Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO !

"Speak"

'Think'

'Inner Think'

Flashback

Chapter 3 – Partners?! W.T.F.?!

Since the first day of school, the duration between then and now is about three weeks. However, Sakura's new and under improved behavior didn't go unnoticed. Every one of her teacher's saw the radical change, and felt that they needed to stop it. But how?

As a result, Kakashi, Gai, Kurenai, Asuma, and Iruka decided to have a private teacher meeting to discuss how they were going to solve this problem. It was early Monday morning, just about an hour before school started, and each of them was sitting in the teacher's lounge waiting for Kakashi's arrival. They told each other that the desired time to meet would be at 6:30 A.M., and it was already 6:25.

The teachers exchanged worried glances at each other wondering where Kakashi could be. They couldn't do anything without him, but they were all skeptical whether or not he'd show on time. It was on almost everyone's minds, but no one dared to ask. Then Kurenai thought that she should ask, "What if Kakashi doesn't show up on time? We all know how he is, don't we? He usually comes at least two hours late."

"Yes, I've been wondering the same thing. I mean face it, Kakashi is a good teacher and all, but he doesn't take it as serious as we do. The only thing he every pays attention to is that Icha Icha Paradise book." Iruka said troubled. Him and Kakashi have been friends for a long time, but he couldn't help but doubt that he was going to come late.

"But, when the matter is important, Kakashi will pull his own weight. And in this case, the subject is serious and shouldn't be taken lightly. We should have faith that he'll come. Right?" Asuma did have a point. When the dilemma wasn't something to laugh about Kakashi did take charge.

"He will be here on time." Iruka, Asuma, and Kurenai turned their bodies to face the source of the voice. It was Gai propping his legs on the table looking at the ceiling.

'Preposterous! How could Gai possible be sure if Kakashi is coming?' Iruka thought. 'Gai and Kakashi were rivals, and here is Gai telling us that he is sure that he's coming!'

Kurenai stood from her seat, "How are you sure, Gai?"

He sat up straight and smiled showing his bright teeth giving off a faint Ping! "Simple. You said that Kakashi is usually two hours late, am I correct?"

"Yes, bu-"

"So I told Kakashi that the meeting wasn't at six thirty."

Asuma dropped his pen, "Wait! Then what time did you tell him?"

Gai began to chuckle, "Since he usually comes two hours late, I told him to come at four thirty. Thus, he'll come at 6:30."

"That's a very interesting theory, Gai, but Kurenai said that he usually comes two hours late. For all we know, he could come three hours late!" Iruka was still skeptical. Kakashi was a very intricate person to figure out. The guy has no absolute schedule. He just comes whenever he pleases!

"Oh, he'll be here." Gai said reassuringly, but in his mind he was a bit worried. 'Well, he better be.'

Looking at the clock Asuma pointed out an observation, "Gai, it's already a minute past six thirty do you-"

But before he could finish uttering his sentence, Kakashi came through the door. Looking up from his orange book, he was met with three people staring at him wide-eyed, and a green jump suited rival. "Something I miss?"

Kurenai was lost for words. Gai was actually correct! "G-Gai. I can't believe it, but your plan worked!"

"What?"

Iruka jumped to his feet, and pointed at him, "Kakashi! You're actually on time!"

"I am? But Gai told me that the meeting was at 4:30. You're saying I'm on time?"

"Yeah, it's all because Gai had this plan to-" But Asuma ran up to him and covered his mouth before Iruka could say Gai's master plan.

Asuma whispered into Iruka's ear, "SHHH! Don't tell Kakashi what the plan was. Next time we try this, he's going to come later then ever got it?" Iruka nodded, and he was let go almost stumbling to the ground. Asuma cleared his throat, "So, let's begin shall we?"

Kakashi took a seat around the table and everyone sat down waiting for Kakashi to say something. "This meeting is about Sakura's behavior, and I know that I wasn't the only one who saw a drastic change in her." The other teachers nodded in agreement. "We remember from last year that she was one of the best students in our class, always well-behaved and such. But lately, she's been acting up."

"Yes, now Sakura hasn't been doing any of her homework, she's been answering me back in class, and she pays absolute no attention. We can't let this keep up. It's becoming very unhealthy." Iruka added.

"Yes I agree, "Asuma said. "We need to come up with a solution for this. To me it seems like Sakura is heading towards a break down, and that won't lead her to any good. It might lead to something dangerous."

"We do need a solution, but what? How can we possibly know how to fix this when we have no clue to what's going on in her life? What we need to know is what triggered this behavior." Gai countered.

"Don't you think we tried that?" Kakashi rubbed his temples. "I've tried talking to her after class, asking if there was anything wrong, but she stayed unresponsive. Like she was on another world."

While the men were arguing about the matter, Kurenai stayed silent thinking of a way to possibly figure out what's going on in Sakura's head. Gai was right; they needed to know what started Sakura and her actions, but how? They needed to find a possible way to get Sakura to open up to a person. In fact, they were all right, if they didn't do anything, it might just end up in a situation where they all will regret it. Then a light bulb struck over Kurenai's head, and she had an idea, it was a little insane, but it just might work. "Guys."

Iruka, Asuma, and Kakashi looked at her. "I have an idea."

"What kind of idea do you propose" They said in unison.

"You might think that this is crazy, but it might work. I think that we should….."

First Period – Reading – Kakashi

Kakashi was patiently waiting for the class to enter the classroom. The bell would ring in a few minutes, and he made sure that he had his list on his desk. He was prepared to carry out the plan Kurenai suggested. Kakashi had to admit that her plan was strange, but it was the only thing they had right now.

RING!

'Time for everything to commence'

Students poured into the classroom with shocked faces seeing the Kakashi was actually in the classroom already. Before Naruto took his seat, he went over by Sasuke with a worried look painted on his face, "Psst, Sasuke."

Sasuke looked at Sakura, yet again not knowing his existence, and then faced Naruto, "What do you want, dobe?"

"Don't you see?" He pointed at Kakashi's desk, but Sasuke didn't get the whole picture. "Kakashi-sensei was in the classroom before us. He was actually on time! This is the sign of the apocalypse!" Naruto flailed his arms around to prove his point, but Sasuke still looked at him with no amusement.

He put his arms around Naruto's shoulder, and guided him to his seat, "Naruto, you are my friend, and I feel that I am obligated to tell you this. Get some help." Sasuke left Naruto by his seat, and walked back next to Sakura.

The late bell rang, signaling for the class to quiet down, but since it was Kakashi's class, they continued to talk. But their chatting was cut short when Kakashi got their attention, "Class," he began to say, but they paid no attention. "Class," Still kept on talking. "Class!" Now the class had their full attention on him, except for, well….Sakura. "Now that's better. Class, I've decided that we are going to do many projects this year that involve having partners. So, instead of letting you have different ones each time, I'm going to assign you a partner for the rest of the year."

Everyone in the room remained silent, anticipating for what Kakashi was going to say next. Everyone hoped that they would be paired off with at least someone they knew, but the one who was really anxious was Sasuke. 'Partners? For the rest of the year partners? You've got to be kidding me.' Kakashi started saying pairs of names out loud, boy/girl, girl/girl/, and boy/boy. 'Great, I could be paired up with a fan girl, or worse.' He looked at the girl quietly sitting next to him. He had enough of her attitude toward him, but if they were partners…..Sasuke shuddered at the thought.

"Sasuke Uchiha." Kakashi bellowed. Sasuke looked around the class, and saw that there was still a decent amount of fan girls not paired with anyone. He silently prayed to God that he'd be paired with someone that wasn't going to tear him to pieces or beg him to go on a date. Anyone but them. "You'll be with…"Kakashi looked down at his list. "Sakura Haruno."

Sakura heard what Kakashi said and slammed her book down on her desk. "WHAT?" Everyone was surprised at Kakashi's decision. Why would he pair those two together?

Kakashi ignored Sakura's yell, and continued, "Naruto Uzamaki and Hinata Hyuuga"

Sasuke looked at Sakura. She definitely did not look happy. He looked down at his desk and glared holes through it. 'Why me? When I said 'anyone but them' I meant her too.'

Second Period – Social Studies – Asuma

Putting first period's mishaps aside, Sasuke and Naruto walked into Asuma's classroom walking to their desks next to the window. Patiently waiting for Asuma to begin the class, they saw that he took a white paper off his desk, and walk to the front of the class room. "Okay, I've decided that we are going to do many projects this year that involve having partners. So, instead of letting you have different ones each time, I'm going to assign you a partner for the rest of the year."

Naruto looked at Sasuke and whispered, "Isn't that the same thing Kakashi-sensei just told us?" Sasuke shrugged. It was strange though, why would they do the same thing?

'Hopefully,' Sasuke thought. 'I'll be paired of with someone rather than Sakura.' He heard Naruto get paired off with Kiba, and he mentally smirked. 'Yeah, we'll probably get different partners.'

"Sakura Haruno, you'll be with Sasuke Uchiha."

It was Sasuke turn to stand up, "WHAT?"

Third Period – Math – Gai

'Great, I'm with Sakura again?' Sasuke said to himself. Looking at the green teacher in front of him didn't make him feel any better. 'Math isn't my favorite subject, but maybe things will get better here.'

Gai, like the two teachers before, took a white piece of paper off his desk and walked to the front of the class room. "Youthful students!"

Lee stood up from his desk right in front of Gai's desk, "Class! The honorable Gai-sensei is talking!"

"Thank you Lee. Anyway, I've decided that we are going to do many projects this year that involve having partners. So, instead of letting you have different ones each time, I'm going to assign you a partner for the rest of the year." Gai did his hero pose and the class groaned.

"Again?"

"What is going on?"

Sasuke had the same question to ask. What is with the teachers this year?

After Gai did another hero pose, he regained his posture and read off the top of the list, "Neji Hyuuga and Tenten." The two of them grimaced. From Sasuke's seat he could see that they were so happy to be partners. Not. "Sasuke Uchiha and….."

'Okay, maybe I'll get someone different.'

"Sakura Haruno"

HUH?

Fifth Period – Writing – Kurenai

After lunch Sasuke did not feel any better, and Naruto tried to cheer him up. "Come one Teme! Sakura is kind of cute."

Sasuke almost laughed out loud, "Yeah, if you like the I-Hate-You-Get-Out-Of-My-Way kind of girl."

"Aww. Come on. It's just three classes. There's no chance you'll be paired off again."

'I hope you're right'

Kurenai was already standing by the podium, waiting for the room to quiet down. Once it did, she began to make her speech, "Everyone"

'Oh no, please don't say it.' Sasuke held his breath.

"I've decided that we are going to do many projects this year that involve having partners. So, instead of letting you have different ones each time, I'm going to assign you a partner for the rest of the year. So let's start off with Sasuke Uchiha!"

Looking up to the ceiling, Sasuke was hoping she wouldn't utter the words he expected to hear. "You're with Sakura Haruno!"

Naruto looked at Sasuke, "Sorry Teme. I guess I was wrong."

Sixth Period – Science - Iruka

It was the last period of the day, and Sakura was hoping it would be better. 'What the Hell? I've been paired up with that Uchiha for the last four classes. And to make it worse, it's for the rest of the year? What is wrong with the teachers? Did they plan this or something? Well maybe if she was here I wouldn't….'

It's all your fault!

Iruka came into the class holding yet another white piece of paper, "Hello class" The class responded by saying a greeting and remained silent. "I've decided that we are going to do many projects this year that involve having partners. So, instead of letting you have different ones each time, I'm going to assign you a partner for the rest of the year."

Sasuke grumbled to himself, 'Here we go again."

"Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzamaki." Iruka said happily

Sasuke looked surprised, 'Maybe there is a God!'

Sakura looked up from her desk, and sighed. At least she wasn't with the Uchiha.

"Wait," Iruka looked back down at his list. "Whoops, I read the wrong name. It's actually Sasuke Uchiha and…."

'Please don't say it' Sasuke and Sakura thought at the same time.

"Sakura Haruno"

Sakura pounded her fist on the wooden desk, 'YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!'

The school bell rang, and the class exited the room preparing to leave for their homes. Sasuke and Naruto finished at their lockers, and began to walk out of the building. "Naruto," Sasuke began. "I think the teachers set this all up."

"Set up what?" Naruto said puzzled.

"You know, this partner for the rest of the year shit. I bet they planned on Sakura and me being paired up every single time. That's the only way you can explain it. Everyone got different partners each class, but we've been the same."

Naruto started laughing hysterically, "Sasuke, get some help. That's crazy I mean-Whoa!" Naruto was bumped by Sakura, but she didn't turn around until she saw Sasuke. She walked right up to him and began to talk.

"Look, Uchiha." She said.

"My name is Sasuke" he growled.

She took her finger and poked it into his chest, "Fine Sasuke, we're partners for every single class, but let's get this straight. Just because we are partners doesn't mean that I'm going to start being all nice to you, got it? I hate you and you hate me, and that's that." Sakura began to walk away, and Sasuke held out his hand for Naruto to grasp.

"Teme, what's her problem?"

'I don't know'

WOO HOO! FOURTH CHAPTER DOWN!

Sorry for the late update, winter break got in the way. Yay there was no school today and I had time to finish this. Snow Days ROCK!

Tell me what you think of this chapter. Oh and by the way, I have two new one-shots out, but they're not SASUSAKU or anything, but I want you guys to read them and see if they're good or not. I'd really appreciate it.

GhostofYou

P.S. READ AND REVIEW PLEASE!

P.S.S. This would've come sooner, but the document on fan fiction wouldn't accept my chapter! Gr!