AN: hello my burritos! Here is the chapter! I decided to put a bit of a plot twist *mwhahahaha* I am focusing WAY too much on one scene, so I'll spice it up a little. Oh, and I GUESS spoiler if you don't know Sasuke's brothers name. (Who doesn't?) He is the guy I refer to as him.

Inspiration: The incredibly awesome person from EMS. With the rainbow dash jacket. I might not be able to get my Uchiha jacket in time *sniffle*

Dedication: ArtIsAnExplosion37 and kakashihadnicearms. And to all of those aspiring writers that need more views on their stories!

Disclaimer: I don't own. I own a computer and I have internet. That's it. But, art… IS A POP-IT! *throws pop-it* Katsu! I own that phrase. ITS MINE.

Sasuke POV

'No! Dobe, I'm not angry at you!' I thought as I watched Naruto cry. I was shocked when I heard his sobs.

They were broken. And I realized. Right now, revenge didn't matter. It didn't matter what happened in the past, because I had comrades now. I wouldn't give up one my goal, but right now, I had something more important. A… well, a friend I guess. My friend. My rival. My comrade. Those words never really made sense to me. I knew what they meant, but forgot the meaning after it happened.

I now had found out but what I about to lose the only connection I had felt in years? It didn't even make sense! Tring to see the disaster that happened in a matter of minutes, made my head and my heart hurt.

Naruto POV

I knelt there, my head falling to the ground. The person that I had actually gotten to recognize me, I lost. I worked so hard, and made not a friend, but at least a rival. or so I thought,

What did I expect? The teme didn't care. Even though he accepted me as a rival, he hated me. I was stupid to think he was I friend.

After all these years alone, I'm back at square one. I had lost the only connection I had been able to make

Random POV

"Naruto." Sasuke said, a hint of hesitation. The usually collected Uchiha was unsettled, and for anyone that knew him, that much was clear.

The yellow-haired boy looked up, now blue eyes usually bright filled with hurt. They still had the slitted pupil of a fox though. They closed and the broken figure trembled.

"Dobe, I don't hate you." The raven boy said, a small smile-or smirk-it was hard to tell, most likely a mix-played across his face. "You aren't the actual kyuubi. Why should anyone hate you for being the one with it sealed inside you? You're not close to powerful enough to stand a chance against the village, or me, baka." This time the Uchiha had a real smile on his face, mostly to let Naruto know he was just challenging him, not trying to insult him. It was the closest the Uchiha would, could, come to comforting his friend.

"R-really?" Naruto asked, shakily, tears still running down his face. He didn't, couldn't believe that Sasuke, the teme, was actually helping to cheer him up let alone show emotion. Maybe the jerk wasn't as heartless of a bastard as Naruto thought

"hn" came the reply of the Uchiha, confirming.

A few moments past, Naruto taking in what was happening, while Sasuke worried about his reaction. Suddenly, Naruto stood. His tears had stopped, but his eyes were red and puffy from crying, not to mention he looked about ready to collapse. The nightmare he had tonight-actually last night seeing the sky was a shade of light gray-had not been the first of the nightmares brought by Kurama.

The Jinchuriki stared at Sasuke for a few moments, debating if he could trust the shinobi. He blinked once, his eyes pleading, before stepping up to Sasuke, and hugging him.

The Uchiha flinched at the contact, tensing. This was NOT something that had happened to him in a very long time. He looked, shocked down at the ninja attached to him, realizing that Naruto needed this comfort right now, needed to know he was safe and not hated. To understand this was real.

Sasuke allowed himself to relax, and awkwardly put an arm on the shorter ninja's shoulder.

Naruto cried, but for a different reason. Cried because he still felt hurt, but also because he had someone to lean on. Because there was someone there for once. And Sasuke understood the pain of being alone just as much as he did, although the reasons why varied. The sobs weren't as broken, because there was someone to listen to them, without hate. He didn't have to hide.

They stood like that for a while, before Naruto pulled away.

"Sorry" he said, his voice unsteady and hoarse. Naruto rubbed his neck nervously. Sasuke (AN: I call him The Uchiha a lot. I like doing that.) Cast his eyes down.

"It's fine. You needed it." The last part was barely a whisper, but the blond heard and smiled softly. They both felt awkward, and came up with the same conclusion: we're not talking about this. It was a silent agreement between the boys. Its just not manly, being all mushy that is.

Even though they would never admit it, there rivalry was now a strong bond, one that couldn't be broken. You just can't go through that sort of thing without becoming friends. Naruto knew that Sasuke wouldn't change much, but the way that they viewed each other, I guess you could say, was different.

Instead of hate, they now actually thought of each other as friends, though nothing would stop their fighting. Naruto would still feel the need to prove himself, and Sasuke would still want revenge on Itachi. That much wouldn't change.

"Teme"

"Tch. Dobe"

Sasuke turned and glared and Naruto scowled, turning away as well. You would almost missed the smallest soft smiles that flickered on their faces, in between the glares.

...

"…we should get back now, dattebayo." Said Naruto, a bit uncertainly. He was still a bit nervous. What about Sakura?

Sasuke seemed to read his mind. Well, more like it he looked at Naruto's face, and guessed the reasons behind them. Naruto was so readable sometimes. Wait, make that all the time.

"Kakashi only told me." Said the Uchiha, his tone implying that Naruto was missing the blatantly obvious, yet somehow completely emotionless.

"So Sakura-chan..?"

"Doesn't know. It just wasn't the right time, and wasn't needed. She didn't notice…"

Naruto's face looked conflicted between relived and sad. While he was glad that he didn't have to deal with it, Naruto never liked hiding things. He didn't mind hiding his past-he tried to forget that. But other than that Naruto was usually quite open. It didn't feel right for him to keep something from Sakura-chan, the girl he had a crush on.

"Let's go, dobe."

"HEY! I said that first, teme!"

"Tch." Sasuke replied. But this time Sasuke had a hint of humor in his eyes, that seemed had been unused in a long while.

The two ninja's set of, running back. Sasuke luckily had a better sense of direction, and knew where the meeting place was so they wouldn't get lost. Naruto followed him, just far enough behind to be able to change directions when he saw Sasuke did. Even though Naruto HATED not being in the lead*.

They definitely weren't prepared for what would happen next.

ARTISAPOP-ITARTSAPOP-ITARTISAPOP-ITARTSAPOP-ITARTI SAPOP-ITARTSAPOP-ITARTISAPOP-ITARTSAPOP-ITARTISAPO P-ITARTSAPOP-IT

"Tch, why do we have to check on Itachi's Jinchuriki Danna, un?"

"Brat. Leader-sama ordered us to. Now shut up!"

"That basterd, he thinks he's so cool he can just make us do his missions! He has no respect for art, un!"

"Shut up. I don't need you for this mission, and my poison right now won't kill, just hurt. Are you asking for it?"

The two ninja's perched in the tree, waiting for the opportune moment to attack. They were positioned to ambush Naruto and Sasuke before they got within hearing range of Kakashi and Sakura, who had met up, seeing they had both had no luck. The two Shinobi from the Akatsuki knew that they didn't even pose a threat, but would rather have the mission go smoothly.

After all, Sasori didn't like keeping people waiting. And Deidara was just as impatient, not to mention the added recklessness when it came to missions, or anything really. So of course, they didn't waist a single fleeting second. They jumped in front of Naruto and Sasuke, the perfect ambush in play.

Sometimes it was just too easy to take on the Genin of Konaha. How pathetic. And this was the Jinchuriki's team? Please, stop kidding around.

*Ever notice how even though he must have, like, no freakin idea where they are going, he is in the lead? HOW DO THEY DO THAT?

AN: Only a bit over 1000 words, but that's not too bad! I wanted to keep things moving, and I love leaving everyone off at cliffhangers. You weren't expecting them, were you! Except you SasukeAlpha, you're the one that convinced me. And I DID work on this, I stayed up until 1AM for TWO NIGHTS to work on this!

IMPORTANT: guys, I am REALLY starting to doubt my writing. Less people have been reviewing, have you guys stopped reading?! No, I'm not doing this as some plot, I read my fan fiction and am doubting my writing skills. PLEASE review! Even if you don't like something I want to know. I can't tell any other way. I can't read minds.

So yes, Art is a Pop-it is my thing now. Long story. I own the phrase, not the actual brand.

~ WS13