Chapter 2: Here We Go! Iruka's Plan Takes Action

Sakura and Naruto were still waiting on the bridge, baffled at what had happened to Sasuke and Kakashi after they had said goodbye to Iruka. "I wonder if Sasuke was kidnapped, or killed, or…or…" Sakura stammered. Naruto looked as worried as Sakura but did not say anything, because he thought Sasuke would be fine. While Sakura worried herself to death, Naruto looked up to see Sasuke walking toward them and smiling at him. If only he knew how I feel... they both thought together.

When Sasuke told Naruto about the ramen date with Iruka, Naruto grew excited. Should I ask Sasuke to go with us…? He asked himself. No, I'd just get rejected. He doesn't love me the way I love him.

Sasuke looked at him thoughtfully and turned to Sakura. "I…um…Iruka doesn't want you to go with them he said it was…personal so um…" Sasuke tied to say, and Sakura took it the wrong way. "Sasuke, of course I'll have dinner with you!" she smiled at him. "NO!" Sasuke panicked and ran off. He's so shy… Sakura and Naruto thought to themselves. Then they went their separate ways.

That night Sasuke waited at the door of his apartment for the right time to depart for the ramen shop. He was about to leave when Sakura walked down the hall toward him. He acted as if she weren't there, pretending not to notice her. Then she stopped in front of him.

"I'm here, Sasuke! Oh, did you go through all that trouble dressing up for me? You didn't have to…but I'm flattered!" she said cheerily. Sasuke couldn't hide what he was thinking. "It's not for you, it's for Naruto!" he yelled, and ran down the hallway and out the door. Sakura was left baffled about what he meant by 'it's for Naruto'. She decided to wait as long as it took for him to return to his apartment, and as the door was open, she let herself in. He won't mind. She thought.

Iruka and Naruto were walking to the ramen shop, when Sasuke ran into them. He fell back and looked up to see who he had run into. "I'm sorry!" he said quickly and stood up. Naruto looked him up and down. "Sasuke, nice clothes. Did you dress up for me?" he suddenly shut his mouth and blushed furiously. Sasuke panicked and yelled "No, of course not!" much to the sadness of Naruto and the dismay of the close by Kakashi, whom he ran into next. "Kakashi sensei! I…I…" Sasuke stammered. Kakashi helped him up and guided him into the ramen shop. "I saw something you're going to like." He reassured.

When Sasuke and Kakashi sat down near Iruka and Naruto, Iruka called out to Kakashi. "Hello!" he grinned, "Why don't you eat with us?" "Of course," Kakashi grinned back, "but I have a guest. Is it alright if he comes along as well?" He gestured to Sasuke. "Of course," Iruka said with the hospitality of a gracious host, but when Kakashi approached, said under his breath, just loud enough for the group to hear, "Ka-seme." Naruto stared at Iruka, and looked almost afraid. Then he looked at Sasuke and sat down. Sasuke sat next to Naruto stiffly.

The waiter came to take their orders, and then left, muttering to himself about the children in the group being 'the quietist he'd ever heard'. Kakashi and Iruka, however, were chatting away and being quite friendly.

Suddenly Naruto twitched and Sasuke pulled his hand out from under the table, blushing at what he had just done. Did he just…? Naruto thought. I can't believe I just… Sasuke thought simultaneously. Naruto blushed and looked at Kakashi, who then knew what had happened. Kakashi put his arm around Iruka's shoulders and whispered something in his ear, then they both stood up.

"Well Kakashi and I have some work to do, so I think you two should talk more…find someplace to chat, whatever." Iruka said calmly. "Yes, goodbye." Naruto said a little edgily and looked at Sasuke, both of them still blushing feverishly when the other couple left.

"Naruto I…" Sasuke said quietly. "Sasuke…was that you?" Naruto gasped. "I-listen, Naruto I….." Sasuke stammered, and remembered what Kakashi had told him. "Naruto, why don't we go take a walk and talk this over?" Naruto smiled. "Did you grope me? I want a straight answer." He demanded. "Yes, but…I'm sorry…I…" Sasuke continued. Naruto smiled even more. "I'll take a walk with you then…Sasu-chan." He said as if he had practiced it again and again in front of a mirror, "Do you have a honeymoon suite?" Sasuke looked up. "There's my apartment." Sasuke attempted. "Fine then…" Naruto gestured outside and they left the shop.

The waiter went to table 8 to give them their orders, but all four of them had vanished.