I don't remember when I stopped being able to look you in the eye.

"Sasuke!"

You're beautiful, a light that never vanishes in the dark.

"Sasuke, what are you looking at?"

For me it is far, too far. My hand cannot reach it as I was once able to though I never took the chance.

"Hello, are you okay Sasuke!"

I'm scared that one day I won't be able to come back to this side, that one day you'll leave me alone once again.

"Sasuke, "screamed an exasperated worried voice from behind him. Turning and blinking semi-angrily for being bothered when he was to incorporated to spying at the moment he asked.

"What is it Sakura!"

She smiled though his voice was strained from seeming harsh. She took a sigh of relief commenting, "You're okay. I've been calling you over and over! What are you doing here so far away from everyone else?"

Turning momentarily back to his infatuation he looked down to the girl to whom had grown yet with his own growth spurt after the 6 years was still shorter than him. He stated turning and walking away, "So I could be alone."

She stopped suddenly as if to voice and follow him yet she only stood there verbally bashing herself for bothering him and yet after pep talking herself into trying again later. Sasuke turned his head as he stood near the shore of the lake before him. He took in a deep breath of the fresh air turning his head. He jumped seeing Naruto one foot in a fishing boot and another in the shallow water. He had his shirt over his shoulder and his pants rolled up above his knees. He had a rope in his mouth and the remaining tangled ropes in his hands. As his eyebrows furrowed it showed stress and agitation.

Sasuke retreated back behind the tree looking to the mark on Naruto's navel. He always questioned it, was it a seal or was it some tattoo? Whatever it was he had always had it that it confused him. He looked away slowly to make sure no one was watching him then glanced back. Naruto wore scars over his body though they were casual, he didn't see them before, the scars he had seen before however weren't there anymore. Sliding behind another tree moving forward he cursed his foolish behavior but couldn't do anything else.

Naruto backed up the boat to the shore tying a rope to the handle and then moving back stabbing a spear into a loop of the rope into the ground keeping it near the shore. Taking a deep breath he wiped the sweat from his forehead turning to the sky with a deep breath.

Sasuke swallowed hard turning his head away his hand in his pockets while he furrowed his eyebrows viciously. It had been 6 years, they had both grown up. Taller and leaner, they had gotten so much stronger and now Naruto himself was being seeped by girls and being spoken of with kindness though he continued to hear near the sidelines away from the fan clubs that pointlessly battled which was cuter him or Naruto, that he was a monster, disgusting. He didn't understand what they were talking about and when he asked no one seemed to be willing to tell him.

Naruto was an ANBU Squad Leader now, his ambition towards being a Hokage held strong still though. He was like himself they had both joined together under thinking that it would be under equal terms. An even ground for their trivial rivalry, even now as he was the leader strangely enough he had become rather trusted and even stranger though his ability Naruto always returned with scratches, wounds when he returned from villages near their own. Around strangers that didn't know him, though his team mate had nothing but frowns on their faces when returning. They hadn't fought fist to fist since, the Orochimaru incident…

Sighing he turned seeing a group of fisher man standing in front of him, he wore a look of sadness but it was for them not for him. He walked past them towards the log with his sandals, kunai holster and headband. The man turned to him suddenly, "Hey! You demon!"

He saw Naruto jump while he became to move towards them only to realize that he was hiding. He moved a little closer while one of the fishermen picked up a rock throwing it at an easily cacheable pace yet Naruto made no move. The rock made contact with his temple drawing blood. He turned away flinching as one of the fisherman jumped, "I can't believe Lord Hokage Tsuande even allowed you as a police officer! It's sick!"

Sasuke jumped suddenly seeing Naruto slip on his kunai holster making the men jump back and put on his sandals. His eyes never looked so calm and deserted, the fisherman ran away quickly kicking the spear towards him on the way drawing the boat out to sea. Naruto caught it easily turning away slamming the spear into the ground easily. He dropped his things once again while Sasuke confused and no longer so bashful walked forward confused, "What happened to you?"

Naruto jumped turning while he stood waist deep in the water. His demeanor changed quickly to a smile and a loud yell, "What this! Oh it's just a scratch! Ran my head into a branch when I wasn't look! Where did you come from!"

Sasuke jumped at his lie and noticed the internal pools of pain in his eyes that were bubbling trying to find a way to disappear so no one would see. He shrugged, "I was just walking anyway, and a branch huh? You're such a loser?"

He yelled, "Whatever you punk!"

Turning his waded further into the water his perfectly toned body glistening with the crystalline waves while he grabbed the string on the boat pulling it back to shore eyeing Sasuke then rubbing away the blood on his forehead. Taking a deep breath he murmured, "Hey can you grab that spear?"

He walked over grabbing it and tossing it over while Naruto spun it with his fingers so the spear faced downward he once again stabbed it into the ground turning back wiping away the water and sighing that he'd have to go home and change. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "You should put it in tighter I'm guessing that last time it came out of hook that's why it drifted off."

After a moment Naruto grunted, "It's fine! I don't see you fishing so don't talk!"

Annoyed his fidgeted walking towards him ready to smack him in the head but stopped seeing bruises on his back and gut. By the clothes being buddle to his gut he could see that Naruto was trying to hide them. They were disappearing but nevertheless they were there. He walked towards him as he walked away putting on his headband on the way. He asked suddenly, "Why do you have bruises on your body you haven't been to a mission in a week."

Jumping he looked at his body then grinned, "I was just training too hard."

Thinking to him it was another lie since he had been... "Stalking" him maybe if that was the right word since he got back well not all the time but most of the time, he gave up on stalking him to the ramen shop due to the amount of time he took there.

Naruto turned his head, "Hey idiot what are you staring at!"

"Nothing."

He walked past him his hands in his pockets. They were both assigned always to wear their headbands during working hours and their uniforms were exactly like Kakashi's only the mask they had to wear at times when out on missions. Naruto yawned, "I'm starving! Hey Sasuke you want to go get some ramen with me!"

He glanced to him quickly as if questioning his proposal. Looking forward he thought it over mentioning before agreeing, "Only if you pay."

With a disgruntled look Naruto gave in to companionship when eating. It was near dinner time why Naruto hadn't eaten yet bothered him a little yet he realized he was once again being stupid for thinking this way. Why was he was affectionate to this person? His best friend as a matter of fact, loud, obnoxious Naruto!

Before he knew it he was at the ramen shop. Naruto settled himself on a stool motioning for him to follow as he did. Everyone stared at the blonde some leaving and some moving closer. He ignored them with great pain as he noticed while he slipped on his black shirt and vest zipping it up. Hiding his face behind the collar he waited for the ramen to be brought over. Sasuke leaned forward on the counter glancing around hearing a straining hushed voice whisper from behind a booth, "There, its him."

"The nerve for entering here in the morning with us 'normal' people"

"We should leave…"

"No! Call the manager; we'll get him out of here!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes suddenly to their insults and rude behavior turning glanced back to Naruto who flinched at the flicker of the words but he seemed rather used to it. Why? Why was he used to this behavior? Why were people hurting his Naruto?

Naruto jumped suddenly grabbing the chop sticks and the plastic cup of noodles nudging him to eat his own. Turning his head away he watched the sudden life shown in his eyes and his vigor while eating. Jumping one of the girls giggled from his right asking, "Naruto-kun?"

Slurping up the noodles handing down his chin he turned in question blinking a few times asking while wiping the remaining residue with his sleeve, "Yeah?"

"Umm…I-I…"

Sasuke finished his cup standing and motioning for Naruto to follow scowling at the girl while Naruto jumped sighing at only having one serving but waving off, "Alright then bye!"

As Sasuke led the way out his hand in his pockets slightly holstered forward Naruto walked backwards slightly still smiling idiotically and waving to the girl who squealed turning away. As he began to turn a sharp spoon made contact with his eye. He stopped suddenly as Sasuke turned hearing the clink of the metal hitting the dirt.

There was a long silence as an elderly man jumped up suddenly Naruto turning away covering his eye, the man was yelling something but with the speed Naruto was escaping he didn't hear anything. Naruto was still running as he yelled after him to stop and slow down but he did neither. After a while he stopped throwing himself down on a log in front of a pond.

Sasuke asked suddenly stopping in front of the now assumed to be mute adult, "What the that all about! Did you piss off the guy or what! You could have caught that soon by the way!"

Questions and insults continued to spill out of his mouth uncontrollably finally losing his hold of not knowing this taboo with him. Bending towards the water he washed his face quickly turning and jumping up his infamous grin on his face as he parried, "Yeah! I just messed with the old guy a little too much you know! No big deal!"

He grinned brightly stretching out while Sasuke winced seeing the bruises near the hem of his shirt. He grabbed it suddenly surprised him and pulling it up. Naruto looked away his eyes numb as Sasuke spoke, "Yes and these, training didn't do this to you and you know it. These scars Naruto?"

Scowling he pulled away, "Mind your own business Sasuke!"

With that he scurried off leaving him to stand alone, confused.

Naruto threw his shirt and pants to the side of the room standing in his white boxers. He walked towards the bathroom running some hot water for a bath. He pressed his hand to the seal on his gut. The fox inside of him has been faltering their bond, he had been feeling immense pain and the fox's healing ability had been fading maybe due to the regular beatings he was given. He had become numb to it as the village people had left him to shop during the night and when he would come out they would just…well you would get it.

He didn't want to hurt them, he wasn't angry he was just…he pitied them very much. Walking to the bed he winced sitting down and stretched his hand behind his head whispering noticing the presence wearing an all too familiar mask, "Tomorrow midnight we'll leave and then 6:00 AM we shall be debriefed."

There was a quick nod and a cheerful response, "Yes Captain!"

Smirking at the term he nodded hearing the figure disappear. Pushing himself up he looked down to the seal on his gut, he sighed remembering everything from before. Things had been hectic these years, Sasuke's disappearance and return after his 1 and ½ year of training. Then after his next unannounced 2 year disappearance, he had run away, that was the truth he was nearly banished from the village and he was prepared for such as he had heard that Sasuke was asking questions about 'the truth'.

They had looked for him the whole time, yet Tsunade was forced to end the search. He remembered when he returned, that was when Sasuke had stopped looking at him eye to eye or when he began to act weird, when he began to care more then stop caring then follow him around and ask him questions, When he actually began to notice things about him.

Naruto sighed as he pushed himself up, he felt sore all over. Gritting his teeth he moved towards the bathroom stopping when he felt an arm grab him and help him walk. He turned questioning, "Kakashi-sensei?"

"Come on Naruto, you're worrying Iruka, he's in the kitchen right now setting in the ramen. You need to stop letting them do this."

He snapped grabbing the door frame and pulling away from him signifying he could walk just fine, he moved the door to a close whispering finally showing the lost hidden pain, "I won't kill people who are just fighting for what they believe in."

He slammed the door in his face as Kakashi jumped taking a deep breath. He turned as Iruka stood there his fists white. He voiced as he made way for the door Kakashi following, "I wanted to kill them all the first night I saw Naruto come back…"

Kakashi took a moment then whispered as he turned to the bathroom door, "We're running out of options here."

Sasuke took a deep breath. He had his arms crossed over his chest as he walked up the flight of stairs to see Tsunade and ask her about Naruto, she had to know she was the Hokage and she was close friends with Naruto no matter how much he hated their close friendship. He was envious of it. She practically if you call her being a historical warrior of the village 'out of nowhere'. Sighing he continued up the flights of steps.

Stopping when he heard a group of familiar words he turned around the corner and ducked back. Naruto's team was there, what would they be doing here? He raised an eyebrow pressing his back against the wall hearing their voices to which he might add were rather morbid.

Leaning forward he listened attentively hearing one of Naruto's fan boys whine, "6 A.M! Why so early?"

One of the more sensible people sighed to him, "Captain told us 6 A.M. so its 6 A.M. you know not to argue with him especially now!"

"But Naruto is usually so laid back now…"

Another voice whispered, "He has to come out early or those people well come out, you know what happens then, I can't bare this any longer. To see Captain being treated like this and he won't even tells us why either…it just happens or I don't understand."

"You don't understand a lot of things Tobe, but yes and our departure is 12 A.M."

There was another sigh as Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows walking forward, "Who is hurting Naruto?"

They jumped getting in a row bowing, "Captain Uchiha!"

He growled clenching his fist, "Answer the question!"

They turned to each other momentarily having a speechlessly conversation with their eyes. He snapped again causing them to jump and fall to their knees begging for forgiveness. Just then Tsunade slipping into the hallway calling, "Sasuke, what are you doing here! Tobe, Sune, Miroku, Wastaru what are you doing on the ground! Get up I don't need these distractions."

They jumped on command leaving thankfully while Sasuke cursed turning his head. He turned back to the Hokage whom eyed him viciously. It was a known fact that because of the stress he put on Naruto she didn't like him. He growled turning back and passing her into the room.

Tsunade took a seat eyeing him, "Why are you here Sasuke?"

"I want to know what you are all hiding from me about Naruto, where all these bruises and cuts are coming from. Why people are treating him the way they are worse than before!"

Tsunade turned away while Shizune looked to her shaking her head quickly Sasuke turning his head intimidating to see no avail. In their eyes he was just the little twerp from before. Shizune heard a shuffling outside and quickly dismissed herself shutting the door before allowing them to catch a glimpse of what was outside.

Tsunade sighed. "That is none of your concern Sasuke."

"Like hell it is not! I have every right to know obviously everyone else does! His teammates half way too at least from what I hear!"

She turned away slowly looking at him, "Naruto is in a very, very fragile state right now this is the least of our needs please do not compromise the situation just because you feel out of the little club!"

He snapped his hands slamming against the table, "Don't you even try it! That isn't the reason! It's because, damn it all!"

Tsunade furrowed her eyebrows then stopped suddenly blinking. She laughed leaning back while he turned to her confused, "What is it?"

She smirked, "You have feelings…towards Naruto do you not? More than just some kind of allies"

He jumped suddenly blushing and turning away. Grunting he gritted his teeth, "Don't be stupid!"

Bursting out the door he slammed it behind him hearing her mocking laughter from behind the door. Walking down the hall he threw his hands into his pockets still blushing. Turning he saw the now medical ninja Sakura run in and out of room with ice, needles, bandages and viles. He furrowed his eyebrows as he saw Shizune rush out of the room walking past him with a vile of what he assumed was blood. Stopping he turned to her while she avoided any eye contact turning and rushing into the Hokage's room. He walked forward hearing a familiar scream and thrashing than Kakashi and Iruka's voice yell, "Naruto!"

At that name he ran towards the door pushing them open. His mouth dropped as he flinched, he was looking at a mess, the room looked like a bomb had gone off while broken glass and mysterious liquids laid on the ground. He would have looked around if he wasn't so frightened by the image before him.

Kakashi held Naruto with one arm and Iruka the other. He was shaking against them. He was fighting and his eyes, those were the eyes he had when they had fought in the canyon except these eyes and his chakra they were on another level, what was this. Was this the secret?

He was suddenly snapped out of it when he heard Iruka yell, "Sasuke!"

Sakura turned, "Sasuke-kun! Please leave!"

He stopped unable to do anything. Naruto was staring right at him yet he was shaking he was in pain and his body, where had these cuts, bruises, fractures and burns come from? Just as they came they disappeared then reappeared. He was confused no more than ever. Sakura pushed him out as his back slammed against the far wall of the hallway. He stood stiff holding onto the wall hearing Naruto's familiar scream of pain.

What was happening?

Today I was able to look you in the eye, but when I did I saw that I minus well be looking into the eyes of a stranger.

((a/N: GOING TO UPDATE OTHER STORIES TODAY IF I DON'T DEFIANTELY TOMORROW CAME HOME LATE AND EXTREMELY TIRED PLUS SCHOOL IS STARTING SO DELAYS WELL OCCUR AND PERHAPS HIATUS!))