Chapter III: New friends

A/N: I own nothing!This edited version was uploaded on 1/27/2013

Sakura stared after Sasuke a look of anger and confusion on her face. Did this boy really think so much of himself that he wouldn't even reply to her words of thanks? While Sakura contemplated this Ten Ten turned to the girl they had come to see in the first place.

"Are you okay?" Ten-Ten asked a soft smile on her face.
"Y-yes. T-thank you." The girl practically whispered
"You're welcome. I'm Ten-Ten and this is Sakura. You are?" Ten-Ten asked pulling Sakura by the arm to sit down next to her and the girl.

" H-Hinata…My name's Hinata." Hinata said smiling a bit.
"It's nice to meet you." Ten Ten pointed to the sketch pad clasped in Hinata's hands. "You like to draw?"

Hinata nodded her head.
"Yes," The purple haired girl replied. "B-but I prefer to paint…" she pressed her pointer fingers in front of her together nervously. "What about you guys?"

Ten-Ten poked Sakura who looked over at her a questioning look adorning her face.

"Why don't you talk to Hinata while I go and get 'Mari?" Ten-Ten suggested as she stood.
"Okay," Sakura agreed with a nod. "But hurry!"

Ten Ten flashed her a smile. Since when had she ever been slow? She ran off to go get Temari, her feet getting her to her destination in seconds.

Hinata waited for Sakura's reply. The pinkette was staring into space a bit before she pieced her words together carefully.

"I like to dance," She said slowly. "But, as Ino said, after I broke my ankle it never fully healed and well," She shrugged. Things had happened but it wasn't like anything she or the doctors did could've helped her anymore than what they had already done. "I wasn't able to dance without high injury risk." Hinata was looking at her sadly now, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "So I got sent here because…"Sakura paused again, looking down at feeling of shame filling her heart.

"Because…?" Hinata almost silently said, pushing her gently to continue.

"Well…I'm told I can sing well…" Sakura finished blushing. She knew Hinata probably thought it was dumb to be ashamed of singing good, but Sakura had her reasons and nobody would make her feel otherwise about this whole ordeal.

"Oh! So you're a singer. You might want to watch your back then." Hinata looked serious now, all trace of shyness gone. Her eyes were solid and hard. "Ino already doesn't like you and she's determined to be the best. I should know since I learned that the hard way."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked curiosity getting the best of her again. Everything else was shoved aside for the moment.
" W-well I didn't always paint. I was a singer too. "

Sakura hadn't been expecting that but it explained so much such as why Ino had just slapped the girl.

So, she likes to play dirty with her rivals? Sakura's thought eyes narrowing a bit. She hated people like Ino. Hinata was continuing now, so the pinkette turned her attention to the girl once again.

"Ino thought that I was getting too much attention. She said I was getting too much of the spot light and was trying to steal Sasuke Uchiha from her." Hinata was picking at the hem of her skirt now her head down, voice as soft as ever. "It wasn't enough for her to bully me verbally. She and her groupies were only satisfied with physical punishment and I was constantly getting beat up until I changed to all art class related subjects."

Hinata's tale done, she relaxed a bit as Sakura froze as everything clicked furthermore in place.

"Don't even think about it!" The words Ino said to her ringing over and over again in her head.

"I'm so sorry Hinata." Sakura started. She had finally gotten over the shock phase even if she was struggling to make sure everything was right. "I bet you she won't do it again now that you have us." Sakura said decidedly hugging Hinata.
"T-thank you!" the girl stuttered tears coming to her eyes as she hugged Sakura.
"Hey don't say thanks what are friends for?" Sakura laughed when Ten Ten hugged them both.
"Yeah!" The brunette exclaimed grinning.
"How long where you there?!" Sakura and Hinata asked startled as Temari and Ten-Ten laughed.
"Long enough to know Ino's a total bitch," Temari replied patting Hinata on the back as she threw her black book bag down on the table and sat next to the girl. "And don't worry we have your back. I'm Temari, nice to meet cha." The blonde lifted her hand in a half wave. Hinata returned the half wave as Ten Ten sat on Sakura's other side, putting hers and Sakura's bags down as well.

"It's nice to meet all of you too," Hinata gave a genuine smile as Temari smirked, Ten Ten grinned back and Sakura chuckled.
"I think it's the beginning of a looooooooooonnnnnggggggg friendship!" Ten Ten said as Temari poked her side.
"Hey don't be mean!"
"Okay, okay, seesh!" Ten Ten said blocking Temari's continued poke attacks while everyone laughed.

It was the beginning of a long friendship. But, it was to be one of great fun, happiness, pain and love.

~End of Chapter~

Hey thanks for the reviews :) I will be updating as regularly as I can

psssh just a little heads up here are the couple plannings for this story:

Naru/Hina

Sasu/Saku

Tema/Shika

Neji/Ten

Ino/Kiba

Deidara/oc

Pain/Konan

~momo~

p.s if you want a character in this story or suggest a pairing or two hit the review button or send me a PM actually any suggestions are welcome :) thanks!

~momo~