"Hey, Sakura! We're back!" Naruto shouted out to Sakura as he and Kakashi arrived at the checkout.

"You're late!" Sakura cried accusingly at the two.

"Well, we had a bit of trouble finding the checkout. We kind of got lost." Kakashi told the angry kunoichi.

"That's the worst lie I've heard this month!" Sakura shouted, raising her arms in the air in frustration.

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head with his hand sheepishly. "Umm...actually it's true."

Naruto vigorously nodded his head, clearly agreeing.

Sakura stared at the two. "You really did get lost in a store? And you're shinobi! How pathetic!" Inner Sakura shouted within. "How low can you morons go? I've met a monkey who has a better sense of direction than you guys!"

Kakashi looked around as he unloaded the groceries onto the pay counter. "Where's Sasuke?"

"He left already. He said he was getting sick of waiting for you." Sakura replied.

Kakashi sighed. "Figures. Well, I'll go pay for these things, and then we'll load them into the car."

"You got a car? Awesome!" Naruto cried in excitement.

"I got it just before I got here. And I've got everything we need for the camping trip. So we'll probably be able to leave by tomorrow." Kakashi added.

Naruto let out a series of cheers and shouts, cheering, jumping and leaping about and getting many stares from other people who were waiting in line.

"Naruto! I'm as excited as you are, but you don't see me leaping around and screaming, do you?" Sakura said, hands on her hips.

"Aw, c'mon! Lighten up! You're just mad 'cause Sasuke left you to suffer!"

"What! No he-" Sakura began to redden. "He didn't abandon me!"

At that moment, Sakura burst out crying.

"Woah..." Naruto backed away from the emotional kunoichi, as Kakashi finished paying for the groceries.

"Ok, kids. Let's go load these groceries into the car." Kakashi called out.

Naruto jumped with joy. "Let's go, Sakura! This is so cool! We get to actually see and ride in a real live CAR!"

"Cars aren't actually living, Naruto." Sakura corrected him.

As the trio pushed the shopping buggy to leave the grocery store, Naruto ran ahead to hold the door open for Kakashi and Sakura. He tried pulling on the door, but it wouldn't open. He tried pushing but that didn't work either.

"What's with these damn doors here? I tried topush and pull, but it doesn't work!" Naruto shouted as he kicked the door frustratedly with his foot and began pushing and pulling again. "Why won't you open? You stupid door!" By now, Naruto had half the grocery store looking at him.

Kakashi came and put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and pointed at the door. "Naruto...read the sign on the door."

Naruto read the door where it clearly said "In". Realization hit him hard like a rock.

" ...Oh!"

"You moron!" Sakura cried."I can't believe you tried going out of the store by using the "In" door! How thick can you get?"

Naruto pondered this for a moment. "Well...not much more than I am now!"

Naruto went to hold open the "Out" door for Sakura and Kakashi as they proceeded to the parking lot to the car.

"I wonder what kind of car it is? I bet it's something really flashy and new!"

"No, silly! Not for a camping trip. It would just get dirty and scratched up. It's probably something large and second hand." Sakura said.

"But I bet it can tackle really tough ground!" Naruto added.

"Probably."

"Here, Naruto. Take the shopping cart and hold on to it please." Kakashi gave the shopping cart of doom to Naruto, took out his car keys and undid the alarm, and they stopped in front of...

"What the hell is that?" Naruto cried, mouth gaped open.

"It's a smart car!" Kakashi answered proudly. "The most environmentally friendly car made yet! Stands up well to car crashes too! Rated one of the most safest cars-"

"But it's so tiny!" Sakura cut in."How are we going to fit the camping gear, and the groceries, AND ourselves into that thing?"

"Oh, we'll manage somehow." Kakashi replied calmly.

(BTW, if you don't know what a smart car is, do a google search and type it in. Smart cars are basically a new style of a really uber small car, that generally seats 2 to 4 people. They're really tiny...but environmentally friendly! Ok shutting up now.)

Naruto looked at the car in disbelief and disappointment. "This is stupid! Can YOU even fit into it, sensei? It's so puny! I mean, it looks like an ugly hunched-"

Kakashi cut in, "Now Naruto, I won't tolerate you making fun of George."

"George? What?" Naruto repeated in confusion.

"...you named it...you actually named the car?" Sakura said in true disbelief.

"Well, yeah. Of course I did." Kakashi answered.

Sakura took a moment to speak up. "Ok, it was bad enough with the wasabi, but this is too far, sensei! Are you sure you haven't lost your marbles?"

Kakashi put his hand to his chin. "Hmmm...never had any."

"Well that would explain it." Sakura concluded.

"But doesn't he mean marbles as in 'toy' marbles?" Naruto commented.

"You know, I never thought of that. But you're actually acting smart and finding the hidden meaning within the hidden meaning like real shinobi do!" Sakura replied, surprised by Naruto.

"Really? Thanks!" Naruto grinned stupidly, proud of being called smart for once.

"Ok, guys. Let's get the stuff into George."

"What? Who?" Naruto asked, confused.

"The car, Naruto. Let's load the groceries into the car." Kakashi replied.

"Oh! Right, okay!"

Unfortunately, Naruto took his hands off the buggy, and it quickly took off down the hill.

"Naruto, the shopping buggy! You idiot!" Kakashi ran off after the shopping buggy.

"Hey! Don't call me an idiot!" Naruto shouted after Kakashi.

"Naruto!" Sakura shouted angrily.

Naruto gasped as a horrible realization hit him.

"My ramen! Nooooo!"

Naruto quickly ran after Kakashi and the run away shopping buggy

" ...Did I say that Naruto was actually smart a few minutes ago?" Sakura mumbled, shaking her head.

5 minutes later, a very harassed-looking Kakashi came back wheeling the buggy, followed by a sheepishly grinning Naruto.

"Okay...let's try this again." Kakashi said.

So they successfully packed all their groceries into the car- er, I mean "George" without much trouble, and went over a few last things.

"So tomorrow, we'll meet by the village gates at 8:00 am" Kakashi told his students..

"8:00? But that's early!" Complained Naruto.

"We have to get an early start. It's a 3-hour drive to our destination after all, so we won't actually make it there until 11:00, unless we make a few stops along the way. Then it'll take longer." Kakashi explained. " Oh, and someone make sure that they tell Sasuke about the meeting times tonight." He added.

"Ooh! Ooh! I'll do that!" Sakura cried enthusiastically.

"Alright, good. Do you guys need a ride home?" Kakashi offered.

Sakura and Naruto eyed George, the smart car, skeptically. The groceries seemed to take up half the room in the small car.

Sakura shook her head. "No thanks. We'll walk home. We need the exercise"

Inner Sakurahad other things comments in mind as always.
"Yeah right! I just want to spend as little time as possible in that puny hunk of scrap metal you call a car!"

Kakashi shrugged. "Alright then. If you're sure. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Get a good rest tonight."

And so Kakashi climbed into his car, and drove off. (Kakashi driving a car. Weird image, huh? )

Sakura broke the silence first, " I really don't think we're going to all fit in that car tomorrow."

Naruto groaned, "Ooh boy. It's going to be a rough ride tomorrow."

To be continued...

Please review...please?