5

by i3Mangas

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8. 8

The morning was overcast, the sun's rays struggled to pierce through the darkening clouds. Naruto held his face up towards the sky enjoying the sensation as a drop of rain fell upon his nose. He looked across the training field where Hinata stood defensively at the ready for his next charge.

"What do you say we go inside? It's about to rain," Naruto suggested.

Hinata's stance never wavered. "A little rain doesn't bother me, Naruto."

"Okay then," Naruto said with a smirk. He closed his eyes briefly and when he reopened them the red markings along his eyelids and the toad-like pupils of his Sage mode appeared. He considered creating an army of shadow clones, but that would make the contest between Hinata and himself grossly unfair. Training exercises were supposed to help strengthen shinobi. He called forth a trio of shadow clones and sent two racing towards Hinata, while the other helped him create a Rasengan.

Hinata deflected the pair of clones using her gentle fist technique and they popped out of existence, their memories merged with Naruto's in the process.

Naruto tried to distract her with the final clone while coming from behind with the Rasengan, but Hinata did a defensive revolution and successfully deflected the attack. She began to use her Eight Trigan Palm technique and managed to hit him thirty-two times shutting off his chakra points.

Naruto thought back to the bell test where he and Sakura bested Kakashi. Sometimes the victory wasn't rewarded to the strongest fighter, but the most clever. While Naruto wasn't a genius, he could certainly be creative.

He spotted an opening in Hinata's defense, placed both of his hands on either side of her face, and drew his lips to hers. Her pale, lavender eyes widened in shock, and then Hinata upper-cut Naruto in the jaw. He was forced back a good meter from the strength of the blow.

Naruto rubbed his jaw. "What was that for?"

"I defended myself. You were attacking," Hinata said, her fists raised defensively.

"I wasn't attacking you, I was kissing you!" Naruto cried out in frustration. That hit had really hurt! It reminded him of one of Sakura's punches, but at least his teammate had the decency to heal him such a brutal blow.

"You were?" Hinata asked, blinking at him. "Are you sure?"

Naruto burst into a fit of laughter. "You have been hanging out with Sakura too much!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hinata demanded, her hands in fists at her sides.

"It means the two most important women in my life are incredibly violent!" Naruto explained. He stretched his neck first to the right then to the left, the discs in his neck cracked. "Neji is never going to let me live this down."

"Live what down?" Hinata asked, a curious lilt in her tone. She slowly began to approach Naruto. Her palm glowed green with the Mystical Palm Technique as she touched Naruto's bruised jaw and a few other contusions. "Your chakra flow will restore itself in about an hour," she explained.

Naruto sighed, relieved by the dissolution of his pain. "I'll have to explain that the hero of Konoha lost in a sparing match to his girlfriend," Naruto said. He could feel his neck burning in embarrassment at his blatant proclamation.

"Girlfriend? Is that what I am?" Hinata asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"If you want," Naruto said. He didn't know why it was so hard to ask. It had been a long time since he'd been worried about rejection from someone. He'd already asked her father for permission to court, but asking Hinata to be his girlfriend was serious business.

Hinata smiled softly at him. "If you'd like to try that kiss again, I won't punch you this time."

Naruto stepped closer to the dark-haired beauty, took hold of her hands, and leaned down so that he could press his lips against hers. He wasn't too terribly versed in the art of wooing a woman. Master Jiraiya, the Pervy-sage, had insists that Naruto read countless Icha Icha books. He had drawn the line at field experience, but it would seem he was a natural by the sound of Hinata's satisfied hum.

At that moment, the gathering clouds decided to let the bottom fall out. As the torrential rainfall poured down upon them, Naruto and Hinata drew apart. Naruto laughed as Hinata squealed at the cold rain. She yanked her rain jacket off the ground and slipped it on.

"Race you back!" Hinata said, starting to run back towards the residential section of the compound.

Naruto watched her for a moment, a dazed expression as his eyes settled upon her backside. "Wait? Race?" He shook his head to focus and then dashed after her, content laughter bubbled within his chest.

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OoO

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Once it became known that Neji would be assisting Sakura, the amount of students in the morning's lesson doubled. The two of them sat on a bench, under a huge cherry blossom tree. Their observing students sat lotus-style on the grass before them in three semi-circle rows. The students talked amongst themselves and waited for the class to be called to order.

Neji sat with his arms folded across his chest. He had a bored expression upon his face as opaque lavender eyes stared out into the distance. His attitude annoyed Sakura. If he didn't want to be there, she'd rather teach the class by herself. He might have looked handsome with his brooding disposition, but just who was he trying to impress? If his intention was to impress her, he failed. She'd had enough of brooding, dark-haired men.

"Today, we will be discussing the Mystical Hand Technique," Sakura said, once the quiet murmur of her audience settled down.

One of the Hyugas on the second row raised her hand. Sakura nodded her head at the woman, and thereby granted permission to speak.

"Will you tell us about this?" She pointed to her forehead, indicating Sakura's Strength of a Hundred Seal. "Oh, and my name is Mae."

"This took three years of great concentration where I stored chakra daily," Sakura said. She pushed back her bangs and revealed the purple diamond marking. "Lady Tsunade created this technique. It can be mastered by a ninja with perfect chakra control."

"I was next to Shizune in the last battle," Mae said. "She said that even she hasn't been able to master that technique and she's been Lady Tsunade's apprentice for many more years than you, Lady Sakura."

Neji shifted so that he was facing Sakura with an interested lift of his dark eyebrow. "Lady Sakura is indeed more skilled than most medical ninjas," Neji explained. "She has trained not only under Lady Tsunade, but also briefly under Lady Chiyo of the Sand."

The students began to murmur once more. Sakura held up her hand and signaled for peace. "The Strength of a Hundred Seal is beyond the scope of today's lesson."

Another student raised his hand.

Neji acknowledged him. "You may speak, Han."

"During the battle, I was grievously wounded," Han started. "You did something with that giant slug of yours that healed me. It broke into little slugs and attached itself to all the allied troops healing our injuries."

"That was my summons, Katsuyu. Lady Tsunade and I have contracts with her," Sakura explained.

Another Hyuga raised her hand. "Yes, Misao?" Sakura asked, resisting the urge to sigh.

"Does everyone on Team Seven have a summons? And if so, what animal?" Misao asked.

"Lady Sakura has a slug, Lord Naruto has a toad, Sasuke Uchiha has a snake, and Kakashi Hatake has ninja dogs," Neji answered, before Sakura could remind everyone that they were falling far off course for the day's lesson. "The final member of Team Seven, Sai, doesn't have a contract to my knowledge, but with his skill with creating things out of ink he could simply draw any animal."

"Lord Neji," Misao said, dipping her head in respect. "We discussed blood type yesterday. You and Lady Sakura are both type O, so you would be compatible for --."

"Okay! We are very off topic. We're to discuss the Mystical Palm Technique," Sakura said, in a successful attempt to interrupt Misao. She held up her hand, a green glow radiated from her palm towards the audience. "Using a steady amount of chakra channeled through your hand, you place your palm over your patient's injury. You will be able to stimulate the healing capacity of the patient's cells. You speed up cell replication and heal wounds. It is important for every team to have someone capable of healing their teammates. Pay attention, Lord Neji, as you too should learn how to do this technique as there isn't a medic on Team Guy," Sakura said with a teasing smile, as she cast her fellow instructor a sidelong glance.

"Lord Hiashi decreed that you are to be part of all my future missions," Neji corrected, as he met her gaze. He turned to face their audience. "Lady Sakura failed to mention the necessity of near to almost perfect chakra control for medical ninjutsu. Not everyone is capable of such skill," Neji added. "However, she had an idea where we might use the Byakugan to aid in the process of finding the source of a patient's ailment. Find the kink in their chakra network and focus our energies there. We might not need perfect chakra control in this instance."

Sakura stared at Neji with her lips firmly pressed together, otherwise her jaw might have dropped open in shock. Neji had been paying attention.

Misao raised her hand once more. With a sigh, Sakura nodded her head in acknowledgement. "How was it that Lady Sakura was able to bring back Lord Neji? We all saw your noble sacrifice, Lord Neji."

"Lady Sakura isn't allowed to speak of that technique," Neji said. He took a kunai out of the pouch at his hip, drew it across his forearm, blood pooled from the laceration. "Any volunteers for the Mystical Palm Technique?" he asked.

The students gasped collectively.

Sakura reached over for Neji's arm, her hand glowed green as she healed the wound and knitted the flesh back together. "Lord Neji, perhaps you have forgotten that Lord Hiashi has decreed that I be the one to attend to any wounds that afflict the Head Family," Sakura gently reminded.

Neji grasped her hand, met her eyes, his opaque lavender gaze revealed that he remembered everything. "Of course." He released her hand and turned back to the students. "Any volunteers to be the injured party versus the healer?"

"When I trained, I learned by reviving a newly dead fish," Sakura protested.

"They won't be healing fish on the battle field," Neji argued. He gestured towards the darkening clouds overhead. "We won't have long before the weather forces an early dismissal."

"Fine," Sakura huffed out in frustration. "We'll do it your way."

"It's okay, Lady Sakura. We're confident that if we mess you up, you'll be able to fix us right up!" Misao said enthusiastically.

Sakura did her best to repress a groan. "Okay, pair up. You'll take turns being healer and victim."

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OoO

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Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, and Neji relaxed inside of the Head Family's sitting room. Lady Tomoe Hyuga sat in a rocking chair in the corner with needlework serving as chaperon. The rain outside had lessened to a light sprinkle, but it was still damp and dreary outdoors. Sakura and Neji played a game of Shogi. Sakura was Gote and Neji Sente. Naruto and Hinata sat next to each other at the head of the board game offering advice. Though, Naruto's advice to Sakura was generally less helpful that Hinata's suggestions to Neji.

It had been a close match, until two moves ago. Now, Neji held Sakura's king in check. Sakura bit the inside of her cheek in frustration as she tried to figure a way out of the trap. Neji Hyuga really was a genius. She hated losing, but sometimes it was better to admit defeat.

"Okay, you win," Sakura said, pushing away from the table.

"You give up too easy, Sakura," Neji said. "You could have used your knight to block." He touched his index finger to her black knight and showed the path she might have taken. "Your knight could have jumped here and then blocked my general," he pointed out. "After that, it would have taken me at least three more moves before I would have your king in check. A lot can happen in three moves."

It was a move Sakura completely missed. She shook her head. "You really are a genius."

A ghost of a smile lifted the corner of Neji's lips at the off-handed praise.

There was a knock outside of the door. The shoji screen opened and one of the servants, a member of the branch party prostrated himself at the threshold. "The young Heir of the Akimichi clan is at the gate to speak with Lady Sakura," he said.

Lady Tomoe set aside her needlework. "You may attend to the guest," she said addressing Sakura. Her pale eyes shifted to Neji and included him in the invitation.

Neji stood first, offered his hand to Sakura, and she took it to join him. He continued to hold her hand for a moment too long and then abruptly released her. "Let's go," he said.

As they crossed the distance to the front gates, Hyuga clan members stopped their activities to watch them pass by. Sakura could hear their interested whispers. She looked forward to being gone from the Hyuga clan and back to an extended schedule at the hospital.

"Daisuke, Kei," Neji greeted the two guards standing on either side of the front gate. They both dipped their chins in acknowledgement. He and Sakura stood side by side as the guards moved to reveal Ino and Choji. "Good afternoon," Neji said. "Shall we go for a walk so that we might talk in private?"

"That would be great," Choji agreed.

The four of them stepped outside of the gates of the Hyuga compound. They followed the pebble pathway that led towards the outskirts of the village for the forest. Neji and Sakura were in front and Choji and Ino were behind them.

A quarter mile from the gates, Neji led them towards a bench underneath a huge cherry blossom tree. Neji gestured for Sakura to sit. She did so and enjoyed the feel of the wooden bench under her. It was only a little damp from the recent rainfall — protected by the thick lower boughs of the tree. Neji remained standing at her side and they both faced the others. "What brings two-thirds of Team Ino-Shika-Cho here?"

"Ino wanted to apologize to Sakura. I told her, the only way she'd be granted an audience while she lived at the Hyuga compound was if we utilized my affiliation to a noble clan," Choji explained. He turned his head towards Ino. "She spent most of the last couple of days worrying about how to apologize to you, Sakura." He looked back at Sakura, met her eyes with his unwavering dark gaze. "I told her, all she needed to do was tell you in person."

"Ino, it's fine," Sakura said. She flashed a quick smile at her old friend. "You don't need to apologize. Sai told me about what happened."

Ino stared down at her feet. "You tried to warn me and all I did was rebuff you out of jealousy." She looked up, tears shimmering in her blue eyes.

Sakura shook her head, stood, and then threw her arms around Ino, and hugged her tight. "I thought we decided when we were promoted to chunin that we'd stop competing over boys," Sakura chided.

Ino sniffled. "You're not interested in Sai are you? Because he's kind of cute," Ino said with a watery smile as she drew back.

"I can tell you he's a bit of a fixer-upper, but Sai is a good man. I would trust him with my life. There are only a handful of shinobi that I would say that about," Sakura assured her. She took Ino's hand and urged her to sit on the bench beside her. "He's only a couple of years older than us, but his mind is much younger when it comes to social interactions. You'll have to be patient with him."

"Okay, great, so…," Ino trailed off. She turned towards Choji and he shrugged. Ino angled her knees towards Sakura and grinned. "Okay, so, I'm planning to throw a party. A celebration!"

"Your birthday is in September," Sakura pointed out. "Just what would we be celebrating?"

"Life!" Ino said with a laugh. "Besides, I'm sure someone has an upcoming birthday."

Sakura exchanged a look with Neji. He narrowed his eyes, already suspecting her line of thought. "Well, Neji's birthday is on the third of July," Sakura suggested brightly.

Neji groaned and pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead.

"Awesome!" Choji said. "We're having barbeque, right?"

Ino pumped her fist in the air. "Great! We'll celebrate Neji's birthday and Sakura's promotion to jounin," she said. "We'll have it at one of the bars that has a nice dance floor. You, Neji, Naruto, and Hinata have to come," Ino said.

"All right, but if it's to celebrate Neji's birthday and my promotion then you also need to include the entire Rookie group and Team Guy," Sakura pointed out.

"You have seen Lee's drunken fist, haven't you?" Neji asked. "Do I have to go?"

"It's for your birthday!" Ino exclaimed. "Of course you have to be there!"

"There's no point in fighting this," Choji said as he shoved his hands into his front pockets. "I've tried arguing with her in the past. You'll always lose."

"Do I have to invite Sasuke?" Ino asked in a small voice. "I really did embarrass myself with him the other day."

"He needs to be integrated back into our society. He needs friends now, more than ever. And if you truly love him, then you need to get to know who he is now. He's not the twelve-year old boy that you remember, Ino," Sakura reminded her.

"Do you love him?" Ino asked quietly.

"I don't have time for relationships," Sakura boldly claimed. "My medical work takes a lot of time. And I have to train regularly so that I'm not the weak link on Team Seven."

"You've not been the weak link for a long time, Sakura," Ino said.

"Weak?" Choji scoffed. "Your name will be renown for generations for your monstrous strength!"

Sakura fidgeted with her hands, uncomfortable with the praise of her friends. "Even so, Sasuke might not even be allowed to attend with his ANBU guard watch, but it's important to invite him," Sakura said. She cast a worried look towards Neji, he arched an eyebrow at her. "Besides, if it's for Neji's birthday celebration he probably won't want to come."

"Oh? Why's that?" Ino asked. She reached up and began to adjust her blond ponytail. "I bet Kurenai knows which place has the best dance floor. She and Asuma-sensei used to go dancing frequently."

"Sasuke views me as a rival for his plans with Sakura," Neji answered.

"What?" Ino asked, she looked between Sakura and Neji with her jaw slack. "A rival? Why? It's not like the two of you are anything, but friends," she said with a snort of amusement.

"Actually, my uncle believes we are courting," Neji said. "As does the entire Hyuga clan."

Sakura groaned. "Neji, you can't tell Ino anything that you want to be kept secret! Now all of Konoha is going to know!"

"What?" Neji's face paled. "What are you talking about?"

A wry grin spread across Ino's face. "As the proprietor of the most popular florist shop in the village, when it comes to romantic gossip I am the queen."

"So, when is this celebration?" Sakura asked, hoping to change the topic before Ino rattled Neji with her threats of gossip.

"Tomorrow night," Ino said. "I'll have Sai send a message to you with the details on the event in a few hours. I have to scope out the locations." She stood from the bench, grabbed Choji's arm, and started to drag him away.

Sakura and Neji watched them go. "So, now all of Konoha is going to know of our supposed courtship?" Neji asked. He offered his hand to Sakura and helped her stand.

"Maybe we'll go on a mission soon," Sakura suggested with a hopeful tone.

"Doubtful," Neji muttered beneath his breath. They began the walk back towards the compound's front gate. "Did you notice anything different about Lady Hinata and Naruto?"

Sakura shrugged. "I'm not sure," she admitted. There did seem to be something different about those two. They were sitting rather close to one another earlier in the Head Family's sitting room. "They did seem more comfortable around one another."

"Hm," Neji hummed thoughtfully.

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OoO

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There was a knock on the front door of the Uchiha manor. Sasuke looked up from the book he was reading to see Sai step inside. Within the shinobi's arms was a brightly colored floral arrangement.

"Another one?" Sasuke asked with a groan. He glanced about the front room, every spare bit of space had flowers. "Do you think Ino is behind this? Some sort of revenge?"

Sai shrugged and set the newest vase on the center of the table they utilized for shoji games. "I do not believe that is her style, though I do not doubt that she is enjoying the profits these purchases make her store," Sai reasoned.

Sasuke reached for the card attached to the floral arrangement. It was from Kasumi. Between Kasumi, Ami, and Fuki -- pathetic girls he faintly remembered from the Academy -- he had a flower jungle perfuming his home. The attached cards had elegant words of eternal love and devotion. Sasuke had no use for empty words. Compared to those three airheads, Karin and Ino were grossly superior candidates for Uchiha Matriarch.

Sasuke felt his nose tingle and a resulting sneeze sent a cloud of steam in the direction of the latest flowers.

"You must have really hated these," Sai commented.

Sasuke opened his eyes and laughed when he saw the wilted remains of the flowers. "These are making my allergies crazy. I don't suppose you can dispose of them?"

Sai crossed the distance to the front door and opened it to communicate with the guards outside. "We'll be utilizing a fire jutsu to incinerate some unwanted flowers," he warned them.

"Are you sure?" The guard in an ANBU cat-mask asked. His eyes darted past Sai nervously towards Sasuke. "The Hokage placed you in charge here, but he is dangerous."

"I take responsibility," Sai said. He shut the door and began to gather up the various flowers. He set the collection in the middle of the floor. "Ready when you are," he said. He looked up and met Sasuke's gaze.

Sasuke rubbed his hands eagerly. It had been a while since he'd been allowed to use a jutsu freely. "I'm going to enjoy this."