Summary: Sasuke and Naruto have strange ways of showing each other they care. My own personal random word challenge. 50 words, 1 word for each chapter. SasuNaruSasu

Warnings: Yaoi, of course. You'll get lemon warnings as they come.

Disclaimer: Trust me, if I owned Naruto, I wouldn't have to write fanfiction.

a/n: I'm baaaack! I actually had the beginning part of this chapter done for months, but I never felt like finishing it. Well, as you see I finally finished and I hope you like it. Thanks for being patient with me and stay tuned for updates to all my stories soon. And as you'll see, I actually was nice enough to make this chapter a continuation. Hope you'll enjoy it. And please feel free to review.

The Dobe and Teme Chronicles

Chapter 8 – Foreboding

For the last ten days, Naruto had been prepared.

He felt for chakra.

He put up barriers.

He looked both ways, up, and even down when he was outdoors.

But it was all for nothing.

Nothing!

You see, for the last ten days, Naruto had figured on receiving some sort of payback for his little prank. Expected it, even.

But, not once, in the last ten days, was there even an inkling that Sasuke might be planning anything.

The teme hadn't deviated at all from his normal routine. They met at the training grounds at their usual time, cast their usual insults at one another, trained to exhaustion, went to Ichiraku's, then went their seperate ways. There were no strange words that might have given him a sign, Sasuke never gave him any unusual looks, nothing that would tip him off that there was something wrong.

Naruto wasn't sure whether to be relieved or to be afraid...very afraid.

xxx

Sasuke smirked from his hiding place on the roof across the street as he watched Naruto. He could tell Naruto was going crazy with worry. It was turning out to be a good thing that he had decided to wait before unleashing his prank.

Immediately after realizing he had been pranked so badly, Sasuke had started thinking of all kinds of ways to get back at the dobe. He thought of putting the Uchiha symbol on all his clothing. But that was too much work and it was something Naruto would probably expect.

He wanted something more shocking.

So, he thought of spiking the idiot's ramen with the hottest ingredients he could find. Shocking, true...but not shocking enough.

Then came the thought of shaving off the golden locks while he slept. The dobe slept like the dead after all, so it would be easy enough. Unfortunately, he really did like the spiky tresses. On the rare occasion he had the chance to touch those strands, it was like running his fingers through spun silk. Besides, Naruto would never forgive him, and considering their - so far - undefined relationship that he didn't want to think too hard about, that would not be a good thing.

He wanted the dobe to squirm, not hate him. When this was all over, he wanted Naruto to regret even thinking of pranking him again. So, the prank had to be above and beyond anything he could easily do.

So after another day of thinking, he'd come up with the perfect plan. He just would have to wait to execute it. And he would need a bit of help to make it work. It took a few days to convince his accomplices, but convince he did...it wasn't hard since they all had been pranked by Naruto at some point or another. So, with his plans in place, he could use the rest of the time to be entertained by Naruto's apprehension.

And it was definitely amusing. He'd watched as the blond grew more and more apprehensive with each passing day that nothing happened.

Perfect.

Tomorrow it would begin. Naruto was leaving on a mission with Kakashi to see the Daimyo at dawn. Sasuke had already insured that the two would be gone for at least a week. That was the only way the prank could be believable. Naruto might be an idiot, but even he wouldn't be gullible enough for what Sasuke was planning to pull off without some time.

Sasuke couldn't help but let an evil chuckle slip as he pictured Naruto's face. The dobe wouldn't know what hit him.

Naruto yawned aloud as he trudged down the dark and silent road toward the gates. There was still about an hour to go before dawn. Yet, Kakashi had insisted on him being at the gate at this time. All he kept thinking was that Kakashi better be on time.

But of course, when he got to the gates, the only people there were the two chuunin on duty. There was no Kakashi in sight. With a sigh and a roll of his half opened eyes, he tossed his pack to the ground and sat next to it and started plotting ways to get back at Kakashi for making him wake up so early.

"Dobe."

Naruto jumped at the familiar voice. Then he looked up with a glare that, due to the tired eyes, didn't have the needed intensity.

"Teme, why are you here?"

"Hn." Sasuke closed the distance and sat down next to the blond. Naruto rolled his eyes at not actually receiving an answer. Both of them waited in a comfortable silence for their typically tardy teammate. But as he began to truly awaken, and with it came awareness, Naruto slowly became more and more uncomfortable with his silent companion. What was Sasuke really doing there? Was he going to prank him now? Was he going to plan it out while they were away and spring it on him when they got back? All the questions in his head made him more and more apprehensive.

Sasuke only smirked inwardly at his friend's anxiety.

Then there was a swirl of leaves. Before the one eyed shinobi could open his mouth, Naruto was standing and pointing at the offender with a glare. "You're late!" He growled.

Kakashi chuckled. "Maa maa...it's only a delivery mission. Don't get so upset. Besides, there was this little old lady th-"

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Spare me the lies and let's just go."

"Right." Kakashi gave Naruto a smile under his mask. Then the look in his eye turned mischievous. "Say goodbye lovebirds."

Naruto blushed and sputtered. Sasuke glared at Kakashi, but it couldn't quite hide the slight blush on his cheeks. Kakashi gave the Uchiha a smile and a wave and started walking away. Meanwhile, Naruto sent a glare to the brunet.

"Don't go trashing my apartment while I'm gone." Sasuke rolled his eyes then hit the blond on the bare arm.

"Hey bastard! That hurt!"

"Tch...anything I do to your apartment will be an improvement dobe."

"Shut up teme!"

"Hn." Sasuke had already turned and started walking away with a lazy wave of his hand. Naruto glared at his back.

"Bastard."

"Let's go Naruto." Kakashi called. The blond turned and ran off after his teammate.

Sasuke smirked as he glanced back over his shoulder to see the two get farther and farther away.

Now...let the games begin.

Naruto smiled as he re-entered the village beside Kakashi. He had missed home and didn't see why they had to spend so long with the Daimyo. All they had to do was deliver a scroll, wait for him to read it and sign off his approval. Somehow that took four whole days! Still, it wasn't like he could complain much...the Daimyo did have awesome food after all. And the bed was heavenly. It was more like a vacation than a mission. Then Kakashi decided, as soon as they were leaving, that he wanted to head to a hot springs. But not just any hot springs...no, he couldn't just go to the one that was on the way back to Konoha...he had to go to some place a full day in the opposite direction.

All he had wanted was to come home, get his mission pay, use the spoils to get himself some ramen, and make sure his apartment was still in one piece. But nooooo...

Wait...What was that smell?

Naruto stopped in the middle of the street and sniffed. And then his stomach started growling like the beast that was housed inside him.

RAMEN!

He practically drooled as he bypassed his beloved ramen stand. If only they could just stop for a minute to eat first...

Kakashi saw the blond's attention was shot. He shook his head and chuckled. "You know, both of us don't really need to be there to make a report. Besides, it's not like there's much to report anyway..." Before Kakashi could even finish talking, the blond had taken off. The copy-cat ninja raised a brow. Naruto could definitely be fast when he wanted to.

xxx

After 20 bowls of ramen - it had been a week after all, and he had to make up for lost time - Naruto ambled toward home. He was looking forward to a long shower and sleeping in his own bed. He was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't even pay attention to where he was going. But his route home was so ingrained that, before he knew it, he was home.

At least he thought he was...

He blinked. He rubbed his eyes and opened them again. Turned in a circle. Yep...same typical landmarks. This was the spot.

Still, he couldn't believe what he saw...

Or rather, what he didn't see.

His apartment...no, not just the apartment...the entire building was rubble.

What...the...hell...?

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Meanwhile, in the shadows, Sasuke watched with a certain sadistic glee. Kakashi had sent him a message as soon as the duo reentered the village so he had time to make it to his hiding place before Naruto got there. And Kami, was it worth it! He almost laughed aloud at the look on Naruto's face. He watched the disbelief turn to confusion, then to anger, then to sadness, and then the shoulders slumped.

Sasuke shunshined to a different spot and made a show of walking down the street with his hands in his pockets. Naruto ran to him the moment he saw the familiar face.

"Sasuke!"

"Dobe."

"What the hell happened to my apartment? You could've sent me some warning or something."

"What are you talking about dobe?"

"What do you mean what am I talking about? Look right here! It's right in front of you."

"So what? It's your building. What about it?"

"What about it? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT ABOUT IT? It's GONE! That's what!"

Sasuke made a show of looking up and then looking at the blond like he'd gone mad. "Usuratonkachi, it's right here like it always is." Naruto's eyes narrowed.

"This isn't funny teme!"

Sasuke raised a brow.

"Oh hell, you bastard! It's a genjutsu isn't it? I'm right aren't I? You're trying to prank me into believing that my place is gone. Well, I'm the king of pranks and I won't fall for that." Naruto put his fingers into the symbol and forced his chakra outward. "KAI!"

He waited. Sasuke sighed and crossed his arms.

Nothing happened.

Somewhere deep inside Naruto's mind, Kyuubi chuckled.

"...But...I...uh..."

"Hn." Sasuke nodded and then stepped forward and put his palm on the blond's forehead. "Did you run into anything poisonous while you were gone. Or did Kakashi take you out drinking or something? Have you been seeing any other strange things lately?" Naruto slapped Sasuke's hand away.

"Stop that! There's nothing wrong with me." Sasuke gave him a smirk. "Dammit teme, quit it!"

"What? I'm just checking."

"Hey Naruto! You're back!" They turned at the sound of Sakura's voice. She and Ino walked toward them.

"Sakura! Oh thank Kami!" Naruto sighed in relief. Sakura would believe him, he was sure of it. "Listen, do me a favor. Look straight ahead and tell me what you see."

"Huh?" Sakura asked. She gave him a weird glance before answering. "I see the same thing I always see. Your apartment building."

"Are you sure?"

Sakura glared and whacked him upside the head. "Of course I'm sure, you baka! You've lived in this same building for as long as I've known you."

"You don't see anything...unusual?"

"Uh...no..." She glanced at Ino, who raised a brow and then gave her a confused shrug. She turned back to her teammate. "Uh, Naruto? Why are you asking me this?"

Sasuke spoke up before Naruto could. "The dobe thinks the building's gone."

"Shut up teme! And I don't mean gone...just that it's...well...rubble."

Sakura frowned then started looking concerned at her teammate. "Uh, Naruto...are you feeling alright?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? I'm fine! Homeless now, but fine!"

"Naruto, you're not homeless. Your home is right there in front of you." Sakura growled and pointed.

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is!" All three yelled.

"ARGH!" Naruto pulled at his blond locks. "Fine! I'll prove it." He grabbed the arm of the next person that walked by, which happened to be Shikamaru. "Shika! You're a genius right?"

"Huh?" The lazy nin yawned.

"You know I'm not crazy right?"

"Well...that's debatable." Naruto growled. Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome...Fine, you're not crazy."

"Then you can see that my apartment building is demolished right?"

"Uhh..."

"Well?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "...Sorry?"

Naruto whined and fell to his knees. Sakura knelt next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Look, Naruto, maybe we should go see Tsunade. There might be something wrong with you...something you encountered on the mission or maybe you're just stressed out about something. I'm sure there's a logical explanation." She said softly.

"We only went to deliver a message to the daimyo! Nothing happened. Just ask Kakashi, he'll tell you. There's nothing wrong with me!"

"Just go see Tsunade. For me. Please?"

Naruto sighed. "Alright, fine, I'll go."

Naruto opened the door and closed it behind him and leaned against it. Uncharacteristically silent, he waited for the blonde woman to acknowledge his presence instead of loudly making himself known.

"What do you want brat?" Tsunade asked without looking up.

"Uh...well..." Naruto mumbled. He wasn't really that sure how to tell her about his problem.

"Spit it out or get out of here. I'm busy." Her tone made him jump to attention and he ended up blurting it out, which was not exactly the way he wanted to go about it.

"My apartment's gone!"

"What?" She looked up with a raised brow.

"It's gone...destroyed...nothing but rubble."

"What the hell are you on about brat? I can see your roof from here."

"Huh?" Naruto ran over to the picture window and frantically looked for his building. He felt like screaming in frustration when he still didn't see anything. "It's nothing there!"

"Look brat, I don't have time for this. The council's on my back for something or other, Shizune keeps bringing me more piles of paperwork, and the damn woman took my sake! I'm not in the mood for one of your pranks."

"But it's not a prank...honest!"

"Out!"

"But baa-"

"Say it and I'll knock you into next week. Now out! If you're feeling the need to mess with someone's head, use one of your friends or something."

Naruto sighed, then pouted. Finally, he hung his head and walked out. He closed the door before he could hear the snicker.

As the blond walked morosely down the street, he tried to figure out who he could talk to that would actually listen to him.

"Hey Naruto!"

Naruto looked up to see his favorite teacher walking towards him with a smile.

"Iruka!" His eyes lit up and his somber mood lifted. If anyone could help him, Iruka could.

"It's been a while since I've had a chance to see you. How have you been?"

"Good. Sorry I haven't been around. Lots of missions...you know how it is." Naruto replied. Then he grabbed his former sensei by the arm. "Look Iruka, I need your help."

"Uh...sure. What can I help you with?"

"Come with me."

A few minutes later, they arrived at Naruto's apartment building - or at least what was left of it in the blond's eyes.

"Tell me, do you see anything different?" Naruto asked and gestured ahead toward where he knew his building used to be.

Iruka glanced ahead and then his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked back at his former student. "Uh...what exactly am I looking for?"

Naruto felt a bit of hope at the question. Maybe he wasn't losing it. If Iruka couldn't see it either, then everyone would have to believe him.

"Um Naruto? Are we going to stand outside your building all day or are you going to tell me what you need help with?"

"Eh?"

And that was the sound of hope dying a horrible, painful death.

The moon was high in the sky and most normal people were indoors. Sasuke, of course, wasn't exactly normal. In fact, he usually liked walking around in the dark. It was the only time he could have some peace and quiet from the many fangirls that still tried to follow him around. It was especially nice tonight, for he was celebrating the success of his prank in his head. Everyone that was in on it had played their part well, even the hokage shockingly enough. He wasn't sure that she would have been willing to help considering she still didn't exactly like him.

He passed by the blond's place and stopped as he saw the dobe sitting there looking depressed. He just couldn't pass up the opportunity to mess with him a bit more before going home to bed.

"What are you doing dobe?" Naruto looked up and grimaced.

"What does it look like teme?"

"I know you're not going to just sit there all night."

"What's it to you? It's not like you care." Naruto glared at Sasuke for a moment, then pouted. "Everything...it's gone. I mean, sure, I didn't have much. But all of it was important to me...my weapons, my pictures, all of my parents things..."

Sasuke was trying to ignore the guilt that was creeping up.

"...and my ramen. I had 3 cabinets full of ramen. My poor poor ramen."

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched. Suddenly he no longer felt guilty.

Still though, as much as his mind wanted to leave him out in the cold, his heart just couldn't be that cruel to the one he l- , no...well, kind of, sort of, just a bit...liked. He gave a long suffering sigh.

"Come on." He started walking away.

"Huh?" Naruto stopped lamenting the loss of his ramen in order to stare confusedly after the Uchiha.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and turned his head back toward the blond. "Hurry up usuratonkachi or I'll just leave you here."

Naruto jumped up with a smile. Even he wasn't dense enough to miss an obvious invitation. "Yeah yeah, I'm coming teme."

xxx

The early morning sun streamed through the window. A bird sang. But Sasuke could have cared less. He was too busy staring at the ceiling. He woke up this morning feeling a sense of dread and he wasn't sure why. But it was making him anxious, though his stoic expression didn't show it. Naruto woke up at the crack of dawn. Unfortunately, the idiot can't do anything quietly and it woke him up. He didn't move though, and watched the blond throw on one of his own t-shirts (and tried to ignore the strange little thrill he got at knowing the dobe was wearing his clothes) and leave out of the window. Since then, he'd lain on his back and stared at the ceiling.

The last two days had been hell for Naruto. He had spent the next day trying to get someone to believe him. He even started asking random villagers. Sasuke still got a chuckle out of that. Most were torn between either being mad at him for trying to prank them or steered clear, thinking he was finally losing his mind. That night, Naruto paced back and forth, frustrated at the lack of sympathy or assistance. But the look on his face when he handed the blond some clothes to wear to replace the jumpsuit he'd been wearing since he came back from the mission was priceless. Naruto glared at him and refused to talk to him for the rest of the night.

The t-shirt did have a huge Uchiha clan symbol on the back, after all.

Originally, that night, he was going to just leave the dobe to mourn over his supposed losses and go home. It wouldn't have killed the blond to spend the night outside. The idiot had destroyed his entire wardrobe and dyed his hair after all. He deserved every bit of what he got. Yet, he was in his house last night, in his house again tonight AND in his clothes.

But now he was beginning to feel like maybe he should slit his wrists because the idea of Naruto staying with him wasn't as unappealing as he once thought. In fact, deep down he'd have to admit he liked the idea of him staying there from now on.

Why the hell would he want to be tortured like that?

Still...he wasn't even sure how long he planned on keeping up the ruse. He hadn't thought much about it. At least long enough for Naruto to suffer. Was two days long enough?

An hour later, he still hadn't moved. And he saw Naruto jump back in through the same window.

"Ahh!" Naruto stretched. "Nothing like meditating early in the morning." Then he stared at Sasuke for a long moment. Sasuke stared back.

"What?"

"You know, it's amazing how a new day can make things so much clearer." Naruto's responded. Then he gave the Uchiha a slow smirk. After that, he turned away and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Sasuke frowned slightly. "What the hell was that?" he muttered to himself. A minute later he heard the shower running and the dobe singing totally off key and he rolled his eyes at the sound. Why was he friends with the idiot again? And why was Naruto acting so cheery anyway. Last night, he looked like the world was ending and now he was all sunshine and smiles.

Twenty minutes later, Naruto came out of the bathroom clad in black pants, still whistling a tune, and shaking his hair dry with a towel.

Sasuke couldn't help but stare. His mouth went dry while he watched the play of muscles as Naruto dried his hair. He watched a few stray droplets of water slither down the unmarked tanned skin...

Wait...

Unmarked?

Sasuke shifted his eyes and rested them on the spot he knew there should've been a seal. Right on his left bicep.

It was gone.

"Shit!" he muttered under his breath. Before he could sit up, a wet towel landed inches from his head.

"Dobe." Sasuke growled and sent Naruto a glare. Naruto grinned.

"See something you like teme?"

"Tch...I can kick you out, you know."

"You wouldn't do that to me would you? We're friends, teammates...even more than that really." He turned those innocent baby blue eyes on his best friend.

Sasuke only raised an eyebrow as if to say 'and?'.

"Right...Okay then, I'm just gonna go. Got stuff to do and all."

Sasuke looked relieved as Naruto walked back to the window and prepared to jump out. He wasn't sure what happened, but obviously the dobe had no clue about the seal yet or he would've most certainly been yelling at the top of his lungs and attempting to beat him to a pulp. Contingency plans were zooming through his genius mind...how to keep Naruto away from his building, how to get another seal on him without him noticing.

"You know Sasuke, the interesting thing about sage mode is that I can see all kinds of things. Chakra, things that don't belong..."

Naruto had a foot on the ledge and was about to jump off.

"...genjutsu..."

Sasuke's eyes widened just slightly though Naruto didn't see it.

"Anyways, thanks for letting me stay...indefinitely."

"Oh hell no!" Sasuke jumped up. "You're not-"

Naruto jumped away with a laugh that could almost be termed as wicked.

Sasuke groaned. He was so screwed.

xxx

TBC eventually, next time the right word comes up. Naruto will never be one upped in pranks after all! It'll probably be a while though. I've got other words to use up that won't involve either of them pranking the other. Stay tuned for more!