"The Avenger Chronicles"
Summary: Sasuke has a lot on his mind. Kakashi gives him a diary because he thinks it might help him emote, but it's going to take more than a few pages of soul-searching for Sasuke to admit to exactly what's bothering him.
Note: This story is based on a challenge written by Dunlunicor.
Chapter 1: "The Stupid Diary"
"Chidori!"
The heat, the sparks, the frenzied chatter of birds. It started out so strong, but then it cooled, dimmed, and finally fell silent. Kakashi watched his exhausted student take a few labored breaths, and then watched the now familiar transition from fatigue to anger. Sasuke cursed through clenched teeth and gave the hard ground a kick that would have made Lee blush in his better days. Sasuke was working harder than ever in the wake of Itachi's attack and accomplishing nothing. In fact, jutsu that used to bring a smirk to his face and a smug little laugh were beyond him lately. He had too much on his mind. Couldn't focus.
In a rare display, Kakashi left his comfortable vantage point and laid a hand on Sasuke's knotted shoulder. "I think that's quite enough for today. You should get home."
"What?! But I - "
"No 'buts.' As a shinobi, you're going have to learn more than how to train hard. It's just as important to learn to train effectively. You can't hope to get anything out of all your hard work if your tired and distracted. Your wasting your time and mine. Go home, get some rest. Take some time for yourself."
"I don't need - "
"Don't train, don't work yourself into a rage over Itachi. It won't help you. For that matter, don't cook. Here's some money – take it, Sasuke, it's a gift. Ichiraku has free delivery."
Sasuke stared sulkily at the bills in Kakashi's hand for a moment, and then reluctantly shoved them into his pocket. "Thanks," he mumbled.
"I'll walk you home."
"I can take care of myself! I'm not a baby."
"No, not quite," Kakashi conceded. "But I don't trust you not to take a wide loop back to the practice fields."
They took their time walking through Konoha's busy streets. It was only noon, so the vendors were still out in force. Iruka was desperately trying to maintain control of a large group of children as they toured a nindo. "Care to volunteer as an academy teacher?" he called out to Kakashi. "You know field-trips – they act like I fed them amphetamines at snack-time and then say they're bored."
Kakashi laughed. "And they never seem to change," he said, tipping his head toward Sasuke.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," said Sasuke as soon as they were out of earshot.
"What were you talking about again? Sorry, I was thinking about all of my problems."
"You think I'm just some kid who needs to be taken care of!"
"Did I say that? I don't remember. Anyway, it was only small talk."
"I don't need you to mother me. I'm not weak," Sasuke shot back angrily.
"And, five minutes from now, you'll be brooding again because you feel like I'm ignoring you and whining about how you're hopelessly weak."
"That's not true!"
Kakashi sighed heavily. The stopped in front of Sasuke's apartment complex. "No one can blame you for being a little stressed," he said, but Sasuke had already climbed the flight of stairs to the first floor. Kakashi, on a sudden impulse, reached into his weapons pouch and pulled out a small book and sent it flying toward Sasuke, who caught it deftly despite his current mood. He paused on the landing to inspect it. The symbol on the front was a well-known red-flag. The crossed-circle.
"Forget it," he said immediately. "There's no way I'm reading this trash."
Sasuke saw a fleeting offended glare on his sensei's face, but Kakashi managed to keep his cool. "Just open it."
Sasuke obeyed hesitantly, touching as little of the book as he could. His brow knitted. "It's empty."
"It's a diary. I got it for free when I bought the special-edition motion-picture boxed set. I think you ought to use it."
When Sasuke looked up to throw it back at Kakashi, his teacher had already vanished. He slammed the book shut in disgust. "There's no way I'm keeping a stupid diary."
