Oh ho! Another one from me. I'm swear to god. I don't exactly care about waiting every week anymore. I'm gonna rip through this like my ass is in fire. I know I've been saying that a lot. But honestly, this is bugging the shit out of me and I really, really want to finish this. If anything does come out late. It's all on work.

I won't be answering reviews anymore. Except for the final chapter. How many more chapters? I'm thinking four. It better be too. Gah, I keep making the story line longer when I'm suppose to start wrapping this up. Someone please smack me. -.- I hope this chapter won't suck. T-T

Disclaimer: Same old, same old. It gets annoying having to say this so many times. I don't own Naruto.


"All rise for the honorable Judge Sakai."

A middle aged man dressed in a black robe with a white wig walked into the room holding a folder. There was tension in the air; it was so thick that even the sharpest knife wouldn't be able to cut through.

"In all my years of reviewing cases, this must be one of the most shocking ones. Especially since this is done by sixteen year olds? Jealousy consumes us all at times, but coming at this length?"

The judge let out a loud sigh. An officer that stood beside the judge walked over to the jury and picked up a small slip of paper that was handed to him. A few seconds later he appeared once again next to the judge and handed him the paper. Judge Sakai glanced at the slip and nodded.

"Hanasaki Mizuki, Sutarashi Haruka, and Itawaru Akane. All three of you are found guilty of attempted murder of Haruno Sakura."

The three girls that were condemned looked at the judge with dull eyes. Never would they have thought that their little plan would send them to court.

"Hanasaki Mizuki you will be servingone year in the community jail. Sutarashi Haruka and Itawaru Akane, you both will be spending one year in a detention center for the young."

Okay, scratch the thought the three had before. They would have never thought that they would end up in jail or a detention center.

The judge banged his gavel twice and stood up.

"Court adjourned." his voice boomed.

A slight chatter swept though the audience. Justice was served to the eight. More to Sakura though.

"They deserved that." Ino said as she walked out of the stuffy room.

"Who knew they would sink that low." Tenten exclaimed.

Sakura's arms were wrapped up in white bandages. For the past two weeks she had been wearing long sleeved shirts to hide them. Her hair that had been cut now sported a new style. When they cut her hair it wasn't so short after all. As of now, her hair reached her shoulders with a layered cut and she now had bangs that were brushed to the side.

"Um…" Sakura began.

"Hmm? What is it Sakura?" Shikamaru lazily eyed her.

"I just wanted to know why those girls were after me."

They stopped and looked at her.

"This is going to be a long story." muttered Sasuke.

"We'll tell you Sakura. But first, let's find somewhere to sit down." Ino said to the girl.

Once again the eight found themselves inside Café Milky. It was funny how every time they go there, they got placed in the same exact spot.

All of them made themselves comfortable in the squishy couches, sipping their hot drinks.

"Ah, so where were we?" Tenten said thoughtfully.

"You were going to tell her about those girls." Neji answered for her.

"Oh yeah!"

"This is going to be quite hard."

"Why?" Sakura wondered.

"There's so much to say. Have any specific questions about them instead?"

Sakura thought hard. She was thinking back to that day. Then it hit her. She remembered that the girl Mizuki had said that she was like her at one point.

"I remember Mizuki said that she was like me and I took it away from her."

This time Hinata spoke up.

"Before you came Sakura, Mizuki was quite like yourself. Bubbly, cheerful, etcetera. Everyone loved her. Mizuki was also one of the many girls who fell in love with Sasuke."

At that comment, the said boy snorted in disgust.

"Almost everyone in the school loved her." Ino corrected Hinata.

"She was quite popular, sports oriented, and all the guys drooled over her." continued Tenten.

"Wasn't she on your volleyball team Ino?" Naruto piped up.

"Yeah, but I kind of knocked her off…"

"Why?"

"Well you see, Sakura took her place. She wasn't really up to par with the other girls but she was one of the best that tried out that year. Believe me, it seemed as if every year they sucked even more."

(Anyone kind of confused? You see, since Ino's the captain, she would weed out the not so good members on the team and replace them with people that tried out who had better skills. This way, the team would be strong. Odd logic and quite mean to be frank. But meh.)

"Oh so since Sakura surpassed her skill level, you just kicked her off?"

"Yeah, well I wanted a strong team!" Ino defended herself.

"It's quite understandable. Quite a lot of schools do that now." Neji said.

"See, Neji agrees with me!"

"Okay, enough of that. Not everyone loved her. Well actually everyone did except for us. When no one could see her, she was this total snobby brat." Tenten spat out.

"How do you know that?"

"I was her partner for science, duh."

"Oh yeah! She almost went out with Sasuke!"

Hearing that, Sakura spat out her drink.

"She what?"

"Uh…"

"Jealous?" teased Tenten.

"Shut-up!"

"You mean Sasuke liked her?"

"How come I didn't know that!" whined Naruto.

"You did. You practically spazzed over a month about it." Shikamaru said to him in a dead pan voice.

Naruto furrowed his eyebrows, trying to remember when it had happened.

"OH YEAH! THAT WAS WHEN SASUKE-BASTARD LIKED HER!"

They all groaned with the exception of Sakura and Sasuke. Sakura just looked dumbfounded with her jaw hanging open and Sasuke was muttering a thousand and one ways to kill and torture Naruto under his breath.

"Any louder moron!" Ino yelled at him as her fist connected with his head with a thud.

"So he really liked her?" Sakura quietly asked.

"More like, forced to like her." Hinata piped up.

"Forced?"

"He didn't like her. Everyone just thought they looked good together and pressured them to go out." explained Tenten.

"Mizuki was as happy as ever." Shikamaru added.

"She was practically beaming when everyone said that."

"Well I think it was two months after that, you showed up Sakura."

"I remember it as if it were yesterday…" Naruto sighed dreamily.

"You're really freaking us out here." Sasuke said.

"It was after that everything went down hill. I think you'll get the point on how it led up to that night." Hinata told her.

"Jealousy consumes us all at times. But it too has its limit." Shikamara lectured.

"Uh…"

"Okay! Whatever."

"What about Akane and Haruka?"

"Groupies." answered Naruto simply taking a bite out of his pastry.

Sakura nodded as she absorbed all the information she heard today.

All that just because of jealousy…

"But you don't have to worry about it anymore Sakura." assured them all.

She smiled at them.

"Thank you."

"No problem. Now, for more important matters. The festival is coming up."

Sakura looked at Tenten puzzled.

"Festival?"

"Every year our school as a spring festival." Neji spoke up.

"This year, we get to choose either opening up a little shop or doing a play." grinned Naruto.

"Kakashi-sensei (I lied. I said I wouldn't use suffixes anymore, but it'd be odd if they call him sensei.) said that most likely we'd be doing a play."

"I hope we get to do a play! We haven't done one in a long time!" squealed Ino.

"No wonder. You're acting skills suck."

"Shut it lazy ass."

"Whatever."

"Well, we'll find out tomorrow when we do a student vote." said Hinata.

It was quiet for a few moments. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, nor was it an awkward silence. It was one where they could collect their thoughts and look back. Almost like a reflection if you think about it.

Before they knew it, time flew by and it was time to head home. They parted ways, all eager for tomorrow's results for the festival.


"And we will be doing…Cinderella!" Kakashi happily announced as he finished counting the last ballot from the box.

The girls cheered and the guys groaned.

"Cinderella? That's a chick thing!"

"Oh I can't wait! I hope Sasuke will be the prince!"

"There's going to be dancing! I can't dance!"

"Ah girls! Their going to be all over us!"

"Ew! No way!"

"Okay, quiet down people!"

They ignored him…

One vein…

"Settle down!"

Still ignoring…

Two veins…

"Quie-"

"AW GROSS! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!"

Fifty billion veins…

"SHUT-UP YOU MORONS!"

They looked at him.

"Hey, are teachers allowed to call us morons?" Naruto whispered to Sasuke.

He shrugged.

"Shut it Uzumaki. You're testing my patience and it's thin. Very thin."

To emphasize that he was that mad, Kakashi took out a leather belt from god knows where he got it from and smacked it on the table. Which led to his pants falling down showing his Barney the purple dinosaur boxers. Oh…that's where the belt came from.

They all gawked at his boxers. A man of 28 wearing Barney boxers?

"Are those what I think those are?" muttered one student.

"Holy freakin piece of crap!"

"Oh my…"

Nosebleeds…

"My eyes! My wonderful and shmexy eyes!"

"You're eyes were never shmexy Imono you jackass!"

Kakashi flushed and pulled his pants back up.

"Okay, now that you've seen my ever so lovely boxers, let's get back down to business." he said as if nothing had happened.

"We need to start choosing cast members for this play. I don't care which part you want. This will have to be fair. Take note that some girls will be playing boys parts and some boys will be playing girls parts."

Groan…

Cursing…

"I'm going to be stuck in a dress?"

Kakashi sighed for the hundredth time.

"Shut-up and grow up you idiots." he said.

"I've already made a chart. Your names are stuck on the chart along with an envelope. Within that envelope will be that part you play." as he explained, he put the chart up on the blackboard.

"In twos or threes, go up to the board and find your names." he instructed.

Soon, small chatter went round the classroom as they opened their envelopes. Some were quite happy on their roles but others…

"I WHAT?"

"NO WAY!"

"What's eating them?" Naruto asked as he clutched his own envelope.

"Their roles you ding butt." Sasuke said as he rolled his eyes.

"Did you open yours yet?"

"No. Waiting for you. Then I can laugh."

"Shut-up. I bet you'll have a part that's even worse than mine."

"Wanna bet?"

"Just open your damn envelope."

"How about, we open it at the same time."

"Fine, fine. Whatever!"

"Count of three. One."

"Two."

"Three!" they both said in unison.

Sasuke smirked and Naruto fell to the floor screaming "NOOOOOOOO!"

"Director and lights!" Sasuke smirked.

"What'd you get Naruto?" Sakura asked as she bounced towards the screaming boy.

Sasuke bent over and picked up the slip of paper that Naruto dropped. He read it and his smirk went wider. He handed the slip to Sakura which she took out of his hands.

"Fairy godmother…" she read.

"I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR TIGHTS!"

"Ah, Naruto. You won't have to. I'm the costume designer." Hinata smiled as she walked over to the small group.

"Boo yah! No big part for me!" they heard Tenten practically scream out. She and Neji were going to be doing backstage work like props, curtains, and all that jazz.

"Sakura, what part do you have." Sasuke asked her.

"Let me check."

Quickly, Sakura opened her envelope revealing her fated role in the play.

"Co. director and narrator."

"Hey, you get to be with Sasuke over here!" Naruto said forgetting his panic.

"Yup! It's going to be so much fun!" she laughed and winked at the Uchiha.

Sasuke smirked and put his hand on her head.

"It's going to very fun." he whispered to her.

She thought over what he just said then turned beet red.

"Gah! Pervert!"

He laughed and grinned at her.

"Hey, you're the one who interpreted in that way."

"You're calling me a pervert now?"

"Yep."

"Why you-"

"Sakura! I'm the lead!" Ino screamed with joy. The poor girl was practically blown away from the voice of her friend. Probably deaf as well.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

"I said, I'm going to be the lead!"

"YOU HAVE TO GO PEE?"

"No! I have the lead!"

"YOU WANT TO HIT ON SHIKAMARU BECAUSE YOU LOVE HIM?"

The whole class stopped talking. There was silence…

Still silent…

Tumbleweeds are rolling around…

Crickets chirping…

Ino turned bright red.

"NO! I SAID I HAVE THE LEAD!"

"OH! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY SO!"

"Jeez."

"Oi, Shikamaru. What part?"

"I have to be with her." he said pointing to Ino.

"Which is…"

"Naruto you really are dense at times." muttered Sasuke

"He's the second lead in the play moron." Neji said as he walked over.

"Alright little kiddies. Settle down. The festival is in four weeks. It seems really far away right now, but it certainly isn't. Rehearsals start tomorrow after school and you all better be there!"


(Rachel's in a bit of a rut right now…gah if this part sucks, please don't kill me. xD)

It was now two weeks into rehearsals and all was going smoothly. Well except for a few of the actors. All the cast were located in the gymnasium. The gym was not only a place for sports but it also served as a theater for the school.

"Oh, Cinderella. Why are you crying?" Naruto said aloud.

"Ahhh! Cut!" came Sakura's exasperated sigh.

"Naruto! Honestly. Yousound like a robot. You need to put some emotion into it!"

"But Sakura! I'm honestly trying!"

"Try harder! We've been doing this scene for at lest fifty times for the past two weeks."

"Fine."

"Okay, let's try that again."

The scene once again unfolded as Naruto asked Ino why the poor child was crying. Ino had replied that her evil step mother and sisters had shattered her hopes on ever going to the ball by tearing her dress apart.

"Sakura, let's try the dance scene after this." Sasuke whispered into her ear.

"Alright."

"Okay, guys. Change scenes." Sasuke's voice called out.

"Which one?"

"Dance."

Quickly Neji, Tenten and other people were shuffling about changing the background scene to the ball room.

"Alright, places everyone!" Sasuke shouted.

"Wait, where's Shikamaru?"

"There's no way I'm dancing!"

"Just get your butt out there!" Tenten's shrill voice rang through the air.

"No way!"

There was an angry "Arggh!" and then a foot sticking out of the air followed by a flying Shikamaru sailing through the air and onto the stage.

"Jeez! Don't make it so hard for us!"

"Tch, this is troublesome." he grunted as he stood up and dusted himself off.

Ino was standing in the middle of the stage tapping her foot impatiently. Sure she was ecstatic that Shikamaru was the other lead, but why oh why did he have to be such a lazy ass? Everything would have been so much better if he didn't make such a fuss over everything.

Shikamaru slowly walked over to the blonde girl and took her into his arms. Ino was startled by this and fell a bit forward which made her head smack into his chest.

"Ow, watch it!"

"Not my fault! You made me!"

"It's not my problem you have no balancing skills."

"Shut-up Shikamaru!"

"Ah you guys stop fighting and start dancing already!" sighed Sakura and Sasuke.

Sakura cued Tenten to start the music and Sasuke aimed the stage lights onto the pair. A waltz began to play and the music filled their ears. Shikamaru began to move with Ino following. It was a funny sight to see. Both didn't really seem to know they were doing. At times they would step on each others foot or elbow one another in the gut. High school dancing was so much easier! (Like just standing there not really moving. XD Well moving but in a circle. XDDD)

"Uh…maybe we should help them." suggested Sakura.

"Do you know how to dance?"

"Well, I do know a few moves."

With that, Sasuke gave Tenten another cue to turn off the music. It seemed as if Shikamaru and Ino didn't know the music was off because they just stayed there holding each other.

"You guys. The music stopped…"

That broke them both out of their trance. Both were blushing furiously. How could they be so deaf, not hearing the music being stopped!

"Anyways, you both suck at dancing so we're both going to teach you." Sakura told them cheerily.

"Pointers." Sasuke said.

"Good because I think Shikamaru needs them."

"Hey, you do to! You almost broke my toe always stepping on it."

The others rolled their eyes as the two began to have another spat over a silly thing.

"Yeah, yeah. Just sit over there and watch."

Sasuke took Sakura's hand and lead her to the center of the stage. He placed his arm around her waist and she placed her hand on his left shoulder. Both free hands then clasped together, elbows slightly bent and out to the side.

"Okay Tenten, you can start the music."

Again, music filled their ears. The main light was on the pair that was dancing fluidly. No body noticed, but Sasuke pulled Sakura closer to himself. She let out a small squeak when he did and flushed a pretty crimson.

Shikamaru and Ino watched in awe as their friends continued to dance. They looked perfect together.

Once the music stopped they both broke apart. Sakura turned around and faced the other two sitting down. Her face was still quite flushed from the closeness or maybe it was because of the heat of the lights.

"Okay, since you guys have seen us. You try it!"

The two got up and walked back onto their places on the stage and mimicked what the other two had done before. Shikamaru's arm on Ino's waist, her hand on his shoulder and both free hands together with elbows slightly bent.

"Good! Now you can start!"

So they did. They danced and danced until they were sweating under the heat of the light. Both of their hearts were beating in unison as they moved around. Both of them were looking into each others eyes as if searching for something.

"Okay guys. That's enough for today." Sakura said aloud.

"Dress rehearsal starts next week. Hinata has already had most of your costumes made." Sasuke informed them.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Whatever."

"I can't wait!"

The crowd headed out the gym; happy that today's rehearsal was over. Not only that, it was a Friday as well. Every single person had left until there were only two people left.

"Didn't know you could dance so well."

"You never asked Sasuke."

"I guess it's one of your many talents."

She laughed.

"I don't have that many."

Sasuke turned on the music once and again and grabbed the girl's hand. Sakura flew into his arms and he began to move looking into her eyes. His stare was intense and it made her nervous. She was in an uncomfortable position so squirmed around until she found a better one.

"Sakura…" he whispered.

He loved the way her name rolled off his tongue. He loved the way she smelled. He loved the way she looked, the way she spoke…he loved everything about her.

I think I love her…

"Yeah?"

He was quite startled. Had he said her name aloud and not noticed?

"I-Never mind."

They continued to dance. Her head was leaning against him and his arms were encircled around her waist. It took them quite a while to notice that they weren't quite moving anymore. They were just standing there. Hugging. Both were quite comfortable just being there. Just being there in each others warmth. Just being there in each others arms.

"Sakura…" he said again quietly.

She looked up to his onyx eyes. They too were softly looking down into hers. She waited for him to say something.

"Sasuke…"

He kissed her.


Yeah...maybe I'll rewrite this chapter later...

I don't care if it's short. Please don't ask for longer. As of now, I'm no longer caring how many pages it's going to be. Except as long it's not less than 3 then it's fine. Like I said, I'm going to rip through this. So expect many updates next week. I'm supposing there are only about two or three chapters left in this story. So I'm hoping to finish this next week. When I'm done, then I can work on the others unless I have something else in mind. XD

Rachel