A/N: This idea came to me while listening to Joy to the World by Three Dog Night. Awesome song.

Anyway, this is a one-shot written during one of Guy's birthdays. Sake makes an appearance. Some Neji/TenTen, I guess.

Also, I don't condone getting drunk when you're underage, or of age. Hm. It's kind of ironic, because I took Neji's side effects from one of my own drinking experiences. Not fun. My mom yelled at me, and yelled even more at my dad.

Anyway though. Drinking + Underage equals No, no.

Alrighty. But Neji has side effects. Yeah. Also, I have a question awaiting all of you at the end, if you finish.

Disclaimer: I own not Naruto. Or Three Dog Night, or their song. Nor do I own Horseshoes. Yeah.

Incidentally.

Neji Hyuga wasn't partial to particular outings with the other members of Team Guy. But somehow, he had allowed TenTen to rope him into one of Guy-sensei's 'shenanagins.'

"TenTen," Neji grumbled in an undertone.

"Just be patient, Neji. I'm sure it'll be okay," TenTen assured. Then she added quietly, "Hopefully."

As expected, this did not raise Neji's patience or expectations.

"Where are we going, exactly?" he asked her, not five minutes later.

"Um . . . ," she trailed off, looking away from Neji's penetrating stare.

"You don't know?" he asked, tension heightening.

She turned to look at him, sheepish.

"Not exactly," she ceded, embarrassed.

Neji sighed, annoyed.

"How do you know where we're going, then?"

"Well, Lee just told me to go here. And to bring you along if I could." TenTen showed Neji the address on a piece of paper in Lee's sloppy and slanted handwriting.

Neji scrutinized it, but he had no idea what the address contained.

"Fine," he replied as TenTen stowed away the slip of paper.

This little adventure was not improving Neji's mood, TenTen noted. And an evening with Guy-sensei and Lee would probably not help. TenTen just hoped that they wouldn't be doing something crazy.

Thankfully, TenTen got her wish.

Team Guy was just having dinner.

TenTen breathed a sigh of relief. This was alright. At least she would survive.

"Neji! TenTen!" shouted Lee from a table in the back. His loud exclamation attracted the attention of the many patrons, either swiveling their heads to the two standing in the door, or the green-clothed kid with the weird haircut.

"Come on," said Neji roughly, snatching TenTen's wrist and dragging her to the table.

They reached the table quickly due to Neji; he was not one to just stand awkwardly like an idiot while people stare. Neji and TenTen sat down and the customers resumed whatever they had been doing.

"Neji, I'm so glad you came!" exclaimed Lee, tears appearing fast in his oversized eyes.

Neji muttered something not legible.

"Where's Guy-sensei?" TenTen asked Lee, noting that their teacher was not there.

"Oh, he'll be back. He went to get something," replied Lee.

"What's he getting?" inquired Neji, wanting to be prepared for any certain . . . abnormality.

Lee shrugged.

"Do you want to play a game while we wait for him?!" asked Lee excitedly.

TenTen overran Neji's comment of 'not with you' with a classic, "Sure, Lee!"

"Alright, I invented it during training today!"

Neji sent TenTen a glare. They conversed silently while Lee rambled on about the game, the rules, and other useful things.

Finally, Lee ended, and TenTen and Neji, hearing him, turned back to him.

"It sounds like Horseshoes, Lee," said TenTen, somehow hearing him during she and Neji's discussion.

Lee nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, but with a twist, TenTen!"

Neji resisted the urge to roll his eyes, reminding himself to kill TenTen the next time he got a chance.

Neji was spared, however, from playing Lee's little game as Guy-sensei returned, carrying a tray that appeared to have several types of drink on it.

"Neji! TenTen! Lee! I'm so happy you all agree to celebrate my birthday with me! My youthful and kind students!"

He almost started breaking down into tears, as did Lee, but TenTen quickly deviated that with a question.

"So, what's on the tray, Guy-sensei?"

"I'm glad you asked, my flower!" proclaimed Guy-sensei, recuperating. "To celebrate my birthday, I will allow you and Neji to have some sake."

Neji looked at his teacher. Was he crazy? They were underage.

"I don't think that's a good idea," said Neji, eyeing the sake.

"Aw, come on, Neji. It's for Guy-sensei's birthday, after all. We can drink to him," said TenTen, looking eager to try the drink.

Neji rolled his eyes. It seemed that he was overruled.

"Wait! What about me?!" Lee pouted.

"Lee," said Guy-sensei consoled, "remember what happened last time?"

Lee hung his head.

"Yes," he sniffed.

However, Guy-sensei didn't give in, which was good for all of their sakes.

"Take one," he told TenTen and Neji, gesturing to the tray laden with sake.

TenTen reached over and grabbed two. Neji frowned at her. Really, she should know better. Reluctantly, however, he reached out and took one. He stared down at the cloudy liquid with narrowed eyes. The way he looked at it, you'd think the sake would reach out and hit him.

Guy-sensei raised his glass and glanced at his team, waiting for something.

Abandoning his sulking, Lee caught the look and emotionally chirped, "To Guy-sensei! The greatest teacher, ever!"

Guy downed his sake in one, started crying, and hugged Lee, who was also crying.

TenTen drank hers too in one, which made Neji wonder if she had done this before.

He looked down at the drink in his hand. He didn't want to drink it, but what would his other teammates think? That he was scared to drink a small amount of liquid? Neji was embarrassed that he had actually never had it before. So, with reluctance and fear for his pride, Neji lifted the drink to his mouth and downed it.

Well. It for sure wasn't the best thing he'd ever drank. TenTen wasn't even fazed, and downed the other. It seemed that she knew exactly what she was doing. Not to be outdone by his teammate, Neji reached for another. It was once Neji had finished his second, that he began feeling . . . somewhat different. He didn't feel sick. In fact, Neji wasn't really sure how he felt.

TenTen was eyeing him, noticing that Neji had stopped trying to keep up with her.

"Are you alright, Neji?" she asked, peering at him. "You know, if you can't hold your liquor, you need to stop."

Neji narrowed his eyes at her.

"Can you hold your liquor, TenTen?"

"Yes," she challenged, pulling another sake near her person. "Can you, Neji?"

Neji glared at her.

"Of course I can," he replied, scoffing and retrieving another cup of sake.

Thankfully, Guy-sensei and Lee were reminiscing while sobbing, their backs turned away from the prodigy and the skilled kunoichi.

The two somewhat had a bit of a contest going on when Guy-sensei and Lee started paying attention again. TenTen had just had her seventh cup of sake, and Neji had just raised the drink to his lips.

"Neji! How many cups of sake have you had?!" inquired Guy-sensei, shocked.

Neji's jaw clenched. Stupid TenTen and her competitiveness. Neji had been an idiot to accept such a stupid contest. Besides, on his fourth cup of sake, he had started to feel kind of sick. He felt a little dizzy and distracted. TenTen smirked at him, and Neji stared at her.

"Six," Neji answered, still glaring at TenTen.

Guy-sensei looked at Neji in shock.

"Do you feel okay, Neji?" asked Lee.

Neji blearily turned to Lee.

"No," he said honestly, laying his head down on the table.

TenTen smirked. She had won. And she decided to rub it in Neji's face once he got over the hangover he would undoubtedly have tomorrow. She was nothing if not tactical.

"Alright, Neji, we should probably take you home," said Lee, looking interestingly at his teammate.

"It's alright, Lee, I'll take him. You stay here with Guy-sensei and celebrate his birthday," offered TenTen, standing up.

"Thank you, my flower! My gratitude is unmeasurable!" exclaimed Guy-sensei.

TenTen nodded, persuading Neji to stand.

The Hyuga compound was unfortunately on the other side of the city. Great, TenTen thought. Hopefully Neji won't pass out or do something stupid.

Neji wasn't altogether wasted. But it sure felt like it. He was walking beside TenTen, but his mind was either ahead or behind him. He wasn't really sure, his head hurt.

TenTen watched the Hyuga prodigy stumble along in his semi-drunken state, amused. For one, she would never let Neji have any more than three cups of sake ever again. That would probably be something he would thank her for later, maybe in a few years if the subject ever came up again. It was kind of funny, Neji Hyuga, the proclaimed genius getting somewhat drunk. She wouldn't tell anyone of course, this sort of amusement would be only for her eyes. Besides, Neji would kill her slowly if she went around and told people. That was the thing about their friendship. Neji trusted TenTen, as much as he would deny it. And TenTen would defend Neji shamelessly.

"Hey, Neji?" TenTen asked slowly, a question appearing in her mind.

He grunted for her to go on.

"I'm your best friend, right?"

It was a very simple question, one that only had been asked for reassurance.

Neji thought long and hard about it. Which, in essence, wasn't altogether required; Neji knew the answer as soon as it had been asked. No, Neji was thinking about the fact that even had a best friend. It was an odd coincidence that he had one, and even more by chance that it was his teammate, TenTen. To put it simply, TenTen was one of the few people Neji had ever cared for. But he would never tell her that, unless the occasion called and she needed to hear it.

"Yes, TenTen, we're friends," he answered quietly.

TenTen nodded and smiled, pleased as ever with his answer. Just as Neji knew she would be.

"Bye! See you tomorrow to train!" TenTen called, exiting through the Hyuga clan's compound gate.

Neji nodded and went into the house. He felt minimally better, his head still hurting immensely, and feeling like he could lay down and sleep for a few days. Unfortunately, Neji didn't make it to his room before he ran into Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga main branch and his uncle.

"Lord Hiashi," said Neji, bowing slightly.

Hiashi looked down at his nephew.

"Where were you tonight?" he asked Neji, peering at him curiously.

Neji rose, thinking carefully.

"I was with my teammates. Guy-sensei celebrated his birthday today."

Hiashi narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Who were you with just now, outside the compound?"

"TenTen," answered Neji, failing to see how this was of consequence.

"Hm. The girl you train with so very often," mused Hiashi.

Neji nodded, still confused.

"Bring her here tomorrow, after you've trained. I want to speak to her," said Hiashi curtly.

Neji nodded, and left after Hiashi had continued on down the hall. Neji's brow was wrinkled, what on earth could Lord Hiashi want to say to TenTen?

Neji fell onto his bed, intending to think about it further, but instead falling soundly asleep.

So, should I do another one-shot containing the next day with TenTen, Neji, and Lord Hiashi?? Your choice. Tell me what you think:

By reviewing. :D