A/N

alot of you can guess where I'm going with this. Sweet, to me that means it makes sense. Anyway, there is some OOCness occuring, but there has to be to make this fanfiction instead of canon. Otherwise we'd be able to read about naruto and sasuke making out in the manga...yeah... Anyway, on with the show!

The next morning found Sasuke walking up to the bridge a mere 2 hours early to find Naruto already waiting.

"Heh!" was all the blonde said as Sasuke sat down beside him. Sasuke hadn't gotten much sleep after Naruto left his house. After he finally finished packing his supplies, he found himself laying in bed, replaying the days' events over and over. In the last 24 hours, Sasuke had completely changed his perception of his teammate. He went from obnoxious-annoying-loudmouthed idiot to something more puzzling. He was keeping secrets and hiding emotions, something the Naruto that Sasuke thought he knew would have been incapable of. He admitted to himself, he was intrigued. Naruto had been deceiving everyone for years. Sasuke wasn't sure what the blonde was being deceptive about yet, but that was a trifling matter compared with the fact he was actually fooling everyone. These thoughts had plagued Sasuke all night long. Repeatedly, the dark haired ninja recalled instances that were suspicious in nature. Times Naruto skillfully turned the flow of conversation away from unwanted topics. Topics like his home life and heritage. The way Naruto avoided these things led Sasuke to believe the blonde knew more than he let on. Much more.

"Hey! Hey! Earth to Sasuke!" Naruto called waving his hand in front of his teammate. Sasuke realized he'd been caught still pondering what plagued him all night. "Didja read the mission scroll?" Naruto asked. Sasuke just looked at him. "I mean, of course you did, but can you believe it's a B rank?" he remarked incredulously. Although this wasn't what Sasuke cared to talk about right now, it was relevant, and he found himself agreeing with Naruto. Besides, Naruto seemed to be ignoring the awkwardness Sasuke felt last night after Kakashi left.

"It does seem rather preposterous," Sasuke offered. "We're to go all the way to snow country to watch some 'pets.'

"Yeah, and Kakashi said this would only be a week long. Last time it almost took us that long just to get there!" Naruto exclaimed.

"We can travel much faster than we did when we were twelve, Sasuke offered. "But we do have to take a ship, so it won't make much difference. Kakashi must have meant we're staying there for a week."

"But I didn't pack for that! It's more like two and a half weeks then!" Naruto panicked.

"You never pack enough on missions anyway and always end up bumming stuff off me and Sakura," Sasuke pointed out. "I don't see how this is any different."

"Ah, this is true," Naruto mused with mock wisdom. "Do you think it will still be spring there?"

"No. With winter coming to all the countries, Snow decides to turn off the generators this time of year. So I hope you at least packed something warm."

"I'm fine," was all Naruto answered as they fell into a comfortable silence for a time. Eventually, the boys realized that same thing at the same time. They hadn't argued hardly at all the entire morning. Instead, they'd had almost friendly conversation. Naruto turned towards his teammate and smiled. Sasuke found himself smiling back, something had changed. Whatever had happened last night had altered their relationship from mere teammates and rivals to something more. He felt a camaraderie with Naruto he'd never experienced. An understanding of sorts.

Suddenly, Sasuke could place it. Naruto wasn't faking-out. His cracked and crumbling wall was nonexistent this morning. It was quiet. He looked back at Naruto who was just sitting there peacefully, watching the sunrise. The blonde must have felt the stare because he turned and caught Sasuke's eye.

"It's nice today, huh?" Naruto commented. Sasuke nodded in agreement.

He had to ask, "How come you not jumping around this morning like your usual idiot self?" Naruto shrugged in reply.

"It's too early for that sort of thing, right?" the blonde winked before returning his gaze towards the sunrise.

oOooOo

Today, when Sakura arrived, she found herself amazed by her teammates a second day in a row. This morning they were leaned back against the bridge, watching the sky in a very 'Shikamaru-like' fashion. She sighed. Something strange is going on. But it's nice. She thought as she sat down next to them and joined in on watching the clouds. A moment later, Naruto lurched and peered past Sasuke at a Sakura apparently noticing her for the first time. Sasuke discreetly watched him from the corner of his eye as the blonde appeared to struggle with something. Obviously deciding whether or not to play the fool. Sasuke realized. Finally, Naruto looked uncomfortably resigned to whatever decision he'd made. He leaned back and continued to watch the clouds until a preposterously large one floated by.

"HAHAHA!" Naruto laughed in that obnoxiously loud way. "That one looks like Sasuke with breasts! HAHA!"

"Naruto! Don't say things like that!" Sakura scolded in an equally loud voice.

"But it's so funny Sakura! Can't you see it?" he asked. "See! See! Right there is the Bastards' head and then there are his-" SMACK! Sakura's fist connected with the top of Naruto's head.

"Not appropriate, Naruto!" She warned.

"Ouch Sakura" the blonde whined. Sasuke closed his eyes in annoyance. Not at what Naruto was saying about the cloud, as Sakura thought, but at Naruto's choice to return to hiding behind his failing wall. Looks like I have to break it down after all… And with that thought, Sasuke joined in the daily routine that was Team Seven.

OOooOo

Eventually Kakashi showed up and the group began their journey. Sure enough, Kakashi clarified that they would be spending a week in Snow Country, not a week total, he'd thought that was obvious. Other than that, he refused to explain why the mission was ranked B and suggested they just hurry to the port as not to miss the tide.

"We wouldn't have to rush if you weren't so late, ya know?" Naruto complained twenty minutes later.

"If you're having trouble keeping up, Naruto, I could carry your bag," Sakura offered.

"Yeah Right! If anyone is struggling it's Sasuke, I'm just looking out for my team!" Naruto shouted as he raced ahead to prove he wasn't tired. Soon, the blonde was out of sight.

"Why do you always egg him on, Sakura?" Sasuke asked as he dashed after the blonde to race him to the port with out waiting for Sakura to answer. Soon Sasuke had disappeared as well and Sakura looked over to Kakashi, who had been observing the events silently.

"Since when does Sasuke care about insulting Naruto, he's the worst of all," Sakura asked hesitantly. She didn't like getting scolded by Sasuke at all.

"Don't worry about it Sakura. They're boys, they tend to be had to understand."

"No. We women are the ones that are confusing, you men are supposed to be easy," she argued. Kakashi just shrugged and smiled. "Though I'd admit you're definitely an exception, Sensei."

Two hours later, Naruto and Sasuke arrived at the port in plenty of time. Sasuke had caught up to the blonde but hadn't been able to pass him. On these long distances, Naruto was incredibly difficult to surpass. He was some sort of endurance monster. They made their way over to the ship they were to board later and waited for Sakura and Kakashi on the dock.

"Ah…That was a good run, huh Sasuke?" He hardly seemed out of breath. Sasuke on the other hand was sweating and decided to sit on the end of the dock, leaning against a piling. Naruto flopped down beside him and watched the boat traffic pass as ships made their way in and out of the port. After a few moments, Sasuke had recomposed himself and decided to drill Naruto for some answers before the others arrived.

"I know you're only acting when you're being an idiot all the time," he began. "Why did you stop this morning only to start back up when Sakura arrived?" Naruto smiled at Sasuke instead of answering. "Fine, don't answer. I'll just tell them you're a fake," Sasuke threatened.

"Don't," Naruto looked panicked. "It's because you already know that I don't bother to pretend. Don't tell them," he pleaded. Sasuke almost felt bad about the threat, it was empty after all.

"I won't tell…but…why do you do it?" Sasuke asked. Naruto just looked at his feet dangling over the water and shrugged.

"I dunno," he began. "I guess it's just more fun, ya know?"

"No."

"Well, at first I really only did it to get attention," Naruto elaborated. "It was fun then, but after a while… I just feel like I've been trapped into this persona. I find myself unable to act any other way. You're really the first person who has tried to see past it, and I suppose that's why I can't bring myself to feign idiocy around you." Sasuke was struck silent. 'feign idiocy'…that doesn't sound anything like the Naruto I know.

"Is any of the Naruto I've known real?" Sasuke asked uncertainly. Naruto looked over and was able to recognize the emotion Sasuke tried to hide. Fear. He was afraid. Naruto smiled at him reassuringly.

"Don't be stupid, Sasuke," He scoffed. "Of course it's been real. I just…exaggerate certain traits, ya know? Damn, if I had to make everything up all the time I'd have gone crazy!" He laid back on the dock, feet still hanging over the edge. "As it is, I'm sick to death of it."

"Then why not stop?" Sasuke queried. Naruto sat back up and looked at Sasuke exasperated.

"I tried! Can you believe this morning I really tried and I couldn't help myself. It's like some sort of incredibly addictive bad habit! Sakura was there and something stupid just had to pop out."

"Yeah, what was with that cloud comment?" Sasuke asked a little irritated. "It looked nothing like me with…"

"Breasts? Hehehe!" Naruto held his stomach as he laughed. "I know! It was just the first thing I thought of! Hahaha!" Sasuke looked scandalized.

"Why would that be what you think of!" Sasuke nearly shouted. Naruto just sniggered as he tried to hold back more laughter. He failed and burst out once more. Sasuke had to smile at the blonde as he was clearly having difficulty breathing. "Okay Naruto, it's really not that funny." He punched his teammate on the shoulder as he tried unsuccessfully to make him stop laughing. "Even when you're not trying, you're still an idiot," Sasuke accused good-naturedly. At least that much was true.

A/N

Yo again...There is some naru/sasu action coming up...just dosen't fit here yet...I'm not one to rush into things in real life, and that's reflected here. It is coming though :) that's a promise!