A/N:Still balancing things...so this is now a series fic! I'd like to present to you, my first ever drafted fic before all the my living posted ones. I must warn you: DO NOT EXPECT INSTANT UPDATES!
Edited: 05-01-14
Note: If the chapter isn't edited, it was still my younger self's writing so please don't judge the fic too early.
Naruto simply walked towards the Hokage's Headquarters, whistling a happy tune as he ignored the looks he got from the results of his mission. Blood coated his entire uniform and an unconscious, more blood-soaked man was being dragged behind him, staining the floor red. He didn't really care how he handled him. The man happens to be an excellent ninja gone wrong and decided to kill people while keeping children as soldiers, especially little boys. It truly angered him but he was certain it was nothing compared to how Tsunade felt. Which was actually why the convict would be brought to her to initiate the deadly final blow. The idea sent a shiver down the blonde's spine but a smirk to his lips nonetheless.
"Tsunade!" Naruto called out, upon entering the Godaime's office. The name was actually the closest the woman got from his minute amount of respect to authority. At least he didn't call her an old hag anymore. Not too often anyways.
"What the hell do you- Oh, Naruto..." then her eyes dropped to the man in his clutches, "and him..." The Hokage got up from her desk, light brown eyes turning deadly hostile. As she came forward, knuckles started cracking and already, Naruto could see chakra coating the fists.
He gave his own sadistic chuckle as he stepped aside while the convict started waking up. Oh man is he in for another round of unconsciousness. Just as the thought came, the man looked left and right until his head looked straight and met a fist. His head hung limp once more.
Tsunade returned to her desk with a satisfied smirk. "There. That should handle that good-for-nothing bastard. Someone get this guy out of here!"
Puffs of smoke appeared, two ANBUS dragging the man around once more. As soon as they left, the blonde sent an an amused smile at the woman slightly obscured by paperwork. "Are you even allowed to do that?"
The Hokage shrugged. "I do what I do..." Then her eyes turned serious. "Anyways, now that you're here, I'd like to congratulate you for another successful mission as ANBU. I trust you have your mission report?"
"Ehe... yeah..." He pulled out a scroll from his pocket and held the red-soaked document in front of her. "I'll hand you another copy tomorrow."
Tsunade rolled her eyes. As breezy as the blonde was when it came to his missions, oftentimes he really had no care about the written part of it. She wasn't even sure if she was supposed to believe the time Naruto told her that he had been writing the report in the forest when a rabid animal ate it. The idea of a different style of Kakashi sent an ominous throbbing at her head. "Very well. Putting that aside, I really do think you've earned the title, gaki."
"Of course, baa-chan! Who do you think I am?" A thunderbolt connected between the two until it settled down to endearing smiles. Naruto changed the topic, "So, do I get a new mission?"
The question was very much anticipated that as soon as the Godaime knew the blonde returned from his mission, she had the papers ready by her side. As much as she wished every single day for the time when he would stop asking that, she knew it was unfortunately impossible. With a sigh, Tsunade said,"You'll have one..." A little white lie wouldn't hurt. "...a week from now. Is that alright with you? If you need more rest, I could-"
"No thanks. I'm good. I'll go with that."
Her heart fell. Once more, the idea of keeping it lax was shot down. Now, all that's left with the usual tirade was:
"Ummm...Tsunade...I've been thinking-"
She sighed. Many times now, even before the blonde reached ANBU, the request had been offered and many times too, she had denied. It was only appropriate, though heart-shattering, that she continued that cycle. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I know how great you've been doing and all, but chasing after him-"
A sudden slam from the door stopped Tsunade from speaking. Both blondes turned to the intruder, a pink-haired kunoichi. Sakura. Her eyes were wide and bright, chest heaving at a rapid pace as if she had just won a marathon.
"Tsunade-sama! It's..." she gave an abrupt halt at the sight of another visitor. "Naruto! You're back! Good thing too coz- Wait ew! Couldn't you wash up before coming here? You look disgusting, you know."
Naruto rubbed his hand behind his head. "Ah! Sorry Sakura-chan! I'll wash up as soon as I'm done here."
"Well you better!"
Tsunade interrupted by clearing her throat. "Sakura, you came here for a message, correct?"
The bubble-gum haired girl suddenly looked exactly as how she did a while ago, minus the heavy breathing. She nodded vigorously. "It's great news, Tsunade-sama! I was just passing the gates and-and suddenly, he was there! The guards wouldn't let him in but he explained a bit to me so I asked them to let him enter. He said he needed rest before he comes here and explain what he was-"
"Sakura, get to the point."
She giggled at her mentor. "Sorry sorry. It's Sasuke, Tsunade-sama. He's back."
Both blondes stiffened. Tsunade couldn't help but gaze heavily at Naruto who's eyes weren't connected to hers but at the floor. It was unexpected, to say the least. Here they were, searching for years and trying to hunt him down when in the end... he was actually coming back. She feared what this would bring the gaki. Tsunade eyed her prized student once more. "So where is he and what did he tell you?"
"He's resting in the Uchiha mansion and he said there were threats on Konoha that he handled. There was a mention of Akatsuki being gone so I think he deserved it, Tsunade-sama."
The Hokage nodded at the information. It was still lacking but that should be settled tomorrow. "Thank you, Sakura."
The girl simply smiled. Both brown and green orbs then turned to the only person who hadn't spoken up the entire time after the news was delivered. "Naruto...?"
They received a surprised flinch at having his attention called. He gave them a small smile. "Y-Yeah... great isn't it? If he's back then I guess we have nothing to worry about anymore. He's safe so Konoha's safe, yeah?" When the women didn't give a reply and proceeded to only eye him suspiciously, he ran a hand through his hair. The action itself of Naruto forgetting that his hand was tainted with blood only roused their suspicions further. "Um, yeah... Tsunade, I'll see you in a week. And like Sakura-chan said, I have to go clean up. Ehe... I'll see you around!" Without another word, he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Sakura frowned at the Hokage. "What was that about?"
Unfortunately, the blond woman wasn't so certain either. She had expected more of an angered outburst of wasted efforts and the Uchiha not mentioning his future decision but what they got instead was anxious satisfaction? It was odd even for Naruto. The only thing she was sure of, however, were the incoming headaches that this situation would bring upon her. Tsunade, whose hands were itching towards the drawer beneath her desk, turned to her last visitor. "I suggest you go check on him. I'll inform Kakashi and Sai of this soon. You may go."
The girl nodded then proceeded to vanish as well.
In a flash, a cup and a bottle of sake was at her desk. Turning her chair as she took a sip, she eyed the pink-haired teenager running towards her yellow-haired friend. She sighed, the burning liquid dousing her throat. "After seven years... Kakashi's team returns, huh?"
Sasuke was back.
Uchiha Sasuke was back.
The fucking Uchiha who he had been chasing for years was back.
Until now, Naruto was still trying to wrap his mind around the idea. Even if it had been minutes ago, it didn't excuse the fact that he felt as if the information was just being said to him at this moment. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to react really. He had even lost his cool in front of Sakura and Tsunade. Was he supposed to be mad? Annoyed? Happy? Crying tears of joy? Or wanting to strangle a pale neck? The only thing he did know, though, was that his heart was beating too fast and a flurry of emotions made his head throb.
"Naruto! Wait up!"
The blonde stopped at his tracks at the mention of his name. Turning on his heel, he found Sakura running behind him. Since when was she following him? His eyes sighted the Hokage tower being a number of feet away from them. Oh gods he had been too distracted. Pushing away his anxiety, he smiled. "H-Hey Sakura! What's the matter?"
Her eyebrows knitted as she stared at him incredulously. "What's the matter? What's the matter with you? I was calling after you the whole time and you didn't hear me?"
"I got lost in thought?" he shrugged.
"Well stop thinking! You're gonna get your brain fried, you know that?"
"Hey!"
Sakura just shook her head and sighed. "So what's up? Why the weird reaction?"
Naruto tensed a second before trying to calm down as he placed his hands behind his head. How was he supposed to word this without giving too much away? Starting to walk, he said, "It's just... surprising. I thought it would take a lot of effort and years to get him back here. I worked too hard that even if I know now he's back... I just feel like still taking on a lot of missions. I'm just saying... he just suddenly comes back like nothing even happened and he doesn't even mention it earlier? It's just-"
Both his words and movement were suddenly cut short when Sakura gave her an embrace. "You care too much for others. It's one of the things I love about you, you know that?" She let go, gazing expectantly at Naruto.
Her reply was a released tongue. "That doesn't work on me anymore, Sakura-chan."
"Oh well, I tried. It's just really funny to see you go red like before. Just when I was getting the hang of it too."
They started walking once more as Naruto chuckled. He still remembered them too. The many times he ran around after Sakura like she was some sort of god others didn't appreciate. But really... he's changed now and so has his attraction for others and the way he showed it. Not to mention preferences. "Save your chances for a better guy. Like, I don't know, Sasu-teme?" His voice caught at the idea though.
"What do you mean better guy? Naruto, stop looking at yourself that way," she said with a pout.
"Does that mean you think I'm attractive now, Sakura-chan?"
"With all this blood sticking to you? No thanks."
The blonde gave a short laugh once more. He didn't fail to note the obvious underlying statement though. That he has changed even physically. Underneath his bloodied appearance were protruded muscles and a face of handsome maturity. It wasn't being prideful, rather it was the idea he got from the shy glances sent at him from women civilians and people he met in other villages. It just wasn't too obvious in Konoha due to the prejudice that were still taught by their parents. Naruto simply took satisfaction in the idea that they were being harangued for that particular reason.
"So, what now?" he said for a change of topic, uncomfortable as it was. "Are you still aiming for him?"
She sent a devious smile. "Maybe... Who knows?" After a while, she said, "Oh yeah, I forgot! Could you come to my house tomorrow at two? If you're still tired from the mission, I'll understand."
He gave her the safest answer he could think of. "I'll see what I can do. What's going on though?"
Sakura giggled. "It's Sasuke's welcome back party! The idea came to me when I saw him."
Naruto lifted an eyebrow. "A party for someone who won't come?"
"But he is coming!"
He stopped in his tracks. "Hold up. You actually got that anti-social bastard... coming... to a party. An event with people, right? How'd you pull that off?"
"Who says I did? I only told him we had an important matter to discuss. He just grunted. It might raise the chances of him going though. You really should have been there to translate for me."
"Hah. Bastard's still a monosyllabic prick then. Good to know he hasn't changed."
Sakura smiled and the conversation continued to progress to Sasuke's possible changes and on Naruto teaching the girl how to understand Sasuke's language. Soon enough, they reached the intersection where they were to part and the two bid farewell.
Naruto immediately slipped out off his bloody outfit as soon as he arrived and threw it at the laundry rack. Frowning at the liquid which still coated his body, he complied to his promise to Sakura and got in the bathroom for a shower. He braced himself for the cold water and tensed as it rained down on him. To this day, he was still being told that there was something wrong with the pipes in the whole apartment which was why he were to settle with the temperature of his shower. He simply accepted it for years as he watched steam come out from the windows of the others who also vacated the building. They had yet to shed off their hate for him but he didn't really care about that anymore.
As soon as his body got use to the sting of the water, Naruto let himself be immersed at the feeling of having shed all the dirty liquid from his body. He watched the blood fall from his chest to his thighs and towards the drains. Upon closing his eyes, something like hands seemed to ghost from his back and towards his chest and Naruto had to hold in a groan.
"It's Sasuke... he's back."
Naruto's eyes snapped wide open, shutting the water immediately. This wasn't right. Now that there were higher possibilities of seeing the raven, he shouldn't be having this usual... visualizations. He blushed at the thought. It wasn't like he was entirely comfortable at what he did but sometimes, it just happened and he would only berate himself as soon as he came out of the shower.
Speaking of which... The blonde quickly rinsed himself once more, this time trying to push away his thoughts as he thoroughly soaped and washed his hair. He then went out with a blue towel wrapped around his waist and red dusting his cheeks.
Before anything else could happen, a rustle from the tree near his window caught his attention. Naruto grabbed a kunai from a nearby desk and placed his bare back behind the wall beside the glass pane. His head tilted slightly to the right and caught a black and red blur. Before he could've taken a good look at it, it was gone. Naruto lowered his weapon upon making sure there were no other disturbances.
Deciding to check what that had been, he grabbed some clean set of clothes, contemplating on what it was that he possibly saw. The shade of black was awfully familiar actually. But... it just wasn't possible right? Why would Sasuke of all people even- No, he was simply being paranoid. His mind just still had hints of him, that's all. Besides, there was a shade of red too. The color was smaller in amount in comparison to the black but thanks to his vision, he had seen it.
But... the only pattern he knew that had black and red... were the Akatsuki. Didn't Sakura mention something about Sasuke eliminating them already? So then why...? He just had to check.
With the thought, Naruto got out of his apartment, already in clean clothes and water-drizzled hair. It took him a few minutes until he saw two ripped pieces of cloths on the branches; one a faded blue, the other jet black. After careful inspection that they were the only salvageable evidences left behind, Naruto took them and went inside.
When he got in, he decided to prepare some ramen before getting to work. Usually, the blonde was used to being unable to eat. The first few years he had constantly asked Tsunade for a mission one after the other, she let him. It led to a number of days of starvation until he actually landed himself to the hospital where the situation was averted. Now, it was only appropriate that as he was presented with another work of some sort, he may as well feed himself. Tsunade's orders to bring the man immediately had ruined his chances to visit Ichiraku's anyway.
After throwing the ramen cup away, Naruto slipped in the desk beside his bed and started inspecting the two cloths between the thumb and index finger of his hands. Both cloths were actually familiar to him. The black seriously had a shade similar to Akatsuki's but it seemed impossible if Sasuke already said they were gone. He kept in mind to ask Sasuke about it tomorrow. Naruto snorted. If he ever comes that is.
So he decided to turn to the other cloth which was more familiar to him. As much as he tried to shove the idea away and replace it with something else, the blonde always went back to the material he once saw hanging from the Uchiha's outfit. He cursed every single time, fighting a blush at actually thinking that Sasuke Uchiha would be spying at his house. However amusing and warming the idea was, it was also too desperate and hinted so much of the "Sasuke paranoia" in him.
Great. I'm thinking about him. What am I left with again?
He stared pointedly once more at the cloths. The jagged ends couldn't really tell him if the appearance of the material on the branches had been intentional; if it was purposefully meant to set him off or something. There weren't any marks on the tree though which could say if the mysterious person/s were reckless in leaving evidences behind; in this case, not really. There wasn't really any sign which showed that his intruder was inexperienced to chakra control and his assassin-like spying. More specifically though, his only hunches as to whom they belonged to were anyone from a supposedly disposed organization or a guy who wants nothing from him but his death.
Just great, Uzumaki. Now you're all set to become a detective.
Naruto sighed. He let go of the two cloths and jumped on his bed. He wasn't really sure if something as small as a stalker issue should be raised to Tsunade's awareness. On the other hand, the blonde had gained quite a reputation for his abilities and this wouldn't really be the first time there was a threat on his life. His theories on the possibilities were alarming though if he thought about it. But that didn't exactly mean he was too weak to do anything about it. He'll just inform the Hokage if things should get worse. If the intruder wanted to settle things with him, then let them. Besides, if one of them was really Sasuke...
Get it together, Naruto. Stop thinking of something impossible, dammit. He needed rest from thinking about a certain Uchiha. And, really, he did. Placing an arm over his eyes, flashes of images assaulted his mind. Silky tufts of black hair... pale, slender arms... toned white chest... captivating, heart-stopping black orbs...
Naruto groaned, took his arm off and rolled around as he placed a pillow above his head as if the act could block the images away. He really needed to stop this. It was still safe to be doing it when he was chasing Sasuke but now that he was back in the village, this... feelings of his were dangerous. Moreover, he shouldn't even be having this emotions of his at all.
He couldn't be in love with Sasuke.
He shouldn't be.
But his heart couldn't seem to agree as he was assaulted once more with images of the two years as a chuunin, three a jounin and the rest as ANBU persistently chasing after the Uchiha, his episodes in the forests at night, the dreams... and once more the onyx eyes which made his chest ache.
Naruto let go of the pillow and rolled to stare at the frame on his night stand. With a defeated sigh, he closed his eyes once more. Just when I thought I was done with these damn feelings...
"I still love you, goddammit..."
Meanwhile, hidden beneath the shadows, a voice muttered, "You still love who, hmm, Naruto?"
A/N: Chapter 2 will be the party in Sakura's house whoo! Horrible cliffhanger, I'm sorry.