What's The Point?✓

Chapter Six

"Well, I did it."

"Did what?"

"Took Hinata on a date."

It was Saturday afternoon, the day after the date, at Shikamaru's house. Sai, Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Gaara were around the tabl listening to Naruto speak.

After a fight on Wednesday, Gaara became more social and talkative. Naruto helped him see into the light. Turns out, Gaara was severely depressed after his mother died and found no hope in the world, turning surly and rude. Now he was more cheerful, and that brought him to know about the bet.

"I really don't think this is a good thing, Naruto." Gaara said as he popped a chip into his mouth. Shikamaru nodded and Sai simply gave a thumbs up to support.

"It's not like she's going to ever know, you know?" Naruto said as he tossed a baseball into the air, alternating hands to catch it with.

"Hmm, haven't fallen in love yet, player?" Sasuke mumbled. Naruto caught the ball and gritted his teeth, his fingers digging in a bit into the rubber toy.

"Nope." Naruto replied, popping the 'P'.

"Surprising."

"You wanna go, Uchiha?"

"A simple question, really."

"You're asking for a fight."

"Don't mind if I do."

Shikamaru threw magazines at both of their heads, frowning. Sasuke and Naruto narrowed their eyes at the lazy friend, who crossed his arms and legs.

"Guys, no fighting. If you do, another stupid discussion will start and another stupid bet will be made. So shut it." Shikamaru yelled authoritatively. The feuding friends growled at each other but shut their mouths.

"So, Naruto, where'd you take her?"

Naruto perked up a bit and grinned. "I took her to this café after school. We talked and I think it's going pretty well. I made her HAPPY AND CONTENT." Naruto emphasized his last words as he glared at his best friend. Sasuke twirled a pencil and looked with a stoic face, tilting his head.

"Twenty nine days left, dobe."

"I know that, teme." The two gave each other a cold and heated glare. The air was tense. Shikamaru sighed and stood up, walking to the front door.

"ANYWAYS, let's clear up this dumb tension. Aren't we supposed to meet the rest of the gang at the mall today? A Konoha Twelve outing?" Shikimaru asked rhetorically as he slipped his shoes on. The other three hurried over and placed their shoes on, walking to Naruto's car.

"Temari and Kankuro are going as well so I'll tag along." Gaara said as he slipped into the backseat.

"No one asked." Sai smiled. Gaara narrowed his eyes and mumbled a few bad words.

"ALRIGHT! LET'S GET GOING!" Naruto cheered and the four friends exited the driveway, heading off towards the mall."

________________

"Oi, over here!" Kiba called the group over. The rest of the 12 were at a rest stop by the show store. The girls were inside and the remaining guys, Kiba, Neji, Lee, Choji, Shino, and the newcomer, Kankuro, were lounging on the couches.

Konoha Mall was bustling, the voices of the many residents in the town echoing through the walls. It took a few minutes for the Naruto's group to get to where everyone else was.

"What's up?" Naruto asked as he did a bro handshake with each one of the boys. They all grinned and sighed.

"Not much. The girls have been in there for twenty minutes, give or take." Shino said. Naruto flopped onto a chair and stretched out his legs and arms.