A/N: Once again, I'm starting this very late on a school night like the
dummy I am. I also got very little sleep last night, so forgive me if this
is a little weird. I'll be finishing it Thursday afternoon before boyfriend
arrives, so never fear =) I wrote a lot of it in class... Bleh, boring
classes suck. Since I have received fourteen reviews in the twenty or so
hours since I posted my last chapter, I am going to be answering at the
bottom again. Thank you all for your support. It's much appreciated, and it
goes a long way towards making me want to write more. So... Um... Give me
more! *grin* This chapter will start moving the story on again, so be
prepared for a lot of anime parallels in the beginning at least. I promise
to put an interesting twist on what happens in the manga and anime, but you
guys have to put up with a little bit of repeated information in order for
that to happen. And with that, on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: As I'm sure you could have all guessed, Naruto's not mine, nor are any of the characters found therein.
............
Another week gone. Another week of boring, mind-numbing missions where their most dangerous moment involved the flailing cat that Naruto was currently trying to hold at arm's length. Shopping, babysitting, minor repairs, cleaning-at last, as they returned Tora to her rather over exuberant owner only to be ordered out on yet another fluff mission, Naruto felt something inside of him snap. He had tried. By all appearances he had tried to suppress his loudmouthed complaints, keeping them between himself and his team, but no longer. When he opened his mouth to argue this time, the real Naruto, the self that he kept under tight lock and key during the day, practically screamed agreement.
Cutting the hokage off mid-sentence, the boy narrowed his eyes as he yelled. "NO! No thank you! I want to do, you know, a more incredible mission! Find us a better one." He felt justified in this outburst knowing that Sasuke, at least, agreed with him although he would not dare concur with Naruto's opinions here. The meaningless chores they were being assigned may need to be done, but they could only take so much before taking a break for something more exciting!
For a moment, silence filled the room as everyone stared at the loud boy. Although all had known that this outburst was very likely coming, none wanted to be the first to react.
Decisively, Iruka rose, practically reeking anger at Naruto's disrespect. When the boy tried to protest, he was punched by Kakashi-sensei before being forced to endure a lecture from the hokage that reiterated almost word for word the explanation that Kakashi-sensei had given the boy after his first complaint of this nature.
As the elder spoke, the blonde decided to aggravate the situation one step further in the hope of sparking some sort of a reaction. Turning around, the boy began an in depth discussion with his team about their dinner plans for the evening. Hearing the hokage's voice rise in anger as the man realized that he was being ignored, Naruto spun around and glared, yelling, "I'm not the troublemaking brat you still think I am!" before he turned his back to Iruka-sensei and the hokage once more to sit cross-legged on the floor, pouting.
Again, silence reigned. At the worst, Naruto was going to get a sound ass- kicking. At the best, he had gotten his point across. And then-
-Laughing, the hokage gave in. "Okay, I understand. If you want it that much, I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's the protection of a certain individual."
In truth, Naruto was the only other person in the room who had not been caught off guard by this abrupt change of heart. The boy's methods had been rather unorthodox, but they still worked! As his true self sighed in relief that his half-baked plan had succeeded, he plastered a grin on his face and leaned forward eagerly. "Who, who! A noble lord? Or, or, a princess?"
He felt his face fall, however, when the man they were now assigned to protect entered the room. Tall, with a rope tied about his head, a rolled pack on his back and a bottle of liquor in his hand, Tazuna the bridge constructor immediately began insulting the blonde. Although he was inwardly more amused than insulted at the man's snap-judgments, Naruto made a show of throwing death threats at their new employer, effectively ignoring his sensei's sound advice to shut up.
As a group, they decided that since it was already late afternoon, they would spend the evening packing and making provisions for what could potentially be a long journey. After agreeing to meet at seven the next morning, they each went their separate ways to prepare.
That night, Naruto met with Sasuke as usual, although the tone of this encounter had altered substantially from the others. Knowing that the morning would bring a potential end to their moonlight meetings, both boys arrived early and stayed late. Sleep could be made up. Gone was the feeling of careless camaraderie that had ruled their previous evenings. For the first time since Naruto had entrusted Sasuke with his hidden nature, they spoke seriously.
"Are you nervous?" The blonde greeted his companion, curious if his slight apprehension was shared.
"Nah. Well... Not really. A little, I guess," Sasuke admitted. "But more excited. It's about time we got a more difficult mission. We'll never get stronger if we continue with missions like the ones we've been getting."
"Yeah..." For a while, they lay in their customary positions, sprawled side by side and gazing at the stars, each lost in his own thoughts. The weather these past two weeks had been gorgeous, and the boys had admired the view every time they met. Finally, hesitantly, Naruto once again spoke. "Umm... Hey."
"Hmm?"
"Well..." Sitting up and looking down at Sasuke, Naruto bit his lip slightly as he tried to find the appropriate words. "What are you going to do? After you've killed him?"
Sasuke shot into a sitting position and he regarded Naruto through slitted eyes. "I wish you wouldn't talk about that." A hint of anger colored his voice, and although the blonde had been expecting a similar response, he still recoiled slightly.
"It's your future, isn't it? You can't live on hate forever. Things change... People change. Situations change..." Seeing Sasuke's face tighten as he was reminded of unpleasant memories, Naruto trailed off, looking away from his companion. "I'm sorry. We can talk about something else if you like."
An affirmative answer on the tip of his tongue, Sasuke hesitated. The expression of genuine curiosity and sincerity on Naruto's face as he had asked the probing question had touched him. Right now, for what felt like the first time in his life, Sasuke was being offered a choice. He could end this conversation now and it would very likely never be started again until such time as Sasuke chose to initiate it. Naruto would understand, would not press the issue, and it was for that reason that Sasuke felt that he could trust the boy. Though his experiences were not identical, Naruto could relate to Sasuke's pain. He could relate to everything that Sasuke had experienced, and that alone prompted Sasuke to continue the conversation now, by his own will.
Although it was difficult, Sasuke forced his voice to soften. "No. We can talk about this." Stiffly, he lay back, and now he was the one avoiding Naruto's eyes. A thoughtful silence fell upon the pair as both took a moment to collect themselves. At last, Sasuke closed his eyes and heart, dropped his walls and spoke. "I am an avenger. Maybe it isn't the future I would have chosen for myself, but it is the future that was given to me." His tone was cold, distant, but Naruto wisely made no comment. "After that... Well, I always thought I would work towards resurrecting my clan. I am the last survivor of my bloodline. When I die, the Uchiha clan will be extinct." His voice remained steady, but a slight twinge in the last word caused the blonde to look down at him in concern.
"Do you want to have a family?" he asked timidly.
"Maybe someday. When I'm older. If it fits my life..." Sasuke opened his eyes and gave Naruto a sad smile. "I'd have to find a girl that doesn't drive me crazy first." As Naruto chuckled softly, Sasuke ventured to ask a question of his own. "How did you know about my family?"
"Probably the same way you knew about my fox," Naruto answered solemnly, looking down at his hands. "Even though they've been ordered not to, people talk. They do it when they think no one is listening, but it still happens. If you were watching me, I can only assume you have watched other people as well. That you would have heard them talk..." The boy shivered, remembering the undisguised malice and hatred he had detected in those conversations. Sometimes, when he remembered all of that hatred, it was all he could do to keep his cheerful exterior from shattering. "It's hard, ne? To hear people talk about you. To know that they fear you..."
"They couldn't possibly understand. Most of them, anyway. I think-I think that you've had it worse than me though. Sometimes... When it came to hearing people talk about you. At least they don't hate me. They just pity me." Sasuke's voice hardened as he talked of the others, and he suddenly resented them more than ever for the pain they had caused Naruto. Annoying though his apparent personality may be, he had never done anything to any of them; the boy had done them all a great service and yet he was viewed as a monster. How could Naruto smile knowing all of this?
Plastering on that smile, Naruto kept his eyes on his hands, inwardly trying to regain his composure. He couldn't open his mouth at the moment; if he did, if he tried to talk, he was going to cry. He had told himself long ago that he would not cry anymore, that he would simply have to prove himself in a way that would make people actually see HIM. Knowing that they did not see him, that they saw only the demon, helped a little. They did not hate him for who he was. Just for the seal on his stomach. He could deal with that. He could...
"Does it hurt?" Sasuke asked suddenly, a look of concern on his face. Noting Naruto's confused expression, the boy clarified. "The seal on your stomach. Does it hurt?"
Clenching his fists, Naruto forced himself to meet Sasuke's eyes. "Sometimes. When I think about it too much... But it doesn't hurt in my stomach. Just..." Absently he touched his hand to his chest before trailing off and leaning back on the grass to look up at the sky again. His urge to cry slowly began to subside.
The silence stretched once again. Neither knew what to say, how to react to the conversation. Drowsily, Naruto closed his eyes. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and at the moment he didn't particularly care. As emotionally difficult as the evening had been, he was glad it had happened. It felt good to talk about this. To know that someone besides Iruka-sensei could befriend and care for him with full knowledge of the truth. Perhaps Kakashi-sensei, too, cared for him, but Iruka-sensei and now Sasuke had actually shown it.
The sudden small weight of a hand on his arm prompted Naruto to open his eyes and turn his head towards Sasuke. "Even though I don't have a seal the way you do... I hurt there, too. It's so easy to hide... These last few weeks haven't hurt as much." Pulling his hand away, the dark-haired boy smiled, and this time, the smile touched his eyes. "I am glad we were placed on the same team."
Despite his troubled thoughts, Naruto had to return the smile. "As am I. Although I'll never admit that where anyone else can hear, bastard."
"Dobe," Sasuke retorted affectionately. The name no longer stung. In fact, it felt almost good coming from Sasuke.
"What are we going to do tomorrow?" The blonde asked abruptly, giving voice to a thought that had been nagging at him.
"About?"
"We won't be able to meet like this. And it will look kind of odd if we both disappear at the same time."
"We don't have to meet up every night to be friends, you know."
"I know, but... I kind of liked this. It's nice... Going home each night feeling wanted... With something to look forward to."
"Nothing stops you from running off. We both know I'm the one who'd get sent to look for you," the dark-haired boy pointed out.
"Kakashi-sensei will start to wonder by the second time."
"He'd be the one who sends me after you. I'd be the one dragging my feet about it."
"Glad to know you care," the blonde smirked.
"Just throw a tantrum and storm off. Or go exploring and get lost. Just disappear somehow. I'll find you. You do it enough anyway, and Kakashi- sensei will probably want us to stick together in at least pairs outside of the village," Sasuke said decisively.
"It won't work after the first or second time," Naruto insisted.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Sasuke retorted.
"No..." he admitted reluctantly after thinking for a moment.
"Well if you think of any, let me know. Even though," Sasuke murmured thoughtfully, "I think that Kakashi-sensei might know. About us. At least that we don't hate each other as much as we seem to. He pairs us off an awful lot. It can't just be because Sakura doesn't get any work done around either of us..."
"You really think so?" Naruto asked, stung. They had been very, very careful to act as though they despised one another in public.
"Yeah... I do. But if he knows, he's keeping quiet."
"I wonder why..."
"I don't know, but I'm not going to complain."
"Nor am I."
As the two lapsed back into comfortable silence, Kakashi smiled and slipped off into the darkness. He was not surprised that Sasuke had noticed. Although there was certainly more to Naruto than the boy ever showed in public, Uchiha Sasuke still surpassed him in most ways. For now. As Naruto continued to find his niche, Kakashi doubted that Sasuke's absolute superiority would last.
Both boys were growing rapidly in every sense, and that was encouraging. When they assigned the teams, the hokage and Iruka had hoped the two would be able to grow together, to learn from one another. Sakura's assignment to the team had been carefully thought out, but was incidental compared to the consideration that had gone into pairing Sasuke and Naruto together. Part of being a ninja was the ability to work together and to trust your teammates unconditionally. Both of the boys lacked the trust they would need in the future, and Kakashi was glad to be able to report that they were finally learning.
Although neither Sasuke nor Naruto realized it, there were three other people who shared their secret. Those three would not tell, however, allowing the boys to become comfortable with one another. They would remain in the background, subtly guiding the pair and molding them into superior ninjas.
Yes, Kakashi reflected, they were finally learning... And in the end, if all went well, the two of them would be a force to be reckoned with.
............
A/N: Phew! This chapter is done and getting posted right when I said it would! I rock so much! Well, okay, maybe I don't rock that much, but I can dream can't I? Anyway, what did you guys think? I hope you liked. Reading through this again, I know that I did! And now, on to the reviews!
Riyue: I can see this being either really long or being stopped right before the Chuunin exams and continued after. I guess it'll all depend on whether I get sick of writing this one or run out of ideas. I already have some thoughts for other fanfics on this series, although none of them are as thought out as this one. So... We'll see! And I'm glad you like it, by the way =)
Kami Beverly: I'd give you some free ramen if I had any, but I've actually never eaten ramen before! I'm not human, I know. And I guess that makes me a pretty piss poor college student, too *wink*. I'm glad you do like it, and I hope you keep reading long enough to find something good or bad to write either way!
Silver Dragonfly: I am thinking of turning the initial meeting with Konohomaru into an independent fanfic. I think it's way too cute to be left alone, but it doesn't really have anything to do with the current story I'm writing. Ask me about that again when I've gotten further into this and maybe I'll have the time to do it then!
Lana: Panther of Lightning: I'm glad you like it, and I am trying to keep up with a chapter every day or two =) It might be a bit before the next chapter though since this Monday is my one year anniversary and my boyfriend is in town. I'll get back to my chapter every 1-2 days after the twenty first, I promise.
:D: Well I'm glad the fluffiness is acceptable =) I think that, to a point, it can help really flesh out the story and make it more interesting to read. And I will continue, of course!
SasukeRamen: I'm working on it, I promise! And I love this friendship thing, too. I read the fanfic where they were best friends before the series ever began, and while I thought it was cute I didn't like the way it had to constantly change the series. I think this is more plausible, and that makes it more fun to write. Secrets are good writing fodder!
Ayako: I kind of wish I had a real picture of that. I don't know how much you've watched the anime, but I am absolutely in love with the blue picture of Sasuke that gets shown in the third ending... Ahh! *runs off to drool over it again*
Kkoganei: I will try to keep it up =)
Bishiehuggler: Eh, two full days is a lot by my standards, but I also know that when I get into writing something I obsess over it to the point where I think about it day and night. That's why it seems like two days is a long time between updates for me. Being in college has nothing to do with my time management skills, actually. I just kind of find the best way to fit everything in and make sure I have priorities. Homework tends to come first, but writing, for me, is a close second =) Umm, let's see. They do like each other. I think you can kind of see it already, but again, as I am writing this they are *12 years old.* It drives me crazy the way some of the fanfics just ignore that and jump right into the steamy stuff. I think that in the very least they need a basis of friendship and a reason to have a relationship, you know? Or maybe I'm just weird =)
Chibi Neck-chan3: I've read the manga through 188 so I know what you're talking about. I think that Naruto is going to save him, but I also think that Sasuke MUST have had a reason for going the way he did. What's going on right now in the manga is actually rather supporting my opinion that the two of them like each other as more than friends or teammates, too =) The first kiss in this fanfic is coming, I promise!
Minna-sama no megami: Hehe, I can't wait to write in the part where Sakura figures it out. I already know when that is going to be, and I already know how it's going to happen, so at this point it's just a matter of getting there *grumbles* Silly story taking so long to write.
Abtakha: As I've been saying to some of the other reviewers, it really does bother me the way that people just jump the two of them into a relationship and make it seem like it's going to be happily ever after. This series is really not like that. The stories are cute to read, but I wanted something a little bit more realistic. With all of the surprises the author of the series has thrown at us concerning the characters, I actually think that what I'm writing is fairly plausible. Prolly not the way it really happened/happens (and yes, I've kept current on anime and manga alike), but still an alternate possibility.
Keitorin: I agree, this perspective definitely seems to fit them both very well. Sakura will grow up the way she does in the anime/manga. Kakashi's a funny guy no matter how you look at it. I like his character a lot =)
Evafreak: Yeah, I'm a college student. It's not so bad. I actually really like the classes I am taking right now. Why am I taking French and Spanish together? Well, truth be told I am in upper division French (I've been taking it for 8 years) and in Spanish 101. French has become second nature to me, and I would like to expand my horizons further by taking on another language. I will be starting Japanese next semester, so we'll see how well my poor little brain copes with that ;) Yeah, I'm going to be getting into their trip now, so let's see how I do with that. Wish me luck, I think this is going to be a hard section to write just because there are SO MANY ways that things could happen and go.
Esaure: Angst and fluff can sometimes make or break a story, in my opinion. Cuteness is always a good ingredient =) I don't think this'll be finished for a while, so never fear. Chapters will keep coming though, I promise. Well, as long as I keep getting reviews *wink*
A/N: And I'm done! I'll get going on the next chapter this afternoon, but don't expect anything until Tuesday at the earliest. If I can get more up before then I will, but... Yeah =) Hope you guys all have a great weekend and such!
Disclaimer: As I'm sure you could have all guessed, Naruto's not mine, nor are any of the characters found therein.
............
Another week gone. Another week of boring, mind-numbing missions where their most dangerous moment involved the flailing cat that Naruto was currently trying to hold at arm's length. Shopping, babysitting, minor repairs, cleaning-at last, as they returned Tora to her rather over exuberant owner only to be ordered out on yet another fluff mission, Naruto felt something inside of him snap. He had tried. By all appearances he had tried to suppress his loudmouthed complaints, keeping them between himself and his team, but no longer. When he opened his mouth to argue this time, the real Naruto, the self that he kept under tight lock and key during the day, practically screamed agreement.
Cutting the hokage off mid-sentence, the boy narrowed his eyes as he yelled. "NO! No thank you! I want to do, you know, a more incredible mission! Find us a better one." He felt justified in this outburst knowing that Sasuke, at least, agreed with him although he would not dare concur with Naruto's opinions here. The meaningless chores they were being assigned may need to be done, but they could only take so much before taking a break for something more exciting!
For a moment, silence filled the room as everyone stared at the loud boy. Although all had known that this outburst was very likely coming, none wanted to be the first to react.
Decisively, Iruka rose, practically reeking anger at Naruto's disrespect. When the boy tried to protest, he was punched by Kakashi-sensei before being forced to endure a lecture from the hokage that reiterated almost word for word the explanation that Kakashi-sensei had given the boy after his first complaint of this nature.
As the elder spoke, the blonde decided to aggravate the situation one step further in the hope of sparking some sort of a reaction. Turning around, the boy began an in depth discussion with his team about their dinner plans for the evening. Hearing the hokage's voice rise in anger as the man realized that he was being ignored, Naruto spun around and glared, yelling, "I'm not the troublemaking brat you still think I am!" before he turned his back to Iruka-sensei and the hokage once more to sit cross-legged on the floor, pouting.
Again, silence reigned. At the worst, Naruto was going to get a sound ass- kicking. At the best, he had gotten his point across. And then-
-Laughing, the hokage gave in. "Okay, I understand. If you want it that much, I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's the protection of a certain individual."
In truth, Naruto was the only other person in the room who had not been caught off guard by this abrupt change of heart. The boy's methods had been rather unorthodox, but they still worked! As his true self sighed in relief that his half-baked plan had succeeded, he plastered a grin on his face and leaned forward eagerly. "Who, who! A noble lord? Or, or, a princess?"
He felt his face fall, however, when the man they were now assigned to protect entered the room. Tall, with a rope tied about his head, a rolled pack on his back and a bottle of liquor in his hand, Tazuna the bridge constructor immediately began insulting the blonde. Although he was inwardly more amused than insulted at the man's snap-judgments, Naruto made a show of throwing death threats at their new employer, effectively ignoring his sensei's sound advice to shut up.
As a group, they decided that since it was already late afternoon, they would spend the evening packing and making provisions for what could potentially be a long journey. After agreeing to meet at seven the next morning, they each went their separate ways to prepare.
That night, Naruto met with Sasuke as usual, although the tone of this encounter had altered substantially from the others. Knowing that the morning would bring a potential end to their moonlight meetings, both boys arrived early and stayed late. Sleep could be made up. Gone was the feeling of careless camaraderie that had ruled their previous evenings. For the first time since Naruto had entrusted Sasuke with his hidden nature, they spoke seriously.
"Are you nervous?" The blonde greeted his companion, curious if his slight apprehension was shared.
"Nah. Well... Not really. A little, I guess," Sasuke admitted. "But more excited. It's about time we got a more difficult mission. We'll never get stronger if we continue with missions like the ones we've been getting."
"Yeah..." For a while, they lay in their customary positions, sprawled side by side and gazing at the stars, each lost in his own thoughts. The weather these past two weeks had been gorgeous, and the boys had admired the view every time they met. Finally, hesitantly, Naruto once again spoke. "Umm... Hey."
"Hmm?"
"Well..." Sitting up and looking down at Sasuke, Naruto bit his lip slightly as he tried to find the appropriate words. "What are you going to do? After you've killed him?"
Sasuke shot into a sitting position and he regarded Naruto through slitted eyes. "I wish you wouldn't talk about that." A hint of anger colored his voice, and although the blonde had been expecting a similar response, he still recoiled slightly.
"It's your future, isn't it? You can't live on hate forever. Things change... People change. Situations change..." Seeing Sasuke's face tighten as he was reminded of unpleasant memories, Naruto trailed off, looking away from his companion. "I'm sorry. We can talk about something else if you like."
An affirmative answer on the tip of his tongue, Sasuke hesitated. The expression of genuine curiosity and sincerity on Naruto's face as he had asked the probing question had touched him. Right now, for what felt like the first time in his life, Sasuke was being offered a choice. He could end this conversation now and it would very likely never be started again until such time as Sasuke chose to initiate it. Naruto would understand, would not press the issue, and it was for that reason that Sasuke felt that he could trust the boy. Though his experiences were not identical, Naruto could relate to Sasuke's pain. He could relate to everything that Sasuke had experienced, and that alone prompted Sasuke to continue the conversation now, by his own will.
Although it was difficult, Sasuke forced his voice to soften. "No. We can talk about this." Stiffly, he lay back, and now he was the one avoiding Naruto's eyes. A thoughtful silence fell upon the pair as both took a moment to collect themselves. At last, Sasuke closed his eyes and heart, dropped his walls and spoke. "I am an avenger. Maybe it isn't the future I would have chosen for myself, but it is the future that was given to me." His tone was cold, distant, but Naruto wisely made no comment. "After that... Well, I always thought I would work towards resurrecting my clan. I am the last survivor of my bloodline. When I die, the Uchiha clan will be extinct." His voice remained steady, but a slight twinge in the last word caused the blonde to look down at him in concern.
"Do you want to have a family?" he asked timidly.
"Maybe someday. When I'm older. If it fits my life..." Sasuke opened his eyes and gave Naruto a sad smile. "I'd have to find a girl that doesn't drive me crazy first." As Naruto chuckled softly, Sasuke ventured to ask a question of his own. "How did you know about my family?"
"Probably the same way you knew about my fox," Naruto answered solemnly, looking down at his hands. "Even though they've been ordered not to, people talk. They do it when they think no one is listening, but it still happens. If you were watching me, I can only assume you have watched other people as well. That you would have heard them talk..." The boy shivered, remembering the undisguised malice and hatred he had detected in those conversations. Sometimes, when he remembered all of that hatred, it was all he could do to keep his cheerful exterior from shattering. "It's hard, ne? To hear people talk about you. To know that they fear you..."
"They couldn't possibly understand. Most of them, anyway. I think-I think that you've had it worse than me though. Sometimes... When it came to hearing people talk about you. At least they don't hate me. They just pity me." Sasuke's voice hardened as he talked of the others, and he suddenly resented them more than ever for the pain they had caused Naruto. Annoying though his apparent personality may be, he had never done anything to any of them; the boy had done them all a great service and yet he was viewed as a monster. How could Naruto smile knowing all of this?
Plastering on that smile, Naruto kept his eyes on his hands, inwardly trying to regain his composure. He couldn't open his mouth at the moment; if he did, if he tried to talk, he was going to cry. He had told himself long ago that he would not cry anymore, that he would simply have to prove himself in a way that would make people actually see HIM. Knowing that they did not see him, that they saw only the demon, helped a little. They did not hate him for who he was. Just for the seal on his stomach. He could deal with that. He could...
"Does it hurt?" Sasuke asked suddenly, a look of concern on his face. Noting Naruto's confused expression, the boy clarified. "The seal on your stomach. Does it hurt?"
Clenching his fists, Naruto forced himself to meet Sasuke's eyes. "Sometimes. When I think about it too much... But it doesn't hurt in my stomach. Just..." Absently he touched his hand to his chest before trailing off and leaning back on the grass to look up at the sky again. His urge to cry slowly began to subside.
The silence stretched once again. Neither knew what to say, how to react to the conversation. Drowsily, Naruto closed his eyes. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and at the moment he didn't particularly care. As emotionally difficult as the evening had been, he was glad it had happened. It felt good to talk about this. To know that someone besides Iruka-sensei could befriend and care for him with full knowledge of the truth. Perhaps Kakashi-sensei, too, cared for him, but Iruka-sensei and now Sasuke had actually shown it.
The sudden small weight of a hand on his arm prompted Naruto to open his eyes and turn his head towards Sasuke. "Even though I don't have a seal the way you do... I hurt there, too. It's so easy to hide... These last few weeks haven't hurt as much." Pulling his hand away, the dark-haired boy smiled, and this time, the smile touched his eyes. "I am glad we were placed on the same team."
Despite his troubled thoughts, Naruto had to return the smile. "As am I. Although I'll never admit that where anyone else can hear, bastard."
"Dobe," Sasuke retorted affectionately. The name no longer stung. In fact, it felt almost good coming from Sasuke.
"What are we going to do tomorrow?" The blonde asked abruptly, giving voice to a thought that had been nagging at him.
"About?"
"We won't be able to meet like this. And it will look kind of odd if we both disappear at the same time."
"We don't have to meet up every night to be friends, you know."
"I know, but... I kind of liked this. It's nice... Going home each night feeling wanted... With something to look forward to."
"Nothing stops you from running off. We both know I'm the one who'd get sent to look for you," the dark-haired boy pointed out.
"Kakashi-sensei will start to wonder by the second time."
"He'd be the one who sends me after you. I'd be the one dragging my feet about it."
"Glad to know you care," the blonde smirked.
"Just throw a tantrum and storm off. Or go exploring and get lost. Just disappear somehow. I'll find you. You do it enough anyway, and Kakashi- sensei will probably want us to stick together in at least pairs outside of the village," Sasuke said decisively.
"It won't work after the first or second time," Naruto insisted.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Sasuke retorted.
"No..." he admitted reluctantly after thinking for a moment.
"Well if you think of any, let me know. Even though," Sasuke murmured thoughtfully, "I think that Kakashi-sensei might know. About us. At least that we don't hate each other as much as we seem to. He pairs us off an awful lot. It can't just be because Sakura doesn't get any work done around either of us..."
"You really think so?" Naruto asked, stung. They had been very, very careful to act as though they despised one another in public.
"Yeah... I do. But if he knows, he's keeping quiet."
"I wonder why..."
"I don't know, but I'm not going to complain."
"Nor am I."
As the two lapsed back into comfortable silence, Kakashi smiled and slipped off into the darkness. He was not surprised that Sasuke had noticed. Although there was certainly more to Naruto than the boy ever showed in public, Uchiha Sasuke still surpassed him in most ways. For now. As Naruto continued to find his niche, Kakashi doubted that Sasuke's absolute superiority would last.
Both boys were growing rapidly in every sense, and that was encouraging. When they assigned the teams, the hokage and Iruka had hoped the two would be able to grow together, to learn from one another. Sakura's assignment to the team had been carefully thought out, but was incidental compared to the consideration that had gone into pairing Sasuke and Naruto together. Part of being a ninja was the ability to work together and to trust your teammates unconditionally. Both of the boys lacked the trust they would need in the future, and Kakashi was glad to be able to report that they were finally learning.
Although neither Sasuke nor Naruto realized it, there were three other people who shared their secret. Those three would not tell, however, allowing the boys to become comfortable with one another. They would remain in the background, subtly guiding the pair and molding them into superior ninjas.
Yes, Kakashi reflected, they were finally learning... And in the end, if all went well, the two of them would be a force to be reckoned with.
............
A/N: Phew! This chapter is done and getting posted right when I said it would! I rock so much! Well, okay, maybe I don't rock that much, but I can dream can't I? Anyway, what did you guys think? I hope you liked. Reading through this again, I know that I did! And now, on to the reviews!
Riyue: I can see this being either really long or being stopped right before the Chuunin exams and continued after. I guess it'll all depend on whether I get sick of writing this one or run out of ideas. I already have some thoughts for other fanfics on this series, although none of them are as thought out as this one. So... We'll see! And I'm glad you like it, by the way =)
Kami Beverly: I'd give you some free ramen if I had any, but I've actually never eaten ramen before! I'm not human, I know. And I guess that makes me a pretty piss poor college student, too *wink*. I'm glad you do like it, and I hope you keep reading long enough to find something good or bad to write either way!
Silver Dragonfly: I am thinking of turning the initial meeting with Konohomaru into an independent fanfic. I think it's way too cute to be left alone, but it doesn't really have anything to do with the current story I'm writing. Ask me about that again when I've gotten further into this and maybe I'll have the time to do it then!
Lana: Panther of Lightning: I'm glad you like it, and I am trying to keep up with a chapter every day or two =) It might be a bit before the next chapter though since this Monday is my one year anniversary and my boyfriend is in town. I'll get back to my chapter every 1-2 days after the twenty first, I promise.
:D: Well I'm glad the fluffiness is acceptable =) I think that, to a point, it can help really flesh out the story and make it more interesting to read. And I will continue, of course!
SasukeRamen: I'm working on it, I promise! And I love this friendship thing, too. I read the fanfic where they were best friends before the series ever began, and while I thought it was cute I didn't like the way it had to constantly change the series. I think this is more plausible, and that makes it more fun to write. Secrets are good writing fodder!
Ayako: I kind of wish I had a real picture of that. I don't know how much you've watched the anime, but I am absolutely in love with the blue picture of Sasuke that gets shown in the third ending... Ahh! *runs off to drool over it again*
Kkoganei: I will try to keep it up =)
Bishiehuggler: Eh, two full days is a lot by my standards, but I also know that when I get into writing something I obsess over it to the point where I think about it day and night. That's why it seems like two days is a long time between updates for me. Being in college has nothing to do with my time management skills, actually. I just kind of find the best way to fit everything in and make sure I have priorities. Homework tends to come first, but writing, for me, is a close second =) Umm, let's see. They do like each other. I think you can kind of see it already, but again, as I am writing this they are *12 years old.* It drives me crazy the way some of the fanfics just ignore that and jump right into the steamy stuff. I think that in the very least they need a basis of friendship and a reason to have a relationship, you know? Or maybe I'm just weird =)
Chibi Neck-chan3: I've read the manga through 188 so I know what you're talking about. I think that Naruto is going to save him, but I also think that Sasuke MUST have had a reason for going the way he did. What's going on right now in the manga is actually rather supporting my opinion that the two of them like each other as more than friends or teammates, too =) The first kiss in this fanfic is coming, I promise!
Minna-sama no megami: Hehe, I can't wait to write in the part where Sakura figures it out. I already know when that is going to be, and I already know how it's going to happen, so at this point it's just a matter of getting there *grumbles* Silly story taking so long to write.
Abtakha: As I've been saying to some of the other reviewers, it really does bother me the way that people just jump the two of them into a relationship and make it seem like it's going to be happily ever after. This series is really not like that. The stories are cute to read, but I wanted something a little bit more realistic. With all of the surprises the author of the series has thrown at us concerning the characters, I actually think that what I'm writing is fairly plausible. Prolly not the way it really happened/happens (and yes, I've kept current on anime and manga alike), but still an alternate possibility.
Keitorin: I agree, this perspective definitely seems to fit them both very well. Sakura will grow up the way she does in the anime/manga. Kakashi's a funny guy no matter how you look at it. I like his character a lot =)
Evafreak: Yeah, I'm a college student. It's not so bad. I actually really like the classes I am taking right now. Why am I taking French and Spanish together? Well, truth be told I am in upper division French (I've been taking it for 8 years) and in Spanish 101. French has become second nature to me, and I would like to expand my horizons further by taking on another language. I will be starting Japanese next semester, so we'll see how well my poor little brain copes with that ;) Yeah, I'm going to be getting into their trip now, so let's see how I do with that. Wish me luck, I think this is going to be a hard section to write just because there are SO MANY ways that things could happen and go.
Esaure: Angst and fluff can sometimes make or break a story, in my opinion. Cuteness is always a good ingredient =) I don't think this'll be finished for a while, so never fear. Chapters will keep coming though, I promise. Well, as long as I keep getting reviews *wink*
A/N: And I'm done! I'll get going on the next chapter this afternoon, but don't expect anything until Tuesday at the earliest. If I can get more up before then I will, but... Yeah =) Hope you guys all have a great weekend and such!