Forest Area

Kurenai, Neji, Hinata, Ino, Sakura and unconscious Sasuke arrived in a small clearing where Kakashi was grouped together with Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji and Guy grouped together with Lee and TenTen. Naruto was wearing his baggy shorts and a grey t-shirt with the Konoha flame on it. Shikamaru wore his pajama pants and his usual fish-net shirt. Choji wore a t-shirt and his boxers. Lee wore a green t-shirt and some jogging pants, while TenTen wore a oversized t-shirt and some shorts. The strange thing was that no one was wearing shoes, and was quiet uncomfortable. It was also bizarre seeing everyone without a head band.

"What's up with the jerk on your back?" Said Naruto with his hands folded behind his head.

"Flower girl probably gave him a sleeping shot." Said Shikamaru. "Am I right, Ino?"

Ino giggled. "Is it that obvious? He wouldn't come so he was forced."

Everyone was silenced when they heard a rustle in the bushes. "I got this!" said Naruto drawing his kunai. He walked silently, not making a sound, do to his shoeless feet. Then suddenly two shadows burst from out the bushes. " AAAAHHH!!!"

"Sorry we are late!" said Kiba, an obnoxious smile creeping along his face. He wore a grey t-shirt and grey baggy shorts. The strangest thing was to see Shino without his jacket. His chin was completely visible, but his eyes were not. He had his face covered with a hood. Akamaru sat calmly on Kiba's head, clearly half sleep. "Guy left us!"

"I apologize if you couldn't keep up!" said Guy. "With your nose, you should be able to smell us from a mile away!"

Kakashi went into his sack and placed a kunai in the ground. "Seal Release!" suddenly the clearing was taken up with a massive tent, embroidered with gold and red trim. The young ninjas stood in amazement before getting up and getting into the tent. The grass was now replaced with a cushioning similar to bedding and was covered with pillows and at the top was a lamp that illuminated the room. Even a foyer was there, where they could dust the dirt from their naked feet." You'll be staying here tonight. This is from the 3rd Hokage's special arsenal, during the Wars, so take care of it."

"My dear Lee," cried Guy. " I would hate to leave you, but I must!"

"Don't worry Guy Sensei," wept Lee, embracing his master in the tightest hug in the world. "We shall be together soon, and then we can train again!"

" I swear," said TenTen. " The way you two hug you act like you might never see each other again."

The two ninjas ignored the comment, and parted ways. Kakashi started to walk away but was crossed off by Shikamaru. "Where are you going?!"

You're a chunin now, I'm sure you can handle a few Genin, right?" smiled Kakashi. "Unless you're not up to the job…"

"Never mind," said Shikamaru, waving off Kakashi. Kakashi smiled and turned away. He looked at Kurenai who had walked away.

"Kurenai…" he said softly, putting his hand on his shoulder. " I know this your in pain right now, but we need to move on."

"Kakashi," spoke the beautiful jonin, turning on her heels. "There's another man. I've moved on."

Kakashi was shocked. He always thought of seeing Kurenai and Asuma together. " Are you together…I mean, does he know?"

Kurenai let out a giggle. "No he doesn't, but I had a crush on him sense we were academy students. I just never mustered up enough courage to ask him out." She smiled, and gave him a childish look. Kakashi could tell she was in love. "Who knows, we could turn out to be the greatest love story ever. I should tell Jiraiya!" Kurenai laughed as she walked away. Look at her, she completely love struck. The twinkle in her eyes, the swing in her hips…wait, why am I looking at her hips? I need to read! Kakashi opened up his back pouch and pulled out the book Kurenai brought him.

The Hokage Tent

The genin all started to set up their sleeping areas. Naruto made his area in the center of the room, beneath the lantern, with his large green comforter sprawled out with his body sized pillow. To his right Shikamaru made his bedding with his feet to Naruto's side, and Lee on the other side, making a plus sign with their blankets. Beneath Lee was Choji with his bright red blanket. Towards the corner farthest from the door and to the right was Neji, with his corner pillow and thin sheet. Along the wall their was Kiba with a blanket made like a fur coat and a doggie bed for Akamaru. On the left wall was Shino with a sleeping bag that looked like a cocoon. In the corner along the right wall was Sakura who then had Ino not a yard away lying along the wall towards the entrance. TenTen was next to Ino, closest to the door because she liked the breeze coming from the entrance. Hinata was so frightened to sleep in the room with Naruto she decided to sleep in the cold foyer.

TenTen looked at her watch and saw that it was only 8:30. Usually, at a sleepover the night is young at 8:30. " Hey so you guys want to play a game?"

"Yeah, I'll play!" said Naruto leaping up and going to sit by TenTen. "So what are we playing? Truth or Dare?"

"Hehehe," laughed Choji. "IF we do then I'm definitely in. I'll go first! I dare…Ino to kiss…TenTen!"

"HEY!!!" screamed Ino. "Watch it Choji, I can make you run all through Konoha butt-naked if I wanted!"

" Hey Choji," snickered Naruto. " I dare you to loose some weight! Fat boy!" As soon as Naruto said that Choji tackled him, followed by Ino and TenTen.

Sakura knew Naruto had got him into a scuffle so she looked away, and noticed that Sasuke had gotten up and walked out the tent.

In the Forest

Sasuke heard the hiss of Orochimaru close. He heard the voice reach his ears. " Are you ready to come to me, Uchiha?"

"Yes," said Sasuke, looking around to find his master. "I am ready."

" The pink haired one," spoke the missing-nin. "She approaches. She's quiet beautiful. Do you want my men to take her? We can make her your…toy…"

"No!" said Sasuke. "If you or your men put your slithery hands on one of her hairs, I will kill all of you!"

"Such strong words, coming from the asker?" slithered the evil Sannin. "I can do as I please, and you can't do anything about it. Even if you can strike me down, you have no chance against all of us. But, since you are now my apprentice, I will let her go. Hehehe," the beastly voice slowly faded out of Sasuke's head as he turned to see Sakura.

"Hey Sasuke!" she greeted him. "I hope you weren't thinking about abandoning us? Because everywhere you go I'll go!"

Sasuke turned to her. He couldn't help it. She looked beautiful. He couldn't allow Orochimaru come near her. "Please Sakura. Go back to the party. I…I have to go. I'm leaving the…"

Before Sasuke could finish the sentence Sakura had come close to him, her breath brushing against his face, her eyes glued to his. "I've…been waiting for a moment like this. I…I feel something for you Sasuke." Sasuke began to speak before Sakura's finger covered his lips. "I want you to give me a chance to be your girl friend. I mean, we are becoming of age. Plus, I wanted to get to you before Ino and…"

"No," muttered Sasuke. It was so sudden, it made Sakura shiver.

"But…"

"No buts," he said, turning his back on her and began to walk away. "I have too much on my mind…"

"But Sasuke, I"

"NO!!!" he yelled so harshly, Sakura fell back against a tree. Sasuke walked up to her pinning both her arms over her head. "What do you want from me, huh? Your stupid lustful dreams, that's all it is to you. Get over it! Love is what killed my family and the entire Uchiha clan. If it wasn't for love, I could have seen through the deception of my brother and I could have saved my family! Love, Sakura! Love is all I ever wanted, and before I could get it, my brother stole it from me! Only a mind as stupid as yours could come up with such a thing as love!"

Sakura felt the warm tears run down her face. She looked into the red spirals that seemed to hypnotize her, and repeat every word, her loved one spoke. " I'm sorry, Sasuke. Please understand. I never ever knew I actually cared for someone until a met you. So I'm sorry I ever did this to you." She dropped her hands and nudged Sasuke out the way, but then she stopped. "Last time I checked. Your "true" brother told me how he feared he might loose you. I guess Naruto was right."

That rang in his head for a long time. Then the words kill your best friend, and the Mangekyo is yours. "Then I guess I'll have to find my own way to the Mangekyo Sharingan. " I won't kill my "true" brother."

These words broke into Orochimaru head. "He's not coming. We might need to assemble some kidnappers.