Child of Kyuubi
Chapter 4
The Fight That Destroyed The Power of Youth

Several months later, Sasuke had finally regained the trust of the village of Konoha, and the village was truly peaceful for the first time in a long while. Orochimaru was gone, and the Akatsuki hadn't been around. The leaves were a brilliant green, shimmering in the August sun, and near the Hokage tower Sasuke was sitting at a table in the Ichiraku Ramen shop. He was glaring at Hyuuga Neji, who was glaring at Sasuke in return. Next to Sasuke was Naruto, who was chowing down his fourth bowl of Miso Ramen. Rock Lee was sitting next to Neji, looking at Neji in confusion. At the table to the right of the four sat Hinata, Sakura, Ino, and TenTen, and Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino sat at the table to the left.

Why are they glaring at each other? Their vibes of friendship are loosing their glimmer! Lee thought to himself in confusion, scratching at his head as Neji and Sasuke continued their staring contest, ignoring the ramen in front of them. I don't remember them getting into a fight, yosh, and they haven't said anything at all since we got here! They just started glaring at each other! What happened to the glow of friendship?

"Nee, Naruto, you have the Power of Youth flowing in your veins! Surely you know the answer I seek!"

Naruto blinked, looking up from his ramen. "Um, what do you want to know, Lee?" he asked curiously.

"Why are Neji and Sasuke glaring at each other? It's confusing the Power of Youth!"

Naruto looked at the two and shrugged. "I don't know, ask them."

"Ok! Thank you for your wonderful guidance! I'll forever be in your debt!" Lee cheered before looking at the two boys at the table who were still glaring at each other. "Neji, please answer my question with the power of youth! Why are you giving the stares of rudeness and not friendship to Sasuke?"

Neji didn't answer.

"NEJI IS NOT ANSWERING! THIS IS DESTROYING MY POWER OF YOUTH AND FRIENDSHIP! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! AHH!" With that, Lee raced out of the ramen shop in tears. His shouts of "WHAT HAPPENED TO FRIENDSHIP!" could be heard in the distance, disturbed intermittingly by tears. "I MUST NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH! I SHALL RUN ONE THOUSAND LAPS AROUND KONOHA ON MY HANDS TO GET STRONGER SO NEJI WILL NOT INGORE MY POWER OF YOUTH!"

Inside Ichiraku's, Sakura and Ino cracked up laughing, shaking their heads at Lee's antics. "How do you manage this all the time?" the two asked TenTen.

The weapons expert shrugged. "I don't. I taught myself selective hearing." She looked at Neji. "Though I have to admit, I, too, am wondering why they're glaring at each other.

Sakura and Ino laughed. "You don't know?" the blonde girl asked.

"Know what?"

Sakura leaned across the table, and whispered furiously into the girl's ear.

"Oh, I get it!" TenTen then began to laugh, soon falling to the floor, tears falling down her cheeks like a rainstorm that knocked power out for days on end.

"Sakura-chan, what are they fighting over? I don't understand!" Hinata asked shyly, pressing her index fingers together.

Sakura looked to Ino, panic in her eyes. The blonde rolled her eyes, leaning over and whispering, "They're fighting over Naruto's wedding," in the Hyuuga heir's ear.

"Oh," Hinata blushed. Neji's trying to convince Sasuke to allow Naruto to marry me! Oh, Neji-neesan is so nice! she thought to herself, a blush spreading over her cheeks.

Two tables over, Shikamaru was resting his head on the table. "So troublesome," he muttered to himself.

"What's troublesome?" Choji asked, eating from his ever-present bag of barbeque potato chips rapidly.

"Neji and Sasuke. Why can't they agree to share? It would make everything so much easier and not troublesome for me."

"Share what?" Kiba asked. "Wait, you don't mean…" he trailed off, glancing at the center table. Shikamaru nodded, and Kiba joined TenTen on the floor.

Choji blinked. "Share what? I'm confused, Shikamaru."

The genius sighed, and whispered one quick word in his best friend's ear."

Choji looked over at Hinata, who was still blushing like crazy. "Then shouldn't we stop talking about this? We don't want to hurt Hinata-chan's feelings. She's dead set on Naruto."

Shino sighed. "No, the girls can't hear this over TenTen and Kiba's laughter," he muttered quietly.

"Oh, that's true." Choji then went back to his chips, no longer interested in the fight between Sasuke and Neji.

Back at the center table, Neji and Sasuke had yet to cease glaring at the other for a reason that seemed to confuse some, annoy others, and even make a few collapse in tears and laughter. Yet, the two were oblivious to all, as they had blocked the rest of the world out except for the other. Naruto, sitting next to them, was also oblivious to all, beginning his fourth bowl of Miso Ramen.

"Mine," Neji finally spoke up, glaring at Sasuke.

The Uchiha heir activated his Sharingan, growling, "I don't think so."

Neji activated his Byakugan in response. "But I do think so. He's mine."

Sakura and Ino joined TenTen and Kiba on the floor as Hinata's face glowed red yet again. Neji-neesan is really trying hard to win Naruto for me! I'm so embarrassed!

Choji and Naruto continued to eat, still ignoring the fight. Shino rolled his eyes behind his heavy shades. This is really annoying. Can't they take this elsewhere? I don't want to be near this, it's making the Kikaichu really antsy.

Shikamaru dropped his head to the table. So troublesome. If they want to fight over which one of them is marrying Naruto, they can just try to win over Naruto before the other, not fight over it in front of me. It's up to Naruto, anyways! Bakas…"

BOOM! The sound echoed through the village, stopping the fight, fits of laugher, thoughts, and eating spree.

"That didn't sound too good," Naruto whispered nervously. "I wonder what's going on…"

"You want to know what's going on? We've come to get you, Uzumaki," a voice said from the entrance to the ramen stand.