Author's Note: Yeah so I have now obviously put up chapter 5, and I would like to say again that comments would be much appreciated. If you have any input on what I should add to this story, please do not hesitate to leave me a comment telling me. And yes, I will put up with flames if I must. The plot is finally beginning to unfold! Yay!

Disclaimer: Dude, Naruto is Japanese. My name is the Mexican-Egyptian hybrid. I do not own Naruto. Nuff said.

Chapter 5: A New Partner and A Run- In

We return once again to our setting in the Konoha woods. A silver- haired medic nin and an onyx- eyed ninja stared each other down, glaring. The wind whistled around them and the sun shone brightly through the thinning canopy of the trees. They had a clear view of one another. Both in fighting positions, they slowly relaxed and put their arms down, eyes locked on each others' faces. They settled into semi-resting positions, still wary of one another.

"Kabuto?? What the heck are you doing here?" Sasuke yelled, a look of shock on his face. Kabuto smiled evilly at the confounded look on the Uchiha's face. "What, I can't come and bother my old roomate?" Kabuto smirked again.

"But how did you find me??" Sasuke asked. "You stalker!!" Kabuto shook his head and sighed. "Don't flatter yourself, Uchiha, I found you completely by mistake. Since you killed old snakey, I'm finally free, just like you are, and I wanted to visit Konoha."

"But why would you visit Konoha? You're not even from this village!" Sasuke asked once again. "God, Uchiha! So many questions. Why don't you just mind your own business? I have a good reason why I want to be here. I'd tell you if I wanted to tell you, but I don't. So back off. Unfortunately seeing as we are both rogue ninjas we should probably stick together in these parts."

"Fine," grumbled Sasuke. "But we keep our distances from each other. For all I know you could want my body just like Orochimaru did. I mean you were the guy's little pet and sex slave." He shuddered.

Kabuto's eye twitched. He looked sick. He took a deep breath, sighed heavily and smacked Sasuke upside the head, and said as calmly as he could, "You self-absorbed little nitwit. I have no desire for your body. I am straight and even if I was gay, I would not bother with the likes of such womanly men as yourself."

AAAAAAAAAAAH!! My pride! My poor pride! My heart has been pierced through with a knife! How could he say that? I am strong, irresistible and sooooo NOT WOMANLY!! Sasuke was very hurt at Kabuto's stinging comments, and that poor ego of his was severely bruised. He stared at Kabuto with unseeing eyes, in mental shock.

Oblivious to Sasuke's sprained dignity, Kabuto went on, losing his calm demeanor. "AND I WAS NOT THAT FREAKING SNAKE-MAN'S SEX TOY OKAY!! GOSH! HE NEVER TOUCHED ME!! STOP HINTING THAT I WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH THE FREAK BECAUSE IT NEVER HAPPENED!! I WAS HIS SERVANT BECAUSE I HAD TO BE!! AND IF YOU KNEW HOW GLAD I AM THAT HE IS DEAD YOU WOULD……"

Kabuto went on ranting to himself and Sasuke was still attempting to recover over the slurs on his manliness, both disturbing the peace of the otherwise quiet Konoha woods.

Meanwhile, Hinata had left the Hokage's office, still laughing inwardly at what had occurred with the drunken Shizune and Tonton. She had no plans for the day, and normally she would spend her days off with Naruto. She winced. Gah, why did you have to think about him AGAIN, Hinata?

She ambled aimlessly around the town, rather bored and still depressed. After that encounter with Sasuke in the woods she didn't want to go back there again. What exactly happened back there? And why was he so close to my face in the first place? He was kinda cute though...WHOA! What am I thinking? Rogue ninja here! Not happening!

Hinata couldn't help but smile to herself, because she couldn't deny that he was indeed good looking, and he did pay her some attention.Suddenly, she came to a halt. WAIT A MINUTE! SASUKE! OMG I FORGOT TO TELL TSUNADE-SAMA!

Hinata sprinted back to the Hokage's office, and there was Tsunade, giggling with Shizune and Tonton. Now they were all happily drunk. She just had to join the party, didn't she? Hinata sighed. Might as well find something to do. I won't be able to tell Tsunade-sama about Sasuke until she sobers up. And that will take a while. Sweatdrops

So the indigo-haired kunoichi headed back to the village. Not looking where she was going, Hinata slammed headfirst into none other than Sakura Haruno. "Aaaaah sorry Sakura-san!" Hinata heaved herself off the ground and offered her hand to her pink-haired friend. "Haha, please Hinata, enough with the Sakura-san. It's just Sakura, and it's quite all right." Sakura took Hinata's hand and stood up to face her.

Sakura smiled and asked, "So, Tsunade-shishoui gave you the day off too?"

"Yes, Sakura, and I am at a complete loss for what to do," responded Hinata.

"Well, it is lunch time, and I'm hungry. It would be nice to have company, so would you like to join me, Hinata?"

"Why, thank you Sakura, I'd love to."

This would be a good time to tell her about Sasuke, and perhaps she can help me with my Naruto problem, Hinata thought to herself. I really do like Sakura a lot, and I know she will be very confused about Sasuke's return to the village. We can help each other. I know I can confide in her.

With these thoughts in mind, Hinata and Sakura walked toward Ichiraku for ramen, and who did they meet there, but Naruto. He had an emotionless look on his face, and was very quiet. The owner was staring at him with a worried look on his face, for Naruto was sitting, gaze fixed on a half eaten bowl of ramen in front of him. It was only his first one! Naruto sighed and looked up at the newcomers, his attention brought on by their footsteps. His face brightened slightly as he saw Sakura. Then his eyes met Hinata's and they locked. Hinata tensed. Oh… What do I do?

Endnote: Heh. My first cliffie. That was kinda fun xD. I tried not to make it too intense, sooo don't be sad! Lol, anyway, please rate and review. I'd love it. And I apologize for the lack of romance. There will be some definite boy-girl interaction in the next chapter mkay? Not gonna say who though. Oh yeah, I'm bad, heh. Soooo yeah sorry about the chapter being a little late. Until next time!

love,

the hybrid :)