Almost before Sakura switched off the car, Ino was unlocking her door and slowly getting out. Her designer shades hid her pretty, pale eyes, but Sakura had known her best friend since they were six.

If there was ever a time Ino's eyes would be sparkling, it was here and now. "The building's even nicer in person." Giving her friend a grin, she added, "Let's hope your roommates are the same."

Although Sakura hadn't called Ino out on the very fragile truth of the declaration that she wanted to help her move in, there wasn't exactly a whole lot of shame either way. Ino knew what she wanted, and she went for it, for better or for worse.

And, ever since she'd let her friend cajole her into confirming to Konan that she wanted the apartment, what Ino had wanted more than anything was to lay eyes on the young men she'd be sharing it with, in person. It was really no surprise that she'd dressed nicely in an outfit that was perfectly balanced somewhere between elegance and casualness.

Her light blue dress was covered in small darker blue flowers all over and the jean jacket and brown ankle boots she'd paired them with kept her looking fun. Ino was beautiful without really trying too hard.

In comparison, Sakura's look was much more subdued. She'd pinned up her pink hair with some clips to keep it off her neck, but the folded ponytail still hung loosely. The white script reading 'I'm pretty punny' on her gray tee-shirt was fading a little and she'd thrown on the first clean pair of shorts that hadn't been packed.

"I guess Sasuke and Naruto must have gotten caught at the last light or something." Sakura mused with a finger to her mouth.

"Then let's start unpacking what you've got in the back." Ino was almost too eager. They both knew she was usually a lot more adamant about insuring any physical labor wouldn't disturb her manicure before she dove right in. About the only exception to that rule was anything involving gardening.

Sakura grabbed up the first box she saw from the backseat and Ino took another. They started up the pathway of Moya Apartments with Ino commenting in approval that the flower beds and trees along the way were well-maintained. Aspiring botanist that she was, Ino would know.

When Ino looked at the stairs skeptically, Sakura craned her neck to the elevator and the blonde followed with a happy sigh. Climbing in, Sakura set the box down and pressed the correct floor while Ino balanced the one she was carrying against her hip. "Okay…I know you're excited, but could you not…go overboard?" Sakura carded a hand through her hair, wondering if she should have worn a hair tie or at least a headband. "Please?"

Pretending to be hurt, Ino's lip trembled in a convincing pout. "Honestly, who do you take me for?" She lifted her sunglasses up until they rested in her glossy blonde hair. "I've seen cute guys before; I know how to control myself."

'We'll see…' The elevator door rattled open with a hum and Sakura bent at the waist to get her box. Nothing too important was in it, according to the label. "Misc" it read. Just some things from her desk and shelves. Trinkets to make the room feel more like hers. Going off the lack of complaining coming from Ino, the box she was holding couldn't be too heavy either. So likely not her books.

"I think Konan's going to be here too." Sakura thought aloud. Still, she knew better than to assume Ino would tone down her flirtatious behavior just because another woman was around. If anything, that would just be more of a reason to go through with it.

Sakura refrained from commenting further as she exited first, her scuffed sneakers not making nearly as much noise as Ino's boots. She had memorized the apartment number, and pressed the doorbell, trying to exude confidence. Konan didn't take long to answer, greeting them with a small upward quirk of her painted lips.

Today the blue-haired girl wore a black skirt stopping about an inch above her knees, a black cropped tee with a logo Sakura was pretty sure was for some alternative rock band, and meshing underneath that exposed her taut stomach. In essence, she radiated gothic chic.

"Hi Konan," she attempted a short wave without dropping the box. "This is my friend Ino, she's here to help and—"

"That color's gorgeous on you," Ino stepped closer, admiring the older girl's shoulder length, shiny blue hair. "What salon do you go to?"

Konan's smile was faint. "Natural."

Sakura blinked. "Really?"

"Yes," she stepped aside, motioning them in. Realizing that standing around and making Konan hold the door open was rude, Sakura obliged and Ino followed. "You remember where your room will be, of course."

"Down to the right and across from Yahiko's room?" Sakura glanced over her shoulder to see Ino right on her heels, not so discreetly looking around. And not at the décor. Unfortunately for her, neither Nagato nor Yahiko were anywhere to be seen.

Sakura opened what would soon be her new room, setting her box down on the nondescript beige carpeting that looked as though it had been recently vacuumed. All the things that had made the room feel like more than just a space, the items belonging to Konan, were gone. Nothing suggested a previous inhabitant except the few lighter patches on the walls where posters had been hanging.

"Not a bad space I guess," Ino put down her own box and stood behind her. "It's got…potential." She arranged her fingers into the shape of a frame and held them up to Sakura's face. "Picture it, Forehead,"

Humoring her, Sakura slowly walked in a circle to follow the finger-frame. "I don't know if you could fit a queen in here, besides me of course, but even if you have to settle on a single mattress, that just leaves you more room. I know you're going to want to put in a desk so you can have your nerd station—"

"Most people just call it a study area," Sakura interrupted.

"Whatever." Her shiny hair bouncing across her back, she turned with a gasp. "We could put some throw pillows on the floor for our fun nights and…"

"Ino, maybe we should finish unpacking the car before we get into hanging out. I left the car unlocked."

The blond dropped her hands, strutting out the door. "Fine, but remember this is your first room outside your parent's house! We have to make sure it's mature, maybe a little sexy."

Sakura let her continue spouting off her ideas, half-listening. They passed Konan on the phone in the kitchen. She had to admit even she was curious about where the boys were. But, they were busy preparing for the start of the year too. They didn't have time to hang around just to greet her.

When they made it back to Sakura's car, she grabbed two boxes instead of one. Ino experimentally lifted several books. "Oof!" she dropped one back to the seat with a shake of her head, opting for a smaller box with a modest movie collection inside. "You and your books are absolutely ridiculous."

Sakura made sure she had the boxes well balanced before she took the lead, pouting at how easily just two hefted up to her chest obscured her vision. "Be glad I left my old high school textbooks at home."

The elevator was a good opportunity for Sakura to lean back against its side and catch her breath. The door was cracked when they reached the room, and she bumped it open with her hip, only to be immediately bombarded by voices shouting.

"What in the world's going on back there?" Ino shouted, dropping her box in alarm. Sakura craned her head, hoping to get a better vantage, but all she could see was the empty front room and kitchen. Then quick little feet and a horrified whine. Chibi came dashing from around the corner, soaking wet and with his brown eyes blown wide. He zigzagged through the kitchen, his paws unable to find purchase.

Tumbling onto the carpet that separated the kitchen entrance from the den, he leapt onto the couch, then sprung onto an adjacent recliner, Sakura dropping the boxes at her feet and extending her arms when the trembling little dog flew right for her. "Urk!" She held him out at arm's length in an attempt to prevent any water from dribbling down the front of her shirt. Chibi's tail wagged shyly as he breathed through his mouth.

Sakura didn't have to ponder over what was happening for very long, because the dog was quickly followed by two very soaked, mostly naked young men who were in hot pursuit.

"Chibi!"

"Hey the door wasn't open, was it?!"

Sakura swallowed, fighting to keep her eyes off the lean-muscled, swimmer's physique of Nagato's body or the tantalizing reappearance of Yahiko's sinful piercings. At the very least, she knew her face was reddened but she could put that on surprise. "He's right here," she choked out, glancing down at the dog who had calmed down considerably.

Their heads jerked, taking in the girls with contradicting expressions. Nagato's cheeks pinked the minute he registered he was standing in front of company in nothing but a small pair of green briefs. Sakura's gaze dutifully shot toward the ceiling to avoid lingering on the bulge she caught a glimpse of. 'Every time I step in this apartment I'm under emotional duress!' she was internally pulling at her hair.

Yahiko, similar to their first encounter, was unabashed by his indecent state, grinning at her as he made his way over, his arms held out. He wore another pair of boxers, a trail of orange hair disappearing beneath the waistband.

"Chibi, you really are a sly dog." Sakura's heart beat like a drum, her lashes fluttering when Yahiko leaned in close to take the dog. "Sorry 'bout that."

"So you're the roommates," Ino purred, eyes roaming the guys over. Yahiko returned the open perusal with a quirked brow and a small smirk. Nagato looked caught between slinking away to change and remaining in the room due to some unspoken obligation to be a good host. "I'm Ino, friend of Sakura's."

"Nice meeting you, Ino," Yahiko nodded. "I'd shake your hand and all…" he looked down at himself. "Damn it, Chibi! How does a twenty-pound dog make such a big mess?"

Chibi's ears flattened against his head and he whined in the face of Yahiko's glare.

"I'm sorry you had to see us like this…" Nagato spoke up, arms crossed around his stomach. "I thought I'd give Chibi a quick bath before you arrived, since he was starting to smell. I didn't realize the water was too hot…" he frowned, looking pleadingly over at his dog, who was cuddled to Yahiko's chest.

Sakura felt a small stab of envy. Even wet she'd bet Yahiko was warm and comfortable.

"Yeah, so anyway, he totally freaked on us." The ginger waved one hand at his body to demonstrate. "Had to take off our clothes, but by the time we did he'd bolted…"

"Glad you were here to catch him," His blue eyes shone with gratitude. "Nagato would have had a panic attack if he got outside without his collar on."

"A-Any time," Sakura laughed nervously. "Um, w-well I still have some stuff to get out of my car…and some friends of ours are coming any minute with my furniture." She jabbed a thumb toward the front door.

"Please believe me when I say this isn't always going to happen." Nagato said quickly, rushing away. Ino's leer searing down his back muscles and the firmness of his ass was only slightly awkward in comparison to the fact that Yahiko was still standing there.

Sakura felt a slight tremble coming on. 'Am I just supposed to use overexposure to become immune to this?'

"Yahiko," a quiet, commanding presence flowed into the room with the smell of jasmine as Konan reentered the apartment, very unimpressed by her passive face. "Don't stand around there." She walked over and took Chibi from him. "Go and put some clothes on."

"Right," Yahiko excused himself with far less rush than Nagato had. "Hey, I'll come and help you unload the rest of your stuff when I'm finished." He said over his shoulder.

Sakura had no words while she tried to get her heart back to a normal rhythm. So she only smiled politely, knowing he couldn't see it.

"I apologize," Konan said, rummaging around in the attached laundry room on the left side of the kitchen and wrapping the small dog in a towel. She rubbed him dry as she spoke to them. "I'll have a talk with them before I go."

"Oh, don't worry," Ino said sweetly, "Sakura moved here so she could learn to be more outgoing, and go with the flow. The boys shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable walking around however they want just because someone new is here."

Sakura swatted at Ino's arm, and Konan glanced at them in amusement. "Is that so?" she laughed, a breathy, feminine sound. "Yahiko doesn't need that kind of invitation I'm afraid, so I'll feel better leaving you once I've given the boys a chat."

Warm and dry, Chibi released a content yawn, and Konan set him down on the floor. The towel was still wrapped around him, so he waddled across the floor as a sunflower print burrito and all three girls giggled at his antics.

Sakura bent and gently removed the towel, causing the brown little dog to shake himself out until he fell over. Righting himself, he licked at her arm a few times and then trotted off to his food dish, burying his snout in it and tucking in.

"I'm sure Yahiko would be happy to assist, but would you like some more help, Sakura?" Konan followed them to the door.

Sakura shook her head. "Oh no, we might even be done by the time he comes out."

"Alright then," She gave the kitchen a thoughtful glance. "I'll make some lunch for all of us."

"Ooh," Ino clasped her hands together and held them under her chin. "Mind if I help?"

Konan silently looked her way, asking for permission. Sakura waved them off with a shrug. Taking two boxes was already more than she'd expected from Ino. If she wanted to stay where the AC and the hot guys were, she couldn't really blame her.

She made sure to close the door when she left, thinking of Chibi. Opting for the stairs, Sakura took them in an easy sprint, making her way over to her navy hatchback.

She had just slid a box labeled 'desk supplies' from the trunk when a familiar rumble broke the silence. Naruto's diesel-guzzling nightmare pulled up one space away, the storage container holding her remaining things attached. Sakura withdrew her head from the car so fast she hit it viciously. Dumping the box back into the trunk, she marched over as Naruto and Sasuke slid from the truck with murder on their faces.

"Where have you two been?" she demanded. They both went to answer but she shook her head. "Forget it. I already have an idea of what you'll say. Maybe Sai can just tell me."

Their dark-haired, socially inept friend slid from the vehicle's backseat, dressed in one of his usual crop tops and some paint-splattered jeans. "Dickless got us lost and wouldn't call you or ask for directions."

Sakura gave Naruto a flat stare. The blonde rubbed at one of his whiskered cheeks, guiltily avoiding eye contact. "Sounds about right… Anyway, what's your excuse Sasuke?" she huffed, poking the Uchiha's sweater-covered chest. "Aren't you the sensible one in this circus?"

Sasuke turned away from her with a grunt. Sakura rolled her eyes. Normally she'd have to waste time translating Sasuke's monosyllabic nonverbal language, but not today.

"Sai," she prompted.

"Traitor found us help, but they were some of his fans. We spent the last hour trying to lose them."

Sasuke's cheeks adopted a miniscule shade of pink and his eyebrow ticked. Which were about the only signs he'd give to hearing the rehash.

Sakura blinked slowly at the trio and then laughed incredulously. "So this is what happens when the three of you are left on your own?"

"It's what happens when this asshole is so damn focused on doing the opposite of what I say, he doesn't notice when someone's trying to jump his bones!" Naruto huffed.

"So it's my fault?" Sasuke spat. "You're out of your mind, dobe." Sakura watched on from beside Sai as they began to unload her things, not missing a beat of their arguing.

"Hey, don't you dare drop those breakables!" She called from over her shoulder as she walked back to her own car with Sai trailing after. Years of being friends with the duo had taught her when she needed to intervene and when it was alright to let them verbally spar themselves into exhaustion. This was one of the latter times.

"You shouldn't even waste your breath, Hag." Sai pointed out, his sinewy arms surprisingly strong as he hefted one of her heavier boxes.

"When it's my resin coated flower collection I need to speak up." She grumbled, dragging out the clear plastic zip case that contained her best comforter set.

They started for the elevator and a lightly bickering Naruto and Sasuke joined them. Naruto hiked the box he had up with his knee and jabbed the buttons.

"Alright, this way," Sakura sighed as they disembarked. 'Might as well get this over with…' she just hoped her friends didn't embarrass her too badly in front of her new roommates and Konan.

It was a bit surprising for Sasuke, of all people, to be the one to begin talking as they reached the door. "These people…what are they like?"

"I guess I never did get into details, did I?" Sakura winced. Of course she'd purposely omitted as much about her living situation as possible. Such as that her roommates were of the male persuasion. Naruto and Sasuke had been her friends since forever, and both had their moments of being entirely too overprotective.

She bumped the door with her knee, the fluffy comforter in her hands preventing her from knocking properly. It opened, and she stepped aside. Yahiko had been heading out, but when he saw her he took her comforter case and easily slid it under one of his corded arms. This time, at least, he was dressed in ripped jeans and a t-shirt with a band logo she didn't recognize. "I got it," he offered.

Sakura smiled, though she didn't quite manage to thank him. Naruto charged forward, his blue eyes wild with questions. "Wh—Wait a minute, what the hell?!"

"Hey Naruto," Yahiko nodded, turning to take her comforter set inside. Sakura glanced between her boys and Yahiko's back, full of confusion, then stepped indoors. Naruto all but slung down the boxes he had as he stomped in and gazed around.

"Watch it!" Sakura cried. She crouched down to inspect the box with a scowl for her blond friend.

"Sakura, what is this?" Sasuke asked, placing his own box down on the other side of the door, thankfully with far more gentleness. His sharp eyes missed nothing as he took in the cozy apartment, Ino and Konan in the kitchen, having paused from whatever they were making. Nagato poked his head from around the hall corner at the commotion.

"A front room," she grumbled. "To the place I'm going to be living. We've been over this, Sasuke."

"No," he said firmly.

That got her on her feet, looking up at him with narrowed eyes.

"No, what?"

"I believe he finds these accommodations unsuitable." Sai explained.

"That's too bad, isn't it?" Sakura mocked. "This is where I'm living now."

"Nagato, what the hell's going on?!" Naruto exclaimed, jabbing a finger at the redhead accusingly. "Sakura's your new roommate? Our Sakura?"

Sakura threw up her arms. "So everybody just knows everybody? And what's the big deal? This is the most affordable solution."

Nagato cast her an apologetic tilt of his head. "This must be making you very uncomfortable, I'm sorry."

Sakura rubbed at her arm, joining the other two women in the kitchen. "I'd be a lot more okay with this if someone could explain it to me."

"Naruto and Nagato are cousins." Yahiko reemerged from putting her comforter away. "Actually, we're friends with Sasuke's brother and Naruto use to tag around a lot with us. Sort of surprised we all didn't cross paths sooner," he leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets.

Sakura blinked, taking the time to let the information filter through her head. "So…if you know them so well this really shouldn't be an issue." She huffed. "He's your cousin, and they're all your brother's friends." She said, addressing both boys now. Growing up, Sakura had become acquainted with both their families.

Naruto's parents, Kushina and Minato, were loving and supportive and fun. Sasuke's mother Mikoto was just as warm and welcoming, while his father Fugaku was aloof and strict but protective. His older brother, Itachi, had been around often when they were younger.

Quiet, intense and kind, never far when someone scraped their knee or needed the boost to get to a better tree branch. She knew him well and trusted him implicitly. If Konan, Nagato and Yahiko were friends of his, then that was further reassurance.

She seemed to be the only one thinking so. Naruto and Sasuke often chose to deny they had any similarities, and indeed they often came across night and day at a glance. But now, wearing those pouts…

"This isn't likely to be resolved this moment," Konan said. "Lunch is almost ready. Yahiko and Nagato will help you bring up the rest of your things." She told the pinkette kindly. Ino frowned a little as they passed but said nothing.

Sakura truly hoped some of the tension could be diffused over a plate of food. Otherwise, her ultimate college experience was going to be off to a rocky start.

So some of the dark elements that were mentioned are soon to be teased the next chapter, since this is only the beginning. Just a small reminder that this isn't a happy-go-lucky slice of life AU.

I do apologize for not updating this in a while. I still have a great interest in continuing because YahikoSakuraNagato explored in this setting is something I still have great investment in, but I had to find the inspiration to convey the right tone.

Plus, life was very busy for a while. I've posted it to my other fics so I will post it to this one. I seem to experience an uptick in plagiarism lately from this fandom. I've been flat out ripped off a few too many times as of late. If you see something, for the love of god say something. Not just to whoever is stealing but to me as well. You'd think people would come forward but no, a couple of times people sat on the information for months, so it continued.

Thank you for reading and please review. I hope to have the next part out very, very soon.