Naruto:

Alternate

Summary: Based on Episode 107, what would've happened if Naruto never took up on Sasuke's challenge? What would happen if Naruto had actually wised up a bit and took the well being of his comrade and rival beyond anything else? And if that did happen then how would Sasuke react?

Just as the title says…

Sasuke and Naruto

Naruto could be a bit out of character

An Alternate Decision also has an Alternate Effect

Sakura couldn't believe what she had heard, Sasuke was sitting on his hospital bed, glaring at Naruto with the intent of killing the blond, she didn't know why Sasuke would suddenly turn on them like this and then immediately declare a match against Naruto and the way he said it made it sound like the choice of wither Naruto should or shouldn't has already been decided by the Uchiha and the Uchiha alone.

"Fight me now"

Naruto seemed to be more surprised than Sakura about the whole event, he looked at the black haired boy that was glaring him from the hospital bed, he didn't want to fight Sasuke when he was in this state, he couldn't even believe that the calm one of the group was suddenly becoming very violent and reckless, that was suppose to be Naruto's department.

"What, we're in a hospital and all, you just got patched up from Granny Tsunade, what are you talking about" Sasuke began to growl his eyes closed and then suddenly he yelled at him in the most angry tone that made both his comrades look at him with shock.

"Shut up and fight!!"

The next time he opened his eyes, they had already entered into the Sharingan, he means business and Naruto doesn't think that Sasuke was going to listen to reason. He gasped along with Sakura who had a worried expression printed on her face, this time she really feared for Naruto's safety beyond her own and not only that she thinks that Sasuke would probably kill him if the blond stays here any longer.

"Do you really think you saved me?" Sasuke spoke, His voice cryptic and so full of hate "I don't care if she's the Fifth Hokage, you shouldn't have gotten her involved in this" this really did make Naruto angry, how could Sasuke be so stupid, the very thought of this would be laughable if only Sasuke didn't look so serious.

"What?"

Sasuke threw the covers off his body and stood directly in front of Naruto, Sakura being the forgotten participant in this conversation, like she was never there in the first place, the only one that had his attention was Uzumaki Naruto and this time it seemed that if they did fight here, then one of them was never going to see the light of day again, she knew if Sasuke was persistent enough then Naruto would immediately accept

"After all you did say that you wanted to fight" Sasuke's eyes were glaring, digging into Naruto's consciousness, thinking he had the blond all figured out, pushing all the right buttons that'll succumb Naruto to his desires, like an open book, Sasuke could tell that Naruto wanted it. "Well now it looks like you've got your chance!"

Naruto continued to look at Sasuke, feeling both temptation and pity swelling up inside him, his blue eyes narrowed as if he was thinking very long and hard about everything that has taken place here between them, all the things that could happen, that might happen, Naruto was thinking on what he should do. He didn't want to fight Sasuke, but if he didn't fight him now then there was the thought that Sasuke might get hurt and injured if they did have a confrontation.

"That is unless…you've chickened out" Chickened out? Naruto wondered for a moment if he was indeed chickening out here, would he be considered a chicken if he didn't fight Sasuke now?

"H-hey Sasuke! Wait don't do this!!" Sakura was panicking now, she knew that now fate was going to lead them to fight, she stood up and walked over to them. Sakura was also another person that Naruto was worried about, if they fought then there was a fifty, fifty chance that she would get injured, Naruto didn't want that, he didn't want anyone to get hurt, either they be rival, enemy, friend or comrade, the silence continued to stretch between all of them until the final line came out of Sakura's mouth

"Naruto say something"

Fate may have its plans; But Naruto has other ideas in mind…

Naruto's eyes softened and just sighed, turning his back on Sasuke and Sakura as he began to make his exit. The other two were completely shocked, Sakura was sure that Naruto would accept, this was unusual, this meant that he declined the challenge from Sasuke.

"Naruto!!" Sasuke growled, his eyes staring at Naruto, the blond turned back and looked at him. "That's it then, you chickening out!! Is that it!!" Naruto couldn't even look at Sasuke because he was so disgusted by the way he was acting.

"I'm sorry if you feel that way" silence fell between them all, Sasuke and Sakura's eyes widened, the voice that Naruto was using, it wasn't the usual cheerful, hyper active ready to fight tone that he would always use, it was more calm, more stern and filled with reason along with a bit of disgust mixed in. Naruto turned round once more, his blue eyes staring at Sasuke's, those eyes didn't even look like the usual ones that they were use to, Sakura could see that for the first time Naruto was being serious.

"But, I'm disgusted by you Sasuke" Sasuke gritted his teeth hearing those words from Naruto's mouth. "You look so pathetic I can't bear to look at you, all these things that your saying, don't you know how close you were to die, you want to know why I asked Grandma Tsunade to help you even though I could have just easily let you die? Well?" both eyes locked, the tension continued to build until Naruto closed his eyes calmly and replied.

"Because even though you are a rival, you're also a comrade of mine, even though I despise your strength, I also admire it and also you've become someone very precious to me, so if you still want to call me a chicken for not fighting you, go a head, but that won't change my mind until you wise up!!"

Naruto… Sakura looked at him, she didn't know if she should feel relieved or worried. She was relieved that Naruto backed down but then she was worried encase that would only anger Sasuke even more.

"Sakura…" Naruto darted his eyes over to her, a tiny smile on his lips "I'll see you later okay? But I would leave Sasuke alone to think for a moment, but that's your decision, I'm not going to order you around or anything" Naruto walked out the door, Sakura knew that Naruto was right in a way, so she followed and exited the room, but before Naruto could close the door Sasuke shrieked again.

"Loser!!"

Naruto sighed again "Have you looked in a mirror lately"

Click

"Man that Sasuke can be such a hot head, I'm surprised actually"

"Naruto" Naruto looked over to the Kunochi ninja who looked at him worryingly, Sakura could see it in Naruto's eyes even though he won't admit it openly, and the hurt that was locked within those sad blue eyes looked as if they wanted to cry. "W-was that really the best thing to do, Sasuke would probably…"

"It's okay, he's just not feeling like himself" She saw a smile crossing his lips which soon turned into a big grin, but not the real grin that she would have usually seen, this was only a mask so that he doesn't worry anyone about him or his comrades. "Give him a couple of days and he'll be back to his old gloomy self I promise you Sakura"

Sakura knew that he was trying to reassure her…

But it wasn't Sasuke she was worried about "Not Sasuke, I mean you…are you okay with this?" Silence fell between them. Naruto turned his head down to his feet, narrowing his eyes softly this time. "Sasuke will probably attack you"

"I know…"

"Why didn't you accept it" Naruto placed a hand unto his neck and brought out his necklace looking at him.

"Sakura, if you were me, would you accept it?" Sakura looked at him, shaken by the question that Naruto had just asked her. Then she tilted her head down, her pink bangs draping over her eyes as she shock her head. "No"

"When he asked me, I just thought on what would happen if I did fight him, something in my head told me that I should but I didn't want to in case I hurt him or worse, it hurts me to even think about it" he whispered, his voice soft and scared, Sakura thought that she saw a tear until he just looked at her and giggled a bit, cheerfulness in his voice again, but it wasn't the cheerfulness that she knew, this was something that sounded so fake.

"So we should probably leave him be, I'm going on home, I'll see you later okay Sakura, Kakashi Sensei would probably come by, if you see him tell him I'm on my way home"

And with that Naruto left, leaving Sakura to handle the rest "If you need anything don't hesitate to yell okay!!"

Naruto, are you suffering because of Sasuke? Because of what he said to you?

Slide!

"Naruto!!" Sakura and Naruto both jumped as they turned over to the door that Naruto had just closed, Sasuke was standing there, his eyes glaring at Naruto, so filled with blood lust and hate, and he wasn't going to back down so easily. Naruto sighed, his heart wrenched in pain

"Not this again" Naruto turned round, making his way to the door that leads to the stairs. "Don't you dare walk away from me!"

"Go back to your room Sasuke; you're in no condition to move"

"Don't you tell me what to do Dobe!!" no matter how hard Naruto resisted, Sasuke was just not going to listen to him, Naruto closed his eyes, clenching his fists that were tucked into his trouser pockets, he didn't want to look at him, he didn't want to see him, all this was just going to hurt them both even more than ever before. So he continued to walk foreword.

"Naruto!!" footsteps were then heard; Naruto immediately turned round and caught on oncoming fist, then blocked a kick.

"You think you can just walk away?! You're being awfully resistant!" Naruto growled, "Stop it Sasuke!!" Naruto hissed, Sasuke frowned at him, he could tell that Naruto was holding back on him, He got free from the blonds' hold and kicked him into the wall creating a crater, then immediately placed his hands around Naruto's throat, keeping him pinned there.

"You think you can just walk away after what you did? Bastard" Naruto coughed, however his gaze didn't reach Sasuke's he continued to look down, he didn't want anyone to see how hurt he was inside, how much Sasuke was injuring him.

"Are you even hearing yourself?"

"Sasuke stop it!!" Sakura yelled, but she was too afraid to help Naruto out, in case he might hurt her.

"Shut up Sakura this has nothing to do with you!!" snapped the Uchiha, his eyes thrown over to her sending chills up her spine, a warning for her to stay back. Naruto slowly raised his hands and placed them unto his attacker's wrists, blue orbs that were filled with tears looking at him.

"You're wrong…this does involve Sakura, can't you see how much you're hurting her!!" Sasuke looked at Naruto seeing the tears dripping off his face, this was no act, anyone with the right sense could tell. "Are you that blind? Can't you see how much she cares!!"

"Shut up Naruto!!"

"Why?" spectators were now appearing from all over the hospital to see what the commotion was about. "Why can't you see…how much you're hurting her, do you hate her that much for only caring about you? Even loving you" Then Naruto's eyes immediately made his tears disappear as he gave Sasuke a look that he never saw, such certainty, such courage and emotions that Sasuke hasn't even seen before.

"Don't hate her for that, if you want someone to aim your hate at, then aim it at me; I'm the one you should hate, you want to have revenge against Itachi don't you? You want to get stronger, then why don't you kill me!!" Sasuke's Sharingan eyes turned back into dark onyx, his eyes filled with shock. Hands loosened around Naruto's throat, leaving the boy to stand on his own two feet.

"What, you wanted to fight me, so you can kill me don't you? Why are you hesitating?"

Sasuke didn't know what to say…

"Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Naruto, Sasuke!"

Well…

Youkai Of Hearts: What should I do, continue it or drop it, your decision…