A/N: Sorry for the late update…truly I am really, really sorry… Our classes just started and I have to sleep early since I need to come to school early cause if I am late I wouldn't be able to catch up cause my room is in the 2nd floor and I have to run to the stairs if I'm ever late…and the stairs are steep! Besides, my teachers are early to our classes…it's a real turn-off…

I would also like to thank to those people who reviewed my second chapter…if you have any story…please tell me so that I'll be able to read it and review it also…I'm a great person aren't I?

Chapter 3

Problems Solved

"Sasuke! Why are we here! I hate this place! Is this supposed to be your school! It's a bit gloomy! It's scary! I hate it here! Why are they here!" she exploded pointing at Naruto and his other guy friends. "I hate them! Why am I stuck with you! I like Itachi better than you! Why are there one, two, three, four, FIVE girls here! I'm gonna tell auntie on you!" she threatened Sasuke and shot glares at all of them.

Sakura looked at the others. Naruto and his friends were cowering behind them. While her friends were staring at the girl out of bewilderment. While Sasuke were staring at the girl. He was totally scared and embarrassed.

'Uh-Oh. Looks like these guys never handled a child in a tantrum.' Sakura thought while still watching the cute but terrible child complain.

"Sasuke! I'm hungry!" she said and tugged Sasuke shirt. If she pulled any harder, Sasuke's shirt will be ripped. Naruto stepped forward, he looked as if he was so proud of himself for being brave enough to talk to the little girl.

"We could eat ramen!" Naruto said very proudly. It was obvious to Sakura that he loves ramen from the way he talks about it. Neji, Shikamaru and Umi looked at him then at the girl.

"I hate ramen!" she shouted. Naruto was shocked. Who would hate ramen! Naruto wanted to run at her and maybe strangle her to death but before he could Sakura stepped forward.

"Hello! I know that your mother told you not to talk to strangers, so I'm Sakura and what's your kawai name?" Sakura asked bending over her. The girl's eyes softened and introduced herself. "I am Uchiha Reina! I am Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke's cutest cousin!" she said. Sakura smiled. "Ice cream?" Sakura said pointing at the ice cream stand not far from them.

Reina nodded happily and dragged Sakura to the ice cream stand. Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Umi, Neji, Temari, Hinata, TenTen and Ino were shocked! Who knew that Sakura could handle children like that?

They went back with Reina happily licking her cookies n cream flavored ice cream. (A/N: What can I say? I love cookies n cream!) "I think we should go to the playground instead of the library." Sakura suggested. "No way!" all the boys shouted.

"We wouldn't want to be seen hanging out in the play ground with a kid!" all the boys chorused. Reina was too busy licking her ice cream to listen to their bickers.

"Well, would you rather go to a public library with a kid who gets a tantrum every now and then, and be totally ashamed of the librarian and all the people who are currently studying there, or we could go to a play ground where she can play happily and leave us alone. Besides only parents and kids normally go to the play ground. Duh!" Sakura explained. She made a point.

They all nodded even the girls. "Where are we going now?" Reina asked to Sakura when they started walking. "Play ground." Sakura said looking at her.

Reina jumped up and down. TenTen looked at Reina. "Hello little kid. I'm TenTen this is Temari and that's Hinata and Ino!" TenTen introduced each one of them and all of them waved in a friendly way…obviously.

Reina looked at all of the girls surrounding her while they were walking and smiled a very cheerful smile. TenTen and the others looked at each other. They were happy that she accepted them. The boys were walking behind them by the way.

"I like you girls better than the boys behind us!" Reina shouted happily and continued on attacking her ice cream. The girls sweat dropped while the boys fell…uh…anime style.

When they reached the playground, Reina already finished her ice cream. When she saw her friends wave at her she completely forgot that she had people with her and went to her friends' instead.

The girls all smiled seeing Reina so happy with her friends and turned to look at the boys who still slightly looked surprised at how they handled Sasuke's demon child cousin.

"So, we all recovered yet?" TenTen asked with an amused voice. She was only surprised at first with Reina's attitude but she's most surprised at the boys' reactions.

The boys slowly nodded and Umi stepped forward first. "So, since we all already recovered should we get on with business? Ino." Umi said and offered a hand to Ino. He was being a gentleman. First impression IS important…at least for Umi it is.

Ino took it rather hesitantly looking at her friends. They all nodded and she walked off with Umi. Umi, obviously, was the first to tell the tale for he was talking like mad.

"TenTen?" Neji asked and TenTen stepped forward and went on the opposite direction. Neji was still asking TenTen what she did and TenTen was already starting to tell her story.

"Come on Hinata!" Naruto shouted cheerfully. Hearing Hinata's name Neji turned to look only to see Naruto walking away with her cousin. "Don't worry about Hinata. She's a very independent girl! Well, at least sometimes she is." TenTen said to Neji as his attention went back to her. Then she continued.

Sasuke walked away already signaling Sakura to follow him. Sakura just said her last few words to Temari and went with Sasuke already. Temari was watching Sakura and Sasuke from a distance and turned her attention to Shikamaru.

"I wonder what you did." Temari said with a slight sarcastic tone. Surprising himself, Shikamaru burst out defending himself. "I promise I didn't watch the clouds that often like before!" Temari nodded, unsure of his excuse.

"Well, let me start. I was with my brothers and we went to the country of Sand. We spent most of our summer there. We were mostly being addressed to the people since our father is the Kazekage. It is really frustrating sometimes. But my brothers seem to enjoy the attention. Especially Kankorou." Temari started. Shikamaru was lucky that Temari was looking up at the sky because he was blushing madly. Doesn't he ever do anything but blush?

Meanwhile, back with Sasuke and Sakura, they haven't really started a conversation yet. Sasuke was walking, his arms at his pockets while Sakura was walking with him with her hands holding her shoulder bag.

"So, you start what did you do?" Sakura asked turning to Sasuke. For a while Sasuke has been silent and Sakura as embarrassed. No person has ever treated her like that. 'He is such an ignorant!' Sakura thought.

'Or then again maybe he didn't hear me.' Sakura thought once again. 'But I said it loudly and clearly.' Sakura was playing with her thoughts. 'Did I?'

"I spent most of the summer in this boring country." Sasuke started. Sakura turned to look at him and focused her attention to him. "The rest of my family went to the country of Sound leaving me behind." He continued.

"Why?" she asked. "Dunno." Came his very brief answer. "Okay…continue please!" she said sweetly. Sasuke looked at her then continued with his story. "I was left alone in our place but if you're thinking I needed to cook for myself or whatever, you're wrong. I've got my maids to keep me company." Sakura eyed him closely but Sasuke didn't notice he just went on and on about his story.

"I spent most of my time with the guys. Normally just training in the forests. Or doing some guy things." Sasuke added. "You do realize that I have to report this in front of class." Sakura said raising her eyebrows at him.

"Yeah, so?" he said. Sakura sighed. He obviously didn't care. Sakura was partnered to a boring guy who didn't do anything but just waste his time on chattering with his friends who are not to mention useless also. 'Maybe he is an ignorant.' Sakura thought once again.

"Is that all?" Sakura asked with a bored voice. He nodded. "Then let me begin. I really did a lot of things over the summer, and I mean a lot." Sakura started but was interrupted by Sasuke. "Is this gonna be long?" he asked. Sakura raised an eyebrow and nodded. Sasuke nodded also.

Let's go to Neji and TenTen's part. They were at least getting a long. "So I ended up with my mother's friend's daughters in Hidden Falls. They were a pain in the butt!" TenTen cried furiously. She was nearing the end of the story of her vacation. "They didn't waste a single second of their precious time with having fun with me! They wasted their time on bragging about their uncoordinated techniques! They didn't admit they suck at it! Instead they bragged about it even more! That's why I came home alone, without my mother or father." TenTen finished.

Neji nodded slightly amused by her frustration. Seeing TenTen angry was kinda cute for Neji. "Hey cool down for a sec! They're not here!" Neji said trying to calm her down. "The thought of them makes me angry!" TenTen cried. It was a good thing they were at a spot where there weren't many much people around or else a lot of confused people will be looking at their direction by now.

Neji rubbed her back trying to calm her down but as he did this he was smirking. (A/N: Why? Dunno…) "Okay, your turn!" TenTen said as if nothing happened. 'That was fast.' Neji thought.

"Uh…I stayed here all summer due to my cousin, Hinata. Her father didn't want to leave and even though her father is with her I still have to say. I only trained a lot with my gang. We all stayed here." He said.

"You're actually lucky because being in Konoha is relaxing!" TenTen stated. She hated being away of Konoha and she especially hated it when she needed to go to the Hidden Falls because that means she gets to see the bragging wannabes again.

Suddenly a ball came out of nowhere and TenTen accidentally stepped on it. She stumbled and fell. But she didn't fell on the hard cement. She opened her eyes only to see Neji's blank ones. Instead of grabbing her wrist, Neji used himself as a kind of…bed? So TenTen won't get hurt.

TenTen hurriedly got off of him, afraid of him getting even more hurt. "Neji! I'm so sorry! There was a ball! I stumbled! Ahh…Neji I'm really, really sorry!" TenTen kept on saying her apologies while watching Neji rub his back. "It's alright. It wasn't that rough. I've experienced worst." Neji said giving TenTen a reassuring smile. "Still, I'm sorry for being an idiot." She said it one last time.

After that there was an awkward silence. Both of them didn't know what to do next. Honestly to the both of them, their position a while ago was kind of…inappropriate. (A/N: If you know what I mean.)

Now with Naruto and Hinata. Hinata just listened attentively to Naruto's blabbers. One would think she isn't listening at all because of her expression.

Truth is Hinata was kind of uncomfortable with Naruto. She didn't know why, she just feels very awkward around him. But Naruto ain't feeling the same.

"Now your turn Hinata!" Naruto said cheerfully after telling the tale of the magnificent looks and tastes of ramen. "I stayed here also." She started. "My father wanted to train me. I don't know why. I can't refuse. He is my father and I have to obey him. He said I wasn't strong enough yet. He said that I needed to be strong for when I'm older and when I rule our clan I would be successful. He lectured me on everything there has to be learned. From our family history to the upcoming things that I have to do. It was really nerve-wrecking; I mean hearing of what you have to do on the following years."

"Oh…" Naruto said feeling sorry for Hinata. "Well you could always turn down your "throne"." Naruto said quite like a foolish child. "I mean you have your sister and you can help each other out right?" Naruto began, Hinata only nodded and listened.

"And you don't have to listen to your father every damn second. You're gonna be his puppet if you bend down to his every command. And besides, I know that you're an independent girl and you can make it on your own with or without you father. And besides, you always have me and Neji and my other boys and of course your friends to back you up!" Naruto explained. Naruto sometimes surprises you with his way of words.

Hinata just stared at him while they were walking around. She smiled and said in a whisper "Thanks." But Naruto heard it and mumbled a "No prob."

"And then I even slashed a bear in the forest" Umi blurted out on Ino. Ino rolled her eyes. She knew these were all lies because Chouji told her that Umi won't even enter the forest when he's alone.

"Don't brag!" Ino said loudly enough for the people around them to hear. Umi and Ino looked around and smiled sheepishly at the towns people that were staring at them. After the sheepish smile the people went back to what they were doing.

"Are you done yet with your fantasy?" Ino asked sarcastically at Umi. "What do you mean fantasy!" Umi ragged. "That was real man! That was enough to prove that I am brave!" Umi bragged some more. Ino shook her head.

"Are you done yet Mr. I-killed-a-bear-worship-me-now-coz-I'm-really-great?" Ino asked again with her sarcastic tone. They never really get along. Why? Because Umi likes to brag and boast around Ino. And Ino likes to always use a sarcastic tone on Umi. They've always been like that.

"Whatever. What's your side of the story?" Umi asked. "I was here all along. Doin' things on the flower shop and I was trying to help Hinata with training. That's all." She said.

"What? You've been here all along?" Umi asked. "Yeah why d'you asked?" Ino said raising an eyebrow at her partner. "Nothing." Umi said trying to think of another topic so that Ino could forget about his reaction upon hearing that she has been there all along.

"Why are you so quiet?" Temari asked Shikamaru who was trying all his might to hide his flushing face. "Well…" Shikamaru started. "May I ask, why do you feel so uncomfortable around me? Are you that afraid that I'll bite you to death?" Temari said exaggerating every matter.

"Uhhmm…" Shikamaru again started. "People think that I don't notice that but I do I just ignore it. Shikamaru please tell what wrong with me that you're so afraid about?" she said a look of concern on her face.

Shikamaru sighed. "I'm not afraid of you. But you'll know sooner or later why I act this way around you." He said still not looking at her.

"Well I still guess that you've been cloud gazing all summer." Temari stated. "Not really, at least the guys persuaded me to at least train a bit with them. But you're partially right." Temari smiled.

"Neji I have a question." TenTen started and Neji looked at her. They were sitting on a bench. After their fall on the ground they've been sitting there with a very awkward silence. "Yes?" he asked. "Do you have anything on your mind yet about Kakashi's homework? The jutsu thingy?"

"Well, maybe the Gentle Fist. How 'bout you?" Neji asked. "Don't know." She stated briefly. "How bout a genjutsu that involves weapons? I mean you are a weapons specialist." Neji suggested. TenTen nodded getting an idea on her mind.

Back on Sasuke and Sakura they were talking about the same thing. "We always thought about it but a thought never really came to my mind." Sasuke said. "How 'bout you?"

"I'll do a genjutsu." Sakura said then looked to the serious Uchiha. "Well, you're an Uchiha, you can do that fire ball thing, or whatever." She tried to think of a ninjutsu that was used by the Uchihas. "Thanks for the idea." He said. "Glad to help." She said back. What a short way to talk!

"Umi you're hopeless! I'm trying to ask you of a genjutsu or ninjutsu but you're not telling me anything!" Ino cried. "I'm not gonna tell you anything!" said by a stubborn Umi. Ino cried in frustration luckily there weren't any people around.

"You can do the defensive thingy of you family." Naruto suggested on Hinata screwing his face trying to remember the name of the genjutsu. "But anyway I'll do a summoning technique! Once again I have to cry out loud…Thank you JIRAIYA!" Naruto shouted. Hinata was embarrassed.

"My friends are still trying to think of something. Honestly they all have their bloodline limits to depend on and still they're thinking of something else!" Temari said to Shikamaru. He just nodded in agreement for his friends were just the same.

Sunset came and Sakura and Sasuke went to look for Reina. She was sitting on the swing. It was swaying slightly due to the small wind that came meeting her. Reina was leaning her head on the thick rope of the swing. She was taking a cat nap.

Since the guys didn't want to wake her in fear of having her in a tantrum again, Sakura had to carry Reina until Sasuke's place. They all didn't know how to carry a child especially when a child is sleeping. Only Sakura had that experience.

Sakura and Sasuke walked alone with Reina still in Sakura's arms. They all parted their ways except for them. Sakura tried very hard not to wake Reina up. When she managed to dress Reina properly and tucked her into bed, Sasuke walked her off.

"I think I don't want to take the bus today." Sakura said when they were nearing their destination. "Then, how'll you get back?" Sasuke asked. Sakura stared at him. "Ever heard of a transportation technique?" Sakura asked sarcastically. Sasuke made a mental note to slap him later on for being stupid.

They stopped and bid each other a goodbye. Sakura was starting to feel awkward being with Sasuke. And Sasuke felt the same way too. What the hell is this? They both asked themselves as Sakura did her seals and disappeared.

Sasuke walked back to his house alone having Sakura on his mind.

Well I guess not all problems were solved…

A/N: Okay so kinda long huh? Or maybe not long enough. Just tell me! Give me your comments! I love your comments! Or maybe requests! I don't know I just want to scream my head off. I am so excited! I don't know why! I'm getting crazy over this fic! Again tell me if you have any stories so that I could read and review them also! Please review this chapter! I'd appreciate it! -;