AN- I really hate myself from two years ago, I sound like a moron…but I am going through this entire story and re-editing it. Just trying to see if I can make sense of a lost story.

(Last Edited: 5-09-08)

24- Jem

“I'm not alone, I sense it, I sense it

All that I said, I meant it, I meant it

And I can't believe

How much I've wasted my time.”

Chapter 1- Not Alone

“SAKURA-CHAN!”

Side-stepping the charging green figure, which then collided into the wall behind her, Sakura sighed. Idiot.

The Jackie Chan look-a-like, now behind her, brushed the dirt that had gathered on him from the fall and began reciting a ballad which had obviously not been practiced.

“Only the cherry blossom of spring could pull such a hidden feat…”

Rolling her eyes, Sakura smiled. BUT an idiot that I love.

“SAKURA-CHAAAAAN!”

This yell was slightly different…

“Where have you been? I am hungry and you promised to buy the Ramen!”

Turning to face a grinning Naruto, Sakura’s eye began to twitch…When the hell did I say I was going to BUY Ramen? Inner Sakura snorted and nodded in agreement.

Sakura hit Naruto on the head as she walked by to sit at the Ichiraku Ramen bar. Looking over at the blushing Hinata she smiled knowingly and moved a seat down so she could be next to her.

Lee finished with the poem and quickly took Sakura’s other free side. Naruto, who was now done pretending to be in pain, growled seeing this and pushed Lee off the chair so he could take the seat next to Sakura.

“Naruto! Princess Sakura’s heart shall be mine! The battle of love shall begin! Hoaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Oh please don’t…I think Hinata will have a heart attack and I will kill them both…Luckily for Sakura, Kiba came to the rescue…well…sort of. Pushing Naruto off the once again vacant seat he sat down next to Sakura and ordered 3 bowls of Ramen.

Grumbling Naruto went to take a seat next to Hinata, who began to turn an unhealthy parlor of reddish purple and Sakura briefly wondered if it was healthy for the ninja.

“FUZZY EYEBROWS!”

“The prince I shall be-…” Lee stopped looking up at Naruto.

“Wasn’t Gai-sensei looking for you?”

“GAI-SENSEI!”

Quickly giving Naruto and the rest of the gang the infamous thumb’s up sign with a flashing grin Lee took off. Guffawing with eccentric laughter and hitting the table with his fists everyone sweat-dropped. Clearly Naruto had lied to the dense Lee, maybe stupid was too harsh? Just too trusting.

“All right damn it!”

Pounding her fist on the counter for emphasis Sakura stood up. Cha show them who is boss! Inner Sakura shouted.

“I am leaving on a mission to Sunagakure no Sato tomorrow, it’s for Tsunade-sensei. I am not sure how long I will be gone for…”

“WHAT?”

Naruto jumped up spilling his Miso Ramen all over himself. Ignoring his now wet clothes he glared at Sakura as if demanding an explanation, for the spilt ramen or the random announcement of her leaving she was not sure. As if not telling him earlier had been a reason for betrayal…Right. Lee, who had come back a few minutes prior, also stood up, albeit more gracefully.

“I’m telling you now because I know you and Lee would have tried talking Tsunade-Sensei into letting you both go with me. That would have been stupid. I am a big ninja now and I can take care of things myself.”

Naruto looked over at Lee as if he was the reason Sakura had not told them earlier.

“FUZZY EYEBROWS THIS IS ALL YOU’RE FAULT!”

Ignoring the ranting Naruto, Lee looked at Sakura with an almost remorseful look in his eyes.

“For what purpose is this mission Sakura-Chan?”

“Its…To teach their medic sections some of the skills I learned from Tsunade-Sensei…In order to keep alliance I must go as I am the most qualified of medic ninjas. This is the reason I had us all meet here today.”

“So you have no idea when you are going to be back? But who is going to buy me Miso Ramen?”

Holding herself back from hitting him again, Sakura instead settled from grinding her teeth. It wasn’t very healthy, mind her, but it was the only other thing she could resort to without causing major damage.

For the rest of the night everyone laughed and, with the exception of Lee getting extremely drunk thus breaking a few chairs in the process, everything went very smoothly. It was a good last night for Sakura who had no idea how long she would be gone. Of course she knew that Tsunade-sensei told her this would be a B mission…Telling everyone would only make them worry. It seemed that Kaze no Kuni (Country of Wind) was actually having a few problems even after the idiotic feudal lord had been overthrown and a new Kazekage had been reinstated in Sunagakure no Sato: 風の国 (Hidden Village of Sand). Otogakure no Sato (Village Hidden in Sound: Hidden Sound Village) had been causing trouble again even with their leader Orochimaru dead. From what Sakura had heard they wanted reparations for damage caused in the village over the whole scandal that had happened years ago. Of course, as the village that had started the whole mess, they would not get it.

Sakura’s job was to teach their medic sections in case of war but was also to be in the Kazekage’s care while she was there. It wasn’t as if she had not argued with Tsunade-san about it though. HELL YES, she had been pissed…no enraged, but after becoming ‘one with the wall’ by Tsunade-san she had decided to listen to her sensei, the Hokage.

Feeling someone touch her shoulder Sakura’s mind slipped from her thoughts on the mission. Turning to face Ino her eyes widened. She had of course invited everyone, but for Ino to show was a surprise.

“Sakura, will you be alright? We are…were best friends so I know there is something else you are leaving out about your mission. I won’t try and talk you into telling me what it is but come back to Konohagakure safe.”

Sakura weakly smiled in response and gave Ino a quick hug. Watching Ino walk away Sakura’s eyes moistened. Was she that transparent that even Ino could tell she was worried about the mission?

“HEEEEEY!”

Sakura looked up at drunken Naruto who was currently swaying on a table that had been placed in front of the Ramen shop.

“EVERYONE LET’S DANCE! PUT ON THE MUSIC!”

Grabbing the nearest person to him, which unfortunately for Hinata was her, Naruto began dancing to nonexistent music.

Grabbing a sake bottle near her Sakura downed it and within minutes had a cheeky grin on her face. How had she not heard the music earlier? Inner Sakura cheered inside her as Sakura began dancing, Show them what your mama gave you!

Over the years she had abandoned her old red outfit and adorned herself with more casual wear. She wore a loose white t-shirt with tight black pants and her normal sandals. Her hair was still the same length it had been during the Chūnin Exam but her headband had been placed elsewhere. It was now wrapped securely around the outside of her pant thigh. To her, even if it was meaningless, there should still be a sense of fashion in how you wore your band. As Sakura finished eating some umeboshi (pickled Ume fruits) she stood from the table stretching.

This morning was not by any means pleasant for the hung-over Sakura. Grabbing her sack off the counter and glancing back for one last look at her quiet house Sakura shut the door. Her parents had been dead for a few years now so Sakura had no one but her house to say bye to.

It was so early in the morning that the birds were not up chirping. Something Sakura was thankful for because the damned things made her want to shoot something. How could you be so happy that early in the morning?

Trudging into the forest Sakura stopped. It was time to run from this moment on. It would be a one week trip, normally if Sakura would have run the whole way there maybe it would be four days but she planned on making it as comfortable as she could. A girl has needs and lucky for Sakura she had no qualms about going against them.

Strapping the bag, which consisted of her personal belongings and a small amount of food, to her back Sakura leapt onto the nearest tree branch. Catching her balance and putting a stabilized amount of chakra into her feet she began quickly jumping from branch to branch heading forward.

“WHY is it so HOT?” Sakura made sure to emphasize the words ‘why’ and ‘hot’ with a whine at the end. Of course no one was there to respond but talking felt good even when it happened to be with your self.

It was now the 4th day of her expedition and she had entered the Country of Wind awhile ago. There were no check points for entering so she didn’t bother getting out her official papers which narrated her business and was signed by the Hokage with an official stamp.

She was getting nearer to Suna now so the sandstorms were becoming more frequent, that was fine with her because she had her handy dandy cloak which she had packed for the trip. Too bad she didn’t put it on at the start of entering the Wind Country because she had rashes with a few cuts scattered on top of her arms and face now. What a presentable impression she would make on the people of Suna especially with the sunburn that had her face peeling two times over. She was positively overflowing and oozing with sex appeal.

“You know for a possibility of war they sure are meager on ninjas…” Sakura dragged herself over another dune of sand before collapsing for a rest.

Maybe I should have trained a bit more for this journey…I can barely make it over this damn mountain of sand…Of course being a mountain of sand was an overstatement, it was more of a hill.

Slugging down some water she sighed in contentment. The cool water running down her parched throat felt delicious. She put away the canteen before she drank it all, three more days with no water never called for cheerfulness. Lifting some of the sand on the ground she had been sitting upon, Sakura compared it to satin…No satin didn’t do it justice. It was much smoother. Wait, someone is watching-…

“What are you doing on Suna territory?”

She felt the rough edge of a blade meet her throat, feeling a sense of humiliation overwhelm her she calmly reached for her papers. Reaching for the papers must have made the ninja suspicious because he swiftly cut her throat before she made it halfway to her pocket.

Smelling the strong iron scent, as it began running in rivulets down her neck, made Sakura’s eyes widen. Her own blood…it was so warm. How could I...have been...so stupid? Sakura’s eyes fluttered shut as she fell into a numbing void of murkiness.

Story Notes:

1. So basically Sakura will be going to Suna town for purposes a little unclear so far. I tried to establish that:

2. She will be going for medic ninja purposes (with PRECISION of the Cobra).

3. Sakura is under the Kazekage’s care.

4. The 2nd doesn’t necessarily mean she will be safe just that she will be given food, shelter, and all that necessity crap as he sees fit. Of course Tsunade trusted him enough to take care of Sakura as he would his own…That could be a problem based on his loveless life though which includes: love, love, and oh yeah!...love.

5. As for her newly adorned outfit? Umm…I’ll think something catchy next time. BUT REALLY sometimes I wish no one wore clothes…

6. Random drunk scene in beginning? Hee-hee…Its something I have wanted to do for awhile…PLUS starting off with a light note is better than a…dark note?

7. Of course she didn’t die! How the hell would I continue with the story? And before you ask…Yes it was just to leave us on a sort of cliffhanger note but it was a pretty good cliffhanger huh? You know you want to give me props…

8. You will click the review button for either: criticism or spoiling the shit out of me with compliments OR both. XD