"Look at him" Sakura sighed, hands on her hips, a few days after school started again. Hinata turned to where she was looking, finding Naruto and Sasuke standing just a little away. There were some kids already circling them, whispering and talking among each other as the two seemed to be in a fight of sorts.

Hinata's stomach churned at the sight.

"Naruto always does the same" Sakura continued, shaking her head. "He picks a fight with Sasuke-kun every time he can. Why is he so hostile towards him? Just because Sasuke-kun is the best in our year…"

Hinata bit her lips, wanting to tell Sakura that wasn't the case, but honestly, with the way Naruto often went after Sasuke and declared him an arrogant bastard that thought himself better than anyone else, even she had to admit there might actually be some jealousy there.

She didn't like thinking about it though, because she didn't like the idea of Naruto being jealous of Sasuke. It was true they were both the best and the worst in their year, respectively, but just for that reason, it didn't mean that Naruto… that Naruto…

"Oh!" Sakura gasped, hands going to her mouth. Hinata quickly looked again, and this time she felt the bottom of her stomach fall to the ground when she saw the two on the floor, hitting each other.

How had it even turned physical?

"That's enough!" Iruka was the one to come, roughly separating both boys with a thunderous expression on his face. "Just what is the meaning of this, Naruto, Sasuke?" he asked when he finally managed to get them to stop.

Naruto huffed, using the back of his hand to wipe at his mouth. "He started it!" he shouted, stomping his foot.

Sasuke scoffed. "How? You were the one that came out of nowhere to bother me."

"You were looking at me with this face… this face you always make, as if you think I'm worthless!" Naruto countered, pointing a finger in his direction. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, before drawing a small, mocking smile.

"I know you are worthless, loser. You can't even make a simple henge. Why do you keep annoying me so much? Do you really think you can compete with me?" he said, face scrunched up in disgust.

"What did you just say?!" Naruto roared, throwing his entire body forward, as if ready to pound Sasuke to a pulp, but Iruka managed to catch him on time.

"That's enough from the both of you! You have detention. And yes" he added when Sasuke frowned, opening his mouth most likely to complain, "that means you as well, Sasuke."

"But Iruka-sensei!"

"I have more important things to do than…"

"Well, you should have thought about that before starting another fight!"

Iruka guided them both on opposite directions, and the crowd dispersed now that the show was over. At her side, Sakura sighed again.

"Really, why are they always like that?"

Hinata glanced away, wondering the same.

After class, she walked outside Naruto's classroom, peeking inside shyly. He was sitting there, bored expression as Iruka spoke to him, arms crossed and tone clipped. To be honest, she wasn't sure why she was there. She couldn't enter and speak to him because he had detention, but at the same time, she wanted to see him, as she didn't have an opportunity to after what happened in the courtyard.

"What are you doing here?" she gasped, her heart almost stopping before she turned to see Sasuke standing behind her. He was frowning, hands in his pockets and backpack hanging from one shoulder.

"S-Sasuke-kun! What… what are you doing here?" she asked. He rolled his eyes.

"You were there today, no?"

Hinata took a moment to understand what he was talking about. She gasped when she did. "You… you saw me?"

"Of course I did. You weren't that far away" he scoffed. Then, he fixed his eyes on her, making her involuntarily tense. "You didn't answer. What are you doing here?"

"I…" she gulped, glancing down and playing with her fingers. "I was just… I was worried and…"

"Over the idiot?" he sounded angry, all of a sudden. Hinata looked up at him, confirming her suspicion. He seemed honestly annoyed, much to her confusion. "He's the one that started the stupid fight. It's just natural he gets detention for it… and he had to drag me into it" he complained. Hinata pouted.

"It's not… that is, Naruto-kun isn't…"

"Are you going to defend him?" he glared at her, daring her to do so. Hinata didn't say anything. Although she wanted to, she knew that Sasuke was right, and that most of the time it was Naruto who looked for a fight. But, at the same time, it wasn't like Sasuke didn't encourage him once it started…

As if guessing what she was thinking, the boy clicked his tongue. "Suit yourself" was all he said before he walked past her, entering the classroom and catching the attention of both teacher and student. Naruto immediately groaned, but was quickly shut by an intimidating glare from Iruka. Hinata watched him take place on the opposite side of the classroom from Naruto, resting his chin over his joined hands. She stayed there for a bit longer, before finally deciding to take her leave.