Blueberries Chapter 4: Annoying, a naruto fanfic

Well here it is! Chapter four…

They say that those who are never quiet, never listen…

Hinata had always wanted a younger sister, so that she could dress her and teach her and do her hair, as she had seen others do. So when her father told her that her mother had had a child, she immediately expected it to be a girl. But what she didn't expect was for her mother to die the next day.

She loved her mother, truly she did, but when she heard the news she didn't seem all that sad. She had a new baby sister, it was like her mother's parting gift. For if the elders all said that Hinata looked like her father, then surely her sister would look exactly like her mother, and that made up for the loss.

But Hanabi –as the girl was later named according to part of her mother's parting wish (the other part pertaining to Hinata)- proved to be a little…difficult. She was loveable, yes, and of course proving to look exactly as her mother, but also acting just as stubborn and headstrong as her father.

By the time Hanabi could walk, which was just too soon, she just wouldn't sit still! She would follow either, Hinata, her father, or one of the maids restlessly, never leaving until she got what she wanted. Hinata was fine with this, as long as Hanabi never followed her outside. She worried that Hanabi might soon find out about her blond blue-eyed friend, for young and small as she was, she was incredibly sneaky. She decided to address her best friend about this…problem.

"B-but what if she sees us."

Little Hinata shifted her weight from her right foot to her left on the damp ground under the big oak tree. It had rained yesterday in spring, which shouldn't be strange, Hinata thought, because April showers bring May flowers…but it was still March, so she changed her mind, it was indeed strange. Strange, strange world…

The boy was quick to answer. "She wouldn't follow you outside." It was a known fact: Little girls of that age were never allowed outside!

But Hinata was persistent. "B-but what if she does? She has a w-way of getting around the rules."

"Well she wouldn't remember anyway-she's just a little kid, they don't remember anything," was his reply (which was ironic because the were also but children at the time).

And with that Hinata was satisfied, for she knew that her secret was safe-for now at least. So while Hanabi may have continued to bother many others, Hinata was perfectly content with her- her little annoying bundle of joy, her precious gift.

Ch 4: Annoying

"I should've thought twice before agreeing to travel with a bunch of girls."

Sasuke grimaced. Everywhere he walked, people-mainly women of all ages-were staring at him. And what made it worse was that, in between the stares, they were glaring at the four girls who walked with him: the traveling freak show. There was the tomboy who was ready to fling almost anything at anyone with perfect precision (he had experienced this at a restaurant when he had walked up behind her-she was armed with a fork), the shy girl who never said anything, the annoying big-mouthed blond who was just waiting for any chance to grope him, and of course the most annoying one of all, I mean, who the hell has naturally pink hair? Yes he should have thought twice indeed, but being in such a hurry to get away from Mr. Hal's he just skipped right over that part, didn't he?

Oh but we haven't even gotten to the best part yet. There were even men falling over their feet staring at him. And then-oh my God, Ino was in such deep shit for this-Sai. He claimed he was an artist. Yeah right, artist my ass! The guy was completely gay! And Ino-the little bitch-actually thought they looked cute together! The result was a picture, taken expertly by the witch herself, of the little gaylord trying to practically lick his face! Oh she was so dead. (ok ok just to clear this up, i have nothing against gay people! I think they're awesome & should have equal rights. all clear? ok please continue!)

Sasuke was definitely having a bad day-if the word "bad" even covered it at all.

On the plus side at least Ino had gotten her full share of enjoyment. She wasn't letting that camera out of her sight and snuggled it like a little baby against her chest.

For once couldn't the world be fair?

Thus started a new day, a new search, and a new sequence of uneventful surprises. Yet still, no sign of Hinata's mystery guy.

"You know Sasuke," said Sakura, "you didn't have to come with us. It's not like any of us would've cared if you didn't come anyway." She stuck her nose up in the air. Yeah, no one would've cared.

"I would've!" screeched Ino, raising her hand like a child in a classroom.

"At least someone appreciates me," muttered Sasuke.

"I mean," continued Ino, "Who else would I have taken ridiculous pictures of only to post them on the internet for the whole world to see & my personal enjoyment!" She giggled and held her camera closer. Tenten rolled her eyes.

"See," Sakura pointed out.

"You're annoying," Sasuke muttered under his breath.

"Exca-use me?"

"Pink-haired freak."

"WHY YOU-"

"U-um Sakura?" whispered Hinata. She was tugging on Sakura's sleeve, looking around nervously. "Everyone's staring."

Sakura looked around and sure enough, about twenty pairs of eyes were staring, and her face turned red in embarrassment - or was that anger at a certain drop-dead gorgeous pizza man?

Sasuke continued walking as if nothing had happened with a small smirk on his face. Sakura on the other hand muttered curses under her breath.

"Well anyway…" started Tenten, obviously trying to break the tension in the air, "I'm kinda hungry, how 'bout you guys? Why don't we go eat at that place down the street?"

"I think that's a great idea!" said Hinata. "How about you Ino?"

"Ew that place looks cheap…I mean, oh, yeah definitely!" said Ino after some encouragement from Tenten's elbow nudged in her side.

"Well you two?" asked Tenten, looking back at Sakura and Sasuke.

"Sure."

"Hn."

"Um, ok…" said Hinata, "I guess it's settled then. Let's go!"

"Ew, this place looks gross. Where's my escargot?"

"Um, we're not in France, Ino," said Hinata she entered the small restaurant.

Tenten stared at Ino with a disgusted look on her face. "Do you even know what that is Ino?"

"What? Escargot? It's deliciousness!!" replied Ino.

"Um, Ino," said a fidgeting Hinata, "it's snails."

For a second Ino was frozen, until she turned blue and ran straight around the counter to the kitchen. Yells were heard and pots and pans dropped to the floor, and after a few minutes a sick looking Ino was dragged out by two angry chefs. They marched right up to Tenten and Hinata.

"Does this belong to you?" the first one said, clearly meaning Ino.

"Ino!" said Sakura running between Tenten and Hinata to Ino's side. "What did you do?"

Ino looked up at Sakura with a drunken look on her face. "They're snails, Sakura…they're snails!"

"Get her out of here and keep her out," said the second chef, and with that they dumped her on Sakura so that she stumbled a bit.

She sighed. "Come on Ino, let's go outside and get you cleaned up." She started walking to the door while supporting Ino. "I'll stay with her. Can you guys order something and bring it out to us? Thanks," She added to Hinata and Tenten.

"Snails! Snails, Sakura! Can you believe that!"

"Yes Ino that's why I threw them out when no one was looking," muttered Sakura, walking out the door.

"Ok," said Tenten, turning back to Hinata, "looks like it's just you, me, and…where's Sasuke?" The two girls looked around.

"There," said Hinata, pointing at a huge mob of girls with a bored looking Sasuke in the middle.

Tenten thought about this for a second, but then decided to ignore it. "So what do they have to eat here anyway?" said Tenten, studying the menu.

"Um…Ramen," Hinata replied. (and we all know where there's ramen, there's…)

"HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, EVERYBODY! I'M HUNGRY! AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!"

It sounded as if the whole restaurant groaned. It seemed that he must be a regular here, a regular that not so many people looked foreword to seeing.

"N-naruto?" Hinata turned toward the door to see the blond-haired bright-eyed boy that just burst in.

"Oh great," Tenten muttered.

"Hinata!" Naruto rushed over to tackle the shy girl in a hug to which Hinata responded by blushing. "It's cool to see you again! Hi Tenten!" he added upon noticing the other girl.

"W-what are you doing here N-naruto?" asked Hinata after being released from the hug.

"Me? I practically live here!" yelled Naruto with a boyish grin. "I come here everyday for my daily dose of ramen!"

"More like twice a day," added the man behind the counter. "What will it be today, Naruto?"

"Ah, you know, the usual Big Guy," said Naruto with a casual wave of his hand. (I didn't feel like giving him a name so he's just 'the Big Guy' ok)

"Which usual," asked the Big Guy, leaning on the counter.

Now this Naruto had to think about. There were so many delicious types of ramen, how could he possibly pick only one? But wait, he didn't have to pick only one. There was no end to his hunger, so why not pick two? Or better yet, five? Even ten or twenty? He had made up his mind.

"All of them!"

Hinata gasped. The Big Guy sighed. Tenten just rolled her eyes. 'idiot'

"B-but Naruto, how could you possibly eat so many?" Hinata said, looking at the Big Guy's retreating back.

"Oh it's no big deal Hinata!" He clapped her on the back. "I'll be done with those in no time! Y'know my record's 58 seconds!"

Hinata raised a hand to her lips and whispered, "Oh my."

Tenten rolled her eyes yet again. "Oh come on Hina, he's not serious. That's one of the oldest pick up lines in the book!"

Two pairs of eyes widened at the same time. "Pick up line?" they said at the same time. Hinata nearly fainted.

"You know, boy trying to get the girl…" She sighed. "You're hopeless."

"But I'm serious!" He looked at Hinata. "58 seconds I swear it." Just then all seventeen bowls of ramen were brought out and placed in front of Naruto. "Yes! Start counting!" He dove into the first bowl like an angry pack of wolverines.

the first bowl was finished. "Unbelievable," whispered Hinata.

second bowl

third

fourth

fifth

sixth

seventh

eighth

ninth

tenth

eleventh

"He's not going to make it."

twelfth

thirteenth

fourteenth

fifteenth He was going at record time!

sixteenth

"unbelievable!"

all eyes were on the blond headed beast

"Done!" He held up his last bowl as proof, and the restaurant cheered.

"Naruto you did it!" Hinata yelled. "And you beat your record by 2 seconds, too!"

"Hey I did, didn't I?" he said with a hug smile. He stuck his tongue out at Tenten who was gaping at him.

Sakura came bursting through the door with a better-looking Ino by her side. "What? What's happening? Why's everybody cheering? Aw, I always miss out on these things!"

"Who's that guy talking to Hinata?" said Ino, squinting into the crowd.

"Naruto." Sakura and Ino looked up to see Sasuke standing next to them. "He just ate seventeen bowls of ramen in 56 seconds."

"Where'd you come from?" asked Sakura.

"My mother," Sasuke responded without looking at her.

Sakura gave him a disgusted look. "You're sick."

Sasuke just smirked. He really just escaped from a crowd of groping girls while they were preoccupied staring at Naruto, but if he said that it would just ruin his image, now wouldn't it?

Suddenly from across the room, one of the chefs caught Ino's eye. "It's her! The one from the kitchen!"

The Big Guy looked toward the door at a certain surprisingly confused Ino. "She's banned! Get her!"

Ino opened her mouth to yell something back, but then decided against it. "Oops! I'm out." And with that she ran out of the restaurant with about half the people running after her.

Sakura grabbed Sasuke's arm. "Oh no, Ino! We have to save her!"

Sasuke looked down at Sakura's hand. "Stop touching me."

Sakura glared at Sasuke and screamed, "Why don't YOU stop touching ME!" and ran out after the angry mob, leaving Sasuke utterly confused.

"Ino!" Hinata gasped.

Naruto turned to look at her. "Who's she?"

"My friend Ino, and we have to help her!"

"Well then what are we standing around here for?" He grabbed Hinata's hand and ran. "Let's go!" Hinata ran along blushing like mad.

Tenten sighed. "Well Sasuke, we might as well," she said as she ran past him and out the door.

"Troublesome." He started toward the door but then stopped. "Damn Shikamaru's rubbing off on me."

And so he went after Tenten, who ran after Hinata and Naruto, who followed behind Sakura, who scurried after the angry mob, that chased Ino for…well, you know.

Isn't it just a wonderful day?

With Neji…

'Shouldn't I be getting close to them some time soon?'

Neji had been traveling for days with still no sight of his cousin or her corrupting friend. He didn't leave that long after them, so…what was taking so long?

His thoughts were interrupted by a small noise behind him, but when he turned around, there was nothing there. He continued walking but heard a second set of footprints behind him. He stopped. They stopped as well. There was only one person who would be following him, and trying not to be seen.

"Come out Hanabi."

The small, headstrong girl came out from behind a tree on the side of the road and marched right up to her cousin. "Now listen here-"

"Go home Hanabi," Neji cut in.

"But Neji-"

"Go home," he repeated and began walking.

Hanabi had to think of something quick before he left her in the dust and she was forced to go home. "You know, you need me as much as I need you." He stopped. It was working. "Yeah, you heard me. You know my sister won't go with you just because you say so. That is, if you even find her. You could be going in the complete opposite direction for all you know."

Neji turned to face his cousin. "But the lady said-"

"Ha! That lady would've told you anything you wanted to hear, and you know it. You can't trust that lady." A smug smirk crept its way onto her face.

Neji scowled. "How could you help me anyway?"

"I'm her sister," she shrugged as she walked up to him, "we have this thing, you know? Like we 'know' what the other is doing and thinking…and even where they are."

"Then where is she?" Neji growled. She was starting to get on his nerves.

Hanabi rolled her eyes. "Not here. Personally, I think you're going the wrong way."

Neji grunted and continued walking. But Hanabi wasn't panicking this time. She had him right where she wanted.

"Besides," she continued, "you're not even trying to find Hinata, you're just in it for that friend of hers, Tenten." He didn't say anything but continued walking. She followed. "Face it, you like her. You know you can't deny it," she said with a smirk.

"I'm not listening to you."

"Then I'll say it louder. NEJI LIKES-"

She was silenced by his hand on her mouth. "Shut up."

She pulled his hand down so she could speak. "I knew it, you do."

He pulled back and finally looked her in the eye. "What do you want Hanabi."

Hanabi was serious again, and equally matched his stare. "I want you to take me with you." When he didn't say anything she added, "I can help, really."

Did he need her help? He figured that sister stuff was just a bunch of bologna, but what if it was true? Had he been going in the wrong direction all this time? But other than that, he really did need her help. He knew he wouldn't be able to convince Hinata to turn back that easily. And let's face it, Hanabi was a very convincing person.

That smirk was on her face again; she knew she had won. And Neji only had the pleasure of adding to her delight. "Fine." He paused as she celebrated. "But wait, what about your father? He won't be happy having two daughters missing."

Hanabi laughed. "Don't worry, I got that aaaall covered!"

Flashback

It was all set. Hiashi Hyuuga sat down for dinner with two places missing at the table, Hinata's and Neji's. Dinner tonight started out with something special, requested by Hanabi herself. For she had realized something that not many others seemed to notice. For every time Hiashi had some of a certain kind of soup made by Hinata and Hanabi's personal maid Suki-the one who was supposed to be watching Hinata the day she left-he seems to agree to pretty much everything.

So on the day Neji left, Hanabi came up with a plan. She asked Suki to make her special soup so that at dinner she could fool her dad into let her go. Simple, right? Now, all he had to do was take a sip of his soup and…

Perfect!

Hanabi smiled. He was in her territory now. "Father?"

"Yes Hanabi?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

Hiashi hesitated. "Of course."

She waited until he was almost halfway done with his soup so that he was only half-listening to what she was saying. "Can I go to a camp with my friends? An overnight camp, that is."

When her father didn't say anything, she thought he had come back to his senses, but then his answer drove that thought away. "You may."

Hanabi overflowed with joy, but didn't let her father see it. "Thank you father." And for extra measure, she got up and hugged him.

'mission accomplished'

End of Flashback

"You WHAT!"

"Calm down Neji, it's no big deal," Hanabi said nonchalantly.

Neji on the other hand, was furious. "Yes it is a big deal. He's going to kill you! And then he's going have me killed! How could you do such a thing?"

"Hey, hey!" Hanabi held her arms up in her defense. "I know to you he's all 'Head of the Family' and all, but to me he's just my dad. It's cool."

Neji took a second to calm down and said, "If he doesn't kill you first I'll do it myself," then began walking.

The little brat was going to be annoying as hell.

Well there it is! R&R please!