A/N: Hey, this fic was born from the following idea: when a bunch of guys start hanging a lot with just one girl they tend to like her. At least, that's what my experience has taught me.
In order to keep my updates constant, I made a deal-ish with two of my best friends. They'll be updating their stories the same day as I do. That way we pressure ourselves so none of the reviewing folks gets an unfinished story.
My friends are Maten and EriHiwatari, and their stories are Friendzoned and Freaks respectively.
Their stories are in Spanish as all of my stories before this one. (It's my first language)
Enjoy!
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The Try-outs
By: Nena-uchiha22
Prologue
"Woah, are you serious?!" Ino asked almost smiling at Sakura whose cheeks could not possibly be any more red.
"Shut it" Sakura said before throwing a napkin at the blonde.
The customers around them constantly looked at them slightly annoyed. Their screams weren't exactly subtle to say the least.
"Jeez, Sakura. You are 19, and your birthday is coming… So that means that by then you'd have had two decades straight with no man" Ino said seriously looking at her with a worried look.
"I don't think you can really count the first decade, Ino." The pink haired rolled her eyes.
"Not even a date?"
"No"
"Woah…" Ino whispered as she brought her cup to her lips.
Their desserts arrived just before Sakura was about to explain herself, she forgot her argument once her chocolate cake was in front of her. Ino noticed Sakura's expression of excitement over the cake and laughed.
"You get turned on easier with desserts than with men!" she screamed causing a few customer to look their way.
"Shut it, pig… besides, you are my best friend I thought you already knew" Sakura assumed before getting a piece of her cake into her mouth and letting out a subtle moan that caused Ino to laugh.
And Sakura had to admit, Ino was right. It looked like she was more interested in delicious cakes than in guys.
"Well, we barely talk about guys. Besides… I assumed that you had already done the deed now that you live with your teammates" Ino smirked while examining Sakura's expression.
She was right. It did seem that now that she was living with four men in the same house it would be a matter of time before something happened. They were men and she was a woman. That's just normal thinking. But with them it was different, they were extremely close and aside from the constant hugs and occasional caresses and kisses on the forehead—
"What's the reason you haven't had a date?" Ino asked.
"I guess" Sakura started while putting down her cup. "I am working now at the hospital, and it's kind of hard"
"You should accept Tsunade's proposal and just work three days a week. It sounds so sweet" Ino said.
"I probably will, though I know those three days means 72 hours of total dedication nonstop" she said.
"But four delicious days off that you could easily use to date." She said winking at Sakura "Also… I don't think your work is even the issue here, even though you are super busy you still make time for your teammates" Ino whispered looking at her straight in the eye.
Ino was suspicious, and there was a reason why she was working in the Intelligence Division, after all. That girl knew how to get information by any means possible. She had just been promoted to sub captain of the division, just a step below where her dad used to work before he passed away. And she was only nineteen. Meaning that she was very good at getting information from the enemies.
"Well, yeah. But it's fun to be with them, you know?" Sakura said utterly oblivious as to why Ino had asked that.
"Could it be that you don't date because you are in love with one of them?" The blonde asked casually as if she was talking about the weather.
Sakura's eyes opened wide. God. She didn't want to go there, she thought that if she told her feelings out loud, she'd fully acknowledge them and once she acknowledged them it would turn bad. Really bad. There's no going back once you admit that you like someone, you just accept it and start liking them more. Basic science.
She realized she had these feelings when they all started living together. After Sasuke's return, team 7 was reunited with the addition of Sai to the original team. They started to get along really well even better than in the past. Because of that, when Naruto appeared with a flyer of a beautiful, big House in rent, they didn't think twice about it and immediately became roommates.
They spent so much time together that it just happened. It first started with Sasuke but she knew it was normal, she had been in love with him since she was a kid, she thought she was over it because when he finally came back to Konoha she was more worried about helping him with his arm rehabilitation than about her feelings for him, but once they started living together she realized that those feelings slowly appeared again, and she began to see him romantically one more time. She wasn't sure if she was in love, but she certainly liked him again. The weird part started when she realized that of all her teammates that lived with her, Sasuke was not the only one who caught her attention… no. The next one was Naruto, she had seen him in a totally sibling-kind of way before they started living together. It happened the week after she realized her feelings for Sasuke, she walked out of her room and ran into Naruto… half naked. That's when she started to see him in a whole different way, the boy was super-hot, and the fact that he didn't even realize that, made him hotter. So, she liked Naruto too.
A week later, she was already overwhelmed by all those different feelings, did she like Naruto or did she like Sasuke? When Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi left on a mission, leaving Sai and her alone. That's when she realized she had a crush on Sai also. It was different from the others, it was not because of a platonic childhood crush or because he had a hot six pack… no, it was because he was so honest, she spent a whole week with him and she learned a lot from him, they had a lot in common. He was very genuine. And then the next week came and her team arrived, and Kakashi was seriously hurt. And because he hated hospitals, Tsunade allowed him to recover in his house only with the full care of Sakura who could handle his wound. So then… she found that she also had a crush on Kakashi. She didn't know if it was because for the first time he was so vulnerable and she had to take care of him and not the other way around. Or because while he was laying on his bed with her on the side they had talks so deep that she was amazed at how much she learned from him. But her crush developed that week she took care of him. In the end she liked Kakashi as well.
"So I was right?" Ino interrupted her trail of thought.
Definitely not telling her.
"No, pig. Stop joking" Sakura said punching Ino's arm lightly.
Ino frowned. She knew her friend better that anyone else. She knew she liked her teammates. When Sakura announced that her whole team was going to live together Ino was surprised to say the least. And she thought that Sakura would eventually develop feelings for Sasuke again. She was a witness of that. After two weeks of living together, Ino noticed her friend acting a little awkward when Sasuke appeared.
But then, something happened at a Team 7-Team 10 reunion. After now years working for the Intelligence Division, Ino had acquired precise observation skills, and she noticed how Sakura acted with all of her teammates. And it hit her. She knew Sakura since they were little girls, she may have changed as a kunoichi but she was the same girl when it came to love, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. By the way Sakura was acting, her laughs, her stares, her constant blushes, Ino realized that… Sakura liked them all.
The thing is, Ino was not the type of girl to just sit and wait for things to happen, she had this reputation of meddling in other people's business, and she was not ashamed of it. It was a problem Sakura had to deal with, sooner or later. Despite her urge to tell her friend that she already knew about her feelings, she decided not to. She would pretend to believe Sakura's statement, eventually she would admit it. Ino was sure she would, with a little push of course.
"Okay, then…" Ino started "I dare you to have a date"
"What?"
"Yeah, if you are not in love with any of them. Then it wouldn't be a problem, would it?" Ino asked.
Sakura was not going to confess. So she agreed.
"Okay, explain the dare" Sakura sighed.
"Fine, you'll have from tomorrow 'til your birthday to have a date with someone." Ino said.
"Easy"
"I'm not done. You'll have a date and you will have to go all the way"
"What?!" Sakura yelled.
"Shh" Ino whispered. "I didn't say on the first date. You can date him many times. The thing is that by your birthday you must have done it"
Sakura opened her mouth and closed it. She didn't know what to do. She closed her eyes thinking. She liked her teammates, that was a given. That was probably the reason as to why she hadn't had a date, but she knew they probably didn't feel the same way. And even if they did, dating would be too complicated. For starters, she couldn't date them all. They were best friends now who shared the same house. Maybe a date could ease things for her, maybe if she fell for someone else it would be easier to forget those feelings for her beloved Team 7. After all, it would be better if she stopped liking them and just found someone outside of her circle that would just make her happy without changing anything of her current relationship with her roomies.
"Okay" Sakura accepted and Ino almost chocked by her sudden response.
"Sugoi!" Ino screamed getting up. "I have already arranged someone"
"What?" Sakura asked surprised. "When?!"
"Just now, I just sent him a text. I met him at the library" Ino said excited while sitting down again.
"You went to the library?" Sakura asked making fun of her. Her friend was smart, but she was the type of life smart, not exactly a scholar smart type of girl.
"Shut it, forehead. Yes, I did… I had to buy a gift" Ino admitted and Sakura laughed. "Anyways, I met him there and his name is Yume and he's so handsome and so smart, and he has so much in common with you that I just had to give him my number"
Sakura laughed at her friend and smiled at her excitement. She was a little excited too, who knew? Maybe Yume was the one…
"Okay, it's decided then" Sakura took a few bills from her purse, and left them on the table. "I gotta go, I forgot my keys and I want to catch them before they're asleep"
Ino nodded and waved goodbye.
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She knocked the door and Sai opened wearing a black shirt and shorts. He smiled just as he saw her face, she blushed. Lord, why? It was so simple for her to blush when he smiled.
"We were just about to have dinner, ugly" he said and she wondered when did the word ugly turn into a different meaning? Because every time he said it, it sounded like a compliment.
Sai had that gift, he could be a social misfit from time to time, but he could change the meaning of a word just by the way he said it.
"Awesome, what are we having?" They entered the living room and she caught Kakashi on the sofa reading his book, and just as he heard her steps he got up, closed her book, walked towards her and kissed her forehead with his masked lips.
She blushed, again. Jeez, could she be more obvious? She thought that of the many issues that she had, one certainly was that she had daddy issues.
Kakashi acted like a protective dad, he was older, he treated her like a princess, he—
"You okay, Sakura?" Kakashi asked lowering his head to meet her eyes.
"Mmmhh… yeah. I was just thinking about whose turn was it to cook tonight" she thanked her inner Sakura that just saved her ass.
"It's the teme's turn!" She heard and looked up the stairs at the smiling blonde who had just got out of the shower and was walking down the stairs with just his pajama pants. No shirt on.
Sakura was dying inside. Naruto was her best friend and she knew him since he was a kid, but hello those muscles and his six pack couldn't be ignored. His physical appearance totally contrasted with his bright smile.
Sakura had to suppress a little scream when he hugged her. Feeling his strong muscles pressed against her, she had to receive an award for self-control.
He released her from his hug just in time to catch the shirt that was thrown at him from the kitchen.
"Put something on" Sasuke alleged after throwing it.
Sakura turned to Sasuke with a big smile. Sasuke responded with a nod and a light smile. He was wearing his pajama pants and a dark blue shirt, and a cute apron that she had bought him on top.
"Welcome home" he said before returning to the kitchen.
She blushed, again. JFC, Sakura control yourself a little. He didn't even kiss her forehead or hugged her, or gave her a big smile. He just was himself, and that was enough for her to blush like a tomato.
She shook her head and calmed down. She had to think about her date tomorrow, that would change everything and she would no longer have feelings for any of her roommates.
She started to set the table up with the help of Naruto. Kakashi turned on the speakers with a song by Panic at the Disco! And Sai started dancing, or so he thought. Because the movements he was making could not possibly qualify as dancing. Sasuke got out of the kitchen with a huge plate of lasagna. Everyone, including Sakura sat at the round table as fast as they could looking at the lasagna as Sasuke placed it down in the middle.
They divided the dish equally, and started eating. Out of the five of them, Sasuke was the best at cooking. They all enjoyed when it was his turn, and he didn't mind it, that's why Sakura gave him that apron on Christmas as a joke. Though he actually used it.
"We had a fight today at the grocery shop" started Kakashi.
"What? Why?" asked Sakura swallowing her piece of lasagna down her throat.
"Kakashi and I had grocery duties so we went to buy everything" Sai answered.
"And when we were in line about to pay, Sai was caught staring at a woman's breasts" they all just laughed except for Sai. "And she was with her husband…"
"Nooooo" Naruto said eagerly waiting for Kakashi to finish the story.
"So? What happened?" asked Sasuke trying to sound as cool as usual, but his tone denoted a little excitement.
"The husband asked me if and I quote 'Would you like to touch them?'" he said in a serious tone and Naruto and Sakura laughed their asses off.
Sai couldn't behave normally, he learned all the social rules from books and took the advices of those pages literally. So if the book indicated that any invitation should be either declined or accepted depending on your preference. He'd do as the book says. That's also the fascinating yet sometimes frustrating part of living with him.
"So he did touch them, the husband punched him and I entered into a fight as I tried to explain that he had been raised as a military weapon and had no normal social skills acquired whatsoever" Kakashi finished.
They spent the rest of the dinner teasing Sai about his behavior, explaining that in doubt he should ask any of the four what to do in certain situations, to avoid further damage to his face.
Kakashi gathered the dirty dishes and Naruto started the dishwasher as Sai and Sakura kept the food left in the refrigerator. Sasuke pulled the bag of garbage that was already full and got out of the house in order to throw it into the big container where the whole neighborhood threw their trash.
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He opened the green container and left the white bag inside.
"You came to see Sakura?" asked Sasuke still looking at the container.
He had sensed her chakra the moment he got out.
"Your sensory skills are very good, and here I was trying to be as quiet as possible" said the blonde.
"Want me to call her?" Sasuke asked Ino, after closing the container completely.
"No, that's ok. Now that you are here can you give her a message?" Ino asked smiling.
She was plotting something, and Sasuke had no idea.
"Hn"
Ino handed him a piece of paper well folded. "See ya" she said as she turned around and started walking away.
Sasuke looked at the piece of paper not knowing whether to read it or not.
What the hell. She knew everything about Sakura, what could she be hiding? He thought as he opened it.
Forehead
Wear something casual yet elegant
Yume is so excited to meet you, (he's so handsome)
The date is at Rari's Italian Restaurant at 7:00
Don't make him wait too much but don't come too early either.
Good luck!
Love, Ino
"What the fuck?" Sasuke said.
Ino had to cover her mouth with both hands to prevent a loud laugh.
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"Sakura, Yamanaka sends this" Sasuke said handing her the piece of paper.
"Thank you" she said taking the paper.
She knew exactly what the paper was about. She hid it in her pocket, but when she looked up she found four pairs of eyes staring at her.
She blushed at their expectation and excused herself. "I'm tired. Goodnight" she said as she ran up the stairs hiding in her room. God, Ino could have just texted her she thought, as she opened the paper.
Downstairs in the kitchen all men looked the way Sakura had gone.
"What was that about?" asked Naruto.
"She got a date" Sasuke said. The three other guys looked at him with their eyes wide opened.
"What?" asked Kakashi.
"We need to talk" Sasuke said and they all nodded. Gathering themselves around the table to start their plan.
Because Sakura had never dated.
Not because she wasn't date material.
The girl was gorgeous, she was really one of the prettiest kunoichis in Konoha. The boys had to contain themselves from hitting everyone that asked them to introduce them to the pretty Sakura Haruno.
Hell they would never introduce anyone to their Sakura.
She had changed, she had a woman's athletic yet feminine body now. She was hot. They knew it, they were men. And often they had to scare guys that came to hit on her, in subtle ways so she wouldn't notice.
They had to plan this.
This date couldn't happen.
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N/A
So this is just the prologue, I hope you enjoyed it and please review… I have the next chapters already, the next one is super fun.
Please review to let me know what you think… It makes me happy when you do.
Again, English is not my first language so please forgive any possible mistakes and please show them to me in order to improve my writing skills.