Diclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto

Chapter Two

Two months had passed since the beginning of the school year, and Naruto had to pass the qualification test for the soccer team.

He was in top shape, so this was not going to be a problem for him.

Naruto was someone who couldn't get surprised easily, so when he found that Sasuke Uchiha, a classmate who used to be obese, was going to the trials too, he nearly fell of his chair.

"It seems like this year's qualification test is not going to be that easy." Shino said to Naruto as they were having lunch in a café.

"But, is it possible to loose that much weight and gain that much muscle power in the summer holidays?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know, but one thing is for sure: don't underestimate him." Shino took a new bite of steak.

"Why?" Naruto questionned.

"Why? I'll tell you why. I have phys ed with him, and the guy is really strong. He's got, like, a six-pack now."

Naruto choked on his spaghetti.

"I'm just warning you because I know you like to steal the spotlight." Shino warned him.

"I have to give you credit for that" Naruto commented.

It wasn't Sasuke's new six-pack that Naruto was worried about though.

It was his presence.

Naruto could not explain why, but everytime Sasuke passed him, he felt a tingle in his spine that became stronger and stronger over the course of the year, presumably because Naruto was more and more in Sasuke's presence.

After thinking about this on his last forkful of spaghetti, Naruto quickly looked at his watch. At four he had to meet Sakura at the cinema.

It was two-thirty.

"Are you in a rush?" Shino asked.

"Uh…no. Sorry." Naruto apologized.

"So, uh… This Sai guy seems pretty nice, don't you think?" Shino said nervously.

"Yeah. He's a bit of a nerd though. What scares me is the paleness of his skin." Naruto answered honestly.

"Really? I think he's going to get a girlfriend in about two seconds, if he doesn't watch out." Shino replied.

"Why so?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know" Shino answered.

"Come on, why?" Naruto begged.

"I can't tell you!" Shino said.

"You can tell me anything. You know you don't need to have secrets from me." Naruto said in a girly voice trying to imitate Sakura as if she was talking to one of her girlfriend.

"No."

"Shino, it's not like you're in love with him, right?" Naruto said jokingly.

Shino didn't reply.

Naruto looked up at this.

No reply, no look, nothing.

"Shino, you know I was joking, right?" Naruto said seriously.

Shino still didn't look up.

"Shino," Naruto said calmly, "you're not gay, are you?"

Shino just gave him a quick glance, then looked to the side.

Naruto put his glass on the table.

"Wow." Pause. "That's…that's heavy." Pause. "When… when did you find out?" Naruto asked.

"About two years ago. You remember when we all went to the swimming pool?" Shino answered, looking extremely miserable.

"Oh. Who was it?"

"I don't really want to say…"

"Oh ok, sorry…" Naruto apologized. "But… did you tell anyone else?"

"No."

"Oh." Pause. "Well, you know what? You're a great friend, and if you're gay, who cares?" Naruto said more cheerfully, giving Shino a smile.

"I guess. But…Naruto?" Shino asked.

"Sure, what?"

"Please don't tell the others."

"If you don't want me to, then I won't."

"Thanks."

"So… Sai, huh?" Naruto asked. "Tell me all about him."

"There's not much to say. He's cute, but I'm not sure if I like him or not."

"Aah."

Naruto's cell phone rang. It was an SMS.

I need to talk to you about something very important concerning us. Could I meet you at your place and not at the movies in half an hour. Don't want to be around my parents.

-Sakura

"Who is it?" Shino asked.

"Sakura. She wants to meet at my place instead of the movies. She said she wants to talk to me about something important concerning us. Any idea what it could be?" Naruto asked.

"Listen, it's not my relationship, but I might have a small idea." Shino answered.

"And what is it?" Naruto continued asking helplessly.

"What do you think?" and Shino gave Naruto a look.

Naruto thought about it for a while.

"Oh." He eventually said. "Oooooooooooooooooooooooh, yes, okay, I get it. You think?" there was something irritating about it though.

"Well, seven months? It's possible."

"Nah, it's probably not that." Naruto said in a tone of disbelief.

"You better get going then." Shino sighed.

"You're right. Well, then... I'll see you on Monday." Naruto raised himself fom his chair, and gave Shino a pat on the back, not realising that Shino watched him go with a longing expression on his face.


"Wow, Sasuke. Those really are biceps!".

Chouji Akimichi looked enviously at Sasuke's muscles.

"Unfortunately, I love food too much to do that." he nodded to himself.

"Chouji...You're going to embarass Sasuke if you continue..." Shikamaru Nara was one of Sasuke's best friends with Chouji. They were all in Sasuke's bedroom trying to get a fitness plan for Sasuke so that he could get accepted on the soccer team.

"Look, we've been sitting here for an hour...it makes no sense...all I have to do is sports. Period." Sasuke sighed.

"It, does make sense, because you're going to be in competition with thirty guys who are all as fit as you are, if not even more so, and who all want to get into the team! Besides, did you play a lot of soccer in the summer?" Shikamaru asked.

Sasuke just looked away.

"There you go." was Shikamaru's reaction. "Don't forget that Naruto's gang already has secure spots."

"True." Sasuke muttered. "Speaking of Naruto, what do you think of him as a guy?" he then asked.

"He's a hypocrit. Honestly, sometimes I could just punch him in the face." Chouji answered.

"And what about Sai?" Sasuke then asked.

"Rumors say that he's gay." Shikamaru answered this time still writing Sasuke's plan on a sheet of paper.

"Really?" Sasuke said in disbelief.

"Yup. You should see the way he looks at you sometimes." Shikamaru continued. "I saw how he tried to take a picture of you with his cell phone once."

"WHAT?" Sasuke nearly yelled.

"He might turn out to be a stalker." Chouji snickered.

"It's not funny! Dude, that really scares me!" Sasuke exclaimed. Suddenly he noticed a figure standing outside his window, in the darkness.

It sarted to run away, when Sasuke looked at it.

This gave Sasuke a cold shiver down his back.

"Done!" Shikamaru said, and snuck the sheet of paper under Sasuke's nose.

As he explained it though, Sasuke could only think of the dark figure standing outside his window.

All he got from that was a bad feeling.

Chapter 2 End


Author's note:

Feedback required, trying to to write a lot in short amount of time, NO TIME, GOTTA DASH. See you next chapter ;)

Rikataurus