Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. It sucks that I have to remind myself of this every time I write...

A/N: It's a bird! It's a plane! Oh wait...it's only me. Nevermind with the superhero thing. I really hope you guys are liking the story. I'm also sorry that the only sure couple right now is ShikaIno. I really don't know what I'm doing with Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Sakura. I really don't. So...sorry 'bout that, but let's get on with the story!

-- Sakura Kaijuu

P.S. -- Hey, thanks all you awesome reviewers. It really cheers me up to read that people like my stories. So I'll keep writing this one.

-- SK

*~*

Sakura yawned heavily and looked around. Kakashi-sensei still wasn't there. "Ugh...Why do we always have to wait forever?"

Naruto wasn't doing much better. His arms were crossed and he was looking very annoyed. Every once in a while he would change is stance and where he was standing.

But today they weren't just waiting for Kakashi. Sasuke was late too. Sakura reached in her ninja pouch and took out the head protector. She looked at it sadly and sighed. Naruto glanced over, "Oi. Sakura, what's that?"

Sakura's expression went from sad to annoyed, "What does it look like, you idiot? It's a leaf headband."

"But...you're wearing yours. Whose is it?" Naruto cocked his head to the side.

"It's mine," a deep voice came from behind them. Sasuke had finally appeared with Kakashi close behind him. "Thank you, Sakura, for getting it for me."

Sakura blushed a little, "Oh! You're welcome, Sasuke-kun."

He took it out of her hands and put it back on. Naruto looked at him jealously. Why did Sakura blush when Sasuke thanked her, but not when he did? That wasn't fair.

"Sorry we're late. I had a real excuse today though," Kakashi looked at his other two students. "Sasuke and I were talking, and it took a lot longer than we thought." He smiled as Naruto and Sakura looked annoyed again.

Sasuke looked over at Sakura, and from Sakura to Naruto. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, "In the past four years, I don't think I've ever said anything to you guys about what I did."

Naruto's jaw dropped. Despite the fact that he had royally kicked Sasuke's ass, after he had come out of the barrel, it had been a subject that was delicately avoided when the four of them were together. But Naruto had wondered all along why Sasuke had left the Leaf.

"Sasuke." Kakashi stopped him. "Even though I'm proud that you are sharing this, there are other people who need to hear this. Not just your teammates." Sasuke closed his eyes painfully. Kakashi looked at each of his 16-year-old students. They were chuunins now. They were 12 a long time ago, but these wounds were still open and sore. "I'm canceling the mission for today."

They looked at him curiously. "However, you are all to meet by the memorial at three o'clock this afternoon." Kakashi disappeared in a whirl of smoke.

Naruto looked around and back and forth between Sasuke and Sakura. "Well, I'm going down to Ichiraku. I dunno about you guys, but I could go for some ramen."

"All right. Seeya at three," Sakura smiled. "I'm gonna go home to work on stuff."

Sasuke nodded to them, "Well, I'm going too. Seeya." The three of them parted ways and didn't look back.

*~*

"Hokage-sama," Kakashi stood in front of Tsunade's desk, hoping to receive permission. "May I please interrupt the missions of teams eight and ten?"

"Why, Kakashi?" she still remembered when Yondaime was training this boy. He still wore the mask then too...

"Sasuke wants to explain himself. Shikamaru, Kiba, Hinata, and Ino all need to hear this too."

"WHAT?!" Tsunade looked at him in shock. When Sasuke had returned to the village, he was locked in his apartment for three months under ANBU guard. After making no escape attempts, he was released to go into surgery so that Tsunade and Jiraiya could remove the curse seal. Since then he hadn't said a word about the entire ordeal. She covered her eyes. "Yes. That'll be fine. You may go now."

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Kakashi walked out of the office to go find Kurenai and Asuma. It was already 1:30, and this was one thing he didn't want to be late for.

*~*

Shikamaru was commanding Ino through the day's work. It was Asuma-sensei's idea. He thought Shikamaru needed more work with leadership. 'This is so...troublesome...' he thought.

Ino looked over at him, "You know why Asuma-sensei is having us do this?" They were walking through the forest, looking for some cat. "He's still on vacation. That's why he's not training us today."

He glanced at her. "Did you think, Ino, that maybe Asuma-sensei actually wants us to practice taking orders from each other?"

"Hmph..." Ino looked away, and saw a white fluff ball. "Hey!" she whispered. "Here, kitty kitty..." It meowed and crept closer to her. She made cooing noises, attracting the cat towards her. When it was close enough, she grabbed it. She stood up and smirked at Shikamaru. "Ha. So there smarty-pants. That good enough for you?"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Ino, it doesn't matter. We're both 16 years old and completely capable of doing this kind of stupid mission on our own."

Ino and Shikamaru looked up and became tense. Someone was coming through the forest. Shikamaru was about to grab a kunai when he saw that it was only their sensei. "Jesus, Asuma-sensei. What's wrong with you?"

"Sorry," Asuma looked at his two remaining students. "I see that you've completed today's mission. That's good."

"Why?" Ino asked curiously.

"Because you need to be up at the memorial at three o'clock," their teacher lit a cigarette and looked at them.

Ino looked at her watch. "Asuma-sensei, it's already two o'clock!"

"Yeah, I know. I'll take the stupid cat back to Hokage-sama's office. You guys have gotta move it," he reached for the cat, who was grateful to be out of Ino's squeezing arms.

Shikamaru sighed again, "All right. Come on, Ino."

The two of them left for the memorial stone, wondering why it was so important to be there at three.

*~*

Kakashi appeared right behind Hinata, and she jumped. Kurenai looked at him curiously, "Kakashi? What is it?"

Though Hinata, Kiba, and Shino couldn't hear, Kakashi told Kurenai, "Sasuke has something he needs to say to Hinata and Kiba."

Kurenai's eyes widened, and Akamaru whined a little. She looked over at her three students, and thought for a moment. "Hinata, Kiba, Shino, training is ended for today. Hinata and Kiba, you are to go with Kakashi up to the memorial stone. You are dismissed.

"Come with me, you three," Kakashi glanced at Akamaru, who barked appreciatively.

*~*

A/N: I decided that this is a great place for me to end the chapter. I mean, seeing as it's almost three o'clock and everyone's meeting. What will happen next? Will Sasuke apologize? What will Ino do? Did she completely forget about the scheme to get Sakura and Naruto together, or is the author just being an airhead? Find out next time in: The Troublesome Gets More Troublesome!

Hee hee...that sounds like a thing that the narrator of Rocky and Bullwinkle would say. That's awesome. Well, check ya later people. Keep reviewing!

-- Sakura Kaijuu