A/N: Oh yeah, Sai was in the cast list. 'Bout time he showed up, huh?

--

Sakura seemed more tense and on edge that afternoon. She mumbled an affirmative to Ino when the blonde told her the plans with Shikamaru, and when lunch was over with she immediately made a beeline towards Karin.

"Karin, I need your help." She whispered urgently.

Karin turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Sasuke's making the connection. He could know!" Her face looked terribly panicked. "What do I do?! I need a red wig, fast!"

Karin's eyebrows shot up and her mouth dropped open. "What?! I thought you were careful!"

"I was! But somehow, I forgot to put my phone charm back on last Sunday!" She pinched the bridge of her nose, remembering just in time to lower her voice. "For the first time in forever, I guess I need your advice."

"Uh, yeah, I guess you do." The redhead ran her fingers through her hair, exhaling harshly while tugging at the ends. "First, we need to focus."

"What do I do?!" The pinkette began to pace the floor. "It's not like I can just make a leisurely trip to the store in a night to pick out a new phone case! I don't have any extras, either!"

"Calm yourself!" Karin ordered sternly, grabbing her shoulders. "Breathe."

Obediently, Sakura took a couple of hesitating deep breaths. When at last she sighed, she looked her in the eyes. "Okay. I'm calm."

"Alright. Now remember back to eighth grade, when you accidentally got two phone cases for your birthday?" She asked.

Sakura rose an eyebrow. "Yeah, but Dad returned one of them, remember?"

"No." Karin shook her head. "He returned mine. I told him to keep yours just in case - pardon the pun - you ever needed another one quick."

"You idiot!" She tried to cover her amused grin at her joke and lightly hit her in the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I forgot," Karin deadpanned. "But if you'll allow, I can keep your pink case safe until this whole Sasuke business is over with."

"But what do I tell him if he asks?" She whispered harshly.

"Tell him, as Akane, that you accidentally lost your phone or something." Karin rolled her eyes. "Then, as Sakura, you could say that you found someone's phone and were embarrassed to pull it out during class."

"Genius! Brilliant, I say!" The pinkette declared quietly. "Since everyone at this school is increasingly moronic, I highly doubt anyone will notice!"

"Now all you have to do is switch wallpapers, and you're golden." The redhead grinned at her older sister. "Now shoo; I don't wanna make him nervous."

--

Ino took a deep, shaky breath. Her eyes were misty, yet she smiled up at Shikamaru, her hands held tightly in his.

"Thank you for understanding," his voice rumbled with a deep sigh. "I... I didn't want it to blow further out of proportion..."

"No, it's great that we got to talk it out like this." She shook her head, her ponytail moving with her. "I really do hope you and Temari get along great."

A faint blush appeared across his cheeks, and he looked away. "W-Well..."

"Trust me, Shika-kun, I wouldn't lie about this." She giggled. "I've been down this road plenty of times before; I have no time to be salty about getting broken up with."

He said nothing, but gave her a genuine smile.

Once he let go of her hands, she opened her arms for a hug, and he delivered, gathering her in his arms.

She buried her face into his shoulder, sighing in content. "Congratulations on scoring her, Shikamaru."

She felt some rumble of agreement, and when they broke away, she gave him a mock glare. "But if you ever hurt her, you'll have me to deal with, got it? Chicks before dicks!"

He chuckled. "Sure, I get it."

A sense of peace rested upon her shoulders as she bade him goodbye and walked away from him. She exhaled through her nose in content. It'd been a long, long while since things had been broken off so cleanly, even if it had costed her some heartache before she heard him out.

Too lost in her thoughts was she, that when she suddenly bumped into someone, it startled her so much that she stumbled backwards.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" She apologized profusely to the boy she'd crashed into, getting closer to him. "I didn't mean to- I mean, I was lost in thought!"

He brushed himself off and gazed down at her, giving her a fake smile. "It's alright, it was my fault too."

"Say, I've never seen you here before." She shook her head. "You must be new. I'm Ino Yamanaka."

When she held out her hand to shake, he took it in his and firmly shook it. She was a bit taken aback at how cold and pale his hand was, yet she said nothing.

"My name is Sai." He retracted his hand and adjusted the scroll under his arm. "Yes, I am new."

"Cool, a new student!" She suddenly got stars in her eyes. "Mind if I show you around real quick before lunch ends?"

"Lead the way, Miss Beautiful."

At the sound of the nickname, she blushed a bright red, but laughed nervously, taking his arm.

--

Hinata sat next to Naruto, giggling quietly at some joke he made. Tenten sat next to her, patiently reminding Neji that his cousin, no matter how strange her choice of man could be, deserved happiness.

"Say, Hinata-chan," Naruto suddenly asked with a twinkle in his eye. "Sasuke's throwing another party pretty soon. Would you be my date?"

Neji twitched, but one firm look from Tenten told him to stay quiet.

Hinata gaped before a hot blush spread across her cheeks. "I... I would love to, Naruto-kun!"

While the two of them began to talk about the new party, Neji narrowly avoided smacking his forehead on the table and instead excused himself and Tenten to the hallway.

Once they were away from prying eyes, Neji exhaled sharply. "Tenten, I don't know how I can permit this."

"Neji-kun, Hinata's in love!" Tenten reminded him, folding her arms. "I agree that Naruto can be an oblivious idiot, but this is the happiest I've seen the poor girl in a long time."

"I've got to think of what the clan will say, love." He took her hands in his, frowning. "It was hard enough convincing the elders to permit me to date you; imagine what they'd say to Hinata after finding out that not only is she in love, but with Uzumaki!"

"Naruto's family is very well-known!" Tenten protested. "His father was principal of the school for a few years, and everyone who's met his mother has had positive things to say!"

"That's just it." He shook his head. "You're speaking of his parents. Uzumaki's antics are very well-known through the clan, and already my uncle has declared that Naruto will not be even permitted to marry into the lower branches of our family!"

"What if he's just scared?" She challenged. "I remember the very first time I told my father that I loved you. He threatened me with taking my weapons away for a whole year if I even kissed you!"

"Your father is less strict than Uncle," Neji spoke sharply for a moment, before trying to calm himself and burying his face into Tenten's shoulder. "I apologize for speaking rashly."

"No, no, I provoked you." She soothed, hugging him tightly. "I know the stress of finally being open about our relationship is causing some strain, but I promise you, Hinata's made the right choice. There is no other boy in this school who would treat her as well as he would."