Hello all and welcome to my first ever posted fanfiction. 'hides in nervousness' I hope you like it. If you do, drop me a review please and fill my deflated ego (a product lack of self-esteem). 'gives thumbs up' Um, once upon a time I had a plan for this fanfiction, but now it has completely taken control so I'm not entirely sure where I'm headed. In the start it wasn't supposed to have all the 'war' references, but after a while it started to form a theme, which I ended up sticking with and generating a title from. Anyway, I'll let you get to reading it now. I'll be posting chapters as frequently as I can.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto. Life's unfair like that. Nor I do not own Naruto durning any chapter of this story.

Edit: I'm shortening the paragraphs dramatically in the first few chapters to make it easier to read.
Chapter One: As the War Rages

The war was on. Neji sighed and leaned forward to miss the spitball that went soaring past his head. Its destination: Uchiha Sasuke, who had seen Neji dodge it and also moved his head appropriately forward to miss the assailing glob. Sakura, unfortunately, was not so quick. The spitball landed smack in the middle of her forehead as she turned to gaze adoringly at Sasuke.

Sakura gritted her teeth and pinpointed the source of the offending spitball, of who had suddenly shown a great interest in the sensei's lecture. Neji smirked at Naruto's failed attempts to look innocent. Sakura was not a fool. Only one nin in the class would dare fire a spitball during sensei's class, and at Uchiha of all people.

No, Naruto was going to get hell for this after class. Sakura was already eyeing the clock and cracking her knuckles in anticipation. Neji watched Sasuke turn his head and throw a malicious smirk at Naruto, which was returned with a glare from the fox-child.

This had been going on for almost a week now. Neji smirked and shook his head while putting a tally in his notes by Sasuke's name. The lecture didn't really interest him, and it was more amusing to keep score of the silent battle that raged every day during class. Naruto was loosing horribly with his mere two triumphs, completely overshadowed by the twelve Neji had tallied up in Sasuke's favour. Over half of those were backfired plans of Naruto's, such as the misguided spitball.

Judging by the increased attacks of subtle assaults by the two, this was a major fight they were going through. Even when they were just simply rivals, it had never gotten this bad. Yes, life was simpler before the two opposing nin had secretly gotten together. Secretly was an understatement if there ever was one. Practically the whole village knew of the two, except those who were complete idiots, or who just refused to believe it was true. Despite not being a fool, Sakura was certainly in denial at the thought that her beloved Sasuke was no longer available, especially if it was because of Naruto. To her, it was a direct personal insult, and so her denial wore on.

Neji watched in amusement as Naruto darted his eyes to all possible exits, obviously calculating whether it would be faster to bolt out the door or attempt to squeeze through the window, which was closer. He seemed to choose the door as Sakura was directly in his escape path of the window. The blonde nin's leg muscles tensed as the seconds ticked down towards the bell.

Neji didn't blame him for his nervousness. Sakura's eyes were locked on Naruto with one of the creepiest and deadliest looks he had ever seen. Whether Naruto still had a crush on her or not was irrelevant—he was on her hit-list and Sakura was going to make sure he didn't enjoy it. The bell rang, and it was equivalent to a race's starting gun with the events that followed.

Naruto instantly went leaping over his desk and onto Shikamaru's shoulders, where he pushed off and bounded towards the door, successfully getting past the obstacle of the lower row of desks. Sakura was hot on his tail, however, and Naruto's head start was not going to save him.

Neji casually got up and gathered his things as the sounds of fighting erupted in the hall. Sakura had caught him. Neji glanced towards Sasuke who had a very satisfied smirk on his face as he strolled out of the classroom. Sakura's beating of Naruto served to gain some silent revenge for Sasuke while doubling to distract his fan club as he quietly slinked out.

Neji didn't know whether to add another tally to his list for Sasuke, but figured it was already a lost cause for Naruto, and therefore it would be pointlessly insulting for the blonde nin. Neji walked out into the pleasantly cleared hallway—everyone was mobbed into one place to watch the fight—and headed back towards his home.

Well, that's chapter one. I hope you liked it. More will be coming soon. Send feedback please.

shalanar