Last time...

[Here] MistSwordSuigetsu: What are you prancing in to pretend to be a good person for?
[Here] MistSwordSuigetsu: You can't take either of them
[Here] MistSwordSuigetsu: You're both just a pair of little girls anyways
[Here] UWUKasumixx: Why you-
[Party] UWUKasumixx: Hmph!
[Party] UWUKasumixx: Let's go Fuki
[Party] UWUKasumixx: Ungrateful wretch!

Which obviously means...

[Party] UWUKasumixx: It's all that wretch SakuraBlossom's fault
[Party] UWUKasumixx: You gotta help us get revenge, Ami
[Party] UWUFukixx: Yeah, she's so rude!
[Party] UWUAmixx: Didn't I tell you not to get involved with her?
[Party] UWUAmixx: We're joining her [Roaring Jade Seas Clan] soon
[Party] UWUAmixx: We absolutely can't aggravate the Warmaster!
[Party] UWUFukixx: ... Sorry
[Party] UWUKasumixx: But she was bullying someone!
[Party] UWUKasumixx: We can't just stand aside and let it go!
[Party] FriesWithThat: I'm sure you just misunderstood the situation
[Party] FriesWithThat: SakuraBlossom's not that kind of player
[Party] UWUAmixx: You guys...
[Whisper to UWUKasumixx] UWUAmixx: Dammit, he's still defending that *****
[Whisper to UWUKasumixx] UWUAmixx: I can't stand this
[Whisper to UWUKasumixx] UWUAmixx: Help me think of a way to embarrass her once and for all
[Whisper] UWUKasumixx: What about using the video competition?
[Whisper] UWUKasumixx: Have you brought it up with Fries yet?
[Whisper to UWUKasumixx] UWUAmixx: No, but that might work!
[Party] UWUAmixx: By the way, darling...
[Party] UWUAmixx: Can we enter the [Found True Love on the Way of the Ninja] Video Competition?
[Party] UWUAmixx: It looks like a lot of fun... :D
[Party] FriesWithThat: What's that?
[Party] UWUFukixx: You record a story of finding true love using the in-game recording function
[Party] UWUFukixx: Then you post it on the forum and players cast votes for their favourite
[Party] UWUFukixx: Winning couple gets the [All The Hues in the Rainbow Suit]
[Party] UWUAmixx: And I really like that suit
[Party] UWUAmixx: Please darling?
[Party] FriesWithThat: I don't know...
[Party] FriesWithThat: Honey
[Party] FriesWithThat: It sounds kind of bothersome
[Party] FriesWithThat: You know work is about to get busy for me
[Party] UWUAmixx: If you think that, then it's fine Darling!
[Party] FriesWithThat: thank you for understanding
[Party] FriesWithThat: speaking of work, I have to go.
[Party] UWUAmixx: *muah* Bye Darling! I'll call you later
[Party] UWUFukixx: Bye Fries!
[Party] UWUKasumixx: Seeya Fries!
[Party] System: FriesWithThat has left the party
[Party] UWUAmixx: Don't worry, I'll get him to agree sooner or later
[Party] UWUAmixx: I'll just play on his pathetic need to be liked or something
[Party] UWUKasumixx: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
[Party] UWUFukixx: Planning brunch? With extra mimosas?
[Party] UWUAmixx: Planning brunch!
[Party] UWUAmixx: And then that suit and revenge will be mine hehehe

( ' ‿‿ ' )

"Are you sure Sasuke knew you were coming here today?"

If Kiba heard that question one more time, he was going to stab himself in the ear with the screwdriver. His genius plan of hitting on the campus beauty's friends while he helped Chouji replace the RAM in her laptop had come to a screeching halt when he'd actually met Tsugi Kin, the friend in question. She was hot enough, but....

"Urgh, this sucks," Kin complained. There it was again! Kiba held in his snort. She just never, ever, shut up about Sasuke. He should be used to it after living with that asshole for three years, but for some reason, after Sasuke got married last week, Kiba just kind of assumed this would all go away. That delusion lasted a whole five days.

He looked sideways at Chouji, who gave him a rather helpless shrug as he ate another mouthful of chips.

"He must have been busy," Ino shrugged, not looking the least bit peeved or put out. Instead, she kept checking her phone every few minutes.

That's the confidence of the Campus Beauty, for sure. Kiba almost admired her arrogance. Her roommate on the other hand...

"Pff, you're the campus beauty. Come on. He can make time," Kin scowled, tapping a finger on her desk in disapproval. The sound wanted to make him scratch her eyes out.

"Sasuke just got married." Chouji offered.

"WHAT?!" Both girls snapped their heads around to look at him, glaring at him so intently that he nearly choked on his mouthful of chips.

"In a game," Kiba finished Chouji's sentence for him, "He's been playing a lot with his in-game wife these days. Plus school and work and stuff. We're getting ready to graduate, y'know."

"What?! He's not here because he's playing a stupid game?" The roommateblew her top shrilly. God, her voice is awful. She turned to Ino and said, "You should play that game and grab his attention."

"No way!" Ino exclaimed reflexively.

"Oh come on, Ino-chan, it's a perfect plan!" She turned back to Chouji and Kiba, "Kita-kun, what game is he playing?"

Oi, my name is Kiba, dammit!

"It's Way of the Ninja," Chouji answered. Kiba was focused on snapping in the new RAM, so he didn't see the look that passed between Chouji and Ino. Neither did the roommate, since she was burbling with idiotic plans.

"... So you should just find him, ask for help and get close to him that way, and then like reveal your identity so you can date in real life!" Ino's roommate continued to burble enthusiastically, "It's a fool-proof plan! Then that wretch, Haruno, can't get in the way."

"Just because she placed second in the poll and also admires Uchiha-senpai, doesn't mean we're in competition or anything," Ino said helplessly, looking aside at Chouji and Kiba, slightly embarrassed, "A hot, single guy is everyone's fantasy. You haven't even met her, Kin-chan."

"You are so naive and trusting," Kin snorted, "I know her type. Acts like a good girl, but with that body? Vixen. Tooootal Vixen."

Ino was about to open her mouth to reply, when an alert beeped on her phone. "Oh, that's the email I've been waiting for. Looks like I passed the resume stage."

"Of that gaming internship? Yay, congrats Ino-chan! When is it?" The roommate with the attitude bounced up from the bed and squealed.

"Congratulations, Yamanaka-san," Chouji smiled, looking genuinely happy for her.

"Thank you, Kin-chan, Akimichi-san," Ino beamed back bouncing a bit on the balls of her feet, "It'll be Thursday morning."

"Gaming internship?" Kiba looked up from testing his fixes to ask quizzically, "Aren't you a business major, Yamanaka-san?"

"It's a project management position with ROOT Corp. I'm hoping to develop a reputation as a human resources expert for tech companies by the time I graduate," Ino explained.

"That's why you and Sasuke-kun would make a perfect couple! You'd be able to support his company so well," Kin added tactlessly.

Ino flushed bright red and elbowed her roommate, "I'm not making decisions about my future career based on the guy I like!"

"Right, right," Kin quickly corrected herself. "But you guys are such a good match!"

What is with this girl? Kiba wondered. Oh well, not my problem. There goes my master plan though. Done with his task, Kiba clicked the laptop shut and got up to leave before he said something rude. Seeing this, Chouji got up as well.

"You guys are already going?" Ino asked, concerned, "At least let me treat you to dinner as-"

"No need," Kiba interrupted her before Chouji could accept. That guy might take food from anyone, but if I have to listen to her roommate for any longer, I'm going to lose my patience. Sasuke this, and Sasuke that, urgh! "We have to discuss strategies for our first launch with our other roommates."

"Oh, well, invite them along!" Kin offered innocently, a rapacious glint in her eyes, "It's Sasuke-senpai and Boruto-senpai, right?"

"We're at a very sensitive point in our negotiations, we can't have any outsiders there when we discuss," Kiba continued to refuse resolutely, making serious eye contact with Chouji to ensure he didn't open his mouth.

"But Ino-chan would've treated you to the best sushi in the city!" Kin pouted, still weedling. Good thing she didn't notice the pitiful begging look on Chouji's face. God, he looks like a kicked puppy.

"Some other time," Kiba said, picked up his bag, and hustled his friend out the door before he could protest again.

"Tch," Kiba could hear that Kin clicked her tongue in annoyance through the door after they made their escape.

I would rather eat bugs than eat with her, even with the campus beauty there!

C= C= C= C= C=( つ＞＜)つ┌(;・ω・)┘

"Dammit Kiba, we could have had sushi!" Chouji was roaring at Kiba as they came through the door, "She even invited Sasuke and Naruto! I want sushi!"

Kiba quickly opened the many takeout boxes he'd been holding on the big central table in their room, hoping the enticing fragrance and loads of meat would distract Chouji from his hangry rampage.

"Didn't we get loads of food? C'mon, this is better than Sushi," Kiba tried to persuade him, putting the eight or nine takeout boxes down on their table, "The chef at the restaurant is really good, and he always gave us extras."

"It'd better be," Chouji stomped over to their kitchen nook to wash his hands.

"What's this about sushi?" Naruto moved his computer out of the way so he and Sasuke could also get ready to eat.

"Yamanaka-san's roommate offered to treat us to Sushi once we were done with her computer, but KIBA just HAD to rush us out of there!" Chouji fumed.

"Look, I'm sorry, Chouji, but if I had to spend one more minute listening to that girl try to set up that asshole and Yamanaka-san, I would have stabbed myself with something," Kiba argued.

"I wouldn't have gone," Sasuke said simply.

"See! See! With this guy's temper, dinner would have been torture! Torture, I tell you!" Kiba pointed a finger at Sasuke half-vindicated, half-accusing, "Didn't you get enough of that in first and second year? No more!"

"Man, those were the days," Chouji smiled dreamily as he remembered those lavish dinners. Kiba remembered how damn awkward they'd been. Chouji still pouted like a kid robbed of his sweets, "I want sushi though..."

Naruto burst out laughing. "So what happened to your great plan to get a girlfriend, Kiba?" He teased.

Kiba glared at him but didn't say anything. Instead, he stole a piece of pork from Naruto's bowl and shoved it into his mouth before Naruto could complain.

Sasuke smirked, "We can have good sushi once we figure out how to sell the game. Come on." he passed out the fortune cookies as they finished eating.

Naruto pulled out profiles of each company they'd collected at their pitch that he'd prepared, and the guys started flipping through each one and discussed the merits and drawbacks of working with each company.

"Akatsuki could be an interesting choice. They give partners lots of money and freedom and don't interfere too much," Kiba offered.

"I don't think we really need money and freedom right now," Chouji disagreed.

"Yeah, we need better distribution channels," Naruto added, "I still think it comes back to BLOOM and ROOT."

"I agree," Sasuke said, "They've got the biggest groups and the most expertise in digital marketing, plus a good number of digital properties and licenses that would synergize well with the mobile game."

"And the art departments to create assets to go with them, " Chouji added as well.

"I can't believe you can say synergies with a straight face," Kiba muttered, "Fine, I guess I'm out-voted."

"It wouldn't hurt to talk to Akatsuki as well," Naruto said.

"Agreed," Sasuke didn't bat an eyelid, "But I think we should focus on BLOOM and ROOT. We've got plenty of time to make a decision. The conversation we had with GM Nara was very promising but preliminary. We should schedule a fly out to discuss more concrete details soon. ROOT's located here in Konohagakure, so we have a preliminary meeting with them this Thursday morning. Naruto, book them."

"I'm not your secretary, teme," Naruto scowled.

"You're the one who was too much a loser to take electives. You actually have to be in classes this term," Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him.

"Alright, alright," Naruto grumbled, "You're cleaning up though."

"I'll take the garbage out when I leave," Sasuke started to clean up, "I'm heading back to my brother's place now."

"I thought you were moving back in this weekend," Chouji asked.

"Wash your socks first. If I find any more of those smelly things, I'm going to burn them."

With that, Sasuke left, bookbag and garbage in hand. Naruto, Chouji, and Kiba looked at each other, horrified. Knowing that asshole, he'd actually do it.

(ﾉ_ヽ)(ノωヽ)(> _ <)

"Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan!" Tenten bounced up in excitement from where she was lying on her bed, "Check your emails! I just got the interview notice."

Sakura and Hinata looked over at her from the big center table where they were working with their textbooks spread out in front of them. Neither of them had their phones or computers handy, but Tenten, who was working on a side project, evidently got the email alert.

"O-Oh," Hinata took a second to firmly grasp the fear and trepidation rising in her heart. Sakura, who'd already opened her laptop to check, noticed her hesitation but didn't say anything.

Grow up, Hinata. It's just rejection, you're used to that by now.

Ignoring her negative self-talk, Hinata pulled up her phone, but her heart sank when she didn't see an email notification pop up on her phone. Just before she put her phone away and really broke down crying, though, she saw the anxious look on Sakura and Tenten's faces.

No. I can't do this. I can't spoil what's probably a happy occasion for both of them, even if I am rejected.

Fully grasping her courage, she unlocked her phone, pulled up her email app, and pulled down the screen to refresh. A new email notification popped up, and tremblingly, Hinata started to read the first subject line.

Interview with Root Corp.

Oh god, does that mean I passed the resume stage?

Her heart in her throat, she opened the email.

Dear Ms. Hyuuga. Congratulations! You have passed the resume stage of the process. We would like to invite you to our offices this Thursday morning, from 9-12, to participate in preliminary interviews.

"Hinata-chan?" Sakura asked, reaching across the table.

"I-I-I-I passed," Hinata stuttered.

"Thursday morning?" Sakura confirmed, grinning broadly.

"Y-Y-Yes," Hinata couldn't believe it. Then all three of us..?

"Whoohoo! We're all in!" Tenten jumped down from the bed and pumped her arms in the air. "You know what that means?"

"Interview prep sessions tonight?" Sakura asked eagerly.

Tenten looked at her, exasperated. "Sakura-chan... I meant celebratory bubble tea."

"Oh come on, don't look at me like that! We only have two days to prep!" Sakura protested.

Hinata giggled at their antics. "L-Let's do both," She suggested, linking her arms through both her roommates.

"See, Hinata-chan's got the right idea," Sakura grinned. "ROOT Corp, here we come! We can do this!"

As they gathered their things to go get that bubble tea, Hinata thought to herself that she might just believe that. She might just believe that she could do this.

( ^__^ )

AN: Bahaha poor Kiba has no luck with girls.

A little bit early with this installment, but I had this written and TWIWTH is still brewing, and I'm tired. Quarantine, man. I hope everyone else is dealing with this better than I am (and honestly AO3's email hiccup with my particular provider is not help >.> I like feedback, okay?). Thank you to Reglee and Chelsea for beating this chapter. As always, extended ANs on my Tumblr (in about 10 hours), and as always, comments, reviews, kudos, favourites, bookmarks, and candy hearts spelling out messages always make my day. Stay safe and stay healthy, guys, and see you soon!