I don't own Naruto.
Sorry if I'm spending too much time on just one or two characters. I promise that that won't be the case for much longer. Enjoy!
Sakura was lying on her back in a park, staring up at the sky as it gradually grew dark, the stars starting to slowly appear. She had serious doubts as to if the squad could go co-ed. There were very few athletic guys with enough muscle mass to throw around people at the school who would be also willing to take all of the crap male cheerleaders often were confronted with. At least the male cheerleaders she'd seen in movies. She sighed. She felt for Ino, who seemed so sure her idea would be a success. Sakura had tried to steer her towards more doable options but Ino had quickly brushed her off before leaving.
"Poor Ino," Sakura muttered.
"Why 'poor Ino'?"
Sakura looked up and saw Sasuke standing over her. She had been waiting for him to arrive and she grinned up at him. "Hi!" she said.
"Why 'poor Ino'?" Sasuke repeated, sitting down next to her.
Sakura shook her head. "Not even a hello in response," she said teasingly. Then she made a face. "'Poor Ino' because the cheerleading team is in trouble and she thought of a plan to fix it that I don't think will work. Ino doesn't realize it yet," she explained.
Sasuke blinked. "Should I even ask...?"
"She wants to make the squad co-ed... with only a month until their regional competition," Sakura said. "Can you imagine?"
Sasuke's eyebrows flew up. "Really?" he asked, sounding surprised.
"Yeah," Sakura said, propping herself up on her elbows so she was lounging. "I mean... are there many guys in Konoha that you know who would be willing to deal with all of the backlash that could possibly come from being a male cheerleader?"
Sakura sighed. "I think it would be really cool if we had a co-ed team that could do all of those amazing stunts that you hear about, but I don't know if it will happen as quickly as Ino would like..." she trailed off, before shaking her head slightly. "Anyway, what did you feel like doing?" she asked, brightening slightly and looking over at him.
Sasuke kept staring straight ahead. "Sasuke?" Sakura asked, waving her hand in front of his face. He shook his head and blinked quickly.
"What?" He asked, turning to look at her.
"I asked what did you feel like doing?" Sakura repeated.
He shook his head again. "Sorry. Whatever you really are in the mood for..."
Elsewhere
"... Next on South Park..."
Ino lounged on her couch, her neck draped over one of the arms and her legs draped over Sai's who sat with her, looking at the TV. She sighed and stretched her arms. "I love this show too much..." she yawned. Sai chuckled. She glanced up and considered him.
'Tall... good muscle structure... agile...' she made a mental list as she looked him up and down. "Hey Sai..." she said sweetly.
He looked up at her, confused. "Yeah...?" he asked. "Do you need more diet pepsi or something?" he asked.
She shook her head, smiling slyly at him. "I was just wondering... now that footballs ending what were you planning on doing?" she asked.
He shrugged, leaning back against the couch. "Probably swim team or something. Why?"
"Well..." Ino started, sitting up and scooting more towards him. "Remember how I was talking about the cheer incident at the football game?" she asked. He nodded. "You know, I thought of a solution."
"Really?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! The problem is, it'll take some work to get off the ground."
Sai looked over at her. "What is it?"
"I'm making the squad co-ed!"
He paused before responding. "Ino... isn't it kind of close to your competition to make it co-ed?"
She brightened even further. "I've thought of a solution for that! Y'see, I can tell Sakura had the same thought when I told her. I mean, I know it'll be hard to get any boys interested in cheerleading for gods sake, but... if maybe there was someone who joined to set an example for some of the other guys... well, then the doors would open for any other potential male cheerleaders."
She looked at him excitedly. He still looked confused. "How would you get someone for an example?"
Ino laughed. "Cheerleading is a good alternative to swimming to stay fit you know," she said, grinning at him.
"You want me to join the cheerleading team...?" Sai asked.
"I know it's a huge commitment but for now the co-ed team would be comp season only and..." she said, speaking quickly. "It would really give the team the skill we need to qualify for nationals. You'd be part of Konoha High Cheer making history! You're the kind of guy we need to join to make it seem less like social suicide for the other guys. And," she finished, "it would be a great way for us to spend more time together," she said, smiling cheekily.
Sai sat there, staring at her. "Cheerleading? I know nothing about cheerleading. I don't know anything about those mid-air flips or anything."
She shook her head. "You'd be a base or spotter, not a flyer. They're just as important, but you're the ones on the ground holding up and catching the flyer. And I'd give you a crash course in tumbling," she said, before wincing slightly at her less then great choice of words.
He still looked unconvinced. "Come on, give it a shot. You did the same for football and track," Ino said, smiling encouragingly.
He considered what she said for a minute. The South Park theme started and played through as he sat motionless, Ino's eyes glued on his face. The episode had already started when he chuckled. "Sure," he said. "It'd be interesting."
She pumped her fist. "Awesome!" she said, launching herself forwards to kiss him.
The Next Day
Tenten looked at Ino as Ino sat on her desk, obscuring Tenten's vision with her brand-new H&M retro zipper dress. "Come on Tenten, you're such a great friend... do this for me?" Ino asked, making a cute face. Tenten stared up at her, her mouth open.
"You want me to... base for you?" she asked, not sure what exactly Ino had said.
"Yeah! I'm getting guys but really, I'm not sure we'll have enough for all the stunts, and having a girl like you on the team would be great!" Ino said.
Tenten raised an eyebrow. "'Like me?'" she repeated.
Ino nodded, smirking. "Strong, actual muscle-tone, more endurance then a lot of the guys on the team. You'd be a killer base; I've seen you bench press in the weight room. And, it'd only be until nationals. Then you can go back to soccer or whatever," Ino said, making a face.
Tenten sighed. "What are the chances you'll stop bugging me about it unless I agree?" she asked.
"Slim."
"Fine," Tenten said, groaning. "Me... a cheerleader..." she mumbled, slumping over.
Ino laughed. "It'll be awesome! You'll look bitchin' in a miniskirt," she said, sliding off Tenten's desk with a cackle and flouncing over to her own. Tenten blew out a breath of air as Kiba, her Bio partner, walked over.
"What's with the long face?" he asked, sliding into his seat and lounging back.
Tenten shook her head. "I just got talked into hoisting up a bunch of girls while wearing a minidress," she grumbled. "This is going to ruin my rep on the soccer team."
Kiba let out a loud bark of laughter. "You're cheerleading?" he asked, snorting. "Now ain't that a picture."
She elbowed him in the ribs. "Oh stuff it. I can still kick your ass," she grouched.
"I'd like to see you try," Kiba said, rubbing his side where she had hit him.
"Any time Inuzuka."
A Day or Two Later
Ino sat on a chair in the gym, her hands folded on the table in front of her. She was clad in her cheerleading uniform and crossed her legs, sitting up straight and looking more then a little intimidating. She was flanked by four of her other cheerleaders. Echiko Taniguchi, a girl who had cheered with Ino in her last year of middle school, sat to her immediate left and was grinning widely, as she almost always did. She didn't take much seriously and was more likely to laugh then grimace, but she had a mean streak to rival Karin's. Min-Yee Jun sat on the end of the table next to Echiko. She bobbed her foot up and down as she waited, her restlessness almost trademark; Min-Yee was one of the best flyers on the team because she was full of physical energy and was willing to try almost any stunt. Niranjana Archita-Madhu Singh sat to Ino's direct right and was stretching her arms over her head, trying to work out the soreness. Niranjana was a fitness nut and one of the strongest girls on the team, making her an excellent bases, possibly the only really good one currently on the team. Next to Niranjana sat Atsuko Amori, a sophomore who showed good flyer potential and who, despite her somewhat standoffish expressions, was actually very helpful and cheerful.
Ino brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "Alright, so I'm not sure how many people we're even going to get, but we don't need many guys. I've got another base recruited, though she's only good for competition season. If we can get just a couple good bases and spotters by the end of the day, it'll be an achievement." Ino grinned as the door to the gym opened and nodded towards it.
"Here we go."