(A/N: Play the media for more effects. The song is called Ai No Katachi. Sorry for the late update! I was...busy...with some stuff. Thank you, Sakura_Stark  for helping me with this chapter. She is now active and will try to update as soon as possible. Her teachers are pressuring her and her classmates to study harder because the results didn't satisfy his/her expectations.)

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

"Ugh.....how far is the tower again, Dattebayo?" Asked Naruto feeling exhausted. "It should be about 2 kilometers left." Replied Sai. "Naruto....carve something from your kunai on the tree over there." Sakura requested. Naruto looked at her weirdly but he did it anyways. He carved 'Team 7 is awesome!'. They walked a few steps and sees this carving again.

"What the....it was back there!" Exclaimed Sakura. "It must be a genjutsu." Said Sai as he quickly dispelled it but the scene doesn't change. "What the...I...dispelled it...why didn't it disappear?" Sai wondered out loud. "Remember what Anko-San said before we entered this forest?" Asked Sakura pretending not to know the outcome of the Chunin Exams. "Oh! You mean 'You're not allowed to open your scrolls.', right Dattebayo?" Asked Naruto.

Sakura narrowed her eyes. I mean, seriously...how the hell did NARUTO figured that out? Sai throws a kunai and Naruto immediately. "What did I do, Sai? I thought we're teammates!" Said 'Naruto'. "Where's the real Naruto, imposter?" Asked Sakura. She stared at him. Her black eyes, activated. "Now, tell me....where is Naruto?" Asked Sakura as her inner's voice took control for a minute there.

"Haha....I guess you genins are smart. Tell me, how did you figure it out?" Asked the imposter. "Naruto is left handed not right handed. Naruto calls Sai,
'Sai-Teme' instead of just Sai. Plus, Naruto wouldn't remember what Anko-San told us before entering the forest." Explained Sakura. Sai glares at the imposter intently as Sakura speaks.

The imposter launches towards them and proceeds to get Sasuke. Sakura dodges his arm from getting to a Sasuke since she's the one holding him after switching with Naruto a few hours ago. Sai draws multiple lions that rushes at the imposter with the intent to feast on his body. It did eat him alive. They just stared as he dies slowly as the lions ripped him to shreds. "Hey, guys! Apparently I've been kidnapped by a snake but I'm fine now, Dattebayo!" Said Naruto as he walks towards them soaked with snake guts.

"Tell us all about it after we find shelter. It's night time already." Said Sakura as she heaved Sasuke on her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Come to think of it, when will Sasuke-Teme wake up?" Asked Naruto. "He will tomorrow morning the seal exhausts his chakra after all, Dickless." Said Sai as he takes out his pencil and begins sketching along the way. They finally found shelter and stayed there for the night.

The next morning, Sasuke was the first to wake up. He tries to feel the make that the snake gave to him. He feels nothing. 'My nerve cells has died...huh...I expected worst...' thought Sasuke as he takes out his food scroll and begins eating. He was chewing his tomatoes until Naruto mumbles something in his sleep. Sasuke being as nosy as he was, decided to listen. "N..no...ramen! Ramen-Chan, d-don't leave me!!!" Naruto whines and tries to catch it. He extended his arm and hugs Sai's body. "Finally! I have caught you, Dattebayo." Murmured Naruto and he went back to sleep.

Sai was next. "D-Danzo...g..get away from me...! I...don't want that mark o-on my t-tongue! N-No!" Sai pushes Naruto out of his grasp since they are facing each other. Sasuke narrowed his eyes into slits. He went over to Sakura but she was as silent as a mouse. "I know you're awake, Sasuke. Now tell me, does your mark hurt." Said Sakura as she opens her eyes slowly. Sasuke shakes his head. "Good...I was worried you won't have any energy for today." Said Sakura as she pats him on the back. Sasuke just grunted.

"Well...hope you're ready for some hunting since we need food for these two." Said Sakura as she got up and went outside of the cave that they found. Sasuke followed. He's silent. He's observing everything around him. 'Oh, Sasuke-Kun.....you won't have control over me....kukukuku....even your little demon won't control me....' said the curse mark taunting even further. 'Shut up.' He responded. 'Tell me...where's Nihilanth?' He continued. 'Kukuku...he's dead as your mind...' the curse mark replies.

'Shut up...!' He screams. 'Kukuku....why would I? Tell me, Sasuke-Kun...do you care for the girl?' The curse mark asked while laughing. Sasuke stiffened. 'Oh ho ho...you DO care for the girl...it would be...terrible if something were to happen to her...' Sasuke feels his consciousness fading. He sees black spots. The curse mark is taking control of him. 'Fuck! No...! I-I can't let it hurt her...' he slowly regains consciousness but he sees his body moving towards Sakura. 'No....don't you fucking dare!' 'Oh I will...Sasuke-Kun.' And the curse mark strikes.

The curse mark held a kunai in Sasuke's hand and quickly ran towards her. Sakura turns around and her eyes widened. She quickly body-flickered behind Sasuke. "What are you doing?!" She asked him. He stops. "I...It's..controlling...m..me..." said Sasuke as he feels exhausted from stopping the curse mark. Sakura heals the mark on his neck because it would calm the curse mark down for a few hours. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, Sasuke?" She asked feeling worried. Sasuke just smirks as he slowly loses consciousness. Sakura brought him back to the cave.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Right now, all the members of Team 7 except Sakura is awake. Sai and Naruto is still stuck in their dream while Sasuke is suffering from his curse mark. It's up to Sakura to protect them. 'We're back to this scenario, huh....I have to protect them again....' thought Sakura as she went outside and set the traps with Genjutsu on them. Last time, it didn't work because it was obvious. Sakura smirks. This time, she will be protecting them not the other way around. She is chosen after all.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

"Sakura-Chan...I'm sorry...I didn't mean it...I...I was so mad at Sasuke-Teme. You...you would've been so happy...if you were still alive. I'm sorry...." said Naruto as he kneeled down on Sakura's grave. Tears are falling from his ocean-blue eyes. His blue eyes are now glassy...it turned from the ocean blue to grey-blue. "I'm sorry..." he murmurs for the last time as he cried his heart out. He stared at his hand. He clenches it. It's his fault that Sakura died. It's his fault that Sakura is like this. It's his fault that Sasuke left. It's his fault that all of this happened. If only he weren't alive, Sakura will be alive. If only he weren't alive, Sasuke wouldn't leave the village. He took out his kunai and proceeds to slice his throat open. All he feels right now is
painpainpainpainpainPAINPAINPAINPAIN.

Sasuke stopped him. Naruto looked over to him with tears eyes. "Why did you stop me, Sasuke?" Asked Naruto. Sasuke was surprised. Naruto didn't use his stupid nickname for him like before. Sasuke began to worry for him. "Sakura wouldn't want you to do this, dobe." Said Sasuke. He has to do this-no, he must do this or else Naruto will vomit suicide thinking that it was his fault. He can't lose another family member. He...just can't. After losing the Uchiha clan, he feels numb. Now, he lost Sakura to himself. He just can't lose Naruto.

Sasuke activated his Mangekyou and forced Naruto to stare into his eyes. He concentrated his genjutsu. He simulated Sakura in a field with Naruto walking towards her. He feels awful doing this but he just do it. He must do it or else...Naruto stared and stared. He tried to reach out for her. He did touched her. Sakura smiles back at him. Naruto cried.

Sasuke looks guilty at his friend-brother.

"S-Sakura-Chan....how are you alive..?" He asked in being in Sasuke's genjutsu. "I'm a soul...I may not be alive right now but..please..don't kill yourself because of me...I'd feel guilty and responsible for your death. Don't leave Sasuke alone...he has lost too much for his own good. Please, Naruto. This is my last request as a teammate-no, a friend." Said 'Sakura'. Naruto just nodded dumbly. Sakura walked closer to him and kissed his forehead. "I don't have much time...so goodbye, Naruto..." said 'Sakura' as she slowly breaks apart. Naruto ran and tried to grab her but fails as she is already broken into pieces. All he saw was a smile on her pale face.

"I'll be in heaven watching over you...so you better behave, Shannaro!" Said Sakura as she disappeared into thin air. Naruto could only stare. He blinked and he was back in the real world. He sees Sasuke hiding the kunai in his hands. "Sakura-Chan...she talked to me..." he whispered. Sasuke looked away. He just can't meet his eyes right now because HE's the one that made the genjutsu. Or maybe...it's not a genjutsu after all...Sasuke hoped that it wasn't.

"I hope Sakura-Chan will talk to you too, Teme." Said Naruto as he grins. Sasuke just gave him back a small smile. "Yeah...I hope so too...Dobe." Said Sasuke as-conveniently planted-cherry blossoms fell around them circling them like magic. They smiled at each other and went back to their respective homes. Well...Naruto did not before he put multiple different types of flowers on her grave. Sasuke was at the grave yard.

"I'm sorry...that I had to use you so the Dobe won't commit suicide...forgive me..I made many mistakes. All I do is cause people pain yet...you loved me till the end..I don't deserve you. I tried killing you...I broke your heart more than once yet...you still were by my side despite...my mistakes...you saw through me..I'm sorry that you have to love someone like me. I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings. I'm sorry that I caused you nothing but pain. I'm sorry...for everything," said Sasuke as he touched her grave gently like it was alive. "And I'm sorry for not accepting your feelings despite me loving you..." he finished and he got up and went back to the Uchiha compound. But before he left, he put a batch of rose on top of her grave.

Kakashi jumped down from a nearby tree. He looks at her grave. He could have stopped her. He...could have...but he didn't. He watched as she goes towards the 2 dangerous jutsus'. He never thought that Sakura of all people would be the one to haunt his dreams like Rin and Obito. He thought she might've lived longer but she didn't. She died at the age of 19. He winced. She was so young....he could've stepped in between the jutsus' but he let her instead. He stared and stared at her grave.

Haruno Sakura (K.I.A.)
March 28th XXXX-XXX XX XXXX
A loving friend, teammate, and family. She didn't deserve to die.

"I'm sorry." That's what Kakashi said as he walked away. He didn't read his 'literature' anymore. It haunts him now. He put a lily and walked away. Sai and Yamato were next.

"Sorry, ugly that you didn't live long enough for me to experience feelings...now...I don't even want to feel...it hurts...without you, I wouldn't be snake to learn how to feel...you taught me after all." Said Sai as he puts a portrait of her that is framed and left. Yamato stared at her grave.

"Uh...I don't really know you as much as the others do. But I know that you don't deserve to die. I can feel that you're a good person. After all, a whole lot of people had attended your funeral including the civilians which is unexpected but I hope you are happy up there in heaven, Sakura-San." Said Yamato as he left her a bouquet of roses. He left afterwards.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Sakura finished setting up the traps around their cave and got ready for the sound team to jump out. She heard a rustle in the bushes. "Come out, come out wherever you are." Said Sakura as she twirled her kunai. She throws it in one the bushes and one the Sound ninjas came out. "How the hell did you know I was here, freak?" Asked the girl. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You can't even suppress your chakra that well and you call yourself a ninja? Pathetic." Said Sakura. The girl bristled in anger.

"Kin, calm down. You're making us look bad." Said another ninja came out of the bushes. "She insulted me, Dosu! I'm the first experiment of Orochimaru-sama who infiltrated the leaf-" Kin stopped and her eyes widened she had revealed their plans in front of a leaf ninja. 'Fuck...' was her first thought.

"Wow...you're stupid too! I thought you were smart enough to keep your plans shut up. Haha....come out." Said Sakura adding emphasis at the last part. The last guy came out. 'This is Zaku...the boy that Sasuke almost killed until past-future? Me stopped him.' Thought Sakura. 'We need to fight, Outer!' 'Like I didn't know that.' Said Sakura as she throws multiple shurikens' towards all three of them. They dodged it.

"Ha...you think your petty shurikens' can stop us? Think again." Zaku taunted. "We'll see about that." Said Sakura. Kin walked one step and got caught in a trap. She's now stuck in chakra-feeding rope. It will suck out her chakra until she has little to none left. "What the?! It's sucking my chakra!" Said Kin as she tries to get out. "The more you move, the faster it will suck your chakra, Kin-Chan~" said Sakura sadistically. Zaku and Dosu are both alert.

Dosu was the next to caught in a trap. He's pulled underground by a mechanism Sakura invented. She used the woods in the forest to built the machine and inserted some of her chakra to it. She can activate it when she puts a little bit more chakra into it. It's kind of like a puppet to say the least. Zaku was the only one left now. He didn't walk anywhere. He just manipulated sound and tries to make Sakura deaf. He succeeded because Sakura forgot about him being able to manipulate sound.

"Fuck!" She curses as she clutches her ringing ear. Soon Zaku body-flickered towards her and punched her in the head. She looks at him. He took out his own chakra-feeding rope and tied it around her body. Sakura stand still as Zaku beats her up.  She glares at him. He's holding her long hair. She cursed under her breath. She forgot to cut her hair. She grabbed her kunai and cut it. Her pink hair flew everywhere. "Ugly! What the hell happened to you?!" Yelled Sai awake from his trance.

Sakura just looks at him and gave him a weak smile. She fainted afterwards. Seeing Sakura like this made Sai mad. Really mad. He rushes towards Zaku and draws multiple dragons. The 3 dragons rushes towards him and breaths out fire. Zaku quickly burns to death. Sai was about to kill Zaku's other two teammates when Naruto stopped him. "Sai-Teme! You shouldn't do that and waste your energy, Dattebayo!" Said Naruto as he went in front of Sai. "Look what they did to, ugly, dickless." Said Sai.

"Yeah, it's terrible but they are almost dead. Let's just torture them by starving them to death after all, we have 3 more days and the human body can't survive without water for 2 days, Dattebayo." Said Naruto. "A slow death is better than what you have planned, Sai-Teme." Said Naruto as he grins. Sai agreed and proceeds to pick her up. "Nah. I'll carry her this time after all I gotta pay her back for carrying Sasuke-Teme." Naruto reassured.

Sai went back to Sasuke who's in the cave and carried him. Naruto is treating Sakura's wounds which is not that bad, honestly. Once they're finished with what they're doing, they carried their two fallen teammates back to the tower. They arrived there and sees that the mark that Naruto made 2 days ago is still there. They concluded that it is a genjutsu and proceeds to open both of the scrolls. They succeeded in opening the scrolls and Iruka appeared.

"Congratulations-oh my god! What happened to these two?" Asked Iruka as he panics. "Hey, Mr.I'mGayForKakashi! They're fine. Just injured." Said Sai as he smiles. "Shut up, Sai." Grumbled Iruka as he body-flickered all of them to the hospital.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

"My genins arrived yesterday." Said Kurenai proudly. "My youthful genins arrived yesterday too!" Said Gai as he gives them his signature smile. Asuma grunts. "Same....." he said lazily. Kakashi is the only one who's silent. He's fake-crying. He holding a tissue and sobbing dramatically. He blows into the tissue and throws it into the-conveniently placed-trash can which is a few feet away from him.

Everyone looks at him weirdly.

"What? I'm just worried that my little genins are in danger." He sobs some more. "They'll be fin-" Gai reassured but was cut off by Iruka. "Kakashi, your genins arrived. 2 is heavily injured while the other two is fine with only a few scratches here and there." He informed. Kakashi is already at the hospital when Iruka finished his sentence.

"What did you say about them being fine, Gai?" Asked Asuma as he takes out another cigarette and lights it up. Gai looks sheepishly at everyone and scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry my youthful colleagues!" He apologized.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Kakashi is at the hospital and he closed his eyes. He concentrated on Naruto's chakra since it's usually blazing. He found it and body-flickered towards the room which is on the second floor. He arrived at the room and opened the door almost pulling off the hinges. He sees Sakura and Sasuke bedridden while Naruto and Sai are near their hospital beds with a few scratches. "What happened?" He decided to ask.

"Nothing much." Naruto replies. "Nothing much? Nothing much?! NOTHING MUCH?!!?" He exclaimed as he begins to panic. He gestured towards Sakura and Sasuke. He can't lose his students because he's already fond of them. No one can replace them...and I mean no one. "We fought Pedo-Snake." Said Sai. "Pedo-Snake...? Oh....Orochi-fucking-Maru." Said Kakashi darkly.

"Sakura got injured because she fought with Sound Ninjas that damaged her hearing and Sasuke got some weird looking seal on his neck after we fought Oreo. He fainted after that and we carried him including Sakura, Dattebayo." Naruto informed.

Kakashi just sighs. "If you keep making me worry, my hair is going to go all grey before I'm 60." he shakes his head and rubbed his temples in frustration. "B-But...sensei?" Naruto hesitantly called out. "What?" Kakashi is curious with what Naruto has to say for once. "Your hair is...already grey all over." He said it. Kakashi just stared and blinked. "Right, right! How can I forget? My age is coming to bite me in the ass, huh?" He said playfully.

Naruto just looked at Naruto weirdly. "Oh! I came here to tell you that you have 2 days to rest or train, your choice." Said Kakashi as he gives them a closed eyed smile behind his mask. He suddenly frowned. "You didn't wear the masks I gave you?" He asked while faking a hurt expression. Naruto looks away and scratched the back of his neck.

"I-I...uh...forgot about it...heh....the rest are wearing it but I...didn't...." he admits feeling a bit guilty. Kakashi ruffles his hair. "Mah...No need to get your panties in a twist. I don't really mind. Here." He finished by throwing Naruto the mask that he was supposed to wear. "Thanks, kakabaka!" He grins. His smile is just like the sun. The people are the darkness. He saved many people with his smile yet he didn't know it. A lot of people admired him but he didn't know. Kakashi touched Sasuke's neck. 'The seal is weaker than I thought...I'll have to seal it once Sasuke's alone.' He thought.

"Where did you learn that nickname from?" Kakashi suddenly asked turning serious. "O-Obito..." said Naruto. "I'm going on a hunting trip, kids!" And he disappeared from the room on a hunting trip to find Obito. Sai just stared at his teammates not bothering to talk or look at Kakashi. His eyes are glassy. He stared and stared. He had been useless....the weakest of his teammates...he looked at his hands. He could've saved them but he was weak...so fucking weak that he loathed himself. He looks at Naruto who was looking at him.

"What was with you back there, Dattebayo?" He asked. Sai didn't give a reply. "Come on! Answer me!" Naruto grabbed his shoulders and shook them. "I'm useless..." he whispers. "I could've saved them...but I was busy dreaming....I could've..." he was cut off by Naruto hugging him. His charcoal eyes widened. Wind blew from the window making their hair go into many directions. "Let it out." Was what he heard from Naruto as he pats Sai on the back.

This time, he allows himself to cry. Naruto kept hugging him. "I miss...my brother...." he whispers between sobbing. "I miss Shin..." he finally says and his shoulder shook. "We can be your new family." Said Naruto as he offered him his hand. Sai looks hesitant but he shook his hand anyways. He smiled. He hugged his sketchbook. 'I'm finally with a family, Shin...' thought Sai as he grins. His smile is so wide for his face that it would break it. He wiped his tears that are falling from his eyes and looked at the window. 'I hope you're happy too...' thought Sai.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Back in heaven, Shin looked down from the clouds. He smirks as he sees Sai smiling back at him. Another soul walked towards him. "What's wrong?" It asked. "Nothing, just watching over my brother." He replied. "He seems happy..." the soul examined. "Yes he is." He gave the soul a small smile. The soul looks at him and smiled back but it's twice as big. "I finally found you." The soul whispers. Shin looks confused. He was about to ask when the soul took off its cloak. Shin's knees began to shake.

His eyes are watery. He hugged the soul. The soul just pats him on the back reassuringly. "I can't believe you're here, mom..." he cried. His mother just smiles. "W-what about dad?" He asked hesitantly. "I thought you forgot about me, sonny!" His dad appeared behind him and gave him a family hug. He grins. "Now why don't we sit down and talk about your little brother over there?" His father suggested. Shin began to tell everything about Sai.

"And then he spilled paint all over me! He looked like he was about to cry too. He was cute when he was a baby..." he smiled fondly at the memory. "Aren't you glad that heaven still let us kept our memories?" He asked his mother and father. "Well...some of us are while others..." his mother glances towards a man who was clutching his head. Shin glances at man and decided to help him. His parents didn't stop him.

He walked towards him. "Um...excuse me, sir? Why are you crying?" He asked and tilted his head. The man looks up from his hands that are stained with his tears. He smiled at him. "I made a mistake...I wasn't supposed to die...I was supposed to protect him from harm...I made a mistake..." he told Shin repeating the word 'mistake' all the time. "I don't think you did. I was supposed to protect my brother down there too and yet here I am up here." He told the weeping man.

"Some day, the one you're supposed to protect will have someone they can rely on! My brother just found a new family and so can the one you're supposed to protect!" He exclaimed radiating positivity. "Thank you, child...what's your name?" The man asked Shin. "I'm Shin!" He replies and grins. "My name...is Yashamaru." He replied while wiping his tears away.

"I was only following orders but...I made a mistake. I shouldn't have followed it. I could've protected him yet I corrupted him. That's my regret...I let him kill me instead and broke his heart." He told the boy. Shin listened. He told all of the stories about this mysterious boy. "And his name is Sabaku Gaara." Yashamaru finished. "He'll find someone who will change him, eventually." Shin answers.

"I hope so..." the man replied.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Gaara sneezed. Temari looks at Gaara worriedly. They had arrived at the tower on the first day and Gaara started to act weirdly. "What?" Asked Gaara ad he stares at Temari with a blank face. "I'm just worried that you might be sick..." she replied. Gaara just nodded. "For your information, I am not." Said Gaara. He was deep in thought after that. 'You're a bijuu, huh?' He attempted you call Shukaku. 'Come out or I'll force you to.' That gained him a reaction. 'F-Fine...I'm a bijuu called Shukaku. I'm the one tailed beast that was sealed inside you since birth.' Said Shukaku.

'I'll be needing you when the final exam is up.' Said Gaara. 'Now why would I cooperate with you, kid?' Asked the one tails smugly. 'I can make you do it since I can control those gains that are tying you down. I will be adding one more. There's 5 in total. For everything you do for me, one of them gets removed, if you don't one will be added. Do we have a deal, Shukaku?' The bijuu is in deep thought and is considering wether to agree or disagree. 'It's a deal, punk.' He finally agrees. Gaara smirks mentally. He has the bijuu fully under control now.

"Hey, Gaara? Is anyone in there?" Said Kankuro waving his hands around in front of his face. His sand activated and caught his hand. Kankuro shrieks like a girl and the sand let him go. Gaara silently stares into Kankuro's eyes. He got nervous and broke eye contact.

"You two, stay here. I need to.....visit someone." Said Gaara. Temari looks nervously at Gaara. 'Is he going to kill them? Where is he going?' Was her train of thought. Her little brothers are berg important to her and as the older sister, she is worried. "Okay." She agreed for him to 'visit' this anonymous person. Gaara's sand wrapped itself around him and it exploded. Gaara is no where to be seen because he is now gone from their location.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Gaara reappeared in front of Team 7's training ground. He occupied himself on one of the trees and waited for them to arrive. In the mean time, he sat there contemplating wether or not to kill them.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Sasuke woke up feeling exhausted. He looked around his surrounding and all he sees is white. 'I must be in the hospital...how bad was I injured...?' He wondered and looked to his left to see Sakura covered in bandages. 'Damn it...I wasn't strong enough to protect you...' he cursed himself and punch his pillow. The sound that Sasuke made woke her up. "S-Sasuke? What...are y...you doing?" Her voice was hoarse. Sasuke got up from his bed and touched his neck. He still can't feel it.

He went towards the water dispenser that is in the room and took a paper cup then poured water in it and passed it to her. She gladly takes it from his hand and drank it all in under a second. "Sorry that I didn't protect you." He apologized. "Nah, it's fine. I've been through worst! Plus, you were hurt form the curse mark controlling your body." This time I'm protecting you, Sasuke after all, you saved me many times during the war. She reassured him.

He just nodded. After that, they just talked.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

'That son of a fucking bitch! How their he give out his stupid nickname to my cute genins?!' Thought Kakashi angrily. He ran towards the Uchiha's house. He banged on the door and Rin came to greet him. "What wrong, Kakashi-Kun?" She asked. "I need to have a word with Obito." He answered. Rin welcomes him in and called for Obito. Obito got down stairs in a matter of seconds. "Heya, Bakashi!" He greeted. "Don't act all innocent now, Obito. You have given your stupid nickname that you gave me to my cute genins!" He retorted.

"Yeah, yeah. So what?" He asked. "I will not let you pass your stupidity on to my students!" He answered while gripping Obito's collar. "I'm not stupid!" "Yes you are." "Am not!" "Are to." "Am not!" "Are to." And they began a series of arguing like a bunch of academy kids. Rin just stands and watches them with amusement in her eyes. 'They never change, huh? It doesn't matter how old they are, they are still arguing over the stupidest things.' Thought Rin as she giggles.

They stopped arguing after Kakashi got up and left.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Kakashi opened the door to Sasuke and Sakura's hospital room. He sees them talking and decided to interrupt. "Hey, kiddies!" He said as he ruffles their hair. They both glared at him. "Woah, woah, woah! No need to be freaking mad! I'm just joking with you. I'm here to seal Sasuke's curse mark." Said Kakashi defensively. They nodded. "Can I watch the sealing process? I'm interested in basic fuinjutsu. But Naruto is the best at it so I'll call him and Sai because I don't want them to be left out." Said Sakura. Kakashi just nodded and led them to another room.

Naruto and Sai arrived later when Sakura called for them using her clones. "Sasuke, strip naked." He commanded. Sakura turned red and looked away. Sasuke looks like he ate a lot of chili. His face is red. Sai just stared normally. Naruto looks bewildered. "Fine...you can keep your boxers." He said. Sasuke didn't strip. "There's nothing for me to look at anyway. Now, strip." He commanded one last time. Sasuke did as he said and stripped. He first took of his signature Uchiha shirt than his pants keeping only his boxers on. 

His pride is slowly melting into pieces. Sakura just stared at his face which is among the whole thing worst since he's a guy goddamnit! Kakashi began sealing him. He flashed through a lot of hand signs. When he finished, he slammed his hand down on Sasuke's body. He screamed in pain. The seal is working. Sasuke helps and tries to get away only for Naruto and Sai to hold him down. Sakura watched him as he suffers. She decided to ease his pain a little by adding a mixture of healing chakra. It did work and he relaxed little by little.

He can't scream anymore. He's exhausted. The sealing finally stopped and he calms down. His body is covered in sweat. He breathes heavily trying to process what had happened. "The sealing is complete!" Said Kakashi as he claps his hands together. He smiled behind his mask. "T...thanks, kaka...Kakashi-sensei..." he managed to speak up. His voice is barely heard but being ninjas, they have the ability to enhance their hearing and heard what he just said. "No problem, pretty boy." Said Kakashi as he picked Sasuke's exhausted body and put him on his hospital bed. Sakura, still being stuck with the I.V followed Kakashi.

Naruto and Sai were chatting. Sasuke is unconscious and Sakura is reading a book. "Oh, ugly. You can leave this hospital in the afternoon. Pervert-Sensei will sign it for you." Said Sai as he continues drawing the scenery outside of the window. Naruto is eating his cup of ramen. Sasuke is unconscious. "Hew, Sakuwa-cham! Whem will Sasume-Teme wade ut?" Asked Naruto. Sakura examines his body one more time and replied. "2 more hours." Said Sakura as she reads her final chapter of the first volume Icha-Icha.

Itachi bursted through the door and sees his brother hospitalized. "What happened during the Chunin Exams?!" He asked feeling panic wash over him. "We fought, Orochimaru...and he gave Sasuke a hickey but Kakashi sealed it and Sakura ease the pain by healing it, Dattebayo." Said Naruto as he slurps up some more noodles. Itachi sighs in relief and freaks out when he processed the information in his head. He checked Sasuke's neck and calms down once more. "Are....you okay, Itachi-san?" Asked Sakura as she puts a hand on his shoulder. "I...I'm fine...just worried for Sasuke." Itachi reassured. "Aa.." was her only reply to Itachi signaling that she understood. Shisui was next at the door. "Is my favorite cousin, okay??" He asked as he body-flickered to the other side of the bed. "He is." Replied Itachi. "Oh dear! I thought he..." Shisui didn't finish his sentence and instead looks at Sasuke's peaceful sleeping face. "He got roughed up pretty badly." He commented. "The curse mark tried to take control of his body to hurt Sakura." Said Sai.

"Sheesh...and here I thought this looks bad...it's ducking terrible!" Exclaimed Shisui. "So...what are your names?" Asked Shisui. "Namikaze Naruto, Dattebayo!" Said Naruto. "Sai...." Said Sai unsure of himself. "I'm Sakura, it's a pleasure to meet you." Said Sakura as she takes her hand out towards him. He shakes it and freezes. "You must work out! I mean, I can feel it on your hand, Sakura-Chan." Said Shisui astonished. Sakura looks sheepishly and scratches the back of her neck. "Hey! Only I can call her that, Shisui-Teme!" Said Naruto as he playfully points an accusing finger at him.

"Fine....how about Firefly instead?" He asked Sakura. "Sure...but why?" Asked Sakura as she tilts her head. "When um at the door...I felt your chakra, it was burning brightly...in anger for someone who hurt Sasuke..." he explained. Sakura is surprised. Her mouth is agape. Shisui laughs.  "Seriously, how did you know that from just my chakra?" She asked. "Nuh Uh! A ninja never reveals his secret." Said Shisui as he flicks his finger on her forehead. "It seems like they're getting along well..." Itachi whispered towards Naruto and Sai. They both shrug.

"Tell me." She said simply with a poker face. "Fine, fine...but you have to come closer." Teased Shisui. She did come closer. Than, Shisui whispered something in her ear. "I have an ability that I don't have a name for...I can sense people's emotion just from Chakra." Whispered Shisui. "I can help you name it." She offered. Shisui just laughs. "Hey! I'm serious." Said Sakura. "Okay, we'll meet again, firefly so you better have a name for my awesome technique!" Said Shisui as he body-flickered outside the hospital.

"Wow...he's fast..." exclaimed Naruto. "They don't call him Shisui, the body flicker for nothing, you know?" Said Itachi as he smirks. "Right." Said Naruto. Obito was next at the door. "Hey! How's baby Sasu-Chan, 'Tachi?" He asked as he carried a basket full of fruits. Before Itachi could ask anything about the fruits, Obito silenced him. "Rin forced me to give it to baby Sasu-Chan." Said Obito as he put it on the table. "I gotta go now! Say hi to everyone for me, 'Tachi. I'm late for work!" Said Obito as he disappeared out of existence. "That's Obito..he's getting married after the Chunin Exams are over," Informed Itachi. "He's always late for everything. He passed that disease to Kakashi-senpai." He finished.

"Aa..." said Naruto. Itachi chuckles at his actions. Sai finished drawing a picture of his brother. He smiles and closed his sketchbook. "Itachi-Sama, Uchiha-sama has called for you." Said a calico cat. 'A summoning.' They all thought. "Right...I have to go now and thank you for taking care of Sasuke." He bowed and left the room leaving leafs at where he once stood. "Hey, Sakura-Chan?" Naruto called out to the rosette. She closed her book and stared at him waiting for him to continue. "What did Shisui-Teme tell you?" He asked feeling hopeful that she will answer. Sakura just smiles. "I'm afraid I can't tell you, Naruto. It is a secret between me and him." She replied. Naruto's hope deflated like a balloon.

"Ugly, You owe me a sketchbook for saving you." Said Sai as he extended his hand. Sakura sighs and bit her thumb and placed it on her scroll. She took out one sketchbook and gave it to him. He gladly accepts it. "Oh...my ramen is cold..." Naruto realized. He is now sad. He didn't realize it sooner...he was too busy speaking to the Uchihas' that have visited Sasuke. He cried. Sakura hands him another cup form the same scroll. Naruto thanks her and begins eating. Sasuke's hand twitched.

He opens one of his eyes and sees his teammates talking happily. He smirks. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" He speaks up. They turned to look at him. Naruto grins while Sakura and Sai just waves at him with a small smile. Little did they know, Kakashi was standing in the shadows of the hospital room. He smiled. Their bonds have strengthened after the second part of the chunin exams.

"Thanks...." said Sasuke. "For what, Emo?" Asked Sai. Sakura and Naruto waits for his answer. I mean, Uchiha Sasuke doesn't thank people for no reason. Little did they know, Kakashi is also waiting for his reply. Sasuke's smirk widened into a small smile.

"Thank you...for not abandoning me back there..."

He felt the in the entire room go quite. Naruto starts to cry and tried to hug Sasuke who gladly pushed him away. Sakura smiles softly, her eyes are gentle like a mother would do. Sai looks normal except with the shit-eating grin on his face that Sasuke wants to punch so fucking hard. Kakashi smiles. He steps out from the shadows and surprised them with a team hug. Sasuke's ears turned pink. Sai looks awkwardly at Sakura since she's being squeezed in the middle of Sasuke and Naruto. He feels sorry for her being stuck in between. Naruto looks cheerful and he was yelling something along the lines of "The Mysterious Team 7's hug is awesome!".  Sakura looks like she was about to explode from happiness. She was grinning so much that it doesn't even fit on her face right now. Tears fell from her eyes.

'Finally....I've waited too long for this....' was her thought when she cried. Kakashi pats her on the head. Sai tries to comfort her by giving her a hug within a hug. Sakura smiles. 'Finally...Team 7 is together again....thank you, Kami-sama...' she finally finishes. Someone invaded her mind.

'Did somebody say my name?!!?' Said Kami as he appeared in her mind. 'Yeah....thanks for this opportunity. I'm forever in debt to you.' She replied. 'Nah, no need to repay me anything. The only thing you have to do is to stay alive for as long as possible.' He said as he gives her a gentle smile. 'Just wait! I know you'll need me one day.' Said Sakura with determination in her eyes. Kami just chuckles. 'If I see you in front of Rushifā's door one more time, I won't forgive you.' He said playfully with a hint of threatening her in sight. 'I'll try.' She replied. 'Aa! I need to go now. Duty calls.' He finished and disappeared from her mind.

"You're a stalker." Sai commented and their group hug was broken. "Haha...I guess I am, pretty but version 2.0!" He said happily. "Sensei, what the fuck?" Said Naruto questioning what he did to deserve this kind of sensei even though he enjoyed his lessons.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

6817 Words