You guys have waited long enough. Props to the guys that have been patient and like the good Shuukaku loving girl I am...I'm gonna give you the long awaited next chapter. Expect another chapter soon but I'll let you guys marinate on this one for a few days.

Boys? Girls are evil. What should you do? Don't fight it. Just give in and sign your soul over onthe dotted line. It's less painful.

LOVE!

And so the threesome of Neji, Ten-ten and Gaara stood at the top of the stairs to slide into a pool at the end of the coiling tubing. Gaara was peeking over the edge of the rail into the mass of people in the pool beneath them. The attendant motioned for the next person to go.

"I think that's you, Neji. Have fun!" She slapped his bare shoulder lightly. Neji nodded and checked to see that his clip would stay in place. The last thing he wanted was to drown in his own hair. The attendant nodded that he was okay to go whenever he was ready. He grabbed the bar then slid down.

Gaara watched him slid down, seeing him occasionally in the holes in the tubing. I seemed like forever before he splashed at the bottom. Ten-ten tapped his shoulder. "Okay, if I go next?" she asked brightly. He shrugged. It was none of his business if she wanted to splash around with her boyfriend.

The attendant gave her the thumbs up and she shot down the slide. She pulled a miniature scroll out of her bun and hid it in her hands as she slid down. It was after the last opening that she would lay her trap. There was no one immediately behind Gaara so she was sure it was safe. The final opening as looming ahead. She tightened her body like a missile and shifted her weight so that she spun. She affixed the scroll to the walls of the tube and then splashed at the bottom. Neji was waiting by the edge of the pool.

She swam over to him and climbed out. "That was fun. Let's go over to the waterfalls. They have a place you can sit," she offered.

Neji looked up at the slide. Gaara was getting ready to come down. "Shouldn't we wait for Gaara?"

"Nah. I asked him if he wanted to join us but he said it wasn't really his thing," She lied. She had to be careful. Neji was a master at reading people and one wrong facial move and he would know she was lying. Luckily, he seemed oblivious and merely shrugged. She was relieved and took his hand as Gaara dove into the tube.

The sensation of shooting down a tube filled with water made Gaara feel something like the spider the went up the water spout right after one of the torrential downpours. However, he enjoyed the sensation and was disappointed when he suddenly stopped. The water rushed underneath him but he could not go on any further. Some invisible wall seemed to impeding his watery journey.

"Figures...Just when I was having a good time..." He sighed and crossed his arms and legs, resting his back against the force wall. "Could this get any worse?"

His answer came in the form of a blonde girl rushing towards him. He blinked and caught her before she hurt herself. She looked at him and blinked. "Hi?"

"Hi."

"What's going on?" She asked with great confusion.

"Someone booby-trapped the water chute. So we can't go any further right now," he answered calmly. Another body came at them. It was another girl. She opened her mouth to speak. "Booby trap. We can't get through to the other side," he intercepted. She closed her mouth and looked at her friend.

And so Gaara found after three minutes he had a lap full of girls. Apparently, they were all friends; models from all over Fire country looking to relax at a hot spring before their next calendar shoot. Suddenly Gaara felt his back give against the force wall.

"Excuse me...ladies?" They all looked at him. "Brace yourselves, I think we're about -ACK!" He fell back and soon several bodies went shooting out of the tube with a tremendous noise.

Naruto was floating on an inner tube on a separated canal of water where swimmers could simply float and relax when he got splashed by a wave of water. He cleared the water from his eyes only to find Hinata sitting on the edge of the floating canal. "Hey, Hinata want to float?"

"Uuuuh...I...Naruto, I..." She swallowed hard. "I l...like floating." She jumped into the water and climbed into an inner tube inwardly disappointed that she could not reveal her feelings.

Temari and Shikamaru were also on the lazy floating river of inner-tubes. It's all Shikamaru wanted to do. So they went around over and over again... "Hey, Shikamaru, want to do something else?" she asked for the fifth time.

"Mmmm, nope," he answered... for the fifth time. So they floated for a few more seconds before Temari finally jumped out of the inner tube. "Where are you going?"

"Well, you enjoy floating around. I'm going to see if I can't find someone to be interested in me," she said icily, hands on her hips. She made sure that her retreating backside had the perfect amount of sway.

Shikamaru sighed and laid back in the inner tube. He could see the clouds through the glass ceiling. Why didn't she like relaxing? He looked over towards her. She was leaning over a rail back towards him.

"Hmmmm...Nara...you have to make a decision and that decision will determine what kind of man you are," he said to himself. "You could follow her like a puppy or stand you ground." He looked at her again. "I can watch clouds or watch her." The fluffy white masses moved a lazily as he did. "I'm not whipped. We're not even dating..." He sat up so that he could still see her. She was drying water from her chest. He grabbed a hold of the side of the canal so he could watch her. She rubbed down her stomach then bent over to dry her legs. He began to way his options like a true strategist. "Cloud... Temari... Cloud... Temari... Cloud... ... A nice butt. Dammit...all. TEMARI, WAIT A SEC!" Shikamaru hopped out of the water and headed for her location.

Temari pretended not to here and continued drying her hair, though a cruel and sly grin crossed her face. "Checkmate, my dear lazy genius." She narrowed her eyes. "You may be smart like a fox, but I am smart AND foxy."

Shikamaru stood beside her. "Sorry, I was being a lazy bum. I just... Well, never mind that. What do you want to do?"

She grinned. "Let's get a drink and talk." She took his hand a lead him away.

As they walked, they past Sakura chatting up a group of suitors. Sasuke was pretended to catch a nap nearby in ear range. So far their pick up lines were pretty lame, except for this one kid from Mist. He claimed to be so talented the ninja villages wanted him but he turned them down so he could stay at home with his ailing mother and 7 brothers and sisters.

"You carried him all the way to next city," Sakura said in awe.

The well-toned youth ran his finger through his hair. "Sure did. That's when I got this scare on my leg. I had to fight off three Missing nin. That's outlaw ninjas for you guys that don't know."

"And the I saved an orphanage," Sasuke mocked angrily. The guys turned their heads.

"Say something, Sasuke?"

"No."

Sakura shrugged. "So tell me about the fight?"

"Well, I don't know if you can tell but I have an advanced bloodline. When I'm protecting the ones I love, I get really powerful. They say, I have so much chakra, if I train well enough, I'd never run out." Sakura gasped. "I dunno, something just snapped and I just starting taking this guys out, one after another. I could be Anbu if I trained but I don't have time to train, I have to teach my little brothers and sisters all kinds of other stuff. Can't really focus on myself." The guys ooed and awed. For someone not a ninja, he certainly seemed to know a lot about chakra.

"I have really good chakra control myself," Sakura mentioned. "Best in my team, actually."

The boy moved in closer. "Really? Can you...show me some moves?" His nose was practically touching her cheek.

"Oh, well we don't have any room..." She began. She looked over at Sasuke, He was trying to pretended to asleep but his arms were crossed so tightly she could see his muscles rippling under the strain. "I can teach you hand seals. Sasuke, do you want to help Bo."

"Only one and seal comes to mind that he could benefit from..." Sasuke began coolly.

Bo cleared his throat. "And what would that one be?"

"I take that back, there's two. The Flipping bird and the advanced Double Rising Phoenix." Sakura made a face. Those weren't hand seals, what the hell was he talking about.

"Care to show us these hand seals or do you even know what hand seals are?" Bo laughed. "You must still be a genin from the sound of things."

Sasuke yawned and sat up. He calmly swung his legs off of the chair and walked over. The circle parted and everyone looked at Bo and Sasuke expectantly. "Actually, these hand seals have been passed down through my family for generations. There vary dangerous so we don't use them often."

"Oh?" Bo raised an eyebrow suddenly interested. Sakura, too, leaned forward.

"Yeah. You see liars like you really piss me off. You shame the name ninja by pretending to be one. You probably know some real ninja and are just ripping off their stories and trying to get a girl to like you." Sasuke tilted his head, his tone calm and even. "Girls like Sakura know a phony when the see one, but I guess I can reveal it you. Now I'm only going to show you this once. Don't use this unless you're really sure you can handle it. Are you ready?" Bo glared intensely at Sasuke.

The circle opened up around the two seemingly powerful combatants. Sasuke closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He held his hands up palms facing Bo. "Don't blink or you'll miss it. Sharingan!" Sasuke opened his eyes. Bo looked shocked.

"Sasuke...what are you going to do?" Sakura clasped her hands together.

"I'm going to show the most dangerous jutsu that anyone could do...Flipping Bird." He held up his right middle finger. "And the Double Rising Phoenix!" He held up his other middle finger." He put his hands in his pockets and blink, black pools returning.

Sakura looked at Sasuke in disbelief, though on the inside... HELL YEAH! BURN! She cleared her through. "Bo, I think you know those are real hand seals so-"

Bo held up his ands staring Sasuke down. "So you're a tough guy, huh? I can do those too." He grinned and held his palms out. "Ready? Flipping bird!" One finger. "And Double Rising-WHACK!" Sasuke's fist connected with Bo's face sending him across the deck and into a pool of water.

"Idiot. I told him not to do it." Sasuke shrugged and walked off.

Inner Sakura watched Sasuke with admiring eyes. I want to have his babies...BEST JUTSU EVER! Outer Sakura however had to keep on the heat. She ran after Sasuke. "Sasuke! Wait, just a second!"

Neji looked up when he heard Sasuke's name but Ten-Ten's hand on his made him look back. She was smiling at him. "So Neji...what have you been up to while you've been here?"

He shrugged at this. "Just the hot springs really. Not much else to do you know. I'll be glad to get home and do some training, acutally."

"Glad to go back to Konoha, huh? Do you have a girlfriend waiting you back there?" Ten-ten asked conversationally. Neji stared at her.

She looked back innocently. "No, I don't really have time. You should know that. We're on so many missions these days, it would be unfair to have a girlfriend." He turned his head and cleared his throat.

"You're always so responsible, Neji. But...I wonder..." She tapped her index finger on her chin. "What kind of girl is your type exactly?"

He pretended not to be uncomfortable by cracking his knuckles then reclining back on the rocks. "I don't have a type."

"Everyone has a type," Ten-ten assured. "You know, all the things you find...sexy." She crossed her legs and looked at the ceiling.

Neji tried not to look at her legs but there right next to his head. He blushed and cracked his knuckles again. "I don't know. I like...smart girls."

"Uh huuuuuh."

"Strong girls."

"I see. Blonde? Brunette?" She looked down at him but he did not meet her gaze.

"Brunette," he said instinctively but added hurriedly," because my hair is dark. It just seems like a good fit. Like putting the round rod in the round hole." He nodded then considered his statement. "But not like...sexually. Just...metaphorically but not in that way. I mean an actual rod...not..." He stopped talking and wondered if he knew any jutsu to erase the last 10 seconds.

He looked at Ten-ten but she seemed to be nodding at his words as if he weren't babbling at all. "I see. The round rod in the round hole. A good fit. I think so too. So, is this a big rod or a little rod, not sexually? I just want to know how much you like brunettes."

Neji stared at her. Her expression was completely even. She was being serious. "Uh..it's...not a big rod. I mean...It's like...an...average...rod...I mean... slightly above average." He cleared his throat. "Possibly more than slightly. You do know I'm not talking sexually, right? I mean...we're teammates. We're purely professional..."

"Absolutely!" Ten-ten smack him on the shoulder reassuringly.

He nodded and the remained silent for a few seconds."But I'm not saying that teammates can't... be more than professional. I'm just saying that right now we're being professional." He blush intensified and he suddenly realized that he was pushing the tips of his forefingers together. "Aaaaaah, I'm going to get a drink? You want a drink? Don't bother getting up, I'll go get!" He jumped off of the cliff and into the water. Ten-ten let out a sigh of relief, keeping a straight face through that was a serious test of ninja ability.. Temari waved at her to get her attention. Ten-ten shrugged in confusion. The general's troops were falling out of rank. She motioned for Ten-ten to chase the fleeing Hyuuga.

However, one Hyuuga could not flee. She was plastered in place listening to Naruto talk about ramen. He was slurping up an order of the noodles at the poolside restaurant.

"This is so good," he sighed breathlessly. "You sure you don't want any?"

"I..." She shook her head.

"You know, Hinata," Naruta began. He quickly finished drinking the broth remaining in the bowl. "I think you're a really good ninja. I mean you're shy but like I said I like that about you. I wish I could be as quiet as you." He paid for the ramen and stood up.

They walked outside of the restaurant and sat beside the pool. Naruto took a deep breath of the chlorine scent. "I was really cheering for you the entire time during the Chuunin exams. I wish we could have made it through to the end but you know... Sand attacked."

"I...uh... I l...I like..."

"Hm?"

"Was there. I was there."

"Yeah you were, so I guess you know what I'm talking about!" He laughed and rubbed the back of his head. Hinata laughed a little but her hear sank again.

"Dammit..."

Naruto blinked. "Huh?"

"OH! My toe!...I...I jammed it." He knelt down and check her foot. He squinted.

"It looks okay...Come on, I'll carry you around." He took her hand and pulled her up. He got to his knees and patted the back of her thighs. "Hop on! All aboard the Naruto Express! We find the other guys."

Hinata shivered nervously. Temari's plan was not working at all.

"He won't know you exist unless...you grab him by the balls and say, 'HEY! I LIKE YOU!'"

"Hinata?... Hinata-chan?" Naruto shook her shoulders. "You look like you're cold? Here." He put a towel around her shoulders. "You're shaking and you didn't respond when I called out to you."

"O...oh..."

He looked at her closely and put a hand on her cheek. "Hinata...if something is wrong then you absolutely can trust me and tell me. I won't let anything happen to you. I'm your friend." He smiled kindly.

"...I...I..." He waited patiently. Say you like him! Say it! I can't...I can't say it! Why? He's waiting for me to say it and I just can't. Naruto you're my inspiration to get stronger. You're a hard worker and if no one in Konoha believes in you, I do! I'll always be on your side Naruto. Why can't I say it? WHY CAN'T I SAY-"

A young girl playing her friends accidentally tripped and sent a buck of icy cold water onto Hinata's exposed spine. "I LIKE YOOOOUUU!" Everyone stopped and stared at her. Naruto blinked. Her eyes went wide as saucers. Her racing thoughts and the cold water finally released the truth.

Hinata looked around. "Uh... did I say that out loud? Ha...ha..."

"FLAWLESS VICTORY HINATA!" yelled Temari from across the pool. Everyone laughed and activity resumed as though it never stopped.

Shikamaru looked at the girl on his lap. "What was that all about?"

"What?"

"That."

"What?"

"The flawless victory Hinata."

"What?"

"... Why do I like you again?" Temari flashed a grin. Shikamaru sighed and plopped his chin in his hand as he leaned against the arm of the chair. "I...am...so...whipped."

Temari nodded solemnly. "And it is so cute."

Akamaru and Kiba floated in the water, the Inuzuka's head barely above water as he watched Hinata and Naruto. "This sucks." Akamaru barked in agreement. "Hey, Lee. Doesn't it suck that we don't have girlfriends."

Lee laughed a little and patted his friends back. "While I'm sorry about your luck, I'm sure that Sakura will come around to my side. Once realizes the Sasuke isn't the romantic type, she'll have no choice but to love me."

Kiba raised and eyebrow and regarded him like a lunatic. "At what point does optimism become delusional?"

"The power of love is exploding all round. I'm ready to ride the wave to my first kiss!" He kissed and imaginary Sakura before him. He laughed. Akamaru whimpered.

"Yeah, I know. He scares me, too. Face it, Lee. In the Chuunin Exam of Love you and I are outmatched."

Lee frowned. "Never give up. Nothing short of Sakura losing her first kiss will discourage me. That prize is my dream." He smiled, teeth glistening.

Sasuke followed Sakura. "I don't know what I did... But you've been ignoring me suddenly and the very least you could do is tell me why?" Sakura hadn't spoken a word to him since he punched Bo and told her that he was a "bottom feeding ninja chaser".

"Forget it, Sasuke. Besides you ignored me for so long, maybe it's karmic justice that no one cares about you anymore. Even Naruto found someone to like him. It seems like you're about to come in 'dead last'."

"You don't think I know what going on? You think if you ignore me, I'll drop everything and go out with you. You're mistaken if that's what you think." He crossed his arms as he called her bluff. Sakura closed her eyes and turned her back. "You're still going to pretend to ignore me?"

"I'm not pretending Sasuke, I'm serious. I'm over you and your ego."

He took her hand and pulled her into a spin ending in a low dip. He kissed her on her lips and spun her back. Sakura's brain shut down and she simply stared blankly. Sasuke smirked walking past her. "Ignore that." He pushed her into the water and walked away whistling lightly.

Kiba looked at the stunned Lee. "Glass half-empty yet?" He bowed his head and accepted defeat. "Yeah... yeah I know."