Naruto's Uchiha Dictionary

A/N: thanks so much for understanding about chapter 3. and i guess i'm also thankful for the indignant 'WTF?' cause that means that you really like the story enough to want more. anyway, here's the new chapter 3, and i hope it lives up to the wait for it/the update in general.

enjoy!

same tags apply


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Chapter 3: In which Naruto gets a makeover
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Naruto carefully examined the expressions of the villagers as he went out and about the next day. He wanted to see what the overall reaction to his little stunt was now that it was done, but to do that, he had to stay well out of the way.

From the shadows, Naruto saw that the whole village was smiles and sunshine, the usual faint melancholy missing this year. Naruto smiled at that, though it was tinged with a bit of bitterness at the added thought that it was the person they hated the most that had given them such joy.

And then a thought that never failed to throw him into the depths of despair crossed his mind again: Did this village despise him even more than they did Orochimaru?

Of course, the answer was always hard in coming, because the roots of the villagers’ hate for either were so similar. Kyuubi, and by association, Naruto, had destroyed the village and killed many shinobi. And so had Orochimaru, more than once. Both were monsters that were still very much alive, and, though Naruto hated to admit it, still had the ability to wreak all sorts of havoc.

But today was not a day for despair, as Naruto heard the melodic laughter of his girl friends as they passed close by his hiding place. His original plans and schemes for mischief came back to him, suddenly very eager to plague his friends like he had intended from the start.

Naruto tailed them to a strip of small shops lining a busy road, and as they ducked into a boutique, Naruto crossed the street to await their departure. Through the window at the front of the store, Naruto could see Ino and Sakura holding up something frilly in front of a blushing Hinata. He could see that whatever it was was a lovely shade of lavender, one that even he could tell complemented the pale skin of the small heiress.

He couldn’t imagine what they were all doing, since some of the stores they went into didn’t exactly cater to their tastes, as far as he knew. And Naruto was getting so tired of following them around. But finally lunchtime came around, and the girls stopped at the Mongolian BBQ restaurant that Chouji loved so much. Naruto ducked in behind some other customers and sat in a booth on the other side of the girls’. Shushing the waitress when she came by, Naruto quietly drew out his dictionary from the bag by his side.

“I’m certainly glad you have the day off, Sakura. We haven’t gone shopping in a while,” Ino said, the clink of a glass accompanying the end of her sentence. Naruto looked at the dictionary page, but it was blank.

“Yeah, Kakashi went to retrieve Sasuke-kun from his mission, and Tsunade-sama said to let Naruto rest.” Again the dictionary was blank, and Naruto stared at it confusedly.

“Wasn’t what Naruto-kun did last night incredible?” asked Hinata.

Wasn’t what Naruto-kun did last night incredible? – (Shyness): see fireworks

‘They know it was me?’ Naruto thought to himself.

“Yeah, only that idiot could do something that big and… cool,” admitted Ino.

Naruto didn’t need to look at the dictionary for that one, and despite being called an idiot, Naruto knew Ino was paying him a compliment… sort of.

“But how did that idiot know how to make something like that?”

“He and Jiraiya-sama did travel for a long time. Maybe he learned in some town.”

“Well, regardless, it was still something I never would have thought Naruto could do. It was a nice gift for the village, though. Oh! Speaking of gifts, I hope he likes the gift Hinata got him.”

Naruto’s ears perked up at that. He could practically hear the blush on Hinata’s cheeks, proven by Sakura and Ino squealing how timid she was.

“I hope he likes it, too.”

“It’s a shame you couldn’t give it to him on his birthday. But whatever day you give it to him, maybe he’ll finally see what he’s been missing.”

Confused, Naruto took a look at the book in front of him.

It’s a shame you couldn’t give it to him on his birthday. But whatever day you give it to him, maybe he’ll finally see what he’s been missing. – (Exasperation): It’s a shame you were too busy yesterday to visit Naruto and give him his present. Hopefully when you do he’ll finally see how much you care for him.

“Yeah, then maybe you’ll have yourself a boyfriend, Hinata.”

Yeah, then maybe you’ll have yourself a boyfriend, Hinata. – (Cheer): Perhaps Naruto will finally return your affection.

‘What? Hinata likes me?’

Naruto felt completely bowled over. When had this happened? How hadn’t he noticed?

“I don’t think that will happen, Sakura. N-Naruto’s always been so driven… I don’t think he’ll have the inclination toward me.”

I don’t think that will happen, Sakura. N-Naruto’s always been so driven… I don’t think he’ll have the inclination toward me. – (Haste): Naruto has always been focused on [Sasuke] that he won’t have the desire to focus on anything else.

Naruto stared hard at the page. Where Hinata had trailed off, the dictionary had inserted Sasuke’s name, and it left Naruto at a loss. He had known that Sasuke had always been a focus in his life, but he hadn’t known it’d been his only focus. And the fact that Hinata liked him was a shock too. And now Sakura, the girl he thought he liked, and Ino were going to help her get his attention.

But Naruto loved Hinata like a sister, and although she was a great girl, he couldn’t see himself liking her romantically. It would be weird. Not to mention Neji had this thing about people getting too close to his cousin, which was damn confusing, since he used to despise and ridicule her.

“Nonsense! Naruto was always chasing Sakura, I’m sure he’ll want to date you. You’re a sweet girl, Hinata. A lot of guys would jump at the chance to be your boyfriend. I think the only thing stopping them is Neji, but Naruto’s already beaten him once, and if that idiot’s done anything right since then, it’s him having gained in strength and power.”

Naruto was beginning to wonder if Ino could just give a straight compliment instead of throwing an insult either before or after it.

“You know, though, if Naruto does end up going out with our Hinata-chan, his outfit has got to go.”

You know, though, if Naruto does end up going out with our Hinata-chan, his outfit has got to go. – (Determination): Clothing so horrid does not befit the boyfriend of a Hyuuga.

Naruto looked down at his clothes. Yeah, it wasn’t the jumpsuit of old, but Naruto still liked orange, and the black made him look badass. What was wrong with them?

“Well, we’d have to take him shopping. We know the idiot can’t be allowed to pick his own clothes. They’d just be more orange monstrosities.”

Well, we’d have to take him shopping. We know the idiot can’t be allowed to pick his own clothes. They’d just be more orange monstrosities. – (Disgust): Naruto has a heinous fashion sense.

Not many things made Naruto ashamed, and even less made him truly angry, for his true fury always lay just under the surface where no one could see. But sitting there listening to two people he considered friends talk about him behind his back put him on the defensive. It would serve them right if Naruto showed up before them, dead sexy, and laughed in their faces when they stumbled over themselves to compliment him.

‘That’s a great idea! And thanks to Iruka, I can so pull it off!’

Naruto tuned them out for the rest of their lunch, just waiting for the girls to finish and move on so he could go home and rifle through his closet. Of course, he’d need a reason to look drop dead gorgeous, and if it made Sasuke rethink his opinion of Naruto’s svelte-ness (the teme had so called him fat, despite what he and the others had tried to say), then the blonde was all for it.

Though, it wouldn’t hurt to spend the rest of the afternoon making sure every single rock-hard muscle and plane of his body were diamond-hard before showing them off. So Naruto decided, after the girls had left, to go to the training grounds and work up a nice sweat. And if his clothes just happened to get shredded, so be it.

~*~

Sasuke was back. And the Rookie 9 and a few others wanted to get together for food and drinks, just for old times, but Naruto knew it was a secret celebration that the teme hadn’t given Konoha the slip while he’d had the opportunity.

And Naruto would be there, ready to bask in the wagging of tongues his appearance would undoubtedly produce.

Since he’d been little, Iruka would always buy him some new clothes every now and again, but none of them had been orange, and Naruto had been a stubborn child. And really, he was a stubborn man now, but what Sakura and Ino said had really gotten to him. He so had taste; he just chose not to use it. Not that his orange and black ensemble was tasteless…

Naruto ruffled his damp hair and screamed in his head. Those girls were vicious; they had him doubting himself. With a sigh, Naruto swung the towel around his neck over his head and rubbed vigorously to dry his hair even more. Satisfied that he’d gotten as much water as he could, Naruto threw the towel behind him and turned to contemplate his closet.

Nothing Iruka had bought him was good enough for this celebration and his plan, he realized sadly. So Naruto reluctantly sought out the clothes Jiraiya had bought him along their journey. He’d said these clothes would help both of them with the old pervert’s research, and so Naruto had vehemently sworn never to wear them. But Jiraiya wasn’t here now, and he really needed them to prove he could be as sexy as the next guy, sexier even.

Naruto pulled out the many pieces of the outfit, not sure whether to utilize them all or simply mix and match, but even so, a grin threatened to split his face. He’d leave the dictionary behind tonight, because he’d leave everybody speechless.

~*~

“Where the hell is Naruto?” he heard from his position in the shadows. Sakura was huffing and puffing, an annoyed scowl lighting her pale face. She was standing close to an oblivious Uchiha, an equally annoyed Ino on his other side. Hinata and Kiba were a little way from that group, keeping a bored Shikamaru and Shino and a hungry Chouji occupied as they waited for the evening to begin. Team Gai were next to Kakashi and Iruka, Gai talking to Kakashi about some new challenge or another. The other jounin instructors, and even some off-duty ANBU were there, as well. And Tsunade had already started on the alcohol, with Shizune hovering to make sure the Hokage wasn’t shit-faced before the festivities even began.

“If you’re so impatient, I suggest you start without the dobe,” Sasuke offered coolly, his thumb and forefinger idly dancing over the rim of a crystal tumbler.

The gang had rented out a nice, small bar for a private party, which Naruto was a bit disappointed in. Really, how could he show off his sexiness to its maximum if there were no strangers to flirt and dance with?

And dance is what everyone had in mind, if what they were wearing was any indication. The girls, even Hinata, were wearing skirts so short they were on the verge of being underwear. And several of the men were poured into tight leather, except Kakashi and the other adults, who were all decked out in their uniforms.

“We can’t do that, Uchiha, since this is for Naruto’s birthday,” Neji calmly but snidely answered back.

“Wow, guys, I didn’t know you cared,” Naruto said as he stepped from the shadows.

“Naruto! How long have you been there? We were… waiting…” Sakura trailed off, gaping at the blonde. More eyes began to turn his way, until everyone was staring. Naruto was used to it, but this was something he’d never done before, so he was getting just a bit nervous.

He watched as all the eyes in the house trailed over his body, taking in the combat boots that covered his feet and laced to about mid-shin; the leather pants that hugged his calves, thighs, and ass, highlighting the smooth cut of his legs and backside; the crimson shirt that stretched over a defined chest, the material hugging his abs lovingly, the sides of mesh crisscrossing over his obliques. He wore no accessories, since his excuse for wearing this didn’t leave room for bangles and such.

When most of the eyes finally made it to his blue ones, Naruto quirked a blonde brow, silently asking what they were looking at and waiting amusedly to give his answer.

“Naruto…”

“What are…?”

“Why…?”

“You look…”

“Hot!”

Everybody momentarily looked to Kiba, whose cheeks were a slight red, but then quickly turned back to Naruto. The blonde glanced at everyone, eyes lingering just a bit on an Uchiha who was having trouble shuttering his emotions, and Naruto chuckled. Then his hand went to the back of his neck, and his eyes closed as he grinned nervously, though he’d lost all nervousness by now and was merely playing a part.

“Well, I guess my training got a little out of hand yesterday. My clothes are completely ruined. So I had to wear this. Does… does it not look good?”

And just as he’d thought, they were speechless.

~*~

Naruto clasped the little trinket Hinata had given him tightly in his hand. It was easily the most expensive thing he owned now. He smiled as he opened his palm to gaze at it once again.

A handcrafted kitsune key chain, bearing nine tails and blazing ruby eyes, gazed back at him. The lacquered finish sparkled in the faint light from the streetlamps as he made his way home. The reds and blacks were vibrant, and the chain it dangled from was real gold to complement the red of the fur and ruby of the eyes. Naruto closed his fist again, already extremely protective over the gift.

Hinata was such a sweet girl, and Naruto did not look forward to the day that he’d have to break her heart.

Coming to his apartment building, Naruto immediately sensed something was wrong. He raced quietly up the stairs, masking his chakra in case whatever it was that had him nervous was still around.

When he reached his floor, he could see that his door was open, which had not been the case when he’d left. He felt someone moving around in his apartment, but as he got closer, still unable to identify the intruder, it was suddenly gone.

Naruto waited a few minutes to make sure no one was still around before cautiously walking in the door. Nothing was out of place, though a low lamp on the side table by the couch was on, casting a very small circle of light over the living room. A breeze from outside lifted his bangs, and he saw his window open from the corner of his eye.

As he moved to close it, something on the coffee table in front of the couch caught his attention. It was a small box that lay atop the dictionary, unmoved from where he’d left it. He left the window as it was and reached out for the box. It was unmarked, nothing that said who it was from, and Naruto found himself frowning at it. But he was intrigued by it nonetheless.

Carefully opening the top, he found a small, velvet pouch inside that he plucked out with twitchy fingers. Then he let the box and top fall to the table as he opened the pouch, and his eyes widened when he pulled out a silver chain. On it was a charm, and Naruto sat down on the couch to see it better.

Attached to the chain was just a plain piece of silver; at least that’s what Naruto thought. But then he flipped it over, and the kanji for ‘friends’ glinted up at him. It was an intricate carving, and the flow of the kanji was beautiful and graceful. But then Naruto remembered that he didn’t know whom it came from, and he frowned.

A stronger breeze came in through the window, chilling Naruto, and he jumped up in shock. He banged his shin against the coffee table and cursed, glaring at the dictionary when it had the audacity to fall to the floor. He rubbed his shin and bent to retrieve the book.

It had landed open, facing down, so Naruto reached under the spine and hauled it up, setting it face up on the table. As he moved to close it, a small sentence caught his eye, and he stared at it in disbelief. Then he thought back to the fact that he couldn’t feel the intruder’s chakra before, and he blushed.

And as he blushed; as he thought it was impossible; as he thought he just needed some sleep, a small, very genuine though perplexed smile fell across his lips. He read the words one more time before clasping the necklace in his hand and closing the book. He moved to the bedroom, changed, and sat in the dark on his bed. Then he slipped the chain over his head, burrowed under the covers, and let the words run behind his eyelids as sleep claimed him.

Looks like you made it one more year, dobe. – (Fondness): Happy birthday, Naruto.


TBC


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i tried. how did i do? i'm wondering just how long i was originally gonna have this story go. oh, well. we'll find out. thank you all for being so patient, and welcome new readers!!

thanks for reading!