's the girl from before, isn't she?

Kakashi: Yeah..

Rin: Well, with her and Naruto going to take care of them, there is nothing that you'll need to worry about. So promise me that after you talk to them you'll go back home and get some sleep.

The thought of Naruto and Sakura waiting for Sasuke to wake up didn't seem to farfetched at this point. Naruto, of douse was more calm about theses situations like these then poor Sakura was. It was obvious that guilt was eating her up inside. She thought it was her fault that Sasuke was in the hospital, but it wasn't hers, it was his jobs. He knew the risks, everyone did but luckily he was saved and brought back to HQ for medical attention as fast as he was.

Kakashi: That's a promise that I can definitely keep Rin.

Rin: "Good" She said giving him a smile. "You know, I haven't seen you like this since that one time when Obito was in the hospital. It was right after our first solo mission too if I remember correctly."

Kakashi: …

Rin: You stayed here every morning and every night until he woke up.. even though it was a minor bump on the head, he was out for three days.

Kakashi Thinking: Obito…

Exiting the room with a smile the beautiful doctor took one last look at her silver headed friend. It had been a long time since they were on active duty, but the memories still fresh in her mind. Everyone's actually. Once you are an agent, you're an agent for life. Sure there are time you have to pass down the torch to the rookies but that also meant you had a new mission, to prepare these kids for the fight of their lives.

Coming to a stop, Sakura stood in fort of the two, very large, doors of the gymnasium just trying to catch her breath, It may not have been that far of a run but between that and all the running she had done earlier, it was no surprise that her body was getting tired. Her long pink hair blew into her face; she quickly tucked it behind her right ear and placed her pale hands on the silver doorknobs on the doors of the gym. She took in another long and hopeful breath, if Naruto wasn't in the gym she would probably just give up and go and see Sasuke herself. A whimper quickly got her attention as she placed her rear onto the door.

Hinata: N-Naruto-kun.

Naruto: Wow Hinata! That was such a tight squeeze between you! I can believe I got it in!

Hinata: Yes! Good job. You're a natural at this!

Naruto: I really hope we can sneak away from the others more often Hinata; days like today are great ones!

Thrusting her small body up against the heavy wooden doors the young cherry blossom busted through those doors without a single shred of hesitation. There was a sour expression painted across her face, and it was only getting worse by the second. Her jade eyes shifted left to right looking to her friends in the disbelief of what she had heard. At this point she had a punch-first-ask-questions-later policy. Something else she inherited from her mother.

Sakura: "Naruto! What did you do you poor Hinata?!" She said grabbing him by his white shirt collar.

There was nothing but rage rumbling within her eyes and she was pissed. Honestly, she looked like she was about ready to strangle him to death. Being trained by Anbu by day one to not fear death, it still didn't stop the young man looking into jade eyes to feel uneasy. Hell, in his mind she would make a great Anbu agent! If she knew how to channel her anger and aggression right she wouldn't even need body guards like him and Sasuke!

Naruto: "S-Sakura.. Keep calm"

Sakura: "I'll break your face if you touched her!"

Hinata: S-Sakura-chan

Sakura: "What?!" She said turning to her shy friend.

Looking over at Hinata, she saw her busty pale friend holding a bright red hockey stick in her left hand. He light purple eyes glanced away from Sakura for a moment then went back down to her feet. Her face was glossed with a shade of light pink, just enough to cover her cheeks and the bridge of her white nose. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Typical Hinata. Waiting for w few more seconds, she shifted and opened her mouth again, this time words came out.

Hinata: N-Naruto-kun was helping me. He was teaching m-me how to play hockey.

Sakura: "Really?" Her expression was dead set on her friend.

Hinata: Honest!

Naruto: "See! I didn't do anything to her!" He struggled to get out of her grasp.

Sakura: "Fine." Dropping Naruto on his butt she placed her hands on her hips. "Look, we need to go back and check on Sasuke."

Her tone had shifted to something more serious and dawning. Naruto, on the other hand, noticed it but didn't take it to had to much. She was worried and felt guilty. That's the kind of heart Sakura had within her, a caring one. They had only been together a short amount of time but it was enough time to create a strong bond between the three of them. Naruto, being the baka that he was, could even see this. So, who else knew? Brushing it out of his mind, the blond raised his hands to fix the collar of his white shirt and re-tie his green tie that Sakura had obviously loosened by being to aggressive. Did she even know her own strength?

Naruto: He's probably still resting.

Sakura: I don't care, we're going.

Hinata: "Is Sasuke-kun really that sick?" Her face was worried as she looked at her two companions.

Naruto: "He'll be fine." He said while placing his hand on her shoulder.

Giving a small smile to the blonde headed boy, her attention glanced over to Sakura who still had a very determined look plastered onto her face's beautiful features. Slowly, Hinata placed her right hand on Sakura's cream colored cheek and gave her the biggest and sweetest smile the world had ever seen.

Hinata: Sakura-chan?

Sakura: Huh?

Hinata: Take care of Sasuke and Naruto, please?

Sakura: Of course Hinata.

Hinata: Thank you so much!

Sakura: Yea.. Naruto? We better get going.

Naruto: Right.

Without another thought, the two teens ran quickly out of the gym and back toward the front of the building to their parked car which was right in front of the school. Naruto hopped into the drivers seat while Sakura slid into the passenger side. Backing the car out from its space the blond once again looked over his shoulder to the pinkette who wore an painfully obvious determined look on her face. A small smile made its way onto Naruto's mouth as he put the car back into drive and sped down the street, weaving in and out of traffic, coming to the outskirts of Konaha.

Naruto: So, I'm guessing Ms. Tsunade told you that she took care of Sasuke?

Sakura: Yeah!

Naruto: You do know that he won't be able to get up and leave for a few more days probably, right?

Sakura: Well duh! But as long as he's better, it's the only thing that matters.

It took only fifteen minuted for the two young teens to pull into the secrete gauge of the Anbu hideout. Exiting the car, both Sakura and Naruto heard their names being called from the distance. Looking past a crowd of people to find the source of the sound, a blue set of eyes narrowed on its target. The sliver hairs man walked toward the black car to great the young ins. She shot them a smile, not even waiting to put his bright orange book down.

Kakashi: So, I'm guessing you two are here to see Sasuke?

Sakura: Yeah! Has he woken up?

Kakashi: "No, not just yet, but I expect that he should anytime now. How about we all go and see him together?" Another small smile appeared on his face.

Following the older man, the blonde and pinkette strolled down a white hallway side by side. Sakura was obviously excited to see Sasuke, even if he wasn't awake yet, she knew that it would only be a mater of time before she got to talk to him again. Naruto, on the other hand was more calm, it was not the first time that he has seen his raven friend, or anyone else for that matter, on the verge of death. He slung his arms behind his head and walked at a moderately slow and tiresome pace. It sure as heel had been a long and irritating day.

Kakashi: "Well, here we are." He laced his hand on the hospital door.

Calmly opening the door to the hospital bedroom the two twins and one adult stepped into the white room of 307A without any hesitation flowing in them. Although they were prepared, they had not taken into consideration of what they truly saw. Jade eyes narrowed onto her raven haired target. He was clearly not where he was supposed to be. She didn't know whether to yell at that bastard for getting out of bed in his condition or hug him that he was actually awake and her could get himself out of bed. Depending on his answer she would know.

Sasuke: Hn? What are you guys doing here?

Nauto: Teme! What are you doing, get back into bed!

Throwing his arm around his best friend Naruto swiftly shoved him back into the direction of the white hospital bed. balk eyes clearly narrowed onto the boy who stood in front of him. Tension in the air grew fast as the other two bystanders looked deeply at them. Did the ever stop bickering? Letting out a small sight, Sasuke grew annoyed of his friends actions. It was known that her would try and bite his head off, but he refrained himself, he knew the panic and sadness his friend had went though, he knew that all he wanted was for him to get better. So instead of biting his head off, he came up with a smart-ass line to take its place.

Sasuke: Shut up baka, I'm perfectly fine.

And her was. Sasuke had recovered. Although it was clear that he was paler then normal and that his body was weak without exercise, he was, for the most part, okay. Little cuts and bruises were still clearly visible over his body, but that was normal. In another few days or so they should all be gone and everything would be back to normal. Well whatever 'normal' was for him. Sakura was still yet to figure that any of that out. But little by little each day, she learned more about that mysterious man.

Kakashi: Let's not break him preeminently now Naruto…

Naruto; "I'm just glad to see him still alive." He smiled brightly.

Sakura: S-Sasuke..

Sasuke: Hn?

To say the tension in the air eases would be a lie, it grew thicker and thicker by the second. Jade eyes glared at the injured boy. He couldn't tell what her eyes read, all he knew is that her face showed anger and annoyance. What the hell had he done this time? Naruto noticed this tension and spun around to look at his former teacher. They nodded and began to back out of the room slowly. They did not want to be in the middle of their moment whether is was going to be good or bad.

Naruto: "W-We'll just leave you two alone for the time being.." He said as he and Kakashi ran from the room.

Sakura: Sasuke..

Not even having a chance to reply, Sakura threw her thin white arms around the young, shirtless man who stood before her. Nothing could stop her at this point, he mind was dead set on holding his warm and toned body again. Her own body flung against his and slightly made him tumble over before he caught his footwork. It was obvious that his muscles and body was still pretty weak and a flying body didn't do much to help.

To say that he was surprised with the cherry's own actions would be noting less of an understatement. It took him a few seconds to just comprehend what had happened, when he came back to reality he could feel her warm body wrap around his. Unknowingly, he smiled at the sight before him. Yea, this was sure something that he could get used too, it wasn't half bad, not bad at all. He took in a breath and drank up the scent of her cherry perfume. Running his finger around her waist slowly he spoke husky words into her ear.

Sasuke: "Sakura.." He only muttered as he hugged her back.

*****To Be Continued*****