Title: El Bimbo

Author: sky75rk

Standard disclaimers apply.

Fourteenth Channel: Vague

"Naruto!" a high-pitched shout from behind them called and both Naruto and Neji's head turned a slow 180 degrees. A young woman was running towards them, her unbound, pink hair being held back from her face by the sudden rush of wind caused by her wild run. She halted when she reached them and bent over her knees and heaved. Naruto smiled.

"Sakura-chan! It's been so long!" came a greeting from Naruto and the pink-haired kunoichi straightened up and took a long, hard glance at the golden-haired boy while the Hyuuga just stood there, watching the whole conversation, then sneaking a glance at the seemingly immobile boy they had just passed not a moment ago.

He had seen the Uchiha flinch.

"What? Did I do something wrong?" Naruto automatically asked as the green eyes of Sakura glared at him. Naruto did not know what was wrong, or if he ever did something wrong for that matter. Sakura only looked at him that way when he did some major catastrophe. "Sakura-chan?" his voice asked softly, and suddenly, Sakura's expressive green eyes softened a multitude, and she walked directly to Naruto and embraced him long and hard, as if afraid to let go.

Here was Naruto, a person she now realized meant a lot to her—almost like a brother she always have to look over. Her expression can't even convey the amount of relief that filled her or the amount of burden that was taken away from her. Her mind was too fogged with surreal but definitely real and apparent feelings. There was soft sound of a falling object underneath her but she did not realize. All she can perceive right now is the thought of Naruto finally returning home.

"I can't believe that you left Konoha for so long," she said softly and detached herself from him. She hadn't noticed Sasuke from behind.

"Gomen," Naruto told her with a sheepish grin and immediately buckling down; but before he could fall down, Sakura and Neji caught both his arms. The kunoichi gave a worried look as Neji picked up the crutches from the ground and held it over to Naruto. The blonde youth gave her another smile as he took the crutches away from Neji and leaned on it for support.

Sakura could not help herself but ask. "What happened to you, Naruto? Why are you using those?" She thought that Naruto and those horrid crutches did not match. Naruto was a very capable ninja who was strong enough to survive all the dangerous and hard battles he had faced. And there was no reason why he should be confined to use such instruments.

Another smile, as if embarrassed. "Ah… that's a very long story, Sakura-chan," he replied.

"I wouldn't mind listening. I have free time,"

"You have? Then I wouldn't mind explaining. But everything is just so darn long!"

Sakura was tempted to smack the boy for his words, but prevented herself from doing so. It was awkward, the situation they were in, as if she was meeting a new person. "Does the Hokage know that you're back?"

Neji answered for Naruto. "Yes. The Godaime Hokage was informed right after we returned,"

"Then we went to Iruka-sensei. Then here we are!" continued the enthusiastic boy with a smile used to give when he was younger.

And the three of them were still oblivious about the presence of Sasuke.

Rather, Sakura was too preoccupied to notice and considering Naruto's present predicament, he didn't give a damn. Neji was enjoying every passing moment that passed by, especially when he sees those pained and anguished look from the Uchiha. He knew that it was wrong to think of it that way, but he it wasn't his fault. It was his fault.

He deserved everything that is happening to him right now.

"Neji?" the voice he considered as the sweetest music called him and he answered.

"Yes?"

"Are you all right? You seem to be worried over something,"

"No, it's actually the opposite of that. I'm feeling very happy today," he told the blonde and the blonde smiled.

"Me too! I mean, I get to meet everyone again!"

Neji smirked when he noticed another flinch from Sasuke. And to think that Naruto has that much effect on the cold Uchiha, Neji was glad that he was watching every bit of it.

You feed him with false hopes when you would just discard them away, throw it and treat it as worthless garbage when they are the most important that no amount of money can buy. You are not worthy to even be in the same presence as Naruto's. Neji thought violently, wanting to leave the most sacred place for Naruto that was now stained with the presence of the younger Uchiha. It was a good thing that Naruto and Sakura already made up their minds to head to her house for something to eat. Neji followed, not permitting to let Naruto out of his sight when the blonde was still in an unstable condition.

And they left the dark-haired shinobi behind.

They were back on the main street before they knew it. Now they were nearing the age of being an adult, it seemed that everything around them was starting to feel smaller, unlike when they younger, all their surroundings felt huge and gigantic. It was as if everything was out of their reach. Now… now it felt like they can get what they want if they willed it.

Sakura's house was a lot nearer than what Naruto had remembered. It was not like he was gone for a long time right? He just needed to recuperate in a peaceful environment—as what Neji told him. And when he awoke that same morning, he had this sudden urge to return to the village and surprisingly enough, the Hyuuga obliged him. Naruto smiled. Neji was so nice to him that way.

The pink-haired kunoichi was feeding him with news about the most recent events that happened to the village while he was gone. It was strange though, that whenever Sakura will bring up this guy—Uchiha Sasuke, was it?—she spoke of him like they've known each other for years, yet he couldn't remember anything about him. Not a single detail, even if he did try to rack up his entire memory.

He didn't want Sakura to worry about it though. Naruto figured that if she was enthusiastic about telling him about this Uchiha, maybe he should just go along with it, though he didn't have even a single vague idea about the guy.

Naruto also noticed that every time the guy's name was mentioned, Neji, who was beside him, would don an irritated look that could wither a flower to die in an instant, theoretically speaking since he hadn't gone to try it out yet. But no, Neji would get mad at him, and he didn't like Neji getting mad. It was… awful.

"Ino and Lee would probably have a heart attack when they see both of you," Sakura told Naruto and he grinned madly before stopping to wait for Sakura to open her front door. As they entered the vicinity, Naruto's nose crunched up as he smelled the strong flavor of curry traveling from the kitchen. He wanted to cringe in dismay but Sakura looked like she loved the smell as she was smiling softly.

"Lee!" the kunoichi called out and disappeared behind the divider. Both Neji and Naruto stayed behind and the blonde opted to sit on the couch as Neji preferred to remain standing, his calm indifference on his face.

Naruto grinned at him. "It's nice to be back, isn't it?" he half-asked, half-stated, in his tone said that he didn't expect Neji to give a reply, but the Hyuuga did anyway, one of those things he does rarely.

"As long as you're happy," Naruto's blue eyes sparkled with mirth as Neji's reply sounded through his mind.

"What are you two doing here? Lee and Ino just finished cooking, even though I told them that I would be the one to cook," green eyes peeked from the divider and gestured them to enter the dining room.

"Who are you talking to, Sakura-chan? You didn't tell us that we'll be having guests today," a soft, low voice asked her and Naruto could almost see those thick brows furrowing in curiosity.

And the said man appeared a second later.

"N-Naruto! And Neji! When did you come back?" Yep, Lee's definitely shocked. The blonde thought before replying.

"Just today. Right, Neji?" blue eyes flickered to the man beside him and Neji nodded. Lee raised a brow. "Were the two of you together in this mission?" he asked.

Naruto gave Lee an inquisitive look. Mission? He asked. Then it clicked into place. Of course they couldn't just leave without giving the people a reason or else they would be named as missing-nins. The blonde nodded enthusiastically. "Aa, Tsunade-baabaa insisted that Neji be my partner on my missions,"

"Really? We weren't told about that,"

Neji's strong voice, though spoken in a low tone answered for Naruto. "I didn't think Hokage-sama felt the need to tell everyone,"

Lee gave a smile and a thumbs-up. "Well, now that you're here, let's just enjoy the cooking that Ino and I made and feel the joy of youth!"

Naruto chuckled as Neji shrugged and went to the dining room where Ino was now obviously informed about their presence. "How have you been Naruto-kun?" the blond girl asked, his cornflower blue eyes noticing the crutches but ignored it.

"I've been fine,"

Sakura ushered them to take a seat now that everything was ready. A plate of curry and rice was placed before them and they all said their thanks and ate. Neji stared at Naruto as the blonde gave Sakura a smile when she asked him why he wouldn't eat yet. Then, carefully, the blonde shinobi picked up the eating utensils in front of him.

But before he could dig into his food, fast hands snatched the plate away from him and the two girls and Lee stared at Neji. "What the hell are you thinking, Naruto?"

"I think Naruto-kun was just about to eat it, Neji-san," came a reply from his former teammate under Gai-sensei.

Neji glared at Lee and he shut his mouth up in response, not wanting to get injured and tired after he just returned from a mission. Pale eyes glanced their way back to Naruto. "Well?"

"I… was going to eat it," the blonde said sheepishly, admitting his course of action, knowing full well where this conversation was heading.

Neji glared at him yet again and proceeded to stand and head towards the kitchen. "Sakura-san, do you think I can borrow your kitchen for a moment?" he queried and Sakura nodded dumbly, before whispering to Ino. After a few minutes, they could hear some chopping and smell food being cooked. They were all curious as to what the pale Hyuuga could be cooking and they looked at Naruto in question. The blonde boy just shrugged and smiled, now holding the chopsticks that were lying beside the spoon and fork. When Neji emerged from the kitchen, he was holding in his hand a sizzling plate of pork tonkatsu. He stopped by the rice cooker and filled a bowl with rice and placed it in front of Naruto, whose azure eyes shone and mouth watered.

Ino, having misunderstood, snapped at the Hyuuga. "Why didn't you let Naruto eat what we prepared? It's not like its poisoned or something! And it's not even bad!" she was beginning to raised her voice and Sakura tried to calm Ino down.

"I didn't say it was bad," the Hyuuga responded and proceeded to transfer Naruto's full plate of curry into his. "Naruto is allergic to curry. If you feel bad about me taking a caution about his well-being, then I will eat his share as well. If only to make you feel better,"

Lee smiled, both inwardly and outwardly. Neji had changed so much, he realized and he gazed at Naruto who was now telling the two girls to eat again. How did the blonde manage to do it?

All the while, Sakura wondered how Neji could have possibly known about the fact while she did not. And she thought that the Hyuuga did not care about anyone. What happened between the two of them?

Ino visibly calmed down and apologized to Neji as she saw him eating daintily a plate of too much curry. The blonde gave a worried look. "You don't like curry all that much too. Neji? Are you sure you could eat that? You said that you don't like eating curry too,"

"I'm fine. It's better than letting you eat a food your body doesn't respond well to, just because you don't like to hurt their feelings and waste their hard work,"

Some changes occur too great and fast that it sometimes takes the wind out of you.

"Ne—Neji-san?"

Pale eyes turned to the source of the voice. "Nani?"

Lee clamped his mouth. "Nothing,"

---

"Why were you gone for so long, Naruto?" came the unavoidable question.

"I can't escape from this, right?"

"Right, Naruto-san!" a thumbs up. Naruto shook his head in amusement.

Neji stood behind the chair where naruto was sitting, even though there were more than 2 chairs that were available. Ino noticed how protective Neji was of Naruto, when before he couldn't care less about the blonde. Something happened. She was sure of it. People don't go changing their spots overnight. Or in this case, in nine months. Especially in a mission.

"Naruto?" Sakura asked and was now waiting for whatever explanation the blonde has to offer.

"Well, during our last mission together, I had an accident…"

"You were in the hospital for quite a long time then," Lee interrupted.

Naruto frowned as he recalled. "Uh, right. After that, Tsunade-baabaa took me out of team seven…"

"… I was so shocked when she did, Naruto. She didn't have to do that! It was just a simple mistake!" another interruption from Sakura.

"Uh… anyway, she made Neji my partner and--"

"WHAT? Why would she do that? Your team with Sakura and Sasuke was almost perfect!"

Sasuke.

Again, the unfamiliar name was spoken. Who is he?

Naruto felt a hand grip his shoulder and he returned his attention to them. A sigh. "Could you please let me finish. How can you know anything if you keep interrupting me?"

Lee laughed as Sakura and Ino fell quiet.

"After that, I had another accident," Sakura was about to open her mouth again but closed it as she felt Neji glare at her. "It was a good thing that Konohamaru was there… oh yeah! Neji! We haven't visited Konohamaru yet!" the blonde told the man behind him.

"We'll visit him after this,"

"Un!" Naruto nodded and resumed his story. "Well, the accident caused me something. You see, there was a complication in my body after the last one. The one after left me handicapped,"

Sakura couldn't keep herself quiet any longer as the other two gasped. "Handicapped? Is this why you have that?" she pointed accusingly at the two crutches leaning on the wall.

"Yes, but I'm fine now! There's this medicine that helped me recover faster,"

"What did Sasuke say about this? You have visited him by now right?"

Sasuke. "Sasuke?"

Sakura sighed loudly. "Yes. Sasuke," she repeated and Naruto felt the grip on his shoulder tighten.

Sasuke. Who was he that Naruto has to tell his condition to a person he didn't know. A teammate. Ino had said that He, Sakura and this guy, Sasuke… they were a team. But why couldn't he remember?

Sasuke. Why was it that every time he tried to search in his memory the time when he had his first major accident… he would see Sakura and someone… someone…

And then the memory would blacken.

Naruto closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Neji saw the sudden changed and quickly took the crutches from the wall and handed it to Naruto as the blonde stood carefully. "He had enough. Thank you for today. I'm sure Naruto would've said that. But now, we must leave," he told them and they departed, leaving the three behind with more bewildered faces than enlightened ones.

---

The moment that Naruto passed by Sasuke without any word, the dark-haired ninja froze as if the whole world around him turned to ice and there was only white as far as the eyes can see. White and… oblivion. Loneliness, the sounds of crashing and breaking glass and then Sasuke was able to see again, but he did not bother to look behind him, where Naruto was walking side by side with Neji, whose eyes were once only directed at him was now distant and unattainable. Sakura, whom he heard coming after the blonde, was not aware of him. He didn't care. All he wanted was some those eyes to be pointed at him once more and then he…

He can say those words that he threw away in his anger and maybe… just maybe…

It was nightfall now and he was still standing in the middle of the training grounds, in the position he had earlier that day.

Sasuke felt numb.

-Continued-

---

A/N: this channel is mainly centered not on Sasuke, as you can see. I know that you have been waiting for Sasuke's reaction, and I did give you guys a taste. /points at the little ending scene above/ Anyway, the next one would probably be a Sasuke-centric channel, so I advise you to look out for it. Updates might take longer than usual, as I am now back to school, having the most tiring days ever and it seems that ffnet can't load properly… I can't use the line break this time… I'm sorry…

To my reviwers…

Asa-chan, bhodi li, Ranni, tins, xXfissshbonesssXx, Sasuke-chan, Jena, Angel of Darkness, LtF, Momochi Zabuza, catc10, Uzamaki Liliana, Silent Victory, BeeBee, MsDbzMedabots, Princess Kitana, sansty-san