(Whew. '' This fic was mostly to see if I could do it, I think. I've fallen in love with SasuXNaru recently, and it's been forever since I wrote a fic, sooo… yeah. XDD ON WITH THE SHOW! You're here to see Sasuke and Naruto be cute (and occasionally smutty) together, not listen to me babble! Onward!)
"… Eh?" Naruto blinked at his sensei, face set in blank confusion. "… The person… we trust the most?"
Group 7 had joined with Konoha's other recently-promoted Chuunins. The rabble of shinobi were standing in a loose group around a tree, in the fields immediately around Konoha. Kakashi, and one or two other Jounin were arranged around the area randomly.
Sakura and Sasuke were standing near Ino's group. Lee's group was just behind them; Lee only having eyes for his beloved Sakura-san, as always. Naruto was separated from his group. The only person sitting down, sitting right at the front like a kid at storytime.
"That's right." Kakashi smiled. "Although you are still dispatched for missions in teams, you have all been able to tackle those missions competently enough without really communicating with your teammates."
That's true… I'm strong enough that I don't need to co-operate with the stupid Teme anymore. And Sakura-chan… Naruto pouted, Sakura-chan wouldn't co-operate with me if I asked…
"So, after a lot of thought, a decision has been reached." Kakashi stood up from where he had been squatting on the tree branch, dropping to the ground in front of the array of Chuunin. "The groups that you have been working in up until now are to be dissolved. Instead, shinobi will be separated into pairs."
A fresh murmur of chatter went up among the rookie Chuunins.
Kakashi raised his hand, scratching at his wrist idly with his other hand. "We trust you all to have recognised who you work best with. Although you have separated into set teams for missions, you have all had a chance to train and interact together. We expect you to be able to identify who you work best with."
"Ne, Sasuke-kun…?" Sakura tugged on her 'love's sleeve, "… Sasuke-kun, who are you going to pair with?"
Another pair of insistent hands – Ino's – tugged on Sasuke's other sleeve, "Mm. Who are you going to choose, Sasuke?"
"…"
Sakura's eyes widened, and she glared at Ino viciously, "Whoever he chooses, he'll never choose you, Ino-pig. You hardly talk to him!"
Ino went puce, "And I suppose you expect he'll choose you, wide-forehead-girl? You think you're so great after being teamed with Sasuke, entirely out of chance! I should--…!"
Stepping backwards to give the girls room to bicker, Sasuke rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. A big one. Always fighting over me… can't you see, I don't care about you? The dark-haired boy turned his eyes over the crowd. The carefully-structured groups had broken down, and everyone was talking with everyone. Finally, he found the familiar flash of orange of his kitsune.
…Ah… Naruto. Who are you going to pair with? … The person you trust the most? Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Naruto was chatting with Gaara. Hinata and Neji. The brother and sister had already decided to go together, it seemed. Gaara was having some trouble. Mostly because he didn't trust anyone. At all.
Do you plan to go with Gaara, dobe? That's a stupid idea… he'd leave you for dead without even thinking about it… Unconsciously, Sasuke's fist clenched in his pocket, No…
… Nobody can pair with my kitsune.
Nobody.
Just me. Naruto… you're mine.
"Ne, isn't that right, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura turned to him with a smile, "That Ino-pig has n-… eh?" Not even listening to her, Sasuke had begun to walk forward, leaving Sakura mid-sentence. Slumping, ignoring Ino's teasing, Sakura just gave up quietly.
You dare try and team up with anyone else, usuratonkachi? Hmph, like I'll let you! You're MINE!
Turning, entirely oblivious to the flames of possessive hell in Sasuke's mind, Naruto flashed his best friend a cheerful smile as he approached.
"Hey, Sasuke."
Was he… blushing? Yes, he was… just a bit…
"Ano… so… we'll team up, right?"
Sasuke blinked. The fury he had been building up vanished. He actually… wants to team with me…?
"Hn. Might as well."
Naruto blushed softly, smiling and turning back to Gaara (Who was eyeing Sasuke like something unpleasant he'd just stepped in) and laughing nervously "So… that's that, then!"
…Do you really hate me that much, Sasuke? If it's that bad to team with me, then don't…
… No. Nobody else is allowed to team with my Uchiha.
ACK! No! NOT MINE! . What am I thinking! Oh god, I feel so gaayyyy…
Sasuke just smiled. Totally oblivious to the thoughts whirling through his dobe's head.
The person you trust the most.
Soon enough, Gaara sulked off to find someone to pair off with, and Sasuke and Naruto were left standing together. Silence for a bit, then slowly, Naruto spoke.
"… Um… Sasuke… I was wondering…"
"Hn?"
"… Would you… eto… I m-mean…"
He's cute when he blushes…
Not even noticing his mind wander, Sasuke's eyes studied Naruto's face blankly. The pretty blue eyes. The way his hair flopped over his forehead. The whisker marks on his cheeks. The way his lips were moving, forming words.
… Do you even know how edible you look, usuratonkachi? I bet you don't. Don't know how badly I want to bare you naked and taste every inch of you. The way I-…
Sasuke shifted slightly.
This isn't the time.
"… Sasuke?"
"Hm?"
Naruto was staring at him expectantly, blushing redder than Sasuke had ever seen him. "… Well?"
The Uchiha blinked, blandly. "… Sorry, I wasn't listening."
"Y-you what! Bastard teme, see if I ever tell you anything ever again!" Still red, but with anger now, Naruto crossed his arms sulkily. With a glare to end all glares, lightning bolts flickered between the two ninja's eyes for a moment.
Your eyes are so intense, Naruto. Hn. I remember the first time you glared at me like this. The first time I noticed just how blue your eyes are. And I remember the taste of your mouth afterwards… I wonder… would I be able to get away with kissing you again, now? I wonder…
Slowly, Sasuke began to inch forward.
"Yo."
"UWUA!"
Until Kakashi materialised between them.
"Sensei!" Naruto scooted a few million metres backwards. Straight into a tree. "Itai…" Massaging the back of his head, Naruto pouted childishly, "You didn't have to do that!"
"Sorry." Kakashi smiled peacefully, apparently not noticing the way Sasuke was twitching and glaring at his turned back.
Damn you, Kakashi!
"Anyway, just wanted to ask, you boys figured out who you're pairing with yet?"
Naruto's cheek went pink, "… I… we're…"
"Hn?" Kakashi turned around, looking at Sasuke, who immediately wiped the glare off his face.
Coolly, the Uchiha nodded towards Naruto. "We're pairing."
"Excellent." Smiling even wider, Kakashi promptly disappeared.
Blinking with confusion, Naruto crawled forward, from the tree. Stopping just in front of Sasuke, he turned to look over at where Kakashi had poofed to. Next to Sakura. "… What was that about?"
"Who knows." Sasuke shrugged, then looked down at Naruto.
… Crap, his head's right on line with my… Ugh, no. Don't think that. Don't think-… his hair looks so soft from here. I wonder…
Reaching out, Sasuke's fingers combed through the other ninja's hair gently, petting him lightly.
"S-sasuke wha-… mmm… that feels good…" Naruto practically purred. His eyes swam out of focus dreamily, as he leant into the Uchiha's hand. Somewhere, inside him, a demon kitsune was still a fox, and was purring at the attention. Unthinkingly, Naruto leant his head against the nearest thing: Sasuke's thigh.
A tiny electric thrill went through the Uchiha at the touch, and he carried on petting his dobe gently; stroking fingers down the back of the boy's neck, then back to his hair, behind his ears, everywhere. Naruto was making a soft purring sound. Slowly, he turned his face up, turning dreamy eyes to Sasuke and smiling.
"That feels good…"
Oh shit, you look hot right now…
"… Mmm yeah… a little lower… to the… left…" Naruto arched his head, brushing his nose dangerously close to Sasuke's crotch. Sasuke visibly shuddered at the near contact, obliging and continuing to pet his friend.
Heh. If this is the effect a little petting does, I should do it more often. Ne, Naruto…?
Slowly, delirious in his pleasure, Naruto turned his head slowly to the side. Resting his cheek against Sasuke's thigh, his eyes roamed upwards and met Sakura's completely nonplussed stare.
Slowly, cold terror spread through his body, and he threw himself away from Sasuke violently. "I-I..! It's…! Uwa…"
Sasuke, meanwhile, just smirked and raised his hand to his face to cover his smile. He could still feel the sensation of Naruto's hair between his fingers and his skin under his touch and he relished the sensation.
---
It was barely a few minutes later, the ninjas were lined up again; separated into their new pairs. Sasuke and Naruto were standing together, barely. Naruto didn't seem to be able to stop blushing, and Sasuke was almost smiling at the obvious effort.
In the end, Sakura paired up with Neji. Not that they really knew each other, but Neji seemed reliable enough. Besides, if she couldn't pair with her beloved Sasuke, there was little point in being picky. Ino went with Shikamaru, Gaara ended up saying it was stupid and leaving. Lee put his heart into getting Sakura to pair with him, but in the end, ended up pairing with Tenten.
Gai-sensei was standing at the head of the groups with a smile on his face. "… Now that you've paired up, a short exercise, to test your prowess as a group. In these fields, somewhere, we have hidden four scrolls, pertaining to the four earthly elements. Fire, water, earth and wind. As your exercise, I would like you to attempt to find them. But, remember; these fields are very large. There are more than one of each scrolls, but I wouldn't recommend trying to pick up more than one of each." Gai grinned. "And remember! Although you are all competing together, please refrain from any unnecessary deaths. You will all have five days to obtain as many of the scrolls as you can. Stealing is, of course, allowed. You will be responsible for finding food and shelter yourself."
At his side, Kakashi stepped forward. "I will use a technique to transport you all around the area where the scrolls are spread out. Please, remember, this is not a battle exercise, it is a fetching exercise. We are testing your ability to work as a team, not your battle prowess."
Stepping forward. Kakashi raised his hands. At his side, Gai, and the other sensei, copied him. In unison, they formed a selection of seals, and suddenly, Sasuke felt his body getting lighter.
Let the exercise begin.