Chapter Text
Naruto Uzumaki hated a lot of things.
He hated going back to his apartment and finding it so painfully quiet. He hated the weird looks adults gave him whenever he walked through the village. He hated the way people lowered their voices the second he got too close. But more than anything else, Naruto hated Sasuke Uchiha.
Or at least, that was what he kept telling himself. He said it whenever Sasuke got the highest grades without even trying. He said it whenever every girl in class looked seconds away from fainting just because Sasuke breathed. He said it whenever Iruka-sensei praised him with that proud smile Naruto wanted directed at himself. And he said it every time Sasuke sat in the back of the classroom, resting his cheek against his hand while staring out the window like the entire world bored him.
Naruto hated him so much because Sasuke didn’t have to do anything to make people look at him. Naruto did. Naruto had to pull pranks, yell, run around the whole village, and paint the Hokage Monument just to get people’s attention for five seconds. Sasuke just existed and that was enough.
Naruto slammed his hands against the desk.
“One day I’m gonna beat you, Sasuke!”
The classroom went silent for exactly one second. Then everyone burst out laughing.
Sakura turned around immediately.
“Naruto, shut up. You’re embarrassing.”
“What?! I am not embarrassing!”
“Yes, you are.”
“You only defend him because you’re obsessed with him!”
Sakura’s face turned bright red instantly.
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, IDIOT?!”
“I SAID YOU’RE OBSESS—”
“NARUTO!”
Iruka-sensei smacked the chalk against the board before Sakura could throw something at him.
While everyone argued, Sasuke didn’t move at all. He only turned his head slightly and looked at Naruto. It lasted barely a second but Naruto felt it anyway.
There it was.
Finally, Sasuke was paying attention to him. Naruto grinned immediately.
“What’s wrong? Scared?”
Sasuke looked at him with the same bored expression he always wore.
“No.”
For some reason, that only made Naruto want to annoy him more.
“Well, you should be, because when I become Hokage, everyone’s gonna acknowledge me. Even you.”
Sasuke kept looking at him for another second, then he turned back toward the window. Like Naruto didn’t exist anymore.
Naruto frowned.
Why did Sasuke always do that?
Why did he always look so calm?
“Naruto,” Iruka-sensei called out, “since you have so much energy, come answer the question.”
Naruto froze.
“Uh…”
The laughter exploded all over again.
Sakura covered her face.
“What an idiot…”
Naruto crossed his arms stubbornly.
“I didn’t even want to answer it anyway!”
“Sure.” Sakura said flatly.
Naruto was about to argue back when something felt strange. He glanced toward the back of the room. Sasuke wasn’t laughing. Actually, he never laughed when people made fun of him, he just watched him.
Naruto frowned.
Weird idiot.
—
They had sparring practice outside later that day.
Naruto was absolutely sure about one thing. He needed to fight Sasuke. Didn’t matter how. Didn’t matter when. He just needed to prove he could catch up to him.
Iruka started reading the matchups.
“Sakura Haruno versus Ino Yamanaka.”
“Tch.”
“Kiba Inuzuka versus Shikamaru Nara.”
Shikamaru let out the longest sigh imaginable.
“What a drag…”
Naruto barely heard any of it. He was only waiting for one name. Just one.
“Sasuke Uchiha versus…”
Naruto stopped breathing.
“…Naruto Uzumaki.”
“YES!”
Iruka-sensei gave him a tired look.
“Naruto, this isn’t a festival.”
“Doesn’t matter!”
Naruto pointed dramatically at Sasuke.
“Get ready, because this time I’m definitely beating you!”
Sasuke walked toward the center of the field without answering. That only made Naruto want to beat him even more.
Iruka raised one hand.
“No dangerous attacks. First person to immobilize the other wins. Understood?”
Naruto immediately got into position.
So did Sasuke.
For a moment, everything went still. It was just the two of them. Naruto felt that strange feeling in his chest again. Like electricity.
“Begin.”
Naruto charged first.
Sasuke dodged the punch easily and shoved his shoulder.
Naruto almost face-planted into the dirt.
“HEY!”
He attacked again.
Sasuke blocked.
Naruto kicked.
Sasuke ducked.
Naruto tried grabbing his shirt—
One second later, he was flat on the ground without understanding what had happened.
“HAHAHAHA!”
“Naruto didn’t even last two seconds!”
“He didn’t even touch him!”
Naruto winced from the ground.
Sasuke had his wrist pinned down, immobilizing him completely.
Naruto expected him to laugh, or at least say something.
Anything.
But Sasuke was just looking at him.
Waiting.
Like he honestly thought Naruto was going to get back up.
Naruto gritted his teeth.
“I’m not done.”
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. Naruto twisted his body as hard as he could, managing to shove him slightly. Not much. But enough to make Sasuke move.
The field got quieter.
Naruto grinned through heavy breathing.
“See? I moved you!”
For the first time, Sasuke actually looked a little interested, and Naruto felt ridiculously happy about it.
Then Sasuke started fighting seriously.
Naruto barely managed to block.
The impact made his arms ache instantly.
He stumbled backward, dodging a kick, then threw a punch that almost reached Sasuke.
Almost.
Sakura’s eyes widened.
So did Iruka’s.
Naruto didn’t notice. He was only looking at Sasuke.
Sasuke was looking right back at him, not like the class idiot anymore. Now he actually looked focused. Naruto smiled even while taking another hit.
Fighting Sasuke was weird.
It was awful.
But it was also…
fun.
Right until Sasuke caught him again and pinned him down for a second time.
“That’s enough,” Iruka said.
Naruto smacked the dirt in frustration.
“Damn it!”
Sasuke let him go and started walking away. Naruto immediately got back to his feet.
“HEY!”
Sasuke stopped.
“Next time, I’m beating you.”
Sasuke barely turned his head.
“Then train harder.”
And kept walking.
Naruto stayed still.
That hadn’t sounded mocking.
It sounded… serious?
Like Sasuke actually expected something from him.
Naruto frowned.
“Yeah, well, I’m obviously gonna train harder, idiot…”
—
Naruto ended up at the training field behind the Academy.
Alone.
Like always.
He pulled off his orange jacket and started punching a training post.
“‘Train harder,’” he mocked in a stupid voice. “Who does he think he is?!”
Punch.
“Stupid arrogant jerk!”
Punch.
“Next time I’m definitely beating him!”
Punch.
After a while, his hands started hurting but he kept going anyway because every time he closed his eyes, he saw Sasuke looking at him like he could do better. Naruto hated how badly he wanted to impress him. He really hated it.
“I’m gonna make you look at me,” he muttered.
Punch.
“I’m gonna make everyone look at me.”
Punch.
“And I’m gonna beat him.”
“You’re punching wrong.”
Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun around immediately.
“What are you doing here?!”
Sasuke stood behind him with his hands in his pockets. Like appearing out of nowhere was completely normal.
“Were you following me?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“You’re not that important.”
“THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?!”
Sasuke glanced at the damaged post, then at Naruto’s hands. Naruto quickly hid them behind his back but Sasuke noticed anyway.
“You’re gonna mess up your wrists like that.”
Naruto scoffed.
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
“Uh-huh.”
Sasuke walked over to the post.
“Do it again.”
Naruto looked at him suspiciously.
“What?”
“Punch.”
“Are you giving me orders?”
“Yes.”
“Just so we’re clear, I’m only doing it because I want to, not because you told me to.”
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah Yeah, just do it already.”
Naruto punched the post again.
Sasuke clicked his tongue.
“Wrong.”
“What’s wrong with it?!”
“Everything.”
“Wow. Super helpful explanation.”
Sasuke let out a small sigh, then stepped closer. Naruto went still when Sasuke grabbed his arm to adjust his stance. It was quick but Naruto still felt the warmth of his hand even after he let go.
“Like this,” Sasuke said.
Naruto looked down at his arm, then at Sasuke. They were standing way too close. Naruto immediately looked away.
“Again.”
Naruto punched the post. This time, it hurt less.
Sasuke gave a slight nod.
Naruto’s eyes widened.
“Was that approval?”
“No.”
“Yes, it was!”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Shut up.”
Naruto grinned.
“Just admit I’m amazing.”
“You’re pathetic.”
“Liar!”
Sasuke started walking away.
Naruto took a step forward before thinking.
“Wait.”
Sasuke stopped.
Naruto didn’t even know why he’d called out to him. The silence turned strange. Naruto stared down at the ground.
“I’ll do better tomorrow.”
Sasuke stayed quiet for a second.
“You better.”
Then he walked away again.
Naruto watched him disappear through the trees.
Then looked down at his hands.
They still hurt.
Just… not as much.
“What a weird guy…” he muttered even tho he didn’t sound nearly as annoyed as he wanted to.