Art and Artifice

Art and Artifice
chapter 4

On Monday morning, Sasuke met up with some of his friends and immediately began unloading his lingering frustration from the weekend. Said friends acted appropriately sympathetic but most of them really didn't understand what exactly he was complaining so bitterly about. In fact, most siblings that didn't get along tended to have much more dramatic blowouts than what Sasuke was describing. His family troubles seemed pretty tame, and they came with a Ferrari! From their perspective, it seemed like a pretty sweet deal. Truthfully they were rather enjoying his ranting. Sasuke was oblivious to these feelings, too caught up in his own irritation at the memory of those few moments right before his brother left yesterday.

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Itachi was busy packing his bag, preparing for the two and a half hour drive back to his school when his little brother planted himself in the doorway to his bedroom, leaning casually against the frame.

"Did you enjoy your visit?" the younger boy asked sarcastically. Itachi didn't bother to look up and the answer came in a bored monotone.

"It was rather boring. I don't think I'll be back again for a while." Sasuke didn't really want Itachi to come back any time soon but the man's careless attitude irked him somehow.

"Good riddance," he muttered. Itachi did look up then and smiled in that condescending way that Sasuke hated with a passion.

"So childish little brother."

"Childish?!" If Sasuke grit his teeth any harder they might just shatter.

"Mmm, you don't really seem to want your parents' attention. They tell me you're rarely at home and that when you are, you try your best to ignore their existence. Yet you can't stand it when I come home and that attention becomes mine. It's like you never quite left the nursery isn't it?" Sasuke was livid! Every muscle was so tensed that he couldn't move even to speak.

"You're the one that focuses on me you know. It 'seems' like everyone talks about me constantly to you, because you search for it. Those are the only words you'll pay any attention to."

"Don't you talk to me like you know everything," Sasuke spat, his tongue having finally loosened. "I don't give a crap about you! I have a life."

"Yes, and what has it been based around? Why do you cherish your mountains of 'friends' and admirers so? Popularity was one thing I didn't have in spades in high school. Perhaps that was your initial reason for becoming the social butterfly. You really shouldn't let the measure of your achievement in life center on a bunch of other people Sasuke. Those people will come and go. High school is almost over little brother. Your friends will be going off to make their own achievements. You should be seriously thinking about your future. What are your goals?"

"Oh just shut up! You are such a presumptuous arrogant Bastard!" Sasuke was almost shouting now, the infamous Uchiha control slipping visibly. Itachi smiled at him once again, which just pissed him off even more.

"Well if that's true then from what I've heard, we have a lot in common."

"Don't. Go. There," Sasuke ground out, "and don't you dare preach to me! Not all of us can have 'talent' oozing from our every pore!"

"You simply don't 'know' what you're good at little brother. You've never put in the necessary time and thought to figure it out. It's probably right under your nose."

Without another word, Sasuke turned and stormed off to his own room where he spent over two hours writing furiously in his personal journal to try and calm himself after that frustrating encounter.

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Kiba, Kankuro and Sakura managed to stifle a laugh at the "presumptuous, arrogant bastard" part but one of the fangirls shadowing them wasn't quite fast enough. Sasuke whirled around.

"Get out of my sight," he hissed. His glare was truly frightening and the unfortunate girl hurried off without argument. Afterward Sasuke seemed to have run out of steam somewhat and just settled down to sulk for a bit. Kiba decided to take this opportunity to show off his new tattoo.

"Well my weekend was pretty kick ass. I went out and got me a tattoo on Saturday! Check this out. Isn't it great?" he said as he pulled up his shirt to show them his chest.

"Oh is that Akamaru?" asked Sakura. Kiba nodded and she moved in closer to inspect the image. "This is really good Kiba. Where did you go to have it done?"

"Shuriken Studios. The guy was really young but he was an awesome artist and really cool too. Just look how uniform it is. My sister went to this guy who scarred her up pretty nasty for her first one."

Naruto had entered the school ground just as Kiba was lifting his shirt. He grinned secretly at the sight. As he got closer he could hear Kiba talking him up and all the others exclaiming over his work. It was an odd feeling to know that this particular group of people were complimenting him. Of course they had no idea he was so close by. The bell rang and the whole group reluctantly began to make their way toward the entrance. Nobody else noticed the hooded figure moving next to them, but Sasuke must have had some kind of Naruto radar. The next thing the blond knew, he was on his knees in the only puddle on the school grounds that hadn't dried up.

"Watch your step dobe," the Uchiha said with a smirk. Naruto just sighed and the rest of the Sasuke posse laughed at him before turning back to the building and forgetting all about it. Kiba made to follow but then he paused. After a moment's hesitation he turned around and walked back to Naruto offering him his hand. Naruto blinked in surprise but quickly took the offered hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"Hey, sorry about that man. He's in a pissy mood again. Don't let him get you down ok." With a smile and a quick wave the boy bounded off to catch up with the others. Naruto was left standing there, feeling surprisingly pleasant considering the fact that his pants were wet from the knee down.

"Yup," he thought."I like that guy. Indeed I do."

Later on during lunch hour, Naruto and Haku along with their other two friends, Hinata and Shikamaru were sitting in a little ramen bar called Ichiraku, not far from the school. Naruto was telling them about Kiba coming in for a tattoo on Saturday and the long conversation they'd had.

"And then this morning the Bastard pushed me into a puddle, (which is why I'm still damp. It's very annoying) and Kiba actually stopped and helped me up. He even apologized for Uchiha's behavior! Can you believe it?"

"Wow, I guess he's a pretty nice guy after all," said Haku.

"Actually, he's always been nice to me," Hinata informed quietly, a pretty blush staining her cheeks.

"I think the odds on that many people being heartless assholes is pretty slim really," added Shikamaru. "That Uchiha kid just holds people back. Trying to keep him happy would be so troublesome."

"Maybe they're all redeemable." Naruto smiled brightly at the idea.

"Sure," Haku giggled. "Can't you just see it? The Amazing Kyuubi, changing the world one tattoo at a time."

"Kyuubi CHAN!" All four heads shot up at the call. Ino was just coming through the door. Having 'obviously' caught sight of Naruto, she skipped over and latched on to his arm. "You don't have to work tonight do you?"

"..Uuh...no," he answered warily.

"Great! Then we can get started right away. You'll have to come home with me right after school because I'll need the daylight for a few shots. Don't worry, I'll feed you supper. Maybe you could stay the night too if it runs too late..." For a split second the perverted insinuations of his co-workers raced through Naruto's head, but then he immediately shook them off, cursing those idiots for making him think gross things. Meanwhile Ino had just continued to chatter on. They had all finished eating and were digging out their money and preparing to head back to school. Naruto tuned back in just in time to catch Ino saying something about ropes and body paint and froze in horrified apprehension until he realized she was talking about a previous project. He sighed in relief allowing his body to relax a little but the seed had been planted. He was even more nervous about what Ino might have him do than before.

"Oh God somebody help me!" he wimpered pitifully. Only Haku had heard and he chuckled at the poor blond.

"Don't worry so much. Ino wouldn't do anything to freak you out too badly. You'd pass out cold and then you'd be no help to her at all!"

"I suppose there's no escaping anyway," Naruto lamented. "We have the last class together."

As they came within sight of the school Ino took her leave of them to go talk to another friend of hers before classes resumed.

"Bye guys," she called. "See you after school Kyuubi!" Naruto heaved a sigh.

"Well, so much for my day off."


A/N; Posted a little early since I won't be around later. Well there was a bit of an intro for Itachi, even if it is in flashback form. Tomorrow it's on to Ino's photography project. Yay!

p.s. Genderless, I don't know you but I bet you make a kick-ass apple pie! Which is my way of saying your a bit of alright. Of course I love all of my reviewers! You guys really make writing a lot more fun. I'm thinking about maybe drawing you some pics to show my appreciation. See ya tomorrow!