Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Maybe someday I will.


Chapter 5: A Shinobi in Love

Aburame Shino just came from a mission with his father. He's now off to his house when he spotted a someone. He stopped from walking and lowered his shades to see it clearly.

'Who's that girl?' he asked himself then continued with his journey.

Hatake Kakashi was headingto the Hokage Tower for an emergency meeting. He was reading his sixth volume of Icha Icha Paradise while. He hastily raised his head from the book when he saw someone from the corner of his sharinghan-free eye. "Who's that girl?" he asked himself but reminded also afterwards, 'Kakashi, Kakashi, Kakashi, you're too old for a teenage girl. You may charge with child abuse. You better stick with older women like Kurenai or Anko or the Hokage.'

"Neji…I mean Jeni, look, is that the eternal rival of Gai-sensei? Hatake Kakashi? He's looking right at you." Ten-ten whispered to Neji while pointing at Kakashi.

"I know so quit pointing." Kakashi didn't notice anyway so he walked on.

A boy and a girl are walking in a cloud nine with their hands held together. They once in a while managed to give each other a kiss and a snuggle. Hearts can be seen flying around them. When all of a sudden, the hearts on the top of the boy's head exploded one by one. Without any word at all, the girl gave him a hard knock on the face and stomped away. A mark of a palm is visible on his left cheek. He runs over for his girl while screaming, "Hey, what is that for? Wait up!"

In the restaurant, Ten-ten and Neji are oblivious to everything that is happening around them. They are not talking with each other becausefor theyare busy with their desserts. Chocolate moose for Ten-ten while banana split for Neji.

Uzumaki Naruto is heading on his usual way, to the Ichiraku Ramen stand, with Iruka-sensei. He was talking non-stop while walking, so Iruka got surprised when Naruto came to a stop. He understands everything when he gazed at to what catches Naruto's attention. He gave him a smile and a thud on the back.

"You like her Naruto?"

"Huh… um… well, I think so… he he." He replied while scratching his back.

"I can see you're finally growing up."

"He he. Well, what do you think?"

"Of her? She's pretty. Why don't you go there and introduce yourself?"

"…" He heard his stomach rumbled.

"If you want we could take our dinner in that restaurant." Iruka suggested.

"No. I don't think I can do that and I want to eat some ramen. I think she's a Hyuuga. Maybe I'll just ask Hinata tomorrow. She probably knows her."

"Okay. I never thought you could be timid." He said and they go on to their route.

Ten-ten and Neji spotted them…

"That's Uzumaki Naruto and Iruka-sensei. Do you think they recognized me or you?" he asked Ten-ten.

"Of course they didn't. You're too girly to be recognized and they've never seen me with my hair down before. So stay cool." Ten-ten answered.

Meanwhile, another familiar shinobi was walking down the street, sentimenting…

"Why can't I get myself a girlfriend?" Rock Lee asked himself bitterly with waterfall tears pouring from his eyes. He thought of Neji and Ten-ten having their date tonight because it was their team's day-off.

"Why does Neji's always on top?" He asked himself again, begrudgingly. "He's my rival in almost everything and I'm always beaten by him, in fights and even with girls. And instead of me, he got a girlfriend first. If only my Sakura would realize that I'm the right guy for her and not that Uchiha. Anyway, what is it in those two that make them every girl's fantasy? If I couldn't change Sakura's mind, I better find someone else to share my affection with." He told himself sadly. He passed by a restaurant and stopped when his eyes caught someone. "This must be goodbye for my dear Sakura."

"Neji look, that's Lee. And he's staring over here. Do you think he recognized us? After all, he's our teammate." Ten-ten asked Neji nervously. "Oh my, he's coming over here now!" she said in horror.

"If he did, then I have no choice but to kill him."

"Neji!"

"Okay, okay, I won't. But let me handle this. Just chill out." He said coolly. He told himself that it's just Lee. He can take him easily.

Lee entered the restaurant and went straight to Ten-ten and Neji's table. Ten-ten froze when Lee finally approached them.

"Good evening…" Lee greeted them, obviously nervous. Ten-ten couldn't look at his face while Neji kept calm. "My name is Rock Lee. I didn't mean to be rude but may I know your names, especially you miss?" He blinked at Neji.

Neji looked at him straight and said with girlish voice, "I'm sorry but we don't entertain strangers especially those with fuzzy eyebrows."

Lee's face turned sour again butthensmiled. "That's okay I understand. But I assure you that I'm not a bad guy. I am a genin of this village and I want you to know that I am ready to protect and serve you. Just call my name and I'll be there." He gave them a nice guy pose complete with shining smile.

"Thanks. But I would appreciate it if you will leave now."

"I understand. Sorry for bothering you. Remember, just call my name and I'll be there." Lee then exits in bliss.

"See, you shouldn't worry too much."

"Thank goodness he's such a moron." Ten-ten sighed. "You wanna go to the mall?" she asked, changing the subject.

"I thought you wanna stay here?"

"I figured that there will be more boys in the mall than here."

"I don't want to. Instead, lets go to the park. I wanna breathe some fresh air."

"Is that really what you want?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"Then let's go!"

Neji called out the waiter to pay their bill. Then they went outside and headed straight to the park.

At the park, they could see a lot of people, mostly lovers, enjoying the lovely autumn evening. The park floor is slightly covered with colorful autumn leaves falling from the maple trees. The full moon shines brightly in the night sky. Stars are like diamonds, twinkling with the moon. The air is cool and crisp, enough to add up sweetness to the atmosphere. Everything is cozy and beautiful. It's such a perfect ambiance to be romantic. Ten-ten and Neji sat on a bench under a light post. They watched the moon in silence. Neji really wanted to hold Ten-ten's hand or loop his arm around her waist like he always do, but he just can't. He's a girl tonight. If people would see him doing such actions, they might think he's a lesbian. That's why he's really pissed. He can't take advantage of this moment. He just wishes this night to be over so that he could get back to his normal life. Anyway, he said he's here to grab some fresh air.

At that moment, Inuzuka Kiba was also in the park, striding while Akamaru's on top of his head. He stopped when his eyes got a glimpse of someone.

"Who's that girl?" he asked.

"Arf… arf… (Don't ask me)" barked Akamaru.

"She's a Hyuuga. See? She has the same eyes as Hinata. Maybe she knows her. Better ask her tomorrow. C'mon Akamaru, Mom will surely get mad if we come homelate for dinner."

"Arf… (OK!)" Akamaru replied as he jumped off Kiba's head to race against him.

Just then, two shinobis came to view, a chunin and a genin.

"Hurry up Shikamaru, I'm really starving." Choji complained.

"You're really troublesome, especially your tummy." Shikamaru whined.

"Just hurry up, if we will not run, I will die!"

"Running is troublesome. Let's just walk, but walking is troublesome too."

"Do you really want me to die? Do you know what troublesome is? Troublesome is being starved and not eating!" Choji yelled-out.

"How troublesome." He shook his head. When he looked at Choji, he was stunned when he saw the fat genin stopped running. "Now what?" he murmured to himself then walks toward Choji. "Hey what are you looking at?"

"Shikamaru look. Isn't she pretty?" he asked dreamily.

"Who? There are two of them."

"The girl in pink."

"Well, she's fine." Shikamaru said casually.

"What do you mean she's fine. Are you blind?" Choji can't believe his ears.

"Alright, alright, she's pretty…but you know what? She's kinda familiar. And the other girl too."

"Do you know them? C'mon introduce me." He dragged Shikamaru towards the two but Shikamaru struggles.

"I didn't say I know them, I just said they are familiar."

"Let's just try, ok? Now c'mon." he dragged him again.

"I'm telling you, girls are troublesome."

"Only Ino and Sakura, not these girls." Shikamaru just rolled his eyes while Choji dragged him towards the light post where Ten-ten and Neji sits.

Neji and Ten-ten saw them so they get into action.

"Ten-ten don't underestimate that chunin, you know how smart he is."

"He probably recognized us, don't you think?"

"Just act naturally. Don't show him you're nervous. Ok here they are, let's roll."

"Hello ladies. My name is Akimichi Choji and this is Nara Shikamaru. May we get your names."

"NO." Neji simply said.

Choji's face saddened. "Why not?"

"Because we don't want to, now leave." Neji shook his head with his eyes closed.

"Ok, we'll leave now. Let's go Shikamaru." He said with teary eyes then they left.

"See, piece of cake." He noticed Ten-ten was quiet. "What's wrong?"

"I think he recognized me?" Ten-ten said nervously.

"Who? Shikamaru?"

"Yes!" she nodded.

"How could you say that?"

"He kept looking at me the whole time. He was looking at me suspiciously. And maybe he recognized you too." She said in paranoia.

"You're exaggerating. If he did, he should have told it so, but he didn't so keep it down, ok?"

"But what if he did? What are we going to do?"

"He didn't, ok." He was trying to calm her down.

Uchiha Sasuke also heads home. He was tracking his usual way over the park when he heard someone calling his name. "Sasuke, wait for me." It was Sakura, his teammate.

'Now, what does she want?' He asked to himself. He stopped then turned to her. "What?" he asked, sort of angry.

"I…I was just wondering if…you would like to eat ramen with me. I know you just came from training with Kakashi-sensei so I'm sure you're hungry. What do you say?" she said, hopeful.

"No, now go home." Sakura was saddened by his answer but she quickly brushed it off.

"Well, can I just walk with you?"

Sasuke just sighed and started walking again. "Whatever you say."

Sakura smiled. They wereonly having few steps when Sasuke stopped suddenly. He has this far look on his eyes. When Sakura turned to where his eyes are glued, she was stunned. 'Sasuke?'

"Hey wide-forehead Sakura, why are you with my Sasuke?" Ino was running towards them, yelling, but when she saw the look on Sasuke's face, she stopped. 'Sasuke?'. "Sakura, what happened to my Sasuke. Why does he keep staring at those girls?"

Meanwhile, Neji caught Sasuke's gaze. He was distressed seeing the Uchiha smiling at him.

"Oh no. Ten-ten let's get out of here."

"Why?"

"See that? Uchiha Sasuke is looking at me so we better go now." They stood up then left. When Sasuke saw them left, the look on his face changed then he walked again towards home. The two kunoichis beside him was still puzzled with what they witnessed. But Sasuke never noticed for he was feeling something goofy inside.