A/N: Long time no see friends! I know that Naruto finally ended & with the manga of the new generation ongoing, I'm still gonna keep writing this story. Even though we already know who our favorite nerd ended up with, I still can't help but pair him with the other characters. Anyways, enjoy reading the chapter, ya hear? Thanks!

Chapter 32: INTEAMMATE SIDE A

"Intimacy is not a happy medium. It is a way of being in which the tension between distance & closeness is dissolved & a new horizon appears." - Henri Nouwen

A low curse slipped past Tenten's lips. Her stupid brain won't shut down & it was already 1:00 AM! Kicking the covers aside, she yelled. "That's it! I need a drink!" She swung her legs over the edge of the bed & donned her slippers. Groaning for the umpteenth time, she stepped out of the room.

Silence greeted her as she stood in the middle of the dimly lit hallway. 'I wonder if foxface is already sleeping,' she mused. Her traitorous mind began to replay yesterday's events. Events that focused on a certain Uchiha, who, callously ditched an important get-together. Her brows furrowed at that last statement.

It wasn't that important. But without him it was…

"Boring," Tenten finalized as she opened the fridge. Pouring herself a glass of water, she chugged it down like a parched camel. She was still frustrated at the fact that her idiotic friend didn't leave a message, let alone a damn phone call. Naruto didn't seem to be affected by his absence. In fact, he had inkling that their friend would pull that kind of stunt.

Her mind took a different turn. Did his disappearance involve a certain pink-haired hussy? The glass she was holding hit the countertop with a loud CLUNK! "He's the densest guy in the planet! Even if she stripped in front of him, he won't even bat an eyelash at her!" she hissed. This was a first for her, getting all hot & bothered by Sasuke's curiosity for that Sakura chick. What's worse, Naruto found her irritation funny. And he was interested in that girl too! That's it!

Her two best friends were nothing more but idiots! Idiots!

Her eyes clouded as she realized that they were slowly slipping from her grasp.

When they were young, Naruto & Sasuke were known in Konoha as the "Terrible Twosome." Terrible, due to their unyielding talent for duking each other's guts out. They were competitive little brats during their kindergarten days & she still remembered their antics like it only happened yesterday.

She helped herself to another glass of water. "Amazing how rivalry can bring two people with different personalities together. They're closer to each other now than before." As a child, Naruto had a fiery temperament & loved pranks. He held a special place in her heart as her first friend. His positive & cheerful demeanor simply rubbed off on her, including his loud & infectious laughter.

Sasuke was his polar opposite. An overly competitive stuck up brat who thought highly of himself. Born from a prodigious family with incredibly good looks & amazing skill set, he amassed a huge fan club of hopelessly romantic little girls, which, increased ten-fold until he reached high school. Their teachers, both male & female have taken quite a liking to him. Never mind the age gap. Shudder.

She laughed at her friend's pitiful plight. He was born with the word 'Heartthrob' stamped on his forehead. It wasn't his fault that everybody wanted a piece of him. He spent the rest of his growing years erecting a wall around himself. She never understood that need of his to separate himself from the ones that might hurt him.

Come to think of it, Itachi-nii mentioned something about an incident which left his younger brother scarred for life…she tried asking Sasuke about that but he always rebuffed her attempts. Despite his loudmouth attitude, Naruto didn't seem to mind Sasuke's aloof nature. In fact, he respected the latter's need for privacy - a lesson she eventually learned in time.

But now, it didn't seem fair. Recently, those two started to keep things by themselves. Just like poker, they never showed their cards when they play. Sullenly tracing the rim of the glass, she began reminiscing about the time she met the notorious duo...

Flashback!

A woman in her twenties entered the classroom with small pigtailed girl in a bright yellow dress trailing behind her. Shizune greeted her students with enthusiasm. "Good morning, class! Today, you'll have a new classmate. Say hello to Tenten."

The class monotonously greeted their new classmate. Shrugging their disinterest, Shizune led Tenten to a small table, which, was currently occupied by two boys. She pushed the girl lightly towards them. "These are Naruto & Sasuke. Boys, make her feel welcome. And," The teacher's eyes glared at the two kids. "Please stay out of trouble."

"No problem, Shizune-sensei!" Naruto chirped while Sasuke grunted. As soon as Tenten finally settled in, Shizune started with her lessons. With the class returning to its normal pace, Tenten stole a glance at her new seatmates.

The blond kid called Naruto had bright blue eyes & a dazzling smile. His warm & cheerful disposition instantly put her at ease. Next to her, Sasuke had spiky jet-black locks & always sported a bored look on his face. Judging from the heated looks of her fellow classmates being thrown at his direction, he must be very popular.

Being the new girl in class has its perks. She didn't have any difficulties in asking for help. Naruto was the most welcoming; he helped her fit in class. As the days passed, she formed a kinship with the blond. She was fortunate enough to have Naruto for a friend, since she still need time to adapt to her surroundings.

Sasuke was a different matter.

While playing on the school's swing, she was able to gather bits & pieces about him from Naruto. The blond boy loved to talk. Proudly raising his fist high in the air, he continued, "Even if Mom & Dad aren't here, I have my oyaji who reaaallllly takes good care of me! Not like that spoiled teme, he came from a rich family. He's such a stuck-up, always thinks that he's above all of us!"

She cracked a smile. "I never would've guessed." The boy had a gloomy persona. He spent his time alone inside the classroom. The only time he got out was due to extracurricular activities. Her gaze caught a group of girls flocking at either side of their classroom window. "What are they doing?"

Naruto laughed as he gave himself a push on the swing. "Oh that? They're stealing a glance from pretty boy over there."

"He doesn't like attention, huh?"

"I wouldn't get so close to him if I were you."

She blinked. "Why not?"

He stood up, dusting his shorts. "That guy's always picked on by some of the kids here in school."

"What about it?"

"He's born rich. Not everyone likes that fact so they resort to pranking him."

She scoffed. "Not his fault."

Naruto laughed. "Yeah, but watch out for those chicks over there. They're more dangerous if they know you're into him." Naruto caught one of the girls giving him a mean look. He stuck his tongue out at her in an annoyed manner. "You'll end up in a much bigger doo-doo than he is."

Tenten sweat dropped. No way, all that violence for one skinny brat?

Naruto laughed at her reaction. His expression turned solemn. "But you know...I kinda like that fellow."

Now she was confused. "You said he's nothing but trouble."

Jamming his hands in his pockets, he grinned. "Yeah, I've hated that cocky bastard since day one. Until I figured out he wasn't that bad since he's the only one who was sufferable enough to survive my pranks."

She smiled. "I haven't seen you do any pranks, Naruto-kun."

He winked at her. "Well, you haven't seen anything yet."

A few days later…

A loud explosion was heard throughout the playschool. All the students & faculty rushed out of the classroom when a rancid odor permeated through the halls. Once everyone evacuated the premises, it was up to the faculty & maintenance officers to discover the source of the explosion & its offending aftermath.

Of course, it was a no-brainer that everyone would blame Naruto, who was widely known for his pranks. And since Tenten was his constant companion, she was also implicated as an accomplice.

Shizune accompanied them to the principal's office, along with Mizuki who conducted the investigation. Standing in front of the principal, the brunette couldn't help but feel nervous under the principal's inquisitive stare. Sarutobi-sensei gave them a serious look. "Are you kids going to admit your fault or do you want punishment?"

Said suspect gulped. "But we didn't do it! I'm always late whenever I come to school! And besides, I'm not that stupid enough to go here early & plant a stupid stink bomb under my own table!"

"He's right, Mr. Principal! We went to school at the same time! No way it was him," Tenten chimed in.

The principal sighed. "All evidences found in the classroom are pointed towards you, Naruto-kun. And we're very much aware of your pranking habits." His beady black eyes darkened with conviction. "And everyone knows how much you hate Sasuke-kun."

Naruto crossed his arms. "If I reaaaallllyyy hate teme that much, I'd rather bash his brains out instead of bombing him!"

"The brat's obviously lying. It's pretty obvious that it's him! How insufferable, doing a low-blow prank on his classmate!" Mizuki-sensei grunted, sniffing the remains of the stink bomb explosion on his shirt. He made a wry face. "Sarutobi-sensei, I think it's better if you call his guardian. Who knows what might happen if we let him go this time?"

Big blue eyes were immediately filled with tears. "I already told you that it wasn't me!"

"He's right."

Sarutobi's eyes moved towards the direction of the voice. The others also looked behind their backs.

Naruto turned as well, shock evident on his bewhiskered face. "T-Teme!?"

Said Teme stepped inside the office, onyx eyes filled with implicit mirth. "Sarutobi-sensei, I believe you got the wrong guy."

Mizuki-sensei immediately blocked his path with his bulky build. "Students are not allowed in the principal's office! Go back now!"

The boy flashed the older male with an 'I-dare-you-say-that-to-me-again' look. Before sparks fly between teacher & student, Shizune stepped in. "Sasuke-kun, you're not supposed to be here. Go back to class."

Sasuke deadpanned. "I hate it when you people keep mentioning my name over & over again. And I'm telling you all, he's not the guilty party."

Feeling an onset of headache from Sasuke's revelation, the principal gave him a shrewd glance. Said victim helping the perpetrator? That was weird. "And why would you think that Uchiha-kun? Do you have any proof that Naruto didn't do it?"

Without a word, the stoic boy left the room. He returned a few minutes later, dragged two boys by their ears & shoved them right in front of the principal. "Kiba & Shino. They're the ones who came up with that explosion. And," he added, dropping a plastic bag filled with incriminating evidence, "those were the items which they used to make the bomb."

Shizune & Mizuki were flabbergasted. An ordinary kid wouldn't go to such great lengths just to prove a point. So this is how a member of the prestigious Uchiha clan worked its magic… Both of them gulped yet were amazed at the same time.

On the other hand, Sarutobi-sensei felt relieved at the young boy's display of candor. "How sure are you that they're the culprits?"

"I saw them plant the bomb under our table. They made it appear as if it was Naruto's doing," Sasuke explained. He turned to one of the suspects who immediately shrank back in his gaze. "I can vouch for it since I always go to school early, isn't that right Kiba?"

Out of fear, Kiba nodded immediately.

Naruto's cheeks flared in anger. Kiba! How dare he make a fool out of him? Even involving Tenten in his case! He glanced at his pigtailed friend who tightly clutched his sleeve. His eyes met with Sasuke's & he was astounded.

His newfound savior was smiling.

Tenten didn't like it one bit.

Nevertheless due to the Uchiha's testament, the case was immediately dismissed.

"Woweee! Free at last!" Naruto yelled as he ran outside the school.

Tenten laughed until her cheeks turned red. It's his right to be happy; he was cleared from the 'Stink Bomb Case'. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned around to see their somber seatmate who stopped shortly upon seeing them.

Naruto saw him too & didn't waste time in showing his gratitude. He grabbed the other boy's hands & raised it up & down. "Teme, I wanna thank you for your assistance back there! I didn't know you have a soft spot in your heart!"

The other boy yanked his hands away. "It was nothing."

Tenten sidled next to her friend. "But how'd you know it was Kiba & his friends?"

"Oh that?" Sasuke ran a hand through his spiky locks. "They're very predictable because of their lame old routine. I'm just waiting for the right moment."

Naruto appeared confused. "Waiting for what?"

A wicked smirk slowly made its way across the raven-haired boy's face. Cold sweat trickled down Tenten's back when she saw it. Something about this emo kid didn't sit well with her. Maybe they shouldn't trust him. "You…what are you planning?" she demanded.

Coal black eyes glinted menacingly. "I'm getting back at those shitheads for disrupting my routine every single day."

Naruto clapped his hands together. "Ho-ho! So you mean to tell us you did all those for revenge?" He gave Sasuke a knowing grin. "You think you're such a big shot eh, teme? Just because your family's one of the richest people here in town?"

Sasuke's demeanor darkened. He stepped forward, hands clenched on either sides of his body. "You dare say another word about my family, I'll..."

The blond boy grinned widely. Goody. So the quiet Uchiha knows how to bite back? Interesting! "What? Ya gonna hit me?" When the other boy didn't respond, he added. "At first I thought you're just a quiet, scrawny kid. But, my gut tells me that you & I are gonna get along just fine." He held one hand out to Sasuke. "So, are you in?"

Tenten's eyes widened. Is he serious?

Sasuke only stared at Naruto's hand. From the brunette's point of view, he was hesitating. Instead, the stoic youth haughtily brushed the hand aside & walked ahead. Naruto wasn't offended; he was amused by his actions. "Tsk, he's an interesting fellow."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't like him."

"Well, he's our seatmate so I wouldn't mind taking another member in our pack."

"You're crazy foxface. How're you gonna do that?"

Naruto's smile went wide.

"The thing I do best."

End flashback!

Tenten rinsed her glass on the sink. "And since then…those two kept going after each other's throats."

Naruto's pranks will always spark the enmity first and then it'll end with Sasuke's payback. Even when they were in different schools, the two kept their rivalry burning until something happened in junior high that made them decide to end their feud.

Flashback 2.0!

Konohagakure Middle School

5:30 PM

"Man, homework sucks!" Naruto exclaimed, stuffing books in his backpack. It was the start of summer break & everyone already went home for a long respite without the shackles of homework. Well, except him of course. He flunked the final exams so Iruka-sensei told him that he'll be taking summer classes starting tomorrow. So much for lazing around & catching up some Zzzzzzs...

Tenten snickered. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she gave him reprimanding look. "You better start doing all your workbooks or I'm gonna shove them down your throat. I can't believe you ended up 300th in our batch."

Naruto made a wry face as they walked out of school. "Not my fault. All those fights from those creeps at Otogakuen kept us busy. I always head to my room so that oyaji won't find out about my bruises. It made me skip dinner a lot!"

"Foxface, maybe Sasuke has a hand in this," Tenten spoke in a hushed tone. "Don't you think this is getting too far? It's like he's besting you at something."

Uchiha Sasuke was currently studying in Otogakuen so there must be a connection between him & their new enemies. It was rather peculiar that the fights occurred quite often. Nowadays, the students they beat up wore Otogakuen uniforms & that rival of his remained in low profile.

Naruto squashed the idea. "We've traded blows for a long time & I know that chicken butt-haired jerk… it's not his style to ask for backup. Teme's overly protective of his reputation." He gave her a wide grin. "So, I doubt it."

She glared at him. "Doubt it? It's obvious he's trying to get even with you!"

He shrugged her suspicions with a wave of his hand. "I've fought him for ages. You & I knew he preferred to fight alone."

"I…" That was also possible.

Seeing the worried look on her face, Naruto patted her head. "Don't worry so much! You're too young to be my mother, Tenten-chan!"

She bonked him hard on the head. "Baka! You better do your workbooks when you get home or you'll never see ramen again!"

The blond rubbed the sore spot. "Hai, hai. Geez, what's with girls nowadays?"

6:00 PM

"This is getting troublesome. Just a few more blocks & we're home."

Tenten gritted her teeth in frustration as she found herself & Naruto cornered in the alley. As she suspected, it was the same rival group from Otogakuen whom they beat up a few days ago. The leader smirked, cracking his knuckles. "You guys did a good job in messing my men last time."

Naruto yawned, as he loosened his tie. Dropping his bag, he readied himself for battle. "They didn't do a good job in threatening us."

His friend laughed, doing the same thing. Tenten tied her hair up into a ponytail & crossed her arms. "Ditto what my friend said. I suggest you better leave now or you're gonna get it."

The leader laughed. "We'll see about that." He raised a hand, signaling his comrades. "Attack!" His men rushed towards the two, fists aiming for their bodies. Naruto smirked, blocking the guy's punch & slammed him against the wall. Another guy tried to slash him with a knife but he deflected it by jumping out of the way. He returned the favor by smashing his fist on the enemy's face. "Man! These guys are tough! Tenten, watch out for their blades!"

"Argh! I know!" she exclaimed, bending down to avoid getting kicked. She hit the enemy's stomach with a reverse kick, sending him flying backwards & hitting his friends. Sweat beaded her forehead. The enemy's numbers were not dwindling down. How come? The brunette glared at the leader who stood casually at the end of the alley. "Where do all of these people come from?" she yelled, dodging a punch from the enemy.

On the other hand, Naruto had his hands full in fending off three people. With a yell, Tenten rushed to her friend's side & kicked one of his enemies in the gut. Relieved for the aid, he successfully punched his way out, fist cracking on the last victim's cheek. Tenten sucked in a breath, trying to keep herself steady.

Naruto grasped her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she responded, straightening up. Her big brown eyes turned towards their last enemy, sizing him up. Even with the loss of his men, the leader remained unfazed. His toothy grin irked her. "I'm impressed. You totaled all my men."

Naruto moved forward as he beckoned him with a finger. "It's your turn now."

The leader kept smiling.

Tenten didn't like this guy's attitude. A certain memory similar to this racked her thoughts…but before she could comprehend on that... Her knees buckled. "What…" she began, barely able to utter Naruto's name as she unceremoniously fell to the ground.

"Whatcha' doing?"

Tenten whirled around to find Naruto at the doorway, a goofy grin on his face. After drying her glass, she returned it to the cupboard. "You're supposed to be asleep."

He snatched a glass from the rack then poured himself a drink. "I couldn't sleep either."

"You were out like a light. I almost thought you're dead."

He raised the glass to his lips. "Very funny." Seeing her preoccupied with her thoughts, he concluded it had something to do with their absent friend. "That better not be Sasuke-chan you're thinking about!" he commented in a sing-song voice.

She frowned. "I just remembered that fight we had with the Otogakuen Four."

A thoughtful look crossed his face. "Hmm…that wasn't a very pleasant memory to begin with."

"Yeah, but that's the time you & Sasuke came to terms. You've done nothing but tore each other's throats," Tenten replied coolly, returning the pitcher back in the fridge. An idea suddenly hit her. "Wait a minute! You never told me what happened after I got kidnapped!"

"Huh? We saved you."

"I need the exact details, Foxface!"

Naruto plopped down the chair. As he fiddled with his empty glass, the memory instantly flashed in his mind. He never imagined that he & Sasuke would end up as comrades-in-arms. And besides, that guy's stodgy attitude was difficult to deal with.

Seeing his friend's determined face, he grinned.

"All right I'll tell you. After you fell…"

Flashback 2.0 Naruto version!

"Tenten!" Naruto screamed, as she fell on the ground with a loud thump. Before he could go to her, she was snatched away by a tanned man with ponytail. "Give my friend back, you asshole!" he yelled, fist aimed at the newcomer. The tanned man laughed, evading the attack. Before he could gather his wits, a fat guy in a mohawk blocked his path.

"Kuso!" he cursed, trying for another attack. Mr. Mohawk countered it by slashing him on the stomach. Naruto keeled over in pain, blood quickly staining his uniform. The enemy grabbed him by the collar & lifted him off the ground.

"Let…go…asshole," he rasped.

The guy raised his knife & laughed out loud. "Not until you plead for your life, idiot."

The leader intervened, delaying the impending attack. "Naruto-kun, let's settle this. Join our group. We have a common enemy after all."

Naruto gritted in anger. "What do you mean by common enemy?"

Ukon sneered menacingly. "Why, Uchiha Sasuke of course. He's been a nuisance to us ever since he studied in Otogakuen. We extended an invitation for him to join our group but he made fools out of us. But, with your help, we'll turn him into an even bigger fool."

The blond sneered. "Teme will never lose to the likes of you."

Jirobo slammed Naruto hard against the wall. He coughed out blood due to the impact. "Shut up brat!" Turning to their leader, he grunted, "Ukon, lemme finish him off. We're done with him anyways. Then we can use his girlfriend to get some cash."

Ukon shrugged. "I don't like unfinished battles, Jirobo. Moreover, I've taken a liking to him. He'll be useful to our group in defeating 'that' bastard."

Tayuya, a red-haired girl with a bandanna on her head snorted. "Bah! Why won't you admit that you were beaten into a pulp by that Uchiha brat a few days back? You're still not over it so you decided to hit on this one instead!"

"I'd watch my mouth if I were you, Tayuya. He only got lucky last time," Ukon snarled.

"Who got lucky?"

Both teens turned around. Uchiha Sasuke stood right behind them, face devoid of any emotion.

"How did…?"

The Uchiha merely smirked.

Tayuya used her flute to strike but the boy easily deflected it with his arm. Sasuke grabbed her wrist & flipped her over, her body hitting the ground in a loud thud. He shifted towards Ukon, swiftly landing a punch on the pale guy's jaw. He continued pummeling the group's leader blow after blow, until he sent him flying across the opposite end of the alley. Tayuya easily recovered but she was too late to block Sasuke's kick to her stomach, sending her after Ukon.

The remaining two were shocked at the sudden change of pace, but they didn't let go of their prisoners. Sasuke sauntered towards them, the intent to kill evident in his onyx irises. Prideful, Jirobo threw Naruto aside & charged at the raven-haired teen. Sasuke simply dodged his attack, kicking the pudgy man on his private parts. Kidomaru on the other hand, chose not to attack the Uchiha. Instead, he grabbed Jirobo & went to Ukon & Tayuya's side.

Sasuke stopped next to Naruto's unconscious form. "Done already?"

Tayuya growled in anger. Ukon stopped her, blood dripping down his chin. "Now, now. There's no need for further violence, Sasuke-kun."

The Uchiha responded by stepping forward.

Ukon's smirk wavered slightly. This guy…he turned to his comrades. "We're leaving."

Jirobo recovered & ambled painfully towards them. "Wait, what about the washed-out blond?"

"Leave him! We've got his friend anyway! Let's go!" Kidomaru responded.

The other three agreed, immediately leaving the scene.

Making sure they were out of danger, the Uchiha stared at his fallen rival with disinterest. Carefully weighing his options, he hoisted him up his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. As much as he hated the blond, he seriously needed medical attention.

His brother would know what to do.

…

8:00 PM

Itachi's House

"He's gonna pull through. Good thing the cut was shallow so there's no need to go to the hospital," Itachi spoke as he stitched the wound shut. Sasuke merely acknowledged it with a nod while Naruto winced as the older man tightly wrapped the bandage around his waist. Itachi lightly tapped the blond's shoulder. "Now don't move too much or the wound will reopen."

Instead of lying down, Naruto struggled with his bandages. "No! I have to save my friend. She's in danger!"

Itachi's face was filled with worry. He sympathized with him, but his health comes first. Naruto won't do any good even if he tried to attempt a rescue mission. "You're injured, Naruto-kun. You need to recuperate first."

"No! You don't understand! She needs my help!"

Sasuke on the other hand, wasn't at all merciful. He planted his foot right on Naruto's lower torso & applied slight pressure on his wound. "Baka. There's no way you're going anywhere in this state." When the blond struggled again, he pressed more. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Naruto gripped his rival's ankle. "Tenten got caught because of me. It may not matter to you guys, but those Otogakuen dumbasses are planning to use her for cash!" When both brothers didn't respond, he hissed painfully. "She's a girl for kami-sama's sake! She needs to be saved! Doesn't that strike a chord to you?"

Itachi's features were solemn. "In your current condition, there's a huge chance that you'll get caught as well. If I were you, I'd say you need to recover first before you make any attempt in rescuing her."

"But, Tenten…!"

Sasuke brusquely slammed his foot down Naruto's belly. The blond instantly passed out from the pain but not before gripping his tormentor's ankle tightly. Itachi rolled his eyes at his brother's display of violence. "Tsk, tsk. You didn't have to be so vehement, ototou. He only wanted to save his friend."

His expression was grim. "Hn."

Itachi knew that look. "What is it?"

"I don't see why he'd risk himself to save that girl. She's done for," Sasuke remarked.

His brother flicked his forehead. "You heard him. She's his friend."

"Pointless," he retorted half-heartedly. Yet he wasn't a hypocrite. Naruto's display of loyalty towards Tenten certainly affected him. He never had any friends & his rivalry with the loudmouth boy couldn't be counted as camaraderie. Needless to say, he was touched at his rival's self-sacrificing act. A ghostly imitation of a smile floated across his lips. "Friendship, huh?"

Itachi smirked. Seeing his brother's expression, he immediately understood the latter's intentions. "It would seem so. Did he strike a chord on your heart?"

"Hn," Sasuke cursed, untangling himself from Naruto's death grip. He grabbed his coat & walked towards the door. Grasping the knob, he could feel his brother's gaze on his back. "What?"

"Going somewhere?"

"Aa."

"Make sure you're both in time for dinner."

"Hn."

And then he was off.

Otagakuen Four's hideout

After tying up & gagging their hostage, Tayuya eyed her with disgust. She had a bad feeling that taking this stupid girl would be a disaster. Her friends thought otherwise. Ukon screwed up big time! As if they'll use this girl for money! They weren't even a stable gang to begin with & they didn't have the means to procure money from a knocked out wench. The only choice they had was to use her as bait. And if her loudmouth friend did come, then, he'd be forced to join them.

"You know," she began, making the others look at her. "I don't see the point why we have to keep her."

Kidomaru scratched his head. "Ukon told us to keep her here until that brat comes back to save her."

"Bah! As if he'll return for her. Jirobo messed him up really well. It'll take a miracle for him to get up from that attack."

Ukon sighed. For now, they'll keep the girl. He already instructed Jirobo to watch out for Naruto & inform him of his friend's whereabouts. Before he could ponder further with his thoughts, Jirobo suddenly appeared in front of them, a dazed expression on his face. "What are you doing here, Jirobo? You're supposed to be watching out for…"

The larger man fell, face flat on the ground.

Tayuya immediately stood up, flute on hand. The others stood up as well. Ukon didn't even bother to hide his grin as he saw who was standing at the entrance of their hideout. "Well, well. This is a surprise. What brings you here?"

Sasuke stepped in, his features grave. "I came for the girl."

"Ho, ho! So Naruto decided to ask for your aid? That's funny! Isn't he your rival?" Kidomaru sneered.

Instead of answering, Sasuke only charged forward. Ukon was caught off-guard by a swift punch on his jaw. Kidomaru came to his aid, but, he too was knocked off by a kick on his stomach. Tayuya was the last one. She already knew that she was no match for the Uchiha's prowess but she had a reputation to uphold. Feeling a slight movement next to her, she glanced to see that her captive had woken up. A creepy smile played across her lips.

Before Tenten could adjust to her surroundings, someone yanked her by the hair & a cold object pressed under her chin. Vaguely, she could hear two voices - a girl, who was undoubtedly her captor, judging from the voice's close proximity, & the other…doesn't sound like her friend. Cracking her eyes open, she was shocked to see that it was definitely not Naruto. "Mmff!" she muffled through her gag.

"Quiet, bitch!" Tayuya hissed. Pulling Tenten close to her, she gave Sasuke a menacing stare. "Take one more step, I'll slit her throat!"

"What more can you do? All your friends are down."

"I mean it! One more step I…"

She didn't get to finish as he quickly hit her at the back of her neck.

…

Naruto leaned weakly against the wall. He knew that his wound reopened but he couldn't risk his best friend's life by not doing anything. 'Ukon's hideout should be here somewhere…' he thought as he pushed himself off the wall. 'If anything happens to Tenten, I swear… '

"You're supposed to be resting."

He turned around to find Sasuke walking towards him. His big blue eyes immediately lit up when he saw Tenten safely ensconced in the other's arms. Ignoring the ache on his side, he sluggishly made his way towards him. "Is she…?" he asked, sitting down.

Sasuke set her down, making her lean against Naruto. "She regained consciousness earlier but Tayuya knocked the wind off her."

"I see," Naruto smirked as he gave Tenten a pat on her head. He glanced at his unexpected comrade. "I didn't expect you to save her by yourself." When Sasuke didn't answer, he continued, "I've always known that you're not such a bad guy. I guess…I went a little bit overboard on those fights because I wanted you to join our group."

His words took Sasuke aback. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Those fights we had…all because you wanted me to join you?"

Naruto laughed. "Yeah, pretty lame huh?"

It was a stupid reason. Yet that reason made the Uchiha laugh.

That was the first time Naruto saw the conceited, stuck-up brat laughed his heart out. So…he wasn't that heartless after all. Once his laughter died down, the blond cleared his throat. "Teme, I want you to join us."

Sasuke didn't answer. Was that hesitation he saw in those black orbs? Naruto ignored it & continued, "We may be rivals but even you can feel the connection through our fists, right? I'm pretty damn sure that I want you to be our friend." No answer. "I'm sure…I'm sure, if it's you…I know, we'll be such good friends!"

He heard a sigh. It was soft, but definitely a sigh. Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. "You're asking for the impossible. I can't have friends. I'm…"

"Bullshit! Because you're an Uchiha so you think you're all high & mighty, huh?" Naruto felt the other guy's fist on his cheek. He almost dropped Tenten due from the impact. He snickered, knowing he got his attention. "So, what? You're gonna beat me because I talked shit about your family?"

"Nobody talks shit about my family & you know it," Sasuke spoke dangerously. He turned his back on him & started to walk. He looked back at the brunette in Naruto's arms. "Rather than insulting me, why don't you take that girl home? She needs rest & so do you."

"Uh, about that…" Naruto rubbed his sore cheek. Man, as much as he wanted to take her home, he was having a predicament. He called the latter's attention. "Teme! I need your help!"

After badmouthing his lineage, now he wants help? His help? Sasuke sighed as he turned around. "What, now?"

Naruto pointed towards his waist. He grinned sheepishly. "I can't carry her since I my wound reopened. Do the carrying for me, will ya?"

"No."

"Oh come on! I know I provoked you by saying bad stuff about your family but surely you're not in the right mind to simply abandon a damsel in distress."

"You're not a damsel & I agree you're clearly in distress."

"Quit it! I'm talking about Tenten!"

"Tch."

End flashback!

"And that is how we saved you."

Tenten bonked him on the head. "Baka! ONLY Sasuke saved me! You were too busy bleeding out on the road."

Naruto pretended to shed a tear. "But I still went after you guys. And if it weren't for me, Sasuke wouldn't even show up to help you."

The brunette huffed. A tiny ounce of happiness bubbled inside her. When she woke up the following day, she was surprised to see two idiots bickering right next to her. Afterwards, Naruto gave the big announcement: Sasuke was now officially their friend. She was still cautious of him then, despite Naruto's assurances that the aloof raven-haired lad was on their side. Eventually, she was proven wrong.

Casting a knowing look at her friend, she smiled. "I couldn't thank you guys enough. You know, for helping me."

Naruto grinned back. "We're friends, T. Sasuke-chan knows that too. So don't doubt him, okay?"

"I, " she faltered. "I never doubted him."

He patted her on the head affectionately. "I know you got worried that he didn't show up at the party. Ease up, will ya? He's a big boy now. He can handle his own affairs. Before we even met him, he was already like this."

The brunette sighed. She was afraid of that. She was afraid of that invisible wall Sasuke put to protect himself. She couldn't voice that out loud to Naruto. Why couldn't Foxface see that the reason why she was so protective of Sasuke was because she knew somewhere in her heart that he'll leave them eventually? That pink-haired hussy was the first step. Once he falls for that bitch, he'll choose her over them. And then, he'll leave. Best friends don't leave each other behind, right?

What about her?

Flashback 3.0!

Four months after the fight with Ukon's group…

"I swear, I'm gonna kill him."

Sasuke didn't budge while Tenten paced back & forth. Yesterday, they planned to watch Fujikaze Yukie's movie to celebrate the fourth month of their budding friendship. The Uchiha found it troublesome but Naruto aka "Loudmouth Dobe" told him they needed to do something fun since all they did for the past few weeks was study for the finals. A few more days & they will graduate from their respective schools.

It just never occurred to him that the one who planned it…would be late. "Call him again. If he doesn't answer, we'll go to his place & break the door down," he growled. It felt so much better if Naruto remained his rival. The blond was always prompt whenever they had a fight.

Tenten flipped her phone & dialed Naruto's number. "He's not answering," she mouthed off to Sasuke who crossed his arms in annoyance. They've been waiting for an hour for him to show up. Jamming his hands in his pockets, he let out a resounding sigh. From the looks of it, they won't be able to catch the movie on time. "We're going," he decided.

She frowned. "To watch the movie? We're too late."

"No. To that idiot's place," he answered tersely.

Tenten's face brightened. Sasuke was a stickler when it comes to being on time. She walked beside him."Don't tell me…you're really thinking of breaking into his house now, are you?"

He brought his keys out. "I'm not going to waste my time waiting for him to show up. I'd rather drag him to the movie house even if he's still in his pajamas."

She grinned, albeit evilly. "That's brilliant!" Who knew he had a warped sense of humor? Following him to his car, memories of their time together flooded her thoughts. The first month of being friends, she decided that he won't fit in their group. Sasuke was a complete human ice cube. He was silent & kept mostly to himself. In time, he slowly opened up. Turns out, he was also a normal kid who liked to have fun.

During those times, she wasn't aware of the invisible wall Sasuke had put around himself. He was still distant yet remained friendly towards them. Foxface mentioned there were times that Sasuke needed a "quiet moment" to sort himself out. Like a stress reliever. Since he was a private person from the beginning, Tenten had trouble adjusting to his mood swings because of her warm, outgoing personality.

Reaching the car, Sasuke pressed a button & the doors automatically opened. Tenten slid inside the passenger's seat, glancing at her friend who started the car. The engine let out a low hum & Sasuke shifted the gear into reverse. He slowly backed the car out of the parking lot & was now on their way to Naruto's house. The entire ride was eerily quiet & it was rattling Tenten's nerves. Twiddling her thumbs, she spoke, "This is a nice car. Is it yours?"

"No, it's my brother's."

"I see," she shifted into a more comfortable position. From the corner of her eye, she could see his well-defined brows, clear yet pale complexion & a sturdy neck. She swallowed. Did he always look this good? Even his chicken butt hair seemed perfect. Did he put gel on it or something?

"I…" she began.

"What?"

"Are you…" she couldn't think of any words…say something, damn it! "Are you always this perfect?" she blurted out of the blue. Her eyes widened at what she just said. 'Oh no…I wasn't supposed to say that out loud!'

Fortunately, he was too distracted on the traffic in front of them. When the traffic signal glow red, he looked back at her. "Did you say I'm perfect?"

Shit, he heard it. Feigning laughter, she waved her hand dismissively as if it was a joke. "When we were kids, a lot of our classmates & teachers looked up to you. Foxface warned me before not to get close to you, but, even he found you interesting."

He didn't answer, eyes too focused on the road. She pressed on. "I remembered the time when he insulted your family you fought back like you're possessed. Like you're compelled to defend your name, why is that?"

The traffic light glowed green. Sasuke shifted into first gear & set the car in motion. Tenten took his silence as a refusal to answer. Before she could open her mouth to apologize, he spoke in a quiet tone. "I'm not compelled to defend my family name."

That was a first. She won this round. "So then why?"

"I may be an Uchiha, but, I'm my own person."

Okay, she didn't get that one tidbit. An Uchiha but not an Uchiha? The guy must be nuts. "I don't get what you're trying to say. You're a rich kid. You have everything since birth. What's the deal of being your own person? Identity crisis?"

Silence.

Tenten knew she crossed the line with her sudden probes. The rest of the drive went into complete silence, even when they reached Naruto's house & Sasuke parked the car.

As he turned off the engine, Tenten blurted out, "I'm sorry! For asking those kinds of things! I've always known you're a private person & you want to remain in your own world, so please say something!"

She heard him chuckle.

"I never thought that you'd be this loud," he commented. He wasn't annoyed at her outbursts. Rather, he was amused. Amused!

"Wha…? I…"

"Anyway," he cut her off. "All you said earlier were true. As an Uchiha, I'm entitled to have everything. But, I never had what I wanted the most."

"Such as?"

"Freedom."

She blinked. Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. "People think I'm perfect because I came from an elite family. Naturally, they'll think of that because I'm supposed to act like one. But the kind of family I grew up in wasn't a normal environment. Strict rules & rigid mannerisms were implemented. Failure wasn't an option either. If not, punishment will follow."

"What do you mean by punishment?"

Without a word, Sasuke rolled the sleeve up of his right arm up & showed her the inside of his forearm. Faint pink marks marred the pale skin. "Whenever I made a mistake, I get hit on this same spot by Otousan a couple of times. If I caught him in a bad mood, he'd use his cigarette."

"That's inhumane!" Tenten gasped. That was already child abuse in her opinion.

He shrugged. "Well, I started on this kind of living since I was a kid so I got used to it. I already resigned myself to that kind of fate but…"

"But?"

He folded his arms & leaned on the steering wheel. "Everything changed when my brother left. I remembered him saying that he was suffocating from our family burdens. He never wanted to be Otousan's heir from the start." His onyx orbs smoldered with curbed irritation. "It was then they decided to set their eyes on me."

Tenten nodded. She didn't expect him to tell his life story. She found this older brother leaving & the younger taking responsibility story so clichéd. But the abuse part…that was no joke. "Lemme guess, you took the fall?" Before he could answer, she continued. "And eventually you had the same feeling like your brother so you bailed out."

The corners of his mouth twitched up. "Yeah, it would seem that way."

She nodded again. Man, she was starting to like his smirks. But, back to the subject… "If you didn't like being an Uchiha, why defend it? It's not like the name will do you any good."

"As much as I hate being tied to that name, I don't want anyone tarnishing its reputation. I did it out of respect."

"Oh." That made perfect sense. Back then, she & Naruto would often talk of bad things behind Sasuke's back but, it never occurred to them that he held his family in high regard. She bit her lip, she was completely wrong about him.

There was no way this ice cube would just let loose & spill his family history to someone like her. Most of the time he was reserved, & he usually left the talking to Naruto. It felt weird that she sat this close to him & listened to the answers she was dying to hear for a long time.

"Did Foxface ask you any of these questions?"

"No. You're the first one."

Now she felt warm all over.

He leaned towards her. Her cheeks flushed red from their close proximity. "Now that you know everything about me, do you still think I'm perfect?"

"I…" She was speechless. "I think you are perfectly…normal."

Needless to say, the first time she saw that genuine smile of his literally blew her away.

It was then she vowed that she'd be the only one who'll make him smile like that.

It was then she realized her growing attraction for him.

Because of that their friendship deepened. But not as close as to what she wanted. At first she was already content to be his confidante, however, she wanted more. She longed to go past that barrier of friendship.

But with the pink-haired hussy in the picture, it will be much of a challenge.

A/N: Hey ya people! There you have it! First off, I want to apologize to my dear readers for my veryyyyy late comeback! It was hard to come up with the story's continuation due to my very busy schedule (work) & my beta-reader's absence (work, also)! Until now, I still couldn't believe that Naruto had come to its end, unless you watch the anime online but, oh well, now that they're continuing the story about the new generation, my hands found its way to my laptop & here we are!

Anyways, I made Tenten the star of this chapter because I know you guys are all curious on why she's so protective of Sasuke. Sure, she feels jealous but she feels constrained by the F-word (Friends, ok? Not the other F-word). Hence, the title Inteammate. Next chapter will focus on Sasuke's side. Now, do me a favor & leave me a review or no cookies! See you guys on the next chapter!