Summary: Pairings: GaaraxNaruto, SasukexNaruto, SasukexGaara, NejixNaruto, KabutoxNaruto Its Naruto's first day of high school. What waits in store for everyone's favorite blond? Meeting old friends, enemies, and fighting his best friend Sasuke for the attention of the new red head in town of course. Love triangle and angst.
Disclaimer: Yea so I don't own Naruto. Nor am I making any money off this. It's all my own experiment to see just how my twisted fanboy mind can paint pretty pictures with words. Rest assured if I did own Naruto then Gaara would get more face time in the manga and anime. He would have been transferred to Konoah and put on team seven when Sasuke left. Naruto would totally be trying to get Gaara to go on a date with him. Naruto would still pick on Sakura just because he loves annoying the hell out of her.
Warning: Shonen Ai content in latter chapters. If homosexuality bothers you this story isn't for you. I'll go ahead and say I won't be doing a lemon in this story. The guys are only fifteen so I can't get too smutty. There will still be sexual tension though so I guess you could say it'll be lime (I think that is the appropriate term). If you like lemons I'm writing three other Naruto stories where the guys are older so they will be filled with lemony goodness. I'll upload them when I get more of the chapters in place.
Feedback would be great. The more I get the better the story will turn out. Also, it'll make for good motivation to get these chapters out faster.
Vocab:
Vermilion: Bright scarlet red.
Chapter 1: A New Year begins!
The soft morning sunlight fell gently through the open window washing over blond locks onto the soft face lying so peacefully on a fluffy orange pillow. The sweet smell of honeysuckle flowers growing up a lattice next to the window wafted into the room on a cool summer breeze. The blond boy lying in bed looked so like an angel innocent and pure. Alas, nothing so peaceful can last forever. A shrill buzz permeated the cool sweet morning air. A pair of impossibly cerulean blue eyes slowly opened. The young blond sighed. "Morning… already?" He said half awake trying desperately to cling on to the fast escaping slumber.
"buzzzzzzzzz buzzzzzzzzz ribbbbiiiittttt ribbbbiiiittttt" screamed a little frog alarm clock sitting innocently on the small cherry colored bed stand by the boy's bed. The blond moaned in desperation as the last few hints of sleep fell away. He rolled to the opposite end of the bed while pulling his comforter and pillow over his head hoping desperately to escape the piercing buzz ringing in his ears. The buzz intensified growing louder and louder as time passed. "Al-frickin-right already!" The blond screamed as he swung his hand blindly in the vicinity of the annoying noise. All that could be heard was a loud thud as the frog alarm clock hit the ground still buzzing its annoying little tune. The little frog alarm was in fact a bit childish for a boy of fifteen but it was the first gift his father had given him after adopting him from the orphanage years ago. It was that reason the boy clung to it so. Fortunately; over the years the frog had proven quite resilient and durable seeing as how the blond hated to get up early in the morning.
Naruto slung his legs out from under his large orange comforter. He shivered slightly from the loss of warmth as he sat on the edge of his bed rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He extended one muscular tan leg out to press the alarm clock's off button with his foot. With the buzzing ceased and his eyes free of sleep he half opened them to be greeted by various shades of orange and blue. Glaring up defiantly from the floor sat the frog alarm clearly showing the time to be 7:30 AM in bold red and yellow letters.
The boy's half lidded eyes shot wide in disbelief. "Shit! I'm gonna be late!" Naruto screamed as he leapt out of bed. He stumbled across empty ramen cups strewn across the floor from last night's snack to rummage through his closet. He found himself desperately searching for something decent and somewhat clean to wear. In the end he managed to find a few clean looking and smelling clothes piled up in the walk-in closet floor. He had meant to hang them or wash them whichever was more appropriate but never quite gotten around to it. He pulled out a black t-shirt with the swirl pattern he was so fond of, a pair of dark cargo-shorts, and his favorite orange hoodie also sporting the swirl of his namesake on the armbands. He dashed out of his large mostly orange bedroom and down the hall catching onto the doorframe for leverage to swing into the bathroom.
After a few more bouts of cursing and splashing water in his face and on his spiky blond locks he deemed himself presentable. He hurriedly dressing himself then snatched up his toothbrush and paste and slung it in his hoodie pocket. "Gotta do that on the way." Naruto may be a messy boy but at least he was hygienic.
Once again Naruto found himself dashing down the hallway this time destine for a set of stairs at the far end leading down into the living room. As Naruto passed the next door down from the bathroom he stopped briefly and began to knock loudly as he screamed "Hey Haku! Wake up we're going to be late for our first day!" Satisfied that he had done his good deed for the day he was once again back on his mad dash to the stairs. As he rushed by the last door on the right of the hallway it cracked open slightly to reveal a middle aged white haired man who peered out into the dimly lit hallway. "Oi Naruto! Do you have to be so loud?" All the man could manage to see was an orange blur fly by. "Gotta… Hurry… Late…" Is all Jiraiya could hear from the frantic teen. The man sighed leaning his head against the doorframe. He learned long ago that once Naruto was awake there was no hope in getting to sleep late.
Naruto leapt from the last stair landing in a full sprint across the living room toward the kitchen. This being Naruto he managed to trip over his own feet landing headfirst onto a large satiny plush vermilion couch. "Ewwww ewwwwww ewwwwww!" Naruto screamed pulling himself away from the couch while furiously rubbing his face as if trying to wipe invisible dirt away. Both he and his adopted brother Haku always made it a point to stay clear of this particular piece of furniture. Soon after Haku and Naruto began living with Jiraiya the couch's function was all too clear; in fact it had been prominently featured in a number of Jiraiya's classic literarily… masterpieces. Jiraiya only said it was an important part of his research projects should either of the boys question him. Shortly after that revelation they had made the pervy old man promise to keep the exploits of his lecherous behavior confined to this one spot in the living room so they could avoid it altogether. In return they agreed to stay upstairs when Jiraiya was 'entertaining' one of his woman friends.
Naruto continued his trek to the kitchen all the while wiping his face and chest with a disgusted look plastered across his face. Just thinking of what typically happened on top of that couch made him want to gag. After finally making it into the stark white and black checkered kitchen he was soon followed by a very groggy Jiraiya who headed straight for the coffee maker.
"You could act like a responsible parent and make sure your loving children are awake and ready for school." Naruto hissed narrowing his eyes in Jiraiya's direction.
"That is assuming I was a responsible parent and both my children were actually loving." Jiraiya grumbled.
Naruto stuck out his tongue at Jiraiya's comment then turned his attention back toward the stairs. "Haaaaakuuuuuuu!" Naruto's shrieking yell caused Jiraiya to wince in pain.
"Would you stop that screaming?" Jiraiya was holding his head no doubt nursing a hang-over from his previous night's exploits which no doubt involved a strip bar and a lot of alcohol. "You know Haku. He has probably already been at school for the last thirty minutes."
Naruto considered the logic for a bit then turned his attention back to Jiraiya. "What about lunch oh loving parent of mine?"
"Sarcasm… funny." Jiraiya rummaged through a pair of pants carelessly thrown across the 'couch-o-love'. He flung a couple of yen on the table.
Naruto eyed the money then turned a puppy dog eyed stare at Jiraiya that could have melted even the coldest of hearts. "That's enough for lunch but what about breakfast?" Naruto whined.
"That look stopped working on me years ago brat. Don't push it just grab a poptart or something on your way out." Jiraiya pointed to one of the many cabinets lining his kitchen wall.
Naruto grumbled as he rummaged through the cabinet searching for something edible. The task wasn't exactly difficult considering there were three guys living in the house which equated to very little food being on hand so the cabinet was almost bare. Were it not for instant ramen and fast food they would certainly have starved long ago.
With his coffee finished brewing Jiraiya poured him a cup and sat down at the table. The next thing he knew that same orange blur he had seen in the hall slammed into him. Arms wrapped tightly around him. "Jiraiya you're the best! Ramen flavored poptarts. How did you find em?" Naruto's voice was breaking a bit almost in tears.
Jiraiya smiled. Honestly there wasn't such a thing as ramen flavored poptarts but being a multi-million dollar erotic literature author had its perks. It was a lot of trouble having them made just for him but if it made one of his adopted boys happy it was well worth the effort. He knew all too well the one surefire way to make Naruto happy was through his stomach. Jiraiya was well aware of the sorrow his boys experienced in their younger years. They had both been orphaned at such young ages then shunned by society for things that were beyond their control. He promised himself long ago that there would be nothing of that darkness to torment his boys ever again so long as he could help it.
In a flash Naruto was out the door in a mad dash across the lawn.
"Late late late… gonna be late." Naruto chanted as he dashed across his neighbor's overgrown lawn, the very lawn he promised to mow for the old woman a week ago but never got around to it, and down the sidewalk. He couldn't help but feel like the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. "I missed the bus. Why does this sort of thing always happen to me?"
There was no way he was going to miss his first day in high school. He was finally away from that horrible Konoah Middle School where everyone avoided him like the plague. He started Konoah Middle while still living in the orphanage hoping against hope that the people there would accept him. Naruto's hand slipped under his eye to catch a tear as it trickled softly down his cheek. Memories of his past still hurt. He had all but given in to the darkness and despair of being utterly and completely alone until he met someone who would forever change his life. It was during his time there that he met Iruka, the Konoah Middle School's guidance counselor. Naruto touched his hand to his whiskered cheek as a huge grin stretched out across his lips. Iruka had been the first person to take the time to show him affection. The counselor always made a comment about how cute his whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks were before pinching them. Iruka had been the first person to acknowledge Naruto. He made Naruto feel like he was worthwhile and that life was worth living. It wasn't long before Iruka convinced an old acquaintance to adopt Naruto. During his latter years he meet his two best friends Sakura and Sasuke. He had even managed to make a few nice acquaintances as well. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his heart when he realized that not everyone held a grudge against him for something he didn't even do much less understand. Any time he asked Iruka-sensei why everyone hated him he would always hug him and say something about sins of the father. He never gave Naruto enough information to piece together exactly what his father had done but it must have been horrible for the entire city of Konoah to shun him like it had.
Today wasn't the day for melancholy thoughts Naruto reminded himself. As luck would have it almost everyone had applied and been accepted to the same high school. The great Konoah High was the most prestigious high school in the tri-state area. How he, the class clown, managed to be accepted was beyond him. His grades alone surely weren't what got him his acceptance papers. He had a sneaking suspicion it had to do with his best friend pulling some Uchiha strings to get him in. Uchiha Sasuke was the sole heir to the great Uchiha Incorporated International empire. Uchiha Corp was one of the most powerful and influential corporate empires in the known world. Naruto had questioned his stoic raven haired friend to see if he was his benefactor but of course icy Uchiha Sasuke would never admit to something like helping his friend. That would be weak and unbecoming of one of Uchiha blood.
A smile crept over Naruto's face. It was going to be nice for the gang to stay together. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had been quite the team in Middle School. When you saw one you would no doubt see the rest. They were inseparable although from the way they constantly fought one wouldn't think they were as close as they were. Things were going well until tragedy struck the Uchiha clan. Sasuke's family was killed in the dead of night by his older brother leaving Sasuke as sole witness and survivor. It wasn't long after that when Sasuke transferred across town to Sound Middle School to get away from constant reminders of his older brother's legacy. It was truly a saddening time for Naruto and Sakura. Fortunately Naruto and Sakura's bullheaded persistence managed to bring Sasuke back to his senses. He wound up transferring back to Konoah Middle last year and agreed to attend Konoah High with them the following year.
Not only did they all make it to the same high school but they were already all guaranteed a place on the Konoah High Jr. Varsity football team. It didn't hurt that they were division one champs at their middle school. Though it did take Naruto a bit longer than everyone else to find out his talent for the game he was now considered one of the best running backs in the state. With Sasuke quarterbacking and Naruto running it was almost an unstoppable combination. That is so long as the coach could manage to keep them from killing one another.
Naruto realized he had slowed down while he was reminiscing. He ventured a quick glance at his bright orange wristwatch which read 7:48 AM. Now he was sure he was going to be late. Detention on the first day of class was not cool. Naruto once again speed off full steam with the lightning speed that made him so famous on the football field. As he whirled around a corner Naruto hit something and hit it hard. Rather Naruto ran into someone walking in front of him. The impact sent the person and Naruto falling to the ground.
Dazedly Naruto slowly opened his eyes. His head was still spinning from the crash against the boy's back. His blurry gaze was greeted by dark crimson red hair that flowed down over perfect milky white skin of the other boy's neck. Once Naruto recovered and his mind actually started thinking coherently, at least as coherent as could be expected from Naruto, he realized he was lying on top of the boy he had just collided with in a rather awkward position. The boy was lying on the ground face first with Naruto lying squarely on top of him. Naruto's groin just so happened to be strategically placed at a certain part of the other boy's body. Should someone pass by this may be considered indecent.
Before Naruto could react he felt his chest pushed back by two strong yet soft hands. The redhead had somehow flipped over causing them to come face to face. They were so close Naruto could feel the boy's warm breath flow out over his face and down his neck which sent chills down his entire body. The boy smelt of cinnamon and spice. Naruto could feel his blood rush to his face and other extremity as he found himself starting to blush. When he turned his attention outward all he could see were two emerald green eyes gazing into his own. There was something intense and dangerous about this boy's eyes. Naruto soon found himself lost while staring into their endless depth. Naruto's heart ached at seeing what was held in the other boy's eyes. Naruto saw a familiar pain and suffering he could relate to all too well. The two boys sat like that for what seemed an eternity drinking in the other's gaze.
It was Naruto who finally broke the silence. "Wow! Is that makeup around your eyes?" Naruto reached up to touch the redhead's eye but found his hand slapped away.
"No." Was all the boy ventured.
"Ummm do you mean no it isn't makeup or no I can't touch?"
The redhead sighed in annoyance. "No to both. Now get off of me." The boy's tone was monotonous never once wavering in pitch.
Naruto leaned up a little but still managed to keep an intimate distance. Naruto weaved his fingers together and put his arms behind his head like he always did when he felt nervous. "I was just wondering. It's cool either way. It really brings out the color of your eyes." Naruto had just employed Jiraiya's pickup lesson number one: Always complement the person's eyes to break the ice. Jiraiya always insisted on both Naruto and Haku memorizing his method for scoring with any woman you wanted. He assured both of them that the techniques would work on men just as well.
'Is this guy some kind of idiot? Is he really trying to pick up me with that lame line?' Gaara wondered. 'Well at least he is cute. Wait! Did I just think someone was… cute? This is wrong on so many levels. I don't do cute. I should put him in the hospital for even looking at me. This boy must die!'
Naruto picked himself off the ground and for the first time he got a good look at the boy he had unintentionally run down. Naruto's heart quickened; before him sat one of the most strikingly beautiful creatures he had seen in all his fifteen years of life. The pale boy sat still on the concrete sidewalk as his sea green eyes peered at Naruto. Curiously his eyes were set in what Naruto now knew was not makeup but rather dark bags around his sockets no doubt caused by either malnutrition or lack of sleep. Naruto could understand malnutrition but lack of sleep was a foreign concept for the lazy blond. The boy's frame was slight (short for his age Naruto decided). The redhead was going for a cross between goth and punk judging from the black and red ensemble he wore down to the usual accessories from chains to a leather choker around his neck. His red shirt sported an image of a rather disgruntled looking raccoon. No doubt this boy had some association with the Suna school system seeing as how that was their mascot. He accentuated his outfit with silver chains hanging loosely from his wrist and belt. If nothing else the kid could certainly dress well by Naruto's standards. The boy's casually styled spiky blood red hair flowing gracefully across his head and down his neck. Naruto's gaze was drawn down to trace across the boy's exposed milky white skin. His skin was completely without blemish or freckles. At least the parts Naruto could see were unblemished. Being true to his hormones Naruto's mind wandered to thoughts of how much he would like to see first hand if that flawless skin remained unblemished under his clothes. As his gaze moved back to the boy's face he noticed that oddly enough the boy didn't seem to have eyebrows. Naruto mentally shrugged. It must be a goth punk thing to shave or pluck them off. The most interesting thing about the redhead was the red kanji tattoo on his forehead which read 'Ai' or Love. Naruto found himself wanting to touch the gorgeous boy sitting so peacefully in front of him. There was something so exotic and interesting about him. Yet Naruto couldn't help but feel he knew him from somewhere else.
He had a thousand questions he wanted to ask flying through his mind. At the forefront of his questions he wanted to know if the tattoo had some significance. Being that Naruto was easily distracted due to his serious case of Attention Deficit Disorder he forgot about the questions swimming in his mind and turned his attention to the shiny chain bracelets on the boy's arms. "Those chain bracelets are really cool." Naruto reached out and caught one of Gaara's arms pulling it close to his face as he examined the silver chains wrapped around his wrist. The boy's skin was as smooth as marble and soft as satin. Naruto had to fight hard not to touch his lips to the boy's arm to feel it against his own skin. Gaara yanked his arm back and sent a menacing glare at Naruto.
Naruto ignored Gaara's glare. "I used to wear chains a lot too but they sort of chaff when you fall asleep in them."
Gaara raised a nonexistent eyebrow at Naruto's remark. He wasn't sure exactly how he should interpret that last statement seeing as how the blond had already tried to blatantly pick him up with a line and was checking him out only a few seconds ago.
Naruto extended a helping hand to the pale skinned boy still sitting on the ground. The redhead sneered at Naruto's gesture then pushed himself to a standing position all on his own.
Naruto frowned at the redhead's lack of response. "Well you are welcome anyway."
Naruto slung his book bag over his shoulder and turned to where Gaara was standing. His frown was soon replaced with a huge toothy grin. There was no denying the fact that Naruto was cute especially when he smiled. Naruto possessed the type of smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. What's yours?"
"Hn." Again the redhead sighed in aggravation. He wasn't accustomed to people actually trying to talk to him much less casting cute smiles in his direction. Under normal circumstances anyone in their right mind would have fled by the time they realized they were in the presence of Sabaku no Gaara the infamous demon of Suna. For that matter under normal circumstances Gaara would have put anyone else who stayed in his presence as long as the blond had in the hospital or worse by this time. There was just something about this boy though he couldn't quite place just what it was.
Naruto started quickly moving his hands in various signs which was his peculiar way of memorizing important things. "Jiraiya's pickup technique number two." He whispered to himself as he mentally recalled the instructions: Bluntly let the other person know you are interested. "You know you are really cute. I want to get to know you better." This might have actually been a good line had Naruto not recited it as if he was reading it out of a book. He meant every word but he was accustomed to the way he said it when he practiced it on Haku.
"If all you are going to do is use stupid pickup lines on me then just don't talk at all." Gaara glared the best 'I'll kill you now' glare he could muster before he continued. "Besides what makes you think I'm into guys?"
"Wishful thinking." The cute toothy smile was once again plaster across Naruto's face as he tilted his head to the side while winking at Gaara.
Gaara wasn't expecting this blond idiot to be so adorable. His expression softened and he found himself having to fight hard not to smile back at the blond boy. Emotions were not something Gaara was accustomed to other than an occasional fit of rage. The entire situation was starting to infuriate Gaara to no end. He hated feelings he didn't understand and this blond was causing him mass amounts of confusion. Deciding it best to end the exchange Gaara quickly turned away from Naruto and started walking down the street.
"So where are you headed? I bet you're on your way to school. Konoah High?" Naruto asked.
Gaara merely cut his eyes over to Naruto who had just caught up to walk beside him.
"I thought so. At least let me walk you to school." The two boys walked in silence until two figures rode up beside them on motorcycles. One a tall blond haired girl sporting some weird four pony tailed hairdo and a guy dressed in all black sporting a funny looking hat.
"We've been looking all over for you. Come on we're going to be late. Hop on." The blond haired girl called out to the redhead while patting the extra seat behind her.
Naruto frowned as the redhead left his side to take a seat behind the blond girl on the bike. It was obvious to Naruto they were siblings from their resembalance. As the motorcycle sped off into the distance Naruto pointed a finger and yelled in the boy's direction. "You're going to agree to go out with me before the day is over! I still have thirteen more pickup techniques I haven't tried yet. This isn't over! Believe it!" Naruto stuck his tongue out playfully as he was apt to do on occasion
Naruto could tell this boy was going to be a tough cookie to crack judging from his demeanor but that was Ok because Naruto loved a challenge. He would have the redhead talking to him in no time if not just to get Naruto to leave him alone. Naruto was a genius when it came to annoying behavior. Once he had the redhead talking the rest would be easy.
Naruto's day had certainly started off poorly but now things were starting to look up. "That is my goal this year. I want a boyfriend and he is going to be my first. Believe it!" Naruto had a habit of talking out loud to himself which gained him quite a few puzzled looks from a shopkeeper who lazily swept the sidewalk in front of his store. "I'll ask him out later today. We'll fall in love then we'll get married and have eight children… oh wait. I'm a guy scratch the children part but the rest sounds good."
Gaara glanced over his shoulder at the screaming blond boy. A warm feeling washed over him causing a small smile to crack his normally expressionless face. The blond was just too cute for words and what's more he seemed so familiar too. Temari glanced over her shoulder with a concerned look on her face. "Gaara are you Ok? Did that little creep mess with you or something?" He had been angry when he learned they were transferring to Konoah High. The kids in Suna all hated him but at least they knew to give him his space. It had been Tamari's idea to get Gaara away from things that reminded him of his past. She wanted so badly for them to become a real family now that Gaara had calmed down and that bastard father of theirs permanently removed from their lives. Gaara knew he would have the chance to start anew at Konoah but even he was unsure if he could keep his inner demons at bay forever. He was still apprehensive about the blond kid too. On one hand he liked someone paying him attention and attempting to be nice but on the other he knew deep down it wouldn't last once he learned who he was. The siblings rode on into the rising sun toward their new school.
It wasn't long before Naruto noticed that the residential houses soon gave way to small convenience stores. He was entering the commercial district. This meant he was nearing the school grounds. He continued on full sprint more determined than ever to make it on time. He had a mission to complete. He barely missed colliding face first into a no parking sign when he noticed a big black car drive up beside him. This was odd since most people hated Naruto. Why would someone want to stop and talk to him, the son of the great and terrible Fox? Curiosity had gotten the better of Naruto as he came to a stop. The black tinted window slowly rolled down revealing two beady yellowish eyes glaring out at him from the driver's seat.
Naruto's day had officially gone from bad to getting better to absolute worst in the matter of only a few minutes.
"Looks like you are in a hurry Naruto." The voice hissed at him in amusement. "You need a ride?"
There was no mistaking it. This was none other than Orochimaru. He was every student's nightmare since middle school. He was possibly the worst Biology teacher in existence. It wasn't that he was not brilliant, quite the contrary. It was his demeanor and creepy ways that sent chills up everyone's spines while in his presence. There was that and what happened three years ago but those memories were too painful for Naruto to dredge up at a time like this. Not when the snakey bastard was right in front of him.
"No. I'm alright. I can make it if I hurry." Naruto assured him while backing away slightly.
"But Naruto-kun…" a soft but deep voice purred from the back seat. It was Kabuto, Orochimaru's prize student; the elder boy leaned over from the back seat to get a better view of Naruto. "You don't want to insult Orochimaru-sama's kindness would you? You can even sit back here with me." The boy smiled coyly at Naruto while patting the empty seat next to him. Though Naruto couldn't quite place it he knew there was just something not quite right with that boy. Well besides the fact that he typically kept company with Orochimaru.
"Really, that's ok." Naruto started to back away farther.
Orochimaru leaned closer to the passenger window. "Now you don't want me to give you detention on the first day do you?" He smirked one of the creepiest smiles Naruto had ever seen. This was trouble. Every fiber of Naruto's soul was screaming at him to run!
A/N: What ever shall happen to our poor hero Naruto? Will Orochimaru and Kabuto have their wicked ways with him? What are they scheming? Will he live long enough to convince Gaara to go on that date with him?
So anyway I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I've wanted to write a NaruGaara fanfic for awhile now. There just isn't enough of em out there and I think I've read most of them by now so it's my turn to contribute to the community.
This is the first major story I've written in years so bear with me please. I have to say it's nice to start writing again though. I forgot how relaxing and consuming it can be. Anyway I'm trying to get back into the groove of things so if you have any constructive criticism please give it to me. Notice I say constructive. Reviews of encouragement would be nice too.