Sakura was closing in on the location of her tracking seal. Everything was now riding on the chance that Naruto would understand her when she spoke to him from her heart. Just one obstacle remained. A kunai lazily sailed in her direction, aimed at a wide angle. Was it a warning, or was it an amateur?

Sakura: "A bit off with that throw, aren't we? Even Naruto had better aim straight out of the academy."

Hinata: "You don't need to tell me what Naruto-kun is capable of, I've understood his strength far before you teamed up with him."

Sakura: "Then you should understand that he doesn't need your protection. Stand aside then, I have something important to tell him."

Hinata: "You mean like the last time you had something important to tell him?" She folded her arms across her chest.

Sakura: (eyes looking down) "That wasn't me. Those weren't my words, they weren't my true feelings." She looked the bodyguard straight in the eyes.

Hinata: (forcing certainty) "E-even if you say that, I was there, I heard every syllable of what you said. When I caught up with him... when I caught up with him, he was shattered. You took away that which held him up, that which fueled his strength."

Sakura: "Maybe this will convince you." She tossed the crumpled note she had received to Hinata.

Hinata: (after reading) "Even so, I cannot allow you here right now. He is just beginning to rebuild his confidence, and his strength. Seeing you would crush everything he's regained in the past week. Don't worry... I will take care of him. I will give him the love he needs... I will be his strength."

Sakura: sigh "That's not for you to decide. I'll be telling him how I feel about him with or without your consent."

Hinata: "You won't make it past me, even if I have to break you. Forget him and go home."

Sakura: "Hmph, regardless, I've decided to go. I'm not running away. I won't take back my words."

Hinata: "You wouldn't..."

Sakura: "That's my way of the ninja, bitch." She smirked.

Hinata: squinting "How dare you! How dare you defile those special words."

Sakura: "Ho, ho. You were the first one to steal them weren't you Hinata-chan?"

Hinata: "That was completely different. I follow those words even today, they give me strength and push me forward."

Sakura: "Today, they give me the strength to reach out to him, as you have."

Hinata: Naruto-kun, my love for you is greater than hers. I won't let her hurt you anymore... I promise. "Byakugan!"

A kunai flew from her hand with deadly precision. The pink topped kunoichi, caught off guard barely managed to avoid it. A thin stream of blood appeared across Sakura's cheek. This fight was going to be a difficult one.

Sakura: Close range fighting isn't a good idea, that Jyuuken of hers is...

Hinata: ...definitely unfair, one hit from that monster strength would break me. Naruto-kun

Sakura: ... What should I do? A distraction? No, a long ranged assault.

Hinata: If I don't keep it that way her medical jutsu will give her the advantage. Here goes nothing.

Sakura struck, molding up a massive amount of chakra in her body, then releasing it precisely as her fist made contact with the ground. At the exact same time, Hinata's foot stomped the ground in front of her as she shouted "Suiton: Enraged Geyser Attack!"

Both girls were sent flying; the earth gave way under Hinata who lost her footing and was nearly crushed by the crumbling dirt; Sakura sustained a direct hit to the torso, shooting her back-first into a tree. Both girls regained their footing.

Hinata: She's as incredibly tough as Naruto-kun said. I can't let this fight go on long, I...

Sakura bear hugged a tree, removed it from the ground, then swung it horizontally at Hinata. The raven-haired girl reached out, instantly attached herself to the mighty club with her left hand and vaulted over it. She drew out two smoke bombs from her pouch and threw them at her enemy.

Hinata: I'll have to once again thank you for the gifts, Kiba-kun.

Before she could counterattack, two kunai appeared from the smoke, exploding tags included. Hinata arched her back, dodging the deadly projectiles, only to see the trunk of the tree behind her buckle from the explosion.

Hinata: "Jyuuken: Aqua Scissor Slice."

Supporting her weight on her hands, thin, long blades of water protruded from her feet, severing the falling hazard in half, providing much needed seconds to rotate out of danger and back into an upright defensive position.

Sakura charged at the obstacle. Losing here was unacceptable. She would have to place everything on this gambit, risking permanent damage to break through. Naruto had done the same thing countless times, Sakura could do no less now.

Hinata dodged attack after attack. Even a single hit would devastate her; a glancing touch from her medical jutsu would mean game over. Naruto had done so much for everyone... for her. This time she would do something for him without fail.

Sakura pressed her attack and it seemed that her fist would connect solidly with her rival's stomach. Hinata brought both hands back to block, but how could she match up against the force of Sakura's attack?

Hinata: "Jyuuken: Bhuda Palm Backlash!"

The force of the impact sent them both once again sliding away, ramming through trees, rocks, and other hazards until their momentum died down.

Sakura: "This is becoming pointless, Hinata-san. Time to take things up a notch. I'll end this with the next move."

Hinata: "You shall not pass!"

Gandalf: (appearing out of the forest) "My line, that's my line!"

Hinata: (dropping her stance for a second) "Oh, I'm sorry oji-san. I thought you were dead though."

Gandalf: "You never watched past 'The Fellowship of the Ring'?"

Hinata: "I was so sad when you and the man who was shot with all the arrows died that I didn't see the second or third film."

Galdalf: "Well you really should, it's very good. I..."

Sakura: "AHEM! Do you mind you old geezer? We're having a decisive battle of love here."

Galdalf: (leaving and muttering) "Kids these days."

-- --

Sakura: "As I was saying so dramatically before interruption: This last attack will decide everything."

Hinata: "Then I won't hold anything back either. I may disagree with you, but I respect your determination."

Sakura: "Same to you. Kuchyose no Jutsu! Take it away boys!"

Sakura summoned five slugs that rushed away speedily (yeah, I know, but they do) and hid in the flora.

Sakura: sigh I hate summoning those things... ewwwww...

Hinata: smiling "Kuchyose no Jutsu!"

Sakura: "A bluff... wait... foxes?!"

Hinata: "No shit, Sherlock. You should know foxes are tricky and tough to beat. Thanks for the help guys, deal with the extra enemies."

The foxes all wearing Konoha head protectors dashed off.

Sakura: "Cute."

Hinata: "Thanks."

The two were fairly drained at this point and resorted to a last ditch effort, normal hand to hand. Two minutes lasted without so much as a scratch landing on either one. After that however, blow after blow was scored in succession. Both girls pummeled each other quite viciously, but neither submitted to defeat. One would trip the other only to visit the ground a second later.

It all boiled down to a girl fight. Hair was being pulled, Hinata took a sharp bite to the shoulder, and Sakura suffered an atomic wedgey, then the two started head butting each other until they both passed out.

Sakura awoke with a splitting headache. Her surroundings were quite blurry at the moment, though she thought she distinctly saw steam. Hinata began to stir. When she opened her eyes, the view she saw was upside down.

Hinata: "Kyaaa! Everything's upside down!"

Sakura: "Ugh... please shut-up. I have the worst headache and I can't feel my face. Oh, I forgot that I screwed up the synapses that regulate your eyesight. Here, this should help."

Sakura formed a few symbols, then poked Hinata in the head. Pain in the form of pins and needles surged throughout her body, and her forehead throbbed in pain at the poking.

Sakura: "Where the hell are we?"

Hinata: "At the cabin's bath... shimata! Naruto-kun is..."

Ino: "Out gathering ice for the two of you."

Ino strolled out from the cabin's rear door with some cups and several bottles of sake.

Ino: "This will help with the pain, but not the swelling. Wow you two are idiots you know? You went too far back there."

Hinata: "I was just... I couldn't let Naruto-kun be the object of such pain anymore... my heart can't bear to see him like that again."

Sakura: "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if he thought I hated him so much. I really do love him, and I want him to know it."

Ino: sigh "Seems you two need to learn something. That man's going to be the future Hokage. If he doesn't have the stamina to weather all the emotions and problems life throws at him, he wouldn't be able to become Hokage. I don't think Godaime-sama would have picked him if she didn't think he was capable of handling it. Maybe you should have more faith in him instead of spouting about being his strength or loving him and such."

Gamakichi: "Pretty good advice coming from you. Naruto sent me to tell you he's back. Here are the ice-packs, and extra towels."

Gamakichi, the summoned frog, arrived on the scene, standing to the height of Ino's shoulder.

Ino: "Thanks. Tell him us girls are going to have some alone time in the bath."

Gamakichi: "Sure thing. Oh, he brought some more food with him, he said to thank Hinata-chan for the food, and Ino-chan for the company, advice, and other thing."

Hinata & Sakura: "Ino-chan?! Explain!"

Ino: "I scored some brownie points with him while you guys were passed out. But he told me he's finally made up his mind!"

-- --

(Back in Konoha)

Sasuke: "...and he's been using that "ultimate taijutsu" move ever since."

Sai: "You mean to say that on you..."

Sasuke: "Don't say it. I don't even want to think about that."

Sai: "I don't understand."

Sasuke: "About what?"

Sai: "Well, Anko asked me to do something similar, and said that Ino..."

Sasuke: "I think I've heard enough of that story."

Sai: "But I haven't even gotten to the good part."

Sasuke: "As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing good about that story."

Sai: "... so, aren't you supposed to be training or something?"

Sasuke: "What for? All the people strong enough to give me a challenge left to meet up with Naruto."

Sai: "Even Bug-man, Lazy, bowl cut, and that Hyuuga guy?"

Sasuke: "They've all headed off. Hmmm, do you hear that?"

(in the distance)

Konohamaru: "Who that hell are you to do that to Naruto-nichan?"

Hanabi: "Onee-san suffered because he never noticed her and the flat-chested girl kept getting in the way. I just sped things along."

Moegi: "You fucking retarded bitch, I'll kill you for making Leader run away!"

Udon: (holding Moegi back) "Can't we all just get along? I'm sure he'll be back soon."

Konohamaru: "Tell us where they went or we'll beat the stuffing out of you."

Hanabi: "You guys? Please! Come back when you have someone really scary to back you up."

Sasuke: "Someone called for me?"

Their jaws dropped and their eyes widened, their skin broke out in goose bumps, and a hint of shaking showed at their knees.

Sasuke: "Why don't you fill me in on the entire story." He activated his cursed seal, stage one, and Sharingan for added affect.

Sai: "Overcompensating for a small..."

Sasuke shot Sai a look of death.

Sai: "...time to hit the 'ole dusty trail."

--At the Cabin--
(rushing into the room)

Ino/Sakura/Hinata: Naruto-kun!

Hinata: "Byakugan! He's not here." She spoke in a sad tone.

Ino: "That boy is elusive as ever. Oh, there's a note."

Sakura: "Everyone: Went out on a walk to clear my head. Don't kill each other until I get back, or was it don't kill each other? I picked up some chocolates and flowers that you girls seem to like so much, so do whatever it is you do with them instead of fighting. I'll be back in an hour."

Ino: "Sound like him."

Hinata: "There's something written on the back. P.S.: Thanks again for the food Hinata. It was great. You'll make a great wife one day. Oh, and don't mention the bath to the others."

Ino/Sakura: "What about the bath?"

-- --
(Out in the woods)

Naruto: "... so that's basically my dilemma. To be perfectly honest I'm starting to like all three of them, but it wouldn't be fair to the others not to pick one, plus, if I'm going to be Hokage, I need to be a decisive person. What do you think?"

The squirrel rubbed its nose with both paws, walked in a circle, then stared at him.

Naruto: "I know what you mean, this entire thing is so confusing. Any of the three would probably make a great companion for Hokage, but I'd like to be sure which one I like the most and would spend the rest of my life with." sigh

"Why don't you just pick Hinata-sama? I don't think you could ask for more love than she's willing to give. Plus she has a nice rack and a really extensive undergarment collection."

Naruto: "You're pretty knowledgeable for a squirrel."

Neji: "Actually, it was I."

Naruto: "I know, you can't be Hokage if everyone can sneak up on you. I was hoping that joke would be funnier."

Neji: "Still can't decide?"

Naruto: "Nope. By the way, you really shouldn't be telling people your cousin has a nice rack, people will get the wrong idea."

Neji: "I'm not that perverted."

Naruto: "I heard that you stole Ten-Ten's underwear from her room; while she was asleep. The underwear she was sleeping in."

Neji: "A man can't back down from a challenge. Plus I'm already dating someone."

Naruto: "No way! Who?"

Neji: "The nurse at the academy."

Naruto: "Get out!"

Neji: "Seriously."

Naruto: "Wow."

Neji: "So tell me about your time with Ino."

-- --
(Earlier in the bath)

Ino: "I thought all my plans were busted when Sakura showed up, destroying that whole building. So I just took control of her, picked myself up and headed on down to Naruto's apartment."

Sakura: hiccup "The Buushin was like super nervous when we got there because all the knowledge from the dispelled buushins returns to the others. Anyway, he was like expecting us, so he answered the door in the pajamas he wears, you know with the funny nightcap, he still wears it!"

Hinata: "KAWAII! And to think he didn't have it to sleep in all this week... I'm so sad; I should sleep with him again!

Ino: Hahahaha, we've all slept with him, haven't' we? For a guy that's trying to do the right thing, he sure gets into bed with a lot of women! Things are looking up for me!"

Hinata: "Mmm, no. You see he had this really ugly fan girl with a big crush on him over at the traditional clothing shop, and he, he, he didn't even pay attention to her."

Sakura: "But wasn't that because she was ug... uhg... ugly?"

Hinata: "Sure, she was really, really ungly, um, ugly with huge breasts, clear skin, and shiny hair, and he teeth were really sparlying... ugly! But she practically dropped her panties and bent over for him!"

Ino: "I've done that before!"

Sakura: "He just dumped her though? I can't imagine him doing that... even though I hit him so much... even though I was just talking to a fake, he wantsteds to sex me! Like you know, woo woo!"

Hinata: "No no, Narupo-kum is too nice a guy to do that... So I walksed in there and said, 'Listen bitch, you're way too butt ugly for Naruto, he needs a real woman, like me' then I flashed him and he said 'Oh baby you're so freakin' hot, have my babies'!"

Ino: "I want babies!"

Sakura: "Hah! If only Sasuke had said that to me, I'd be all up in his junk!"

-- --
(Somewhere outside of Konoha)

Sasuke: sneeze

Sai: "Gross! Cover your mouth when you sneeze."

Sasuke: "It's okay. I don't have your habits. Man-juice isn't going to spew from my mouth just because I sneeze."

Sai: "Penis gag... I get it now."

Sasuke: "I miss you Kakashi."

Sai: "If you miss him you should just edit him into your photos, like these ones I found at Ino's place."

Sasuke: "... that's really sick you know that, seriously I... this one doesn't have you in it, just her."

Sai: "Must have gotten it by mistake."

Sasuke: "I'll just keep this one then, so I can... return it to her later."

Sai: "Yeah, make sure you wipe it off before you return it to her. Not that the whore would mind."

Sasuke: "The more I hang out with you, the more I'm turning into Neji. At least Naruto is normal."

Sai: "If Naruto is normal I'll suck your..."

Sasuke: "I hate you."