I'd like to thank any of you who have favorited/alerted/reviewed this story. Yeah, I admit, I've had this chapter and another one for a while now, and I'll get to typing up the next one tomorrow, if school's closed again. You all better thank the snow, because without it, this chapter wouldn't be up at all, and it would be something for another lazy day. I mean, I've had it for a good three weeks. Yeah. That long. Anyways, thanks to ladylookslikeadude for betaing my story again, and to Akabamai for kicking my butt in high gear about this one. XD Have a good snow day everyone~!


He sighed. Sasuke was supposed to meet him at noon. After he had thanked him for the necklace, Sasuke suggested Naruto should meet the main members of the Uchiha Clan. When he refused, Sasuke explained that it was customary for the mate of an heir to do so, and of course, he had to agree. He was reluctant to even come here today, but he decided he was willing to do everything – within reason – to keep Sasuke from disappearing. To his displeasure, that, sadly enough, included being socially awkward.

"Naruto." A voice said behind him. He turned around, almost falling. He forgot he wasn't graceful on land like in the water. However, he remained grinning, though his cheeks were red in embarrassment as he realized there were two others trailing along behind Sasuke. He had once again made a fool out of himself, though this time there was more of an audience. Wasn't it great to seem like an idiot in front of more Uchiha Clan members?

"Hey Sasuke. You know, it's nearly two. You said noon. I thought you stood me up or something." He commented, mostly joking. Of course, mostly was the key word. Quite honestly, he thought that the Uchiha's had miscalculated Sasuke's time, and the raven had disappeared. He would never disclose that bit of information to anyone, even if it was his older brother Kyuubi, whom he used to share everything with. Sometimes, he even missed being called 'Naru-chan' by Kyuubi. He would only sometimes though, because no matter what, it will still be a pet peeve to him.

"Hn. You think that I would willingly waste my dwindling time for Sai to do his hair, to discover it looked no different than before?" he growled, glaring at the creepily grinning Uchiha that, other than the hair and the paleness of his skin, looked exactly like Sasuke.

"Hello, Naruto-kun." He said, giving a small wave of his hand. Because of the large grin, his eyes were forced to shut, though it seemed that he could read every move anyone made. Quite honestly, it gave him chills. Sasuke, however, seemed to notice this, because he stepped between the two, seeming pissed. Had he been staring at Sai in awe? Did that mean Sasuke was jealous?

To make up for it, Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hand, giving a radiant smile. His smile brightened Sasuke's mood until he realized that Sai and Keiyo, his other guard, were now watching Naruto closely, and trying to get another grin out of him. Now anyone could see that he was extremely pissed.

"Hn. Assholes. Come on, Naruto." Sasuke muttered, pulling him by his hand into Uchiha Territory. After entering, he lost all grace that the Uzumaki Territory gave him. He stumbled here and there, reciving bemused looks from Sai and Keiyo and a light hybrid smile/smirk from Sasuke. Perhaps, he couldn't help think, all Uchiha's were assholes, not just his. Maybe, with any luck, it was just these three.

They finally entered a town. Despite how the Clans have sounded, they were modernized, though also one with the earth. The Uchiha Clan's town wasn't much different than his own, though their own culture was breathed into the walls of their buildings, and their streets. The silent busy-body Uchiha's let themselves loiter a bit, their eyes falling upon the 'exotic' items from other Clans laying out on the counters of the merchants stands, before silently scuttling away, ready to tend to their families and jobs. For once in his life, Naruto was utterly captivated.

"Like what you see, dobe?" Sasuke asked. Naruto's eyes widened and he sputtered; surprised Sasuke would call him such a thing. Wasn't he supposed to treat him nicely? Wasn't he supposed to treat him like….. like a lover? How dare him!

"Stupid teme! You don't go around calling people dobe! It isn't nice! Aren't you supposed to court me/. What kind of pet name is that?! How dare you!" he hissed, ripping his hands away from Sasuke's and stepping back, only to fall roughly to the ground.

"Just because I'm trying to 'court' you doesn't mean I can't call you a dobe, Naruto. " he said, that damned smirk/smile hybrid on his face again. Naruto hated it, though he still smiled back, the lightness of it twisting into a grin.

For now, he would ignore Sasuke and his wanting to be an ass all the time. He was meeting the Uchiha family and didn't want it to seem like Sasuke had already pissed him off, even though he obviously already had.

The home was huge, though it was a classic Japanese home. The walls outside were made of smooth plaster. When you touched it, it seemed to be made of marble, though obviously it wasn't. Sitting on a hill, the stairs were wide and had extravagant carvings on the railings, making it look seem quaint. The windows however, made the house depressing and dark. It seemed as if no one was there, save for a single window downstairs with a light shining through it. A large black flag was hanging with the Uchiha Crest on it, right on the house.

Quite honestly, he could only get one thing out as he looked out the house. "Sasuke, your house is depressing as hell." He muttered, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Is your house any better, dobe?" he asked, before beginning to climb the stairs. Naruto followed, feeling Sai and Keiyo's eyes on him the whole time. It was uncomfortable. He hated it.

The feeling of their eyes, now sharingan red, burned his skin like four hot coals pressed against his shoulder blades. He turned his head and hissed before falling, and once again, helped up by Sasuke. "Sorry." He muttered. A small 'hn' was all he received.

Naruto took his shoes off as he entered the Uchiha home with Sasuke. He looked around, his eyes softening in sadness as he noticed that the walls were empty. They were so bare….. they were so…. Cold.

"Sasuke, are you home?" a male voice sounded from the living room, yet it was light and happy. Was it Sasuke's father's mate? Naruto couldn't help but be curious and shy, so, grabbing Sasuke's hand, he followed him in the room, hiding behind his back.

As soon as they entered the room, Naruto could see that he was right, for on the lap of Fukagu, Sasuke's father, was an Inuzuka man, smiling happily at them both. "Welcome home, Sasuke. Welcome to our home, Naruto-san." He said.

"Ariagato." Naruto mumbled. For some reason he was embarrassed of the judging stare of the pair of mates. They were definitely analyzing him and he didn't like it. He didn't judge them so why would they judge him? Right… Sasuke was the heir. Would they be so judgemental if they knew he was the heir of Uzumaki Clan? They probably thought he was a commoner. They were probably bigots. Wait…. Who, exactly, was being judgmental now?

"Hm? Ah! Kawaii, Sasuke!" the Inuzuka said, getting up to hug Naruto. He somehow managed to pry his hand out of Sasuke's and hold his head against his chest. Of course, Naruto was only blushing because he had been called cute. However, Sasuke thought it might be something else, and pulled Naruto back, wrapping his arms around him possessively.

"Inari-san, I'd rather you not touch Naruto like that." He growled, his sharingan eyes now narrowed. He was obviously livid with the other man. However his father broke the spell. "Inari, come here, Koi." He cooed.

The Inuzuka had a hurt look on his face, but returned to Fukagu without another word. Naruto pushed out of Sasuke's grip, glaring at him. "Sasuke-teme! Why do you have to be mean to Inari-san?1 He didn't do anything!" Naruto yelled.

The two older men exchanged worried glances. Would Naruto's heart be too hard to melt? They had hoped Naruto had been different, so Sasuke didn't disappear. They were getting more nervous as the glaring contest continued.

As they began to walk outside, hand in hand, Naruto couldn't help but think that he didn't want Sasuke to see his family. Although not any bigger than Sasuke's family, Kushino, his father's mate, was so upset over Kyuubi leaving that he still asks if Kyuubi is on his way hope, like he was in another part of the territory for the day. Also the family house is more of an apartment than anything else. His family was far from impressive. Not that he was embarrassed by them!

"Hey, dobe. Tomorrow let's visit your family."

SHIT.


Obviously, this causes some conflict, which really, is what this story needs, ne? Well, good luck with reading. I've already got two more story ideas based off of the same idea. One is a continuation of this, and the other is a different story entirely. Is anyone interested?