The Sleepover

Author's notes: The first of the "punishment" sleepovers between Neji and Sakura. Yeah, they're going to be exceptionally close friends. Also: Neji hates Sasuke for leaving Konoha and isn't afraid to tell the Uchiha. So YES this will affect Sakura and Sasuke's relationship once it begins and continues.

Rated M for sex scenes with two males, swearing, and gore

I don't own the characters but I'm taking liberties with them and their universe.

Neji strode towards Sakura's home Friday at eighteen hundred hours for the first night in his six months of sleepovers. He carried with him a change of clothes for tomorrow and to wear to sleep, his sleeping bag, toiletries, and a bag with a tub of Caramel Cream ice cream in it. The week had been busy.

Neji had gone to field twenty-seven Saturday afternoon to see all three of his students training. He explained what had happened as best he could and they hugged him. Then he told Tora she would be training with Sakura starting Monday at thirteen hundred hours and going for as long as Sakura wanted. Tora had been so happy she pulled a Kuma and leaped into the air in excitement.

They had trained Saturday until seventeen hundred hours then Neji treated them to ramen. Neji had gone home and re-explained everything to his uncle before spending the night speaking with Hanabi-sama and Hinata-sama about everything.

He had seen Kankuro for lunch the next day and they spoke about the movie and his puppets. It had not been a date but it had been nice. He spoke to Guy-sensei that evening who would take Akino off Neji's hands the same three days a week as Sakura at the same time.

The rest of the week flew by as he and his students sunk into a new training routine. Kuma loved the extra hours she got with Neji's personal training and they worked hard on her chakra control. Neji had invited Tenten to observe on Wednesday afternoon and Tenten happily agreed to train Kuma when Neji thought the red-head was ready.

Kuma had gained five pounds and Sakura said in another week or two she could start training with her leg weights again. She had been so excited she jumped around the field for a full three minutes, much to Neji and Sakura's amusement.

Shikamaru had not spoken to Neji outside of the Hokage tower the entire week. Neji found he did not miss the shoji games as much as he would. The lack in conversation was not even missed as he had to concentrate on his students. His evenings were spent either with Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama or with Kankuro in a casual setting with other mutual friends.

Of course, Fukui had been brought by Monday and was still being questioned by Ibiki. They had not gotten much from Fukui yet but Neji did not doubt they would soon. No one lasted long under Ibiki. Of course, it fell to Ino and Sakura to inform Lee, Tenten, Naruto, Kiba, and Shino what had happened in Neji's love life.

As expected, Lee had burst into tears upon hearing Neji was suffering, hugging Neji and going on about youth. Tenten offered getting 'vengeance' on Shikamaru, hands full of senbon. Kiba offered an ass-kicking, Naruto had to have it re-explained and Shino, well, no one was sure how Shino reacted. Neji had thanked Lee (after punching him off) and explained to Tenten he was okay and she didn't have to make Shikamaru a pincushion. He thanked Kiba and said no to the ass-kicking.

Neji shook his head at his musings and knocked on Sakura's door. It opened a moment later to reveal Sakura in a pair of pink shorts and a loose red shirt. Her hair was loose around her head and she dragged him into her home before he could say a word. Again he took off his shoes before entering the living area.

"You have the ice cream?" She asked.

"Yes," Neji returned.

"Good," Sakura said.

She led him into the kitchen and took the bag from him. Neji did not hear or sense anyone else in the house but did not get a chance to ask where her parents were as she pushed him towards the hallway.

"Go get changed into whatever you're wearing to sleep tonight. I'm going to make a big bowl of popcorn and get the movies," Sakura instructed.

Neji hummed but did as instructed. He had forgone his gloves and arm wraps to make the changing process easier. Neji changed out of his typical attired into black jogging pants and a shirt that rode a bit high on his stomach and had slender straps, also in black. He laid out his sleeping bag on the floor in front of the television which was new.

Neji spotted a pink box on the floor in front of the television. A brush, hand mirror, and a box full of hair supplies sat beside the pink box. Neji frowned but folded his clothing before sticking it back in his bag. He pulled out his case of toiletries and sat them on a nightstand. The bear he had cuddled with was sitting in the middle of the bed. Neji snorted before picking it up and sitting on his sleeping bag in the lotus position. Sakura knocked on the door and he called out he was clothed.

She strode in with a massive bowl of popcorn balanced on a stack of movies. Neji smirked at her but she said nothing as she made it to sit beside him on his sleeping bag. She put the bowl on the floor between them then got on her hands and knees to get the first movie, something called The Notebook, started.

Neji said nothing as Sakura got behind him and began brushing his hair. Neji hummed but said nothing, watching the movie and allowed Sakura to play with his hair. She was gentle and never pulled too hard. He found himself half closing his eyes under her ministrations, almost purring as she worked on whatever it was she was doing. When she started giggling Neji opened his eyes and half turned his head to look at her.

"Sorry, sorry, I just didn't think you'd actually let me do this," Sakura said.

Neji snorted. She was still giggling. Neji rolled his eyes.

"I do owe you and as long as you don't cut or dye it then fine," Neji said.

"Oh yeah, here, look," She said.

He blinked when she held up the mirror to his face. Neji flushed and let out a groan as Sakura laughed. She had separated his hair into pigtails, high ones at the side of his head, but braided some chunk of his hair so they would hold the pigtails in place. Each pigtail was braided and tied off with bright pink bows.

"And you're holding that bear so cutely!" Sakura gushed.

Neji looked at the bear in his hands and saw he was, in fact, holding the bear in a hug on his lap. Neji huffed. Sakura grinned at him. He said nothing as she grabbed another pink ribbon but wrapped it neatly around his neck, leaving the bow in the front of his neck. He said nothing when she revealed the pink box was full of make-up and stayed quiet when she began applying make-up to his face.

When she was done she fell over she was laughing so hard. Neji raised an eyebrow at her as she laughed and cried, holding her stomach to keep herself steady. Neji smirked when she finally got a hold of herself and wiped her tears from her face.

"You look so cute," Sakura said.

Neji stared at his reflection in the mirror when she held it up to him. She had painted his lips bubblegum pink, lined his eyes with smudged black liner, flitted out his eyelashes with thick mascara, and added pink blush to his cheeks. He kind of looked like a porcelain doll. Neji kept a serious look on his face when he looked at her. Sakura waited and Neji kept his face neutral when he said:

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty,"

Sakura burst out laughing again. Neji chuckled along with her then whined when she got a camera. She stuck her tongue out at him and snapped a picture. Neji huffed then smirked when the picture came into focus.

"If not for the eyes you wouldn't even be recognizable," Sakura said.

Neji snorted. She was right though. Neji barely recognized himself.

"I mean seriously, we could totally put contacts in your eyes and no one would know who you are," Sakura said.

Neji shrugged. She laughed at him again and Neji raised his eyebrow at her. He did take some popcorn and minded his lips as he nibbled. This made her laugh harder.

"And you're just sitting there like "whatever." You crack me up," Sakura said.

Neji shrugged and she giggled. She took one of his hands in hers and Neji said nothing as she began painting his fingernails bright pink. Neji said nothing and used his free hand to eat the popcorn.

"So, how's your week been?" Sakura asked.

"Busy as I'm sure you know," Neji replied.

She gave him a look. Neji flushed then shrugged.

"Not bad," Neji said. "It, hurts, seeing Shikamaru around sometimes but I don't miss playing shoji as much as I thought I would. I do miss the conversations we used to have but I'm too busy to notice between my students and family."

Sakura nodded, happily painting his nails bright pink.

"It's odd. Hiashi-sama, Hinata-sama, and Hanabi-sama are, well, they've always paid attention and spoken to me before but it's more personal now if that makes any sense."

Sakura scrapped some errant color off his pinkie finger and smiled. She hummed and brushed some of his longer bangs back as they had fallen not to her liking.

"They know you're going through a lot right now and want to be there for you. It's sweet," Sakura said.

Neji inclined his head in agreement. She started on his left hand which was disappointing because now he could not eat popcorn.

"Kankuro's leaving tomorrow which is upsetting but he does have to go home. It would be easier for me to sort through my emotions with him not here but still. I like seeing him."

Sakura nodded in understanding.

"That just makes sense," Sakura said. "He's been nothing but kind to you and he's waiting for you. And he's a gentleman. It will be a lot easier for you to see if you really like him when he's gone though."

Neji hummed in agreement. He looked at the popcorn longingly and heard Sakura snort. She offered him a piece and he took it gently. Sakura laughed. He rolled his eyes at her. They had both forgotten about the movie but Neji did not think Sakura cared.

"Have you been sleeping okay?" Sakura asked.

Neji smirked and she gave him a look.

"Are you asking as a friend or as a med-nin?" Neji returned.

She rolled her eyes.

"Both," Sakura said.

Neji chuckled.

"I'm getting at least seven hours which is an accomplishment considering I have to be up before 4AM to get to the field by five. Last Friday helped a lot," Neji said.

"Which is why you're here now," Sakura told him.

Neji nodded in agreement and she finished with his nails. She giggled at him then handed him the bottle. Neji raised his eyebrows but shrugged and took her hand. She snickered as he began painting her nails.

"Does this mean I get to brush your hair too?" Neji jested.

"If you want to," Sakura teased.

Neji snorted. He finished painting her nails and she waved her hands lightly. They turned to the movie and Sakura sniffled over some crying in the rain scene. Neji pushed aside the thought of Shikamaru.

"I've always wanted to be kissed in the rain," Sakura said.

"It depends who it's with though," Neji said.

Sakura gave him a curious look. Neji shrugged.

"Shikamaru and I got caught in one of his cloud watching spots about four years ago when it was pouring and we were sitting close. My lips brushed his ear, I went to say sorry and he kissed me. We made out until the sun came out and things kind of went from there," Neji said.

"But it was nice?" Sakura said.

Neji inclined his head in agreement and tried not to think about it. Oddly he did but it was Kankuro kissing him in the rain, not Shikamaru. This made Neji blush which made Sakura ask what he had thought of.

"Ah, Kankuro replaced Shikamaru in my head," Neji admitted.

Sakura cooed at him. Neji huffed at her. She smirked.

"So, how did you and Kankuro start making out?"

Neji had never blushed so much in his life. He let out a breath and Sakura grinned at him.

"Don't tell me and I won't tell you how to get that nail polish off," Sakura said.

Neji raised and eyebrow at her then sighed. She laughed at him. Neji realized she was joking and smirked.

"He walked in on me after I showered once I woke up," Neji said. "He brought me to get some food and we talked about the Shikamaru and Temari thing. That's how I found out about it all. Anyway, he asked if I wanted to see his workshop and I said yes.

"You wouldn't believe the amount of stuff he has in there. God, he could make dozens of puppets and start selling them if he wanted. I started playing with one of the hands after he said I could then he decided to make it crawl on me. And, well, he scared me with one of the arms hanging from the ceiling and I sort of killed it."

"Killed it?"

"Mm, I used the Gentle Fist on it and broke it in three places."

Neji grinned as Sakura started laughing. She motioned for him to go on.

"He got up in front of me and asked if he could sketch me for puppet purposes. Looking back on it now he probably meant to ask me something else. I said yes and he started to set up, locked the door, and got me to stand in the corner where extra light was on. Then he said he needed to see my muscle structure in full."

Neji stopped when Sakura gaped then flushed. Neji noticed she was munching on the popcorn, completely ignoring the movie. She gave him a look to go on. Neji inclined his head.

"So I took off my clothes. He got up and started putting my hair behind my head then tied it up in a bun, saying it would get in the way. Then he went back to the chair and started sketching my front. He told me to turn around and I did. He stopped for about two minutes then came up and started running his hands over the scars on my back."

Sakura was completely enthralled. Neji almost laughed but knew she would punch him (hard) if he stopped now.

"He said I was well built, streamlined, and graceful then said something about knowing why Sai wanted to sketch me so badly. Then he kissed me."

Neji stopped, cheeks heating at the memory. Sakura giggled at him.

"Was it hot?" Sakura asked.

Neji gulped and nodded. She offered him the popcorn and he took it. He munched and continued on.

"He didn't even open his mouth but my god," Neji said and let out a long breath. "It was like he was trying to memorize my lips. When he pulled back I swear I almost fell over. I asked how many shinobi he had kissed when sketching them and he said only me. When I asked if that was why he brought me down there he said no but when he saw the look on my face before I picked up the hand, well, he changed his mind to "this." I asked what "this" was and he said whatever I wanted."

Sakura had stopped eating the popcorn and sat there with a hand halfway to her wide open mouth, popcorn in her fingers and her eyes popped open wide. She was scarcely breathing. Neji caught his chuckle then cleared his throat.

"So I kissed him."

Sakura gasped. Neji did laugh. She threw the popcorn in her hand at him. He batted it away and she laughed at him.

"Anyway, he guided me over to one of the worktables, swiped a bunch of stuff off then, well," Neji said.

Sakura went pink from the bottom of her neck to the top of her forehead. She shook her head to clear it then grinned at him. Neji chuckled and felt he was blushing. God that first time (and every time after) had been amazing. Neji played with the teddy bear in his lap and ate some more popcorn.

"That's so freaking hot," Sakura said.

Neji laughed.

"No I mean it! Like right out of a romantic movie," Sakura said.

Neji grinned. Sakura waved a hand in front of her face as if to cool off and Neji chuckled. Sakura giggled at him. Neji smiled wickedly at her and she blinked.

"So, what was your first kiss like?" Neji asked.

Sakura went beat red again and Neji laughed at her. She threw more popcorn at him and he knocked it away. Sakura rolled her eyes at him and he ate the popcorn off his sleeping bag then raised an eyebrow. Realization hit him and he blinked.

"You haven't been kissed yet?"

Neji stared when she huffed. He yelped when she dumped the popcorn over his head then stomped out of her room. Neji sat in stunned silence for several moments. He decided it probably best not to go after her and waited. Sakura came back after five minutes with the tub of ice cream and two spoons.

She stopped in her doorway, looking ready to yell at him then her lips twitched. She started laughing and Neji simply sat on his sleeping bag with the bear in his arms and covered in popcorn. He said nothing when Sakura put the ice cream down and snapped another picture.

"You're so socially inept it's kind of sad," Sakura said with a giggle.

She took the bowl off his head and started picking up the popcorn by making a scoop with her hands. Neji helped after a moment then they gave up because the ice cream would melt. Sakura sat in front of him, crossed legged and so close their knees almost touched. She opened the ice cream and handed him a spoon.

"No, I've never been kissed," Sakura said.

Neji hummed and decided he didn't mind the Caramel Cream. Heavenly Hash was better though.

"Will I get ice cream dumped on my head if I ask why?" Neji questioned.

She snorted at him. Neji ate another spoonful as did she and she seemed to think about a response.

"No, I don't think it'd be possible to dump ice cream on your head unless I put it in a bowl first. Plus it's a waste of ice cream. And your make up would run and your hair would get ruined. You just look too damned cute to do that to," Sakura replied.

Neji huffed. She giggled at him and they ate more ice cream.

"To answer your actual question: I don't know," Sakura said.

Neji tilted his head at her and she snickered before pulling a piece of popcorn out of his hair. He shook his head and a few more errant pieces fell out. Sakura giggled. He snorted.

"I don't understand," Neji said. "You're smart, a great shinobi, pretty, and have a good personality. You can be a bit frightening with that strength of yours but otherwise, who wouldn't want to kiss you?"

Sakura started at him with her spoon in her mouth and eyes wide for several moments. Neji enjoyed a few spoonfuls of ice cream before she got over whatever it was she had to get over. She shook her head and stared at him some more.

"If you weren't totally hooked on Kankuro then you'd be so attractive right now," Sakura said.

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I can be attractive and pining after someone," Neji said.

Sakura giggled at him and shook her head. Neji frowned, not pouting but knowing he was. She said nothing about his pout.

"I mean if you weren't into guys I'd be completely attracted to you right now in more than a 'wow he's really hot' sense," Sakura said.

Neji decided it best to nod as if he understood. This was one reason he preferred males. They were a bit more direct with their statements.

"Anyway, there are a lot of people who want to kiss me. I just don't like any of them," Sakura said.

Neji opened his mouth to ask her if she still wanted the traitor Sasuke but stopped and shook his head. She tilted hers in question. If he asked her that she would likely kick him out of her house (literally), hair done up, make-up still on, nails painted and all. That was not something he wanted anyone else to see.

"Well, that cannot be helped," Neji said. "You should like the person who kisses you."

Sakura grinned and nodded in agreement. Neji would have to remember not to mention his feelings on Sasuke to Sakura. It could end horribly and Neji had a feeling he would begin to like having these kinds of nights with Sakura.

"So, who wants to kiss you?" Neji questioned.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Lee, Naruto, some med-nins and yes I do mean some of the girls, a couple of chunin I don't even know," Sakura said.

Neji chuckled at her. They continued eating the ice cream. Damn. They were all ready a quarter of the way through the tub.

"Some of the female med-nins want to kiss you?"

She laughed.

"Yep. This coming from the guy who lets guys kiss him."

Sakura giggled when he rolled his eyes at her. She became serious after a moment and seemed to think about her next comment. Neji enjoyed more ice cream.

"Why don't you like girls?" Sakura asked.

Neji raised an eyebrow at her and shrugged.

"I never saw the appeal in liking women," Neji replied.

Sakura blinked then shook her head.

"What, breasts, kids, butts?" Sakura enquired.

Neji snorted and licked his spoon before going in for more ice cream. He was eating most of it but given the fact Sakura seemed to go with Ino's thought of skinnier was better he did not think it mattered much. Plus he rarely ate junk food and worked out enough one night of indulgence wouldn't matter.

"Breasts are balls of fat put in place to feed young. I've never understood what was so appealing about balls of fat, no offense to Choji of course."

Sakura smirked. He nodded and went on:

"Kids? Any child I have will be marked with a curse seal and frankly I don't want to subject my children to that. In the event Naruto does happen to change the Hyuuga clan even so, the whole concept of children is unappealing. Great, I get to pass on my genes but I've an entire clan to do the same so why do my particular genes matter? As for the whole drooling, crying, and diaper mess: I am not dealing with it, ever. Besides, having a child means someone I'll worry about every minute of every hour of every day of the rest of my life. I have enough people to worry about who are and aren't my blood. Frankly, it's not worth the hassle."

Sakura gaped. The ice cream she had on her spoon fell back into the tub. Neji ate some more before continuing.

"And butts? Please, my ass is better than yours."

This made her burst out laughing and Neji had to rescue the ice cream from her. She fell onto her back and Neji calmly ate ice cream as she laughed. She got back to her seated position and wiped her eyes before diving into the tub of ice cream.

"Okay, you got me there," Sakura said. "I can't believe you don't like kids though."

Neji shrugged.

"I've lived with enough children to know I don't like them," Neji returned.

Sakura chuckled. They both tensed when a knock came to her front door. Neji scowled at her and she gave him a look which made him gulp.

"I told everyone I was busy tonight and not to come over. Stay here. No one will get into this room," Sakura said.

Neji was touched as she stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed. He made sure her blinds were down then activated his Byakugan. He swallowed with a bit of difficulty when he saw who had entered Sakura's home.

Ino strode into the living area, talking to Sakura about what she was planning since she normally didn't spend a Friday night at home. Ino also asked why Sakura was in her pyjamas all ready and Sakura said she was tired from the long week and planning to watch a movie and turn in early.

This prompted Ino to start walking down the hallway, telling Sakura she had to get a life if she wanted to get Sasuke to notice her. Sakura grabbed Ino's arm and pushed the blond towards the living room again, saying she really was exhausted and didn't want to fall asleep when talking to Sasuke. Ino asked what was wrong with her.

Neji did not get the response as Sakura had turned her back towards him, likely on accident. Neji frowned as Sakura's head and body blocked out whatever Ino was saying. He watched as the two argued and finally Ino left with a wave of her hand. Sakura huffed and began walking back towards her room. Neji calmly ate the ice cream as he de-activated Byakugan.

"Jeez, she's so annoying sometimes," Sakura said.

She raised an eyebrow at him and snickered. Neji said nothing. She shut her bedroom door and settled in her prior position. She giggled at him again and shook her head.

"Sorry, sorry, you just look so un-Neji-like I can't help it," Sakura said.

"Mm, Ino?" Neji asked.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"She wanted me to go out because it's a Friday night. I tried telling her I was tired but she wasn't having it. Finally I told her to go away cuz I was on my rag and she took off. I can't say that next week," Sakura replied.

Neji shrugged.

"You could tell her you're helping a friend deal with some issues and Friday night happens to be the night we're both free," Neji said.

She stared at him in wonder. Neji kept his spoon in his mouth and blinked. She shook her head and rubbed her forehead.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Sakura questioned.

Neji smirked.

"Because women tend to make situations overly complicated," Neji answered.

She swatted him with her spoon and he laughed. She snickered and they went back to ice cream. The tub was half gone now. Neji didn't care. This was turning out to be less of a punishment for him than Sakura intended. So long as he did not tell her then all would be well.

"Where were you last night?"

Neji looked at Tenten who gave him a curious look. Neji shrugged. It was Saturday afternoon. He, Kuma, and Tenten were eating lunch in training field twenty-seven, the day after Neji's first "punishment" sleep-over on Friday.

"I was at Sakura's house talking over issues with her," Neji said.

Tenten blinked. A frown came to her face and Neji sighed.

"I would do the same with you but after I barged in on her two Fridays ago, took over her bed, made her have a rough day, and got her yelled at by her mom, she decided part of me owing her would be going to her house every Friday night for six months and letting her play with my hair. Turns out we talk a lot and eat ice cream. It's nothing against you," Neji said.

Tenten stared at him with a dropped jaw. Her sushi fell out of her chopsticks and into her bento box she was so stunned. Kuma started giggling uncontrollably. Neji continued on with his lunch as Tenten got over her shock.

"That's, that's, I don't even," Tenten tried.

Neji raised an eyebrow at her and she started laughing. Neji went back to his meal and ate calmly as Tenten and Kuma kept laughing at him. Kuma got over it first and sat up on her knees with a grin on her face.

"Please tell me she put your hair into pigtails," Kuma said.

Tenten hiccupped she was laughing so hard and Neji smirked.

"She did actually, braided them and tied them off in pink ribbons," Neji said.

Kuma rolled on the ground with laughter. Tenten stared at him then grinned.

"You're not kidding," Tenten said.

He shook his head. Tenten started laughing again. Neji continued eating as if this was an everyday occurrence.

"Oh my god, that's awesome," Tenten said.

"So this is every Friday night?" Kuma questioned.

Neji inclined his head. Kuma grinned. Tenten pursed her lips.

"For six months. I only get two free passes if I happen to be going out with Kankuro that night," Neji replied.

Kuma and Tenten kept chuckling. Neji was glad they found his so-called plight so amusing. He and Sakura had talked about many things. They had finished the tub of ice cream and started diving for popcorn on her floor, in his sleeping bag, and around the general vicinity of her room. They had not even thought of sleep until two in the morning. Neji hated to admit it but it had been fun.

"Wow," Tenten said.

"She's going to need a book of hairstyles," Kuma remarked.

Tenten rolled her eyes and waved her chopsticks at Kuma.

"She's got enough fashion magazines, I'm sure. Did you have fun, Neji?" Tenten asked.

Neji raised an eyebrow but nodded. Kuma giggled and Tenten grinned.

"Don't tell her that though," Neji said.

Tenten and Kuma promised likely because the thought of him enjoying his torture was too funny. Lunch was over within twenty more minutes and Neji watched as Tenten taught Kuma some tricks with throwing weapons. Kuma took to the tricks faster than Tenten or Neji had expected but Neji smiled.

When Kuma could finally control her chakra she would be able to summon weapons to her. Then Kuma's hand spins on one hand would be exceptionally deadly. Kankuro was right. No one would be able to beat his team once they were fully trained.

"Neji, let's spar," Tenten said.

Kuma nodded enthusiastically and Neji stood. Kuma sat beside the posts, grinning, as Neji and Tenten got into position. Neji lost himself in dodging flying steel then batting away her Bo. Kuma cheered for both of them in intervals and Neji could not help but grin. The fight ended when Neji got in behind Tenten, grabbed her Bo and pulled her against his body, choking her with her weapon as he did. She tapped and he let her go.

"Meanie," Tenten said.

Neji snorted. She sighed and looked around the field with her hands on her hips. She had unloaded at least two hundred weapons at him. Kuma began running around helping to gather them all. She watched intently when Tenten sealed them back into their proper places on her scrolls.

"That's so cool," Kuma said.

"And once you can control your chakra a bit better you will be learning how to do that," Neji reminded her.

Kuma grinned and hugged him. Neji chuckled and held her close for a minute. He caught Tenten smiling but said nothing. He and Kuma sparred while Tenten watched. They called it a day at sixteen hundred hours and Kuma took off towards the Inuzuka household. Neji looked to Tenten who chuckled at him.

"What?" Neji questioned.

"If someone had told me when I met you in seven years you'd have a genin team you're huggy with and would be having sleep overs where Sakura got to play with your hair I would've laughed in their faces," Tenten said.

Neji smirked at her but nodded in agreement. He would have closed every tenketsu point on the person's body for even thinking he would associate with Sakura and be hugging people. Neji said nothing as they began to walk away, heading wordlessly towards the main streets of Konoha where they would meet Guy-sensei and Lee in one of the many restaurants for their monthly team get-togethers.

"So, what'll it take for me to be invited to one of these sleep overs?" Tenten asked.

Neji shrugged.

"Ask Sakura. She's the one who promised me whatever goes on in the room will never be shared. I trust you to do the same without having to be asked," Neji said.

Tenten grinned and gave him a quick half-hug. Neji smiled softly at her and she giggled.

"Thanks. I'll do that," Tenten said.

Neji nodded and heard Guy-sensei and Lee before he spotted them. Tenten rolled her eyes and Neji chuckled at her. Life had become interesting for good reason and Neji hoped it stayed that way.

Reviews welcome, next chapter coming soon will be a second sleepover, this one with Tenten. ;)