Chapter Text
“Hello, my cute little genins!” A scarecrow-like man's eye smiled, as he shun-shined unto training ground seven.
“Finally, Sensei!!” Naruto screamed. The other two students nodded. Although it wasn’t the first time, the three kids couldn’t get used to it. No matter what, the Joinin was always at least an hour late. The sun-kissed boy jumped up and down, excitedly,” So what are we doing today?”
The white-haired man, pulled out three Kunais, handing to them, “Target Practice. Isn’t this fun?” Three genin groaned.
“Tch, We’ve been doing stupid target practice for three fucking two weeks now.” The Uchiha growled. Ever since the wave mission, Their sensei had been reluctant to get them any mission. Besides the normal drinks, they often spent their days throwing a kunai at a target. Something they had to do, during their time at the academy.
“And we’ll continue until it’s perfect” Kakashi, reaching into his pocket, and grabbing his favorite book, Icha Icha Paradise. He had already read it at least five times, but it never seemed to get boring.
Both Sasuke and Sakura grumbled about a stupid Naruto. It was his fault, as always.
Naruto on the other hand, only sigh before making his way to the target. Grabbing a handful of shuriken. It was his fault. It was always. He could never do anything right, and because of him, people became miserable.
Naruto's throws weren’t as they always were. They didn’t have the strength. Or the normal accuracy. He had usually gotten at least six out of ten, but his sixty percent accuracy had turned into two out of ten. He had been practicing every day and had nothing to show. It frustrated him to no end. As he watched across from him, Sasuke had effortlessly thrown all ten shuriken, five in both hands, at the target. Not a single one missed…
“It’s rude to stare.” The Uchiha broke the silence, cockily.
“I wasn’t staring!” Naruto glared daggers, hoping one would pierce the dark-haired milk-like skin. “…stupid bastard” The sky blue-eyed boy mumbled. Unfortunately, Sasuke still heard, and his confidence grew.
“Well this ‘bastard’ as you put it, was going to help a helpless loser like you…but I guess you don’t want to help” The boy shrugged nonchalantly. Naruto needed his help, and he knew it.
“And why the fuck would you help me?” Naruto’s raised an eyebrow. Why would Sakura’s precious Uchica help someone like him? He hated him. Naruto gritted his teeth. Sasuke must’ve planned on just making fun of him. Arrogant Bastard.
As if reading his mind, Sasuke answered his questions,” No, I’m not here to make fun of you. You would have to do something for that…” He shook his head, noticing he was getting off-topic. “I'm here because I’m tired of doing the same thing every day-“
“I know that! Don’t you think I’m tired of it, too? Or are you so self-absorbed that you didn’t realize it? I’m trying my best but nothing seemed to be fucking working” A huge wave filled with anger crashed into Naruto, as he hardly kicked the tree next to him. Needing an outlet for his anger. “Damn it!!”
Surprisingly Sasuke stayed calm. Usually, he would return his rage, starting an argument between the two. “I know.”
Naruto's anger disappeared with those two words, replacing it with confusion.
“So shut up and let me continue.” And that’s exactly what he did. “Yes, I am tired of during the same thing because of one person.” He didn’t stop when the blonde pulled his foot back. “Dope, calm your ass down. It’s it that hard to let me finish?” He sighed, knowing he had to hurry. “I want to help you…” Sasuke waited for the other boy’s reaction.
“You want to what?” It had been a least a minute yet, he couldn’t comprehend it. Sasuke Fucking Uchiha wanted to help him. Even if it was for the bastard's benefit, it didn’t seem like something he would do. Naruto looked around the field to see if anyone heard. Maybe if someone else saw, it would be proof that he wasn’t dreaming, not that he had dreams of Sasuke. Sadly, Kakashi had been too busy reading to notice anything. And Sakura sat against a tree, sleeping, lightly snoring.
“I want to help you. It’s not that hard to believe. It’s only natural that the strong help the weak at least once in a while” Sasuke rolled his eyes at Naruto, as he growled.
Trying his best to ignore the insult, he moved on to other things, knowing that this was his last chance. “So…how are you” He pointed to Sasuke. “Going to help me” Now pointing to himself.
“By being me of course.” His grin grew. “So just throw the shuriken, hm?”
Naruto sighed, understanding that it wasn’t worth it. “I don’t get how this is going to help me” He picked ten shurikens. Throwing them one at a time. Groaning as one, hit the target. So much for all of his effort….
“Wow…just wow.” The dark-eyed boy could only stand in shock.
“You don’t have to be so rude” The boy grumbled.
“And you don’t have to be so bad, yet you are…How the hell did you pass the academy? The minimum is five, but you can’t make more than one”
“Aren’t you supposed to be helping? Not criticizing.”
“Criticizing? Such a big word for someone like you…”
“You’re not helping”
Sasuke walked closer, to the point where they were only inches apart.
“Wait! What the fuck are you doing!”
“Come down, dope, and pick up the shuriken.”
Hesitantly he picked it up.
“Turn around…Now take a deep breath.”
Naruto completed each task, without a word. Sasuke’s voice was hypnotizing. By now Naruto could feel the other’s breath. He could detect a distinct smell of a minty scent. A chill ran down his spine.
“Close your eyes”
“How am I supposed to see the target?” His voice was quiet, tame. He hated how it sounded.
“Just listen to me”
Naruto closed his eyes trying to take deep breaths, to calm down. He could do this. He shakily inhaled as Sasuke took his hand, placing it on his chest.
“You feel this?”
When did His voice become so deep?
“…Yes” He could feel a warm chakra flowing smoothly through the boy’s body. It felt warm. Something that he would never expect from someone as cold as Sasuke. A person who Naruto sometimes doubted, had a heart. Giving how he never seemed to care about anyone. Always acting indifferent.
“Throw it.” Sasuke’s voice was different. Commanding. Raspy. Shocking Naruto, causing him to throw the shuriken, automatically. Though, unlike the other times, the boy’s hands had moved on their own. Adjusting to the right position, as it had known what to do the whole time.
Thump
Naruto’s eyes shot open, and seeing the shuriken embedded into the target, caused a feeling of joy to wash over him. He had finally got one, a bullseye at that. Maybe he had been overthinking.
“Do it again”
Naruto jumped lightly, having forgotten Sasuke was there. He had just been too excited. Listening to the dark-haired boy, he picked up another shuriken. He had already done it once. I could be that hard, right?
He threw it. Inwardly praying that it would hit.
Unfortunately, luck just wasn't on his side.
“I thought I said close your eyes...” Sasuke backed up if only a few inches. But that was enough it unnerves Naruto. Something about the heat from Sasuke calmed him. Helping him
throw.
Maybe the reason Naruto could hit the place today was because he was sick. It had a lot of sense. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
Naruto took a deep breath. Knowing that he needed to hit it this time. He could afford to bring his team down. He closed his eyes. Things around him seemed to get clearer. Although he could see, he felt like he could say exactly what was around him. He searched around the field until he found the target.
Steadying himself before aiming.
Swoosh.
The shuriken let the air carry it, slicing it as it went. Going straight into the designated space.
Naruto raised his hands and jumped up and down before rushing toward his sensei. He had to tell him of his awesome achievement.
But then he heard something. It was so quiet that Naruto sometimes thinks he imagined it. That his head just wanted to play games on him.
“Good Job...”