"Sasuke-kun, we should run away."
Twelve-year-old Sakura was trembling with fear. The mission had taken a different turn than at the beginning, and they were now in quite a bit of trouble.
The two shinobi were looking for them. And they were hiding in a tight crevice in the ground, their backs and legs pressed against the walls with all their might to keep from falling.
"We need to go lower." Sasuke said.
Sakura wasn't too convinced by the idea.
"There's already not enough room here, let alone downstairs," she said.
"Take my hand." Sasuke was determined.
Sakura could have argued with him further, but she knew it was pointless. Especially since the shinobi were approaching faster and faster.
He shook Sakura's hand and clamped his feet even tighter on the wall. Sakura pulled one foot down and then the other. She felt Sasuke almost tilt to the side. She held her breath.
"Now attach yourself to the wall using chakra."
She obediently followed Sasuke's command and began to descend. Sakura reached the edge of the crevice.
"What do you see?"
"There's a tunnel here."
"It- Look out!"
It had been a long time since Sakura had heard terror in his voice. She looked up and noticed a large stone flying toward her. Sasuke tried to push it away, - very unlikely that he would have succeeded - but he didn't reach it. Sakura let go of the wall at the last moment.
She fell, bruising her legs a bit.
"Sakura!" Sasuke came down to her.
"It's all right." He ran up to Sakura to see if she was telling the truth.
"Who sends genins on such missions." he said with anger in the voice.
"We have to train somehow. You and Naruto would probably do it faster if I -"
"Stop it, Sakura." he looked into her eyes
"We are a team, we need you. You're not slowing us down."
"You know..."
"Neither of us could complete this mission." he grabbed her hand "Now come on, we have to get out of here." Sakura hesitated.
But she squeezed Sasuke's hand tighter anyway and followed him. He was right, she thought, we are only genins, we still have a long way to go. I have time to show what I can do.
