{I do not own Naruto or any of the characters or concepts}

This is a sequel of sorts to "The Wolf and the Fox." Imagine it. Sasuke and Naruto in the Ninjaverse are actually reincarnated from the very wolf and fox pair in the previous story. Squeal! Please note that Sasuke has some really weird perceptions and ideas in this chapter, that may or may not carry over into the following chapters. ;)

The Soul Mate of a Wolf…

=^.^=

Ch 1: Dreams and Observations

A flash of gold and blue was followed quickly by a large black blur. Black pounced on gold as the two colors meshed.

"Yip, yip," came the playful barks of a fox whose eyes shown like the sky. The large black thing nuzzled it's long snout against the neck of the little fox. A deep rumbling growl came from it's chest as it nipped playfully at the little fox…

Sasuke sat up in his bed suddenly. Why? Why would he be dreaming about that old bedtime story his mother used to tell him? It was strange that the little fox he sometimes dreampt of reminded him of the dead last. The gold fur and sapphire blue of the things eyes. It must be his fault. That's right Naruto is to blame for this dream. Sasuke's fists clenched. To be reminded of things from his past hurt, it made him angry. It wasn't fair why did he have to lose everything?

Sasuke got up grumbling, "Stupid Dobe." It was bad enough he had to look at the boy every day but now he couldn't get the rest he needed to deal with staring, no not staring, scowling at the perky blond. "Why the hell is he so cheerful anyway? Everybody hates him!" Sasuke knew it was true. He didn't know why. The boy was always smiling unless he was mad then he would pout. It was kind of cute, erm.. No it-it was annoying!

Sasuke shuffled lazily to his kitchen and got a pitcher out. He poured a glass of red liquid and took a long draught. Nothing like Tomato juice in the middle of the night. Sasuke finished his drink and rinsed his glass before heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth. He just couldn't get the other boy out of his mind.

He lay back down carelessly and somehow managed to find sleep...

=^.^=

...Bright light flooded through a curtain-less window into the dingy two room apartment (two only if you counted the bathroom). In the corner a pile of ragged blankets stirred. Golden strands of wild spiky hair poked out from beneath the pile and caught the light. This child that was alone in a broken down apartment got up and smiled brightly. He had little to smile about. Sure he was alive. He had relatively regular meals and a roof over his head. He wasn't kidding himself. Things could be a lot worse. He knew; because they had been worse. Until his eight birthday he was shuttled from one foster home to another. He even spent quite a few nights on the streets. He knew he was better off and he smiled to show his thanks. He smiled to show those that hated him that they would not get Uzumaki Naruto down, "No sir! I'm the one and only…UZUMAKI NARUTO…and I'll show them all!" He jumped up shifting the thread bare blankets off of himself.

He would too! He was going to be Hokage and the strongest ninja in the leaf village. He'd show them how great he is and then they'd come crawling to him for forgiveness. They would! "Yeah," He sighed as he stretched popping his vertebrae. He really needed a new futon, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. He had bills to pay and groceries to buy. He checked his fridge. "Well at least I have milk. No ramen though." He pouted in frustration. He poured himself a tall glass. The carton was nearly at its expiration date but it was still good so he decided to have a second glass of it. He wiped his mouth on his pajama sleeve. It too had seen better days.

Naruto had not grown much in stature, but since his rent had gone up his waist line had shrunk. He currently had the draw strings on his pajama bottoms synched tight to keep his pants up. Thank goodness his jumpsuit was one piece because he feared the pants might fall off.

His clothes were not everybody's taste. Well actually there was probably not another person in the world who would willingly don a bright orange jumpsuit. Naruto frowned, "people are crazy…but hey it takes a special guy to rock an orange jumpsuit like I can." He smiled ever optimistic. He grabbed one of his two outfits. Both identical and both too big around the middle.

He moved to the bathroom hanging his outfit on the hook and he disrobed. Naruto looked at himself in the mirror. He was like most cadets he had some muscle definition, but if he wasn't seeing things he had lost some and his ribs were showing. He shook his head dispelling the gloom that was about to envelope his mind. His stomach soured a bit at having nothing but nearly expired milk in it. He growled at himself, "Quiet you! Maybe we have enough to get a bowl of ramen today." He turned the shower on and held his hand under it; he flinched at the icy spray. He waited as it warmed from bone chilling to tepid (which was better then Naruto had expected). He stepped in and washed thoroughly.

He only had a bar of soap. He used it everywhere. He had no extra money for luxuries like shampoo, washcloths, towels. He would dry himself with his pajamas and hang them to dry on the back of the door like always. So what if they had attained an unpleasant soured odor . Naruto did what he had to do to survive. He decided to scrub his hair today. He didn't like to do that everyday because the soap dried out his hair and made it brittle. He had enough problems with malnutrition, keeping his hair from falling out, but he could only go so long before one of the girls in class made a rude comment on his hygiene. He had enough problems without that (thank you very much.) Naruto stepped out of the shower shivering and quickly wiped himself dry on his damp Pjs.

He dressed. One of the benefits of having baggy clothes was that it hid just how thin he had gotten. He didn't need the wrong people noticing his poor health. If Iruka sensei knew he'd make Naruto go home and then he wouldn't be able to mooch lunch off of anyone. He was only just surviving because of the girl Hinata letting him have half her lunch at school. She was one of the very few people who were kind to him. She was always blushing and stuttering thought he had no idea why.

He looked forward to that. Just to be allowed to be near someone without them saying something mean or acting like he was something they stepped in was refreshing and probably saved his sanity.

Naruto was dressed and ready to go, but first he had to do one last thing. He went to his futon and lifted the corner. He tapped on the floor board and it came loose. He opened the loose board and reached in. There was one of the few gifts he had ever received. A man he could not really remember anymore had given him this little frog coin purse. He opened Gama-chan's mouth and looked in. He had one ryo. He frowned that would not be enough for even half a bowl of ramen. Well one ryo could not buy him much of anything. You see he wasn't a desired customer. His presence brought a stigma to one's business so merchants tended to cheat him and over charge him. Some outright banded him. It was really hard to buy groceries when he had to pay three times the normal price. He never understood, but it was just the way it was. He got by most of the time. Naruto only hoped Hinata had enough lunch to share.

Naruto noticed he was late so he started running. He dodged people with the grace of a hounded rabbit. He never actually touched anyone because they would pull away from him in disgust. He felt their distain. He hid well the pain it caused.

Naruto was going too quickly and a merchant's cart moved into his path. He jumped the obstacle, his toe barely brushed the top of the pile of objects. He didn't damage anything but the man pulling the cart yelled at him, "Watch where you're going brat!"

Naruto skidded to a stop in the street. He turned to apologize with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry Mister," He started to apologize.

The man almost waved him off dismissively until he recognized the bright orange outfit and spiked blond hair. The man interrupted Naruto's apology, "You! Demon boy! You've ruined my merchandise!"

"I didn't break anything. Your stuff looks fine to me," Naruto whined.

The man held up a vase that looked to be a knock off of an antique. He held it over his head, "This vase was worth three hundred and fifty ryo, you're disgusting foot touched it." He dropped it. The vase shattered into little pieces making a deafening sound. The people stopped milling about and gathered to watch, "The moment you touched it, it became garbage. Tell me you little monster who is going to pay for it?"

Naruto was shocked. He choked on his words, "Y-you broke it? You smashed it because I touched it! How is that going to solve anything?"

"No, you're right demon," the merchant spat on the ground where the shards of ceramic lay, "Everything it touched is now contaminated!" he picked up his sandaled foot and shoved the cart hard. It tipped causing all the items to fall and shatter. The crowd was filled with angry mumbles and sneering faces all looking at Naruto.

"Well demon boy? Are you going to pay?" A random man spoke up. A woman spoke up after him, "Worthless filth you shouldn't be allowed to run loose!"

"You owe this man," Another voice volunteered.

Naruto growled. He reached into his pocket for his last ryo. He took it and threw it at the ruined cart of smashed objects, "There! Fine are you happy? That was my last ryo! It's your own fault for wrecking your cart!" He began to turn but the man spat once again.

"I won't take your filthy money! You will pay though! I will be seeing the Hokage you vile feind! If I have my way you will be locked up where you belong!" Naruto flinched at the venom in his words. He turned ignoring the hisses and cat calls from the crowd and did what he usually would do in this situation. He ran. He couldn't cry. He wouldn't. "It's…just…words," He tried to convince himself of it. Tears stung his eyes but he fought them off valiantly until he reached a place of solitude. It didn't matter anymore that he was going to be late. He couldn't go to class like this, he just couldn't!

Naruto took a secluded path that was seldom used. It cut through the forest and the forest was supposed to be forbidden to children, but who would care if the 'vile fiend' Uzumaki Naruto went where it was dangerous?

=^.^=

Sasuke had had it! He was harassed night and day by lovelorn girls, some were even older then him. He needed a break he knew it was forbidden to cut through the forest but it was a short cut and he feared the female populace more then any wild beast he might encounter. Technically this was part of the great and vast forest that hid their village but it was more like a peninsula shaped crop of trees that had grown into the village from outside the walls. He had sneaked into this part of the woods many times just to get away. It was nice he liked the quiet. Besides all that, Sasuke knew he was more then capable of defending himself. He had already mastered the chuunin level fireball technique, and he was a dead aim with shuriken and kunai.

He took his time planning to enjoy the quiet, but then he heard a twig snap. He lifted himself into a tree and hid his presence. The figure passed right under him. It was Naruto. The bane of his existence (if you exclude all those fan girls). Naruto was walking aimlessly. If Sasuke wasn't sure his ears were as sharp as a bats he would have thought he imagined it. Naruto was sniffling. He knew for a fact that the boy was never sick. Not that he really took notice of the other boy, but Naruto had never missed a day of class since he was allowed to join the academy. Sasuke had not missed either, but only because he came in even if he was severely ill and refused to leave. Naruto was always hyper, full of vivacious energy and happy.

…But when the blonde boy turned around and looked at the sky the remnants of tears staining his cheeks he looked right past Sasuke. Sasuke froze. He was in such shock over what he was seeing. Uzumaki Naruto was crying. He felt a devious smile stretching across his face. Maybe he should show himself. He cleared his throat and Naruto jumped in response quickly wiping his face. Sasuke jumped down from his hiding spot amongst the branches of the maple he had selected to hide in.

He landed before the boy, his stoic expression back in place, "What are you doing out here Uzumaki?"

"I-I could ask you the same question…Uchiha!" Sasuke smirked and leaned in to examine the shorter boy's face. He smelled of soap. Sasuke inhaled it and Naruto's natural scent getting a thrill from the worried and uncomfortable expression on the smaller boy's face. "Were you," he began in an almost innocent voice, "Were you crying Uzumaki?"

Naruto stepped back defensively, "None of your damn business!"

"Oh I think it is since you have broken the village rules by coming here."

"Ha!" Naruto laughed, "And what about you? You are breaking the rules too!"

"Well If I merely said I saw you come in here…who do you think they would believe…Naruto?" Oh Sasuke was enjoying himself as Naruto seemed to squirm under his gaze. He was like a trapped animal. Naruto frowned and finally he growled and flipped Sasuke off. He turned to run but Sasuke caught his arm. He was a little more then surprised at how thin Naruto's arm felt under the bulky jacket. It was like grabbing a skeleton rather then a boy. He almost let go but then Naruto turned his eyes were blazing with fury. Sasuke was enthralled.

"Listen bastard," Naruto ground his teeth in anger, "Maybe you are right, but look! Look just-just leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone. I don't know why you'd want to touch something as filthy as me anyway so get off!" He shoved Sasuke and though he may have been skinny he was wiry and strong. Sasuke let him go once again feeling that shocked feeling but this time it was tinged with a painful ache that twisted his heart. He just stared after Naruto who ran away whilst mumbling dark curses under his breath.

Sasuke was nothing if not observant and even without his family's bloodline ability he already had a near perfect memory. He marked down those words. "What did Naruto mean?" Sasuke pondered. He might deny any concern but his curiosity was peeked. Naruto was hiding things least of which was that he wasn't eating. Sasuke decided to watch the boy…just for curiosity's sake, nothing more.

Sasuke headed to school in his own fashion taking his time to think about the idiot that had caught his interest. Just when he thought school was becoming a bore life threw in some new spice for him. He hummed in contentment as he headed along the same path Naruto had forged through the underbrush only minutes earlier.

Sasuke managed to slip into class unnoticed thanks to Naruto who was being scolded by their sensei. Iruka was lecturing the boy on punctuality and the whole class was watching most were snickering, one girl looked worriedly at Naruto. The Hyuuga girl. Sasuke had noticed she was the one girl that actually favored Naruto over him. He had never minded but today he found her to be an irritant. He looked toward the blushing and smiling face of Naruto (He looked as carefree as ever). He scratched the back of his head and nodded, "Sorry Iruka-sensei…I guess I over slept…again."

"Alright, but you will be staying after class today," Iruka instructed. Naruto pouted and made a whining noise but sat obediently. Sasuke watched with interest was it just him or did the blonde boy look cute when he was pouting like that. Sasuke shook his head he was blushing the palest of pinks. Nobody noticed. He turned his attention back to the front where Iruka was going over the lesson for the day.

"Today we will be practicing on the field with targets and running races," The reaction was mixed some groaned some cheered and one lazy boy was snoring. His neighbor stopped eating chips long enough to jab him in the ribs with his elbow. The lazy looking brunette jolted awake and glowered at his seat mate. Sasuke wanted to snicker but it would be below him so he kept his face passive.

Iruka called everybody to head out but as Naruto stood the teacher's hand landed on his shoulder. Sasuke turned when he heard the surprised gasp from the boy. Iruka was speaking to him quietly and leaning in. Sasuke didn't like this it seemed inappropriate to him. The rosy blush on the blonde's cheeks didn't sway his opinion; to the contrary it made him all the more unhappy.

Finally Naruto was allowed to go as Iruka grabbed a box that Sasuke guessed was full of the practice projectiles the students would be using. Naruto brushed past Sasuke with an icy attitude and Iruka stopped with the box in his arms, "Did you need anything Sasuke?" Sasuke shook his head and turned to follow Naruto…

=^.^=

…On the field the class sat in a semi circle and Iruka lowered the box to the ground. He began calling names. Sasuke heard his name he stood and went to the side of the field Iruka had pointed to. Naruto was on that side. He looked as if he could care less that the idiot was standing there pointedly ignoring him and staring longingly at something…or rather someone. The girl was perhaps the only person Sasuke found more intolerable then Naruto. Haruno Sakura. She wore long hair tied back with a ribbon or kerchief, it was the color of her name sake. Pink as a sakura blossom and straight. She wore a determined expression as her green eyes narrowed she was searching for something. Then their eyes met. Sasuke looked bored Sakura was now blushing the ambitious look was gone and in its place a sappy love sick look. He could practically see hearts floating around in her personal bubble. He looked away as if it was nothing. He didn't see her face grow forlorn. Sasuke was watching Naruto again. Naruto jumped up, "Hey Sakura! Over here!" He waved smiling. Sakura ignored him but he kept yelling, "Yoo-Hoo Sakura! Look here! You're looking really cute today! Hey!" He flailed his arms wildly.

"Shut up Naruto!" She finally screeched.

Iruka took the momentary pause between their screaming match to intervene, "That's enough you two! Now I have divided you into two groups. The first group will be going with Mizuki to run races the rest of you will stay behind with me for target practice. Ok?"

"Yes Iruka-sensei," the entire class chimed in.

Mizuki dropped from a tree branch, he looked over the crowd of students and pointed to the group Sasuke was in they followed him to an open area where the grass was worn down from many such exercises.

They were divided into groups. Mizuki called names. His first choice, "Uzumaki Naruto." he called in a friendly voice, but Sasuke didn't like this guy he disliked the way the man looked at Naruto when the boy had his back turned. He liked it even less then that moment when Iruka was touching Naruto's shoulder. There was a two to one ratio of boys to girls and all of the girls were kept in one group with one fourth of the boys. Sasuke was grateful for this because that kept all the girls away from him for the moment. Mizuki called up three more boys, "Kai, Sota, Maki come up as well," He smiled at all of them as they lined up. Mizuki moved to the finish line and raised his hand, "Take your stances." he let his arm fall as he shouted, "GO!"

The boys ran. Sasuke was quite interested Naruto may be a bumbling idiot most of the time but he was quick. He ran like his life depended on it. Naruto was the obvious first. He cheered for himself and danced around, but nobody cheered along with him. He calmed down a bit and took his seat. The next group was called. Sasuke was more interested in the blond who was still breathing hard. Naruto looked pensive. Perhaps he was upset because nobody acknowledged his victory.

Sasuke heard his name called and he lined up. He was pitted against the boy who had been sleeping and the fat one along with some kid he didn't really know. There were sixty kids in their class after all. Mizuki signaled and Sasuke took off the round boy seemed to not care if he won. He walked along until the rest of the group was far ahead, even the lazy boy was making more of an effort, but then there was a popping sound behind and Sasuke was practically blindsided by a giant ball that looked suspiciously like the chubby kid. Sasuke growled and picked up speed he jumped over the corpulent child and dashed across the finish line. Sasuke ignored the cheers and congrats. He looked to see Naruto was pouting with his arms crossed. Choji was getting a talking to from Mizuki about using his technique being a violation of the rules. Choji asked what rules and the man's face grew red, "Just sit down."

After that Sasuke just watched Naruto. Until he heard his name called. He stood he noticed Naruto had stood along with the others who had won their races. Mizuki instructed them to line up. Sasuke stood next to Naruto. To him there wasn't anyone else to beat. The way Naruto glared back at him told him that the feeling was mutual.

=^.^=

…Leaving off there for now…