Chapter 10

Sasuke Uchiha was a man born with everything. Riches, looks, intelligence, arrogance- you name it- he had it. And being an Uchiha, he had it better than most of the population.

Not many things bothered him. He was often compared to a porcelain doll. His pale face sculpted to a single expression of cool composure. He looked at things but never really saw them. People around him were fleeting images he never wished to stand and stare at.

He strode gracefully towards his dorm room ignoring the multitude of sighs directed his way. His mind worked furiously as he tried to get a grip on the situation. Gaara no Sabaku wanted something and he wanted it from him. He couldn't understand the redhead. There was something very ominous about him and Gaara made him feel as if he was about to lose something important.

Letting out a small sigh, Sasuke pushed his index finger onto the biometric lock. The door slid open to reveal a huge room. He entered immediately and glared at the tall male sitting on his bed casually.

"Aniki!"

"It's been a long time, otouto," came the reply with an amused smirk. Itachi Uchiha stood up and reached him to flick his forehead affectionately. In spite of himself, Sasuke found his features relaxing into a small smile. His elder brother was superior to him in many ways. He was someone Sasuke aspired to be. An epitome of perfection.

"How did you enter my room?"

"Nice to see you healthy too, little Sasuke."

"Aniki!"

Itachi responded to his outburst with a smirk. He glared daggers at his brother despite being aware of the fact that Itachi was practically immune to it.

"What are you doing here, aniki?"

"Can't I visit my little brother?"

"No." Sasuke smirked. "Not without a reason."

"You wound me, otouto."

"Only if you were affected for real."

A ghost of a smile traced Itachi's lips and he felt accomplished. Uchihas rarely showed emotions. If Sasuke was a block of ice through and through; Itachi could give North Pole a run for money. Some of the tension began leaving his body and he relaxed.

"Is there something I should be aware of, Sasuke?" Itachi asked fixing him with a grave stare. He evaluated his expression carefully and intently.

"I can take care of my own shit, aniki."

"I will count on that," prompt came the answer, "I don't like cleaning the mess afterwards."

"Why, I thought you liked it," he replied innocently earning himself a scathing glare. "Tell me the real reason you are here, aniki."

"How much do you know about the Mangeyko corps?"

"Madara runs it." Itachi nodded. "Is there some sort of problem?"

"Nothing to concern you with," Itachi spoke in his usual composed voice. "There's always a choice. Make yours carefully, otouto. Sometimes reality is nothing but a mirage." Sasuke didn't question his brother's words. They were reticent but they were going to make sense someday. A bout of silence followed in which Sasuke stored his aniki's advice in his brain. He began coming up with plausible theories to explain some of the mystery.

"Say, Sasuke, do you hate me?" Itachi asked staring into space. His question stunned Sasuke for a while. The last time he had been asked that Itachi had left.

"I hate you as much as a younger brother should hate his elder one."

"You are a child, otouto." Itachi chortled while ruffling his inky blue hair. He huffed in annoyance and swatted the offending hand away. His brother bid him adieu and left with a silent promise to himself, "I will keep you safe, Sasuke."

"Her very frowns are fairer far,
than smiles of other maidens are".
 ~Hartley Coleridge.

Sasuke cursed his damned fan club to all 7 furies of hell. Squealing banshees disguised as pubescent females were the very bane of his existence. All this attention was driving him crazy. Some days he wished he could wipe every girl off this planet. There would be so much peace and quiet. At the moment, he had taken shelter in the library.

After half an hour passed like that, he decided to use his time effectively. He went towards the literature section to work on his English homework. Iruka wanted them to write a synopsis of 'Looking for Alaska' by John Greene. On locating the book, he pulled it out and took a chair closest to the balcony, not noticing the sunshine blonde resting on his table.

He began working on his homework and was soon dead to his surroundings. Three- quarters of an hour later, he was finished. He stretched a bit and realized the presence of someone else. Soft snores reached him from a blonde head he quickly recognized. Only one person in that school had that particular shade of yellow.

Naruto.

Her hair were messy as usual; her mesmerizing blue hidden behind the tan of her eyelids; her lips parted a bit; If Sasuke were a lesser man he would have found the sight adorable but since he wasn't, he found the scene gross. In spite of that he couldn't make himself look away. Quiet, serene Naruto was… doing something to him. Pale, thin fingers reached out to rub the seemingly smooth tan skin but he caught himself in time. His breathing rate increased and his collar felt a little hot. To distract himself, he looked around desperately. His eyes landed on a sheet of paper clutched by her. He pried it from her fingers just out of curiosity and as a means of distraction.

"I'm never too serious." - Me.

And I' m always too serious."- Teme.

"Too deep"- my feelings

"Too shallow."- My conviction in him.

"Too sensitive"- me

"Too cold-hearted"- Teme

"I'm like a collection of paradoxes."…. We're a collection of paradoxes

What was that supposed to mean? Shaking his head, he placed the sheet of paper back. His fingers brushed her skin casually. A jolt of electricity shot through him; igniting his bones. He paused physically and mentally to actually see Naruto. There were so many things to admire about her. Her skin was a pretty shade as if the sun itself had touched it gently to leave a shade lighter than tan. Her hair were bright like a halo. Her eyelashes were long and framed her face perfectly. For a moment, he wondered what lay under her baggy clothes. An image flashed in his mind and color rose to his cheeks. The hollow at the base of slender neck beckoned him.

Before he could comprehend anything, he was leaning down to place a kiss on her cheek. A satisfied sigh was her sleep induced answer while a small smile played on her lips.

"Dobe," he murmured with a smirk.

"Sasuke."

"Madara."

"That is no way to greet your elders, brat," the head of Uchiha clan snarled. Sasuke stood his ground and glared menacingly. "Don't you dare glare at me, boy. I am an Uchiha and better at it than you'll ever be."

"Is that why you're here?" Sasuke asked coldly. "To rub your 'Uchiha' superiority in my face?" A very ugly expression took hold of Madara's handsome features.

"Who do you think you are, you good-for-nothing child?"

"Why, I thought you knew," he mocked icily.

"Say what you want, Sasuke." Madara smirked deviously. "I have more to offer." He didn't respond so Madara took it as an opportunity to continue. "I want you to do something for me." His unresponsiveness was taken as positive encouragement. "What do you know about the Namikaze girl?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie, boy. According to my reports, you two are very close."

"Your reports are clearly wrong."

Madara fumed silently. "I want you to break her."

"Why?" He asked with zero emotion though he had been surprised for a few seconds as he processed Madara's words.

"You must be tired of living under Itachi's shadow," his uncle said with graveness. "I am giving you a chance to overtake him. You can be the pride of your father's pitiful existence."

"Still doesn't answer my question," he replied calmly. "Why, her?"

"I never said you were allowed to ask questions."

"I never said you were allowed to order me around."

A loud laughter boomed in the air. "You are a true Uchiha, after all, just like your brother." The laughter vanished to be replaced with a cold fury. "You are my flesh and blood. You are bound to do my bidding." He was too full of himself.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night, Madara." Sasuke smirked arrogantly. He enjoyed the look of pure annoyance on his uncle's face. He sidestepped him to open the door. Madara glared venomously.

"You are going to regret this, boy."

As Madara crossed the threshold, he whispered dangerously, "Stay away from me, Aniki and… Naruto or you'll regret messing with me."

"We will have this conversation again, boy." Madara shot back coldly. "You better have a different answer by then or I'll have to show you why I am the most feared Uchiha." Sasuke didn't counter. He walked out with his head held high even when he knew that Madara meant every single word. Madara was formidable in the truest sense.

His school year just got a hell lot more interesting.

But first he had to find out the reason why Naruto was being targeted. It wasn't out of concern for that stupid blonde airhead; it was because…. It was just out of curiosity.

'Curiosity killed the cat', His mind teased making him glare at everything in general.

"Sasuke-kun."

"What?!" His glare could melt a glacier. The girl appeared to be close to tears. She had pink hair and green eyes. Were pink hair genetically possible?

"Kakashi sensei asked me to deliver this to you." She extended a folded sheet of paper.

"Hn."

She stood there, staring at him with stars in her eyes. Just his luck… another fan-girl. He raised an elegant eyebrow, silently asking her to leave. Obviously, she missed it. Deciding that she was dumb like the rest of her species, he began moving.

"Wa… wait! ... Sasuke-kun." Her voice was too shrill. "I wanted to ask you something." He fixed her with a cool gaze of indifference. He could almost hear her deafening squeal in his mind. "What kind of music do you like?"

"Excuse me?"

She blushed. "During the annual school fest, I wanted to sing a song for you. I am not sure-"

"Why?"

Her blush became more intense. "er… erm…. You see… I love you."

"Why?"

"Because you are intelligent, handsome, confident-"

"What's your name?"

"Sakura Haruno."

"Surprise me, Ms. Haruno." He departed the scene with those words. When she was out of his sight, he trod towards the roof. On reaching he settled down and opened the folded sheet.

'Trouble follows those who seek it the least yet want it the most.'

Damn Kakashi.