Pointless

The blonde kitsune sat uncomfortably on his bed, trying to suppress his annoying cough.

''Great, I caught this cold when I needed it the least! Nontheless, I will show up on time, today. I hate having to confront Sasuke but I hate more staying in the blind about the kiss. I need to clear it out with him, even if his rejection will hurt me badly.'' Naruto thought as he sat up and started straightening out his usual orange uniform. The cough was getting worse every passing minute and the headache on his head could very well pull down walls with its intensity. It was a miracle how he found the will to get up with all this. It seemed like his feelings for his teammate were more important than his personal well being to him.

He wiped out his runny nose with a small paper he found on his night stand and stood up with effort, throwing the dirty paper into the small bin next to the door with one long but fine shot. He immediately felt dizzy and things around him started to go black, as he lost his powers and fell back on his bed like a powerless and lifeless ragged doll.

Nontheless, Sasuke always in his mind, urging his every desperate move this morning, he based himself on his elbows and pushed forward with every will left inside his sick body. He almost stumbled as he stood up from the great effort he had put in it, but he fast regained his balance.

With slow but fickle moves, he put on his trademark outfit and walked to his bathroom slowly. He washed his face tiredly and tried to smile to himself in the mirror. But the kid looking back at him in his reflection had a broken grimace on his face instead of his usual optimistic smile. He wondered if it was out of his exhaustion due to the flue that was tormenting him or because Sasuke's questionable reaction had affected him all that much. He didn't know. He was just confused.

He brushed his hair hurridly and gave one last look at the mirror, reflecting a very pale and weak looking boy. He was scared of his own image. He had never seen himself looking that weak, except for that time when he was 7 and he was down with the flu for the first time.

He gave out a weak smile and walked out of the house, almost dragging himself towards his destination. Good thing was that he wouldn't be late this time, since he had woken up early enough to be there on time.

Villagers who saw him walking on the street slowly and weakly gave him weird looks, some seemed worried, some seemed annoyed, some just curious. He ignored all the staring, since the only strength that have been left in him would be better of used to reach his destination and not put up pointless fights with the indiscreet and rude villagers.

Once close to the gathering spot, under the trees and 20 metres away from Ichikaru's, Naruto observed only two figures standing there, waiting patiently.

Kakashi must be in delay again. No wonder, there. He thought smirking satisfied that this time he wasn't the one to be the latest.

But the more he walked towards there, the taller one figure seemed to be, and the more it looked like his teacher. He rubbed his eyes in question. 5 steps more and he could see clearly: it was Kakashi and Sakura. But,…Sasuke? Where was he? He was never late?

Oh no…

His heart beat loudly in his chest.

Sasuke never misses missions or training. He must have caught a cold and it's all my fault! He must hate me now!

He shivered as he finally reached the two others. He was sick himself, but he had forgotten all about his condition, all he had cared for was to talk about last day with Sasuke and make things go normal again. But Sasuke hadn't showed up and now all he had managed was to seem like an idiot to his team for going there in the condition he was.

He shrugged visibly, as he coughed intensely before coming and standing next to Sakura who looked at him as if he had been puked on.

''Morning, team!'' he yelled, his voice not as loud though as usual out of his weakness.

''naruto-baka! What happened to you? You look ugly!'' Sakura snorted moving slightly away from Naruto.

Kakashi suppressed his laughs.

''Erhm, Sakura…I think Naruto is down with the flu. But that's not what bothers me. Naruto, why you came today if you are ill?'' the white haired sensei asked.

''Oh my god, Naruto, are you okay?'' Sakura yelled panicked as she placed her hand on Naruto's forehead causing him to blush slightly.

''Oh my, oh my! Kakashi-sensei, he's burning!'' Sakura yelled. Kakashi gave naruto a concerned glance and walked closer, placing his hand on his forehead, as Sakura had done before.

Immediately his gaze turned strict.

''Naruto, you seem to be in a very bad condition. You don't show up on oither days when you are completely fine but you do come when you are like this? Kids, these days.'' Kakashi sighed.

''Hey hey, you two! I am fine. I just didn't want to be late for today's mission since we lost last day's one out of me! Believe it!''

Kakashi caught Sakura's punch that was ready to collide with Naruto's face and then turned his gaze to the blonde ninja, raising a sarcastic eye brow.

''Not only are you stupid but you are also irresponsible. By coming with us today, in the condition you are, not only wont you be able to work properly in the mission but you will also put in danger your fellow teammates, since you can transfer them your flu.'' Kakashi finished stepping away.

'' . Seriously, Naruto I knew you aren't the brightest, but…what were you thinking?'' Sakura spatted, glaring daggers at naruto.

Sasuke.

''I am sorry, Sakura. You know me.'' He laughed it off, rubbying his head awkwardly.

''Whatever, Sasuke-kun didn't show up, either. I wonder if he's okay.'' Sakura said, suddenly her voice becoming concerned.

''Sasuke is down with the flu as well, he won't come today. I went to see him last night to talk about some personal training I have to do with him and he told me he didn't feel well and that if he didn't show up tomorrow, it meant he was probably sick. Unlike you, Naruto, Sasuke had the mind to think not only for himself but for the better of the whole team. I suggest you take this as an example.'' Kakashi said, as he walked away, making Naruto fume in anger.

''And since, both you and Sasuke cannot take part in the mission today, I will just go train with Sakura and apologize to the lady for the cancel and ask team 11 to accompany her out of Konoha. But you better take good care of yourself, today, Naruto. Lady Tsunade wont be as understanding with us as she has been so far if we keep on skipping missions.'' Kakashi said as he walked ahead, with Sakura following him pensive.

''Don't worry about granny, Kakashi-sensei! I can handle her! No big deal!'' Naruto yelled, earning an angered look from Sakura.

''You better be able to handle this, if it happens again,you baka!'' she yelled and then silenced as Kakashi nodded to her to keep walking.

''Naruto, go home. I will send someone to look at you later in the day.'' Kakashi said as his voice and figure faded in the distance.

''You don't have to, Kakashi-sensei! I'll be fine!'' Naruto yelled but he doubted if they could hear him anymore.

Heh, I bet Sakura was angry more because Sasuke didn't show up rather because we lost today's mission. He thought with a hint of jealousy but he fast drawned it down. Sakura was something like a sister-friend to him, he couldn't make such nasty thoughts about her just because he liked Sasuke.

He coughed bad , so bad that his whole body trembled and threatened to give up on him. He stood silent for some moments, then regained the strength to walk. He walked steadily and cautisouly to Ichikaru's. Even if ill, his apetite for ramen never ceased to burn fiery inside him. He walked in the shop and sat down, looking at Ichikaru with his worn out look.

''Hey hey, Ichi! Give me some ramen miso, I am as hungry as ever!'' he yelled, causing people around to cringe in the loudness.

''Naruto-boy, you seem exhausted. What's wrong?'' the man asked, observing the young man with concern.

''I am sick. So I need to eat to get better!'' Naruto said, laughing it off.

Ichikaru gave him a strict look.

''If you're sick you should be inside your warm house, recovering. I ain't serving ill people in my shop!'' the man said kinda sadly.

''Oh come on, don't do this to me! You know how much I love ramen!'' Naruto said, sighing desperate.

''Just give him what he asked for. I will take the blame on me if anything bad happens to him.'' A familiar voice behind him said and soon Naruto felt a hand tapping on his shoulder.

He turned around in a flash, surprisingly fast for his condition. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his wan face once he saw Iruka standing behind him.

''Iruka-sensei! How come you're here?'' Naruto asked, as ichikaru rolled his eyes and made his way towards the ramen bowls.

''I'd ask the same about you, Naruto. Shouldn't you be in your mission right now?'' Iruka asked as he took a seat next to the blonde.

''I wanted to go but Kakashi wouldn't let me because I am sick! Believe it!'' Naruto said earning a concerned gaze from his former teacher.

''Sick, huh? You seem like it. But you should have stayed in your bed, if that's the case, unless you wanna stay like this forever.'' Iruka said, smirking ironically.

''Yeah, yeah I know, I messed up again unlike Sasuke-sama who did the right thing and stayed in his house.'' Naruto said ironically, frustration starting to build up in his characteristics.

''Sasuke?'' Iruka asked, raisin an eye brow.

''Yeah yeah, that bastard. He's sick, too, as he told Kakashi-sensei. So, he didn't go to the mission either. Unlike me, he stayed home like the perfect good boy he is.'' Naruto said mockingly.

Iruka seemed more surprised now.

''That can't be true.'' He said, looking momentarily over Ichikaru who had just served them their ramen.

''What do you mean?'' Naruto asked, unsure.

''Sasuke can't be ill. Nor is he home. I just saw him minutes ago at the library, searching for a book. ''

Naruto's eyes snapped open in disbelief.

''You…did…what? Sasuke?''

''I didn't have the chance to ask him what he was doing there but I knowing him I figured he'd have a good reason to skip…''

Naruto didn't even let Iruka finish his phrase, as he was up on his feet before he had the time to complete it.

''Thanks for the ramen, sensei! I have to go now!'' he yelled as he spined off out of the shop as fast as he could, forgetting how dangerous it was putting all that strain on him.

He couldn't run fast enough, it was as if he was merely waking fast but he was doing his best to go as faster as he could. He heard Iruka protesting in the background but the voice soon faded as now he was making his way towards the library. He was so mad at Sasuke.

That bastard lied to us! He ain't ill, he is merely avoiding me, I know it's that!

But he…he wouldn't even miss training for any reason in the past, but he wont show up out of me now! Does he hate me all that much? Well, he'd better be a man and come tell me to my face that he despises me. I won't take any more of his ignorance!'' Naruto thought as he balled his fists, before entering the building, exhausted as he was.

As he was making his way towards the corridor, he ran across Lee, who looked at him with furrowed eye brows.

''Naruto! Where did the power of youth vanish in you? You seem so tired, Naruto!'' Lee said, shaking Naruto from his shoulders, surprised.

''Lee, calm down. I am just down with the flu, the power of youth shall return when I am better.'' Naruto said trying not to laugh with Lee's funny reaction.

''Hmmm, you are sick?'' Lee did incredibly.

''Then what are you doing here?'' he asked raising a confused eye brow.

''I went to meet team 7 this morning but Kakashi let me off, saying I was an idiot and so on. And I don't want to stay all day inside four concrete walls, looking at the ceiling.'' Naruto said but Lee didn't seem convinced. Well he couldn't tell him he was looking for Sasuke.

Suddenly, his heart stopped. With the corner of his eye , he could see someone with raven hair blue outfit and holding some books in his lap, staring frozen at him.

He turned his head slowly and his eyes locked with Sasuke.

Lee stood there looking at them confused but said nothing.

Nor Naruto, nor Sasuke said anything. Both locked into each other's surprised eyes, both feeling too akward to speak.

The first who snapped out of it was Sasuke, who removed his gaze from the blonde, regaining his emotionless composure. He started walking towards him, then past him, and then out of the building.

Naruto couldn't believe in his eyes. Even when all they did was insult each other, Sasuke would still aknowledge his presence in some way, even if negative one. He had never ignored him so pointidly, unless they had fought badly before.

And what hurt more, is that Naruto thought he knew the reason behind Sasuke's strange behavior.

He wanted to run after him and push him to discuss about everything they had to discuss, but he just didn't have the emotional strength anymore. He had overestimated himself, thinking it'd be way easier than it actually was. And now, Sasuke was walking away towards his house, Lee was staring dumb founded at Naruto and the last one was staring at the ground, trying to suppress the tears that were threatening the corners of his eyes.

''Naruto, are you okay?'' Lee asked, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, thinking the blond seemed like he was about to faint from the weakness.

''Don't worry, Lee. I guess I should just have stayed home, today.'' Naruto said, as he sighed silently before turning around.