A/N: Hello guys! Thank you again for all your reviews! I should be writing an epic for my English class. But writing a fanfic is more interesting. Anyway, CHAPTER 4 is finished! I'm sorry it took so long.Our computer got infected with this virus. Anyway, not much is going to happen in this chap. I wrote this in such a hurry.

CHAPTER 4:

Somewhere in the woods…

"Are you tired, Chiyo?"

Sasuke landed effortlessly on the ground after dodging his student's attacks. They've been training for a week now and he had to admit that she was a fast learner.

"No. I'm not tired yet."

Even though she knew that she exhausted almost all of her energy, she refused to admit that the training Sasuke was giving her was more than she could handle. She mentally cursed Kakashi. It would have been easier for her if she were allowed to use all of her "abilities". Unfortunately, that would defeat the purpose of her mission. Gradual execution, gradual execution. She chanted silently in her mind as she continued to spar with the jounin.

It was already late afternoon, which means that they've been training for twelve straight hours already. Her body was already starting to give way and her muscles ached as she strained to defend herself from the blows he was now giving her.

He would've hit her squarely in the stomach if he didn't pull back milliseconds before his knuckles collided with her belly.

"That's enough for today."

Chiyo breathed out a sigh of relief. She thought she was a goner since she would've been knocked unconscious if he didn't stop his attack. She nodded her head feebly and started to collect the darts she had thrown at him earlier.

By the time she was done, Sasuke was already a few meters away. That was what he usually did. Immediately after ending a training session, he'd walk off without a word of goodbye. He made it clear from the first day that they'd meet by the river everyday.

Before she could stop herself, she ran after him. I guess it's time to start the plan.

"Sasuke!"

She always called him by his first name. Even if he was her teacher, she didn't think he would mind. After all, she was only a year younger than he was.

Sasuke was surprised to hear Chiyo call out his name. He turned around just in time to see her running towards him. The sight made him think of Sakura. He almost shook his head in dismay but was able to stop himself.

"What?"

She was panting when she reached him. "Do you mind if walk with you?"

"Uh, I guess not."

He resumed his walking but this time, in a slower pace. It was obvious that Chiyo was already dead tired. He just effectively hid his surprised when she asked to walk with him. He pocketed his fists and looked up at the sky.

Inside the Haruno household…

"Mom, I'm going out for a while. Ino and I are going to meet up" Sakura called out to her mother.

"Sakura? Come here for a second." Her mom called out from the kitchen. Sakura reluctantly turned away from the doorway and headed for the kitchen. She saw mom sitting on a chair with a stern look on her face. Uh oh. This is not good.

"What is it, mom?"

"Where are you going?"

"I told you. Ino and I are meeting up."

Whenever her mom gave her the "look", something bad bound to happen. She tried to say it as innocently as possible. But her mother eyed her suspiciously as if trying to find anything on her that was out of place.

"Are you two going to ogle at that Uchiha boy again?"

Now, it was Sakura's turn to be annoyed. It was true that she liked Sasuke, maybe even love him. But her world didn't just revolve around him. Did it? It was also true that maybe Ino and her would end up talking about him, but that doesn't mean that her mind was filled only with thoughts of the young Jounin. Was it? Haven't I been thinking about Sasuke almost everyday? She pushed those thoughts away and looked directly at her mother.

"No, mom. We're not going to "ogle" at Sasuke. We're just going to take a walk in the woods."

Her mother didn't look too convinced but nodded her head in approval anyway. After all, she had to trust her own daughter. Sakura's face immediately lit up and she hurriedly ran out the door as her mother let out a defeated sigh.

Somewhere in another part of the woods…

The sound of the stream accompanied Ino's impatient sighs. Sakura was half an hour late. Annoyed, she threw a rock onto the water and watched it skip across its surface thrice. But she cocked her head as her sensitive ears picked up the sound of footsteps. Finally, she's here.

Ino got up from the big rock she was sitting on just in time to see her best friend jogging towards her.

"Its about time."