Disclaimer: Arutonay siay otnay inemay….

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Chapter 4-

Sakura awoke the next day to her blaring alarm clock. Groaning, the Kunoichi retreated further into her sheets and tried to block out the noise. Why was that damned alarm clock on anyway? She didn't have to work at the hospital.

With an angry cry, Sakura seized the alarm clock, ripped it from the wall, and chucked it with all her might, effectively putting a dent in her closet door. Shit. she thought as she laid face down on her bed. Now she needed to buy another clock. A sound suddenly filled the room that was just as loud and annoying as the alarm clock: Ino's squeal.

"SAKURA! GET OUT OF BED, FOREHEAD GIRL! WE HAVE TO GO SHOPPING!" the blonde cried excitedly, leaping onto the bed and shaking the pink-haired kunoichi by the shoulders.

Sakura groaned. She forgot that she promised to go shopping with Ino today for Hinata's birthday, which was next week. So THAT's why the alarm clock was on. Damn it all.

Her thoughts were cut short when as the sheets and blankets were ripped off her, meaning she was exposed to a wave a cold a brightness.

"Get up, already!" Ino yelled impatiently.

Sighing, Sakura sat up in bed.

"That's more 'like it." Ino said, smiling. Her expression suddenly turned serious. "By the way, why didn't you tell me about you and Neji?" Sakura blinked upon hearing this.

"Me and…?"

"Don't play dumb! I know you two are going out!" the blonde said, pulling out a picture. "I'm you're roommate; you are supposed to tell me about these things!"

Frowning, Sakura reached out and took the picture from Ino, all the while wondering what the hell she was talking about. Her jaw dropped.

In her hand, she was holding a photo of her leaning on Neji's shoulder. It looked to have been taken from a small distance away from a bush.

"T-This isn't what it looks like!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Oh, really?" Ino replied with a smirk, clearly not believing a word she said.

"There's nothing going on between Neji-san and I, Ino! I'm serious!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." the blonde replied, rolling her eyes and getting off the bed. "I don't see what you are so embarrassed about. Neji is one of the hottest guys in the village. Now, get out of bed and get dressed."

"Fine…" Sakura said with a sigh.

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Once Sakura had showered and dressed, she and Ino grabbed their jackets from the coat rack by the door. After all, it was just about winter so it was quite chilly. It was also supposed to rain that day, so they got a couple of umbrellas out just to be safe.

Sakura sighed as she followed an overenthusiastic Ino through the stores. She had long since found a nice gift for Hinata, but Ino was quite picky and often took hours. Christmas was usually a nightmare. To be honest, Sakura wasn't the biggest fan of shopping. In fact, ever since Sasuke left the village and broke her heart, she had become something of a workaholic and didn't like doing trivial things like this while she could be at the hospital, working. More often than not, Tsunade had to almost force Sakura to go home and get some sleep.

"Ino, why are you getting someone like Hinata kinky underwear?" Sakura asked as Ino browsed through the lingerie shop.

"Poor, naïve Sakura…" Ino replied with a sigh. "Why do you think?"

"…"

"We need to break her in… for Naruto. At the rate they're going, they will die virgins." As soon as Ino said this, Sakura face-faulted. "And I don't think either of them want that, do you?"

"uh…Maybe…"

"Exactly." said Ino.

"Ino, I don't think you should meddle with their relationship--" Sakura began but was cut off.

"I'm not meddling!" Ino cried defensively. "I'm just giving them a little push in the right direction. Do you think Hinata would look good in blue or pink?"

"Blue…" Sakura sighed in defeat. Ah, well. At least it would be interesting to see how everyone reacts when they see Hinata pull it out of the gift bag.

"Great! Thanks!" The blonde replied with enthusiasm, dashing to corner to purchase her…ahem… item. Sakura inwardly hoped that Hinata wouldn't pass out and die from shock.

As Sakura and Ino walked down the crowded streets in search of someplace to eat (they had finished their shopping), they both recognized a certain couple who were sitting together on a nearby bench. Before Sakura could greet them, however, and she was roughly grabbed by the arm and pulled into the nearest bush.

"Ino, what--"

"Shh!" said Ino. "They'll hear us!"

"..You have a thing for spying on people from bushes don't you?" Sakura asked. Ino ignored her and merely continued to watch Hinata and Naruto from the bush.

"They are so cute!" she squealed.

"Yeah." Sakura admitted, smirking as she saw the couple turn red. Apparently they had just had an awkward moment. "I bet he kisses her."

Ino looked at Sakura as if she were considering something. Suddenly, her face lit up and she smiled evilly.

"You know what?" the blonde said. "I'm taking you up on that bet."

"What! But I wasn't seri--"

"No take backs."

"Ugh. Fine. What are the conditions then?"

"Remember how you told me that you got Hyuuga to blush a couple months ago at the fall festival?"

"…yes…" Sakura didn't like where this was going.

"Well, I want proof." Ino replied. If Naruto doesn't kiss Hinata, you have to seduce Hyuuga and get a picture of him blushing." Sakura winched at this.

"But why Neji?" Sakura questioned, thoroughly confused about Ino's choice for a candidate.

"Fine." she said. "but if he does kiss her, you have to do the same to Shikamaru."

"The lazy ass?" Ino questioned. She shrugged. "Okay."

I am so going to regret this… Sakura thought as she and Ino shook hands to seal the deal.

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"So, Hinata-chan…" Naruto began awkwardly, attempting to start a conversation with his too quiet girlfriend. She didn't stutter anymore, but she was still quite shy. "How's it been going with…stuff?"

"Oh! Umm… Everything's fine…" She said, face flushing.

"So… How bout that weather?"

"It looks like its about to rain…" She replied thoughtfully, turning her white-eyed gaze to the sky. The blush didn't leave her face for an instant.

"Great!" Naruto exclaimed, for lack of a better response. When she said nothing else, he sighed. They had been dating for quite a few months now, and they still hadn't kissed yet. Hell, they had barely gotten past the holding hands stage. He was starting to get discouraged. Besides Sakura, Hinata was the only girl he had ever truly liked. A sudden idea struck him.

"Hey, Hinata-chan! It's your birthday next week, right? What would you like?" Hinata's face, if it were possible, turned a brighter shade of red.

"You… You don't have to get me anything, Naruto-kun!"

"Of course I do! You're my girlfriend!" He exclaimed. "Also, Sakura and Ino would beat me to a pulp if I didn't."

"Oh… um…." She started to fidget with her fingers. "Anything will do, I suppose."

"Hey, Hinata-chan?" Naruto began hesitantly.

"Yes?" she replied, a bit confused about why he suddenly sounded so unsure.

"Have you ever… um… well… Have you ever thought about…" He took a deep breath. "…kissing?" Hinata's already red face started to turn purple and it felt as if it were on fire. Did he just ask that? OMIGOD! HE DID! she thought.

Naruto noticed the change of color in her face and he started to mentally beat himself on the head. OH MY GOD! SHE'S REPULSED! I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT! I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT! I SHOULD JUST GO CRAWL INTO A CORNER AND DIE!

"U-um… well…" she started. "I don't know…"

IT MEANS SHE HASN'T! OH NOOOO!

"I'm sorry I brought it up, Hinata-chan!" he exclaimed, taking an attempt at damage control. "It was really rude! Just forget I said it!"

"No, wait! I-it's okay, Naruto-kun. I didn't think it was rude." Hinata replied quickly. "The truth is, I have thought about it a little…" She quickly averted her eyes out of embarrassment. Hinata, you idiot. she thought. Now he probably thinks you're a freak…She snapped out of her thoughts when felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking at Naruto, she saw that he was leaning in closer. She subconsciously started to do the same. They were quite close now, they're breath was mingling. Their lips were almost touching. Then…

…A bird crashed into the back of Naruto's head.

"AGH!" Naruto exclaimed, having been knocked right of his seat on the bench. He lay on the ground unconscious, the bird landing next to him. It stood up and ruffled the few feathers it had, if you could even call them feathers. The bird was quite thin and ragged and looked to be sickly. It looked to have once been a dove. Ruffling its feathers one last time, it took off into the sky. ((HAHA. If you were wondering where this bird came from, check out my friend Maiyuko-chan's fic named 'Losing Control.'))

"That… was the ugliest bird I have ever seen…" Hinata mumbled to herself in shock.

"Was that a letter in the bird's beak?" Ino asked.

"I… think so…" Sakura replied, staring in shock at an unconscious Naruto. "NOOO! RIGHT WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT TO KISS!"

"Shhh!" Ino exclaimed, covering the screaming girl's mouth, but it was too late.

"Ino-chan? Sakura-chan? What are you two doing in that bush?" Hinata asked, peeking into said bush.

"U-um… We were just… um…" Ino began.

"…Helping Shino look for his bugs! See? Here's a caterpillar!" Sakura exclaimed, holding it up.

"EEK! GET THAT AWAY FROM ME, FOREHEAD GIRL!"

"Ino, you are such a pig! It's just a harmless caterpillar!"

"Um… You guys… Please don't fight." said Hinata.

"Ugh… What happened? Why does my head hurt so bad?" Naruto said from his laying position on the ground.

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Author's note: Ugh. Sorry for the delay. I really don't have much of an excuse, to be honest. It was just pure laziness. But my Computer is about to crash, so I thought I should post this before I lose it. I'll try to post the next Chapter quicker, alright? grovels on knees for forgiveness