Me: Up to chap 9! I am so proud of myself!
Naruto: I'm proud of you too.
Sasuke: I hate all of you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…but I own that funny comment Shikamaru made to Sasuke! Mwahaha!
Sakura stepped in her house, and tried to control her breathing. She had heard everything that Shikamaru had said to Sasuke. Of course, Shikamaru was right. He always was. He could figure out anything. Though, it seemed whenever he was near her, he looked so confused. A knock at the door brought her out of her trance.
"Hey Sakura!" A bubbly voice called.
"Ino?" Sakura asked opening the door.
"Yeah! Do you want to head to Ichiraku? Shikamaru and Choji are there!" Ino said happily.
Sakura nodded and smiled. She closed the door and walked with Ino to Ichiraku.
"So, do you think…I mean, does it look like Choji likes me or anything?" Ino asked as her cheeks turned a pale red.
"Well, do you like him?" Sakura challenged.
"I don't know…I mean he is always hanging around TenTen for some reason, but she is with Neji…" Ino said.
Sakura shook her head and they saw Shikamaru and Choji.
"Hey Choji, Shikamaru!" Ino called dragging Sakura over to them.
"Hey Ino, Sakura." Choji replied.
Ino took a seat next to Choji, and Sakura next to Shikamaru.
"What will you have ladies? Whatever it is, it's on me." Choji said.
"Aw you don't have to do that Choji." Ino said.
"Yeah. We have money." Sakura said.
"Hey Cho. You just pay for Ino, and I'll pay for Sakura's." Shikamaru said.
"Alright Shika." Choji said turning to Ino.
"You don't have to pay for anything Shikamaru. I have money." Sakura said.
"Well, you owe me one. I say that in order to repay that debt, I have to buy you lunch." Shikamaru said smiling a bit.
"Well…I guess. I'll just have some beef ramen then." Sakura said smiling at him.
"Two beef ramen please." Shikamaru said.
"Coming up," Ayame said smiling. "A double date, ne?"
All four of them blushed furiously.
"I wouldn't exactly call it that." Shikamaru said clearing his throat.
"Just treating the ladies to lunch." Choji agreed.
"Sounds like a date to me." Ayame sang.
Sakura and Ino stared at the counter, while Shikamaru and Choji stared at the ceiling. All the ramen was set in front of them. They finally moved when the scent reached their noses. Everyone watched Ino practically guzzle down the food.
"Wow…Ino." Sakura said.
"Yeah, well, I was hungry." She said laughing.
"I'm gonna be second!" Sakura exclaimed practically inhaling her ramen.
"No way!" Choji and Shikamaru countered eating theirs as fast as her.
Ino just sat there looking at them. She began laughing and so did they. Noodles went everywhere.
"Sorry!" They all said.
Ayame just laughed.
"Don't worry. It's good to have fun dates." She said smiling.
All of them zipped out of there so fast it was like Naruto on free ramen day…and that's damn fast!
"At least the money didn't fly away." Amaye said laughing.
Ino and Choji headed to the training grounds, while Sakura and Shikamaru decided to take a walk through the park. Sakura smiled at her surroundings, when she felt Shikamaru's gaze on her. She turned to him.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing." He said shaking his head and looking forward.
She shrugged and looked at some flowers. Once again, Shikamaru was staring at her.
"What?" She asked, more irritable this time.
"It's just…I have such a high IQ, and yet, you are like a puzzle I cannot figure out. You are the one thing that confuses me." He said quietly.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
He looked away a bit.
"I mean…you were so happy before…he left and then…you were so sad and angry. I was just wondering…why did you choose him? Out of all the people, him? He was a real big jerk…and you were so happy with me before he came back. Now, you are going out of your way to avoid him." Shikamaru explained.
"I know…I was silly when I was younger. I couldn't see the genius in front of me, always there." Sakura said smiling.
Shikamaru smiled back and she grasped his hand.
"Did you know that Ino likes Choji?" Sakura asked.
"Just as I knew that Choji liked Ino." Shikamaru said chuckling.
"No way!" Sakura exclaimed laughing.
"It's true. He told me himself." Shikamaru said.
"One thing that confuses me is…why are we like this? So happy and carefree, when we have Itachi chasing me?" Sakura asked.
"Konoha is strong, and so am I. I will lose my life for you if I have to." Shikamaru said.
"I am glad you feel that way," Itachi said coming out the bushes. "And this time, I brought back up."
A blue sharkman with a big sword stepped up behind Itachi.
"Why hello there." He said grinning.
A row of sharp teeth gleamed in the sunlight.
Me: Ooh! More suspense! Dun Dun Duh!
Naruto: Run! RUN FOR YOU LIFE!!
Me: Lols anyway, R and R!