Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi. I'm only borrowing characters for my own entertainment.
Blue-Eyed Blonde
Turquoise: The Color of Ino's Pendant
Naruto grinned to himself as he walked to Ichiraku with Sasuke. They had just returned from the Tea Country and the shorter boy's stomach was calling relentlessly for food. Naruto's stomach suddenly emitted a rather loud growl, causing the blonde to grab his stomach sheepishly. "Sasukeee, I'm hungry! Can't we walk faster?"
"Wait a minute Naruto, I want to go over to that shop. There's something over there I want to buy," the onyx-eyed boy said to his teammate, pointing at a nearby shop selling crystal accessories. Not waiting for the other boy's reply, he went over to the shop and picked up a turquoise pendant. Naruto went up to him with a frown. "Why the hell would you buy one of those things anyway?"
"Turquoise helps with anorexia. Ino-chan's too skinny. This might help her. And it has many protective properties too. Besides, it matches her eyes. It'll look great on her. Wait here while I go pay," Sasuke said, walking towards the counter even before the other boy could say anything.
The tanned blonde glared at the back of his teammate and left the shop, his hunger forgotten as he seethed in jealousy, though he didn't know that he was actually jealous. But it's probably his extremely dense nature that made the Uchiha fall for him.
"Ino-chan... How sweetly he calls her! All he cares about is her now! He even ignored me and my growling stomach!" Naruto muttered to himself. Then his irritated expression turned sad, as if he had ran out of things to rant about and had turned his attention to another topic. "He never ignored me before... He always asked my opinion before doing something. At least, until today..."
Sadly, the boy made his way to his small apartment, ignoring his stomach as it growled once again. He didn't even care that he had left Sasuke at the shop without a word, leaving Sasuke to go round looking for him.
Naruto stepped into his apartment, not even realizing how the brunette had affected him. He glared at his growling stomach and kicked off his sandals. Undressing as he walked to the bathroom, he never noticed the pair of dark eyes watching him.
"You really should make sure you're alone before you start stripping," a voice said as the tanned boy pulled off his boxers. Naruto shrieked girlishly and pulled his orange ramen-printed boxers back up, turning to glare at the owner of the voice, who was sitting on his bed.
"Sasuke! How the hell did you get in!"
"The window was open. Any shinobi could get in easily."
"Whatever. Why the hell are you here then? Shouldn't you be giving that stupid stone to your beloved Ino-chan?" Naruto asked, sarcasm dripping in the last few words.
"You really shouldn't talk like that. People might think that you're jealous."
"No way! It's just that you're spending so much time with her!"
"So much time? It's only been a few days, and I spent a lot of time with you as well. Besides, you shouldn't spend all your time with me. It's no wonder Sakura doesn't fall for you. You're not putting in enough effort."
"I don't care about Sakura then! I like spending all my time with you."
"Then what's with you drooling over her?"
"I don't drool over her! It's you who drools over Ino! Sasuke you bastard, you're just making excuses for yourself so that you can go find your Ino-chan instead! Go find her then! Go give her that stupid stone! I don't give a damn!"
Satisfied that Naruto was getting riled up, the taller boy smirked inwardly as he shrugged. "Fine. I want to see how she reacts to the turquoise anyway. If I'm lucky she might even kiss me."
"I don't care what you do with your Ino-chan as long as you get out of here and let me shower in peace!"
"All right. I'll go find Ino-chan now. Have a nice shower, Naruto-kun," Sasuke said in a slightly playful tone as he got off the bed and left through the window. The blonde shut the window and closed the curtains, scowling slightly as he did so. Then he continued with what he was doing before he got interrupted.
Sasuke smiled to himself, happy that he managed to rile Naruto up using Ino. He doesn't even know that he's jealous. That Naruto... Only he can be so dense. Guess I'll need to make it more obvious that I'm "crazy" over Ino.
"Konbanwa Sasuke-kun."
"Oh, it's you."
"Yup. So how's Naruto reacting?"
"Your plan's working. He's jealous, but he doesn't know it. Seriously, only he can be that dense. I bought you something and he got really upset. I'll give it to you in front of him tomorrow, to make him more jealous."
"At least Naruto's getting jealous. Shikamaru doesn't seem to care at all."
"Let's make things more obvious then. That way, Naruto might realize that he's jealous, and Shikamaru might get jealous."
"Let's do it then. Care to walk me home?"
"Sure, why not? After all, which guy would let the girl he likes walk home alone in the dark?"
"Definitely not you, Sasuke-kun. Let's go!"
The pair walked to Ino's house, talking about their plan on the way. After sending the blonde home, Sasuke made his way back to his own apartment.
Naruto tossed and turned in his bed, trying to sleep. Finally, the irritated blonde sat up with a soft growl, which sounded more adorable than threatening coming from him. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't sleep. There was just something that was nagging at him, but he didn't know what it was.
Frowning, the young boy got off his bed and changed into his orange suit. Grumbling about insomnia, the blonde left his apartment for a late night snack.
"Che, this is troublesome. At least it's only once every two weeks I have to patrol," Shikamaru grumbled as he did his rounds. He stopped walking as he noticed a blonde figure walking away from Ichiraku. "Naruto! What are you doing here so late at night?"
"Couldn't sleep so I came for some ramen. What about you?"
"Chuunin patrol duties. Troublesome thing. Want to patrol with me? A walk might help with your insomnia, and I'm getting bored."
"All right!"
"You're so loud even at night. Everyone else is sleeping, so lower your volume. I won't help you if the villagers start throwing things at you."
"They always pick on me anyway, whether or not I've done anything wrong."
"Che, half the villagers are stupid people anyway. Come on, let's go."
Grinning, Naruto followed the brunette. The two had become close friends ever since they went to bring Sasuke back together. In fact, it wasn't just two of them. All five of them became very close after that mission, and it was after that mission when Sasuke fell for the young blonde.
"You seem troubled by something. Someone bullied you again?" Shikamaru asked after a few minutes of silence.
"It's that baka Sasuke! He's wooing Ino and ignoring me... I don't like it. I don't like it at all!"
"Jealous, are you?"
"I'm not! I just don't like it. Sasuke never ignores me... Not until Ino came along."
"It's probably a fling or something. I know that Sasuke likes someone else, and it's definitely not Ino," the taller boy said. Besides, Ino's mine. She's just trying to make me jealous, I know it. Even if I'm wrong... Who cares? Women are troublesome creatures anyway. Rather not think about it.
"Sasuke likes someone else? But... But he told me he likes a blue-eyed blonde. And the only girl around who fits that description is Ino. That was why I tried to matchmake them," Naruto said, the confusion showing on his face.
"You tried to matchmake them? I see what's going on now. Naruto, would you help me make Ino jealous?" Shikamaru said to his blonde friend. Or rather, I want to help you make Sasuke jealous. Who knows? Ino-chan might get jealous too, though it's highly unlikely.
The tanned boy looked at the chuunin with a thoughtful frown. "You mean... You want to take Ino away from Sasuke?"
"That way Sasuke won't ignore you anymore," he added quickly, feeling the blonde's protest coming up.
"But Sasuke will be sad. He likes Ino."
"You'll be there to cheer him up won't you? Besides, Sasuke likes someone else."
"Who?"
"You'll know when the time comes. So, will you help me?"
"Saaa... I guess... What do I have to do?"
"Act like you're my boyfriend."
"What! You mean be gay with you?"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes in slight annoyance. "What's with the big reaction? It's not like you've never heard of it before. After all, your twoteachers are in love with each other."
"It's just that I've never thought that I would have to date a guy... So I'm the seme?"
"I'm surprised you even know what's seme... But you're uke."
"Whatttt! Why! "
"Number one, I'm older. Number two, I'm taller. Number three, I am a chuunin while you're a genin... Besides, you'd look better as uke. You've got the innocent look and you act more like one. I look too fierce to be the uke. Don't worry, I'll be a good seme."
"Fine," the blonde muttered, sounding rather reluctant. The taller boy grinned uncharacteristically and slung an arm round his companion. "All right Naru-chan, I need to go to the Hokage tower to check out. After that I'll walk you home. I'll even stay until you fall asleep."
The younger boy nodded, letting the chuunin lead him towards the Hokage tower. He grinned to himself. It feels like I'm with Sasuke... Well, a little. Sasuke always offers to stay until I fall asleep whenever I can't sleep. And he always walks me home.
"See Naru-chan? It's not that bad being uke. At least, not with me."
"If you're not careful I might make you my real boyfriend," the blonde muttered somewhat sarcastically. The brunette raised an eyebrow at that. "Not likely. I'm straight. And we all know that you're in love with Sasu- I mean, Sakura. And speaking of Sakura, you can't go chasing after her while you're acting as my boyfriend."
"I know that! I'm not stupid!"
"Could've fooled me," the chuunin muttered.The younger boy pouted at that and pulled off his clothes, not caring that Shikamaru was there. Besides, the two boys had seen each other nearly naked when they went to the hot spring with the rest. He pulled his pajamas on and got onto the bed.
Shikamaru sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for his blonde friend to fall asleep. He looked at the tanned boy, who currently had the blankets pulled over his head. Frowning, he pulled the blanket away and found that the boy was already asleep. He let a smile grace his lips. You're too dense, Naruto. Good thing I'm willing to help you make Sasuke jealous. I wouldn't do it for anyone else... Maybe except Chouji.
Naruto gave a light moan and turned over, facing his back to the empty room as the door shut quietly.
A tall brunette left his house just as the rays of the morning sun peeked into the village. Closing the door, he walked towards Naruto's apartment, reaching the small flat in a few minutes. Raising a hand, he knocked on the door loudly and waited patiently for the blonde to open the door.
Naruto opened the door, wearing his pajamas and the silly little nightcap. He looked up at the brunette, rubbing his eyes sleepily at the same time. "Shikamaru?"
"Let's go for breakfast, Naru. I'll treat you to ramen."
At hearing the magic word, Naruto's eyes widened and he grew excited. "Ramen! All right! Wait for me, I'll go change!"
The brunette smiled at his friend's reaction. Hehe... Sasuke's going to be there with Ino, and he'll probably give her that turquoise pendant. Well, I may not have anything to give to Naruto yet, but I'll shower him with love and affection. Let's see who gets jealous first, ne Ino-chan?
The door reopened and the tanned boy came out of the apartment, this time dressed in his orange suit and with a cheerful grin on his face. "Saa Shikamaru, let's go!"
"Shouldn't you call me by some pet name?At least, you have to when we reach Ichiraku. I know that Ino and Sasuke will be there too."
"Then I'll call you Shika-chan."
"I'll call you Naru-chan. It suits you."
"Bleh. It sounds so girlish."
"Exactly."
"Shikamaru!"
"Fine fine. I'll stop teasing you. Now let's go."
"Hai!"
"What would you like, Ino-chan?" Sasuke asked in a gentle tone, very much like the way he used to speak to Naruto. Teuchi looked at the brunette in surprise, knowing that he was in love with Naruto. Youngsters these days... Really can't understand them.
"Sasuke!" a loud voice called as the brunette was glomped by a hyperactive orange ball. He gave Ino a small scowl before smiling. "Ohayou, Ino."
"Ohayou Naruto, Shikamaru-kun."
Shikamaru nodded in reply to Ino's greeting before wrapping a possessive arm round his supposed lover's waist. "Don't go round hugging other guys, Naru-chan. I'll get jealous."
The younger boy turned around with a sheepish grin. "Maa, you shouldn't get jealous of Sasuke, Shika-chan. He's just a very very good friend of mine. You know I like you the most right?"
The genius smiled down gently at the blonde and nodded, his smile turning into a small smirk as he noticed the darkening of the onyx eyes staring intently at them. He bent down slightly to plant a kiss on the shorter boy's nose. "Come on, let's go find somewhere to sit."
Dark onyx eyes watched as the two sat down a few seats away. The chuunin smiled down at the blonde again and said something which caused the tanned boy to beam at him happily, his whiskered cheeks slightly flushed.
"Ino, wasn't Naruto supposed to get jealous rather than start going out with Shikamaru?" the young Uchiha said with a scowl.
"I know! I'm not exactly happy either, seeing Shikamaru make puppy eyes at some dumb blo- I mean, at Naruto," she said, staring at the two boys thoughtfully. She started frowning as she noticed the way her black-eyed brunette smiled at the young blonde, knowing that her ex-teammate rarely smiled, and even if he did, it was never that bright.
"Maybe they're not jealous enough."
Turning to look at her old childhood crush, she smiled brightly and leaned closer. "Well, let's work on it then, Sasuke-kun."
Nodding, he pulled a small box out of his pocket. Speaking more loudly than required, he opened the box and showed the pendant to her. "Ino-chan, I bought this for you yesterday. It reminded me of your eyes, so I wanted you to have it. Do you like it?"
"Sasuke-kun! Of course I'd like anything Sasuke-kun gives to me."
"Let me put it on for you," the brunette said, his eyes fixed on the other pair as he watched for Naruto's reaction. His partner was doing the same, except she was watching someone else. She smiled up at him as he put the chain on for her, thanking him shyly when he was done.
"Anything for you."
Shikamaru smirked in amusement as he noticed his companion staring intently at the couple a few seats away. Sighing at the blonde's fake acting, he slid an arm round the boy's shoulders and pulled him close, whispering in his ear. "You're not supposed to look jealous. You're supposed to be happy with me."
"I'm not jealous! I don't even like Sasuke that way!" the boy hissed softlybefore smiling brightly as he giggled and kissed the chuunin's cheek, as if the taller boy had just said something sweet to him.
Sasuke frowned at the lack of reaction, as did the blonde beside him. The determined girl decided that she was going to have a little talk with her ex-teammate after her practice. She turned to the boy beside her, who was still staring intently at Naruto, his eyes darkened in jealous anger. "Sasuke-kun, let's go. We'll think of a better plan. Besides, I think they're just doing it to get back at us. Naruto's probably realized his feelings."
Reluctantly, the intense boy allowed himself to be led away from the ramen stand. He cast a last look at the couple, who were still eating and flirting cheerfully,and scowled before he followed Ino. A pair of cerulean eyes followed curiously as the pair left.
"Ne Shikamaru, did it work?"
"Ino's smart enough to see through my plan, though I expected as much. Sasuke, however, is the possessive type, so he's most likely to get jealous very easily. And he definitely was jealous seeing us together."
"What! You're kidding! Sasuke can't be jealous of whoever it is he's jealous of! He likes Ino! He should be happy that he can spend time with her!"
"You'll see what I mean in future, dear Naru-chan. And by the way, it's me he's jealous of."
"I think I liked you better as the lazy ass I used to know," the blonde muttered.
"Hey! I'm making an effort to waste my energy on you, so you should be honoured. Ungrateful brat!"
Naruto merely stuck out his tongue playfully and ran off, leaving the chuunin to pay the bill. And that included Sasuke and Ino's share as well.
"Naruto!"
To Be Continued...
Finally I've completed another chapter. Sorry, everyone, for the long long wait. I was kinda distracted with other stuff... That, and I've been going out often during the holidays. School just started for me, so I'll probably take a long time to update again. I'll try to update ASAP though.