Saturday, March 2nd, 2013.

Next Saturday (March 9th) is Tenten's birthday! Cool! That doesn't mean I'll be updating this next Saturday, though. I'll be updating DoOver that weekend, though.

The regional science fair is on the 11th, so wish me luck! (We got in)

BTW, it SNOWED last Wednesday. That was the last day of school that week, since Arizona's the only state that has Rodeo Break. The next 2 days, we have a rodeo parade and stuff. That's why we have them off. The whole city (Tucson) participates.

Anyway, Tucson RARELY gets snow. Oro Valley, practically an extension of Tucson, does sometimes, but this part of Tucson? The chances are slim to none.

So it was a huge surprise to see snow falling during our lunch break. The high schoolers (who have homeroom while we have lunch) had an assembly in the gym, so the moment it ended, they ran outside for the snow. If they hadn't had the assembly, I doubt they would have been allowed outside.

It was great seeing snow fall. I haven't seen snowfall since about 6-7 years ago, when I lived in Kansas. I've seen snow on the ground (at Mt. Lemmon, a local mountain) but not snow FALL. Sadly, the snow melted the moment it reached the ground due to the rain that fell before it. So we had to enjoy while it was falling. It was great though.

Sadly, that day, it was also 22°, which broke a 1936 record for this time of year. That's right. The last time it was 22° this time of year in this area was BEFORE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. Sheesh.

I also had a cold that week, so standing out in the snow had me absolutely miserable for the rest of the week. Thank goodness there wasn't any school.

Dedication: the FMA/FMAB fanon/canon couple, Royai. Why? I like that couple, plus I felt like it since I just learned the reason RoyxRiza is called Royai. The first part is Roy's name, obviously, and the second part is possibly for love ("ai"=love in Japanese) as well as to sound like "eye", since Riza's last name is HawkEYE, and her nick name is the "Hawk's Eye". Oh, and Gn. Grumman is her grandfather on her mom's side. Who knew? Grumman knows this, but it's unclear if Riza does.
BTW, Arakawa (the creator of FMA) states the reason she didn't have Mustang marry Riza in the series was because if he did, they couldn't continue their officer & and subordinate relationship. Such a relationship can't happen in the military, especially so high in it. That's the only reason those two didn't officially get together. X3
Also, the dedication is to my friend
yeahthatsme on TeenInk. Read her stuff, please?
And finally, my last dedication goes to my friend who's middle name is Sai, last name Nara, and though she isn't into anime herself, she has a friend who is. Best wishes on her family problems.

Anyhoo, I have a new chapter for you all. Enter, the Land of Waves! It's begun! READ, my loves!


Chapter 5: Waves Part 1


Sakura POV

2 months and a half have passed since the bell test. During that span of time, we had our team picture taken, chased after poor Tora dozens of times, ran into Konohamaru Corps half that many times, (even trained with them a bit) and did other miscellaneous missions together as a team.

Our team picture, for your information, is very similar to our old one, but behind Naruto and I, next to Kakashi, was Sai. He had his usual fake smile on his face, but if you looked closely, you could see it was partially real. Looks like emotional re-rehab won't be too hard.

I like how things are right now. Me, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun, Kaka-sensei, and Sai-kun… we've gotten a lot closer than I would have thought we would have in this amount of time. We're always together, and Sasuke actually laughs.

Sometimes.

He doesn't smile often -it's very rare- but when he does, my heart beats so fast I think the stars can hear it. It just…as cheesy as it sounds…makes my world. Like everything will be okay.

Maybe I'm reading too many shoujo…

It's not our fault the truth is cliché.

We're (the whole team, not just Sasuke-kun and I, peoples) not as close as we were before Sasuke's departure in the past, but we're getting there – it's quite promising.

Now. To why Sai's with us. 4 weeks after the Bell Test, Lord Hokage added Sai to our team. (We told Lord Hokage everything)


FLASHBACK NO JUTSU!


"You called us, Lord Hokage?" said Kakashi, leading Naruto, Sasuke-kun, and I into the Hokage Office.

I noticed Sai next to our Kage.

Ooh! Sai's going to be put on our team, isn't he?

I hope so Inner…

"Everyone," started our village's leader. "This is Sai. You may know him already. He will be joining Team 7 as a permanent member."

Silence.

. . . .

"WHAT?" Sasuke and Naruto cried in unison. Well, Sasuke didn't shout, but he happened to say the same thing at the same time Naruto had shouted it. You know those two.

"That's right. Sai is permanent. You will have 5 instead of the usual 4 members, but I think he will work well with you. That is all. You may leave."

Kakashi and I pushed Naruto -who was frozen- out the door, a brooding Sasuke and a fake-smiling Sai followed behind us.


FLASHBACK NO JUTSU: RELEASE!


We even took another team picture with Sai in it.

Anyway, today's an important day.

What day is it you ask? Sasuke-kun's birthday?

Kakashi got a girlfriend? I wish.

Sai wore the spandex suit again? Over our dead body!

Today's the day we're assigned the Waves mission!

Well, in the other past, it wasn't really this day or year – for some reason, everything is a year after it was before. So I'm already 14, and instead of turning 13, Sasuke-kun's turning 14 in about 2 months.(1) I wonder why…not that I'm complaining… – but when we walked into the office of Hokage-sama, I knew.

Well, Naruto's shouting about a harder mission may have helped. A bit.

Just a bit.

Anywhoo, we got assigned the Wave mission after an interesting argument between Naruto and his older foster brother/former sensei, Iruka.


"…Too Immature? Immature?! You're the one who always gets all pouty and whiny when I don't eat my vegetables! Some adult you are!"
"I do not! Quit making things up!"

Somewhere along the line, the argument started involving…romance. Don't ask how because I don't know. Maybe they have a need to best each other in every area because that's just what guys do sometimes? Who knows...

"…can't even realize when a girl has a MAD crush on you! And you call yourself perceptive!"
"What?! You know too? How come- ack! Anyway, I am so perso-…persk-…whatever you said!"
"Really? You couldn't even say the word."
"Well that doesn't matter 'cause I'll get a girl sooner before you ever will!"
"I don't really know how that relates to perception, but really now? Who?" Iruka's voice was flat, incredulous.
"…Sak-"
"No way in hell, Naruto! We've been over this!" That was me, obviously.
"See? Can't even seem to understand when a girl says no. Totally perceptive and lady savvy." Ooh…ouch. But seriously? "Lady savvy"? That isn't going to help him get a girl anytime soon.
"Y-yeah, w-well, I'm not the one muttering a woman's name in my sleep!" This got me interested. Heck, even Sasuke and Kakashi were leaning forward; Kakashi likely having intentions of using the info for a certain something starting with "black" and ending with "mail."

"I don't talk in my sleep."
"YES. YOU. DO! I even recorded it!"
"Oh? A-and wh-who's name was I calling?" Someone's nervous~.
"Something like Mizune, or something. Ooh! Ooh! I know! Shizune! You were all, 'oh, Shizune…you're so pretty…and smart…and I'm way better than…'. I think you said Kakashi. Not sure…point is, you're in love with this chick. And I got all the proof I need on tape."

At this, we witnessed how fast a person can pale, then turn red.

"0.7 seconds," Sai said. He turned to me. "Might I look like if I get sunburnt?"

Not trusting myself to not burst into laughter, I nodded.


After that was over, we waited for Tazuna; Iruka, obviously embarrassed, hastily excused himself under the pretense of getting coffee.

"I'd like some too, Iruka-chan!" Naruto had called after him.

I couldn't help but giggle at Naruto's comment, as sorry as I felt for Iruka.

Naruto's enjoying his victory so much I know he will NEVER let Iruka-sensei live this down. But I have to admit, it was pretty entertaining!

I guess the others felt the same, since Sasuke-kun and Sai both chuckled a bit. Sai covered it with a cough, Sasuke-kun did it quietly, and Kakashi…he didn't even bother to hide it.

Maybe I should ask him about his relationship with "Shizune" (while pretending I don't know her) to make him uncomfortable.

Knowing him, he'd turn the conversation around to make me really confused and wonder what I asked in the first place, or answer calmly. Either way gives me an undesired result.

Shizune, Iruka, and Kakashi…a love triangle (or maybe not, knowing Kakashi)…why does this sound familiar?

Oh!

I slapped my first into my hand, making an "a-ha!" gesture.

The others looked at me confusedly. "What is it?" Naruto asked.

I blushed at the unwarranted attention, and quickly came up with an excuse. "Uh, I just remembered the last part of the physics formula for-"

"Nevermind," my friend quickly said before I could finish.

I couldn't help but smile. The moment I start getting into anything relatively scientific, mathematic, historic, at times, or anything advanced or academic, Naruto tries to tune out. Naruto calls it, "showing off my 'Smarticle Particles'." He's ridiculous, I'm telling you.

But anyway Inner, I remember one night after training with Tsunade, the three of us (Shizune, Tsunade, and I) sat in the Hokage office, too tired to leave. Tsunade had taken out some sake and she and Shizune were drinking it. I'll admit, I drank a few sips. Blame Tsunade's influence.

Anyhow, Shizune, tipsy, started talking about her interest in Iruka (which we already knew about), and that she likes him a lot despite that she isn't into younger men. (2) She also talked about her former thing for Kakashi when she was younger. Apparently, when the two were in their mid-/late-teens, they had dated. But they didn't like each other enough to continue their relationship, so they broke up. And Shizune liked Iruka a bit at the time, too.

They slept together a couple times after that, apparently. They both say (according to Tsunade, who had asked Kakashi about it once) that it wasn't anything romantic. Random, one-night-stands that neither of them minded. And since Iruka is a teacher and Shizune was traveling with Tsuande, the two didn't meet each other much, so they longed for their crushes/loves for a long time, still not having dated or even slept together. (Kakashi met Shizune on missions, which is how they had their "escapades")

So that must have been the same here, so Iruka is jealous of Kakashi for it. Luckily, Shizune and Kakashi have no feelings for each other, and Shizune likes Iruka.

Oh! Now I remember. I wish it wasn't Kakashi, though…we don't need to know about our teacher's sex-life….*shiver* But we should get those two together.

We should Inner.

"Are these the brats that are supposed to escort me? I think I'd be better off on my own!"

I almost jumped, forgetting I was here with my team, waiting for the man were supposed to escort for our mission.

Then I scowled when I realized he called us brats. Sheesh. Even now he gets on my nerves.

"I assure you…?" Kakashi began.

"Tazuna."

"I assure you, Tazuna-san, that we are very capable of doing our job. Believe me."

Tazuna pushed off the doorframe and stood, pointing at us. "Oh, I believe you, but what about those kids? The short one looks really stupid."

"Hahaha! He called one of you guys stupid! Can you believe it? Ha-…ha. Ha... What are you guys staring at me like that for?" I don't think I need to tell you who that was.

Unconsciously, or to prove a point, we lined up next to Kakashi in a tallest-to-shortest order, Kakashi being the tallest (obviously).

To the right of him was Sai. Next to Sai was Sasuke (who wasn't very happy of Sai surpassing him by a couple of centimeters), and next to Sasuke was me. (He's about 10 centimeters taller. It makes me feel short.)(3)

We all turned to look at Naruto, who was a little off to my right, completing the line. (Sasuke was to my left)

"E-Ehh?! I'm the shortest?" Naruto sputtered. " What the hell! I'm not dumb!"

Tazuna simply rolled his eyes. "What's with the dyed hair, anyway? Isn't that a little too noticeable for a ninja? And that pale skin can't be natural. What'd you do? Bleach yourself?"

I narrowed my eyes. "My hair is natural, for your information, believe it or not. And Sai-kun's skin tone is perfectly natural as well."

Tazuna snorted. He's so getting on my nerves… "Right."

Kakashi jumped in before one of us could punch him in the face. "Despite appearances, the team is quite talented. Sai, for instance –the pale one– is above the normal level of genin; Chunin level, likely. Sasuke –the one in the blue shirt– is an Uchiha prodigy, Sakura's very intellectually gifted, and Naruto is well known for his stamina and…unique… fighting… ability."

"Meaning he's just ridiculously unpredictable," I whispered.

Sasuke must have heard, because he smirked. It made me smile. I can get used to this…


Here we were, walking.

And walking.

And walking.

...It was only a matter of time before Naruto tried to get some conversation out of us.

"Sooo…nice weather, huh?"

I couldn't resist rolling my eyes and sighing in exasperation. "Even I can think of a better ice breaker than that, Naruto."

Naruto "hmphed" and crossed his arms, pouting (cutely).

"Oh, really then? What is it?"

I smiled, and in answer, turned to Tazuna. "Tazuna-san, what is living in the Land of Waves like?"

I guess Naruto realized my ice-breaker was better than his, because he pouted more, but turned to Tazuna as well, wanting to know about Waves as well.

The man in question took swig of sake from his bottle, and sighed. "Well, it's a poor country. We make money off of trade and our bridge-building…"

I began to tune out –I already knew this, anyway– as I saw the infamous puddle.

I darted my eyes to Kakashi, to meet his. He noticed, and nodded to me. "I noticed it, too," his eyes seemed to tell me.

I quickly glanced at Sai. He nodded as well. "I saw."

Then to Sasuke. He nodded his head over to the puddle. "Did you see?"

I softly nodded to him. "Yes."

It was unspoken that we now had our guards up – well, they already were, of course, but more than they were before.

"…HOW could you live with only one ramen eatery in the entire village!" I'm surprised he knew the word "eatery" and how to use it.

As I inwardly nodded at my Inner, I noticed Sasuke's expression flatten at Naruto's outburst. I couldn't help but think, He's totally groaning on the inside.

I couldn't hold my giggle. He's just like the old Sasuke. Well, he is the old Sasuke! But we're closer now!

"Waves is a quite a small village compared to Konoha, Naruto. Besides – we may have like 5 or 6 ramen restaurants or stands –that I know of– but you only eat at one! Kinda hypocritical, don't you think?" I said.

"But still, Sakura-chan…" Naruto said dejectedly. "So little ramen…" shiver. So he pitied the people of Wave for one ramen stand.

Only you, Naruto.

"And besides! I eat at Ichiraku only because the other places' ramen are like, 'eh. It's okay but eh'. And Ichiraku's is all, 'holy mozzarella sticks! This is the shit! Not like bad shit, but good shit-…you know what I mean' every time I eat it? I think it's a reasonable explanation to choose Ichiraku." Naruto crossed his arms, looking proud of himself.

From a little ways off beside me, I heard Sasuke mutter, "…reasonable explanation, my ass. You're the only one who thinks in terms like that, Dobe."

I laughed as silently as possible. He smirked my way.

As you could guess, my heart totally cliché-ly skipped a beat, and my face got a bit warm. Luckily, it wasn't visible.

I hoped so, at least. My face didn't feel too warm...

Kakashi had his eyebrow raised for a moment, then went back to reading his beloved "literature masterpiece".

Maybe it wasn't so invisible.

"Hey, Sai-teme! You haven't said a word –well neither has Sasuke-teme, but he's Sasuke– but've been drawing this whole time instead. Whatcha' drawin'?"

All of us turned to the pale 14-year-old. I almost forgot about him.

"Well, Dickless, I'm drawing this." He turned his sketchbook towards us, showing us a still-life drawing of the trees and earth we were walking past. Poking out of a bush was a brown rabbit –was that a hint to Haku's rabbit? But Haku's is white…– and a swallow that was flying out of branches of a tree. It was outlined in color and black – an array of browns and greens and blacks and tans. It was very good, but I felt something was missing…

I'm no artistic expert, but even I could see that it didn't have any… "umph" to it.

That's it!

As Naruto and I got closer to Sai in the future and the more time that passed, the more life his drawings had. Now that he's reduced to square 1.001, (not quite square 1, but hardly past that) his drawings may look great, but be lifeless all the same.

I looked up into Sai's eyes (he was taller than me, remember?) as we were walking and was surprised to find him already staring at me.

I tried to convey my message through my eyes, and at first, Sai didn't seem to get it, confused.

But after a couple seconds, understood what I was trying to convey to him. I guess my sad eyes and thinned lips helped.

"Whoa! Were you always this good, Sai?" Naruto exclaimed.

"Hn. It's nice, I guess. It feels like it's missing something, though…" I was surprised to see that Sasuke noticed something was absent, even though he wasn't able to identify it. I forgot how sharp he can be...

"So we have ourselves a little artist, do we?" Tazuna commented.

Kakashi was about to open his mouth to state his own thoughts, but tensed for a second. Sai tensed as well, putting the drawing away; Sasuke and I both tensed also. They're here!

"Wh-"

"JUMP!" Kakashi yelled, interrupting Naruto.

We complied, even Tazuna jumping as high as he could.

Under us, 2 spiked balls and chains whipped below our feet, just missing us completely.

Phew! That was a close call!

Yeah. Too close.

Sai immediately threw 3 kunai in the direction the chains came from.

"Well, well, well. What have we here, Aniki?(4)"

"I think we got ourselves a group of kids, the old man we want, and a ninja with a bounty. Lucky day for us, Otouto.(5)"

"Who are you?" Kakashi demanded, as we got into a battle formation, just like the one from before, in the other past. "Come out!"

Out from the trees to our right, stepped the Demon Brothers, just as ugly and nasty as before.

"Ah…the legendary Hatake Kakashi. What a pleasure it is meeting you!" As the (I presume) older brother said this, he threw his chain around Kakashi, effectively trapping him before he could escape.

However, for some reason, the chain was wrapped around Sai as well, trapping him back-to-back to our sensei. Judging from the Demon Brother's expression, he was either okay with this development, or it was intended.

"Since you're both in our way, we'll just have to get rid of you! You kid, seem a bit stronger than the others, so you're first with Hatake!" The other brother wrapped his own chains around Kakashi, as well.

"Kakashi-sensei! Sai!" Naruto and I yelled. Tazuna was frozen in place, Sasuke was about to charge the brothers.

I wasn't so worried for Kakashi – he turns out fine; I know that. But Sai…I don't know what's going to happen.

I know he wouldn't die so easily but still! You never know!

"Bye, now!" The two brothers said unison, pulling their chains, slicing through our teammate and sensei.

We all stood; frozen, as a dark, warm, liquid splashed on our clothes.


(1): I made them a year older than they should be for romantic convenience. By the way, I'm estimating that it's about late May, nearly/early June. The bell test was about 2 weeks before Sakura's birthday; March 28. So if I said she was 14 then, I apologize. Since Sasuke's birthday is July 23, his birthday is in nearly 2 months. If you have any questions about this, ask in the reviews or PM me.
(2): Believe it or not, in Shippuden, Shizune's 31. The same age as Kakashi. Iruka's 26, and currently, in the story, he's 24. I'm making Kakashi and Shizune younger than they should be; (29, right now) so RIGHT NOW, they're both 28. I don't want Kakashi older than Shizune, and due to canon facts and Kakashi's past, I can't have him too young.

(3): Since Naruto (the anime) is Japanese, and not all my beloved viewers may not be American or from an American province, I'm trying to use the metric system in measurements. I don't think I'm going to mention weight so I won't have to worry about transferring pounds into kilos, so yeah...centimeters and stuff it is. I actually used a ruler to gouge how much taller I wanted Sasuke to be than Sakura. Honest.
(4): It's another word for "older brother". If you've seen One Piece, the Franky Family refers to Franky with this suffix all the time. (Water 7 & Enies Lobby Arcs)
(5): "Little brother". If you've seen sub at all, you should probably know this one. Itachi calls Sasuke this all the time. In non-flashback cases, "foolish" is usually added to the beginning of it.

No end-of-the-chapter comments for you guys. I want to keep the suspense levels up. (born from my cliffhanger)

-Cherry