a/n: I am really sorry for such a long wait…I was reminded of this story by narusasu-fan00 and I want to thank you very much for the message. XD. This chapter is dedicated to you.

Chapter 9: Relationship Issues

Naruto scurried to school after the whole Itachi episode. He was confused and hurt. Why did everyone have to hurt him and humiliate him? He had really thought that Itachi was different, but his actions and words in the car only proved otherwise. It looked like Itachi and Sasuke were more alike than he had previously imagined. Arriving in his classroom ten minutes before the bell' he proceeded to sit next to the Sai: the only one who understood him better than anyone.

"Hey Sai, what's up?" Naruto asked, plastering a small smile on his face.

"Nothing, except that I have barely heard from you in a while. Are you ok?" Sai replied, already turning into the overprotective best friend he was.

"Yeah, just some personal issues, and really and truly, I need your advice," Naruto admitted, and his face flushed a light crimson as he told his entire sordid affair with Sasuke and his seemingly hopeful love with Itachi. Sai, as usual, remained as impassive as possible throughout Naruto's story, keeping all murderous comments to himself.

"Well, what should I do?" the blond asked, finally glad to have been able to pour his heart out to someone.

"You will not be doing anything Naru. I already have a plan. I'm gonna borrow some of the lab's knives and chop up these Uchihas into such little pieces, we can even cook them after and feed them to the poor," Sai replied, a dark look already forming on his face. His sweet, innocent Naruto defiled once again, and even worse, by a teacher of the school. Sai conveniently forgot Sasuke's apologies and pleas for some kind of forgiveness. He had also managed to block out all the relief and comfort Itachi had provided for the blond.

"No. Lets please leave your violent tendencies out of this. I just…I'm confused Sai. I am so damned confused…and I am tired. I'm tired of being the victim. I'm tired of the one being taken advantaged of. I just…I don't know exactly what I want…and I don't know what to do about the situation with Itachi. Sasuke made a promise and I believe he will stick to it. But Itachi…I still have feelings for him."

Sai looked at the thoughtful look on Naruto's face and realized that this Itachi really meant a lot to Naruto. Sai understood. He understood very well. He did not know exactly what Naruto was feeling, but he knew Naruto enough to be able for fix the problem. Personally, Sai would very much like to shove a stick up Sasuke's ass and keep it there; and Itachi…well he'd probably do the same to the elder Uchiha. But violence was out of the question. Naruto hated it. After everything the boy had been through, violence scared him the most. It reminded him of his painful past with his father: something he would rather forget.

Sai realized that he could not help Naruto…at least not alone. This dilemma was too big for one person. But he knew someone else who could help…he just needed Naruto to agree with him.

"Sai? Sai? Are you in there somewhere?" Naruto playfully asked, a smile adorning his adorable face.

"What? Oh yeah…I'm here Naru. I'm not leaving you anytime soon."

Meanwhile….

Itachi was so frickin angry with himself, he was practically thinking of driving his car off the damn bridge near his home. After his obvious screw-up this morning, he wanted nothing more than to turn back in time and take back all the hurtful things he had said to Naruto. The one he loved more than he probably loved himself. He remembered that a fortune teller had once said that his pride and jealousy would be the death of him, and he had to admit that that stupid two-bit psychic was right.

Just looking at that scared, crushed expression on Naruto's face was enough to kill him a little inside. He had felt as though the apocalypse had come early, and it was his damn fault.

"Damn it! I am such an idiot!" Itachi screamed in the car. His vice grip on the steering wheel making his knuckles turn even whiter. Itachi never cried. But right now, at this very moment, he felt like crying. He knew that he had to fix it. He had to make things right with Naruto, or else his brother would sneak up behind him and steal away the one person that meant more than his life.

"You are so whipped Itachi Uchiha" he muttered to himself.

"You want me to what?" Naruto asked, his mouth opened in an almost comical expression.

"You heard me Naru. Orochimaru is your favourite teacher, and without a doubt, you are his favourite student. He'd do anything for you. I am serious, and don't give me that look. Orochimaru and Kabuto are together right? Well, they are the only same-sex couples I know, and what's better, they'd have tons of advice, advice that I can't give you because I don't have any experience," Sai reasoned, trying to convince Naruto that talking to someone older, and better suited to handle his kind of problems would actually yield a solution to his dilemma.

"No. N-O. I am not gonna spill my heart and soul to another teacher. That completely defeats the purpose of me allowing Sasuke to hurt me, remember?" Naruto replied a bluntly and so un-Naruto-like.

"I am not saying that you have to tell him about everything. Just explain your relationship troubles with him. He'll know what to do. And you could always leave out the finer details. You said that you were tired of being the victim, right? Well, this is just out first step. Ok? Do you trust me Naru?" Sai asked sincerely.

Naruto rolled his eyes and replied, "Of course I trust you. What kind of dumbass question is that?"

"Well good. During your free period after lunch, you will talk with Orochimaru. Agreed?"

"Fine," Naruto reluctantly agreed.

Class continued as usual and with each pass minute, Naruto began dread his free period…the one thing he actually looked forward to during his allotted time in school. Sai said that he had a plan, at least one which did not consist of blood and gore, and anything akin to a horror movie.

"How is talking to Oro-sensei gonna help me anyway? He's a teacher…not a couples' therapist! Damn Sai…." Naruto continued to mutter under his breath, until he bumped into someone tall…and someone with too much hair. Naruto looked up and realized that he accidentally walked into the same man he was thinking about. Damn, he'll definitely live long, he thought.

"Naruto, are you ok?" the chemistry teacher asked, genuine concern etched into the corners of his golden eyes.

"Um, yeah. Maybe I should be asking you that Oro-sensei…" Naruto said a bit sheepishly, his left hand scratching the back of his neck in slight nervous confusion.

"Hehe…I can assure I am fine, and by the looks of it, you seem pretty much unscathed. I actually came to look for you. Sai said that you needed to speak me about something of urgent importance. Is this true?" Orochimaru looked down at his pupil, who was now sporting a light pink blush on his tanned scarred cheeks.

I am going to kill Sai, Naruto thought, until he realized that Oro-sensei had just given him a way out. All he had to say was " No, Sai was lying sensei. You know how he is…always trying to play some kind of dumb joke on me." Laugh and move on. Orochimaru would believe him in a heartbeat and problem solved.

Instead, "Um…yes. There was something I needed to talk to you about." Naruto almost bit down hard on his traitorous tongue, as he plastered a shaky smile on his face, and followed Orochimaru into his office.

"So what seems to be problem?" the teacher asked as he got himself comfortable on his nice plushy chair.

"Um…well…it's a little embarrassing…and I'm not even sure if you are the right person to be talking to..no offense or anything."

"That's alright. None taken. You know, you don't have to tell me-"

"Nooo..it's not that. I mean. I'm not sure how to tell you. It's between me and a…guy…and-"

"Halt. You mean you have relationship issues. Well, why didn't you say so in the first place!" Orochimaru declared, a bright smile on his face as though he had discovered the cure for cancer.

"Huh" was Naruto's intelligent response.

"Now I know why Sai wanted you to talk to me. I don't mean to boast, but I am a bit of a relationship guru in the school," Orochimaru said with a bit of pride in his voice. The same broad smile on his face.

"A what? Since when?" Naruto asked loudly.

"Well you know…there aren't many same sex couples in this school in case you haven't noticed, and the very few we have are embarrassed about going to a regular therapist to sort out their issues. And since Kabuto and I are one of the very first same-sex couples in this school…you must admit, we seem like the likely candidates for couples seeking some kind of help. Yeah?" Orochimaru explained patiently, even more pride entering his voice.

After Naruto thought about it, he had to admit that his sensei did have a valid point. As a matter of fact, he didn't think he knew any other gay/lesbian couples in school. But according to Oro-sensei, they did exist, they were just probably on the down low.

"Well, do you want to tell me the problem?" Orochimaru asked.

"Yeah, I guess so. I really hope we can work this out sensei," Naruto answered honestly. He really did like Itachi a lot, and he needed to know if Orochimaru thought if their relationship was worth saving.

A/n: I know it is super short, but it was a bit rushed. I promise an even longer Chapter within the next few days. If I do not fulfill this promise, you, my wonderful readers are free to flame me as much as possible and I would not take offense. Sorry for any errors you may have encountered while reading.