"'Sup Neji"
The perpetually smiling blonde laughed. How he managed to say even that with his current ramen inhalation was a mystery. But then again nothing about Naruto was easy to figure out. One moment he was the dead-last, weak and useless, and the next he was tearing down the cage Neji had thought was impenetrable, the fate so inescapable a mere gossamer web of lies and denial.
But now was not time to reminisce, and if Neji wanted to get anything from Naruto short of buying Ichirakus for his personal lunch stand, he had to do some careful dropping of hints, and reminders of debt. Fortunately, Sakura was there, and any embarrassment on Naruto's part would cause him to cave quickly.
"I heard that the lake by the women's onsen is a great place to visit for some, ahhh, research, don't you think, Naruto?"
Today was a day of many firsts, it seemed, Naruto choking on ramen, Neji asking the now-hacking blonde for a favor, Tenten lying listless dontthinkaboutit and alone dontthinkaboutit humming a lullaby holding the useless rattle to her too-flat belly.
"Unless you want me to share that research, I would think-"
"Alright! Lets go!"
The blonde's proud statement, so familar, was marred by the furtive pink across his cheeks and the realization of only TWO bowls of ramen having been eaten. Sakura furrowed her brow at him but otherwise remained unsuspicious as they walked off. That would not last long if Naruto didn't cooperate. Neji smirked.
Hook
"Eh heh. I KNEW those pictures had disappeared somewhere but..."
Line
"I need you to teach me Sexy-No-Jutsu."
Sinker
*thump*
At times like these he would acknowledge that the copying abilities of the Sharingan is almost better than the Byakugan. Almost. And yet the look on Naruto's shocked face, the whisker-scars alternately turning red and white with shock and embarassement, was worth the fuss.
Though he'd never admit it.
Obviously.