Sakura sat on the porch, staring at the blue sky above her.
Then jumped when Sasuke's face appeared before her.
"ARRGH!" Sakura screamed as she fell backwards.
Luckily, she landed into Sasuke's arms.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow.
"N-Nothing!" Sakura said hurriedly.
Sasuke sat beside her, looking at the sky too.
"H-How's your arm?" Sakura asked.
"Fine." Sasuke replied.
"…"
"…"
SILENCE
"The weather is sure nice today, isn't it?" Sakura said.
Sasuke nodded slightly.
"Any idea what to do today?" Sakura tried to make conversation.
Sasuke continued staring at the sky. "No idea."
Sakura sighed and cupped her chin with her hands.
Sasuke doesn't talk much…
"That cloud sure looks like a dog…" Sakura said absentmindedly.
"A dog?" Sasuke said, looking at the cloud Sakura was looking at. "Oh, yeah."
"And that one—' Sakura pointed at another cloud.
"Looks like a fox, doesn't it?"
"Huh?" Sakura and Sasuke turned back. It was Naruto, carrying a tray of hot tea.
He passed tea to Sakura and Sasuke, and sat down beside Sakura himself.
Sasuke sipped his tea, still staring at the sky.
"Ah… A nice day like this should be spent on drinking tea and thinking about stuff!" Naruto said cheerfully.
"What about missions?" Sakura asked in surprise.
"Um, missions, too." Naruto said quickly, drinking his tea.
"Naruto, the tea is hot!" Sakura warned… Too late.
"OW!" Naruto yelled, spitting the hot tea out. "HOT-HOT-HOT!"
"Idiot." Sasuke muttered. Sakura giggled.
"ARRGH! COLD-COLD-COLD!" Naruto screamed as water came out of nowhere and landed on him.
Sakura and Sasuke looked up. It was Lee, on the second floor.
"Um… Sorry." Lee apologized.
"SORRY?" Naruto yelled, pointing his fist at him. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT, HUH?"
"It wasn't on purpose… I didn't know you where down there." Lee said defensively.
"What did you do with the water, Lee?" Sakura asked.
"To soak my feet in." Lee replied.
"YUCKS! DIRTY FEET WATER!" Naruto screamed. "THAT'S IT! I'M GOING FOR A SHOWER! I'LL SETTLE THIS WITH YOU LATER!"
Cursing, Naruto went off.
"What can I do?" Lee shrugged and went back to his room.
------------------------------------------------------
Sakura giggled. Poor Naruto!
Sasuke smirked.
Then they were silent again.
Sakura sighed and frowned.
I'm still troubled, somehow. About Naruto and Sasuke… What were my feelings back then? Sure, I've liked Sasuke for ever, but Naruto…
Sasuke glanced at Sakura. She seems to be thinking about something.
"Sakura."
"Huh?" Sakura looked at Sasuke.
"Is… Is… Something… Troubling you?" Sasuke turned away, blushing.
Sakura's eyes widened and she looked down. "No… Nothing's…"
Sasuke glared at the bushes. "Are you sure? You look troubled." What am I saying? I normally don't ask people whether they have problems!
Sakura turned and smiled at Sasuke. "I'm fine. Really."
Sasuke blushed even harder, making Sakura giggle.
"What-What are you laughing at?" Sasuke tried to make himself sound stern, but he just sounded panicky instead.
Sakura patted Sasuke's head. "You're cute when you blush." She commented.
Sasuke looked down and held Sakura's hand.
"…?"
Then he pulled her to him and hugged her.
Sakura was somewhat surprised, but she didn't pull away.
"… If-If you have problems, just tell me, okay…" Sasuke mumbled.
"S-Sasuke…"
"I… I can't stand it when you look unhappy."
"!"
Sasuke turned Sakura so she was facing him.
They were in that position for a moment.
Then he started to lean closer…
"S-Sasuke." I can't.
Sasuke put a finger at her mouth. "Ssh…"
"Sasuke, Lee's upstairs." Sakura said lamely, her mouth moving against Sasuke's finger.
Sasuke put his finger down and continued to move.
Sakura closed her eyes, thinking nervously.
But I…
"OW! NARUTO, I DIDN'T DO IT ON PURPOSE!" Lee yelled from upstairs, causing Sasuke and Sakura to jump in shock.
"DIE, EYEBROW FREAK!" Naruto yelled.
Sasuke sighed. "Sakura—Huh?"
Sakura was gone.
---------------------------------------------------
Hinata sat on the tree, thinking about Naruto's rejection.
Should I give up on him?
She frowned as she stared at her hands.
"Hinata-sama!" A familiar voice rang out.
"N-Neji?" Hinata said, startled.
Neji was under the tree. "C-Can I join you?"
Hinata blushed a little and nodded.
Neji was up the tree in no time.
"W-Where's Tenten?" Hinata asked.
Neji looked upwards. "I don't know. She went off after breakfast and… Well, I don't know where she went."
Hinata sighed. "I see…"
Neji blushed and looked down at his knees. "H-Hinata-sama."
"Yes?" Hinata asked, looking at Neji.
"T-Tenten just… She confessed to… me…"
Confession?
Hinata felt her chest tighten. Her eyes started to water.
"Hinata-sama?" Neji was shocked to see tears falling from Hinata's face. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—I…"
"N-Naruto-kun…" Hinata said in a strangled voice, and Neji knew.
You still haven't recovered from Naruto's rejection…
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" Neji said, flustered.
"N-Neji… Please tell me… What should I do?" Hinata said suddenly, startling Neji again. "Please tell me!"
Neji stared at the tears what were falling down Hinata's face.
What should I say to her? I have no idea how…What can I do?
--------------------------------------------------------
"Sakura?" Sasuke found Sakura at the river, panting.
"I-I'm sorry!" Sakura said, shaking, her back facing Sasuke.
"Sakura." Sasuke said in a gentle tone. "What's wrong?"
Sakura fell to her knees. She recalled how Sasuke was worried about her a moment ago… And all those times… She'd troubled Sasuke…
All… All I do is just make Sasuke worry! I like Sasuke, but I'm thinking about Naruto… What am I doing?
Tears fell silently from her eyes.
I… I don't deserve him! I don't deserve Sasuke at all!
Sasuke went to Sakura, trying to look at her face.
"Sakura, are you okay? You're shaking—'
Sakura covered her face with one hand. "I-I'm fine." She said in a shaky tone, and tried to get away.
Sasuke grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her to him again, however.
Sakura tried to pull away. She couldn't let Sasuke see her like this.
Only that Sasuke's grip was like iron. He pried Sakura's hand away from her face.
"No!" Sakura yelled, shutting her eyes.
"You're crying…" Sasuke wiped the tears gently from her face.
Sakura tried to pull away again and failed.
"I… I don't deserve you, Sasuke." Sakura said, trembling.
Sasuke's response was to hug Sakura, stunning her.
"No." Sasuke whispered.
"Please don't do this! Don't care so much for me! Don't!" Sakura sobbed, fighting Sasuke's grip.
Sasuke's grip was still firm. "Why?" He asked simply.
Sakura stopped.
"Tell me, why?"
Sakura didn't reply. She just kept on crying.
"Please, Sakura." Sasuke's tone was even gentler now.
Sakura shook even more. "N-Naruto—'
"Naruto? You're…" Sasuke paused.
It can't be.
His grip loosened a little.
She's… developing feelings for Naruto?
Author: Do you think this chapter is a little abrupt? Frowns in concentration