"I do not believe in a fate that will happen because of what you do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on you because of what you do not do"

Ronald Reagan

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Hey guys! I wrote this because i had stinking writers block with See no Evil! lol so here you go!

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Chapter One: From stories to parties to punishment

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It was a rather chilly morning for August but the weather these days had been anything but normal. Something strange was going on but it seemed that I was the only one who felt this.

I take in one more deep breathe from the top branch of the tree as I take in the view of the village. I usually train in the mornings now; I am a chunin after all.

A breeze came by causing my bright blonde hair to move around in every which way, it was getting a bit long; maybe I should cut it.

I was wearing a tight black tank top with baggy black pants that had several pockets shown and hidden. My chunin vest was on the ground at the bottom of the tree with my hitai-ate leaf headband and usual bag that I carried around. It was the same green as my vest and had one strap to swing around my shoulder if I felt the need to.

I still wrapped my thighs in bandaging tape, as I was used to; heh habits die-hard. I also wrapped my upper arms, I don't really know why but it was a pretty cool fashion statement.

"Onii-san! Are you up there!" I looked down to see Konohamaru walking through the woods.

He is twelve now and still seems the same. He has short black hair and still wears a really long scarf wherever he goes, though now he has a lot of them so he changes every so often. He still wears shorts all the time though Ebisu finally got him to wear pants when it snows or ices.

He is still a good head or two shorter than me but he will definitely be taller than me…like every one else. I hate being so short.

I quickly let my feet slip so I began to make my way to the ground catching the last branch and swinging myself over it to land right in front of Konohamaru who smiled.

"Onii-san! I knew you would be here! Moegi-chan said she saw you walking this way this morning!" He ran up and grinned.

Oh yeah that is right; Konohamaru and Moegi are sort of an item now.

"Well Kono-kun let's go to the school now." I smile as I walk over to grab my bag and vest.

"Oh are you going to tell Iruka-sensei's class a story today!" Konohamaru grinned as he watched me put my hitai-ate leaf headband on.

"Yeah today is Monday right?" I go to the school on Mondays and tell Iruka's class a story or sometimes teachers will ask me to stop by their rooms too. I don't really know when this became part of my schedule in life; it just happened.

"Yep! I wish I was still at the school now! I love hearing your stories nii-san!" Konohamaru messed with his hitai-ate leaf band that he wears around his arm.

He graduated a few months ago and surprisingly he got put on the same team as Moegi and Udon. I would almost feel sorry for their sensei if it wasn't…

"Hey Konohamaru! You are late!" Gai sensei waved from the out skirts of the forest. Moegi and Udon just grinned when they saw us walking up.

"Sorry Gai; Kono was reminding me to go to the school now." I smiled as I patted Konohamaru on the head and waved at the other two.

"Oh yeah today is Monday isn't it." Gai smiled as he pulled a scroll out of his pocket. "Do you mind giving this to Sakura please, it's from Lee."

"Sure thing, well by guys!" I grabbed the scroll and began to walk away as Gai started talking about the virtues of fighting.

Lee and Sakura have been dating for almost two years now, it's a surprise to me that they haven't gotten married yet by the way they both feel about each other.

Another new couple was Kiba and Hinata; Neji was very disapproving about it so he is with them all the time. I would hate having no personal time……………..I mean when Kiba and Hinata moved in with each other so did Neji. I don't know if he is jealous of someone or he is just over protective of Hinata.

There was also Ino and Shikamaru who started dating after Lee and Sakura. I think when Shikamaru saw that Lee could get Sakura he believed he could get Ino. Shikamaru is a jonin now; he was asked around two years ago and is officially the youngest jonin in the city right now.

I don't really see Shino, Tenten, or Choji anymore except on our party days. It is surprising how they can keep themselves busy when there aren't any missions lately. I should probably get a job…I know Kiba works at a bar but no one really says anything about him being underage.

And then there is Sasuke, I probably see him almost everyday even if it is just seeing him walk past me or something. He is an ANBU captain now, he was officially asked a little after Shikamaru became a jonin. Let's just say that I didn't take that news very well and now I am living with Iruka.

My old apartment building isn't even there anymore.

"I am not your son!" I look up to see Sasuke walking rather quickly in his ANBU uniform, away from Kakashi who was holding some forms.

"That is why I want to adopt you!" Kakashi seemed a little disappointed about something.

"I don't have time for your stupid games Kakashi!" Sasuke pulled his ANBU mask out of a bag he was carrying. "I have to go see Hokage-sama now."

"But Sasuke!" Kakashi was on the verge of tears.

"Get married if you want a son!" Sasuke began to tie his mask on.

"You know I would if I could but I don't think that…"

"Um…guys?" I interrupted Kakashi as they both stopped and looked over at me. Man, now I want to know who Kakashi wants to marry.

"See there is Iruka's son! I want one too!" Kakashi pointed at me with the papers he was holding as Sasuke just rolled his eyes.

"Whatever Kakashi I am going now, do not bother me with this again." And with that Sasuke was gone. Dang he is quick, though I wonder who is quicker out of the two of us.

"Oh well that was enough fun this morning." I looked over at Kakashi who threw the papers behind his back and walked over to where I was.

"Why do you bother him so much?" I began to walk to the school again.

"Why do you care?" I knew Kakashi had to be smirking under his mask as a small blush came to my cheeks.

"I don't it's just people are going to get the wrong idea and he could get in trouble with the Hokage if he is late all the time like you." I heard him sigh, as we got closer to the school.

"Oh is today Monday?" I rolled my eyes and nodded at him.

Geez, by the way the village seems to go by my schedule of Monday equals Naruto at school I wonder if I could mess up everyone. I wonder if they would even notice. I wonder how many people would cry if I came to the school on a Friday and made all the students believe it was Monday.

"See you later Kakashi." I waved as I walked up the stairs and he looked around the building as if contemplating something.

"Oh Naruto hey!" Sakura smiled as she saw me enter the teacher's lounge. She has been an actual teacher for a few months. This is her first school year to teach an actual class instead of helping separate teachers.

"Hey Sakura I have this scroll from Lee for you." I smiled as she blushed and quickly took the scroll.

"But how did you get this? He is still on his training mission." She blushed even more as she looked at the scroll again.

"Oh Gai had it and wanted me to deliver it. I bet he had it delivered with his mid point reports." She smiled and nodded.

Lee was a chunin now also but he didn't take the exams. Some people say Tsunade gave him the level since he was able to survive the surgery but I believe Lee is still really cool. He is on a training and testing mission with some of the other chunins. This will help decide if he will be allowed to do tougher missions yet or if he will have to go through more physical therapy, though it has been six years already.

"Arigato Naruto." Sakura smiled at me then blushed at the scroll.

"Geez Sakura you have been hanging out too much with Iruka! Both of you blush for no reason!" I laughed as she smiled.

"Oh yeah and Naruto my class is in with Iruka's for the story just to warn you." She smiled and began to make herself a cup of coffee.

"You mean…"

"That Rika is in there, yes that is why I warned you." She smiled and sipped her coffee.

I knew Sakura had to be laughing in her head at the thought of me having to be in a room with Rika in it. She is an evil girl with an intent to kill.

I don't know when but some time along the beginning of the school year most of the students got the idea that if they defeated me in battle, fair or not, they could skip all the schooling and tests and become a chunin. And Rika was a strong believer in just hurting me in any way.

"Hey Naruto you are on time!" Iruka smiled as I walked in and waved at the students.

"Take that!" I watched as my dopple-ganger was pierced with several weapons, as it became a cloud of smoke.

"He tricked us again!" I heard some of the children groan and sigh. Where did they get those weapons anyway?

"No weapons allowed in this class until you pass the semester exam!" I heard Iruka yell and begin to lecture his students on how weapons aren't toys that can be played with.

"Is that all of them?" Iruka asked as all of the students nodded and waved goodbye to their precious weapons. "Rika…"

I heard her sigh and move around.

"What about the one in your sock?" I tried to hold down my laughter, Rika hated giving up her weapons.

"Don't forget the one in her hair pin!" I shouted from the hallway. I had experienced a lot of pain by misjudging where that girl can put her weapons.

"That is it already!" I grinned and walked into the classroom as Iruka put away the last of the weapons.

For students who really love to hear the stories I tell them they sure have a major thing for wanting to kill me.

"YAY! Naruto!" I smiled as a bunch of girls began to squeal and blush.

"Hey everyone! How are all of you doing!" I jumped onto Iruka's desk as he just frowned at me.

"We love you Naruto-sama!" I smiled at the two girls in the back. It was Rei and Kei, they were Ino's cousins or something like that and they had her personality down to the bone. It was really scary.

"Heh. Okay everyone time for the story of the week!" I jumped down and sat Indian style onto the ground.

"YAY!" It is funny watching a bunch of six year olds get hyper over a story.

I looked over at Iruka who was piling scrolls onto his desk as he chuckled at the reactions of his students to my taunting. He obviously had a lot of work to do.

"Okay this is a true story believe it or not!" I motioned my hand with my words to add effects. "This is the story of the one time…that one dreadful time that…"

I could have laughed for hours as all the students leaned forward to hear what I was going to say.

"Kakashi-sensei was early!" They all gasped and then began to laugh. I never said that my stories were serious or anything.

I heard a snort come from behind me as the door closed. I quickly looked over my shoulder and did a small wave to Sasuke who had a scroll in his hand.

"It started on a dark and weary day."

"That isn't how you use that word Naruto." I glared behind me at Iruka who took the scroll Sasuke had and smiled. "But please go on."

"Okay it was on a happy day with butterflies and rainbows…"

"Naruto…"

I stuck my tongue out at Iruka earning a few snickers from the students.

"It was a dark and foggy morning when a large creature that not even the ANBU…" I paused and hinted at Sasuke, "Not even the ANBU could identify if this creature was a man or a beast."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''

A half hour later

''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"And that is why Kakashi sensei was early…for that one time." I smiled as the students curled over laughing.

It was still nice to make people laugh.

I turned around to see Sasuke still there leaning against the board seemingly slightly amused and several of the teacher assistants at the door laughing.

"Hey shouldn't you guys be helping the teachers?" I yelled as they started to run around again.

"I am sorry Sasuke I don't remember which one was the scroll you handed me!" I watched Iruka come out from behind a large pile of scrolls on his desk looking a little distraught.

"What is going on today Iruka-sensei?" I smiled as the students began to talk to themselves.

"Naruto today is Hokage-sama's birthday! You know the big party in the middle of the town tonight? Remember I am organizing the party." Iruka smiled a small stressed smile as he began to search through the scrolls again.

"Oh yeah! Hey well if you need any help I would be glad to!" I grinned as an idea ran through my head. "Actually I would really love to help decorate!"

Sasuke began to help Iruka go through the scrolls as Iruka tried to smile.

"No thank you Naruto, sorry." I sighed as he picked up a scroll and laughed. "Here you go Sasuke sorry for the wait."

Sasuke smirked and nodded as he grabbed the scroll and did a small wave to me before he left.

We don't really talk much.

"HE IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOT!" I turned around as a bunch of the girls began to giggle.

"Who?" I smirked as they looked up at me.

"Uchiha-san!" I felt my smirk leave my face as I rolled my eyes.

"Okay class recess! And afterwards Sakura-sensei's class will be going back to their room." Iruka smiled as the room emptied rather quickly.

"Come on Iruka-sensei! I want to help!" I walked over to a bunch of boxes beside his desk that had the label 'decorations' on them.

"Naruto I don't think…"

"Onegai!" I gave him the best puppy eyes of a lifetime.

"Oh gawd not the eyes Naruto!" Iruka looked away and sighed.

Score! I win!

"Come on Iruka let him decorate." We both turned to the lazy voice of Kakashi entering the room.

"Yeah Kakashi-sensei wants me to!" I wasn't going to ask why he was here but as long as he was going to help me develop my plan.

"Oh alright! But Naruto…"

I quickly disappeared with all of the boxes before he could finish his sentence. I had five hours to decorate and then complete my scheme before the party.

Hehehehehehe…

''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Woohoo score one for Uzumaki!" I laughed as I tossed the roll of pink toilet paper over the house to my dopple ganger.

It took me about an hour to decorate the town center with the help of five dopple gangers and it only left me with two boxes full of pink toilet paper.

I had already toilet papered Kakashi's, Ebisu's, Tsunade's, and I am in the process of covering Sasuke's with the pink paper.

I don't really know why I am doing this…………………..oh wait because it is fun!

"That looks good enough!" I nodded at my dopple ganger who smiled and disappeared as I picked up the left over rolls. I still had five left; who else could I have fun with?

"OOO I know!" I grinned and quickly left praying I still hadn't been seen yet.

"Hehe Gai's house." I smirked as I took a pink roll out of the box, he never did anything to me but hey, Konohamaru will think this is funny.

"Hey Sasuke so how have things been?" I turned around to the area the street should be at as the roll went over the other side of the house.

"Good." Sasuke gave his stupid plain answer.

"Lee I am so happy they let you come back!" I heard Sakura giggle.

Crap that means that Lee is back and he and Sasuke are over here by Gai's house, which I am in the process of toilet papering.

"Hey Sakura can we go by Gai's really quick just in case he is home?" I heard Lee say oh too enthusiastically.

Double crap!

I finished the last roll and sighed; in the end I only could cover half of his house. I was about to jump over the fence when I saw them turn the corner to see the house.

Triple crap!

"Oh my gawd! Gai-sensei's house!" I saw Lee face go into shock with Sakura's. Sasuke just looked at it with his usual emotionless expression.

I need to get out of here!

I quickly got to the top of the fence but I felt my foot slip on something as I began to fall backwards.

"Quadruple crap!" I yelled as I landed against the ground with a large thud. That hurt.

"Naruto is that you!" I heard Sakura yell as three pairs of feet came walking toward my direction.

"No………………" I mumbled as I looked up to see Lee looking disapprovingly, Sakura glaring and Sasuke smirking, all three at me.

Stupid jerk.

"Well I would love to stay and chat but I need to go now." I smiled and quickly did some seals to disappear.

"Naruto you!" I was gone before I heard the ending of Sakura's sentence.

"Well this sucks." I looked around the street I was on.

Hopefully they wont turn me in immediately; maybe they will let me party before my sentencing.

I walked over to Ichiraku, which was just a few feet away from where I appeared.

"Hey Naruto we are about to close due to the party uptown but we will make you a quick bowel of ramen for our favorite customer!" The old man smiled at me as he motioned me to sit down which I quickly took the chance for some good ramen.

"My daughter told me you were at her class today and you told a very funny story!" He put the bowel of ramen right in front of me. It was so beautiful.

"Yeah it was called, 'the day Kakashi-sensei was early'." I quickly slurped up the ramen as he laughed.

"I know that has never happened!" He laughed some more as he took my bowl away to clean.

"Thank you! I will let you guys close now!" I smirked as he waved.

I watched as the kids ran around the streets laughing and playing.

"Take this!"

I quickly jumped up in time to dodge a kid running at me with a kunai.

"Dang it! He saw me!" The kid growled at himself as I sighed, in the words of the great genius Shikamaru, this was 'tiresome'.

Well I guess I could always sleep off the extra hour I have till the party. It will probably be the last place they will look for me anyway if Sakura has reported me yet.

Heh.

I walked into Iruka's apartment. It was always so clean.

I moved in a few days after I found out Sasuke was as ANBU. I guess I just lost my cool last year; I ended up taking my anger out on my apartment……………………… it was a good stab to the pride anyway. I can't help but feel that Sasuke will always be ahead of me at reaching our goals in life. His to get stronger and mine to be Hokage.

I think it might be a bit strange on how it seems that no matter what I think it always ends up involving Sasuke. Yeah I like him as an ally or rival or………………………

Something more?

I grinned as I took my sandals off and walked into my room. I looked around at how messy my room was and smiled; Iruka and I are way different. I slowly let myself be taken into slumber as I thought of all the excuses I could give to Hokage to get out of being punished for toilet papering people's houses.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Naruto you did a great job decorating!" Iruka ran over to me almost in tears.

"What?" I looked around; yeah sure I did an okay job making sure everything went together and all that jazz, but nothing good enough to cry over.

"No really Naruto thank you so much for helping me! Sorry I doubted you earlier I thought you might have been up to something but you proved me wrong!" Gee thanks Iruka that just adds to the guilt I am going to feel later.

"No you were right." I grinned I might as well tell the truth to someone.

"What?" He looked at me still with a smile on his face.

"I was up to something." I wanted to laugh as his smile left his face.

"Naruto what did you do?" He began to rub his temples in worry.

"I just decorated some parts of the town with the left over supplies, I personally believe I did better then than I did here." I grinned as Iruka frowned at me. It is funny to watch this guy go through every emotion possible in two minute.

"Naruto what did you do?" He began to glare at me as I smiled.

"Oh look I see someone over there I need to talk to!" I grinned as I left quickly.

"Naruto! You…" I watched as some people asking for some last minute help with the party planning interrupted Iruka.

Well that was fun.

"Hey Naruto the party is about to start!" I turned around to see Kiba in his usual bar tending uniform standing beside Hinata and Neji.

He usually wore a tight black tank top shirt and very baggy black pants with chains and bottle openers hanging off of them. He also had on black opened finger gloves and his hair was spike up in every direction.

"You working man?" I looked at him quizzically.

"No but my bar is hosting the party after the children leave in an hour." Kiba grinned as he pointed over to a lot of his coworkers setting up an outside bar.

"Figure she would want a butt load of sake on her birthday." I smiled as Kiba laughed.

"Hey Hinata how are you?" I looked over to the only person my age shorter than me in the village.

She was wearing a long red dress with red loose fishnet sleeves. She still had short hair but had them pinned up in red pins and laughed as Kiba grinned at her. She was a lot more outgoing now.

"I am fine Naruto-kun." She giggled as Akamaru begged for her to pick him up.

"You sure did dress for the occasion! You look nice!" I grinned as she began to blush.

"Thank you!" She looked over at Neji who was just looking around at everything.

"Hey Neji!" I said a little too enthusiastically.

"Naruto." He acknowledged my presence as he kept looking around. "Do you know who decorated this place? They did a really good job." Neji looked over me for my answer.

"Actually I did." I blushed rubbing the back of my head.

"No way! All by yourself? It had to take you forever!" Hinata looked at me in aw.

"Yeah man this is a good job!" Kiba grinned as some of his coworkers called his name, "Well I got to go help now."

"Did you really do this?" Hinata smiled looking at all the decorations, "It is really pretty."

"Interesting." Was all Neji said as he saw some people he wanted to talk to and walked over.

"I am serious Naruto it is really pretty!" Hinata blushed again as she smiled.

"Woah check out the decorations! It looks like spring time when all of the Sakura trees are in bloom!" Hinata and I looked over to see Ino and Shikamaru looking around.

"She really out does the stupidest things." Shikamaru sighed as he saw us.

"Hey Naruto, Hinata have you two seen Choji?" He sighed again as we shook our heads.

"Hey Hinata do you know who decorated this place? Who ever did, I want to decorate for my wedding!" Ino laughed as Shikamaru blushed. By the way he was acting so uncomfortable they probably hadn't even talked about going past dating each other.

"Oh Naruto did it! All by himself!" Hinata grinned as Ino looked at me confused.

"You?" Choji walked up behind us with bag of chips. He still looked like the Choji everyone knows and loves. He still has spiky hair and wears a scarf around his neck all the time………………….kind of like Konohamaru.

"I don't think that I can believe Naruto did this………….if he did then he is either very feminine or strangely in tune with his decorating skills." Ino started laughing to herself, well gee wasn't that just a kick in the balls.

"I will take either one of those as a complement." I smirked as I looked around for anyone else familiar. Though I should probably avoid Iruka, Sakura, Lee and Sasuke.

"Hey Nii-san!" All of us turned our heads down to see Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon standing there looking a little upset about something.

"Hey guys what is wrong?" I bent down so that I was eye level with them.

"Well……………..um……………." Konohamaru and Moegi looked around nervously.

"Yes?" I looked up at everyone else who looked as confused as I felt.

"You better watch your back." I looked over at Udon who was now looking at Hinata. Woah dude, don't think you can have older chicks.

"Hahahahahaha! Naruto is being threatened by kids again!" Ino burst out in an obnoxious laugh.

"No I am telling him that Gai-sensei is very peeved at you right now, and lets just say he has been looking for you." Udon didn't take his eyes off of Hinata at once; I could tell she was even getting a bit uncomfortable.

"Dude she is taken." I waved my hand in front of his face causing him to blush and look down.

"What did you do to Gai-sensei Naruto?" Shikamaru looked over at me quizzically.

"Oh nothing……………hehe." I smiled and stood up.

"No you toilet papered his house!" Moegi looked at me angrily. "For talking to us about how cool Gai-sensei is and telling us to listen to him you sure don't hesitate to pull a prank on him!"

"It was only half of his house because I ran out using it on…………………" I stopped and smiled at everyone who rolled their eyes and sighed.

"Who else's house did you toilet paper?" Choji smiled at the sight of me digging myself into a ditch.

"Um…………….no one else's." I grinned and patted Moegi on the head.

"Tell us Naruto!" Ino wrapped her arms around my neck so I couldn't escape.

"Excuse me may I have your attention please?" We all stopped and looked up to the stage to see Kiba standing up there blushing.

"Um………………I am here to ask if everyone under the age of eighteen will hurry up and finish what they are doing and please leave. The adult part of the banquet will start in a few minutes." He bowed and quickly walked off the stage.

Well what do you know, Kiba gets stage fright!

"Woo Go Kiba!" Ino yelled with her arms around my neck.

"Bye Naruto!" I watched as Konohamaru ran away with Moegi and Udon. Gee guys thanks for your help.

"Hey Hinata you can stay though!" We all turned to see Kiba waving at us, "Even though your seventeen you can stay."

Hinata blushed and nodded nervously. She acts so strange around Kiba.

"Just promise me you wont drink anything." Kiba grinned as she nodded again and ran off.

Hinata was known in our little group of ours to be the worst drunk. She doesn't even act like Hinata anymore. I have only witnessed it once and it was scary moment indeed. I still wish I was there for the time her and Kiba hooked up because apparently they were both drunk, but the only known witness was Sasuke.

Darn him for being at the right place at the right time.

"Hey I want to stay too!" I pouted as everyone smiled at me.

Yes, I Uzumaki Naruto am still indeed seventeen.

"Sure if you tell us who else's house you trashed." Ino grinned evilly as she tightened her grip around my neck.

"Oh look at the time I guess I got to go!" I snickered as I slipped out of her grip and left.

I didn't really want to stay at the party anyway.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Ugh……………" I looked around the part of the forest I was in. It was getting dark pretty quick.

I have one part inside the entire village that I go to when I need to think or if I am just bored. I went here all the time when I was a kid to train. This is my place of solitude.

A thick layer of trees surrounds it, I don't even know how I found t or how I could keep finding it when I was little but I did. In the middle of it is a small pond that has freezing cold water all year long it doesn't matter if it is a million degrees outside it is always freezing.

The pond has large rocks on one side of it the make a good sitting spot and the grass around the area is really comfortable.

I stop as a beautiful melody hits my ears. I can't help but smile as I quietly walk into the area to see him sitting on a rock.

He still has his ANBU uniform on and his mask is slid to the side of his head. His short black hair and long bangs move in the breeze in tune with the melody he plays with his flute.

There is only one other person who knows about this area and that is Sasuke. Apparently this was his childhood place of solitude also but we never saw each other, until around two years ago anyway.

He comes here at night I think because I come here every morning when I wake up.

We don't fight in here though; just almost ignore each other if we do end up here at the same time. I wonder why he isn't at the party?

I found myself laying down with my back in the grass as I listened to the tune he played. It was one I hadn't heard before and it was enchanting.

FLASH BACK

"SASUKE!" I yelled as I trudged through the woods already a few miles away from Inari's village but still no sign of Sasuke.

He had gone out for a walk this morning and still wasn't back at lunch. Sakura got worried so Kakashi sent me to go get the stupid jerk. For all I care he could starve!

"SASU……………!" I stopped in mid scream as I heard a strange tune hit my ears. It was a strange melody that had an eerie tune to it.

I made my way quietly to where the melody was coming from. It was too beautiful to ignore.

"Sasuke?" I mumbled to myself as I saw the boy standing in a clearing of trees playing his odd looking flute. He looked so focused, so…………………cool. I did not just think that.

I grinned as I jumped out from where I was and ran up to him. "SASUKE!"

He jumped up and looked at me like he was surprised. Didn't he sense me? I shrugged it off as he put his flute behind his back.

"Hey what is that? A flute?" I grinned as I saw a small amount of color hit his cheeks, for Sasuke I will count that as a blush.

"Yeah." He mumbled before turning around and heading toward his pack.

"HAHA! That is so girly! Pretty boy Uchiha plays a girly instrument!" I laughed as he stopped and glared at me for a second before grabbing his pack.

"That is more than you can do, dobe." I watched him smirk. What did he just call me!

"JERK! Take that back!" I got into a fighting stance as he just turned around and looked at me.

"You know I am not supposed to fight you while I am injured…………" I watched him smirk, " because it is already bad enough for your ego that I beat you when I have full health."

"WHAT! SHUT UP!" I glared at him as he began to take his flute apart. "Hey wait!"

He looked over at me a little confused.

"Um………………how do you play that?" I looked down as I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.

"What happened to it being a girly instrument?" I watched him put it back together and walk over to me.

"I…………..I was just joking. Show me how you play it! Please!" I sat down on the ground and looked up expectantly at him.

"Watch." That was all he said as he began to play again.

His fingers dancing around the instrument playing different notes. The way his facial expression would change as he continued. It was so cool.

I looked from his fingers to his bandaged arms and neck. The battle with Haku took a lot out of him. I knew he was probably wondering why I didn't have any scratches but he never asked. I was glad for that.

What did that moment mean? Before he died. He said he 'hated' me. Hated as in past tense. What does that mean now?

I quickly shook my head and looked back at the tango his fingers were playing. One false move and it would ruin the entire masterpiece that Sasuke was playing.

One false move and Sasuke would have died……………………

What would I have done if he had really died? Would I go on like normal? He is my rival, yes.

But………………is there something more?

No………………there will be nothing more than what we have now, a rivalry. Maybe all of these emotions will fade with time.

Yeah……………………

END FLASH BACK

To bad my emotions didn't feel like fading with the time. Nope they stuck to me like a starved leach. Yeah I like him but nothing more than I like most people.

I opened my eyes and smiled as I saw Sasuke now standing over me with a blank expression holding his flute in one hand.

"You're an idiot you know." My grin fell as the words left his mouth. Wow he is such nice company.

"What makes you think that?" I closed my eyes again trying to look like I was asleep.

"You know you wont get away with toilet papering people's houses right?" I heard the ground next to my head rustle so I opened my eyes. He had sat down against the large rock with my head near his thighs.

"What makes you think it was me? It could have been someone else at Gai's house disguised at me." I put my hands behind my head to use as a pillow.

"For one I didn't even mention the fact that is was Gai's house." He smirked and began to pull his flute apart.

"Oh yeah………………" Well I guess I can't get out of it now.

"So why didn't you stay at the party, you probably could have even though you are seventeen." I watched him put his flute into a bag he had beside the rock.

"The question is why didn't you an ANBU captain stay to honor your Hokage's birthday like everyone else." I mimicked his questioning tone with a grin.

"It is not my thing." He replied with a blank voice this time looking up at the stars.

"Of course not." I looked up at the stars to watching their beauty. Sasuke seemed a little taken by my reply or something because he moved a bit before relaxing again.

"Hey Sasuke." I was getting a little uncomfortable in the silence. I mean if someone is going to be in the same room as you, you might as well chat.

"Hn?" He answered now a bit agitated.

"Anything new?" I looked over at him who was now looking at me confused. Yeah we saw each other everyday as in quick glances here and there but we hadn't really talked for a few months.

Missions for chunins and jonins had been coming at a very slow rate but for the ANBU and genin there are a few more.

"No………………you? Anything new?" I could tell he didn't really want to talk but for some reason I also felt that there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"No."

And that was all we said for the rest of the time. I fell asleep a few minutes after that but when I woke up he had already left.

Oh well……………though that was the longest in a long time he and I had ever spent alone.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"NARUTO WAKE UP YOU LAZY BRAT!" Was it just me or did Iruka get crankier in the mornings?

I sat up to the pounding on my door. What is this all about?

"NARUTO I CANT BELIEVE YOU DID THAT TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE'S HOUSES!"

Oh yeah………………crap I forgot about that.

I quickly got dressed and tried to get out of my window but it was sealed with someone's chakra.

And low and behold Kakashi was waving at me from outside my window………………stupid jerk.

I trudged my way down the Hokage's hallway. This was not going to be fun. Though it was worth toilet papering everyone's house.

When I opened the doors to the Hokage's office I saw Tsunade, Kakashi, Ebisu, and Gai all staring at me with very angry facial expressions, well Kakashi's was somewhat amused.

"Naruto are you in trouble now!" Tsunade try to keep a smile on her face, as she was about to lose it.

"Awww but didn't you like your hundredth birthday present? It was your house…………..wrapped by me!" I grinned sarcastically as a vein appeared on her head.

So maybe I shouldn't be making jokes right now.

"NARUTO YOU STUPID LITTLE BRAT YOU WOULD SO BE DEAD RIGHT NOW IF IRUKA HADNT STOOD UP FOR YOU! IF IT WAS UP TO ME I WOULD TEAR YOU APART PIECE BY PIECE AND FEED YOUR CARCUS TO THE DOGS!" She slammed her hands against the desk glaring at me.

"But it seems that Iruka gave us a better idea for a punishment………………..one that we all might enjoy a little bit more." The grin that appeared on her face was scaring the living daylights out of me. What did Iruka suggest?

"Naruto you will have to apologize for one hour to everyone." Iruka started writing something on a piece of paper.

Really was that it? One hour? Holy crap these people are getting easy to please! I though they might ask for the head of my first-born or something!

"Oh and that is one hour for each person, you will also be alone with that person in a secluded room for the whole time." Iruka gave me an apologizing smile as if he regretted suggesting it.

"WHAT!" Holy crap these people are cruel! Take the head of my first child already! Not an hour each! This is going to be hell………………four hours of cruel and unusual punishment.

"I am going first." I sighed as Ebisu started to follow Iruka to the room we are supposed to go to.

Iruka lead us to a room at the very end of a long and excruciating hallway. The room was blank and only had a table and two chairs in it. Hopefully they were for us to sit in and not for the use of weapons…………or protection in my case.

"Well I will come when the time is up!" Iruka seemed very nervous; well he should is all I have to say.

"Traitor." I mumble as he exits the room with a small pause but leaves. He owes me some ramen after this.

"So Naruto…………………shouldn't you start now?" Ebisu had an amused grin plastered on his face that I just wanted to rip off.

"I'm sorry………………"

And so the grueling hours began.

Ebisu's hour was absolutely disgusting. I had to sit there and apologize nonstop unless he spoke up about something else I should apologize for……………like the fact he blamed me for Konohamaru's new pranking mind……………which I can't blame him he has a good basis.

The next was Kakashi's hour, which he read his book through, as I had to keep apologizing. By the end I had carved a really good picture of a sunset with my kunai on the table. Time felt like it was talking forever.

Next was Gai who wasn't really even mad at me for the fact I toilet papered his house, in fact he blamed it on my youthful energetic ways. But no, he was mad at the fact that I didn't toilet paper his whole house like Kakashi's. He came up with some big idea that I didn't believe his house was as worth of toilet papering as Kakashi's.

In the end I had to blame it on my so-called respect for him over Kakashi and that is why I could only bring myself to do half of his house…………………good thing that dude is as gullible as a dumb duck.

Last was Tsunade's, which ended in me apologizing for every stinking problem she had and my table got broken by the chair she hit me with when I said 'I was sorry she was old and crazy and couldn't get laid even if she paid the dude'. The funny thing was, she wasn't supposed to hear that apology.

"Oh well I guess I am done here." I picked up the last piece of the chair that was broken on my back.

"Nope." I turned to see Tsunade placing a tape recorder onto the chair with a picture of Sasuke beside it. "Sorry someone couldn't make it to our little meeting as he had some duties."

Her grin was beyond scary looking as there was also an evil glint in her eye.

"So go on!" She smiled as she began to pick up pieces of the table she also broke.

"What there is no way in!"

"Hurry up Naruto for every minute you don't apologize ten minutes is added onto your time!" She grinned pleased.

"Grrrrrr……….I am so sorry Sasuke!" I growled before I put up a fake happy mushy tone to mock her.

That hour was the worst in my life, so much so that Kakashi had to hold me down from attacking Iruka who was still in the Hokage's office when I finished. I wanted blood and it was going to come from him! It was his stupid idea to have me do that!

"Oh and Naruto." I rolled my eyes before I turned around to see Tsunade holding up a piece of paper. "A lot of us think that you may just be a bit bored so guess what."

"I get a mission!" I grinned happily. SCORE!

"You have to get a job in a week or else we will have to make you do volunteer guard duty." She handed me the paper and then cackled evilly as she left.

"What!" I looked at the paper and sure enough if I didn't get a job in a week I would have to do 'volunteer' guard duty.

That duty may sound cool but it was the worst and usually only given to chunins or jonins who are on probation or in some cases have gone so mentally insane that doing guard duty is all they can do.

It sucks. And even worse is I wont get paid.

"IRUKA PREPARE TO DIE!" I felt my body being pulled back once again by Kakashi who was laughing.

"It wasn't his idea Naruto, it was mine!" I turned and faced him shocked. This was his idea!

"Kakashi I am going to kick your!" He put his hand over my mouth before I could finish saying anything.

"Now now Naruto where is the fun in that? I believe you would learn a lot from a normal job!" I growled as he moved his hand before I could bite it.

"Well have fun job hunting!" He winked his one eye at me before he disappeared.

I looked angrily over at Iruka who just smiled and patted me on the back before he led me out to Ichiraku. Well at least he knew what he had to do to make it up to me.

"It isn't like I said it out loud or anything I was just mumbling to myself about how it would be to the village's benefit if they just made you apologize instead of killing you." Iruka started on his excuses on how it wasn't really his fault. "I mean Kakashi suggested taking your first child! All you did was toilet paper a few houses! So what! Sometimes I think they over react because they need excitement in their lives." He began to rub at his temples.

"Well it's not that bad of an idea getting a job. I could really use the money so then I could help you pay rent!" I grinned as I slurped up anther bowl of ramen.

"You don't need to do that Naruto I……………..."

"Too late my mind is set, besides the fact that if I don't I get put on 'volunteer' guard duty." Iruka and I both shivered as I mentioned what they would put me on. It was not a good job for any ninja to go through.

XXX

Chap 1 end! lol there are a few more chaps but what did you think? Alot different from See no Evil eh? right? lol Kinda thought I would try something else.

I hope i didnt do too bad!

Read and REview! yay!