Sasuke-kun…trained you this morning

Sasuke-kun…trained you this morning?" Sakura's brows were furrowed together. Ino cautiously flit glances between her pinkette and her bluenette. Hinata's lavender eyes fell to her porcelain steaming cup of cinnamon green tea as she saw Sakura's grip tighten on her own. Perhaps lunch wasn't the best time to discuss these things…

"Forehead, don't get so worked up," Ino put a hand on Sakura's shoulder, breaking the silence. "He only trained her,"

"But Sasuke-kun lives with me and he barely even offers to help clean!" Sakura nearly yelled. Hinata sighed. "Sakura-chan, please don't get the wrong message. I don't like Sasuke-kun in that respect…at all. He told me to meet up with him at the training grounds this morning. What else was I to do?"

Hinata put a hand over Sakura's pale eyes pleading with emerald. "I promise you, I have no feelings for him. But, as your friend, I thought it was necessary to tell you."

Sakura sighed as her shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'm sorry, Hinata-chan. It's just-I dunno."

Ino and the bluenette exchanged concerned glances before the platinum blonde reached over from her side of the table next to Hinata to pat Sakura on the shoulder. "Boy troubles?"

Sakura groaned, dropping her skewer of dango and burying her head on her hands. "Don't even get me started."

Hinata felt a small wave of relief as the tension between her and her pink-haired friend dissipate.

"When I was assigned his parole officer, I understood that he'd be all grouchy and aloof and everything," Sakura began, fiddling with a lock of bubble-gum hair. "But I guess that's just the way he is now. It's almost unbelievable to me that despite the fact we're practically room-mates, he pushes me away and starts hanging out with other girls,"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Honey, that's exactly your problem,"

Sakura arched a brow. "What do you mean?"

Hinata mimicked Sakura, eyes curious in wonder as Ino's smile turned into a proud and sly grin. She leaned into the center of the table. "Listen, ladies, and listen well. I have the secret for getting any man you want, whenever you want."

Both avid listeners were now interested.

"Anytime?" Sakura asked hopefully. Ino nodded, flipping her long ponytail as she casually looked at her nails. "It's almost child's play to me,"

"What is it?" Sakura practically begged. "Tell me!"

Ino sighed and rolled her eyes. "See, this is your problem, Forehead. You're desperate."

Sakura's eyes narrowed as a vein popped on her forehead. She spoke through gritted teeth, "What?"

Ino looked at her meaningfully. "Look, Sakura, you want Sasuke-kun right? So you try to accommodate him in every way you can. You clean up for him, you cook his meals, you do everything."

Sakura crossed her arms. "What's your point, Ino?"

"I'm saying that you're so desperate for his attention, you'd do anything for him. And he knows that. And he's taking advantage of it, whether he realizes it or not. So, if he knows he's got you wrapped 'round his finger, why should he bother impressing you? In fact, he might even get bored of you." Ino explained. Both girls lips parted at the newfound information.

"Which also explains why a certain Jinchuuriki has been on your trail forever. Because you don't give him that attention." Ino added in.

Hinata sat back. "Everything makes sense now,"

"Oh my Kami…" Sakura inhaled slowly. "I've become so available, he doesn't want it!"

"Hard to get, babe." Ino took a bite out of her dango. "Play hard to get, and I promise, you'll have him in no time."

"So….how was training with Hinata?" Naruto asked cautiously as he watched Sasuke pick out tomatoes as if he actually had a clue as to which ones were ripe and which ones weren't. "Fine,"

"Did you hurt her?"

"You could ask her yourself."

"Was she any good?"

"Decent enough."

"Did you-"

Sasuke whirled around, an annoyed glare on his face. "Why are you asking me these questions? Ask her."

Naruto put up his hands in defense as he pouted and turned up his nose. "I'm just curious,"

"Well stop being curious," Sasuke resumed tending to the tomato stall. "You sound like you're jealous,"

Naruto blinked twice while his best friend continued with his groceries. Sasuke noticed the silence as he pasued what he was doing, slowly turning to his friend. "You are jealous, aren't you?"

The rambunctious blonde struck a strange pose as he flailed his arms around in anxiety. "Wh-what?! No I'm not!"

The avenger rolled his eyes, paying the stall owner before facing his friend. "Then it shouldn't bother you that I'm asking her to come with me to the summer festival tomorrow. Anyways, we should find Sakura now. I want to go home."

The Jinchuuriki's heart dropped, but he ignored it as he spoke quietly. "I think she's at the dango shop."