CHAPTER SIX
Naruto's condition barely improved over the next two weeks. He silently cursed himself for not taking the chance to talk to Kakashi. Sasuke and Sakura got closer and closer. Naruto thought that only Sakura could take someone like Sasuke and make him happy. Naruto went to training and Kakashi noticed his conditions get worse. He noticed that he was making less jokes and he was starting to talk less. But unlike Sasuke, who usually was silent because he was thinking, Naruto was talking less because it seemed he was getting sad or disappointed in something.
"Yo!" A voice startled Tenten and she fell out off the tree she was standing on! She hit the ground next to Neji and grunted! Neji looked up, annoyed that Kakashi was interrupting their training.
"I thought you guys were ninja." Kakashi joked. "Shouldn't you have sensed me coming?" Tenten stood up and began to chew him out for sneaking up. But he held up a hand.
"Whoa, whoa!" He said. "I just came to talk to Neji." Neji looked at him surprised.
"Talk to me?" He asked Kakashi. "Why?"
"You were the one who watched Naruto am I correct?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes." Neji answered. "If you want the details then you can ask the Hokage." He said. The wave of guilt he had successfully meditated away was returning. He didn't want to talk to Naruto's instructor after lying on the report.
"I wanted to ask you." Kakashi said with a serious tone. He jumped down from the tree and looked at Neji. "Did you leave anything out of that report?" Before he could even think Neji replied.
"No " He said. Kakashi looked at him closely. It was like he was trying to read Neji's mind. After a minute he spoke. "I hope not. Because if a member of your team was in trouble you'd want to help them. I expect the same respect towards my team." He left and Neji decided he'd had enough practice for the day, even though they had barely started.
"Did you lie to him?" Tenten asked. "Did you lie to Kakashi?"
"Where would you get that idea?" Neji asked.
"You normally wouldn't quit so early." Tenten answered. "You usually like to keep your Byakugan in top condition."
"YOSH! MY YOUTHFUL STUDENTS OF KONOHA!" Came the greeting of Gai. Neji turned to Tenten, glad for his unexpected arrival.
"That's why." He said.
(A.N.1)
Naruto had been practicing alone for a couple of hours when the other two showed up. He didn't understand why they wanted to come here but he ignored them. Sasuke and Sakura were, apparently, just taking a shortcut. Naruto sighed as he attempted to use a tree-branch to swing up to another branch. But he felt a jab of pain and let go.
"Damn it…" He cursed. He couldn't even do things he was supposed to know from the academy. He sighed and pulled his left sleeve up to look at his arm. He felt angry at the wounds that were taking longer than he was used to, to heal. He sighed and looked up at the sky wondering exactly what would things be like if none of this was happening. He imagined him being his usually self and Sakura watching Sasuke who wanted to be left alone. He couldn't help but crack a smile.
"There you are!" A voice cried. Naruto quickly covered his arm and looked at an approaching figure. He gave a small groan as Ino walked over to him.
"Hey!" She said, unusually friendly. Naruto looked around to see if someone else was there.
"What do you want?" He asked slowly.
"Well I want Sasuke-kun!" She said. "And I know you have your eye on Sakura!" Naruto rolled his eyes. Everyone knew this already.
"What about it?" He asked cautiously. He climbed to his feet and leaned against the tree.
"I want to break them up! And I want your help!" Ino said. Naruto looked at the ground.
"I… can't help you." He said even slower than usual. He didn't want to look at Ino, who was angry.
"Why not?" She cried. "We can both have what we want! We just need to get them apart!" Naruto started walking away, cursing himself for even talking to Ino. She didn't like him walking out before giving her an answer and grabbed his arm to hold him back. Naruto's eyes widened as she dug her nails into his arm and he grimaced falling onto his knees! Ino laughed.
"Wow you are weak." She muttered. Naruto jerked his arm away and climbed to his feet slowly.
"Just listen." Ino ordered. "You want someone, I want someone, and when they got together it was a call for us to join forces! You could have forehead girl all to yourself." Naruto turned angrily to Ino.
"Her name is Sakura." He said angrily. "And I don't think you should be one to criticize people." He turned away and left. Ino was furious, of course, but she didn't do anything.
The next week she tried again at his apartment when he came back from more failed training. In fact Kakashi had asked him why his performance was slipping. Naruto was walking home depressed due to the fact that Sakura had accused him of doing this to gain attention. He had gradually gotten paler and started to look like he was sick. When he got to his apartment he found Ino waiting at the top of the stairs.
"I know you want to help me!" She accused. "So why refuse?"
"Because I don't want to help you." Naruto said. But his voice was lower and more like a forced whisper.
"Yeah that proved me wrong." Ino said sarcastically, having noticed his tone. Naruto pushed past her to get to his house. As he bumped into her a bruise from training made his face twitch a bit. He was getting less used to keeping pain to himself as this depression continued and he just wanted to be alone.
"What are you hiding?" Ino asked. "Are you having a secret relationship with Forehead Girl!" She accused. Naruto just unlocked his door and stepped inside. He forgot to lock it though, just eager to get away. He threw his jacket to the floor as Ino walked, uninvited, into his apartment!
AUTHORS NOTES
(1) I had to add Gai Sensei in somehow.
(2)Just because Ino walked in doesn't mean she catches him. Or does it?
(3)I update a bit fast because I have no life ;) So I can write more.
(4)Review Replies:
Maiyuko-chan: You'll have to read to find out.
NarutoNineTails & KitMiyu: Your wish is granted.
