Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. But I sure do have fun screwing with it.

A/N: Mm, I'm on a roll. Beta read by –Kristine X3- and Lingy Q.


Sneakers screeched on the court as the two boys ran back and forth, bouncing the ball with them.

"I'll beat you this time, Sasuke!" Naruto growled, trying to steal the ball from his opponent.

"In your dreams loser," Sasuke smirked, dodging his attempts expertly.

They had been going at it for quite a while now, playing game after game, preparing for the tournament during the sports fest. Throughout the entire time, the score remained almost even, Sasuke having a slight lead. Finally Naruto shot the ball through the hoop and fell back. He slipped and landed on top of Sasuke, knocking them both down. He rolled off to lie next to him and both boys lay panting. The score was tied.

"How was that?" Naruto turned to face him with a smile.

"Not bad." Sasuke admitted, also giving a smile in return.

"Um, wanna give me a hand then?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke sat up. "Huh?"

"I think I twisted my ankle." Naruto admitted with a grin as he too sat up.

"Idiot." Sasuke shook his head, but grabbed his arm and put it around him anyway. He hoisted him up and the two of them limped to the nurse's office.

After his ankle was all bandaged up, Naruto sat on a bed next to Sasuke, looking at him in curiosity.

"What?" Sasuke asked in annoyed tone.

"Nothing, I'm just surprised you're still here." Naruto commented, looking away.

Sasuke shrugged. "I'd have to be inhuman to just leave you. I'd feel guilty. But since you're obviously okay, I'm leaving." He stood up.

"W-wait…!" Naruto reached out to grab the end of Sasuke's shirt.

Sasuke paused to blink at him. "…What?" He asked, waiting expectantly.

"Um…" Naruto blushed slightly and released him. "Forget it. Nothing."

Sasuke blinked once more, before making his way to the door. "Later."

"Yeah… later…"


Sasuke paused in the hallway a few paced away from the nurses office and placed his hand on the window.

"Sasuke, you're okay, right?" Itachi sat next to his younger brother on his bed. "I heard you twisted your ankle."

Sasuke grinned. "I'm fine. Don't worry, Itachi!"

Itachi smiled as well and flicked his brother on the forehead. "Idiot." He teased as he stood up. "Anyway, I have to go. I'll see you later. Don't strain yourself." He began walking away when Sasuke caught his shirt between his fingers.

"W-Wait…!"

"Yeah?" He paused to look at him.

"I…I love you, Itachi…" Sasuke released his shirt blushing.

Itachi raised his eyebrows and grinned. "I love you too, little brother. Now I've got to go. See you later!" He waved and walked out, leaving Sasuke alone.

"That's not…what I meant…" Sasuke whispered.

Sasuke's hand curled into a fist and he leaned his head against the window. "I hate you…" He said through gritted teeth. "Someday… I'll definitely kill you."

"My, my, aren't we angry?"

Sasuke looked up suddenly to see he was being watched. His pale-faced, longhaired art teacher stared back at him.

"Orochimaru. Morning…" Sasuke said unsurely, stepping away from the window. Orochimaru was a rather strange character at their school. He was generally nice enough to his students, but the teachers all gave him dirty looks as he passed. He had long black hair and a pale, thin face, and was a bit snake-like in the fact that he had a long pointed tongue and licked his lips often, as well as pronouncing long, drawn out "s". He also wore purple eye shadow a lot, and people wondered whether he was gay or not.

"Have you heard the news yet, Sasuke?" Orochimaru paused and leaned against the window not to far from Sasuke.

"… What news?" Sasuke said slowly, his puzzlement growing.

"Itachi was seen recently, stalking around the school." Orochimaru smirked slightly and looked pointedly towards Sasuke, waiting for his reaction.

On cue, Sasuke stiffened significantly and his hands curled unconsciously into fists. "No, I hadn't heard yet."

Orochimaru shrugged. "Well the teachers are pretty hush-hush about it, but I thought you deserved to know. After all, he is your brother… and the one who killed your parents…" Sasuke's knuckles were turning white at this point, and Orochimaru was thoroughly enjoying watching the boy tremble. "You must be awfully lonely, Sasuke. Living all alone, no parents, remembering a brother that betrayed you… If you ever feel too alone, you can always stop by my classroom, and I'll be happy to keep you company…" He stepped closer to Sasuke with each word. "And you know, I might know a little something about the whereabouts of your brother."

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Where… where is he? How do you know?"

"Uh-uh…" Orochimaru smirked and shook his finger back and forth slowly. "For that information, you would have to work a little." He stepped away from the window. "Stop by sometime. The art room is always open." He tossed his hair slightly, unconsciously, before walking away from a frozen Sasuke.

"He's here…" Sasuke whispered. "He's back…" Sasuke's eyes snapped open as memories came flooding back to him.

"Itachi, why? Why?"

"Because you exist, that's why!"

"But Itachi, where are you going? How could you do this?? Itachi! Come back!"

Sasuke ran back into the nurse's office and dashed for the bathroom, clutching his stomach, knocking into walls, and sending everyone there into general panic. He threw up, fingers clutching his hair, pulling it until his roots burned. He stopped, panting, and wiped his mouth. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head slightly to see Naruto kneeling next to him.

"Are you… okay?" Naruto asked hesitantly. Sasuke stared at him a moment and he backed off and crossed his arms. "Not that I care, it's just that everyone outside is panicking.

"I won't be okay until he's dead." Sasuke whispered.

"Sorry, what?" Naruto leaned closer.

"Nothing… I just… need some water." Sasuke said, straightening.

"Um, yeah… sure."


"Sasuke, really, I don't think you should be staying alone tonight." One of the nurses insisted once Sasuke had recovered. "We don't know if you're really sick or not, you should at least stay someplace with an adult until we know for sure that you're okay."

"I'm fine, really…" Sasuke was getting irritated now.

"But we don't know that!" She persisted on.

"Look, I—" Sasuke started, but was cut off.

"He can stay with me." Naruto said. "I'm sure Iruka won't mind looking after him a bit." He shrugged.

The nurse blinked a minute. "Oh, right, you live with Mr. Iruka, don't you… well, in that case, that sounds good." She smiled. "You'd better go then, make sure to get plenty of rest."

"Hey, I don't remember agreeing to—"

"Just shut up." Naruto dragged a resisting Sasuke out of the nurse's office. "You're staying with me whether you like it or not, asshole."


Hm. Second chapter. I do believe I'm quite into this right now.