I am sincerely sorry for the late update. To be honest, I do not enjoy this story
whatsoever, but I decided to give it a shot. This chapter is fairly boring, but the pace will pick
up more in the third chapter which I am writing right now.
If anybody has any fun games to play such as Spin the Secrets, then please leave a review.
I was also wondering if anybody wanted me to write about a truth or dare game, or not?
Please enjoy the story, and I promise to update sooner this time!
"Guys, I can see them with my Byakugan. They should be able to hear us within the next thirty seconds so it would be best if we formed a plan of action before going any further."
Neji and Sasuke immediately turned to look at Shikamaru. "We should probably stay quiet and approach with cauti-"
"HEY GIRLS! WHAT'S UP WITH THE FROWNS!"
Shikamaru slapped a hand over his face. "Naruto you idiot…"
Four frightened screams filled the forest, causing the four guys to fall to the ground covering their ears.
"NARUTO! " Sakura stood in front of the blond shinobi with her fist raised, eyes white with anger.
"Look S-Sakura! It was an accident!" Fortunately for him, Sakura was no longer paying attention as she stared at the three sheepish ninja standing behind him. Her eyes lit up when she looked at Sasuke.
"Neji? I told you early I was busy. What are you doing out here?" Tenten glanced curiously at her teammate, waiting for his response.
"Hn, I heard that Hinata was out in the middle of the forest and as her protector I had to make sure she was umm well protected." Tenten sighed sadly, upset that Neji had not come to make sure she was okay as well. She knew he knew that she was perfectly capable of handling herself but she still enjoyed those rare moments during a fight when she would get hit by a kunai and he would rush over to check on her. One time in particular always made her blush. On the mission to save Gaara, when they had been trapped in the water, she had nearly lost consciousness, but Neji had caught her in his arms. No amount of mental berating could stop the light blush that spread across her cheeks from the recalled memory. She would take a hundred kunai tearing through her skin if it meant that he would lose his hard exterior and show his caring side to her again.
Hinata noticed her friend's glazed look and quickly nudged Tenten before anybody else took notice.
"Hey Hinata! It is nice to see you again!" Hinata's entire face turned red as she realized that it was Naruto addressing her.
"N-Naruto, uh yes. Hello Naruto. How have you been?" She ducked her head, refusing to meet his shining blue eyes which always sent her into such a fluster. Already, her face was hot with a blush which she was sure could be seen by everybody in the clearing.
"Screw the politeness guys!" Ino stood up angrily, glaring at each boy in turn before settling for just glaring at Shikamaru. He never lied to her. "Shikamaru…" He tensed at her sickly sweet tone, knowing he was screwed. Everybody else just looked on confused by her sudden change. "So if Neji is out here to protect Hinata, then why are the rest of you here as well? I find it hard to believe that all of you are here to protect Hinata. You must know how rude it is to crash in on a party when you are uninvited." Ino would have continued to terrorize Shikamaru, but a loud voice interrupted her rant.
"Whoa! This is a party! Why wasn't I invited!"
"Shut up, Naruto! I was talking to Shika!" Naruto laughed outright, not containing his amusement at all.
"Shika? Is that your pet name for him?" Sasuke and Neji were both uncharacteristically grinning, though they looked more like their usual smirks. Shikamaru stared confusedly at Ino, both with bright red faces. Of course he had heard the name quite often, however having Naruto refer to it as a pet name, and most of their friends fighting back laughter, he realized how ridiculous the name was.
Hinata, always the one to avoid conflict, swiftly changed the subject. "How a-about the four of you join us? W-we were kind of running out of things to do anyways. Y-you don't mind, right Ino?"
Ino was still too dazed to answer so the rest of the ninja, other than Shikamaru who was waiting for Ino's reply, sat down in the circle. Shikamaru, realizing that Ino wasn't planning on moving anytime soon, saved her from embarrassment by quickly grabbing her warm, soft hand and pulling her to the ground next to him.
It would be an understatement to say that the circle was awkward. Even Naruto was unusually quiet as he kept stealing side glances at the dark haired kunoichi next to him. Now that all of them were 16, or 17 since Neji and Tenten were a year older, they had all graduated to jounin level. Their outfits were all still mostly the same, though today Tenten and Neji both wore the Anbu training gear.
Sasuke was the first to move, unused to the heavy silence that his close friends were casting. He was already embarrassed enough by being so easily caught by the girls. He leaned to his right where Sakura was sitting. He didn't see the bright blush on her cheeks as he whispered into her ear. When he backed away she had a look of shock on her features.
"Are you serious?"
"Hn, nobody has any better ideas, and you did mention that this was a party."
Ino, finally awakened from her daze with her peaked curiosity, glanced at the two across from her. Everybody was interested by now, and it took only a few moments for Ino to voice what every one of them was wondering. "What are you two talking about? What idea?"
"Sasuke thinks we should play spin the Secrets. Any objections?"
Shikamaru propped himself up from his position laying on the ground to look at Ino. "What is Spin the Secrets, Ino?"
Ino blushed a furious shade of red. "Uh well it is this game the girls used to play back in the academy. How does Sasuke know about that game Sakura?" Ino looked skeptically at her pink-haired friend.
"Oh that game! Sakura was bored on a mission once so she forced Sasuke and me to play it with her. This game is hilarious guys; we gotta play! Is that okay with you Hinata?"
Naruto and Hinata both blushed when their eyes met. She couldn't be sure how her voice would sound if she talked just now so she settled for simply nodding her head, receiving a wide grin from Naruto in turn. Hinata ducked her head, smiling quietly when succeeding in making him happy.
"Slow down now. I am a girl and I have never played this game. I don't even know what it is." Neji smiled to himself, glad that Tenten was once again not like every other girly girl. He respected her even more because she refused to show weakness or take part in normal girl rituals such as wearing dresses and makeup or fawning over guys. He still considered himself lucky for being graced with her on his team. He could hardly imagine being stuck with one of his fan girls. He still regretted how rude he had been that first year together.
Though she had never given any inclination at the academy that she was the type of girl to chase after him, he still held his breath every time she had shown up to train, expecting her to yell out her feelings to him; she never did. In that first harsh year, she had remained fairly subjective towards him. Gai had forced them to train on more than one occasion, and it was from these few spars with her that Neji had first felt the unfamiliar tingling in his heart. After the failed Chunin exams, and his dramatic change in character, he had chosen her as a sparring partner; and due to his decision they became the closest of friends.
"Neji!" His head snapped up as her musical voice called his name repeatedly. Somehow he had managed to become engrossed in his thoughts, forgetting all about the circle of friends, some more annoying than others, that surrounded him. Deep auburn eyes stared deeply into his, and it took all of his willpower to not jump back at their close proximity.
Tenten had been worried when Neji failed to respond to her question on whether he wanted to play the game or not. She was torn between desperately wanting to escape possible embarrassment, and wanting to stay by her teammate's side and learn even more about him. And so now, she leaned over him, their faces mere centimeters apart. With this realization, she found herself quickly pushing back and retaking her place by his side in the grass.
Luckily for the two flushed teens, the only person to notice was Hinata.
My next chapter should be up by Monday, so remember if you have any fun game
ideas or maybe just any ideas in general, leave a review! ;D