Hey guys! Thanks for the positive feedback! Its my birthday Today! (May 8th), and Im proud to say that I have survived for yet another year! Woot!

Does it ever bug you guys when you see your story get so many favorite/alerts and not much reviews? Don't get me wrong, I am greatful. Ive seen other storys that have been up for two years and still only have close to no reviews! Im not trying to beg, but feedback on what I'm doing right/wrong would be helpful! I actually sometimes find it relatively easy to find insperation for a story. Unless I come up with a story and post it, before I actually have time to decide how this is going to end... -_-"
But I'll get there eventually! ^_^

Im bad at spelling! You've been warned!

oh, BTW, can you guys see the scene-break lines? Cause when I try to 'live preview' them, I can't see them. But, on my typed version I can... So, please let me know! I'll improvise if you can't!
~Thank you. That is all ^_^

*ahem* On a lighter note, I hope you enjoy this chapter! :D

Naruto spent a good twenty minutes pacing back and forth in what little space there was. It was starting to get warm and he was stuck with an anti-social prick in the pitch-black. Naruto honestly couldn't think of anything worse than that.

Naruto abruptly turned, tripping over an object. "Dammit!" He cursed as he flopped onto the cold, hard, tiled floor.

"That was my foot, idiot." Sasuke scowled.

"Well, I would be able to see, If a certain Bastard let me use my phone for light!" Naruto retorted, getting back up. Sasuke raised his eye-brows.

"You can't see?" The ink-haired boy asked, incredulously. "And, will you stop pacing?"

"No, Sasuke, I can't see in the dark! What do you think I am, a fucking vampire? And no, I won't stop pacing!"

"Why not?"

"Because!"

"Because...?"

"Because your making me uncomfortable!" Naruto blurted out, in Sasuke's general direction. The minute his lips uttered that sentence, Naruto slapped his hand over his mouth. Sasuke was stunned. He knew that things would have been odd between them ever since thatday, but he didn't expect Naruto to be uncomfortable, just by his mere presence.

"I make you uncomfortable?" Sasuke crossed his arms and legs. He was sitting on the large cardboard box in the far corner, opposite of Naruto. The blonde boy ran an agitated hand over his face. He knew that this day would come eventually, he just didn't expect these circumstances. 'It's now or never' He told himself. Naruto nodded, silently agreeing with himself. He slid down the wall, leaning against the hard object for support. He tried to muster up a decent response. He had planned for this day for years, but he just couldn't seem to find a reply.

"I just...I don't know..." Naruto offered, lamely. "It's been a long time." He admitted. "I guess we really haven't changed that much, from what I'm aware of." Naruto paused, hesitantly. "It's not like it was me who ended it, though."

"So your going to play the blame-game now then, hm?" Sasuke asked, angrily. Naruto knew he was treading on enemy territory now. "Besides, I can't end what wasn't there to begin with!"

"So it was nothing, then, huh!" Naruto snapped. Sasuke growled under his breath. He didn't mean for his words to come out like that. "All those years of spliting gram-crackers, beating each-other up, playing video-games... It was all 'nothing' to you?"

Had it been that long? Sasuke hadn't realized it until now. He used to now everything about Naruto. He knew just how to make him happy, and cheer him up. He also knew all the buttons to press, to get him angry. Hell, he sometimes did it on purpose. But now, he realized that he doesn't know what ticks Naruto off anymore. He didn't know what buttons to press and what not to. He knew, though, that he didn't want to press the wrong one.

"Naruto, thats not what I meant, and you know it. "

"You know what I need? I need an explination. A reason as to why you broke-off our friendship, and just left me like that? For two years! Two fucking years, you were gone. Then you come waltzing back in our school, and act as if we never meant anything to each-other! Thats what I need, Sasuke! Thats the least I deserve."

'You deserve so much more than that.' Sasuke wanted to say but he knew he couldn't. He did know, though, that if he wanted to make things right between them, he would have to go big, or go home. He didn't hate Naruto, not anymore. He hadn't for a long time. That was the main problem. Sasuke couldn't explain his feelings, and it terrified him. He had to get away, too escape. He knew things would never be the same between them ever again, and he wanted to make that right.

After receiving no response, Naruto tsked. "I knew it. Im not even worth your time of day..." And then there was silence. For the next half-hour, it stayed that way; unbearable, and un-breaking. Naruto dosed off at times, calming down. That long silence gave both boys time to think. Sasuke knew that he was running out of time. If he left things like they were, he knew that Naruto would never forgive him. His problem was that he was unsure how to go about patching things up. Naruto was the one who always extended the olive branch. Whenever they fought, Naruto was the one who smoothed things over, while Sasuke just brooded. Almost, as if he expected Naruto to come crawling back to him. That thought sickened him.

"Im sorry." Naruto broke the silence with a sigh.

"Don't apologize." Sasuke replied immediately, his voice hard. He was almost expecting Naruto to say something like that.

"Why not?" Naruto huffed.

"Because..." 'Because it makes me feel like shit.' Sasuke wanted to say, but he managed to restrain himself.

"Well, we all know you weren't going to. I just did what I thought was necessary." Naruto said. Sasuke heard scuffling, and he was sure Naruto was repositioning himself. The floor must have been uncomfortable. Sasuke scooted over on the large cardboard box. "Here," He offered. "You can sit down."

"No." Came the Blonde's curt reply. Sasuke growled. This was not going well. More silence followed. Sasuke was running out of time and ideas. "Do you remember..." He trailed off. "Remember when we snuck out of our houses?"

Naruto thought for a moment. "Which time?"

Sasuke snorted. There had been multiple times. "The time when Itachi told us about snipe hunting?"

"Oh yeah!" Naruto grinned. "I really wanted to go. Kiba got caught trying to sneak out and he got grounded for a week. I convinced you to come, though."

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't do anything stupid." Sasuke protested.

"Yeah, sure. Hidan told us that we had to make those funny duck sounds, and Deidara said to bang rocks together. I really wanted to be the first one to catch one."

"Only, it was a prank the whole time. Itachi then snitched on us for sneaking out."

"That stupid Bastard!" Naruto grumbled. "Guess it runs in the family, ne?" Sasuke scowled.

Naruto got up and made his way next to Sasuke. He gingerly sat down, leaning against the wall. The two boys sat like that in the dark for a while.

"We were such dorks, weren't we?" Naruto smiled.

"I wouldn't go as far as calling me a dork, dumb-ass." Sasuke replied. Naruto playfully punched the Raven's shoulder.

"You know, I really missed you, Sasuke..." Naruto said, just above a whisper.

"Hn." Came the reply from you-know-who.

"Do you remember that time we helped Chouji's dad at his restaurant? He was short on workers, so we offered to help. The costumers added tips cause they thought we were 'absolutely adorable!'. Or, all those times Madam Shijimi payed us to look for her cat, Tora? I swear I made so much money from doing that!" Sasuke smirked. He did remember. He still had the battle-scars to prove it.

Thats how the next half-hour went. The two boys sat there in the dark, reminiscing about all their childhood antics. They never addressed the situation about Sasuke leaving, because they were content with remember their fun-filled childhood. They talked about ditching the academy, pranking their teachers, visiting Kisame's family sushi bar, going to the beach, playing laser-tag, going to the amusement park, bugging Itachi and his friends, and having town barbecues at Sasuke's house. Those were happier times. Things were so much more simpler back then. Naruto still really wanted an explanation, and still felt hostile towards Sasuke, but something about being around Sasuke felt so natural to him. He could joke, and be the retard he was around Sasuke, and he would just brush it of as Naruto being, well, Naruto. The blonde loved being acknowledged as himself. He always wanted to be.

Before they knew it, it was twelve. Sasuke tossed Naruto's phone in his lap. "You can call someone now." Sasuke mumbled. Naruto flipped open his phone, and scrolled down to "Blonde Bitch". He was almost reluctant to call her. He knew he was going to get an earful about how the plan had been screwed up, and how it was all his fault. But, he had no idea what happened! And, in all honesty, Naruto was kind of glad he was partnered with Sasuke. He was able to feel like they were best friends again, if only just for a moment. He eventually gave in, going against his better judgment, and called Ino.

"Hey!... Yeah... Well-... nu-uh... The thing is-... no... yeah, yeah, but-... Will you let me talk, God Dammit!... Yeah, were in a closet upstairs...No! Of course not!..." After lots of explaining, and hassling, Ino and Sai finally got Naruto and Sasuke out. On the walk back, Ino spent the whole time cooing Sasuke about how sorry she was that he had to spend sucha long time alone with someone like Naruto. Naruto, on the other hand, was having a very animated chat with Sai about whether Naruto was 'dickless' or not.

"We'll, there you guys are!" Kiba yelled as they approached the entrance. He looked an Ino, expectantly. "Does this mean they win?" He asked. Ino glanced between Naruto and Sasuke, and nodded. "Sasuke is the best! Of course, he would win!" She cheered.

"Thats not fair! I just knew you two would win the minute you were partnered up. You guys always work well together..." Kiba mumbled. Naruto slung his arm over Kiba's shoulder. "Oh, cheer up, Kibs!" He joked, earning a growl from 'Kibs'. Shikamaru was actually worried that Sasuke and Naruto would kill each-other before they were found. He was, for once, proven wrong. He couldn't have been happier, though. He cared for his blonde friend, and he knew how much he cared about Sasuke.

Temari dumped a huge bin of candy on the ground, and everyone crowded around. They all sat there for a while, exchanging heart-pounding tales, and their personal secret hiding spots. It was loud, and animated. Sasuke was actually content sitting there next to Sai. He usually would have been in a bad mood, and refused to talk to anyone, but today he felt at peace. Sure, Naruto and himself hadn't spoken to each-other since they had been let out of the closet, but he was happy that he had a chance to talk sort of patch things us.

Once it was one-thirty in the morning, everyone grabbed as much candy as they could carry. They stuffed it in their pockets, bags, and hoods.

As everyone departed, Naruto met Sasuke's gaze. It seemed like they had a silent agreement that something had changed between the two. He didn't know what, but he could feel it. Naruto gave Sasuke his signature grin, before lazily waving goodbye, as he walked away.

Sasuke flopped back onto his bed. He had put his costume back in Itachi's room, happy to change out of the horrible thing. He sat there in the dark, going over everything tonight in his mind. He knew that Naruto and him weren't exactly 'friends', but they were most certainly on better terms than they were before. He heard a knock on his door, and his Mom silently slipped in. Mikoto gingerly sat down next to Sasuke's laying body, and gently stroked his hair. Sasuke couldn't help, for a minute, to think about Naruto. Naruto didn't have a mom to to this to him. He didn't have dinner made when he got home, he didn't even have a car. He didn't have a family.

"How was tonight?" Mikoto asked. Sasuke grunted. "Huh, so it was more fun than you expected then, hmm?" Sasuke shot a glare at his mom. Mikoto smiled in response. She had become used to the famous 'Uchiha-glare' along time ago. It didn't really work well on her anymore. "Well, I just wanted to tell you that your father has a business trip tomorrow, to Paris. He wanted to bring us along. He did the same for Itachi at your age, and he feels that it will be good for your education in economics." Mikoto explained. Sasuke grunted.

"You know..." Mikoto began, hesitantly. "You don't have to go, Sasuke." She was always worried that Sasuke pushed himself too far, just to please Fugaku.

"Don't worry." Sasuke replied, sensing the sincerity in his Mom's voice. "I'll go. I want to, really."

Mikoto nodded, and got up. She stopped at the door before leaving. "Sasuke... No matter what your Father says... I want you to know that Itachi wasn't a 'failure'. Not in my eyes. He was just defining his individuality. He was happy, and that means the world to me. I want you to be happy too, Sasuke." She gave her Son one last long look, before clicking the door closed, softly.

"What happened then, huh?" Ino all but yelled at her fellow blonde, pacing back on forth. They were at their usual table in the library before school. Ino had been so frustrated. She had to spend the whole evening with Sai's perverted remarks, and awkward, anti-social presence.

"I don't know!" Naruto shot back. "Just calm down and let me think!" Ino took his advice, and sat down. "You took the hat and Sakura to the bathroom. What did you guys to there?"

Ino thought for a moment. "I fixed Sakura up like I promised... But, after I used the restroom, I washed my hands... Some water got on my make-up and it smeared. The game was about to start, so Sakura offered to put the hat in the room..."

"Thats it! It was Sakura!" Naruto stated, with shock. Sakura may be annoying, but she was a smart girl. Naruto loved that about her.

"She knew?" Ino asked, stupefied. "So, does that mean Sakura knows?" Naruto nodded. "Dammit, this is going to be a lot harder than I thought... At this rate, she'll never like you, Naruto..." Ino said, off-handedly. Naruto nodded again, solemnly. Ino only confirmed what he was thinking, after all. The bell rang, and the two flinched. They had spent a lot more time in the library than they thought. Ino collected he bag, and turned to Naruto. "I'll come up with a plan during class." Naruto nodded, getting up.

"Make sure you actually put some thought in it, first, before you tell me." Naruto called after the female blonde. Of course, he walked several steps behind Ino, even thought hey were going to the same class. Ino still didn't want to be seen with him. Class was the same, it always was. The only thing was, Sasuke wasn't there. Naruto wouldn't admit it, but he was sort of disappointed. He hoped he could at least talk to Sasuke today. was surprised the Uchiha was gone today, as well. He rarely ever missed school. He was even more surprised, though, when Naruto walked through the classroom door on time.

Iruka set his attendance clip-board down on his stool, and glanced at Naruto's desk. He was actually semi-paying attention. Kiba was bugging him for a pen. Naruto gave in, and threw it at his head, mumbling something along the lines of "Heres a God damn pen! Keep it!"

Iruka chuckled at the sight. Naruto looked back at Iruka and met hiss gaze. The flaxen-haired boy offered a small grin. "Okay, students." Iruka began with a smile. "Today is going to be a good class."

After class, Ino waited for Naruto at the end of that hall. Naruto was always the last one leaving, except for 'student-council-nerds' as Naruto puts it. Ino instatnly spotted him, with his bright orange shirt and black jeans. The boy looked like a freaking pumpkin, she swore. Naruto was surprised when he saw the familiar purple-clad girl at the doors. "Is there a reason your waiting here?" Naruto asked casually, glancing at the girl.

She nodded in response. "I have another plan. But, we'll need to talk about it at my house." Naruto stared at her, stunned. Ino. Ino Yamanaka was inviting him to her house.

"Are you sure?" Naruto asked. She nodded again. "Kay', but I'll need my bike." As they came up to Ino's car, Naruto whistled in approval. "Nice car!" He began to examined it, when Ino ordered "Stop drooling, moron, and get your bike."

Naruto managed to squish his bike in Ino's white, BMW 1m, and took a seat in the passenger side. Ino pulled out of the parking lot, and onto the freeway. It was a quiet car ride. Naruto was too lost in thought, leaning against the car window. He watched colorful blurs of figures pass by them. After about twenty minutes, Ino came to a stop. They were parked on the side of her family's flower shop. She slammed the car door, and clicked the lock. She took Naruto to the front. It was a pale-yellow Italian-styled building. Flowers showed through the window, bricks lined the concrete, and pots of plants covered the walls. Naruto was overwhelmed by all the different scents of flowers.

Ino waved to her mom. "Hey, hun!" Her mom smiled back. "Whose your friend? He quite the looker..." Mrs. Yamanaka waggled her brows. Ino huffed, and shoved Naruto up the green colored wooden stair-case in the back of the shop. Naruto was surprised to find that there was a beautiful house above the flower shop. It was spacious, full of light colors. It looked just like a beach house, only if you look outside, you would see the busy streets of Konoha. Flowers were everywhere, and it gave off a 'homey' feel. Naruto was led down the hall in to what he assumed was Ino's room. She closed the door behind her, as Naruto took a seat on her bed.

"So, whats the plan?" He asked, dropping his bag on the ground.

"You still need a tutor, right?" Ino asked, walking over to the closet.

"Yeah..." Naruto admitted. "What does this have to do with this?"

Ino hobbled back over to her bed with some cloths on hangers. "Because, your going to ask Sasuke to be your tutor." Naruto abruptly stood up. "Im what!"

"Think if it as 'saving your friendship'. He tutors you, you fix-up your friendship, and all while you give me small information about him. Ya know, like his favorite color, favorite music, what he likes in a girl..." She trailed off. "You catch my drift?"

"Ino, thats wrong! I know Sasuke isn't exactly my favorite person right now, but I can't do that too him!"

"Naruto, this is a bonus for you and me." Ino explained. Naruto gave her a long look. Then a thought hit him. 'Why am I helping her? Shes not even... nice.' And then another thought hit him. 'Neither is Sakura.'

Naruto made up his mind, then and there. "Fine then, I'll do it." He said with a sly smile. 'The tables have turned, Ino.' Naruto now had a new plan in mind. He was through with Ino's sick, twisted game. Ino nodded in approval. She was actually kind of worried that Naruto would need more convincing, since hes so stubborn. She was kind of skeptical at Naruto's sudden change in though. "This is a box of cloths." Ino pulled out a stylish purple bin, setting it next to the other cloths. She dug through the box.

"Hand-me-downs?" Naruto asked, examining the stylish clothing.

"Ew! Never." Ino spat. "If your going to hang around Sasuke, you gotta look better than that." Ino said, looking Naruto up and down. "Now I'll leave and let you try them on." Naruto growled as Ino walked toward the door. She glanced back at the blonde boy. "Oh, and Naruto, when we put this plan into action... Try not to get hurt." She smiled, and it made Naruto's gut twist.

The truth was, deep down, Naruto knew they were all going to get hurt. Ino, Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke. It was all a matter of who got hurt first.

The end of chapter 3! YAY! I actually typed this in one sitting, watching Anime on Adult Swim. :)

Next chapter: Plan B
As Sasuke returns, Naruto attempts to put the plan into action! Or, at least, his version of the plan! Sasuke agrees to tutor Naruto, and the two are face with a confrontation put aside for too long! Ino becomes aware of nerve-racking news, and Sakura-... Exactly how much does she know? Next chapter, these four will begin to learn who they can, and can't, trust!

Thanks for reading, and please review!:D

-Soruka-chan