Author's Note: Man, you guys are so stingy with your reviews. J/k. (~_*)

Ok, I do not know the name of the ramen shop, so it's just going to be "The Ramen Shop". As for the owner, I never really paid attention to his looks (he may as well be a woman for all I know), so I'm just going to make him a kind, old man.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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

Chapter 6: Eyes Only for You

Naruto plopped down onto a seat and hollered for the owner to bring him a hot bowl of miso ramen. The kind man turned at his familiar voice, but stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of the small blonde. Naruto smiled sheepishly knowing that a nap out in the woods never did much to compliment his looks.

"It's been a rough day // " he started to explain, only to be interrupted in mid-sentence.

The old man was practically leaning over the counter now, palm resting against Naruto's forehead. What the hell?

"Ano // " Naruto began.

"Naruto, are you not feeling well? You're all flushed and you have this strange glow in your eyes."

Flushed? Strange glow? He wasn't coming down with a fever was he? Pushing the old man's hand aside, Naruto felt his own forehead. He was kind of warm, but aside from that he felt fine. In fact, he felt more than fine. He felt great!

"Nah, it's nothing," he finally said. "So how about that miso ramen, old man?"

The owner did not seem to hear him though and it was only with a few more persistent demands that he finally went off to fill the order. Even then, he tossed tentative glances at Naruto at every given opportunity. What a weird guy Naruto thought. Or was it him? Rubbing at his cheeks to remove any potential dirt stuck to it, Naruto pouted, not realizing what an adorable and sweet image he presented.

Several other customers were also throwing fugitive looks at him. What the hell? Usually they just ignored him or, at best, gave him cold glares. Why the sudden change? Naruto could have even sworn that some of the male customers were also eying him rather curiously. Growing increasingly uncomfortable, Naruto scooted off his seat. No way was he staying here to be stared at. Yelling his farewells to the owner, Naruto hurried home.

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Feminine Beauty

Naruto stumbled wearily out of bed the next morning with a lazy yawn. Shuffling his feet on the cold tile floor he entered the bathroom and splashed some water on his face. In all of the ten minutes that he spent in there, Naruto never once looked at himself in the mirror.

If he had he would have understood the reason behind everyone's rude stares yesterday at the ramen shop. If he had been paying attention Naruto would have realized that the same stares were tossed his way today as well when he strolled out of his house, ninja pack swung over his shoulders. If he had been paying attention he would have realized that his reflections in the rain puddles exuded such feminine beauty. But, of course, he didn't notice any of these things.

Once he reached the clearing, Naruto raised his hand in friendly salutation to his other teammates. Except they never noticed his arrival, too busy were they conversing silently to each other. Naruto felt a sudden rush of jealousy cruise through his veins. He had covered up for Sasuke and who had gained Sakura's undying hate? Not the arrogant bastard, but him! Damn!

Unconsciously pouting, Naruto tossed his pack down violently, taking a slight pleasure in the hard thud it made as it hit the ground. This caught the attention of both his teammates, who whirled sharply around to face him. Only Naruto was feeling rather peevish this morning and turned away. Strolling to one of the stakes Kakashi-sensei had inserted deep into the ground Naruto began punching it, until splinters were flying in every direction.

Sasuke and Sakura stared at the blonde boy who from a distance looked no different than when they had last seen him. He hadn't sprouted a tail and he definitely wasn't flaunting fox ears. What was going on here? They had expected a terrorizing demon mere hours ago and who did they get // the idiot. This was too normal to be right. What were they going to tell Kakashi-sensei now?

They had left a message on his door late last night after the long fruitless search in the woods, beseeching him to find Naruto immediately. The only reason they had even shown up for today's training was because it had been a convenient place to meet and discuss the daunting problem of a reincarnated fox. They hadn't expected to be interrupted, much less by the fox himself, or rather by their obviously pissed teammate.

"Go to him," Sakura urged in length.

"No, you go to him. He's always liked you," Sasuke retorted.

"Not after yesterday he doesn't. He thinks I hate him, which I still do. You go to him."

"Trust me, he hates me more. You didn't see him in the woods. He was // not himself."

"Are you two love birds having a spat?" asked a familiar voice from behind them.

"Kakashi!" cried Sakura in relief, grabbing and shaking her teacher's hand as if he were a king.

Kakashi frowned. Sakura not blushing at his comment and, worst yet, Sasuke completely obliviously to the fact that he had even voiced one? This wasn't good.

"What's up with you two?" he asked, freeing his hand effortlessly from Sakura's grip and placing it on his hip.

Now it was Sakura's turn to frown. How could her sensei be so carefree and unperturbed?

"Didn't you // didn't you get our message?" she finally asked.

"What message?" Kakashi asked with a drawl.

"The one we left on your door," Sakura clarified.

"Ah!" Kakashi's eye lightened up, causing Sakura's own eyes to brighten.

"I never read it," Kakashi finished, plunging Sakura's hopes down to an impossible low.

"I spent the entire night stargazing," Kakashi offered as an excuse.

"Then you don't know," Sasuke finally spoke up.

"Don't know what?" Kakashi asked lazily.

Sasuke shook his head. "Nothing," he finally said.

Sakura's mouth dropped open. Nothing??? What was Sasuke saying? Only she never got the chance to voice her confusion, because Sasuke was pulling her away from their equally as bewildered teacher. Once in the shadows of the trees, Sasuke released his hold on Sakura's hand.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Sakura demanded.

"Because," Sasuke drawled out as if explaining to a little child, "the idiot's still standing there and // he hasn't been overpowered by the fox, has he?"

The look he gave her sent a chill down Sakura's spine.

"You think // you think I lied to you?" Sakura managed to get out, her tone laced with disbelief.

"Tell me what I should believe?" Sasuke demanded in a low voice, "You know, Sakura, if you just wanted to get back at me for not meeting you that morning you could have said so. Although, I really thought you of all people would understand. I guess I was wrong."

Damn him! He thought she'd made the whole thing up. He thought // no // he believed she'd sent him on a wild goose chase. Boiling with anger she did the unimaginable. She slapped him.

"You don't know me at all!" she declared harshly before running back to the clearing.

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Naruto watched from the corner of his eyes as a flustered Sakura raced out of the woods. What had the creep done to her? Maybe he should give chase. Maybe he could comfort her. Even as he thought this, Naruto knew it was only an excuse. He was hurting and wanted to stop badly.

Ending his annihilation of the stake, Naruto flexed his sore fingers and sighed. When had he become so weak? Usually he could keep at this for hours on end. It hasn't even been fifteen minutes yet and already he felt as if he'd expended all his strength. Damn! Maybe he was coming down with something after all.

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Is There Something on my Face?

Swinging his arms so as to remove the ache in his muscles Naruto decided it was time to apologize to Sakura. He would have to face her wrath sooner or later. Picking up a water bottle from his pack he took a gulp. Suddenly he felt very dehydrated, just like that other time when he had sparred with Sakura and had his cover blown. The memory did nothing to appease his quaking nerves. Sakura could be quite the vixen when she was in a foul mood. Well, it was now or never.

Screwing the lid back on Naruto dropped the bottle back into his pack and rose slowly. As he turned around, he found himself crashing right into his teacher. How had the guy sneaked up on him so quickly without him realizing it? Man, was he losing his sensing abilities as well?

"Naruto?" Kakashi's voice vibrated through Naruto's consciousness.

"Yeah?" Naruto asked, starting to walk around his teacher only to be stopped by a long arm.

"Turn around," Kakashi demanded.

"Huh?"

"I said: turn around," Kakashi ordered once more. Naruto frowned, but did what he was told.

"Look up at me," Kakashi commanded.

Naruto released a sigh and looked up. He heard his teacher gasp and even noticed the slight red flush etching the sharp features of the silver-haired jounin. How had he managed to perceive that through Kakashi's mask? He was usually so dense when it came to reading people's emotions. Well, at least something in him was improving.

"What?" he demanded when Kakashi continued to stare.

"You look // different," Kakashi offered as an explanation.

"Tell me something I haven't heard," Naruto said before he dashed off.

Running away, Naruto wiped at the beads of sweat that had gathered on his forehead. Kakashi-sensei's intensive gaze had disturbed him in more ways than he knew how to explain. Damn! What was wrong with everyone lately?

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Hmmm…I couldn't resist. I had to hint at Kakashi's perversiveness. (~_*) Poor Naruto is receiving unwanted attention! Well, no matter how much you hate me, you must thank me for making Naruto beautiful. I thought it would only be fitting that Naruto becomes the 'popular girl' in the village. How else could he make Sasuke jealous later on? Oops, gave away too much!

P.S. I want to remind everyone that this is a clich story, so if Naruto acquires stereotypical attributes, such as heightened intuitive abilities, or loses macho qualities, such as physical strength and endurance, do not think that I, the author, thinks that all girls are weak, or that all guys are emotional retards! I do not, repeat, I do not think that way!! (~_*)