Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, shape, or form, own Naruto. All character credits go to Masashi Kishimoto.

Warning: Not much happening in this chapter. Maybe some mild cursing. But that's about it for this chapter.

Redemption

Chapter 1: Old friends, New enemies

"Yes, that's it! Now turn your head slightly over here. Yes! Good, good! Give us a wink! Perfect!" The hefty photographer exclaimed between the multiple clicks of his camera whilst maintaining to keep the cigarette between his lips from falling. He shimmied from side to side attempting to catch the ivory beauty in his studio, in all of his glory.

The dark haired teen obliged with each of the older male's requests, covering his sickened expression with one coated in arrogance.

The photoshoot had been more simple than most. He was offered a cover page and pull-out poster opportunity from a top-leading magazine targeted towards teenage girls. Sliding one of the black sleeves of his tank top from his shoulder, Sasuke gave the camera a sly grin, as he outstretched his shredded jean-covered legs over the couch, earning more rapid clicks from the camera.

"Alright, I think we're good, Sasuke!" The man gave a sigh of content. He stood up straight scrolling through shots on his over-sized camera before shot Sasuke a playful wink, earning a cold glare from the teen. The photographer just shook it off with a chuckle, returning his gaze to the camera.

Giving a sigh, the fair-skinned model slid himself from the red velvet couch that he was splayed across, the seductive smile that once played across his lips, fading to reveal his typical stoic expression. The photographer's assistants bustled around Sasuke, retrieving his belongings. The Uchiha stood as the women removed the concealer and other makeup that highlighted his nearly flawless complexion, giving slight nods as they complimented him on his photoshoot.

He didn't need their praises. This wasn't something he did for the attention or for the women. He simply needed the money, and this wasn't exactly an opportunity he could pass up. The money instantly shut up any complaints he had.

The women each gave Sasuke their last compliments before leaving to help the other employees pack away the equipment on the set.

"Takahiro, I'm leaving." Sasuke called out to the photographer, sliding each of his rings from his fingers one by one, before removing his multiple necklaces as well and placing them in his backpack.

"Eh? Don't you want to see the shots?" Takahiro quirked an eyebrow at the teen.

The Uchiha only shook his head, shrugging on his leather jacket as he exited the studio and entered the cold of the winter.

He had done his job already and found no reason to stay any longer. Besides, he was exhausted and had sleep to catch up on.

At seventeen years old, Sasuke was not only the top student in each of his classes, but he also worked part time as a model. He couldn't stand it; the preying eyes of perverts, females fawning over him for reasons as shallow as his appearance.

But what choice did he have? Since his brother abandoned him after their parents' death, he had to fend for himself. School supplies, food,and clothes weren't exactly cheap, especially when he was the only source of income in the Uchiha mansion where he resided alone.

Though his parents had included him in each of their wills, he wouldn't get a single cent of their fortune until he turned eighteen.

If I could just hold out one more year…

The raven's thoughts were interrupted when a pair of bright headlights shone in his face as the vehicle parallel parked on the curb he was standing on.

"Juugo." Sasuke acknowledged the large, orange-haired male who was stepping out of the sleek black Mazda RX-8. Rounding the car, the older male gave a brief nod, opening the door on passenger side of the car to let the Uchiha in.

The Uchiha let out a sigh of relief as he sank into the seat and let the heat blowing out of the air conditioner melt his stress away.

"Where am I taking you?" The orange haired male asked, sliding into his seat before he shifted the Mazda's gears into drive and pulled off of the curb.

"Home."

Vrrrrr! Vrrrrrrr! Vrrrr!

Sasuke groaned, as the vibrations of his pillow awoke him from his slumber. His eyelids remained closed over onyx orbs as he rummaged underneath his pillow for the source of the vibrations. Sliding his finger across the screen, he placed it to his ear.

"Hello…"

"You're going to be late." The familiar voice of the ginger stated, his voice stoic as always.

"Hn…What time is it?" The raven moaned through the receiver.

"7:50"

At this, Sasuke's eyes shot open, his body snapping upward from the mattress. Flinging his covers from his body, Sasuke hopped out of bed, cursing himself under his breath.

It was his first day back to school from Winter Break, and from the looks of it he would be late.

The raven hurriedly finished dressing himself in his school uniform; a typical button up white shirt, and matching blazer with a golden emblem of a leaf stitched to the right side, khakis, and black dress shoes.

He locked the doors before jetting out toward the curb where this companion had been patiently waiting for him, leaning against the car. As Sasuke approached him, the older male opened the passenger door.

Juugo rushed to the other side of the car, wasting no time in starting it and jetting off in the direction of the school. He himself hadn't exactly favored being late, but would never consider leaving the raven for his own sake.

As they got onto one of the main streets, Juugo opened the center console fishing out a red sphere. Outstretching his hand toward Sasuke, he kept his eyes on the road.

"You haven't eaten breakfast, right?"

Sasuke shook his head, accepting his favorite fruit. His friend knew him all too well.

The Uchiha proceeded in taking small bites of the tomato, rolling his window down slightly, letting the breeze flow through his ebony locks.

"Sasuke."

"Hm?" Sasuke's gaze shifted, his mouth full of tomato bits.

"I can't have lunch with you today. I have some business to take care of. Also, expect Takashi-san to pull you out of class today. He needs you back at the studio for the interview portion of the magazine photoshoot." Juugo pulled into the school parking lot, before shifting his car into park and shutting the engine off.

Sasuke sighed and flung his door open, whiping his phone out to check the time.

7:59 am

Shit. There was no way he'd make it on time. Sasuke waved to the senior as he turned to head to his own junior homeroom.

Thrusting open the door, Sasuke burst into the classroom, in a fit of heavy pants. Attempting to regain his composure, he glanced around the room to see that his grey-haired teacher was in fact absent from the room, and that he had only succeeded in grabbing the attention of each of his peers.

He should have known better. Kakashi-sensei had always been notorious for his tardiness.

Sasuke steadied his breathing, closing the door softly behind him. Having already embarrassed himself in front of his classmates, the Uchiha wasn't in the best of moods.

Sasuke sighed as the stares ceased, weaving down the aisles to his usual seat on the opposite side of the classroom, near the windows.

Onyx eyes narrowed, as the Uchiha caught view of his seat, which was currently occupied by an unfamiliar blond. Apparently he was new, considering Sasuke would have definitely noticed such a bold hair color if he had been in the class earlier in the year. But new students were to be expected. They always did seem to pour in during the second semester, replacing those who chose to transfer out of the high school. Yet, whether the boy was new or not, there was no excuse for him to be in his seat, when clearly there were many other seating options.

As Sasuke finally approached his desk, he came to realize that not only was the blonde sitting in his seat. But the male had the audacity to be napping on his desk.

Slamming his backpack onto the desk, just missing a resting head, Sasuke glared down at the new student.

Naruto groaned lifting his head up slightly to view the disturbance. A chill rolled down his spine when he caught sight of the cold gaze that locked onto his. He hadn't exactly enjoyed being waken up from a nap, especially in such a disruptive manner. Nevertheless, he greeted the ebony-haired teen with a slight yawn, followed by a soft smile.

"Eh, hey. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. Who're you?"

Sasuke's glare softened as he caught view of the blonde's facial features. As if his unnaturally golden locks weren't eye-catching enough, they were complimented by the sapphire orbs that were slightly hidden by lazy tan eyelids.

An unusual warmth brushed over Sasuke's ivory cheeks, as those eyes locked onto his were accompanied by the sweetest of smiles that laid between cheeks, each scarred by three horizontal slashes that resembled whiskers. Sasuke clenched his fists, both to regain his composure and remind himself of the situation at hand. There was no way he'd let his emotions be swayed so easily.

"You're in my seat. Move." Sasuke leaned into the tan face, hoping to intensify his glare enough to intimidate the other.

"Ehhh?!" Naruto sat up fully, caught off-guard by the harsh command. Glancing around the room, he noted there were plenty of empty seats. So why was this guy bothering him? He had been used to being bullied at his old school but he'd never expected for it to continue immediately after he transferred to a new school.

"Why can't you just sit there? Or there? Or there?" Naruto began pointing at the various vacant seats, only succeeding in frustrating the Uchiha more.

"Because this is my seat. Now move." Sasuke brushed the papers and writing utensils that had been previously splayed out across the desk onto the floor, gaining the attention and whispers of his classmates.

The sapphire eyes that once exuberated confusion, now filled with malice. Releasing a growl through gritted teeth, Naruto thrust himself backward, his chair screeching against the hardwood floor as it slid.

Removing himself from the seat, Naruto caught view of the smug smirk that played across the ebony-haired teen's lips. His eyes narrowed as he shoved the other out of his way, kneeling to the ground to scoop up his belongings, setting them back on the desk. Just as he noticed Sasuke heading toward the chair, Naruto shoved past him again. The blonde bent over slightly lowering himself onto the seat. He felt his bottom just barely skim the seat of the chair, before it was pulled from under him and hemet the cold, hard tiles of the floor. The classroom overflowed with 'ooh's and other incoherent whispers.

Naruto leaned his head back, growling at the upside-down view of Sasuke who was standing behind him with an arrogant smirk, chair clenched in hand.

Damnit! Everything about this guy pisses me off…!

"Teme…!" The blonde growled, shooting himself from the ground and to his feet before lunging toward the fair-skin teen, grabbing a fistful of his uniform shirt. Sasuke wasted no time in snatching the blonde's collar into his own fist.

Ebony and golden pairs of eyebrows depressed in a downward slant, as their bodies each trembled with anticipation of a heated brawl.

Simultaneously, they each retracted their free hands, clenching them into fists. Just as they were both about to deliver the blows, a hand planted itself on each of their forearms, forcefully pulling them apart.

"That's enough, you two. Sit in your seats." The lazy eye of their teacher glanced between the two teens, watching them carefully for any cheap hits either would attempt in delivering.

Kakashi sighed, releasing them both as they grumbled their apologies, before turning back to the rest of the class, claiming that 'the show was over'.

Naruto took the liberty in scooting the chair; he was previously sitting in, back to the desk, this time holding onto it as he sat down. He flashed a mischievous grin, to the Uchiha, as he grumpily seated himself at the desk next to him.

Naruto savored the cold glare, directed toward him by the other teen, knowing that he had indeed won the battle. But what he failed to see was that the war had just begun.

A/N:

In case it wasn't clear enough Takahiro is the photographer and drector of the photoshoot in the opening scene.

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