Snacks and Meals. The plot thickens.

Naruto was getting closer to his apartment when he was hit by a hazy flashback.

Jiraiya: "In order to win over a woman, you have to give her things so she'll believe you were thinking about her. Girls love flowers, so if you're trying to impress one, make sure you bring her flowers.

Naruto: Finally something he said will help me out.

Naruto stumbled into the first flower shop he encountered.

Naruto: (looking around) "With the name Sakura, I'll bet she loves flowers. Hehe, this will make our date perfect. Ooh, roses."

Ino: "A date huh? Isn't she shrewd with that gigantic forehead of hers?"

Naruto: "Ack! What the hell are you doing here?"

Ino: "I don't know, why would Yammanako Ino be doing at Yammanaka Flower Shop?"

Naruto: "I never knew."

Ino: "You never asked."

Naruto: "Touché (tooshae)"

Ino: "When is it?"

Naruto: (beaming) "Six."

Ino: "Taking her anywhere special?"

Naruto: "Gai told me about a bar/restaurant he used to take his team to, but since Lee's not allowed there anymore, they stopped going."

Ino: "Sounds nice. Have you given any thought about us?"

Naruto: "To be honest, I can't think of any reason we should date. We don't like the same things, we have way different personalities, and I get the feeling you'd nag me... a lot."

Ino: "1) I'm hot 2) we'd have blond kinds no doubt 3) we'd learn to get along and I can pretend to like things you're interested in 4) I know how do all the things a Hokage needs for support 5) I'll make your night with Hinata seem like a twig versus a sword."

Naruto: "Not buying it."

Ino: "Because you've never tried it. How about a compromise? Send a Kage Buushin out with me for the night while the real you is out with Sakura. If you can still say that the two of them can give you a better time than me, I'll give up."

Naruto: "And you'll stop bugging me forever?"

Ino: "On the condition that I get a threesome with your buushins and you tell Sasuke just how good I can be. Plus since it's a buushin, it doesn't really count as cheating or anything"

Naruto: "Now that's just weird. How can I agree to that?"

Ino: "I'll let you have this special bouquet that Sakura likes for free."

Naruto: "Deal. Meet my buushin at my place at 6:10. I'll leave a third one there for the... you know what later."

Ino: "You're cute when you're trying not to be ecchi."

Naruto: "And you're not as skanky as everyone says."

Ino: "Ha... thanks. Play fair or I'll mind control you and have those two catch you screwing me in public."

Naruto had the feeling this girl would be trouble. Sometimes he wished Kage Buushin could solve every problem.

--+--+--

knock knock

Naruto: "Coming! Hi Sakura..."

She was wearing an orange Kimono with a steaming ramen bowl pattern on it. Her forehead protector was gone, and her hair was tied up in a ponytail with a ribbon. She carried a drawstring purse with a cherry blossom pattern.

Naruto: "...chan."

Sakura: "Aren't you... Naruto?"

Naruto: "Y-yea."

Sakura: "You ... look... like a man."

Naruto: "I am a man damn it!"

Sakura: blushing "I mean, you look handsome, rugged, strong and ... "

Sai: "You have a small penis."

Naruto: "Damn it Sai, you ruined my moment!"

Sai: "Haha, sorry. This book says that humor is the best way to ease the tension of a difficult situation."

Sakura: "Did you need something?"

Sai: "Oh, I was just lonely and was wondering if you guys wanted to hang out?"

Naruto: "We're sort of busy, we're going on a date."

Sai: "With each other?"

Sakura: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Sai: "Frankly speaking, I've never seen any romantic interest between you two. I figured your relationships to Sasuke-san were a parallel trend, and that although there were hints at possible romance, that nothing tangible existed."

Naruto: "Huh?"

Sai: sigh "If I just stick to saying 'penis,' you'll understand what I say, won't you?"

Naruto: "... You're weird."

Sai: "Fine, I'll just go find the Fat-Ass, the Slacker, and the Mongrel, and go play some basket ball or something."

Sakura: "That wasn't odd at all..."

Naruto: "If you think he's strange, wait until Shikamaru tells you he's going out with Temari."

Sakura: "I thought..."

Naruto: "Yes, but he's shocked that 'the perfect secret' was found out or something. You'd think a lazy guy wouldn't care."

Sakura: "Good for him, I just hope he doesn't get dragged into that S&M thing she does."

Naruto: "Snacks and meals?"

Sakura: "... uh, let's go before we're late Naruto-kun."

Naruto: "Kun?"

Sakura merely winked in response, dragging him away with her incredibly unfair monster strength.

--+--+--

Shino's customer slid the payment across the table. He carefully checked the contents.

Shino: "This is... where did you get this... you want me to assassinate a Hokage or something?"

"No. I just need you keep those two from getting any closer than they are right now. I do mean anything. In fact if you can make him hate her, that would be best."

Shino: "What about her hating him? That would be easier, would it not?"

"I want her to suffer. To be unable to act, to only watch as he is taken from her."

Shino: "This isn't like you. I think you should reconsider."

The woman passed another bag across the table.

Shino: (without looking at the contents) "Money, Alcohol, and women. These three vices are what cause the downfall of a ninja. You are certain you wish to proceed."

With a raised eyebrow, "The second bag is the limited production legendary ninja scout thin mint cookies."

Shino: (scooping up the bags and standing to leave) "Seems I have an S-class mission to deal with."

--+--+--

Kiba: "... so then we drilled right through that gate as if it was paper. Those idiots ended up begging for mercy when they saw how awesome Kiba-sama is when I become serious."

Gabzilla: laughing "Oh, that's priceless. Tell me another!"

Ten-Ten: (out of breath, bursting into the scene): "Have... you... seen... Neji... anywhere?"

Kiba: "Finally. I've been saying you two should just get a room, but no one listens to good 'ole Kiba. No sir, I..."

Lee: "Actually, we're looking for him to dispense some justice."

Kiba: "Oh, Lee, I didn't notice you there."

Lee: (off in the corner) "Unimportant... Unimportant..."

Kiba: "Oh, there's Naruto, I'll bet he knows. Oi! Naru..."

Ten-Ten: (covering Kiba's mouth) "Shhhh! Can't you tell he's on a date?"

Kiba: "rrmmm mmrr mmmm"

Ten-Ten: "What? Oh, my bad."

Kiba: cough "I said, 'he finally decided'."

Ten-Ten: "I can't take it! I'm gonna go spy on them!"

As she left, a pink haired girl was checking on Lee's morbid state.

Ten-Ten watched as Naruto and Sakura went into the all too familiar restaurant. The two sat down at a table and appeared to be happily chatting away about something, but she couldn't hear.

Ten-Ten: "No! I need to find an inconspicuous way to get close to them, but coming in by myself would just be..."

Shikamaru: "Oi, Ten-Ten big news..."

Ten-Ten: "Impeccable timing as always Shikamaru, here, disguise yourself, and you can tell me all about you dating Temari later."

Shikamaru: dissapointed "Of course even you know, and why do I keep getting dragged around?"

When the spies entered the restaurant, they were anything but stealthy. Shikamaru was wearing a trench coat, oversized sunglasses, a cowboy hat, and a fake brown mustache. Ten-Ten took off her mouse hat (that made her hair look like it was in buns in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears), put on a blue sweat shirt, took out some make-up and made red lines under her eyes like Jiraiya.

Naruto: "... ha-ha, she does say that a lot, doesn't she? Oi, look, doesn't that girl looks just like Ero-sennin if he was a girl."

Sakura: giggle "Oh Naruto-kun, you're too much!"

Naruto: "Oh, excuse, I have to use the restroom. I have a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, sort of like..."

Sakura: "I'm not on a work shift right now, let's keep that information a secret."

Naruto: "Oh, woops he-he. In any case I'll be right back, unless you want me to leave a buushin to talk to you here for a moment?"

Sakura: "No, it's fine, I think being away from you for a minute won't hurt."

That being said, Naruto went off, humming as he walked. Once he was out of sight, Sakura quickly pulled out a mirror and checked her make-up.

Sakura: "Perfect. He hasn't said much about how I look... but compared to that time... no, I can't think like that. I'll just have to get it all out in one go. I'll say, 'Naruto, to you, I feel..."

Naruto: "Love?"

Sakura: (startled) "That was fast..."

Naruto: "You were saying something important."

Sakura: "... Naruto, I love you."

Naruto: "Not so hard is it?" he said, a big grin on his face.

Sakura: (blushing) "How do you feel about me?"

Naruto: "I love you, but there's someone else I have in mind. There is something that could make the decision easier... we could..."

Sakura: "...this is a bit sudden, isn't it?"

Naruto: "Not at all, I've been in love with you for years. I've always thought about it."

Sakura: "... proof of love, huh? I..."

Sakura suddenly felt stuck in place, unable to move, unable to speak. Her body started to move against her will, and she desperately tried to fight it.

At this point, Hinata waltzed in to confront her love rival. She had spent time beforehand gathering up information on where the two would be meeting and what she would say when she arrived.

Sakura: "Ahem... well actually the reason why I wanted to go on one last date with you was to find out if I loved you more than Sasuke."

Naruto: "Do you?"

Sakura: "Frankly you just don't rank up to him. He's even taken my innocence, over and over and oh so wonderfully."

Ten-Ten: "OMG WTF, did you hear that Shika?"

Naruto: "You... why are you doing this to me?"

Hinata: (jumping into the conversation) "Sakura-san, what are you saying? Did Naruto-kun's feelings mean nothing to you?

Sakura fought with every fiber of her being, but being so emotional at the hindered her from breaking the hold of whatever had her under its control for more than a few seconds."

Sakura: crying "It's not true, it's not true, how I really feel is..."

Naruto: "... is?"

Sakura: "Tired. Tired of pretending to be interested in you."

Naruto: (solemn) "Please... just go. All of you please, just go."

The effect finally let Sakura loose.

Sakura: "Naruto, I..."

And he was gone just like that. After a minute everyone left, except for Shikamaru.
--+--+--

Shikamaru: "You're a cruel bastard tricking them like that. I can't believe I agreed to help a bastard like you."

Shino: "It's my work. My client gave explicit instructions... whisper I'm sorry Naruto... Sakura."

--+--+--
(Flashback)

Shino: "... and that is why you willl help me."

Shikamaru: "Oh? You think so? Even if I have this picture of you?"

Shino: "Where?"

Shikamaru: "Other people may underestimate you, but I don't. I was prepared for one of your schemes."

Shino: "A true trump card is one you save for last." Shino flashed him some other pictures.

Shikamaru: "These are current?"

Shino: "No, they are from the past. I'll give you their addresses in exchange though."

Shikamaru: "Fine. A man... a real man can't hit a woman."

--+--+--
(About 10 minutes after fake Naruto leaves)

Naruto returned to his table after his long and horrible experience in the toilet.

Naruto: "That was terrible. Sakura-chan, you wouldn't believe... Sakura-chan?" Maybe she went to the toilet. Hmm, a note.

Note:
To Naruto - Sorry, I didn't mean to toy with your feelings, but this was to be the last time you and I would meet like this. I couldn't go through with it... knowing you had been tainted by another woman. I've been pretending to like you ever since we became a team, just to get closer to Sasuke-kun. Since it finally became this serious, I couldn't live a lie anymore. I'm sorry. I hope you can be happy with someone else, well at least Ino will have you if no one else will. -Sakura

Naruto: "It's in her handwriting... why am I so... stupid?"

He sat down at his table, trembling with the note still in his hand.

Naruto: "Isn't there one person who really loves me?"

A pair of arms reached around him and squeezed him in a tight hug.

Hinata: "I... love you. I always have. I always will. I may not be Sakura, and I may not be worthy of your love, but please accept me, and I will stay by your side for as long as you live."

--+--+--
(5 minutes ago)

Hinata: shouting "Naruto-kun! Wait!"

Sakura: "No, I didn't, I don't feel that way. I love him..."

Hinata slapped Sakura.

Hinata: "Love. You call that love. I've suffered so much watching him shower you with affection, sitting in the shadows, unable to act. I love him. You'll never understand what love is."

Sakura began to well up and cry, she started to stagger out, and then Ten-Ten went to help her out.

Hinata decided to leave too, maybe catch up to Naruto. She hadn't gone far when she ran into her sister.

Hinata: "Hanabi? What are you doing here?"

Hanabi: "Checking up on you actually. You didn't seem okay when you left."

Hinata: "I'm okay, I don't have time right now though, I need to find Naruto-kun."

Hanabi: "Him? I saw him sneak back into the restaurant."

Hinata: "... Thanks. I need a moment alone with him."

Hanabi: whisper "You're welcome, Onee-sama."

--+--+--

Hinata entered the restaurant, and sure enough he was there, just where he had been sitting. He was shivering, with tears spilling out.

Hinata: (barely above a whisper) "Naruto-kun..."

Naruto: (almost yelling) "Isn't there one person who loves me?

Hinata slipped behind him and embraced him gently.

Hinata: "I... love you..."