Chapter 2: To the Rescue

Author: big smile You are reading chapter two! Yay! They like it!

Sasuke: You're presumptuous aren't you?

Author: It's all about the positive thinking. You should try it sometimes instead of brooding all day long.

Sasuke: Whatever. glares

Author: Cool two good things in one day. A really nice reader decided to give my chapter two a chance AND I got glared at by Sasuke. AWESOME!

Naruto: Dude you're weird. Besides the teme glares at everyone don't feel like its some big honor.

Author: I know I'm weird. It's a part of my charm. Naruto, would you do the honors?

Naruto: Ahemmmmm. Joseph does not own Naruto nor is he making money off of this. I've seen his place and snuck a peak at his checkbook. If you sue him you aren't getting anything.

Now on with the story…

"What the hell are you doing here?" A gruff voice barked from behind Naruto. Naruto turned to come face to face with his best friend Uchiha Sasuke. There stood Sasuke in all his stoic glory in his perfect pressed trademark dark blue Uchiha shirt, perfect raven black hair, immaculate pale skin sheening in the sunlight and those striking reddish black eyes. Though his expression was blank Sasuke was glaring sharply at Orochimaru as if daring him to as much as look in Naruto's direction.

"Kukukuku." Orochimaru chuckled. "Sasuke-kun that truly hurts my feelings. I was only trying to help poor Naruto get to school on time. We are after all headed to the same place."

Naruto's stomach turned upon hearing those words. He had heard a rumor over the summer that a new Biology teacher would be starting at Konoah High this year. He never suspected it would be that bastard.

"Naruto promised to walk me to class." Sasuke hissed. "I plan on holding him to it."

"Kukukuku. Fine, I'll see you both at school." The window slowly rolled up neither Orochimaru nor Kabuto's gaze left Naruto for an instance. After a long while the car pulled out onto the road and was on its way up the street.

"What the hell were you doing dobe?" Sasuke demanded. "Orochimaru is bad news. Don't you remember what he did?"

"Damn it Sasuke, I don't always need you to pop up and save me like some knight in shining armor." Naruto looked at the ground suddenly finding it immensely interesting. He truly liked having Sasuke care so much for him but it was still embarrassing for him to come to his rescue seeing as how he was his rival. "It isn't like I was going to get in his car or anything." By the time Naruto looked up from the ground Sasuke was gone. Looking around he caught a glimpse of his friend already a ways down the road.

"Come on dobe. We're going to be late." Sasuke waved for Naruto to follow.

"Damn it teme stop calling me that!"

"It all happened just as you planned Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto called to the front of the car.

Beady yellow eyes fixed at Kabuto's reflection in the rear-view mirror. "Did you doubt me Kabuto? I've been around both Uchiha brothers long enough to know how to play them."

Kabuto shifted slightly pulling a small wicked looking spiked scalpel out of his pocket. He began admiring his reflection in the polished blade.

Orochimaru smiled as he continued "Threaten the Uchiha's dobe and he comes to the rescue."

"Once my plan comes to fruition we will both have what we want. I will have Sasuke right where I want him. I'll own his mind, body, and soul. With the Uchiha family connections and fortune at my command my research will finally be made possible. This time nobody will be able to stop me now that Sarutobi is permanently out of the picture."

Kabuto turned his attention from the scalpel to the driver. "What of Naruto-kun's fate?"

"His fate is as we agreed Kabuto. Once I am done using him to manipulate Sasuke I leave him to you. Do with him as you please. Just be sure to keep him in one piece and breathing until I am through with him."

Kabuto's smirk widened at Orochimaru's words. "It was good to see him after all this time. He has grown quite a bit but he really hasn't changed that much. He still has those eyes. I've always … loved … those eyes of his." Kabuto ran his thumb across the scalpel's blade drawing a drop of blood to the tip of his finger.

It was 8:10 AM when Sasuke and Naruto finally made it to the administration building. Naruto burst through the heavy double doors to the main hall and veered into a small reception area near the main office. As he rounded the corner he saw a familiar face standing behind the office counter.

"Look who finally decided to make an appearance." A pink haired girl said in a mocking tone. "You are late because?"

"Ummmm you see on my way here I came across a hapless moron. It was my duty as Konoah City's greatest …"

"Ughhhhhhhh." The girl waved her hand for Naruto to stop. "Enough Naruto. You sound just like Kakashi-sensei now."

The conversation was broken by the sound of the large metal doors opening then slamming shut again causing the two teens to turn toward the hallway. Naruto turned back to Sakura with a smirk. "Speaking of the hapless moron here he comes."

A very bored looking Sasuke strode into the office not caring that the two had no doubt been talking about him. He promptly slid down into one of the plush leather chairs sitting in Konoah High's immaculate waiting room.

"Hn." came Sasuke's typical greeting.

"Sasuke-kun! I was so worried about you." Sakura beamed a bright smile at Sasuke then whirled around to face Naruto with a scowl. "You should be ashamed at yourself Naruto. You could have gotten Sasuke his first demerit for the year making him late like that. We expect this sort of thing from you but don't bring Sasuke down to your level."

"Hey what are you doing in here anyway Sakura-chan? Shouldn't you be in homeroom?" Naruto asked ignoring the scolding he was getting from the pink haired girl.

"I'm Tsunade-sama's new assistant starting this year. I'll be working for her when I'm not in class."

"That's good I guess." Naruto seemed unimpressed which annoyed Sakura seeing as how she was fishing for some excuse to drag Sasuke into the conversation. Naruto wasn't giving her much to work with. Before she could continue Sasuke stood up from his seat. "If you two are finished chatting we need to get our schedules and get to class. You are both getting on my nerves."

Sakura rummaged through a stack of papers. "Here you go Sasuke-kun. Naruto, wait a second before you leave. Someone wants to see you." After handing them their schedules she turned to a large oak door behind the reception desk with a gold plated sign above the threshold. The sign read "Tsunade-hime". Pretentious, yes but it was a frivolity she could afford herself since she didn't really want to become the fifth principal anyway. Were it not for Naruto's insistence she would have turned down the board's offer without a second thought.

The door swung open and soon a young looking blond woman stepped out. "Ahhh there you are Naruto. I had a feeling you'd be making a late entrance."

Naruto stomped his foot and glared at Tsundade. "Baaaa-chan! How could you let that bastard transfer here?"

"Huh?" Tsunade obviously wasn't following Naruto's rant.

"What the hell? You know who I'm talking about! Orochimaru! He practically tried to abduct me today on my way here. Don't you remember what happened the last time he was around?" Naruto pointed at a painting of the third principal of Konoah High hanging on the wall. "Do you not …"

"Enough Naruto!" Tsunade interrupted. "This is the first day of a new school year. I want it to go by without a hitch. Let's just say Orochimaru coming to Konoah High was beyond my control. He still has a lot of pull with the board." Tsundade dropped a hand onto Naruto's head ruffling his silky blond hair. "Don't worry kid. I'm keeping an eye on him." Naruto looked like he wasn't about to drop the argument so Tsunade pushed him out into the hall. "You're already late Naruto. You need to get to homeroom."

"We're expecting good things from you boys this year. Don't disappoint me."

Tsunade sighed while rubbing her temples. Already these kids were giving her a headache and it was only the first day of school.

"Is it suspicious that he transferred here after all this time?" A concerned Sakura asked.

"I don't know why he decided to transfer here and I can't imagine what he is planning. All I know is that it can't be good." Tsunade walked into her office pulling the door behind her. Before it closed all the way she turned to Sakura with a solemn look on her face. "What worries me most is that I don't see why Orochimaru has his sights set on Naruto. Sakura watch out for them. If you see anything suspicious concerning either of those boys let me know. I'll be damn if I'm going to lose anyone else."

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter everyone. I am in the middle of moving so I'll be away for a bit. Honestly I could probably use the time to write more and revise chapter two but I just can't leave it at a cliffhanger like that. I was kind of wondering how it was going to turn out so I found myself sitting here at the keyboard tonight when I should be packing.

To make up for the short chapter I'll give you a hint as to the major happening in the next chapter. Naruto has already met the new redhead in town so its Sasuke's turn next. Also, a surprise love interest appears on the scene to confuse Naruto's life even more.