A/N: Well, here I am again! 505 hits in under a week! THANKYOU SO MUCH! And while your at it, check out my friend Lorna Dune's story. It's amazing. :3

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story. You all should know that by now... Sorry for any OoCness! OH YEAH! The bold italicized parts are memories, and the regular italicized parts are thoughts.

Sakura ran down the street, tears flowing freely now. Her plan was supposed to work, it really was! And all she got was more pain. By now, she had run out to one of the training fields. She sat down against a tree, and just cried. She didn't know anyone else was there.

"Sakura, I'm sorry. We should have just stayed in the café, no matter how troublesome it was." Shikamaru's voice carried over the open field as he came into her view. He sat down next to her, and smiled.

"I'm glad you're here, I really am," Sakura said through her tears, that were slowly stopping. She was hugging her knees, and she smiled at him. Shikamaru leaned back onto the ground, and looked up at the sky.

"The clouds are so nice at this time of night. So free... Here, join me Sakura." He patted the ground next to him. She had stopped crying by now, even though she was still depressed, and leaned back next to him.

"I always wondered why you liked looking at clouds Shikamaru. Now I know. They make you feel calm inside."

"Mhmm." After a few minutes of watching the clouds, Shikamaru got halfway up and propped his body up with his arms. Are you feeling better, Sakura?" He asked, looking down at her.

She moved into the same position, and smiled at him. "Much better. Thank you Shikamaru. I owe you one." She sniffed a bit, and then looked up at the stars. "They are so pretty."

"Yeah, they are." Shikamaru stood up, brushed himself off, and them offered her a hand. "I'll walk you home. A woman shouldn't be out alone, you know."

Sakura grinned, and took his hand. "Are you sure it's not too troublesome, Shikamaru?"

"Positive. Although if we wait any longer, I might think it over and decide it is." He pulled her up. They walked out of the field together, pointing at starts and laughing.

"I HATE YOU!"

Sasuke opened his eyes. Sakura's words had haunted his dreams. He got out of bed, and looked out the window. It was a sunny day in Konoha; children were playing outside, people were training, and Naruto was coming up the walkway.

Wait... NARUTO was coming up HIS walkway?! Sasuke quickly changed into his clothes. He had showered last night, so that wasn't a problem.

"SASUKE" Naruto's voice called. "Are you home?"

'What a dumb question, like I'm going to answer.'

"I know you're in there! Hinata said she saw you when I asked here where you were!"

'Damn Byakugan. Note to self: convince Hinata never to talk to Naruto about me, or kill her.'

"I HATE YOU!" There it was again...

"Sasuke! You have a note on your door! You should come down and get it!"

"A note?..." he mumbled to himself. He ran down the stairs, threw open the door, grabbed the note from Naruto's hands, and slammed the door shut.

'Sasuke, I know you don't want to see me right now.

But I have an idea. Look, I'm sorry. I had no idea Sakura still liked you. From what you said, she didn't. Meet you at the ramen stand at 11:30?

Your's truly, Ino Yamanaka.'

Sasuke groaned; she was right. The last person he wanted to see right now was Ino. Actually, it was Naruto, but Ino was pretty far down on his list. He glanced at the clock. It was 11:20 right now.

"SASUKE!" Naruto's voice carried loudly through the thin piece of wood. Sasuke opened the door, and ran out.

"Bye, loser." Sasuke shot past him, heading for the stand. Because it was such a nice day, almost everyone was out.

"SASUKE! My youthful friend! How has this fine day of training been?" Sasuke knew who that voice belonged to. Rock Lee came running up to him, Gai sensi close behind.

"I'm fine, Lee."

"Sasuke, where is my eternal rival, your sensi Kakashi? Who, by the way, just lost to me in a dancing contest last night while he was sleeping. I snuck in and challenged him.."

Sasuke wasn't really paying attention, but Guy was getting all the attention he needed. Lee was hanging on to his every word, occasionally throwing in a "Yes, Gai sensi!" or "Way to go!" He slowly left their little circle and moved toward the ramen stand. Ino was sitting in there, crying and talking to the waitress.

"... It's not like I wanted him to hate me. But he does, and it's all my fault!" Sasuke knew who she was talking about.

"Look, Ino, I'm sure he doesn't hate you..." The waitress looked as if she wanted to get away. So did he, for that matter.

"Look, Ino. I don't hate you."

"Not you, Sasuke." Ino was still puffy eyed. "Shikamaru. Remember the reason we started this? Huh?" He did, actually.

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Sasuke watched Sakura come back from another mission with Shino Aburame. He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"It's sickening, isn't it Sasuke-kun?" He turned to see Ino, standing behind him. Shikamaru was on that mission, too. They had come from the Sand village, and Temari returned with him.

"Yes. It is."

"We should do something about it. I don't want Shika-kun to get his heart broken by the sand slut over there."

"I don't give a damn about the Nara kid."

"I know you don't. But I can help you get Sakura." There was a long pause, as if Sasuke was contemplating what she had said. He took a deep breath, and stole another glance at Sakura and Shino.

"How?" She leaned closer to his ear, and whispered her plan.

"Jealousy is a powerful emotion, Sasuke"

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"Ino, I'm sure Shikamaru doesn't hate you... the only person who hates anyone is Sakura. And she only hates me."

"That's what you think, Sasuke." She thrust a crumpled up piece of paper with many tears stains on it at him.

"What's this, Ino?" Sasuke didn't want to look at it, fearing it might be a letter from Sakura saying that Shikamaru and her were eloping.

"Read it, dummy." He slowly started to uncrumple the paper that was given to him. As it became straighter, Sasuke realized that this was not written in Sakura's handwriting.

It was in Shikamaru's. He read over the letter. It started out with these words:

"This is troublesome to write, Ino. Especially to you."

'How predictable.' Sasuke continued reading, having trouble where Ino's tears had landed.

"Ino... I'm... wow. I didn't know you two had a fight after he brought Sakura home."

"That's what I needed to talk to you about." Ino's voice was getting stronger and more confident. "I will not lose Shikamaru to Sakura! NEVER! So, Sasuke, I need you to help me. Will you continue our plan, just for a little bit longer?"

He thought it over. What did he have to lose? Sakura already hated him as it was, and leaving them alone wouldn't get them separated any faster.

"Alright. I will." Ino stuck out her hand, as if to seal their fate. He took it, and they shook on it. Ino's tears had gone by now, and she was looking confident.

"Good. Now lets discuss what we need to do. I was thinking..."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it! Chapter five is coming soon. REVIEW, Please? Tell me if you'd like to see something happen, like more humor/drama, or Naruto kiss Hinata/something involving supporting characters. If it's a big enough idea, I'll name the chapter it's in in your honor! I promise. So review and give idea's!

Rai Lockhart