Chapter 3:
"Gya" Naruto cried, leaning back and patting his distended stomach. "That was better then when I get Iruka-sensei to pay for it."
Unbeknownst to them, far away, Iruka sneezed.
"He's an interesting guy." Temari said.
"I wonder how rich he is." She thought.
"I hope he's got some cool jutsu's I can get off of him." Naruto grinned.
"He charges people for everything he does. For something good, he'll probably ask for more money than you've got." Shikamaru muttered, disappointed that he hadn't ordered some more food.
"Is Sasuke-kun is awake yet?" Sakura wondered, getting up and starting for the hospital.
"I wonder if Gai-sensei knows him well, and if they're rivals!" Lee shouted, excited at the thought of his sensei besting yet another ninja.
"I'd like to know what he meant by doing us favours that we don't ask for." Ino added, eyeing Shikamaru momentarily before realizing that Sakura had left.
"Ah!" She screamed inwardly. "That big forehead has gone to see Sasuke-kun without me! Like hell I'll let her!"
With that, she took off running to her family's flower shop.
Kiba walked aimlessly around town until he remembered the paper that Aiyoru had given him.
"What the hell could that guy have to tell me?"
Unfolding the note, he began reading.
"Let's see… 'To answer your, unvoiced, question' blah, blah, blah… 'you don't stand a chance'? What the hell?" Kiba growled, continuing to read. "'She's interested in Naruto, so give up on Hinata'! How the hell did he… 'so here's my favour to you. Go to 264 Kogetsu Ave. There's a girl there named Kumi. She likes animals, is similar to Hinata, though scares easily. Stop by, she's looking forward to meeting you'?"
He flipped the note over a couple of times and wondered what to do.
"Ah hell, it's not like I've got anything to lose… similar to Hinata… likes animals… but scares easily… guess I'd better hold back at first."
"Damn it." Sasuke thought as he awakened and rubbed the back of his neck. "That guy was too fast."
"Sasuke-kun? Are you alright?" A familiar voice asked.
Opening his eyes, he saw the familiar pink-haired kunoichi and part-time stalker. Suddenly his eyes went wide and starry. "Ah! Sakura-chan! I love your dress!"
Sakura stared at him, dumbstruck. "Is he actually complementing me?"
"Ah, arigato Sasuke-kun."
"Where did you get it? I'd love one!"
A sweat drop fell down Sakura's forehead. "N-nani?"
He began rambling on about "feeling pretty" as well as asking various questions about shopping. When he got to asking about bras, Sakura decided it best to leave; as she ran out of the room screaming in horror.
"I wonder what that screaming was about?" Aiyoru pondered from the other side of town.
Having rented an apartment, he moved near the Hyuuga residence, found the highest building of the neighbourhood, and laid in wait atop the roof.
Ino entered Sasuke's hospital room and grinned at the lack of a certain pink-haired kunoichi.
He noticed her after a minute and smiled. "Maybe she could tell me where Sakura buys her clothes…"
As far as Ino was concerned, the smile was a good sign. "Feeling better Sasuke-kun?"
He nodded. "Yeah, Sakura was here a while ago… though she was acting really strange."
"Damn big-forehead… she beat me to him…"
"Why, what happened?" Ino asked, sitting down beside his bed.
"She left screaming for some odd reason. Anyways… as you know, I don't really hang around with any girls other than Sakura… but ever since that 'incident' with Naruto back when we graduated…"
"Hee hee… I know what he's getting at." She thought wickedly. "He must want to do something to get rid of all those rumours some of my competitors have been spreading. And Sakura got nervous and ran out. Well her loss is my gain."
"Alright, I think I understand…" Ino said, leaning forwards.
"Ah, that's great. 'Cause I really wanted to know where-"
Sasuke's babbling was cut off as Ino mashed lips with him.
"Um… this is strange. First Sakura-san freaks out and now this one is doing something as disgusting and unnatural as…"
"Well, there you go." Ino giggled, getting up. "I'll see you around."
He watched her happily skip from the room and felt like crying. "I just want to buy a pretty dress. Is that too much to ask?"
Iruka looked out the classroom window and sighed. "Other than a sneeze, I've been completely forgotten…"
Tears began streaming down his face as he grabbed his head and began thrashing about in front of his class.
"Ah! Why don't I get some face time! I can be strong! I can be entertaining! Make me the hero!" He screamed. "I'll do anything! I'm not shameful!"
A sweat drop slid down the head of everyone in the class.
Konohamaru turned to Moegi. "That's how many now?"
"Fourth time today, Konohamaru-chan."
"Wait!" Iruka screamed. "Please focus on-"
His target approached the Hyuuga residence, as expected. Carefully dropping to the streets, he waved hello.
"Oi, Hinata-sama. Finished training for the day?"
She took a step back and nodded. "S-since everyone's gone there wasn't any practice. I was also too worried to…"
"You were too worried about your precious little Naruto-kun. Right?"
"H-how did you-"
"Don't worry! Relax…" He said softly. "As I said before. I know all about all of you. But… even if I didn't know that beforehand, it was obvious. You kept glancing over at him, blushing, and looking away. Doesn't seem like you've managed to get anywhere with those feelings, though."
She blushed and began playing with her fingers.
"Well… that's going to have to change."
"N-nani?" She stammered, looking at him rather than her fingers.
"Again, relax." He smiled, not that she could see. "I'm in favour of you two pairing up. Do you remember how I said I'd do everyone a favour?"
Hinata nodded.
"I don't lie. It's time someone set the wheels in motion. That is my gift to you."
