A/N: Helloooo! :D I'm so excited to finally be writing a Naruto fanfic! :O I've been kicking ideas around in my head for ages now, but this is the one I decided to go with first. :) It was a bit of a struggle trying to come up with an outline for this story, but I had my lovely sidekick, GingerificFabulousTime, to give me some awesome ideas and boost my creativity. ;) Thank you so much!

Now, just in case you didn't get the idea from the summary and genres and whatnot, this is, in fact, a yaoi story. All kinds of SasuNaru goodness be happenin' up in here! ;D Things will probably get a little bit...steamy...in chapters to come. Just consider yourself forewarned. ;) Now, please enjoy my first chapter and be sure to let me know what you think in a review! ^.^ Thanks!

Chapter One – Newcomer

It was the week before school started. My senior year of high school, to be exact. The last year between me and the real world. If I could just get through this year without any incidents, I would be free to go wherever I wanted, do whatever I wanted. All I needed to do was steer clear of trouble and stay focused on my goal of graduating.

As luck would have it, I was already in the principal's office, and school hadn't even started.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" I asked in my usual monotonous voice. Anyone who knew me well, though, would be able to detect the faint trace of incredulity beneath the surface of my words.

The principal of Konoha High, Ms. Tsunade Senju, narrowed her eyes at me in annoyance. "Mr. Uchiha, I understand that you feel you've been cheated. However, we are only looking out for your own future. As I just told you, if you want to be able to graduate, you must have at least two gym credits. And, as you know, you currently have zero." Her harsh voice matched her glare as she looked at me from over her steepled hands. Despite her youthful appearance, the principal was an intimidating woman. Her distinctive golden eyes could harden to steel in an instant, flaying anyone who dared to cross her.

However, as I was skilled in the ways of intimidation, myself, her ire had no effect on me. Unfortunately, I could also recognize when there was no point in arguing. Now was one of those times. Narrowing my eyes in frustration, I nodded to show my understanding. "Alright," I groused, leaning back in my chair and glaring at the wall on my right side. "What are my options, then?"

Opening a drawer in her oaken desk, Tsunade pulled out a small stack of papers and passed it to me. "You can read through the list of classes and sports available. If you find one you're interested in, follow the instructions for signing up. I trust you can accomplish that much on your own."

I shot her a dirty look, but refused to comment on her patronizing tone. Rising to my feet, I folded the papers and tucked them into the back pocket of my fitted jeans. Without bothering to say goodbye, I turned and made my way from her office. As I opened the door to let myself out of the main office, I came face-to-face with another boy, almost smacking right into him.

"Watch where you're going," I growled.

A pair of crystalline blue eyes met mine, taking in my customary scowl with a slight smile. "I was," he responded, completely unfazed.

With a final glare, I stalked through the door and disappeared down the hall. Everybody in this entire fucking school is nuts, I grumbled in my mind. But I would give anything to get out of this hellhole as soon as possible, so I guess I have no choice but to get my fucking gym creds. Sighing, I stuffed my hands in my front pockets and made my way through the empty hallways. Pushing through the front doors, I paused at the top of the steps and looked out over the deserted campus. The walkway leading up to the school seemed so big without kids hanging out and sitting on the wall that lined the path. Trees blew peacefully in the gentle breeze, casting claw-like shadows across the pavement. I couldn't believe that in a week from today, the whole place would be swarming with a bunch of hormonal teenagers.

Shaking my head, I continued down the walkway. I hadn't driven my car today because I wanted to enjoy the nice weather while I still could. That meant I had about twenty minutes to myself before I had to face the interrogation that no doubt awaited me at my house.

I could practically feel the papers burning a hole in my back pocket. I simultaneously wanted to tear it to shreds and leave it in my back pocket forever, pretending to have forgotten all about it. Unfortunately, I knew that ignoring it wouldn't make the problem go away. In fact, if I let it sit for too long, I knew my mom would make the decision for me.

I felt something touch my hair and brought my hand up to remove the offending object. It was a single leaf, still green and healthy. I looked up, holding the leaf in my hand. Sitting in the tree above me was a little bird, cocking its head as it eyed me with its beady black eyes. It seemed to be questioning me, asking what I was going to do. "I don't know, either," I muttered. Letting the leaf slip from my palm, I watched as it fluttered softly to the ground. Suddenly, I had an idea.

Looking around at the empty street I was standing on, I made sure no one was around before stepping off the sidewalk and onto the grass. The bird chirped twice overhead as I approached the tree. Once I reached the trunk, I jumped up and grabbed onto a branch, swinging my legs up over the branch and hoisting the rest of my body up after them. Crouched on the tree branch, I looked up for the next branch to climb. I kept climbing until I felt confident that no one would be able to see me from the ground. At last, I settled onto a branch, leaning back against the trunk of the tree. Extracting the packet from my pocket, I heaved a reluctant sigh. "Might as well get this over with now, while there's still some peace and quiet."

The paper crinkled as I unfolded it, gazing down at the list of sports and classes. The front page of the packet had them all listed out, and the subsequent pages went into more detail on each class/sport.

Baseball
Basketball (Men's and Women's)
Bowling
BUDS
BUDS II
Cheerleading
Cross Country (Men's and Women's)
Football
General Fitness
Golf
Gymnastics
Lacrosse (Men's and Women's)
Soccer (Men's and Women's)
Softball
Strength and Conditioning
Swimming
Tennis (Men's and Women's)
Track and Field
Volleyball (Men's and Women's)

As I read through the options, I grew increasingly irritated. None of the options available seemed appealing in the slightest. I knew I was considered to be pretty athletic, but I just couldn't see myself doing a running sport or kicking a ball around. And forget about weightlifting or football—I did not want to turn into a meathead with a neck the size of an elephant's leg. Leaning my head back against the rough bark of the trunk, I stared up at the sky through the leaves and branches. Sports just aren't for me, I thought irritably. Unbidden, a memory from my childhood suddenly came to my mind.

My father used to play volleyball with me every Sunday evening. My mother would watch from the kitchen window, preparing snacks for us for when we would come in afterwards, exhausted and hungry. I always used to tell my dad that I would be the state champion one day.

A sharp burst of pain chased away my memory as I hit my head against the tree trunk behind me. "Shit," I muttered to myself, wincing at how hard I'd hit my head. I hadn't meant to do it quite so hard, but I'd been desperate to distract myself from remembering. The pain in my skull was infinitely better than the pain that awaited me in my memories.

I didn't know exactly what made me flip to the page for volleyball. I just found myself staring down at the link that would take me to the team's online page. And below the link, a picture of the team from last year. Standing right in the center of the first row was a familiar-looking boy with spiky blond hair and piercing blue eyes. I couldn't quite remember where I'd seen him before, but I found myself tracing his triumphant smile with my eyes. His muscles were impressively advertised, courtesy of the sleeveless red-and-black jersey he was wearing.

And before I knew what I was doing, I'd decided to try out for the men's volleyball team.

When I walked through my front door, I was immediately confronted by a woman with graying blonde hair. "Sasuke? Sasuke, where have you been? You said the meeting with the principal would only take thirty minutes!" She fussed over me, clucking her tongue as she checked to see if I'd perhaps been injured.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I just wanted to take a walk on the way back. Don't worry."

She sighed, a concerned look in her brown eyes. "It's alright. I just wish you would let me know when you plan on being late. What did Ms. Senju want with you?"

"Nothing much." I slipped my shoes off and nudged them up against the wall with my foot. "She just told me that I need to do a sport this year in order to graduate. I've decided to join the volleyball team."

Shaking her head sympathetically, she put her hand on my shoulder. "I know you've been against doing sports since the incident, but I think this will be a good opportunity for you. You'll finally be able to hang out with other boys your age, and hopefully even become friends. I think it'll be good for you to have something to focus on besides stirring up trouble at school."

I knew, deep down, that there was truth in her words. And I knew that she was only trying to help me. However, it just wasn't what I wanted to hear. "Whatever. I'll be upstairs in my room."

As I pulled away and made my way towards the stairs, she called after me. "Sasuke, can't we talk? I know how hard this must be for you, but you have to face it sometime."

I paused at the top of the stairs. Turning to gaze down at the woman who had legal possession of me, standing at the bottom of the steps with a sad expression on her lined face, I found that I was still incapable of opening up. "You know what? Just butt out, okay? I'm fine. I don't need you trying to act like a psychologist."

The stricken look on her face almost made me regret my harsh words. But then I turned and entered my room, closing the door behind me so that I wouldn't have to look at her face. I was fine, after all. I'd managed to select a sport without much difficulty, not making a big deal out of it. I'd even chosen the sport of my childhood, just to prove that I'd moved on. She had no right to dredge up the past again.

Grinding my teeth in frustration—at the principal, at my adoptive mother, at myself—I strode over to my bed and collapsed onto it on my back. Staring up at the ceiling, I let out a long breath and closed my eyes. This is either going to be the best year ever…or the absolute worst. With the way things are going…my money's on the latter.

Naruto's POV

"I hope I don't have her for English this year…."

"Please, with your luck, you're going to have her for sure!"

"You little shit…."

I tuned out the guys' meaningless chatter as I sat back on the bench and leaned against the lockers at my back. Using the end of the towel that was slung around my neck, I wiped the sweat from my jaw. The guys and I had met that morning for a friendly game of volleyball, just to get our bodies used to the sport again after a summer off. After all, despite the two seasons between us and Men's Varsity Volleyball, we would be training the whole while until then. And what with school starting in a few days, we needed to start getting serious.

I tuned into their conversation again when I heard the topic shift to volleyball. "…some new kid joining the team," Kiba was saying, raking a hand through his choppy brown hair. One of our two outside hitters, Kiba was known for his sarcastic attitude and foul mouth. The brunette was currently leaning against the lockers in nothing but his boxers, using his old gray T-shirt with the sleeves cut off to wipe his face. "Coach said he'd be giving him a tryout today."

"What time?" Shino, one of our two middle hitters, asked with all the interest of a rock.

"Eleven."

I glanced absentmindedly at my wristwatch, noticing that it was almost eleven now.

"Eh, he's probably nothing special," Shikamaru mused from his spot on the bench opposite me. Our setter was lying on his back with one arm beneath his head, the other tossing his water bottle lazily into the air and catching it again. "If he makes the team at all, he's probably going to be on the JV team."

"You're probably right." The other outside hitter, Neji, closed his locker with a clang. He had grabbed his bag from his locker and stuffed his towel and bottle inside already, slinging the strap over his shoulder as he turned toward the door. "But even so, I'll be curious to hear how he does. Let me know what the results are, okay, Shikamaru?"

"Ehh? Why me?" The black-haired boy complained. "What if I have better things to do than sit around watching some noob try out?"

"Shikamaru. You're fooling no one."

With a loud groan, Shikamaru sat up and planted his feet on the floor. "What a pain. Fine, I'll watch him."

"Good." Satisfied that the boy with a ponytail would do his job, Neji left the locker room. Before the door closed, I thought I heard Coach Kakashi's voice out in the gym. He hadn't been in there when we were playing earlier, which could only mean that he was here for the tryout.

With a sigh, I got to my feet and grabbed my bag. "Good job, guys. We're in for a good season if you keep up the good work."

"Hey, Naruto! Where are you going?" Kiba asked, leaping to his feet as he strode over to me and slung an arm around my shoulders. "Wanna go to the pool? We can get the guys together for a little relaxation time before school starts again."

I shrugged, clapping the other boy on the back. "Sure. I've got nothing else to do today."

"Wow guys, don't worry about me at all." We both looked over at the sound of Shikamaru's dry voice. "You guys can all go celebrate at the pool while I stay here watching this kid try out. Don't worry about me; it's not like I wanted company or anything."

With a grin, Kiba punched Shikamaru playfully in the arm. "I'm glad we have such a noble friend. Thanks, pal! We'll enjoy ourselves at the pool while you're here babysitting."

The other two boys in the room, our two middle hitters Shino and Lee, grabbed their own bags, too. "Good luck, Shikamaru," Shino said in his typical serious voice. "Be sure to tell us everything when you join us at the pool."

"Shikamaru, I believe in you!" Lee cheered, his large black eyes sparkling. "See you later!"

"It's settled then!" Kiba happily tugged on his athletic shorts, leaving his shirt slung over his shoulder. "Have fun, Shikamaru!"

"Fuck off, Kiba," Shikamaru muttered with an eye roll. "See if I tell you guys anything."

The brown-haired boy merely laughed and headed toward the door. "Consider this payback for when you abandoned me to clean the gym by my fucking self last year."

The black-haired boy glared at Kiba, his hands in his shorts pockets. "Whatever." Slouching to the door after Kiba, Shikamaru entered the gym and took a seat on one of the metal benches that lined the floor. Lee and I trailed after them, pausing to glance out across the floor at where Coach Kakashi stood with a mysterious boy on the other side of the gym. The boy was facing away from us, so I couldn't tell who he was, but I could've sworn there was something familiar about his spiky black hair.

He was currently facing off against Kakashi, who stood on the other side of the net in a crouch. I watched, transfixed, as the boy threw the ball up into the air and then jumped up to send the ball over the net in a perfect jump serve.

"Whoa," Kiba said, impressed in spite of himself. "That's quite the newcomer."

Kakashi hit the ball and sent it back towards the black-haired boy's court. Running forward at an amazing speed, the boy intercepted it just on his side of the net and spiked it down over the net. I held my breath as Kakashi dove for it, executing a dig. He got his hands beneath the ball just before it could touch the ground, and managed to send it up into the air again. However, it bounced off the very top of the net, rolling over the edge to fall limply onto his opponent's side. The boy reached out and caught it in one hand, tucking it against his side as he slipped under the net and offered his other hand to the coach.

Once Kakashi was on his feet again, the boy headed back to his side of the net. In the brief moment that he was facing us, his eyes rose and connected with mine. And just like that, I realized where I'd seen him before. He was the scowling boy who'd nearly run into me in the office a few days ago. For a moment, it appeared he didn't recognize me. We simply stared at each other, silently assessing. And then his glower returned as he remembered. Turning to face the net again, he pretended I wasn't there.

I felt a scowl pull at my own face as I turned toward the gymnasium door and stalked forward. Great, now we have that asshole trying out for the team. And by the looks of it, he's guaranteed a spot on the varsity team.

"Naruto? What's wrong?" Kiba came up beside me, peering into my face with confusion and concern. I could hear Lee and Shino following behind us, their curiosity apparent even in their silence.

"Nothing," I replied, shrugging casually as I forced myself to relax. "It's pretty hot in here; let's hurry over to the pool."

Just before we slipped out the door, I turned my head slightly to the side. The black-haired boy was watching me with an appraising look. Then he was jumping into the air again to execute a jump serve. I was through the door before his hand made contact with the ball, but I still heard the smack echo through the gym. A challenge, ringing in the air loud and clear.

Alright. Challenge accepted.

A/N: Sorry about the bit of angsty Sasuke going on there. D: I promise he won't always be like that. :) Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, despite it being a little slow! Thanks for reading, and please leave a review to let me know what you think! :D