Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and I don't own and of the songs below. If you want to know what the songs are called just say so in your review! hint hint

What will Sakura and Shikamaru do when Ino and Sasuke start dating? Why are they even going out in the first place? What the fuck is going on? In the words of Inner Sakura, SHANNARO! (Sasuke/Sakura) (Shikamaru/Ino)

OoOoOoOoOoO

Oh simple thing, where have you gone?

I'm getting old and I need something to rely on

So tell me when you're gonna let me in

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know

This could be the end of everything

So why don't we go, somewhere only we know…

Lxl

You were everything, everything that I wanted

We were meant to be, supposed to be but we lost it

All of the memories so close to me just fade away

All this time you were pretending, so much for my happy ending

Lxl

It was my turn to decide

I knew this was our time

No one else will have me like you do

No one else will have me, only you

OoOoOoOoOoO

Sakura sighed as she sat down on the bridge. She figured she had well over three hours before she was even supposed to show up, meaning six or seven hours till she saw Kakashi and their training even started.

Lately she hadn't been sleeping well, eating well, or just functioning well. Ever since Sasuke and Ino had started going out three months ago she just felt herself losing it. First, she had just been angry, no, furious….Ino said she was in love with Shikamaru so what the fuck was she doing with Sasuke?

Then she sank into a depressed state. She hadn't come out of her room for anything other than training with Tsunade and working at the hospital. Chocolate, ice cream, and cookies had become her best friends. She needed comfort and thought she could find it in food.

Now, she was just apathetic, but only on the surface. She was still angry, depressed, and confused but she had learned to hide it under a mask of indifference. She'd stopped hanging out with her friends after training. She'd stopped pounding Naruto whenever he did something stupid. She'd stopped trying to show Sasuke the way she felt. She just stopped.

She knew Shikamaru had shut down too. She knew that he'd been in love with Ino ever since they'd been little kids. How could he help it? Their parents were best friends, they practically spent every waking moment together, and so it was natural for the two of them to be together.

Ever since the defeat of Akatsuki and Orochimaru they had been spending all their time together. It seemed like they had separated into their own little world and that nobody else mattered. Actually, everyone had separated into pairs. Naruto and Hinata, Tenten and Neji, her and Sasuke, and Ino and Shikamaru. They trained together constantly because their families' techniques were designed to be used together. They even went out for a bit before 'it' happened. It seemed like something bad always had to happen when things couldn't get any better.

Temari had come back into town to help proctor the chuunin exam, and Ino had turned right back into the jealous bitch that she was around Sasuke when they were twelve. That was seven years ago for crying out loud! Not that Sakura blamed her, heck that was how she felt now!

Shikamaru had been assigned to escort Temari around the village, so he had been spending all his time with her. It was understandable to everyone, except for Ino that is. Then again, Ino never was much good at thinking rationally. So, after the exam was over and Temari left, Ino was suddenly following Sasuke again. Then, after a big party at one of the many clubs that had opened after Tsunade became the Hokage, the two were suddenly inseparable, and it was like Sakura and Shikamaru didn't exist at all.

At first everyone was just confused. After three years of pretending that they weren't in love, the village figured that they would all be tying the knot pretty soon. Naruto and Hinata had been dating for two years, Neji and Tenten for three. Ino and Shikamaru had more or less been going out their entire lives, and Sakura and Sasuke's relationship was far too strange for anyone to label. But, that didn't mean that anyone would deny that there was something there. If someone decided to take a street poll, asking ten random people who would be the girl that Sasuke started the Uchiha clan with again, all ten would say 'Sakura' without a moment's hesitation.

Sakura looked at her watch, it was already seven thirty. Only two more hours to wait. She stood up and stretched her sore muscles. I can't go on like this anymore! I'm practically falling apart at the seams and it's hurting all the people around me. I've got to change! I guess I am happy for Sasuke-kun, finally being able to open up to someone, I guess I never thought that I'd actually lose to Ino-pig. Ah well, might as well get on with it. Sakura decided to be happy for those around her, not for herself. She was always good at that, hiding her hurt behind a fake smile. What was the problem in reinstating the tradition now?

"SSSSSSSSSSaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaa!" screamed a high-pitched voice that was far to close to her eardrum.

"Damn it Naruto! How many times have I told you not to scream in my ear!" She turned to smack him upside the head when she looked at the person standing next to her. "I-iino"

"Look, Sakura I'm sorry ok? I want us to be friends like we were before. Hey, maybe you should start going out with Shika-kun! Your kids would have IQ's of fifty billion!" Ino looked at her with such a hopeful expression that Sakura couldn't help but fake a small smile.

A pathetic, disgruntled, and offhanded "yah" was all she could get out before she felt like she was going to start crying on the spot.

"Oh wow mutant forehead girl! It's going to be just like it was before! Kami knows I need all the friends I can get right now." Her face clouded over as she said the last phrase, but she immediately brightened. "Hey, there's a big party at that club downtown tonight, and we want you to be there. Everyone's coming so you don't want to miss it! You've been so down in the dumps lately, its so depressing!"

Hhhmmmm I wonder why that is Ino-pig? It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that your dating the guy I've loved every since I was a little kid? No, that's just way to obvious of an answer! Sakura faked a smile again. "Sure I'll come Ino, just like old times right?" Like hell I'm gonna go to that party!

"Oh, I'm so glad forehead girl! Ja ne!" Ino quickly hugged Sakura before running off to her training ground.

"Ugh, now I need a bath!" Sakura said out loud, unconsciously trying to rub all traces of the dirt she felt off of her.

"Why do you need a bath Sakura?" Kakashi suddenly appeared out of nowhere to right in front of her. Instead of answering she simply turned and smiled at him, before walking to the opposite corner of the bridge.

"Wow, you're actually early sensei! This is the first time since……actually since ever!" She hoped she didn't sound as half hearted as she felt.

Under the mask Kakashi's nose crinkled. Lately Sakura had been….off. She only trained for appearances. Even Naruto had noticed there was something wrong, right from the get go. His team had matured to the point where they could sense when something was wrong with one of the others. His training had made them the strongest ANBU unit in Konoha, also the smallest platoon, forming one on their own.

Before Sakura could answer Naruto came running into view, ramen noodles hanging off the side of his mouth. Saved by the blond idiot………maybe this day isn't going to be so bad after all. "Sakura-chan are you coming to the party tonight?" he asked with a wholehearted exuberance that could only come from him. "There's going to be lots of dancing and food and everyone's going to be there…" he continued his rambling for a full minute before he noticed the lack of enthusiasm on Sakura's part. "Huh? Sakura-chan? Are you going to come or what?" He looked at her expectantly, cocking his head to one side, waiting.

"Yah" Again with the lame one word answer. What am I, Sasuke? Damn it! Why do I feel like crying, I can't cry, I'm not a dumb little kid anymore!

"Finally Sakura-chan! You really need to get out more! You have us all really worried, especially Sasuke-teme, even though he'd never admit it."

The normal Sakura would have smiled in delight, someone else just told her that Sasuke cared! But, this wasn't the normal Sakura so she used the words she had been struggling to get out all morning. She snapped.

"You think he cares about me? You think he cares at all? Then why the fuck is he going out with that blond haired bitch?" she stressed the last word, hoping the venom in her tone caught on. "I don't understand it Naruto and I'm sick of trying to. I-"

"Sasuke-teme get out of that tree and get your lazy ass over here!" yelled Naruto "I think you have something to settle with Sakura-chan."

"I don't have anything to settle with Sakura." Said Sasuke, looking in apparent fascination at the pond water below the bridge.

"Yah, I think you do teme! Then what are you and Ino doin-"

"DROP IT NARUTO!" yelled Sakura and Sasuke simultaneously. They made eye contact for a second, then immediately broke it.

"Sorry," mumbled Sakura "I forgot I have to train with Tsunade-sama." Great…add word class liar to my list of accomplishments………

"Don't lie Sakura." Said Kakashi, a slight twinkle in his visible eye. "You know that Tsunade left for Sunagakure two days ago. Just stay and train with us. You really haven't been keeping up with the others lately. Besides, we need you for today's exercise."

"Why not," muttered Sakura under her breath. Damn, you'd think he'd be slightly less attentive with his nose in that disgusting book all the time.

"Good!" the vaguest hint of a smile was visible underneath his mask. "Today I want the three of you to spar using tai-jutsu only."

"But Kaka-" spluttered Naruto before he was interrupted. It was clear what was on his mind.

"No chakra either," he added, eyeing Sakura. She, in return, slumped her shoulders. She was the strongest tai-jutsu user of the three when she could use chakra-enhanced kicks and punches.

"But what abou-" Naruto only managed half his sentence before he was interrupted again.

"No techniques copied by the Sharinghan either. Just the skills you acquired with your personal strength. This exercise will build up your muscular strength as well as your stamina."

Not to mention giving us broken bones too. Sakura smiled wryly. If the three of them started beating each other with no apparent strategies they would quickly require serious medical attention.

"On my mark you'll start. And, you'll only be going two at a time so I can easily observe your progress throughout the day. Sakura and Naruto, you're up first.

The two of them quickly stepped into the clearing where they usually trained. Sakura scanned the area. She could easily beat Naruto because of all her training with Tsunade that focused on avoiding such attacks. She would be able to keep a higher energy level for much longer than he could. But, because of his enormous stamina she knew she needed a plan.

If I go for him directly, it will just be a matter of who gets tired or hurt first. The key here is to trick him into staying still for a few seconds so I can hit him hard. This area is covered in trees so….

"Ready?" called Kakashi "Don't stop unless I tell you to. Go!"

Sakura and Naruto ran at each other both evading kicks and punches for a few minutes. Unobtrusively, Sakura had managed to move Naruto towards the trees near the edge of the clearing. As he 'dodged' one of her kicks aimed for his head she slammed her foot into the tree behind him. A normal person wouldn't have been able to topple a fifty-year-old tree with one kick, but then again, this was what Sakura specialized in. The tree fell, catching Naruto in its branches on the way down.

"Sakura-chan! That's not fair, you weren't supposed to use strategy!" Sasuke and Kakashi smirked in the background.

"Ok, while Naruto gets up," Kakashi smiled under his mask, attempting not to laugh at the mental images of Naruto stuck underneath a tree, "I want Sakura and Sasuke to go."

The two of them stepped into the clearing. Since her 'match' with Naruto had only lasted two or three minutes Sakura wasn't tired at all, but she could feel her anger rising up again.

"I'm not going to go easy on you." Sasuke said, of course, while smirking.

And he would need to go easy on me because? Inner Sakura was fuming and she was starting to show.

"Start!" yelled Kakashi from beside where Naruto lay, still trying to extricate himself from the mass of branches and leaves.

Sakura had every intent of doing exactly what Kakashi had wanted. She was just going to spar for a bit and attempt to trick Sasuke, somehow. But once she saw him smirking at her, a gesture that normally would have made her want to flirt, she ran at him. He ran at her too, not expecting what she was going to do.

As soon as Sasuke was within her range she aimed a chakra filled kick right below his waist. And, because he obviously wasn't expecting it, she hit him too. As he fell onto the ground, moaning in agony, she realized what she had done and a horrified expression filled her face. On the one hand she felt like running around and dancing out of pure happiness. On the other, she wanted nothing more than to kneel in front of him, tell him how sorry he was, hear him say he never wanted to see Ino again and that he truly loved her, and then begin a perfect life with him. Knowing that neither would happen she turned on her heel and ran back into the forest. After that fiasco, I guess I owe it to Ino-pig to go to that party. After all, I did just sack her boyfriend. Wonder if that's going to cause any problems…. A devious grin made its way to her face as she headed back towards Konoha.

OoOoOoOoOoO

So….did you guys like it? I'll continue it if you did. Don't worry all you Arranged Marriage readers, that story will be updated in a couple of days. If you have any suggestions for me I'll take 'em! This story is only going to be a couple more chapters in length unless you want me to make it longer. So drop a review and tell me what you thought. In the next chapter you'll find out the reason for Ino and Sasuke being together and we'll get to the crisis! Thanks for reading!