Regular words=present time

Italics=flashback


"You got everything packed, brat?"

Naruto turned to glare at his aunt Tsunade. "I've got it, hag. Jeez, I'm not a kid anymore!"

The busty blonde woman frowned. "Just having started your own business hardly counts as not being a kid, brat. There's so much more to being an adult than just age."

"But I've been keeping at it for three years already, Tsunade, jeez!"

"She's right," a white-haired man with red facial tattoos said, appearing at the doorway next to the woman. "For example, you haven't bought a car, or gotten married, or had se—"

"Jiraiya!" Tsunade shouted, smacking her husband upside the head. "This is no time for your perverted comments! Naruto is leaving!"

Naruto winced slightly at the hurt and worry in the woman's voice. Ever since his parents were killed in a freak terrorist bombing when he was in elementary school, his aunt Tsunade and uncle Jiraiya had cared for him. They were a middle-aged couple who loved Naruto as their own, and raised him for the eighteen required years of his life, and then some. He loved them both, seeing them as the only parents he'd ever known. Even though Tsunade was strict to no end and Jiraiya was a huge pervert, they'd given Naruto everything to make him feel comfortable and loved.

A couple months back, when Naruto had just established his own brand, Jiraiya had gone and decided to buy Naruto a house to celebrate his graduation from rookie designer. Only thing was—the house wasn't just a house. It was a mansion. An elegant, modern, chic mansion that must've cost a shit ton of money.

The moment Naruto laid eyes on the mansion, he'd wanted it. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Not to mention, it was also relatively close to where he worked. Jiraiya was ecstatic when Naruto told him he wanted to move in immediately. Tsunade, on the other hand, was more hesitant to let him go, most likely because she was worried he'll end up burning the expensive mansion down on the first day. But after Jiraiya explained how Naruto needed his own space so he can mature into an adult and have more working space, and Naruto pleaded with his aunt so vigorously for days, she gave in.

Naruto had begun packing the moment Tsunade gave her consent. There were so many rooms in the place, Naruto even agreed to have some close friends move in with him to share the space and keep him company. He was finally going to have a taste of the real world, to start his new life as an independent adult.

He glanced over from zipping up his suitcases to his aunt and uncle, who were watching him with sad, but proud eyes.

"Why're you looking at me like that?" Naruto asked, hoping that his voice was cheery enough to make that sadness disappear. "It's not like I'm leaving for the army. I'm literally an hour's drive from here."

"We know that," Tsunade snapped, her voice shakier than before. "It's just that…you've been with us all these years, Naruto. You're the only child we'll ever have, and now…now you're growing up and leaving us."

Jiraiya nodded, looking a bit sad too. "She's right. We'll miss you, kid. But it's time you leave the nest. We can't keep you forever. Right, Tsunade?"

"Unfortunately. His poor neighbors…"

Despite the slightly condescending mockery, Naruto felt tears prick at his eyes at the thought of leaving his only family. He slammed his suitcase shut and jumped up to hug the two of them.

"I'll call and visit," Naruto promised, squeezing his adoptive parents. "I'll come at Christmas, too. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"Just try to keep at least the living room in one piece, alright?" Jiraiya said, dropping a set of keys into Naruto's hand.

"And don't eat so much instant ramen," Tsunade added as a car honked outside. "I swear, if I see you in my office suffering from cardiac arrest—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a hot fucking mess who is a human disaster area and consumes way too much sodium, I'll die of a heart attack, and you'll have my ass, blah, blah, blah," Naruto interrupted, trying to end the conversation before anyone got too emotional. He broke away and grabbed his bags, trying to ignore the tension between him and his family.

In a matter of minutes, he'll be completely free and on his own. Just him and his friends against the whole world. Without the guidance and protection of his parents. Never again.

The thought of leaving the people who had given him so much love and picked him up from the most dismal time of his life saddened him greatly. He already left so much people, and lost much more…

Naruto slapped himself across the face. He couldn't think about depressing shit like this. It was time to grow up and face the music. Moving away from the people he loved might be hard, but it was a good thing. He needed this.

Naruto rushed out of the front door, turning to wave at his aunt and uncle one last time before hauling his stuff into the back of Kiba's SUV and getting into the passenger seat himself.

"'Sup, man?" Kiba greeted from the driver's seat, bumping fists with Naruto. "You ready to go or you still need a moment?"

Naruto looked out the window, seeing Tsunade and Jiraiya standing on the porch of the humble house that he had grown up in. Jiraiya was holding Tsunade around the waist as she was trying to blink back tears at seeing her baby leave. They were both waving at him.

"Nah, let's go," Naruto said, turning his head away from the scene. "It's time to start fresh."

"Wiser words couldn't have been spoken." Kiba nodded and started the car. "Hang on tight, bro."

Oh no. Naruto immediately buckled up and gripped his seat as Kiba peeled out of the driveway and floored it down the street and onto the highway. The hairs on Naruto's arms stood up perfectly straight as Kiba cut in front of three cars in one go and accelerated down the lane, which was probably illegal. He wondered how in the absolute motherfucking hell Kiba wasn't arrested for unsafe driving yet.

That was an understatement. Kiba drove like a fucking demon. It was a miracle that the two of them were still alive. Naruto silently prayed to whatever deity that listened that he wouldn't die before he got a chance to even see his new house. His fingers were now practically clawing at the seat as Kiba made a sharp, screeching turn and passed yet another car.

"How the fuck are you still allowed to drive?" Naruto yelled over the sound of the wind and roaring engine.

"What's wrong with my driving?" Kiba shouted back, slamming on the brakes to avoid running a red light. Naruto practically flew out of his seat despite the seatbelt, and conked his head on the dashboard.

"Ow!" he rubbed his bruised forehead. "What the fuck, Kiba?!"

"What?" Kiba asked, looking genuinely confused. "I didn't do anything!"

Naruto resisted the burning urge to grab his friend by the collar and smash his head so hard against the steering wheel that the pristine leather would have Kiba's face permanently etched into it. As good as a friend he was, Kiba was about the most oblivious person on the planet when it came to danger. He didn't have the slightest clue as to how dangerously he was driving. Hell, the guy slept through a frickin' 7.0 earthquake before. If that didn't faze him then nothing would.

"Just don't kill me before we get to the house…" Naruto muttered, sliding down into his seat, hands still firmly grasping onto the cushion. "Please."

Kiba shrugged and hit the gas the moment the light turned green, the force knocking Naruto further back into his seat than he already was.

This was going to be a very long, short, life-threatening drive…


Neji knew what was going to happen. He saw it coming from miles away. Hell, anyone with decently functioning eyeballs could've seen it coming from miles away.

Poor Naruto.

He nodded towards his companion, locking his pale violet eyes onto the sea-foam orbs. The other man sighed and pulled out two pairs of earplugs, handing one pair to Neji as he twisted his own into his ears. When that was done, Neji pulled out an empty plastic bag and checked his watch.

Any minute now…

The muffled sound of a roaring engine made its way to Neji's eardrums through the plugs as he noticed a sleek black Mercedes fly past the open gates of the mansion and screech to a halt a couple feet before him. Peering past the car, Neji took in the sight of the skid marks the abrupt braking had caused, and clicked his tongue in exasperation.

That was a perfectly good stone-paved driveway.

His annoyance was short-lived when Naruto stumbled out of the car, holding onto his stomach and looking green in the face. The moment he noticed Neji, Naruto sprinted full speed at the other man, snatching the bag out of his hands and proceeded to hurl the remnants of his breakfast into it.

Neji took out his earplugs calmly and patted his friend's back in a comforting gesture. "Rough ride?"

Naruto retched as a response, face still buried in the bag.

Neji winced at the patter of more vomit making contact with the bag. He felt bad for Naruto. Because Kiba lived closer to the blonde, he ended up having to carpool with him. And knowing Kiba…that couldn't have been fun. Neji still had the scar on his forehead to vouch for it.

He turned around to stare at the large mansion behind him, eyeing the marble pillars and lush green yard thoughtfully. It was stunningly gorgeous. Much smaller than the Hyuuga estate, but respectable. If only Sasuke was here to see all of this…

No.

Neji mentally kicked himself. No. He can't think about Sasuke. Not now. Not when Naruto had finally seemed to get over him. He wasn't sure if his heart was strong enough to see him broken again.

As if sensing his distress, Gaara sauntered over and placed a hand on his shoulder. Neji leaned into the gentle touch, feeling a sense of security wrap around him.

"You're thinking too much," Gaara said stonily. His face gave away no emotion.

Neji nodded. "As of late, I am."

"Is it about…him?"

"Yes."

Gaara turned his head, looking at Naruto, who had finished puking and was hollering at Kiba for being a reckless driver, the latter yelling back in an equally loud voice that there was nothing bad about his driving. He turned his attention back to Neji.

"Stop thinking about him."

With that said, the redhead turned and walked to their car, opening the trunk and pulling out their suitcases. Neji watched him go sadly. Gaara was right. He needed to stop thinking altogether. It wasn't healthy to dwell on the past.

Neji sighed as he helped Gaara yank out the last of their luggage from the car and watched sullenly as the redhead slid into the driver's side to park the car into the large garage right next to the main house.


Gaara stared at the garage in distaste.

It was so utterly bland.

The garage was a light shade of gray, and completely empty, save for himself and his red BMW. Compared to the brilliant architecture of the mansion itself, the garage had much to be desired for. He would have to redecorate the interior. Add some furnishings and equipment, maybe paint a few walls, too.

Gaara shivered slightly as a chill settled over him.

He hated the winter in Konoha.

Having grown up in the desert city of Suna, where every day was at least eighty degrees, he wasn't quite used to the alternating temperatures of Konoha just yet.

Gaara made his way out of the garage and back out into the yard, where a couple more people have arrived.

A young man with dark hair tied back into a ponytail was sitting on the steps leading up to the mansion's front doors. Another man, with shockingly pale skin and sleek black hair was talking to Naruto, who was red-faced with both embarrassment and anger. There was also a very feminine-looking man with long brown hair and amber eyes next to a taller, muscular man wearing a leather jacket and ski mask.

Gaara frowned. Someone seemed to be missing…

"HELLO MY YOUTHFUL FRIENDS!"

Gaara didn't even have time to brace himself as a figure in green barreled into him, sending them both sprawling towards the crowd.

"Lee!" Naruto exclaimed, rushing over to where Rock Lee was currently lying on top of a very irritated Gaara. "Jeez, man, how do you just come flyin' outta nowhere?"

"The power of youth, my friend!" Lee exclaimed as he hugged Naruto, lifting him a good foot off the ground. "That, and a little bit of time waiting for the right moment."

Gaara rolled his eyes as he picked himself up and dusted his jacket off. If these were the sort of people he'd have to room with, then he sure as hell was glad that he stocked up on sleeping pills and painkillers.


"Lookit the rich boy, living so high and mighty," Zabuza teased good-naturedly, ruffling Naruto's hair.

Naruto laughed and swatted the bigger man's hand away. "Okay, I get it, I live in a big house. Doesn't mean I'm rich."

"Is that so?" Haku giggled.

Naruto beamed. "Totally! I don't even have my first fashion show yet! But I'll showcase at Tokyo Fashion Week, believe it! Then it's New York, Los Angeles, Paris…"

Haku smiled at his friend as he ranted on and on about showcasing his new spring collection. Naruto always was a hyperactive, ambitious guy. Hard not to love.

"How's Kakashi and Iruka?" Naruto asked, gasping a little when he finally finished ranting.

"That scarecrow just got promoted to Chief of Police, and Iruka became Commander," Zabuza grumbled.

Naruto grinned. "That's awesome! Wait, what happened to Obito?"

"Former Chief Uchiha," Zabuza corrected, but paused when he saw a pang of sadness in Naruto's eyes at the mention of Sasuke's uncle. It was almost like the very name of "Uchiha" was taboo. He sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair.

"He was forced to retire. Took a knife to the eye on a mission a couple of months ago and now he's only got one eye left."

Naruto visibly cringed. "Oh, okay… Well, come in, then. Won't you stay a while? There's plenty of room."

Zabuza shook his head. "Sorry, kid, but Haku and I aren't gonna stay the scene. The chief's gonna murder our ass if we relocated."

Haku nodded besides Zabuza. "He's right. We heard you were coming, so we just swung by to check on you." He fiddled with the gun hidden underneath his coat. "But we really must get going now."

Naruto sighed, eyeing his two friends calmly. "I understand," he said softly. "You guys have a job to do. Well, keep in touch, okay? Tell Kakashi and Iruka I said hi and I'll be over soon!"

Haku nodded eagerly and hugged Naruto. Zabuza gave him a hearty pat on the back. "You got it, kid. Now go get your ass into the house before you freeze to death. You don't wanna end up like—"

Haku elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Zabuza immediately shut up, barely saving himself from his slip-up. "What I mean is, go inside already. It's cold."

Naruto seemed oblivious to what Zabuza almost implied, and grinned cheekily. "Alrighty then! See ya around!" He turned and raced into the mansion, shouting for his friends to hurry up and join him.

Haku watched Naruto leave with sad eyes as he and Zabuza turned to go. "He's moving on…" he murmured.

Zabuza grunted. "About time too. But he's never been the same ever since that Uchiha brat kicked the bucket."

Haku was silent. He glanced back at Naruto, who was standing on the porch, waving at him furiously. Even from a distance, the scars on the tan forearm popped like a highlight. Haku waved back half-heartedly. To see Naruto this happy and chipper again took all of seven years' time.

He still remembered when Naruto was a high school senior. Their families were old friends, and Naruto had grown up with him and Zabuza as his surrogate big brothers. At the time of the incident, Haku—who was three years older—had been finishing his degree in criminal psychology and was working at the Konoha Police Department with Zabuza when it happened.

One day, Naruto barged into the station like a maelstrom, and dashed up to him, crying and insisting that Haku help him.


"Haku! Haku!"

Said man turned and gasped when he was suddenly clutched by two shaking hands, teary sapphire orbs staring into his own.

"N-Naruto? What's wrong? What happened?" Haku stammered between vicious shakes from the blond.

"Sasuke! It's Sasuke!" Naruto screamed, shaking the shorter man vigorously. "He can't be gone! You have to help me!"

Haku ignored the several pairs of questioning eyes that were trained on him and Naruto. The blonde was causing quite the ruckus, but he didn't really care. If he went as far as to barge into the police station without notice, it must've been serious.

"Naruto, I—"

"What the hell's goin' on here?"

Zabuza stepped into the room, eyes focusing right onto Haku and Naruto. "What's blondie doin' here?"

"Zabuza!" Naruto turned, still firmly clutching Haku. "Sasuke! He can't be gone! He can't!"

"Sasuke Uchiha? The Chief's nephew?" Zabuza stroked his chin in thought. "What about him?"

"You still don't know?" A new voice said from behind them.

Haku's eyes widened. "Commander Hatake!"

Kakashi stepped out of his office, dressed in a plain white button-down shirt and black slacks. His face was hidden behind a flu mask.

"Reports say that Sasuke Uchiha had recently passed away. Cause is still unknown," Kakashi said stiffly, watching the scene unfold before him with sad eyes. "He was sent here to undergo an evaluation to determine cause of death. The coroner and medical examiner's working on him now."

"NO!"

Naruto sprang up and began sprinting towards the stairs. Zabuza immediately gave chase, catching the blonde before he managed to turn the handle of the door.

"Let go of me!" Naruto screamed, kicking and thrashing in Zabuza's hold. "They can't! Don't touch Sasuke! DON'T TOUCH HIM!"

His fighting and screaming became so violent that Haku found himself and three other officers trying to get ahold of Naruto before he decided to rip the place apart.

"LET GO OF ME!" Naruto shrieked, pushing and shoving the multiple hands that flew at his head, clawing and biting at anybody that got close to him. "THEY CAN'T BUTCHER SASUKE! NO!" he let out a long, guttural scream, so loud that Haku could see the windows shuddering slightly.

"ENOUGH!"

For a moment, all was silent as everybody turned to see the person who has spoken. Chief Obito Uchiha stood by the main doors, dressed in a dark suit. His dark eyes were flashing red, the scarred side of his face seeming more twisted with his scowl.

"Sasuke is gone, Naruto," the chief said firmly, walking over to where the blonde was, held captive by four men. "I understand your predicament, but I myself had just lost my nephew. Your shouting and struggling isn't going to help anything. You need to understand that he's not coming back."

Naruto collapsed into a fit of sobs. "They can't! Sasuke! Sasuke can't be dead! No!"

"I'm sorry, Naruto," Kakashi said, genuine concern and sorrow in his voice. "We all are."

"NO!" Naruto wailed as he threw himself onto the ground and began beating it weakly as broken, desperate sobs wracked his body and filled the room with a heavy melancholy aura. He screamed, he cursed, he tore at his hair, clawed at his face until it bled. Nothing and nobody could calm him down.

Haku had never felt so distressed in his life, watching his beloved little brother break into pieces before him. He was at a complete loss as to what to do. Naruto was shattering—both inside and out. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, and Haku was sure that Naruto was buffer the last time he saw him.

He didn't bother telling Naruto that everything was going to be okay. It would be lying. Naruto would never be okay again.

Not with Sasuke gone.