As Hinata pulled a light blue tank-top over her head on top of her short sleeved white tee, she exuberantly stepped down her stairs into the kitchen and grabbed a quick breakfast and ran out the door to meet up with Neji.

Upon arriving at school, she quietly walked her way to her locker and grabbed her necessary items before treading to her first class. But she was soon stopped by the familiar face of Sai and she smiled sweetly and asked him how he was doing.

"Heh, thanks for asking, I am fine though. But I wanted to tell you that I am also going to help with decorating for the dance," he said.

"Oh, that is great! I am glad that there will be more friendly faces there! I guess I will see you there then!"

"Yea just want to let you know that we are going to help over the weekend, both Saturday and Sunday at 11, for 2 hours each day."

"Oh, thanks, I almost had forgotten the time."

Hinata noticed Naruto walking past with Kiba. She blushed strongly and brought her a light fist up to her lips in a nervous manner.

Naruto was looking right at them and he did not look happy. He turned around to Kiba and whispered in his ear. Kiba nodded and went on ahead as Naruto changed his route and turned right towards Sai and Hinata. Wearing an annoyed expression, he said,

"Ohaiyo Hinata. Hey, Sai, can I talk to you for a sec?"

Sai nodded and followed Naruto to another area away from Hinata's earshot and said,

"Sai, I am only going to say this to you once, Stay away from her."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what I am talking about; I saw how you looked at her, like you were eyeing a piece of meat. Believe me Sai, if you looking for your 'toy-of-the-month' go find someone else, ;cause Hinata is totally off limits!"

"Man, why are you getting all protective, I am only having some fun, you know."

"Hinata is not something to play with!" Said Naruto as he raised a tight fist.

Sai merely flicked it away with the back of his hand and said,

"Whatever, I don't see how you think that you can boss me around, it is my choice in whatever I do, and if she doesn't like me, then that is her preference, not yours. So back off."

Naruto watched as Sai went off to Hinata again. Quickly putting on a fake smile, Naruto joined them; knowing better than to trust Sai with Hinata. It was funny notion, he thought, realizing that he didn't trust anyone with Hinata.

The bell rang, and the numerous groups that chocked the hallway quickly dispersed to their classes, leaving the hallways vacant and bare in a matter of seconds

Hinata headed to Algebra with Naruto by her side, which made her very nervous.

But she did notice the change in Naruto's behavior. What really confused was what has caused it. He seemed pissed off the entire time he was with Sai and her.

Putting the thought to back of her mind, she tried to focus on math, but it was just too perplexing; why was she learning this when everything could be solved by a calculator?? Was it not easier that way?

With her head propped up on the palm of her hand, she thought of a more interesting subject.

At least she could look forward to helping for the upcoming dance. Again her mind strayed as she started wondering if she would actually go to the dance. Neji probably wouldn't let her. Maybe Naruto would ask her out!

Fat Chance, she thought, realizing that the idea was very much unlikely, she hung her head low.

As Hinata sighed in a depressed manner, void of any thought that the teacher could possibly behind her, and oblivious to the fact that all of her classmates were signaling something to her, she snapped back to reality when the teacher hollered in her ear.

"Miss Hinata! Please focus! The art of Algebra is a very complex subject and should not be handled with such irreverence!"

Hinata's face looked like it was going to explode as she quickly stammered out,

"Gomen! Gomen-nesai!"

Her teacher sighed at her feebleness and continued with the lesson while writing incomprehensible chicken-scratch on the black board once more while Hinata drowned in embarrassment. A few kids snickered quietly and Naruto looked at her with a small smile as she dipped lower in her seat in humiliation

Oh GOD! Why Algebra?!?! Why in front of Naruto?!?!

The rest of the day went respectively well, and as Hinata went back to her locker at the end of the day, she sighed in relief that it was Friday. Tomorrow she had to go to help for the dance. Thankfully Sakura would be there so it won't be too bad. But after the show she put on in front of Naruto in Algebra, she felt she couldn't look at him without stuttering a blue streak along followed with one of her signature ultra-bright red blushes..

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Standing at his locker with his earphones jammed in his ears, Naruto remembered the torment that Hinata had received as Algebra and felt the sudden need to see Hinata and comfort her, hug her, kiss-

What was he thinking?!?! Where did that come from?!?! He had known her for what, four, five days? Maybe a week? And now she was a victim of his perverse mind?? He seriously had to stop hanging out with his Dad's best friend, Jiraiya. That geezer totally defined in deep context what the word perverted was.

Hinata totally didn't deserve him; he should just stay away.

But…

He really did like her…

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Most of the school had left, but Hinata was having a hard time organizing things and so took forever with leaving the building. When she finally turned away from her locker, she was confined to the back of her locker as two arms surrounded her. She looked up at Sai's face.

"Ano, Sai, what is it?" Hinata was feeling uncomfortable in her position.

"Hello, Hinata. I missed you."

"R-really, um, I think I should go now, Neji-nii-san is probably waiting for me."

But as Hinata tried to pry loose her imprisonment, Sai's hold became tighter.

"Oh, I don't think so, see, I am very interested in you, and I don't think that you should be left in such a lonely position."

Hinata, sensing danger, tried to wiggle loose. Sai's face just coming closer and closer to hers and she couldn't stand it. She closed her eyes shut and hoped for a miracle.

At that moment, Neji, who had thankfully trusted his intuition, showed up to check why Hinata was not out of the building.

Hinata felt relief wash over her. THANK YOU GOD!!!

Sai's face crumpled in fear

And Neji did not look happy. (a/n heehee)

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A bump the size of a basketball grew on Sai's head as he sulked into the shadows after Neji took Hinata out of the school. He smirked.

"You can't stay away from me, Hinata," he breathed.

And dissolved into the dark.

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Hinata had never been so afraid in her life. Was that the same kind Sai she had known before? Could she not trust him anymore? Was everybody like that? What about Naruto? Was he the same, with his considerate beautiful personality only skin deep?

Meanwhile, Neji was on the phone consulting the same problem with his best friend.

Neji: So that was what happened. What should I do? I felt like skinning the bastard alive!

Naruto: Why didn't you?? If I was there, his own mother wouldn't have been able to recognize him if she ever got to see him again.

Neji: Yeah, now I don't trust anyone with Hinata anymore. Why didn't I suspect Sai in the beginning?

Naruto: I knew what the little bastard was like from the beginning, I even told him off today before classes had started! God, I want to murder him! Wait until I get my hands on him tomorrow!

Neji: Oh, you are going tomorrow as well? I have to escort Hinata there, do you mind looking after her a while? I don't that nasty asshole getting near her anymore.

Naruto: Alright, but, isn't Sakura going to be there as well? I guess me and Sasuke could kinda team up against Sai and beat the shit out of him!

Neji: Don't get carried away, I want to maim him as much as you do, but you could get in serious trouble that way, so don't let your blood boil there, okay?

Naruto: Okay, I'll try, but if he tries anything-

Neji: Then you can do anything you want.

Naruto: Sorry, Neji, I have to go, PMSing dad is getting on my nerves, I am supposed to be cleaning the hell hole I call my room.

Neji: All right then, I guess I will see tomorrow then?

Naruto: Yup, bye.

Neji: Okay, bye.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Back at Naruto's house…

Naruto's head fumed.

He would never forgive the filthy son of a –

"NARUTO!!" yelled a paranoid father from downstairs, swiftly breaking Naruto's train of thought..

"What is it?" he yelled back, equally loud.

"Are you off the phone yet?"

"Yea, I am!"

"Okay, come downstairs, I want you to meet your new teacher."

This was the difficulty of having your dad as the town mayor. Everything thing in the city had to revolve around him, with you caught in the middle.

As Naruto trudged down the stairs, he heard the deep laughter of his father, and the crackly bellows of Jiraiya, who seemed to be at there house 24/7. But he also heard a light tinkley laugh of an unfamiliar woman.

When he reached the bottom stair, he suddenly remembered who the mystery teacher was. He hadn't seen her for years. Then why did she look exactly the same?

"Wow, Naruto! You have grown so much!" said Tsunade as she gave Naruto a bone crushing hug. She was known for her strength "I remembered you as a snot nosed brat, but you don't look half too bad. So, you got one yet?" She asked, holding up her pinkie, with a mischievous, knowing smile on her lips.

Naruto blushed lightly as he thought of Hinata.

"N-no!" he stuttered.

"Ooh, so you like someone, right?"

"Um, no."

"Whatever. Well, I think you should start treating me with respect, since I am going to be your new principle!"

She smirked.

Naruto's jaw almost reached the ground.

"WHAT?!?!" The exclamation resounded through town.

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"Hinata, there's someone on the phone for you!" yelled Hanabi, her younger sister.

"Okay, I am coming," she replied.

Hanabi handed the phone to Hinata and she called into it.

"Hello?"

All she heard was clik the sound of hanging up and then the dial tone.

Huh?

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Tell me WHY I DID I DID THAT!!!! Thought Naruto as he hung up frantically, while taking deep breaths to calm his frazzled nerves. He had broken into a sweat.

What was wrong with him? He lasted the past few years in middle school surrounded by gorgeous girls who would give nail and tooth for a single date with him so why couldn't he ask her out for the dance??? Though she was drop-dead dazzling. But he barely even knew her!

Okay, no, he knew her.

Very well.

Well enough to grab her and –

Woah, Boy! Calm down!

But why couldn't he stop thinking about her? Everything, her eyes, her smile, her voice, it was so irresistible.

There was only one thing that he could think of doing to compose himself. Drink. Coffee. In excessive amounts.

Yes, Heaven...

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Next day…

OMG! I AM LAAAATTTEEE!!!!!!!! screamed Hinata in her mind as she anxiously got ready.

She pulled on a pair of light blue faded jeans and a pale pink long shirt and headed out the door to meet with Neji. She was still worried about what had happened at school the other day with Sai.

That is right, I can't trust him anymore. I should just stay away from him. And if he tries to talk to me, I'll… I'll… Argh! This is so frustrating!

As the reached the school, Hinata saw Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke outside waiting.

She ran up to meet with them.

"What are you guys doing?" she inquired.

"Guess who is late again, if that Kakashi uses that 'helping old lady' excuse again, I swear, I am going to kick him in the balls so hard, ugghhh, no more babies!" yelled Sakura.

"Wow, that was really harsh," said Sasuke, internally flinching.

All the while, Naruto had been studying Hinata's face.

Just when things were getting a little light and carefree, Mr. Tension himself, Sai came into the picture, in his oh-I'm-so-cool assemble of carrying a cup of coffee and juggling a ring of keys at the same time.

"Hello, Hinata darling," he said in a poisonously sweet voice. He nodded at Naruto, "Naruto."

He completely ignored the rest of the group and continued to the doors until he was stopped by Sakura's voice.

"Good luck with that, Kakashi isn't here yet and the doors are locked."

With a smirk, Sai pulled out a shiny silver key and jutted it into the keyhole. With a light click, the door opened with a high pitched creeeeck.

He looked at Hinata.

"Ladies first."

Sakura was fuming, as she yelled,

"Oh yeah? Then what am I, a monkey?"

Sai continued to ignore Sakura as he stared at Hinata for her response.

Hinata, furious that Sai was treating her friends with such disrespect, decided to, for once, do something about it..

Time to tell this bitch off…

With her own fake sugery bitter-sweet voice, she replied,

"Don't worry, Sai-kun, I am perfectly capable of walking through a door without having you there. You can go ahead."

"But I insist."

Naruto couldn't take it anymore. He could see the evil glint in Sai's eye when he looked at Hinata and it was driving him crazy.

"Sai, what she said meant 'hell, no' if you haven't noticed, unless of course you have the deciphering skills of a pigeon. Need I say more before you get the hell out of here?" he said through clenched teeth and with so much malice that everyone flinched with fear. A nearby bird faltered while in flight.

Hinata stared at Naruto in surprise.

Sai just shrugged at the rest and went on inside the building as he hid the fear of Naruto within himself. That killer intent was intense; it was so threatening.

Finally, after a few unspoken moments of awkward silence, Kakashi had arrived and used another cheesy excuse for his delay.

"Gomen, children, there was a traffic jam."

Sakura started to mutter incoherent yet violent things under breath, Naruto was emitting an ominous glow of anger, Hinata tried to stifle a giggle, and a vein on Sasuke's forehead was throbbing furiously.

"You liar! You don't even drive!"

"I know, that's why I walked here."

Everyone visibly sweatdropped."

Ignoring their reaction, Kakashi said, "Let's get started then."

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A/N – So what did you think? Feedback requested! Hope You Enjoyed It! I'll try really hard to update soon!

Preview of next chappie: Hinata and the guys are gonna finally start on the prep for the dance.

But Hinata make it out ALIVE!?!? DUN DUN DUN!!!!

Ok, no. That is not going to work...

Anyway!

Till the next bitter-sweet chapter, this has been Mali-chan,

Reporting OUT!

Ja Ne!