Disclamer:

I don't own Naruto sadly... or a giant anvil would of landed on Orochimaru long ago.

Full Summary (Note: Tite may and probably will change):

When our favorite ninja's reach the rather odd age of nineteen, they find themselves facing some of the most challenging, hair-pulling, fearful trials after Sasuke's one year girlfriend, the pink-haired kunoichi, Sakura dissappears. He returns from a mission to find Tsunade stressed, Ino blubbering, and a few pissed off shinobi. There is a new enemy to the hidden villages who is currently in a bad state of health, so the Leaf take the lead in search for the med-nin. If they find Sakura, will she be the same or looking to fix a mistake?

Lemme know what you guys think, I know it's a pretty bad summary, but from taking enough english tests in my past years i've learned that summarizing things is not my cup of tea... So bear with me.. heh. Also you can see i'm not that strong in the naming area either... goodness knows what the enemies names will be, God help.

Author's Note: Be kind.. very first story.

Chapter 1

Mmmhmmm..Tea

As soon as she left the comfortable warmth the hospital gave, she was greeted with the cold that stole her breath for a few moments. She ignored it though, snuggling deeper into the cloak she wore, making sure the navy blue scarf that had the little red and white fan imprinted on the corner-a little something she stole from her boyfriend going on one year-was wrapped tightly around her slender neck. The freezing breeze seemed to have no mercy as it caught her short pink locks, causing them to whip across her flushed face in an unforgivable manner.

She mentally cursed Tsunade and her Hokage privlages. She just had to send an ANBU team-which consisted of Hinata, Naruto, Sai, Sasuke, and Neji, she could only wish Hinata luck being stuck with four boys who constantly fought, maybe Naruto would act mature with his fiance there...doubt it-to go and check out a village where there had been major attacks by a large number of shinobi. Sakura wished them the best in hell for stealing away her Sasuke-kun, who would be walking her home being his over-protective self, keeping her warm.

The weather was miserable, but she always fancied winter more than the other seasons, she had her reasons, her inner self broadcasting the main one off in her head like it was the answer to everything 'Sasuke-kun!' But she liked to say it was the snow, the pureness of it, the crunching sound it made under her boots, and the way it just sort of made everything glow. Plus, it gave her the excuse to snuggle as close to Sasuke as humanly capable and he couldn't say a damned thing about it, well, that is if he didn't want a nasty bonk to the skull by her infamous fist.

Seeing her door she could almost taste the warm tea sliding down her throat. Hurrying her steps she quickly grabbed her keys and slid them in the door and shoved her way inside her home.Closing the door behind her, sealing the warmth inside she took off her cloak and hung it in the hall closet. Going into the kitchen she set her keys on the table and grabbed the tea kettle. Placing it in the sink she turned the scoulding water on and watched as the steamy liquid streamed into the container. While she waited she made the move to unwind the scarf but when she touched the soft frabic she hesitated. Insead she gently took an end of it and brought it up, burying her face into the cloth. The forest scent that had a touch of ramen fumes dominated her senses. It was the smell of Sasuke, the ramen touch making her remeber when she actually stole the said peice of clothing.

"Sasuke-Teme!" Naruto's unmistakable voice broke the peace of Konoha. Sakura could only smile as she walked into Ichiraku to stare at two of her favorite people. The blonde was currently frailing his arms about at the raven-haired boy while the stall owners had their hands out, demanding for payment. Sasuke had long ago finished his bowl and paid for his portion and being the friend he was-he constantly asks himself why-sat and tolerated the disgusting show of Naruto stuffing his face for five bowls straight without so much as a breather.

"Please?"

"No."

"C'mon, I forgot my wallet."

"No."

Naruto's fluster only seemed to grow to the point where he was getting prepared to fight the "teme" for his cash. But as quickly as the silly plan entered his mind it left as his electric blue gaze landed on the emerald eyed medic. "SAKURA-CHAN!"

That evil grin crossed his face as he turned to face Sasuke, while the prodigy turned in his seat to greet the third member of the original team seven. Naruto gave him no such chance though, "Sakura-chan, could I borrow some money please?" He gave her that toothy grin and she knew that she wasn't going to get any money back what-so-ever. Giving a sigh she reached into her pocket to get her wallet but stopped as Sasuke stood up and tossed some money on the counter with an irratated grunt. Naruto just grinned, who said he wasn't smart, he knew Sasuke wouldn't let Sakura pay, far to prideful. He never thought of the consequences though, and regretted it with a rough smack to the head. "Sakura-chan... that hurt."

"You have pockets for a reason." Sasuke just smirked at his girlfriend's antics before she placed a kiss on his cheek. "I was heading to the hospital and saw you guys. Do you have a mission?" She looked down to notice their ANBU uniforms. All she got in return was a "Hn." So articulate.

"We'll be back in a couple of days Sakura-chan, just checking out a village." Naruto grinned he had been to the village before, awesome ramen.

"Oh, well then I hope you have fun, but I need to go, so come back in one peice alright." She smiled up at the six-foot Sharingan user and he just stared at her for a moment before taking her hand in his and walking out of the ramen stall raising a hand to give Naruto the sign he was leaving who just yelled back "Bye Sakura-chan! See ya in a bit Teme!" Once out of the stall she walked closer to Sasuke, leaning her head on his arm as they made their way to the hosiptal. They were silent until they reached the door where she turned to him and gave him a gentle kiss.

"I'll leave the window unlocked for you." She always did this when he left for a mission, it was just a tradition. Most of the time he would climb through her bedroom window and if he was clean enough he would collapse next to her, or he would end up sleeping in a chair. It was just her way of showing him he had something to come home to.

"Until then, I'm gonna keep this though." She slid his scarf off and put it around her own neck before flashing that smile that was reserved just for him and going into the hosiptal doors. "Bye Sasuke-kun, be safe!" She waved as she disappeared from view and went along her day. Leaving the boy with an irratated stare directed at the door she had just walked through before turning and muttering something about "women," and "annoying."

She could only smile and stifle a giggle at the memory before reality smacked her upside the head while she listened to her inner self and allowed a "Shannaro" to slip. She didn't know how long the seering water had been overflowing from the kettle, and she knew it would be stupid to reach out and touch the pot just yet. Turning off the water she searched around her kitchen until a towel was found and fixed the small problem. Pouring out the excess fluid she put the water on the stove to boil and left to her bedroom to change.

She passed by pictures she had longed to cherish more than anything. If her house was ever set on fire she knew that they would be the first thing she grabbed if anything. The first was the picture of her cell, Kakashi with that all-knowing grin, purposly annoying the two scoweling boys while she gave that naive smile in the middle just happy to be there. The next was of her and Ino when they were little, they were gathering flowers together, unknowing as Sakura's mother snapped the shot. The third had a few pictures, a collage if it was to be called something, Ino was giving an affectionate headlock to her "Shika-kun" while he gave in return an annoyed stare. Hinata rivaled tomatos as she looked at nothing in particular, shock evident on her face as the kyuubi boy placed a kiss on her cheek, his own cheeks tinted a slight pink. Neji had his arm around Tenten, who was just leaning into her love's embrace as they lounged on Sakura's couch during one of her monthly get-togethers where she forced all of her friends to come to her house and enjoy some time together. There was one of Kiba and a girl, walking next to Shino who seemed to be in awe of the girl he himself was with as she was amazed by a insect passing. There was even one of Chouji, actually offering to share food with a girl, that relationship was iron-clad. Kakashi had a little snapshot as well, buying Anko some dumplings, Shizune was with Genma, her smacking him upside the head, Tsunade was glaring at a giggling Jiraya, her mother kissing her father, and last but not least her and her Sasuke-kun. The picture was before they even got together, but this was when she found out, looking back, that he at least cared. It was the beginning of winter a year ago, whenever she looked at the photo, a memory came back to her and made her blush slightly.

"Sakura-chan, i'm so sorry! I'm really really really sorry, do you want me to buy you ramen, cause I will..." The boy was pleading with her as she glared, shivering like there was no end. They had been training when Naruto being the clumsy one he was knocked into her, forcing her to fall straight into the river. She had never been so irked, but she knew that if looks could kill, Naruto would have died watching her destroy all ramen.

"Sakura-chan, please, it was an accident, here, take my jack-" He was in complete shock and that caused curiousness to overcome Sakura until she registered that her jacket had been removed and something warm was there instead. She looked at the jacket she had around her now and never realized Kakashi snap the shot, but instead looked to Sasuke who had noticed the flash and was sending a glare to their sensei. She blushed and smiled at the boy and she never felt warmer as she snuggled into his coat. "Are you sure Sasuke-kun, you'll get cold."

"Just take it."

"Arigato, Sasuke-kun."

Now, whenever she looked back on the picture she would see the blush on his face and get the same warm tingly feeling she did that day. She passed other various pictures as well, some of her family, Sasuke, Naruto, her other friends, and etc. If only she had stopped to look, she might have noticed something out of the ordinary, in the reflection. The small movement in the moonlight.

She changed into a pair of black pants, or really capris if you want to call them it, and then a crimson top, the plain white circle on her back, that hugged her form slightly, the sleeves reaching just below her elbows. Her bare feet didn't make a sound as she padded accross the floor, heading toward's her living room. When she reached her destination she flipped on a switch and glanced around the room. Just as she left it, a scroll here and there, books scattered on a desk with even more scrolls, a T.V., her phone, and her all time favorite forest green couch. Plopping down she grabbed the first scroll she saw and opened it. It was about one of her patients, still a mystery case as he had a multitue of strange varieties of symptoms. Getting up she moved to her desk and began hauling books to her coffee table. Why are medical books always so damn heavy...

After setting down the last stack Sakura heard the screech of the tea pot and smiled at it's impecible timing. Heading into the kitchen she returned back to her work zone minutes later with a steaming cup of tea. Setting it down she took her spot on the couch once more and began to stare at the papers laid out infront of her. Everynow and then, between reading a new bit of information, or a section from a book she would sip the hot liquid, savoring it's taste. She worked well into the night before passing out on her couch from exhaustion, a book laid accross her stomach while an empty tea cup lay forgotten on the floor.