Chapter Seventeen

Our mission was to reach a neighboring town and help them. Tsunade looked very concerned at the wellbeing of Crete. Tsunade knew the town's leader, I guessed they were friends since they were kids. Tsunade didn't give many details, all she said was they have been trapped with a killer due to Sakura's domes. Crete has been trying to get help for a few weeks.

Tsunade made it clear we were to leave immediately to reach Crete by nightfall, but I had to stop by Sakura's apartment, I wanted to see her one more time before leaving but to my dismay she was gone. I sighed, running beside Sasuke with no conversation. Kakashi and Sasuke were focused on reaching Crete as soon as possible but I couldn't help but wonder where Sakura went, and how long it will be until I see her again. I was worried about her she played it off, but she was still hurt.

Crete was a small town but had a lot of farmland. Kakashi explained that most of the food from the leaf village comes from these farms. I followed Kakashi as I looked around Crete, nothing popped out at me. There was no attractions to be bring people here so why was there an assign running these streets?

"So, what's our first move?" I asked placing my hands on my hips.

"We wait." Kakashi answered.

"Wa-Wait!?" I groaned. "Why on earth would we do that!?"

"Why wouldn't we?" Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest.

"Because it could take days for this rogue guy to come out!" I didn't want to be here for days, I wanted to return home as fast as I could...I wanted to be there when Sakura returned... "We should ask around, maybe someone knows where this person has been staying."

"That could scare him into leaving." Sasuke shook his head. "We don't want him to jump to a different village."

"Ugh!" I groaned; it was the late evening and the sun was beginning to set. My stomach growled; I placed my hands on it. "Can we at least get something to eat?" My mouth watered smelling food as I followed Sasuke and Kakashi.

"No." Kakashi said, "The killer comes out at night, we need to be ready for him."

"I can't be ready for him if I am starving to death!" I whined.

"I told you to eat before we left."

"We left in such a hurry!" I defended.

"We should split up, cover more ground." Sasuke spoke up, ignoring my hungry stomach. "That way when he shows up there is a better chance one of us can spot him."

"Good idea Sasuke." Kakashi praised, I rolled my eyes turning from my team and walked to a nearby man who was standing on the sidewalk.

"Hey!" I waved, I heard Sasuke behind me cursing my name, but I ignored him.

"Huh?" The old man turned to me, he looked like he was a farmer. "Oh, you're a shinobi?" He asked, I shook my head proud.

"Yes sir! We are from the Leaf Village here to help you!"

"Well it's about time." His tone was flat when Kakashi and Sasuke stepped beside me.

"Our village was under the same dome yours was." Sasuke said, "We couldn't leave-"

"Anyway, I think you three may be too late."

"Too late for what?" Kakashi questioned, damnit! If this rogue ninja skipped town, we had no choice but to go after that guy! I was never going to make it back home to see Sakura now!

"That masked shinobi, the one who has been terrorizing our town. He was attacking this morning, burning down a field of corn outside the village. Normally he tries to go after all the crops but for some reason he vanished."

"Vanished?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah, there were a bunch of us guarding the bean fields. We waited for hours for him to show up but he never did-" The man explained, "Hey-!" He called, looking over his shoulder at a young boy around my age who was wearing similar clothing to him walked by.

"Hm?" The boy asked walking over to us. "What's up?"

"Didn't that rogue go missing this morning?" The old man asked,

"Oh yeah-" The younger boy blushed as he smiled.

"Huh?" I tilted my head.

"-That rogue went missing not long after that woman showed up." The boy said,

"What woman?" Sasuke sounded like he was getting annoyed.

"Don't know, she wasn't much of a talker. She asked around a bit like you three are about the rogue, I heard from people who were running from the fields that the two were fighting in the corn but when I got there both were gone as well as the fire."

"Did another village beat us here?" Sasuke whispered to me, I shrugged having no clue.

"What did this woman look like?" Kakashi questioned.

"She was hot!" The boy gushed; I rolled my eyes. "She had this perfect body, eyes that cut like a weapon and this nice long pink hair-"

"Wait!" I cut him off, my heart skipping a beat. "Pink hair?"

"Yeah." The boy and old man both nodded.

"Strange color-" The old man said, "-kids these days." He shook his head

"Did she have a name?" I asked quickly ignoring him.

"No-" The boy scrunched his face. "-She wouldn't really talk I tried talking to her, but she brushed me off!"

"Thank you for your time." Kakashi said, once the two men were out of ear shot, I turned to Kakashi my heart pounding in my chest.

"That has to be Sakura!" I whispered.

"Why would she be here?" Sasuke muttered.

"The rogue!" I answered, feeling excited. I really wanted Sakura to be here!

"I don't think this is something she would concern herself with." Sasuke said trying to rain down on my parade.

"I don't know many women with long pink hair." I scoffed at him.

"We need to confirm that the rogue is dead." Sasuke said with a sigh.

"So, we need to find that woman they were talking about." I smiled, it was Sakura, I was so sure of it.

"I suppose..." Sasuke sighed, "...what do you think Kakashi?" Sasuke asked. I looked up at him, he wasn't looking at us. Kakashi was staring off in a different direction and I am pretty sure he wasn't listening to me.

"Hm?" He asked turning around. Sasuke glared as I laughed.

"What do you think about all this?"

"I think your right, we can't leave until we determine the rogue is no longer a problem." Kakashi smiled as he closed his eye.

"So, we split up." I said with a nod.

"I guess." Sasuke looked around, it was getting darker.

"Alright-" Looking around my surroundings, a bookstore was behind me. "I will meet you guys back here in one hour!"

"Alright." Sasuke and Kakashi nodded, with that we went our separate ways. Twenty minutes passed quickly as I went person to person questioning them on the woman who blew into their town with the long pink hair. But every person had no new information to give me and no one knew where she had gone. Was it possible Sakura came here, took the rogue down and was back inside the leaf village? My stomach grumbled; still hungry I gripped my belly. Maybe I could grab something quick and easy while I look around?

I was about to turn towards a building which I could smell had food when a strong hand gripped my shoulder. My body froze as it was pulled back, Kakashi knew I was going to eat and not do my job! I was going to be in so much trouble! I quickly spun around about to string together a lie but when I turned, I didn't see my sensei I saw a woman with long brown hair, bright hazel eyes and a tanned stone face she was pretty, but she was glaring at me.

"Huh?" I tilted my head; I didn't know this girl. I did notice she pulled us between two buildings out of sight of others. "Who are the hell are you?!" I became alert, who was this lady!? Why did she pull me aside?!

"Calm down Naruto." The girl said, I froze hearing her voice. I didn't care this stranger somehow knew my name, I looked at the girl feeling so much more confused as her voice matched Sakura's. The girl closed her eyes, I jumped back seeing pieces of her begin to flake off like freaking black pieces of snow! The pieces floated in the air and then dissolved; my mouth dropped open this girl's skin was fading from a sun skinned tan, her brown strands of her air return pink.

"What?" I gasped, she opened her eyes and there were two green orbs burning into me. "S-Sakura?!"

"Naruto." Sakura nodded her head,

"What the hell!?" I yelled, causing her to smile making my heart skip.

"What?" She laughed, "I showed up and within an hour everyone noticed me."

"You hid your appearance" I nodded understanding, but I didn't sense a damn thing, how skilled was she?

"You left!" I snapped my head out of my thoughts.

"And?" She asked.

"What do you mean and?!" I shouted, not caring if people could hear me. "Your hurt you shouldn't be out of the leaf village yet!"

"I am fine Naru-"

"I don't care Sakura!" I cut her off, anger bubbled into my stomach. If she wasn't going to take care of herself than I will! "You can say your fine all day long, but I know you need more time to recover. If you would have just told me about Crete, then I would have helped you and-"

"I don't need your help." Sakura snapped; she was so cold towards me, how could she shut off her emotions like this? I didn't understand her, I couldn't read her face or body language. She reminded me of Kakashi and Sasuke, how they can hide what they were feeling so well, I could never do that.

"I know you don't I just-"

"Why are you here?" Sakura asked.

"Tsunade sent us."

"Us?"

"Yeah, Sasuke and Kakashi are here with me."

"That woman-" Sakura shook her head, "-she always jumped the gun."

"Is this why you had to leave?" I asked, "Do come here?" Sakura shot me an annoyed look.

"No shit." She said, "Clearly I'm here." We had such a fun night drinking...I didn't understand her behavior, was she pushing me away from her? Why would she purposely push me away?

"Are you ok?" I asked.

"For the hundredth time, I am fucking fine."

"I wasn't talking about your health..." I said slowly, as if I was treading lightly so I wouldn't spook her into leaving.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Sakura you're acting very..."

"Acting like what?" Sakura snapped.

"Cold." I refused to look into her eyes, if I did then I would be swept away in them.

"I don't have time for this." Sakura shook her head, turning as I felt wind twisting past me. My heart dropped, Sakura was about to leave again and I didn't know where she was going to go! Did I piss her off? Would she not go home because of my stupid mouth!?

"Sakura-!" I called her name, trying to stop her from leaving but she paid me no attention. I could see the wind playing through the strands of her pink hair. "I'm in love with you." The words just poured out of my mouth before I could stop them. Sakura and I stared at each other for a still moment.

"No." She said, turning to walk away. I almost fell to the ground from her casualness. I quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Sakura-!" I called, she stopped moving and allowed me to pull her back between the two buildings hiding us from the world. "-I have loved you since we were kids-"'

"Your lying." Sakura cut me off,

"Er-Well no." I lightly laughed, "I really have loved-"

"If what you say if true then why did you do it?" She asked me.

"Do...what?"

"Abandon me when I needed you most?" I knew Sakura was talking about five years ago, on the last night I seen her before Tsunade declared her missing and then finally dead.

"I didn't..." I cut myself off, there were so many emotions tangling in my chest all trying to get out at once and I wanted to express them all to Sakura. "...I didn't mean to leave you behind. I was just a kid-"

"So was I." Sakura's voice was so sharp.

"I know..." I whispered, "I am so sorry, I realize now that there were so many things I should have done differently. If I could go back and change things I would in a heartbeat." Her face was still but her eyes blared into my being, there as something swirling behind those green orbs, I just couldn't tell what it was. But I knew now I didn't know this person in front of me, she was not the child I grew up with. This woman before me stood as the commander of one of the strongest armies in the world, but was there anything left underneath all that armor?

A piece of me felt like she was pushing me away in order to protect herself, which is why she is kind one moment but then cold and distant the next. If Sakura's army sees that she is injured they will strike to kill her in order to claim her title, she is the leader of those type of people...what kind of person does that make Sakura? Her smile flashed into my mind, me sitting beside her as we all took shots replayed through my mind...there had to be more than just a broken shell of a commander standing before me.

"It was four days-" I spoke, "-Four days and I realized I couldn't find you. Normally after your shift at the hospital you always came and found me, and for a while I thought you were just busy or were too tired to come see me...but after four days I realized I couldn't find you anywhere inside the village. I went to Kakashi and we searched for you, then we went to Tsunade who then told us you went out on a mission but never returned. My heart broke when I found your headband-" Tears pricked my eyes. "-in the forest, covered in your blood and scratched up. I mourned your death, and I never forgave myself for taking you for granted and I will never stop kicking myself for what I did. The day you returned was the happiest day of my life, you have no idea...I know you're not the same person, I'm not either and I may not know a lot about you, but I know you Sakura-" I smiled, "-your kind and compassionate, I see this when your interacting with Carver and Raiden. You placed yourself in front of a blade to save my life, you can claim it was your job all you want but I know you did because somewhere inside you, you still care about me and you still love the Leaf Village."

"Naruto-" Sakura tried to step in.

"No." I shook my head, "I understand your behavior towards us, we burnt you in ways I may never understand. Your fighting yourself on allowing to get close to us again because you don't want to let your guard down and then have the rug pulled out from under you, and I completely understand that I will always be sorry for that and I will try and make up for the years we lost for as long as I live because I am still in love with you."

"No, you're not." Sakura sounded so sure of her words, it annoyed me.

"You-You can't tell me how I feel!"

"I see the way you look at me, you still see me as a friend and there may be a little fascination in there too but you're not in love with me." Sakura said,

"Yes, I am!" I shouted, feeling annoyed. "I have been in love with you for years-" Sakura was so fast, she grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me into her. My eyes were wide open as I looked at Sakura's face as she kissed me. My heart was beating fast, but it wasn't fluttering like I thought it would, there were no sparks like I read in books...Sakura released my shirt and took a step back. We stared at each other,

"It's like kissing your sister isn't it?" She was mocking me!

"I-I..." I didn't know what to feel, Sakura was beautiful and strong, so fearless and I felt love for her but...

"You wouldn't want to take me around the corner and fuck me, would you?"

"Um-Um-!" I blushed, quickly heating up feeling embarrassed by her choice of words but deep down I knew she was right. I didn't want to sleep with her I just wanted her around me because...because when I had no one she was one of the first people I made my family. "No..." I sighed,

"It's my job to read people Naruto." Sakura said, "And I am very good at my job."

"But-"

"You look at me as a friend, I would even go as far and say family." Sakura explained, she was right...I felt like my whole world was being turned upside down. I felt confused and didn't know how to feel but I knew one thing, I knew I wanted Sakura to come home with me.

"Your right." I said, "I love you as a sister-"

"I wouldn't go that far-" Sakura muttered but I ignored her.

"-everything I said I still stand by." I finished my sentence. I fully believed when Sakura was banished, she drifted to survive, and she ended up inside the Waterfall Village. She did what she had to do and now she was the commander and so strong, but she didn't belong there. Sakura was fighting herself to keep us out and that only meant I had to fight twice as hard to protect Sakura from herself.

"I know." Sakura smirked at me, I smiled seeing the lighter side of her. I walked over and pulled her into a hug. As I stared at her, I wondered all the things she had to do to be who she was now...what hardships she had to endure alone and how many scars did she have?

"I am so sorry." I breathed feeling tears fill my eyes, "I didn't know..." I hated Tsunade for what she did. I felt Sakura wrap her arms around me as she sighed out.

"It's ok." She was so stable; I use to be her rock but now roles had reversed.

"So-" I smiled, pulling away as I wiped my eyes. "Have you found the rogue?"

"I did." Sakura nodded,

"So that was you those guys were talking about."

"What guys?"

"Just some random farmers." I laughed rubbing the back of my neck, "We were asking about the rogue when a woman described as you popped up."

"My hair?" Sakura guessed.

"Yeah...so do you know where he is-"

"He?" Sakura tilted her head.

"Yeah the rogue?"

"Well the rogue is from this town; she wore a mask so no one could ID-"

"Wait, she!?"

"All professional killers have to be men?" Sakura crossed her arm over her chest, looking pointedly at me.

"N-No." I felt nervous, "I guess not. We-We were just looking for a guy."

"Figures you would." Sakura rolled her eyes.

"So she is from this town?"

"Yes." Sakura answered.

"Then why was she attacking it?"

"I don't know." Sakura shrugged. "Not really my problem to find out."

"Right." I nodded, "So where is she so we can get going?"

"Excuse me?" Sakura asked.

"U-Um..."

"Naruto, I tracked down a known assassin who has been terrorizing this town who was trapped in a dome because of me. I found her, I questioned her, you don't see her so what do you think I did?"

"You...You killed her."

"You think I would let a murderer run free?"

"No." I sighed; my stomach rumbled causing me to laugh.

"Haven't eaten?"

"No, Tsunade rushed us out of the village when she got the call from Crete so...here I am." I smiled.

"Come on." Sakura waved,

"Huh?"

"Let's go." Sakura called walking away.

"What do you mean? Where are we going?"

"Do you want to stay here and walk all the way back to the Leaf Village?" Sakura asked as I caught up to her. It took me a moment to realize what she was saying.

"You're coming back with us!?" I shouted feeling so happy.

"I am right here-" Sakura grumped. "-why do you have to yell?"

"Hey, when we get back will you come to ichiraku ramen with me?" I watched her face darken for a split second, was this what she looked like when that little voice in the back of her head screamed at her to not let her get any closer? "Please?" I added, "It'll be on me."

"Alright." Sakura sighed, I smiled seeing I had won this round. I swore to myself as we walked to find the rest of my team that I was going to straggle that annoying voice in the back of her head, I would fight it and force it to surrender, Sakura didn't need it anymore. "Hey-" Sakura's voice pulled my attention to her who had stopped walking and was turned around. "-come on."

"Eh?" I asked but followed anyway. Sakura led me to a small building where we both got milkshakes. Sakura said these were the best shakes she has ever had; I didn't believe her until I took a sip of my chocolate shake. I almost melted on the sidewalk from how delicious this thing was! Sakura got the same flavor, I noticed how her tastes had changed over the years. I smiled as I turned around returning to trying to find my team.

"There he is." Sasuke's voice floated to me, "Where have you been!?" Sasuke yelled and then he saw the white cup in my hand, I saw smoke start to steam out his ears. "Are you kidding-" Sasuke's voice soaked up as Sakura stepped beside me.

"Sakura." Kakashi sounded surprised, just as surprised as I was to find her here.

"What-What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked Sakura who was too busy sipping the shake in her hand to respond to him, but that didnt faze him as Sasuke turned back to me. "We are supposed to be tracking down at rogue shinobi, or have you forgotten?!" He lectured me.

"We dont need to do that anymore!" I fought back.

"And why would you think that-!?" Sasuke yelled back but Sakura stepped in.

"Because I got to her first." She said, I still think she looked cute with that amused look in her eyes as her blue straw was pressed against her lips. I really needed to figure out how I felt...

"Her?" Sasuke repeated.

"All professional killers have to be men?" I copied Sakura, I smiled watching Sasuke blush.

"No-No! That is not what I am saying-"

"Where is the rogue?" Kakashi asked, I noticed Sakura didn't look at Kakashi when he spoke to her...what was that all about?

"Dead." Sakura answered.

"Dead?" Sasuke asked.

"Mhm." Sakura hummed looking everywhere but Kakashi's direction.

"Can we go home now?" I wondered; I was starving!

"So, this was your mission?" Sasuke questioned Sakura as I felt chilly wind begin to wrap around the four of us.

"Yup." Sakura popped the 'P' in her response, she didn't seem very interested in talking to Sasuke. Wind pulled all around us protecting us inside a dome as we were ripped away from the town of Crete and before I knew it, we were standing inside the arena of the leaf village.

"So cool!" I smiled looking around seeing we were home so fast! "Are you ready?" I turned to Sakura who shrugged. I grabbed her hand and dragged her behind me. "Come on! I am going to die of starvation!"

I pulled Sakura until we were in front of ichiraku ramen. I felt so excited as I walked in and sat on one of the red bar stools. Sakura sat beside me; I was beaming with delight!

"Naruto!" I looked up and smiled seeing Teuchi, the owner.

"Hey pops!"

"Haven't seen you in a while, everything ok?" He asked, "You haven't found a new favorite place, have you?"

"What?" I laughed, "No! I have just been busy with missions and stuff, ya know?!"

"Oh, I see how-" Teuchi stopped walking once he noticed Sakura sitting beside me. He was blushing making me narrow my eyes,

"Hey!" I called, not liking him eyeing her up. I stopped for a moment realizing it felt like a man who was eye raping my little sister...maybe I didn't love Sakura the way I thought I did...

"What would you two like to order?" Teuchi changed the subject, I kept my eye on him but ordered anyway.

"Extra-large miso with pork cutlets and the works!"

"Someone's hungry." Teuchi laughed.

"You have no idea!" I smiled as Sakura placed her order and Teuchi went into the back. I looked at the bright red bar for a second, then I got bored. "So-!" I smiled at Sakura, who looked at me in response.

"Hm?" She hummed,

"What is it like being the Commander of the Waterfall Village?" I asked, I never asked her about the village she built from the ground up, I never even acknowledged it.

"Fine." Sakura answered so plainly, I nodded looking ahead trying to think of something else to talk about.

"Um..." What could we talk about? Hm... "I like your hair." I smiled; she raised an eyebrow at me looking suspicious.

"What do you want?" Sakura asked clearly wanting to cut to the chase.

"Nothing!" I jumped. "I-I just want to get to know you."

"I thought you already knew me." Sakura leaned on her arm as she faced me, I felt a bubble of babbling about to burst from my chest until I noticed that amused look in her eyes. I smiled, looking at the bar for a second.

"I know pieces." I said looking at her, "But I want to see the whole picture."

"Are you sure?" Sakura asked, sounding like she was testing me. "It may not be pretty." I reached over and placed my hand on hers,

"I can handle anything you throw at me; you know that." I reassured her; Sakura was about to answer when I felt a presence behind me.

"This is where you went." I looked over seeing Kakashi standing behind me, I felt Sakura quickly remove her hand from undermine as she turned away.

"Kakashi?" I muttered, "What are you doing here?" I wondered as Teuchi walked out with two bowls. Sasuke walked in as my food was placed in front of me, I felt my mouth drool at the aroma of the ramen.

"It was kind of rude for you two to just ditch us like that." Sasuke crossed his arms as he scowled at me. I smiled with a mouth full of noodles.

"You knew I was hungry." My voice muffled out as a little broth dripped down my chin. Sakura chuckled, handing me her napkin. I muttered a thank you as I wiped my mouth.

"So, your back now?" Sasuke asked, sitting beside Sakura.

"I am sitting here aren't I?" She responded poking at the ramen in front of her. Kakashi sat next to me and placed his order.

"Shouldn't you be checking in with Carver and Raiden?" Sasuke asked after a few stall minutes.

"I am their boss." Sakura looked at Sasuke, her eyes glowing with authority. "They check in with me, not the other way around." The look scribbled on Sasuke's face showed his heart was catching on fire and the longer Sakura stared at him with her gaze the more burnt he was going to be. I turned back to my bowl; it was weird to see Sasuke into a girl.

Normally he just used them for their bodies and went about his day. I know I would never let him do that to Sakura but the look on his face was uncontrolled and that was all Sakura seemed to do to us, catching us off guard and making us stumble over each other.

"So-So-" I tried to change the subject, "-Sakura, what are your plans for tomorrow?" I asked,

"Tomorrow is Thursday so I will be joining Carver and Raiden during their training sessions." Sakura answered, which kind of surprised me. I expected her to not answer or tell me it wasn't my business, I smiled, she was opening up to me.

"Oh?" I asked, wanting her to continue. "Why is that?" Sakura looked at me, there was a look on her face. "What?" I questioned.

"They..." She trailed off studying my reaction, "...just need the help." Sakura looked away.

"Your lying." I figured out, "Why are you lying?" I softly laughed, "You don't need to-"

"I do Naruto." Sakura sighed, as she did in that moment, I saw she was really tired and for a moment I forgot she was hurt.

"No, you don't-"

"Naruto." Sakura tried cutting me off, but I wouldn't have it.

"No, Sakura you don't need to lie to me. I can-"

"Fine." Sakura waved her hand. "When Raiden or Carver fail at training, I step in." Her words sent shivers down my back.

"What does that mean?" Sasuke asked, looking around our surroundings. Sakura took in a deep breath; she licked her lips.

"It means your shinobi are so terrible, Carver and Raiden can't train them." Sakura answered and I felt anger inside my body bubble.

"We are not-"

"Naruto-" Sakura sighed; this was why she was lying to me.

"We are not horrible!"

"Really?" Sakura dared me to continue but I didn't take the warning.

"Yes!" I raised my voice. "We are strong and-"

"Undisciplined." Sakura filled in my words. "Arrogant-"

"How can you sit there and-"

"Because I can." Sakura cut in. "Because it's the truth."

"No! It's not just because things here are not run like a fucking concentration camp like in the Waterfall Village doesn't mean we are-"

"Watch your mouth." Sakura warned.

"Me watch my mouth?!" I jumped up from my booth, "What about you-!?" Sakura rose from her stool slowly and she appeared so calm.

"We may appear to be fine-" Sakura said, pulling out cash from her back pocket and tossing it next to her bowl. "-but Carver, Raiden and I are still injured. We should be recovering but instead we are retraining the Leaf shinobi to give you a fighting chance.

One of the reasons most of your shinobi are failing is because they don't take their sessions seriously and they waste my soldiers time and energy. Instead of attacking me, why don't you go talk to your friends and help me and my team help your village?" Sakura turned to leave but she stopped for a moment, "The world is changing, if you don't adapt with it the you and your village is going to be wiped out."

"Smooth." Sasuke said once Sakura was gone, I turned and glared at him.

----

I stood in front of her door, I sucked in a deep breath. I have been in the same spot for an hour trying to get up the nerve to knock on the door. It has been hours since Sakura left ichiraku ramen and I hated the fact I upset her, but she was bad mouthing my village! I had to defend them! The door opened, I snapped up seeing Raiden leaning against the door frame eating a bag of chips.

"Hey." He nodded.

"Uh..." Was all that would come out of my mouth.

"I got bored waiting for you to come in." He said, pushing himself off the door and walking into the apartment.

"You-You knew I was out here!?" I walked into the apartment.

"Yeah." Carver laughed who was laying on the couch, it looks like they were having a movie night. "We had a bet going on how long you would stand out there."

"I can't believe you left me out there for an hour!" I pouted looking around.

"She ain't here." Carver said taking a chip from the bag that laid on his stomach.

"What?!" My heart dropped, she left again. She left because of me!

"Calm down." Raiden laughed seeing my face. "Don't have a heart attack, Sakura is in a meeting."

"A meeting...?" I glanced at the clock.

"That doesn't matter." Carver said. "Sakura is pulled into all types of shit at odd hours." I was disappointed now...

"What did you do?" Raiden asked as he sat on the couch by Carver's feet.

"Huh-Huh!?" I stuttered.

"What did you do?" Carver repeated for Raiden.

"Was Sakura that mad?" I asked worriedly,

"What?" Carver laughed, "No she just said you were a moron."

"Oh." I didn't know if I should feel relieved or not...

"Your welcome to stay here and wait but it could be hours until she gets back." Raiden said. I looked at the floor, but she looked so tired at ichiraku ramen. Sakura needs to rest and not be in meeting this late at night. Not to mention the fact she was just in Crete; she took down the rogue.

"She's fine man." Carver said, "Sit down or go home you're giving me anxiety." I smiled a little and sat on the floor beside the couch. I ended up falling asleep on the floor watching movies. I woke up with a pillow under my head and a blanket draped over me. I got up, stretching my body smelling breakfast.

"Morning." Carver said, I yawned giving a wave. He and Raiden were already dressed and ready for the day.

"Are you hungry?" He called putting a dirty plate in the sink.

"Yes!" I loved food! Carver chuckled and nodded for me to come help myself. I grabbed a plate full of eggs, bacon and toast. I shoved a large scoop of eggs into my mouth. "Where's Sakura?" I asked.

"She isn't here." Raiden sighed, "She never came home."

"She...you mean she worked all night!?" I gasped,

"That's her norm." Carver explained with a shrug.

"But that isn't healthy! And she is recovering! She needs to be resting and-"

"We have had this conversation about a hundred times with her, she will just tell you she is fine, and she'll hide whatever may be wrong."

"But why!?" I demanded,

"Because she is Sakura." Raiden smiled, I turned to Carver.

"I don't get it."

"Sakura puts everyone before herself, she won't willingly tell you what's wrong with her."

"But why!? That is so annoying!"

"It really is." Carver sighed, "But you get used to it."

"How!?"

"You have to learn how to read her."

"That is impossible!"

"We know." Carver yawned, "We still have trouble figuring out what she is thinking."

"This is stupid, you three should be resting!"

"I agree." Carver said quickly finishing his cup of coffee.

"Then why are you guys training the leaf shinobi?!" I didn't understand.

"I know Naruto-" Carver sighed, "-you think you guys are all strong and can handle anything that comes your way, right?"

"Well...um yeah..." I muttered.

"Sakura is been codling you way too much." Raiden rolled his eyes.

"What does that mean?" I asked feeling defensive.

"You really think your village has just been lucky this whole time?" Carver scoffed,

"I don't know what you're talking about! Just tell me!"

"Sakura." Carver snapped, "She has been defending this village for years against everything that comes its way."

"What...?" I breathed.

"She hated this village, with a passion but she still fought to protect it. The Waterfall Village has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to threats like the Reapers as an example." Carver smacked. "And while we are throwing out facts-" Carver smirked, "-Those seals placed on you and Kakashi were not bought."

"But Sakura said-"

"She lied." Raiden butted in. "She does that a lot in order to shield you."

"So...she just put them on us..." I knew she still cared about us!

"Yeah, Itachi only bought Sasuke's seal."

"How did he buy it?" I wondered,

"He joined us." Carver said as if that was normal.

"Wait--back up what!?" I yelled; Raiden looked at Carver.

"What wasn't clear about that?" Raiden asked,

"I don't know." Carver shrugged.

"Wow...I had no idea Itachi was like...I mean I know he was like the good guy and our spy but...he was a part of your group!?"

"Yeah, he and Sakura were pretty close actually." Carver recalled,

"Maybe that's why Sakura hates Sasuke so much?" Raiden guessed.

"That's right...Sasuke killed Itachi."

"You catch up quick." Carver joked, I lightly glared as he walked past me.

"Where are you going?" I asked,

"Training starts soon."

"But..." I looked in my lap, remembering what Sakura said last night. "You two are hurt."

"Yeah well..." Carver slid on his shoes. "That doesn't help you guys out." He laughed.

"There is coffee and help yourself to the rest of the food." Raiden called opening the door,

"And I believe your time slought for training is like one I think?" Carver shrugged not really knowing, "I'll see you then." He waved closing the door. I sighed, leaning back on the couch looking at the ceiling. I huffed but got up anyway. I drank a cup of coffee before going to my apartment to take a shower and change into clean clothing.

It was noon, but I am sure Carver wouldn't care if I came a little early to watch them. I walked out my apartment and into the warm day, man it was going to be fall soon and I was not ready for that. I looked up at the sky, if Sakura wasn't at her apartment this morning than that means Carver or Raiden had to be the one to cover me up and give me that pillow...underneath their sarcastic exterior those two were really nice.

Carver and Raiden have been using the arena as their training grounds. I walked into the stands; I didn't want to be in the way since it wasn't my time to be here just yet. I got up to the seats and saw a lot of people were watching.

"Eh?" I walked to where everyone was, I saw a lot of my friends were here watching down below. I walked up in between Kakashi and Sasuke. "What are you guys doing here-" I gasped, seeing Sakura was below fighting Kiba. My mouth dropped open, "What-What the hell is she doing down there!?"

"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked, "She told you she was joining them here today." I turned to Sasuke, was that why he and Kakashi were here?

"Sakura had been in meetings all night." I explained my reaction. "She hasn't slept and yesterday she was-"

"Dealing with that rogue." Sasuke finished for me, he sighed and shook his head. "What is she thinking?"

"I don't know." I sighed, I watched Sakura she was so fast when she moved. She kicked Kiba like it was nothing, he flew back into the dirt crumbling it beneath him leaving him in a crater.

"Such strength." Someone behind me breathed, I looked and saw it was Guy who stood beside Kakashi. Carver and Raiden stood off to the side with a collection of leaf shinobi lined up. Carver turned to one ninja I didn't really know. After a moment that shinobi jogged towards Sakura, he looked a little scared as Kiba was picked up by Iruka and carried away with his dog following.

That ninja lasted a whole two minutes, Sakura spun around his wind jutsu and broke his nose with such ease. The ninja fell backwards onto his ass and refused to get back up. Sakura sighed, shaking her head at Carver as she walked away from the shinobi who wouldn't move until Iruka came and got him. Maybe we weren't as good as I thought we were.

"Ooo...." Lee hissed, "...that looked like it really hurt."

"Yeah." I nodded agreeing. TenTen was up next, Carver turned to her and nodded for her to run out onto the field with Sakura. Shikamaru was behind TenTen and a few others stood behind him. TenTen nodded, doing as told as ran in front of Sakura.

"This will be interesting." Guy muttered.

"Huh?" I said, looking up at him as the two women began their battle. "Why do you say that?"

"Even though Sakura has a great source of chakra-" Guy turned to me, "-I have noticed she doesn't use a lot of jutsu, she mainly fights hand to hand combat."

"Your right..." I realized he was correct, Tenten was all about hand to hand and weapons. I turned back to the fight, TenTen could not land a hit on Sakura as she continued to summon different kinds of weapons. Sakura dodged every strike and then told TenTen what she had done wrong.

"She's holding back." Guy muttered; his grip of the railing tightened. I glanced over at his face, TenTen was his student. Guy was the one to train her, I turned back to Sakura who was holding back. I have seen Sakura in a fight, she is fast and swift and left no survivors. If this had been a real fight, then we would be sitting ducks...damnit Sakura was right we do kind of suck compared to her. Sakura moved, avoiding a wave of shuriken I watched her flinch, my heart skipped seeing this.

"Did you see that!?" I felt myself begin to sweat at every move TenTen made.

"Yeah." Sasuke's jaw was locked, Carver and Raiden turned to each other and whispered, they were going to stop this, right!?

"She's in pain." I breathed. TenTen continued her assaults and the longer they fought the harder it was to remain in my place. TenTen ran up, changing her technique and tried to go head to head with Sakura. "Stop!" I yelled, TenTen looked in my direction then back to Sakura. Thank the ramen heavens TenTen jumped back away from Sakura.

"Your hurt!?" TenTen asked Sakura, "I-I cant'-" Yes, thank you TenTen!

"Your enemy won't care if your hurt." Sakura called, wait what!?

"What is she doing!?" I yelled frustrated! Sakura dashed forward; I almost couldn't keep up with her movements as she went over to TenTen.

"I can't watch this-!" I was about to move to jump down and stop Sakura from fighting myself until in an instant I watched Sakura take down TenTen, she kicked her leg out from under her and twisted her arm behind her back, TenTen cried out in pain. I heard Guy yell, jumping down from the stands and racing towards Sakura. I moved to follow but I stopped, seeing Kakashi was standing on Guy. Kakashi was still reading his pervy book looking like he didn't have a damn about what was going on around him!

"Ka-Kakashi-!?" Guy gasped,

"Two against one, that is cheating." Kakashi said without looking up from his book. Sakura let TenTen go, she fell forward holding her shoulder gasping for air. Sakura turned to Guy and Kakashi.

"Are you two trying to train with me?" Sakura questioned.

"Oh no-" Kakashi waved, giving his famous closed eye smile. "-Guy just fell."

"Fe-Fell!?" Guy grumped under Kakashi's weight.

"If you don't get the hell off my floor you won't have a say." Sakura turned from them.

"Sorry-Sorry." Kakashi smiled, picking Guy up and throwing him over his shoulder. "Come on." He said and moved in my direction. Kakashi and Guy made their way back to where I stood. I saw TenTen and Kiba were behind them.

"Hey." I said, watching the two sit down as Kakashi dropped Guy who groaned in pain. "You ok?" I asked my two friends.

"No." Kiba growled, holding a bag of ice against his face.

"What the hell was that?" Choji munched on a bag of chips.

"That-" Guy sat up, his eyes sharp as a sword and lit like a fire was burning inside him. "-is a Commander down there."

"Eh?" I tilted my head. TenTen held ice on her shoulder.

"I don't know what kind of training she thinks this is-" TenTen glared a head of her, "-but this is a bunch of bullshit." I looked away from them hearing a voice,

"Does your offer still stand?" Shikamaru walked past Carver and towards Sakura.

"What is he doing?" Sasuke asked.

"Offer?" Sakura asked.

"Whoever takes you down doesn't have to be here." Shikamaru clarified.

"What is he doing!?" I yelled.

"It does." Sakura nodded,

"Well alright then." Shikamaru said, quickly jumping forward.

"He knows she is hurt." Hinata's shy voice said, she sat beside TenTen.

"That's why he is attacking her." Sasuke said, "This could be his only shot at hurting her."

"No." I shook my head, turning back to the fight below us. "Shikamaru!" I yelled jumping off the stands into the thin grass below. I looked up seeing Shikamaru was hitting to kill, "Hey!" I caught his attention. "What the hell are you doing!? We don't attack our own!"

"She isn't one of our own!" Shikamaru snapped back jumping out of the way of Sakura. His words were true but still felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water down my back. "Now shut up-" Shikamaru was cut off, Sakura slammed her leg into him. He dropped to the ground hard, my mouth dropped open...she hadn't been that rough with the others. "Wh-What-?" Shikamaru was just was shocked.

"You never take your eye off your opponent." Sakura said, bending down beside him.

"Ugh..." Shikamaru's eyes closed as he was knocked out.

"Naruto!" Carver called, I turned to him. "You're up!"

"What?" I breathed, turning back to Sakura as Shikamaru was picked up and dragged away.

"It's your turn-" Raiden repeated, "-your name is next-"

"No." I shook my head, looking back at Sakura. "Your hurt-"

"Anyone who refuses to fight runs laps." Carver shook his head, "Trust me man, you don't want to do that!" I ignored Carver and moved to Sakura.

"You're in pain-" I breathed, but Sakura's face wasn't one of a friend. I understood Guy now, this woman right here was a commander.

"Let's go." Sakura said, ignoring my comment.

"No." I said, "I am not going to fight you!" I yelled; how could she expect me too!?

"You'll do laps." She said, her eyes sharp as they cut into me. I shook my head.

"I don't care! I'll do the stupid laps if that means you get a break-"

"Carver-!" Sakura called, "Strap him up, send the next one!"

"What!? No!" I yelled seeing Raiden push a shinobi forward to go up against Sakura.

"I told you-" Carver said walking up to me. "-you're not going to want to do this."

"She is hurt-" I repeated, and I will repeat this until I was blue in the face.

"I know." Carver's face was tight, "She will be fine-"

"How can you say that!?" I snapped,

"This isn't the first time she has fought while hurt, and I am sure it won't be the last."

"But-"

"Naruto-" Carver snapped, "Please." I watched him open a case of what looked like cornhole bags. He pulled out a four that were connected and tied them to each of my ankles. "Are you ok?" I asked,

"Arms out." He instructed; I did as told Carver wrapped the cornhole bags on my arms and once he let go, I fell to the ground.

"What-What the hell are these!?"

"Weights." Carver said like it was fucking obvious.

"What are these made of!?"

"A bit of advice because you listen so well, get going now."

"Huh?" I asked as he clipped a little black box to me.

"This tracks your progress."

"Progress?"

"Mhm, your hundred laps."

"Uh-Uh...you said what now?"

"You have to run one hundred laps, that's the punishment for not training." Carver said.

"I-I can barely move with these things on me!"

"The only advice I can give you is pace yourself and get started now so your done before training tomorrow." I slowly stood, it felt like I had an elephant sitting in my arms and like my feet were magnets and the freaking ground was metal!

"What-What!? Are you insane?! Where did you even think of something like this!?"

"This is how we were trained." Carver answered, I looked over at him. "We wouldn't make you guys do anything we couldn't."

"What?"

"And trust me-" Carver said, "-Sakura is going easy on you."

"This is easy!?"

"Yeah."

"How in the hell-"

"Kaguya is a twisted bitch." Carver sighed, after a moment he smiled hitting my shoulder which pushed me back and fell. "Good luck!"