my first fic ever! so yeah it's a bit lame...
4 and half years later:
He found it relaxing, just sitting on the roof and watching the clouds as they move and form different shapes. Sometimes he could see a face, a long lost face that he longed to see again, but it was only sometimes. How many years have passed? Oh yeah… nearly five. Almost five years since Sasuke left and nothing has changed. Only the pain grew stronger. He didn't like to think about Sasuke because it meant being in pain. The thought of Sasuke always made his heart ache horribly. It was unbearable so he preferred to watch the clouds and try to find funny shapes. But unfortunately Sasuke always sneaked into his mind and made Naruto want to scream in desperation and torment.
He hated Sasuke for leaving the village.
He hated Sasuke for his smirks.
He hated Sasuke for his beautiful black eyes.
He hated Sasuke for his being so indifferent.
He hated Sasuke for always calling him "dobe" or "usuratonkachi".
He hated Sasuke for being such an idiot.
He hated him but loved him.
In fact, he hated Sasuke because he loved him so much and Sasuke didn't return his feelings. He didn't love Naruto. Otherwise he wouldn't have run away from Konoha. Naruto closed his eyes and sighed.
Nearly five years…
Suddenly, he got up to his feet and stretched his body. He was almost eighteen but today he felt like he was eighty. Maybe it was all because he was so depressed and tired. Anyway he has to go see Tsunade baa-chan. maybe she'll have some missions to distract his mind from Sasuke. He jumped over the rooftops of the houses and made his way to the Hokage's tower.
"Just the one I've wanted to see," said Tsunade as Naruto entered through the open window. She smirked at him and let him sit on the chair at the other side of her desk.
"Do you have any missions?"
"Still thinking about him?" she asked with a sigh. "Naruto, you really should forget about him. He's never gonna come back".
"I know," was his sorrowful answer. "You don't have to remind me again". Tsunade smiled a soft sad smile and said: "you really love him, don't you?" Naruto didn't have to answer. She already knew it. "But you really must stop thinking about him, it's not healthy! Look at you! You've lost weight and you look so pale! I heard you don't show up at Ichiraku's as often as you used to". She yelled at him. Geez, that boy is so stubborn! At this rate he'll die after a few more years. She likes the kid, she really does. She hates to see him suffer like this. Damn that Sasuke! If she ever sees him again she'll kill him herself!
"Here, eat some cookies. Shizune baked them". She offered him a plate full of cookies. Naruto took one but didn't eat it. "Do you have a mission for me? My landlord keeps bothering me about the rent".
"I got one but it's too much easy". She said and gave him the papers.
"It's fine. Anything will do right now". He said and he turned to leave.
"Oh, and Naruto? Forget him!"
Naruto closed the door. Baa-chan doesn't understand. Nobody does. He can never forget Sasuke. He'll never be able to do so. He had a feeling that the pain would grow even stronger if he was to forget Sasuke and his feelings for him. And besides, he didn't want to forget him. Not even a bit because he loved Sasuke.
But lately, everybody seems to tell him to forget Sasuke. Neji would shake his head and say "you're being obsessed Naruto". Shikamaru would sigh and say: "stop thinking about such a troublesome guy". And Sakura would just give him a sad smile and say: "they're right Naruto. Even I gave up".
But Naruto just couldn't do it. Forget Sasuke that is. So whenever the thoughts about him were too much to take he would go to the Hokage and ask if there were missions he could do.
Naruto wore his hitai-ate and took his leave. His mission: to find a lost six years old girl and return her to her parents. It seemed that she used to run away often but never for too long like this time.
'Why do I always have to deal with this sort of people?' he thought bitterly as he made his way to the village, thinking (again) of Sasuke.
The village wasn't a small one but it wasn't too big. And Naruto couldn't help but wonder how the heck did a girl get lost here? She sure didn't want to be found.
"Thank you so much!" her mother cried in relief. Naruto gave her a soft smile.
"Don't thank me now," he said and went to look for the girl.
Although it was a small one, the village had many good hiding places and he decided it be good to start with the Hokage Monuments. And so he did.
Luckily, the girl was exactly there, sitting on the Yondaime's head.
"Haruko", he called to her and she turned with surprise.
"You're Naruto Uzumaki," she stated after she saw his. He didn't ask how she knew that because the whole village knew who he was. After all, how couldn't they not know who is the kyuubi's vessel?
He approached her and asked for permission to sit beside her. She shrugged at him and didn't say a thing.
"So, what's your story?" he asked, not really caring.
"None of your business monster," she replied rudely.
"You're right", he said, already used to the cursing and swearing. "I don't give a shit about your problem and it's none of my business". She stared at him with wide eyes. Obviously she didn't expect such an answer.
"Aren't you supposed to act nice and try to convince me to go back home?" she asked wonderingly.
"No. I'm just supposed to bring you back home. Nobody noted how it should be done", he smirked. There was a silent moment and then he added, more softly though: "But they say it helps when you share your feelings with others" he looked at her. "I thought you might want to try".
The girl didn't say a word and Naruto just waited. He can wait, it won't take too long. Meanwhile he glanced at the little girl. She was actually very cute with her big green eyes and softly curled black hair. He thought she reminded him of someone.
Suddenly she spoke: "She doesn't care." She said in a trembling voice. Naruto didn't respond.
"She doesn't care that it's my big dream and goal in life. She thinks it's too dangerous for a girl like me to be a shinobi. But I wanna be a shinobi!! I wanna fight and protect my village! Why can't she accept this? It's not like I'm the only girl that wants to be a shinoby! Almost every team includes a girl. Even the Godaime is a WOMAN!!" she took a short pause to breathe. "So what if I'm only six years old! It's not like I'll stay like this forever! And so what if I tend to get sick too often? I can cope! I'm not weak!!" and she burst into tears of desperation. Naruto was silent. He didn't know what he should say to comfort the girl. She seemed to be a smart girl despite her young age and he was afraid he might say something that would only make her cry even more. At last he said: "I think I can understand your mother in a way. Since I don't have parents I don't exactly know how parents act and feel. But when I think of it, like now, I'd say I can somehow understand why your mother acts the way she does. If I was a parent I think I might do the same thing. You wanna know why?" Haruko nodded in silence.
"Well, probably because I'd care for my child. I wouldn't want her to get hurt or something and I'd want to protect her from any evil in the world".
"But can't you understand me?" she asked, once again on the edge of tears.
"I do", Naruto replied. "That's why I'm telling you to believe in yourself and not to give up. Your mother may be right, but you are also right. I don't really know if I can help you but I can tell you this: don't ever give up on your dreams and value the life.
And besides that, if you want to ask me something or call me monster again you can always look for me here or at the Hokage's". He laughed heartily.
"I'm sorry I called you a monster," she said, really regretting it.
"It's fine. I'm pretty much used to it," he said. "Anyway, I think you should try to understand your mom and go back home".
The girl nodded and got up to her feet. Naruto did the same and was about to leave when the girl suddenly seized his hand and looked up at him.
"What's wrong?"
"I am really sorry for calling you a monster, really…" she said, almost crying again. Naruto couldn't help but feel a bit warmer and happy. This little girl…she did so much more for him in only a few minutes than any of the other people in Konoha ever did. He was truly grateful for that. He knelt down so he could look her in the eyes and wiped away the tears that began to roll down her pretty cheeks.
"You truly regret your words? Then it's settled. It's ok Haruko. I don't mind now, since we've become friends, right?" the girl nodded, enthusiast.
"Umm…can I really… come to visit you?" she asked, shyly. Naruto gave her a soft smile. "Sure you can! Anytime you'd like to. I think it'll help us both…"
1.
"Naruto nii-san!!" he was greeted with a happy cry and a loving hug.
"Hello to you too Haru-chan," he replied and gave the girl hug.
Two months have passed since the day he met Haruko and he came to like the little girl. After he told her she can visit him anytime, the girl actually did so. Well, almost any time. She used to pop up from nowhere and fill his small apartment with laughter and pure innocence and make him laugh along with her. She would follow him wherever he went (when she wasn't at school) and tell him stories about her dreams and ambitions (her ambitions were small but after all she was a small kid) and about her daily life. Naruto learned that she was very talented and that she could draw very well (for a six years old girl). She loved sweets and loved summer of all seasons.
Haruko came to visit him almost every day after school and they would spend the time together until it got dark.
That day when Naruto came to pick up Haruko was her birthday and he promised her he would take her to the park.
"Naruto-kun, I am so thankful for what you're doing. Haruko is so happy since you came!" Akane, her mother, said, smiling happily at him.
"I am thankful to her," he said. The woman smiled at him softly. She didn't hate this boy, not at all. And if there was hatred in her heart towards him it sure had gone after he made her daughter this happy. No, she didn't hate the kyuubi vessel, not at all. She still remembered the Yondaime's words. This boy is a hero. But she was the only one who remembered.
"Naruto-kun, don't give up," she said affectionately. Naruto's head jerked up in surprise, his bright blue eyes looking at her unbelievingly.
"Maybe you think that everybody in this village hates you. But it's not quite true. There are people who care for you and love you sincerely. You only need to look".
"Nee-san…because of people like you I am able to go on. I am able to keep my sanity because there are people who are good enough to give me a smile in this hell I live in". Akane hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead. Naruto watched her, shocked, and then, slowly, a tear fell down from his eye and after that another one and another one. He wiped his tears and smiled.
"Now, I don't think a shinobi should cry like this," he laughed.
"No. a shinobi should know that there are times when it's needed to cry", Akane said.
"Now go on already or Haruko is going to get pissed". Naruto gave her a last smile and he and Haruko left the house.
Akane watched them as they got farther and sighed. Naruto was such a good boy. Why couldn't anyone see that?
"See you tomorrow Haru-chan!"
"Goodbye Naruto nii-san!!"
Naruto waved, smiling, and made his way back to his apartment. The sun was already setting and he needed to take a shower.
It's been a nice day and he had fun at the park with Haruko. They bought ice-creams and sailed a pedal boat and watched as a street performer did some tricks and stunts. Haruko was really happy and because of that Naruto was happy too. He wanted to see the little girl smile more often because from what he had learned from Akane, Haruko used to be very sad and didn't smile at all. So Naruto made it his mission to make her laugh and be happy.
But Haruko's presence also helped him. How? Well because of Haruko he was able to forget about Sasuke and not be in pain because of that. He began to be his old self again, with a wide grin and laughing blue eyes. Being with Haruko made him forget that he was actually sad and in pain and Naruto longed for the moments when he'll be with Haruko again, because when he was left alone, all the memories came back to him and brought the pain back along with them. And Naruto feared the memories. He feared the emotions that he locked away inside his heart. He didn't want to be hurt again.
He stood in front of his apartment door for a moment before pulling out the key and opening it.
His apartment was small but it was enough for him. There was a small sofa and a coffee table and a TV. Naruto took off his shoes and went straight to the shower.
After having a long nice and hot shower he put on his pajama and prepared himself a cup of instant ramen.
"I need a new supply of this…" he mumbled to himself before climbing up to the roof. This was one of his favorite places to sit and watch the village and Naruto used to sit up there almost every night and watch the lights of the village while eating his ramen.
He watched as the stars shone brightly upon the small village and smiled to himself. This was his home. No matter how much he suffered from the villagers, he always saw this place as his home. No matter how cruel life was to him, he loved his life in Konoha and was grateful for it. He loved this village, truly loved it. And that's why he wanted to protect it from any evil. That's why he's here right now and not out there chasing after Sasuke. Well, that wasn't actually the only reason. The other reasons were the fact that Sasuke didn't feel the same way about him and the very high odds that Sasuke would hate him if he'd try to drag him back to Konoha. Yes, Naruto finally understood that one can't force another to do something they don't want to. And Sasuke doesn't want to come back. Naruto understood him, though. After all, there was nothing left for Sasuke in this place he once used to call home.
Naruto sighed deeply and finished his cup of ramen. After that he went back inside and got prepared to go to sleep.
The air was cooler that night and he decided it'd be a good thing to close his bedroom window. He didn't want to get a cold or something nastier. He had to be strong. So he closed the window and went to sleep.
He had the weirdest dream about Sasuke. It was almost real and Naruto was afraid to wake up. Sasuke was back, in his dream, and he meant to stay. And although Naruto didn't want to wake up, morning did arrive and the annoying sound of the ringing phone forced him to open his eyes. '…the hell? Who's calling so early in the morning?' was his first thought before he reached out a hand to pick up the phone.
"Hel-yawn-lo…?" somehow it felt cold in the tiny room.
"Naruto-kun? It's Akane. I'm sorry I'm bothering you so early in the morning but I just want to remind you that it's Haru-chan's first day at the Academy and she'd be very glad if you'll go with her".
"Uh...ummm sure nee-san. So Haru Chan will be waiting for me?" But his bed felt really warm and cozy. Strange… he was sure he locked the window last night.
"Good than I'll tell her. See you later Naruto-kun!" and she hanged up.
"Ok Haru-chan…it's time to escort you…" he mumbled to himself and tried to get up. Something much unexpected stopped him. In fact, it was a much unexpected hand and it pulled him back down to bed.
At first Naruto was confused so he tried to get up once more and, surprisingly, it happened again.
"What the…?" he turned around, very confused and lost his words. There, in his bed, right beside him was a sleeping person and that person held Naruto's waist possessively. The first thing Naruto did was blush. The second thing was panic.
'Who is this girl?' 'Did something happen last night?' 'Did I get drunk?' who the hell is she?' 'What am I gonna do?!'
'Ok Naruto. Get a hold of yourself! You didn't drink and you didn't let her in! Now just tell her nicely that this is your house and that she should leave!' with that thought in his mind He was about to pull off the blanket when a voice, painfully familiar, said: "Dobe, it's freaking cold. Go back to sleep…"
Naruto froze. There was no mistake…that voice belonged to a certain Uchiha Naruto knew very well. What the hell is going on?? This-this can't be Sasuke. For some reason, that thought frightened him. He hoped it was just another bad dream and that soon he'll wake up and that this not-supposed-to-be-Sasuke would be gone.
But it was real, apparently.
"S-Sasuke…?" he managed to whisper in a weak voice. The body beside him turned around and the pale face of Uchiha Sasuke was revealed.
"Hello Dobe". Was all he said before smirking one of his famous I'm-so-good-and-you're-not smirks. Naruto almost fell from his bed after that. This was truly Sasuke teme!
"W-What the hell are you doing here??"
"What does it look like? I'm trying to have a sleep!" was Sasuke's brilliant arrogant answer. Naruto got up quickly and tried to leave the room but a strong hand of an Uchiha stopped him again. Sasuke was sitting on his bed now, half naked and very tired looking.
"You're not going anywhere dobe". He said to the blond and gave him an irritated glare.
"WTF teme? Let go of me! Let go of me now! Teme!" but Sasuke only tightened his grip and pulled the blond closer to him.
"Usuratonkachi, shut up. I'm back as you wanted" he whispered to his ex-teammate's ear.
