CH 2
Sasuke could barely believe his eyes when he saw Naruto two days later; the blond had been absent till then; when he returned he was covered in bruises and cuts. Now he understood why the annoying pink haired girl told him to stay away. According to the rumors he'd already heard about the cheeky blond, was that he was the leader of a gang. Sasuke had refused to believe anything until Naruto returned.
He tried not to gape at the smiling idiot, playing off the wounds like they were nothing. Sasuke though, he noticed the way Naruto favored his right leg and how he was careful with raising his arms, telling Sasuke something happened to Naruto's ribs. Not that Sasuke was concerned or anything, but he knew that if Naruto found out Sasuke knew this, he'd throw a fit and probably want to fight to prove him wrong.
Once the teacher walked in Sasuke straightened up and paid mild attention as the students took their seats. Barely paying attention as the teacher began lessons, Sasuke found himself looking out the window more than at the teacher. Not that he wasn't interested in what Kakashi was teaching, but he'd heard most of it before, the prior year.
Feeling eyes on him, he glanced over his shoulder to find Naruto looking at him, glancing away instantly when their eyes met. Furrowing his brows, Sasuke wondered briefly what the blonde's story could possibly be. He seemed way too normal to be the leader of a gang. Scoffing slightly he reminded himself that it was always the 'normal' people that were the farthest from it. Even Sasuke would admit he was far from what people considered 'normal'. He did his best to feign it, mostly to keep the attention off himself as much as possible. He was nothing like the blond moron, who always seemed to have people crowding around him.
Once break started, as expected everyone crowded around Naruto. Sasuke stayed in his seat and watched as Sai joined in the group, even making Naruto laugh. Growling he stood and left the classroom alone. Something about Naruto unnerved him. He was just… too nice? Sasuke couldn't pin the exact reason, but he would watch from a distance. That seemed like the best idea.
Two weeks passed without a clue to anything more about the blond moron in his class. Even Sai; who'd somehow gotten into Naruto's 'friends'; didn't know much about him. As Sasuke had suspected, Naruto was all too secretive. Sai had promised he'd said nothing about their own family and problems; of course, Sasuke had promised a swift death if his brother spilled anything.
Looking to the tree tops he sighed and tried to concentrate on how peaceful it was. There was very little traffic in the neighborhood they moved too, plus Sasuke enjoyed how close it was to school. Getting to walk and enjoy nature was something he enjoyed and helped him clear his mind. The silence was a big help; unlike his classroom between classes…
"Yo! Sasuke!" Just like that, his peaceful morning was shattered as a tan arm wrapped around his shoulders. "I didn't know you lived this way!"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Sasuke grunted out a short reply, "Why would you? We only met two weeks ago."
Laughing, Naruto released him and put his hands behind his head. "I suppose that's true." Glancing over at the moronic blond, Sasuke noticed his face splayed new bruises and a split lip. Biting his own bottom lip he forced himself to say nothing; Naruto, however, noticed the look on his face. Forcing a smile that nearly re-split his lip open, he spoke. "You should see the other guy." Sasuke noticed that even though the blond was smiling, his eyes seemed dark and cold; almost empty.
"I didn't ask," Sasuke muttered, glancing away from the other teen.
Shrugging it off, Naruto walked carelessly beside the dark haired teen as if it were their everyday thing. "Yeah, my sister gave me an earful about it when I got home the other night."
"Sister?" Sasuke asked not that he had meant to say anything. Yet he found himself slightly curious anyways.
"Yeah, her names, Naruko." Naruto continued, scratching the side of his nose. "She kind of raised me for the most part."
Tilting his head, Sasuke looked at him again. "What happened to your-"
His question was interrupted when Kiba called out to Naruto, "Hey, Kit!" he stood by the gate of the school, leaning against one of the posts. Sasuke noticed that Kiba's face was just as bruised as Naruto's.
Waving at the brunette, Naruto turned to Sasuke, "You wanna join me and my friends for lunch?"
The smile he gave Sasuke was the most sincere he'd seen on the blond, that even reached his eyes. "Why?" Sasuke truly did not understand this kid at all.
"Do you question everything?" Naruto asked in exasperation.
"Yes," Sai answered for him, walked up behind them. "He questions everything and yes, we'd love to join you for lunch."
Hesitantly, Naruto stared at Sai, "Cool." He finally agreed, though obviously weary of the other Uchiha, even though they had spent the last two weeks talking. "We'll be outside the library." With a short wave, he ran up to Kiba who looked at him with a grin before they walked into the school.
"Why did you agree?" Sasuke hissed, smacking his brother upside the head.
Glancing at his brother Sai answered, "Because I knew you would say no." Sasuke glared at him and Sai smirked back. "Besides, Uzumaki intrigues me; especially with how he gets you to react to things."
Growling, Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, "I do not react to anything when it comes to him." He huffed and began to walk faster until they made it to class, where the girls flocked around Sasuke. Keeping a straight face of uncaring, doing his best to not show his annoyance at the loud girls as he made his way to his seat. Once Kakashi walked in; a good ten minutes late and a lame excuse at hand; the girls left him alone and another day in hell began.
XXXX
Lunch couldn't come fast enough, but came all too soon. Sasuke found himself being dragged by Sai to the meeting place Naruto told them about. There they found Naruto sitting with a group of people chattering which stopped as soon as they arrived. Naruto seemed to be the only one happy to see them, "Hey guys!" he greeted them, before motioning to the group. "So you know most everybody. Um… Oh! This is Neji." He motioned to the long dark haired boy with creepy light blue eyes. "He's Hinata's cousin, a third year. This is, Gaara," a redhead who glared wholeheartedly at them, "He doesn't go to our school, but stops by when he can." He grinned, completely ignoring the cold mood. "Sometimes his older siblings join, but they're working." He pouted before a small girl with her hair pulled into two buns cleared her throat. "Oh! And this is Ten-ten. She's dating Neji." The small girl blushed at this and glared slightly.
"Naruto." Gaara sighed slightly, his voice low and gruff. He turned his emerald green eyes to the blond and Sasuke noticed dark bags under his eyes, "You talk too much."
Laughing, Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Right... Anyway, everyone, this is Sasuke and his brother Sai." He introduced the boys who looked completely out of place. Everyone except Gaara and Neji greeted them before going back to chattering. "Come, sit." Patting the grass beside him, Naruto beckoned the boys over.
"I wanted to ask earlier," Sai drawled as he sat next to Sasuke, who took the place beside Naruto. Staring at Naruto, Sai spoke seriously, "What happened to your face?"
As if Gaara's glare couldn't become more deadly, it did. Sasuke was positive that if looks could kill his brother would be deader than a bag of bricks. Like before Naruto laughed it off, "Just a small skirmish with other guys." He answered. "Anyway!" he immediately changed the subject drastically, causing Gaara to calm down. "How long have you guys been doing Kung Fu!?"
Sasuke's eye twitched at this, "Actually it's Karate."
"Since we were like three." Sai continued, ignoring the ignorance of the blond. "You should see our older brother, he's even more amazing."
"That is so cool!" Naruto exclaimed, his blue eyes gleaming in fascination.
Sasuke's eye twitched more at this, "Why are you talking to us?" he asked suddenly, causing the group to go dead silent. Naruto stared at him like a complete moron forcing Sasuke to elaborate. "A week ago you didn't want anything to do with us then attempted to start a fight."
Naruto huffed at this and stood up, Sasuke following suit, meeting him eye to eye. "First of all," he began, trying to keep his temper and voice down. "I was forced to do something I did not feel up to. Second of all…" he growled, clenching his fists at his sides, "Your brother started the fight by calling names!" he yelled.
Sasuke scoffed at this, narrowing his eyes, "It was only name calling, he did not start a fight."
Staring at him Naruto's eyes widened a little, "No, you did!" he accused with a growl. "You're the one who punched me!"
"You were about to hit my brother!" Sasuke yelled, losing his temper suddenly.
"He deserved it!" Naruto stated, moving his fist fast enough to make contact with Sasuke's face.
Blinking a few times at the sudden attack before rearing back his own fist and the fight began. Sai sat there contently drinking his hot tea he'd brought with him, only moving when he almost got stepped on. Naruto's friends were behind him yelling to get off of Sasuke before they were pulled apart by Gaara. He merely glanced at Kiba who grabbed for Naruto to hold him back while Gaara pulled Sasuke further away from the hot-tempered blond.
"Boys." A sweet voice called to them. "The principle would like to see you, Uchiha. Uzumaki." Being called by name, causing them to look at her. There stood Shizune, hands folded in front of herself. Growing the boys shrugged off their captures and began following her, "If you two want to fight, I really would suggest not fighting below the principal's office window." She chided as she leads the way.
Naruto looked sheepish suddenly, "Oh yeah, I forgot the old hags window is over there." He laughed, his mood changing far too suddenly for Sasuke's liking.
"You make no sense." Sasuke huffed, glaring at him. Blinking, Naruto looked at him confused, "Your lip is bleeding." The dark haired boy muttered before looking at his fist, rubbing the blood smeared across his knuckles on his pants.
Gently Naruto prodded his lip and winced at the pain, "Heh, you got some good hits in."
Raising an eyebrow, Sasuke smirked, "I suppose you did too." He complimented right back. "You are so weird."
Laughing Naruto laced his fingers behind his head, a habit that Sasuke was noticing. "Oh, this was nothing!" Naruto boast, giving him a grin. "Man, Gaara, he used to be the leader of a gang!" he exclaimed, waving his hands about. "He was known as a killer, but I saw something else in him." His smile turned tender and he laughed slightly. "But then again, everyone thinks I'm crazy." He chuckled. Sasuke stared at him, only thinking that he agreed with everyone. This Naruto Uzumaki was crazy.
As they made it to the principal's office, they became quiet. Well, Naruto did at least. "Close the door," Tsunade growled when they walked in. Sasuke shut it softly before the blond hair, robust women let in on them. "Seriously boys!" she narrowed her eyes at Sasuke first, "You have only been here two weeks, Mr. Uchiha." Then she glared at Naruto, "Can't you let the new kids last at least a month!"
"Tch, it's not like the fight lasted granny." Naruto huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Sasuke stared at him like he had a death wish, with the way that the vein in the principal's forehead pulsed.
Slamming her hands down on the desk, Sasuke heard an audible crack, "You insolent brat!" Sasuke had no idea what to do so he stood there silently. "Both of your older siblings have been called."
"Aw man!" Naruto exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
"This is going to be a warning for both of you, so get out of my office. I don't want to see you in here again; got that Naruto."
With a slight huff, he waved her off and slammed open the door only to find his older sister standing there with her hands on her hips. Her long blond hair was pulled into pigtails, her sunglasses placed over her head pulling back her bangs. "Naruto Uzumaki!" she yelled, grabbing him by his upper arm. "How many times have I told you not to fight!?" she stared at him, her eyes becoming sad. "Violence won't solve anything." She stated, releasing him.
Naruto stared up at her stubbornly, "I know that, alright!" he screamed at her, before looking away. "It doesn't matter anymore anyway."
Sighing, Naruko placed a hand on her younger brothers' cheek to get him to look at her, "We'll talk more at home." She stated, stepping away. "Promise me you'll come home straight after school…"
Taking a deep breath, Naruto gave a nod. When Naruto looked over at Sasuke, the raven haired boy realized he'd been staring at the scene before him. Without a word the blond walked away just as Sasuke's elder brother arrived, looking extra irritated. Sasuke knew instantly, he would be getting no less yelling than Naruto had; if not more so.