(A/N ):- I think I should have mention this earlier but… oh well, better late than never right?
Anyways in this story, Temari, Lee, Tenten and Neji are 18 years whilst the rest of Konoha 12 are 17 years. Gaara should be 16 years I think and Kankuro 17 years as well. Konohamaru, Hanabi, Moegi, Udon (If mentioned in story) would be 13 years or so… I'm not really sure but oh well. Hope you enjoy though!

Chapter 8

If I could do anything,
it would be to kiss you
In the middle of the street
during the rainiest
time of the year

-5 Kunoichis-

Ino POV:

What is bothering Sakura so much? She hasn't been acting any better ever since I confronted her about it two days ago. It's not like her to be so quiet… not teasing me or having our rivalries. She doesn't even talk anymore! I need to know what's troubling my best friend so much! AAAGGHHH come on, come on! There's got to be something!

"YO INO!"

The familiar voice snapped me out of my thoughts and looking up from the book in hands that I so conveniently forgot about, I saw Kiba enter the flower shop with Sasuke.

I smile and waved at them, "Hey guys! What brings you two here?"

"Hn."

"Just came to see a beautiful girl!" Kiba joked as he went over to the patch of Lilies and checked them out. I rolled my eyes at him, not getting up from my seat behind the counter, "Yeah right. Lilies for Hinata?"

Kiba nodded his head, "She started eating again. Right now she's with Naruto."

"Oh! That's great! Do you think Naruto will tell her his answer now?" I asked him with maybe a little too much interest.

"Hope so. I know Hinata doesn't really mind but it breaks her waiting for an answer she'll never get," Dog boy said absent mindedly as he picked out more flowers. I went over to help him since he was having difficulty.

"So where's Sakura? Isn't she supposed to help you today?"

"I don't know, Kiba. Lately she's not been herself and I'm getting really worried."

The brown haired boy looked at me quizzically, "What are you talking about?"

"Well…Where to begin," I said as I looked up at the shops ceiling, "Let's just say I barely ever see her smile anymore let alone laugh. She's ok when she's around kids but once they're out of sight she sulks alone. She never insults me back when I call her forehead. I confronted her about it a couple of days ago but she kept denying, telling she doesn't know what I'm talking about. Since she was playing hard head, I threatened her and after a minute or two she replied telling it's none of my business."

I looked back down at Kiba and saw him furrow his brows. "That doesn't sound like Sakura at all Ino. Are you sure?"

"Mh-hmm. Positive. Come to think of it, she's been like that ever since," I glanced over my shoulder at Sasuke who was leaning on the shop's door, "… ever since Sasuke-kun came back."

A light bulb suddenly lit in my head and my eyes narrowed at Sasuke. Sauntering over to him I asked, "Alright. Spill it. What did you do this time?"

"Hn. What are you talking about Ino?" Sasuke asked, looking at me with his arms crossed.

"You! Did you break her heart again?"

Tenten POV:

"You should stop reading me like a book. Who knows? It might turn out badly for you."

Che! Who does he think he is? That rotten idiot of a prodigy! Just because he kissed me on my cheek that day we went to our special cherry tree does not mean I like him! When I said I didn't like him I told him nothing but the truth! And now he has the guts to act so cool and tell me to notread him like a book? Oh hell! That just makes my blood boil even more! I don't care if he's my teammate, I don't care if he's my best friend and I most certainly would not hesitate to hurt him! With my anger reaching its peak, I did the only thing I could think of; throw a kunai at him in a matter of seconds. It was blunt so it couldn't have hurt him and I aimed just near his face, not exactly wanting to fully ruin him. Not that I care about him in anyway, it's just my way or warning him when I'm pissed.

"Then stop being an open book!" I erupted at Neji, making him narrow his eyes at me. I tried my best to not meet his lavender eyes, but chocolate brown met lavender all the same. Instantly, my boiling blood slowly cooled down because I was drowning in those orbs without even wanting to. My rigid body loosened and my clenched fist slowly opened, but even so I still kept my glare, not wanting him to think he's winning

He took a slow step towards me from where he was, his eyes still locked with mine in a glaring contest. "Tenten…"
A shiver went down my spine when I heard his cold, warning tone. However, all I did in return was fold my arms across my chest and give him a death, cold, dirty look.

"You're the only one," He took more steps forward and I stepped back each time out of instinct, "who can read me."
With that said, I couldn't take back away anymore due to the huge tree blocking my path and Neji was right in front of me. The more I stared into his mesmerizing eyes, the more my anger dissipated causing me to fall deeper into the pit of his lavender orbs.

"I-…" I couldn't speak. It was as if my throat dries up more and more with each step Neji took to come closer to me. My heart was pounding in my chest when he placed his right hand on the tree trunk, right next to my face. I couldn't scrutinize him anymore since he was a head taller, so I kept my gaze on his chest. His perfectly toned chest….

WAIT WHAT! NO! NO! NO! I mentally slapped myself and I closed my eyes hoping him to be gone the next time I opened them. Unfortunately for me that wasn't happening anytime soon.

"Tenten…" His voice was softer now. Almost a whisper… Faster and slower, my heart skipped a beat when I felt Neji's left hand under my chin, lifting it up to look at his face. In my head I was hyperventilating, trying to figure out what this Hyuuga prodigy was up to. I shut my eyes again before I could see his eyes, but then I felt him caressing my face. The touch was soft and tender... I couldn't breathe anymore.

"You're always going to be the only one…" He said, but I couldn't comprehend what he was talking about anymore. Even though I had my eyes shut tight, I knew his face my near mine. I could feel his warm breath getting closer and closer…

Ino POV:

"You! Did you break her heart again? Because if you did Sasuke… I'll personally throw you back out of this village even though I did welcome you ba-."

"I didn't do anything."

My mouth opened to retort but Kiba spoke up and interrupted me. "Ino maybe it's something else?"

I shook my head side to side and glimpsed at Kiba, "Maybe, but if she didn't tell me then maybe she told Naruto? Kiba I'm really worried. She even looks like she's starving herself! She could DIE!"

"Don't you think you're over reacting a little?" Kiba asked me with a quirked brow. I grunted at him but then realizing what he said was true, I sighed in defeat and my shoulders slumped, my head hung low. "What am I gonna do? I could go ask Naruto…"

"He doesn't know," I heard Sasuke say so I looked up with a look that says how-the-hell-would-you-know? He remained impassive when he replied my unspoken question. "I've been with Naruto the past two days. The only time we saw her was during lunch but then we got into… an argument and she stomped away angry. Haven't seen her since."

My jaw just dropped when what he said was processed in my head, "What made her angry? Oh god did she break something?" I was panicking. Who wouldn't anyway? Sakura's temper can lead to mass world destruction!

"Crumpled a wall," Sasuke answered paying no attention to us but more rather the streets outside.

"Man Sasuke what did you do to make her mad?" Kiba wondered out loud with interest.

"Hn."

Guess he won't be answering that at all. I grabbed fistfuls of my blonde hair and screamed in frustration resulting in the boys raising their brows at me. But right now I didn't care. My best friend was in agony and I don't even know what her problem is, making me useless in trying to help her! Another light bulb switched on, but there's a different this time because it's much brighter than the last one.

I grinned maniacally at Sasuke who in return just quirked a brow at me out of boredom. I approached him and placed my hands on my hips before scrutinizing him with my baby blue eyes. "Sasuke Uchiha!"

"What now Ino?"

"You!" lifting one of my hands away from my hip, I jabbed his left shoulder with my index finger, "are going to talk to my best friend and see why she's upset!"

Kiba choked his laugh after I sent him a warning glare. Turning my attention back to the proud stoic in front of me, I folded my arms on my chest and impatiently tapped my right foot on the ground as I waited for his answer. "Well Uchiha?"

"No."

I scoffed in disbelief and just let my jaw drop once more. Composing myself, I clenched my fists and put on my most menacing face mask. "You will Sasuke. If you don't-."

This time he glared at me, "If I don't you can't do anything to me."

My right hand was firm on my right waist while my other hand just limped on my side. I gave him a look that says oh-really-now

"Yo Sasuke! She's Ino," Kiba said from behind me, "You might now like her threats. There's a reason Sakura listens to her even though she can beat Ino into a pulp."

Ok now that offended me and I scoffed at him in disbelief. He looked at me innocently, "Sorry Ino. It's the truth."

"She can't do anything to me." Sasuke said confidently yet monotonously.

I rolled my eyes at him and informed him of my threat, "If you don't I'll hand over your clothes to your fan girls and you'll never get them back. Of course I could always do worse bu-."

"You wouldn't…" Sasuke was squinting at me dangerously, but I didn't falter knowing I had the advantage.

"Try me Uchiha." I said with a tone and air of challenge. He tried to bring me down with his Uchiha glare. I almost gave in to his intimidating look, but I held my ground and finally agreed.

"Fine."

Once Sasuke went of my parent's flower shop searching for Sakura, I jumped up yelling in victory. Kiba just laughed at me and said I'm crazy, but I ignored him. I was too happy for his words to get to me. I was certain Sasuke can find out what's wrong with my best friend and he can even help her with it… if he is kind enough to even help.

Hinata POV:

"For loving me when I shouldn't have been loved."

I held my breath and my body stiffened.

Da dub

For loving me…

My heart was pounding.

Da dub

When I shouldn't have been loved…

My eyes widened when lavender met blue.

Da dub

Loving me…

He grins. I blush.

DA DUB

Loving…

My head is swirling, my heat is rising.

DA DUB DA DUB

…me….

Darkness filled me. "HINATA!" was the last thing is heard before I fell unconscious.

Sakura POV:

PANT
PANT
PANT

I sit down at the root of one of the trees in Team 7's training ground. Out of breath, I surveyed my trashed surrounding and a realization struck me. The ground was literally in pieces, trees have been either uprooted or cut in half, and there were no animals around…

"Ugly, Kakashi sensei will not like this one bit," a familiar voice said, unknowingly reading my mind. I turned around and saw Sasuke's replacement, Sai coming over to me.

I groaned and buried my head on my knees. Pulling my abnormally pink hair in aggravation I agreed with him. "I know Sai, but I couldn't help it. I was angry…"

"Heh. What made you angry this time?" He asked indifferently, sitting down beside me.

I raised my head and stared at the ground in front of me. "Sasuke… at least partly him."

"What else then?"

Sighing, I hugged my knees and rocked back and forth a little, "My… mom."

"Mom? What about her?" Sai questioned me. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't meet his gaze. I folded my arms on top on my knees and placed my chin on top of my arms.

Staring at nothing in particular, I replied, "She's… forcing me into an arranged marriage…"

"What's an arranged marriage?"

Laughing weakly, I looked up at Sai and saw his brows knit together as he tried to make sense of what I just told him. "Ugly what is it?"

I let my head fall back and rest on the tree trunk and I watched the birds flying so freely in the multicolored evening sky. Free…
Something I won't be any more once this marriage takes place.

"It means my mom wants me to marry a man she chose for me," I explained to my clueless teammate.

"Aa," he too looked up at the sky with me, "So do you love the man?"

"No Sai. I don't even know him."

"But when you marry someone… shouldn't you love the person?" He inquired with questioning eyes, "Because that's what I've read."

Giggling weakly, I rolled my eyes at him. "It's true. But this is an arranged marriage."

"Aa… I see. So do you love someone?"

My heart clenched when I heard his question. I hugged my knees once more and my eyes became moist. "I- don't know…"

"Ugly, I think you do know, but you don't want to admit it to yourself," He said matter-of-factly, "It's called denial I think."

I laughed half heartedly at my teammate. "You're getting god at understanding feelings huh Sai?"

"You ca-"

"Sakura…" I turned my head to the person who called me and my heart skipped a beat.

TenTen POV:

"Neji wh-…hmm," I couldn't complete my question. His lips where on mine… At first my eyes shot open, but closed again almost at once. I asked my brain to push him away, but it didn't listen. I had no control anymore. Before I know it, I was responding to his kiss and I felt his arms snake around my waist, tearing me away from the tree and pulling me closer to him.

I couldn't think anymore. My brain wasn't functioning. His kiss felt so soft yet passionate, sending electricity and sparks all over my body. My arms curled around his neck and my right hand grabbing fistfuls of his long Hyuuga hair. I don't know how long we stayed like that, but without a doubt I can tell you it's already the longest most precious moment to me.

Needing air to breathe, we pulled apart, his arms still wrapped around my waist and mine around his neck. Taking deep breaths, Neji rested his forehead on mine and I slowly closed my eyes to treasure this moment.

"Still saying you don't like me?" Neji asked looking at me straight in the eye. Him mentioning that made me remember I'm supposedto not let him do this!

"NEJI! YOU ARROGANT BAS-." He crashed his lips into mine again and didn't pull again away until my body slumped in his arms; his kiss was weakening my knees.

"Yes or No, Tenten?" He asked me once again resting his forehead on mine.

But, I was still in shock and could not understand what he was talking about. So I asked him, "Yes or No to what…?"

A small chuckle left his throat when he answered, "Do you or do you not like me?"

My eyes widened at his question and I panicked. He wasn't supposed to know! "N-No!"

"Ten, you kissed me back. Tell me…" He sighed. Brown met Lavender when I looked at him. His eyes were showing so many emotions…

Giving up, I answered him as well, "…Yes. So now what are you go-."

His lips were on mine once again and I could feel him smile as he did so. Giggling, I let him pull me closer to him since my denial wasn't working anymore.

Hinata POV:

"Hinata…"

Groaning to myself, I slowly fluttered my eyes open and the first thing I saw were Naruto's blue eyes staring at me. Then I realized my head was resting on his lap. This made me flush red, but I kept quiet, hoping he'll give me answers.

"Hey, you Ok now? You suddenly blacked out on me," He was grinning that grin of his that made the butterflies in my stomach fly wildly.

I just nodded, afraid of the words that might come out of my mouth and I lifted myself off of him. "EH- wha-." Flashes of what happened ran in my mind and I shut my mouth, not needing that scene to replay again.

"Hinata…" I heard Naruto say while I was off in my own world. Feeling his hands gripping slightly on either sides on my shoulders I looked into his eyes and instantly regretted it. I couldn't look away anymore…

"I'm sorry for not being there for you, for not noticing you, for thinking you're weird" He apologized, though I sweat dropped on that last one. Seriously? He thought I was weird? He continued with his apologies, "but most of all… for not giving you an answer … until now."

I was confused and my brows furrowed. Not understanding a thing anymore, I asked him, "A-an answer to what Naruto?"

His expression turned serious, his hands dropped from my shaking shoulders and he held my petite hands in his. Still looking at me straight in the eye he said, "I know this isn't the right time to tell you, but I just have to let you know…"

I nodded encouragement for him to continue and after taking a deep breath, he did. "Hinata… Did you mean it?"

"M-mean what Naruto-kun?"

Silence had befallen my room as Naruto observed me with those blue orbs. I'd have loved to faint right now just to get away from this awkwardness, but unfortunately for me all I could do was blush a deeper red each as each second ticked by. His hands were lightly squeezing my hands as if to comfort me and to ease the tension in the room.

"You know what? It can wait." He said jumping up and away from my bed and grinning at me as if nothing had happened just a few seconds ago.

"Eh- o-okay then…" I observed his actions nervously, "are you sure though?"

"Yeah dattebayo! Come on you need to talk to your sister!" Naruto practically screamed as he pulled me to my feet, "You need to talk to her Hinata. She needs your support."

I managed a smile as Naruto practically dragged me towards wherever my sister, Hanabi, was. Even though I appreciated him looking after both mine and my sister's well being, I couldn't help that nagging feeling in my heart. I badly wanted to know what Naruto was about to say but if he says it can wait… then I guess I'll just have to wait till he's ready to tell me.

Pushing thought of the boy I love away from my head, I focused my head on thoughts about my sister. A pang of guilt hit me hard. I was so occupied in mourning to myself that I didn't even bother to see or comfort my little sister. True, me and Hanabi had never been close and I sort of am jealous of her for she gets praised by our father but I still love her. And from now on, we'll only have each other and Neji nii-san…

I'm such a bad sister…

Sakura POV:

"Sakura…" I turned my head to the person who called me and my heart skipped a beat.

"S-sasuke! D-did you hear..." I anxiously questioned him, hoping like hell that he didn't.

He looked at me to Sai and back again before nodding, "Yeah. I need to talk with you." He eyed Sai before adding, "Without him."

"E-uh… Sasuke it's getting dark. Maybe tomorrow? It's getting late," I tried to distract him whilst I got up from my seat and dusted myself off. Sai just sat there, drawing in his scrolls and acting as if no one else was around. Heck I didn't even notice he had been drawing!

"No. I'll tell you while I walk you home," Sasuke was as impassive as ever, but my body went rigid at what he said and my kunai pouch dropped from my hand.

Did I hear right? Was Sasuke really going to walk me home? Forget that. What was he going to tell me? I mean, it has to be important because he didn't want Sai to be around and he was even offering to take me home just to be able to tell me whatever it is that he wants to. This can't be good… I have to avoid it!

"Eh- Sasuke that's alright. I can walk home alone. I'll just talk to you tomorrow alright," I told him as I scrambled to pick up my fallen Kunai pouch and was about to go away when Sai spoke up.

"Ugly, just go with him already."

"Hn come on"

Sighing in defeat, I walked by Sasuke out of the training grounds and into Konoha's streets. It's quiet and not much people are walking around anymore since it's way past sunset. Me and Sasuke kept on walking in silence. I kept quiet in hopes of him forgetting about what I had mentioned to Sai and to not question me about it. I wasn't comfortable telling about it anyone just yet, so when I told Sai it was just a slip of the tongue you know?

*What does he want?*
*I have no clue inner*
*Do you think he's jealous?*
*About what?*
*You're getting married…*
*Che. As if! Sasuke doesn't even like me.*
*Then what could he possibly have to tell you?*
*I don't know!*
*This silence isn't helping you know.*
*Thanks captain obvious*

The awkward dead air was excruciating! I racked my brain on how to start of the conversation, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't find a good start off. When we passed by the bench he had left me in back when we were Genin, a cold gust of wind blew by. I wasn't getting an easy feeling and my instinct was telling me to run for help. I stopped in my tracks. "Sasuke…"

"I know," He stated in a monotonous whisper and stopped walking as well. There was a rustle in the bushes to our right. In an instant I was in a fighting stance with a kunai in my hand while Sasuke had unsheathed his sword. My eyes almost popped out at what I saw.

It was a woman not much older than me… bloodied and bruised. She had a baby in her arms and another boy holding on to her torn dress.

"Help… them… Sasuke…"

OMG! I had trouble writing this... anyways... SO tenten was in denial all along huh? What's going to happen between her and Neji now? WHat about Hinata? When will Naruto tell her? How's Hanabi doing? Sakura is having an arranged marriage? Can she get away from it? WHat did Sasuke want from her? WHO was that lady? How did she know Sasuke?

Find out next time! BUH-BYE folks! xD