Summary: It's been two years since Pain attacked Konoha. Kakashi has been in a coma and Sasuke has been plotting his revenge. When Sasuke decides the best way to destroy the village is from the inside out, what will he discover upon his return? What has happened to the rest of his former comrades?
Disclaimer: Own Naruto? (Consults with lawyer.) No, guess not.
A/N: Yeah, I know, I should be updating Five Kingdoms, but it takes a lot of character building and this one immediately allows me to plunge into some drama, so there. I have plot bunnies like some people have dust bunnies. I also have a lasting Sasuke grudge. There will be pairings, but it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, would it? I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the Japanese in this story, so sorry beforehand for any language butchery I may indulge in.
Fallen Night
Chapter One
Return of the Prodigal Shinobi
Sasuke stood impassively in front of the oaken desk, meeting the cool hazel eyes across from him without flinching. He heard Karin shift uneasily at his side as the hazel eyes turned piercing.
"So you want to come back, eh, Uchiha? And why would I do that?" Tsunade asked, the force of her glare nearly high enough in intensity to melt Suigetsu into a quivering puddle.
"I have eliminated several threats to Konoha, including two members of Akatsuki and one former member. Besides, the addition of the Sharingan alone should make you want to invite me back to Konoha." His words might have been impassive, but all his plans hinged on Tsunade allowing him to return to the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
There was a long, painful silence where Team Hawk and Shizune both waited for the Hokage's ruling. Finally she unlaced her fingers from where her head had rested on her hands in her habitual thinking pose. She pulled out a blank piece of paper from under one of the stack that littered her desk and began writing. "Very well. I will allow you to return to the village on several conditions. You and your team will reside in the Uchiha district and we'll move in some ninja to watch you there. For the moment, you'll be on a temporary probation, but you will be allowed to participate in the exams." Finishing the missive she folded and sealed it, handing it over to her apprentice. "Find Naruto and give him that. His team will be the first one we move in. The others will be harder to convince." Shizune nodded and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
Tsunade sighed. This could only lead to more trouble. Sasuke and his team were waiting with a modicum of patience to be directed further, but she wasn't sure how long they would wait. Shizune, hurry up and get that knuckle-headed ninja here!
Luckily for Tsunade's nerves a shout of "Grandma Tsunade!" nearly shook the Hokage Tower only moments later. She winced in sympathy for her poor doors as they were thrown open and one of the most powerful ninja in the village fairly bounded into the room. From an outsider's perspective she analyzed the young ninja who had touched her heart with his energy and honesty. She still remembered him as he had been two years ago, the last time Sasuke had seen him. Compared to then, he was taller yet again, though he would never equal the stature of his beloved 'pervy-sage'. He was frozen now, staring at his former companion, but a breeze created by his passing rustled blond hair grown so long it nearly fell into his eyes every time he stilled. The rest was pulled into a messy ponytail at the nape of his neck, like Jiraiya's once had. You could barely see the scratched and battered metal of his forehead protector, concealed as it was by the golden fall of hair.
His outfit had changed as his hair grew out. While Sasuke and his team simply looked a little older than they once had, Naruto now wore an the all black clothes traditional to the jounin, but over it he wore a long red cloak, the symbols 静寂,for stillness, appearing between his shoulder blades. The contract that he held with the toads was slung to fall easily at his waist, and despite its size he never seemed to notice its weight. On his left wrist, clinking together gently as they fell into their place was a bracelet made of cat's eye jewels in red and black strung together. To an outsider it would be meaningless, but to Tsunade's knowledge, she knew it symbolized his team affiliation.
Naruto's hands fisted, his entire posture conveying tension. "Sasuke." The voice that said it was hoarse with sudden emotion. Ever so slowly a grin spread across his face, his elongated canines and whisker-marks making it fox-like even though that wasn't his intention. "Sasuke-teme! You're back!" He shouted, but he didn't move from where he appeared to have been rooted to the floor.
"And now all of Konoha has heard of his return. Well, Naruto, are you going to accept the mission?" Her smile was the teasing one of a superior to a particularly precious subordinate.
"Believe it!" Naruto said, his voice returning to normal speaking range as he finally came to attention. "Now that Sasuke's back, I'm never gonna let him take off again."
"I'll hold you to that. Now, all of you, out of my office. And Naruto, you have to be the one to tell them." Naruto's face fell and Sasuke wondered what sort of task had been included as part of Naruto's mission.
As he led them out the door, Naruto's enthusiasm seemed to return. He tucked his hands behind his head in his familiar pose, though now it seemed a little more intimidating and less silly than it had when he was a loud genin. "Well...I guess we should go ask the others. At least everyone's here. Probably." He muttered the last part under his breath as he walked over, fingers still laced behind his head, obviously expecting them to follow. Team Hawk followed silently, with unusual reserve.
"So, who are the other three?" Naruto asked curiously, a bright cerulean eye turning back to gaze at them.
"This is Juugo, Suigestu, and Karin." Sasuke said, his impassive mask still in place.
"Right. Well then." Naruto finally opened the door that led them outside, where fresh air and a brilliant sunset greeted them. "Let's see...Hinata-chan and Sai are probably waiting at Ichiruka's, so we can get them first. It'll be like a big reunion." Sasuke's team gazed around curiously as they were greeted by the still bustling streets of Konoha, people out buying dinner or out for a quiet walk before the darkness set in.
"This is a pretty nice place." Suigetsu observed.
Naruto grinned back at him from where he was leading the way. "Konoha is the best place in the world. We're here." They really had reached the small stand that still held several of Sasuke's memories as being part of Team Seven. It was apparently a slow night, as only two of the stools were filled. "Hinata-chan! Sai! We have a mission. Guess what it is?" Naruto called out cheerfully.
"What is it..." the young woman who was sitting on the left bit in a breath. "Naruto-kun, he's back!"
Carefully blank obsidian eyes turned to observe the newcomers, as said newcomers sized up their jailers. The woman wore an oversized cloak similar to Naruto's, except that it was in a pale lilac with white accents. She had flowing hair that fell to her waist and was carefully playing with her fingers and avoiding allowing her pupilless lilac eyes to meet anyone else's. The other man was deathly pale, an impression made even more obvious by his obsidian eyes and jet black hair. He too had longer hair than the last time Sasuke had seen him, pulled back into a neat ponytail with a light fringe of bang framing his face. He wore a sleeveless black vest and standard issue black pants, with a cloak hanging about his waist in such a manner that it appeared to have been halfway taken off and forgotten.
Sai was the first to break their little staring contest, instead leaning indolently against the counter, propping himself up with his elbow. "Well dickless, you were talking about a mission?"
"We have to guard the teme and his team. We'll move into the Uchiha district, so be prepared for a long term mission." Naruto explained, ignoring the insult thrown at him by his teammate.
"Is anyone else involved, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked softly, as if her voice would break the carefully cheerful facade that Naruto had painted for himself. She knew him better than many, having been on his team for three long years, having the eyes that she had. She could see the welling rage that she would be forced to counter in training tomorrow.
"Old lady Tsunade said she wanted the Twelve involved." Naruto grumbled.
"The Twelve?" Karin asked curiously, breaking her unusual silence.
"The Konoha Twelve. It refers to the twelve ninja of our generation that are supposed to be the best." Sai explained, his fake, polite smile on his lips. "Sasuke was one."
"Um...are we going to be able to get them all to do it?" Hinata asked timidly.
"Why wouldn't they?" Juugo asked, his first words since they had passed Konoha's gates.
Naruto grimaced, something that once again displayed his impressive teeth, which caused Karin to gaze at him in detached scientific curiosity. He ran a hand through his already wild hair, and answered the gentle giant. "Well, most of us are really busy. And some don't like taking long term assignments. But truthfully, this kind of mission would usually go to Chouji or Lee, not us."
"Why not?" Sasuke was willing to ask a question if it meant gaining information on the people he would eventually have to bypass on the way to his revenge.
"Because, Uchiha-san, we're hunter-nin. We don't usually stay in the village very long between missions." It was Hinata who answered his question. She expounded on her answer when Sasuke only raised a brow in a silent question. "It was the only specialization that would let Naruto-kun keep chasing after you outside Konoha. Sai-kun and I are his team. Our team designation is ヘルファイア(Hellfire)."
"We specialize in A- and S-class. That's why this is quite the honor for you to be watched by us." The pale man was smiling again.
"Sai. Stop smiling like that. It's creepy." Naruto said in exasperation. "So, Hinata, know where anyone is this evening?"
"Well," she said, drawing small circles on the counter with the tip of her index finger, "I think Ino and Chouji were going out to get barbeque with Lee, and I think Shino's team may have joined them."
"So, that'd take care of everyone but them, and they're the ones most likely to not want the mission. So, how do you guys feel about getting some barbeque on me for your first meal in Konoha?" Naruto asked.
"Do we have a choice?" Suigetsu muttered.
Naruto looked startled, saying, "You don't like barbeque?"
"You're about to introduce us to the people who'll serve as our guards for who knows how long. You don't have to be so cheerful about it." Karin said pointedly.
Naruto only shrugged, the crimson fabric that shrouded him rippling subtly with the movement.
"At least there'll be a rotation, Naruto-kun, so it's not like they have to give up missions all together."
Naruto snorted quietly. "I wouldn't have a chance if that was the case. Well, let's go before everyone leaves and we have to track them down. You guys coming?"
"I'll come with you. We were waiting on you to eat, but it's been a while since we've seen everyone." Hinata said, gracefully sliding off the stool. As she moved, Sasuke's sharp eyes fixed on a bracelet identical to the one Naruto wore. A glance confirmed that Sai too wore a bracelet made of the same stones. He supposed it was a sort of team bonding, similar to the cloaks the three wore.
"No way am I going with you dickless. You're on your own." Sai said, turning back on his stool and ordering a bowl of ramen. Naruto aimed an ineffective glare at Sai's back, but then turned and set off in the direction of Chouji's favorite barbeque restaurant, followed by odd procession of quasi-prisoners and the Hyuuga heiress.
It wasn't hard to locate the group of ninja, who had more or less claimed the back two tables of the restaurant, and were loud besides. Sasuke surveyed the group of ninjas he had once known as Naruto pointed them out to his team and tried to explain the new group dynamics as they stood near the doorway.
"That blond kunoichi, that's Ino. She's a special jounin attached to the spy corps." Ino had her waist length blond hair in a pony-tail, making a clear contrast to her purple training outfit, which hadn't changed much since their genin days. "Chouji is the one eating barbeque like it could run away if he didn't catch it first." The heavy set boy hadn't changed much either, with burgundy clothing and a chestplate with his clan crest on it. His hair was longer, heightening his resemblance to his father. "Lee is the one in green." Lee had grown into an almost identical copy of his sensei, with his orange leg warmers and green spandex. It was almost frightening. "Shino is the one sitting in the corner not eating." The bug user was setting quietly in a form fitting hooded jacket and mask, all in black, with grey body armor, seemingly content with the company. It was obvious the two next to him were his team by the way they sat and interacted.
"Kiba and Tenten are next to him. Together they're the best tracker nins in the village, even though they don't have Hinata's Byakugan anymore. Their team designation is 地獄の番犬 (Hellhound)." Crouched next to the lean young man with the messy brown hair was one of the largest dogs Sasuke had ever seen. It didn't take the Sharingan to figure out it was Akamaru, with Kiba wearing the usual black gear and grey body armor that appeared to be usually concealed beneath the full length coat that lay crumbled on the seat next to him. It was the traditional buns that gave away the pretty girl sitting next him for Tenten, given that she too was wearing the standard black and grey.
"Well, let's go." Naruto said, preparing himself to take a step in the direction of the slightly intimidating crowd of ninja.
"Wait." Sasuke commanded. "People are missing."
"Oh, you mean Neji, Shikamaru, and Sakura? They're not missing. If they just got back from a mission, I have a pretty good idea where they are. Now come on, let's get this over with." With that, Naruto weaved his way through the busy restaurant, until he came to the two tables the ninja had claimed for their own. "Mission from Tsunade." He said without any explanation, tossing them the scroll.
"For who?" Ino inquired.
"Everyone. It has to do with Sasuke." Naruto explained.
"This isn't another 'rescue' mission, is it?," she asked irritably, "you nearly got my teammates killed on the first one."
"I'm right here. I was never in any need of rescuing." Sasuke said, coming up behind Naruto.
Ino looked him over with assessing eyes, but then seemed to dismiss the features she had once deemed so attractive. "Why all of us? Lee and Chouji are the only ones without a specialization for that sort of thing."
"Orders." Naruto said curtly, his fists clenching at the thought of the others rebelling against Sasuke's tentative return and reinstatement.
Ino sighed, seemingly resigning herself. "There's probably a big catch here to want so many of us. What is it?"
"We'll be living in the Uchiha district, in order to keep a better eye on his movements, even though she didn't specifically order a 24-hour watch." Naruto explained.
A collective sigh rose from the assembled group, along with some rather creative grumbling. "Fine, Naruto, I guess Akamaru and I are in." Kiba said.
"If Kiba's going along, I guess that means the rest of us in Hellhound will be there too." Tenten said, with Shino's nod of assent.
"As team leader, I suppose I should formally accept this mission." Shino said in his slightly raspy voice.
"I am in!," declared Lee with a great deal more enthusiasm than the others had shown. "This will be an exercise to be completed in the fire of my youth. It is very encouraging to see Sasuke's return. In honor of this, I will run five hundred laps around the village!" The green clad jounin leaped from the table and set off into the early night to do exactly that. The Konoha ninja didn't react at all to their odd comrade's actions, but Team Hawk watched him go with a look of incredulous surprise on their faces.
"Yeah, I guess I'm in too." Chouji said, returning his attention to his barbeque.
"Well," Ino said, sighing, "I guess that makes all of us."
"Not quite." Naruto said, rubbing the back of his neck in discomfort.
"Do the orders include them?" Tenten asked in an understanding tone.
"Yeah. Do you know how long they've been back? My team just got in yesterday." Naruto explained, grateful that someone else understood his plight.
"They got in this morning." Ino said authoritatively.
Naruto hung his head. Hinata placed a tentative hand on his shoulder. "I'll go with you Naruto-kun."
"Well, let's get this over with. It was in the statement that if they don't agree, the surveillance will be taken care of by the ANBU Root division." Naruto's hand clenched and his eyes appeared to flash crimson. "There's no way we're going to let Danzou get his hands on this."
Sasuke followed Naruto curiously as the blond nin led the way with all the enthusiasm of a man going to his own funeral. Just what could be so intimidating about the laziest ninja genius ever to grace Naruto, a fate obsessed branch member who happened to be more talented than his Main house equivalents, and the weakest link of Team Seven?
A/N: Well, what do you think? Worth continuing? I promise I won't let it interfere with updating my other stories. So please review and leave some feedback.