Alright another update! Thank you guys so much, you have all inspired me to keep going and continue to write. And to be honest when I began writing this I didn't think I would ever make it to 7 chapters... I originally was going to make it really short lol. But the more I update the more I want to write, because you guys keep asking me to continue ^_^ thank you. And I do absolutely promise I will update more frequently! So with all that out of the way, I don't own Naruto (no matter how much I wish I did) lets continue on with the story! ^o^
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A few days have past since the first day of school, and Naruto lays sprawled across his bed hours before he needs to leave for the school day. The past few days he, Sakura, and Hinata all grew close as friends, sitting together at lunch and talking with Sakura in art; he for once since he has moved here is fairly happy, well up until this morning. He was given a week to join an extracurricular activity and with in the days he has been there he managed to not only not join any clubs but blow it off completely. Now he is left with his brain throbbing on what he will do to fulfill the one requirement of this school. Frustrated he yanks on his long wild golden blonde hair and muffles his screams in a fluffy white pillow. When he finally comes up for air he looks down at the clean crisp white color of his bed, and then around the room; everything is still the crisp white color, still clean and fresh. Everything falls in place to the clean sheets, comforter, to the computer desk made of glass and the stainless steel chair, all the way to the perfect white walls that made the impression that no one ever painted that it just is. Every around him has place and all belongs with one another, except for one thing, the one blemish in the room that doesn't belong... him. Forcing his body out of bed he drags his tired feet to the mirror in his walk-in closet, a young man stares back at him in a baggy orange long sleeved sleeping shirt, and some black boxes. He stands out brightly amongst all the clean white walls and perfect furniture. Even his golden hair, and sky blue eyes stand out amongst his surroundings, he leers for a moment longer until long sigh escapes his lips and his eyes fall to the ground... will he every belong? Throwing his body back onto the bed he covers his eyes putting his mind back on the subject of his after school activity he should do.
He later dresses for school, and head downstairs to eat breakfast where his dad sits at the end of the table as he usually does reading the paper. Naruto stops for a moment and wonders what his life would've been like if he had lived here all along, if his mother was still alive, and if his father was around. Why did they separate, and why had he never heard of him? Minato sets his paper down and mets Naruto's eyes with his own sky blue. Naruto's hair, eyes, and face are his, but yet he still doesn't feel the connection, he doesn't feel welcomed. All of his life he has known loneliness and now when he has found his home he should be happy... but he feels more alone now than he did living in foster homes. But how can someone who shares his face feel so faraway?
Minato raises from his chair and walks over to the distressed Naruto gripping his small shoulders with his two strong hands. Naruto seemingly doesn't even notice, but continues to stares at the ground with such sad eyes. "Naruto are you ok?" Minato's voice sweet with worry. "Do you want to talk about it?" he gently brushes Naruto's long hair out of his face with the care only a father can give. Though Minato never thought of himself as the father figure, he stands here now just completely content, never has he been this happy since Kushina left. And now the last part of her is once again with him, his one and only child, his son. Naruto in turn just brushes his hand off his shoulder and sits down to eat his breakfast. "Naruto?"
"I am fine just tired is all, sorry." Naruto looks at Minato and gives him a big cheesy grin. Though slightly dumbfounded Minato just nods sitting back in his chair seeing the sadness behind the smile, the same smile Kushina gave him the night she left, the same lie to hide the real feelings that don't want to be shared. Minato's heart stops, maybe he is taking everything too fast just assuming life would be better if they were together again. He looks down at his paper, not really knowing what to do, or what to say. "See you later, dad" Naruto gets up and leaves for school leaving Minato alone in the massive dinning room to his thoughts.
Naruto arrives at school a while later and puts a smile on his face and steps out of the limo, 'Alright now time to figure out what stupid club to join.' and thus his hunt began. He works the rest of the week going to every club during his breaks and after school trying to find one that he can bum around in. First he tried the chest club, in turn they kicked him out after losing 10 games in a row after making only 3 moves. Onward he tried the science club which he ended up causing an explosion in the chemistry lab, then the math club... he ended up just walking out after 5 minutes of going through logarithms. Next, he went to the physics club where he ran away when he saw the math involved, then the history club, but he left because of their lame jokes about history. He tried even a book club, but he couldn't sit still for more than 30 mins before he went crazy bored. So with the rest of the day and tomorrow to find a club he sits at lunch with Sakura and Hinata practically pulling his hair out.
"How is it so impossible to find a simple club to join in such a fancy school as this!" he smacks his forehead on the table while Sakura laughs at him.
"Well, Naruto your problem is you are trying to join clubs you have no interest in and have no talent for. I mean really Math, you hate math. Why don't you think of something that you are good at?" she looks over at Hinata and they both quietly giggle at him.
"The only thing I could say I would be good at is art, but there is no art club here and Tsunade has already turned down my request for a club, because Jiraya won't stay after school to have one. So, ya! There are no artsy type clubs around here because this school only cares about Academics and Sports!" he smacks his forehead against the table again pulling even more on his hair. Hinata looks at him a blushes a bit before lightly poking his arm. He looks up at her keeping his chin on the table, "Yes, Hinata?"
"Well, isn't there a club you still haven't tried though?" he voice is quiet and meek like a little mouse and almost inaudible, but he understood nonetheless and thinks for a moment... and suddenly like a freight train had hit him his head shoots off the table.
"Your right Hinata the is a club that I haven't tried yet!" she blushes more and then opens her mouth to say something, but he cuts her off. Glowering over in the direction of Sasuke and the others sit from gym, "I haven't tried the sports club!" Hinata's face dropped.
"No, that's not what I... well, you see... I actually meant." she tries to speak, but her words pass right through him, for his determination blocks life from his mind. Sakura sits there and shakes her head and just pats Hinata on the shoulder.
"Are you really going to try the sports club after the issues you have been having with Sasuke-kun?" Sakura pipes in.
"Sasuke-what? What did you call him?" and she stops for a moment a bead of sweat rolling down her brow.
"What do you mean I said just said Sasuke, you know he he, well anyways are you going to join the club? Because he is the captain of all the sports teams, and the leader I guess you can say of the cub, or so from what I heard." her cheeks flush a bright red as she looks away from Naruto.
"Well, ya, but what else can I do? So after school I will go in there and try out for the sports club!" Sakura shakes her head and laughs a bit.
"Fine, but I am coming to see this. Will you be coming too Hinata?" Hinata turns a bright red and just shakes her head stands up and bows walking out the door. "Oh, Hinata" Sakura smiles. The school day passes and Naruto heads to the gym where all the jocks are scattered about some stretching, some running, practicing and then some just goofing off. As he enters the room everything stops and silence fills the space, all eyes bear down on him and Sasuke who's face was still slightly swollen from their fight stops his discussion about some of the training they should do and walks out over to Naruto. Kiba is the first to speak.
"Hey Naruto..." but Sasuke cuts him off.
"What brings you here Naruto?" his voice deeper now than before, and more demanding maybe just from the position he holds but he seems more dominating. Taken back Naruto stops for a moment to regain himself, clearing his throat he stares Sasuke straight in the eyes and taking a deep breath he states his business.
"You told me I had to join a club within a week, well since there are no clubs for the arts I decided to go with my next option, I would like to try out for your club." standing for he challenges Sasuke with his eyes, while everyone stands there just on their toes anxiously waiting for a response from Sasuke. Sakura sits in the bleachers her heart racing from the tension in the room between the two of them. And for a moment Sasuke stares him down sizing him up, but Naruto stands firm, and after what seems like an eternity Sasuke curls a small smirk on his lips.
"No." everyone is the practically falls over.
"No!" infuriated Naruto steps up to him, "You won't even give me a chance!"
Casually Sasuke chuckles and just crosses his arms over his chest relaxing, "Why should I, I mean look at you." Naruto is taken back and looks down on himself, "Your scrawny, you have no sense of coordination, and you slack off during gym class, and your normal classes, why would we want someone like you on the team you would just drag us down. Now leave you have no place here." with his point made Sasuke turns and walks away, while everyone around his stare mouth gaped open in shock, never before has Sasuke openly insulted anyone like that, with out a doubt they know not to say anything against his word, or they would receive much worse. But Naruto had reached his limit and grabs a random soccer ball rolling around and hurls it as hard as he can hitting Sasuke right in the back of the head. Instantly after the impact Sasuke whirls around fire in his eye, and with out a seconds hesitation his own teammates hold him back grabbing hold of his arms to keep him from killing Naruto.
Sakura runs to Naruto's side, as he just stands his ground glaring daggers into Sasuke's eyes. Determined to not back down for some reason, he feels he needs to prove himself to everyone, that he will not be considered weak, and that he is someone to reckon with. "I will not leave, not until you give me a chance to prove myself." Now more people fill the gym, as some stragglers in the hallway notice the action and invited others to watch. Sasuke pushes his teammates off him and takes in a deep breath to calm himself down and glowers back into Naruto's eyes. He walks over towards Naruto and grips the front of his shirt lifting his partially off the ground so that Naruto stands on his toes, and speaks through grit teeth.
"You want a chance then... fine. Outside, we will play a game of soccer one on one, and if you win you can join our club, but if you lose not only will you not join the club but you will be my personal servant for a week. Is that alright with you?" their eyes still locked in a glare to the death Naruto rips Sasuke's grip from his shirt.
"One other thing, if I win, I demand to be your equal, your equal as captain." the whole room gasp, mostly out of disbelief that someone is actually standing against Sasuke in such a manner, especially someone such as Naruto, but unfazed by the negativity Naruto and Sasuke both make their way to the soccer field as I preparing for a battle of their lives.
They swarmed like rats to garbage gathering in groups of different sizes, some passing out food as if this was a show of entertainment and others form to socialize and hide amongst the masses. It seemed as if the whole school had gathered around the soccer field. Dark clouds moved in dangerously close to bringing rain, but neither of the two young men cared for this was a challenge for dominance and respect and Naruto was not going to give up. He stood firm; determined to be the victor. Sasuke looked up to the sky watching as the cloud grow darker and dark by the second. Students now pulling out umbrellas huddle close together, not willing to let a little storm stop this fight. And after moments Sasuke and Naruto face each other on the field. "You sure you want to go through with this? I will probably begin to rain in a few moments, you still have time to back down." Sasuke states his face straight with no emotion. Naruto just gives him a big cheesy grin.
"If I back down now, there would've been no point in making such a big scene back there. Besides a little rain never hurt anyone, so all I have to say is, bring it on." Sasuke shakes his head and looks over at his team.
"Choji, please be the goalie on Naruto's side?" he looks back towards Naruto eyes cold as ice, "Choji is the best goalie in the school, rarely does a ball ever get past him, so I believe it is far that he be the goalie, is that alright with you?" Naruto nods sizing Choji up, "And I will take Kiba as my goalie. If that is ok with you of course?" Naruto looks at Kiba and nods. "Alright then we both need at least one teammate so we can have a defender on the other side of the field so I will let you chose them."
"Um," Naruto looks over at Sasuke's team, knowing they are all talented athletes from what he has seen for himself in gym, but yet still finding it hard to pick since in reality he doesn't really know any of them, "You can have Sai." Sasuke nods and Sai joins his side, "And I will take Sakura." Everyone stops and looks over at the pink haired girl who sits quietly in shock, "She is the only person I can really trust to have my back. You know a thing or two about sports right Sakura." she walks over to his side and nods,
"I was a little league champion at one of my old schools, but that was a long time ago?"
"That is good enough with me." he gives her his famous cheesy grin and she just nods, Sasuke unamused just nods in agreement and then has Shikamaru come over to be the referee. And then with everyone in place the game begins.
The air grows thick with heat and sweat as the two battle it out across the field stealing the ball back and forth from one another, they move so fast Sakura and the team find it hard to keep up with them. The whole school shouts for Sasuke, and a small number for Naruto, but mostly they shout out of the excitement of the game. Sasuke and Naruto now at each other's throats show of their moves, Sasuke his usually Mr. Perfect self with every movement like a graceful dance each step and kick he moves like a silent wolf hunting down his prey. While Naruto on the other hand holds his own creating his own sly tricks to steal the ball like a fox causing mischief, smarter than he looks he finds Sasuke's weak points and uses them to his advantage. Like each moment before Sasuke kicks the ball towards the goal there is about a two second delay for Sasuke to stop and contemplate where to kick giving Naruto the opportunity to steal the ball and head towards his own goal. Flustered Sasuke chases after him, speed most definitely on his side he easily jumps in front of him, blocking him from moving any further. Naruto quick passes to Sakura, but it is a bit off and she doesn't reach it allowing to other team to take control. Sasuke takes the pass from his partner and heads again to his goal, Sakura now goes after him attempting to steal the ball, and with a smirk plastered on his face Sasuke purposely leaves an opening for her to steal she falls for it. Just as she goes to kick the ball away he maneuvers his foot under the ball kicking it high into the air causing Sakura to trip over nothing crashing to the ground, and without missing a step he flips over her catching the ball with his foot continuing towards the goal without hesitation takes the shot.
Naruto now by the goal jumps through the air like a ninja doing a front flip so as his leg came down it knocked the ball in mid air back to the ground as he came back to the ground. Sasuke freezes utterly shocked at his quick comeback, for he thought he had a for sure victory at the moment. But quickly he snaps out of his admiration to catch Naruto before he makes a goal. Pushing himself as hard as he can Naruto sprints down the field with the ball, with Sakura still trying to recover from her fall he is left alone. Rain now begins to beat hard on the field the ground turning to mud beneath their feet, but Sasuke and Naruto still go at it. The game now lasting for about 30 mins has now turned into a death match between the two boys, one goal decides the whole game. Soaked to the bone Naruto is once again in possession of the ball and with Sasuke on his tail he has to think fast on how to score a goal and quickly end the game. And even through the rain the student body stays engrossed in the intense battle between the two young men. Naruto again makes his way down the field knowing this will be his last chance, his breath harsh from all the running he hasn't done in a long time, heart pounding, feet aching, the mud suctions each pounding step he takes across the field. Sasuke follows closely behind him working hard not to slip across the field, he shortly finds himself in front of Naruto the ball between the two and with a running start Naruto bolts to make a goal and Sasuke takes off to defend his goal, and as they near each other this is the moment that will decide the game. The raid pounding on his back, Sasuke rips his shoes out of the mud with every step, breath in deep heavy gasps, he stares Naruto down as this moment goes by in slow motion; he can't help but be impressed by Naruto's sheer determination to prove himself, and faintly Sasuke smiles. Naruto continues moving forward reeling his leg back to make his shot before Sasuke reaches him, and just as he pushes his leg forward his other leg gives way underneath him, still hitting the ball it misses the net and bounces off the post allowing Sasuke's partner Sai to take possession. The momentum from Naruto had running carries through his fall and he tumbles across the muddy field landing on his face. In the meantime the moment Sasuke saw Naruto slip he quickly reacted by quickly jumping over him, his partner getting the ball after Naruto missed the goal, passes it to him who in turn without interruption from Naruto scores his goal and wins the game.