Sorry for the late update. I recently moved so I have limited access to the internet.
"Naruto?! Why didn't you come back last night, Baka? It's dangerous to sleep out here. There's rogues all over the place. Gato employs a large force. I guess you're too stupid to think of that!" Sakura exploded in anger and smashed her fist into Naruto's face causing him to fall, catching himself on his hands.
Sasuke listened to Sakura continue to rant at Naruto, watching his friend/rival's face. He saw the empty glaze cover Naruto's eyes as he smiled and scratched the back of his head, laughing at his own stupidity for Sakura's sake. Sasuke scowled and walked around Sakura, offering a hand down to Naruto and helping the blond to his feet.
"Thanks Sasuke. You know me. I'm too dumb to do anything right." Naruto chuckled and rubbed the back of his head again. Sasuke glared at him and turned on his heel, walking toward where Kakashi had them practicing their tree climbing skills. He stopped and looked back over his shoulder at the blond, ignoring the now silent pinkette.
"Naruto, don't let me here you call yourself stupid again. I know better. Regardless of how low a rank you were at the school, I know you're smarter than you let on. It's about time that you let others see this." Sasuke looked ahead again and left to go train, leaving Naruto with his mouth hanging open in astonishment. Not only had Sasuke just complimented him, he had also done more than grunt in irritation.
"S-Sasuke?" Sakura sputtered, watching his retreating form. Naruto brushed past her, following the raven to the training spot and leaving Sakura to follow. She did so in a huff, stomping her feet every step of the way.
Naruto watched Sasuke as he ran up the tree to flip neatly and land on his feet, still not quite mastering the technique. Naruto walked over to the tree beside his friend's and slowly walked up the trunk, not needing to concentrate to build chakra, simply letting his recent training show as he stood on the underside of a branch.
Sasuke huffed, trying to catch his breath as he looked at the blond, his friend's eyes were closed as the breeze played with his spikes. Naruto opened his eyes to see Sasuke staring at him. He flipped and landed next to the raven.
"Sasuke, do you want some help?" Naruto asked, his eyes a bright electric blue as he looked up into his best friend's dark glittering orbs.
"Yes. If you don't mind. I'm having trouble controlling my chakra to the extent that I need." Sasuke blushed as he admitted this, staring down at the ground as his bangs covered his eyes. Naruto smiled gently and lifted his friend's chin back up as he brushed the raven hair back in place, keeping a steady eye contact. He let go of Sasuke's chin as the raven blushed brighter. Their concentration was shattered as a loud shriek pierced the air.
They jumped apart, hands on their weapons as they looked toward the source. It was Sakura. She had apparently just screamed Sasuke's name as she had just entered the clearing.
Sasuke sighed in annoyance at the interruption as the pinkette came racing over, her arms gripping his waist tightly. "Sasuke-kun, why did you leave me behind? I love you." Saskura whined, looking up into the older boy's face. A loud throat clearing interrupted the pinkette and she immediately blushed, releasing Sasuke as she saw Kakashi staring at her, impatience clear in his eye.
Naruto stifled a laugh before walking over to Sasuke and standing beside him.
"Now then, Sasuke, have you progressed any further in your training?" Kakashi asked then sighed as he watched said boy shake his head. "Sakura, have you managed to walk up the tree instead of run?" He watched in exasperation as she shook her head as well. "Naruto, tell me that you, at least, have managed to build better control than yesterday's sad attempts."
Naruto turned and walked over to his tree and breathed out slowly before calmly walking up the trunk of the tree to stand rooted on the underside of his branch.
"Very good, Naruto. I believe you just may make a fine ninja yet. As for you two, keep working at it." With that, he raised his book back in front of his face, sitting on a tree limb in Sakura's tree.
Sorry, I know this chapter is short, but I have no more time to pend on it. This story's pace will begin picking up shortly. Review please.
Ja ne!