There was no more denying it, today was the day. Naruto left the Uchiha residence early, not only to avoid Sasuke's dejected look when he told him they couldn't arrive at school together no matter how early they went, but to psyche himself up.

In all honesty, Naruto was scared. What would he do if he were booted out of school? Sure the kids were assholes, and most of the teachers were uninterested in him, but academics wise, it was a great school. Why else would it be crawling with pretentious elitists?

Naruto had no idea what was going to happen, all he knew was that he was to report to the office bright and early. Walking into the office, Beatrice gave him a look of pity. "Good morning Mr. Uzumaki."

With a polite nod, Naruto greeted the woman back. "Morning, Beatrice, how have you been?"

"I've been well, thank you." She responds uncharacteristically awkwardly.

Naruto tries to smile, but doesn't quite pull it off. "That's good."

"Yes-" The office phone rings. Looking at the blond apologetically she says. "Sorry, If you'll just have a seat I'll lead you back when they're ready for you."

Then proceeds to answer the phone. "Good morning. Konoha High school, how may I help you?"

Naruto took a seat, ignoring whatever conversation was happening a few feet away from him. There was nothing for him to do but dwell on this meeting. Never once has he been suspended, but something told him that this wasn't normal procedure. Parents have probably been reaching out to the school outraged. Afterall, stuff like this doesn't happen at Konoha High.

Naruto almost wanted to laugh. Out of the whole situation, no one was talking about Kiba and what he did, it was all about the blond nobody who almost killed a student on school grounds. Like Kibas was actually close to death, he was breathing and talking more or less. So what if he couldn't move easily, or open his eyes? He wasn't dead.

After that day, Naruto had heard nothing of the teen. Naruto wasn't really surprised, obviously the Inuzuka's would be trying to keep the situation hush, hush. What prestigious family wants the world to know of the sins of their offspring?

The woman's raspy voice draws Naruto out of his musings. "They're ready for you Mr. Uzumaki. You can follow me back."

With a curt nod, Naruto gets up, following behind the robust woman. It had only been three weeks, but it felt like it had been forever since he'd seen the school. It was even stranger that he was being led to a room he'd never seen before.

It read "Boardroom."

With a knock, Beatrice opens the door and ushers the blond in, closing the door behind him. Looking up he's met with the faces of all his teachers, Principal Hiruzen and a few faces he's never seen before. The only thing Naruto could think was that this must be how it felt to be on trial.

"Good morning Naruto." Principal Hiruzen was the first to speak.

"Morning sir." Naruto mumbled in return.

"Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss." The principal gestured to the open seat.

Receiving a couple smiles, and some scowls from around the large table, Naruto obediently pulled up a seat between Hiruzen and Iruka.

"Detective Namikaze, are you still with us?" Hiruzen calls out.

A voice from the beveled, triangular, conference speaker in the centre of the large table sounded off. "Yes, I'm here, Hiruzen."

"I'm glad you're able to find time to speak with us. We understand you're a busy man." The gruff man adds.

"Of course. Though it's unfortunate that you've had to get a hold of me for such circumstances." The detective grumbled.

Naruto grit his perfect white teeth, he couldn't help but glare at the speaker. He didn't bother trying to hide the animosity towards the voice on the other end. What kind of game was his sperm donor playing at?

"Very well, let's get started then, unless anyone has any objections?" Hiruzen took a quick glance around.

Seeing no objections he began. "So, we've already spoken to all members involved in the incident and have had a lot of feedback regarding this matter. Today we're going to have an open discussion and decide where to go from here."

"Okay..." Naruto didn't really know what he was supposed to say to that.

"Seeing as Naruto has never had any problem in the past, surely you can't possibly think of expelling him?" Kakashi spoke up. The grey haired teacher wasn't going to let the matter go without voicing his disapproval of the whole situation. Had Naruto been anyone else the matter wouldn't have gone even half as far.

"I have to agree. Being Naruto's guidance counsellor, he's always been kind, polite, and extremely intelligent. I've never seen a hint of him posing as any sort of problem to his peers." Iruka added post-haste.

"Well of course you'd agree with him." Kurenai mumbled.

"What was that?" Kakashi shot the woman a bone chilling glare.

"You two are together, clearly you are going to stick up for one another." The ruby eyed teacher stated.

"I beg your pardon, but our personal relationship has no matters on the situation at hand. We are here to discuss a bright young man's future here at our school." Iruka's spits back at the women.

Everyone was a little startled by the compassionate man's tone, they never knew he had it in him. Kakashi just smirked at his gorgeous hunk of toffee under his mask, he was proud of him for speaking out.

Naruto was having a shitty morning, but watching his teacher behave like a bunch of petulant children was pure gold. Almost made the whole situation worth it...almost.

"Well, I do have to say that I've seen the blonds outburst before. But I don't think he should be removed from the school. That seems like such a...waste." Orochimaru eyed the blond, licking his lips at the end. Naruto wanted to know how everyone seemed to miss the perverts' advances.

"Oh that's right, that was the same day I sent him to the office for fighting with the Hyuga in my class." Asuma added uninterestedly.

"Asuma." Hiruzen warns his son. "You know as well as I do that Neji started that." The man just shrugged. Truth was he never got over his nephew being killed because of being associated with the blond. He knew it wasn't fair, but that's just how his mind was.

"None of his peers even want to sit with him in my class." Kurenai decided to add.

"In PE Naruto is nothing but the picture of youth. He always goes above and beyond. I've never once seen him even so much as look malicious." The bushy brow teacher added, flashing a dazzling smile around the table.

Naruto was mentally cringing. 'They did know I'm here right? Surely if this was all it was going to be I could have skipped it and they could have just told me if he was welcomed back or not.'

Hiruzen let out a long drawn out sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Clearly we're not getting anywhere with this. Minato, what do you think?"

"Well, obviously I don't want my s-son," the man coughs, clearing his throat, "to be expelled. But I can understand if that's the action you take. Some lessons just need to be taught the...hard way." Naruto could almost hear the sadistic smirk in the fuckers voice.

"Homura, Koharu, what do you two make of this?" Hiruzen addressed the two elderly members who Naruto had never met before.

"Well we don't tolerate violence." Homura states.

With that Koharu followed. "We also can't ignore the outraged parents."

"Now wait just a second!" Naruto demanded. "You're all talking about me like I'm not even here! Why bring me here today if you've already decided to overlook me anyways?"

"He's right, you should let him speak." Kakashi is quick to agree with the lad.

"And what difference would hearing him speak make? Would it make the fight go away? Would it stop families from lashing out at us?" Koharu snarkily asked.

"Families lashing out? Or families threatening to withdraw their support for your precious school?" Naruto bit back.

"That's enough, you don't get to talk to us like that!" Homura tried to reprimand the boy.

"That's enough Naruto!" Minato bellows through the speaker. "You will knock it off right now!"

"Why because I'm right?" Naruto sneered. "Had I been from any of those prestigious families I wouldn't even be here before you today. Let's be honest, people hate that someone like me has thrived in an environment catered to the elite. I could have sneezed on one of them and they would have called me a bio terrorist. It just so happens that the fight happened and gave everybody the ammunition they so desperately searched for."

"That's preposterous." Homura grumbled in a non convincing manner.

"Is it?" Iruka asked with a fire in his eyes. He cared for the blond, and couldn't believe the boy's own father wasn't sticking up for him. Everything Naruto had said rang true.

"Of course it is! We don't discriminate." Scowled Koharu.

Orochimaru sends the blond a secretive smirk. "Yes, Naruto. And you do have a rather esteemed detective for a father in case you've forgotten. I hardly think that qualifies you as unimportant."

"He's right." The detective is quick to agree.

This time Kakashi was quick to defend the blond student. "Detective Namikaze, I'd think you'd be a little more understanding of your sons predicament."

A grunting noise could be heard from the detective. "Why? He knows the school has a zero tolerance for violence. He chose to ignore said rules and has to face the consequences whatever they may be. As Orochimaru pointed out, I'm a revered detective and I can't have my son act in such a manner. It's not very honourable is it?"

"Does that also mean you believe your son deserved what Kiba Inuzuka did to him? Because if you believe that, that wouldn't be very honourable either. in fact, that would be down right atrocious." Kakashi snapped back. The grey haired teacher couldn't believe this man. Naruto was a good kid, a smart kid. Anyone who didn't have a stick up their ass could see it. Too bad ass sticks almost seemed to be mandatory in this forsaken town.

Minato scoffed. "Oh please, give me a break. Naruto's not exactly an innocent kid if you catch my drift. And again, he shouldn't have been at a party partaking in underage and illegal activities to begin with."

"So you're saying your son is a persistent problem?" Koharu asked smugly.

"Lets just say he's lucky to have a father who had cop friends." Minato answered coolly. Naruto wanted to snort, but held it back.

"Now wait a minute here! We're here to talk about the fight and school. Nothing that happens outside of school should be brought up. Naruto's a good kid and a hard worker, one fight shouldn't be enough to condemn his future." Maito said passionately.

Naruto couldn't bring himself to say anything, how did a simple meeting turn into such a shit show? The blond couldn't help but think Minato's throwing him under the bus because he's having a tantrum over his long overdue rebellion. Taking a look at the clock Naruto noticed they've only been talking for ten minutes. If this kept up, this was going to be a long meeting.

Sasuke was upset and flustered when he woke up to an empty bed and a note beside his phone.

Morning Teme,

Left early for school, I couldn't bare seeing your defiant pout, regardless of how dignified you claim it to be. Also, I hope your ass is feeling better this morning. Hopefully all goes well and I'll see you at school!

Miss and like you loads,

Dobe

'Tch, dobe.' Sasuke would deny it, but he was grinning like a mad man.

Sasuke wanted to be mad at Naruto for leaving without waking him up, but images of the two of them last night flashed through his mind. Naruto's not so subtle reminder was more than enough to make him blush but he couldn't bring himself to care right now. Naruto had finally been inside him, and even if his ass was reminding him of the animal his blond lover was, he definitely couldn't wait to do that again.

Going through his morning routine as quickly as he could, he was showered, dressed, fed and out the door in record time. He wanted to make it to school early, just in case his blonds meeting goes quicker than anticipated. Sasuke hoped Naruto would be back in class some time today, he couldn't see a world where he wasn't at the same school as his blond.

Pulling into his parking spot, Sasuke for the first time regrets being early. Standing at the entrance of the school was the group he wished he wasn't a part of. What kind of society did they live in where you had to hang out with people of equal social status? Who was he kidding? The only thing that bound him to the group was his loyalty to the Hyuga. If it weren't for his pale eyed friend he would have told the lot to fuck off day one.

Turning off his car, Sasuke leaned his head back and closed his eyes, trying to will them away. Braving one eye open, he sneaks a peek and sees that his wish didn't come true. Nope, instead of disappearing the morons were now waving him over and yelling at him.

It was strange, somewhere in that building was Naruto, waiting to hear the future of his education, and everybody else was just going on with their lives. That didn't sit well with Sasuke. Naruto had been through too much, if anyone deserved to catch a break it was him.

Groaning, then taking a deep breath Sasuke flings his hood up, he wanted to hide his neck as best he could. The last thing he needed was them criticising him for the million love bites Naruto left in his wake. It really was a pity because he was quite fond of the colourful marks.

Grabbing his bag he exits the car, locking it as he walks towards the obnoxious group. Nodding with a grunt, he greets them. For a moment not a word was said, there was an awkward silence in the air. Sasuke didn't care to fix this so he did what he does best, ignored it and walked past them, making his way inside.

"Wait up!" Neji quickly followed suit with everybody else trailing behind.

"What are you guys even doing here this early?" Sasuke grumbled. They were never earlier than they needed to be. Leading the group towards the cafeteria for coffee, Sasuke felt he was going to need it.

"We figured you'd know." Ino pouted.

Sasuke raised an irritated eyebrow at the blond girl. "About?"

"Tch, that diseased freak who's been contaminating you." Sakura spat, making no attempt to hide her abhor.

Abruptly stopping, Sasuke turns around and glares the girl down, effectively shutting her up. In an eerily calm voice Sasuke "You listen and you listen good, Haruno. You will not speak of him that way again or so help me, I will make hellfire rain down on you. Do I make myself clear?"

"Tch." The pink haired female pouts and looks away.

"HARUNO! I SAID DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!" Sasuke bellowed, all traces of the calm Uchiha gone.

The girl jumps in shock but nods rapidly. "Yes, loud and clear."

"Hn." Was all that was grunted back. The group was silent as they followed Sasuke into the cafeteria, grabbing a table while the raven goes and pays for his coffee.

Sasuke debated on just walking out and leaving them there but figured they'd just follow him regardless. They seemed to be in an annoying mood today. With his large black coffee in hand he walks over, reluctantly flopping down in his seat beside Neji.

"So Sasuke, his meeting's today?" Neji asked, feigning interest in his immaculate nails.

"Hn," was all he grunted in response. Sasuke almost wished Lee was there, at least that moron would drive the conversation in a different direction.

"You think they'll actually expel him?" Ino asked, mildly curious.

Sasuke shrugs. This wasn't something he wanted to discuss with people who didn't support him to begin with.

Suddenly the sound of a dying cat screeches through the cafeteria. "BLOSSOM! There you are my love!"

Sasuke was torn between relief and dread. Really, what was his morning coming to?

"Fuck." Sakura mutters under her breath. "Morning Lee." She greeted back with a fake smile in place.

Sasuke never could understand why she was in a relationship with the exuberant teen. She obviously loathed him, so what drove her to keep the terrible act up? It's a good thing he didn't care, it at least kept her off his back while the bushy browed individual was around. Still, a deep dark part of him pitied the leotard loving teen.

"Sasuke, my youthful friend! How is your love doing this morning?" Lee asked with concern. Sasuke almost spit his coffee out. So much for his driving the conversation away from Naruto. But seriously, talk about a loaded question.

"Lee! Unless you want me to dump your ass, don't say such stupid, embarrassing things!" Sakura hissed at her "boyfriend" while violently elbowing him in the ribs.

"Sakura." Lee pouted, rubbing his side.

"I hate to admit it, but I agree with forehead." Ino reluctantly admitted. She didn't want to think about Sasuke possibly loving the blond menace, it was absurd.

"Ino!" Sakura began to growl.

"Can you guys just shut the fuck up about Naruto already?" Sasuke growled, none of them had the right to know about him.

The females took Sasukes statement out of contexts and squealed in agreement, thinking he was annoyed at the blond irritant, when in reality they were too stupid to realise it was them he detested. The only two who had said nothing all morning were Shino, obviously, and Sai.

"Please just tell me your little experiment is almost through. You can't possibly think someone as loose as him is staying committed to you? You know his track record right?" Neji turns his nose up in disgust. He needed to get Sasuke to doubt the blond.

"Don't Neji! We may go way back but I won't let you speak that way about Naruto. You don't know him, none of you do!" Sasuke bit out venomously.

"Sh, quiet! You wouldn't want someone to hear you right? Besides, we've known him longer than you have." Neji whispered harshly, a firm scowl on his face.

Sasuke was seeing red, he wasn't going to let his friend continue down this path. If he wanted low blows, low blows were what he was going to get. "Oh yeah? So well that you took the word of a monster like Kiba's over his?!"

Neji paled, and the whole table went deathly quiet. Nobody had brought up Kiba since the incident three weeks ago.

Sasuke smirked, feeling victorious. "What, can't take what you dish out?" He really didn't like fighting with Neji, but what else could he do?

Neji's frowned at Sasuke. This was not how this conversation was supposed to go. "Whatever, don't tell me I didn't warn you when you find your blond fuck boy cheating on you."

Sasuke's phlegmatic, his voice flat and empty. "Are you done?"

Neji reluctantly nodded before leaning back and arrogantly crossing his arms. The table was once again awkwardly silent, but Sasuke was fine with it, delighted in fact. But all good things must come to an end.

Sai puts on his classic pervy smile. "So...you let blondie rail you last night? Is that why you're walking so stiffly? He can't be all that good if your mood's still this foul."

"SAI!" Came a simultaneous round of scolds.

That was the breaking point. Sasuke could take no more, without a word he got up and walked out, ignoring the calls that beckoned him back. Shikamaru and Choji were now his saving grace.

The meeting was still dragging on, only being interrupted by the sounding of the schools warning bell.

"Well, we could put it to a vote?" Minato impassively suggested.

"Let my future ride on a vote? That hardly seems fair...or responsible for that matter." Naruto mumbled.

"Well we're at odds, I'd allow you back in an instant, but it's not all up to me, not this time." The gruff man responds despondently.

Minato's disappointed sigh came through the speaker clearly. "You don't need to feel bad for him, we're only here because of his actions to begin with."

"Now to be fair, there are many factors to take into account." Iruka tried to once again be the voice of reason.

Kakashi quickly adds, "I think voting would be unprofessional when it comes to the future of a student."

Kurenai snorts. "You're just saying that so you have an excuse to be late to class. Not that you don't already have a dozen half cocked excuses to begin with."

"I resent that. I just so happen to think Naruto deserves a fair chance, thank you very much." Kakashi mutters while pouting, though you couldn't tell.

"You can't really blame her, you are always late." Maito points out with a hearty chuckle.

"Can you all at least act professional? This behaviour is unacceptable!" Homura glowered.

Hiruzen rubbed his temples. "Can we get back on track?"

"I couldn't agree more. What did the others involved have to say about the incident?" Koharu asked sternly.

Hiruzen pressed his lips together firmly. "All we have is information from Kiba's statement, which detailed everything he's done. Neji sees Naruto as a dangerous threat to our school. Sasuke claimed he would have done the same thing Naruto had. None of the others who witnessed the fight had much to say, they were all pretty shocked, but voiced no other concerns."

Looking apathetic towards the opposite side of the table, Koharu asked, "Asuma, Orochimaru? You have both witnessed Narutos outbursts in class. How do you truly feel about him remaining in this school?"

Asuma shifted uncomfortably in his seat for a moment. " Well you see, I never actually witnessed the fight between the two boys, I had just come back to class after having briefly left. Naruto was holding Neji down." Looking down the chain smoker mumbled "Other than that he usually keeps to himself."

After Asuma finished, Koharu sighed then looked expectantly at a rather smug looking Orochimaru. "Mr. Uzumaki is a spitfire, but I personally don't find his presence a danger in my class."

"Homura, what do you think?" Koharu looked thoughtfully at her colleague.

"I don't know. School is supposed to be a safe place where students can feel safe. Mr. Uzumaki seems to have tarnished the safety of the student body. But my opinion alone isn't enough to solidify his expulsion." Homura answered, a look of disgust almost showing on his face.

"This is ridiculous." Naruto blurted out. They were talking about him as if he was merely misplaced livestock. "If this whole meeting was just going to be a bunch of adults sitting around a table arguing about ways to punish an already exiled kid, why am I even here? Just have your vote and be done with it. If I'm to be expelled I'd rather get it done and over with. I'm done fighting a system build to make me fail."

Hiruzen frowned deeply. "Naruto we-"

Holding a hand up, Naruto silenced the man. "No, don't you dare say it's not true. You all ignore it, but you all know I'm right. Have your precious vote already."

"Naruto, grow up!" Minato shouted through the phone.

"Whatever you say dear father." Naruto sneered.

Minato was seething, he was glad to be hidden through a phone. "Why you ungrateful-"

Homura cut the man off. "Detective Namikaze, he's right. We are dragging this out. We'll vote."

A swirling mixture of emotions were directed at the empty looking blond teen. It was Hiruzen who finally spoke with a heavy sigh. "Alright, all in favour of Naruto Uzumaki's expulsion, raise your hand."

Kakashi was late to class, though Sasuke knew that was nothing new. The man had a new excuse everyday. The thing that was troubling him was there was still no hunky blond boyfriend either. Sasuke had tried to push it to the back of his mind, he wanted to believe Naruto would stroll through the door any minute. But as the seconds ticked by it became overwhelmingly clear that Naruto might actually be expelled.

The door to the class finally opened and in came a tired looking Kakashi. "Sorry, I was stuck in a meeting." Sasuke froze, Kakashi never told the truth regarding his tardiness.

'No...It can't be...They couldn't have...' Sasuke's mind aimlessly paced.

Sasuke was doing everything to get Kakashi to look his way, to see if his expression would reveal anything to him. The man simply avoided looking at him as he went through attendance.

Sasuke wasn't having it. "Kakashi sensei-"

The door opened and in came a blank looking blond. Sasuke's heart dropped. 'He's here!'

"Good to have you back Naruto." Kakashi looked between Sasuke and Naruto cheekily.

Naruto nodded lightly as he proceeded towards his seat. "Thanks Kakashi sensei."

The usual whispers around the room ensued, but they were quieter and far more hesitant now. It was almost like everyone was scared to even look at the blond.

When Naruto finally took his seat, Sasuke looks over at him and smiled. "Dobe."

"Teme." Naruto grins back, and Sasuke's heart melted.

The two couldn't talk much to each other, but were content just being in each other's presence. The day dragged on, both anxious to discuss what happened. One thing was apparent, the school seemed utterly terrified of the blond now. He was always avoided, but now most would go out of their way to steer clear of him.

Sasuke was good at keeping his exposure, but the treatment Naruto was getting was pissing him off. All he wanted to do was take the blonds hand and walk beside him. But no, people would disregard their privacy and inevitably take pictures, reinvigorating the whole debacle. By the time school was out Sasuke raced to his car. As amazing as it was to have Naruto back, he couldn't wait to get out of there and away from everyone else.

Sasuke:

Meet me at my house dobe, Kotetsu's waiting for you.

Dobe:

Alright. See you there.

Sasuke ignored the instinct that told him to race home. Instead he took his leisurely time, knowing he'd only have to wait longer if he sped home. At least taking his time gave him something to do rather than stare into space.

It was strange, when the younger Uchiha arrived home, he found Itachi's car there. When he got inside he found out why. There was a rather large, annoying, birdy visiting.

"Sasuke!" His curly haired cousin tackled him to the ground in a spine crushing hug.

"Shi, please, I can't breathe." Sasuke wheezed while trying to shove his exuberant cousin off him.

Chuckling, Shisui jumps up, bringing Sasuke with him. "Sorry mini-chi."

Sasuke groaned, sagging his shoulders "Stop calling me that damn it!"

"Nope, sorry. No can do. It's been too much time to drop it now!" Shisui chirps, bouncing on the heels of his feet.

"Oh, I so want to hear this!" A deep voice states excitedly.

"Why?" Sasuke grumbled under his breath.

"Ruto!" The oddball Uchiha tackled the blond with the same fervour but ended up hanging off of him instead of knocking him down.

"Shit dude, you're a tank!" Shisui would have pouted at his failure if he weren't so excited to see the young blond music genius.

"Ah, thanks?" Naruto awkwardly responded, slightly winded at the sudden affectionate attack.

Sasuke knew logically that his cousin wasn't trying to steal his love, but his instincts wouldn't listen. He growled seeing the man hang off of his blond. "Shi, off!"

Shisui jumps off. "Geeze, don't get your panties in a twist mini-chi!"

"No Shi, he's not walking that way because of twisted panties." Itachi interrupted, walking into the room with a mischievous smirk.

The cousin furrowed his brow in confusion. "I wasn't talking about his walk, I was holding on to—Oh—OH!." Shisui's eyes bulge out when what Itachi implied finally sunk in.

Shisui turns around and wiggles his eyebrows at Sasuke. "So, our mini-chi is finally a man is he?"

Naruto blushed and Sasuke looked mortified. Flustered, Sasuke made very big hand movements. "NOPE! Not doing this. Let's go dobe."

Naruto may have been slightly embarrassed, but he wanted to hear about his boyfriend's adorable nickname." But I wanna hear the story of mini-chi." The blond pouted as Sasuke tried to drag him away.

"Come on little brother, don't be such a prude." Itachi chuckled at the two teens.

Sasuke snorted sarcastically. "As fun as this is, we have things to discuss."

"We'll talk later, Kitsune." Itachi calls out as Sasuke drags the blond out of the room.

"Bye Ruto!" Shisui chirps.

"Sure thing Itachi. See ya Shisui." Naruto called back, hoping he's not going to get killed for banging Sasuke.

Sasuke grumbles the whole way through the mansion, finally stopping when they get to his room.

"So, you going to tell me about mini-chi?" Naruto chuckles.

Sasuke groans, flopping backwards onto his bed, covering his eyes with his arm. "I'd rather not."

Naruto let an amused smile pull at his lip. "Oh come on, it can't be that bad. What, you follow Itachi around all the time trying to imitate him or something?"

Sasuke very slowly removed his arm, his eyebrow raised in surprise. "How...how did you know that?"

Naruto snorted. "Come on Sasuke, you adore your brother. Though I have no siblings, I can only assume it's natural to look up to your sibling, wanting to be just like them. I may not have known him for long, but I can tell he's a great man. I can't blame you for wanting to be him when you were younger."

"Hn, I guess you're right. But don't tell him that, we don't need his head getting any bigger." Sasuke throws his pillow at the blond with a smirk.

With a shocked face, Naruto feigns hurt. "I'm wounded Uchiha, throwing things at me?"

"Sorry, how could I expect a dobe to defend himself?" Sasuke responds as he sits back up, his voice a type of playfulness that's only reserved for Naruto.

Naruto walks a little closer, his face looking mischievous as he whacks Sasuke across the face with the pillow. "Whoops sorry, I slipped."

"Oh I'll show you slipped." Sasuke grabs the blond, dragging him onto the bed. Naruto lets out a deep laugh which makes Sasuke smile beautifully. Naruto rather liked playful Sasuke.

After a few minutes of laying down and staring at each other's happy, content faces, Sasuke finally spoke. "So, what exactly happened?"

Naruto rolled onto his back, looking up at the intricate stucco ceiling, sighing. "Well they all think I'm a menace. They acted more like children than the kids they teach. If it wasn't my future on the line I would have laughed. They couldn't decide what to do with me, so they voted on it. Surprisingly almost everyone voted to let me come back." Naruto's face darkened. " They made a big fuss about how dangerous I was, and wasted all that time just to agree to my return at the end."

"Useless twats." Sasuke grumbled. "Well at least your back right?" Sasuke tried to see the brighter side which was unusual for him.

Naruto snorted sardonically. "Yeah, but if I so much as bump into someone with the wrong intentions I'm gone."

"What?!" Sasuke raised himself to get a better look at the blond.

"That may be a bit exaggerated, but you get what I mean." Naruto sighed. "If someone starts something with me I'll pretty much have to just take it."

"That's bullshit!" Sasuke growled. Had Naruto been anyone else, no such stipulation would've been placed.

"It is, but at least I'm not expelled. I honestly didn't know what I'd do if they kicked me out." Naruto whispered.

Sasuke frowned before wrapping the blond in his embrace and placing a kiss on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but I'm glad you're back. We'll get through this together, yeah?"

Naruto smiled down softly at the raven wrapped around him. "Yeah."

Naruto had work so he couldn't stay too long. Sharing a few kisses and some cuddles the teens finally parted. Sasuke wanted to walk Naruto out but Naruto told him it was fine, he needed to face Itachi alone. Sasuke wasn't completely sold on the idea, but he admired his boyfriend for having the balls to enter the lion's den alone.

"Fine, but text me on your break okay?" Sasuke pouted.

"I promise." Naruto smiled before placing a sweet kiss on those perfect pouty lips. Sasuke leaned into the kiss, adding more pressure. No tongue was added, just soft , sensual lip entanglement.

Sasuke pulled away breathlessly. "That's not fair, you're cheating."

"I never claimed to be fair, teme. I'll talk to ya later." Naruto grinned playfully before placing one last kiss on his boyfriend's lips.

"Tch, dobe." Sasuke tried to sound annoyed but it came across as affection.

With a wink, Naruto was gone.

Naruto didn't know where he was supposed to meet Itachi, so he just walked towards the door, hoping the man would come to the same conclusion. Naruto was nervous, he didn't know what Itachi was going to say to him, he's never had the talk with any of his partners relatives before, unless he counted that awkward conversation with Fugaku. With Sasuke being his first actual relationship, he knew this was coming, he just didn't think it would be so soon.

Passing the same room they were in before, Naruto sees Itachi sitting on the edge of one of the plush leather couches, going through a boat load of paperwork that's splayed out over the coffee table.

Naruto silently walks in and clears his throat. "Hey."

Itachi looks over then stands up. "Ah, Naruto, come, come," he politely beacons the blond over. Naruto walks over as confidently as he can, stopping in front of the stoic man.

"So, um...what did you want to talk to me about?" Naruto tried to sound confident, but his deep voice cracked as if going through puberty again.

Itachi chuckled. "Relax Naruto, I'm not going to castrate you. I honestly don't care that you two are having sex, you've proven yourself a worthy partner for Sasuke. I actually just wanted to give you this without him around." He held out a drive. "Shi finished your song."

Naruto was stunned, that wasn't how that was supposed to go, but he'll take it. Aside from that how had he forgotten about the song? Shows how hectic it's been. "Oh, ah, thank you." He chuckled, scratching his neck nervously.

"There's no need for thanks." Itachi offers one of his rare, kind smiles. "Now, how did your meeting go?"

"Heh, well I'm not expelled!" Naruto forced fake excitement.

Itachi raised his elegant eyebrow. "It went that well huh?"

Naruto visibly deflated. "You know how they decided my fate?"

"How?" Itachi was genuinely curious.

"They voted." Naruto bitterly bit out.

"You're kidding?" Itachi's voice dropped several degrees.

"Nope." Naruto popped the "p".

Itachi sighs. "I'm sorry Naruto."

Naruto waves it off. "Please, you have nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I'm sorry for dragging you guys into this mess."

Itachi clicked his tongue. "Tch, you've done nothing of the sort. I'd move heaven and earth for Sasuke, and you being with him has brought out nothing but the good in him. For that reason I'll fight the same for you, so get used to it Naruto, that's just how we Uchiha are." The man smirked before reclaiming his seat, leaving a gaping blond to pick his jaw up off the floor.

"I—What am I supposed to say to that?" Naruto whispered.

"Nothing, you don't need to say anything." Itachi responded softly. The blond really had wormed his way in and found a place in the stoic man's heart.

"But-" Naruto began.

Itachi stopped him. "But nothing. Now Kotetsu is waiting for you. We wouldn't want you late for work now would we?" Getting to know the teen, he's come to realise he's just as good with emotions as the majority of the Uchiha clan.

Naruto was grateful for the out Itachi was giving him, but still needed to say something. "Itachi, thank you."

Itachi smiled and gave a tip of his head. "Hn."

With that Naruto left, his own smile in place.

Across town a completely different conversation was taking place.

"You're sure you want to do this?" The emotionless teen asked.

"Yes, if Sasuke's not going to come to the conclusion on his own, we're going to give him a little push." The brunette smirked malevolently.

"Look, I suck at feelings, but isn't this a bit much Neji?" Sai asked flatly. He couldn't really tell what the right move was, but he wasn't an idiot. This plan wasn't just a little push.

Neji scoffed. "No it's not! You will do this, or everyone will find out about your little hobby."

Sai shrugged. "Everybody already knows I'm a pervert anyways."

Neji squinted his eyes at the pale teen. "Yes, but if they find out you'll never be allowed near a camera again. You really wanna chance that?"

Sai's face never flinched. "Manipulation, fun. Fine, what am I sending? And where?"

Neji face contorted maliciously. "You'll send them all and you'll send them everywhere."

Biting his cheeks, Sai nodded. "Very well."