Chapter 7

Normal P.O.V


"This is entirely my fault. I will take full responsibility for Ryo's actions. As principle of this school, it was my responsibility to make sure that my students are safe. If I'd look deeper into his previous school records I wouldn't have let him enter this school. But I never thought or expected. . ." Tsunade sighed deeply, her hands holding her head. She pulled out a file from her drawer and handed it to Kakashi who stood on the other side of her desk. "It seems he has a history of causing trouble in every school he got enrolled in."

Kakashi nodded while he studied the file in his hand occasionally turning the pages. "That I see, he's been to seven schools in one year accounting for harassing and stalking girls, disrespecting and picking fights with boys and teacher's--wait! He has a prison record?" Beneath his mask Kakashi frowned.

Tsunade nodded. "Ryo's father wants to press charges against Sasuke but the police won't allow him to do so because it was a defending result of trying to commit another act upon a person. Besides, Sasuke's filthy rich from inheriting his family's wealth, I doubt Sasuke would spend more than one minute in prison when he has the money to get himself out."

"It says here that Ryo's father is a drug dealer and has been arrested numerous times for selling illegal drugs to minors. His deceased mother was a prostitute. . ." Kakashi trailed off raising his eyebrows. "Must be a family thing." he dropped the file onto the desk and pushed his hands in his pockets. "So what happens to Ryo?"

"Fortunately, he and his father have been deported. The authorities sent them back to sound and they will be on lockdown for quite some time. Thankfully, they will never be seen here in Konoha again."

Kakashi shook his head, "They deserve more than a house arrest."

Tsunade shook her head in agreement, "But at least we know that he is out of our area and will be of no further trouble and danger for us and our students."

"Ryo's also out of harm's way. . .unfortunately. No doubt Sasuke would have killed him if he stayed here, that kid wouldn't stand a chance."

"Kakashi!" Tsunade shook her head at Kakashi disapprovingly, though she couldn't help but silently agree. Sasuke was always somewhat . . . unstable. Tsunade guessed it was from his lack of emotional control.

"What? It's a fact. You didn't see the state of Ryo's body when the ambulance came for him. It was like he went through a mincing machine." Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the grinning teacher's detailed explanation.

"I still can't believe this happened," Tsunade groaned rubbing her thumbs in small circles on both sides of her head to try and ease the growing tension which would most likely result in a headache. "And to Sakura nonetheless. I feel so . . .ugh! I need my sake," she stretched down under her desk to retrieve her hidden sake. "At least Sakura's not as badly hurt as we thought. She's already been released from the hospital and the doctors at the hospital said her injury's were minor but they could have been worse." Tsunade looked at the half empty bottle with disdain, "I'll have to get another bottle soon." She took one large gulp, loosing herself in the thought of her most favorite student almost getting badly hurt.

"Sasuke loves her."

Tsunade who was not expecting such statement out of the blue started to choke and slammed the almost empty bottle on her desk in a fit of coughing. Some sake sputtered out of her mouth to wet the front of her blouse and her desk. After her coughing fit died down she glared at Kakashi who only scratched the back of his head.

Grabbing a napkin from a drawer in her desk she dabbed at her blouse and wiped her desk, then discarded it into a nearby bin.

"What?" Tsunade's voice was incredulous. She stared at Kakashi nonplussed as if he had suddenly come to earth in a Spaceship from the planet mars. She looked in Kakashi's eyes to make sure he wasn't playing a trick on her or was up to one of his stupid mind games. Almost immediately she knew from the serious look in his eyes that he was most certainly telling the truth. "She loves him too," he suddenly equipped watching her carefully to see her reaction.

Tsunade blinked rapidly, "She? When did this happen? How could I have missed this?" She sat back in her chair and cocked her head to the side, her brows furrowed in deep thought. "Well that would most certainly explain why Sasuke went all ballistic on Ryo. I don't know much about the deceased Uchiha's history but from what I've heard I do know that they were extremely ruthless when it came to their enemies but they worked hard to achieve their high status. They had a lot of power and pride and always got what they wanted. Damn the consequences. "

Kakashi nodded his agreement, "Sasuke's no different. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. It's probably both. But one thing's for sure, he has to learn how to keep his temper in check."

Tsunade snorted. "That would be like putting a steak in front of a lion and commanding it not to it eat." Kakashi merely nodded silently agreeing.

Tsunade let out a deep and exasperated sigh, "Well, where is the Uchiha now? Has he already left."

"Most likely. School's been over for a while and if you weren't locked up in your office wallowing in self pity you might have noticed," Kakashi said looking pointedly at the clock. "You'll probably find Sasuke wherever you'll find Sakura. He blames himself for what happened to her," Kakashi answered Tsunade's earlier question before she had a chance to say anything about his earlier comment.

"Poor kid," Tsunade said rotating the sake bottle on her desk. He finally found someone who he cares for, only to have this happen. It's no wonder he reacted the way he did, he couldn't handle the thought of possibly loosing someone he truly started to care for again.


"Honey? Sakura, are you alright?"

Sakura sat up tiredly in her bed, pulling the sheets up with her and turned to face her mother. "Yeah, mom. I'm okay." Sakura answered glancing at the clock to see that it was only 5:00 pm. Sakura could see her mother frowning and knew that she was thinking about that incident. Too Sakura it almost felt like a bad dream, like a movie playing over and over in her head. Pulling back the sheets she winced at the pain in her head, a reminder that it was not a dream, that what happened was absolutely and terrifyingly real. She took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind, to clear Ryo's image from her head. She shuddered when she remembered Ryo's hands on her body, rough and persistent.

It was the worst experience she's ever had in her life and she didn't want to go through another one like it. She trembled at the thought of what would have happened if Sasuke, Naruto and Hinata hadn't found them. She took another deep breath and cleared her thoughts. She almost forgot that her mother was still by the door and watching her more worried with every second that passed. Everyone seemed to be doing that.

At school earlier today, her friends including Sasuke and his friends stuck to her like glue. Naruto nearly went ballistic on a boy who accidentally brushed against her in the crowded hallways and Tenten glared down at anyone who whispered behind Sakura's back about what happened yesterday. Sasuke blamed himself for what happened to her and no matter how much Sakura tried to convince him it wasn't he wouldn't hear it. To Sakura it was self-induced because if she'd listen to Sasuke and Naruto in the first place nothing like this would have happened.

"He's in the living room." her mother watched as Sakura turned to face her looking nonplussed. She ventured further into the room and took a seat at the edge of the bed with a small smile. "I told him that he didn't have to stay but he refused to leave. He's been here since he brought you home. He really cares about you, Sakura."

Sakura swallowed and nodded. "I. . .he blames himself but it's not his fault." Sakura's mother nodded and stroked her daughter's hair lovingly. "It was not anyone of you guys fault. I'm just grateful that he got to you before anything happened. I like him, he's good for you and he really cares for you." Sakura turned to look at her mother in surprise. It's not that she thought her mom didn't like Sasuke it was just that she never expected her to really really like him. Her mom was really picky and skeptical and Sakura guessed it was maybe because of her father.

"It's really hard to find someone who genuinely cares about you and does everything they can to protect you. . ." Sakura's mother trailed off and she stared at the wall in deep thought, probably thinking back at her life. She suddenly set her lips in a firm line and turned to Sakura. "Unlike your father." She cocked her head to the side thoughtfully.

"Anyway, I'm going to run down to the grocery store. The fridge is almost depleted of food. We need to restock and since Sasuke's here I'll just take advantage of this opportunity to go. I know he won't make anything happen to you. By the way there's food on the stove. It's your favorite." She leaned in and kissed Sakura on the cheek before saying goodbye. Sakura watched the door shut lightly after her mother's departure and after a few minutes heard the sound of her mother's car engine revving up and driving out the driveway.

Sakura flipped back her sheets and hopped out of her bed, wincing at the sudden throb of pain in her head. Groaning she rubbed her head.

"Sakura? What in the hell do you think you're doing?"

Sakura would have laughed at Sasuke's demanding tone if the throbbing in her head wasn't getting worse by the second. She didn't even notice that she was swaying until Sasuke was at her side steadying her. "I'm hungry." Sakura did recall her mom saying she made her favorite food . That only meant that there was nice rich, creamy and cheesy shrimp pasta waiting on the stove for her arrival. Right now, food is the only thing that can distract her thoughts from venturing on to anything else that happened earlier. She looked up to Sasuke with heavy pleading eyes.

"Hn."

Sakura beamed at him knowing by the way he said 'hn' he meant 'whatever' or 'alright'. Sakura circled him and slowly started to the door trying not to make her headache worse with any heavy motion.

"I'm sorry."

Sakura stopped at turned around to face Sasuke surprised and confused at his sudden confession. His hands were in his pocket and he was staring at the wall. "What? Why? It wasn't your fault."

"Then who's fault was it." he looked at her pointedly noticing the small and slight hint of trembling in her form. Sakura looked away before looking back at him. "If I listened to you in the first place-"

"That's bullshit." Sasuke ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Let's go, you said you were hungry, right?" Sakura nodded. "Mom said she made my favorite." her eyes lit up as she turned and headed for the door while Sasuke walked closely behind watching her every move closely and trying not to think about how much he wanted to kill that bastard Ryo.

……….........

Sakura pulled Sasuke's shirt in her fist and stood on her toes to try and reach his level but that was impossible. Sasuke lifted her les and wrapped them around his waist, pushing her back against the kitchen counter pushing back the plate of untouched pasta further onto the counter. How they ended up like this was way beyond Sakura's knowledge. All she knew was that she was about to start eating and she noticed that Sasuke was staring at her. Just staring. She asked him if he was alright and he only shook his head but looked as if he was in another world. She shrugged and started to turn back to her food when she was suddenly spun back around and pounced on. She didn't know what the hell got into Sasuke but she really didn't mind. This was the most passionate kiss she'd ever gotten from him and she felt like she was about to go up in flames. His hands restlessly roamed her body until they finally settled on the curve of her waist squeezing lightly.

Sakura pushed her hands against Sasuke's chest and he pulled away. His eyes were dark and clouded and his breathing deep and aroused. He kept his hands firmly planted on her waist and never once did he look away from her eyes. Sakura panted and breathed the much needed air after that exhausting and breathtaking kiss. She barely even had the time to regain air and to steady her breathing before he was on her again. This time the kiss was even deeper, his tongue probing and demanding, completely dominating her own. Sakura desperately clung to his shoulders and squirmed in his arms fighting to get closer to him even though it was impossible. They were crushed so tightly together she could feel the heat releasing from his body, coiling around her and numbing her senses. His kisses made her high, really high.

Sakura rolled her hips against Sasuke's in an attempt to get closer to him and squeezed her legs even tighter around his waist. "Sakura." Sasuke's voice was low and hoarse with arousal but also carried a silent warning. There was only so much a guy could take.

Splash! Crack! Both heads turned to the doorway where the noise of splattering and breaking glass came from. Naruto stood there in the doorway with his hand out holding mid air with a look of pure disbelief. Words couldn't describe the blonde's expression. On the floor was spilt ramen and the clay bowl lay in broken shards scattered on the tiled floor.

Sakura was so shocked she didn't even move, she just stared back at Naruto completely embarrassed.

"I . . I just c came to drop . . . Ramen . . .hungry. . .you Sakura to eat. Maybe I c came at the err. . .um wrong time." Naruto couldn't even speak properly. He sounded like a babbling drunkard. Sasuke glared back at him. "Yes you did. Leave." Naruto didn't need to be told twice. He spun on his heel nearly falling in the process but Sakura stopped him by calling his name. She narrowed her eyes at Sasuke and started to remove herself from around him. "Don't be rude."

Sakura had to literally try to force herself out of Sasuke's hold and when she finally got out Sasuke turned to Naruto with a deep scowl. Naruto avoided his gaze nervously and scratched his head while watching the spilt ramen on the floor with disdain.

"Hi, Naruto. . . um. You can stay." Sakura said pulling her clothes back in place, her eyes shifting around the room nervously. Naruto nodded and bit his lips as if struggling to say something. Sakura raised a brow at the hesitant look on his face while Sasuke just continued to glare at him for his abrupt interruption.

"Safety first! Use condoms!"

Sakura flushed scarlet red and her jaw dropped. Sasuke shook his head, he just knew the blonde was going to say something like that. He just knew. Out of his shocked state, Naruto grinned and strode to the stove to look into the pot for food seeing as his was no longer edible. He swung his arms with wild exaggeration as he walked then turned his head to look at Sasuke a sly grin in place.

"And from the size of that tent you pitched, I guess you'll be needing the extra large ones." But he didn't expect him to say that. Sasuke blinked once. He was three seconds away from ending the dobe's life but even he had to admit that his pants were extremely tight right now. That was gonna be a problem, a big problem.

"Ugh. . .I'll just go um eat in the room till um. . . Bye!" Sakura flew out the kitchen and fled up the stairs with her bowl in pasta in hand. Sasuke didn't miss the shocked and somewhat frightened look in her eyes. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Naruto, who only grinned back at him. "So I guess you'll have to fix that problem."

Sasuke scowled. "Maybe it would have been fixed if you hadn't rudely interrupted us earlier." he stepped towards the blonde who ran behind the counter to put some distance between them. "Easy Sasuke. Easy."

"What the hell? Do you think I'm some kind of dog?" Sasuke asked taking another step forward. Naruto shrugged, "It works on Kiba."

"That's because he is a dog." Sasuke snapped back irritably. Naruto pursed his lips together and raised his brows. "Whoa. That's not a nice thing to say." Naruto snapped his mouth shut when he heard Sasuke's low growl.

Suddenly Naruto's eyes lit up and he took a giant leap over the counter landing at Sasuke's feet. Sasuke took a step back and glared at Naruto who looked as if he just discovered gold. Sasuke shook his head and turned around heading out of the kitchen.

"You know. I've been thinking-"

"You've been what?" Sasuke asked incredulously his body froze in mid step. Did he just hear the dobe correctly? He could have sworn he said he'd been thinking. This had to be something absolutely stupid.

"Yes, thinking!" Naruto answered taking offense. "I may be dumb but I'm not blonde."

Sasuke closed his eyes and corrected him. "I think you mean I may be blonde but I'm not dumb." Naruto looked at Sasuke like he was the stupid one. "Sasuke! You're not blonde!"

"You know what, forget it! Just get back to what you were going to say before."

Naruto smiled. "Oh yeah. When you brought up that whole Kiba is a dog thing it reminded me of something I've been thinking about it a lot lately." Naruto explained. Sasuke actually turned to look at him half interested.

"Everyone has an animal that has similar char- chrast . .charecteria . . .what's that biology word again?" Naruto trailed off in thought with his head down. His head then snapped up so fast Sasuke was surprised he didn't break his neck. "Characteristics!"

"Everyone has an animal with similar characteristics like them. Kiba is a dog, Neji is a tiger, Shino is a bug, I'm a fox and you're a snake! I don't know what Shikamaru is though. . .but I can picture of him as that pokemon, snorlax. You know that big, fat, blue, lazy cat that doesn't move unless it gets food?" Naruto stared at Sasuke expectantly.

"You're an ass." Sasuke deadpanned. Naruto twisted his face in thought. "Well I can see how you would relate a donkey to a fox but. . .nope. I think I'm more of a fox. I don't think I'm a donkey. I mean come on, an ass? Nope. Too close to a horse and horses smell."

Sasuke blinked. Where the hell did he meet this guy? If Sasuke remembered clearly they met in kindergarten. Oh yeah. Naruto took his black crayon from him and he punched him in the face. Naruto bawled for the whole day but then the next day he followed Sasuke around curiously and demanded that Sasuke be his friend.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes in deep thought. He didn't recall agreeing but somehow and somewhere along the line they became friends. He sighed. Well, too late for regrets.

"Hello!!! Saki!" I cringed at the loud and squeaky voice of non other than the social blonde drama queen. Ino walked, no, Ino strutted into the kitchen exaggeratedly with shopping bags bouncing of both her arms. She stopped short with a squeak when she saw Naruto's mess from earlier on the floor. She sniffed. "Ramen?" she muttered. Then she groaned. "Naruto must be here."

"You bet I am!" Naruto shouted enthusiastically. Her head snapped up and she looked at Naruto in annoyance. "Clean this up will you. Hey, Sasuke!" she turned to look at me with something akin to appreciation and approval. Yep. She's been giving me those looks ever since I, much to her own pleasure, beat Ryo into unconsciousness. Which was just weird, I thought girls hated violence. I nearly snorted when I remembered that she was one of the most violent women to ever walk the earth, good luck to Shikamaru.

"Well I came to see if Sakura's doing well. If she's not she will be when she sees these. I went shopping." Ino held up the bags on her arms and jiggled them.

"And I care because?" I raised a brow and stuck my hand in my pockets.

"Lemme see!" Naruto darted for a bag and looked disappointed when all he saw was clothes. He frowned and pulled an item up. "What the hell is thi . . . knickers! eeeeewwwwww!"

Naruto threw the small, black lacy item in the air and only gasped in horror when they fell right back into his hands. Ino growled and grabbed them from him. "What are you sexually deprived? These are by far one of the cutest and sexiest underwear that you'll ever see in your life! Do you know how much these cost! This is a Victoria's secret you know!"

"Who's Victoria? And what does her secret have to do with that pair of stringy undies."

"Oh My God let me just tell you . . ." Ino looked about ready to tear her hair out and I could only stand by and watch in mild amusement. "You have got to be --"

". . .one the most egoistic, arrogant bastard on this earth. Who asked you to interfere you long haired weird eyed freak!" Tenten's angry voice growled and then the front door slammed shut.

"Okay. Not exactly what I planned to say but alright." Ino muttered to herself.

"And you are one of the most annoying and irritating person to ever exist on this earth after Naruto." The cool and unfazed voice of Neji returned with less vigor and hostility.

"That guy didn't deserve to be treated the way you treated him." Tenten spat.

"Trust me. If there's a guy out there who actually wants to ask you out he deserves to be treated like shit." Neji's voice did not betray any anger if he felt any. It sounded as if they'd stopped walking and now were arguing in the living room. Ino crept up to the doorway and stuck her head out and Naruto did the same. I just walked straight through the door and watched the oblivious teens battle it out. This was way better than that underwear talk.

"What's your problem? Who I date has absolutely nothing to do with you! Why the sudden interest anyway?"

"I just don't want to see you with anyone, that's all." Wow. That was uncalled for.

Tenten stumbled over her words at his bluntness. "W why! What are you jealous?"

"It could be."

Tenten's eyes widened at this unexpected answer. She folded her arms over her chest. "Or maybe you just don't want to see me happy."

"I wonder."

"Or maybe you just think I deserve no one." Tenten tried again with an extremely irritating look on her face.

"There's a possibility." Neji shrugged.

"Why don't you just give a straight answer for once? You are pissing me off."

"Good."

Tenten growled. "You know what. . .I didn't come here for this. I came here to see my friend Sakura. Why did you follow me here anyway?"

"I did not follow you. I came here to see my friend Sasuke who happens to be here. If anything, you were the one who followed me. If I had not come here, you'd probably still be getting sweet-talked by that dimwitted half assed looser who could barely keep his scrawny and chipped fingernail fingers to himself." Neji turned and inclined his head and nodded at me and Naruto and Ino. "Hey."

I answered but Naruto and Ino just stood there with their mouths agape. Neji didn't even look at Tenten when she started to sprout all sorts of colorful words his way. Tenten pushed her way pass him. "Why don't you just go and suck yourself?!" She shouted over her shoulder.

"Why don't you come and do it for me." Neji returned coolly. I whistled low under my breath and Naruto's jaw dropped open even wider. Ino's face flamed red. "When did he . . .get so. . .unNeji-like? I mean… he's rude. Or was he always like this?"

"What's all this ruckus I'm hearing?"

"Saki!" Ino and Tenten ran and hugged Sakura tightly.

Ino squealed, "I bought you the most adorable clothes and lingerie ever!" Sakura rolled her eyes at Ino's joy filled expression when she spoke about clothes. "Come on You have got to try these on." Ino pulled Sakura back upstairs and Tenten followed them up.

The last thing Sakura heard was Naruto's loud voice asking Neji if he was on some type of drug. . .weird.


"Troublesome." Shikamaru yawned as he made his way to the comfortable looking couch in the living room and laid down on his back with his hands behind his head, closing his eyes as he prepared for slumber. "Good day to you to." Kiba said sarcastically. Naruto only laughed aloud at Shikamaru's action. Sasuke shook his head.

"He just opened the door, walked right in and came straight to the couch to sleep. He didn't even say hi!" Naruto held his stomach in his fit of laughter. "Troublesome he says. Everything is troublesome for you, snorlax."

Kiba shook his head then turned to Shikamru questioningly from his laid back position on the floor. "How did you know we were here anyway?"

"Well Kiba, I figured you'd go wherever Naruto went. Naruto goes wherever Sasuke is and Sasuke is wherever Sakura is which is right here, in her home. Pure logics, man. Pure logics." Shikamaru ended that note on a deep yawn.

Kiba nodded pretending to understand and comprehend what Shikamru just told him but gave up. He didn't like brain teasers anyways.

"So where is Sakura?" Shikamaru asked half interested and looking just about ready to fall asleep. "Upstairs in her room with the girls. Hinata just came by. I just got here too." Kiba said.

"Ino's here too." Neji suddenly intervened and narrowed his eyes in Shikamaru's direction to see hat his reaction would be. He earned a wistful look from Shikamaru and nodded to himself as if he just solved something.

"So are you going to talk to her or just avoid her for the rest of your lazy and uneventful pathetic life." Neji said lying back casually with his arms beneath his head.

"Jesus Christ!" Kiba said shaking his head in disbelief. "How sympathetic of you Neji, remind me never to console in you when I have girl trouble."

"You have to have a girl to have girl trouble, you mutt." Sasuke cast Kiba a look and Kiba only growled back in return, hitting Naruto who was laughing manically.

"Are you guys' hungry?" Sakura's mother called from the kitchen. She got back from shopping a few minutes ago and only seemed more delighted to meet some of Sakura's friends. "You bet!" Naruto shouted back like a hungry dog. "Thanks mommy!"

Naruto started to call her 'mommy' ever since yesterday and she nor Sakura didn't really seem to mind.

"Did I hear something about food?" Tenten's voice rang through the living room as she ran down the stairs and flopped down on the floor. Hinata, Sakura and Ino did the same. "Are you girls hungry too? I'll just dish out some food for you. Sakura you just ate didn't you?" Sakura's mom peaked out from the kitchen as she mopped up Naruto's earlier mess on the floor.

"Nah, I'm not hungry." Sakura shook her head her eyes averted to the floor. She could feel Sasuke's gaze on her face, she could really feel it. She could also feel the light blush starting to crawl up her throat and to her cheeks. Her blush worsened when she thought back to what happened . . . nearly happened earlier in the kitchen. What would have happened if Naruto never walked in? Sasuke's kiss literally made all her senses fly out the window.

"SAKURA!"

Sakura yelped and blinked rapidly as she looked around startled. Looking at Ino she cocked her head to the side. "What?"

Ino raised a brow. "What? What?" She huffed and folded her arms under her breasts. "I have been calling your name for like five minutes that's what?"

"Sorry." Sakura shrugged as she watched everyone watching her weirdly. "Just spaced out for a second that's all."

"I know how that feels." Shikamaru mumbled to himself as he turned on the couch to get into a more comfortable position.

"Of course you do." Naruto snorted. "You do it all the time."

"But Sakura doesn't." Tenten stated watching Sakura sceptically. "What's up?"

Sakura flushed and her face started to heat up. "You're turning red Sakura." Ino noted. She raised a brow and grinned maliciously. "What were you thinking about?" she scooted closer to Sakura. Sakura flushed an even deeper red when she saw how everyone was staring at her.

"Oh! You're not thinking of when Sasuke nearly did you on the kitchen counter, are you Sakura?" Naruto bawled out. Silence. Sasuke shook his head and glared at the idiot. He wasn't really angry because he knew Naruto couldn't keep a piece of juicy news to himself for more than twenty four hours. He always spilled it, always. Sakura could have literally killed him on the spot. Everyone was dead silent now, even Ino who always had something to say.

"Uchiha." Neji was the first to speak, his voice sly yet serious at the same time. Only he could have pulled that off.

"Oops!" Naruto slapped his hand over his mouth and slowly eased away from the fuming and embarrassed Sakura.

"Say it ain't so?" Sasuke rolled his eyes at Ino's dramatic facial expression.

"Do tell. Do tell." Tenten wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Well it all started when I came through the kitchen door. . ." Naruto said waving his hands conversationally. Sakura turned tomato red at Naruto's detailed descriptions of what he was finished the silence was heavy with shock and amusement.

"You sure don't waste time, Sasuke." Kiba whistled lowly to himself. Sakura sank lower to the floor and groaned in embarrassment and what made it worse was that Sasuke was smirking at her. Smirking! The nerve of him.

…………………….

"Ah. See yah Sakura." Naruto said rubbing his full belly and letting out a ridiculously loud belch. He made a mental note to drop by at Sakura's house for dinner again. Sakura flung a cushion at Naruto's head just before he stepped out the door. Luckily for him he made it out in time and it missed him and hit the wall. Before he left, Sasuke pulled Sakura in for a quick but knee buckling kiss and left with the others.

"You sure have nice friends." Sakura's mom commented as they headed upstairs.

"Yeah. I do." Sakura sighed to herself although her thoughts were on something different altogether.

………………………….

"Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed as he thought about the long walk back home. He sighed as he checked his watch but was unable to make out the time because it was so dark.

"MAN! We lost track of time. Let's go Shikamru!" Naruto grabbed Shikamaru by his collar and dragged him along with him, Kiba and Sasuke. Neji only smiled a little to himself at the thought that he wouldn't have to hear Naruto's mouth on his way home because he lived in the other direction, fortunately. Also, if he remembered correctly, someone else did too.

"See yah Neji! Bye Tenten" Ino called over her shoulder as she held Hinata's hand and led her down the same path as the others. Hinata and Neji both lived in the same home but Hinata was staying over by Ino for the week because Ino needed some help with a class project. Neji nodded.

"Yeah. See you guys later." Tenten called back.

Tenten annoyed that she would be going in the same direction as Neji muttered something under her breath that sounded like 'later' and brushed pass him. She didn't get too far before she felt him grasped her hand and yank her back so she fell into his chest. Shocked and angry she spun around and was about to start cursing him but then she saw how serious he looked. Tenten swallowed and his grasp on her wrist loosened but not completely.

"Tenten. We need to talk."


Author's Note: I know! It took so long for me to update and I know how it feels to wait. I'm am very sorry. I'll try to update sooner but I won't make any promises that I can't keep. I was simply busy. On top of that, the first time I started writing this chapter my sister accidentally deleted it so I had to rewrite it. I was upset but I took what ever little time I had left and did it over. I'll really try to update sooner. Also, because I was in such a rush to try and get this done there will be a few mistakes that will be corrected later. I hate grammatical errors. I get really surprised when I review my own stories and see a lot of them. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter.

One more thing! On my profile I have some pics that I drew (I love to draw, though I'm not that good) for the story crush. They are just to give you an idea of how I picture the characters and their styles. One picture is with reference to when they were in the mall in chapter 6 . The other picture I drew is not really for a specific chapter, it's just a general picture of them. I actually have them on deviant art. I Hope you like the pics.