Disclaimer: No, I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. Why in the world would you even think that?

"Talking"
'Thinking'
"'Kyuubi'"

A/N: Big thanks to the... three people that reviewed this last chapter. And here I thought responding to you guys would get more reviews. We'll give it a while, okay? Please enjoy the ninth chapter of "Why Him?" and remember; review, enjoy, and review.

Why Him?

Both Naruto and Sasuke turned so that they were facing the door head on. In just seconds, Ino had tossed aside her apron and both had stormed out into the crowded street. Their pace was brisk and every step they took was full of heated anger. Naruto took another gulp and squeezed Sasuke's hand.

He had felt much safer when they were inside the shop. Now they were almost on top of them and the blonde knew he had made a mistake of standing to face them. They should have gone around, or passed by one at a time. But walking out right in front of the two of them was simply foolish; women were scary and evil and mean. He did not like coming up against them.

'Coward,' called a small voice inside his head. 'Are you really scared of some pathetic little wenches trying to move in on your territory? If so, you are more a weakling than I thought possible.' The voice chuckled and continued taunting him. He felt himself growl and almost bare his teeth. Thankfully, he caught himself.

He felt Sasuke tighten his grip on his hand in a comforting way. Knowing that Sasuke was a little on edge made him feel better and not so on his own. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Sakura and Ino drew even with them. Both pairs stared at the other, each waiting for the opposer to make the first move. The two boys didn't give their uneasiness away at all, but the two women seemed to sense it anyhow.

"I may have felt sorry for making you pass out the other day but that's over and done with. I'm not going to be kissing up to you trying to earn your forgiveness," Sakura all but sneered at him.

The words were spat at him, and they hurt more then any kunai ever had. Sakura; his teammate, his first 'crush', his sister figure, and his friend, though not any longer as far as she was concerned, was looking at him like so many of the villagers had and still did. Hatred, so much of it, he could see it in those once caring green eyes. It burned into him, slowly and painfully ripping at his insides like a wild animal. He had never thought she would look at him with such an emotion. Naruto almost couldn't stand it.

But he felt Sasuke's hand, still holding his own, their fingers intertwined. And that was all he really needed. Just knowing Sasuke was there for him was enough to make him stand and take that hurtful stare. And he wouldn't waiver or pull back. Uzumaki Naruto didn't stand down from a challenge, Uzumaki Naruto didn't let people walk all over others so that they could get what they wanted. And most importantly, Uzumaki Naruto was not a coward! Moreover, he was here to prove just that.

Ino spoke up now. "And you have the balls to come and walk right past my store, holding hands nonetheless, and expect us to not do anything? Are you retarded Naruto?" They weren't even looking at Sasuke. All they wanted was to hurt Naruto. Sasuke was, in their eyes, innocent and not to be harmed.

Shaking his head Naruto peered into Sakura's eyes. "I'm really sorry that you're mad at me. I don't want this to go on forever. But you have to know that if you do try to make us leave each other we will not stand by and let it happen," he spoke with the air of someone who was hardened and preparing for a life-threatening battle. It was so much unlike the happy, loud, cheery, childish voice he so often used. All three were so unprepared and shocked that even Sasuke turned to look at him, eyes open slightly wider than usual. But he didn't take notice, he simply continued to address the two Konoichi in front of him. "I have finally found someone who loves me and that makes me happy. If you dare to try to take that away, it will not be easy by any aspect. You will fail in all of your attempts. I really don't want to become enemies, I have enough of those. Sasuke and I have stuff to do so we'll see you around."

Before he could turn and walk away with Sasuke Ino called out. "You've got some nerve Uzumaki!" And they retreated back into the store.

Naruto's face took on a look that was sadness and understanding at that same moment the door closed. He knew he had lost a friend, and Sasuke knew it hurt him, most likely more than he knew, or would ever know.

Wordlessly, they continued on their way, still holding hands and having people stare at them as though they had both sprouted extra limbs. After what seemed like an eternity, they were at the gates of a decent sized house.

The ten-foot-tall gate was black and the bars were twisted in and intricate design of trees within a forest. The double-doors of the gate were closed and the image of one lone, and very large tree was the design on its bars. The metal wasn't rusted or worn as they had expected. It was, in fact, shining in the late afternoon sun, as if a fresh coat of paint had just been added to it within the last few days. As they opened the doors, they saw the yard. It was quite large and had a small garden in the upper left corner, which was over grown with weeds of all kinds. The grass was well kept and a vivid green, fitting the summer weather. One tree stood to the house's right, proud and enormous. It's cloud-shaped leaf clumps swaying slightly in the soft summer breeze, some single leaves falling and landing gracefully on the path walk. Said walkway was gravel and bits of crushed sea-blue glass. It ended at the first of three steps leading to the front door.

The house itself was made in classic western-style. The windows were framed handsomely by dark, polished wood and brown curtains, which hung on the inside of the house. It was made of brick, both light and dark red colors. The roof was covered in black shingles that sparkled in the sunlight. The door was made of Oak, like the window frames, and nicely polished, as was the brass knocker and knob.

Naruto drew the key and its chain out of his pocket and unlocked the door. Replacing the key inside his pocket his trembling hand reached for the doorknob. Slowly, he turned it and pushed the door in. It was heavier than expected. When they had walked in and closed the door Sasuke turned on a lamp that was resting on a nearby side table. They were in a small foyer, which was empty save the lamp and small wooden table it rested on. They both removed their sandals and walking in. They found themselves in a short hall with two doorways on either side of them. One led into a sitting room that was full of furniture and boxes crammed with Naruto's belongings. The other way entered a dining room and branched off to the kitchen, a small bathroom, and laundry room. There was another door in the kitchen that opened to show a descending staircase that led, undoubtedly, to the basement. They backtracked and headed to the stairs in the sitting room.

The second floor was smaller than the bottom one. It had several doors along the walls of a wide hall-like space. Around the corner, there was a balcony over looking another living room that was larger than the first one. Above the room was a crystal chandler tinkling slightly with their movement. They began to open doors one-by-one. The first they opened was nearest the steps, it was a closet with a small box of Naruto's winter coats inside of it. Closing the door, they moved to the next one. It was another bathroom, but much larger than the downstairs one. it had a sink, toilet, two towel racks, a large bath tub with a shower nozzle and curtain, and two mirrors, one above the sink and one full-length a foot from the tub. There wasn't a window to be seen on the light green walls. The tiles were patterned with different shades of light brown and green creating a forest look.

Next, they found two identical bedrooms, both linked with a oak sliding door. The carpet was a dark tan color like the rest of the upstairs (for the first floor was all Oak wood floors) and the walls were the same color as the bathroom and the rest of the house, but with swirling lines that resembled vines sprouting leaves and pastel-colored flower buds. Each room had two windows with the same curtains. A twin bed lay in the corners farthest from the joining door in the rooms. The beds were bare, as were the pillows that lay upon them. To the side of each mattress was a side table and lamp. Two dressers each were placed randomly in the rooms, the only things that weren't the same. And a floor-length mirror to the side of each door. The rooms also had their own closets, which were empty.

Then they opened the last door and saw a master bedroom. It had a king-sized bed with drapes and quilts of orange and yellow. The drapes were orange with yellow birds sown in seemly random places, the eyes of the birds were blue Naruto saw, as they drew closer. Sasuke opened the door to his left and walked into a bathroom. It had a sink, toilet, and shower stall. The designing was the same as the other one. Naruto opened the last door in the room and found a walk-in closet. However, it was not empty like the others in the house; there were a few boxes in the back collecting dust. Naruto turned on the light, a single bulb embedded in the ceiling.

He and Sasuke walked up to the boxes and grabbed one at random. The Uchiha faced Naruto, as if asking permission to open the container. Naruto nodded and they removed the tape and lifted the flaps. Inside was a bunch of pictures and a book. The blonde lifted the book and read the professionally written characters aloud, "Baby Book: Uzumaki Naruto" Then he froze. He was holding his baby book. He didn't understand how this could even exist, he was orphaned at birth. Then he opened it and understood, this had been made before the attack of Kyuubi. The scrapbook was completely empty. No pictures, no dates, no comments, empty. He felt tears burning his eyes but he held them at bay. Sasuke was looking at him with a mix of pity and concern. Naruto dived in the box and pulled out a framed picture of two people. One was a man with hair so very similar to Naruto's it was unnerving, his blue eyes were a different shade than Naruto's and not and carefree and childish. He was wearing a red and yellow formal kimono, orange and gold flames were running along the bottom of it. He had on a grin that was a little like Naruto's, but smaller, and he had an arm wrapped around the waist of a beautiful woman. She had a head of flame-red hair that spilled over her slight shoulders and behind her just passed the small of her back, her eyes were a dark, forest green and had the same mischievous glint to them as Naruto's cerulean blue ones. She had a grin to match Naruto's in every way; she looked as though nothing could ever ruin her happiness. She, too, was in a formal kimono. Hers was a powder blue silk one with sliver petals placed around her and looking as if they were being blown by the wind. Then Sasuke spotted something that gave him a shock, there were wedding rings on their fingers.

"Naruto, look, it's a wedding picture," he pointed to the rings on their fingers. "These are your parents!"

"Oh Gods, Sasuke, you're right! And look, the kimono's in here!" He pulled out the very outfit his mother had been wearing the day of her wedding. "I can't believe this! It really is them. This is their house. I am their son!"

Naruto was shaking with happiness and excitement. He dove back in the box and pulled out the kimono his father had worn and hugged it. Then he continued sifting through he contents with Sasuke eagerly helping. The found more pictures, some with both and some with just them. There were a few pictures of them with friends and teachers. Sasuke pulled out one where a young Minato was standing with Jiraiya and two other people all looking very happy. Then he showed the blonde another with Minato, now grown up, standing with three young kids, one of which they recognized as their sensei, Kakashi. One look at his face and they began to laugh. He had the same face on as Sasuke had during their team photo. Another photo was found by Naruto showing his mom and dad holding hands at the Konoha gates. Minato was in the Hokage robes and Kushina had one hand on her large tummy where baby Naruto was. It must not have been long before the attack due to how round she was. Eager to see more they replaced the pictures.

After they had finished with that box, they moved on and opened the largest box. When they peered inside, however, they stopped smiling. Inside was an unassembled bassinet. They closed up the box without another word. Quickly they opened the last box. Within that one was baby clothing and baby toys. Rattles and stuffed animals were piled upon each other and the corner of a blue blanket peeked out at them. Naruto felt the tears coming back to him and could not stop them as they began to fall into the box. Sasuke saw this and wrapped his arms around the smaller boy.

They sat there as Naruto cried. Sasuke waited for him to say something but after five minutes, he decided to speak instead. "Naruto, are you okay?" The blonde nodded but kept silent and otherwise still. "Good. Please stop crying, there's no reason."

Even as he spoke though, Sasuke knew that the items they had just uncovered saddened Naruto and his statement was a huge lie. He would be upset if he found these things and was in Naruto's situation. All he could do to comfort his boyfriend was to sit here and hold him close.

"I can't believe how close I was to having a family," mumbled Naruto.

The dark-haired man nodded solemnly and said the only thing that came to mind. "I'm sorry."

Naruto shook his head slowly against Sasuke's warm chest. He had nothing to be sorry about. He simply wrapped his arms tighter around the older boy's back and hugged him. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Sasuke lifted Naruto's face to meet his own. They looked at each other for a while and then kissed lightly. It was wet with Naruto's tears but the small movement seemed to make him feel so much better. After a few more sniffles Naruto stood and pulled Sasuke into the bedroom again. Panicking slightly Sasuke questioned the blonde's motives.

"I want to see how bouncy the bed is," he exclaimed a little happier.

Sasuke was dumbstruck. He stood a foot away from the bed and watched as his love bounced up and down on it, laughing like a little kid. 'Well, something had to cheer him up...' he thought with a smile. Then he joined Naruto on the bed, bouncing and tickling for almost an hour before they fell off and decided to go to the Ramen Stand. So, they walked out of the house, that was locked up safely, and all but ran to eat.

TBC...

A/N: Sad, ne? Emotional? Hope so, that was what I was aiming for. And I'm going to tell you guys something. I described the house as a western style home because I don't know the details of a Japanese house. So, I kinda stuck with what I knew. Sorry.

Well, now what will happen? Is all well now with Sasuke and Naruto? Or will Sakura and Ino put into motion a plan so evil that I want to rip their heads off and hang them from the Hokage mountain? Find out what goes down in the next chapter! Gaara comes by with a shocking bit of information!

REVIEWS!

darkknight11447

I'm happy to hear that you like it. And very happy that you've read both versions. The rewriting is just so that it isn't so crappy... as I damn well know it was.

greeneboy313

Thanks for the complement. And, yeah, I hate Sakura too, but I don't think she'll be dying in this fic... maybe. But you're right, she wouldn't be missed...

shadowphoenix143

oO Wow, talk about your rabid fans... but don't worry, I love Naru-chan so he'll be okay, as you just read. He stuck it to those bitches good, ne? -evil laugh- Oh ho ho... I'm a bad person...