(A/N: Hey everyone! This is my first multi-chapter story that I've written, so please go easy on me. I like this one, which is rare, because I never like my writings, so please tell me what you think. I don't own Naruto, sadly. If I did, do you really think I'd be writing this fanfic? R&R, onegai!)
Chapter 1: He's Back!
The raven haired young man had been living in the snake's underground hideout for sixteen long, harsh years. His hair, once short, was now allowed free reign to grow, ruggedly framing his face and falling, in places, past his ears. Still, he could not control it. It stuck up in the back, as though he had permanent bed hair, and not even gravity could make lie down. Before, he had looked younger with his hair style, but now, nothing could hide the many years he had lived and many deaths he had caused. His age could no longer hide what he had seen and caused in the world. He was a criminal, and nothing could change that.
His apparel was very different from what he wore when he had lived in Konoha. It was more styled to the tastes of his new sensei, Orochimaru, than his own. Rather than his once-customary blue shirt with an Uchiha fan on his back and white shorts, he wore a white, open-chested shirt that was tucked into a grey-blue piece of cloth wrapped around his torso. The cloth was kept around him by a thick purple rope bound in a tight loop, with coal black pants underneath.
Orochimaru, realizing that the time he could survive in his current body, one he had stolen a mere three years ago, was growing short. His fight with the Sandaime had severely and permanently injured his arms, and his body was slowly decaying because of the fight.
In order to gain a new, healthy body, Orochimaru attacked his pupil from behind one day while they were training, hoping to take a strong, young body with the Sharingan. He'd taught the Uchiha too well, however, and the man was more prepared for the attack than the snake charmer could have ever imagined.
Orochimaru was knocked to the ground after a short-but-intense battle, and Sasuke killed the man while he was incapacitated. There was nothing more he could learn. The Uchiha toyed with the idea of returning immediately to Konoha, before casting it to the back of his mind. If he ever decided to return, all he would have to do would be to make sure they knew he was the one who killed the snake sannin. That way he could gain favor with the leaf, should he decide to return.
Sasuke fought his way out of the stronghold, killing half a dozen Oto nin and gravely wounding many others. As he was fighting his way to freedom, he discovered the hiding place of Orochimaru's Akatsuki ring. He took the piece of jewelry as proof of his deeds, then left the hideout, igniting bombs at each of the entrances to trap all of the occupants that had not already escaped.
Before he would deign to return to Konoha, however, he wanted to search out his brother to kill him. He searched throughout the continent for signs of the elder Uchiha.
It did not matter where he went, though, because no one had heard anything from the elder Uchiha for a long while. It was almost as though the man had fallen off the face of the earth.
Finally, having given up on finding his brother after two grueling years of failed, infuriating searches, Sasuke returned to his former home, Konohagakure. He strolled conspicuously through the imposing gates of the village, the late afternoon sunlight casting a bloody glow over his shoulder. His face was immediately recognized by the guards as belonging to one of the cruelest defected Konoha murderers.
"Uchiha Sasuke! You may go no further!" One of them shouted, his unwavering voice rising above the bustle of the village, despite the fact that Sasuke could see the fear in his eyes. He was not a new guard, the raven haired boy observed. He may have been wrong, but he thought the one who had spoken was called Hagane Kotetsu.
That man's gravity defying black hair was spiked in all directions, falling around his Konoha headband in layers. He had a small patch of hair on his chin, and a bandage draped over his nose and cheeks. His dark eyes were narrowed in suspicion as he leapt into a battle stance. The green flak jacket and dark blue pants he wore were standard issue for all ninja over the rank of gennin, although many chose not to wear their run-of-the-mill, stereotypical outfits.
The youngest living Uchiha stood impassively as the two guards charily watched his movements. He took a single step forward, and they reacted by drawing their weapons and sinking more surely into their battle stances. Still, Sasuke did not react.
"I killed Orochimaru and wish to return to my former home," he said coolly. The guards still looked wary, no matter that he claimed he had killed Orochimaru; he was still a traitor and a murderer of innocents. They both knew that he had committed unspeakable sins against his family, friends, and village.
"You must speak with Hokage-sama before you will be allowed to do anything, much less return for good. It's up to him whether or not you can stay. Well, the Council members and he, but he has considerable influence in the process." Sasuke finally placed the identity of the other guard, the one who had just spoken. If he remembered correctly, it was Kamizuki Izumo.
The man's brown hair was flattened under a Konoha symbol cloth that was more of a hat than a hitai-ate. His hair covered his right eye, but his left was narrowed, as were both of Kotetsu's. His outfit was also that of standard issue, but his undershirt covered his chin, not quite moving so far up his face as Kakashsi's, but similar.
'He'? I thought Tsunade-sama was Hokage. She must have stepped down, Sasuke realized, pondering this fact while he wondered who the Rokudaime could be. How will he react?
Kotetsu and Izumo guardedly led Sasuke up the steps of the Hokage Tower. The latter of the three had allowed his arms to be roped together with chakra-draining handcuffs before the two former men had let him past the gate's threshold. While significantly drained of chakra and feeling a bit weak, he allowed none of this weakness to show.
They walked up the stairs to the Hokage's office and Kotetsu knocked firmly on the door. "Hokage-sama?"
A man's voice called from the other side of the door. "Enter."
Upon entering, Sasuke was stunned, but showed no surprise on his pale face. "Hn. So you finally made it to Hokage, Dobe." He observed the man at the desk, immediately recognizing the shock of spiky blonde hair as belonging to his once-best friend and rival.
He had shed his orange jumpsuit for a pair of long, orange pants. Around his right thigh, bandages were wrapped, to keep the kunai pouch from chaffing against the skin underneath the cloth. A belt of black cloth covered the bottom of his jacket, and most of that article was of the same color. All but the space beneath his chest, and a single stripe running down each side surrounding the silver zipper, were black. The rest of the cloth was orange. The Hokage's robes were draped along the back of the chair, and his hitai-ate proudly sat at the front edge of his desk. The Uzumaki swirl rested on his left shoulder, noticed only when Naruto let go of the pen with which he had been writing.
"Baka! You walk back into the village, claiming you want to stay, then show such disrespect to our Hokage and expect him to let you do so?!" The Kamizuki guard fumed emotively as he pulled a kunai from the pouch at his thigh. It twirled threateningly between his fingers for a moment before coming to rest, point facing outward, at his chest.
"That's enough, Izumo," Naruto ordered, watching Sasuke intently. His mixed emotions did not appear on his face, which was surprising to the latter man.
"Hokage-sama," The addressed man replied submissively, replacing his kunai while spearing the Uchiha avenger with the metaphorical daggers of a sharp glare.
"So, you want me to let you stay, Uchiha?" Naruto asked, watching his former-friend's reaction to the formal tone and name.
"Hai, D- ano, Hokage-sama." Sasuke gritted out through clenched teeth. He had been close to calling him Dobe again, but thought better of it. The guards seemed very protective of the Kyuubi vessel now. Before he became Hokage, they couldn't have cared less whether he lived or died. He thought sardonically.
"As much as I'd like to trust you the way I did before you left, the safety of my village supersedes my feelings, now. You may stay the night with an ANBU guard while I talk it over with my advisors," he allowed, folding his hands in front of his mouth in a motion he had picked up from Tsunade, and contemplating the person he would send with the man before him.
Naruto has really changed. I don't remember him having such self-control. When I walked in here and saw him, I honestly thought he'd accept that I'm come back for real and wouldn't betray the village again. Sasuke thought, his eyes narrowing at the new set back in his plan of return.
"Snake-sama will be your escort and ANBU guard for today and tomorrow. Kotetsu, go and fetch her for me, onegai." Naruto waved his hand toward the man, gesturing dismissal.
"Hai, Hokage-sama." The black haired man vanished as the words left his mouth.
"So what made you decide to come back, Uchiha? Better yet, what makes you so sure we'll accept you back into the village?" The blonde's attention returned to the raven haired man before his desk.
"I killed Orochimaru. There was nothing more I could learn from him, so I rid the world of the threat he posed and his powerful influence. I brought his Akatsuki ring as proof." His disdainful, blithe tone was flippant, as though the information he divulged was unimportant.
"So that makes you worthy of our trust? The fact that you killed your sixteen-year master, that you turned on him just as quickly as you did us, makes you even less worthy. What do you think Snake-sama?" Naruto questioned, never allowing his eyes to leave the Uchiha, but turning his body to face the window. He seemed frustrated with the lack of emotion from the Uchiha.
Sasuke turned to look in the direction Naruto now faced. A woman sat on the window sill; Sasuke had not even noticed her presence because she had made no sound upon her entry, nor had she left her chakra unsuppressed.
The svelte woman was clothed in the ANBU garb of black gloves that extended to above her biceps with gray forearm guards, and the same color undershirt and pants, and gray body armor in the style of a tank top. She stated her opinion in an empty, emotionless voice. "I believe that means he never really had any ties to the man. The fact that he came back here, when he could have gone to a place where no one knew him to start over, shows that he wants our trust back. He could have gone to a secluded village and started with a clean slate, but it seems that he came here, despite all the misdeeds he has committed."
Sasuke sighed imperceptibly in relief. It seemed the strange, quiet ANBU woman would assure Naruto that he meant no harm, and maybe even give him favor with the villagers.
He took the momentary pause in conversation to study the woman who was vouching for him. Her tattoo was present on the underside of her left wrist, which she deftly covered the moment his eyes locked on the black ink. Her deep indigo colored hair draped over her shoulder in waves as she moved, reaching all the way down to her belly button. Her shirt ended just above this point, baring her midriff, and her pants ended just below her knees.
Though her snake ANBU mask obscured his observance of her face, he could tell that she was what others would consider beautiful. Her fingers and hands were slim, yet he knew that they could kill just as easily as they could pour tea, seeing as she was an ANBU kunoichi. The phrase 'dainty and deadly' came to mind when he studied her.
When she spoke again, Sasuke began to doubt that she was his metaphorical saving grace. "Then again, he may only be trying to trick you into letting him into the village so that Orochimaru can gather information on Konoha. There is just as much of a chance that he is lying as there is of him telling the truth." Maybe she wanted to hurt his reputation instead. That thought idly crossed his mind.
"Alright. I will let him stay for the night." Naruto brought his attention back to his former friend after speaking to the woman as though he wasn't there. "I will discuss this issue with my other advisors and tell you whether or not you may stay permanently, Uchiha. In the meantime, Snake-sama, you are in charge of him. If something happens, you know what to do."
The snake-masked ANBU nodded and turned to Sasuke. "Let's go," she said, then turned back to the Hokage and bowed, "Hokage-sama," with her voice never once betraying her feelings.
"One moment, onegai. Snake-sama, you will be accompanied to the Uchiha District by your apprentice under your supervision. She is in charge of him until you get there because she needs practice, and I know she can be trusted with this. Once there, she is to help you in whatever it is that you need done, since you cannot leave his side. Is this clear to you, Uchiha?" Naruto asked, directing the final bit to the raven haired man.
"Hai." Sasuke wondered why Naruto was giving the ANBU's apprentice the mission to escort him home. To him, it seemed like an extremely simple mission for an ANBU-in-training. Then again, he had no idea how the village worked anymore. The fact that he was considered a dangerous captive never crossed his mind because he had no thoughts of becoming a traitor again.
Sasuke turned to walk out of the office and noticed immediately that Snake was following him instead of walking at his side, as he assumed she would. "Why are you back there?" He questioned disdainfully.
"I am in no way associated with you other than my mission. If I walk in front of you, you can slip away. I will not be seen as your companion by walking beside you, but as your guard, by walking behind. We will meet my apprentice at the exit." Behind him, she walked as rigidly as she spoke.
"You can relax, it's not like I'm going to run away. Either way, I would try to gain the trust of the villagers before I tried anything. I'm going to gain Naruto's trust back, and the trust of the village," he flippantly explained after a few moments of walking in tense silence, just to test her reactions. The woman's distinct lack of all emotion was unnerving, though he would never admit such a thing. He'd never met anyone with such an ability. Not even Orochimaru was able to accomplish such a feat.
"I do not relax. An ANBU cannot relax while on a mission. That is how so many get killed. Whether on an escort mission or watching a traitor, it matters not. One must always be prepared." They reached the door leading out of the Hokage Tower and Sasuke pulled on the handle, causing the teak wood to swing open.
"Ah!" A young girl in an ANBU apprentice's mask exclaimed softly, leaping backward in surprise and drawing a kunai to a defensive position.
Sasuke took her moment of surprise to study what he could see of her. She was of average height for a youth and had light blue hair. Her mask, a snake, only covered the upper half of her face, so he could see her mouth clearly, but could not see her eyes. The mouth, set in an 'o' shape, immediately closed upon glancing over his shoulder, setting itself in a firm grimace.
"Snake-chan, I taught you better than that. You are to sense for chakra presence before opening doors so that no one can surprise you. I have told you that countless times. You need to learn your lessons or one day you will be killed because you were unprepared." Though the woman's voice held no emotion, no scolding tone, the child before him shrank slightly, cowed by her master.
"G-gomen, Snake-senpai. I-I didn't think I needed to do that here in our own village."
"Of course you do; although, only when entering the Hokage building. How many times have I told you that? This is where all the dangerous people are taken when they are captured, and it's where ninja go to report danger. You must be sure there is no threat behind that door before you enter," her voice softened. Though it still held no feelings in it, the way she spoke was less rigid than when she had been speaking to him.
"Hokage-sama has a mission for you. You are in charge of the escort of Uchiha Sasuke to his home in the Uchiha mansion, on the other side of the village. This," she said, gesturing to the man in question, "is he. I will be watching, so make sure to do your best."
"H-Hai!" They began the trek through the busy village, on their way to the Uchiha District. They walked, listening to the young Snake speak quietly, making small talk. For several minutes, Sasuke tried to control his frustration over her stuttering, but years of living in near silence and having only to say the word to have his frustrations end had spoiled him.
He spoke, losing his grip on his temper. "Stop stuttering. You sound just like a rather weak girl whom I used to know. The pitiful Hyuuga heiress," Sasuke sneered, cruelty seeping into his voice from years of overuse, especially over the name which he had recalled upon listening to the smaller woman.
The apprenticed Snake ANBU's mask turned downward without allowing her feet to stop, feebly trying to hide the pained emotion that flitted through the set of her mouth. "Hyuuga Hinata was my mother."
"Snake-chan, no emotion. Do not give information to a traitor like Uchiha, especially some which can be used against us," the elder Snake admonished quietly, in a tone barely audible to the youngest living Uchiha.
He watched the apprentice school her emotions immediately, shaking her head and look up at him defiantly. "Hai, Snake-senpai," she answered her teacher without breaking eye contact with him.
Sasuke wondered what had happened to Hinata, and the apprentice's father. He asked his question despite himself, cursing his curiosity. "Who is your father?"
"I don't know." She sounded guarded now, unwilling to anger her mentor further. He could feel the moment she broke her gaze from his to look over his shoulder at the elder ANBU.
"What happened to your mother, then?"
"That's classified village information. Only those who are trustworthy can be given information such as that," she said, and though it was not in her tone, he could tell that she was mocking him. Her next sentence, spoken after a few moments of terse silence, brought him from his thoughts. "Snake-senpai, we've arrived," she directed, sounding glad for the chance to change the subject.
The district, directly in front of them, was overshadowed by a large sign depicting the name of the location.
"Aa. Go report to Hokage-sama that we made it safely and without incident to the District. When you are through, return here," Snake nodded to dismiss the younger girl from their presence.
"Hai, Snake-senpai." Snake-chan said before she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
(A/N: That's all for now. I hope you liked the first chapter. Please read and review. I want to know if it's good or bad, what I need to improve, and whether you like it or not.
EDIT September 10, 2010 – I am undergoing a major revamp of this story, so if you come back to check it sometime in the near future, this story should be much more detailed and well written than it was when I started writing SL two years ago.
EDIT December 23, 2011 – Yet again, I am undergoing a major revamp of this story because I am still not satisfied with the way a lot of it is worded, and the lack of detail in the descriptions. It's been more than a year since I last edited this, and I realized how poor the descriptiveness truly is. I can't thank you all enough for putting up with this, and reviewing and favoriting and all the other things you've done. (: It makes me very happy!
EDIT September 22, 2014 – I have, once more, totally revamped this story. There was so much wrong with it before, and I have actually finished reworking the entire thing this time, instead of just the first eight chapters like I did the first two times. The story is now totally redone: it has better style, I can read it through without cringing, and I can actually read it through without wondering what in the world I'm talking about at some points. Let me know how y'all like it!)
