Chapter Nineteen: Misunderstandings Turned Lethal

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

"Hey! Sasuke!" Naruto called, waving happily as he ran up to the Uchiha.

"What is it..."

He was cut short when Naruto's fist collided with his jaw. Sprawling, he forced the bone back into place and glared at the annoying blonde.

"A whore? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" He demanded.

Sasuke opened is mouth, but Naruto continued.

"She gave you everything. Not once, but twice. And typical of the great Uchiha Sasuke, it's just not enough."

Shaking his head in disappointment, Naruto turned and walked back down the street.

"Hey, Naruto! We have business to finish." He snapped.

The blonde stopped, turned back, and glared. "No."

"Don't make me attack from behind." The Uchiha smirked.

What choice did Naruto have? If he refused, it would be a fight for his life. But if he accepted...

"Fine." He said as he turned toward Training Ground 3. "Let's finish this."

Sakura had gone to Training Ground 1 early that morning to perfect a kunai combo. She would need new targets in a little while, but rather than get them immediately, she chose to use the remainder and to practice some of her more complex genjutsu.

"Sasuke, you know this isn't a good idea." Naruto reiterated.

"And?" He snorted.

'Fine, Sasuke. If that's how you want it...' He thought as he ran sidelong away from the Uchiha, tossing a kunai as he leapt to preform the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"That old trick, Naruto?" Sasuke smirked as he cut through row after row of clones.

Sakura formed a clone to spar with and currently was doing pretty well. Leaping over an earth-shattering attack, she spiraled behind the copy and struck it squarely with a kunai. In a moment, all that remained was a tendril of smoke.

She was aware of something going on in Field 3, but plenty of shinobi trained there so she wasn't concerned.

Naruto struck the Uchiha in the ribs with his knee.

A log appeared in his place a moment later.

"Over here!"

A kunai sunk into his arm. Crying out, the clone was destroyed.

"Behind you!" Naruto cried as he sprinted at Sasuke's vulnerable back.

Spinning, Sasukegrabbed his arm and flipped him over his shoulder. As he went down, he grabbed a kunai and plunged the edge toward's theblonde's abdomen.

But Naruto was faster, kicking the kunai out of his hand, he sprang up and flickered into the trees.

"Come on, Naruto!" Sasuke called as he forced chakra into his left hand.

Naruto leapt down from a nearby tree. Crouching, he formed the Rasengan.

"Sasuke..." He trailed off warningly.

"Naruto." The Uchiha snapped threateningly.

Sighing, Naruto stood, his hand holding the spiraling orb of blue chakra. Sasuke did the same, the electric energy of his Chidori springing tendrils of chakra from itself.

They leapt at each other with a cry.

Sakura saw a familiar gleam in the air...Rasengan and Chidori.

'No!' She thought as she sprinted toward the field with every ounce of chakra she possessed concentrated into her feet.

'Twenty meters to go.' Sasuke thought as he brought his hand around.
'Fifteen seconds to interception.' Sakura thought.
"Ten meters." Naruto growled to himself, increasing the orb in his hand.
"Five seconds..." Sakura panted.
'Two meters...'
'One second to interception.' Sakura thought as she flung herself through the final set of brush.
'One meter.' Sasuke smirked.

And then a pink blur vaulted between his hand and Naruto's.

TBC