Title: El Bimbo

Author: sky75rk

Standard disclaimers apply.

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Seventeenth Channel: Collision

Neji lashed his hand out and like a vice, gripped onto the pale, flinging arms of the boy he intended to attack. The other, sensing the danger of the situation, tried to pry away from the death grip of the Hyuuga branch member. He succeeded by using his knee to jar into Neji's stomach when he suddenly pulled Neji forward to him, contradicting Neji's formidable force with more energy exerted. The Hyuuga spit the blood that rose from his mouth unto the ground. When he looked up, the other boy was at a good distance—away from his field of Hakke.

"Your specialty in close-ranged combat won't benefit you here, Hyuuga," said the taunting voice that Neji wanted now to silence more than ever. "You do realize that I am capable of close-ranged and long-ranged combat. I am at an advantage,"

Neji straightened and calmed his fuming nerves, gazing at Sasuke with utmost intensity and coldness. Sasuke flinched slightly, finding himself at the receiving end of the gazes of whom he was usually the one giving it. "Just because you see yourself at an advantage doesn't mean that it'll stay that way," his tone was leveled. "You don't know me enough that you can deem yourself the winner when the fight hasn't even started yet. Or are that confident? It doesn't seem that way back with Naruto," finally, he was getting back the composure he thought he lost sometime during the battle.

Sasuke did not answer back, the worst of his suspicions blaring in bold neon colors. He was right all along. Neji did do something to Naruto. And Naruto consented? That he was not sure. But one of many questions was answered. And he was going to make Neji give back what he owed him.

Then everything was a blur. Limbs were flying in all different directions, and both struggled to lead the pace. Reaching into his kunai and shuriken holster, Sasuke threw the last of his weapons, knowing that the Hyuuga would use his Kaiten. Then I strike.

This surprised him though, and he in no way thought that Neji would simply deflect it with one of his own. The weapons clattered on the ground, lifeless. Sasuke now stood on top of a tree branch, eyeing the other boy warily.

Neji, still holding the kunai, dropped the weapon unceremoniously on the ground, together with the other weapons that belonged to the Uchiha. He charged then at the said boy and the latter poised into his fighting stance and got ready for the attack that came from Hyuuga. Two fingers tried to weave their way into closing the chakra holes in his body, but Sasuke carefully eluded the attacks and switched from side to side, the edge of those deadly fingers grazing on his skin for a moment. When Neji pulled back, he quickly made several hand seals. "Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu!" he shouted, and the fire dragon made its way viciously towards the Hyuuga who just smirked despite of being in danger. Neji raised his right arm and Sasuke felt something was pulling him from somewhere. He shifted his blood, red, eyes to his body and found chakra surrounding him. He touched the invisible thread-like structures that pulsated with chakra from the other boy. Chakra threads. Damn. I'm too careless. Neji took the opportunity to pull Sasuke towards him so he would take the blow of his own jutsu.

Knowing the Hyuuga's plan, he sped up instead, pushing Neji to the dirt covered ground as the fire dragon passed by them. Quickly, as if burned, they pulled away, Neji still raising his right arm and Sasuke still pulling away.

"You do realize that I am at an advantage, don't you?" Neji repeated Sasuke's own words, manipulated it so Sasuke would scorn him more. But he didn't have to. Sasuke now loathes him.

Instead of waiting for Neji to pull him, he charged, his arm flaring with his chidori. Neji's eyes widened slightly, then smirked, his Byakugan open and tried to find fault in the technique.

Found it. It was just there. Sasuke always kept his right side open for attacks when he used the chidori. His right hand always assisting his left so the pressure would not consume him.

Sasuke poised his chidori so it leveled with Neji's heart, pushed his hand forward to deliver the blow.

"STOP!" both of them heard a scream and their heads turned to see a certain blonde using his body to separate them.

"NO! GET AWAY FROM THERE!" Neji shouted but even he, himself, couldn't hear his words from the loud cry that the chidori was making. He wanted to stop, but it was too late. He can't withdraw from attacking. A glance from Sasuke also showed that he was desperate to stop but to no avail. Naruto looked back at his incredulous, scared eyes—eyes that were wishing that everything else will happen except this—and somehow, while staring back at those azure orbs, he found peace and a smile saying 'I forgive you and I'm sorry'.

---

"Your assumptions are correct, Naruto," said Tsunade in a worried voice. "Some of your memories were suppressed, but I can't just unveil it. The person who suppressed those memories used a different technique. It was amazing that there even exists a technique that can suppress one's memory of one person. As I know, when memory is cleared, it was all or nothing,"

Naruto merely nodded.

"What made you learn about this fact?"

Tsunade studied Naruto in a manner an older sister would. It was true that she was old enough to become his mother, but she wouldn't dare to say that out loud. Still, she had formed a bond with the younger man that was sure to be as strong as the one with his blood brother.

"I… Sasuke. I can't remember him," Naruto confessed and Tsunade just nodded in return. "And it's hard. Everytime I see him, I feel that there's a part of me that was stolen and it makes me guilty,"

Of course, the medic-nin could see this coming.

She learned about Naruto's history with everyone in the village faster than she can punch Jiraiya when he's being perverted. Her curiosity never came out that strong aside from studying about her profession in the field of medicine. His antics made her laugh, cry and angry. The blonde's experience was broad and it made her feel that both of them are the same. Young as he was, he experienced hurt and tragedy, the anger of resentment and the friendship and loyalty.

Besides, she also knew the hurt of losing a loved one.

All too much.

She frowned.

"What do you intend to do?" she asked, somehow fearing what his answer would be. Naruto was the person that was willing to sacrifice everything just to have the past back. The past where everyone was getting along fine and dandy, where everyone always had fun and never cold to each other. Ever since Sasuke's betrayal, all those years were lost and Naruto hated that.

But can't you see? Everyone would still be happy even if they didn't have the past back. She waited for his reply, which he was taking an eternity to say. Are you seriously thinking of giving up everything?

Their talk was interrupted as Genma came barging inside the office. Tsunade threw him a glare. "What is it now?" under the Hokage's scrutiny, Genma felt like shrinking into an unwanted corner and just stay there. But he can't, he had a duty to do.

"A large amount of chakra was felt and there was a leakage of huge amounts of killing intent within the area," he reported and Tsunade's expression turned from serious to deadly.

"Was it from Sound or Akatsuki?" she directly inquired.

"No," was a curt answer and Tsunade waited for the information to be given.

When it wasn't, Tsunade clenched her fists. "Well? Who was it from?" her patience was wearing thin.

Genma immediately answered. "Hyuuga and Uchiha,"

Powerful hands slammed on the table. "What are they doing this time?" she hissed, her anger returning ten-fold. When will these troubles cease? She rubbed her forehead in an attempt to subside the growing headache she was now having.

At that moment, Naruto stood up and silently crossed the room to exit. Tsunade's eyes perked up. "Where do you think you're going?" she demanded, her voice now showing the authority that she had lost when talking to the blonde.

"To end all things trivial,"

---

Neji and Sasuke never really cried. Their childhood gave them a reason to stop the tears from flowing.

But when both of them didn't have enough time to stop themselves from crashing into one fragile body they both protected and loved, when they didn't have the power to protect the one they cared for even until death, the pressure was too much. As they simultaneously jammed into Naruto, tears that were contained for so long spilled as the blood did.

And it rained.

Sasuke stared at his blood-stained hands in horror at the sin he had committed and Neji sunk into his knees and cried as the rain found her way to cover up the flowing tears. Why was it that every time they think they were to settle something in their own hands, Naruto was always the one who closed fighting even at the expense of throwing his life away for two selfish individuals who didn't give time to think…

Neji crawled towards Naruto and forgot the pelting rain that changed into a storm too quickly. She cried for Naruto. She cried for them. She cried as she witnessed the tragic moments that broke her heart. She cried until she had nothing to give, and then she ceased, the cold wind comforting her crying soul.

---

Had they stayed as friends with Naruto, then this would've never happened.

For the first time, Tsunade was thankful that the Yondaime chose to seal the demon fox inside the body of her beloved little brother. For the first time, she didn't want to see the people whom she trusted on missions, the cause of her brother's misfortune. For the first time, she prayed.

Her hands were folded neatly in front of her, as she leaned over her desk with her honey- golden eyes closed. She was exhausted and it took everything she had to ensure her brother's safety.

I won't let them take my brother away from me again. She vowed. When she thought she would lose the blonde boy, her mind went into overdrive. She couldn't bear the thought of losing someone dear to her again.

She rose from her desk and decided to return to the hospital. She was restless until she was by his side, until she was sure that no one could hurt him.

By the time she arrived, the Hyuuga and Uchiha were both at the opposite side of the bed. Everything was white, as a hospital should, and she now couldn't count the number of times Naruto was admitted. Before, she was sure that he'd live even through the worst. But now, she didn't know. How could she possibly know? His wounds were healed, yes, but the Naruto she had vowed to protect, together with the protection of the entire village, was gone. The pale color from his usually tanned skin gave her the knowledge of that dreary fact. And she knew she shouldn't blame anyone. But she can't do that.

"What are you two doing here?" she quietly asked, but the two of them knew what was behind that calm air.

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, it is my wish to stay beside Naruto," Neji pleaded using his words and eyes. Tsunade's gaze landed on Sasuke, but the Uchiha was holding Naruto's hand tightly, as if afraid to let go. As if he was chanting the words 'I'm so sorry' to the unconscious boy.

Her gaze hardened. "What was my order?"

She saw Neji's hands now also gripping Naruto's other hand and Sasuke's tightened. "Hokage-sama--"

"What. Was. My. Order." She gritted through clenched teeth.

Neji's head hung low. "To stay away… from Naruto," he answered, his arms limping on his side.

"And I expect you to obey that," her hands were itching to throw the two boys out the room. Stay away from him! No one hurts my brother and get away with it! She thought. The two rose, but their eyes never leaving the blonde, even as they went out of the room.

Finally alone, she crossed the remaining distance between Naruto and herself. "That's enough, Naruto. I won't let you suffer any longer…"

-To be Continued-

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A/N: whew… my hectic schedule is done for now. I had time to update. I just finished one of my many college entrance tests and I hope I will pass…

Anyway, Tsunade was a bit overboard on her attitude here, but losing a boyfriend and a brother did have its effects. Naruto was almost like her younger brother; I just made her a bit closer than the original plot. Hope you don't mind…

Anyway, thanks for the reviews on the previous channel. Hope you liked this one as well…

ADC, minna…

Review?