Hey guys. c:
I've been getting back into Sasusaku lately, so I decided to stop being lazy and write a fanfic. Don't worry, it's not Narusaku, and they'll get longer, trust me.
I'm not sure if I should keep doing this, so tell me what you think in your reviews!

I need encouragement! xD
I'll keep writing if you want~

Emerald green eyes fluttered open at the slight hints of morning sunshine peeking through the windows. After a few hesitant moments, black eyelashes fluttered open to reveal foggy, sleepy eyes. The kunoichi known as Sakura Haruno sat up in her bed, peering over at her alarm clock.

It wasn't what had woke her up, however. She and her other teammates, Naruto and Sai, had been granted a weeklong vacation from the Hokage for a week, which they were not putting to waste. Sakura stayed up late, and woke up late. Confirming that as she looked at the clock, to see it was 12:20 p.m. A, what would normally be, absurdly late time to be awake.

The pinkette headed straight to the bathroom, not bothering to shower, for she had last night, but washing her face. Once she had dried it on her towel and brushed her teeth, she went to her closet to change out of her dad's baggy clothes that she had claimed as her pajamas. She still shared a house with her parents, which wasn't very unusual for a sixteen year old, but they were never home most of the time, which made it seem like her own house.

Now rummaging through her closet, Sakura picked out her casual clothes; a simple navy blue skirt, pale yellow T-shirt, and a red vest shirt over top, with a white zipper running down the middle and ending at her hip. It also had her signature Haruno, "O" on the back. She didn't bother putting on her forehead protector, and was ready to leave, perhaps head to the library, when her eyes gravitated towards something.

Sakura found herself staring at the portrait of the old Team 7. It felt as though her eyes suddenly got baggy and tired, and she took a couple of glum steps to close the distance between her and the picture. Lifting it gingerly in her hands, she looked at her old crush. Sasuke Uchiha.

Look how close she was to him.

In fact, their arms may have even been brushing. It was so unimportant and normal at the time, to be so close to him. But now that would be a luxury. He would likely try to kill her if they were ever that close again. Sakura rubbed angrily at her eyes, refusing for any tears to try and slip out without her permission. She set the picture back down, and headed out to the streets of Konoha.

Her earlier plans of going the library seemed much too lonely, and she had an urge to see him—Naruto, and headed to his apartment. Her black, just under the knee boots dragged on the sandy road of the streets as she thought about her enthusiastic companion. Sakura cringed whenever she thought of how she used to treat him, and with no reason, too. Once she had given up on Sasuke coming back, she started to think of her romantic life, considering Naruto. She never really thought of him in the romantic aspect, but wouldn't mind. He was everything any girl would want in a guy, really.

And even when she thought she didn't want to be with him, the thought of someone else being with him made her jealous. Hinata obviously had feelings for him, and Sakura always knew she would be no competition against someone like Hinata. Feminine, shy and passive—unlike her own aggressive habits and strong willed personality, and not to mention she was definitely not lacking in the chest department. Sakura wouldn't be called flat, per se...But not busty, either. Sakura found her legs bringing herself to Naruto's apartment even faster, and in no time she found herself standing in front of his door.

Why should she even assume he would be home? It was a beautiful day, and he was probably already awake and at Ichiraku's or something. She knocked her fists against the door a few times despite her earlier thoughts, and waited quietly. Not hearing a response to her knocks, she sighed.

"I'm coming in, Naruto!"

Grabbing and turning the doorknob, she turned it clockwise and entered his apartment. Disgusting, as usual, but she ignored on the filth and was focused on finding that spiky blonde hair. He was in his bed, hugging tightly onto a pillow, and Sakura walked over to his bedside.

Unlike when he was sleep talking and saying stupid things in his sleep, this time he had a peaceful look on his face, and it took her back 2 years. Sakura stared at him with a little smile for a few seconds before lightly nudging him.

"Naruto?" She whispered, and then said it a bit louder. "Naruto?"
He started to grumble her name in his sleep, and then his eyelashes opened like curtains, revealing his piercing blue eyes. Sakura gave him a smile, and he shot up, a delighted smile on his face.

"Sakura-chan! What's up? We have a mission or something?" Laughing a little about how easily he accepted the situation, she shook her head. "Nope, just came to see you." Sakura took a step back to allow him to swing his feet over his bed and go to his closet. He looked back, a confused expression on his face. With the expression still on his face, he pointed to himself stupidly, "To see me?"

He was honestly curious, and it pained Sakura a little that he was so surprised that she wanted to come see him. She pulled one corner of her mouth up, and then the other: a smile. Though she could feel it didn't reach her eyes. In the spur on the moment, Sakura touched her short pink hair and pointed at the door. "Wanna go have some lunch at Ichiraku?"

Naruto stared at her a few seconds, before a brilliant smile swept over his features. A smile you couldn't help but return. The corners of her lips lifted up unwillingly, and she walked over to the door. "I'll wait outside."

After a few seconds, Naruto burst through his door in his usual orange jump suit, something only Naruto could pull off, and grabbed her hand, something she decided to allow just this once, and ran towards Ichiraku.

"Excuse you." Sakura laughed, watching Naruto slouch onto the counter and emit an enormous burp, which was understandable considering the five bowls of ramen he had just inhaled. The blonde boy just waved her off, a goofy grin on his face. Sakura looked down at her bowl. She was just finishing her first and last. She felt like a mouse compared to him. 'Really, what a guy…'

The two stayed at Ichiraku's for about an hour, including the eating and talking. It was sort of a date, although Sakura would never admit it, and Naruto surprisingly didn't bring it up.
"Nyahahah! I know, right? And then Sai was all like—"

"Like what?"

The two jumped and turned around in their seats, only to see, lo and behold, Sai standing before them. Naruto pouted and muttered to himself, "Well it's not funny if you're here…"
Sakura looked up at him, her emerald eyes clashing with his black. "What're you doing? I doubt you're here for ramen."

Sai smiled his 'smile', and looked at Sakura, nodding.
"The Hokage has requested a meeting with us and Kakashi right now."

Sakura's eyes widened.
Right now? It wasn't even the end of their vacation—they were only four days in.

Her surprise turned into a frown, as she analyzed the situation.
Tsunade-sama wouldn't request us personally like this, all three of us at that, unless it was for a mission. And it's our vacation. There's lots of other Chuunin's out there that could do a mission for us. So it must be something important, something only our team could do. Or something only our team shoulddo.

Sakura nodded and went with him quietly, whereas an endless stream of questions and complaints were leaving Naruto's. "It's always something! We were having a good time! Me and Sakura-chan.. SAI! You're JEALOUS, aren't you! THAT'S IT!"
Sakura and Sai tuned out the blonde boy fuming in the background, their eyes focused on the Hokage's tower.

When Sakura walked in, she frowned to see Kakashi already standing there whispering with the Hokage. He was never early. Unless..

"Naruto, Sai, Sakura. I'm glad you're here…" The woman began, and closed her eyes, opening them slightly to look at Kakashi; sending him a signal none of the others could understand.

Right on cue, Kakashi turned to them, a serious look on his face. His gaze was mostly focused on Naruto, watching him. Sakura knew what that meant. Whatever they were about to tell them, it was going to be enough to make Naruto snap. Sakura shuffled closer to Naruto, causing a perverted smile to creep on his face, which she promptly ignored.

"Naruto, Sakura, Sai." Kakashi greeted. The three of them nodded in acknowledgement.

He got right to the chase.

"It's about Madara Uchiha. We have confirmed his location. It is unknown whether or not Sasuke is with him, but it seems very likely. They don't know we have leads on them yet, and we need to get a move on before they know this. This is an A rank—no, above A rank mission, possibly Hokage ranked, and you three, especially you Naruto—"Kakashi's stare zeroed in on Naruto's fierce eyes, "need to control your emotions for this mission to be successful."

Naruto was already screaming before Kakashi had finished his sentence.