"God, I can't believe there was a time when I started beginning to think that maybe I could possibly get tired of ramen," mused Naruto as he slurped the remainder of his 5th bowl.

"Yeah, but remember that you were eating nothing but ramen at the time."

"I know, but it's still a weird thought."

"Everyone gets tired of eating the same things over and over," said Tenten as she sipped her soda. "Although I can't even see someone surviving on nothing but ramen."

"I know. I never could believe it myself," nodded Lee before taking a bite of his apple.

"So anyway," said Kiba, changing the subject, "Anyone have plans for tomorrow night?"

"Not really. Why?"

"Well, I'd heard that Choji was throwing a pre-chunnin exam party and he's inviting everyone. I was thinking of going."

"Who told you Choji was throwing a party?"

"Ino. Why?"

"I hadn't heard anything about it, and I work with Shikamaru on a daily basis. You'd think that he would have mentioned something about it by now."

"Hmmmmmm... That's odd. Maybe I should go find Choji and ask."

Naruto snorted and grinned maniacally, "What's ta bet that Ino's lying and she's really the one throwing it?"

"Okay, why would she lie about that?"

"Because she's on the look out for a boyfriend and what better way is there than getting all the boys together in one place so she can check out the prospects."

Tenten stared, "Wow, that's really messed up. Honestly, she'd have no trouble getting a guy if she'd just stop screeching all the time. And stop chasing them everywhere. Or the hot springs thing... Yeah...on second thought, she's totally screwed up enough to do that."

"Hot springs thing?"

"Yeah... Her and Sakura had this thing where they'd try and corner Sasuke at the hot spring and rip his towel off."

Lee blinked, horrified, "You are joking, correct?"

"Unfortunately, no."

Lee shook his head, "I do not know what to say. That is ... disturbing ... to say the least."

"Got that right," shivered Kiba. "She tried that trick on me once. Almost succeeded too. I just about tore her head off too. Kinda wish I had."

"And I really wish I had been there..." muttered Naruto.

"Let's not go there. You might just start giving me ideas..."

"Whoa now..." blinked Tenten, blushing slightly. "Keep that kinda talk to yourselves."

"Sorry Tenten. Got a little off topic."

"Yeah, yeah. Just keep the conversation clean and I'm happy."

"No you're not. You just don't wanna hear about me and Kiba."

"Call it my one liitle quirk. I just can't listen to my friends talk about their kinky sex lives. It's just a really weird area of conversation."

"One little quirk?"

"Quiet Lee," she grinned as she threw his freshly discarded apple core at his head.

"Okay then..." said Naruto, senseing danger approaching. "I think we should steer clear of this conversation now."

"Yeah..."

"So anyway," he said, trying to remember what they had been talking about before. "...What were we talking about before?"

"Plans for tommarow night."

"Oh yeah..."

"We're free, if that's helpful. No idea what we could do."

"Hmmmm... What's tommarow anyway?"

"Uhhhhh...Friday."

"Well...other than this supposed party at Choji's, is there anything going on at all?"

"Nope."

"Well, we could always just hang out at my house and do a movie night."

"Yeah, we could...but it just never felt right doing it on Friday..."

"True..."

"Geeze, and I thought sitting out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but listen to Ero-sennin complain about there being no girls around was bad..."

"Well then, do go to Choji's party..." came a sigh from behind them.

"Hey Shikamaru," said Tenten as she turned around. "What're you doing over here?"

"Looking for you. And escaping Ino. She's in one of her moods today."

They all shivered.

"So then Choji's really having a party?"

"Yeah...but it's more for Ino than anything."

"Told you she was trolling for a guy," grinned Naruto.

"Oh yeah... she's on some manic quest to get a boyfriend before the end of the month."

"Why?"

"Because she's been turned down by the last five people she asked out."

"Eesh...not having much luck?"

"No, they just know what kind of psychopath she is."

"Who'd she ask?"

"Last I heard she'd asked Neji, Choji, Me, Shino, and Kankurou."

"Kankurou? For real? She asked him out?"

"Yeah... And he said no and got outta there so fast I would have sworn her head was spinning."

"You were there?"

"Unfortunatly... She dragged me along for some reason or another..."

"Idiot, that girl is."

"Yeah... It's such a drag being her friend."

"Welcome to my world," sighed Tenten. "I'm not even her friend but that never stopped her from going after me."

"Here's an idea," grinned Kiba. "Let's go find Ino and throw her off a cliff. That'll be fun."

"God yes! Were is she? Let's go now!"

"Naw...I don't think we'd be able to get away with dragging her kicking and screaming across town without someone stopping us."

"Awwwww... but I really wanted to throw her off a cliff..." whined Naruto.

"Do not we all?"

"Seeing as how it's never going to happen..." sighed Shikamaru, "And even though I'd really like to join you in doing so, I'd suggest a slightly less, illegal was of geeting rid of the blonde annoyance."

They all sighed.

"So anyway..."

"I'm bored now."

"Me too..."

"I really wish Tsunade would'a given us more time off. And for real time off, not 'on-the-clock-but-sitting-around-bored,' time off."

"Well, technically we're supposed to use this time to train right?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's go grab a mission."

"Awwww...but I just spent 2 and a half years stright training. Can't I get a full week off before I have to go out again?"

"I was going to suggest we go see if that 'trade a team with Suna,' mission was still available and go hang out with Gaara; but if you don't wanna then I guess we can stay here..."

"Oh... I guess I can live with that."

"Take me with you," begged Shikamaru. "Please!"

"I was planning on it."

"Oh thank god!" He sighed, relieved. "I had another two days before I was supposed to head over there for the next exam meeting, and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to stay sane listening to Ino anymore."

"I know that I could not," nodded Lee.

"We'll if we want to get out there then we'd better get going before the last of the spot's are filled."

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"You planned this," said Tsunade as she looked at everyone standing in her office. Half way there they'd ran into Neji and when they told him what they were doing he dropped everything and joined up.

"We didn't so much plan it as everything just kinda fell into place," replied Naruto.

"Right..." She looked down at the sheet. "Well...there are six spots left...and they all call for Chunnin or higher..." she glanced up at Naruto, "You do know that means you can't go right?"

"WHAT!?!"

"Idiot! You're still a Gennin remember!"

"But...but...but..."

"Sorry kid. The only spots left are for Chunnin and Jounin. No exceptions."

"Awwww but come on!!! I'm practically a Jounin already! Just because I haven't been able to do another damn Chunnin exam shouldn't count against me!"

"No."

"But...?"

"No buts."

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww," he pouted.

"Excuse me Lady Tsunade, but you seem to be mistanken," said Neji as politely as possible. "But there does appear to be one Gennin slot left."

Tsunade glared at the Hyuuga. "Damn Byakugan..." she swore under her breath. "Oh all right. You can go too. I'll send a meesenger hawk ahead of you."

"Sweet!!!"

"It's not gunna be some party over there. You actually have to teach a bunch of ninja wanna-be's and some new Gennin skills they don't already have. And you know how insane those Suna Gennin are."

"Whatever, better than sitting here bored all day and trying to aviod Ino."

"True..." she conceded.

"So when can we leave?"

"Get your gear and any scrolls you'll need together and met back here in two hours. I'll give you final insctructions then."

"Yay!!! A decent mission for once!!!"

He dodged the scroll tossed at the back of his head.

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