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Kawaii-doodler: Thanks for all the reviews, everyone! They made sooooo happy! I almost cried! *sniffle*

Dark Angel 6012: Just shut up and keep typing! *whines* I want to find out what happens in the new chappy!

Kawaii-doodler: O.O ... Dark-chan...

Dark Angel 6012: What?

Kawaii-doodler: Did you just... whine?

Dark Angel 6012: …

Kawaii-doodler: Dark-chan?

Dark Angel 6012: You know what? I'm leaving if you don't hurry up with the new chapter! =[

Kawaii-doodler: Okay! Okay! Here's the new chapter everyone~ *giggles* I can't believed you actually whined, Dark-chan.

Dark Angel 6012: -/-

Shikamaru: 13

Gaara, Naruto: 12

The Plan

-Normal View-

-The Uzumaki Household-

"Shikamaru?"

"Yeah, that's me," Shikamaru answered lazily.

"Oh," Naruto said quietly. I really shouldn't have gotten my hopes up thinking that Sasuke would call me back...

"Hey, Naruto?" Shikamaru asked, snapping Naruto out of his thoughts.

"Yeah, Shika?" he answered.

Shikamaru sighed. "I have to tell you something... Something that involves you and Gaara," he told him seriously.

Naruto blinked. "Something that involves me and Gaara?" he asked curiously.

"Yep," Shikamaru answered.

"Wellllllll~ … What is it?" he questioned, wondering what was so important.

Shikamaru yawned before answering. "Let's just say it has to do with both of your dilemmas."

"Dilemma?" Naruto repeated loudly. "What the heck are you talking about, Shikamaru?"

"Just shut up and call Gaara... I don't know his phone number..."

Naruto clenched his fist. How dare he tell me to shut up! He sighed before continuing. "Fine. Just hold on a minute."

Naruto looked at his contacts list to find Gaara' s number. It him took about 30 seconds to find and call the red-head.

Brzzz

Brzzz

Brzz- click! "Hello?"

"Hey Gaara!" Naruto answered cheerfully.

"Hey Naruto," Gaara replied, sounding rather dejected (as usual).

"Ummm..." he started. "Shikamaru has to tell us something really important."

"He does?" Gaara inquired.

"Yeah! Just wait a sec, kay?"

Naruto reconnected Shikamaru.

"Okay Shika, tell us what's so important," Naruto said.

Shikamaru took a deep breath. "After thinking about it for quite some time now," he started, "I've finally decided to help you two."

Silence. "… What do you mean, 'you've finally decided to start helping us'?" The red-head and blond asked in unison.

"I mean... I've finally decided to help you with your-" Shikamaru coughed a little "-men trouble."

Naruto's breath hitched in the back of his throat as his cheeks started to heat up.

"W-what are y-you t-talking about, Sh-Shikamaru?" Naruto stuttered over the phone.

"Y-yeah," Gaara stammered. "Y-you really shouldn't t-talk like that!"

"Quit the stuttering, you two! I know for a fact that you love Sasuke, Naruto. You love Neji, too, Gaara. Don't be so surprised."

If Naruto was looking in front of a mirror, he would have seen that his face was as red as a tomato. The color in his cheeks faded as he came to a realization.

"Wait!" Naruto exclaimed, louder than necessary. "You love Neji, Panda-chan?"

"S-so?" Gaara snapped, still stuttering. "You love that damn Uchiha!"

The color in Naruto's face quickly returned. "Sh-shut up!"

"Both of you should shut up," Shikamaru told the two. They both complied.

Taking advantage of the silence, Shikamaru continued. "I also happen to know... that loving them has caused you two a great deal of pain."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"I couldn't stand there as a heartless spectator letting you guys get hurt; I had to do something. So... I've decided that I'm going to help you win their hearts."

"And how will you do that?" Gaara asked angrily.

"I've come up with a plan."

"A plan?" Naruto cried.

"Yes," Shikamaru replied.

"Why a plan?" Naruto asked incredulously.

"Is it so hard to believe that I thought up of a plan?" Shikamaru sighed before continuing. "It's to unlock their feelings for you from within."

Naruto gulped. "From... within?"

"Yes, from within." God, I feel retarded. "I can tell that they already like you. They just haven't realized it yet. I think they'll notice their feelings for you at one point. We just need to get them out with jealousy. I'm sure they'll get jealous once they see you in somebody else's arms."

"And how will that work?" Gaara questioned, still angry at Shikamaru.

"'Cuz jealousy makes a person think twice about their feelings for someone."

Naruto and Gaara pondered over Shikamaru's words for a while.

"I'm in," Naruto said.

"What?" came Shikamaru's annoyed voice (probably from the lack of sleep).

"I said that I'm in," Naruto repeated. "I want to know what Sasuke actually thinks of me. Does he think of me as a friend... Or more?" he asked himself more than the others.

"Hn" was Shikamaru's response.

"…" There was silence on the other end.

"Gaara?" Naruto vaguely wondered if he was still there.

"I'm...not sure if I should go along with your plan, Shikamaru." Gaara told him.

"Why not?" Naruto asked.

" 'Cuz I already know that Neji likes Ten Ten, so what's the point?"

A light bulb went off in Naruto's head.

So that's why Gaara was depressed on the bus today!

"How do you know that for sure, hmmmm?" Naruto asked him.

"He told me himself," Gaara explained simply.

"So... How do you know if he's lying?" Naruto challenged.

"I know Neji better than you! I could tell when he's lying!"

"Are you sure?" Naruto countered. "Neji is a pretty good liar when he needs to be."

"…"

"Gaara?"

"...What if... you're wrong, Naruto?"

"Then I'll be your slave for a month!" he compromised.

"3 months, 24/7," Gaara said.

"Awww... You're so sadistic, Panda-chan," Naruto whined.

Naruto heard Gaara laughing on the other end.

"So does that mean you're in?" Shikamaru said out of nowhere.

"Yeah... I'm in" was Gaara's answer.

"Good," Shikamaru remarked.

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Soooo... What's the plan?" he asked.

"Oh yeah. I almost forgot." Shikamaru yawned before clearing his throat. "The plan is..."

-20 minutes later-

"I don't like the first part of your plan," Gaara stated grumpily.

"I dunno," Naruto said cheerfully. "This might actually work."

"Uh huh" was Gaara's sarcastic reply.

"Well... I have to go," Shikamaru told them. "It's a school night and I need my rest."

"Me too." Gaara yawned. "See you tomorrow."

"Mkay." Naruto sighed.

They all exchanged farewells before hanging up.

Wow... I can't believe this is actually happening...

Naruto laid under his covers and slowly closed his eyes. Tired...

Tomorrow's going to be a big day!

Kawaii-doodler: I hoped you liked this new chappy :]

Dark Angel 6012: I wonder what the plan was...

Kawaii-doodler: *Giggles* You'll see.