OOC eh… Well, sorry. I was outta ideas so I wrote that. To those that think they are OOC, I sincerely apologize. Anyhow, I just wanted to make them look funny. Sakura had an intendancy to make people go crazy. Lol.

Chapter 13

Neji and Gaara were preparing their bags. They were assigned to take Sakura back to Konohagakure. They were to in leave 15 minutes. They went to the gates to meet up with the rest of the team.

The team consists of Neji, Gaara, Shikamaru, Kiba, Naruto, and Sasuke. This time Soujirou is with them too. They were a team specially formed by the Godaime herself for missions like these. Retrieval missions… "Everyone ready?" Kiba asked. Naruto snorted, "Who made you boss?" he mocked. Kiba twitched, Akamaru barked.

"Maa… Maa… don't start a fight now…" Soujirou calmed them down. "Godaime-sama assigned Shikamaru to be the team leader…" Sasuke crossed his arms. Naruto and Kiba groaned, "Him again?" they moaned. Shikamaru sighed, "Troublesome…" he said… as usual.

"If it's so troublesome then just pick another leader" Naruto huffed and crossed his arms childishly. Sasuke rolled his eyes, "And pick who? You?" he scoffed. Naruto fumed, "Why ya little…" "You're younger than me…" Sasuke said in a matter of fact. Kiba laughed, "He got you there, Naruto" he said. Akamaru barked.

Soujirou was desperately calming them down while Neji and Gaara could be seen clearly that they were getting annoyed and impatient. Neji coughed, "Can we depart now?" he asked. He got ignored. He twitched. Gaara growled demonically, "Would you idiots shut up and think of the mission?" he glared at them.

Silences fill the air. Everyone turned to look at him.

"What?" Gaara growled out. Oh yeah… He definitely dislikes getting in the center of attention. Naruto was counting her fingers, "WOW Gaara! You broke your own record of maximum 5 words to…" he started counting again. Kiba grinned, "10 words…" he said. Shikamaru sighed, Neji rolled his eyes. Sasuke rubbed his temples.

Naruto and Kiba got death glares burying in their faces. Both of them sweatdropped, "We'll shut up…" they said finally.

"Seriously… Can we go now?" Soujirou asked, feeling ignored. They looked at him. Gaara glared. Soujirou glared back, "I don't know bout you guys… But this is my sister here…" he said. Gaara turned his head, "Hn…"

"Naruto, Kiba, Shikamaru, Neji, Gaara, Sasuke, Soujirou!" Tsunade yelled from the office. (O.o whoa… that loud?) "You were supposed to take off 20 minutes ago!" quakes could be felt. Oh yeah… Her super monstrous strength is no kidding, kiddos. Shikamaru sweatdropped, Naruto gulped. The rest of the team sighed.

"Let's go now…" Shikamaru said.

--------------------Scene change------------------

Sakon twitched. Not a good sign. Sakura stared out of the window. She had requested a room for herself. Now… You must be wondering why Sakon is in the room? Well… Sakura was in a BAD mood.

"I have absolutely no fucking idea why I have to get stuck in here with you…" Sakon emphasized on 'you'. Sakura ignored him. Sakon twitched, "Are you fucking deaf? I'm talking with you here!" he growled. Sakura shrugged and ignored him, again. Sakon crossed his arms and leaned on the wall, "I can't believe you are the top kunoichi…" he taunted.

Sakura's eyes narrowed. He ignored it. He smirked, "What do I expect? That fucking village is useless…" he said. He then bent his body to the side. Sakura had thrown kunai and shuriken at him. Sakon chuckled, "Nice aim…" he said sarcastically. This time Sakura turned her head, "I've noticed… Tayuya's cursing habit had got into your head…" she commented.

She smiled for a while, "I've answered you… so…" Then her expressions changed.

She gave him her glare, "Go away and leave me alone" she spat out harshly. Sakon shrugged, "Not like I wanted to be here" he walked out of the room. Sakura continued to stare out of the window.

Somewhere in the mansion. Orochimaru sat in his chair, "I see…" he chuckled in amusement. "Orochimaru-sama… What exactly did you expect from the girl? She's just like an innocent…" "That's right, Kabuto…" Orochimaru interrupted. "What do you mean, Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto asked.

Orochimaru laughed sickeningly, "She's pure and innocent… Even though she had seen the death of her parents 9 years ago…" his eyes glowed dangerously. "I see…" Kabuto said. "Her innocence feed my revenge…" Orochimaru laughed. Kabuto looked a bit unsure, "Orochimaru-sama… She is a girl… Are you sure…" he asked. Orochimaru looked at his right-hand man.

"I did not plan to use her body as my replacement… I wanted something else of her…" Orochimaru said. Kabuto looked shocked, "Then your replacement is…" he stopped. Orochimaru laughed, "Yes…" he said is a hissing manner, like a snake he is.

------------------Scene Change----------------

"Shikamaru?" Naruto called. Shikamaru was looking everywhere in the forest, ignoring Naruto. Neji used his Byakugan to survey the area from the top of the tree. Kiba search for traps and detach them. Soujirou and Sasuke just waited patiently. Gaara… well… he did nothing. "Shikamaru…" Naruto called again. Shikamaru sighed.

"Shika…" "What is IT, Naruto?" Shikamaru interrupted. Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Uhm…" he started. Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Well?" he motioned. Naruto looked at him, "You DO know we've been walking in the same place for nearly 4 hours right?" he asked. Everyone turned their heads to stare at Naruto in disbelief.

"What?" Naruto shrugged. Then they turned their heads to look at their 'leader'. Shikamaru sweatdropped.

"That Dobe… (Insert Naruto's growl) was right for the first… (Insert Naruto's incoherent string of curses)" Sasuke said examining the ground. Full of their trails, Sasuke frowned, "We left trails…" he said grimly. Kiba nodded, "The traps we set earlier is here too…" he exclaimed.

Soujirou sighed heavily, "Are you sure you know how to get out if this forest?" he shook his head. "This is so troublesome…" came Shikamaru's reply. Neji and Gaara glared at him.

"Naruto! You take care of it…" Shikamaru said slyly. All of them gave them a disbelief stare while Naruto grinned stupidly, "Him?" Sasuke asked. Shikamaru nodded, "Him…" he repeated. "Yatta dattebayo" he cheered. "Are you sure?" Neji asked.

"Well… he did bring back Sasuke, right?" Shikamaru shrugged. Sasuke shuddered at the memory. "Right… Okay…" Soujirou said. "Let's move on then…" Gaara muttered. Everyone nodded and proceed.

'Sakura… Wait for me… I'm coming…' Neji thought. 'Cliché much…' inner Neji laughed. 'Shut up… why'd ya come out anyway?' Neji asked his inner. 'Cause I want to?' inner Neji answered… smartly. '……' Neji was silent. 'You're still as stupid as ever I see, genius' inner Neji mocked. Neji smirked, 'Well I'm you so if I'm stupid you are too'

'Great comeback… you had learned well!' inner Neji grinned. 'Just shut up and leave me in peace…' Neji growled mentally. 'Fine, fine… Hmm… Maybe you won't die a wifeless monk after all…' inner Neji tapped his chin. Neji blushed, "I do not like Sakura" he did not realize that he had said that out loud.

Everyone stared at Neji as if he had grown a second head, "Did you just say you like Sakura?" Naruto narrowed his eyes. Neji sweatdropped, he decided to ignore that question. Naruto scoffed, deciding to ignore this and ask him later. Gaara could be seen glaring at the Byakugan user.

Sasuke smirked, 'So he likes Sakura?' he laughed in his mind. 'Who would've known? The Hyuuga and the cherry blossom?' inner Sasuke laughed.

Soujirou smiled to him self.

'What the hell?' Neji thought as his face getting slightly hotter. Inner Neji laughed maniacally, 'Oh my gawd!' he choked between laughs. 'Shut it' Neji glared at his inner. (Once again… I did not know how he does it and I don't think I need to explain… Let your minds wander……) 'I didn't know that affected you BIG time!' inner Neji couldn't control his laughter.

'Whatever…' Neji sighed. He couldn't believe that he had such a… a… a… immature inner.

'On second thought… You might DIE a wifeless monk after all…' inner Neji smirked. Neji decided to shut up this time. Deciding that it could only lead to embarrassment. 'Look who's shutting up now…' inner Neji taunted. Neji kept his cool. Inner Neji huffed, 'You're such a little ass…' with that he left him in peace.

Neji smirked, 'Thanks a lot…' he thought sarcastically.

Shikamaru coughed, trying to snap Neji out of his trance, "Let's hurry…" he commanded. They obliged and proceed. Naruto then remembered something, "I thought I was supposed to be in charge…" he muttered.

------------------------------------End Chapter 13----------------------------------------------------

I think next chapter is where Sakura united with them. How? Let's just say it might shock you to no end. And would Neji confess? Uhm… I had no idea how… Give me some ideas yeah? That's all for now… My internet went ballistic so I cant online and post it. Eventually I posted this chapter in a cyber café. Sob, sob…

Me: Bugger… the repairer isn't here yet…

Sakura: Patient, Miyabi-chan…

Me: (Twitch) I am, usually…

Sakura: …Usually?

Me: THE FRIGGIN REPAIRER SAID HE'LL BE HERE SOON TWO FRIGGIN MONTH AGO!

Sakura: (Sweatdrop)

Me: AND NOW I CAN'T FRIGGIN POST MY CHAPPIES BECOS OF THAT!

Sakura: (Pats me on the back) There, there…

Me: (Sniff, sniff)

Sakura: Let's just leave her alone for now…

Neji: (Came in outta nowhere) What's with her?

Me: (Sobs harder)

Sakura: (Sweatdrop) Lets… not talk about it…

Neji: (Raises eyebrow) Hn…