The Second Meeting
Amid a great deal of fondness and appreciation, Naruto shoved his old pair of goggles back into his bag by his hospital bed. He rummaged in his bag for another item, and after a few moments he drew out the Leaf headband. It lay on his lap and he looked down at it without touching.
His bandages had been removed that morning and only because he gave the nurses such a hard time about it. After all he was a ninja, he didn't have time to waste, lying around in a hospital bed. His injuries were a dull ache and would eventually pass, however the wound on his heart would most likely never heal.
How could he have not seen it coming? Sasuke vented his rage at him only days before he was taken. Still, Naruto couldn't get his mind to consider Sasuke was jealous of him. Sasuke was the cool one, he always had it together, and he was forever pulling out some new technique. Why would Sasuke attack him? It made no sense, especially after Sasuke had saved his butt so many times before, not that he hadn't saved Sasuke as well. They were team-mates and that's just what you did for each other.
He finally touched the headband. His fingers trailed the scratch across the Leaf symbol. Had he done that? He couldn't remember, he could only recall the burning of the red chakkra, and the sting of Sasuke's unrelenting anger.
Had Sasuke ever been his friend? He was certain they had been. They were so similar, he couldn't explain it to anyone, not even Sakura. How could anyone else understand Sasuke's isolation but him. Sasuke closed himself away while Naruto played the clown.
His mind lingered over their first interaction together, years ago now.
Naruto walked the usual route to the training area normally used by the Academy's younger students. His stomach had been filled with ramen and he felt especially happy that morning. Hands in his pockets, he whistled as he walked, thinking of the training he was going to do. Everyday he found time to practice his aim, and he was getting better at it, even Iruka-sensei would have to admit it.
The high path rounded a bend, and then it went past the lake. Glancing down the slope, he spied the water, but it was the figure sitting on the jetty who caught his attention. He slowed up and watched the boy's back, with his jet-black hair sticking up at the side. Even at that distance, his jacket, with its unique clan markings, was visible.
As if he knew someone was watching him, the boy peered coldly over his shoulder.
Naruto often saw him at the jetty, he knew who he was, everyone did. He was the Uchiha kid, the only one.
Naruto kicked a stone from his path, before shuffling to a halt. He shouted coarsely down to the boy, 'Hey, you want to go throw shurikens?' His voice was loud enough to carry across the water, the boy must have heard him.
Yet he took his time answering, and once again he peered over his shoulder. This time he frowned darkly and his frosty voice carried up the slope. 'No.' He turned back to the water.
Naruto responded with his own irritated look and yelled, 'yeah, right, you're such a bigshot, you don't need training.' Grumbling angrily to himself, he shuffled on, this time at a quicker pace.
At the training area Naruto spun a shuriken and it glided a distance before landing somewhere beyond his sight. So engrossed in hurling his weapons, he failed to notice shadows moving amongst the trees.
The annoying thing about this constant throwing was the never-ending fetching. With a tired grunt he started for the edge of the clearing again.
'Looking for this?' A lanky older boy stepped from the shade of the trees, in his hand was the stray shuriken. 'Brats like you shouldn't have ninja weapons.'
Naruto creased his face in annoyance. It took him a few moments to sense the presence of two boys behind him. He was cornered, yet he wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing any fear in his face. Right then, he felt mad.
He charged, fists first, at the boy holding his shuriken aloft. He certainly didn't hear the taunts from the two behind, so intent was he on the first. His reach hit, but it was only one punch. The boy reacted with surprise, and Naruto was slammed backward with a side kick.
'Look at the stupid kid, trying to fight like a ninja.' The boy wiped at the trickle of blood under his nose.
Naruto got back up, his young voice snarling with unrestrained contempt, 'You give that back!'
The larger of the three boys chuckled snidely. 'The dumbass wants his ninja weapon.'
The boys wore the Leaf hitai-ate, and Naruto had seen them around the Academy. He didn't know them, but he did know they had only just graduated. Whoever they were, he didn't give a damn.
Without rational thought, Naruto flew at the first one. His flying kick swept by the boy's face, and Naruto landed hard on his back, behind him one of the boys had laid his foot into his side.
Naruto was down, and surrounded.
'Let's give him the shuriken.' The third kid, who was the smallest, sneered, as his foot stomped hard on Naruto's chest, knocking the wind out of him.
THUMP!… Thud!
'What…?'
The small boy cried out as he watched their leader go down with a flying kick to the back of the head.
The little kid swinging his feet came out of nowhere, as if he had dropped from the sky.
'It's that Uchiha kid,' shouted the only boy who appeared to have any muscle.
The leader, his brown shaggy hair falling over his headband, lifted his head, and said with calm authority, 'let's get the losers.'
The two came at the newcomer, as he swung his body around to hit both of them. There was no chance they were going to let him get away with it, and they came at him from both sides.
Naruto stared wide eyed at the violent exchange, and he whispered, 'Sasuke.'
Sasuke caught a punch to his side, yet managed to yell, 'You better get up Naruto.' He dodged a kick, and with heightened speed jumped to punch the big guy's throat.
Naruto stood, and his own rage empowered his strike. He ran at the one still holding his shuriken. Running so fast, his feet mounted the boy's abdomen, and the both of them fell backwards.
Naruto landed on his back, feeling his head spin. The other boy recovered, and Naruto watched him pull his arm back, preparing to throw the shuriken.
'You want it,' he shouted, 'you can have it!'
'Sasuke!'
Sasuke, his back to them, had the other two bearing down on him. He ducked low at the warning, and while the weapon spun toward him, he swept one of the boys off his feet. Sasuke and the boy toppled to the ground.
Sasuke squatted and breathed heavily, trying to catch his breath.
Naruto stood again, in an attempt to carry on the fight.
The first one, his face red with rage, declared fiercely, 'you dumbass brats better watch yourselves. You're just playing ninja, you don't know what it's like to be a real one.'
The small one, with the beginnings of a bruised eye, piped up arrogantly, 'next time it won't end like this.'
The three left the clearing at top speed, whilst Naruto shouted after them, 'We're gonna be better ninja than you. Believe it!
Naruto, suddenly light-headed, lent his hands on his knees and breathed hard. The pain in his side raced through to his guts, and he felt like throwing up. However, he didn't want to collapse in front of Sasuke no matter how bad he felt, instead he fell on his backside. 'You came?'
Sasuke stood, wiping the sweat from his brow, he looked down at Naruto with the same unchanging expression. 'Someone has to save losers like you.'
His comment stung, and yet he had come out to help him, he didn't have to. Naruto frowned and opened his mouth to retort.
'You better train hard, so you don't get beaten up.' Sasuke, still staring impassively, put his hand out to Naruto. 'You can't always have someone else fight your battles.'
Naruto caught hold of his wrist and stood, and he turned his lip up. 'Yeah, well, maybe I didn't need you at all.'
Sasuke dismissed him with an arrogant shake of his head. 'Idiot.'
'We sure showed them.' Naruto's irritation passed and he had an exhilarated gleam in his eyes, and his infectious grin spread across his face. 'Did you see my speed punch? And that flying heal kick is a move I'm working on,' he continued as he collected his weapons, 'super cool taijutsu I'm going to call it.'
Sasuke's face remained stiff and indifferent, and his hands went quickly into his pockets. 'You missed him.'
'Maybe, but next time, I won't miss.'
Sasuke shook his head in disdain. 'Whatever...'
The two boys started walking back to the outlying buildings.