Nariko

Chapter 4: The Rivalry Begins! Part 2

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Disclaimer: This is still FANfiction so obviously…

Sasuke scowled at the hospital ceiling. He had been there for almost two days now, and something was bugging him. No, surprisingly it wasn't the hoards of fangirls visiting him every hour or so. It was the fact that he had lost to some green academy student, not to mention that Itachi took every chance he could to point it out to him.

'I can't believe I lost!' he exclaimed in his mind once again, 'I thought I had him for sure!'

Many had wondered the story behind the fight, but no two theories were the same. Some said that Sasuke tried to kill 'Naruto' and when he let his guard down he got pounded by his victim. Many others though (AKA: the fangirls) said that he used his amazing skills, but got beaten by the teachers for hurting 'Naruto' because he's just too good to be beaten by anyone. The second was the more popular one seeing how many fangirls there were, but it was far from the truth. Sasuke blessed his luck that the truth didn't get out.

Flashback

The fireball had come from Sasuke, a large attack from someone of an age where chakra couldn't be accessed. Both Iruka and Mizuki had run to stop his attack, but they hadn't gotten there in time. The fireball was sent blazing towards the blonde who had no time to react. From where he could see, Sasuke stared wide-eyed at his attack which consumed his opponent in flames as he fell to his knees from using so much chakra. If he had the strength, he would have punched himself for such rash action. He had actually prayed that he hadn't killed anyone. When Sasuke had opened his eyes, there was a person where his fireball had hit. He was blackened to say the least, but not mortally harmed. But the most important thing was the pair of glowering cerulean eyes, showering hatred upon the Uchiha.

Surprisingly to everyone around, and even Sasuke himself, when Naruto wasn't dead, his hatred came back again. The Uchiha HADN'T won, so he then wanted to. The emotions from only seconds ago were replaced once again. But before he could move, the blonde sprinted forward and elbowed him on the head hard, pushing his face into the dirt.

"Take that!" he had yelled.

Using the last of his might, Sasuke got up to fight back, but was forced back down by the very angry blonde. Sasuke, being an Uchiha, pushed his limits and kicked his burned opponent right in 'the area'. As his opponent fell (With lots of painful reactions from onlookers), he had gotten up victoriously; or so he had thought. The blonde jumped up from the ground and slammed him in the jaw with his fist. Sasuke had been surprised that someone from a non-ninja family could hit so hard.

"You loser!" the blonde had yelled, "What were you thinking?"

He hadn't responded.

"Oh that's right! You weren't you hardheaded Uchiha!"

It was then that he roundhouse kicked him in the stomach, sending the new victim into a tree. From what he could tell before fainting, Sasuke could've sworn that the blonde had a surprised expression before running away.

End flashback

And he had been in the hospital ever since. He would have gone home after a few hours except for the fact that one of his ribs was fractured (of course, being an Uchiha, he was healed by a high ranked medic-nin), but no one outside the family would find that out, especially to the fangirls. That would mean sympathy and… gushy stuff; definitely NOT what he wanted at the moment.

"When I get out of here, you're going down Uzumaki."

After the fight, Nariko hadn't gone back to the academy, or the day after. Something strange had happened, and she needed to figure out what. Back during the fight, she was certain that she was surrounded in that fireball but she didn't burn. It was as if the fire COULDN'T burn her at all. And what was stranger, she had amazing strength; enough to put the Uchiha in the hospital. It felt vicious, yet familiar at the same time. Nariko had been so mad, she had seen red; literally.

"What happened yesterday?" she asked, "Everything is so confusing!"

Sometimes, Nariko just wished that someone could be there to help her through life, at least one person who she could talk to. Hinata was her friend, but she had a rich family with a history; she couldn't possibly understand, no matter how kind she was. But just as always, no one was there to answer her. Just then a knock came at the door.

"Probably the landlord who wants me to leave," she grumbled.

She got up from the floor and opened the door. She was surprised to see a shinobi at the door. It was lucky for her that she never looked 'like a six-year-old girl should' or her cover would've been blown.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Hokage-sama would like to see you boy."

His tone was harsh, not that it was unusual. No one in the village was ever nice to her. She had six 'whisker' marks on her face to prove it too.

"Yes sir," she said while bowing, not wanting to get in trouble.

The Hokage's office was an unfamiliar place; Nariko had never done anything wrong to her knowing (or anything outstanding) so she had never been to the place. In fact, she had never even been NEAR the Hokage tower. A young Kunoichi ushered her into the room where the old Sandaime was waiting for her. Nariko took a seat in front of the old man.

"What is it that you want Hokage-sama?" she asked politely.

"Please, relax. You don't have to feel intimidated around me Nariko."

Her head perked up in shock when her real name was used.

"Yes, I know your real identity. I've known all along actually..."

She stared blankly at the floor, waiting for her punishment.

"And you've done well, which is why your secret is safe with me."

Nariko's eyes jumped from the floor to the smiling old man.

"R-really?" she asked.

"Yes, of course. Especially after you put that arrogant Uchiha in his place; all ninja are talking about it. For all the skill and good that family has and does, they still have that one trait that comes with them no matter what."

"That doesn't give him the right to try and kill me though."

"No, it doesn't, but you must understand; he's only trying to do his best, especially when he had a prodigy of a brother."

Nariko immediately frowned.

"No, I don't understand," she replied flatly, "I've never tried to 'outshine' anyone, especially not a sibling I don't have."

An awkward silence followed.

"I'm sorry Hokage-sama, but I feel that I must leave," she said while standing.

"Not so fast," he said, "I called you here for a reason."

Nariko nodded, trying not to put dislike in her eyes.

"Of all the people I've asked, I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone concerning your little fight with Sasuke. Would you please tell me the details?"

Her expression softened, and a smile crept on her face.

"I'd be more than glad to."

The next day, Nariko went back to the academy. As she passed, conversations stopped, and gazes fell on her. Of course, she didn't care much about that. Hinata gave her a worried look. Nariko just gave her a big grin.

Upon entering the classroom, she was looking for one person in particular.

"Hello Uchiha."

The raven-haired boy's head snapped up to glare at the blonde.

"Hello Uzumaki," he growled.

A/N: I know you all are SO anxious to see the results of the poll, so here they are:

SasuNaru: 7

GaaNaru: 6

ShikaNaru: 13

So there are the votes, and that's how they're going to stay. Now, I have some 'notes' I want to say before I end this part besides thanking all of the wonderful reviewers… In the flashback, Nariko is referred to as Naruto and 'he' because that's who she is from Sasuke's POV. Um, let's see… Ah yes, before you tell me about the Itachi thing, he didn't kill everyone yet; that's in a 'year' (No way I'm going to stay in the childhood stage for a year) and I'll incorporate it later. If you don't believe me, check Wikipedia, unless it lied to me… Nah, Wikipedia never lies… Off of that subject, I am currently writing a script to a 'movie' for school so the next chapter may take a while, until then- Amei.