In which Naruto makes new friends.

O-O-O-O-O

Sasuke was driving Naruto crazy.

It had been nearly a month since Sasuke had received his sword and he still refused to ask for help. And worse, his friend was now neglecting group training.

They no longer had practice spars or shuriken throwing competitions. Instead, their afternoons had become dominated by kenjutsu. How to hold a sword. How to parry. How to guard. How to strike.

At first, Naruto had tried to help as much as he could. He read the kenjutsu books. He compared the diagrams to Sasuke's movements. He yelled out advice and tricks. They watched The Steel Samurai together.

But still Sasuke made little progress. After all, how could he improve without a teacher?

But no matter how much Naruto urged him to find one, Sasuke was being more stubborn than Fuu and Roshi combined.

Naruto couldn't even get a break from kenjutsu outside of training because it was the only thing Sasuke talked about. During school breaks. As they ate. While washing dishes. It never stopped and Naruto was close to his limit.

Even Hinata had given up.

Ever since making friends with Ino and Sakura, Hinata no longer attended their training sessions. Instead, she spent time with them after school, doing whatever girls did.

They even sometimes had sleepovers, which Naruto thought was incredibly unfair. Why could Ino and Sakura stay the night at her house when Naruto and Sasuke couldn't just because they were boys?

But while Naruto was jealous of the time Hinata spent with her new friends, Naruto thought Ino and Sakura were nice girls. They were polite to Naruto and never badmouthed him— to his face at least— plus they made Hinata happy. So when Hinata had shyly asked if the five of them could all eat lunch together, Naruto had said yes while Sasuke shrugged.

The first lunch, Ino and Sakura fawned over Sasuke just like most of the girls in their class. But after Naruto and Sasuke argued over the sword again, they lost interest. Now, while still wary, they were more willing to talk to Naruto.

And while Hinata spent less time with him, Naruto didn't mind. Hinata had fewer friends than he did if he counted the jinchuuriki. She could spend her free time with whoever she wanted.

But... why can't she take me with them, ya know?

Sitting on the new spring grass, Naruto glared at his friend.

Standing in the middle of the training grounds, Sasuke lunged forward at an imaginary enemy, sword held tight in his hands. Twisting under a pretend attack, he slashed at his target. It almost looked cool until he stumbled and fell.

Naruto sighed. With an exhausted groan he stood and walked toward his friend. Sasuke jumped up, brushing dirt off before returning to his previous stance.

"When are you gonna admit you need a teacher, Jerk?" Naruto asked for what felt like the thousandth time, hands on hips in an effort to channel Fuu's bossy energy.

Sasuke turned his attention away from the sword long enough to glare at Naruto. "I don't need a teacher," he answered for the thousandth time. "I can get on just fine on my own."

Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose the same way Roshi did. "You really can't!" he shouted. "You can't even win against the air! How can you learn how to fight like that?"

Sasuke blushed but kept his eyes on the blade. "I'll figure it out." He began a simple kata— the only one they had figured out in the past month. Step forward. Swing. Jump back. Repeat.

Naruto ran out of patience. He stomped his feet the same way he used to do when he was young. "You won't!" he shouted, pointing an angry finger at his friend. "And I'm tired of you pretending you don't need help!"

"That's because I don't." Sasuke continued his kata, his grip tightening until his knuckles turned white.

"You do."

"I don't."

"Just ask Iruka-sensei if he can teach you!"

"I don't need Iruka-sensei's help."

"Then ask Iruka-sensei if there's anyone he knows that can help!"

"I don't need any help!" Sasuke frowned. Step forward. Swing. Jump back. Repeat. "I can figure this out on my own."

Naruto wanted to tear his hair out. Why is Sasuke so stubborn?

"Fine!" Naruto crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out. "If you don't ask for help from someone else, I'm gonna stop helping you out, ya know!"

The threat was enough to make Sasuke pause and point his weapon at the ground. Sensing a change, Naruto uncrossed his arms, a smile already forming. Finally! He's gonna—

"I already said this is something I have to do alone, Naruto." Sasuke met his eyes without flinching, the first hint of real anger in his expression.

"But you don't have to do this alone," Naruto tried again. "I know your family would've—"

"Would've what?" Sasuke interrupted, voice raised and jaw clenched tight.

Naruto flinched, taking a half step back. He had entered a field full of exploding tags but there was no way out but through. Sasuke needed to see reason.

"Would've helped you." Naruto swallowed before moving to stand in front of Sasuke. "And I know they're not here anymore so you have to get help from other people, ya know!"

The explanation only made Sasuke angrier. He turned his face away, clenched fists starting to shake. "I don't need help from anyone."

"You say that but I know you do!" Naruto took another step closer. "I mean, it's been a month and you've only learned one kata! How many kata are in the book?"

Doubt flashed through Sasuke's eyes. "Over a hundred."

"See! And that's just the first book!" Naruto could almost see Sasuke's stubbornness breaking down. "You need help from someone who knows what they're doing. I know Auntie and Uchiha-san would've—"

But the second mention of Sasuke's family undid what little progress Naruto had made. Sasuke turned to him, teeth bared and face flushed, fists shaking at his sides.

"You don't know anything!" He shouted. "I don't have a family anymore. Not that you'd know what that's like."

Naruto flinched, taking another step back. How was he supposed to respond to that?

"I... I know what it's like to not have a family, ya know," he mumbled, unsure if he wanted to cry or not.

"No, you don't." Sasuke turned his face away from Naruto again. "Not the same way I do. You don't know what it's like to..." Sasuke gasped, eyes empty as he stared into space. "To lose everyone. All in one day."

Naruto grimaced. It was true he had no idea what it was like to lose his family. The other jinchuuriki had been in his life as long as he could remember. And his mother...

The image of his mother— photograph safely hidden in his room— flashed through his mind. She had died when he was too young to remember anything. Sasuke's parents had been the closest people he had to family outside the Room but... Sasuke's right. I don't understand.

"I... I know I don't." Naruto gulped. "But... I thought..."

"Thought what?" Sasuke's clenched fists shook with anger.

Naruto swallowed again. "That I was your friend. That I'd help you. And—"

"Everything I have to do, I have to do on my own, Naruto. If you don't understand that, then you don't understand me at all."

Now Naruto was sure he wanted to cry. "But... Sasuke... I want to help you. But for the sword there's—"

"I already said I don't need your help." As if to demonstrate, he turned around and walked back to the center of the training field.

Naruto stomped his feet again. "Yes, you do! Maybe not for this but for other things."

"I don't need you." Sasuke unsheathed his sword.

"What do you need?"

Sasuke was silent for a moment, back turned to Naruto as he began his simple kenjutsu kata. Finally, he answered. "Revenge." His voice was deathly serious.

"Sasuke... I want..." Naruto swallowed down a sob. He wasn't going to cry. Not here. "I want revenge too for... Auntie and... Uchiha-san and everyone else. That's why—"

"No, you don't." Sasuke's voice was full of certainty, cold in a way Naruto could never replicate. "Not the same way I do."

"I—" Naruto swallowed away tears that were threatening to come out. He wanted to say more. To plead. To beg. To use reason. But it would be pointless.

Naruto shook his head. "Fine." He spat. "Try to figure it out on your own. I don't care anymore."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Naruto spun around and sprinted away without another word. He held back his tears until he arrived home, where he collapsed onto his bed with his crying face pressed into his pillow.

If he says he doesn't need help, then I won't help him, Naruto vowed as the evening sun sank and turned his room to darkness.

O-O-O-O-O

Naruto woke up miserable on Saturday morning. The night before he had talked through his feelings with Fuu and Roshi, but it wasn't enough. He never wanted to see Sasuke's face again unless it was with an apology.

After everything that had happened between them, how could he have been cast aside? Weren't they friends? And to rub salt in the wound, Naruto would never find out if The Steel Samurai rescued the Pink Princess or not.

Naruto tried to spend the entire day moping in bed like Utakata, but his stomach compelled him to move. He prepared himself an easy meal— rice with a fried egg— only to realize he was almost out of food.

Most of the time, he would go shopping with Sasuke and then share groceries but... Naruto shook his head. He took his frog wallet and his keys— ignoring the copy to Sasuke's apartment— and headed out.

With all the time he had wasted in bed, it was past noon by the time he left his apartment. Sasuke would've—

Naruto pushed away the thought of his friend again. He doubted Sasuke was even thinking of him anyway. He said it himself, he only cares about revenge.

Naruto stomped to the closest grocery store, hands in pockets and a glare on his face. Would it kill Sasuke to ask for help? And how could he have turned Naruto away? I thought I was his friend.

To his annoyance and embarrassment, Naruto felt tears in the corners of his eyes again. He wiped his face with his forearm and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.

Vowing to stop thinking about Sasuke, he instead focused on avoiding the people in the street as much as possible. Some passersby gave him weird looks but they were easy to ignore after a lifetime of practice.

Furious, he entered the grocery store and headed to the produce section first. He hated most vegetables, but if he refused to eat any, Utakata would force him to write kanji over and over again. Eating a carrot or two was better than that.

Naruto scanned the stands for deals. Without Sasuke to share the cost, he'd— He groaned, slapping his forehead to push the image of Sasuke away again.

He opened his eyes to see that tomatoes were on sale for the week. He walked forward, ready to buy some. Sasuke would—

Naruto turned away from the tomatoes on sale with a huff. Why can't I stop thinking about that stupid jerk anyhow?

With his back to the tomatoes, he looked at the cabbages, thinking of okonomiyaki. It had cabbage but it tasted good. Did that make it junk food?

"Oh, Naruto?"

"Hm?" He turned. Next to the potatoes were Ino and Sakura, holding a grocery basket containing candy, fruit, and other snacks between them.

"Ah, it is you, Naruto." Ino gave him an uncertain smile and stepped forward.

At her side, Sakura followed suit, a shy smile on her own lips. "Hi, Naruto. How are you doing?"

"Fine." Naruto shrugged, hoping his smile didn't look as pained as it felt. "Just... ya know... buying groceries." He pointed at the stack of cabbages.

"I see," Ino said with a nod. Beside her, Sakura gave him another shy smile.

Naruto shifted in place, unsure what to say. Ino and Sakura were nice enough but they were Hinata's friends. He knew little about them outside their lunch breaks.

"Um..." Naruto forced himself to smile. "I'll see you at school?" It was almost a question.

"Oh... um... sure. But..." Ino bit her lip, as if unsure whether to continue or not. "We just thought you looked a bit upset. Is anything wrong?"

"Y-yeah, you looked kind of sad when you looked at the tomatoes, Naruto," Sakura added.

Naruto's face felt warm and he looked down at his feet. "Um... well..."

Would Ino and Sakura understand? They used to be Sasuke's fangirls after all. And while they no longer fawned over him, there were probably lingering feelings there.

Naruto shifted in place again, eyes trained on the ground. "Uh..."

"Is it about Sasuke?" Ino's voice sounded like she already knew the answer.

Naruto's face grew warmer and he nodded. "Well..." he swallowed. "I just... had an argument with Sasuke, ya know."

Ino sighed. "Was it about that stupid sword?" she guessed.

Naruto dared to look up from his shoes, heart pounding. "Uh, yeah?"

Ino and Sakura traded knowing looks.

"Hinata-chan told us about how he's obsessed with it," Sakura admitted. "She said he spends so much time practicing even though he doesn't know what he's practicing."

"I'm guessing things finally boiled over?" Ino rolled her eyes.

"I tried to tell him to get a kenjutsu teacher again," Naruto confessed in a soft voice. "But he... he told me I wouldn't understand 'cause I don't have parents, ya know."

"Oh? Sasuke said that?" Ino's voice grew strained.

At her side, Sakura bit her lip, a sympathetic look in her eyes, but said nothing.

"Y-yeah." Naruto looked down at his feet again. "Then he told me he didn't need anyone and he didn't need me."

A sudden influx of killing intent made Naruto take an involuntary step back. Since when was Ino so scary?

"I see." Ino's voice sounded as pleasant as ever.

"Y-yeah," Naruto forced himself to look up at them.

Ino's eyes were full of contempt that was fortunately not directed at him. At her side, Sakura frowned, the knuckles of her hands white. I'm just glad they're not mad at me, ya know.

"Well, Sakura-chan and I are gonna watch some TV at my house if you want to join us." Ino pointed at their shopping basket, anger diminished. "Not sure if a boy would be interested since we're watching a romance but..."

Naruto's heart began to pound in his chest and he bounced on the balls of his heels. They were inviting him to Ino's house? It was the first time he had gotten an invitation to someone's home since—

Naruto shook his head to push the thought of Sasuke away again. "Do you think your parents will mind?" He tried and failed to not sound too hopeful. "Cause I'm a boy." And the vessel for the Kyuubi.

Ino rolled her eyes and snorted. "Even if they do, I don't care," she declared. "I can invite whoever I want home."

"Well..." Naruto shuffled his feet. "If you're sure." He hoped he didn't look as pathetically hopeful as he felt.

"I'm sure," Ino declared with an emphatic nod. "We'll just pay for this and then we can go."

"Okay!" Naruto swallowed and followed the girls to the checkout counter. Vegetables could wait.

O-O-O-O-O

After leaving the store— Naruto carrying the bags like Yagura had told him to do— they headed to Ino's house. While he had been afraid of rejection, no one in the Yamanaka clan compound spared him a second glance. Perhaps his blond hair was easy to ignore in a sea of it.

Ino's house was empty when they arrived so they headed directly to her bedroom. There, they turned the TV on to some soap opera. And while Naruto and Sakura organized the snacks, Ino crawled under her bed for her collection of makeup and nail polish.

With everything ready, Naruto recounted his story, although he left a few of the details out. Ino and Sakura were a model audience, wincing and huffing when needed. After Naruto finished talking, the two girls were furious and a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Ugh, what a jerk!" Ino shouted as she rifled through her collection of polish.

"I know, right?" Naruto leaned back onto Ino's bed frame, staring up at the ceiling.

"I never thought Sasuke could be so mean!" Sakura added. "I mean, I always found him a little cold but..." She helped Ino sort through the collection.

Naruto sighed, covering his eyes with his forearm. "He can be," he mumbled.

"Well, you can forget about that now, Naruto," Ino declared. "Let's just have fun, okay?"

"Okay." Naruto sighed as he took his forearm back and looked at the two girls. They were grinning and holding bottles of nail polish, most of them in varying shades of pink and purple.

Ino gave him a devilish grin. "I don't suppose you'd mind if Sakura and I painted your nails?"

Kneeling next to Ino, Sakura's eyes were wide and hopeful. "It's really fun! And Ino can draw flowers and things!"

"Paint my nails?" Naruto looked down at his hands. His fingernails were chipped and cracked, with dirt under them courtesy of training. With a trim and wash, could they look as clean and tidy as Gaara's?

"Though we'd give you a manicure first, I suppose." Ino sighed, as if reading his thoughts. "By the way, I have a lot of colors, so I can give you almost anything you want."

"Anything I want?" Naruto's heart began beating faster in excitement. Could Ino make a frog? What about a spiral? How much detail could he get in such a small space anyway?

"Oh! You don't have to if you don't want to." Sakura said, misreading Naruto's silence as reluctance. "And we have polish remover. So you can take it off after we finish if you don't want anyone to see."

"Wait... why wouldn't I want anyone to see?" Naruto tilted his head to the side. If Ino could get an entire frog on his nails, he wanted everyone to know about it.

"Well..." Sakura swallowed. "Don't boys hate girly things? Nail painting is pretty girly..."

Naruto snorted and rolled his eyes. "That's stupid! Boys and girls can like whatever they want, ya know!" Yugito had said so more times than he could count. "It's just a—" he paused to remember the specific word she had used. "A scarytype."

"A stereotype?" Sakura corrected.

"Uh... I guess?" Naruto shrugged and scratched the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. Sakura was the smartest person in their class. Just like Yugito, she seemed to know everything.

"So you don't mind if we paint your nails, Naruto?" Ino asked, eyes shining. At her side, Sakura shared her expression, hands reaching for nail clippers and files.

"Go ahead, ya know!" Naruto set his hands down for the girls to get started. "Can you make an orange frog?"

Ino giggled as she began to work. "I can try."

O-O-O-O-O

Naruto arrived at school on Monday hoping for an apology.

But Sasuke not only refused to apologize, he insisted he had done nothing wrong. With no apology forthcoming, Naruto and the girls had decided to stop spending time with him and Sasuke had sat alone since then, saying nothing to anyone.

From the front of the classroom, Naruto snuck a few glances at Sasuke sitting alone in the back. If Sasuke noticed, he gave no indication of it.

Naruto sighed to himself. What a smug jerk. He should just say sorry, ya know.

He had spent so much time with Sasuke that his moods were no longer a mystery. Sasuke was sad and lonely and missed their company. But until he apologized and admitted he needed help, Naruto would keep his distance. Until then, they were no longer friends, no matter how much Naruto missed him.

But if there was one silver lining, it was his new friendship with Ino and Sakura.

Sakura was a quiet girl, often hiding behind Ino or using her friend as a shield. But Naruto had noticed there was a fire under the surface whenever she got annoyed. He dreaded to imagine what might happen if she ever let her true feelings out.

Ino meanwhile reminded him of Fuu in everything but appearance. She was strong and confident, smiling often. But she was also bossy and it was easier to go along with her plans than to argue back.

A few of the other students in the class, mostly boys, sometimes gave him strange looks for spending so much time with them. Naruto ignored them with ease. Who cared if his friends were boys or girls? He enjoyed their company either way.

And now that they were closer, they spent more and more time together during breaks and after school. They visited Ino's home and gossiped while the TV ran in the background. They painted each others' nails and complained about school. They ate so many snacks and candy that Roshi made him eat more vegetables in exchange.

But despite all the fun Naruto had with the girls, Sasuke could never leave his thoughts for long. He missed their afterschool training sessions— before Sasuke became obsessed with kenjutsu. He missed their visits to Ichiraku Ramen. He missed when they made meals together. And now there was no one to watch The Steel Samurai with on Saturday mornings.

By the time Friday arrived and the week ended, Sasuke had yet to approach Naruto, despite looking lonelier than ever before. Instead, he had sat at the back of the classroom and avoided everyone.

A few times, Naruto was tempted to reach out but he stopped himself. Any reconciliation would be pointless if Sasuke continued to deny wrongdoing

With his mind made up, Naruto left the classroom on Friday without a single glance back at Sasuke.

O-O-O-O-O

A/N: Kids are really dumb sometimes.

I would like to thank Morket for beta reading this story. I would also like to name him the worst beta reader possible for gifting me Stardew Valley and encouraging my other video game obsessions. I'd be much further along without his "help."