Review Responses:

~Confused: I am glad you caught that, yes, Hinata did attend the party with Shino and Kiba. She did so because they are her friends. I don't view Kiba and Shino as friends of Sasuke, at least not in this story. Kiba and Shino are friends with Naruto, so I suppose they may be friends with Sasuke indirectly in a sense, but I do think Sasuke really cares about the two of them and who they are friends with. Now about Hinata being friends with Sakura, I'll admit that was short sightedness on my part. I am glad you pointed it out, it shows that I need to pay more attention to my own story. Thank you so much for reviewing and I hope you like this chapter!

~Francis: Thank you so much for your comment! :) I am so happy that you find Sasuke believable. I want to try to keep him in character as much as possible, so this story is going to end up being long. He is very stubborn and hard to make him fall in love, so I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

AN: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. Sorry that I didn't update yesterday or respond to any reviews except the ones above. I appreciate all the feedback very much though, your words mean a lot to me. I'll stop rambling so you can start reading. ^^

Chapter 5

Sasuke finally made an decision. He wasn't going to give the Hyuga's love note to Naruto. Last night when everyone was saying their goodbyes at the movie theater, Sasuke saw what he suspected could be potential love in Sakura's eyes.

Sasuke knew about his best friend's feelings for the girl and that there was no way Naruto could love the Hyuga the same way. It didn't matter how long the Hyuga had been in love with Naruto. Naruto had been in love with Sakura just as long.

After years of crushing on Sakura and following her like a loyal dog, Naruto was so close to earning her love. Sasuke knew that Sakura allowing Naruto to take her on a date was a big breakthrough, but only until Sasuke saw the look in her eyes did he realize how big of a breakthrough it was. Sasuke was happy for his best friend and with Naruto so close to receiving Sakura's love. . . .

Sasuke wasn't going to allow anything to get in between his best friend's happiness. Especially not a stupid girl who couldn't see that she was only getting in between. If Naruto ever saw the note it would only complicate things and ruin Naruto's happiness. With firm resolution and confidence, Sasuke promised himself that he'd stop the Hyuga at whatever cost. He owed Naruto so much already; he at least owed his friend the happiness he deserved.

"Ah," sighed Naruto. He was splayed lazily across the living room couch, his arm covering his eyes from the intense light. "What time is it?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes to the clock hanging on the wall. "Almost one," he grunted. Pushing himself off the floor, Sasuke gazed groggily around himself. He was bored out of his mind. Groaning, he flopped back down onto the floor in a state of complete laziness. The humidity in the air seemed to be choking the life around him and turning his bones into sap.

"Want to go swimming?" droned Naruto, not sounding enthusiastic as he usually would be.

"No," said Sasuke. Swimming would mean having to go his house and getting a swimsuit and then driving to the public pool that was probably beyond crowded and then of course, swimming, which all these things required energy that he didn't have.

"It's . . . it's so hot!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, too exhausted to do anything else. Was the heat melting the rest of Naruto's puny brain?

"You know what sounds nice?" began Naruto, closing his eyes. "The library."

Sasuke leaned forward and raised an eyebrow at his friend. The library? That was a first; Naruto never went to the library unless he had to check out a book for school.

"What?" asked Naruto, returning the stare. "It's air conditioned."

Smirking in amusement, Sasuke stood up and stretched his arms. "Okay, then we're going to the library."

Getting into the car, Sasuke was glad that Naruto and he were actually going to do something. Yesterday they just had stayed inside and played video games the whole time. Sasuke could literally feel his brain melting away due to no use. A book or two would do him a whole lot of good.

Arriving at the library, they found its lawn crowded with families picnicking and friends hanging out. Several young children ran around, their faces and shoulders burnt and their clothes covered in grass stains. Many of the women were dressed in summer dresses and practically everyone was wearing sunglasses.

All the picnic tables were occupied and others sat under the trees for shade. Stepping out of the car, Naruto immediately was greeted by Kiba who was with his family.

They began to vigorously talk, both trying to say something at once. Standing to the side Sasuke looked around himself. He hoped that it wasn't crowded inside the library. He knew that people liked to hang around the library, but he had never seen it so crowded before.

"So what's brought you here?" asked Kiba.

Naruto shrugged. "We came to check out a few books."

Kiba laughed, slapping Naruto hard on the back. "For books, really?"

Naruto shrugged, a strange expression crossing his face that didn't go unnoticed.

"Anyways, I'm here with my family today." Kiba pointed over his shoulder. "Some of our other friends are here as well, even Hinata."

At that moment Sasuke saw the Hyuga a fraction before Naruto did as well.

She was with a group of people who were planting in the library's little "gardens." She just finished planting a flower when Naruto spotted her.

Reaching out, Sasuke tried to stop Naruto, but he was already running past Kiba to the Hyuga.

"Hey Sasuke," said Kiba as Sasuke walked by. Sasuke ignored him though, following after Naruto.

"Hey Hinata!"

The Hyuga looked up and smiled at Naruto. Standing, she wiped her hands on her already filthy pants and brushed her hair behind her ears.

"What are you doing?" asked Naruto. He glanced down at the flowers and bent down to examine them. "These are really beautiful! I didn't know anyone took care of these flower patches."

The Hyuga smiled and knelt down beside Naruto. "N-no one really does. We-" she gestured to the group of people who were also planting as well. "We all volunteer to l-look after them."

"Wow," breathed Naruto. "Some of these flowers are really beautiful Hinata!"

Her blush was immediate as she smiled happily at Naruto. "Thank you."

Sasuke felt white hot anger spike inside him, roaring and raging in his ears. His nails dug into his palms in attempt to contain his anger. With a sudden jerk he grabbed the back of Naruto's shirt and pulled him up to his feet.

"Wha-?" said Naruto. "Sasuke, what the hell?"

Sasuke ignored him though and roughly pulled him away from the openmouthed Hyuga. Sasuke sent her a glare over his shoulder that went unnoticed by Naruto, but her flinch made it obvious that she saw it.

Laughing nervously, Naruto reluctantly allowed himself to be pulled away. "Ha-ha, ugh, bye Hinata! Talk to you later I guess."

Once they were inside the library Sasuke let Naruto go and began to walk away haughtily.

"Jess Sasuke," Naruto whined. "What was that for?"

"You wouldn't shut up and I was beginning to sweat," lied Sasuke. Well, it was only half a lie.

"Impatient are we?"

Sasuke ignored the retort and instead went in search for a good book.

Finding a good number of books, Sasuke set them down at a table and began to scan through them flippantly. He was just picking up a different book when he paused.

He could feel someone staring intensely at him. Glancing up he saw a girl with dark brown hair glaring at him from the table across from him. She looked like she was twelve, but Sasuke had never seen her before. Why the heck was she staring at him like that for?

Sasuke ignored her, but when he glanced up again she was still glaring. He returned the glare and was surprised to see that she met his gaze full force. Sparks seemed to fly between them as they stared each other down. Sasuke felt a snarl begin to creep on his face and just when he thought he was going to snap, the girl looked away. Sasuke stared at her for a moment longer before standing up. He had no idea who she was, but he really didn't want to stay at the library any longer.

Finding Naruto in the magazine section napping in one of the beanbags, Sasuke smirked in amusement before kicking his friend in the rib.

"Get up."

For a moment nothing happened, then without warning Naruto rolled out of the beanbag in a heap. He blinked around himself for a moment before slowly gazing up a Sasuke.

"How'd you get so big?" asked Naruto tiredly. Sasuke scoffed and began to walk away.

"Idiot, come on, let's go."

Naruto slowly got his feet before running after him. "Wait up!"

At the checkout the girl that had been glaring at Sasuke earlier was standing in line. When he stepped in line behind her, she turned around and glared at him with obvious hatred. This time Sasuke just looked at her in confusion. What the hell did this girl have against him?

The girl stared at him until it was her turn to check out her books. Then she gave him one lasting glare before heading to the exit.

Okay, weird.

Sasuke handed the librarian three books he decided to check out and just as she checked out the last book, Naruto suddenly added one more. Sasuke stared at the book before looking questioningly at Naruto.

"What?" asked Naruto. He shrugged as if it was no big deal. "It looks like a good book."

Deciding to let it slid, Sasuke shrugged. "If you return it late though, you're paying for the dues."

Naruto laughed nervously and quickly grabbed his book before Sasuke could look at it and ran out the door. Sasuke raised an eyebrow curiously.

Okay, even weirder.

At the doorway, the girl with brown hair was standing to the side, staring at him once again. Sasuke paused at the door and looked down at her and shrugged. Whatever.

Just as he opened the door, the girl kicked him in the ankle. Hard; she kicked him really hard.

What? The? HELL?

Grabbing his ankle, Sasuke glared death at the girl. She returned the look and stuck her tongue out and then ran past him into the crowded lawn. After a moment of rubbing his hurt limb, Sasuke ran after her. He stepped outside and immediately lost sight of her in the crowd. He looked all around him, but she was gone. Sasuke could feel his ankle throbbing where she had kicked him.

He wasn't going to let that slid, looking around he began to walk through the crowd. If he found that little demon, he was going to smack the life out of her.

Okay . . . maybe not the life, she was just a kid, but Sasuke wasn't going to rest until he knew exactly why she had kicked him.

"Sasuke!"

Stopping, Sasuke turned around to see Naruto running over to him.

"What?"

"I thought you wanted to go."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and continued walking.

"Sasuke?"

"What?" he yelled.

Naruto was looking at him with raised eyebrows. "Why are you limping?"

Sasuke growled to himself. He didn't want to admit it, but the damn girl had actually got him pretty good.

Opening his mouth to say something, Sasuke suddenly saw a flash of brown hair. It was the girl! Keeping his eyes trained on the dark hair, Sasuke took off after her.

"Sasuke?" called Naruto behind him.

Winding through crowds of people, Sasuke tried to keep up with the girl. He was losing on her though, due to her attack on his ankle. Sasuke was about to give up when the girl ran pass the Hyuga, who surprisingly stopped the girl by grabbing her shoulders as she passed by.

"Hanabi?" asked the Hyuga. She looked at the girl with a bit of concern.

The girl glanced back at Sasuke, glaring angrily, causing the Hyuga to look up at him as well.

"Sasuke?" she asked. She stared at him wide eyed before glancing behind him as well. "Naruto?"

Sasuke felt his friend fall in at his side, doubled over from exhaustion.

"Jess, Sasuke, why'd you take off like that?" Straightening up Naruto looked curiously at the Hyuga. "Hinata?"

The girl in the Hyuga's arms wiggled and broke away from her grasp.

"Hanabi!" she called, grabbing the girl again. "What's the meaning of this?"

Hanabi glanced up at the older girl and pointed at Sasuke. "He's angry 'cause I kicked him in the ankle."

"H-Hanabi!" cried the Hyuga, sounding horrified. She glanced at Hanabi and at Sasuke and then at Naruto.

"Is that why you're limping?" asked Naruto.

The Hyuga blushed madly and Hanabi broke away from her hold again and was able to successfully run away.

Sasuke watched her go with irritation, but let it decided that it didn't matter. He didn't feel like chasing down the devil again.

"Are you hurt?" asked the Hyuga.

Sasuke glanced at her and glared. "I'm fine," he said and began to limp away.

"Sasuke, you're limping." Naruto watched as Sasuke continued to walk and ignore him. "Do you have anything for him?" asked Naruto, turning to Hinata. She nodded and went to grab something from her bag.

Naruto then grabbed Sasuke roughly by the shoulders and forced him to sit down on the ground.

"The hell!" said Sasuke, brushing Naruto off. "I'm fine!"

"Okay!" yelled Naruto. "At least let her look at it then."

Sasuke glared, but gave in. The sooner he let her look at his ankle, the sooner they could go, so Sasuke relented.

The Hyuga returned with a jar of ointment in her hands. She sat down beside Sasuke who reluctantly rolled up his pants to his knee.

"Wowsers," said Naruto, laughing at the bruise that was already forming on Sasuke's ankle. "Your sister can certainly pack a kick, Hinata."

Her sister? Sasuke glanced at the Hyuga who looked away from his gaze. She probably commanded the little demon to kick him.

Opening the ointment, the Hyuga gathered a glob of it onto her hand to apply on Sasuke's bruise. Just as she reached out, Sasuke moved his leg away. She glanced up at him.

"I don't need it."

"Ah, come on Sasuke. Don't listen to him Hinata, he just acting tough."

The Hyuga tried again and again, Sasuke moved his leg.

She looked up at him and flinched when he glared at her, but kept looking at him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Sasuke continued to glare, but allowed the ointment to be applied this time.

Once she was done, Sasuke abruptly stood, definitely unwilling to stay any longer than he had to. He began to walk away as Naruto gave his thanks.

"You're a big help Hinata, thank you so much! And don't worry, Sasuke's not really angry, he's just really tired because of the heat."

The Hyuga just nodded and gave a small smile, closing the ointment jar tightly.

Naruto waved good-bye and ran to catch up with Sasuke.

"Hey, Sasuke!" called out a voice.

Both Sasuke and Naruto stopped and turned around, looking around for the person who called out to Sasuke. It ended up being none other than Hanabi, who had taken to sitting up in a tree.

She looked down upon them and stuck her tongue out spitefully at Sasuke before vanishing into the branches.

"What did you do to make her so angry?" asked Naruto.

"I have no fucking idea," mumbled Sasuke in return.

AN: Oh, you have no idea how much I love this chapter. XD Get him, Hanabi! Sick 'im!

Anyway, next week's chapter will reveal why Hanabi hates Sasuke. See you then! ^^