Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 20
Kiba led the way toward the table where they had sat the other day. And there they were: Shino, Gaara, and Neji. Sasuke frowned as he recalled what Naruto had said.
"They're not here because they hate my guts." Did they really hate Naruto that much? Sasuke really couldn't' believe that. Yes Naruto was a jerk and arrogant but he wasn't all that bad. He could be nice…well rarely but he was nice to be around.
He pushed those thoughts away for the moment. He'd find out sooner or later why. Maybe they just didn't like him. Not everyone could like Naruto after all.
"Hey guys!!" Kiba hollered sitting down opposite of Shino.
Sasuke and Shikamaru took the seats on either sides of him and rolled their eyes at his loudness. Kiba never seemed to keep quiet. "Did you guys miss me!?"
Neji snorted good-naturedly. "Not really. It was way more peaceful with you gone." Shino nodded while Gaara smirked.
"Ungrateful bastards." Kiba muttered with a whine. "Your lucky I hang out with you guys! It'd be dull and boring without me and you know it!! Admit it!!" Neji merely chuckled but gave no response.
Kiba scowled and incredibly remained silent muttering once in a while like a kicked puppy. Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle as well. He stifled it behind a cough when Kiba glared his way.
" So that was quite a race wouldn't you agree Shikamaru?" Neji asked Shikamaru, who propped himself up on his elbows.
"Yeah I guess." Shikamaru agreed with a bored drawl. "Not that it wasn't unexpected. The winning team I mean. Uzumaki has always been perfect at everything he does after all."
The tense silence that followed was noticeable by all. Gaara tensed and Neji's smile that had been lingering on his lips disappeared in a flashed only to be replaced with a glare a second later.
Shino didn't react which led Sasuke to assume that the silent boy either didn't care or that he was really good at hiding his emotions. Kiba glanced nervously around the table.
Meanwhile Shikamaru merely gave a bored look at Neji. Sasuke took it upon himself to break the tense silence.
" Why do you hate Naruto?" Sasuke asked with a scowl. This was starting to get on his nerves.
Why couldn't anyone just tell him? Naruto couldn't have done anything that bad that warranted anyone's hate. Maybe dislike but hate?
Neji turned and glared at him then smirked coldly. " Ah he's got you under his spell as well huh uchiha. Well that doesn't surprise me. Naruto's always had a knack for entrancing people." Sasuke glared.
" Just answer the question Neji." Shikamaru said with a lazy drawl. Neji glared at him and turned his attention back to an impatient sasuke.
"Well your scum of a friend," Neji began with venom while sasuke tensed. Shikamaru laid a hand on his back to calm him down. Sasuke forced himself to listen.
Flashback
A young Neji sat and watched as his cute cousin Hinata chat happily with a younger Naruto. He was a bit wary. Naruto wasn't the nicest person. He was aloof and a player when it came to girls.
So he had watched with apprehension as Naruto chose Hinata as his next victim. Neji had warned Hinata of the consequences. But the poor girl was entirely smitten with the blond boy and refused to listen.
But after a few days he had seen how happy Naruto was making his cousin so he backed off. He didn't want to ruin her happiness. And Naruto had stayed with his cousin for more than a day which was longer than he'd ever heard him be with a girl with.
Maybe he was committed to his cousin. Maybe this wouldn't end in heart ache for her. He hoped not.
Then a few days later he was standing outside Hinata's door, he needed talk to her about some things, and stopped as he heard the unmistakable voice of Naruto and Hinata.
It wasn't surprising in the least. Since going out with Hinata , Naruto was always coming over now. His uncle Hiyashi approved.
He was taken in by Naruto's natural charm. How could he not. Naruto was polite and accomplished. Everything he could hope for in a future husband for his daughter.
But what caught Neji's attention this time was that his cousin's voice was raised.
She only did that when severely angered or hurt. So Neji put his ear to the door and listened attentively.
"I saw you with that girl! Please don't lie to me! I know what I saw!!" Hinata's voice rang out tearfully.
" That wasn't me. Don't let people ruin what we have." Naruto's voice rang out calmly and indifferently.
"I want to believe…" Hinata's voice faded at the end as a creaking on the bed sounded.
"Then do." Naruto's voice drifted out coolly. " You want to be with me don't you…or maybe we should just end it now, maybe we really don't belong together….." his voice trailed off at the end.
" No!! I don't want that! I want to be with you!! Please I love you!!!" Hinata's voice rang out with undisguised fear. Then there was a creak and all was silent once more.
A days later Neji was walking down the halls. He was worried about his cousin. Maybe he made a mistake to trust Naruto. He turned a corner and what he saw made his blood freeze. In the hallway in plain view, Naruto was making out with a girl.
Naruto pulled away and turned his head and looked straight at him. Neji was shaking with rage. The girl whined and tried to pull Naruto in for another kiss, but Naruto bent down near her ear and whispered something.
She seemed mollified and walked away briskly sending Neji a glare for ruining the moment.
"Well hello Hyuuga." Naruto said coolly. " I wasn't expecting you."
"You bastard!!" Neji snarled. " How can you do this to her! I thought you changed for her. She loves you!"
" Who?" Naruto said with disinterest. "Care to refresh my memory. I've gone out with dozens of girls. I don't take the time to remember any their names Hyuuga."
Then Naruto paused and smirked. "And prey tell what makes her so special that you'd think I'd ever change for this girl." It was more of a statement than a question.
That did it. Neji snapped. With a roar he launched himself at the calm and smirking blond. He swung his fist toward him but Naruto just sidestepped him and effortlessly dogged him.
Neji was completely blinded by rage. Naruto paused for a second and swiftly jabbed him in his abdomen. Neji's wind was knocked out of him as he dropped to his knees.
Naruto squatted until he was at eye level with Neji.
"Oh now I remember… your talking about Hinata aren't you?" Neji glared.
"Y-you b-bastard!" Neji choked out standing up. " I- I'll kill you!!" with another roar he tried to land an upper cut on Naruto.
But Naruto dogged it catching the fist and swiftly jabbing Neji yet again in the abdomen , except twice as hard this time.
He leaned forward catching him before he fell whispering, "You're pathetic Hyuuga." then he let go and Neji fell forward.
Naruto turned and walked away and left with the Hyuuga with these parting words. " You're not even worth my time." then everything went blank. Little did he know Naruto was off to see Hinata.
He wasn't aware of how much time had passed when he awakened but as he headed to his class, he didn't get far as he was stopped by a hysterically sobbing Hinata.
He tried to soothe her to try to get to the bottom of her tears but she was pounding on his chest with her fists.
"Why!?" She cried. "Why did you ruin my happiness Neji!? How could you!? I loved him!! I LOVE him!!"
"Hinata what are you talking about?" Neji asked confused. What had he done?
"Naruto broke up with me Neji!!" Hinata sobbed hysterically. " He broke up with me because you didn't approve! How could you!! How could you!!"
End flashback
"Naruto broke my cousin's heart that day." Neji spat at Sasuke. "And then,…then he turned her against me! That's why I loathe Naruto Uzumaki. He played with her heart and yet he still managed to keep her enthralled. He'll never change."
Sasuke stood up and turned and walked away. But stopped and faced them again. His face full of resolve he spoke with confidence. " Naruto may have been that way in the past Neji but he can change."
Neji snorted. " And who's gonna change him Uchiha? If you haven't noticed he doesn't let anyone near that hard shelled heart of his."
"I will." Sasuke said coolly and walked away without another word.
Behind him Shikamaru stood up as well with an annoyed sigh and said "So troublesome but might as well follow him, I do need to speak to Uzumaki anyways." Kiba jumped up as well.
"Okay! Time to go see Uzumaki then!" Kiba said in an overly cheerfully tone and waved cheekily at Shino, Neji, and Gaara.
"Bye then!" he conveniently missed the death glare sent by Neji and followed shikamaru out.
XXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxx my line is better than yours xxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXX
Neji chuckled derisively once they were gone. "Ah it never ceases to amaze me Gaara, just how blind Naruto's followers seem to be. He truly believes he will change Uzumaki doesn't he?."
"Yes he does, he is truly foolish…. he doesn't know the harsh truth of reality." Gaara said monotone. "I pity him, I really do."
Neji nodded somberly. "Of course you'd know wouldn't you Gaara. You'd know that better than anyone wouldn't you..?," he added the last part in a murmur but Gaara heard it nonetheless.
Gaara stood up and left. Neji watched him carefully and sighed. Gaara had been most affected by naruto.
Poor Gaara. He thought. Do you still cling to foolish dreams as well?
He too stood up as well and left. He had other business to attend to as well.
Shino stood up and left silently a second later. What his take on this whole matter is unknown. Shino is like that.
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TBC…..
