The Next Day At School

Sasuke climbed out of bed the next morning, all tired and weary. He seemed to remember yesterday as if it was nothing. Not saying a word, he simply got out his clothes and cleaned up his hair. He tied his hitai-ate on, grabbed his tools and headed for school. Then, he saw Neji and went up to him. Although Neji and Sasuke weren't exactly declared friends, they were okay at getting along.

"Hey Neji! What's up?" greeted Sasuke, cheerfully.

"I heard you were on a date with Sakura. Good job, loverboy," grinned Neji. "Like you, I actually scored a date with TenTen,"

"Where did you take her on the first date?" asked Sasuke. "Besides, your act with TenTen was your first and what makes you so interested in her for?"

"I took her to the waterfront so that she could she see the lovely view I always looked at ever since I was little. Anyways, I decided to give her a try and just do it. There is more to girls than the looks or them being annoying," assured Neji . "Who knows? Sakura always likes you, give her a try. There might be something of her that you might be missing of. Why do you think Rock Lee likes her?

"Because she is pretty and she is loyal to her friends," answered Sasuke.

"Exactly! She is willing to protect her friends, that is why you, Naruto and Rock Lee protect her," said Neji.

"Actually, me and Naruto protect her only because she is the weakest member of the group," reassured Sasuke. "She may be weak, but she has good skills,"

"See? That might be something that you like of Sakura!" exclaimed Neji.

"Maybe, but I need to concentrate on my goal, not my feelings," replied Sasuke. Just then, the bell rang.

"Oh, dang! That is the bell! We better get going!" cried out Neji

………………………………………………………………………………..

Back at school, Sakura was in her classroom thinking about yesterday. Why did he ask her out if he said he was annoying? she wondered to herself. "I must be weak and annoying enough for Sasuke to refuse a date with me," she muttered. Just as TenTen was going to go past her, she heard what Sakura was muttering about and went over to talk to her. Sakura didn't seem to notice a thing.

"Hmmm? I couldn't help but notice what you were saying, but is something going on between you and Sasuke?" asked TenTen, who seemed to shock Sakura.

"What do you mean? Sasuke and I pretty much hasn't been on a date at all!" stated Sakura. "Wait, what makes you so interested in this stuff?"

"Because I heard what you muttering about a few minutes ago," TenTen said. You guys have so love going on and I wanna help you guys out! I'll even ask Neji to help me protect you and Sasuke,"

"Gosh, that is a very nice thing to offer, but me and Sasuke are going protect ourselves just for now," replied Sakura.

"Turn to me and Neji if you guys need help, okay?" grinned TenTen, who was getting up the chair and headed to her seat. "I'm going to go back to my seat, class is going to start. I just wonder where Neji is,"

"Sasuke is not here either. They must be late," said Sakura.

Abruptly, Neji and Sasuke zipped in the classroom at the last minute. They both took their seats silently. The teacher noticed and turned to them. He beckoned for them to come over. They both got up from their seats and faced the teacher.

"Boys, where have you both been? I do not accept tardiness in this classroom," demanded the teacher as they went over to them.

"I was headed to school and caught up with Neji. We started a conversation with each other, slowly walking and unaware of the time that passed us by," explained Sasuke.

"We did not realized what we were doing until the alarm bell went off for school, that's why we ran to the school to make it in time," continued Neji.

"Please don't give them detention!" shouted TenTen and Sakura who had listened to the conversation.

"Silence! Being caught up in some conversation like that is no excuse for your tardiness! Both of you may have after-school detention as well as your girlfriends," affirmed the teacher.

"But me and Sakura are not Neji's nor Sasuke's girlfriends!" yelled TenTen, desperately.

"You both have shouted, that is why you got after-school detentions! Let's start our lessons this minute before I lose my temper," declared the teacher, furiously.

At least we got some time with the girls, thought Neji and Sasuke as they got out their books to study.

At least we got some time with the guys, though TenTen and Sakura, while they both pulled out their notebooks for note copying.

To be continued