Full Summary: Using a new jutsu, Orochimaru sent Naruto to some other dimension while Naruto was trying to convince Sasuke to come back to the Leaf Village. Everybody thinks that Naruto was killed. Three years later he returns and his mind and body are slowly falling apart due to what happened to him after Orochimaru sent him away. It's up to the Rookie Nine and team Gai to get the old Naruto back and to protect the boy from enemies and from himself.
Warnings: Everybody will probably be a little OOC. And this will NOT I repeat NOT be Yaoi slash or whatever you like to call it.
Pairings: ShikamaruxIno, LeexSakura, NejixTenten and KibaxHinata: this story will only mention these, not go into great detail. I couldn't write romance if my life depended on it.
Unseen Scars
Chapter 1: Remembering
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto why would I be writing this on Uchiha stared at the name written on the stone in front of him. It was because of that name that Sasuke was now in Konoha instead of with Orochimaru. It had been all Sasuke's fault that his best friend Naruto Uzamaki was killed.
They had been fighting again. Only this time they were both holding back, not wanting a repeat of what happened during their last battle. Both did not want to admit it but their last fight had scared them both. They didn't want to release the raw power that both had displayed. Despite everything Sasuke claimed he was not yet ready to kill they boy who he would never admit to being best friends with.
Flashback:
"Why Sasuke, why leave all the people who care about you for that-that snake guy?" Naruto swung a punch at the others head, which was dodged easily.
"I told you before Naruto he can give me the power to defeat my brother and that is all that I care about," he responded kicking the other boy in the chest, knocking him down. "That is all I have ever cared about."
"Well then I guess you really are no better than your brother are you?"
"Nobody asked you dobe." Sasuke could feel the curse mark on his next begin to overtake him as Naruto stood to face him.
"I promised I would bring you back to Konoha. I will not go back on my word." The scars on Naruto's cheeks grew darker as he launched himself at Sasuke.
Suddenly Orochimaru was in front of Sasuke, then Naruto was gone. No scream, no grand battle, no blood. The other boy was just gone.
End of FlashbackWhat happened next was still a blur to Sasuke. All he knew is that he wasn't ready to lose Naruto so he tried to kill Orochimaru. He woke up in the Hospital chained to his bed three weeks later. He spent the next nine months in prison. After that Tsunade had to follow the villagers demand that their "hero" be free.
It was a matter of days after he returned to Konoha that everybody knew that Naruto was the vessel of Kyuubi. The villagers all saw Sasuke as a hero claiming that he had only gone with Orochimaru knowing that eventually he would kill Naruto, and free the village of the demon.
"Sasuke?" He was pulled out of his thoughts by the voice of his old teammate.
It had taken the others (Rookie nine and Team Gai if you didn't know) only a year after he returned, three months after he was released from prison, to accept him back into the group. It was the anniversary of Naruto's death. They had all met at the memorial for those who were KIA. (It turned out that while Sasuke was imprisoned Ino and Sakura got over whatever rivalry they had with each other and both gave up on ever having Sasuke as their own. Ino started going out with Shikamaru and Sakura had finally given into Lee's please to go out with him.) That night they all vowed that one day one of them would become Hokage in order to fulfill Naruto's dream for him and went about it the only way they knew how: becoming as strong as possible. They all practiced and trained harder than ever and it was only a year and a half later that they all had become ANBU.
"Yes Sakura?"
"The others will be here soon." It had become a tradition for the group to meet at the stone the night that marked Naruto's death every year to honor blond. Tsunade would always make sure that they didn't have much to do so that the group could do whatever they felt they had to do to honor their friend.
"The others are here."
Sasuke and Sakura turned to see the rest of their squad. They were the largest ANBU squad in the history of Konoha (a/n: I'm not sure how big ANBU squads are so yeah) but that's how they liked it: they worked best together. Shortly after Sasuke and Sakura had become ANBU (about a year ago) their old sensei had taken up his old position as an ANBU captain. The Hokage appointed Kakashi the captain of Iruka, Sasuke, Sakura, Neji, and Shino. The rest of their squad joined as they gained the rank of ANBU. Gai had joined after Iruka had been killed during a mission.
"Oh joy, it's dog boy," Sasuke joked. Ever sense he had given up trying to avenge his clan he had been slightly happier with his life style. He was able to joke and to have friends without worrying. The only person he was interested in killing now was Orochimaru (and Itachi if the chance came up). But unlike with his brother he wasn't the only one thirsting for revenge.
"Oh come on Sasuke you know you like me," said Kiba throwing an arm around said boys shoulders.
"Don't make me rip your arms off dog breath."
"Touchy." Kiba removed his arm and put it around Hinata's waist.
This was how it was every year. They wouldn't mourn. They would joke around and celebrate the life of their friend. It was how Naruto would want it: A fun time for those who were closest to him to remember him.
"Let's get this party started," Ino cheered attaching herself to Shikamaru's arm.
"Well kiddies Gai and I decided that sense it was a special occasion and all that just this once we would give you all a present." Both Kakashi and Gai pulled out bottles of sake.
"Lee your not allowed to have any."
"If you say so Sakura."
The night was spent drinking, laughing, joking, and talking about stupid things that only Naruto could do. At sunrise they all went their separate ways (most likely to take care of their hangovers) waving goodbye to the others.
"Well Naruto, see you tomorrow," Sasuke whispered wishing that he would be able to see his friend for real and not just talk to a rock
To be continued….
A/n: I'm hoping that Chapter 2 will be longer but we'll see
Chapter2 : the return