They both stood under the Sakura trees, Neji with an emotionless face, and Sakura with a soft smile. "What do you want to do first Neji?" she asked pulling out a small bag, which contained: weapons, medical supplies, and other things she knew they would need.

CHAPTER 9

"Could we start with weaponry?" he asked softly, almost worried she would decline. Sakura dug in her bag, pulling out a scroll while nodding. "Alright,"

Sakura tossed a couple kunais' and throwing stars' to Neji, "You can use these." Sakura said with a smile, as she held her own kunai. "You can go when you're ready." she said, getting into a defensive stance.

Neji nodded, and doing a hand sign, vanished. He appeared again behind Sakura, with a kunai in hand. With a strong motion, he plunged the kunai at Sakura, only to miss her. Sakura dodged easily, she slowed her movements so Neji could try to hit her.

Neji took back his kunai, as Sakura spun around to face him, "You're fast Neji." she said with a smile, making Neji smile as well. Again, Neji tried to hit Sakura with his kunai, but he figured she was too fast to be hit that way: so he took a different approach.

He used his throwing stars to pin her dress to a tree; while he attacked with his kunai. This worked well; until Sakura blocked with her own kunai, sending Neji's flying. Sakura watched; as a young girl caught the kunai. She smirked, seeing the buns in the girl's chocolate hair, "Hey there."

Sakura pulled the throwing stars out from her dress, and glanced down at Neji, who was glaring at the girl. "Tenten, go home. Girls' shouldn't play with weapons. You could get hurt."

The girl's head snapped up. Her brown eyes were glassy with tears, "But Neji-kun! I'm not just a girl I'm a Konoha kunochi... I'm not weak and defenseless." she snapped looking away from him.

Sakura noticed how deep in thought the boy was, "Hey Neji, why don't we take you and Tenten here back to the academy. You guys can practice there." Sakura said as she picked up her weapons.

Neji walked over to Tenten, who was still crying a little bit, "Tenten, I wasn't trying to be mean. I just don't want you getting hurt, that's all." he said with his hand on her shoulder. "Come on, I want you to meet Sakura-san." he said with a soft smile.

Tenten dried her tears, and nodded as she walked by his side over to Sakura, who was picking up her weapons. "Hey there you guys." she said with a smile. "Hey Tenten, you're really good at weaponry, ever thought about mastering weaponry scrolls?" she asked.

Tenten perked up, at seeing how kind Sakura was, "Hai! I've been thinking about it Sakura-chan, but people say that girls should be picking flowers. I want to be a strong kunochi." she said picking up a throwing star.

Sakura looked at the ground with a smile, and her eyes had dulled a bit, "Then follow your dreams. You'll be good at it."

After all the shurikins and kunais were picked up; Sakura sat with Neji and Tenten at her side. "Tenten-chan, come here please. Your arm is wounded."

Tenten blushed and held her arm, "Its nothing, I just tripped something coming here."

Sakura smiled, knowing what Tenten meant. "Hey Tenten-chan, can I talk to you alone?" Tenten nodded as the two girls walked behind a couple trees. Sakura knelt down to eye level with Tenten. "Tenten-chan, did you get in a fight?" Sakura asked looking directly into her brown eyes.

"Hai... I got in a fight at school. Some kid said that Neji-kun was weak and an idiot. Some guys said some crap, and I didn't want to let them get away with It." she mumbled, trying to look away from Sakura.

Sakura smirked, "Did you hit them with all you have?" she asked. Tenten nodded. "Well I'll talk with them later when we go back to the academy." she smiled. "Now let me heal your arm so Neji doesn't get mad."

Tenten smiled, and held out her hand, "Thanks, Sakura-chan." Sakura's chakra filled hand ran over Tenten's wounds and healed her.

They both walked out to see a worried look on Neji's face. "Don't worry Neji; Tenten was all right, she just hurt a muscle or two; when she was training on her own." Sakura lied, so Neji wouldn't worry.

Neji nodded, "Then we can leave for the school now." he said getting to his feet. When he wasn't watching Tenten gave Sakura a high five; for her great lie.

AT THE ACADEMEY

Sakura walked up to the school with Tenten and Neji at her sides. "Oh Hey, Sakura-san," Iruka waved from training grounds. All the kids were taking a written test.

Sakura stopped, "Hey guys, I'll be right back." she mumbled, walking into the class. "Hey Iruka-san, do you know where Hyuuga Neji's class is right now?" she asked with a smile.

"They should be outside running laps. But I heard Neji wasn't here today?" Iruka answered.

Sakura smiled even more, "Yeah he was, I found him training out by the Sakura groves. We were just training that's all." She smiled and left looking around the class to see Sasuke and Naruto waving at her, "Bye guys." she waved, and left.

Sakura brought Neji and Tenten outside; only to be joined by thousands of other kids, running laps. Neji only waved, as Tenten gave Sakura a hug, before she left. "Have fun Neji, you too Tenten-chan!" She called, as they started running along with the group.

Someone jumped down from the roof; and smugly said, "Hey there Pinky, nice to see you again." Hearing this; Sakura cracked her knuckles with a smirk.