Stuck To Choose

SasuNaru/NaruSaku

Chapter 1

The wind whooshing around my fingertips in the dead of night was relaxing; something that I often needed but almost never had. Or maybe I've just been saying that because, lately, I've had a lot on my mind. Considering what's happened in the past two weeks and what more there may be to come, I can't do anything but try to relax. Although that usually seems out of the question.

You may be wondering why I, Uzumaki Naruto, am so incredibly frustrated. Well, it's not much of a something that's been bugging me, but more of a someone. Two someones, for that matter. And for the past day and a half, all I've been able to do is lay here on my orange-covered bed and twirl my kunai around my fingers. It seemed to be the only thing to calm me. At least, for now it is. There used to be so much more that could cool me off before this whole scenario had to happen.

I should probably explain myself. But, I'm afraid that if I do, I might only become more angered and snap at someone. So, instead, I think I'll show the objects of my irritation and what it is that's gotten me so twisted….

Tired and hungry, Team 7 was out on another mission. Of course, if I were to be Hokage, I wasn't going to sit around and complain, something that I actually did a lot. So, instead, I kept my mouth shut and trained my eyes to stare ahead. Unluckily for me, what was right in front of me was my best friend, and, of course, rival, Uchiha Sasuke. My eyes tore away from him as fast as they had been fixed on him, and I felt myself blush. So, instead, I look a little to the right, enough so that I couldn't see Sasuke unless I looked out the corner of my eye, and instead was met with pink, fluffy hair and warm green eyes. I groaned internally, feeling my heart beat quicken as her eyes connected with mine and she gave me a sweet smile. That was Haruno Sakura, our other team mate and my friend.

I gripped the straps of my backpack tightly with my perfectly tanned hands and decided that it was just best if I kept looking down. Sure, it was a contrast from my usually hyperactive actions, but it was better than having to be tortured by the two of them. They probably don't even have a clue of what they do to me…

And yes, if you haven't figured it out, I ido/i have a crush on both my team mates and friends.

Doesn't that spell out 'trouble' for you?

I hadn't realized it at first, though. I had always liked Sakura, that was true, and fairly obvious. But Sasuke…he was a different story. He had always been my best friend, and he'd been there for me a lot of the time…but at some point, I had started liking him more than a friend.

Maybe it was the kiss we accidentally shared the day we were placed on our teams, or maybe it was the way that he had risked his life and practically died to save me from Haku. Either way, I knew that I was madly in…..no, I won't say love, because I don't know what love feels like. All I know is that it's too strong of a word to describe how I feel about him, and Sakura, too.

So for now, I'll just say….madly in like.

Soon enough, my thoughts had made the trip go by a lot faster. We were on a mission to deliver some important artifact to our client in the land of waves. None of us knew what it was, and truthfully, I could care less. Sakura seemed to be the only one even vaguely interested in what we could be protecting. All I could care about was not getting attacked by those stupid bandits that seem to be magnified to us-they attack us on almost ievery/i mission like this-, and that we would be getting home soon. Even though the mission just started yesterday, I already feel so far away.

I sighed to myself as the sun began to set, slivers of the orange rays breaking through the tree tops and hitting our heads. Another hour passed, and soon we stopped to set up camp, seeing as it was already dark by now. As usual, Sakura would get her own tent, and so would Kakashi….but Sasuke and I had to share. It was like this on every mission, and I would always ask "Why do iI/i have to share a tent with Sasuke?!"And I would always get the same answer: "Because, Sakura's a girl, I'm too old, and you two are friends anyways," Kakashi always said this; I just wished that whenever I would ask, he'd give me a different answer.

I sighed and walked back to my tent-well, iour/i tent, now-, and sat down on my sleeping bag, which was on the very edge of the tent. Tonight I actually wanted to inot/i worry that I might accidentally roll onto Sasuke in my sleep and do something I might regret. I say this because…. the night before I had ialready/i gotten lost in my dreams and…slung my arm around him. I don't know if he noticed it, though, or even if he did, if he icared/i. Either way, I didn't want it happening again, so I just stayed curled up on my side of the tent, huddled in my sleeping bag, willing myself to fall asleep before Sasuke would walk in.

Of course, my body got the best of me, because it usually takes me a good ten minutes to finally fall asleep. And Sasuke had walked inside in the next five. My heart skipped a beat as I felt him walk past me and over to his sleeping bag, and I relaxed as I heard the soft iwhoosh/iof air escaping it as he sat down. But I could feel his eyes on me; watching me, studying me. It was driving me iinsane/i. So, I did the natural thing; peeked my head out and over the covers and glanced up to him. And, as expected, his eyes were looking right into mine. Instinctively, we both glared at each other, my face reddening in the slightest, and I huffed. "Teme, what are you looking at?" I asked irritatingly, sitting up now. Sasuke didn't say anything back, he just kept glaring, and personally, it was making me uncomfortable. "Oi, you gonna answer me or not?!" I asked, crossing my arms as I narrowed my eyes at him.

Finally, he just sighed and shook his head. "Usuratonkachi…" he began, closing his eyes for a moment. "Why is your sleeping bag so far away?"

My eyebrows rose in surprise. In the Uchiha's question, there was a hint of concern; like he cared if I was too far, or if I would roll out of the tent in my sleep. Now this iseriously/i bothered me. "Why do you care?" I asked back, my tone not as harsh.

His eyes snapped open, glaring expertly my way. "I don't,"

I felt a sense of humor pass through me, and I couldn't help but smirk at him. "Then why did you ask?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Because I wanted to know, idiot," He replied, a faint smirk twitching at his lips as he continued to watch me.

I sighed softly to myself and lay back down, looking up at the top of the tent. Darkness encircled us-we had turned out the gas lamp earlier- but I could still see Sasuke perfectly, as he could see me. "Because I kick in my sleep," I said simply, knowing that this was only going to make Sasuke start up another round of questions.

I was undeniably right, because then Sasuke crossed his arms unbelievably my way and retorted "I've slept next to you before. You don't kick in your sleep," in a smart-aleck tone of voice.

I scowled at this and sent another glare his way. "That just shows what you know! I do too kick in my sleep, so I'm staying over here for the night," I said, and covered my head once more with the sleeping bag, hoping that that would settle things.

I was wrong.

I had heard Sasuke let out a soft groan, sounding pretty frustrated as he walked over to me and ripped the sleeping bag cover from my head. "Dobe, I'm not a heavy sleeper, and you've never kicked me before. You don't have to be so far away," I looked up the moment my covers had been removed, and I peered into Sasuke's obsidian eyes as he spoke. I gave him a half-confused look as I sat up, hands in my lap. There were no words now as he half-heartedly pulled my sleeping bag closer to his own, with me still sitting in it, and he lay back on his. He lay on his side so he was facing me, and I had realized just how close he had moved our sleeping bags together. I lay down as well, facing him, and I felt my cheeks burn as I noticed how close together our faces were now. I felt my heartbeat quicken and I gave a small smile to my raven-haired friend, and I closed my eyes, hoping that I would be able to sleep now.

….Again, I was wrong.

Soon enough, I had felt Sasuke move in his sleeping bag, and I felt an arm wrap around me, pulling me closer to Sasuke. My eyes shot wide open and my head began to spin. I glanced up to Sasuke only to see his eyes closed and that he had shifted over to his back. Even though I knew he couldn't see me, I gave him a confused look as I squirmed a little in his hold. As if he knew just what was happening, he whispered "Naruto….just go to sleep…" and held me closer to him, until my head was on his shoulder. Now I wasn't even sure if I icould/i fall asleep…..

For the last time, I was wrong.

That night was the first time I had slept peacefully in a long time.