Hello everyone! I am back from the grave! now im sure you are all wondering what the hell is going on, where I've been, or you have completely forgotten. well for those of you are still here im back, things are slowed down, and i can resume. Now for now im cleaning up previouse chapters and putting this story back on track. so it would behoove of you to reread previous chapters when there is an update because i will be adding and cutting content and making plots clearer. All up dated chapters will be marked with a *.
Brothers to the End
It was a hole in the wall, no correction it was a hole within the hole in the wall. He smirked as he studied the old building. Slowly shifting is gaze from one broken feature to another, as he studied the building before him. Its front was a mix of different colors ranging from blue to purple to red, evident of the many paint jobs over the years, each faded layer submitting to the layer placed on top of it until it was just a mass of something that resembled an old grey. Or was it brown? Hell with so many colors he couldn't tell. Next came the windows, most had been broken out most likely caused by some unlucky man being thrown through them. The one that were still intact were covered with so much dust in grime that it was impossible to see anything but the dull glow of the lights inside. Last was the sign, hanging by a thread from the center of the building, its faded black background blended in with the rest of the colors so well that it was almost easy to miss, if not for the slightly brighter red outline and lettering. The Slashed Hitiai-ite, he read chuckling to himself, almost seems appropriate, seeing how this was a bar for missing-nin only, at least that was what he was told.
It was operated by man claiming to be a missing-nin himself. He had decided that even those who forsaken their village deserved some peace and escape from the daily struggles they faced, from the hunter-nin to the bounties placed on their head, their life could be quite chaotic. And to make sure they had this escape, the place had a powerful genjustu placed on it to give it the appearance of an old warehouse which could only be dispelled by the one who placed it in the first place, making impossible to find. Which is why they had to come to you, the owner had paid some of the local urchins to hang out by the gates to the town and to mill in with the people on the streets, looking for those with the slashed Hitiai-ite and out of place. When they found one, they would simple walk up and tell them they knew a place where they could be at peace and free from the troubles of the world for a moment. Then they would hand them a small coin, saying it would lead them there, then once they arrived give it to the man at the door who would let them in. It was clever really, hidden from the hunter-nins and bounty hunters. Plus the fact that it was filled with very angry and even deadlier shinobi, so the only people who went in there to try and start trouble were the ones who had a death wish.
The man walked up the building, tossing the coin the man at the door before stepping inside.
"Don't start trouble, if you know what's good for you," was all the man had to say.
The other man simply stared him down with cold onyx colored eyes, causing the man at the door to take a step back, before nodding and continuing in.
The man stood in the door, surveying the room looking from person to person, drawing some scowls in the process. He was imposing figure, standing a little over six foot, his pitch black hair was tied into a ponytail, that reached down to the top of his shoulder blades. His bangs came down on either side of his face. On his head he had a Konoha Hitiai-ite with a slash through the middle. He wore a dark blue t-shirt with sleeves that came down to mid bicep over this he wore a purple flak jacket with a hole over the heart, where he had impaled the previous owner with a kunai. The rest of his arms were covered in bandages that were wrapped down to his fingers leaving the tips exposed. He wore black cargo pants with a kunai holster strapped to his leg and shinobi sandals. At his waste he wore a black belt that held his equipment pack and shuriken holster. At his side was the katana from when he trained under snake. Over all this he wore a black cloak with a deep hood, on the back was a fan shaped emblem and the kanji for "Brother" in white.
The man glanced around the room, giving the impression that he was looking for someone. He grimaced as the air, heavy with cigarette smoke burned his eyes. After a few more sweeps he spotted the man he was searching for. He was seated up at the bar, on the other side with his back towards him. The man frowned, knowing the man at the bar was probably drunk off his ass again. As the man advanced towards the bar he saw the other man reach up and untie his Hitiai-ite from his bicep and tie it around what looked to be the general vicinity of his eyes. He frowned again this, this was not good. He only covered his eyes after he used their ability or when they acted up, and they only acted up when his emotions started to get the best of him. This was always a bad experience for both of them, usually involving the one subduing the other. And after traveling with him, he knew that pairing this with alcohol always made it worse.
The man reached the bar and took the empty seat next his companion. He turned and looked over at the other man. His eyes were definitely covered, the imminent sign that something was troubling him. He looked over at the bar and saw the half empty bottle and small glass sitting in front of the other man. The man sighed as he saw the sake bottle, but then after taking a second look he realized that it wasn't sake. The bottle was square, not round like a regular sake bottle and was labeled in a language he couldn't read. Looking in the bottle he saw the brown liquid.
"Now what did he find to drink?" the man wondered as he looked over at his partner.
His covered eyes seem to gaze out in to nothing or from what he could tell was nothing. The slashed Konoha Hitiai-ite covered his normal cerulean eyes; on his face was whisker like scars. His unruly blond fell down over his face, almost covering his forehead and eyes and the tattoo he had in black ink, it was the kanji for "Demon". The rest of his hair grew down to the middle of his back, with several ties placed at random intervals to try and hold the sloppy ponytail. He wore a black sleeveless shirt with mesh fishnet underneath. His arms were bare, with a kanji tattoo on his right bicep that read "Wasteland." He had black fingerless gloves on with a metal plate in the back of his hand. He wore black cargo pants like the other man but with a burnt orange line running down the outside with a kunai holster strapped to his leg. On his feet were black shinobi sandals. At his waste was a black belt that carried his equipment pouch and shuriken holster. Over this he wore a hooded cloak like his companion, but with the sleeves ripped off at the shoulders. On the back on the back was a red and black swirl and the kanji for "End" in white.
The man stared at his blond friend for a minute, contemplating on whether or not he should break him from his trance, but his thoughts were stopped short when his friend turned and looked at him, his covered gaze meeting his own. It was had an unsettling effect how accurate his friend could be when his eyes were covered. Before he could say anything the blond spoke up.
"Teme", was his only word before turning back to the bar.
"Dobe" was the man's reply as he continued to study the blond.
"Finally decided to join me ey," the blond said, "here pour yourself a drink," he said as he pushed the square bottle towards his friend.
"What is it?" the man said as he sniffed the bottle, the smell caused him to cringe.
"The bar keep said its imported from another continent. Apparently it's called whiskey, its pretty good too but burns like a son of a bitch though." The blond said before taking another shot.
The black haired man simply scowled as he poured himself a shot in to one of the small glasses. Downing it he cringed even more before coughing a bit trying to keep the hard alcohol down. This earned him a chuckle from the blond.
"You weren't lying about the burn," the black haired man said as he set the glass down, "But I think I'm good with one for now." As he pushed the bottle away.
The blond smirked; "Pussy" was his only reply as he poured himself another.
The black haired man simply shook his head before turning back to the blond. "I see your eyes are acting up."
The blond merely grunted before staring off into space.
"What's on your mind Dobe," the man asked while watching his companion, "and don't say nothing. Your eyes are covered, and that only happens when you're bothered by something important or after a fight."
The blond continued to stare ahead acting oblivious to his friends question he shifted his gaze down before speaking, " What's gonna happen when we go back." His voice was low and soft, the worry evident in every syllable, "what's gonna happen when we go home Sasuke?"
Sasuke simply stared ahead, thinking about what he should say, seeing his friend was obviously worried, he only called him by his name when he was troubled and looking for answers or reassurance or when the situation was serious. He stayed silent for a few more seconds before answering. "I don't know Naruto, I honestly don't know.
"Figured as much" he stated as he finished of the bottle, before lowering his gaze again. Sasuke only called him that when he was serious or at time like this when he knew that Naruto needed an honest answer.
Sasuke started to speak before being cut off, "I'm tired Sasuke," was all the blond said for a moment, letting Sasuke contemplate what he had said.
"I'm tired of running," Sasuke could hear the weariness in his voice, "tired of all the fighting and killing." Naruto seemed to age with every word, as they took years of his life," I just want to be at peace…to forget."
"Naruto," Sasuke said before turning back to the blond, "Whatever happens, well face it together. That's what brothers do." He claimed as he held out his hand, "brothers to the end?"
The blond looked at him for a second before letting a smile tug at his lips. "Hai," he stated as reached out to grab the others hand, "brothers to the end."
Sasuke paid his friends tab for the whiskey, before helping him up to leave the bar.
"We better get some rest, we have a long hike back to Konoha," Sasuke said as they exited the bar.
"Hai," replied the blond as they stepped outside. With that they donned their hoods and headed to the down the dingy back streets, before fading into the night."
You know the drill R&R