School of elites

Chapter 31

Naruto was stuck inside a crowded area. He was being flooded with questions and compliments as well. Lee came over to make it worse as he was encouraging him to interact more. "I really hate them you know? My brother was bullied until he tried to harm himself."
"They are horrible. Kiba once beat the shit out of me just because I was on his way."
"That shithead Shikamaru always outsmarts us."
"Sai never fails to insult us. And that Neji and Gaara bastard, always looking down on us. Not to forget, Ino is a slut."
"Sasuke...we better not talk about him."

Everyone came up with different complaints and I couldn't help but listen to all of it. I couldn't get bored as all of the complaints were so interesting and I could relate to some of them. After awhile we managed to leave them behind and head toward our respective hotel room. Lee followed along.

He groaned as soon as he plopped on the bed as his body bounced a bit. "It was hectic, wasn't it?" He spoke. I only could agree with him. I busied myself with arranging a few stuffs but then Lee got up with the intention to drag the conversation. "Naruto? Why don't you think about it?" "What?" I asked in response. "About an anti council group." He spoke.

"Are you crazy? Who would be up for it?" I asked. Lee answered,"A lot of them seemed interested." I said,"I only came to graduate peacefully with good marks. I don't want to be pulled into something troublesome." Lee got up. He said,"Think about it. Weren't you dragged here by Sasuke? He will make you move according to his will. Once you are in his trap, there is no way out."

I was not only tangled up with him but his brother as well who seemed to have a weird obsession with his brother. "I don't think I have the power to lead a group, truly." I spoke. Lee immediately grabbed me by shoulders and gave them a soft squeeze. "Naruto, I am aware of your situation. You belong from an ordinary family. Isn't this your time to shine?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"What's in it for you? Why are you pushing me so hard?" I inquired. "Aren't you friends with them?" I pushed him farther. Lee's grip on me loosened instantly. He seemed hesitant but surely wasn't planning to let it go. He spoke up,"I'm just an errand boy." "What?" He sighed. "Because of my coach, I can do nothing about him. The training center of my coach is being run under his father's influence. Sasuke personally trains under him, we often train together. He simply turned me into his errand boy. Staring at my coach, I can't defy."

"So you are always around him..." "You are right, now it's not just him,now the whole council treat me like that. It's humiliating but except for swallowing my pride, I can do nothing." The usual playful look from his face was wiped off in an instant. The vulnerable Lee appeared. "I didn't even wish to attend this school. But...fuck, even speaking about it is humiliating for me. I also am ordinary. My position is even lower than yours. I am...an orphan." I gasped. "It's because of my coach, I am here. Although he wants nothing but the best for me." A soft smile appeared on his lips. "He is now officially my foster father."

"I understand how you feel but why don't you start this group? I lack the ability to lead." I tried to reason. "Naruto, you have to do this. It can't be done by me. It has to be you." His eyes shone as he encouraged me. "Naruto, I know you possess something which nobody possesses. Even not Sasuke." He said.
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It was a night of full moon. Except for me, there wasn't much people on the seashore. The night seemed so blue and pale that I wanted to lay down and never wake up. Different thoughts started to circulate in my mind. An anti council group, it didn't even sound easy. Who would be sane enough to compete against such a strong council. All of the members were influential.

I touched the place where his bite mark was, it was about to fade away. We were too close, close enough to feel each others breath. Sasuke hated skinship. What happened to that? I sighed. I knew after going back another storm was waiting for me. The result of the examination was going to be published. I had no confidence. I couldn't even dare to think to win against him.

The next day

The boys were taking a bath in a hot spring. That place seemed to have a lot of things. Some of them tried peeking at the women's area but the security was strong. I was sitting as half of my body was dipped into the hot smokey water. My body muscles had been loosened. Once again, I was alone. The elite ones seemed to be in a whole different league. I could see Lee smiling and joking around but my perspective on him had changed. Somehow I could see how he didn't want to be there. Our eyes met and we both nodded.

When my eyes moved, I found another pair of eyes staring at me as if he was observing my body language. Sasuke had a calm aura surrounding him. His cold frosty aura could even freeze the hot water. His hair was laid back slightly, he looked so pale as if he was shining. I felt the skin around my face burning. I didn't know what that feeling was but our glance exchanging session lasted only for some seconds.

Then someone's footsteps took our attention away. "Students, are you up for barbecue party?" Kakashi was always up for something fun. I lowered my body a bit drowning myself a bit more. I always felt my anxiety striking whenever he entered my sight. The response from the boys were positive. The beef they would bring would be marvelous. The food would always be expensive as cheap food caused their stomach to be upset. I on the other hand would be pleased with only a bowl of ramen which I hadn't had for months.

Kakashi chuckled. "Well this party is going to be held under a guest. Sasuke, you would be happy to know this that your brother is here." My gaze shifted to Sasuke faster than the light. I didn't know if anybody had noticed it but Sasuke had a change of expression for a few seconds before he managed to mask it completely. The expression wasn't pleasant. Itachi of course was uninvited and not welcomed by his only brother.

Everyone was dressed lightly as the weather was hot. I was wearing a shirt with thin fabric. My hair was a bit tousled and I kept it that way. I caught Hinata sneaking glances at me time to time. Most of the time I was avoiding it but when we both caught each other staring at each other, we exchanged an awkward smile.

The cackling sound of the wood which was being used as fuel and the smell of burned meats engulfed the air. The breeze felt cool against the skin. The smell of salt as we were near the sea didn't feel bad. The girls were in charge of cooking. I saw Lee helping hand in hand carrying cartoons of beverages. My eyes were roaming aimlessly. I wouldn't actually say aimlessly as I knew who I was looking for.

They were nowhere to be found. Neither Sasuke nor the unexpected guest Itachi. They were brothers so of course they would be chatting personally. I had the urge to urinate all of a sudden. I walked to the small firmhouse at a little distance where there was a washroom. Suddenly I heard the sound of quarreling. I instantly knew I entered a danger zone.

"Did you come here to embarrass me!"
"What are you saying Sasuke, can't I miss you?"
"Sometimes it disgusts me, really."
I heard the sound of chuckling. "Disgust? How could you say that? Aren't you being too cruel, Sasuke?" He emphasised on his name.
"I know there's a rat standing outside. Come out before I come to twist your neck." I flinched. I guess I got caught.

When I walked in, Sasuke froze. I had been seeing so many new new expressions on his face that it had started to amuse me. "Isn't that Naruto? How unexpected." Itachi had a charming smile on his face and the same voice which I couldn't help but like. He was wearing a white shirt and his hair was in a low ponytail, he looked like a pure gentleman.

"I was heading towards the washroom." I explained. "You got lost?" Then Itachi chuckled. "Seems like you have not used anything I gave to you." He said checking me out. Sasuke glared at him. "I told you that I didn't want them." I responded. Itachi smirked. He walked towards me with that same charming smile on his face. I thought moving backwards would make me seem scared so I stood still. His hand swiftly touched my waist as he said charmingly,"Darling, you know I like it more when you get feisty." Any girl would had swooned but I knew there was a rivalry between them.

"Back off." When that cold voice spoke out, I got surprised. I moved my gaze to fixate it on him, he still had that cold expression. "Don't touch him." As he said, I felt weird sensation in my stomach. "Huh? Did I touch something I shouldn't had?" Itachi replied quirking his perfectly shaped eyebrows. Sasuke got silent for a few seconds before speaking "You know I hate it when you touch what is mine." I gasped, were they fighting about me!?