Chapter Twenty Seven

How was today already almost over? I let out an annoyed breath as the elevator opened. I even woke up early today to get in some training with Carver, I had lunch with Hinata and hung out with Sasuke. There were not enough hours in the day, how could anyone expect anyone to get anything done!?

I walked into Kakashi's apartment without knocking, I blinked seeing Sakura was sitting on the floor staring at the TV screen. Multiple colorful boxes were all around her. She had a half-wrapped box in between her legs, it could not be easy to wrap presents with one arm. I tilted my head watching her hand slowly feel around the floor for what I assumed was the tape. I chuckled seeing this, she was so entertained by the screaming people on the screen to notice I had walked in.

On the bright side it seemed Kakashi was able to get her to wear something other than her uniform, she was dressed in jeans and a light blue sweater. It looked so soft I wanted to reach out and touch it, knowing Sakura though she would snap my arm in half. I scanned the apartment, where was Kakashi? I don't think he has left her side since she decided to stay with us.

"Do you need any help?" I asked sliding off my jacket, she didn't look up from the TV. I laughed as the door behind me opened. "Hey Kakashi, do you see this?" I smiled pointing over to Sakura.

"Right where I left her." He breathed, moving into the room taking off his jacket and tossed it on the side of the couch. "She's really into that Z Nation show." Kakashi said to me.

"Oh, the zombie one." I muttered, not something I would watch a few days before Christmas but whatever makes her happy I guess.

"Yeah." Kakashi chuckled lightly as he sat behind her on the couch, he went through the paper bag, unwrapping a sandwich and placed it in Sakura's hand. He got her to notice there was somehow magical food in her hand, which she started to eat. Kakashi looked down smiling at her, his eyes were so soft as he gazed down at her...I quickly caught the burger he tossed at me, I looked at his as he laughed at my expression.

"Thanks." I smiled sitting on the couch opening it, taking a large bite I looked around at all the gifts.

"This is a lot." I muttered.

"She still has more on the way."

"S-Seriously?" I gasped turning to Kakashi.

"She has a trader coming." Kakashi leaned forward running his fingers through her long hair as she ate and watched TV.

"That's insane." I breathed looking around the apartment, I clearly needed to step up my game.

"Carver and Raiden are doing the same thing." Kakashi said, "I helped Raiden yesterday shop for a few people."

"Why are they going so over the top?" I muttered.

"We can't really judge them for it." Kakashi said,

"Huh?"

"You heard Carver; they haven't celebrated a holiday in years, they are excited." Kakashi smiled with his eye.

"I know." I nodded, "It's going to be fun!"

"It is." Kakashi agreed.

"Do you have everything you need for dinner?" I wondered,

"Yes." Kakashi nodded, "I got everything we will need."

"I am so excited!" I beamed, "Now that I finished my shopping, I feel a little more relaxed." I laughed. "Now I just have to wrap it all." I groaned, I hated wrapping I sucked at it.

"Yeah, I haven't wrapped anything." Kakashi muttered leaning back against the couch. I grinned watching Sakura look behind her with an annoyed expression written on her pretty face. She took Kakashi's hand and placed it back on her head. I smiled, feeling the love he held for her as he chuckled and continued to play with the strands of her pink hair.

"Maybe we could wrap together-" I thought out loud thinking it would be fun to spend more time with Kakashi. My voice cut off hearing a loud siren coming from outside.

"What the hell is that?" Sakura turned, her trace from the television screen broken.

"The alarm." I breathed standing.

"That doesn't...." Sakura sighed getting up, "That doesn't tell me anything."

"We put in sirens around the village." Kakashi answered, "It inform everyone if we are being invaded."

"And we are?" Sakura wondered.

"Yes." Kakashi breathed turning to Sakura, he placed both his hands on her shoulders. "You are to stay here."

"Wha-" Sakura did not like that idea.

"We got this!" I gave a thumbs up as Kakashi's door opened, Carver and Raiden jogged in.

"Your here." Raiden smiled.

"Sakura-" Kakashi pulled her attention back onto him.

"I am not-"

"You're staying here." Kakashi ordered.

"I can help-"

"We don't need it." Kakashi was blunt, "Your recovering, we can handle this alone."

"Yeah!" Raiden smiled, "They have us and the people trying to break in aren't Reapers, so you stay here until this is over."

"This is stupid." Sakura was not happy.

"That maybe be-" Kakashi shrugged, "-but we will back ok?" He cupped the side of her face.

"Fine." Sakura looked so cute when she pouted, I almost wanted to give into her and let her come with us, almost...I turned with Kakashi and ran out of the apartment, Carver said the trouble was brewing at the front gates which generally surprised me. It wasn't the freaking arena for once.

~~ P.O.V. Change ~~

Kakashi dropped onto the ground quickly taking in the surroundings. The leaf shinobi were responding well, Carver was a little impressed. Guy and the other sensei accompanied by Naruto's peers kept the intruders by the front gate and didn't let them get into village.

"Son of a bitch." Raiden breathed standing beside Naruto. Four men dressed in different colors stood surrounded by leaf shinobi, Carver and Raiden glanced at each other and the four men pulled their attention to them.

"Well what do we have here?" One man called as he was crowding towards the ground,

"Raiden Peyton." Another from the intruding group called,

"And fucking Carver Bryson." Someone from the group added.

"How do they know you?" Tsunade muttered walking beside Kakashi.

"We had run in with this group a year ago." Carver answered, "They don't like us."

"I am starting to notice a lot of people don't like you." Tsunade sighed as she turned her focus on the four men.

"You're looking at the four remaining members of the assassin group that called themselves the seven deadly sins." Raiden explained.

"Never heard of them." Guy said,

"They weren't your problem." Carver replied, "That's why."

"Who's were they?" Kakashi asked,

"Stop with the whispering." One man dressed in green stepped forward. "If you two are here then your boss isn't too far behind."

"Boss?" Naruto spoke.

"Yeah-" The skinny man in red stood from crouching, "We have some unfinished business their your boss."

"Who is your boss?" Sasuke turned to Carver.

"Take a wild guess." Carver glared at the four members who were able to escape.

"Sakura." Naruto realized.

"Yup." Raiden confirmed.

"Why do they want her?" Kakashi questioned.

"Why else?" Carver darkly laughed, "To kill her."

"Wh-Why!?" Naruto's chest tightened.

"That bitch killed three of us." The man in red spat out, "If you don't summon her then I guess we will just have to beat you until she comes!"

"Yeah right-" Raiden rolled his eyes. "-You could barely scratch last time, which is why you fled and left your friends to die!"

"You-" The man in red pointed at Carver and Raiden. "-I am not worried about; it is your boss that gives us a hard time."

"That's where your fucking up." Carver smiled pulling out a kunai.

Sakura stood off on a nearby building watching the fight. She tilted her head as she pulled her arms closer, she was feeling cold and a little annoyed. She wasn't one to stay back and watch. She sighed hearing Kakashi already beginning to lecture her about leaving his apartment. How could he expect her to just stand back and watch from the bleachers?

Sakura's eyes watched Kakashi and his movements, it wasn't often she gets to see him in a fight. Sakura leaned back on her feet not worried for the safety of the shinobi below her, she knew they could hold their own against those four from the group she thought would crawl under a rock in order to hide from her. If anything, Kakashi was with there and he could protect them if needed.

Sakura bit her bottom lip, watching Kakashi push back one of the main members from the seven deadly sins. He quickly extended his arm igniting his famous chidori in his hand, Sakura could tell he wanted to get this little event over with quickly. Maybe he knew she wasn't patient and wouldn't stay put for long? Sakura moved her eyes away from Kakashi, he was inside a simple fight and was turning her on without even trying.

Hinata was kicked back as a member of the seven deadly sins who held out his hand, a dark chakra began to form. Sakura sighed, the fact they were able to twist their bodies apart and create dark chakra was the reason she hunted them down. Sakura's eyes shifted feeling the jutsu that member was being using she was able to reach out and pluck the strand from this world.

This trait of Sakura due to her eyes was one of the reasons she was so widely feared. Sakura was tied to the God Tree, everything and everyone was connected to it through their chakra, like a thread leading off them and towards the tree. She didn't know much, and there was little information in the world about her abilities since no one has ever been able to do what she could, but she was doing her best to master each skill and understand what had happened to her. She doesn't like to do it often; it takes a large portion of her chakra to reach out and slice a jutsu out of reach, some things shouldn't be allowed in the world. This moment was different, she wanted that jutsu unassessable to fuckers such as the seven deadly sins. Dark chakra should not be played with, not even by her.

The member dressed in blue who stood in front of Hinata stopped moving as he looked at his hand confused. He tried to activate his jutsu that took him so long to learn but couldn't. It wasn't only him that was left unraveled, the other three men were looking just as concerned.

"She is near." A member breathed realizing what was happening. Kakashi narrowed his exposed eye if she was near, he was going to be pissed. Sakura could feel Kakashi's disappointment as she dropped to the ground beside TenTen.

"Sakura!" TenTen breathed, "You shouldn't-"

"Reaper." The man dressed in red tried to give off an intimidating glare causing Sakura to roll her eyes.

"Looks like someone didn't invite us to the party." The man in blue nodded towards Sakura's arm in the black sling. Kakashi moved and stood in front of Sakura, nothing and no one was getting past him.

"I see the rumors are true-" A member dressed in green called looking at his hand. "-you can take jutsu's out of the world if you so please-" Sakura cut the man off as she turned to look at him. Her eyes glowed as she caught the man in a trance, there were some things she didn't want out in the world and the abilities of her eyes were one of them.

"Sakura-" Carver sighed, watching Sakura let the man go from her gaze and sealed them inside a dome so the four members couldn't flee again.

"Your grounded." Raiden sang as Kakashi turned to face her.

"You were supposed to stay inside."

"I did." Sakura said.

"You did not-"

"It's not my fault you didn't tell me how long to stay put."

"You knew what I meant." Kakashi sighed annoyed Sakura found a loophole.

"Yeah!" Naruto popped up, "You could have been hurt!"

"They were nowhere near me." Sakura reasoned.

"Still." Raiden agreed, "You can't use your arm-" Sakura shot him an annoyed look, she didn't care her arm was a little sore from being dislocated. The only reason she was milking this injury was to stay closer to Kakashi. If it was a normal day for her, she would be inside the Waterfall Village waiting for her soldiers to make a move against her. Tsunade was watching the four men try to break out of the dome.

"What are you doing to do with them?" The Hokage wondered but Sakura had already beat her to the point. Dawn and Diem were waiting on standby for Sakura to send these men over.

"I have arranged something for them." Sakura smiled as her seal wrapped around them whipping them off to their death.

"Where did you send them?" Naruto wondered.

"My village." Sakura answered,

"Why?" Hinata walked up.

"Are you going to put them on trial-?" Naruto spouted off,

"Mmm...something like that." Sakura muttered; the waterfall village didn't really do trials. If a shinobi was a wanted criminal then they were killed on spot, Sakura knew the leaf village wouldn't have the stomach to watch her kill them as they were trapped like mice in a cage so she sent them to her commanders who were bored.

"Why didn't you stay inside?" Kakashi demanded to know.

"Why did you get involved?" Carver sighed, "I wanted to see how the leaf shinobi would do inside a fight."

"You were testing us!?" Naruto yelled,

"Yes." Raiden stretched his arms above his head.

"Well...how did we do?" Naruto muttered,

"You did...good." Carver smiled but glanced at Sakura who sternly shook her head no.

"Well?" Carver turned to Sakura wanting to know why she got in the way.

"I got hungry." Sakura shrugged.

"That-That's-!?" Raiden didn't like that reasoning.

"You could have made yourself food." Carver stated, Sakura shrugged.

"I wanted him." She nodded towards Kakashi.

"So, you got involved in a fight while injured only so you can go hang out with your boyfriend?" Carver shook his head.

"Yup." Sakura smirked at the annoyed faces.

"That is ridiculous!" Raiden frowned, "You must have used up a lot of chakra from cutting-"

"Yeah-Yeah-Yeah!" Sakura waved them off as she took Kakashi's hand and walked away with him.

"Hey!" Naruto yelled not like being left behind. Kakashi sighed but allowed himself to be dragged away by his little cherry blossom.

----

Kakashi was in his kitchen cooking, he loved to cook. Sakura sat on his couch, her head against the back of the piece of furniture trying to stay awake. Raiden had been right; she used a large chunk of her chakra today and normally she could mask that fact but laying in here inside the safety that Kakashi unknowingly provided she felt her eyes become heavy as she started to drift off.

"I see Raiden was right." Kakashi commented, seeing Sakura was already falling asleep on his couch as he held two bowls of chili.

"No." Sakura muttered, normally her sleepy pout would have been adorable but Kakashi wasn't happy with her right now. She huffed seeing the stern look on his face as he took a seat at the end of the couch.

"Does using your seal to transport place to place take up a lot of chakra?" Kakashi asked, breaking up crackers into his bowl.

"No." Sakura muttered with her eyes closed. Kakashi looked up from his food and then towards her.

"Was it using your eyes then?"

"Why does it matter?" Sakura half whined, she wanted to be held right now not freaking lectured.

"You use your eyes a lot." Kakashi said, "I know what over using my sharingan can do to me, I can only imagine what your eyes do to you-"

"My eyes are fine." Sakura sighed, "It was nothing that you seen me do that tired me out."

"I see." Kakashi said turning to the food in front of him. He knew how concealed Sakura was, he had a feeling if he prided into what she did then they would just get into a fight tonight and that wasn't something he wanted. Sakura was annoyed with the disappointed expression on his handsome face. She wasn't being completely open with him and she could see how it bothered Kakashi.

"I..." Sakura groaned sitting up. "That guy in the blue next to Hinata, well all of them really were using dark chakra."

"We can't use that."

"Well yeah we can't but if you have a body morphing jutsu that lets you convert it then yes you can."

"Then how-"

"I got rid of it." Sakura sighed,

"How...?"

"I can..." Sakura felt exposed and uncomfortable. Only the Nine knew about this ability of hers. "It's a feature of my eyes."

"I am not following you."

"Everything is connected by chakra, everyone and everything has a thread. We all collect together through the God Tree. I can reach into that world and cut the thread of a jutsu or seal. I can't touch people I don't know if that is where my limit is at or if that is something I can learn but...to do that it takes a lot of chakra, that is what Raiden was talking about."

"I get the feeling not a lot of people know about this?"

"Carver and Raiden."

"I see..." Kakashi leaned forward placing a kiss on Sakura's lips, she was surprised. She was expecting him to be upset with her for at least an hour. "Your secret is safe with me."

~~ P.O.V. Change ~~

Kakashi finally let me into his place with Hinata close behind me. Sakura sat on his couch with a glass of wine in her hands. She gave a small wave seeing us,

"Hey Sakura." Hinata smiled,

"What have you guys been doing?" I muttered annoyed, Kakashi sent me away twice! He wouldn't let anyone in!

"Sakura took a nap." Kakashi filled me in as he took his place beside her, they were watching a movie.

"What movie are you watching?" I wondered.

"I don't know." Sakura shrugged, "It just started though."

"Oh cool!" I unzipped my jacket, "Hm?" I noticed the vase full of beautiful flowers. "Who sent you flowers?" I wondered,

"Kakashi gave me those." Sakura sounded amused and I felt myself blush feeling Kakashi's gaze. Why on earth would another man send her flowers at her boyfriend's house!? I was such a moron!

"So-Sorry!" I awkwardly laughed moving to sit beside Hinata who looked interested in the movie. I kind of still forgot that those two were together sometimes, my best friends and sensei. I knew they complimented each other; from what I knew they were both happy inside their relationship and so they didn't need a negative outside force trying to come in between them.

I yawned as I felt extremely bored, Hinata and Sakura appeared to be into the movie but Kakashi and I were just here as pillows. I thanked the heavens hearing the knock on the door, please be Carver or Raiden needing me for something! Get me out of this movie!

"Commander Haruno." A masked shinobi bowed, "There is a traveler here requesting the Reaper. Lady Tsunade had to come to the gates to keep the traveler in check, things are getting out of hand and despite you still being in recovery Lady Tsunade has requested you at the gates." I looked at Sakura who rolled her eyes and she sighed clearly agitated.

"Of course, she would be a handful." Sakura sighed as she got off the couch and went to get her jacket on. Hinata and I followed suit, anything to not have to watch this movie! I followed Kakashi out of the apartment and we began our way to the front gate.

I heard the annoyed yelling before I saw anything. Tsunade was yelling back at someone, she was a dark-skinned kunoichi with long spiky red hair and amber eyes who was glaring at Tsunade and a few guards.

"Karui." Sakura called walking beside Kakashi. The dark-skinned woman looked over at Sakura going from pissed off to excited faster than I could process.

"Sakura!" She beamed, running past Tsunade and hugging Sakura. "It has been forever!" She grunted as the woman known as Karui squeezed her arm inside the black brace.

"Why are you causing trouble?" Sakura asked brushing off the pain, I glanced over at Kakashi who had a hard look in his eye...I didn't see a lot of expressions from him, but I knew he wasn't happy. "I got her from here." Sakura said looking over towards Tsunade and the guards from the front gate who all looked very unhappy.

Tsunade nodded still glaring at the female as she made her exit. Karui or whoever she was cried that she was hungry. She wanted to eat before they discussed anything else. I knew a few people from Sakura's life outside the leaf village, such as Dawn, Carver and Raiden, even that annoying Diem guy and none of those people talked to Sakura in this carefree tone. Who was this woman? How did she know Sakura and what was their relationship?

We all made our way to the café; it was cold, and my fingers felt like they were beginning to freeze solid! I quickly hurried everyone in as I held the door, bouncing as if that could keep my body warm. Karui was the only who one ordered food since Hinata and I ate the leftover chili Kakashi made Sakura for dinner, it was delicious.

"Do you have everything I asked for?" Sakura asked after everyone settled around in what was becoming our normal spot.

"You know it!" Karui acted a little defended Sakura even had to ask. She got up moving to the large duffle bag sitting by her feet. She kneeled opening it, "I have to say Sakura I am so thankful for that jutsu you gave me-" Karui spoke as her whole torso vanished inside the back. I jumped up, quickly turning to Sakura with a freaked expression all over my face, Sakura laughed at it! "-it has really as helped me out!" Her muffled voice called, she popped out of the bag as she pulled out colorful wrapped gifts and handed them to Sakura, which Kakashi took instead. I looked behind me as I saw my friends walking over towards us.

"Hey, what happened at the gate?" Shikamaru asked, "We heard there was a problem."

"No-" I said turning to them, "-just one of Sakura's friends." Everyone looked at the stranger. Karui looked around and appeared annoyed so her response to everyone looking at the new person was to stick her tongue out at everyone. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Real mature Karui." Carver said plopping down on the couch next to me.

"You know her?" I quickly asked.

"Know her?" Raiden laughed, "We have been trying to shake this crazy bitch for years!"

"I am delightful!" Karui snapped,

"About as delightful as a prostate exam." Carver muttered quickly looking away from Karui's glare.

"You make me want to drink." Karui gasped dramatically.

"The air makes you want to drink." Carver said, "You probably have enough booze in your system to open a distillery."

"Sakura!" Karui whined, "Come to the bar with me!"

"Anyone want anything?" Sakura asked standing, I could tell Kakashi wasn't happy she was out and not at his place laying on his couch with him watching movies taking it easy since that was the whole point of her being here right now.

"I'll help!" I called quickly following them, ignoring the annoyed look Karui shot at me. Karui and Sakura ordered drinks at the bar and we stood there waiting for them.

"Sakura..." Karui whispered thinking she was talking so low only Sakura could hear her but Ha! I am a shinobi! I can eavesdrop!

"What?" Sakura turned from staring at a bowl of candy behind the counter. Sakura loved her sugar but Kakashi watched how much she ate of it. He took really good care of her.

"That guy back there, he is so cute!" Karui gushed. "You have to introduce me to him!" I looked behind me trying to figure out which one she was talking about.

"There are a lot of guys walking behind us." Sakura responded, "I'm not going to read your mind, I don't want to be in there again-" Wait....did she just say...can Sakura read minds!? "I can't figure out which one you are talking about."

"The one eating the chips." Karui answered.

"Choji?!" I gasped, Karui looked at me with a bored expression. She then looked back at Sakura whispering about how cute she thought he was, I looked back at Choji. "Choji!?" I gasped again once Karui grabbed only her drink. I took most of our groups drinks since Sakura only had one freaking arm!

"There is someone for everyone in this world Naruto." Sakura said, she was right I shouldn't be so shocked that someone would feel something for Choji at some point in his life, right?

"So." Karui said to Sakura, I looked over seeing the two women were standing. Why weren't they sitting down? Why were we just standing here? "Who is it?" Karui asked Sakura.

"Huh?" Sakura did that cute thing where she tilted her head when she didn't understand something.

"I have known you for a couple years now. It isn't like you to stay in one place long, and you have also been hurt a lot worse than just a shoulder injury so that can't be why you're here, so the only other logical explanation is there's someone keeping you here."

"Why are you reading into my life?" Sakura wondered, "It's kinda creepy." I lightly chuckled at Sakura's comment.

"Is it him?" Karui asked pointing to Shikamaru,

"No."

"It has to be him." She said nodding to Sasuke, "The last Uchiha standing, not to mention he is hot as fuck it has to be good in bed-"

"No." Sakura cut that thought right off!

"Well...then who?" Karui sighed annoyed. I was bored! I looked over seeing Guy had walked in, he laughed seeing Kakashi and instantly wanted to do a challenge with him, I think I heard something about building a snowman? If I was sitting over there and not freaking standing here I would know!

"Well hello." Karui said eye raping my sensei, "Kakashi Hatake, the great copy ninja." She purred; how did she know who Kakashi or even Sasuke was? Sakura rolled her eyes. "Sakura introduce me!" Karui said pointing to Kakashi.

"No." Sakura said about to walk away but Karui grabbed her bad shoulder. I opened my mouth to rip Karui to shreds.

"Why not!?" Karui whined, I didn't like this woman. In the short impression I got of her she was self-centered and was rough handed.

"The drinks are probably getting warm." I commented stepping in.

"Yeah ok." Karui waved me off, "Go sit down, Sakura introduce me to him!"

"You're not Kakashi's type." I muttered,

"How the fuck would you know!?" Karui snapped at me.

"Because-" I was ready to step in but Kakashi beat me to it, he walked right up to Sakura and wrapped his arm around her.

"Are you all set at the bar?"

"Huh?" Karui's mouth dropped open.

"Other people are waiting." Kakashi smiled with his eye, he turned taking Sakura with him.

"By the way-" I added before following, "-It's him."

"Wait Wha-What!?" Karui gasped made me laugh as I took my place beside Hinata.

----

I laughed at a joke Raiden said to get a rise out of Karui. I turned my head hearing all the commotion, I forgot everyone was getting together tonight to put up the Christmas tree. I suppose it was a good thing Karui showed when she did, we might have missed this. Shikamaru and TenTen were putting a green tree up on its stand. Neji was muttering orders and Ino was yelling at him to shut up.

Lee was juggling ordainments with Guy; they were the last two in the contest to see who gets to put the star on top of the tree was its finished. Tamaki who was one of the café owners and the girlfriend of Kiba decided since there were so many of us and we all wanted to decorate the Christmas tree it would be best if we all put only one Christmas ornament of our choice each. They will be reused every year. I liked the idea I thought it was nice.

Tamaki was laughing sitting beside Kiba watching everyone fuss. Kakashi was sitting beside Sakura with his arm wrapped around her, he was whispering something in her ear that made her smile. He was ignoring Karui who was trying to absorb all of Sakura's attention. Carver explain how this was normal for Karui.

"I never thought I would ever see him do anything like that." I muttered watching Neji flirt with TenTen. It seemed so unlike him but then again...Kakashi had his arm around Sakura as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear so what the hell did I know?

"Yeah it is kind of weird." Shikamaru said as he drank a cup of cocoa as he watched the TV hanging on the wall. Man, hot chocolate sounded good and I know Sakura and Hinata liked it, but I didn't want to move. I was so comfortable holding Hinata and chatting with Sakura.

Sasuke walked in, I could see his breath due to the freezing temperature outside.

"Sasuke!" I called waving with my free hand, he nodded but didn't come towards me he just went to the bar. Damn! I wanted to ask him for drinks. Ugh! I pouted to myself as TenTen plopped down and picked up her glass filled with warm cider.

"It is getting crazy outside!" She laughed looking at the large window at the front of the store.

"Yes, we are supposed to get six inches of snow tonight." Shino said coming over from the small table which was in the corner away from everyone. I felt like he sat over there and talked to his bugs half the time, normally he never came around us. Yet here he is pulling up a chair to join.

"That's crazy." I said hating the cold weather. I sighed as I laid my head against Hinata's. I opened my eyes hearing Sasuke call me a dope I saw an orange mug in my face. "Huh?" I took it from him and looked at it. Hot chocolate! Yes! "Sasuke!" I smiled brightly looking at him as he sat beside Shikamaru. Sasuke had bought everyone a drink, there were a few extras sitting on the coffee table in front of us.

"Might as well." Shikamaru muttered sitting up like it was the hardest thing on the earth. The cup he sat down was empty, he reached and picked up another one. "Thanks man."

"Yeah." Sasuke muttered waving it off. Tamaki stood up getting the rooms attention. She thanked everyone for helping with the tree, she then plugged it in, and the multiple colors lit up around the tree making it glow and gleam with holiday beauty.

"Yay!" TenTen and Hinata cheered clapping with everyone else. I turned as everyone else did, seeing Guy and Lee was still going in the contest to see who gets to place the star on the tree. I could tell Lee was getting tired, his arms looked like noodles!

I turned back around looking at the orange ornament I had to put on the tree, it had my red awesome symbol on it with a black line that wrapped around it. I watched as Hinata pulled hers out of the box. My heart skipped a beat seeing a picture of her and I on it. It was during the first snowfall, Hinata had on that dark blue jacket I loved with a purple scarf and a cute little hat. She was leaning against me and smiling as TenTen took the picture. I looked up at her and smiled.

"I love it."

"Thanks." She blushed. "I thought maybe we could sign it, and put the year."

"Yeah! That would be awesome!" I said seeing her pull out a black marker. She wrote the year and signed her name first. I took the fragile ball and signed my name with my horrible handwriting next to her elegant and perfect writing. I looked over seeing TenTen was putting a collection of weapons that she melted together to make an ornament, looking at it you just knew it was hers. I got up with Hinata and we placed our ornaments right next to each other in the middle of the tree.

"Karui?" I heard Sakura's voice call out. Hinata and I turned to see Karui had fallen inside her bag! I laughed I will not lie it was funny as hell! Sakura had slowly stood and she leaned over the bag as she called her name out again. I could tell Sakura was about to jump in after Karui but Kakashi stopped her, he knelled down as he reached his arm all the way in. Kakashi stood looking as if he was trying to pull a car through the bags opening but instead Karui came into view, huffing and puffing looking shaken.

"Are you ok?" Sakura laughed.

"N-Not funny."

"It was pretty funny." Sakura nodded her head.

"No, it was not."

"Then why am I laughing?"

"Cuz' you're an asshole! Here." Karui tossed a box at Sakura who caught it. The box fit in her small hand perfectly. What was in it? I walked over, Karui looked embarrassed as she sat on the couch with her hands crossed over her chest. Karui blushed looking away from Kakashi who pulled her to safety. But he was ignoring her and looking at Sakura who was opening the strange white box.

Sakura pulled out a clear, white ornament. I could see the bottom of it appeared to be a mixture of small diamonds and white glitter. I could feel Sakura's chakra, after a moment my mouth dropped open watching the glass ball in her hand light up and change color as it began to snow inside it! That was the coolest thing I had ever seen! Sakura wrote her name and the year on the bottom of the bulb.

"So pretty!" Hinata gushed getting closer. "How did you do that?"

"It's easy." Sakura shrugged,

"Yeah easy for you." I laughed; I could never do something so cool! I could tell Kiba, Sasuke and even Shikamaru were trying to hide their fascination with it possibly trying to appear manly, I know I was.

"You should place that in the front, so everyone can see it!" TenTen commented as others agreed. Sakura moved over towards the tree she did place it in the front, right next to mine. I smiled watching her do this. She backed away from the tree as everyone gushed at its dazzling beauty, I wasn't sure if they were dazzled by the little glass ball or the owner of it.

I know Kakashi was taken back by her smile which was bathed in the intoxicating Christmas lights that wrapped around the café. Kakashi walked over and led Sakura back to her place on the couch and handed her a cup of hot cocoa that Sasuke bought everyone. Low conversation started up but not for long, glass smashing echoed through the café. Everyone looked over to see that Lee had lost. Guy was laughing looking victorious while Lee looked like he had failed at life for a short moment.

"Come now!" Guy laughed at Lee, "Let's enjoy the holiday!"

"Ye-Yes Sensei!" Lee said jumping up getting all fired up.

"Well Guy Sensei!" Tamaki laughed as she walked towards them holding a sparkling star. "A deal was a deal; you get to place the star upon the Christmas tree this year!"

"Thank you, Tamaki!" Guy smiled, but his face dropped and he looked serious. "But I cannot except this honor."

"Huh?" Tamaki asked dumbfounded and she blinked.

"For someone else has earned this honor more than I have!" Guy announced.

"What?" Tamaki asked confused turning to Kiba. Guy took the star and walked over and did something I was not expecting...knelled in front of Sakura.

"Commander Haruno-" Guy called, "-You returned to us ready to lay your life on the line to defend this village. You protected and served the Leaf Village even when we didn't know it. You posted two of your best shinobi in order to get us ready for the new world that is coming. You should do us all the honor of placing our Christmas star this year, you deserve this more than anyone inside this village." Sakura quickly glanced at Kakashi waiting to see if everyone was just fucking with her.

"I uh..." Sakura looked uncomfortable. "Thanks Guy." Sakura concluded.

"It may not be much Commander-"

"Just Sakura is fine." Sakura waved her title off. Tears filled Guy's eyes as he stared at Sakura who looked even more uncomfortable now.

"Sakura!" Guy cried as he marveled in their new friendship making Kakashi chuckle. Kakashi stood as he held his hand out for Sakura to take.

"If you don't mind Guy?" Kakashi asked who simply smiled with nod. Kakashi walked Sakura to the tree, Tamaki had put out a foot stool by it. Kakashi stood beside her and made sure she didn't fall from the two-step footstool. As Sakura placed the star on the top of the tree everyone took pictures, Kakashi held her hand and his free hand was behind his back. This was such a simple task yet it felt so formal. Like this was Sakura's rite of passage back into the village and back into the hearts of everyone because Sakura was such a huge part of the leaf village before she vanished all those years ago now that she has returned, I have no doubt that she will return to being the heart and soul even if she is the commander of another village. I clapped with everyone else as Sakura turned and smiled.

Outside snow sunk to earth and filled the streets, I sighed it was going to be a cold night. I turned to see Hinata yawn, granted it was only eight at night I stood up and offered my hand out to her. She smiled at me and took it. I looked over and almost fell, seeing Kakashi had just finished putting Sakura's jacket on her. He was sliding his on and Sasuke was even standing and putting his on! We all hang out too much! We are all starting to think a lot alike.

"Aww! Where are you going?!" Karui whined to Sakura.

"Home." Kakashi answered for her.

"Do you want to crash at our place?" Carver's voice sounded so forced.

"You have a place?"

"What?" Carver laughed, "You think we are just sleeping outside on the side walk?"

"You guys have done it before." Karui muttered crossing her arms, I didn't like the thought of my friends sleeping out in the streets, Kakashi didn't either seeing as he pulled Sakura close to him as if that was going to shield her from her past.

"You guys never-" Karui went on,

"Karui do you wanna go with us or no?" Carver cut her off sounding annoyed and tired.

"Nah, I am gonna get a hotel room." Karui waved.

"Alright, well goodnight see you in the morning." Raiden called as he and Carver walked out of the café.

"If you need-" Sakura turned her head in Karui direction.

"Your always my first call." Karui cut Sakura off.

Sakura nodded her head and walked away with Hinata and I hot on her trail. Outside was freaking cold! It was freezing, I really hope my water pipes don't freeze this year. The air swooped up under my jacket and shirt and onto my warm skin stealing all my warmth. The walk home was hard, the wind pushed and kicked at us and the snow falling from the sky wasn't helping. I kept Hinata close as I could barely open my eyes from the wind, tears dripped down my cheeks, I could see the light of our apartment building breaking through the snow! I almost jumped seeing the freedom from this storm.

"Do you want to spend the night?" I asked Hinata.

"Yeah!" She called through the wind, I didn't want her to walk home alone and I didn't want to walk to her place and then back here so I was overly joyed she was going to sleep over! Hinata's face was red from the wind once inside. I huffed and shook the snow out of my hair. The elevator ride was quiet, everyone was probably trying to thaw. With quick good nights we all went our separate ways. I unlocked my door and allowed Hinata to go inside first. I glanced over my shoulder; I wasn't sure why I did but I felt a need too. I saw Kakashi was leading Sakura inside his apartment, I could hear her laughing. Sasuke stood with his key in his door staring in their direction, my heart hurt seeing the expression on his face. After a second, he opened his door to reveal a lonely and dark looking apartment. I wanted to call out for him to join us tonight for a movie but he closed his door too fast.

"Can we finish that movie we were watching at Kakashi's?" Hinata broke my trail of thoughts as I felt myself internally cridge thinking back to the movie I thought I had escaped.

"Yeah..." I turned to look at her. "...sure..."

"Yay!" Hinata smiled so big I couldn't not watch that terrible movie now.