A/N: I'm really really really sorry for the lack update! My computer was broken a week ago! And after it got repaired, I rushed to finish my Valentine-theme NejiNaru oneshot called 'Chocolate'... so this chappie got abandoned a bit, sorry! Plus school was starting to get frustrating and exam will come soon! Aaaargh! Phew...sorry, please R&R on that one too! And thanks a lot to whoever who read that one too and reviewed it! If you haven't read it... ummm, go ahead and have a try... XD
On to the fic!
NARUTO'S FIRST DATE CHAPTER 17
"You monster!"
"Go away, you' don't belong here…"
"Kyuubi!"
A pebble was thrown and it hit him on his head. Naruto took a step backwards fearfully, avoiding all of those cold stares while ignoring the new aching feeling. This was exactly like when he was a child. People formed circle around him, and they snapped, mocked or either glared at him, calling him demon and names. Naruto's clear blue eyes were blank as though he was dead, it didn't radiate cheerfulness like they always did. No, don't look at me like that… I'm not demon, I'm Uzumaki Naruto! Can't you all see?
"So you're that Kyuubi!"
A familiar voice made Naruto snapped his gaze up to the circle. His eyes widened with shock when he noticed familiar faces on the circle. Each pair of coal black, emerald green, baby blue, and brownish black eyes stared at him with those similar expressions the other villagers had. While a pair of silvery white eyes belong to a girl sent a fearful stare at him.
"I always had this feeling that you're not normal!" Shikamaru visibly shuddered in disgust.
"You never tell us, Kyuubi brat!" Kiba screeched, pointing an accusing finger at him.
"Demon!" Ino shouted.
Because I don't wanna see you all like this! Naruto wanted to shout desperately but no sound came out even though he let his mouth opened, it looked like he was programmed to stay silent and just swallowed all the things they said.
"Kyuubi! Don't come nearer!" Sakura looked as if she wanted to throw an explosive note at him.
What? Why? Do our friendship all these years is a vain? Naruto's stare swept wildly through the crowd, seeking help from anyone. But it stopped when he noticed a brunette among the people, with exact silvery eyes like the other one has. The blonde's eyes widened even more. The owner of the eyes didn't send fearful stare, it cast betrayal, anger… and further more…
…hatred…
"STOP!" Naruto sat up abruptly.
He panted, cold sweat running down from his temple. He noticed that his pajama was slightly wet from that cold sweat, especially the back part. What… what was that? He massaged his forehead as he brought his knee to his chest.
It's… just a dream, right? Naruto gazed at the view around him, a wardrobe: check, posters: check, white painted wall: check, bed: check, door: check, curtain: check, Neji's pictures he'd taken secretly: check. He was in his room indeed. So that was indeed a dream.
He leaned his back to the wall behind him. Was that my friends' reaction if I told them I'm the Kyuubi? Naruto made a mental note.
It was a week ago when Neji asked him to spend a night at the Hyuuga's House. And now how Naruto wanted to have Neji at his side when he woke up. He really needed the Hyuuga as a stress-reliever.
Neji…
His mind flew back to Neji's expression in his dream. Similar expression he used to hate so much, similar expression he received everyday from the villagers, similar expression of hatred.
Will Neji act that way after I told him? Naruto stared at his own palm as if it could explain it all. Will he accept me again?
The blonde sighed and threw the covers off him. He stretched out his muscles first before deciding to take a morning wash, and get rid that annoying thought off his mind.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
"Good! Sakura, turn to the left with Shino, and Naruto, take two steps backwards since you're standing in their way! Come one, we already repeated this three times!" Temari said as she waved the script, choreographing them nicely.
"Curse you, blonde…" Naruto grumbled before he obeyed the girl.
"You're a blonde too…" Temari pointed out, grinning. Naruto let out another series of curse unsuitable for children underage, glaring at the blonde girl.
They progressed rather slowly, since a lot of them weren't satisfied with their roles. The persons who showed nice improvement were only Lee and Tenten. Tenten already memorized all of her lines and was helping the others gladly. Lee, as usual, was hot in his heel on beating his so-called rival, but, as usual, the said person just didn't pay attention to the taijutsu specialist. He himself didn't show nice signs of improvement. He barely remembered his lines. Since the Hyuuga didn't fancy the idea of this play from the beginning… the jealous part also took place in this case (yup, people, he's still jealous…).
"Earth calling Neji! Repeat! Earth calling Neji, do you copy?" Kiba's voice snapped Neji from his daydream.
"What?" Neji felt slight pity to left his daydream, with the contents of '1001 Ways To Kill Uchiha Sasuke, Slowly and Painfully' whereas he already reached method number 999.
"Tenten calls you, says it's your part…" Kiba tilted his head to the weapon master's direction.
It was on that very moment, the door decided to burst open, giving everyone a full and nice view of Kankurou, Gaara, and big plastic bags in their hands.
"Good news, minna! We got a few costumes!" Kankurou sing-sang. He stumbled forward slightly due the extra weight.
"Sugoi! I knew I could always count on you!" Temari praised her little brothers, approaching them. "So whaddya get?"
"Oh, see this one!" Kankurou started digging through the piles of clothes inside the plastic bag while Gaara dumped his bag on the floor.
"A-ha!" Kankurou let out a smirk. "Uuuuzuumakiii…" he called sweetly, a certain blonde gulped with an 'oh-no-help-me-please' expression plastered on his face.
"Taaa-dah!" and with that, the puppet master pulled out a dress. Holding it up above his head so everyone could get a good view of it.
"Yikes! It's... frillly... with laces... it's... PINK!" Naruto took a step backwards, casting a horror stare at the dress.
"Go ahead and try it..." Kankurou waved the dress a bit. "Look, we even found this wig similar to your female form..." Kankurou pulled out a long, blonde wig.
Kiba covered his mouth to prevent himself from laughing out loud, Shikamaru and his buddy started snickering, Sakura and Ino stared at the beautiful (in their opinion) dress while smirking, Lee was giggling, Sasuke nodded and smirked, Tenten and Hinata just cast a 'don't-worry-I'm-on-your-side' stare at Naruto, while Neji just blinked at the dress.
"No! Neji, say something!" Naruto ran and took cover behind his boyfriend's back. Neji complied and let the fearful blonde used his back.
"Naruto..." Neji looked away briefly before sighing and patted Naruto's shoulder. "I'm sorry..."
"What for?" was the reply.
"Thank you, Neji... you can move now..." suddenly Shikamaru spoke out.
Neji nodded at Shikamaru and took a few steps aside, Naruto stared at the Hyuuga confusedly before he noticed something was strangely unusual.
What the... I can't move! Naruto thought frantically as he cast his stare down and was met with the horror of his life, another shadow was connected to his own and there was no other way to explain it. Ka... kagemane! He thought furiously and glared daggers at Shikamaru.
"Sorry, Naruto... they blackmailed me..." Shikamaru shrugged, gesturing to Tsunade and Temari.
"Neji, you're alongside with them... playing tricks on me aren't you?" Naruto hissed.
"Don't accuse me like that... don't forget that I love you..." Neji said playfully, not like his usual tone when he said that.
"I love you too, cupcake..." Naruto said sarcastically.
"Thanks, guys!" Tenten nodded her thanks at Shikamaru and Neji.
"Ha! You think you could trap me in this?" Naruto snickered.
"No, that's why Ino would come in handy at this kind of situation..." Tenten bowed slightly to the younger girl. Ino smiled and approached Naruto.
"Whaddya want?" Naruto snapped when he noticed the other blonde had stopped a few inches outside his attack range to anticipate if he was freed from Shikamaru's jutsu.
"I'm sorry Naruto..." Ino started to make seals. "But I really wanted to see you in that dress..." Ino gave a last smile before she stretched and formed her hands in the awfully familiar move.
Oh shit!
"Shintenshin no jutsu!" Ino let out her hiden. The blonde boy felt his consciousness slowly slipped out of his body as Ino's soul overtook his mind. And before he knew it, his world was pitch black.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
"Kyaaa, Naruto-kun kawaii!" Tenten cooed.
"He's so sweet!" Lee admired.
"Aw, princess! You're sooo adorable!" Kiba praised and teased.
Naruto's face was red and hot when he heard all of those. "Guess I'll commit suicide after this..." he muttered.
Ino had left his body and he just gained his consciousness back. Only to found out that he was now wearing that pink dress, with laces in the chest part, and some frills on the sleeves part that reached his elbows. Completed with big bright blue ribbon on his blonde wig.
"Naruto..." came that familiar voice, the blonde turned and blushed some more when he noticed Neji's intent gaze was on him.
"W-what?" he stuttered.
"Is... that you?" Neji made sure it was his BOYFRIEND. Underline that.
"No, I'm Ayumi Hamasaki can't you see?" Naruto said sarcastically again before he asked with a softer tone. "—so what if I am?"
"Nothing..." Neji was searching for a right word. "You... look stunning..." the older boy said.
"... thank you?" Naruto asked more than stated.
"Great! See? I told you he's suitable!" Tsunade said proudly as if her son has won a 'best student' prize.
"Just die, old hag..." Naruto muttered in a very low voice, saving it from Tsunade's ears.
"Okay, we'll start rehearsal again! Everyone on their position!" the Godaime didn't look like she was listening, she clapped her hands, getting everyone's attention.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
A flash of blonde could be seen and if you looked at it more closely, it was Uzumaki Naruto the no.1 loudmouth ninja. He was running down the streets in a hurry as if he was late for something. And he possibly was, judging from his concern face and his constant glancing at his wristwatch.
He took a sharp turn to left and steadily increased his speed. His mouth curved into a smile when he finally got a look of his destination. The Kyuubi's vessel slowed down and stopped.
"I'm sorry I'm late!" he announced, entering Ichiraku.
"Ah, Naruto!" a familiar voice called and Naruto spotted Iruka, waving his hand slightly from the booth. The blonde let out another smile and he plopped to the seat beside his former teacher.
"What makes you come late?" Iruka asked.
"I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei... the rehearsal took longer than expected," Naruto explained the reason. Iruka had offered him a treat a few days ago when he met the chuunin.
"Rehearsal? You mean for the Winter festival?" Iruka asked after he ordered two miso ramen for both of them.
"Yeah, didn't you know?"
"No..." Iruka shook his head.
"It's a play..." Naruto informed.
"A play, huh? What role did you get?" Iruka asked interestedly.
"It's..." Naruto blushed, but he swallowed and told Iruka everything the brunette chuunin had missed. From the 'dating Sakura' plan, mountain training, the play, the rehearsal, the cast and everything. Except one: his new relationship with a Hyuuga, he kept this information secluded by deleting or adding a few details to his story. Both of them engaged in a conversation for quite a time until their orders arrived. Naruto cheered when the bowl the still-steamy ramen were served, Iruka just smiled at the blonde.
"So you ASKED Neji his help?" Iruka separated his chopsticks with a light 'clack'.
"Yeah..." Naruto copied Iruka's move, he picked a few strands of those noodles and blew it softly. "He's really nice..."
"So, did the date work?" Iruka plopped a fish roll inside his mouth.
"No... I didn't even get a chance to date her... yet," Naruto faked a disappointed sound perfectly. Now, all he has to do was pretending that he still has some interest towards the pink-haired kunoichi. But it was harder to do than just thinking about it. He felt bad, he, Uzumaki Naruto, was LYING to IRUKA, of all people.
"That's bad..." Iruka nodded.
"... yeah..." Naruto grew more and more uncomfortable. His eating pace became slower.
"I think you and Sakura will make a fine couple," Iruka said. In his opinion, it would lift Naruto's spirit a little. But the effect was just otherwise.
"We... will?" now Naruto was searching something to grip and he settled for his knee.
"Yeah! I mean... I already knew that you had crush on Sakura for such a long time, it's a pity if you don't get her in the end. You know? I always considered you my own son, Naruto... so I also hope that you will win her heart someday..."
"..." now Naruto was completely silent.
"Just because you can't get her heart or just because it didn't look like you have good lucks on girls then you became depressed and gave up like... hmm, how to say it, turning gay?"
Naruto's movement stopped completely save for his heart, which started thumping so loud. His pupils were wider and his hands were starting to shake visibly. One of them even gripped his chopsticks until it made cracking sound and his knuckles were white.
"I want you to be happy, Naruto... you just had enough suffering. And Sakura looks like she can fulfill that hope..."
How could Iruka say something like that? But they were right... maybe he was so depressed since he got minor attention from Sakura and he settled for Neji instead. But that was... just thinking about it sounded like he considered Neji as a toy.
"Naruto? You okay?"
"Huh? Oh... yeah, yeah... I just... have... headache... yeah, m-maybe I should go home..." Naruto said slowly as he put his chopsticks down.
"Maybe you're right... you look pale..." Iruka noted.
"T-thanks for your treat Iruka-sensei... and sorry..." Naruto slipped down from his chair in the booth and walked out, slowly.
"Good luck with Sakura, Naruto!" Iruka waved.
Naruto visibly winced and he felt it was fine since he had his back facing Iruka. After he was sure Iruka couldn't see him anymore from his current place, he dashed away while squeezing his eyes shut, relaying to his instinct to guide him to his small apartment.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Naruto barged into his apartment without even bothered to flick the light on and picked up his phone rather hurriedly and dialed the number in the speed of light.
Damn... pick it up, please...
"He—hello?" a timid voice sounded from the other end.
"Hi, Hinata is it?"
"N-Naruto-kun? W-w-what is i-it?" Hinata replied shyly.
"Is Neji there? I need to speak to him..." Naruto mentally cursed himself at how pathetic his voice was and hoped that Hinata couldn't catch it.
He really needed assurance.
"W-Wait a m-moment... p-please... I-I'll call h-him..." and with that he heard a soft 'thud' of the phone being put down and some random sounds in the Hyuuga manor for a brief moment before the phone was picked up again and he heard a familiar deep voice.
"Naruto is it?"
"Neji?"
"That's right... what's wrong?" Neji's voice reflected curiosity and hints of concern.
"I—Neji, I... I... uhm..." Naruto couldn't speak to him. Maybe Neji would doubt him, but then again, he was doubting about his own feeling right now. Was he serious with the Hyuuga? Or he was just being with Neji because he couldn't be with Sakura?
"Are you okay?"
"Pretty much so... listen Neji... I—" Naruto twirled the hem of his jacket in his fingers, showing jittery.
"Are you sick or something?" Naruto couldn't see but Neji was frowning on the other end.
"No, I'm fine... I'm just... uhm, I... looks like I can't tell you now..." he finally gave up. "—it's... not a right place, maybe we should wait until we're alone..." Naruto felt stupid.
"So why did you call me in the first place?" Neji's frown deepened.
"I... actually I wanted to tell you now, but I'm not ready... and, I want to hear your voice..." Naruto thought of something. But that was partially true anyway.
"Naruto? About today's rehearsal... I'm sorry... I didn't mean it..." Neji's voice sounded apologetic.
"It's fine..." Naruto let out a small smile.
"You sound sick, you sure you're fine?"
"I can watch myself, Neji... thanks for your concern. And sorry..." Naruto was inching the phone handle away and he could feel Neji was doing the same before he realized something and quickly settled the handle back onto his ear.
"Hey Neji?" he called quickly.
"What?" the Hyuuga replied.
"I..." Naruto swallowed. "I love you..." he didn't know he was faking it or not, the only thing he knew that he blushed when he said it.
Too bad Naruto couldn't see the expression in Neji's face. His lips were tugged up into a genuine smile and his expression was soft. It was clear that he was happy to hear that.
"I love you too, Naruto... make sure you get some good sleep, okay? You sure sound sick..." Neji said.
"I'll make sure of it... good night, Neji..." Naruto closed his eyes.
"Good night, Naruto... see you tomorrow..." and the sound Naruto heard after that was only the dial tone.
The blonde sighed and put the phone away. He drew his knees to his chest and hugged it, rocking himself back and forth. He wanted desperately to believe that he was REALLY in love with Neji. But all the things Iruka had said really reflected that he was just using Neji as a tool for his own convenience.
But then again, was Neji really also in love with him?
After all, Neji was still one of the most popular shinobi in Konoha, he could get his hands on any girls he wanted with that damn gorgeous face of his. Why did he pick him? A dropout, a loudmouth, a jinchuuriki, and a former prankster, further more... a guy, too? Naruto was caging Neji in this. Neji was from a well-known clan and he certainly deserved someone much better.
His mind flew back to Iruka's words.
Naruto had respected Iruka ever since he was still in Academy, and that feeling would never change. He also considered him a father and would be glad to share things with the older man. Iruka acknowledged him, Iruka had done many good things to him. And in return, Naruto wanted to make Iruka proud of him. He didn't want Iruka to hate him just because he was gay (or was he?).
"Damn..." he cursed, tightening his grip on his knees. His mind filled with questions and thoughts until it drove him into an uncomfortable sleep.
-TBC-
Thanks to my new beta: ShadowDorumon for the help!
A/N : Aaaaaw... guess I made Naru-chan in too much trouble... confused by his feeling, what path will he choose in the end? That's a secret of course... keep on reading ppl! Thanks for those who reviewed the last chap! All of those made me feel so special... hehehehehehe...you know, that dream Naruto had maybe didn't sound so important, but it was the source of the conflict, I will reveal it slowly, I promise... Oh, almost forgot...
I was thinking on making this saga as the last part of this story, meaning it would end soon... but then I got a few ideas struck in my mind and I'm confused whether to end it or continue this into LONGER chapters that me myself don't know when it will end. So whaddya guys think? Should I end it? Or continue?
I'm waiting for your comment:D