Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of the characters.

Thanks for the reviews, they make an author happy. I won't be updating as much during the weekdays, since I have homework and my time is more limited because of school and my mom's weirdness. P If anyone has any suggestions for my story, go ahead and tell. Also, should I bring Itachi into this story, as a little subplot, or just do that with another story?

Reviewer Responses

Guardian of the Hell Gate: Haha…I don't know. ; It just did lol. One of those..unexplainable things? XD

Kimika: Yes, they're in the parallel universe. You know it's back to the world with broody Sasuke when it's his POV, and the world with glomping Sasuke when it's Naruto's POV.

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Chapter 3: Likes and Dislikes

--- (Naruto POV) ---

When the bell rings at the end of Iruka's math class, I jump up to try to get out of the room quickly. "We'll see you at lunch, Naruto!" I turn to find Hinata, Gaara, Chouji, and Shino grinning and waving. Hesitating only for a few seconds, and wondering where Sasuke-on-Crack went, I wave back and rush out the door.

Before I can take three steps, however, a body hurls into me from the side and clings to my waist. Once again, the other students simply go around us, some rolling their eyes, like Sasuke acts like this everyday.

Sasuke lets go after about ten seconds and we walk down the hall heading for the locker room. "Oi, Sasuke-teme, what's with you this morning? What'd you have for breakfast?" I ask.

He merely raises an eyebrow and grins at me, painfully reminding me of our wonderful childhood friendship. I miss those days.

"Just some toast, why? And why are you calling me a teme? It hurts." He proves his point by pouting and crossing his arms over his chest, managing to look very cute. Argh, this isn't Sasuke. Sasuke broods, hurls insults at me, and definitely doesn't pout and smile and hug people.

I shake my head, trying to drive the thought of Sasuke looking cute out of my brain. "Ah, right, sorry. I just didn't get much sleep last night. Anyway, you didn't mistake the butter for sugar or anything, did you?"

He gives me a funny look, now looking like the Sasuke I know. Then he laughs, ruining it. "Cute, Naru-chan. How can anyone mistake butter for sugar?" I scratch my head while keeping a blush down and coughing uncomfortably.

"It's just you're usually all quiet and drawn into yourself. All you thought about was killing…" I paused here, unsure of whether I should mention Itachi or not, "…your brother."

Sasuke frowns slightly, then to my disbelief just shrugs. "That happened a long time ago, Naru-chan. You know that. I just let it go." I scoff as he turns and flashes a bright smile at me then steps inside the locker room, me following him.

"Let it go? Sasuke, you're the one that's always brooding about it everyday, not talking to anyone, thinking about revenge."

"What are you talking about? I hardly even think about Itachi anymore. What he did was horrible, and the pain has lessened but it's still there. I just don't sulk over it."

With the finality in his tone, he does the combination on his locker and begins to undress. I follow suit, deep in thought. It's hard to believe and get my mind to grasp, but I don't think this is the same world I was in yesterday. Everyone's acting weird, and no one is sending glares at me. It's like I'm a world full of opposites.

I'm only forced to believe this more when Gai-sensei shuffles over to the class, now ready and dressed in their gym clothes. He puffs out some air and looks sulkily at us. "Alright guys, let's just run four laps out on the track today."

I grin to myself; usually he makes us run about twenty. It's still a little unnerving; Gai-sensei is usually extremely annoying, outgoing, and hugging his students, especially Lee. It's funny, since this is what Sasuke seems to be like now.

The rest of the day goes by quickly and strangely. None of the girls are bothering Sasuke, but I can still see the looks of adoration they throw at him. It seems like they're too scared to even wave or smile at him.

I've now gotten used to Sasuke's new personality, but I'm still freaked out when he yells greetings to people, hugs me and everyone else, and smiles. Which he does a lot. But it's a major improvement from the "talk-to-me-and-your-life-is-over" Sasuke.

I've also gotten used to my new group of friends. They give me strange looks when I greet them with my usual loud and hyperness, but I don't think anything of it. I do admit I miss my old group of friends, though. Every time I see them walking down the hall or in class, I can't help but wonder when this weird world I'm will return me to where I'm supposed to be. I mean, I can't stay here forever. Right?

--- (Sasuke POV) ---

Best friends…

---

The sun is setting, giving the sky an orange-yellow color. It really is beautiful. I had my legs pulled up against my body, my chin resting on my knees. I glance over at my companion, my best friend. He has a thoughtful look on his face, and I grin.

"Whatcha thinking about, Naru-chan?" I ask him quietly. He blinks a few times, as if he had just woken up, and looks over at me and grins.

"It's always going to be like this, right?" he asks.

"What?"

"Us. Best friends, watching sunsets, always helping each other out when something bad happens."

I look back at the sunset. Now that I think about it, I'm Naruto's only friend. The other kids hate him simply because he's him. Loud, everywhere, never tiring. He's grown so used to acting like that, trying to get others to notice him in any way possible. I love him for it.

"Of course things will always be like this," I answer. And I fully believe it. I notice Naruto standing up and I look at him, curious.

"Then let's promise," he says, waiting for me to stand up as well. I do so, smiling. He's smiling, too. He holds out his right hand, his index and middle fingers sticking out, and I do the same.

Our fingers hook around the other's, and we stay like that for a few seconds.

"Promise."

---

At the time, in our childish foolishness, we both firmly believed that promise would be kept. At Naruto's words, I realize that I do miss him. But I can't just let go of Itachi, either.

I wait outside the classroom for Naruto, trying hard not to snap at Sakura and Ino who were tugging at my arm. "Who are you waiting for anyway, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asks, making her eyes big and pleading. Like her forehead.

When I don't answer, she clings to my waist and buries her face into my chest. That's it. "Can you two just go away!" I snap, surprised at my own lack of control. At the look on their faces, so were they. I guess they think I might apologize, because they stare at me with an expectant look on their faces. When I don't, they walk away sulkily.

"Hey, Sasuke-chan." At Naruto's voice, I turn around to face him. I try to smile, but I'm pretty sure it came out as a smirk. I tried.

"Why did you say we were best friends?" I ask him as we walk down the hall.

Temari trips Naruto, who only stumbles and glares at her. "What was that for?" I hear him mumble. Almost like something like that has never happened before. "Because we're best friends. We always have been. Are you sure you don't need to go to the nurse?" he asks.

I only shake my head. "I'm fine, dobe." I wait for a bad comeback to be thrown at me, but when it doesn't come, I only see a small frown on Naruto's face.

"I see you're having a bad morning, Sasuke-chan, but you don't have to call me names because of that. Like I said, I can help. What's going on?" Naruto asks. It's my turn to frown, and I do so. This can't be Naruto.

The day progresses, and there's not one outburst, insult, or any sort of hyper activity from Naruto whatsoever. Other students are starting to notice, and I hear some people say they hope he stays this way. Some are worried about him. I'm with the latter.

Naruto seems to have given up on talking to Hinata, Shino, Chouji, and Gaara for the day, while Kiba, Lee, Neji, and Shikamaru seem to have given up on talking to Naruto.

"Hey Sasuke-chan, let's go out to the pier," Naruto says as we're walking outside the school building. I only nod and grunt a "Hn" which receives another worried glance from Naruto. Maybe I'll find out why he's acting so different. There's one thing I do know, though. I don't like this Naruto.

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Yay, the end of this chapter. I'll ask again, just in case some didn't read the top. XD Should I include Itachi in this story? I also need some suggestions for things to happen in this story. If not, this will be a really short story. P So anyway, please leave a review, it only takes a minute.

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