Chapter 4

Author note: Sorry this chapter was later then I hoped, I tried to have more fun with this one and tried to put some fluff in it. Soon I shall bring on the romance! Things will get even weirder if that's possible… anyway please enjoy!

Edit: For you new readers, you guys have no clue how fricking weird and like cute and stuff it gets, just stick around.

The sun was rising when I opened my eyes. I had quickly fallen asleep when I got home yesterday. I sighed and just rolled over, not wanting to get up. I looked at the clothes and other items around my room, I hadn't bothered to clean my house since my last mission. I hate when things are messy, I have always kept a clean house. I eventually got out of bed and started cleaning my apartment.

As I was cleaning dishes someone knocked on my door. I have had more people at my house in three days than ever before I thought annoyingly. I opened the door while I was I realized I was still in my pajamas and embarrassingly continued to open the door. Sakura pushed past me without a greeting. I closed the door and followed her to my dining room table where she sat herself. She smiled at the Chrysanthemum I had put in a vase.

"So what's this I hear of Sasuke's cousin?" I frowned when she grinned at me. "Sakiko huh? Not bad," I crossed my arms and stared at her waiting to see if she had a better reason for barging in. "What? Maybe I just wanted to talk," I continued to stare at her. "Ok, ok… I was just wondering how you're doing?"

"Fine"

"Ok, fine I'll be more specifically," Sakura told me with a challenging look. I blinked at her blankly. "How have you been feeling? Like mentally?" I raised my eyebrows at her as she started to look serious.

"Okay," I answered.

She squinted at me, "What about…" Sakura stopped talking to change the subject. This made me suspicious. "Hey, I'm going out with a few other people to the lake later today, why don't you come with us?" I looked suspiciously at her as a small smile appeared on her face that she tried to suppress.

"I think I'm okay," I declined. She glared at me. "I don't feel like it," I tried to weakly argue, she started looking angry.

"Sasuke you're coming with us," I looked at her as she pulled down her sleeve with a clenched fist. I didn't agree because I was scared for my own safety I just didn't want to pay for damage to my apartment.

"Fine," I said. She instantly lost her angry look and smiled.

"Great!" she said as if I had a say in it. "Get dressed properly and come with me," she insisted.

"I thought the lake was later," I glared at her. She shook her head with another mischievous.

"It's not the lake. Just get dressed will you," she pointed at my bedroom. I shook my head slightly, but got up and went to go get dressed anyway.

When I returned Sakura was looking at a picture I had on the window sill. I noticed she was smiling. "I didn't think you kept it," she said stroking the frame. I walked over and saw it was the original picture of team seven.

"I actually didn't bring mine when I originally left, I don't know what happened to it. Kakashi gave me his," she still smiled. She put it down and glanced at the other picture, it was an old torn and burnt picture of my family. I had found it when I looked through the rubble that used to be the Uchiha estate. Sakura looked at me with a gentle smile on her face.

"Come on let's go," I followed her out the door. I was surprised to see Ino at the bottom of the stairs.

"What took you so long?" Ino had her hands on her hips.

"Sorry she was being a pain" Sakura complained. I glared at my pink haired teammate angrily.

"Come on!" Ino hurried us. They led me as they chatted and randomly laughed. Ino turned to me, "Why didn't you tell me you were friends with Sakura before?"

"Well, you didn't ask…" I tried to say, Sakura started talking to Ino in the middle of my sentence. I only smiled, I don't know why but seeing the two girls so happy made there interrupting less annoying. Suddenly they both looked at me at the same time, they must have asked me something! I wasn't listening, I thought. But then they turned to each other.

"Maybe Red?" Ino asked, Sakura thought about it then shook her head.

"I think Black would be better" Sakura argued, Ino looked back at me.

"I could see it, we should try a couple colors anyway," they both nodded. I stopped listening again. I stuffed my hand in my pockets and looked at the people of the morning, the sun only just have risen. Kids had already pulled their tired parents out of bed to go to the park, Elderly greeted everyone kindly from their doors, and the owners were slowly opening their shops. I always forget how peaceful Konoha was. "Hello?" I snapped out of my thoughts to see Ino trying to get my attention. "Get in here" she brought me inside a store we had just got to. A wave of dread washed over me when I saw it was a clothing store. I turned around and started to head out, but Sakura grabbed my arm.

"No, you don't, you were going to have to come sometimes," She dragged me farther into the store. I learned quickly that they had brought me here to shop and wouldn't take no for an answer. "Try on this" Sakura threw another swim suit over the changing room stall. Why am I doing this? I thought loathing every second. I obeyed them not wanting to have my head bashed in -as Sakura tended to do when she was angry. After a quick lesson from Sakura, I had learned to put on all the different types of swimsuits they threw at me. Why is Sakura doing this to me? What did I do to deserve this? I thought slipping on the one piece. I looked at myself in the mirror and sighing before going out to show them like they made me each time. I went into a neutral pose resenting every second and looked away as they poked at me.

"I like it, but not on her," Ino looked me over. I was surpassingly calm considering I had no say in the matter. But I found myself at least having fun trying on things I could never as a guy. I have always tried to at least have some style, I wouldn't feel comfortable otherwise. The different types of styles and clothes I found interesting. I used to like a lot of these clothes on women but now being one myself I found it really strange, even if it was only the swimsuits for now. Everything is still strange, I had only been a female for a couple days after all. I still hated being in a store with two loud girls who were picking everything, I don't think I would go shopping every again.

"You, take that off and we'll be right back," Sakura ordered. I took off the swimsuit and threw it in the 'no' pile Ino had started. I noticed a lot more were in the pile, they're so picky I thought looking at the much smaller 'yes' pile. "Here you are, try this one on first" Sakura threw over something, I took it off the door and stared at it. It was a simple dark purple strap bikini. I quietly hissed at it as I put it on getting fed-up with all this. I showed them, Ino glared at me.

"I hate your stupid body, it's so perfect," Ino said, Sakura waked Ino's arm playfully.

"You can't be jealous," Sakura smiled at her.

"I know forehead! I was just saying!" Ino stuck out her tongue. I rolled my eyes at the two, I knew I could never understand their relationship. "But your right, I think we should try black." Ino pointed at the bikini. I sighed having my fill of clothes for today.

"Just this last one, okay," Sakura picked up a different Bikini that was lying next to her. I grabbed it and glared at her. I switched it out. It was dark black and I liked that. The cloth that covered my cleavage continued into two thick straps that went over my shoulders and crisscrossed in the back. There was a gold loop holding the front together under my cleavage. The bottom had a gold loop holding it together on each hip. It's was interesting and I guess one could say 'sexy', of course, I would never admit that out loud since Uchiha's aren't supposed to say slang like words like 'sexy'. I looked at it on my in the mirror. When I showed it to them they both loved it. "I was right! Black is your color!" Sakura gloated.

"You were right, it's perfect!" Ino high fived Sakura, I found myself slightly grinning at their over reactions but inwardly screaming at being forced to wear Bikini's.

"Can I please get out of here now?" I asked, Sakura sighed and nodded. I gratefully got out of the Bikini and into my normal clothes. They quickly grabbed the 'yes' clothes and sorted through them and came to a conclusion that the black one I wore last was the best. They made their way to the cashier, I lagged behind uncomfortably. I watched as they talked to the cashier, obviously knowing the woman. I was surprised when they paid for the suit. They met me outside the store and handed the bag to me.

"Why did you pay?"

"Well we dragged you here so it was only fair" Sakura explained still holding the bag out to me. Ino nodded in agreement. I would have thanked them, but I didn't care much for the Swimsuit. I carried the bag over my shoulder, I made sure the label was against my back so they no one could tell what it was. As I followed them I noticed the sun was already past its peak. Sakura stopped a couple blocks away. We went up a small staircase to her house. She peeked in to make sure her parents weren't home and let us in. "Ino, the bathrooms over there" Sakura pointed down the hall then grabbed me and brought me into her room. "Okay put on the suit," she demanded.

"Why? I just took it off…" I rebelled.

"Well, we couldn't pay for it if you were wearing it! Whatever, Just put it on," She said going over to her closet.

"Fine," I muttered stripping and putting on the Bikini. I stood and glared as she shuffled through her closet. She pulled out a hot pink Bikini of her own and started putting it on, I looked away to be respectful. I was surprised she would have so much trust, or maybe she didn't care? When I turned back she had gotten out three short thin dresses of different colors. "What are they?" I asked as she handed me the blue one.

"You wear them over swim suits dumb, dumb," she said leaving the room. I followed slipping on the dress thing. Sakura handed Ino a black one, Ino was now in a purple string Bikini herself. Sakura pulled on her white one as she opened a closet and threw a towel at each of us. "You can pick up your stuff later," Sakura told me. "Okay let's go," Sakura said walking out barefooted. God, I wish I was a guy again so I didn't have to wear this weird girl stuff I thought reluctantly following them.

The lake had become a common place for everyone to hang out in our free time since we discovered it in the forest behind the village. The lake was small for a lake but still pretty big, it was hidden by trees and could only be spotted from above. When we arrived we were met by the sign some of us had made, 'Neji Lake' was written on it, we named it after our fallen comrade.

Two people were already there. "Shh," Sakura stopped me from going further. I looked and saw the two were Shikamaru and Temari. "Temari has been at Konoha to help discuss borders between us and Suna," Sakura explained quietly, "They haven't seen each other in a while," she whispered. It was obvious the two had a thing but wouldn't show it so I guessed Sakura and Ino wanted to see if something happened. I watched from the shadows. The two were standing on the beach together talking, luckily we were at an angle where we could see both of them clearly. They continued talking then stopped and smiled at each other. I looked over and saw Sakura and Ino staring at them so intently I was surprised they hadn't noticed. I looked back and saw Temari had gotten close, both still smiling they started leaning into each other. Their mouths were about to meet when a crashing sound came from behind us. Ino squeaked in surprise as Naruto ran past us and cannon balled into the lake. "Naruto!" Sakura screamed running after him. Shikamaru and Temari had separated and looked as if nothing had happened. I watched as Lee ran past me and tried to make a bigger splash then Naruto. I was about to join them then suddenly remembered what I was wearing. It felt awkward again and slowly made my way along the outskirts of the lake shore under the shade of the trees. I hoped no one would notice me as I sat down in the grass that surrounded the lake. To my frustration, Naruto came over rubbing his head where Sakura had hit him.

"Hey man what's up?" Naruto said looking down at me. He grinned, "Did Sakura get you to wear girl clothes?" I let out an annoyed growl and looked away. He chuckled a little as He sat down next to me, I waited for him to say something, but he just kept quiet; I relaxed a little. I watched as more people came and they all started getting in the water. "Sasuke?"

"What?"

"You're not even going to try to have fun?" Naruto questioned glancing at me. I grunted. "Sasuke, stop making a big deal out of something that isn't," Naruto said he stood up and put his hand out. I looked up at him truly surprised by his sudden maturity.

"Loser," I sighed and took his hand. He pulled me up, Naruto walked ahead and joined everyone. I took off the blue dress thing and walked over to everyone still uneasy, but I didn't want Naruto to know.

"Oh, guys this is Uchiha Sakiko." Sakura introduced me as I sat down at the waters age. The people who I hadn't told the lie to yet looked interested. "She's Sasuke's cousin," Sakura explained. I lifted my hand in greeting. A couple of the guys looked me up and down more times than need. Luckily everyone quickly got distracted and I wasn't the center of attention for long.

I watched as they splashed each other. I never noticed how in-shape most of them were, I found myself watching the guys. I jumped when Sakura whispered right next to me "I knew it!" I looked at her confused, "I knew you couldn't resist shirtless men, no straight woman or gay man can!" She said quietly and giggled looking victories. Shit, was I really just checking out guys again? I thought feeling like I need to wash my brain with soap. "My hypothesis was right," She sat down next to me. That's why she brought me here that also explains the weird smile when she invited me I deducted.

"How do you know I wasn't checking out the women?" I tried to defend myself.

"A girl knows," Sakura grinned at me. She softened up, "its ok, no one can blame you, it's just part of being a woman," She said now watching the others too. I sighed and tried not to look at the guys anymore.

Suddenly someone put their arm behind my back and under my legs before I knew what was happening Naruto was carrying me out. I tried to wiggle out of his arms but he was too swift and before I knew it I was embraced by the water as he dropped me. I recovered and splashed him with a glare. He stuck his tongue out at me. I climbed on top of the water and tried to make my way back to the shore "You can't escape that easily," Naruto grabbed my leg and pulled me into the water. When I resurfaced I pushed his head under playfully. He came up underneath me and I ended up on his shoulders.

"Hey!" I struggled. He carried me back to shallow and let me off. The water lapped at my knees. "Loser," I said and punched him on the shoulder. He stuck his tongue out again.

"Here," Naruto said as he pulled up one of the straps that had started to slip off.

"Oh, I'm not used to this stuff yet," I said quietly adjusting the straps. Naruto was really close, so there for his bare chest was too, and I felt my cheeks go red and forced myself to stop.

"I wouldn't either," Naruto used his cheesy smile. I grunted in response. I walked a little away from him and sat down in the water. I watched Naruto go back and started trying to swim faster the Lee, I watched their swimming competition till someone called me.

"Hey! Sakiko!" Sakura yelled from the shore. I turned and saw her sitting with some others in a circle. I got out of the water and walked over to them.

"Yeah?" I asked as Sakura motioned for me to sit down next to her.

"You're a fire element right?" Sakura asked of course, she knew the answer but it was for the sake of the act.

"Yeah, why?" I asked getting comfortable in the grass.

"Can you light the fire?" she asked pointing at a pile of wood in the middle of the circle.

"That's all I'm good for huh?" I said jokingly as I lit the fire, I got a couple people to giggle. I noticed that it had started to get dark already. The last couple people joined us, Naruto sat next to me -as normal. It had become a tradition to set a small fire when it started getting dark at Neji Lake. We normally told stories, either true ones or stupid stories we had learned as children. I usually just listened, or if I had a story Naruto would tell it since most of them were from our missions together. But this time I seemed to be the one everyone wanted to hear from.

"So how come I have never heard of you before Sakiko?" normally quite Shino asked.

"Well I had never met Sasuke before since my mom decided she didn't want to live in the Uchiha estate and we moved away from Konoha. I only met Sasuke when he was on his journey and it had been quite a surprise for both of us, so I can only guess he wasn't sure I was an actual Uchiha," I explained. I felt a little guilty lying to them all at once. Most of them seemed to buy it, though.

"Why did you come back?" Shikamaru asked I could tell he was suspicious.

"I wanted to get to know the only other living Uchiha, sadly Sasuke was sent on a long mission and I have to wait to see him," I explained. Shikamaru still didn't look too convinced. I tried to ignore him. After explaining my lie, a little further Kiba started telling an obviously overexerted story about one of his missions. I was getting tired as the sun disappeared behind the trees and I had to keep my eyes open. Temari started talking about Suna. I was so tired I laid my head on someone's shoulder, not caring whose, and fell asleep.

Author note: Well I promise next chapter will have some more fluff. Sorry, this chapter went up so late, this is my first time putting a fanfiction up so bear with me! I love all the people who have read this weird story so far! I would love to know your thoughts on it, so please review, and if you would like favorite or follow!

Edit: Continue to review! I always want to grow more!