A/N: Already more than thirty reviews :O Thank you so much!

About the thing with "" and ''… I can understand what you mean, but I somehow stuck with it. I like it that way… and I personally think it makes sense, so I am sorry that I confuse you but I hope you will come around eventually :) If not – blame "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", the first book I read in English.

The Uchiha elders are my fantasy, but I always thought that Fugaku couldn't be the driving force behind all of it, and elders already have a bad ring to it from the manga… so it kinda came together in this.

This one is even longer the last one! I thought about making it even longer, but decided to make the Hyūga affair in the next one…

Yay for me! I only needed one week!

… Also, it could be that I fucked up the timeline a little bit. ;)

Have fun :)

The Savoir of the World – Chapter Four

Naruto knew it would happen. Eventually someone would take him from her. That always was the only constant in her life, after all. Just like they took Iruka, like they took Gaara, like they took Sakura, like they took Neji, like they took Hinata, like they took Kakashi and lastly like they took Tsunade – she had been dying after all when she had given them the seal that would bring them back. Sasuke had been the only one of her precious people who still had been alive. And Naruto could feel it in her heart… He was the last one. She had pinned all her happiness on him. With him she would go, if not in body then in spirit. But life was never nice to her and without doubt Naruto knew that life took everything it gave. She had Sasuke. And Death will take him from her. Eventually.

As she stared after him, even after he was long gone, she wanted to believe that he was too stubborn to die, after all he was a bastard, and would never response to the call of Death and even if Death knocked on his front door, he would just slam the door in his face. However, Naruto knew that the Death was sneaky and would attack the moment one at least suspected it. She was cursed to survive everything that killed everyone else. She was the savior of the world and Kami knew heros never got what they wanted – it was their job to make sure the others got it. All she could hope for that Death would only come in many, many years.

Sighing she stood up and stretched. However, all of a sudden she noticed something she had ignored before: the bastard had stolen her first kiss! Again! Her face slowly colored red and Naruto tried to tell herself it was from anger. She sighed again, this time in frustration. The boy should stop doing these things; it would only hurt both of them in the end. Naruto had noticed how the young Uchiha slowly weaseled his way into her life and how he never left her side if he didn't need to. It would be a lie if she said that she didn't like it – however, Naruto also knew that he would only be by her side until the he either died or the danger would be over. She had not a lot to offer to someone like Sasuke and thus was sure that he would leave her behind as soon as possible. All she hoped for was that he would still want to be her friend. Naruto knew she had enjoyed the last year too much for it not to become a problem.

Flashing through the handseals for her most used Jutsu: Shunshin, she ended her thoughts about the topic. With a white cloud of smoke she was gone. Only directly before her apartment she stopped the high speed movement. Without problem she could already feel the chakra signatures in her home. As she opened the door and stepped inside – tiptoeing around her traps – she came face to face with Hiruzen in his Hokage robes and Hatake Kakashi in his Jonin Uniform. She blinked only once at the two men before she went into the kitchen and began to heat up water for tea.

Naruto knew exactly why they were here.

…

The lone dark gray eye of Kakashi observed the reaction of the red haired academy student. There were a lot of reactions he had expected, after all the girl was about to graduate younger than anyone else and her best friend was an Uchiha – he had been quite sure she would have an ego as huge as any fresh Genin, but as he watched her bring three cups with tea he knew that this girl was not in any way normal. The red haired girl sat down with the grace of a killer opposed of the two men on the table and looked at them with patience. There were no needless questions asked and her focus was on the Hokage. While normally all young children would look at the new person, she looked at the man she knew to wait for answers. It told the former ANBU Captain that she was not easily distracted by new things and would seek answers always from reliable sources.

Smart little thing.

'Naruto-chan', the grey haired man began, 'this is Hatake Kakashi.'

Instantly her azure eyes darted to him. So she knew his name, and Kakashi also was quite sure that she knew about his nickname when the way her gaze went to the eye that was concealed by his headband was any indication. Respectfully she nodded to the shinobi that was clad in the Jonin uniform. 'It is nice to meet you, Hatake-san. My name is Uzumaki Naruto.' It was a matter of manners that she introduced herself, and the white haired man was quite sure she knew it as well as he did. Her voice was quite, but firm. He was pleasantly surprised about it – it would make working with her that much easier when she was not like he had feared a bunch of Genin could be. If the Uchiha was anything like her, this could become more fun than he thought.

'He will be your teacher when you graduate tomorrow', Hiruzen told her and her eyes again flew to him, searching for answers to questions she didn't ask. But the man who had begun to teach her when she had been three knew her well, and told her what she wanted to know. 'We will continue our training on Saturdays and Tuesday, of course. Sasuke will be trained on these days by his father.'

'Who will be our third teammate?' There was no curiosity or eagerness in her voice, as one would have expected. Only respectful interest was audible. Kakashi didn't quite know if he should be alarmed or impressed with the young girl.

'Only time will show', the oldest of the three said wisely and from the knowing glint in these azure eyes the last Hatake knew she understood what the man really said.

Yes, having her as subordinate would be nice.

However, as they now had informed the girl about it, they had to go to the next stop on their list: the Uchiha clan. Oh, how Kakashi wished he could get out of that.

xXx

Hatake Kakashi was a wound point for the Uchiha elders, and thus all Uchiha. A non-Uchiha with the Sharingan was a pill hard to swallow, but a non-Uchiha that had a reputation with it? That hurt. Of course the heir of the clan became an ANBU now, too, but the fame that the young child of ten brought was not comparable with the one from Hatake Kakashi. Every time any Uchiha heard of the "Sharingan no Kakashi" it was like salting an open wound. With clenched teethes they accepted it – after all, even after they had asked the Hokage to give them back the Sharingan he had refused, so there wasn't anything that they could do. However, when Fugaku told the elders that he was the one who would become the teacher of the second prodigy the clan head gave life to, they were angered. To think the Hokage had the nerve to let the little brat with a stolen Sharingan teach their chance for respect! Their chance to rise once again to fame! And that little orphan on the same team, no less.

Yes, it was an understatement that the Uchiha didn't like it.

'He has gone too far!', the old woman hissed displeased.

Four people were in the room: Fugaku, the clan head, his father, Fudo, a man older than the third Hokage, Jou, and a woman named Tsukino. All three of them had dark hair and dark eyes, the typical Uchiha features.

'Hiruzen tries to control us', the oldest of the four thought out loud. 'And even then he presents us our prey on a silver tablet.'

Confused three pair of eyes went to Jou.

'Nobody would be wiser if the Hatake would die on a mission and with the Kyūbi on the same team, little Sasuke only has to get the Sharingan to control her.'

'Jou', the gruff voice of the Fudo said to the older man. 'Have you forgotten that you yourself tried to control the Biju in the young girl? Have you forgotten that you failed?'

The man bristled. 'The seal will break!', he meant. 'And when it does, little Sasuke will be there to control the beast!'

'Hiruzen will not let the Uchiha in the position to control the demon', the only woman voiced her suspicious. 'He will make sure to not let us stay in power.'

'Just because the Uzumaki girl couldn't hold the monster inside her when she gave birth… Otherwise no one would know about our rather unique ability…', Jou mused in thought.

'It is time that someone else takes the position, anyway', Fudo said aloud. 'The first two were Senju, and Hiruzen was trained by the two. Only maybe the Yondaime could have changed something.'

'Why not an Uchiha this time?', Tsukino meant. 'Your first born is on a good way! With Itachi as Hokage, we will have no problems with letting everyone know how powerful the Uchiha still are!'

Fugaku didn't answer, letting the elders think and talk about it. He didn't like the idea, no, and he also wasn't really interested in using the daughter of his friend – because when these blue eyes had looked at him the first time, he had known – but they were right somewhere. Something had to be done, and even if he didn't like the idea, his two sons would one day shoulder the Uchiha clan, and they had to be ready.

Ever since the second Hokage began to control the clan, there had been a rebellion on the way. It seemed that now was the time that clan would finally demand what was rightfully theirs.

xXx

The red haired girl came out of the academy, a Hitai-Ate in her hand and a moment later was gone in a cloud of smoke.

She was avoiding him. She was distancing herself from him. And Sasuke sure as hell wouldn't allow it. This wasn't supposed to happen – especially not after yesterday. Was it a mistake? Had he done something wrong? Sasuke should have known that she didn't like to be kissed. It had been a stupid idea, no matter how happy it had made him at that moment. Well… he would have to apologize to her, then. It seemed that he had confused her happy expression with rage. He ran his finger through his hair and sighed inaudible. He had become delusional after she had accepted him back in Konoha and as her best friend. He should have known that the trust she had showed him at the enrollment was the trust for a right hand, because that what he had been before they had been sent back.

The whole next week he would go in the mornings to her apartment, only to be sent away by Naruto as she went training. He let her. She didn't want to listen, and that was alright. Maybe she needed time… That was what he thought. But when after a week she still went out of her way to avoid him, he felt desperate. When they once again found themselves in the classroom with all passed Genin to be teamed up, he knew that something had to be done. He stared at her as the teams were read and heard that they were Squad Five – just him and Naruto, how curious. But that was not important right now. He followed her as she went outside to eat lunch, knowing that he had to solve this problem now, before they would meet their teacher.

They were outside and away from the other students when Sasuke finally made his first move and walked in her path.

'What's wrong?' His tone was passive, but his eyes gave away that he was eager to hear the answer to the question.

'Nothing is wrong.' Her voice, too, was indifferent. However, as she wanted to walk past him, he stepped to the side and in front of her, giving her no other opinion than to look at him.

'Naruto…', he began but didn't know what to say. How could he? He didn't even know what was wrong, so he asked her again. 'What's wrong?'

There was no anger in her eyes when she looked up to him, but he was almost sure that it lurked in there somewhere. As children Sasuke always had thought he had been able to read the blond like a book – and in a way, he had been right. However, he always only able to read what she allowed him to, even until today. She was able to suppress her emotions from showing, sometimes he even thought she could erase them from within her; Sasuke was quite sure it was a defense mechanisms. Everything he had known about her was only the surface, for many, many years. It had been only at the Valley of Ends, on his way to deflect to Orochimaru, that he finally had understood that there was way more to Uzumaki Naruto then meets the eye.

Even today he could see the fire in her blue eyes when she had said that she doesn't leave comrades behind, even if they are bastards.

She didn't open up to him fully even now, Sasuke understood in that moment. While every other male would have been sad at the revelation, his only reaction was determination. He had known since the beginning that it would be hard, so why stop know? There was no one else he wanted by his side.

'Speak with me, Naruto! Tell me what's wrong so I can fix it!' His voice became hard and his eyes intense.

'Stop it!', she cried out all of a sudden. Furiously she stared back at him, and he had never seen her so livid. 'Stop that!'

It was stupid to think that it made the Uchiha so happy to be screamed at by a woman, but Sasuke knew that Naruto never had expressed displeasure, so he advanced with his questions. It was new that she told him what she thought and didn't just hide it away. 'What, Naruto, what shall I stop?'

She clenched her fists and teethes. 'This!', she pressed out. 'Stop being so kind to me', she demanded as she waved with her hands in the air. 'That's not your job! This is not what you should do!'

With sad dark eyes he watched as desperation entered the blue eyes that always made his heart beat a little faster when they looked at him. He saw as pain then flickered over her facial features and knew that he finally was at the core of the problem. He just had to poke a little more.

'Why? I like to do that!' If they didn't argue right now he would have blushed at the confession.

'But you will die!', she screamed as answer, the voice of the five year old girl in front of him squealing at the volume she said these words with, angry and desperate for him to understood. 'You will die! Just like everyone died! And then I will be alone!' Dark eyes stared at her, totally overwhelmed at these words that came out of her mouth. Suddenly all her irateness was gone and replaced with wariness. 'It's better if I don't get used to be handled with kindness when I am going to lose it anyway.'

Never had Sasuke had the urge to smack Naruto upside the head, not until right this moment.

'This isn't the past', he hissed at her. Why couldn't she understand? How could she even think that any of the things that had happen last time would happen again? His eyes searched for hers; however she looked away from him, her eyelids lowered, as if in shame. Firmly he grabbed her shoulders with his hands, making her eyes dart to his in surprise, and stared at her intensely, willing her to understand. He had to tell this stubborn girl what he meant, otherwise it would be disregarded. Breathing in and out deeply, he repressed the anxiety in his stomach. This was not something he could not do. Sasuke had to make her comprehend. 'I will not go, Naruto.' He saw how her eyes again looked down, but the Uchiha was not done now, so he strengthened his hold on her. The grip on her shoulders would bruise, and as much as the dark haired Genin hated it to hurt her, he knew that he had to. Once again her gaze snapped up, looking at him with vulnerable open orbs.

She was listening, she was trying to comprehend, and she was thinking about what he said – he saw it in her eyes.

'I will stand by your side forever, Naruto. And I sure as hell will not die. I will not let you be alone.' The hope in these azure eyes made his heart wrench, knowing that this were the words she always wanted to hear. He knew then, that at heart, the redhead always had been like a little girl – all she ever wanted was to be assured that everything would be alright. His hands let go off her shoulders and instead his arms wrapped around her to embrace her tightly. 'Naruto', he breathed in her soft red hair, affection in his voice, 'let me in. I will not disappoint you.' When she began to shake before he felt his shirt become wet from her tears and sobs wracked her body, he knew that she had accepted his words. One of his hands stroked her hair gently and the other was around her waist, holding her against him and her body up.

…

Kakashi had expected to find his two Genin annoyed, not asleep. The former ANBU Captain was three hours late – Obito would have been so proud of him – and opened the door to the classroom to see the young Uchiha sitting on the floor, with a mop of red hair on his lap. One of the boy's hands was in the soft looking, chin long, hair, no doubt caressing it before he fell asleep. The little body of the girl was curled up, like a cat.

Puppy love, he thought fondly and couldn't fight off the smile on his masked face.

Interested how sensitive to chakra they were, he spiked his chakra. He had thought he would need to make the spike stronger for the two fresh Genin to notice, but Kakashi was proven otherwise when both of them suddenly were on their feet, a kunai in their hand and in a defensive Taijutsu stance. The young Uchiha was using the style invented by his clan, and the young Uzumaki was using, as Kakashi remembered, the style her father had used. Hiruzen had taught it to her, the Jonin knew.

'So, my little kiddies, this is what we are going to do…'

xXx

A sinking feeling in his stomach had made itself known the first time when his brother had asked to go to the academy early. When he had come back that evening to tell their father that he would attend the graduation-class he felt as if he were sick. When his kind, innocent, stupid, little brother came home with a Hitai-Ate he felt like a sword was rammed in his stomach. Itachi didn't care that his brother obviously had more talent and genius than himself. All he cared for was that his little brother was supposed to enjoy his childhood, have friends and be what children are, foolish. He should not have to see the ugly side of their family – Sasuke should be blissfully obvious to these problems. Itachi knew that he couldn't protect his little brother forever, but could one not dream of it?

He did not want to see the pureness of his little brother become soiled.

But as he watched the dark eyes of his brother observe their father and mother with intelligence far succeeding his years, he knew that it was too late. Sasuke saw, he heard and he knew. And so, even though he would have preferred to make sure that Sasuke was as far away from the whole clan politics as possible, Itachi knew what he needed to do now. He had to train his little brother and make sure he knew what was right and wrong. With purpose the older of the two siblings walked towards the younger one and lightly brushed by him. When he heard the fresh Genin follow him, Itachi knew that there still was hope. His brother would not become like them.

Itachi would make sure of it.

xXx

There were a lot of things a strong person could take, Hiruzen knew, but there was always one thing that would break everyone, no matter who, no matter which nation he was from, or which gender the person was. Even the most gifted or wisest people would despair. It was actually rather easy to find out once one thought about it and even then people were too careless and thoughtless with the information.

Just as only love could heal the deepest wounds, the loss of loved ones wounds a person as deeply as nothing else could. It destroys all knowledge of right and wrong and leaves the hurt one as a shell of his former self.

Hiruzen would know – he had seen it. What had began as simple curiosity became compulsion and then Orochimaru couldn't stand to be anything less than the best. Being praised for his knowledge and ability at a young age, Orochimaru found his meaning in knowing all Ninjutsu that existed. Soon, however, Kinjutsu aroused the interest of the little prodigy and thus was the next on his list. His thirst was never satisfied. Hiruzen had seen how his praised students got so obsessed with knowing every single Jutsu that even the thought about betraying his home wasn't important anymore. Especially after being outrivaled by a young Namikaze Minato the Snake Sanin lost himself in his studies, knowing that there was so much more to learn.

And it had all begun with the deaths of his loved ones.

That was why the third Hokage had given the teacher of his two newest prodigies the mission to find out what was the most important person to this little children, that didn't talk, didn't act and didn't fight like children their age, but Hiruzen knew that should they lose what was important to them, they would break like glass.

However, these were thought for another time. Hiruzen took out the crystal ball and concentrated on the trainings ground seven – where the Genin test of Squad Five would begin in a few minutes, as the Hokage knew.

…

Leaning on each other they sat sleeping under a tree, waiting for their teacher. When said man arrived in a Shunshin, they were awake instantly. They didn't even look at the former ANBU Caption, so he didn't tell them one of his excuses. He was pouting slightly under his mask because they didn't even kick up a fuss. Instead, they relaxed stretched and began to do their morning exercises, warming up for the "survival training" that Kakashi had warned them about. Said white haired pervert went to the three stumps that stood in the clearing. He set a clock at the one in the middle and turned to the two Genin.

'Ah', the Uchiha said dryly when they were done, 'I see why you are so late. You didn't find your clock, ne? It is nice that you don't want to let out of your sight again in case it might try to run away, but when it stays there it only begs to be destroyed and then we have to wait tomorrow for hours again.'

The redhead next to him snickered and Kakashi only smiled at the two children. It was nice to know that the Uchiha could lighten up and ease the Uzumaki so easily. Because if the way the dark haired boy looked at her right afterwards, the words weren't really meant for the Jonin – Sasuke tried to take Naruto's mind off things.

For a moment he mustered the two fresh Genin who were clad like twin. Both wore black pants which ends were bound at the end with black bandages and merged in standard black shinobi shoes. On their right thigh was their weapon holster, and on the left one white a bandage was fixed, above which the Hitai-Ate was tied. The cloth of said forehead protector was orange on Naruto's leg and blood red – the same color of the hair of the Uzumaki – on Sasuke's leg. Both wore a short-sleeved black tee shirt with high collar and their clan symbol on the back. Uzumaki and Uchiha.

'You will have until noon', the Jonin suddenly said earnestly and instantly both Genin straightened up, giving him their full attention. 'That means you have two hours to get this bell.' He held up the single jingling bell. 'The one who gets the bell will become my apprentice – the one who doesn't get one will be sent back to the academy.' Seeing that they understood, Kakashi nodded. 'Ready? Set? Go!' With one final glance at each other, they vanished in to different directions. With a sigh the Hatake understood that maybe his expectations were too much for two children of five.

He sat down at one of the stumps – the one in the middle – and closed his eyes. Now he had to wait for their attacks. Kakashi really needed to find something to occupy his time.

Twenty minutes the former ANBU Captain waited until the first attack came – kunai. With chakra on his hands he stuck to the wood and pulled himself up to crouch on the stump. However, he heard the whistling from flying weapons behind him and so he replaced himself with a log.

While the one using the Kawarimi no Jutsu searched with his chakra for a log, one never knew exactly what will await someone when one arrives there. However, he had not been an ANBU for nothing. So, the traps that activated as soon as he set foot on the earth were evaded or with one of his own kunai reflected. Any less ninja would have blown himself up with the explosion tags on some of the kunai, but Kakashi caught them threw them to the side.

…

However, the time the Hatake needed with the traps, the two Genin were positioned behind and in front of the Jonin. As soon as the last trap was activated they flash in unison through handseals, breathed in deeply and breathed out a big fireball. Both had trained to be able to do the Jutsu without any words. It was, after all, stupid to warn your opponent of the Jutsu you were using. Immediately they went away from the place they had been – one, because the fireball that came their way; two, because the Jonin now knew where they were; and three, because they were needed at their next position. After all, they had planned the whole thing out.

…

Kakashi meanwhile tried to comprehend how two green Genin were able to use the Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu. They were only five – they shouldn't have enough chakra for something like that! It was – for kami's sake – a C-rank Jutsu! Again the Hatake had replaced himself with the next log and again landing inside traps. This time, the two Genin rushed at him as soon as the last trap had been activated. The Uchiha attacked him from behind, the Uzumaki from the front. The redhead went for his legs, trying to pull the rug out from under him while the boy behind him wanted to kick him in the back, making him stumble. However, the Hatake jumped up and over the crouching Uzumaki, rolled off on the ground and turned to the two Genin who had already passed the test. But he wanted to see how much they could see.

Momentary distracted and thinking that he had both his opponent right in front of him, he didn't notice the presence behind him until the redhead jumped on his back and clung to him – rendering his arms useless and making him blink in confusion. It was enough time for the Uchiha to run forward and take the single bell.

The answer to his loss came as a total shock. The Uzumaki could make a Kage Bushin? As the red haired Genin in front of him vanished with a cloud of smoke he knew the answer. The girl on his back let go of him and only then the Jonin noticed that they were at the clearing with the three wood stumps.

'So', the Hatake drawled, before he looked at the two children with a hard eye. 'Who gets the bell now?'

Immediately the Uchiha threw it to the redhead. 'I'm an Uchiha; I will get another Jonin to take me on as apprentice if I have to.'

The Uzumaki snorted. 'Oh, almighty Uchiha-sama, I have the Hokage to teach me, I don't need a Jonin.' And with that she handed the bell again to the dark haired Genin.

'Tch. My father would never allow me to go back to the academy – he would teach me himself, even though he's clan head.' And the bell went back to the redhead.

'My father… oh, right, he's dead. Stop pulling rank, bastard, and take the bell.' With more force than needed she threw the little metallic ball that jingled at Sasuke.

'Stop being stubborn, troublesome woman, and take the damn thing!' He aimed at her forehead. This time, however, she didn't even try to catch it. She let it hit her forehead, bounce and fall to the ground.

With blue eyes she stared down at the bell before she crossed her arms and looked at the Uchiha. 'You threw it, bastard, you pick it up.'

The dark haired Genin also crossed his arms, unwilling to do what she said. 'You were the last one to touch it.' His eyes wandered to the shimmering metallic ball on her feet and then again up to her blue eyes. 'Dobe.'

In anger the younger of the two puffed out her cheeks that were lightly red from her ire.

Kakashi couldn't hold it in any longer and he snickered at the scene. Never had he heard about two Genin how fought about who didn't get the ball. Normally they would have passed the moment they teamed up, but Kakashi really wanted to see what would happen, if… The former ANBU Captain couldn't resist. He wanted to know what would happen when one of them would have to feed the other. Noticing the two glares that were directed at him, he cleared his throat and also crossed his arms. 'When you can't agree on it, I will have to tie one of you to the stump.'

Naruto's eyes widened in horror and in the dark eyes of the Uchiha a wicked glint awakened. Both of them thought that the Uzumaki would be his victim – well, Kakashi would be glad to surprise them. Only a second later the dark haired child was immobilized and bound to the wood. The delighted light in the blue eyes of the daughter of his teacher was enough to let him know that it was a good idea.

'Afterwards both of you can try again… Maybe if you were able to get the bell again, you will know who gets it.' He picked up the bell on the ground and looked at the redhead. 'Naruto… you can eat lunch, but don't give Sasuke any.' And then he was gone from the scene.

Right afterwards Sasuke's stomach grumbled, indicating his hunger. The Uchiha saw the sadistic glee in her blue orbs and instantly knew that this would hurt his pride. Giving up he leaned his head against the stump and let her do.

'Don't fret, Uchiha-sama! I will feed, even if it is the last thing I will do!', she called out heroically, picking up the bento and the chopsticks, and stood before him. 'Open your mouth, oh almighty Uchiha-sama, so I might feed you!'

Almost afraid of the follow-up, he opened his mouth slowly, hesitantly, and waited for the feeling of food on his tongue. The feeling he got, however at his cheek. 'Oops', the redhead said. The next places were his eyebrow, his forehead, his hair. Every time she would say the same word – 'Whoops!' – and then do it again. His right eyebrow began to twitch in anger. However, he let her do. Sooner or later she would feed him.

But when she was able to get rice in his nose he snapped his eyes open and glared at the redhead. 'Naruto!', he called. 'Stop it! That was my nose!'

The redhead pouted and widened her eyes in innocence. 'B-but', she tried to explain, 'I-I… and t-the rice… a-and then…' She even let a tear escape.

She really, really had too much fun. 'It's alright, Naruto, sit down and eat. I will be alright.'

The girl shrugged, suddenly totally carefree and sat down next to him. However, it had been too much to hope that she would eat silently.

'Hm', she moaned. 'That is delicious!'

The dark haired five-year-old tried with all his strength not to look at her face or the food, but his eyes instantly darted to the eating redhead. He clenched his teethes and willed himself not to give in. He knew exactly what she did, and it was only a question of time until Naruto would give in and give him food, really this time. It was a fight of will. Bad thing for the young Uchiha, the Uzumaki had more pull.

'Hm!', she suddenly hummed, as if surprised. 'He even gave me tomatoes!'

His gaze immediately flew to the food Kakashi had given the redhead – and de facto – there were two tomatoes! With big eyes he stared at the Uzumaki, silently willing her to give him at least one. However, she ignored the big dark eyes that looked at her and bit down on one of the red fruits.

She chewed and swallowed. 'They're so fresh!'

Black eyes followed the small hand of the Jinchūriki as she ate the red food. As soon as she picked up the second one he began to struggle in his binds. Only when she was only seconds away from biting down, the Uchiha finally spoke up. 'Naruto…' It was said as a dark growl, but didn't bring the redhead out of her concept.

'Yes, Uchiha-sama?', she answered sweetly, telling him directly what she wanted.

Said Uchiha hang his head and breathed deeply in and out. What he didn't do for his tomatoes. 'I am sorry.' As soon as he had spoken the words, he looked hopeful at the red food. However, the girl was not yet ready to comply with his wishes.

She stretched her neck so her ear was nearer to him. 'Excuse me; I don't think I heard what you said. My late father must have had the same problem…'

The dark haired boy huffed and looked away, not wanting to play her games but his eyes were drawn to the red tomato. He clenched his teethes. 'I am sorry I pulled rank with you', he pressed out, his dark orbs intent on the food he would soon eat.

'And…', she drawled out, bringing the tomato nearer her mouth.

Sasuke's right eye twitched. 'And', he said with as much venom as he could muster, 'I will take the bell should we get her a second time.'

'Could you say that again? I don't think I understood you right.'

Two times his right eye twitched before his cheeks colored a soft red. 'Dobe', he hissed angrily, now loudly calling out his words. 'I am sorry that you are too stupid to take what is offered to you! I will take the damn bell!'

She licked the tomato with her pink tongue, his eyes following her every move. 'Do you still want it?'

He wrinkled his nose but couldn't keep his eyes off the fruit. Rolling his eyes he looked at the Uzumaki. 'Yes.'

Playfully she petted his head and held the tomato before his mouth. 'Good boy.'

The Uchiha huffed, but bit in the fresh flesh of the fruit, savoring the taste. Yes, throwing away his pride was alright for the tomato in his mouth and the soft hand in his hair.