~Chapter 20~
Respect VS Pity
When they made it to Sasuke's home, Naruto couldn't help but tease him over the intense cleanliness of it.
"Not everyone's a slob like you." Sasuke growled. Naruto glared.
"I'm not a slob, jerk!" He yelled. Kinata smirked.
"He's an organized mess." She said, making the blonde smile and stick out his tongue. She laughed sweetly at his antics, only irritating the raven-haired boy before them.
"How's that make any sense?" Sasuke asked, though hardly seeming to care. Kinata had already turned to head to the kitchen but stopped at his question, smirking.
"It doesn't," and as she looked at Naruto face of pure confusion she added, "That's why I found you so interesting." Naruto blushed while she quickly spun around to the other room. The blonde boy soon followed but Sasuke stood frozen in place. Him? Naruto Uzumaki…that idiot…interesting?
His mind could fathom something so ridiculous.
Yet, why had he let himself go along with the blonde, thick-headed peer? Had it all be due to the influence of Kinata? He clenched his fists, realizing that the energy, which had been all positive, had made him equally eager. The majority of that energy had came from Naruto. The boy, without having consciously known at the time, had been just as interested as Kinata to hear and be part of an ultimate prank. Dammit…Sasuke growled in his head.
The whiskered-faced kid was reckless, dense, and beyond obnoxious, but he certainly was NOT boring…or normal. Naruto was one of them…like Kinata who tried to fit in, but was alone in her burden, just as Sasuke had always been.
Kinata carefully set the large platter of mochi down in front of the two boys, who both looked pleased, though to different degrees.
"Yeee…hehe…this is gonna be the best to best all other mochi. Believe it!" Sasuke rolled his eyes at Naruto's theatrical fist pump and momentary pause of air, reaching out to take his share.
"Thanks." He simply said, just over a mumble. She smiled at him, having chuckled at Naruto.
"Careful, their hot." She reminded the guys. They both ignored her, instead taking quick large bites. She narrowed her eyes at the sight of them covering their mouths in reacting to the fiery temperature now searing their tongues. She shook her head to herself.
"Maybe next time you'll listen." She noted, blowing on her own mochi to cool it down.
"Tch." Sasuke wouldn't look at her, trying to disguise his own embarrassment.
"Ahhh! I ca' fwheel 'y 'oun!" *I can't feel my tounge* Naruto whined, his mouth wide open, pointing in a tearful manner to it. She laughed, standing up to open the freezer, obtaining ice cubes. She tossed them to the boy who caught them easily.
"Here! That should help. " Naruto gave her an open grin, throwing them in his mouth.
"Dhanks." He tried to yell back through a preoccupied mouth.
"Sure thing." She gave a cute nod before eating again.
Sasuke had watched their exchange between the two with annoyance.
Why are they friends? How had they met? Does Naruto know about her situation?
He frowned at the subject of his countless thoughts, barely eating the mochi, now more annoyed at himself than the two. This vicious cycle of not caring but caring, trying to ignore his feelings but unable to, being distracted when having been so determined to stay focused…the contradictions were giving him a headache.
Why do I even care so fucking much!? Kinata IS A CLASSMATE. I chose to help her because she was in need of help. Nothing more. Naruto is just a fucking nuisance for his lack…well hell, many things. Patience, manners, skills, intelligence….
He glared over at the kid, who had crumbles all over him. They were talking again, about some movie they'd seen together, but Sasuke droned them out. He remained stoic, but his eyes never met Kinata's direction.
The girl noticed Sasuke's darkened mood, though she kept in conversation with Naruto. He mentioned Village Justice 2: Koshi's Comeback as becoming a trilogy. Kinata half-listened though, feeling even more self-conscious when the Uchiha began to nibble on the mochi. Perhaps he didn't like it. Why didn't he just say something? She wasn't that sensitive! And surely she wouldn't want him to have to eat something he didn't like!
Her mind reeled at the idea that Sasuke should just man up and tell her how grotesque her food was already. Naruto suddenly gave her a questioning look.
"Uh Kinata, what's the matter?" He asked while gulping down the mouthful of mochi he had. She shrugged, keeping her eyes on the blonde.
"Guess I'm just glad that someone enjoys the mochi I made." Naruto grinned cheesily to her, giving her a dorky thumbs up.
"Heck yeah! They're amazing. Believe it!" She gave him a small smile.
"Thanks Naruto." She stood up, giving him a wave, ignoring Sasuke completely.
"I'm going to study some taijutsu moves." Naruto nodded, waving back, glancing at the boy in front of him. Sasuke was glaring daggers at him. The blonde boy flinched, jerking back in a surprised but angry way. Kinata had already left the room.
"What the heck was that about!?" He had his arm stretched out and pointed it heatedly at Sasuke. They stared one another down for a good minute.
"Why the hell does Kinata hang out with you?" His words were brutal, almost a smack to Naruto's face. He quickly recovered, slamming his fist down.
"Yeah? And so what if she does? What makes YOU think YOU'RE SOOO much better than ME?" Naruto's eyes were fuming, now matching Sasuke's own.
"You're kidding, right? Not even fellow losers would look up to you." Naruto's eye twitched. Then he suddenly stood up, pointing furiously again down at Sasuke.
"That's it, jerk-off! I'm gonna beat you so hard you won't remember you own jerky-ass name!" Sasuke refrained from rolling his eyes at such a lame threat. He closed them instead.
"I don't waste my time with losers." He too stood up, facing an enraged Naruto.
"But, I will take you on in one match." Naruto was about to yell out more profanity when he actually took in what Sasuke had said.
"Huh?" Naruto was wide-eyed. Sasuke's eyes were boring holes into the bright blue ones.
"You win, I'll do the rest of your homework until we graduate." Naruto's eyes widened even more, just as his mouth did. "But if I win, you stay the hell away from Kinata."
Naruto froze. He began to glare at the raven-haired boy.
"No."
Sasuke figured an immediate yes or for Naruto to bargain for more. He looked back at Naruto in slight shock. The blonde seemed more annoyed and now determined.
"No deal. Why would I risk her friendship for some stupid match with you, jerk?" He didn't wait for an answer, stomping out of the kitchen and soon out of the house. Sasuke was now glaring at nothing. He could feel his blood pumping dangerously. He couldn't clear his mind from feeling so scattered.
WHAT. THE. HELL? His mind screamed over and over again.
His body was tense. He wanted to punch something, or more so, someone.
One somebody.
"That…that idiot." He muttered to himself through grated teeth. Not only had the stupid blonde made him feel insignificant, but Kinata hadn't even acknowledged him while leaving. It was as if she had purposely gone out of her way to anger him.
Deciding on going to the level one training room, he replicated a Naruto look-a-like and tore it to shreds with his fists.
He'd never felt more childish but his emotions were too intense to be ignored.
And it gave him satisfaction to be able to release it in swift but powerful, physical ways.
He spent the next three hours sweating, kicking, and punching.
Sasuke's focus was so direct on the 26th dummy replication that Kinata had to grab his tired shoulders to gain his attention. She'd just returned and had heard a huge ruckus in the training room right before going upstairs, only to find a disaster. The room was wrecked. The boy in front of her was an absolute mess. His usually cropped hair was sprung out in awkward directions and his clothes clung to his soaked body. He was breathing extremely hard, with his stance wobbly.
When she had grabbed his shoulders, his body jolted, swinging rapidly towards her, intent on an upper attack. Her body moved on its own, sliding back as she landed in a crouch a good four feet away, only to have to jump back forward again to catch Sasuke's crumpling body. He went to move out of her upper hold when she forcibly smacked his pushing arms away.
"Enough." Her tone sounded rough but pleading, shocked to see her companion in such a state.
"What's gotten into you?" She kneeled completely down, worried as hell at the distraught look on the normally calm boy's face. He was glaring down at the floor when he finally looked up to her, more so from the sound of her sighing.
"Look, I'm sorry I overreacted to the mochi. It's just, if you didn't like it, you should have said something! Not pretend to like it yet act so sour about it. I honestly thought you were going to spit it out. Actually, I would've rather have seen that! You just…you need to be blunt with me. Even if it's just my cooking. I don't like people who fake it." Kinata had rambled, and she hated herself for it.
Sasuke on the other hand raised an eyebrow. The tension in his face had disappeared, now replaced with slight amusement.
Kinata had learned two new hand signs for a taijutsu infused ninjutsu move, which had happily distracted her from Sasuke. At the end of training, she'd felt ten times better, and silly for having acted the way she had about the mochi incident. She was over it.
However, after seeing Sasuke so stressed out she felt overcome with guilt. It was all too possible (in fact she was guaranteed) that it had nothing to do with her, but Kinata felt she could still help him.
She was relieved to find out that she'd been right. His body relaxed in her grip.
"Are you serious? You thought I hated the mochi?" It was like the boy was holding back from snickering at her. Kinata would've glared at his mocking tone if he didn't look so worn out. She opted for a shrug, looking away.
"Well yeah. You kind of made it obvious, what with the disgusted face and how little you even ate it." She turned to him, shaking her head, trying to lighten the mood.
"But it's okay. I know you at least enjoy the eggs I can cook." Her cheesy smile made Sasuke's throat go tight. He sighed.
"You worry too much." She frowned, shrugging again.
"So?" He slowly stood up, and she followed suit, watching his weakened body. They eyed each other curiously.
"I actually like the mochi." He faced the opposite to grab his main weapons, ready to leave. He was no longer mad.
"I don't like Naruto." He said it loudly but flat, still avoiding her to walk out of the room.
She frowned at his retreating form.
Was that what this was all about? Did the two have some dispute after I'd left? She released an exaggerated sigh, exiting the room.
Sasuke was nowhere in sight. Knowing that he'd probably gone up to his room to shower and get ready for bed, she began to make some tea for them both. He always had a cup before he went to sleep. He'd actually mentioned it as one of his nightly routines to her before.
Kinata spent the calming routine of making tea pondering over what she'd say about her relationship with Naruto.
When Sasuke came downstairs, she was waiting in the chair furthest in the kitchen, sipping her cup of tea peacefully. One covered cup of tea was set across from her. He arched an eyebrow at her.
"It's a little strong, but otherwise pretty good." Sasuke nodded. He sat silently down, oblivious to her hardcore, contemplating thoughts. She knew what she wanted to say, but didn't know quite how to start.
"Thank you." He said in a clear voice, eyeing her.
"It tastes just how I'd brew it." He took another longer drink. Kinata nodded dumbly, shocked by his compliment.
"Uh, yeah. Tea was a big part of my life. It's why I'm used to brewing it like that." She felt flushed, which puzzled her. Shaking her head and closing her eyes to change the subject. But the sudden sound of chuckling brought any words to a stop.
"Same. What do you want to talk about? Clearly that's what this is all about…right?" She stared emotionless into his cocky eyes and then she looked away. He was teasing her now. She'd been nervous about something serious and he was taking full advantage of how uncomfortable she was.
"Fine. It's about Naruto." She saw through her peripheral vision his body tense. She continued despite that.
"He's scared to be alone. And for whatever reason, people just avoid him…or ignore him. He has absolutely no one his age to call a friend. Tell me Sasuke, really, should anyone have to feel so isolated in their own village? This is a place he should call home." She couldn't quite stare into his onyx eyes yet.
"I have been an outcast, too many times, in places of little comparison. For a once, I guess I just, I can't seem him go through it." She had turned her eyes finally to look at him.
Sasuke's hands clasped the cup tightly. He kept his face impassive. Hearing her passionately defensive tone for Naruto only irked him more about a subject he'd already tried to get over.
"Why should I care about his problems? Why should you?" He bent forward at her stunned reaction. Her eyes hardened at his heartless words.
"He's a classmate. He's strong. I can sense it. I know you can too. He has the same determination. To endure. That potential is something I've rarely come across. If anything," she paused at his 'in thought' expression, "he'd be a trustworthy and powerful ally to have later on in life." The last part she figured she'd be reasonable because that was how the Uchiha thought. He couldn't trust in just characteristics of people. Kinata knew he could pick up on good judgment of traits, he just couldn't believe in it.
"Hmph." She huphed in reply.
"Pity will get him nowhere. Neither will it do for you to have such fantasies about the idiot. He can't even produce a clone Kinata. Emotions such as these will get you killed as a shinobi." Harsh. She glared at him.
"So that's how you see it? Me? Pitying him? No, because at least he belongs in a village where there are some who can look out for him. Pity is far from what I feel." She stopped for a breather, locked in sight with Sasuke, who seemed just as pent up about this as her.
"I respect him. I understand. Maybe not his whole situation, but just enough so that I know. I know what kind of endurance he had. It's a kind most never have, and never will know of. And really? Nobody should EVER have to go through it. That's the bond I share with him. He even sees this…that's why we're friends." Her voice had been heated throughout her speech but the last sentence she spoken softly, reflecting over the parallel of hurt for being ostracized on something she nor Naruto could control.
Sasuke was staring into his tea cup, more than half of it gone. Kinata's words rang in his head so strongly it nearly brought back his headache. After a few minutes of dead silence he gave her a curt nod.
"Fine. Fuck. I get it." Kinata was surprised to hear him hiss such a strong swear word. He looked up to her face, watching as she breathed a sigh of relief, giving a tiny smile.
"But, if I have to tolerate Naruto, you can only train with me." She gave him a questioning look. He ignored her, waiting for an answer.
"Okay I guess. That's a weird request. But if it means a compromise, sure." He nodded. She reached out her arm. He stared at it blankly.
"Shake it dork. To seal the deal." She teased him. He gave her a look but took her hand in his.
They shook and before she could pull away, he held on. She gasped at his tight grip.
"And what about me?" Kinata frowned, raising an eyebrow.
"What about you?"
"What of the potential in me. If Naruto's so impressive, where's he compared to me?" Sasuke's words slipped before he could truly think it through or control himself. He was flooded yet again with emotions at her resilient references towards Naruto amazing abilities. He needed to know if she'd seen anything in him. Kinata was wide eyed for a second, but then she grinned.
"I have yet to find out." She tugged her hand back, which he reluctantly let go. He frowned. Was she teasing him? Sasuke Uchiha? She shook her head, letting out a soft giggle. It caught his attention nonetheless. He liked her voice…it was truly feminine.
"So far, you're nearly as good as me." She smiled at the look of disbelief.
"Nearly? You took me off guard last time. Trust me, you are nearly as good as me." She grinned at his cocky face. The tension that had once been there vanished.
After a few back and forth gloating, Kinata finished the last of her tea. She got up to walk over to Sasuke, who was still sitting. She faced him expectedly. He turned to her, trying to hide his curiosity.
"What?" He voiced after she'd said nothing for a good minute.
"Just imagining the mopey look you'll have after I beat you. Again." She bent over to kiss him on the forehead, just as he had done earlier. Sasuke had been ready to spit out a comeback when he'd been suddenly face-to-face with her chest and the feel of her lips above his eyes.
It was quick in a sense, nothing lingering, but it left them both flustered. She mumbled a good night, keeping her smile at bay from noticing his pinkish cheeks.
Sasuke sat staring at the tea.
Kinata…Kinata…Kinata…
He couldn't get her name, her voice, her face, out his head.
He gulped down the rest of his tea, standing up. She was a pro at catching him off guard.
It left him stressed at times…and excited.
He had a serious and deadly goal, but that goal was slowly transforming into one that was bending on proving to Kinata how worthy of an opponent he was.