𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔.

Chapter XVI - She swung.

"teme, what should I get Sakura-chan for her birthday?"

"What?"

"What should I get Sakura-chan for her birthday????"

"And you're asking me this?"

"uh.. come to think of it.. yeah, I am, 'ttebayo!"

The Uchiha rolled his eyes.

They were walking down the halls, just after their practice with the pinkie and blunette. Of course, Sasuke and Sakura had won, something in which they had bragged about for at least fifteen minutes after they had done so.

Naruto thought it was funny, how the two had gone from disliking each other with every fiber of their being, to mildly tolerating each other, even if it was only in the slightest bit.

Of course he had noticed, he wasn't that dense.

He was asking this question specifically because Sakura's birthday was the first day of the Cherry Blossom festival, and he wanted to pull something extremely idiotic that I won't describe to my wonderful readers at home. :) it's a surprise.

"..so? Whaddya have in mind, 'ttebayo?"

Sasuke glanced over at Naruto, who seemed entirely focused on the non-existing hangnail on his fingertip. The raven sighed.

"I don't know. What does she like?"

"Shouldn't you know? Aren't you guys already best frie-"

This earned a smack to the back of the blond's head.

- - - - -

Sakura could have heard the yelp - which she knew was Naruto's - from a mile away, and she wondered what sort of idiotic thing he had to of said that could have irked the Uchiha as much as it did.

"So, Hinata-chan, huh?"

The semi-blunette glanced over at Sakura, who carried a smug expression.

"Y-yeah, I guess so."

Sakura had already decided to lay the topic to rest, as she'd quickly caught the Hyuga's face turning a deep shade of crimson. She was messing with her hair, which had decided to frizz up during the practice.

"You guys seemed pretty confident with your strategy, how often have you been working on it?"

"N-not that often, to b-be honest. He listens a-and understands, and i-it just works out."

Sakura blinked rapidly, tilting her head slightly, as if she hadn't heard the blunette properly. "I'm sorry, did you just say that he listens and understands? Are you sure that's Naruto??" She asked,

Hinata blinked at the pinkette, before nodding sheepishly. "What? H-he doesn't do th-that with you?" She asked, now avoiding eye contact.

"Sakura-san! Hello! It is wonderful to see you aga-"

Sakura's eyes widened, waving at Hinata briefly, before she ran.

- - - - -

"Come onnnn, teme! is there anything you can think of?"

"No."

"tch."

The Uchiha rolled his eyes, "When is her birthday?" He asked, flinching as soon as the question escaped his lips. Why did he care? Oh, right. He wasn't going to offer something that involved Christmas if her birthday was in June.

"March twenty-eighth."

The Uchiha blinked rapidly, glancing over at Naruto to check if he was joking or not. Her name was Sakura- how coincidental was it that she was born during the Cherry Blossom Festival, and on this years' Hanami day?