The Bittersweet Taste of Victory

"You've got one chance to redeem yourself Naruto. Do this for us, and we'll consider your price fully paid." After losing horribly in a bet with Kiba, Naruto's got some debts to pay. But the boys are willing to let it slide… if only he'll woo the infamous Uchiha Sasuke.

Chapter 1

The Bet

Naruto glared at the cards in his hand, blaming them for his trecherous losing streak. It was nearly his 10th game, and he'd lost almost everything valuable he owned. And as soon as he saw Kiba's menacing smile, he knew that this game would end no differently. He growled once before letting out a dejected sigh. "I fold…"

"Ahhh, had enough yet Naruto? Shino and I were just getting started!" Shino just kept quiet, letting his partner do all of the talking. "Well then, now that you've lost, what? 11 times in a row? It's time to see what you owe us…" Kiba glanced down at a small sheet of paper. "Alright, it says you owe us $407.54, all of your jewelry-"

"THEY'RE NOT JEWELRY, you damn dog! They're called men's ACCESSORIES!!!" Kiba just smirked, scanning further down the list.

"Anyway, the next thing on the list says… that we have the right to burn anything orange that you may own, be it that horrid sweatshirt you're wearing right now, or an orange blanket, it's our choice. And the next thing is…" Kiba looked up at Naruto, an evil, ominous smile curling over his lips. "And the next thing is that we get full access… to your diary!"

Sakura, who had been sipping on green tea only a few seats over looked incredulously at Naruto. "And why in the world would you bet a thing like that Naruto?! That's absurd." Naruto flushed at her comment.

"Yea, well, unlike you, I don't have anything else to bet! So… go finish your stupid girly drink elsewhere, okay?!"

"Sheesh, are you sure you aren't PMSing Naruto? You don't have to get so defensive!" Sakura said cooly, sliding off the stool to walk over to the rest of their card group. "Hey, Kiba, Shino… What else did this sucker lose?"

Kiba laughed mercilessly as Naruto buried his head in his arms which were resting on the table. God, this was so embarassing! "Well, there's not much else… It just says that he has to be our slave for a day."

"I don't think I've ever heard of betting something like that Naruto." Sakura said.

Naruto blushed again in chagrin, lifting his head slightly to glare at her. "Yeah, well, whatever!"

"Hahaha, you're funny Naruto! A real laugh. But now that I'm looking at your debt… I don't think you'll be able to pay all of it. I mean, do you even own 407 dollars?" Naruto shook his head which was still laying down in the crook of his arms. "Well then… we have to figure something else out then… won't we Shino? I mean, we can't just let you go on your merry way without paying us. Let's see… what would be the perfect payback…?"

"Oi, dobe!" A voice called from behind the four students. They all turned to see one Uchiha Sasuke walking up to their table.

"Great," Naruto hissed. "Not only to I have to be humiliated in front of Sakura, but Sasuke too? Damn, I have sadistic friends." Kiba chuckled at this, watching the scene with sudden curiosity. He was beginning to form an idea.

"What do you want teme? You going to rub it in my face too?"

"Rub what in your face, baka?" Sasuke asked, finally reaching Naruto's side. He promptly ignored everyone else, not even bothering to give a nod of acknoledgement. "All I came over here for was to see if you'd mind sparring with me. Since I missed yesterday's practice, I need to make-up for it."

"Why not challenge Sakura?" Naruto questions, already feeling mentally worn-out because of this stupid bet thing.

"Because I need a challenge when fighting." Sasuke rolled his eyes as if it were the most obvious thing.

"HEY!" Sakura shouted, slumping into a stool to pout.

"No offense," he added as a last minute thought. This seemed to appease her though.

"No problem!" she chirped brightly. Naruto grimaced at her easily dampened temper. If Sasuke had said something like that to him… he wouldn't be able to sit for a week he'd have kicked his ass so hard. Hmm, maybe this is what Sasuke was talking about.

"So, will you?" Naruto thought for a moment. It was either spar with the bastard, go back home to an empty house… or listen to Kiba's unending torture ideas. Maybe a spar would do him some good.

"Sure, why not. I'll be there in a sec." Sasuke nodded, heading off towards the training fields. Naruto turned back in his seat and slapped some money down on the table. "This is for my ramen. I'm leaving." He announced.

"Ah ah ah… Not so fast… Naruto-chan. I've thought of your new payment."

Naruto cringed, bracin himself for the horrors he knew were going to come.

"I've decided that you, Naruto Uzumaki, have to woo the one and only… Uchiha Sasuke." Naruto fell back in his chair, clattering to the ground.

"WHAT?!?!?!" he shouted, springing back up to look the others helplessly in the eye. Kiba smirked evilly again, Shino's reaction wasn't visible, and Sakura was suspiciously remaining quiet. Something… was seriously wrong with these people.

"You've got one chance to redeem yourself Naruto. Do this for us, and we'll consider your price fully paid." Naruto was stunned. He could either pay them back, go with their second decision and woo the Bastard… or… he could back out. The first one was out of the question, along with the last. He couldn't pay them back even if he wanted to. And he never backed out of a challenge. Then that would mean…

Damn.

"Alright… I'll do it… But there's got to be a time limit. I'm not going to be playing this farce for ever." Kiba nodded in agreement.

"Fine. One month. That's all I'm going to make you do. One month." Kiba paused. "But, in this month, you must pass the criteria. You must 1) kiss him. With his consent Naruto. No forcies. 2) admit your feelings for him… a.k.a. love, if you're really that dense. And 3) get him to admit his feelings for you. Got it?" Naruto gulped, but kept all dry comments back. Now would not be the time to argue with Kiba. He did, afterall, hold all of the cards in this situation.

"Right then, your challenge starts…" Naruto breathed heavily, preparing his mind for the long… long month that he was going to undergo. Wooing Sasuke? Impossible. He'd had fangirls chasing him his entire life and he hadn't ever given them the time of day! Now factor in that Naruto's a guy, and you'd think that this was impossible. Naruto sighed.

But he'd already agreed. There was no backing out now. He was just going to have to do it.

Whether he like it or not.

"Now."

Yes yes, short chapter I know. But the parents are making me go to bed. So I've got to cut it off here. Anyway, check in Wednesday for the next chapter of The Bittersweet Taste of Victory!

Kimi