Tsubame: I am soooooo busy! Wah! Before I had time to reply to almost all my readers, now I hardly have time to reply a couple of reviewers….
Anyway…I still have time to write! Hurrah!
Cherry-eingel: Salamat sa review ha! Hehehehehehe…sa totoo lang mas gusto ko ang short-haired Sakura. May pagka "symbolic" para sa akin ang paggupit. Noong ginupit na ang buhok niya, diba parang hindi na siya "fangirl" na palaging…Eeeekkkk! Sasuke-kun! I love you! Marry me! Ahhhh! Have my children!…hala!
That is the reason why she annoyed me so much before. Pero gusto ko na siya ngayon dahil nagbago siya…
Oo, Sakura/Sasuke talaga ako. Sa totoo lang naawa ako kay Sakura dahil wala na si Sasuke… Hay! That is why this fic is AU. Hindi ko gusto ang pagalis ni Sasuke. Pero Masashi Kishimoto is a genius! Yeah!
Hehehehehe...time to talk in English! Ahem…thanks to all that reviewed! I'm sorry I took so long to update. I forgot to mention about our exams…hehehehehe…seriously, if anybody out there has questions don't hesitate to ask. I always answer…though not right away.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…it is the property of Masashi Kishimoto! My idol in both art and storyline…
Chapter 3: Uzumaki Naruto
Well, we all can't have everything in life.
Uzumaki Naruto sure doesn't. Sure, he was on the basketball team and though he was not as popular as his bestfriend he was still popular. He didn't have the best grades but some of the teachers like him because he was enthusiastic and dependable. Some of the teachers didn't because he was loud, a klutz and at times sarcastic.
He was the complete polar opposite of Uchiha Sasuke but they've recognized each other as bestfriends since their kindergarten days. They competed at everything soccer, baseball, basketball, martial arts, history, science…you name it. It was just a little "friendly" competition. Except maybe martial arts, then they give their all. They both usually came out with a bruise or two. But if there was one thing they didn't compete at is girls…
Sasuke never steals any of Naruto's girlfriends with his good looks. Except that time Naruto's girlfriend tried to use Naruto to get to him. He charmed her…and got her to confess on tape recorder. The blonde was furious at first but he forgave him. His bestfriend was just trying to help though he would never admit it.
Naruto too never used his boy-next-door charms on Sasuke's girlfriends. Naruto charms little kids, old ladies, teens…well females of all ages. He doesn't do it on purpose though. Sometimes Sasuke's girlfriends would find themselves drawn to the blonde after conversing with him for a few minutes…well… scratch that…he never on PURPOSELY charm Sasuke's girlfriends. What Sasuke thought? Well, he pretty much didn't care…
Naruto was loud, clumsy, at times clueless and impulsive. He did things without thinking. He could stay in a relationship MUCH longer than Sasuke.
Sasuke was silent, calculative, looks at everything through a cynic's eye and had a new girlfriend every week.
It is a mystery why these two got a long at all. The duo was a mystery to the faculty. Two people can't be more different yet treated one another like brothers. Sometimes Sasuke thought Naruto was more his brother than Uchiha Itachi, though again he would NEVER admit it.
Naruto slammed his locker shut and began walking towards the cafeteria.
"Naruto-kun!"
He turned to find Yamanaka Ino, his girlfriend of three months. "Konnichiwa, Ino-chan," he greeted politely. They began walking together towards the cafeteria.
Though they had bee together for three months, they never acted like a couple at all. They acted more like buddies than anything else.
Naruto was popular because he was one of the best basketball players in school. He did get in trouble a lot of times for not listening to instructions from their team captain Shikamaru Nara but otherwise they were pals. Ino was popular because she was one of the pretty and SMART cheerleaders. I'm not saying cheerleaders are dumb. She's just smarter than the average.
They were two popular and single people. Why not? But there was no spark. "'What can I do for Ino-chan today? Datte ba yo…"
"Nothing really," she shrugged. "I was just looking for Hinata-chan. Have you seen her?"
Naruto blushed. Hyuuga Hinata was Ino's bestfriend. Before Ino and he became a couple, he had been trying to ask Hinata out a lot but somehow her cousin Hyuuga Neji always got in the way. He watched her with a hawk's eye and nobody gets to her without going through him.
The only reason he even got to ever talk to her at all is that Ino was her bestfriend and Neji couldn't stop him from getting to her.
"No. I haven't seen her all morning. Gomen…" he began to fidget.
She laughed. "Relax Naruto-kun. I'm not going to kill you for not knowing." She misunderstood the reason for his fidgeting.
He laughed awkwardly. "I see. That's good…datte ba yo…"
"Ne, Naruto-kun. I heard you are showing the new girl around."
"Huh? Ah, yeah! Sakura-chan!" he replied. He had showed her around campus all morning. He got a few envious and murderous looks but nobody was willing to fight him. When needed, Naruto was one heck of a fighter.
"Mmmm…is she cute?"
He nodded. Not understanding where this was going.
"Did you warn her about your bestfriend yet?" Before Naruto, Ino was one of Sasuke's girls. They broke up after a week. "Are you going to warn her? Or leave her as an easy pray for Sasuke-kun?"
"Ummm…uhhhh…" he started. He could tell that Ino hasn't completely gotten over Sasuke yet. He doesn't dislike her for it. No girl could get over him. This was like a relationship for convenience. They were just seeking company.
"Ino-chan, Naruto-kun."
A familiar voice called. It was barely a whisper.
"Hinata-chan! There you are!" running to her bestfriend. "I've been looking for you all morning."
Hyuuga Hinata, heir of the famous Hyuuga family of Konoha. She was usually so shy and on the quiet side but don't let that fool you. She may never be as strong as her cousin Neji but she can stand on her own on a fight. She's a fourth degree black belt. She was cute with clear pearly eyes, long hair and flawless creamy skin.
Right now, her cheeks were flushed. Naruto was used to seeing her blush every time she was around him. She looked cute and very nervous. He doesn't really know why she blushed like that around him. He did find her cute blushing.
Naruto smiled but almost frowned when he saw Hyuuga Neji who acted almost like a bodyguard was right behind her. He was a tenth degree black belter and a force to be reckoned with in a fight.
Hyuuga Neji with Hinata's same pearly eyes, signature scowl and long black hair…well…for years teachers have been trying to talk him into cutting his hair. Unsuccessful though, he is the kind of guy you can never tell what to do. They talked to his family…unfortunately long hair is like a signature hairstyle for Hyuugas, they didn't care. Almost everyone in the family had long hair. The faculty couldn't do anything so they let Neji keep his hair.
"Hinata-chan, konnichiwa," he waved to her. It doesn't look like he's going to get any closer. Neji was scowling at him again.
"Na---Na---Naruto-kun, ahhh…" she stuttered. "Konnichiwa."
Before Naruto could say anything else, Ino began dragging her towards the library. "Let's go Hinata-chan! You promised to help me study!"
Naruto met her eye for a brief moment. He smiled and she blushed even more, then they disappeared on the next corner. It doesn't look like he was getting a chance to speak to her. Neji followed them but not before throwing Naruto a warning look.
He sighed. He had better get moving…he promised to meet Sakura at the cafeteria. He wanted so much for Hinata-chan to join them and hopefully have a chance to talk…he'd even bear with Neji's company…
By the door s of the cafeteria, he saw Sasuke leaning against the wall and seemed to be waiting for him. He had a small smile on his lips that only meant one thing. He was planning something…and it had to do something with him…
It always did…
"Are you coming for lunch, Naruto?"
The blonde groaned. He knew where this was heading. "You know very well the answer to that question, aho."
"Dobe," he answered back, following him inside.
This was Naruto and Sasuke's relationship. It is a relationship of insulting one another and fighting. They stayed out of one another's business unless they invite the other to see this "business."
Naruto had a feeling Sasuke already found out about Sakura. With her looks, Sakura stood out like a sore thumb. He was never really surprised. Sasuke seemed to have hidden networks everywhere that even he, his bestfriend didn't know… for the latest "catches."
It sounds like they are fishes…but anyway… this is his way of thinking. Like a little game.
Sasuke never tried to "catch" Hinata though. Not because of Neji. It was out of respect for his friend, which he knew perfectly well, liked her. He would never admit it though…
Naruto never really told him about liking Hinata…but in Sasuke's eyes he hasn't really been very subtle… he still didn't understand why he stuck with Ino though.
"Sakura-chan! Konnichiwa!"
Sakura looked up from the book she was reading. Naruto's jaw almost dropped when he saw that it was ADVANCE Physics. There was another book beside her ADVANCED Anatomy.
She saw the odd look he was giving her. Did she do something wrong? "What?"
"You re---re----read that on for fun!"
She glanced at the book she was holding and grinned. She shook her head and laughed. "No, of course not. I'm just studying this. When I'm VERY bored that I want to pass out I read this."
"You feel like passing out?" he asked, scratching his blonde head in confusion.
She groaned." You told me earlier that you would be here an hour ago…what happened?"
"Huh? Ummm…I was…" he really didn't want to tell her that he was looking for Hinata-chan. She was missing that morning and he was worried. Come to think of it, he forgot to ask her where she was that morning.
He heard a cough behind him. Oh he almost forgot that his bestfriend was behind him. He might as well get on with it. Sasuke would always find a way to get to know her sooner or later. He always does. He didn't want to start a fight by refusing him…
"Sakura-chan, by the way…this idiot behind me is Uchiha Sasuke,"
"Konnichiwa, Sasuke-san!" she greeted cheerfully.
Sasuke?
Why did that name sound so familiar?
"Konnichiwa, Haruno Sakura…"
No…it couldn't be…could it…
Please don't…
It was…
There he was Uchiha Sasuke…infamous player of both sports…and females…of course she didn't know that yet. Which is very much Sasuke's advantage.
"Ms. Haruno, a pleasure to meet you again," he said taking her hand and kissing the back of it.
Her cheeks flushed. Why did he have this effect on her? It was not natural. No boy ever made her flush like this ever. And there had been a lot of boys who tried to. It was either they left disappointed…crying…or bruised…
Naruto was looking from Sakura to Sasuke. "You know each other already?"
"Yes, at the mall…"Sasuke mumbled.
"We're just acquaintances," she told Naruto. Why did she have a feeling that this guy wasn't here for mere coincidence? "We just happened to bump into each other. No biggie."
Naruto's forehead wrinkled with uncertainty. He wasn't sure if he should believe that. Something happened probably. Something USUALLY happened when Sasuke was with a girl…any girl…
Usually after the week is over…it is either the females leave disappointed…crying…but thankfully not bruised…the only one emerging bruised was Sasuke.
"Sasuke-san, are you eating lunch here?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Actually, I didn't even invite him. He actually invited himself."
"Shut up! Annoying fox," Sasuke hissed.
"Make me, do aho…"
"Are you looking for a fight?"
"Why? What if I am?"
Sakura's sweat dropped. This was getting messy. She better make her exit. Silently, she began picking up her books and slowly got up.
"Where are you going!" they chorused.
She paused on midair. "Ummm…ladies' room?"
"Stay!" they ordered and they went on with their little debate.
They may be polar opposites but when it came to bossing her around, they had a lot in common. This was going to take a while…she did have a "sort-of" big brother at home. They never got a long and when they did get into an argument it lasted for HOURS. She had a feeling these two are no different.
"Sasuke, I didn't even invite you!"
"I never asked for an invitation!" Sasuke retorted. "And since when have I EVER needed YOUR invitation or permission?"
"Baka!"
"Dobe!"
She folded her arms. She thought that she was going to enjoy her stay here in this school. These boys were fighting in a way that reminded her of kindergarten. In other words…they were acting like children. "Boys and their stupid pride," she mumbled.
"Did you say something, Sakura-chan?" Naruto was still staring Sasuke down. He was now balling his fists.
"Nothing…"
No way was she going to stay stuck with these two.
The two friends sprung…
Suddenly…
"Ummm…ahhh…Na---Naruto---kun?" Sakura heard a faint whisper. She saw a very pretty girl with clear pearly eyes and dark hair complementing her flawless, creamy skin to perfection.
Naruto's whole face lit up and became cheerful again, still holding on to Sasuke's shirt , his fists ready to jab him. While Sasuke's fist was almost made direct contact with the blonde's face. . the fist froze mere inches away…
"Hinata-chan, hi!" Naruto called out.
Sasuke simply nodded in greeting.
Both boys let go of the other but gave warning looks that promised that they were going to continue this later. Naruto turned to Hinata and smiled brightly, "What can we do for you, Hinata-chan!"
She smiled prettily, not meeting their eyes. "I was wondering if you could introduce me to Ms. Sakura-chan."
"Ahh! Of course. Hinata-chan this Haruno Sakura-chan. Sakura-chan, this is Hyuuga Hinata."
Hinata held out her hand. "It is nice to meet you, Sakura-chan."
Taking her hand in hers and shaking it lightly. "You too."
After they shook hands, Naruto interrupted. "Hinata-chan, where were you this morning. I was worried about you."
Hinata again flushed into a tomato. She didn't know what to say. But she couldn't help blushing. Naruto-kun said it. "It was like a dream come true," she thought.
"I was just…ummm," she stuttered. "I went to the…ahhh…"
"She went to the dojo with me," Neji suddenly appeared behind her. "Our sensei called us saying he had good news for both of us." He was just as stern as ever. He saw Hinata having trouble saying what she means as always when she's with Naruto.
"What's the news?" Naruto asked. He then turned to Sakura. "In case you're wondering, Sakura-chan. That stupid looking guy beside Hinata-chan is her cousin, Hyuuga Neji."
Neji chose to ignore him. "Both Hinata and I are chosen for the national karate tournament in a few weeks," Neji informed them, shrugging like it was no big deal at all.
"Wooow!" Naruto stood up and began shaking his hand very hard. "A national competition! You and Hinata-chan must really be good! Where is it! I want to see it."
The Hyuuga shrugged in reply. A bit annoyed with this idiot shaking his hand. He felt like his arm was coming off. "The venue hasn't been confirmed yet, dropout!"
"Whatever," when Naruto got to Hinata he kissed the back of her hand. "Congratulations, Hinata-chan."
Now Hinata was really feeling faint. Her cheeks reddened to the color of a tomato, her heart was palpitating…she fainted.
"Hinata-chan! Are you okay?" Naruto said trying to revive her. "Why did you faint?"
While Naruto and Neji tried to revive the fallen Hinata, Sasuke and Sakura was left alone.
"Nice to see you again, Ms. Cherry Blossom," Sasuke said suddenly.
"Please call me Sakura," she answered coldly.
Naruto was screaming, calling Hinata's name trying to wake her. The people in the cafeteria all had their eyes on him. Thinking it was so sweet of him to worry about her.
Naruto didn't notice but Neji did and after they woke up his little cousin he was going to beat him to a pulp.
Sakura groaned. Naruto was making a scene. As much as she liked Naruto, she was embarrassed to think that he always did this. Was he the master of making scenes?
She looked around the cafeteria. From the teachers to the kindergarten students all had their eyes on him. Well, Naruto certainly was the center of attention.
"Naruto had always been this popular," Sasuke spoke suddenly.
"Huh?"
"You were thinking did everybody always look at Naruto this way, weren't you?" he sat down beside her. "The answer is yes. He's a varsity player and in some girls eyes cute. So whenever Naruto made a scene all eyes are ALWAYS on him."
"Didn't he care?"
"I don't think he notices," he shrugged. "Some people think it's 'cute' that he isn't afraid to show what he's thinking."
"You're his bestfriend, right?" she pointed out. "Aren't you going to tell him? He is a tad bit too impulsive."
"No."
"Some bestfriend you are."
"Does he harm anyone in anyway with what he does?"
Surprised by the question, she just shook her head.
"Then I don't see any harm."
"Sakura-chan," Naruto appeared behind them, carrying an unconscious Hinata in his arms. "I need to take Hinata-chan to the clinic. Datte ba yo…"
"Bu---bu---but…"
"Thank you, Sakura-chan. Oi, Sasuke! Keep her company. Datte ba yo…" Naruto then ran to the door and of the cafeteria. Neji followed, with murder intent in his eyes. The cafeteria suddenly erupted to a thunderous applause at Naruto's "heroism."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. As usual, the blonde did something to attract more attention.
But at least he got what he wanted…he got to be alone with Sakura…
Sakura wishes somebody would just pierce a knife through her heart…
"Please somebody kill me," she pleaded silently.
She was going to be alone with him…
The infamous Uchiha Sasuke…
She doesn't like it…doesn't like it at all…
Tsubame: Hehehehehe…I like this chapter. I like Hinata a lot! I'm listening to Naruto midi while writing this so I like how this chapter came out. I should do this to all my chapters…I have the latest chapters of Naruto…Hinata-chan is so kawaii! Awww…I'm now a certified NaruHina fan now! Hehehehe…
Neji is soooo OOC here, I know. Neji? Protective of Hinata? Hehehehehehe…I just thought this idea would be cuter….
What the---Sasuke's theme is so…dead…
Oooooohhhh…Sakura's theme is so mellow…almost like a lullaby…
Naruto's theme is so…bouncy! Wwwwhhhhheeeeee….
Favour please! Can somebody tell me what my writing lacks? In all honesty please…I can't help feeling I lack something, you see… Please review and give a sincere opinion. I want to know if I improved…you don't really have to do it. If you have the time, please do this for me…