Thanks to: Brandon, forgetconnection, KinkyK and JazzyJ, and Shimaki-33

Usual disclaimer blah.

"Talking"

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Over the next few days, Naruto didn't really pay attention to anything. His art class was the only thing left keeping him grounded to earth. Art was the only constant in his "life" being that it never left him, never changed unless Naruto chose otherwise.

Naruto decided to skip lunch.

Sakura was starting to get worried considering her blonde friend was no where to be seen at lunch lately, "Does anyone know where Naruto is?" She just put off his absence because Naruto must have been avoiding Sasuke but…

"Sorry, but we have no clue either," came a reply from a Tenten, "maybe he's in detention?"

"Sasuke," Sakura looked across the table at the brooding raven, "you haven't seen Naruto either have you?"

"Hn."

The pinkette would swear that she never liked Sasuke, but she couldn't help her basic instincts and leaned a little closer to Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun please! OW! Ino!"

Ino pushed down Haruno's little behind back down into her seat as she always competed for Sasuke's attention, but even Sakura's behavior disgusted her. As of lately, the pale blonde's attention was distracted elsewhere due to Chouji's charming personality. He was big-boned and ate like a pig that hasn't had food in over a week, but Ino loved him all the same.

"Hey Sakura, I thought you were going to sit next to your boyfriend," Ino teased as she pointed to a boy with a bowl haircut. Their story wasn't as romantic as Ino and Chouji's considering Sakura just broke down after months of dealing with compliments from the martial artist. The rest just seemed to flow together after the first date.

"Ino, just what-," Sakura started until Sasuke decided to leave, "Where are you going Sasuke-kun?"

"Some place where you are not there." Ino snickered into her hand as the rest of the crew just stared with bug eyes at the ever cold icicle.

"Can I come with you?"

"No."

"But Sasuke-," The statement died in her throat as Sasuke dramatically turned around to glare at her. The man hated the honorific after all of his fan girls always ran after him yelling "Sasuke-kun!" down the school hallways during middle school. With a crushed Sakura, Sasuke turn his back on her and entered the quiet hallways of Konoha High.

Naruto sat in front of an unsightly deformed piece of grey clay. His project was due in a few weeks, so it was better late than never to get started on the weird assignment. The teacher, Anko Mitarashi, was a loud and obnoxious individual. Her assignments were always graded late, and she always berated her students for the fun of it. She reached a new level of being random by assigning his class a project that included three things they loved in any medium they wanted.

He remembered how Anko called them all "dimwits" as she threw down a large stack of papers full of papers she was supposed to grade three weeks ago. She wanted them all to write three random things, but as soon as she told them that those words would be used in the next project, they were going to have to incorporate those into the art piece.

The blond gazed at the person besides him to see what the guy had written until the words caused a thick veil of red to cover his cheeks. Many people, including the guy, started erasing immediately after Anko's announcement which caused Naruto to believe everyone at Konoha High was a pervert. He swore even Sasuke started to erase something on his page.

Considering how Sasuke was on his mind lately, it was a good thing Naruto would be able to lash out all of his emotions of the raven in his artwork without anyone figuring it out. He had chosen foxes, orange, and something along the lines of love, but Naruto couldn't exactly sculpt something as cliché as a generic heart with an orange fox eating it. No, Naruto had to be more creative than that useless idea. Maybe he should have the hearts chasing the fox. He started to laugh at the thought of Sasuke running from harmless fan girls…

Naruto started to wonder how Sasuke was holding up with his fan girls. He remembered their middle school years of girls throwing themselves down at the raven's feet. Even today the girls fell over with one glance from those gorgeous coal black eyes. Naruto understood he should probably hate Sasuke with a vengeance, but he couldn't help the trickle of pity for Sasuke. Those girls are supposed to be harmless, but when given the opportunity they turn into vicious little kittens that gnaw at their master's feet

He was constantly reminded of how every girl loves the raven and called him their "prince" with his dark, mysterious attitude and pale skin, his onyx eyes, and perfect body. Perhaps…?

"THAT'S IT!"

Naruto started to sculpt on the big lump of clay that had been sitting in front of him this whole time. He started to form a fox's head, body, and paws with the help the internet and print outs.

He never realized how complicated, yet simple, the fox's anatomy was. Naruto luckily found some images of orange foxes and mainly focused on the different views of the fox's head since that was the first part of the body he was looking at. He put his research in his portfolio and started to clean up the mess he made before the bell rang like a siren. "Physical Education" class was more like "how to torture students with sports as an excuse" class.

Naruto walked into the locker room full of half-naked students while completely ignoring pointed glances from a certain Uchiha. Well, Naruto really did not have to put too much effort in ignoring the raven considering all he could think about was his project. Problem was that Uchihas did not like it when they were ignored unless they ignored said person.

"Hey dobe," Sasuke asked as he strolled his way over to Naruto, "don't think too hard unless you want smoke coming out of those ears of yours." Naruto didn't even acknowledge Sasuke. It seemed as if the blond was in a trance while getting his outfit out, and now Sasuke was pissed with that ever calm face plastered on. His eyes drank in Naruto's tan skin as his polo was pulled off. Sasuke tried his hardest not to stare considering they weren't even friends again... he sighed while walking away from the beauty that was his "friend."

After Naruto got dressed in his blue shorts and white tank top, he headed out to the field where they would start class. Naruto was glad he had this class with Kiba considering most of the other students would ignore his or talk with their "clique" of friends. The only other guys that actually knew he existed in that class were Neji Hyuuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Shikamaru Nara but it wasn't like Neji or Shino talked to him much and Shikamaru was usually found sleeping.

"Hey Kiba!" Naruto smiled brilliantly with his usual fake self.

"Naruto!" Kiba waved enthusiastically, "Where were you at lunch? All of us are starting to worry where you are."

"Just in the art room, nothing special."

"Lunch is starting to get boring without you man. Sakura and Sasuke are really starting to get on my nerves!"

"Well, that's your fault for even paying attention to them," Naruto said as he playfully punched Kiba's arm.

"Easy for you to say! You hate Sasuke so you have an excuse to ignore him and you know Sakura a lot better than I do, so she forgives you easily!"

"Yeah…"

"Hey, speak of the devil," Kiba said as he jabbed his thumb towards Sasuke. The Uchiha walked past Naruto and Kiba with now hesitation which caused a pang of sadness to strike Naruto's heart. What ever these feeling were Naruto wouldn't, no couldn't, admit it to himself what exactly they were, fearing the aching pain in his chest wanted Sasuke.

"Humph, what was that about? He really gets on my nerves," Kiba exclaimed but all Naruto did was tighten his fist. All of a sudden, a man in a green jumpsuit hooked his arms around Kiba and Naruto's shoulders as if they were buddies. Naruto to practically jump out of his skin and let out a tiny scream while Kiba looked as pale as death trying to regain his breath.

"YOSH! THE POWER OF YOUTH IS STRONG TODAY! Isn't that right Lee," called the green-clad man.

"RIGHT GAI-SENSEI!" yelled a smaller clone of the Green Beast.

"Okay class, pay attention to me and ignore my obviously handsome features! Today we shall be playing-"

"SOCCER!" exclaimed Lee as he finished his sensei's sentence. All the boys groaned as they because that was Naruto and Kiba's best sport and they were the top in the class if they ended up on the same team. The odds changed slightly consider Sasuke was there now. They all knew it might turn out into a blood bath…

The class formed their teams and it was such a big surprise that Naruto and Kiba were on the same team as usual with Sasuke was on the opposing team with Neji. Shikamaru was… well he was asleep and Shino was sitting next to him, watching some ants carry a dead butterfly.

"Prepare yourself Sasuke!" Naruto yelled while pointing a finger at the raven, "I will win today! Believe it," Naruto just added that last catch phrase to solidify the façade he created.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at Naruto. He wouldn't believe Naruto actually said that. He knew about the mask Naruto placed on his face. He knew after just mere moments of speaking with the blond that he was not who he used to be. The raven slowly noticed how his smiles never really reached from ear to ear or how his expressions hid the pain behind those sapphire eyes of his... Sasuke wondered if it was his fault or if he was too late.

"Let's see you try it," challenged Sasuke.

And so the game started.