Authors' Notes: Now let's see what happens when we throw Naruto into the mix...Heheheh...

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Back at Sasuke's house…

"Yeah, hi. I'm Akemi." Akemi blurted before she could stop herself. Gah! Of course he knows your name, stupid! Jiyou just said it! And she's acting even weirder now; why'd she run away? I don't need this right now, I'm embarassed enough already!

"Right," Sasuke answered. He was beginning to frustrate Akemi because he still sounded so disinterested. Ok, he doesn't want, or need, more girls following him like wackos. He's got enough of them. Talk about something Akemi, anything!

"But everyone knows who you are. They say you're a prodigy. I believe it. Do you think you're one…er…Nevermind. I'm sorry. Having girls follow you all the time must get annoying, too…" Akemi stopped when she realized she was rambling; Sasuke was looking at her like she was just another aforementioned obsessed girl.

She stared for a moment – Why did I say all that? It wasn't supposed to come out that way! – and finally said, "Well, I'd better go after my sister. It was nice…talking…to you." Akemi turned so Sasuke wouldn't see her blushing.

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Meanwhile, Jiyou was wondering how much Jutsu techniques she could take in one day, because that was all Naruto talked about! They had walked at least a mile around town and Naruto's mouth had been going the whole time.

Akemi owes me big time! Jiyou thought. Finally he included Jiyou in the "conversation."

"So, what Jutsus are you interested in?" Jiyou knew very well that Naruto wanted her to say a Shadow Clone Jutsu or something else he'd accomplished, but after being stuck listening to his one–sided conversation, it was the last thing she was going to do.

He doesn't deserve more compliments…he doesn't even deserve my attention!

With a small smirk on her face, Jiyou answered, "Well…I really like desert combat."

Naruto seemed agitated. He knew only one person that excelled in that area, "Cha! That's sooo simple! Anyone from Sunagakure could learn those moves! Believe it!"

Jiyou became offended and felt it was appropriate to stick up for her crush in his absence, "I don't know. Gaara's really good. I think he's one of the better Genin here…"

Naruto became very upset, "No way! I could beat him with one hand easily! Freak from nowhere…"

For a while Jiyou and Naruto walked in silence.

As they walked past an alleyway near a shop front, Jiyou saw none other than…Gaara! Unfortunately, Naruto spotted him as well. Recalling the past conversation with Jiyou (and seeing that Gaara was alone) he boldly approached.

What a jerk! He's so full of himself! But, hoping the blonde annoyance would get his butt kicked, Jiyou followed.

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After Akemi's failed attempt to try (yet again) to make a good impression on Sasuke, she was walking around town, lost in her own thoughts and going nowhere in particular. How could I have messed that up? This is so frustrating! But maybe if he's not interested it's just not worth it… Although she knew she wasn't about to give up that easily. The least she could do was try to fend off the other girls.

Just then Akemi heard voices, arguing voices. Oh no…

She happened to walk into the middle of a yelling–fest, but soon realized Naruto was doing most of the yelling. And he had to be shouting at Gaara. Not too far away stood Jiyou, looking like she wanted to punch Naruto out.

Great. Akemi stopped next to Jiyou and asked warily, "What happened?"

"Umm, Naruto started boasting about how great his Jutsus are compared to Gaara's and then it evolved into a lot of other things. Naruto just made a comment about Gaara's gourd. Very big–headed, isn't he? The gourd's not nearly as stupid as Naruto's outfit. I'm really surprised Gaara hasn't knocked him out yet."

She then realized she might've spoken too soon. "Hey," Jiyou pointed out, "look at Gaara."

Her sister stared. "He's actually…grinning."

"You don't think he's thinking about…you know…killing Naruto, do you?"

"No, of course not," Akemi reassured her. They watched as Naruto got redder and Gaara assumed an even more devious look. "Stop him!"

"Why? Naruto will be out of our hair soon if we're lucky," Jiyou replied.

Thinking fast (she wasn't about to let a fellow Genin get hurt…or killed…if she could help it) Akemi said, "Yeah, but what will happen to Gaara?"

Panic hit Jiyou. "NO!" she screamed and kicked Naruto in the back of the knee as hard as she could, causing him to fall over.

Jiyou's reaction and, well, strange way of handling the situation caused the older girl to snicker a bit. She, Jiyou, and Gaara watched Naruto roll on the ground, hugging his knee in pain.

"Uh, well, nice technique. It worked, but it wasn't really what I expected…." Akemi commented.

"What else was I supposed to do? I could've seriously hurt him using a Jutsu or a weapon…That is, if I wasn't careful."

"Yeah, you were upset. It probably would've 'accidentally' gone wrong. And of course you care about not 'seriously' hurting Naruto," Akemi cast a knowing glance at Jiyou.

"AH! What'd you do that for?" Naruto was now off the ground, but his knee was still clearly bothering him.

Gaara had walked away by then and was halfway down the street. Akemi thought about punching Naruto, but instead yelled, "Because Gaara could've killed you, you idiot! He has no problem with doing that, and he does it well!" She noted how much better she felt after screaming, ignoring the surprised looks from Jiyou and Naruto.

While Naruto was still staring, Akemi told her sister, "If you want, you could still catch Gaara. I don't think Naruto will bother you…for now. I think he's afraid you'll take out both his knees."

Sigh. Watching her crush's disappearing figure, Jiyou replied, "No. He's probably frustrated, and mad. I don't want to push it. I think he's had enough 'socialization' for one day."

She turned towards Naruto. "Sorry about kicking you. It was for your own good."

The two girls headed home, hoping they wouldn't be followed by the orange–clad loudmouth.

"So, how'd it go with Sasuke?"

Akemi just shook her head.

"Oh…Well, I'm sure it's ok. Afterall, he doesn't talk," Jiyou said.

Akemi sighed. "Yeah, my 'soulmate' lacks emotion and the ability to carry on a conversation and yours…Yours is a, well…a born assasin…"

"Hmmm…Yeah. Whatcha gonna do?"

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