A/N: Enjoy. My take at a laid back, relaxed love story between a wide array of characters.

I walked into the huge lecture hall, heart palpitating in my chest. I didn't know what to expect from this hugely diverse atmosphere. It's surely way broader than high school, or any other institutes I've ever been enrolled in. I wanted to meet amazing new people, and do amazing new things. I was ready to tackle any and all tribulations thrown my way by Konoha University, and I was determined to do well.

The minutes ticked by, and the students pooled into the lecture hall like sardines, and I searched frantically for any trace of a familiar face or silhouette. No luck. I was to start this semester as a total loner it seemed. But it's alright; I was good at making friends. I'm totally loveable.

I looked to the front of the lecture hall and saw whom I presumed to be the professor of this course. He looked very young – at most in his early thirties or late twenties despite his silver hair. He was an odd looking one as half his face was covered by a mask and a long scar ran vertically down his right eye. Perhaps he was involved in some terrible accident. I couldn't know.

To the peripheral of my eyes, a formed caught my attention. His spiky hair and slouchy shoulders brought a smile to my previously dejected face. A friend at last.

"Kiba!" I yelled.

He totally ignored me.

"Kiba!" I yelled again. This time I waved frantically and with a huge grin on my face. He turned to look at me with those sharp eyes of his, and his lips curved into a smirk as well. As he walked over, I was reminded how great it is to be reunited with a high school buddy. It eased my heart a little to know not everything had to change with university.

"You're in English literature as well?" I asked.

"No, I'm here to observe because I'm a freaking keener." Kiba gave me a dry look at the stupidity of my question. It was ironic because he called himself a keener when we both knew he barely got himself accepted to Konoha University by a stroke of luck. I ignored his sarcasm and bear hugged him until he pushed me off.

"No homo," I said cheekily.

The lecture began, and I was stumped at how different it was from high school. University made me feel like an idiot. The class proceeded with the professor, who introduced himself as Professor Hatake, lecturing us on the importance of war and its impact on literature. Although he had a lazy lecture voice and a slouchy form that hinted he didn't really care for being here, he strangely made the class interesting. I didn't yawn once. Kiba on the other hand was totally uninterested. I guess since he was only here on a sports scholarship, he really didn't even give a damn about learning.

After class ended Kiba and I walked to the cafeteria to get food. I was disappointed with their lack of a ramen option. I would have to make a formal complaint to the school it seemed.

"How was your summer?" I tried engaging in small talk.

"Meh, it was alright. My dad forced me to get a summer job to fund my soccer practices. What a stingy old man, eh? To think I was actually saving him money by attending school on a soccer scholarship in the first place."

I chuckled, "Same here. Tsunade got me a job at this club as a bartender. It was a pretty sweet deal. I got so many numbers from so many hot girls."

Kiba looked unimpressed as he snorted.

Tsunade became my guardian after my parents passed away from a car accident. Although she was the heiress to what used to be a pretty huge corporation, she wasted all her inheritance away from gambling. Now we live a fairly modest life, although she still could not shake her extravagant spending habits. We live in a house and drive a car that was way beyond our budget, so my only option was to help out by working part time. I didn't mind though, because I liked being independent. Tsunade was like a child. Her immaturity rivaled my own, and that's saying something.

"Aww Kiba don't be like that. I'm not the kind of guy to disregard my bros. I'll hook you up, just give me the word." I winked at him.

"Naw man, I'm good for now."

"Huh? That's a first." I raised my brow in question. Kiba was a huge skirt chaser. He never used to turn down being set up or any chance to meet women for that matter. "Did you suddenly decide to admit to your latent homosexuality?"

"No, it's not that." Kiba gave me a playful glare. "It's just, sometimes you just know, when the one for you suddenly appears. Know what I mean?" He had this dreamy look in his eyes. I was instinctively envious of that in-lovedness playing obviously on his face. "She's got this super great figure, and a great face to boot."

"Shallow prick."

"…And a great personality, too."

I laughed at him. "Nice save."

"No, I'm serious Naruto. I think this is it. You know that feeling?"

I pondered for a few seconds, and then shook my head. I've only ever been infatuated with one person before, and that was in junior high.

He looked at me, but then I could already tell my existence really didn't matter. I allowed him to drown in his thoughts for a little while in silence. As we finally sat down to eat, Kiba, as if reaching an epiphany, grabbed my shoulders tightly and screamed into my face. "I've got it!"

"What the hell dude, don't spit."

"Oh, sorry. But I've got this great idea!"

"Huh?"

"You love me right, Naruto?"

"Like, in a bro sorta way. Why?"

"Then perfect. You'll help me get her number, won't you?"

I was mute for a few seconds, letting the information before me set in. I started laughing much to the dismay of Kiba.

"You don't even have her number yet? Dude, don't snooze on the job."

"I'm not! She's a difficult one. I've tried so many tactics but it's like she's immune to my advances. Like, how? I'm a fucking charmer."

"Yeah sure Casanova. What can I do that you can't? And I don't want to get involved. She might fall in love with me."

"You wish, you douche. Please, just come with me next time. I get so shy around her."

"Hmm, it depends. Come with you to where?" I squinted my eyes at him. "Don't tell me it's a golf club or some boring shit like that."

"No, no, no. You know how I play badminton sometimes, right? She's the receptionist at the club I play at."

I snickered at him. What a geek. It was either golf or badminton with this one. I guess for Kiba, soccer really lost its appeal on him since he was required to play for the school almost every single day. It's a taxing sport; running around on the grass for hours at a time. It's understandable that he's want to counter his daily physical exertion with more relaxed sports like golf.

"I don't know man. It seems like an awful lot of work, especially when I'm in no way benefitting from this situation."

"The happiness of your bro is a potential benefit."

"You are so, totally, not good at convincing people." I gave him a dry look.

That was my conversation with Kiba. Two days later and here I was, in the lobby of a recently renovated gym. There were eight badminton courts stretched out side by side, accompanied by wooden seats that didn't look too sturdy meant for athletes to rest. I gave Kiba a look that told him how utterly bored I was of the place, already. He ignored me because he was busy looking for that chick he's so in love with. I sighed and massaged my neck.

"Are you sure she's working today? I'm looking but there are only middle aged men here."

"Shut up Naruto, not so loud. You are making my intentions so naked."

I rolled my eyes at him and left his side to look for a bathroom. The gym itself was huge, and the place was decorated to cater to people who could afford the luxury of time and money to come here. Kiba, in that aspect, was like an old man. Instead of arcades and clubs like most college students, he chooses badminton as his pastime. Heck even soccer would be a better sport for young, vivacious guys like us.

When I finally found the sign for the men's room, I extended my hand to push open the door. However, it seems like the badminton gods wanted to punish me for demeaning the sport because the next second, the door opened before I could grasp the handle, and the wooden frame slammed directly into my nose and forehead. I felt like my eyes blackened a bit upon the contact.

"Ow!" I yelped in pain and surprise. A girl emerged from the door and looked as shocked as I was.

"I'm so sorry!" I heard her apologize. She hovered over my bent body and was desperately trying to do something, although there was really nothing she could do to dim raw pain. I contemplated getting angry, but then again, it really wasn't her fault.

I looked up when I felt sensation returning to my previously numbed nose. The girl with the freakish strength had a head of raven hair that cascaded down her back, and extremely fair skin that made her face look almost transparent. Her eyes were so light they looked silver, but most of all, this chick had huge racks. I'd say she's a D at the very least.

She was profusely apologizing to me and asking if I was all right, but I didn't want to appear like a wuss, especially not in front of a girl, so I bit down my pain and only sheepishly chuckled.

"I'm fine." I reassured her. "Don't worry about it, okay?" With that I gave her a last beaming smile and went into the bathroom myself.

After I was done, I approached Kiba who was standing shyly in front of the front counter. Although he wasn't saying anything to the receptionist, I could tell he very much wanted to. I had a hunch the girl who bumped into me was the girl Kiba was trying to court, and I was totally right.

I tapped him on the shoulders to get his attention, and he turned to me with utter relief in his eyes. I guess me being here really calmed his nerves.

"Hey Hinata, this is my friend Naruto. He will be playing with me today."

I gave Hinata a bright smile as she looked up at me, guilt written all over her face as if she's done some horrible deed.

"I'm so sorry for earlier." She said to me at a volume I could barely hear. She had a sweet voice though.

"I told you not to worry, Hinata."

She didn't grace me with a reply, and only shyly nodded. It's hard to picture that a girl like her could have such monstrous strength, especially when the task is something so effortless like opening a door. I guess she was in a bad mood.

Kiba gave me a confused look, but I gestured to him it was no big deal. There was no way for me to phrase what just happened earlier and still make me sound cool. Some stories Kiba just didn't have to know.

I walked into the gym, all changed and waiting to play, but was stopped by Kiba's continuous dwindling by Hinata's side. I looked over to the extremely awkward pair and sighed. Why am I always the one wingman-ing everyone else when I haven't gotten a significant other? But I suppose kindness has its own benefits, although at the moment the only reward kindness has gotten me is an extremely sore nose and a red forehead.

I approached the pair hoping to my presence could liven things up a bit more. Both of them were so damn awkward I couldn't just stand there and do nothing as Kiba ruins his chances, yet again. I really, really didn't want to come here another time with him.

"Hinata, how long have you been working here?" I asked her. That was my attempt to become involved in their conversation. I was tired of standing around while Kiba made absolutely no progress with her at all.

"For about a year," she said to me, again in that painfully quiet voice.

It was then when I noticed that Hinata has been looking at me in a funny way. She would peak at me from underneath her lashes and just stare at my face. When I stared back, expecting her to say something, she would quickly revert her gaze as if caught doing something she shouldn't. Maybe she hasn't met many blondes in her life. I couldn't tell you.

"Yo, Kiba, ask for her number already." I whispered into Kiba's ear when Hinata turned around to get a phone call. He shoved my head away and totally ignored my advice, while blushing like a grade school idiot. Even I could tell Hinata wasn't that interested in the way Kiba would just beat around the bush, never getting anywhere with his small talk.

I rolled my eyes at him again. It was time to take things into my own hands.

"Hey Hinata, can I ask a favour of you?"

Hinata blinked at me after she finished her phone call, and nodded slowly.

"You see, it's like this. Kiba here is incredibly smitten with you. You are all he talks about. If you don't mind, maybe give him your number and you guys can go out!"

"Naruto!" Kiba screamed and almost punched me in the guts. His face was so red it was the colour of sunset. Kiba has always been a brute, but it seems when it comes to girls he can be the sensitive type too.

I noticed how his eyes flickered to Hinata for her reaction and response, and I knew he just bagged this one. Hinata was blushing as much as Kiba was. They were practically made for each other. Kiba will be the excitement in Hinata's life while she is his peace. They are perfect!

"Well, Hinata? What do you say? Kiba is a really nice guy, and he's one of my best friends ever. I'm sure you guys will get along. Just go out with him once, you'll see what I mean."

Hinata looked down and was obviously trying to think of a response. I smirked at Kiba as his face flushed another shade of red. He was going to kill me, I just knew it.

"Um… Okay." Hinata muttered at last.

Kiba's eyes bulged from their sockets like he couldn't believe she would agree to my suggestion. I blinked a few times too. I thought she would turn him down for sure, seeing how dismissive she was towards him just a few minutes ago, but women are strange.

"Then," Kiba was stuttering. "This Sunday, are you working?"

Hinata shook her head.

"Great, then this Sunday it is!"

As they exchanged numbers, I smiled at the pair. It's nice seeing the onslaught of a beautiful romance, but also bitter at the same time since I have no current prospects in my life at all. I haven't even been interested in anyone ever since Sakura. Maybe I'm going to die alone. Who knows.

Afterwards, Kiba and I went into the badminton courts and played for a while. Kiba was surprisingly good, but so was I. Badminton requires both reflexes and stamina, the two things I have in abundance. I remember my high school gym teacher tried to scout me for the school's varsity badminton team, but I had to turn him down since I was pretty into basketball at the time. But after a pretty nasty injury to my knees during a game, I had to give up on basketball all together, which was a pity since I'm currently 6'2 and still swift as hell.

Tsunade was freaking out because she was convinced I'd be a cripple for the rest of my life. Of course, it was also out of her expectations that I had the recovery ability of a reptile. I still couldn't play basketball seriously, though. I was instructed to only play lightly on, at most, a weekly basis. This sucked because I really wanted to join the basketball team in Konoha University.

After a while, seeing as our goal was completed the moment Kiba got Hinata's number, we decided to stop playing. Things got too competitive between us. Kiba didn't like the fact I was catching up to his lead, and I didn't like constantly hovering below his score. So we called quits after a solid two hours of play. I just decided to head home, but Kiba didn't come with me since he wanted to stay behind and wait for Hinata to get off work so he could take her home.

What a gentleman. It's hard to believe Kiba used to be one of the brattiest, most obnoxious guys I knew in high school. I guess love really changes a person. Kiba's had at least five girlfriends in the past, but none lasted for more than two months. He wasn't one to hold down relationships, so I'm bating my breath now to see where this one is going. This is also the first time I've seen Kiba particularly infatuated with a girl. Hinata is quite pretty. Prettier than anyone Kiba's dated before. But I doubt that's the reason why he's so smitten.

Afterwards, life went on.

Despite what it seemed, university wasn't all games and fun as I thought it'd be. I was expecting parties seven days a week and drinking booze like it was water, but it really isn't. If I'm not careful, I could very well fail a class, and if I fail, then I could very well expect to be castrated by Tsunade. She's put in good money for my education. I didn't want to disappoint her.

Now that I think about it, Tsunade really gave me everything. Everything that I have now is a product of her kindness and generosity. We weren't related at all, but she has given me more than even my own parents. If I think about it now, she wasn't obliged to become my guardian at all, but I guess I reminded her too much of her own youth.

Ever since the time at the badminton court with Kiba, I haven't even seen him around except for in class. Every time I proposed to chill with him, he would turn me down just to be with Hinata. I guess their date must have gone very well since Hinata was steadily taking up all of Kiba's time and thoughts. I just wish Kiba would eventually muster enough courage to ask her to become his girlfriend. He had to grow balls eventually.

At the thought of that my phone began to ring. It was Kiba. Speak of the devil.

"Hey dude, what's up?"

"Yo, Naruto, great news!" Kiba's voice came excitedly through the speaker.

"Huh? What is it?"

"You know how Hinata and I are doing really well right?"

"Yeah, speaking of which, have you even officialised things between you guys yet?"

Kiba paused for a few seconds. "Don't worry about that Naruto. It's already pretty much exclusive between the two of us anyways."

I sighed. Kiba has always been cocky. I just wish he wouldn't miss a great chance to make Hinata his.

"Alright, what's the great news? I'm surprised you even called considering you've utterly forgotten about my existence ever since Hinata's been introduced into your life." I hope I didn't come off bitter and jealous, which I was feeling, albeit just slightly.

"HAHA, don't be like that Naruto. You are still one of my best friends. Which is why I called you today!" Kiba couldn't even contain his excitement anymore. "So ever since that time at the badminton courts, I've been feeling incredibly indebted to you. You were the one who enabled me to ask her out in the first place."

"Hm, and?" Well, at least this jerk was grateful.

"And! I've been trying really hard to find you someone as well. Yesterday, I asked Hinata if she has any sexy single friends who are willing to go on a double date, of course with Hinata and I, and guess what?!"

I blinked. "What?"

"We found you a girl!"

I remained quiet for a few seconds. This is just like Kiba to take things into his own hands. It's not like I couldn't find a girl if I wanted to.

"God, Kiba! Why did you do that? I didn't ask you to set me up!"

"Jeez, way to sound grateful, you turd, but shut up and listen to me first. So Hinata has this friend who studies interior design, at our university! Apparently she's incredibly smart and beautiful and really popular with all the guys. Isn't she perfect?!"

I sighed. "If she's so perfect then you date her."

"No way, there's nobody for me but Hinata. But you, Naruto, you are still single. I don't want to live in happiness while my best friend is all lonely and depressed."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'm not lonely nor depressed. I was actually quite popular with the ladies. I think it's the whole tanned and fit thing that got people staring, but I wanted to see where this was going. It's not like I was going to turn down a chance at happiness if it's being presented to me. And I mean what's the worst that could happen?

"Alright, Kiba, I'm listening."

"Great! Even though you don't look it but you are clever Naruto. Anyways, since Hinata and I are grabbing lunch tomorrow at Ichiraku's, I was thinking you come with us. Hinata is going to call up her friend tonight, and we'll go on a double date!"

"Stop sounding so excited you dumbass. It's just going to be lunch, no big deal." I said to Kiba, but I was actually really happy since it was going to be a ramen date.

"Sorry, sorry, but I'm just really happy. If this works out then we can go on couple-ish things together, like going bike riding and picnics and stuff."

I can't believe Kiba just said that to me. Is this what he thinks about doing with Hinata all the time? Going on picnics?

"Dude, really? Is this why you want me to find someone? So you and Hinata would have another pair to do cheesy, grade school stuff like going on picnics?"

"Shut up Naruto, not everyone is a sexual predator like you."

"How the f-"

"Shush dude, I'm going. Hinata just came back from the bathroom. I'll text you the details about lunch later tonight. You better dress for the occasion. I want this Sakura chick to fall utterly in love with you, at first sight!"

"Wait, wh-"

"BYE!"

With that, he hung up. I stared at my phone for a few minutes, letting the information sink in. Did he just say Sakura? My first love ever? The girl who broke my heart to pieces, twice? This isn't going to happen. It can't be the same Sakura, right?

A/N: I had fun writing this character, even though most of the main characters weren't even introduced yet. I'm hoping to turn this into a multi-chaptered fic, so be patient everyone. I want to build up to the introduction of the more important characters and events. :) REVIEW please~