Hello! This fic has been rewritten, again. The plot has changed a lot, but have fun reading anyway. Rookie Nine is/turning fifteen in this fic. And Sakura will be calling Sasuke without any suffixes, for a reason.

Reviews/Comments/Ideas/Critiques greatly appreciated. :3

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi

'Blah' - Talking
"Blah" - Thinking
Blah - Scene Change

First Love

Chapter One: A Little Something


Hokage's office

'Well, I gather you here today to talk about the Spring Festival.' Tsunade started, looking at the group of Chuunins and Jounins assembled in front of her. 'But before we begin, there's another matter we must discuss.

'It's been around three years since Orochimaru's failed attempt to destroy Konoha. He changed his body soon after that. However, since he has to change body every three years, this year... it is possible that he'll come after Sasuke again. If he doesn't come personally, he could send spies like Kabuto here.'

'Do you think that a spy or someone would sneak into the festival, Hokage-sama?'

'It's not impossible.' Tsunade answered. 'Anbu have reported seeing foreign ninja around the border of the village. So I need you to be alert during that time. I have already sent Anbu squads to investigate. Your job will not only be supervision, but also to look out for suspicious individuals. At times like this, the village is more prone to be attacked. We can't afford to have the villagers involved.'

'Tsunade-sama, I heard that Jiraiya-sama had been searching information on Orochimaru.' One of the Jounin asked.

'You heard right, but he hasn't found much though...' The Hokage replied dryly.

'So what are the chances that he'll strike this time, if not during the festival, but this year...?'

Tsunade was silent for a moment before replying. 'I cannot be sure. Orochimaru is too unpredictable, but... aside from trying to find a new body I don't think he'll try to destroy Konoha. It's too soon; he needs to recover his army. However, we must be precautious all the same.'

Every shinobi nodded, somehow feeling the responsibility settle on their shoulders.

'Alright, I'm expecting you to do a good job. Now, about the festival...'

'Sasuke, are you listening?!' Naruto complained. Sakura turned around to see Naruto bugging Sasuke, who looked almost lost in thoughts, and couldn't help but roll her eyes. So Naruto still hasn't given up trying to make Sasuke say something besides the usual 'Hn.', 'Shut up', insults or something along those lines.

Nowadays, she often trained with, or rather, watched over Sasuke and Naruto whenever Tsunade was busy with her paperwork or too drunk to recognize her. "Just like the old days..." Sakura thought. Around a year ago, Naruto and a group of Anbu retrieved Sasuke from Orochimaru. After Naruto beating some sense into him, and five to six months of brooding, it seemed his urges to kill had slowly decreased. Although still quiet and somewhat anti-social, Sakura felt that he had became less cold and his attitudes towards things were improving, even if just slightly.

'So anyway, as I was saying, chicken flavoured ramen are the absolute BEST! You really should try it sometimes. Anyway- hey… are you even listening?!'

'Huh, did you say something?'

Naruto fell over. 'Ahh, you must be Kakashi-sensei in disguise!' he confronted, pointing an accusing finger at Sasuke, who completely ignored his confrontation.

'Naruto, enough already, Sasuke doesn't feel like talking to you, so leave him alone. Honestly, I really don't want to hear you talking about your favourite ramen flavour, seeing that you talk about at least three times everyday!' Sakura scolded.

Naruto shrugged and gave his optimistic grin. 'Okay, anything you say Sakura-chan! Hooray! Ichiraku's here I come!'

"Doesn't his enthusiasm ever run out?" the other two wondered with a sigh as they made their way to Ichiraku's.

'Welcome! May I take your order?' Ayame asked.

'Yes please; two chicken ramen and one seafood ramen and one pork ramen for me. Thank you!' Naruto shouted out his usual order all in one breath.

Ayame nodded and she turned to Sasuke and Sakura. 'What would you like?'

'One beef ramen please.' Sakura said.

'Same with me.' Sasuke said.

'Alright, please wait for a while.'

After about three minutes, the ramen they ordered were served. Naruto began on his ramen right away. Sasuke finished first and placed his chopsticks on top of the empty bowl. With his left hand supporting under his chin, he sat there thinking, unaware that his eyes indirectly followed to his right, in the general direction of his female companion. Sakura, once she finished her bowl and looked up, saw his gaze and blinked in surprise. With a second glance, Sasuke didn't seem to be actually looking at her.

'Something wrong, Sasuke?'

Sasuke's eyes darted to his right, and shook his head. 'Just thinking.'

Sakura nodded. Somehow she felt... relieved that Sasuke wasn't looking at her. Not giving it anymore afterthoughts, she let the matter rest.

After Sakura returned home, her mother left her a huge pile of laundry to do. Because her room was the closest to the backyard, her mother had decided to dump it all on her bed. The kunoichi sighed, she was looking forward to having a siesta, but now that can wait. In her room, Sakura folded the laundry while humming to lighten the boring task.

After she finished she sat down on her bed and looked across to the table and there stood the photo frame that contained the photo of her team; Kakashi-sensei ruffling Naruto and Sasuke's hair, and her in the middle, smiling like there are no worries in the world. She sighed, wishing it would be as easy as that. Sometimes she still envied her twelve-year-old self, so talkative, so carefree and crush-free...

She diverted her gaze from the photo to the flyer next to the photo frame. She's been thinking about it ever since she found it in her mailbox a few days ago. She took the flyer and read it again for the fifth time, her eyes going over two particular sentences.

Guys and girls, this is the perfect chance to get together with your dream date. Besides, what could be more romantic than to spend a night with them under the night sky in this enchanting and wonderful place, where magic is bound to happen?

'15th of May... That's about two weeks away.' Sakura placed the flyer back onto the table and sat back down on the edge of her bed, her mind debating on whether to ask, or give up the false hope.

'This could be my chance.' she said to herself. 'If only I had the courage to ask.'

Neji… he was her first crush and still is. She started liking him about half a year after she became a Genin. She has heard of his reputation of being last year's number one rookie and very good-looking. Although she hasn't actually seen him, he fascinated her.

Her first encounter with him was when she and Ino were eating lunch one day and he walked past by ignoring a pack of fan girls trailing behind. She remembered commenting on his good looks and asking Ino who he is. When Ino answered 'that's Hyuuga Neji' she remembered her eyes widen and a dreamy smile took place.

'Should I ask him...' She wondered aloud. "Probably not, since he has so many fangirls already."

Fangirl.

Sakura scoffed. She had long decided that she was not a fan girl; she really, really liked him... But Neji's probably not going to see it that way. And asking him will probably lead to her confessing her feelings. Sakura blushed slightly at that thought. The confession... how will she have the courage to tell him when she's almost afraid to meet his eyes?

Hinata and Kiba walked along the training grounds with Akamaru following behind, yapping happily. Everyone was amazed at how much the white dog had grown over these two years. The two have just finished training and are on their way back home.

'So... are we still training together tomorrow?' Hinata asked. She no longer stutters, but her personality remained timid.

'Yeah sure, no probs. You know, your moves are getting much sharper and your agility is getting better.' He complimented and she gave a small nod.

'Thank you Kiba-kun, but I still need improvement.'

'Don't worry, you're doing great. Oh, I have a mission with Shino in two days. We'll be back in 'bout a few days.' Kiba made a sour face. 'He is such a control-freak; and he always takes the thrill out of missions. It'll be so boring, just the two of us...'

'Kiba-kun, that's not very nice...' Hinata said reprovingly.

'But Hinata-chan, it's true! You know how he is; only saying what is necessary. You can't even have a relaxing conversation with him. I think I'm going to suffocate from the silence.'

Hinata, finding his childishness rather amusing, gave a soft chuckle. 'Stop acting immature Kiba-kun. We have been a team for two years; it won't be that bad.'

Kiba pouted. 'Well back then we had Hinata and Kurenai-sensei. This time it's just me and that bug-freak...'

'Don't worry, you'll be fine. Oh, I have to run; Father is expecting me to be home earlier today. See you tomorrow!' Hinata gave him a smile and waved goodbye.

For a while Kiba just stood staring at her figure disappearing into the distance, her smile imprinted in his mind. He sighed... Of course, she doesn't know it. No one does, probably except Akamaru.

He liked her. Really, really liked her. It started about one or two years ago, but that didn't matter. Every little thing she did was an addition to that squirmy, flattery feeling inside him. But fact remains that she still has a crush on Naruto. Not wanting to ruin their friendship, he has to keep it in. (Plus the fact that he's a bit scared... ahem.)

But for how long? Kiba didn't know. Maybe when he felt it's the right time... Maybe when he has the courage to tell her... Maybe... Well, today as usual, she left him feeling butterflies. And as usual, there was a little something more...

Good? Bad? Anything at all? Please review and let me know!!

--serenitatis417