Sakura

The next day I met Sasuke and Naruto early and walked back to the Konaha Ninja Academy to take the Chuunin Exams. It wasn't long ago we thought we'd never be back here again, we were ninja, on our own and taking on the world of shinobi. Yet here we are, ready to submit our filled out application on the third floor.

After a few moments of walking through the familiar corridors we reached the third floor…packed with a bunch of kids crowded around the door and shouting like a fight had broken out.

Naruto walked on forward and Sasuke was about to follow but I stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Something's wrong…didn't we walk up one set of stairs? Isn't this the second floor?" I asked looking into his bottomless eyes.

"You sense it too? Hn, it's probably a genjutsu to fool everyone."

I nodded and glanced back at the crowd. "I think we should at least stop that."

"Hn,"

"Okay…I'll stop it." My hand slid off his shoulder and I pushed through the crowd to find Naruto watching a fight unfold with a team and two kids a few years older than us.

"Please..." a girl with brown hair pulled into two buns, begged. "We're begging you…Let us in." The girl stepped forward and without even touching her, the other kid (who guarded the door) pushed her back.

"That's just cruel!" Someone yelled. The kid just laughed and I stepped forward. Squaring my shoulders and putting my hands on my hips.

"We have business on the third floor." Sasuke said, I didn't look back but I inwardly smiled.

"So you can cut the cheap trick." I added.

"What's the chick talking about?" Someone asked. I ignored them and kept my poker face even.

"Heh, so Kakashi's kids figured it out?" Sasuke smirked. The kid with brown hair made a hand sign and the sign above the door that read room '301' fizzled and turned to '201' and a staircase appeared down the hallway.

"Not bad girlie." The one with the bandaged face said. "But just seeing through it isn't enough!" With lightning fast movement he kicked toward me. On instinct I made a fist and aimed for his face. Someone's hands reached out and grabbed his leg and my fist before either assaults made contact.

I looked at who stopped the attack.

He was a year older than us and had a More Howard hair cut and bushy eye-brows. He wore a green jumpsuit, orange leg warmers, and his headband around his waist.

I growled and he looked at me. And, if it was possible, his big eyes widened more.

"Hey..." I heard the well-known voice annoyed voice of Neji Hyuuga. "Lee, that's not what we agreed." He said to the other kid, who was obviously part of his cell.

"Hello Hyuuga," I said pulling my fist from (apparently) Lee's grasp and flexed my fingers at the crushing hold. Neji looked at me and bobbed his head.

"Hello Kurosu, trust your well?" I shrugged.

"Been better," I looked down at the guy who tried to attack me and kicked his side with all the force I could muster. He howled in pain. "Don't ever try that again if you know what's good for you!" I hissed.

"Nice talking with you." Neji murmured.

"Likewise, c'mon guys." I called to my team and we started up a new flight of stairs.

Neji

I sighed. Lee had that look again. He was love struck with (despite her delicate name) the most vicious girl in all of Konaha. I wasn't scared of Sakura, but her reputation of a short temper and quick fist were as good as famous, also the fact that she was an outsider here kept her on my radar.

"Here we go again." Tenten sighed with me, though she laughed.

"Neji, you know her?" Lee asked, watching the rosette go.

"Yes, were acquaintances, she's my cousin's best friend she tends to stop by a lot." Lee's eyes flashed with excitement.

"Is she single?" He asked.

"As far as I know, yes. But I wouldn't try anything." I said. Tenten gave me the 'don't-shot-down-his-hopes' look but I ignored it. "Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto are quite protective of her. Also you're on her bad side for stopping her punch; Sakura can get quite violet real fast. And she's way out of your league." I smirked and crossed my arms.

"How so?" Tenten asked. "We're all Genin here."

"She's the daughter of a very powerful leader. Sakura-hime is bounded to have a fiancé. Someone high standing and can useninjutsu."

Lee was not at all fazed.

"No! I will not give up! I will win the princess's heart!" He charged up the stairs after her and Tenten sighed.

"That did not work."

Sakura

We looked around the crowded classroom, so many Genin of all ages.

"We're dead," said Kiba. "Dead and gone!" Hinata looked ready to cry and I glared at Kiba.

"Dog breath, shut up!" I growled, smacking the back of his head. "You're scaring Hin-" He cut me off.

"Aw, pinkie scared of breaking a nail?" He said in a baby voice. "So adorable," He patted my cheek and I lunged at him. Naruto and Hinata stopped me, sadly.

"Say that to my face, you fleabag! I'll whip the floor with you!"

"I just did."

"Fleabag!"

"…You already said that."

"Well, it's more creative than pinkie, you little prick!"

"Sakura-chan, calm down you're freaking out the older kids." Hinata said. I looked up to see, sure enough, all the elder kids were looking a bit tense.

"Hey!" Someone shouted, and I saw bushy-brow –as Naruto called him- walking over. What did he want? "Starting another fight already?" He laughed. "I didn't get a chance to introduce myself, I'm Rock Lee. You're Sakura Kurosu right?"

I nodded and stood up strait. Naruto's blue eyes hardened and glared daggers into Lee's head.

"I was wondering, would you go out with me? I'll protect you with my life." He gave me a thumbs-up and smiled. I raised a pink eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest.

"I-" Before I could reject Naruto butted in, jumping in front of me and dragging poor Sasuke with him.

"If you want to date Sakura-chan, you're going to have to fight us first." Lee smiled at the challenge and got in fight stance. Naruto smiled too and balled his fists. Sasuke didn't make a move.

Gee, I feel special now. I inwardly grumbled sending death glares in Sasuke's direction.

Well, this takes me back. Males fighting for a woman's heart! Isn't this great!

Shut up, I don't like either of them and if Naruto is fighting I'm going to end up with bushy-brow. Naruto charged forward and aimed a punch at Lee. Lee side stepped and Naruto fell to the ground. The crowd laughed and pointed. See?

"Ha! I win!" Lee yelled out. I looked desperately over at Sasuke.

'I'm not getting into this.' He mouthed over to me.

'I hate you.' I mouthed back. Sasuke smirked and we watched Naruto get back up. Seeing as everyone was so engrossed with Naruto and Lee's fight I scanned the crowd to find Gaara and his siblings, looking distant, deadly almost.

Nervously I chewed on my lip when my eyes settled on Gaara. He's a container, as I found out, proud holder of the Sand Demon that the Akatsuki were after. It was my mission to keep an eye on him from now on, make sure he didn't draw attention to himself during the delicate time of planning.

"If his eyes cloud with bloodlust stop him by any means necessary." I remembered Itachi reading from the scroll and sighed. Gaara was much stronger than I was and that sand protects him from getting hurt.

"The first test in the Chuunin Exams will begin, everyone take your seats."

Ah, finally I begin the exams...yes there will be quite a few changes to that. Including a few tricks up my sleeve and some totally awesome disguises ninja-style! Also a small chat between Pein and Sasuke (Konan and Naruto will be present also.)

And I'm now currently pissed that my library doesn't have enough Naruto books...ah, well I'm on the TAG I can scavenge up some people to agree with me.

~QueenVamp