Disclaimer: i obviously do not own naruto or any other characters created by the almighty kishimoto-san. ((cuz i wont be in the fanfiction site, ne?)) i only own the ocs. :3 oh! oh! and this story too...

Oh...and i kno this chapter is kinda...weird...

Emi stood at the door, supporting a barely conscious Sasuke and dragging a struggling Neji.

"Ah, hell no!" Naruto stood up quickly and ran towards them. "Dammit, Sasuke bastard! Wake up!"

Sasuke looked up. "Shut up, dobe..." He had a few cuts and bruises on his face.

Naruto was angry now. "You little - what'd Sasuke ever do to you?" he shouted at Emi.

Her only response to him was a cold glare.

Naruto walked cautiously back to the table, defeated. "When'd she get so scary?" he asked with a sniff.

"Just be happy he got away with a few cuts and bruises." Gaara said.

Orochimaru nodded in agreement.

"Heh...hehehehe..."

Naruto freaked. "E-eh?"

"Er...Asuka-san, are you all right?" Sakura asked.

"Hehehehehe..."

Dawn laughed. "That laugh can only mean one thing."

"And that is...?" Itachi asked.

"She's got one of her famous ideas!"

Gaara groaned. "I hope it's not one concerning the extermination of cookies, cakes, and the like?"

"Of course not!" Asuka cried out. "Cookies are the awesomeness!"

"Great! So what's the plan?" asked Emi, who was already seated at the table right next to Sasuke.

"Ah! Give me a heart attack, why don't you?" Naruto screamed.

Sakura looked at him. "Everything is scaring you today, Naruto."

"What! No way!" He slammed his fist on the table. "I'm the best! Nothing can scare me!"

The whole table looked at him unbelievingly.

"Uh, yeah, sure." Asuka said, clearing her throat. "That aside..." She pointed to a figure on the ground. "What the hell is that LOSER doing here?"

They all looked down.

"Oh. Well, everyone was gone, so..." Emi thought. "...I thought it wouldn't be nice to leave Neji behind?"

Neji was just sitting down, glaring at everyone. "What?"

"Never mind about Neji!" Orochimaru said. "What about him?" He pointed to Sasuke.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "So now I'm not supposed to be here?"

"No, no. I'm not talking about that."

He sighed. "So what are you talking about?"

"Is it about his duckbutt hair that defies the laws of nature?" Asuka asked with a smirk.

Sakura laughed at this. Sasuke on the other hand, was not amused. "Oh, shut up."

"No, no, no." Gaara joined Orochimaru for the final words. "Why does he only have cuts and bruises?"

"Was I supposed to have something more?" Sasuke asked.

"Aha! That's right! I almost forgot my brilliant idea!" Asuka said aloud.

"Er...what is it?" Naruto was uncomfortable. I don't like the tone in her voice...

"Well, there's that festival tomorrow night, ne?" she asked.

A few nodded, anxious to hear the rest.

"Let's go!"

"Hell, yeah! Now you're talking!" Naruto jumped up with his fist in the air.

Emi smiled. "Well, there's the randomness..."

"Haha! Yeah...Asuka and her randomness." Dawn laughed. "It's a great idea!"

"Wait! I'm not done!" Asuka caught everyone's attention again.

Now I have an even worse feeling than before... Naruto's eye twitched as he sat back down.

"We'll go in couples." she said with a glint in her eye. "Oro-kun and forehead girl! Ita-san and Dawn-san!"

"Sweet." said Itachi, who had been quiet during most of the conversation.

"Me and Naru-chan 'cuz he owes me!"

"WHAT?" cried Naruto. Owes her for what?

"And duckbutt and Emi-chan!"

"WHAT?" yelled Gaara. "No! It's my Emi!" He hugged Emi.

"And hell, no!" said an angry Neji. "Why am I not listed? Naruto!" He grabbed the blond. "You go with my cousin! Or Ino! Or somebody! Kankuro for all I care!" He pushed him away and put his arm around Asuka's shoulder. "I'm going with Asuka."

There was a long silence due to this unexpected declaration.

"Hell freakin' no, you LOSER!" Asuka yelled as soon as she regained her senses. She punched him across the face, knocking him out. "I want to go with Naru-chan! He's got that cute, fox-face, and you look like a freakin' woman!"

"Ooooooh...burn." Naruto looked at the once again fallen Hyuga and shook his head. "You have my pity."

Sakura clapped her hands once. "I think the pairings are great!"

"They sure are..." Dawn said, thinking about her Itachi.

"No-they-are-not." Gaara scowled. "Why is Sasuke paired with Emi?"

"Huh? Hey, if you don't let her go, you'll hug her to death." Sasuke pointed out.

"Eh...?" Gaara looked at Emi.

"Too...strong...can't...breeeeeaaath..."

"Ack!" He let go a little so she could breath. "Is that better? Gomen, gomen!"

"Why duckbutt head?" Asuka thought. "Hmm...I think I have an idea of why he only got away with a few minor injuries..." She paused for a dramatic effect.

Emi turned red, and Sasuke started sweating.

Neji stirred.

Ack! Bad timing! Shut up, Neji, shut up, Neji. Don't say anything, don't say anything, don't say anything... they thought, both sweating even more now

"I know why!" Neji sat up, now wide awake. "Sasuke was caught in that freezing spell, and when Emi was about to hit him with some kind of ninjutsu, he somehow broke from her hold and, and, and...and kissed her!"

Eep! Stupid, stupid Neji! Baka, baka, baka!

Neji shook his head. "Sad, Uchiha...I didn't think you'd stoop that low to get you're butt out of trouble."

"Whoa..." Asuka was taken aback. "That was far from what I had in mind..."

"What? Really?" Dawn asked. "I haven't even kissed my Ita-san y-" She was cut off by a kiss from Itachi.

"Now you did." He smiled.

Dawn blushed.

Sakura was excited. "Eeee! You did, Sasuke? Ha! I was right! You do like Emi!"

"Oh, Lord...so it's true..." Naruto stared at Sasuke.

"I..." Asuka started. "I want a kissy-kissy now..."

Naruto blushed, heart pounding. Should I do it now? Or should I wait until the fireworks at the festival tomorrow? That would be more romantic...

"I shall do it!"

Neji was about to kiss Asuka when she punched him once again. "Freakin' pervert needs to get shot!"

Gaara was sitting on the floor this whole time, head bowed. "Dammit, Sasuke..."

"Ga-chan...?" Emi's heart sank.

He stood up. "Damn you, Sasuke! It's my Emi!" He ran out Ichiraku's towards home.

Sasuke smirked with his usual cockiness. "Suuure."

"Umm...I think we'd better be going, too." Orochimaru said. "It's getting late, and we wouldn't want to wake up late tomorrow now would we?"

"You're absolutely right, Nii-san!" Dawn stood up. "Let's go!"

"Yeah, I think we've had enough excitement for one day." Sakura stood up, too.

Naruto grunted in agreement. "I'll say." He lifted a quickly made sign saying 'EIGHT WHOLE CHAPTERS'.

Asuka grinned. "So, what are we waiting for?" She stood, and soon, the remaining followed.

"So what do we do with them?" Itachi cocked his head towards the still gossiping Genin.

"Er, let's just leave them." Dawn answered. "They know the way back."

"And what about Neji...?" Emi asked, looking at him laying on the ground.

"Oh, definitely leave him." Asuka said, turning towards the door.

He sat up. "No way you guys are leaving me behind!"

Asuka cursed under her breath.

They exited Ichiraku's.

"Alright!" Naruto ran ahead of the group. "Tomorrow, tomorrow! Ashita! Festival! Hanabi! Takoyaki! Okonomiyaki! Onigiri! Yakisoba! Raaaamen!" he shouted.

"He sure knows his food..." Emi commented.

"So...what happens in festivals?" Sasuke asked.

They turned to look at him. "YOU'VE NEVER GONE TO A FESTIVAL?"

"No."

Emi stared at him. "So...you...don't have a kimono for the occasion?"

"I have an all-black one back home..."

Figures. Emi sighed. "Stop by my room first thing tomorrow morning. I'll give you one you could wear. I need to give Ga-chan's, too..."

"Aaaah!" Naruto screamed! "My kimono! I outgrew it!"

"Stop by my room first thing, too." Asuka said. "I think I've got the perfect one for you..." She imagined the kimono with the naruto design all over it. Heh...it'll match him perfectly.

"Heh...thanks..." He scratched his head in embarrassment as they walked back.

Note

nya i figured some of the words may be unfamiliar so...

ne? -- Right?; Isn't it?

ashita -- tomorrow

hanabi -- fireworks

takoyaki -- grilled octopus

okonomiyaki -- 'cabbage pizza' made with egg, cabbage, onions...

onigiri -- flavored rice balls ((the ones that Sasuke is often eating))

yakisoba -- a type of seasoned noodles. as common in japan as seeing hot dogs and hamburgers in america

ramen -- if you don't know what this is...apologizes in advance SLAP! gomen, gomen...

naruto -- heehee fishcake often found in ramen xD