Author's Note: Hey, all! Dunno where this came from... Read and Review, please

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, I pwn him!

One fine spring day in Konoha the rookie kunoichi sat on a couple of park benches, taking in the delicious bloosom-scented air and... discussing boys, like normal. Well, Hinata was blushing at some of their comments and keeping silent most of the time, but other than that... However, today's topic of conversation was different.

"Seriously, only Sasuke-kun is a desirable match around these parts— Well, when it comes to us 'Rookie Nine,'" Ino was sighing. Tenten cleared her throat audibly. "Oh, and Gai's team."

"You have a point there," Sakura agreed. "But I guess it's all just a matter of preferrence." Hinata's eyes brightened as she heard this. Maybe... maybe that meant she could open up to these girls, and not be ostracized for her taste.

"But come on, anyone who doesn't like Sasuke has to have something wrong with them," Ino snorted, lying back and catching a petal absentmindedly. Or... not, Hinata sighed inwardly and went back to gazing at the sky.

"Ino, don't say that," Tenten spoke up. "I'm sure there are plenty of great guys."

"What, like Lee? Or Neji?" Ino shook her head. "Face it, he's the only one."

"I don't think that's fair. What do you think, Hinata?" Tenten turned to the shy girl foir a response.

"Wha... what do I think about...um, what?" She stammered uneasily.

"Y'know, about Sasuke being the only guy who's good enough around." There's... there's Naruto-kun, though. But... him? Date? Hinata began to blush automatically.

"Um... Well..." She looked around at the eager stares of her peers, and probably would've passed out from the pressure if she hadn't been struck by inspiration.

"Well... Um, they're like ramen!" she declared suddenly.

"Ramen?" Everyone echoed, not liking the potential directions that comment could take.

"Erm, yes. Well... they— they may not seem appetizing at first, and you, um, may have your favorites, but you never know until you try them all which ones are really desirable and which ones aren't." She exhaled softly as the other girls began to nod as they caught on to the concept.

"That's it!" Tenten cried suddenly.

"What's 'it'?" Sakura asked curiously.

"A plan. Ino," said Tenten, turning to said girl and catching her off guard. "You said you don't think anyone's desirable, right? Not even giving them the benefit of the doubt?"

"Well, hey, I didn't mean it that way!" Ino tried too late. "I only meant that—"

"So I say we do Hinata's idea," Tenten continued, disregarding Ino's comments.

"My... my...?"

"What idea?" Sakura asked, leaning forward in eagerness.

"Ino," Tenten proclaimed, standing up. "I dare— No, I challenge you to go out with everyone of the Rookie 9 guys!" Ino's jaw nearly hit the ground.

"What! That's not fair!" she whined. "Why me?"

"Are you gonna do it or not?" Tenten prodded.

"Um..."

"Come on, Ino. Aren't you supposed to be popular? This should be a breeze," Sakura teased.

"Well, I, uh... Yeah. Yeah it would be..."

"Well, in that case, let's make it extra challenging," the pink-haired girl smiled dangerously. "Let's throw in Tenten's team as well."

"Yeah, let's—" Tenten stopped midsentence. "Wait, what!"

"You heard me," Sakura said.

"On second thought maybe we shouldn't... "The bunned kunoichi added hopefully. "And what do you mean, 'extra challenging'?"

"Yeah," Ino agreed suddenly. "Let's call it off."

"Nope, the deal is set," Sakura smirked with inward glee. "Unless, of course, you're not woman enough to do it."

"Woman enough?" Ino spat, getting into competitive mode. "More woman than you. Okay, let's do this!"

"But wait," Tenten mused after a few seconds, "Doesn't that mean she'll get to date Sasuke?" Ino's eyes lit up, and Sakura's confident smile faded.

"YES!" Ino cheered, while at the same time Sakura wailed, "I forgot that!"

"Well, since he seems to be the 'prize' here, you have to date him last," Tenten suggested.

"Suits me," Ino cried in happiness. "The best for last, right?"

"Aw, man," Tenten and Sakura groaned in unison.

"At least she'll have to date Naruto, right?" Sakura offered brightly.

"Yeah," the older girl agreed.

Naruto-kun! I... forgot about him! Hinata suddenly became depressed. Oh, well. It's... it's not like a real date or anything...

Of course, the rest of the day Ino was nothing but sunshine in the wake of her newfound and promising date. In fact, the next day she was bright and happy, too. That is... until Neji rang her doorbell.

Heh heh, cliffy! Next chapter, Neji and Ino date! Don't miss it!