AS Spring Side

Animal Symbolism: Spring Side Talks

"Aw," Sakura Haruno gave a sigh of contentment, as she eased herself into the soothing waters, "This feels absolutely heavenly." Her voice seemed to melt along with the tension she had been holding in her body. Smiling to herself, she closed her eyes as a blush of satisfaction rose in her cheeks.

"Yea it was nice of Shikamaru to invite all of use to these springs, especially on his birthday," The silver mistress rested her head back against the ledge, glad to have a break from the craziness that comes with her lovable (but overworking) teammates.

"But doesn't he usually spend today with Temari-san?" Hinata asked, putting the finishing touches on up-do.

"Only in the evenings," Ino laughed, her eyes giving off a mischievous spark, "He would usually is with his parents for most of the morning, and then afternoon with As—" Ino cringed a little—it still hurt to say his name—before looking at up at the ceiling, "Shikamaru would go out with the rest of us before finally meeting with his distant lover. But really we have Tenten to thank for our time here, right?"

"Temari's a great girl, but she got pretty full of herself, and that was her downfall."  The brunette gave a smirk as she did a nonchalant shrug.  He should have known not to bet against Neji in anything, for her teammate had the Devil's luck when it came to gambling. But the Nara had anyway, this time on a rematch with Temari against TenTen. It was her win and Shikamaru's had to keep his word—"Otherwise those two women would have nagged my ear off." He had sighed—and brought them to this hot springs spa.

"Soooo," Ino drawled as she locked eyes with her brown haired friend, "What exactly is going on between you and Neji?"

As Tenten blushed at the question, Hinata giggled, for she knew very well that both Tenten and her cousin were very close. During training one day, Hinata had gotten Neji to admit (much to his embarrassment) that his teammate was "a person most precious to him.".

Now normally when anyone asked her such a question, her reflex after blushing was to throw a kunai or shuriken at the person who wanted to know. Though due to her having forgot that she was completely naked, only flung her arm at Ino with nothing catching air as she cried "N-nothing! Why would you even say that?" Her hands going straight to her face to cover her reddened cheeks.

"Tsk, tsk," The blonde scolded, wagging a finger, "It doesn't do well to have a girl live in denial."

"You're definitely one to talk, Ino-pig," Sakura replied with a roll of her eyes, which went unnoticed due to her back being toward her friends. "Especially since you obviously have something between you and Chouji?"

"Me? With Chouji? Honestly, Forehead, did you get a conscious smashing rocks,"  Tenten's eyes widened as Ino's cheeks flushed pink as she pouted, Hinata covering her mouth as she giggled even more. The social butterfly of the group was even worse than Tenten at this.

"Oh please, Ino spare us the dramatics and just admit," Sakura twisted her head around to shoot a playful glare at her old companion.

"Now that I think about," Tenten started, rubbing her chin, "You have been sweeter on him than you are any other boy." Ino opened her mouth to reject this claim, but Sakura intercepted.

"If I remember correctly, the last time he was in the hospital, you brought him a flower everyday and feed him, even when he was perfectly capable. Not to mention how he's never once left your side if you were bed-ridden. Didn't he make you soup the last time you got a cold?"

Ino mumbled something under her breath, before pointedly glaring at the pinkette, before relieving an exaggerated sigh. "What do you want me to say? A yes? Maybe." The eyes went to the water that covered her feet, as she started to twirl her finger around, thinking before she spoke again.

"Yea, Chouji's one of the sweetest guys with the biggest hearts I've ever met. He cares a lot about those around him, more than he does himself sometimes. And while Cho's not most confident of guys he makes of for it with his inner beauty, Something you obviously lack, forehead."

A vein pulsed in Sakura's head at the backhanded compliment, and so she her entire body around to snap at her friend. But all her anger was forgotten when she eyes glanced over at the ravenette across from her. Two thoughts went through her head at that moment that caused her to cover her own chest, one slightly idiotic and concerning her own body, other more genuine and concerning Hinata's. The scar was faint now because of time and the Hyuugas quick healing ability that came from their chakra control, but the image of the white-eyed girl's body was still fresh in her mind. Maybe Ino had a poi—

Suddenly their door was thrown back, a splash was made into the center of their bath, and angry cries of "NARUTO!!" were heard along with six pairs of feet. Once they had passed, the bubbles that had started appearing stopped, and a new blond "girl" popped up with twin ponytails and whisker marks on "her" grinning face. That smile though, instantly dropped as "she" felt the killing aura surrounding him. Green, brown, blue, and (blushing) lavender eyes gleamed dangerously as the room suddenly seem to darken for Naruko. Well at least for a moment, everything had felt absolutely heavenly.