Chapter 7 ready to be read with Sasuke and Naruto's first confrontation! Thank you for reviewing! I haven't written any long-ish fight scenes before so let me know what you think. Thanks again and enjoy!
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Chapter 7
Seeing where Sasuke and Sakura were heading as they turned away from their sensei Naruto realised he knew where he was going. He would keep pace with them for the first lap at least just so he would know where he was going.
Looking uneasily between the two as they walked next to each other, Naruto picked up his pace, falling into step next to Sakura.
He only remembered Sasuke as being the best at everything. Everyone loved Sasuke, especially the girls.
"Like Sakura." He thought sadly.
Rising from his thoughts he realised that the two were watching him.
"Er…hi?" Naruto said stunned.
"How do you feel Naruto?" Sakura said cheerfully as she smiled, still managing to look concerned.
Sakura was talking to him! And smiling!
"I-I'm fine!" he replied still shocked.
Naruto stared at her for a second before he noticed what was so obviously different about the girl.
"Sakura, your hair's short!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Huh? Oh yeah. It's been short for ages." Sakura said casually.
"When I said 3 laps I meant running!" Kakashi called from behind them.
In unison they broke into a jog. Sasuke and Sakura at least knew that unless they wanted their number of laps to be doubled you start running.
"How's your temporal lobe, dobe?" Sasuke asked with a sneering smile.
Naruto watched him through narrowed eyes.
"Uchia Sasuke. Are you still a haughty bastard, or have you changed since the academy?" Naruto said, laughing as he saw the raven haired teens mirth fade.
The two boys' fell into silence where they ran either side of Sakura, glaring daggers across her at each other.
As though through an unspoken challenge the two boys began to run faster.
"Sasuke! Naruto! Stop acting stupid and slow down!" Sakura commanded.
Their gaze broke turning to look at her as they slowed to her pace.
Casting Naruto a dirty look Sakura turned to Sasuke.
An idea flashed across Naruto's mind. Slowly he pressed his hands together as though moulding charkra…
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"How are you today Sasuke-Kun? You're a little quite today." Sakura said turning to him. The one sided convocation was about to begin yet again, as it did every day. Looking over at Sakura, his eyes slid past her.
What the hell! That moron!
Unknown to Sakura she was flanked by Sasuke on either side.
Sasuke glared at Naruto, who had for some reason disguised himself to look like the Uchia.
As he watched, the copy of him began to pout and stroke its hair!
"What's the matter Sasuke-kun? You look very pale." Sakura asked suddenly.
Out of her sight Naruto released the jutsu laughing silently as one hand clutched his side.
Puzzled Sakura turned around panting lightly from running to give Naruto a curious look.
"What's wrong with you?" she said raising an eyebrow at the blond.
"N-Nothing" Naruto stuttered from suppressed laughter. "Just a stitch" he invented to explain why he was clutching his side.
They completed the first lap of Konoha in silence after that. Naruto smiling as he ran easily, without having to breathe hard. Sasuke ran with a menacing look on his face, throwing an icy glare Naruto's way every now and then for good measure. This was all going on either side of Sakura who had completely missed what had happened and accepted it was probably best not to ask.
Starting the second lap Naruto wanted to go faster now that he knew the way but when the other two showed no sign of speeding up he grudgingly kept pace with them.
Just when Naruto had started to sink back into his thoughts Sakura turned to him suddenly.
"Naruto…so how much do you remember?" she asked kindly.
That caught Sasuke's attention.
"I remember the academy to just after graduation." Naruto said. It felt strange to talk about it so casually when it still seemed so strange.
"What happened to you?" Sakura asked breathlessly, from either the running or out of interest he couldn't tell.
"Nothing." Naruto said more sharply then he intended.
This once again sparked Sasuke's interest. He was hiding something and he was determined to find out what.
"Well, what did they say to you? It must have been a shock?" Sakura questioned further.
"No, I was ok." Naruto lied. He wanted to get the convocation off this topic.
"That's not what I heard." Sasuke said as a smile played across his lips. "What was this about you attacking Kakashi and Ebisu, and then running around half of Konoha in the dark?"
Sasuke smiled at the anger and suspicion narrowing Naruto's eyes. He felt like he'd got him back for his earlier joke.
Naruto made no response as he sped up. Sasuke gladly matched his pace as unwillingly so did the bewildered Sakura.
The second lap passed in a blur of speed. Sasuke was starting to show signs of tiredness but Naruto ran onwards still breathing normally.
No, nothing had changed. Sasuke was still an annoying bastard, and Sakura was still obsessed with him. Oh well, if this was what his time with them had always been like then maybe his memories weren't worth remembering.
Halfway through the third lap Naruto was starting to feel the strain. Sakura seemed to be struggling with the pace whilst Sasuke panted lightly.
Throwing a look at Naruto, Sasuke smiled.
I'll bring him down a couple of notches; put him back in his place.
Looking out the corner of his eye Naruto had to stop himself from laughing again at the image of Sasuke's face when he had taken on his form.
I'm gunna kick his ass!
With the two boys smiling to themselves, and Sakura gasping and choking, they finished their third lap.
Returning to the stumps they found Kakashi exactly where they'd left him immersed in his dirty book. He was giggling quietly to himself, with the slightest hint of a pinkish tinge creeping from under his mask.
Looking up he cleared his throat as he shut the book and slid it back into his pocket.
"Yo." He said still slightly pink. "Everyone warmed up for sparring?"
Sasuke and Naruto nodded. Sakura just sort of gasped. Noticing her due to her heavy breathing Kakashi turned to Sakura.
"I've arranged for you to train the rest of the day with Ino under Asuma's request. She's waiting for you outside the academy."
"What!" Sakura cried with horror
"I thought you'd appreciate some female company for once. You've got to go." Kakashi said sternly.
"Hai sensei." Sakura said sulkily as she glanced in Sasuke's direction before walking off into the trees.
Turning back to his remaining two students after Sakura had disappeared he smiled.
"I want you two to have a friendly sparring match then. Jutsu's can be used but nothing lethal. We are not trying to kill each other." Kakashi said. "Try to focus on your taijutsu if you can, as that's what I really want to see."
Silently Kakashi wondered if this was too soon for Naruto.
Was Naruto ready for such a fight? He wasn't even sure if Naruto remembered any of his jutsu's, apart from his infamous sexy-no-jutsu. But surely the sooner things went back to normal the better. It might jog his memory.
"Square up and I'll tell you went to begin." Kakashi instructed.
There was plenty of room in the clearing; it should be enough space for them to move freely.
The boy's squared up. Sapphire eyes met Onyx.
"Begin." Kakashi said.
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Springing into action Naruto leapt forward, aiming to land a punch on Sasuke's prettyboy face.
With amazing speed Sasuke blocked the punch before sweeping Naruto's legs out from under him, finding nothing but air.
Naruto leapt upwards, flipping over Sasuke.
Twisting, Sasuke lashed out with a brutal kick, catching Naruto squarely in the chest as he landed.
Carried by the momentum of his jump combined with Sasuke's kick, Naruto flew backwards, tumbling along the ground.
"That the best you got?" Sasuke taunted, but Naruto was already rising.
Turning to face Sasuke Naruto ran forward once again.
Stepping easily to the side, Sasuke hit Naruto as hard as he cold with the blade of his hand at the base of his skull.
The impact floored Naruto.
"Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea." Kakashi thought as Naruto landed face first in the dirt.
"So far you've spent most of your time on the ground." Sasuke commented as he looked down at the sprawled Naruto.
Leaping up furiously Naruto crossed his hands.
"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto cried.
Nine clones appeared alongside Naruto in puffs of white cloud.
In a blur of orange five of the clones flowed forward, leaping at Sasuke from different angles.
Sasuke remained where he was. He had enough time to take a deep breath before the clones reached him.
His right arm shot out, landing a punch squarely on the nose of one of the clones as he ducked a kick from another.
One down.
Placing his hand on the ground Sasuke lifted both of his feet in a double side kick, catching one viciously in the stomach.
Two down.
Feet back on the ground, he leapt up, flipping over the clone behind him punching it viciously in the back of the head as he landed.
Three down.
The remaining two of the five ran at him from opposite sides.
Closing his eyes Sasuke focused his charkra in his feet. Eyes shooting open Sasuke leapt upwards with amazing speed, turning on the spot in a ruthless spin kick. His foot made contact with one's head-
Four down.
-then the other. Together they fell to the ground, disappearing in two clouds.
Five down.
Flicking his hair out of his face Sasuke turned smiling to Naruto.
"I hope you can do better then that. You're acting like you're fresh from the academy."
Seething with anger Naruto gritted his teeth as he tried to think.
His mind cleared. He stared at Sasuke. There was something about the expression he wore.
This whole situation seemed familiar…those stumps…
"I'm waiting." Sasuke said coldly but Naruto didn't hear him.
No…he wasn't fighting Sasuke but Kakashi…
Then all at once the memory of team 7's survival training Kakashi had first put them through came flooding back into his mind.
1000 years of pain.
Naruto laughed softly. Its name was right at least.
Over there was the river he'd landed in…
He felt ready.
With his four remaining clones Naruto leapt forward.
The five Naruto's weaved in and out of each other as they approached.
Two of the clones ducked down to sweep Sasuke's feet from under him-
But he was already in the air, avoiding their attack. Two more clones closed in, one coming from the front, one behind.
Kicking out he caught the one in front, but still in mid jump he was unable to dodge the one attacking from behind.
A fist slammed into the back of his head with incredible force, leaving Sasuke reeling where he lay face down on the ground.
He heard one was behind him.
"One Thousand Years OF Pain!" he heard Naruto cry as something was shoved up his ASS!
Shooting forward indignantly Sasuke leapt to his feet seething with anger and disgust as he glared at the four remaining smiling Naruto's.
"Konoha's secret ninja technique, huh?" the blond laughed as he turned to look at Kakashi, a look of understanding passing between them.
"He remembers that! That's progress at least, but what had triggered it?" Kakashi thought as he smiled behind his mask.
"Ahhh!" Sasuke shouted as he leapt forward in a rage, his movements a blur of speed.
"Sharingan!" he cried.
The onyx eyes shone scarlet.
A kick with the speed of a snake striking Sasuke destroyed one of the clones.
Naruto leapt to attack along with his two clones but the struck nothing but air. Sasuke weaved amongst their attacks like he had no bones, turning with smooth snake-like twists.
Grabbing on of the clones by it's wrists he lifted it from the ground, swinging it round to strike the other clone. Together they disappeared leaving the real Naruto with a very angry looking Sasuke.
Grabbing Naruto by the front of his jacket Sasuke began to pummel Naruto, switching between the boys face and stomach.
Blood began to run freely from the corner of his mouth as Naruto gasped, winded.
Suddenly Kakashi stood next to them.
"That's enough I think Sasuke." Kakashi said casually.
Looking up at his sensei Sasuke released the Sharingan, dropping the front of Naruto's jacket.
Naruto stood firmly enough but he coughed awkwardly before wiping the blood from his mouth.
Naruto stood watching Sasuke with a strange expression on his face before breaking into a smile.
"Good fight." Naruto said.
"Whatever."
Kakashi walked purposely between them, breaking the animosity.
"Trainings done for today. You can go home."
Throwing Naruto a dirty look Sasuke turned on his heel before walking off into the trees.
Kakashi looked down at Naruto. At first the blond was worried thinking his sensei was angry until he saw that his teacher's eye was curved from his hidden smile.
"The 1000 years of pain, huh?" Kakashi said, the undercurrent of humour clear to hear.
"Yup." Naruto said smiling as he scratched the back of his head.
Kakashi seemed to consider his reply for a moment.
His eye curving further Kakashi said simply: "Nice."
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Authors Rant:
Writing the fighting wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be. I'm quite looking forward to the more serious fighting later on. Thanks for reading! Until the next chapter! ;)