Seeking Guidance

Joint project of BullyKilla and neonate
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Neji, Sakura, Lee, Gai-sensei, Hiashi, Shino, and Chouji.

Summary: How does the budding relationship of Neji and Sakura fare as Gai laments, Lee investigates, Hiashi lectures, Shino still gossips, and Chouji loses sleeps?

Disclaimer: Since we failed last year's copyright negotiation, we are thinking of bargaining only for select characters. We'll definitely take Orochimaru-sama, so that when we do some evil deeds, we can blame it all on him. "Oro-chan made me do it, waa!"

Three days had passed since the picture of Konoha's hottest couple appeared in the front page of the Shinbun. Hyuuga Neji and Haruno Sakura became household names in no time. They were the number one topic discussed in teahouses, bath houses, and ramen houses. The Ichiraku owner proudly displayed to his other patrons a snapshot he had obtained when the famed Hyuuga Neji decided to drop by his establishment. Of course he omitted the fact that the Hyuuga prodigy had almost jumped at him at that time.

To be brutally honest, being a small village Konohagakure didn't see that much of excitement, except the occasional murder attempts, coup d'état, and demonic attacks. But all of that paled in comparison to the matters of celebrity romance!

Neji and Sakura had decided to play along with everyone's expectation for their own reasons. To hide the truth about Neji's fainting incident, Sakura had lied to her parents, claiming Neji to be her boyfriend. She had done so to evade the wrath that surely would be bestowed upon her if her mother and father thought that their daughter was getting too friendly with a shirtless stranger.

As for Neji, he could not let Sakura bear the pretense alone, considering that he was the cause of her trouble. Despite what he had told his uncle, Neji finally decided that honor (and nothing else, really) required him to help her by being a good, convincing partner.

Their friends had been supportive, albeit confused, of their relationship. Yamanaka Ino was the loudest at proclaiming her support, bawling her eyes out when she had seen for herself that, indeed, Sakura had managed to snatch Konoha's most eligible junior bachelor. Neji's own teammate, Tenten, was calmer than Ino, yet it did not stop her from teasing the couple for hours. Although she did not say anything about Lee, Neji knew that the issue was in the back of their minds.

He had tried talking to Lee, only to be coldly ignored. Since then, Lee had disappeared from the places he usually visited. Gai-sensei assured them that little Lee was quite all right, but he would need some time alone. Neji understood Lee's choice well.

Chouji, whom Neji had owed some pearls of wisdom in the subject of love, had grinned proudly when he saw the couple one morning. He thought that he was the person responsible for setting them up. Neji could not tell him otherwise and just grimly accepted the hearty pat on the back.

And thus began the days of Hyuuga Neji and Haruno Sakura as a pretend couple.

- - - - - -

"The article made a fool out of me," Neji muttered. "And my uncle wasn't exactly pleased with it either."

"Nonsense. It is a small, harmless article and I think it's well-written," said Sakura. They were walking side by side around downtown Konoha during the less busy period of the day. Not many people were out after lunch hours, but they were recognized all the same. Some people smiled and waved at them, and Sakura pleasantly waved back.

"Small? Kyuubi's ass is small, this is not. Your euphemism is disgusting," Neji huffed.

"Language, dear," Sakura chided. "I didn't know that you are easily affronted."

"Welcome to Hyuuga Neji one-oh-one," Neji said lightly, his good mood returned.

Seeing this she decided to play along and clapped her hands in enthusiasm. "Ooh, introduction class. Very nice. Hyuuga-sensei, I have a question!"

"Ask away, Haruno. But you'll soon see that I'm a very strict teacher. I don't grade easily."

"We're going to have tests?" she asked, bewildered.

He raised a fine eyebrow. "Sure, if that's your thing. Is that your question?"

"Nope."

"Then what is it?"

"Hm, I decided not to ask you now," she said.

"Keeping secrets from me, eh?" Neji scoffed. But as he said it, he noticed how relaxed he was with the girl beside him. She didn't seem to mind him that much either. They bickered like they were old friends and she was the first person that he had ever allowed to see this other side of him.

Not even Lee or Tenten had ever managed to get a satisfactory reaction from him with their jokes. They were his teammates, people he fought side-by-side and he could not let them see his more empathetic side as it signaled weakness. Their bonds were strong and Neji trusted them with his life, but it still didn't prevent him from being detached.

Speaking about Lee…

Suddenly Neji saw Sakura waving her hand in front of his face, smiling. "Hey, you spaced out a bit back there."

"I wasn't. I was just thinking about your first test," he lied.

"Already? Hard working, aren't we?"

"Of course." He looked around and noticed the people who start gathering around them. From the look of their enthralled faces Neji surmised that they thought Sakura and him were going on a date. Immediately he distanced himself from her, earning him a frown from his supposed girlfriend.

She sighed and shook her head. Sakura had her own concerns about being Neji's 'girlfriend', and his reclusive nature was one of it. She had been afraid that he would be hard to approach, but he proved her wrong again and again. Still, she was yet to pierce the barrier he erected around his heart.

Realizing that his action was a big no-no in the boyfriend manual, Neji quickly grabbed Sakura's hand and dragged her away from the crowd. "Let's go," he said.

"You're not very good at pretending, aren't you?" she teased softly, just so he could hear her.

"Be quiet."

"How rude," Sakura said, but her tone betrayed her amusement. She liked having Neji's hand around her smaller one. It was warm, and his bare, rough palm comforted her in a strange way. It feels real, she thought.

"Where are we going, Neji?" she asked after he had been leading the way for a while.

"If necessary, the end of the world where nobody recognizes us. I hate being gawked at all the time."

Neji couldn't possibly guess what effect his words had on Sakura at that moment. He said he's taking me to the end of the world…just me.

Girl, a voice quipped, you're helpless.

Sakura sobered instantly.

"The end of the world is too far. How about stopping at that takoyaki stall? I'm kind of hungry," she said.

"Didn't you just have lunch, Haruno?" Neji asked.

"Stop giving me that look, Hyuuga. I know you're hungry too." She pulled him towards the little stall that promised generous helping of octopus-filled dough ball smothered in sauce. Neji relented and ordered two plates of steaming takoyaki. As always, he insisted on paying.

The first time they were out on an official date two days ago, Sakura had caught a glimpse of Neji's stubbornness. He was raised to be respectful of women in general, but he had a weird way of showing it. He absolutely refused to have Sakura pay for her meal if he was around. Sensing that he was dead serious about the matter, Sakura had let him have his ways, even though she thought that they were a bit old-fashioned.

As soon as they got their takoyaki, Sakura put half of her share onto Neji's plate. "I don't understand how boys can eat a lot and not get fat," she said.

"Haruno, are you trying to turn me into a pig?"

"How do you know? Darn, I thought my plan is fool-proof," said Sakura. She popped one dough ball into her mouth.

Neji had already swallowed his second takoyaki. "You did not calculate the superior metabolism of the Hyuuga clan. What kind of kunoichi are you?"

"I'm still studying Hyuuga Neji one-oh-one, remember?"

Neji just shook his head, smirking. Whenever he made a smart remark, she was always ready with a retort. He found that part of her interesting, as interesting as the sauce that smeared her upper lips.

Without thinking, he raised his hand and wiped it away from her face. But a jolt of sensation caused him to withdraw his touch at once. Sakura blushed a distinct shade of red, and he felt his own cheeks warming.

"Sor—" he began, but caught himself in time.

She coughed lightly. "It's fine." Quickly she ate another takoyaki and Neji followed her example.

The rest of the meal was passed in silence.

- - - - - - -

The couple didn't notice that they had been followed for quite some time. Too absorbed in their own private world, they failed to detect the presence of one conspicuous green-clad boy.

Lee moved stealthily, jumping from shadow to shadow, while his big eyes were fixed on the unguarded pair. He saw Neji touching his Sakura-san's cheek and a surge of jealousy burned inside him.

How dare he!

Lee's thought went back to an earlier episode he'd just witnessed. He'd seen his teammate (soon to be ex-teammate, thank you very much) dragging the gentle Sakura-san along the street. What a rude and inappropriate way to treat a lady!

If Lee wanted to humiliate Neji, he needed to find his rival's weakness soon. So far after two days of investigation, he had found nothing of importance. It seemed that Neji was without any flaw.

And something didn't quite add up. It also didn't seem like Sakura-san was quivering with fear around that thief Hyuuga. Lee might've seen a little smile on her bright face. Was it possible that Neji knew how to act around girls after all?

No, impossible! Lee shook his head furiously. What am I thinking?

All previous evidence had supported the fact that Neji was severely lacking in the people department. If he showed the tiniest amount of apt social behavior, that would mean there was a chance that Sakura-san was not forced against her will after all.

Lee just couldn't face that possibility. If he did, his world would need a major renovation and he didn't think that he could handle it. It was too much.

Thus he kept his focus clear. Investigate Neji's weakness and use it to beat him.

If there's a will, there's a way, he repeated that proverb inside his mind over and over again.

In a stroke of good luck, Lee noticed something that most people would've missed. At first he thought that it was nothing special, but the thought bugged him continuously. His curiosity piqued, Lee moved in closer and saw it himself. A question then popped out.

Why are they sitting so far apart?

- - - - - -

"Gai-sensei postpones all training until next week," Neji began, breaking the stretched silence. He was still eating the last of his takoyaki.

Sakura put down her empty plate. "Lee is still missing?"

"Not wanting to be found, more likely," Neji said.

"I'm sorry, Neji." She sighed. "I dragged you into this and now Lee's angry with you."

He waved her comment aside. "Stop it. Things happened and it's not entirely your fault."

She nodded, knowing that he didn't want to discuss it further, and changed the topic. "So, what are you going to do with a week to spare?"

"Helping out my uncle, probably. He mentioned something about needing my help in the house," Neji said. "So, how's your training with the Hokage?"

"Erh…"

"What, Haruno?"

In a small voice she said quickly, "She also gave me a week off."

Neji almost rolled his eyes in disgust. There was no mistake that both teachers had collaborated to give them some 'quality time' together. Gai-sensei was a romantic at heart, Neji knew well, but the Hokage herself? He would never guess.

A week to spare, eh? He might as well use the time for something productive. Training? By himself? Sure, but it would get dull after one or two days. His uncle was in a very strange mood these days—ever since Neji told him about his new relationship with Sakura—and could not be bothered. Out of habit, Neji frowned and soon was lost in his own thoughts.

"Neji?" Sakura's voice broke his concentration.

"Hm?"

She bent forward, flicked his forehead gently with two fingers, and smiled. "Don't frown."

He was about to retort, but Neji made a mistake of looking into Sakura's startling green eyes, and suddenly all coherent thoughts disappeared from his mind. He was caught and he could not tear his sight away from hers. Something beckoned him and he raised one hesitant hand to brush strands of pink hair that framed her features.

Neji ignored the thumping in his own heart and he saw how her expression had turned wistful.

Blood rushed to his cheeks, and his body would not cooperate with his already screaming common sense. Stop, stop it, Hyuuga!

He leaned closer.

As if guided by some unknown force, she leaned closer too.

- - - - - -

Lee was in panic. Well, actually 'panic' is a too mild of a word to describe what he was feeling at that moment. Frenzy, yes. Kawaii no Lee had a very urgent matter at hand. He had to stop a kiss from happening! With an impressive reflex, Lee threw a 'small' rock towards Neji and immediately fled the scene to avoid recognition.

He dashed and with his insane speed, in a second Lee was out of the Byakugan's field of vision.

- - - - - -

Neji sensed the rock coming and years of training enabled him to avoid the blow. He pushed Sakura down and dodged the rock just in time. It crashed to the ground with loud thud. The 'small' rock turned out to be a brick.

Neji swore under his breath and came to Sakura's side. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She raised herself and turned her attention to the brick. "That's no coincidence."

"I couldn't catch the culprit, even with my Byakugan. Whoever that is, he must've ran away before I can sense the rock."

"Is that possible?"

"Yes," Neji answered, but he left the rest of his thought unspoken. He had let his guard down and this was the result. Furthermore, he had a very good guess about the rock-thrower's identity. He should've known better.

A tug on his shirt brought his attention back to Sakura. "Hey," she said, "it might not be him. Don't think about it."

Quickly he replied, "I wasn't thinking about Lee."

A pause.

"Who said anything about Lee?" Sakura smiled.

"You—"

"I think I just passed Hyuuga Neji one-oh-one. You're so easy to read, boyfriend," she teased.

Neji snapped, "And you, girlfriend, have a bad habit of gloating." He shuddered involuntarily and made a revolted gesture. "I just said that…word."

"Shocking." Sakura said in a bored tone. "Oh, I know. Come to my house, my mom is making some pudding. It'll help cleanse the word out of your system."

Neji eyed her with a genuine surprise. He pointed at the empty plates of takoyaki. "Remember those? We just ate them."

"I still have to make a pig out of you, Hyuuga."

"If we get married, stay out of the kitchen, Haruno."

"But can I handle the money?"

"Just don't come near the kitchen. You're dangerous for my diet." He patted his stomach. It grumbled and Neji sighed. He extended his left hand and said, "I hope your mom doesn't mind my coming over."

She reached for his hand and wrapped her fingers around his, "Are you kidding? My mom loves it when we have a pig in the house."

"Yes, she must be glad that you're her daughter."

"Hyuuga," Sakura said, exasperated, "you're never a big boost of confidence."

Neji smirked triumphantly.

He just loved to have the last word.

Heed, fellow Naruto enthusiasts!

Yes, yes. We want to see Neji and Sakura to spend some 'quality time' together too. For days, neonate has been hounding BullyKilla for more fluff, to which he always responds with a swift kick to the gut. "It will be done when it is done." Ouch.

We don't really know how many chapters this one is going to have. We'll just go with the flow, like always.