Debate Team (sasunaru/narusasu)

-21-

•💙🧡•

Sasuke sighed as he closed his book. After Naruto left he tried to continue reading but the guilt he felt kept creeping back up on him. He felt a little bad about what he'd said to Naruto but happy at the same time.

He felt uneasy at the prospect of having any type of feelings towards Naruto. If he had some kind of emotional attachment to him, it would be a weakness. He wouldn't have the vulnerability if he cut the link, but he'd also end up hurting Naruto as he just did.

When he heard his door swing open, Sasuke was jolted out of his thoughts. "What the fuck?!" He yelled, rushing up to his feet in shock.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! You made a mistake once and were fortunate that he forgave you, but a second time? You deem him a burden after all he's done for you!" Itachi screamed angrily before he took a breath of air. "You know what? I'm happy you're no longer friends if you're going to hurt him like that."

"I'm not interested in being friends with him! He just serves to disturb me and make my life more difficult. What has he done for me, tell me? So what if he stood up for me against my father? He was pitying me!"

"You already know that isn't true." Itachi muttered, his gaze fixed on the ground in thought.

"Then tell me why else he was trying to be my friend?"

"Sasuke, not everyone is out to get you! He just wanted to be your friend. He wouldn't apologize if he didn't want to. Yes, you and he have always been rivals, but he would never do anything like this to you." Itachi sighed. "I hope you're happy because you just blew your last chance." He said as he shut the door to Sasuke's room.

As he closed his eyes, Sasuke felt his lip quiver. Was it really worth it? He lost his last opportunity to be friends with Naruto. He knew Naruto wouldn't pity him.. Naruto had been through a lot himself, so he understood how it felt to be in Sasuke's shoes. It wasn't pity that compelled him to defend Sasuke.

Sasuke was well aware of this, but he persisted in convincing himself that Naruto had spoken up for him out of pity. He simply did not want the vulnerability that bonds offer. Was this a wise or foolish decision? As he got ready for bed, he sighed. He could only hope that he had made the right choice.

•💙🧡•

"Let's get this over with." Naruto said as he walked towards the building where they had seen Jiraiya enter, ensuring that no one but Kiba could see him. "We can't afford to get caught, so be extra cautious, because I know how clumsy you can be." As he got closer to the structure, he whispered.

Kiba scoffed. "Look who's talking!" He said, pursing his lips. 

Naruto stopped in his tracks and looked back, towards Kiba giving him a menacing look. "What did I just say? This is what I'm talking about when I say you always act dumb when you're angry."

Kiba sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever," As he saw a well-built man emerge from the structure, he suddenly halted his speech. The man was dressed entirely in black, which was not at all suspicious.

Naruto raised an eyebrow as he noticed Kiba start to tremble. His eyes widened as he understood why he looked so terrified, someone was probably behind him. Someone very scary if he was able to shake up Kiba to such an extent. Naruto took a deep breath before turning and kicking the man in the balls. He wasn't about to wuss out.

When he turned around to kick the unknown person he gasped. It was a man twice his height, with piercings all over his face. If Naruto had seen how huge he was beforehand, he might not have kicked him, but it was far too late. There was no turning back now that his leg was in mid-air.

The man was taken aback; he had never been kicked there by anyone so young in his life. In his humiliation, he felt a surge of anger. He was definitely going to beat the crap out of this boy.

Naruto noted the unidentified man's menacing expression. Even if it was a two-on-one fight, he was not going to be able to defeat the guy. He'd be dead if he didn't start running, so he grabbed Kiba's wrist, yanked him out of his trance, and began running in the opposite direction.

As the blond pulled Kiba along, he gasped in surprise. He could hear the long-recovered man begin to curse at them. As his pulse accelerated, he felt sweat build up on his forehead. They were losing ground to the guy, and if they didn't act quickly, they were going to get it from the man.

"I'm not ready to die!" Naruto yelled as he gasped for air.

Kiba grunted and came to a halt. He looked around as quickly as he could, hoping to find a way out. He noticed an alleyway off to the left. It appeared shady, but it was better than dying at the hands of some random man who appeared to be a gang member. "This way!" He said, pulling the blond along with him.

"What if this turns out to be a dead end?" Naruto screamed out of breath, unaware of Kiba's strategy.

"Don't worry," Kiba reassured as he took a peek around the alleyway. He smirked as they approached a massive, reeking dumpster.

Naruto gasped as he was dragged over to the dumpster on the side. "No way! It's not like we're in a movie! This isn't going to work!" He exclaimed.

The blond's complaints were overlooked by Kiba. "Either this or we'll end up in a dead end!" He hurriedly said as he yanked the top of the dumpster up and jumped inside. "Get in!" Naruto grumbled at first, but eventually agreed and jumped in with a thud.

The sound of someone running could be heard, and it was getting closer by the second. When they heard the steps come to a halt, both boys felt their hearts stop.