Debate Team (sasunaru/narusasu)

|| Chapter Fourteen ||

Tsunade bent down and slowly opened the cardboard box from which she had heard the strange noise come from.

Once it was fully open she sighed at what she saw, her body no longer tense. "It was just a rat."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock and he shouted, about to jump up and out of the box. Fortunately, Sasuke was able to grab him in time and drag him back down, preventing him from being seen.

Tsunade turned around quickly when she heard the scream, only to see Neji standing by the entrance. "Sorry, I'm afraid of rats." The brunette lied, hoping she might assume he was the one who had screamed.

She raised an incredulous eyebrow, making Neji's heart thumb, prior to grinning. "Who'd have guessed the ice king could make such a sound?" Neji coughed softly, his cheeks flushed making her laugh as she walked out of the closet. "So, I'll be leaving now. I trust Sakura finds whatever she's searching for."

Neji nodded. "Y-yeah."

As soon as she was gone everyone breathed a sigh of relief. A pouting Naruto popped out of the brown cardboard box as well as a smirking Sasuke, he found that funner than he thought it would be. It was nerve-wracking, but the adrenaline rush felt incredible.

Naruto noticed Sasuke's smug expression and turned towards him. "What are you staring at? Stupid." He muttered.

"Nothing, idiot." Sasuke rolled his eyes but his smirk never faded.

A humiliated Neji opened the door making the two young men look toward it in surprise. "What was that?!" He half whispered, half yelled, embarrassed about what he had done. His reputation was now ruined.

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Hehe.. sorry about that." He apologized. "It's even now though since you laughed at me on the elevator."

Neji sighed, "Let's just grab the pillows and get going. Sakura won't be able to keep the lady distracted for long." Sasuke hummed as he grabbed a few pillows alongside Naruto, passing a few to Neji so he could assist as well.

•💙🧡•

They all sighed as Neji shut the door behind him. Naruto slumped to the ground. "Wow, that was a lot of work." He sighed.

"What happened?" Kiba inquired, his smile extending from ear to ear. He hadn't gone along with Naruto because he wanted to see what would happen if they were caught but didn't want to be included for fear of getting in trouble.

"These two fools nearly got us caught." Neji scowled at the two, still upset about having to humiliate himself just so they could avoid being caught.

"It was Naruto. The virtuoso himself wanted to announce himself precisely when Ms. Tsunade was going to get off our case." Sasuke spoke up. Naruto sulked as he overheard Kiba laughing at their ineptitude.

"Now, are we going to play this game or what?" Sasuke asked, dropping the pillows onto the floor.

"Yes! Let's get this party started!" Tenten chirped.

"OK, we should pick group leaders then," Shikamaru said. "Since both of you nearly got captured, you can be the group leaders." He said, gesturing towards Naruto and Sasuke.

"What about me?" Neji scowled but was ignored.

"Yay!" Exclaimed Naruto. "I pick Kiba!"

They rotated through each other, each selecting one person for their team. Neji, Shikamaru, Hinata, and Ino made up Sasuke's team, while Kiba, Lee, Tenten, and Sakura made up Naruto's.

After the teams were selected, everyone pitched in by placing the pillows in a long line in the center of the floor, then each group made their way to their side of the room.

Naruto spoke up after everyone had gathered at their side. "Are you ready?" He asked, receiving a few affirmative responses. "Go!"

Some of them dashed for the pillows, while others staid behind, and before long, they were all either snickering, shouting at each other, or ridiculing one another.

Lee was quick to take somebody out, he got Ino followed by Hinata. "Great job Lee!" Naruto cheered, avoiding a cushion Neji tossed at him aggressively.

Shikamaru just stood still so someone could knock him out, not wanting to play. It was too troublesome for him to try. Naruto threw a pillow at him. "Yes!"

Sasuke looked over at Shikamaru, giving him a glare. "Did you really have to choose him?" Neji spoke with a cold tone.

"Tch. I thought he'd be good at strategizing." He rolled his eyes. "I'm here. We'll win for sure though." He smirked.

Naruto heard and glared, "I don't think so. Lee and I have got this in the bag!" He boasted.

Tenten and Sakura looked at each other then back at the two boys. "Hello?! We're here too!" They yelled.

"Yeah, whatever," They were swept aside by Naruto.

Tenten and Sakura were enraged and decided to let the other team take them out as a form of revenge. Neji and Sasuke took notice of the two young ladies and threw pillows at them.

Naruto heaved. "What the heck?!"

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Lee and I are going to win anyway," He assured before glancing at Lee. "Right Lee?"

Lee grabbed a pillow and threw it at Neji but he dodged it. "Yeah! You know it!" He chirped, giving Naruto a thumbs up.

Sasuke saw the little exchange and considered it to be an opportunity to toss a pillow at Lee since he wasn't paying attention. He immediately snatched a pillow from the floor and tossed it towards Lee, making him fall as it smacked him directly in the face.

Naruto gasped and ran over to Lee, grasping his hands. "Lee!"

Lee's eyes flustered open as he looked up at Naruto. "Naruto... Win this for me.." He said, tears significantly moving down his eyes.

Naruto's brows lowered in compassion. "I will win this for you... Don't worry my dear friend." He assured.

"I feel moved..." Tenten sniffled as she watched the interchange.

While Naruto and Lee were being extra, Sasuke and Neji volunteered to end the game. Sasuke tossed a pillow at Naruto and Neji tossed one at Kiba who was distracted by the interchange between Lee and Naruto.

As Naruto collapsed from the impact, everyone in the room gasped. Lee's mouth gaped open, and Neji and Sasuke looked at each other, smirking triumphantly.

Naruto was taken aback, but quickly recovered when he reminded himself that he was not going to lose to Sasuke. With a frown on his forehead, he stood up and shouted, "I demand a rematch! That was cheating!"

"Acknowledge you lost, idiot," Sasuke smirked to himself as he walked over to his bed, his hands in his pant pockets.

Naruto was about to retaliate when he heard taps at the door. Kiba stowed his phone and walked over to the door to greet the visitor. Mr. Sarutobi was standing outside. "Yes, sir?"

"We'll be on our way in about thirty minutes." He shifted his gaze to the students behind Kiba's shoulder. "Everyone, go to your rooms and pack your belongings. When you've put yourself together, go to the main floor with your belongings." Before he left, he said.

Naruto frowned, he wanted to have a rematch and now he couldn't. After everyone left after cleaning up the mess, he sighed and walked over to his bed to get his stuff ready to go.

Maybe he could get Sasuke and Neji back some other way. Although, Sasuke did help him out a lot when they were outside. Why'd he agree so easily though? Naruto didn't even express gratitude. Perhaps he could repay him in some way. He would have humiliated himself or worse, drowned if it hadn't been for Sasuke!

Naruto grinned as he zipped up his bag. He resolved to repay Sasuke in some way. Sure, he might be rude and cold at times, but that was just who he was.