“I don't think they like me.” Naruto whispered across the coffee table to Sasuke.

Sasuke looked up from his hands which were clasped in his lap and crooked an eyebrow at him, “What gave it away?”

Naruto wilted, “I was looking for a little reassurance here.” He whined.

“My mother likes you,” Sasuke offered.

“Really?” Naruto's face was hopeful, “I couldn't tell. I mean, I thought you were an ice prince, but your parents...” he laughed nervously, “wow.”

“Huh,” Sasuke scowled and looked away.

“Ah crap, what did I say this time?” Naruto frowned at him, “you've been so fucking touchy about everything these days that I can't even open my fucking mouth without you icing over and refusing to talk to me! You have to tell me what I'm doing wrong, I'm not perfect you know!”

“Well that much is obvious,” Sasuke spat.

If Sasuke's parents hadn't been in the other room, Naruto would have beaten the crap out of him.

“You don't have to be such a bitch about it,” Naruto snorted instead, putting as much malice into it as he could.

Sasuke snapped. “Well how the hell else am I supposed to act, Naruto? My entire fucking clan just rose out of the fuckin' grave just when I was getting ready to kill my psychopathic fuck of a brother who killed them all in the first place! How the hell am I supposed to act when my parents ask me what happened to Itachi??” his was rose with every word until he was screaming across the table at Naruto, with tears of rage blinding his vision, “How the hell am I going to tell them that I couldn't even put a scratch on him?! How would you feel if your parents thought of you as a failure?! Oh, wait, I forgot, you wouldn't feel anything because you don't have parents!!”

The burning rage Naruto felt welling up inside him disappeared and suddenly he felt very cold. Numbly he stood up, not looking at Sasuke.

“Naruto,” Sasuke realized what he said a moment too late, and reached for him, “Naruto please—I didn't...”

Naruto's reply was the sound of a door slamming shut.

-- -- --

OOOh snap, Sasuke, that was a burn! Haha! Angst! WTF is up with that?

Anyway, I though these (very short—sorry) chapters did better alone rather than together... (cause fugaku and Naruto don't get along very well, get it? Get it?)

Anyway, Reviews are nicer than faves or alerts (which are also pretty Groovy, too)