When Sasuke checked his email, what he found made him happy for the first time in months. He had received an email from Peter Singer's assistant at Princeton. Peter Singer had read his essay that was published on The New Yorker and was interested to learn more about his views on global poverty, it wrote. Would Sasuke care to meet him when he visits California next month? Finally, Sasuke thought, a chance to secure an Ivy without family connections. Not to mention that it felt good when someone important is interested in what you had to say.

Sighing, he pulled out his history book to prepare for the reading assigned for the next two weeks. He was't so surprised to find a pink heart-shaped card tucked behind the front cover. It was a note from Ino. She and Sakura been pestering him about the Halloween party for the past few weeks.

Hey handsome,

Just reminding you not to make any plans this Halloween because you're coming to my party. I'll be really upset if the hottest guy in school doesn't come.

XOXO,

Ino

Sasuke couldn't help but smile. His experiment was going to begin soon. It first started as a thought experiment, but he had been wanting to test it. How quickly would a woman desert her best friend for a man she hardly even knows? Perhaps he'll start with Ino after all, since she would probably be the one to betray Sakura first. Don't worry, Ino. I'll come.

Hinata felt ashamed of herself. She had spent the entire weekend practicing throwing punches in her room with her CD player blasted "Trouble" by Shampoo on repeat. But now, she was nervous and terrified. She had to force her knees to stop shaking during first period. At this rate, she will have spent all her energy before gym class. Perhaps another chocolate bar could help conserve her energy. As she bent over to search for a Snickers in her backpack, she felt someone's hand on her back.

"Hey, you excited to get your money back today?" Oh, it's Naruto.

"Whoa," he removed his hand from her back and brushed it on his pants, "you're really sweaty. Are you OK?"

"I-oh, um, yes. Just a bit nervous, that's all."

"Hah! Nervous? Don't be! If you need help, just yell really loud and I'll come running. Just make sure you're loud enough, so that I can hear you all the way from the R building."

"Oh..." Her silly heart started to beat so hard that it felt like her lungs had gotten smaller. She willed herself to breath deep and slow. "Thank you, Naruto."

When it was time for lunch, Hinata looked around for Shino. She was glad to see that Kiba sat with them today. Apparently this was one of the few times that he decided not to skip out and eat off campus. "Hey H-money, how you been?"

"Hinata, the manner in which your knees are shaking tells me something is awry. Speak your mind."

Hinata told them about Tayuya, the locker room incident, and her plan to confront her during gym.

"I urge you to take caution, Hinata. Remember, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And Tayuya is someone who raises hell even without being scorned."

"Hey, don't forget that that bitch was the one doing the scorning here." He turned to Hinata, "Hey, listen, either way, I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself. Just be careful, you got that?"

"Thanks, you guys are the best," she said in her squeaky voice as she hugged them.

When the bell rang, her nervousness kicked in and she wanted to die. Nonetheless, she trudged herself to the gym's locker room and tried to pump herself up. It worked briefly until she saw Tayuya changing into her clothes. At least Kin isn't here today. Maybe I won't even have to fight at all. Maybe I can just ask her for the money, and she'll have a change of heart and will stop picking on me... Heck, who am I fooling? She changed into her gym clothes and stuffed her backpack into her locker. She walked over to Tayuya, trying to put on her best game face.

"Tayuya, I would like my money back." She cursed herself for raising her tone at the end, making it sound more like a plea than a command.

Tayuya slowly turned around, cocked her head to the side, and stared at Hinata through the corner of her eyes. "Bitch," she chuckled, "are you crazy?"

"Give me my money," her voice was significantly firmer this time.

"No," she hissed, drawing back her fist, "but you can have a knuckle sandwich!"

Hinata blocked the punch with her left forearm and delivered a solid blow to Tayuya's nose. It seemed that her body reacted much more quickly than her mind this time. Tayuya was now on the floor covering her bleeding nose.

"God, you pig! The fuck was that for?! Get the fuck away from me!"

What? Tayuya started to cower. Is it over? She reached out to touch Tayuya. Was it really that easy?

"Leave me alone!" With that, Hinata left the building.

Kiba had been waiting by the side of the building since the lunch bell rang. He wasn't too worried about being tardy since his auto shop teacher liked him. When he finally saw Hinata walk out, looking very nervous but also very exhilarated, he was relieved. That's my girl.


At the beginning of the class, Hinata was terrified that she would get in trouble for violent conduct. Thankfully, when Tayuya finally joined the class, she said nothing. When Mr. Might asked her why she was late and sported a swollen nose, she responded that she fell and had to clean herself up. Does Mr. Might have a problem with that? Mr. Might told her to cheer up, that her nose wasn't something a youthful four laps around the track couldn't fix. Now get to it.

When her class finally ended, Hinata noted that Tayuya painfully avoided her. She was the last to enter the locker room and the first to leave, taking her clothes and backpack and running off in order to change elsewhere. As Hinata walked to her sixth period class, she replayed the scene over and over again. She could not believe that her first time standing up to someone would be so painless. From what Naruto told her, she imagined it would involve constantly telling herself not to give up despite being beaten to a bloody pulp. She felt a bit hypocritical, since she didn't usually approve of violence. Still, she couldn't help but be pleased with herself. Maybe this means I can take care of myself after all. Maybe...just maybe this means I'm strong?

When she got to History, she told Naruto all about her first fight.

"What?! From just one hit?! Hinata, you're awesome!"

"Heh...no...shucks...oh it was nothing," Hinata smiled coyly. Naruto is proud of me!

"Here, a present for the champ." Naruto slid a chocolate bar on her desk.

"Thanks!" Hinata suddenly got an idea, "Ummm Naruto? Ummm...if you don't mind, would you, erhm, like to go to dinner with me? I mean, I would like to thank you, you know, for coaching me and all. But I mean, ummm, it's only if you have nothing better to do."

"Yeah, sure! Naruto Uzumaki never turns down a free meal! Meet me at the ship yard at 7?"

"Of course!"

It was Neji's first day at his new gym. He didn't like it much but it was the only thing he could afford with his own money. He supposed he could ask his uncle for money, but he didn't like the man much. And since it was his last year at Konoha, he wanted to leave proud. In Neji's terms, that meant breaking the school's record for the 400 meter sprint. And that meant working out during weekends too.

He walked around the crowded room, trying to find a machine that would help him work on his deltoids. Most of the equipment seemed to have tattered cushions that were simply held together with duct tape. This place almost seemed like a joke to him. Outdated equipment. Men who pretended to lift weights only to ogle scantily clad women. Fantastic.

"Need some help?" The person speaking was a pretty girl with light brown eyes and two dark buns fastened at the top of her head.

"No." He continued to search for the deltoid machine, unaware that the girl was still following him.

"Which muscles are you trying to work on?"

"Shoulders."

"Oh! Let's go over there then." She led him toward the western end of the gym.

"Listen," she whispered, "I know you're not interested, but that creepy man has been hitting on me for the past few days, so I'd appreciate it if you could pretend to be my friend for the next while."

"Fine."

"My name is Tenten."

"Neji."

"Nice to meet you, Neji."

"And then I told her sequins come and go, but floral never goes out of style. And like Coco Chanel said, fashions fade, but style lasts," Ino chimed.

"Yeah speaking of fashion, will you put on some decent clothes? Your boobs are falling out of your shirt."

"Shikamaru, why are you so afraid of a little skin? You're such a prude...." Ino chided.

"Uh guys, where do you wanna eat tonight?" Chouji felt the need to change the topic before his two friends started to bicker again.

"I don't care, as long as it's not barbecue. I'm so sick of barbecue! It's like that's the only thing you boys ever wanna eat!"

"Whatever. I heard about this ramen place downtown. It's supposedly good but it's kinda grungy," Shikamaru said.

"Sounds good." As long as the food was good, the place could be a dump for all Chouji cared.

After Hinata had finished her practice with Kurenai at the dance studio, she asked if Kurenai wanted to join her and Naruto for dinner. Kurenai said she wouldn't do something so cruel as tagging along with her on her first date, despite Hinata insisting that it wasn't a date. However, Kurenai did insist on driving Hinata to the shipping yard. When Naruto finally came out, Hinata asked Temari if she wanted to join them for dinner at a local ramen shop, to which Temari consented.

Ichiraku ramen was located on the opposite corner of the strip club that many of the residents frequented. In order to blend with its surroundings, the restaurant's small entrance was adorned with colorful neon lights that looked surprisingly tasteful. However, as far as good decor, that was as far as the restaurant went. The floors were decked with dirty linoleum and the tables were made of cheap wood, dark and sticky after years of its pores absorbing spilled soup and sauces. But what Ichiraku lacked in hygiene, it certainly made up for in zest. The food kept customers coming back for years, and Naruto had been one of its most loyal patrons.

A friendly elderly man greeted them from behind the counter, "Hohoho, Naruto, are these your girlfriends, you lucky dog?"

"Hehehe," Naruto scratched the back of his head, "I wish!" Temari snorted and Hinata tented her fingers nervously.

"Teuchi, we'll sit outside!" Naruto led his friends outside to a large table by the window. He chose the seat closest to the window so that he could see across the street and watch people enter and leave the strip club. He was about to point out to the girls the cool surfer sunglasses that the bouncer was wearing when his thoughts were interrupted by a lazy baritone.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Whoa, Shikamaru? Why are YOU here?"

"You told me this place was good, so I brought Chouji and Ino to try it out."

"Um Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, please join us."

"Thanks," Ino chirped as she sat next to Naruto, "Hey so, you guys are totally coming to Shikamaru's Halloween party, right?"

"What?! HEY, Shikamaru, why didn't you invite us?! I thought we were pals!"

"Calm down, Naruto. It's not even really my party. Ino's forcing me to throw a party at my house because they're still expanding her pool. You guys are free to come if you want, but I'll probably just be asleep upstairs."

"WHAT?! No you won't be, dimwit! You're wearing the costume that I'm making. That's final."

"Oh umm, Ino, Shikamaru tells me you make beautiful dresses."

I didn't say beautiful.

Ino studied Hinata carefully. "Hinata, you have amazing skin. What kind of soap do you use?"

"Oh ummm, thanks I really don't," Hinata wished she knew how to react to compliments, "I don't know, ummm, I just use whatever is in the soap dispenser." She could feel her upper lip getting moist again.

Shikamaru smirked. It's not the soap, Ino. It's because she sweats so damn much.

"Well, anyway, I'm going to make you a dress and I want you to wear it at the Halloween party. Don't worry it'll be fabulous. My dresses look great on plus-sized people too!"

Shikamaru and Chouji winced at her comment, and Ino happened to notice.

"What? Oh! I'm so sorry, I just meant for people who aren't that skinny. You aren't offended, are you?"

"Oh, ummm, no I'm not, don't worry, Ino."

"Yeah! Hinata's not like you, Ino, she's really tough!" Naruto said to a suddenly livid Ino. Hinata wondered what she had done to deserve such a wonderful day.

"Yes, you shouldn't worry, this one here is strong," said the darker blonde.

"Ahem, so Temari," Shikamaru jumped at the opportunity to change topics, "are you coming to Ino's party? There will be a lot of people you can terrorize."

"I will try to come babysit you if I get off work on time."

"Great, maybe I will ditch the party after all."

The others at the table did not notice that the two exchanged wry glances at each other for the rest of the night.