3AM Ramblings

Volleyball

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. It's kinda sad that I don't own it.

A/N: Sorry for the late update. I was busy this entire week and had no time to work on it. Originally I was planning something angsty, but then realized I needed more time for that. So yeah.. enjoy :)

For Bree Renee

Teamwork is essential - it allows you to blame someone else.

– Anonymous

"Sorry, I'm late. I was losing my mind this morning. It took me a half hour to find it." Kakashi said as he rubbed his head sheepishly.

There was no usual indignant squawk of disapproval from Naruto or Sakura, not so much a typical "Hn" from Sasuke nor the occaisonal "Dickless" from Sai. Kakashi's eyes widened when he realized that Team 7, or rather, Team Kakashi and (occasionally) Yamato was uncharacteristically silent. Sasuke was sitting on a rock flashing his Uchiha Death Glare™ complete with his oh-so-fearsome Mangekyō Sharingan, causing a few unfortunate birds and trees to spontaneusly combust in a fiery inferno. Sakura, though no longer president of the Sasuke Fangirls United club ever since the Uchiha left the village, was uncharacteristically quiet. Kakashi was not met with the usual sight of her punching her training dummy, known to most people as Uzumaki Naruto, across Training Ground 3 or chiding him for eating too much ramen. She sat under the shade of an oak tree, picking at the grass around her, ripping it into pieces and tossing it aside. Naruto huffed, sitting far from the group with his back turned, clearly sulking.

"Maa, maa, what's wrong?"

Sakura looked up and smiled at the silver-haired ex-ANBU. The other members looked up, realizing the jounin's presence. Naruto puffed up his cheeks angrily before exclaiming, "That bastard! Sasuke-teme definitely has a pole up his ass!"

Sasuke smirked, for it was common knowledge that Uchihas never smiled, and said. "Hn, dobe. It wasn't my fault you couldn't beat me in a spar."

"Yeah, but you pushed me into the water! Friends don't push friends into the water! Not to mention best friends! Hmph! " Naruto was livid.

Kakashi watched as the small bickering that was common in the Team 7 dynamic turn into a full-out brawl between the two Chūnins and soon-to-be Jōnins wrestle on the ground, bringing up their strongest jutsus and causing craters. He laughed a little, remembering the times he had spent prying the two boys apart.

"Maa, stop it, my cute Genins. Since Sasuke came back, we're going to work on teamwork!" He eye-smiled, for it was hard to see under the mask.

"Genin? Kaka-sensei? Are going senile? We're all Chūnins now and Sai is practically ANBU" Naruto was confused.

"No, Naruto, I am not going senile…it's just that in my mind, you're all still the cute Genins"

"Hn. So you are going senile then." Sasuke looked smug, the Uchiha Smirk in place.

Kakashi didn't reply, only eye-smiled once more at his team.

"Oh…where was I? Ah, yes. Teamwork. Today we are playing volleyball. It helps build teamwork and keep you guys occupied enough so I can read my porn in peace" Kakashi said, giggling perversely at the next ultra-tempting book hidden away in his weapons pouch.

Naruto was super duper excited. Like, really super duper excited. He loved playing volleyball. Kakashi whipped out a spiked volleyball (their twisted, twisted version of volleyball) out of nowhere and tossed it onto volleyball court that just so happened to be there.

The blonde jinchuuriki bounded onto the field like a ball of spastic energy, ever so eager to play. Sakura and Sasuke gurdgingly took the other side while Sai stood outside, busy sketching whatever scenery he happened to find the most interesting at the moment. Kakashi stood a little bit off to the side, nose buried in his latest "literature", giggling like a madman on crack.

Picking up the spiked ball, Naruto contemplated on how he should serve the volleyball before realization dawned on him. Sakura-chan and Sasuke-teme is going to get a kick out of this, he snickered to himself mentally.

Forming the familiar handsigns for his signature technique, Naruto sprang into action as quick as a fox on its next meal. Five clones appeared, and began the jutsu that was reminiscent of his first Chūnin Exam.

"U!"

"ZU!"

"MA!"

"KI!"

"NARUTO RENDAN!"

There was suddenly a large flock of birds flying out of the clearing as Sakura was yelling, "NARUTO! THAT'S CHEATING!" and Konoha's citizen's could see a poor blonde flying across the village.

Gawd..it's like four in the morning here. So dead tired. Read and review! Flame if you want to, don't worry, I'm wearing my flame-retardant clothes XD

Lots of hugs and free food,

kookieznkream