Konoha High I : The Dating Game

III : The Encounter

"So, Sakura-chan, why'd you switch schools to Konoha High?" Naruto asked, cerulean blue eyes full of curiosity.

"Oh, the usual thing," Sakura replied, waving her hand. "My parents got a great job offer, accepted it, and we landed here. They say we're going to be here for a while, but I'm not sure how long a while is anymore." She took a loose strand of pink hair and twirled it around her finger while she glanced around the halls with emerald green orbs.

"Oh," answered Naruto. As he walked through the halls with Sakura at his side, he idly wondered how to continue the conversation. Sakura didn't mind the silence, though, taking the quiet time to look around the local student body. Naruto put his hand under his chin in a thinking manner. After a few moments he took it off and snapped his fingers. "You know, you should come meet some of my friends!"

Sakura blinked a few times at the random outburst, a smile forming on her lips. "Sure, why not?"

Naruto grinned, "Awesome! Okay, so since you're going to meet them, I should tell you a little bit about them. For the boys… well first, there's Uchiha Sasuke. Now, he may seem cocky and arrogant but at times he can be a really good friend. After all, he is my best friend," Naruto said, saying the last sentence in a proud voice, his face beaming. "Then there's Hyuuga Neji. Him and Sasuke are pretty much the same, both being prodigies of their clans and all, but Neji isn't so much of a bastard.

"Then there's 'bushy-brows'—I mean Rock Lee. I just call him 'bushy brows' because… well, you'll see why. Anyway, his idol is Gai-sensei, and they're so similar it's scary. Then there's Nara Shikamaru who's a genius but really lazy. After him there's Akimichi Chouji who absolutely loves food. I mean really, he loves it." Naruto paused so Sakura could soak in all the information.

"Okay, I got it so far…" Sakura said. Hmm, so Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuuga Neji are prodigies, ne? Makes me all the more curious to meet them.

Naruto smiled and decided to continue, "Okay then, now for the girls. First there's Yamanaka Ino. She—"

"Yamanaka Ino?" the pink-haired girl muttered softly. "Her name's very familiar. I think I know her…"

"Oh, really? Because she said that she thought that she knew you!" Naruto's hyper energy was clear in his voice. "It's like a reunion!" His smile grew ever bigger, if that was even possible. "So anyways, Yamanaka Ino, well, she absolutely loves to shop. And she's very girly I guess. Next there's Tenten. Just Tenten. Tenten can be girly, but I think of her as one of the guys. She's amazing with weapons and is pretty good at sports. And last but not least there's Hyuuga Hinata. Now—"

"Sorry to interrupt you but… another Hyuuga? Like Neji?" Sakura asked.

Naruto nodded, "Yep, another Hyuuga. Hinata-chan and Neji are cousins. They used to have bad blood between them" —The blond noticed how Sakura's face twisted into an uncomfortable expression and quickly added— "but don't worry, they've sorted it out. Hinata-chan can be really quiet and shy, but eventually she'll open up. But her face is usually red… especially around me. I don't know why, and everyone gives me a look like I'm clueless about something." He ruffled his hair in frustration, "What's the big secret that no one's telling me?!"

He can't figure out that the Hinata girl likes him? Sakura thought as Naruto went on about how he likes ramen. Wow, this boy must be dense. Her alter ego nodded.

"So," he started, halting his footsteps. "Want me to take you to meet them?"

"What?" Sakura said, having not been paying attention for the moment as she lifted her gaze off of the floor to Naruto's foxy face. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"A lot of information to sink in, ne?" Naruto asked before repeating his earlier question. "I just asked if you wanted to meet them."

"But what about school classes?"