04. In this darkness II

The teachers were enjoying themselves when the light was suddenly out. Tsunade didn't like this because one: Jiraiya could try something perverted with her and two: this will be a huge scandal if the press writes something like this.

Before the blackout, she was slow dancing with Jiraiya, sometimes talking about school business or Jiraiya would tell her funny things that he found when he travels. She found that Jiraiya is a traveler when his school is out. He told her it was 'researching' for his inner-self. Yeah, right…It was a time he took to watch innocent girls in the hot springs so he could add a little 'spice' in his perverted book.

It turned that the teachers were slowly enjoying each other companies slowly. Shizune would complain that Kakashi wasn't giving her much attention, so she left to find another person to dance. Gai had his arms wide open for her, but she decided to pass the opportunity.

"What is the meaning of this whole mess?" Tsunade yelled at Jiraiya when the lights were off. "I want the light back! Now!" She yelled some more. Jiraiya had his ears covered by his hands. He hated when the woman shouted. It was her only flaw.

"Kurenaiii! Go and turn the light again!" Tsunade shouted at Kurenai who was dancing with Asuma. "I don't know where the light power is!" She shouted back. "Then get someone from the Inn! I'll not repeat myself!" Tsunade yelled again. Kurenai just sighed and did as told.

She got someone from the kitchen to help her out. The power wasn't far from the room, so it was an easy task. She, being the multiple-skilled woman she was, got the cables again and in its right place just fine. The person didn't think carefully. The cables were just tangled, so all she needed to do was some un-tangle.

Now, with the light on, she could hear music again. It seemed like the DJ liked some slow music after all. She could see hard blushing girls and fan-girls glaring at some couples and making curses for something to happen.

She posed to the camera man while he said it was for the school news. She didn't believe, of course. Not that she thinks highly of herself but she was great looking. Any man would love to have a picture of her. Ok, so she has a huge ego. So what?

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"Anyone you think could do this mess?" Tsunade asked Jiraiya while they eyed the room. It was as nothing happened. The couples were still the same as when the rotating dance started. Nothing out of place.

"Actually I can only think of someone…" He told her, "Yo! Naruto, come here!" Jiraiya said motioning to his student to come closer. Naruto eyed him suspiciously but went to find what his principal wanted anyway.

Naruto greeted Jiraiya and bowed politely at Tsunade, whom just eyed him slightly angry. Naruto, seeing this, glared back. "What, ma'am?" He asked nervous and angry. She was judging him by his appearance? Isn't she mature?

"Why did you do it?" She asked straight. Naruto blinked once…then again. "Do what?" He asked. "Don't play innocent with me; I know it was you who caused the blackout!" She hissed trying not to shout. If the press hears this, they'd be in trouble.

"What? Me? Are you insane, old hag?" He asked her. Tsunade clenched her fists and was about to slap the annoying kid when Jiraiya coughed. "I think that it's not moral to do that, Tsunade. Especially right now…We get out of here and we talk," he said motioning for the two to follow him.

They walked until the cafeteria came in view. They sat and Jiraiya started to talk because Tsunade would surely slap Naruto. "Now Naruto…If it wasn't you, then do you know who it was?" He asked while asking for a drink to one of the Inn employer.

Naruto nodded. "Who, Naruto." Jiraiya said loosing his patience. "Sasuke and the other guys," Naruto replied while fixing his tuxedo. Jiraiya gave an impatient sigh. "Naruto…You are old enough not to blame people. I know that Sasuke would never do that. He's an anti-social. And besides, he can't think that far," Jiraiya said scowling at him.

"But it was Shikamaru whom planned!" Naruto argued. He got the feeling that Jiraiya wouldn't believe him…Always protecting (rich) perfect Sasuke-teme. "I knew you don't like Sasuke…But blaming on Shikamaru? The guy doesn't like to think, for God's sake!" Jiraiya argued back.

"But its true! Neji was involved as well!" Naruto shouted. He was mad. How could he not believe him? He only lied when he didn't do the essays. "Neji? As in Hyuuga Neji? Naruto, that's absurd! Neji is the guy who only eats when the cafeteria is empty!"

"Why would I do that?" Naruto asked, hotly. "Because you wanted to dance with Hinata," Tsunade replied. "If I knew any better, you are only looking for her properties. You might know that she's the heir of a huge company," she said matter-of-fact.

"But she's only a friend!" Naruto glared. "If you say so…" Tsunade said, not believing a word he said. Naruto glared at both of them and then stormed of. The teachers looked at each other then at the retreating form of Naruto.

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Jiraiya always believed him. What changed today? Every time he lied about something he would apologize. Jiraiya was almost his uncle. How could he take side with the old hag? It was Sasuke's fault. Just because Sasuke had the best grades and his own fan-girls didn't mean he wasn't a boy who liked pretty girls.

Naruto went back to the dancing room trying to find Hinata and apologize. He wasn't in the mood. While he was walking, he got past Sasuke, whom was slow dancing with…Sakura-chan! He got angrier.

He walked to the couple, pushed them apart then with his right hand gave Sasuke a punch right in his cheek. Naruto then glared and walked away. Sakura just looked puzzled and Sasuke glared holes into Naruto's back.

That felt great…Naruto thought, now grinning. He knew that if the truth didn't appear now, it would later. He found Hinata seated next to the table. She looked nervous and was twitching her hands.

"Hinata-chaan!" He called her with his trademark foxy grin. She looked at him and smiled in relief. She ran toward him and asked what happened. He told her what happened between the teacher's and him and how he punched Sasuke. Hinata was worried because Tsunade wouldn't leave the case just that way.

"What just happened to him?" Sakura asked, concert in her eyes. "Stupid idiot…" Sasuke mumbled, caressing his cheek. When did the idiot learn to hit so hard? He was thinking.

"Maybe Jiraiya thought it was him who caused the blackout," Sasuke grinned. Sakura frowned at him. "It's not funny, Sasuke-kun…It wasn't his fault," she said. Sasuke glare at her. "What are you doing? You promised you wouldn't tell a soul," he spat. "Well, Naruto's my friend," she told him angrily. "And aren't you my friend?" He asked her, daring.

"You got yourself confused there, Uchiha. I only befriend people who think about each other, not self centered jerk asshole people," she answered hotly. "And I don't like wannabe with long unusual pink hair!" He shouted at her.

He saw her eyes forming tears, but he was angry to function and apologize. She turned, leaving him there with a red spot in his cheek. If he compared the punch's pain and the pain of being left alone, he would say that being alone is the worst ever.

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"Neji…Did you see what happened?" Tenten asked him while they still danced. When the blackout happened, she and Neji had been arguing who was the best karate fighter. Tenten insisted that it was the one who won some championship in town and he would say it was someone from his house. "What happened?" he asked bored. It was so damn annoying the way those cameraman would record them.

"With Sakura…" She said referring to the discussion Sakura and Sasuke were having. "So…?" He asked. "She's my friend Neji!" Tenten told him worried. "You are leaving me here?" He asked a little angry. No one dared to leave him. "You said when we arrived we would separate! What's different now?" she asked glaring at him removing from his embrace. "Cameras," He answered simply, wishing he could embrace her again. But it was embarrassing to do that when she was the one who removed herself.

"Then come with me!" Tenten pleaded, looking at him hoping he would agree. "It would seem like we are running from this," he answered with those silver eyes that showed no emotion. "But its just like that! Please, Neji! She's my friend," she grabbed his hand trying to make a romantic scene with the whole mess they were sharing. "But not mine," he told her.

Tenten was mad. She thought he was a jerk, yes. But also a gentleman.

"Then I leave. I had a great time, but I must see my friend!" She yelled at him. How she wished she could slap him, hard and leave a permanent mark on his body. She turned and left, but not without whispering in his ear "You'll regret it. I hope you have fun with your fan-girls," she said, hatred obviously in her voice.

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"Ino…shouldn't you go with Sakura?" Shikamaru asked. Ino nodded, gave him a little goodbye peck on his cheek and left.

Ino and Tenten met in the corridors and nodded to each other. Something was wrong with their friend. If something happened to her, then someone would pay. Dearly.

They found Hinata and Naruto knocking on their room door. Hinata was shouting for her to open up. "She didn't…" Ino started, "lock herself, did she?" Tenten asked, worry taking her senses. Hinata only nodded and looked down, almost sobbing.

"Forehead-girl! Open up this fucking door right now!" Ino shouted. "Make me, Ino-PIG! (sobs)" They heard from the other side of the door. At least they knew she was ok.

"Sakura, I'm!" Ino said while kicking hard the door, making it crack with Naruto's help. They saw Sakura crying looking at the mirror with a scissor in her hair, cutting her long pink hair. "What the fck do you think you are doing, bitch? Trying to get killed?" Ino shouted at her, taking the scissor away from Sakura.

Sakura covered her ears still crying, trying to answer.

"He…he said I'm a…a wannabe with long pink unusual…hair" Sakura said crying harder. "Shhh, Sakura…It will be fine," Tenten told her, trying to comfort her friend, already planning the death of the big time asshole: Uchiha Sasuke-teme.

"Then you are doing what he want," Hinata said cleaning her tears. They looked at her, eyes telling her to explain better. "I think he said it indirectly, not noticing…But the fact is; when he sees you with short hair, he'll realize you cut it because he told you that and he'll have something to tease you," she told her. Sakura understood and cried again, thinking how she could have been so stupid.

"Sakura-chan…Don't cry for that bastard. I'll talk to him," Naruto, who was only watching, said. He then left, with clenched fist.

The girls stayed all night talking with Sakura to know what happened and when she was fine, Ino fixed her hair, cutting it in its right size; short-ish but with Sakura's sparkle. And then they gossiped about the night with each jerk (whom they enjoyed until the happened).

Naruto tried to find Sasuke all night, but couldn't find the bastard in any place and his 'friends' didn't know either. Naruto was more mad than jealous. Sasuke-teme was dancing with Sakura-chan…But he was angrier because he was blamed with no good reason. And Jiraiya didn't believe him.

He liked Sakura-chan, yes…But it was a different liking from all those girls he flirts. He becomes overprotective and jealous whenever another guy besides his friends got near her. Was this what people call crush? If then, he'd have to not be suspicious but also think of her happiness.

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What possessed him to tell her that? He was enjoying her company and the no-music dance they shared in the dark. So why?

Sasuke was in Shikamaru's bed when Naruto barged in their room asking where he was. He pretended to be asleep and it worked because Naruto left apologizing. He then went to think on his bed.

He wanted to go and apologize but he reasoned why now if he didn't do it before, when she left crying. He felt so stupid right now. He was damn sure that her friends would kill him.

He saw Neji walking to his bed cussing something about 'damn girls and their annoying voices' and something like 'stupid girl, leaving me there…ptfff if she wanted…if she wanted'. Sasuke thought he was dead drunk, but when Neji could undress himself and ask Sasuke if he was gay, he knew Neji was fine.

Shikamaru came shortly after, saying that the dancing room became a making-out room because the cameramen left to publish the article for tomorrow or some rubbish about that and that the staff left to do whatever.

With thoughts not so organized, Sasuke decided to ignore her and her friends. Now he could sleep without a high-guilty conscience.

SCHOOLS HAVE NO CONTROL WHAT-SO-EVER

Private party of boarding school had gone wrong (by E.)

The party officially started at nine in the Konoha Inn ballroom. It's said that Konoha Inn is five stars, but now we know that the guests who stay there aren't. The DJ was doing a great job by changing songs with the young teens there.

When the rotating dance started, which was an amazing idea, a blackout happened. Something the staff didn't see, because Hokage Tsunade, White Lily Boarding All Girls School principal, was shouting and making assumptions about who could be the cause of such a thing. Jiraiya, the Boys Boarding School principal, was trying to get things in order and to get the party back. Again, we notice that Jiraiya is someone who has standards and doesn't shout at staff members.

After the happening, everything became normal, with Jiraiya's help, and the teens could enjoy themselves.

(insert photo with the rotating dance here)

Another thing that was really surprising is that Hyuuga Neji appeared with a young lady, whose name is unknown. They stayed together until the young lady left Neji, shouting something at him. The young lady seemed really mad. Isn't Hyuuga Neji treating a woman right? Must Hyuuga Hiashi, ruler of all Hyuuga Empire&Company, watch for his nephew?

(insert photo with Neji and Tenten dancing here)

Besides that, both boarding school are enjoying themselves at the Inn until the socialize program finish, leaving friends and memories.

(insert random photos from the party here)

"So…Can you find who wrote this damn article?" Tsunade asked Jiraiya in the next morning, when she saw what they wrote about the schools. "Why…? It'll seem you do have press problems," Jiraiya replied eating. "I want to know who wrote it," she told him violently, making Jiraiya nod. "Also find me Sakura," Tsunade told him.

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"Sakura, my sunshine of youth!" Lee shouted at Sakura when he saw her coming to breakfast. "What happened to your beautiful mermaid heavenly hair? It was the best of spring!" He told her, trying to give her a hug. "I – err…" She tried saying something without hurting his feelings. Just as if someone heard her praying, Jiraiya called her.

"Yes?" She asked relieved that she didn't lie to Lee… "Tsunade-hime asked you to meet her now," He said emphasizing the now. She nodded and went to find her principal.

"Yes, Tsunade?" She asked, relaxing in a chair besides her principal. "What happened, Sakura? I don't want to be left out of a thing," She told her pupil, demanding to know. "I – I ummm" Sakura tried saying something but kept remembering that she promised Sasuke-kun she wouldn't tell.

"I liked your hair longer," Tsunade said seeing her student discomfort. "I…Well, I needed a change," Sakura told her smiling. She also liked her hair long, but it didn't seem bad after Ino cut it. "Why now?" She heard Tsunade asking again. Sakura lowered her head, trying really hard not to cry and look pathetic.

The minutes of silence were unbearable for Sakura. Tsunade didn't seem to mind but she knew that her principal's patient was low. "I promised I wouldn't tell…But I can guarantee you it wasn't Naruto," She spoke softly. Tsunade just looked at her student then nodded. "When you feel you can tell me, I'll always be waiting to listen," Tsunade said with a smile to which Sakura replied with a huge caring smile.

"Now Sakura…What do you think of a friendly competition with the other school?"

A/N: Thanks for those who reviewed. I feel really special (hugs you all) but guilty. Sorry for taking a while to update. I was just being lazy to write, sorry. I'll try to not let it happen again.

Thanks for those who reviewed. I feel really special (hugs you all) but guilty. for taking a to update. I was just being lazy to write, sorry. I'll try to not let it happen again.

Reason: The characters are 17 or either 18 years old and in that age people do swear. Like Ino is loud-mouthed and bossy, she should speak lots of swearing. Also Tenten, who's tomboy-ish and the boys as well (if you watch the anime with subtitles, you'll see they do curse). Maybe even Sakura if she's really annoyed.

There won't be a lot of swearing, but I'm just making sure!

Thank-u for the support (I'll try to review in your fic!)

Senx2, moonlightpath, Dark Angelic Kitty, lunarangel, becky, Aitashiaku-kawaiiSasuSakuAi, MisSs005, Appleiam, ToMoYo129, NaruHina113, Saku-iimoto, Ayuka-chan, Mrs.Uchiha, RedLotusNin and IceHunterNin, v son sayian, ligice76, animeforever24, yin vs yang, pei-chan, Hell Knight 27, fallendreamer, KaiKaiCutie

TriGemini - to tell you the truth, you are my fav reviewer. I am always waiting for your review; you always know what to say. Thanks. The couple will be getting together slowly but good. This chap had a little 180 turn but they'll be together, I'll make sure.

animefreak-shinobi - hey, sometimes there must be a moment between the couple to have a twist xD did you like it?

twighlight16 - agreed with KakashiShizune…but ppl like KakaKurenai, but I'm not pairing him with her. I'm an AsumaKurenai fan.

Ruriko89 - err – cute? blushes and look away not really xD.

Kawaii-Hisui - what don't you get?

80reviews already? Thanks!