And now it actually begins...

"Ah, are you kidding, Kakashi-Sensei!?" I whined, and not just because it was my attitude. I mean, really. This mission had to take the cake for dumbest mission award. If we had one of those. We should.

"Nope, I'm not." Kakashi was smiling, gloating underneath that mask, because he had another mission to do.

"Dishes, Sensei? Shouldn't the Hyugga's be doing their own dishes?" Sakura asked sweetly, her inner self screaming about how pissed she was.

Kakashi shook his head, causing us-Sakura and I both to slump our shoulders. Sasuke just stood there. WHICH, caused me to look up, stare for a moment, then turn back. "Uhn, lets just go," I growled, Sasuke and Sakura reluctantly followed me. Kakashi waved, disappearing suddenly.

So we were going to dishes. Damn it sucked so bad to be Genin.

"Hn. If you two quit complaining, the job will get done faster." Sasuke muttered.

This caused me to stare at him again. I forgot to mention his voice, that had something to do with it too. This is the problem I was talking about, always thinking about him.

"You are sooo right, Sasuke!" Sakura said, hands clasping together in front of her. Sasuke made a 'Tch' sound, and continued following.

"Naruto, you collect them off the tables, Sakura will wash and I'll dry." Sasuke said, picking up a towel.

I complied wordlessly, making shadow clones to get my job done quicker.

Sasuke and Sakura were both surprised I knew, as to why I didn't complain about Sasuke bossing me around. Oh well. I continued, laying the dishes down one by one, Sakura picking them up and washing them, Sasuke finishing, drying and stacking.

This is when, and I was picking up dishes so I had no idea how, Sasuke ended up with the front of his shirt doused.

"Sa-Sasuke, I'm so sorry!" Sakura squeaked, reaching for another towel.

"It's fine…" Sasuke suppressed his growl. He turned, and walked over to one of the tables where we had set our bags earlier. He picked up his grey back-pack, and fished out a black T-shirt. (Aside from the blue one he was wearing.)

A found myself starring again, but I instantly turned because he took his soaking shirt off. He pulled the new black one on, completely ignoring Sakura's squeal in the background.

What the hell? Why did I turn? It's totally normal for guys to see each other with their shirts off. For gods' sake, it was just the back of him. I turned back, no one had noticed.

"I'm really sorry, Sasuke!" Sakura said through giggles.

"Hn. Shut-up." He hissed, picking the towel back-up.

Sakura turned her head down and continued. I did too.

I missed that chance.

With the dishes finished, we were all ready to head home.

This is when Sakura, for what had to be the 3rd time that week asked Sasuke on a date.

So as usual, I'm staring.

"Sasuke, I'm so, so sorry about today, I didn't-I was being clumsy and…I was hoping I could make it up to you!" She chimed.

"I don't need anymore apologies. I'm going home." He said turning.

"Oh, Okay…"

These days, I can't decide who I'm jealous of. Sasuke, or Sakura.

Sakura says goodbye, and walks away. Sasuke is gone.

Okay, maybe we weren't all ready to go home.

When I go home, there has been cases where people are waiting for me. While I can win against Genin, Jounin…Are a different story.

I don't want to go home because I may get beat up. If that's what you could call it. There weren't words to describe what people had done to me. Knives, fists…All because of what I was. Stupid, stupid, Kyubbi.

I felt myself shake on the walk home. It's quiet, nothing is outside.

I released the held breath in my lungs, and slowly pushed open the door. No one. I sighed, untying my head-band and taking off my jacket. I tossed them on the ground, no motivation to put them away. I stopped quickly, turning and locking my door.

"Crappy day, I had to do stupid dishes…" I muttered to myself.

In all honesty, I wasn't ready to go to bed, but I did because there wasn't much left to do. I wasn't hungry. The only thing that would make me want to eat…

Someone knocked. I smiled, instantly knowing Iruka-Sensei's knock by heart.

"Hi, Iruka-Sensei!" I slammed the door open, seeing him smile and rub the back of his head.

"Hey Naruto," He started.

I gave him that confident smile and look that screamed, 'Will you please buy me ramen?'

"Kakashi told me you had a boring mission today, and I was thinking…"

"That you would buy me ramen!?" He asked, putting his thought out loud.

He laughed, "Of course I will!"

"Woo-hoo!" I grabbed my jacket from the ground and pulled it on. My frightened mood from earlier completely gone.

Iruka was like the dad I never had. He knew about the…Staring problem. He asks me about it sometimes. I usually don't know what to say.

Later, I'm in one of my forms of heaven, eating ramen. (Ichiraku, to be exact.) Damn, the stuff is so good!

"I've been working a lot, I haven't talked to you in a while. How are you lately?" Iruka asked in-between slurps.

Swallowing, I started, "Uhn, Okay…I want to go on some cooler missions!"

He smiled. "Every mission is important Naruto. What about your teammates?"

"Sakura is good," I instantly thought of Sasuke when he said that. I pictured his face. Raven black hair framing his pale face and deep obsidian eyes…Then I thought of the rest of his body. He's tall and thin, although not as small as me, perfectly proportioned…But his face…He's…

"What about Sasuke?"

I swallowed another bite of ramen, setting the chopsticks on the edge of the now empty bowl. "He's…I don't know. Normal."

"Do you still find yourself staring at him?" Iruka asked gently. "Kakashi tells me he sees you a lot."

Naruto nodded. "Iruka-Sensei, I care about Sasuke. I'm always starring at Sasuke. But…I don't…I hardly know him as a person."

Iruka was quiet for a moment. "Well, why do you stare at him?"

"Because of the way he looks-" I started. "I mean, well…um…" Damn, I couldn't fix that one.

"It's okay if you like the way he looks, but is that the only reason?" He asked.

I considered his question carefully. No was the answer, but I needed other reasons. "No, of course not. It's one of the reasons…but sometimes, Iruka-"

He waited silently for me to finish, pausing to pay for the ramen.

"He looks, kind of sad. Well, I wouldn't say sad, his expression just changes. From annoyed or blank, to maybe…" I tried to think of the best word. "Disappointed. But whenever Sakura or Kakashi says something, his expression is annoyed again. I wonder why he looks that way."

Iruka motioned for me to stand up, he started to walk me home. Normally he wouldn't, but he obviously wanted to continue the conversation. "He has no real family, like you. You must know how it feels to be alone."

"But I know that's not it. It's something else." I blinked, realizing something I hadn't before. He looked that way when…

We were back at my house. It was darker and later now.

"I should probably get home. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

"No Iruka, Thanks so much for the ramen!" With one last wave, I was inside again. This time ready to sleep. My jacket had already resumed it's position on the floor. I pulled off my shirt, fishing around in my bedroom for a softer night shirt. I put it on, followed by my bed cap. I flicked the lights off and climbed into bed.

I pulled up 2 sheets, it's all I have. Normally I use one, but it's getting to be winter again.

I laid awake until I could hardly open my eyes. His expression changes when…

I say something to Sakura.