Boo Berries:

Sakura had the perfect plan. Before she even had the berries in hand, she knew exactly what she was going to do. It was a simple plan. All she had to do was get Sasuke to eat a few of these berries and he would fall head over heels in love with her. According to the woman, one berry was enough to do the job. After a while it would wear off. Which was why Sakura had a whole basket full of them. She planned to fed Sasuke a few of them every few hours to make sure the effects lasted.

Now came the hard part: tricking Sasuke. She had to get him to eat them somehow. Tricking Sasuke into eating the berries wasn't going to be easy. Unless she didn't make it seem like a trick. Going with a large complicated plan would most likely backfire. Sasuke would get suspicious and not eat anything she gave him. Even if she hid it in something. She was going to make him a cake with the berries inside but she knew Sasuke didn't care for sweets and would never eat it. If she hid the berries in something else, he might refuse to eat it, thinking she had done something to the food. The best way to go about this was to hide them in plain sight. Or better yet, not hide them at all. The more obvious she was about it, the less he would suspect.

That's what she planned to do.

Her target in sight, Sakura put her plan into action. "Hey, Sasuke! I'm glad I caught up with you."

He cringed at her voice and turned. "Oh, it's you. What do you want?" he asked in an annoyed tone. As usual, he was less than happy to see her. Anyone, actually.

Sakura held up a basket of berries. The very berries she intended to use and nothing else. "I got these berries I wanted you to try," she told him with a smile.

"No, thanks."

She wasn't giving up without a fight. "I thought you'd like to try one. They're really good."

"I'm not hungry."

"Not even one? Just to taste?"

He answered her with a glare.

She sighed. "Well, alright. If you don't want to... I just thought you would be interested because of the flavor."

He raised his brow, silently asking her to explain.

"These berries are supposed to taste just like tomatoes."

Sasuke peered at the basket, intrigued. "Is that why they're pink?"

"Uh-huh."

"But tomatoes are supposed to be red."

"Go figure. But I can take a hint. If you don't want them, I'll just give them to someone else." Then she added, "Naruto didn't want to try them either. He was being a big baby about it. Who knew you two were so similar?"

Sasuke frowned, hating being compared to Naruto.

"Naruto didn't want them and you don't either. Oh, well. I guess I'll find someone else-"

"If I try one, will you shut up about?"

Sakura grinned. "So you want one after all?"

"If it will get you to leave faster, then yes."

She knew her plan would work. Sakura held out the basket and Sasuke took a single berry from the bunch.

She watched him closely as he brought it to his lips. Sasuke opened his mouth and popped the berry inside. She watched him chew and swallow. She waited for something to happen.

Sasuke frowned and gave her an annoyed look. "These things don't taste anything like tomatoes."

"They... don't?" Sakura was shocked. She thought for sure Sasuke would fall for her in an instant. She watched him eat it. What went wrong? "Did they... taste alright to you? Were they... good?"

Sasuke scoffed. "You're as annoying as ever. Asking so many stupid questions." Sasuke turned and walked away.

Sakura looked down at the basket in confusion. She was hoping they would work. She thought her plan was flawless. She was so sure she had everything planned out perfectly.

Maybe the berries weren't good. Maybe the woman who grew them told her a lie. She might have been looking for a cheap laugh at Sakura's expense. This was so disappointing.

Then Sasuke turned around. "What's with the look?" he asked.

Sakura looked up. "It's nothing."

"You're so annoying."

Sakura sighed. No matter what, things would never change.

"But... kind of... cute."

Sakura's head snapped up. "Huh?"

Sasuke was looking right at her. His expression was softer than before. His eyes were looking straight at her without a trace of disgust or annoyance.

"I never noticed... what nice eyes you have."

Sakura was so stunned she couldn't move.

"And your hair is so pink. It looks just like the blossoms of a tree. It's beautiful."

Sakura started to blush.

Sasuke returned her blush and turned away. "Why... Why did I say that?" He looked very confused and a little frightened. "What's wrong with me?"

Maybe it was a delayed reaction. Maybe Sasuke was resisting the effects. Either way, Sasuke wasn't himself and he knew something was amiss.

Feeding him one more berry couldn't hurt. It might make the effects stronger which would stop him from resisting. Sakura didn't want him to hold back.

"Sasuke..."

He faced her again. "I love it when you say my name." He slapped himself in the face. "Get it together! What is wrong with you?"

"Would you like another berry?"

Sasuke couldn't stop himself. He wanted to do anything she asked. If she offered him something, he would take it and accept it as a gracious gift. "Sure, if you're asking." He grabbed another berry and ate it before he could think twice about it.

Sakura was tempted to ask him how he felt after eating a second berry but resisted the urge, fearing he would suspect and spit it out.

She watched him closely and waited.

In an instant, Sasuke was on top of her.

"Ah?!"

"Sakura! I love you!"

Sakura's eyes widened.

Sasuke wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. "I love you so much! You're wonderful and beautiful and I'm never gonna let you go!"

Sasuke was never this affectionate before. At all, actually. It came as a huge surprise. Sakura couldn't react at first.

He began to nuzzle her neck and kissed her bare shoulders. "I love you, I love you, I love you!" He squeezed her tight. "Hold me close, my love."

Sakura's cheeks turned bright pink. "It's happening..!" she whispered rapturously.

Naruto was bored and looking for something to do. Everyone he knew was either busy or out on a mission. At last, he came upon a familiar head of pink hair and hurried over. Sakura was walking through the park, seemingly alone. Naruto only spotted her head bobbing above the tall hedges. He quickly ran into the park and jumped in front of her.

"Hey, Sakura," he greeted spiritedly. "Did you want to hang out or-"

"I'm a little busy right now," said Sakura.

"Doing what..?" Naruto looked and discovered that she wasn't alone as he had originally thought. There was something beside her. Or rather, on her.

Wrapped around her torso was none other than Sasuke Uchiha.

Naruto had to look twice because something didn't seem quite right. Sasuke had both arms wrapped around Sakura, hugging her tightly. That was unusual. He had a goofy grin on his face, which was even more unusual.

"Is he ok?"

"Him?" Sakura looked down at Sasuke. "Oh! Yeah! Yeah, he's fine."

It wasn't Sakura's obvious attempt to hide the truth with that nervous response that had Naruto suspicious. It was what Sasuke said that had him worried.

"I love you so much, Sakura," he swooned.

Naruto stared at him with wide eyes then turned to Sakura. "Is he drunk?"

"No, not at all."

Sasuke squeezed her tighter. "You're so adorable and wonderful. I'm never gonna let you go, my love."

Naruto was staring at Sakura, freaking out on the inside while his outside was too shocked to respond.

"Ok, listen." Sakura motioned Naruto to come closer and held up the basket of berries. "Remember that mission with the garden and everything?"

"You mean with that lady who ran experiments growing different types of plants? Yeah, why?"

"She gave me a few of these berries. They're supposed to cause you to fall head over heels in love with the next person you see after eating them."

"So you fed some to Sasuke and that's why he's like this?"

Sakura nodded. "Yeah. He's totally gaga over me and it's wonderful!" Sakura had never been so happy. "He follows me everywhere and does whatever I say. It's great!"

Sasuke held her close and nuzzled her arm with his cheek. "I love you. I love you so much."

"Is there a cure or anything?" asked Naruto. "I'm only asking because this is kinda creepy."

"According to the woman, it wears off after a while. Like a day or two, I think. Which is why I plan to feed Sasuke a few of these every now and then to make sure it doesn't wear off too quickly. I want to enjoy this a much as possible."

"What happens when you eventually run out of berries to feed him?"

Sakura looked disappointed. "Well... Then it would be nice while it lasts." She gave Naruto a pleading look. "I just want a little attention for a while. Is that so wrong? Is that so bad? We all know Sasuke is never going to be affectionate with me like this. This is the closest I'll ever come. Sasuke doesn't express his feelings much anyway. If at all. Just for a little while, I want to know what it would be like if he did. I want him to love me. I want to know what it's like to be loved like this."

Naruto felt bad for her. Sakura wasn't trying to do anything intentionally bad. She just wanted to know this kind of happiness. She wanted to be loved by someone she truly cared about.

"Well, if this is what you wanted, I could-"

Sakura interrupted him. "It wouldn't be the same since you're not Sasuke and Sasuke is the only one I want to do this to me."

Naruto sighed. "Well, alright..." Then a light bulb went off in his head. "So... anyone who eats these becomes like this?"

"Well, I gave Sasuke a couple because it didn't affect him very much when I gave him just the one."

Naruto started to grin. "So... Do you think I could have a few of these? You know, for fun."

Sakura frowned. "No way. You're going to get in a whole bunch of trouble with these. I know you are. And I need all I can to make sure this lasts a while."

Naruto's devious side took over and he said, "Well, if you feel that way, maybe I'll just tell Granny about this. I'd hate to see how mad she gets when she finds out what her apprentice has done to her own teammate and friend."

Sakura flinched. She didn't want Tsunade to find out about this. Who knew what would happen?

"Ok, fine! But just a few." Sakura extended the basket to him and Naruto took a handful of berries.

"Thanks. And don't worry. My lips are sealed."

Naruto ran off with the berries in hand and tried to come up with a plan. Seeing Sakura surrounded by so much love made Naruto long to have the same experience. If Sakura got that much affection from one Uchiha, Naruto could only imagine how much he would get from a whole group of girls. He started to fantasize about a whole harem of women surrounding him and showering him with love and attention. He pictured them all cuddling up to him and feeding him and kissing him and treating him like a king. Having that kind of attention seemed pretty good to him. Maybe he should enjoy one afternoon of affection as Sakura intended to do. If she could do it, why not him?

Sakura turned to Sasuke. "Now that he's gone, how would you feel about a nice long walk through the park, Sasuke?"

"Sure. I'd love that. I'd go anywhere with you."

"Great! A walk in the park, it is!"

"And I hope it never ends..!"

Sakura giggled. "Me, too!"

Naruto was a little disappointed that one of the girls he wanted to use these berries on wouldn't take the bait. Sakura was the one who had given him the berries in the first place. If he tried to feed her one of these...

"No way. She'd see it coming. There's no way I can trick her into eating one of the berries she gave to me. She'd see it coming a mile away. And if I try to hide them in something, she'll know what I'm trying to do. There's no way."

Feeding Sakura the berries was out of the question. He had to settle for other girls instead. At this point, he didn't care who it was. He just wanted to be showered with love and attention. Any girl would do as long as he got to be loved. Just for a day.

The question was, how to go about it? He couldn't just walk up to a girl and say 'eat this' and expect her to do so. He had to trick them into eating the berries somehow and have it not be something suspicious.

After a few minutes of thinking, Naruto had an idea.

"Free fruit salads!"

Naruto sat at a stand he had thrown together quickly and offered small cups of sliced fruit to any girl who walked by. No one took the bait. Most of the women walked on the other side of the street just to avoid him.

Naruto slumped onto the table in defeat. "I thought it was a good idea..."

"What are you doing?"

Naruto looked up. "Kakashi-sensei. I..." He looked at his fruit salads with disappointment. "I thought I could attract women by offering them these fruit salads I made."

"It looks like a poor attempt at a lemonade stand," said Kakashi. "If you want to attract women, might I suggest something with chocolate or kittens? Flowers are a good way to go, too."

Naruto had no time for this. "I'm not in the mood, Sensei..."

Kakashi shrugged and was off.

Naruto sat at his stand for another hour. No one was taking the fruit salads he had worked so hard to cut up and pour into small cups. He thought they looked presentable. He had even cut the strawberries into little hearts in hopes some women would find it attractive and try one. With all this mixed fruit, the berries were hidden in plain sight and no one would suspect anything.

Too bad no one was biting.

Just as he was about to flip the stand over in frustration, he saw a few of his friends coming over.

"What are you doing? What's all this?"

Lee, Neji, Kiba, Shino, Sai and Shikamaru were all gathering around his fruit stand looking a little on the tired side. They had all been training together and had decided to take a break.

"Hey, guys..." Naruto sighed heavily. "I've been trying to get people to eat these fruit salad things I made but no one's taking them. They're free and everything but no one wants them. I've been out here a couple hours. Not even ants want them."

Kiba elbowed Shino in the ribs. "Think you can convince a few ants to come this way and help him out so he'll stop complaining?"

Shino turned away. "Seems like a real waste..."

"Of your time or your skill? Or both?"

"Fill in the blank."

"He's a real baby, isn't he Akamaru?"

Naruto turned away from them. "It's a real pain in the ass! And they're small cups, too. A girl could eat one of these in a couple bites."

"Why a girl?" Shikamaru asked. Unbeknownst to Naruto, Shikamaru had taken one of the fruit cups off the stand and was about to dig in.

"Because I thought I could attract girls with a fruit salad stand."

"Try chocolate or kittens next time."

Naruto grumbled, "That's what Kakashi-sensei said."

"Well, good thinking with the healthy stuff. Girls tend to think about their weight a lot so using fruit was actually a good way to go, I think. But it still begs the question... Why were you trying to attract women with this stand in the first place?"

"Oh, because Sakura's out on a date and I thought..."

Naruto turned around and saw Shikamaru chewing something.

"What are you eating?"

"This." Shikamaru held up the cup Naruto had put the berries in.

Naruto's eyes widened. "Shikamaru, don't! That's not for you!"

Shikamaru stopped. "You said you wanted someone to eat them, didn't you?"

"Girls! Not-" He turned and saw that the others were eating the fruit salad as well. Berries included. "No!"

All at once, they turned and looked right at him.

Naruto could have burst into tears. "Not you guys..!"

"What is your problem?" asked Neji.

Every single one of them had looked in his direction when Naruto yelled, but so far nothing had changed.

"Didn't you want us to eat these?" asked Kiba. "You seemed so upset. Remember? When you said you wanted people to eat these things?"

"Why put out a stand saying free if you didn't want people to take them?" asked Shino. "If it's for a select group, you should have made a clearer sign stating that."

"These are good," said Lee. "Very tasty after a hard training session, right everyone?"

Naruto looked at them all and cocked his head to the side. They weren't acting any different.

Maybe they hadn't eaten the berries yet. Maybe it only worked on the opposite gender. Maybe these berries were duds. Sakura might have given him ones that didn't work because she knew he would get into mischief.

He breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe. That was a close call.

Neji looked in his direction. Naruto flinched, hoping Neji hadn't fallen for him.

"You look like a scared rabbit," commented Neji. "Don't give me that look. It's weird."

"S- sorry."

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Neji asked him, a little annoyed.

"I'm not. I... Sorry."

"It's not polite to stare, you know."

"I know. Sorry." Naruto forced himself to turn away.

"Naruto."

"Y- yeah?" He turned back.

Neji was the one staring at him now. His expression hadn't changed from the annoyed one he had given him before, but his tone had changed slightly. "You have really blue eyes."

"Eh?"

Neji's expression started to soften. "Your eyes. They're so blue. They're nice."

Naruto flinched.

Neji started to smile. "Really nice. I've never seen such beautiful blue eyes before. Why have I never noticed them until now?"

Naruto backed away and avoided his eyes. "No, no. It's not-"

"I feel kind of funny..."

Naruto turned to Sai who was staring at him, too. His expression had changed as well. His face softened but his brows were lowered in confusion.

"I don't know why... but..." His brows relaxed and rose, giving him a more placid look. "I don't know why, but... but I just want to look at you. I can't help myself."

Naruto shook his head. "No, no, no. You don't want-"

"Your hair looks so soft, Naruto." Sai started to grin. "Makes me feel like brushing my hand through it. I just want to touch your hair. It looks so soft and inviting."

"Come to think of it... Your hair does look similar to the kind of flowers certain insects like to rest upon. Even gather pollen," said Shino. "I'm... starting to understand why they would do that. It looks nice. I kind of want to rest upon it as well. Your hair looks so nice and soft."

"Not you, too."

"Do you think I could maybe... maybe brush my face against it? It looks nice."

Naruto backed up into a tree. "This is creepy, this is creepy, this is creepy..!" He didn't mind getting this attention from girls, but not them! Getting hit on by a bunch of guys was just plain freaky. It made him feel sick.

"You are so strong," said Lee. "My strength means nothing compared to yours. You are so great and amazing. It is an honor just to stand close to you."

Naruto shuttered. "This can't be happening."

Kiba's face broke into a wide smile and he moved closer to Naruto. "You're totally awesome, Naruto. You're amazing and so super cool."

Akamaru whimpered, sensing something wasn't right with his human companion.

Naruto couldn't back up any further. He felt trapped, stuck between a tree and a horde of love-struck fools. After seeing how Sasuke behaved under the berries' influence, Naruto shuddered to think how they would respond. What would they do to him? He hoped it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. The last thing he wanted was for them to tackle him to the ground and take turns making-out with him. Or even worse, everyone attempt it at once.

"Naruto," came Shikamaru's voice. Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder and thought his worst fears were about to begin.

"For the love of God, no! Stay away!"

Shikamaru recoiled. "Easy!"

Naruto calmed down enough to notice that Shikamaru wasn't behaving the same way as the rest of them. "Shikamaru? Are... Are you ok?"

"Yeah."

"You don't feel... different? Strange?"

"Not as strange as that." Shikamaru pointed to the others who were all giving Naruto longing gazes and big smiles. "What the hell's gotten into them? What's going on?"

"Uh..." Naruto had to confess the truth. The sooner he did, the sooner things might go back to normal. "I might know what's wrong with them."

Shikamaru looked down at the cup in his hand and put it all together. "Let me guess. You spiked this fruit cup, didn't you?"

"Maybe..."

"Either you did or you didn't. Which is it?"

Naruto cringed. "Did."

Shikamaru groaned. "So apparently, you hid something in this fruit salad in hopes of getting some attention. No wonder you wanted girls to eat it and not us. So what was it? Some kind of love potion or something?"

"It was these berries Sakura gave me."

"Berries?" Shikamaru looked at the cup in his hand. "I see. Hidden in plain sight. Smart."

"How is it you're not in love with me?" asked Naruto. "You ate some, too, didn't you?"

"I only ate a strawberry. I didn't get to the rest of it."

"The berries are hidden under the pineapple, I think. I mixed it in. I guess these guys got to the berries before you did."

Shikamaru dumped the fruit on the ground and smashed it with his foot. "What the hell possessed you to do this?"

"Sakura fed some to Sasuke and now they're on a date together. It worked out fine for her so I wanted a little action myself. I figured if she could have one, I could have a whole swarm of girls around me."

"Obviously this sort of thing would backfire. Didn't you stop to consider that?"

"Obviously not!" Naruto looked back at the boys giving him loving stares and cringed again. "You've got to help me."

"Me? What do you want me to do?" asked Shikamaru. "It's not like I can tell them to stop and they'll listen. What about Sakura? If she's the one who gave you these berries in the first place, maybe she knows of a cure."

"She said it would wear off after a while but..." Naruto grimaced at the sight of their loving gazes. "But I don't think I can last that long. I can't stand them looking at me like that. If there's something that will make the effects stop sooner, then by all means, get it!"

"Alright. Where's Sakura? I'll ask her if she knows anything."

"In the park. But-"

"I'll be right back." Shikamaru dashed off before Naruto could say another word.

"Wait!" Naruto called after him. "You can't leave me here like this! Come on, Shikamaru! Don't leave me alone with them! Please!"

Shikamaru was gone, leaving Naruto to face the love-struck ninja alone.

Gulping, Naruto slowly turned back.

"That look on your face right now is wonderful," sighed Shino. "Everything about you is wonderful."

Sai cupped his hands over his cheeks, his palms heating up from his blushing face. "I don't think I've ever felt like this before. My whole body feels so warm and nice. And I can't stop smiling. Why can't I stop? Oh, I feel so good inside."

"I could just stare at Naruto all day..."

"I feel so weird, but a good weird. Kinda tingly. And when I see Naruto, I just... It just makes me so happy."

Naruto moaned. "Why did Shikamaru have to run off and leave me here like this? I don't want to hear a bunch of guys talking like that. And especially not about me..!" he whined.

"You're so awesome when you whine like that," cooed Kiba. "And that face you're making is adorable."

"Please don't say that."

Suddenly, Naruto found himself trapped in an embrace.

"Sai!"

"I'm sorry, Naruto, but I couldn't help myself. I just got the urge to do it and I don't regret it." Sai held him tight. "It feels good."

Inspired, the others closed in.

"No, no, no!"

Before he knew it, Naruto found himself smothered in the arms of his friends. Each and every one of them was hugging him tightly.

"It looks so fun so I had to try it."

"You're so fun to hug."

"Your hair really is soft!"

"I could stay like this forever."

"You're like a big cuddly teddy bear. I never want to let go."

"This feels so good."

Naruto almost started crying. "Why? Why couldn't it have been girls?"

Neji pressed his cheek against Naruto's face and sigh contentedly. "I never knew how nice it would be. I never knew how good hugging you would feel. This is so nice."

"Our faces are touching!" cried Naruto. "Our faces are touching!"

"They sure are..!" Neji sighed. "Your face is so soft. I like it."

"Get off me!" Naruto shouted. "I want you to get off me right now!"

Neji stopped hugging him. "If that's what you want, I'll be happy to do it." Neji parted from him and sat quietly a few inches away.

Naruto paused. Neji let him go. That gave him another idea. "I want all of you to stop hugging me right now and get off. Now!"

At his command, they all did as they were told and parted from his body and sat on the ground, circling him.

Now that he was able to breathe, Naruto looked at them. "Wait a minute. You all stopped? Just because I told you to?"

"Of course," said Lee.

"I would do anything you asked of me," added Shino.

"Seeing you happy brings me such joy," said Kiba.

Neji cupped his hands over his cheeks just as Sai had done moments ago. "I feel as though I would do anything you asked of me. Anything at all. But... The weird thing is... I don't think I would regret any of it. I'm all too happy to do as you say."

Naruto raised his brow. "Really?"

They all nodded.

This was interesting. They would do anything he said. Maybe this could work after all.

"Say, Neji?"

Neji started to giggle. Abruptly, he stopped and his face turned pink. "Did I just do that? I had no idea I could make such a sound." He rarely laughed and when he did, it never sounded like that. "But hearing you say my name and seeing you look upon me with those eyes of yours just made me so..! Oh, I couldn't help myself. I feel as if I've lost all control."

If that was the case, then Naruto was going to have fun with this. "Neji, I want you to do something for me."

Neji looked up with sparkling eyes. "Sure. What is it that you want?"

He had to test it. Naruto wanted to be sure they really would do anything he asked them to. "Neji. Bow to me."

He smiled pleasantly and said, "If that is what you wish, then I am happy to do it."

Just like that, Neji bent forward into a deep and humble bow.

Sai looked at Naruto with innocent eyes. "Naruto... May I also bow to you like that?"

"I want to bow to Naruto, too!" cried Lee.

Smiling, Naruto gave them an order. "You may all bow to me."

"Gladly!" They all threw themselves forward into deep bow.

Naruto smiled, seeing their foreheads in the grass and their backs to the sky. Such respectful and loving bows. They really were treating him like a king.

"I can work with this," Naruto said to himself then addressed the group of bowing shinobi. "Oh, jeez. I'm so hungry. I could sure go for some ramen right about now."

Kiba raised himself up and threw his arm into the air. "Oh! Oh! I'll pay for it! It'll be my treat, Naruto!"

"I'm going to treat Naruto!" said Sai.

"No, I am!" said Lee.

"I'm treating Naruto to some ramen," said Shino.

"Guys, guys!" As soon as Naruto spoke, they all quieted. "It's ok. You can all treat me. Each of you will pay for a bowl for me. I eat a lot so it'll be fine. You'll all get your chance to pay for me. How's that sound?"

"Whatever you wish, Naruto," they chorused in unison.

This might not be so bad after all. One way or another, he got a whole group to do his bidding and shower him with attention. It wasn't quite what he expected but he could work with this. Maybe some good could come out of this disaster.

Please review! ^-^