AN: Ahh, thank you to Hikariko for finding the flaw in my story. I knew something was fast paced but I didn't know what. Foolish ne?  Ehehe, Thank you. So I guess for now, I'll have to fix up that problem with this one. Ok… so I can't exactly say that, because this was bound to happen whether you like it or not. ^^ Some of you are going to hang me for this, but it's all part of the story… I promise it'll be worth it later.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Hidden Chapter 7: Problems

   Sakura was beginning to feel rebellious. This is the third time she's snuck out to train by herself, and now it's taking its toll. She could hardly stand up, but being the stubborn person she is, she couldn't give up. She willed her legs to move and got up again. 'Damn it! At this rate…' Her vision began to blur. She tightly closed her eyes. 'No, Keep going… don't get distracted. Just… don't think about it!' She punched a nearby tree with her right hand, the wood splintered. Silence filled the air for a few seconds, before it cracked and the tree fell over…

Naruto walked alone in the middle of the night. He couldn't get any sleep, and still had a lot of energy to get rid of. He circled the village about six times and after a long three hours. It was near dawn. He began to get sleepy and rubbed his eyes. He could feel himself dozing off. A crack sounded in the distance. He snapped his head up.

"Naruto…" Neji growled. Naruto looked over at the other boy. His eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you want Neji?" he asked casually.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Naruto looked at him confusingly. "I was taking a walk, until you stopped me-…"

"No! I meant what the hell are you doing dating my cousin!?" Neji questioned threateningly. Naruto gaped at him.

"I-…"

"Shut up Naruto!" Neji grabbed his collar, "Listen to me. Stay away from Hinata!" Naruto kicked Neji's hand away and stepped away from him.

"Why should I listen to you?" Naruto was beginning to get angry. He put up his arms in a fighting stance. Neji smirked.

"You really going to fight me Naruto?" Naruto's expression remained serious. Neji shrugged, "I'm not going to fight you baka, but I'm warning you. Stay the fuck away from Hinata." Naruto blinked, and put down his arms.

"What's your problem Neji?! Hinata doesn't belong to you! She can do whatever she wants to!" Neji glared at him.

  "Do you know what the hell you're doing Naruto?! Are you even sure you like her?"

"If I didn't like her, why would I go out with her? Baka!"

  "You're being stupid Naruto. Hinata deserves more than your stupid words. You, of all people, should know that you're just using her as an escape away from your feelings for Sakura!" Naruto couldn't take it anymore. He leapt out and punched the Neji. The pearl-eyed boy stumbled a few steps back.

"Don't accuse me of such a stupid thing! Especially since you hardly know enough about me to assume anything." Naruto spat.

"Damn you Naruto. Hinata is my responsibility! I will not stand by and watch you play with her like some whore." Neji seethed.

Naruto snarled, "You didn't listen to a thing I said!" Naruto leapt for him again. This time, Neji dodged the attack and countered, by kicking Naruto square in the abdomen. Naruto fell. 'Damn, if I wasn't so sleepy…' he thought grimly.

"I listened Naruto. Now listen to me. Stay away from Hinata, and think about your actions before you do them. You know damn well you aren't over Sakura. Don't play someone else, and particularly my cousin, in order to get rid of your own sorrow." Naruto snarled. His face darkened. Neji continued, "I already told Hinata you won't be coming around her anymore." Neji glanced warningly at Naruto before walking away.

Naruto's fist clenched. 'Deme…why that…I-… I have feeling for Hinata… I do. Don't I? He comes around here like he's some…' Naruto rubbed his eyes roughly. 'Now I'm all confused!' He punched the ground. 'The ground feels… kind of… comfy…' He began to dose off, but snapped himself awake. Naruto picked himself up leisurely and made it home before the sun fully arose. He stumbled almost the entire way. (If you watched from far away, you'd think he was drunk.) His fatigue was catching up with him. He collapsed on his bed as soon as he got to it.

Tsunade looked into her crystal ball. She'd been monitoring everything in Konoha for the past few days, but today…

 Her head snapped up. "What's wrong Tsunade?" Jiraya asked. She shook her head.

"Something's wrong. Sakura, she's…" Tsunade said shakily. Kakashi and Jiraya looked into the crystal contraption.

"What… the…" Jiraya mumbled. A bright light erupted from it. The trio shielded their eyes. A crackling noise sounded and then the light faded. The crystal ball shattered.

Sakura gasped. 'So… tired.' She wiped the sweat off her forehead. It was near noon and it was the middle of summer. Which means, the heat would intensify soon. She heard a rustle of leaves in a near by tree. 'Gawd not now!'  She threw a kunai toward the leaves. They proofed up and a hooded figure jumped down in front of her.

   It was another ninja. Their entire face was covered leaving only the eyes exposed. His eyes narrowed. "Leave me alone! I don't have time for you right now!" Sakura yelled at him. The ninja's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything. Sakura began seeing double. She shook herself violently and forced herself to fight. She could see the ninja grin under his mask. She glared at him and put up a defensive stance. He leapt into the air. She blinked. Before she knew it, he was behind her.

'He's fast!'  He pulled out a kunai and prepared to strike. She screamed.

TBC…

More notes?

A short chapter… however, I'll make up for that in the next chapter. I don't promise, I know. The next chapter is longer. Though, I can't guarantee it'll be up soon. I've written it out, but I have to edit and reword it to my liking. Ok, I'm lying; It'll be up shortly.

Besides that, the reason the other chapters have been going up so quickly is because my teachers didn't give homework for the past few weeks. Well, they're picking up their pace again… so updates won't be so often anymore. *sigh…

   And yes, Neji will get what's coming to him.