Chapter Three

The sun was already setting over Konoha by the time Kakashi and Sakura arrive at Naruto's small apartment. The metal staircase outside the building went straight to his front door.

Knock, knock, knock...

No answer.

"Hm, maybe he isn't home." Kakashi mutters.

With an exaggetarted sigh, Sakura grabs the door knob and pounds on the wooden door. She was determined to give that kuncklehead a piece of her mind! "Naruto, open up!" She calls. No response. She twists the handle, hoping that maybe he left it unlocked. And, surely enough, pop! The door creaks open, revealing a dark hallway leading to the rest of the apartment.

The two exchange looks as they step inside.

So this is where Naruto lives? Why did I picture it being a little less...depressing? Sakura wonders to herself.

Kakashi reaches the end of the hall and peers inside the boy's room. "No luck, he's not here." He says.

"But he left the door open..." Sakura mumbles. "Even for Naruto, that's pretty irresponsible, don't you think?"

Kakashi doesn't answer her. Instead, he makes his way back to the front door. "Maybe he was in a hurry to go somewhere."

Or maybe something really has happened to him... Sakura frowns and begins to toy, nervously, with a strand of her hair. "Yeah...I guess...maybe he went to Ichiraku."

Kakashi nods, smiling under his mask. "Don't worry, Sakura." He tells her. "I'm sure he's fine." And the two leave Naruto's apartment, making sure to close the door before they go.

-xXx-

Naruto chuckles, joyfully from where he is crouched on the rooftop of the next building. I had only meant to give Sasuke a little scare...but it seems Sensei and Sakura-chan care a little more than they let on! I shoulda done this a long time ago! The blonde laughs as he watches his two teammates dissapear down the road.

It's only then that he notices it had only been the two of them...no Sasuke. Hmm, still not worried? Eh, Sasuke-teme? His grin turns morbid when he thinks, I didn't want to have to do this...but you've forced my hand, Sasuke! From his pouch, he produces a small vial, the size of his palm. Within it, is a dusty, red powder. We'll see just how much you 'don't care' after this! And with one final chuckle, he takes off in the direction of the Uchiha compound...

-xXx-

"Hn..." Sasuke tries once more to close his eyes. He was having some difficulty not-thinking tonight and that was beginning to affect his sleep. It was already three o'clock in the morning and he hadn't slept a wink.

And what was causing this night of insomnia? To the Uchiha's dismay, it was the fact they Naruto had never showed up. Sasuke knew Naruto was only trying to make them worry. Sasuke knew he was just being played with! So why was he still so worried?! Why in the world couldn't he sleep?! "Tsk, stupid idiot!" He snarls under his breath. "I oughta-"

"Sasu...ke..."

The raven's body goes rigid. What was that? He sits up, searching the dark bedroom for the source of the voice...he saw no one. Am I hearing things now?

"Sas...u...ke..."

He flinches. No, he had definately heard that! But that voice... "Naruto?" Sasuke growls as he stands up. "What are you doing at my house, Dobe?" For some reason unfathomable to Sasuke, his heart was pounding. Why was Naruto's voice so weak? He sounded...hurt.

There was no response to his question.

"Naruto?" Sasuke calls again.

Silence.

"Tsk!" Sasuke stops. Get it together! He wills himself. He's only messing with you! Remember? He wants you to worry! But the same little voice as before, suddenly says, Well it's working!

The raven shakes his head and goes back to bed. Flopping down onto the matress and shutting his eyes. He wasn't going to think anymore! He refused to be concerned about that dope!

And, eventually, it works. At some point, sleep consumes the teen...little did he know, the rude awakening he was about to recieve...

-xXx-

Naruto yawns, loudly. Stretching his arms above his head, he tries to blink the sleepiness from his blood-shot eyes. He hadn't managed to sleep well last night. Not with all the pranking he'd been doing...

Just thinking about what Sasuke might do when he saw it, made Naruto grin. That teme...Naruto almost felt bad for him...almost. He was in for the shock of a lifetime, as soon as he woke up. With a half-hearted sigh, Naruto pulls himself out of bed. He wanted to be there to see the teme crap his pants! Heehee! I can't wait! He giggles to himself before slipping outside.

-xXx-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Sasuke's eyes snap open. His body springing upright in bed the moment he hears the scream. Oh God, what now? He jumps out of bed, vaugly noticing he had never changed into pajamas last night...

The Uchiha boy throws open his front door and... "What the...?" He recoils away from the horrifying sight.

"Oh God...what on...earth?!"