DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. THIS IS JUST A FAN-MADE STORY!

Naruto was sitting up in bed, a bowl of glistening ramen in his hands. He had tried to sleep but his growling stomach wouldn't let him, and besides, he was a bit worried about Tsubaki as well.

The round moon had finally decided to emerge, lighting up his wooden room (which was decorated with clutter). He hated cleaning up, and unfortunately, this showed greatly in the empty ramen packets strewn about beneath heaps of clothes.

I'm such a clutz...He thought groggily as he stuffed another spoonful of hot ramen noodles into his mouth. He could barely keep his eyes open to see where he was directing his spoon, which resulted in him knocking it against his cheek and chin several times.

Suddenly though, the moonlight in his room faded into darkness as a silhouetted figure appeared in his window.

"GYAAAH!" he yelled, almost lunging his bowl of ramen into his bedpost.

"Relax Nar, it's just me," Tsubaki's voice said calmly. The figure jumped into the room and soon he was able to identify her.

"Tsubaki! You, like, almost gave me a heart attack!" Naruto yelped hoarsely.

"Relax, you can't die before you become Hokage right?" she quipped, flashing him a cheeky grin.

"Y-yeah, I s'pose...Say, where were you anyway?" he asked, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"I stopped for a rest is all, and now I couldn't be better. I'm feelin' alive Naruto!" she said, throwing up her arms in apparent satisfaction.

"You sure look it! You look like you've found the jackpot or somethin'! I wish I could feel so energetic right now!" Naruto grumbled.

"Well, you know I'm okay, so you should try going to sleep, y'know?" Tsubaki walked over to him and leaned against the wall.

"Yeah, but, it's just that I'm so hungry!" he moaned.

"Well, eat then sleep right?" Tsubaki shrugged matter-of-factly.

"Yeah," he drawled, raising the bowl to his lips and slurping up the warm liquid: "Ahhhh, that was grea-..." but he had already fallen asleep!

"Typical Naruto," Tsubaki smiled to herself and walked back to his window. As she threw herself out of it and landed lithely on the ground, she realised that he couldn't have been more right. Oh she had hit the jackpot alright, and more than he could ever know!

"Hey guys!" Suigetsu said cheerfully as he arrived back at the hideout.

"Someone sure looks happy," Jugo smiled up at his friend as he rubbed his finger against the sparrow perched on his shoulder.

"Happy is just an understatement my friend!" Suigetsu looked as though he had found a chest of gold.

"I think it's safe to assume that it all worked out well then?" said Karin.

"You bet! Man I owe you one Karin! I'll do whatever you want from now on! Promise!" said Suigetsu.

"Hmm, okay then. Hook me up with Sasuke!" Karin winked cheekily at him.

"Huuuhh?" Suigetsu looked as though she had told him to marry her.

"Well, you DID say you'll do whatever I wanted right? And I gave you a place to start," Karin held her nose in the air in a pretentious way.

"Yeah, but...uuhh," Suigetsu looked desperately at Jugo for help.

"Oh geez, I'm just kidding!" Karin snapped.

"Phew! You coulda said!" Suigetsu slumped down on the ground with relief.

"I'm glad you came across this Tsubaki, Karin. Because of her, you and Suigetsu have finally become friends," said Jugo.

"Yeah, you've got a good point," Karin nodded in agreement.

"What are you three doing?" a stern voice suddenly broke out.

Each of them quietened down as Sasuke emerged from the shadows.

"We were just talking," said Suigetsu.

"We're moving out. Get ready," Sasuke shot them all his usual glare before making his way back into the trees.

"I seriously can't stand that guy," Suigetsu scrunched up his face in dislike.

"Maybe he was just tired!" Karin sprang up to defend him immediately.

"Oh sure, he was tired...and I'm Jugo's wife," he answered.

"Suigetsu!" Karin began gritting her teeth almost immediately.

"Calm down you two! Don't start!" Jugo said exasperatedly.

"Hm! Poor Sasuke," Karin began to gush.

"Poor Sa-su-keee," Suigetsu imitated her.

Karin balled her hands into fists and punched him straight in the face, sending a splash of water flying onto the ground.

"Spoke too soon..." Jugo murmured to himself as his sparrow flew off in fright.