Naruto didn't think of himself as an angry person, but he found himself being angry most of the time. He stayed home, drinking beer and training, which weren't a good combination by the way. He would still go to Ichiraku Ramen Stand but for the most part avoided going out in public. Kakashi had suspended him, saying that he needed to sort out his problems before he began to love the violence involved with being a ninja. He got carried away once and he and his team had freaked out on him! What problem?
He grumbled such thoughts to himself as he downed the last of his beer. And Sasuke...
Well, he should have died. Naruto was glad he hadn't. He was also glad that Neji had helped him take back his words publicly. Neji had been so awesome! He belonged in that courtroom!
Damn Sasuke. All he would hear when he went outside was that he was back! Big deal! Who brought him back? Uzumaki Naruto that's who! Believe it! That bastard hadn't even wanted to come back!
Naruto popped open another beer. He felt numb.
Why don't you come with me? We'll go see him, Sakura had said while extending her hand to him. He remembered staring at it, then shaking his head.
That had been the last day he had visited Sasuke hadn't it? ... No, why had he… Naruto dozed off, his beer landing with a heavy thunk onto his floor.
Naruto had quite a mess to clean up. He tossed every empty beer bottle he found in his recycling, after he mopped up the puddle of the amber liquid off of the floor. What a waste of money, Naruto thought dejectedly as he looked around his apartment.
A complete disaster widened his eyes. There were instant ramen cups stacked in neat pyramids on every inch of his kitchen counter. By the way, when the hell had he done that! The beer boxes were also stacked in a pyramid that covered his whole tabletop. He only vaguely remembered making that one. On his way out of the kitchen, he stumbled over some books and scrolls. Judging from the way some were laying, neatly over lapping each other, he had set them up like dominoes then had stumbled over them in a drunken stupor. His eyes narrowed in contempt. The bottle caps lined the back of his couch in a neat row. He needed to quit drinking. Black out drinking was scary.
He reeked of alcohol and sweat (that couldn't be healthy); reminding him he hadn't showered for a week now? His stubble was too long to be called stubble anymore.
Naruto fisted his hand thinking, I'll show Kakashi that I can be capable of self control. Neji-san, too. I'll show them all!
An annoying blare disturbed the much needed sleep of Sasuke Uchiha. His eyes creaked open with tired resistance. The beast kept shrieking: bee-beep bee-beep bee-beep!! Sasuke's hand shot out in annoyance, clipping the demon in its side. It gave one last cry before clattering to the ground, defeated. Sasuke smiled as he sank back into his sheets and onto his welcoming pillow. That's why chicks used to dig him! He had mad skill-bee-beep bee-beep!! He sighed. Another day of doing D-rank missions.
He jogged down the streets of Konoha, hating his life with each step. In one year he had lost so much muscle definition! It was proving an almost impossible task to regain it. Sasuke groaned as he reached the stairs of the Hokage's Tower, his legs aching with the thought of his required effort. He was hardly able to breathe when he had reached the top. The guards looked on him in contempt and pity. He was only able to huff in response…How uncool. Sasuke had to regain everything! If not, he'd feel like a failure.
"Good morning, Uchiha-san," Neji greeted. He was the Hokage's secretary of sorts. Sasuke also suspected that he was an ANBU as well, but that was only a hunch.
"Good morning, Hyuuga-san," he inclined his head towards the Hokage" Hokage-dono"
He was standing behind his desk apathetically, but turned around, his single visible eye glinting with amusement," Formalities again? You make me feel like such a stranger!"
His old teacher hadn't really struck him as one to lead a nation, but somehow it had happened. With Neji as his secretarial assistant, deadlines on documents were met and everything was done with professional promptness. Another reason the Hyuuga was to be hated. That annoying professionalism.
Neji swiped a manila folder from the Hokage's desk, pulling out a sheet of paper and reciting," Uchiha, Sasuke, total of missions for today's quota: eight."
Sasuke scowled, usually it's five but eight…Can I do this?
Neji cited who the missions were from, then bowed to the Hokage then handed the paper to Sasuke. Sasuke gritted his teeth as he bowed to that damn Hyuuga. Kakashi turned to face the window and stopped Sasuke before he left," Have you spoken with Naruto yet, Sasuke?"
"No, but I plan to," was the man's confident answer. Then he smirked," Concern…doesn't suit you sensei as well as it does Iruka."
Kakashi cocked his head to the side, completely unaffected by Sasuke's accusing words," What does that mean?"
Maybe Sasuke had suspected wrong. He shook his head and walked out of the office.
Sakura's gut clenched as it twisted, reminding her that this idea was masochistic. She felt sick, but this was for Sasuke-kun! Her heart hammered against her ribcage like a flustered bird, tickling her insides with the occasional flip-flop. Her world was crumbling with the unspoken words that her undying love and dedication were going to force her to say. Surely, an oni was possessing Haruno Sakura at that moment. It was a demon that was making her feel such horror. These were the thoughts forced into her head by possession. Speaking of her head, it felt numb. Sakura swallowed her spit, trying to dampen her dry mouth. She reached Naruto's apartment door, raised her clenched fist, but couldn't knock. Surely, Naruto was the demon plaguing her heart, without even meaning to be. Or maybe…it was Sasuke? Her heart throbbed painfully retaliating against her decision and her brain resisted by turning her thoughts to jelly. Could she effectively say what needed to be said?
"Here kitty-cat! Milk!" Sasuke set the saucer down next to the porch and waited for the lost pet to come out. It was his seventh mission. Only one more and he would be Scott-free! He grinned to himself as he offered his hand and cooed gently," Here, Yuki, Yuki. C'mere boy…"
"Figures you're a cat-person, you selfish priss," a familiar voice chuckled.
Anger leapt up unannounced,"The fuck you want Hyuuga?!"
The other man's pale eyes widened slightly. Sasuke inwardly cursed, he was usually very composed, but "priss"? He was a ninja, bitch!
Realizing his rapidly increasing anger for the ass who had assigned all of those missions, he began his breathing exercises. The Hyuuga's surprised expression faded into a condescending smirk as Sasuke focused on breathing in a pattern. In through nose, out through mouth, in through mouth, out through nose…Repeat, repeat, repeat…Why was he so angry all of a sudden? It was abnormal…Probably stress…
Sasuke stood up from his crouched position to stand and face the smirking Hyuuga.
"The team sent to search your house today found something they think will send you to prison, if not death penalty," Neji's smile faded," Apparently, you're a pedophile? Explain to me exactly what you've been telling Haruka-sensei." By 'Haruka-sensei' he meant Sasuke's psychologist. Sasuke relaxed, if it was her, it was over something stupid in an attempt to get more money. She got paid a certain amount of money depending on how dangerous or threatening Sasuke was.
The Uchiha sighed as the white cat crawled out from under the porch timidly to eat. Two mottled kittens followed her. Sasuke sighed again, "I haven't said anything like that to her at all. Unless…"
He laughed," Oh! Oh, that?!"
Neji saw nothing to be laughing about. In fact, for a split second he wondered if the allegations against Sasuke were true if Sasuke had that kind of reaction to something that could kill him.
She was still deciding whether or not to knock when he opened the door. Sakura's blood ran cold and she couldn't meet his surprised expression with her eyes.
"Sa-Sakura-chan! W-What are you doing here? Wanna go out?" Naruto's words were surprised, nervous, and then loud. Under normal circumstances she would have smiled and told him her true objective. Instead, she nodded and gave a soft confirmation. He was obviously surprised. He hadn't gotten his hopes up, but had simply asked out of habit. He was now in a state of euphony," R-Real-? Let's go then! A date!"
"I didn't mean that kind of outing, Naruto…" she said gently.
He frowned, and then said," It's about Sasuke."
It wasn't a question.
