A Chance Encounter

This story is dedicated to xXxFallenSakuraxXx who asked if I would write a new story with the pairing of Sakura and Hayate. : ) Here you go dear; I hope you enjoy it.

It was obvious what she had to do; when she saw him in trouble the only logical thing to do was save him. Now that she has, however, it has changed quite a few things in Konoha… along with her love life.

Edited: February 2nd, 2016

I do not own Naruto

Sakura hid quietly within the walls of the library. The library had closed long ago, but Sakura had stayed quiet and hidden herself well enough behind large stacks of books to ensure she would not be found. She had a lot of studying she still had to do.

She was currently reading her fifth medical book. A book, which taught one to use medical jutsu. After tying with Ino only two days earlier during the Chuunin exams, Sakura had realized that she needed to become stronger, not only for herself, but also for her team.

Sakura already knew asking Kakashi to help her become stronger wouldn't work; he was far too interested in Sasuke and Naruto to give her the time of day. Sakura had to do this all on her own, and being the paper ninja she was, books were the only idea she had to increase her knowledge and abilities.

Sighing deeply, the pink haired girl brushed her newly short hair out of her eyes as she continued to read. She definitely liked the shorter length and didn't even care what Sasuke thought of it.

When Sakura saw Sasuke lose control in the Forest of Death, she had been afraid; it was raw unadulterated fear, and Sakura had never felt it before. The psychotic maniac that her team had met in the Forest of Death, Orochimaru, didn't scare her as much as Sasuke did… Sakura was so afraid of Sasuke… she didn't even know if she loved him anymore.

The boy she had supposedly loved since adolescence… It seemed like a naïve dream to her now. Sasuke would never be interested in her, and with how scary his aura had become, she wasn't sure he was the right person to be her prince charming anyways.

Sighing again, Sakura's eyes remained transfixed on the book before her. She needed to focus. She had decided that medical ninjutsu would be something she could learn that would go along with her strengths; one needed great chakra control to perform medical ninjutsu. This might be the one up on the boys that she needed. The one way she could actually help her team.

Scanning the book, Sakura was about to turn a page on the book when she heard a noise outside the library. She knew ninja regularly made rounds around the village to make sure everything was okay, but it sounded like the group outside the window were having a tense conversation.

Ignoring her books to further her curiosity, Sakura stood from her chair. She moved slowly to the window located beside her chair and looked out with interest.

Outside the window was her proctor for the third part of the Chuunin exams, Hayate, she was able to remember easily. He appeared to be panting heavily; the Suna genin's Sensei stood before him with a sword in his hand.

Sakura's eyes widened slightly at the scene before her. Was the Suna ninja attacking Hayate? But Sand and Konoha had an alliance… What was the man thinking? This couldn't just be a spar either, especially not with the look on the Suna nin's face, nor the look on Hayate's face… she had to think of a way to get him out of there.

The Suna nin smirked before slicing a deep wound against Hayate's chest. Hayate coughed blood as he fell backward and landed on the ground, appearing to be unconscious.

"We need to finish him quickly," a voice, Sakura recognized, stated. Sakura's eyes widened even more as Kabuto appeared from deep within the shadows. What was going on? "We wouldn't want anyone else to find out about our invasion, or Suna and Sound's alliance."

Sakura's breath hitched as she watched Kabuto walk closer to the unconscious Hayate. She had to do something… she needed to be strong; she couldn't just let someone die in front of her, she refused to be weak any longer!

She couldn't attack them, that wouldn't do anything to help anyone. Her taijutsu was subpar at best, and there was no way she could catch one of them, let alone two of them off guard. She decided to do the only thing she could think of doing in that moment.

Sakura let out a loud scream and watched Kabuto stop in his tracks. His eyes quickly darted to the window Sakura was staring out of, and Sakura watched his eyes narrow. Sakura let out another scream, and soon several lights within the area began to turn on.

Kabuto's eyes widened, as did the Suna nin's. Sakura knew Anbu would be there within a few short moments; the other two nin must have also known, because they quickly began sprinting away from the scene.

Sakura didn't wait for the Anbu to show up though, and followed her instinct of jumping out of the library window and racing toward Hayate. She knew he was losing way too much blood way too quickly. Kneeling down beside him, Sakura ripped apart the shirt he was wearing and pressed her hands on the wound to try to slow down the blood loss.

It wasn't much, and she knew it wouldn't stop the bleeding, but she hoped it would slow it down at least. The bleeding didn't slow, though, and Sakura was forced to try something she wasn't sure she was ready to do yet.

She quickly did a few hand signs that she had memorized, and concentrated on the chakra within her body as she tried to draw it to her hands. She had read the mystic palm technique in many of her books, and she barely even acknowledged the emerald color of the chakra when she felt it flowing warmly in her hands.

Placing her hands on his chest, Sakura closed her eyes as she pushed chakra through her hands into his body. Keeping her eyes closed tightly, Sakura began to slowly weave her chakra through the deep gash on Hayate's chest.

Even with her eyes closed, it was almost like Sakura was able to see everything through the chakra in her hands. She was able to see the deep gash the Suna Shinobi's slash had left on Hayate's lung, and she knew what she had to do.

She pushed as much chakra as she could into the injury, and tried to count the seconds until someone who was more qualified could take over. She was a Genin; she shouldn't be the one trying to save this man's life.

The process of healing was taking a lot more out of her than Sakura had anticipated, and she was growing tired quickly. She used every ounce of chakra she had, and when she had no more, Sakura felt a tingling sensation blossom over her. She didn't know what this feeling was, but she kept pushing on, using the warmth to make Hayate's entire chest glow emerald.

If no one was coming, then she was forced to do what she could to heal the man. No one should die within their home village like that, no one.

Hayate quickly began coughing, as Sakura pushed the last bit of strength she had into his system. She didn't know if Anbu would be coming at all, but she had no more strength left. She had just hoped she had done enough to save his life. Sighing deeply, Sakura fell against the older male's chest.

As she did, Hayate's eyes began to slowly open. He grunted slightly as the pink haired girl collided with his chest, but she really wasn't that heavy. Blinking his eyes quickly, Hayate soon began to cough a deep, raspy cough, and slowly tilted his head to the side as he coughed out a dark black liquid.

"Is that…" Hayate's eyes widened as he wiped his mouth with his hand and grimaced seeing the black liquid on his hand. It looked like poison, or toxin. "What-"

"What happened here?" a team of Anbu appeared before Hayate. Hayate's head was still a bit hazy, and he couldn't even begin to comprehend that question. What was happening here, indeed?

"I don't think that's important right now," another member from the Anbu team spoke quickly. "It is obvious two shinobi are in need of medical attention."

Hayate began to fade in and out of consciousness. The last thing he was able to comprehend before he completely faded was the sight of a semi-recognizable pink haired girl being pulled away from his chest… Where had he seen her before?

XxxX

Hayate woke with a start. He practically lurched from his bed, his hand clenched tightly against the hospital gown covering his chest. His eyes darted slowly around the hospital room, and stopped when he saw the Hokage standing in front of him.

"Hokage-sama," Hayate bowed his head to the man before him.

"There is no need for that here, Hayate," the Hokage smiled kindly. "I was wondering if you could tell me what happened last night."

"It was hazy before, but I believe I can remember most of it now," Hayate stated with a nod. "I will need you to fill me in on what happened after I passed out though… assuming you know."

Hiruzen smiled again and nodded. "Sakura has just awoken also," Hiruzen stated while he sat in a chair beside Hayate's bed. "Amusing girl, she is. She had actually snuck into the library to get some late night studying in; lucky for you she did."

Hayate nodded slowly. "I am still kind of unaware as to when she entered the picture," Hayate stated, "But this is what happened. I was making my nightly rounds throughout Konoha, and I heard voices. My chakra was already concealed, so I thought it was safe to get closer.

"I immediately noticed Kabuto, the one who tried to attack Sasuke-san yesterday, and also the Suna nin, Baki."

"Go on," The Hokage nodded quickly. This news was not good; it appeared there was going to be a war going on within Konoha, and that war would start very soon.

"They were discussing plans to invade the village during the final part of the Chuunin exams," Hayate stated with a frown. "I tried to sneak away to come and tell you, but it appeared Kabuto and Baki were quite aware of my presence.

"Baki attacked me," Hayate stated while closing his eyes. With a sigh, he opened them and stared straight into the Hokage's. "I can't remember anything after that."

"Sakura heard the commotion," Hiruzen stated with a strained smile. "She saw you fall unconscious and figured she had to do something. She screamed, and I guess it scared away both Baki and Kabuto. After that she raced out to try and help. She was somehow able to patch up your wounds well enough for you to be alive right now… don't even ask me how she was able to.

"Genin are not supposed to have that precise of chakra control," Hiruzen stated with an affectionate smile and a slight shake of his head. "The girl healed the wound Baki had caused to your chest… She was also able to loosen up the liquid that has been stuck in your lungs for this past year… You coughed most of it out before you got to the hospital, but the medics here were able to take care of the rest."

"But I had been to many medic-nin and none of them could cure me," Hayate stated with slightly wide eyes. That must have been what the black liquid was, he vaguely remembered now.

He woke up only to find the pink haired girl, Sakura, unconscious on his chest. He wasn't aware she had anything to do with healing him. "How was she able to-?"

"I'm not sure," The Hokage stated as he stood; his expression was much more somber now that the discussion was rapidly coming to a close. "I believe a thanks should be in order to her though, don't you? You should get on that as I talk with my Anbu teams; we will keep the knowledge of the invasion a secret, for now."

"Hai, Hokage-sama," Hayate stated as he bowed his head lightly as the Hokage left the room.

Hayate sighed once he was left alone; it was obvious the pink haired girl, Sakura, had saved his life, and Hayate was deeply indebted to her for that. He needed to find a suitable way to thank her; it was obvious just a simple thank you wouldn't be enough.

Hayate sighed again, and brushed his long-tangled brown hair away from his eyes. He was really never that good at saying thank you; he supposed he had Genma to thank for that, but then he really didn't…

Genma was an asshole, but Hayate only knew that all too well because the senbon wielder was his best friend. Chuckling lightly to himself, he silently wondered when his twin-like best friend would make an appearance.

Without even another second going by, Genma walked into his room nonchalantly. Speak of the devil. "So how's the poor, little guy doing in here, huh?"

Hayate groaned at the entrance of his brunette haired friend. "I'm fine," Hayate stated while slightly massaging his forehead with his hand; whenever he had to deal with Genma when he was in a mood like this Hayate seemed to get a headache... He was sure it wasn't a coincidence.

"That's good to hear," Genma nodded as he sat down in a chair next to Hayate's bed. "I think I'd cry if you actually did die."

"I didn't know you cared so much," Hayate stated in a mock tone of flattery. "Why are you really here, Genma?"

Genma sighed, and used his tongue to sweep around the senbon needle that seemed to permanently reside in his mouth. "Yugao was pretty upset," Genma commented. "She thinks this is all her fault."

Hayate stiffened slightly at the mention of the purple haired woman. "Well it kind of is…" Hayate muttered softly. "I don't think I would have been so reckless if she hadn't…"

"If she hadn't broken up with you," Genma stated with a glare and a smack to his shoulder. Hayate flinched at the hit, and looked back up to Genma's angry eyes. "I understand it hurts, bud, I really do, but you went into a dangerous situation with no back up! You're lucky that Genin was there or your ass would be-"

"I'd be dead," Hayate stated effectively cutting Genma off; he knew what would have happened if he hadn't been healed. "But you already knew I was going to die if my illness didn't clear up anyways."

"I chose to ignore that fact," Genma stated with a stressed sigh. "I still do in fact."

"There's no need to anymore," Hayate stated while watching his friend closely. "While Sakura was healing my gash wound, she also loosened up the liquid in my lungs. I no longer have that illness... I can finally breathe."

"She what?" Genma asked as his mouth appeared to drop open. "She's only a Genin!"

"I am aware of that," Hayate stated with a slight smirk. "I guess luck was just on my side."

"You're a special Jounin, and you say it was luck that kept you alive?" Genma commented with a slight whistle, his easy-going nature easily returning as the topic shifted to something other than his suicidal tendencies. "You better thank that girl."

"I'm trying to figure out how to do that," Hayate sighed as he stood from his bed. Stretching slightly he walked over to the mirror in his room. He pulled down his gown slightly, and was impressed to find only a slight scar on his chest. "Maybe I could help train her for the exams next year… I think her sensei was Kakashi, but he should be busy with her other teammates as they have both passed on to the next round of the Exams."

Genma nodded his head enthusiastically while he sat behind his friend. "That could work!" Genma stated. "I'm so proud you came up with that all by yourself!"

"Just shut up," Hayate stated as he rubbed his forehead slightly again. "You're giving me a headache."

"How old is this girl?" Genma asked nonchalantly; seemingly out of the blue. Hayate turned to raise a curious eyebrow at his brunette friend's question.

"I'm not sure, maybe twelve, thirteen," Hayate stated while trying to remember. "Why?"

"You know you're only twenty yourself," Genma stated with a knowing smirk. "That's only seven years difference."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Hayate asked with slight alarm as he appeared in front of Genma. He couldn't be suggesting what Hayate thought he was suggesting, could he?

"I dunno," Genma stated while trying to cover his smirk. "It just seems rather amusing that a beautiful young girl would come and save your life… it's just your luck, you know."

Hayate sighed; apparently, he could. "Don't you try and go anywhere with this," Hayate stated with a frown. "I don't know this girl, and that is exactly what she is, a girl. At this point in time I don't even want a woman, much less a girl in my life that way…

"And thirteen is a little young to call a girl beautiful, Genma" Hayate said while giving Genma a pointed look. "Don't you think?"

"That's just an afterthought," Genma stated while waving his hand nonchalantly in the air. "I could get you two together; love knows no bounds, ya know."

"Stop while you're ahead," Hayate commented while sitting back down on his bed. "I decided on helping her train, that's it. There's no way I want anything else to happen between the two of us."

"Uh huh," Genma nodded with a smirk.

"Promise me you won't do anything," Hayate stated while looking at the male in front of him.

"Scouts honor," Genma mocked saluted at Hayate before standing. "Well bud, it seems I better take my leave… I have other things I need to be doing."

"Genma," Hayate stated with a warning tone. Hayate knew his friend too well, because he was sure Genma was going to end up doing something incredibly stupid.

Genma smirked at the other brunette before leaving the room quickly. Hayate sighed wearily. "Just my luck indeed."