AN: As always, I want to thank my lovely readers and reviewers. You all have been supportive and encouraging and this story would have immediately discontinued without you. I hope you enjoy this chapter. (:

Chapter Seven

A couple days after discovering what Naruto was reading, Sasuke had decided to give his friend some much needed space. Sasuke understood why Naruto was reading Tips on Dating: How to Get the Girl, but it seemed so unlike him that Sasuke could understand why Naruto had been embarrassed. At first Sasuke felt guilty for laughing at his friend, but he realized later on that if he hadn't laughed it would have been really awkward. Still, Sasuke tried to make it up to Naruto by approaching him about the book from a serious level. It didn't go so well.

Sasuke knew Naruto was serious about Sakura; he had been serious about her for years. In attempt to be supportive, Sasuke tried talking about Sakura together with Naruto. He had never done that before and after attempting to give Naruto some advice, Sasuke decided he would never try again. Naruto, too embarrassed to face Sasuke about his feelings, ended up flipping out on Sasuke. In return, Sasuke left Naruto alone. He was pissed in the end about Naruto's own stubbornness, but he allowed it to slide because he felt just as embarrassed and awkward. Besides guys do not talk about love with each other. Especially Sasuke and Naruto.

A couple days passed and Sasuke allowed his temper to cool off and when he went back to Naruto's house, the blonde had already forgotten their argument. Eager to forget their argument as well, Sasuke allowed Naruto to bring him along to the nearby lake for a day.

On the white sandy lake side, Sasuke was able to allow himself to fully relax since the beginning of the summer. Between the Hyuga's love note and Naruto's inconsistent emotional state Sasuke had been too stressed to be having much fun.

At the lake the sky and air hummed with humidity and the water lapped lazily at the shore. Sasuke didn't have anything to worry about, but Naruto and the potential threat that the boy would eventual attack Sasuke from the sky and attempt to wrestle him in the cool lake water.

Kiba eventually appeared at the lake as well with his family. He joined in Naruto's and Sasuke's enthusiastic play fighting until his mother aggressively called him back to spend time with the family.

Naruto's and Sasuke's day were going wonderfully until they were lying down on the lake shore exhausted of all their energy. Sasuke could feel grains of sand and dirt scratching at the nape of his neck, but he had little thought to move at all.

"Nee, Sasuke," called Naruto from nearby. Naruto was lying with his face in the sand, his words coming out muffled. The sand could not muffle the angry and groaning sounds Naruto's stomach made and the worst thing was that Sasuke's stomach called out in reply as well.

"I'm so hungry," whined Naruto. His stomach growled again as to emphasis his words.

"Did you think to pack along a picnic?"

Naruto stopped his complaining and then mumbled something pathetically.

"What?"

"No?" said Naruto.

Sasuke sighed, but he had known what the answer was before he even asked. Leaning forward he began brushing himself off, but soon realized that he would need to rinse off to remove all the dirt that had gathered. He went back into the shallow water to rinse off and when he got out of the water he noticed Naruto wasn't lying face down in the sand anymore. He looked farther down the shore and saw Naruto talking animatedly to someone he couldn't see. He saw another person standing close by, a guy with long brown hair and a bitter expression.

"Oy! Naruto, what do you think you're doing?"

Naruto turned around smiling triumphantly. Behind him emerged the Hyuga.

"Hinata's offered us to eat lunch with her!"

Sasuke frowned. "We should go Naruto," said Sasuke. He began walking towards the parking lot, ignoring Naruto's protest.

"Oh, come on Sasuke! I'm starving and it will be a long drive back! Don't worry, Hinata says they have more than enough!"

Naruto latched onto Sasuke's arm, tugging at him to go back. From the corner of his eye, Sasuke saw the guy with the long hair move toward Hinata. He suddenly recognized him as Neji Hyuga, a senior that had once challenged him to a fight. Sasuke had declined, but Neji took it as a sign of weakness and has looked down upon him ever since. A growl formed deep in Sasuke's throat.

Neji saw Sasuke looking at him and sneered at Sasuke's face.

Sasuke felt the hair on the back of his neck rise up and he glared more ferociously. Neji smirked in return and began walking away.

"Okay," growled Sasuke.

Suddenly stopping his whining, Naruto looked up at Sasuke face. He looked towards Neji whom Sasuke was still glaring angrily at. He was confused by the sudden tension, but didn't say anything.

"Hey, Hinata!" yelled Naruto enthusiastically. "We can stay!"

The Hyuga's face brightened in return to Naruto's enthusiasm. Neji stopped walking to look back at them. His frown looked doubtful and unsure. Sasuke walked behind Naruto and the Hyuga as they walked toward where they were set up. Sasuke almost took back his agreement to the invitation when he spotted Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi.

Hanabi didn't notice Sasuke right away, but an imposing older looking man did. He stood rigidly, looking much too stern and stiff to be seen on the lake side relaxing. The moment Sasuke glanced toward him the man fixed a cold eye upon him. He also glanced momentarily at Naruto, but immediately looked back towards Sasuke.

When they all approached the man and the large blanket that was spread generously with food. Hinata took charge of introducing everyone and Sasuke was shocked that the imposing man before them ended up being Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata's father. Hiashi nodded at Naruto and Sasuke in greeting, but his eyes were distant and disapproving. He did not protest to them eating with them though, but he never relinquished his critical gaze from Sasuke or Naruto too long.

Sasuke ended up siting between Naruto and Neji, but he supposed that having Neji was better than having Hanabi. The younger girl had joined in on her father's glares, but hers were only directed at Sasuke. The urge to rub his bruise on his ankle was overwhelming Sasuke, but he relented in doing so. He didn't want the little twerp to know that evidence of her kick was still on Sasuke's ankle. Sasuke's pride told him it would be a sign of weakness if he dared to show that the bruise was still tender.

"Thank you for the food Hinata!" Naruto smiled brightly before digging into a sandwich in front of him.

Sasuke resisted the urge to slap Naruto for his terrible manners. Neji looked just as disgusted, but everyone else began to eat as well, either not noticing or ignoring Naruto's sloppy habits.

It was quiet while everyone ate. Sasuke was disgruntled by the sheer oppressing aura that seemed to surround them. He was glad at least Naruto didn't say anything stupid, but he had expected the Hyuga to have said something by now. Sasuke glanced at her, but she did not see him. Her head was bent over her food, eating in small and nimble bites. Hanabi and Neji were the exact same, their faces bent down over their food, making no sound at all. Hiashi was the only one looking up and he was staring intently at Sasuke. Sasuke met the older man's gaze, trying to look unfazed by his intimidating eyes. It was Hiashi who decided to break the silence.

"Uchiha Sasuke is it?"

Everyone looked up when Hiashi spoke. Sasuke nodded slowly in return, not breaking eye contact.

"You are a senior at the same school as Hinata, correct? Neji attended there as well, he graduated this year with the highest marks in his class."

Neji glanced at Sasuke with a smug smirk. Sasuke scowled in return, remembering Neji's taunts about him being weak. Hiashi ignored the obvious anger shifting between the two young men.

"I hear you duel as well. It's said that you have exceptional talent."

Before Sasuke could reply, Neji scoffed; loudly and rudely.

"I have heard the same Uncle, but I have yet to see Sasuke demonstrate these so called 'exceptional' fighting skills."

Sasuke felt a retort rise quickly and ferociously in his throat, but Hanabi was quick to add something as well to Neji's thought.

"I don't think Sasuke is everything he is cracked up to be. I bet Neji could easily take him out."

Snapping his jaw angrily, Sasuke resisted the urge to throw sand at the two sneering faces. Closing his eyes he let out an angry breath before standing up stiffly. Naruto was looking appalled, a piece of his sandwich hanging stupidly out his mouth.

"Sasuke's strong!" Started Naruto, looking stubborn. He swallowed quickly to add more to his argument. "I've fought him loads of times, he's really-!"

"Leave it." Sasuke ground out the words darkly. They left a taste like sawdust in his mouth.

"But Sasuke!"

"Leave it, Naruto." Loosening his stance, Sasuke stared coolly at Hanabi and Neji. "I don't care what they think." Naruto still looked stubborn and upset, but Sasuke walked away. He didn't care. He didn't. He. Did. Not. Care.

Walking towards the lake shore, Sasuke allowed himself a few minutes to calm his anger. He did care. Neji had struck deliberately at Sasuke's pride and he had hit right on.

"I suppose right now is not a good time to challenge a duel?"

Sasuke turned around sharply, meeting Neji's amused gaze with his angry one. The pale eyes sparked dangerously. Neji was looking for a fight, he wanted one. Well. . . Sasuke was going to give him one. All his early tiredness had completely left him now. Sasuke's anger and adrenaline pumped wildly through his veins.

Falling into a fighting stance, Sasuke found it to be his turn to smirk. "Bring it," he growled.

Neji looked momentarily surprised, but he easily went into his fighting position, matching Sasuke's smirk.

Sasuke moved first, aiming a fist at Neji's face. The older teen gracefully dodged Sasuke's attack and aimed to sweep Sasuke's feet out from underneath him. Sasuke admitted quietly that Neji was graceful, but he was faster. Jumping to the side he knocked Neji hard on the back. Neji stumbled for a moment, but quickly regained his stance and dodged Sasuke's kick aimed for his knee. Sasuke kept advancing on Neji though, granted most of his attacks were blocked or dodged, but he saw he had the upper hand. Sasuke was bare foot so it was easier for him to keep his balance on the sand, but Neji still had shoes on and wasn't as sure footed. Neji had seemed to notice this though and was slowly retreating to a more grassy area.

"Sasuke, Neji, stop! Don't fight, stop!"

Sasuke twisted his head to look at Naruto who was running towards to them.

"Naruto- you idiot- go away!"

A fist connect with Sasuke's nose as he turned back to his adversary. Stumbling back he lifted a hand to his nose. It hurt badly, but it wasn't broken.

He hadn't seen Neji coming at him because of Naruto distracting him. Neji had stopped attacking now though, looking both surprised and smug. Sasuke growled angrily. Stupid Naruto! If he hadn't intervened Neji wouldn't have been able to hit him. Now the bastard probably thought he had bested Sasuke in combat.

"N-N-Neji!"

Sasuke looked around and saw the Hyuga looking at her cousin with wide eyes. She turned her wide eyes to him next, her gaze alarmed and fearful.

"I'm s-sorry! A-Are y-you o-o-okay?"

Sneering, Sasuke straightened his stance, trying to look unfazed and immobile.

"Perfectly fine," he said coolly. The Hyuga's eyes widened more though, looking pointedly at Sasuke's nose. Raising a hand to his nose, Sasuke pulled it away to find it covered in his blood. Oh hell, his nose was bleeding. Well that was just great.

"Oh god Sasuke! You're bleeding! Are you alright?" Naruto was at Sasuke's side, his eyes almost as wide as the Hyuga's. Across from them Neji had his eyebrows raised in an amused expression. Sasuke waved Naruto off roughly, not wanting to look weak or defeated.

"Fine, I'm fine. Alright? Neji barely hit me."

If anything, Neji looked more smug now. "Your bleeding nose would suggest otherwise."

Before Sasuke could sharply retort, a quieter voice cut in between.

"H-Here."

The Hyuga was back (when had she left?) and had tissues in her hand, holding them out for Sasuke to take. Sasuke considered ignoring her and acting as if nothing was wrong, but the blood running down his throat was hard to ignore. Begrudgingly he accepted the tissues, not bothering to say thank you. He held the tissues to his nose, willing the bleeding to stop.

"Neji."

Sasuke looked up to see Hiashi staring sternly down at his nephew. The older man stood imposingly before them all, his gaze angrily staring Neji down. Neji met his gaze forcefully, before dropping his eyes to the ground shamefully. Apparently Hiashi was too much for Neji to take on.

"That was a disgraceful display. I expect better from my own nephew: Apologize."

For a moment, nothing happened. Neji was glaring at the ground as if demanding it to swallow him up. Sasuke stared at the older teen, daring him to disobey his uncle or suck up his pride and apologies to him.

"Now." Hiashi's voice was dark and menacing, probably daring Neji to try and disobey him. Sasuke didn't doubt that the man's voice held an underlining promise of what happened to those who disobey. Neji needed no more urging.

Bowing his head humbly to Sasuke, Neji apologized. "I hope you will forgive my earlier rudeness. I was out of line."

Smirking victoriously, Sasuke crossed his arms and shrugged nonchalantly. "I accept your apology. It was nothing really, the bleeding as already stopped."

Neji lifted his head, his face blank of emotion. His eyes met Sasuke's eyes defiantly though and Sasuke nodded in agreement to what they were saying. Neji and he would battle again. What had started today was not yet finished and they would confront each other again.

"I think it is time we headed home, it's getting late. Come on Naruto."

Sasuke began walking away, but Naruto stayed put and Sasuke stopped as well, waiting to see what his friend was doing.

"Sorry about that Hinata. Sasuke's just in one of his moods. Thank you for the food, it was delicious!" Naruto took the Hyuga's hand in a gesture of gratitude. She blushed the moment Naruto's hand touched hers and she looked very please. Sasuke was already moving to pull Naruto away before the Hyuga could say anything. It would be just his luck if she decided to ask about the love note right now.

Grabbing Naruto's arm, Sasuke tugged his friend's hand free the Hyuga's and began pulling him away. "Don't be an idiot Naruto. Let's go now."

"Naruto~!" Sasuke stopped. A female most certainly had called out to Naruto, but it couldn't have been the Hyuga, right? She sounded nothing like that. Looking over his shoulder, he saw that it was Hanabi, the Hyuga's younger sister.

Naruto looked puzzled as he gazed at the youngest member of the group. Hanabi had a sickly sweet smile on her face and was waving at Naruto.

"You're welcomed to visit us anytime you want Naruto. We would love to have you, just don't bring your friend, okay? We don't like him." Hanabi stuck her tongue out at Sasuke before smiling sweetly at Naruto again.

"Hanabi." Hiashi was looking at his youngest with disapproving eyes, but she scampered off, leaving everyone else to stand awkwardly behind.

Hiashi was frowning gravely, wrinkles and creases appearing on his furrowed brow. Neji looked bemused as he stared questioningly at Sasuke and Naruto. Hinata looked petrified though, her eyes locked onto Sasuke's angry one. She flinched when Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her.

"Ugh, Sasuke?" Naruto looked confused.

"Let's go," said Sasuke. He didn't bother saying goodbye, why should he?

"Hanabi really doesn't like you, does she Sasuke?" Naruto laughed nervously. "Don't worry though, you can still come along if you want, we don't have to listen to Hanabi. Hinata would be happy to have us both come over."

"Don't bother," growled Sasuke. He marched towards the car, swinging the door open violently. "I don't like that family and they don't like me."

"That's not true!" Naruto looked appalled at the suggestion that they did. "Hanabi and Neji might not, but Hiashi seems to like you, even though he is rather stiff. And Hinata, she doesn't hate you. I don't think she can hate anyone though, she's so quiet."

"Why does it matter? You're not even friends with her are you? I'm most certainly not."

Naruto was looking at Sasuke as if trying to understand him. "Yeah, we're not friends, but Hinata's nice."

Sasuke didn't make any reply to that. Instead he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot to go home. He did not want to think the Hyuga as nice. He did not want to think of her at all.

AN: Please don't laugh at my pathetic fight scene. XD I am a romantic not a fighter, thus I am terrible at writing action. I hope this was enjoyable all the same and even though it may not seem like it, Sasuke and Hinata are slowly heading in the right direction. I hope I am still keeping them in character.

Sadly, I can not promise an update next Sunday. Chapter seven is the last chapter that I had written ahead of time, so chapter eight is still in progress. From here on out, the updates are going to depend completely upon my creativity, inspiration, and time. I hope to have a chapter for you guys every two weeks though. I do not want to leave anyone or this story hanging.