Chapter 3

At the Natto-diner

Anko was enjoying her favourite meal when someone tapped on her shoulder. She looked up and was surprised to see her best friend.

"Hey, Kurenai! I thought you would train with your team today?"

Kurenai smiled, actually, she smirked: "No, I just told them about the ball and then left them for each to find his/her partner."

"So?"

"Yeah, you know, Asuma already asked me, so we just need to find someone for you..."

"You are thinking of someone, aren't you?" Anko asked with a more troubled then interested tone in her voice.

"Why don't you go there with Kakashi?" Kurenai smiled at her friend widely, leaving her with this for Kurenai usually too direct question.

"Where did you get this idea from?" Anko asked between surprise and shock, but tried hiding to add a bored undertone.

"Hey, we are friends, I know you like him."

Anko crossed her arms over her chest. "But then, why should he ask me?"

A very un-Kurenai-like smile appeared on Kurenais face. "So, if he would ask you, you would agree for sure, wouldn't you?"

"..."

"I'll take this as a yes. Bye Anko!" With that she left a rather puzzled Anko to attend a very special business.

Naruto walked down the street when a high squeak told him that he just ran into someone. He looked at the person lying on the ground.

"Oh, Hinata!" He quickly helped her up but forgot to let go of her hand.

"Thanks, Na-Naruto-kun." She whispered already blushed.

"Hey, Hinata, sorry for that originally I've been looking for you!" Her blush deepened.

"For me?"

"Yeah! I want to ask you if you'd go to the ball with me?" Her blushed deepened even more, if that was possible. If Naruto hadn't still held her hand she would have ran away to hide but so she somehow managed to say "Yes". Naruto's face immediately lit up.

"Yeah, we must celebrate this with ramen!" Let's go!" With that the fox-boy dragged Hinata away.

Kurenai walked around looking for Asuma to tell him the news. It didn't take long for her to find him, he was sitting on a small street, smoking a cigarette.

"Hey Asuma!" she stood in front of him with a wide smirk in her face. Asuma began grinning too, he knew what her expression meant.

"You've found her?" Asuma guessed, during Kurenai took a seat next to her comrade.

"Of course! It's all clear. Now we just have to make Kakashi to ask her, or better, make Ino and Shikamaru to help us."

Smirking they stood up and began walking along the street. After some minutes, when they passed into another street, they both recognized familiar voices.

"How could you fall asleep in there?"

"Hm..." came the reply.

Asuma smirked at Kurenai, both got slower and finally turned around. Ino and Shikamaru, taken by surprise of the familiar faces, immediately stopped.

"I have a mission for the two of you!" Asuma said grinning, Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, he seemed more pissed off than before, Ino looked interested.

"I thought the rest of the day is free time?" she asked grinning, knowing this would be a funny mission, or at least, interesting.

"This mission will fit you. You'll help to get two people together." Kurenai took a step towards the two students, smiling, especially at Ino, who seemed to be enthusiastically.

"So, whom you are speaking about?" she asked directly, still grinning, the ninja standing next to her just muttered a "How troublesome" under his breath.

"Alright Shika, let's help!" Ino tried her best to encourage him, or at least to get him to do something other than snoozing.

"OK, so, what will we do?"

Kurenai grinned thankfully and contendedly, because she knew how to get them to help her.

"OK, listen" and then she told them their plan...

A/N: So finally the next chapter. :-)

Okay we are pretty slow with updating (sorry about that) but we're busy with many other things so…

But don't worry we will continue writing this as soon as we find the time for it. :D thanks for all reviewers!