Author's note. In the past they are fifteen years old and in the beginnings(present) they are eighteen. And I wanted to say that all my titles are based off of songs, in case you wanted to know. :)


chapter 2- Whatever Made You

-There used to be so much between us, and now the love is black and bleeding. -

Her footsteps echoed down the barely lit hallways. She hadn't even known this place existed, this jail for s-class criminals. But here she was much again her greatest desire. The happenings of yesterday still so present in her line of vision. Sakura stalled to lean against the wall. A wave of nausea came quickly and left just as soon. She shook her head, a weak attempt to clear it but memories poured in without a filter.

Sasuke is tainted. He is altered. This new man, she didn't want to know.

Her world crashed. Three years of defending him, of preying for him, of loving him had now become a fruitless void in her mind. She had wasted years on a boy that had transformed into a monster. Oh, how Kami had played a vile trick on her! She wanted to curse the world. To scream. To cry. But she couldn't allow herself to. To do so, would mean she has given up. And after three years of being loyal, she couldn't throw that away. She wanted to love him still even as the image of his emotionless face flashed in her head and as his sword pierced the body of his best friend.

"Sakura-san?" The guard leading her questioned, gazing at her with a raised brow.

Holding her books as if in support, she continued on.

Sakura's guard stopped in front of a metal solid door. Two ninjas sat on the outside of the cell sitting cross legged with their hands spread on the ground. Black, large seals surrounded the large doorway and the floor, green light shined from the kanji letters.

They checked her once more before allowing her inside. The moment her foot crossed the threshold she felt her chakra empty out of her like water and she gripped the side of the wall for support. She panted, feeling the nausea strike her but the moment she heard his voice she swallowed and stood straight.

"Why are you here?"

The hatred in his voice was not drowned out by the darkness. She could make out his shadow on the cot.

Sakura needed his attitude. Anger is an emotion is familiar with and knows how to respond too. She knew though, if at any point he changed his temper she would wrap her arms around him and forgive him within an instant. Sakura tried to ignore his eyes, the ones that had attracted her from the very start. She strengthened her resolve, glaring to the best of her ability. The only light shining from the window sat twelve feet up on the far wall, allowing him only see the sky, and not the ocean below. He sat on his cot, his back up against the wall, his knees bent. "To take the poison out."

"You need skill for that."

Sakura wanted to bolt, wanted to run away from the ugly truth that just maybe Orochimaru had gotten to him. That power had corrupted him. But it was so hard to deny the difference in him when he was just a few feet away. "In a few moments, you will feel your chakra coming back to you. Don't get too carried away. The seals that cover your body won't allow you to do jutsus." He already knew this but she much rather talk about something other then her. "Lay down on the bed."

"Iie."

"Do you want to die?" She fisted her hand to her side, her books in the other. That was apparently the right question for he laid down on the bed. Sakura put her books on the floor and whispered something out the door before sitting beside him, refusing to look at his face. He didn't much care, staring at the ceiling.

Fingers were on his shirt and panic latched a hold of him, he suddenly gripped her hands, forcibly. But amazingly she was able to rip away, hurting his fingers in response. "Don't touch me." She bit through clenched teeth. "Your shirt has to come off." She rose from the bed and went to the door where she was given three tubs of water, she placed each beside the bed. He watched her with narrowed eyes but did as he was told, knowing he was not in power at the moment.

He hated this. He hated her, he hated Naruto most of all. "You came after me, to lock me up." He scoffed.

Her hand laid in the water, gathering it up on her palm till it formed a large bubble. "We came after someone, but we didn't find him." She didn't bother to warn him of the pain, just shoved it through his heart. Sakura looked up at his face when he didn't make a sound. But she knew from the gritting of his teeth that it hurt. She looked back down, amazed silently how quiet he was. No one, had ever stayed quiet during this procedure.

She performed the procedure three more times before she was finally done. "You should get your strength back in twenty-four hours. Not that it will do you any good." She smirked sarcastically. The guards took away the tubs of water. She looked momentarily in her book before reaching in her pouch to hold out a bottle of pills. "Take one every four hours." Sasuke put on his shirt as he got up.

Her footsteps echoed the empty cell and he snapped his eyes up at her retreating form. "When I get out of here, Sakura. Tell Naruto to be ready ."

Sakura stopped upon her name. The door was open in front of her, all she had to do was cross through it and forget all about him. To walk through the threshold with her pride and emotions still intact. But she was never good about holding in her anger. She turned swiftly around and without any thought she smashed her fist in his cheek. It was with no power, no strength with chakra mixed in it. Just her own will. His head fell to the side, his eyes on her as he felt his check, and spat blood. "Don't you ever talk to me, like you know me. Ever. Do you understand?" Sakura took a step foreword. "You have no idea that pain you caused us. You have no idea the heartache we lived with for almost three years.-"

"I never asked you care. I even told you and Naruto to forget."

"You don't get it. You still don't get it. And that just makes you pathetic. You know, I feel sorry for you. Never once, not even when you lost your whole family, did I feel pity for you. Because I knew that's not what you wanted. But now. You are a complete disgrace. I'm sure your okasan would love to see you now. Both her sons murderers-"

"Don't ever-" ANBU popped in the cell, gripping his arms with powerful hands. Sakura stared at him, trying to hide the hurt she felt. He had been ready to strike her. How much has he really changed? Sasuke grit his teeth, his eyes were blood red, threateningly, the three commas glaring to her. "When I get out of here-"

"If you get out of here."

"Both you and Naruto will regret it."

"Try us. We're not the same innocent children you left, Sasuke. We're so much stronger then you could ever imagine."

"Is that why you made no move to save Naruto?" He smirked with humor, his eyes returning to their original state. He panted slightly, the seals on his skin stealing his power, "You just stood there as I stabbed him through the heart."

"Naruto will never die. That's something you haven't figure out yet. He's so much more powerful then you will ever be. And he didn't need to abandon his team to become it. I wish I would have figure out who was the better man before I-" Sakura shook her head throwing up her empty hand and nearly ran out of the cell.

The moment she was around the corner, her back fell against the wall. Sakura covered her mouth, her eyes squeezed tight. Her body trembled as she preyed for strength, but her legs gave out and she slid to the ground. Her heart beat furiously in her chest and she gripped her shirt with the opposite hand and she stared at the wall in front her, cursing herself for revealing so much pain. She had wanted him to see how strong she had gotten, she had wanted to see familiarity in his gaze, she had wanted to hug him and tell him everything that he had missed out on. What a childish fantasy. Maybe she had not changed as much as she thought she did.


Past


A splash of water on her face caused a giant scream but she woke nonetheless looking around and finding a half smiling Shikamaru. She smashed her fist in his face and he fell back on his butt. "What was that for?" He groaned rubbing his swollen cheek.

"You just let her beat me up!"

"Hit Choji, he's the one that moved out of the way." She glared over to the chubby ninja and saw him freeze as he put a chip in his mouth.

She growled with frustration, "It isn't as effective. At least I know I'll get through to you." He rolled his eyes, and lifted her up off the floor when she grabbed his hand all too painfully. He watched her join the group and looked over at Choji. "Women." He shook his head while his best friend nodded in understanding.

"Akamaru! Come back!" Kiba stuffed his hands in his jacket, hanging his head pathetically.

"Kiba-kun?" Hinata questioned softly looking over to him.

"Akamaru got mad at me. I can't find him."

"We will find him, Kiba-kun."

Sasuke nudged Naruto and the blond looked at him confusedly before becoming wide eyed in realization. Sasuke shook his head. "Let's have a race!" Naruto shouted. "The first to find Akamaru wins."

"Men are so competitive." Ino mumbled to the two males on either side of her. They shared a glance but said nothing.

Sakura looked over to Naruto, "Hinata and Neji would win instantly. Let them just find him."

Naruto looked to Shikamaru for help but he shrugged with a yawn. "Let's race with no ninja powers but speed."

"He should be straight ahead." Kiba tried his best to help.

"Nani, Sakura?" Ino smiled with evil intentions. "You know you'll come in last place don't you?" Sakura stalled in her walking, her fists balled at her side.

"You're on. I bet I get there before any of you girls!" She made sure to add that part, knowing she'd never make it before her male counterparts.

"Ah…" Tenten shook her head. "They are worse then the boys." But being the female that she was, she couldn't have Sakura or Ino beat her. She had to top with the guys, to prove herself. "Let's start." She mumbled against her better judgment.

Shikamaru dragged his heal in the dirt and created a line. Everyone quickly got up to it. "Ready, set, go." He tiredly stated and ran with light speed. A few of the guys who had ran with the girls now fell back to his side. He got out his checklist, "Fastest: ten points." They jumped up in the large branches at minimum speed.

Sakura landed right behind TenTen. Hinata and then Ino appeared shortly after and Akamaru, who had been waiting happily jumped into Hinata's arm, licking her face. The pink haired kunoichi crossed her arms, seeing the boys drop from the trees and began to walk toward them. Akamaru jumped out of her arms and ran to Kiba. "Something's not right."

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind." She waved it off since they were getting close. "What happened?" She questioned narrowing her eyes.

"Naruto got stuck in a trap."" Sasuke looked to the blond ninja and he just smiled dumbly.

"Lee, Neji?" TenTen asked the small question looking to them.

But Neji turned his head, refusing to answer and Lee bowed apologetically. "I tried to run but ended up tripping on my crutch, Neji-san stayed back to help me."

"What about you losers?" Ino stepped up to them with hands on her hips.

"Troublesome." He shut his eyes, sticking his hands in his pockets and walked past her. Choji followed him, too busy chewing his food to respond.

Ino slapped her forehead and looked to Sakura. "You think you got it bad with Naruto. At least you have one dummy on your team." She giggled but grabbed the female's hand to keep her from continuing on.

TenTen saw Sakura wave her over and Hinata looked momentarily torn as she gazed after the retreating Naruto and toward Sakura waved.

Sasuke barely glanced behind him before maneuvering himself to be beside Shikamaru. "I believe they figured it out."

"When they figure it out, we'll know. It will be the worst." Kiba told him, looking back behind him as well. Akamaru whined in agreement.

"What are you talking about?" Shikamaru looked at him bitterly, "Your woman doesn't hit. She's the kind one."

"Hinata can get awfully mad when she wants to be."

"Has she ever hit you, Kiba?" Naruto questioned with narrowed brows.

"Iie."

"Screamed at you?" Shikamaru questioned.

"Iie."

Lee looked over at him, "Threw hundreds of daggers at you? While they were on fire?"

"Iie."

"Tried to drown you by trying your hands behind your back and then tying that to a giant bolder that she proceeded to push off the edge of a cliff?" Naruto looked with wide eyes.

"Not that either."

Choji shook his head, "What then?"

"She gave me the silent treatment." Most of the boys fell over, face first in the dirt. The girls stalled in their whispering to blink in confusion and as they marched up to them, the females watched in confusion as they dusted themselves off, all glaring at Kiba while they began to walk again. "It's the worst. Believe me."

"What, Kiba-kun?" Hinata questioned softly.

"Guy talk." He simple stated ignoring the scoffs he received from Sakura and Ino.

Shikamaru looked to the other men of the line and they caught the glance and pulled back a little so the females were walking ahead of them. They girls quickly found themselves alone and they looked back with raised brows. But the men were gone. Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Where did they go?"

"Are they playing with us?"

"I don't think so. Neji and Lee would not mingle willingly with the others. Especially Neji."

"Then how do you explain this?"

"I don't. I just know my boys."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well I know mine, too. And every part of this feels like a trick."

"Ah, what does it matter? This hasn't been as boring as my other missions. I'm okay with it." Ino declared.

"Well, what do we have here?" A male voice filled with seductive humor sounded and the girls turned around to see four new ninjas standing in front of them. They wore no headbands but their attire revealed them to be bandits. Cursing their luck the girls hunched together. "Four little girls lost their way."

"Huh," Ino huffed, "We aren't little girls. Jerk." She growled.

"You're little compared to us, big men." Sakura narrowed her eyes, there was something about that pathetic comeback that got her to question.

"Each take one, we should be alright." TenTen reached in her pockets for her mini scrolls.

"Wait." Sakura stepped foreword, "These are Naruto's clones."

"How can you tell?"

"I told you before. I know my boys." TenTen rolled her eyes. "Naruto! I know it's you."

The four pops sounded and the young blond boy stepped out of the bushes with a hand behind his head and a large frown. "How'd you guess, Sakura-chan?" However, Sakura didn't bother with a response as she slammed her fist in his cheek, sending him flying back into a tree trunk. She stomped ahead and the three females unsure about what was going on, followed her nonetheless. The male ninjas were acting weird, it would be better to just hang together.

It wasn't until they made it to Mizu no Kuni that they stopped to wait for the rest. The boys refused to meet any of their gazes, which only proved more that they were up to something. It was dark now, and the moon hung low on the horizon, the night bugs were just beginning to chirp. "You guys go set up camp. I'll go get the scroll." Shikamaru stated, as he past them with his eyes closed.

Sakura mumbled only for the other three girls to hear, "If there even is one." She folded her arms over her chest. The girls nodded in agreement sending glares to their male counterparts.

Hinata was the only one without a bit of anger in her heart. She really had no clue what was going on and did not really find it necessary to be angry. But she wanted to be accepted by the other females in the group so regardless of her quiet nature she stuck with them. She snuck a glance at Naruto who was sitting cross legged against a tree with the deepest frown on his face. Her cheeks heated as she looked to the ground, secretly wishing she knew how to make him happy.

TenTen looked to Neji but his back was to her. She narrowed her eyes and glared at all the other boys. They got to him. Somehow, someway, they got to him and defiled him with their meaningless words. Kami she hated them. Neji was the most untainted, profound man she had ever encountered. She hadn't believed he would changed into a over hormonal male filled with testosterone. They did something to him. She was certain of it.

Sakura, though brooding, peaked over to Sasuke who was leaned up against the same tree Naruto sat by. His arms were folded over his chest and his eyes were shut. Sasuke wouldn't trick her, he was too uncaring to play games. Her eyes narrowed down to Naruto. That little bugger got him into some mess. It was always Naruto's fault.

"Let's go." Sasuke suddenly said, pushing himself from the tree and making his way down the path they had just come from. Had they not been playing around they would have been able to make it to the village and back to their own in little over fourteen hours. Now they were stuck to set up camp. Kami, why did he bother to come, knowing it was just a fake game? There was no training involved in this. No way to become stronger. But as he opened his eyes and saw Naruto, then peaked a glance over to his female teammate. She was marching away with her eyes shut in her anger. Sasuke sighed aggravated. He knew he had no choice but to come. If he wasn't here, Naruto would have ruined this whole game from the start. He rolled his eyes, how that boy got through the day without him, he'd never figure it out.

And maybe even secretly, he wanted to find out who would win.

Neji glanceed over at TenTen before shutting his eyes once more and following behind the group. He didn't like this. He didn't even understand why he had agreed to this. But he justified it, Lee's words repeating in his head. They were protecting her honor as a kunoichi. It was their place to make sure no one talked bad about her. However, was this the way to do it? Were they not, by keeping it silent, betraying her?

Naruto didn't like this. Everything was becoming his fault. He'll have everyone know soon enough that it had been Kiba that got him into this mess. He had walked away and then Kiba just came up with this absurd notion to have a competition. It had not been his idea, he should not be hit constantly. Sakura always wanted to hit him. He frowned even more, childishly sticking out his lip. As soon as this competition was over he'll tell Sakura what really is going on and she's bound to forgive him with a kiss. A smile overcame his features and he dropped his arms to the side to swing them happily at the thought.

Shikamaru came down their path finding the camp already set up. His giant tent the only tent among the group. However his eyes narrowed in confusion upon seeing Naruto flying suddenly in front of him, to slam into a tree. And then came Sakura's scream, "How could you forget our tent? I even asked you if you had it on the way." She fumed.

Shikamaru closed his eyes, actually feeling bad for the blond kid. He had told them not to bring a tent for a reason. "Oi," He got everyone's attention. "I thought we'd have another contest."

Sakura rolled her eyes and looked exasperated to the girls behind her. "What is with you and contests?" Ino and TenTen shook their heads, a silent understanding between them.

Naruto, rubbing his head answered as he made his way over to stand behind Shikamaru. "It's more fun this way."

"Hai, hai. Whoever can come closest to beating me in Shogi can sleep in the tent." He pulled out his portable board from his pouch and set it on a rock closest to the fire that was burning.

"I want to go first!" Naruto beamed, plopping down, folding his legs and rubbing his hands together in motivation.

It was two minutes exactly that Shikamaru called, "Next."

Naruto frowned wide, crossing his arms over his chest. Sasuke shook his head as he sat down and prepared his side.

It took over three hours for everyone to get their turn in. And while they did so, four had gone out to the river to bring back fish which were being cooked by the fire. Shikamaru stretched his long legs, standing after beating Lee who was the last in the test. "Looks like it will be Neji, Sasuke, and me." The girls grumbled in defeat, eating their fish with secret anguish boiling in their blood.

"I don't need it." Sasuke mumbled throwing the stick his fish had resided on aside.

"I'm fine outside." Neji stated.

"Then why did you compete?" Ino gaped in annoyance. But they both shrugged. She rolled her eyes.

All the young ninjas sat around the camp fire, unsure what to do next. The girls sat glaring unsurely at the males and they sat nervously, deterring their eyes to the sky. Sakura had many questions she wanted to ask but she knew better. They wouldn't tell her anyway. She needed to find out for herself.

"Oi," Naruto suddenly stood up. "Let's play a game." Sakura smacked her forehead in annoyance. Another game for them to pretend to play. She was actually very surprised when they participated in the Shogi came.

But when Shikamaru asked what he wanted to play, she was thrown off. Maybe this wasn't one of their tests. "ninja-hunt." They all made questionable sounds. "A group hides while the other tries to find them."

The girls looked to each other, unsure what this type of test was to demonstrate. If it was a test at all. She shrugged her shoulders and they agreed. They would play this game and if it turned out that they were the only ones playing…Kami help them…..

"Since Lee won't be able to play, we'll do five on five." Shikamaru quickly took over as leader, which didn't make Naruto happy one bit.

"Oi, I thought of this game, I get to decide what we do."

He rolled his eyes but agreed nonetheless. The boy will never be in charge of any missions for probably his whole life, why not give him these simple pleasures?

"We'll divide five on five." Shikamaru scoffed but said nothing. "I want my team to be: Sasuke, Sakura, Neji, and Hinata."

"Only one Hyuuga to a team." Kiba protested.

Sakura cut him off, "We'll take Hinata." Naruto's mouth dropped open in disappointment but she ignored him, smiling over to the red cheeked female. "And Shikamaru."

"Since you got to pick your own team, you guys hide first." Kiba stated taking his place next to his group. They turned their backs and closed their eyes.

The five quickly disbanded running through the trees, passing an open field and landed just on the other side. Sakura found herself utterly alone as she looked around, wondering how this had happened.

Sasuke and Naruto stayed close to Shikamaru and Hinata but as Sasuke looked around he noticed Sakura was gone, "Oi, where did she go?"

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto whispered looking around. "Hinata, can you find Sakura-chan?"

She nervous brought her hands together, "Byakuga." The veins on her temples expanded and she looked around, "The others are looking for us. Neji-nii-san has found us."

"Move it, crap! Go go." Naruto and the three others ran drastically momentarily forgetting about Sakura until Shikamaru reminded them and they stopped in their tracks running back to the where they were.

"She's caught." Hinata sadly whispered pointing out in the field.

Sakura screamed in her laughter, running as fast as she could but Kiba, running on all fours was slowly gaining after her till he caught her foot, tripping her, but he spun his body till his back was facing the ground and flung himself in front of her to catch her before she hit the dirt. His back slid on the ground but he was laughing just as her, their bodies tumbling in the weeded field. Akamaru's barking echoed but the long grass hid him from sight.

Naruto glared, crossing his arms over his chest as he grit his teeth. He dropped to the floor, Sasuke behind him, glowering a bit less pronounced. "Who does that guy think he is? Look at him, he's all over her." Her laughter was echoing in the night. Naruto rolled his eyes again upon seeing the dog look-alike begin tickling the female that was constantly trying to get away.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. The man was molesting her.

Shikamaru dropped down beside them, sensing their distress. "He's a ladies' man, from what I heard." He was making their jealousy boil in their blood, which he found to be humorous enough. "I heard he's already done it."

Naruto's brows knit, "Done what?"

Choji landed beside them, "With a girl two years older then him."

Naruto turned, "Done what with who?"

Ino landed beside Shikamaru, "It was because he went into heat. He disappeared for like two weeks." She looked above her to Hinata, "You remember that?" The girl nodded, Neji and TenTen were standing beside her.

Naruto stomped his foot, "Done what with who for what?"

"It's really weird but I guess it's in his clan's blood type."

"What the hell are you talking about!" Naruto screamed loudly, enough to disrupt the two in the field and they both quickly separated, brushing themselves off as Kiba led Sakura over to the rest.

"We win." He stated still standing in the clearing, unable to see their forms in the darkness but smelling their presence.

"Nani!" Naruto screamed, having had forgotten all about their competition. His hands gripped his hair harshly, "That's not fair."

"What wasn't fair?" Kiba questioned.

"We were taken off guard." He tried to explain without giving away that they had been spying.

Sasuke sighed, "Dumbass," Before heading back to camp after declaring, "I'm done."

"It is unfair for Lee." Neji explained jumping down and following after the only other quiet guy among the lot of them.

Naruto, who was glaring consistent at Kiba, (and Kiba, who was staring right back, accepting a challenge when he felt one) waved a hand, "I've suddenly lost my appetite." It didn't make any sense to anyone around him but Naruto didn't care. He thought he made his point well enough.

Lee greeted them happily, relieved not to be alone anymore and he was filled on the details by Naruto, who when he began talking about Kiba, whispered lightly in his ear. Kiba shook his head, the dummy didn't know he had excellent hearing, which came with his beastly blood. He nearly fell from his chair, however, when Naruto started going on about 'doing it'.

"Hey, you freaking idiot, stop it, shut up!" Kiba flung himself from his seat and attacked Naruto. The two rolled around on the floor, fists swinging and curse words echoing in the dark. Akamaru barked and tried to take bites out of Naruto every time they rolled close to him.

Though Sasuke thought his teammate deserved it, he couldn't let Naruto handle it alone. He grabbed a hold of the man's arm while Choji plucked off Kiba and helped Naruto sit up. Sasuke knelled beside him, shaking his head, not needing to say anything else.

"What was that all about?" Sakura questioned but Shikamaru answered.

"Why don't you girls go swimming or something. Let's us have some man time." He waved them off, trying to calm Kiba down in his still ever present rage.

"Ha." TenTen shook her head in disbelief. That nerve of that pathetic little man. Her hand reached into her pocket, unable to hold back the violence that was swimming through her head, but her arm was grasped by the pink hair kunoichi.

"I think I saw a hot spot somewhere to the south. Let's just go. I don't really want to be around them anymore." She whispered.

Though, upset about being stopped in unleashing her mini scrolls of terror, TenTen agreed. She really needed to get away before she ended up killing all of them. With a last glare, especially toward her team, she followed. However as she past by Shikamaru, she couldn't help but slam her fist in his stomach. She smiled in satisfaction, Ino and Sakura laughing beside her as they disappeared in the trees.

The young boy dropped unceremoniously to the floor, holding his stomach as he tried to catch the breath she had knocked out of him. He rolled to his side to cough up what blood she caused. Naruto who had completely forgotten all about the fight, smiled wide and knelled at his side, slapping a hand on his shoulder, "No matter how smart you are, even I know not to say things like that."

"You okay, Shikamaru?" Choji reached down with one hand and lifted him with ease to his feet.

"Hai, Choji." He mumbled, holding his side, feeling along side it. "Broke my damn rib, stupid woman." Shikamaru groaned painfully.

"You deserved it." Neji glared with narrowed eyes.

"Sorry, Neji." He mumbled, knowing not to test the Hyuuga prodigy. With the help from his best friend he sat down on the tree log. His dark eyes looked up to Kiba who was still panting heavily, petting his dog harshly being kept at bay only because Lee was beside him. He couldn't risk hurting the boy more then he was already but that didn't mean his eyes weren't throwing daggers at the blond deadbeat. "What was that about, Kiba?"

The beast eyes looked away and to the floor, not answering. So they peered to other counterpart, "What did you say, Naruto?"

"Nothing. I was just telling Lee about him doing it" Arms reached out to grab Kiba before he could respond and Sasuke stepped beside Naruto, taking out his katana. No one hurt the bastard but him and Sakura, that's just the way it went. Naruto had his hands out before him, waving them in earnest, "Why are you getting so mad? I don't understand what 'it' means!" He nearly screamed, too angry that no one was filling him on what was going on.

Seeing his desperation actually caused Kiba to laugh and shake his head. The boys released him when they realized he wasn't going to attack anymore. "Who told you that, anyway?"

Shikamaru and Choji positioned themselves behind the boy and shook their head, waving their hands over enthusiastically. But Naruto wasn't blond for nothing. "Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji." The two smacked their foreheads.

Kiba turned to them with death in his eyes.