Sasuke: (eyes Sonic) What are you hiding?

Sonic: *whistles* Oh it's nothing…

Sasuke: Hn. Whatever. It's not like you can get past me anyway. I'm stronger than everyone there, besides Kakashi.

Sonic: (smirks) Really? Then why did Kakashi have me go up against Naruto last? Isn't the last level supposed to the hardest, hmm…?

Sasuke: …

Sonic: Thought so, that means I may or may not beat able to beat you. (grins mischievously)

Sasuke: …just tell me, dammit!

Sonic: Nope! You're just gonna have to wait!

Sasuke: (sighs) I really hate you right now.

Friends?

Sasuke POV

I stir from the hold of sleep. Feeling the light of the sun on my face, I groan and wipe the sleep from my eyes. I sit up and stretch, eyeing the clock. No one should be up yet.

Getting out of bed, I examine my arm. Tsunade healed the cut, but there is still a faint scar along my forearm. "Stupid animal." I mutter walking out the room towards the bathroom. I mean, what can he possibly have on him that does that kind of damage? I barely even moved him!

Sighing, I almost run into the object of my inward rant. Apparently he was walking out the bathroom. What is he doing up so early? As we pass each other, Sonic nods to me, but I ignore him. I said thanks yesterday after we finished the dished because that's what people do; it doesn't mean that I like him anymore than before.

I hear Sonic breathe out behind me and I turn to see him going down the stairs almost normal speed. Not painstakingly slow like the first time he came up here with Sakura. My bet is that he'll have that cast off tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, if that's the case with Sonic's leg, then we are going to start the tests. He doesn't even have a sliver of a chance of passing. I feel kind of bad for him, just a little, but that's what he gets for cutting my arm.

I finish the path to the bathroom and I look into the mirror when I walk in. Seeing my spikey, all over the place bed head, I grab the gel and fix it the way I like it. Up in the back and down in the front.

Sonic POV

Laughing soundlessly down the stairs, I'm trying keep myself from doubling over. I ungracefully fall on the couch and turn on the TV. I try to pay attention to the moving pictures, but can't. Wiping tears from my eyes, I can only think about Sasuke's hair. I have seen no one with a worse bed head than him! Looks like a duck got ran over by a car!

Back to Sasuke

Smirking to myself in the mirror, I pick up my toothbrush and brush my teeth. Finishing that, I splash some water on my face. I walk out the bathroom and back into my room. I pull off my sleeping wares, pull out my regular outfit, and put those on.

With that, I leave to go downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I see Sonic sitting on the small couch in the living room watching TV and chuckling to himself. I glance from him, to the TV, back to him. There is nothing funny on…what is he laughing at?

Having nothing else better to do, I sit on the opposite end of the couch Sonic is on. I look over to him and he is watching me quizzically, almost warily, with no trace of any laughter on his face. I shrug and turn to the TV. In the corner of my eye, I see him make a face and turn towards the TV as well.

We sit there staring at the TV for a while and I, getting tired of the tense silence, speak up.

"So, are you nervous for the tests?" He jumps, guess he didn't expect me to talk, but regains his composure. He then smirks at me and nods.

Didn't see that one coming.

I frown. "You're not scared at all? We are not holding back, you know." He just waves his hand dismissively, smirk still planted on his face. The nerve this guy has! I cross my arms. "Hn. Just don't start crying when you get your butt handed to you."

He glares at me then and I smirk, finally getting the reaction I wanted. "What? Did I offend you? Well that's life. You can't go around dismissing your opponents like that." He raises an eyebrow at me. "Look, we are talking about you he-"

"Oh my god!" We both hear Sakura's voice and look towards the stairs. Guess she's still at the top.

I also hear doors shutting and footsteps. "What happened Sakura?" That is Naruto's voice.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Kiba yawns joining the other two.

"There is a giant bug by the stairs!"

Slower footsteps join the party. "Troublesome… just go around it." Apparently no one hears him, but I know why know. As soon as he started to speak, another loud voice chimes in.

"What is so important that you had to wake up the world, Billboard brow?!" Beside me, I see Sonic chuckle.

"There is a bug-"

"OH MY GOD! Look at it, it's so BIG!" Ino shouts, cutting off Sakura. More footsteps come from down the hallway.

"I woke up from my doughnut dream for this?" Choji questions.

"C-c-can't we j-just-"

"Can't we just kill it?" Neji finishes for Hinata.

"We could…" Replies Naruto.

"Don't worry guys." Tenten pipes up. "I got this." Then I hear rapid footsteps running towards the group upstairs.

"WHAT HAPPENED? I HEARD SAKURA SCREAM!" Lee yells.

"There is a big bug on the step." Kiba answers.

"THEN I SHALL KILL IT BEFORE IT ATTACKS SAKURA!" Lee yells, again. I look over to see Sonic laughing harder now, even I have a small smile on my face. I hear softer footsteps and I guess that Lee is trying to creep up on the bug. Another set of footsteps approach.

"If you kill that small beetle, I will strangle all of you." Shino threatens. "Come on little guy, get in my jar." Pause. "There, it isn't a threat anymore."

"Alright…" Sakura agrees hesitantly. "Let's go downstairs for breakfast." As the footsteps travel downstairs, I hear a thump and see Sonic rolling on the floor laughing. My smile becomes a chuckle, then a laugh, and finally I am doubling over from laughter.

I look up to see everyone staring at us shocked. Chuckling, Sonic and I stand up, but Sonic has to lean on me for support. I haven't laughed like this in a while. I point at them.

"So, you all didn't come downstairs because there was a small bug in the way?" I ask gasping for air while Sonic wipes a tear and shakes his head.

"Well, I guess…Sasuke, are you ok?" I look over to Sakura, still smiling.

"Yeah, why?" There is silence except me chuckling and Sonic's raspy giggles. Naruto then runs up and shakes my shoulders.

"Sasuke! You're hysterical!" He glances at grinning Sonic then back at me. "What did Sonic do to you?!" I feel a tap on my side. Looking down, I see Sonic point to Naruto and then use his finger to draw imaginary circles by his head, saying Naruto is crazy. I smirk and mouth. 'I know.'

He smiles and I turn back to Naruto, whose hands are still on my shoulders. I scowl.

"Let me go Dobe." Naruto sighs in relief, lets go, and turns to the others.

"It's ok guys, Sasuke's fine. Sonic here didn't do anything to Sasuke."

I turn to Sonic when his stomach growls, and he grins sheepishly.

"Well someone's hungry." Sakura says, still eyeing me. "Let's go eat breakfast!"

With that everyone goes into the kitchen and sits down at their respectable seats while Sakura cooks pancakes.

"So Sasuke," Naruto says starting conversation. "we saw you and Sonic there getting along well. Are y'all friends now?" Sonic looks at me and I nod.

"Sure. I realize now that I haven't been treating him fairly." I shrug. "It was an accident."

"Wow Sonic! You taught Teme how to be human!" Instead of smiling, Sonic looks between me and Naruto with a confused expression.

"You cut Sasuke's arm." Kakashi butts in. "He was carrying you here when something hidden in your fur cut him." For a moment, Sonic still looks confused. Then he smirks and chuckles; the latter having some voice to it and making Sonic wince. He rubs his throat.

"Oh my gosh!" Ino squeals. "Don't try to make any sounds until you are fully healed!" Sonic grimaces and nods at her words. Sakura, finished with her cooking, puts a plate of pancakes and eggs in front of me. I take a bite and groan in satisfaction. Guess I am hungrier than I thought I was.

"Hey Sonic." The person (does that even work here?) in question looks up, chewing his food. "Are you ready for the tests tomorrow? You know, since it looks like you can walk on that foot pretty easily." Sonic grins and nods. That stupid confidence again, hn. "Good, cuz I don't want you to hold back!" Sonic gives a thumbs up before Sakura speaks.

"And I'll be there to heal you right up!" She holds up her hands which are covered in green chakra. Sakura smiles when Sonic looks in awe. "It is my talent after all."

"I-I will cheer you on S-Sonic." Says Hinata; her face flushing.

After breakfast, we all go into the living room because there is really nothing else to do at this point. Sonic and I sit on the futon in the same seats before while Naruto sits on the right side of me, after I had to grudgingly scoot over. Everyone else, besides Sakura, Ino, Choji, and Kakashi, plops down on the long sectional to the left of us.

Kakashi leans on the wall while the two best friends and pudgy boy sit on the floor. We all just sit there, even the motor mouths of the group are silent, with the occasional giggle from Kakashi.

"Aw man. There isn't anything to do…" Kiba sighs.

"I agree. Any ideas guys?" Naruto asks and no one moves for a moment. Then Sonic hops up and walks to where the paper and ink are. He pulls them both out and start writing. A couple seconds later, he holds it up.

'Y'all up for going outside?' It says. Sonic looks at me with a raised brow. I shrug.

"Why not? I can always train. Anyone else?" Naruto stands up and stretches.

"It beats just sitting in here! Let's go guys!" I just shake my head as I stand up. He didn't even know if the others even wanted to leave, but judging how they are following him, he guessed correctly. We all walk out but don't really go anywhere. There are plenty of trees around to practice on.

Kakashi finally walks out the house. "Let's just target practice with your kunais." He turns towards Sonic with an eye smile. "Don't need to ruin the surprise, right?" Agreements go around, and the others go pick a nearby tree to puncture. I am about to pick my own when I feel to tug on my sleeve. I turn to look down at Sonic. He points to my roof. I look up there, but see nothing.

"What? There isn't anything up there." He frowns a little. He points to himself then the roof. What is he trying to say…oh. He wants to get on the roof. I smirk.

"You want to get on the roof?" He rolls his eyes and nods. "Ok." Before he even knows what's going on, I grab his wrist, pour some chakra into my feet, and jump to my roof. I land on my feet while Sonic gets thrown on his butt. He jerks his hand out of my grasp and glares.

"You wanted to get up here." Sonic just snorts and looks around. His eyes slowly widens. I follow his gaze to see a common sight, at least to me. From this height you can see everyone throwing their weapons or practicing taijutsu some. "Didn't know we could do that, huh?" He glances at me then fixes his expression to a more bored one. I grin. "Can't hide it. Well, I'm about to go so I can destroy a tree too. Don't want to get left out." He shoos me off and I jump down.

(Time skip-about 9 at night. Just some sweaty ass ninjas and a blue hedgehog eating fish for a late dinner. You didn't miss much.)

Mmmm…why is that Sakura's fish is so better than mine? I to cook for myself longer than her has! I guess she had a mom to teach her…and practice with a stove…but that's not the point! I should still-

"That was great Sakura!" I am tossed out my thoughts when Lee, very enthusiastically, I might add, congratulates Sakura on her food. But before she can say thanks, Sonic cringes and glares hard at Lee.

"Lee…thanks, but please shut up before Sonic does something he might regret." She says pointingly at Lee, then shifts her gaze to Sonic, who looks somewhat bashful now. I think her heard the hidden threat in her words. The tension ends when Kakashi clears his throat.

"Be friendly everyone. Besides, soon you will be able to fight it out!" Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We get to see what Sonic's made up tomorrow. "Now, let's just get some sleep." Everyone agrees and we all move to the stairs while Sonic moves off towards his room with a small wave.

Upstairs, I go into the bathroom to use it. Right before I leave, I see Sonic's shoes and gloves in the bin from yesterday. "Ugh!" Now I really get a whiff and decide then and there to give Iruka a little surprise present.

I pick up the bin and like before, struggle to open the door downstairs leading outside. Once out, I travel a ways to Iruka's apartment and ring the doorbell. I think I should stay here to explain why I'm handing over to him these rancid articles of clothing.

The door opens and Iruka looks at me with a surprised expression.

"Sasuke? Back so soon?"

I nod. "Yeah. These are kind of stinking up my whole bathroom and I need these washed."

Iruka glances at the bin. He holds up the shoes. "Whose are these? I haven't seen these kind of shoes before…"

Think fast, think fast!

"They are Naruto's. He found them in the forest and he wants to wear them, but only when they are clean." Iruka seems hesitant.

"But-" I shove the bin in his hands and him back into his room then speed off.

"Thanks!" I call behind me.

Hopefully he doesn't ask any questions.