FicWad

Disclaimer: The Naruto series and all Naruto characters are the copyright of Masashi Kishimoto. I’m just borrowing them to write up a story with no intention of making any money. This is for fun. That’s all. :) No copying of my story is allowed. That's stealing if anyone copies my story into his/her own story. Write your own story without taking others' works! (angry glare)

A great big ‘Thank you!’ goes to Weixuan18 for betaing! Thanks! (big grin)

Story rating: M (R)(for adult and sexual themes)
Written: February 2009 – July 2010

Summary: Love can pop up unexpectedly with someone you least imagine to fall for. NaruTen.

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Unexpected Love
Chapter 15 – Dancing Steady
By JuPMod (aka JPMod)

When it came to the many ways humans tend to social interact with one another, very few disputed that dancing was one of the best social activities a person could attend. Not only was it fun, it provided a means for people to be drawn closer, especially between men and women, and if one had the skills to perform dance styles and not just swaying to the music, one’s social status would grow if the individual’s standing in the community’s eyes was not already high enough.

One particular social function, where dancing was observed, was weddings. Many varities of wedding dancing traditions existed, and depending on the religion, clan, village, and/or country, an observer could witness members of a wedding party dancing not only with each other, but with other people as well. The higher the status of a wedding, the more it would look good for public image if the wedding party knew how to dance, particularly when it was the marriage involving a clan, lord, or some other high-ranking individuals.

So, if one happened to be a member of a wedding party, and he or she did not know to dance any of the styles, it paid to seek out someone to teach lessons in the art. This was what a Konoha Jounin shinobi and Jounin kunoichi had done, and currently they were ballroom dancing together slowly over the wooden floor of a second-floor dance studio overlooking the busy Market District streets.

The young ninjas were the only ones in the entire studio with the instructor watching from the sideline, and it was clear that the couple’s steps were smooth and flawless as they performed a Waltz together in sync. If a stranger were watching them, the person would say the pair was a couple and very much in love with each other, especially the way they eyed one another with warm smiles. Of course, if the person had happened to be a Konoha citizen, he or she would not be surprise by the strong chemistry admitting from the dancing twosome, for after all, everyone in the Hidden Village of the Leaves knew by now, how Uzumaki Naruto and Tenten were so much in love.

Ending the dance on the final note of the music, Naruto and Tenten basked in their pride of performing the dance perfectly as the elderly female instructor clapped in approval of their performance. They each took a step away from the other at the same time their teacher approached them, still applauding.

“That was absolutely wonderful!” she nearly gushed with a small grin as she stopped clapping when she halted in front of her students. “I say both of you should least consider entering the Konoha dance competition next year.”

“If we’re not busy with our careers, Kasumi-sensei,” answered Tenten, who wore a pink T-shirt, form-fitting black tights, pink leg warms, and high-heeled dance shoes. Instead of the typical two buns, her hair was up in one bun at the top-rear position.

Wearing black T-shirt, pants, and dance shoes, Naruto grinned as he shrugged. “Sounds like fun though.”

Aiming a smirking grin at her boyfriend, Tenten placed a hand on her hip. “Yes, it does sound like fun, Whisker Boy, but as I said, if we’re not busy with our careers. You know that Tsunade-sama has given the other members of the Konoha Twelve and us far more time-off in the past month than normally given. Once the wedding is over, she will be getting us back doing missions and other things, since it is our job. As jounin, we’ll be quite busy in the next few months to make up for the days off during the past month.”

Naruto chuckled. “You make it sound like Baa-chan will be running us into the ground. If we schedule things out, we might able to attend the dance competition, if we want.”

“Naruto,” the brown-haired kunoichi chastened with a grin that was partly a frown, “such dance competitions usually last a week at most, depending on how many contestants there are. There are eliminations, semi-finals, and finals to observe. As shinobi, do you really honestly think we might have the time to attend? I’d be surprised if Tsunade-sama gave us the time-off to be part of the competition.”

“That is, if we do want to attend. Remember, we’ve only been taking dance lessons during our free time in the past month. We’re far from knowing every dance style there is in the world.”

The tall blond man was not deterred, his grin widening into one that everyone who knew him, said he would love the challenge. “Then we just have to continue taking lessons from Kasumi-sensei until we do know every style there is. Even if it means we’ll be spending just one day a month after the wedding, we’ll continue our training until we’re dance masters.”

Seeing the twinkle in those twin sapphires of his, Tenten gently laughed. “I doubt we’ll become masters, Naruto,” she admitted before softly slugging his chest, her fist remaining on his bicep afterward. “Yet I wouldn’t mind continuing our dance lessons after the wedding, and one day a month wouldn’t hurt us.” Her fist flattened as she warmly looked up at him. “Besides, I know how much we love dancing whenever we go to the dance club with our friends, so it’s safe to say that dancing is a hobby we do together.”

After a moment of being surprised, Naruto displayed an approving grin. “I like that, Ten-chan. I always love dancing with you, and I like the idea that dancing could be like a hobby for us to do together.” He leaned down to kiss her sweaty forehead, making her chuckle fondly at him.

Watching the young couple, Kasumi sighed, for her students’ interaction reminded her of the many wonderful years she had with her late husband. The young pair had came to her for dance lessons more than a month ago, along with the Uchiha groom, his brides, and the Yamanaka girl, and even though the others were good students as well, the elderly dance instructor couldn’t help but think the Fourth Hokage’s son and his girlfriend were the best, given how well the two interacted with each other on an intimate level. Oh, she knew of great dance pairs, who were not lovers, but there was no denying that a couple, who were trusting and devoted to one another in a loving relationship, had the potential to be good dancers as Naruto and Tenten have shown.

Kasumi thanked Kami the whole arranged-marriage situation was over. It was sad to have seen these two youngsters’ hearts ripped apart two weeks ago, thus it was the only time the pair did not bother to come as scheduled for their dance lessons. Once they had gotten back together, the pair returned happily to their lessons with gusto and newly founded commitment and trust, and given what she had seen in their dancing, as well as their interactions, the sixty-something woman knew these lovers were now in for the long haul with one another.

Naruto’s amused voice brought the elderly teacher out of her musings. “So, any predictions to how the next two days might come out, Ten-chan?”

Tenten snorted a laugh, her arms crossing. “It’s not like anyone can’t foretell what is to come. Tomorrow night, you will be hosting Sasuke’s bachelor party, while Ino and I will be getting the other kunoichi together for Sakura and Karin’s bachelorette party. The following day will be their wedding, where I have no doubt you and I will be having fun at the wedding reception.”

“Are you sure?” the blond asked with mock seriousness. “You better look at those fortune-telling cards of yours to make certain Teme does not end up fainting during the wedding ceremony.”

“Naruto!” chided the brunette weapons expert, trying her best not to laugh but failed as she smiled widely. She hit her chuckling boyfriend on the arm with some force to make him rub the spot, and after crossing her arms once again, Tenten smirked as she shook her head at the grinning future-Hokage.

She knew Naruto was just teasing about her personal hobby of fortune telling. Even before they had started dating, he had never taken it seriously; especially given how he just did not believe in Fate dictating a person’s future despite the fact that the Toads had labeled him ‘The Child of Prophecy’. Yet, he also knew that she had taken up fortune telling more out of fun and curiosity than anything remotely serious, thus why he could tease her about it and not be pounded into the ground.

It was the same with her toward his personal hobby of gardening. Well… Presently, it was just watering plants he has around his apartment. It had surprised her and many of their peers to had learned years ago that Konoha’s Most Unpredictable Ninja was well versed about plants and how to maintain them, and to tell the truth, they all agreed the potted greenery had made his apartment, both the old one and the present new one, much more homely and inviting. Tenten knew nothing about how to take care of plants, for she was not Ino who knew more about flowers and plants than anyone else in their peer group, but the brown-haired woman did understand what her boyfriend had meant that the plants made it less lonely for him. After all, she could only imagine just how lonesome his life had been due to being a Jinchuuriki prior to his 12th birthday, when he had started to gain his first true friends.

Overall, Tenten was grateful that she and Naruto were not disillusioned that each needed to like everything about the other, especially their personal hobbies. It was simple understanding and respect that made each accept the other’s tastes, and all in all, their differences made their relationship more interesting than it would have been if they were too similar. The bun-haired woman knew it had been the same with Neji, for she had acknowledged her ex-boyfriend’s hobby of meditation even though she was not keen in practicing it beyond using it just for a relaxation technique.

Coming out of her thoughts, Tenten turned to their dance instructor. “What do you want us to do next, Kasumi-sensei?”

The elderly woman pondered it for a moment before a sly grin came to her face. “How about you two show me the Tango?”

Naruto’s half-surprised, half-amused expression made the two women laugh. “Just how many dances do I have to let Tenten lead here?”

As Kasumi went to prepare the music, the nineteen-year-old kunoichi took her eighteen-year-old beau’s left hand in her right and prepared to dance. “Most Ballroom dances have the female lead, as you know, Naruto. Besides, why are you complaining?” Her face turned a bit sultry. “This is the Tango. I certainly recalled how much you enjoyed having our bodies pressed so intimately close, especially when I run my leg up yours.”

The blond, whiskered, young man matched her look, for she made a good point. “You’re right, Weapons Girl,” he softly spoke, leaning his face down to look directly into those chocolate eyes. “I don’t mind letting you lead, especially when it is a win-win situation for both of us in the end.”

“Darn right, Whisker Boy,” purred Tenten just before leaning her head up to plant a warm smooch on those lips of his.

As the music started, the young couple began the dance; the pretty brunette leading the way as their feet followed the paths their minds instinctively told them to take, and as their heartbeats accelerated a bit from the sensual touching, both lovingly and slyly grinned at each other, especially when Tenten raised her leg up against Naruto’s.

“Kami…” Tenten mentally spoke as she continued to dance pleasurably with her partner, loving the feel of lean masculine muscles against her body. “These dance lessons definitely are worth it.”

“She’s the most beautiful woman on the planet,” Naruto mentally mentioned, taking in his love’s features, as well as that toned body against his. “I’m lucky to have her as my girlfriend, and I certainly am enjoying these dance lessons.” Seeing her lips curl up slyly as she pressed her pelvis against his, the blond knew she was being a minx, knowing how much she was affecting him. “Just too bad it will be rude for me to Shunshin us back to my apartment. Kami, she shouldn’t be grinding against me like this! Not that I don’t mind, just not in front of Kasumi-sensei!”

Watching from the sidelines near the music system, the matured dance teacher chuckled upon seeing what Tenten was doing to Naruto. She didn’t mind the display, although she hoped the young kunoichi wouldn’t be so bold to do such a move in public, especially at the upcoming wedding. Yet, such a daring, shameless act did tell the elderly woman just how comfortable the younger woman was with her man, reminding Kasumi fondly once more, of her own intimacies with her late husband when they were young. She sighed lovingly at the memories, while her sight adoringly stayed with the dancing couple in front of her.

“To be in love with one another,” Kasumi mentally sighed warmly. “I just can’t imagine how our world would be like without love.”

If Tenten and Naruto had the ability to telepathically read their instructor’s mind, they would definitely agree wholeheartedly with her.

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Kurenai sighed as she gave her female, purple-haired friend a somewhat disapproving look. “Anko, do you have any tact what so ever?” she asked prior to looking back at the two sitting brides-to-be, who were each blushing quite red from the baby-doll lingerie Anko had given them as a gift. It was understandable that Karin and Sakura were going to be married tomorrow, but still…

Anko snickered and waved away her friend’s question. “Now come on, Nee-chan. Just like in our Ladies Nights, it’s not like anyone in this room does not know anything about sex.” She took a gulp of sake from the small bottle in her hand.

“I beg to differ!” a displeased voice spoke from across the room, causing everyone to focus on a red-cheeked Hyuuga Hinata. “We shouldn’t be displaying such things in front of Hanabi-chan like this!”

Sitting to her big sister’s left side on the three-person couch, Hanabi looked at her sibling like she was crazy. “You make it sound like I’m some sort of angel, Nee-san. I’ve seen it all anyway.” All the women’s eyebrows in the room rose up, except Ino, who was snickering, and Tsunade and Anko, who were laughing.

After her laughter died down, the Tokubestu Jounin grinned slyly at Hanabi, “I take it you’ve been quite a naughty girl, eh, Little Princess? I wonder how Hiashi would react upon knowing his youngest child is dirty.”

“What?!” the brown-haired Hyuuga girl responded instantly. “I was referring to the lingerie! I’ve been in women’s clothing stores before, so it’s not like I have not seen them! Also, sex is nothing new to me! I know all about it!”

Anko’s smirking grin went wider. “So, are saying you’re not a virgin? Quite a feat for your age, Little Princess. Who is the lucky boy? Konohamaru?”

Moegi, sitting on Hinata’s right side, immediately shot a glare at Hanabi, who quickly raised her hands in defense. “I’m still a virgin! I was just saying I know what sex is about!” Seeing the orange-haired girl’s ire calmed down, Hiashi’s youngest daughter let out a breath of relief. Even she knew better than to take another girl’s boyfriend.

Shaking her head as she took a sip of her non-alcoholic drink, Kurenai sighed once more. “Will you ever stop baiting people like this?”

“Nah, it’s more fun this way,” Anko admitted, her face still grinning evilly. “Besides, I bet Little Princess already seen some men naked with those All-Seeing eyes of hers anyway.”

Hanabi’s cheeks went even redder as she turned her head away to her left, her eyes looking out the windows at the nighttime landscape of the village.

Anko snickered. “You’re not denying it, Little Princess.”

“Hanabi-chan!” shouted a mortified Hinata. “How could you?!”

Turning her head to look at her big sister, Hanabi raised a single eyebrow. “I was curious. Besides, I bet you did the same thing with Naruto.”

Hinata quickly gave a small “Eep” and trained her eyes downward, her face becoming quite flushed, and once the other women realized the extent to why the Hyuuga Heir was blushing so much, Anko, Tsunade, and Ino once more burst into laughter while the other girls stared wide-eyed at Hinata.

Ino, sitting to Sakura’s left, quieted down a bit to look at Tenten on the other side of the two-person couch, where the two brides were seated. “Are you angry Hinata peeped at your boyfriend, Tenten?”

“I was 13 at the time!” Hinata immediately blurted in defence, before immediately slapping a hand over her mouth, realizing her blunder. Once more, laughter came out of the usual three women, while the others were flabbergasted.

Getting over the shock, Tenten grinned reassuringly and shook her head. “No, I’m not angry at Hinata,” she declared, causing surprised, silver-purple eyes to look into her brown ones. “We all know now how much she crushed over Naruto back then, so it should not be a surprise. I know she has not done such a thing in the past year, right?”

Hinata nodded a few times with a confirmed tiny grin. “I only did it that one time, Tenten-kun, I assure you.”

After nodding once, Tenten saw her Hyuuga friend relax her posture, knowing she felt relief that Naruto’s current girlfriend would not hold it against her. No one could blame the young heiress, given just how much the girl idolized and loved the blond shinobi so much. Besides, knowing Hinata, the weapons-loving woman knew the other woman would not ever sink so low to do such a thing while she herself had a boyfriend in Kiba.

Looking around the room, which they had used two months ago at the last Ladies Night, the twin-bun-haired brunette eyed her fellow kunoichi, who were all wearing civilian clothes for this bachelorette party. Karin and Sakura, the two brides, sat on the two-seat couch with their backs to the windows with the other ladies forming a circle, which started with Ino, then Anko, Kurenei, Tsunade and Shizune, who sat opposite of the two brides, Moegi, Hinata, Hanabi, and lastly, Tenten. Yugao Uzuki, a friend of Anko, stood next to the snack table just behind the Hokage.

The only girl missing from their group was Temari, for she couldn’t take time off from her duties in Suna to attend the wedding. After all, she had already come to Konoha a few weeks ago, thus the blonde wind mistress could only go so far with the back-and-forth traveling between the two villages, for it still took three days to transverse the great distances. So despite the fact that Shikamaru was her boyfriend, Temari just couldn’t drop her commitment to her homeland. Tenten however knew through the shadow-wielding Nara that his girlfriend would stop by for New Year’s, if she were free.

Anko’s voice brought Tenten out of her mental wanderings. “Well, kiddies can’t stay kiddies forever. I say we should allow Little Princess and Orange Head to attend our Ladies Nights from now on.”

“Will you stop calling me that?” Moegi frowned with crossed arms. Ever since she had met the feisty, snake-summoning woman two years ago, she had always called her Orange Head. She did have a name, alright? “Besides, I’m fifteen years old. I can handle topics about sex anyway.”

“Uh-huh,” Anko smirked. “You perhaps dream of having hot, sweaty sex with Konohamaru, right?”

“Anko…” Kurenai warned, thinking her friend was going too far, and seeing the young girl’s face flush far more than her everyday blush, the genjutsu mistress felt sympathy for her. “When dealing with Anko, Moegi, you have to learn to develop a thicker skin.”

Moegi simply nodded, deciding that saying anything more would give the wicked-grinning, purple-haired woman more fuel to add to the fire. Moving a strand of her single braided hair behind her ear, the chuunin kunoichi knew that it was common knowledge how she had deep feelings for her male teammate, but she would never admit that she did, at times, have erotic daydreams of Konohamaru. No way would she ever divulge something so private to anyone, even to fellow kunoichi.

Tenten mentally chuckled as she took a sip of her drink. Like the rest of the Konoha twelve’s kunoichi, she had watched Moegi grow from a child into a lovely teenage girl. The female member of the Konohamaru Corps was quite a fighter, but after she had in the past two years ditched her strange, gravity-opposing, ponytails hairstyle to a normal braided pigtail one, the young woman was on her way to be quite a looker. Rumors stated that Konohamaru and even Udon sometimes chased away or beat up any male suitors seeking to woo their female teammate. Konoha’s Weapons Mistress had not heard whether those gossip stories were true, but she was pleased with Moegi’s change of appearance, for even she couldn’t understand how or even why the young girl had her hair up in those odd ponytails. Did the girl place reinforcement steel bars in her hair?

“Well, thanks for the lingerie,” Karin spoke as she and Sakura placed their sexy attire back in their boxes, which was then put on the coffee table in front of them with many other opened presents. “I’m sure Sasuke will love it.” Her lips curled into a sly grin as a loving, far-away gleam appeared in her eyes. “I just know Sasuke will love me more.”

Sakura eyed her fellow bride with a raised eyebrow. “He will love me just as well, Karin.” She snorted a laugh, her lips curling up on one side. “Or are you worried that Sasuke will find me more attractive than you?”

“Hell, no,” Karin waved away the question, her red eyes holding steady with green ones. “I know he will not love you more than me, especially with that forehead of yours.”

With her right eye starting to twitch and lips still curled up on one side, the Godaime’s youngest apprentice counterattacked. “Like Hell, he will, Tomato Head.”

Both girls suddenly moved forward to face each other closely, their eyes glaring as lightning and sparks flared out of the eyes to connect in the middle. “HE WILL LOVE ME MORE THAN YOU!” they shouted as one.

Everyone sweat-dropped with the exception of Anko, who snickered. “Ladies…” Tsunade frowned, her voice warning of what she would do, if the two young women did not stop bickering, and instantly, Karin and Sakura eased their glaring contest and flinched a bit from hearing their superior before turning to look at the buxom blonde. “Sasuke loves you both. You know this. Now cease this pointless squabbling or else I’ll put you both in the dungeon and make you both miss your wedding tomorrow.”

“Yes, Shishou/Godaime-sama,” Sakura and Karin replied together meekly.

Taking another sip of her drink, Tenten shook her head as she too frowned. Once more, she wondered why the literally last Uchiha had decided to marry two women, who were both strong headed and hot tempered. Karin and Sakura were so alike in many ways that the two clashed viciously at times, far more than Sakura had been with Ino. It made many speculate whether Sasuke was a masochist.

Yet despite how many times the two women looked like they were going to fight, Karin and Sakura had never physically fought each other. The ex-Sound member was not a true kunoichi per se, due to the fact that her specialty was chakra detection, not combat. Oh, she could handle bandits, hoodlums, and others who were not soldiers, not to mention how she was capable of taking the pain when getting injured. However, it had been clear that Karin would never able to win a fight against Sakura outright, that was if Sakura could able to find the redhead if the girl decided to hide. Karin was just so good in detecting a person’s chakra from kilometers away that it would be close to impossible for anyone to get by her guard.

“Speaking of Sasuke,” Ino caught everyone’s attention, “what do you think the guys are doing for his bachelor party?”

Sakura shrugged. “I don’t know. Naruto is the one responsible for Sasuke’s party, for after all, he is the Best Man.” Green eyes turned to look at the bun-haired weapons expert, who immediately had all in the room gazing at her.

Knowing the unspoken question aimed at her, Tenten let out a breath of air before answering. “Believe me, I don’t know either. I hadn’t asked him, nor did he ask me regarding what Ino and I were planning for this party,” she pointed down, indicating the current party for Sakura and Karin. “Just because we’re boyfriend and girlfriend, does not mean we share or know everything happening in our lives. Besides, I see no reason for us to exchange such information anyway.”

Crossing her arms, the pinkette frowned. “Well, it would have helped, if Naruto had told you, Tenten. I would not be surprised, if Naruto had taken Sasuke to some perverted strip bar in the Red Light district.”

Not only did Tenten send a disapproving frown at Sakura, but Tsunade and Shizune as well. “Sakura,” the Godaime’s first apprentice began with a chastened tone, “after all these years, do you still think Naruto is so perverted in such a way? I’m doubtful Tenten wouldn’t even have bothered to have an intimate relationship with him, if he was that type of a man.”

Realizing what was being said, Sakura gapped and waved her hands. “I didn’t mean it that way! Honestly! I know Naruto has matured, just that I was thinking that it should be obvious the guys would go to a strip joint, given how most bachelor parties go to such places. Right?”

Kurenai shook her head. “That’s the generalized social viewpoint that most people have regarding what should be the typical bachelor party organized by the Best Man. It is possible that Naruto would take Sasuke to such a place, but there’s no proof to say he would do it.”

After taking a swig of her sake, Anko snorted. “It’s not our business anyway. They can look but not touch.” With her freed hand, she pointed to every woman in the room with a boyfriend as she continued to speak. “Those of us, who have a man, know they wouldn’t cross that line.”

Tenten and the others nodded in concurrence. Each knew her man would not cheat on her, so why should it matter if the guys were at a strip joint? It would be an entirely different situation, if the men went to a brothel though.

Clapping her hand once as she rose from her chair, Ino grinned. “Well, now that all the presents have been opened and we have indulged in plenty of food and drink, I say it’s time for me to lead us to the second half of this party.”

“Ino…” Tenten voiced with a warning tone as she and other women all stood from their seats.

The only daughter of Inoichi waved away the concern with a grin. “Don’t worry about it. We’re going to have fun.” Only then did she began helping Karin and Sakura to put away their presents by using a few sealing scrolls for storage.

Letting out a sigh, the brunette kunoichi shook her head, for she couldn’t help but have a bad feeling about this. As Karin’s Maid of Honor, Tenten had organized this first half of the party, where everyone could eat and drink while the two brides open their presents. Being Sakura’s Maid of Honor, Ino was responsible for the festival’s second half, and even though Tenten had told Ino her plans, the platinum blonde didn’t bother to elaborate what she was planning, just saying that it would be fun, nothing more.

Raising her freed hand to touch her golden/silver kunai & shuriken necklace, which came to symbolize her loving relationship with the golden-blond man who gave it to her, Tenten turned her torso to look out the windows at the nighttime vista of Konoha.

“What are you doing, Naruto?” she mentally asked, wondering what her man had planned for Sasuke’s bachelor party. The brunette hoped it really was not anything that would make her turn her lover into a pincushion after using the Twin Rising Dragons technique on him.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

“ACHOO!”

“Don’t sneeze on the billiard balls, Dobe. I’m not going to catch a cold from you the day before my wedding.”

“Stuff it, Teme! It’s not my fault someone is talking about me!” The blond rubbed a finger under his nose as he sniffed

Hearing snickering, blue eyes trained their sights on the only Inuzuka in the room. “I wouldn’t be surprised that Tenten or any of the girls are talking about you, Naruto,” Kiba mentioned. “I wonder what they’re doing?”

“You have asked that question twelve times in the past hour, Kiba,” Shino pointed out as he stood next to his longtime teammate. With a finger, he pushed his sunglasses up further on his nose. “Constantly asking the same question will not get you the answer.”

Kiba growled. “I know that! I’m just curious, that’s all!” With that said, he took a swig of his beer out of the glass mug he held. Even after all these years, Shino was still the same aloof guy, who would point out flaws logically. Yet, the canine shinobi knew his friend was teasing with that statement, knowing the bug man well enough to tell when he was being serious or not.

“Curiosity or not,” all eyes focused on Neji standing next to one of the three pool tables in the room, “it should not be hard to tell what the women are doing. They are most likely just having a simple party to give gifts to the brides.”

From the same pool table, Shikamaru sunk one of the solid-colored balls. “I wouldn’t place any bets on that,” he said before walking around the table to another spot. “You don’t know Ino as Chouji and I do.”

“Yeah,” the big Akimichi agreed with his best friend. He took another handful of potato chips to eat from the snack bowl in his lap as he sat next to the windows, not far from Neji and Shikamaru’s game. “Ino just loves wild parties. She doesn’t mind regular parties and such, but she really loves the wild parties the best.” His hand stuffed the chips into his mouth, as he watched his ponytail-haired friend sunk in another solid ball. Chouji chuckled around his eating upon seeing the frown on Neji, who was on his way to losing yet another game to the Nara.

“Now, now,” a voice came from another couch in the room, causing everyone to focus on the silver-haired man with a hit-ate over his left eye, “we shouldn’t jump to conclusions to what the ladies are doing.” Kakashi turned a page of his Icha Icha Tactics book. “It’s not like they know what we’re doing either.”

“If that’s the case,” Konohamaru called out gleefully next to Naruto, “I say we go to the Red Light district to a strip joint!”

“I second that!” Kiba pointed to the young Sarutobi. When he realized Shino had raised an eyebrow at him, the Inuzuka knew what his friend was thinking. “I’m not cheating on Hinata! Gee, Shino! We’re talking about a strip joint, not a brothel!” The Aburame just shook his head in disapproval.

All matters on Konohamaru’s suggestion were nipped in the bud when the soon-to-be-married Uchiha spoke up. “No. I’m not going to any strip joint. I told Naruto I would not accept going to such a place.”

Kiba snorted. “You’re no fun, Uchiha, even though I still say it’s not fair you get two girls.”

“Jealous, Mutt?” Sasuke said shrewdly with a slight upturn of his lips as he lined up his cue ball before hitting it. The white ball hit a striped ball, which went into a side pocket.

“I am not!” the Inuzuka man pointed to the Uchiha. “And stop calling me that!”

Naruto chuckled and shook his head. Despite all that had happened in the past six years, the banter between Sasuke and everyone in the room made it appear like he had not ever left the village, even though some just couldn’t forgive the Uchiha for defecting to Oto and then later joining up with Akatsuki. Sasuke’s isolation from most in the village grew worse when Tsunade released the true story behind the Uchiha Massacre, thus even though some people were still sympathetic to him for loosing his entire family, most grew hostile over the fact that the Uchiha Clan were so willing to cause a civil war for power and pride. So, by an ironic twist, Itachi had suddenly become a hero for preventing the war, while Sasuke was seen as a villain for his roles against the village. Naruto was thankful though that he had managed to convince Sasuke that revenge against the village would not bring him happiness, thus why the Uchiha was currently satisfied to just work to revive his clan even if it meant not being an official shinobi ever again.

As of now, they were all together in a rented, pool & arcade place’s room, which was situated on the second floor corner of the building. The enclosed room contained three pool tables, a mini-bar, several tables with chairs, and couches lined underneath the row of left and front windows showing the view of the village and the busy business district below.

Knowing Sasuke did not want to do anything associated with the Red Light District, Naruto had started the day by getting the guys together for some sparring/training matches at Training Field 7, and the blond had to get special permission from Tsunade for Sasuke to participate as long as the Uchiha did not use his Mangekyo Sharingan. Yet even without using his Mangekyo Sharingan, the current Uchiha Head was still a formidable fighter, for he was almost a match for Kakashi. After that, they had gone home to bath and change in civilian clothes prior to meeting up again at Chouji’s favorite restaurant for dinner, and once dinner was done, they ventured to the pool & arcade place.

So, here they were, all the guys Naruto considered close friends and comrades - Sasuke, Kiba, Shino, Chouji, Shikamaru, Neji, Lee, Udon, Konohamaru, Gai-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and Iruka-sensei. The only guys invited but couldn’t attend were Sai and Yamato-taichou, seeing how both had returned to being ANBU operatives, thus they were currently busy with work.

“Let us not fight and argue, my friends,” Lee raised a hand as he stood next to the second pool table, positioned between the first and third pool tables, with pool cue in hand. “It will diminish your Flames of Youth, if you fight over such petite things.”

The click of a cue ball hitting another ball made the young taijutsu master look down at his billiard table just in time to see the eight ball roll into the corner pocket, leaving the cue ball and a bunch of solid balls left behind. Lee’s reaction was instantaneous, for his mouth hung wide open at the sight before he quickly turned to point at his opponent. “You won again!”

Standing at the pool table’s front with the view of Gai, Kakashi, and Iruka sitting on the window couch just behind him, Udon chuckled while scratching his cheek with one hand while the other held his pool cue. “That’s three out of three, Lee-san.”

Konohamaru laughed and cheered that his friend won again. “That’s Udon! He’s my team’s best tactician! No one can beat him when it comes to these games!”

Lee, however, was not listening, for he closed the distance to look face-to-face with Udon, his eyes bursting with flames. “I CHALLENGE YOU AGAIN! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED!” Everyone sweat-dropped.

The glasses-wearing chuunin had just one word in his head upon seeing those flaming eyes looking at him. “Scary…”

Neji sighed. Knowing him better than anyone else in the room, other than Gai-sensei, the Hyuuga genius was not really surprised by Lee’s outburst. It was good that some things regarding his green-loving teammate had changed, like how well he had adjusted to knowing he was a Drunken Fist master, but his ‘Flames of Youth’ had not been altered one bit, thus Lee still sometimes just did not know when to quit when it came to challenges, especially games.

Training his line of sight from his teammate to his current pool opponent, Neji placed down his pool cue. “I concede the game to you again, Shikamaru. You should consider playing against Udon-san, given your similar skills.”

Shikamaru and Udon looked at each other for a moment before the Nara shrugged. “Fine with me.” Neji began racking up the balls for the upcoming match as Team Ebisu’s tactician strolled over just as his challenger decided what game they should be playing. “How about we play 9-ball? It seems 8-ball is too simple a game for us.”

Udon shrugged. “Okay with me, Shikamaru-sempai.”

After gesturing for Udon to go first and watching the teenager make the break, Shikamaru admitted to himself that he should have played with the younger genius to begin with when they had arrived here. Out of everyone who had ever played shogi with him, only Udon had ever come close to actually defeating him. The only person better than him was his Dad, whom he still had yet to beat. Shikamaru knew it would be a cold day in Hell if Udon managed to win a shogi game against him, while he still had yet to beat Dad. Least the young Nara heir still found it fun in knowing Temari gets frustrated in not enabling to win a shogi game against him, especially given she was the best tactician in her family.

As everyone focused on the new game starting between Shikamaru and Udon, Konohamaru had something currently on the top of his mind. “Naruto-niichan?”

“Yeah?” Naruto responded while frowning that Teme was going to win this 8-ball game upon seeing Sasuke sink his last solid with a clear shot to hit the 8-ball.

“Are you planning to get married someday?”

The question made the blond jounin blink in surprise and caught everyone’s attention. “Well, yeah. I like to get marry and start a family. It won’t be likely for several years, given how Ten-chan and I will be focusing on our careers.”

Sasuke added in his thoughts. “What made you so sure you will be marrying her? If something happens to break the two of you apart permanently, unlike the Fire Daimyo’s so-called ‘test,’ you will not be marrying Tenten at all.”

“I love and trust her, Sasuke,” Naruto scowled a bit at his raven-haired friend. “I know our relationship is not perfect, but as long as we try to work out any problems, I’m willing to do my part in keeping our love strong.”

Gai spoke out approvingly. “That’s the spirit, Naruto! Love will be the shining light that will guide you and Tenten toward happiness and all!”

“Yes! Gai-sensei is right!” Lee chimed in agreement. “As long as you and Tenten do not waver in your love, you will both burn bright with the Flames of Love!”

“Well said, my faithful student!” Gai stood up as Lee approached and the two hugged together.

“Gai-sensei!”

“Lee!”

“Gai-sensei!”

“Lee!”

Once more everyone in the room sweat-dropped at the same time Kakashi and Iruka scooted toward the left on the couch to get more space between them and the hugging Green Beasts.

Twitching an eye, the last Uchiha mentally growled. “Will someone put these two in straight-jackets?”

Ignoring the two taijutsu masters, Konohamaru returned everyone back on topic. “So, if you are going to marry Tenten-neesan, Niichan,” he spoke to his ‘big brother’, “are you going to marry more than one girl?” He grinned wickedly. “You’re in position to use the Clan Restoration Act!”

“Yeah, that’s right!” Kiba pointed to Naruto. “You can marry more than one girl, like the Uchiha here! A harem!”

Rubbing the back of his head, Konoha’s Toad Sennin shook his head as he grinned a bit. “To be honest, guys, the more I think about it, the more I feel that I do not need the Clan Restoration Act. Marrying Ten-chan would be more than enough.”

Kiba and Konohamaru were baffled, while some of the other guys understood what Naruto was saying. “Why not, Niichan?” asked the Sandaime’s grandson. “You can love more than one woman with the C.R.A.”

“That’s the point,” Naruto quickly responded. “I just don’t feel like marrying without love. Other than Ten-chan, all the other girls I know are off-limits, and I certainly will not want to marry complete strangers to build a clan. I’ll be happy with just having a family, nothing more. Remember, I revealed who my father was to get out of that arranged marriage. I wasn’t really aiming to start a clan.”

Blue eyes looked into the eyes of all the other men in the room. “What about you guys? Other than Sasuke, who is getting married tomorrow, do any of you see yourselves getting married to your girlfriends?”

Silence came to the room as the men contemplated the question, only to be broken when the lone Inuzuka spoke. “Well, I know I care about Hinata, and I trust and love her. Just marriage is not something we’ve discussed or even thought about. Not to mention the whole thing regarding her being the Hyuuga Heiress. Makes me wonder if the Hyuuga Clan would even accept an Inuzuka in their family.” A small toothy grin spread across his face. “Yet, I wouldn’t mind being married to her, if we’re still together a few years from now.” He chuckled. “Man! I can imagine what our children would be like! They’ll have Inuzuka abilities with the Byakugan, making them the ultimate hunters!”

Neji closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. “If Hinata-sama does marry you, I will feel worried for the future of the Hyuuga Clan. Hopefully, any children she has with you will not grow up to become hot-headed like you.”

“Least my kids will likely kick butt harder than your kids can, Neji,” Kiba parried back with a smirk. The Hyuuga jounin decided it was best not to say anything more.

Chouji chuckled at Kiba’s antics before replying. “Ino and I have only been dating for less than a year. Marriage is far from our minds, but if she doesn’t mind marrying me, I wouldn’t say ‘No’.” He took another handful of chips into his mouth.

Shikamaru sighed. “Temari is bossy, nosey, and temperamental, much like my Mom. I had originally thought that if I were to marry a girl, it would be a girl who does not resemble my Mom.” A small grin came to his face. “Yet despite her troublesome attributes, Temari does not mind my hobbies and playing shogi once in awhile. She is intelligent and hardworking too. In the end, I know it would be less troublesome to marry her than to not marry her, if she does want to marry me.” A thought made the smart Nara frown before reaching up to rub the back of his head. “Man, knowing her, she will want a huge wedding with all the bells and whistles. What a drag that will be.” Some of the other men laughed at that.

After his laughter died off, Naruto looked at his former jounin-sensei. “What about you, Kakashi-sensei? Think you and Anko will get married one day?”

Kakashi blinked at the question. “Me? Married to Anko?” As he adopted a mock thinking pose, the silver-haired jounin’s mind concurred up images of silver and purple-haired children running wild with Anko’s personality as they ate dango and summoned snakes to eat Pakkun and the other shinobi dogs. After a moment, he eye-smiled. “Well, I’m not so sure whether I will marry Anko, Naruto. We’re pretty much happy right now just dating, having fun, etc. I know marriage is the last thing on our minds.” With that said, he returned to reading his beloved Icha Icha.

Iruka shook his head and chuckled at the elite jounin. “I just can’t see either you or Anko getting married, nevertheless marry to each other.” Kakashi simply chuckled.

Turning to lock eyes with Naruto’s, Iruka took a sip of his sake before a small grin graced his face. “To be honest, Naruto, Ayame and I are already discussing about marriage, and she wants us to get married soon, maybe in the upcoming year. She’s already slated to take over her father’s business down the road, thus she’s quite ready to settle down and start a family.” His grin became warm as he pictured the brown-haired ramen woman in his head. “I don’t mind marrying her,” he continued before giving a small shrug. “Ayame is a perfect example that one does not need to be a warrior to be strong. She’s strong and smart in her own right, for she has to be in order to run a business, no matter how big or small.”

Konoha’s Most Unpredictable Ninja smiled. “That’s great, Iruka-sensei! I guess that means you will be most likely to get married next after Sasuke.”

The Academy teacher simply shrugged. “Maybe, Naruto. Maybe.” He was not going to confirm or deny anything, until things became official between him and Ayame. Valentine’s Day was two months away, and even though he knew it was White Chocolate’s Day, where the women give a gift to the men, the scar-faced chuunin just couldn’t think of a better time to propose to Ayame and present her with the engagement ring he had already bought.

Silence once more came to the room, and after a couple of minutes, the groom-to-be returned to his game at hand. He lined up the cue stick with the cue ball and hit it a moment later. The cue ball hit the 8-ball, which went into the desire pocket. “I won again, Dobe,” Sasuke smirked at frowning Uzumaki.

“Why can’t I ever win one of these games?” whined Naruto, making everyone laughed, and a moment later, the tall blond grinned sheepishly a bit as he took the ribbing in stride.

Despite his tremendous growth as a shinobi, especially in the past year, Naruto was still not much of a strategist or person with brains to see and figure out complex solutions. His strength was in actual art of combat, thus why he had excelled so rapidly as a warrior, for he was a person who thinks on his feet. This was why many thought that the blond was better off being a sensei to a genin squad due to his ability to get along with children than to be in a position of leading a combat squad, for the time being. Hopefully, when Naruto becomes Hokage, he would be prudent enough to make Shikamaru or someone else an advisor when it came to major tactics and planning.

As the party returned to normal with most watching Udon played against Shikamaru, Sasuke adjourned to the mini-bar to get a drink, while Lee was trying to get Shino or Kiba to play a game with him. Naruto ended up playing with Iruka with Konohamaru watching.

Yet as he played another game of 8-ball, this time with his former Academy teacher, the future Rokudaime Hokage mentally wondered what his girlfriend of six months was doing at the moment. Knowing she was with the other women, Naruto has no doubt that Tenten was having fun, for there was no way anything could go wrong with a group of strong, level-headed kunoichi.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

“Woo hoo! Shake that tight butt! Yeah!” shouted out Anko with Ino besides her as the two women, along with a dozen or more other women, gleefully called out their approval of the male stripper performing on the stage in front of them. The twenty-something, muscle-toned man had already stripped down to just a G-string, thong underwear, strutting his stuff in a sexy dance that was making his audience go wild.

At a round table halfway between the stage and the bar, the rest of the bachelorette party was eying the show with mix reactions. Tsunade was raising her sake bottle in the air with shouts of her own to the male eye-candy on the stage. Shizune, Kurenai, and Yugao were calm yet showing some mild interest to the entertainment. Hinata did her best not to even look, choosing to sit with her back toward the stage, but it was clear the music and the shouted sexual-explicate calls from other women were making the Hyuuga Heiress blushed. Tenten, Sakura, and Karin also did their best to not look, but it was hard for their line of sight not to get a occasional eyeful, given how they sat facing the stage since Hinata forced Hanabi and Moegi to sit beside her and Anko quickly getting the other women to pick up the other seats, leaving the brides-to-be and the Weapons Mistress with the three chairs facing the stage. Yet despite their sitting arrangement, it did not deter Moegi and Hanabi, the youngest members, from turning around to view the show, for the orange-haired girl was curious while the Hyuuga Head’s second daughter was smirking in a way that would make Anko proud.

“Hanabi…” Hinata chided in a slight whiny way. “I again wish you did not bother to come here. You’re not old enough for this.”

The younger of the two Hyuuga sisters rolled her eyes. “Once more, I already know this stuff, Neechan. Since you’re the one refusing to look, why don’t you leave?”

“It’s not proper!” Hinata lowly hissed at her sister. “Those bouncers at the front doors should have kept you and Moegi-chan away!”

Hanabi smirked and shrugged before taking out her hitai-ate from her pant’s pocket. “I’m old enough to kill, thus I’m old enough to drink and enter these kinds of places. Give it a rest, Neechan.”

Hinata huffed before picking up a glass of sake to take a gulp out of it. Kami, her sister was driving her to drink. She now wished Konoha’s laws didn’t have such an exception regarding allowing shinobi minors access to alcohol and explicit stuff. “If father finds out…” she muttered.

Hearing her older sibling, Hanabi waved away the concern before putting away her headband and returning to the show. “Like what will he do? Disown me just for just looking? I didn’t lose my virginity compared to you, so quit being so concerned about it.” Hinata couldn’t find any way to dispute her.

Tsunade laughed at Hanabi’s boldness. “That’s the spirit! You’re old enough to take a look at these hunks!” She took a gulp out of her sake bottle prior to leering at the male performer on the stage. “Maybe I should get some action myself.”

“Tsunade-sama!” Shizune lowly shouted, so as to not let the entire club know the Hokage was there. She could see her teacher and superior was getting drunk. “Surely, you’re jesting with doing such a thing!”

The Slug Sannin waved away her assistant’s worries. “I’m just joking! Yet, it’s not like anyone will recognize me here,” she gestured to the entire place, which was low illuminated with flashy strobe and laser lights, somewhat crowded, and noisy with music, talk, and shouting. “Besides, I doubt anyone will recognize me with different clothes and my hair up this way.”

Shizune sighed. Besides wearing different civilian clothes, her leader had placed her long blond tresses up in a high ponytail. The change of looks seemed to have work, for not even the front-door bouncers noticed. It was just that the brunette was worried that sooner or later, someone would notice. So even though many of those close to Tsunade knew her well enough to not be concerned of her drinking at a women-only strip club, where the only men were the performers, many villagers might think it would be scandalous to have their Hokage seen at such a sleazy joint. Shizune hoped things would go smoothly for the rest of the night.

Meanwhile at the stage, when the music reached its conclusion, the male stripper made last one sexy performance before stopping to a round of applause, whistles, and catcalls. He left the stage, causing the crowd of women in front of it to break apart and go their separate ways.

“Woo hoo!” Anko cheered as she returned to the table with Ino. “Another great performance!” She elbowed her younger, blonde companion. “He sure was a cutie, right?”

“Yeah!” Ino chirped before she sat on her chair. “He sure was cute!” Blue eyes looked at her best friend before smirking. “Did you enjoy the show, Forehead?”

Sakura narrowed her eyes at her Maid of Honor. “It’s not like I have any choice given my seating position, Ino-pig.” The pinkette let out a puff of air upon seeing the blonde snickered. “Besides, he has nothing that can compete with Sasuke.”

Inside Sakura’s head, Inner Sakura manifested herself. “SHA! NO ONE CAN BEAT OUR SASUKE-KUN!” She placed her hands behind her head and began humping her hips. “YET THAT MAN ON THE STAGE WAS SEXY!”

“I agree with Sakura,” Karin spoke up as she raised her drink glass. “Sasuke-kun beats that man any day.”

Inner Karin agreed as Karin took a sip of her drink. “OUR SASUKE-KUN IS TOPS! YET ONE CAN’T DENY THAT MAN ON THE STAGE WAS A HUNK! GIVE ME MORE!”

Ino snickered again upon hearing the redhead, and afterward, her light-blue eyes trained onto the bun-wearing woman besides the ex-Sound kunoichi. “What about you, Tenten? What did you think of the latest performance?”

The weapons mistress frowned before admitting a sigh and a shrug. “To be honest, if I weren’t in a relationship, I definitely would say that guy was handsome and a cutie.” She took a sip of her drink before continuing. “Yet I feel it would be a betrayal to Naruto to have such thoughts, thus why I feel so uncomfortable to be here.” Her torso leaned forward a bit to look Ino square in the eyes. “How can you and Anko feel okay with this, especially given you both are in relationships?”

Anko snorted. “Maybe because I do not take things so seriously, like you do, Bun Girl.” The purple-haired jounin smirked before taking a huge gulp of sake. “Besides, I know Kakashi-kun doesn’t mind, given how he thinks the same way I do when it comes to our perverted natures.”

Ino sighed and shook her head. “I’m with Anko. No one here is crossing the line. You’re not getting involved with anyone else, so why do you think you’re betraying Naruto for being here? I care for Chouji, thus I will never cross the line. Believe me, we had talked about infidelity, and he was sweet and understanding in knowing that there will be times that we will have ‘wandering eyes’.”

Tenten still was not convinced as she straightened her torso upright, her eyes turning away. “I still feel it’s not right. Naruto is totally loyal, and now that we’ve gotten back together after that whole ‘arranged marriage’ fiasco, I’m not going to betray such loyalty again.” Fingers reaching up to caress her necklace, the 19-year-old brunette mentally added, “And I love him. My heart is his, and I will always keep my vow to not ever break his heart ever again.” A small warm smile spread across her face. “I guess this really is love, for if I do feel uncomfortable being here, it means I have eyes only for him.”

Kurenai’s warm voice of reason caused the weapons expert to turn back to the table and the conversation at hand. “I think the issue is not black-and-white morally as many think it is. There are people, like Anko, Ino, and Kakashi, who just take this as fun, nothing more, while others will not want to do such things, like you three,” she spared the two brides and Tenten an understanding grin. “Despite the fact that I’m not attached to any man, I too, just do not feel totally comfortable being here.”

“Same here,” Yugao spoke up immediately. “This kind of activity is just not my cup of tea.”

The snake-summoning woman rolled her eyes. “Maybe you would have found another man, if you gotten some backbone, Yugi.”

The ANBU kunoichi narrowed her eyes at her friend. “Maybe, maybe not. I told you many times already, Anko, that it’s up to me to choose.”

Anko waved away the comment like it was nothing to her. “Yeah, yeah. Go ahead and become an old maid.” Her lips curled upward as she turned to face the dark-purple-haired woman. “How about making a pass on Yamato? I heard rumors he’s pretty good in bed.”

“Yamato-taichou?” Sakura blinked in surprise at the mentioned of her former leader, who had temporarily led Team 7 at times when Kakashi was unable to lead. Despite having known him ever since he had first introduced himself three years ago, the pinkette had never known the jounin to have a relationship with any woman. Like Kakashi, the man seemed to be more of a solitary person than the type to socialize off-duty.

Yugao shook her head at her snickering friend. “You’re really pushing, Anko.”

For the ANBU kunoichi, the truth was that she was considering making a move on Yamato ever since the man returned to being an ANBU operative after the end of the Akatsuki and Oto Wars. She had missed Hayate terribly, but after so many years, she just couldn’t stand to be alone anymore, not when other women she knew, especially at this table, were in loving relationships. Yugao knew it was time for her to put Hayate’s ghost to rest and least try to find happiness again. It was just that she was not going to let Anko have any satisfaction in knowing how much she was right about Yamato being the main target.

Just then, a female voice from the club’s speaker system announced the next performance, making some women approach the stage as the male stripper walked onstage after he was introduced. Dressed in casual shirt and pants, the man began his gig.

Tsunade smirked prior to taking a sip of her sake and placing down the bottle. “I’m going for a closer inspection.” With that said, she rose and strolled toward the stage, surprising many of her fellow kunoichi with the exception of Anko.

“I’m with her,” the Tokubetsu jounin chirped before going after the Godaime. Ino soon followed after brushing off her shock.

Shizune sighed. “I just hope Tsunade-sama will not do anything embarrassing.” Sakura nodded her head in agreement, while the others mentally agreed, but didn’t voice their thoughts. It would be humiliating if their leader was caught acting like this in public.

After glancing at a large wall clock with glow-in-the-dark hands and numbers, Tenten sipped her drink and then addressed the others. “We’ve been here close to two hours now. I say after this performance we head home.”

“Good idea,” Kurenai concurred, her red eyes moving to focus on the two brides. “It’s best you two get as much rest as possible. Tomorrow will be a quite a day for you.”

“Yeah,” Sakura agreed. “All those preparations in the past several months will boil down to one event tomorrow.” Karin didn’t say anything, for she too was in agreement.

Hanabi frowned as she watched the show. “I want to stay here a while longer.”

Hinata narrowed her eyes at her little sister. “We’re going home, and that’s that, Hanabi-chan!” she berated.

The younger of the two Hyuuga heiresses sniffed in disagreement. She wouldn’t mind seeing more buff-up guys with her normal eyes. Least she could see them in color better compared to the world of the Byakugan, even if she could use it to see the men’s side of the public hot-spring baths.

Minutes later, when it appeared the show was about to end, Anko was pushed from behind by another woman, who was obvious off her rocker from too many drinks. “Watch it! I’m trying to get a better look!”

Anko was not amused, yet a moment later, a devilish expression came to her face, and from the table, Kurenai and Shizune knew that look to know what she was going to do. “Anko, don’t you even think about doing it,” Kurenai spoke her mind, hoping her friend would not commit the act.

Yet this was Anko they were talking about.

From her long sleeved blouse, a few snakes appeared, slithering down their master’s form before going the short distance to climb up the legs of the other woman. The result was instantaneous as the woman screamed and screeched to get the snakes off her, making Anko laugh at the sight. When the snakes disappeared with puffs of smoke, the woman realized she had been had, growling the laughing culprit. Without even a word, she attacked Anko with a punch to the face, causing the jounin to land on her back, not even expecting an attack.

Yet Anko just grinned wickedly, got up, and returned the favor with her own punch. The fight began, knocking over tables, chairs, and other women. Some ladies did not see who knocked them over and thought the person next to her did it, thus she slugged that girl, who in turn began fighting the so-called ‘attacker’.

Let us just say that fight Anko started spread into a free-for-all for those next to the stage.

Ino and Tsunade, being at the rear of the crowd of women, began backing away, but a woman was socked into the Godaime, who held up the dazed person. Yet the woman reacted by instinct to give the Hokage an upper cut, knocking the Sannin to the floor.

“Oh, crap,” Sakura and Shizune said together in worry upon seeing their mentor being punched, and as they feared, they watched as Tsunade stood up and glowered menacingly at the woman who clocked her.

“How about I give you a knuckle-powered sandwich?!” the Fifth roared before fisting her right hand to deliver a chakra-enhanced blow.

Yet before the Slug Sannin could swing her arm, someone gave a karate chop to the back of her head, knocking her unconscious, and her slumped form fell backward into the arms of her attacker, who happened to be Yugao. The ANBU kunoichi began dragging her leader away from the growing fight.

“Ha!” the woman, who punched Tsunade, crowed. “Go ahead and run away, coward!” She was knocked out with a punch from an angry Ino prior to the blonde helping Yugao in getting their leader away. Help arrived from Kurenai, who placed Tsunade’s right arm around her neck, while Yugao mimicked with the Godaime’s left arm. Together, they immediately returned to the table, where the other kunoichi gathered.

“Time to go, girls,” Kurenai addressed the group. “Let’s get out of here before things get too hot.”

“What about Anko?” Ino asked as she turned to see the snake-summoning kunoichi was still going at it in the middle of the fight, looking like she was enjoying herself.

The red-eyed genjutsu mistress shook her head. “She’s on her own.” “Anko, why do always have to make things worse with your antics?” “Let’s go.” The group did not need to be told twice as they quickly made to the nearest exit to leave.

Hanabi however was staying still, watching the fight with glee. Her big sister grabbed her arm. “Let’s go, Hanabi-chan. Time to leave.”

“I want to stay and watch the fight!” the young Hyuuga replied with a wicked grin.

Hinata grabbed her little sister’s ear hard and began dragging her by the same ear toward the exit. “We’re leaving now!”

“Nee-chan! Ow, ow, ow! Let go!” Hanabi cried out in pain all the way out of the building.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Walking down the street, Naruto stretched his arms, enjoying the cool and fresh night air as he took a breath. “Ah! Now that’s a good way to end the day. Right, guys?”

“You got that right, Naruto,” Kiba agreed, as he and the other men strolled besides the future Hokage. They had minutes ago decided to call it a night after many hours of playing pool, and now each were on his way to his respective home in the village. Tomorrow was going to be quite a festival day, knowing how weddings went.

Yet the group stopped when Kakashi looked up, making them all look up, and they took in the sight of several ANBU operatives and shinobi police jumping on the rooftops, all heading toward a particular part of the village. The Copy Nin called out upon noticing a particular ANBU member. “Tenzo!”

The masked ANBU male stopped and turned around to see who called him, and once he saw Kakashi, he jumped down to land in front of the group of men. “Kakashi-sempai,” he greeted his superior. Naruto and a few others knew this guy was obviously Yamato, and when a second male ANBU landed behind Tenzo, the short black hair was a good indication he was Sai.

“What’s going on, Tenzo?” Kakashi asked. “A lot of ANBU and police are heading toward a particular part of the village.”

“There’s a fight going on in one of the night clubs in the Red Light District,” Tenzo replied.

Kakashi shrugged. “Nothing new. There has always been occasional fights coming from clubs and bars in the Red Light District.”

“That’s true, Kakashi-sempai,” Tenzo nodded. “Yet first reports coming in stated the fight is coming from a place rarely known for producing fights – a women-only night club.” Many of the men raised their eyebrows at this.

It was just now they saw a group of women coming towards them as some people stepped aside for ladies to pass, and when the females came closer, the guys of Sasuke’s bachelor party were surprised to see their kunoichi friends and teammates. They took notic of Kurenai and Yugao holding up an unconscious blonde, who was no doubt Tsunade, judging from the two huge breasts the woman had on her chest.

Ino was the first to become aware of the men. Her words, said with a cheesy grin, made her all-female group stop. “Oh! Hi, guys!”

The guys greeted the women, eying them curiously before Kakashi stepped forward to gaze down at the knocked-out Godaime. “What happened to Tsunade-sama?”

“Oh, the usual, Kakashi-sensei,” Sakura immediately replied with a laugh, which sounded forced. “Shishou drank too much sake and is now out-cold. We’re taking her back to the Tower, so she can sleep it off.” The Copy-Nin and some of the other men were not convinced, especially Sasuke who raised an eyebrow at his two wives-to-be.

Naruto knew Baa-chan occasionally get high with rice wine, so hearing such a story was nothing new. It was that, just like Sasuke, he knew Sakura well, and his pink-haired teammate definitely was hiding something. His blue eyes trained on his bun-haired girlfriend, who sighed and gave him a tired grin and slight shake of her head, and the blond shinobi immediately knew he was right that Sakura was not telling the truth. Something happened, but judging from Tenten’s expression, it was not something of earthshaking proportions, yet it must have been embarrassing enough to try to hide it.

Putting aside the issue temporarily in his mind, Konoha’s Toad Sennin took in his lover’s outfit, thinking she looked classy in a black, spaghetti-strapped, mini-skirted dress, black leggings which ended past the knees, black high-heeled sandal shoes, white belt loose around the waist, and golden arm sleeves that ends just before the shoulders and connected across the chest to a button in the middle. The dress was embroiled with golden floral designs, and to top it, she wore the gold & silver, kunai & shuriken necklace. Kami, she looked beautiful to him.

Tenzo’s voice brought the future-Rokudaime out of his love-induced gaze to focus again on reality. “What did you say?” he spoke into the collared microphone on his neck, and a minute later, he turned to look into Kakashi’s eyes. “Just do your best to subdue her. Sumijin and I will be there shortly. Tenzo out.” With that said, he realized the mic’s button, before addressing his former captain. “One of my men reported that one of the women involved in the nightclub fight is Anko-san.”

The news raised several male eyebrows, especially Kakashi’s. “Anko?” His normal right eye turned to look at the women. “I understand she was with you. Does this mean your entire group was at the nightclub as well?”

Kurenai nodded, deciding that deceiving the men at this point would be pointless. “Yes, we were at the nightclub as part of Sakura and Karin’s party. Things had gotten out of hand when a drunken woman insulted Anko. Tsunade-sama too would have gotten involved and made things worse, if it weren’t for Yugao’s intervention by knocking her out. Given the low illumination inside the club and Tsunade-sama’s change of appearance, I think no one, except our group, knew she was there. The last thing we needed is for the entire village to know our leader was at a women-only strip club and almost involved in a fight.”

Kakashi, Gai, Tenzo, and some of the other guys nodded in understanding. It would be quite a scandal, if word had gotten out of Tsuande’s involvement in such a petite brawl at a nightclub. The entire village was used to their leader’s violent temper, thus the people understood why she had occasionally broken doors, windows, and walls at the Hokage Tower. Yet it was another thing entirely to even think of her being involve in a fight at a stripper joint. Some would not be able to comprehend the Godaime sinking to such a level.

Neji spoke out, catching everyone’s attention. “May I ask where Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama are?” he addressed the kunoichi, noticing his two cousins were not with them. “They were supposed to be with your group.”

“They’re okay, Neji,” Kurenai answered with a reassuring smile. “Hinata and Hanabi are on their way back to the Hyuuga Compound.” The Hyuuga genius gave a nod in acknowledgment.

“Well, well,” Kiba snickered. “I never thought I’d hear that the girls were at a strip joint. I thought being at such a place was beneath you ladies.”

Ino felt perturbed at the statement, before she sniffed and crossed her arms. “What about you guys?! I bet you came from a strip joint, right?!” The men’s chuckling, Sakura’s moan, and Kurenai, Shizune, Yugao, and Tenten’s slight-grinning shaking heads confused the platinum blonde.

“Ino,” Shizune gently chided with an amused voice. “The guys came from the opposite direction we were heading. If they had been at the Red Light District, they would have come from that direction.”

Chouji spoke next to his girlfriend. “We were playing pool for the entire evening, Ino. We were nowhere near the Red Light District.” Ino blushed hard from embarrassment, knowing she was wrong, as some of the men once again chuckled while Shikamaru muttered, “Troublesome woman,” which his Yamanaka teammate heard before glaring at him.

His amusement dying off, Naruto took the opportunity to stroll over to his girlfriend, who stood off one side of the female group, and placed his hands on her waist from behind. “Hi,” he whispered to her with a grin as she turned her head to look smiling at him.

“Hi there yourself,” Tenten softly replied back, placing her hands on top of his. Her chocolate eyes admiringly took in his appearance with his golden mane unhindered and body attired in button-up orange shirt, open black blazer jacket, black pants, and black shoes. She was glad he had taken her advice to buy this outfit, when they had gone shopping together one time months ago. He certainly looked quite handsome in a badass sort-of way.

Shaking his head at Ino’s mistaken belief regarding Sasuke’s bachelor party, Neji waved a hand as he moved toward the nearest building. “I’m going to make sure Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama make it home alright. Goodnight.” With that said, he leaped onto the roof and roof-hopped away toward the Hyuuga Estate.

Soon after, the entire group began breaking apart as various members went into different directions to get to their homes, everyone saying their goodnights before departing. Kakashi was followed by Gai with Lee, the Senior Green Beast talking to his ‘rival’ about another challenge. Moegi was escorted home by Udon and Konohamaru, who gentlemanly tolerated his orange-haired teammate clinging to his arm. Sasuke left with his two fiancées, each embracing each of his arms. Chouji offered to accompany Ino home, which she accepted. Shikamaru lazily waved goodnight as he strolled away. Kiba and Shino went in one direction together toward their clans’ compounds. Iruka went to his apartment, and Shizune took over for Yugao as she and Kurenai took a still unconscious Tsunade back to the Hokage Tower.

After watching the retreating backs of their village leader being carried away by the two kunoichi, the three ANBU members regarded one another for a moment prior to looking at the two remaining people besides them. Sumijin was the first to speak, his voice teasing. “So are you going to return to your apartment to entertain your girlfriend, Dickless?”

Naruto groaned, while Tenten frowned disapprovingly at the masked Sai. “Will you ever stop with that nickname?” the blond shinobi grated. “After three years, it’s getting tiresome.”

“Not to mention that I personally know Naruto is not dickless,” the brunette kunoichi added. She knew Sai had given Naruto that nickname out of some strange sense of friendship, but it was quite ridiculous now for the ink-wielding shinobi to still be using it. She certainly did not like to hear her boyfriend being called ‘dickless’.

“True,” Sumijin nodded. “Just I always wondered if his tiny penis is enough for you.”

Despite knowing his tone of voice told her he was teasing, Tenten growled, feeling the so-called joke was an insult to not only Naruto but to her as well. “He’s not tiny!” She felt her beau’s hands held her tight, preventing her from moving forward to kill the young ANBU operative.

Shaking their heads, Tenzo and Yugao sighed. “Sumijin,” the purple-haired kunoichi said, “it’s no wonder Ino broke up with you.” With that said, she bid the couple and her superior officer goodnight before leaving.

Tenzo grabbed his subordinate’s arm before the young man could say anything more to Naruto and Tenten. “Come on, Sumijin, we have work to do.” The masked Yamato waved goodbye to the couple before leaping away onto the rooftops, keeping a grip on the younger man’s arm to make certain he jumped away with him.

Left alone, the couple let out a breath. “Sai has not learned anything regarding how to properly socialize,” Tenten mentioned as she shook her head.

Naruto chuckled in agreement. “Yeah. Unlike me, he spent most of his childhood being trained like a weapon that he just found it confusing how to even socialize.” He shrugged. “Maybe he’ll get it one day,” he finished before pulling his lover against his front.

Purring from his touch, the Weapons Mistress twisted around to face her man, her hands working their way up his torso to wrap her arms around his neck. “Getting bold, Whisker Boy?” she teased in a flirty manner.

“I’m quite inspired,” the golden-haired shinobi answered slyly. “After all, with a beautiful girlfriend as you, I certainly am inspired.”

Tenten cherished the way he made her feel so wanted and loved. “I’m glad I can be quite an inspiration for you,” she purred before pulling his head down to mash their lips together. Both softly moaned, savoring the warmth and feel of the other through the kiss as their brains registered nothing else but each other.

After pulling their heads away to end their lip-lock, the couple softly chuckled out of happiness. Tenten rubbed her nose’s tip against his in a brief display of affection. Afterward, the pair relaxed, as they basked in the simple comfort of just being in each other’s arms.

“So…” Naruto broke the silence. “You seemed to have an interesting night.”

The weapons-loving brunette snorted a laugh as she rolled her eyes. “You can say that, Naruto-kun. I spent the afternoon just to organize a simple party for Karin and Sakura at the Hokage Tower. It was Ino’s idea to go to the nightclub in the Red Light District.” She shook her head, smirking. “Despite having Chouji as a boyfriend, Ino still is pretty wild at times.”

Naruto snickered. “Yep, that’s Wild Flower alright. Yet, she’s not the type to cheat, especially when she’s serious. Chouji just loves her to pieces, and Ino just loves being pampered at times by him.”

“I can’t dispute that,” Tenten grinned, knowing how her Yamanaka friend worked. “So… How was your day?”

The big blond told her everything, from the ‘fun’ the guys had at the training field to the arcade place where they were playing pool, and all honesty, the bun-haired kunoichi was not all that surprised by what the men did. After all, they did stuff that most men consider ‘entertainment’ without doing anything perverted. She made a mental note that the next ‘Girls’ Night’ be at the arcade place playing pool, for it would be a nice change from the typical meeting just talking.

When Naruto finished, Tenten grinned. “Well, tomorrow is going to be quite a day. We better head home and rest. I don’t want to see you with baggy eyes tomorrow.” She emphasized this by stabbing a finger into his chest and raised eyebrow. “Got it? I want my boyfriend to be looking his best at the ceremony and the reception.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a grin and snappy salute, making her laugh at his silliness. “What about you? I’m sure you’ll look great in whatever dress you’ll be wearing as Karin’s Maid of Honor.”

Pleased at his compliment, Tenten felt her cheeks heat up a bit. “You’ll just have to find out tomorrow, Whisker Boy, when I walk down the aisle,” she teased slyly with a wink. His smile told her he definitely was looking forward to it.

Leaning up a bit, Tenten gave a quick, heartfelt smooch to her beau. “Goodnight, Naruto-kun,” she smiled.

“Goodnight, Ten-chan,” Naruto replied with equal emotion. His blue eyes watched his girlfriend strolled away with a slight sway in her hips, prompting a chuckle out of him from knowing how much she loved him watching her. He knew Tenten didn’t need an escort home, if she did not want it; after all, she was a strong kunoichi who did not require protection or the likes. It was nice and gentlemanly for a boyfriend to walk his girlfriend home, but at this stage of their relationship, it was not necessary to do it all the time.

After turning on his heels, the blond jounin made his way toward his apartment and the bed waiting for him.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Soft dance music was heard throughout the huge room, coming from the speaker system, while the lights, at three-fourths illumination from overhead lamps and chandeliers, provided a semi-romantic appeal to the place as the sun was seen setting through the windows. Tables, around the central dance floor, were occupied with people eating, drinking, and chatting. Overall, the entire atmosphere felt romantic for any couple to feel the love in the air.

That was what most of the people saw, heard, and thought as they occupied the Hokage Tower’s ballroom for the wedding reception of the newly married Uchiha threesome of Sasuke, Sakura, and Karin. The wedding ceremony went well, but the actual celebration at the reception was the real entertaining event that most enjoyed about weddings. It was a time for the wedding party and guests to relax, have fun, and celebrate the start of a new beginning.

Out on the dance floor, other than the groom who was alternating between his two brides at each song, one couple was gaining much attention as they danced flawlessly to a waltz. They held hands together, his right to her left, while his left was around her back and her right was on his right shoulder. Not that Sasuke, Sakura, and Karin were bad dancers, given they performed well, but since Naruto and Tenten were considered the Most-Talked-About-Couple in all of Konoha, it was no wonder many eyes were watching them as they flowed smoothly together across the floor.

After the waltz ended and the two bowed at their audience’s applause, slow romantic music began playing. The Best Man and Karin’s Maid of Honor wrapped their arms around each other to slow dance as one, and soon other couples joined them, letting the soft melody sway their movements

Several minutes later, Tenten broke the comfortable silence, feeling a need to converse with her man, yet she kept her left cheek on his shoulder and her face close to his neck “Mmmmmm… I wish this day can go on forever. Given this has been the first major wedding from our peer group, I just can’t help but feel giddy over the whole romantic aspect of it all.” She raised her head to look directly into those expressive blue marbles as their owner gave a slight warm smile. “Even it is sort-of an odd one having one man married to two women.”

Naruto chuckled softly. “Yeah, but Teme does not mind it.” He turned his head, and following his gaze, Tenten saw Sasuke was currently dancing with Sakura, but Karin was holding the Uchiha from behind, making it a strange three-way dance. “I want Sakura to be happy, and if she’s happy with Sasuke, so be it. She just has to continue to adjust living with Karin in the picture.”

The bun-wearing brunette giggled. “Least the ceremony went off without a hitch.” Chocolate eyes returned to look back at her dance partner, who also trained his eyesight back on her. “As I said before, this is the first time I was involved in participating in a wedding. I enjoyed it.”

“Same here,” the whisker-faced blond added, thinking back several hours ago to the wedding ceremony.

Taking place on top of the Hokage Tower, the ceremony had been pretty simple using modern traditions with the entire wedding party wearing modern wedding attires. With the weather clear, nicely mild, and sunny, despite the fact that this time of the year was supposed to be raining most of the time, the marriage had been performed on a three-step, half-circle raised platform with the groom and brides standing before Tsunade on the top platform while the Best Man and bridesmaids stood one step behind the trio getting married.

Naruto had not been surprised that Sakura and Karin had design differences between their gowns’ torso section despite their skirts were almost the same with wide hems and slight trains. The pinkette went with a full-sleeved, turtle-necked design that has a heart-shape opening on the chest, exposing a bit of cleavage. The redhead’s design was a sleeved, v-neck look with one sleeve being short and the other fully long to the wrist, making her looked like how Sai used to dress.

Yet despite the fact that the brides were supposed to be the stars of the show, the Toad Sennin couldn’t help but have eyes only for the brown-haired bridesmaid, whose gown was the same as Ino’s. The two wore a dark pink, strapless gown which hugged the torso, yet the skirt was loosely freed to allow the legs movement. The hem barely touched the ground, and a light-pink sash wrapped around the waist, ending in a vertical half-bow at the back with a train that went down to the knees.

For the future-Rokudaime, he had thought Tenten looked beautiful in the gown with slight make-up and jewelry, which included the gold & silver necklace he had given her for her birthday. Yet what surprised him the most was how she had styled her hair. Instead of the typical twin buns, she had three buns with the third at the base of the head, making a triangle with the two usual top buns, which were slightly smaller to allow her to have the hair to make the third bun. To top it, all three buns were tied with long dark-orange ribbons, which matched the color of Naruto’s tuxedo bowtie and cummerbund.

Coming back from Memory Lane to the reality of the ballroom, the tall blond jounin noticed his dancing partner was watching him. He chuckled a bit out of embarrassment, knowing she must have seen him wearing a pleased, goofy grin.

“What were you thinking?” Tenten asked amusingly.

Giving a shrug, Naruto reached up to finger one of her orange ribbons, which all touched her shoulders and bare upper back. “Just still feeling a bit pleasantly happy you chose to tie your hair with ribbons that matched the color of my tie and cummerbund. It explained why you had asked me what color I was going to wear.”

Warmly sighing, the 19-year-old kunoichi reached up to pull his head down to touch his forehead to hers. “As I said before, I want to show everyone we’re a couple, Naruto-kun,” she softly replied, her eyes boring into those mesmerizing sapphire eyes. “What better way to show how much I love you than to wear matching colors? Since I can’t wear orange in my gown, I was able to use the color for my hair ribbons.”

“I’m glad you did,” Naruto lovingly grinned. “You look absolutely beautiful wearing your hair in three buns with these ribbons.”

“Flatterer,” a slight blushing Tenten grinned back, quite pleased with the compliment.

Suddenly, a light flashed off one side of them, making the couple turn their heads toward the source to see a slyly grinning Ino, holding a camera in one hand, while dancing with a tuxedo-clad Chouji, who gave an apologetic grin to Naruto and Tenten.

“Ino,” the Weapons Mistress frowned at the platinum blonde.

“Oh, come on!” the Yamanaka beauty chirped. “You two were so adorable looking at each other with those loving expressions! I just had to catch it on camera!”

“You’ve been photographing Naruto and me just as much as Sasuke, Sakura, and Karin,” Tenten pointed out. “Surely, you can take photos of other people.”

Ino’s grin did not waver. “Of course I took photos of other people. It’s just that you and Naruto are too irresistible with the way you two act toward one another. I swear you guys are already planning your marriage.”

Tenten rolled her eyes, while her beau just shook his head with a tiny grin. “We definitely are not planning our marriage,” the brunette muttered. As much as she was a romantic, Team Gai’s kunoichi swore Ino was nearly obsessed at times when it came to romance and seeing other people she knew found love. It was the blonde’s way of wanting to see her family and friends be happy.

“I do agree with Blondie,” a teasing, familiar, female voice said on Naruto and Tenten’s other side. “Are you two going to tie knot eventually?” The couple sighed before turning their heads to a devilish-expressive Anko dancing with a chuckling Kakashi. Despite having a boyfriend, the older kunoichi obviously didn’t mind flaunting her body, which was in a strapless, mini-skirted, red dress, black stockings, and high heels. The ‘boyfriend’ was looking handsome in a simple black suit, tie, shoes, and eye patch over his left eye.

Narrowing her eyes at the Takubetsu Jounin, Tenten grated, “I so wish Tsunade-sama had kept you in jail.”

Anko snickered. “Been there, done that, Bun Girl. Besides, our esteemed Hokage knew I was not the only one in that fight, you know.”

Burying her face into her lover’s chest, Kyohaku’s daughter sighed once more.

Due to the fact that the damage to the nightclub had not been extensive; Tsunade had gathered the excuse early in the morning and punished them by making the women pay for the club’s damage as well as doing three months of community service. It was nothing the snake-summoning kunoichi couldn’t handle, for she just did not care whether she would do a bunch of D-rank missions for a while. In the end, Anko knew she would return to doing high-rank missions anyway.

Feeling one of her lover’s hands soothingly rubbing her bare upper back, Tenten hummed in content, just enjoying being in Naruto’s arms as he made her relax with his touch. After a few minutes, she raised her face to look into those warm blue eyes waiting for her. “You know you shouldn’t let her get to you, Ten-chan.”

“I know,” Tenten bashfully grinned, her eyes momentarily focused on Anko, who gave a sly wink before eying her own man. Returning to eye Naruto, the brunette shook her head a bit. “It’s just that I know I won’t be able to win a war of words over her. She’s not the Second-in-Command of the Torture and Interrogation Department for nothing, you know.”

Chuckling, the son of the Yondaime placed his cheek against his lover’s, making her sigh happily. “Well, don’t pay any attention to Crazy Snake Lady. We’re here to have fun, and it will not do for my girlfriend to feel down in the dumps.” His lips curled up on one side as he leaned to whisper in her ear. “Besides, you did promise a private celebration later in my apartment, Weapons Girl. I’m so looking forward to that.”

Tenten purred in agreement. “You’re right, Whisker Boy,” she whispered in his ear. “Since we’re going back to work tomorrow, I want us to have some major lovemaking time that will last us until whenever we have the time to get together again. I’m so looking forward to this too.”

Despite knowing they were in a public place and others would see them, the weapons-loving kunoichi just did not care what those around her would think regarding what she felt so strongly to do with Naruto now. She wrapped her arms around his neck and with one hand, pulled his head down to lock her lips over his, and closing their eyes, the couple just let go of their feelings, not even disengaging upon seeing the flash of Ino’s camera going off behind their closed eyelids.

“Ino,” they heard Chouji amusingly chided. “Leave them alone.”

“Oh, come on, Chouji,” Ino whined teasingly. “You know that I’m- Mmmph!” A moment later, Naruto and Tenten heard the blonde woman moan, and judging from that sound she made, it was clear what was happening.

Ending their kiss, Konoha’s Toad Sage and Weapons Mistress snickered softly before turning their eyes to see the sight that verified their guesses. Chouji had silenced Ino with the only way a boyfriend could… by kissing her senseless. The flower-knowledgeable young woman certainly did not mind it at all, from the looks of her holding her boyfriend’s head steady with one hand.

Returning to gaze at each other, Naruto allowed Tenten to gently lay his forehead against hers, as they slow danced happily for the remainder of the song in warm and comfortable silence, knowing their hearts were full with love for one another.

With the feeling of romance in the air, the wedding reception continued for many hours. Other than Valentine’s Day, it came to no surprise to everyone that weddings, no matter the time of year they were held, conveyed a strong sense of love and companionship. This was certainly true for all the couples, both married and unmarried.

Love dominated the atmosphere at the end of the another day, and for those who felt it deeply, they knew that the emotion would not falter or die, especially when you were committed to that special person with all your heart and soul.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

TBC (End of Chapter 15)

A/Ns:

1) Before I’d even started writing this chapter, I’d thought it would be great that Naruto and Tenten found a hobby they can do together, and given I’d already gotten them loving dancing together, I said, “Why not?” So I came up with the idea that they started taking dance lessons to look good when they dance at Sasuke/Sakura/Karin’s wedding and found it so enjoyable that they would take up dancing as a hobby.

Online sources stated Tenten’s personal hobby is fortune telling, while Naruto’s is ‘watering plants’. I’m sure, as most couples, they come to respect the other’s hobby, but it does not provide anything they can do together other than training. So, even though they do have their differences, I thought it was time they have something similar to do social-wise. :)

2) Naruto and Tenten’s outfits worn during Sakura and Sasuke’s bachelor parties were taken off the “Unexpected Love” cover art drawn by lexisss. The art was drawn in September 2009, but this chapter marks the first time I was able to use the outfits in the story. The link to the cover art is already in my Author profile, but here is the URL for those who will copy-and-paste it….

Lexisss . deviantart . com art Commission-Unexpected-Love-136900571

Please note that the necklace Tenten is wearing in the cover art is not what the necklace, which Naruto gave her for her birthday in Chapter 2, looks like in the story. I drew a sloppy rough sketch (I’m no artist) for anyone to visualize what the necklace looks like. Again, you can copy-and-paste the URL and remove the spaces, or go check out the link in my Author Profile…

Jupmod . deviantart . com art UL-Tenten-s-necklace-153807419

3) Sai’s ANBU call-name ‘Sumijin’ means ‘Ink Man’. I took the separate Japanese words ‘sumi’ (ink) and ‘jin’ (man) and merged them. If this is not proper Japanese, please someone tell me, so I can try to find another call-name for Sai.

4) As stated in the story, I really can’t see Sakura and Karin are the types to accept a traditional (Japanese) wedding, while Sasuke wouldn’t care less IMO, thus why the wedding party are wearing Western formal attire (tuxes, gowns). Out of all the young kunoichi, I can only see Hinata might go for a traditional wedding when she gets marry, and that’s only because her clan would insist on a traditional wedding due they seemed pretty traditional.

And speaking of Western wedding attire, I didn’t bother to give many details regarding Sakura and Karin’s bridal gowns, but Tenten and Ino’s bridesmaid gowns I’d taken from an actual gown I found online. Tenten and Ino’s gowns are dark pink with a light pink sash, while the one in the online pic is dark red with a light red sash. Simply copy-and-paste the URL from below and remove the spaces to see the picture, or go to my Author Profile for the link… :)

www . made-in-china . com image 2f0j00SBKTOZsLpPkJM / Bridesmaid-Dresses-9145-.jpg

Since this gown looks quite beautiful, I’m going to commission a dA artist to draw Naruto and Tenten as they would look like in their formal wedding wear. The image of them makes me feel so giddy, for it would be the best romantic shot of them yet. :)

5) The idea of Tenten having three hair buns was inspired from the 12th Pokémon movie Arceus and the Jewel of Life. At first glance, the character of Sheena was like Tenten with just two hair buns, but when I saw she had three buns, I was floored! It was something completely new to me that I just have to make Tenten look like Sheena, and what a perfect way to show it than at a wedding? (Big grin)

So if anyone wants to see how Tenten looks like with three hair buns, which she wore at the wedding, check out the pics of Sheena in the URL I posted below, which will take you to my Photobucket account, or go to my Author Profile. :)

s6 . photobucket . com albums y207 jupmod Sheena /

Oh, before anyone say, “Three hair buns are not possible,” I say you should look at Temari’s hairstyle. Instead of four ponytails, she could easily make them buns instead, and if you loosen the bottom two buns, you can roll the hair into one bun at the base of the head. Simple as that. ;p

6) To be honest, I was tired of the typical wedding stories where the groom’s bachelor party turned into a brawl, while the bride’s party was peaceful, etc., so I switched things around a bit. I found it quite entertaining to write the girls getting in trouble, while the boys were almost saints. ;p

7) DeviantArt artist AnauchihaD recently finished a commissioned for me. The art shows Naruto and Tenten in their kimonos as they walked together at the Konoha Festival as mentioned in Chapter 9. For followers of “Unexpected Love”, I recommend to check this art out, for it’s wonderfully done with details to the kimonos and Tenten’s hair. It is precisely what I vision Naruto and Tenten to look like in Chapter 9. :)

Oh, there is one difference between the art and the chapter. Chapter 9 clearly stated it was still daytime as they walked the festival together prior to the couple going home to change for dinner. So even though the art shows it is nighttime, do not be confuse, given the chapter said it was daytime. :)

So check out this amazing NaruTen art taken off Chapter 9 of “Unexpected”! As usual, either copy-and-paste the following URL & remove the spaces or go to my Author Profile for the direct link…

Anauchihad . deviantart.com art Commission-NaruTenten-151302235

8) Last, I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. It was not my plan to post this chapter on Valentine’s Day, but when I realized that I could finish this chapter in time for Valentine’s Day, I decided to post it on this day, especially because the chapter contained a romantic ending for Naruto and Tenten at the wedding reception. The chapter’s story may not occur on Valentine’s Day, but least it has romantic elements to make it feel it could have taken place on this day. ;p
9) Editted in Feb. 23, 2010: DKSTUDIOS05, over at DeviantArt, has done a wonderful job of doing a commission for me showing Naruto and Tenten as they actually look like at the wedding! Tenten looks gorgeous and Naruto looks handsome! Check it out! Copy-and-paste the following URL and remove the spaces or check out the link in my Author Profile! (big grin)
Jupmod . deviantart . com art UL-NaruTen-Wedding-Attires-155220585

Major Note Please Read: Thanks to a reviewer, I found AdultFanFiction has not went offline. They changed their domain from Net to Org without bothering to inform anyone. (roll eyes)

So if anyone wants to read the fic there, check it out at http://naruto.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600104373&chapter=1 I recommend to read it there, given the bold and italics are intact in the fic compare to here.