Naruto's knees were weak and his palms were sweaty as he looked out at the crowd. He saw Sakura waving frantically at him. He smiled weakly. He placed his music on the stand and bowed curtly. He looked over to where Sasuke stood. His face held no emotion and stared hard at him. Their eyes met and Sasuke nodded a small smile showing to only Naruto. Naruto smiled back and turned to the crowd and his stand and placed his instrument on his shoulder and placed the bow on the string and played his first note.

III

Sasuke closed his eyes and listened to the sound of Naruto. It flowed like water and Sasuke simply drowned in the sound. It was a simple song. Too simple for Naruto. But for Naruto to do this on his own…it was wonderful. I should have helped him…but he wouldn't have worked as hard. He heard his student play a flat note. But Naruto kept playing, not skipping a beat. When Sasuke opened his eyes he marveled at the performer's perfect form and how he moved with the music; became a part of the music. Sasuke gawked when Naruto's bright blue eyes closed and he completely engulfed himself into the music. As the tempo picked up, Sasuke's heart raced, he couldn't take his eyes off the blond. Sasuke smiled at the retard, the bow sliding down for its final note, ending on tonic, the note ringing through the auditorium. Sasuke looked at the crowed, when the note died, Sakura jumped to her feet, cheering loudly, Kakashi even stood and clapped, though not as enthusiastically. Sasuke watched Naruto bow, with a grin on his face, watching more people stand and clap. Naruto's face broke into his famous smile as the claps grew louder. He bowed once again before walking off the stage. Naruto and Sasuke's eyes met and Naruto literally jumped with excitement as he walked off stage. "I did it Sasuke!" Naruto threw his arms around Sasuke as he fidgeted excitedly. "I did it! And I didn't mess up!" Sasuke returned the hug, breathing in the hair on top of the boy's head. "No you didn't Naruto…you did so well…I'm so proud…"

"Sensei…" Naruto gripped Sasuke tighter; Sasuke could hear the strings of the violin rub the boy's hands as his grip tightened on that as well. "Why didn't…why you didn't help me…or believe…"

"I needed you to work to your potential. You wouldn't have worked as hard with me by your side…you wouldn't have had the drive to prove me wrong if I had helped you…I'm sorry Naruto…" Sasuke's heart dropped when Naruto pulled away.

"I guess that makes since…" Naruto began walking away from Sasuke as he scratched his head, almost whacking Sasuke and a few smaller children in the head with his bow. "But…I still would have worked hard, you should know that Sasuke…" Sasuke followed the younger boy.

"Naruto…you can never be-"

"No, no…I know I'm right…" Naruto made his way back to his case and placed his violin back in side; safe. "I know that I would have worked hard to make sure that you were proud of me Sasuke-sensei…If I disappointed you…I…well…I don't know what I'd do but it wouldn't have been good…" Naruto closed the case with a snap and looked into Sasuke, "Did you really believe I could do this? All along?"

Sasuke snorted, "I wouldn't have gotten here at seven in the morning if I thought you couldn't do it…" Sasuke saw Naruto's eyes become glossy as Naruto bound at Sasuke, into his arms.

"Thank you for coming today Sasuke…I was so scared you wouldn't come, or if you did, it was to patronize me…" Naruto sobbed.

Sasuke rubbed Naruto's back and sifted through his hair. "I'm sorry Naruto…I knew you could do it. I always believed in you…I…I…I always will, promise." Sasuke smiled into Naruto's head, kissing the top of his head lightly. "Congratulations Uzumaki Naruto…You were the best out there today. I swear."

Naruto gripped his sensei more. "Thank you so much Sasuke…"

III

"Congrats on second place Naruto-kun!" Sakura cheered, opening a bottle of wine as Naruto walked into home.

Naruto smiled widely, holding the ribbon he'd won in his hand, "Thanks Sakura-sa-"

"How'd the hell you get into my house!" Sasuke roared as he looked perplexed at the pink and grey haired man standing in his entry way. He heard more voice coming from the living room, "And who the hell is in my house! I want you all gone!" Sasuke demanded, his face becoming red.

Naruto cackled and Sakura laughed, "Sasuke, they're just Naruto's friends, I called them to tell them to be here for the celebration!"

"Yeah Naruto!" Kiba's voice came through the living room, poking his head into the entry way. "Why didn't you tell us you were competing or whatever, we would have totally come to cheer you on? Especially when the pink hair lady promised booze!"

"No I didn't you little twerp!"

Kiba smirked, holding up a rather large sake bottle "Or maybe we just brought some for our own celebration!"

Naruto smirked, and looked to Sasuke, "Is it alright captain?" he put his violin down, ready to dart at the go.

"If you never call me 'captain again…" Sasuke gave him a weird look. "Just don't break anything…"

"Thanks!" Naruto screamed back from down the hall.

Sasuke sighed as he heard three other teenage boys cheer as the blond entered the room.

"You're some guardian…letting the boy drink in your own house…" Kakashi grumbled as he walked towards the kitchen.

"At least it's in the house and not out some where, like with my brother or anything…" Sasuke followed suit. "Did youbring anything strong Kakashi?" Sasuke smiled at the tall man holding up a bottle of bourbon. "That's what I like to see…"

Sasuke slumped into a kitchen seat as Kakashi ransacked the kitchen for glasses.

"Naruto should have won…" Sakura sighed as Kakashi poured them all a glass.

"Well, the Suzuki students always win those things…" Sasuke took a heavy drink, "It's rigged." Sasuke felt the warmth spread through his body as he heard the boys in the other room laughing loudly.

"What made you change your mind?" Kakashi asked, leaning back in his chair next to Sakura, "I thought you wanted him to fail? Which was why he was at my apartment practicing all the damn time…?"

"No Kakashi…He did the same thing to me at my first competition…I cried for weeks when he wouldn't help me…"

"And you won?" Sasuke downed the rest of the drink, pouring more into the glass.

"Damn straight…had to prove your ass wrong…and I did!" Sakura laughed, taking a sip as she leaned into Kakashi. "But you should have known that Naruto would have worked hard anyways.

"I do it every time and in the end they appreciated it, do not doubt my teaching skills…" Sasuke slurred slightly.

Kakashi snorted, "Light weight…"

III

After a few rounds of drinks and cards, Sasuke had concluded that he didn't like Kakashi at all.

"I win again." Sasuke growled as Kakashi took the chips from the middle, making Sasuke take another shot. "It's strange Uchiha… you show no emotion except when you're playing cards. It makes no sense." Kakashi laughed.

"You bastard…" Sasuke mumbled. Sasuke leaned back towards the opening to the hallway. "They're quiet…that's not a good thing…" Sasuke slumped back down in his chair. Like right on cue he heard a roar of laughter coming from the opposite room.

"Dude! Do it! Do it!" Kiba hollered.

"Kiba, quiet down, you're voice is too loud!" Shikamaru groaned.

Sasuke groaned too, "They're all too loud…"

"She's really cute-"

"And she really digs you." Naruto's older friend, Lee put in.

"I don't know…" Sasuke could hear uncertainty in Naruto's voice.

Sasuke looked to Sakura, "What the hell are they talking about?" Sakura looked to Kakashi, but didn't say anything.

"I agree with Naruto, I say no."

"Neiji, you only say that because she's you're cousin! Come on Naruto! You've never had a girlfriend-"

That's all Sasuke heard before he downed the rest of the fifth and saw black as his head hit the table.

III

YES! I UPDATED! NOT ONCE BUT TWICE! Two chapters! LET US JUMP FOR JOY!

I am terribly sorry about the lack of updates but I've been busy with school and crap! (NEVER TAKE MUSIC THEORY AP! ITS HARD! especially if you're tone deaf!)

but besides that! I hope that you enjoy these two chapters. I went in a differnt direction that when I started this. (There was going to be no girlfriend and I decided to give Hinata a bigger role. But don't worry, it will not last for long!

Good bye for now!

Au'vore! ...or whatever it is...