A/N I hold no claim over Naruto….that doesn't mean I don't want him or any of the other characters though…..

Sakura was only a few minutes late, thankfully, since the others had only just gotten there. There was Tenten, Lee and Neji along with Hinata.

Tenten waved her over and, as Sakura parked and locked her bike to a pole, said. "I invited some other people to come along. You should get along nicely. At least…I hope…" Sakura smiled at the older girl.

"S-sakura-c-chan…What happened to your hair?" Hinata asked, coming up behind Tenten.

Tenten took another look at the pink haired girl. "Yea, come to think of it, it's a lot shorter."

Sakura fiddled with the ends of her bangs, trying to think of an excuse. "Um….this? I…I just wanted a different style is all. Long hair is nice but short hair seems much more practical to me."

"Sakura-san!" Lee called a ways off. Placing the two cats down in the sand, Sakura heaved her bag on and raced over to the two boys.

When the five had finished setting their placed up, the others arrived.

First Naruto, Shino and Kiba, with Akamaru, came by way of foot. There was someone else with them too. Dragging Hinata over with them, Sakura and Tenten approached the boys.

"Naruto, did you bring who I asked you to?" Tenten inquired.

"Yep. Here he is!" The spiky haired blonde shouted. Shino and Kiba parted to reveal another, somewhat smaller, boy. Striking red hair was the first thing Sakura saw, and underneath his hair was a tattoo. The tattoo seemed to say something like 'love.' He wore loose shorts and a tan colored t-shirt with the word sand printed in kanji.

"Girls," Naruto said, "This is Gaara of the Desert, he's new to this city so we decided to show him around."

Kiba continued, "And Sakura-chan, as our class president, we felt like it would be best that you show him around." Naruto now stood off to the side, crying and sniffling. Akamaru sniffed him, worried. Hinata, too, was worried about the boy.

Sakura twitched. So I was set up….yes, totally set up….

CHA! AFTER ALL THAT, THIS IS WHAT I GET?!

Despite her inner turmoil, Sakura continued to smile on the outside.

Don't worry, it can't be that bad….

But he looks kinda scary!

It was true. The way he bore down on her with his merciless eyes, not just her but everybody….

"W-well then, Gaara-kun, would you like to come over with us?" Sakura asked politely. With a shrug he followed the three girls back.

Hinata stood by Sakura, whose back was turned away from everyone else so she could regain her composure. "S-sakura-chan…"

"Don't worry Hinata, I'll be fine." She reassured. I hope. "Hinata, I'll race you!" Sakura challenged.

"'kay!" Both girls stripped off their outer clothes and raced for the water, going as fast as they could.

The guys watched as pink and black heads bobbed in the water, speeding away from them.

"GO SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Go Sakura-san! Use that spring time of youth." Lee, just as loud, yelled.

"Oi, Hinata, Beat her! C'mon!" Kiba screamed after the girl. Akamaru barked loud enough for three people. Shino and Neji justed stood in the back round watching the scene unfold.

"GO!"

Everyone else stopped yelling and turned to look at Tenten who was going ecstatic.

"T-tenten…?" Neji whispered, somewhat shocked.

"Oi, what's with all this noise?"

Turning completely around, an awkward silence descends. Tenten stops shouting. Damn, what's he doing here?

Sakura laughed, trying her best not to swallow water. "You beat me, Hinata."

The shy girl blushed a bit, "W-we should head back…"

"Umm….Hinata…."

"Yes?"

Sakura glanced at the beach, as if her friends could hear them. "What do you think about Gaara?"

With a shudder, Hinata, too, gazed over at Naruto and the others. "He…he's scary. I feel awkward just being around him…." She submersed herself in water for a second before heading back to the sandy beach.

"…awkward…" Sakura mumbled and followed her friend. As Sakura propelled herself through the water, her legs began to cramp up. I…I forgot….All that cycling and running….I can't go swimming so long and hard after something….like that…

Sakura began to flounder in the water when she was ¾ the way to shore. She couldn't hold back the pain anymore and her legs just completely gave. Everyone on the beach turned to look at Sakura, flailing. Hinata had just gotten out of the water and turned around when she saw everyone else turn. Black streaked by them and dived into the water.

Sakura screamed.

A/N For those of you wondering how I can update so very quickly, I'll tell you.

I HAVE NO LIFE.

But now that Softball has started, I have a little bit more of a life so the updates will be later in the evening and sometimes I might forget because I'm exhausted.

For those of you reading this a long time from now, the date being 2-27-08, this doesn't really matter to you so don't worry about it. XD

This has been…..

…..Assassinator Bunny.