Chapter 12

Extra:

To the guest review for chapter 11 about introspection; you are absolutely right! I didn't realize that was why i was having so much issues with writing. Or at least a factor as to the cause. I was always taught to really always be detailed with the story and the characters by my Lit teacher and it just stuck to pretty hard I guess. But I was reading over some other chapters after reading your review and realized that I do tend to write down more than actually needed. Thanks for pointing that out to me! As for the story progress, I really gotta stop thinking everything is happening so fast in my mind when in fact it's going slower to you readers since you don't have all the story events already in your mind. A big apology for that; hopefully I can get straight to the point. Hopefully this chapter turns out more clean cut.

OKKAAAY~ on with the story; ENJOY!

"-So I was like, what number are you? Seven? And I swear I think she wanted to lunge across the desk and strangle me or something." Naruto finished with a shake of his head as the freshly introduced Kisame broke into deep gruffs from his armchair directly across from the couch Naruto was sharing with Gaara who was currently unwrapping the grazer tape from his hands and wrist. "I can't believe you're his brother though, Itachi."

"Oh?" Replied the addressed male while swirling the contents of their glass. "I have been informed by a few seated in this spacing that I can be quite the bastard despite the blunt fact my parents were indeed married to one another when they had me." Itachi shot a glance to a snickering Kisame who swiftly turned his head away. "And continue to be so as further proofing."

"Nahhh." Naruto shook his head. "You're more an impassive king then a bastard or even an asshole. That's all your brother right there. Greedy son of a-"

"Naruto, for you are in need of a reminder, Sasuke and I do share the same mother if you recall."

The blonde gave a sheepish look followed by a distracted scratch to the side of their head. Their elbow almost bumping Gaara on the head who jerked his gaze to the offending limb and glared; to which Naruto just held his hands up in a show of no ill intent. The others seated upon the remaining lounge chairs in the back room of the piercing and tattoo shop Yahiko actually owned shared an amused look or chuckle to the interaction before talking among themselves or doing some solo task. Everyone was doing something; Sasori and Deidara doing their own thing, Yahiko had left the room for the front upon seeing a customer walking toward the shop's door via the screens mounted on the wall with multiple views of where different cameras were located throughout the place. Naruto had thought it a bit excessive upon seeing it the first time but the orange haired senior had brushed it off and stated it was better to be safe than sorry. And Itachi and Kisame were in a one sided conversation. The later tugging off the black bandanna from their head; revealing blue dyed hair.

So that left Naruto and Gaara.

The crimson redhead had just finished knotting their replacement gauze on their left hand and were now wrapping up the right. Naruto watched on without saying a word until Gaara came to the knotting part of the wrapping. He attempted to tie the knot off with one hand while pinning one end of the gauze wrap against his chest. It didn't work out as the cloth kept slipping out and his fingers couldn't form the knot completely with only his left hand available. Thus Naruto broke the invisible barrier between them and offered to help. It gained the blonde a leveled stare that felt more like a staring contest but eventually Gaara glanced back down to the loosening wrap for a long moment before offering up the task. His green eyes watched as the blonde took the roll and unwrapped it completely so he could redo it tighter. The contact made the redhead tense, feet shift upon the floor in a way that even Naruto picked up to being a bolting pre-tactic, but the redhead remained still for the moment. And once the blonde was done they lapsed into a tense silence the others within the room weren't even aware of. Until Naruto swallowed and nudged the other verbally with a; "Uh Hey.." There was no response as Gaara inspected the knotting and flexed his fingers which prompted Naruto to stick his hand before the redhead's face out his hand for a shake he knew had a 25% chance of being taken up on. He tensed a bit himself when Gaara looked up at him finally but offered a smile that seemed to mildly surprise the other. He wasn't gonna spar with a guy who couldn't be bothered to admit his existence outside of the training room. "Naruto Uzumaki, nice to meet you." Free training or not.

"Itachi introduced us." was all the redhead had to say before attempting to go back to doing seemly nothing.

However Naruto wouldn't allow it. "Im aware of that, but ya know I'm just tryna break ice here."

"Why?"

"Cause we'd be sparring partners? And I'd like to know the guy I'm fighting with or at least be on a name bases with them."

Green eyes returned to the blonde's face. The two stared at each other, Naruto with an easy-open expression and Gaara with a simple stare that hid calculating thoughts and a vast hushed paranoia. What felt like twenty minutes but was actually more around five the redhead slid his gaze away, stood up and made to leave until the move was intercepted by a tanned hand gripping his wrist. He tugged his wrist free only to end up wiggling the blonde's arm and his own. The glare returned with more intensity. "Let go."

"Do you already hate me?"

"I'm inclined to."

"Give me a chance, man. I'm not aiming to take you out and bury your body in a ditch outta town." Naruto stood up now.

The redhead was spared from giving a reply, not that one was all that forthcoming anyways, as a phone went off. It turned out to be the blonde's as he used his free hand to dip into his pocket and pull out the device. His expression shifted into one of confusion as he kept saying; "What?" with a few pauses in between and with a few changes of tone. "Dude, I can barely hear you. Just text me." He ended the call but returned his attention onto Gaara who looked no more interested in continuing their conversation than he was starting it. However before Naruto could say anything more, his phone beeped and he checked the received message. He blinked at the screen and gave an extended "Ehhhh?" exclaim to the words shown there.

During the time which Gaara free'd his wrist and took a step back, pausing when those blue eyes landed upon him again. "What? You're kitten die?"

"What? No, just wondering if you'd wanna come to a party with me. I just need a ride from Yahiko to my place. You can ditch me later if you-"."

"Not eavesdropping kid, but Yahiko probably won't be loose till the ink's done." Kisame's voice broke into the conversation.

"Damn." groaned the blonde while pocketing the phone.

Kisame gave a semi apologetic shrug. However Itachi moved to stand up gaining the attention of the three males. He removed a single keyring from his pocket and let it swing around his index finger as he addressed the younger blonde within the room. "I'll give you a lift. Consider it a gift for joining the team."

Naruto beamed at the raven then returned his attention onto Gaara. "Give me that chance?"

"Leave me alone afterward."

"Deal."

Naruto and Gaara exchanged a stale glance before stepping into the threshold of the party scene taking place within the unknown penthouse. The two made it a few steps into the living room before bodies started to bump into them. Gaara nearly snarled at a drunken girl for almost using his shoulder as a support to stable her wobbly steps as she and her friend passed them. They had to find Kiba and Sakura fast or Naruto knew he'd be having to deal with more than just a wasted Sakura. He gently nudged the redhead, withholding a sudden urge to jerk his head back when those green eyes snapped to him, and motioned with his head in the direction of the stairs that he could see over a few people's heads. He had been so happy when his growth spurt finally hit but never before had he actually been completely so thankful to the height gain. They moved passed the party-goers, Naruto pushing people out of his way and keeping his steps slowish so the open path he made would stay clear for Gaara. He didn't want to risk a brawl breaking out and the other boy seemed inclined to strike out at anything that so much as gazed at him wrong. Squinting at a held up mobile device included. The stairs weren't empty once they reached them but a simple request to pass was denied; must to both teens annoyance.

"What do you mean we can't pass?" asked the blonde.

The group clustered around and seated on the steps laughed some. One of them who was seated with a lean against the banister spoke up, holding up their plastic clear cup half filled with booze as they did so. "If yous wanna pass my man, cha'gotta take a shot!" His words were echoed by the group chanting Shot..shot..shot over and over until a freshly poured cup of vodka was held out to Naruto. Taking a glance to Gaara the blonde just sighed and took the shot down. He intercepted the next cup attempted to be handed off to his sparring partner and took that one down too. They were then able to pass as the three people mainly blocking the way scooted over to make room; their cheers and claps wafting up the stairs as Naruto and Gaara climbed up and turned down onto the hallway landing. Naruto had to definitely agree with saying that it was better to be tipsy in a drunken crowd then stone sober. The blonde was able to see Kiba now. At least the back of his best friend who seemed to be talking to a guy that was motioning to something within the room. Naruto quickened his steps and planted a hand upon Kiba's shoulder to get the teen's attention. He was surprised to see the angry expression upon the brunette's face that smoothed out into one of surprise then relief before going back to angry as they pointed at the other guy standing before him to the blonde.

"This sleezball is the guy who's been offering to her." stated Kiba sternly, dark brown eyes glaring at the other male.

Naruto blinked, barely noticing Gaara who came to a stop a little ways behind his right shoulder. He looked at the guy his friend was talking about. The guy didn't look like he could hurt even a fly so Naruto wasn't completely sure if this guy was actually at fault but since he hadn't been here he couldn't really comment. And his mother alway told him to never assume unless given proven to do so...or something like that; he hadn't really been paying attention. "How do you know it was him?"

It was Kiba's turn to blink. "Dude, really? Every time I left Sakura to get a drink for us or to piss, I see this guy hanging around her. And every time I get back she seems more and more faded then when I left her."

"See? He left her. I was just keeping her company since her friend left and was making light conversation." The guy butted in with an annoyed expression.

"Does that," Kiba thrusted a pointed finger into the exposed room; mainly at something located down low, "look like light conversation to you? Huh, buddy?"

Naruto pressed his right forearm across the back of Kiba's shoulders just under the nape and pushed slightly against the brunette to get them to lean forward so he could see into the room better. The room was actually a bathroom. Pale blue tiles, white counters, sink, walls and shower. The only things with color within the room were the products upon the counter and a mass of pink curled around the toilet that was rather hard to miss. It took a second for Naruto to realize all the pink was actually Sakura. Her pale limbs had been tucked to her chest and her long hair covered her face, neck and shoulders from view like fan; making the pink of her shirt blend in with her dyed hair. He nudged Kiba and slipped passed the teen who was still arguing with the guy and went down into a crouch before the downed girl.

Gently he nudged her shoulder. "Sakura…" Naruto couldn't help but freeze up when she started to move. It wasn't much though; just enough for a few strands to slip away from her face to fan out a bit upon the tiled flooring. His blue eyes took in the flush to her face, eyes closed and an odd expression tinting her face. However what really caught the blonde's attention was the dry flakes on her nose. He reached a hand forward to brush it away and was surprised when the stuff barely had a texture and slid off her nose onto the side of his index finger without friction. He narrowed his eyes upon recognizing what the stuff actually was once he brought it closer to his eye level. And he wasn't sure as to how he should feel about it. The blonde used his sleeve to clear off the rest of the powder from Sakura's nose before calling for Kiba and yanking the dog-lover's head down by the collar of their shirt when the teen was close enough.

"Oi! What the hell man?"

The blonde held up the section of sleeve he pulled taut over his palm, showing off the white powder staining the cloth. "It's coke, Kiba." Voice hushed and steady.

"Coke?"

"The same shit your girlfriend gave us at that party." Reminded the blonde.

Kiba frowned some. "You're not tryna say it was her who gave it to Sakura, are you?"

"No man, I haven't even seen Yuna here. But I doubt that guy you were grilling slipped it to her either though."

"Why not?"

"She," Naruto motioned to Sakura, "would of had to actually snorted the shit herself."

"Is she dead?" Asked a new voice from the doorway without a hint of real interest to their already mellow toned voice. The comment gained both boy's attention and having them straining a bit to look over their shoulders. It looked a bit comical; at least to someone who wasn't Gaara. The redhead stood there in the same stance except for one hand was gripping the hoodie of the shirt the guy Kiba had been talking to who seemed to be keen on getting away.

"Who the fuck are you?" asked Kiba bluntly. Silence and blank expression was his answer though so the question was redirected to Naruto. "Who's he?"

"Gaara, a friend I met earlier today." Naruto addressed the one of topic now. "And no, she's not dead."

"Kankuro's little brother?" This sparked Gaara's attention. "He's here at this party too. Saw him getting chewed out by his sister downstairs."

"I still don't get how you know that guy." commented Naruto as he placed a bunched up towel under Sakura's head.

"Can say the same bout Yahiko."

The two boys moved away from the bathroom and back into the hallway outside it. They spoke to the guy stuck in place by Gaara and eventually got the man to admit that he had offered her some ecstacy pills because she was looking kinda down, Only that some girl that knew Sakura interrupted and offered her something else but he had stayed close anyways because he thought their female friend was rather pretty, and well, Naruto stopped him there. Kiba shoved the man away and both teens figured out what to do with the girl. Gaara gave the option of just leaving her to her choices only to recive a look from the brunette haired boy and a head shake from the blonde. The later giving an apology to the stoic redhead. This wasn't what he had been expecting at all and he felt bad about nudging Gaara to come with him when it turns out he'd barely have time to convince the guy to not write him off. However when Naruto turned back to address the redhead he was already gone. Making a note to speak with the guy the next time he was at Yahiko's he and Kiba lifted Sakura out of the bathroom; Kiba shifting his hold on her into a pushing motion so Naruto could fully carry her bridal style. They made it through the party-goers and into Naruto's mom's car. Kiba was dropped off at home as the party vibes left him the moment he found Sakura on the floor.

Fifteen minutes later found Naruto laying Sakura down on her bed. She was waking up now, her mumbles quiet as she shifted upon the bed. Naruto stood back to catch his breath then lock the door to pink bedroom before taking a seat beside his still out of it friend. "Sakura..I need you to wake up a bit now for me so I can put you in the shower."

"Shower?" came the disoriented response that had the blonde releasing a relieved breath he didn't know he had been holding. "I don't wanna move…"

"Please? For me? You'll feel better?"

"Promise?"

Naruto nodded when hazy green eyes finally opened up and looked at him. They closed soon after and Naruto took that as permission to pick her up and take Sakura to the bathroom. He hesitated on removing her clothes but having her get sick on top of what she was feeling now helped make the decision. He moved everything on her but her bra and underwear which were thankfully not white and seated her down into the tub after letting the showerhead build up some warmer water to spray. Sakura seemed to relax under the water and requested for the tub drain to be plugged. She stretched out in the bath once the water came high enough to cover her knees. Naruto sat down on the floor beside the tub; his back to it in order to give his friend some privacy. He knew she was wasted but his mind couldn't stop presenting him with the image of her nearly naked before him. It was like that time when she was in that big red tank top of her father's after they re-dyed her hair. Only this time the sight of her was causing a reaction Naruto wasn't sure how to handle and didn't even want to think about it.

"Hmm...do you think he hates me?" Sakura's voice was still quiet but it was bit more lucid enough to break into gutter thoughts rising within the blonde's head.

"Who?" came the semi distracted response.

But instead of getting an answer Sakura continued on as if she wasn't even aware of Naruto asking anything. "I saw him talking to his brother or someone, I understood..I just..." She took a breath and Naruto counted till he heard her breath out again. "..just wanted him to know, you know? Know that I wasn't like the others but he..he just ignored me…"

"What are you talking about? Who ignored you?"

"Naruto…?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm not like other girls, am I?"

"Er….no?" The blonde shifted a bit and fought the urge to turn his head to look at her. "Why?"

"Then why does he treat me like that?" she sighed out; her breath fanning over the blonde's ear and making the teen startle upon feeling it. "We were alone too..just us, he didn't have to be so...but no, I get it kinda. I think. Do you?"

He had no idea what she was even talking about. "He was mean to you?"

"Not like you are to him though, you meanie butt." There was a giggle before silence fell.

Naruto wasn't sure what that was supposed to even mean. It implied he knew the person Sakura was talking about no one really popped into the forefront of his mind. The silence grew a bit too long for the blonde's liking so he finally just turned around to see if she was still okay. His eyes couldn't help but dart down to Sakura's chest. She really wasn't all that big but still looked really enticing. He had the sudden urge to brush his thumb over the pressed up part of her breast but she moved down to rest her chin upon the tub's edge; hiding the view and dimming the unexpected urge. Naruto shook his head some and moved to turn back around when he felt a hand catch his shirt. His blue eyes met her hazy green eyes that were steady filling with ushered tears. His body's odd reaction to Sakura suddenly shifted into one of mild panic. "Shit, are you crying Sakura?"

"N-no...but, you think i'm p-pretty, right?"

"Uhh...yeah." He cleared his throat. "Yes."

There was a subtle warning in the form a of a shaky breath before tears started to slid down Sakura's face as she took her lower lip between her teeth to keep any sounds from getting out. Which was a moot point as they both knew she was already crying. Naruto barely had time to react as pale arms were suddenly wrapping around his neck and he was forced to bend awkwardly into the tub a bit to accommodate the straining position. His knees hitting the outside of the tub. Sakura's sobs finally came free into Naruto's shoulder. He remained solid still for a few seconds as she shook slightly against him and took in deep breaths when her body required it. This wasn't something he knew how to handle. Not at all. But he took a breath, reached around her to turn off the water and remove the plug then scooted her closer to him before wrapping his arms around her and lifting her out of the tub. He grunted a bit with the effort to snag a towel off the rack to cover her with while still making his way out of the room. She wasn't much help either as her arms just squeezed tighter and tears continued to come down. Naruto didn't fault her for that though. He set her down but as she refused to move away and instead pressed herself bodily against him he was refused the option of getting to her dresser to get her dry clothes. So he gently unhooked her arms from around his neck only for them to snake around his waist and her head to pressed against his chest. With a sigh, he tugged off his own shirt and with some limb direction managed to get Sakura's arms and head through the right holes without too much fuss. He picked her up again and set her down on the bed after pulling back the covers. And when he made to let go, she prompted for him to stay in a hushed plea that made his expression soften utterly.

"Are you sure?" Naruto stared down at her.

Sakura only nodded in reply but her arms wrapped around the blonde and tugged him down atop her. Her legs were splayed out a bit so the blonde's body pressed down between them; her thighs squeezed his waist as she gave a full body hug that had Naruto's body reacting once more in ways he was not okay with when it came to her. Thankfully, she let up when Naruto promised to stay next to her and lied about their current position being uncomfortable. She snuggled up against his side and rested her head upon his chest; her sobs no longer strong but just shaky breaths. They stayed in a comfortable silence until Sakura broke it with a whispered; "Do you think I came off wrong?"

"To what?"

"Him."

"Who's him though?"

"Sasuke."

Naruto's brows furrowed at the jiggling memory of that name. Itachi shoving the vest at him came to mind but the blonde knew that wasn't right. Then it hit him and he felt a bit stupid for the slow connection. Sasuke, Itachi's brother and the bastard. He almost forgot that was the guy's name. "What about the guy?" He asked rather unwillingly but damn if he was gonna have Sakura cry again because he was being insensitive.

She hit his chest making the blonde grunt out in surprise. "Pay attention, Naruto, this is serious."

"I am…" came the mumbled response. "I just don't get how this is a serious thing though."

"BECAUSE HE HATES ME! I apologized to him for you, he was cool about it so I thought okay, he's not a mean guy after all and I tried a few times to make some small talk with him but he's either always too busy to or those girls are always butting in. And-"

"And this is serious how?"

Sakura shot him a look which was ruined a bit do to it's faint sluggishness. "He probably thinks I'm like one of those other girls but I'm not! But..but, i can't get the time to convince him of that. And..and-" she broke off into a shakier breath as her eyes closed up making Naruto tense some.

He sighed inwardly and started to run his fingers through her hair in what he hopped was a calming way to her. He officially didn't like it when she cried. And it bugged him even more to know it that bastard's fault to boot. Sakura's second round of crying faded out over a few minutes into an even breathing. She had fallen asleep from the strain of the cocaine and all the crying. It made Naruto wonder if she snorted before but he doubted it. He was still going to ask in the morning or whenever she woke up. For now though, he toed off his shoes and got under the covers with her and closed his eyes; falling asleep almost instantly upon listening to her breathing.

Sakura woke up to something pressing down upon the bed beside her feet. She couldn't recall how she got in bed or if this was even her own bed until the familiar scent to her sheets eased the spark of worry. She groggily blinked her eyes open and looked around. It was her room. The only thing a bit out of place was the frowning face of her best friend staring at her. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the alarm clock beside her bed. 1:15 pm. "Naruto? When'd you get here?"

"Awhile ago." Answered the blonde, a look of concern sliding onto his face. "How you feeling though?"

She looked a tad confused at the question but replied with a positive. Something that made Naruto nodded once to but left Sakura having the odd feeling she was missing something. More so when her friend's expression returned to that frown."Um...is something wrong?"

"You tell me, Sakura." replied Naruto as he dropped a few sheets of paper upon her lap. "Tell me honestly, was last night your first time?"

"Doing what?" came the cautioned response to the blonde's stern tone.

"Cocaine."

There was a moment of silence before Sakura denied doing it. She explained only having a few drinks with Kiba and some girls and that was it. Naruto's expression deepened and it caused her to quiet down but sit up in bed with her legs drawing up to her chest. It was then she noticed the shirt she had on and the lack of one on her best friend. She sighed deeply and pressed her face into the back of her knees when she realized Naruto knew more than he was actually letting on."Okay, I did some at the party but my first time was the night we met Yuna."

"Have you snorted in between those times?"

"No…"

"Then what the hell is this?" Naruto tapped one of the papers that were actually marked homework; all with numbers between 62 and 71. "Some of these even I did better on than you, Sakura. That's just wrong."

"I wasn't feeling good those days…."

"You're really gonna sit there and lie to me? I may have stupid moments but I'm far from being an actual idiot." With that said the blonde stood to move around the bed and parked his butt upon the floor to put on his shoes before getting up making his way toward the bedroom door. "Feel better Sakura." He made to turn the knob only to have Sakura's voice pause his movements and have his head turning to glance her over a shoulder. "Something else you wanna deny now?"

"No…"Sakura shook her head as looked at her friend pleadingly. "Look, I didn't mean to lie to you but I didn't want you to know…"

"So you rather lie to my face?" came the blunt retort. "Nice."

"Stop that, I'm trying to talk to you here."

"Right." Naruto turned on his heel, propped his bare back against her door, and crossed his arms over his chest as he bore his gaze down on her from across the room. "I'm listening."

She took in a breath. "I really wasn't feeling good though...not in the flu or feeling sick kind of way either." She propped her chin upon her knees but her green eyes focused upon the red bedspread. "You weren't talking to me, Kiba's more your friend sometimes than mine and Sai, Sai and I hang out sometimes but he just doesn't understand the things I was going though. More so when Sasuke was brought up." She circled a wayward strand behind her ear sighing softly before taking a glance to Naruto. "I was just feeling really alone...and it was starting to hurt."

"So you did coke?" asked Naruto with a raised brow not letting the guilt that sprung up in his chest to sway him. "Thats pretty dumb, don't you think?"

"I know...but when Yuna gave me some, it really helped make things better."

"However temporary, yeah?"

She didn't reply to that. Naruto released a sigh. He dropped his arms and came back over to her. He crouched down beside her seated form and cupped her face gently. His blue eyes staring into her watery green. "Promise you won't do it again and i'll forget you ever did to start with." Sakura slumped into him and a sob sounded. "I'm sorry I ignored you...this wouldn't of happened if I didn't." He rubbed gentle circles on her back. "Let me make it up to you?"

"You don't have to, Naruto...but can we just do something together?"

"Yeah, got anything in mind?"

Her head nodded against his shoulder. They broke apart so Sakura's words weren't so muffled and Naruto didn't have to remain in a crouch. She mentioned a tryouts game at their school for this afternoon and the two decided to go just them. Naruto called his mother who wasn't too happy about her lack of a car in the driveway but understood when Naruto explained how Sakura got really sick and couldn't get home by herself while the girl of their conversation got dressed in the bathroom. Her thanks for the loaned shirt still lingered upon his cheek. They gave Sakura's mother a similar story as she wasn't too pleased either but a few conceiving words of how nothing happened between them eased the woman's stern expression. She agreed some fresh air would do her daughter good and bit the two goodbye. Naruto drove them to the school, parked in the lot, and offered his arm to his friend for the walk to the back of of the school. The tryout game was for the soccer team. Naruto only recognized Rock Lee within the five boys lined up to make an attempt for the team. That is until the bastard stepped around the other corner that was dimly visible from the outdoor bleachers he and Sakura sat on with a few other fellow students. He glanced to his female friend and relaxed a bit upon seeing she hadn't noticed the guy yet. The mock game went pretty well, Sakura cheered on with the others, putting a light feeling within Naruto's chest whenever he saw her smile. All good things had to come to an end though as the bastard came onto the scene and the dynamic of the tryouts seemed to shift suddenly. He couldn't help groan, receiving a look from Sakura that prompted him to ask if she knew the bastard was gonna be there.

"Well no, I kinda heard around he liked the sport but I didn't think he'd actually try out for the team."

"You cool if we leave soon?"

She blinked. "Oh, um sure…?"

Naruto thanked her and slung his arm around her shoulders and while the bastard was taking his turn to show off he guided her off the bleachers. They walked behind the bleachers and headed back for the school. Upon coming up to the back wall of the school, the blonde mentioned having to use the bathroom. Sakura offered to wait out the restroom for him but Naruto made a crude joke about her wanting to his junk to which she made a face at and demanded the keys to the car so she could listen to the radio while waiting. He waved at her before pulling open the backdoor while she kept on walking along the dirt path leading to the the front of the school, and slipped in. He leaned against the wall beside the doors and waited a bit. Turned out he didn't have to wait long as luck seemed to be on his side at the moment as the one he was waiting for pushed open the back door and walked across the threshold.

"Oi."

Sasuke paused in his steps to look over his shoulder at the voice; dark eyes narrowed faintly at the sight of the annoying blonde pushing off the wall and walking toward him in long strides. However before the Uchiha could ask what the other wanted he found himself reacting by pure reflex when tanned hands roughly seized his shirt; making him drop the soccer ball he had under his arm. Sasuke's back made a harsh and sudden contact with the row of lockers to his left; a lock digging a bit painfully into his back as the blonde loomed over him with a glare. "Was that necessary, moron?" Spat the Uchiha as he yanked the other's grip off of him.

"S'course." Replied the blonde smoothly. "Gotta make sure I got your full attention after all."

"This again?"

Naruto glared down at the shorter teen. "Don't start with that shit, bastard. I'm here just to give you a clear unmistakable warning."

Sasuke withhold the urge to snort in disbelief and instead relaxed his stance so he was leaning against the lockers of his own free will and in a way that projected just how little he cared. "Oh?" The sound was cut off at the end by a rushed grunt when the blonde slammed their hands upon his shoulders; gripping his shoulders in a way that instantly brought forth a mild ache. "Let go, moron. Your going to ruin another good shirt that cost most than your whole wardrobe."

"Listen and listen good, asshole." Naruto nearly growled low into the boy's face. "Stay clear of Sakura, if she comes up to you; treat her like your fuck'in mother if you have to, then get her gone. I don't wanna hear anymore shit about you from her, got it?"

"How about you listen? One, I don't know who you're talking about. Two, I could careless." Sasuke shoved off the other's hold on him and pushed them out of his personal space. "And three, my business is my own so do butt out and stay clear of me yourself."

There was a moment of silence as the two stared each other down.

The raven dusted off his clothing and straightened up with a forward step that made the blonde back up one so they didn't touch further. He wasn't sure who Sakura was but his brain gave a dim nudge in the back of his mind hinting that he might. Maybe the she was the moron's girlfriend and he was feeling jealous? This wasn't the first guy to come at him accusing Sasuke of stealing their wayward girlfriend. "I don't have time for jealous losers, fan-girls even more so and if she's talking about me to her boyfriend, then she must be one. Not my problem." Sasuke stated with utter disinterest before he moved to walk pass the taller teen and made it a few paces before their voice interrupted the silence hanging in the empty hallway.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Don't care."came the simple response without a backward glance even given.

"That's fine, just keep away from her or you'll be seeing me again soon, Uchiha."

Sasuke almost froze up in surprise at the unexpected closeness of the other's voice. He turned his head to look over his shoulder faintly and inwardly startled at the blue hues boring into him with a stern steady gaze he recalled being feet away just a second ago. Damn he really disliked this guy. If it was't for his father he would of made sure the blonde's face was imprinted with his fist. However, Uchiha's do not brawl. He took a single side step and sneered. "Personal space, if you could learn to remember it in that thoughtless brain of yours"

"Shut up." Snapped Naruto as the raven turned on their heel to face him once more. "Last warning for you. I'll fuck up you up so bad if you hurt her, make her cry again cause you can't suck up that asshole-ness instead of spreading it and if I hear that you were mean to Sakura again for no fuck'in reason…" Here the blonde grinned rather menacingly, "your precious personal space will be the last thing you'd be thinking of."

"Tch. For a girlfriend less guy, you sure do seem jealous. Then again, you must be used to that feeling."

"Doesn't surprise me you wouldn't understand it when one friend has the back of another." Replied the blonde with an unpleasant smile. "Lonely little Uchiha brat, a grade-A asshole in a room filled with money grubbers and no real friends. Must be lonely at the top, then again you must be used to that feeling."hissed Naruto before giving one last prompting glare before knocking his shoulder into the raven haired teen's as he walked passed them in a brisk walk to the school's entrance rather than backtracking to the original way he came.

Sasuke watched the blonde go. There was an odd urge to grit his teeth as the moron's last words echoed within his head." Tch, loser." He stepped up to the discarded ball and kicked it half-attempted skill down the hallway and out the same doors the blonde had exited from.

Sakura nearly jumped when the driver's side door was suddenly pulled out and Naruto got in. She blinked at her friend then checked the time. "Did you eat some bad food or something? You were in there for almost ten minutes, you know."

"Eh well, somethings just don't settle well, ya know?" replied the blonde as he pulled out of the school parking lot and onto the main road. She nodded in reply and turned up the radio when the song Cheerleader by Omi came on. Naruto glanced to her when she began to sing along to the song when the chorus came on. The smile on her face was full; nothing like the wobbly lower lip and watery sad eyes from last night. This was how Sakura should always be. Happy, content and enjoying her weekend out rather then inside feeling depressed. He couldn't help but glance in his review mirror at the shrinking sight of their high school. He'd be damned if that asshole ever made Sakura cry again.

A/N: I know some of you are going to think what was the point of Gaara even going? Well his presence within the story will make sense in the next two chapters or so. Won't say for sure, but I promise everything that was brought up in this chapter has a place. Although I do think the bit between Sasuke and Naruto could of been a bit more tense but I wasn't sure how to make it so without it taking up too much time that even Sakura would get suspicious.

HOPE YOU LIKED THE CHAPTER!

And as I always say around now; look forward to the next chapter : D