Purple, dark chakra swirled around his right hand before it began to slowly reach out for her.

Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub.

He clutched her forehead, and the chakra immediately turned black.

"Jinshin Shuuzen no Jutsu!"

Her heart immediately stopped.

Lub-dub.

Silence.

Ksssshhhhhing.

Sakura sat against the wall, frozen in place with her eyes tightly shut. She was afraid to move even an inch.

However, the pain she was waiting for never came.

It was then that she felt a sudden droplet of liquid land on her outstretched calf, followed by several more droplets. She tightened her fists, as if thinking that the pain was elongated. What was that? What she bleeding?

She slowly opened her eyes, gazing at her leg. Blood droplets seemed to be pouring on her leg like a faucet. She stared at it in bewilderment; that wasn't her blood.

Flabbergasted, she slowly looked upward towards Kabuto, seeing the Uzumaki and the Uchiha insignias in front of her. Her eyes widened in surprise as her mouth began to quiver.

"N-Naruto. S-Sasuke."

Naruto and Sasuke were standing protectively in front of Sakura, their blades dug deeply through Kabuto's chest.

"Don't touch her," the boys spat in unison as their grips on their weapons tightened in anger. Tsubasu, Daichi, and Ryuu also stared in bafflement, unaware of comprehending what was going on. Kabuto's eyes were widened in fear and pain. He began to lose control.

"Wh-What have you done?!" he shouted as his chakra began to deplete. The tense aura that surrounded around the whole corridor quickly began to dissipate.

Naruto and Sasuke both took their weapons, cutting straight through his form. Kabuto responded with an agonizing screech that seemed to constantly echo.

Naruto, who was standing to the left of Sasuke, placed his right hand down, pumping chakra into it. Sasuke placed his left hand down next to his, doing the same. Their chakras began to swirl together to form an ultimate attack. Kabuto, who was growing more and more lifeless, shrieked the last words that he ever would.

"N-No! You can't do this!" he screamed with widened eyes. Naruto and Sasuke's chakra increased and created a tornado full of chakra around the scene. Sakura's hair whipped through the wind as she continued to stare at her friends in surprise. Sasuke and Naruto placed their hands together as electricity and wind formed into their palms to form a single attack.

"Rasendori!"

They both shouted as they slammed the ball of chakra into his torso. It ripped entirely through his skin and blood squirted everywhere. He screamed in agony as his corpse shot across the room and through the wall of the corridor. Boulders came crashing down, creating huge explosions that shook the whole building. Wind and smoke shot through the entire area, engulfing it everything within its grasp.

After almost a full minute, it finally started to submerge. Sakura just continued to stare at Kabuto's beaten corpse for what seemed like a lifetime. Thoughts were racing through her mind; unable to comprehend what had just happened. Is Kabuto dead? Did they finally defeat him?

The curse mark began to recede; the long, red hair shortened back to her soft, pink hair. The blades sticking out of her body quickly shortened before the completely disappeared, along with the darkened color of her skin.

Her beaten up, porcelain skin returned as blood almost completely covered her. Her tail had completely vanished and her blackened, golden eyes returned back to her normal, emerald eyes. She seemed to forget about the pain that was coursing through her body as shock consumed her, unable to figure out what she should do.

She finally looked up to see Sasuke and Naruto still standing in front of her, as if waiting for Kabuto to regain his composure and stand up. However, he never did. His corpse just lied there in the dust, unmoving and immobile.

After a long silence within the corridor, Sakura finally spoke up with tears streaming down her pale face.

"Y-You guys came for me," she drifted off. They turned around to look at her form before they knelt down beside her, observing her pale and beaten form. Naruto smiled out of happiness and relief, ecstatic to see his female companion once again.

"We'll always be here for you, Sakura-chan," Naruto stated. Sakura smiled back. Sasuke stared down at her, trying to check for her injuries. He noticed the irregularity shape of her stomach and the gaping hole in it. His eyes widened as he softly grabbed her arm.

"Are you all right?" he asked. She smiled in response, as if not effected by her wounds.

"Of course, I'm fi –" She was cut as a heaving cough escaped her throat. More blood formed at her lips, which dripped down to her chin.

Their eyes widened and they looked back, looking for the rest of their squad. They finally entered through the hole of the corridor, looking around at Kabuto's corpse and the damage of the building.

"Hurry! Sakura-chan's hurt!" Naruto screamed over to his team, getting Hinata and Ino's attention. They both gasped before quickly making their way over to them and kneeling down towards the girl. Naruto and Sasuke moved over to give them entrance.

"H-Hold on, Sakura-san!" Hinata stuttered as chakra engulfed her hands. Ino did the same and nodded towards her.

"Stay with us, Forehead," Ino said as Sakura's eyes slowly began to shut.

"Quickly! The medical supplies!"

"Is she okay?!"

"Get us out of these cages!"

"Let us out! Sakura-chan?!"

"Sakura?" she heard Sasuke stammer before she completely blacked out.

Three Months Later

The bottom of the crutches scraped against the dirt on the pavement as Sakura continued to move forward, already annoyed by the handicap utilities. However, she put her irritation aside as she continued to steadily walk forward with a blindfold covering her eyes.

"Ya know, it's probably not safe for someone on crutches to be blindfolded," Sakura exclaimed as she continued to hobble for what seemed the millionth time. "Where are we going exactly? I don't like surprises," she finished.

Naruto, who was guiding her steps, smiled even brighter as his excitement continued to consume him.

"Just be patient, Sakura-chan! We're almost there!"

Sakura had just gotten out of the hospital literally ten minutes before this event. She had been cooped up in the hospital for months because of her shattered rib cage and major concussion. The moment she had stepped out of that hospital, Naruto was already at her side, obscuring her vision with a thin piece of cloth. Of course, he was at her bedside twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for the past three months.

"C'mon Naruto, these crutches are already killing me. I can't walk much further!" she stated with a pout. She heard him chuckle, then the sound of a door opening.

He motioned her forward as her crutches and her stable foot touched a hard wood floor. Sakura grew even more curious.

"Naruto, where –" she began to ask as Naruto simultaneously pulled off the blindfold, revealing all of her friends sitting at tables and a bar. They were in one of her favorite restaurants.

"Surprise!" they all yelled in unison, causing a smile to form to Sakura's face. She looked around, seeing all of her teachers, old genin friends, and current teammates looking at her.

"Wh-What's going on?" she asked as she looked over at Naruto. His grin grew until they were touching ear-to-ear.

"It's a welcome home gift for you, Sakura-chan," he stated. Sakura smiled at him warmly before she gave him a hug and buried her face into his chest to cover her tears of happiness.

"Arigatou, Naruto," she whispered. He blushed, returning the embrace. Everyone was instantly surrounding her with a warm greeting.

"Sakura-san! I am so enthused for your return and recovery! You are such a beautiful blossom!" Lee shouted as he walked over to her and handed her a flower. She smiled and chuckled.

"Thank you, Lee-san."

"Forehead!" Ino stated before glomping the injured girl. Sakura cringed in pain, but smiled nonetheless.

"N-Ngh, Ino, you got heavier," she laughed. Ino's nose flared in anger.

"Hey! You shouldn't say stuff like that to someone who helped save your life!" she gloated. Sakura rolled her eyes and nudged her.

"I missed you too, Ino-Pig," she stated as they both warmly smiled at each other.

"Ahh, Sakura. It's so nice to see you're up and moving around," Kakashi stated as you could see his smile grow. She returned the smile with her own.

"Yeah, I'm finally out of that hospital," she began. "It's so great to see you without those dumb porno books," she smirked. He almost pouted at her statement.

"It's not…" he wandered off before a sigh escaped his lips. A small chuckle escaped her lips. Naruto smiled at the both of them.

"So I talked to Tsunade-sama, and," he began dramatically. Sakura gave him a confused look as Kakashi's blushed face was with a smile.

"And what, Naruto?" Sakura asked. Naruto's seemingly large smile formed into an even bigger one.

"We're gonna be Team 7 again! You, Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke, and me! We're going to be together again! Disregarding our different ranks and all!" he stated. Sakura was smothered in happiness at the thought of their old team reuniting once again.

"That's great! I'm so happy!" she said back to him.

"Speaking of me," Tsunade said, walking up to her old student and embracing her in a tight hug. Sakura returned the hug with a wide smile. Tsunade stood back, gripping Sakura by her shoulders and staring in her eyes. "I'm so glad you're back," she stated. Sakura smiled warmly.

"I'm so glad I'm back too," she started off, looking at everyone around her. "I've missed everyone." Tenten and Hinata smiled, coming up to stand next to Ino.

"So, we're having a girl's night out soon, right?!" Tenten asked with a smile as Hinata blushed, also happy to see her friend well and healthy. Sakura nodded.

"Of course we are! I've really missed our girl's night," she stated, sitting down at the bar as she faced her friends. Ino and Tenten clapped, thoroughly excited with the idea. Suddenly, the music turned up louder, catching everyone's attention.

"Is this Gangnam Style?! I love this song!" Ino shouted as she quickly looked over to all of her friends. "Let's go dance!" she yelled. Tenten nodded, pulling Hinata by the arm.

"Come on, Hinata. Let's go!" she said. Hinata blushed, not too excited with the idea.

"U-Uhm, okay," she stuttered, following Tenten out on the dance floor. Ino began to follow, but then turned back to Sakura.

"Wanna come, Forehead?" Ino asked. Sakura smiled, shaking her head in response.

"Nah, go on without me; I can't do much with crutches," she replied. Ino shrugged her shoulders, heading out towards her friends.

"Suit yourself!" she quickly responded before disappearing in the crowd. Sakura stared at everyone on the dance floor, trying to contain her laugh as she saw Gai-sensei and Lee performing the famous dance.

However, her attention was soon turned when Ryuu, Daichi, and Tsubasu walked through the crowd and over to their comrade.

"Sakura-chaaan!" Daichi shouted as he slung his arm over her shoulder. Sakura laughed, looking over at him. "Glad you're back on your feet! Took ya long enough," he stated. She rolled her eyes in response, followed by a scoff.

"She would be a god if she recovered quicker than that," Tsubasu started off, smiling at her. "She took a couple dirty hits," he finished. Sakura raised her shoulders, as if shrugging it off.

"Nahh, it wasn't too bad," Sakura teased with a smile. "Besides, I'm invincible, remember?" she finished with a chuckle. Tsubasu laughed, messing up her hair a bit.

"You'll have to beat me before you become invincible," he stated. Sakura sneered.

"I could beat you with one leg and two crutches," she replied. Tsubasu smirked in response.

"I'll have to accept that challenge."

"Did we tell you the good news?!" Ryuu blurted out in excitement. She looked at him confused as she shook her head sideways. His smile grew bigger, and he threw his arms around both of his male companions. "As of today, we are officially declared Konohagakure Genin!" Tsubasu and Daichi almost frowned, thinking of the title as genin.

"But, in a couple months, we'll take the chuunin exams and level up! Then the jonin exams! And maybe we'll even become ANBU!" Daichi hollered. Sakura smiled and rolled her eyes in response.

"Don't get too carried away," she replied as she ordered a shot of sake and taking a swig at it. "I'm just happy those stupid curse marks are gone," she said, pulling back her shirt to reveal her porcelain skin. After Kabuto had died, the marks had immediately disappeared. They were free from his hold and free from his curse. Daichi smirked, stretching his arms above his head.

"Eh, I didn't need it anyway," he stated before he began to flex. The rest of the group rolled their eyes.

"You're stupid," Ryuu stated, causing everyone to laugh. He pouted in response.

"Am not!"

Sakura was fully consumed with catching up with everyone; after she talked with her teammates, she made her way to Shikamaru, Neji, Kiba, Choji, and even Shino. They had not been close friends before, but they had been part of the same group.

As the party began to settle down, people one after another began to depart for home. The first to leave was of course Kakashi. He slyly maneuvered around the crowd and bid Sakura his goodbyes before he exited the building.

After Kakashi, Shizune forced Tsunade to stop taking shots and pulled her out with the Hokage over her shoulder. She definitely had a little bit too much.

Lee and Gai-sensei left soon after, declaring their early departure for a rough training session along with Neji and the stoic ones of the group.

After that, everyone seemed to disappear in groups, including her girlfriends. As Sakura watched everyone depart, Naruto came up to her and sat next to her with a drink in hand.

"Did you have fun, Sakura-chan?" he asked, hoping to receive a positive answer. She smiled in response, nodding her head.

"Yeah, I had tons of fun, and it's all thanks to you," she replied, drinking that last bit of sake in her glass and handing it to the bartender. Naruto's smile increased before he finished his own drink and slammed it on the bar.

"Well," he began as they both stood up off the high chair and stretching his limbs. "I'll say goodnight to you now, Sakura-chan. I think someone else wants to walk you home," he stated as he waved her goodbye and began to walk out the door.

"Oh, goodbye, Naruto," she stated while giving him a confused look, not understanding what he fully meant.

"Sakura?" she heard from behind her. She turned around, seeing a serious looking Uchiha standing behind her.

"Sasuke? I didn't know you were here," she stated, almost embarrassed. "I was so consumed with this reunion." He shrugged.

"I thought I'd give you time to catch up with everyone," he stated off. His hands were placed casually in his pockets, but he seemed nervous. "Can I walk you home?" he asked her. Not knowing what to say, she looked back at her team, who were all waiting for her at the door and smiling at her.

"See to it that she gets home safe," Tsubasu stated, with a nod from Daichi in response before they both walked out. Sakura stared at Ryuu before he walked over to her and embraced her. She blinked a few times before returning the embrace.

"Go get him," Ryuu whispered lowly in her ear. Before she could comprehend what he had just said, he had left, leaving behind a smile. She blinked and stared at the place he was once standing.

"Something wrong?" Sasuke asked. She looked up at him, shaking her head.

"Uhh, no. Let's get going," she replied. They both began walking into the night, towards Sakura's new apartment.

Most of the walk was consumed in silence; neither of them had spoken a word the entire way. The only thing that rang through their ears were chirping crickets and crackling leaves. Sakura occasionally looked over to Sasuke to try and see his face, but his nervous feeling was replaced with another stoic expression. What was he thinking about right now?

"Because I'm not the same girl you left behind, Sasuke!" she started off, actually calling him by his first name. "I'm not that pathetic, weak, little girl you left behind five years ago!" She ripped her arm from his hold and pushed her index finger into his chest. "I've grown, Sasuke, and I don't need to be protected by you anymore! So get out of my life!"

That was one of the last things she had said to him before he left. Her eyes saddened in regret. Why had she said that? He saved her life and what had she done in return? She screamed at him in anger. He didn't deserve that at all; he was just trying to help her. Hell, if he wasn't there, she would be dead by now.

She took a deep breath, letting it out. She needed to apologize.

After what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence, they walked up to the door of Sakura's temporarily apartment.

"Thank you, Sasuke," she stammered. Should she apologize now? Why was she so afraid to say anything? Maybe she should just talk to him another time.

She turned to her door before grabbing the handle.

"Goodnight," she said quickly.

"Sakura, wait," he stated before he grabbed her forearm. She flinched before slowly turning towards him. He slowly let go of her arm and looked down towards the ground, stuffing his hands back into his pockets. "There's something I need to tell you," he stated again. She looked back at him, nodding in affirmation.

"There's something I need to say too," she said, rubbing her arm before taking a deep breath and letting it out.

She looked down at the ground for a moment before she returned her gaze up at him.

"I just wanted to apologize," she started off, trying to format her thoughts into words. "For yelling at you; it wasn't right of me. I know you were just trying to help."

Her arms crossed over her chest. She was clearly disappointed in her own actions.

"I wanted to show you that I was stronger and I felt as though being protected by you made me weak again." She looked casually to her right, trying to get rid of the awkwardness between them. "I'm so sorry," she apathetically stated. Sasuke just continued to stare down at her, unaffected by the awkwardness.

"It's okay, I understand; I've been there before," he started off.

Sakura looked up at him, not fully comprehending what he meant. Sasuke continued on.

"When we were genin; I was once there, pushing everyone away from me because of revenge," he stated as he closed his eyes, recalling the memories of his younger self. "That's what it does to you. I just didn't want you to end up like me," he finished. Sakura smiled at him.

"Thank you, Sasuke. I really appreciate it," she stated, causing him to look back at her.

After a few moments of silence, she remembered that he also had something to say.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" she asked, almost afraid to find out the answer. He took a deep breath before letting it out. After a few seconds of silence, he replied.

"You're annoying," he stated. She gasped lowly, looking at him with a surprised expression. As quickly as it came, the look disappeared and she turned her head.

"Right," she started off, casting a sad glance downward at her feet. "I'm not surprised," she mumbled to herself before she turned to her door, opening it to walk inside.

"You annoy me because you're always in my head," he stated. Her eyes widened as her body turned towards him. However, he kept his head down as his bangs hid his eyes. "You're always there – in my thoughts. Your eyes, your smile, your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses; I hate them, but like them at the same time."

He merged up the courage to raise his head and look her in the eyes.

"I know you don't need to be protected; I know you're stronger. But, I want to protect you. I want you to need me," he continued.

He looked down once more before looking back up at the flabbergasted girl in front of him.

"What I'm trying to say is…Haruno Sakura, I need you; I love you," he finished as a blush crept up to his face. He stared into her eyes, waiting for her to say something, but she kept quiet.

"S-Sakura?" he asked. She then dropped her crutches, fully leaned against him with her hands on his chest, and tiptoed up to his face until she planted a passionate kiss on his lips.

After realization hit him, he quickly returned the kiss as he pulled her body closer to his. She then pulled back, staring into his eyes with a warm smile on her face.

"You're annoying too." She then pulled him inside, forgetting about the crutches that lay on the hardwood patio.

So...Uh.

I'M SO SORRY ;-;

I haven't updated for so long, well, because...I thought I finished it and totally forgot about it because of school.

And then I thought today: "Hey, I forgot about my story I put millions of hours into - I wonder how many reviews it has!"

And then I saw I never updated the last chapter.

That is like...the worst thing any author can do, and for that, I greatly apologize. ;_;

However, I hope you enjoyed the last chapter!

I will also be working on some Teen Titan fanfics! However, they will be based on the group The Outlaws...Teen Titans style. (:

So please keep your eyes open for those chapters to come and if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message! Please review!

3 Ashlee