Sighhhh. I really shouldn't be updating. You're all going to get spoiled. I'm running out of prewritten chapters. If you've read a long story by me before, then you know that this is bad. See, I write in spurts. So not having a stockpile of chapters doesn't bode well. However! There's still hope, since I have a basic idea of where this is headed, so it shouldn't be too bad - and if it is, remember when I went like, seven months without updating? Yeah. I don't think it'll be as bad as that. I hope.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any affiliated characters, settings, etc. This story and all elements of the plot are property of EverPlotting

CHAPTER TEN

Complications

Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Chouji sat beneath their usual tree during lunch. Naruto had finally given up on stealing Chouji's chips – probably due in part to the fire that seemed to be shooting from Chouji's wide nostrils – and had moved instead to his favorite pastime: trying to play Frisbee with Sasuke.

The young Uchiha had long ago decided that Frisbee was pointless, yet Naruto continued to pester his best friend in an attempt to play a round of what was apparently his favorite game. It was now early spring and though they had sat outside and playing Frisbee during the mostly snowless winder, Naruto argued that the approaching season was really the onlyproper time to play Frisbee, or any sport for that matter. Sasuke just rolled his eyes in Naruto's general direction.

"Hey guys," Chouji said suddenly. "Who's that?"

Naruto was finally silent as he looked to see who it was Chouji was pointing to.

"Sai Gahaku," said Shikamaru without even so much as a glance upward. "He's new. Started this morning."

"Why do you even know that?" Naruto asked in pure amazement.

"Not everyone is as unobservant as you, idiot," Sasuke said calmly. Naruto stuck his tongue out at Sasuke. Sasuke simply rolled his eyes at the protruding muscle. "Real mature," he muttered. Naruto slipped his tongue back into his mouth, though there were no visible signs as to whether or not Sasuke had offended him. Instead, Naruto was looking intently at the dark haired new student.

"I think I'll go say hello," Naruto mused as he stood up and brushed himself off.

"Che. You're far to friendly," Sasuke muttered into his textbook as Naruto moved away from the group.

"I wasn't asking for your approval, Sasuke," Naruto shot back, before moving quickly to where Sai sat.

Sasuke looked up when Naruto said his name, only to see the blond boy speaking to a surprised looking boy at a picnic table. The unfamiliar boy's eyes wondered over to him as Naruto spoke – conveying clear enthusiasm with elaborate hand gestures. The dark eyes of the once solitary student met Sasuke's and widened slightly. Their gazes locked for a moment, then Sasuke rolled his eyes, once again, and shook his head as his focus returned to his book.

Had he looked back up he would have seen the new brunet look taken aback – offended even – and then turn abruptly to Naruto, who was still speaking excitedly. He would have seen the boy get up and follow Naruto over to the three boys who had remained sitting under the thick canopy of tree leaves. Sasuke did notice, however, when Naruto's voice was suddenly clearer and closer than it had been moments ago.

"Everyone," Naruto began, "this is Sai. Sai this is Shikamaru, Chouji, and Sasuke."

Each of the three boys muttered a greeting, save for Sasuke, who chose to remain silent, earning himself a kick in the shin from Naruto. Sasuke glared darkly at the blond who glared back and then gestured to Sai with his stern blue eyes.

Sasuke looked at Sai. The boy wasn't bad looking. He had a round face, but he wasn't chubby. The boy's eyes were dark and his short hair was equally black. Deciding he was no one of consequence, Sasuke muttered a 'Hey,' and then returned to his book. Naruto sat down between Chouji and Sasuke. Sai, surprisingly, chose a seat next to Sasuke.

Naruto began to chatter endlessly with Sasuke only half listening as he read about the properties of acids and bases. Sai appeared to be looking at Naruto, but Sasuke couldn't really tell. Also, he didn't really care.

"So, Sasuke," Sai said suddenly. Sasuke looked up in sheer shock at the casual tone the boy he had been previously ignoring had addressed him. Seriously, did this kid have a death wish? Naruto seemed panic stricken. "You like Chemistry...?" Sai concluded.

Sasuke merely shrugged and turned back to his text. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Sai's offended expression. Sasuke smirked to himself. He hoped that the inexplicably annoying boy would be encouraged to stay out of his hair for a while.

"Hey Naruto," Sai's poorly hidden flirtatious tone sounded, "would you walk me to my next class?"

Sasuke's head shot up from his book. Naruto smiled, apparently thankful for any excuse to get Sai away from his murderous best friend.

"Sure," was Naruto's articulate reply. Sasuke watched them go with narrowed eyes. Sai turned to look back briefly. Upon seeing Sasuke's expression, he turned back to the blond, his lips curved into a triumphant smile.

Sai was officially getting on Sasuke's nerves.

It really wasn't a difficult feat to begin with, but most people became afraid quickly and backed the hell off. In extreme cases, they might flee the country. The point is, Sai seemed to enjoySasuke's slowly building rage. Anytime Sai saw Sasuke, he and Naruto would suddenly became really close. In a very literal sense. Sai was hitting on Naruto and practically challenging Sasuke to do something about it. Sasuke couldn't take this sitting down.

On the other hand, Sasuke wanted Naruto to be happy. Though he was convinced Naruto would be far more content with an Uchiha as a boyfriend, if Naruto wanted Sai Whatever-The-Hell-His-Last-Name-Was, then Sasuke would wait for the blond to come to his apparently limited senses. On the other other hand (it didn't even occur to Sasuke that he now had threemetaphorical hands), Naruto didn't seem interested in Sasuke as anything more than a friend.

It was all very confusing.

"Hey Sasuke," said Naruto as he plopped down next to Sasuke in their Literature class. "Do you always come this early to class? Jeez."

"You're an idiot," Sasuke mumbled without even looking up from the book he wasn't concentrating on.

"So Naruto," came the voice of pure evil, more commonly referred to as Sai. Sasuke turned his head slowly. He hadn't even noticed Sai there. Sai seemed rather pleased at Sasuke's sudden attention. "Did you want to go to the movies on Friday?"

Sasuke glared at Naruto, trying to communicate the thoughts he couldn't voice in Sai's presence.

"Of course, you can come too, Sasuke," Sai said suddenly.

"What?" Sasuke said to Sai, now genuinely confused.

"You can come to the movies with us," Sai repeated.

Sasuke paused to stare incredulously at Sai. "I'll think about it," he said finally. Then Sasuke turned back his book, trying to process what had just occurred. Was Sai really so interested in Naruto that he was willing to invite Sasuke, who was obviously his rival for the blond's attention? Sasuke sighed to himself – he would not sigh out loud in front of Sai. Sasuke would need to talk to Sai. The later had earned his chance with Naruto if he wasn't afraid of Sasuke by this point.

Sasuke and Naruto made their way outside during their free period later. Out of nowhere and eying Sasuke suspiciously came Sai, who immediately struck up a conversation with Naruto. They sat down at their usual tree. Sasuke cracked open his book, but Naruto seemed content to lay back and look up into the leaves of the tree.

Sasuke had learned that Naruto would be unresponsive in this state, but Sai had not. Sai attempted to keep their conversation alive. After two minutes or so, Naruto took his hand out from under his head and waved it in Sai's general direction.

"Not right now Sai," he said. He then closed his eyes and exhaled, obviously trying to regain his concentration. Sasuke smirked, satisfied with Sai's rejection.

A few more minutes passed before Sai leaned over Naruto and whispered: "Hey Sasuke?"

"What do you want Sai?" Sasuke replied.

"Who's that guy there?"

Sasuke raised his head to see where Sai was gesturing. Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Neji Hyuuga. Senior. Why?" Sasuke said, turning to Sai. "You interested?"

"No I'm into someone else right now," Sai said shaking his head. "It's just that," Sai paused to look back at Neji, "he keeps glancing up at us."

Sasuke looked up at Neji to see that, sure enough, he was looking in their direction, but it appeared to be at Naruto. Sasuke glared at Neji and the later seemed to sense this, for he shifted his gaze slightly to meet Sasuke's hard and cold stare. He appeared to sigh and then got up from his table, shoved his hands in his pockets, and made his way over to the oak tree. Out of the corner of his eye, Sasuke saw Naruto tense. Neji finally stopped about a foot in front of the trio.

"What do you want, Hyuuga?" Sasuke snapped. Neji ignored him.

"Naruto," Neji said firmly, "could I speak with you for a moment."

Naruto didn't move – he didn't even open his eyes – but he did respond. "I'm listening," he said, clearly annoyed.

"I had hoped to speak with you privately."

"I'd rather not," Naruto replied lazily.

"Naruto!" Neji half-growled. Naruto's eyes snapped open, and Sasuke could tell that he was angry.

"Fine," Naruto grumbled through his teeth. He then plucked himself up off the ground, and proceeded to brush he slacks. He moved swiftly past Neji, who let him pass before following.

Sasuke had lost all interest in his book as he watched Naruto move away. He had yet to figure out how Naruto and Neji knew each other, but he knew Naruto didn't hate the other boy.

Their conversation was clearly animated. Neji appeared to scolding Naruto, who did not look at all ashamed. In fact, it seemed he was becoming more and more infuriated. Neither of them raised their voices loud enough for Sasuke to hear, but Naruto looked ready to pounce on Neji as he spoke. Sasuke was sort of shocked, for he had never seen Naruto angry before. He didn't realize how dark those blue eyes could be.

Naruto had apparently lost his patience with whatever Neji was saying, and began to walk away, back towards the tree. As the conversation cam closer, Sasuke could understand the words that went along with the angry tones.

"Naruto, this is insane! You are going to lose control!"

Naruto whipped around. "Listen, Hyuuga. I may not know exactly what I'm doing but I think I may know my limits a little better than you, so back off!"

"Naruto," Neji said, clearly the more clam of the two, "you have to listen to me–"

"What!?" Naruto snarled. Sasuke had to admit, he was genuinely frightened at this point. Sai didn't seem to be faring much better. "The last time I checked," Naruto paused, then continued, his voice lower than it had been before, "the last time I checked, I don't take orders from you. I suggest you remember that."

Giving Neji a final glare, Naruto moved the remaining steps toward Sasuke and Sai, but he didn't sit down. Sasuke's eyes begged for an explanation.

"I'll talk to you guys later, okay?"

Sasuke noticed two things about Naruto's final comment. First that he only looked at Sasuke, and second, that he seemed to be holding his breath.

A/N: Dun dun dun! I told you Naruto was a suspicious individual! If you have any theories about him, feel free to share them - I'm interested to see if any of you are on the right track. However, I can't guarantee I'll tell you if you're right or not. I don't want spoilers before I even write the story. That would be shameful.