The years have gone by slowly, the fire of my vengeance has cooled, and my heart has grown lonely. I believe it is time...to go home.
Power and revenge can only take you so far, and it hadn't taken Sasuke that long to figure out. Yes, he had indeed became strong, even stronger than Orochimaru, but there was something missing, something that could not be found through revenge.
Sasuke sat on a high branch, waiting for twilight. Once it came, he knew fully well what he would do. Today was the day...Orochimaru would die
Sasuke stood outside the lair, watching the flames seep through the cracks in the stone, burning anything and everything in its path. Sasuke had taken extra precautions in making sure that Orochimaru was gone for good. He sighed deeply, and sat down to regain his strength.
'Just think,' he saidto himself, 'In a matter of days, I will see Naruto again for the first time in nine years.'
Sasuke was surprised at the fact that he had actually been gone nine years. He was sure that snake bastard would have taken over his body some years back. But then again, Orochimaru had wanted him to be at his strongest when he took him, so the years dragged on.
'Enough thinking of that,' Sasuke told himself. 'It's all in the past now. Look out Konoha, here I come.'With that he took his leave, destined to never return to his old ways again.
Meanwhile in Konoha...
Naruto looked up from his work, he had a funny feeling in his stomach, like something that would change his life forever was headed straight for him. It suddenly hit him, and he just calmly sat back, already making plans in his head. 'Bless the gods, the day has finally arrived for realizations,' he smiled happily as a tear rolled down his cheek.
True to his word, Sasuke stood staring at the Konoha gates within three days time. Now all he had to do was beg to Tsunade to be accepted back into the village again.
'I hope she is in a good mood,' he thought, as he climbed the stairs to the Hokage's tower. 'Then again,' he thought, 'when is she ever in a good mood?' a smirk crossing his lips, but slowly fading as he reached the door to the Hokage's office. He took a deep breath, and tossed fate to the wind. Sasuke opened the door, and peered inside. The chair behind the desk was turned away from him, facing a window that looked over the whole village.
"Hokage-sama, I wish to speak to you," Sasuke said, as respectfully as he could. He dropped to his knees, bowing. His words weak with fear of being turned away, he began his plea. "Hokage-sama, I know that there is no reason that you should allow me back into the village, but please, I miss Naruto." By the time he was done, he was crying and shaking furiously.
There was silence, and then Sasuke continued. "Tsunade-sama, I...I...I'm in love with him. I need him, he means so much to me, and I did him wrong," he stated, his head hung low. "Please, let me stay."
Sasuke heard sobbing, and lifted his head. "Tsunade-sama?," he asked questioningly. There was a sudden blur in front of his face, and then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked beside him, and there was the Hokage, dressed in hat, robes, and all. However, the voice he heard from the figure next to him was not what he expected.
"Of course you can stay...Sasuke," came a tear stained voice.
Sasuke stared straight ahead of him, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Naruto...," he whispered.