Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ From Here to Eternity ❯ A Fine Mess of Everything: Part I ( Chapter 50 )

Kat: I won't keep you waiting. Remember, this is just Part One. Part Two will be up soon!

 

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The crowd didn't spill out onto the court until after the Roots team was announced. Almost all of the people who were cheering for Konohaton to win came running out and formed a bunched line down the side of the court, some waving signs, but most merely wearing school colors and screaming at the top of their lungs.

 

The Foxes were in a team huddle, waiting patiently for the announcer to come back on to the intercom. Meanwhile, said announcer, Chouji Akimichi, was irately scuffing through the papers on the clock table, searching for the team lineup.

 

“Hey, what happened to the lineup?” he said to Shikamaru, who was leaning with his elbows on the table, looking like he was ready to fall asleep.

 

“I don't know…” he moaned. Shikamaru had been volunteered by his parents to keep the clock earlier that week. They had told him that they wanted him to get out more. “So troublesome…”

 

“Ah, here it is,” Chouji said, grabbing a piece of paper from under Shikamaru's arm. Then he leaned down to the microphone.

 

“Ladiiiiiiies and gentlemeeeen!” he said, his voice surprisingly lower. “Now for you home team lineup! Starting at center, number nine, at six feet, three inches, a junior… Shisui Uchiha!”

 

The crowd erupted into cheers as the band blasted out the first line to “Smoke on the Water,” the entrance song for players. Shisui broke from the huddle, and threw his hands into the air. The people on the floor screamed louder. Shisui ran down the line, slapping hands, and laughing. Then he quickly shook hands with the three referees, and the Roots' coaches. He jogged to the center of the court, and stood still.

 

“Starting at guard, number seventeen, your home team's co-captain… a senior, at six feet even… Kisame Hoshigaki!”

 

Kisame stepped from the huddle, and did the same thing as Shisui, slapping hands in the crowd, and shaking hands with the refs. He joined Shisui in the center. They quickly ran up, and jumped so that their chests slammed together in a very macho gesture.

 

“Starting at wing… number ten, at five feet, nine inches, a sophomore… Sakon-!“

 

BWEEEEEE!

 

A blast of feedback from the microphone blotted out Sakon's last name, but the crowd cheered just the same. Chouji slapped the back of the microphone in a rage, and rolled his eyes. Naruto, who was down with the crowd on the floor, brought his fingers to his ears for a moment, muffling the stabbing noise. He and the people around him laughed anxiously.

 

“Starting at wing… number eleven, at five feet, nine inches, a sophomore… Ukon-!”

 

BWEEEEEEEE-WOOOONNNNGGG!!

 

Again, the sound of feedback shot through the speakers. The crowd groaned, then cheered again as Ukon sped down the line. He joined the group in the center, where Sakon was turning cartwheels while Shisui and Kisame shook their heads.

 

Chouji sighed, and put a hand in front of the microphone. “Shikamaru, what's the matter with this thing?”

 

“So troublesome…”

 

Chouji frowned, then glanced down at the list.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said again. “Now… a junior, number twenty-three, at five feet, seven inches… your starting point guard and team captain… Itachi Uchiha!”

 

If possible, the crowd cheered louder for Itachi than they had for anyone else. Itachi went down the line quickly, reaching for every hand he could. Then he repeated the earlier four's process of shaking hands with the referees and Roots' coaches.

 

The crowd hurried off of the court, back to their seats in the bleachers, eager for the game to start. Naruto began to walk back to his seat, but realized suddenly that he had to pee.

 

Very, very badly.

 

`Why the hell didn't I notice before?' he thought angrily, turning left, and high-tailing it out of the gym into the commons, and from there, to the nearest restroom.

 

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Itachi and Kisame listened patiently to the same babble of rules and regulations that the refs shot at them before every game as they shook hand with the opposing captains. No metal, no malicious contact, no blah blah blah.

 

Itachi had been listening to the same spiel since he was a freshman. He could repeat the entire speech along with the refs, if he so desired. But his code of conduct stopped him. It would probably be a bad idea to mock the refs at this point.

 

So instead, he allowed his eyes to wander around the gym. He spied his mother and father up near the top row of the bleachers, and he quickly looked down again.

 

“Now, gentlemen,” the larger of the three refs said, “I want a good, clean match. None of the junk you pulled last year.”

 

Kisame snickered, and Itachi rolled his eyes.

 

“Let's play some ball.”

 

Itachi and Kisame nodded to the other captains, and walked back to the circle. Meanwhile, Shisui Uchiha squared around in said circle, and began the stare down with the Roots' center. The boy was tall, with bright red hair that had been buzz-cut. His blue eyes flashed nastily as he looked down at Shisui.

 

“You're awful small for a center, Konohaton,” he said under his breath, so that the nearby referee couldn't hear him.

 

Shisui raised one dark eyebrow. He was the tallest person on the Konohaton team, but five inches shorter than this mammoth. He felt a tiny pinprick of anger surge through him, and his hands involuntarily clenched into fists. He forced himself to relax, then crossed his arms, and smiled.

 

“It's not always height that makes a good jumper, you freak. Remember that,” he said mockingly, feeling better already.

 

“Shisui,” Itachi breathed, taking his place behind the taller Uchiha. “Watch your mouth.”

 

“Thank you, Mother,” Shisui said, rolling his eyes.

 

Itachi sighed heavily, and brought one hand up to his nose. He brought it down again, and glanced it over. No blood. Good. He watched as one of the refs came to the middle of the circle.

 

“Keep this clean, gentlemen,” he said sharply, bringing the silver whistle up to his lips. He held out the orange basketball between Shisui and the Roots' jumper. The eight players around the circle took their athletic stances, and Shisui sank down much lower than anyone would have thought necessary.

 

“Watcha doin' down there, Konohaton?” the redhead asked, grinning. He had braces, and yellow teeth. “You'll never get the ball!”

 

“Yeah, yeah, shut up,” Shisui said, clenching his fists, and swinging them down. He glanced up at the clock, and counted down in his head. Itachi swallowed hard, and rubbed his eyes quickly.

 

5.

 

`I hope I don't fall asleep…' the point guard thought darkly.

 

4.

 

`Oh, this will be so much fun!' Sakon thought, clapping his hands together.

 

3.

 

`I'm bored,' Ukon thought licking his lips, and sighing. `I hope this doesn't take too long.'

 

2.

 

`I'm not gonna lose it again,' Shisui thought. `No matter what, I will not punch anyone tonight. Not again. Not with HIM here.' He glanced up to the audience, to him, then back down at the floor.

 

1.

 

`I hate Wednesdays,' Kisame thought.

 

EEEEEHHHHRRRRR!!!

 

The buzzer went off, and the ball went up into the air. The redhead made a lazy grab for it, but Shisui rocketed off the ground, and effortlessly slid his hand around the redhead's side of the ball. He tipped it back to Itachi before the other center even realized what was happening.

 

“Ha-ha!” Shisui called over the roaring of the crowd. The redhead made a silent note to get Shisui back for that later.

 

Itachi snagged the ball from the air, and bent around it, keeping it out of reach until everyone was down the court.

 

And so it began.

 

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Naruto had only been back from the bathroom for a few minutes. He leaned against the wall, watching the game go on with little gusto. He found himself wishing hard that he had made the team. Then maybe he would be out there…

 

“Hey, Blondie, you okay?” It was Ten-Ten, who was holding five cards in her hand, and looking up at Naruto with what could almost be described as motherly concern.

 

“Eh? Oh… No, no, I'm fine,” Naruto said, smiling, and waving a hand detachedly. “Just a little tired, that's all.”

 

Ten-Ten nodded, and grinned.

 

“All right,” she said, going back to the card game against one of the alto saxophones.

 

Naruto sighed quietly, and returned to watching the game. Neji wasn't in yet… he must be second string, along with Sasuke-bastard. Check that, Sasuke. If Gaara liked Sasuke so much, then he would have to keep the guy's name straight.

 

The first quarter dragged on, with the Roots leading the Foxes by fourteen. Naruto dropped his chin down into his hands, and frowned.

 

Naruto founded his eyes sliding over the crowd, paying more attention to the weird-oes in the audience than the actual game. Some people just went a little too crazy when it came to basketball, he noticed with raised eyebrows.

 

That was when he saw him. He was standing over in the doorway to the gym, leaning against the doorframe, wearing a navy blue and yellow `Roots' sweatshirt underneath a dark jacket. His hair was dark, darker even than Neji and Sasuke's. He looked bored, perhaps even as bored as Naruto. Naruto had almost mistaken him for Sasuke for a moment, because they looked almost alike. But at the same time, they looked very different.

 

“Ten-Ten,” he choked out, grabbing the girl by the arm. “Who's that?”

 

“Who's what?” Ten-Ten said, looking up from the game. Naruto pointed avidly to the teenager in the doorway. “Oooh… Hello, luscious!” She raised her eyebrows. “Not bad, not bad. I'd do him if the penis brought me any joy.”

 

The boy she was playing Go Fish against choked.

 

Naruto laughed.

 

“Should I go talk to him?” he asked, biting his lower lip, and wringing his hands nervously.

 

“Hell yes!” Ten-Ten said enthusiastically. “The poor thing looks bored out of his mind!”

 

“All right, I will!” Naruto said, standing. He walked confidently down the bleachers, and stepped onto the floor. He skirted around the cheerleaders, who were standing and staring at the game with wide eyes. He rounded the corner of the floor, and slowed down.

 

Oh, no. What was he going to say? Hi? Who are you? He swallowed.

 

Ah, hell with it. He'd think of something. He glanced back over to Ten-Ten, who gave him a thumbs-up. Naruto returned it rather half-heartedly; he was already feeling his fingers go numb. Then he turned, and walked casually up to the boy in the Roots sweatshirt.

 

“Hi,” he said, smiling. The boy glanced over to him, his eyebrows raised slightly in confusion. “I'm Naruto. You look bored. Wanna come sit with me and my friends?”

 

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Sai twisted the long key chain rope around his fingers. Then he unwrapped it, and did it again. It was, for him, a very calming process. The rope was faded and red, covered with pictures of cartoon characters. He had gotten it when Brother took him to Disneyland. But that was years ago, before Brother got sick. Before…

 

Someone shoved him roughly from behind, and for a moment he panicked, but the voice was unfamiliar. The push had caused him to stumble forward, the key chain almost sliding from his hand.

 

“Move it,” the teenager behind him snapped. Sai quickly stepped out of the way, up against the wall.

 

“S-Sorry,” he said with a smile, looking down. The teenager brushed past him into the crowded gym without another word. Sai winced, but took it in stride. He was used to it by now.

 

It was his own fault, anyway. He was the one standing in the doorway, wearing his Roots track sweatshirt in a Konohaton school. On the night of their first home game.

 

God, he was an idiot. He rubbed his eyes, and sighed.

 

`Yamato, you'd better hurry up,' he thought darkly, twisting the rope around his fingers again. The keys chinked together angrily, as though they were acrimonious at being manhandled in such a way. It had been Yamato's idea to come to the school on the night of a basketball game in the first place. Some of the teachers would be there, and they wouldn't have to interrupt their classes, he said.

 

Sai wanted to go home.

 

(not that there was much there anyway)

 

He hated basketball games. He hated basketball. He hated sports in general, but basketball was big on his hate list.

 

(Brother played basketball)

 

It was unlike Sai to be feeling so negative. But he had been waiting for Yamato since the beginning of the junior varsity game, and now he just wanted to go home and sleep. Maybe even for good-

 

“Hi,” a voice said suddenly, jolting Sai from his trance. He looked to his left to see a blonde boy who was probably a little younger than he was. The boy was standing with his hands on his elbows, and he was smiling a little too widely. “I'm Naruto,” the boy continued. “You look bored. Wanna come sit with me and my friends?”

 

Sit? With who?

 

Sai was stunned into speechlessness for a moment. The smile came back to his lips as easily and mechanically as it had when he had pressed himself against the wall for the rude teenager. But he was still confused. “… Sure?”

 

The boy's vibrant smile widened. “Great!” he said. “Come on!” He motioned for Sai to follow as he began to walk towards the bandstand. Sai grudgingly followed, wondering briefly what in the hell he had just gotten himself into.

 

“Come on, you slowpoke!” the boy… Naruto… called over his shoulder. He was walking at an aggravated pace, one that Sai found vexatious to keep up with.

 

“Where's the fire?” he said darkly, shoving the keys into his pocket. The cord hung free, blowing behind him as he walked. Suddenly, the blonde turned, and started up the stairs, heading for the top row. Sai trailed after him, avoiding strangers by stepping against the railing. “Where exactly are we going?”

 

“Up here!” Naruto said, pointing. Sai started to follow him once again, but a man stood up in the bleachers, and stepped out to the stairs, causing Sai to once again ram himself into the railing.

 

“Ouch…” he mumbled, his much-abused ribs groaning in protest.

 

“Oh, come on!” Naruto said, before grabbing Sai's hand and dragging him up the stairs. Sai was too surprised by the sudden contact to say anything.

 

`He… he just took my hand…' he thought numbly. `He… He just…'

 

Naruto's hand was warm and callused, and his grip was tight. Sai's own hand burst into tingles of feeling. He hadn't held anyone's hand since-

 

“Here we go!” Naruto said, releasing Sai from his grip, and walking sitting beside the plastic black railing that separated them from the bandstand. On the other side, a girl wearing a band shirt was polishing a trumpet. Sai slowly sat down beside Naruto, his hands folded in his lap.

 

“Ah, hey Naruto,” the girl said, examining the valves of her instrument. “Who's this handsome devil?”

 

“This is… uh…” Naruto glanced over to Sai. “Who are you?”

 

“I'm Sai,” he said plainly, with a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

 

“Oh, you're adorable!” the girl said suddenly. “Oh… it's times like these that I wish I were straight…” She put a hand to her forehead, pretending as though she were about to faint. “Woe. Angst. Where the fuck is my key-lube? I'm Ten-Ten, by the way.” All grace left her female form, and she bent down to dig through a black trumpet-case sitting at her feet.

 

Sai couldn't help but stare at her in amazement. “You're certainly… open.”

 

“Why, thank you, sweetie!” the girl said, withdrawing her hand from her case. She was holding a small round bottle filled with yellow liquid. “My third valve is sticking again. Piece of shit…”

 

“Hey, Blondie! Oh, what's this?” Another girl, this one with long black hair down past her shoulders, seated herself on the bleacher below Sai and Naruto. She leaned against the railing, and brought her feet up to rest on the unoccupied seats beside her.

 

“Hey, Haku! Where'd you go?”

 

“I had preening to do,” the girl said, fluffing her hair. Sai had to admit that she was very pretty.

 

“Oh… `kay. This is Sai. Sai, this is Haku,” Naruto said, gesturing to the girl.

 

“Hi,” Sai said, smiling. “Nice to meet you.”

 

“The pleasure's all mine,” Haku said, offering her hand, palm down. “By the way… I'm a guy.”

 

Sai was speechless for a moment. “…Really?”

 

“Hee-hee,” Naruto giggled, grinning widely. “You thought he was a chick, didn't ya?”

 

“The resemblance is uncanny,” Sai said, shaking Haku's hand, almost in a daze.

 

“No worries. It's a common mistake,” he (he?) said, waving one elegant hand with a small smile. “I notice you're a Roots person? And Naruto didn't kill you on sight? Incredible.”

 

“Err…” Sai glanced down at his sweatshirt. “Well, I go to the school, but I'm not what you'd call a… team player.”

 

“Ah, yes. I don't understand basketball very well myself,” Haku said, glancing down at the ongoing game.

 

“Oh, Haku, you're so gay,” Ten-Ten said brightly, rubbing the third valve of her trumpet with a cloth.

 

“Oh, Ten-Ten,” Haku said, clasping his hands together under his chin, “you're so lesbian!”

 

Ten-Ten laughed, dropping the cloth back into her case. “Yes, we all know that, dear.”

 

“Hey, hey!” Naruto said suddenly. “Itachi just got fouled!”

 

“What the fuck?” Ten-Ten exploded, standing up. “Boo! What the hell was that?” But the indignant screaming of the crowd around her drowned her out.

 

Down on the court, Itachi had just taken an elbow to the chest while going up for a lay-in, and was not happy about. He had dropped to his knees, the air knocked from his lungs, and coughed hard.

 

“Fuck…” he breathed, gasping for air. “Oh… ow…”

 

“'Tachi! You all right?” Kisame demanded, bending down to help his fallen comrade.

 

“Yeah… gimme a sec…” Itachi wheezed. One of the refs came over.

 

“Can you stand, son?” he asked. He had a deep, fatherly kind of voice. His name was Phil, and he had just found out that his wife, Nancy, was pregnant with their first child. He had decided merely hours ago that it was time to start being nicer to the people around him, to prepare himself for the looming threat of paternity. “Do you need any help?”

 

“No, no, I'm just dandy, sir,” Itachi said, climbing to his feet. “Just a little sore.”

 

“All right.” He walked over to the clock desk, and said in a loud voice. “Foul, Roots four on Foxes twenty-three, two shots!”

 

“What was that, ref?” the redheaded center demanded. “I didn't do nothin' to him!”

 

“Don't make me card you, kid,” Phil snapped, pointing menacingly at the boy. He quickly picked up the ball, and walked it over to just beneath the basket, while the players lined up around the key.

 

Back in the stands, Sai rubbed his eyes.

 

“I can see why you're not a team player,” Ten-Ten scoffed, her lips puckering down into a scowl.

 

“Ah,” Haku said, nodding.

 

“What a bastard!” Naruto seethed, clenching his fists. “What a… a… a…!” He couldn't formulate a nasty-enough term for number four, so he merely crossed his arms and growled.

 

Back on the court…

 

“You sure you're a'right?” Kisame asked, eyeballing Itachi with concern.

 

“Yes, yes, I'm quite fine,” Itachi hissed, rubbing his side. “I'm just… so… foulable…”

 

Kisame snickered, gaining odd looks from the players around him. Itachi walked up to the top of the key, and took a deep breath.

 

“Two shots,” Phil said, holding up a V-sign, and tossing Itachi the ball. Itachi spun it in his hands, and bounced it twice. He wiped the sweat from his eyes, and bounced it again.

 

The entire side of the gym that was filled with the Roots' supporters began slamming their feet against the bleachers, causing an echoing rumble to spasm out through the huge room. Itachi was thankful for the noise; it gave him something to block out.

 

He focused on the basket for a moment, two… then shot the ball.

 

The noise ceased abruptly. The ball swished through the hoop without even touching the net.

 

Kankuro turned to the bandstand, and lifted his hands. “ONE! TWO! THREE!”

 

“YES!”

 

Itachi glanced up in surprise to where the band had suddenly unleashed their cheer in one loud voice.

 

“Cha-ching!” Kisame laughed, giving Itachi a high-five. “Nice shot, my man!”

 

“Woo-woo! Hooray for Itachi!” Sakon called, doing a quick dance in place, causing the players around him to become severely nervous.

 

Itachi hid a smirk.

 

“One shot,” Phil said, holding up one finger, and tossing the ball over to Itachi. Itachi took another deep breath, bouncing the ball twice, and spinning it in his hands. He looked up at the hoop.

 

`Fly true…' he thought, melodramatically. Then he shot the ball. It bounced against the back rim, then rolled around the bright red rim once, twice, three times. Typical basketball behavior. It wavered at the edge, while the entire crowd held their breath, then…

 

The ball tipped into the net, and came down into the hands of Shisui Uchiha.

 

“ONE! TWO! THREE!”

 

“YES!”

 

“I LOVE YOU, ITACHI UCHIHA!” Haku screamed at the top of his lungs, cupping his hands around his mouth so to further amplify the already overbearing sound of his voice.

 

Naruto laughed, slapping Haku on the back. Sai found himself smiling once again.

 

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Foxes - 68

 

Roots - 69

 

Naruto was chewing on his shirt as he anxiously watched the action going on below. It was the end of the fourth quarter, the clock down to mere seconds instead of minutes. Haku was literally on the edge of his seat, gripping the plastic of the bleachers so hard that his knuckles were white. Ten-Ten, Tayuya (who Sai had met just earlier) and most of the band were shouting, “FOXY POWER!” Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap. Sai found himself unusually interested in the game, watching carefully as it drew to a close.

 

“Oh, come on, `Tach… what's wrong with you?” Naruto mumbled over the cotton fibers of his shirt. Sai frowned. Itachi Uchiha, number twenty-three. There seemed to be something wrong with him, other than the fact that he was dead-tired from the exertion.

 

Down in the time-out huddle, Ibiki was giving Itachi hell as well.

 

“What's the matter with you, Uchiha?” he demanded, throwing his hands in the air. “Get your head in the game! You're dragging ass!”

 

“I-I'm sorry, sir,” Itachi gasped, his hands on his knees. “I'm very sorry.”

 

“Stop apologizing, and get your ass moving!” Ibiki bellowed, thick veins pulsing in his forehead. “I don't want to have to put your brother in for you!”

 

“Huh?” Sasuke's head snapped up at the mention of “brother.” He had been in only for a few minutes in this game, during second quarter. It had gone surprisingly well, but Ibiki had pulled him out again two minutes before halftime.

 

Shisui, feeling a pang of sympathy for his cousin, placed a hand on his shoulder. Itachi jerked away in surprise.

 

“Warn me before you do that next time,” he snapped.

 

“So-rry,” Shisui said nastily. Then, in a more gentle tone, he said, “You don't look so hot. Are you feeling okay?” His voice dropped several decibels. “Dad was raving about how the doctors said you were… sick… and-”

 

“I'm fine,” Itachi insisted. “Stop worrying about me, and worry about yourself.”

 

Shisui rolled his eyes.

 

“You got it, Captain,” he said, his voice taunting and scornful. Itachi gave him The Look. The he rubbed his eyes, and stared at the floor.

 

God, he was tired. God, he wanted this game to end.

 

Nope. Not even going to think about Kankuro.

 

“All right, maggots, let's win this thing, dammit!” Ibiki said. “Hands in!”

 

“Foxes on three!” Kisame said. “One! Two! Three!”

 

“Foxes!”

 

The five went back out onto the floor. Neji had replaced Ukon, his arms crossed arrogantly. He eyed Itachi, who was still barely able to catch his breath, then glanced over at Shisui, who was speaking with Kisame in a low voice, then over to Sakon, who was staring up at the lights in the ceiling with wide eyes. He was disgusted. Why hadn't Ibiki put him in earlier?

 

Ridiculous.

 

Back in the stands…

 

“Hey! Neji's going in!” Naruto said, his eyes widening. “Yeah! Go Neji!”

 

The Hyuga glanced wearily in Naruto's direction, then averted his eyes. Naruto seemed to fold in on himself, his eyes glazing. Haku crossed his arms.

 

“What a bastard! What a… a… a… Mmmmm!” He clenched his fists, and swung around to meet Naruto's eyes. “That's just stupid, Naruto! You shouldn't take that laying down!”

 

“And what would you like me to do about it?” Naruto asked sullenly, dropping his chin into his hands, and scowling.

 

“Well… I don't know!” Haku said. “Yell at him after the game, or something! Or better yet,” he added, his brown eyes gleaming, “let me yell at him after the game!”

 

“No,” Naruto said, shaking his head. “He's probably just strung out, that's all.”

 

“Who are we talking about?” Sai put in, frowning. Haku sighed, then pointed down to the court.

 

“You see the guy down there who's almost as girly as me? With the really dark brown hair?” he said. “He just came in a few minutes ago.”

 

Sai nodded.

 

“That's Neji Hyuga, Naruto's boyfriend. And I use that term lightly,” Haku said shrewdly, crossing his arms again.

 

“Hyuga… Hyuga…” Sai turned the name over in his head. “Hey, isn't that the-“

 

“The really-really-really rich people? Yup,” Haku said bitterly. “Rich and egotistical to boot.”

 

“Do you mind, Haku?” Naruto acridly said, his scowl deepening.

 

“Sorry, sorry,” Haku said, shrugging. Naruto sighed.

 

“Interesting…” Sai murmured, his frown disappearing.

 

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