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Sakura sat quietly in the shadows. A crescent moon hung in the crimson-tinged sky - blood would be spilt that night. She had gotten used to it, as much as one could get used to the sight of blood flowing from a lifeless body. Such was the life of a ninja, after all.

Kakashi was in a part of the bushes where the overhead canopy left an opening for the moonlight to shine through. He was reading again. Sakura didn't want to know. Another novel by Jiraiya, she mused. Looking at him, she decided that he was indeed a walking contradiction. Here he was, reading what looked suspiciously like ‘Quivering Thighs Paradise' and yet he'd knock Naruto out if the boy dared to peek into a female bathhouse; he did train with Jiraiya for some time. Not that Naruto was a boy anymore.

Speaking of the devil, or perhaps the demon fox, he was slouched against a tree, looking carefree as you please. He snored lightly in his sleep, breathing through his mouth with only the slightest hint of a drool near a corner of it. He used to be a lot worse, she thought, snoring like a constipated boar and drooling a river while he tossed and turned in his sleep. Sakura wondered if Hinata had anything to do with his improvement. The two had been going out for almost two months now. She'd had the amusement of helping Naruto pick out the monthly gifts for the girl. What do you mean girls don't like ramen for anniversaries?!?! We've eaten it together lots of times!! How about a new kunai-OW!!! Naruto ended up giving her handpicked flowers for the first, as he had managed to go bankrupt with all his ramen expenditures, and crystal earrings to match her near-translucent eyes for the next. He in turn was wearing a beaded bracelet with the kanji of protection carved into the beads. Naruto chuckled in his sleep.

Sakura smiled and rolled her eyes. Suddenly, she found that they were fixed on the sleeping form of Sasuke. He lay just outside the perimeter of the deep shadows of the forest, hands behind his head and looking as if he'd jump to action at the slightest provocation. She didn't think she'd seen him truly relaxed in quite a while, and she felt her chest tighten at the thought.

Sakura wondered what he was dreaming of.

~*~

Sasuke flitted through the trees.  The almost inaudible noise he made was masked by the soft sigh of the winds; there was an eastern breeze.  His group had been separated by the ambush of vagabond ninjas, and outnumbered as they were, it was either regroup or die.

He had taken out a near dozen during the attack.  Naruto wasn't far behind on his count, taking out an even troupe.  Sakura was between them, occupied with watching the boys' backs while regulating chakra as she sent out shadow replications to scout their surroundings.  Judging from the few that made it back to her, it looked bad.

"We're completely surrounded," Sakura said, tensing as she caught a kunai headed for Naruto's neck.

"What are you trying to say?!  I'm not running from anyone!  We can take these guys, come on!!" Naruto yelled as he roundhouse-kicked a nearby Jounin.

"Baka," growled Sasuke, his voice low and quiet.  He set several of the enemy on fire with breath of his Katon fire jutsu.  "A couple dozen of these guys, maybe.  But we're up against a whole clan here.  This isn't a suicide mission."

"We've got to regroup with Kakashi-sensei," huffed Sakura, throwing ninja stars at incoming attackers.  "This scouting mission is heading to our graves.  We've seen enough to report back to camp, it's time to go.  Brace yourselves.  I'm casting an illusionary ninjutsu."

A light mist befell the forest that was the adversary's makeshift camp.  Cherry blossoms rained down from the heavens in a torrent, blocking all view for a short moment.  Then, they were gone, pink petals lying innocently where they had stood before.

Sasuke had looked around him on a tall tree's branch, finding nothing.  "Kuso," he breathed.  One of them must have caught the technique in time to cast a misdirection ninjutsu.  Now we're all split up.  This isn't good, he thought.  Suddenly, there was an angry - and familiar - yell, and his blood seemed to seize in his veins.  He flung himself in the direction of the noise, barely thinking as he flew through the trees.

Stopping on a branch hidden in the shadows, Sasuke came to a clearing and looked on in apprehension.  One of the insurgent ninjas had Sakura by the neck, his fingers mere centimetres from a couple of her fatal pressure points.  Her eyes flickered wildly to him, then to the depths of the forest, wordlessly commanding him to leave and save himself.  He fought the overwhelming urge to scoff and contented himself with scowling indignantly instead.

Naruto continued with his tirade.  "Let her go, you fat old hog!  Get your greasy, stinky hands off her!  I can smell them from here!  Geez, you'll kill her by suffocation!  What do you do in your spare time, bathe with the pigs?!!"  In the meantime, several of Naruto's replications made their way around the clearing to where the Jounin's back was turned.

The masked ninja only laughed.  It was a low, sinister laugh that crescendoed into a disgusting guffaw.  "You think you're still in candyland, kid?  I'm telling you, you're playing with the big, nasty boys now."

"It's ramenland, actually," Naruto growled, "and I've seen some nasty things in my time.  You've gone the extra mile."  He went into his fighting stance.  "Don't underestimate us!"

Sasuke had a sudden, unnerving chill go down his spine, and he looked around to see what had caused it.  Once again they were surrounded.  It was inevitable, what with the racket Naruto was causing.  Of course, he knew it was to inform Kakashi-sensei of their location, no matter how huge a gamble it was.  For all they knew, their teacher could be lying unconscious somewhere, or worse.

"Sharingan!" he whispered fiercely, getting ready to attack.  Only, his limbs seemed to go numb as he foresaw the enemy's tactic.  "No," he uttered hopelessly.  Brokenly.  His eyes caught Sakura's, and she understood.

Go!   P lease.  Sasuke...

No.  No, I've never even had the chance to tell you...

The masked ninja gave a maniacal grin.  "Seen some nasty things, have you?  Well then," he chuckled, face twisting in an ugly grimace, "watch this."

He shoved Sakura into the centre of the clearing, twirling her, as was his idea of a sick joke.  Kunais flew from every direction, converging on her body as she spun - as if in a dance - and sank slowly, wordlessly, to the stained ground.

Sasuke didn't hear the anguished yells of his comrade, nor did he feel as kunais cut deep into his flesh as well.  He saw only her motionless body, her face that was turned towards him, and her eyes that held his gaze even as the life flowed out from them.

I've known for a while.  And I was happy.  She smiled.

It was his turn to fall.

~*~

Sasuke jerked awake from sleep.  He gasped for air and looked frantically about him.  His companions were all eyeing him with concern.

"Aaw, did Sasuke have a nightmare?" cooed Naruto.  "It's okay to cry, you know.  Just let it all out."

Sakura hit the blond on the head.  Sasuke stood and dusted himself off, whacking the other boy on the head as well when he passed by.

Kakashi put his book into a pocket and stood up quietly.  "It's time to make our move.  We're already late" he smiled, eyelids curving into merry little arches.  "And be quiet, Naruto," shushing they boy's whines.

"Everyone's always against me," Naruto muttered, rubbing his head as he walked after their sensei.

Sakura walked alongside Sasuke and asked softly, "are you okay?"

"Yeah."  He looked up to meet her gaze.  "Just...stay close."

She blinked, confused for a moment, but let it pass.  "Sure."

An eastern wind blew gently, and Sasuke smiled.