Disclaimer: Naruto is mine!
Actually it isn't,
But I can dream, right?

I know, I know. I promised a more regular schedule, and I haven't kept it up. Well, there's a reason for that. For one thing, I have been plagued by writers block. For another, I have been trying to write a story I can sell, because I am tired of being poor. And for a third, I've been working on another Narusaku fic I'll post eventually for your enjoyment. I am sorry, and I hope my loyal regulars will stick with me.

The last chapter, I got a lot of positive reviews, and only one actual flame from a reader who obviously didn't read the whole story. I explained why Lee went off like he did! I covered it! And you were supposed to flame me because I tainted his ugly, thick-browed purity with his connection to Orochimaru, not because he called Sakura a whore! I was just looking for an excuse to go off on a tirade! Look at the author who's making an ass of himself! Throw money!

This is the longest chapter to date.

Anyway, here comes Chapter 12, with the long-awaited Consequences debut of... Jitensha-Kun!

To Hell With The Consequences
by PHreek-Boi!

Chapter Twelve - Jitensha-Kun

To anyone who stumbled upon the raven-haired boy's training, they might think he was preparing for a battle against some great evil force about to overwhelm the village, if his level of intensity was anything to judge by. The few people who knew him well knew it was for a much different reason. Ever since he had been brought back to Konoha village by his former teammates, he had trained with a vigor unrivaled by anybody in the village. But he was not motivated by the need to better himself; he was motivated by the pure, wanton desire to prove once and for all that he could beat Uzumaki Naruto.

Uchiha Sasuke had once been considered the pride of Konoha. He had been the most promising cadet in his class, and later a a genin. But he had fallen under Orochimaru's influence, merely to gain the power he needed to defeat his brother without killing the very man he sought to better in honorable combat. He bore no ill will toward Naruto; he considered the blond boy to be his oldest and dearest friend, even if they didn't get along. It was kind of an odd relationship between the two young men, but a functional one. But friendship was the furthest thing from Sasuke's mind while he was training; he had to know, once and for all, whether he could defeat Naruto or if he really was second best.

He raised one hand to his side, closing his eyes as he imagined his chakra pooling in the upturned palm, swirling into a ball of destructive energy. He tried it at every training session, but had not managed to achieve what he set out to. He sought to master the ultimate weapon his rival carried in his arsenal. It brought a slight smile to his face when he imagined what Naruto might look like when he was defeated by the Rasengan. Uzumaki would never see it coming. Somehow, that made it all the more appealing.

Suddenly he was very aware of the concentration of chakra in his left hand, and his eyes snapped open in time to show him that he had unwittingly performed the Chidori. "Fuck!" Sasuke swore vehemently, before slamming his energy-charged hand into the trunk of a nearby oak tree. The tree exploded in a shower of splinters, the remnant crashing to the ground several feet away. Sasuke scowled, looking down at his hands. "Why the fuck can't I do it?" he wondered aloud.

He had done everything he had seen Naruto do. He had tried at least a thousand different times, and had yet to make any sort of progress. He had even tried gorging himself on ramen, thinking perhaps the high level of fat and preservatives might spike his energy and allow him to perform the powerful attack. He had even tried copying the attack with his Sharingan eye, but found it wasn't possible. Nothing worked; Sasuke was forced to admit, finally, that perhaps the Rasengan was beyond his ability.

No! He couldn't quit. Nothing was beyond his ability! He was Uchiha Sasuke, sole survivor of the Uchiha clan, and the greatest of the Konoha genin. He could master the Rasengan! He had to! Otherwise, his loss to Naruto, to Dobe-kun, would be over his head for the rest of his life. Sasuke renewed his resolve, and tried once again to achieve the elusive technique, so far the only one he was unable to master.

Sasuke closed his eyes again, holding his hand out in front of him with his palm upturned. He focused on the chakra pooling in his hand, willing it to swirl into a ball of destructive energy. Again he felt the energy, and again he opened his eyes, disgusted to find it had somehow formed a Chidori. Sasuke growled, smashing his chakra-charged fist into another of the regal oaks, leaving it in much the same shape as the one he had attacked earlier. "This is ridiculous! If Dobe-kun can do it, I should be able to! I'm a better shinobi then he could ever possibly be!" Sasuke scowled, lowering himself to a seated position against a large rock. "Maybe I should call it a day."

"What, the great Uchiha Sasuke is calling it quits on his training before nightfall?" a familiar voice taunted. "Seriously, how can you keep this pace up every day? Sure, I understand the need to train, but this is a bit much." Sasuke raised his gaze to spot the source of the voice. It didn't take him long to spot his erstwhile companion, who stuck out like a sore thumb in his orange jumpsuit. He also noticed that the blond looked like he had been attacked fairly recently.

"Nobody asked you, Naruto," Sasuke scowled, his gaze turned down to the ground. "There is a reason I train with such intesnsity, but I don't expect you to understand. There is still someone I have to defeat."

"There's no need to be rude to him, Sasuke," another familiar voice retorted. Sakura made her presense known an instant later, smiling sweetly at the Uchiha boy. "He's just worried about you. You've been working yourself to exaustion every day since you got out of the hospital. It can't be healthy."

Sasuke scowled at the medic nin. "It's none of your business what I do, Sakura." His voice lacked the venom of it's youth, but he still spoke the pink-haired girl's name as if it were a curse. Sakura frowned, extending her middle finger and sticking out her tongue. Naruto grinned at the display, which even Sasuke had to admit was humorous.

"Asshole," Sakura snorted, srossing her arms and turning away from the black haired boy. "I can't believe you! I try to be nice, and you throw it back in my face." She glared at the blond, a murderous glint in her eyes. "Wipe that grin off your face, Naruto, or I'll remove an integral part of your manliness. I'm sure I don't have to elaborate."

Sasuke watched with interest as Naruto visibly paled, his hands moving to cover his groin. "I'll be good, Sakura-chan!" he said quickly. "No need to do anything we'll both regret."

"What do you... Oh!" Sakura's cheeks flushed, and her gaze darted nervously over to Sasuke. They were hiding something, he realized, but what could it be? He was stirred from his thoughts by a loud clap, and a groan from Naruto. "Pervert," Sakura stated with a contempt-filled glance down at his prone form. Naruto smiled back up at her, despite the palm-shaped red mark on his face, and Sasuke watched in awe as Sakura's gaze softened, and an attractive blush colored her cheeks. He had never witnessed this sort of behaviour from his former teammate; Sasuke had to know what was going on.

"What is the matter with you two?" Sasuke interrupted, stirring both the blond boy and the pink-haired girl from their respective thoughts. "You're acting like a couple of lovesick idiots."

"Fuck you, Sasuke," Naruto retorted, scowling. "You have no right to tell us how to act, pal. You gave up any right you might have had when you ditched me and Sakura to follow Orochimaru. Like you said, what we do is none of your business."

"Grow up, Naruto," Sasuke retorted. "I hardly care what you two choose to do in your free time. I just wondered why Sakura wasn't all over me like a dog on fresh meat. Did she finally lower her standards enough to fuck you, Naruto?" The next thing he knew, Sasuke was on his back, and his cheek stung horribly. He had to admit, what she lacked in chakra skills Sakura more then made up for in raw, physical power.

"How DARE you?" Sakura asked, hauling Sasuke up to his feet by his shirt collar. "I can't believe I wasted five fucking years of my life slobbering all over you like some retarded otaku! I thought you must have some redeeming quality buried under all that cynicism and egotism, but I guess I was wrong. You're no better then your brother."

"It's about time you realized that, Sakura," Sasuke retorted. "I never cared about you. You were just another liability. If I'd had my way, you never would have been part of Team Seven. It's not like you were ever of use to us. I wish I'd never met you, Sakura. My life would have been better for it." Sakura's expression faltered, and tears dribbled down her cheeks.

The next thing Sasuke knew, he was pinned up against a tree, struggling to breath. Naruto was holding him above the ground effortlessly, his lips curled back in a fearsome snarl. His normally blue eyes blazed red, and the familiar swirl of energy that was the Rasengan had formed in his free hand. "Never, NEVER say things like that about my Sakura-chan!" Naruto growled, his voice resonating menacingly. "She means more to me then anything, and you made her cry! That is unforgiveable, Uchiha! Any last words?"

Sasuke smirked at Naruto. "Do it," he said simply, daring his friend to attack.

"Gladly." Naruto prepared to thrust the Rasengan forward into Sasuke, only to find that he couldn't move his arm. Something was holding his arm back. He turned to glare at Sakura who, through her tears, looked at him pleadingly.

"Don't," she begged. "Don't go down that road, Naruto. You're better then that." She released his arm. "The man I love would never do something like that to a friend. Please don't kill him. Please."

"Come on, Naruto, do it!" Sasuke taunted. "Or are you afraid? That's it, isn't it? You're afraid!"

"No!" Naruto argued, pulling his fist further back. "He deserves to suffer!" Naruto thrust his fist forward, and Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the pain that would undoubtedly come. But it never did, and the pressure on his throat disappeared. "Let's go, Sakura," Naruto's voice said.

Sasuke opened his eyes, surprised to find that most of the trees around the cleearing had been toppled, the lions share being nothing more than splinters. Naruto and Sakura were walking back towards the village, each with an arm slung around the other's waist. "Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, and the blond boy turned back to face him.

"Yeah?" the blond called back.

"Why didn't you finish me off?"

"Because you're my friend, asshole. And besides, killing you would be no challenge whatsoever. See ya 'round, Jitensha-kun."

Sasuke scowled at the nickname, but a smile crossed his face when he was sure Naruto was gone. "I can always count on you, Naruto," he murmured, closing his eyes. "You always give me exactly what I need." He opened his eyes again, smirking at the swirling ball of chakra gathered in his hand.

A/N: And another chapter finally bites the dust! Finally, you get to see Sasuke, although he didn't display much of a reaction to Naruto and Sakura's relationship. Well, I hope this wasn't too big of a disappointment. Anyway, review lots and I'll try and get the next chapter up within a week.

Oh, and for all of you who don't know, 'Jitensha-kun' translates to 'Mr. Runner-Up.' Read and review!