Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Blame it on Youth

Chapter 6: The Fireworks

Sakura strolled through the halls of the hospital, her heels clicking with every step. The kunoichi has just left from an most uncomfortable meeting. There she was, in her cramped office, along with twelve other staff members discussing the recent budget cuts. It was more than fitting, considering they were discussing the financial drops of the hospital, but really, they could have held the meeting outside for god's sake.

Nevertheless, Sakura was more than preoccupied with her own thoughts to really pay attention to the long and overworked speeches by her numerous subordinates, but then that asshole from human resources mentioned Kirume.

"I don't think letting people go will be a big problem, I mean I don't think that nurse that got attacked by that unruly shinobi yesterday, will be wanting to come back to work any time soon."

There was laughter. Yes, people found it funny. Surely, Kirume's condition was stabilized, and now it was only matter of time until she woke up, but Sakura found nothing laughable about the fact that the poor girl almost died. But hey, who was she to say anything?

Wait a minute, she was the fucking Chief, and she had every right to say anything. So she did, she yelled those good-for-nothing employees out, until she was left alone in her office, dreading her very own existence. She really had been reduced to nothing.

Maybe Kiba was right, maybe she was not deserving, unworthy and pathetic. No longer a legitimate shinobi, reduced to just a face that represented all of those ignorant people in the hospital.

Sakura sighed, her mind spinning in mindless circles trying to find a flaw in Kiba's accusations but at the same time trying to not think of him. Their last encounter, besides being absolutely upsetting, was also tremendously exciting. He had touched her again, well, more than touched, they basically dry humped each other, but that was beside the point. The fact was, she got off more by those mere three minutes of heavy groping with Kiba, than she did in the past three months. This was rather frustrating.

The kunoichi pushed the thoughts aside, as she neared her destination, room 206, room where Kirume was recovering. The pink haired woman needed to see her, maybe as a form of reassurance, she wasn't quite sure; she just knew she had to visit her.

"Eh, forehead!"

The high-pitched voice, made Sakura cringe, before she turned around to face her friend, who was yelling after her.

"Ino, what is it? I'm busy right now." Sakura grumped.

"Yeah, so is the entire East wing!" Ino exclaimed in defeat, moving towards her pink haired friend, "That Inuzuka guy you saved yesterday has finally woken up and is causing a hell of a commotion. We can't exactly knock him out either, he already has shit loads of morphine in him, and god knows what else but you know these dog ninjas, they eat the drugs up like candy. Come, please." Ino whined, her big blue eyes staring into Sakura's pleading.

"Stupid, stupid Inuzukas." Sakura mumbled, rolling her eyes, but nevertheless followed Ino down the hall.

"Enough!"

Sakura's strong voice roared down the hall, as she herself has just stepped into the said patient's room, spotting the animated fight between the noisy Inuzuka, still bandaged up completely head to toe and a couple of shrieking nurses. The defeated women froze, at the sound of Sakura's scream, but Teiru did not, he only took the opportunity of the distracted nurses to hop off the bed. As he landed on the floor however, something cracked and his body came tumbling down on the floor with a loud thud.

"Fuck!" he exclaimed, clutching his ankle, and wailing in pain.

"Everyone, out!" Sakura snapped loudly, "I need to have a talk with Teiru."

The nurses scattered out of the room quickly, and shut the door robustly.

"I don't think I have to explain to you, that you have probably reopened your fractures." The medical chief said dryly, as she moved towards the man on the floor, "And I'm not going to heal them, because you obviously want to stay disabled for the rest for your life."

As she came a mere couple of inches from the Inuzuka, his body stiffened, and he raised his head carefully. Boy, he was really afraid of her wasn't it?

"You won't be able to continue as a shinobi, if you don't heal properly, so please Teiru, let us do our job and get your ass back into your bed." She attempted to aid him getting back into the hospital bed, but before she could make her move, he briskly jumped up, clutching to the bed for support and stood, feet shaking but planted sternly on the ground.

"Or not…." Sakura mumbled, crossing her arms. The boy was shaking, abnormally. She could see the sweat forming on his brow, and his dark brown eyes, shining big, like those of a puppy. He looked very much like Kiba, Sakura noted. The tan skin, the chestnut-brown hair and the raw roughness were things that the pink haired kunoichi only associated with her ex-boyfriend, but could clearly see them in his younger cousin.

Suddenly a very naughty thought popped up in her mind, but she suppressed it. Just because they looked alike, did not mean they possessed the same… skills.

"Teiru, get back to bed." She repeated, but the boy did not move a muscle, instead she noticed his cheeks puffing up, and mouth growing tense. Was he…holding his breath?

"Teiru? Are you okay?" she asked now genuinely concerned, stepping closer towards her patient.

"I'm fine." He stated boldly, "So please let me go!"

Sakura gritted her teeth.

"You are obviously not, look at how you are shaking, like a lost puppy! Get your ass back to bed. Now."

Sakura waited, but the brunette didn't move a muscle. She was sure it was because was defying her or because he simply wasn't capable of even doing it. Noticing his clenching jaw, she decided it was the second thing.

"Look, Sakura-san. It's just your scent… it's very overwhelming. I'm fine otherwise." The brunette mumbled brining his hand up to his mouth, clearly indicating his discomfort.

"Excuse me?" Sakura cringed. Was he insinuating that she smelt bad? She took a shower just a couple of hours ago for god's sakes!

"No! Don't get offended; it's not your scent. It's Kiba's."

The woman narrowed her eyes.

"He has marked your scent, with his, sort of territorial act I suppose, and since he is in heat, it is exceptionally strong-"

"Come again?" Sakura roared, fed up with this talk linking her to Kiba, suggesting he had marked her and that she smelled of him? Why couldn't she just shake that boy off?

"S-sakura-san…I'm just…I just smell him on you…" Teiru trailed off, if he had a tail it would be down in shame, "M-maybe I'm wrong. It is too strange, it doesn't make sense…" His voice suddenly changed, no longer scared, just curious, and excited, "You guys broke up, so it can't be you, but then why would he leave a mark so strong…?"

"Teiru."

There was an awkward silence. Sakura just stared at the dazed boy who had appeared to forget that she still in the room, and has drowned himself in his own thoughts.

"Teiru!" She urged on a little louder, and this seemed to have snapped the younger Inuzuka out of his thinking phase.

"Sakura-san." He replied, out of instinct. The older woman just sighed, feeling her anger fade, at the sight of his innocent face. When has that expression left her? And more importantly, why can't Kiba ever make a face like this? His are always cocky and arrogant.

'And Sexy.'

'Oh, shut up!' Sakura mentally scolded herself.

"Teiru, what are you talking about? Kiba in heat? My scent? A mark?"

"Why, Sakura-san I'm sure you know this, or at least you must have noticed it." Teiru said, eyeing Sakura's reaction. Sensing that she was not following he continued, "Kiba's strange behavior, that aggression, that lack of self-control and those mood swings, it's all because of that."

"His abnormal hormones levels! Yes, I know! I've detected them, and they explain why he has acted so strange, and animal-like and…" Sakura trailed off, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction of finally coming to an explanation. But wait…

"I still don't get it, what mark are you talking about?"

"You really don't know, do you?" Teiru asked, genuinely surprised. "But it doesn't make sense…I thought it was you."

"What do you mean? You thought I was who?"

"I thought you were his blood bound, his mate to be. Frankly everyone did…and you have his mark on you, and the time is ticking…but it's not you. It can't be, it doesn't work. Then who is it? Could it-"

"Teiru please? You are not making any sense. Just tell me what is happening with Kiba. What the hell is a blood bound?" The pink haired woman fumed, irritation framing her face, a face that was getting suddenly very hot. Teiru was talking about a mate, Kiba's mate and Sakura got suddenly very excited about this idea. She always wondered if because of his dog like existence, he saw her as his mate, but then again mates are eternal, aren't they? Their relationship surely wasn't eternal.

"Every Inuzuka head, or the head to be has a mate, or as you call it a...a…a person? Yeah, person I suppose…umm… and this person is bounded to them at a very young age, like at the age of 1 or 3 or you know? Very, very young." Teiru exaggerated his last words with a strange face, as if he was mocking the very ideas he spoke of. Sakura just remained silent, listening intently.

"So anyway, this person becomes the Inuzuka's blood bound. Now the alpha, the head to be has until the age of 23 to mate with his blood bound. In a sense during the last year before the age of 23, the Inuzuka remains in 'heat' I guess that's you call it, The thing is, he has to find his blood bound by himself, and that shouldn't be hard since he is in this heat and he has that natural craving for his mate. As closer he gets to 23 without mating he becomes more and more frustrated, and aggressive and his hormone levels rise and rise you know? Cause that's how it works with wolf, and dogs, they emit high levels of hormones that signal to the female that they are ready. Pretty cool huh?" Teiru actually smiled impishly. Sakura just cringed. That was fucking weird.

"And anyway…this is…I believe a way of I guess proving your maturity or your preparedness I suppose, and basically…I believe that the idea is that during the year after turning 23, the said Inuzuka leader to be, in this case Kiba, has the time to really create this bond with his mate, and to become one you know…. linked in harmony and all that crap…" Teiru rolled his eyes again, and creating quotation marks with his fingers, sarcastically. Sakura just stared, jaw down and eyes wide.

"And bam! At 24 Kiba is ready, with his mate, prepared to lead the clan." Teiru concluded, finally an honest smile appearing on his face. He was evidently happy with the idea of Kiba being his leader. Surprising.

"That's ridiculous!" Sakura broke, absolutely horrified by these rules, "So, Kiba has no choice in who is marries? He spends the rest of the life with this person and has to be the leader of an entire clan at just the age of 24?"

"What do you mean just? In our world reaching 24 is sometimes a very big success, Sakura-san don't forget that people die at tender age, you know, some don't even reach adulthood, and die as children in place meant for adults."

Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"Do not compare the death of children to a marriage ritual of some prestigious clan. There is no comparison." Sakura spoke dryly. She was sick and tired of these clan members thinking their way was above anything else.

"No, I'm not. I'm just trying to put it into a perspective for you." Teiru whimpered back, sensing her changing demeanor, and perhaps again reacting to what was apparently a strong scent.

"So…back to Kiba." Sakura started, trying to not sound desperate. "Blood bound? Mate?"

"Yeah…" Teiru raised his eyebrows.

"Well? Who is it?" Sakura spat out, growing tired of his ignorance.

"Oh! I don't know." Teiru retorted, "I mean, I thought it was you 'cause you know of the scent, and the whole history you guys have together, and how totally obsessed Kiba is with you…but it doesn't work, I'm sorry Sakura. I believe it's someone else, it can't be you."

Sakura stiffened. She wasn't sure if it was because Teiru said Kiba was obsessed with her or because he just told her Kiba had a completly planned future with another woman. Either way, both reasons made her want to curl up, and cry in a corner.

"So you are saying, Kiba is going to marry in three weeks?"

"Umm no. Marriage is something we do eventually, and we only do it because it's what the village acknowledges as a bond, for them the term mate is not enough. But just like for the village mating is not legitimate, for us marriage isn't." Teiru's brows furrowed in concentration, "You see marriage is based on love apparently, and I don't really understand that because love is so temporary you know? People fall in and out of love all the time, so how can you base your entire future on that? I mean isn't there enough instability already with us being ninjas and everything?"

The brunette locked his eyes with Sakura, challenging her. She didn't know the answer. Ever since she remembered, she thought of love as the ultimate virtue in life, the purpose and reason for living.

'But all it ever does is cause pain.' Sakura thought, her heart contracting painfully, whilst thinking of her own teammates, and of course the dog nin,

"That's why having a mate is so beautiful Sakura-san. It's forever." Teiru's eyes sparkled, and his mouth turned into a wide grin. His face held so much genuine rapture. "Once you mate, no one else matters. Even if you don't love the person, after mating them, they will become the most important thing in your life. Your mate is not just your lover, your spouse, your family, your best friend…they are everything. They become a part of you." He smiled and closed his eyes, "That's why I'm not worried for Kiba, he will be happy and he will finally feel complete. I'm actually a little jealous to be honest."

Sakura closed her mouth.

She could hear the sound of feet tapping from the floor above and the chatter of numerous nurses outside of the room. A fly just landed on the lamp on Teiru's nightstand, and someone coughed in the next room.

Her eyes watered, but she pushed the tears away.

"Who is it?" she whispered, not meeting Teiru curios gaze.

"I told you Sakura-san, I don't know."

She nodded absent-mindedly. "Get back to bed, please." And with that she strode off, shutting the door quietly, and with a simple click, locking it.

The brunette started sourly at the door, feeling irritated for being locked in but at the same time with an uneasy feeling in the stomach. Did he just say something he wasn't supposed to?

"Oh well." He sighed, and threw himself on the bed. Folding his arms behind his head, he stared at the ceiling, wondering about his own future mate.

"You fight like a pussy." Naruto groaned, clutching his ribs in pain, sprawled out on the ground.

"Ironic, blondie." Kiba shot back equally damaged, lying next to Naruto. Watching the clouds and feeling blood trickling down his face, he wasn't sure if it was because of the burning pain on his forehead or from his throbbing nose. "That's all you got dumbass?" he panted, turning his head to look at his friend.

Naruto met his gaze, his eyes narrowed. "I don't think it's a fair fight. Without Akamaru by your side, you really are crap."

Naruto said that, but on the inside he did not believe it. It was common knowledge that the Inuzukas fought at their best with their canines by their side, and it was also known that Kiba was much slower, weaker and less coördinated without Akamaru. However Naruto noticed drastic changes in Kiba's abilities, which did not seem at all weakened by the absence of his companion by his side. It was very odd.

"Bastard."

"Asshole."

There was a long pause.

Naruto returned his gaze to the sky, watching the cloud mindlessly.

"I always hated you, you know? I hated you for stealing Sakura-chan away from me."

Kiba's eyes softened, and he too turned to look up at the sky again.

"I always hated you for being so close to her, closer than I knew I ever could become."

"That's not true." Naruto mumbled, and then coughed catching his breath at the sudden lack of oxygen. Damn, that retard really broke his rib didn't he?

"You replaced me a long time ago."

"Don't be stupid Naruto, Sakura and I dated for 6 months, that is nothing compared to the fact that you guys have been best friend for 10 years." Kiba grunted, running his hand through his hair.

"True, but it only took you those 6 months for her to fall in love with you, while I've been at it for 10 years and look where that has gotten me." The blonde retorted back, closing his eyes, "You don't deserve her."

"Sakura was in love with me?"

Naruto opened his eyes, and carefully propped himself on his elbows. He looked over at Kiba, meeting his empty gaze. Naruto just sighed.

"I am afraid she still is."

The brunette just stared back, wide-eyed. The breeze ruffled his unruly hair, and his gaze dropped, focusing on the specks of dirt being crushed by Naruto's body. He studied every detail of that damn ground. Not sure whether to scream from ecstasy, victory or irritation, Kiba just laughed.

"Fuck me."

Suddenly there was a fist connecting with the brunette's face, and next thing he knew he was tumbling away from the blonde and landing face first on the ground.

Beaten, bloody and baffled he jumped up to his feet.

"What the fuck, Uzumaki!"

"I'm going to kill you, Inuzuka." Naruto screamed back, also getting up to his feet, trying to ignore the pain throbbing in his ribs.

"What kind of a coward are you, attacking when your opponent is not even looking!"

"A ninja, dumbass!" The blonde exclaimed, as he dashed at Kiba, he jumped into the air, forming a hand sealed; he created two clones, each aiming at Kiba from different sides.

The dog nin, dropped down to all four, and growled at the incoming opponents, analyzing the situation he noted the time in between each of the Naruto's attacks, and realized that the one of the left was going to get to him first. He swiftly turned to the left, punching the clone into his face, it was gone instantly, in fraction of a second he was in the air, effectively dodging the second's clone's attack that was aimed to knock him off of his feet. With the Naruto clone right below him, he focused chakra to his feet, and smashed the blonde's head into the ground, breaking the stone and making the clone disappear. He quickly swung his fist around, to finally meet the real Naruto's own fist, and both men froze.

"Stop it, Naruto! This isn't going to solve anything!" Kiba yelled at his friend, who had absolutely nothing to do with the situation, he was just making things more difficult.

"How can you laugh at her for loving you, you dumb fuck?!" Naruto spat into his face, the blue in his eyes catching a tint of red. He applied chakra to his fist, pushing Kiba's entire body forward.

"I'm not laughing at her you fucking dumbass, I'm laughing at myself!" Kiba shouted back, matching Naruto's new applied strength, and stopping him from pushing him forward. "You don't know shit, so stop interfering in my problems!"

"These aren't just your problems, they are also Sakura's problems, and therefore they are mine too!"

"You are so fucking delusional!" The brunette, roared, anger eating him up inside; "Get the fuck out of my face before I smash it to pieces!"

"What?! You're just lucky that my injuries have disoriented me, otherwise your face would have already been smashed!."

"No, you are lucky that I'm not really serious about fighting you!"

"What, you fucking-"

"Naruto-san, Kiba-san, what are you doing at the Hyuuga property?!"

Both men stopped glaring at each other and looked up to see the source of the angry voice. Kiba spotted Hoheto running down the path from the compound, to where they were having their little quarrel. The Hyuuga shinobi, looked very displeased.

"Hoheto-san." Kiba nodded at the arriving ninja. Hoheto was one the most dedicated members of the Hyuuga clan, and a well acknowledged ninja amongst other clans. He finally reached the two men, and narrowed his eyes at Naruto.

"What are you doing here?" he asked both of them, but it seemed as if his hostile tone was solely directed at the blonde.

"I was on my way to visit Hinata, when this idiot here attacked me." Kiba growled, not moving a muscle and keeping his fist strongly planted against Naruto's. Naruto just growled at him.

"Well, Hinata-san is not here at the moment, she is running some errands, I believe in preparation for Neji-san's birthday celebration. " Hoheto spoke calmly, "So may I please ask that you leave, and stop disrupting this area."

Kiba narrowed his eyes at the Hyuuga member. Rather unfriendly, all things considered. Surely he must been aware of the soon to be established Hyuuga-Inuzuka alliance. He should not be that rude.

"Of course, thank you." Kiba replied sourly, "We will leave at once."

Hoheto nodded, and dashed off, back towards the main house.

'How odd.' Kiba thought watching the Hyuuga ran off. He suddenly felt the lessened pressured on his fist, and looked up to note that the blonde had removed his fist, and had proceeded to just stare at the dog nin.

"This isn't over, dog."

"Right." Kiba uttered, quietly.

"I'll see you at the party then, asshole." With that Naruto disappeared in puff of white smoke. Leaving Kiba completely disoriented and confused.

"Party?" Kiba asked himself. Oh that's right, 'Neji-san's birthday celebration'.

'How fucking great,' the shinobi thought amused, 'Naruto will be there, Neji will be there, Hinata will be there, Sakura will be there…This is bound to be just a great night.'

The beat of the music filled the entire place, and the only sounds that could be heard above the loud music, were multiple chatters, screams and people singing along. There were hundred guests at least, maybe two hundred, Sakura wasn't sure, but she barely knew half of them. It might have been due to the dark, flashing lights, or the outrageous outfits some people were sporting, but she felt lost, and frankly confused.

This hip, over the top, party was Neji's birthday celebration? If she was at the right place, then she was almost positive that Hyuuga prodigy did not agree to any of this, nor did he most likely have the slightest idea that it would be the way it was. There was no doubt that this indeed was the event that Lee spent two months planning, so Sakura supposed she should not be that surprised.

It was amazing, really. The space was a spacious, open and modern. It was a new club that just opened, and the owners were some immigrants from a foreign country, that brought a lot of new ideas into the village. There was a giant bar on the left side of the club, and from what Sakura could deduce it was an open bar, serving a variety of alcoholic drinks, local and foreign.

Besides the beverage temptations, Sakura was amazed at the whole feel of the place. The music pounding her ear drums was unknown to her, a mix of heavy beats that made you want to just dance all night and low, sexy tunes that were bringing people closer. Sakura could already see multiple couples grinding. There was a DJ of course, located in a booth, looming over the crowded dance floor.

The pink haired woman would never known this was meant to be a birthday party, if she had not spotted the snack bar on the other side of the room, where a huge, exaggerated birthday cake towered above all the other delicacies. It was chocolate, sprinkled with coconut.

'Cute.' Sakura thought sarcastically. Lee probably just wanted to make sure that there was at least something slightly traditional about this birthday party.

"Fuck, Sakura this is sick! Who knew Lee could throw such a party?!" Sakura's blonde friend yelled into her ear, but due to the loud music Sakura barely registered what she said. Ino just flipped her blonde hair back, and let her sea blue eyes wander around the room, no doubt searching for a possible dancing partner. The girl was on a mission, as she told Sakura earlier, causing Sakura to roll her eyes of course. A mission to find a good hookup.

Sakura noted Ino had made effort to look her best. She had let her hair down, which was very unusual for the blonde, and curled the ends of her long, silky locks to create a beautiful but effortless volume. She had gone for the classic look, sporting a black cat-eye and red lips Her dress was fabulous of course, a tight but structured strapless, little black dress, with a corset like top, and the midsection being made of some sort of black mesh, showing of her toned belly. She also opted for a pair of sky-high red pumps.

"I'm just wondering how he got Neji to agree to this!" Sakura yelled back, leaning closer to her blonde friend, to be heard above the music. Ino turned to look at her best friend, and smirked.

"What?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at her friend's odd gaze.

"Sakura, you look hot."

Sakura, after a long fight with Ino, had been persuaded to indeed wear that sinful deep red dress. It was very tight, snug around her little frame like a second skin. It was also very short, the hemline just few inches below her butt, and had a deep cut neckline that showed off plenty of cleavage, and due to the dress's tightness, her cleavage did look bustier than ever. The dress did have however three-quarter length sleeves, which Sakura thought made it much more tasteful, but then she realized it also had to giant cut outs on either side of her mid drift, showing off plenty of skin.

She decided to join her best friend and also wore a pair of very similar pumps to Ino's, except hers in a nude color to match her equally more neutral makeup. She had also curled her hair into soft pink curls that framed her face and bounced gently with every move.

Maybe she did it to provoke Kiba, or maybe she just did it for herself, to feel sexy and confident for once in her life. Okay that was a lie, because around Kiba she always felt sexy, he made her feel sexy. The way he would look at her, the way he would touch her, the way he would act around her. Sakura shivered just at the thought of him. Maybe her intentions had to do something with capturing his attention, but she was honestly more worried about his suddenly decided future with some unknown woman.

Her breath hitched at the pure thought of it. She realized she couldn't go through it, she mentally could not imagine Kiba spending his life with another woman, while she walked away from him.

The pink haired woman decided she had to do something about it, she just didn't know what exactly.

"Sakura! Snap out of it!" Ino screamed, clicking her fingers in front of the dazed woman, effectively pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Come on, let's go find the birthday boy, before you get totally wasted and start making lesbian moves at me." Ino winked at her, grabbing her friend's hands and leading her into the crowded and wild dance floor.

Sakura let herself be dragged like a rag doll, her mouth still wide open from Ino's earlier remark.

"I-what? When did I eve-"

"The comments start after shot number 22, and the touching begins around number 30." Ino shouted back, smirking. She made sure to keep Sakura close to her body, otherwise the pink haired woman would get lost in the sea of dancing bodies.

Sakura's face reddened. She definitely did not remember ever doing that. It was true she found Ino attractive, very, very attractive, I mean who wouldn't? Ino was damn sexy, probably the finest female in Kohona, but she was also her best friend, and a girl for that matter, and Sakura was fairly sure she did not swing that way.

Sensing Sakura's change in demeanor, Ino stopped, slap-bang in middle of the dance floor, and turned around. Sakura stopped also and stared at her blonde friend, who had an evil glint in her eyes.

"What?" Sakura asked innocently.

Then Ino moved closer, right up against the pink haired woman, their chests pressing against each other. She brought one hand around her waist, bringing Sakura's body even closer to her own and the other crept up her cheek to hold her in place.

"Ino…?" Sakura asked, emerald meeting blue.

Ino just smiled at her, and brought her mouth to Sakura's, their lips touching. Sakura could feel Ino's hot breath on her lips, she could feel her feminine fingers clutching her around her waist, and her other hand softly stroking her face lovingly. It all surprisingly excited her.

"I know how you can make Kiba uber jealous." Ino whispered, but due to their close proximity Sakura heard every word clearly.

"Ino…" Sakura whined in displeasure. She was not in the mood to be teased, especially not about her lesbian tendencies. Surely she had them, every female did, but her mind was set on a single person right now, and he was very much male. Plus she knew if she he'd want to join them.

Suddenly Ino opened her mouth and grazed her tongue across Sakura's pouting lips. Sakura gasped as the sudden contact, and almost jerked back at the feel of her best friend's tongue against her lips. The sensation was strange but somewhat erotic.

Her blonde friend pulled back, but did not let Sakura go, they were still pressed up snugly against each other, when she spoke.

"My, my Sakura, don't tell me you actually enjoyed that." She said mockingly, watching her best friend shiver, and the blush creep across her cheeks.

"Ino, stop!" Sakura blurted, opening her eyes, not remembering when she closed them.

"Well, don't get too excited, first we need to find Neji, then get those 30 shots in and we are ready to rumble!" Ino exclaimed, as she freed herself from Sakura's warm embrace, grabbing her hand, she once again lead her into the sea of moving bodies

Her pink haired friend just rolled her eyes, this was going to be a very interesting night. Nevertheless followed mindlessly, not sure what to make of that little encounter, but realizing that it caused her jutsu to wear off, and she once again started feeling very hot, and frankly horny. She decided, she most certainly could not drink the promised 30 shots, she was on a mission, and even without the alcohol she was starting to feel light-headed.

"You cannot have a team consisting of solely sensory type ninjas." Chouji exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air dramatically, and effectively spilling some of his drink, "What will you do when get ambushed. You need offense. And when you get injured? You need medics!"

"That's the thing however, with a purely sensory type ninja team, you wouldn't get ambushed, you would be the one ambushing." Shine replied, more calmly, but his irritation growing evident in his voice.

The group was situated around the bar. Chouji, Shino and Shikamaru got quickly tired by the loud music and sea of people, and decided to hit up the bar straight away. Shikamaru's freshly broken leg was still healing, so he had not much intention of doing anything besides sitting at the bar tonight, besides he noted that getting drunk would make this party far less troublesome. However, as the alcohol intake grew, and the conversation material thinned, Shikamaru, lazily sipping on sake, found himself staring into oblivion.

"Oh yeah? And how would you exactly do that?" Chouji slurred, annoyed.

"Uhhh…ninja." Shino smirked, pointed a finger at himself.

"Oh, puh-lease! You wouldn't even hurt a fly," Chouji smirked, "literally."

"Oh yeah? How come I am in the ANBU then?" Shino challenged his friend.

"I don't know, I don't know shit about the ANBU!"

"Then you don't know shit about me!"

"I thought we were best friends!"

"We are!"

"Oh, god I'm so sorry Shino! I love you man!"

"I love you too."

Shikamaru just rolled his eyes, watching his friends engage themselves in a very awkward hug, He was two more cups of sake away from banging his head against this table. The music, the people, the alcohol, the atmosphere…this wasn't him.

"And where the fuck is everyone else?" Shikamaru murmured to himself. After arriving, they have greeted Neji briefly, and wished him the usual 'happy birthday' before Lee dragged him off somewhere to meet some girls. Ever since then, they have been stuck at the bar, and have not met any other of their close friends.

He sighed again. The loud, pounding music was just too much.

"Ah, ladies!"

Shikamaru, turned to indeed see two familiar women approaching, and he suddenly felt very relieved.

"Oi, Chouji, how are you guys?" Ino chirped happily, coming to Chouji for a quick hug.

"Greeaaaat." Chouji smiled, his eyes loosing focus, and mouth turning up into a ridiculous grin. Ino just smiled back awkwardly, understanding the situation. "Okay, I see." She replied, softly patting her friend's head, but she suddenly turned her head to look at Sakura.

"We are so behind, Sakura, get drinking!"

Sakura just rolled her eyes, and moved to greet Shikamaru, who was the only one out of the three that still seemed intact.

"You alright, Shikamaru?" Sakura asked gently, putting her hand on the man's shoulder.

Shikamaru smiled, "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You just seem a little down, that's all."

"Can you honestly say, this is a place for me." Shikamaru smirked, noting Sakura's appearance, which was indeed very different from the usual.

"No, but come one, sake is still sake right? No matter where you drink it." The woman smiled, rubbing Shikamaru's shoulder affectionately. The two of them always understood each other, and over the past few years especially, after having worked on numerous research and development project within and outside of the village, they have grown pretty close.

"Huh, and I guess you are here to gain closure?" The brown-haired man asked slowly.

"What?"

Shikamaru just motioned to her outfit. Sakura felt herself blush just a bit. Did she really look that out there? No, she looked fine. Plus he was wrong, she wasn't here to get closure, she already had closure, she just needed Kiba's attention so she could clear his mind. Yes, that made sense.

"Shikamaru please, the only thing I came here to gain, is more damage to my liver."

"Classy."

Sakura smiled, and flopped herself down next to the lazy man. She waved her hand at the waiter, "Whatever he is having, please."

"And I'll have the same."

Sakura snapped her head at the sound of his voice. There he was, leaning against bar, next to her, smirking, in all his glory. He was wearing simple black pants, and a blue button up shirt, which he had left pretty open, showing off the top of his chiseled chest, his hair was messy as usual, and frankly he looked positively delicious.

"Kiba." Sakura uttered mindlessly.

"So you came." Shikamaru nodded, and leaned back in his chair, to get a look at Kiba who was leaning on the bar, on the other side of Sakura. Shikamaru mused at this sight, the two ex-lovers awkwardly interacting, probably one of the most fascinating things for the genius.

"Of course, wouldn't miss it for the world." The scruffy man smirked, looking Sakura up and down, "And boy am I glad that I didn't."

Their drinks arrived. Shikamaru smiled. Sakura quickly swallowed down the entire thing. Slamming the empty cup on the table, she turned back to Kiba.

"We need to talk."

"Look, if you are just going to yell at me, save your breath. I admit, I said some stupid shit yesterday, and I am sorry." Kiba announced, his eyes wide staring into Sakura's, "But some of the things I said were valid, Sakura, you know that."

The pink haired woman squeezed her cup, trying to contain her anger. "No." She shook her head, "We do need to talk."

"We can talk all you want, baby." Kiba answered defeated, putting down his own empty cup now. The pet name that he so often used for her in the past made Sakura's heart flutter, and at the same time it made her heart ache. She pushed these thoughts aside, and hopped off the stool, clutching the surface of the bar for support.

She immediately caught Kiba's eyes wandering up and down her body, his dark, predatory eyes that made her knees wobble and her head spin. She wanted him to look at her like this, and more. She wanted him to throw her onto this bar this very instant, and just take her. She wanted to feel him inside her again. She felt empty and needed to be filled by him in every manner possible.

Unconsciously, she took a step towards him.

"Well isn't this a pretty sight."

Sakura snapped her head, and her stomach dropped to the floor.

There was Naruto, all happy and sunshine, dressed in all back. However what shocked her more was the person standing next to him, the person who Naruto was clutching by the shoulder, no doubt leading him; the last remaining Uchiha.

"My bad Sasuke, but you know…." Naruto smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.

"I think I can imagine it."