Since I don't want to keep having to write a disclaimer for every chapter, the one on the first chapter pertains to all chapters following it.

And on we go!

Chapter 2: Teaming Up

Having recalled last night's events, Ame felt even worse. "This sucks", she mumbled to herself.

"What was that?" Ino asked cheerfully. She had gotten a good nights sleep. "By the way, do you know what happened to my alarm?"

"Uh………no, can't say I do." Ame said quickly feeling a tad bit guilty for her burst of rage. She thought it best to change the subject. "Who do you think you'll be partnered with this time?"

"Dunno," she replied. "In the beginning we were paired according to scores at the academy. Recently though, I think we're just being paired at random." She shrugged.

Yep, the past two pairings had certainly been random: Kiba and now Chouji.

"Hey everyone! Let's go!" Ten Ten's enthusiasm clearly not rubbing off on everyone else.

Ame slowly shifted back out of bed still fully dress since she hadn't bothered to change last night. At their own pace, everyone finally filed out of the room. She watched everyone leave before she herself moved to the door. In the hall, she sees Temari leaning against a wall waiting. As Ame comes within a few feet of her, Temari begins speaking.

"Kankurou got food poisoning yesterday. We had to stop many times on our way here." Without waiting for a response, she turned to leave.

"Apology accepted."

That stopped her. Temari turned back around glaring.

'There's that look again. Must be genetic. How else can one whole family share the same glare that makes me feel like an idiot.'

"Humph." Temari leaves the building.

Tact. Ame would definitely have to exercise more tact. Temari had clearly not wanted to openly express that she felt guilty about being late. Wanting to give Temari a few moments head start, she waited a few seconds the also exited.

The academy building was buzzing with chatter as she entered one of the classrooms. Everyone was talking excitedly, everyone that is except the three newest. They were standing in the corner, two of them muttering quietly to each other. As Ame walked in, everyone gave her a quick glance then returned to their conversations; everyone except a certain three. Temari and Kankurou casting occasional glances and Gaara staring openly.

Unable to stand it any longer, she stormed over to where the three stood and grabbed Kankurou, who happened to be closest, by his cat ear and pulled him to a secluded part of the room.

"Why is your family staring at me?" She annunciated each word in a sharp whisper.

"Think highly of yourself don't you?" He said glancing down at her with raised eyebrows.

"What does my personal opinion of myself have anything to do with you all looking at me?" She asked incredulously.

"What makes you think we were staring at you? There just happens to be a clock behind you."

Ame turned to see that there was indeed a clock over the door she had just entered. "Okay", Ame started slowly, loosing her confidence. "Well"

Before she can think up a good protest, Asuma calls out loudly. "Everyone take a seat, we're beginning."

Ame takes one more glance at Kankurou and the two behind him before hurry off to a seat as far away as she could manage. She sat down. Kankurou's explanation could have made sense, had the clock not been about four or five feet above her head. Meaning that for his story to be plausible, they all would have had to be looking higher up than they were.

"Right," Asuma starts. "Now as you know, you have been grouped in pairs for quite awhile now. Starting today, however, we will be going back to three to a team. And since we are expecting no more new arrivals for a good time, you will be with your groups for a few years to come. So without further ado"

"I'm here, sorry. My fortune cookie told me to find my destiny so………"

"LIAR!" It came as such a habit to Sakura and Naruto to cut off Kakashi's explanations whenever he was late.

"Er……well……let's get started."

Asuma looked exasperated, "we've already started, I was just about to divide them up."

"Oh, is that so? Then I'll just finish up." He scratched the back of his head walking to the front of the room. He takes a quick intake of the room, remembering something.

"For those of you who are wondering where Chouji is, he won't be joining you on your upcoming new teams. He has decided to become a full time teacher at the ninja academy, there he will only receive minor missions along with Iruka." He took a breath a surveyed everyone's reaction.

Everyone looked shocked. Chouji was one of the strongest among them, maybe not the fastest or the brightest, but definitely the bronze of the bunch. Shikamaru appeared absolutely floored.

Once Kakashi felt he had given them enough time for the words to sink in, he continued. "It is unfortunate, but it's his choice, not anyone else's. Now, there can be five even teams. They are: Team 1- Neji, Shikamaru, and Temari; Team 2- Kiba, Kankurou, and Ten Ten; Team 3- Sakura, Ino, and……" Kakashi had to choke back his laughter behind the black cloth that covered most of his face. "Sasuke; Team 4- Hinata, Naruto, and Lee; and finally Team 5……"

Ame's breath caught in her chest. By process of elimination she knew exactly the pair that Kakashi would be saying along with her name.

"Shino, Ame, and Gaara." He finished out looking up from the list he had been reading from. "Each of these teams has the potential to be great, that all depends though on your ability to work as a unit……"

Though Kakashi continued his speech, few were really listening.

(Student's thoughts. Can you guess who's thought it is?)

'Is this some kind of cruel joke? Sticking me with those two! Ino is worse than Naruto!'

'Aww……Sakura-chan is with Sasuke again. But at least I'm not with him! Fuzzy eyebrows and Hinata, huh?'

'Sakura-san, my dreams of being with you have yet again been shattered……I wonder how someone other than Neji will use the byakugan.'

'As I remember from the Chuunin exam, she has excellent analyzing skills and he has an IQ of over 200……very interesting…'

'How troublesome, I got grouped with people who will expect me to work hard all the time……Ino seems happy.'

'squeal now Sasuke-kun will get to see my sharp skills and beauty first hand……he'll fall in love with me for sure…'

'I'm with him? He always seems to give up so easily though……first time I've been on a different team than Kankurou and Gaara though.'

'I fought him in the forest when Gaara was recovering, he's strong, but that doesn't really matter when you're one a team with him……'

'A free spirit and a monstrous raccoon? I suppose it's better than a boy and his silly puppy…'

'Yes! I'll definitely be the leader of this team! I am by the far the strongest out of my teammates.'

'Aw……I got put in such an oddball group. I'm envious of everyone else.'

'Naruto-kun I-I get to watch him up close now. Oh, A-Ame doesn't look to pleased.'

'Bugs……and……sand? That can't be a good combination.'

"………"

"Now that that has been said, I will tell you your assignment. Considering you all will be together for a very long time and the village will need you to work well with your team. We have placed aside enough ninjas to do your missions for a week so you guys can spend some……er…quality time together. Your assignment: spend a week of survival training with your new teams."

Ame's head presently slammed on the desk. 'I can hear it now,' she thought to herself. 'Ame died today……what happened you ask? Oh, it was a terribly tragic bug/sand accident…'

"Meet me at the area you took the second test of the Chuunin exam at packed and ready to depart with your team in one hour."

Another chapter done! YES! The little "thoughts" scene midway though might have been a bit confusing for some. If you need me to tell you who was saying what tell me in your REVIEWS and I'll answer. Heh heh anyways, I should have the next one up in a few days. Sooo until then READ 'N' REVIEW!