Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Always Up Front	By : calenloke Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Neji Views: 3280 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Stories I write is just for fun. No profit is made from this.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Recap of last chapter:
He had a crush on Naruto.
/Crush/
/On Naruto/
"�"
Resuming his walk, he hastened his pace, not wanting anyone
to see how disturbed he looked.
He began to mentally calculate how long he felt this way. He
refused to call it a crush, it was childish and�whatever.
He could not call it an infatuation, because to his dismay
he realized that he has felt this way since they were young teens. It gradually
grew, until now: an infatuation did not last this long, right?
��..
Chapter 3: Genin Team
Neji paid little attention to the guards at the Hyuga
compound gates as he passed through. He was too busy trying to keep his heart
from bursting from his chest as he made his way subconsciously towards the main
house. He knew that the only way to keep himself from become a complete
imbecile was to train. He had no time to think about such feelings.
To think that all this time, all the chest pains, the
throbbing in his stomach, and the horrible blushing was because he was
infatuated with Uzumaki Naruto. Of all the ridiculous things to take place in
his life, this had to be frighteningly close to panic. He was attracted to
Naruto. There was nothing wrong with being attracted to the blonde ninja; he
was a beautiful individual with a kind heart. He had a heart-warming smile,
passionate blue eyes, striking physique and soft blonde hair. /Is it soft?
Irrelevant� Nevermind./
The problem was�he did not know the first thing about being
emotionally attracted to a man. Or woman for that matter; he never had the
time. He had slept with a woman once to appease his teenage hormones, but that
was not enough to consider this.
/Forget it. Just train./ Nodding his head to this conclusion
he continued on.
Neji glanced up just in time to see Hinata exit the mansion.
She saw him and waved him over. He observed with relief that she was smiling
happily. Her face radiated her joy and contentment. He couldn't help smiling
softly at her. She deserved to be happy for once.
"I see that everything went well." It wasn't a
questioned but Hinata nodded anyway. She laughed with barely suppressed glee.
Her pale eyes twinkled and her cheeks colored with her growing warmth. She
looked absolutely beautiful in her happiness.
"Yes. Father is talking to Kiba now, about his
responsibility to me. Although he�doesn't know about the pregnancy, we're going
to get married next week."
Neji wasn't at all surprised. As heir to the Hyuga clan, she
had to keep her honor foremost, no one must know that Hinata and Kiba had a
child out of wedlock.
"Who else knows besides me?"
Hinata leaned towards him to whisper softly, "Only
Naruto."
Neji visible stiffened at the name. Naruto again. He quickly
composed himself, shrugging indifferently to her when she caught the expression
that fleeted across his face. He pretended naivety when she regarded him. At
her continued inspection, he lost his footing on his control and turned his
face away from her.
"I hope it stays that way. The less anyone knows that
better for you."
At the corner of his eye he saw her blink in shock before
smiling at him softly. "Neji you're blushing."
Neji tensed at her comment before turning to glare at her.
His silver eyes disregarded her quiet acceptance, feeling small and cornered he
glowered at her. To her credit, Hinata stood there and took it all in stride.
"I may be shy and quiet to many Neji, but I'm very
observant. You're uncomfortable, I understand that, but it's all right-"
"Do not patronize me Hinata. And do not interfere in
things you know nothing about." He practically hissed at her as she stood
there. She calmly nodded her head as if agreeing with him, but her smile was
still sweet and accepting.
"You just found out your feelings for a certain
shinobi�..right?"
Neji blinked at her in shock. He tried to keep his breathing
regulated as he felt the blood leave his face at an alarming rate. He swayed
lightly on his feet before he registered Hinata's hands steadying him. He
silently cursed himself for this vulnerability in front of his cousin. No
matter how close they have become, some things are just to private and
unnerving to share with anyone. This was one of those things. The utter
confusion and humiliation could not get any worse.
He didn't comply as Hinata dragged him towards the secluded
gardens of the main house. He was fully aware when Hinata sat him on the stone
bench and sat herself beside him. They were both quiet for a while as they
stared silently around the garden. Hinata patiently waited for her cousin to
gather his equilibrium as Neji tried to calm his raging nerves. Never in his
life had he felt such imbalance, apart from when he first confronted Naruto in
battle at the Chunin exam. Closing his eyes, he cursed himself again.
/It always boils down to Naruto, doesn't it/
Turning his head to consider his cousin, he inhaled softly,
hoping for inner balance.
"What do you think I feel Hinata?"
Hinata didn't meet his eyes for a moment. She continued to
gaze at a tree that stood a few feet away from them.
Her voice was soft as she replied, "I can't tell you
how you feel Neji, only you can do that. But I do know that Naruto is a
wonderful person and I don't blame anyone for noticing it. Not even if it's
another man."
Hinata chose then to turn and hold his gaze. Neji saw the
sincerity in her eyes and her gentle smile.
He nodded his head as he took in her acknowledgment,
"How long have you known�I mean�how long have I�" /How long have I
made a fool of myself/
Hinata sighed when she saw his frown, "It wasn't like
that Neji. You weren't stuttering like a school girl, you were nothing like
me." She had the graciousness to blush at her confession.
"But I saw it, because I care for both of you. You're
my cousin and Naruto is my friend. I knew that you weren't ready to deal with
your feelings so I let it alone. I don't think you were even aware of how you
acted around him. It was very subtle, I don't think anyone caught on, not even
you."
Neji gritted his teeth in frustration. "This isn't
helping my situation. You won't tell me anything about what you really think,
and I'm not�I'm not familiar with these feelings."
Hinata bit her lip in thought. She wanted Neji to understand
his emotions before he did something rash. She knew her cousin well, if he
found that he disliked something, he separated himself from others, he became
cold and indifferent. He had to give these feelings a name before approaching
Naruto. Because if he was infatuated with the blonde shinobi, than Neji will
not survive the encounter. Naruto will not tolerate being used by anyone.
"You don't have to tell me these things Neji, if you're
uncomfortable."
Neji nodded his head in thanks at her honesty and
acceptance. But he knew that she was the only one who knew about this, and
could help him. Besides, she was one of the few people he trusted.
Concentrating on controlling his breathing, his mind seemed to wander. He found
Naruto physically attractive. His previous actions concerning the blonde were
proof of that. So, it's sexual at least. /But do I know anything other than
that/
The conversation between Hinata and Naruto in the training
area earlier that day came to his mind. From what he could decipher, Naruto
that they all knew was just a small part of the real man. He remembered Hinata
saying that it was all a fa�ade. The grinning, loud and clueless Naruto was not
the real thing. Meaning he did not know Naruto at all.
/That's not true./
He did catch glimpses of him. During their battle in the
arena, Neji saw the real Naruto. The determination and seriousness of his
countenance mesmerized Neji, but later Neji had chalked it up as adrenaline
blurring his true vision of the clown that was Naruto. In that, he
underestimated the blonde shinobi again.
/Not any more./
Neji felt the calm returning and settling within his chest.
He knew now what he wanted. He was attracted to the blonde ninja, an urge to be
close to the mystery that was Naruto. But because he did not know fully who was
behind the mask, Neji will wait and observe. He had to be perfectly sure before
he confronted the blonde. Naruto deserved total honesty. For he had a feeling
Naruto was the only person who could understand him totally, accept him fully
and love him completely.
/Love./
Neji stood up and silently pulled Hinata to her feet as
well. He smiled at her questioning look. Seeing the smile on his face, Hinata
returned the smile freely. It was rare to see her cousin smile, so it delighted
her heart to see it.
He leaned down to kiss her cheek softly. Before pulling
away, he spoke softly to her. "Thank you Hinata."
Before she could get over her shock, he bowed to her and
quietly left the garden.
��.
"What!" His voice was a mixture of shock and
anger.
Behind her desk, Tsunade rested her chin on her entwined
hands and watched with amusement as the blonde jounin started sputtering at
her. She took the time of his inattention to her scrutiny to inspect how much
the blond in front of her desk had changed.
His boyish features of old had matured into lean and
sculpted tanned face of a young man. At only nineteen, Naruto was a sight to
behold. He finally grew into his desired height with a lean musculature, and
with it was grace and beauty of movement. He was no longer clumsy and loud, but
few really knew that to be true. His ice blue eyes sparkled with intensity, and
his smiles were still joking and mirthful, but behind that curtain of long
blonde bangs his emotionless countenance would appear. He let his blonde unruly
hair grow, keeping it tied at his nape and swinging between his shoulder
blades.
She had to smile when she realized that the young women of
the villages were starting to see the handsome boy she considered her little
brother. With his easygoing charm and welcoming smiles, no girl could resist.
She smirked/or boy./
"Are you going to answer me Tsunade?" Contrast to
his voice earlier, he was more calm and quiet. He sighed softly as he leaned
back in his chair and returned her stare head on.
Tsunade shrugged softly, the longer she kept him waiting the
more irritated he became; she tried not to seem to please when he frowned at
her.
"Well Naruto, it seemed a practical solution. A cover
of sorts; you wanted me to come up with a good reason for you to leave Anbu
without the question from the general public. Besides, this would be a good
learning experience for you."
Naruto raised a blonde eyebrow at her in question. He
crossed his arms over his chest and titled his head to the side. His frown more
pronounced than before made him look older than he was. He kept silent, but his
intense inspection of her features was burden enough to continue with her
explanation.
"If you took on a genin team this could help you in so
many ways. As their sensei you can gain leadership qualities�um� and it would
be easier for you to take solo missions instead of your Anbu teammates. Besides,
didn't you say you wanted to leave Anbu ranks without anyone inquire the
reasons? Well here is the chance; no one would question you on your desire to
teach the future shinobis of Konoha. It's a valid point."
Naruto shook his head in silent amusement; he bit his bottom
lip to keep his chuckle from escaping. Sometimes Tsunade's tender feelings for
him were sweet. He knew how overprotective she could be when it came to him,
but they both knew she couldn't protect him from everything. He appreciated her
concern and her unending efforts nonetheless.
When the Anbu interrupted his training with Sasuke that
morning for a summon to meet the Hokage immediately, he automatically concluded
that he was being ordered to take one of those delicate mission. /But boy�.was
I ever wrong./
Through his bangs he watched her continue to appeal her
case, he wondered if he should tell her that he wasn't opposed to the idea,
just surprised. He never thought about taking on a genin team, it never crossed
his mind, for seriously who in this village would voluntary let their children
be under his supervision. Of course, under the years the tolerance for him
among the villagers have increase, but he wasn't sure about pushing it. He knew
that the shinobis of the village accepted and respected him as a ninja and
those whom he worked with in the past have come to like him.
She was manipulating the idea for him, including the tidbit
about qualities for a Hokage was ingenious. He would give her credit for that,
but seriously he didn't know the first thing about training young kids. Of
course, to be handed an opportunity like this one intriguing, he wasn't about
to back down from a challenge.
"Alright�I'll do it."
She stopped in her rambling to stare at the blonde. He held
her gaze with indifference, before shaking his head at her. The amusement in
his eyes was clearly visible as a touch of a smile formed on his lips.
"You're getting old Tsunade, you've lost your tact.
Shame really, I was really looking forward to a real authentication of reasons.
What a disappointment." With a mock sadness on his face, he brushed away
an invisible tear from the corner of his eye.
She blinked twice at him before she snapped out of her
trance. She scowled at him, realizing from his obvious mirth of play. /That little
brat/ She clenched her fists and glared at him across the desk. /The nerve of
him to lead me on, making a fool of me./
She suddenly stood up so fast that her chair fell back with
a loud crash. She raised her fists as she opened her mouth to reprimand the
young shinobi when he smiled up at her from his seat. She was baffled a moment
at the smile, it was small and light. Full of sincerity and fondness; his eyes
glowed with tenderness, and with his kitsune markings on it cheek, he looked
like a content cat bathing in the sun.
"Could you tell me about my team nee-chan?"
Her whole attitude changed at the softly spoken request. She
smiled with pleasure at being address as his sister. She tried to conceal her
demure happiness by straightening her appearance before righting her chair and
sitting down. Clearing her throat, she turned her attention back to him.
"They just graduated yesterday from the academy, I've
already taken the liberty of picking you the team."
Naruto just nodded, there was no use arguing the point when
she was so adamant in her decisions. After years of following her orders, he
came to grasp when to intervene and when not to. She was really serious about
this, so might as well let her pilot. /What is it with my metaphors/
"There is the rookie of the year Hyuga Tai, he's from
the branch family. They say he's up to par with Neji when Neji was his age.
Then there's Matazu Minase, he's a first generation ninja in his family. And
Kisaragi Kitame, her family are weapons specialist."
Naruto looked through the papers that she handed over to
him. He was still reading the profile on Hyuga Tai, when a thought struck him.
His curiosity got the better of him and he had to ask.
"It pains me to ask, but traditionally the rookie is
placed in the team of dead last�so�"
Tsunade smiled at his hesitated expression, "Kisaragi
Kitame is your dead last."
��.
Naruto took his time as he walked toward the academy. He was
still contemplating his genin team when he almost ran into someone else. He
muttered an apology before he realized that the person was addressing him by
name.
"Yo, Naruto. I heard that you're taking on a genin
team."
Naruto focused his attention on the speaker to see none
other than his old sensei with his face buried in that familiar orange book. He
managed not to pay any notice to the shaking shoulders and the snickering that
originated behind that book.
"News travels fast around here. Tsunade just told me a
half hour ago."
He narrowed his eyes at the gray haired ninja in suspicion.
He wouldn't put it past Kakashi to have a handle in whatever he thought was
necessary for Naruto's welfare. After Naruto found out that the Yondaime was
his father, Kakashi was more 'open' about his reasons for treating him as he
did. Like Naruto, Kakashi suppress emotions that dealt with his past. And one
of those emotions dealt with his sensei, the Yondaime. From what Naruto could
guess, Kakashi always admired the Yondaime and saw him as a surrogate father.
He felt an obligation and maybe a sort of honor in his duty to Yondaime by
protecting and helping his legacy.
"Kakashi just shrugged, "I was wondering last
night why you quit the Anbu, so I asked our great Hokage." He lowered his
book for a second just so that Naruto could see his smiling eye before he
turned back to his reading.
"Yeah�nii-san, what's up with that! You are still
thinking about become Hokage right!"
Naruto waved hello to Kakashi's genin team. He smiled at
Konohamaru before he sheepishly started scratching the back of his head in
false anxiety at witnessing the glare on the younger boy's face. After two
years as genin, Konohamaru was still loud and uncontrollable as ever. Might as
well humor the boy, he was starting to sound like him at that age.
/Frightening./
"Well hello to you to Konohamaru."
When all he got was a glare and a growl he shook his head in
dismay. Sighing he tried again.
"It's a whole new experience for me. I'll get to
understand bases of teamwork from another perspective." He off handedly
moved his hand in the air, trying to convey his partial attention to the
conversation. He nodded at Konohamaru's other teammates in greeting, but as he
turned to Kakashi, he saw Udon smirk at Moegi who was busy turning red. Not
caring to embarrass the girl, Naruto addressed their sensei.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm late to meet my
team." With his trademark grin he vanished in a cloud of smoke.
"I'll get my answers next time nii-san!�� Moegi�.you
look like a tomato."
Kakashi shook his head at their antics before moving along,
not looking but knowing that they were following him.
��.
Minase sat back in his chair and watched his other two
teammates. Hyuga Tai was silently leaning back in his chair with his eyes
closed. Minase had to smile; for he knew that when his friend was impatient he
tried to calm himself by meditating. Although, Minase couldn't see the problem,
they've been waiting for only five minutes. But he guessed that was something
that Tai didn't have in common with the Hyuga clan.
Tai was a contradiction; where he was impatient, his clan
was known for their patience, where he was polite and reserved, the Hyugas were
arrogant and superior. Even his appearance was different; the famous long black
hair of the Hyuga men was absent in Tai, who preferred to keep his hair short
and manageable.
Kitame was also silent; she sat in front of him with her
straddling her chair so they could play shogi. She was busy concentrating on
her next move as she bit her lip. Her hazel eyes analyzed the board with
precision. Even though she was dead last, Kitame was a smart student with great
kenjutsu, but her lack of focus and confrontations with her teachers wasn't in
her favor.
Nevertheless, he and Tai considered themselves lucky to be
teammates with her, for she was easy to talk to and work with. Maybe it had a
lot to do with her tomboy appearance. Unlike the girls in their class, Kitame
wore black shinobi pants and shirt with a dark blue jacket with the sleeves cut
off. Her auburn hair crew cut with the two long locks in front framing her face
was absolutely a fashion statement to the female population.
Beside his two companions, he felt average. It didn't bother
him though. With his dark brown hair and matching eyes, he was content not to
draw unwanted attention to himself. Although, he had to thank his dad for his
height; which he equaled Tai, making them the tallest in their graduating
class.
"Your turn Minase."
Minase blinked in confusion, for a moment he forgot where he
was or what he was doing. When he glanced at Kitame, he grinned in
embarrassment at her raised scrutiny. Seeing her frown in concern at his lapse
in focus he tried to distract her. Reaching over, he grabbed the ends of her
two locks of hair that rested in her lap and pulled gently.
Predictably, she slapped his hand away and snarled at him.
"You do that again, and I'll cut off the reason you call yourself a
man�oh�my mistake�I meant boy." She snickered at his blushing face before
turning back to the game.
"That was low Kitame."
"Then you should be more careful next time right?"
She just shrugged her indifference as she waited for him to
move. Minase didn't have time to reply when the door opened to reveal a man
with blonde hair and intense blue eyes. From his jounin attire they all guessed
to why he was here. The jounin nodded a greeting to the class sensei at the
front desk before turning to them. They all watched as he smiled at their
curious expression.
"Team 6, I presume. I hope you guys haven't waited
long." Without waiting for an answer he exited the class.
The three young genin all exchanged glances before bolting
for the door. Quickly exiting they saw the jounin just outside waiting for
them. He turned his head to exam each one of them before nodding. Quietly he
motion for them to follow.
��.
Straightening his jounin vest Naruto leaned against the
railing of the academy building roof. He silently studied his team, and he was
immediately glad to see the comfortable atmosphere that they had around each
other. They all sat close together facing him with the girl in between the two boys.
They were alert and attentive as they observe him as well. He cleared his
throat and smiled brightly at them. They in turn just stared at him. /This is
going to be a long day./
"Alright then. Before we get started, we have to get to
know each other first. Knowing your fellow ninja makes a better flowing team.
So I'll start, my name is Uzumaki Naturo. I like many things, like ramen,
and�.I don't like�huh�my goal is to be�" Naruto chuckled as he scratched
the back of his head. At their stares he smiled sheepishly, "I'm still
working on mine."
They all blinked at the absurd explanation. This guy was
there jounin sensei? Tai frowned as he tried to pin point where he heard that
name before. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place where he heard it.
Softly shaking his head to clear it he began his introduction.
"My name is Hyuga Tai. I like to train and to read. I
also like to spend time with my friends. I dislike liars and people who give up
easily. My goal is to best my cousin, Hyuga Neji."
Naruto tried not to appear surprised at the statement. The
boy seemed to have a lot of determination. And from what he saw, the young
Hyuga was confident in his skills, but not arrogant. /Okay./
He turned his attention to the tomboy sitting between the
boys, only to see her hazel eyes challenging him. He barely managed to contain
his smile as he stared her down. When she realized that he wasn't going to back
down, she huffed and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"My name is Kisaragi Kitame. I like these two because
they respect me as an individual. I don't like to be talked down to like a
child. I don't like being considered a weak girl as well. And my goal is to
become the best hunters-nin."
/Ah� brings back memories; a dead last with an attitude./
The last boy straightened his back and met Naruto's eyes
with muted caution. "My name is Matazu Minase. I like to train with my
friends. I like to play shogi with them too. I don't like fangirls and squid on
a stick. I also don't like it when someone is left behind. My dream is to
become an Anbu captain."
Naruto tilted his head to the side in confusion. /Squid on a
stick/
He perished the thought as he moved away from the railing
and assessed them again. They all seemed to be more focused then most children
their age when they graduated from the academy. They were comfortable with each
other as friends and comrades. Teamwork seems to be in order.
/Hell will freeze over before I use Kakashi's method. Cruel
way to traumatize them, totally not needed in this team./
"Since you are all familiar with each other, I'll make
this short. Tomorrow, we'll start with looking at your individual weakness and
strengths. At six am, I expect all of you at area 15 waiting for me. That's all
for today."
Naruto turned and jumped over the railing. As he descended
three stories down, he disappeared in gust of smoke.
After his departure all three genin turned and glanced at
each other. Kitame could not hold in her curiosity, "Okay, who was that?
Has either of you ever heard of Uzumaki Naruto?"
��..
TBC�.
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Always Up Front