"I'll go where ever you go."
"Hn." Itachi raised his eyebrows at his grinning friend.
"Hehe, finally we get to go out without the tacky disguise. Hinata-Chan, you don't mind if any fan girls come and disturb me do you?"
Hinata giggled and shook her head.
"No, I think it would be fun to see you surrounded by girls, Shisui-Chan."
Shisui's eyebrows twitched, for a moment he seemed slightly annoyed. Hinata thought it was because the thought of fan girls surrounding him was getting on his nerves.
Itachi sighed inwardly. That was probably his biggest worry yet; the fan girls.
He doubted that they'd go so far as to abusing Hinata if they catch him with her. He had been seen with other girls in public, there has been no real trouble during those times so it can't be that bad.
It wasn't like he was the ONLY handsome Uchiha in Konoha. Besides, they'd rather go for Shisui since he is more... outgoing. They wouldn't hurt Hinata, he'd make sure of it.
He would have to refrain from touching her and treat her like a normal friend. Like how he treats Amane and the rest of the girls in public.
"Yosh! Let's get a move on yo!" Shisui was a step ahead of them.
Itachi was a little concerned looking at the scarlet faced girl. Why is she so red all of a sudden? Is it because of Shisui's hug? No, she seemed fine just now.
"Hinata." She nearly jumped as Itachi called out to her.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I" She gulped. She got on her toes for awhile to whisper in Itachi's ear.
"W-When, did you sense Shisui-Cha – "
"Oi!" The Uchiha ahead called out.
"Come on slowpokes!"
"H-Hai! Sorry!" Hinata jogged a little to Shisui, while Itachi continued walking, just a step behind her smirking.
He bent down a little as he walked by her side.
"Don't worry," he whispered.
"He didn't see us hug." Her breathed hitched and he found this highly amusing for some reason.
Sasuke scowled. His fingers pressed on to the cup, ignoring the stinging pain of the heat.
"Hey you bastard! Where's my dango?"
Sasuke glared at the blonde atrocity, and pointed at the plate filled with four skewers of dango.
"Bastard! There are only four here! Where's the fifth one?!"
"Naruto! Don't make a fuss!" Sakura pushed her noisy team mate as she curled her lip.
"I ate the dango..." She muttered under her breath and folded her arms, a slight blush sported her cheeks.
"Oh, then it's OK!" Naruto grinned, ignoring Sasuke's growl.
"Ugh, I hate these places." Sakura sighed as she watched the Uchiha glare and scowl at almost every living thing that passed by him. He didn't even let go of the baby in the pram.
"Ok, Sasuke-kun what's wrong?"
"Yeah? What's biting your ass?" Naruto chewed and Sakura rolled her eyes at the sight of the boy beside her.
"I told you, I hate these places."
"I know, Ichiraku Ramen would have been a better place to – "
"Naruto, don't start." Sakura glared.
"Hai, hai Sakura-Chan," Naruto rubbed the back of his head and laughed nervously.
"Sasuke-kun, if you don't want to stay here we can always go for a little shop –"
"No." He said sternly, eyes narrowing at his pink haired team mate.
"Aw, don't be like that Sasuke-kun! I'll choose really cute outfits for you!" Sakura clasped her hands in front of her face, pleading.
"And besides, you need a little wardrobe upgrade."
Any other person would have gotten a piece of his mind by now, but he always had a soft spot for his two annoying team mates. Instead of telling them off he sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
"Yah" Naruto munched.
"Ero-senin used to say that fine feathers make a fine bird." Naruto nodded.
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Who cares about what that pervert says? He's probably senile anyway."
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura hit him lightly on the hand.
"Oi! He is one of the legendary sanin you bastard!"
"Age catches up with you whether you're a sanin or not." Sasuke sighed as he looked at his nails, feeling extremely bored now.
"Sasuke-kun, Naruto! Come on please? I am really good at choosing outfits, really! My mom fell in love with my father all over again after I dragged him out for shopping."
Both Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, nodding.
"Kar-pui!" the two chorused.
Naruto snickered and Sasuke smirked as their female team mate grumbled.
"Ah-mo! Whatever!" Sakura folded her arms, satisfied after managing to force out a smirk from the stoic Uchiha."
"Na, na Sakura-Chan don't get so mad now,"
"Hmph." She looked away, how dare they mock her sense of style!
He didn't know why he was so angry. It wasn't a big deal. So Itachi was going to see Hinata so what?
They're just friends. There is no way Itachi would like a girl like Hinata.
She was annoying, clumsy, shy and really, REALLY weird. It was only after he slept that he realized that she must have drugged him or something. There was no way he'd like a girl like that. He was just... looking forward to Wednesdays because he liked having a slave.
Plus, he got to eat really nice food for free.
"Ohohoho!" Naruto pointed, he jumped up slightly his feet on the wooden bench, his body crouched.
Amusement filled his eyes as he pointed out a certain dark haired trio.
Sasuke raised a brow as he took a sip of his tea. What is the idiot up to now?
"Naruto!" Sakura slapped his leg.
"Don't be an idiot and attract attention! Sit down!" She slapped him some more.
"Look, Sakura-Chan, Sasuke!" He pointed again.
"What is it?" Sakura stretched out her neck and lifted her head, trying to see what caught Naruto's eyes. Sasuke ignored the two and went back to sipping his tea.
He furrowed his brows as Sakura waved a hand at him; gesturing him to come look.
"Sasuke-kun! Look!"
"Tch," Sasuke grimaced.
"What?" He put his tea cup down on the table and turned his body slightly to the left, he tilted his head slight not really determined to see what the two are fussing about.
His body immediately turned fully on caprice as his older brother came in sight.
"Nii-san?" He looked quizzical.
He leaned towards the left and raised his head.
"Hey, you're blocking my view you bastard!"
"Shut up, idiot."
His eyes narrowed.
Hinata.
He gritted his teeth as he watched her smile happily beside him. Why was she smiling so much?
His head cocked back as he spotted another familiar face.
"Shisui?"
What the hell? She knows Shisui too?
His fists clenched as he listened to his team mates babble.
"Hey you think they're dating?" Naruto waggled his eyebrows and snickered.
"Don't be silly! Who would bring another guy on a date?"
Naruto shrugged.
"Hey, maybe they're like those weirdo couples who're bisexual ya know?"
"Naruto!"
The two froze as Sasuke turned back to face them, a dark emotion emitting out of his onyx eyes.
"Sasuke-kun?"
"Naruto, Sakura. You can stay in this shit hole, I am leaving." He said bluntly.
"Eh? Sasuke-kun! Where are you going?" Sakura stood up while Naruto was still crouched on top of the bench looking up at his friend.
"I am going to home."
"But Sasuke-kun – "
"Leave him Sakura-Chan." Naruto began, sounding wry.
Sakura turned to her blonde team mate and shook her head, shrugging with a confused expression.
"You and me both know that you're not going home." Naruto raised a brow and lowered his chin, for effect.
"First of all Naruto, it's not you and ME, it's you and I,"
Naruto's head dropped slightly and the fail.
"And second, what are you babbling about?"
Naruto smiled cheekily at Sasuke; his smile was so wide that wrinkles began forming at the edge of his eyes. It gave Sakura the shivers. He hasn't smiled like that since they initiated operation 'Sneak a peek at Kakashi-Sensei's mask.'
"He's going to follow his brother, ya know?"
Sasuke shook his head and rolled his eyes, trying to hide his thoughts from being imprinted on his face.
Shit, how the hell did he...
"I know, Sasuke." Naruto raised a brow.
Sakura's lower lip was covering her upper lip and her eyes were filled with amusement as she watched the two.
Sasuke squinted at Sakura before giving Naruto a disgusted look.
"Assume whatever you want to. I am leaving."
"O-Oi! You bastard!"
Naruto back flipped and miraculously ended up on his feet.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura called out.
The two tailed their team mate.
She wasn't in love with him. She just missed him.
She let out a sigh of relief as this realization dawned on her. If anything, his slight resemblance to Ken must have triggered that 'dream'.
Itachi was kind and sweet, surprisingly and she knew they were both just friends. They were just close.
When they first met, she never would have guessed that she'd be this close with him.
She openly hugged them and accepted their embraces; still feeling shy but rarely pulling away unless it's for air. In this case, it mostly involves Shisui.
They were great friends, she realized that he intentions all those years ago was not right.
She shouldn't have just become friends with them for Ken. She shouldn't have wanted to find him through them.
Even after all these years, waiting for someone who she hasn't seen in years would just be ludicrous but... it's not like she could help it.
During the Academy years, she was 'in love' with Naruto for over five years. Her feelings for Ken are considerably stronger than the feelings she had for the blonde, so even she didn't know if she could ever give him up if the need arises.
But best leave thoughts like these aside, she is out with friends. She ought to enjoy the time she has with the two before... they go away too.
Her fists clenched at her sides, just thinking about losing them made her frustrated.
She had been so hurt when Itachi was caught.
She became confused and angry with herself. She never wanted to feel like that again.
Would it be selfish for her to say that she'd never let her friends go?
It might.
"Naw, look at the crowd!" Shisui grumbled.
"We're never going to get in!" He folded his arms and pouted as he plopped on to ground, crossed legged.
"Shisui-Chan! It's dirty!" Hinata scurried over from Itachi's side to pull Shisui up.
Itachi sighed. He realized how much he liked it better back at the training ground.
He hated crowds. He just thought Hinata would like it better if they hung out like real friends.
The worst part of it all was that he couldn't be so close to her or she'd get scrutiny from his obsessed fan girls.
Being in love stinks; especially if you are in love with someone four years younger than yourself, that's what Itachi was thinking as he looked over his shoulder at Hinata bending down to talk to Shisui.
He'd sometimes want to smack a hand on to his forehead for being this way.
It was all so twisted really. Age is just number... he had repeated that over, and over again even to her. Maybe he was just trying to convince himself of that.
But who was he kidding? He couldn't let go of her even if he tried.
"Ano, Shisui-Chan..."
"I am not going anywhere else." Shisui looked away. Itachi sighed.
"Come on, Shisui-Chan," She gently tugged on his sleeve.
"I know another nice place..." Shisui turned to his female friend.
"Where Hmm?" He narrowed his eyes at her.
To be honest, she didn't really go out that much. She didn't know where the good food was, or where the best items were. She was what her teenage friends would call 'lame.'
The only place she knew that had edible food was,
"I-Ichiraku ramen?" Hinata shrugged.
Shisui raised a brow and his pout disappeared.
"Ramen?" Shisui looked back at Itachi who was indifferent as always. No point looking at him, he'd eat anything.
"There are lots of flavours," Hinata looked away, trying to remember or at least make up a few names on the menu.
"Miso, spicy, chicken..." She put a finger on her lower lip and tapped. Her eyes flickered to the Uchiha only to see him on his feet. Her head jerked back a little as he grinned.
"Yosh! Ramen sounds good!"
"Oi, they're going to Ichiraku's ya know?" Naruto whispered.
"Shhh!" Sakura gestured him to keep silent while Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"It's going to be obvious someone's trailing him if we move in a three man cell." Sasuke rubbed his temples in attempt to soothe his growing headache.
"Then it's best if we split up ya know?" Naruto's mouth watered as an idea struck.
"Hn." Sasuke nodded, being able to get the two away from him was just what he needed.
"I'll stay with Sasuke-kun."
Ugh...
"B-But Sakura-Chan..." Naruto's head dropped as she shoo-ed him away, but the thought of ramen brought his spirit back.
Sasuke watched the trio making their way to the other side of the street.
His eyes narrowed at a certain sign board, and immediately widened as he saw the customer seated on the very last stool on the right.
"Oh, O-san! Three miso ramen please!"
"Oh, Naruto eh? I would ask if you were having friends over but that never seems to be the case eh?"
Naruto grinned at the old man, and Teuchi shook his head as he repeated the boy's order to his daughter.
Sasuke cursed inwardly. What the hell is that dobe doing?!
Sakura looked at the fuming Sasuke by her side and gulped. They should have just let him go.
"Sasuke-kun?" She asked wary of his scowl.
"I don't think Naruto would do something stu – " Oh wait, he always does something stupid.
Sasuke took a deep breathed and sighed, extremely frustrated by the situation.
She backed away from the choleric Uchiha as he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
That idiot...
"Itachi-kun," Hinata tugged on his sleeve and pointed.
"Look, it's so cute." She smiled at the trinkets on display and Shisui glared at Itachi pointedly
'I am not wearing those.'
Itachi nodded.
'Neither am I.'
The two inwardly sighed in relief as she continued walking, looks like the trinkets weren't cute enough.
Itachi noticed her hand still latched on to his sleeve and gently grabbed her wrist and tugged.
Hinata furrowed her eye brows and looked up at him; eyes unreadable as ever
She noticed him tugging continuously and decided to just obey.
Maybe he wasn't in a good mood. Or maybe; but hopefully not, he just didn't want to seem so close with her out in the public. After all there were a number of girls staring at the them.
It's nothing.
She told herself as she clutched her jacket.
"Tempura, dango shop," Shisui rolled his eyes. Konoha was seriously lacking in entertainment and good food. Well at least it's way better than Suna, he thought.
"Ah! Ichifuku ramen!"
"Ichiraku." Itachi corrected and Shisui waved it off.
"Potato, potahto." Shisui shrugged and Hinata giggled.
Her eyes caught glimpse of an orange blob in the corner of the stall.
She turned her head, curious and smiled brightly as she spotted her crush from all those years ago.
"Naruto-kun!" She waved shyly.
The blonde's head turned immediately, a few noodles dangling from his chin.
He smiled (or at least it looked like a smile, it's hard to tell) at the Hyuuga girl and waved frantically.
"Hinataaaaa!" She giggled at her effervescent friend.
Hinata walked towards the boy, the other two Uchihas followed behind her.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Naruto smirked, trying his best not to direct his eyes to the two men behind her.
"Um, I am out with my friends." The way she said it sounded more like a question than a statement.
Shisui peeked at the boy from Hinata's shoulder.
The infamous Uzumaki Naruto, conversing effortlessly with Hinata. Both Uchiha's were intrigued and slightly peeved by how easily he struck up a conversation with the girl.
Not many people could do that.
"Ah! These are your friends?!"
"M-Mm." Hinata nodded meekly.
"Sup?" Shisui raised a brow.
"Naruto-kun." Itachi nodded.
Naruto couldn't help it. He smirked.
"Itachi! And... Itachi's friend!" Naruto winked.
Shisui really didn't like how life has been so far.
He was always the one given attention, the one who everybody loved to be around and wanted to be around. It sucked a lot when Naruto had remembered Itachi's name and not his, but that was to be expected, he had only met Naruto a few times. Itachi was Sasuke's brother so it shouldn't the fact that he remembers his best friend's brother's name shouldn't surprise or irritate him.
But it did.
"Welcome!" Teuchi came in, a little off cue.
"Please take a seat!"
Sit somewhere far away from Hinata.
Shisui nodded to himself.
"Hinata-Chan,"
"Hm?" She looked at him ever so innocently. He hesitated.
"Come sit next to me."
Damn.
Hinata smiled and nodded. Itachi watched impassively.
Naruto knit his eyebrows for a moment as Shisui sat next to him, gesturing Hinata to sit on his right.
Itachi sighed, before taking the seat next to Hinata.
Just sitting beside a friendly friend. It seems right, right?
No one would misunderstand them; they just seemed like normal friends.
There was no weirdness, there was no different aura between them.
No one would know that all he wanted to do was slide closer, wrap his hand around her waist, pull her closer and...
Maybe he should have sat next to Naruto.
Teuchi went to the back shortly after taking their orders, leaving the four to their conversation.
"So, Itachi are you and Hinata on a da – "
"Naruto!" Heads turned, all eyes centered on the bubble gum haired kunoichi.
She didn't even flinch. Instead she stomped towards her team mate.
She force on a rather disturbing smile as she stood before him.
"Here, extra roasted pork on the house!" Teuchi set the bowls.
"Thank you," Hinata bowed her head, Itachi nodded Shisui stared, amused.
"Sa-Sakura-Chan!" He gulped and laughed nervously.
"I've been looking everywhere for you! I should have known you'd be here."
Neither of them missed the slight annoyance in her voice.
Shisui's first thought of the girl was that she was pretty good looking, but right now he reminded him of Tsunade and that scared him a little.
Poor blondie.
"Naruto." Naruto shuddered at the sound of his dark voice.
He grinned at his other team mate; looking as usual impassive standing behind Sakura with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Naruto would've ignored the fact that his voice had a hint of threat, if his eyes hadn't twitched in that way...
He knew he was in for it.
"Sasuke?" Itachi raised a brow.
"Nii-san. Shisui." Sasuke lazily turned.
Hinata pondered whether or not she should greet her... um... she didn't know what to call him.
An 'Eep!' escaped her lips as his stare suddenly directed to her.
"S-Sasuke!" She got up, nervous. She bowed to an almost 90 degree angle before she shot up, feeling very, very embarrassed.
"Good e-evening."
Without a word, he grabbed his best friend's collar and dragged him away.
"Come on idiot,"
He gave one last nod to his brother before leaving, tightening his grip on Naruto's collar as they got further away.
"O-Ow, you bastard! That hurts!"
He wanted to kill him. He is going to kill him.
Shisui turned to Hinata with a 'weirded out' look that made Hinata giggle.
Hinata smiled widely.
"They are really nice." Hinata broke her chopsticks.
Shisui chuckled.
"The pinkie looked scary though. She reminds me of Tsunade-sama." He scowled as Tsunade's name left his lips.
"Shisui-Chan!" Hinata held back her giggle and pressed her lips together to keep from smiling.
Shisui snickered. Hinata was fun to be with.
He was a person who got a lot of attention from a lot of different people; a lot of weird, old, young, ugly and beautiful people. And yet, he liked Hinata's attention the most.