Don't get me wrong - I DO have a beta…she's wonderful - Anonymous Sister of the Author, but I thought that I should just get this chapter up as soon as I could - it was taking too long to write and its so damn short!!
Forgive me please for this crappy chapter, it was difficult to write!! I'm sorry!!
Anyway - once again, do not harm me - I'm stupid and I'm doing two stories at once…and they're both pretty popular as far as I think…considering they're my first two fanfics…
Please don't be mean to me!! I'm updating as soon as I can!! While I'm at it - thanks to all those you reviewed! You guys rock!! Especially those who review ALL the time:Hugs and candy to all!!:
I'll say it once more - I don't own Naruto…only Hazuki…
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Chapter Ten
Sasuke was at the train station that morning earlier than usual - he'd taken the train rather than his car.
He was waiting for a certain blonde dobe to show up as they had planned the night before when Sasuke had walked Naruto home from his house. Sasuke had looked up at the building with disgust, it seemed to him that Orochimaru's taste in homes hadn't changed, he shuddered, a frown settling in as he watched Naruto walk up the path to the looming building.
Sasuke had been assured that Orochimaru wouldn't be home for another night - though Naruto had conveniently left out any mentioning of Kabuto - and still with an unsettling frown Sasuke had watched Naruto walk away…it felt a little strange.
He had slept restfully that night. Hazuki hadn't mentioned anything about him being home when she returned - surprisingly at four o'clock with bags of baby accessories - and was even more of a surprise when Itachi showed up with her. It was almost like his reunion with Naruto hadn't happened, and that night as he had been downstairs watching T.V listening to the soothing argument (by argument it meant that Hazuki was rambling, Itachi was 'Aa-ing'), about what colour they should paint the wall in the new nursery.
Sasuke had listened longer than someone sane maybe should listen to a pregnant woman ranting on about different shades of cream, but he was in a surprisingly good mood - which Itachi was kind enough to point out later than night as he ruffled his brother's hair. Sasuke had only glared at him, but inwardly he was happy - very happy - but he would never let Itachi know that.
There had also been some fretting over the amount of coughing that Sasuke seemed to be the culprit of…Hazuki had fetched out the cough medicine, Itachi had watched from a distance, casually eyeing the bruising and markings around Sasuke's throat. Sasuke had even glanced at Itachi, wondering if he would say anything, but Itachi did not speak, only slipped into Sasuke's room later on, when Hazuki had slept, knowing that his brother was yet to sleep, and handed Sasuke some ointment to make sure that the scratches didn't get infected.
Sasuke had to admit, he was thankful for that silence as Itachi handed him the ointment, and thankful that his brother usually tended to stay out of matters that included Sasuke getting into fights…of course, that hadn't exactly been a fight, and Itachi wasn't going to find out anything, not just yet anyway.
Sasuke looked down once more at his watch, Naruto should be appearing soon. He sat quietly on the bench, glaring occasionally at the few girls he heard giggling, wondering mindlessly if he could try for a 'licence to kill'. Hell - Itachi probably had one, right? Guh…scary concept…Sasuke noted to himself with a shudder. His brother - on a bad day - was dangerous enough without a licence to kill…
Shaking himself out of his daze, Sasuke sat back in the bench and looked around, clearing his throat. He looked over the railing behind him that separated the station platform from the walking path, and back again - still no Naruto.
Okay…now I'm just being all clingy, what the hell am I, a paranoid boyfriend? Okay, did I just say boyfriend?…Sasuke thought to himself…anyway, maybe I'm just anxious to see him? He shook his head…he didn't even know what he would say to Naruto when they would next see each other. He'd been contemplating it all night, he'd probably dreamt about it too but couldn't remember. He wondered if it would be awkward - it would most likely be, but Sasuke couldn't be happier.
Naruto - the Naruto he would have gladly given his life for - was back in his life again, and Sasuke wouldn't screw it up again.
"Ohayo, Sasuke-kun," Sasuke knew that voice…sadly. He glanced up to Sakura, she was alone that morning - unusual as it was not to see her surrounded by friends - or guys - she came and sat next to him on the bench, although he'd made his best effort to ignore her…he'd made his first mistake by actually acknowledging that she was there…stupid eyes…
"Waiting for someone?" she questioned, making conversation. Sasuke didn't give her the pleasure of an answer. She pursed her lips and placed her books down on her lap after smoothing out the neat pleats in her skirt, and remained silent for a few more moments. "I'm planning on walking with Hinata to school today," She said as another attempt to start a conversation. "She and I are working together for a Chemistry assignment, needed to ask her about a few things before the lesson today. I wanted to be paired off with you, but you weren't there after lunch yesterday…did you go home?"
"Didn't feel well."
"Oh? You're feeling better now?" she wondered, leaning closer into him. Sasuke rolled his eyes and crossed his arms behind his head without a response. Sakura smiled. "I suppose you would be," she told herself. "Otherwise you wouldn't be in school, right?"
Yes, Sakura, because I love school so much that I need an excuse to keep me away…He thought to himself as he looked back over his shoulder, and then his eyes widened as he saw the blonde head appear upon the rise…and Hinata?
Sakura jumped up and waived to Hinata with a smile as she headed for the gate that would take her out onto the path, Sasuke narrowly followed her, watching Naruto all the while as he spoke softly with Hinata; a small smile graced his lips…he didn't really bother with the Hinata issue…because it couldn't become an issue - it was just Hinata, after all.
Sakura ran over to greet Hinata, saying a friendly good-morning to Naruto, who nodded with a smile in return, one that did not seem to reach his eyes - as always - and waived a good-bye to Hinata who apologised as she walked away.
Sasuke remained silent and still, Naruto hadn't noticed him yet, though when Naruto did finally look up, his eyes locked at once with Sasuke's and his lips curled into a smile as he saw the same expression upon the face of the usually stoic boy.
"Ohayo, Naruto." Sasuke said coolly as Naruto had reached him, they stood a few inches apart, smiling at one another, Naruto really was smiling, it was genuine, not his fake grin that he hid behind, he was actually smiling…Sasuke was glad.
"Ohayo, Sasuke." Naruto smiled; unable to hide his contentment…he'd not been able to sleep thinking about seeing Sasuke again. He felt as if some weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and although somehow he knew he was doing something wrong…he knew that he would somehow be hurt in the end - Naruto didn't want to care, he hadn't seen Sasuke in so long…he only hoped he wouldn't regret it.
"Ne, ne! Sasuke-kun! Are you coming?!" Sakura called over her shoulder as she waved at them. Naruto looked beyond Sasuke at the pretty pink-haired girl and the sweet, blushing Hinata and back at Sasuke. Sasuke rolled his eyes and sighed, his shoulders dropping before he glanced over his shoulder and nodded towards the girl.
"We'll see you there, Sakura." Sasuke said coolly, though Naruto noted the clear annoyance in Sasuke's tone…nope, he hasn't changed very much in that respect…
Sasuke looked back to Naruto and shrugged. "Shall we get going?" He offered and held out his hand to direct Naruto to walk besides him. Naruto nodded and took the offer to stand at Sasuke's side, their shoulders brushing for a moment, just like old times. Sasuke thought the same and glanced at Naruto, still unable to believe how much taller he was. Inwardly Sasuke smiled as a comfortable silence smothered them and they were on their way.
As a habit more than anything, Sasuke shoved his hands in his pockets, taking another glance at Naruto, taking in the pleasant sight of his golden hair and smooth skin, at those strange markings on his cheeks, sparkling blue eyes - yeah, they're sparkling - and once again Sasuke couldn't hold back a smile.
"Your hair is longer than before." Sasuke was slightly caught off guard as he noticed that voice as Naruto's. He looked at the blonde properly who didn't seem to be looking back at him.
"Yeah," Sasuke stated simply. "I haven't had it cut in a while."
"It suites you." Naruto said softly, quietly, wondering if Sasuke had heard him at all, which he had.
"Thanks." Sasuke didn't really know what he should say…should I say he looks nice? What the hell…what to say to him? What to say to him that won't upset him? Ah, shit…we never used to talk much before…not really anyway…but he's actually speaking to me, that's different.
"Ne, Sasuke?" Sasuke looked once more to Naruto; the blonde was watching his feet as he spoke. He felt Sasuke's eyes upon him and therefore continued. "About what happened yesterday," Naruto paused, trying to find the right words as Sasuke pondered over what part of what happened yesterday Naruto was talking about. "When - when I had…you know, what I did to you in school…your throat…"
"Aa." Sasuke shook his head, slightly surprised by the change in topic. "You don't have to explain anything,"
"Datte -," Naruto began to argue.
"Iie - you don't have to explain anything to me, Naruto." Sasuke said firmly yet softly, a sort of reassuring tone to his voice. He lowered his eyes to the ground as he continued. "There's nothing for you to apologise for either…I may not be able to understand…but I know that…there are something's that don't need explanations…not with Orochimaru…" Sasuke paused for a moment, catching Naruto's reaction, Sasuke seemed more phased by the name than Naruto did, and in all honesty, Sasuke thought that was fair enough.
"You can tell me when you feel that you want to…not because you feel obliged to give me an explanation." Sasuke finished.
"Sankyuu." Naruto nodded, his arm once again brushing against Sasuke's, feeling such a strange sensation of longing surge through him. He just wanted to reach out and hold Sasuke again, just to touch him, to feel something aside from loneliness.
"I don't think we've ever spoken so much…" Sasuke pointed out a few moments later as they came closer to the school, a slight feeling of nostalgia creeping over him as he approached the school gates, Naruto once again at his side.
"And yet…we haven't really said what we want to say." Naruto pointed out.
"Aa..." Sasuke agreed. "But there's going to be time for that…let's just enjoy each others company once more...I still find it hard to believe that five years have passed."
"Yeah," Naruto nodded, though as he thought back, he realised it felt like so much longer…he wondered if that was what Sasuke really thought too.
"You haven't gotten much taller,"
"Che - I have, and it's that you've finally caught up to me, dobe." Sasuke smirked at the devious glint in Naruto's eyes…as much as he would like to deny it; Naruto had clearly changed a lot since the last time they had met.
He looked different and he acted different to how he had expected. And what had he expected? A timid and shy Naruto? One that was brave and courageous in a way that could surpass anyone? Sasuke was sure that, that part hadn't changed, Naruto would always be brave, he would always put others ahead of himself, but his attitude…maybe he's changed as much as I have…?
"Teme." Naruto stated quietly under his breath. Sasuke nudged him slightly in the shoulder, noticing how firmly Naruto had held his ground. Nope, he's no push over anymore, he's far stronger…what the hell could that Snake-bastard have done to him…? Hell, do I even want to know?
"Ne! Uchiha! Uzumaki-san! Over here!"
The pair turned their eyes in the direction of the call, Naruto looking passed Sasuke's slightly taller frame and towards the waving figure that stood some feet away off to the right beyond the school gate. Sasuke raised an eyebrow…and they called to me why? He questioned inwardly.
"You've been acquainted with Inuzuka?" Sasuke questioned Naruto who out of politeness waved back to the dark haired teen.
"Sort of." Naruto stated. "Are you friends with them?"
"I…I suppose I am…" Sasuke said, it seemed like he was uncertain to Naruto, he looked at Sasuke's empty face and contemplated, from what Naruto had seen of Sasuke, he did seem like a bit of a loner, which Naruto had never thought of him as before, since when they'd been together, they'd always be together, they'd always had each other, Naruto just couldn't really place Sasuke as much of a loner.
"Ne, Uchiha, you getting to know Naruto?" Kiba wondered as he wondered over, followed by the boy that Naruto recognised as Nara, Shikamaru. There were no others around.
"Yeah, sort of." Sasuke shrugged at the question, casually looking around as Naruto bowed his head to the two.
"Ne, Naruto, you remember Shikamaru," Kiba pointed to the guy to his left, following behind slightly at a snails pace, seeming to be in no hurry. His half cast eyes gave off the impression that he was one tired (or lazy) youth. He nodded politely to Naruto, and Naruto nodded back.
"It's weird seeing you walking around with people, Uchiha." Kiba laughed. "Thought I was seeing things when you entered the school with Uzumaki."
"Had to avoid Sakura somehow." Sasuke stated coolly, Naruto didn't really get it, but supposed that he didn't need to understand.
"Oh, so that was you." Kiba raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. Sasuke raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and gave Kiba a chilling look that could make Naruto wince, but at the same time made him smile…that's just like Sasuke…
"What was me?" Sasuke retorted, his voice calm but threatening - one useful thing he had picked up from his brother.
"You're the reason that Hinata-san went off with Sakura! To do work and - and whatever! Now I won't see her until homeroom!"
"Which is in ten minutes, you idiot…" Shikamaru had finally spoken up, casually rolling his eyes as he turned slightly away from the conversation as if it was entirely pointless - which in his world it probably was. Naruto watched this interaction…yeah, they're Sasuke's friends…he thought with an inward smile.
"That's not the point!" Kiba growled, balling his hands at his sides.
"Then what exactly is your point, Inuzuka?" Sasuke questioned fairly calmly.
"My point is that -,"
"Give it a rest, you're so troublesome."
"What was that, Nara!?" Kiba snapped, turning to face Shikamaru.
"I'm not going to repeat myself…" Shikamaru yawned, a fuming Kiba just behind him.
Naruto looked between the two, then again back to an all knowing Sasuke who seemed unfazed as if saying 'don't worry, this happens al the time.'
"Come on, Naruto. Kiba'll be at this for a while." Sasuke sighed and turned around beginning to walk away. Naruto nodded his head and eagerly followed, looking back occasionally over his shoulder towards the both of them, Kiba was still yelling at Shikamaru, while Shikamaru simply brushed him off casually, Naruto didn't even think that Shikamaru was even actually listening to what Kiba was saying…he'd seen them arguing like that when he'd first arrived at the school.
"Oh, that reminds me," Sasuke said out of the blue, looking up suddenly as he took his hand from his jacket pocket, bringing out a folded piece of paper.
"A note?" Naruto questioned, looking over it.
"Nope," Sasuke replied as he unfolded it. "You're timetable." Naruto took it from Sasuke's hands to inspect it closer.
"How did you - ?"
"Hyuuga, Neji gave it to me." Sasuke stated, hardly helping with Naruto's slight confusion. They both stopped on the yard and Sasuke stood ahead of Naruto ready to explain. "On Monday, when I thought that you didn't remember me…I didn't want to believe you…" Sasuke begun, feeling a little ashamed, he looked away, Naruto did the same thing, feeling the same way, it had hurt him to do so too.
"So yesterday, I went to Hyuuga, knowing that he was the one who was leading you around the school for the week. I asked him if I could lead you around after lunch yesterday. And he agreed, and gave me the timetable." Sasuke explained, the tone of his voice becoming slightly more casual.
"Oh…will you…be leading me around today?" Naruto questioned as Sasuke took back the timetable and folded it back away neatly, placing it back in his jacket pocket.
Obsidian eyes locked this azure ones and a smirk appeared upon Sasuke's soft lips. "I'm sure I can work something out." He leant discreetly closer to Naruto who lavished at that subtle feeling and the slight closeness as the gap between them shrunk.
Sasuke had been careful to make sure that they were not noticed, he couldn't stand it anymore, acting so distant when all he really wanted to do was hold Naruto again, to just hold him close…and that was what Naruto wanted too, yet stood as close as that only seemed appropriate. Sasuke smirked as he brushed his fingers along the back of Naruto's sun-kissed hand, and felt Naruto's hand as it turned around so that Sasuke's fingers traced over Naruto's palm.
Naruto smiled as he gently shut his eyes.
"Aren't we in any classes together?" Naruto whispered, thinking to himself. Sasuke gently shook his head as he continued to trace Naruto's palm with pale fingers.
"No," he breathed softly. "But there are always free periods." He shrugged, Naruto nodded his head as he opened his eyes and felt Sasuke beginning to move away. "Come on, we'll go to homeroom."
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"Hmm…things are getting interesting…"
Umino, Iruka-sensei stood with narrowed eyes gazing out of the window at the pair that had just left the front yard. He watched Naruto and Sasuke as they walked together…rather closely, I might add…towards the school…It indeed was not what he really had in mind for those two…somehow childhood friends had come to his mind when he'd thought that they had a connection…hmm, I didn't realise that maybe it could be deeper than that…
"Who ya spyin' on, Umino?"
Iruka snapped out of his trance and straightened up as his eyes broadened and met with the dark eyes of Anko as she stood looking over his shoulder. He laughed nervously and turned towards her as she backed away. She didn't seem to be too suspicious.
"Oh, no one, it's just some first years." Iruka smiled, Anko shrugged it off and looked up at the youthful teacher with a catty grin.
"Some first years, eh? Well, who would've thought?" she grinned broader, making Iruka-sensei suddenly nervous. "Iruka, the closet pervert."
"Nani!? No, no, no! You've got me all wrong!" He shook his hands ahead of him as though trying to deflect the clearly wrong interpretation.
"Yeah, okay," Anko grinned, and patted Iruka on the back as she walked away. "Don't worry; your secret is safe with me…"
Iruka dropped his shoulders and sighed, a slightly tinge of worry ran down his spine…along with a shudder. He cursed inwardly…I should have known…well, best be off to homeroom before anyone else gets any wrong ideas…
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With their timetables out ahead of them, Sasuke passed his eyes over them and studied when they would both have free periods. Considering their luck, there was actually quite a few of them. Sasuke had more lessons than Naruto over all considering the lessons chosen.
"There…we actually have free lesson just after lunch today." Sasuke told Naruto who sat at the desk ahead of Sasuke's looking over the chair, and watching with an inward smile as Sasuke, rather seriously - went over the time tables in their turn and marked them off. He looked like he had done it before…Naruto didn't know why it was so fascinating just to watch Sasuke do something like this, maybe it was the way that his eyes moved over the text, maybe the way that his hand carried the pen over the paper, maybe the way that he pursed his lips every now and again in concentration…yeah, that's got to be it…
Sasuke looked at Naruto and passed him back his time table. "I…I'm still finding this hard to believe…" Sasuke suddenly confessed.
Naruto nodded in agreement, reaching over and placing his hands against Sasuke's, brushing their fingers together. Sasuke smiled and intertwined their fingers, looking once again over Naruto's lithe figure, knowing somehow that there was something far more powerful about Naruto now than there had been before…perhaps that's what going it alone did to him…made him a stronger person…but why don't I want to believe that?
"I wonder…" Naruto began quietly. "I wonder how long this can last…" Sasuke scowled at this, but Naruto seemed oblivious to it, simply watched their fingers as his thumb ran gently and comfortably along the back of Sasuke's pale hand.
After a short while of the silence, Naruto looked up to Sasuke's face and saw the frown that marred his perfect brow beneath his hair. In a rather bold gesture, Naruto reached out and ran his fingers through Sasuke's hair, brushing it aside and away from his face. Sasuke's scowl vanished and he looked Naruto in the eye, capturing the hand in his own at it rested aside his face.
"I like being able to see your face…" Naruto smiled half heartedly, although inside he still felt somewhat torn…what is it that I'm feeling…? "It's reassuring…"
"Reassuring…" Sasuke tested the word. "That's one that I haven't heard before." He smiled. "I like it."
"That's always good to know…" Naruto smiled, and steadily began to lower his hand back down to the table where Sasuke's fingers eagerly awaited their touch. "Another reassuring thing…" Naruto commented as their fingers intertwined once again.
"We should just skip out on school altogether…" Sasuke suggested quietly. "Give us a better chance to talk…" Sasuke couldn't help but think through this whole thing in his head as he spoke. How strange was it…that he hadn't seen Naruto in five years and yet they were able to talk so easily…as if they'd never really been apart, yet somehow, Sasuke felt closer to Naruto…shit that doesn't even make sense…
"Would be nice if we could…" Naruto whispered back.
"I suppose it would be a bit unreasonable," Sasuke sighed, his voice suddenly a little raspy, and he coughed as he pulled his hands away from Naruto's. He turned aside, a hand covering his mouth, as Naruto's blonde brows knitted together and his hand reached out but he suddenly decided against it. Instead he reached for his backpack and pulled out a bottle of water.
"Here," He handed it to Sasuke who took only one glance at him before he accepted the bottle and drank it down, hoping that it would sooth the pain in his throat. He let out exasperated breath and passed the bottle back to Naruto with a nod of thanks.
"Sasuke-kun? Are you alright?"
"Hai, Iruka-sensei." Sasuke said with one last cough as his eyes met with the deep caring ones of the teacher as he'd entered the classroom. "I'm fine now, just a little cough."
"Okay, but if there are any more problems with it, don't hesitate to go and see the nurse, she might have something to help." Iruka smiled, raising his eyebrows apologetically as he usually did. Sasuke nodded to the teacher, before looking back to Naruto, whom he noticed gazing out of the window with an almost unreadable expression upon his face.
"Thank-you, Naruto," Sasuke said quietly with a weak smile as he sat back up straight, he lowered his arms back down onto the desk, catching once more a glimmer of sorrow in Naruto's eyes. Sasuke didn't like that look.
"It's the least that I can do," Naruto said…since it's my fault in the first place…
"So, how are you two this morning? Making friends?" Iruka smiled as he pulled out a few sheets of paper from the satchel he'd been carrying and set it down on the desk.
Naruto looked to Sasuke for the answers, but there was still a distant look in his eyes, one that maybe was only mirrored by Sasuke's. "Yeah, making friends." Sasuke told Iruka-sensei, knowing that was what he wanted to hear.
"That's always good. How are you this morning, Naruto-kun? Feeling better? Oh, and you too Sasuke, you weren't in school after lunch yesterday either." Iruka pointed out as if it had only just occurred to him too.
"I'm feeling much better, thank-you, sensei." Naruto said, still not really looking at Iruka, feeling some sort of guilt swimming inside him, he could already see how much of a disaster this could become if he allowed himself to slip up ahead of a teacher again, especially after yesterday morning, he'd been in pieces.
"That's good hear, Naruto-kun," Iruka smiled as he shuffled some papers. "And Sasuke-kun, how about you?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Sasuke replied rather bluntly with a nod of the head.
Suddenly, things felt like they had become rather tense between the two of them, and even more so as the classroom began to fill with students. Sasuke said goodbye to Naruto as he went over to take his seat at the opposite side of the room with a still arguing Shikamaru and Kiba.
Sasuke watched Naruto go, and look over to him as he sat down and he knew at once that the feeling deep within him was anticipation, the next chance he would have to speak to Naruto again would be lunchtime, but at least then he could spend lunch and the lesson after with him…inwardly he was smiling, he couldn't believe that it was happening, he still hadn't really gotten his head around it, he felt that somehow he would wake up at any moment now and it would have all been a dream. But he couldn't have been more thankful at the fact that if he was dreaming he was in deep slumber. He'd never been so happy to sleep for so long.
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Sasuke stared out of the classroom window readying himself for the bell to chime…yet all he could hear in his ears was the sound of the ticking clock, but every time he checked it seemed as though it hadn't even moved.
Depressed and discouraged, Sasuke looked towards his partner who was still busy looking through the equations, and Sasuke wondered how he could have been stuck with a partner like Akimichi, Chouji of all people. He glanced towards the teacher, not sure whether to thank him or curse him for making him and the potato-chip munching student partners. Maybe it was for the best? Sasuke mused, feeling the eyes that were upon him from around the classroom, stares that he usually tended to ignore.
"Is something the matter, Uchiha-san?" Sasuke made eye contact with the teacher, his face remained glacial and he looked back down to his work, not about to reply to the teacher's question.
Time just seemed to be moving too slowly, Naruto believed the same thing too. It was and information-technology lesson so it wasn't so bad since he didn't have to do much aside from follow all these different formula's, but every time he looked up to the clock, it seemed to be the same. Lesson one and two had gone by slowly as well, but that time it was just plain murderous, and right before lunch as well.
Naruto was left to his own thoughts again as he went about going over the sheet that the teacher had given him. He couldn't help but have his thoughts wonder as they usually did, and that time, like many times before it - he could not help but think about his situation with Sasuke…did I do the right thing? Not only for me…but for him? Naruto sighed. What happens if Orochimaru finds out about him…?
There it was. The chime that signalled the end of third lesson and the beginning of lunch. Naruto was out of the class room quickly; truthfully he hadn't really noticed that he'd been so quick to leave, he came to the lunch line, found a simple sandwich and a bottle of water and went to head outside. He stopped when he came to the doorway.
Where would Sasuke be? Naruto questioned, his brows furrowed slightly at the thought of it. The school wasn't large, Naruto had realised that the first day he had arrived, so it shouldn't be too difficult to locate Sasuke, and yet, Naruto had no idea where to begin.
After a few more moments of contemplation, Naruto started over towards the tree beyond the courts and decided that he was better staying somewhere that Sasuke had seen him before, and as he came up over the field, sure enough there he was sat beneath the tree and waiting.
Naruto's eyes lit up as he saw Sasuke there waiting for him. Sasuke was watching him with careful eyes as he approached, there was a ghost of a smile upon his pale face, pink lips still slightly curled up to show for it.
"Come on, Naruto, I've been waiting for you."
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The next chapter will be much better - and Beta'd…hmmm…you don't have to review…unless you know - you wanna make me happy and tell me if you liked it or not, and yes - things WILL get better with them…and all those of you who want Orochimaru dead - well, you'll have to hold in there, you may be surprised (and pleased) by the outcome!!
So review!! (please??)