Author: aFigureOfSpeech

Title: Conflicting Chaos – Chapter 9

Word Count: 1,335

Pairing: NejixSakuraxKiba

Rating: T (for mild swearing, some suggestive situations, minor alcohol)

Summary: When Naruto manages to get Neji mad at him, Sakura helps Naruto, but in the process she hurts Neji's pride. Now he's out for revenge, but it may not turn out how he expected. Especially when Tsunade has plans of her own and Kiba's not going down without a fight. NejiSakuKiba

Disclaimer: Okay, you know what! I own Naruto! There, I said it! Ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha, ah-ha- /suddenly screams/ Get away from me! NO! Stay away! I didn't mean it! Really, I didn- no, not the lawsuit, not the lawsuit! …Yeah, I gotta go now. SOME people /glares pointedly at nasty mean scary people in suits/ can't take a joke. Don't worry, I'll be back soon. They can't keep me for long. Till then, enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 9: Failed Apologies and New Pets

The next morning was a flurry of activities: Naruto was avidly searching for some misplaced items (who knows what), Kiba was gathering his belongings with Akamaru, Hinata was trying to help Naruto find whatever it was that he was looking for, Tenten was thinking of ways to hook up Sakura, Sakura herself was avoiding contact with Neji and Neji was avoiding contact with any life forms whatsoever (a difficult feat in a small campsite). Just an average morning.

Tenten had told Neji that the best and quickest way to win forgiveness from Sakura was apologizing. While it wouldn't win her heart, it was a good start. Neji sighed. If only he knew how one went about apologizing. Of course, he knew what to say (Tenten had explained it to him), but it was actually saying it that could be a problem. He hoped it would be worth it.

The other problem was that Sakura was avoiding him. Sure, at the moment he was avoiding her as well (it worked out quite nicely), but when he was actually prepared to do that thing that he never, ever did, it would be made much more difficult if she wouldn't even listen. Tenten had promised to think of something, but so far he didn't know if she had. Still, they had the entire day of traveling to work on it. The only problem was that they should be reaching their destination in a few hours. If all ran smoothly, they could finish up that day and could start heading back.

Of course, if Tenten didn't think of something, he could always find that rock.

……………………

As Neji had predicted, they reached the alleged site of the disturbances within a few hours. They had scouted the entire area, each in their own section, and had all returned to the day's chosen camp site. Well, all except Naruto. They were still waiting for him to show up.

Neji himself had come up with about as much as they had found: nada, zilch, and a whole whopping lot of nothing. Luckily, Tenten had thought of something, but that gave him mixed feelings: exuberant that they now had a plan, and angry that she was the one who thought of it (it hurt his already sorely mangled pride). Neji recalled what Tenten had said earlier.

"Don't worry Neji," she had told him. "All you need to do is say two little words. I'll take care of the rest."

Tch, yeah. Easy for her to say.

……………………

"Oh Sakura-chaaaan," came a voice to Sakura's ears. She sighed.

"Okay Tenten, what do you want?" she asked.

What makes you think I want something?" Tenten said in a mock-offended tone.

"Because you said my name in a sing-song voice and with '-chan' attached to the end. What do you want?"

"Oh fine. I know when I'm found out," she said. "All I want is am itty-bitty favor."

"I knew it!"

"Come on, pleeeeeease?" Tenten begged.

"Alright, alright. What's the favor?" Sakura conceded.

"Would you go talk to Neji please?" There was a beat of silence. Tenten silently counted. 'Three, two, one…'

"No way in hell!" Right on cue.

"Aww, come on Sakura-chan, you have to!" Tenten whined at her friend.

"Give me one good reason why I should!" exclaimed Sakura.

"Alright," said Tenten with a triumphant grin. "Because you already said you would, and you can't go back on your word."

Sakura contemplated this for a moment, trying to find some sort of obscure loophole. "Damn." There was none to be found. That hadn't worked out. "How could you do this to me?" she demanded her so-called friend.

"Oh, just go." Tenten turned Sakura in the right direction and gave her a little push.

"I'll get you for this Tenten," Sakura said with a glare that would have made any Hyuuga proud. Tenten only snorted. She had practically grown up with Neji, and therefore was immune to such glares. "You just wait."

"Yeah, yeah, sure, Sakura-chan, Tenten said. "Now, get a move on."

……………………

With the help of his Byakugan, Neji watched as Tenten 'persuaded' Sakura. 'Hey, why can't I ever do that?' he wondered vaguely, but snapped to attention as he saw the unknowing keeper of his heart approach, grumbling quietly to herself. He hadn't felt this nervous since, well, since the previous evening when he realized he wasn't the only one in their group housing affections for Sakura. Just as she reached the entrance of his tent, the familiar voice of a certain loud-mouthed, hyper-active, annoying blond could be heard.

"Sakura-chan! Sakura-chaaaan! I need you!"

Neji could have killed Naruto just then.

……………………

Sakura could have hugged Naruto just then.

"What is it, Naruto?" she asked him, moving away from Neji's tent with little remorse. She thought for a moment she heard something suspiciously like swearing from said tent, but dismissed it as her imagination.

"Look here," he said, revealing the thing he had been holding close to his chest. Kiba, Hinata, and Tenten also gathered around. "I found this little guy on my way back, and I think it's hurt. It's definitely unconscious, anyway. Can you help it?"

"Here, give it to me." Sakura gently lifted the dark brown squirrel from Naruto's arms. She moved to the fire and set it down. The others followed close behind.

"Will it be alright?"

"No worries." Sakura smiled. "It'll be fine, I'm sure. Now, I'm going to need everyone's help." They snapped to attention. "Tenten, grab a cloth or towels or something. Hinata, get my medical kit. Naruto, I'll need some fresh water. Kiba, see if you can't find something for it to eat. Akamaru, you can help Kiba." They all quickly went to their respective jobs.

Sakura sighed. She didn't expect to get to sleep anytime soon.

……………………

Sakura was awakened by something tickling her nose. She opened her eyes to find a furry blob in front of her face. Apparently the squirrel, which she had brought into her tent when she went to sleep, was now awake and busy investigating her face. Upon seeing her stir however, the bushy-tailed critter in front of her quickly moved away, crouching and quivering.

"There there little one," she whispered comfortingly. "No one's going to hurt you." She slowly reached her hand out, until it came close enough for her to pet the little creature. It flinched but otherwise didn't move. Still moving slowly, she picked up the squirrel, all the while speaking to it in a calm, soothing voice.

"It's alright," she told it as she gently stroked the furry back. She felt it relax until in began its investigations again. She giggled slightly; the sharp little claws and whiskery nose tickled. Remembering the food found by Kiba that she had also brought with her, Sakura set the creature down and reached behind her. Settling herself back down so that the squirrel lay near her stomach, Sakura offered it a nut. It accepted and happily crunched away. She smiled, watching it. After a few more nuts, the creature also settled down, curling up next to her with its tail over its nose. This was the last thing she saw as sleep enveloped her once more.

……………………

As Sakura soon discovered, the squirrel she had healed seemed to have developed a close attachment to her. It rarely left her side, or rather, her shoulder. It would sit there the entire day, its tail wrapped around her neck like a furry boa. If anyone besides herself came too close or tried to pet it, it would hide in Sakura's just-longer-than-shoulder-length hair.

"What are you going to call it?" asked Tenten, peering at the timid creature.

"Hmmm," Sakura thought aloud. "How about…" She paused, thinking. "Cocoa?"

"Cocoa?" said Naruto, deciding to join in on the conversation. "Why Cocoa?"

"Cocoa, as in cocoa beans," Sakura replied, "which are used to make chocolate, the greatest thing ever made by man. Plus, it's dark brown, like cocoa."

"Ohhhhhhh," said Naruto in understanding.

A/N: Hm, definitely not much going on in that chapter. How disappointing. Well, except for the new PET!! I've just been dying to have one. Squirrels are so adorable! - And now, time for a completely random spazing: EEK! PET! ((glomps said unfortunate critter)) Though, now that I think about it, this pet doesn't serve a very big purpose. It's more of a 'on a whim' type thing. Buuuut, it does have it's own little gimmick, and who knows? Maybe I will come up with some big role for it. Who knows?