A/N: To make up for the late update, I made a longer chapter this time. Actually, this chapter could be much longer. I divided it into two. Next one is not done yet.

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Chapter 6: Cookie Rumble I

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The sun had yet to rise, and most of Konoha was still asleep. However, on the main kitchen of the Hyuuga compound, a girl was darting here and there, simultaneously muttering and wrapping a handful of cookies in a square piece of cloth. Yesterday, after Team 8 finally finished baking the cake, it was completely devoured by Akamaru. Hinata felt bad about leaving Kiba and Shino with nothing, although the latter insisted that it was okay. With the extra ingredients, Hinata baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies, and sugarfree ones for Shino.

And maybe, she could give some to Sasuke, too.

As thanks, of course.

"Onee-san?*"

Hinata was startled out of her thoughts. Clad only in her pajamas, Hanabi stood at the kitchen doorway.

"H-Hanabi?! W-what are you doing up so early?"

The younger Hyuuga stifled a yawn. It was clear she had just woken up. "I should ask you the same thing, Nee-san."

Hinata flinched. She really couldn't tell Hanabi about her training sessions with Sasuke. He might get mad. It would hurt his pride after all. That he, the 'Legendary Uchiha', was being taught by the shy quiet Hinata Hyuuga was a great blow to his ego. But…

She couldn't lie either. Her sister would know right away. So what could she do?

"Nee-san? What are these bags for?" Hanabi pointed to the remaining bags Hinata still hadn't placed in the basket.

Quickly grabbing the opportunity to steer away from the previous question, she stuttered out a reply. "U-um… T-They're cookies I made for Kiba and Shino."

"Cookies?"

Hinata nodded. "Would… would you like some, Hanabi-chan? There are still some left. I put them in a jar. I could…"

"No, it's okay. I'll get some for myself later." Hanabi waved off the offer, taking out a glass from a cupboard. "I just came here for a glass of water."

"O-okay."

The younger Hyuuga walked across the kitchen to the sink, and paused.

Hinata blinked.

"I-is there something wrong?"

Hanabi raised her eyebrows and threw her sister a confused look as if she was expecting something.

"Shouldn't you be going now?"

"Eh?"

The younger Hyuuga shrugged, and then turned around pouring herself a glass of water. "You looked like you were in a hurry a while ago so I thought…"

Hinata froze.

She glanced at the clock. It read 6:17.

Eep!

She was late!

She was so occupied with Hanabi she didn't even notice she was that late already. Thoughts of Sasuke strangling her to death entered her mind, along with other terrible things he will do to her once she arrives at his place. It certainly won't be a pretty sight.

Hanabi watched as her sister scrambled across the kitchen grabbing the remaining bags of cookies and putting them in the basket. It was quite amusing really. Her sister did funny things sometimes.

Throwing a quick wave and a hurried "SeeyoulaterHanabichan!", Hinata went out in a sprint.

xXxXxXxXxXx

The Yamanaka flower shop was full of blooms and empty of customers. Ino was just cleaning up. The shop won't be open for another hour and she getting bored. She sat on the counter and twirled a lock of blond hair around her finger. Her eyes were blinking and feeling very heavy. She rubbed her eyes trying to fight the sleepiness away. The aroma of the flowers didn't help. A yawn later, her head dropped on the table with a thud. She fell asleep.

A series of soft snores escape her lips and she was dreaming of Sasuke and herself on the beach walking along the shore at sunset. It was the perfect setting, the perfect date, with the perfect man. He was saying sweet words to her, and she squealed in delight when he suddenly bent down on one knee and…

BANG!

Ino's head shot up.

"INNOOO~!!!!"

"Huh, wha-?" The blonde's eyes were still half-closed. She looked around rapidly for the source of disruption. A pink blob flew in front of her and she immediately knew who it was. Fully awake now, she glared at Sakura.

"This better be important, Forehead-girl. I was having the most wonderful dream and you just ruined it."

Sakura sighed. "If it's about Sasuke-kun, then you better forget about it."

"What?! No way!" The blonde slapped the table and stood up, glared at the pink-haired girl in front of her. "If you're just here to pick a fight then you-"

"I'm not, Ino."

There was complete seriousness in those words that, for a moment, Ino was taken aback speechless. She narrowed her eyes at Sakura. "What are you talking about? Why are you here?"

Sakura tugged a lock of her pink hair, and seemed like she was hesitating. A moment of silence passed, only confusing the blonde more and more. Suddenly, Ino couldn't take it any longer, but before she could utter a word, Sakura burst out screaming.

"INOOOOOO!!!!" The pink-haired girl wailed as she grabbed the shocked blonde by the shoulders.

"Sakura! Calm down! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Ino eyed the girl worriedly. Her screaming, thankfully, died down but her body was shaking. The poor girl was in tears and Ino still didn't know why.

"Sasuke… He…" Sakura was muttering something under her breath. Her voice was too low that the blonde had to lean closer to hear.

Straining her ears, she caught the end of one the sentences, and gasped.

"…date with Hinata."

xXxXxXxXxXx

"What're those?"

Hinata looked at Sasuke through bewildered eyes, holding up a small bag before him. She rechecked its contents and brought it to him again, raising an amused eyebrow this time.

"Uh, they're… cookies, Uchiha-san." She spoke to him in a voice as if he was a three-year-old child, which apparently unnerved him judging by the glare she was receiving. She tried to ignore it. She was lucky enough for not getting yelled at for her tardiness. Perhaps he was in a good mood..?

"You haven't seen cookies before?"

Sasuke grunted, a bit annoyed.

"Of course I have, idiot." It was Hinata's turn to glare. Sasuke snatched the bag of cookies from her. "What I meant was what kind of cookies?"

"Oh! They're chocolate chip." She watched him as he examined one cookie and took a bite. A satisfied smile lit up his face. She beamed. They were having a small break from training that morning, or rather, Sasuke got too frustrated with a technique he can't do and practically demanded a rest. She didn't have the energy to argue.

"They're good."

Hinata allowed herself a little boasting.

"I baked them yesterday after the cake I made with Kiba and Shino."

Sasuke paused in mid bite and stared at her as if she had grown an extra head or two. An eyebrow rose. She sighed.

"I can assure you that there are no ticks or any kind of bug in those cookies. Only I baked them. Kiba was too clumsy, and Shino… doesn't like sugar."

Deeming her explanation plausible, he popped another cookie in his mouth. Crumbs fell on his shirt as he chewed, and despite herself, Hinata found this very adorable. She bit her bottom lip to suppress a giggle.

After that episode with Naruto and the whole scene on the Hokage Monument, she learned to open up to him. At first she was a little reluctant. She still thought of him as very rude and intimidating, but inexplicably she found some comfort in him. Maybe it was because he was the first one there after Naruto's rejection. He was certainly nicer then, which had perplexed her for a while but thought nothing of it. She reasoned that Sasuke felt sympathy for her. After all, who wouldn't?

Everyone knew she had a crush for Naruto for years now. His rejection was not unexpected, but it didn't mean she was prepared for it. She was grateful Sasuke was there. Otherwise, she would have lost her mind right then.

Sasuke.

He was kinder to her now, even abandoned his death glares and snide comments, well, not completely, but reduced at least.

"Hyuuga."

She was startled out of her thoughts, her heart almost leapt to her mouth. She turned to face him. "Y-yes?"

"You can… leave now. The training's over for today." His eyes were not directed at her when he spoke, and his voice had a hint of an unfathomable emotion underneath its impassiveness.

"W-what? But we haven't even gone through all the basic techniques yet. You can't just-"

"I have another mission with my team today."

"Oh." Her heart sank, and she was baffled by it. Was it disappointment? About what? That her training with Sasuke would be cut off early?

She stifled a small laugh. Impossible. She was glad it ended early. At last, she could have a well-deserved rest.

She was relieved and happy.

Right?

xXxXxXxXxXx

Ichiraku's was brimming with customers, and bowls were almost running out, mainly because there was one customer who just kept going at it.

Beside an orange-clad blond-haired boy were fourteen empty bowls of ramen licked clean. An older white-haired masked man sitting beside him was morosely hugging his wallet, which was also apparently empty.

"Hey, Naruto, when I said I'd treat you to lunch, I didn't mean getting me broke."

It was useless. His student wasn't listening. His attention was completely centered on his food.

Kakashi sighed. He'd try a different tactic.

"You don't seem like your usual self…" Naruto was still slurping away, ignoring him. "Girl problems?"

Spuuurt!

Hm, it worked.

The blonde wiped off the noodles that got onto his shirt, muttering a string of curse words like "!#$ sensei! Why couldn't he just #$%ing keep his $% mouth shut?! %&$#!!"

Kakashi coughed.

"So it's true?"

Naruto shot him a glare that could rival Sasuke's. Speaking of which…

There he is now.

"Yo, Sasuke!" Kakashi waved him over, and the boy reluctantly approached.

Before the dark-haired could reach them, Naruto was up on his feet. He thanked his teacher and started to leave. Kakashi grabbed him by the back of his jump suit.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I-oof-I just want to-ugh-Would you please let go?!"

Kakashi shrugged. "If you say so."

He released his hold, which sent Naruto flying and onto the ground. The blonde scrambled to his feet and ran off.

"What's up with him?" Sasuke spoke up behind Kakashi.

"Don't know. You tell me."

The dark-haired boy merely grunted and took Naruto's previously occupied seat. Something was obviously bothering the team. Kakashi already had an inkling of what it might be, but he couldn't be too sure. He already missed his chance with Naruto, but he wouldn't let this one go to waste.

"Seriously, Sasuke, I need to know."

"Hn."

Kakashi sighed. "That's not an answer."

"Hn."

"Really, that's irritating."

"Hn."

He resisted the urge to kill his student right then and there. He must figure out a way to make the boy confess. Knowing the Uchiha, he'd probably need Ibiki to do that. But right now, he had to at least try. He could always try that tactic again.

"Girl problems?"

Twitch.

Ha! Works every time.

"So who is it?"

Twitch. Twitch.

"Let me guess. From your unusual behavior yesterday, I guess it could only be…" Kakashi tapped his chin with his index finger pretending to think. "Ah!"

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

"…Hinata?"

TwitchTwitchTwitchTwitchTwitchTwitch-Crack-

"Uh, Sasuke, please let go of the bowl. You might break it."

Black eyes narrowed at him like daggers cutting through the air.

"Now, now, Sasuke-kun. No need to hide it. You like her, don't you?"

"Che."

Kakashi smiled to himself. The boy wouldn't openly admit it, yet. But it was clear that he liked the Hyuuga. "So how bad is it?"

Sasuke ordered a bowl of ramen to keep from responding. Kakashi smirked.

Oh, he was in loooove!

"That bad huh?" No response. He contemplated for a second, and then took something out from his pocket. "I can lend you some pointers if you want." He tapped the little orange book he just pulled out.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow unbelievingly.

"There are some really cool ways on how to impress girls in it."

Ignored.

"Oh, come on. It isn't that bad."

Sasuke paid up for the food and turned to leave, completely ignoring his teacher.

"I'm assuming you have plans on how to get Hinata then."

Almost immediately, the dark-haired boy stopped in his tracks, rigid.

Kakashi's smirk widened, and watched as Sasuke walked back, snatched the little orange book, and then turned back again to leave, still ignoring his teacher's gigantic smirk.

"Just remember to give it back to me on Monday!"

oOoOoOoOo

A/N: "Onee-san" - big sister

A hint to the plot: Sasuke is a big liar. Go figure.

What is Sasuke going to do with that book? Oh my!

There's still a Shino scene next chapter. Heehee.

Review please? With sugar on top? (Shino: "NO SUGAR!")