All right, I'll admit it! I've been lazy! TT_TT
So I decided to spend some one-on-one time with my good ol' friend: The Skateboard.
Now I know what some of you are thinking, "Soruka, you skateboard? Oh-ho-ho, how old-school of you!" But I really just needed a way to escape and think on my own for a bit. Im sure you guys have a way of doing that too, whether its drawing, reading (yaoi? *Wink~Wink*), playing a sport, etc. We all have our happy place ^_^

Plus I have 5 projects i have to work on! 5! A person my age can only handle so much!

Anyways, with that being said, Im sorry if this chapter doesn't meet your expectations. It's kinda more of a filler chapter. Naruto and Sasuke back on the road to friendship (and more ;)

~sigh~ if only it could actually be that way -_-

BTW: This story has flashback(s). They will be in all-italics to you dont get confused. You'll see what I mean. Im going to put a few flash-backs so you get an idea of their pasts, okay?

Warning: Im not good at grammer! You've been warned! I try to fix it, but I have a bandaid on, so theres bound to be mistakes this chapter. Sorry!

I tried to make this chapter longer, to make-up for the loss of updates! Enjoy :D

The week dragged on forever. At least, according to Naruto. Ino had "freshened" him up, too look "presentable". She gave him new cloths and showed him proper etiquette; but she didn't touch his hair. She said, if everything is done right, Naruto could pull-off the whole 'wildly-sexy' look. And Naruto hated it. This was Sasuke. Maybe he has changed a bit, but he never had really cared about how Naruto looked. Maybe he had pointed out how much he wore fluorescent orange, but he never straight-up said "I hate that color, change it."

The old Sasuke accepted him for, well, him. Sure it took a lot to get there, but Sasuke tolerated his presence, and he could live with that. Ino was saying that Sasuke had a certain 'look' and 'status' to live up-too. He didn't have time for nobodies. Appearantly, you need a hot, popular, blonde girl to define if your someone or not, and that just wasn't living.

Sasuke had been gone the whole week. Naruto was worried that maybe he might have done something wrong, and possibly scared him off. Then he snickered to himself at the thought of Sasuke actually being scared.

He certainly did draw a lot of attention coming to school in tight black designer jeans, a simple black and white plaid polo, and leather jacket. It was all too fancy for the blonde's taste, but he had agreed. He was going to make sure Ino learned not to mess with people's feelings anymore. He just needed to go along with her plans until he can put his own plan in action.

He was waiting for Sasuke eagerly in his regular seat in the back. There were no assigned seat in Iruka's class, but if there were, he was almost postive Iruka would put him in the front. The bell was about to ring, and Kiba was still gone as well. Naruto stared expectantly at the door when it opened.

Naruto hoped it was Sasuke, and quickly glanced at the door. Was it Sasuke? No. Was it Kiba? No. Was it Sakura? Yes. And, boy, she looked like, well, shit. Her questioningly pink hair was frazzled and messy, she had dark bags under her eyes, her face was a bit red, and simi-puffed-up, and she looked absolutely tired.

She trudged to her usual seat, intterogating eyes following her. Iruka cleared his throat, and began class like usual. Naruto had tried to talk to her. She clearly looked misrable.

"Hey Sakura, are you okay? You don't look to well..." He asked her during their second class. Mrs. Yuhi did have assigned seats, and the two were next to each other. She looked up from her work and glanced at him.

"Yeah..." She un-characteristicaly mummbled. Naruto frowned.

"Are you sure?" He asked again.

"Im fine, Naruto" She sighed. She knew she didn't look great today. Things have just been hard for Sakura lately. Especially lately. "Ive just been... Busy with things. It's hard to handle the truth sometimes, isn't it?" Sakura snorted. Naruto didn't quite know what the pinkette meant then, but in the near future, he would.

Naruto spent a lot of the weekend in his house. He only really left when it was nessisary. Kiba had called him a couple of times, claiming to be sick. He really did sound sick, though. Akamaru could be heard barking in the background as usual. Naruto could almost picture Kiba sitting cross-legged on his modern, dark leather, indian-styled couch, watching re-runs of their favorite cartoons.

Naruto loved Kiba's house. His mom, Tsume, was a lot like Kiba. She was a tough, wild, single mom whom Naruto had always wished he had a mother like. She was intensly over-protected, claiming herself to be "mother bear".

"Naw man, I think I'll be fine!" Kiba reasured a skeptical Naruto. The blonde boy could hear Kiba's stuffiness, but it didn't sound as bad as it did on Saturday.

"Don't push yourself. You missing one day of school isn't gonna make a difference, though. Especially considering how much we ditch class..." Naruto trailed off. They did miss class a lot. But it was nothing important, right? Kiba could be heard coughing.

"It has been kinda lonely, though. Non of the other guys are quite like you, Kiba. Especially Shikamaru and Chouji..." Naruto mumbled.

"Aw, do you miss me?" Kiba teased. "I miss you too, honey" He joked, making kissy noises through the phone.

"Screw you!" Naruto yelled back, half-heartedly. He knew Kiba was only joking. They joked about things like that a lot.

The two sat there for half an hour, animatedly talking about the new Princess Yukie movie coming out. God, they are such nerds.

"Seriously, shes so hot!" Naruto swooned. It was kinda funny. When they were younger, they used to love the action of the movie. Now that they were older, the boys mainly loved the hot actor. Funny how age worked, right? Infact, they saw there first movie together. Of course, Sasuke mom took them.

Sasuke...

"Kiba, get your sick-ass down here! I have to take you to a check-up!" Naruto could hear Kiba's sister, Hana, yell from another room.

Kiba groaned. "Gotta go. Wish me luck, bro." Naruto grimanced. He hated going to the doctor. Tsunade was a world renowned medic, but she was still a violent and demanding girl at heart. They said their goodbyes, and Naruto clicked his phone closed.

Immediatly, silence surrounded him. Naruto sighed. His house was so silent and...and lonely. He flipped over on his bed, and stared at the ceiling, letting his mind wander. Naruto noted that he still had his day-time cloths and shoes on, but he felt to lazy to take them off.

"Maybe I should get an animal..." He mumbled too himself. "Something bizarre, like a turtle... No one ever has those anymore." Naruto quickly shut up, as he realised he was talking to himself outloud in a vain attempt to fill the silence.

Naruto shut his eyes, deciding that now was probably a good time to go to sleep. It was dark outside, and he didn't have anything else planned to do. As he fell asleep, he found himself realiving a very familiar memory.

"Are you going to make-up yet?" An iritated Kiba asked. Naruto huffed.

"Nuh-uh! Never! Not until Sasuke does!" Shikamaru wanted to point out how immature Naruto was acting, but he decided against it. They were all sitting at their regular lunch table, eating their regular lunches. Everything was right in the world.

Well, accept for the fact that Sasuke and Naruto weren't talking.

"It's been long enough, hasn't it?" Chouji asked between bites of his rice. Naruto shot him a feirce glare, and Chouji rose his hands in surrender. Naruto cast a long look at Sasuke, who was sitting by himself under the old oak tree with the swing. He looked unusualy sullen. No fan-girls were smugling him. That sight of Sasuke panged Naruto's heart. Today was definaltly a weird day.

Shikamaru gave Naruto a knowing look and nodded. Naruto sighed in defeat, and got up. He hopped over the metal fence dividing the lunch-area, and walked over to his familiar best friend. Sasuke looked up as a shadow covered his papers. Though, he already had an idea of who it was.

Naruto took a seat next to Sasuke by the trunk of the tree, and plopped the Uchiha's dango right out of his lunch. He remembered how much Sasuke hated sweets. That little gesture easily smoothed things over. It was almost like their fight had never happened.

"Wacha writing?" Naruto asked, curiously. "Did the great Sasuke actually not do his homework for once?" He teased. Sasuke grunted.

"No, Im getting a head-start on our family tree project."

"Tch, nerd..." Naruto mumbled, though Sasuke knew better. He could tell Naruto was hurt. Naruto didn't have a family too do the project on.

Naruto grabbed one of the lose sheets of paper next to Sasuke, that contained notes. He skimmed through them. "Whats this?" Naruto pointed to a picture of a young, dark-haired boy, with his hand in front of his mouth.

"Thats my cousin. Hes attempting to do our family ritual of breathing fire." Sasuke stated nonchalauntly, scribbling on his paper.

"Breathing fire?" Naruto gasped. "How?"

"Fire kinda represents my clan. It was said that my ancestors would breath fire to scare away their enemies. They were one of the fiercest clans out there. Everyone must preform the fire ritual before becoming a full-fledged Uchiha."

"Wow! Thats so cool! Did you do it?" Naruto asked, wide-eyed, taking a huge bite of the dango. He had no idea Sasuke had breathed fire before.

"Of course. But not as fast as Itachi did." Sasuke spat. Naruto, sensing the sensative topic, tried to change the subject.

"What do you think I would be? My family, I mean" The blonde asked eagirly, laying down before the Uchiha. Sasuke smirked.

"Thats easy. You would be air."

"Whys that?" Naruto asked, his blue eyes shimmering with curiosity.

"Cause your such an air-head." Sasuke replied.

"Hey!" Naruto shrieked, lightly punching Sasuke in the shoulder.

"I was only kidding." Sasuke stated plainly. Naruto blinked. "Then whats the real reason?"

Sasuke thought for a moment. "Yeah, you definatly would be air." He nodded.

"Why I oughta-" Sasuke held up his hand before Naruto could attack again.

"You would be air because... Because fire needs air..." Sasuke explained, uncomfortably. He didn't really know how to put it into words. "It's like... fire needs air to breath. With air, fire is blazing, brilliant. Its warm and inviting. Without it..." Sasuke shifted his position. "Without it, fire is gone. Its cold and..."

"gone?" Naruto finished, picking his teeth with the dango stick. Sasuke nodded, and Naruto smiled. "Who knew you were sucha poet?" Naruto teased. Sasuke growled.

"Whatever."

"At least you have a family to do your report on.." Naruto said just above a whisper. Sasuke glanced at the blonde boy. "You know, I... I could help you..." Sasuke offered. Naruto instantly brightneded.

"Really?" Sasuke grunted. "Awesome! I'll keep it forever, and ever!" the flaxen-haired boy cheered. Sasuke sighed. Naruto was so loud and obnoxious. But hey, he was air. Naruto was a nessecity.

Naruto woke up moaning. It was still dark outside, and Naruto was really groggy. He looked to his right, glancing at the clock. Five-thirty. Dang, he really needed to get his body-clock back on track. He sat up, and his phone fell off his chest. He then remembered he fell asleep in his jeans and jacket. Naruto sighed, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He needed to get ready for school anyway.

It was Monday; the begging of a new week. Yet, still no sign of Sasuke. Ino was getting impatient, and Naruto just wanted to get this whole tutor shit over with. Besides, midterms were in a month or so, and Naruto really did need a tutor.

As Naruto walked down Konoha High's rumor-filled hallways, he realized all the pointed stares he was getting. Some in admiration, and others in jelousy. Non the less, he held his head high.

'This is all part of Ino's plan' He told himself. 'If I wear cloths like this, there is obviously going to be some changes in people's attitude towards me.' And it was true. Image meant a lot to high school kids. Not many people really changed 'cliques'. They kept their respectable appearances, and learned their place. Naruto was being daring if he went from the slacker, bad-boy, to a hot, popular guy.

Not many people would approve of that. He was going to need to watch his back.

Naruto was sitting in the back corner of Iruka's class, staring out the window. It was a beautfiul day. A bit chilly out since it was November, but it wasn't unbearable. Naruto groaned. 'Just wait till' late November' He thought. 'It'll be hella cold, and then I'll have to pay more for my h-'

"Naruto!" Iruka shouted at the oblivious blonde. "Huh?" Naruto gazed his vision over to Iruka.

"Naruto, can you please explain Hermia and Lysander relationship, from Shakespeare's Midnightsummer night's dream?"

Naruto stared blankly at Iruka. Making a change from "slacker" to "Mr. Popular" was going to be harder than he thought.

"They were secretly in love, and planed on eloping at Lysander's Aunt's house." A deep voice answered from the door. Naruto's eyes widened as he turned his attention to the voice. It was Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke was back! He was standing there in the doorway, looking nonchalant as ever in his dark tee and jeans.

Sasuke strode over to Iruka's desk, handing him a pale-pink late slip. Iruka nodded, scaning the room. "You can take a seat in the back, next to Naruto."

Translation: "Sorry Sasuke, because you were late, the only open seat is next to our class dunce, Naruto. Take a seat there for now."

Sasuke walked over to the seat that Kiba usually occupies. Naruto cursed to himself. 'Stupid fucking Kiba getting sick...'

Sasuke didn't even look in his direction. He dropped his bag and slid into the hard blue seat. During Iruka's lecture, Naruto couldn't help but steal a glance or two at Sasuke. He noticed how he seemed to glare at the board when Iruka explained something, or how he looked rather impassive when he was presented with work. He didn't notice he was staring, until Sasuke snapped his gaze up, locking his eyes with Naruto's.

"Are you going to keep staring at me the whole period, moron? You have work to do." Naruto scowled and turned his attention back to his 'work'. He was tired and just couldn't seem to concentrate. The blonde shrugged, and decided to return looking out the window.

Naruto snapped wide awake once the bell rang. He hadn't realized he fell alseep. He whipped his groggy face. It was probably because he woke-up so early this morning.

"Have a good nap, Sleeping-beauty? Your always such a dumb-ass. You should actually try paying attention in class. I guess we know why you have such low grades." Sasuke mocked. Naruto's face flushed and he glanced around self-conciously as chuckles could be hurt through-out the room. Even Ino was giggling. Normally he could handel insultes, especially coming from Sasuke. But, today, the Raven's word's seemed to struck a nerve.

"Oh, Shuddap!" Naruto growled.

Naruto grabbed his bag and strutted out the door, slamming it behind him. He needed to cool off. Sasuke's sassy remarks always got on his nerves. Jeez, the dark-haired teen had only been here for two hours, and Naruto was already ticked-off.

He slung his bag straps over his shoulder as he approached the ladder hidden in the school gym. Naruto quickly climbed the cold, metal, bars, bringing him to a mini secluded room. He slammed open the door, revealing a wide, open roof-top. He came here often to relax. He always spent hours here after school before coming home. Thats why he always left school late. The blonde boy tossed his bag, and plopped down on the floor. Naruto dug-out his mp3 player from his bag, and clasped his hands behind his head as a make-shift pillow as he laid down.

His mp3 was set on shuffle, and the random songs helped play on his mood.

Already, he felt his anger dissipate. He closed his eyes and tried to collect his thoughts. God, he was such am idiot. He knew he over-reacted. Still, he had hoped that something might have changed between them, since the closet incident. Apparently not. Sasuke was still a Bastard and Naruto was still a Moron.

Naruto sighed. He still had to ask Sasuke to be is tutor. He grimaced. "Great... just fucking great..." He mumbled to himself, aloud. Its not like anyone was here anyway.

Multiple minutes passed, as Naruto laid in content silence. He closed his eyes, seeing nothing but pink as the sun shone on his eyes. Half an hour passed, and Naruto laid there, taking a nap to make-up for the loss of sleep. His eyes shot open as he heard an abrupt scuffle behind him. Naruto twisted his head awkwardly, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder.

Of course, it was non other than Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto's expression didn't change, but on the inside, he was panicking. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Sasuke right now. He was tired. When fighting Sasuke, you want to be at the peak of your mental condition. Naruto was still groggy, and couldn't think properly. He sat there blinking, trying to wake up his brain.

"What are you still doing here?" Sasuke's familiar monotone voice asked. He was leaning against the metal door-frame, arms crossed and a usual scowl adorned his face. Naruto removed one of his headset pieces, but he didn't move. Well, more like, he didn't want to move. This was his spot, not Sasuke's. No way in hell was he leaving. If Sasuke wanted the spot, he was gonna have to fight for it.

"What do you want, jerk?" Naruto growled.

Sasuke sighed. "Still as touchy as ever, I see. Quite the drama-queen." Naruto blushed. It didn't take an idiot to find out he was talking about Naruto's dramatic exit of the classroom.

"S-Shut up." The blonde stuttered. "Look, lets just get down to what you came here for." He said fiercely, composing himself. "Im not leaving here, okay? Nothing you do is gonna make me leave." Naruto stood his ground. Sasuke took a minute to asses the situation. He nodded to himself, and pushed off the wall. Sasuke calmly walked over to Naruto and tossed his bag on the ground. The ebony-haired boy sat down next to Naruto, a few feat away, sitting criss-cross. He used his hands to prop himself up, and looked at Naruto expectantly.

They stared at each-other for a few minutes, before Naruto smiled. "So, your not kicking me out then?" The flaxen-haired boy asked. Sasuke grunted in response. The two boys sat there for a while, staring at the colorful sky. It was turning dark. Beautiful shades of blue, orange, and pink danced across the sky, painting the perfect sunset. The usual, chilly fall breeze could be felt, especially from the rooftop. They sat there in companionable silence, until Naruto felt the need to talk.

"I come here a lot." He began. Sasuke looked at Naruto. The slight breeze swayed his dull, sunshine-colored hair, and his pure azure eyes gazed at the rapidly darkening sky. "I don't want to go home... I mean, it's not like anyones waiting for me there, anyways..." Naruto laughed awkwardly like he always did, attempting to smooth-over the situation. Sasuke was not convinced. "I guess I'd always had a habit of loitering, ne?" Naruto grinned. Sasuke stared at him, different emotions visibly surging through his passionate, inky eyes.

"Though, its not like you care." Naruto spat. Sasuke looked impassive, and Naruto felt a tinge of anger swell in the pit of his stomach. Sasuke was never easy to read. In fact, it was almost impossible. It ticked Naruto off, how he could be so emotionless like that.

"You've always really been a jerk you know that?" Naruto growled, returning his gaze towards the sky. "You always made fun of me. You never... Never complimented me, or congratulated me. Hell, it took forever for you too just realize that we were even friends."

It was true. Sasuke never had acknowledged that the two of them were friends, until Itachi had pointed it out to them.

It had been a long day, and Sasuke was angry at Naruto for staining his white shorts while playing soccer. The two boys walked to his Sasuke's house. They always went there after school, it was more fun at his house. There was more snacks, games, and what-not. The pair tossed their shoes and back-packs in the family room, and raced to the kitchen. Sasuke won of course. He greeted Itachi, who was silently studying at the counter. Itachi was more of the quiet, observing type of person. He got up to go to his room to study, noticing that Naruto was back.

'Sasuke and the blonde boy were always so loud when they were together', Itachi mentally took note the first time Naruto came over.

Naruto slid into the kitchen on his socks, crashing into Itachi. The blonde bumped back, and fell on his ass. Itachi stood there, raising a questioning eye-brow at the younger boy's antics. "Sorry Itachi!" Naruto hastily apologized, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Sasuke turned around, looking at the pair who crashed. Itachi continued to stare at Naruto. "Hey, I said I was sorry, Mr. Weasel!" Naruto shouted, uncomfortable under the older Uchiha's gaze. Sasuke gapped at Naruto. No one ever dared call his heartless brother "Mr. Weasel." It was so childish, and unheard of.

"Naruto..." Sasuke warned. Itachi reached his hand out towards Naruto, and the blonde flinched. Itachi's glare turned into a soft smile, and Naruto was taken aback.

"It's alright, foolish little brother. I would never hurt one of your friends." Itachi said, helping Naruto off the floor. Naruto stared surprised at the older boy.

"...Friends?" Sasuke asked, as if hearing the word for the first time. Naruto looked just as confused as Sasuke felt.

"Yes. You are friends, am I wrong?" Itachi smirked at his brother's dullness.

A wide grin found its way onto Naruto's face, and he ran over to Sasuke. "Yeah!" He cheered, glomping Sasuke. "We're the best of friends!"

"Oi, don't get to comfortable moron!" Sasuke grumbled, prying Naruto off of him. Itachi smirked. He felt a little proud that his brother had finally accepted the idea of having a friend. Especially since it wasn't another stuck-up rich kid, but a young orphan boy. Yes, even the great Itachi Uchiha had a soft-spot for the two young boys in front of him.

Naruto and Sasuke sat there, a few silent minutes passing by. They both remembered the day vividly, as if it was yesterday. It was the day that Sasuke had excepted the fact that they were friends, after all.

"Screw this," Naruto mumbled, standing up. "Im outta here." He scooped up his bag, and began briskly walking away when he heard Sasuke speak.

"I come here every day" Such a simple statement had Naruto stopping in his tracks. He turned around, glancing at Sasuke. But Sasuke hadn't even moved his positions. "Everyday, after student-council meetings. No one is ever home. And if they were there... They would surly want me to go do some extra-credit bull-shit or something like that. Things aren't the same as they were when we were little. I can't just go home and play video games like I, no, we used to. My parents don't approve."

Something in Naruto snapped. "Who cares!" He shouted. "Who gives a damn what they think! You can do what you want! Your old enough! If their never there, how would they know anyway, huh?" Naruto took a deep breath. "Why don't you just forget about them and... and..."

"Be friends with you." Sasuke finished the blonde's sentence. Naruto was silent, and Sasuke scowled. "Thats impossible. Your asking me to forget about my parent's wishes and restore our friendship, but its not just that simple. I have my family's reputation to hold-up." Sasuke felt his anger growing.

"Sasuke, why do you have to please your parent so much?" Naruto practically pleaded. "I mean, y-"

"You wouldn't understand!" Sasuke yelled, snapping his head back at Naruto, who was shocked by the sudden out-burst. "You don't have a fucking family! You don't know what its like to need to be the best! To.. To hold-up certain standards, and do everything your suppose to do!"

"I have a family too!" Naruto shot back, fuming with anger. "Iruka, Kiba, Shikamaru, all my friends, their all my family, Sasuke!"

Sasuke seemed to consider this for a moment. "Think about it like this. I ask you to give up your family; Iruka, and who-ever, just to be friends with me. Doesn't that just seem a bit ridiculous? Its being selfish."

Naruto was silent. Sasuke had a good point. But part of him was reluctant to believe it.

Sasuke gave out an agitated sigh. "I don't expect you to understand, being the moron you are, but I at least expect you too lay-off and stop guilt-tripping me. I don't deserve it." The raven commented off-handedly, shrugging.

There it was. That arrogant attitude that Naruto hated so much.

"Fuck you."

Sasuke snapped his eyes open at the obvious insult. "Excuse me?" He seethed.

"I said, fuck. you." Naruto enunciated. "Your just a bastard, who thinks to highly of himself. Clearly, im not good enough to be in your all-mighty presence." Naruto growled. "So I'll just be leaving you to bask in your deluded, ass-hole-of-a-superiority-complex." The blonde spat, turning around again.

"Tch. Your just running away from your problems." Sasuke said, laying down. "Can't we just start over?"

Naruto stopped, processing the new-found offer. Start over? What?

"The hell?" Naruto said incredulously, starring at the ebony boy. "Start over? Just like that?" Sasuke grunted. Naruto wanted to lash-out at the other man. He wanted to punch something, someone, or scream his head off, but another part of him suddenly became hopeful. Maybe this was his chance. He them remembered what Ino told him.

"I need a tutor." Naruto said, staring at Sasuke. "Could you... tutor me?" Naruto reluctantly asked. Sasuke stared at the embarrassed blonde. There was a moment pause, when the dark-haired man smirked and said, "Yeah. That would be great."

Naruto grinned hugely, and his eyes sparkled with new-found happiness. The boy sauntered over to Sasuke, and sat down closer to him than he previously was. "Gimme your number, and I'll text you later." Sasuke did as he said. Few minutes later, the two opposites decided to walk back down together. They didn't really converse, seeing as it was still a bit awkward between the two. As they came to the familiar open parking lot of the school, they turned their separate ways, and left to go home.

"Hey, Naruto" Sasuke called from over his shoulder. Naruto glanced back. "Nice cloths." Naruto didn't need to see Sasuke's face to know that he was smirking. Suppressing the urge to get angry at the raven, he composed himself.

"Thanks!" He grinned. "Your not too bad yourself, bastard. Though, I'd say I fill it better, being more manly and everything!" Sasuke felt a vein pop and he whipped around to shout at Naruto for insulting his man-pride. But when he look back, he saw Naruto's breath-taking grin and he waved his hand.

Sasuke felt his heart skip a beat. There was hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could fix things.

Ino sat on her fluffy bed in her girly pjs, logging onto her Facebook and Form-Spring. She was on her dark-purple lap-top that matched the rest of her room, which consisted of multiple colors, mainly purples and pinks. On the news feed of Facebook, she noticed Deidara's post on Itachi's wall:

"Just found out that Sasuke and Naruto are back on the road to friendship! I heard the whole conversation myself after student council meeting! Isn't this great, Itachi?" The post said. Deidara was once of Itachi's closer friends.

Ino squealed. Her plan was working. Soon she would be learning all about Sasuke from Naruto!

Naruto...

Ino felt her chest tighten with what she recognized as happiness. Pure, unselfish happiness. She was genuinely happy that Naruto could rekindle his lost friend-ship with his ex-best friend. She remembered how upset Naruto was when Sasuke severed their friendship. Ino sighed.

She was in love with a jerk.

She squeaked when she heard a notification on her computer. She switched tabs to form-spring, and noticed she had an anonymous question. It read:

"I know what your doing."

Ino felt her heart stop. Someone knew what she was doing? She glanced around, paranoid, and messaged back "What do you mean?" The response was almost immediate.

"I know your whole scheme with Sasuke and Naruto. I must tell you, I don't approve. What will they think when I tell them the truth?"

Ino panicked, eyes wide. Someone is going to tell them what she was doing? The blonde female quickly messaged the anonymous person back, questioning them, but of course, they didn't respond. A loud knock was heard from her door, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She set her computer down on the lavender comforter, and strutted over to the door. When she opened it, she was greeted with her dad, Inoichi.

"You need something?" Ino asked, relieved it was only her dad.

"Its really late. Get to bed." He stated. Ino glanced at her clock, and realized it was already twelve at night.

"Eh-Heh, sorry Daddy" Ino laughed hesitantly. "I'll get to bed right now." Inoichi took a moment to examine his daughter, feeling something off about her. He dismissed the feeling, and they bid each-other goodnight before he left.

Ino closed her door, and let out a shaky breath. Still no new message she noticed, as she powered-down her computer, gingerly placing it on her wooden desk. She clicked off her light and climbed in bed. Ino rustled around, trying to make herself comfortable.

"I guess I wont ever know who sent the message..." She mumbled. Realization dawned on her when she made up her mind. She turned over, and looked at her ceiling. "I'll just have to hang around Naruto and Sasuke for the time-being. This anonymous person would never tell them in front of me." She nodded at her new-found plan.

'The only problem is... ' Ino thought to herself. 'Who was the sender?'

Phew! Another chapter done! Sorry for such a long wait!
Its hard, balancing school-work, dances, and and parental-problems! Im so sorry!

Oh yea, since it is AU, I figured they would have Face-book and all that good stuff. Im not to sure what form-spring is, though. I think its a website where your friends can ask anonymous questions to you...?

Any-who, I tried to make this chapter longer and more entertaining, so let me know what ya think!

Next Chapter: Everyones Got A Secret.
Ino puts her own plan into action, just as Naruto is! But will their plans work, or just blow-up in their faces? Sakura seems to be acting weird, and Sasuke is confronted with shocking information and he can't help but be suspicious of the others! Is the truth finally coming out?

Remember, more reviews cause faster updates :D