Sasuke's little arms tighten and the blue blanketed bundle he's carrying presses deeper into his shirt. He's running, and the old knobby trees so prized by his Leaf village seem to jumble by from his lane of sight. On any other day he'd walk; maybe throw a few kunai shots on the surrounding bark just to show his older brother that he's been practicing. Today, however, he grins and adds a burst of speed, is another matter entirely.
To believe he actually did it! Sasuke can't help the rush of giddiness surging through his veins, his little heart beats excitedly and his legs pump faster. He runs through the underbrush and little patches of Konoha grass whip against his heels through his sandals. He's close, and soon the stolen bundle in his arms will officially be his for keeps.
There. He stops, pausing paces before a meet of two trees, whose leaves and branches meld together overhead like a magical, earthy doorway. Sasuke places the bundle down and picks up a stray twig. He aims, and fires.
It's like a cacophony of fireworks. The forest floor at the foot of the two trees flood with green paint, and Sasuke hurries to pick up his bundle, while simultaneously backing up a few steps. He watches as some leaves flutter down, only to activate on contact in a pitter-patter of firecrackers. Finally, then, with a grumbling groan the trees tremble in their roots moments before a deluge of water crashes down, spreading wide a wave of the paint.
The air settles. A splash of green colors his right big toe and Sasuke wiggles his digits until paint seeps into his sandal. He huffs. But soon there sounds a rustle and he looks up to a flash of familiar yellow hair and light eyes swinging on a branch.
Upside down on a tree, his oversized orange shirt bunched up against his chin and scrawny belly proudly bared open for all to view, Naruto waves. Sasuke snorts and shakes his head.
"Overkill?" he raises an eyebrow and gestures his head to the still-dripping branches.
Naruto flips, balancing on his feet and beats a fist against his chest. "No way! You can never have too much traps! Everyone loves surprises!"
Oh no. Sasuke's pursed lips tremble a bit before giving way to a bright smile blessed with a missing tooth. "Naruto, you idiot."
His first friend ever grins and crosses his hands behind his head. "You know I'm right, Sas. Plus, this way no one can find us, na?" He jumps down from the tree, circumventing the growing green puddle. "Did you do it?" he says, looking pointedly at the bundle in his arms.
Sasuke blushes and faces away from blue eyes. "What do you think?" he tightens his grip on the blanket, flushing even more. "Do you know how hard it was to take this from nii-san? I feel so bad."
Naruto grins even wider and little canine teeth glint with mischief. "That's the spirit! Next thing you know, you'll be pulling pranks with the best of the best!"
Sasuke rolls his eyes, still pleased. Whoever could that be?
As if in tune with his thoughts his friend steps in closer and suddenly he has tanned, dirty nose in his face, twitching with excitement. Sasuke's whole body jerks, and in a blink his eyes meet azure. Naruto's eyes crinkle.
"Let's eat!"
A/N: They should be about seven in this fic, sorry that couldn't be more apparent. And before Uchiha massacre, as you can see. So, like, there's chapter two coming up as soon as I write it! Thanks for reading!