ORANGE AND RED: THE FLAMES OF YOUTH!

L.T: Heyas, guys! This is the first chapter of my latest fanfic, and it's the very first challenge fic I've ever received! Challenger Jameis, prepare to read the awesome! I will be borrowing a few moves from other animes, (bonus points if you can tell me which anime they're from!) and let the challenge... BEGIN!

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A lone figure sat cross-legged on the top of the Hokage monument. It was cold, and the end of the month drew near. Rain threatened, but no drops fell. The young blonde sitting in such an isolated place was a common sight in Konoha, but he knew that tonight was the last time. Naruto Uzumaki...was about to kill himself.

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Naruto was tired of life. Nobody looked at him without sneering, his classmates treated him like he was worthless, people tripped him up rather than let him be... he could list all the reasons, but it took more strength than he had. So tonight, the world would be rid of Naruto. The only people he thought would miss him were the Konohamaru Corps.

Konohamaru, because they were rivals, and he'd taught Kono a pervy jutsu.

Udon, because Naruto always found time to play 'Ninja' with them. And Moegi, because...because... Naruto couldn't think of any reason Moegi would give a damn about him either. He got to his feet, and walked the few short paces to the forehead of the Fourth. He took one last breath, cool, clean, and deep, and then...

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"BOSS! WHERE ARE YOU, BOSS?!" Konohamaru yelled. Hearing no reply, he sighed, and turned to his friends. "I can't find him anywhere," he explained. "But he seemed really down the last few weeks."

Udon sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Uh, yeah-sniff- I saw that too," he snuffled.

Moegi alone thought she knew where Naruto might be hiding, but she refused to tell the others. It was her secret, her and her blonde friend's. As the two made plans to search the market district, Moegi slipped off, into the shadows, and ran full-tilt for the one place above all others she knew he'd be.

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He got to his feet, and walked the few short paces to the forehead of the Fourth. He took one last breath, cool, clean, and deep, and then...

"NARUTO! NOOOOOO, DONT!" Moegi's voice cut through the oncoming rain like a knife, and she skidded on the increasingly slippery stone, nearly cannoning into the blonde, and sliding right over the edge.

"MOEGI!" Naruto pulled a length of rope from his belt-pouch and tossed the free end to her. Moegi seized it and clung on. Naruto tied the other end around a stone lock of hair, and then heaved on the line, slowly bringing the frightened girl back from the precipice. She clung to him, sobbing, "I saw you! You were going to jump! Jump right off the edge!" Naruto sighed. "Moegi, I don't want to live anymore," he said.

"There's nothing for me on this earth, so, tonight I wanted out... it would have been perfect, but then, you come along..." Moegi fisted her hands to her mouth. "You can't mean that! I don't want you to leave me!" she cried, and Naruto looked a little startled. "What? What do I mean to you, then?" he challenged.

Moegi blushed furiously, and then stuttered, "I...I l-love you! You saved me, remember? That bad ninja who captured me, and then the creepy guy with the pot on his back and the raccoon eyes..." Naruto sniggered at Gaara's depiction. "Ok, you got me, maybe I did do something worth living for."

Moegi blinked away her tears, and asked, "Does that mean-?" Naruto chuckled a little, and ruffled her hair. "Ok, shrimp, you stopped me from jumping, but i still feel...damaged, somehow. I'll rethink my death plan, and then tell you before i do anything." Moegi beamed, and stood up, pulling Naruto up with her.

The fourteen-year-old smoothed down her shorts, and stretched, showing off a small slice of her smooth belly, and pulling the fabric of her shirt tight over her burgeoning mounds. Naruto caught a glimpse, and for a moment forgot himself. 'Nice, i wanna touch those beauties...' Moegi noticed Naruto's attention, and smiled inwardly. "Naruto, let's go to your place. I want you to tell me why this happened..."

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Naruto sat at his kitchen table, a blanket around his shoulders, while Moegi made tea, with milk and plenty of sugar. As they sipped their drinks, Moegi reached across and gripped Naruto's hands. "Right, tell me what led up to this, Naruto!" she commanded, and Naruto clutched her small hands gently, but firmly. "Ok," he said in a small voice, completely the opposite of his normally boisterous tone.

"It all started three weeks ago..."

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"Naruto, you know you won't make it, don't you? I mean, beating Kiba was a fluke! And Neji is in the top three, whereas you? You're down at the very bottom!" Kakashi laughed, when he heard who Naruto was facing in the one-on-one battle round of the Chuunin Exams.

Naruto gritted his teeth and took the abuse, but his temper frayed when Kakashi bent low and whispered, "And besides, even if you somehow manage to win, do you think the Civilian Council will advance you in rank? Face it Naruto, you're a joke!"

Naruto's rage erupted. "WELL, EXCUSE ME, CYCLOPS-SENSEI! FORGIVE ME FOR NOT BEING AS GOOD AS SASUKE, OR AS WELL-TRAINED AS NEJI! YOU NEVER TAUGHT ME ANYTHING, NEVER GAVE ME HELP, NEVER DID ANYTHING TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU DO THINGS! IF THOSE TWO HAD ANY SENSE, THEY'D DO WHAT I AM AND QUIT THIS TEAM!" Naruto turned on his heel and stormed out, punching the door in as he disappeared.

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"And that's it," Naruto finished. Moegi had fresh tears in her black eyes, and she sniffed heavily, squeezing Naruto's hands, and then, in a burst of sorrow and love-inspired movement, she lunged forwards and kissed Naruto on the lips, shocking the young man at first, but he soon relaxed in the kiss, and even responded warmly, much to Moegi's delight.

As the kiss broke, Naruto's eyes were filled with sadness, surprise, love, and, for the first time in weeks, true happiness."Moegi..." Naruto breathed. "I really like you, but i... need some time to sort things out. You can stay the night, but I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. I'll be gone most of the day, but we can meet in the park, at seven, if you like." Moegi nodded, and then hugged the blonde fiercely. "thank you... i love you, Naruto..." she whispered in his ear...

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