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Ch 8. Before the Chunin exams

[Sakura's POV]

"Actually Naruto you had the lowest scores, so in order to balance your team out we put you with Sasuke who had the highest scores in the class"

"Waa!"

"Don't slow me down loser." Sasuke crosses his arms and gives Naruto a good view of his Uchiha smirk, aka the 'I know I'm better than anyone smirk'.

Oh Naruto and Sasuke. I can't help, but giggle at how stupid boys can be, especially my boys. "It's ok Naruto, I'm sure you'll be better in time."

Naruto and Sasuke still don't get along; they see each other as rivals. It seems that no matter what you change in the past, you still can't change people's personality. It's alright though, their rivalry isn't too intense.

Team Introductions

"What do you mean?" Sakura said

"What you like, hate, your dreams and hobbies, yeah something like that" Kakashi-sensei still had his normal flippant attitude

"Why don't you introduce yourself first," Naruto asks Kakashi.

"Me?...ok I'm Hatake Kakashi, I have no intention of telling you my likes and dislikes. As for my dream...I have a few hobbies." He says revealing absolutely nothing.

"So all we found out was his name" Sakura whispers to her teammates, clearly agitated at Kakashi.

"Now it's your turn, you first"

Naruto then begin introducing himself and gives the same introduction as the past Naruto. You know ramen, hokage, something about recognition, and then we get to Sakura's turn.

"Ok next," Kakashi says then looks at Sakura.

"I'm Suki Uchiha, I like looking at you Kakashi-sensei," Sakura says batting her eyelashes in an attempt to get under Kakshi's skin. "I hate things blocking my view of Kakashi-sensei." Kakashi now is clearly fidgeting in his seat. "My dream is to be a good wife to Kakashi-sensei, and become an awesome ninja!"

Everyone was left a bit speechless after Sakura's introduction. 'Oh dear' Kakashi thought. He didn't even want to go near that subject. He then, along with everyone, proceeded to do what they thought was best; pretend that never happened and ignored Sakura. Sakura didn't care though, inside she was laughing her ass off.

L

L

[Present]

We were able to see Zabuza-san and Haku-san again for our first real mission, but it was difficult. During the entire mission I had to restrain myself from doing anything I didn't do the first time. I've already altered the future once and I definitely had to carefully monitor what I would change and what I wouldn't.

I couldn't save them. Zabuza-san was power hungry and would not rest until he took over the hidden mist village, and Haku would never leave Zabuza's side.

So, I sat back and let the past repeat itself. I was prepared to feel misery and defeat as I watched Haku and Zabuza fall, but I didn't feel that. I didn't feel anything. What kind of person feels nothing when she sees two men fighting for their dream fall at her feet?

I felt like I was losing myself more and more every day. Maybe the scars of my past were too much for me to experience everyday moments the same way again? Some days it felt like the light was sucked out of everything; leaving only dullness behind.

Now the chunin exams were starting and I know very well who is coming. Orochimaru. I haven't hunted him down for good reason. Orochimaru plays a big part in the next sequence of event, I couldn't kill him yet.

On a lighter note Naruto and Sasuke met Gaara yesterday, which was quite a funny scene.

[Flashback]

Konahamaru had already bumped into Kankuro accidentally, but Kankuro was in a 'lets terrorize the locals' kind of mood. He grabbed Konohamaru by his blue scarf and shirt and dangled him a couple feet off the ground.

"So does this hurt punk" Kankuro said while bullying Konohamaru. "Put him down Kankuro. Or you know we'll pay for it later" Temari said while looking around.

"You better take your hands off him right NOW!" Naruto yelled, then pointing at Kankuro to make his point.

"We got a few minutes before he gets here. Let's mess with these punks huh" Kankuro liked his bullying ways and wasn't going to give up an opportunity to use them. Konohamaru while kicking futilely pleaded with Kankuro "Let go of me you jerk"

Kankuro thought Konohamaru's request was hilarious, he so wasn't going to let him go anytime soon "Your feisty, but not for long"

Naruto and Kankuro continued acting like idiots; forcing Sasuke to come out and set them straight. Kankuro's hand was struck by a pebble and Sasuke appeared.

"You're a long way from home and your way out of your league." That was Sasuke's 'hello'.

Kankuro who's pride was clearly wounded, began to get angry "Oh great another wimp to tick me off"

"Get lost," Sasuke said while looking intimidating and crushing a stone into dust

"Hey punk, get down here. You're the kind of pesky little snot I hate the most. All attitude and nothing to back it up." By now Kankuro was all worked up and looking for a fight. You could tell because just then he brought out his puppet with the full intention of using it.

"What! Are you going to use the crow for this?" It seemed that Temari had just had enough of this pissing contest, let me tell you she was not the only one.

Finally he appeared.

"Kankuro, back off," Gaara sounded off in that gloom and doom voice of his. "You're an embarrassment to our village. Have you forgotten the reason we came all the way here?"

"Er I know, I mean they challenged us. They started the whole thing. See here's what happened," but Kankuro was immediately put in his place. "Shut up" Gaara said interrupting Kankuro's chain of excuses. He didn't say his threat of killing him, so it does seem I somewhat got through to him.

"I'm sorry, for the trouble he caused." He sand traveled down to meet his brother and sister.

"Gaara-kun!" I said while running up to him and giving him a hug, baffling everyone around momentarily. You could see Gaara softening.

"Suki-san," He smiled softly and hugged me back, which cause a chain of emotions in everybody.

Naruto became mad, Sasuke was looking like he was about to go over and beat the snot out of Gaara, Kankuro and Temari were happy to see me, and the kids didn't know what the heck was going on.

Sheesh, who knew one hug could cause so much commotion.

I didn't entirely disentangle myself off of Gaara, I sort of hung on to his arm, in a friendly kind of way. But Sasuke and Naruto didn't see it as friendly.

"You're Gaara, The Kazekage's son?" Sasuke asked in a 'if you say yes I will hate you even more, kind of voice'

"Sasuke!" I said gently scolding him. "Be nice, yes this is Gaara-kun." Then in return I introduced my two dorks to Gaara. "Gaara-kun this is Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun"

"I've heard a lot about you," Gaara said to Sasuke, ignoring Naruto completely.

"Hmph" Sasuke didn't want to be friends with Gaara at all. "What are you doing here?" but what he really meant was, I want you to get lost, loser, NOW.

Naruto was getting upset because no one was paying attention to him and the kids looked kind of bored. Gaara had a look on his face that said 'She's mine, I'm the man'. Meanwhile, Sasuke was glaring daggers at Gaara; when he turned his gaze came over my way.

I knew he wanted me to let go of Gaara, but what was up with that look? To an outsider you couldn't tell Sasuke was upset, but if you know him like me, you know that to read Sasuke you just have to look at his eyes. I don't know maybe it's just me, but I just look into his eyes and I automatically know what he's feeling or thinking.

I didn't want to cause problems, or make Sasuke feel bad, so I let go of Gaara-kun; but not before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Sasuke, in return, really looked like he was about to lose it; both his face and fist tightened. Naruto had an 'that's so disgusting how could my Suki-chan kiss him' face; complete with a stuck out tongue and a cringe. Gaara was euphoric with pride and happiness, though you couldn't tell by his face. It was stoic, but like Sasuke, reading Gaara was all about his eyes and that small smirk of his gave him away.

As gracefully as I could, I calmly moved over to latch onto Sasuke's arm, and rubbed my hand against the side of his shoulder to calm him down before he blew a gasket.

l

[Present]

It was a tense moment.

Temari went on to explain about the chunin exams and then here we are. Wow I can't believe it. I'm about to take the chunin exams again. Yippee!

"Suki did you hear me?" Sasuke said snapping me out of the past and into the present chunin exams.

"Hm?" I had completely zoned out.

"I said your analytical skills and illusionary technique know-how is the best in our squad"

"Sasuke-kun, thank you, of course I've noticed it already. Because this is the 2nd floor"

Then instantly the genjutsu cast by the chunin proctors was broken.

"You're pretty good. But just being able to detect it isn't enough…" Suddenly the chunin proctor kicked out at Sasuke.

Of course Sasuke retaliated with a kick of his own. Both were quickly stopped by Lee's intervention. Hmm Lee's really strong isn't he, and so determined. Why can't I be attracted to him? Why does it always have to be the complicated ones? Oh wow, look at Sasuke's face. He looks so adorable when he's dumbstruck.

"Hey you broke the promise." Said the awesomely deliciously handsome, Neji Hyuga. "You're the one who didn't want to gather attention by doing something that stands out"

"Yeah but," Lee then turned to me fisted his hand in front of his chest. I could have sworn there was fire in his eyes when he came up to me.

"My name is Rock Lee, You're Suki-san right?"

"Yes."

"Let's go out together! I will protect you until I die!" Lee smiled and gave a big thumbs up! Sasuke and Naruto gaped like morons at what they thought was a ridiculous proposal.

So I had to respond with a simple, "ok." I smiled for good measure. However, it wasn't that simple; even though typically it would be. Ask a girl out and if she says yes she's your girlfriend. That's it no strings attached, not complicated at all. Haha, yeah…no, not for me.

"WHAT!" Sasuke and Naruto yelled.

Sasuke and Naruto got in the middle of Sakura and Lee. Naruto was closer to Sakura and Sasuke was all up in Rock Lee's face.

"Absolutely not! She's an Uchiha, get lost loser!" Guess who said that.

While the two were berating Lee for trying to take away their Sakura Neji came up to them. His presence immediately had a significant effect on Sakura ."Hey, you there identify yourself."

"You're supposed to identify yourself before you ask," Sasuke retorted. Ah, yes, battle of the big-heads.

Still, it's been so long since I've heard his voice.

"You're a rookie aren't you? How old are you?" Neji went on as if Sasuke had said nothing.

"I'm not obligated to answer that." Sasuke calmly dissed Neji.

"What?" Of course then Neji started to get pissed. His nose even crinkled in the cute way it did when he sneered just before killing you.

I couldn't hold it in any longer. I just had to talk to him again. I had to get him to notice me. To look at me, even if it only was just this once.

"Neji-san, I'm glad we get to meet again." Oh boy, I shouldn't have done that. You might as well as smack my head and call me lame. Good thing I caught myself before I made an even bigger slip up.

Sasuke didn't catch my slip-up; he was more concentrated on the guy's name. Thinking deep thoughts like, 'Neji…I've heard of that name before...' , and finishing up with a mysterious eyebrow raise.

"Hm?" Neji also had mimicked Sasuke's arched eyebrow, and replied with a kind inquisitive and unsarcastic, "Do I know you?" I try not to acknowledge that it was rude in any way, (because it was rude).

Sucker punched, I sucked in a breath and gained control of my emotions. Little does Neji know what kind of blow he just delivered. I then scratched my head and nervously laughed it off.

"No I guess not, my mistake" I said while giving him a fake smile.

Devastated I turned around before Neji could read any more of my emotions.

"Well Sasuke, Naruto, let's go!" Making sure to keep a cheerful face, so the two won't notice my pain I grab both their hands.

The Chunin Exams were about to begin and that means…Orochimaru was going to come.