Disclaimer: Um, well we can't think of anything witty to say so we'll just outright say it. We don't own Naruto..make us admit it, why don't you?! We like to pretend.
A/N: This is actually important. This fanfic goes AU after Gaara's resurrection. Oh, and it's in the future. That's all I think.
Rookie nine ages: 19
Gai's team ages: 20
And I think you can figure everyone else's out.
Random quote: "Little girl meat!! So tender and sweet!"
- Gluttony, Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 14
Chapter one:
The trees shifted slightly in the serene breeze, the grass rippling underfoot. Despite the peaceful morning, one irate kunoichi marched through the thick forest, towards the rendezvous point she and her teammates had set.
Furiously she glanced around, and, finding the object of her anger, proceeded to flay him.
"What did you do, Hyuuga Neji?!"
Lee jumped up immediately from his perch on a fallen tree. "Tenten-san! I am sure that there is a reasonable explanation."
"There is!" Tenten said heatedly. "You provoked him, didn't you Neji?"
Neji remained silent, taking Tenten's accusations in stride.
"You are one of his best friends now." Tenten calmed down, seeming fit to give Neji an explanation. "So naturally you can get under his skin in ways others can't. And, after becoming Rokudaime, well he can abuse that power just a tad."
"Especially if he is angered." Lee added.
"So you believe that it is my doing that we were given border patrol as apposed to the promised S-rank mission?" Neji questioned softly, his fingers locked together, supporting his chin. "I may have done something." He admitted.
"We had a mild argument and as the last word, I left Naruto to pay the ramen bill."
"Let me get this right." Tenten struggled to keep a straight face. "You made Uzumaki Naruto pay for his own ramen bill?"
She slapped a hand to her mouth in an attempt to prevent herself from laughing. "Nobody has ever braved his wrath to try something like that before. At least it's nothing drastic."
Lee grinned. "You call not paying Naruto-kun's bill nothing drastic?"
"Course not, I was joking!" She gasped before they both dissolved into gales of laughter.
"It may not be anything to you, but it is my life Naruto is set to destroy." Neji stated monotonously.
They both quieted down considerably, shuddering at the thought of Naruto out to get their blood.
"Just bite back your pride and apologize to him." Tenten frowned, considering her own advice. "On second thought, just repay that damn bill."
Neji gave a curt nod. "We still have until the end of the day. Use the headsets if anything unusual is sensed. We'll split up and meet back here at dusk."
O
Unceremoniously he stumbled through the undergrowth, branches snagging at his torn clothing and hair. The occasional one whipping his face, drawing blood. But he no longer cared.
He blinked rapidly, snarling weakly in rage as his vision began to fail him. His chakra was nearly depleted from recent fights but under no circumstances would he let himself die. Not yet, at least.
Wearily he focused on probing for a chakra signature, after all patrol should be close by. He hoped that the jounin sensei would at least recognize him and let him tell his story. Then, a flare of hope ignited within his core when he finally sensed one.
He no longer cared that he was creating a great deal of noise, that he was leaving behind a blood trail, that he was slowly dying. None of that mattered, nothing did, except getting back in time.
O
Tenten's gaze shotup in bewilderment. This man couldn't be...well...preposterous! But all the clues were pointing there. Not wanting to think about the consequences, Tenten focused on the task at hand.
"Neji, Lee. I think you should come see this." Her voice sounded weak, even to her, and she winced at how pathetic she seemed.
She didn't have to wait long, as she set to work on the body, she heard her two teammates land softly beside her. Tenten noted the sharp intake of breath and tensing of muscles. She realized that they had both recognized the figure and that she had better explain before they became homicidal.
"Uchiha." Neji hissed. At seeing the hauntingly familiar face, he felt his anger flare.
They had risked their lives to stop this man.
Resisting the urge to finish his life himself, Neji pinched the bridge of his nose. He tried to concentrate and think rationally on what form of action the Rokudaime would want them to take.
"His condition?" He opened his previously closed eyes.
"Critical. I'm no medic-nin but I healed what I could. He's not stabilized but he's not going to up and die on us either."
"Bring him to the hospital for the time being. I'll have Haruno-san heal him considering he needs to speak for interrogation.
O
He saw himself and Itachi with startling clarity. Different memories flitted into his mind, surfacing and leaving a slight ache in his chest. In some they were eating or training and talking. He saw Itachi carrying him home piggyback after a long day at the academy.
Then he realized the problem. Sasuke saw what had been nagging at him. These were all kind, gentle memories, glossing over years of accumulated mistrust, hate and bloodshed between the brothers.
Sasuke snarled. He didn't have any conscious; he felt no remorse for slaying Itachi. He sighed and closed his eyes to block out the memories and to halt their torment. But they were ingrained into his eyes, replaying and taunting him with naivety.
The last memory set him off. It was the last time he had seen Itachi before plunging Kusunagi into his unprotected chest and leaving without a backward glance, blood staining his hands permently.
He felt his eyes burning. No, he would not cry, had not cried..Sasuke allowed a small cry of frustration to slip past his guarded lips as everything went black.
O
He woke up with a soft intake of breath, immediately raising his hands, searching for any wetness on his face. Finding none, Sasuke shifted in his bed, checking his surroundings, always alert.
From the slightly metallic scents, he guessed himself to be in a hospital. So whoever had found him, brought him back here. He obviously did not have and immediate death penalty.
His thoughts drifted back to Itachi and in a flash, the slight warmth in his chest disappeared. His mood dampened but he never cried, he could not cry, had not cried since that faithful night Itachi crushed his naive heart.
That day he had made a silent, sorrowful promise. A sworn promise, hatched in hate, to kill Itachi and never again would he stand by helpless and crying.
O
The Rokudaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato was sitting in his desk doing the thing he dreaded the most. He lifted his hand and grabbed...a pencil. His hand trembled as he lowered it to the paper.
Ugh, paperwork. He sighed, gazing longingly out the window.
Suddenly, the door crashed open with a loud bang and the Hokage's peaceful but bored mood dissolved. He jumped in his desk, glancing over to the door. Haruno Sakura stood in the doorway, breathing heavily.
"Naruto!" She yelled at the bewildered Hokage. "I just got the latest update on the patients! Sasuke has regained conscious recently!"
"What?!" Naruto howled in outrage. "I'm the Hokage and I don't even get informed of these important happenings until my assistant tells me?"
Sakura shot him a scathing glare. "I'm not you're assistant. That's sexist baka! Maybe it's because you're not a medic-nin. This is hospital information and I know how much you hate hospitals. It's not like you'd find out this stuff if you never venture there. You might want to question him though. I've already healed him." Sakure ignored her leader's loud outburst and long string of curses.
"Yes...and Sakura-chan, do you want to come? After all, he was your crush." Naruto added in a mocking tone wiggling an eyebrow.
You'll pay for that! Shannaro!
"Why yes, Hokage-sama." Sakure spat out, trying to keep herself in check, the vein on her temple popping out. "Oh, and the Kazekage, Gaara-sama will be coming this afternoon for the meeting. Be prepared."
"Boring...boring." Naruto muttered, waving his hand around in the air as he stood up.
Haruno Sakure was a slim young woman. She wore a dark pink sleeves shirt with black knee length shinobi pants. Her light pink locks were shoulder length and she wore her Konoha hitai-ate like a headband. She was of jounin level though she sported no vest.
Naruto wore the robe and hat of the Hokage which he quickly discarded. Underneath, he wore traditional jounin uniform. He wore his hitai-ate around his neck, leaving his shaggy golden hair to fall messily into his eyes, which had grown more unruly over the years.
"Naruto...I know you don't takediplomatic meetings seriouslybut this is going to be the first time you'll be meeting Gaara-sama as the Hokage, so..." Sakure warned trailing off.
"Yeah, yeah. I know but I really do need to see Sasuke though. Come on!" The Uzumaki dashed out the door with a very angry Sakure on his heels.
"Naruto, that's just an excuse to get out of the office and away from the paperwork! Watch out! You're supposed to be an example for others! Don't crash into people!"
Never mind, that's Sai. You go right ahead and knock him down. Payback for calling me Ugly Hag. Shannaro!
"Suimasen Sai. I'm sure he didn't try that. Are you okay?" Sakure asked. She smiled sweetly, her eye twitching dangerously.
"Hai." Sai answered. "Where was he going?"
"It's Sasuke," Sakure spoke very fast in her hast as she tried not to let Naruto out of her sight. "He's finally woken up!"
"You are excited to see him, after..."
"Well, no. Not really." Sakure admitted sadly. "But I can't leave Naruto alone. You know how he can get..." She glanced quickly around and swore. "Damn! I really have to go! I'll see you around."
Sai nodded. He had only met this Sasuke once and he had heard about the stories of his treachery. He would also miss his only true friends. Would he be abandoned in their nostalgia? It would be harder after learning of friendship and emotions, from those two.
"Sai, is something the matter?" Sakure asked peering closer at him.
"Iie." Sai answered, plastering a wide fake smile onto his face. Sayonara..." He waved and turned to leave.
"It's not goodbye, just I'll talk to you later!" The pink haired woman trailed off. She winced, Sai had sounded a little...depressed. She waved and turned to run after the hyper Hokage.
When Sakura reached the hospital, Naruto was shifting frantically though a clipboard, muttering curses at random, glaring at anyone who dared approach him.
"You should have waited for me to get here." Sakure sweatdropped.
"You're too slow!" The blonde grunted.
Sakure sighed. "That's because you have to much energy. Here, let me see it." She held out her hand.
"Well what would you expect after being cooped up in that blasted tower all day?!" Naruto huffed indignantly as he held out the clipboard for Sakure.
The woman took the offered papers and shuffled through them. "Hmm...let's see...Sasuke is in the intensive care unit, room 206."
Nerves starting to make themselves known, they slowed down considerably, trudging in a thick silence up the stairs.
The ANBU squad guarding the door bowed in respect as the Rokudaime approached them, moving to the side, allowing entrance. Sakure reached for the handle. Surprisingly, it was Naruto who stopped them. His head was lowered with his bangs in his face.
"Sakura-chan...have you ever wondered? What if Sasuke doesn't except us as friends anymore?" He looked up. His expressive cerulean eyes filled with sadness.
Haruno Sakure stared at the Hokage quizedly. Naruto...that's quite advanced thinking for you. She marveled
"We don't know but there's only one way to find out." She announced.
Naruto flashed her an uneasy grin as the pink haired kunoichi yanked open the door.
Inside they found Uchiha Sasuke with his arms tucked underneath his head. He was staring blankly at the ceiling.
"That ceiling done something to offend you...teme?" The Rokudaime asked, breaking into an ear to ear grin. He shifted nervously, trying to make light of the serious topic.
Said man slowly turned his head to face his two old teammates. "Hn...Usuratonkachi."
Sasuke was a just as pale as he had been before his defection and looked just as elegant. His ebony hair was still spiky and resembled a duck's butt, though it was a tad bit longer. At the moment he dawned the garments of Konoha's hospital. He was still the same Sasuke, the village heart throb.
The young kunoichi stood by the side watching the short exchange. She had her hands held against her chest, wringing them slowly, hoping that things went smoothly. Tears swam in her eyes, not spilling over when she heard those familiar insults.
"Sasuke." She whispered, carefully walking over and hugging to the Uchiha heir briefly. There was no real warmth in her caress or greeting.
Sasuke's eyes softened but still he pushed the young medic-nin away from him. "Sakura...stop." Sasuke's tone didn't sound hostile or angry. It sounded so...Sasuke like that Sakure smiled sadly.
"Well Sasuke..." Naruto prepared himself for what he was about to ask. "Why'd you come back?" He sighed.
Sasuke flinched. He had been expecting something along the lines of this but still it hurt to have his friend ask him that. "Where is Hokage-sama? I would rather if she questioned me on this."
"What makes you think it's a her?" The Uzumaki's grin sliding off his face.
"So there is a Rokudaime. Where is he then?" Sasuke demanded. He was getting quite annoyed and the dobe's content attitude was beginning to fade away, becoming grim.
"Right in front of you." The blonde growled at the surprised expression the Uchiha sported. "What? You don't think that I could be? You haven't changed at all." He hissed.
"And you have. It just came as a surprise. I was not expecting you to have grown this much." He was unable to accept the fact that his clumsy friend was now his superior in strength as well as politically and wisdom.
Naruto's cerulean orbs turned icy and glittered with power. "Sakura-san, please leave us." He commanded.
Sakure shuddered. It was times like these which Naruto really scared her. He truly had the aura of a powerful and great leader.
"Hai." She bowed at the door and muttered. "Sayonara." Before shutting it behind her. She took a deep calming breath, trying to compose herself. She hoped things didn't result to violence in the room. Still, she saw fit to warn the ANBU guards.
O
"Will you answer my questions without the use of an ANBU squad?" Naruto turned away from the Uchiha, facing the wall with his arms crossed in front of him.
The threat was clear. If an ANBU squad was brought in things would become violent. It would be Intelligence agents and they specialized in torture and interrogation.
Was his friend willing to go as far as torture him for answers? "Hn." Sasuke replied.
Taking this as a yes, Naruto continued. "Sasuke, I'm not just your friend anymore. I'm the Hokage. And I can not treat one captive any differently than the rest. I'm already trying my hardest!" His voice becoming desperate.
"As you know, the penalty for treason is death. I'm trying my best to convince the council otherwise but..."
"I understand. I might be killed."
"So will you answer my questions?"
Sasuke closed his eyes. "As long as my answers do not, in anyway, harm myself. That information remains guarded."
The Uzumaki nodded slowly, before turning to stare determinedly at Sasuke. "Why have you returned?"
"I have no more goals." The brunette stated.
"That's not good enough, damn it!" The Rokudaime roared punching the floor.
"Hokage-sama!" A neko masked ANBU bursted through the door after hearing the outburst and the sounds of a fight.
"Leave. I'm fine." The blonde commanded.
The ANBU bowed before exiting the room hesitantly, closing the door with a snap.
"I thought that I was going to die." Naruto turned to stare wide eyed at Sasuke who had his head lowered. "You were my only true friend. I had to see you one last time before I left this world."
"You would have died if Tenten hadn't found you." Naruto whispered. "Why did you have so many injuries? What were you doing?"
"I betrayed Orochimaru. I fought with him until he lay dead at my feet." Sasuke snarled. "Then I went after Itachi. He has also taken his last breath."
"You do realize that even if you are not killed, you will still be punished in some way. I can not save you from that." Naruto's piercing gaze softened a fraction. "I should be leaving now. I have paperwork to get back to." He shuddered.
"Surely killing two dangerous nuke-nin atones for something." Sasuke tone was angry, demanding an answer.
Naruto paused at the door. His hand resting against the doorknob, head lowered.
"Sayonara." He whispered to the last Uchiha. "Don't even think of escaping, there are ANBU stationed around the hospital and there are more guarding your room."
He watched as Sasuke frowned. Gomen. But I can't make this any easier on you." The blond gave Sasuke no time to answer and quickly left, shutting the door with force brought on by anger, guilt and frustration.
The brunette gazed despairingly at the closed door, wishing that his old friend would enter again, grinning stupidly.
"What have I done?" He whispered, slowing rolling on his side away from the door.
O
Mirb: Thanks for reading :) and we hope you guys liked it stay tuned O.o ...although..you can't really with a computer and such...meh screw it!
Tsuki: Yes, that was painful...Well everyone says it so I'll just uphold tradition (imagine online tradition) R&R! I don't take flames but constructive criticizem I'm all for!
Dictionary of Japanese words:
Kunoichi: Female ninja
-san: It's equivalent to 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.' in English
Rokudaime: Sixth
-kun: A title used for guys when you're close to them
Jounin: A rank of ninja
Sensei: Teacher
Medic-nin: Medical ninja
Kusunagi: Sasuke's sword
Konohagakure no Sato: Hidden Leaf Village
Baka: Idiot
-chan: A title used for girls when you're close to them
Shannaro: 'Hell yeah' or 'Hell no' depends on what she's saying
Suimasen: Sorry
Hai: Yes
Iie: No
Sayonara: Goodbye
Teme: Bastard
Usuratonkachi: Clumsy idiot
-sama: Equivalent to 'Lord'
Neko: Cat
Nuke-nin: Missing ninja
Gomen: Sorry