Chapter Twenty-Five

Feud

It hurts but I never show this pain
You'll never know
If only you could see just how lonely
And how cold

And frostbitten I've become,
My back's against the wall
When push comes to shove I just stand up and scream
"Fuck 'em all!" – Weezy F. Baby (Lil' Wayne); Drop The World (Feat. Eminem)

- Feud -

Whispers surrounded her as she brushed back her pink hair with her hand and made her way up the cobblestone path to the front doors of the school. She was doing her best to ignore the little phrases being tossed around, but the bits and pieces drifted to her anyway.

"I heard he left the gang."

"He left her on the porch."

"I thought he loved her."

"No, she loved him."

"I don't think that was enough."

"She shoulda done something about it."

"I know, maybe then she wouldn't have to act so sad."

"And he's going on as if nothing's wrong."

She fought the urge to shake her head at what everyone was saying. She couldn't stand to hear them speak about her as she walked by, as if she weren't physically there, but more so on a screen, like a movie, and everyone was telling each other about what had happened so far. Where everyone was talking about her personal life as if it were nothing but a film to them. She clenched her fist subconsciously.

"She shoulda done something about it."

She had tried to do something about it, but in the end, her emotions got the better of her and she broke down. The pain had been too much to bear; could they blame her?

"I thought he loved her."

She'd thought so too. She'd been gullible enough to believe it when he told her that he loved her, and she fought back a pained sigh at the memories that she held dearest to her heart. She didn't want to think about it; she didn't want to think of anything, not even a memory that she shared with him. Unconsciously, her hand found its way to the side of her neck, and she let it rest there.

"No, she loved him."

The memories hurt, precisely the reason she didn't want her thoughts to even bring them up. It was so difficult to completely ignore such memories. She'd thought their moments together had been beautiful, the best times of her life, but she now saw them as a curse; a damnation that had been sent down on her to cause her misery. "But what did I do?" She let the words escape into a soft murmur, a whisper that carried on the ears of the wind.

"I don't think that was enough."

The words, the phrases, the rumors going around. They weren't all meant to be cruel, but in a way they were. They pained her heart badly, terribly, making it ache with every bit or sentence she heard. The really bad part was the no one bothered to stop talking about it even when they saw her going by. The last few days had been a living hell and now that she was back at school, they were making it worse. What the hell was this? Did someone want her life to be this bad; forcing her into such a state of misery that she could barely think straight?

A small growl escaped her and she let her hand slam into the front doors of the school, pushing them open with such a force that they slammed into the walls behind them.

"And he's going on as if nothing's wrong."

And that was the absolute worst part of it all…

- Feud -

Hinata
Sakura's state of mind was really beginning to worry me. She seemed down lately, but also incredibly angered, as if everywhere she turned someone were telling her something that made some unknown rage swell up slowly inside her.

This, I found out, was practically true, as I strolled down the halls to lunch. Rumors flickered to me from nearly every corner, all about Sakura, and Sasuke, and how he left his gang for Orochimaru's. Well there's no doubt in my mind that it was Ami and them who got the word out…

At the thought, a small bubble of anger built up inside of me. Those girls couldn't keep their mouths shut even if they were on the verge of being killed because of gossiping so much. I frowned, lips pursed as one of my fingers found its way to my chin. It curled there, and I'm pretty sure I looked like some genius type kid trying to figure out a genius type problem. The only thing was; I wasn't a genius type kid and I wasn't trying to figure out a genius type problem. I was a simple fourteen year old girl trying to figure out a matter of love and loss. And in this case, the love and the lost were the same person.

I shook my head and brought my hand back down to grab onto my book-bag strap. I wasn't going to stress too much on this. The basis was that Ami and her gang spread the rumor round that Sasuke left Akuri Kaze. But why would they spread the rumor around? Why would they want so many people to know about this? They could've used him as a spy; no one in the school liked Ami's group, unless it was one of the few souls who had…messed with them before. Sasuke would've been a great asset; could've gotten great information from others for them, worked as their spy. But…

"And crap; I'm stressing it again!"

Something in my mind clicked though, and I felt my whole face light up on itself. "That's it!"

And with an excited yet admittedly angered little jump, I ran through the halls to the cafeteria. I had to find Tenten and Karin.

Karin
A frown came over my features, pursing my lips and furrowing my brows all on its own. Things were going oddly today. Every time I caught a glimpse of Sakura going to her classes, she seemed pissed, or depressed, and all the while very moody. What I didn't understand was why. She'd been fine just last night, the depression that she'd experienced for the first couple of days leaving her almost completely. Now she seemed…annoyed.

And I didn't know why. And that had me confused. Why would she be pissed? Why so distressed and frustrated and depressed if you'd been just fine the night before? But then the thought hit me, harder than the back of a gun against the back of someone's head. The solid truth came to me in an instant. Ami…

She was behind all this, one way or another. Knowing her, she'd probably spread the word around that Sasuke had left Akuri Kaze. She probably –

"I am going to kill Ami."

The statement was so bold, so out there, and so unlike the person that said it that as soon as the words left her mouth my eyes were wide and focused entirely on Hinata. There was a glare on her face, a glare that reminded me scarily of her cousin, and a huge pout on her lips that gave a pissed-off vibe from her. "What did she do?" I couldn't stop myself from asking, I had to know. It was as if someone from the Heavens had sent her down to confirm my thoughts. Hinata raised that glare to look at me, not to glare at me, but to get the message that Ami had played her strings loud enough to piss even sweet little Hinata off.

"The evil little witch has been going around spreading the news that Sasuke's left Akuri Kaze." I fought back a bitter smirk; I'd been right on that part. And then another thought occurred to me. "Wait, but I haven't heard any rumors about Sasuke leaving, and rumors are all over the place when they're in this damned school." I frowned again, and Hinata answered my question completely and entirely, almost immediately after I'd asked it. "Maybe that's because she didn't want you to hear." I frowned. "What exactly do you mean?"

Hinata let out a little sigh and her sharp gaze was directed toward where Ami and her friends usually sat. "Tell me, how would you feel if you heard someone talking about Sasuke leaving the gang in a public hallway where everyone could hear?" My scowl deepened. "Pissed the fuck off." Hinata smiled bitterly at me, a strange sweetness and patience in it that I didn't quite understand. "Now tell me Karin, what would you have done if you'd heard these rumors?" I shrugged. "Blamed Ami." Her smile was still in place as she said, "And what would you have done to Ami?"

And that's when I realized Hinata was a damn genius. She'd solved their little plan quickly, in what I was guessing her way over to lunch from her last class, while it would've taken somebody else about half an hour. "I would've killed her." I said without hesitation. Hinata's smile seemed frighteningly sweet for a moment before her sharp gaze turned icy at Ami's table. I looked over my shoulder and saw that Ami and cronies were taking their usual spots. I raised an eyebrow and turned back to her. "Okay, but why would Ami spread the rumor around is what I wanna know. I mean, it's not like she's stupid enough to let an opportunity for a spy to slip past her. She knew we wouldn't tell anyone because she knew we'd feel ashamed for letting him get away and join up with them." My scowl deepened even further and I pushed the glasses up the bridge of my nose.

Hinata's smile was back in place, a look that gave her a senile edge that I'd never seen before. "But maybe that's how she wanted it in the first place. And maybe she wasn't so dumb that she could easily see what we couldn't." At this, I raised an interested eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Hinata's lips curled upward, broadening the bitter smile. "Think; if we were ashamed, think who it would come down hardest on." Realization dawned upon me. "Sakura…"

She nodded and continued. "And that meant that being as ashamed as she was, she would lose her self-confidence and duck in the shadows. She'd be too publicly humiliated to show her face around here, and people would mock her for it and turn against her, as any student body would against any kid with a low self-esteem. They'd bully her, and she'd be too scared to fight back; for fear of being humiliated all over again. And she wouldn't have the nerve to fight anyone else, including the girls she hates so dearly." That smile, the senile part of it turned semi-psychotic. This was a side of Hinata I'd never seen before in my life, and I said I wasn't sure I wanted to see.

"It's the perfect mental and emotional breakdown…" I said, head turning to look over my shoulder again at Ami.

Hinata's smile never faltered and she nodded twice. "Yes, but not only that. Let's also not forget that Sasuke's fan-girls go for whichever side he's on, whether it's for better or for worse. They'd want to join in Ami's gang to be near him, and that would strengthen their numbers and the gang itself." Despite the way it was all being laid out for me, I felt a slight sense of confusion. "But her gang is already big; there's exactly fifty-two girls…fifty-one now that I'm out." I glanced up at her, and saw that she was still smiling. "Yes, but they know that they're going to need a lot more members if they hope to stand a chance against us. Fifty-one girls was weak against us the other day, but that's because the girls in Ami's gang aren't strong. Individually, they all have about the same strength as a twelve year old girl. So she needs numbers to strengthen her power, this way she could stand a chance. And plus, it strengthens Orochimaru's army too, and that would satisfy him, more than her dirty body could, and therefore make him possibly regard her as a higher ranking official when he actually goes for his takeover. Not only this, but these girls, just by hearing that Sakura and Sasuke had such feelings for each other, would turn against Sakura of their own accord, simply because she accomplished what they couldn't. And they'd go and try to hurt her all on their own, with or without Ami's gang. And eventually, the invitations to join the gang would go out."

My eyes widened. This girl really was a damn genius. She'd gotten down to every last fiber of their plan and solved it in matter of minutes. She was good; really good. It was no wonder she was the strategist; she had a brain like Shikamaru's that girl did. She didn't exactly plan the next two hundred steps as soon as one was completed, but she didn't let herself fall behind either. She'd guess an enemy's defenses, strategies, and come up with a tactic against it. She was powerful all on her own, but with this knowledge, Hinata was a force to be reckoned with, a force that could beat her opponent easily. "Hinata… you're a genius kid." She smiled at me, but it wasn't one of those sincerely embarrassed smiles she'd give whenever someone complimented her, and she didn't blush as she usually did. Her smile was…too sweet, psychotic even.

And then the next few things that happened were like a movie played in fast forward. Hinata got off the circular seat so fast that it seemed as if there was thunder to accompany the movement a few hot seconds later. Her hands were balled tightly into fists as she pounded on the cafeteria floors in her cute white flats, her uniform skirt swaying wildly with every step she took toward Ami's group. At about a distance of twelve meters they looked up and saw her coming, and broad smirks spread out on their lips. "Oh, look who's coming. It's the weak little rich girl." The words were venom and thrown at Hinata so loudly that I heard them, and I was across the cafeteria from them. Hinata didn't appear to have heard them though, because she had reached their table at the precise moment that Ami's words had ended and the small group she usually kept let out rude, mean chuckles.

Before anyone could even sense what was going to happen, Hinata reached over the table, brought her fist across Ami's face and snuffed her so hard that Ami fell out of her chair and rolled along the floor a little, blood spattering on her tray. Shock registered on not only Ami's face, but on every face in the cafeteria, and nobody was spared of the surprise enough to try and restrain Hinata as she put a foot on the table, flipped off, and jumped onto Ami, fists swinging wildly, and the occasional palm escaping to strike one of those nerve-numbing blows.

This was a side of Hinata I'd never seen, the side that I was scared to see, the side that was so…Hyuga. It was dangerous and lethal, and so unlike her that it was a shock to see it even escape in the slightest. Hinata was always so kind, so sweet, and to see her utterly lose control and actually look as if she was about to kill someone would be a shock to anyone, even people who had just met her a couple minutes beforehand.

Her skilled hands found any and all openings and took advantage of every shot possible. Ami was struggling to block her face and was bleeding right under her eye. One of her arms went limp and fell at her side immediately after Hinata's hand brushed her shoulder. Just then, loud footsteps resounded on the linoleum floors and I caught sight of Tenten hurtling toward Hinata and Ami. Her eyes were alarmed, but only because Ami's girls were closing in quickly on Hinata, and she was scared they might hurt her. But Hinata was good.

One aimed to strike Hinata in the back of the head but Hinata brought back her elbow, fist clenched, and brought the fist down to strike Ami across the face again. That punch drew blood and it spattered on the floor next to Ami's face. Tenten sped up as another girl came for her, ready to kicked her in the chin. Hinata back-flipped off of Ami and kicked the other girl, Hanara, I realized, straight in the sensitive part under her chin. Hanara's air was cut off and she fell back with a loud thud, clutching at her throat and struggling to breathe, her skirt raised so high after sliding back that part of her panties were showing.

"HINATA!"

At that precise moment Tenten flipped over the group of girls and in front of Hinata, a kunai drawn and ready, as she stood in her stance, ready for a fight. Those piercing brown eyes were narrowed challengingly at the whores that stood around her, as if saying, "Go on and try it little bitch; I dare you."

And all this in less than a minute.

The sluts were silent for a minute, although they were still inching their way toward Hinata and Tenten, surrounding them. Shiho lunged for Hinata at a moment's notice, and a moment was all Hinata needed. She turned and struck Shiho with her lightning fast palm right in the stomach, and sent her flying back. But Hinata wasn't satisfied yet, oh no. She was still pissed and had a lot of steam to blow off. So with that, she hurtled toward where Shiho lay on the ground, coughing and gasping and trying to breath, and began to attack her, punching and palming her repeatedly.

There was another shout of "HINATA" only this time in a much deeper, more masculine voice than Tenten's. A blur of blond went by me so fast that I felt the wind after Naruto reached her and pulled Hinata off of Shiho.

She eased immediately at his touch, but that didn't stop him from putting her over his shoulder and high-tailing it across the linoleum floor and back out of the metal institutional-looking cafeteria doors and out into the hallway in Olympic track timing.

There was absolute silence for a moment before the sounds of loud teenage chatter filled the cafeteria again. Every conversation revolved around what had just happened, how Hinata had kicked Ami's and Shiho's asses so bad.

And I couldn't help but think that no good would come of this.

Hinata
Naruto.

Naruto, Naruto, Naruto.

For some reason his touch always soothed me, those kind understanding eyes always calmed me, that golden hair brought me to hold onto him. That was the exact effect that he had on me right now. He'd let me down, but I couldn't help but latch onto him, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist. He brought his arms around my neck and kissed the top of my head. "Hinata…"

I already knew what he was going to ask, and yet I found it such a surprise when he asked it. "What were you thinking back there?" I took a shaky breath, shaky because I still had that intense anger burning somewhere inside me, and let my shoulders sag as I hugged him. "I was thinking that Sakura didn't deserve something like this." I didn't need to elaborate because I knew that he knew what I was referring to. He pulled me tighter to him and he asked, "I don't understand; how did you just lose it like that?" I shrugged and buried my face in his chest. "I don't know if any of the girls have told you this but I am not the right person to anger." I bit my lip, half-expecting him to pull away from me and half-expecting him to give me a look of disgust.

Of course; he did neither.

As a matter of fact he let out a small sigh and held me even tighter. "Hinata…" He stopped for a brief moment, as if groping for his next few words, choosing them carefully. Finally he came out with: "Okay, I know this is gonna sound disrespectful but…you look so damn hot when you're pissed off…"

Despite what had just happened a couple of minutes ago, a bright blush adorned my cheeks and I bit my lip, a small smile coming onto my face. The anger in me began to dissipate and I let out a small giggle. He laid his chin against the top of my head and I could feel him smiling himself. "I love you…"

My smile only broadened. "I love you too Naruto…for some reason you always know how to make me feel better." His smile turned into a broad grin. "That's because I know you Hinata." Another giggle escaped me and I held him tighter for the briefest instant before the cafeteria doors swung open and out came Tenten, a few hairs coming out of her buns and her expression worried. I already knew what was coming.

"Hinata…what did they do to you? You haven't lost control like that in years."

I stepped out of Naruto's arms, missing the warmth and comfort of them as soon as I did, and held Tenten's curious gaze steadily. "They were trying to hurt Sakura…"

Tenten pursed her lips and put a finger to her chin. "But Sakura can handle herself, I mean you know she's a phenomenal fighter." I frowned and shook my head. "Maybe physically, but they were trying to hurt her emotionally. Why else do you think they've started up all these rumors? It's because they want Sakura's mentality weak." Her eyes widened and pretty soon I saw a flash of anger somewhere in her eyes, but it was gone as quick as it had come. She shook her head and said, "Hinata…I…"

"You're shocked?"

She nodded and let out a small sigh and then a little laugh. I raised an eyebrow, confused. "What's so funny?" She looked up at me, eyes twinkling in a sort of grim manner. "The look on Ami's face when you delivered that first punch. I swear she was so surprised it looked like she'd just found out that fucking random men can increase your chances of getting an STD." I frowned. "Wait but doesn't everyone know that?"

She put her weight on her hip and looked me full on. "Hinata, it's Ami…really?" I blushed lightly but let out a small giggle myself. "She was surprised?" She nodded enthusiastically. "Very. And man you just had to see her face after you did all that to her. She was just in shock but there was blood everywhere. You broke her nose and lips and I think you knocked a couple teeth out. And you gave her two black eyes that are gonna be like the size of Jupiter by tomorrow because you broke her nose. And I swear I think she's temporarily paralyzed because of how many times you hit her with the gentle fist." Hearing about how much damage I'd caused her made me let my mouth drop open like a fish. "I did all that?"

Tenten nodded again and placed a proud hand on my shoulder. "You don't usually lose control like that, but when you do Hinata, it's epic…when you're not coming against us, at least." I blushed heavily at the last part and I prayed to the Heavens that Naruto didn't hear her. That memory was not something I wanted to relive. It was painful and embarrassing and yet a part of me had to admit, hilarious. But the whole reason it was hilarious was because of what made it embarrassing.

Unfortunately, Naruto did hear it, and didn't bother not asking. "What do you mean by 'when she's not going against you'?" I couldn't fight the blush that seemed to darken ten shades at the question and Tenten let out a small laugh herself. "Oh, it's nothing really, just that the first time Hinata ever lost her temper it was on me and Sakura." My blush darkened and Naruto's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Really?" Tenten nodded enthusiastically. "Why?"

Oh God, he's really asking her this.

Tenten just smiled and said, "Because she was tired of me and Sakura fighting…" Naruto raised an eyebrow and then turned to look at me. My blush was so dark by now that I actually felt faint in the first few seconds of the rush of blood. He let out a small laugh, a bright smile on his face, and he pulled me to him, arm tight around my shoulders. "Ahaha I love you, Hinata." He buried his face in my hair for a second and then turned to Tenten. "What did she do to you?" Tenten's smile broadened genuinely. "Umm…something along the lines of what she just did to Ami." Her smile turned slightly amused, a quiet humor twinkling adorably in her eyes. "We all just laughed it off afterward." Naruto frowned. "You didn't fight back?"

Tenten looked absolutely horrified at the idea. "Oh God, no! I would never hurt Hinata! She's too adorable and innocent and she doesn't deserve to be hurt." She smiled sweetly at me and I smiled back. "So we just let her whoop our asses." She let out a small laugh and turned her sparkling brown eyes on Naruto. "She is adorable when she's whooping ass though." As if to prove her point, she brought her hand down on my head and ruffled my short hair. I let out a small giggle and blushed lightly as I pushed my hair back into place.

She let out a soft sigh and then her expression showed slight worry. "Well Hinata, there's only one thing to do with you now that you've practically destroyed Ami." I blushed again. "What?" I asked. She shook her head once and said, "Get you the hell outta here before you get suspended." I couldn't help but laugh as she grabbed my hand and hauled my down the hall, with Naruto tailing close behind.

Sakura
I was disgusted at what I was about to do. It wasn't like I wanted to but I had to make sure that Hinata hadn't killed them. So, holding back all nausea, I sauntered over to Ami and placed two fingers on the side of her neck. A couple beats was all I needed to reassure myself that she wasn't dead. She was hurt, oh yes, I could easily see the pain on her near-unconscious features, but she was alive. (Damn; I was kinda hoping for the opposite!)

More nausea swept over me, but I ignored it and walked over to the sluts that were lying down, unconscious themselves. I gulped back a particularly strong wave and knelt down and felt their pulses. I let out a small sigh when I realized that they were all alive. It wasn't necessarily relief though it was more disappointment than anything. They were going to be just fine; emotionally scarred, maybe, but physically perfectly fine.

A hand clasped down on my shoulder and I turned to see Sakurambo standing there, free hand on her hip. "Well…I guess this just means we still have to deal with them." The one good thing about the connection we had was I never had to say what was on my mind out loud. "You gonna be okay?" She asked me, but I was certain that she knew my answer. "…I…just don't know…" She gave me a reassuring smile and patted my shoulder. "Downhill or uphill, I'm here for you." I smiled at her. Yeah, only because the connection forces you to be.

Fuck up.

I let out a small laugh and pulled her into a short, sisterly hug. "Sakurambo you crazy bitch, where would I be without you?" She glanced over at me slyly, and a smug grin crept onto her face. "Don't say shit Saku!" But, as usual, she ignored me. "You'd be in an institution for mental people." Okay, I had to admit, that made me laugh like a hyena. "Why do you say that?" She shrugged. "I guess I've always been your conscious." I looked over at her with what must've been the biggest WTF look I'd ever worn. She just let out a loud laugh and a broad grin graced her features.

She opened her mouth to say something but the sound of cafeteria doors slamming open made everyone turn their heads sharply to face the entrance.

I'm pretty sure my jaw hit the floor when I saw Tsunade walk into the cafeteria in all her glory. Her long blond hair was pulled into two low pigtails at the nape of her neck and her hazel eyes scanned the area, until fully landing on me. "You!" She pointed straight at me as well, and for a second I didn't understand.

And then I looked around me and noticed that all the sluts were bloody and bruised and battered, and scattered around me.

And I had blood on my fingers.

Oh fuck I'm screwed.

Oh yes you are…

Temari
I pushed open the doors to the cafeteria and my mouth fell open. Everyone was silent, staring at me, as I stared at what was most likely half of Ami's gang thrown around on the floor, battered and bloody and completely beaten. "Oh…shit…"

I looked around the crowd of students and my eyes found a pair of sparkling sapphire ones. I'm sure there was a question in mine, and she caught it easily. She nodded once, and I turned and was off. I knew everyone's eyes were on me, but that wasn't a matter. What was a matter was finding Hinata, and finding Sakura.

Oh shit. Hinata went wild and Sakura took the blame. Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit, fuck, damn!

Classrooms blurred by as I turned another corner and made an abrupt stop at the glass sliding doors of the principal's secretary's office. A flash of pink going into the actual principal's office was all I needed. I slid the door open and shot through, not even bothering to close it, and gave the secretary a hasty smile before pushing through the door of the principal's office.

She didn't notice me at first, or if she did, she didn't show it. She kept on lecturing Sakura, who's face was livid and serious.

" – in their right mind would take on twenty-five other girls at a time! And you left them so injured! I should have you suspended! I should have you expelled for what you've done!"

Sakura raised a hand, but Tsunade ignored it completely. "You don't deserve to be in a school if this is what you're going to do, even if it's a school as shitty as this one!"

Whoa; major eye bugging from me.

"You'd better start packing your shit into your bookbag, and I'd move back to Suna if I were you because - !"

"Oh my fucking gangster will you shut the fuck up!"

Heh heh, there goes Sakura. I had to hold back huge guffaws at that, but it was so damn hard. I never thought in a million years that I would see Sakura yell at a teacher, much less a principal.

Tsunade seemed frozen, her pointer still in the air, and directed at Sakura. Blossom raised an eyebrow. "Oh wait, excuse me. I didn't mean to get all loud, but your lecturing was getting on my nerves. If you're gonna try to spazz, spazz right. Like so…"

She cleared her throat, and was off.

"First of all, I don't know why the fuck you're yelling at me when I'm RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! See how much you like it. Second of all, those damn whores deserved it because they've been picking on me all day, and I've been sick and tired of it. Bullying is against the law, right? So why the fuck don't those little bitches get in trouble? I wanna know! If I'm getting expelled then those bitches should be fucking arrested! Third of all, you know I have the utmost respect for you, hell you're my favorite administrator, but I don't appreciate you yelling in my face and threatening to expel me. You and I both know that you wouldn't dare do such a thing because I'm one of the key players to the high test scores that this school's been getting lately, and you've been getting more money for the school. Expelling me is a gamble, and we all know what luck you have with that, Legendary Loser."

Oh gangster, she went hard body with that.

"Furthermore, I'm your apprentice, and I've been the best damn medical science student this school's ever had. Add to the fact that you can't expel me because me and my girls know your little secret."

Oh gangster; she went there.

I chucked a kunai at the video camera. We couldn't risk anyone hearing what Sakura was about to say. Tsunade tried to play dumb. "What are you talking about?" But there was no mistaking the way her eyes narrowed. Sakura simply smirked. She had Tsunade cornered. "I know about your history with Orochimaru."

I gritted my teeth. Even great people had dark secrets.

"What are you talking about, Haruno?"

Down to formalities. She was getting nervous.

"You were his girlfriend at one point, weren't you?"

Tsunade frowned. "That was over thirty years ago."

"Wow, you're that old?"

They ignored me entirely and continued.

"But you still were his girlfriend. And you were his second in command, his head medic. You were the female leader for his gang, weren't you Tsunade?" Tsunade's head turned down slightly, but she kept quiet. "There's no denying it. One of our girls found records of you while working undercover. He proposed to you, didn't he? But you declined, and dumped him, and then you left the gang and tried to play innocent. You went to college, became a teacher in medicine, and then you became an administrator. Even when you were in the gang, you had excellent grades, so there was never any suspicion. Everyone knew you were involved with him, they just never knew you were a part of his gang. There was absolutely no suspicion, so your life was great. You just had to make sure that nobody blabbed you out to the cops, right? You became known as the Great Tsunade, Legendary Loser, and Legendary in general. You make an amazing doctor and surgeon. You've got a brain like no other. So that's why I know that you and I and Temari all know that once you're in the game, honey…" She paused for a second and smiled serenely.

"There's no way out."

She had a huge point there.

Karin
"Holy fucking shit! I never knew you could drive!" I couldn't help myself, the words escaped before I could fully process my thoughts. Tenten turned her attention back for a second and grinned broadly. "Heh heh, I can't."

…

"Oh shit…"

Vroom

Hinata
Tenten had my eyes bugging out of my head. She was an absolutely terrible driver and not terrible as in she kept almost-crashing into other cars and…objects. She was a terrible driver in the sense that Temari had rubbed off on her a little too much. She was going about a hundred and twenty miles over the speed limits, both on the freeway and off. They said Temari was a demon in the wind whenever she went by on her motorcycle, so Tenten was nothing compared to her driving, but she was still pretty fast.

And right now, we were all struggling not to scream; she was going a hundred and twenty on an empty street (thank Kami-sama it was empty) when the current speed limit was twenty-five.

"Hang on tight everyone, we're almost home."

Again, thank Kami-sama.

Temari
We were now sitting in Tsunade's office. Sakura was smiling somewhat triumphantly, the slightest hint of a hidden smirk behind it. Tsunade just seemed frustrated and defeated. "So, Tsunade; what's it gonna be?"

The blond wriggled in her seat a bit, casting her eyes downward, and let out a long suffering sigh. "Fine then. You have detention tomorrow." Sakura smiled and did what I never expected her to do.

She reached into her shirt and pulled out her gun. "You sure about that? You see, I want to get into a good medical university, and I don't want to go in with any black marks, see. So…I ask again; what's it gonna be, Tsunade." The blond looked down at the gun for a moment, eyes wide, and then she laughed loudly.

"Oh my! I haven't seen one of those in so long!" Sakura raised an eyebrow and cocked the gun back at an angle, aiming it at Tsunade's head. She pulled back the safety with a gratifying click.

"Answer me!"

Tsunade waved a hand off at her. "Eh, fine! You're off the hook. You're going into whatever university you get into with a black mark regardless, though."

At this, Sakura froze. Her green eyes widened. "Wait; what do you mean by that?" Tsunade let out a great yawn, as if the topic bored her (but we all knew she was trying to play it off, trying to seem unfazed when she was absolutely frazzled by the fact that we knew about her history with Orochimaru). "Honey, you've been in this gang of yours, this infamous gang of yours, for how many years now? And since the gang is so well known, it's no secret that you're in it, honey." She smiled softly, although it was obviously serene.

Sakura's eyes fell downcast. "Oh…right; forgot about that." Her voice cracked the slightest bit, but when she looked up, her eyes were determined. "Doesn't mean I won't get in though. What university wouldn't want me? I mean c'mon; look at me! I'm adorable!" And then all three of us laughed and the problem was resolved.

Sakura tucked the gun safely back into her shirt and pushed her back over her shoulder. "So…are we free to go?" Tsunade grinned. "This isn't prison but go ahead." She let out a small chuckle at her joke as me and Sakura turned and exited. Tsunade's secretary, Shizune, gave us a kind smile. "Would you like a pass back to class?" Me and Sakura gave each other a quick glance and smiled. "Um, no thank you; we'll just be on our way." Shizune nodded and smiled again. "Understood."

We left the office and turned left, instead of right, toward the back doors of the school. We weren't going back to class regardless, so there was no need to alert the teachers and lie. No one but Kunai and Akuri Kaze parked their cars out back (cuz we're VIP!) so we didn't have to worry about anyone going back with us.

What I didn't expect to find was Neji, Shikamaru, and Kiba all leaning on the car. As soon as the metal door slammed closed behind us, the boys lifted their head. "Well it's about time you got her." Shikamaru drawled out lazily. I frowned and stalked over to him, wrapping my arms around his arm. "Oh hush; it's not my fault little miss not-so-goody-two-shoes spazzed out on Tsunade and held us up for so long." At this, all three boys snapped their attention to Blossom. She blushed heavily. "Oh shut the fuck up Temari; let's go! I want to know what happened to Hina!" I shrugged. "Fine; but I'm driving!"

Neji shrugged and tossed me the keys. I grinned and slid my fan out of its holster and got into the driver's seat. "Why are you taking it out of the holster?" I frowned at Shikamaru. "I always do; it's uncomfortable to sit with a four and a half foot fan on your back." He shrugged. "Whatever." I slapped my forehead. "Why do you ask then?" He gave me a look as if the answer were obvious. "Curiosity…" He said with much sarcasm. I glared at him playfully while Kiba and Neji got into the back seats. I jammed the key in the ignition and started up the car.

Sakura got in, slamming the door closed shut behind her, and we were out.

Karin
I was twitching.

Twitch, twitch.

I was sure I was twitching.

Twitch, twitch.

I was positive I was twitching. And it was all Tenten's fault. I turned to look at her, eyes narrowed, as she came up the steps to the porch. She raised an eyebrow at me, hands and keys to the car in her pockets. "What?" I frowned at her.

Twitch.

"You have got to be the worst driver in history!" She glared at me playfully and then laughed. "Ha ha not on a bike." She winked. I frowned. "You drive motorcycles?"

She shook her head. "Once before but oh hell nah! I meant bicycles." And then she laughed again and went into the house, twirling the keys on her finger.

"Fucking psychotic bitch…" I muttered. She poked her head back out the door. "What was that?" She glared I me. I grinned sheepishly. "Heh…heh, heh, heh…nothiiiiiiiing." She raised an eyebrow at me before she did the ever-famous I'm watching you sign and disappeared from the doorway. I laughed a little at that before a screeching sound on the street made me freeze for a second and rush to cover my ears. "DAMMIT! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?" I opened one eye to examine the situation but both eyes bugged out and popped open at what I saw.

The Lexus that the guys owned was twisting and turning down the street, out of control, before it lurched to a stop in front of the house. Out of the driver's seat came Temari, a wicked looking grin on her face. In the back I saw a flash of pink clamber over someone before Sakura came rushing up the steps and into the house, a hand clamped over her mouth, a rather green look to her. I raised an eyebrow in question for a second before I got it. "Oh…"

Twitch, twitch, twitch, twitch.

"Temari…how fast were you going?"

She looked over at me. "Huh? Oh! A little over one-fifty."

Twitch times infinity.

I had to cover my eye so no one would know I was twitching. "Why the hell were you going so fast?" A twinkle in her eyes was all I needed to know. She said what was on my mind. "Who drove my car? Please say it wasn't Tenten."

I grinned. Cha-ching. "It was Tenten."

She slapped herself on the forehead before her eyes grew a sort of weird fire in them. She stalked up to house and through the front door. There was absolute silence for a few seconds before a loud scream reached my ears. "TENTEN YOU FUCKING BITCH HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT TO FUCKING DRIVE MY CAR! GRRRRRRR!"

"HOLY SHIT!"

And then the sounds of crashes and skin contact came.

Super twitch times eighty times infinity

"Tenten and Temari?" Neji and Shikamaru asked me simultaneously. I nodded weakly. "I feel pity for whoever gets fucked up more…"

Both boys nodded and looked into the door absently.

"Well? Are you going in?"

My eyes widened in horror at Kiba's question. "Are you fucking crazy? Do you not hear that?"

More crashes and screams. He shrugged. "It's not that bad." As if to prove his point he stepped inside.

But as if to prove mine, he came back out ducking two seconds later. "Fucking psychotic bitches threw a vase at me!" He twitched too.

"HEY! TWITCH BUDDIES!" I couldn't help but shout.

He looked over at me and twitched. "What?"

"Ahem; nothing." I said and blushed darkly. All three boys looked down at me, puzzled.

"Karin, are you okay? Are you on some new medication we should know about?" I glared fiercely at Kiba, who was laughing crazily at his own joke while Neji and Shikamaru held back their own laughter.

I raised a finger and opened my mouth to retort.

"For the - !"

Bang!

" – Oh shit! Guys!"

They didn't need me to tell them. In less than three seconds all of us had our guns out and pointing at the pitch-black Ford that belonged to Sai's gang. I clicked back my safety and blasted an entire cartridge out at them. They shot out right back but missed because I either dodged all of them or my bullets crashed into theirs, canceling out both.

"What the fuck is going on?"

Tenten…

Tenten
As soon as I stepped out of the door I had to drop down to avoid a bullet. I pulled out my gun and aimed at Sai's gang through the gaps in Neji's and Kiba's legs. "Fuck! What the hell are you dickheads doing here?" I shouted but no one heard me. They were too busy fending off Sai's gang. I didn't miss a single shot I made, they all broke the windows of the car, shattering them, and making it easier to get to the actual people.

I rolled back and got onto my feet against the wall. I hurriedly edged my way down the hall to where the girls were. Hinata, Sakura, Temari, and Ino saw my face and immediately whipped out their guns. "What's going on?" I let out a low growl. "Sai…"

They all nodded understandingly and rushed back to the front of the house with me. They clicked back the safety, pointed, and shot. The bang that erupted from their guns matched mine perfectly and the bullets hit the car…well theirs' did; mine hit one of Sai's guys.

That's when they all came out of the car and running at us. "Perfect." I purred out, and I meant it.

They gave me a perfect shot at all of them. "Move!" I shoved Kiba out of the way and shot down half of them in one go. They all came at me now and I smirked and pulled back my trigger.

No bang; no bullet.

"FUCK!" I was out of bullets already? Oh well.

I hurriedly shove my gun in my bra and got into my stance just in time to grab the first guy that came at me and throw him against the wall. I saw the girls all freeze, scared to shoot for fear of shooting me. "Go get your shit! Some clothes and your toothbrushes! We're leaving!" Neji looked down at me from where he was at. "Where?" I smiled. "Staying over a friend's house isn't a one way street, now, hun."

He nodded and I turned around and nearly got snuffed by one of Sai's guys. I glared at him menacingly and tripped him. He fell back and rolled down the porch stairs. I smirked as the next guy came at me and attempted to hit me in the gut. I dodged it easily and grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. "Well at least Sasuke did one thing right." I grabbed his other arm, put my foot on his back, and pulled until I heard the loud crack that assured me that I had broken them. I smirked and let him drop to the ground. I turned to Neji quickly. "Go get Temari's car out back and get your asses to your house!"

His face contorted into one of worry. "But then you'll be left here to fight these guys all alone!"

My smirk widened. "Okay? You know I like a challenge."

"But Tenten - !"

Bang.

That one nearly got me, but I dodged just in time. I turned to face my enemy, shouting "GO!" over my shoulder at him. He gave me one last worried look before he ran into the house, Kiba and Shikamaru following after him.

I smirked wildly at the guys in front of me. "Alright little bitches; time for the fun to start!"

I pulled the extra gun from my waist holster and aimed.

Click, click; Bang.

Sorry it's so late! But I just graduated from the eighth grade (ClassOf2K10! whoot whoot! Freshmen of '10-'11! lmfaoo] and I've been showered with graduation getaways and jetskiing and such stuff that you don't wanna know about! But I'm SOOOOOOO sorry it's late =( I'll try to upload the next chapter tomorrow or the day after; I'll try my absolute hardest, kay?

- Much Love; xoxo Kiana 3