Poor Neji has reached an all time low, and is being used by both Naruto and Sasuke. I feel bad for him. Is there any way out? We'll just have to see.

kawaii kitsune-kun – Yes, that could work, except there's just one little problem. There's a certain unexpected 'interference' that wormed its way into the story. Even I didn't see it coming. I wouldn't give up all hope though of SasuNeji. There's still a possibility it could work out, even with more complications getting involved.

Chapter 8: Interference

Neji was getting sick of this. He sat in class staring straight ahead and tried to ignore the subtle actions of Sasuke and Naruto. A wink here, a smile there; they were doing everything in their power to sway him over to their side. Then they could use him fully against the other. That was the only purpose behind their flirtations. In the end, they only wanted each other, and Neji would be discarded. Life sucked.

Neji had successfully managed to avoid both Sasuke and Naruto throughout most of the week, but there was no chance of evasion when it came to class. Neji had to be there, and he had already skipped once with the excuse of sickness. He knew the game plan now. The two would flirt inconspicuously with him in class—thank god neither sat directly next to him—and perhaps Naruto would even pass him another note asking to meet up later. Then when the bell rang, they would ambush him in the hall, each trying to convince Neji to come back home with them.

If he decided to go with either, it was tallied up in the victor's favour. It was incredibly predictable. So far Neji had held out and not joined a side, but he didn't know how much longer he could restrain them. Last time Sasuke had nearly resolved to physically drag Neji off. It was only thanks to Hinata calling to Neji that saved him from such a fate. The brunette was for once in his life grateful to have her around.

Neji watched the minutes tick closer towards the bell in increasing dread. He considered making a mad dash to the door much as Naruto had done the day his spitball missed, but that would make too much of a scene. So far it appeared that no one noticed Sasuke and Naruto trying to gain Neji's affections, and Neji did not want his reputation to be that of someone who was simply to be used. His pride was the only thing he had left.

Neji glanced over to Hinata. He couldn't expect her to bail him out again. Unfortunately by looking at Hinata, he caught the gaze of Naruto who sat next to her. Naruto smirked smugly at him and winked. Neji quickly turned away, but not before he saw Naruto's smug look leave him and fall on Sasuke. Peering out of the corner of his eye, Neji watched Sasuke scowl back.

Only two minutes until the bell, and the nin had no plan of action. Perhaps he could blend into the crowd, or pick up a conversation with Shikamaru. That probably wouldn't work. Neji did not often strike up random conversation, nor was he one to mingle with other people if it could be helped. And he would be a fool to think those things would hold back Sasuke or Naruto.

One minute. Neji resolved that he would try to get out as fast as he could without making a scene, and take a different route through the school in hopes of loosing the two antagonists. It was farfetched as working plans went, but it was the only thing Neji had to fall back on. Three seconds…two…one… Neji tensed and quickly stood up as the bell sounded. He grabbed his books quickly and slid under his desk, coming out in the row under him. From there he followed the rest of the class out the door.

He could already see Naruto and Sasuke catching up. Naruto didn't care if he made a scene, and Sasuke was just good at getting to where he wanted to be. Neji wasn't going to make it far down the hall at this rate. Ugh, why did Shikamaru walk so slow! Neji resisted the urge to shove him out of the way and make a run for it. Hurry up…. Neji paced slightly from one foot to another.

He made it a few steps out into the hall when he felt the unwelcome presences from either side of him. Neji kept walking, staring straight ahead and tried in vain to ignore them.

"So have you decided yet Neji?" crooned Sasuke's voice near his ear.

"No pressure," Naruto's chipper voice said on his other side.

'Just let me disappear…' Neji thought hopelessly. He looked down and swallowed. He'd have to choose a side, or he'd be nagged like this every day. It shouldn't be so difficult, but for some reason it was. Neji didn't like the power he had over such a decision.

By choosing one, he was indirectly determining the victor of this large fight between Naruto and Sasuke. Neji didn't even know what it was about and didn't feel he had a right to influence the results in any way.

He also enjoyed being with both Naruto and Sasuke (when they were normal), and didn't want to make a new enemy out of one of them. The nin couldn't choose the winner, because in the end he ended up being the loser either way. So what was worse? Hanging in limbo and being nagged to death or completely destroying a friendship? Neji thought he was just going to loose it when an unfamiliar voice intruded into the conversation.

"Excuse me. Are these two bothering you?"

Neji looked up in surprise. It was one of the exchanged students who had joined the class the previous week. His hair fell in short red spikes, and there was some sort of symbol on his forehead. On his back, he carried a rather large water gourd. His dark-rimmed eyes stared at Neji, waiting for a response.

Neji was still in shock. Why was a complete stranger standing up for him? The brunette could sense Sasuke and Naruto bristling at the new boy. The exchange student had gotten in the way of their plans, and he was also new and different. Neji himself didn't know anything about the boy, and wasn't sure yet whether to trust him.

Still, this was the escape Neji was praying for, so he had to take advantage of it. Somehow he managed to give a slight nod. He heard Sasuke growl, but kept his eyes locked on the new nin to avoid meeting the gaze of Naruto or Sasuke.

The new student nodded back. "You can come with me then if you wish." The boy turned and started walking down the hall, and some grainy substance—sand, Neji realized—began to leak from his gourd. It blew in around in the air and suddenly streaked towards Naruto and Sasuke. Neji leapt back in shock to miss the sand, and watched as it began to attack Sasuke and Naruto.

'How the heck does sand attack anything?' Neji thought, but it apparently could, and was doing a good job if it. The two nin struggled against it angrily and tried to fight back against it unsuccessfully as it blocked their way. Neji just stood and watched in a horrified fascination. Just who was this boy who could command the sand to do as he wished? Remembering his rescuer, Neji turned to see where he went. The exchange student was standing and waiting for him calmly.

"Well, are you coming?" he asked simply.

Neji was still confused at the odd turn of events, but nodded and followed the boy. 'What am I doing?' he thought, at a loss as to why he was following such a strange and potentially dangerous person. Neji took one last quick look back at Sasuke and Naruto.

The sand didn't seem to be harming them, just hindering their movement; enough for Neji to get away. Neji followed the redhead out of the school and into the sunlight. During the whole time, the boy just led the way silently without turning back. Neji somehow found his voice and spoke to the stranger's back.

"Thank you…um…"

The new boy turned around and regarded Neji. "Gaara."

"Gaara," Neji repeated, nodding. "You really helped me out there. But the sand…it wont—"

"They'll be fine," Gaara stated, turning back around and started to walk away.

"Um, ok. Thanks again," Neji said. This sand boy confounded him to no end. "I guess I'll see you in class later."

Gaara nodded without turning around or stopping. Neji watched as what appeared to be his new ally walked off into the town.

Awha? Where did Gaara come from? I hadn't expected Gaara to be in this fic at all, and to be honest, I'm glad I wrote this set of chapters in a group before I sent it. I had to go back to the previous one and at least stick in a sentence saying the exchange students had arrived. So a new character, a new twist, and let's see how this turns out. Sasuke and Naruto are not going to be happy, I'm sure.