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Ch. 2 Ramen

One year ago today…

It had been a long day for team 7. Plenty of years had past since they were called that. Now they where equal team members and no longer sensei and students. This mission was going to be especially tough; four jounin were needed and team 7 was the perfect combination. Tsunade-sama was right to send them. It wasn't even midnight yet and already Kakashi's team had returned. There were smiles all around even on the Uchiha's face, but soon after entering the village their laughter died down. They hadn't even past the gates when already they had friends expecting them.

Oh no… not Gai… he probably wants to challenge me…

And as if Kakashi's words had been heard Gai's booming voice broke through his thoughts.

"Oi, Kakashi we are still tied! My adorable student, Lee, brought a competition that we hadn't yet tried to my attention. I believe it is my turn to pick the challenge."

"Really? Okay, what is that?" Kakashi, obviously uninterested, leaned against a wall and pulled out his infamous book.

"A race around Konoha..." Gai looked as youthful as ever and the smile that gleamed on his face made it almost impossible to deny that he wanted to beat Kakashi once and for all.

Too easy what's the catch…though Kakashi

"On one foot!"

I knew it… one foot. Sigh this might be fun.

Partially ignoring Gai and his team he turned and said "Maa, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura go ahead and get some rest. We've earned it tonight, unfortunately for me this might take a while"

"So you accept the challenge?" Gai had secretly been practicing all that day taking advantage of the fact that Kakashi had been out.

"Yes." Kakashi accepted only because he was feeling unusually upbeat.

"Let's go Lee!"

"Sir!"

The three took off to decide a start point. Neji, Ten-ten, Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto stood together under Konoha's bright lights. Soon the five of them were walking together to the center of town. Uncertain as to the direction they were taking Sakura took advantage of the opportunity.

"Sasuke, want to go eat some sweets?!" Sakura's voice squeaked

"I hate sweets." Sasuke's usual indifference still failed to get through the thick-headed girl

"Wanna go to my house?" asked the naïve girl.

"No."

Harsh. She thought.

"I'll take you Sakura." Naruto was only being polite because he hated to see that dumb look on Sakura's face after being turned down by Sasuke countless times. Even after so many years had past Sakura still had a crush on the man. She was a smart medical ninja. She had the best medical healing abilities that rivaled Tsunade's own, but still she couldn't imagine Sasuke as anything else but her boyfriend.

"Baka, I want to be protected not to have someone to protect." Her usual stupidity shone through her words. Unaware of what a great friend she could have in Naruto, Sakura took off heatedly towards her home. Even after proving himself countless times she still saw Naruto as the immature little boy he was when growing up. Naruto did admit to pranks once in a while and his love for ramen never ceased to exist. He lived in the same small apartment and still laughed uninhibited by the world. He hadn't changed much in his personality, but his abilities and dependability had certainly improved.

Sasuke not being one to care about Sakura's actions took this time to jump from rooftop to rooftop away from the remaining three.

"Sakura had a good idea. Are you hungry Ne--?" Naruto who had finally gotten enough courage to ask was interrupted by Ten-ten.

"Sure!" Ten-ten assumed that Naruto was asking her because Sakura was gone. She didn't even consider the fact that Neji might have been the one to catch Naruto's eye. It was in fact Neji who had caught his attention. It had been a while since Naruto had liked someone. Even though he was getting older girls never seemed to do it for him. It was only recently that he had noticed the reactions of his body as he slept near Neji. He began to feel aroused near Neji when they went on missions. He wanted to be sweet to him and in fact often was. It was a different feeling. It felt better than his only crush with Sakura which he later came to accept as just a phase. He had finally come to terms with his sexual orientation and was willing to take a small risk tonight to get closer to Neji.

"Great…" Naruto answered unenthusiastically and stared past Ten-ten in an attempt to look at Neji. Nervously he dared to ask "so, Neji want to come?" Naruto desperately hoped Neji would say "yes" or he'd have to spend what was left of that night with Ten-ten.

"I must get home." Neji lied. He knew that if he agreed he'd find something else to like about Naruto. He had been denying to himself the fact that every time he looked at Naruto he felt something that made butterflies dance in his stomach. Nervousness always surfaced during missions with Naruto. He remembered staying up at night in the team's tent when Naruto slept heavily next to him. He couldn't help at times to just stay awake and look at the blonde's hair and listen to his breath draw in and out slowly as he dreamt unbeknownst to Neji those dreams often starred him. He didn't want to spend any more time with him. It would only make those awkward feelings worse.

"Oh come on Neji. My treat!" Naruto spoke in a cute whiny voice he had never used before.

Why do I find him so … so… I can't say it… just… so very very…

Neji took a deep breath and rid himself of doubt "Okay. Where to?"

"Ichiraku no Ramen?!" Naruto still couldn't kick his ramen habit. He still let Iruka-sensei treat him every once in a while.

"Sure!" Ten-ten blushed I wonder why Naruto insisted on bringing Neji. He probably was too nervous about asking me out. Is this a date? Does it count? Yay!!! It probably does.

I wish it were me and Neji. Thought Naruto. He couldn't see that the girl had a crush on him. He couldn't see past Neji at this point. He really felt like pulling Neji closer by wrapping his arm around his shoulders.

Earlier in the week he had had a talk with Iruka-sensei about his new feelings. He was so perplexed over the situation. He had no one to talk to and liking men when you were a man wasn't a common thing among the villagers, at least not to his knowledge. Iruka-sensei didn't know exactly how to make him feel better.

He simply asked Naruto "What is love?"

"Well, it's a feeling sensei. I think."

"Okay and love can be felt by anyone right?"

"Yes"

"Well, then does it really matter who is feeling it? I mean love is love no matter who it's from or for."

"I suppose but that doesn't make it 'right'" Iruka took Naruto into a deep embrace.

"Naruto, it is right. It's people that are wrong. Loving someone is never wrong, but you will have to be ready to face people who disagree. Not everyone can accept relationships with same sex partners." He smiled at Naruto and added "No matter what you can always come to me. I don't care how old you are I'll always be here for you." He ran his hand through Naruto's blond hair and the boy smiled.

Naruto was ready. He took a short leap and asked "Do you like ramen, Neji?"

Giving his answer no thought he said "I've never had it." Neji didn't know the effect that answer would have on the boy. He was grabbed by the shoulders and in an instant Naruto was staring straight into his eyes with an incredulous look on his face.

"No! You have to try miso ramen and pork ramen and… and…" Naruto was overexcited by the fact that he could introduce his world of ramen to Neji. He couldn't believe that Neji hadn't yet tried ramen.

"I think I'll only be able to sample one." Neji cut him off. I hope that wasn't rude. What am I saying its Naruto.

"Welcome, Neji to Irchiraku's!" Neji sat down and quickly Naruto picked the empty stool nearest to him. Ten-ten eagerly sat next to Naruto.

"Two Miso ramen please." Naruto dared to order for Neji.

How sweet he ordered for me. Thought Ten-ten, incorrectly.

"Ten-ten are you going to eat something?" Naruto hadn't realized that the girl that undressed him with her eyes everyday had a major crush on him.

"Oh, right I'll have the same please." Ten-ten couldn't believe that Naruto had ordered for Neji but not her. She was getting the hint of what was going on. If only she were wrong she hoped.

"So Naruto how was the mission?" asked Ten-ten eager to talk and get to know more about her secret crush.

"It was great. It ended quickly though." Naruto didn't even look at her once. He was too busy staring at Neji's long black hair. It was glistening under the moon light and Naruto could only imagine how it would feel to hold it and run his fingers through it.

"Naruto? Naruto?" Ten-ten waved her arm in front of Naruto's eyes

"Huh, oh yeah." Naruto was too busy thinking of the boy's white skin that looked like sweet milk and wondering what the taste would be.

"I asked if you came here often." Repeated an agitated Ten-ten. It had been 10 minutes of her asking questions and not once did Naruto look at her. He wasn't talking to Neji either but at least he held his attention longer than the girly panda that was sitting too close for comfort.

"Oh a lot a lot. I love ramen." Naruto finally managed to get his eyes off of Neji's spellbinding looks. Looks that radiated passion into him. He sheepishly smiled as he noticed Ten-ten's restless look.

Why is Naruto ignoring Ten-ten? He is practically giving her his back and keeps staring at me. Neji was slowly catching on to what was going on. It would seem that he wasn't the only one with those forbidden thoughts. He wanted to be sure before he acted. The fear of being rejected and exposed at the same time brought fear into him and he quickly rid his mind of the idea. He couldn't do it. It was too difficult and even if it did happen to be mutual to maintain a relationship hidden from an entire village would be even harder.

Finally their food was set in front of them. Eagerly Naruto yelled out into the night "Itadakemasu!"

Ten-ten still hoping that her crush would be reciprocated ate in the most ridiculous way to impress Naruto, slurping the broth and practically swallowing the noodles whole.

Even with her antics she didn't manage to get Naruto to look in her general direction. Naruto's attention varied from his bowl to Neji and back to his bowl. He wondered if this beautiful man next to him was enjoying this night as much as he was.

Naruto almost fell off of his chair as he watched Neji delicately place a noodle in his mouth. He sucked in a noodle a little too fast which made the end piece land in his hair. Naruto couldn't help himself; without thinking he leaned in and removed the noodle before Neji could get to it. He thought this was the closest he could get so in an attempt to taste him he placed the noodle into his own mouth slurping it and enjoying every second of that small moment.

Neji was caught of guard. "Uh… Naruto?" He looked over at Naruto for a hint. Naruto smiled closing his eyes and showing his signature grin.

"Thank you, Naruto."

AAAHHHHHHHHH! What just happened?! That's it I can't take this anymore. "Excuse me guys I forgot my shoe or something" Ten-ten yelled out as she took off heatedly.

"Okay." Both answered cluelessly.

Their eyes met finally and Naruto's stare melted through Neji's defense. He couldn't be just another ninja to the blonde. He wanted to touch that rough hair. It probably smelled of … what would Naruto smell of?

Damn it damn it… Ten-ten stomped on the ground outside the small shop.

"Hey what's wrong?" Sakura had cooled off and returned to look for Sasuke. On ignorant, lie-based, blissful dreams she had come back.

"Nothing just Naruto asked me out to dinner but he won't pay attention to me he's all over Neji. Maybe I'm the one that's interrupting… wait I'm interrupting…" quickly she turned and grabbed Sakura by the shoulders. "Is Naruto?!"

"Not that I can tell…"

"Well, peek into Ichiraku's you'll see what I mean."

---

"So what prompted you to do that?" asked Neji curiously. He began to fix his hair where the noodle had hit. Tempting Naruto's stare all the more with his thin and long gentle fingers.

"Heh, Neji… umm I don't know" answered Naruto sheepishly a light blush spread on his cheeks

"Do you…" Neji wanted to ask him. He wanted and needed to know if he wasn't dreaming all of those little times during missions where Naruto would do the simplest things for Neji that he wouldn't do for any other of their teammates. He wanted to hold his hand most of all.

"Yeah?" Naruto's hope-filled voice gave Neji the courage to go on.

"You are gonna think this is odd… but do you…by any chance…"

Naruto touched Neji's hand as if to answer the unasked question. He gently squeezed and felt the warmth of the other. Neji blushed a deep pink that showed on his pale skin. Sakura had peeked in on time to see the reddening on Neji and to witness Naruto's deep stare.

She scattered outside with the other girl "Ten-ten I think you're right. I just saw Naruto staring at Neji. Neji was even blushing! I think you were right. They might just be…" Sakura was cut off by Ten-ten she was staring dumbfounded at the night sky. She whispered over and over "I can't believe he doesn't like me…I can't believe it." Ten-ten's eyes watered but she didn't cry. Its not that she loved him, but as a girl who had never had a crush on anyone other than Lee before she couldn't help but be disappointed at their find.

If only for Sakura's sake she proposed "New mission: are Naruto and Neji gay!" Sakura smiled and took the girl by the hand leading her home to plan.