I am so sorry for the long wait! I really didn't mean to make the wait this long. I just moved back to my home country, and got a job, and... I've been so distracted. Plus, I was kind of having a hard time with this chapter. The fight didn't go how I was thinking at first, I was planning on it being more technical... But, all of a sudden Sasuke's emotions just, got to me... so, I am sorry, this chapter just took so long for me to write.

I read this a few times, and I was really hopping my grammar and spelling is better, and if it's not, I'm really sorry. I really need to find a beta-reader one day.

Anyway, thanks for waiting for me everyone, and I am really sorry for the long wait. I making myself write every day, even started a writing group in my town, so, I am gonna make sure I update a lot more often now.

The story is going to start move in the next chapter, and excited to get it going!

A Single Act of Kindness

Try

Naruto watched wordlessly as Sasuke made his way towards Shikamaru. The blond was pretty sure that his mouth was gaped open out of complete surprise. He had never seen Sasuke like this, never knew him to be so bold.

Sure, Sasuke was kind of a know it all. He scored best in the class when it came to his physical abilities, his ninjutsu is top-notch, and he has never seen his test scores, but Naruto would bet all the ramen in the world that Sasuke was at least in the top three in their class when it came to smart-smarts.

However, no matter how amazing Sasuke was, he had never stepped forward, never volunteered himself before. When their sensei asked Sasuke a question, or asked him to demonstrate something, he always did it with ease, but there was always some form of hesitation as all the attention was on him… They were the same in that way, Naruto always felt that he rather be the one to offer up his presences rather then someone call upon him when he wasn't ready… Sasuke was smart, and he knew how to do things, but never offered up the attention.

It didn't mean that Sasuke didn't like the praise because of course he did… Everyone did after all. Naruto was aware of the small smirk on Sasuke's face on the few times he felt that he did something a cut above the rest. Sasuke was always proving himself. He was always proud when he did something good and people noticed.

This was different, however. Sasuke may know things, he may be able to be the best… but he never sought out that attention. It was always handed to him.

He never reached out for it.

Something in Naruto stirred when he saw that smirk on Sasuke's face. He hadn't done anything yet, but it didn't stop him from acting like he was excited. Since when had Sasuke ever been excited about sparring? When had Sasuke ever wanted to face someone?

Naruto could feel the frown on his face as he watched on. Something about this felt wrong.

He couldn't complain about how things are now, for so long all that Naruto had ever felt isolated; but now he wasn't and that was all because of Sasuke.

Yet, it didn't stop the hollow feeling from inside of his gut, and for some reason a little bit of Naruto wished that it was him that gave Sasuke that kind of attention.

Sasuke walked towards the center of the ring.

The Nara barely acknowledged him, eyes quickly looking away as he glanced up at Iruka, "No thanks, just write down-"

"No," Sasuke cut him off before he could finish, this guy had the nerve to try to turn down a fight, and he wasn't going to let that happen, "We're fighting."

"It's good practice Shikamaru," their sensei wrote something on his notepad, "It will be good for you to at least try for once."

Nara glanced over at him, looking at him up and down for a long moment, "I don't want too."

"Tough," Sasuke brought his left foot back, putting up his arms, he always preferred his left when it came to a fight, "Shut up and just do this already."

"Before that," Iruka interrupted, "This is a traditional Shinobi fight, and here at the Academy we respect tradition. Before any match starts, each shinobi must present their opponent with the Spar Sign." Iruka demonstrated, putting up his index and middle finger towards the center of his chest, "This sign is to show respect to your fellow Shinobi that even though you are sparring, we are all of the same team, the same village, the same Will of Fire that glows inside all of us. Now, I want you two to perform the Spar Sign."

Sasuke knew what his sensei meant, he knew what respect was and he also knew the pride it was to be a Shinobi of the Leaf, but something about it always tugged his heart in a different direction. Him and the Nara didn't get along, that was clear, and doing some stupid sign wasn't going to change the way he felt.

Yet, he wanted the fight more than his pride at that moment as him and the Nara presented the Spar Sign to one another.

By the look in his eye, the Nara was probably feeling the same way.

"Very good, now when you are ready, you can begin."

Sasuke got into his fighting position, favoring his left, as the Nara got into his fighting position, favoring his right. Both stayed there for a moment, examining one another.

Chatter and cheers could be heard in the background but Sasuke tuned them out. Sasuke wasn't use to being the one to make the first move, most of his classmates always were the first ones to attack, but all of them were young, inexperienced, and couldn't think very far ahead in a fight.

Not like Sasuke and the Nara, both of them raised in respected Clans. And although Sasuke was the last of his bloodline, his father and brother still had trained him (he always wished it was more, they should have trained him more and now here he was against a fight that he wasn't sure he could even win but there was also no way in hell he'd lose. But the thoughts of shouldhaveshouldhaveshouldhaveshouldhave clouded his head, making it hard to focus, to think. He needed his father here, he needed his brother here because he knew that the Nara had a father. One that taught him everything so he could represent his Clan in a positive light. Could Sasuke do that? Could he still bring honor to the Uchiha name?).

Feelings of feeling forgotten, feelings of ugly jealousy because his father always preferred Itachi over him and look where that got him. He's dead now and Sasuke has to be the one to carry this name alone.

Sasuke charged first, and he knew that it was a mistake, he was leaving himself wide open and he could even see it in the Nara's eyes when he calculated a counterattack. Sasuke pulled his fist back, sloppy and wide as he aimed for the Nara's head. His classmate was able to dodge it easily, taking his arm and pushing him to the side. Sasuke felt himself falling over, but stopped himself before his feet lost their footing.

Sasuke didn't let up, raising his arm he went in for another attack. The Nara dodging each one, and Sasuke knew he was better than this, he knew that if he only allowed his head to clear then he could think about this fight rationally. He'd push forward to a punch only to come up with air, kick the emptiness of the sky instead of connecting, and nothing was connecting and for a moment Sasuke couldn't connect, he just couldn't connect.

(It was always Itachi's fault. How many times did he ask for him to train, and his brother agree; only to change his mind later and break his heart overandoverandoveragain and all his brother could say is "maybe next time" and next time never came. Sasuke was strong, he didn't need Itachi or his dad he'd just have to do this alone and nothing was wrong with that. Sasuke doesn't need anyone. He can fight alone.

He's alone.)

It took a solid hit from the Nara to get Sasuke to stop swinging. The Nara had only been dodging this whole time, but there must of have been a solid opening to connect Sasuke back to the ground again. Literally and figuratively. Sasuke felt his head circling from the solid hit that caused him to it the ground. He felt the side of his face scrape against something hard, but, he didn't allow himself to feel it.

"Can you go on Sasuke?" He heard the teacher ask.

Sasuke was about to answer, he was about to tell him that he was okay when another answer came from the sidelines.

"OF COURSE SASUKE CAN GO ON IRUKA-SENSEI! YOU GOT THIS SASUKE! YOU CAN DO IT, YA KNOW!"

Naruto…

Their eyes connected, and the blond was looking at him with such wonder, like he didn't just get hit across the face. Others were cheering for him too, like always, but it was Naruto's belief in him that got him out of head and back up again.

"You should have just went down," the Nara sighed, "Or I'll just quit. I don't feel like fighting anymore."

"I don't care," Sasuke sneered, standing up on his feet, "Just shut up and fight."

Sasuke took a deep breath, calming himself down with each breath as he got back in his fighting position. He knew the Nara didn't want to be here, that he wasn't putting his all into this fight (because if he had, the fight would have already been over). It was insulting, because Sasuke should be out by now, but he wasn't…

He was going to make the Nara regret that.

The Nara didn't care about this, didn't take Sasuke seriously and it was only because of that, that Sasuke would win.

Sasuke looked up at this opponent and went for the attack. He knew was a in a slug fest before, because his head was in the clouds but now he was back on Earth where he belonged.

Sasuke arms were up and pulled back for an attack, and the Nara started to move, ready for a dodge like he had done the whole fight before. As Sasuke got closer, he changed tactics quickly, bending down and leaping forward, grabbing the Nara by the stomach and knocking him off his feet.

Sasuke was sitting over the Nara, swinging a fist back and hitting the Nara clear across the face. The Nara looked stunned, like it took him a moment to realize that he was now on the ground and losing the fight. Sasuke went in for another hit as the Nara covered his face before he could connect. It didn't stop Sasuke from swinging a few times, hoping to catch more of his face with no luck. Sasuke stopped and grabbed his wrist, trying to pry his arms away from his face. Sasuke was stronger, but not by much, as he was able to pry the Nara's arm away.

Nara went to take a swing from the ground with his free arm, Sasuke moved his head back before it was able to connect. He could see the annoyance in his eyes now, having to work for a chance to get him off him. The Nara was lazy, but Sasuke was making him work today.

Sasuke grabbed the Nara's other wrist with his free hand and pinned him down on the ground. The Nara trashed around his hold, trying to buck Sasuke from off him with no luck.

With both his arms up held over his head and against his will, there was no way that the Nara could win now. Sasuke positioned his body a little, bringing one his knees up and pressing it into the Nara's stomach. He pressed deeper into it, and the Nara grunted, trying to get a breath in.

"'M done…" the Nara coughed from under him, "Get. Off. Me."

Sasuke pressed his knee deeper into the Nara's stomach, causing his classmate to gasp for a breath that Sasuke knew he couldn't get, but he didn't care as he pressed into him.

Shinobi were born to kill, they were here for the art of death. It was the only kind of creative expression that Sasuke knew; what he had been trained to do.

He's suppose to be a killer right? That is why they all were here. They were here to learn to kill .

So then, he'd kill, he'd be like the rest of them.

He'd be like Itachi even.

He'd kill.

Sasuke didn't realize that he was being pulled up and away from the Nara until his eyes landed on blue irises and a mop of blonde hair holding onto his shoulders saying, "Breathe, Sasuke breathe."

Other people were pushing the blue and blonde away from him, flashes of other colors were in front of him and he'd have to find his center again. He'd blink, once, twice, three times before other people parted away from him and an adult was leaning over him.

"Sasuke, what was that about?"

Blinking four, five, six times is when he register what was going on around him. His looked up at his sensei giving him a hard, unreadable look. His eyes flashed over to the Nara, who was sitting up and trying to suck in a breath.

"I'm waiting for an answer Sasuke."

The match was over, Sasuke won.

Normally when he won a match it was covered with cheering and a compliment from his sensei. Not today, as the air around him was silent. No one had anything to say to him

And he didn't know what to say either; the Uchiha didn't even know what kind of answer to give.

Instead of answering, he walked away.

He heard someone trying to follow, and he knew it was Naruto trying to get to him, but their sensei stopped him

All Sasuke could think was that he was relieved.

Sasuke was sitting on the swing.

He didn't' know how he got there, little bits of information came back to him as he stormed away from the fight as soon as it ended. He was suppose to give another sign to the Nara, but that line of thought was lost upon him.

He just needed to get out of there.

Needing a place to sit, to collect himself again, and this as the first place he saw as he allowed himself to just be.

He let his feet rock back and forth, letting himself swing. It was relaxing in a way, to rock back and forth, he tried to collect his mind from wandering; yet he couldn't help but to let it circle around one centering thought, until...

"Um… e-excuse me…"

Sasuke looked up at the voice, his eyes landing a set of eyes that reminded him of a blank white canvas… the Hyuga.

She was holding out something towards him, a piece of white cloth. The way she held herself; so unsure and timid that it instantly made Sasuke uncomfortable to be near her. He couldn't help it; most people didn't make him feel anything , yet, those blank eyes… They didn't hold anything in them.

(Is that how Itachi was in the end? Almost lifeless? Like, he had been planning to end everything they stood for in one single night).

"I— um… I saw… that you...," the way she carried herself was positively heartbreaking, "... Are hurt."

"Huh?"

The Hyuga started to motion towards his face, but she was clumsy about it as she couldn't even look at him. Her eyes were darted towards the ground, the sky, behind him, anything but him.

It kind of annoyed him, "What do you want?"

She seemed to jump at his voice, but it was enough to collect herself as the Hyuga very slowly look up at him. When she was focus on a task, her eyes held a shy determination as she took two large steps towards him and and pressed the cloth against the side of his face.

"W-When you fell…" the way that she held the cloth against him was comforting, "Y-you scraped… your face."

"Oh."

The rational thing to do was to grab the cloth and hold it against his own head, but, having her here… He felt, relaxed. Sasuke felt like he could go on ignoring her there, to keep collecting his scattered thoughts, and she could be in charge of taking care of him.

For some reason, he could tell she didn't mind being there, as he glanced away from her; looking up towards the sky. It was a clear day, hardly anything in the sky to keep his attention. He was able to think though the clear blue sky.

He had to ignore whatever just happened in that fight. He had to forget about the anger he felt and focus at the task in hand. He knew that his anger was justified. He knew that he had every excuse in the world to hate his older brother… but, it wasn't time yet… It wasn't time to let the anger consume him because it would get him nowhere. He was not strong enough for his brother yet. There were so much more he had to do, Sasuke didn't even know how to control the Sharingan yet. It had awaken the one time, in the darkness moment in his life, and it was a curse and a blessing, he had known that… He heard the stories on how other Clan members gain their eyes, and it as a heavy price to pay… and—

Sasuke had to get out of that headspace, and he willed himself out of thinking of the past.

When Sasuke felt more life himself, when he was able to put the thoughts in the back of his mind, the Hyuga finally asked, "A-A-Are…. you fri-fri-friends wi-th Naruto-kun…?

Sasuke allowed himself to look over at the white eyed girl, she adjusted the cloth on his head as he turned up to her, "What's it to you?"

"Um, well… I-I…," the annoying part of her returned, the fidgeting, uncertain, the part of the Hyuga that made her impossible to be around. He felt it, as he pulled his head away from the cloth she was holding against him, he lightly touched the side of his face. It sting, but he could live without the help now.

Even though it was annoying, Sasuke was patient enough to wait for her to collect her words. It felt like it took everything out of the girl when she said, "I-I… think… Naruto-kun… he's al-ways been… lonely. So lonely, and… I could never…"

He could feel her drowning and… he always thought it was just him and Naruto, he never thought another person in his class…

"... I could never help him," she sighed, and it felt like everything around them was breaking as the Hyuga told Sasuke her confession. He felt her heartbreak, he felt the way this confession swallowed her whole; because he had felt the same way. The uncertainty, the confusion, the way everyone disregarded Naruto like he was nothing and it felt like they were the only two who cared.

And that just wasn't right.

"Why…"

"I… I-I was tol—."

"Why does everyone in the Village hate him?"

Sasuke looked over the Hyuga for the answer, but he knew it was an answer she wasn't able to provide.

Naruto's match was quick. He knew he should be embarrassed with how quickly he lost, but, it felt like an unimportant factor when it came to the important things in his life.

For Naruto… It was Sasuke that was important. Sure, he needed to be strong, he needed to be an amazing-one-of-a-kind Shinobi so he could be Hokage. These things were a given, the lifestyle that Naruto always knew he could live, but…

… Who could even be Hokage when their friend as in very clear pain and did nothing about it?

Naruto didn't know what he could do, didn't know what would make things better, but he knew that he had to try. Naruto was the one to pull Sasuke off Shikamaru, and the way he was just, not there had scared Naruto. And he didn't want to leave him alone, Naruto knew that he had to be there for his friend because, clearly, something happened in that match that made Sasuke act… Weird. Totally and completely not the Sasuke he had always known.

Sasuke was always cool, always able to keep up a calm collective front. It was clear that Sasuke didn't like Shikamaru, but, something about that fight felt… Way more than it should have been.

His friend was always like that, everything always seemed to be too cool at first, but then something would snap and Sasuke would be a totally different person.

It happened when they went to Ichiraku Ramen for the first time, and he couldn't be there for him then and now… He really tried to ignore Iruka-sensei and run off to find Sasuke… but when sensei threatened him with a failed grade, he knew he had to just hope for the best, end the fight quickly, and get to Sasuke.

It wasn't too hard to find him; they still had one more class before the end of the day, plus detention, so he knew that Sasuke wouldn't have wandered off far. Naruto made his way around the outside of the school, he was at a light jogging pace as he scanned the area. He stopped short, almost stumbling over himself as he saw his friend sitting on the swing in front of the school.

Normally Naruto would have made his way over there and talk to him, but, it had looked like Hinata had beat him to it.

Naruto decided to hide, a bush was facing in the direction of the pair, but still too far away for him to hear what they were talking about. He didn't want to eavesdrop on their conversations, but he did want to know what they were talking about.

Sasuke almost seemed… comfortable towards Hinata, as he watched them talk amongst one another.

It was kind of weird.

Normally, Hinata was so reserved; he didn't see her socializing with their classmates, and mainly kept to herself. It wasn't that she wasn't friendly or anything… Hinata always seemed like a good person, just, she always seemed so scared to say anything out loud.

Naruto wasn't sure how to approach or talk to her; there was a few times that he had stepped in front of her when her bullies would harass her. He had taken a few hits for Hinata—and he was not mad about that, he could never be mad at protecting someone… but, he did admit it would hurt when she wouldn't even look at him. Because he could tell she was always grateful for her help, yet…

Hinata was kind of like that with everyone, really quiet and unable to find her voice, yet it always seemed more apparent when it was towards him. Like, she was actively trying to avoid him for some reason.

Not really like the rest of the girls and boys in their class; they after all looked at him with disgust.

And Hinata never really looked like that, it was more like, she couldn't meet him in the eyes.

So Naruto never thought any ill will towards her, he had always thought she was weird, and different, and… Naruto liked people who were weird and different.

However, it was really weird to see her talking to and tending to Sasuke. He saw Sasuke take a fall during the match and had seen him start to bleed from the side of his head…

Hinata was tending to his wounds and talking to him like they were friends.

Naruto always thought Hinata was different then the rest of the girls, he never thought of Hinata being the kind of girl to go after Sasuke like this. Yet, he wasn't really surprised, all the girls went after Sasuke.

Yet, this was the first time he saw Sasuke allow it.

His stomach twisted in an uneasy way. Naruto made himself shallow that feeling down, he ignored the jealousy that was burning inside of himself. It was fine, this shouldn't bother him.

Sasuke was allowed to have other friends. Just like he had started to become friends with Shikamaru.

He looked over at the white-eyed, black haired girl who was gently taking care of his friend, and a part of him wanted to be grateful. Sasuke was looking a lot better than he was during his match. And if there was anyone in their class that could take care of Sasuke instead of him, then Hinata would be the best pick.

So he made himself turn around and return to class.

He just, expected to be the one to take care of Sasuke in his time of need.

But it just felt like Naruto was never able to make it to him in time.

Sakura hated detention.

It wasn't fair that Iruka-sensei made them do all this clean up. Just because they all got in trouble for fighting, it didn't mean that they should be responsible for picking up after all their classmates. Didn't the school pay someone to clean up after all them?

Plus, ever since their first day, Sakura wasn't able to get close to Sasuke-kun.

Stupid Iruka-sensei always separated them!

Just 'cause she was a girl, that shouldn't mean that she should be stuck inside the classroom cleaning all the windows and desks while the boys got to be outside.

Naruto always got his way with Sasuke-kun, and it was pissing her off!

She would watch them from the classroom as they painted the fence that circled around the school. Sakura would watch as Sasuke-kun took his time with the paint, making sure to lay a even straight color onto the fence. He took such care of his section that it made Sakura daydream of her own life with Sasuke-kun. She could picture them owning a little house together; how she could take care of the housework as Sasuke-kun worked on the outside with their children, and how she could call them all in for supper and they would sit down as a family to eat dinner. He would smile at her, and she would smile at him and their life and it would be—-

Sakura could feel her cheeks flush and shook her head, slapping her cheeks to wake herself up from the dream (it was such a nice dream), and her eyes darted over to Naruto. Of course he was messing up his own part of the fence, it looks like he was throwing the paint on the fence. They had paint brushes, it literally made no sense.

Sakura huffed, turning her attention back to cleaning. She'd have to talk to Iruka-sensei about this later and see if she could switch with stupid Naruto.

By the time they were done for the day; Sasuke-kun and Naruto walked back into the classroom to pick up their stuff, and that was when she was able to pick up on some new details.

"Damnit, I can't find it," Naruto huffed, digging through his bag. Sakura didn't want to watch them, didn't want to make it look like she was listening in on them, but she could see from the corner of her eye as Naruto's trash being dropped on her freshly cleaned floor.

"What?" Sasuke-kun asked him, and it took everything in her not to turn around as she pretended to get everything into her book bag.

"My scroll! I can't find it!"

"What scroll?"

"The one I had earlier! I'm suppose to return it tomorrow to the Academy Library. I'm gonna get in more trouble if its not here!"

"Where did you have it last?"

"Ugh, I dunno! Crap, crap, crap!"

"Stop freaking out," the way Sasuke-kun said it melted Sakura's heart, if only he could comfort her like that, "Let's just go look for it."

"It's gotta be around somewhere!" Naruto looked under the desk he was at, frantically searching around the room.

Sakura couldn't help but to sigh loudly, "Naruto, I just cleaned everything in here. If I saw your scroll I would of put it on sensei's desk."

"Oh," Naruto made his way over to the desk to look, and Sakura wished she could have rolled her eyes at Naruto's idiotic behavior, but now Sasuke was looking at her and she had to play nice.

"It's not there," Naruto sighed, shoulders hunched.

Then, an idea hit, and Sakura had to hold in her smug smile as she stated, "I'll help you look."

Naruto lit up at that, "Really Sakura-chan? You'll help?"

"Why?" Sasuke-kun asked.

Sakura tried not to lose face, tried to remain neutral and helping because Sasuke was here, and he wanted to help the idiot. So that would mean, she would help too, "It would be faster if I helped you all look."

"You're the best, Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, "I think I had it last outside, so let's all look out there, ya know."

Sasuke-kun sighed, "Man, you really are an idiot."

Naruto growled at that, and she wanted to smack him for being so disrespectful towards Sasuke-kun, "Stop being so mean and help me look… Before it gets dark, ya know. Then we can go train."

Train?

"Let's make this quick," Sasuke-kun made his way to the door, "We have other things to do."

Sakura followed them out.

Sakura wasn't really looking for the scroll, she just wanted to pretend to look, and maybe win some brownie points with Sasuke-kun. The whole point of paying attention to Naruto was to get closer to Sasuke-kun afterall, so, it would be beneficial to play nice.

She wasn't expecting to actually find the scroll, but there's it was, laying in the middle of the forest outside the school grounds and for anyone to take.

The scrolls were suppose to be secret, they were only for the Academy students so they can train on common Leaf Shinobi techniques… They weren't supposed to be laying in the middle nowhere where anyone could pick them up…. If a civilian saw this, or worse, someone sold it to another village or the black market… It could mean big trouble for the Leaf.

Naruto was such an idiot!

Sakura picked up the scroll and read the outer writing, it was common How to Perform the Clone Jutsu , which was like, the most common Jutsu out there!

What a dumbass!

She made her way back to the school, and she hopped that since she played nice with Naruto, that Sasuke-kun would start to open up to her a little bit more.

Then, she could get Naruto out of the picture completely.

By the time she made it back to the school, she saw Naruto sitting on the swing that sat near the entrance of the school, but Sasuke-kun was nowhere to be found. Naruto was leaning forward, resting his crossed arms on his knees and his face lowered into them. Thank God he didn't see her coming.

Sakura took the scroll and hid it behind her back, no way should give it back to Naruto without Sasuke-kin to see her save the day.

Yet, before she was able to go and hide, Naruto looked up and saw her.

"Sakura-chan!"

Quickly, she took the scroll and tucked it behind her pants, using her shirt to cover it completely behind her. She lifted up her hands to Naruto to show that she was not holding the scroll, "No luck."

Naruto deflated at that, "Oh, well… thank you for looking, Sakura-chan."

Sakura was about to respond when something spoke from behind her, "I didn't see it."

She jumped at that, turning around to see Sasuke coming up from behind her. Quickly, she put her hands behind her back, trying her best to hide the scroll tucked away behind her.

Naruto looked like he was going to be in tears, "I'm gonna die for this, ya know."

"Maybe you should take better care of your things."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at that, "I didn't mean to lose it, Sasuke you big meanie!"

"Maybe… it'd show up?" Sakura tried to put on her best poker face as she pressed her arms closer to her back, "Like, maybe someone found it and already returned it?"

"We can check tomorrow," Sasuke-kun agreed with her, and Sakura so wanted to smile and live in the moment where Sasuke-kun AGREED with her about something, but right now was not the time and place as she was holding the said missing item behind her, "Let's go already."

"Do you really think, Sakura-chan…. That it will show up tomorrow?" Naruto looked like he was hanging on her every word.

And it was now Sakura's turn to agree with Sasuke-kun, "Yeah, of course. Don't worry about it today, I'm sure it will show up tomorrow."

"Thanks again Sakura-chan, for helping me… I really appreciate it, ya know…"

Sakura wanted to turn away as she watched Naruto's cheeks redden as he thanked her. She prayed that he still didn't have feeling for her, like Sakura would EVER have feelings for Naruto. Yet, she had to act nice, she had to play this role to get closer to Sasuke-kun and for right now she just had to be nice, "Of course, I hope you do find it, Naruto."

"Let's go," Sasuke-kun seemed bored, and Sakura couldn't help but to sigh in relief as Naruto agreed with him, hosting his bag around his shoulders and making his way towards the entrance with Sasuke-kun.

"Bye Sakura-chan, thanks again for all your help!"

The way he was waving at her was like he thought they were friends, and Sakura want to barf at that. There was no way she would be friends with an idiot like him. However, she forced herself to wave back, "Goodbye Naruto."

The pair walked out the gate together, starting a conversation that was way out of earshot for her. She was jealous of how close they were. Sakura couldn't remember the last time she had someone that she was so relaxed around like how Naruto was with Sasuke-kun. Who would've thought that Sakura would ever be jealous of Naruto… and yet, here she was wishing she had someone to talk too.

She reached behind her and pulled out the scroll, looking down at it, and wondered if getting this little bit of information would be enough to make Ino like her again.

Because, it felt like this was the only thing that was keeping their scattered friendship together.

The next day, and after a good night's rest, the world seemed to move on its axis again, and Sasuke was relieved of that fact.

No matter how many times he tried, the Nara had always beat him to school. Sasuke knew if he didn't wait for his blonde companion every morning then he could beat the young Nara Clan member, however, it just became second nature for Sasuke to wait for him, and so that's what he would do.

This morning however—when the Nara clearly beat him inside—the seat that he had been clearly stealing from Sasuke every day was empty.

Sasuke glanced around the room, looking for the Nara when his eyes landed on the seat that Sasuke had been sharing beside the Hyuga that now was occupied by the Nara.

And for some reason, the asshole said to him, "I'll get it back."

And Sasuke couldn't help but to give him a grin, and challenged back with, "I'd like to see you try."

And then the Nara smirked at him.

And something stirred within the Uchiha. Something he didn't even know was inside of him...

Excitement.

The chance at a proper rival.

Oh, and Sasuke hoped the Nara would try.