This is the third chapter. Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.

Hide&Seek

"When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew."

Chapter 3

"FOREHEAD! I missed you!" a blond girl said while she was tackling Sakura from the ground. Sakura was struggling to take away the girls' arms and was barely containing herself from strangling the girl.

"What the fuck, Pig! My sock was torn!" Sakura couldn't believe how messed up her morning was. First she was close to getting lost, and then Naruto knocked her down then.. Then this! She made a mental note to ask Kami-sama later about that.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry Forehead," said the girl and she let go of Sakura and stood up. "I was just so excited to see my best friend. I mean, I haven't seen you in two months".

Sakura stood up and glared at the girl. "Now look at what you've done to my sock! Thanks a lot, Ino".

The blond girl a.k.a her best friend a.k.a the girl who got her sock ripped is the one and only Ino Yamanaka. She and Ino knew each other way back when they were in kindergarten. Their mothers were close friends too. As they say, like mother like daughter. Ino and Sakura first met when they were in kinder. Sakura was the center of attention because of her unique hair color and Ino well….was kind of jealous. So like most kids, she pulled Sakura's hair and Sakura too pulled Ino's hair and it led to a fight until they were pulled away from each other and their parents was called. But as time flies, they learn to forgive and made up. Got closer and sooner became like sisters. Now, looking at Ino she can tell that there are a few changes. Her hair silky blond hair grew even longer and she tied it to a ponytail. She became fitter or should she say…a little skinnier. But like Naruto, what she loved about Ino is her shiny blue eyes that captures anyone's attention. Her personality didn't change much though. She's still the same loud, talkative and competitive bombshell that she knew.

"I don't know what's the big deal, Sakura. It's just ripped a little. Plus, I didn't mean it" Ino said as she put her hands on her hips.

"Whatever. Just be careful, okay? Oh, and I missed you too" Sakura said and she hugged Ino.

"Right. Now enough of that already. Where's the others, Ino?" Naruto said as he searched for their other friends.

"They said they'd catch up. Let's just wait for them. Anyway, the assembly will start at 9:00 so we have 30 minutes left".

Sakura and the others sat down on the bench and waited.

"So forehead, what did you do on your vacation?" Ino said while she was applying her face with make-up.

"Gosh Ino, you're really vain. I don't get why you always apply stuffs that will make your face ugly," Temari said as she looked at what Ino is doing.

"It's not going to make you ugly, Tema. Plus, it's natural for a girl to use this kind of stuffs. You're a girl too so you should know this things".

"I know. But I'm not vain like you and I'm comfortable at just being simple. I don't need that kind of stuff".

"I don't really get it why you girls fight because of make-ups. And Temari is right Ino. Too much cosmetics isn't healthy" Naruto reminded them.

"Will you stop acting your mother instincts Temari and Naruto, stop bitching. You're not even part of the topic". Ino said irritated.

"Now, now. Stop fighting guys. Let's just let Ino be. She is after all, too stubborn. Anyway, to answer your question Pig I did a lot of stuff there but I'll just tell it when our friends is complete".

Not a minute later, their friends arrived and the girls hugged Sakura while the boys went to Naruto.

"Oh, Saku! We missed you so much" the brunette girl said.

"Yeah, Sakura. It's good that you're here now," the timid girl added.

Sakura smiled and looked at Tenten and Hinata, two of her closest friends. She observed Tenten and she laughed at her mind. The brunette didn't changed a bit. Her hair was still in two buns and she was still a little boyish. She met Kurume Tenten in her first year of high school. They we're just seatmates and just talked when there was seatwork or assignments. But when she found out that she was too in the volleyball club, they became closer. Her first impression of Tenten was that she was a tomboy, maybe because of her strong and confident personality and her likeness for sports. But when she got to know her better, she has after all a girl side too. Not the same as Ino which is super girly and vain but a simple girl like Temari.

"I wonder when will she show her girly side more" she told herself and looked next to the girl beside Ten which is Hinata who was absentmindedly looking at Naruto. She knew Hyuuga Hinata way back in her elementary days just like Naruto. Also she met her in an opening party for a new building that her father works for. If anyone will ask her what is the first word that will come to her mind when she will look at Hinata, then she'll answer shy, but a shy beautiful sunshine. Hina too was a center of attention because of her hair color, which is dark purple, and also because of her lavender almost white eyes. But those features made her stand out too in her own way. She always stutters and has a difficulty in voicing her own opinions. Sakura just wished that she would find her confidence soon.

"I missed you too Ten and Hina. I'm glad that everyone is here already. I have plenty of stories for all of you" Sakura told and smiled.

"Hey! Where's our souvenirs?" some loudmouth said.

"Kiba! Shut up" Tenten said.

Sakura looked at the one who shouted. "Ah, I guess he too never changed" she thought and she looked at him. She knew Inuzuka Kiba the same year as Tenten. Kiba was one of the popular boys because he was a member of the basketball team or in other words, he was a jock. Also his father is the director of their school. Now in their third year, she noticed that he became taller. His height is the same as Naruto's. His brown hair is shaggy and a bit unruly he always wore his teams varsity jacket rather than the school's blazer. He was a lot like Naruto and Ino because of his personality which is loud, noisy and troublemaker. But besides that, Kiba is a pretty good friend.

"Ha-ha. Still the same Kiba, ne? Don't worry, you'll get my gift later but for now, give me a hug" Sakura said while smiling.

Kiba grinned and laughed as he went to Sakura and gave her a hug.

"Welcome home, buddy" he said and smiled.

"Yeah. Thank you. Oh, don't forget to say to Akamaru for me'".

"I will, I will". Sakura went to say hello to their other friends. She walked towards the boy who was busy reading a book.

"Hello, Neji-kun". She said as she patted his shoulder.

Neji closed the book he was reading and looked at Sakura. "Hello to you too. Welcome back" he said and smiled.

She always loved to see that wonderful pearly eyes. She was captivated by it. And also, it made remember that he was one the center of her affections. She met Neji at the time she met Hinata at the party. He was her cousin and companion that day. As a child, she didn't know what to call the feelings that she felt when she saw him. But as they come to age, she already knew. But Neji isn't interested in anybody and just wanted to focus on his studies and his sports, so she just gave up and decided that friends will be okay. Neji's hair is brown and it was long so he always put it in a low ponytail. He also became taller and is the same height as Naruto and Kiba. He was a jock and is part of the basketball team. Come to think of it, all her guy friends are varsity players. So her girl fans always adored Neji.

"How are you-

"Ah, there you are my lovely blossom!"

Sakura knew that famous tagline and she suddenly got nervous. FHLA.

Okay. Now that was long, I think? I'm sorry if there is still no Sasuke but I promise he will arrive soon. I just want to introduce first Saku's friends and their background. I hope this chapter is good. R&&R. Thanks! :)