xxxChapter 6: Whispers (Part One)xxx

Sasuke raked his fingers through ebony hair as he made his way to the stairwell.

Four weeks.

That was exactly how long he'd been spending time with these boys. And painful as it was to admit, they had grown on him, even Gaara and without doubt, Naruto. The more time Sasuke spent with the blond, the less he wanted to be away from him. In fact, sleeping over at his house had become a habit. Naruto had even begrudgingly gone out and made a copy of his key and gave it to Sasuke, since the boy practically invited himself over anyway. Needless to say, this opened many doors of opportunity in Sasuke's point of view...opportunities for what, he wasn't quite sure, but was certain that he would figure something out soon.

He smiled and fingered the key in his pocket. He was definitely coming over tonight; he had a surprise for Naruto.

It was strange how much he'd changed over the past few weeks. Skipping was something that came on a whim now, instead of being something unthinkable. They didn't do it periodically, only once in a while when the need to remain out of a stuffy classroom was too strong to ignore. Sasuke's grades had slipped because of it, but they were still above average, and Naruto's grades had shot up to a pleasing level.

Sasuke's reputation was also gradually changing, but not precisely in the way he had hoped it would. Instead of being ridiculed and shunned by students, he found that they were praising him. His new 'bad boy' image had attracted more of his fans than ever before, guys were trying to be like him. His popularity had seeped out, and soon enough, Naruto and company were suddenly being recognized by the whole student body.

It was sickening.

And then there was Itachi's...gift. The minute Sasuke had gotten over the shock of what he'd been given – and the fact that Itachi was apparently, a drug addict – he'd grabbed the packet and stuffed it into a pocket in his bag. His plan had been to throw it away in some random dumpster in town, but the next day, he'd found Naruto drinking again, this time from a bottle of water with a paper wrapped around it.

His chest had tightened at the sight, and he wondered if maybe Naruto did do things like that. And if he did, would he be pleased with Sasuke if he gave it to him? To be honest, Sasuke couldn't really picture Naruto snorting cocaine, but again, he didn't have the nerve to ask him, so he couldn't be sure. He didn't throw it away. It was in the same spot in his bag as it had been when he'd stuck it in there, unsure what to do with it.

All negative thoughts vanished instantly when he reached the stairwell, and found Naruto sitting on a step, leaning against the wall, snoozing. Sasuke snorted a laugh and sat down next to him. With a smile, he pinched a tan nose between his thumb and forefinger and waited...

Blue eyes snapped open and pink lips parted for a gasp of air.

Sasuke released the nose, "Mornin' dobe."

Naruto breathed shakily and threw a glare at the other boy. "You asshole, you could've just shook me!"

"Hn, but where's the fun in that?"

"Tch, jerk..."

Sasuke grinned and slung an arm around the blond's neck. "Anyway, I have a surprise for you."

Naruto's angry face rapidly changed to curiosity with a lace of excitement, "Really? What is it?"

The raven pulled the other close until his lips brushed against an ear. He enjoyed the proximity for a moment before whispering, "You're a pussy..."

Naruto's jaw dropped and he stared at the other boy, who was smiling triumphantly. "What the hell? Is that supposed to make me happy?"

"Think about it."

Naruto did think...for about thirty seconds, until it hit him, "Holy crap! You said 'pussy'!"

Sasuke nodded, "Along with any other vulgarity you can come up with, I think I've mastered them all."

He flinched when he was suddenly yanked into a hug, "I'm so proud of you! You can speak freely now!"

Sasuke chuckled and pushed him off. "Now, I held up my end, where's your math test?"

"Huh? Oh right." Naruto grabbed his bag and zipped it open, rummaging around for a minute before coming up with a wrinkled piece of paper. He grinned sheepishly before smoothing it over his lap as best he could and handing it to the other, "I think you'll be very pleased with the results, Mr. Uchiha."

Sasuke blushed at all the dirty images that name conjured up, and all the situations it could be used in. He took the paper and looked it over, lips quirking into a smile "My my, a 'B', that's certainly an improvement, I think you deserve a reward."

Azure eyes widened briefly, "Reward?" He'd never been "rewarded" for a good grade before, "What kind of reward?"

Sasuke smirked and folded the paper into a small square before stuffing it into his pocket. "You'll see tonight, when we go home."

"Wha...who's home?"

"Yours."

"When...you didn't even ask if you could come over!"

"Do I ever? You gave me my own key anyway."

"Still! It's my home!"

"Uh-huh."

"You tem-"

Pale fingers caught moving lips between them, "Don't talk so much dobe, you'll hurt yourself."

Naruto's brow crumpled as his mouth was released, but he grinned anyway, and it, in turn, pulled a smile out of Sasuke.

"So Naruto, did you-"

"Naruto!"

Sasuke's smile slipped away, and his eyes narrowed dangerously as a thin brunette girl suddenly latched herself around Naruto's neck.

Naruto blushed and stuttered as the girl's breasts pressed against his back, "Um...h-hi?"

A foreign anger flared up in Sasuke's stomach and his teeth clenched reflexively, "Who is this?" he gritted out.

The poor blond shrugged and mouthed 'I don't know.'

The girl looked offended, "Naruto, it's me, Mikiko, we have Health together."

Black eyes widened...Mikiko...this was one of those girls that always followed Sasuke around. But then why was she pressing up on Naruto? Unless...

Naruto coughed nervously, "Uh, I'm sorry...Mikiko, but I don't...I don't think you've spoken to me before."

"What?" she blinked and hugged him tighter, "That's ridiculous! Why wouldn't I want to talk to a cutie like you?"

Sasuke growled and angrily yanked Naruto out of Mikiko's grasp, pulling him to his chest. "What do you want?" he spat. This girl didn't like Naruto, she only wanted him because he was close to Sasuke.

"What do you mean Sasuke? I was only paying Naruto compliments." She asked, hands laced innocently behind her back.

He unconsciously dug his nails into tan shoulders, making Naruto wince. "He's not interested."

"Hey! That hurts! And I have a mouth, you ass!"

Mikiko shrugged. "Well what about you Sasuke? Are you interested?"

"No," he bit out.

The girl smiled and crossed her arms over her chest, purposely pushing her breasts together to make her cleavage more prominent, then leaning down to Naruto's face she breathed out, "You sure you don't want to go do something together? It could be," she licked her lips suggestively, "fun."

Naruto's face flamed up, "Well...I-"

"He's not interested." Sasuke cut in icily.

Mikiko huffed and moved her hands to her hips, "I think Naruto can speak for himself."

"Stop talking about him like he's so familiar to you."

"What is he? Your property?"

"Fuck off."

Her face scrunched up into a scowl and she whirled around and stomped away.

Sasuke felt a knot in his stomach loosen as he watched her retreating back, and he released Naruto's shoulders, only to get shoved back to the wall behind him by the angry blond.

"What the hell was that about?" Naruto hollered.

"What?"

"I can speak for myself! You can't just grab me and shut me up like that! I make my own decisions! Why did you do that?!"

Sasuke jerked his head to the side stubbornly. He might not know what exactly he was feeling for Naruto, but he wasn't stupid, he was obviously infatuated with the other boy, and his reaction to Mikiko could be summed up in one very simple answer:

Jealousy.

But that wasn't the whole thing. True, he had been jealous, but what had angered him more and caused him to react so violently was the fact that Mikiko had tried to use Naruto, and that pissed him off.

Naruto frowned, "Now you have nothing to say?"

Just what the hell was he supposed to say?

"Don't ask me questions I can't answer."

"Then who should I ask? You're the only one who knows the motivation for your actions, Sasuke."

Sasuke scoffed, thinking how Naruto couldn't be more wrong. Like hell he knew why he acted the way he did around him. He exhaled a soft sigh...he couldn't go out and say, "I was jealous", that held the possibility of raising questions...but giving him the partial truth couldn't hurt, he supposed, "She was just trying to use you...it upset me."

Naruto's eyes widened a fraction before his face softened. He sat back in a slump, relaxing his muscles and lightly 'thumping' his head against the wall, staring half lidded at Sasuke. "...I wasn't going to say yes anyway..."

Sasuke tilted his head, "No?"

"No...You might think I'm an idiot Sasuke, but I'm not. Do you really expect me to believe that all of a sudden, out of the blue, girls are coming left and right asking me out because they like me? I may not be book smart, but I know fake people when I see them, and I know the only reason they're talking to me is because they want to get close to you."

Sasuke snorted and grinned, "Well what do you know? There's a brain in that pretty blond head of yours."

Naruto kicked the other playfully in the shin, "Teme."

"Hn, dobe."

"How sweet, you two came early to sit together, insult, and kick the crap out of each other."

Naruto smiled and stood up, "Yes Kiba, that is exactly what we had planned out, your genius never ceases to amaze me."

Kiba closed his eyes and raised his head haughtily, "Yes yes, I know I'm amazing."

Naruto laughed and placed his arms behind his head, nodding in greeting to Gaara, who returned the gesture, "So what's happening today?"

The brunet tapped his chin for about half second, "I didn't study for Umino's test, so it's a no go."

Naruto shrugged. "Kay, get your ass up Sasuke."

Sasuke frowned and stood up, clutching his bag to his chest.

Naruto raised a brow. "You know, you've been very attached to that thing lately, there a reason for it?"

"What?"

He pointed. "You're bag; I swear you haven't been two feet away from it for weeks."

Sasuke scowled, "It's my bag, I want it near me."

Kiba's nose tilted up a bit. "But you've been treating it like it's a vital organ or something."

"Drop it."

Naruto smirked, "Are hiding something from us, Sasuke?"

"Let's just go."

"C'mon now teme, we don't hide things from you."

"Bullshit!"

"Okay, maybe, but I still wanna see." He held out a tan hand, "Give it here Sasuke."

"Who the hell do you think you are dobe? You can't order me around."

Kiba made a grab for the bag but it was moved out of his reach. Unfortunately, while Sasuke was distracted with the brunet, Naruto snatched the bag out of his hands and signaled for Gaara and Kiba to hold him back.

Sasuke thrashed with futile results against the restraining hold, heart pounding wildly as Naruto opened the big zipper. The blond looked bored as he ruffled around the pack, "Hn, paper, books, nothing special." He zipped it closed and opened another pocket right in front of the bag.

"Pencils, pens...oooh money, I'll leave that there for you...Why're you moving around so much? I don't see anything worth hiding." he closed it and walked up to Sasuke, holding the bag out.

Sasuke's heart calmed down considerably for a moment, before Naruto's blue gaze landed on the pouch on the side of the bag, "Hey, I missed one."

Sasuke went into panic mode 'No!' "Naruto don't!"

"Oh, so this is the one you're trying to hide huh?" He smiled as he ripped the Velcro apart and stuck his hand in, pulling out a plastic bag, his smile fell away, "What...what is..." he flipped the bag in his fingers and looked disbelievingly at Sasuke, who was free now, his holders having let go from shock, "Why do you have this?"

Sasuke opened his mouth, but closed it again quietly, realizing there was no definite answer.

"Why do you have this?!"

"Dude, you were bitching about me having a pocket knife and you're packing drugs?"

Sasuke glared at Kiba, "It's not like that."

"Then what the hell is it like? Because this looks pretty fucking bad to me!" Naruto yelled, dropping the backpack.

"It's not...I don't..."

"Where did you get this?"

"My brother."

"The one that you hate?"

"Yes."

Naruto shook his head. "You understand how fucked up that sounds?"

Oh yes. Sasuke understood perfectly, but he was simply answering Naruto's questions. "It wasn't...it wasn't for me."

"Then who was..." Azure eyes widened and Naruto put up a nasty snarl as a theory came to mind. "You thought we would want it, didn't you?"

Kiba squinted at Sasuke, "What?"

The raven had his head hung down, features hidden by his bangs; "I...wasn't sure..." he flinched when the packet was thrown at his chest, and looked up hesitantly at Naruto.

The blond had his hands balled at his sides, his whole body shivering with the effort to repress something, "You fucking bastard! After all this time you've spent with us, you're still judging us and still treating us like the crap under your shoes!"

"Naruto I don't..." he quieted when Naruto dismissed him with a hand and a huff. He turned and walked away, reaching a wall and placing an arm on it, then burying his face in his elbow.

Sasuke groaned. Honestly, how many times can you fuck up with the same person in one lifetime? And this felt so much worse than the first time he'd hurt the boy. Why hadn't Gaara just killed him already? It would sure make things a hell of a lot easier!

Kiba sighed, "I'll go talk to him." He moved forward but Sasuke put an arm in front of him, "No, I'll go, it was my mistake, and you won't keep going when I'm the one who makes him like this."

Kiba blinked before putting his hands up, "Whatever man, if you say so, but don't come crying to me if he punches the fuck right out of you."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and strode up quietly to the fuming blond. When he wasn't noticed, he raised his fingers to tap him, but decided against it and put them back down. "Naruto."

Naruto stiffened and turned around slowly, wiping furiously at his eyes to keep threatening tears at bay. "What?" he clipped.

Sasuke's heart plunged down into his stomach, and before he even thought about it, "I'm sorry" flew right out of his mouth.

"No!" Naruto fisted his wet eyes angrily, half pissed at Sasuke and half pissed at himself. He didn't want to be angry with Sasuke, he didn't want to be anything with Sasuke! Happy, sad, angry – nothing! He shouldn't want acceptance from him! He shouldn't care about what Sasuke thought of him! He wanted indifference! But something about Sasuke...just wouldn't fucking let him have it!

"I can't believe you would think of us like that! I can't believe you'd think I'd do something like that!" He didn't know half the things that were coming out of his mouth, "You haven't changed one fucking bit! Still judging us like we're lower than you!"

Sasuke knew he should've snapped back, should've pointed out that Naruto's drinking could've fooled anyone into thinking he did similar things, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't stand the thought of Naruto being upset with him, it...hurt. He took a deep breath and pulled Naruto's hands down by his wrists, then cupped the blond's face and gently swiped his thumbs under wet, blue eyes. He tried to smile reassuringly, even though his stomach was flipping like it was a caged animal. "I'm sorry, don't...please don't cry because of me."

Naruto was completely, utterly still, a pretty blush dusting his cheeks. Until the words sank in and he wrenched away from Sasuke's grasp, roughly wiping at all the wet spots on his face. "I'm not crying." he stated childishly, not wanting to believe he'd allow someone to have such power over him. That someone could matter enough to make him cry.

Sasuke smiled, "Good, it doesn't suit you."

Naruto slowed his movements and wiped his sleeve under his nose, looking up at the other through bleary eyes. "...You know how much I thought you changed."

"I have changed."

"Then why would you try and give me something like that?" he blurted out, not realizing that this conversation had taken a more personal turn.

Sasuke chewed on the inside of his cheek nervously for a moment before making a decision and answering best he could, "It's...complicated. Sometimes...my brother can talk me into things that I wouldn't normally think twice about. It's like he knows how my mind works, and worms his sick self through me, pushing just the right buttons to get me to do what he wants, and I always fall for it. No matter how much I refuse or claim that I make the decisions for myself, I know I always end up doing what he planned."

Sasuke paused as he realized that he was rambling. But he didn't care, it was the first time he could talk about his brother to someone who wouldn't jump to take Itachi's side. It felt good to finally tell someone who had an objective point of view about what a manipulative bastard his brother really is. He lifted a hand and tucked a tuft of blond hair behind Naruto's ear. "Like this. Somehow, he knew by giving me that I would end up hurting you like this. It was his goal, and I blindly played right into it."

He licked his lips and smiled, "But I'm sure what he didn't expect, was for me to come and straight out apologize to you. I swear, you are the only person alive who has dragged out so many 'I'm sorry's' from me. And at first, it was awkward and new, but now when I say it, it's sincere and I'm not embarrassed. So yes dobe, you have changed me, give yourself a pat on the back."

Naruto had a blank stare on his face, his lips parted slightly as he drank in every word the Uchiha said. He shook his head rapidly in an attempt to dissipate the awe, "Well that's a very nice speech Sasuke, but how do I know your apologies are sincere?"

The dark boy chuckled and ran his fingers through sunshine locks. He'd just discovered he liked Naruto's hair. It was soft and silky and felt just right between his fingers, no doubt from now on he'd give any excuse to touch it, "I'm not really asking for forgiveness, even though I am sorry, I don't think I deserve it. I'm asking for one more chance to show you that I've changed...and that I'm not out to hurt you, and I promise I won't anymore. I like you most when you're happy." The words were pouring out of him like a fountain, and he was a bit surprised to find that every one of them were true.

Naruto frowned, "Goddamn...you've got quite a way with words. You could get yourself out of any situation with a tongue like that."

"Hn, it's useful for other things too."

"...What?"

Sasuke chuckled. It was strange. Naruto was so fucking perverted at times, and at others, Sasuke could swear he had the mind of a five year old...well that was most of the time really. "Nothing dobe, let's go back, ne?"

Naruto blinked in innocent confusion but nodded anyway. He walked past Sasuke but stopped, slowly facing him again.

"What's wrong?" the Uchiha questioned worriedly.

Naruto flicked his eyes to meet with black ones, and Sasuke almost flinched at the intensity he saw in them. "Naruto, what's the matter?"

Naruto looked away for a moment and crossed his arms. "I don't know why I'm admitting this," he glanced back up at the pale boy, "But...listen because I won't say it again. Like you said, I know I'm no role model...and I know that sometimes my drinking gets out of hand...but...it really hurt me, that you thought I did things like that...I don't know why, but it did, and I'm asking you..." He bit his lip harshly, as if this were one of the hardest things he'd ever done in his entire years of existence. "Please...don't make me feel like that again...ever."

Sasuke actually jerked at the emotion in the words, and felt wave after wave of something wash over him. "I promise," these damn feelings again.

Naruto dropped his arms and gave a small smile, "Thanks."

He nodded and watched the blond turn and walk away, and he made a decision, "By the end of today, I'm going to find out what this feeling is...and I know who's going to tell me." he muttered as he looked up and locked gazes with cold, green eyes.

x-X-0-X-x

Sasuke twirled one of his bangs around a finger with a bored face as he waited for the others to get in. When they were all in and comfortable, he gripped the steering wheel and turned the key, the engine roaring to life.

Naruto, who was in the passenger seat, was flipping buttons and examining the interior with wide, curious eyes. "I've never ridden in a foreign car before! Lamborghinis go fast, right?"

"I'm not going to get a ticket just because your ADHD gives you a need for speed, dobe."

"Why not? You can pay for it easy!" He paused, fingertip hovering another switch. "Hey I do not have ADHD!"

"Tell me where I'm going please."

Naruto pouted and looked at the two in the back. "Today's going to be total slack fun!"

"Even after what happened this morning?"

"Uh...we're going to pretend that never happened. The crack is gone and we settled it out, so it never happened."

Kiba suddenly lurched forward in Naruto's face. "You and Sasuke were pretty touchy feely back there...is there something going on between you two?"

"Oh no," the blond threw a glance at the driver. "Sasuke, Kiba has discovered our secret relationship."

Sasuke smirked, "Whatever shall we do?"

Naruto laughed, "Yes Kiba, we've been fucking the hell out of each other every night. Why do you think he comes over to my place so often?"

"Ah ha! I knew it!"

Naruto shoved the boy back on the seat with one hand. "Shut up, dumbass." Naruto drummed his fingers on the headrest for a moment with a contemplative look before grinning widely and grabbing his seat with both hands. "Hey! I know what we can do! Gaara, didn't your brother just open a tattoo shop a couple of blocks from here?"

"Yes."

"Whelp! There you go! Drive Sasuke!"

A few minutes went by...Naruto coughed, "And we're not moving because...?"

"Tattoos?"

"Yeah."

"We're getting tattoos?"

"Uh-huh."

"The permanent ones?"

"Do you know any others?"

"Why? Shouldn't we have planned for this sort of thing?"

"Oh come on Sasuke, who shoved that stick back up your ass? Just drive the damn car and we'll discuss it when we get there."

Sasuke grunted a 'Fine' as he pulled out of the lot, looking in the rear view mirror to see Kiba bouncing up and down excitedly in his spot, and Gaara, impassive as always.

A few minutes and failed attempts to change Naruto's mind later, they were in front of a building labeled Poisonous Needles.

Sasuke frowned at the shop title, Who the hell wants to go into tattoo shop with poisonous needles?

Naruto grinned and hopped out of the vehicle, Kiba not three steps behind him, while Gaara and Sasuke moved with a bit more grace.

"Kankuro!" the blond threw himself around a tall, brunet man with a purple pattern of lines tattooed all over his face.

"Naruto? Kiba? What are you two doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?" he looked up when the door opened and two more people, including his younger brother, walked in. "...What is this? What are you all doing here?"

Naruto slid up next to Sasuke, "We're here to get tattoos, what else would you come to a tattoo shop for?"

Kankuro scratched his head for a moment before shrugging, "Can't say I didn't skip too. Whatever, if it means money for me, go ahead and pick what you want."
Naruto nodded and patted Sasuke's back. "Alright money man, do your stuff."

"Now wait a minute dobe, I never agreed to getting a tattoo, you said we would discuss this."

"Okay, we're all getting tattoos, and you're paying. There, it's discussed!"

Coal eyes narrowed.

"Stop being such a hardass! Don't you want a tattoo?"

"Not really."

"C'mon, look at Kankuro! He looks like a warrior!"

"He looks like a clown."

"Oh don't be like that you prick!"

Sasuke was about to continue protesting when an idea popped into his dark head, and he smirked, "Fine, I'll get one on a condition."

"What?"

"We pick for each other."

"...Each other?"

"Yeah, you pick one for me and I pick one for you." Sasuke wasn't too thrilled about getting a tattoo, but he had to admit, he was curious to see what Naruto would pick for him.

"Hm...that actually sounds fun...okay, but we also get to pick the spots we get them on!"

"Hn, fine, but please, don't pick something too...provocative."

"Man, you just have to suck the fun out of everything, don't you?" Naruto turned around to a huge wall of pictures and began searching.

Sasuke snorted and went to the opposite wall, glancing at Kiba who was animatedly showing a picture to a 'I honestly couldn't care less' Gaara.

He scanned the wall of intricate patterns, crude sayings and busty women until his eyes fell on something that caught his interest.

A spiral.

He quirked a brow and traced the design with his finger. The swirl was even, and it reminded him of how much Naruto confused him, "Perfect." He turned around, only to find the blond he'd been thinking of in his face, holding up a piece of paper with three dots on it, each one with a tail curving in from the end, all three making a disconnected circle. "What's that?"

"The one I picked for you."

"Why'd you pick that one?"

Naruto flipped the paper to look at it, "Not sure really...but somehow...I just think it matches you." He smiled and looked back up, "What'd you pick for me?"

Sasuke took the paper out of the other's hand and studied it for a moment, then pointed to the drawing behind him.

Naruto leaned down to examine it, "A spiral? It's pretty neat...I like it, why'd you pick it?"

"Because you confuse the hell out of me."

"What? How?"

"Don't worry about it, now where do you want me to have this?"

Naruto grinned.

"A decent spot."

"Che..." The blond stood up straight and placed a finger on the juncture between Sasuke's neck and shoulder. Sasuke felt heat erupt from the contact, and a trail of fire burn hotly as the finger slid forward, ending up right at the back of the curve of his neck.

Naruto tapped the finger twice and smiled, "Right here."

...Was Sasuke supposed to respond to that? He didn't think he could...he was sure the words would get stuck in his saliva deprived mouth, but he tried anyway, "Why there?" Ahh, communication successful.

"Think about it, your dad will be super pissed if he finds out you got a tattoo, but he'll be even more pissed if it's in a spot that makes it look like you were trying to hide it from him." He let his hand slip away, and the pale boy really had to stretch his willpower not to let a palm fly up to touch the warm skin.

Damn it, he was tired of Naruto making him feel like some giggling school girl, and it just so happens that this was a perfect chance to give him a taste of his own medicine, "Well, I'm impressed, that's pretty smart thinking for a baka."

"Ha!" Naruto puffed out his chest, "You're just mad because you didn't think of it first!"

"Hn, want to know where I want yours?"

"Sure!"

Sasuke smiled wickedly, "Right here." He quickly slipped his hand under Naruto's shirt and pressed his palm flat against the toned stomach.

Naruto's chest deflated immediately, a flaming blush colored his entire face and his jaw dropped.

Sasuke chuckled and leaned down, swirling a finger around the stomach as if the spiral were already there, "I want it right here, around your navel." He was a bit surprised by his own boldness, but the look on the other's face urged him onward. A surge of excitement ran straight to his groin when he slid the hand up a bit, making Naruto whimper softly, and he placed his other palm on the small of a tan back, pushing it inward. God, he felt really hot all of a sudden, and Naruto's skin was burning beneath his fingers.

Hoping he'd proven his point (at least to himself), he pulled his hands out and straightened up before things escalated into something more complicated than they already were.

Naruto was panting slightly, eyes wide. "Oh...okay then...um..."

"Let's go see what the others picked." Sasuke offered.

"Yeah! Yeah that's a good idea!"

They turned around awkwardly and joined Kiba and Gaara. The brunet stared at the flustered Naruto. "What's up with you? You're all red."

"N-nothing!" Naruto responded a bit to defensively. "What'd you pick?"

Kiba grinned and proudly pointed to a pair of red stripes on the wall, "Pretty cool huh? I'm getting them right under my eyes!"

Naruto nodded, "Gaara?"

The stoic boy simply tilted his head to a symbol, the kanji symbol for 'love.'

Naruto's brows furrowed, "You serious?"

Gaara nodded and moved his bangs out of his face, "Corner of my forehead."

Naruto scowled and turned away from the group, "Why would you want to pick something so useless and stupid?" he muttered.

Sasuke's eyebrows shot up at the venom in the blond's words.

Gaara shrugged, "It's what I chose."

Naruto bit his lip, then snorted dismissively, "Fine, whatever, let's go." He made his way over to Kankurou to get his tattoo.

Sasuke stood rooted to the spot. There was no doubt in his mind about choosing the spiral for Naruto, because there was no question, Naruto definitely confused the hell out of him.