Sorry about the long time between updates : ) I've been getting distracted again with other story ideas. I hope you all enjoy this one!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Simply Sakura

Chapter Four: Team Seven Lunch Part 1

Sakura frowned while she dragged Shikamaru through the grocery store; sometimes she felt like a mother to the genius. Shikamaru would constantly come to the cart carrying something different that he wanted; Sakura had no quarrels about telling him no, though. It didn't help that Shikamaru was incredibly sneaky; however, no matter how hard she tried something she didn't want ended up in the cart courtesy of Shikamaru.

Sighing, Sakura's eyes drifted around the store until she saw a man she knew very well; she had to fight off the smile that threatened to show on her face as she saw him. It wasn't that she couldn't smile, it was the fact that she felt like she was betraying someone if she did. There before her and Shikamaru stood a very much alive and uninjured Neji Hyuga. "So much for Naruto killing him," Sakura muttered to herself, but her companion had heard her.

Before she could even try to stop Shikamaru from saying anything, she heard the male snort from beside her. Really, the two of them had known Neji would not deal with her idiot of a blonde teammate; the threat Naruto had made on the Hyuga's life yesterday was not one she took very seriously.

"Looks like Naruto didn't get the revenge he had been seeking." Shikamaru commented while looking toward the Hyuga male. Sakura noticed that she and Shikamaru had caught the brunette's attention; he seemed to be walking over toward the two of them. "Do you think that's because he never found him or was Neji able to beat him this time around?"

Sakura really could not stop her smile from showing as Neji walked up to the two of them and glared at her roommate. Over the last couple years, Sakura and the Hyuga branch member had gotten closer. "Hey Neji," Sakura waved casually as she passed over the cart pushing responsibilities to Shikamaru; maybe that would keep him occupied and out of trouble for a little while.

"Sakura," Neji acknowledged her in a friendly tone, but when he looked back to Shikamaru the white eyed Hyuga was glaring daggers. "What would possess you to tell Naruto that I wanted to become the Hokage, Shika?"

"So he was able to find you then," Shikamaru said with a slight aloof expression. The expression was soon interrupted when the ponytail wearing man smirked. "I just wanted to see if I could give you a little workout Hyuga."

Neji snorted softly before giving Shikamaru an incredulous look. "Naruto a challenge?" Neji asked with a raise of his eyebrows. "Is that supposed to be a joke Shikamaru?"

"Hey guys," Sakura gave the two males a pointed glare. "Let's not make fun of my teammate's short comings okay? Besides, I asked Naruto to spar with me sometime next week. Was he really that bad Neji?"

Neji sighed but shook his head. "Naruto's emotions were getting the best of him," Neji said while his white eyes drifted towards our cart, and all the food that was inside. Hmm, maybe she could invite Neji over for lunch this afternoon, too? He seemed interested, as he was always interested in her cooking; she really didn't have to tell him that her team was coming over either. "It's not that he's weak, per say, Naruto has never been. But if you are going to go up against him you will win hands down."

"That's a comforting thought," Sakura mused while her eyes seemed to glimmer a little more brightly. Looking into the cart Shikamaru was pushing; Sakura shook her head before taking out a box of pocky. "We really don't need this junk Shika. Nice try though."

"Just let me get something unhealthy," Shikamaru's voice drawled out in a bored manner. It was obvious the Nara was getting tired of shopping, but she really couldn't blame him. It's not like he ever cooked for himself anyways; he never had to. Sakura always made sure the apartment was stocked with his favorite foods anyhow.

"Fine," Sakura said with a roll of her eyes; she really did feel like a mom sometimes. "Maybe you and Neji could go spar or something; I'll make lunch and you guys can come and eat when you're finished."

"That sounds wonderful," Neji agreed with a nod of his head. Looking over to Shikamaru, it seemed like he would have done anything to leave the grocery shopping to her; the male whole heartedly agreed.

"Sure," Shikamaru said as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. Looking over to Sakura, he smiled before walking out of the store. "Don't forget my dumplings."

"Yeah, yeah," Sakura commented back. Sometimes it was too easy to please males, Sakura mused while she watched her two close friends leave. If food was all she needed to make the opposite gender happy, she wondered how more women didn't have men wrapped around their fingers.

As Sakura walked down the next aisle, she tried to remember everything that had happened yesterday. It was hard to, because yesterday was kind of a whirl wind of things, but the few things Sakura did remember were important. She remembered Kakashi had said something about having lunch today together; she also assumed that meant she would have to cook for them.

She really didn't mind because she knew her cooking was good, it just irritated her that she wouldn't have a choice in the matter. Once again, this was Kakashi making the decision without paying any heed to what Sakura, or any of her other teammates wanted; it was starting to irk her, and she had only really been around him for a day. This really wasn't a good way to restart things with team seven…

Grumbling to herself as she pushed her cart, Sakura was so distracted that she didn't see said silver haired man in front of her. "Good morning, Sakura," Kakashi said with a quirk of his lips and a nod of his head. Sakura shook her head and frowned; did they have to appear just as she was thinking about them?

Sighing, she nodded back to the man. "Hey Kakashi," she said with a small smile. It was awkward, really. She had just been cursing this man, and then he appears before her… Sakura swore she was cursed or something.

"So what are you doing?" Kakashi asked as Sakura tried to maneuver her cart around the jounin. She figured it would just be a casual "hey" and then get on with the rest of their day, but it seemed for once in his life, Kakashi actually wanted to talk to her. Of course, this made the task of moving around him surprisingly difficult even when dealing with the semi-lazy nin.

Sakura was surprised as she watched Kakashi put away his red Icha Icha book, and turned to give her his full attention… this was new.

"Getting ready to make lunch," Sakura said with a slight sigh. Was it really too much to ask to get away from the male population for more than five minutes. "I thought the four of you would want something home cooked as opposed to takeout."

"Hmm," Kakashi replied as his eye seemed to check out the cart of food she was pushing. She really hadn't gotten all that much, but it was enough to make the boys (all of the boys) lunch. She hoped she would have some food leftover for later meals, but Sakura wasn't so sure. If Naruto ate every meal like he used to eat ramen, then she was surely in trouble.

Sakura's thoughts seemed to distract her, but Kakashi easily brought her out of her musings. She watched carefully as his hand went into the cart, and he pulled out the small box of pocky Shikamaru had thrown in not five minutes earlier.

"Everything else looks fairly healthy," Kakashi said with an eye crinkle. "By the looks of things, these don't belong to you."

"And how did you guess that?" Sakura questioned, and she suddenly felt offended; why couldn't she eat pocky? What was wrong with that?

"It's nothing Sakura," Kakashi said while waving his hands and putting the pocky back in the cart. "Your figure… it's just obvious that you don't eat a lot of sweets. Not a lot of curves you know, not that that's a bad thing! I think you've actually lost weight since I saw you last. I can tell you take care of yourself, I guess that's just what I'm trying to say..."

Raising an eyebrow, Sakura wasn't sure if she should take that as a compliment or not. Of course he was calling her skinny, which is what all women wanted, right? But did that mean he thought she was heavy before she left? And why was he babbling?

Seeing the look on Sakura's face, Kakashi was quickly to react. "Actually… I think you should gain some weight. Yes, you're so skinny that you need to put on a few pounds."

Sakura's eyes widened even more at that, and she decided then and there that Kakashi would no longer be spending any more time alone with Sai; it was obvious Sai's obliviousness to everything that was emotions had rubbed off on Kakashi. She refused to let him get away with this one though…

"Lunch will be in two hours," Sakura said while she quickly walked passed Kakashi. "Of course that's only if you want food that will make you skinny I suppose."

After she turned to the next aisle, Sakura had the sudden urge to go buy more pocky. Maybe she did need to gain a few more pounds…

XxxX

Chuckling slightly Shikamaru entered his apartment with Neji in tow. The two had had a decent training session, and now both were quite hungry. As they entered into the apartment, both ninja's mouths instantly started watering: Sakura had obviously been cooking for the last hour and a half, and the whole apartment smelled heavenly.

Following their noses', they entered the kitchen where they found quite the peculiar sight. Sakura was mulling over the stove; from what Shikamaru could see and smell, Sakura had made anko dumplings, dango, tomato soup, ramen, and something else that smelled wonderful. The fact that she was cooking was not the thing that weired Shikamaru and Neji out, no, it was the fact that there were ten empty boxes of pocky scattered across the kitchen floor and in Sakura's mouth was another chocolate covered stick.

"Um… Sakura?" Neji questioned first. He knew Sakura was a health nut; Sakura usually stuck to a diet full of nutritious foods. "Are you alright?"

"Am I too skinny?" Sakura asked as she turned towards the two males. Lifting her shirt up, Sakura flashed the two males her rock hard stomach. It was something she had been thinking about since she had left Kakashi. She always tried to be healthy, but maybe she was trying to be too healthy?

"What is wrong with you?" Neji asked again; seriously, this was not like Sakura at all.

"Don't tell me you ate all my pocky," Shikamaru accused with a slight glare. Sakura could only shake her head before nodding to the pantry door.

"There's more in there," she said with a wistful sigh. "I saw Kakashi in the market after you two left; he said I lost weight, and now I look too skinny."

From where Shikamaru stood at the pantry he snorted. Sakura sent him a glare before chucking the rest of her pocky at him; he was so childish sometimes.

"Sakura," Neji said with a shake of his head. "You're muscular, and just right for a kunochi. If you were any skinnier you wouldn't be as strong as you are right now. And if you were any heavier you wouldn't be as fast as you are."

Hearing that, Sakura allowed a soft sigh escape her lips. "Yeah, I guess you're right," she said with a nod before turning back to the stove. "I guess I've been a little more insecure ever since they got home.

"I'm not worried about my strength when I'm around them though," Sakura said with a small smile. "I guess I really just want a chance to prove myself. And I really want to prove them wrong, too."

"You'll get that chance," Shikamaru said while he munched happily on the pocky stick Sakura had thrown at him. He now stood beside Sakura at the stove; it was obvious to Sakura that he was trying to get in good with her, so she would give him a bite of her anko dumplings early. Like hell she would. "Kami knows you'll pound their heads in sooner or later."

Neji snorted in agreement before a loud knock was heard at the apartment door. Raising her eyes, Sakura looked to the clock before cursing. "I didn't think they'd come this early. Shika, go get the door, please."

"They?" Neji asked Sakura curiously as he watched Shikamaru leave the room. Sakura turned towards the Hyuga male and gave him a large smile.

"My team," she said as she watched Neji for a reaction; she got one, and smirked. "Come on Neji! You and Shikamaru are my best friends! You should be civil towards my team, and they to you."

"Mou," Neji slightly pouted as he crossed his arms. Sakura couldn't prevent the smile from seeing Neji act so childish. When she and Shikamaru had gotten to know Neji better, the Hyuga had been showing more and more of his personality; it really was quite entertaining. And sometimes, she felt like she was not only the mom of Shikamaru, but Neji as well.

"Thanks Neji," Sakura said while turning back to the stove. "The food is almost ready. Can you set the table, and make sure no one kills each other?"

"Sure," Neji said once he realized his pouting wasn't going to work. It seldom did, but Sakura assumed that was only because he had not fully mastered the puppy dog pout… Sakura hoped Shikamaru wouldn't teach that to him anytime soon.

Turning off the stove just as the food had finished, Sakura waited a few seconds before grabbing some of the food. The living room was quiet, again. Sakura was surprised that Naruto hadn't started a fight with Neji yet. Grabbing the tomato soup and the ramen first, Sakura walked carefully towards the door. Just as she got there, the door opened, and Sakura realized why Naruto and Neji hadn't gotten into a fight yet: Naruto wasn't there yet.

Sasuke held open the door with a nod of his head as Sakura walked through with a surprised smile. Who knew he would be the first one to arrive at lunch? Walking over to the table, Sakura was surprised again when she saw Kakashi standing on the other side of the table, and why the hell was he holding flowers?

"We thought we should bring something," Kakashi said with a shrug as he passed Sakura the bouquet of beautiful white orchids. The bouquet was done so beautifully that Sakura had a hard time believing Kakashi had gotten the flowers himself. "Sasuke and Sai actually went to the flower shop earlier to get them."

Ah, so that explained it. Sai must have picked them out, and Sasuke must have paid for them. Sakura was still surprised that Sai and Sasuke had gotten along long enough to buy her flowers; she could tell the two didn't like each other much.

"Thank you," Sakura said with a smile. "They're beautiful. Are Sai and Naruto here yet? Lunch is just about ready."

"Sai is just checking Naruto out of the hospital, and they both should be here," Kakashi said with an eye crinkle as he sat down in one of the chairs. Hearing his answer, Sakura froze before looking back towards Kakashi.

"What?" Sakura asked hoping she hadn't heard Kakashi correctly.

"The Dobe went after Hyuga yesterday, and before we could stop the dobe from trying to attack, Hyuga had 64 palmed him," Sasuke said from behind her. "It's really the dobe's fault though… not that I'm on the Hyuga's side or anything."

"Thanks Uchiha," Neji said with a glare as Sakura's emerald eyes turned towards Neji. The Hyuga seemed to pale at the look on Sakura's face.

"Do you know how long it took to heal all of Naruto's wounds, Neji?" Sakura asked calmly as she slowly made her way over to the Hyuga. This was her intimitadtion technique; she knew that working with Ibiki would help her in the long run.

"N-no," Neji answered as he tried to stand his ground. He knew Sakura was angry, but she couldn't be mad that he had been defending himself, could she?

"Neji," Sakura said as she took in a calm breath. "Explain."

"He really wouldn't stop Sakura," Shikamaru drawled as he stuffed another pocky stick into his mouth. "Neji told me about it during our training earlier."

Glaring to her roommate, Sakura dropped her scary act; it usually didn't work on Neji anyhow. "Alright, but I don't want to have to heal him again until after I fight him, okay?"

"Yes Sakura," Neji's voice chimed as he nodded slightly. Smiling, Sakura turned and started to walk back towards the kitchen. Just as she was about to go through, however, Sakura watched as Sasuke came out with the anko dumplings, and the platter of makizushi she had been making earlier. Sakura had to stop herself from smirking; of course he wouldn't want to grab the dango. Sakura remembered Sasuke's dislike for all things sweet. The dango had been more for Kakashi than anyone else; she knew the male adored dango.

Slipping past Sasuke, Sakura walked into the kitchen and grabbed the remaining plate of food. As she walked back out into the dining room, however, a knock was heard at the door.

"Shikamaru!"

"Yeah, yeah, woman," Shikamaru grunted while putting his hands in his pockets. He was already standing beside the door and Sakura had to fight off the proud feeling that welled up in her chest; she had trained him so well. "I got it."

Opening the door, Sakura wasn't surprised at all to see Sai and Naruto. It seemed Tsunade had done a nice job healing Naruto, because there were no signs of Neji's usually lethal technique.

"Sakura-Chan!" Naruto grinned before racing into the room. He flew past everyone else, and enveloped Sakura into a giant hug. As Naruto's arms wrapped around her, Sakura instantly froze at the unusual contact.

When had been the last time she had gotten a Naruto hug? Sighing slightly, Sakura allowed herself to relax before placing her arms around him.

"Hi Naruto," Sakura said with a slight smile. Feeling him let go, Sakura watched as the blonde blushed deeply before rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry Sakura-Chan," he said sheepishly. "I couldn't stop myself when I saw you there! Haha, wait! What's that Neji-Bastard doing here?"

Sakura could practically feel a headache coming on as she watched Naruto leap at Neji… maybe this lunch thing hadn't been such a good idea.

Not that it was her idea in the first place… she blamed Kakashi.