Chapter 1 – Redemption

Iruka sighed and ran a hand over his face, sending a soft glare at his adopted son, who sat before him bruises and cuts across his face and fists. "Naruto, would you care to explain to me why you have come home looking like you've been through a war" Naruto's eyes dropped to the floor, not wanting to meet his father's gaze.

"Um, well, some guys from the year above me attacked Kiba, so I was just helping him… you know?" Iruka sighed again, and paced around the room.

Naruto had been involved in a rather serious fight with a few of his friends against older students; which had been bad enough for the cops to have been called. All of them went to the station and were let off with community service for a month.

"It could have been worse though, I mean, I'm not that hurt…" He trailed off when Iruka stopped pacing and faced him, disappointment and worry in his eyes.

"I know Naruto, but this can't keep happening; I worry about you" Naruto smiled softly, he knew that he was everything to Iruka and he had put the older man through a lot. "We're going to get through this together. So have you decided what you're going to do for community service?" Iruka sat on the sofa next to Naruto, casually turning the TV on.

"I haven't really thought about it to be honest, did you have something in mind?" Iruka looked thoughtful before nodding.

"Yes actually, Kakashi has a godson who is in hospital in the critical care unit, Kakashi thinks it would be good idea for him to have a regular visitor" Naruto nodded, didn't sound too bad, he was a people person after all. "The only thing is, is that Sasuke doesn't want a visitor, he's a very reserved person" Iruka frowned, and it made Naruto wonder if that was an understatement.

"That's sounds good, I'm sure we'll get on fine. Can I ask what's wrong with him?" Iruka relaxed against the sofa, his smile falling again.

"He has a critical eye condition that could be affecting his brain, he is essentially blind" Naruto frowned, he couldn't imagine never seeing the people you meet, never knowing what they look like or just who they are. "Kakashi says visiting hours are 12 till 4, you have to do at least 2 hours a day though".

"Tell the old pervert I'll start tomorrow" Iruka glared at him as he jogged from the room laughing, ignoring his guardian's complaints.

~N*S~

Naruto stood nervously outside of the hospital; maybe he had made a mistake with choosing this. What happened if they hated eachother, or if something bad happened to Sasuke while he was there? Shaking his head, he scolded himself for being stupid and slowly entered the large white building and walking over to the front desk. "Excuse me?" A woman turned around a smile on her face.

"How can I help you sir?" Naruto fiddled with his hands, feeling uncomfortable already, he hated hospitals. Bad things happen in hospitals.

"I'm here for the volunteer visitor thing, the patient's name is Sasuke Uchiha" She typed something into her computer and asked for his name. "Naruto Uzumaki" After a few more moments of typing, she smiled at him once again and picked up the phone. Naruto stood awkwardly, assuming that he was supposed to wait for her.

After a quick conversation about his arrival with someone on the phone she hung up and handed him a slip of paper. "Third floor, go to the desk there and they'll take you to Sasuke". He thanked her and wandered over to the lift, pressing the button.

The lift came quickly and he slid in, pressing one of the multiple buttons. With a short period of time to think he sighed to himself. 'Well Naruto buddy, there's no getting out of this now. Just be friendly, no matter what'.

Little did Naruto know, his friendly attitude wouldn't last long.

There was an elderly woman sitting at a small desk just as he exited the lift, and she raised her head to give him a curious look. Obviously it wasn't normal for a 17 year old such as himself to be wandering the hospital in a critical eye care ward. "Hello, can I help you sir?" He nodded and handed over the slip. "Room 7, on your left".

"Thanks" Taking a deep breath he shook his head at his lack of courage and bravely walked down the corridor, stopping just outside of room 7. Should he just walk in? No definitely not, this Sasuke might not notice him due to his blindness, as mean as that sounds.

He knocked and waited for an answer. "Come in" The voice was low and it sent a little shiver down his spine, wasn't Sasuke only a year older than him? In comparison he sounded like a pubescent boy.

He slid open the door carefully and glanced in, sat up in the hospital bed was the most gorgeous sight he thought he had ever seen. A pale skinned boy was lounging, face looking in his general direction even if he was unable to see Naruto. Black hair sat atop his head, looking smooth enough to make Naruto want to run his hands through it.

Covering his eyes and that general line of his face, was a piece of white fabric, tied behind the boys head. "Um… Hi, I'm Naruto and I'm going to be visiting you for a while, Sasuke right?"

The boy 'hned' and looked back in the general direction of the TV that was playing some movie, Naruto frowned, how hard must it be to watch a movie without actually watching it.

Glancing around the small room, there was little to make it personal, but again it was probably because Sasuke wouldn't be able to appreciate it. One thing that was odd about the room was the musky smell that he was surprised they allowed in the hospital; the cause was a small incense burner in the corner of the room.

"So umm, you want to talk or something?" Sasuke snorted but didn't otherwise acknowledge the blonde boy. "Hey man! I'm giving up my time to see you, why won't you talk to me?"

"I didn't ask you to come here, I don't talk to strangers" Naruto rolled his eyes and sat on the chair next to the bed, making sure to make some noise so Sasuke wasn't surprised when he talked right beside him.

"Well how are you supposed to make new friends if you don't talk to new people like me?" Sasuke frowned, turning his head to face him again, looking somewhat shocked, probably due to how close Naruto had gotten. Though he couldn't blame him, if someone he couldn't see and had never met got this close he would be unnerved too.

"I don't want new friends" Naruto was stumped, how was he supposed to talk to this for 2 whole hours? "And why are you here, since I didn't ask for you to come?"

"Well I suppose I should just be honest, I'm here for community service stuff, got into a fight sticking up for one of my best friends. You're Godfather Kakashi told my Dad, Iruka that he thought you would enjoy having a visitor so this is what I chose…" Sasuke suddenly looked angry, and it made Naruto nervous, how was he supposed to act if Sasuke tried to hurt him. He couldn't hit a blind person, right?

"Kakashi shouldn't be butting into my life without asking me first, I don't want anyone here, so leave" Naruto opened his mouth to protest but was cut off. "Now."

"I can't I have to be here for 2 hours each visit" Sasuke scowled even more.

"I won't tell them if it gets you to leave" He turned his attention away from the blonde, who was sitting tensely on the blue hospital chair, usually reserved for close friends or family.

"Fine, you teme!" He stormed out and slammed the door shut after him, getting disapproving looks from the nurses walking the halls. He got into the lift, before anyone could make a comment to him and jogged out of the hospital. "I guess I'll just head home then" He muttered to himself, wringing his hands slightly

As soon as he walked through the door, Iruka was bombarding him with questions. "Why are you back already, did something happen?"

"Yes, something happened. The teme didn't want me there and wouldn't talk to me; he all but threw me out. Tell Kakashi he was wrong, Sasuke doesn't want visitors" With that he took the stairs two at a time, but as soon as he shut his bedroom door, he felt guilty. Iruka hadn't done anything; he shouldn't be taking this out on him.

After a few moments to collect himself, he slowly walked back downstairs to hear Iruka on the phone – probably to Kakashi.

He sent him a sorry look and got Iruka's 'scolding' one back, though it hardly made him flinch. Iruka was too kind and gentle to be scary and mean.

Once the phone call ended, Iruka sat on the sofa, patting the space next to him. Naruto sat next to him, not meeting his guardian's eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated, I really tried, you know…" Iruka slung an arm around his shoulders.

"I know, Kakashi is going to speak to Sasuke, but he insists you go back tomorrow. What do you say?" Naruto sighed but nodded smiling brightly at Iruka, hoping to give the elder man confidence that he would try his best, as usual. "Great, I'm sure he just needs to get used to you, it can be hard to trust strangers. Especially ones you can't see, first impressions can be crucial"

"Well then I'm screwed" Iruka bopped him on the head before leaving the room to go to the kitchen.

This was going to be a long punishment.