After the kiss between Neji and Sakura everyone went off in groups of two, mainly couples but Kiba stayed with Shino, while scouring for any girls to hang with later that night. Gaara was with Naruto and Hinata, Naruto was trying to get the two to talk to each other, and surprisingly Hinata did without stuttering!

Lee took Ten-ten down to the lake to watch the stars with him; Ten-ten obliged happy to forget about her other teammate for a little while and spend time with someone who also got their heartbroken tonight.

"Hey Lee did you ever know about it?" she asked him looking at him with clear slightly hurt eyes.

Lee shock his head slightly upset about losing his first love, "No, and I was never able to catch it in his eyes before. But in a way I'm sort of relieved, it means that Sakura has moved past Sasuke and is willing to open up to other possibilities for dating. The only thing I don't want to worry about is Sakura comparing Neji to Sasuke. Although I suppose in some ways they are alike, although I would never say that to Neji because that would not be kind; truly there is only one thing I believe that Neji has and Sasuke lacks," Ten-ten looked at him with clear eyes and a look of shock on her face, When did he start looking at things like this? He hasn't even brought up 'youth' or springtime yet, she thought before listening to him again, "The only thing he lacks for sure; is a heart. He does not see us as equals but as obstacles or something that isn't even worth his time."

She nodded her head and looked out at the lake again, "That is true, usually it takes something or someone to knock some sense into you and make you realize that everyone should be treated as equals and not junk. For Neji it was when Naruto beat him during the Chuunin exams and even though Naruto didn't become a chuunin he has something a lot of people lack, it's hard to put my finger on it but Naruto is definitely the kind who draws people to him. I mean remember when we first met him; he was such a loudmouth, and he was so hyper he was basically bouncing off the walls. Although now it seems as though he's a bit calmer and level headed, but at the same time he's still the dobe we all know and love; right Lee?" Ten-ten asked him smiling at him with her big brown eyes glittering in the moonlight like amber.

"Yeah that's for sure," Lee acknowledged smiling at her, not one of his big smiles but one from the heart. "Hey Ten-ten, you wanna go try some of the food? I hear their giving out free samples, come on my treat." Lee asked as he stood up and offered her his hand; she took it gratefully letting him lead the way like a gentleman.

"Yes Lee, lets," she whispered leaning against him and peering up at the stars and wishing she could talk to him like this always.

*****Elsewhere*****

Anko, Genma, Shizune, and Kotetsu were walking together through the throng of people to get to where some of the more advanced games were, Anko was ahead with Kotetsu leaving Shizune and Genma behind to follow.

"Do you really think it was a good idea to let them go off by themselves, Genma-san?" Shizune asked as they squeezed behind a couple who was drunk, she swiped her hand over their heads to get rid of most of the alcohol; a slight hangover as the only lingering result.

"It's probably best to do it this way; at least this way they won't try sneaking off on us. To tell you the truth I think sensei is putting too much trust in them and I think they realize that so their respecting her wish, and please call me Genma-kun," he told her catching her when someone bumped into her. She blushed looking up at her rescuer and allowed him to hold her close to him as they skirted the crowd and found Anko and Kotetsu at a dunk tank. Apparently Choji was lured by the smell of food the dunk master had and the master had, apparently been trying to get Choji over to him; he had given Choji the food and coupons to the BBQ house if Choji agreed to be the dunkee.

Kotetsu was currently trying to win a prize for Anko who was beside him laughing every time he got splashed, finally on the third try he hit the bull's-eye (which had been replaced with a smaller one for shinobi). Anko jumped on Kotetsu and gave him a big hug, they both got splashed however when Choji fell in. Anko was screeching at the top of her lungs, while Kotetsu got towels from the dunk master.

"Anko, lets get you into something warmer, okay?" Shizune asked rushing over to her friend and looking around for a clothing booth. Anko shook her head and clung onto Kotetsu, rubbing her face against his chest.

"No, I want to stay with Kotetsu," Anko said in slightly babyish voice, making the others anime sweat drop.

"While, I can take you to my place Anko-chan and you can borrow some of my clothes if you like," Kotetsu told her before picking her up bridal style and carrying her to his place that he shared with Izumo; leaving Shizune alone with Genma at the tank.

"Well I guess games are out of the question now, so how bout we go and get some ice cream, eh Shi-chan?" Genma asked whispering into Shizunes' ear causing her to blush; she nodded and took his hand leading him to where she saw the ice cream vendor. Genma didn't mind, in fact he liked assertive women; it was way more fun this way.

****Elsewhere****

Kira and Bee were having a great time together; right now they were looking at some of the masks that were displayed. "So what do you think of him, nii-san?" Kira asked trying on an eagle mask and turning to Bee, who shook his head, she sighed before picking up a mask that had a mint green design of a wolf on it. Bee grinned and nodded before taking out a mask with a canary design of a cat on it, Kira grinned and gave him the thumbs up.

After they paid for the masks they walked down the street arm in arm, "Well to be honest he seems like an alright guy, although he is a little hyper; like someone else I know," glaring at her before stopping next to a cotton candy vendor who, after seeing Kira, gave it to them on the house, "but I think that with the right training he just might be able to do it. I admit he has good eating skills and socializing, but I would like to see what he can do." (When Bee is around Kira he doesn't feel the need to rap; due to an incident that happened with Kira that he never wants to think about again).

"Well I guess you'll just have to stick around then, I was thinking of possibly testing them in a few days. Probably after I get my mansion cleaned, by the way – do you think you could help out with that? Please," she asked him with puppy dog eyes and a slight pout. He grinned, swinging his arm around her shoulder and bringing her to him.

"You know I could never say 'no' to that face," he laughed at her, she grinned back and put her arm around his waist; to anyone who saw them they thought that they looked like a couple.

****Elsewhere****

Iruka was having a blast showing the Mizukage around; in fact it was easier talking to her than it was any other woman he had met.

"And so Kira-sensei took him by the arm and tossed him all the way through six walls before he was knocked unconscious when he hit a tree. Genma and I thought he was dead until sensei checked his vitals and told us that he would be fine. That was when I knew for sure that we would have to be careful around her, Ibiki learned that the hard way though, poor fool," Iruka finished telling her the story of the first training they did with Kira; the day they had to do the test.

The Mizukage laughed remembering a similar incident that happened during Kiras' second day in Mist. "Yeah that sounds like her alright," she laughed not noticing the look that passed across Iruka's face.

"Yeah I guess so Mizukage-sama," Iruka said addressing her by her title. The Mizukage looked at him with a somewhat hurt look.

"Please, just call me Mizuki Iruka-kun," she requested leaning against him, causing him to blush a deep shade of pink. She giggled seeing his face, making him blush even more before looking up at the sky and scratching his nose.

"Sure thing Mizuki-chan," he responded looking back down at her with a genuine smile, causing her to blush this time.

"So Iruka-kun, how do you know Kira-chan?" Mizuki asked tightening her grip on his arm.

"She was my first sensei, when she was appointed as my captain she was almost half my age. She was actually my first crush, I know that's weird but she was very honorable; despite her past," Iruka told her with a grim look on his face.

"What do you mean 'despite her past'? Did something happen when she was younger?" she asked him with concern clear in her eyes.

I'm not sure whether or not I should tell her, after all it's not my story to tell, but she does know Kira, Iruka thought before heaving a long sigh, "This happened about twenty years ago, on Kira's birthday. It was around midnight when her father went into her room and bound her with a binding jutsu, and wrapping a towel around her mouth. He told her "This is something I want to see and later understand, but for now all you need to know is that I love you just as I did your mother. Tell Kakashi that I'm sorry" and then he commited hara kiri. Right in front of his own daughter, but this is something I heard from my father then Kira. Ever since then Kakashi and Kira have grown apart, at first we thought that Kakashi hated her for not being able to save their father, but then we realized that it was because Kira reminded him so much of their father that he avoided her," Iruka explained looking straight ahead hoping that Kira wouldn't be anger.

"Thank-you for telling me that Iruka-kun, now I know why Kira would always avoid talking about her father, and go off somewhere on her birthday. Although it was very convenient for us since it gave us time to make preparations for her birthday party," Mizuki told him, "Anyway it's getting late, would be so kind as to take me to your place?"

Iruka was slightly panicked, and blushed profusely before nodding and leading her to his apartment.

(A/N: sorry about making this chapter an 'elsewhere' chapter. I just wanted to explain what some of the couples were talking about. I'll post the ch. soon though, until then R&R, sayonara)