Chapter Five: Their Advise

I just figured out that writing the first few chapters of a story is really easy, but as you add on, it gets a lot harder to get all your thoughts straight.

MUST READ! I met a Shippuden version Sasuke at Target in the Asian isle. He wasn't even wearing a wig and he looked like Sasuke. He was Asian, tall, lean, his hair was gelled to look like Sasuke's and he was HOT! It was so disappointed when I asked for a picture and he refused. I did ask if Naruto was near by, and he said that the guy who was cosplaying as Naruto wasn't with him at the store. I had a feeling that they both would probably be the most realistic pair ever! But not better than Nova and Twin, since they were an actual couple…

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Kishimoto does… But if I did own it, that would be really cool. I own all OC mentioned the story though! Enjoy ^_^v

It was practically common fact that Naruto never asked questions and just did what he felt was right. It was a fifty-fifty deal most the time, and with Naruto's uncanny knack of being lucky, he had a lower chance of getting into real trouble. As far as anyone knew, Naruto only like- liked one person, and he was pretty rash and straightforward about it. So it went without saying, the question he asked was like snow in fire country… it was extremely improbable and only happened once every blue moon.

"How do you know someone likes you?"

Sakura almost lost her balance on the bridge railing she was leaning on. Her feet clamped around the wooden barrier, preventing her from falling into the water. She snapped her head towards Naruto, a stunned expression on her face. She looked around wildly to make sure that no one else had asked that question. Sasuke had gone with Kakashi to go get Kiba, so the bridge was currently occupying Hinata, Shino, Naruto and herself, so it had to have been Naruto. Sakura was even more flabbergasted that that was the first thing her usually idiotic teammate would say. She had first thought that Naruto would be bursting with energy, making up for the silence Sakura, Shino and Hinata were creating. But that wasn't happening…

"Could you repeat the question?" She pulled a stray pink hair behind her ear, peering over at Naruto, who looked overly attentive. He gave the impression of being like a five year old about to be told directions to do their parents an 'important' job.

"Well… How do you know when you… you know… like someone?" His hands made a weak floppy motion in the air, looking like a cross between shooing a person and whacking a fly.

"You're not trying to impress me, right?" Sakura cautiously asked. Her eyes hardened slightly as she said this.

"No."

Sakura sighed deeply in relief. Really Naruto wasn't so bad when he wasn't hitting on her… or being loud… or late. Whatever. But it wouldn't do that much harm in informing him. Maybe it was the clothes because it was easier to talk to someone who wasn't flashing neon colored material in your face. Sakura crossed her arms, and nodded her head; not too unlike from what Iruka used to do during class.

"First thing you need to know is that it depends on the person."

She looked back at Naruto to make sure he was paying attention. She was delighted to see him paying more attention to what she as saying compared to mission reports. Now, that was getting somewhere.

"There are different kinds of girls. Some will give you letters, tease you, stare at you, praise you, ask you out…"

Naruto zoned out after only a few examples. His problem was that he wasn't having difficulty with a girl, but a boy…boys. Same difference. So he liked Sasuke, and 'Atsushi' liked him. So through a natural circle, would that mean Sasuke would like 'Atsushi'? He almost laughed at the thought. There was just no way; their personalities would probably clash… He licked his chapped lips, thinking about the kiss and the tomato thing. He felt like was missing something really important, like a vital point he just wasn't seeing. That was weird… He almost banged his head on the floorboards, but stopped before they considered sending him to the mental ward. Seeing as Sakura wasn't really helping with her current suggestions, Naruto would have to ask an indirect question that would benefit him. Fingering a lock of his hair, he tried to act as nonchalantly as possible.

"How does a guy tell a girl, then?"

Naruto flinched at the slight insult to himself in this scenario, but it wouldn't be good if he started asking questions like 'How does a guy tell another guy he likes him?'

Not only would that be embarrassing, but also he wasn't ready to show his colors.

"Well… They compliment you, like they'll say you're pretty every day no matter what, he might take you out or help you with something just to have an excuse to be with you. Or maybe the more subtle type! Like glances or quick touches! KYAHH!"

Well that answered his question pretty well. He shuffled away from his overreacting teammate, who was practically spouting hearts and looked like a fish out of water. This whole crush business was sounding more and more like an espionage mission. Naruto rolled up the sleeves to his light green shirt, pacing the bridge at the same time. Each time he did, he would first face the empty road leading back to Konoha, and then Hinata who was standing silently near Shino on the other side of the bridge. Naruto was mulling over the thought on whether he should ask Hinata's opinion or not. No harm asking her…

"Hinata! What do you do when a guy likes you?"

At the sound if his voice calling out to her, Hinata froze like rabbit caught in a trap. She couldn't decide if she should pretend to not hear him or just answer somehow. Her hands clasped in front of her, her jaw quivered in trying to answer the embarrassing question.

Naruto started to walk towards her, oblivious to her inner distress.

"N-n-naruto! W-watch o-out!" Hinata yelled.

Not seeing what she meant, he looked in the air, looking for a flying weapon or an enemy ninja coming fort. Twisting around, he heard a creak under his left foot, which was placed over a rotting board in the middle of the bridge. Oh shit. Not having anytime to react, the board collapsed underneath him, sending him into the cold water. He was careful to close his eyes so that the wooden chips wouldn't cut them. As his hands moved to push himself up to the surface, he felt a tug at his neck by the time he broke through the water. Why did he always have to fall into water? Three times he fell in water in the past month! He could fight on water, and walk on water, so how come he could never stop himself from falling in when he wasn't in fighting mode. It was like some universal message or something!

"Naruto are you okay!" He looked up to see Kiba with Akamaru. The others had finally come back, and were also staring down at Naruto from the ledge of the bridge.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" Naruto called back up. He rubbed the skin around his neck, which felt slightly irritated and was probably red. His fingers lightly brushed against the string and chain that hung around his neck. His heart stopped. His eyes steered themselves down to his chest where Tsunade's necklace on the string was hanging, and the metal chain, too. But without the dog tag. It hung loosely and broken on his chest, the tag no longer connected. "You've got to be kidding me! I lost my necklace!"

He recalled the slight pull when the chunks of wood past him under water, so the necklace piece probably was wedged in the wood…which was floating down stream at the moment. Without even pardoning himself, he rushed downriver.

"Naruto! Come back we have training!" Kakashi tried yelling to get his attention. By the retreating figure in the distance, it obviously didn't work.

"He better run! Isn't that blue necklace the current and past Hokages'? He's so screwed if he lost it!" Kiba stated to the quiet shinobi on the bridge.

"And Tsunade would be very upset. I mean that was probably her most precious item, and she trusted Naruto with it." Kurenai commented.

"K-kiba…" Everyone turned to Hinata who was poking her fingers bashfully.

"What is it Hinata?" Shino asked patiently. He was pretty sure that he knew what she was about to say, anyway.

"N-naruto was wearing two necklaces t-today. The blue one w-was still around his n-neck when h-he went away."

"Huh… I wonder where he got that? He was asking some advice about girls and dating… You don't think a girl gave him that necklace do you?" Sakura deducted. (Transitivity?)

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, looking in the direction that Naruto had run off to. The Dobe, with a girl? He felt an unusual pull around the chest area, and he rubbed it in annoyance. It's not like Naruto would return this girl's feelings, right? Sasuke had noticed that Naruto was acting somewhat strange the past few weeks, but he never thought it would be over a girl. This really wasn't worth his time, but… he had to know who she was.

"Not here… not here… AH! I found it!" Naruto fished out a chunk of wood from the water. The dog tag and a little piece of the metal chain were hooked into a crevice in the wood. Naruto jerked it out, throwing the wood back into the water to float father down stream. Naruto looked at the tag, relieved that he hadn't lost it. It was technically one of the first gifts he had ever received, and he would never be able to replace it. Humming, he pulled himself above the water, and walked on top of it the rest of the way across the river. By the looks of it, training should only be half way done, but by the time he found them they would be finished. Seeing as he had nowhere to go, Naruto dragged himself under a tree, and started to twirl a kunai between his fingers. The sun had already dried off his wet feet, but his shoes were still slightly damp from the water. Kicking them off, Naruto fiddled with the necklace and chain. He could always buy another chain, but he never went into trinket stores. The last time he did that, the owner had thrown him out, claiming that he was going to steal something.

"Naruto! I thought your team was training with Kurenai-sensei's!"

Naruto bent his head back, looking at his fellow blonde approach. Her ponytail bounced up and down as she jogged towards him. She wore her usual outfit, but there were some rips on the edge of her white arm warmers probably from training. Greeting her enthusiastically, he waved at Shikamaru, Chouji and Asuma, who were talking a little farther off.

"I kinda ran off. I fell off the bridge and a chunk of wood ripped off my necklace."

Ino was confused that the statement, clearly seeing the blue jewel lying comfortable around Naruto's neck. Peering closer, she saw the faint red line circling is tanned neck. Naruto held up the broken necklace for her to see; the tag looped into the string, but the metal still broken. Taking the necklace from Naruto, she inspected the chain.

"So… did Sasuke give it to you?"

"No!" Naruto quickly replied.

Ino giggled at his hasty reply; obviously not believing him. Rolling the chain in her hand, she placed it in her lap. "I have an extra chain clip you can put on this, but first you have to tell me when Sasuke gave it to you."

Sighing in frustration and embarrassment, Naruto tried to deny her claims, but was shushed every time. He grew red as she began to chant about his and Sasuke's secret love. Naruto almost gagged at some of the things she started to suggest. He watched her pull out a bag of supplies, ranging from bandages, to wires of different sizes. Shifting through the bag, she pulled out a small pocket that held small items like buttons and pins. After a little more teasing, she finally found the small clip, and attached it to one side of the broken necklace. He wondered why she kept around so much stuff. Some of the materials in the bag weren't even useful to a ninja. Girls…

"Well, no need to tell me. I already know." She said, slipping the necklace over his head. Her assumptions were getting irritating, but Naruto thought it wise to let her think what she wanted. "I'm glad you found it. If I gave you the necklace, I would be mad if you lost it. I'll see you around, Naruto."

Brushing the dirt on her knees, she ran back towards her team, but not before sending a wink to him. Naruto smiled in response, giving Team 10 a small wave before messing with the ornaments lying on his chest. Naruto's eyes began to feel heavy, the warm sun, and nice breeze making sleepy. His gaze on the river became hazy, and his eyes drooped until he nodded off.

Sasuke walked away from the training area where they had just finished up for the day. It was almost afternoon now, and Naruto had been missing since earlier that morning. Training really wasn't that challenging without Naruto. Hinata and Sakura just weren't tough enough, and Shino could easily be defeated once his bugs were out of the way. Sasuke was practically oozing disappointment at the day's turn out, his usual scowl carving its away even lower on his face. Sasuke smoothed out his hair and walked along the riverbank, staring at his distorted reflection. He fingered his hair again, wondering if Naruto was right and he should get it cut. Sasuke's concentration was broken when he heard splashing and yells farther ahead. Jumping into the trees, he moved swiftly through the forest, but kept to the edge. Gazing through the leaves, Sasuke saw two blonde heads really close to each other. Activating his Sharingan, he was able to see them more clearly. Ino and Naruto were sitting next to each other under a tree, talking to each other. Sasuke could only hear hushed noises, so he moved in even closer.

"…I gave you the necklace. I would be mad if you lost it. I'll see you around, Naruto."

Ino! Ino have Naruto the necklace? Sasuke sat in the tree, completely still and watched the blonde girl walk away. This didn't quite add up. Naruto and Ino… Ino and Naruto. Sasuke tried to visual them together, but the image was ripped out of his mind. Why did he even care? The idiot could do whatever he wanted. It's not like he cared or anything. Sasuke reassured himself with the nod of his head, but still heard a tiny voice saying otherwise. Jumping out of the tree, Sasuke silently landed few feet from his blonde teammate, who seemed to have fallen asleep. Crouching down, Sasuke searched Naruto's face. Sasuke's eye twitched at how he was acting. He really didn't have time to do stupid things like this, but then again, this was Naruto. His eyebrows raised at that last thought. What about Naruto? Thoroughly confused with his thoughts, Sasuke leaned in closer to Naruto. He was only a few inches away went he was struck with the sudden urge to…

Rearing back, he leaped away onto the other side of the river. His heart was racing, and he prayed to every God above that he didn't want to do what it sounded like he wanted to do. Growling in disgust at himself, he stomped off, but couldn't help but turn to watch Naruto one more time. Ino was heading up his list of least liked, and it baffled to the reason why.

"Thank you Kakashi for your hard work." Kakashi had just turned in a four-day late report, and much to his joy, Iruka wasn't there to scold him. All the other chunin just took it without complaining, so whenever he wasn't feeling up to having a fun verbal battle, Kakashi knew to avoid the week day afternoons, and sometimes the weekend mornings. Pulling out his bright orange book, he flipped open to the page he left off on. He strolled out the mission room door, expertly dodging the people walking by, but he only got to read a sentence before he was interrupted by Izumo. The chunin was heading to the mission room in search of Kotetsu, but stopped to say hello to Kakashi.

"Kakashi! How are you?" The cheerful chunin asked.

"Good. Been training my team and all." He tried to keep it short, and by the look on Izumo's face, he had caught on. Izumo smiled back in response, trying not to look peeved at the obvious dismissal.

"Okay then. Just tell Naruto not to overdo it. He's been leaving the village a lot to train just like you told him to. He said you've been giving him a pretty rigorous training schedule and all."

Walking away from the still Jounin, Izumo gave him a small wave before disappearing behind the mission room door. Kakashi stood in the same spot, book forgotten as he analyzed the last statement. Kakashi was tempted to ask his fellow shinobi what exactly he meant, but decided not to incase any suspicion or rumors arouse from it. He hadn't given Naruto a training schedule. And he never told Naruto to leave the village to train on this so-called schedule. Kakashi stuffed his book away. This was curious behavior and while he wasn't about to start tailing his student, he did feel like checking the gate records. When exactly did this start happening, Naruto? Making his way out of the nearest window, Kakashi ran to the main gate to go investigate. Now that he thought of it, Naruto had been looking more tired the past few weeks.

Halting at the stall where two chunin were sitting, he asked if he could see the records for the past two months. Showing his ID, Kakashi grabbed the scrolls, and leaned on a post by the village entrance. This wouldn't take long. He pulled the scrolls open, skimming through the name of the people who had left and entered the village. His finger stopped each time he saw Naruto's name, taking note of the days the blonde genin left. After about twenty minutes, Kakashi closed the scrolls and set them aside. Naruto had been leaving the village the past two months several times a week, but it wasn't until a month ago did this become more frequent. The first month, Naruto's name only appeared twice a week, but now, the boy's name was written down almost every day. And while Kakashi would have been proud of his student for training, he found it strange that Naruto would lie about the reason. Was he really training, because if he was, why would he make up a fake story just to leave.

Kakashi returned the scrolls to the chunin, and swiftly walked away. Stuffing his gloved hands into his pants, Kakashi thought about how he was going to go about this.

Should I ask straight out, or follow him?

Wow. I really meant to get this in earlier, but I had a major AP Human Geography exam to take. It was terrible and I'm glad it's over! Now I can go back to goofing off and writing stories… until exams. I think I speak for most students when I say… tests and exams are one of the worst forms of punishment. Cruel… Anyway! Thank you for reading! Review!

Chapter Six: (I haven't decided the title for it yet) lol