Chapter 3: Try outs

The bell had rung for students to know that first period would begin in ten minutes. Sakura and Temari grabbed their belongings and headed into the chaotic hallways. Taking our her schedule, Sakura let out a groan as she realized she had math first period.

"So how did you manage to get into Adavanced algebra 2 even though you're still a freshman? I mean this is a junior math class Sakura." Temari asked as she led Sakura down the halls to their first class.

Sakura shrugged as she dodged the running freshmans who obviously didn't know where their classes were. Kinda happy Temari's here to show me at least.

"Well I have always been good at math even though i hate it with my whole soul." Sakura explained as Temari slid open a classroom's door. Temari let out a laugh as she took a seat in the back of the already full classroom. Sakura slid in next to Temari and began to pull out notebooks.

"Well you can't count on me to explain stuff for you if you miss class. Hey! Maybe we can be study buddies. 'Sides, if i'm planning on making Basketball, i need to keep up my grades." Temari said with a wink before turning to her own backpack.

"Yeah. I don't mind. As long as you come and support me if i make the team." Sakura whispered as a teacher began to talk about what she planned to get done throughout the school year.

"You can call me Anko-sensei and that's it." The teacher explained after she finished her lesson plan.

They stayed quiet for the rest of the period up until the Anko-sensei was called out of the classroom.

Temari leaned over with a serious look. "So how exactly do you plan on actually surviving the tryouts?"

Sakura giggled as she held a finger to her chin. "With my awesome ninja skills of course!"

"Oh, you have them too?" A voice ahead of them said. The body in front of Sakura turned around to reveal it was the girl who had signed up for the karate club in homeroom.

Sakura smiled secretly and said, "You know it!"

"My name's Tenten Momochi. I'm rooting for you. I thought you were really awesome this morning." Tenten smiled as she twisted herself around to sit in the chair backwards.

"Thanks, but just know i was completely serious. I'm going to the try outs... Wait, when are the try outs?" Sakura exclaimed in confusion.

Temari laughed at Sakura's red beat face. "I knew it. You weren't paying attention in the beginning. Itachi-sempai said try out were after school. He also said not to be late." She had explained tauntingly. Sakura pouted and faced the other way as if to hide she was feeling embarrassed.

Anko-sensei came in a few minutes later. She had let the class talk for the rest of the period, even though there was twenty minutes left. The whole twenty minutes were used by the new three friends for exchanging numbers, and getting to know one another. Sakura had learned that while Temari had two younger brothers, Tenten had two older brothers.

The rest of the day passed with Tenten in History, and Temari in Gym. Sakura was quite pleased with herself for finding her other classes on her own easily. Tenten and Temari had promised to meet up with Sakura outside of the girls locker room so they could all walk out together.

"So you nervous?" Tenten asked as they had begun to walk to the fields.

Sakura nodded her head slightly. "To be honest, I am a little nervous."

"You'd be crazy not to be. Heck I'm nervous for you. Don't worry though, I'll be there if anything happens." Temari said as the field goals came into sight.

"Thanks Temari, you're really boosting my confidence." Sakura stuck her tongue out childishly.

"Awe, I can't help it though! I just can't see anything good coming out of this." Temari whined throwing her arms around Sakura's shoulders. Tenten giggled and pulled on one of Temari's ponytails.

"Let's go Temari. We can cheer on Sakura from the bleachers. She might actually surprise us." Tenten said as she led the other two girls closer to the football fields. Temari pouted before turning to Sakura once more.

"Fine, but i swear, if any of them hurt you permanently, I'm going to kill them." Temari hissed in a whisper before they approached a table that had two football players behind it. The two guys looked up at the approaching girls and smiled.

"Hello ladies. What brings you to the football tryouts?" One of the two guys smirked as he leaned back into his seat.

Sakura could feel Tenten and Temari roll their eyes along with her. This was obviously one of the few guys who only did football to flirt with girls. "Try outs."

"Oh. Didn't anyone tell you? Manager position isn't open" Temari snickered at Sakura's flushed face. Before she could tell the guy off, someone yelled, "Hey Pinky!" Sakura turned in the direction of the voice and saw a familiar face. Hey it's the bluenette guy who helped me this morning.

As he jogged over, Sakura was able to actually take a good look at him. He had dark blue eyes and a nice muscular build that was covered by his uniform. Wow, he's surprisingly very good looking.

"Hey, and my name isn't pinky. It's Sakura."

The tall bluenette smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry. I'm Kisame Hosigaki, Linebacker. Nice to meet you." Kisame held out his hand. Sakura couldn't help but blush at Kisame's dazzling smile.

"Uh-hem." Temari cleared her throat and gestured towards Kisame.

"Kisame, these are my friends, Tenten and Temari. They're here for moral support." Sakura explained. Both girls smiled up at Kisame, or at least Tenten did. Temari was pretty close to his height.

"Nice to meet you Temari. What's up Tenten? How's Haku and Zabuza. Mangetsu and Suigetsu are asking about practices even though their season hasn't started yet." Kisame grinned. Temari blushed as Kisame had turned to face her slightly.

Kisame nodded his head to Temari before facing Sakura again. "Try outs are about to start. We'd better get going." Sakura nodded and told the girls she'd meet up with them afterwards.

"Okay, Sakura. Do your best! We'll be on the bleachers." Tenten hollered as they began to jog away. Temari froze and turned around smiling like a lunatic. Holding up both hands to her mouth, Temari prepared to yell.

"Remember Sakura, if any of them hurt you, I'll kill them!" With that, Temari took off running after Tenten up the bleachers.

Sakura face-palmed in embarrassment. Snickering, Kisame pushed Sakura slightly towards the other boys waiting on the field.

"You've got great friends."

"Yeah, actually i just met them this morning." Sakura laughed as she pushed Kisame's hand off her shoulder. Kisame sputtered at Sakura's statement.

"Seriously? You guys act like you've been friends for years." Kisame asked in disbelief. Sakura merely shrugged in response.

"Alright, just go sign in over there and wait for your name to be called. Good luck." Kisame said as they reached the crowd. Sakura thanked him and did as she was told. After signing in, Sakura had followed the next set of instructions given to her and waited with the others who were trying out.

Crossing her arms, Sakura just stood there feeling a bit awkward in the middle of a crowd of guys. Most of the guys were either ignoring her presence while the rest were staring at her. Quite frankly, it was making her nerves scream. It didn't help that before she had come to the fields that she had changed into a black tank top and a pair of dark blue spandex shorts.

Why are they staring at me? Stop it!

"Alright everyone listen up." Everyone in the crowd, including Sakura, looked up at the man who spoke. Whoa this guy looks scary as hell! I wonder who he is.

The man that had spoken was at least 5'9 feet. Spikey orange hair, purplish eyes and three piercings on each side of his nose stood out the most to Sakura.

"My name is Pein Nagato. I am the captain and the Quarterback. I alone will ultimately decide if you have what it takes to be a part of this team. The first part of the try outs will be split up into two sections, endurance and speed. If you managed to get pass that stage, you will have to complete stage two. Stage two consists of you actually doing the position you're trying out for. If you show promise then you're on the team." Pein explained as he crossed his arms.

I can actually do this. Sakura thought in confidence.

"Alright. You'll be split into groups of four; each group will have one person from the team to instruct you on what you're supposed to do."

Sakura's group consisted of a tall boy named Kiba, a smaller chubbier boy Chouji, and a smoke looking guy with gravity defying hair who went by Zaku. Their instructor was none other than Itachi, the guy from her homeroom incident.

"My name is Itachi Uchiha. We'll begin by testing your endurance. Endurance is a must have to being a member of the Akatsuki. First, I want you to do 100 sit ups, 50 pushups, and 75 jumping jacks. After that, you are to run 5 laps around the field." Sakura nearly fell over in shock, while the others just groaned in complaint.

"Do not complain. If by some miracle you do make the team, the numbers will increase. We're not called the champions for nothing." Itachi tsked in return to the other complaint.

Well i can see why they're able to keep the title. These exercises are insane! Sakura was impressed.

"Now get going." With that said, Hell began. Well that's what Sakura called it at least.

Man, i'm really out of shape. I guess i should've worked out more during the summer. Might've helped if i laid off the Twinkies.

Sakura thought on her fifth lap around the field. It had been a full hour and half since they began. The situps were a breeze as well as the jumping jacks. The pushups were the only exercise that had caused a little trouble for her. Her upper body didn't begin to compare to her powerful legs.

I guess playing soccer and basketball for so long made me focus on my legs instead of my arms. God i'm so glad this is my last lap. Sakura thought as she saw the finish line. Behind her ran the three boys; Zaku just a foot away, Kiba a yard or so behind him, and Chouji about 20 yards from kiba.

To see Chouji pushing through, Sakura was impressed. He had stuck it through it all without a single complaint and he never gave up. Sakura started to slow down and run with Chouji the rest of the way. When he caught up to her, he was huffing hard and his face a blotchy red.

"You okay?" Sakura asked as they slowed to a stop. Sitting down on the grass, Chouji barely nodded in response as he tried to regain his breathing.

Sakura smiled as she held out her hand to help Chouji back up. "Good. I just want to say I'm really impressed with your determination. You were awesome."

"T-thanks."

"Alright, good job. Now to test your strengths." Itachi said as he calmly walked to where they were resting briefly.

"W-what? How about a break?" Kiba nearly screeched as he wheezed.

Itachi smirked sadistically. "Akatsuki's don't take breaks." I have a feeling he's enjoying this a little too much.

"Alright, for speed, we'll be doing simple short distance runs. Kiba, since you so clearly volunteered, you get to go first. Followed by Zaku, Chouji, and lastly Skaura."

All four began to walk to the end zone where they were supposed to start.

Itachi didn't quite react when his best pal, Kisame, came up behind him to observe the trainees.

"How are they doing?" Kisame mused as he shifted feet, anticipating that something good was about to happen.

"Don't you mean, How is Sakrua doing?" Itachi smirked in Kisame's direction. Turning back to his little group, Itachi turned back to see them stretching quickly.

"To answer your question, she's doing the best out of all four."

"Heh, I knew she'd do well. Did you see that body? Her legs are sculpt to perfection." Kisame gazed over at Sakura from the 50 yard line. Itachi chuckled softly before turning to his friend again.

"I agree, you pervert." Itachi confessed as he pulled out a stop watch.

"Alright Kiba. Get ready. Set. Go!" As soon as Kiba passed the 50, Itachi marked down the time.

"Time is 7.1. Not too bad. Zaku. Get ready." The process repeated itself for Zaku and Chouji. Zaku had earned 8.9 and Chouji a 9.5. Their times weren't good enough according to Itachi, which meant they hadn't made it. Not seeing a point in staying, both left after hearing their times.

Sakura was the last to run in her group. She got into position and waited. She couldn't help but smile; This is what she was waiting for. At Itachi's command, She bolted down the field. It was like a roadrunner running. No one was able to see her except for a pink blur which came from her unique hair color.

When she had passed the line, both Itachi and Kisame looked down at the stopwatch to see the time. Kisame whistled in surprise while Itachi smirked.

"6.4.." Sakura smiled up at both boys.

"So did i pass?"

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