The Art of Deception

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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the lyrics, artists, or songs that I will quote in this fic.

Author's Note: OH YES, bitches! Petitdejeuner is back with your NejiSaku fic! You may all bow. Hehe. But seriously. This is going to be fun to write... Neji and Sakura are my second-favorite pairing, right behind GaaSaku. I hope you all have fun reading!

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Scroll I: With or Without You

See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you

--U2; With or Without You

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Tsunade sighed as she regarded the two jounin in front of her. Both so different in skill, but both the best in their own areas. Haruno Sakura: the village's top medic, and probably the best in many other villages, too; a genjutsu expert being semi-trained in taijutsu by Rock Lee; her very own apprentice, receiving all her skills and more; a beautiful, budding young woman. Hyuuga Neji: one of Konohagure's geniuses; master of the Hyuuga 'Gentle Fist' style of fighting; Byakugan-wielder; amazing at ninjutsu and strategics; and one of the teenage heartthrobs of the century. He was stiff, she was loose. He was strict, she was fun-loving. He was calm, she was fiery.

Was there ever a pair so destined to be together? The Godaime didn't think so. Unfortunately, the two friends (their closebonds being related to Neji's large amount of time at the hospital, where he was suspiciously always treated by Sakura) were either too dense to notice anything or they just didn't want to believe that they had chemistry. Remarkable chemistry. The Hokage kicked back and relaxed as they sat down uneasily, more than a little puzzled at this spontaneous, strange meeting, and smirked to herself. She was effing brilliant. Her apprentice was dateless, and so was this boy; they would be perfect for each other; and she needed two jounin anyway to do this mission. Put it all together, and she was hitting two birds with one kunai: completing a mission and using her superior matchmaking skills.

Damn, I'm good.

"Hyuuga," the blonde, busty woman greeted casually, nodding to the twenty-two-year-old prodigy before her. "Sakura." She nodded again to her twenty-one-year-old apprentice. "Arigato for coming."

"It's no problem, Tsunade-sensei," Sakura said with a cheerful smile, a veil of confusion passing over her features as she spoke again. "But why are we here? What mission only requires two people?"

Neji said nothing, but a similar confusion was echoed in his pearl-white eyes. Tsunade smiled and laced her fingers across her stomach, gazing at the two. "For this B-ranked mission, Sakura, we don't need two people," she said mischeviously, "we need one couple."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, but Neji's mouth was open slightly in shock, which meant that he probably understood completely. Suddenly, understanding dawned on Sakura's features, and, contrary to Neji's slowly widening eyes, her jade ones narrowed. "Tsunade-sensei... we have to pose as a couple?"

The blonde nodded with a proud smile. And now for the shocker. "Not just as a couple... you're going to be engaged to each other." It was extremely amusing (and strangely satisfying) to see Neji's mouth open fully, so that he was in a full gape, and Sakura's eyes go from their narrowed state to wide as saucers.

"Y... you've got to be kidding!" Sakura said after a moment, heat going to her cheeks. "We're going to act like we're engaged?"

Tsunade shrugged. "As far as the mission goes, you two are engaged. We have a sneaking suspicion that Sound is planning something with or that has to do with Lightning. Because of that, you two will be an engaged couple on a trip to Lightning to see the sights, visit museums, have fun... you know. Couple stuff." The Hokage inwardly smiled at their shellshocked faces, though Neji had camouflaged his somewhat into an expression that spoke 'oh-my-good-god'. "Meanwhile, I want you to look out for anything that might have to do with Sound." She tossed them scrolls, which they caught expertly, and Sakura looked at her quizically. "These are communication scrolls. I have another one right here." She held up one identical to theirs. "If I need yout to do something extra, or if you have questions about the mission, we can contact each other with these."

Neji looked up at her. "So, we can't reveal that we're ninja?" he asked suspiciously, tucking the scroll into a pocket.

"Of course not," Tsunade answered vehemently, staring at him. "We don't want to give Sound the slightest reason to suspect you. Because when Sound suspects someone, they don't just watch them carefully, they kill them, even if the person in question is as innocent as... um... I don't know. Hinata before she met Naruto."

Sakura burst into laughter, and even Neji managed a small chuckle. Tsunade smiled at the difference between them, and rejoiced within herself once again at her amazing skills at putting people together. This, she thought triumphantly, is gonna be good.

---

"You're engaged to Hyuuga Neji!"

Yamanaka Ino's shriek echoed across Konoha as Sakura sighed and rolled her eyes at her blonde friend. "No, not really. Just for the mission. We have to pretend like we're engaged."

"Oh." Ino grinned and put a hand on her hip. "Damn, don't scare me like that. I thought you were serious. Marrying Hyuuga Neji... wow."

Sakura gave her a look as the blue-eyed girl sat on her bed. "I don't know, it couldn't be that bad," she said, her voice muffled as she rummaged through her closet. "Could it?" She emerged with her shinobi uniform and a couple of casual yukata, and laid the outfits on the bed next to her friend.

Ino shrugged. "Wouldn't he be all strict? And he seems the type to be overprotective. You know. Glaring at any other boy that looks at you."

"Yeah, I bet Shikamaru's too lazy to glare at anyone," Sakura teased, tucking a strand of petal-pink hair behind her ear.

"Oh, ha ha," the blonde replied sarcastically. "My Shika-kun is not that lazy!"

Sakura looked at her.

"Well, okay, maybe he is, but I still love him!"

The two friends grinned and giggled with each other as Sakura went through the contents of her drawers. "I have nothing to wear," she groaned. "Seriously. I had no idea my wardrobe was so... nonexistant. I mean, it's not like I'm poor or anything." It was true. Besides the generous amount of money her parents had left her when they died, she'd raked up quite a bit of cash from her various missions and jobs.

"Well, you know what this means, don't you?" Ino said casually, standing up with a smirk. Sakura groaned, knowing what was coming. "Shopping spree!" Ino grabbed Sakura's hand and Sakura grabbed her purse, and they ran out together, laughing like the old friends they were.

Ino had liked being a kunoichi, but didn't want to go to jounin level. She wanted to be able to stay at home and work at her flower shop with Shikamaru, her newly-betrothed. Shino, Chouji, Hinata, and Shikamaru himself were also still chuunin, and had no problem with it.

The two girls had renewed and solidified their friendship after Sasuke left, claiming that it was stupid to fight over a boy anyway. Ino had comforted Sakura and had toughened her to her loss, and was mostly responsible for the gradually increasing self-confidence her jade-eyed friend had. Likewise, Sakura helped Ino create a relationship with Shikamaru, and was often seen at the flower shop, helping out or buying a couple roses just for fun. It was like being nine all over again, and the two girls loved it.

Sakura groaned as Ino piled shirts, pants, and skirts into her arms. "Good God, Ino... I'm only going to be gone for a month or so!"

"Well, these are just the essentials!" her friend protested with a grin, pushing her into the dressing room. "Don't forget to model for me!"

Sakura snorted, sorting through the clothes until she came across a dress. "Ino! I can't wear this!" She held out the skimpy gown with an incredulous expression on her face.

"Oh, come on, Sakura! It's so sexy!" Ino squealed excitedly. "And I bet it looks so good on you! Just try it on, please?" She gave an exaggerated pout and giggled through it. "Or else I'll be stuck like this forever. And people will exclaim that I used to be so beautiful... except when mean old Haruno Sakura made her pout like this..."

Sakura couldn't help laughing through her angry facade. "Fine, I'll try it. But that's it."

Of course, she ended up buying it... Ino's unending whining was enough to make her practically slam the money on the counter. That damned high-pitched voice she could have... well. Wouldn't you buy it after hearing that screech in your ear? "Besides," Ino had insisted, "you look incredible in it. Neji will be completely bowled over! I mean, who would expect Haruno Sakura to wear something like that?"

Sakura eyed her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ino had only grinned.

---

Sakura stuffed the last pair of shoes into her suitcase and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Whew... I knew Ino made me buy too much..." The green-eyed kunoichi closed the suitcase-- or tried to. It wouldn't close, damn it all. "Erg..." Sakura leaned on the lid, eyes shut with the amount of pressure she was exerting. She put it on the floor and stood on it. She jumped on it. She even pushed it against the wall.

Nothing.

"I got it," she said finally, pushing down on the lid. She put chakra into her arms and pushed as hard as she could, beads of sweat popping on her slightly-larger-than-normal forehead.

Click.

"AHA!" she shouted triumphantly, punching the air. "TAKE THAT, YOU FUCKING SUITCA-"

"Sakura-chan?"

Sakura froze, turning her head to see Naruto sitting on her windowsill, looking a little scared. "Naruto?" She giggled nervously, scratching the back of her neck. "Ehehe... sorry. The suitcase wouldn't close, and, um..." She suddenly eyed him angrily. "Why are you at my windowsill? You hentai! I could have been changing!"

Naruto grinned his trademark foxy grin. "Well, Tenten told me that Lee told her that Shino told him that Kiba had said that Shikamaru had remarked that Ino had told him that you were leaving tomorrow for a mission with Hyuuga-san, so I decided to come over and say goodbye because Tenten said that you'd also be gone for a month, and that's a long time, so, er, yeah." He was blue in the face from so much talking.

Sakura sighed. "Breathe, Naruto." She smiled. "Thanks for coming. But... I have a door, you know." She looked at him, amused, and shook her head.

He laughed sheepishly. "Ano, Sakura-chan, the window's so much more fun." The Kyuubi-holder hopped inside her room and threw an arm over her shoulder. "So tell me about this mission."

"It's only a B-rank," Sakura said, "but we have to sort of be actors."

"How?" Naruto asked, looking at the dents in Sakura's suitcase with a sort of amused interest.

"Well, Neji and I have to act like a couple." Naruto's head shot up. "An engaged couple." The blonde in front of her burst out laughing as Sakura blushed furiously, not sure exactly why she was doing such.

"The H-Hyuuga has to act like he's in love?" Naruto howled with mirth, tears escaping from his eyes. "I can see it now! 'S-sakura, I love you!' 'Neji, I l-love you, t-t-too!'" He gave another burst of laughter and fell on her bed, wiping the salty wetness from his eyes.

Sakura's eye twitched as she kicked her friend in the shins, making his laughter stop abruptly. "Naruto!" she complained, blushing.

He chuckled outthe rest of his humor and sat up, rubbing his shin. "Sorry, Sakura-chan. It's just funny to think of."

She sighed and sat next to him. "We're just going to act. I mean, it's not like we're actually falling in love." She blushed againat the thought.

Naruto shrugged and put his hands behind his head, lacing his fingers together. "You'd make a good couple, though. And then I could have you as my sister-in-law!"

"Sister-in-law?"

"Hopefully, anyway. I'm proposing to Hinataat dinner tonight." He smiled slightly and held out a black velvet box. "I've got the ring ready and everything." He opened the case, revealing a platinum band with two pearls on each side of a diamond. "D'you think she'll like it? D'you think she'll say yes?" He looked worried.

Sakura threw her arms around her friend. "Naruto! I'm so happy for you! I think she'll love it, and of course she'll say yes! She's loved you since she was a genin!" She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him again, tighter. "I can't believe you, you romantic!"

Naruto laughed weakly and hugged his best friend back equally hard. "Arigato, Sakura-chan." He stood up, confidence flooding his features. "I have to get ready for tonight... good luck on the mission!"

"Domo, Naruto." Sakura grinned at him, happiness evident on her face. "And good luck tonight!"

"Ah, I won't need that if she loves me like you said!" Naruto grinned, hopping on her windowsill. "Have fun with Neji, ne? Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"Naruto!" But he was gone, off in an excited, pre-proposal frenzy. Sakura smiled at his retreating back, obvious in his bright orange coat. Oh, wow, Sakura thought excitedly, closing the window. Imagine Naruto and Hinata being married! How perfect! At the same time, though, Sakura felt a tug of loneliness at her heart. She was happy for her friends, of course, but... well, it seemed like everyone was finding someone to love except her. Naruto and Hinata were (apparently)getting married, Ino and Shikamaru were engaged, Kiba and Temari (extremely weird, but it was happening...) were together, Shino was surprisingly corresponding with a girl in Suna, Tenten was going out with Lee and living with him, and even Kakashi-sensei and Shizune were newly married!

Ever since Sasuke had gone, she'd resolved not to fall so easily for anyone ever again, and never to think herself weak because she couldn't help someone... even when she'd tried her hardest. She'd become the Sakura she'd been before he had started to think of betrayal. But now, this combination ofold Sakura and new Sakurawas without the love she had become so accustomed to. She was without the crazyneediness that she'd had for Sasuke, and nobody really felt that way to her. It made her feel extremely lonely, and... unlovable.

Dwelling on it only makes it worse, she scolded herself as she went downstairs, putting together ingredients for dinner. You have a mission tomorrow. The thought of the mission cheered her somewhat. At least I can pretend to love and be loved. That'll make me feel better. After all, Neji was her friend. They knew each other, and even had a brother-sister relationship. If she had had to pick anyone to take this mission with, Neji definitely would have been in one of the top spots.

---

Hyuuga Neji brushed a loose strand of coffee-colored hair from his white eyes as he attacked the punching bag with all the force he possessed,going overthe day in his mind. First, Tsunade had assigned the mission... that woman had something up her sleeve, he could feel it, and he was going to try and find out, Hokage or not... then he'd gone home to find Hinata in a frenzy about what to wear to her date with Naruto. "Something important is going to happen, I just know it!" she'd practically squeaked. After calming her down and taking some of her tea (she made really good tea), he'd gone to the shops to get something fancy for the mission, just in case, and was met by an ecstatic Ino, who insisted that she pick out his outfit.

Needless to say he'd been worried, but the soon-to-be-Nara girl had pointed out a nice black suit with a nice red dress shirt that she'd said 'brought out his eyes'. He'd asked her how anything could bring out his eyes, as they were white... but she simply glared at him and told him to just buy the damn thing. That girl could be pretty persuasive. He felt bad for Shikamaru.

After shopping, he'd trained some. And that was where the problem had started. He couldn't get his pink-haired friend out of his mind! Not like she was a particularly bad thing to think about, but the way he thought of her worried him somewhat. Shit, he was musing about her silky-looking hair and beautiful jade eyes, and the way thather chin was always tilted upwards somewhat (not snobbishly, but rather as if shealways looked at the world optimistically and viewed everything happily). He had been thinking of her curvy figure, and appreciating the way that she was okay with the fact that she wasn't necessarily as stick-skinny as some of her friends. He wasn't supposed to think about her like that. It wasn't Neji-like. Hell, it wasn't even friend-like. It felt like he was some sort of lusty guy that followed her around everywhere.

Neji stopped attacking when he realized that he'd long punched the bag to the floor, and that he had been trying to kill the air around him for the better part of five minutes. Damn it all, she did this to him. That pink-haired kunoichi was invading his mind, and he'd get her out, or he'd rip out his Byakugan eyes.

Well, maybe not. But still.

The elite jounin walked angrily into his room and into the shower, massaging his scalp with more vigor than intended. Some relaxing tea, a chance to read a couple scrolls on genjutsu (his current weak point). That would calm him down if nothing else would. Or at least, he hoped so. He turned off the water and towel-dried his long hair, wrapping the towel around his waist as he got the scroll from the shelf above his bed. Neji pulled on the cotton pants he used for sleeping and slid into the bed, unrolling the scroll and reading intently.

Genjutsu. Sakura was an expert at genjustu, wasn't she? That's right; that was the way she'd won the jounin exam's fighting sequence. She'd used a superior genjustu on some guy from Mist and he'd collapsed almost instantly.

Neji suddenly realized what he was doing and growled furiously, throwing the scroll across the room.

Damn her.