Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto! ^_^;;; though I wish I did...

*****

"Ramen ramen ramen...nihihiihihihihii..." Naruto giggled mischevously, as he stuffed instant noodles down into his mouth. Naruto slurped the noodes greedily, and was barely able to savor the spicy and delelactable pork flavored noodles. Though his mind was seemingly empty to Naruto, his fight with Orichimaru kept coming up, no matter how hard he tried to push it into the back of his head. Naruto set down his chopsticks and got out of his white-linen bedsheets and walked over to the window and looked down at the front gate of the hospital, mindlessly watching several passerbys drag on by. Some were familiar, elite chuunin running panicedly on their way to the Tsunade-baba's office to do jobs that she was supposed to do, many others were several inexperienced genin, on their way to complete meaningless chores for the village. Naruto smirked, remembering when he had been assigned the endless amount of chores for the Village. 'Those were so stupid...missions that don't even measure your skill of ninja-coolness. But those were some fun times...' Naruto said, grinning in a foxlike manner. He walked over to the closest near the window and opened the doors, and to his luck found his forehead protector, his orange jumpsuit and his sandles. He put them on, and rolled up his sleeves to his jumpsuit. Naruto shivered.

"It's so cold in here..." Naruto pouted. He looked at his arms which were still wrapped in bandages, which were still clean, and looked as if Naruto had no wounds to begin with. He ran his hand over the bandages feeling a grainy, dry texture. 'My wounds usually heal fast...I probably should take these off...they're getting itchy!' Naruto thought. He gently unwrapped the bandages from the spot where he was at, halfway through unrolling the bandages on his second arm, he heard a cry, sounding between a bird that had been shot, and a cat's yowl. Naruto's ears perked up and he ran out through the hospital, towards the source of noise. As he ran down the flights of stairs and angry healers, Naruto spotted a person with the familiar ugly green shade of spandex accompanied with a recognizable face with thick, caterpillar eyebrows, jumping up and down rapidly, screaming in joy.

"GAI-SENSEI!!! I DID IT!! I can protect my nindo!!" Lee said with a small stream of tears flowing down his face.

"...ano..." Naruto mouthed, trying to keep a straight face in front of Fuzzy Eyebrows. Lee, who actually realized Naruto was staring puzzledly at him, blinked but looked quite unembarassed. Lee had undergone surgery as soon as Naruto and the others left the village that one day. It was a painful surgery, almost making Lee wish for death to come to him, than rather undergo another second of the operation. Yet, a day after the operation, nurses were found outside of the hospital, pleading Lee to stop training. Lee was brought back to his senses when Naruto started babblung idiotically.

"...Naruto-kun. Why are you here?" Lee asked, interrupting Naruto.

"...I don't know. The idiots at the hospital think I need to be here. How come you're here Lee-san?" Naruto responded with a chuckle. Lee smiled in return. Lee knew why he was here, he was still in physical therapy. His surgery may have been successful, but Lee often found himself doubting its affect. After three years of physical therapy, his taijutsu was still slow, making progress, but as far as Lee could tell, everyone would excel, leaving Lee behind. Lee clenched his fist in fustration. He looked at Naruto, who was standing there, beaming at Lee.

"I'm training." Lee said sharply. Naruto raised an eyebrow. He was confused, he had never seen Lee mad before, plus why would Lee need to train in the hospital?

"...Lee-san. I thought you were on a mission." Naruto said quietly after a moment of silence. Naruto had known of the operation of course, but he wasn't aware of the difficult therapy Lee would have to go through afterwards. To save face, Lee told everyone he was going on special missions for the last year, knowing Gai-sensei would cover for him.

"...Naruto-kun. I'm afraid I've been deceiving you and the rest of the rookie chuunin. Ever since...the day of my surgery I've had to go through rigorous therapy sessions..." Lee said, waiting for Naruto to absorb the information that has just been told.

"Therapy sessions? Lee-san, it's been three years since your surgery." Naruto said pointedly, thinking it was a joke.

"Naruto-kun. After surgery, Tsunade-sama was amazed I was even alive. The surgery was supposed to help, but not by much. It left my muscles weaker, more fragile and my stamina and limitations are now increased. I've been going through physical therapy, hoping to continue my ninja way...yet I barely improve...Naruto-kun. Please let me continue training. I will see you later." Lee said, turning his back on Naruto.

"I...had no idea." Naruto muttered, hoping Lee would hear him. Whether Lee heard it or not, Naruto never found out as Jiriaya-sama grabbed him enthusiastically by the collar turned him around.

"You are the king of idiots." Jiriaya said bluntly, causing Naruto to glare at his sensei.

"...Oi! What do you mean Pervert-senin." Naruto said, sticking his tongue out tauntingly at the last part.

"Bakayaro!!! Lee-kun could've gone without your stupid rants. Anyway lets go train." Jiriaya said, starting to drag Naruto. Naruto smirked.

"What's the matter? Did the nurses turn you down?!" Naruto teased.

"Shut up! Baka..." Jiriaya said, dragging Naruto outside.

"Ah...pervert-senin."

"Hai?"

"...shouldn't you change first?" Naruto asked bluntly. And people around them would know why, Jiraiya was dressed in a light white cotton robe, and let's face it, it didn't cover much. In a flash, Jiraiya went to the hosipital in back, this time in his usual heavy, loose white robes. He was flashing a smile that only an old perverted man would have. Which is what he was, but that's besides the point. As he and Naruto were walking out of the village with their usual pack full of writing supples, ramen, gama-chan (Naruto's ultra-kawaii coinpurse), training supplies, and clothes, a piercing voice halted them from walking any further. Shivering in fear, they slowly turned around, in fear of facing the destructive power behind them.

"...Jiraiya...Naruto...Where do you idiots think you're going?" Hissed Tsunade. The Hokage of Konoha was well...no less than 'frightening' at the moment. The passerby's understood why, though Jiraiya and Naruto were both as tall or taller than her, her features resembled a tiger, ready to kil.

"...Ah...oh-ba-san...we're going nowhere..." Naruto said with his teeth chattering. Tsunade smirked, before smacking both of them upside the head.l

"Do you know how lucky you two were? To encounter Orochimaru...and still live...yet you two idiots are going to leave the village again!?" Tsunade roared, causing several passerbys to stare at the three nins involved in a non ending argument.

"Are you saying I am not capable of handling him?"

"YES!!! You and your subordinate almost got killed!"

"So what? We still lived, and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!!! Plus pervert-senin was going to teach me this new super secret stealth jutsu!"

"Is this the same jutsu that you used to spy on me and Shizune in the women's bath?...PERVERT!!!"

"I am not PERVERT-SENIN. AND NO IT ISN'T..."

"Yeah it is. You said 'she isn't oh-ba-san Naruto...not with a body like mmmph." Naruto was cut off buy Jiraiya's hand covering Naruto's mouth. Tsunade on the other hand, looked as if nothing would be better than to kill Jiraiya. Jiraiya grabbed Naruto easily and ran furiously before Tsunade could even lay a hand on Jiraiya. Jiraiya got as far as the ramen shop, before Tsunade cut them off and started beating up on Jiraiya. Naruto was lain by, and he got up shortly. Spotting the ramen stand, Naruto excitedly took grabbed the nearest stool, comfertable as always, but he didn't realize they're were other people sitting next to him.

"Naruto?" Sakura said loudly. "What and...you...and wounded...and hospital...and why is the Hokage-sama beating up Jiraiya-sama?" Sakura asked, poiting to the angry old adults behind him.

"Oh them? I don't know. I think it was probably because Jiraiya was peeping at her one time." Naruto said nonchalantly.

"...Hello Naruto. Do you mind moving? You kind of sat inbetween Sakura-san and I." Shino asked politely.

"SHINO!?" Naruto fell off his stool in shock, when the mysterious young chuunin appeared beside him. Sakura giggled, and Shino didn't say anything.

"...NARUTO COME WITH ME!" Tsunade barked, dragging a bruised up Jiraiya behind her.

"Roger!" Naruto said panicedly, walking behind Tsunade with a doing an excellent impression of the chuunin who do her errands. Sakura laughed harder when Tsunade turned around and bopped Naruto on the head and soon dragging both Naruto and Jiraiya behind her. She also heard a quiet chuckle from Shino. Sakura beamed. Shino was actually a nicer guy than Naruto made out to be. He had a witty side to him, it didn't show up to often, yet had impeccable timing and always managed to make Sakura laugh. 'He's also a gentlemen and he's really nice...yet...Sakura couldn't put her finger on it...'

"Oi! Shino!" Kiba yelled loudly, running up to them. Not noticing Sakura, Kiba grabbed the stool between and started ranting loudly about how he and Akamaru pulled this prank on Hinata's dad when he was over at the Hyuga household.

"Ah so...eh...Kiba...?" Shino faltered.

"Eh. Nani desu ka?" Kiba asked cluelessly.

"...KIBA..." Sakura growled dangerously.

"...Gotta go! See you later Shino!" Kiba said, running while Akamaru closely followed.

"...So where were we?" Sakura said in a cheery tone, moving over the stool Kiba was previously in.

"Nani desu ka, Sasuke-kun?" Kakashi asked as they were fighting. They were on a dry rocky plateau, training intensely, or Sasuke was for the most part. Kakashi was just non chalantly fighting Sasuke while getting in some quality reading time with Come Come Paradise, Volume 6.

"...It's nothing. Put away that stupid book, I'll fight for real now." Sasuke said, smirking arrogantly. A bird's caw interrupted the pause of silence between Kakashi and Sasuke. A smirk faintly appeared under Kakashi's face mask. He curtly folded the page of his book, before placing it in his left pocket, as he got in his usual fighting stance the smalls pebbles were crunched under, creating a faint crunching sound. Sasuke got in his stance and quickly attacked Kakashi at the side of his torso, swiftly, Kakashi hopped back while at the same defending off Sasuke's other hand that was aiming for his face. As Sasuke made other swift moods to attack Kakashi, Kakashi defended back with the same amount of speed, and at the same time landing several blows on Sasuke. 'Sasuke-kun...I love you...' Sakura's face flashed in Sasuke's mind and he lost his focus. Kakashi, seeing an opening pushed Sasuke with his hand onto the ground. (a/n:...wow taht sounds SO shonen-ai...0.o).

"...You're not focused today. I could see it while you were training. Your mind must be preoccupied. Let's just call it a day and go back to the park to relax." Kakashi said. Kakashi held out his hand, offering to help Sasuke get up from the rough, rocky ground. Sasuke glared at Kakashi, before pulling his hand out and pulled himself up. Quietly, they walked into the colorful town to the local park. Sasuke looked up at the sign hanging next to the black iron fences. 'Sakura Park...what's he playing at?' Sasuke thought grumpily. There, many young children were chasing each other in their yukata, and the adults were standng by supervising their children's activities. The park was beautiful, everywhere there were blossoming Sakura trees, which their branches would sway along like dancers in the wind. Several petals fell off at a time of each tree, giving the illusion that it was raining petals. Kakashi and Sasuke walked along the park's concrete path, both of them remaining silent.

"Sasuke. Isn't the Sakura flower beautiful?" Kakashi said chuckling. Sasuke scowled.

"I guess." Sasuke replied.

"I heard Naruto and Lee love Sakuras. How do you feel about Sakuras?" Kakashi asked playfully.

"They're okay." Sasuke replied with an ice-cold attitude. Sasuke's scowl deepened. He wasn't born yesterday, Kakashi was planning something with him and Sakura. Sasuke looked at his teacher, who was still looking at the cherry blossom flowers on the nearby trees. Sasuke quickened his pace, though he didn't know what good it would do, all he knew is: the sooner he gets out of the park the better.

"Here Sasuke." Kakashi said walking beside him and holding out a pink flower. "This fell off of a tree. And it just bloomed to, I'm sure that after time, you'll come to love this Sakura as much as Lee, Naruto, and I do." Kakashi said, gently handing him the flower. Sasuke held it in his hand. The soft, fabric texture was lightly grazing his hand as held it in his hand. For some reason, Sasuke didn't let go.

"Can we go back to the hotel room Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke asked, ignoring the comment his teacher said.

"Of course. I hope this visit was relaxing, tommorrow will be an intense training session." Kakashi-sensei said as they walked their way out of the park and into their hotel room. Sasuke went down onto his bed and unclinched hand where the slightly crushed Sakura blossom laid on his palm. Kakashi, who was on the opposite side of the room and pretending to be busy with his clothes glanced over and saw the Sakura blossom lying in his palm. Kakashi quickly glanced back over to his clothes and continued folding his spare jounin uniform. Kakashi smiled victoriously.

"Shi-Shino-kun....thanks for the wonderful time." Sakura said when they arived at her house later that evening. After a lunch at the ramen house, she and Shino-kun went to the Konoha park where they walked around in the forest, and occaisionally Shino would point of different types of bugs to Sakura. Though, creepy----it was kind of adorable. They spent most of their time in their forest before Shino offered to walk Sakura home.

"Your welcome Sakura-san. But I really have to say thank you also." Shino said cordially, before leaning in for a quick peck on Sakura's cheek. Sakura blush, as did Shino, and though most of was hidden by his heavy, gray trenchcoat, his blush was seen on his face.

"I--I'll call you later okay?" Sakura stuttered, looking at the floor instead of Shino.

"Okay. Have a good evening." Shino said bowing, before leaving. When the sound of Shino's shoes hitting the ground faded, Sakura went inside, still looking very flushed.

"Sakura-chan! How did your date with Shino go?" Her mother asked once she heard the door close. Sakura jumped in surprise when she saw her mother appear suddenly. As a retired kounichi, Sakura's mother still had the excellent stealth that most ninjas had, and most of the time she used that to her advantage to scare Sakura. Sakura blushed and looked down hardware floor, avoiding her mother's jade-green eyes.

"It--it was all right." Sakura stuttered. Sakura's mother giggled.

"You know...those Aburame men are quite handsome..." Sakura's mother said, with the giggly tone of voice Ino had when talking about Sasuke or any other good looking ninja.

"MOM!" Sakura said loudly, appalled by what her mother just said. Though her inner Sakura was having a harder time being appalled, "...She has a point."

"Come help me cook, we're having you're favorite tonight." Her mother said playfully, scruffling Sakura's short hair.

"All right." Sakura said happily. Sakura followed her mother, though as much as her mom could be overbearing, Sakura admired her.Her mother was strong, and able to fend for herself. Her father has been in and out of the house for months, currently completing the numerous amounts of missions the village has assigned to him. As a higher level chuunin, her father had been assigned more missions and was on his way to becoming a lower level jounin. After her mother had Sakura, she retired as a ninja and retired to being a normal housewife. Sakura and her mother walked into the kitchen, and Sakura started chopping a pile of vegatables waiting for her on the table. Her mother, started working in front of the stove. After simmering the soup, Sakura's mother et a steaming hot bowl of...miso ramen in front of Sakura.

"Arigatou." Sakura said. She grabbed her chopsticks and ate slowly, savoring the rich flavors of homemade ramen. Her mom started eating as well. Sakura nd her mom were very similar physically, her rich pink hair reached down to her waist, and was built exactly like Sakura.

"I'm going to go upstairs now. Thanks for the food mom." Sakura said, smiling warmly to her mother.

"All right Sakura-chan." Her mom said, returning her smile.

Sakura walked into her bedroom, not bothering to turn on the lights as she fell back unto her bed, closing her eyes to relax herself. 'My date with Shino-kun was actually really good. I know Naruto will get used to him if we ever went steady.' Sakura thought to herself. 'Sasuke...I guess no one could actually make him feel anytinh but hatred...I guess you were right Naruto...damn...I never thought I'd actually think that.' Sakura drifted off into sleep soon after.

"Sasuke...wake up. we have to go back to the village. Hokage-sama has summoned me to complete another mission." Kakashi said, shaking Sasuke, who was currently under a pile of blankets.

"...Okay. Give me five minutes to get ready." Sasuke said, getting up lazily and packing his stuff. Still in nothing but his boxers he grabbed his pack and started walking towards the door.

"Ano...Sasuke. I think you need to get dressed first." Kakashi said.

"...Oh okay." Sasuke said, right then and there he put on a black loose-collared shirt and denim jeans. "I'm ready."

"All right let's go." Kakashi said, both of them went outside and started jumping from rooftop to rooftop, and soon tree to tree during the night, still keeping up their gaurd. As they reached the border of Konoha, they slowed down and walked in casually. Several people were still out at night, mostly at the ramen house, or people who've been training late into the night and getting out from the public bathhouse.

"...Sasuke. Go back to your apartment for tonight. Tommorrow morning, get Naruto and Sakura to train with you. Ever since you've all become chuunin, it has been hard for all of you to work. Respect Naruto, you are all talented." Kakashi said, before running off to the Hokage's office. Sasuke had a look of surprise on his face, before quickly resuming his cold demeanor. He walked home without saying anything. Morning came quickly, and soon as the sun set, Sasuke was found on Sakura's doorstep waiting for someone to come to the door. Sauske sighed and started knocking again before he heard a loud yell.

"ALL RIGHT I'M COMING. IF IT'S YOU NARUTO-KU----Sasuke?" Sakura asked, perplexed that Sasuke was here so early in the morning. No scratch that---that he was actually here at all.

"I...and...um...good morning." Sasuke said stumbling. A blush crept up on his face. Sakura was wearing only a small tank top and thin pants, covered by a thin robe.

"Um good morning. Sasuke is there something wrong with Kakashi or Naruto?" Sakura asked with concern.

"No, it's not that. Just...get ready. We're going to go train. Naruto's coming too. I'll wait for you to uh---change." Sasuke said. Sakura, looked down and blushed. Squeaking she ran up the the stairs and changed in a flash, before leaving the house she left a note telling her mom that she went to go train.

"All right let's go!" Sakura said brightly.

"Um...yeah." Sasuke stammered.

author's note: um yeah. weird place to end the chapter I guess...sorry it wasn't that good....^^;

Wormkaizer: Ah...first to review again @_@...but wow that's great!!! Hehe hmmm well I guess I should give you something else...*thinks*...Ah! Idea!*hands wormkaizer toad coin purse* naruto has one...he named his gama chan ^_^ kawaii ne?

Rashaka:Entertaining? Ano...I hope this is entertaining...and by not bad do you mean this is good...or like...'not bad...' I'm sorry I'm just confused. Yet I thank you for your review ^_^

Evilp: okay...I'll try to be more descriptive I hope this was more descriptive...also...I had the whole kyuubi thingy in there...but you never know what freaky crap oro does to him...also the scenes jump around alot...I'm really sorry...I hope you still continue to read this fanfiction.

KatHathaway: Ah. Domo Arigatou for the review! Lol...Shika is cool...and I loooove Shino (well not in THAT way)...yes Sasuke is a little prick...

Buras Mew: Hehe thanks for the review...I also love your story about Kaka...it's hilarious ^^...