CHAPTER 2

-ooo-

"Ahhh, man I'm tired." Naruto was doing his best not to fall asleep in on his desk. Hinata, sitting next to him (since Naruto came too late and the only left place was in a first row) only smiled slightly.

"What did you do yesterday?"

"You wouldn't believe it!" Naruto seemed very lively suddenly when it came on telling the story.

"First, Tsunade-no-baachan kept yelling at me because some broken window – I haven't even done it- but like she would ever listen to me!"

Hinata's look was enough of evidence that she wouldn't believe him either.

And then I accidentally ran into this guy and knocked him down and when I apologized he was all cold and cocky so I punched him in the face and then we got into fight but Tsunade caught us once again – he was at the office before me but he kept saying he didn't get any detention,"

Hinata withstood the urge to say that getting detention is not the only reason to speak with principal.

"Well, and you know Tsunade-no-baachan, she didn't yell at me whole summer so she was really enjoying it. We are about to have some more detention today, both with that teme."

"Oh," Hinata said, "I thought you would like to go and eat ramen with me and my cousin, but I guess you're bussy…"

Naruto blinked. Was Hinata being spiteful? When did the sweet Hinata he knew disappeared?

"No, no, no, I will go with you! Just gotta meet me at six in front of school? Deal?"

"All right then."

"Oh, yeah, and then I had met-" Naruto, satisfied about his ramen, began to talk once again, his cheerful voice resonated in the classroom.

Very quiet classroom.

Where actually the only audible sound was Naruto's voice.

If stares could make sound, than there would be quite a noise. But they didn't, so it was deathly hush.

So hush, that Hinata could almost hear the stares.

"Mister Uzumaki would maybe like to continue in the teaching instead of me."

"Oh, yeah, sure, what was it again?" Naruto raised his head, completely missing the cold tone.

"I said, you would probably like to take over the lesson when you confident enough to not to pay attention."

"…sure. What lesson do we have now?"

-ooo-

Two boys were sitting on the roof. The one with noticeably yellow hair was leaning against wall, talking about something that seemed to leave the other one completely uninterested.

It did. Nothing had interested Shikamaru for a long, long time.

"…and so he kicked me out. Why aren't you in your class?"

"It's boring."

"You tell me about that…"

Shikamaru just yawned.

"I need a job."

"Do you? Would you mind working in bookstore?"

Naruto turned around to face the brown-haired guy. He did need a job, really. He would of course prefer something like…you know…where he wouldn't have to do anything actually…but he was happy with any job. He had a rent to pay after all.

"Yeah, I saw the flyer behind the glass at this old shop right next to 'rich town',"

Rich town was they have given to the luxurious part of the city that was inhabited by those who had no problems with money. The big companies had their centrals here, and the rich people lived in houses twice bigger than they would actually need. The streets were wide and clean and when walking along them, all those cars which probably cost more money than most of the population will ever see in their life were causally to be seen.

Since everyone wanted to live there, those who actually did were treated with this mix of irony and respect which is given rise by envy.

"There? Hm, I guess I can stop by…"

"Yeah, I'll go with you."

Naruto raised an eyebrow on sudden interest but he didn't show any intention of explaining himself.

The further continuing of their conversation was interrupted by Deidara, who came to join them on the roof. None of them seemed really surprised that the blonde student skipped his class as well. At least he was at school today.

"Hey Shikamaru, Naruto." He seated himself next to them.

"I was waiting for you yesterday till seven o'clock in front of your door like some kind of a stupid dog, un!" He turned to the man piercing him with disapproving glare.

"What the hell did you do? Like, the whole detention thing couldn't take long; Tsunade wouldn't bother to stay so long in the school just because of you, un."

Before Naruto got the chance to ask why he would wait for him in a first place, Deidara continued.

"Some red-head bastard laughed at me! Next time I'm just going to blow your front door up, un! And then I almost ran into Chiyo, un! You think I wanna meet her anytime soon?"

"Hey, hey, cool it. Some of us actually didn't skip the school and had better things to do! What did you need?" Naruto, currently irritated by the fact that he who actually made it to school with the hangover and acted like a proper student was punished, while Deidara, skipping, didn't even heard a word from the principal (yet as he knew Tsunade, but still).

"Ah, just forgot my art-block on your balcony…"

"Really, you remember it?" Shikamaru chuckled.

"I always remember my art, un!"

And in the time that followed was filled with Deidara's lecture about 'fleeting art', successfully ignored by the other two teenagers who stared down at the school campus enjoying the late summer sun and doing nothing.

That was the idyllic life of theirs. They didn't really count themselves delinquents (even though they did some small puns now and then, just for fun), but attending classes was just so troublesome, as would Shikamaru say. While he (and Naruto too in a way, although he wasn't a born genius) could afford it, Deidara didn't really care. The only classes he didn't miss frequently were his art lessons and the school sort of tolerated it because he did have potential here (even if he was blowing stuff up constantly).

And the roof was their unofficial meeting point ever since Deidara blew up that unused chem lab. Oh Naruto used to really love that place. Especially ever since Pein discovered some forgotten chemicals with awesome colours… Yeah, they've had fun back then.

When he thought about it, it was about time that Tsunade started chasing them wherever they went. Maybe it had something to do with the rat they left in her office…? And probably that part of basement that the explosion destroyed with the lab.

It never stopped amusing Naruto how she with inevitable accuracy found out every single trouble and bummer they were involved in. It never occurred to him that she simply blamed them for every trouble and bummer and she was usually right.

The ringing sounded as from distance when the lesson ended. Naruto and Deidara stood up deciding they've missed enough classes for today and Shikamaru gave them a lazy goodbye. He didn't move from his position, which was currently not as much sitting anymore and was closer to lying.

They passed by Pein who came in this direction to look for company and with intention to avoid the math class, looking for company on their roof.

The hallway was quickly filling with people whose classes had just ended and the ghostly silence that dominated the school corridors was swallowed by clamorous chatter. Noise captured the school for lively five minutes before the next lesson imprisoned the students once again in cold classrooms and made them listen to the monotonous voices of the teachers.

They parted their ways with Deidara and Naruto headed to his class.

The torture had begun.

-ooo-

And the torture continued. Deidara joined their detention group, much to Naruto's satisfaction. First, he really did deserve it and second, he wouldn't be able to get along with that arrogant bastard by himself. Not in hell.

" Heeee, man, Im so gonna die…" Naruto groaned for the fourth time, bumping his head against his desk (for the fourth time).

"We've already heard that, find something more original dobe." Said the great asshole Uchiha Sasuke, whose name Naruto learned from the very short list of people attending detention today (which contained him, Deidara and that raven haired bastard, because, really, who gets into rouble second day of school?).

"Oh shut up, nobody talked to you,"

Sasuke was still little bit overwhelmed that he is actually being kept at school after it ended. Not that he didn't do it quite often (he didn't really enjoy company of either of his family members) but it was not a detention. People like him simply didn't get a detention. It just didn't happen.

And he was stuck here with not one, but two blonde noisy idiots. Just great.

"Hn" Sasuke said. Naruto grew suspicious he did it just to tease him.

"It' all because of you anyway you cocky bastard!"

"Excuse me?! You're the one who punched me in the face!" It's not like Sasuke really raised his voice but almost.

"You asked for it teme!"

The situation when Tsunade entered the room was: Naruto shouting insults at Sasuke who, smirking, was holding his shirt pulling him up and Deidara sitting in a chair watching them with amused expression.

"Oi, brats!" Her voice had the required effect. Deidara looked amused at her, Naruto did pretty much the same and Sasuke with dismissive "tch" let the blonde's shirt go.

"When I said to do something useful, I didn't mean to destroy another classroom."

The raven haired genius looked at her with ice cold expression.

"I still claim I there is no reasonable explanation for me to be stuck here with those idiots."

Naruto was about to start shouting about but Tsunade was quicker.

"Your behaviour yesterday afternoon itself was reason big enough and don't fool yourself, having a good grades doesn't provide you any immunity and freedom to act however you like when you're not able to bear the consequences." The words flowing from principals mouth was as cold as Sasuke's face. Though she will not admit it, she did really enjoy to finally humiliating the spoiled, arrogant, selfish kid.

Whoa, and Naruto thought Tsunade hated him. He stared at the leaving teacher, for once loss of words.

Then he patted pityingly Sasuke's shoulder. "Welcome in a real world," he exclaimed and quickly dodged Sasuke's fist.

The raven-haired boy was raging. Well, not visibly apparently. But internally. Yes. Naruto laughed at him jumping around like an idiot he were and sticking his tongue, at least he tried to before he tripped over a chair. He lost balance, falling unavoidably on the ground.

His reward was a dry chuckle from the teme who was standing above him looking amused.

"Exactly how did you manage to trip over the only chair in like four meters around?"

Naruto, looking up to the smirking face found that he didn't like looking up to that face at all. Too bad he was smaller than Sasuke. He really wanted to look down at that bastard like he looked on everyone. How could have he been so arrogant anyway? No wonder Tsunade was so cold…

"Come on, stand up dobe."

…What? Was he offering him a hand? He blinked but didn't twice hesitate before accepting the help. So wasn't an ice statue after all…?

"Um, thanks," Naruto suddenly found himself very close to the Uchiha. They hands still touching, he was looking up in his obsidian eyes and found himself lost in them. He couldn't guess what the taller man was thinking. His face didn't change from the stoic mask and his eyes were just two deep ink spots not giving away a thing. But maybe, maybe it was a spark of interest Naruto spotted behind that dark curtain? Maybe if he looked closer…

"Ahem!" Deidara's voice broke filled the tensed atmosphere, they locked eyes broke apart. "I really hate to ruin your moment,"

Naruto, suddenly realizing he was still holding Sasuke's hand pushed him away and was pretty sure he blushed. Damn it, he didn't have a reason! It's not like he liked that bastard or anything. He was sexy, but that's all. Naruto would never date someone so spoiled and arrogant…wait, was he thinking about dating now? Stupid Deidara and hi stupid suggestions.

"but we can go now and I'm really not spending here more time than necessary."

"Yeaah, right, let's go. Of course, I'm meeting Hinata and some guy, Naji or Neji, something like that, you coming with?" Naruto grabbed Deidara around wrist and gave Sasuke one more nervous look over the shoulder before getting out of the room.

-ooo-

They met Hinata in front of the school building. She was sitting on a bank, next to a tall brown haired man. His eyes were the same storm-cloud colour as Hinatas, but the look was harder and didn't have the Hinatas kindness and naivety.

When she saw them, she jumped up. "Naruto, Deidara, this is my cousin, Neji."

The tall man stood up as well, nodding a bit. "Im honoured to finally meet the friends of Hinata I've heard so much about."

"Yeah, same here, same here," Naruto grinned and shook the offered hand, as did Deidara.

They walked slowly to one of their favourites places, Naruto secretly worrying whether it's gonna be good enough for Neji. He looked pretty much like a very rich kid, and used to some class. Well, Hinata would know, wouldn't she?

In fact, he couldn't be further from true, as he learned after a little while.

"So, what do you do, Neji?" Deidara asked after they were seated at Ichirakus, at their usual places.

"Im working in art business right now."

"He is working for Akasuna company, sort of talent hunter." Hinata completed her less talkative cousin.

" Ijust came back from Italia, I stayed in Venice for a little while, but I sort of ran out of money…"

"Wait, I thought that it has to be a good paid job," Naruto asked surprised. Even he has heard about Akasuna Corporation, and his interest in art was even lower than his interest for music (which was lower than zero, if it is even possible).

Neji's facial expression hasn't changed once since they've met him. His mask of a noble proud gentleman somehow didn't fit to his words.

"I wish." And after a little while he decided it would be probably suitable to say something little more, he added. "I took it right after I finished college, and I thought that in time I'll find sometihing better but I sort of stacked with it. I really thought about t as a side job at first, but, I actually like it"

Deidara who was sitting quietly most of the time, something that you don't see often by him, spoke out of sudden. "What did you study? I mean an art school or something? Did you want to be an artist? How did you even got a place like that?"

"Yeah, I studied art."

"He was really good," Hinata interrupted again. He did get many offers before he even graduated,"

"Yeah, it's a long story, but, to make it short, talent hunter fits me better I think…"

"But didn't you wanna be an artist? Did you just throw it away, everything?"

Naruto felt that Deidara is maybe getting little too excited for this topic. He couldn't fully understand his friend because he didn't quite share his big artist soul, but it must have been something not understandable for him, someone giving up his life dream, his art for some side job he didn't even want at the beginning.

"Not at all," Neji answered, in his usual calm manner. " I like this job. And I did study art, but it was more from general interest than that I would like to be an artist. True, I've hoped for something little different than talent hunter, but I like it. I can work with art, and I can see the art of other people, which is always interesting."

Though his voice was emotionless, the white eyes of his shined with something that even Hinata didn't see very often.

Deidara planned on starting to shout, but then seemed to think it over.

"I will be artist, un" he stated calmly.

That seemed to surprise Neji. "I didn't know you are interested that much." The dark haired man hesitated for a moment. "Im sorry."

Deidara nodded, the two of them coming to some silent agreement, some "artist only stuff", as Naruto inertly called it. Then the conversation seemed to drop that topic and travelled to Hinatas stadium, and Narutos neighbours, but when they were about to leave, Neji and Deidara exchanged number, Neji promising to take a look on Deidaras art and Deiadra babbling about some exhibition that Neji seemed to take great interest into.

Hinata and Neji parted from the others, Neji giving his cousin a ride, since they were planning on visiting Hinas parents because Neji returned from Italia.

"He is a nice guy, bit sticky," Naruto summed when they were alone.

"…un," The other blonde seemed a bit off. He was thinking about the great world of art, and because that usually meant that something is going to blow off early, Naruto assumed that trying to make conversation doesn't have any further sense, and said his quick goodbye.

He was walking the street with no real target, just walked, he didn't think about anything, but he just felt some weird melancholy that sometimes took him when he was alone, and the empty streets of evening city led him further and further from his house.

When he finally decided it's about time to get back he found himself on the completely other side of the city, and without a car or bike or anything.

"I should really learn to pay attention now and then,"

Then he picked up his phone. "Hey, Konan, didn't I wake you up?"

"No, honey, whats up?"

"Just need to sleep over, I sort of went for a walk and wandered near here."

"Sure, come. You got the keys."

"Thanks, you saved me"

"Its nothing,"

After some ten minutes he stood in front of Konans apartment, pressing the ring button.

She opened the door, her hair loose from typical bun but she didn't look like she was planning on going to bet otherwise.

"You're lucky, Pein promised to come over tonight but cancelled it like half an hour ago, so there's some food for you as well,"

"Thanks, Konan, you're perfect,"

"I know," she laughed. "And now, how the hell did you even get there? Some angry girl threw you on the street?"

"Yeah, well, I sort of wandered off after eating at Ichirakus… We've met Hinatas cousin, you know, the one she wont shut up about."

"And?"

"Well, bit cocky and cold, but a fine guy…and sexy, I'll leave him that."

They both laughed. Konan did know Naruto was gay, and never lost opportunity to make some joke about it, like girl and stuff. At first Naruto doubted if she is cool with it when she keep reminding him, but then, it was Konan.

"Can I eat the last slice of pizza as well?"

"Yeah, sure,"

Konan answered from behind of the running shower. Naruto didn't hesitate twice before doing so, and then searching the fridge hoping to find something that would not fit into Konan's healthy life style. He failed terribly. Not that it mattered much, he did have dinner at Ichhirakus after all, it was just that, food was food after all, never lose an opportunity to eat.

After some more trying he discovered a forgotten meat role and he was the happiest person on the planet.