A/N: I'm sorry for the slow start, but I promise you that the story will go into full swing soon. I'm already working on the next chapter as I type this. I was going to combine it with this chapter, but didn't want everything to be mooshed together. Anyway, thank you Shi-Sha Hariken and cuito for reviewing. Your interest is what fueled me to write this chapter and the next. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own, so please do not sue. I do not have money, especially with the holidays coming around.

"Don't pretend that you can't hear me," Naruto glared heatedly at Sasuke, hitting him at all his lethal points with his gaze.

"I heard you," Sasuke replied coolly, not giving Naruto the satisfaction of his full attention.

"Then answer me already," Naruto shifted his weight from his left foot to his right, crossing his arms tightly to exercise some impatience.

"I don't have to answer to anything," Sasuke replied in the same unmoving manner, knowing well enough that he was pissing Naruto off. "Or anyone, for that matter."

Naruto watched as a small signature smirk played across the lips of the Uchiha and deepened his frown. Having grown over the years, Naruto is probably the one that has matured the most since their genin years. However, that isn't to say that his other two teammates are less mature than he is since it can be argued that he was the most immature to start out with. But never the less, his self control has remarkably grown stronger and is rumored to be so ever since he learned to better control the leakage of the kyuibi during battles. (Someone also told him once that if he ran around screaming his head off all the time, then all the kids would be scared of him – and he figured that he couldn't become the one Hokage that all the kids feared.)

"I guess I'll just have to beat it out of you later," Naruto finally replaced his frown with a competitive grin that ultimately grew into a smirk that matched Sasuke's.

"We'll see about that, dobe," Sasuke, very much amused by his friend's change of temperament over the few years, wondered how long Naruto would last before he loses it.

Naruto's fist clenched, but he just turned his head away. "I don't even know what the big deal is, it was a simple question."

"A simple question does not necessarily generate a simple answer," Sasuke turned his head in the opposite direction and wondered when the other half of the team would arrive. Talking to Naruto was like talking to a wall – a wall that presses you on all sides until you burst with insanity.

Why am I moving to a new apartment…? Sasuke thought about the question that Naruto had asked him. For one, he needed a change. His old place reminded him too much of past mistakes and though his life's goal has been executed, the walls still reeked of sweat and vengeance. Then there was another reason, more subliminal in his consciousness, of having a larger place for at least two or more people. There were nights when he had lain awake, wondering about his real feelings towards Sakura, since she was the one he would ask to move in with him. His instincts told him that she was just a friend, a very close friend - however since she was about the only female companion that he could tolerate, his instincts told him that she was the one that he needed to settle with.

Settle, what an ugly word. Settling for less, is it really worth it? Somewhere in the back of his mind though, he knew that it wasn't really him settling for less, it was her. Anyone to take him as who he is, both inside and out, has got to be settling for less. He wouldn't be able to care for her like she would want him to, he wouldn't be able to love her they way she needed him to. Yet she had always wanted to care for him and love him even if it was one-sided, so maybe it was time to just give her what she wants. In a twisted sense, he would be doing her a favor, right? The only problem was that he wasn't sure anymore. It wasn't like she had directed her affections elsewhere, but instead she directed her full attention to her work. He understood that it was important for her to feel useful, but she just seemed to have applied herself too much to her duties.

Silence had befallen the two as Sasuke felt himself deeper in the clutches of his own thoughts, but was soon to be broken by a new arrival.

"Yo," a pleasant voice sounded from above them, darting from tree to tree and then finally settling on the ground in front of them. Kakashi, in his full height, was slightly taller than both the boys. Naruto came next, and Sasuke grudgingly after him. It was a wonder how Naruto grew so tall with his diet consisting mostly of ramen. Kakashi had swooped in a few more times to offer vegetables, but stopped since Naruto refused them every time.

"About time you got here," Sasuke muttered under his breath.

An eyebrow rose slightly on Kakashi's face as he barely caught Sasuke's complaint. Since when did Sasuke verbally complained about his lateness? And before Naruto and Sakura?

"Sorry, I was caught in a cross-fire between two old ladies who were fighting in a store," Kakashi's visibly eye crinkled.

"Liar," Naruto replied simply, almost in reflex.

"Oh?" Kakashi turned to look at his former student.

"What would two old ladies be doing at a porn store? It couldn't be the grocery store, because you never do your grocery shopping on weekdays," Naruto gave him a smug smile as he rose to occasion at Kakashi's challenge.

Kakashi, not being able to formulate a reply decided to ask the question he had wanted to since he spotted their usual clearing. "And where is Sakura?"

"I don't know, she's probably wrapping up with Tsunade or at work," Naruto answered him. Sasuke agreed with a nod.

"In that case, maybe we should wait a little bit, she always – " Kakashi had wanted to say that since Sakura always waited for him when he was late, it was only courtesy that they all waited for her too. Before he could finish though, a voice interrupted him as well as a death-inducing bright flare. A sigh escaped Kakashi's lips and through his mask, he can recognize that shiny glare from anywhere.

"Kakashi! My eternal rival of my springtime youth!" Gai's mouth was set into a large grin, baring his sparkling teeth. A large bead of sweat formed behind Kakashi's head.

"It is my turn to pick the competition," his smile burned brightly into Kakashi's eye, even as he turned around to reach into his a bag that he had brought with him.

"Not now Gai, you know I train with my team every Monday and Thursday of the week," the silver-haired jounin replied.

"Oh…oh, right," Gai's sunny disposition took a sudden leap downwards. It caused Kakashi to sigh however, because it was evident why Gai had stalked him out in the first place. Unlike Kakashi's team, Gai's team had dispersed quite a bit. His prize student, Lee, had been sent to lead a mission that has taken over half a year already. Neji now, has stopped training with Gai entirely and picked up with Hinata's father instead. Even his blossoming Tenten had abandoned him over the course of the last few months since she became swamped with work and preparation as the Chuunin exams neared, being an examiner herself.

"But one of my students is late, so if what you had in mind doesn't take much time…" Kakashi felt sorry for his "eternal rival" and knew that he would probably be feeling the same if he didn't have his old team to train and play with. And though none of his students were his still officially his students, he still refer to them as such since they still met like they usually did – save for the lessened amount of meetings.

"Of course! I will be the first to finish, I assure you. You on the other hand…well we'll see," Gai smiled brightly with renewed confidence and shine.

"Well, what do you have in mind?" Kakashi almost regretted in asking, but knew that he would have to in order to get it all over with.

"You might think I have not noticed you while you were reading your books, but my sharp, light eyes do not lie. I have seen you," Gai announced, tapping his chest with his thumb.

"Not noticed? How can anyone not notice Kakashi while he is reading? Is he insane?" Naruto questioned under his breath with a look of disbelief in his eyes. Sasuke snorted in the same volume of silence.

"And so I challenge you to a reading duel. Whoever can read the fastest wins," Gai finally pulled out a book from behind him and for some reason, colorful waves splashed behind the green spandex-clad man.

Naruto and Sasuke both raised their eyebrows and narrowed their eyes to read the title of the book Gai took out.

"101 Ways to Preserve Youth and Beauty," Naruto read aloud. "I think Tsunade-baasan has that book."

"I brought you a copy too," Gai took out another book out from behind him and tossed it to Kakashi.

"I have my own, thanks," Kakashi frowned as he caught the book.

"No, my fickle flower friend, I know you've reread yours a hundred times and it would be cheating if you use it. And cheating is against all rules in my book of life, it is the utmost- "

"Ok, ok, I understand," Kakashi had a feeling that if he didn't stop him, his speech condemning cheating would go on longer than the competition itself.

"This is a waste of time," Sasuke turned away from the two competitors to his only listener. Naruto nodded and looked up to the darkening sky. Sakura's shift from the hospital was long over and so should her lesson with Tsunade. Something odd was going on.

"I'm think I'm go- "

"I'm going to check on Sakura," Sasuke interrupted him.

"Eeh?" Naruto's eyes shot open the second time that day in disbelief. That was exactly what he was going to say.

"Well I'm going too then," Naruto replied.

"You don't have to," Sasuke told him as he signaled to Kakashi that he was going to be off for a bit.

"It was my idea in the first place, you just took it," Naruto jumped up first and headed in the direction of the hospital.

"Whatever," was Sasuke's reply and he soon followed suit.