Bursts of laughter escaped from the open doors, and Neji pressed himself closer to the balcony railing, wishing upon a nonexistent friendly star that he could just cut the hell outta there. But when Naruto threw a party, and when Naruto insisted on your presence there, going so far as to resort to half-serious threats (or maybe fully serious, Naruto'd gotten a lot better at hiding his emotions since he'd been accepted into ANBU), well, anyone with a shred of self-preservation and dignity knew when to just give up and do what the bombshell wanted. Less of the village got destroyed that way.

Still, Neji was not a party person. Years of exposure to both Lee and Tenten had gotten him loosened up somewhat, but amongst most social circles of the village, he was still counted as an uptight ass. And he knew it. No matter how quietly people whispered, he always heard what they said about him. That he didn't feel. Didn't care. That he couldn't. Couldn't have fun.

He'd seen no need to disabuse them of those notions. What'd he care what civilians thought? As long as his reputation as a ninja remained in the upper echelons of the best, then he didn't give a damn. After all, what fun was it to get piss-ass drunk? Lee had yet to manage to get Neji drunk. Unbeknownst to Neji, Lee had almost given him up as a bad job in that respect. There was no point in trying to force a drink on a man who could stop your heart with a touch. Not that Neji would ever do that to Lee, but there were other, just as vital parts of the male body that Neji could damage if he was ever given the cause to.

Another raucous torrent of laughter poured from the room behind him. Neji sighed, and looked out over the moonlight expanse of Konoha. At times like these, even the Hyuuga bunker began to seem preferable. His uncle had finally recognized his abilities on Neji's 21st birthday earlier that year. With that recognition, the curse seal on his head had been lifted, and his uncle had given his word that if any other Branch member displayed the same potential as he, they would receive the same treatment. Hinata had beamed at that declaration. Neji had little doubt that she had been working on Hiashi for a few years to get that concession. She had blossomed since her 12th year. The shy girl had dissipated, replaced with a sweet tempered young woman. With her boldness growing, his dislike of her had waned, and the two of them had started to become friends.

He taught her to fight. She taught him patience.

A breathless giggle followed the female body that stumbled over to press against the rail and Neji in equal measures. Pink hair tickled his cheeks, and Neji reached out a hand to steady Sakura as her ankle twisted. Still laughing, she reached up and brushed her hair back from her face, green eyes laughing up at him.

"Sorry Neji, Kiba got a little carried away dancing there". She laughed again, and bent down to adjust the straps of her shoes. The movement caused the V-line neck of her ivy colored dress to plunge even deeper, and Neji's eyes followed it. Flushed, he looked away as she straightened, and fixed the front of her dress. He could feel her eyes on him, and he shifted away from the heat of her body. He'd never been as easy with her as he had been with the rest of her team. Them he could read, and understand. She on the other hand, was a mystery. A 20 year-old, jounin level, top medic-nin mystery.

"…out here?"

Neji blinked. "Sorry, what'd you say?"

Sakura grinned, and settled herself next to him. "Do you mind if I stay out here with you for a while? I need a break from the noise in there."

The corners of Neji lips twitched in response to her smile. "It's a free balcony".

"That it is". Sakura snorted. "Neji, question for you. Why are you here?"

"Naruto asked me to come. You of all people should know, that what Naruto wants, most of the time, he gets".

She laughed, and gazed out over the city, staring off into the distance. "You'd rather be out there, wouldn't you?" she said, waving a hand in the direction of the village gates, and what lay beyond.

"How'd you guess?"

Sakura smiled, her lips curving up in a cat-like smile, one that hinted of knowledge and secrets. "Even when we were younger, you were stiff around people. But when you fought, you looked like you were enjoying yourself. Besides, your one of the most frequent patients I get at the hospital, even if your injuries are minor. You're also never in the village".

"I never knew I was so easy to read," Neji drawled wryly.

The corners of Sakura's lips twitched up further, deepening her smile. "You aren't easy to read. But I've made a practice of it".

Silver eyes wide, he stared down at her. "You've what…?"

"You're a hard person to read, Neji, and an even harder person to get to know," she shrugged. "At first, I started watching you for the challenge, and because the scientist in me was curious. I figured, if I could understand how you thought, then I could understand anyone. And for a while it was true. I began to understand a little about you, and in turn I understood more about the human mind. Ibiki was impressed".

"Ibiki?"

"I help him in interrogations sometimes…" Sakura shivered, and rubbed her arms, her smile fading. "But the more I watched you, the more I wanted to know you more, and so watching wasn't enough…"

Neji raised an eyebrow at that. "So that explains all those seemingly random conversations while you were treating me."

"Well, I was hardly going to let the opportunity pass by".

"Then I suppose I can't let this one pass by either". Before he could question what he was doing, Neji passed his arms around Sakura's waist and drew her snuggly against his chest. Her face turned up to his, eyes beginning to widen, and then his lips found hers, moving softly first, then harder, with a growing sense of urgency. Her lips parted, and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue in, and slide it along hers, caressing the inside of her mouth, till her legs turned to jelly, and it was only his arms at her back that kept her standing. Sakura's arms slid up to lock around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. Neji made a sound of approval deep in his throat, and tightened his grasp, crushing her chest to his.

A high-pitched whistle broke the two of them apart, and Neji spun around to find Naruto watching them, one blonde eyebrow cocked, blue eyes, sparkling mischievously.

"Don't stop on my account".

Sakura blushed, and murmured something unintelligible. Neji on the other hand, glared at Naruto for a long second, then gathered chakra into his feet, and leapt onto the railing, then to the roof of the building below. Within moments, he was gone from view.

"What, did I scare him off?" Naruto quipped, staring after the fleeing Hyuuga.

Sakura whacked him on the shoulder. Hard.

"Ow!"

"Idiot, you deserved it! You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you!"

"What, you mean you didn't tell him?"

"I would have gotten there…eventually". Sakura's cheeks flushed an even deeper red.

"Before or after the deed?" Naruto crowed.

Sakura raised her fist again, and he backed off, hands raised in a calming gesture. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Sakura glowered at him, then turned to gaze in the direction Neji had gone. Naruto leant against the rails, one arm around her shoulders. With a sigh, Sakura folded into the embrace.

"Will you ever tell him?"

"Will I ever get the chance again?"

Naruto's eyes darkened. "Meaning?"

"Tsunade's sending him on a month long mission to scout around Orochimaru's base tomorrow. Neji's good, but not even he can stop every attack."

"I think you'll get the opportunity."

Sakura looked up at her team mate to find him grinning, whisker marks black streaks in the moonlight. "What makes you so sure?"

"I'm going with him".