Welcome to Project: Popularity! ^^ Another new story that I just thought of all of a sudden. I'll try to make this one entertaining to you guys… the best as I can. This story revolves around Naruto Uzumaki who just moved in the remote Konoha Bay Village along with his mother. New school, new acquaintances, new trouble and a lot more complexities of life! ^^ Along with a long-shot chance of a very peculiar love!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. But the plot belongs to me… places and events are also made up! Some foods, too. I mean, they can experiment to do those.
Warnings: Yaoi! ^^ Mature themes and some swearing.
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Project: Popularity
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Last Chapter's Summary: Surprises seem to sprout out of nowhere for Naruto as his mother reveals a reason for coming to Konoha and trouble develops as Aura forces him to join this Princess Challenges event. A teacher who used to be Kushina's (Naruto's mom) assistant seems to know something that brings trouble to the blond some more. And the Offering Day seems to have its big impacts in Naruto's life as Sasuke drags him down… deeper and deeper into the depths of Konoha Bay Society.
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Project: Popularity
A game in which most students can kill and die for…
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Click. Click. Click. Naruto seems to be getting stuck in front of the computer while encoding and updating records of the school's maintenance reports. A freshman lays a glass of mango juice at his spacious table and then she says, "You seem to be working a little too hard for a kojiki. Or you just wanted to be a kizoku that fast." Naruto murmurs as he types long sentences as he glances at the written reports to be encoded, "I'm not really supposed to be doing this…"
"Ahahaha! It's the first time I have ever seen Sasuke-kun enslave a man that tries to destroy our relationship!" Aura is sitting by the opposite edge of his table, laughing so proudly of the thing. Naruto darkly chuckles in annoyance, "Yeah, ENSLAVE is the right word… to describe what Sasuke is doing to me." The freshman watches him encode some more and ignore the laughing princess, "I pity you, kojiki. You can never say no to the Prince."
"Yeah…" Naruto stops for a while and takes a sip of juice… "No offense, Hyuuga-jou-san… but are you just serving snacks during office time?" The girl shakes her head and speaks, "My work depends on the reports that they all do. As long as the reports are not yet summarized, I have nothing to do but to serve snacks. And call me Hanabi-jou-san… I don't want being called in the same way like my sister." Naruto nods and then Tenten comes to his table with piles of folders that made the blond tremble, "Here, Naruto-san. But you don't have to worry… we won't be needing all of those today."
"Tomorrow, you will." He gulps and then Aura laughs out again, "Oh such a pitiful scene!" Hanabi eyes at her and murmurs as she refills Naruto's glass, "Aura is no good so Sasuke-nii-san will never ask her to work. Please ignore her, Naruto-san." Tenten conceals her giggles and then she goes away, "Keep it up, Naruto-san." The blond sighs and lays his head at the top of the back supporter, "Precious free time…" How did it come to this, anyway? I just wished I had the power to refuse Sasuke…
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Project: Popularity
Rei Haruno –Sakura no Imooto
Chapter 3: Imperial Siblings
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"Just don't give me some more trouble…" Naruto sighs as Sasuke drags him to a certain direction and then he smiles and says, "Oh… you'll get a lot." The blond twitches and then he glares at him, "What is this about, Sasuke?" The raven then let goes and snuggles his arm, "You didn't join any club, right?" Naruto scratches his head, "Well, I really like staying at home after school." The raven smiles some more and then he asks, "So you're always free?"
"Nope. Sometimes, I need to attend to my mother's errands. She's not home from 6:30 AM till 9 PM and it seems like her new work is too labor-extensive." Naruto sighs and then Sasuke says, "I see. But you can come with me every time, right?" The blond looks at the raven and they carefully descend the stairs, "Where are we going, Sasuke?" He smiles and then points out, "It is duly right to engage yourself in something as a part of Project: Popularity. So you have to join at least one club before the moderators take 1,000 points fee because you're not engaged in anything."
"Geez. This is giving me headaches." Naruto says and then he leads him towards a room at the other building as the school bell signals the end of classes. The students are now going to their own clubs and some of them are watching Sasuke drag Naruto towards a familiar destination. Naruto gets amazed by the intricate design of the hallways and then Sasuke draws him closer to the door. He excitedly turns the knob… and eventually gets angry after realizing it is locked, "Oi, why are you locking me out?"
"Gomen, Sasuke-nii-san." The door opens and then Hanabi greets them enthusiastically, "Welcome back, Sasuke-nii-san. Aura is on a rampage… so we just decided to lock the door." She talks like a ghost. Creepy. She is wearing gold long-sleeved kimono top and black tight-fitting trousers with gold designs… paired with her sandals. Sasuke sighs and drags Naruto in with a smile, "Good enough. Mah, everyone." Different faces look at Naruto but he sure does recognize them as the people in the parade. Sasuke chirps around girlishly to match his cute dress, "This is Naruto Uzumaki. And he will be helping us out starting today."
Naruto suddenly shrieks and then looks at Sasuke. Hey! What are you talking about!? "Mah, we do need more hands." Hinata suddenly passes beside them and then the people stand up only to do curtsey, "Welcome to the SCA Office, Naruto-san. We expect your full cooperation in everything we do." Naruto hesitantly nods and smiles a little, "T-Thank you…" Then they hear a chair scoot and then everyone looks at a direction where a redhead woman is sitting with her arms crossed at her flat chest, "Are you really sure to have a kojiki working in this office? Don't you think he just agreed because he wants big points and getting surrounded by rich people?"
"Anou…" Naruto tries to defend himself and then she shrugs her shoulder like wanting to have nothing to do with him, "Mah, social climbers are spread around places like this. But as expected, students just love being the kamis. Dignity doesn't even matter at all." She has this long red backless dress and long black gloves. Kono buta-onna… Naruto starts seething in his feet and then Sasuke holds him tighter and is about to say something when she speaks out again, "We all know Sasuke-san might be going crazy. He freely wears female clothing without minding what the others could be—!"
"Yoruse!" Naruto pants after doing a controlled yell after throwing an eraser directly at her face. She holds her face in shock and then Naruto takes his arm from Sasuke's hold to cross them before his chest, "I'm not here just for your school's stupid pointing system. Sasuke just took me here because he likes me to help in the office. I'm not social climbing… to be honest, I don't like rich people around me. Moreover, if I am, shouldn't I be acting different the moment you guys greeted me?" The woman glares at Naruto harder like how he does and everyone seems to notice that those glares have deeper roots.
"Minus 100 points." They then look a certain direction… a man with light blue hair walks to the woman in his violet cape, white shirt and dark pants, "For throwing an eraser at Karin's poor face." Karin, the woman, then just huffs to the side and then Naruto frowns at him, "Suigetsu Hozuki." The guy grins at them and laughs out, "Naruto-kun, right? Just the man he wants to talk to." Karin then takes a deep breath and leaves through the other door, "This office is getting insane."
"Let's go, Naruto. There is someone you should meet." Sasuke takes a deep breath and everyone seems to be relieved from the matter. Naruto walks with Sasuke and then Suigetsu whispers as they pass by, "Oh how she hates for this to happen." Sasuke glares at the guy but Naruto gently pushes the raven to proceed. Sasuke then asks him, "Do you know Karin?" The blond twitches and then he scratches his head, "… uhm, I don't think so."
"I was surprised when she suddenly talked like that." Sasuke then looks ahead and hasn't bothered looking at Naruto's puzzled face, "She really is bitchy but she never acted like that as if hating someone so much." The blond shifts his eyes at the floor and then they approach a grand-looking lounge deeper in the room. Someone is taking a coffee break there and then Sasuke smiles, "Shigu-chan." The guy looks at them and offers a seat, "Come and take a seat, Uzumaki-san, Suki-chan." Shigu? Suki? Are those nicknames?
"I heard Suki-chan asked you to help out in the SCA Office." Naruto just pretends that Sasuke did… though, he just dragged him there, "Y-Yes." The guy nods and then he asks, "Do you know what SCA stands for?" Naruto twitches and then speaks based from what Sakura has said, "Student Council and Affairs… it is the office that is in charge of everything that concerns the students excluding the academic grading system and registry." The guy laughs out, "The kizoku in charge of you is doing a good job! Suki-chan, 100,000 points awarded!"
"What do you expect from Sakura, Shigu-chan?" Sasuke smirks and then he stops laughing, "Oh… good enough. She never breaks my expectations." Wow… so she is a bit popular with the kamis. "Mah… so she has told you who I am, Uzumaki-san?" The blond twitches and takes note of his very pale yellow hair, green eyes, muscular build, tan complexion, gold cape, open blue coat, dark pants, and that saber replica hanging from his belt. The blond responses with a hesitant bow, "You're Siegfried Takano, the King." The guy grins and then speaks, "Don't be hesitant in calling me Takano-sama."
"Y-Yes… Takano-sama." The fuck am I doing? I can't believe I'm beginning to act like an obedient sheep in here. Siegfried then looks around and scoots closer with his hand pointing to Naruto, "So tell me, are you the same Naruto that my sister, Aura, is competing with?" Sasuke seems to twitch and then Naruto bears bored eyes, "Unluckily, yes." The blond sighs and then pouts, "She's accusing me of leeching Sasuke… when I'm not doing anything. Sasuke just wanted to make friends… and she's getting all possessive and obsess—" He suddenly stops upon realizing who is he talking to and then covers his mouth, "Sorry."
"…" Sasuke just looks at him and then King seems to be still processing things… until they both start laughing out. Sasuke covers his mouth to somewhat control it, "Naruto… I really like you!" The people at the office peep from the corner and watch the two laugh and the blond getting confused about it. The Graces seems to know what things are and they chuckle to themselves. Siegfried then says, "My! What a very courageous man to talk!" Naruto starts to shudder. "Uzu— no, Naruto. Will you accept my apologies in behalf of my sister?"
The blond hesitantly nods and then Sasuke goes to sit at Naruto's lap, "Are you really sure you will? It's not like she's going to stop at all!" Naruto shrieks and then whispers at Sasuke, "At least it makes lesser enemies. Besides, I don't really know how to deal with these people. Why are you dragging me to places I don't even want to be." Sasuke then looks at him and wrings his arms at Naruto's shoulders, "Don't you want to be with me?" The blond's eye twitches with his angry whisper, "Don't talk like you're a woman…"
"I will be expecting your full cooperation then, Naruto." Siegfried still laughs out and leaves through the nearby exit, "I have to attend to other matters first. Hanabi." Hanabi twitches and walks nearer to the King, "Yes, sir." He glances at Naruto who is looking at him and to Sasuke that seems to be enjoying his 'chair', "You assign Naruto to somewhere that needs help. And please ask Karin to submit her papers tomorrow." She nods and then he salutes goodbye. Naruto then carries Sasuke bridal style… only to sit him back at the chair, "You're heavy."
Hanabi gestures him to come and then he walks to Hanabi and Sasuke gets off to follow them, "Kojiki, you're station will be this one right here. You will be in charge in the updates and reports about the school maintenance system." Naruto nods and then he asks, "So where should I start?" Hanabi looks at him and takes some folders at Karin's station, "Help Karin-sempai encode all of this." Naruto twitches and yet he takes the pile, "Okay…" I hope this will be easy…
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Project: Popularity
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Naruto is able to finish today's work and then he leans backwards, flattening his back at the rotating chair's support, "Yay." Aura then twitches and looks at his computer screen, "Hmph. You are just starting. The maintenance department doesn't stop at the reports and updates. Ocular inspections are also needed to get the job done." Naruto sighs as he places his wrist at his forehead, "That can wait— I mean, I'll do it later." Aura hums again and looks around to see the others busy. She then scoots closer to the computer and steps on the chair area between Naruto's legs, making the blond jerk.
"Hey, Naruto Uzumaki. Don't think that you're better since you've won the favor of my brother and even Hanabi and the Graces." Naruto then scratches his head and gently pushes her foot away, "Please, Takano-hime-san. Stop— sorry for the word— nagging at me. I'm not really doing anything. If you want Sasuke to notice you, shouldn't you focus on him more…?" Aura glares at him then she lightly steps at his crotch, "He won't even notice me because he's always about you."
"Ouw!" Naruto takes her foot off and stands up to get closer and glare at her, "How many minutes do you think I meet Sasuke? And you're the woman here. You should be able to take his attention if you really try." Aura shrieks and then shifts her eyes away, "I'm…" She then slams herself at the table after pulling Naruto closer to her, "Help! Uzumaki is assaulting me!" Naruto tries to pull himself up, "Let me go, you bitch!"
The people then jerk and go to the scene and they are about to yell out subtractions, Karin walks in the office and passes them, "That jerk is not into women, why would he even assault you? He likes Sasuke, am I wrong?" The people look at one another and then Aura then suddenly kicks Naruto's tummy and pushes him off before sitting up, "You know, Hozuki? Earlier you are so against him. Now, you're talking like your friends." Karin looks at her and huffs, "You wouldn't even understand. A simple 'no' from Sasuke-san is even a mystery for you."
"Oh really. I guess the woman sold by her parents gets very matured, huh." The redhead then freezes and then Naruto climbs up his chair and hisses at Aura, "Why did you even do that, huh!?" Aura flicks her bangs and laughs out, "Ahahaha! You must be pretty turned on by my body when you got near it! This pre—" Naruto then suddenly carries her bridal style and walks off to a direction. The people then follow them… with Karin staying and watching the next scenes. Aura then starts struggling, "Let me go! You per—!"
Naruto drops her at the couch and warns her with a not-so-hard glare, "Keep… your butt… off my table." He then walks back to his table and then Aura starts yelling out, "Minus 300 points for talking to me like that!" Naruto does a face palm, "Oh please! You're the one starting this!" Aura yells again but Karin taps Naruto's shoulder, enough to make him ignore her rant, "Naruto." The blond looks at her and then she looks away, "I need you to help me check out the pipe system. Since you are in the maintenance department, too…"
"Sure. Let's go…" Naruto leaves his computer idle and goes off with Karin, Aura yelling so much more. The two walk along the hallways and then Naruto starts talking, "And I thought no one would even know about that." The redhead looks at him and speaks, "That bitch digs on someone else's life. She spreads secrets and that really kills some students… so they just agree on serving her so the secret won't flow out. You don't expect me to do that, do you?"
"Heheh. I'd rather let my life suck than serving her ass." Naruto pockets his hands and then Karin glances at him once, "It's almost 7 PM, there aren't many students around." Naruto looks around and agrees, "Yeah. Isn't the school getting creepy with this time?" Karin chuckles and then she somewhat rubs something off her eyes, "Y-Yeah. That's why we need men in the maintenance department… because we're going to the so-called haunted basement." Naruto starts shuddering but then he notices Karin wiping off a lot from her face, "Karin? What's wrong?"
"My eyes…" She stops walking and then Naruto goes in front of her, "Hey, Karin?" She then raises her head and takes off her arms, "My eyes are melting!" Her eyes are like getting dissolved and blood is flowing out from it. Naruto then freezes and starts running away while screaming so hard in fright— until he gets bumped against somebody. Karin then runs to him and finds him rubbing his own butt… only to laugh out so hard. Naruto then forgets about the collision and yells at her, "Teme! What was that for!?"
"Ahahaha! You never changed, Naru-chan! You're still easily freaked out by scary stuffs!" She laughs harder and then Naruto goes to her and rants, "I can't believe you, buta-onna!" She then embraces Naruto and wipes off the fancy fake bleeding eyes stick-on, "I missed you, Naru-chan. I just… I just missed you." Naruto then smiles and pats her head, "Mah, you shouldn't have talked to me like that earlier." Karin pulls back and huffs, "But I'm serious. I'm still mad and resentful."
"Seriously…" They then twitch and look at the direction… only to see Sasuke dusting off his blue dress, "Lying to me?" Naruto then goes to him and squeezes with him a grin, "Ooops! Sorry for ignoring you, Sasuke, heheh." Sasuke and Karin look at him and then Naruto jerks away, "S-Sorry." He blushes and pouts, "I forgot. Behave…" Karin snickers and then Sasuke wraps his arms around Naruto's shoulder, "Hey, Naruto. I'll be happier if you hug me around like that." Naruto then goes back to his grouchy self, "Nah, stop it, Sasuke. That was a mistake…"
"But neh… I'm happy there's nothing really bad between you and Karin." Sasuke leans closer to Naruto and then Karin twitches and fixes her glasses, "That's not it. I'm just glad to see Naruto after a long while and yet he doesn't change. But there's something really bad that happened." The raven then begins squeezing Naruto, "Is that what Aura is talking about?" She twitches and then Naruto suddenly carries Sasuke, "Let's just go where this boiler room is." Karin twitches yet again and runs to catch up… and walks ahead. Sasuke then rubs his cheek with Naruto's… but the blond whispers, "Sasuke… please don't even go down there."
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Project: Popularity
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"Thank you, sweetie." Sasuke whispers at Naruto as he loads the final box at the Porsche's trunk. He has to change clothes since the dress seems to be getting hot and they have to return some heavy malfunctioning items to the seller. Sasuke has changed into black coat with white linings and dark pants. He then dumps himself at the hood, "I just have to drive home and…" Naruto wipes his forehead and speaks, "No problem, Sasuke. Yeah, are you going to be fine? You're very tired."
"How many rich guys do you expect to…" Sasuke huffs and swipes his stray bangs that stick to his forehead, "Be able to carry tons of metals without getting exhausted? I have other people to carry things for me, you know." Naruto can't help but to smirk for one second before looking around the dark parking lot that seems to be empty by then, "You always go home like this?" Sasuke lifts his face and says, "Yeah. I'm getting used to it, too." The blond twitches and goes to the side opposite of Sasuke's, "Aren't you scared? I mean… you don't have your bodyguards around."
"Are you kidding me?" Sasuke then chuckles and then he straightens, "This is the only place where we somehow experience being normal students. No bodyguards, no fucking business-related meetings. Nothing." Naruto scratches his head and looks around, "I see." Sasuke then leans on his hand with his elbows at the hood as he smiles flirtatiously at Naruto, "You seem to be worried about me. Have any offer so I won't drive?" Naruto looks at a direction and shakes his head, "Sorry." The raven then goes to Naruto's side just to wrap his arms around Naruto's neck, "Don't worry about me. I said I'm getting used to this."
"Uh… o-okay." The blond blushes at the close distance and then Sasuke twitches and asks, retaining the distance, "What was that bad happening between Karin and you? Did you… get her?" The blond shrieks at the thought and looks away with a pissed face, "It's nothing like that. I'm not really involved… but it's a family matter so she blames us, too. It's not like we're siblings, too. That's a very sensitive issue for Karin. Please don't talk about it." Sasuke smirks again and he whispers, "Sure."
"Sasuke… can I… have my shoulders back?" The blond seems to plead and the raven smiles bigger. He hums first before speaking, "You don't have to worry about me, sweetie. I'll be at school and I would like a bento box tomorrow. Bye." He then leans some more and pecks directly at Naruto's lips… but that is not what made Naruto shriek. Something falls to the ground from afar and the two look at the direction… where most of the remaining SCA members are standing.
"Sasuke… kun?"
Aura stands frozen there and everyone there has seen what Sasuke just did. Naruto stays frozen for a moment… until he decides to run away in cluelessness on how to even react. His tongue gets cut off and there is something wrong with what happened. He knows Sasuke would do that with that kind of distance… Why didn't I fucking push him off? What's happening! What's happening! He runs off to his mother's Cadillac and drives away… with a feeling of horror and helplessness tainting his face.
"… What now?"
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Project: Popularity
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Naruto parks the Cadillac at their open garage aka front yard past the gates and before the porch of the house. The blond is still horrified by the event earlier… until another surprise comes at hand. He then stares at the male's shoes lying at the porch and as much as he knows, he's the only guy in the house. There are only two pairs before him… his mom's and the stranger's. It could have been Akasuna-sensei but he has seen him wearing a different shoe pair. He frowns at the matter and proceeds… with caution.
Naruto hasn't yelled 'Tadaima' ever since he got home and he is spying at every part of the house to find his mother. He then stealthily walks across the bedroom hallways… only to hear strange and suspicious noises coming from her room. He can hear her moaning in both happiness and pain as she talks a bit louder than normal, "Ouw! It hurts! Ahahaha! Ouw… take it off tte ba ne!" He then hears a man chuckle and speaks, "Okay, okay. Just don't move… it'll get stuck."
"Ouw! Take it off now—! Ahahaha! Not there, please!" Naruto stands frozen for the second time and then his silence brings more 'delusive' sounds to his ears. Sounds of reaping cloths and rough shifts accompany his mother's voice while cursing out and laughing at the same time. Naruto seems to have lots of pictures going through his head by then… a deep blush running at his face. What is Mom doing? Why is she… doing it in the house? Didn't she think I will be home even way past after school?
"Ouw! Be gentler tte ba ne!" She demands and then the guy speaks, "S-Sorry. Kushina, don't move. You're too wild." Naruto shrieks in his place despite his feet getting planted on the ground. "Yeah, that's right! I can feel it… getting… ahhhh!" She finally yells in great pain and happiness… making Naruto break the door and yell, "What are you— do… ing?" The blond stares at the real scene… Kushina and the guy staring back at him as well. Kushina smiles and says, "Uh… Okaeri, Naruto!"
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Project: Popularity
Chapter 3: Imperial Siblings
End Points: 33,400
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Thank you for reading! Please review! ^^ Working in the SCA Office gave him 20,000 points.
Buta-onna = pig woman; Yoruse = Shut Up; Shigu = Japanese pronunciation of SIEG in Siegfried; Suki = Alteration of SUKE in Sasuke; Tadaima = I'm home; Okaeri (nasai) = welcome home