Sorry for the late update, guys- I had to tutor my brother these last few days.

Manna: Thanks for the comment. When I first wrote this, Sasuke and Naruto's relationship was all I had in my mind- hence the title. But I'll try to incorporate your ideas in later chapter ;)

Disclaimer: Naruto & co belong to Masashi Kishimoto, Sae belongs to Shiro-sama, I only own the plot. Unbeta-ed

2nd Arc: Tale of the past, tale of the two boys
Chapter 4- Sunrise

It was good during the first couple of years of their friendship; but not without some challenged in the beginning. Little Sasuke told his father that he no longer needed the old man to pick him up from school. His father agreed, because he knew he couldn't always keep the promise; if the first day of Kindergarten wasn't evidence enough.

It turned out that Naruto lived at an old orphanage home next to Iruka-sensei's place; hence the close relationship he had with the Primary School teacher. He was partly the guardian for the orphans there too.

Being an orphan was not easy, especially if you have so much energy that you need to vent it out all the time. It wasn't that everyone hated Naruto or anything like that; it's just that he had always caused troubles which made the town people scorned at him and the children bullied him seeing at how the adults treated the blonde.

So, when friendship was born between two polar opposite boys, Naruto mellowed a bit. Most of the orphans in the place where Naruto resided were in Primary and Middle School, so it was only him and another girl in the Kindergarten. Maybe because the other orphan was a girl so she got less bullying and teasing about not having parents.

But Naruto didn't get the same treatment.

It also didn't help with the adults' treatment to him. Although most had forgiven him, some still remembered his ill-attitude. It's true that children seem to copy what adults do, so you couldn't really blame them if they think someone with no parents are below them.

And so, when little Sasuke stood up for Naruto the first time he saw the child was being bullied on day after their friendship had just started, the chibi-Naruto got angry. The blue-eyed boy resented the fact that Sasuke assumed he was weak.

"I can protect myself, Saske!" Naruto yelled after classes had finished.

Sasuke snorted, anger seeping in. How dare Naruto wouldn't appreciate what he had done! "You call that protecting yourself?" he pointed at the bleeding nose Naruto was having.

Naruto wiped it with his shirt sleeve. "What's it matter to you?! I've been protecting myself all this while, haven't I?" He was not weak! He refused to be weak!

Sasuke was confused, but his anger overshadowed the confusion. Shouldn't friends help each other? So, Naruto didn't want to be his friend anymore is it? He turned to go home. No point in talking with someone who clearly didn't want to be a friend. Uchiha Sasuke didn't need friends. His brother and mother and father were enough! "Whatever…" Sasuke said. "… dobe!" he added, much to his satisfaction.

Naruto gaped. His chest hurt when Sasuke turned and called him an idiot. He himself wasn't sure why it had hurt; he had been called that so many times before. That, and the fact that he had only known Sasuke for a few days only.

"W-Where are you going?!" Naruto ran after Sasuke.

The raven-haired child kept on walking. "You don't need my help anymore, do you?" he recalled at how he had helped Naruto in doing some calculation only yesterday and how Naruto gave a cherry tomato during the school break every time.

"So you don't want to be my friend anymore, right? It's fine! I don't want to be your friend too, then!" he gritted his teeth.

Naruto's eyes widen. When did he say he didn't want to befriend Sasuke anymore? Naruto walked faster. Stupid Sasuke for being taller than him! "Who said I don't want to be your friend anymore?" Naruto puffed his pink cheeks.

"You!" Sasuke glared at the boy.

"When did I say that?!" Naruto asked, confused.

Sasuke stopped, looking at Naruto directly in the eyes with an expression that said 'Are you really an idiot?' "Just now. Or have you forgotten?" his dark eyes challenged the blue ones. "You said you don't need my help. Aren't friends supposed to help each other? So now we're not friends anymore!"

Naruto eyes widen again. How did Sasuke come up with that theory?!

"I said I don't need your protection, not that I don't want you to be my friend anymore."

"It's the same thing."

"No, it's not. If you protect me, you're saying I'm weak. But I'm not weak, Saske! I can protect myself!" Now Naruto explained his theory.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "But you're not weak," he said.

"Then stop protecting me. I can do it myself without your help fine!" Naruto's hands flailed around.

He then saw the flash of hurt in Sasuke's black orbs. "See? So it means you don't want us to be friends anymore." The fairer boy tried hard not to pout.

Naruto sighed. Sasuke still didn't understand his logic. "It's different Saske. I'm not weak, so I don't need your protection. But I still want to be your friend."

Sasuke frowned. "But aren't friends supposed to help each other?"

At this, Naruto actually stopped to ponder. Sasuke did make sense after all. Little Sasuke took the time to absorb what Naruto told him too. And then he looked back at Naruto; he thought he had found an idea how to solve their problem. But when he saw Naruto's face scrunched up like an old man, he automatically laughed.

Naruto looked hurt at this. What's so funny now? Aren't they still arguing? "What's so funny?"

"You," Sasuke answered simply.

"What do you mean me?" Naruto growled, hurt was evident now in his eyes. Somehow he didn't like Sasuke laughing at him.

"You look funny when you're trying to think, idiot!"

"Don't call me that!" Naruto crossed his arms and puffed his cheeks. Sasuke's laughter subsided. They looked at each other before Sasuke finally spoke up. "Naruto, I… I'm sorry…

"Maybe… maybe we can still be friends…" he started. Naruto looked at him, hopeful that Sasuke had a solution for this.

"I won't protect you anymore, so you don't have to feel that you are weak. And you are not weak, Naruto. But… But, if you ever need my help, you just have to ask me, okay? So that way, we can still friends," he said, hoping he made sense.

Naruto's face scrunched up again to think about Sasuke's proposition. "Umm… It could work I guess. I'm not weak, so I don't need your protection… And we are friends, so if I need your help, I would just have to ask you…" he repeated, as if trying to convince himself.

"You've just repeated what I said, idiot," Sasuke's smirked.

Naruto ignored the insult. He then grinned brightly. "That means, if you need help, you too would just have to ask me, right, right?" he asked cheerfully.

Now it was Sasuke's turn to frown. He didn't actually think of that.

"You said friends help each other. If you need help, then I will come to help you. And if I need help, you will help me. If we're okay with it, we don't have to help each other; like… like right now, I don't need your help to protect me because I can do it myself. I'm not weak. So then, we can still be friends, right?"

When Sasuke seemed to be thinking more, Naruto pestered him. "Right, Saske? You said that friends help each other, so if you need my help, you will ask me, ne? Ne??"

Sasuke made a noise. Why must Naruto be so annoyingly persistent? But then… in a way, he was right… wasn't he?

"I guess… I guess you are right," he said at last. Naruto cheered loudly.

"So we shake hands now," Naruto held out his right hand.

"Eh? What for?" Sasuke asked, looking at the tanned hand.

"Because I see adults always do this- shaking hands when they agreed on something, stupid," Naruto rolled his eyes.

Sasuke scowled at being called stupid, but he shook the smaller hand.

And with that, their first argument was settled peacefully.
And a strong friendship, which would only go deeper and more meaningful later on, started.

Both had a wide smile when they returned home that day.

000

Kiba eyed the bubbly blond. He had always liked being friend with the energetic bundle since a year ago, despite the fact that the blond could sometime be annoyingly loud and talkative. What was he thinking? He's actually exactly like that!

Except, he's more sane though.

Because he himself would declare he's practically insane if he would be that close with one dark-haired, dark eyes boy. Uchiha Sasuke. What was so special about him? Kiba didn't know. It seemed like every one, and even the teachers liked that boy. Okay, so maybe he's smart and could run faster than most kiddies. And maybe he always had the correct answer every time the teachers asked questions. Or maybe he had neater handwriting and could draw dogs better than Kiba himself.

Or the fact that he could play piano very well.

But those are not the reasons for people to like him. Right?

Look at him! He didn't even treat everyone else nicely! He didn't talk much. He always likes to be alone- saved for one blond. He always had monotonous answer for everything- mainly being 'no'. He had the palest skin Kiba has ever seen. Black hair, black eyes and white skin? What was this? A 1930s television show?! Put on some colour!

And most importantly; the reason why he didn't like Sasuke very much… no scratched that- the reason why he didn't like Sasuke at all was because he's such a meanie towards Naruto!

And Kiba still didn't understand why Naruto still wanted to hang around with Sasuke!

And that frustrated him.

"Nar'to-chan!" Kiba called the petite blond during their lunch. Sasuke was no where to be seen. Good!

"Kiba!" the blond kid ran and stopped in front of his brunette friend. He liked Kiba, Naruto decided. Sasuke didn't talk much but he listened well. While Kiba, Kiba had the same amount of energy as him and talked as much which Naruto enjoyed because he had friend to exchange stories.

Plus, Kiba had lots and lots of dogs at home!

"You want to eat together?" Kiba asked Naruto, pink flushed on his cheeks at his question.

"Huh?" Naruto was confused because it was the first time Kiba had asked him to eat together. Then he grinned widely, "Yeah! Why not? Let's see what you've got!" Naruto sat next to him and leaned over to peek at Kiba's lunch box.

Kiba grinned too and opened up the lid. Two peanut-butter jelly sandwich and four chocolate chip cookies were inside it.

"Cookies!" Naruto looked at it excitedly. "Can I have one, huh, huh?" he looked at Kiba with big eyes.

Kiba laughed and shove one cookie to Naruto, which made the blond kid to cheer at the top of his lungs.

"What have you got?" he then asked Naruto.

"Huh? Oh…" shoving the rest of the cookie into his already-full mouth, Naruto quickly opened his lunchbox lid. There was a sandwich with a piece of cheese in between, two crackers and three cherry tomatoes.

"Eww… veggies…" Kiba frowned.

Naruto made the same distaste expression as well. His lunch was nothing compared to Kiba's. "Baachan and Iruka-sensei said that we have to eat veggies. But I don't like them," Naruto complained.

"Do you still eat them?" Kiba asked in sympathy.

Naruto nodded. "I don't want Iruka-sensei to be sad if I don't eat them."

Kiba then watched Naruto put aside one cherry tomato and then ate his cheese sandwich. Swallowing his own sandwich, Kiba asked, "Why did you put that aside?" he pointed at the one lone tomato.

"This?" Naruto picked it up and put it back down when Kiba nodded. "That's for Saske."

Kiba frowned again. "Sasuke? Why would he want your tomato?"

"Because he likes it. And besides, he gives me his lollies. He doesn't like lollies," Naruto explained, finishing his sandwich.

"You can have some of my cookies too if you want," Kiba offered, not realizing that there was a jealousy note in his offer.

"Okay!" Naruto was only glad to accept the generous offer. Who would reject that kind of offer?

"You are really good friend with Sasuke, aren't you?" Kiba asked, not satisfied.

"Yeah. Why?" Naruto was confused at Kiba's question. Was it wrong to be Sasuke's friend?

"But he's a meanie to you!"

Naruto still didn't understand what Kiba was trying to tell him. "But he's my best friend," he answered automatically.

Brown eyes widen at this. "But I want to be Nar'to-chan's best friend too!" Kiba whined.

Naruto blinked. Kiba wanted that? He really did? He then broke into a sunny grin. "Then you can be my best friend too!" he suggested.

Kiba pouted. "You cannot have two best friends," he rolled his eyes, as though the statement was a fact of life.

"You can't?" Naruto asked, shocked at the new information. Who came up with that kind of ridiculous statement?!

"Uhh… I don't think so… I think best friend is only one person," Kiba was starting to be unsure himself.

"Hmmm…." Naruto scratched the top of his head. "Maybe we can make exception this time?" he suggested hopefully. "I hate if you want to be my best friend and you cannot because somebody else said so," Naruto added. "With me, Uzumaki Naruto, Kiba can be my best friend too!"

Kiba beamed at this. Yes, maybe they could make some exception. Their case was unique anyway.

Sasuke chose that moment to come. "Why are you sitting here?" he asked when he saw Naruto was not at their usual eating spot.

"Saske! I've got a new best friend!" Naruto announced cheerfully. "Kiba's joining us now, isn't that great?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at this. "He's your new best friend? What about me?" he asked, hurt.

"But Saske's my best friend too!"

"You cannot have two best friends," Sasuke said it as the matter of fact.

"Of course you can," Naruto answered quickly. "With me you can. We make an exception."

Sasuke sat, opening his lunchbox and pouting. "Whatever," he said, still unsatisfied. Naruto who was oblivious to Sasuke's dissatisfaction cheered at how lucky he was to have not one, but two best friends.

That evening, on the way back home, Sasuke asked Naruto, still hurt that Naruto was putting him aside. "Is Kiba really your best friend now, Naruto?"

"Of course!" Naruto grinned, but the grin was gone when he saw the hurt look Sasuke was giving him.

"What's wrong, Saske?"

For some reason the ebony-eyed child had a lump in his throat. He took a big breath to chase it away and blinked back tears that started to pool up. He shook his head.

Naruto was worried at this. "Saske…" he touched the taller kid's arm. "You said that friends help each other. You are sad now and Nar'to want to help…" he said softly.

"If we're best friend, we are special, right?" Sasuke said at last. "But now you have two best friends… I'm not special to you anymore," unable to stop himself, a lone tear made its way down the ivory cheek.

Naruto gaped. He really didn't know Sasuke was thinking like that. Of course Sasuke was special. They made a promise, right?

"Of course you're special!" Naruto said out loud.

Sasuke wiped the tears fallen with the back of his hands. "No I'm not! Not anymore!" he complained. Naruto panicked. He hated it when Sasuke was sad. When the boy was sad, he's sad too. Sasuke seldom smiles, but smiling Sasuke was the best thing Naruto had ever had.

"How about if you're Nar'to's bestest best friend? That will make Saske more," he shook his head to correct himself, "most special, right? Right?" he said quickly after thinking for a second.

That caught Sasuke's attention. He sniffed as the tears dried up. "You promise?"

Naruto nodded vigorously. "Promise," he held out his hand and Sasuke quickly took it into his hand. They shook hands in another sealed promise.

TBC
A/N: That 'best friend is only one person' thing, yeah it happened to me when I was small XD

Thoughts? Comments? Reviews? I'll love ya!