Naruto walks down the Konohan street, shaking her head in disdain. As she strolls, Shino trots past. As I find myself running out of words for 'walk,' Naruto stops doing that very thing and turns back to Shino, realizing she hasn't talked to him since….

Well, she didn't talk to Shino very much. One can talk at Shino but you get the feeling he's tuning you out due to lack of responsiveness. I mean, he doesn't even nod and say, 'Uh-huh,' to pretend he's listening and you just know he not looking at you from behind those glasses.

But Naruto felt compelled to speak to him.

"Oi, Shino!" She called. Shino stopped unceremoniously and turned.

"Yes, Naruto?"

"I met up with Kiba earlier," She mentioned Shino teammate.

"I am aware," Shino nodded, "I am also aware that he believes that you were not always female."

"Oh yeah," Naruto grinned and snickered, "Pretty nice about it though."

"Yes. His ability to accept abnormalities in his comrades is superior to most but his ability to admit his shortcomings is inferior."

"Shortcomings?" Naruto perked up curiously.

"Quite. He will never admit that his and Akamaru's sense of smell are inferior to that of my kikai bugs."

Naruto grinned slyly, "Oh really? How's that?"

"I have always known you were female," Shino admitted bluntly.

.

.

.

"Eh!?" Naruto shouted, "Then how come you never mentioned it?"

Nonchalantly, Shino shrugged, "I did not believe it to be important."

"Buh-buh-buh-"

"Good bye, Naruto," Shino said as he turned back around and strolled away, "And good luck with your change."

"Buuuuuuuuuuuh- wait, did Shino crack a joke?"

XxXxX

"There he is."

"And he's with Sakura."

"Why is he with Sakura-san?"

The Cotton Candy Brigade, consisting of Gaara, Sasuke, and Hinata, were practicing their stealth skills as they spied on Haku and prepared to ambush him.

"So when are we going to ambush him?" Gaara asked.

"No, wait. Change of plans," Sasuke rubbed his chin.

"What is it?" Hinata asked.

"Follow me lead," He said ordered.

Sasuke jumped from his hiding place and between Haku and Sakura.

"Well, you seem to be getting along with a romantic rival well," Sasuke told Haku.

"Eh? Sasuke-kun?" Sakura meeped, startled.

Haku was undisturbed, "Romantic Rival? I understand Naruto crushed on her, but she tells me she has no interest, unlike yourself."

Sasuke smirked maliciously, "You don't believe that, do you?"

"Sa-sa-sasuke-kun? What are you doing?" Sakura stammered, extremely Hinata like. To add to her nervousness was the sudden appearance of Gaara in a flurry of sand. His outstretched hand beheld a floating eye.

"I have seen how she looks at her," The jinchuuriki stated, "I have seen how she fawn at her when she isn't looking."

"Hinata has seen it too," Sasuke added.

Hinata stuck her head out of the bush, "Hai!"

Sasuke's Sharingan activated, "We have all seen it with our own eyes."

Haku smirked devilishly, turning from the pink haired trio to the formerly pink hair kunoichi.

"Is that so?"

Sakura's eye widened in fear.

XxXxX

Naruto was still gaping stupidly for the second time this day, wondering what the hell just happened. However, her thoughts were interrupted but a scream.

Naruto turned to its source, startled by recognition.

"Sakura-chan!?" True fear crept into her voice as she sprinted off in the direction of the scream.

Leaping over a tall building in a single bound, Naruto landed between Sakura and the attacking Cotton Candy Brigade minus Hinata but plus Haku.

"LEAVE SAKURA ALONE!!!" Naruto cried, her eyes red and her pupils slit. She charged the pink haired trio, knocking Haku out with one punch, then delivering a kick that would make Rock Lee proud right into Sasuke's face.

Speaking of Rock Lee, he was currently performing a super sonic Dynamic Entry right into Gaara's abdomens. Surprised, Naruto's eyes returned to normal and Rock Lee flipped into the air and landed gracefully next to Naruto. The victorious duo stood over the defeated trio.

"Didn't I tell you, Sakura-chan?" Lee proclaimed, giving the blue haired girl a thumbs up, "I would protect you until the day I died!"

"Yeah, yeah, me too!" Naruto copied Lee's nice guy pose causing the taijutsu prodigy to glower at her.

Sakura, for her part, was shocked at first by the preceding than her face broke into a smile. Interrupting their posing, Sakura grabbed both their shoulders and drawing her entice protectors close. She kissed Naruto and Lee on the ckeek in that order.

Too shocked for words, the duo stood stock still, allowing Sakura to turn around and walk away giggling.

The Next Day…

Naruto was happy. Why was she happy? Well, along with returning to a red dress, Sakura had washed the dye out of her hair.

"Do you like it, Naruto-chan?" She coyfully asked a drooling Naruto. She nodded her head rapidly in response, unable to muster the words. Sakura flashed Sasuke a deadly glare before softening in an almost playful manner, "You better watch out, Sasuke-kuuun," She said the 'kun' almost mockingly now, "You and you Cotton Candy Brigade can't compare to the original and all-natural specimen."

Sasuke realized then that the greatest rival for Naruto's attention had become an even greater threat. He could not physical harm Sakura. Naruto proved that she would protect her.

"Sasuke-kun!" Ino ran up to the trio, waving at the Uchiha.

Uchiha then pondered something he really shouldn't ponder.

Later…

Foxything has logged on…

Foxything: Woo! Kakashi-sensei got me this sweet computer! Now I get to check out this chat thing everyone talks about.

Foxything: And I'm talking to myself.

I_am_Batman has logged on….

Foxything: Someone is here! Wheee! Hello new person!

I_am_Batman: Oh ye gods, don't be who I think you are.

Foxything: Well, who do you think I am?

I_am_Batman: Naruto?

Foxything: Ding, ding, ding! You get a bowl of Ramen!

Foxything: *Gives Batman a bowl of ramen*

sharinganpowa4ever has logged on…

sharinganpowa4ever: sup

Foxything: Sasuke?

sharinganpowa4ever: sup

I_am_Batman: Some genius you are.

sharinganpowa4ever: wazzat meen?

I_am_Batman: Can't even spell right.

bYakuganpowafoevafu has logged on…

I_am_Batman: Oh

Foxything: My

sharinganpowa4ever: gawd

bYakuganpowafoevafu: Yo, yo, yo!

I_am_Batman: Neji?

bYakuganpowafoevafu: Oh hell no! I'm not that snot nose punk!

Foxything: Hinata?

bYakuganpowafoevafu: I'm not that stuttering bitch, either!

sharinganpowa4ever: then hu?

bYakuganpowafoevafu: Iz Hanabi-sama in the hizzouse!!!

I_am_Batman: Ah…

Foxything: Wait… who is Batman?

sharinganpowa4ever: bruce waine?

I_am_Batman: It's Shikamaru

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman has logged on…

Foxything: Sakura-chan!

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman: Naruto-chan!

Foxything: *huggles*

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman: *huggles back*

sharinganpowa4ever: *gags*

bYakuganpowafoevafu: Gay

I_am_Batman: Troublesome…

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman: Wait… Batman is Shikamaru!?

Foxything: Yes

I_am_Batman: *sigh*

Blonde_Wonder_Woman has logged on…

Foxything: Ino?

I_am_Batman: No, she's something different.

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: tHIS IS YOUR HOKAGE

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman: Hokage-sama!?

Foxything: Grandma!?

I_am_Batman: Troublesome again…

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: wAIT…

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman: Hokage-sama, your caplock.

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: bATMAN IS sHIKAMARU?

I_am_Batman had logged off…

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: wAS HE?

sharinganpowa4ever: no is bruce waine

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: ok THAT'S STUPID

sharinganpowa4ever: wel, at leest i kno how 2 us caplok

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: aT LEAST i KNOW HOW TO USE SHIFT

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: aND SPELL

bYakuganpowafoevafu: BURNED!!!

Sharinganpowa4ever has logged off…

bYakuganpowafoevafu: Well, dis been lovely fus, but Hanabi-sama iz gotta scoot!

BYakuganpowafoevafu has logged off…

Blonde_Wonder_Woman: i HAVE TO GO, TOO

Blonde_Wonder_Woman logged off…

Foxything: Huh…

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman: I think I better go too….

Foxything: Awww….

Pink_Haired_Wonder_Woman logged off…

Foxything: Aw well…

Foxything has logged off…

mangekyo2tehmax has logged on…

I_am_a_freaky_fish_guy has logged on…

Immortal_Highlander has logged on…

Showmethemoney has logged on…

Not_Pinnochio has logged on…

Imnotawoman has logged on…

Italic_n_Bold has logged on…

Angel_of_Deathnote has logged on…

I_am_Godman has logged on…

I_am_Godman: Alright, roll call. Konan, you do the honors.

Angel_of_Deathnote: Yes, Nagato-chan

I_am_a_freaky_fish_guy : Heh…

I_am_Godman: Shut up

Angel_of_Deathnote: Itachi

mangekyo2tehmax: heer

Imnotawoman: Oh, lord, can't you spell?

Angel_of_Deathnote: Zetsu

Italic_n_Bold: Here

Italic_n_Bold: Here

I_am_Godman: Just one of you is fine.

MrSandman has logged on…

I_am_Godman: Is that Tobi?

Italic_n_Bold: Naw…

Italic_n_Bold: He's something different.

MrSandman: i AM GAARA OF THE SAND

mangekyo2tehmax: o shit! is the 1-tale! ron!

mangekyo2tehmax has logged off…

I_am_a_freaky_fish_guy has logged off…

Immortal_Highlander has logged off…

Showmethemoney has logged off…

Not_Pinnochio has logged off…

Imnotawoman has logged off…

Italic_n_Bold has logged off…

Angel_of_Deathnote has logged off…

I_am_Godman has logged off…

MrSandman: Oh, here's the caplock

MrSandman: Huh? They're gone?

MrSandman: Wonder what that was about?

MrSandman: Probably not important.

MrSandman: Aaaand I'm typing to myself. Great.

MrSandman has logged off…

I_am_ a_good_boy has logged on…

I_am_ a_good_boy : Hey guys, what I miss!?

XxXxX

Sorry for not posting in a while. Sort of lost interest, really. Oh well, shut outs to whoever can match the rest of Akatsuki to their usernames.