Author's Note: I will update every 2-3 days for the Christmas holiday. After that, everything will depend on my hectic schedule. I'll try to post as many chapters as I can during this time. But, mind you, I feel encouraged to post a lot quicker if I receive a lot of reviews. Hint, hint. (~_*)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

*********************

The // is equivalent to three consecutive periods. In other words, a pause or an interruption.

Chapter 4: Eat Dirt

*Meanwhile*

Naruto kicked angrily at his door before fumbling for his keys and stepping inside. Damn! It was Sasuke's entire fault. If he hadn't ran off, then Naruto would never have pretended to be him and Sakura would never have found out. And if Sakura had never found out, then he would never be standing here thinking these absurd thoughts right now.

Damn him! Naruto cursed angrily under his breath before storming off to fetch a bowl of ramen.

But even when the soothing smell of his favorite food waffled up his nose, Naruto found he couldn't eat. He had just lost the only girl he had ever loved and for what? Nothing, but the selfless wish of making her happy; happy with a stupid asshole, who couldn't even treat her right. Damn!

Naruto couldn't stand sitting at the table mewling over his ill fate for another second. He had to apologize to Sakura. He had to // No // on second thought, he would save that for a later time, perhaps when she had cooled down a little. If that were even possible.

Naruto's fist clenched and he slammed it violently down, upsetting the ramen boil and spilling steaming noodle across the wooden surface of the dinning table. Pacing about in agitation, he mumbled incoherently to himself: "I have to do something! Anything! Now!" Then it came to him. He would kick the crap out of the creep completely responsible for this. He would find Uchiha and show him a piece of his mind. Damn him! This is all his fault!

Completely lost in his rising anger, Naruto failed to notice the subtle changes taking over his body.

********************

He found Uchiha all right -- right in a secluded clearing picking weeds. Damn bastard! He was out here picking weeds to his heart's content, rather than spend some quality time with perhaps the loveliest girl in their village. The asshole was definitely not normal.

Gliding down the tree he was perching on, Naruto crawled slowly forward. The last thing he wanted was to announce his arrival to Sasuke. But he needn't worry. Sasuke was completely involved in his work, diligently plucking away at the interweaving weeds as if they were some abominable enemy.

How could anyone be so engrossed in grass? Naruto wondered as he stepped closer. Bending down he picked up a small pebble and tossed it at Sasuke, watching as it bounced off his head. His skull must be made out of rubber Naruto thought and sneered. Only his sneer didn't last very long. In less than a fraction of a second he was plastered against the ground, Sasuke's feet pressed painfully against his stomach.

Recognizing his co-partner, Sasuke eased the pressure on Naruto's abdomen ever so slightly.

"Dobe // I told you not to follow me," he hissed, his anger replacing his initial kindness.

The bastard found him. He found him in his most sacred place. He was violating the sanctity of the Uchiha burial grounds and that was unforgivable.

Sasuke found himself re-administering pressure, subconsciously grinding the heel of his shoe into the smaller boy. It was only Naruto's pitiful whimpers that finally drew him back to reality. Lifting his foot, he shoved angrily at Naruto's hip.

"Get out of here!" he hollered.
He watched as a gasping Naruto struggled to his feet, arms wrapped tightly around his stomach. He was heaving violently, body bent and contorted in pain.

"Damn you // " Naruto rasped between breaths, "Damn you // UCHIHA!!"

How dare the bastard take it out on him? He should be the one rubbing his foot into his stomach. In fact, he'll do just that; he'll rub it into his smirking face! The damn bastard deserved it!

Flinging himself angrily at Sasuke, Naruto tackled him to the ground, forgetting all his training and every possible jutsus' that could have be used. Sasuke found himself flipped onto his front as an infuriated Naruto straddled his back painfully. A hand grabbed hold of his hair and rubbed his face into the ground.

"Eat dirt!" Naruto hollered, but his triumph was short lived.

Freeing his right arm, Sasuke managed to wrestle the flailing Naruto off. Once both of them were on their feet, they circled each other slowly, arms outstretched like wild animals ready to pounce. Unexpectedly, Sasuke leapt forward and extended his left leg. It made solid contact with Naruto's chest, sending the blonde staggering backwards.

Lowering his leg, Sasuke dusted himself off, all the while never once lifting his eyes from his fallen opponent. He could hear Naruto groaning. Why wasn't the fool getting up? True, the kick had been a heavy one, but Naruto had always recovered from harder ones before. What was wrong with him this time?Then a frown creased Sasuke's face; his ears had picked up the muffled sounds of Naruto's sobs. Damn! Could the Dobe // could he actually be crying?

"Dobe // " Sasuke whispered cautiously as he slowly approached the hunched orange figure.

He's pretending. He's not really hurt Sasuke attempted to reason. Only the heart-wrenchingly painful sobs contradicted his claim, becoming all the more clearer as he made his way closer. Although the fool was attempting to silence his sobs, they were escaping his mouth in hitched gasps. He's faking it! He's not hurt! Sasuke cried inwardly, only this second declaration sounded even less convincing than the first.

"Dobe // " Sasuke said softly as he reached out for Naruto's arm.

But an angry hand pushed him away. Sasuke found himself backing off a few steps as a disarrayed and evidently hurting Naruto rose to his feet. Sasuke watched in slight confusion as the blonde swayed slightly, all the while clutching his chest. Could he have cracked Naruto's rib, sent it into the soft tissue of the lung? No, the fool wasn't bleeding. Then why //

"I // hate // you," Naruto hissed before he turned and limped away.

Sasuke stared after his disappearing form, all the while wondering why such a small comment from such an inferior person could hurt him so much.

*******************

Alert! Danger!

Sakura raced through the village, frantically scanning the streets for an obnoxious teen in an orange jumper suit. Where was he? Where had he gone? She had to find him. She had to // before the unimaginable happened. God, where are you Naruto?? Do you even know how much danger you're in??

*******************

*Meanwhile*

Naruto stumbled wearily through the woods. His pace was slackening.

How could a kick hurt him so much? It had felt as if Sasuke had sunk his foot into the softest, most vulnerable part of his body. Leaning heavily against a tree, Naruto bit his lips. Damn! It still hurt. The pain was overriding his rational mind. Usually the normal Naruto would have stormed away in indignation, more upset at bawling in front of his rival rather than the actual pain.

So why was it that he could only concentrate on this shooting pain right now? True, it was cruising through his body like a hot fire licking at his very innards. True, it felt as if he were being devoured from the inside out. True, any seconds now he was going to slip into unconsciousness. But God damnit! He was Uzumaki Naruto and Uzumaki Naruto would never submit to pain.

Well, perhaps he'll make an exception this time. Sinking to his knees, Naruto closed his eyes, allowing the darkness to take him far away.

*******************

Boo hoo! Our beloved Naruto's in pain and now lost to the conscious world! Oh, well. No pain, no gain, right? I promise, Naruto will have much to gain from this pain, so don't be too upset. (*_~)