Hello all! Since I got so many encouraging reviews in my first story (I'm still surprise I even got ONE review!) I decided to make another one! I was eating spaghetti that my mom made one day and while I was swirling the stuff around my fork I got this really cute idea!

Is It Really Better This Way?

It was a beautiful cool September afternoon, the last days of the real summer heat had diminished and the feeling of fall was on its way. It would have been a beautiful day for one last dive in the lake, one last picnic before the chill of winter came, or wearing that short summer skirt for one last "hurrah." Sadly, I, Haruno Sakura, was instead spending it on training. Not just any kind of usual training either. Naruto wouldn't stop whining, Sasuke still acted like he had a twisted pole up his ass, and good ol' Kakashi Sensei was reading that perverted little book of his without a care in the world. As for the rest of my new "team," they could care less about us.

For some apparent "really good reason" some idiot concerned with the lack of cooperation in current missions decided for teams to be paired off with other teams. This was supposedly to "further promote teamwork and the amities of fellow ninja!" If you ask me it's a bunch of bull.

Last week we were paired off with team Kurenai of all teams. Personally, I didn't find a problem with the dog lover, bug lover, and Naruto lover, but apparently my other teammates had a different perspective. Naruto and Kiba wouldn't stop fighting over who was going to be the "leader," Sasuke refused to acknowledge them, and Hinata wouldn't do anything but look like the equivalent of a cherry whenever Naruto so much as looked at her. The only ones who somehow managed to get as far as sparring done were Shino and me. He was too quiet to care and I too agitated to even speak.

This week I expected it to be no different as Kakashi Sensei revealed our cruel fate that morning. "Today you will be paired with…uh…" he scratched his head in deep thought, pretending to either not remember or not care. At the sound of my veins popping in frustration he quickly gave us an answer. "Ah yes, this week you will all be with Gai's team."

I'm guessing the expressions on our faces were priceless since even Sensei's right eye perked up in interest. My face was twisted in a mix of disgust and confusion, Naruto's in a face of pure annoyance, and Sasuke's a face of pure horror. With our fates sealed and our pleas ignored, we went off to find our three counterparts.

As agreed at a brief meeting, Gai Sensei would be waiting for us at the training grounds to begin our "youthful" lessons. I still shudder whenever I think of that creepy teacher. As soon as we caught glimpse of his infamous green attire, Gai Sensei thought it "nice" of him to dash to our sides and hold us in a violent death hug that threatened the very air in our lungs to diminish.

"I am so proud to be able to work with my friendly rival's YOUTHFUL students! Come! Let us begin our training at once!" he roared.

We found a scowling Neji and a nervous Tenten looking our way, as for Lee…he was no where to be found.

"Hey! Where's Bushy Brows?" Naruto asked in a voice rivaling that of Gai's a few moments ago.

The green clad older man gave him a smile so bright that it nearly blinded us and explained rather loudly. "It seemed my beloved student could not stand the waiting and decided to do a few laps around Konoha. Do not miss him for he will be back soon!"

Kakashi quirked an eyebrow, making us cringe with fear of what he was going to say. "Running…now…doesn't that sound like…fun?"

"NO!" all five adolescents screamed back at him.

Ten minutes of arguing later...

"Stupid…Sensei…making us…run like…THIS!" I screamed between pants. The only people of my new "team" who sucked it up were Sasuke and Neji, who would happily much rather run than spar with one another. Naruto and Tenten only wished they could be doing as well as them.

Between one of my raspy breaths I saw a green blur pass my eyes, I shrugged and thought it was my imagination playing tricks on my dehydrated body. No sooner did I so much as blink until I saw the same green blur again, and again, and again…and again. I stopped running long enough to try and see what that blur was. Was that…Lee?

Suddenly, out of a whim of wickedness, I dragged a rather large log of wood into the road and waited for the blur to appear again. It did, and Lee came crashing down on the ground face first.

"Oh Lee, you should really watch where you're going!" I pointed out rather innocently all while oppressing a giggle.

Lee quickly got back up, dusted himself off, and continued to run in that inhuman velocity of his. If he had heard me he gave no signs of it. I stared in disbelief not because of his speed, but because he, the boy who once confessed he loved me, had continued to run as if I hadn't been there.

The puff of dust he left behind was the only thing of his that greeted me that morning.

Well…I don't know what to say about this. I hoped you liked it and I'll update depending on what my reviews recommend. Ciao!