Chapter edited as of Sept 23, 2007. Mai, you rock. -hearts-
Aaah sorry dudes for not updating in like decades, lol. Forreals though. I'm like pulling everything out of my ass right now to finish this chapter, and here it is!
And just so you guys know, because it's irrelevant to the story, but might still be kind of necessary to know so you can get an idea, Naruto's class schedule is as follows: Monday, he has every class, and from Tuesday-Friday, it's 3 classes a day, 2 hours per class. That's how it was like at my high school last year, haha.
OH YEAH THANK YOU closetcase8888 for pointing out something I've completely forgotten about the terms 'uke' and 'seme' in regards to martial arts. I went and fixed that scene, though it still has the same outcome.
And being in college and all… ya think it'd be the reason for me not updating often… but it's actually because of work. I swear it sucks out all of my will and energy.
Males were, by nature, competitive. When the prize was something two opposing males both wanted, it was only natural they would do whatever it takes to be the victor. It was human nature – male human nature – to be competitive, possessive, needy, grabby, clingy to whatever it is that they want, and to fight with tooth and nail against anyone who stands in his way of his prize.
…Or at least, that all proved true for Inuzuka Kiba and Sabaku no Gaara.
Determination, victory… those were enough reasons for a man's fears to be driven away.
It made one feel capable of standing up to the Devil himself.
In Kiba's case, Gaara was the Devil, and he was the lad who hath overcometh his fears in order to woo a certain… blonde damsel.
Okay maybe not so much a damsel, but a skinny little blonde who could kick ass.
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chapter ten.
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"Kyaaaah!"
Used to a certain Uzumaki's random outbursts, the student body went on as they normally do during lunch.
"We're going to be having a carnival!" Naruto exclaimed, bouncing in his seat quite giddily next to Kiba who had scooted a bit away when Naruto had all but yelled in his ear.
Shikamaru looked unperturbed by the news. Carnivals were just too damn troublesome for him. Kiba rolled his eyes. "You sound as if you've never been to a carnival before…"
Naruto paused and frowned thoughtfully. "Well…"
Kiba eyed the blonde critically. "…You're serious? You've never been to a carnival before?"
He received a negative as the smaller one shook his head confusedly.
"Dude! Have you been on any rides before? Played any of those booth games?"
"Nope! That's why I can't wait for the carnival! Iruka-sensei said he's going to take me!"
"Man… you have led one deprived life." Kiba patted him on the head sympathetically.
Naruto pouted. "It's not my fault. Iruka-sensei was just worried for my safety. He said the rides could stop working or I could slip out of the ride and fall and plummet to my death… or those games, like those gun games, could backfire and I could accidentally shoot myself… or when I was younger I could have gotten lost…"
Kiba looked skeptical. He glanced at Shino to see if the guy shared his same sentiments.
"Iruka-sensei needs to loosen up…"
"…"
"Yeah, I know he's just worried but honestly… talk about uptight…"
"Iruka-sensei isn't uptight!" Naruto interrupted, hastily defending his guardian. Though he was always amazed at how Kiba could somehow interpret Shino's silence, he wasn't about to let anyone bad-mouth Iruka! "I persuaded him to let me go to the one here!"
"Uh huh. What else doesn't Iruka-sensei let you do?" Kiba decided to ask instead.
"Well… he doesn't like it when I go places by myself… and he doesn't let me cook 'cause I might cut myself or something… and he won't let me run around the house with scissors in my hand…"
Kiba snorted amusedly. He understood that Iruka did it all for Naruto's safety because the boy was a death hazard when left to his own devices. Now that he thought about it, Kiba wasn't at all surprised Naruto led a 'deprived life.' Might as well lock the boy up in a bubble and be done with it. Or, well, might as well lock the boy up in a bubble with Kiba in it… Kiba grinned to himself and nodded, pleased with that thought. Naruto looked at his friend weirdly, wondering what he was grinning about but decided it was better not to ask. By the look in the dog-lover's eyes, it was clear Naruto didn't want to know what was going on in his head.
The blonde shook his head and turned his gaze else where. He spotted a head of familiar red hair moving smoothly through the crowd of students with his lunch in hand and Naruto stood up, beaming for all he was worth as he waved the other boy over. "Gaara! Oi, Gaaaaara!"
A vein in said redhead's temple twitched as he ignored the callings of Naruto. Maybe if he kept walking and avoided eye contact, Naruto would think Gaara simply didn't hear him… But as it was, Naruto's shouting was becoming obnoxiously louder, and Gaara was receiving odd stares so he let out a sigh and changed course, heading right for Naruto's lunch table. He stopped and didn't bother to sit down since he wasn't planning on joining them, even though he knew that's what Naruto wanted him to do.
"You called?" Gaara drawled out.
"Join us, Gaara!"
"No, that's –" But before he could further protest, Naruto shoved Kiba over, scooted himself and tugged Gaara down so he was plopped down next to him. Gaara didn't even have time to protest! He wasn't aware of the disgruntled look on his face but the others were, though said others chose not to comment as not to anger him. Sabaku no Gaara was always cool and calm and distanced from the world, but when provoked, he was frightening. Having known him longer than Naruto, the others were more aware of that, all except for the blonde.
But it didn't seem like they had to worry about Naruto, because while Gaara was a ticking bomb, he seemed extremely patient with Naruto – disgruntled, but still patient.
It was actually quite amusing to the more observant members of Naruto's close-knit group of friends. In the short time Naruto's been at their school, he's probably had more contact with Gaara than anyone else. No one really understood what was so special about him. He was loud. He was obnoxious. He was hyper and temperamental. But there was something about his smile and his eyes and the open emotions he showed on his face…
Naruto turned to Gaara with a wide smile plastered on his face. "Ne, ne, Gaara! Are you going to help with the carnival?"
"No," was the simple, gruff response. Did Gaara look like the type to spend time in some carnival? He didn't think so either.
"Well why don't you?" Naruto asked.
Clearly he was asking the impossible from Gaara.
"No," he repeated.
Naruto frowned before shrugging. "Well, you don't know what you're missing out on!"
Actually, Gaara knew full well what he was missing out on, and he didn't care one bit. He volunteered to help at the carnival last year, and he found himself working at one of the game booths that involved shooting water out of 'guns.' Needless to say he had some – several – customers below the age of nine-years old that thought it would be funny to shoot him with the water guns. Of course the children were seen not too long later running away screaming, leaving behind a furious and drenched redhead that had leaped over the counter.
And then he had been moved to another game booth that involved darts… Let's just say people don't know how to aim.
"Sure we don't," Kiba said, rolling his eyes. "Hope ya have the time of your life."
Naruto stuck his tongue out. "We will!"
"We?" At this, the dog lover quirked an eyebrow.
"Yeah!" Naruto beamed, throwing an arm around Shikamaru. "Won't we, Shika?"
The pineapple-head boy eyed the blonde warily. "Maa… Whenever did I agree to going to the carnival with you? Carnivals are too troublesome, Naruto…"
He pouted. "Goooo with meee, Shikamaru! Please?"
"No," Shikamaru said simply, looking away from the puppy-look Naruto was giving him, knowing if he stared too long, he'd find it too troublesome to say no.
"Psh. Fine." Naruto huffed, pulling away before smiling sweetly at Chouji from across the table. "Chouji…?"
"Gomen, Naruto. I'm going out of town for a few days with my family," the porky boy responded apologetically.
Naruto looked crestfallen. He turned hopeful eyes to Shino who merely stared at him through his sunglasses.
"…"
"…"
Naruto made a face but quickly got over his disappointment with the others as he rounded on Gaara once more.
"Gaara!"
"Naruto," Gaara grunted out, a twitch in his temple.
"Go to the carnival with meee."
"No."
"C'mon."
"No."
"There will be rides?"
"…"
"Cotton candy?"
"…"
"Games??!"
"…"
"You get to spend some quality time with me?"
Gaara looked at him, before drawling out, "…No thanks."
"I'll go with you, dickless."
All eyes swiveled to the raven-haired boy standing behind Gaara and Naruto, smiling.
"Hey don't call me tha--!" Naruto started in an outburst, but quickly brushed it off and brightened up when he realized what Sai had said. "You will?!"
Naruto instantly latched himself on to Sai. "You're so awesome! Man! I thought no one would want to go with me!"
There was a rattle as Kiba suddenly stood up from his seat, palms slammed on to the table. "You know what? I've had a change of heart. I'll go with you too, Naruto."
"…I think I'll go too," Gaara inputted calmly.
Surely leaving the blonde alone with the idiot dog lover and the dick-obsessed boy wouldn't go down so well? It was only natural Gaara should go along, to make sure they didn't do anything stupid…
"Tch, so troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, obviously aware as to why Kiba and Gaara suddenly volunteered to tag along. Shino made no comment, but Chouji seemed amused, although engrossed in his food. Naruto, on the other hand, remained oblivious to the brewing competition as he was far too happy that he had more than one companion to go to the carnival with. He couldn't wait!
But his happiness was short lived when he recalled what Sai had called him, and from there, Naruto proceeded to strangle the dark-haired boy, to which Kiba and Gaara made no attempt to stop him.
"We're going to have a test," Sasuke was telling his class.
Naruto almost fell out of his chair.
"This Friday," Sasuke continued to say as he leaned back on his desk, his ankles and arms crossed. "It's going to be on the past two chapters we've been covering. After each chapter there is a chapter review. Do each review for homework. They'll be due on the day of the test. We'll review everything the day before."
The bell rang.
"Class dismissed."
There was a series of collective groans as the class contemplated their impending doom: their first Physiology test in Uchiha-sensei's class. They scuttled out of the classroom, Naruto being the last one left sitting at his desk. He had his chin tucked on his hands with his elbows on the desk. There was no point for him to get up when he had a detention to serve.
It was Naruto's last day of detention, and he had completely forgotten to ask Sasuke if he could keep tutoring him even after his sentence was over. He really didn't know how to go about asking him. He felt as if his pride was being shattered just thinking about the groveling that might ensue. But then again, Naruto wasn't so prideful that he didn't know when to ask for help when he needed it. His binder and Physiology book was opened on his desk and Sasuke went back to his own to sit down on his chair. The man was shuffling through papers when he heard Naruto speak up,
"Ne, sensei…"
"Hm?" Sasuke lifted his gaze, an eyebrow quirking. Naruto only ever called him 'sensei' when around other people (like Iruka), or when he wanted something and was feeling rather embarrassed about asking it.
"Detention's going to be over…" the boy started, frowning thoughtfully as he tried to figure out how to word his question. "And… well, detention has become… more like tutoring sessions to me. And, I was wondering…" He trailed off.
Sasuke smirked. He leaned back in his chair, Naruto having his full attention now. The blonde looked flustered as he realized his teacher was looking at him with a look akin to teasing; maybe not so much mockery, but something more playful, and taunting. "You want me to keep tutoring you."
It wasn't a question, but a statement.
"Well…" Naruto wrung his hands out before sighing, shoulders slumped in defeat. "…Yeah."
"Okay."
"Eh?" The boy blinked at him in surprise. "Okay?"
"To your question: okay," Sasuke repeated calmly. He stood up and walked over, and Naruto continued to watch in confusion as his teacher pulled up a seat next to Naruto's desk. Sasuke sat down so he was straddling the chair, his arms folded over the back of it. "Well?"
Naruto blinked some more before realizing that Sasuke was going to help him with his homework. Beaming, he moved his book and papers closer to Sasuke so he could see what Naruto had done so far.
While Sasuke went over a particular part of the chapter that had confused Naruto, the blonde looked up, noting for the first time how close he was to his teacher. He was so close that he could trace every line and contour of the older man's face; so close he could see how his lashes nearly touched his cheeks whenever he would lower his lids to look down at something. The man was handsome, breathtakingly so, and Naruto didn't have to bend the other way to know that.
…Not that he was checking the man out or anything.
Even as a straight guy, Naruto had to admit Sasuke was hot.
It wasn't very often anyone came across someone as physically perfect as Sasuke.
Perhaps it was envy that had led Naruto to study his teacher's facial features, but he didn't think much of it anymore when Sasuke lifted his eyes up and gave his student a quizzical look. Naruto hastily lowered his own gaze and focused on his work, feeling the embarassed blush burning on his face, neck and ears.
They became so engrossed in their work that Sasuke nearly fell out of his chair with a heart attack when Naruto abruptly pushed his chair back and stood up, slapping his hand on his desk.
"I almost forgot!"
He grabbed his bookcase and dumped it on the desk, shuffling around inside and whipping out two cups of instant ramen. Naruto beamed, ignoring the incredulous look his teacher was giving him. "I don't know 'bout you but I'm hungry!"
"…" Sasuke sighed. He released his clutch over his heart, for he had been sure his heart had started to seize on him. Wordlessly he took the two cups of instant ramen and wandered over to the teacher's lounge in order to warm them up, all the meanwhile being trailed by a chattering blonde.
He was going on and on about some carnival – Hm, hadn't Sasuke heard something about this from the other teachers? Not that he ever paid attention. Whenever the teachers had a meeting, Sasuke always tuned them out for the most part. Apparently Naruto had been so caught up in chattering that he hadn't realized he had stepped on the hem of his pants (considering they were rather long on his short legs) until he was falling and falling and…
Thud.
Sasuke quirked an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder, staring unblinkingly at his student who had fallen unceremoniously face-first into the ground, butt still in the air and all. He sighed, muttering "usuratonkachi" beneath his breath and crouched down, arms resting on his knees.
Naruto lifted his head up, eyes closed before squinting at the figure in front of him. He lifted his head up further in order to squint at the blank-faced Sasuke who was staring down at him. Naruto made a face at him.
"Whatcha starin' at?!"
"…" Sasuke reached out a hand and suddenly flicked him on the forehead. "…Dobe. Stop falling all over the place."
With that said, the raven-haired man stood up and turned around, continuing his walk to the teacher's lounge. Naruto scowled, a hand rubbing where Sasuke had flicked him. A huffed "teme" came from the irked boy before he jumped back to his feet and stomped after the older man, playing off his embarrassment.
Naruto had always heard rumors that the teacher's lounge was the most luxurious part of the building – with lush carpeting and fancy couches, and its own buffet and chefs for when the teacher's came to eat lunch. Of course Naruto knew that to be false. What kind of teacher's lounge had all of that stuff? Teacher's lounges were the most boring-est part of school buildings, with a refrigerator, a barely-working microwave, a few tables and chairs, and maybe a sink if they were lucky…
So it was only natural when Naruto stepped into the teacher's lounge and found the rumors to be true, that he gaped open-mouthed at the exquisite lounging area of the teachers-only room.
"The hell?" He said out loud, impressed and shocked.
The others weren't going to believe this!
"If you think this is nice, you should see the principal's office," Sasuke muttered, filling the cups up with water before warming them up in the microwave.
His temple twitched as he thought about the principal.
Honestly, that man… he was far too indulging.
"Can we see the principal's office?" Naruto asked excitedly.
"No," Sasuke said simply.
Naruto's shoulders sagged with disappointment. "Aww man, you suck."
"I'm sure you'll see it eventually," Sasuke said, pulling out the instant ramen when they were done heating up.
It took Naruto a while to realize what Sasuke was implying. He was going to make a retort when his noodles were shoved in his face, and his nostrils inhaled the heavenly aroma of ramen. His mouth watered and he took his food, gladly accepting the chopsticks offered to him as well. They made their way back to the classroom and resumed the tutoring, although not much had gotten done amongst the slurping and Naruto splattering droplets of hot water on Sasuke, who scowled at him.
But all in all, even though Naruto had tried to take some of his noodles when he was finished with his own, Sasuke had to admit, the blonde was amusing to be around.
"No way!"
"Hell yeah! Zaraki would totally pwn Byakuya any day!"
"Whatever! Byakuya is way cooler!"
"What! Zaraki totally kicks ass."
"…No."
Kiba and Naruto rounded on Sai, who was smiling pleasantly.
"Gin is the coolest by far."
"Who asked for your opinion!?" Kiba retorted.
Naruto made a face. "You're just saying that because you both have the same creepy smile…"
Sai tilted his head innocently. "What creepy smile?"
Smile.
"Gah! You're making that creepy smile again!"
"If you idiots are done, get back to the drill," Sasuke interrupted, eyeing all three of them darkly. "If I catch you standing around again, I'll make you run eighty laps around the block!"
"Hai, hai, sensei," they all grumbled. Kiba went back to sparring with Sai, and Naruto returned his attention to Shikamaru, who was looking completely bored and uninterested in what was going on around him.
"Okay Shika! Give me your best shot!"
"Yare, yare…" The pineapple-haired boy rolled his shoulders and sighed before slipping smoothly (and lazily) into an offensive position, Naruto taking defense. Shikamaru honestly hadn't wanted to come to class that night, feeling he would be more productive watching the clouds on some grassy field or something. But no. His mom had kicked his ass out of the house and told him to get to class or she'd tan his hide. Women, he thought as he charged at Naruto, are troublesome.
And of course his father wasn't much help. He always talked the talk, but when it actually came to talking back to his wife, he never did. He was far too compliant. Shikamaru's mother had his father whipped and the man didn't even notice!
Pathetic.
The two fighters collided, Naruto doing a series of backhand flips in order to avoid a few punches and kicks Shikamaru was sending his way. He landed in a crouch at the edge of the blue matt before sweeping his leg in an arc. Shikamaru leaped into the air and kicked his leg out, though Naruto intercepted and blocked it with an arm. He grabbed the lazy boy's leg and flipped him around in mid-air, throwing him down on the mat. Shikamaru rolled out of the way and back to his feet where the two resumed exchanging blocks and hits.
Sasuke eventually signaled a partner switch. Everyone rotated and Naruto was paired up with Gaara. When Sasuke signaled everyone to start fighting again, the two were instantly locked in a battle. It wasn't until Naruto became frustrated that he suddenly head-butted Gaara, tackling him to the ground. A low move, he knew, but Naruto was feeling playful as he grinned and stuck his tongue down at the disgruntled looking redhead. His world tipped over when Gaara had suddenly flipped them over and switched their positions. Naruto couldn't help but grin at the triumphant and playful look that was glinting in the normally blank jade eyes.
Sasuke gave the signal again and Gaara had to raise an arm in order to block a kick that was sent at his head. He was off of Naruto and fighting Kiba in the next instant. Naruto watched them both for a moment before standing up and facing his next opponent: Tenten.
"Alright! Let's do this! Datte –"
He was cut off when Kiba stumbled into him.
"Hey!"
Kiba growled beneath his breath and lunged at Gaara.
"God. A sorry would be nice," Naruto grumbled indignantly. Tenten shook her head, wondering how Naruto could be so oblivious to the competitive atmosphere that had engulfed Kiba and Gaara.
Kiba, she could understand.
But it was both amusing and frightening to see Gaara fighting for something.
Or well, someone.
She smiled at the naïve blonde before getting into a fighting position and making a gesture. "Ready, Naruto?"
"Haaai!" He chirped.
Sasuke stared at his phone, willing it to burst into flames.
He gave it his most menacing glare.
The phone didn't budge.
His brow twitched.
It still didn't budge.
He had the sudden impulse to fling it on the wall, knowing he would derive some satisfaction in seeing it be smashed to pieces while falling to the ground.
But he didn't. He resisted such childish impulses, knowing it wouldn't do him any good to go breaking the phone. But then again, it wasn't as if he ever used it. If anything, it gave him much suffering and antagonized him due to all the constant messages he would receive, and the annoying sound it would emit whenever someone would call.
He never used the house phone. He used his cell phone to make any necessary calls.
And even then that was rare.
And just as he was about ready to fry his phone on the stove, the fangirling messages finally came to an end, but the next message raised the hackles on the back of his neck.
"Hello my dear, foolish little brother…I will be arriving in Konoha this weekend. I hear there is a carnival at your school. Surely we shall go to it? You, Kisame and I. It is all I ask for my birthday…"
He hissed and turned the answering machine off.
Damn it.
Someone was receiving much amusement from his suffering otherwise his older brother wouldn't bother him so much, and wouldn't be coming over for his birthday.
And screw the frying and the smashing, Sasuke wanted to blow his phone up – his brother with it.
Sasuke sighed and slumped on the couch, draping an arm across his eyes.
He was glad Itachi and Kisame wouldn't be staying with him in his apartment, otherwise all Hell would break loose.
At least there was some mercy in this world…
o-kaaaay. Short chapter. Or at least, shorter than the previous ones really. Sorry. I just wanted to update reallyreally badly.
AND MAN. Naruto manga chapter 371 is evi. Evil!!
And anyway, thanks everyone for all of the AWESOME reviews. I was thrown away by it all. –starry eyed-
I hope you can forgive me for the long wait and the short chapter. –bowbowbow-
--FT