Okay, I shouldn't be starting a new story before finishing my others, but I feel good about this one and I've been writing it pretty continuously since I started it, so I think it's okay and I want to go ahead and put it out for criticism. So please, read, enjoy, and maybe even review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but I do own many of the books and one has been signed by Derek Stephen Prince! Yay for Otakon!

Rated T for excessive bad language and many fight scenes to come.

Gangs of Konoha

Round 1

-.- Naruto's POV -.-

The alarm's ringing is a constant throb in my head, and I groan and struggle with the covers before finally throwing an arm out to shut it off. I'm halfway dressed, and more than halfway through my morning 'why-do-i-even-give-a-shit' mantra, when I glance at the faded wall calendar and realize: it's Saturday.

"Shit," I mutter, but exhaustion steals the venom from my words. Without preamble, I flop back on the bed, waiting for sleep or a reason to move, whichever came first.

Hi, my name's Naruto Uzumaki. I'm 14 and in high school, though how that happened with my grades I'll never know.

I'm also in a gang. The Fox Gang, to be precise. Are we the toughest gang around here? You better believe it.

The reason I'm so wiped out today? It's not from doing homework, I can tell you that. The reason happens to be a little turd by the name of Kiba Inuzuka. That creep and his mutt jumped me the other day, and I have the bite marks to show for it. That's not fair, you say, he had his dog attack you? Uh, no, actually, the bite marks are from Kiba. That freak.

I finally drag myself up around noon, glance in a mirror before heading down the hall. Shirt, check. Pants, check. Blond hair resembling a porcupine on a bad day, check. Off to face the world.

I stomp to the kitchen, finding the familiar note on the refrigerator door. Naruto: Gone to library. Back before dinner. -Iruka. I have to shake my head at this guy. He always goes to the library on Saturdays and always thinks he has to leave me a note about it. Like if I wake up to find him gone I'll panic and do something stupid. I know he's my foster dad and legally responsible and all, but he takes overprotection to a new extreme.

I root around the tiny kitchen of our apartment for some breakfast - er, lunch. Being a teacher, Iruka doesn't make much, but it's just the two of us in this apartment and neither of us are around much, so it's big enough I guess. I reach up for some instant ramen and wince as my arm throbs. Damn that Kiba.

I flop down at the table and continue cursing that mutt and his whole Tanuki gang. They're the wannabe gang, the second-best who are always trying to beat us. And always failing, I might add.

I check my watch and eat faster. Maybe I'll go find Lee and spar a bit, or go hit the arcade. Or go get revenge on that mutt...

I grin through my ramen. Yeah, that'll work.

-.- Kiba's POV -.-

I'm grinning as I race through the skyways, Akamaru bounding at my side. The upper levels of the city are our playground, and today I'm feelin' especially good. That's 'cause yesterday we trounced that sonofabitch from Fox Gang, Uzumaki. "Man, didja see the look on his face, Akamaru?" I smirk as I reminisce. Cheeky bastard hadn't even seen it comin'. "Shoulda known better than to trespass on our turf, right boy?" Akamaru barked happily. Chouji says I'm nuts but I swear that dog understands me. Akamaru's smart, and fierce for his size.

We keep going and pretty soon we're on top of Hokage Hall, where the boss of the city and his cronies do business. It's my favorite lookout spot in the city; as high as you can go and with a clear view of the surrounding area. No one can sneak up on you here unless you're blind or an idiot. I pet Akamaru as I survey the clustered skyscrapers of Konoha. From here I can see the people scurrying around the walkways of the upper and middle levels. Few people are on the highest level, and it's no surprise; the shops are all in the middle, with the snobby elite places higher up, but nothing's at the very top. Up here the city is a maze of flat rooftops, jutting chimneys and narrow pipes, with few walkways. Not a place for sissies or those with poor balance.

I'll probably hang out here for a while, then hit an arcade. The Tanukis don't have a meeting today, so I've got time to myself.

Homework? Yeah right.

-.- Shikamaru's POV -.-

"Shikamaru? Is that you?"

I consider not answering, pretending the annoying, chirpy voice hadn't interrupted my sleep one bit, but the guy decides to tap my shoulder for good measure, so I figure I've no choice but to drag my head up from its nice, comfy perch. I make a show of it, just to show the guy how troublesome it is for me to join the world of the conscious. Inevitably, though, I find myself squinting bleary-eyed into the unbelievably energetic face of one Mr. Umino.

"What's up, Shikamaru? Working hard or hardly working?" he grins, apparently thinking he's made the best joke of the year. Inwardly I groan, but I repress the urge to respond 'I was sleeping, dumbass, what do you think?' and instead go with a sleep-blurred hello. I guess I should have known better than to go to the library on a Saturday; motormouth Naruto said something about Iruka always coming here, but I can't listen every time he opens his big mouth or I wouldn't have time to think.

"I don't see you here often. Doing some homework?"

"Uh, yeah..." In fact I came in, put my head on my books and went down for the count, but he doesn't have to know that.

"Well, that's nice." For all my monosyllabic answers, this guy will not take a hint. And just when I think he might give up and leave me to my "work," he actually pulls up a chair and sits down next to me. I'd groan again but it's too much effort. What did I do to deserve this?

"Hey listen, Shikamaru," Iruka begins. He seems kinda nervous, like he's not sure he should be saying anything, and I admit I'm mildly curious. What's a teacher want with me, besides a lecture? "It's about Naruto. You're a friend of his, right?" I nod and he keeps going. "Well, it's just...I worry about him sometimes, you know? It's hard being a single parent, and a foster one at that, and sometimes I feel that I'm not...well, taking proper care of him."

I'm kind of surprised, and, I don't know, honored? I mean, a teacher's confiding in me. I'm not exactly the most reliable guy in school, being, as Neji put it, 'so lazy it's a wonder he doesn't die because breathing is too troublesome,' and I don't seem like the kind of guy you'd talk to about your problems. But people do, so maybe they see something I just don't get. Or they figure I'll forget about it tomorrow anyway.

"Anyway, he..." Iruka pauses again, like he can't find the words he's looking for, and considering he's an English teacher that's a pretty big deal. "Well, sometimes he comes home looking sort of...beat up, and I just...he won't tell me anything, and I just wondered if, as his friend, you knew anything? Naruto's not...getting into trouble outside of school, is he?"

Crap. Crapcrapcrap. I'm a pretty good liar in a pinch, but to Iruka...you haven't seen this guy. He radiates this downright innocence that would make a freakin' five-year-old jealous, and here he is with his concerned-parent face looking me straight in the eye. And what can I tell him? 'Sorry, but your foster son is in one of the most feared gangs in town? He gets into fights almost every day? Oh, and half the time I'm there helping him?' Then watch Iruka's eyes bug out and his jaw drop. Or maybe have a heart attack on the spot. Yeah, killing my English teacher would not do good things for my grade. Time to dodge the question as best I can. Luckily, avoiding things is a specialty of mine.

"Uh, trouble? Hm," I scratch my head and look up, like I'm thinking about it, but really I'm just trying to avoid his gaze. "I doubt it. I mean, you'd know as well as any that Naruto's a delinquent, but he'd never get into anything dangerous." Mostly. "I mean, he's not into drugs or anything." Well, that was true.

"So he doesn't get into fights?"

Craaaaap. Why'd he have to ask a direct question? "Weeeell, maybe one or two, but it's a tough town, you know?" I try to answer quickly, gloss it over, make it seem like it's not a big deal.

"I see..." Iruka sighs. He sits back, running a hand through his hair and not looking very relieved, and I sweat and figure he's seen right through me. "Well, if he does get into trouble, he has friends to help him out, right?"

"Of course!" I answer quickly. We look out for our comrades in Fox Gang.

"Yeah..." he smiles thinly, and suddenly he seems more like an adult and less like his immature self, and I'm really wishing this conversation were over. "I trust you to look out for him, Shikamaru. You may be...well, to be honest, you're something of a slacker..." Understatement much? "But I know you're a good kid. And I guess...I should trust Naruto, too." He smiles again, suddenly more lively, and stands up to leave. "Thanks, Shikamaru. Sorry to bother you with this. Good luck with your homework, see you Monday." He picks up his briefcase and leaves, looking as chipper as usual. I watch him out the door, and then my head hits the desk again, but there's no way I can sleep now.

I groan out loud this time. "Troublesome..."

-.- Naruto's POV -.-

"Die, alien scum!!"

I'm wrestling with the joystick, slamming buttons and wasting aliens, and just when I think I'm finally going to make high score history -

"Ah no, nonononono fuck!" I slam the game console, watching the flashing red GAME OVER mocking me. I search my pockets for quarters, realize I'm out and decide it's not worth it anyway. "Crappy game..." I give it a kick, earning a glare from the security guard. I return it double and stalk off. Maybe I'll feel better watching some noob tank at a game.

So yeah, I'm at the arcade. Couldn't find that bastard Inuzuka anywhere, so I decided to chill here. Hasn't really helped my mood though. I'm usually pretty good at these games...well, to be modest, I usually fucking own at these games, but I guess it's true what they say about anger clouding your judgement, 'cuz I'm too steamed to play properly. If only I could take out my anger on that flea-face...maybe if I go see Shino. The guy creeps me out, but he can tell you where anyone is at any time. I don't know how he does it; he's some kind of tech geek or something. I could ask him to track down the mutt.

I'm shuffling around the arcade when the door opens. It's so loud in here that shouldn't have even caught my attention, but something makes me look around. Call it my instinct. Whatever it is, it has served me well, because who should I see stroll in like he owns the place but dog-boy himself. I duck behind a game and luckily, the mutt hasn't seen me yet.

I grin to put a skeleton to shame. The day is looking up.

Chapter 1 and already a cliffhanger?! What madness is this?!

And you don't get another chapter until I get at least one review. XP