Sakura took her time as she examined each flower. She just couldn't decide which one to pick. All of the flowers looked so beautiful. Roses, Lilies, Dandelions, all had a certain characteristics which made them all beautiful. Which one should I choose? Sakura thought as she struggled to pick one. I'm going to be late at this rate! Hurry up, Sakura!

"Hurry up, Sakura!" A girl yelled as she walked over to the pink-haired girl. "You're making us late!" A blond-haired girl with dark blue eyes quickly took off her apron.

"Don't rush me Ino!" She growled. "It's not my fault! I don't know which one he might like!" She turned her attention to the flowers again.

"Well you better hurry up!" Ino pouted as she placed her hands on her hips.

Well I definitely won't get a single rose. That's the flower of love and I don't… like him like that. At least… She clinched her fist. I don't think I am. "That's it!" She growled. She snatched a yellow daffodil from the black bucket. "I'll bring him a single daffodil then." Please bloom again…

"Finally you picked one!" Ino said as she and Sakura walked along the busy streets of Konohagakure. "I thought we were gonna be in there forever!"

"Well sorry a girl has to take time to pick a flower!" Sakura said sarcastically. Sakura held the flower to her chest as she looked around the village. It's been a while since she's seen all of these people. Ever since the Chunin exam, a lot of stuff has happened. The villagers look older and the roads look emptier. How long has it been since she and her friends had… fun?

"Sakura… Sakura!" Sakura broke out of her daze and turned to the curious 12 year old.

"Hey! Stop ignoring me!"

"So-sorry."

"Pay attention Sakura. You almost ran into someone!"

A few minutes have past since Sakura and Ino stopped talking. They were heading towards the spot where they and their other friends agreed to meet. Sakura's heart started to beat slower as they almost reached their destination. Time seems to go slow in the leaf village. They finally reached their destination. It was a small valley by the ninja academy. They sat under a big tree and waited for the rest to come. A few minutes later Neji and Tenten showed up. As usual, Neji didn't show any signs of happiness or enjoyment. Tenten on the other hand was dressed up very nicely for the occasion. Looked pretty much the same as when she was watching Neji and Naruto fight at the Chunin exam. Sakura had the same outfit on, but this time it was orange and Ino's was sky blue. After that they waited for what seemed like hours, but it was only about 45 minutes, for one final person.

"Sorry I'm late!" A voice called from below the hill. It was the knuckle headed ninja. "Sorry, my Raman took forever to cook so…"

"Naruto you idiot!" Sakura yelled as she punched him right in the face.

"Ow!"

That's what you get for running so damn late! Cha! You deserve it! Inner Sakura surfaces once again!

"Because of you, we're running 30 minutes behind schedule!"

"Sorry…"

How could that imbecile beat me!? Neji thought as he started down the hill. "Hurry up."

"Neji wait for me!" Tenten gasped as she trailed after him.

The gang hurried to the hospital were their last destination would be. The hospital looked so depressing on the inside. I bet they always painted it white so it wouldn't seem so bad. To show hope to their patients. Sakura and Ino went to the visitor counter as Tenten, Neji, and Naruto waited. "Okay, right this way." A nurse said as she started towards the room. "He's almost fully recovered enough to check out of the hospital."

"So, is he able to hang out with us today, ma'am?"

"If he doesn't do anything extreme, he should be fine." The nurse stopped in front of a patient's room and slowly opened the door. "Lee, you have some visitors here to see you." Everyone walked in. A young boy watched the Cherry Blossoms fall from the view from his window. It was like he was caught in a trance. He didn't seem to hear the nurse say his name. The nurse closed the door behind her as everyone gathered around his bed.

"Uh, Lee?" Sakura whispered. Rock Lee slowly moved his gaze from the cherry blossoms to his guest. "Hey, Lee."

Rock Lee was surprised everyone came to visit him in a group, "W-what are you guys doing here?"

"We came to visit you, duh!" Ino explained as she sat on the edge of his bed.

"Yo! What's up Bushy Brows!" Naruto greeted as he moved to the front of the room.

"Wow! Even Naruto's here." Lee looked up to see Tenten and Neji standing on the other side of the room. Lee was surprised to see them there, especially Neji. Tears started to form in his round eyes, "Neji, I can't believe you came to visit me!"

He gasped, "You have it all wrong. I came to visit you as a teammate, not a friend." I'm still happy though… that you came. Rock Lee thought as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

"So, what are you guys here for?" Rock Lee asked, hoping for more good news.

"Well, we were hoping," Sakura started. "If you would be able to come hang out with us today. You know, as friends."

Oh my gosh! It's Sakura! Could this be her asking me out on a date!?

"And we'll be there too! We're going to have so much fun!" Naruto yelled. "I'm totally pumped!"

Rock Lee dropped his head. The sky around him turned dark. I-it's not a date… it's not a date… it's not a date.

"So, uh, Lee? Are you up to it?" Sakura asked, disappointed.

"Um, sure! I would love to spend time with my friends!"

Sakura, Ino, Naruto, Neji, and Tenten all waited outside for Lee as he got ready. Sakura stared at the cherry blossoms as they continued to fall. Lately Sakura has been acting a little depressed. Maybe it was because Sasuke disappeared and hasn't been back for a few months.

A few minutes later, Rock Lee came out with his usual outfit. (But this time it's his outfit he has on in the 3rd movie. Go check it out!)

"Now let's have some fun! ♫" Ino shouted as she ran towards the stores. Sakura looked down at her hand-picked flower. She was waiting for the right time to give it to him. But she just couldn't find the time to give it to him. They walked around, which seemed like hours, to nearby restaurants and markets. Naruto kept begging them to go to a Raman shop, and practically dragged on the ground. So they decided to go to a restaurant that cooks everything.

While they walked in-, "Hey Ino!" Someone called as they all spun around.

"It's Shikamaru!" Sakura gasped as Ino, Sakura, and Naruto walked over to his table. Choji was also sitting at the table. "What are you doing here?"

"Well if it were my choice, I wouldn't even be here." He slumped in his seat.

"Just tell us what you're doing here!" Ino shouted.

"Well Choji here forced me to come eat barbeque with him."

"Yeah! This is the best!" Choji cheered as he licked the remaining barbeque sauce from his fingers.

"So, what are you guess doing here?" Shikamaru asked.

"Well," Sakura pointed to the rest of the group, "We got Rock Lee out of the hospital so he could have some fun."

"What! You got Lee out of the hospital!" Shikamaru quickly turned his head towards the front counter where he saw Lee, Neji, and Tenten. "Okay… the gangs all here. Man this is such a drag!"

"So are you okay with us being here?"

"Just as long as you sit at the other side of the place. That Neji guy freaks me out!" He waved his hand towards the other end of the restaurant.

Ugh! Wimp! He should be scared of me not him! I'm the one who beat him! Naruto thought. "Uh, hello!? Did you forget about me? I'm the one who beat him!"

Shikamaru turned his head, "Please Naruto, you're no threat. You beat that guy outta luck."

"Oh yeah!? You want to see!? Let's fight!"

"Get outta my face!"

"Naruto knock it off!" Sakura yelled as she pulled him to a table, "You always like to make the loudest noise don't you!?"

All six ninjas got seated at a table. Sakura kept her gaze at her flower as everyone took their orders. Ino looked down at Sakura's flower. "Would you stop staring at that dumb thing and just give it to him?" Ino whispered. "You just keep drifting off into space whenever you stare at it."

"…"

"I bet you're too scared to give it to him. Cause you're in love with him!"

What?!

"Now that you're in love with Lee, I can have Sasuke all to myself, and not have your big forehead in the way of our love!"

"Nooo! I can give it to him anytime I want to! I'm not scared! And I am certainly not in love with him!" Sakura yelled as she burst from her chair. Everyone stared at her as the waitress jumped back in surprise. Sakura froze for a minute. "O-oh, is it my turn to order?" She asked, trying to break the silence. "Um, I-I'll have Miso." Damn it Ino! This is all your fault! Now everyone thinks I'm a freak!

"U-um okay. I'll have that out soon." The waitress said as she started to walk away. Sakura sighed as she sat back down. Oh man. This is a disaster! I don't even like Miso. Oh, why did I have to say Miso? A few minutes later a different waitress came out with their orders.

"Who ordered the Raman?" The waitress asked as she gripped on to the edges of the bowl.

"Me! Me! Definitely me!" Naruto yelled as he waved his hand.

"The water?"

"Right here ma'am." Tenten answered.

"Tenten you just got water?" Ino asked.

"Yeah. A girl like me needs to watch it. I just got to the perfect weight."

"Damn her." Ino growled. "Perfect girls and their attitudes."

"Miso?"

"Right here." Sakura grumbled as she raised her hand. And I'm on a diet.

"And you must have ordered the curry." The waitress said as she placed the bowl in front of Lee. "Enjoy your meals." She bowed as she walked away.

"Neji, you didn't get anything?" Sakura asked as she stuck her fork in her Miso.

"I don't need anything."

Sure. Sakura smelt something fowl. She turned towards Lee's food. "What the heck!? Rock Lee what did you get!?" Sakura yelled as she tried to protect her nose from the smell. Everyone turned their gaze towards the mess in his bowl.

"Th-there's a bone sticking out of it!" Naruto screamed.

"What's that on it?" Neji yelled.

"Rock Lee, what did you order?"

"It's curry. Can't you tell?" Lee said as he gazed upon his dinner.

"You should, uh, get your money back." Tenten suggested as she scooted her chair back.

"But it's beautiful! A real piece of art!"

It's a piece of something, but it ain't art. Ino thought.

"The day's almost over." Tenten replied as everyone walked back up to their meeting spot.

"I can't believe Rock Lee ate all of that curry." Naruto said. Sakura continued to stare at her flower. It started to get darker as they climbed up the hill. As it continued to get darker the gang made it all the way up the hill. The wind blew the cherry blossoms which seemed to have glowed in the dark. Fragments of newly grown cherry blossoms disappeared in the sky as they gracefully flew away.

"Wow! Look at that!" Sakura turned her gaze towards the tree. She smiled as she chose a nice place to stand.

"Let's watch this together one last time before we go." Sakura suggested. Neji sat on the other side of the tree trying to distance himself away from everyone else. Tenten was clinging to his arm. Naruto sat by himself right in front as Ino sat right behind him. Sakura and Lee sat a couple of feet away. Sakura gripped her flower tightly trying to gather her courage. Ugh! It shouldn't be this hard to give Lee one simple flower! It's not like I'm giving it to Sasuke. Sakura glanced at Lee who was passionately staring at the glowing cherry blossoms. Here goes… "Here," Sakura looked away as she gave Lee her flower. "I got this for you, but… I couldn't find the right time to give it to you." Great, now I can't even look at him!

Lee's face turned red as he slowly took possession of the flower. "T-thank you Sakura."

Sakura looked back at him, "Sure." Cherry blossoms continued to fall as one landed on Sakura's nose. Rock Lee laughed as he picked it up. Sakura's face turned bright red. Why am I so-so embarrassed? Am I really falling in love with him?

I-I love you…

Some touching last words…

Hi everyone! I finally finished my first Naruto fic. I'm so happy! And who knows, I might even make the story longer if you want me to. And remember, reviews motivate me. So tell me what you think I gotta go, my damn school teachers give us too much homework. Later!

-Tokio Hios Rosebud