Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Competition ❯ Broken Promises ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters. But someday I will!! Someday!! Mwa ha ha ha ha!!!

 

Chapter 5: Broken Promises!

 

Summary: Ino, Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto wind up at his house and what's more they agree to a sort of sleepover! But, will this night of delight turn into a night of misery? Read and find out. >_^

~~~~~~~~~

 

After Sasuke finished silence fell. It was immediately broken by Naruto's shrill laughter. “Boy, that's a shame! Getting your ass handed to you by a puppet!” He laughed clutching his sides. “Ow! Ow! My sides! My sides are on fire! I got a stitch!” He added trying his hardest not to laugh.

 

Sasuke went slightly pink around the ears. Sakura noticed this and came to his aid by thunking Naruto over the head. She couldn't really think of nothing to say to that seeing as how Naruto squared off against the beast Gaara and actually, sort of won…well, not really. But then again, yeah he did. We'll just call it a tie.

 

Neji smirked and turned his attention to Naruto. “Hey. I got something I want to ask you. About that eruption of chakra, if anyone knows where that came from it's gotta be you,” he said. He raised an eyebrow at how Ino was blushing while eyeing Naruto seductively but shook his head and didn't give it a second thought.

 

Naruto laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head. `Oh boy! What do I do? I can't tell them I harbor the power of the nine-tailed fox demon or else…or else…let's not even go there.' As he thought, he happened to notice that the other students had already packed up and were heading home. He needed a diversion to take things off his case onto something else.

 

Neji noticed what Naruto had and knew he was going to use these to stall for time. Which meant…he knew where he got that chakra! “So, you do know where that chakra came from don't you?”

 

“Yeah, it's my reserve chakra,” Naruto responded quickly. “It comes out in the heat of battle to give me an edge. Yeah, that's it.” What Naruto said was halfway true. It wasn't his chakra but then again it was his and some reserve in case he ran out. His attention wondered over to Sakura and Lee. He always did have a short attention span. `Is it my imagination or is that Lee dude gettin' close to my girl? Nah, no way.'

 

“Reserve chakra? That is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. I seriously hope you don't expect me to believe that?” Neji wondered eyeing Naruto suspiciously.

 

“I ain't askin' ya to believe anything but…that's the way it happened,” Naruto said swaying from side to side. His vision was getting blurry. The pain was clouding his thoughts. Everything was starting to slide away into darkness. His eyes closed and he fell over backwards. Everyone surrounded him looking panic-stricken. None looked as scared as Ino.

 

“Is he…?” She didn't want to say what was running through her mind. She knew it couldn't be true. He had survived one death-blow so surely…?

 

“Well, the brats still alive…unfortunately,” Shikamaru announced after feeling Naruto's pulse. “He just passed out, probably from the pain and exhaustion.”

 

Ino put a hand to her chest as a smile spread across her face. `Thank God. You idiot! You almost gave me a heart attack!' She thought angrily which clashed with the happiness she was feeling.

 

`Damn it! That little brat probably made himself faint so I couldn't interrogate him anymore!' Neji thought irritably. `Son of a bitch! A smart plan but still stupid.'

 

Kiba stood up and stretched. “Well, I dunno about you guys but I'm a going home. It's late and I'm still hungry seeing as how some purple wearing girl ruined my lun-gack!” Ino nailed him right between the eyes with a rock. He stumbled around in pain until he slipped on something rubbery that felt like a bundle of noodles from his wasted lunch. Next thing he knew his face was stuck between something soft and bouncy. He slowly opened his eyes and gulped as it suddenly dawned on him what he was between. `Oh shit!' He looked up into the murderous face of Sakura. He jumped up and scooted backwards holding up his hands but that didn't stop Sakura from advancing on him. “Wait! Wait! I-I didn't mean-do you honestly think I-that I would do something like—” A scream burst through his lips.

 

To Shino it all happened so quick he barely had time to see it. Everyone was standing with Naruto slung over the shoulder of Neji. They were walking away. Kiba was on the ground twitching and sizzling. Shino poked him with a stick. “Yo…you alive or do I need to perform CPR?”

 

“G-girls…I wish they came with an instruction manual,” Kiba groaned.

 

“Yeah, yeah…just pick up your teeth and let's go,” Shino said standing up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

They made it back into the village without any interruptions. Sakura was still blushing from earlier and Ino was constantly throwing Naruto affectionate glances. Neji noticed this and wondered vaguely if she liked him. He once again tossed the idea in the trash remembering she was co-director of the Sasuke fan club.

After stopping at homes it was soon down to only Sakura, Naruto (still unconscious), Sasuke, Ino and Neji who was starting to grow annoyed. “Look, I got to go home too so…” He laid Naruto down. When he stood up his back snapped. “Ah, much better. Anyway, this package here is yours to deal with,” He said pointing at Naruto. “See ya.” With that he turned on the spot and started walking away. He soon stopped to say, “Hope you guys pass your finals tomorrow. Maybe then, Uchiha, you'll be able to repay a certain debt to someone.” He disappeared between two buildings without another word.

 

“A certain debt? What's he talking about?” Sakura wondered staring at Sasuke.

 

“Nothing…” Sasuke closed his eyes and grinned. `Neji, once I become stronger I will do that. I'll get that puppet fag and…Itachi.' He clenched his fist as his brother's gleaming red eyes forced their way into his thoughts. It was him and Itachi standing back to back. Then his brother's misty voice entered his head clouding it. `Baby Brother, you're pathetic. You can't hope to even try to kill me at this weakened stage you're at, so settle for hating me until you get stronger. Curse me…and live like the frightened weakling you are. Cling to life…and know that, one day, we will fight and you will die!' Sasuke turned around only to have his brother disappear before him. `I'm not a coward! And you're right! One day we will fight…and I'll avenge my clan and kill you!'

 

The girls gasped as Sasuke opened his eyes, grinned, then fell over. “Sasuke!!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Will they ever wake up?” Ino wondered shuffling in her seat. She was bored, restless, hungry, and most importantly cranky from lack of food. A very bad combination. “It's nighttime! Nine at night to be exact! Jesus, I gotta get home.”

 

“Calm down. It's not like we've got anything better to do,” Sakura said watching the sight of Naruto and Sasuke bundled up together in the same bed. “They are so cute like that!”

 

“Shoot, you may not have anything better to do but as for me on my immediate list is to eat and take a hot shower. I'm all sweaty!”

 

“Yeah, you do kinda stink.”

 

“Hey, you're no bed of roses either.” She gazed at Naruto and Sasuke sleeping with the occasional twitch of pain. “You know, once they wake up they're gonna freak right?” Ino asked looking over at Sakura.

 

“Of course I do. There's the beauty in it,” she replied smiling devilishly.

 

They were all inside Naruto's home. Ino and Sakura had put the two beat-down boys in Naruto's bed together. They twisted and turned becoming entangled and putting themselves in very suggestive positions that made Ino and Sakura blush.

 

“Boy, this place is a hellhole. No, scratch that. A hellhole is an understatement,” Sakura stated harshly while looking around. A tingling sensation ran up her arm followed by what felt like eight legs. She turned to look slowly and screamed making Ino fall off her chair.

 

“What? What is it?” She asked getting up looking around with a kunai in her hand. “Is it Gaara and them?!”

 

“No, worse a roach! Get it off me! Get if off me! Get it off me!” Sakura screeched scratching at her arm in a vain attempt to claw it off.

 

A fine sheen of sweat appeared on Ino's head as she shook her head in sympathy. “You are such a baby, I swear!” She said throwing the kunai. It hit the roach sticking it to the wall. It continued to squirm and move until it finally croaked.

 

Sakura was still shivering as she rushed into Naruto's rusty bathroom to wash her arm. Ino just shook her head. Sakura soon returned breathing steadily but still quivering. “Yes, this place is one spectacular dungeon. It's like someone took a hell's kitchen and beat it with an ugly stick twenty or thirty times. We really should've went to Sasuke's house.”

 

Ino stifled her laughter. “No doubt but, we don't know where he lives. But I'm surprised you went into the bathroom. I expected more roaches to be in there.”

 

“Actually, it smells pretty good in there,” Sakura said blushing at what her words. “His bathroom isn't like the rest of this place. It's actually clean.”

 

“Yeah, I've noticed that about him too, about his nice smell.” Sakura looked over at Ino grinning. Ino raised an eyebrow. “What? Quit staring at me like that. It's creepy,” she said blushing. She knew what Sakura was going to say so she braced herself for the worst.

 

“I just can't believe it, Ino! I never thought that you would fall for Naruto!” Sakura screeched clapping her hands while Ino continued to cringe.

 

Ino slapped a hand over her mouth with her face a deep brick red. She was seriously regretting having told Sakura that little bit of information. “Sssh! Not so got damn loud big mouth! These walls are paper thin…and it doesn't help that the windows are all busted!”

 

“Yeah, yeah. If you want me to keep quiet you'll have to pay me,” Sakura said with her face changing to that of a cat. “Meeowwrr.”

 

“You're a freak,” Ino said blushing harder.

 

“Are you afraid of letting others know in case they call you an idiot or something?” Sakura wondered taking a serious perspective.

 

“Of course not!” Ino said. She knew she was lying and she could tell Sakura had an inkling of the truth but thankfully did not push the issue.

 

“Okay, but really though, what could you possibly see in Naruto?”

 

“Hn, if that's the approach you're gonna take let's explain together then,” Ino said smirking. “Cause I honestly want to know what you see in that raven haired boy.”

 

“Last time I checked, Ino, you liked him too,” Sakura retorted.

 

“Just shut-up and get on with it.”

 

Sakura turned to face her. “Fine Ino-pig.”

 

“Forehead girl.”

 

Before they could begin with their pathetic way of wasting time Naruto sat up with his eyes slightly open like cat slits. He gazed at the still/petrified girls and smirked. “How many cups of sugar does it take to get to the moon?” Sakura looked at Ino who was staring at her. “It's alright if ya don't know…hell, I don't even know. Max said three but that's bull, unless you count each particular grain of-whoops!” As he talked he began to climb out of bed. He slipped over Sasuke and they both toppled to the ground in a jumbled heap.

 

Naruto was once again snoozing as he lay over Sasuke with his foot in his throat. Sasuke's hand was tightly grasping the bottom of Naruto's pants.

 

“They're…both idiots,” Sakura said grabbing Sasuke's arm. “Jeez…he's flipping heavy.”

 

“You realize we can't win right? I mean, Naruto likes you but I like him and you like Sasuke but he doesn't even know you exist. Kinda like a love triangle of sorts,” Ino said picking up Naruto with relative ease. She had him under the arms. “Damn, how much does he weigh? He's light! Like a toothpick!”

 

“I wouldn't doubt that. He doesn't have any food in his fridge or cabinets,” Sakura said sitting on the bed with Sasuke's head on her shoulders. She pushed the hair out of handsome face and gazed lovingly into his eyelids.

“Ya know, I've never really stopped to think about how hard his life must be without parents,” Ino said sadly while a smile appeared on Naruto's face. “Hm? What's he smiling about?”

 

Sakura shrugged.

 

“Sakura…let me take you to the movies…” Naruto mumbled. Ino became still as Naruto stood up on his own and shambled over to Sakura kneeling down before her. His eyes were closed. Sakura looked from him to Ino who shrugged.

 

Deep within Ino she was fuming. `Damn it! Sakura! Sakura! Sakura! He's always about Sakura! God! Does he even notice me??' Ino thought gritting her teeth. Naruto feeling her head for a fever then looking into her eyes immediately ran through her mind. She cooled down a little but was still pissed.

 

“Don't…worry about money Sakura dear. I…I have plenty,” he said standing up wobbly.

 

“What the hell…? Is he dreaming about taking me to the movies?” Sakura wondered looking puzzled. Ino looked at Sakura as though she were slow.

 

Naruto waltzed over to the top of his termite-eaten bookshelf and lifted a vase with a wilted flower in it. There was a bundle of money. “See? I have tons of money! I've…been saving it for our date!”

 

Both Ino and Sakura gasped.

 

Then Naruto frowned. “What do you mean I should spend this money on buying food and a better home?”

 

Sakura nodded her head frowning. Naruto was so in love with her he put off eating and better living conditions for her fickle ass. *`He's just like you,'* Inner Sakura said crossing her arms. `No. No way in hell are we alike,' Sakura protested defiantly. *`Yeah. You know, denial is an ugly thing.'* `Oh shut-up you pest.'

 

Naruto fell to his knees extending his hands pushing the money towards Sakura. “Here. If you won't go out with me, then here. Take this and do whatever you will with it. I understand that you don't like me like I do you but…I can't help who I fall in love with. So take this money and if you ever change your mind come find me again. I'll just start saving again…” Naruto gripped his stomach as a heartbreaking growl was heard. “I'll just…I'll just have to go without food for awhile. Iruka buys me ramen on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I'll…I'll be all right.” With that he dumped the money onto her lap. A tear had formed in the corner of his eye. “Just take it…” He fell out on the ground fast asleep as usual.

 

Naruto and Sasuke were once again in bed with the covers up to their chins. Sakura and Ino hadn't uttered a word to each other since what happened. Both were wrapped up in their own thoughts. Ino had scooped up Naruto's money and placed it back under the vase. They made a pact right then and there to never tell him about this.

 

“…I can't believe I'm a total bitch in his dreams,” Sakura said finally while sitting up in her chair.

 

“Ain't it. You're not just a bitch, you're the bitch,” Ino said coldly. She was still hot over the fact that Naruto had dreamed about her. Not head feeling or stare into the eyes could fix this at the moment.

 

“He's been saving his money for who knows how long!” Sakura yelled clutching her dress in her hands. “I've been such a jerk to him!”

 

“Well, can't argue with you there,” Ino said icily. She couldn't really sympathize right now.

 

Sakura looked at Ino as her eyes became glossed over with tears. “Instead of buying himself a new home and more food he's been saving so he could one day ask me out on a date!” Sakura wept.

 

“Hmph, at least he acknowledges you!” Ino yelled turning to stare, no glare at her.

 

“Wh-what?”

 

“When I try to be nice all he has running through his mind is you! And ramen!” Ino shouted.

 

“Hey! How do you think I feel?! I like Sasuke and so far, through our years of knowing each other the only thing I've ever received from him was a goodbye wave! At least Naruto's touched you!” Sakura yelled drying her eyes.

 

Ino stood up. “You're the one stupid enough to go after someone who doesn't even like you, much less know you exist!”

 

“Uh, hello?! That's you all over! We're basically the same if you stop to think about it!” Sakura yelled.

 

Ino opened her mouth to say something when Sasuke started jerking around and mumbling. “Huh?”

 

“I-Ino…” he muttered. He grasped his covers turning over as Naruto did the same saying, “Sakura.”

 

“I love you!” They cried in unison. They grabbed each other by the neck and…kissed!

 

Ino and Sakura just stared in shock as both boys opened their eyes. `Here we go,' they thought dropping bullets of sweat.

 

Naruto and Sasuke looked each other in the eye. They then stared at their lips, which were still connected. A thin trail of drool had seeped from their interlocked lips. Returning their gaze to each other's eyes, they broke apart screaming at the top of their lungs.

 

“Waahh! I got a virus in my mouth!” Naruto screeched grabbing his throat. He broke out into a heavy sweat looking around at the girls. “Quick! Somebody get me an antidote! Get some effin water! Get the peroxide! Call the exterminator! I'm fading fast!” In his panic he fell out the bed landing on his head. “Oww!”

 

Sasuke was still in his original position with his lips quivering. His voice returned in a shaky high-pitched tone. “Na…ru…to! You're…dead!!” Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt right on top of Naruto and they began rolling around trading blows.

 

“How dare you put your putrid lips on mine!” Sasuke said landing a blow to the gut.

 

“Hello! Quit acting like you didn't do the same thing! I'm not into boys so go on somewhere with that guy lovin' crap!” Naruto said sinking his fist into a soft cheek.

 

Ino and Sakura were twisted in their chairs to get a better look at the dust cloud that consisted of Naruto and Sasuke. They rolled this way and that knocking stuff to the floor. “Think we should stop them?” Ino wondered. She looked at Sakura and saw that she was once again crying. “Hey! Ease up on the water flow, girl!”

 

“I-I can't help it! I'm looking at him now and all I see is someone who puts on a brave smile every day to hide the fact that they're living poorly because of me!” Sakura sobbed turning around to look at anything but Naruto.

 

Ino turned to face Sakura who was rubbing her eyes only to have the tears flow over her hands. “If anything I should be the one crying! Acting like I'm a ghost and what not.” After that Ino's mind went back to what Sasuke said before he kissed Naruto. “Hey, Sakura? Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Sasuke say my name followed by an I love you?”

 

Sakura's head shot up with a crack. “Ouch…whiplash! Anyway, yeah. I heard that too but there's no way…it can't possibly be…I mean he shows no interest in you whatsoever,” Sakura said as an obscenity from Sasuke was heard.

 

“I'm gonna overlook the tone in which you said that,” Ino said eyeing her. “It's possible but why hide it if he does truly…you know.”

 

“Yeah, I get it. Quite the conundrum,” Sakura said heavily. Her expression became hard as she turned to Ino. “If you take my Sasuke away from me I'll kick your ass, make no mistake.”

 

“First of all, he was never yours to take from anyway and secondly I got the hots for the blonde blue eyed boy, remember?”

 

Sakura nodded as Sasuke kicked Naruto straight into the back of Ino's chair knocking them both over. “Oh Ino! I'm sorry!” He said coming over to her. He gasped as he saw them. Ino was on top of Naruto, who now had a double knot on his head, with her noggin rested upon his chest and Naruto was busily looking over at Sakura holding out his hands in protest.

 

“Please! This isn't what it looks like!” He pleaded holding back his tears of pain. His head was throbbing from the pain.

 

Sakura took one look at him, felt tears well up in her eyes, and then ran into the bathroom slamming the door so hard she almost knocked it off its hinges.

 

“Damn it!” Naruto exclaimed as Ino sat up on his stomach rubbing her head. `Hey, she's light! Guess that chest doesn't weigh her down after all, who knew?' As that rolled through his mind he quickly thought of an old hag woman to stop his privates from rising. He didn't want Ino thinking he was a pervert. He was and all but, he didn't want her figuring that out.

 

Ino got up shakily still massaging her head. “Ouch…that hurt.” She made her way to the bed sitting down to watch as Naruto and Sasuke glared at each other. As she gazed at Naruto she wondered vaguely, what his reaction would be if she told him her true feelings for him.

 

Scenario: “Naruto! I love you with all of my heart!” “And I, you Ino. Sakura is not the one I want. It's you! This passion that burns inside of me was craving something. I was stupid to think it was Sakura whom I wanted!” He put a hand under her chin lifting her head so that they were eye to eye. “Oh Naruto….” She closed her eyes as she felt his soft warm lips upon hers as they embraced in a tight lip-lock.

 

`Yeah right, like that would happen. Since when did I have such active fantasies?' she thought sighing.

Sasuke broke away from the eye contest he was having with Naruto to look at his surroundings. “Whoa…this place is like a war zone,” he said looking around not knowing this was Naruto's home and that he had just said the wrong thing at the wrong time. “Jesus…”

 

In the bathroom Sakura cried harder hearing that. Naruto stood up with a scowl on his face. “Hey! This `war zone' is my house!”

 

“Sasuke went wide-eyed as he turned to look at Naruto. “Really? This dung hole of a place? This is your home?” He asked wondering how many feet he had in his mouth.

 

“Yeah! And if you don't like it then get the hell out,” Naruto said opening the front door. Sasuke looked past him to the night-ridden sky. Naruto raised an eyebrow and looked out too. He uttered a low groan. “Shit! Its night already!” He shut the door and walked over to his bed sitting down. “I take it you and Sakura looked after us when we…?”

 

“Yeah, we did,” Ino said trying to hide the blush seeping its way onto her cheeks.

 

“Thanks,” Naruto said hugging her. Little did he know she was also starting to cry. “Ino? Hey what's wrong?”

 

Without answering she too walked into the bathroom with Sakura closing the door softly. Now the crying was twice as loud.

 

Naruto gazed at the bathroom door with the look of being hit over the head. “Okay…what just happened?”

 

“I don't know. Probably your fault though,” Sasuke said picking up Ino's chair and sitting down. He grinned slightly. The seat was still warm.

 

“What's up with that ugly look?” Naruto said as sobs slipped from under the bathroom door. “God, why do they have to be inside of my home crying?” `I do enough of that by myself,' he thought with a sigh.

 

“Who knows…they're girls. Maybe they're in PMS,” Sasuke said shrugging.

 

“Nah, couldn't be. Not Sakura anyhow. I know when hers kicks in,” Naruto said shaking his head.

 

Sasuke's head whipped up in Naruto's direction. “WHAT?!?!”

 

“Kidding. I'm kidding man. Take a damn chill pill,” Naruto replied waving his hand.

 

Sasuke's heart settled down as he thought about that. “And anyway, how would you know? It doesn't start every month at the same time.”

 

“I'd owe that to the many years of stalking her,” Naruto said seriously making Sasuke cringe at the thought of watching someone have their period. “Hey, two girls in the same bathroom. Wonder if they're doing something freaky?”

 

“They're not gay,” Sasuke said quickly. “Considering both of them are head of my illegal fan club. I swear, if I could, I'd have the FBI shut them down or something and get them thrown in jail,” he added chuckling to himself.

 

“Hn, you never know. If I heard moaning noises…”

 

“Why in the hell would you? They're crying for Christ sake!” Sasuke yelled staring at Naruto crazily while thrusting his hand towards the door. “Are you that much of a pervert?”

 

“If you have to ask then the answer is apparent,” Naruto said with a sly grin.

 

Deciding it best to drop the subject, lest he stumble into something he really rather not know, Sasuke returned his gaze to his feet. “Hn. I'm hungry.”

 

Naruto rolled his eyes. “Then go to the store and buy something `cause I ain't got no food to give. Shit, I don't even got food for me.”

 

“Yeah. Why is that? Why do you live in such a crappy place?” Sasuke asked. “I mean, I don't have any parents either but at least I have a better home. Why not you? Cause I mean, this is place is…damn.”

 

Strangely, Naruto didn't take that as an insult with him being the simpleminded idiot he was. Rather a question from an orphan to another orphan considering he remembered that Sasuke was just like him. “Well, I…uh, you see…” His eyes fell upon the vase on his bookshelf. `If I tell him he'll laugh at me. I know he will.' “It's none of your business,” Naruto said annoyingly.

 

“Well, excuse the hell out of me for actually caring about your ungrateful ass,” Sasuke said looking around with a sort of hurt look on his face. His first chance at trying to be friendly and Naruto blew it back in his face.

 

“You're excused,” Naruto scoffed.

 

“Idiot.”

 

“Bastard.”

 

“Hobo.”

“Dick.”

 

“Faggot.”

 

“Tch. You're one to talk. How can you expect to be taken seriously with `uke' in your name?” Naruto wondered grinning.

 

Sasuke's eyes flared. “Sh-shut-up,” Sasuke stuttered with his face becoming a dark red.

 

Naruto opened his mouth but before he could criticize Sasuke, any further, about his name, the bathroom door creaked open and the girls walked out sitting down on Naruto's extremely lumpy and green couch.

 

There was an awkward silence for a long time during which everyone just looked around avoiding each other's gaze.

 

“So…what's the deal here? Are you guys gonna leave or stay?” Naruto wondered hopefully breaking the tedious silence. He prayed it would be the latter. A little company in this old place would greatly make him happy. Of course, his hopes were not high. If he were on the receiving end of choosing to stay here, even for one night, honestly, he'd have to say no.

 

“What time is it Ino?” Sakura asked dabbing at her eye with the tissue clutched tightly in her hand. For what it was worth she shouldn't have done anything. In an instant her tissue was soaking wet.

 

“It's…it's almost 10:30,” Ino answered sniffling a little. Her eyes were puffy and red.

 

Sakura smiled. What she was about to say she knew was a bad idea but she owed him big time and knew it would make him happy. “Well, let's see here. I haven't got anything waiting for at home except a warm meal, a good steamy shower (Naruto's hot water was overdue so it was shut off. Her fault too), and a comfy, fluffy bed.” What little smile Naruto had on his face vanished immediately as he put on a very weak, unconvincing grin.

 

“Oh, okay then.” He clapped his hands together rubbing them. “I completely understand. If-if ya gotta go, ya gotta, right? Of course I'm right. Well, wouldn't want to hold you so let me just get the d—”

 

“But what the hell. I suppose one night in this crapshack won't kill me,” Sakura said smiling and winking at Naruto.

 

“Yeah, might as well. After all, I don't have anyone waiting at home for me…besides the haunting darkness that consumes me every night. I'm sure if those thugs from sand came a knocking again your ass is grass so I'll stay…as a guard of sorts,” Sasuke said shrugging. “This is not a sleepover runt. Just so we're clear on the aspect of things.”

 

“Like you'd stand a chance in your ragged condition,” Naruto muttered narrowing his eyes at Sasuke. Sasuke pretended he had not heard that comment.

 

Ino stepped up beside Naruto and planted a kiss on his cheek. “And I'll stay…just because I want to.”

 

The happiness that was flowing through Naruto right now couldn't be described with words. He also felt a little hot around the collar. He bit his bottom lip as he put an arm to his face to wipe away the approaching tears. “You guys…you guys are too much!” He wept smiling.

 

“Uh, dude! Tone it down on the tears! You're gonna flood the whole place at this rate and I'm pretty sure that'll get you evicted,” Sasuke said backing away from the puddle of tears swimming towards him.

 

Sakura waltzed to the door opening it allowing the water spewing from Naruto's eyes to flow freely. “Hey Naruto. We'll be right back, okay? We just gotta go and pick up a few things from our houses. Like a blanket and pillow,” she said motioning to Ino who had joined her at the door.

 

“Hey wait!” Naruto walked up to Sakura and Ino holding out his pinkies. “I've been the victim of many a cruel joke in the past and I wanna make sure this isn't one of them. Pinky promise me you'll be right back,” Naruto demanded looking at them both with seriousness in his eyes.

 

Both girls grasped his finger. “We promise!” They said together.

 

“Good, now I can relax,” he said holding the door open for them with a hearty grin.

 

Ino blew Naruto a kiss then they both disappeared hopping through the trees. The door closed silently behind them.

 

Sasuke stared at Naruto who was trembling from head to toe. “Uh, you okay?”

 

“YEAH! HELL YEAH! SAKURA IS GONNA SPEND THE NIGHT AT MY HOUSE!!” Naruto yelled punching the air in excitement. “I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME! LUCK BE A LADY NAMED SAKURA!”

 

“Yeah, three cheers all around,” Sasuke said in that tone of voice that pissed Naruto off. He took his place on the floor. He flipped over onto his back with his hands behind his head, and gave a melancholy sigh.

 

Naruto stood over him smirking. “Hey why aren't you leavin' to your home to get somethin'?”

 

“Cause I'm good just like this, idiot.”

 

“Whatever, dope,” Naruto said grinning.

 

“Don't call me a dope you third rate ninja,” Sasuke snapped.

 

“Do I need to bring up the `uke' subject again, Mr. Manhandler?” Naruto asked smiling. Sasuke remained silent. “Okay, that's what I thought.”

 

“Hmph! Get from over me. I don't like having a straight forward shot at your crotch,” Sasuke said disgustedly.

 

Naruto grinned. “Then why are you looking, fag?”

 

“You're standing above me!”

 

Naruto jiggled his waist just to annoy Sasuke further. With a grunt, Sasuke socked him straight in the balls making Naruto hop around cradling his testes.

 

“Hey! Watch what you hit, queer! I might need these for tonight with Sakura!” Naruto yelled throwing Sasuke a nasty look while tenderly rubbing his aching sack.

 

“Yeah, right. You're too young for starters and anyway if she'd want to be done by anyone, it'd be me she'd ask. You'd just get punched as usual, you perverted idiot,” Sasuke stated snorting.

 

“I'm not a pervert! And what's this `you'd get her' business, huh? You don't even like her!” Naruto spat stalking over to Sasuke.

 

“I like her enough not to let her get raped by the likes of you! If anything I'd do her just to keep her away from you!” Sasuke hollered knowing this was not the right road to take to becoming friends.

 

What started out as seeing a crotch quickly became a heated argument ending in a complete silence with both boys tired and their voices hoarse from yelling.

 

After moments of reticence Sasuke turned his stunning black eyes to stare into a pair of cerulean ones. “Ya know, I really hate you…” he croaked massaging his throat.

 

“Not my fault you wore out your voice,” Naruto whispered shrugging as he sat down beside Sasuke. He hid the fact that his voice was just as shot.

 

“No, not that, retard. I mean, I really hate you,” Sasuke grunted.

 

Naruto rolled his eyes. “Bypassing the fact that I couldn't care less what the hell you thought of me, that's you're fault. I don't recall ever doing anything to make you upset. Oh! Now I remember! I'm better looking, I'm stronger, and I'm smarter than you!”

 

Sasuke laughed loudly surprising Naruto as he had never seen him laugh. “Ha! Yeah, anyway. I hate you for one reason.”

 

“Just to kill time before Sakura returns”— he checked the watch on his arm -“I'll ask. A-hem. Okay, Sasuke, why do you hate me with such unrelenting anger?” Naruto asked in an unflattering happy tone.

 

“Because…you stole Ino away from me.”

 

Naruto's eyes widened at this piece of shocking info. “What?”

 

~~~~~~~~

 

“I can't believe we said yes!” Ino said in giggly tone. She felt like she had butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. “W-why am I so nervous?”

 

“Well, we're skimming across buildings way above the village so if we fall…splat! But that aside it probably has something to do with sleeping in your lover's house,” Sakura said grinning sheepishly.

 

“Sakura! Don't…don't call us lovers! We're not like that!” Ino protested shaking her head and blushing.

 

“Ah, but you want to aspire to that level sooner or later don't you?”

 

“Well…of course I do!” Ino said turning a deeper shade of red.

 

“Then, if you do and he says yes, you realize he'll want to get to first base later on don't you?” Sakura asked enjoying the predicament Ino was in. She also enjoyed the uneasy position she put Ino in asking these embarrassing questions.

 

“Yeah…I do. But, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. And anyway, why aren't you worried about sleeping with Sasuke?” Ino wondered disturbed by her friends calmness when she was feeling queasy. “Uh…this would be your first time with him, right?”

 

“I wish it weren't but yeah. Because, I know Sasuke. I know he won't try anything slick. Naruto on the other hand is kinda like a wolf. Pretty sure I can handle him,” Sakura said confidently while raising a fist. “My little animal tamer, if you will,” she added indicating her risen hand.

 

“You do realize we're too young for there to be any hanky panky, right?”

 

“Hell yeah. Of course I do. But I may be able to break those boundaries, for instance if Sasuke started feeling a bit frisky. I would not mind at all,” Sakura said blushing at her words of daring. Although she was joking she didn't know that at that moment Sasuke was making a bet with Naruto to get to their girls first and make a women out of them. Fifty dollars were riding on it. Sasuke wondered how he would pay it but Naruto wouldn't say as his eyes glinted to the bookcase with the vase.

 

“You're bad,” Ino said as they neared their splitting point. “Well, I'll see you back at Naruto's!”

 

“Yeah! See ya!”

 

As Ino hit the ground with thoughts of nothing else but Naruto she opened the door only to be bombarded by her mother. “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! It's 11:OO! I was so worried about you, I was inches from calling the police when you showed up!”

 

Ino pushed her way in closing the door behind her. “Mom, quit freaking out. I'm back and in one piece okay? And no I'm not talking about that retarded One Piece show either.”

 

Her mother ignored that last comment. “How can I not freak out? My daughter doesn't show up after school and stays out late! This is grounds for punishment!” Ino's eyes shot open. “But…seeing as how you're back safe and sound I'll let it slide this one time.”

 

Ino bowed graciously. “Thank you mother.”

 

“Good gracious. Teenagers can be such a hassle. Anyway, come one. It's time for dinner,” Her mother said leading her daughter into the kitchen. An aroma emanating from dumplings and sushi complete with dipping sauce slapped Ino right upside the mouth making her mouth swim with drool.

 

`No! Got to remember Naruto!' She thought fighting her aching gut. `This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Priority for tonight: First kiss!'

“Ino? What's the matter dear?”

 

“Nothing mother…I just remembered that I'm staying over at a friend's house with some other friends so we can practice our techniques so our chance of passing can be raised,” Ino said praying her mother would be as gullible as any other parent.

 

“Oh, well that's nice dear. You may g—”. Before the words had fully left her mouth Ino was up the stairs and down the stairs with a bag of snacks and assorted stuff. “My! That was quick! Just one question, before you go, dear.”

 

Ino's hand was turning the doorknob as she turned around and asked a little more impatiently than she meant. “Yeah?”

 

“Whose house are you staying at? Sakura's?”

 

“Not this time, ma. I'm staying at the Uzumaki residence,” Ino said. She raised an eyebrow as her mother dawned a crazy look.

 

“By Uzumaki you don't mean that Naruto boy do you?” Her mother wondered with fear in her voice.

 

Ino chuckled nervously. “Yeah, why? Oh, if you're worried about the whole boy girl thing it's gonna be Naruto, Sakura, me and Sasuke, the class heartthrob. Hey! Mom!”

 

Her mother gripped her by the arm and pulled her upstairs. She opened the door to Ino's room and walked inside pulling Ino in her wake. She sat Ino on her bed, turned around and closed the door. As Ino stared at her mother she saw her expression become hard and the wrinkles on her face grow more pronounce making her look like she had aged in a span of five minutes.

 

“Uh, mom? You're starting to scare me. Are you okay?” Ino wondered. Her mother was acting strange, stranger than normal if possible.

 

“Ino, I forbid you to go around that boy. Stay away from him at all costs,” she said staring wide-eyed at her daughter. She knew she would not understand but she had to say it.

 

At Sakura's home.

 

“What are you talking about? Stay away from him? Why?” Sakura wondered gazing up into her mothers frightful eyes. “He's my friend! Why should I just ignore him all of a sudden?”

 

“Sakura don't argue with me! This is for your own protection!” Mrs. Haruno said sternly. “That boy is dangerous!”

 

“What are you talking about? He's not dangerous! Clumsy, perverted, stupid, and hungry yeah, but not dangerous!” Sakura protested realizing all too late that she was helping her case any.

 

“Sakura, there are things about that boy that you don't know about. Horrible things that I'm not allowed to speak of just know it's for your own good. Your sleepover is cancelled,” her mother said in a voice that signified the end of the discussion.

 

With that both mother's walked out of their daughter's room. The girls stared at the door as though their mother was still standing there. They then put their heads inside their pillows and screamed while thrashing around on their beds. That's when the pinky promise they had with Naruto flashed into their minds. His happy face wanting them dearly to return to his home to provide company. They didn't want to see that smile disappear but…it was out of their hands. Then as if having the same thought at the same time…an idea came to mind.

 

Ino made her way to the window on the side of her bed. `I'm not gonna listen to her! What does she know? Just as thickheaded as usual, parents! Doesn't even know Naruto and she's judging him! I'm going to that sleepover!' She thought furiously. In her haste to get over to the window she elbowed the shelf that held her collection of different dolls bought by her grandma. But grandma was the least of her worries. She vigorously threw the expensive dolls on the floor.

 

`I'll get out through the window,' Sakura thought grinning in spite of herself for her daring. She put her fingers under the latch and tried to lift up. She struggled for a few minutes thinking she'd need to train some more if she couldn't lift a window.

 

Lightning zipped across the sky illuminating the reason why she couldn't get the window open. Both girls let out a scream of anguish that was drowned by the clap of thunder as they saw what impeded their progress. Someone had used kunai and shuriken to fix the window down. The girls could hear their parents muffled laughter from downstairs. All hope evaporated as they flung themselves back on the bed burying their faces once again. Looking back, both girls decided it was pretty stupid to mention Naruto's name knowing everyone knew him for his reputation for trouble and pranks. His most recent crimes were sneaking ramen from the ramen stand known as Ichiruka. Before they knew what was happening, they were fast asleep with disturbing dreams about being trapped in a box with their parents holding the key just out of reach laughing and taunting them.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Back at Naruto's home Naruto was sitting on his bed with his legs crossed. His head was in his palm as he stared off into the night without taking any of it in. His face was emotionless as he remained as still as a Venus flytrap. Sasuke, still on the ground, was on his side pretending to be asleep. He knew Naruto was heartbroken. It had been a full two hours since the girls left and since then he's remained in that position waiting for them to return like a loyal dog.

 

`Naruto…I'm sorry,' Sasuke thought sadly before closing his eyes. He decided the bet was cancelled due to lack of said girls. He soon drifted off into a deep sleep filled with erotic pictures of Ino that made him harden. He grinned slightly.

 

Feeling played and thoroughly angry with himself for believing in the same people who had shunned him like everyone else in the village Naruto removed himself from the window. He released a heavy sigh that surprised himself because he didn't think he had been holding his breath. `I was stupid…. A pinky promise is nothing more than two fingers touching. Nothing more,' he thought angrily. Sasuke's light snores reached his ears canceling out his first plan. He wanted to talk to Sasuke in hopes he would make him feel slightly better. Talking to him was greater than opposed to talking to nobody. Without another word or thought to the subject, and not feeling like talking to the ceiling, he brought the covers over his head and silently cried himself into an uneasy sleep.

 

TBC

 

A/N: Wow! I can't believe I made it to the fifth chapter! Cool!

 

Uke - bottom person in a gay relationship