Taiikusai

To any of you ready to murder me for not updating this one for the past... oh, year, I don't blame you. But I don't want to be one of those writers that starts a story and doesn't finish it, so this is me, working on finishing it. This is a short chapter (I'm sorry!) but after a year of leaving a story, it's hard to pick back up again. I hope the quality doesn't suffer for it.

Thanks all of you who decide to still support this story despite my ridiculously long hiatus.


Promise

News of the club house episode and the summer disciplinarian meeting spread like wildfire. By the time school started a few weeks later, even the third years had caught wind of it. A few parts had been added in, of course- in some versions Sasuke and Naruto had been caught kissing and in others they were stripped of more than their shirts. In one audacious tale, Ino herself had taken part in the festivities before Iruka-sensei walked in on them. How that rumor got started, no one knew.

Naruto did not enjoy dealing with Sasuke’s fanclub, or being questioned on what it was like making out with Uchiha, but with time, they were able to spread around the “official” version and girls were no longer crying over Uchiha’s fall to the “other” side. Uchiha didn’t feel compelled to correct them.

But one thing was certain; the story was out- shocking news of the student council president’s attempt to defend his boyfriend’s honor was spread from the principal to the school gardener. And were it not for the fact that they had carried on their relationship in secret for some months now, Naruto was sure the school officials would have found that a much more worthy target of persecution.

As for his classmates- most of them were too floored to say anything. The freshmen were too afraid of Gaara to risk taunting their stoic sempai and most of the third years were being held in check by the Suna siblings AND Neji’s connections. Occasionally a bold second year dared to harass Naruto, but when they realized that the couple had more allies than foes, the comments began to peter out until the excitement of the nearing sports festival took precedence.

Naruto himself was too busy frantically completing the sign board to worry too much about Sasuke’s regression to frosty silence or the few whispers behind his back. It came down to the last minute, but a few late nights at home and some extra help from an eventually repentant Sasuke helped get things done at the last minute. And when the day of the competition arrived, Naruto was the first one there with materials gathered and ready to go.

He tried to ignore the people working around him, tried not to peek curiously at his competition. He worked with a singled mindedness that had kept this project going and seen it through its end. And when the panels were assembled, the nails hammered through, keeping it in place, he stood back to admire it as it was meant to be.

The Sandaime, as they had all remembered him, white suit and a pipe in his mouth, reclined beneath a tree. He glanced up at the tree fondly, eyes twinkling at the many green faces smiling at him from the leaves of the trees. Yes, Naruto was a mad man. Each leaf held the face of a student, many of them students on team Konoha leaf. Some where photos pasted, tinted a shade of green and some were hand painted by Naruto himself. A discarded book rested on the grass, the title printed in clear bold kanji- A thousand leaves gathered.

Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Sakura smiling at him. “I didn’t think we’d make it, but we did it!” she said gleefully. “It really is something else Naruto. You should be proud of yourself.”

“Hn,” Sasuke added from Naruto’s other side. Naruto took this to mean that Sasuke agreed.

“Aww, you guys,” Naruto put an arm around both their shoulders, “You know I couldn’t have done it without you two.” He gave them both a squeeze. Sasuke quickly shrugged him off.

“Whatever, dobe,” he left without another word.

“Don’t mind him,” Sakura reassured him. “I think you just embarrassed him,” she chuckled. She turned to face the sign board once more. “Need any more help here or can I go get ready?”

“You’re not going to join me in checking out the competition?” he pouted.

“There will be time for that later. Don’t dawdle too long. Warm ups and opening ceremony are in less than an hour.” She gave him a wink and skipped off to the locker room. Naruto smiled at her as she left. He stopped to look at his own work again, impressed that he had actually managed to pull it off. Not that there was any doubt of course, but it was still nice to see his vision achieved.

“I underestimated you,” a familiar voice spoke up behind him. Naruto broke out into a smile, just stopping himself from throwing himself into Gaara’s arms for a hug. “Impressive, Uzumaki.”

Naruto eased into a cocky grin. “You better believe it. You’re staring at the number one sign board, so best to take in the sights and appreciate it before the adoring crowd.” Gaara crossed his arms and chuckled.

“You’re confident.” He took a few steps closer to admire it next to Naruto. “And what prize do you plan to collect when the day is out?”

Naruto’s eyes widened in near panic. “My prize! That’s right! I never specified my side of the deal.” Gaara mocked his obliviousness with a smirk.

“I should make you forfeit on principle.” Naruto blew a raspberry at him. He chuckled at Gaara’s annoyance before his smile relaxed into a look of contemplation. The crease between his eyebrows told Gaara that Naruto’s request would not be something light.

“Ne, Gaara?” he looked at the floor, particularly his foot toeing the dirt. “If I win, I want you to promise me something.” Gaara tilted his head to show he was listening. “You’ll be a third year next year and I know you’ll be too busy studying for entrance exams to spend much time with me, but I want you to try for the best. I want you to try for Toudai.”

Gaara’s eyes widened in surprise. Toudai, the best of the best. That was a tall order indeed, but Gaara knew there had to be a reason for this sudden request. “I had been considering Toudai, though perhaps not seriously. Any particular reason why?”

Naruto hesitated. A faint pink crept into his cheeks. “It’s just that ever since that disciplinarian meeting I haven’t been able to get over how the PTA attacked you, and how they used you like some bad example.” He looked distressed, but when Gaara stepped forward, Naruto stepped back. “I know you don’t care about that, and that you try to do your best, but that’s why I’m asking this of you. I want you to do your best, and be your best, and live beyond their reproach. I was us to be beyond reproach.”

Gaara let out a small sigh. It was a nice dream, but there wasn’t anywhere in the world that would satisfy Naruto’s request. “You think Toudai will make everything better?” His skepticism crept into his voice.

Naruto shook his head. “No, but it’s a start,” Naruto looked at him hopefully. “So promise me- promise me you’ll go to Toudai,” he hesitated, “and that you’ll wait for me there.”

Gaara shook his head. “That’s a big promise. But, if you win, then I promise I’ll do my best.” Naruto shook his head.

“Not your best. Everything in your power,” he clarified.

Gaara snorted. “Everything in my power,” he repeated. Naruto smiled and offered his hand. Squeezing his hand tightly, the pact was sealed.




Naruto placed one foot on the bench. He pulled his laces tight, tying it once before knotting it a second time. The last thing he wanted to do is trip over his own shoelaces during a race. He made sure they were snugly secured before moving on to the next one. Shikamaru leaned against the locker next to him.

“You ready for the race?” he asked casually, looking over at their rivals on the other side.

“You bet I am!” Naruto replied exuberantly. “I’ve been working hard all summer to make sure I’ll be ready,” he grinned.

“And how about your teammate?” Shikamaru nodded towards the corner where Sasuke changed into his gym clothes quietly. “Think he’s up for it?”

Naruto’s smile faded. He paused to contemplate the lonely figure so intent on ignoring the world right now. Sasuke had dropped out of morning running practice after the big scandal. Naruto had seen very little of him outside their committee sessions. Whatever teamwork they had managed until now was undoubtedly strained- something Naruto had failed to think about under the pressure of finishing up his own duties.

“Give me a few minutes, okay?” Shikamaru nodded, sauntering off slowly to find Chouji in another aisle. Naruto strode up to Sasuke, plopping down on the bench next to him as he tied his shoes. “You all pumped up for the relays?” he asked cheerfully. Sasuke regarded him with suspicion, ignoring the question to adjust his socks. “Should I take that as a no or as an I’m so prepared I shouldn’t be bothered with that question?” Naruto grinned. Sasuke rolled his eyes. He turned and slammed his locker shut.

“Really Sasuke, you haven’t practiced with us once. I just…” Sasuke cut him off with a glare.

“Want to make sure I won’t mess up your race? That I won’t sabotage your victory?”

“That you feel like you’re part of the team.” Naruto flicked his forehead. “Because you are you know, whether you’re willing to accept it or not.” He smiled at Sasuke, amused at the scowl and ruffled his hair. He snatched his hand away before the other boy could retaliate. “See you on the field, teme!” Naruto trotted off towards the field. “You’re the last leg of our race you know. We’re all counting on you!” he flashed Sasuke a thumbs up and scampered away.

Sasuke walked out of the locker room, shaking his head at Naruto in amazement. Even after he ignored him all this time, he can smile at him like nothing is wrong.

“He’s right you know.” Sasuke turned to find Sakura leaning against the wall. “That signboard standing over there is proof.” She gazed out at their completed work off in the distance.

“So what, I’m supposed to forget everything and pretend like I’m everyone’s friend again for the sake of school spirit?”

Sakura fixed him with a contemplative look. “Why do you have to pretend?” She pushed off the wall and stared walking towards the field. “Naruto’s gratitude this morning was real. There’s no pretense about him. When are you going to understand that?” Sasuke never abided being talked down to, but something in Sakura’s tone- a sincerity in meaning, had him humbled.

“Am I just supposed to forget everything that’s happened?” He looked at the ground, frowning for a moment. Sakura had told him to move on, but did that mean he had to jump back into being friends with everyone and smile like everything was okay?

“No Sasuke,” she put a hand on his shoulder gently. “You’re supposed to learn from it, like I did.” She let her hand slip from his shoulder. “Give it your best out there,” she called over her shoulder. “We’ll all be rooting for you.”


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A/N: It's almost finished. I plan to make the next chapter the last. I will try to post before the week is over. :)