During moments that leave you unbelievably wrong and humiliated, there's a little famous line that always gets tossed around:

'Curiosity killed the cat.'

Which awfully translates to a very sarcastic: 'I told you so! You shouldn't have done this and that! This is your entire fault from the very beginning! Yadda yadda yadda.' You get the point. And then all that's left in you is regret. Something along the lines of: 'I shouldn't have done this. I shouldn't have asked around. I shouldn't have investigated in pursuit of the truth.'

I maniacally smiled at this because it happened to me. "I shouldn't have," I whispered, jokingly and ironically voicing out my train of thought. "I shouldn't have…" I stop. What? I shouldn't have listened to Teme's confession? I shouldn't have dug out the truth with regards to what happened between them? Shouldn't have worried over their sad, weird and miserable lives? By admitting so, that would make me a hypocrite. And I never aspired to be connoted as the 'Hypocrite Hokage'.

No freaking way! (Because I know I will become Hokage! Dattebayo!)

So no matter how much I receive that sarcastic line, I'd simply swallow it all in. Because if I was given a chance to change the course of what it is now, I wouldn't dare change a thing, I would still go out on finding the truth of everything, of Sakura-chan and Teme because they are my very precious people. More precious than a million bags of diamond. (Though it is very tempting)

But that doesn't mean it did not hurt.

It did. Very much.

03

There were a lot of times that I had almost met death.

Too many events that I couldn't even keep count anymore (I stopped at three. I'm pretty bad at Math anyway). That cold sensation of my body and that white warm inviting white light was not new to me. It could only follow waking up in a hospital. It happened so many times that I can now distinguish a Konoha hospital bed just by smelling it. I could even draw the said hospital inside-out blindfolded. It almost went on like a routine. Every time I woke up from my life-and-death struggle, I was always met by Sakura-chan's cheery smile, her eyes watering with great relief—something I like because it makes me feel wanted, loved.

But at that very specific time, when I woke up, the routine I had almost gotten used to crumble into pieces as reality did a very bitchy slap at my face.

As I began to stir, the soft and faint voices greeted my ear. But I did not have to open my eyes nor move closer to know who were talking right outside the room I was currently sleeping in. Their chakra signatures told me everything there is to know. There was about four to five feet free space between them.

"I already told you." It was said in a firm voice and implication. The other one who was leaning on the wall slightly straightened up and placed his hands on his pockets, a habit he's very fond of, and apologized.

"Sorry won't cut it." There was a short pause, "It simply won't do."

There was hesitation in both parties, as if each would swallow the other whole. After a minute or so of contemplating, he responded. "Then, what do you want me to do?"

The thought must have been tempting for it took a lot of breath and sheer will power from her to turn her back on him. She still must have wanted to ogle more at his pretty face but chose not to. "You don't have to do anything." She started to walk away.

After a few steps, he called her out as he abruptly moved closer. "Sakura," his hands tried to reach her.

"No." Sakura-chan stopped. "Don't Sasuke-kun. Don't." her faint voice sounded so pleading and fragile. It sounded as if his mere words would be able to strike her down. Before he could utter another sound, she quickly sped away.

And Teme, ever the oblivious bastard that he was just stood there, watched her retreating back for a great deal of time, and I'm sure he even glared at the space she occupied just now. I was alerted when he suddenly walked towards the doorknob after his glaring session with space and time continuum (my two best friends are cerebral. I'm bound to pick up at least some terms!). But wait, what would I tell him? 'You finally got what you deserve you ungrateful asshole!' Voice it like that? How would I react? Plans for action escaped me.

It must have been a miracle (because I seem to be obliviously lucky) or Sasuke-Teme must have sensed my baffled chakra for he suddenly, out of nowhere whirled around and retreated the building. I sighed in relief for being spared more time to think things through. (Yes. Again with the thinking. I can too!) I opened my eyes, stared at my left corner near the window sill and asked, "What's the cause this time?"

Kakashi-sensei stopped short from his reading and looked at me with great sympathy. He must be just like me—someone who was left out of the circle during their friends' problems. No. that grey old man just had to be in the same situation as I am now. He had to be. I couldn't bear the thought of being the only one person who got disregarded like some unimportant being.

"Ramen indigestion." He answers quickly, avoiding any possible session of question and answer with me as he started to continue on reading his porn book.

I sat up straight and looked at the door which was left ajar.

I had always thought that if I had truly died, (which I am sure that the nine-tailed fox demon inside me wouldn't allow) it would be in a great battle between a fearsome arch enemy and I as a Konoha shinobi. I would die with great pride and honor as I fought for what I love, stand for and believe in as it would be my way of a ninja.

Who would have thought that the things I hold dear to me—like ramen and friends—would be one possible cause of my death?

He smiled at me as I hiccupped. "Wha'cha stawin at?" I asked, trying to sound as intimidating as I can. But the red cheeks and my swaying head did not help. He swiftly took the white cold half-empty bottle of Sake from my hand. "Wha'cha big deal!?" I glared at him.

Bright blonde strands of hair flew as he shook his head. "You've had enough drink, Naruto." His face almost looked like that of the fourth Hokage, except that he had two heads, and he came in a blur. "You're already drunk." He says as a-matter-of-a-fact tone.

I grumbled. "Why choo you care?" because really, it seemed like this creature would always suddenly appear whenever I'm in a Sake bar. I don't even know his name. I tried to get the bottle back from him but he was just too damn fast. I stomped my feet. "I have real pwoblems! Leave me alone." I grumbled again, shoo-ed him away and laid my cheek on the wooden table, not caring whether it was dirty or not.

"I can't do that. I can't just leave you alone." I'm not that sure but I heard him add, "Kushina (1) scares the hell out of me." I closed my eyes. I was starting to feel weary and sleepy. His words, probably of advice and all that shit, was mostly unheard by me. Except some tidbits of our conversation. "That Uchiha kid is still your best friend despite everything. And you know it yourself that you can't turn your back on him."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I chnow! That bastard!" I felt a hand ruffle my head. Come on, I drank like it's the end of the world and yet he treated me like all I ever needed was a lollipop to stop whining about my problems! Can't he see that I'm a fully-blown man? Goodness, I had even been (secretly and still am) engrossed in Ero-sennin's books! "It's chust that he didn't have to…" I trailed and whispered, "…kiss her." I slumped once more and raised a fist in the air. "Dangit! Whych'd he have to shag her as well!?" the people inside the Sake bar turned their heads to me. "Whacha lookin' at? Huh, you punks?"

That blonde guy sitting beside me managed to cool me down before the other drunkards in the place was able to lay a finger on me. "You can't be upset forever, Naruto." He started. "You can't be envious of him. He does deserve to be loved—female love." He patted my head again and I slapped it away. "You deserve it too." He said and smiled at me. "And your time will come sooner than you expect."

The next thing I knew were the warm hand touching my head and that sweet powder scent. I opened my eyes to see what the rustling noises were all about and was greeted with a very concerned pair of eyes. I tried to sit up straight but failed my hung-over getting the best of me. I remember, she told me she found me very drunk and half-asleep on the street on her way home. She said I couldn't even walk nor talk human-like so being the concerned citizen that she always is she brought me to her home.

I breathed her name, "Hinata-chan," Despite her being very fragile, I then realized that I can lean on her.

"N-Naruto-kun," she looked so worried.

It was probably because I started crying.

"Naruto,"

If I was asked to elaborate more on the period of my life where I had avoided any kind of contact with my two bestest friends, my brain cells would burn. Because even though I was successful enough on the 'avoiding' part, their tails would come up behind me and stab me blind.

"Was it true that he banged her?"

I groaned. Second to Sasuke-Teme, I hate rumors and gossips.

"Or was it the other way around? We can really never tell what's going on inside that pink head of hers."

Why was it that when you strived your hardest to get at least some of the people's attention, they mockingly shoo you away but when you really, really did not want it, they undividedly give it to you? Life really is such a miserable fucked-up reality.

"Everyone's talking about this issue and I don't want to be left out."

For Pete's sake, the man had stalked me for hours!

"Fuck out of this, Shino!"

It might have been at least four days or so (you know I'm bad at Math, damnit!) since I last saw Teme and Sakura-chan after the whole 'sleeping' thing. This might be a small consolation but in their absence in that small span of my life, I was able to see and appreciate life (which meant I got to hang out with Gai-sensei and Bushy brows!)

"Butterflies are pretty and flowers are blue. I am so gloomy," I turned and face him. "can I hug you?"

SLAP!

"Ouch! That hurt! What's the big deal?" I asked, rubbing my throbbing cheek. "It's just a hug." Because really, I asked Gaara once and he gave me a nice, long, very warm hug! Aside from the malicious snickers, indirect 'gay' whispers, and pounding a few bodies into the ground, yep. Gaara's hug was pretty awesome. (ehem. I'm all male! Datebayo!)

Flipping his long brown hair back, Hyuga Neji coughed, totally ignoring my comment and avoiding eye contact. "I need to show you something." He said.

"So, all this time—"

"Hn."

"You tolerated—"

"Hn."

"You listened—"

"Hn."

"You kept him company—"

"Hn."

"I guess bastards have to keep an eye on each other, right?"

He raised an eyebrow as response.

I laughed. That was revenge for cutting off my sentences.

"Next time," Neji breathed, "Don't leave him in thin air." I lowered my head, my conscience (yes, I also have one of these!) slowly eating me. "And don't expect others to clean up the mess. You're his best friend, right? You ought to try to understand him more."

I tried to smile, which came out comically I suppose for Neji looked quite irritated. "I know."

"Then do your part." He spat out and turned around. "I've done mine." I stared at Neji for quite a while. He and Teme shared the same menacing, cold and intimidating aura. They're both cool and collected, both brooding except for the hair fetishes each preferred. Maybe, just maybe, Neji being in the same category as Teme is, he understands him more that I do.

"Neji," I called out the Hyuga's retreating form. He stopped and glanced past his shoulder, enough to see me. I smiled at him and said the words that'll never escape my lips ever again. (that bastard! That overprotective cousin! Sheesh!) "Thank you." He only nodded in return and kept on walking.

I looked down at the floor where a very drunk Sasuke-Teme was sprawled on the tatami mat. "Let's get you home, sweetie." I joked as I tried to carry him out of the Sake bar which I had trouble with. Man, that skinny guy was heavy!

He woke up with a jolt. And puke.

Never had he looked so innocent (bah! Ew! Where am I getting all these adjectives from?) and ignorant (that's better!) when he saw me when he opened his eyes. "Naruto…?" there was definitely doubt in there. It wouldn't take a genius to know that I was avoiding him. Well, Sakura-chan was also avoiding me. (probably ashamed about the truth, that's why he concealed it from me, right? Anyway.) another theory was that maybe, he was in doubt because he might have seem four of me because he was waving at the other direction.

"Acting so tough when you drank seven bottle of Sake, huh?" I nudged him in the forehead, causing him to plop down on bed. "Where's the real Teme that I know?"

He placed his forearm on top of his eyes. "That's really rich coming from someone who shamelessly stayed at the Hyuga compound for five days."

I grinned. It was the exact word. Shamelessly. I shamelessly begged Hinata-chan to house me for quite a while (Neji: you freeloader!) in hopes of completely not seeing or bumping into Teme and Sakura-chan. "You're one to talk. I heard from Hinata-chan. You stalked Sakura-chan day and night." He didn't respond so I tried to annoy him as I painfully sang, "You wanna touch her, you wanna hold her, you wanna kiss her, you wanna shag—"

"Naruto," he spat my name like deadly venom. "Shut up."

I sighed in defeat. "Okay, fine, whatever." And mumbled: "Retarded bastard." I winced. "You already did those anyway."

"Naruto,"

I shrugged. "No need hiding it, Teme. Neji told me everything. You want to talk to her but she won't let you. I get it already."

"Hn." I took the liberty of translating this to a: 'that Neji-son-of-a-bitch! Telling on me like that! I swear I'm gonna' (censored) his (censored)!' He pulled the (my) blanket to cover half of his body. "She said I just used her."

I wholeheartedly smiled at him. (which kind of freaked him out because he said I was starting to look, act and pose like Gai-sensei and Bushy brows) I did so because I am still (though this may be one-sided) his best friend. And as one, I have a duty to him. His problems are mine as well. My way of a ninja. My own code of honor.

"Then let's prove her wrong, shall we?"

And that's the beginning of his suffering and my amusement.

As I said on prologue: Payback time, Teme!

Footnote: (1) - for those poor souls who doesn't know Kushina nor the blonde guy Naruto was talking to in the previous chapter and this one, they are his biological parents. Yes. It was revealed in the manga series that the fourth Hokage, also known as Minato, is indeed Naruto's father. And Naruto's mother goes by the name Kushina.