Disclaimer: It's never going to change. I don't own any Naruto characters.

Chapter 12: Jealousy is a Sin (But Malls Make it Better)

It was a Monday morning, and winter was nearing faster then everyone had expected. No one milled around outside anymore, no, it was too cold for that. Instead, they all had to mill inside, causing a lot more noise, filling up the hallway. That was bad…very bad. Why?

Because they were all disturbing Uchiha Sasuke in reading his murder mystery John Grisham novel! Not that he actually listened to the conversations, but it just meant more girls swooning, while he was doing nothing. It was innerving, that's for sure.

"SASUKE!"

Not to mention that. That was the most annoying, a sound that the Uchiha couldn't ignore. It was so loud, and so persistent, and so Naruto! He tried to block out the sound, but it kept coming closer. He had a feeling it would've anyway.

"Sasuke! Sasuke!" the blond pestered, practically dancing in front of his uncaring friend. "Sasuke! Hey! I'm talking here!"

"I realized that…" he said monotone.

"Pay attention! This is important!" when no response came, Naruto did the only thing he could do; whisk the novel right out of Sasuke's hands.

Dark eyes narrowed, "Make it fast, and it better be worth my time or else you're dead."

"Nothing but empty threats," the other said with a sigh, but got to the point when the infamous 'Uchiha-death-glare' remained plastered on. "Anyway, there is big news! Huge news! It's so big even Shikamaru knows!"

"And he probably got it from Ino, who knows everything about everyone, what's the point here?"

"Huge news, still though! It's as big as a house!"

Two words: blank stare. "A house?"

"Yes! As big as a house! Very big news! Very big news about Sakura-chan!"

Took long enough for him to spit it out. "Is this something I would care about? Because if not, I want the book back."

"Yes! It's interesting! It's so interesting, that I thought you should be the first to know!"

"How thoughtful of you…" Sasuke said, voice dripping in sarcasm. "Hurry up and say what you have to before Tsunade-sama will have to treat your broken bones again."

"Okay! Okay! Well…" he paused and inhaled deeply, "Sakura-chan and Neji actually walked to school together! I heard from Kiba, who heard from Shikamaru, who heard from Ino, who heard from a sophomore, who heard from a passerby!"

Okay, Naruto's life span was just shortened by…about 75 years. "Give the book back."

"What? Aren't you the least bit concerned?" Naruto's blue eyes were wide, like it was something totally frightening. "Don't you see? This is big! That guy has never shown any interaction with anyone of the opposite sex before…excluding his training partner solely for the purpose of training!"

"What's your point?"

"My point is, what if he decides to make a move on your woman?" there was a sharp pain to the blond haired boy's head, courtesy of ever-so-friendly Uchiha, who was now standing, novel in hand.

"My woman? I thought you were after her. And besides that, who do you think you're talking to, idiot. I swear if you talk to me again this week, I'll personally see that your guts will be in a bowl."

"Uh…s-s-sure thing…" Naruto said face down on the floor, still quite dizzy.

"Neji!" a feminine voice called out, making him and the other turn to see who it was. Tenten was walking briskly towards them, "Ah, Sakura-chan, you too, good morning!"

"'Morning, Tenten-chan," Sakura smiled back, distancing herself a bit more from the Hyuuga. There was something about the way Tenten was looking at them this morning…

"I hate to interrupt you two and your conversation, but Neji, you and I are supposed to meet Gai-sensei shortly."

"Yes, I know," he said monotone, and turned to his walking companion, "please excuse us, Sakura."

"Nah, it's fine. See you guys later in class!" she chirped, and headed towards the stairs.

"Neji, some time today would be nice!" the other female scolded, grabbing his hand, dragging him along.

"Are you alright? You seem a bit edgy today, Tenten."

"What makes you think that?" she said rather sharply…or sharper then usual. Yes, she was annoyed, but he decided not to question her further, and continued to be dragged to homeroom.

"And then? And then? Sakura-chan, you're leaving out details! I want to know everything! I won't tell anybody! I promise!" Naruto pleaded in homeroom class. Once again, their Sensei was already 15 minutes late.

"I'm telling you, nothing happened! We just met each other on the way to school, and then walked. It's that simple," Sakura reassured him. Was it a big deal to walk to school with someone these days?

"Okay, I know you'll tell me in due time anyway," the blond gave up, scratching the back of his head. "Neh, Sasuke! Can't you wring it out of her?"

But he wasn't listening. Waiting for Kakashi was a good time to read. "Oh leave him alone why don't you, Naruto. He's enjoying quality literature where people bathe in blood," the female said dryly, not liking the themes he constantly chose.

Naruto covered his mouth. "No way! Bathe in blood? There are actually places in that book to do that? Is it like a hot spring, except blood? Do they bathe separately? Are there sex scenes in it? Oh, if there are—"

He didn't have time to finish, when a fist came colliding with his head, for the second time the past hour. This time, courtesy of Sakura. "Bathe in blood? Like, mystery…like murder…get it, idiot?" she said through clenched teeth. That was never something she wanted to hear at school…what if a teacher came in?

"Moron…" Sasuke said, turning his attention to the front of the class, where the teacher walked in.

"Naruto, will you please take your seat so we can start the lesson?" Kakashi asked, not bothering to make an excuse this morning, since he'd get the usual chorus of "LIAR!"

"Yes, Sensei…" he said into the floor, and sat up, still wobbling.

"And now, I believe the student council held a meeting today. Ami, care to enlighten your classmates?" the silver haired teacher said, putting his feet upon his desk.

The auburn haired girl made her way to the front, clutching a tiny post-it note, skimmed it over, and crumpled it up. "Well, we didn't talk about much. But we did finalize the annual sports tournament. I believe it's being held in April at Ichiraku."

Naruto's face lit up, all dizziness forgotten. "Ah! Isn't that the place where it was held when we were freshman? That place was the best; it was owned by that major ramen chain!"

"Yup, that's the place," Ami smiled, "the sports they're hosting this year are: volleyball, basketball, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, badminton, and baseball. The same schools will be participating, with just another school joining...the Sand I think it was. That's all, Sensei." She sat down after that, with a flip of her hair.

Kakashi was now droning on about who-knows-what, and half the class was asleep. It was also the perfect opportunity to bother people. "Ah! That's my old school! I'll get to see my friends there!" she whispered happily to Sasuke.

"You have to make a team first, remember," he said, tuning out the teacher as usual.

"Oh, you just watch. I'll make a team…" she said, narrowing her eyes, "I'll have you know the tryouts for the team are today after school."

"How wonderfully exciting for you…" Sasuke replied, just wanting class to end.

"Humph! At least I'm trying! What about you?"

"Already on one. Since September, basketball," he gathered his things and walked out of the class, five minutes before the bell. Kakashi said nothing, it was usual to see that student skip. That boy had no patience. Sakura had never seen him do this though. He would get a piece of her mind this spare class…

"Eh…" the blonde female sighed, walking along side her lazy friend during their spare period, "I can't believe you convinced me to skip."

"It isn't skipping if you don't have class," Shikamaru replied, hands behind his head.

"But if we're going to the mall, that means I'll never make it back in time for next period!" Ino huffed, but continued down the path. The mall was in behind their school, but still. Mall and Ino said you had to spend over 2 hours there. "Whatever, as long as I make it back before tennis tryouts."

"You didn't have to come if you didn't want to. Your little Sasuke-kun has a spare now too," the boy remarked with a slight edge to his tone.

"No…I actually wanted to do something productive today," she said, "and just knowing Forehead-girl will be with him again makes me sick. So I decided to come along with you."

"I'm flattered," he said rolling his eyes. They were now inside the 2 level mall. It wasn't all that busy, since it was a Monday afternoon. "Go crazy," he sighed, and that was the signal that said 'drag-me-off-to-wherever-because-standing-here-gets-boring-and-I'm-used-to-this'. She took that chance and dragged him down to her favorite clothing store.

During these times, he'd wait on a bench outside, until she'd pop her head out the store and ask (more like command) how she looked, and if it fit…so on. And he'd always say the same thing: "It looks fine." She'd always huff about how he couldn't think of something more original to say. But however it happened it made her smile. And her happiness was really all that mattered, right?

But let's not get out of character here. If Ino wasn't happy at him, she was yelling at him. That could lead too much bigger issues, especially in a public setting. The chances that she'd stay happy with him the rest of the excursion, though, slim to none.

"Shikamaru," she whined, dragging him by the arm towards the food court, "I'm hungry!"

"Well that's probably because you skipped on lunch again."

"But I'm on a diet! Ah, and I spent all of my money at that place too…" then she put on the 'I'm-so-cute-so-can't-you-buy-me-something?' look, "anything you want this time!"

"Yeah," he replied without much choice, and went over to a stand. Even though Ino could be a stuck-up pretty girl, she had her nice sides. And being acquaintances for so long, she just sort of…grew on you. The kind of grow that meant he could understand her perfectly, but not the other way around. Ino, plain and simple in his mind, was dense.

But let's not think about that for the mean time. Right now that wasn't too much of an issue.

Ino looked at her watch. She was now officially playing hooky. What this boy could make her do…not much if she actually thought about it. As much as she hated to admit it, he was her closest friend. Maybe he thought differently, but he was always there. There to confine in, there to talk to…and especially there to tease. She could always get under his skin, much to her amusement.

The dark haired boy returned with a tray in his hands, two drinks and a plate of spring rolls sitting atop it. "I ain't that hungry, and you want to keep that stupid diet of yours, so I thought this'd be best," he sat down, and took one with a pair of chopsticks, dipping it in plum sauce.

The blonde did the same, minus the dip. "Shika, do you think I'm fat?" she finally said, blue eyes showing determination.

He looked up from his meal lazily, "Do I really need to answer that?"

"Please!" she said, "truthfully. I've never actually heard your opinion."

He set the wooden utensils down in front of him. "The truth? No, Ino, you aren't anywhere near that point. Anymore of this stupid diet and you'll turn anorexic. That's my opinion." He sipped the drink.

"Stupid?" she asked, rather loudly, "you're saying I'm stupid?"

He sighed, "No, I'm saying your antics are stupid. No one wants a stick for a companion. I can tell you now, your diet will cut your popularity."

He was taking a step in the wrong direction…a very dangerous direction. "Well, we'll see about that." Ino took the liberty of throwing the trash into the garbage can.

"You asked for my opinion, and I gave it to you. What more do you want—" there was a stinging pain in his left cheek.

"I want something that a true friend would say. I don't need you criticizing my habits, alright?" and before you could say 'diet', she was walking away.

This is why women were strange. They could go from happy, to whiny, to PMS-mode all in the span of 5 minutes. "You asked for my God-damn opinion!" he said furiously walking after her. "I can never please you, can I? I'm always doing something wrong, right?"

"Just forget it, Shikamaru." They both walked out of the mall and back on the path to the school. Ino had mental images who was going to be on those tennis balls she would be smacking. Ha! So much for the thought of best friend earlier. Boys were so damn frustrating! Always found ways to get you down.

Furious-mode wasn't exactly Shikamaru's type of thing, though. He let out a frustrated sigh, with it, most of the tension left his system. There was a point in time where he never used to listen to any of her snappy comments and just shrug it off. Then there was the point when he finally couldn't take much more of it, and started to fight back.

Not that he put too much effort in that either, since she still managed to come out on top. They fought like a married couple, and if no one could see that, then they were blind. Even so, there was always one phrase that Shikamaru could always come up with about the subject.

"Women sure are troublesome."

AN: …This chapter really looked so much better in my head, it really did.Not to mention it took forever to write, and still came out so short. Oh well, a filler, among sorts. The whole scene about the sports complex thing is actually (surprisingly) important for later chapters. Don't mind Naruto's rambling. That was actually taken from the dialogue from a drama class presentation my weird teacher came up with…

Most of the focus was actually on Shika and Ino. I needed a bit of a break with the whole NejiSaku thing, so I decided to write something else instead. I guarantee though, that it'll be back next chapter. Do I ever have a good chapter plan. Now hopefully it'll turn out that good in writing.

So, for next time: When Sakura and Neji go out on a friendly date, of sorts, there are 2 people who aren't exactly thrilled. And really, what's scarier then an annoyed Sasuke? Well and extremely ticked Tenten of course. And what better way to split the two apart, than combine both of their evil minds.That's a very scary thought...the alliance between the Uchiha and the girl with no last name.