Author's Note: Just wanted to let you know my anonymous review thing has been activated, I didn't know it was disabled in the first place but there you go.

Thanks for reading, I hope you're enjoying it.

--Chapter 8-- You rip the heart out of me

----You rip the heart out of me. Rip the heart out of me---

---0

Sakura's eyes glanced to the side where Naruto walked beside her. But her gaze shifted down again. She wanted to say something, do something that will make him feel better but what was there? She felt Sasuke's betrayal just as he did, there was no way to make it all right. Sasuke was so very different, and completely cut off from them. He seemed to have adapted so well without them. And they? They were still clinging to a past that could never become a future.

"You should go meet everyone, Naruto, I'll be there in a few."

"I'm fine, Sakura-chan." He smiled down at her reassuringly. However upon noticing the substantial height difference, his smile broadened and he raised his chin, higher, manlier.

She narrowed her eyes, gritting her teeth, and even her hands fisted at her side. "You are so lucky your not better yet." Sakura bit only causing him to laugh.

In spite, he held the door open for her, which only seemed to infuriate her more. He liked this. He didn't have to be sensitive to her temper and got away with it without being mauled. He might have to pretend to be injured for a few more days, just to enjoy her non-abusive side. "Naruto." Shikamaru's voice sounded interrupting his daydream.

"Oi, Shikamaru, Choji. What are you guys doing here?"

"Waiting for Ino." Choji smiled, "You feeling better?"

"Hai." Sakura distanced herself from their conversation to look for the special herbs she needed. "So Shikamaru you must be happy we're going to Sunagakure." Naruto smiled evilly.

"Doushite?"

The young blond came up beside him to nudge him with his elbow, "Gaara's sister." He dodged the hit and ran away, hiding behind his teammate.

Sakura's emerald eyes darkened as she turned her gaze to the Nara boy. Quickly Shikamaru side stepped to stand behind Choji, his form nearly invisibly now except for his hair. "He is still," Her voice calm, deceiving, "recovering from being stabbed through the chest!" She suddenly hollered, her fist in the air glowing of her powerful chakra.

"Is that Sakura?" Ino's voice interrupted and she exited the back, flicking her long blonde hair behind her shoulder. "What did they do now?" She crossed her arms over her chest, her dark eyes landing on the two cowering in the corner.

"Why is it always our fault, Choji?" Shikamaru yawned, rolling his tiny pupils.

Ino shook her head with an aggravated sigh, her gaze, however, sliding over to Sakura "What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for herbs." Ino took the list from her hand and dragged the woman to the outside pen.

Naruto giggled, covering his mouth with one hand while the other pointed. "You better be careful, I'm injured." He dodged Shikamaru's shadow on the floor and ran out with the girls.

"Get back inside we're talking!" Ino snapped suddenly and the blond nearly tripped on himself backing up. She shook her head in annoyance. "He looks good for being gone two years."

"That's right, you didn't see him when he came back the first time."

"So anyway, like I was saying, why the hell do we have to go to Sunagakure? I'd much rather go anywhere else."

"I'm telling you, it's all in your mind. He's not interested in Temari."

"You haven't been around, hanging out with Hokage. He's been in charge of her every time she comes here from her nasty little village. Coincidence? I think not."

"You know for the past three years I've had to listen to you go on about him. Why don't you just tell him you lied when he asked?"

Ino looked back through the entrance making sure they weren't in hearing distance, "I can't!" She pulled off a few leaves, "Here, this is the last one. I can't. Besides, doing so would mean admitting that I've been pining over this for the last three years and then that would make me seem way too pathetic."

"But cursing every girl he's ever been involved with, isn't any where near being pathetic?" Ino gave her a reproachful smile placing a hand on her hip. Sakura sighed, "Gomen, I'm not all here today. Just tell him how you feel, you might get the answer you want."

"Yeah, right." Ino laughed as she entered the shop, glaring expectantly at three young men, before typing her fingers on the register. "Are you boys ready yet or not?" She took the money from Sakura with a wicked smile.

Shikamaru shook his head, "Jo--"

"Don't you say it." Ino quickly cut off, grabbing her bag from inside the desk and flinging it over her shoulder. "Don't know when I'll be back, kasan!" Ino yelled before dashing out ahead of them. "We got ten minutes, do we need anything else?"

"Naruto and I have to make a stop, we'll meet you at the front." Sakura grabbed his arm and pulled him around.

"Where do we have to go?"

"No where, she was just about to question about Sasuke."

PAST

Shikamaru laid down in his cot with a loud, and heavily sigh, his hands folded behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. He knew they were awake, he had heard them right after he had left two hours ago. He just wanted to make them squirm. The memories clashed through his mind and he couldn't help his broad smile but he rolled over unto his stomach, burying his face in the blanket. "Give the sock to Shino." He forced out through a mumble.

"Ah man!" Naruto whined pounding the ground with angry fists.

Kiba groaned begrudging tossing the sack to the smirking bug master, "What happened?" The male questioned sitting cross legged. "We went over everything. There was no way she could have said no. Unless you did something stupid."

"Which is likely." Sasuke sighed, aggravated that he had been right and still all his money was gone. Guess being a guy did not win out this time.

"I had a lot of money ratting on you, Shikamaru!" Naruto chastised, flinging his body back to the floor and burying himself in his blanket.

"Damatte-yo." Shikamaru groaned, feigning his shame. He was smiling however into the blankets, trying to hold back his evil laughter as they talked amongst themselves about all the things he should have done, and all things he shouldn't have. He rolled his eyes in aggravation when they hit upon a sore spot. He snapped his gaze up angrily, "I'm not gay." He bit harshly to Naruto. Said boy just folded his arms and frowned, rolling his blue eyes. "Coming from you, of all people." He mumbled, yawning.

"What is that suppose to mean!" Naruto outraged, snapping to his feet.

Shikamaru only dropped his head back in the blankets. He was way too tired to continue this little game, "Go to sleep, will ya."

"Completely gay." Naruto mumbled laying down, narrowing his eyes as he thought about all the money he lost.

------------1

Sakura opened her eyes as the door to the room opened. Ino silently shut it again as she slowly laid down beside Sakura and sighed softly. She found Sakura's eyes in the darkness. "So?"

"Aa." She smiled, snuggling in the blankets.

"Suge."

"Aa." Ino sighed happily once again but quickly fell to sleep.

-------------1

The teams all got up at the same time and with many babblings after many minutes, decided to eat breakfast together. Sakura was smiling softly, her arms loosely behind her back as she walked between Sasuke and Naruto. She did not have nightmares last night, one of the reason she was in such a good mood but the other was Ino. She glanced behind her where Ino was smiling more broadly then she was, walking between her two boys. Sakura didn't necessary agree with what the two had done last night but seeing Ino's happiness was enough to throw her negative thoughts to the wind. Their friendship just might replenish itself now since they weren't fighting over the same man.

Regardless that the two females were interested in different males at the present time, Sakura still found herself to be jealous as they sat down at the café. Ino sat beside Shikamaru with a smile on her face and cheeks flushed with excitement. Though any outsider would say they appeared as friends, Sakura had already seen one of their legs were interlocked underneath the table.

She glanced next to her, Sasuke's had his elbows on the table, his hands clasped in front of him, fingers against his lips. His eyes were closed which told her that he had not slept well last night. She wondered, if he would ever admit feelings for her. Sakura mentally shook her head, knowing that it was something that was never going to happen. But Inner Sakura screamed in her ear, 'Never give up! Sasuke is yours! We just have to get stronger!' But could that ever happen? Doubtable.

"Oi, Sakura-chan, since we might be leaving today let's go to the bath house."

Sakura lifted her head and nodded to Ino but went swiftly back to her depressing thoughts.

------------1

Kiba's brows knit as he watched Ino wave bye to Shikamaru with a wink. The said man's cheeks reddened and he looked away, rolling his eyes in annoyance but there was a small smile on his lips. The female past by him and he couldn't help taking a quick breath. Kiba narrowed his eyes in anger.

Kiba waited until the girls were out of sight to grab a hold of Shikamaru's arms, "We'll be back." He announced, dragging the unwilling male behind him a few yards away and around the corner, ignoring the mutterings that were constantly on the boy's lips. He pushed him up against the fence. (Unbeknowst to them they were being spied on the very boys that Kiba had tried to get away from. ) "You lied, didn't you?"

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, "How did you guess?" (Naruto, Sasuke, and Choji looked to Shino who reached in his pocket for the sock and past it over to their greedy hands.)

"Ino's smell is completely different. And I see it. You both are acting like fools." Shikamaru shrugged and yawned tiredly. "We need to have a talk then. I didn't say anything to you before about it because I didn't want to ruin it for you but now I have to tell you." The genius looked to him with an annoyed expression. "End it."

"Nani?"

"For some reason, mating bet--"

"Don't call it that--"

"between teammates is the worse thing. It will destroy your team."

"Doushite?"

"I don't know. Demo, if you keep on this path, eventually stuff happens and teams get ruined over it. Believe me, it's not worth. My okasan said some horrible stuff that I don't remember. It's just not worth it."

Shikamaru stuffed his hands in his pockets, leaning his back up against the wall. He glared at the ground, contemplating Kiba's words and trying to find some fault to it all. There was a fifty percent chance that the thing going on between Ino and him could end badly. There was also a fifty percent chance that last night was just a fluke, that she didn't like him like he thought she did.

But if looked at the other way, there was both a fifty percent chance that this will last, and her feelings for him were more then just casual.

But this being the first….relationship he ever was involved in, the negative thinking corrupted the percentage. He did like Ino, but whatever that was going on between them, was it worth it to risk their team?

Shikamaru glanced to Kiba, who was staring intently at him. He aggravatedly pushed his gaze somewhere else. Why did the man have to ruin this for him? "What should I say?" He bit out forcibly.

"Tell her it was an accident, or shouldn't have happened--"

"Those are pathetic."

"I'm trying to save you from being teamless, Shikamaru. Think of something but you should do it." Akamaru barked from on top of Kiba's head as he walked away.

--------1

"Oi, Ino, can I talk to you." Shikamaru stood before them with his hands in his pockets. His eyes toward the sky, gazing at the large billowy clouds.

Ino's brows were knit in her confusion and she looked to Sakura in question but the female shrugged her shoulders. "Hai. I'll catch up." The three females continued around the corner and out of sight.

Sakura, however couldn't keep her nose out of it and held the girls up as they climbed over the fence and raced along the grassy field before hearing Shikamaru's voice. "We need to talk about last night." He stated, yawning slightly and through the cracks of the fence the girls could see the man leaned up against the wall, keeping his gaze on the sky.

"What about it?" Ino smiled with reddened cheeks, her eyes switching between his face and the ground girlishly.

"It was just for fun, right?"

"Nani?" Her gaze faltered on him but he was refusing to meet her stare.

"I mean, you don't like me, I don't like you, it was just for fun. Right?" Sakura put a hand to her mouth to keep herself from gasping out loud. She observed Ino's reaction catching every hint of emotion that sped across her features. She wanted to scream to Shikamaru to look at the woman, to see that it was not true. Why wasn't he looking at her?

It took Ino an entire minute, but to her it was hours later. She strengthened herself, "Hai." She forced out even as tears were threatening her gaze.

"I mean, if I'm wrong, tell me I'm wrong."

Inner Sakura was screaming in her head, 'Tell him he's wrong! What's the matter with you! Tell him how much you like him! Tell him that you've always had feelings for him, do it!'

Ino swallowed, her gaze falling to the ground and her shoulders shook, but she suddenly sucked in her breath, "You're right." She got out quickly, gritting her teeth to keep the cries at bay.

"Oh." Shikamaru, pushed off the wall and turned his back, "See ya later then." And he was gone, just like that. Ino did not move for almost two minutes until her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees.

Sakura hopped over the fence and ran to her. The woman releashed a harsh sob but she pulled it back and pushed her friend away, "I'm fine." Using the fence as support Ino got to her feet. "I'm--I'm, It was joke. I was--I was stupid. I knew."

"Ino--"

"I'm going to go back to the room. I don't feel like going anymore."

"Ino--"

"Sakura." Ino lifted her eyes, filled with tears no matter the smile she forced on her lips. "I'm fine." She laughed softly, reassuringly, "Go. I'm fine. I'll see you later." Ino's hand still held the wall as she walked away and around the corner.

TenTen, who now felt entirely guilty about yesterday's bout, came up beside Sakura with her arms cross, keeping herself from finding Shikamaru and slashing his throat. Sakura shook her head, "Something happened. We need to find out what it was."

"And how do we do that?"

"Naruto."

----------1

The Tsuchikage stared at the line of shinobi, holding out two letters that Sasuke took. "The Trinity told me they spoke with you. I warn you, Konoha shinobi, Raikage will not be happy with the answer. You were stupid to take this mission to begin with."

"Oi! How did we know that Trinity were people!" Naruto bit stepping up front. However the moment he had raised his hand in a fist, he felt the grip of the Ninja that had just popped up beside him. A kunai was raised to his throat threateningly.

The kage scoffed, rolling his eyes with annoyance. He waved a hand and the man disappeared. "Baka ninja." He stood, and the root that had popped up for him to sit lowered in the ground. He came up to stand in front of Sasuke and then his eyes shifted to Hinata, "I warn you being only children, he will take advantage. He desires your eyes." Hinata bowed her head with red cheeks.

"Oi! Just because we're young doesn't mean we're helpless!" Naruto screamed.

"No, it just mean you're a baka." Tsuchikage chuckled, shaking his head. "Go now."

Sakura sadly stared after Ino who had practically ran out before everyone else. Her eyes shifted to Shikamaru who lowered his gaze to the ground then rising them up to the sky as they stepped into the sun. Choji questioned him, "What's wrong with Ino, Shikamaru?" The Nara genius shrugged.

Sakura narrowed her eyes when Kiba came up behind him and whispered something in his ear but the man waved him off with annoyance, distancing himself. Choji followed with a confused brow.

Her green orbs followed Naruto's movements, analyzing the situation. How to get him away from the rest of the group? She didn't like the thought that came to her head, especially with Sasuke walking right next to him. Inner Sakura reminded her that she could tell Sasuke what was going on later, but for right now she had to be sleek about getting the information. With a determined sigh, she sauntered up beside the blond boy. "Hey, Naruto, will you walk with me?" She ignored the questioning gaze from Sasuke and stared prominately at Naruto.

He blanched, stalling in his movements. "Me?"

"Hai."

His fingers were up in front of him, twisting with each digit in nervousness and his cheeks reddened before he whispered, "Like a date?"

Sakura shrugged, "Whatever."

"Yahoo!" Naruto jumped in the air before excitedly taking her hand. He turned, glaring at Sasuke, "Excuse us! We're going on a date!" Naruto screamed in his face and proudly jotted away, pulling the depressed Sakura, hanging her head in embarrassment. She turned her green eyes behind, catching Sasuke crossing his arms over his chest and swiftly turning his head away, brooding. She giggled, holding a hand to her mouth loving the actual expression of jealousy on his boyish features.

The moment they had gotten out of everyone's sight, Naruto calmed down and walked sluggishly beside her. He had a bright smile on his lips and had his hands folded behind his head.

It was silent for more then a few minutes. Sakura sucked in her breath, her hands clasped behind her back, staring up at the sky, trying to seem uninterested and unintimidating as possible. "Naruto?" His blue eyes turned to her. "Do you guys talk about us?"

"Huh?"

"When you guys are alone, do you talk about us?"

He shrugged, "I guess. Which kind of causes all our fights."

"What do you fight about?"

"Well, before we fought about which kunoichi was better, which you won, Sakura-chan! I knew you would too, I said, 'Sakura-chan is better then all of them', and Sasuke didn't back you up, only me! That baka! I told him too but he thinks he's so much better then me. I don't understand why, we're pretty even in everything. I don't know why he has to be better then me at everything. But this time, we agreed, which was suge."

"This time?" She whispered in a question, casually playing with a stand of her hair.

"Well, at first we thought Shino had won the bet but then we found out that Shikamaru lied. Baka Shikamaru, he's so weird. He came in the room all depressed and everything after being away with Ino for two hours and says that Shino won! What they did for two hours, I'll never figure out." Naruto pondered for a moment, however soon realized that Sakura was no longer walking beisde him. He turned with knitted brows. But his gaze widened in fear. Her fists were clenched at her side, her face hiden by the shadow of her hair and her body shook with unleashed rage. The poise he knew all to well.

"BET!"

---------1

Sasuke nearly chocked on his tea spotting the crawling blond boy, groaning in pain. Naruto reached a dirty hand to Sasuke's shoe, which said boy quickly moved it from his reach, and watched Naruto collaspe with exhaustion. He put his drink down on the table and knelled beside him. "Sa…Sakura…chan…" Naruto mumbled out, his head slamming onto the floor as he past out.

Sasuke barely smirked, shaking his head, taking the boy's arm and dragging him out of the café. Their hotel room was only a few feet from this place and outside stood everyone ready to leave. Everyone except the females. "We have a problem." Sasuke explained, having figured it out already. When Sakura had asked Naruto to walk, at first he had been entirely confused. She hated the boy more then life itself and now she was willing to go on walks with him? Yeah right. It wasn't until they were around the corner that he had realized her intention but by then it was already too late. And mostly, Naruto being the ass that he had been deserved to get his ass kicked. Even if that meant the girls gathering together to go against them.

The moment the words left his mouth, the door to the hotel slid open. Each female promptly stomped out, eyes shut and filed one right after the other as they past. Hinata, lowered her head, trying not to catch the eyes of everyone as she went out after them. She had not wanted to be angry but Sakura's speech was something she could not ignore.

The moment they were out of earshot, Shikamaru growled with annoyance, "You told her about the bet?" He nudged the blond with his foot. "It wasn't even my bet."

Neji folded his arms over his chest with aggravation that he didn't voice. He did not partake in the bet. He was not apologizing this time. Once was enough for the rest of his life. If these two trips with the whole group told him something, it was to never agree to it again. TenTen acted completely different when around other girls. It was nerve racking.

"Baka." Shikamaru mumbled stuffing his hands in his pockets. Now Ino would think that it was all because of the bet. Women were way too troublesome. He didn't have the energy to keep up with their thoughts nor their emotions. That was it. Never again. He was going to do away with women. Maybe become a monk. Monk life couldn't be too bad. They didn't have to deal with women and could probably watch the clouds for days on end with no one pestering them to get off their lazy asses and do something constructive.

And he also knew for damned sure that he'll never do the whole group thing again. There's no telling the damage that could happen next time.

Naruto rubbed his head as he sat up, he watched the birds flying around his head, occasionally trying to catch one. He felt Sasuke lift him up. "Don't you see the pretty birds?" He questioned drunkenly.

Sasuke shook his head with a sigh, hating the obligations he had as Naruto's teammate.

A short end to a short beginning, huh? Sorry, couldn't help it. I don't know, I like Ino and Shikamaru, but I also like Temari….And no, a threesome is not possible. Not in this story anyway, gross…Anyway.

Hope you enjoyed it, only two more chapters and then the real fun begins. Those might take a bit longer for me to put out considering I'm having a hell of a time filling in the blanks between each major event.

Hope you like all the relationship choas, I just realized no one in a relationship right now is happy….Welcome to the real life I guess. Peace out And thanks.

Next Time: Present: Naruto and Sakura have a talk about Sasuke

Past: The group returns to the Land of Lightning only to be ambushed.