Thanks for the comments and feedback everyone! Much appreciated. :D

Disclaimer: Own nothing

Best Laid Plans
By: Hiki-chan

Sasuke watched in amusement as Naruto wolfed down another bowl of ramen. Inside, his heart still clenched thinking about what Naruto had said just now. Naruto was blaming himself for what had happened, how very… Naruto, of him.

Miraculously, Naruto's appetite came back to him. Who would have thought that talking to a complete stranger would build an appetite? He felt like he could trust this person next to him. Kyuubi was telling him otherwise, so Naruto was careful not to reveal too much.

"Uwah!" Naruto let out a loud sigh as he patted his now full tummy. "That was delicious, although I still prefer Ichiraku ramen."

Figures Naruto would remain only loyal to his favorite store, where they accepted him even though they knew he was the demon fox. "You really can eat." Sasuke decided to comment.

Naruto shrugged, "I consider this a good treat after training."

"Ah," Sasuke nodded and readjusted his mask.

Blue gems looked on curiously, "I still want to know who you are."

"Why?" Sasuke smirked lightly, making Naruto inwardly cringe in the similarities of this man and Sasuke. Seeing the slight quirk of the mouth made him feel uncomfortable somehow.

"Because I do." Naruto replied, his lips sticking out in a classic Uzumaki pout.

Sasuke controlled himself from doing anything rash like leaning in and chewing on those lips. "You can wait."

"I don't have patience." Naruto continued pouting, testing Sasuke of his self-control.

"Ninja's should have patience." Sasuke chided, his eyes flicking over to the huge clock on the wall. It was almost time for him to leave.

Naruto huffed before he spotted someone coming. "Oh, here comes Sakura-chan!"

Dark eyes widened slightly, damn it, of all the bad timings. "Hey Naruto, listen I have to go now, I'll see you tomorrow."

"What?" Naruto had hardly time to blink, "How would I know who you are?"

"I'll find you." Sasuke promised before he prompted left.

Naruto kept his eye on the mysterious stranger until he had disappeared from his sight. Something was wrong with him. Why was he so sad when the stranger left? Why did his heart feel like it was breaking again? Wasn't that the only reaction he would feel from Sasuke?

He still had so many questions he wanted to ask, like why did the stranger hug him so tightly like he had never seen Naruto for a very long time. But if he was a stranger, he would have never seen Naruto all his life. 'Who is that?'

'He must have gone to find the precious person he was talking about,' Naruto thought to himself solemnly. 'I feel so jealous of that lucky person…' Then the boy mentally slapped himself, feeling like he was betraying Sasuke somehow. 'I must be glad that he gets the person he wants. So he won't end up like me.'

"Naruto!" Sakura ran up to him and grinned madly. "I saw you with someone! Who was it?"

"I… don't know." Naruto answered truthfully, his mind flicking from images from the stranger to Sasuke.

"Hmm?" The girl tilted her head to the side. To be honest, she was hoping Naruto would meet someone so he wouldn't be so hurt. She herself had found Lee to hold her when she needed it and she desperately wanted Naruto to have someone as well.

Her inner really wished that Sasuke would come back to help Naruto through it all. She wished that the two boys would realize that they truly loved each other. She herself had only realized after Naruto had come back, depressed that he couldn't save Sasuke.

'He didn't do it for me.' She had realized it back then, 'Even if he did, it was only for a small portion. He did it for Sasuke and for himself.'

"He was a complete stranger, we talked…" Naruto informed his teammate while picking up another bowl of ramen. "He went to find his special someone."

Sakura bit her bottom lip, angry at herself for not being able to protect both her teammates and for not seeing either of their pain earlier on. "I'm sorry, Naruto…"

Naruto immediately know what Sakura was thinking. "No it's alright Sakura-chan!" He grinned at her despite the pain inside, "I'm seriously alright. Don't worry yourself over me." He hated it when people worried over him.

"Naruto…" Sakura clenched her fist, he was always hiding. She knew she couldn't get into his heart, his heart had only one person. She couldn't help him, she could only hope for her friend.

"Na!" Naruto's grin brightened up, "Stop looking all sad and depressed, you're at a party Sakura-chan. We're suppose to have fun!"

'I'll smile for Naruto, even through his hurt.' Sakura told herself. She loved Naruto, but not in any romantic way. Naruto felt like her little brother. That's right, little brother. Even though Naruto was the one always protecting her, it still felt like she was the older one. Well literally she is older than Naruto.

"Alright then Naruto." She smiled at him.

The blond grinned back, "Ne Sakura-chan, I'm tired. I'm going back home first alright?"

Sakura wanted to protest, she wanted Naruto to enjoy and have fun. But at the same time, she knew he wouldn't be able to have fun here. Something was blocking it and she knew that. She stared up at his cerulean orbs before she let out a sigh. "All right Naruto. Be careful."

Naruto now really smiled. Sakura had changed for the better, no longer was she the nin who would hit him on the head for every stupid thing he did, though now she still did it too, no longer was she the one who went crazy over crazy crushes. She really accepted him for who he was even after she knew about the Kyuubi. And he knew she loved him like a brother.

-

Naruto sighed softly to himself as he settled himself on his bed. He was glad that he didn't get any ramen stains on his outfit. He was going to be wearing this for the next three nights after all. It wasn't as if he was extremely rich to change a suit every chance he got.

Before he had left his house and before he had went inside the party, he knew something was going to happen. But was this what he had expected? He sure didn't expect to meet a complete stranger and to confide in him.

The blond sighed and raked fingers through his golden hair. "What is going on?" He asked himself softly.

Everything about that stranger reminded him of Sasuke, and that fact in itself scared and hurt Naruto, yet comforted him at the same time. Because this stranger already had a precious someone. The blond wished deep in his heart that Sasuke didn't find a special someone in Sound, he didn't like to share. But another part of his brain argued that Sasuke wouldn't have time to get a precious someone.

Something was nagging at him at the back of his mind, something that warned him against that complete stranger. But about what?

Sinking down onto the soft mattress, Naruto fingered his mask in his hands before he let out a broken whisper, "Sasuke…"

-

For the whole of the next day, Naruto felt like he was lost in the clouds. He couldn't concentrate on training, even while eating ramen, he was in a daze. He was glad he didn't have any missions if not he was sure he would screw them up.

His whole mind was in a twirl of emotions. He wasn't sure what was going on. Why did he feel like that? Why was the stranger he met yesterday still in his mind? Why couldn't his image or Sasuke's go away?

Naruto felt horrible, like he was betraying Sasuke. But that man from yesterday seemed to be able to understand him like no one has before… Naruto kept ashamed of himself for liking this man and loving Sasuke at the same time.

'Don't get your boxers up in a bunch,' He told himself, 'It's not like you would see him again.' And there his heart would clench. 'Stop it!' He scolded inwardly. 'That man already has a precious someone! Besides, it's likely nothing would happen.'

With that reasoning in his head, Naruto gave a more confident huff. Tonight was going to be different, he'll hide so the man couldn't find him.

'That idiot said he'll find me… He said he had his eyes on me when I stepped inside…' Naruto couldn't help but blush lightly at the implication before an image of Sasuke came into his mind as well. 'Damn this…'

He needed to get away, he couldn't meet this new guy. Even if the stranger gave him hope, he won't let himself get shattered away by any more new feelings. Tonight, he would hide away.

-

"Perfect!" Naruto muttered to himself as he walked around the huge garden below the party. He knew no one was coming here. He had spotted this place last night before he went home. So the stranger wouldn't be able to tell where he was. Perfect!

Truth be told, Naruto really wanted to come here ever since he saw it. This place was beautiful and well hidden among the huge garden. It felt like this was his own private garden. He had actually come here before he left yesterday. He had explored the garden and had come to love this place. It was surrounded by shrubs and trees, it was going to be hard to find him if you were looking for him, so this place was perfect.

'Plus it has a spectacular view of the moon! And I'm hiding my chakra.' His mind added gleefully.

So he won't meet the stranger, and he won't get to feel anything for the stranger. He won't talk to the stranger. And he won't feel like he was betraying anyone. It was really perfect.

-

Sasuke growled lowly as he stood hidden at the corner. Why hasn't Naruto come?

"Looking for someone?" A voice said approaching him, making him turn to glare.

Dark eyes narrowed dangerously when they took in the man behind him. Silver-white hair, a mask with one eye blocked, another mask to cover his mouth, who else can this person be but, "Kakashi."

"Ah, so you know who I am." The other man grinned.

Sasuke stuffed his fingers into his pocket inwardly cursing himself for his slip as he looked around for Naruto once again. 'Damn it, no such luck. The dobe isn't here yet.'

Kakashi glanced around to make sure no one was looking or paying attention to them. "It's you, isn't it Sasuke?"

Dark eyes widened unnoticeably, Sasuke took his hands out of his pocket, prepared for any incoming attacks. "So what if it is?"

"What are you doing in Konoha?"

"It's none of your business." Sasuke replied coldly.

"It is when you're trying to trail after my student."

Sasuke folded his arms, "If you're thinking I'm trying to hurt Naruto you might as well get lost." Black turned red. "Unless you're going to report this first."

"I'm not going to interfere in this." Kakashi answered, "But I won't allow you to hurt my comrade, so watch it." The man warned the Uchiha before he went off.

The Uchiha scoffed softly before Kakashi turned back once. "If you're looking for Naruto, you might want to try the garden." Then he left again.

Sasuke frowned, why was Kakashi helping him? Was it a trap? But in any case, he had no choice. He if wanted to find Naruto, this was the only thing he could do; he had no choice but to trust Kakashi. Even though trust was something that he was only able to do around Naruto.

Making up his mind, Sasuke swerved towards the entrance before he took long strides out into the cool night air.

To be continued

I may have a job. The lady in charge is going to call me later. So if I do, I may not have time to update for the next two weeks. Then my school starts immediately after that so…

Don't rush me please. x)