"Shikamaru! We have a problem!" Naruto screamed, bursting into the teacher's lounge.

"Eh?" A plush couch beheld the reclining teacher. "Keep your voice down. Now, what is it?"

"It's Sasuke!" Naruto said more quietly than he had before, but still pretty loud. "H-h-h-he's...GAH!"

"Is he really?" The teacher showed no sign of enthusiasm. Playing with the end of his ponytail, Shika wondered, "What is he doing here?"

"I dunno, but he's...urrggg...," Naruto groaned, gripping his head, unable to get it out. "He's flirting, Shika!"

The grinning listener dropped his hair. "Oh, it's too bad that some teachers can't do the same. You must be so jealous," he taunted. "Sasuke's probably hooking up with your classroom cutie," Shikamaru devilishly added.

"H-h-how did you know it was her?" Naruto asked, then mentally slapped himself. He didn't say it was her Naruto! You idiot, he thought, slumping on the couch beside his friend.

"Come on, you know that Sasuke-kun seduces those beautiful angels. He's always been the Casanova." Shika leaned in close, increasing tension. "What do you plan to do, Naruto?"

"Ga- Well, I figure I shouldn't do anything, but still... Makes me so angry," Naruto grumbled, crossing his arms.
The other clasped his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter.

"D-d-don't laugh at me, Shika!" Naruto yelled, blushing, "What's so funny anyways? I understand that sounds weird and stuff, but I don't get the humor in this terrible situation!"

"You need to get a girl soon, bro, before you start using pick up lines on me."

Naruto groaned, laying his head in his arms, "Yeah right. I'm not much of a ladies' man if you've noticed. Girls always like the guys like Sasuke. Mysterious, dark, and whatnot."

"You've gotta take the initiative. Ladies love guys in charge," Shikamaru voiced. "Be the 'boss'."

"I'm not a 'boss' though...besides, I'd rather be myself rather than playing a role the girls want. Then I'd have to fake my personality forever, and that's just not a happy relationship in my opinion," Naruto explained, lifting his head back up.

"Be Mister Honest and True, and see where that gets you." Shikamaru knew Naruto would get the best girl.

"I will, thank you very much," Naruto answered, crossing his arms, "A fake relationship is just as bad as no relationship in my book."

Refreshed and confident, Sakura bounced into her English class. Today, I won't mess up, and nothing will get me down!she told herself.

The class was mingling as the teacher walked in. The Yankees were gossiping, and Ivan dozed in the back. As they all waited for the bell to commence class, including Naruto, he had his head on his desk, nuzzled into his arms. Whatever was he going to do...? Pop quizzes were just too risky in his opinion. He felt the students would hate him and direct their misbehaviors at him; if they weren't going to already. Oii, his head hurt... Please bell, give me a little more time, he thought, but his hopes back lashed. As soon as his thought entered his head, the bell let out an obnoxious ring. Naruto let out a quiet groan, lifting himself out of his seat. Today he planned to teach about sentence fragments and run-ons. He'd think about pop quizzes tomorrow.
The class was more responsive today, and other people answered questions besides Sakura. The day went relatively well, but he was still stressed about the whole Sasuke thing. Well, what could he do? He had no right to invade on his student's personal life. Actually, he had no right to invade in anyone's personal life, student or not. He'd just have to forget about it...yeah, that sounded like a plan.

"Hey, have you asked a girl out yet?" Shikamaru once again emerged from the shadows. "I'm going for karaoke Thursday with a bunch of adults. You might find the hottie of your dreams there." He batted his eyelashes humorously.

Naruto, who had his head on the desk, didn't move for a few minutes. "Ugghh... I dunno, Shika," he finally answered, sitting up, "I've never really liked anyone... Really think I'll find someone like that in one night?"

Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders. "There's a chance. But please come, because I don't want to be left with any chick who can't shut her trap."

"Aww, fine... What could I lose?" Naruto asked, lifting himself off of the desk, "When?"

"Thursday. Seven. Meet at 54th subway," Shika told him. "And be sure to shave your peach fuzz, man." The genius mentor marched back to his own room.

Naruto nodded, memorizing the place and time. Peach fuzz? He didn't have that much facial hair, if at all. Well, anyways, he would go, but he didn't say he would happily. He had a bad feeling about this karaoke thing...