Chapter 14: Submit

"And he just took off like that?"

"Yeah," said Ino. "He ran like Shino was going to poison him with them. Weird."

"He could have run because he thought Shino was making a romantic gesture and it creeped him out."

"That's what I'm thinking."

Tenten looked around the shop. "Has Neji been in today?"

"No, why?"

"I think he has a crush on someone," she explained. "He told me how he was feeling and I told him it must have been a crush."

"Really? He likes somebody?"

"Yeah. He denied it and flipped out when I suggested it. So cute."

Ino giggled. "I had no idea he liked someone. That's sweet. Who is it?"

"Don't know. He wouldn't say."

"Well, he hasn't been in today. Maybe it's not that serious."

"Or maybe he won't admit it."

After a short visit, Tenten left the flower shop and found Neji in a bookstore, reading. She playfully tapped him on the shoulder and stepped to the side.

"Hello, Tenten," he said in a bored tone.

She wasn't surprised he knew it was her. "So…" She grinned at him. "How are things?"

"Fine."

"How about that crush of yours?"

Neji looked up. "What crush? What are you talking about?"

"You know. Don't deny it. I said I wouldn't say anything to Gai or Lee. That promise still holds." Unless Ino spills to someone else and have word travel.

Neji closed the book and gave her a confused look. "Tenten, what are you talking about?"

"The feelings. You know. The ones you've been having that had you all confused."

"What feelings? What confusion?"

Tenten put her hands on her hips. "Ok, now I'm confused. What are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't you have a crush on someone?"

Neji shook his head. "No, I don't."

He wasn't acting the way he was before. Maybe he was over it? Or maybe he got better at hiding it.

Or maybe it wasn't really Neji.

Naruto had been doing things in the village lately and people were acting a little strange. Naruto could have been transformed into Neji and didn't do a very good job of acting the part. Or it was something else.

Tenten sighed. "Oh, never mind. It's no big deal."

"Why would you think I had a crush on someone?" Neji asked her. "Did someone say something?"

"No, no. It's nothing. Forget about it."

Neji wasn't so willing to drop it. Only no longer willing to press Tenten for answers. He was a bit curious. Not just about this, but other things. Every time something strange happened, Naruto seemed to be there. There must have been a connection. It was too perfect to be a coincidence.

It was time to do some investigating.

"Naruto!" Sai ran up behind Naruto and hugged him. "There you are! I finally found you! You just disappeared on me."

Naruto moaned. "Hi, Sai."

"So what are we doing today? Whatever you like. I don't mind at all. You have the best ideas."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. Maybe it was time to switch the commands with him. This admiration was getting annoying.

He was about to when he saw Sakura walking down the street. He couldn't do it in front of her. It would have to wait.

"What are you guys up to now?" she asked them.

"Nothing."

"If that's the case, are you guys free for dinner tonight? Choji set things up at the barbeque place and invited everyone who could come."

A meal with friends sounded like a good idea. "Sure," said Naruto. "What time?"

"He made the reservation for 6:00 tonight. You good to come?"

"Sure am!" said Naruto excitedly. "I'll be there."

"What about you, Sai?"

"If Naruto's going, I'm going."

Naruto's shoulders slumped.

"I'd go anywhere with him," Sai added.

Naruto's face turned red.

Sakura gave them both a weird look.

"It… It's not what it sounds like!" Naruto said quickly. "He… he didn't mean it like- like… Uh… He…"

Sai smiled. "Naruto's so cool, isn't he? He has a way with words, don't you think?"

Thinking he was kidding, Sakura rolled her eyes. "Yeah, totally. If he stuttered a little less, it might make a full sentence."

Naruto shut his mouth and looked from one to the other. Sakura thought Sai was using sarcasm. At least she didn't think what Naruto was worried she was thinking.

"See you tonight!" Naruto said louder than necessary and grabbed Sai. "Over here, you idiot!"

He dragged Sai away from Sakura and down a different street. This should be far enough. Now he could undo the command he had given Sai.

"Ok, Sai…"

"Ahh!" Kiba came running down the same street and plowed into them both. "Stop it, Shino! Knock it off!"

Shino stood on the other side of the street, holding up the bouquet of flowers. Akamaru whimpered and trotted after his owner.

"Maybe I should undo that one, too…"

Shino walked away without a word.

Naruto made sure they were gone before trying again. "Sai…"

"Naruto!"

"What now?!"

Lee stood behind him doing squats. "Face me in combat! Come on! Do not hold back! Let me see how much stronger my dear friend has become!"

Naruto was in no mood but he knew Lee was not going to leave. Not until he fought somebody. So Naruto did the predictable thing and told Sai to do it.

"Sai will be you opponent. Have fun."

Lee was excited to have a sparring partner and Sai was happy to do whatever Naruto told him.

From around the corner, Neji watched as Sai willingly did whatever Naruto told him to do. Lee was acting normal but had Sai always been so submissive? Kiba was acting oddly, too.

Shino seemed to know something. He must have since he knew exactly what would set Kiba off.

Neji went off in search of Shino and quickly found him. He started asking questions, but Shino was less helpful than usual. He wasn't curious about anything Naruto said or did. This was odd. Since when did Shino not question things?

"Are you saying you know nothing about this?"

Shino was observing another beetle scuttling around a tree. "Hard to say."

"Then you do know something."

"About what?"

"About Naruto. He must be involved. I know he is."

As far as Shino was concerned, there was nothing wrong with anything Naruto did. He didn't question any of it.

"Just tell me."

"If you are so concerned, it would seem more logical to ask him yourself rather than go through a third party in order to obtain answers," said Shino. He couldn't question Naruto, but he was free to do it to everyone else. "If he is the one you are so worried about, why not simply ask him directly?"

"Because I don't know what he's up to."

"Which is why it's a good idea to ask."

"No, I mean that since I don't know what he's doing, I also don't know how he's doing it. It would be foolish to go up to him and start asking questions to his face. He'll know I suspect him of something."

"Which you do."

"But I can't have him know that."

Kiba ran up to Neji and hid behind his back. "They're everywhere! Dammit, there's no way I…"

Shino pulled the bouquet out of his coat and Kiba screamed, running away. Shino slipped it back into his coat to use at another time.

"That's another thing," said Neji. "What's up with that? The flowers. Kiba running scared. What is that about?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know and you don't want to find out? At all?"

Shino shrugged. "It is amusing."

"You're enjoying yourself, aren't you? Freaking him out like that."

Shino had to agree. "At least I am in control of when he leaves. Not look up and realize he's gone in the middle of a sentence."

Control? Was that how this worked? Is that what was going on?

"Thanks, Shino. I'll see you later." Neji walked off.

Naruto must have been using a jutsu on people and that was why this was happening. He didn't know what kind of jutsu it was, but whatever it was, it was causing everyone in the village to act strangely. Naruto must have used it on him as well. That was why he kept waking up with blanks in his memory. Why he kept waking up in Naruto's arms. He kept saying he tripped, but that couldn't be. And Tenten saying that he had a crush on someone based on his actions and what they discussed, despite having no recollection of it. Naruto was to blame.

He would confront Naruto and make sure he didn't use any hand-signs in order to cast the jutsu. He would use Gentle Fist to keep him from doing it if he had to.

When he found him, he grabbed Naruto off the street and pulled him into a narrow alley. He held one of Naruto's hands, knowing he wouldn't be able to sign easily with just one hand.

"Start talking."

"Huh?" Naruto questioned.

"The strange things that have been going on in the village. I know you're responsible. Now tell me what's going on," he demanded.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Neji saw Naruto started to raise his free hand and Neji gave him a quick jab to the shoulder. Naruto's arm fell at his side.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"What kind of jutsu are you using?"

"I'm not using a jutsu. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You're a bad liar."

"Good enough to fool people in battle, right, Neji?" Naruto said snidely.

Neji glared at him. "I know you did something to Sai and to Kiba and to me. Either you tell me the truth of what's going on right now, or I'll drag you to the Hokage and have you explain it to her."

Naruto tried to snap his fingers but Neji was crushing one hand in his grip and Naruto's other hand was still numb from when Neji jabbed it moments before.

"I swear," Naruto told him, "I didn't use a jutsu. I swear."

"Then how?"

"I need my hand to show you."

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Neji asked him. "How do I know you won't either run off or use the trick on me once your hand is free?"

"Don't you trust me?"

Neji glared at him. "I think it's obvious."

Naruto had to think of a way out of this but Neji wasn't stupid. He wouldn't fall for the same tricks that fooled Kiba. If only he hadn't simply reversed the commands. He should have given him a new one, but it didn't occur to him until now. Even if he told Neji to forget, those who saw him behaving strangely would later bring it to his attention so it wouldn't matter. Whether he remembered or not, if someone told him what happened, he would want answers. The fact that he didn't remember made it even worse.

Naruto wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

"Are you going to talk or not?" Neji growled.

Stall. Naruto had to stall him until the feeling return to his hand. Neji only jabbed him once in the shoulder so it shouldn't take long for him to move his fingers properly.

"Alright, alright. Let me explain." Naruto took a deep breath. "The thing is…"

"Yeah?"

"Well…"

"Yeah? Go on."

"You see…"

"Out with it, Naruto. I haven't got all day."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Alright. Ok, here's what happened." Naruto took another deep breath. "It's really more of an inside joke kind of thing."

"An inside joke?"

"Yeah. How Kiba is acting. It's just an act. Part of a bet kind of thing."

Neji narrowed his eyes. "You expect me to fall for that?"

"It's Kiba. Why wouldn't he do things on a dare?"

Neji was about to argue when he realized Naruto had a point. "And Sai? And what about myself?"

"Sai's clueless. I told him that doing this will help his bonds run deeper with friends and he believed me."

"Sai isn't that clueless. And myself? What about me?"

"What about you?"

"People are telling me I've been acting strange and I don't recall."

"Oh, that!" Naruto chuckled. "I was using a shadow clone transformed into you for kicks. No big deal."

Neji didn't believe him. "You keep saying I tripped whenever I find myself in your chest. Explain that. I don't trip that often. Or fall into people."

"You tripped. That's all."

"I'm not falling for that explanation. Try again."

Naruto could move his fingers again. It stung a little, but he could move them into place. Now he just had to snap them.

"But you did fall into me."

"Why? How?"

"Because you fell asleep. Do you believe that?"

"I'd sooner believe tripping multiple times than believe that."

"It's true. You did."

"Yeah, right."

"You do when I do this." Naruto snapped his fingers. "Sleep."

Neji closed his eyes and went limp. He fell on top of Naruto who buckled under him.

He was not going to make the same mistake twice. Not this time. In order to keep Neji out of the know, he had to make sure he wasn't in his right mind. He also had to make sure that he wouldn't pay attention to anything other people said and that he did whatever Naruto told him to do. There was only one thing Naruto could come up with to do that.

"Neji, when you wake up, you will be my willing slave. You will do anything I tell you to do and never question me. You will be my quiet and helpful servant. Do you understand?"

He nodded.

"Good." Naruto snapped his fingers. "Awake."

Neji woke up. He stood in front of Naruto with a glazed look in the eye, waiting for orders.

Since they had some time before dinner, Naruto decided to take advantage of this.

"Neji, follow me to my house."

He followed Naruto obediently. Naruto took him up to his apartment and let him inside.

"Neji, clean this place up. I want you to clean my apartment."

Neji nodded his head and got to work.

Naruto grinned. "I should have done this from the beginning."

He watched Neji work, looking away only to investigate the noise coming from outside. Kiba was on his back, scrambling backwards in an attempt to get away from Shino who was holding up the bouquet again.

"Still funny," Naruto said to himself.

Gaara will be showing up in a couple of chapters, so you won't have to wait too much longer.

Please review! ^-^