Chapter 02 :: Games and Apologies
The gang had gone out with what money they had for Ramen. Most of the money coming from Neji and Hinata.
"Naruto! Chopsticks are there for a reason you know!" Sakura scolded.
Naruto ignored her while happily eating his Ramen.
The young shinobis were all seated side by side around a circular table. Aroma of great and freshly made cooking drifted from the kitchen.
"This is great, we have to do this more often!" Tenten smiled as she popped a dumpling in her mouth.
Tenten was seated beside Hinata and Sakura. Beside Sakura was Sasuke, then Ino who tempted to steal Sasuke away. Beside her was Shikamaru, then Neji and Naruto.
Hinata made few glances at Naruto as he ate. She blushed to herself like crazy.
All the girls noticed this, and even Neji did, but no one said anything.
Finally, Tenten elbowed Hinata and winked at her. "Why don't you say something?" she smiled.
Hinata blushed, "No! I can't, not in front of everyone." She was nervous enough to just leave the restaurant crying. But she remained seated.
Naruto was too busy eating his third course to notice anyone talking.
Sasuke ate quietly until someone put a hand on his thigh!! He snapped and bumped the table. His soup bowl flung into the air and landed on his head. "GAHHH!!" He screamed from the piercing burn on his scalp.
"Sasuke-kun!" Ino smiled. She obviously planned this to happen. She took a napkin to wipe Sasuke's face, but before she reached him, a waitress had already gone to help him.
"GRRRRR!!" Ino ripped the napkin with her teeth and started chewing.
Sakura would've done the same, if she didn't enjoy the pain it caused Ino.
Naruto spat a few noodles, laughing his head off. It was the first time he stopped eating for anything other than ordering more servings.
Neji made a small smirk, while Shikamaru joined Naruto's amusement.
Tenten saw Neji's smile and just melted in his white creamy eyes. She had never seen him smile as if he were about to laugh. The closest to a laugh she'd ever get from him was either a chuckle or an evil laugh of victory.
Naruto laughed so hard that he whipped his hands up and accidently sent a cup of tea onto Hinata's lap.
Everyone gasped as they heard Hinata yelp with pain.
The waitress finished up with Sasuke and left him with a peck on his cheek. He rubbed it off and stared at Hinata. "Naruto you bumbling idiot..." he hissed coldly.
"Shut up Sasuke!" Naruto snapped. "I'm so sorry Hinata-chan!" he took a cloth and began wiping her thighs without realizing what he was doing, just like an innocent child.
"Naruto-kun!!" Hinata blushed so red you couldn't tell what her normal skin colour was. She leapt up and ran into the lady's washroom.
"Oi," Shikamaru began laughing more, "you did a good job Naruto!"
Ino slapped Shikamaru playfully on the shoulder, "you're such an idiot!" she hissed referring to Shikamaru's comment.
Naruto felt a little guilty for the first time in ages. He stared at the lady's washroom and began thinking about Hinata.
"You know that Hinata really thinks good about you Naruto!" Sakura scolded.
"It was just an accident," Naruto muttered.
"Well you can go and apologize!" Tenten replied.
Naruto just continued waiting for Hinata to leave the washroom.
Kiba and Shino
"Akamaru! Are you okay??" Kiba cried. It was raining. Kiba's dog companion was whimpering and breathing deeply as it lied on the wet soil.
"Kiba, bring your dog and let's leave. Shinobi's will be after us for killing their allies," Shino muttered lifelessly as he stared at the corpses beneath him.
Kiba picked up Akamaru and wrapped him in his jacket. "Is the scroll alright?" Kiba questioned.
"Yes, now let's go!"
The two shinobi swiftly jumped from tree to tree. Their destination was in the middle of no where. It was this island that had no name. It was where Shino and Kiba's animal clans existed. Kurenai gave them an important scroll to deliver.
"I wonder how much the clan has changed since I've grown up..." Shino wondered.
"Our clans have been brought together I heard," Kiba smirked. "They say that more jutsus are being created and shared."
"Are you thinking of learning some?" Shino replied after a few moments.
"Perhaps, if they are good," Kiba said.
Shino just kept quiet to himself. He was that kind of person.
They had to get to a harbour and borrow a boat to cross a river. After that they would have to get through this gate cursed with jutsus and seals. A password is given out to people of the island, not to be shared with anyone outside of the clans. That's why Shino and Kiba were sent on this mission.
Sakura's residence
"Ahhh... Good to be home!" Sakura sighed. She flicked the lights on as the gang entered the house.
"Um, Hinata-chan I..." Naruto began.
Hinata just blushed and walked upstairs to change her clothes.
Ino and Tenten followed her.
Neji and Sasuke went up to the boy's room and began changing.
Sakura went to the washroom to freshen up.
"Ooo..." Naruto stared at the ground in guilt. He felt so bad for what he did to Hinata.
"Oi! Naruto, come and watch some TV with me," Shikamaru offered. "What are you still sad about Hinata?"
"Well, she won't listen to my apology," Naruto answered. The blonde ninja walked towards the couch and just fell onto the cushions. He felt slight relief as he settled into the couch.
"Don't worry Naruto, Hinata is the kind of girl who doesn't keep grudges. I'm sure she'll get over it in time," Shikamaru yawned as he flicked on the TV. "Never anything good on Sundays..."
"I guess you're right..." Naruto decided to let go of it, believing what Shikamaru said.
Meanwhile, Hinata, Ino and Tenten were changing upstairs.
"Hinata, why don't you listen to Naruto's apology?" Tenten questioned.
"I'm too embarassed to talk to him. It's the first time I interacted with a boy so much," Hinata admitted while buttoning her silky pjs.
"Well, at least he is apologizing, that's very manly for Naruto-kun," Tenten replied. She slipped on a black t-shirt and shorts. Suddenly, her attention was caught by Ino who was still bare with only her bra and skirt. "Wow Ino-chan! You're breasts are big!"
"I don't think that's right to say..." Hinata blushed.
"Hahaha, it's alright Hinata-chan. They are way better than Sakura's, that's why Sasuke should like me better!" Ino laughed.
"Nuh uh!" Sakura burst into the room, she practically tore off her shirt and revealed an equally sized chest as Ino.
Then the two began to catfight as usual.
"Eheh, don't mind them. The point is Hinata, you should just let these things go. If you're not ready for something as simple as having Tea poured on your lap, then you won't be ready for anything like marriage or even dating!" Tenten pointed out, acting all wise and smart.
"Um... are you ready for all that stuff Tenten-chan?" Hinata questioned hesitatingly.
Ino and Sakura stopped to hear this.
Tenten blushed slightly, "Ahahahaha! Of course not! I mean I am, it's just that I'm not ready for a boyfriend! I'm still only in my early stages you know!" She blabbed on and on. "Although sometimes I dream of my dream lover as a guy with long hair and beautiful eyes..."
"Ino? Doesn't that sound like who I think it sounds like?" Sakura grinned sinisterly.
Ino chuckled as well, "Ehehe, that's right. You LOVE Neji!"
Tenten threw a pillow at both Ino and Sakura, "Shut up!"
"Hey Sasuke!!" Naruto jumped into the boy's room. He tried to scare Sasuke, but he ended up getting hit in the face. "OWWWWW OW OW OW OWWWW!!!" Naruto felt his nose in pain.
Shikamaru followed in after. "Don't be such a pain Naruto."
"Gahh! Shut up!" Naruto managed to mutter.
"Don't complain, your face is hard as rock," Sasuke chuckled.
"Hey Sasuke, Ino told me the other day that Sakura was going to give you a kiss this sleepover," Shikamaru said. He smirked, "I see you're a ladies man huh?"
"Hmph." Sasuke continued changing his clothes.
"Why do you always get the attention Sasuke!!" Naruto bellowed, staring daggers into Sasuke's eyes.
"Are you sure about that?" Neji suddenly said out of the open. "I've seen Hinata-sama stare at you quite often."
It took a few minutes for anyone to say anything. They were obviously shocked that Neji opened up.
"Hahaha! That's right Naruto, you've got yourself a girlfriend too!" Shikamaru nudged Naruto in the arm.
"No I don't! You do! You like INO-CHAN!!!" the annoying blonde pointed at Shikamaru accusingly.
This time Shikamaru got annoyed and just punched Naruto on the back of the head.
It was 8:00 pm or so and the boys had already gone out watching TV. They awaited the girls to finish up.
"Hey I heard they're going to have a ceremony to welcome new visitors to Leaf village," Shikamaru began conversation. He was wearing a mixture of green coloured pjs and slippers.
"When?" Naruto asked. He was wearing his usual black shirt with baggy pants. He was gonna save his doggy cap for later.
"Tomorrow, 4 pm," Neji muttered. He was obviously bored by the TV so listened to their conversation instead. He had let his hair loose from his hairband. He wore a white short sleeve shirt and black shorts. He sat on a couch across the room with Sasuke, who wore a dark blue T-Shirt and black baggy pants.
"Hey boys!" Tenten arrived in the room along with the rest of the girls.
Neji saw Tenten with his Byakugan, but he opened his eyes anyway to see her for real. She was gorgeous. She wore a green tank top and a cute white skirt. Her hair was also untied and let down. It was almost the length of Neji's hair but only reached the middle of her back. She was smiling the most decent smile Neji had ever seen.
Tenten caught Neji's white eyes staring at her and felt a proudness swelling up in her stomach. She quickly winked at him and he looked away, which was expected.
"How do I look Sasuke?" Ino and Sakura both asked in unison.
Sasuke didn't answer.
"You sleep in that?" Shikamaru replied for him.
"WHO ASKED YOU?!?!" Ino barked. They were both wearing tank tops with no bra and a tight shirt on top. They wore mini skirts with colour of their choice. Sakura's was pink while Ino's was purple.
Ino, even though she'd cut it, let loose her hair that reached only her shoulders.
Naruto found Hinata hiding behind the girls, shy to death.
Sakura and Ino had dressed her up to impress Naruto. She wore a pair of short shorts that for the first time exposed her legs to Naruto. A black tank top and a bow tie that let up her hair. She was prettier than Sakura to Naruto, which was a big deal for him.
"Um... Hinata-chan..." Naruto muttered.
Hinata smiled and walked over to sit beside the blonde ninja. "It's alright... I forgive you.." Hinata's heart was thumping like monkey's on a drum. But she grabbed Naruto's arm and just hugged it, like she'd longed for ever since she met him.
Naruto blushed, it was the first time a girl showed feelings for him. He didn't know what to do. He looked at Shikamaru.
"Hug her!!" Shikamaru hissed.
Naruto listened like a child and hugged Hinata back. She felt so warm and soft, it was like hugging a pillow with expensive fabric. "Thank you..." he whispered into her ear.
Shikamaru smiled.
"Aw that's so cute!!" Tenten yelled out. She leapt in front of the couple and made them snap back to reality. "That's it! You guys are officially a couple!!" she took both Naruto and Hinata's hands and slapped them together.
Naruto took a minute to think over it and just smiled at Hinata, who eventually smiled back, with a blush of course.
Ino and Sakura smiled at them.
'Now why can't that be me and Sasuke?!!??!' Inner Sakura thought.
"So what are we going to do now guys??" Shikamaru asked eagerly.
"How about a movie?" Ino suggested, obviously hoping she could get closer to Sasuke. "Let's watch a romantic movie!"
The boys shivered in disgust, all thinking of what it would do to them if they watched a chick flick.
"Action and Adventure!" Shikamaru exclaimed.
"Well the only action movies I have are Pirates of the Carribean and Lord of the rings," Sakura admitted. "We already watched them."
"A scary movie..."
Everyone spun around to the sound of Sasuke's voice. They looked at Sasuke as if he'd gone crazy.
"What? I've always wanted to watch the house of the dead," Sasuke answered their expressions.
"That's a great idea! It's a favourite of mine," Sakura smiled.
As Sakura flipped through her video tape pile, the gang began talking.
"So have any of you heard from Kiba or Shino?" Tenten asked.
"They've been gone on that mission for a week or two..." Hinata whispered, still sitting comfortably beside Naruto.
"Oh yeah! I heard from Shino that people were going to come to the village. He was right! Maybe it has something to do with his mission..." Shikamaru added. He was now sitting on a couch bag on the floor, giving Hinata room to sit beside Naruto. He couldn't stop staring at Ino, she looked so hot in what her clothes.
But Ino was busy staring at Sasuke who had joined Neji in meditation.
"Hahaha, I don't think so, he probably heard that information from his father. Mr. Aburame is well known by the village council members, and Tsunade-sama," Tenten replied.
"I found it! The house of the dead!!" Sakura jumped up with the video tape in her hand. She popped it in the VCR and sat down in between Sasuke and Ino.
"Bakaaa!!!" Ino hissed.
"Shhhh the movie's starting!" Naruto scolded.
A/N :: Thank you for all of you reviewers! This chappie might have been a little boring. But for all those who want a serious story, don't worry, the plot will come up soon. The poll didn't really have anything to do with the influence of the romance in the story. You guys just gave me an inside opinion on what you'd like to see happen. Most of you voted for what I was going for, so don't worry. Stay tuned for my next chappies!!
And for you people who miss Gaara and the sands, don't worry I'll be adding them in soon.
Who's your favourite in the story so far? Who would you like to see in it? ::
Your opinion please
Thank you!!