Author's note: Yooooo!!! O-genki desu ka?! Hehehehe... I'm on fire now, although my brain is a little messy (like it used to!). Now... blame Toshiro Masuda again for creating The 'Fooling Mode' Song which drives me insane in a second. The song's so amusing... and I can't get my self to normal! Whatever normal means for me... I should've turn it off but... AAAAHHH!!! I LOVE THIS SONG!

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto!!! If I do, Gaara will have eyebrows! Ii ne?

Chapter 6

"You're OK, Ino, stop groaning already!" Shizune placed her hand to her hip. "Muscle spasm is normal if you overwork you feet!"

"IT HURTS!!!" Ino massaged her right foot immaturely. "Can't you see?! It's because… AH!! IT'S BECAUSE OF HIM!!! He made me run like mad!!"

Neji, who just walked in, arched his eyebrow. He took a glance at Ino and said curtly, "Good job."

She blinked. And a moment later exploded in her fury.

"NANNNIIIIIII????!!!! THAT'S ALL???!!!!!! AREN'T YOU GONNA APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MY FEET??!!!!"

"Hn."

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS 'HN' THING ANYWAY?!!! DON'T YOU DARE ACTING ALL COOL IN FRONT OF ME!!! You have to be responsible for what you've done to me! You have to ma… hey! No! WAIT!!! I said WAIT, NEJIIIIIIII!!!!!!! DON'T GO YET, YOU TORMENTER!!!"

"Shizune-san, I'll wait outside."

And he walked away. Ino exploded again.

"HYUUGA… NEJIIIIIII!!!!!!! I CURSE YOU!!!!!!"

Shizune sighed and said, "Well… I guess it's futile to ask a prodigy for apology. ANY prodigy."

...66666666...

Neji shrugged away, ignoring all the curses Ino launched at him. God… Is she having her period or what?

The Hyuuga Genius turned his gaze towards the opened hospital window. It was a very nice weather out side, with all the cliché things fully happened. (a/n: you know, birds are chirping, the breeze is blowing gently, sun is shining, etc. etc.) Neji touched his unhealed wounds, winced when he realized they were deep. He sat at the nearby bench, still gazing towards the window. What's Tenten doing now? Is she OK?

"Hora! There you are, Neji-san!"

Sakura walked gleefully towards him. He glanced at her, throwing a 'why-are-you-searching-for-me' look. Sakura stopped on her track, hands on her hip.

"Now, what's with that look!" she said with a fake anger. "I'm here to cure you, Neji-san! Don't be so tense."

"Hn."

Neji averted his gaze to the window again. He ignored Sakura as she crouched beside him, made her hand seals for the healing jutsu. Sakura gently placed her shining palm on top of Neji's wounded right arm, still kept her silence. She knew what all prodigies want to do in times like this: silence. Just guess from whom she learned that one.

"Where's Uchiha?"

"Sasuke-kun, you mean?"

"Hn."

Sakura smiled, now healing the wound on his stomach. A noise popped out in her head. Will Tenten be jealous? Naah, she's so open-minded and easy-going. She won't.

"He leaved after I finished his medication. To the Hyuuga mansion, I guess."

Neji closed his eyes. Sakura caught a distrustful expression on his face that exist in a split second before fading away. She raised her eyebrow but quickly returned to her duty when Neji opened his eyes again.

"Do you have a problem with it, Neji-san?"

Silent. Sakura moved to another wound, on Neji's left arm. She repeated, "Do you have problem with Sasuke-kun's status now? You see, as Hyuuga Hiashi's informant for anything about you and Tenten."

Neji touched the healed wound on his stomach and said, "If I said I don't, then I'll be lying."

"True," Sakura smiled, now moved her palms to Neji's back. "Move forward please, Neji-san. I'll cure your back."

Neji obeyed the younger shinobi. He soon felt Sakura's warm hand on his back, gently curing his injury. Being healed by Sakura was different than by Tenten. Sakura's Shosen no Jutsu1 was advanced, fully controlled, and careful while Tenten's was a little energetic but still gentle though and somehow, affectionate. Neji smirked a little. He remembered when Tsunade desperately tried to teach her the healing jutsu. Tenten was not a medic type after all. But she was a good potion creator, even Tsunade admit Tenten's ability on that part was better than Sakura's. She was smart, just like Sakura, and her analytical side gave some contribution in that part. So in the end, Tsunade gave up her hope of creating another medic nin after Sakura and Hinata—since Tenten has no 'extraordinary' chakra control, even near to reckless. Instead, she created a brand new potion maker that excels in potion and poison better than anyone else. Neji watched the cloud as he thinks about his girl. How many new poisons has she made? I forgot…

"Now, all done!"

Sakura lifted her hands from Neji's back. The prodigy snapped back to his consciousness and said, "Ah. Thank you."

Sakura watched absently as the prodigy slowly rose from his seat, eyes emotionless as usual. Her emerald orbs examined the prodigy's back as he walked away.

"Have you ever… talk to anyone else except Tenten about your feeling?"

Neji halted his movement. He glanced back from his shoulder and mumbled, "Why?"

"No… it's just…" Sakura looked out to the window, her eyes softened. "You know… even Sasuke-kun now beginning to open himself. Why don't you?"

"… and why… should I?"

"Humans can't live by their own. You know it, Neji-san."

"I… I'm not alone." Neji closed his eyes. Somehow the words sank to his heart deeper than what he thought. Sakura turned to look at him and smiled.

"Yeah. I see it. Tenten has done a great job in that part… demo…"

Neji opened his eyes again. He looked at Sakura, who continue to look outside.

"Neji-san, there's a hole that cannot be covered by the love of your soulmate alone."

"Hole?"

"Uh-huh," Sakura smiled towards him. "A hole that only friendship can covered."

"I guess I've heard that somewhere before," Neji glanced towards the door where Ino cursed him (she's still doing that!). "Still… what do you mean by that?"

"We want to be your friend, not only your ally," said Sakura softly. "Open yourself a little, Neji-san. Just a little approach… It will lighten your heart a little. You know, you're becoming so attached to Tenten to the point that it seems like you're so vulnerable when she's not around."

Neji frowned. "What in the…"

"No, no… I didn't mean you're weak! Not at all," Sakura laughed at Neji's fury. "You're strong, a prodigy. But your heart… Your heart… needs to be melted a little. I'm suggesting you to be close with others. So we'll get comfortable with each other, so we could defend Konoha together… protecting each other… Just like a family would do."

"Family…" Neji tilted his head downward. He smirked. "Huh… I forgot how it feels to have one."

"That's why, Neji-san," Sakura's gentle voice surprised him. "We're giving you the chance to grasp that again. We just… don't want to see you lonely anymore."

"Do… I?"

Sakura smiled. She touched Neji's side gently.

"Your attitude speaks louder that you mouth… or even your orbs."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Hmph," Sakura chuckled again. Neji folded his arms and said, "Stop being so mysterious to me. Answer it."

"I've told you, haven't I? I said… we just don't want to see you lonely anymore, as simple as that," Sakura grinned. "We're Konoha's shinobi. We're one just by being that. Don't want you to detach yourself from us, eh? Anyway the other reason is… hm, Tenten visited me the other night, looked rather emotional than usual."

Neji's eyes showed a flick of interest.

"And then?"

Sakura smiled.

"She said… 'will you give my boy a little chance just like what you have given me?'"

Neji went flabbergasted by the saying. He opened his mouth confusedly.

"?"

"And I said… 'we have.'"

"…"

Sakura looked at Neji gently.

"'He just didn't take it, that's all. But we don't mind giving him another chance.'"

Neji raised his eyes, looking directly in Sakura's green orbs. Her eyes showed acceptance and in some degree, amusement.

"You know what? A little chat does work. It seems like you take it after all."

...6666666...

"He refused again."

Sasuke clamped his mouth shut. His onyx eyes observing the Hyuuga clan leader silently.

"Yes, and he won't even listen to anything."

"He's so hard headed," Hyuuga Hiashi said exasperatedly. "I've told him marrying her will only worsen his position. She's an outsider! She will…"

"Does that a big matter, Hiashi-sama?" Sasuke suddenly cut off Hiashi's sentence. The Clan leader glared at him. "Neji wants to court her, that's all. What is the deal of she being an outsider?"

"The clan will be parted again, Uchiha!" Hiashi said rather furiously. "I just want the best for him and the clan! He can be a main family! If that happens before Hinata reached the age of 25, Neji will be my successor!"

"So what's your problem of having your own daughter Hinata as your successor?" said Sasuke darkly. "And what's so good about having Neji as the clan leader?"

"Well! Neji's far more talented than Hinata, you must admit!" Hiashi closed his eyes. "He also suited as a leader. Hinata's a girl after all… men does better than women in leading something. Anyway, it's his wish to be released from the seal, isn't it?"

"Yes, but not in that way," Sasuke said curtly. It was so cold that Hiashi lifted his eyes. "No, it's more like he wants to break his fate, not the seal. He wants to be free from this Main and Branch Family thing. So don't bother him about being a clan leader anymore. He forgets all about it now."

Hiashi looked at Sasuke warily.

"And why is that, Uchiha? You want to say that I'm wrong?"

"Neji knows what's best for him," Sasuke stood from his seat. "He choose Tenten, and he believed he's right. For once, Hiashi-sama… give him a chance to go against your liking. A person's personal choice will be more satisfying rather than other's choice because that person know what he or she wants. It's a huge possibility that if you keep pushing him, he won't be happy."

Hiashi eyed Sasuke closely and said, "You're on his side?"

"Hmph, I don't even like him, why should I? I'm just being rational. Just… think more clearly. Everything is alright as it is, Hiashi-sama. Hinata-sama is not as incapable as you think she is. She has gotten stronger in the last few years. You just haven't noticed yet. Nothing is wrong."

Hiashi closed his eyes. He said slowly, "Why… is this woman could attract that boy so intensely? Who is her name, once again?"

"Tenten, Hiashi-sama."

"Tenten… no surname?"

"No. She was born an orphan."

"No surname… and an orphan… what is her rank?"

"Jounin, A very skilled one. The only weapon mistress in Konoha and a potion expert. A very cheerful and kind young lady, which become is his teammate and sparring partner for years."

"But she has no qualification as a member in Hyuuga! She's not even a pure blood of some other prestigious clan! No surname! What is he thinking?!"

"She loved him."

"What?" Hiashi lifted his head. "Er… what did you say?"

"She loved him, and he loved her back," Sasuke folded his arms. He hated that word so much. Sakura will squeak if she hears him saying it. "It sounds cheesy but that's how it is. She get him out of loneliness."

Hiashi eyed Sasuke for a while and said slowly, "You said like you're experiencing it yourself…"

"I am," A faint smile danced on Sasuke's face. "I know how it feels to have someone take you out of the darkness. Tenten… released him from his cage."

Silence fell upon them. The two of them drowned in their own thought of the last sentence.

"You said… you want to grant Neji his freedom…" Sasuke's voice rose to the air. "Now that he has it… why do you want to take it back?"

...6666666666...

"Darn it… hik… my legs sucks," Ino gulped her fifth glass of booze. Sakura eyed her, grinning. "And Neji won't massage it! HAH!"

"Come on, Ino! Why would he bowed down in front of you and massage you feet?!" Sakura laughed heartily. "He has a topless pride!! The world will collapse if he does that! You know it's just wasting your energy!"

"I just… hik… think that maybe… hik…he'll be nicer," Ino took a bottle near her and filled her glass. "Sasuke-kun speaks more than him, you know… hik… Only Shino match his silence… hik… Sakura… hik… do you think… hik… he'll massage Tenten's feet?"

Sakura sipped her tequila. She smiled and said, "Yes, he will. Ino, you're drunk. Stop it already. It's still noon but you're already looked like a..."

"Na, naaa... Let me loosen up a bit, will ya?" Ino gulped another glass. "Chouji won't… hik… give me a damn… hik… chance… hik… to fill my self… hik…"

"Oh, geez…" Sakura watched her childhood friend desperately. "I know I shouldn't have invited you to the bar in the first place. Now I have to drag you home."

"Sakura."

Sakura quickly turned around. She knew whose voice is that.

"Hm, Sasuke-kun?" She pecked Sasuke's cheek. The Uchiha Genius gave her a warm smile in return. "What is it?"

"Neji-nii-san wants our help," Hinata suddenly appeared beside Sakura. She smiled casually. "He said… it's his personal issue… but he needs our help."

"That's… hik… unusual… hiccup!" BANG! Ino hit her head on the table when she hiccupped the last time. The mind-controller woman groaned, rubbed her head. "Damn… Hic… Table! HIK!! I'll… hic… KILL YOU!!!! HICCUP!!"

Bang!!!

"Ouch, Ino… my gosh… you really are drunk," Sakura tossed away Ino's glass. She looked at Hinata. "So… what does he want us to do?"

"It's simple, Sakura-san," Hinata smiled again. "He just… wants us to make sure his plan worked well tomorrow."

"Plan?"

"Yes," Hinata nodded shyly. "Now that Father already approved… he can work this one out. His plan… with Tenten."

1 Mystical Palm Technique

Author's Note: Sorry for spending a whole chapter only for this kind of rubbish. I just can't stop my hands from typing it, it just flow. Anyway, the next chapter will be filled with action. FINALLY!!!