I don't own Naruto in any way shape or form. Just a fan of the series. Believe it!

Second Part of the Talent show is in this chapter. Reviews are really, greatly appreciated. I don't care if you log in or not. Guests are welcome in my humble abode. Enjoy!

XXX

Before talent show start, 5:30

Sasuke, um sorry Kisho, saw a lot from his perch in the old elm tree. It was getting so boring to wait there. Gnawing at his patience like mice at a fresh rope. 'My gut tells me to get out there, I have to get over these childish feelings of worry. Only Kisho was the one that could make me feel this way.' Subconscious driving him to clench his fist. Wistfully putting all those emotions aside he slid down the tree with an unhuman grace. 'I've got to get over him.' The sharingan ninja looked around. Lots of people mingled around waiting for the show to start. The older folk were most often accompanied with a glass of wine or champagne on the house of course. Only a demented person wouldn't appreciate free alcohol. He knew that from experience.

The teens present were a lot less than the old timers, maybe only five hundred or so of them. (Remember this talent show is entertaining the shinobi from the war. This is one huge party.) All huddled in groups talking to one another. A few of the more adventurous types were pushing their luck at getting drinks. Even seduction tricks didn't work on the server apparently.

Sasuke continued to walk around until he spotted a familiar spiky ponytail pointing out from the crowd. 'Is that Shikamaru?' He examined the teen closer. The air of annoyance rolling off the slender muscled shoulders, hands in pockets, bad posture, headband tied to the left arm. 'Yeah that's Shikamaru if ever I saw the bastard.'

Shikamaru stared with interest at the figure approaching him. A very attractive teen in casual attire, face impassive. Short, brown hair in stub of a ponytail with a lot of lose hair sticking up, rebelling against the rubberband holding it together. But couldn't help feeling this guy was familiar.

Sasuke inclined his head to the teen. "Hello, having fun?"

"It is taking quite a while for them to get ready. I knew coming out here would be troublesome. But now I have some company," the lazy ninja said, surveying the sky.

Sasuke smirked. 'I got him right where I want him.' "Hn."

"I've never seen you around before."

The sharingan ninja quickly replied, "Well that's funny. Because I know you. Shikamaru Nara of Gaara's fourth company right? You were the strategy help, god knows those ninja need it. Rumors float around."

Said strategist cracked a grin, "You flatter me, I'm just a big fat drag to be with." He looked thoughtful for a minute. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your name?"

"I'm Kisho, Takanashi."

"Unusual name. Got to live up to them in a place like this though."

"I'm not sure… "

In a moment both were laughing to tears. But the lazy ninja couldn't help but think, 'I haven't laughed like this since Sasuke left, that kid always had this effect on me and the whole Kohona group.'

'I wonder... '

XXX

Present time

"It's almost time for me to dance," Hinata said barely audible. Pushing her two pointer fingers together in anticipation.

Sakura looked down at the girl and replied with an almost sweet motherly tone, "You'll be fine Hinata-chan. Just go out there and do what you do best. We have our faith in you. Especially Naruto."

The hyuuga heiress brightened at that last comment, but mood faded when she heard, "And last act of the night is the lovely lady Hinata!" Gai exclaimed.

Somewhere in the crowd a loud blonde yelled, "Yeah Hinata you can do this! Wooo hooo!"

She smiled and blushed. 'Yes I will.'

Gai continued, "Umm and she will be dancing to… " He trailed off.

Kakashi looked at the paper and back to the flustered girl. "Uh, what exactly are you dancing to Hinata-chan."

She held out her Ipod nano. Everyone just became more confused. She explained, "I'll put my n-nano on shuffle and whatever song appears I d-dance to."

The copy nin's eyes widened, "You can do that without making up a dance first."

"Yep."

Gai flashed a smile, which blinded the crowd. "We will just have to see it to believe it. Alright the last act, the moment you've all been waiting for, Hinata!"

The crowd cheered. And there was a moments silence before the music started.

"When I see you, I run out of words to say, ahh"

"I wouldn't leave you, 'cause you're that type of girl, to make me stay, ahh"

The crowd gasped, she was breakdancing. Opening with her own style of toprock. The Kohona 11 was even more amazed, all except Naruto who kept telling them. "I told you so."

"I see the guys trying' to holler, girl I don't want to bother you"

"Cause you're independent and you got my attention"

She did a freeze, pulling it off excellently. The crowd went wild. 'They must like it if they are cheering so loud,' Hinata thought.

"Can I be your baby father"

"Girl I just wanna show you, that I love what you're doing hun"

"I see you in the club, you gettin' down good, I wanna get with you"

"I see you in the club, you showing thugs love, I wanna get with you"

She moved on to more of a downrock, using her hands to support her body. 'I'm amazed I can still do this well. In front of a crowd no less. It has been such a long time. At least my arm strength hasn't gone away.'

"You're so beautiful, so damn beautiful"

"Said you're so beautiful, so damn beautiful"

She continued to dance through the repeating up until the rap part where she changed her routine a bit.

"Like the clouds you, drift me away, far away, yeah"

"And like the sun you, brighten my day, you brighten my day, yeah"

"I never want to see you cry, cry, cry, and I never want to tell a lie, lie, lie"

"Said I never want to see you cry, cry, cry, and I never want to tell a lie, lie, lie"

This lead to the chorus and after another three minutes the song ended. So did her dance with a suicide. Any announcing from the Mc's was drowned by hearty cheers.

XXX

As the show ended Sasuke decided to take leave of his old friends. but was abruptly stopped before he left by a yelling Shikamaru.

"Hey Kisho do you want to hang out with us at Naruto's place tomorrow? I'm sure he won't mind, we are gonna play BS." He looked at the group surrounding him.

"Yeah that, and snag some alcohol form the kitchens," added Kiba.

"At that I'm not so sure I will go," grumbled Shino.

Kiba sighed, "Get that stick out of your ass. Bud lights galore." the dog boy waved his hands through the air making his point.

Bug man pushed his glasses higher up on his nose. "Ok, I'm in."

"You sure I won't be a bother," Sasuke said.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Don't even start on that man."

"Ok," the sharingan ninja smiled, "See you then." That was one of the truest smiles he'd had in a long time. 'Maybe this won't be so bad after all.'

XXX

1) Do they even have elm trees in Japan. Probably not. Oh what the hell I left it in there, criticize me all you want. That happens to me every minute of every day by everyone I know anyway. Especially my mom. But I love her to death anyway.

2) Sorry I haven't added a new chapter in a while. I'm getting geared up for a regionals swim meet, and waking up at 5:30 in the morning isn't improving my mood or my writing skills for that matter. That and a lack of reviews last chapter.

3) The act Hinata did actually happened in real life. At Blue Lake a music camp I went to the girl did just that. And did a beautiful unchoreographed dance. I get so jealous from people like that. People say I have talent in the things I do, but I just don't all the time.

4) Hinata's song was Beautiful by Akon ft. Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall.