A/N: Um. . .please read and review. No flames please, just constructive criticism. This is my first fanfiction and might be a bit AU. ;;; I really can't think of anything more to say. . . or write. Yeah. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters. They belong to Kishimoto.

Chapter One: Surprising Stranger and Sasuke

It was just one of those lazy, peaceful days in the village of Konoha in which the village genin teams had nothing to do but to complete neighborhood chores and find lost pets. It was late in the afternoon, about six o' clock actually, and the sun was setting in the sky, setting the clouds ablaze in red and gold. Team Seven was returning from their mission (weeding the neighborhood gardens and such) with calloused hands and aching backs. They were headed towards the Ramen stand with Naruto and Sakura leading the way, arguing loudly about whether Sasuke weeded the gardens faster than Naruto. Sasuke, of course, was walking a few feet behind alongside Kakashi, who was oblivious to the debate, eyes glued to Jiraiya's latest edition of "Come Come Paradise." Sasuke was trying (and failing) to ignore Naruto and Sakura's loud ramblings, diverting his attention elsewhere.

"Naruto no Baka! Sasuke definitely collected the most weeds from the gardens!"

"More weeds don't prove the fact that he beat me! I picked the weeds faster!"

"This argument is pointless! Only you would come up with it!"

"Aw! But Sakura-Chan!"

"Shut up! Baka!"

There was a loud yelp as Sakura bopped Naruto over the head with her fist. Sasuke sighed and raised an eyebrow at his teammates. They were a strange sight parading down the dirt road: one loud idiot, one desperate Sasuke fan-girl, one stoic "last of the clan" Uchiha prodigy, and one perverted jounin ninja. Sasuke would have given anything for a change in situations. Anything. Luckily for him, he didn't have to. Just as they rounded a corner, a hand shot out of the shadows and seized Sasuke's wrist. He jerked to a stop, shock evident on his face as the others halted a few steps ahead. They turned with curious looks and blinked.

A tall man, about a few inches shorter than Kakashi, stepped out of the dark. He was dressed from the neck down in black clothes, almost ninja-like, except there were no weapons to be seen on his body. Long white hair hung over his face and shoulders, but he did not seem elderly at all. Piercing copper eyes scanned Sasuke's face for a brief second before the stranger's face lit up into a smile.

"Uchiha Sasuke? Am I right?" the stranger asked, surprisingly polite.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes into a fierce glare as he stared back at the smiling man. He tried to wrench his arm away, but the stranger's grip was incredibly strong.

"Bastard! Who are you!" Naruto shouted, pointing a finger at the stranger, "Ah! You're a spy sent by Orochimaru aren't you? Are you with the Akatsuki? Maybe you're a missing-nin who came for revenge! Maybe—"

"Shut up, baka! This is an intense situation!" Sakura silenced Naruto with another smack on the head before turning to Kakashi, who had already put away his book, "Kakashi-sensei, who is this? What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know, " Kakashi narrowed his eyes and reached for a kunai in his back pouch, "I haven't seen you around the village lately—do you have a pass? State your name and business."

"Ah, there's no need to get violent, Hatake-san," the stranger said, continuing to smile pleasantly at them, "My name is Kurosuzu Oboro and it's an honor to finally meet the Copy-nin Kakashi."

"Release me, now! Before I tear your arm off!" Sasuke growled dangerously, his Sharingan activated.

"Didn't your brother tell you anything about me?" Oboro asked, frowning slightly.

The tense atmosphere shattered.

"My brother?" Sasuke breathed, more to himself than any.

"Yes, Uchiha Itachi, I believe," Oboro replied, releasing Sasuke's arm, "You looked exactly like him so I supposed you might know who and where he is."

Sasuke stared up at this man who claimed to know his brother. What does he have to do with aniki?

"I'm afraid Uchiha Itachi can no longer be found in this village," said Kakashi, stepping forward, his hand still gripped around the kunai, "He is missing."

Oboro's face fell completely. His once bright face was dark and cold. Sakura and Naruto blinked at this, letting their guards down.

"I heard about Uchiha Itachi's betrayal, I just didn't want to believe it," muttered Oboro in deep thought, "It really has been quite a while before I came back to this place."

He looked up at the others and smiled again. He took out a piece of folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Kakashi, who put away his kunai to read it.

"As you can see, I have permission from the Hokage herself to roam these streets freely," said Oboro, "I am not an enemy, just a man returning home from a very, very, long journey."

Kakashi handed the paper back to Oboro and straightened, returning to his indifferent self.

"Maa, well, it's been nice meeting you but next time you might not want to jump Konoha ninja like that," Kakashi droned, reaching for his book, "We might not meet a second time."

"Oh, I think I can handle ninja just fine," Oboro laughed and turned to leave, "Ja ne, Uchiha-san, perhaps we'll meet again to talk."

Oboro turned and disappeared into the night.

How? I didn't even sense him, thought Sasuke, watching Oboro's back as he walked away.

"Sasuke?" asked Sakura cautiously, reaching out to touch his shoulder. He shrugged away and walked ahead.

The others followed quietly behind him.