Blocking the fist aimed at his side, Naruto spins himself away from his opponent and the prickly tree at his back. He steps back enough to make room for acceleration then charges at his enemy.

Miss. Immediately he panics and can only watch as his friend/rival dodges and sweeps in with a roundhouse kick. Naruto's too late to duck and dimly he can hear his jaw crack. He hits the ground with a hard thunk.

"Get up."

Asshole. "Do you- mmrph," Naruto's lips kiss dirt and it leaves a metallic taste in his mouth. Great, he just bit his cheek.

Sasuke grinds his foot into Naruto's skull even harder. It takes Naruto only a few seconds to hear past his growing ire.

"-waste of my time. I could've long since finished my homework, unlike some morons I know, instead of playing loser with you."

Naruto pushes up against a heavy shoe. "What the hell! If I didn't have-," he struggles on his forearms, then butts his head out from under Sasuke's foot. He quickly jumps to his feet. "Besides who's waiting for you to dinner? Do your homework in the morning – no one cares."

If Naruto could see the effect he was having on his rival he'd be cackling with glee. But he was too busy blinking out the swirling colors in his eyes to note how Sasuke flinched.

"If you'd just give me a minute, I'll come back around and beat your ass." Naruto wobbles as he shoves Sasuke mildly.

Sasuke scoffs. "How? And when?"

Naruto recovers with a snap. With a sharp yell he completes his fist's wide arc into Sasuke's left eye, throwing in a weak kick to the knee for good measure. As he watches his opponent stumble, he hesitates.

Too late. Sasuke trips his foot out from under him and he goes down yet again, landing hard on his ass. Belatedly he sees déjà vu as the pale teen nears and grabs at his shirt collar. His eyes shift to meet cold, dark irises and he notes a blur to his right. All he thinks however, before Sasuke's fist connects, is how he wished he had more time with this black-haired enigma.

Too bad Sasuke's not one to stay at the scene of the crime.

With a start Naruto's eyes snap open. Gone already, he thinks, having surveyed the clearing empty of a certain Uchiha. His internal clock, other than his absolute faith in recovery abilities, knows he hasn't been unconscious long and so he can't help but search for a head of dark hair. This isn't his first loss, much less is this disappearance anything new, however Sasuke could still be here for another round.

His heart beats faster in hope. If only Sasuke would stay for a little longer, maybe hear him out. He never means to piss him off and away but the bastard doesn't see him otherwise. At school there's plenty a glare and a sniff, or a turn of the head and Naruto is so not one for being a doormat - especially after repeatedly putting his hand out in comradeship to the bastard's pale, lonely ass. His tolerance for stranded students like him only goes so far.

My parents are never home too, he thinks as he stretches wide along the grass against his back. Doesn't make me a dick. A sensitive bruise makes Naruto wince and an uncomfortable feeling is already settling familiar in his stomach. Sasuke always liked to aim where it counted, predicting that his ramen lunch would taste spicy bile in the aftermath. He's a right-bastard, Naruto knows well enough, but he can't help but give props, along with realize how stupid he is to keep coming back.

For years they've been at odds, having occasional fistfights at school to lessen the tension before it escalates. Naruto can't deny having enjoyed those fights: sometimes he'd catch the bastard off guard and whoop his ass well in the eyes of his peers as payback for all the times he's been under fist-fire. It was tradition between them and he long figured they both understood there was no mal-intent behind it.

But only recently had the fights gotten more frequent, personal and isolated, the reasoning behind them unclear. Naruto recognizes he's someone with a lot of steam to blow and he's never said no to a challenge yet but even he can understand when things are going too far. He sometimes says too much and ends up pushing Sasuke away again, straining the already delicate relationship they have. And exposing the bastard's non-existent parents really wasn't going to win brownie points with the boy he was planning on finally befriending this year.

Naruto thumps his head against the ground in tandem with his thoughts, Stupid, stupid, stupid! he chants and thinks back along his entire interaction with Sasuke today. The clouds drift by slowly across the clearing of the canopy overhead and Naruto sighs as he closes his eyes. His body still hurts and there's nothing else he can do and he doesn't know of a better solution. Fuck it.

He's going to fight him tomorrow. Again.

Naruto grumbles under his breath as he nears his bathroom mirror, turning his cheek to see the darkening bruise on his face in better light. His jaw looks sound but his right eye is mottled pink, deep enough to incite doubt of his healing in time for school tomorrow. He should call Sakura but it's late and he doesn't want her to see him at his worst. It'll lighten up, he hopes and he tenderly pulls off his shirt to take his shower. 'Though she might give it to me worse for hurting her precious Sasuke, he smiles grimly and kicks off his shoes.

Naruto's headed straight for the bathroom the moment he'd come home, feeling sweaty and dirty and exhausted after his bout with Sasuke. He knew he'd have to ice the bruises quick and maybe take some painkillers but at the moment he doesn't care. The sound of shower water is deafening to his ears and he forgets his losing the fight. He breathes the steam in deeply and runs his fingers through his hair, massaging until leaves and twigs and dirt stream away from his scalp. Naruto closes his eyes for a moment then uncaps his body wash. He's almost through with his routine when his phone rings.

"Kiddo, you're still up?"

Jiraiya's voice is full and airy, like a slice of fresh bread. Naruto grins despite himself, his jaw still stinging.

"Who do you take me for?"

His uncle, his guardian and his parent all in one laughs and he can feel that it's been a while since he's got to do so with sincerity. It isn't much of a joke but it's been months since they've talked and more since they've seen each other. Naruto's simply relieved to hear his family once again and he laughs along.

"Naruto, how's life going for ya? How's the house?"

Naruto's only happy to bullshit, though the throbbing's never stopped in his eye since coming from the fight. He tells all, he spins stories, he keeps talking because he's long figured there is a 50-50 chance of Jiraiya informing him of his arrival or yet another journalism endeavor. He's praying for the former. He wonders if Jiraiya can tell that he's fibbing but Naruto can't help but grip onto his parent's attention when he's finally got the chance. A good story might bring him home and Naruto misses the days when they could get by on erotic literature.

"And then this girl totally got down on me and I could see her cleavage smoosh against my thigh-"

"No way! What size?!"

"Huge! As big as the old hag's, heavy on her back too. Yeah, I was so worried for her being hunched over on her knees, like what if she keeled over?"

"Ah, Naruto-"

"But she was like, ~Oh Naruto, please, let me~ and it was pretty hot."

Unfortunately, Jiraiya's chuckles begin to die down and Naruto squeezes his eyes shut. He knows what's happening, what his father's going to say next but now there is no more he can do to put off the inevitable. He hears his dad take a deep breath.

"I'm not coming home."

Just his luck. Of course. Naruto clenches the phone tighter, his case's indentations sear red into his palm.

"I'm sorry, kiddo. There's no excuses for me to say, you already know the rest."

That he did. Naruto abruptly shuts off the water, letting droplets still foaming of soap fall to the tiles. He tugs back the shower curtains but doesn't move for his towel. The cold hits him and he waits.

"I just wanted to let you know that I've transferred some money to your account and that should cover any expenses, huh? As usual if there isn't enough, you can tell old Tsunade, but don't let her know I called her that." Jiraiya chuckles to himself but Naruto isn't listening much anymore. A breeze through his window makes his body shiver, yet his eyes still stare at the bathroom tiles detachedly.

"Naruto?"

He can hear a note of worry and confusion through his speakers, so he responds.

"Sure! Same amount, right? I don't think I'll need more than that. I mean, I like eating ramen," Naruto forces a laugh. "And..." He sighs deeply. He's too tired to be depressed from Jiraiya's absence, too old to cry over spilt milk. Especially so when he never had any of said milk to begin with. Normally he'd beg his parent home but Naruto's fully worn out and he doesn't want to lose a second time in one day.

Instead, he laughs. "And I'll keep it quiet that you secretly like old women instead of all the prostitutes you follow around."

"Haha, true enough, just like your mother, you are- Hey! Except for those last words, you little upstart! Call her old, don't tell her I still l-like her, chickenshit brat!"

Naruto can't help the small smile growing on his face and he reaches for his towel. "I'll remember that you stuttered too. Nothing like a grown man still in l-l-like with his old lady crush. Naa, how come you didn't write erotica about that? I'd read it."

There's a squawk and a resounding bang and the conversation is back on.

"Wow. You're ugly."

Kiba stares at his face shamelessly, portraying his disgust with a small grimace. He steps through his doorway and pokes at his bad eye. Rude.

"Screw you." Naruto rolls his eyes and slaps the poking finger away. He scowls and shoves his dog-lover friend out of his house, grabbing his keys and backpack on the way out. Today he just wants to hurry into Kiba's truck, get to class and finish his day at school without a hitch. That is, excluding his confrontation with Sasuke. He slams loud the car door after seating with a plomp and taps his fingers rough on the window-armrest. The blue in Naruto's eyes glints and his face sets in determination. Oh, he's definitely fixing for a fight with that bastard, as dirty as it can be.

"Who?" There is a click and the rap music that had been previously blaring from the truck's speakers' cuts off.

Naruto looks away from the green light and stares pointedly at Kiba.

"Yeah, we're in the suburbs and there's no one behind us. Stop stalling." The other teen reclines his chair, pulls his hands from the steering wheel and then folds them behind his head. "Well?"

Naruto sighs. Knowing his friend he truly wouldn't drive until he told him the truth. He might as well. "Sasuke."

"Ah, so I thought." Satisfied with an answer, Kiba sits up and begins driving again.

Way too easy. "What, is that it?"

"You know," Kiba smoothly turns the steering wheel, and the vehicle follows. He's too calm, too weirdly silent, Naruto notes with sense of foreboding. "I mean it when I say you're ugly. You should break this up."

Naruto growls. "We're not dating, ass."

"Ha. Yeah, and you look like shit for the third time this week." Kiba stares intently at the road before him and Naruto notes the red triangle tattoos stretch taut when his lips tighten. But he doesn't add any more to say even as they stop at the next light.

The ride to school is unbearably quiet and along the way Naruto fidgets in his seat. He's never known what to do with silence and the urge to laugh obnoxiously or holler nearly escapes him. But no. He settles for entertaining that thought and patiently waits for Kiba to say his fill.

They park in a near empty lot, not to be filled with passing high school students for yet another hour. They're early as always, and for once Naruto wished that wasn't the truth. Now he really can't avoid a "serious" discussion with one of his buddies. He groans inwardly.

As if in tune with his thoughts, Kiba turns in his seat and fixes an intense look on his person. Naruto bristles, self-conscious.

"What?" he says brusquely.

"What's going on between you and Sasuke?" Kiba asks. He's not one for subtlety, which on better days Naruto appreciates and has in common but a little consideration and stalling would be very welcome now. Unfortunately, Naruto doesn't really know what to respond.

"Nothing, man, nothi-"

"Nothing?" Kiba's finger flicks his swollen eye and Naruto scrunches his nose in pain. "Mr. Umino's going to flip shit when he sees your face! I'm already flipping shit and it's taking all that I have not to break into Uchiha's place and fuck him up." Kiba's eyes look to the ceiling of his car and his palms face up as if begging for divine intervention. "Oh my God, Naruto, you dumbnut, how hard is it to keep your hands off one guy?"

Naruto's lips immediately curls in disgust. "Don't say shit like that, you know that's not how it is. And you also know the Uchiha would fuck you up if you ever happened to get into his house."

Kiba resolutely ignores those last words, rolling his eyes. "Then how is it? Talk to me, 'Ruto, explain why I'm seeing this wounded soldier shit again? And it's only been like, what, a few months into the school year? Not to mention summer break?"

"I-" Naruto doesn't know what to say. He could try to explain that when Sasuke's in the immediate vicinity his brain goes on standby and all he can focus on is the sound of his voice. That when he moves to leave, Naruto can't react fast enough to catch the bastard's attention. That he lives for those rare moments they're face-to-face, almost only fighting, he holds his gaze and Naruto's so ecstatic that if he had a tail he'd wag it. …Wag it? His brows scrunch in confusion. Sounds like a bad rap song.

"Hello?" Kiba waves a hand in front of his face and Naruto snaps back to the present.

Naruto realizes his thoughts won't translate well, not that he knew the right words to explain his relationship with Sasuke anyway. All he knows is that these past weeks they've just been in a rut and given a good talk/beating they'll be back to normal again. Which isn't really any different, Naruto snorts. Still, he'd settle for anything with Sasuke even if it ends with a bad eye.

"Everything's fine, really. We're just fighting more often but I don't know why. I'm finding out today though… After school."

Kiba sighs and shakes his head. He removes his keys and unbuckles his seat belt. "I'm not trying to hound on you, dude, for real, 'cuz that's not my thing." He reaches over to the back seat and grabs his school bag. "But one day you can really get hurt and no one's gonna be there to help you. Both of you."

He puts his hands up in surrender and cuts off Naruto's protests. "I'm just saying; it's not normal, man. We rarely fight and when we do it's not gonna be with hard fists. Maybe you two…" Kiba makes a face and shivers.

What?

"Whatever happens tonight I'll still be your friend, okay?" Naruto feels a hard slap on his shoulders. That, along with the sudden urge to bite the hand off.

"But you're still super ugly though so I texted the girls to bring some makeup for you."

Oh no. Naruto can feel as his stomach sinks. "Oi, you can't call them behind my back, Sakura will kill me once she's figured out it's from Sasuke!"

Kiba, that asshole, simply laughs as he exits the truck and his laughter booms across the empty lot. Naruto's pissed but dog-boy is quick to shut the door and speed-walk away. And soon before he can give him a piece of his mind, he's gone.

Naruto thumps his head against his seat's headrest.

"Shit."

"Uzumaki! Learn to put a cap on your stupid, wannabe male posturing-"

Naruto cringes at the sheer volume that his smaller in stature, seemingly frail friend can produce at will. He can see short pink hair whip wild as Sakura furiously searches her bag for some makeup. Ino, her accomplice simply nods in agreement, intervening at choice intervals.

"I mean this is like, getting old. Naruto, don't you have anything better to do than bait Sasuke?"

Naruto would definitely begin to defend his position. He's positive that it's Sasuke who baits him but he knows to say otherwise, to say anything really, is suicidal at this time. Not that Sakura would even believe him or listen. So his mouth remains shut.

He flinches when Sakura finds some foundation and brandishes it as a weapon against him.

"And the nerve to ask for my help! This isn't the first time and makeup is expensive-"

Naruto scrunches his eyes and exhales deeply. She's right that this isn't his first time in the girl's bathroom getting his 'makeup' done. And it's certainly not going to be his last. But it's not like he plans to get hit or wants to bother her needlessly. He just needs a cover-up just so that Iruka doesn't notice. God, he hopes he doesn't notice. This is the last time in his day that he's gonna be pestered about fighting with Sasuke; he's not hearing a third lecture. Not to mention, this is the last time he's gonna think about that bastard, too. Somebody help him, if even Sakura gets the wrong idea.

But still, the girl in question isn't holding back. She's beautiful even as she's biting him with her words but Naruto can't help that her comments are getting to him, that his body begins hunching in on itself in the already small, class chair. He knows logically that she doesn't mean it and that she's only making strong her point so that he doesn't pick a fight again. Still, he winces at a particularly sharp barb.

When will she finally learn that Naruto can't stop these fights from happening? That he can't stop anything?

He scuffs his foot against the blue, bathroom tiles and he lets her rant on. Somehow over the noise, he can hear yet another student walk into the restroom and he notes through the many mirrors that they're not even fazed over the fact that there's a boy in the girl's bathroom. Damn. Of course, he's already been familiar to the female student body, but it still gets to his masculinity that not one is even remotely surprised by him. Naruto figures that by now he can even use the girl's restroom later by himself and no one would blink an eye. He sighs.

"Look up." Sakura demands and Naruto slowly raises his head.

Concern. Green eyes rove over his face, shifting focus between his purpling jaw and swollen eye. He watches as Sakura frowns and feels her brush her fingers along his cheek gently. He closes his eyes, already tired of seeing her worry.

"Oh, Naruto, look at what you've done to yourself." She grips his chin and slowly turns his face right. Ino hands her a foundation brush. There's a squelch of concealer cream and a prodding to his jaw.

"Don't move." Sakura rubs the cream into his bruise and Naruto shoulders instantly slump, relaxed. Although he's never liked being the one who always gets hurt or having to put makeup on, he can't deny that he loves getting pampered with a face massage by his middle school crush. It's almost worth getting hit.

When he feels her hand smoothing his hair back, he jerks in the relocated school seat and his eyes blink awake. Sakura smiles morose at him, and Naruto raises his eyebrows in question.

Sakura shakes her head but for what, he doesn't know. She runs her fingers through his hair one more time. "You can stop now, Naruto."

He flinches away from the hand on his scalp and stares at her without reserve.

She only sighs sadly. "You don't have to keep getting Sasuke's attention for me, you know. I'm over him and it's only hurting you and it's not working…"

His lips tighten. And like he had said, he can't stopanything.

He's long fighting with Sasuke since they were in Konoha Middle and all three of them happened to be paired up for a year-long school project. They were young, still tiny and such little riots; always fighting with the loudest words moreso than their fists. But he remembers that year fondly, as fun, since it was the first time things started looking up for him. Sasuke as his friend, both Tsunade and Jiraiya together living with him...

Naruto ignores her as he gets up from his seat, sidesteps around her in order to get a better look of himself in the mirror.

Hm. He's looking… good. Naruto angles his face in many directions, trying to catch any hint of his bruises in the poor lighting of the girl's restroom. He's smoothing a finger over his cheeks, around his eye and jawline, tracing the edges of his face. It's not a seamless run and he can feel a few ridges but overall his countenance appears the same as usual. His grin returns in confidence. This is the face that'll get back Sasuke.

Naruto turns back to Sakura, acknowledging her once again.

"Don't worry about me, worry about Sasuke-bastard," he says. "Naruto Uzumaki doesn't back down from a fight and he doesn't give up neither. Before you know it, we'll be back to 'Team 7' again." Naruto gives her a sunny thumbs up.

"I just needed to look pretty in time for class. Who knows how loud Iruka will yell at me for having bruises on my face. Can you makeup blown ears? I didn't want to get hurt worse." Sakura giggles. What a pretty sound. He feels a surge of assurance bind him and his smile regains faith.

"Good luck on fooling Mr. Umino," Ino chides in and begins packing up all the makeup tools and products used.

Sakura swiftly rounds on her. "You don't believe in my beautification skills?"

The long-haired girl waves a foundation brush at her. "Hmph, I could totally do better."

"The hell!"

Naruto guesses that it's his cue to leave. He promptly walks out the girl's bathroom, an easy, unblemished grin in his arsenal. Nothing could bring him down today, he's sure of it.

Iruka looks like he's about to cry.

It's the end of the school day, the bell having rung long ago and the halls are silent since all the students have gone. Naruto can't hear a shoe squeak or even random chatter nearby. All the focus in his head is hurting. He can only stare at his teacher.

The two of them are the only people left in the classroom, this classroom of grouped tables and blue, empty chairs. The class is hardly put together, desks crooked, chairs not pushed in, test papers still out. Usually he would, always, unfailing, help clean after class - Iruka is his number one mentor. But now Naruto feels an itch in his legs and his eyes dart to and from the exit.

The one day he's asked to stay after class leaves him anxious and on edge. He knows in his gut that it's gonna be bad news but he's stuck between running away and torment from the various scenarios he's conjectured. Is Jiraiya okay? Is Tsunade fine? he wants to demand but he doesn't want to know the truth.

Iruka gives him a pitying look, his eyebrows bent, thick ponytail wilted, a sad, small smile on his face. Naruto, for once in his life, wants to punch his teacher in the nose. He hates when people pity him.

"Naruto, I really tried my best and I've talked to everyone I could-"

Oh, so it's not about my parents,

"And I really didn't want this to happen to you, you of all people," Iruka's voice is cracking, but the man doesn't stop.

"Because I don't think it's fair, and I know you've been working hard-"

Naruto scratches the back of his head, good-natured. "It's okay, teach; just say it. I won't be mad."

His favorite teacher sighs, long. "They can't approve of your makeup classes, Naruto. You're going to have to repeat senior year."

Repeat. Naruto doesn't breathe for a moment and he feels as if the gears in his brain are slowing down to a crawl, that with just a sentence he is going to power-off and die. His heartbeat pauses, time has slowed for him. In the fog of his mind he can see how Iruka blubbers, his pitch rising higher in the cold of the moment, trying his best to restore animation in his icicle of a student. Naruto's really pulling out all the allaying stops this week because too quickly, he smiles.

"Na, I guess we'll be seeing each other again next year, huh? And to think you were just about to get rid of me: well, I caught you!" Naruto points a finger and laughs.

Iruka, pressured teacher as he is, confused and relieved and not really listening; he laughs too.

"I know you were hoping to make up more classes this summer, after official graduation, and still get your degree, albeit late, but they…" Iruka snorts half-heartedly but at least he isn't going to cry. "School regulations wouldn't allow it. And I promised you! I said, you could do half now and half later, and I'm sorry that I couldn't even keep my promise."

Naruto puts his hands up in a placating gesture. "Teach, it's okay; it's okay!" and he chuckles with his eyes closed. His blue eyes were always too telling and too clear, like water. Or maybe it's that Iruka can read him so easily and Naruto's already exhausted of talking. He wants to leave. Like, now. "I kinda expected that to happen, so no biggie, really. I'll be cool with another year, I mean, I still haven't figured out what I wanted to do with my life anyway, so more time, ya'know?"

Iruka is muted and he only nods gratefully.

Naruto takes the silence to adjust his backpack. He rolls one shoulder, cracks his neck and grins at his teacher.

"Thanks for telling me, no need to waste my time, right? Well, I guess I'll see you later, teach." Naruto swiftly leaves, his last quip a reminder of what he always says after clean-up; Iruka snaps out of his stasis.

"Wait! Naruto-"

Only Iruka is calling to an empty room because the only response he gets is the groan-flutter of the class door closing.

It is a testament to their violent natures, Sasuke, leaning against the school building, hands in his pockets, waiting for him. Naruto wonders when had they become literal appointments, so in tune, mature and ironically peaceful in light of their purpose.

Sasuke doesn't appear to have any of the same thoughts and Naruto watches as the other boy picks himself off the wall and walks away, silently expecting Naruto to follow. And like death after life, Naruto does.

They are heading to the same clearing again, an odd circle of old trees in a forest that has been growing on the Uchiha grounds for generations. Naruto remembers the first time he came here, awed, and frankly honored, he had asked his rival what were those line-scratch markings rising up the bark of these oaks.

"Nah, what happened there?"

"My ancestors were a clan of ninja, they would practice tree-climbing and mark their progress."

Sasuke had spoken so nonchalantly, not even addressing him with his eyes but Naruto could tell that the trees fascinated him just as much, if not more than was said. He smiles at the memory and stares at the back facing him.

The other boy, he's cool with his hands still in his pockets, while he walks with a swagger that easily navigates through the thick wood. Naruto can see the relaxed posture of his back, the way the white shirt conforms to smoothed shoulders, and is creaseless-ly tucked in gray jeans. This is how he always looks before a fight, calm and ready, and maybe a little happy? Naruto can't tell for sure, much of his facial expressions remain stoic but that doesn't stop him from following along.

They reach their destination. It's a far off group of trees, although a tranquil stretch, highly unlikely to be found by other Uchihas. He figures that's why Sasuke likes it so much; the teen could fight him full-power without it being reported back to his family. And Naruto could admit it was better here than at school. The air smells sharp of wood, the sun shines sparingly, the falls onto this grass feel better (not wonderful, but not painful either), and it's so silent aside from their trash talk, Naruto can sometimes hear how Sasuke curses under his breath and maybe if they're close, his thumping heart. Not to mention that they're completely alone.

Sasuke spins to face him in the clearing and Naruto witnesses the happiest look he's seen on the bastard. He has the dark, assessing eyes that rove over his person for "weak points" (hah!) and a small, almost unnoticeable smirk on his face that grows wider when he notes Naruto turn in the meager sunlight… and his make-up is showing through.

"You look beautiful," Sasuke quips and Naruto rolls his eyes. What a trick.

"Hell yeah, I do. Just for you, baby."

Naruto grins at the narrowed gaze he gets for his efforts. Score one for him.

Sasuke doesn't say anything for a moment and Naruto considers that as another point for his team. Although after a minute of staring at each other and no response, he wonders if he should beware.

To be honest, their rebounding talk is useless. They are both here now, in spite of any later plans, and have no need for verbal sparring as encouragement to their physical violence. They are going to fight; it's why they're here. But if only he could be here for other reasons, Naruto thinks, and his body waits in a slight defensive stance.

On second thought, nah.

"What the hell are you waiting for?" Naruto taunts and he cocks his head and leans back. This is all the invitation he needs.

Sasuke, in a burst of speed is upon him, a left jab following closely behind. Naruto, adrenaline surging, his feet long itching to move, surprises himself with the ease that which he dodges. With enough time for a harrowing kick, Naruto is for once ahead of the fray.

They fight not for long, half-an-hour tops, before the placing's reveal themselves.

Sasuke, his shirt torn, looks like he went into a hostile chicken coup and barely got out. Naruto can see the splinters stuck in the openings of his dress, from when he got the jump on him and shoved him hard into a tree. Progress scratch mark for that, Naruto thinks proudly and he watches as the boy limp-hobbles forward, catching himself on a root.

The teen is wearing some red on his person today - as of now, Naruto preens - his cut lip colors rouge, dripping bright onto his shirt. Unfortunately for him, the color doesn't mix well with the grass stains and dirt skid marks. Then again, his overall color looks unfortunate. Sasuke looks to him like a zombie, and the swollen eye Naruto's gifted isn't helping much in that regard.

He's panting harshly now, his breath is coming in strong gulps and gusts of air, his lungs fluctuating in contraction-distention. It's surreal and a little nauseating. Naruto can't believe his eyes how bloated Sasuke's lungs become in a panic.

And as for Naruto? Well, he's been worse. Naruto's regaining some feeling in his right middle finger, even though Sasuke – that bitch – bent it back on itself, the tip of his nail nearly touching his wrist. He's got an idea of where things are and still remain, so his vision's keeping strong despite the straight punch to his already injured eye. But Naruto reluctantly admits to himself that his side isn't doing too good, and his heaving for breath is slowing, only because it hurts more to breathe.

Nevertheless, he's loads better off than the bastard. He has more energy and more than enough stamina to keep him going like a back-up battery. Sasuke doesn't stand a chance.

"How are you feeling?" Naruto asks cheekily. He knows from experience that his rival's eye feels like utter shit and by extension so does the rest of his body, but he can't help to rub in his advantage when he so rarely gets it. "Can you even feel?"

Sasuke doesn't answer yet again and he watches as the paling teen struggles to stay standing: still, unsuccessfully, catching his breath.

Naruto finds himself in a predicament. He could go on and attack him again, bring him down for keeps but as he watches when Sasuke licks his lips (pointless, now there's more blood flowing and Naruto's eyes continue to follow the trickle) he can't muster the vengeance in him to do it. Naruto settles for trash talk.

Naruto lips curl into a filthy smile. And to think that just an hour ago he was feeling the worse! From his absentee father (surprise) to the shitty turn of his day finding out that he's gonna repeat a year… Senior year. The year that everyone takes easy since it's their last. Naruto can't believe his shit luck. However as he watches Sasuke heave, he can damn well put his money and his faith, in karma. What else would have had his rival serve himself up to him as an emotional punching bag at such a perfect time?

It was no wonder he won today, of all days. Jiraiya used to say that he had no control over his emotions but that didn't mean he couldn't direct them well. He didn't pull a Sakura, who enraged, would set herself on friend and foe. But neither did he act like Sasuke, who'd silently stew in his anger until exacting revenge. No; Naruto took his anger out destructively, usually on inanimate objects or exercise equipment.

But nothing, he snorts, beats beating his rival.

Naruto's baiting when he easily moves out of danger, when Sasuke tries to get the jump on him. He's smiling because there's no need to back up, Sasuke can't reach him anyhow. He's laughing since that's such a pitiful hit, please, really? Naruto stops laughing; he's bored, it's time to end this. A morbid voice in his head goes, Finish him, street fighter style and he laughs. Naruto goes through the motions, dodging strategically, moving Sasuke the way he wants him best before finally taking him out.

He trips him into the dirt face down, a position Naruto's been in too many times for comfort. Sasuke's shoes fight for traction but before they can Naruto locks his knees half-over the instep of Sasuke's, twine-ing his feet with his rival's. The body under him is forced to accommodate. The Uchiha bows low, Naruto holds down his long arms with a hand against the small of his back, deftly driving Sasuke deeper into the grass.

They tense. It's quiet with only the sound of harsh breathing interrupting the air between them, and a rapid heartbeat. Naruto can see the pulse in Sasuke's neck, he watches it thrum and he doesn't notice his mouth salivate. His fingers pinch into the boy's wrists while his free hand seems to move in slow motion to grasp at oily, black hair…

Sasuke coughs.

Shit! Air. Naruto's weight only lets up a little for the teen but for some reason Sasuke isn't taking advantage of the freed space. He doesn't even adjust slightly. All Naruto can see is him, who continues to eat dirt and grass ripples as he exhales.

Strange. There's a distinct lack of struggling and Naruto can't help being suspicious. For sure by now something would happen, he would garner some sort of reaction, words, body, anything. But Sasuke's silent, too silent and Naruto is getting pissed. He doesn't like being ignored.

Nails scratch at scalp, he gathers a large chunk of inky strands and yanks. Sasuke gasps, aloud.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Naruto breathes down his shoulder. There's only a racking shudder in response. Not enough.

"Talk to me, you bastard. Why so quiet?" He twists his hand and pulls up. Sasuke's long, white neck reveals and he scents his sweat.

He nears Sasuke's ear and his nose brushes the teen's temple. This is some real ASMR shit, he thinks, and in a low voice he asks. "…are you even listening?"

If there was ever a time when shit goes down so fast, so sudden - like the crashing wave of a tsunami - and the only thing left to do is react, to reflex before chaos, that time is now.

Sasuke groans, long and low, and the heavy sound is so jarring Naruto yanks the hair tighter, taut. This only makes things worse; his voice heightens and instantly, a sick satisfaction settles in his gut. Finally, something. Naruto's heartbeat begins to race, his nose blows air in and out in large gusts, his mouth floods with spit; he swallows it down slowly. But he doesn't stop the hand that stretches higher, that tugs.

Time catches up to them. The moment is cut, Sasuke only breathes silently, open-mouthed and rough against the dirt, his eyes closed. Naruto watches the transgression of color changing on his face, first a lovely pink before blanching to stark white then shadowing into gray. Sasuke's eyes snap open. Fear.

In a blink, Naruto understands. Oh, does he get it. Never in a million years would he have suspected, would he have thought it, but all the evidence is here right under him. In addition to the stricken look on Sasuke's face and Naruto grins with a feeling like never before. Sudden relief.

…It's something.

Before he can even open his mouth to say anything, obviously tactless and detrimental, Sasuke bucks him with the strength of a convicted criminal. He's running away. Naruto lands back and can only watch as the Uchiha gathers himself in a flurry and escapes but both of them knows he can't run away for long. The steps against the forest floor are the last things he hears of Sasuke before he's alone in the clearing. Completely alone.

Naruto laughs until he cries.