ATTENTION: No, this isn't an announcement telling you I'm going to stop writing or something. However, due to conflicts with volleyball practice every day and piano competition practice, as well as the ridiculous amounts of homework from my geometry teacher (Chelina, if you're reading this, wink wink), I will be updating once every month until about the beginning of December. After that, I'll probably start updating twice a month 'cuz piano season only ends after Feburary. I will tell y'all about periods of time where I cannot update, so stay tuned. :P

On a separate note, do any of you listen to BTS? JUNGKOOK IS SO HOT I CANT EVEN

Okay, moving on.

"Man, what a drag," Shikadai drawled. Behind her, Inojin stood firmly, eyes fixed on their targets, while Chocho peeked out from behind Shikadai.

Sarada's Sharingan flashed, tomoes spinning, as Boruto flared his Byakugan.

"Aww, how cute. It's the Dōjutsu couple. Isn't that sweet, Inojin?" Shikadai turned towards her partner-in-crime.

The blond shrugged. "Shikadai, your eyes look like they're flying today. Is there something wrong with them?" (1)

"It's winged liner!" Shikadai snarled before turning around and facing Boruto and Sarada again. "So, Sarada, how do you want to be killed - sliced, or strangled?" As she spoke, a curvy black shadow wiggled its way from under the Nara and squirmed on the ground.

The raven hissed. "I'd rather let you get killed, thanks," she snarled as she prepared to lunge towards Shikadai.

"Wait! Stop!" Boruto suddenly forced himself in between the two bristling kunoichi. Shikadai growled, but her jutsu slunk back under her.

"Boruto, I've had enough of you!" Shikadai screamed. "Why do you always have to protect her? Why is it always her and not me?!"

"I don't like you!" Boruto hissed back. "How many times do I have to tell you that? From the beginning, I always thought we were friends, but apprently not!"

Shikadai let out a maniacal laugh. "Friends? Friends?! After all you've done to me? The only reason I got close to you was so that I could get you to finally like me! But then you decided to go for that bitch!"

"What did you call me?!" Sarada snarled, stepping out from behind Boruto. "It's not my fault you look like a self-conceited toothpick! Why can't you just accept the fact and move on?"

"EVERYONE, SHUT UP!" Chocho screeched.

Shikadai, Boruto, and Sarada shut their mouths. Inojin looked at Chocho in a kind of awe.

"Thank you." Chocho smoothed down her hair. "Now, let's sort this out. Sarada, step away from Shikadai in case she decides to kill you."

Sarada's eyes glinted but she hesitantly stepped against the brick wall.

"Boruto, you can just come over here," Chocho continued. "And Shika, kindly stand far, far away from Boruto so he doesn't accuse you of being a molester."

Shikadai bared her teeth and went over to stand next to Inojin.

Chocho waited patiently by the side. "Alright. Is everyone safe?" When no one replied, she let out a sigh. "I guess it's time to tell you what Shikadai was really planning all along."

The Nara scoffed, but said nothing.

"It all began before we went to the Academy," Chocho started. "At that time, Shikadai had a crush on Mitsuki - you know, the boy who was friends with Boruto? She knew she couldn't get him by looks alone, because she didn't seem like his type. So she devised a plan." She glanced at Boruto. "You should know this part pretty well."

Boruto looked dumbfounded. "I thought she just wanted to be friends. I never knew she was using me."

"Using you?" Sarada narrowed her eyes. "It was that obvious, and you didn't see it?"

"Let me finish!" Chocho barked.

"Sorry." Boruto averted his eyes.

"So," Chocho continued, "She started getting friendly with Boruto in hopes of making Mitsuki jealous. I thought it was perfectly fine and there was nothing harmful about it - until she told me to go hook up with Mitsuki."

"But what was the point?" Boruto wondered with a scathing glare in Shikadai's direction.

Shikadai, silently watching from the shadows, made no effort to speak.

Chocho exhaled. "She thought that if Mitsuki had to deal with a girl like me while his best friend had a hottie like her crushing on him, he would be jealous and ask Shikadai out."

"Did it work?" Sarada spoke up.

The brunette nodded. "Soon after, Mitsuki ended up dumping me and started attempting to hook up with Shikadai. Not that I cared," she added, though her amber eyes showed a trace of unhappiness. "However, apparently Shikadai got bored of Mitsuki after a couple meetings and went back to Boruto.

"But then Boruto met Sarada - Sasuke's daughter, born to a prodigy, kekkei genkai woven in her blood. Shikadai was jealous of you, Sarada. She wanted to be the one which great power and other people's support. And she lied her way to get to it."

Sarada was stunned. Shikadai was jealous of her? With the Uchiha symbol on her back and the burden of her Clan's hatred on her shoulders?

I personally think I did a great job on this chapter. Especially since I thought of Shikadai's so-called "plan" as I was typing.

(1) One of my friends had this same reaction when I wore eyeliner to school. She was all like, "What's up with your eyeliner? Is it supposed to look like your eyelids are flying away?" Ever since then, "flying eyelids" has become sort of an inside joke.

Chelina (her unofficial beta reader): totally HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

and we didn't say that, we said, "Your eyeliner's flying again."

Me: Whatever. Same thing.

BTW, I'm thinking about writing a sequel to Lovestruck. Any ideas? Let me know!

~Snow