Chapter 9- three days

Tuesday

"You say this week is going to be a stressing week?" Kiba asked laying out the dishes that they had packed for their picnic in the park. They had once again disguised themselves as the civilian couple named Hideki and Kyoko. The same young couple that threw their ice-cream on Naruto. It was the only way to have an open lunch without the annoyance of getting caught and hitting the end of their game so early. This needed to go on for at least one month and if it last for the rest of the Chunin exams then they would have two months until February where they would continue where they left off. They really had to plot some ways to play with their dear friends or this wouldn't be that fun.

"Yea. We might not have to plan anything but we have to make sure everything is in order." Kyoko (Temari) answered. She was looking around at the beautiful scenery and happy mood of the other people here at the park. She hadn't been here before. She easily realised that Kiba took her to places that she had never seen before. It wasn't surprising really, Shikamaru didn't take her to many places. "Yea so like today, we had to make sure everything was in place but since everything is on the way properly I can do anything I want."

"Sounds lucky." Hideki finally took out a spoon and began sharing the food. "I feel sorry for the guys that have to deal with the brats."

"You don't like kids?" Kyoko asked finally turning her eyes to him.

"Yea sure. The younger ones that aren't trying to kill each other yet."

"So you don't mind babies?" she asked carefully. He didn't seem like the children type.

"Nope." he said then suddenly became excited. "Have you seen Asuma? He's the cutest little one ever! He's the best!"

Kyoko watched in surprise as he went off into a rant about Kuranai's baby boy. She never thought she'd hear the day when he, of all people, would be excited about a baby. He just didn't seem like the type. He was on the side of take-em-and-leave-em and just-for-pleasure more than on the side of caring-father/brother. It was weird to hear him talk like that about a baby.

"You love him don't you?"

"Yea. He's like the little brother I never had and probably will never have." he smiled at her and she couldn't help smile back. He looked so happy talking about the little baby that she had only seen once when she had stopped to greet Hinata when she was taking a walk with Asuma. She had been told he had his father's eyes but she hadn't know that Asuma so she couldn't tell.

Hideki finally handed her a plate and sat facing her with his own plate in his hands. He smiled serenely and suddenly it was one of those moments. Those moments when he smiles, she wonders why he's smiling, he smiles knowingly, she gets confused and it shows in the smile she returns, he grins back and she's still wondering, he starts laughing and she's even more confused but joins in the laughing. They both laugh their heads off only for her to realise... he was just messing with her. He smiled cheekily at her.

"You have the best expressions even when it's not your real face." he told her smiling. She shook her head. She could say the same for him.

XXXXXXX

"I'm telling you that's them."

"Are you sure?" Sasuke asked raising a brow at the couple not far away having a romantic picnic under the sun. No way in hell.

"Yes. Do you think I wouldn't know them when I see them?"

"Well... you aren't the brightest."

"I know it's them!" Naruto erupted with a glare at his friend.

"Sure." Sasuke conceded rolling his eyes. "Why am I here anyway?"

"To be proof of my revenge." Naruto said darkly with a glare at the unsuspecting couple. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"He threw ice-cream on you. Are you going to throw ice-cream on him too?" he asked exasperated

"Even better."

"Is it ramen related?" Sasuke asked unimpressed. Naruto narrowed his eyes at him.

"How'd you know?" he asked and Sasuke sighed.

"I'm not doing this."

"Why? Are you chicken?" Naruto taunted and Sasuke glared at him. If there was one thing that hadn't changed over the years it was that he still couldn't stand Naruto's taunts. "With that chicken-butt hair, I'm not surprised."

"It's on." he growled through grit teeth. Why did he let the blond get to him like that?

"Ramen!" Naruto said excitedly.

XXXXXXX

Hideki's ears twitched involuntarily and he got the slight feeling that he had heard something. He brushed it off as just the rustling of leaves then turned his attention back to the smiling Temari disguised as Kyoko that was telling him about the tricks of the Chunin for this Chunin exam. He'd never tell her that he was really just staring at her face and listening to her voice though.

Everything was fine and dandy until SPLAT! Hideki was frozen and wet all over. Kyoko stared in slack jawed shock. A slippery noodle slipped down his face between his eyes and he felt as one slowly made its way down the back of his traditional garb.

"Oops sorry." the orange clad blond sang from the tree above them. Sasuke was merely a few feet away watching in boredom, Naruto could really be childish. "Payback's a bitch."

Instantly a tick grew on Hideki's head. A wicked smile crawled across his face and Kyoko instantly sensed danger. Evidently so did Sasuke. Hideki's face turned up to look at Naruto as he said "I know."

"Hideki, it's just some ramen," Kyoko began trying to placate him but Hideki was already glaring daggers at Naruto. "And remember he's a ninja and you're not a ninja."

"What are you? A scared kitty?" Hideki taunted ignoring Kyoko completely. Naruto narrowed his eyes at him. What the hell kind of civilian was this? Challenging him? What?

Kyoko wanted to slap herself. 'Seriously?' She smiled at Naruto in what would be an apologetic smile if she wasn't shooting Hideki a glare as he stood up. Naruto jumped out of the tree watching Hideki curiously.

"Would you like to join us in our picnic?" Hideki asked politely and now Kyoko rose also curious of where this was going. Even Sasuke was suspicious. He wasn't going to interfere in this though.

"Uh... I'm kinda busy."

"Aww that's sad. I really wanted to let you taste the potato salad. It has some really special ingredients." Hideki said still wearing a smile even if it was falsely polite. At 'special ingredients' the others immediately stated eying the potato salad he had bent to pick up. He dipped a finger into it's and causally licked his finger when he pulled it out with a seemingly thoughtful look.

"Maybe next time?" Naruto asked more than said. Did this guy really go from wanting to kill him to being nice? His mood swings were worse than Sakura's.

"Right. How is it that you're busy yet you have to time to throw food on me? Some ninja you are." It was then that Kyoko realised exactly how Hideki was holding the bowl of potato salad but alas, it was too late. The bowl was already covering Naruto's face with potato salad. Kyoko looked on wide eyed. Though he would never admit it Sasuke was just as surprised but that surprise quickly turned to amusement and the strong need to stifle his laughter. Naruto had not even moved yet. Hideki took Kyoko's hand spun her around. She understood instantly: run. She grabbed the ends of her kimono with her free hand and ran for it.

"Hey!" Naruto finally yelled in anger but they were already pretty much out of the park. Sasuke walked over to stand beside him with a smirk. Naruto glared at him. "Shut up."

"I didn't say anything."

Wednesday

Temari watched with interest as Kiba and Akamaru trained with Sanji to improve his speed. The little puppy's size working for him and he was already surprisingly fast for his age. His few clumsy slips also had him doing well at dodging the projectiles Kiba sent flying at him. He was truly progressing. She was already off from the first test on the exams since it was just the written exam and she was not needed. Evidently Kiba had already done his delivery rounds and was pretty much ready to begin training Sanji. Temari just continued to watch until Kiba said that was it for the day and Sanji ran right into her arms. Kiba walked over and sat beside her leaning onto the tree too. Akamaru followed and easily rested his head in his master's lap.

"What do you have planned for next time?" Temari asked rubbing Sanji's belly to the little puppy's glee.

"I was thinking we could go back to that restaurant you like so much then take a walk around and just see the sights." he answered watching as she lifted her head with an amused look.

"I meant with his training." she said and Kiba immediately felt dumb. Of course she would be talking about the training. That's why they were there in the first place.

"Can't help if I like our evening escapades." he told her with a pout. She gasped.

"Big word Kiba!" she in mock excitement, clapping her hands. He rolled his eyes.

"Shut up." he said with no real harshness but ended up smiling at her. "We should probably start with joint training so he can get familiar with your fighting style and so you can get used to fighting with him."

"That's good then." she said turning her attention back to Sanji who had already fallen asleep. "Tomorrow?"

"Yea sure. Same time." he answered watching as she lovingly petted Sanji. She scooped him up in her arms and rose.

"Well, see you then."

"What about dinner?" he asked leaning off the tree a little. She was leaving already. She looked at him blankly.

"Tomorrow." she told him simply.

"Why?"

"You know about the thing Ino is having for all of us?"

"The sleep over mini party thing that we usually get drunk at?"

"Yea." Temari replied and he continued giving her a blank stare. "It's on Friday so I need to rest because we all know we won't be going to bed any earlier than sun rise."

"You have tomorrow to rest."

"You really want to go out."

"No duh."

"Pity." she said shrugged turning away. He watched as she walked away with a distinct sway in her hips. He smirked.

"But I'm gonna be busy!"

Thursday

Temari couldn't help looking over Sakura and Naruto's shoulders at Kiba. He was quite relaxed and reclined in the same bench she had caught him in on that faithful day that betrayal came to life. He was slouching with his face to the sky and his arms over the back of the bench. He had a stick of jerky in him mouth. The weird part of it all was that Genma stood just behind the bench also staring at the sky. They had been like that for several minutes now. Soon Kotetsu walked over and joined them face turned to the sky.

"Temari, are you here?" Sakura asked waving a hand before her friends face. Temari quickly turned her attention to her. "Are you ok?"

"Yea. What are they doing?" She answered motioning to the three behind Naruto. Both turned to look.

"Oh... It's Thursday at about four so I'd say it's the syndrome. They get worked like crazy by Tsunade-sama because she wants as much of her paper work done today so by about this time they're so exhausted that they begin to zone. You'll soon see Izumo and some others come to stare at the sky and have their own pity party." Sakura explained. Now, Temari understood what Kiba meant by being busy. She guessed they really couldn't go out today then.

"Suckas!" Naruto declared and the girls rolled their eyes. Temari then smiled at him.

"So Naruto, I hear you got food thrown on you by a civilian again." she said and he gaped at her. Sakura fell into a laughing fit.

"I told that bastard not to tell anyone!" Naruto exclaimed.

"What? You think Sasuke was the only one who saw?" Temari asked with a smile. Naruto's face turned white and Temari couldn't keep it in any longer. She laughed just as hard as Sakura was.

Well it looked like she should have really gone out with him the day before. Just her luck, looks like they couldn't even train. It was irritating. She had really wanted to hang out with him. Dear God, she was getting attached. Had it really become that usual to go out with him whenever she was in Konoha?

'Next thing I know, I'll start missing him at home.' she thought mentally shaking her head. As if.