Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or else Sasuke wouldn't be such an evil jerk!

Time for some hilarity! Yay!

So, when a week passed and both the brothers were well again, Sasuke pounced, but Satsuki was waiting for it and fled.

"Come back here Satsuki, and take it like a man!"

"No way! I'll run from you to the ends of the earth if I have to!"

They ran in circles within the confines of the house, not using any techniques because it would only break something. Not that there were many things to break in the house besides the house itself, only necessary furniture and appliances. Sasuke had changed to a high-collared white shirt that zipped up the front and black-mid-calf pants that hugged his legs, while Satsuki had taken on Itachi's style: black shirt with mesh covering the v-cut, black pants that went just shy to his ankles, and the very necklace his beloved brother had worn all those years.

But even if they looked more mature because of their growth and change of clothes, they ruined the image by acting like a pair of children. Sasuke's fingers snatched air was his twin dodged him yet again, feeling frustrated that the younger Uchiha wouldn't just spill his guts. He couldn't stand that Satsuki was protecting the one who hit him so hard. He would've asked Shiro and Kuro to help, but they took their master's side. Said two were currently on the couch in the main room, sharing a bowl of popcorn while they played shogi, doing nothing for either side, because Satsuki had told them to stay out of it unless it got serious and Sasuke started using techniques to try and immobilize him. Sure he could take being hung by his toes from the ceiling, he just didn't want to. Besides, he hoped Sasuke would tire out before him, so he could leave the house in peace and actually do something today.

Perhaps this chase would be to his advantage, then.

He took a sudden turn, whipped his sandals on and ran out the door, Sasuke just behind him.

"You can run, but I'll catch you, just you wait!"

"It'll be proven who has the most stamina when this chase ends Sasuke, so I'm not gonna let you catch me so easily!"

"You're getting more like Aniki every time I turn around!"

"Did you expect anything less? I did spend three years straight with just him!"

"At least he wouldn't have run like a coward!"

"I'm not a coward, just difficult."

"Maybe I'll just pound you if you frustrate me enough!"

"That won't convince me to tell you if that's what you're shooting for, Sasuke."

"I can't stand that you're so compassionate, even to those that harm you! If you ever do it to an enemy, I'll finish you off!"

Satsuki shook his head, sighing. They were getting nowhere with this very fast, so he would have to find someone who could protect him until Sasuke cooled off, but who was the right person, that was a completely different problem.

They sprinted all over Konohagakure no Sato, not heeding the complaints and various rude gestures that were sent their way. Satsuki was slightly faster than his twin, but with his greater speed came the faster depletion of stamina. He'd been running for eight hours now and was getting to the point of his breathing getting unsteady. Sasuke was fine behind him, his breathing slow and even, so this chase would have to end, and Sasuke wouldn't be catching him.

He brushed past a girl with ink-colored hair, but felt something he hadn't felt before in that instant. Knowing it was a chance he couldn't "pass by", he turned and grabbed her from behind, making her cry out in surprise at being manhandled. Sasuke screeched to a halt and smirked, coming over.

"I've caught you now if you've resorted to using someone as a shield," he gloated, his smirk widening.

"You wouldn't hurt a girl to get to me!" Satsuki snapped, unaware how stiff the girl had gotten in his grasp.

"How long will she let you do that is the more important issue. I can tell by how flustered she is that she's very uncomfortable with you holding her like that."

"U-um…Sasuke-san, w-why are you th-threatening whoever's behind m-me?" the girl asked in a quivering voice.

Sasuke then noticed who it was that Satsuki was using as a human shield. He frowned and stated, "You'd better let her go before someone from her clan sees you. That's Hyuga Hinata you're holding as a shield."

Satsuki blinked in confusion and rubbed his chin. "Hyuga…Hyuga…never heard of them."

Sasuke face-faulted, he was so shocked. How could his twin not know about the Hyuga clan? The second-most powerful clan next to theirs! He was surprised that the other teen hadn't looked up all the clans when they'd arrived here! "I'm amazed that you don't know. You were in the Chunin Exam, weren't you? She and another of her clan were in it!"

"Memory loss, remember? I don't know a thing."

"Hinata is the heir of her clan, also. So I suggest you let go before someone notices you and beats you bloody for it."

"You're just trying to get her out of the way so you can drag me off somewhere to hang me by my toes! Do you think I have that kind of time on my hands? I do have a life to live besides you grilling me for information that isn't important. I asked for it, all right? So don't blame whoever hit me."

"They broke your jaw! I'm not gonna let that slide, even if that person is someone I know!"

"You're almost as bad as Itachi! Stop protecting me, I can deal with things on my own! If I want you to sock who hit me, I'd be all teary-eyed and babbling off the name to you! What makes you think I'm weaker than you anymore?"

"Because you always have been! Always!"

"Not always! I beat you in the Chunin Exam, didn't I?"

"That was a fluke!"

"It was not! If you looked at my eyes at the time, they were better than yours!"

"I beat Itachi! That was something you never did!"

"Who says? You weren't there when I did!"

"You wouldn't be able to beat me now! You're younger, you're always a step behind me, so I need to protect you!"

There was a silence, lasting for a whole five minutes before Satsuki turned his head away and muttered, "You're such a control-freak, Sasuke. I hate you."

With that, he let go of the shocked Hinata before turning away and leaving.

Sasuke froze at the last three words that came out of his twin's mouth before he stormed off. He stood there for a moment before he asked Hinata, "Did he just say 'I hate you'?"

She bit her lip, pressing her fingertips together before she affirmed, "Yes, Sasuke-san."

It was the Hyuga teen's turn to be shocked when he fell to his knees and dropped his face into his hands. "What have I done?"

"Um…Sasuke-san, perhaps you should let him make his own decisions and mistakes, not be so protective. He didn't sound too happy that you would torture him to protect him."

He stood and growled. "He's too compassionate, he's going to end up hurt if he does things on his own. Even now he's subject to bullies."

"Perhaps…but you can't keep him caged forever. He has to fly without someone there to catch him."

She left after that, making him think about how he would have to get his brother's affection back. He hoped it wasn't too drastic.

Satsuki sighed, stepping into Ichiraku Ramen.

"Welcome, young man! What's your order?"

"The works, and a glass of water."

"Coming right up."

He sat with his arms resting on the counter, eyes on a point where there was a dried drip of a former customer's soup. He'd just told Sasuke he hated him. He'd never hated anyone in his life, but to stifle his freedom wasn't acceptable in his book. So he would have to avoid the cause of his frustration until both of them got through this argument.

A bowl of ramen and a glass of water were laid in front of him, and the kindly owner asked, "What's eatin' you, kid?"

"I had an argument with my twin, and I left for a while."

"I see. You two were really close, then?"

"Yes. The only person I was ever closer to was my older brother."

"So, you're wandering?"

"Yes, I am. I suppose I'll sleep on a roof or in a tree somewhere. As a ninja, it shouldn't be too hard to find a good resting place."

"You're a human being, you should sleep in a bed in a building. Don't you have any friends to stay with?"

"A couple, but I don't want to burden them."

"I suppose either of them would be happy to, if they're good people. Do I know either of them?"

"Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto."

"Naruto and Sakura? Then I'm positive that they'd take you in, boy!"

He was surprised when a hand came to rest on his shoulder. He turned to see Naruto grinning at him. "The old man is right! If you're fighting with Sasuke, come stay with me until you can make up! Come on! We'll finish with the preparations tonight so we can play some games and hang out!"

They went to his apartment, Naruto unlocking it and turning on the light, only to shout in surprise. Shiro and Kuro were sitting at the kitchen table, eating chips and playing checkers.

"What the heck? Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment?" the blonde exclaimed.

Shiro moved a chosen piece and looked up. "You must be Naruto! Satsuki-sama told us both so much about you during his travels! I'm Shiro, and that's Kuro!"

Kuro smiled a little before jumping over a piece and taking it.

"You didn't tell me why the heck you're here!" Naruto protested.

Satsuki placed a hand on his friend's shoulder to calm him. "They're my partners. I summoned them a couple years ago and they've been following me since."

"They're a couple of kids!"

"Physically they're half my age, but the last time they were summoned it was at least a hundred years ago, if not more."

"So they're a really old summon? Why the heck are they playing checkers, then?"

"They like to play strategy games when there's nothing else to do. It's a habit they share."

"Okay, so how long are they gonna stay here?"

"Probably until I go back home. They are supposed to protect me."

"They aren't gonna bother us, right?"

"No, they don't even eat much."

"Okay, I'm good with that."

"So are you going to show me the accommodations?"

Naruto waved around the room and shrugged. "What do you need to know? There are only two rooms and the other door leads to the bathroom."

"Where will I sleep?"

"There's only one bed, I have a few extra pillows and sheets, so I guess you can take the bed."

"No, a fluffy mattress like that makes me uncomfortable. I've slept on the ground or a futon all my life, so I don't need much padding to get a good night's rest."

"Okay, I guess we'd better get some sleep in case we have any missions tomorrow."

Okay...maybe that wasn't so funny. It turned out rather serious. For the first time the twins are fighting! How long will this last and will they make up?

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