Chapter One: A Different Kind of Ending (Naruto's POV)

In which Sasuke returns to Konoha with some very unwelcome guests in tow.

Naruto paced back and forth in front of Konoha's gates, throwing a fierce look every now and then at the shadowed forests beyond the walls. Sakura was watching him from where she sat beside the path, and he could see that the two guards behind the desk were watching him too, amused expressions on their faces.

"Naruto-kun," Sakura whined. "It's getting dark."

"You'll see," he said. "He's coming home today."

"Maybe he's just somewhere near here. Closer than he has been."

Naruto sighed. No, Sasuke's chakra, his aura, his presence- whatever you wanted to call it- was on the move, and getting stronger. He was right. Today was the day he was coming home.

"I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up," Sakura added.

It had been almost six months and Naruto hadn't heard a peep from the bastard. He knew he'd been in contact with Kakashi, and the official word on the street was still that Sasuke- fully exonerated, but not technically a Konoha shinobi at the moment- was away on a personal mission for the Hokage. Personal mission meant Kakashi didn't need to tell him what Sasuke was up to, as he had reminded him on several occasions. Naruto scowled.

Sasuke, he thought. Why the hell did you stay away for so long?

Naruto wondered, not for the first time, what he'd say to him when he got back. Maybe, hey look, I'm a jounin now- I beat you! Or, so much in Konoha has changed while you were gone. You won't even recognize it!

"Oh, Pakkun," Sakura said, and Naruto turned and saw the leader of Kakashi's pack trotting down the path towards them. "Did you need me?"

The little pug came up to them and sat down in front of Naruto. Sakura came over to join them. He shook his head. "I'm here to greet Sasuke and his guests."

Naruto threw a triumphant look in Sakura's direction. "You see! He's definitely coming home today. Any minute."

Sakura just frowned at them both. "His guests? Who else is coming?"

"Probably his wife!" called Kotetsu from the guard's desk.

Pakkun didn't say, so Naruto turned away and resumed his pacing. The sun was going down and it was getting a little cooler; Naruto shivered. That tingling on his skin, that little part of his mind that had been permanently locked onto Sasuke's general location since the war, was getting stronger.

Evidently, Kakashi knew that Sasuke was coming home today. Naruto wasn't surprised that he hadn't said anything. Naruto often went to him with rumours he'd heard; Sasuke had been seen in Suna, Sasuke had been spending time with monks. Sasuke had married some minor lord's daughter (that one had been hilarious). So, the bastard had sent word he was coming back, and that he wasn't coming back alone. He felt himself tensing up. Sasuke hadn't really gotten married or anything crazy like that, had he?

"Damn," Sakura muttered from behind him. "You were right."

Naruto whipped around to face the gates right in time to see Sasuke and two other figures land just beyond them. He grinned. "Yes! What did I say? I said it would be today, that's what I said!"

He sauntered over to the gates with Sakura and Pakkun in tow; the two guards stood to attention, wary at Sasuke's return.

"Hey bastard! Took you bloody long enough, didn't it!" he yelled out.

Sasuke and the others emerged from the shadows and came towards them. He was dressed in simple travelling clothes, with no mark of Konoha anywhere. His hair had gotten much longer, and was falling over his face. Oh, Naruto thought. People won't like that. People who knew Itachi, anyway.

As they came closer, Naruto turned his attention to Sasuke's companions, instantly relieved that neither of them was a girl, but he soon struck by an awful, foreboding sensation. He frowned. "Hey, don't we know those guys?" he said to Sakura.

One was a slight, silver-haired young man; the other, a hulking figure with bright orange hair.

"Oi, look, isn't it Naruto," the silver one said with a cheeky grin. "And that must be Sakura-chan," he added, leering at the pink-haired girl.

"Have we met them?" Sakura whispered to Naruto. Standing up straighter, she cleared her throat. "Sasuke-kun, okaeri," she called, nudging Naruto with her elbow and giving him a look.

"What?" Naruto muttered, not taking his eyes off the other two. He had suspicions about who they were, and he did not like it, not one little bit.

Sasuke. You wouldn't dare bring them here. Would you?

Sasuke gave them the briefest of looks before seemingly ignoring them, and turning his attention to the two guards.

"Sasuke Uchiha," Izumo called. "Just who are you trying to bring into Konoha?"

"This is Suigetsu Hozoki," Sasuke said, "and this is Juugo."

The atmosphere changed instantly, becoming charged with tension as the two guards both pulled weapons and fell into battle stances. "Akatsuki?" they hissed, jumping into position around the trio.

You bastard, Naruto thought. It's your old team, you shit!

"Sasuke, what the hell?" Naruto yelled. "This is what you've been up to?!"

This is why you left me?

"Call for back-up," one guard said to the other.

"Better make it Anbu, aren't they watching the gates anyway?" said the other.

Sasuke just rolled his eyes at the change, and continued to look bored.

Sakura looked shocked, and gripped Naruto's arm tightly, as if she was holding him back. Naruto opened his mouth to say something else.

"Ahem," said Pakkun, interrupting them all. "There's no need for that. Put the weapons away."

They all stared at the little dog incredulously. The pug remained sitting peacefully on his hind legs, seemingly unconcerned at the confrontation happening in front of him.

The guards, although slowly getting used to having nin-ken running around the village distributing official orders from the Hokage, were not at all inclined to just put the weapons away.

"Please," said Pakkun. "Hokage's orders. These two were expected. They're not a security concern."

Eventually, the guards did take a step back, frowning. Izumo began speaking into the radio around his neck.

"What's the deal?" Naruto asked the pug.

Pakkun cleared his throat, and walked closer to Sasuke and his companions. "Missing-nin-san," he began. "Welcome to Hidden Leaf. I'm sure things might seem a little unusual to you here but please be assured of our good intentions. If you would kindly follow Sasuke to the medical centre, we can treat any injuries you may have."

"Missing-nin?" Naruto repeated.

"Missing-nin-san?" added the guards.

"Injuries?" asked Sakura.

As if on cue, the silver-haired one pitched forward into a dead faint, and Sasuke moved to catch him before he hit the ground.

"Hey, is he okay?!" Sakura called, rushing forward in concern.

"Juugo," Sasuke said; the bigger one came over and Sasuke gingerly tried to place Suigetsu on his shoulders. Sakura moved to help him, picking at the cloak he wore and searching for injuries at the same time.

"What's wrong with him, Sasuke?" she asked.

"Blood loss," he answered, "and dehydration. Amongst other things."

"Are you okay?" she added, running her eyes over him.

"Yeah," he replied, and Sakura frowned.

They got Suigetsu up onto Juugo's shoulders, whilst Naruto and the guards stood and watched in stunned silence. Former Akatsuki members being welcomed into Konoha? Just what was Kakashi thinking?

Naruto quickly glanced around him, probing at the buildings surrounding the gates. Ah, there, at least two Anbu. He relaxed slightly, but not very much.

"If you'll follow me to the medical centre," Pakkun interjected, "the Hokage will meet you there."

"I'm coming too," Sakura said, as Sasuke nudged Juugo and directed him to follow the pug.

"Of course," Pakkun said, and they all started walking.

Naruto stared at them as they went, gaping.

"Hey, Naruto," Izumo said to him. "Just what's your pet up to now? Is this really okay?"

Naruto shrugged, frowning, watching the three plus Sakura and Pakkun getting further away. As if he ever knew what Sasuke was up to, and whether it was okay. He did know this was not how he was expecting this to go.

Hey, Sasuke, he thought. Are we ever going to talk about what happened in the hospital?

He sighed, and rushed down the path to catch up with them.