Team 10 was eating at Yakiniku Q to celebrate Shikamaru and Hanara's promotion to Chunin.
"Who would have thought that the lazy one would make Chunin first," Ino sighed, swallowing her BBQ pork, "I mean with Hanara, it was obvious. You don't see a Genin walking around with two elemental affinities every day. Shikamaru on the other hand... that was a surprise."
Shikamaru sighed, "Have some faith."
"I was surprised that anyone got promoted with the invasion," Hanara said, moving to pick up the last piece.
Choji growled and knocked away Hanara's chopsticks, "I will not allow anyone to have that piece. The last mouthful must be savoured in a way that no one but I am capable of."
Hanara shook her head and smiled to herself, 'I completely forgot about Choji's last bite obsession.'
"Choji! Seriously, stop trying to act so cool! You're just being weird! And savouring the last bite? You just shove everything down your throat." Ino yelled.
"Ino, it's fine," Hanara said, putting a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down, "We can order some more anyway. It's on Asuma-sensei after all."
Asuma groaned, "Why do I agree to this every time?"
"'Cuz you love us!" Hanara responded, shooting him an 'innocent' smile.
"I can't argue with that. There's the lazy dude, the glutton, the feisty one, and the overly mature one. Who couldn't love you?" he said fondly before turning serious, "But really, Choji, Ino's right. You need to try dieting or training. All you do is eat. Shikamaru, now that you're a Chunin, you have to start working. You're going to be leading missions and if you slack off your comrades could die. Ino, you need to stop letting your temper take control! That makes it easier for your enemy to read you! And Hanara, when you're leading a mission, you have to listen to other people's ideas! Both times you were sent to work with Naruto, you didn't listen to what he or his team had to say!"
Hanara winced. It was true, all she did was think of a plan and make people listen.
"Here's your second order!" a waitress said, giving them their pork.
Hanara picked up a piece but dropped it on her shirt. She picked it up and saw a stain.
"Ughhh," she whined, "Ino, can you come with me to the washroom and help?"
"Yeah," Ino nodded.
Ino and Hanara come out of the washroom after fixing the stain on Hanara's top, finding Choji waiting outside for them.
"Mmm... that BBQ pork was amazing," Choji sighed.
"You're so lucky, Choji. You don't have to worry about what you eat. Let me tell you, dieting can be pretty tough." Ino told him.
'You diet? I thought that you would know that training can be enough!'
"Well, why are you on a diet, Ino?" Choji asked curiously.
"All girls diet for one important reason," Ino sighed wistfully, "To look as cute as we can for the boy we love!"
'Um... I don't. I like my food and I burn off unnecessary calories while I train. I don't need to do anything else... right?'
"But what if the guy you like isn't into super skinny girls?" Choji questioned.
Ino put a hand on her hip, "Hm... well in the first place, most guys aren't as fa- I mean, most of the boys I know like girls that look thin and the reverse is true as well. You should take better care of your body or you won't get any girls."
Ino started to walk away, "Coming Hanara?"
"Nah you go on," she told her.
Once Ino was out of earshot, she turned to Choji, "Don't listen to Ino, look at me! I don't diet and I'm not fat or skinny. I'm healthy! It's all based on your body type, anyway. As long as a medic doesn't say anything, you're fine, okay?"
Choji smiled, "Hanara..."
"I never dieted once in my life and I know for a fact that Hinata and most Hyuga girls don't, either. Our training schedule burns our calories off. If I need to diet for the guy I like, then the relationship we'd have would be doomed from the start. Besides, Choji, if my heart wasn't already taken, I would date you. You're one of the kindest guys I know." Hanara told him, "Don't listen to Ino, okay?"
"Heh, Ino has no clue," Shikamaru said, coming out of the men's washroom, "Despite what most girls seem to believe, men like women with a little meat on their bones. Someone like, uhhh, Hanara! She's a perfect example. She isn't skinny to the point where you can see her bones, but she isn't fat to the point where you can't see any defined bone lines either. It just looks healthier."
Hanara blushed even though she said the exact same thing earlier.
"Oh, and the reverse is true, too, ya know," Shikamaru said, looking in the direction Ino went, "I bet she would be a lot more popular if she put on a few more pounds. She should eat."
Shikamaru puffed out his cheeks as if they were stuffed with food.
Hanara and Choji laughed.
"You're one hilarious guy, Shikamaru," Choji commented, "And you're kind of a genius, too."
"Huh?" he said, taken aback.
Hanara smiled, "It's true. You're quite smart. Beating a Jonin over twice your age in Shogi is no easy feat, you know."
Choji nodded, "That's right. Even we can see that you're smarter than Sasuke or that Neji guy can ever dream of being."
'True.'
"Ah, well, I've never really thought about it like that," Shikamaru said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I'm just being me."
"That may be true but you're the only guy that made Chunin in the Chunin Exams this time around," Hanara said.
"But I'm not as good a fighter as you or Choji. If I were up against either of you I would have given up." Shikamaru told them.
"You heard sensei," Choji sighed, "He said that all I do is eat and that I should train more."
"Like I said, I'm just being me and you should keep being you." Shikamaru said, "It's stupid to talk about all the things we're not," he put a hand on Choji's shoulder, "Sensei says a lot of things, but don't take them too seriously. Just live your life, eat your food, and take things easy. Anyway, I have to go. My dad's been making me nervous about how he actually wants to teach me a new jutsu or something."
"Then go!" Hanara said, "Shadow Possession isn't gonna be enough soon."
Shikamaru sighed and left.
"Anyway, I should probably go, too. Maybe do a small C-rank in the village for some extra ryo or something," Hanara told Choji.
"Wait," Choji stopped her, "Is what you said true? That you would date me if you didn't like Shikamaru?"
"Yeah! I tot- Hey! Who said I liked Shika?" Hanara asked.
"Well, you were starting to act a bit weird around him. I only noticed because when you hung out with me you were less awkward. And well, you sort of confirmed it right now." Choji said sheepishly.
'I'm way too obvious, I swear. Wait! Does that mean Shikamaru knows?'
"Does, uh, Shikamaru know?" Hanara asked, pushing her pointer fingers together in a very Hinata-esque manner.
"If he does, I didn't tell him," Choji answered.
"Oh!" Hanara smiled brightly, her nervousness going away, "Thanks Choji."
Choji shrugged, "It's nice to see that not all girls go for guys like Sasuke and Neji."
"There'll be someone for you," Hanara said confidently.
"Yeah..."
Sasuke Uchiha's Perspective:
'Two members of Squad 10 are Chunin now.' Sasuke thought as he waited for Kakashi to show up to their team meeting, 'If Shikamaru's anything like Hanara, he's strong. Kakashi hasn't taught me anything useful besides Chidori. Meanwhile, Hanara has at least 3 jutsu in her arsenal and her Gentle Fist to fall back on. She's just a Branch Hyuga member. They don't get any training! How is she so strong? She fought and beat that Hidden Rain Jonin like it was nothing! If I'm going to beat that man I have to get stronger! And then there's Naruto. He beat Gaara when he was fully transformed and I just sat down waiting for him to save me! He's the dead last, the resident idiot. He isn't stronger than me. I'll prove it!'
"Idiot!" Sasuke called, standing up, "Fight me. Right now."
"Huh?" Naruto asked, looking shocked.
"You're always rambling on about how you wanted to fight me, so here's your chance. Unless you're going to chicken out," Sasuke smirked, baiting him.
"You're on!" Naruto growled, getting into his stance, "I'll finally beat you this time, you just wait."
Sakura, sensing that this was going to turn into more than just a spar, stood up.
"S-Sasuke, are you sure? Shouldn't we w-wait for K-Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked nervously.
"This is perfect," Naruto grinned, "Kakashi-sensei takes forever. I was just thinking about how I wanted to beat you to a pulp, anyway."
'As if you could. I'm an Uchiha. In a minute you'll be the one with bruises.'
"Tch," Sasuke scoffed, "Don't tell me you've got even dumber than you were before. You're such a loser."
"Well, I won't be a loser if I win today!" Naruto declared.
"An idiot like you has no business acting so high and mighty," Sasuke growled.
"Ha!" Naruto snorted, "What happened to the calm and controlled Sasuke? Don't tell me you're nervous!"
Sasuke smirked, "Let's just do this. Then you'll see that you're the one that should be nervous."
Naruto growled, "Why should I? We're equals."
"You don't honestly believe that, do you?" Sasuke asked disbelievingly.
'Who does he think he is? He's the dead last! I'm the Rookie of the Year!'
"Heck yeah, I do! All this time, I never once thought that I was inferior to you in any way." Naruto said.
'I'll show him. He'll see once and for all that I'm stronger.'
"You're a complete embarrassment."
"Only because next to me you're embarrassed about how weak you are!"
'I'll prove that I'm stronger than you!'
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, charging at him.
"Naruto!" Sasuke growled, running at Naruto with a fist ready.