Nara Shikamaru let out his breath in one big burst.

"Damn, That's TIRING."

Staggering he caught himself on the edge of a picnic table. Ino just stared at him wide-eyed.

"What? I couldn't very well leave you there. Your former rivals would have figured that you knew the way out. Either that or they may have thought that you were really me in disguise."

Ino was still staring. Shikamaru muttered under his breath for a moment and was about to try explaining again when she finally spoke.

"Y… you saved me."

Shikamaru was a little taken aback, He tried to come up with an intelligent response, but his mind wasn't working right. Struggling with staying awake he realized that he had overused his chakra again.

Dammit, another couple of days in bed… and those DAMN fan girls knowing EXACTLY where I am

Before collapsing from exhaustion he managed to get out the one phrase that had been running through his mind almost constantly since the day he was born.

"This is so troublesome."


Sitting in a chair outside of Sakura's room Sasuke ran though the list of things he wanted to say.

Lets see 'Here Sakura a gesture of our friendship' no that doesn't work. I don't know if we're still friends… um how about 'I'm sorry Sakura I picked these in hopes that I could tell you that…' no far to wordy, Maybe 'Sakura, I have been unable to think about anything but you since the day that I saw you and…' "Sigh" that won't work either. Maybe I should just forget the whole Th…

Just then the door beside him opened, dashing his thoughts looking up and hoping to see the object of his new-found affection he realized that it was just Tsunade. She was saying,

"Yes I can check girl but I'm telling you that he's probably…"

Her voice trailed off when she saw Sasuke sitting beside the door.

"I guess you have a visitor after all Sakura."

Sakura's voice asked quietly

"Who is it?"

Sasuke decided that it was finally time to speak up.

"Sakura? It's me Sasuke."

"…. Go away Sasuke, I'm waiting for someone."

W…what? S…she's WAITING for someone?

"B…but Sakura-Chan I…"

"You had your chance Sasuke. You rejected me, now it's Lee's turn."

"YOU'RE WAITING FOR HIM!"

Sasuke felt chills go down his spine, turning he glanced to his left to find Rock Lee being restrained by Tsunade. Sasuke was about to make another comment to Sakura when Lee growled out.

"She got over you Uchiha, Leave her alone and go seek your God-damned vengeance."

It was then that Sasuke noticed a difference in Lee. Gone was the Green jumpsuit and bowl-cut, in its place stood lee decked out in a pair of deep green pants and a white muscle shirt, with an open fronted short sleeved black dress shirt. On the Shoulders of the shirt were figures that looked like Herons. Starting at the base of the shirt and twining up and across both sleeves where vines, ending with the Konoha leaf symbol just above the hand. Instead of his usual bowl-cut hair, Lee had spiked hair turning from black at the roots to the blue of his chakra at the tips (Imagine Flashback lee except with better clothes and dyed hair. Sasuke's jaw hit the floor.

"Lee? What? How?"

"Sakura said she'd date me if I agreed to let her change my appearance to match my youthful spirit. I still train as I was before, because it takes almost ten minutes to get my hair like this, but I do try to look my best for our dates."

Lee frowned slightly

"Although the other girls were quite a problem until Shikamaru's exposition."

"Sakura-Chan? Are you ready?"

"Ready and waiting Lee-kun."

Sasuke picked up his jaw long enough to turn toward the voice. His jaw dropped again. Sakura was dressed in a dark blue kimono (Tsunade got it for her), walking over to Lee (and looking likes the downfall of angels herself.) She said.

"No hard feelings Sasuke-kun, but I realized you were right. I could never love someone who couldn't love me back."

With that Lee and Sakura turned and walked away. After a moment Sasuke heard a low whistle coming from where Lee had been standing a moment before.

"My, has she changed that boy."

Turning toward Sasuke Tsunade gave him a looking over.

"And it appears that you've been rejected Sasuke. If it's any consolation she told me that she still considers you a friend… Honestly I don't know if you deserve it, but she does. Also, you don't need to worry about keeping Naruto a secret much longer; I've sent Jiraiya after him and his new Sensei. They should be back in a couple of days."

Sasuke shook himself and started after the pair that had just left, only to be stopped by Tsunade.

"And where are you going?"

"Relax Hokage-sama; I just want to see whether or not she really likes him. I promise not to interfere with their date."

"I'll hold you to that promise Sasuke."

With that Tsunade disappeared in a puff of smoke, and Sasuke began his stalking.


"Ohhh. Dammit that's troublesome."

"Oh good, your awake."

Without sitting up Shikamaru looked around the room trying to find the owner of the voice he had heard.

"You're right dear, for being so smart he is a little slow on the uptake sometimes."

"'Giggle' Mother, shhh."

"Oh alright dear, I'll leave you to explain, your father should be back from informing his parents any minute."

Following the sound of the voices Shikamaru saw Ino and her mother standing at the end of the bed that he was laying on.

"Where am I?"

At that comment Ino's mother laughed again.

"Don't leave him in the dark to long dear; I'd say that he'll only be awake for a short time. OH! And try to get some of that food in him will you? His mother would KILL me if she thought I wasn't caring for him properly."

With a backhanded wave Ino's mother walked out of the door leaving the two of them alone.

"Well Shika-kun, you don't need to worry about fan girls here. You popped us up in the park, and my home was closer."

"I'm in your home?"

"Yup, now let's see if we can get some food in you before you fall asleep again."

So saying Ino pulled a try over and sat beside the bed.

"Here you are Shika-kun"

Shikamaru lifted an arm to pick up the chopsticks but after a short time he brought his hands back down and mumbled

"Um, I'm not hungry."

Ino frowned for a second and then had a realization.

"Oh dear, you can't pick up the chopsticks can you?"

Sighing Shikamaru shook his head.

Odd, what happened to the old bossy, Sasuke-obsessed Ino?

"Then I guess I'll have to help you."

Shikamaru's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets

"What?"

Ino Blushed

"Well, I can't have an old friend starving to death now can I?"

So saying Ino picked up the chopsticks and used them to gather some noodles

'Giggle' "Now open wide for the Choo-choo train."

So troublesome.

Yet a small smile played across his face before he complied.

But I kind of like it.


KUSO!

Thought Sasuke as he peeked out from behind a bush.

So much for her just trying to make me mad.

The scene in front of his eyes was so sweet that it sickened him. Sakura and Lee and entered a rather expensive and tasteful restaurant and, after receiving their orders, had proceeded to feed each other, laughing as one or the other had to wipe their mouths.

"Now what have we here?"

Sasuke whipped around while pulling a couple of kunai loose.

"My my, aren't we uptight?"

Sasuke put back his Kunai and threw a glare at the girl leaning on the fence to his right.

"And who are you?"

The girl stared back with quite intensity burning in her eyes.

"The name is Sebeki. Saratobi Sebeki I'm one of the third's grandchildren, so don't get any funny Ideas."

Sasuke gave her a once over.

Hmm, decent body, average hair… Interesting eyes though. I'd guess about a year younger than me.

"Feh, why should I give a shit who's grandchild your are?"

Sebki's eyes widened a little

"Let's see, Black hair, black eyes, Uchiha fan clan marker, and most of all enough arrogance to drowned in… Yup defiantly an Uchiha. From the fact that those ANBU aren't attacking you, I'd have to guess your Sasuke."

Sasuke growled in the back of his thought. Re-drawing his kunai he snarled out.

"And what's it to you little girl."

Sebeki eyed the Kunai warily,

"Just wondering what interest a weakling like you would have in that particular couple."

Sasuke's vision when red at the word 'weakling'

"Why you! I'll show you not to mess with ninja little girl."

Saying so He tossed the Kunai at her, in a flash he found himself pinned to the wall by his own Kunai.

"What the?"

"It's not wise to attack your betters, Ototo."

"WHAT THE HELL! I'm NO-BODY'S 'Little Brother'."

"Then stop acting like a child Ototo. Oh and for your information. I'm a year older than you, and I'm a Chuunin. So you can stop calling me 'little girl'"

With that she left the open mouthed Uchiha to gather his weapons and walked away.


Up in the Hokage's tower Tsunade couldn't help but smirk.

"So your Idea is working?"

Tsunade turned and faced Hiashi, who was leaning against the wall.

"Yes. Lee and Sakura are happy, and Sasuke is going to be taught a couple of vital lessons."

"And my nephew?"

"Surprisingly I don't need to do anything for him. That girl Ten-ten does well enough on her own. I'd show you, but she's on a mission."

"And my daughter?"

"Don't worry Hiashi-sama. Enough time around Naruto will turn her problem around."

"I don't know if I like the boy."

"You said that about his father too. Relax, we both know that Naruto isn't the Kyuubi, give him a little time, and perhaps give her a little space."

"I tried giving her 'space' Hokage-sama, she's still weak."

With that Hiashi disappeared. Tsunade sighed.

"Oh well, one thing at a time."

With that she turned off the lights and went back to her room.


Me: OK Chappy is done again. and once again I need everyone to read the 'To everyone' section at the bottom.

Naruto: Don't forget to thank them

Me: But of course Naruto, I want to thank everyone who responded, I have never gotten this many reviews, and I blame the sheer number of them on the fact that this chappy got done so soon. I hope nobody hates me to much for leaving you at the Naru cliffy, but it really is going to be one hell of a fight, so It's taking a while to write

Naruto: You better be sorry, I'm gonna kick that guys Ass, just 'Wham, Boom crun..."

Me: Yes, yes we get the point.

Sasuke: (tear streams) Sakura-chan doesn't like me anymore?

Me: 'sigh' she's moved on... you should to.

Naruto: ... and then I'll hit him like THIS and punch him HERE and then I'll...

Me: Oh dear, he's going to take a while to wind down. Oh well, On with the replies


shadowcriminal:
(Shrug) Actuly I get more reviews when I wait a day or two.

naruto-fanfic:
Why thank you

Dragon Noir:
The disappearing gems is my secret, Because He's not just out to get Summons. Kinda, He host shifts, alot like Orochimaru, Kyuubi... May have to disappear for a bit, I haven't decided.

ero-jounin:
I'm even more evil than that. I just finished a chapter without so much as a reference to the fight I started ;-)

RockFox:
Will happen.

RyokoTenchi:
Thank you.

Sirus183:
Cause I can X-)

NotasuSama:
Cangratulations, Either your the only person who saw that particular joke, or else your the only person who felt it worth mentioning. Thank you.

TimeShifter:
Soon. Soon.

Sleepy Kitty:
Thanks X-D BTW my poor puppy got killed :'-( so no worries about me Siccing him on you.

Monaki-cheung:
Naru/Hina, probably Shika/Ino... As for others, see the 'To Everyone' section below.

Donut-Nin:
Just wait and see. . The next chappy's are going to be so much fun.

a major fan:
'Blush' Thanks, When are you going to post?

crakbaby23:
I was told so many different spellings I just decided that for the purpose of this fic it's Tamari.

Dragon Man 180:
Hehe It's going to be SO much fun... Just wait till next chapter.

To Everyone:
OK first off Thanks to anyone I didn't name specifically, your reviews are highly appreciated, Secondly The results are almost 100 not to compress, so I won't. Third I'm considering Pairings. At the moment the only one cemented in my mind is Naru/Hina, So I want to know what you people want to see. I'm leaning toward Shika/Ino at the moment, but what did you think of the Lee/Saku? And what if I pair Sasu up with Sebeki? She's going to train him mentally for a while so there is a good chance for relationship development. besides she's one of the few I am letting tolerate him till Naruto gets back. So... Tell me what ya'll think.

Sincerly,

Manatheron