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How dare thee. No reviews. Just a single one from a very super nice person. How dare you. HOW DARE YOU. TT :l Tis the bloodsucking smiley. :(

Okay, okay. I'm exaggerating. But really. YOU NEED TO REVIEW! I was planning to not update until I get at least three or four reviews, but thankfully, someone VERY GENOROUS AND NICE decided they'd review. So here's your stupid chapter. May you burn in HELLo.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, I wouldn't let you mean people watch it.

Hahahahaha. Beat that mean freaks.

A Dazed Conversation: A Sasuke and Neji Series

Chapter Five: All That For Crackers and Tomatoes! (The Cooking Chapter)

Sasuke stared at the basket. He had been doing that for some time now.

Uchiha Sasuke had asked Hyuuga Neji to train with him, since Sakura was busy with Tsunade and Naruto was training late because of his eating, he decided to ask one of the most powerful ninjas in the village; Hyuuga Neji.

Neji had agreed, for he had also sees Sasuke as a worthy and powerful opponent. But unbeknownst to others, he sees Neji as a comrade…as well. Sasuke feels exactly the same.

But Sasuke did not expect an obento to be packed. It was much too unusual to appear on a training day. He had done this with Neji before, and he had never brought an obento. So why had he chosen this particular day to do so?

Neji had noticed Sasuke's staring and interest in the obento throughout the training session. He had somehow managed to keep staring and wondering at the obento, and train with excellence as well.

It was time for a break, and Sasuke was attempting to leave for lunch before returning. But Neji had told him to stay.

Neji tossed him a bottle of water. Sasuke caught it, and twisted open the cap, taking a drink. He continued to gaze at the obento with curiosity.

Finally, Neji couldn't help it.

"Uchiha. You have been staring at the obento for quite some time now. What is it that you want?"

Sasuke looked at him surprised for a while, then became controlled. "What I want is to know what's in it, Hyuuga." he said.

"Oh…Is that so? I should of guessed." He grabbed for the obento. "As you know, and obento has food. So, this is food. Well…that answered your question, doesn't it?"

Sasuke gave an exasperated sigh. "I know THAT. But how come you decided to bring one on this particular day? I've met with you in previous times to training, and you never brought one."

"Well…you see…" Neji opened the obento. "I've been attempting to cook. As you have noticed, I've been late to our meetings every time."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "And…what does that have to do with why the obento is here?"

"I have to wait an extra ten minutes for the food to cook by servants in our home. And that food is only to be sat at a window sill until I return. The servants usually finish ten minutes until they have finished their former chores. We have few servants, because we usually do the tasks ourselves. But they still have duties to fulfill, so I must wait patiently."

"Continue…"

"So, I decided if I learned how to cook myself, I wouldn't be late. Also…"

"Also…?"

Neji pointed a finger at Sasuke.

"You have been late after lunch. And I must wait. Which takes up training time. So, I decided I decided to bring along your lunch as well."

"Well, what about your cooking?" Sasuke asked.

"I don't have a favorite food in particular, I usually have an open appetite. So, I brought what you favor instead." Neji opened the obento to reveal six boxes of Takoyaki and a added bunch of tomatoes. All in Sasuke's favor.

Sasuke was drooling, but he managed to hide it. Not that Neji didn't take notice of it. He smirked.

"Oh…what should I say…? Is it…dig in?" Neji smirked. Sasuke glared. But it was only for a brief moment, for he was too concentrated on the food.

"Try one." he lifted up one of the pieces of Takoyaki. "I don't think my attempts of cooking are that bad." He said, handing the piece to Sasuke. Sasuke thankfully took it, and took a bite.

Sasuke chewed. And chewed and…his face lit up with joy. He crammed the rest of it down his mouth, chewing in process.

"I take it that you enjoy it?" Neji asked, smirking as he took a bit of his own attempt at 'art'. (A/N: The ART of cooking?)

Sasuke nodded like a happy child in a candy shop.

"Mm!"

Neji smirked. "Go ahead. I'm not much for hunger anyways." Neji picked up three pieces and a single tomato before Sasuke consumed the rest.

Neji finished his lunch, then stood up with Sasuke for more training.

While they were, they had a conversation.

"Neji?"

"Hn?"

"Who taught you how to cook?"

Neji stopped and stood his ground, facing Sasuke.

"I taught myself." Why was Sasuke taking interest anyway?

Sasuke looked surprised.

"You taught yourself?"

Neji nodded.

"How is that?"

"I've seen them do it many times in the kitchen, while I'm waiting. So, I made an attempt to remember the steps then perform them." He replied. He raised his eyebrow slightly in interest. "Why?"

"I was wondering…if you knew any recipes with tomatoes." Sasuke asked. Neji gave a look as if he were a UFO.

"No…I only learned one thing Sasuke, Takoyaki."

"What about the tomatoes?"

"Store bought."

"Oh."

Neji crossed his arms.

"You, want to learn how to cook?"

Sasuke's heart rose. He nodded slowly.

"Well…Unfortunately, I cannot teach cooking, for I am no good at it. Also, I don't know any tomato recipes." Sasuke's hear fell again.

"Females are experts on cooking, mostly. Go ask one yourself." Neji paused. "Just…not Tenten."

Sasuke gave him a confused look. "Why not Tenten."

"You see…" Neji remembered Tenten's last attempt at cooking.

"Neji! This is for you!" Tenten gave Neji a box. Neji stared, then took it. He opened it slowly, then looked inside. He looked at Tenten.

"Happy Valentines Day, Neji." she said.

"Aah. Thank you." Neji lifted a piece of chocolate from the box, and set it in his mouth. He almost broke his tooth. On the outside, it looked like a delicious piece of homemade chocolate. The chocolate was actually bittersweet, and the inside was not different then a piece of coal or rock.

"Well?" Tenten tilted her head to the side, hands behind her back.

"Gah…it's…" He swallowed. He didn't want to hurt Tenten's feelings, for he knew that she must of put much effort in the chocolate. And, she thought of him on this day. "It's very…bitter." White lies don't do much.

Tenten's face fell.

"Just the way I like it."

Tenten's face lit up. She leapt on Neji and gave him a big hug and a peck on the cheek. Neji would blush if he wasn't worried about his tooth and savor for water.

"Thank you Neji! Happy Valentines Day!" Tenten waved as she left.

That day, Neji almost cleared the last bit of water at his home.

"Oh." Sasuke was listening. "I'll make sure of that."

"Tenten just doesn't know chocolate. She may know others, but she would be in quite a shock if you did go for a visit. Besides, she fell ill yesterday. I visited her this morning."

"Okay." 'So, I'll just visit Sakura. I've got to make some use of those bunches of ripe tomatoes in my yard.' he thought.

That afternoon, Sasuke went to Sakura's house to request for lessons.

"Sasuke, I'm sorry, but I really don't think that would be of any use to you! You're a really powerful ninja, and cooking skills would only get you to be laughed at!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Demo…"

"No, Sasuke-kun! I'm sorry, but I just don't want to cause you a world of humiliation!"

"Sakura!" Sakura's mom called.

"Hai! I'll see you tomorrow, okay, Sasuke-kun? Bye!" Sakura waved cheerfully and closed the door.

Sasuke hung his head in defeat. (A/N: Yet, another scene from episode 101: Failed attempt for Kakashi's mask.)

That day, Sasuke decided to pay Tenten for a visit. Tenten opened the door with a tissue covering her nose and in her pale pink night clothes.

"Nani…Uchiha Sasuke? What are you doing here?" She said in a faint, quiet, stuffy voice.

"Uh…" Sasuke lifted a basket of tomatoes. "Tomatoes?"

"Tomatoes? What for? Why are you here?"

"They're for you, stupid." he set down the basket, and watched Tenten take them in.

"Thank you, I guess…" 'I don't see how this is supposed to be making me feel better.'

"I'll see you around." Tenten closed the door before Sasuke could do anything.

'What is up with girls and slamming doors in my face today…' Sasuke thought as he left.

'Now…' Sasuke thought as he crept over to the window of Tenten's apartment.

'I'll be able to see what she does with them.'

Much to Sasuke's dismay, all Tenten did was mush as small amount of tomatoes together and then spread them on crackers with cheese and eat them for a snack before taking a nap again. Like, he saw Sakura do before, and how he did all. The. Time.

Sasuke sighed in defeat. Now what was he going to do?

Sasuke started wondering around Konoha until he arrived at the Hyuuga clan.

'Hm…I wonder…what Neji is doing?' he thought. He entered the Hyuuga place, then spotted Hiashi and Hinata.

"Excuse me."

"Ah, Sasuke-kun." Hiashi greeted.

"Konnichiwa, Sasuke-kun." Hinata added.

"Is there something you need?" Hiashi asked.

Sasuke nodded. "Do you know where Ne-"

"Uchiha? What are you doing here?" Sasuke looked up. Hiashi and Hinata resumed training. Neji was on the ceiling.

"What are you doing up there?" He asked back, grinning. Neji winced. He leapt down from the ceiling.

"Well? How did it go?" Neji asked, walking out with Sasuke.

"Both of them did the same thing I do."

Neji raised an eyebrow. "Both? You visited Ino?"

"No. She is annoying."

"Well, you couldn't of possibly seen Hinata…Tsunade-sama would just kick you out…Anko-san would only continue eating dango…Kurenai-sensei would say she's busy…Who is the other?"

Sasuke looked at Neji like he was slow.

"Tenten."

"Tenten!" Neji gaped. "She's sick!"

"I know that."

"So why did you go over!"

"It was a try. Besides, tomatoes are healthy aren't they?"

Neji flinched. He twitched. "You gave her…tomatoes?"

Sasuke nodded. Then he put two arms to the side as if shrugging. "Unfortunately, it was the same."

Neji sighed.

"Are you that desperate to learn?"

Sasuke nodded.

"Then tell me, exactly who poured the ink on Tsunade's chair three weeks ago?" Sasuke stared, then he smirked.

"Exactly who pushed Anko's chair three weeks ago?" he countered.

The prodigies smirked.

"Plan?"

"Obviously."

Sakura sat on her bed wondering if she had done the right thing. She had never confronted Sasuke like that before. Ever. Maybe he could of known a little more knowledge…

Sakura sighed, and went downstairs. She slipped and fell on a large piece of pie. She groaned and stared at the pie. How'd that get there?

She shook it off, and cleaned herself off, only to find that every single one of her towels in her house were gone. Now, she was stuck with a pie and whipped cream smothered face. She wanted to throw a tantrum. Badly.

She decided to go outside and maybe find someone to pour all her anger out on. She opened the door and she fell to the ground. She had tripped.

And then, after that, a flower pot fell on her head. The pot broke in half with the soil and flower sill on her head in perfect form. She grumbled, then ripped the flower in half, taking another step down the one step stairs…

…falling.

"GAH! WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE!"

Snickering was heard in the distance.

"Do you think we should give her a break?"

"Nah…just a bit longer…"

"I wanted you to say that."

Sakura kept walking, and suddenly, felt something very unconvincing beneath her feet. She twitched and look down.

"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Dog…droplets.

She took another step and…

"GGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She screeched, grabbing her head, jumping off to the nearest water source.

"Okay, your queue."

"Hm. You'll be watching right?"

"Maybe."

A nod.

Sakura literally cried to the water bank. That is, until she ran into someone.

"Huh?" she looked at who it was.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke sniffed.

"What's that smell?" He looked down, raised an eyebrow, then took a step back.

"It's best if you clean that up." he said, looking down at her shoes.

"Oh, uh…yeah…" Sakura blushed as Sasuke followed her to the water bank.

Sakura cleaned up her sandals, and rubbed some sweet smelling flowers to get ensure that the horrid smell would be gone and stay gone. After that point, Sakura noticed that Sasuke had actually cleaned her sandals, not her. All she did was rub flowers on it. Sasuke did the dirty work.

"Sasuke-kun?"

"?" Sasuke looked up. "What?"

"Do you want me to do something for you?"

Sasuke thought for a moment. (More like a pause since this was all planned.)

Then, he nodded.

"What is it?"

"Teach me how to cook." he said flatly.

Sakura sighed. She closed her eyes.

"You're really desperate aren't you?"

"One could refer it to as that." he replied, closing his eyes.

Sakura sighed. "Fine. I'll teach you how to make chocolate cake."

Sasuke held in the need to whine.

"…Cake? I'm not fond of sweet things, Sakura. You know that."

"That I know. I'll make it bittersweet. I think I have some bittersweet chocolate at home. Or something to make it bittersweet."

"Fine. Chocolate cake."

So, Sasuke lead Sakura to his apartment.

"Okay." Sakura took a deep breath. "Let's do this. First, I need flour…"

Sasuke pulled out a bag a flour.

"And sugar…"

So on and so on.

Sasuke did as he was told as Sakura stood beside him, instructing him.

"Mix it thoroughly. Wait…gently though. I'm not paying for your apartment expenses."

"Not too much, Sasuke."

"No, Sasuke no!"

"Yes! Perfect!"

"Okay, now do this…"

"Slowly now, slowly."

Sasuke was annoyed.

Finally, the cake was in bake. Sasuke was very tired and exhausted. He sat down on a bench in the kitchen. Sakura just crouched beside him, smiling sweetly. Sasuke managed to bear a small smile. Small. Miniscule. Tiny. Teeny. Yeah. Micro.

Ding!

Sakura looked up. She was about to fall asleep on Sasuke's shoulder.

"It's done, Sasuke." She watched as Sasuke stood up and take the cake out…with no mittens.

Sasuke was very close to ruining the cake.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura hurried over to his side. He had gotten burned.

"Here, let me help you." She took his finger and instead of rinsing it under the sink, she took his finger and blew. The burn was gone.

'Damn. What kinda technique was that?' Sasuke thought. Sakura smiled at him sweetly. She turned around and picked up a pair of gloves, handing them to him.

"Here. These should help." Sasuke put them on and took the cake out of the oven carefully. He laid it on the table, then with Sakura's instruction again, added the frosting. Sakura then handed him a cherry in which he ate. Sakura winced. Sasuke had the cherry on one side of his mouth. He turned around and took out a tomato, setting it on the cake in the cherries place. Sakura giggled.

Sasuke reached for a knife, and neatly cut equal pieces for Sakura to try.

"Thanks." Sakura took the plate, and took a bite. She chewed for a moment, then her whole face lit up.

"Sasuke-kun! It's perfect! It's so good!" She took another bite, making her mouth full.

"Hm…let me try…" Sasuke then grabbed Sakura's shoulders to hold her still quickly, and then kissed her.

Sakura felt his tongue in hers, and she blushed. Hard.

Finally, after a while of cake, Sasuke pulled apart, licking his lips, finger on chin.

"Hm…it was good…" Sasuke went over to the cake and took one quarter of it, giving it to Sakura in a small carrier. He handed her the box. And took her to the doorway. Sakura just let herself be shoved along, shocked.

Then Sasuke noticed she still had a piece of cake in her mouth. Too lazy to get his own to satisfy his hunger, he kissed her quickly, taking the last bit of chocolate.

"Thanks for your help." And shut the door. Sakura just stared at the door. 'That,' she thought happily, blushing. 'Was the best thanks ever.' and walked away, satisfied.

Neji was visiting Tenten. Tenten had smashed up some of Sasuke's tomatoes to make tomato sauce, which she put on crackers. She gave a couple to Neji before he bid farewell to her and leaving.

Next day…

Sasuke brought a large box. Neji brought a small case.

Neji smirked at the box.

"Ready?"

"Of course."

And they sparred, training.

Hours later…

"So? A kiss for thanks for Haruno?" Sasuke was surprised for a moment, then smirked.

"I'm surprised she didn't make you wear a pink bunny apron." he smirked.

"No." he unwrapped the box. Neji raised an eyebrow. Then he looked at Sasuke, quizzically.

"Chocolate cake?" Sasuke nodded. "Didn't you see with your Byakugan?"

Neji shook his head. "No. I left for Tenten's for a quick visit."

"Figures." Neji glared.

"So, you made that?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes and glared. "No. Naruto did."

"I'm surprised."

"Did you bring Takoyaki?" Sasuke asked. Neji stared for a moment. He went to get his case and unwrapped it.

"Crackers and sauce?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"Made from the tomatoes given by you to Tenten."

Sasuke stared.

"She made…tomato sauce?"

Neji nodded as he took a bite of the sauce and crackers.

"I thought she'd throw them away?"

"You and Tenten never exchanged many words, Uchiha."

"I know. I don't care, either." he said, handing him a piece of cake.

Neji stared at it for a moment, then took a bite.

"Hn…not bad."

"I know that."

"At least it's not spicy." (A/N: Refrain to episodes like…15-Something through like 157 or something. Haha. Who knew THE Hyuuga Neji was afraid of spicy curry!)

Sasuke tried one of the crackers. He flinched.

"What?" Neji asked, confused.

"This…is…so good!" He gobbled down the rest of it.

Neji quickly took two more in savings.

"Who knew that Tenten was such a good cook!" He said, eating another.

"Hn…" Neji sighed.

'Tomatoes…'

Ohohen: I bet when you saw this chapter, you didn't want to read anymore. I know, it's long. Can't be helped. I don't think this was a very good chapter, but it's not that disappointing to the SasuSaku fans right?

Oh, and why did I add that extra Neji and Tenten thing? Because Sakura got an extra kiss while Tenten didn't. So, I gave NejiTen a small, three sentence scene. Not much happened.

Sorry for the long update. I was making some other NejiTen and SasuSaku fics. One of them is a dream I had. O.o