YO! Thank you guys who reviewed and all XD i thank you! Now, i shall put up this chapter!!

"Okay everybody! Listen up!" Sasuke stood up onto a chair and got the crowd to complete silence.

"I am going to tell you the details of the next game, but first, there will be a short game before that. It will help you guys to determine your partner for the dance." What Sasuke just said made the whole group of friends mutter under their breaths, except for Shikamaru and Neji, who were glad Naruto was not going to choose them again.

I mean… Third time's the charm right? Plus, I won't be so unlucky getting him again… Both of them thought to themselves.

Sasuke smirked at Naruto, who was making the final preparations. "Yo, you ready?"

"It is quite obvious I am done here, dear." Naruto got up from where he was squatting and smiled at Sasuke. "Let the games begin!"

The brunette nodded. "Guys! Here is what you should do. We will be turning off all the lights, half of you will be seating down with your hands tied down. The other half will be blind folded."

"The ones who are seating down will be all given a number. Let's say, Tenten is number one."

"Then, the one who is blind folded will have to shout out a number and untie that person, still blind folded of course."

"That person whom you have untied is your partner. Let's get it started!"

0oo0oo0

Darn. There's still a chance he'll be my partner! Neji tightened his grip on the hem of his shirt, just as Naruto announced who will be blind folded and seating down.

"Shino, Hinata, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Gai, Kakashi, Asuma and Ino will be blind folded."

"Kiba, Tenten, Naruto, Neji, Lee, Iruka, Kurenai and Sakura will be seated."

As everybody got into their places, the Chuunin took a quick glance over at Neji. He looks fine. Should be okay… He sighed before he blind folded himself.

Neji closed his eyes. Everything will be fine.

0oo0oo0

Shikamaru's turn was approaching. He heard Kakashi's voice, which shouted out the number 5. Shikamaru was the last person to yell. "Number 7!" My lucky number… I'm sure nothing will go wrong.

But, hell, was he so wrong.

Shikamaru then heard soft gasp from the person he untied. He couldn't really tell who it was, but he figured it was a guy, from the way he sounded.

What? A guy? C'mon, give me a break. Shikamaru shook his head.

When he had finished, he took off his blindfold. He regretted doing that. Because it only made him want to jump down a building.

"What the hell are you doing in front of ME?!" Both of them then started to quarrel. If you were wondering, yes, Neji was his partner.

"I hate you. Of all numbers, you got to choose… choose… ME?!" Neji gritted his teeth.

"How would I know, smart ass?!"

"I don't care how you know! Just shut the hell up!"

"I think you should shut your mouth first." Shikamaru glared at him.

"Oh really?" Neji asked, void of all words to say.

"Yes. I was the last one standing! The only darn number left was seven! What do you want me to do?!"

Neji gave him the sinister look he always had and walked away.

"What?! You're going to walk away just like that?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"At least… wait for the game to start." Shikamaru's words came out weakly and he found his head lowered, looking at his shoes.

Neji could only gasp in surprise. Wha… what?

"Fine." Was his only reply. Not because he was trying to cover his emotions up, but because he had no idea what else to say.

"You think it will work, Naruto?" Sasuke whispered into his lover's ear. Well, if you want to know, Naruto got the whole group involved in the plan. Yep, that's how Shikamaru managed to catch Neji in his grasp.

"Of course it will. Now, shush." Naruto put his finger to his lips and kept him quiet, waiting to see what's next.

"Neji?" Shika-kun asked when Neji walked past him.

"What?"

"I… I… Love you!" He whispered in his ear.

Neji gasped. What? What did he just admit?

Neji's eyes represented happiness for a moment, but soon changed into a glare, "I'll see about that." And he turned to walk away.

Shikamaru was discouraged ever so slightly. But he decided! He will never go back down! It's my nindo! My ninja way!