Author's Note: Hi, everyone! I'm excited to finally put up this first chapter! I hope you like it! There's more on the way, and I'm excited to see how many readers I get, and the kinds of reviews! Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Yum, yum, yum! Ra-ah-meh-en!"

Sasuke and Naruto were at Ichiraku's Ramen, Naruto's all time favorite ramen place, waiting for—what else—ramen. (Sasuke didn't think anyone could say ramen more times in one sentence. Hanging around Naruto did that to a person.)Sasuke was leaned against the counter, facing the exit, but was looking at Naruto. The blonde haired boy had his hands in fists on the counter, in one of them a pair of chopsticks. Naruto's bright blue eyes were on nothing but his beloved ramen, being prepared before his eyes. They were both sitting on dark wooden stools, and Sasuke was finding it hard to get quite comfortable.

"Does your life revolve around ramen?" Sasuke wondered out loud, making sure his voice held enough scathing. While Naruto answered, Sasuke thought, Don't I already know the answer to that one?

Naruto nodded his head excitedly. "Oh, yeah, I love ramen!"

Of course… Sasuke gazed out the window at the faceless people passing by. After a long morning of training, Sasuke and Naruto were taking a lunch break. The Leaf Village was always busy, with people bustling around. Sasuke had ordered the lightest soup on the menu with noodles, and steamed vegetables, just to be adventurous. His and Naruto's dishes were presented with great pomp.

"Enjoy!" declared Teuchi in a loud voice. Naruto cheered, raising his chopsticks, then proceeded to attack his ramen with great zeal. Sasuke inspected his food (discreetly, of course) then took a small wary bite. Finding it at least edible, Sasuke chewed his lunch slowly, allowing it to energize his entire body. Oh, what was he saying? This bowl of calories probably had no nutritional value at all.

Suddenly Sasuke noticed Naruto's expression. It was painfully gloomy and miserable.

"What's the matter, baka?" Sasuke asked gruffly.

Naruto sniffled. "It's…all gone!" he wailed.

"All the faster we can get back to training you," Sasuke pointed out without hesitation. "A hopeless ninja like you needs all the help he can get."

"All right!" Naruto cheered, jumping—no, exploding—out of his seat. "BACK TO TRAINING!"

"And who do suppose is going to pay for this," Sasuke asked without much emotion. He of course already knew the answer but he was just asking for the pleasure of Naruto sucking up. Which, of course, began right as Sasuke expected.

Naruto was about to dance out the door, when he froze, in mid-step. He turned around slowly, the most pleasant expression on his face.

"Sasuke-kun," Naruto began slowly. "You are the best ninja in the whole village…"

"Just shut up already," Sasuke scowled, pulling out some money to pay Teuchi.

"Thank you!" the shop-owner said greatly. "Come again soon!"

That was unnecessary, Sasuke thought, meaning Teuchi's last comment. Of course they would be back again—lunchtime tomorrow, at latest.

"Hey, hey, Sasuke! Guess what?" Naruto asked, cackling, tiptoeing around Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't open his mouth, waiting patiently for Naruto's answer.

"GUESS!"

Sasuke waited again.

"I have an idea."

Sasuke sighed, turning to glare at the annoying blonde. Naruto…

"We should, totally, train with Neji and Lee!"

Sasuke rolled his dark eyes. Naruto could have just said that at the beginning. Instead he wasted five minutes—probably forming the sentence in his head. Oh, wait, Naruto never thought before he spoke. At least they were already well on their way to Neji's place.

"They have nothing better to do anyway," Naruto was going on. Sasuke decided to tune in and out—listening to a full on one-sided Naruto conversation could surely drive someone insane. Wasn't that why Hokage Tsunadae was so inexplicably crazy?

"HELLO, EMBODIMENTS OF YOUTH IN TRAINING!" a familiar, yet painstaking, voice yelled, sounding as if it were approaching from faraway (but gaining ground extremely quickly).

"LEE!" Naruto greeted, as a green blur screeched to a halt, spewing dust everywhere. Lee's huge round eyes were glistening with excitement.

"How would YOU lucky ninjas like to train with ME?" Lee asked.

"We were just going to Neji's house to train with both of you!" Naruto grinned insanely widely. "How awesome!"

"Training with Neji! What a SPLENDID YOUTHFUL IDEA!" Lee yelled. "Only a true representation of youth could have thought of that! WELL DONE, SASUKE!"

Naruto looked exceedingly hurt. "Hey!"

Sasuke glared at both of them scrutinizing. Had he really agreed to this—training with Naruto and Lee—and furthermore, at the same time? He hadn't actually given an answer—the dark haired ninja was sure. Maybe he could still …

"YAY!" Naruto cheered. "We're here!"

They stood in front of a towering house, made of white wood among others, which was definitely the Hyuugas'.

"I'd better introduce us," Sasuke muttered darkly. "We don't want Neji's parents thinking that they're sending off a freak parade."

"A PARADE OF YOUTHFULNESS!" cried Lee. "WHAT A SUPERB IDEA!"

Sasuke resisted the urge to whack Lee across the face. He walked into the courtyard, noticing the lush grass in the front yard, and stopped at the front door. He knocked loudly, then waited. He heard light footsteps, ones that Sasuke doubted were Neji's. Opening the door was a lady, more a head shorter than Sasuke, with glossy black hair and huge lavender eyes.

"Hello, Hinata," Sasuke said, keeping as much gruff out of his voice as he could manage. He couldn't scare her off. She seemed like the person that would be frightened by a falling leaf. How she was a ninja, Sasuke could not fathom.

"H-hello, S-Sasuke-kun."

"Is Neji at home?" Sasuke asked. Hinata nodded without saying anything. "He's wanted to train," Sasuke said.

"I c-can ask him to come outside," Hinata barely whispered.

Sasuke nodded approvingly. "Thanks," he muttered. He turned away, and Hinata closed the door. He walked back to the two bakas and waved them over. The three of them waited, but not for long. Neji appeared, in his white robes and long brown hair, with the ends tied together, as if it were too lazy to come out of its tie. They followed Neji to his personal training room. It was outside, but surrounded by the looming house.

"Is this safe to train in?" Sasuke wondered. "There's a danger of breaking the house."

"Then control your attacks," Neji replied.

"YOUTHFUL TEAM AGAINST YOU TWO," Lee pointed at Neji and Sasuke. "GO YOUTHFULNESS!"

Sasuke smirked. Him and Neji versus Naruto and Lee? This would be too easy. He assumed a fighting stance, bending four fingers towards him, inviting the "youthful team" to attack.

Neji assumed the same pose. "Let's begin."