It started at the Shonen-J Diner

Chapter Five: Attack (Not what you’d expect on this mission)


As the sun rose above the hills, the little party moved out.
Naruto smiled happily as he took the lead, followed by Akira and Hikaru with Sasuke bringing up the rear.
The dark haired Shinobi was silent, but that was nothing new. His face was drawn in an irritated smirk, also not unusual. But as he stared at the Dobe’s back (ditto), he was thinking and that is where this day was unlike others.
It had shocked him to see his blond rival in that situation, but what surprised him more, was the sudden sense of possessiveness he was feeling toward the loud mouth.
Akira was chatting away with the noble, and Sasuke found himself sneering at the green haired boy.
And there was his body’s reaction. That was what troubled the stoic Shinobi the most.
Add to that the fact that he’d had to shirk his duties to take care of that little problem before he could stand his watch. Sasuke was feeling a tiny bit guilty about that, but he knew well he could not be around the tents until he was in control of his body once more. And nothing had happened, so he was off the hook.
Now, as he walked along behind the group, his mind wandered back to the brief glimpse of the blond, head thrown back, eyes closed tightly and a look of pure pleasure moving across his face. Sasuke felt a slow burn in his abdomen and quickly banished the vision from his mind.
Naruto was oblivious.
The blond had risen from his sleep to take his turn at watch. Sasuke slunk into the tent and curled up in the sleeping bag, frustrated at how rested Naruto looked after only a few hours sleep.
In the morning when Sasuke woke he was doubly frustrated that Naruto was humming as he made them a quick breakfast before they all resumed travel.
Now, four hours of hiking down the path had not lessoned Sasuke’s irritation at the blond. That coupled with the fact that he and Akira were giggling, was about to drive him crazy. He turned and snapped at the other, “Hey Dobe! Do you think you could try to act like an actual Ninja?”
Naruto stared dumbly at him and then really pissed him off. “A real Ninja? You mean all cranky and stuck up like you? Nah, I think I’ll pass.” And then they laughed again.
Sasuke was about to explode. They were laughing at Him!
Naruto walked along, his mind wandering over the events of the previous evening, and his body just reveling in the recent rejuvenation.
Akira smiled at the flush that crept up the blonds face. He was not so overwhelmed by their little playtime that he failed to notice the scowl on the dark haired ninja’s face or the odd lonely look that kept returning to the bleached banged boy’s normally happy face.
Something was wrong and he couldn’t quite place it.
He nudged Naruto and leaned closer to make his point only to the blond.
“Naruto, what is wrong with Sasuke? He has been staring at you and scowling the entire trip. And Hikaru looks like he lost his best friend.”
“Hnnh? I didn’t notice. What is that about Sasuke?”
“That’s because you’re mooning like a recently deflowered virgin. Now, look at your friend. He looks like he is about to burst into flames.”
“Now, with Sasuke that isn’t really stretching it too far. He is an Uchiha and they are the masters of the Katon Jutsus. I wonder what is eating him?”
“Maybe it was you, eating me?” Akira said and they both got wide eyed and began giggling.
Sasuke glared all the harder and announced, “I’m going to scout ahead.” Before leaping to the trees and was out of sight.
Naruto just stared after him.
“I guess I had better take the front, until the Teme gets back.” And he stepped forward to lead them on.
“Are you and Naruto-kun an item?” Hikaru asked as they were left to follow.
“Not really, we just have no one else. It isn’t really serious.” Akira admitted.
“It seemed pretty serious last night.” Hikaru suggested then was silent. Akira thought this through for the next hour. He was very smart, but this required too many convoluted twists.

Sasuke watched from the trees as the three made their way toward him. He was glad that the blond was taking front and left the others behind. He didn’t know why but it was a relief that Naruto wasn’t walking next to his visiting friend.
And about that, where did the Dobe get a friend that Sasuke didn’t know about, anyway?
And when had they had time to get that close?
Sasuke kept to the trees and did scout ahead, there was nothing to worry about and they made quite a distance that day.
Camp was set once more and this time Naruto got first watch. Akira headed to sleep and Sasuke watched the moon rise as Naruto checked the perimeter.
“You should get to sleep, Sasuke. You have watch at two in the morning.” Naruto said, settling near a tree. He turned to the right to watch the worst of the dangerous areas in their defenses.
Then, hands pushed him against the tree and his head slammed against the wood.
“What the fuck?!” he said as he looked up into deep black eyes.
“I want answers, Dobe! When did you make friends with the strange non-ninja?” he said indicating the tent behind him.
“Akira? I met him at a diner. Why do you care?” he asked.
“A diner? No, that doesn’t make sense. You don’t eat at diners; you eat every meal you can get at Ichiraku’s. I know because I have taken you there on many occasions. You are lying to me. WHY?” And he was pushed against the tree again.
“Well, I did meet him at a diner and what does that mean, Why?”
“Why him? What is so special about him? He is weak, and has no skills. Why would you be attracted to him?”
“Maybe because he pays attention to me.” Naruto added.
“I pay attention to you. How could anyone not?” Sasuke corrected.
“You? You only criticize me. That isn’t attention, that’s mean. I like Akira because he finds things to compliment me for. Now, shouldn’t you go to sleep, cause even your great beauty needs to avoid dark bags under your eyes? Goodnight, Sasuke.”