Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

AN: Thank you all for being really, really, really patient with me. Here is the new chapter. Hopefully I can update soon, but no promises. Um, warning. This is mostly getting the rest of story set up, I think. Or something. I don't know. GAH. I FAIL.

Enjoy!

"Ah, dinner time." Ino said happily as she got up from her very comfy position on the couch. Days had passed and the festival had come and gone, which Ino was thankful for. It was definitely a case of "too much of a good thing." All the visitors had packed up and left by now too. Ino sighed happily as she walked through the now uncrowded streets.

Sakura had just returned from a mission, and had sent word that she wanted Ino to join her for dinner--It was perfect timing, as Ino was in some desperate need of girl time. Ino whistled as she hurried through the streets, making it to the restaurant just a little bit early. She looked around for any sign of Sakura.

Nothing. Stupid forehead girl. She sighed dramatically, glanced at her watch again, and then sank down onto a nearby bench. Minutes ticked by.

And then more minutes.

Sakura was now 40 minutes late.

"..." Ino glared at her watch. "Forehead girl is officially not coming. Stupid idiot."

Standing up, she marched towards Sakura's house.

Ino came to Sakura's door and knocked. There was no answer. She tried again...and again.

"ARGH YOU STUPID GIRL."

"Looking for Sakura-chan?"

Ino jumped and turned to where the voice came from. "Oh, hey. Yeah, I am." Ino remarked.

"She and some guy left together just a little while ago." replied Sakura's next door neighbor. She was a very nosey sort of woman Sakura had told her.

"What did this guy look like?" asked Ino curiously.

"Hmm..." answered Hana, "he wore a lot of green and had black hair."

Ino was both happy and mad at her friend. Happy for Sakura was finally moving away from her self-destructive crush on Sasuke (something Ino, herself, couldn't seem to do.); Mad because the stupid forehead girl had ditched her.

"You're welcome." Sakura's neighbor replied as Ino walked back onto the streets. She walked a little further before stopping suddenly and sighing very loudly.

"What should I do now..?"

"Maybe you should see a shrink about that talking to yourself thing."

Ino twitched. "Naruto, shut the hell up."

"Make me!"

Ino turned around to look at him condescendingly. She was surprised to see Sasuke with him.

"What do you guys want?" she asked Naruto.

"From you? Nothing! We're here to see Sakura-chan."

"Well," replied Ino, "she's not there. She's gone out with... a certain man."

"WHO?!" exclaimed Naruto. Sasuke just raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Ino smirked. "Oh, you know. Someone." She flicked her hair over her shoulder.

"Come on! Tell us!" Naruto begged.

"Oh, I don't think so. Your earlier rudeness was quite insulting."

"You little bitc--!"

"Hey! You're not helping yourself here, you moron!" interrupted Ino angrily, all nonchalant attitude gone.

"I'll say what ever I want to say--!"

"Just shut up already, idiot." Sasuke muttered.

"Whatever. I'm going to go find Sakura and this guy myself!"

"No! Don't--!" Ino exclaimed. But it was too late; Naruto was already gone.

"UGH. He is such a idiot." Ino stomped on the ground angrily.

"Hnn." agreed Sasuke. They both stood there for a few awkward moments.

"So." started Ino. "Had any missions lately?"

Sasuke looked at her for a moment. "I don't feel like small talk today, Yamanaka."

She glared at him. "You really need to learn how to be social--No, not even that; You need to learn how to be human."

Sasuke returned her glare. "Why is it that everytime you talk to me, you end up nagging?"

"Because someone has to try to beat some sense into that thick head of yours!"

"You need to learn how to shut that huge mouth of yours once in awhile. You'll make less of a fool of yourself that way."

"I'll take that into consideration. Thank you so much for the advise, Uchiha-dono." mocked Ino.

Sasuke muttered a few choice curse words as he turned to leave.

"You really are infuriating!" Ino called after him.

"Likewise." replied Sasuke smoothly.

Ino let out a enraged and strangled howl.

And yet, Ino thought bitterly, I still get butterflies in my stomach around him. Stupid Uchiha-thinks-he's-better-than-everyone-else-Sasuke.

Ino was tapping her foot loudly outside Sakura's door the next morning. She had already knocked on the door several times by now. Suddenly, the door opened.

"Eh?' asked Sakura groggily. "What are you doing here so early?"

"Well," replied the blond, "I came to see why my friend ditched me, you know, last night."

Suddenly Sakura's eyes shot wide open. "Oh my gosh! I forgot! Oh crap. I'm really sorry, Ino, but you see--"

Ino waved her hand dismissively. "I know, I know. Lee and you went out last night."

This shocked Sakura. "How did you know..?"

"Hmm? Oh. You're neighbor." Ino pointed over to the next house. Sakura let out a few choice words.

"I hate that woman."

Rolling her eyes, Ino shoved past her into Sakura's house. "I know. You've told me a few hundred times."

Sakura glared at Ino's rudeness, but just shook her head and followed her inside.

Plopping down on the couch, Ino sighed.

"Oh boy." Sakura commented as she sat down on the other end of the couch. "The sigh that awakens the Drama Queen."

Ino stuck her tongue out at her. "Oh shut up. Now! Before I began my sad, terrible tale, Let's hear about your date."

Sakura blushed some, but smiled happily. "It went really well, Ino. He's so..."

"So?"

"Great." finished Sakura. "We're actually getting to be better friends first though. So it wasn't a date. It was a..."

"Date." interjected Ino.

"No!" Sakura exclaimed, riled up. "It was a friendly dinner and walk. As friends."

Ino smirked. "Ha. Okay then.""

Sakura punched her lightly on the arm. "You're such an idiot."

Sakura then giggled happily and then exclaimed in joy. "He is so much better than Sasuke-kun!"

Ino laughed. "Yeah, you are a whole lot happier, I noticed."

Sakura then smiled and sighed happily. After a pause, she turned her attention to Ino.

"So? What's got you all 'Oh woe is me!'?"

Ino groaned. "Oh nothing. I just hate myself."

Sakura laughed. "Why?"

Ino crossed her arms across her chest. After another pause, she finally answered. "I still like Sasuke."

There was an even longer, more awkward pause.

"Well, as I said. I knew that you did. And..he is...appealing. I mean, I also liked him, so I know...But...He's gotten even moodier lately, and he's just.."

Sakura trailed off.

"Yeah." Ino replied. "I've noticed...Do you have any idea why or...?"

Sakura shook her head. "None. None whatsoever. Maybe Naruto knows."

"Yeah. They have been hanging out a lot more again lately." Ino murmured.

"Well, you could always track Naruto down and ask him if it's really bothering you so much."

"UGH. That means that I have to hang out with that little hyperactive monkey."

"Naruto is not that bad!"

Ino turned to look at Sakura. Sakura then sighed. "Just try to get along with him. You did pretty well at the festival after all."

Ino huffed. "Whatever. Well, I'm going to go then. I just wanted to see what happened with you and get this drama off my chest." Ino then stood up and stretched. Sakura got up and went to see her off.

"See ya!" waved Ino as she walked onto the street.

Sakura waved back. "Tell Naruto I said hello!"

Ino ignored her.

AN: Naruto and Ino hanging out?! And what's wrong with Sasuke?! FIND OUT SOON. Hopefully.

:D :D