A/N – I'm trying my best to update this weekly. Trying my best doesn't really mean that it'll happen lol.

Thanks to those who have reviewed!:-

BetahimeTsukiko

Inu-bitch

MysticFireBlood

Celestial kitty16

The Set up – Part 1

Yamato's POV

I watched in horror as Sakura and Ino continued to nudge Sai closer to Naruto. Naruto set down his fourth cup of ramen – half finished – when Sai sat down beside him. I pretended to go do some exercises for the next stage of Naruto's training, to avoid this wonderfully awkward moment. The blonde is watching expectantly as Sai repeatedly opens and closes his mouth; his face growing a darker shade of red with each failed attempt to start a conversation. I would have found the raven haired intruders fish impression funny, if the situation wasn't so serious. 'No no nonononono! Don't let the she-devil's win!' I was more than aware this was not the first time the 'she-devil's' had tried to set Naruto and Sai up, but this was the closest they had got so far. Five minutes with no insults thrown and both were still alive. 'Does this mean Naruto's actually considering it? Shit!' I contemplate ruining the moment. Then contemplate what Sakura would do to me if I did. I could play the innocent 'I had no idea' card, but Sakura knew something. She had commented a few times about me staring at Naruto. I also discovered she was immune to fear. That does not bode well for me at all.

I watch as Naruto quickly glances over Sai as the raven haired ninja finally began to prattle about something he'd read in a book. Naruto frowned slightly. "Was there something you wanted to ask me Sai?"

Sai, seems startled by Naruto's sudden entrance to the conversation – but of course would never show it – smiled slightly. "Well, Naruto-kun, as I was saying, I read in a book that –

Naruto quickly cut him off, "Skip to the end"

I try not to laugh. Laughing meant they'd know I'm eaves dropping. Sai just smiled again.

"Very well; Naruto-kun, would you like to go on a date with me?"

"Sure"

I had to do a double take. 'Did he just agree to go on a date with Sai?' My fear was confirmed by two high pitched squeals. 'Damn she-devils'. I've decided this would definitely be a good time to interrupt. I make my way back over to the group and brandished a smile for the two still squealing girls. Although I am mildly disturbed about how much closer Sai had moved towards Naruto since I had left, I quickly brush it off and address the two women. "Did I miss something?"

Both Ino and Sakura grinned up at me – although Sakura's smile was oddly frightening and carried a promise of pain – whereas the boys looked slightly embarrassed. I should be paying more attention to the nature of the pink haired girls odd smile, but I was too busy plotting how to save – yes 'save' – Naruto from the clutches of the she-devils and their raven haired man stealer. 'Technically he's not mine, but he damn well should be!' Being able to smile through these thoughts is a feat I am proud of.

"Oh, captain Yamato! It's fantastic! Sai and Naruto are-

Ino was cut off by both boys protesting, "Ino!"

I shift my gaze to the two ninja and cock an eyebrow. "You two are what?" I grin as I watch Sai sweat and Naruto choke on some ramen. Naruto, of course, was the only one who answered me.

"It's nothing captain Yamato. Sai just asked me to help him out with something."

I couldn't help but frown. 'Why would Naruto lie? We all know that he is gay, so it'd be natural to go on a date.' Both boys seemed to have frozen at my look. I quickly clear my throat. "I hope you two aren't going to get into any trouble, because I won't be bailing you out this time". Last time Naruto and Sai decided to 'bury the hatchet' I had ended up having to save them both from Tsunades wrath. Apparently, their way of making up involved playing a prank on the hokage. She was not amused. Then again, I wouldn't be amused about coming out of the bath covered in blue paint.

Both had the decency to look ashamed. That last stunt had cost them a months worth of trash duty. I doubt either of them wants to go through that again. Needless to say, they had both gone back to each others throats. This time, Sai spoke up. "No captain, we do not plan on getting into trouble. We are going out in a date."

I raise both eyebrows at that as Naruto whacked the paler boy on the back of the head. "Sai!" I am quite surprised by both of them; Sai for being so straight forward about it, and Naruto for trying to hide it. 'What the hell is going on? Did I fall through the looking glass? They're looking at me. I should probably respond.' "Well, that's good", 'well done Yamato', "but still, try not to get into trouble."

I see Naruto let out a sigh of relief, while Sai looked at him obviously a little confused. "What did you hit me for?" I felt a little spring of hope pop up. 'Sai's pissed off. That usually leads to Sai insulting Naruto. That leads to Naruto getting pissed off. It's a beautiful cycle.'

"I'm sorry Sai, it was kind of, well, automatic", Naruto grinned sheepishly at the huffing ninja, who in return smiled back. 'Well, there goes that shred of hope.' I thought, still trying my best to portray an air of indifference. Sakura's glare let me know that it wasn't working very well. I decide now would be a good time to leave. I only manage to get about a hundred yards away when the scary pink haired female catches up.

"Captain Yamato, could I talk to you about something?"

'Oh crap, I do not like the look in her eyes.' I gulp slightly, but smile. "Of course Sakura. What would you like to speak to me about?"

I feel my blood go cold as a creepy grin slithers across her face. "Oh nothing much captain, just about your crush on Naruto."

'Shit'

Today is definitely not my day.

Naruto's POV

I was still trying to get the image of a topless Yamato out of m head when Sakura and Ino came bounding over, dragging Sai along with them. 'This can not be good'. Those two had tried to set me up with Sai so many times I've lost count. He's not the only person they've tried setting me up with either. There was Shino – which was creepy, Kiba – who had seemed far too eager, Neji – who had looked slightly insulted, and Shikamaru – who had completely ignored them. Of course I found it pretty funny – although slightly scary – and none of them took the girls seriously. 'Though having Kiba spank me nearly every time I walk past is a little disturbing.'

I set my bowl of ramen down and watch the raven haired ninja who had sat down beside me. It is quite funny to see him doing what looked like an impression of a fish, but that's not what has my attention. I can see captain Yamato in the background watching and trying his best not to laugh. I know he's eavesdropping, and I don't really know why. 'Naruto, you should probably be paying attention to the handsome man in front of you who is trying his best to ask you out.' My own thoughts surprise me sometimes. I hadn't really considered the fact that it is usually Sakura and Ino who do all the talking. I decide to give him my full attention.

Giving him my full attention was definitely a smart move. The poor guy was blabbing on about some book he had read. I feel a little bad for him, but comparing our 'relationship' to a book is a little annoying. It also suggests he's not entirely sure about this. I glance over him while he's distracted. 'Sure, the guys hot. I can't deny that. But I fail to see past the fact this was Sakura and Ino's idea' I frown slightly at that thought. For as long as I've known Sai the guy did nothing but insult Sakura, Sasuke and myself. He doesn't seem to understand emotion, but he knows what to say to get a rise out of someone. And the way he was always fucking smiling when he did it. 'Although, there was that prank we pulled on Tsunade…' I sigh and shake my head. "Was there something you wanted to ask me Sai?"

It sounded cold I know, but that guy could talk about what he read in a book for hours. It's only when you are close enough that you notice you've managed to surprise Sai. I saw his eyes widen briefly before he smiled.

"Well, Naruto-kun, as I was saying, I read in a book that –

'No no no, not back on to the book. Quick, interrupt him!' "Skip to the end." I see Yamato once again stifle a laugh. He seems to be quite good at that. Too bad I already caught him spying on our conversation. I still don't know why. Maybe he's worried that we'll start fighting again.

"Very well; Naruto-kun, would you like to go on a date with me?"

"Sure"

It was out before I had really thought about it. I saw Sai's smile widen and heard what could only be described as two banshee's squealing. Sakura and Ino were obviously quite pleased with themselves. I do a quick re-cap on the situation. I had got asked out by a pretty attractive guy and said yes. Granted, Sai and I fight like dogs most of the time, but still. 'At least this date will be funny' I start to drift off and imagine what could happen. Too be honest, I'm not overly interested in Sai. But I feel like I should do something normal for once. 'If having a date with another man is normal' I don't really care about that. What's playing through my head isn't the reactions that other people may have. AS I have already said, Sai and I usually fight a lot. Chances are we'll probably be fighting again by the end of the night.

I come back to the present as I hear Ino directed her psychotically screechy voice at captain Yamato.

"Oh, captain Yamato! It's fantastic! Sai and Naruto are-

Ino was cut off by both of us, "Ino!"

Yamato had fastened his eyes on both of us and I could see Sai begin to sweat slightly and I know we are both blushing. I want to laugh, but something stops me. I feel slightly nervous about how the captain will take it. I don't really know why. 'It's called deluding yourself Naruto. You want Yamato to be upset that you're going on a date with someone.' Shut up stupid brain. I break out of my thoughts when I hear Yamato speak, "You two are what?" Damn that voice is hot. 'Don't start drooling now, answer the man!'

"It's nothing captain Yamato. Sai just asked me to help him out with something."

I don't really know why I said that. I can't exactly take it back now. That'd be kind of odd – 'Well, I'm not really helping him out. We're going out on a date together. I'm free tomorrow if you want to go out with me then, wink wink, nudge nudge.' That is a great way to ask someone out. It has also come to my attention that Sai has forgotten how to breathe. I should probably help him.

"I hope you two aren't going to get into any trouble, because I won't be bailing you out this time"

Well, that got Sai breathing again. Although I'm not sure hyperventilating is good for him. He looks a little paler. 'Wait, did he say bailing us out again?' Oh yea - the prank on Tsunade. She had left the bath running and we poured in a couple of tins of blue paint. It seemed like a great idea at the time. Yamato got there just in time to stop her from killing us. Instead we both ended up on trash duties for a month. That was not fun. We ended up fighting again; not that that was much of a surprise.

"No captain, we do not plan on getting into trouble. We are going out in a date."

I see Yamato's brow lift in surprise. Then I whack Sai on the back of the head. "Sai!" I pause. I don't really know what else to say to him. Sai does not look happy. 'Oh dear' Well, at least that's bound to be a record. Shortest date ever – seeing as we haven't even gone out on the date yet, or even made arrangements. I feel a little stupid. And Sai glaring at me isn't helping matters. I quickly look up at the captain again, wondering what he'll say. For some reason, I doubt he's going to suddenly push Sai away and run away with me. Reality has no place for day dreams. It's a shame that is. Day dreams are fun, and so much more interesting.

"Well, that's good", 'uh huh', "but still, try not to get into trouble.

I sigh. I'm not sure if it's relief. I shake my head slightly. 'I shouldn't be thinking about him. Not while there is a hot guy in front of me, who even looks cute when he's huffing.' I feel my face flush again.

"What did you hit me for?" Sai looks pretty pissed off. I pull my usual stupid grin, hoping he'll realise I didn't really mean to hit him.

"I'm sorry Sai, it was kind of, well, automatic" Thankfully, he seems to have accepted that as he smiles back.

"That's okay Naruto-kun, I know you are probably still nervous about all this."

I want to retort that I don't get nervous about anything, but that would be an utter lie – and I've told enough of them to last a lifetime! So instead I settle for grinning at him, "So what time do you wanna meet at?"

"Is 6 okay?"

"Sure, that'd be fine. I'll see you then!"

As I get up to head home I see Sakura catch up with Yamato. I cringe slightly at the creepy smile that's on her face.

I would sooo hate to be him right now.