(Chapter 2)Reasons for suspicions; and numerous questions:
11-16-09 EDIT: Again, fixed everything up, added more stuff, and changed Sakuras part quiet a bit; for which I think is the best part in this whole chapter.
A/N: Like this much better: and I even got to rag on Sasuke even though this is technically his chapter. I do so love my characterization of Sakura, and I don't even think she's ooc. I'm fairly sure she would actual say this, once she grew out of her obsession, that is.
Disclaimer: I neither own the characters nor am I making any money off writing this story [Merlin I wish could, I could use the money]. If I did own the characters or places mentioned I wouldn't be posting this here, and wouldn't be having money issues. They belong to Kishimoto and co.
Warning: Cursing-again, I know, I have a bad potty mouth. And some hinting at shounen-ai. You'd have to look closely to find it though.
Sasuke sighed as he walked towards the river docks; glancing around to ensure that no one was near. "Good." He muttered as he gracefully- or as gracefully as someone can when highly irritated- sat down on the edge of the docks, his feet dangling below near the flowing water. He stared at the small ripples as fish swam by in a slight daze. A small vein above his brow pulsed, being the only outward sign of his irritation. "Damn Naruto." He cursed scrunching up his face in a very un-Uchiha like fashion as he tossed a rock meaning for it to skip across the water smoothly. Instead it wanted to make a rather large splash for such a small rock and 'plop' sound- this only irritated him further; even the damned rock wouldn't do what he wanted it too.
"Yo," came an annoyingly familiar monotone voice from behind him. Kakashi smiled through his mask –if you looked closely enough you could tell- walking next to him. Sasuke eyed him warily before turning back to glaring at the water. Kakashi had interrupted him when he was about to beat the dopes face in, and sent him to go 'cool off' like a little child. "My, my, someone's in a bad mood. Care to explain why?" The silver haired man tried cautiously. 'Why would I want to explain my mood to you? You're the one who sent me away like some misbehaving child.' thought the boy tersely.
"No." Was all he said, keeping his gaze trained on the water, looking as if it had done him wrong, or killed his cat. Kakashi raised his visible brow amusedly.
"Hm." He hummed glancing at the large body of water near them seeing nothing of any real interest. Besides maybe the fish that kept flying out of the water to snap up bugs. "How 'bout why you decided it was alright to use so much force behind a blow to your fellow ninja during a spar session, injuring him immobile? I'm sure he couldn't have done anything too stupid to deserve that sever a beating." He pulled out a small orange book as he waited for a reply from the raven hair teen. The young Uchiha refused to answer his question. After all, he didn't need to explain to him-Sensei or not- why he wished to beat up the blond Jinchūriki boy some. Never mind that said Sensei could probably help him get the answers he wanted from the blond; who had been acting strange towards him since he came back from his training.
"Training." He said standing up dusting imaginary dust off his shorts. He stuffed pale hands in his pockets and began to walk home wanting to be left to think in peace. 'Fucking dobe this is his entirely fault, why should I be interrogated? He's the one who allowed himself to be beaten up so badly. He shouldn't have left himself so wide open, or have just told me the truth.' If only the raven knew much he really didn't want the whole truth……yet.
The copy ninja rolled his eyes. "Sure." He shook his head and disappeared in a cloud of smoke seeing as he wouldn't get any answers from the boy. He might as well visit Iruka; they had plans later, and he hadn't informed the brunet of what had happened. He wasn't looking forward to that last part.
Sasuke sighed heavily as he trudged slowly to house. He growled in annoyance when he saw a flash of pink coming his way, his right eye visibly twitching. 'I really don't want to deal with her right now.' He thought acidly as the young girl jogged over to him, a sickly sweet smile on her face.
"SASUKE! I've been looking all over for you!" She said loudly smiling flirtatiously- or what he assumed was flirtatiously, she was actually just grinning at him, but Sasuke still believed she had a crush on him and therefore anything she did was a come on- at him. He had to stop himself from growling in frustration. The pink haired blob was really starting to grate on his nerves lately. Her green eyes shone up at him fondly. "Where have you been? I saw heard Naruto was in the hospital and figured you'd be there." Her eyes twinkled humorously- after all, he had been the cause of the blond ending up there- and her lips quirked in bottled up laughter, Sasuke assumed it was her sad attempt at a smirk.
He felt his left eye twitch in annoyance- he probably needed that checked out, they kept doing that today. "Hn." He was desperately racking his brains for a way to get rid of her. "I was talking with Kakashi," he eyed her wirily, hoping against hope that she didn't figure out that that was only half the truth, be cause he knew she would only bug him for the rest.
"And brooding, after your spar with Naruto ended badly" It wasn't a question. Which he figured meant that she had already seen the blond haired ninja- who had undoubtedly insulted him. At the thought of the Uzumaki boy the raven scowled, again thinking back on his weird behavior all throughout. It really wasn't helping his already sour mood to remember it; it only caused more confusion, and therefore his anger rose again causing a great need to break something. He zoned back in when he saw her mouth open. "So why was Naruto in the hospital? I know he can stupid and highly annoying some times, but I can't really believe that he could have done anything that bad. And anything he said or did you should be used to by now, even if he did somehow come up with some new insults during his two and a half year training with Jiraiya, they can't have been that bad." He narrowed his basalt eyes at her in suspicion, realizing that she had accused him of brooding, and an Uchiha does not brood. Her eyes widened slightly and a small gasped slipped past her lips as she comprehended how she had just insulted him- though, and she'd never let anyone know this, but she didn't really care, she might have two years ago, but she had grown up, and out of her sick obsession of him- and worried her lip.
"I wasn't brooding, as you so eloquently put it,' He snapped moving around her slender form. " I was trying to calm down so I didn't go and beat his face in for hiding the truth from me, something that could possibly jeopardize a mission, if they way he's been acting is any indication." He hissed. Then stepped back when she turned on him suddenly.
"What he was hiding from you? Did you ever stop to think that maybe it was something you did or said, and he was actually upset about it? I mean, really, Sasuke, have you heard the things that spew from your mouth when talking to him?! The day he came back from his training, and hadn't seen us for two and a half years, and the first thing out of your mouth is an insult! You couldn't even welcome him back properly! Have you ever stopped to think about how Naruto has feelings like the rest of and might be hurt by the things you say to him? Sure, it was all fun and games when we were children and didn't know any better, but we aren't kids anymore Sasuke, so there's no excuse to teat him so badly!"
And if that's not enough he has to deal with all the other crap because he holds a demon inside him that nearly destroyed the village fifteen years ago so he has to deal with all the discrimination that the villagers put him through! Isn't that enough for him to deal with, without his supposed best friend constantly belittling him?" She said all this in a low whisper so no one else could hear, but he didn't think it would have had any more effect if she had yelled it. Her fists were clenched, and she looked about ready to punch him. Though she needn't bother, her words stung enough to feel as though she already had, and what's worse was that she was right.
He watched with a blank stare as she turned around and marched off in a different direction her short pink hair slightly ruffled with her sudden turn. He shook his head as his thoughts whirled as he continued on his way home. He knew he needed to think of a way to apologize to Naruto. He slowed when he passed the ramen stand that was Narutos favorite; as he heard the hushed voices of Kakashi and Iruka.
"-his birthday after all…" He heard Iruka say sighing softly. The scarred man sounded forlorn, and dejected.
"Well….that would explain a bit; like why he's been so tensed and restless… I feel kind of sorry for Naruto now… after all, he's always been alone on his birthday before- not counting his time with Jiraiya of course. October tenth…" He heard them both sigh before continuing at his normal pace having heard enough. After a moment though he knew that indeed, tomorrow was the blond ninja's birthday. But how come the other teen spoke about it…? It seemed like something he might want to brag about, and try and milk someone to buy him ramen with. His scowl deepened even more if it was even possible. But even if that was why he was acting strange… He thought back to when team seven had been formed…the boy hadn't acted any different than he normally did on the tenth…so…it pegged the question: Why now? There was obviously something more to this problem then that. Only…He couldn't figure out what is was.
He sighed as he glanced behind around him, reaching the door to his house. His suspicions deepening even more so. What could the blond possible be hiding? He should be able to figure it out; after all, the orange clad ninja was very loud and not good at hiding things. Or so he believed. He sighed again, darkly as he entered the entry way, glaring at everything her could. Was there even any real reason for his suspicions? He was almost afraid to find out the answer. He hurried to his room and grabbed spare clothes for bed, walking to the bathroom on the other side of the abnormally bland room.
As he slipped into sleep after having showered and dressed in sleep wear a thought, that had he been awake would have bothered him greatly, passed his mind: What should he do for the dobe's birthday that he'd like.
I hope you all enjoyed reading that as much was I enjoyed writing it. I'm thinking of taking a nap then going through and fixing the other chapters later. You all should thank me; I'm doing this on my birthday! Not that I care about the date, I just felt the compelling need that I could no longer ignore to fix it. The story's probably going to be long by the time I'm done…
Again: Got check out my poll; I need to know what you guys think. I always want to make my readers happy. And if you want, please Review! It really does help. I don't even care if you flame; I'd rather enjoy that too. Just make sure not to make yourself sound too stupid when you do- flame, that is.