Chapter 1: Anxious Bonds
It was…unbearable… the trepidation slicing through his stomach. The constriction of his throat. The clenching, raw, guilt that gripped his heart.
He was back. Finally, Sasuke was back. So why wasn't Naruto thrilled? After so much heartache and pain, he was back at last. Naruto finally got what he wanted. So, why couldn't he just be happy?
Perhaps it was because everything, in a painfully ironic way, turned out to be so anticlimactic. One second they were fighting a grueling battle, and the next, Sasuke was being lugged back to Konoha. There was no epic conclusion. Nobody died. It just ended.
Sakura, as expected, was ecstatic. As was Ino… And pretty much every flouncing female citizen of Konoha. Hell, the council was even glad their Uchiha bloodline was back safely within the borders.
Naruto, however, was conflicted. The mere thought of the Uchiha looking him in the eye, hell, even looking in his direction made the blonde's stomach clench and shudder.
In retrospect, Naruto knew he should be as thrilled as Sakura, if not more so. They had been best friends after all. However, he just couldn't shake off the guilt…the betrayal. He knew Sasuke had changed. The time with Orochimaru undoubtedly iced over his heart and sullied any recollection of his bonds in Konoha.
Sure, the cursed seal had been removed, but that didn't change the fact that Sasuke had still betrayed him. He tried to kill him. Orochimaru's hand in Sasuke's insane quest for vengeance was only fueled by previous notions of hatred.
Naruto knew the cursed seal had warped his best friend into a monster. Despite this, he couldn't help but feel betrayed.
If Sasuke were to so much as glance his direction, he'd shatter. The last remnants of fortitude would crumble and Naruto would reach his breaking point. The blond could feel in his bones the strain all of this stress was putting on him, and for the first time, he felt he might not be able to go on.
Being unwaveringly optimistic was draining. Sometimes, raw determination just didn't cut it.
With guilt still suffocating him, Naruto knew he needed to speak to Tsunade. It was time for a break. From everything.
The Hokage's gaze on him was heavy and imploring. Naruto had requested to be relieved of shinobi duty and wanted to be granted a passport. He knew he was just running from the still hospitalized traitor, but he'd do anything to dampen the shame.
Sasuke hated him. Of course he would. Who wouldn't hate someone whose goal was specifically tailored to prevent the other's from happening? Without a doubt, Naruto knew the Uchiha would curse and abhor his presence. Naruto couldn't be anywhere near those hate-filled eyes. Those eyes that would rip into his core and burn any last shred of their bond.
Tsunade's fingers steepled under her chin in a calculating manner, "How long will you be gone?"
"Until I'm ready to come back," The words pierced the air with unwavering resolve.
The woman couldn't say that she hadn't seen this coming. Since the Uchiha's return, Naruto had been distant and standoffish, preferring to perch atop the Hokage monument, or train alone, deep within Konoha's forests.
As much as she hated to admit it, Tsunade knew that this break would do Naruto some good. There would be no enemies, no missions, and most importantly, no Sasuke. Every ninja eventually requested a reprieve, and Naruto was no exception.
A thick shinobi travel passport was stamped in approval and Tsunade handed it over to the teen, "You'll need this so you don't get mistaken for a missing-nin."
Naruto nodded his head and carefully thumbed through the papers. This was the right decision. He'd use this time to find his bearings and become stronger mentally. And once he was ready to come back he'd be able to face the traitor and possibly make amends. Or not. Nothing was set in stone and Naruto didn't even know how long he'd be gone. What if everything changed when he came back? What if Konoha was no longer his home?
Blue eyes flashed to Tsunade's weary expression. What if he was no longer accepted? The thought of sneering faces of malicious villagers, with their acidic glares, caused anxiety to swirl in his stomach.
Was this the right decision?
"Gaki, you're free to leave whenever you wish."
Yes.
This was his opportunity to be selfish. He could ignore Sasuke's eyes, Sakura's pleas, his friends' disappointment, and the villagers' disapproval. He could just live for himself. Who knows, maybe it'll be fun.
"Thanks, Obaa-chan!"
"Brat!"
They quickly dropped the charade and exchanged knowing looks. Naruto would be back. Eventually. Tsunade could accept this. If anyone deserved a break, it was him.
"Naruto, be safe," The tired command resonated with authority.
The blonde's eyes squinted like that of a fox as he gave a thumbs up, "Of course!" He lifted the glittering gem from under his collar, "I still have to take care of this necklace, don't I? I'll make sure nothing bad happens to it!"
He gave another thumbs up, and before Tsunade could respond the door clicked shut.
"Tsunade-shishou!" The pink haired kunoichi burst through the door, "Have you seen Naruto? I want to go with him to see Sasuke-kun."
Tsunade's eyes shifted from the sake cupped between her palms to the girl, "I thought he would have told you."
Sakura tilted her head, "Huh? Tell me what?"
Tsunade twisted her chair around to gaze at the Hokage monument, "Naruto has," she swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth, "taken a vacation. He isn't in the village right now," The sake rippled in her trembling hands.
Pink eyebrows rose, "W-What? Why?"
"I'm sorry, Sakura," the older woman sighed, "but I've got quite a bit of work to finish. I'm sure if you talk to Iruka he'll have the answers you're looking for. Now, please leave."
Sakura jumped to attention before nodding and making her exit. She ended up going to the academy to ask Iruka if he knew what was happening. The chunin had only shrugged; eyes focusing on anything but the girl facing him, before saying Naruto needed a vacation.
Had Sakura been less conscientious of her appearance her mouth would have been agape. Naruto was known for being the number one hyperactive ninja in Konoha for a reason. He could barely sit still, let alone relax on a vacation. Sakura just couldn't wrap her brain around it.
These puzzling thoughts were rolling around in her mind as she made her way to the infirmary where Sasuke was being treated. As far as she knew, the Uchiha had yet to wake up due to the profuse amount of injuries he'd received. Most of which had not even been from Naruto and the retrieval team. His life threatening condition was mainly from Itachi's brutal hands.
Both Uchiha's finally reached their destined battle, and as clichés go, Sasuke was the victor. However, that does not refute the fact that Itachi had done more than his fair share of damage to the younger male.
Sasuke's goal had finally been fulfilled. And, not even a day after that, Naruto's had as well.
Sakura couldn't help but feel lost. Now what? She had expected that Sasuke, despite his treason, would once again be instilled as a Konoha ninja, Team Seven would reform, and they'd be the perfect family again.
But Naruto was gone.
She couldn't help but cringe at her previous expectations. She had only been fooling herself with childish dreams of a happily ever after. That would have been too perfect. That would have made too much sense. Now it seemed like nothing in her life made sense.
Pushing open the white door to Sasuke's room, Sakura came face to face with cold, black eyes.
AN: So, what do you think? Yeah, I know it's quite different from my previous works, but I'm thinking this one's a keeper. Let me know if you have any constructive thoughts and opinions and I'll do my best to improve.
