So far we have saved 54 pandas ;DD Let's keep it cominggg! HOORAY FOR THE BABY PANDAS! Guys, I love you so much, so I'm updating at 9:30 PM for YOU. Because you all make me so haaaapppyyy... C: Thanks for your support with the reviews (saving pandas 8D), favs, and alerts!

Warning: Short. Again. Damn what is wrong with me? Oh well. Trust me, just two more chapters and then the truth is revealed... so deal with Naruto's adorable stupidity till then 8D

Disclaimer: Siiiigggh... must we go through this EVERY time? v.v

Enjoy my lurvlies c:!

Chapter Five: Fourth Promise

+I'm Sorry+

After one whole week Naruto's mood finally brightened up, by the color of a rose and dangling promise held by a string.

Sorry this is so late. I promise I'll make it up to you.

—S

Naruto smiled, placed the rose tightly to his chest, and dashed off to class. Today was definitely going to be a good day.

+I Promise+

"You got a rose today?" it was lunchtime and Naruto was staring affectionately at the rose, twirling the flower with his thumb and index finger. Kiba was reading the note, adding an extra pitch to his voice. "Oh Naruto! I am sooo sorry this is late! I promise I'll make it up to you! Mwah, mwah, kissy face!"

Snatching the note out of Kiba's hand, Naruto scowled. "It does not say that!"

Gaara scoffed, "Might as well have with the way you're acting. I swear, if someone sliced you open you would bleed out hearts."

"Oh! That gives me a kick ass idea for Art class!" the brunette cackled, "Way to go, Gaara!"

Naruto pouted, something he was doing a lot in front of his friends today. "Do you guys just find ways to make fun of me?"

"You make it very easy," Gaara said.

Kiba nodded and dug into his Puppy Chow (haha… lame pun). "You do."

Sighing, Naruto decided that the best way to get through the rest of lunch with friends such as these was to just eat, stare at his rose, eat some more, and then get lost in his imagination. It was a very colorful imagination that left his heart wanting more and a smile curling on his lips…

The redhead couldn't help but shake his head in slight pity for his blonde friend. "Love turns people into idiots."

Kiba popped another piece of Puppy Chow into his mouth. "Tell me about it."

+I Promise+

School was finally let out for the weekend, and although Naruto didn't have any run-ins with Sakura today, he still kept his shoulders high and a smile on his face. There were still soccer tryouts to look forward to, since today would finally be the day they learned if they made it or if their one-week of Nazi training was a waste of time.

From the beginning there were only thirty boys who tried out, but as Itachi read through the lists of names the number quickly started to dwindle down as the ones who were not called left broken and dejected. Naruto had his arm linked with Kiba's praying that the reason they were still here, sitting on the wet grass, was because their names were going to be called…

"And finally…" Itachi paused for dramatic effect, watching with amused irises as both Naruto and Kiba straightened up instantly. "… Kiba Inuzaka and Naruto Uzumaki."

"Fuck yes!" they both cheered.

"Dammit!" a not so lucky teen cried.

Naruto and Kiba hugged dramatically, streams of tears running down their face.

"Thank you, Jesus!" Kiba cried.

Deidara smirked, his arms placed on his hips. "You really thought you two wouldn't make it? Please! You had me to train your skinny little ass."

"Oh thank you, almighty soccer player, Deidara!" Naruto bowed.

"Damn straight!"

"Heeeey! I helped too!" Suigetsu slung an arm around the brunette and squeezed his cheek. "You know, for the initiation I was thinking of putting a tattoo right here…" he poked at Kiba's cheek. "What's your opinion on fangs? Red fangs—like a dog, yah know?"

Kiba gulped. Sure, he thought Suigetsu was a cool guy and funny as hell, but he wasn't digging the sadistic and twisted gleam in the older player's eyes. "Uhh… sounds… cool?"

Suigetsu grin grew even wider…

Naruto was still buzzing. This was the first time he ever tried out for a sport and got accepted onto the team. Such a foreign experience was keeping him bouncing on his toes even when Sasuke came up to him with that cocky air hanging around his shoulders.

"Someone's happy."

"Like you wouldn't believe, Teme! I can't believe I made it! I mean, yeah, you guys were training me and shit but… wow… this is the first time I've ever been on a team." Naruto laughed, feeling a little awkward after letting all that out in front of Sasuke.

The raven simply smiled—Naruto noted that was the second time he saw the small gesture appear on Sasuke's face. "You like ramen, don't you?" he asked out of the blue.

"Is that a trick question?" Yup, Naruto was pretty confused, but really, what's new?

Grabbing Naruto by the arm, Sasuke dragged him—completely against his will—to his car. It was a black Jeep with the hood pulled down. He threw their duffle bags into the back and pulled Naruto over to the passenger side. "Then get in," he commanded.

"What makes you think I'll go with you, huh? You could lead me to some brothel and sell me in the underground market!"

Sasuke looked at the blonde, long and hard, before resting his forehead against the window of his car. He muttered something obscene, counted to ten, then looked back up with the straightest face he could possibly muster. "We're going out to eat, you idiot! You know, food in the form of noodles and soup? This has nothing to do with your perverse fantasies!"

Naruto folded his arms and scoffed. "My 'fantasies' are completely logical."

"Just get in the fucking jeep, Uzumaki."

"Fine!" Naruto threw his arms in the air and opened up the car door, sitting down with a loud huff. "But I'm only doing it for the ramen, and because this is a good time to celebrate."

"Of course," Sasuke replied listlessly as he got into the car, turned it on, and then pulled out of his parking space.

"And you're paying for the meal. I have to warn you I pig out whenever I eat ramen." Naruto continued, watching the scenery change and blur outside his car window as they continued to drive.

"That's fine."

"… You're a beautiful little rosebud, Sasuke."

Sasuke twitched. "Don't push it." He snarled.

Naruto was silent for the rest of the ride—plus or minus a few random giggles here and there…

+I Promise+

"Where do you put it all…?" Sasuke shook his head in wonder as he watched Naruto scarf down yet another bowl. It was his seventh one.

Naruto slapped down his empty bowl on the wooden counter and raised his hand, "One more bowl, please!" his face was the definition of pure happiness as the Tazuna nodded his head and went to work on another bowl. Naruto swiveled on his stool to face Sasuke who had barely even finished his first bowl. "It's from years of practice, Teme. Iruka and I have been coming here since I was potty trained."

"Who's Iruka?"

"My guardian. He's sort of like a father to me."

Sasuke nodded, and for a moment Naruto thought Sasuke was going to ask for more like: "So where's your real dad?" but he didn't. Naruto was pleased by that, but also a little… deflated. 'Why would I even care if he asked or not? It's not like I want him knowing about my personal business.'

The blonde picked up his chopsticks and dug into his eighth bowl of ramen. Silence floated around the two teens, both a little trapped in their thoughts.

'I never thought I'd have Sasuke Uchiha taking me out for ramen. Hell, I never thought I'd be on the soccer team either but here I am.' He took a sideways glance at the raven that was currently slurping a noodle into his mouth. The blonde couldn't help but crack a smile. 'Okay, so Sasuke isn't as much of a bastard as I thought he was.' It's only because of the free bowls of ramen… 'And he's pretty normal too… He even helped me out during tryouts.'

"Oh hey… thanks," Naruto said, a small blush painting on his cheeks.

Sasuke cocked an eyebrow. "For what?"

"You know what…"

"No. I don't think I do."

The blonde frowned a little. Of course Sasuke had to be difficult—it was his fucking nature. "For helping me out in soccer all this week. I really appreciate it."

For the second time today Naruto saw that fabled smile so many wanted to see, but only a few got to experience. He didn't understand why his heart constricted so painfully against his chest and why it was suddenly so heard to catch his breath. He shook his head wildly; blonde wisps of hair flying about and slapped his cheek a few times.

'Dammit… am I blushing?'

Sasuke looked at him weirdly, but the smile was still there as he leaned forward to brush a few stray hairs from Naruto's face. "Don't mention it. What I did really isn't praise worthy but…" his smile transformed to a smirk, "I suppose for a Dobe like you, what I did was revolutionary."

And just when Naruto thought his heart was going to explode from the simple contact of skin, his heart find it easier to pump blood and instead of his mouth opened in shock it formed a deep scowl. "You know what? I take back what I thought about you. You're a bastard through and through. And… I'm buying ten more bowls!"

"Don't you dare," Sasuke hissed.

Naruto smirked evilly, "Watch me. One more bowl, Tazuna-san!"

"Coming right up!"

That night, Naruto had Sasuke pay for a meal that was equivalent of thirty bowls, but the chef felt bad for him so he lowered the price by half—which sort of bummed Naruto out but the feeling of a belly full of delicious ramen had him smiling like an idiot for the rest of the ride.

You could say that he was so content, he didn't remember about a certain, pink-haired girl never making her promise. But then again, when one part falls, another link comes in to take its place. The promise was made; it was just that one heart was a little too blinded to notice. That's fine, though. We'll get to the realization in good time… Till then:

"Fuck!" Naruto banged his head against the window.

"What?" Sasuke had his eyes on the road, but an eyebrow was cocked proudly in the air.

"I forgot to tell Iruka I would be home late! He's going to fucking hang my ass on the mantle! I am so screwed!"

Oh Naruto…

Really when I make things SO obvious Naruto is STILL oblivious. But that's why we love him... :3. LMFAO. I realized when I wrote this that Tazuna was the BRIDGE BUILDER not the freaking ramen guy... durrr... but I'm too lazy to change it, so ramen dude is forever TAZUNA!

Review, and we save one more baby panda ;)! Listen to AYO by SHINee... that's my happy song (: