Disclaimer: I own nothing, and if I did, I sure as hell wouldn't share it with you.
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Naruto is ignoring me.
Let me say that again, just in case you didn't get it the first time.
Naruto.
Is.
Ignoring.
Me.
Me, Uchiha Sasuke, Konoha heartthrob, star ninja, brooding avenger.
I'm being ignored.
---
It started with the usual, we sparred, bantered for a bit, and sparred again. This has been our ritual for the past year or so, and will remain our ritual. Or so I thought. We were walking back from the training grounds we'd been using, planning on going to Ichiraku (The dobe's idea, of course). So, we're just walking, not talking, not doing anything. Hell, we weren't even looking at each other.
Then, out of no where, the idiot pushes me, cocks his head, and proclaims, "I'm angry."
Where the helldid that come from? We weren't even arguing! There was nothing between us, we were just walking along like two normal eighteen year olds instead of the killing machines that we are. There was no verbal combat, there were definitely no weapons or jutsu about to be brandished. And the idiot decides he's angry.
So, I just kind of stared at him. He was standing there with a hand on his hip, his head turned to one side, eyes cold, and smile gone. After a minute or so, I realized that Uchiha Sasuke does not stare speechless at anyone, least of all his blonde teammate. It just isn't done. I always have some cunning retort on the tip of my tongue, ready to slice into the one who dares confront me.
Except now.
After realizing that I need to say something, or the moron will keep glaring at me. And we're drawing a bit of attention. Turns out that Naruto decided to stage this little face off right in front of the Yamanka flower shop. And guess who happened to be behind the counter? Yeah, that's right. Ino, my number one fan. Oh, and don't forget the crowd of people that just so happened to also be in her family's store at that very moment. She comes outside, dragging what looks like half of the village out with her. Turns out, none of the Konoha 11 (They'd never changed it to Konoha 12 after I returned. Ouch.) had missions that day, and they'd all had a dying need to grab some flowers. To make things worse, the Kazekage and his two siblings happened to be in town, and they happened to be walking by that very street.
Now that I realize that I'm being watched by a pretty large group of people, my mouth is dry. I try to speak, and nothing comes out. Imagine that, Uchiha Sasuke suddenly struck down by stage fright! It's so idiotic! Seriously, since when do I get nervous. The crowd can tell, too. They're turning around, covering their mouths with their hands, and whispering into each others' ears. Idiots. Don't they know that just makes it more obvious that they're sharing secrets? Why Konoha hasn't been conquered by now is beyond me, with this group of geniuses on the front line. Anyway, after several seconds of looking like a fish out of water, I finally manage to croak out, "Why?"
"Why?"
That's it. No cunning rebuttal. No scathing remark. No witty retort. Just… "Why?" That's all I said. I didn't even add an insult after that! Where's the man whose gaze can send tendrils of fear into any battle hardened shinobi? Where is the man who had a vocabulary so extensive, scholars listened to his debates in awe? Not the ones with Naruto, of course. Its just a figure of speech. But that isn't the point. The point is, for the first time in years, I couldn't think of anything to say.
So, now I'm standing there, looking like an idiot. Naruto's still a few feet away, still in that ridiculously feminine pose, still glaring at me. Then, he blinks, shoots me one last heated glare, and turns around. He walks away. Like I'm not even worthy of a response! This had never, ever happened before. Where was the blonde idiot with a temper as short as he was in our genin years? Where was my teammate, who rose to any and all challenges with a cheery smile and loud announcement? Where was my dobe?
Apparently, not there. I was left standing alone in the middle of the circle of onlookers, wondering what just happened. Our audience was likewise shocked. Actually, my audience, since Naruto had left.
---
Its been one week since that day. Every day, I've gone to our training ground, hoping the idiot will show up and explain. Every day, I've been disappointed. He doesn't show. I heard from a reliable source that my blonde had taken up training with Hyuuga Neji. Neji, of all people. Hello, Idiot! He used to hate you!
…
Well, so did I, but, once again, so not the point. Besides, I didn't really hate him. I just tried to. God, that doesn't sound any better, does it?
Back on topic, I've still gone to the training ground, even after learning that little fact. Who knows, maybe he'll show up. I doubt it, though. Besides being stood up every one of the past seven days, when I see Naruto on the street, he magically seems to loose his sense of hearing. I can call his name all I want, but he doesn't even glance in my direction. Maybe I should have Tsunade check that out.
Seriously, though. I'm not sure if I should be glad or disappointed that it's our week off. On one hand, if we had missions, he'd pretty much have to talk to me. You can't complete an A-Ranked mission without some form of communication. But that's just it. What if he didn't talk to me? At all. God knows the idiot's stubborn enough. If that happened, we'd almost definitely fail the mission, and when asked why, we'd have to tell Tsunade the truth, because the rest of the squad would be their, and then she'd take our masks away and probably make us teach a group of genin. I do not want that. Not a bit.
So, I'll wait this out. Naruto has to forgive me sometime, right?
Oh, and speaking of forgiveness, I'm beginning to feel guilty, like this is my fault. I don't even know what that moron is mad about, nevermind how it relates to me! Gah, he's getting in my head!
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(A/N:) This is definitely going to be a multi-chaptered fic. I'm not really sure where its going, but I want to continue it…you know?
Heh, I don't even know what I'm talking about, so I don't really expect you to.
I was listening to One Week, by the Bare Naked Ladies when writing this. The song kind of inspired the fic. This chapter is the first two lines. Scroll to the top of the page for my thoughts on this subject.
I don't know if I'm going to do the rest of the fic following the song, or not. I have some ideas, but nothing is concrete. If you're interested, expect a new chapter up on or by Monday, July 9. I'd probably have it up sooner, by I'm going over Sunni's house. XDDD
Oh, and I'm not sure what this format is supposed to be: a journal, or just Sasuke's thoughts?
I'm leaning towards the latter, just because I can't see Sasuke keeping a diary. – giggles at the thought –
P.S.: This is my fifth time changing this little ending note, but this time its to say that this fic is set about three years after the start of Shippuuden, so the Rookie 9 and Gaara are all around 18, Team Gai is about 19, Temari is 21, and Kankurou is 20. In case you were wondering.
Sasuke and Naruto are ANBU by now. Please don't ask me how they advanced so quickly, how Sasuke came back to Konoha, or anything about Akatsuki. I really have no idea, but I might put answers in later chapters.
Laters.