Disclaimer: Just to make it known (I know how annoying it is, but I have to do it), I don't own Naruto or it's characters. Story and characters and all aspects of Naruto are property of Masashi Kishimoto.

But for the sake of fandom, we all know why we write this stuff. SasuNaru smex is hawt.

I plan maybe the first chapter or two will be background and setting the story, then I'll start getting into deep SasuNaru somewhere around the third chapter (for all you people, I know this is what you read this stuff for. /// …well, I would, too.)

Well, enough fluff.

Okaygo.

Chapter 1: A Lovely Little Banter

The three genin were left panting, sweat dripping down their bodies like mists sprinkled over the morning glories that had hid themselves away to flee from the blinding sunlight that towered overhead like a huge spotlight. Each heaved their breath, struggling to inhale, then exhaling, relieved that they still obtained the ability to fill their lungs with air one more time, each arming themselves with a kunai.

"I think that's enough for today," a voice said, a bit muffled by a mask. From the brief shade of the trees, Kakashi, team 7's Jounin sensei, had crawled out from the brush that had kept him from sight of his three pupils.

"Wheeew…" Sakura heaved, as she concealed her kunai away in the canvas pouch that hung on the back of her hip, and wiped the sweat off her large forehead. "Kakashi-sensei," she whined, brushing a few unkempt strands of unnaturally colored pink hair away from her face, "That wasn't fair, attacking us then hiding like that."

"Just part of your training, Sakura, you must be ready for anything," Kakashi retorted, readjusting his mask to make sure it stayed secure over his mouth and nose. "I've got a bit of paperwork to do, so you three pack up and head home for the day. Call time is at 8AM tomorrow, allright?" the spiky white-haired jounin asked.

"Liar!" an annoying voice squeaked, coming from a blonde child in an orange jumpsuit, sporting three whisker-like imprints on each cheek, "8AM on a Saturday? You won't be there by 10AM, at least!" Naruto complained.

Well, their teacher was rather famous for being late.

"I meant what I said," Kakashi explained, and gave them a salute-like wave, "I'll see the three of you here tomorrow at eight." With that, he held two fingers in front of his chest, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Naruto pursed his lip, furrowing his brow before readjusting the metal headband that was stretched across his forehead. He hadn't received this too long ago from his previous teacher, Iruka-sensei, and wore it every day through training to remind him how he got this far. Now if he could only stand his teammates. Sakura-chan was fine, of course, but his teacher was questionable. Not to mention his other teammate.

Sasuke.

He always acted so cool, and arrogant, at that. He always acted like he had a stick up his ass, no, the whole fucking tree. He was just that stuck up.

Naruto just loathed Sasuke.

"Stop your griping, both of you, it's annoying," Sasuke commanded drolly, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his khaki shorts. He looked a bit aggravated, but then again, that usually seemed to be the only expression he was capable of, besides hatred or anything that didn't involve a smile.

But this time he did smile, not like any normal person's smile, mind you, but a devious grin, the kind that usually initiated an insult directed at Naruto.

Naruto took a half step back. 'Here it comes, I know it.'

"Well, you're just always annoying, usaratonkachi," he sneered. Not his best insult, but it worked.

Naruto's fists clenched at his sides. 'That Sasuke, how I'd like to rip out those balls he's so proud of, he won't be so arrogant once he's infertile…' he thought, his left eye twitching, a few visible veins popping out of the side of his forehead.

Sakura let out a sigh, those two fought every chance they got. Seriously, they were like a married couple. She picked up the few kunai that were scattered around the grounds, and dusted her hands off. "Well, I'm a bit tired, so I'm going to head home, okay?" she excused herself with a smile and a small bow, and waved goodbye as she started to take off towards her home at a moderate-paced jog, "I'll see you later, Sasuke-kuun!" she chimed girlishly, until she was out of sight.

Naruto was brooding by now. 'She says goodbye to him and not me? He's not that great, is he?' he said in his mind, completely saturated in the fact that all the reasons girls were obsessed with Sasuke just had to be extremely over-exaggerated somehow.

He looked over Sasuke's direction to direct an evil "I'm-going-to-kick-your-ass-one-day" glare, only to find his blue eyes locked with the solid black pupils that belonged to the sole Uchiha.

It took him a moment, forgetting all about shooting him that lethal glare, actually looking a bit dumbfounded. Taking a few moments to compose himself, Naruto shook his head, shaking himself to conciousness. "What the hell are you staring at?" he demanded, crossing his arms over his chest stubbornly as he looked away.

"What do you think, usaratonkachi?" Sasuke retorted with a grin, "Are you just stupid? I'm staring at you, of course. Are you blind now?"

Naruto pursed his lip childishly. Again with the insults.

"Forget this, you can be weird by yourself," Naruto said, brushing some dust off the shoulder of his trademark orange jumpsuit, "I'm going home."

That way Sasuke looked at him just before had almost weirded him out, Sasuke's expression wasn't the usual 'I'm-mocking-you-and-I-know-I'm-getting-under-your-skin' grin. Naruto couldn't quite tell what it was, exactly.

He took a few steps forward, heading towards the houses that were slowly being enveloped by the darkness that drowned the sun, the evening's maroon hue disappearing behind the trees. Naruto guessed it was pressing about 7pm, and his stomach was rumbling. Gama-chan, his wallet, he knew was empty, he'd just have to prepare some ramen at home.

Naruto's steps pattered softly on the dirt, but he realized, there seemed to be an odd echo to it, like he was being followed. The blonde turned around, only to see that Sasuke was following him.

"What do you want now?!" he exclaimed.

"You're not the only one that lives in Konoha, usaratonkachi," Sasuke muttered, frowning, "My house is this way, too."

Well, Naruto felt pretty downright stupid. Not to say that he wasn't used to feeling that way. But when Sasuke put him down, he just couldn't seem to keep it from getting to him.

"Fine, whatever. Just don't talk to me," Naruto muttered, giving him a glare.

"You didn't need to tell me that, I had no intention of talking to you. What would an idiot like you have to say that isn't utterly mind-numbing?" Sasuke scoffed with a smirk.

"Urgh, why do I try, anyway?" Naruto groaned, shrugging.

"Because you want to prove you're better than me, right?" Sasuke asked, starting to catch up to him, coming up to his right side.

Naruto's blue eyes widened, his mouth agape. What?

"Huh?" the blonde asked, astonished.

"Heh, like that would ever happen, moron," Sasuke sniggered, "Dream on."

Naruto really hated Sasuke. He truly, honestly hated him.

Right?

Right.