Thanks so much for the follows and the reviews, I'm really happy! Again, thanks so much, I really love you all for that! I don't know what else to say. I have a good idea on where I want this to go, so I hope you all enjoy it, yeah?

There isn't too much Sasuke in this one, folks, but this chapter is necessary to set up what it is that I want to happen! Like I said, I hope you all like it, and let me know how I did in a review!

Promise

Sakura gave off a huff of indignation as she stomped down the dusty streets of Konoha. She was still a little peeved at the previous encounter she had with that snob of an Uchiha. "Who the hell does he think he is? He's so damn annoying." Sakura grinded her teeth together in frustration as he seeped into the crevices of her mind, angering her even more. The nerve of some people; if there was one thing that Sakura could not stand, were certain individuals that thought themselves better than everyone else. "Uchihas are so full of themselves."

Oh, yes. Sakura knew all about that family, who didn't? She wasn't the kind to jump the bandwagon and respect the Uchihas out of fear, and she sure as hell wasn't going to bow at their feet in admiration. People were nothing but fools, nowadays. A tired sigh fell from her lips as she raked one of her hands through her hair. Hugging the vase full of flowers tightly against her breasts, Sakura gazed down upon it with a frown. They were ruined, the beautiful petals were torn and battered, the stems broken and crippled. Not only had that, but the face of the beautiful, floral vase was partially cracked against the surface; probably due to the impact with that stupid Uchiha.

"Darn it…" Sakura sighed, looking up at the mingling crowds. Well, she couldn't really afford a replacement, what with all the debts she had, the young kunoichi was surprised she actually had change left to buy something on the side. Debts severely limited things for Sakura, but it only allowed her the chance to appreciate the little things far more than others ever did. She never took anything for granted, and that was something she was grateful for, given the fact that most people were helpless in that department.

Still…

"Father will still love these." The young kunoichi reassured herself, letting a small smile brush over her lips at the thought of placing the vase beside her father's bedside table. Despite the displeasures from earlier that afternoon, Sakura was happy to notice that she could still salvage the day. There was no use in worrying over idiots that didn't deserve to be within her thoughts. People like them disgust her; to think that people who enjoy being feared actually exist. It was such a cowardly move, to use fear as a weapon, as a means to gain more than a person already had. How terrible.

Raising the back of her hand, the young woman wiped her brow clean, yawning slightly after having worked nearly all morning. Returning home to her father was what made everything a little worthwhile; that, and a certain number of other things. The bitter image of the Uchiha slowly began to evaporate into nothing, until he was finally gone from her mind, putting Sakura more at ease. The day was still a beautiful one. Gentle breezes caressed her hair and face, giving each cheek a kiss farewell.

Konoha was so peaceful…

"Auntie?" Sakura breathed, half wishing that her aunt was not around to berate her as always. Again, the young kunoichi called for her aunt, but received no actual response. So she was gone. At first, Sakura voiced her disapproval when he caught her leaving the house as well as leaving her father alone to fend for himself, but as time passed, it was just another unfortunate circumstance that Sakura couldn't help. Removing her shoes, she made her way into their small home, itching to check on her father after realizing that he was probably left alone for whoever knows how long.

Making her way to the kitchen area, Sakura softly hummed to herself, trying to fix up her gift to her father as best as she could. After replacing the vase with fresh water and salvaging what she could, Sakura then jogged upstairs to where her father would most likely be resting. She wouldn't let someone like an Uchiha ruin her day, not when her father needed her to be at her best. There should be no reason for her to be sour, and so, with a genuine smile, she opened the door to her father's room upon reaching it.

As she expected, Kizashi Haruno was silently sleeping, resting comfortably against the pillows of his bed. Quieting her movements, Sakura carefully made her way to his bedside table, placing the vase in a good spot for him to see it when he woke. Turning to him, she then allowed herself to ghost her fingers over this brow, her eyes softening. He was cold and clammy, paler than usual, and without a doubt, he was most likely enduring a lot of pain. Had it not been for one of Tsunade's specialized sleeping herbs and medicine, there was no way her father would be able to enjoy any form of sleep.

He was ill…

Gravely.

At that point, Sakura didn't know what to do. For the most part, she and Tsunade have tried to tackle what it is exactly that was causing her father so much grief, but to their misfortune, no luck. They theorized that it could be a new form of illness not yet properly explore, and that's what scared Sakura the most; how could anyone fight something they had no knowledge about? With her father incapacitated, she was the only one struggling to make ends meet for their family; and her aunt made it clear that she was not a housewife, not meant to lift a finger. It was all so too much to take, sometimes. Her missions as a kunoichi just barely kept them going; however, it was still not enough.

Sakura carefully took her father's hand in hers, taking a seat next to his bed. Leaning in, she took in the life lines on his face, feeling his calloused hand against the smoothness of her fingers. Even after her mother died, Kizashi had tried to move mountains in order to be a great father and provider for his daughter and sister, as well as support Sakura through her journey on becoming a proper kunoichi. It had been happy times for them, but that was quickly overshadowed by the impending tragedy his illness could bring if she didn't hurry up and find some form of cure. Even so, medicine did not come cheap, and Tsunade has already done so much for her already, she couldn't possibly ask for more.

Silky, blossom colored bangs fell over her eyes, trying hard not to let the fear and grief consume her; she had to maintain strong for a reason. "Don't worry, dad…" The young woman finally whispered, raising her head just a fraction in order to take in the sleeping form of her father. "I promise I will get you through this." She just had to; Sakura only had a few people in her life, and losing her father would just devastate her. The thought was too terrifying to think about, and so Sakura decided to change her way of thinking by distracting herself with small talk.

"Guess what happened earlier today? I ran into an Uchiha. It didn't take long for me to figure out what family he came from." Sakura stifled a small laugh as she gazed at her father. "He was so stuck up, it almost pained me. I wish you would have been there, Dad, we would have gotten a real good laugh." Slowly, she pursed her lips, thinking deeper on the situation. "I don't get why people are like that, believing that rising up the social status is everything. He was young, about my age, actually."

With a tired sigh, she leaned back in her chair, using one hand to rub her brow. "I will admit, Dad, the guy was really handsome." Viridian hues rested over him, before she smiled softly. "But I remember you telling me once that beauty is only skin deep. I'm sure, deep down, he's really rotten—."

Something heavy enough to make a sharp sound, struck her window, forcing Sakura to leap to her feet in surprise. Falling eerily quiet, trained eyes settled keenly over her window, waiting to see if it would happen again.

She didn't wait long.

What appeared to be a rock, struck her window again, kicking Sakura into gear. With a furrowed brow, the young kunoichi reached the window in three, full strides, fumbling with the locks once she reached it. Unclasping the locks, Sakura lifted the panel of the window enough to let her peer out of it, her orbs immediately falling to the ground below.

And her heart skipped.

"Kiba!" Sakura called down, her face splitting into a wide grin.

The young Inuzuka tossed up a grin of his own, Akamaru faithfully at his side. Raising a hand in greeting, Kiba called up at the young woman, beckoning for her to meet up with him. "Don't keep me waiting here, hurry up and get down here before I head out!" A small growl entwined with that of his voice, sending pleasant shivers down her back.

"Mission?" She breathed, unable to hold back the excitement in her eyes at the sight of him. The second he responded with a nod, she was already away from the window and down the stairs within seconds.

Kiba Inuzuka.

Had you told Sakura years ago that she would end up dating Kiba, she wouldn't have believed such a statement. It came to happen over the years; the mutual affection that grew between the two after a mission forced them together as partners. He was quite the laid back character, fun to be with, and honest beyond a shadow of a doubt. It was not every day that a woman could find a man with such a sense of loyalty, eager to offer his companionship if he thought a person worthy of his trust.

He was also so playful, but during sad times, he was such a fantastic listener. When did it all fall together? Sakura almost couldn't remember, it just happened, unexpected. Just how she loved it. Now, she wouldn't go as far as to say that she loved the guy, but if time were be generous, she would spend the years discovering it with him. It was all just so perfect for the two of them, she couldn't ask for a better man, but, there was always something to blemish such a wonderful thing. People and life throw rocks at things that shine all the time, making it difficult for Sakura to truly enjoy such happiness with Kiba. Yet, there he was, waiting faithfully for her on her back doorstep.

It was those kinds of fears and insecurities that forced Sakura to turn her cheek as Kiba leaned in to capture her lips. Instead, the kiss painted her jaw as she shot a hesitant glance at Kiba's already annoyed face. The young shinobi fought with himself in order to keep from dishing out an irritated retort, which Sakura was grateful for. "How long?" Kiba raised a brow, making Sakura peer to the side.

"I told you, Kiba. Soon…"

"Soon could mean a lot of things." He responded, glancing over at Akamaru as his trusty companion found some shade to rest under. "It's been months, how long are we going to keep this up?"

Sakura chewed on her bottom lip, knowing that her act of cautiousness was hurting Kiba more than she intended, too, but it hurt her, as well. Couldn't he see that? Not to mention all the prying eyes, the people who could be hurt with the news about them being an item. Then there was the other main reason as to why she didn't want any trouble.

Her aunt.

The kunoichi placed a gentle hand against his arm, sliding up slowly as she glanced at him from beneath her lashes. "I don't want my aunt putting me or my father under any stress, because I know her; she would greatly disapprove of us. My Dad claims that he's strong enough, but he just isn't, and I want our home to be as comfortable as he can be."

Kiba didn't seem too happy with her choice of words, but he didn't completely brush her off when she touched him. That was a good sign. Parting her lips, Sakura leaned up to kiss the corner of his mouth, before she slowly pressed her brow against his shoulder. "Not to mention the people we would be hurting. Naruto, Ino…"

"They would understand." Kiba interjected, but Sakura shook her head, pressing harder into his tensed form. It was the same argument every time. She wanted their relationship to be kept hidden, away from prying eyes until she knew the truth wouldn't make a complicated mess of things. He wanted them to be known, to ride the tides as they came, a little more reckless than most, but still firm on where he stood.

"Maybe, but you know Ino is sick, too, and Naruto…it will just take some time."

"You know full well I'm not completely happy with this, but I'll hold off for a bit more if that's what you really want." Kiba finally relented, seeming frustrated, but Sakura awarded him with a kiss.

"Kiba, I know I have a lot of issues to sort out, but I promise, that doesn't mean you're the least of my worries. I care about you so much. More than I care to admit." Sakura finally breathed. "You're going to have to trust me."

…

"So she's with someone?" Sasuke coolly asked as he watched the villagers from his clan go about their daily business. His chest rose with newfound determination, realizing that the young Sakura Haruno became far more desirable now that he knew she was already claimed by another man. Sasuke was a man full of ambitions, and a mere pothole would not detour him from his goals.

To make Sakura Haruno his.

The messenger swallowed thickly as he bowed his head, nodding at Sasuke's words. "Hai, Sasuke-sama. I went out to find the Haruno residence as you asked, and I saw the young kunoichi already in the arms of another. I did not make myself known, instead, I discreetly returned here. Like I previously stated, I managed to find her home."

Sasuke was silent at first, but slowly, he reached towards one of his desk drawers. Slipping out a letter that was branded with Uchiha seal, he held it out for the messenger to take. "I want this delivered to the head of the Haruno household only." The young Uchiha ordered, his dark eyes full of a frigid coldness that made the other man tremble. "Don't dare come back here until you do." Sasuke threatened, his voice devoid of emotion, making it seem more deathly and genuine.

"A-As you order, sir." The messenger spoke, avoiding the Uchiha's stare as he took the letter. Sasuke was not worried, because he knew that his influence would give him what he wanted, and his eyes were dead set on his new prize. It did not matter if she belonged to another, it would be no trouble for him to rid himself of the pest.

It was only a matter of time.

I think this one was a little longer than the last! Don't worry, the next chapter should have more Sasuke, for all you girls out there! I just want to make sure I get all the important points across first! Thank you!