I'm just starting here. It's my first fanfiction that I wrote 4 years ago. So. It's old. Your criticism is highly appreciated, hahaha.

I don't own Naruto. :]

She landed on her feet and skidded a few feet back, trying to gain balance again. Wiping the layer of sweat forming on her forehead, she glanced up at him. His eyes bored into hers. Leaning forward, she rested her hand on her knee and just stared back at him, panting lightly.

Damn. Damn it all.

All that training. Wasn't enough. I'm never enough.

"Don't stop now, Sakura," Sai took a step forward, "You wouldn't stand a chance with him if you keep resting like this."

She nodded, not breaking eye contact with him.

Exhaling, Sakura ran straight forward. Sensing that, he was gonna dodge it, she created another clone, to pound on the ground, causing it to break into sections.

Exhausted, her eyes roamed for any sign of him.

"Heh." The voice came from right behind her. "Not bad, Ugly."

In an instant, she was pinned to the ground, chest-first, with Sai sitting casually on top.

"But like always," he patted her head. "You're not strong enough."

He smiled his fake smile.

"Get off me, Sai." she breathed.

"I'm only trying to help," he retorted, standing up.

Sakura sat up, with a sigh. She couldn't get up. Either she was too lazy or what. She didn't know. She'll go with the idea that she was just too tired.

"Your chakra level's pretty low," Sai commented. "Can you even stand?"

After a minute, she shook her head. She raised her hands above her head and pouted at him

"Carry me, pleeeease?"

With a chuckle, Sai leaned down to pick her up. Right as his hands touched hers, Sakura smirked, took hold of his wrist and with her free hand, landed a blow into Sai's stomach, sending him flying across the training grounds. He landed when his back smashed against a tree, breaking the tree in half in the process.

"I win!" he heard her chirp from across the field.

Groaning, he rubbed his back. "Yeah," he shouted back, smiling. He got up. "You little cheater..." he mumbled.

He walked towards her sitting form. She was grinning up at him.

"Not bad, huh?"

He scoffed.

Sakura still had her arms outstretched.

"Now that that is settled, kindly carry me to the hospital, please. My shift starts in about 10 minutes. And I gotta get ready."

Obeying her, he picked her up, bridal-style. A few steps later, he adjusted her over his shoulder.

"I'm sure you won't mind me carrying you this way. It's much easier," he muttered. "You're kinda fa-"

He stopped himself, remembering the incident that accured, when he had called Chouji fat. He racked his brain for another word for fat.

"Heavy." he uttered.

"Ex-cuse me? EXCUSE ME?" Sakura pounded on his back, "Put me down, you inconsiderate, plain-looking, pale-faced, idiot! PUT ME DOWN NOW!"

"Now, now," he pushed her more up. "No need to call names. I am the one doing you a favor."

Sakura turned just to glare at him, while he kept the same smile on his face.

"Good evening, Shizune!" Sai walked through the entrance doors and gradually put Sakura down on her feet.

"Huh?" Shizune looked back from the table. "Oh, hello, Sai. Is something wrong? You haven't been called in here in a while."

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Sakura-chan just needed help getting to work tonight."

"Oh? Well, that's very kind of you." She resumed what she was doing as Sai followed Sakura.

Sakura halted him in front of a door.

"Ehhh." she faced her face in front of him. "This is the girl's locker room. You're not allowed in here."

Sai scratched his head for a second. "Do you mean Dickless is in there?"

He tried to take a peak inside, but Sakura slammed the door in his face. "Go home, Sai!" she called, walking over to her spot, and began changing.

Sakura took a glance at her clipboard. None of the patients needed to be checked until later. She practically had nothing to do. Drumming her fingers on the window sill, she looked out into the now darkening sky. It had turned a pink-purple kind of shade near the horizon. She sighed. It somehow reminded her of the Uchiha. Repeating his name over and over in her head, she closed her eyes.

You've made Naruto go through all this. You freaking bastard ... If Naruto can't bring you back, then I will. I won't let my training under the Hokage go to waste. I won't let you get away without a fight. All th-

"Sakura-chan!"

Snapping back into reality from her monologue, Sakura turned, only to find Lee running towards her. His bowl cut bouncing rhythmically with each step he took. She smiled to herself.

"Oh, hi, Lee!" she greeted, cheerfully. "What's u-"

"YOU ARE NEEDED IN TSUNADE-SAMA'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY."

Without a second thought, Sakura ran down the hall, Lee following behind her.

She barged into the Hokage's office, only to find it crowded. With everyone.

But the first person that stood out in the crowd to her, was Kiba's figure, leaning against the right side of the room. She went to him.

"Kiba-kun, what's happening? Why is everyone gathered here? Is the village be-"

"No," he replied calmly. "Let the Hokage explain things."

As if on cue, Tsunade pounded her fist onto the table, demanding everyone's attention.

"As you may or may not know already, the Uchiha has been spotted in a nearby village. He's... destroyed it." Her voice dropped at the last part. "I'll be sending some of the ANBU out. But Naruto's insisted on all of you going as well."

Sakura finally noticed Naruto in the very front, serious face on. That's a change.

"Sending out 11 people all at once is far too risky. If Sasuke can murder a whole village in one single night, who knows what'll happen to all of you. I won't hear of it, Naruto." She turned to face him. "It's far too dangerous. Imagine all their lives I'd be putting on the line. The least amount of people I'm allowing to go is 3."

Naruto spoke for the first time since Sakura had gotten there. He looked directly at her. "Who's willing to go?"

Just like what Naruto expected, Sakura was the first to step up.

Tsunade opened her mouth to say something but Sakura beat her to it.

"Tsunade-sama. I know what you're gonna say. But I have to go. I need to go. If I don't, then I wouldn't know what to do with myself if Sasuke escapes."

Tsunade only replied with a slight nod at her student. "Just be careful, Sakura."

Naruto smiled and looked back at the rest of them.

"Who else?"

Altogether, everyone looked at him, letting him know they wanted to be a part of it.

Tsunade shook her head, "I said 3. Not 11. Choose again."

"Lady Tsunade," Shikamaru started, "on behalf on everyone in this room right now. I think we all want to go. We want Sasuke back as much as the next person. And besides. We're not some random people from the streets. You know us. You know what we're capable of."

Kiba grunted. "Yeah. And if you let all of go, it increases our chances of bringing Sasuke back."

"H-Hai." Hinata stammered. "Just let us go, Tsunade-sama... Please."

Neji frowned at the thought of Hinata going. He didn't like it, but chose to keep his mouth shut.

"Yeah, Lady Tsunade," Tenten put her hands on her hips. "We know what we're doing. You could at least let us go just this once. Besides, we already know that if Sasuke's here, then Orochimaru can't be far away. He's one of our targets too!"

This time, Neji had to speak. "Do you even know what you're saying?" he gaped at her. "Have some common sense, Sasuke's not the same guy we knew in Ninja Academy. He, most likely, won't hesitate to kill one of us!"

"You're right," Naruto agreed.

Sakura stared at him, shocked.

"But it's not like we'll let him kill us. We'll protect each other. You know none of us here are heartless enough to abandon a comrade."

"Hn," Kiba pushed himself off his leaning position, "So what the hell? Are we going after Sasuke or not?"

Everyone turned to look at Tsunade. She crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows in deep thought.

Urgh, damn these kids. But that was just it. They weren't kids anymore. If anything, they were at the top of their game.

"Fine. All of you, go."

Everyone smiled, relieved of her final decision. Soon they all headed out, getting ready for their departure. But before Sakura could follow out, Tsunade stopped her by the wrist.

"What is it, Tsunade-sama?" Sakura examined her.

"Be careful. All of you. Take care of one another." were her words before she let Sakura go.

Sakura nodded. After a moment, she leaned forward to give her Sensei a reassuring hug. "Don't worry, Tsunade-sama. You've taught me for the past years. I'm your pupil. I won't let you down."

Tsunade smiled.

Sakura headed out, following the rest of the group as they each went seperate ways to their homes, getting ready for their mission the next day.

They were to meet at the gates at 7am sharp. Sakura headed for her house. Not needing to do anything. But wait for the sun to come.

She sighed, as she neared her house. The Konoha 11 vs. Sasuke and possibly Orochimaru.

What a fight that would be.

Next Chapter Preview:

Sakura was the first to get to the gates. She hadn't had any sleep that whole night. But as she reached the gates, a figure that didn't belong to her group was already there. He shifted as he noticed her coming.

"Hey," he paused. "you're pretty early." he smiled.

HAAAAAAAY, so my first chapter's not that good, I know. But should I continue the story? It seems kind of childish since half of this story was written when I was 9. So. Review? :]