CHAPTER 7
After waiting for an hour for his verdict, Naruto wanted nothing more than to go home and curl under the blankets with a hot cup of green lemon tea. He and Neji were sitting in the waiting room after delivering Tsunade and Jiraya the CDs with his acting. But it wasn't the worst there was. Before that he had to suffer sleeping over at Kakashi's place, listening to the man's teasing for the better half of the night. Then, when the Hyuuga picked him up and learned that he had just spent a night at a MAN's apartment, the brunette sulked and conversed in monosyllabic words. Which, to Naruto's knowledge, weren't even considered words by the sane part of the world. He wondered if it was a 'rich thing'. Because, no matter how he didn't want to compare the Hyuuga and the bastard Uchiha, the two had this trait in common. Just to be spiteful, the blonde voiced this thought out loud. And what do you know, Neji started talking normally that instant. Albeit not in a very happy tone, but it wasn't something Naruto cared much about.
The pale-eyed guy could sulk and brood as much as he wanted and the Uzumaki wasn't going to do a damn thing about it. What? It wasn't like he cheated on the man. They weren't even together for crying out loud! He just promised that he'd give Neji a chance and nothing more. Though it was disturbing how everyday he was looking forward to the Hyuuga's appearance or calls. Really, they didn't even spend much time together and almost were behaving like boyfriends. It made Naruto nearly groan at how pathetic he was. The blonde concentrated his gaze on the area of his heart and then groin. 'Traitors...'
He would definitely avoid telling that to Ino, otherwise his relatively peaceful life would come to an end. Sure, she was his best friend, but the woman knew how to make him all worked up and start sprouting things he wouldn't want to tell her for the life of him. Plus, he also thought that Shikamaru would appreciate his girl not being more excited than she already was. Naruto cursed silently - women were so hard to deal with. He was lucky to be gay.
Suddenly, the wooden door before them opened and Tsunade poked her head out.
"Ok, you two can come in."
The office Naruto and Neji entered was not very big, but had enough space to gather 15 people at least. It was cozy, with warm pale yellow curtains, red plush armchairs, big wooden table, a TV set with a DVD player and a nice colorful carpet. On the other side of the table sat the famous people whom the blonde saw only on TV. Tsunade was a busty woman with a slim waist and a nice bum. Her dirty blonde hair divided into two casual pigtails and her walnut-colored eyes sharp. She looked no older than 30, whereas in reality the woman was over forty. The man to her left was her business partner and husband Jiraya, also known as the author of a popular smut Icha Icha Paradise book series. He was a big physically fit man; his pure white hair was almost to his waist, two tattooed red stripes went from under his eyes to his chin. Tsunade was the first one to speak.
"Well, Naruto, we took a look at the videos and I want to say that we were pleased with what we saw. It's apparent that you lack a little patience and practice, but otherwise you performance was very good. I'd say you are a natural."
Naruto blinked a few times, not quite ready for such praise.
"Uh...thanks."
The woman smiled warmly while Jiraya laughed whole-heartedly.
"Say, brat, what do you think about fighting?"
"Well, I can kick some asses if situation calls for it. I wasn't taught martial arts or anything, but streets are the best school you can find."
"I see, I see. Hmm...Would you show us the level of your flexibility?"
Naruto really couldn't see where this was going. He came here to get an advice and now they were asking him to stretch in front of them?
"Eh...like, right now?"
"Yes, of course. If it's not a problem."
The blonde looked at Neji, who, despite his own confused state, kept his cool and gave a slight nod to the object of his affections. Naruto stood up, thankful that the slacks he was wearing were loose and soft and wouldn't hinder his movements.
Naruto felt a little embarrassed before three pairs of eyes, but sucked it up and lifted his right leg in full splits, while keeping his torso straight. Then he put the leg back on the floor and arched back, stretching his hands and doing a bridge. A few seconds later he stood back, looking at the famous couple, feeling unsure. Suddenly, both grinned at him.
"Wonderful! Naruto, what do you think about ninjas?"
...
Naruto and Neji sat silently in the car.
"I can't believe it..."
"Yeah, I know. But you did it, you should be happy."
"I am...I just didn't even imagine it could turn out this way..."
In the end, Naruto got a main role in the movie 'Ninja Wars', along with a few famous actors. It appeared that the two producers were looking for a person for the role for a long time, but only he fit the description. Also he had the advantage in form of fighting experience and flexibility for the battle scenes. Now he only needed to be taught the right movements. It was planned from the start that every actor would to all the tricks themselves for the movie to look as close to reality as possible. By the end of the discussion, Naruto and the producers had an argument, but it didn't influence their decision one bit. He wondered if those people were sane. How could such a pervert like Jiraya become a world's famous person was beyond Naruto.
*FLASHBACK* "I was wondering, brat...are you gay?" "Huh? What does that have to do with anything?" Jiraya grinned pervertedly. "Weeeeeeell..." "Oh hell no! Tell me this movie isn't based on one of your stupid Icha Icha books!" "HEY! They are not stupid! They are the work of art! Of course you won't understand that, being just a dumb little kid." "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A 'DUMB LITTLE KID? YOU OLD PERVERT!" "I am not a pervert!" "Yeah, right...and I'm not blonde..." "I am a SUPER pervert!" At this point Tsunade just slammed her forehead onto the table and groaned, while Neji and Naruto stealthily backed out of the office, leaving Jiraya sprouting some nonsense about how his books were of romance genre and helped the readers to get better acquainted with the world of wild passion, love and their darkest desires. In the end, none of them had any idea why in the world, was the old pervert asking Naruto that question. Though the blonde thought it was better not to know. *END FLASHBACK* "Neji, can you take me home? I don't think I'm in my right mind right now."
"Of course."
The ride to Naruto's apartment was uncomfortably silent, since both young men were distressed after witnessing Jiraya's antics. When Neji parked his car in front of Naruto's building, the blonde turned to him.
"Wanna have a drink with me? Because I think you need one as much as I do."
"That would be nice."
Despite his slightly 'out of it' state, Neji was ecstatic to receive an invitation. This was the first time Naruto initiated something between the two of them and he wasn't about to pass this chance up. Besides he had never been in his beloved's apartment, so it would be the first time he'd see it. It was also a good chance to find out more about the blonde, his hobbies and dislikes. Maybe it would help him to somehow win the stubborn man's heart. The morning's sulking was already forgotten as Neji almost skipped after Naruto.
...
4 hours later
"...'n then he stood on his knees 'n begged...jus' imagine - Uchiha fuckn' Sas'ke begged - to take 'im back...that dipshit...poor 'Tachi! If only he'd known how 'is lil' brother was behavin'...'n 'Tachi was a good man unlike that bast'rd..."
Neji felt his head spinning a little and tried counting how much they had to drink. After realizing he counted the same bottle a few times, he gave up. Perhaps it was better not to know. That's when it struck him that he was pretty much drunk. However, unlike Naruto, his speech didn't slur. And he took his drunken pride in it. Pale eyes drifted to his companion and his cheeks heated up. Naruto was so cute and open after some alcohol intake, that he almost squealed like a girl. Meanwhile, Naruto continued his drunken rambling.
"...I liked 'Tachi...he always took good care of me...'n he had 'em pretty eyes...ya know, all black 'n mys-mys-mysterious...yeah, tha's the word - mysterious...buuut S'uke 's such an ass...did you see 'is hair?...'s like a duck butt..."
All of a sudden, the unfocused blue orbs turned ti Neji and the Hyuuga blinked a few times.
"Ya know...your hair 's very pretty...so looooooong 'n silky..."
2 more hours later
"...'n then S'uke fainted when he saw blooooood...'s like was only a scratch, ya know...like a dog, nooooo... like a cat...yeah like a cat scratch...Neji, ya like cats?"
The young Hyuuga, who at the moment was even more drunk, but still had his speech intact, though his mind was hazy, thought for a second, all the while blue expectant eyes trained on him.
"Mhm...I think...I think I would like to have a cat." Then his dark arched eyebrows narrowed. "And I'm not afraid of blood and scratches."
Blue eyes widened to an impossible size.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really really?"
"Really."
"Are you.. like...200% sure?"
"Mhm."
"Yay! Neji 'n I will 'ave a kitty!"
Dark brows shot up in surprise.
"We will?"
"'Course! You like kitty 'n me too! Then...then we'll buy tha thing...thing...hmmm...scratch pole! 'n we'll name it S'uke! I've pic-picture of S'uke 'n we can put it on 'e pole...tis'll be like a voooooo...yeah voodoo pole!"
"I think I like that idea...and we can be like ninjas...throw knives at the picture..."
Naruto giggled cutely, his cheeks red and eyes shining with drunken mirth. After a moment the blonde fell silent and stared into pale lilac orbs.
"Y know, Nejiiiii...you've pretty eyes..."
"I do?"
"Mhmmmmm...even prettier tha 'Tachi's..."
A second later, the young Hyuuga found a warm body in his lap, soft lips covering his.
"Neji...you 'r ninja?"
"Yeah..."
"Tra-tran-transport us to bed!"
...
Next morning Neji woke up with a mind numbing headache. He didn't dare to open his eyes in fear of worsening his uncooperative head's state. He shuffled slightly under the soft blanket and felt something was wrong. After a few minutes of contemplating he came to a conclusion that he was naked, which was strange since he never slept nude. Some time later an understanding, that despite the headache he felt nice and sated, came. Okay, this meant he had sex. Next question. With whom? Something warm and big shifted at his right side.
'Hmm...seems like a body. Alright, yesterday...Tsunade, Jiraya, Naruto getting a role...then drinking, then...oh FUCK!'
In a blink of an eye it all came back to him, overloading his poor head. Terrified, he slowly turned his head to the right and was met with a pair of blinking sleepy blue eyes. All his insides froze.
'NO. FUCKING. WAY!'
