Here's the chapter, sorry about the wait.

Like I said, first few chapters will be boring. There is some really odd stuff between Kiba and Ino at the end of the chapter. Rather, this is just a filler chapter. The next one will be up soon.

I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 2

Much Ado About... Nothing

Twelve shinobi stood at the gate to Konoha. They were the elite, as a team, because they had fought together for years and knew each other so well. Perhaps too well. You could tell they were determined, by the looks on their faces, the way they bore themselves, and the light in their eyes. They would not rest peacefully until Sasuke came home.

Konoha was his home. He just might need some persuasion to realize that.

They hadn't made a particularly good start the very first day. They, in fact, hadn't made much progress at all towards the wave country. They had made about eighty kilometers worth of distance over the course of the day... however, it was partially intentional. They wanted to lure Sasuke into a false sense of security. They wanted to make it seem that Konoha placed very little actual value in Naruto's well being.

That night at camp...

"Inoooooo have you seen Akamaru's chew-toy?" the brown-haired male asked his blond-haired companion, smiling with a fake innocence. Ino was sitting on a log around the fire in the middle of the camp. Shino had his insects watching the area, so there was no need for a watch. Most of the others had gone to bed. Neji had gone for a walk.

"Do I look like I would want to touch something like that?" Ino sent him a sharp glare, which clearly said, "Eww, back off dog boy."

"I don't know what you like to touch, but I think I'd like to," Kiba responded, smirking.

Ino blushed heavily. "You were just waiting with that line, weren't you?" She had an "interest" in the canine-loving shinobi. She wouldn't call it an infatuation, or a crush, or even a sexual desire. She was curious. Someone who was so... connected to dogs could be capable of many things that she might never have thought of. Not sexually speaking, of course.

"Maaaaaaybeeeh," Kiba replied, sliding out the word as his smirk grew all the wider. "Did ya like it?" He leaned over so his face was next to her ear, his hot breath sending goosebumps down her spine.

"No," Ino replied, turning her face away so that he wouldn't see her blush deepen any more. The night can only hide so many things. He's going to play like that? Fine, I can play too. I just won't dance to his tune.

"Well hows about when we get to the Wave Country, we try this again, and I buy you a drink and we talk it out like the mature adults that our parents wish we were?" Kiba said slyly, his voice toned down to a husky whisper. "You know you want to. I can," he took a deep whiff of the back of Ino's neck, "smell it."

"Back off, Kiba," she growled. This was going to be too fun.

"I take that as a yes?"

"Of course not."

"Make that seven then?"

"In your dreams."

"See you then."

"Bastard."

Ino stormed off to the girls tent, determined that a long girl chat would clear her thoughts.

Neji knew there was a lot he should be thinking about. A lot he wasn't thinking about because it didn't exactly occur to him that it mattered. But nonetheless, it plagued his thoughts. Why did it hurt to see anyone else talk to Tenten? Why could he not meet her eye? Why couldn't he bring himself to challenge Naruto again to prove his ultimate superiority? Why couldn't he live up to the Hyuuga name?

He heard footsteps, light, but unmasked. He shifted to his Byakugan once more, to find out who was following him. "Lady Hinata, you should be resting. Your father would not appreciate you being up this late at night. It is not ladylike."

The shy, lavender-haired girl stepped out from the shadows. Over the years, she had matured. No longer was she weak, careless. She had also matured physically. If Neji were not so closely related to her, he might have found her attractive. Possibly, even worthy of his attention. But no. For now, she was stuck on the daemon-boy.

"Neji, I-I wanted to ask you something... and I would appreciate it if you did not tell my father," Hinata said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Your wish is my command, Lady Hinata. I live to serve the Main Branch," Neji replied, his thoughts not even pausing to formulate the response. It was so instinctive to say that. He didn't even think about anything else.

"N-Naruto... why does he never notice me?" There was an edge of hurt in her voice, and Neji, without looking at her, could tell she was on the verge of crying. "Please tell me you know."

"Naruto is, to be blunt, Lady Hinata, quite oblivious to the world around him. He sees his current goal and nothing else. Were his goal you, Lady Hinata, you would know it quite well." Neji hadn't intended to come off quite as harsh. However, he had been asked the question. He answered to the best of his ability. He heard quiet sobs from the direction of his cousin. "I shall put in a favorable word with some of the others." He had to get her out of his hair so he could think. About what, he wasn't sure. But anything was preferable to his cousin's rantings.

It was something that most guys either dreaded or wanted to see: girl talk. ( Ino slid inside the girls' tent, the blush on her face apparent from Kiba's flirting.

"What is it now, pig?" Sakura asked, not even once taking her eyes off the book she was reading. Hinata was gone, and Tenten was sharpening one of her kunai.

"Kiba's flirting with me," Ino spilled, but it sounded like "Kibahshbleddehshlaftke."

"Salutations and good day to you," Tenten snorted.

"Kiba is flirting with me," Ino repeated, slowly.

"Congratulations," Sakura said, still not looking away from what she was doing. Neither did Tenten.

"You two are terrible," Ino sighed, falling down onto her sleeping bag, her head landing in Sakura's lap and dislodging her book. Her former rival looked down at her, narrowing her eyes.

"I was reading that," Sakura snarled.

"Yeah, and Inuzaka Kiba asked me out when we got to the Wave Country. HE asked ME out on a DATE," Ino snarled back.

"Like she said, congratulations Ino," Tenten muttered. She moved on from one of her kunai to one of her longer knives.

"You don't want details? What kind of teenage girls are you?"

"Sane ones," Tenten and Sakura replied simultaneously.

"Just because you two are ridiculously in love with human ice cubes doesn't mean the rest of us have to limit our prospects," Ino said, trying to get a reaction. Tenten stiffened and Sakura bucked up with her hips, sending Ino's head onto the hard ground. "Owww...," she muttered, "Sorry I said anything."

"You're not forgiven," Sakura grumbled.

"Tenten, I bet you couldn't seduce Neji if you stood naked in front of him. Or with lacy underwear, or whatever his fetish is," Ino rolled over so she was fully on her sleeping bag and put her head in her hands.

"No bet," Tenten growled.

"Does he even have hormones? Does he even have a... you know... penis?" Ino said, blushing at the last word.

Tenten was becoming more and more furious with every "joke" Ino made. Friend or not, this was dangerous territory. "Shut up!"

"Aren't you curious, forehead?"

Sakura didn't respond.

"You are insufferable," Tenten said, and stormed out of the tent.

Mission accomplished.

The next chapter should be more interesting.

Reviews = fuel for chapters.

Also, I thank Astrocam for the beta'ing. You should too.