Flashback to nearly two years ago:

"Come on Uchiha. Don't say that just because he's in your classes. It's way too troublesome."

"Yeah. But he's so damn annoying," I grumbled, aware that it sounded like I was whining.

And I was.

I just didn't care.

It was just so irritating. In almost every class I'd gone to, I'd come in to find that blonde moron making an idiot out of himself. Besides..I'd been hearing rumors all day. Odd things. Like overhearing people whisper that he was a bastard monster.

Gee. I didn't like how freaken' bright and sunshiney he was either, but I wouldn't go so far as to call the guy a demon, like some people did.

Apparently, there was an old folktale, that said when he was born, there was the biggest fire in the country's history, and he was the cause. Midwives and old people made up some bullshit-I think-and said he was housing an ancient spirit. A fox demon called a...Kyuubi, or something.

People can learn a lot by listening, I've discovered over the years.

Quite a bit.

"But hey, at least it was easy enough. Your first day."

Shika was walking beside me, his monotone cooling down my irate temper a little. We'd known each other for a few years now, since seventh grade. Since neither one of us really had any real motivation to work, we'd easily become skipping buddies, usually hanging out on the roof or somewhere quiet.

But back to the issue at hand. Blonde hair. Ridiculously blue eyes. Goofy smile. Idiot.

I turned the corner, exiting the building, and heard the sigh as my friend gave up reasoning with me, leaving. I turned on my music, heading for town, and feeling the rock pour through me and cool my irritation. I sighed, hopping over the curb and walking across the street. Cars honked and a few people yelled. I didn't really care, though.

Deciding to head for the back of town, to maybe find somewhere to relax, I kept walking, listening to my music. After awhile, I spotted an old brick warehouse, and leaned against it, sliding to sit down and rest. I unplugged an earphone to try and sleep.

I stayed like that, running a pale hand through my raven spikes and groaning.

"Stay still, Uzumaki! Dammit! Stay still already!"

I frowned, listening. Uzumaki?

Wasn't that that blonde idiot's name?

"P-Please guys! Please stop! I'm beggin yo-" a shriek cut off a pathetic plea, and my brow furrowed more, as I reluctantly stood up again. I walked towards the noise, muting the music and taking out the other earphone, tying them around my neck.

"DAMN. Stsy still. I can't hit you right when you flinch like that!"

"Yeah! Just fuckin' stay still. Hah! Guys, just look at 'em cry!"

"What a damn brat, for a monster!"

"Please! Stop! I'll do anything if you'll just-" a whimper was again cut off as a yell of pain echoed around us. I growled, nearing the shallow alleyway the voices were coming from.

Getting closer, I wondered if it could really be him. Surely not. What would he be doing here?

Sliding against wall, I turned my head to look into the narrow alley, and stiffened at what I saw.

There he was. It was really that damn idiot.

"Fuck," I cursed, stepping in.

The littler blonde teen was cowering in the corner, shaking, and every visible inch of his skin was bruised. He had fading cuts everywhere, that looked like they'd been made a while back.

"You should be used to like by now, anyways, you bastard! After all this time!" One of the four or five guys surrounding him chuckled, kicking him again. The shriek that resulted made me angrier, for some reason.

"Yeah! We do this often enough! What a great punching bag a little bitch-ass monster like you makes!"

"Please...somebody," Uzumaki murmured, tears streaming. I felt a growl rumble through me. His normal insanely bright eyes were hazed over and he looked like he was about to give up.

Stepping into the dark space, I let the anger out, "Let go of him!" I yelled, as one of the guys grabbed him by his hair and lifted him up, the golden haired boy biting his lip to halt a scream of agony.

They turned, the one guy still holding him, and sneered at me, "Yeah? And who says? You gonna make me, pretty boy?"

Pretty boy. Pretty boy.

I let my bangs fall over my eyes.

"Thought so. You're just a little cocksucking coward, aren't you? Can't help nobody!"

"Right! Just a little dickhead brat!"

"Coward!"

"Look, just get lost kid, before we change our minds!"

I looked up, furious, and froze when I saw the look on the blonde's face. He was ashamed, and watching me like I was a hope about to vanish. Like he wished I would help, but though I wouldn't. If anything, he looked afraid I'd ask to join them.

I clenched my fists and jaw, walking past the guys, ignoring thier taunts and threats, up to the guy holding him.

"Didn't you hear me?" I muttered, my mask in place. Inside, I was raging.

"Eh?" the guy questioned, raising his brow arrogantly at me. Like I was a worm to him.

"I said," I repeated, just for his special little brain, "Put him DOWN."

The blonde gasped.

"Hey, just who do you think you-" I slammed my elbow into his face, effectively silencing him. He grunted, and stumbled back, releasing the boy. The other guys rushed me. My body took over, used to fighting dirty. I grabbed one guy, ducking under his arm and throwing him into the other. I leaped up, kicking off the wall to crash my other foot into the fourth guy's left shoulder, hearing a crack and then a shriek as I broke a bone.

A few moments later, a couple more broken bones, and I wiped the blood off a spilt lip, looking around for the blonde.

He was still sitting in the corner, watching me, eyes huge, tears still adorning the edges. I sighed, shook out a sore hand, and walked over. He flinched, and withdrew. My eyes widened.

Giving patience, I went slowly, getting closer easily. He gazed up at me, scared. His arms were clutching what was probably cracked ribs, and I didn't want him to move and hurt himself more.

"Y-you're okay?" he whispered, blinking as I stopped, finally standing over him.

My eyes widened further.

'How can he worry about me? With him like this? Who...who is he?'

Nodding, I held out my hand. He bit his lip, and met my eyes, fearful and cautious. I smirked, and muttered, "Hurry up..dobe."

The fear vanished, to be replaced by a certain kind of fire. Defiance. I liked it.

He smiled crookedly back, scowling as he grabbed my hand, hiding the pain it must've cost him to stretch his middle like that.

I pulled him up, and he was shorter than me. I kept smirking, and he watched me, face set with determination. It brows were furrowed, and the tears were gone. It was the look of someone who had nothing to lose.

The look I had inside. He stood up, but didn't let go, grinning at me.

"It's Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki. Teme." I felt like chuckling.

I smirked wider. For such a moron...he was alright.

"Sasuke Uchiha. Dobe."

We semed to come to an agreement.