Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto... ❯ Naruto... ( Chapter 1 )

“Naruto…”

 

Black eyes glared into blue ones across the clearing. Both boys were panting heavily, each having dodged the other's attack, but just barely. Four years on the same team, and nothing really had changed between the two, other than their sparring matches went on longer than before, each having mastered more techniques during the intervening years. Sasuke frowned, that wasn't true. A lot had changed. The boy across from him had been tempered with the experiences of their missions, the chunnin exams, Sasuke leaving and returning, Sakura's continued refusal of his advances…time itself had tempered the boy, changing him from a loud-mouthed 12 year old who just wanted someone, anyone, to notice him, to a skilled and powerful ninja who still wanted someone to notice him, but that list had narrowed from anyone to certain people in particular. Naruto now wanted his team members, their leader, the current Hokage, and his former teacher to notice him, to smile upon him. It was from those people he sought recognition, not for his presence and pranks, but for his growing skill and strength. But, Sasuke would not give him that recognition, not verbally. He would never concede, never admit that dead last was now a more than worthy opponent.

 

There were things about Naruto that Sasuke just didn't understand. Things about himself, as well, that he didn't understand. He didn't understand why, when he was in danger, Naruto would somehow tap into the power of the kyubi sealed within his body. This particular secret had come out during one of their sparing matches that had managed to destroy both their shirts, leaving the boys' marks visible to the other. He also didn't understand why he was moved to protect the blonde haired boy, even at the potential cost of his own life. The first time he managed to invoke the sharingan was to protect the idiot. And strangely enough, this brought back memories of their final day in school, just before they were assigned to be on the same team. Naruto was squatting on his desk, glaring at him, trying to figure out what it was that drew the girls to Sasuke instead of Naruto. Something had happened, and Naruto fell forward…landing lips first on Sasuke. The shock that raced through the class room was nothing compared to the shock that raced through his body, even as he violently reacted to the kiss. Even now, he could remember the taste of ramen on the boy's mouth. Always ramen…ramen could cheer him up, calm him down, soothe him, no matter what, Naruto found what he needed in ramen. Sasuke could feel something building in his chest at that thought…a strange tightening. He didn't need to think anymore. And he didn't want to fight anymore. But, he didn't want to loose Naruto's presence, not just yet. So, uncharacteristically, he stood straight, shoved his hands in his pockets and glared across the clearing, “Want to get some ramen?”

 

The look of confusion that crossed the blonde boy's face would have caused anyone else to laugh. Had there been anyone else around, that is. Sakura had long since learned that, even if she just watched, the boys could out last her. Kakashi, once he determined they wouldn't kill each other, lost interest in what he once called a “pissing contest.” Sasuke himself wouldn't laugh…ever. It just wouldn't happen. But, he did smirk, one side of his mouth coming up in an expression that combined amusement and contempt seamlessly. Except, the expression in his eyes was lacking in contempt. Amusement reigned there. “Who are you?” Naruto finally asked.

 

“Hn,” Sasuke answered, turning to leave, expecting the other to follow him.

 

He was not disappointed when he heard the heavy foot falls racing up to him. “Who are you and what did you do with Sasuke?” he demanded again.

 

“Idiot, I am Sasuke,” the darker haired boy responded.

 

“You can't be. Sasuke wouldn't invite me to ramen.”

 

“So you don't want to go?”

 

“I didn't say that!”

 

“You don't want to go with me?” The dark hair boy stopped and glared at Naruto, daring him to make an issue out of the company. Well, more of an issue than he already had.

 

Naruto paused, looking at his friend-rival as if for the first time. The spiky black hair that absolutely refused to be tamed or fall limp, even after the boy had fought for his life. Black eyes that seemed haughty and withdrawn, but also seemed…lonely. Lips, neither full nor thin, constantly drawn into a smirk or scowl. Thin neck, camouflaged by the overly large collar of his shirt. Naruto knew the secret on that neck, one so similar to his own. Square set shoulders that always carried the heavy weight of his family's death at his brother's hands…the weight of carrying on the proud and noble line of the Uchiha. He forced his eyes to stop there and returned to look at Sasuke's eyes, seeing something he didn't expect. It almost looked as if the other were asking him to…no, more begging him for his company. Naruto felt something in his chest that caused him to relent from his attitude, “No, that's not it. I'd be happy for your company. I just didn't expect it, that's all.”

 

It was Sasuke's turn to be confused now. The blonde's voice was softer than he'd heard it, almost as if the boy were trying to make up for his attitude, trying to apologize…almost. Sasuke allowed himself to be mollified and turned with a grunt, leading the other boy to Ichiraku, a place that may have owed its very existence to his companion. He almost smiled at this thought…except, he was already acting far enough out of character just inviting the idiot to eat. Why compound the problem?

 

“Ne…Sasuke…” Naruto began hesitantly, taking the other's silence as permission to continue, “um…what kind of ramen do you like?”

 

Black eyes glanced sidelong at the blonde boy, questioning the wisdom of his next statement. Sighing mentally, he answered, “I've never had ramen.”

 

Again, were the Uchiha heir prone to laughter, he would have been doubled over at Naruto's reaction. The blonde boy tripped over his own feet, almost landing face first on the ground as his jaw dropped and his eyes went wide and round. “What?” he squeaked out, though, how, the way his jaw was hanging loose Sasuke couldn't guess. “You've…you've never had…” the boy's voice trailed off in confusion. In another rapid fire mood change, Naruto recovered, standing up straight, looking resolute, “Right, then, it's about time you discovered the wonder that is ramen! Let's go!” He took off at a near run, expecting Sasuke to follow him.

 

“Heh…” escaped the dark haired boy. Naruto would tax anyone's ability to hold a straight face, even a corpse, he mused as he walked after the hyper boy. Where did he get so much energy?

 

They arrived at the ramen stand together by reason of Naruto doubling back several times to walk with Sasuke, urging him on before darting ahead again. The last of these antics brought a sour comment out of Sasuke, “They're not going to run out of ramen, idiot.”

 

Naruto's hand came up behind his head, “Yeah, yeah, you're right. I'm just excited, y'know. What kind of ramen should you try first?” he mused.

 

“The normal kind,” Sasuke answered, his voice dry.

 

“Normal?” Naruto repeated in disbelief. “No…no…Sasuke you don't understand the fine art of ramen!” and from there, he proceeded to inform the Uchiha boy, in great detail, about the different types of ramen, only stopping when they reached Ichiraku. “So…what kind of ramen do you want?” Naruto asked again when they took seats on the stools under the shop's overhang.

 

Sasuke was baffled. The blonde boy spoke of the food as if it were a fine art, a pleasure to be indulged in at great parties with linen table cloths and hushed music instead of a bowl of noodles and flavor that took less than three minutes to prepare. “Hn…” the dark haired boy answered.

 

Naruto took this as his invitation to continue. “It's okay…tell ya what…why don't you start with miso ramen…that's my favorite.” When the other boy only shrugged, Naruto turned to the shop keeper and ordered two bowls of said ramen.

 

When the steaming food arrived, Naruto wasted no time in diving in, using his chopsticks to pull the hot noodles to his mouth, slurping to both cool the food and get it into his mouth. Sasuke watched as his companion ate with great relish before turning to his own bowl and slowly lifting the noodles to his mouth. He knew the flavor, he realized as he drew the long noodles into his mouth. This was what he tasted when Naruto's lips were on his. He could feel color trying to rise to his cheeks as he tried to focus his mind on the present. But, the present held such strong reminders of the past. Naruto, the taste, the blonde's company. His body was beginning to react, though he didn't understand why…well, not completely. Naruto had been his first, and thus far, only kiss. That was a powerful reason to be confused, wasn't it? There were times, though he wouldn't admit it, that he'd dreamed about that kiss. In his dreams, he didn't react violently, and Naruto didn't turn from him, pretending to choke. No, in his dreams….

 

“Ne…Sasuke…” his thoughts were interrupted by the soft voice that haunted his dreams. He could have done without the “ne” but, he did dream of Naruto calling out for him, uncertain at first, then with growing passion.

 

“What?” he asked, his voice perhaps a bit sharper than it needed to be.

 

“Ah…well…I was wondering if you liked it…you seem a bit distracted. I'm sorry.”

 

Sasuke looked at his bowl and then turned to look at his companion. “I was thinking, that's all,” he answered, knowing it was uncharacteristic, but feeling compelled to anyways.

 

Naruto's voice remained soft, his eyes focused on his bowl, “About what?”

 

Was it Sasuke's imagination, or did Naruto's cheeks appear pink? Deciding to test his theory, he answered, “About where I've tasted this before.” Yes, that was pink, and it was growing darker.

 

“Ah, yeah…” the normally talkative boy fell silent, contemplating the brown fluid in his bowl.

 

Sasuke made a decision. He needed answers, and here wasn't the place to get them. Pulling out his wallet, he dropped enough money to pay for their food on the counter before turning to Naruto and saying, “C'mon, let's go.”

 

Naruto looked up, confused. “Go? Where? Together?” The last was said in a whisper, almost as if were too much to ask for.

 

“Yes, go. Yes, together.” He thought a moment before answering, “My place.”