Well the chapters are progressively getting longer, but I'm not going to let them get too long, it would change the pace of the story. I'm not too pleased that this one is going to be a two parter, I would prefer to keep them as short chapters, neat and precise. Oh well, when I finish it (yes I have an end in mind,) I can perphaps redo it all so it flows better.
Disclaimer, cut and paste the disclaimer from before, I'm too lazy.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Genius' in all but love.
Genius' raising the stakes
Konoha High
Life is not that bad. Sakura reflected. If a little busy.
She hurried through the corridors of her schools a mission on her mind. Find Sasuke Uchiha and show him some loving. After he'd repulsed her, catch up with Hinata, her new best friend. By moving as fast as she could through her days, she could almost forget that she hadn't seen Itachi in almost an week now. Even at his house she didn't catch so much of a glimpse of him. Not at training with Kakashi, nor before she left after tutoring Sasuke. Even Sasuke was complaining that noone was at home anymore.
Sighting her target, Sakura crept up behind him.
"Sasuke!" She squealed in his unsuspecting ear.
"Yaaah! Gettof you stupid female." He snapped, spinning around and putting his back to the wall as if expecting her to physically attack him.
"Bye Sasuke."
"Yeah, bye Sasuke!"
A couple of girls hurried past calling out goodbyes, blushing and bursting into giggles as Sasuke replied by turning his head away.
"Sakura-sweetie!" Naruto said trying to grab her hand around the double pile of books he was carrying.
"Hi, Naruto." Sakura said, ignoring his attempt as Hinata crept through the door last of all.
"Hi Hinata!" Sakura said.
"Hi Sakura." Hinata said quietly, giving a soft smile.
Sakura held down the giggle that shot through her, Hinata was sooo cute! And so lady like, and so gentle, and so pretty with her pale face and pale blue eyes and silky dark hair. Sakura was simply loving having a real friend at school. A year of being alone, as great as it was to have trailed around after Itachi her first year here, made her appreciate her first female friend.
With Hinata's gentle nature, Sakura felt like carrying her around all day like a fluffy kitten. Before Sakura could start chatting with Hinata, Sasuke's voice slid through the pink haze of happiness.
"Geez, are you desperate or what?"
Sakura felt the cold blue of reality slip back in. Restraining the natural glare forming itself on her face, Sakura turned a sweet face on him. Sasuke took a step back, looking like he regretted his words.
"Sasuke, you know the only person I'm desperate for is you." She said as sweetly as she could.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he turned his head away humphing. Naruto stared at Sasuke.
"Eh, are you blushing Sasuke?" He asked.
"No! Idiot." Sasuke snapped back, "And don't drop my books, idiot."
"I don't see why I have to carry them, I need to be ready at any moment to defend your life you know." Naruto said seriously, looking around as if expecting hired killers to burst out in the halls of Konoha High.
"I could carry them, i-if you l-liked." Hinata said, blushing harder.
Naruto looked at her frail arms, shaking his head he hitched the heavy pile back up against his chest.
"Nah, it's okay."
"Okay." Hinata said in a little voice.
"Hinata!" A male voice called out.
As one, the four turned to face the speaker. Sakura found her fists clenching naturally, sure that it was Neji calling out to his cousin. She'd worked up a healthy dislike for his superior 'thou are not worth the air you breathe' attitude. The only person who could make him back off was Sasuke, and she still didn't know why or how. Her curiousity itched to know that one. Even Naruto had assumed a defensive stance between Hinata and the speaker.
It turned out to be a tall, thin boy, with a heavy bowl cut and the thickest eyebrows she'd ever seen. He was, Sakura thought, original in looks. His uniform, though, was impeccable, and when he arrived in front of the group he stood up straight as if he was in a military parade. Extending his arm to shake Sasuke's hand, he eventually gave up as Sasuke stayed arms crossed, a silent stare on his face. Gathering himself together, the young man addressed Hinata, still standing behind Naruto.
"Hinata! Have you given any more thought to our offer?"
Hinata looked a little embarrassed.
"Yes, but I still don't know if I can convince my father to.."
"At least come to one meeting. Bring your friends!" He enthused. "You have to profit from your college years!"
"Uh." Hinata said.
"A meeting?" Naruto asked pushing futher forward. "What kind of meeting, and who are you anyway?"
The boy ignored him which made Naruto scowl, instead the boy addressed himself to Sasuke.
"My name is Rock Lee, 4th form, 14 years old, rising star of the Konoha High athletics team."
"So it's an athletic meeting?" Sasuke asked blandly. "Hinata doesn't seem to be the type to go out for athletics."
Sakura bristled for her friend, she was sure Hinata would do fine if she wanted to try.
"Uh, no." Lee said, momentarily thrown, regaining his train of thought he continued. "It's for the Darts club."
"The what?" Sakura asked.
"The Darts club. It's a club that my friend is starting up. We need at least five members before the principal will accept our status as official."
"What good is a Darts club?" Naruto asked letting Hinata step forward to stand beside him.
"Well, I guess that, it's Tenten's favorite pass time, and she thought it'd be cool if she started a club. You know really live it up a little while we're still young." Lee said a thoughtful look passing over his face.
Sakura watched Hinata carefully, she'd learned over the week that Hinata tended to follow the strongest opinion rather than push her own. Sakura knew the job of a good friend was to make sure Hinata got her way sometimes too. Hinata seemed interested, if hesitant.
What would one meeting hurt? Sakura thought.
"Sure, we'll try one meeting." She said standing beside Hinata and Naruto.
Hinata nodded shyly, Naruto looked unsure, then he nodded and said.
"I guess if Sakura-sweetie is going, Sasuke and I are going too."
"Hey! Whatdya mean me too?" Sasuke demanded angrily.
"Well I'm going, and I have to keep you safe, I can't do that if you're not with me, so you get to come too." Naruto said glaring at Sasuke.
Feeling the approach of another Sasuke vs Naruto argument coming on, Sakura stepped forward.
"Please Sasuke? Just once, to make Hinata happy." She pleaded, batting her eyelashes.
Sasuke drew back, a look of panic on his face, this time a definate, if faint, blush spread over his cheeks.
"F-for Hinata's sake." He stuttered his agreement.
Regaining his composure he crossed his arms and scowled at her.
"But only once. After that I don't want you bugging me anymore."
"'kay!" Sakura said brightly.
"Tomorrow morning 10 o'clock, here's the address." Lee handed out little business cards.
Wow professional. Sakura thought, turning it over in her hands.
Giving a last wave, Lee left at high speed.
"Are we going now?" Sasuke asked bored. "I still have to suffer through an extra lesson with Sakura."
"Suffering you call it?" Naruto said shocked. "If only I were as dumb as you, then I could pass soft hours alone being showered with the attention of the beautiful Sakura."
Sasuke thumped him over the head.
"I'm not the idiot, you are." He growled. "I'm only taking the lessons 'cause father forces me to."
"Oh yeah then why are you in remedial subjects?" Naruto asked snidely.
"Why are you in remedial with me?" Sasuke shot back.
"'Cause you're there." Naruto said pulling down one lower eye lid and poking out his tongue. "So I have to be."
"I don't need a bodyguard, father's being paranoid. I can take care of myself." Sasuke hissed back giving a hand sign.
Sakura groaned, if she didn't know better, she'd swear they enjoyed fighting together.
"Idiot."
"Bastard."
"Enough!" Sakura said. "If you want to display your male hormones go ahead, but Hinata and I are going to wait for you outside."
She and Hinata walked ahead, after a short pause they heard the boys running after them.
"Wait up! Sakura-sweetie! I'm coming!"
The Shurikan, Konoha
"A bar!" Sakura said shocked.
She double checked the address on the card and matched the name to the neat sign hung outside. She was about to turn away when Lee arrived next to her out of breath.
"Sakura! I'm glad you found it." He panted, pulling himself up straight.
Staring at him, Sakura started as a blush crept over his cheeks while he looked at her.
Gaaah! No thanks! Where's Sasuke when you need him?
"Sakura." Sasuke said appearing next to her, eyeing the blushing Lee. "Whaddya do to him?"
"Nothing," Sakura said defensively, "where's Naruto?"
"Oh he's coming later." Sasuke said nonchantly.
Sakura felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. Sasuke's cell phone started ringing. Flipping it open he adopted a arrogant pose.
"Yes? This is Sasuke Uchiha, who's calling please?"
"SASUKE YOU BASTARD! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU'RE DEAD!" Naruto's voice screamed down the line.
Sasuke smirk grew deeper.
"You have to find me first idiot."
Sakura wapped Sasuke over the head and grabbed his cell phone. Sasuke rubbed his head and let her take the phone.
"Naruto! Where are you?" She demanded.
"Sakura-sweetie, I'm still at the house, Sasuke tricked me!"
"Big surprise." Sakura muttered shooting Sasuke a killer glare.
Sasuke looked surprised, then he slouched and turned away as if unconcerned.
"Here's the address, get here quick!" Sakura ordered.
After giving the address, she flipped the cellphone shut and handed it back to Sasuke, who slipped it into his pocket and pushed open the door.
"But we're not old enough to enter a bar!" Sakura said, internally she was hopping with curiosity, externally she was wringing her hands in worry.
"It's okay it's closed anyway." Lee said holding open the door for her.
Uncertain she entered the bar. She had to admit she was a little dissapointed, it didn't look scary or seedy or dishonest or anything. It looked nice, almost like a cafe except the colours were a little darker than normal. Sasuke leaned on the bar next to Lee who was explaining something to do with the power of youth. Sakura wandered around a little, touching things absently.
The door swung open with force and Sakura turned expecting to see Naruto come rushing through but instead a tall lanky girl wearing her hair in two buns on the back of her head burst through.
"5 minutes 21 seconds." She panted, checking her watch. "I'm improving."
She stood up straight and looked at the people in the room. Her eyes lighting on Lee she strode over.
"Good work Lee, with four people we only need one more to be official!"
Lee stood to attention before her, or maybe that was simply his natural pose.
"There are two more people yet to arrive Tenten. They're all friends of Hinata."
"Excellent, excellent." Tenten said leaping the bar and landing lightly on the other side. "Can I get you guys something to drink?"
"Whisky." Sasuke said.
Tenten ignored him, she indicated Sakura with her chin.
"You there, the pink haired girl, whaddya want? I got water, coca cola, lemonade, fruit juice." Tenten said quickly rattling off the list.
"Uh, water thanks." Sakura said approaching the bar and extending her hand. "I'm Sakura Haruno."
Tenten took her hand in a strong grip and bounced it up and down a few times.
"Tenten. This is my Dad's place, it's going to be a great club headquaters. We can use it whenever we want as long as it's before 6pm." She shoved a glass of water at Sakura.
Lee opened his mouth to order, but Tenten fixed him with a glare. She shoved a glass of water at him and he sighed.
"I can drink a little you know." He said.
"No way, you on a sugar or caffine high is not what these guys need to see." Tenten said shortly.
"I hope Hinata gets here okay." Sakura said sipping her water, wishing her little friend was there.
"I saw her at practice this morning, it seems Neji will be bringing her over." Lee said taking his sports jacket out of his bag and putting it neatly over a chair.
"Maybe we can recruit him too." Tenten mused a gleam coming into her brown eyes. "If he joined we'd get more members easily.
Noticing Sasuke didn't have a drink, Tenten shoved a glass of water at him too. Sasuke opened his mouth to protest, but Tenten had already moved on.
"Are you serious, have you ever tried to even talk to him? He's a major, stuck up, rude, little..." Sakura said, warming up to her subject.
"Asshole." Sasuke said draining his glass in one gulp.
Tenten shook her head.
"Yeah maybe, but just think of the publicity it would give the club!"
"Tenten is giving her all to make this club a success." Lee said proudly.
The door pushed open slowly and Hinata's head poked through. She gave a shy smile and entered.
"Hinata!" Sakura said happily.
Tenten waved her in, pouring another glass of water.
"Is your cousin coming too?" She asked, handing the glass over.
"N-no," Hinata said shyly, "he said he has better things to do with his Saturday mornings."
Tenten humphed, and put her hands on her hips. Hinata ducked her head and sipped at her water. Sakura put her arm around Hinata and glared up at Tenten.
"But we don't want him here anyway. We already have enough people." Sakura said loudly, daring Tenten to keep pushing after Neji.
"Yeah, I guess." Tenten said sighing.
Her glare gone as quick as it had come Tenten smiled and gestured broadly to the bar around them.
"Welcome to the Shuriken, headquarters of the Konoha High Darts Club! I'm Tenten the president. He's Lee, the vice president. You guys already know each other so I won't waste my time. We need you to sign the register then we can start the first meeting!"
Tenten passed around a green notebook and everyone dutifully signed their names, even Sasuke who, naturally, smirked when he handed it back.
Happily patting the notebook Tenten opened her mouth to continue her speech when the door almost burst off its hinges swinging open hard enough that everyone inside winced. Like a miniture whirlwind Naruto entered the bar, eyes wild, hair pink.
Sakura gagged on her mouthful of water. Even Hinata started coughing, Lee raised an impossibly thick eyebrow, while Tenten openly stared. Sasuke started smirking, which turned into muffled laughter. He curled his upper chest over the bar as if afraid to let out all the laughter in his body. As if afraid such a release would hurt him, or be dangerous.
"SASUKE!" Naruto yelled at a previously unknown decibal. "PREPARE TO DIE!"
"B-but idiot, it looks g-good on you!" Sasuke gasped out, fighting a desperate battle for self control.
"DIE BASTARD!" Naruto screamed, launching himself at the still laughing Sasuke who struggled into a fighting stance.
Sakura closed her eyes, this time it was serious, and she didn't want to see the end.
"KONOHA WHIRLWIND!"
A series of thuds later, Sakura slowly opened one eye. Naruto lay twitching on the ground, while Sasuke stood staring at the dart quivering between his feet.
Lee stood over the floored Naruto, a serious look on his face.
"I'm sorry I had to do that Naruto, but I can not allow you to use violence to solve your dispute with Sasuke."
For a moment, Sakura felt a stab of respect for Lee. It dissapeared as Lee noticed her looking at him and he gave her a dorky thumbs up and winked at her. Sakura looked away and found Tenten twirling a dart easily between her fingers.
"Well, shall we get started?" She said calmly.
Naruto groaned and struggled to his feet. Sasuke sat back down, the habitual smirk on his face, all trace of laughter gone.
"It's not permanent idiot. It'll wash out by Monday." He said as if it was obvious. Turning back to Tenten, he looked at her boredly.
"So Miss President, what's on the menu for today?"
"Well," Tenten started,
"Hey, who said she's president?"Naruto grumbled.
Pulling out a cap he shoved it on to his head, hiding his hair.
"I did pinky." Tenten said, twirling her dart again.
Naruto had his stubborn face on again, Sakura's head sank onto the counter top, this could only go down hill.
"Well I say we should vote on it." Naruto said glaring at Tenten.
"Well I say I started this club and that makes me president."
"Well.." Naruto started.
"We-we could compete for it." Hinata said, putting a hand on Naruto's arm.
She blushed and removed her hand quickly looking at the ground.
"I-I mean if you think we should." She whispered.
"Hell yeah." Naruto said swinging his arm around in circle. "That way I can challenge the bastard and show him who's boss."
"Whenever, where ever pinky." Sasuke smirked.
Naruto clenched his fist.
"Oh yeah, this'll be good." He promised a fire lighting in his eyes.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Do you mean to tell me noone saw Tenten coming? Nevermind, Kunoichi008 you were halfway there with Lee,not bad. Next chapter it's the battle for leadership, and Itachi returns! Afterall, Sakura's getting desperate and I think she deserves a little loving after the week she's had. But how is Sasuke really doing with all this seesawing from Sakura? One moment she's all over him, the next he's dirt. How much confusion can one teenaged boy take? Ja ne people.
