Senko: Hey everyone! It's me, Senko, here with "First Love" chapter 3! Now, I'm pretty sure that I'll go into a writers block once I finish this chapter. Why? Simply because this is my third story ever that has made it to chapter 3 or further. I usually start losing story ideas once I hit chapter 2 v.v;; Also, sorry I didn't update this soon. In truth, I have this chapter written out and all but I was just too lazy to type it up lol

Responses

Shy-Lil-Dreamer: You could put it that way! But, to be honest, Neji doesn't like Sakura YET! Hehe

Kawaii Koneko92: Thankies ;D

Allyluv: Eh? I'm a genius? o.O wow…people told me that they like my story or art or ideas but…they never called me a genius T-T thankies so much!

Jellybean89: Here's chapter 3 then!

Kuromiko: Why thank you :D

Sakura: how come you reviewed twice with the same review? o.O;;

Kist: Um I'll try my best to keep the characters in character? Thankies for your wonderful suggestions by the way!

Slytherin Prince: YAY! COOKIES! –eats cookies-

Dagorwen of Ithilien: Thankies for your review!

Iluvanime493: YES! This chapter is outside of the hospital, except for the flashback in the beginning:D

Fuji-Dragon: Thankies for your review!

Kaze ni Tenshi: Wow o.O Your review actually made me update lol I'm serious! When I got your review, I was like, "Oh…it's time I update." LOL

Italics – thoughts, flashback, emphasis

"Quotes" - dialogue

Disclaimers: I own nothing! NUHTHING!

Chapter 3

"Hey, Neji-san?"

"What?"

A pair of sparkly, emerald orbs glanced upwards and met his silver orbs for a second before diverting back down at the bandaging around his wrist. The smile on the pink-haired medic-nin's face was visible to Neji even if her head was down. "Is there…something going on between you and TenTen?"

A shocked expression would have appeared on his face had he not been the Hyuuga Neji. In truth, though, he was a bit shocked. Just a bit, though. Why would she ask him that? "No. Why?"

"Oh, I was just wondering. I've seen the way she's always smiling and laughing when she's talking to you lately and you yourself sometimes blush when that happens. And don't deny it – I know enough to realize when a guy's blushing."

"Hn." That it – Neji has got to get it through his team's head that he absolutely does not like Sakura. Sure, he likes her, but he only thought of her as a comrade, and if this is what his team considered "liking" to be then he himself would like TenTen and his teacher and…even Lee. At first, he had thought Sakura was just another pathetic girl who became a ninja to try and grab the attention of Uchiha Sasuke. He, and perhaps everybody else, knew her to be truly weak. She had no special techniques whatsoever and always showed her emotions. While he has the Byakuugan, Sasuke has the Sharingan, TenTen has amazing weapon skills, and even Sakura's rival/friend has mind jutsus, Sakura remained plain with no specialty. He despised her.

That was what he thought a couple years back. Ever since his fight with Naruto in the Chuunin Exam when he was thirteen, he, to be honest, changed slightly. He didn't look down on the weak, but that didn't mean he couldn't admit Sakura was weak. Now, Sakura had finally used her accurate chakra control for something useful. The Sakura before him was a wonderful medic-nin with astounding knowledge in the medical field. Well, after all, she was training under the Tsunade. In truth, he was a bit impressed. He liked this Sakura because she'd make a good and useful ally. This Sakura stood only as a comrade to him and nothing; he knew this for sure.

There really isn't anything going on between him and TenTen. He was blushing when TenTen was talking to him? Okay, fine, he was blushing. It was because of TenTen! She was smiling, yes, because she was teasing him and Sakura! He was blushing, yes, because, at one point, she said something about him and Sakura that he'd rather not think of.

"Well, Neji-san, I won't assume anything since I don't know. However, I think you and TenTen would make a very cute couple!" He could hear her soft giggle as her hands pulled away from his wrist.

"…"

"I'm just saying, ok? But, anyways, if TenTen does like you, I think you should give her a chance. TenTen is smart, nice, pretty, and powerful. You yourself are…well, you're strong and I hope you're smart."

"Hn."

BAM!

"Oh…my…god!" Lee stared down at his fist…he had actually punched Hyuuga Neji! He had finally got through Neji's defenses! Was everything finally turning around? But Neji's a prodigy! Had his rapid movements finally beat Neji's speed? But Neji has that 360 degree vision thing to identify him, right? So what could it be?

Gai and TenTen stared in utter astonishment at what had just happened: Lee had finally and actually punches Neji! First, Neji was being near almost – yes, near almost – friendly to a pink-haired kunoichi the other day. Today, Lee had punched Neji. What's next, would hell freeze over? But Lee couldn't have punched Neji unless…

A gasp would be heard from Gai while TenTen tried to suppress her laughter. Finally, TenTen let out her laughter. "Y-you…you were thinking of Sakura and got distracted!"

Neji glared, silently cursing how lucky they were to be his teammates or else they'd have been long gone for teasing him. Then again, he also cursed himself for getting attached to them and actually feeling guilty if he killed them. He was so not thinking of Sakura…wait, if he wasn't thinking of her then that would mean that Lee had actually gotten stronger enough to hit him. He was thinking of her…just not in a romantic way or something. "I'm leaving now."

Perhaps leaving was a bad idea. With the whole Lee got stronger than him or he was thinking of Sakura choices lingering in his mind, even our gorgeous prodigy can get really distracted…and trips over one of Tenten's scrolls. He fell, his face colliding with the hard soil. Damn…today was not his day. A small laughter emitted from nowhere and Neji cursed his carelessness to not sense another presence. But this laughter was familiar. Oh no…

"Neji-san actually tripped over a scroll and fell!" He lifted his head to be met with a female crouched down in front of him. Her pink hair immediately confirmed who he thought the laughter belonged to.

Before he could respond, even if he wasn't actually going to, he sensed an uncomfortable rage of fury within the four people. "N-Neji…" Tenten's growl shook as she advanced towards him, grabbed him by the collar and forced him up. "YOU DIRTIED MY SCROLL!"

"It was an accident," was his only unemotional reply.

"Um…T-Tenten-san, please calm down," Sakura stood up from her position to face the two comrades. "Uh, the Hokage has assigned Shikamaru a mission and Shikamaru may choose his other six teammates. So far, he chose Ino and me and told me to come inform you and Neji that he'd like for you two to be on the team. We are to report to the entrance of Konoha at noon sharp."

Neji grunted. "I have to go on a mission with you?"

She knew that he didn't despise her that much to not want to go on a mission with her, but still. Her glare instantly attempted to kill him off. "Yeah, it'll be so great, huh? A mission with Hyuuga Neji! Now I don't just have to listen to how you got hurt, I can witness it! I'm sure everybody would love to hear about how Hyuuga Neji gets hurt every time something is hurled at his back!"

Tenten's snicker did not go unnoticed to anybody. "So, Neji already told you about his blind spot?"

"Tenten!" Neji glowered. In truth, he hadn't told Sakura about his blind spot.

"Hm? What blind spot? You have a blind spot, Neji-san? Well, that would explain everything," Sakura's vivid innocent reactions clearly proved she had no idea.

Tenten gulped, she was in hot, boiling, bubbling water now.

"Neji-san! Tenten-san!" the pink-haired kunoichi beamed and waved her right hand in the air, as if to guide the two figures that were making their way to the entrance of Konoha. Upon arrival, Neji surveyed the group. Shikamaru, Shino, Chouji, Ino, Sakura, Tenten…and him.

"Why are these two here?" he glanced over at Sakura and Ino. "We don't need trouble within the group, Shikamaru."

"I agree!" Ino folded her arms. "We don't need forehead girl here. C'mon, Shikamaru, you know we can get this mission accomplished without her help!"

"WHAT! YOU PIG! I CAN DO MUCH MORE FOR THIS TEAM THAN YOU!"

"I AM NOT A PIG!"

And thus erupted a foolish and rather idiotic argument between the two. Shikamaru sighed once Ino commented on Sakura's large forehead and it was clear Sakura would resort to violence. "How troublesome…alright, break it up!"

Both girls ceased their retorts and name calling, but folded their arms and looked away from each other with a 'hpmh!'

He sighed once again. "Alright, Neji here is right. We don't need trouble within the group. It's pretty obvious you two are best friends so just act like you two are best friends. Anyways, this is a B-rank mission. We are to protect a rich family who lives near the eastern border of the Fire Country. It seems that they found out that an enemy of theirs was going to hire assassinators to kill them. We are just to protect them but we may kill the assassinators too. Now, Sakura, Ino, make sure none of you murders someone within this group."

Both girls only glared at him.

The red-orange flames provided the only heat. Sakura clutched harder on the blanket that was around her, curling up her legs so that her chin rested on her knees. Even if it was just Fall, it felt like Winter to Sakura; there was always that same chilly breeze in both seasons. Three female figures sat around the burning bonfire.

The first female is a blonde kunoichi, Yamanaka Ino. For Ino, life had been rather easy. She was strong and powerful. She had been cute and adorable to everyone when she was young, she is now pretty, and she would be gorgeous once she was fully developed. She isn't the most powerful of kunoichis, but her amazing mind techniques can impress many.

The second is a brunette, TenTen. TenTen's family name is unknown to many, even me. She is a powerful kunoichi who specializes with weapons. Ever since she picked up her first kunai, her throws and aims had proved to be at the top of her class. Her team is surely an interesting one, consisting of a taijutsu specialist, a mighty prodigy, and she, the weapon master.

The last is a pink-haired kunoichi, Haruno Sakura. Unlike Ino, life hadn't been too easy for her. She was the one who always depended on Ino because she was bullied and the two became the best of friends…although they don't act like best friends. If you thought that TenTen had an interesting team, well, Sakura had an even more interesting team. With a boy who contains a demon within him and the last surviving member of the Uchiha clan, her eyes had seen much, much more than many. Yes…her eyes are very unique.

"Hey, Tenten?" Sakura's jade eyes pierced through the bonfire and onto the female that sat across.

The brunette and blonde's attention both laid on Sakura. "Yeah, what is it?"

"I was wondering if there is something going on between you and Neji?"

TenTen had to force herself not to burst out laughing - something going on between her and Neji? "Why do you ask that?"

"Well, I see how you sometimes laugh at him and he blushes."

Oh…well, she had to admit that Sakura was right. But that was only because she was teasing Neji about something that I, the authoress, won't reveal. "Uh…maybe you have vision problems. I can assure you that nothing is going on between Neji and I."

"Are you sure? I mean, it would make sense for Neji to fall for you. You're pretty, strong, and confident – I should hook you two up!"

"What! No, no, don't do that!"

"Eh? Are you denial, TenTen?" Wow, Ino is actually supporting Sakura. At times like this, why couldn't Shikamaru witness this?

"Well, TenTen, I'll just have you know that I will not change my mind. I am going to hook you and Neji up! You two will make the perfect couple!"

And indeed, TenTen knew that Sakura could be quite stubborn. But anyways, she knew for sure that she and Neji would never work out. Yes, it would make sense for Neji and her to date since they have known each other for a long time. But they were more like brothers and sisters. Now, her only option would be to hook Sakura and Neji up before Sakura's plan of hooking her and Neji up takes action.

Senko: Well, that's all for now, folks! Whaddya think? Sakura decides to hook TenTen and Neji up while TenTen decides to hook Sakura and Neji up:D I will try my best to update soon but I must tell you, I'm starting school on the 9th of August. I don't have any other chapters written out but I do have many events in my mind. I will most likely be too lazy to type it up lol so, if you want me to update sooner, bother me by IMing me on yahoo or sending me an email to my yahoo email.

Don't forget to review, everyone! ;)