Taiikusai

Disclaimer: I neither own these characters nor profit from having them fulfill my perverted fantasies.

Author's note: Some fans tend to hate it when writer's use Japanese in their fics. I warn you now that I'm one of those people that uses Japanese. However, I try to limit it to relatively insignficant greetings, phrases and you should be able to still understand what's going on. I also find it necessary since the high school is based on the Japanese school system and therefore all details have been added accordingly. Feel free to address me with any questions, concerns, anxieties, frustrations... and let the fic begin~


"Ne, ne, obasan! How about some ramen?" Naruto pulled out a green frog from his back pocket, prying open the mouth to place a few coins on the counter.

The school cook glared at Naruto from behind the lunch counter, one hand on her apron clad hip. "How about you read the menu?" She pointed towards the large white sign, available dishes printed in large, black letters. "You want soba or udon?" she asked firmly.

Naruto pouted and whined. "But you KNOW I only eat raaaamen!" The growing line behind him began to fidget. She held her stance for a while, eyes narrowing at him as they always did. Naruto gave him her most pathetic expression, palms pressed together in supplication.

Her eyes began to soften and a smile broke out. "Fine, fine. One miso ramen coming up," she leaned over to pick up the coins. "But don't let anyone else know," she winked conspiratorially.

Naruto chuckled and nodded enthusiastically. He knew she always prepared a bowl especially for him, but she refused to admit that her supposedly old wrinkled heart was capable of such kindness. Instead, they indulged in this cat and mouse routine daily. In precious few minutes, Naruto had a piping hot bowl of ramen and he plunked himself down at an empty table.

"Itadakimaaasu!" He clapped his hands together and split his chopsticks. He went straight for his namesake- the naruto.

A young man with a ponytail strolled up to the table, one finger in his ear. "Can't you do anything quietly?" He slid onto the opposite bench, dropping his boxed lunch on the table.

SLUUUURP! Naruto shoveled noodles into his mouth, disregarding the pointed comment.

"Never mind. Don't even TRY answering with your mouth full. It's bad enough *listening* to you eat," Shikamaru grimaced.

"Dun ya haf cowds ta vat?" Naruto raised both eyes from his bowl. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at him, pulling his chopsticks out of their holder and opening up his bento box.

"You want to try that again in something human?"

Sip. Sloop. Sluuuuurp. Naruto tried to be extra noisy just to annoy him.

"I said, don't you have clouds to watch?"

Shikamaru snorted. "I would, except Ino caught on. Stupid Chouji ratted me out for a candy bar. Now the *first* place she looks for me is on the roof. You're so lucky you didn't get stuck on her committee." He dropped his head onto the table, looking much more tired than he did this morning.

Snort. "Try listening to how stupid you are all day from Sakura-chan and not feeling dignified enough to even be told so by that prick Sasuke."

"The things we gotta do for school spirit. Che. Pain in the ass." Shikamaru lifted an onigiri and tucked in.

"I just wanna get to the competition already! Who cares about the dancing! I'd rather kick everyone else's ass in the races!" Naruto's voice raised in excitement. He could imagine himself gloriously winning the raced, winning Sakura's praise...

"Yeah, well, you'll have some competition from what I hear. We may have Sasuke and Neji on our side, but Gaara is on team Suna." Shikamaru shot a glance to the other side of the cafeteria where Kankuro sat amidst the third years.

Naruto scrunched his face and scratched his whiskers.

"His siblings too."

Naruto cringed.

"Who came up with that scheme anyway? Team Konoha..Leaf. It doesn't scream 'I'll kick your ass' now does it?" Shikamaru reflected.

"It's better than A,B,C?" Naruto offered.

Shikamaru didn't look convinced.

"SHIKAMARU!" An indignant blonde slammed her hand onto the table, tapping her foot impatiently. "I've been looking ALL over for you! Oh, hello Naruto dear," she seemed to just notice him, her face suddenly regaining it's charm. "Is your teammate Sasuke-kun around?" She batted her eyes.

Naruto took a sip of ramen and shook his head meekly. Ino was always scary when her other personality took over. "Perhaps later then... as for YOU!" she spun her head around, "we still need to compile the list of runners for the long distance race AND the three legged race, AND.."

"Fine, fine I get it. Che. SUCH a pain." Shikamaru begrudgingly stood up from the table and gave Naruto one of those "shoot me" looks. He threw his lunch back into his box and slammed the lid close. "Catch you later," he huffed.

Naruto watched Ino drag him away and for once he thanked his lucky stars that he WAS on Sakura's team. A few cold shoulders and insults seemed like nothing against Ino's nagging...

***


There was one advantage to having a last name near the top of the alphabet. It meant having a seat by the window whenever the class was seated alphabetically. However, it also meant that the famed Uchiha sat behind him. Said Uchiha, as class leader, wouldn't allow him to sleep in class. So instead, he did the next best thing. He stared out the window.

His homeroom, like all the other first years, was on the second floor. He could stare straight across the courtyard into the teacher's office where he was certain it wasn't a text book Kakashi-sensei was studying so intently. Tsunade hag sat at her desk at the head of the office and worked through the phenomenal stack of papers that accumulated there. He decided he would make sure to visit her after school certain that she would welcome the distraction. As the first female vice principal of Konoha Gakuin, she sure acted tough, but Naruto knew she was a total softy beneath it all.

He pondered the wisdom of asking her to eliminate the school uniform policy when he felt a jab at the center of his back.

"Eh hem. Kiritsu." Sasuke glared daggers at him.

Naruto looked around and realized that he was the only one NOT standing. Sheepishly, he pushed away his chair and straightened himself out.

"Rei." The whole class bowed and Asuma-sensei strolled out of the room. Naruto sunk into his chair and gathered his things. Before he could escape, a hand latched onto him and sat him down.

"We need to discuss the designs for the signboard," Sakura said.

"How about you give me the paint and I take care of it, Pollock style?" Naruto grinned.

"Cuz the administration loved it the last time you did that, dobe."

"How about... wait, you know who Pollock is?" Sakura looked impressed.

"Who do you think was my inspiration for the founder's mural job I did?" He chuckled at the memory.

"I thought that was to eliminate prints..." she pondered. "But honestly, we're not gonna win that way."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just running to see Tsunade-hag. I'll see you in the art room at 4. See you later sakura-*chan*, Uchiha bastard."

"Hn."

He knew he essentially blew off his teammates, but he hadn't seen Tsunade in a while and as one of the few adults he felt a slight kinship for he decided to pay her a visit. Meetings could wait and he still had a good twenty minutes before he was due back at the art room. He thought about telling Tsunade about his appointment to the signboard committee, or asking her tips on what sorts of ideas would win. Sprinting down the hall towards the teacher's office he was caught rounding the corner when the disciplinarian stuck his head out of his office.

"NARUTO!" a familiar voice scolded.

"Good afternoon Iruka-sensei. How may I help you?" He grinned, what he hoped, was his most genuine, "I'm a little angel" smile.

"Don't give me that smile! Look at your uniform! I told you to stop wearing that ridiculous orange tie! and where is your coat?" Iruka-sensei stared down at him, hands on his hips like the cafeteria lady. His eyes drifted to his blond hair. "Are you still dying your hair!?"

"It's too hot for a coat!" Naruto whined. He pushed up his rolled up sleeves to emphasize his point. "And you know my hair is natural! You think I'm motivated enough to dye my hair every week?"

"That's true...I mean, of course you are!" Iruka faltered. "Um. Just try not to wear the orange tie anymore, okay?" He looked a little sympathetic for once.

"I'll try Iruka-sensei." Naruto winked. "Catch you later dattebayo!" A blonde head was rapidly disappearing down the hall.

Iruka-sensei shook his head.


Naruto burst through the doors of the teacher's office. "Shitsurei shimaaaaaasu!" The teachers all spun their heads in his general direction. Only a few months at school and he already had a reputation.

"Loud as usual, Uzumaki."

Naruto froze. Standing in front of Tsunade's desk was the student president- his old acquaintance, Gaara. Naruto’s heart leapt up to his throat. He chuckled nervously while his right hand gravitated to the back of his head- the only tell-tale sign of his awkwardness.

“Gaara! Long time no see!” he said cheerfully.

“Already lost respect for me?” Gaara admonished.

Naruto blushed, realizing his mistake. “Old habits die hard, Gaara-*sempai*.” He felt self conscious having slipped in front of so many teachers.

Gaara smirked and returned his attention to Tsunade. “These are the updated student reports. I’ll notify you of any upcoming changes in the festival preparations.” He handed her a slim envelope full of papers no doubt on the upcoming taiikusai. She accepted them with a nod, placing them on the corner of her desk. Naruto watched their exchange with interest, surprised when Gaara gave a curt bow. “Jaa, shitsurei shimashita.” This Gaara was not what he remembered. Headed for the door, Gaara shot a sideways glance at Naruto. “I look forward to the competition. Take care of yourself, Uzumaki-kun," he said in hushed tones.

Icy green eyes, the barest hint of a smirk- that was the Gaara he remembered. It took all of his resolve not to close his eyes and shiver.

“Er, YEAH! You too!” Naruto turned belatedly, but Gaara was already out the doors.

Tsunade stood at her desk and grinned. “Are you always that eloquent? Or does Gaara-kun have some special Uzumaki bane I should know about?” She looked amused, walking around the desk to greet him informally.

Naruto sputtered. “Shut up hag! He’s been my sempai ever since middle school! I haven’t seen him in awhile," he calmed down, "it just surprised me.”

Tsunade flicked his forehead. “Watch your tone brat." Her eyes looked around to remind him of their setting. "But I’ll forgive you just this once. Better remember who you're talking to next time," she said somewhat menacingly. Naruto grumped and nodded. She chuckled and ruffled his hair. "So which one shocked you more? That you’re both at the same high school or that he’s the youngest student president in the school’s history?” Tsunade leered. “And what happened to you, Mr. I’ll be school president and make them all bow to me?”

Naruto stuck out his tongue. “You know I stopped saying that when I was 12. It’s Toudai for me now!” Naruto grinned from ear to ear.

Tsunade whapped him on the head with her folder. “Then pick up your grades, brat. I've been keeping tabs on you. Your creativity may get you by in English and Art, but your math could use a little more work.”

“I KNOW that," he said. "I'm still settling in," he shrugged.

“So then what can I do for you?” she asked.

“Well, you can eliminate the school uniforms, tell Iruka-sensei that this *is* my natural hair color and give Uchiha bastard someone else’s committee to plague.”

“Oh?" She raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Absolutely not, I’ll give him a word, and deal with it." She crossed her arms. "Anything else?” she winked.

Naruto crossed his arms over his chest, pouting. He was about to stomp out when he thought of one more thing. “Who the hell decided to name our group Konoha Leaf?”

***


Naruto slid the door open and stepped into the art room. Canvases, buckets of paint, and half finished works littered the room. His own was in the corner, still half finished and not properly covered. Sasuke and Sakura sat at one of the tables, pouring over a mass of papers spread out like the evidence of a crime scene.

“The challenge is working our signboard into our theme. Who the hell came up with leaves anyway?”

Naruto snorted. “Ice prick here did.”

Sakura’s eyes grew wide as she realized just how far she had stuck her foot in her mouth. “Oh, I didn’t mean…” She smiled nervously. “It was a great idea! Really…”

Sasuke glared and turned away from them. “I’d like to see you do better.”

“That’s why I should have been class leader and not that frigid bastard.”

“Naruto! Watch your language. And you were *sleeping* during nominations. You weren’t even running in the competition.”

Naruto pouted. “Technicalities. I still think I’d do a better job in my sleep.”

“Then tell us, dobe. What’s your brilliant idea for the signboard?”

“Anything but ninja. That was *everyone’s* theme last year. Besides, I’m still thinking about it. Waiting for that moment of brilliance to strike! Heehee.”

“Yeah, well *try* to slack off and something else will be striking you pretty soon," Sakura threatened.

“SAkuraaaa.”

“Don’t whine Naruto. What do you think of these designs?”

Two hours later and still nothing had been accomplished. More ideas were suggested, many more were ruled out and when six rolled around, they were shooed off campus and told to go home. Naruto was never more willing to comply with the adminstration.

Rushing over to his locker, he quickly changed out of his indoor shoes, waved good-bye to Sakura and headed for the front gate. He stopped for a moment when on a whim, he decided to stop by the founder’s mural— the one he so proudly defaced in his younger days. Having no ideas for the sign board, he wondered if perhaps it would spark some ideas, a moment of inspiration. Though perhaps not the same inspiration as his youth.

He stood outside the school entrance way and stopped. Staring up across the way his eyes swept over the large painting. Four men held their heads up high. The first two, the original founders, were familiar, yet unknown faces. They regarded him with disinterest making Naruto wonder if they were as big a fuddy duddy as their portrait made them out to be. The third face was less cold, gentle eyes staring out at him from a face he only knew too well. Sandaime….

The old man had always been kind to Naruto, despite the circumstances. Though they were unrelated, he had been a welcome presence in his youth and Naruto had always thought of him as an unofficial grandfather. He let his gaze linger on his face a little longer, remembering the bits of kindness he had shown Naruto as a child. His management practices were always considered unusual, but Naruto had always respected his ability to go against the grain.

“You look like him.” Naruto jumped a little. “I couldn’t tell at first, but you’ve grown. I can see the resemblance now.”

Naruto growled and wheeled to tell off the speaker for scaring him, but when he did, the words were caught in his throat.

Gulp. “Good evening, Gaara-sempai.”

Gaara smiled a little. “You can drop the formality. Tsunade-san isn’t around. I know you’d prefer to beat my face to a pulp before showing me any mock respect.”

Naruto just barely restrained himself from spitting out a denial. He turned back to the mural instead. "You think so?" His eyes shifted to the fourth face in the mural- to his father, Minato Namikaze. He hardly remembered his father, but he had always imagined he had his mother's looks and had little resemblance to his father growing up.

“It's just a painting, but I imagine you have his eyes, and perhaps his hair." Gaara touched a lock of his yellow hair to emphasize. Startled, Naruto pulled away. "Long time no see, Uzumaki." Gaara paid no mind to his jumpiness. "I heard you were here this year. I would have stopped by to visit sooner, but I’ve been too busy to extend any personal greetings.” Naruto could sense a hint of mischief behind those words. He had a feeling personal greetings entailed a little more than the exchange of words.

Naruto harrumphed. “Well SORry Mr. President. I would have rolled around to engage in the usual rough housing, but Umino already has it in for me and Tsunade threatened to kick my ass personally if I got the new school pres suspended. Old hag. She implied it would be *my* fault.”

Gaara smirked. “The adults love to see a rebel reformed. Neji also warned me against repeat performances from our junior high days.”

“No shit. Next they’ll try to get me to follow your oh so perfect example," Naruto teased.

Gaara frowned. “Not perfect. Still trying. Some of the more conservative board members still want to revoke my status. A former delinquent and outed homosexual isn’t exactly their notion of a school role model.”

Naruto regretted his earlier comment. Apparently reforming yourself these days wasn't easy. “Don’t worry about it." He thought about patting Gaara's shoulder, but decided against it. He kept to himself and put on his usual front instead. "And if they try to call you a pansy assed fairy, then we can give them a good ass-kicking!”

Gaara glared. “Uzumaki… *you’re* the only one stupid enough to call me that.”

Nervous chuckle. “Well, there’s nothing a good ass-whooping can’t cure anyways. That’s what I always say.”

“Hn? Then I guess I’ll fix that ego of yours in the festival.”

Naruto sputtered. “You WISH! Who kicked whose ass last time?”

“Hardly. Call it a stroke of luck.” Gaara leaned in closer. “I’m not the same man I used to be.”

Naruto swallowed harshly. He could feel his cheeks warming up. He plastered a grin on his face and let out a high pitched laugh. It sounded frantic even to his own ears. “Wanna bet? I bet we'll beat your team in everything! In fact, I bet we'll win best of show!”

“Oh?" Gaara seemed far too amused by this. "Care to make a wager?”

Naruto’s eyes grew wide. He quelled it quickly, forcing himself to act more calm than he really was. “Why not? It’s your loss dude!" He forced himself not to panic. "How much you wanna bet? Sen yen? Ichiman?”

“If I win, you wear a dress at the culture festival." Gaara smirked. "If you win, I’ll do *anything* you ask.”

Naruto swallowed. Hard. Had it been anyone *but* Gaara, he would have sworn there was a purr to that “anything.” Instead, he inhaled sharply and clenched his fists to stop them from trembling.

“You’re on raccoon boy!”

Gaara quirked a nonexistent brow. “Haven’t heard that one in awhile.” Naruto forced a grin and waved him away.

As soon as he reached the gate, Naruto clutched his chest and let out a big sigh of relief. He knew he had a big mouth, but sometimes he couldn’t help himself. He snuck a peek at the pale red head boy standing at the mural. His eyes trailed down the form fitting burgundy blazer; the white collar of his pressed shirt bunched near the buttons and fed into snug gray pants. Gaara’s legs were spread just so… the fabric of his slacks clinging to his…

:: Keep it clean Uzumaki. The last thing you need right now is a bike ride with a hard on.::

Naruto inhaled deeply and willed his body to calm down. He had to go home. And then he had to train. Yeah, definitely train. This was no simple school competition anymore. Now, there was a prize to be won.