Title: Admit Defeat

Author: Kisu

Rating: PG

Pairing: Sasuke x Naruto

A/N: This is turning out to be some kind of shounen-ai fic…I need to toss some yaoi goodness in somewhere! I think I'll take a break in the next chapter and update my other fics…because…I really hate this one right now.

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me

Chapter 6: Timing is Everything

It started in grade school when Sasuke would always sit in the front of the class while Naruto sat in the back. He would sit near the window, drowsy from the warmth of the sun and half-listening to the teacher's lectures. The two of them always sat diagonal from each other, so Sasuke could shift his gaze and see him from the corner of his eye.

The only time they could talk was at home, or at Ryuujin meetings. Sometimes, Itachi didn't come home for the night because he was caught up in work. Sasuke would come home late from a match and Naruto would have already gone to bed. So the three of them hardly saw each other, let alone spend quality family time together.

But still, they worried.

Worried for his psychological state.

---

When they entered high school, Neji, Shikamaru, and Sasuke were inseparable from him. All three of them took the time to check up on him before running to attend their club meetings. The three of them acted like his older brothers, which were particularly true because he was the youngest of them all.

In their eyes, he was also the most vulnerable.

The three of them had grown up in loving families with good morals and values.

So it seemed only natural to be protective of him.

He liked the attention. They were his older brothers and his best friends.

But they all had duties. All three of them joined clubs that met everyday after school.

Soon, he found himself walking home alone.

Shikamaru was the most skilled thinker in the Go club. Sasuke was captain of the kendo team and Neji was the best soccer player.

He hadn't joined a club.

The three of them began to feel guilty when they became caught up in their busy schedules but he didn't mind. He was used to being alone.

Still, they worried.

That was when Gaara came into his life.

---

It had been like any other school day. Naruto sat at his desk near the window, reading a book. This time it was a classic, Hamlet, so to speak. It was a tragedy where Hamlet kills his uncle in revenge for killing his father. His family thought it was a sign of emotional distress. He thought they were the crazy ones.

So caught up in the book, he didn't realize the teacher had walked to the door and was currently talking to the principal.

Then, the teacher pushed the door open wider and a boy with crimson red hair and eyes the color of jade walked into the room. There were a lot of hushed whispers to his appearance. The boy wore a black mesh shirt and black denim jeans. His eyes were lined darkly and his gaze was unnerving. But what really set them off was the tattoo on the corner of his forehead.

It was the kanji letter, "ai".

The boy's gaze slowly slid across the room to land on an attractive boy. Dark bangs fell into darker eyes, as the boy shifted slightly. His gaze wasn't on him but was set on something across the room. So the boy with green eyes followed the dark eyed boy to his target, to another boy that was sitting by the window.

The afternoon sunlight shone down onto the boy, making him almost glow in an ethereal appearance. He had the most amazing golden hair and it fell lazily over his eyes as he read. With one hand, he brushed the bangs away and shifted in his seat.

He blinked and realized the teacher was still talking. Then the teacher asked him to introduce himself and he shifted his gaze back to the whole class.

"Gaara." He said, lowly. He blinked when he realized the dark haired boy was glaring at him.

It seemed like he had caught him staring.

The angel by the window slowly looked up and quickly, their eyes met. A soft smile crossed the boy's face and Gaara crossed the room to flop down into the empty desk next to him. He rearranged himself so his legs were on top of the desk and he crossed his arms.

The classroom had turned to stare at him.

He narrowed his eyes and they quickly turned away.

From that day, Gaara always sat next to Naruto. The two were inseparable, much to Shikamaru, Neji, and Sasuke's dismay.

Well Shikamaru and Neji were fine with it.

Sasuke didn't like Gaara at all.

It was their quiet relationship that intrigued the others, because they were so much alike.

---

Naruto's head throbbed as he opened his eyes. Groaning softly, he sat up and gripped the mattress when the world spun.

"Lay down, I don't want you throwing up on my floor." A quiet voice ordered. He obediently lay back down and closed his eyes. When his stomach stopped churning, he opened his eyes again.

First, he examined the white ceiling, staring at the multiple cracks. Then he slowly slid his gaze to the figure at the window. His breath hitched in his throat as the man stared calmly back at him.

"Gaara?" He asked, wincing as his voice cracked from dryness. He coughed and Gaara walked over to the bedside to pour him a glass of water. The man helped him up and watched as he drank half the glass before setting it down onto the table.

"How are you, Naruto?" Gaara asked, gazing at him solemnly. Naruto grinned at him and propped himself on his left arm, before remembering the wound on his left shoulder. He hissed as pain shot through his shoulder and he landed on his back.

"Never better." He laughed when he caught his breath. "It took awhile to look for you."

"You weren't that easy to find either." Gaara told him before turning to face the window.

"Gaara…are you mad at me?" Naruto asked, gazing at the redhead's back. The man said nothing and Naruto sighed. "Yeah, you are mad."

"I didn't say I was." Gaara replied with his back still turned.

"I left so suddenly, Gaara." Naruto said, softly. "I didn't even tell you. Did I make you worry?"

"No."

Then it elapsed into silence. Gaara was still staring out the window and Naruto had closed his eyes. For a long time, they didn't move from their positions.

Finally, Gaara turned around and Naruto opened his eyes.

"You look like shit." Gaara commented and Naruto slowly smiled. "Now, let's get some answers." He walked over to the closet door and swung it open. The beefcake of a man tumbled out and fell to the ground.

"Is that where you always keep your men?" Naruto asked, curiously. The man glanced at him before groveling before the redhead.

"Explain yourself." Gaara said, staring down at the man.

"It was a requested assignment from a man. He was going to pay us if we give him Uchiha Naruto's head!" The man blubbered. "Please forgive me, Boss! Kankuro said it was fine!"

"What was the name of the man?" Gaara asked, glaring down at him.

"I-I don't know!" The man stammered.

"What did he look like?" Gaara continued.

"H-He was wearing a cloak and a weird mask. I swear Boss, I didn't k-" The man's hysterical voice was cut short as Gaara strode forward smoothly. In one quick moment, his hand reached out and grabbed the man by the neck. There was a sickening crack as the man's head lolled to the side and Gaara dropped him onto the floor.

Naruto closed his eyes and turned away. He had forgotten that Gaara had another name. Like how he had earned his, Gaara was ruthless in killing.

Gaara strode toward the door and swung it open. "Bring me Kankuro." He said to the men outside. Then he gazed at the dead man on the floor and added, "Clean up this mess for me."

It was Shukaku.

---

Kankuro strode grimly down the hall toward his younger brother's room. He had seen one of his men in his division being dragged away and realized that Gaara was angry. Actually, he was very angry.

When Gaara was very angry he tend to kill and then explain his actions later.

He had known only one person who had been able to curb Gaara's anger.

Uchiha Naruto.

Gaara had been separated from him and their sister, Temari at a very young age. They had different mothers and the same father but all of them were given up for adoption and were taken into foster homes. Gaara had gone to an unfortunate family with an abusive couple. So Gaara learned to hate at a young age and to love only himself.

When Gaara began high school, Temari and he had rented a small house nearby. The first friend Gaara had brought home was Naruto and it had been his only friend. So when Naruto disappeared, Temari and he had gone with Gaara in search of him. Then, they ended up in the Drylands and started a division.

They had many clients who wanted missions done. Missions usually involved gang related murders and assassination of head family members. A man had hired them to kill a certain man with blonde hair that was heading to the Drylands. Kankuro had accepted foolishly. The payment had been a very large sum. He just didn't know that blonde man had been Naruto.

Swallowing nervously, he stopped outside of his little brother's door and raised his hand to knock. Instead, it swung open and Gaara stared at him with that unnerving gaze.

"Gaara." He nodded, curtly. His eyes raked the room quickly and settled on the blonde man that was sitting upright in Gaara's bed. A bandage was wrapped around his head and another around his left shoulder. "Naruto?"

"Kankuro." Naruto nodded, smiling warmly. If only Gaara had greeted him like that, he would have no trouble. He turned back to his brother and suppressed a shiver. Beneath Gaara's cool collected gaze was boiling fury. He could sense the killing intent that was radiating off of him.

"Who did you take the request from?" Gaara asked, calmly.

"He didn't leave a name." Kankuro said. Suddenly his throat felt dry and he swallowed nervously.

"How did he look like?" Gaara asked, his tone dangerously soft.

"He was wearing a mask." Kankuro told him. "He had a ring."

"A ring?" Gaara repeated.

"With an engraved snake." Kankuro said without thought. It happened so fast, that he didn't see what was coming. Gaara had a knife out and was about to slam it between his eyes when Naruto stopped him. The blonde man had grasped a hold of Gaara's outstretched arm with his right hand. He could tell that he was using every muscle in his body to restrain Gaara.

"Gaara." Naruto said, steadily. "He's your brother."

"I've never considered him as a brother." Gaara replied, levelly. Kankuro flinched at this but wisely chose not to move.

"Gaara." Naruto's voice sharpened. "Don't kill anymore. He didn't know it was Orochimaru." He almost sighed in relief when Gaara dropped his arm. Kankuro could feel the sweat trickling down his back as he realized the wave of danger had passed.

Naruto sighed and placed a hand on Gaara's shoulder. "Orochimaru is moving, I have to get back to Konoha before it's too late. Are you coming with me?"

With one quick move, the knife in Gaara's hand was tossed in the air and sped past Kankuro, missing the top of his head by an inch. The knife slammed into the wall behind him and he looked over his shoulder at the quivering knife with wide eyes.

"Yeah." Gaara smiled.

He was hungry for blood.

---

Sakura ran down the hall breathing heavily. She quickly swung open a door and rush into the room. She went over to the desk and opened the drawer, quickly strapping on guns, throwing knifes, and other weapons. Sasuke stood up quickly and frowned.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" He asked.

"Sasuke, Shinja has invaded the building! We have to get you out of here!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Where's the rest?" Sasuke questioned as slid a metal cuff over his fingers.

"Neji is taking care of it." Sakura said, breathlessly. "I was ordered to escape with you as soon as possible!" Sasuke walked over to the desk and reached under it. He pressed a button and a panel slid open on the wall. Sasuke grabbed his gun and waved it at Sakura.

"Let's go." Sasuke ordered as Sakura nodded, grimly. Sakura ran in and Sasuke followed, his hand grazing another button that was inside the passageway. But as the wall slid close, he saw someone enter the room.

A pale face with long dark hair and reptilian-like eyes met his and he felt his blood chill.

Orochimaru.

---

Neji and few of his men ran down the hall. He was desperate in finding a way out of the building as soon as possible. He had told Sakura to protect Sasuke but it would probably end up the other way around. He saw the glint of a knife from the corner of his eyes and turned swiftly. There was a gunshot and the man fell to the ground.

"Yo, Neji!" Kiba and his men ran toward him. "Your reflexes are getting slow."

"Shut up." Neji muttered as he fell in step with Kiba. They found the stairs and quickly ran down the two levels before they caught up with Shikamaru. Then they ran out to the front of the building and joined up with the others. Sasuke and Sakura stood shock still with Chouji, Shino, and Tenten in front of them. They slowed to a stop as they stared at the gang of Shinja. It was huge.

"Holy shit." Shikamaru cursed, rubbing his head tiredly. Shinja was two times larger in size than Ryuujin was.

"Sasuke." Sakura whispered, trembling in fear. "What do we do?" Sasuke slowly walked out to the front so he was facing Orochimaru.

"Uchiha Sasuke." Orochimaru hissed.

"Orochimaru." Sasuke replied, coolly. His dark eyes blazed in anger. "We finally meet."

"Indeed we do." Orochimaru smiled, he turned to his right where Kabuto walked forward. "Last of the Uchihas." The man's smile widened even more. "I'm sad to say we had to dispose of your brother."

"I know you killed Itachi." Sasuke shot back.

"Not just Itachi." Orochimaru replied. Sasuke took a moment to register this and he paled.

"…Naruto?" Sasuke stammered. When that smile turned into a sickly grin, Sasuke's eyes widened. "It can't be."

"He was killed by Drylanders." Orochimaru laughed in delight. "Kabuto, give him our present." The man with silver hair threw a bundle at him and Sasuke caught it immediately. His hands trembled as he saw a tuff of golden hair peeking out of the fabric. He slowly peeled the fabric back and revealed a head with golden hair and a distorted face.

There were collective gasps throughout the Ryuujin as Sasuke carefully touched the bloodstained hair with his fingertips. Then, in fury, he hurled the head back at Orochimaru. The man frowned and Kabuto batted it aside. "That's not, Naruto." Sasuke said, stiffly. "Don't toy with me, Orochimaru!"

"How are you sure?" Chouji asked, looking very green in the face.

"I know." Sasuke replied. Then he looked up and smiled. "This is the dance of death, Orochimaru. Are you ready?"

There was a loud roar of a motorbike and Orochimaru turned at the disturbance. Two motorcyclists shot over the crowd and into the middle of the circle. First, the gangs took in the appearance of the silver dragons on the shirts they wore and the Uchiha fan symbol on one of the men's sleeve. The first rider took off his helmet and revealed a shock of red hair. The second revealed blonde spikes.

"Sorry I'm late, Sasuke." Naruto said, turning to look at him. "I got into a little trouble." He got off his bike and Gaara did the same.

There was a soft purring sound and gradually became a loud roar. They looked around and were shocked to see the great amount of bikers circling around them. Beyond the circling bikes were hundreds more.

"You disrupted our annual race." Gaara said, speaking up. "So we came here to have fun."

"Then let's play." Naruto smiled.

Once again, the two demons roam the streets.

---

TBC…this chapter was okay…I didn't really like it though.