Unwavering Gaze - Chapter 4

Sasuke had already turned away from me rejecting whatever thoughts I was entertaining. Clumsy idiot…always that and nothing more. Is that all he thought of me? I clenched my fists as emotions coursed through my body enflaming every fiber of my being.

A kunai pierced the pleasant atmosphere. Its sharp point cut deep into the ground at Sasuke's feet. Turning, his slight widened regarding gaze locked with mine, "I thought you wanted everything I've got." He simply stared into my eyes without reacting. I knew my pupils were slits now instead of normal and circular, "Well! Come and get it!"

He smirked, giving an appreciative 'hmm'.

It was as if the fight never had a minor intermission as Sasuke whipped three shuriken my way. Dodging easily he quickly sent three more then another three to keep me from evading his attack. Quickly I deflected them with a kunai then retaliated by sending the object I had blocked his attacks with his way. He moved easily out of the kunai's range.

He won't let up for a second…all the more reason to win.

"Sasuke…we both know those childish ways of combat won't work."

"You're right. I had almost stooped to your level."

"NANI!?!"

Soft rumbling laughter deep in the Uchiha's throat was my only reply. I narrowed my eyes at him, then an idea hit me like a ton of bricks!

I moved suddenly before Sasuke could recognize what I was doing. I was behind him in an instant, hands poised in a hand sign that could only result in, "THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!" (Also known as: Sennen goroshi-thousand years of pain.)

I wished I could have seen Sasuke's face, I truly wish I had…and I did! BWA HA HA HA!

A puff of white smoke dissipated behind Sasuke who was hunched forward, arms limp and hanging from his shoulders with his right eye twitching while his left was the size of a saucer. His twitching eye closed as he fell forward face planting with knees tucked under, and his ass in the air.

A finger found its way to my lips as if in thought, "Ne, Sasuke. I think I won."

Poof.

Damn, substitution jutsu…

An arm found its way around my neck in a headlock. I hadn't even sensed him approach. My fingers of both hands dug into that arm as I felt warm breath on my left ear, "You actually thought I could be defeated by such a lame jutsu?"

Aggravation at being caught so effortlessly left my body as I grinned, "Nah, it wouldn't be like you to be overcome by something so idiotic."

"You're finally getting it through that thick skull of yours?"

"Huh?"

I think Sasuke would have sweat dropped if he could have, but I elbowed him swiftly with my left arm connecting with his stomach or almost…if he hadn't released me to evade the quick attack. I just caught shirt.

Swiftly my right hand shot out to grab the material and pull the elusive Uchiha into close range. Inches apart, he glared deeply into me his eyes boring holes that I ignored and countered with a huge grin.

Then he was gone and I held nothing but a shirt. I blinked twice, three times before realizing he slipped out of it and was…thrusting his fist to meet my nose. This was going to hur- I flew backward blood spewing from my nasal passages.

I tumbled into the dirt that rose and clouded around my body. I breathed through my mouth taking in irregular shaking breaths. …I'm close to being out of chakra… Sasuke is almost as well… I couldn't win unless I took it to another level, but I refuse to win with the help of Kyuubi…

I stood on shaky limbs as the dust cloud around me slowly fell back to earthen piles of soil. Sasuke stood where he had when he punched me, shirtless with arms firmly at his sides. He waited until I recovered from that blow?

I looked at him wearily, but I wasn't willing to give up. Not yet, not after we came this far. Something flashed across his features, but diminished quickly as I approached. With the back of my hand I wiped away the blood that tracked its way from my nose and down my lips and over my chin to drip wherever it landed.

"I win."

"EEEEEH?!?!"

"Don't you remember what we decided who would win?"

I scratched my head trying to think… "N…o…"

"Baka…I told you whoever drew first blood would win."

I blinked, "I don't remember you saying anything like that…"

"It was right after we walked out of your apartment-"

---

"Let's GO!"

"Naruto, since we're both nearly the same level it would be difficult-"

"What should I have for dinner?"

"-to have a clear winner. So, whoever draws first blood, wins."

"Should I have ramen for dinner if I had it for breakfast?"

---

"You were muttering to yourself like a mindless idiot…I should have known you hadn't heard a single word I was saying…"

"Hmph…"

It was growing dark as the sun became hidden by mountains. Soft hues of yellow, orange, pink, violet, and blue were painted across the sky. It was almost surreal, yet certainly beautiful. Honestly, I wasn't staring at the sunset though…

Sasuke bent to pick up his shirt that had fallen out of my grasp somewhere during the whole being punched in the face time frame. He pulled the t-shirt over his head and motioned for me to follow as he and I left the destroyed area that was once a training ground for genin level ninja.

While walking with my hands behind my head, I stared at the sky now interested in what it had to offer as it became darker. Only a bit of yellow and orange now tinted the outlines of the mountains the sun had hid behind. I had a somber expression on my face, I had lost…twice… in one day.

Sasuke: 2

Naruto: -

When we had reached Sasuke's house, he stood on the threshold with a soft albeit victorious smile. He beckoned me with a flip of his hand as he opened the door, walked in, and held it for me to enter.

"Come on, loser. Let's go to sleep."

I knew then that the true winner wasn't exactly Sasuke…It was me. This change in him…wasn't the cause of just anyone…

I smiled genuinely up at him.

…It was me. He only showed this side to me, I now realized, no one but me. Eh? Did I suddenly have a swelled head?

"Baka, are you going to wait out there all night with that stupid look on your face?"

"Iie!" I said, walking through the door shutting it loudly behind me.

"Dumb ass! Don't slam my doors!"

"Gomen Sasuke-teme! What's for dinner?"