Disclaimer: I own nothing, NOTHING I tells ya… Except my OC :D
AN: Well another chapter for this beautiful month of September and what a sight the foliage is. I hope you enjoy this one. It has more of the boys then the OC. Enjoy!
'Thoughts'
"Talking"
The Boys Day
While all this was happening, we shall check on Roxanne:
Knock, knock
Knock, knock
Knock, knock (sounds familiar?)
"UGH!" could be heard from the other side of the doors as the visitor smiled and stifled a laughed. When the door open to reveal the owner of the door, did the visitor lose control and laughed out loud, pointing at the door.
Roxanne stood at her doorway, scowling at her assigned Jonin who is bending over laughing and slapping his knees. She knew what she looked like coming to the door from her bed and did not appreciate that her mature Jonin is making fun of her state of wakefulness and so proceeded to make a similar response.
Slam!
Centimeters from his face, Milo abruptly stopped his mirth and stood upright, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Shit" he mumbled and tried knocking again but no answer. Knocking a little louder, the door open after a sigh could be heard on the other side; Roxanne stared at her assigned Jonin with a look of annoyance. Wearing a zip up hoodie and covering her bed hair, Roxanne waited. Milo held up his hands in mock surrender, dig in his pockets and pulled out some money.
"Um, your cut" held the money out, Roxanne took it and counted the wad of cash with a smirk.
"Not bad for a nights work. Got anything for today" Milo nodded and gesture inside. Roxanne yawns and waves him in.
"Coffee?" offered declined, Milo sat at the table while Roxanne grabbed a cup for herself and sat at the table, yawning and waved for Milo to start.
"'A' classed: search, retrieve and bring back an important document from a village, a day's walk" a sip
"A day's walk or couple hours run? How important is this 'document'? Are we getting this legally like a pick up or are we being sneaky like last night's?" Taking another sip, Roxanne watched Milo's expression but nothing slipped through the façade except for a smirk.
"Hours. Very. And with the amount of money we are getting for this one, I didn't ask about the legal matters"
"Cool. So how many of these 'missions' will I be getting into until they make you my official Jonin or do I have to be sneaking around a lot more for a long while?" Milo snickers at Roxanne's expression of cool as she sips her coffee.
"After this one is what they tell me but I think they just need more time to actually put it in writing how one squad has one Genin when all others has 3 Genin to a squad" Finishing her cup, Roxanne stood and rinse it out at the sink. Turning back to face the Jonin, Roxanne smiled and waved him to the door.
"What time?"
"When you're ready, this is your call" Walking to the door and opening it, Milo turns and leans against the door.
"If it was my call, we would have been half way there by now instead of here, giggling about the mission. Give me half hour" Waves a hand in dismissal and rubs her eyes.
"Alright" and pumps his fist like its extraordinary news "We'll meet at the east gate" and he's gone.
Roxanne shrugs and sets to get ready.
OOOOO
Boots tied, weapon's pouch full, dressed and fresh: Roxanne is ready. Dropping down to her knees, she searches under her bed for something she wanted to leave for the boys.
"Ah-ha" once her hand touched the familiar item, she pulled them out and stood up. Going to the table, Roxanne drops the item on the chair, not trusting the table to hold such an item and pulled out a pen and pad. Scribbling a note, tearing it and dropping it on the item, Roxanne takes one last look around and nods.
Closing and locking the door behind her, Roxanne looks over the railing and searches out with her senses to locate the boys. Sensing they are still occupied, Roxanne jumps over the railing and speeds across rooftops like a blur in blue to the east gate.
Slapping the unsuspecting Jonin who jumped and got into a fighting stance at being hit unawares, Roxanne laughs.
"Now I know why you passed so easily. You a sneaky little girl ain't ya?" Standing right and tries to ruffle her hair and got caught in a tight grip.
"Don't you know by now Milo: you do not miss with a girls do or you might lose an appendage, which ever appendage the girl chooses" and let's go of the arm. Milo chuckles nervously at the thought.
"Let's go then" Giving a 2 finger salute to the guards the 2 took off in a flash; leaving behind a puff of smoke/dust and 2 confused guards trying to catch up to what just happen.
OOOOO
Naruto's gut filled with various favors of ice cream while Sasuke was content with one flavor that happens to be his favorite. Waving in departure to Sakura, the boys walked in silence back to the apartment building and Sakura watched for a moment at their retreating back.
'Where was I when they became best friends?' shaking her head, Sakura turned and headed straight home, filled with glee at letting her parents know what had happen today.
Chatting among themselves about various subjects, one of them being who gets to tell Roxanne the story of how they passed their test and are now Team 7/Team Kakashi. As it is still early, Naruto suggested that they all go to one of the training grounds and do a little bit of training until supper time.
Sasuke happily agreed with a grunt and a nonexistent smile while Naruto hummed, hand behind his head and looking up at the sky. Climbing up the steps, the boys took their time, thinking their friend is still sleeping the rest of the afternoon away.
Neither was ready for the emptiness of that room.
Unlocking the door, the boys stepped through quietly, shutting the door after and tiptoeing to the room.
Naruto was the first to stiffen and slump his shoulders in disappointment. Sasuke stared at the empty messy bed and sighed quietly. Walking in the bedroom, Sasuke began making the bed with Naruto watching, a sad expression on this face as he leaned against the wall.
Neither said a word and Naruto pushed off the wall to help Sasuke with the clean-up of Roxanne's room. Once done, they stood at the bedroom door way, staring at the bed and room.
"Come on" Sasuke steered Naruto away from the room and about to head out the door when Naruto stopped.
"What's that?" Both turned to the kitchen table, at the chair actually and going closer, they see a pile of something with a note attached. Naruto being the closest plucked the note and read out loud:
"Congratulations on passing the ultimate Kakashi Test"
Pop
Pop
Pop
Streamer and Confetti burst from the ceiling and bells dropped, jingling.
Naruto started laughing in surprise and shock, looking around the kitchen to see if Roxanne going to pop out too but nothing of the sort happen.
"Keep reading" Sasuke urged.
"Sorry I'm not here to celebrate with you but when I get back for sure… that is if you guys aren't too busy with the upcoming missions you'll be swamp with day in and day out. The work of a Genin is limitless with local D-missions and in time, C-B and even A-missions out of the village.
For now, I bestow upon you a gift that will help with the training I know you'll be doing with your sensei. Naruto: congratulations, you have now graduated to a level 2 of our training. You can give those 2.5 pound ankle weights to Sasuke and put these 5 pound weights on.
Sasuke: I welcome you on joining our training. Naruto will explain the details but if you decline, I understand.
Good luck and I'll see you when I get back.
-Roxanne"
Naruto gave the note to Sasuke and picked up one of the 5 lbs. ankle weights, testing the heaviness and texture. Smiling, Naruto dumped the weights on the floor so he can sit on the chair to unstrap the ones he has on.
"Weights?" Sasuke ask confused but his confusion cleared up when he saw Naruto rolling up his pant leg and unstrapped the 2.5 lbs. ankle weight, tossing it to Sasuke. Not expecting the weight, Sasuke almost dropped it but caught it, feeling the weight of it and look up to see Naruto tossing him the other pair.
"You've been wearing weights all this time?" Naruto nodded.
"How did I not notice" Naruto shrugged picking up the 5 lbs. ones.
"I got used to it when I walk, run and train, plus it's like second nature now since I automatically just put them on without much thought. So I guess I forgot I had them on until today" Strapping the new ones on each ankle, Naruto stood and walked around the kitchen, feeling the difference it made in walking.
"Try them" Sasuke had a thoughtful look as he sat on the same chair Naruto vacated and began putting on the weights.
"What kind of training you guys did that I didn't know of?"
"Before we did the exams, maybe a couple weeks ago, Roxanne did her own training in the early morning before school. Jogging mostly to warm up and after that some exercises" Sasuke stood and took a step but faltered a bit with the first step.
"That's it: jogging and exercise?" walking around the kitchen with the weights on felt funny to Sasuke
"You don't get it, Sasuke. We jogged around the whole village" Sasuke looked at Naruto with a look. "After, depends how many times around the village, we did 50 reps of sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, squats, lunges and whatever else you can think of. 50 each" Sasuke's expression stayed the same.
"Then a cool down exercise of katas and we head home to shower and eat before heading out to school. We did that every morning, right at dawn, everyday until the exams"
"Hn."
"Well come on. We might as well go out and train, no point just hanging out and waste the day away" Heading to the door, they both left, locking the door after them and heading to one of the training grounds.
OOOOO
Landing in a clearing of one of the training grounds, Naruto turned to ask Sasuke something when he realized he's the only one standing in the clearing.
"Sasuke?" turning his head, Naruto looked around him but couldn't spot his raven haired teammate.
"Sasuke?"
"Ugh!"
Naruto looked up just in time to step out of the way from being landed on by Sasuke. Once the dust cleared, Naruto could see a sitting and panting Sasuke seated on the dirt, wiping what little sweat he can from his brow.
"How the hell can you move around in these things?"
"Why?"
"Why, WHY?! I nearly fell through the roof of the first house we jumped on and each step after tossed my whole balance off! How can you run in these?" Sasuke yelled.
Naruto smiled and sat down next to a sulking Sasuke and patted his shoulders.
"You'll get used to them, Sasuke. You just gotta recalculate the way you move now that there's a little extra weight to toss around on each leg" Leaning back on his hands, Naruto watched the skies, the clouds moving slowly and a nice cool breeze blow by.
Sasuke sat quietly but on the inside he's berating himself for his earlier outburst. Losing his cool is not what he normally does around anybody. But this is Naruto. That thought stuck to Sasuke and he looked at the peaceful look on Naruto as he watched the skies, taking no notice of the stare to his left.
'This is Naruto. He doesn't judge. He teases but he doesn't care if I lose my cool in front of him. Not like most peoples who will reassure me that I'm the best no matter what I do or judge me cause of my family name that I have to be the best. Naruto doesn't expect me to be the best when he's trying to be the best like me but won't judge if I mess up, he'll just let me pick myself up and start again like nothing happen' Sasuke looked at Naruto in a different light: the carefree look he's showing with the little smile and his eyes now closed.
'Nope, Naruto won't care if I messed up, as long as I keep going' Sasuke gave an unsuspecting Naruto the smallest of smiles and turned to look at the skies with him.
"So" Naruto said after a few minutes "Ready to spar until you get your wobbly legs a good practice" Giving Sasuke a sly smirk as he got up and Sasuke gave one back as he too got up.
"Whenever you ready, dobe"
"Shouldn't say that teme, I'll wipe the ground with you" Naruto laughed and got into an offensive stance.
"I like to see you try"
Both parties got ready and waited for a signal to start.
A bird flew by with a chirp.
Fists and legs began the dance of old and both gave as much as the other, not letting each make it easier.
OOOOO
As the sun began to set over the horizon, the village bathed with its orange glow and shop keepers closing up for the soon to be evening. Restaurants switch on their lights for the soon to be evening crowds and shifts changed at each entrance of the village.
Panting could be heard from one of the clearings and if one were curious, one would think of only one reason for such sounds. Alas, this is the sounds of the end of a spar. Perv.
Naruto and Sasuke laid side by side on the ground floor, trying to catch their breath and looking up to the skies.
"Right" Naruto sat up with a groan and looked around the clearing before he set them on Sasuke still trying to catch his breath.
"It's easier now, huh" Sasuke replied with a wave of his hand and Naruto chuckled. Standing up on wobbly legs, Naruto stretch high to the sky and you could hear bones pop in various places. Shaking the rest of the tension off, Naruto then turned to Sasuke who had yet to move after catching his breath.
"Come on" Kneeling down, Naruto slipped an arm under Sasuke's upper torso and lifted him to a sitting position.
"Bastard, you can help you know" and swung Sasuke's arm over his shoulders, held his upper body with his arm and lifted Sasuke to a standing position.
"You're lucky" that comment earned a crack of the eye lids. "I've been training hard for a month. Carrying you is peanuts compared to what I usually do" Sasuke didn't comment nor did he help Naruto in carrying him, that would admit defeat and Uchiha's don't admit defeat…..out loud.
"Well, let's get you home" Naruto said and started walking; carrying Sasuke like a sideways pack and after a while, Sasuke helped in the walking too but kept his eyes closed. Having done that, Sasuke failed to notice the direction they are walking and when Naruto stopped, Sasuke looked around to see that they are at his apartment building. Sasuke shook in surprise and Naruto noticed.
"You did happen to notice you are wearing the last of your clean clothes today, right"
No answer. So Naruto took the arm from his shoulders and lightly shoved Sasuke towards the main entrance.
"Wash, dressed and we'll meet for Ramen" Not waiting for an answer Naruto turned and left to his own apartment. Sasuke watched him go for a moment then look through the glass doors to the stairs leading up to his apartment. Tiredly sighing, Sasuke pushed open the doors and walked in, already feeling the weight of the climb.
OOOOO
The door open and steam flowed out of the bathroom.
Sasuke walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water rolling down his back as he rubbed his hair with another towel. Heading to his room, he pulled out clothes from his dresser drawer and tossed them on his bed, not caring which he pulled out except for his underwear. Making sure his blinds are closed shut, Sasuke started to dry himself and slipped on his underwear. Tossing the towels by the door and picking up his shirt, Sasuke got dressed.
Once done, Sasuke walked back to the living room, where he left his keys, wallet and headband. Sasuke tied the headband on and walked out the door, not even catching a glance at the mirror, locking the door behind.
Not entirely sure on what Sasuke is distracted about but am damn sure that he didn't notice the looks he's getting from a few passing peoples, he just looking straight ahead ignoring everything.
That is until he sees the Ramen stand a few feet away and so pick up the pace. Lifting up the curtain, Sasuke can see Naruto was about to order and gave a small smile, walking in and sitting next to the blonde.
"I'll have what's he's having" lacing his fingers together with elbows on the counter, Sasuke eyed the blonde who smiled and greeted him.
"Hey Sasuke, didn't think you actually come"
"Why not, I'm hungry and this place ain't so bad if you only have it once a week and not every day like you used to"
Naruto laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah" and that's when Naruto noticed Sasuke's attire.
"You know, if I knew you were going to get all dressed up, I would of too. Feeling a little under dressed here"
"Huh?" undignified for an Uchiha but he is confused on what Naruto just commented. Naruto pointed at his clothes and when Sasuke looked, he would have blushed but held it in with all the control he could.
On his persons, Sasuke is wearing a blood red button up shirt (could be silk and transparent) with a black muscle shirt underneath that, studded belt on his black skinny jeans and a pair of regular ninja issued boots.
"Oh."
"Oh?" Sasuke nodded. Naruto stared at Sasuke like he's studying him and Sasuke shifted once under his scrutiny. When the food came and Naruto didn't dive in right away, Sasuke got fidgety.
After a minute of the silence and staring, Naruto nodded to himself and picked up his chopsticks. "Ok" and slurped.
"Ok?" Sasuke repeated.
"Ok" clicking his sticks at Sasuke who stared in more confusion, so Naruto shrugged and spoke.
"Distracted were you?"
Silence
"Picked any item of clothing out, did you?"
Silence
"Didn't notice the lewd staring from the females behind us" Sasuke looked and indeed there were females of all ages watching him from a distance: the older ones staring as discreetly as possible and the young ones gawking but all with fire in their eyes.
"Nothing rattled around in that noggin of yours till I pointed it out, eh?" tapping Sasuke's head with his sticks, Naruto chuckled.
"Boy, you must have been way out of it to be this distracted that you didn't know you walked out looking like sex on a stick" and here ladies and gentlemen, Sasuke's tight hold on his controls broke and his face flushed a deep crimson color. Groaning, Sasuke dropped his head down on the counter with a thunk and covered with his arms, being mindful of the steaming hot bowl of noodle in front of him.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid" mumbling could be heard from under the nest of arms with thumps here and there; Naruto chuckled, slurping in more noodles.
This went on for a couple more minutes. When Naruto finished his bowl, he picked up Sasuke's now warm bowl of ramen and slurped with his heart's content, the thumping still going on.
Then the thumping stopped and Sasuke's head snapped up, listening intently and as soon as he figured out what caught his attention, he paled. Naruto, unawares of this teammates current condition, drank the last of the noodles juice and was about to order another when a hand grabbed his arm and yanked him to the side.
"Help me!" Sasuke growled through clenched teeth, with a look of terror across his face.
"What for"
"Just help me!" Naruto was about to decline that but his hearing caught something and listen very closely as Sasuke's grip tighten. A shrill voice in the distance combined with a strong perfume wafting towards their direction clicked something in Naruto's mind.
'Sakura!' Naruto looked down at Sasuke's death grip on his arms and the look of seriousness on his face and all Naruto could do was smirk when he realized it.
'If Sakura saw Sasuke like this then she'll be all over him again with goo-goo eyes and kissy face. It'll be like school all over again before she reign in her obsession and Sasuke will be miserable or annoyed. Haha, wonder what will happen' that thought lingered and Naruto's face changed to a look of something that had Sasuke's face turn ghostly pale.
"I'll do anything, just help me" the plea in Sasuke's voice snapped Naruto back to the issue at hand or arm: Sasuke never begs for anything.
"Anything?" Naruto's smirk turned sly as he stared at Sasuke who is questioning his abrupt comment on anything but gave a firm look with a firm voice.
"Anything" with all seriousness.
"Ok" Naruto leans over the counter and grabs one of the table cloths underneath. Unfolding quickly, he tosses it over the entrance and quickly unzips his hoodie.
"Take your shirt off" a look of shock "Switch with mine Sasuke! Unless you want Sakura to see you like this" the shirt is off before Naruto finished that sentence and tosses him the hoodie. Naruto puts on the shirt as Sasuke zips up the hoodie and Naruto grabs the sheet and folds it quickly to toss back under the counter. Looking a Sasuke, he see the zip is not fully up and could see the nice patch of skin showing; that alone will get Sakura up in frenzy.
So Naruto reached over and zips ups to the top, straighten up the hoodie and making sure what needs to be covered is covered. Acting like it's a regular thing; Naruto didn't notice the small blush on Sasuke's cheeks and adjusts his own shirt, buttoning a few but leaving the top 3 unbutton.
"Not bad, I like this color" and sat down, ordering another bowl. Sasuke stood staring a minute then sat back down and ordered a different flavor. All thoughts on Sakura forgotten… until
"Sasuke!" sang her voice and that got him to grumble under his breath.
"Hey Sakura, Hey Ino!" Naruto waved his chopsticks in greeting
"Hey Naruto!" the girls replied back in unison when they crossed the flaps
"What are you girls up to this late?"
"It's not that late Naruto and besides, I promised Sakura if she passes whatever she was supposed to pass that I treat her to a meal. I'm surprised she chose ramen" and gave Sakura a suspicious look but Sakura smiled and waved her off.
"Just felt like it" taking a seat next to Sasuke, smiling at the stoic teen.
"Right" not believing a word the pink one says Ino crossed her arms and turn to Naruto, seeing him up close since they walked in and blinked.
"Great shirt Naruto, I didn't know you had such a color in your closet" stepping closer, Ino felt the material and examine the texture and length of the garment.
"Yeah, found it stashed in the back of my closet and thought I wear it since today is laundry day" Their bowl came just as Naruto finished talking and took a dive. Sasuke took a well-mannered route and ate as quietly as possible, not loud and slurping like his companion. Ino stared at the 2 boys while Sakura stared at Sasuke eating, ignoring everything else. Suddenly a sly smirk appeared on Ino's face and she leaned against the counter next to Naruto.
"Laundry day… Right. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you guys were on a date" Reactions were instantaneous.
Sakura screamed, her dreams crushed.
Sasuke spit out his noodles, almost choking on them.
Naruto blinked and burst out laughing at Ino.
"That's just hilarious. Me? On a date with Sasuke? Yeah right. He'd probably go out with one of you before he decides on me. Good one Ino"
Sasuke stayed silent, frozen and void of all colors. Sakura however looks ready to kill.
"I call them like I see them Naruto and I see date qualities" Picking up a pair of chopsticks, Ino picked a piece of noodle out from Naruto's bowl and ate it.
"What the Hell Ino Pig!? What's the matter with you, I thought you liked Sasuke!" Ino ignored her for a moment as she ordered the same bowl as Naruto's and sat on the stood, clicking the sticks together.
"True, billboard brow, but I'm not going to stand in the way of my Sasuke having a moe relationship on the side. It's hotter that way" a bowl appeared and Ino stirred the contents together.
"What's moe?" Naruto asks quietly.
Sasuke stays silent but this time, little bits of steam are filtering out of his ears and his fist is white from gripping the chopsticks too hard that they snap. Oblivious to Sasuke's reaction, Sakura stood and slammed her hand down on the counter.
"No it's not, Sasuke could do so much better then Naruto"
"Yeah!" not sure on what's he's agreeing on, Naruto just went along with it.
"No he won't and you know it. Think about it Sakura: light and dark, sweet and stoic, cool and cute. It's the ultimate pairing, they complement each other on and off the field and it's only been a day since it's been official, you said so yourself" Eating her noddle, Ino sees Sakura sit and think on what she just said. Sakura, looked at the boys: Sasuke sitting there and Naruto taking his bowl and Sasuke not getting at him for stealing his food.
"Still, I'd like to see him with someone-"
Zoom….
Where the boys sat is now an after image of themselves and cash for the noodles.
"Was it something I said?" Sakura stared wide eyed at the entrance.
"Told you they were on a date" Ino popped a piece of vegetable in her mouth.
OOOOO
AN: I rewatched the series Ouran Host Club and just wanted to add the 'moe' part, gives me the giggles just watching it LoL
Read, review, comment and such for your 2 cents are my money in the bank.