Chapter Four
"How was fifth?" Shikamaru asked Sasuke.
"Eh, Asuma's the same as usual." Sasuke replied. "We went right into work. Already have some homework."
Sasuke pulled off his shirt and threw it into the locker. It was fifth period, in which all the seniors took gym. The boys were in the locker rooms changing into their gym uniforms before the class started.
"I hate these." Kiba said as he pulled on the gym shirt. The uniforms were basic; white t-shirts with the school's crest on the front and a part of black, knee-length gym shorts. "They're itchy…"
"I honestly don't mind them." Sasuke said as they walked out of the locker room into the gym. "Especially said for the girls' uniforms."
The boys laughed as they walked to a set of bleachers on the other side of the gym.
"What's so special about the girls' uniforms?" Lee asked as he sat beside Neji.
"Just wait." Kiba said.
Soon enough, the girls came strutting out of their locker room. The uniforms were similar to the boys', the difference being in the bottoms. Fashioned after the traditional P.E. uniforms from Japan, the girls wore bloomers.
"Japan makes the best gym uniforms ever…" Kiba said absentmindedly.
"You got that right…" Naruto mumbled, studying Sakura's legs.
"Stop staring at my girlfriend, idiot." Sasuke kicked Naruto's back from the bleacher above.
"You don't have to kick me!" Naruto yelled, turning around and attempting to punch Sasuke in the arm.
"Alright, alright!" Kurenai, the gym instructor, came out from her office at that moment. "Enough playing around. Everyone take a seat."
The girls joined the boys on the bleachers and Kurenai went on with her lecture.
"Okay, seniors. As you can see, I am currently with child." Kurenai was indeed bigger than they all remembered from last year.
"No!" Naruto gasped in mock-surprise. "You're joking, sensei. You're still as slim as ever."
"Thank you for the compliment, Naruto." Kurenai laughed.
"Aww, how long?" Sakura asked, fawning over the pregnant woman.
"About four months." Kurenai responded.
"Heh, go Asuma." Sasuke muttered causing the boys to giggle amongst themselves.
"Oh, grow up." Tenten said.
"Alright, no bickering." Kurenai smiled. "Since I will not be able to fulfill my duties as a gym teacher properly, the school was kind enough to hire and assistant for me. While I do most of the teaching, he will help with physical instruction. Please be kind in welcoming Sai-sensei to our class."
A tall, pale man walked out of the gym offices. He had dark hair and slim eyes. His lips formed a sly smile. He walked over to Kurenai and waved at the students.
"Hello, my name is Sai. I'll be helping Kurenai out this year." He stated. A mumble of hellos came from the students in response.
"Well, then. First day back. Let's do something fun to hype you all up!" Kurenai said. "How about some dodgeball?"
Whoops of joy came from the boys as the girls groaned.
"Sensei, can I sit out for today?" Sakura asked. "Female issues."
"Okay, Sakura. You can sit out. But remember girls, you're only allowed one day to sit out a month. Use is wisely." Kurenai informed.
"Damn. Now the teams will be uneven." Kiba complained.
"I can play." Sai smiled.
"Well, since that's settled, let's pick teams!" Kurenai said cheerfully. "One girl captain, one boy captain."
"Call it!" Kiba said, running down the bleachers.
"You be captain, Tenten." Ino said. "You're the most athletic. Right, Hinata?"
"Y-yeah." Hinata smiled in agreement.
"Okay then." Tenten smiled back and joined Kiba on the gym floor.
"Guess I'm on your team, ladies." Sai smiled at Hinata, Tenten, and Ino.
"Excuse me, but I am not a lady." Neji said, annoyed.
"Me neither." Lee stated.
"Sorry we couldn't pick you, Neji!" Kiba called from the other side of the gym. "Tenten got you first!"
"Whatever." Neji mumbled beneath his breath.
"So, will we work with a strategy? Or just wing it?" Sai asked as the team stood together.
"Strategies." Neji said.
"Okay, Hinata and Ino hang back while Neji, Lee, Sai, and I run up to get balls. Make sure not to get hit and try to catch a ball if it's coming at you." Tenten said.
"If I may, I have an idea that might work." Sai said.
"Looks like they're working out a strategy." Shikamaru commented.
"Let them. We're still going to win." Sasuke said while stretching his throwing arm.
"Okay, let's start the game!" Kurenai yelled. She placed six rubber balls on the middle line of the gym court and backed out to stand in the bleachers. "On my mark! Remember the rules. If you're hit while holding a ball, you will relinquish that ball to the opposing team. Also, hits only below the waist!"
"That's not very fair for us!" Naruto opinionated.
"Deal with it!" Kurenai blew into her whistle.
As discussed, Tenten, Neji, Lee, and Sai ran for the middle of the court as Hinata and Ino stayed behind. From the other side of the court, all the boys rushed forward. Neji, Sai, and Lee were fast on their feet and had attained a ball each.
"Neji and Lee, aim for Kiba!" Sai instructed. The two aimed from opposite directions toward Kiba. Kiba was able to dodge Neji's throw, but Lee's had caught him off guard.
"Kiba, out!" Kurenai yelled and blew a whistle.
Grumbling, Kiba threw his ball over to Neji. Sasuke threw his ball at Tenten, who dodged it just barely, and picked up one of the balls thrown at Kiba. Gaara picked up the other. Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara aimed at Ino and Hinata.
A whistle blew off. "Hinata, out!"
"Idiots!" Shikamaru yelled. "Now they have all the balls!"
"Sorry, Hinata!" Naruto yelled as Hinata walked over to sit with Sakura.
"Don't apologize!" Sasuke scolded.
"Okay, quick team meeting!" Tenten said. The remaining five on the team gathered together.
"Okay. Since we have all the balls, we'll do what Sai-sensei said. Two people will aim at one target from opposite directions." Tenten quickly explained.
"Lee and I will try to take out Gaara." Neji said. "You and Sai-sensei should try taking out Sasuke. Those two are the strongest throwers."
"Ino, you just hold onto the two last balls. Hand them to us when we've thrown ours and do your best to not get hit." Sai smiled.
The five did as the talked about and succeeded in taking Gaara and, on an off-chance, Shino out. Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sasuke picked up the balls and threw them forcefully at Ino. Ino gave out a girlish cry as she leapt into the air.
"Freaking ballet." Shikamaru muttered. "Troublesome."
Sasuke caught a ball aimed at him from Tenten and pulled Kiba back into the game.
"Tenten, out!" came Kurenia's whistle.
"Damn." Tenten cursed as she walked off court.
A second whistle blew. "Shikamaru, out! Hinata, back in."
The whistle blew for a third time. "Lee, out! Gaara, back in."
A fourth whistle came. "Naruto, out. Tenten, in!"
A fifth. "Neji, out! Shino, in!"
A sixth. "Gaara, out. Lee, in!
After about four more whistles, Kurenai stopped the game.
"Okay… that's… enough…" she huffed. "If… I have… to… blow this whistle… one more time…"
"Who won?" Sasuke and Tenten asked.
"It… doesn't matter…" Kurenai said, sitting down on the bleachers.
"Of course it matters!" Sasuke said. He obviously liked winning.
"I think it's wonderful that everyone's in such good shape." Sai smiled as he handed Kurenai a bottle of water.
"Okay… that's enough for today." Kurenai said after taking a sip. "Change out, all of you. Tomorrow, we're starting fitness training."
"Yes! Last class of the day." Naruto sighed as they walked into their homeroom.
"And it's just a study period." Kiba smiled, slumping into the desk he sat at earlier that day.
"Welcome back." Temari smiled as they all walked in. "You guys smell."
"Gym." Naruto stated as he laid his head on his desk.
"You guys didn't shower?" Tenten asked.
"Nah. We were too busy trying to stuff each other in the lockers." Naruto laughed.
The guys laughed softly as they remembered their locker room escapades.
"Hey…" Shikamaru looked around the room. "Where's Lee?"
"Oh shit." Sasuke said.
"Someone will find him." Gaara shrugged as he pulled out a book.
"You guys!" Sakura cried. "We're Kurenai's last class of the day! He'll be stuck there until after school when a janitor comes by."
"I'll get him." Neji was about to walk out the door when Sai came in, a scared looking Lee behind him.
"Seems like you boys forgot something." He smiled as Lee walked into the room.
"It was so dark… and smelly…" Lee mumbled as he took a seat.
"Sai?" Temari stood and walked over to the gym teacher, giving him a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, you know Sai-sensei, Temari?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, we take the same psychology class in the university. I didn't know you were interning here."
"Oh, not really interning." Sai smiled. "Just helping a teacher out for a bit."
"It's great you're here. Now I won't have to wait until tomorrow to ask you about that assignment. Let's talk out in the hall." Temari and Sai walked out of the classroom and closed the door behind them.
"They seem friendly…" Ino commented, eyeing Shikamaru.
"I wonder if they're an item." Sakura contemplated.
"Please stop talking about my sister's personal life in front of me." Gaara said as he flipped a page.
The next three days passed dully. Everyone easily fell back in tow with the tedious school life. On Friday, Temari was out, so the seniors were allowed to spend their study period in the lounge.
"So, who's ready for tonight?" Naruto asked from a computer. He had a report due for history on Monday and did not want to waste his beautiful weekend working.
"I talked to Kankuro. He said he'd buy drink, but I need the money before school lets out." Gaara said from a chair.
"Th-there's going to be alcohol?" Hinata asked Naruto. She, too, had been working on her report.
"You don't have to drink if you don't want to." Neji assured her. "By the way, who's designated?"
"I'm driving, so I guess I'm not drinking." Ino said.
"Whoever is bringing a car isn't drinking." Sasuke said as he pulled a twenty from his wallet and handed it to Gaara.
"Really?" Kiba said as he pulled his wallet out. "Only twenty, Sasuke?"
"I'm not drinking, so why should I have to pay at all?" Sasuke said.
"Ino, can I tell my parents I'm staying at your place?" Sakura asked the blonde.
"Oh, I was going to Tenten's after."
"You can come, too." Tenten offered. "How about you, Hinata? Sleepover?"
"Sure." Hinata smiled.
"Guess this means after-party at Sasuke's and Naruto's." Kiba said.
"Whatever. Just don't be too loud." Sasuke said. "And if my television break again, I'm killing you all."
Author's Note: Okay, yeah. I know. Not very interesting around here. Sorry. That's why the chapter is entitled Filler. Don't worry, though. Drama and action on its way in the next chapter. The gang goes to the party and many things happen that will develop the story.
Also, I'm thinking about showing you what the girls will be wearing to the party... Still undecided. It'd be nice to hear what you all think they should wear.
Feedback appreciated. :)
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