Book 1: Dancing With Lightning [Naruto]

Breaking Points

The sound of grunting and sizzling energy echoed through the field, scaring away the birds and other creatures nearby.

Sasuke was at the training grounds, training in his reflexes and muscles and speed. I have to get stronger! I can't stop working! There will always be someone stronger!

He backflipped and switched through hand signs. A blue orb of lightning formed in the middle of his left hand, lightning streaked over his arm, making his skin glow.

"Chidori!" He yelled before his fist collided with a tree. The effects appeared immediately. A big explosion and a small shockwave occurred. The grass was burnt and smoke rose up into the air. Sasuke wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed. Not good enough... I have to keep going.

"Oi, Sasuke!"

The Uchiha looked behind him and saw Naruto walking towards him with an annoying, smug smirk on his whiskered face.

Oh, great. He thought sarcastically.

He furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance. "What is it, dobe?"

Naruto scowled but quickly got back his confident smirk. He could precisely still feel the glare of Kurama burning holes into his head as he uttered the words that he knew would make Sasuke's blood boil. "I. Got. Hoshino's. First. Kiss."

Sasuke's mind whirled to a stop. Did he just hear right? His stomach tightened and so did his heart. He stared, baffled, at Naruto.

Naruto smirked triumphantly at the expression his rival was making. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" He grinned.

At these words, Sasuke's senses immediately returned to him. His black hair shadowed his face, his jaw tightened, his fists clenched, and his teeth grit. "What did you just say?" He bit out.

The wrath consumed him, engulfing his moralities and destroying the boundaries of loyalty. He didn't care if Naruto was his teammate. He wasn't going to get away with this.

Naruto didn't notice the sudden change of atmosphere and continued to grin smugly.

"That's right! I took Hoshino's first kiss! What are you gonna do about i--" He never got to finish his sentence, his senses screamed at him to dodge, to which he quickly did. During the trip with Jiraiya, he had learned to always trust his senses and gut feeling. And he was glad he listened, because just in a split second, a fist flew over his face, mere inches from colliding with him.

Naruto looked back up at Sasuke again, shock registered across his face. "What the hell, Sasuke! Why did you just do that, dattebayo?!"

Sasuke growled dangerously, his onyx eyes burning into the blond with a smoldering fire. "How DARE you steal Hoshino's first kiss?! I WILL KILL YOU!"

Naruto's eyes widened, realizing that Sasuke would probably follow through on his promise. "Wait--!"

Sasuke didn't listen. Instead, he formed hand signs and yelled, "Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" He cupped his mouth and threw his head back, before throwing it forwards. A massive fireball flew out of his mouth and headed straight towards the frozen Naruto.

However, the Uzumaki was quick to snap out of it and jumped away as fast as he could.

Seconds later, the fireball hit the ground, the ground shook immensely and a massive shockwave was sent blasted towards every surrounding. A big explosion followed suit. Smoke rose into the air and formed a small cloud in the sky.

The explosion caused the earth to rumble, and Hoshino and Kakashi looked towards the training grounds.

"What was that?" Hoshino asked innocently, tilting his head as he looked towards the source of the shockwave.

Kakashi groaned in exasperation and shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Don't tell me those two are at it again."

Hoshino frowned. "But... what would they be arguing about?"

He's more oblivious than I was when I was his age! Kakashi mentally face palmed.

The two boys grunted as they took handfuls of each other's clothing and attempted to wrestle the other to the ground.

Then Naruto released a hand-hold and used it to start jabbing Sasuke in the ribs. But Sasuke released both hands and grabbed Naruto's hair, bringing his face down sharply onto his bent knee.

Blood flowed from Naruto's broken nose and he staggered backwards. And that seemed to be the end of the little scuffle. Short, violent and bloody.

"GUYS!" Hoshino's voice yelled. He sounded angry. The two of them turned to see the blue haired boy dashing towards them.

They froze like deer in the headlights. They were screwed now. They both knew that. Hoshino hated it when they attacked each other.

His cold fury burnt with dangerous intensity. They never worried about his occasional fireworks and showers of red hot sparks, it was these bitterly cold, slow burning rages that threatened to engulf their friendship. To be fair, they HAD started it.

"What the hell, you two?" He demanded as he knelt at Naruto's side, glaring at both of them. "Do I really have to use my Thunder Tap like I threatened?"

Naruto winced as Hoshino pushed him on his back. "What are you doing?"

"You got your nose broken, so I'm helping you." Hoshino responded shortly.

He held Naruto firmly by the shoulders and squinted in irritation as the blond ninja tried to squirm.

"Stop moving," He snapped, "Do you enjoy having a broken nose?"

"Da crazy guy broke by dose!" Naruto whined in response.

"And you deserved it. What kind of idiot insults Sasuke to his face?" Hoshino rebuked.

Naruto growled, but Hoshino placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down. "Naru," he spoke softly but wth a strong undercurrent of worry, his annoyance and anger slowly fading, "stop moving and let me treat your injury."

He sent a pointed look at Sasuke, who nodded, wanting to get on his good side again. Sasuke placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders and Hoshino's hands darted in, lightning quick, adjusting the broken nose with a precise movement and a loud crack.

Naruto cursed loudly but Sasuke prevented his hands from going anywhere near his injury. Hoshino made a few subtle hand signs and gently probed the injury with a medical jutsu for a minute and checked for any potential blockages.

He rummaged in his pouches for some bandages. "It's been fixed and the airways are clean. Leave the swelling to go down and don't touch it."

Naruto sniffed, "Can't dou di someding wib medical seals?"

Hoshino glared, "Who's the medic here? You're better without. Just let the bruising heal naturally."

Let it heal naturally... The words held double meaning. Hoshino just hoped that they would both realize it before their friendship truly did fall apart.