Aaaand it's Chapter 3! Yay, the story is slowly developing…

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, and I never will.

Chapter 3: The Assault

Day eleven. Naruto was going to need a hell of a comeback to make it through this. Sasuke had matched and counter-matched all of the fox nin's efforts to take the lead. Naruto seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Sasuke was just biding his time, waiting to deal the finishing blow.

Neji watched Naruto glare at Sasuke relentlessly in a failed effort to somehow get the prodigy's attention and somehow rile him up. It was surely a lost cause. Sasuke did not loose his cool easily, but that appeared to be Naruto's last desperate plan of attack: to somehow get Sasuke in trouble with the sensei. That would be the only thing that could cause Naruto's weak standing to skyrocket and bring him neck-to-neck with Sasuke's.

It was such a difficult task, so Neji would award him bonus points. Sasuke never got in trouble in class. Not that he never did anything worth getting in trouble for, it was simply because he was crafty enough to get out of it.

Neji could hardly hold back a smirk as Naruto made exaggerated faces and waved his arms around at Sasuke while the sensei's back was turned. The stoic boy simply glanced at Naruto and turned his bored expression back to the lecture. Naruto growled in defeat, and suddenly his face lit up with a very impressive Cheshire cat-like grin.

He instantly grabbed a pen and began scribbling excitedly on a sheet of paper. Neji couldn't make out what it said from that distance, it probably didn't matter since Naruto's writing was illegible at the best of times, and was surprised to see the blonde crumple the paper up in a ball. His shock increased as Naruto stood fully up, winding up like a pitcher, and chucked the paper ball right at Sasuke's head. The paper ball made a dull thwaping sound as it bounced off Sasuke's head and landed on the desk in front of him.

Neji quickly looked to the front of the room. Naruto was one lucky bastard; sensei's back happened to be turned towards the board. Naruto sat down smugly and folded his arms, apparently satisfied at his work. Neji couldn't understand why, that paper ball didn't faze Sasuke one bit.

Sasuke took his time and picked up the paper ball, examining it critically in his hands. He slowly uncrinkled it and his eyes scanned the message Naruto had put in his chickenscratch. Ever so calmly he shut his eyes and recrumpled it. Then to Neji's shock he stood up and pitched it hard at Naruto's grinning face.

"Uchiha Sasuke!" came the stern voice of sensei.

Sasuke froze. So did everyone else in the class, and all eyes were turned to him. Complete bewilderment was plastered on everyone's face. Sasuke was never called on for misbehaving. He was the perfect student. Naruto was rolling in his chair, barely holding back his laughter. 'How the heck did he do it?' Neji wondered. Murmuring had started to break out among the class as they watched the sensei lecture the top student.

"I am very disappointed in you, Uchiha. Your behavior is completely rash and out of line. I will not tolerate disruptions in my class, and especially coming from you. You are supposed to set a good example, not act as a disgrace to this academy. You're lucky our exchange students haven't arrived yet. If they saw how such a highly spoken of student acted, what would they think about this village? I do not expect such behavior again."

"Yes, sensei." Sasuke's cheeks burned a slight pink as he glared down at his desk. Neji could see that his fists were shaking with repressed anger.

"You will be given labor duty as your punishment starting next week. Some men are working on a building a wall in town, and you will be with them, hauling the load and reflecting upon your actions. I also expect 200 lines of "I will not disrupt this class" by the end of this week."

"Yes, sensei."

Neji winced and felt sorry for Sasuke. It was bad enough that he was completely put on the spot and had his perfect reputation tarnished, but to get such a childish punishment? Neji knew his own pride wouldn't be able to take it.

"You may sit down."

Sasuke obediently did so, but not before shooting a dirty look in Naruto's direction. Naruto only grinned and winked back. Neji opened up his notes and added tallies by Naruto's name. He had succeeded somehow. Now it was really war, on a whole new level. Neji pondered what Sasuke was formulating as his payback, but became more interested at the paper ball that he realized was right by his feet.

He was about to pick it up when the paper suddenly caught fire and burned up into ash. Neji looked up to see Sasuke turn away and refocus his gaze back to the front of the class, readorning his emotionless mask. Well, curious or not it looked like Neji wasn't going to get a chance to decipher what had caused the stoic to loose his cool so easily.

The tension in the room was stifling, and the air practically crackled between the desks of Sasuke and Naruto. Naruto had made his move, and it was Sasuke's turn. Sasuke wasn't dumb enough to do anything yet, especially after getting yelled at by the sensei. Students were still whispering to each other and glancing back at Sasuke, which he blatantly ignored.

The bell rang and Neji quickly gathered his things, wanting to get out of the room before Sasuke snapped. He cringed as he heard the said nin call out his name. Regaining composure he turned back to face Sasuke who had walked up to him. Was he angry that Neji had tried to read the paper? Why wasn't he taking it out on Naruto? Naruto looked surprised himself and somewhat relaxed his defensive pose. Sasuke waited for a majority of the students to file out before speaking.

"Are you busy tonight?"

"What?" Neji blinked in surprise. He was expecting more of a 'What business have you nosing through that paper?' or even a 'I feel like ripping out your spine first because I'm pissed.'

Naruto's face mirrored Neji's confusion, even more so as Sasuke walked closer towards the long-haired brunette.

"I asked," Sasuke said, lowering his lashes with a sexy smirk, "if you were busy."

Neji stammered and then regained his composure again. "Well, you see—"

Sasuke slid up close to him, completely invading Neji's personal space. "Because I'm not, and I was wondering if you wanted to come over."

Ok, of all the surprises of that class, this was the most unexpected. Neji darted a paranoid glance around the room to ensure that everyone had left. It was only himself, Naruto, and an uncharacteristically talkative Sasuke. Naruto did not look pleased at all. Neji swallowed.

"Well, I'd love to, but perhaps some other time," he said, forcing a polite smile onto his face.

"Neji…I don't invite just anyone over. Don't insult me by turning me down. I dislike being insulted." Sasuke lifted his lashes, and the red sharingan eyes seemed to burn through Neji, making his flesh crawl.

Neji certainly did not want to get on the bad side of Sasuke, especially with all the rage that was obviously bottled up inside of the nin. Glancing at Naruto he saw that Naruto was scowling with his arms folded, watching it all play out. Neji's eyes widened in realization. 'I'm the payback,' he thought and suddenly desperately wished he were somewhere else. He couldn't run, even if his pride had allowed him to, because Sasuke had a firm grip on his arm.

Neji slowly nodded his head. "Okay."

Naruto gave out a short soft growl and Sasuke smirked triumphantly, looking Neji over with his now normal eyes.

"Then let's go." He took the Hyuuga's arm and led him out. Neji could now feel the fox-child's eyes boring a hole into his back as he walked out with Sasuke. Either way, there was no easy way out of this. He'd just have to humor Sasuke and follow him back, leaving as soon as feasibly possible. Neji was good at all that formal crap. He'd get out of the crossfire as soon as he could and return to just watching it from the sidelines. At least that's what he hoped.

A slight plot twist to end the chapter. Things may get a little heated up in the next—but not too hot yet. ;)