AN: I can never say sorry enough to apologise for this super long wait. There has been a lot going on in my life and there are important exams coming up so i havent had the time to update and i cont promise i still will but i can promise that whenver i get time i will try my absolute hardest to update this story!Once again, i'm really really sorry!

Thank you: yeimina21, ArcaneRaven, hikora, Misakichan123, Hallow135, Free-dom is in my DnA for favouriting.

Thank you: hikora, bloodangel95, Misakichan123, Free-dom is in my DnA for following.

Review replies at the bottom ;D

The Confrontations

S

After that brief encounter where Shino and I became friends, we could not help but constantly bump into each other, and whether it was planned or merely coincidences, the boy always had a weird exotic insect on him to show and discuss with me.

It was odd, I was someone who rarely came into contact with anyone and yet the reoccurring presence of both Naruto and Shino made me feel somewhat at peace although I would never admit that aloud, it did tend to pop into my mind from time to time.

For example, during my History lesson after lunch on that day. I felt eyes on the back of my head that was different to the annoying gaze of Sakura, turning slightly in my seat I met the gaze of a purple haired girl with big lilac eyes. She looked away in an instant but I could tell it was her who had been looking at Shino and I when I suddenly felt a small poke on my side.

Ignoring it, I decided to start paying attention to the actual lesson but the poking continued for some time. Putting my best glare one I looked over to find Shino staring at me (probably, he had sunglasses on) he looked down to his desk and I followed his gaze and found a spider and not just any spider, it was a big hairy tarantula that was trying to crawl up Shino's arm.

I started in well hidden awe, I had never seen a tarantula before, I had barely seen a spider in my house before it was killed by my brother's swift shoe throwing techniques.

I watched for minutes as he played with the furry creature before he looked back up at me, I wasn't able to keep the half smile growing on my face and despite his coat, I could tell he had quirked his lips slightly.

There was a few awkward seconds of staring before he pulled a page out of his notebook and began to scribble on it furiously; I paid him no mind as I continued to watch the spider move around the desk slowly, I was fascinated by how it moved and wanted to know what it felted like. I was drawn out of my stupor by a paper being placed on my desk.

I lifted it up, it was the page that Shino was scribbling on and it was filled with tarantula facts and small drawings and diagrams. I had never had an interest in anything other than my school studies so as I read over the information about tarantulas I was overwhelmed with a weird feeling, I rubbed at the spot on my chest above my heart, was this what it was like to have friends.

I once again felt a poke on my side, I placed the sheet down and turned to Shino where he held out the tarantula on the palm of his hand, I looked from it to Shino and when he gave me a small nod I slowly shuffled the hairy spider onto my own palm and brought it to my eye level so I could inspect it.

Each diagram drawn matched it to perfection, each fact was correct and every point was on point; I chuckled at the deep obsession of my new friend and smiled as the tarantula tried to crawl further up my arm.

Despite the worried gazes of my classmates, Sakura and that purple haired girl, all I could think of was how surprisingly light it was.

S

Shino and I left the classroom together chatting about the tarantula that had mysteriously disappeared at the end of the lesson; my next lesson was Geography while he had English but since they were in the same building we walked together.

It was a first for me to walk to class with someone, I was always alone, I liked to be alone, I always sneered at people who stood around waiting for their friends so they could walk to class together, it was a stupid and useless task and yet here I was, walking to my class with a 'friend'. I was ashamed but at the same time felt comfort in Shino's presence.

I listened half-heartedly to Shino's explanation on the history of moth as I scanned the halls and caught the eyes of a familiar purpled hair girl. She was staring at us again but as soon as I looked at her, she looked away.

I turned to Shino, "Oi, Shino, who's that girl?"

The teen frowned and looked in the direction I was pointing at, "that's Hinata Hyuuga."

"Is she in our history class?" I asked, although I already knew the answer I just wanted to make sure. His frown deepened but he nodded none the less, "I hope you're not taking interest in her, Naruto would not be happy."

I stopped walking, "what do you mean?"

Shino's eyebrow's rose, "you are dating are you not?"

There was a pause for a moment before I spluttered idiotically, "No! Why would you think we were dating?"

Although I couldn't see it I could tell there was an infuriating smirk on Shino's face, "you two have been rather close since yesterday, my beetles tell me there have been rumours."

If I was not the composed person I was, my jaw would have fallen open in an instant, "beetles? No, wait, what rumours?"

Shino continued to walk and I sped up to join him, "oh you know, the usual, like he blackmailed you, or you blackmailed him, or you fell in love at first sight. The current favourite with the girls is that your family bought his family and now he's your sex slave, that's why you were all smiley in the morning, because he sated your sexual desi-"

"Ok, ok enough! No more I get it." I interrupted him while trying, and failing to keep the deep blush off my face.

I felt Shino's gaze on me and looked up when he patted my shoulder, "so don't cheat on Naruto ok?"

For the second time that week, I was playfully (or murderously) chasing a 'friend' down the halls and for the second time that day, I had a weird feeling in my chest, is this what it was like to have friends?

~Next Day~

N

I hadn't seen Sasuke since lunch yesterday after the Shino incident and I was starting to feel odd. We didn't have classes together on Wednesday afternoon and I only caught glimpses of him in our classes today.

It was infuriating and yet enlightening cause it showed me that after only spending a little time with Sasuke, I wanted so much more which led me to believe that maybe, just maybe I still wasn't over my crush on him.

These are the thoughts that led me to sit at my lunch table with Kiba anticipating the arrival of a certain raven haired Uchiha. "Hey Naruto, are you alright?" Kiba asked as he offered my some crisps. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked as I took out a handful while turning my attention back to the door of the canteen.

From the corner of my eyes I saw Kiba roll his, "oh, I dunno, maybe cause you look ready to run out the door and search for Sasuke if he doesn't show up in the next 10 seconds."

I frowned at my brown haired friend, "so? I haven't seen him all day, what's wrong with wanting to see him already?"

He shrugged, "there'd be nothing wrong with that, if you were his girlfriend." Kiba gave a meaningful look and I scowled at him, "ok maybe I'm not over my crush, so what? You want me say it, fine I'll say it, I'm in love with Sa-"

I was interrupted when I received a strong blow to the stomach causing me to double over in pain; I glared at Kiba and opened my mouth to complain when the sound of people sitting turned my head.

Sasuke and Shino had just sat down at the table and were looking at me with raised eyebrows. Before either of them could open their mouths I sat up and enveloped Kiba in a hug, "you saved me dude, thanks."

He pushed me off of him and winked, "what are friends for?"

We looked over to the two ravens that were staring in confusion and laughed simultaneously, "best friend thing." Kiba explained briefly before standing from his seat, "I got some homework to catch up on or 'do last minute' as some would say, see ya!" He joked before running out of the door.

Shino stood up shortly after, "I'll go buy us some lunch," was all he said before he turned and walked towards the lunch-que.

I stared at his retreating figure before turning back to Sasuke and was met with a frightening smile. "Um, Sasuke, are you o-"

"I found a new target." My words were forgotten and a smile grew on my face, "seriously, who?" I asked, leaning forward in excitement.

"Hinata Hyuuga." My smile quivered for a second before dropping completely, "why her?" I asked slowly.

The smile on Sasuke's face dropped too as he saw my excitement wane and he shrugged, "I don't know, I thought she would be good. Do you not like her?"

I shook my head wistfully, "it's not that, it's just that if she does become your next target, and you succeed, she's gonna start sitting here and her and Kiba have a… history, I don't want to bring up bad memories."

Sasuke stared at my face pensively for a while before shrugging, "they have to talk sometime, especially if all they had was bad memories, let's do it now and get it over with, I'll talk to Hinata at break after History tomorrow."

"But-"

"And there's nothing you can do to stop me."

I rolled my eyes at how I was constantly interrupted today, "fine, fine," I sighed as I took out a familiar piece of paper from my pocket, "isn't this princess a selfish one?" I asked myself as I began to write on the sheet.

As soon as I was finished, the page was snatched from my grasp, Sasuke looked at it and smirked, "you'd do well to remember that Uzumaki."

My jaw dropped as Shino returned to the table and Sasuke slipped the sheet into his pocket with the newly written words on it.

4. Ensnare Hinata Hyuuga (if you must)

Review Replies:

Uzumaki Naho: Well this is an even longer time, there's nothing gucci about that. Haha i'm glad but don't die please ;D

nelle13: Thank you :)

Randomly Talented: You have some very good instincts then ;) Haha thank you, i can almost hear you laughter (which is two months late like my chapter) it's alwaysa good thing when you can imagine scenes right?

CrimsonNight41: Thank you very much, that's the Naruto charm at work XD. Of course they were, why else would i be writing this fic, no matter how late the chapters are.

keltieful: Haha i'm doing the exact same thing X) Oh right, yes just call it Perks, i get what you mean, thanks, the shortness of my chapters annoys me sometimes but if you're ok with it it's fine. Thank you for all the compliments, they mean a lot to me, i guess cause he doesn't need to consider Kiba a friend he doesnt, do you get what i mean? He does in two chapters i think and that's most definitely what's going to happen, well that or more fainting. Haha thanks again :) Sorry to make you wait so long X(

Yagya1991: Hehehe thank you, i'm sorry that your stomach and lip hurt but im glad that you liked it ;D

Gemini Rose12: Naruto's crazy like that :] Haha thanks, not like a princess, he is a princess.

berry5tz: Thanks, there are many more to come. Their relationship had a good balance. Well now he's finally admitted it, it's Sasuke's turn. I like your analysis :D

Eternity09: I'm very glad i was able to brighten up your christmas morning with laughter and i hope you had a really great day ;)

hikora: That was it for the chapter yes but not for the story, there is still more to come! Amd you're luck if very much welcomed thank you ;]

MoonKissedDreamerEureka: The reminder to write a new chapter has been sitting in my brain and i completely forgot to go through with it. Now we're even :)

Misakichan123: I know what you mean, Shino is so lovable ^~^

AN: Once again, i'm really sorry for the long wait i hope you can forgive me and i'll try not to doit again X)

Also, i know that spiders aren't technically insects but i thought Shino would take an intrest in them anyways.