Chapter 30: An Interlude

Sakura's POV:

"What? A mission?" Sakura asks.

Standing across from Asami sensi, Sakura tilts her head. Why is she on a mission with Kenji's sensi? It was a strange thing to Sakura. She barely knew anything about Asami sensi, other than Kenji thinking she was crazy. And that she pushed Kenji to his limits most of the time, which Sakura didn't get, since they always looked to be having fun.

It was why Team 9 was so strong. They were being pushed around by their sensi and had training with the other teams. Something all the sensis were starting to do to try to catch up to Team 9. Sakura was seeing how they were all advancing. She and Kakashi asked Kurenai to help teach her about genjustu and Sakura was pretty good at it!

She could feel herself getting stronger each time she trained with her. Now that Sasuke was also using his Sharigan more and learning, she was going against him to try to resist it. While she failed most of the time, it was getting to the point they could force Naruto to stop for a moment while she and Sasuke discussed strategy.

"Yes. Rather simple but I will be your sensi, Sasuke and Kenji will be helping out as well. Come on, let's get going." Asami Sensi turns and begins to move.

Sakura doesn't have a choice, she follows. She doesn't even know where she is going. But moving with Asami, it makes sense how her whole team is quick thinkers and fast in battles. Asami doesn't give them time to think about things, so they have to go on instinct and learn as they go. It was why Yuri and Isamu's fights were so cool to watch. They were learning and knew when they were going to get pinned.

It made sense. Even when she had time to spar with Kenji, he was quick on his feet and knew what to do. Even before Sakura knew what to do herself.

They make it to the orphanage.

She notices Kenji and Sasuke there, staring daggers at each other. Since Sasuke vanished and he had been dating Yuri at this time. After seeing Yuri being so calm about it but hearing about how mad she was from Kenji…. it broke a lot of the ideal person she thought Sasuke was. It broke her heart, but she knew he had a reason.

Even Sakura and Ino had talked about it.

Ino felt the same way about Sasuke and how he was treating Yuri. They both didn't like it and agreed to move on and grow before even thinking about dating anyone. Sasuke was cute… but vanishing on his girlfriend and coming in during her match and causing it to crumble?

A lot of what she thought about Sasuke changed. And he still thought Sakura was beneath him. It was eye opening. Never had Sakura thought about it before, but now she was seeing it. Sasuke believed he was better than everyone else, and it was frustrating to watch. He thought he could still beat Kenji in a fight, but Sakura isn't sure about that. While Kakashi was working on it with him… Sakura wasn't sure any of it sunk in.

And Kenji was opening up to Sakura about Sasuke… and Kenji didn't have a lot of good things to say about him.

"Alright you two. Enough of that." Asami sensi stands between them. "Our mission is to help teach basic math and reading to some less fortunate students. I want your best behavior. We are here for a while."

Asami sensi turns around. Leading the trio inside, they get introduced and they spend the day teaching some children. While Sakura enjoys it, she notices Kenji is struggling with talking to some of the kids. She even goes over to help him explain something. She even had to hel Sasuke out with his communication with the children.

"Sakura." She turns as she says goodbye to a few of the children, seeing Sasuke. "Let's walk home together. We have to be here early."

Sakura notices Kenji walking by. "Won't vanish before Yuri gets back, right Uchiha?"

Letting out a sigh, Sakura doesn't know how this is going to end. Kenji and Sasuke had been fighting all day, so much that Asami had to drag them both outside. Sakura didn't like it but she had to side with Kenji. It was dumb of Sasuke to vanish, even if Kakshi had been the one to drag him away from everything.

It also doesn't help that Sasuke had a temper around Kenji, and most of the other guys. But Kenji is the only one she noticed to really get under Sasuke's skin and make him act out. Sasuke did the same thing to Kenji though. Both of them were idiots.

Why Sakura ever liked Sasuke is beyond her.

"Can it. I at least made it up to her." Sasuke bites back.

Sakura looks between the two boys. Wondering if they were going to start fighting now. It wouldn't look good for them. A physical fight would only cause them to fail this mission. An easy one at that! They needed to work together though, and it was clear Kenji and Sasuke weren't going to be able to do so. Sasuke and Naruto just started to get along.

"Ya right. You clearly don't know Yuri if you think you've made it up to her." Kenji crosses his arms. "What? Going to smooch your teammate to get in everyone's good graces?"

Asami steps in. "Kenji. I have something to show you."

Kenji is led away as Sakura is left staring at the image of Kenji. Her heart hurt with how much Kenji didn't like being around Sasuke, and when it was just her and Kenji, or Kenji around anyone else but Sasuke, he was kind. Kenji is a kind person, but something about Sasuke bothered him. Perhaps its the fact Sasuke is dating Yuri, and seeing Team 9's closeness, he might be protective. Kenji is always so sweet to Sakura and never fails to check in on her.

She turns away, feeling a small blush on her face.

She can't let anyone else see it. Last time she had a crush on someone and told others, it ruined her friendship with Ino. That was barely being repaired now. She doesn't want her liking someone or even having feelings for them be the only thing everyone knows her for.

All the girls chased after Sasuke, and the guys all called them Sasuke's fanclub.

Sakura was just now hating the name. And seeing that Sasuke might not be all that.

"Come on. I'll walk you home." Sasuke puts his hands in his pocket.

The two of them begin to walk. There is silence for a moment. She didn't want to say anything first, as she wanted to see what Sasuke wanted to say first. Sakura had no idea what Sasuke would want to talk to her about.

They are a team, but she doesn't feel like she can talk to them. Not the way Kenji describes how team 9 talks to each other. Or even team 10. All the other teams had better communication than her own team.

Sakura always felt like the one being left behind. It doesn't help that Sasuke looks down on ehr and Naruto thinks Sakura needs to be saved all the time. Ino told her the two of them needed to stop being the crybabies of the group. They needed to get better so everyone would respect them and not think of them as burdens.

She had to agree.

"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry." He finally says.

Sasuke keeps walking but Sakura pauses.

He… he was saying sorry? She didn't think he would, Sasuke never said sorry to anyone. She didn't even know he was able to say sorry. It baffled her so much she didn't know what to even say. Blinking a few times, making sure she isn't in some illusion.

What could she say to him?

She had no idea and she only stares at Sasuke for a moment.

"You're… you're sorry?" Sakura finally manages.

He turns towards her. "Ya. I've been a jerk. It's just… you remember when Naruto had a crush on you?" She nods her head. "And how overwhelming was it to you? That's how I felt with the fan club. It was constant pressure. This doesn't excuse how I've treated you after… but I just wanted to say it."

Sakura pauses and thinks for a moment. She does know she was annoyed by Naruto… and she can only imagine what it was like for Sasuke. He had all the girls chasing after him, minus Hinata and Yuri. She chased Sasuke because he wasn't into her. Like how she wasn't into Lee… even though he had it very clear to her he was interested.

Which reminded her. She needed to visit Lee soon. They think he could be up and moving soon again.

She was understanding, and she could see how and why Sasuke was so mean to all the girls. Sakura did the same thing to Naruto and Lee. It also made sense why Sasuke was nice to Yuri and Hinata. They weren't chasing him and trying to get close to him. She understands. And they should start over… a clean slate.

But then she extends her hand.

"Well, let's start over. I'm Sakura, a genin and I… well I have someone I know who I'm too afraid to confess I like him."

Sasuke smiles softly and shakes her hand. While it normally melts her heart… but she would rather see someone else smile. Someone she hadn't seen smile all day. Though, Sakura will never admit to it. Not to Sasuke in the slightest. She needs some distance to get better.

"The name is Sasuke, a genin as well and I am trying to not mess things up with my girlfriend. You might know her. Yuri."

Normally when Sakua heard Sasuke calling Yuri his girlfriend it hurt her. But today it didn't. It was strange to her, she wasn't hurt by it. She was actually kind of happy for Sasuke and Yuri. It was a strange feeling for Sakura to think about it like that.

She wasn't talking about Sasuke… and she knows it. But now she doesn't know what to do… the one person she had ever liked was Saksue.

She finally had a different crush.

"Ah," Sakura says, retracting her hand. "I have. She's a firecracker. I hope you haven't pissed her off. I heard she was mad."

Sakura laughs, while she knows Yuri was pissed off, she wanted to hear it from Sasuke. So she knows how much Sasuke knows. Kenji had told her a fair bit, along with Choji. She was hanging out with Choji, he was helping her with her taijustu. It was beginning to help her and she was beginning to get stronger.

"I did. But I have to live with being an idiot." Sasuke pauses. "Who is this guy you can't confess to?"

Sakura feels her face becoming flush. "Oh… um… I can't even admit it to myself. I don't think I'm ready to vocalize it yet."

Sasuke slowly nods his head. Sakura only hopes he is smart enough to not bother her about it over and over again.

"If you do, I will be here to listen to you."

They continue to walk, allowing a silence to fall over them. One that Sakura had never allowed to be there before. She wasn't sad that Sasuke was dating Yuri… which was strange. She was pissed off when she heard about them dating. Eventuall they go their separate ways.

Sakura has a lot to think about.

And a lot she needs to come to terms with later. Right now though? She should focus on becoming stronger.

Hinata's POV:

A Few Days Later:

Yuri had been gone for five days, and Sasuke was teaching children. Something she never thought she would see. Sasuke who didn't like too many people, let alone children. Hinata knew Sasuke loves his little sister, so teaching children was funny to just know. While he had his sister… Hinata didn't know if it was enough to teach children.

What was strange… Sakura had come to Hinata and apologized for how she treated her in school. All the bullying and name calling, even trying to pin her down to tell her to back off Sasuke. Of course Yuri or Sasuke were around to help her. She never understood why they thought Hinata was a threat with Sasuke, she had always liked Naruto.

It had only been Naruto until Yuri talked some sense into her.

Sakura even asked Hinata to train.

What was a real shock was Sasuke talking to Hinata about how to make things better with Yuri. Hinata didn't know how to, so she told Sasuke to be there for Yuri. She also lost her family like Sasuke, she even saw it. Yuri and Sasuke had that emotional connection about their families, but beyond that, Hinata didn't know what else Yuri and Sasuke had in common.

Yuri connected with Sasuke, which he needed when he was younger. As Sasuke was always alone, and it didn't help when the fanclub were so protective of him. Yuri was similar to Naruto in the fact she was able to connect with people. She wasn't able to with everyone like Naruto, but she reached Sasuke and Hinata. Something no one paid attention to.

It always warmed Hinata's heart thinking about how Yuri got her, Shikamaru and Sasuke to all be friends. They were an unlikely group to be honest. But Hinata liked it all the same. Feeling like she could be heard from a young age with other people.

She was walking with Shino, her head bowed.

She was starting to like Shino, like a lot. Not as much as she liked Naruto though. But… Shino was calm and distant… Hinata could see he liked being around a lot of others. She knew Shino better than anyone else. He made her feel safe and he wasn't like Naruto. He listened to her and made her feel heard. They were working on it with Kiba, but he wasn't very good at just listening.

But she realized Shino had asked her a question.

"I'm… I'm sorry. What was that?" She asks.

"When are you cleared to fully train?"

Hinata looks at Shino. "Oh… um… in about a week. I have a check up then. And since I have been resting… they… they think I will be okay…"

Shino is about to say something else when Kurenai and Kiba appear in front of them. Hinata pauses and her sensi smiles at her. Hinata hadn't been able to train, but she would sit and watch Shino and Kiba train. She wanted to be able to train with them, but she couldn't yet. She was even watching Neji train with Hisata a little more.

It was making her want to train and become better. She wanted to take on people like Yuri did. Not being all talk like Ino and Sakura were, but backing up her claims as well.

"Well, we have a mission. A simple one that all three of you can do."

"Yeah? What is it?" Kiba asks, crossing his arms.

Kurenai turns to Kiba. "We are babysitting an important man's kid. He brought him with to the village. So we are going to help them out while the man is meeting with the elders."

Kiba groans. "You mean we are babysitting?"

They… they are watching a child? Hinata didn't know how well this was going to go. It sounded easy though, and Hinata wanted to go on missions again, even a simple mission like this. Hinata would be happy about it.

Hinata was looking forward to being able to do something. It would help her open up. And seeing all her friends out on missions was making her feel left out. A mission is going to be good for her.

"Shut up Kiba. Be grateful we have a mission. And that all three of us can do this mission." Shino says.

"Man, do you always have to have something to say!?" Kiba yells.

Hinata looks between the boys. She knows Kiba is louder than he means to be, especially when anyone not on their team is around. Shino always had something to say to Kiba, while it reminded her of Naruto and Sasuke, they were friendlier. Kurenai was working with them to be a team, it was working better than she would have thought.

She knows all the teams are healthier than team 7 still. And the sensis could see it as well. They all talked at the very least. Unlike team 7 that was just getting there, even training together without thei sensi around. Compared to Team 9 though… even team guy was under them in terms of team work.

Hinata finally speaks up. "Kiba… it… it might not be… be that bad…"

Kurenai laughs. "You will have fun. The child is only three years old. And it's a few days."

Kurenai walks them over, keeping in mind Hinata needing to take things a little slower. They don't really talk, unless she counts Kiba constantly talking about things. Even then, they walk in silence mostly. They make it to the family and they are introduced. And the little girl, named Yuki, walked right up to Hinata and attaches to her.

It surprises Hinata. No one ever picked her first. She can only stare at the little girl as she is holding onto her leg. Hinata looks between everyone, unsure of what to do since the child seems to like her the best.

The man is also stunned into silence for a while. The little girl looks up at Hinata and smiles at her again.

"I am glad… Yuki doesn't attach to people very often." The man says.

Hinata crouches down and pats Yuki's head. Offering the little girl a soft smile, she glances at Kurenai. Who also seems surprised, but gives Hinata a soft smile. The man explains a few things to the group before he has to run off to meet with the village elders.

Over the next few hours, Yuki begins to play with Kiba and seems to stay away from Shino. Yuki mumbling that Shino was scary to her. So Shino made sure there were snacks and other thinks. Kurenai had left to be the mans escort. Yuki doesn't leave Hinata's side for a while. She even fell asleep next to Hinata. It was becoming a little too much for Hinata to handle, she wasn't used to someone having their full attention.

She can understand why Sasuke snapped at people. Why anyone constantly in the spotlight felt like. While at first it was nice, it became too much for her.

While Yuki is playing with Kiba, Hinata needs a break.

Yuki wanted to be around Hinata a lot, and kept wanting to see her byakugan. Thankfully Kiba and Akumaru were good at distraction. They were playing tag with Yuki and making it easy for her. It was heartwarming but since Kiba could tell Hinata needed a small break, it meant the world to her.

Shino follows Hinata out and puts a hand on her shoulder. Causing her to look at him as she sees something she never saw on Shino before. A faint pink to his cheeks.

He had never done that with her and he just nods his head.

"Take a break. Kiba and I can handle it."

Shino's hand lingers a little and Hinata offers a small smile to him before he turns and heads back inside.

Notes: Here is another chapter! I hope you enjoy the chapter from different points of view! As I might be changing up the points of view to allow other characters a chance to grow and people seeing that. It was a lot of fun writing this chapter and getting to see what Hinata and Sakura are up to! As always, please leave a comment and follow the story!