Count: 1135
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Chapter Ten: After
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"Uzumaki Naruto, I know you're in there!" Ino called, banging on Naruto's door.
"Yeah, but I was sleeping," Naruto groggily said. Naruto popped his head out of the door to eye the girl curiously. "Oh Ino, you shouldn't have!" He smiled as he watched Ino extend her arms, so he can view the delicious takeout bowls of ramen.
"Okay, Blondie, what's wrong?" Ino demanded.
"Nothing's wrong, Ino."
"You can't fool me. You didn't eat any of your ramen. I want you to try to tell me nothing is wrong again, because if you do, I will smack you!" Ino placed her hands on her hips, annoyed with the boy trying to lie to her like that. Naruto sighed, shrugging.
"I just wasn't feeling good. Sai annoyed me is all, okay?" he confessed. Ino raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Sai always says stupid stuff. I didn't think it'd bother you now."
"Well this time it did."
"What did he say then?"
"Nothing." Ino sighed, exasperated.
"Naruto, I already told you-"
"Ino, give it a rest. I don't want to talk about it." Ino was taken aback by him snapping at her like that. She didn't expect that. It was usually her who would snap at him.
Sai must have really gotten to him.
Silence…
This really bothered Naruto. Because he knew that silence meant that Ino was waiting for him to say what he really felt, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. She was incredibly stubborn.
Naruto sighed.
"He asked if I still loved Sakura-chan."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"What did you say?"
"I never answered. I just left. He annoyed me."
"Why? Unless... Damn it, Naruto. Of course you're still in love with Sakura. I told you, such a stupid idea wouldn't work. You're still head over heels for her. Didn't I tell you-"
"It's not like that anymore. It can't be. I moved on, I guess…" he trailed off, a bit confused himself.
"You guess? Moved on how?"
"You know…" Naruto looked the other way.
"Stop being around the bush. You know how much I hate that!" Ino pouted, and Naruto grinned, knowing very well she got annoyed by it. But he didn't seem to mind, since she did something similar a little earlier.
"Don't you give that smirk towards me, it's not funny! Just say it!"
"Look, I really don't want to talk about this now. I'm still not even sure myself. I'm super confused right now."
"When are you not?"
"Hurtful, Ino." And they both laughed.
"Look, Ino, I'll tell you later, okay? I just need some time to sleep and think about it some more, okay? I do have an overnight mission," Ino sighed, but soon accepted it.
"Okay, Blondie. I'm letting you off the hook right now because I have to go to bed early for tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?" he questioned.
"Yeah, I need to get my kimono still, remember? I'm going with Sakura!" Naruto nodded.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Okay, good, and you better fill me in on everything, Uzumaki Naruto!" Ino called before waving goodbye. Naruto nodded, but his stomach churned at the thought.
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"Geez, how is it so hard for you to find a nice kimono, Ino?" Sakura wondered.
"Well I don't want to go looking like a bum," Ino whined, and Sakura shook her head at her best friend's antics.
"You're so melodramatic. I'm sure any one of these would look good on you," Sakura complimented, looking through the racks for a kimono Ino might actually deem worthy.
"Very sweet of you, Forehead, but I want to look my best at this thing. There will be very high profile people there, I'm sure. And let's not forget, all those very handsome Hyuuga men will be there, too." Ino winked, and Sakura shook her head.
"You'd want a Hyuuga now, Ino?" Ino shrugged.
"Sure, why not? I like the mysterious types. And if they're anything like Neji, oh boy!" Ino giggled, and Sakura was fighting to hold back chuckles.
"You're being ridiculous. And TenTen would slap you for that comment."
"Yeah, I know, that's why I don't say it around her, although I wouldn't go for him personally." Ino still remembered that time during the Chuunin Exams, where he brushed her off like if her looks were nothing.
"And are you sure you don't like Naruto? I mean, Hinata is right you know, he's a catch… to some," Sakura said, stopping herself from saying too much. Ino's smile widened, chuckling at the thought.
"Nah, like I said, he's too loud. I like the tall, mysterious types," she said, giggling some more. "Do you like him?"
"W-what?" Sakura stuttered, caught off guard.
"Oh come on, Forehead. Just say it."
"It doesn't matter," Sakura began, and Ino's eyes widen.
"So you do!"
"No! Don't be ridiculous!" Sakura turned away, hoping Ino wouldn't see through her as she looked through the clothing racks for a kimono that would suite Ino's needs, way more intensely than before. A dark purple one caught her eye, and she quickly grabbed it, turning to Ino.
"What about this one?" Sakura handed Ino said kimono, and her eyes widened.
"Oh my goodness, I think this is the perfect one. I'll be right back!" Ino said as she rushed towards the dressing room. Sakura sighed in relief, shaking her head as she felt that was way too close for comfort. Her face was unusually heated. She looked at the mirror and grazed her cheek, noticing her cheeks were unusually pink as well.
This is bad… really bad, she couldn't help but think to herself.
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Naruto became annoyed with his robes, wondering why there were so many layers to his.
"Naruto-kun, we should talk." Naruto eyed the man at his window from his mirror. He did not look happy to see him. He blamed lack of sleep from his mission last night.
"What do you want now?" Naruto's expression seemed annoyed as he stared at Sai. "And why did you go through my window? There is a door you know, you should try knocking some time."
"This is easier," Sai answered. "I wanted to ask you something."
"I don't need any more of your questions," Naruto spat, continuing to dress himself. Sai came in regardless, and Naruto eyed him.
"Why aren't you ready for the ceremony?" Naruto wondered, noticing Sai was still in his mission clothes.
"Not going. Danzou-sama is giving me a new mission tonight," Sai told him.
"I see."
"Yes, I wanted to talk to you since I won't get another chance before the ceremony."
"Make it quick."
"What would you do if Sakura told you she loved you?" he wondered. Silence.
"I don't have time for your what if games, Sai. I have to go. Have fun on your mission." His voice was hoarse. Sai frowned, watching the blond open his door to the chilling night at hand.
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AN: Another chapter done, woot woot!
