He slipped undetected over the walls of Konoha. He didn't expect to be noticed, but the ease with which he'd entered simply added to his distaste for the village. Full of weaklings. It was good he'd left when he had the chance.
A pity that business brought him back, sneaking into the place he'd once called home under the cover of midnight, searching for a man that he once called friend.
He leapt from rooftop to rooftop, a silent shadow, a black cloak hiding his features as he moved swiftly to the area of the village his target had once lived. Deliberately staying away from Konoha meant he had no intelligence about the village other than what he already knew, and he knew nothing of the current whereabouts of his target. He could practically hear his first sensei's lazy voice telling him he was being rash.
As he wondered vaguely how strong his target had become in the past years since he'd last faced him, he sensed the presence of another. He landed on the next rooftop and pulled to a stop. Across the roof stood a hooded Anbu.
He looked different from any Anbu he'd seen in Konoha. He was not in a customary black cloak, but rather an open, short sleeved white jacket that billowed out behind him as the wind picked up. The uniform beneath the hooded jacket was that of a normal Anbu – black with a grey protective vest and arm armor – his mask appeared to be in the shape of some sort of canine, but the hood made it difficult to tell. The hilts of two swords were visible over each shoulder.
"You shouldn't be here," the Anbu said, voice clear despite coming from behind his mask. "Uchiha Sasuke."
Within the shadows of his hood, Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He wasn't wearing a mask, but his face was hidden and his Sharingan was not activated, aware that here, of all places, it would give him away. He did not expect to be recognized so quickly.
Sasuke pulled off his hood, loose black locks now long enough to frame his face, caught on the wind and blew out of his eyes. "I have business here," he said, expressionless as ever.
"Your business with Konoha ended when you went to the Sound."
"I have no business with Konoha," Sasuke responded, picking an invisible piece of lint from his cloak. "Tell me, where is Uzumaki Naruto?" He was discovered, there was no point beating around the bush. This could at least save time, though he would most likely wind up having to knock this man out before he could continue.
"What business could you possibly have with him?" the Anbu asked.
Sasuke sighed, already growing bored with the conversation. "If you're not going to tell me where he is, then don't waste my time." Reaching up under his cloak he slid a katana from the sheath strapped to his back. "I've got more important things to do then chat."
The Anbu didn't tense. He didn't even acknowledge that Sasuke had drawn a weapon. "This is about Itachi, isn't it?"
Sasuke straightened, looking darkly at the Anbu. People who knew of Itachi were people who had known him, once upon a time. He blinked, and when his eyes reopened they were a deep red color, three black dots surrounding his pupils.
Within the Anbu was a large menacing fox, grinning at him viciously.
"An Anbu now, Naruto?" Sasuke said, lips quirking into a smirk. "And only eighteen. Impressive."
The Anbu reached up with his left hand to pull down his hood and Sasuke was not surprised at the shock of blonde hair that was revealed. The mask, he realized now, was a fox. Not very discreet – he might as well have just written his name on it.
"What do you want, Sasuke?" he asked flatly. Naruto did not remove his mask, and Sasuke assumed that was because his face was not as impassive as his voice. That had always been Naruto's problem. He was too emotional. He believed in things like loyalty, bonds, love, and friendship. That's why he'd always been weak.
"I need you to come with me," Sasuke said bluntly.
Naruto snorted. "You do, huh?"
"Yes."
"I was right, wasn't I?" Naruto crossed his arms over his chest. "This is about Itachi. You want me to help you kill him." There was a pause and he laughed, though it was mirthless. "Wow, there's something about you that brings back the naiveté from when I was younger. More likely scenario – you want to use his target jinchuriki as bait."
Sasuke gazed calmly at him. "He's still hunting you, isn't he?"
"I'm still alive, aren't I?" Naruto retorted.
"I'll take that as a yes," Sasuke said with a smirk. "Killing him would benefit us both."
Naruto started laughing so hard he doubled over, holding his stomach. "You're still not strong enough, are you?" he exclaimed. "You betrayed your village, went to the enemy, teamed up with a bunch of crazies, and still, six years later, you aren't strong enough to defeat him."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously and his chakra flared.
"And now you've come crawling back to Konoha, to ask those weaklings you left behind for help." Naruto straightened. "For someone supposed to be a genius, you're the biggest idiot I ever met."
In a flash Sasuke had moved and was suddenly right in front of Naruto, his katana resting against his neck. "I was attempting to do this the easy way, but don't think I'm beyond forcing you to come."
"You've proven to me time and time again that you're capable of absolutely anything," Naruto responded. His masked face was turned toward him, staring with impassiveness only wood could achieve. "Get out of here, Sasuke, while you still can."
This was said in a low voice, barely audible, and Sasuke frowned at him, wondering just what he meant by that.
Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and he flipped away quickly upon realizing what it was. Along the ground sped long black lines, shadows that nearly blended into the darkness of the night, chasing him until he made it out of their range.
He straightened, cloak flapping, katana at the ready.
The shadows retreated back to the one controlling them – an Anbu standing on the edge of the roof. He wore no cloak, only the Anbu uniform, hair in a ponytail. A white mask in the shape of a cat hid his face from view.
Sasuke, however, knew exactly who it was. There was no mistaking that jutsu. If it had made contact he very well might have been caught.
The Sharingan locked a moment on Naruto, who had yet to move from his position.
Get out of here, Sasuke, while you still can.
Had that been a warning?
Sasuke's eyes slowly took in his surroundings and his opponent. He sensed a third Anbu who had yet to show himself, hidden on a rooftop to the left.
"Uchiha Sasuke," said the Anbu with the ponytail. "As a Konoha missing-nin, you're under arrest."
Sasuke stared impassively before hitching his head over to where he knew the other Anbu was. "Tell him to come out, I already know he's there."
Silently, a third Anbu with black hair leapt onto their rooftop, dressed also in the standard uniform, wearing a mask reminiscent of a mouse. Sasuke used his senses to search for any others, knowing that Anbu generally worked in four man teams. There was no one else.
"I told you I would handle it," Naruto said to the shadow user.
"You didn't, however, tell us it was Uchiha," was the reply.
"I'm here only to speak with Naruto, Shikamaru," Sasuke said.
"Looked like the conversation was over and had moved onto threatening," Shikamaru returned. "Drop your weapon and come quietly or we will resort to force."
"Tch," Sasuke said, twisting his katana in his hand for a better grip, no intentions of just rolling over and going to jail. Not when Itachi was still out there. "You two should leave. Now."
Shikamarku's fingers moved together in the beginning of a seal, clearly preparing should Sasuke attack.
The other Anbu slowly reached behind him, unsheathing the short sword on his back. "Sorry, Sasuke-kun," he said from behind his mask, voice quiet and emotionless. "We don't leave teammates behind."
There was something familiar about him, Sasuke realized, but he couldn't place him.
"So be it," Sasuke said with a shrug.
Then he charged. He went for the quiet one first, knowing better than to get too close to Shikamaru. There was a range on his jutsu and he planned to stay out of it.
He raised his katana as he attacked the Anbu, who used his own weapon to block it with far more ease than Sasuke had expected. And then they were twirling in a deadly dance as their blades hit and missed. The Anbu was talented with his sword Sasuke would give him that.
His senses were open, aware that Shikamaru would likely take any opening he could to trap him with his shadow.
"A little help here, Naruto?" Shikamaru said to the blonde, who was watching silently, arms crossed over his chest.
Shikamaru sighed when there was a lack of response. "Don't make me pull rank."
So Shikamaru was the Anbu captain. For some reason Sasuke had made the assumption that Naruto might have been. Of course, why anyone would let that idiot lead was beyond him.
He ducked under a swipe of his opponent's sword, which would have slit his throat cleanly if it had connected.
The Sharingan suddenly caught Shikamaru's movement, and he flipped away from the Anbu he was fighting as a knife came flying in his direction. It hadn't been aimed toward him, however, and Sasuke put on an extra burst of speed to make sure his shadow was well out of the way as well. Landing in a crouch, cloak billowing behind him, Sasuke took in his opponents. The Anbu with the sword was in a ready position and Naruto had yet to move from where he stood.
Shikamaru had managed to move closer. He was more of a nuisance than he was worth.
Sheathing his katana, Sasuke clapped his hands together in a seal.
"Sai!" Shikamaru said to the third Anbu, and it was then Sasuke remembered the boy who had once appeared at Orochimaru's lair to try and take him back to Konoha for Naruto. The third Anbu leapt at him, sword raised with the intent of stopping his jutsu, but he wasn't fast enough. Snakes flew from Sasuke's sleeves by the dozens, some speeding for Shikamaru, the rest for Sai, who had to veer off course to dodge.
And then, finally, Naruto stepped in. Sasuke watched as the blonde moved, unsheathing one of the two short swords that were attached to his back. A lazy swipe and the snakes heading toward the Anbu captain were cut in half, falling to the ground with squishy thuds.
The sword itself wasn't nearly long enough to do such a thing, and Sasuke realized the blade had been thickened and elongated with chakra, exactly like he could do with his own.
He had taken his attention off of Sai for almost too long, for the Anbu had had the chance to pull out a scroll and begin drawing. Recalling from their one battle before that Sai had the ability to bring his creations to life, he quickly began more seals. "Katon: Karyuu Endan."
Out of his mouth came a stream of flames, moving like a wall, fast toward Sai. He was forced to dodge and unable to complete his drawing. In the meantime, another knife was launched at him, once again aimed for his shadow.
Sasuke pulled a kunai from the pouch attached to his leg, throwing it with perfect aim and knocking the knife off course. He charged Shikamaru and Naruto, tired of being on defense. He unsheathed his katana, using his electricity-based chakra to lengthen it.
"I need light, Naruto," Shikamaru said, pulling out another knife for defense. The blonde didn't answer, simply unsheathing his second sword. Shikamaru sighed. "If we don't capture him, then we'll have to kill him."
"Stay out of this," Naruto said. "Both of you." Then he rushed at Sasuke, meeting him in the middle of the roof. Sasuke raised his katana over his head to block Naruto's downswing of the two blades. Their swords hit, clashing loudly as the chakra infused into both of the weapons connected and an unnatural wind from their meeting flew up, blowing their hair and cloaks back.
"Finally learned how to use your chakra, huh, Naruto?" Sasuke said, smug in the knowledge that he'd been calling on his elements long before Naruto had even known he'd had one.
Naruto did not rise to the taunt, instead pulling back and spinning, causing Sasuke to leap away, high into the air, to avoid the swords. A black shadow flew toward Sasuke's own, which had elongated with help of the glow of a streetlight that he'd managed to leap right into in his hurry. Dodging the shadow in midair with that light didn't seem possible.
With speed that Sasuke could only follow thanks to the Sharingan, Naruto thrust his blades into the ground as easily as if it were butter, and turned toward Shikamaru, clapping his hands together in a seal.
He stretched his hand toward his teammate and a beam of light suddenly burst forth, seemingly from Naruto himself, intercepting the shadow before it could get to Sasuke, cutting it off as the sun might have to a real one.
"I said stay out of it," Naruto growled at Shikamaru.
"Naruto!" Sai exclaimed, clearly surprised by his sudden turn on their teammate.
Sasuke crouched low where he landed, watching with keen, interested eyes, wondering what jutsu Naruto had just done. He'd never seen anything like it. Also, that was twice Naruto had kept him from being caught and he had to wonder just which side he was actually on.
"I mean it!" Naruto said, abruptly reaching up and twisting his mask so it perched on the side of his head. The blue eyes Sasuke had expected were not there, instead eyes as red as his own glared at Sai. "Don't interfere."
Sasuke stood as Naruto pulled his swords from the cement of the roof. The blonde turned his body so he was looking sideways at him, the blades held loosely at his sides.
"All right, Sasuke," he said, and Sasuke realized he'd been wrong about his mask hiding a face full of expression. Naruto looked as blank as that piece of wood. "Tonight we finish this. You win, I come with you. I win, you stay in Konoha."
The other two Anbu shifted, as though they were going to interfere, but a well-placed glare from Naruto made them still.
Sasuke snorted derisively. "I'm not staying here."
"You'd only have to if you lose," Naruto said, lowering his head so he was peering darkly at him through the blonde locks that fell into his eyes. "Unless the great Uchiha Sasuke is worried he might actually be beaten by a dobe."
Sasuke met his red-eyed gaze with his own and for a long moment there was not a sound on the roof save for the wind that rustled their clothes.
He twisted his katana in his grip, ready. "They stay out of it." It was not a question or a request. He'd make this deal with Naruto, but he didn't want to have to constantly be looking over his shoulder for a stray shadow or inkblot.
"If they interfere I'll forfeit and go with you," Naruto replied, loud enough to be sure the other two heard him.
"Naruto, go with him and you'll be a missing nin too," Shikamaru said.
"Then you better stay out of it," Naruto said, eyes never leaving Sasuke. "Deal?"
"Deal," Sasuke said.
As if the word was actually "Go," the two flew at each other, sandals hitting the roof in near silence even as they ran. Swords clashed once more. Sasuke blocked one of Naruto's, which swung down from above, but the blonde used his momentum and spun, letting the blade slide along Sasuke's katana as he twisted, his second weapon flying towards Sasuke's side.
Sasuke saw it coming thanks to the Sharingan and managed to block that as well. Naruto was faster than he'd ever seen him, and he wielded the two swords with frightening ease. The chakra in the short blades was powerful – when they hit his katana he could feel it.
They fell into step with one another. Spin, thrust, block, dodge, the black and white folds of their cloaks billowing behind them as they moved.
Neither spoke; the taunts that they'd once thrown at each other when they sparred had been lost with their childhood. Sasuke raised his katana, bringing it down toward Naruto's head. Naruto crossed both swords above his head and caught Sasuke's between them. They were locked that way a moment, face to face.
Then Sasuke could feel Naruto feeding more chakra into his weapons, and he instinctively knew that if he relied only on his katana he was going to lose this battle. He'd yet to see exactly what element Naruto had control of but he could feel the chakra pushing against his katana, his electricity, which was beginning to yield.
He was about to leap back and come up with a different plan of action when movement caught his attention. Too late though, for a large black ink snake – ironic, Sasuke couldn't help but note – sped up to them, wrapping around not only Sasuke but Naruto as well. His focus had been on Naruto only and he was paying the price for it now.
"I'm sorry, Naruto," Sai said. "Her orders are to stop you."
Sasuke could see tiny little ink mice running around his feet, and he realized that Sai must have sent a note to the Hokage while they were distracted. The snake squeezed them tightly together until they were flush against one another. His ears picked up the sounds of more ninjas heading fast toward their location.
"Looks like I win," he said to Naruto. Sai had interfered, that meant Naruto forfeited.
"You call this a win?" Naruto said, and he was so close Sasuke could feel his breath against his face.
Their arms were locked together above their heads, the snake having wrapped around them as well, making the use of their weapons and even seals impossible.
"Are you going back on your promise?" Sasuke said, raising an eyebrow at him. Naruto had always prided himself on keeping his word.
"I was referring more to the both of us being hopelessly captured," Naruto replied dryly. "Sai! How many times are you going to pull this shit on me?" He let go of his weapons and they clattered to the ground. He met Sasuke's gaze and as if they'd never been apart and had been on the same team for years, he knew what Naruto wanted him to do.
He released his own katana. "Which?" he breathed, so soft that only Naruto could hear him.
"Something that'll burn up that scroll," Naruto replied just as softly. "And make it quick, if Shikamaru uses his shadow we're fucked."
"Can you even do fire jutsu?" Sasuke asked, wondering if this would even work.
"I'll pull my weight," Naruto replied. The sounds of backup were getting closer. "Do it, now, or you're going to be stuck here."
Sasuke grasped Naruto's hand, muttering the names of seals for Naruto's benefit. Together their hands formed the signs they couldn't do on their own. Sasuke turned his head, fire shooting from his mouth at Sai, who'd been caught completely off guard by the unexpected jutsu.
A huge fireball, bigger than even Sasuke was expecting – bigger in fact than any he'd ever summoned – flew at Sai, who had to dive out of the way, dropping the scroll in his scramble. It was hit and burst into flames, and they were suddenly free as the snake around them disappeared. Naruto pulled back from Sasuke, turning immediately to Shikamaru, whose shadow was now speeding toward them both.
Naruto's hands flew into seals and Sasuke had to shield his eyes as light burst forth from him. Shikamaru's shadow disappeared in the illumination.
"Where are they!" new voices cried, backup having arrived but unable to see anything in the blinding light.
"Naruto! Don't do this!" Shikamaru called, arm flung over his eyes.
"I gave my word, Shikamaru," Naruto replied calmly. There was a great crash and the light abruptly winked out. Sasuke blinked, the Sharingan allowing his eyes to adjust to the change quickly. The entire side of the roof where the other ninja's had stood was now covered by a thick wall that appeared to be made out of earth.
"We've got to go," Naruto said, turning and picking up his blades, sheathing them and glancing at Sasuke. "More will be here any minute."
It was almost unnerving, the abrupt about face that Naruto had pulled, suddenly on his side after fighting against him only moments before. Sasuke did not hesitate, however, retrieving his katana and sliding it back underneath his cloak.
He almost asked Naruto if he was sure – if he really wanted to abandon his village, his friends, become a missing nin. With a shake of his head he berated himself for even thinking about it. He had one goal. Kill his brother. Naruto was a means to an end, nothing more, nothing less.
"Let me get a look at you," Naruto said, unaware of his thoughts, though Sasuke was fairly certain the blonde wouldn't be surprised.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, wondering what exactly Naruto was trying to see. Then the Anbu raised his hands and crossed his fingers in a familiar seal, and there were suddenly at least fifty blondes crowded on the small roof. Half of them raised their hands into seals as well, and suddenly there were dozens of Sasuke's.
Sasuke gave a small approving nod as Naruto sent them all off in different directions. Crowds of Sasukes and Narutos leapt from the roof. It would slow pursuers down, and, even better, force the Hokage to split up her forces to track all of them.
"Lead on," the real Naruto said, pulling up his hood and sliding his mask back over his face.
Sasuke also replaced his hood, and without a word he took off across the roofs. Naruto took a final glance around the village and followed.
A/N: Yup. Here I go again. I thought I managed to kill my Naruto muse after Walking Corpse. And then I finally sat down and caught up on the manga. And suddenly it was revived and fluttering around my brain, refusing to leave me alone. There will be spoilers in this. I've read the manga that is out so far, and all of it will come into play. Other than that I haven't the foggiest idea where this is going, but I'm sure it'll be yet another life consuming project.