Kei-Kei Yuki: Okay, so does anyone have any ideas they would like to share for this fanfic? If so, please share them with me! Especially for those, who me to do the whole: The Last Movie, but replace Hinata with Naruko. I would love to hear ideas for that, seeing how never watch the movie, but just clips of it.

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

Drabble Thirteen

Sasuke vs Rock Lee

Naruko didn't know where this guy in a flashy green jumpsuit, thick bushy eyebrows, and a bowl-cut had come from, who suddenly challenged Sasuke to a match... But what she did know was that Sasuke's ego was way too big if he thought he could defeat this guy. Knowing where this was going, she took a seat on the ground, already knowing that it was too late to pull Sasuke away.

"Naruko, what are you doing? We must cheer on Sasuke-kun!" Green eyes turned in the direction of where her blonde teammate was casually sitting on the ground, as she scolded Naruko.

"Mmm, Sakura-chan, I don't know how to tell this to you, but... I don't think Sasuke's going to win," Naruko said honestly, hands folded behind her head.

"What?! Naruko, how can you say that!? Sasuke is our teammate!" Sakura furiously defended him, both hands stationed on her hips.

"I know but... The eyes speak to me, ya know. Just by looking into his, I can tell he is a world apart from Sasuke. This guy's intensity and determination are on a whole other level! Like Ruka-nee once said, one should never judge a book based on its cover. Just because he might not look like much, you should not overestimate Sasuke's abilities, especially since we are no longer in the academy. There are bound to be guys more powerful than him." Upon hearing that sincere and honest statement come from the girl, who basically her and almost everyone else in the academy labeled as an 'idiot and a failure,' Sakura didn't know how to proceed.

What Naruko had said was true... No longer were they in the academy. Guys stronger than Sasuke was bound to appear, but yet Sakura just couldn't fathom the thought of her crush losing. Yet never did she think she would hear such truth spill from Naruko's mouth.

"Hmm, since when did you suddenly become a little more intelligent?" Sakura glanced the blonde up and down, who did nothing but grin, sheepishly scratching the back of her head.

"Maa, you can say I had a talk with Ruka-nee this morning and yesterday night. She warned me to be safe, and how that we shouldn't overestimate ourselves just because of how outstanding we were in the academy. We are now stepping into the real shinobi world, where life and death hang in the balance. She was really worried about us, you know." Naruko's eyes became downcast at the memory, Iruka hugging her this morning, crying and making Naruko promise that she would return safe and sound back to her.

Seeing Naruko's expression, Sakura remembered how Naruko shared a close relationship with their academy teacher, Iruka-sensei, who everyone shared a soft spot for too. "Iruka-sensei really is kind but also worries too much. I think she should take a day off and relax. Too much stress and worry are bad for the body." Sakura began to recall how back at the academy, Iruka always seemed overworked and stressed.

"I know right! I try to tell her the same thing, but she didn't listen!" Naruko immediately spoke up. The two were about to continue their conversation when they saw Sasuke floating in the sky with Lee, only for a talking turtle to appear. Lee began apologizing to the talking turtle while Sakura ran off first to catch Sasuke, only to see an orange and yellowish blur pass by her, taking her place in catching him.

"Oi, teme, finished getting your ass handed to you?" Naruko cheekily teased the glaring raven laying in her lap.

"Shut up," Sasuke growled when he heard Sakura worriedly call out his name. Dropping down on her knees beside Naruko, she wanted to extend her hand out to him, but he quickly brushed it aside. Quickly removing himself from Naruko's lap, who also got up and stood in front of him. Blue eyes suddenly made eye contact with the one who called himself Rock Lee.

For a minute, Rock Lee quickly went on guard; Sasuke and Sakura thought Naruko was about to challenge the guy next, however, they did not suspect that she would copy his movement from before. She threw him a winning smile with a thumbs up, saying, "Nice job kicking his ass, Bushy-Brow Dude!" She praised Lee, who was confused about why she was praising him for defeating a member of her team.

"Naruko!" Sakura was ready to pummel her idiot teammate. Sasuke began glaring at the blonde's back, fists clenched tight. For some reason, he did not like the thought of losing in front of Naruko, and he definitely did not like it when she complimented other people, especially when it was for his defeat.

"Oi, dobe-" Sasuke venomously called out to her, glaring at her back. He knew that if the roles were reversed, that Naruko probably wouldn't even last two seconds against the guy, unlike him who at least lasted a little longer.

"Shut up, Sasuke." Both Sasuke and Sakura were quickly caught off guard by the cold and chilling sound that came from Naruko's voice, flinching when her blues that matched her attitude directed themselves at one of the two.

"That cockiness and ego of yours are going to get you killed one day." She began stalking up to Sasuke and then did something that not only shocked Sasuke, Sakura, but even Lee. They watched as the angry blonde landed a hard right slap across the last Uchiha's right cheek, leaving behind a bright red hand mark on his pale skin.

"Naruko!" Sakura immediately cried out, unable to believe what Naruko just did.

"If you had gotten seriously hurt, then we would've been unable to enter the Chunin Exam! Think about the consequences that your actions may lead to. If you want to fight other powerful people, go right on ahead, but at least think about Sakura-chan and me before you do something stupid! We are a team now, Sasuke, don't just think about yourself when you pick your battles, but also think about us. A team should lean on one another, not selfishly go out and do their own thing, or is it that... You don't even have Sakura and I in your thoughts? ...Do we really mean so little to you?" There was a flash of disappointment and anger that were expressed in her eyes, that not only caught Sakura's attention but also Sasuke's.

Sasuke found himself unable to look in those crestfallen blue eyes that were stabbing him with guilt. Ever since the beginning, Sasuke's vow was to grow stronger, and only by defeating powerful opponents could he achieve his goal. He had no time for silly friendships, no time to forge bonds when the only thing he should be concentrating on was revenge. But after hearing everything Naruko had to say, hearing her so bluntly and angrily pointing out his flaws, able to show how disappointed she was with him with the sorrowness that was expressed in her eyes, he began thinking about the two times she appeared in his home only to cook for him and later even train with him.

She was going so far out of her way to care for him, despite her grudge against him, being the bigger person of the two. This revelation brought forth complicated feelings for Sasuke, who didn't know how to respond. Even though Sakura was unaware of what had transpired between Sasuke and Naruko, she knew there was truth to Naruko's words. The blonde may be reckless and the biggest idiot she ever came across, but there were times when she spoke the truth. No matter how much Sakura wanted to deny it.

It seemed like forever that she has been infatuated with Uchiha Sasuke; she always paid attention to him, always watching him, even dreaming about him. So, of course, she was aware of how Sasuke seemed to keep himself at a distance from them. No matter how much she dreamed and tried to grow closer to him, he always kept himself at a distance.

At least Naruko could get somewhat of a conversation out of Sasuke, which was a large contrast to her, who he didn't bother to even start up a conversation. It made Sakura jealous when she began noticing that how despite Sasuke's coldness and aloofness, the only person he even bothered to socialize with was Naruko. It was as if he didn't see Sakura at all, and that thought hurt her. It made her slowly begin to pay more attention to their blonde teammate, and after a while, she couldn't see what was so special about the blonde that Sasuke considered giving attention to, until today that was...

Naruko might not be the brightest crayon in the box, but she wasn't afraid to speak the truth and call out somebody's wrongdoings. Especially when that person was Sasuke, who, even though Sakura did not want to admit it, carried a few flaws himself, but never would she speak up on it or confront him about them. 'I guess that is what puts Naruko and me apart.' Sakura couldn't help but glance down at herself, thinking over Naruko's words. In the background, after Gai-sensei made his appearance, both him, Lee, and the summoning turtle found themselves stuck in an awkward situation.

End of Drabble Thirteen