INFATUATION

16.

i can't for the life of me write battle scenes, i've put this chapter off for weeks solely for that reason so i think i'll just skip it..

SORRY FOR THE WAITTT :( TYSM FOR ALL THE SUPPORT I'VE RECEIVED ON THIS WORK DESPITE ME BEING SO LAZY WITH IT ILY GUYS SM<333

The chapter takes place after the Zabuza/Haku fight.

———

You yawned as you pushed your puffy covers off of you. The sunlight shined through your curtains, hitting your face as you sat up.

You placed your hand onto the soft mattress to try and support yourself while you got out of bed, only to hiss at the sudden pain in your wrist.

"Ow!" You winced as you quickly withdrew it. You had forgotten you managed to hurt yourself on your prior mission. Your lips curled downwards, and you gently caressed it. Although it was a minor injury, your teammates were incredibly worried when you brought it to their attention.

Carefully, you got out of bed and stretched. Preparing for the day in under thirty minutes. You soon stepped out of your small apartment, and just as you finished locking the front door someone spoke to you.

"Y/n."

The singular word made you jump as you quickly whipped around, relieved to see it was Sasuke. He stood before you with his hands inside his pockets. Nonchalantly looking down at you. "Ah.. Sasuke, it's just you.." You whispered out. "What are you doing here?"

He avoided your question, instead grabbing ahold of your arm gently. "Your wrist, how is it?"

"Uhh, it's fine I think! Nothing to cry over, it just aches a little when I move it too far." You explained with a reassuring smile, attempting to roll your hand in a circle, but stopped when it made a spark of pain run down your spine.

His brows furrowed as he watched you stiffen up. "Don't do that." He carefully wrapped his fingers around the aching spot. "I want you to feel okay, Y/n.." He mustered up the courage to say. Your heart throbbed, as you stood in astonishment. Has he always been this kind and concerned towards you?

You cleared your throat, "Yeah, me too!" You pulled yourself away from his hold. "For you, I mean... I want you to be okay, too!" You decided to change the subject, "Let's get going now. The others might be waiting on us."

Sasuke was forced to agree, but he would've preferred staying home with you. And as usual, Kakashi was about an hour late.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You were sent on multiple missions throughout the day, fortunately, they were all simple errands. Unfortunately for Naruto, he managed to mess up during all of them. So much so that he needed to be supported by Sakura and Sasuke, his arms hung around the back of their necks as they walked together.

"Look at you, you're hopeless Naruto." Sakura shamed. A smug smirk grew on Sasuke's face, this was common. He loved watching Naruto embarrass himself while you were around. "You really are just one big problem." This set the blond off, as he growled and attempted to charge at the Uchiha. "Sasuke!-"

Sakura smacked him upside the head, "If you keep this up, I'll finish you myself!" She threatened, causing him to sadly bow his head like a puppy. Kakashi sighed, and you decided to intervene before things went too far. "Cut him some slack, both of you." You placed your hand on Naruto's shoulder and smiled, "Naruto did his best, isn't that what matters most?"

"But, Y/n.." Sakura frowned, and Sasuke shook his head. "What matters most is success. And don't be so gentle with him, otherwise, he'll never learn." Naruto gritted his teeth, Sasuke's comments worsening his mood by the minute.

"Guess we're not making a lot of progress on the teamwork thing, huh.." Kakashi said, understandably burnt out from having to hear his students scream at each other like toddlers all day. "That's right!" Naruto shook his fist angrily at Sasuke, who was walking away. "Our teamwork is all messed up and it's all because of you, Sasuke! You think you're better than everyone else?!"

The onyx-haired boy replied, "Not everyone, just you. Face it I'm better and stronger than you are, it's a fact." He suddenly stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Unless you have what it takes to prove me wrong." Sasuke taunted.

Naruto's ocean-blue eyes narrowed at him, and they stood completely still as if waiting for the other to attack first. Sakura nervously lingered behind them, 'They're getting along worse than before! If that's possible..'

"Alright, guys." Kakashi pulled his book out, "Let's call it a day, you can beat each other to a pulp some other time. Anyway, I have to file reports for our missions."

"Bye, sensei!" You waved, "Bye, Y/n." Sasuke scoffed as Kakashi disappeared. "Whatever, I'm out of here." He began walking away once more, Sakura gasped as she chased after him. Somehow, he managed to gain quite some distance despite taking only a few steps. "Wait, Sasuke! I'll go with you!"

Naruto reached his hand out, about to call for her, but decided to drop it as it was unlikely she'd return anyway. You sadly smiled at him, "Naruto, If you'd like we can hang out." He quickly grew happy again. "Really?" He grinned ear to ear.

Not too far ahead, Sakura managed to get Sasuke to stop. "So, why don't we..! I-I mean you know, let's do something more personal! I mean to improve our teamwork and all!" She clasped her hands and pressed them against her cheek.

"I swear, you're just as bad as Naruto." He spat out, annoyed. "Instead of flirting, why don't you practice your jutsu and make the team stronger? Let's face it, you're actually worse than Naruto. I was unlucky being placed in the same team as the two of you."

Sakura sadly looked down. You overheard the conversation and decided to jog over. Which made Naruto assume you were leaving him, just like Sakura did. "Enough, Sasuke!" You swiftly wrapped an arm around Sakura's shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. "What gives you the right to insult our teammates as if they're nothing?!"

Sakura let herself fall against you, she laid her head on your shoulder. The small gesture turned into a full-on hug. Sasuke's stomach churned at the sight, he was jealous. "Tch. I don't have time for this."

You clenched your fist, It was a rare sight to see you so upset, and at Sasuke of all people. Naruto stared in awe, his mouth hanging open a bit as the Uchiha turned their backs to each other. "What an asshole."