AN: Well, I always wanted to write a fic depicting Sasuke and Naruto's mannerism and analyzing it from a third POV. Here you go.
Disclaimer: When I own Naruto, you'll know. No more crappy filler episodes!
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Over my Dead Body"Arrgh! Sasuke-teme! You must have cheated during the spar! There's no way I can lose!"
"Tch, dobe. Don't blame your incompetence on me."
A few seats away from the bickering duo, a figure stiffened.
"You just wait, teme! I'm gonna train hard and kick your ass someday!"
"Hn."
Naruto? Lost to the Uchiha? Impossible. I have seen Naruto train. Uchiha is nowhere near Naruto's level. What are you playing at Naruto?
They were at Ichiraku. The blonde wolfing down his miso ramen and occasionally trying to steal food from Sasuke's bowl.
"Yo Neji! Whatcha doing here? I didn't know you like ramen!"
"I do eat it. Occasionally."
"Really?" The blonde teased, dragging out the syllable "Or maybe you're just here 'cause you miss me and was hoping to catch me, ehhh?"
The blonde battered his eyelashes mock-flirtatiously at the white-eyed jounin.
Despite his passive countenance, Neji was fighting down a pink flush threatening to erupt over his face. He was fighting a losing battle. He averted his eyes resignedly, the blush streaked across his face, a pink tinge upon his pale glory.
That comment hit home a little too close for comfort.
How much do you know, Naruto?
No, that comment meant nothing more than a usual joke.
You wouldn't play with my feelings if you had known, would you, Naruto?
"Tch dobe. Get real. Who would miss your presence anyway? Why would anyone be interested in you?"
The blonde's grin faltered and his impossibly blue eyes dulled. In a blink of an eye, his megawatt grin was back on full force, desperately there to hopefully to able to pummel down all his insecurities.
Why, Naruto?
And his eyes squinted to slits to hide his turmoil of emotions ravaging inside him. He didn't want anyone to see them. Since adolescent, he had been able to mold a perfect mask to hide himself in.
Why are you always there for him even though he hurts you so?
His eyes, however, are always and forever bursting full with feelings. He has never succeeded in lying with his eyes. Therefore, he hid them, shut them into slits so that the people around him will be fooled by his speech, his behavior, his wide grin. It was a reflex reaction to hide his eyes. A defense mechanism, if you will.
Do you enjoy have knives stabbed repeatedly inside you, wrenching and twisting your flesh?
The blonde punched the raven-haired teen, each time his hands lingering on the other's body longer than necessary.
That's what the Uchiha doing right now.
In return, the raven-haired fought. Everytime, when the raven crashed his fists onto his sparring partner, the blonde's body would arch towards it, as if eager for skin contact and then recoil his body back and avoided the blow.
Oh, if only the pain is merely skin-deep…
Neji sat quietly, contemplating as the pair bickered. The blonde had a routine of saying stupid things and taunting the raven in hopes of riling him up enough to insult him back.
Because Naruto wanted the Uchiha to notice him and only him.
Neji always had acute observation skills, even without the aid of his Byakugan. There were times like these when he would curse his innate ability. He wanted to be ignorant of Naruto's hunger and desperation for the damn Uchiha. He wanted to be clueless of the subtle and some not-so-subtle advances Naruto piled on the Uchiha.
He would always dismiss him cruelly.
Sometimes Neji felt relief when the Uchiha rejected Naruto. Because a selfish part of him wanted Naruto for himself. A selfish part of him wanted Naruto to end that frustrating fixation with the Uchiha and start anew with him instead. He wanted Naruto to be in his arms and in none other. He knows that he can provide the love and acknowledgment that Naruto so desperately yearns for. The Uchiha could only provide harsh words and an unfeeling heart.
I would never treat him in such a degrading manner. Never.
Other times he was sorely tempted to maim the Uchiha for causing Naruto so much pain. Did he not see the strained grin on his tanned face? The sticky tear streaks dried on his cheeks? The empty and hauntingly hollow sapphire orbs? The gradual cracks on his mask, on his soul?
He knew. Oh he was not a fool, far from it.
Did the Uchiha know that every cruel jab he hurled to Naruto was magnified ten-fold considering Naruto's feelings for him?
He didn't care.
Did the Uchiha know that his apparent disdain for Naruto is breaking him slowly inside?
Because he thinks the Naruto is not worth his time.
Because he thinks that bonds render one weak.
He thinks that bonds are human's Achilles heel and he is hell-bent on removing his weakness one way or another.
Neji hated the Uchiha for that.
Because the Uchiha's a fool for believing that.
He hated the Uchiha for his stare of disdain when Naruto tried to be amiable.
Only a fool would disregard and destroy the hand that leans towards him to help him out of the dark, dank hole he has fallen into, that he has ironically helped to dig.
He hated the Uchiha for his face of apathy when he slammed uncaring and cold words at Naruto.
The hand that offers him salvation, offering to do away the darkness and to allow him to revel in the warm comforting sunlight.
He hated the attitude that the Uchiha had. The nerve of him thinking and openly revealing that Naruto was not worth his time!
The hand that will help him rescue him from himself.
The hand that he slashed at.
The hand that bled. Dark ruby rivulets dripping down like tears falling from one who is in deep despair and hurt.
In the end he loathed the fact that Naruto had to fall for the damn Uchiha. Because of him, Naruto could not return Neji's feelings.
Why did that hand not come to me in the same manner?
Because the Uchiha was there first and Naruto had to fall for him first and Neji will always come second.
Why am I not offered the same affection and unconditional love?
Neji will always and forever be playing the second fiddle because of that damn Uchiha.
I would have given up everything to obtain that!
And here he was, that damn Uchiha in his dark imposing glory, didn't appreciate the treasure at the palm of his hands!
He didn't deserve that!
Neji was convinced that chasing the Uchiha would only break Naruto.
I would stop him.
Because Naruto has silently assessed that if the Uchiha wanted to break his bonds with the blonde, he would have to break him first. And the Uchiha seriously would, mercilessly without any doubts or regrets.
I would make Naruto realize the truth that he forced himself to ignore.
Because Naruto is as stubborn as a mule.
The Uchiha is beyond help and Naruto cannot do anything about that.
Because Naruto would never leave his friends alone in the darkness (least of all his lover) and not maul them out kicking and screaming.
It takes two hands to clap. The Uchiha still insisted on marching down his path to destruction.
Because Naruto would never hesitate to sacrifice pieces of himself if that was what it takes to rescue them.
But I would not tolerate Naruto hurting again. Ever.
Even if he had to lose himself in aiding a lost cause. Because the damn Uchiha is Naruto's most precious person and Naruto would gladly die for him.
Naruto would be safe and content by my side and you will do nothing to hinder that.
Naruto is worth more than the damn Uchiha.
I, unlike you care for him.
He is everything to Neji and Neji was sure as hell not going to watch as Naruto falls apart.
You won't ever hurt him again.
Neji made a silent vow to Naruto.
I will save you as you have saved me. I won't stand aside and watch the Uchiha embrace his demise with you in tow.
Neji is determined. When he wanted things to be done, they always comply. And this matter would be of no exception.
You won't drag Naruto down with you, Uchiha.
Over my dead body.
-end-
Well? Tell me what you think. I think I will continue this, next few chapters devoted to Naruto and Sasuke. Although this is my first fic, don't be soft on me. Reviews!
Question: Does "narusasu" means Naruto chasing Sasuke or Naruto is seme and Sasuke is uke?