Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto or any of its respective characters. But if I did, I would certainly give Naru-chan to K, because she just luuuuuvvvvvssss him so much!

Author's Note: Here is another NaruHina interlude for whoever wants it! ^_^

Class Act

Uzumaki Naruto could be a real ass sometimes, and he'd be the first one to admit it. But the way Sasuke was glaring at him now, only made the Kyuubi-vessel even more inclined to irritate him. It was so easy. He gave his sometimes friend the biggest, most obnoxious grin possible, waving from across the science lab. Sasuke had been forced to partner with Kiba, while Naruto...

"N-Naruto-kun," Hinata's soft voice easily pulled his focus back to her, sitting beside him at their shared desk. "You should pay attention to Kurenai-sensei's instructions," she advised.

"Sure thing, Hinata-chan," he scooted closer to her. "But, like, this class really isn't my thing, ya know?"

The Hyuuga Heiress couldn't help but giggle. "Venoms and P-Poisons is an advanced class, Naruto-kun. W-Why did you sign up for it if you don't like it?"

He grinned, leaning toward her. "I never said I didn't like it, Hinata-chan," he whispered. In fact, she was the only reason he was here. That, and to get under Sasuke's skin, of course. "You're at the top of the class, babe. So, I'm sure to get a good grade."

The Heiress frowned. "I'm not d-doing your work for you, Naruto-kun," she turned away from him, her face a calm, sophistocated mask. "You must pay attention, or I will ask Kurenai-sensei to assign me a different partner. Kiba, perhaps, or Shikamaru. Their scores on the last evaluation were hardly better than yours."

"Aww, come on, Hinata-chan. You don't have to ditch me." He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Besides, I'm way more fun than, dog-breath." She giggled again. "See, you know you wanna be my lab partner," he nudged her slightly with an elbow. Naruto leaned in even closer, so close his lips were almost touching her ear. He whispered: "Look, Hinata-chan..." One finger rose to poke her glowing cheek. "I'm already causing chemical reactions..."

Hinata squealed, an ear-piercing, eye-popping sound that had Sasuke growling from across the room. The Uchiha stood, nearly knocking over the lab equipment he shared with the Inuzuka.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled, stomping between desks. He shoved one classmate out of the way. "Get your loser paws off my girlfriend!"

At the front of the class, Yuuhi Kurenai swung around, her crimson eyes blazing with kunoichi rage. "Uchiha Sasuke! Report to the principal immediately! I will not tolerate those kinds of outbursts!" And the whole class was still and silent. "I have let slide many things," she shot a narrow-eyed glance at Naruto, who was barely able to stifle his laughter. And another at Hinata, who had covered her whole face in her hands. "But I draw the line at violence!"

Sasuke was visibly fuming now, the anger rising within him causing the slightest spike in his chakra. "Naruto..." The Uchiha seethed.

"Did you not hear me, Uchiha?" Their teacher stepped toward the rows of desks lining the room, and each student's gaze was trained on her. When she spoke again, she addressed them all. "I realize that I haven't the rapport with all of you that Iruka has built, however..." She blinked her eyes, and everyone in the class was struck by a horrible, deathly vision. They all gasped, and the sound of chattering teeth, and shaking chairs filled the science lab. Then, the genjutsu was released. "I have no problem with using the stick, if you'd prefer not to have the carrot."

Sasuke, who had at once been insubordinate, closed his mouth, then headed toward the exit in forced resignation. As he passed Naruto and Hinata's desk, he gave the fox-boy a look that clearly meant, 'I'll see you after school', before continuing on past Kurenai, and out the door.

Kurenai then caught the gaze of each student in their turn, cultivating their fear and cementing her authority in fourth period Venoms and Poisons. "Now," she swung the ruler in her hand, slamming it onto the opposite palm. "Open your textbooks to page 165, and begin the experiment."

"Hai, Sensei!" The whole class exclaimed.

The minutes dragged on in complete silence, while they all shuffled through their textbooks and began combining their ingredients. When Kurenai-sensei finally turned from them, Naruto winked at the Hyuuga Heiress, and all the poor girl could do was sink down into her chair, and blush.

End