Hello everyone, How is everyone doing? I think I am getting more organized with school and getting the things I need to do done so I will be able to continue my writing. Hopefully because in all honesty things can change.
Foxluna: Yes they will be going through it in the worse way possible because they really both feel like they don't know who they are anymore. Especially Itachi he always lived for his brother to kill him for him to live and his brother to die is taking its toll on him.
TigrezzTail: I think if Itachi lived I think he would have never wanted to be a ninja again. I think the only reason he became one was because he felt obligated and he knew of the knowledge that was needed to protect and take care of people in the village.
Guest; Melyway: Words and promises mean a lot to both Naruto and Itachi so it is a very big deal and does influence a lot of the things they do through the story.
nekoangel1988: Yes there will be more. I still am developing where I want to go with this story. And thank you I appreciate what you think.
Mkayemolina: Sorry that I am not sorry for making you cry. I cried too to be honest. I think this particular chapter was inspired by a song I kept listening too that was sad so this was the creation to that. There was hidden meanings and feelings with every conversation that happened. You will see in this chapter also.
kamui5: Thank you.
Naur1: Here's more. I am about to be done with chapter 3 also but that won't be posted for a while honestly.
Itachi has been back in the village for only a week and he has had just about everything happen to him from them trying to attack him to them not wanting to sell anything to him. Quite frequently he would have to go shopping with Shikamaru or Naruto who barely left the Uchiha manor since Sasuke died. He stays in Sasuke's room more often than not. Itachi didn't even know that Sasuke and Naruto had that good of a relationship that Sasuke let him in their house not like it bothered him or anything but it was shocking to say the least.
Shikamaru happened to be the first one comfortable with the whole situation of Itachi being back. The other rookies from Sasuke and Naruto's class didn't go anywhere near him and even tried taking Naruto away from him but Naruto refused to budge. Hell, he refused to leave the Uchiha manor.
"Hey Itachi," Shikamaru said as he walked up to him with Choji walking behind him.
Choji was another person to warm up to him considering he trusted Shikamaru enough to go along with his judgement. But Itachi could tell the kid still didn't trust him he was just respectful and that was something Itachi could tolerate.
"Hello Shikamaru," Itachi said still looking at vegetables not really sure if they were going to sell to him.
He remembered when Naruto went through this when he was a kid and now he completely understood why the kid was so wild to begin with. Not that he would act the way Naruto did when he was younger.
"Are they still not selling to you?" Shikamaru asked.
"No, but don't tell Naruto that I don't want him to worry more about me than he already does." Itachi said glancing at Shikamaru.
"Do you want me to get them for you?" Shikamaru asked putting some vegetables in a basket for Itachi.
"You don't need to do it." Itachi said.
"Naruto needs to eat too with you." Shikamaru said making Itachi more comfortable about him helping.
"Where is Naruto anyway?" Choji asked.
"He is in Sasuke's room at the house." Itachi said.
"Does he sleep there?" Shikamaru asked.
"Most nights he does. I even found him eating tomatoes. It was weird." Itachi said thinking back.
"I didn't know Naruto could eat anything aside from Ramen." Choji mumbled.
"Do you want tomatoes?" Shikamaru asked.
"No, we have a tomato garden in the backyard. I find him there sometimes too." Itachi said a soft smile coming to his face.
"How are you holding up?" Shikamaru asked looking at Itachi with sorrow.
"I am pulling through the best I can be considering." Itachi said looking to the ground.
"I'm sure it doesn't help that you two are in the house all the time. Why don't you two come out and about for a while? Come hang out with me and play GO. I'm sure you can play the game and be a good competitor for me. Naruto learned how to play he is a decent player shockingly better than most." Shikamaru offered.
"Maybe we can do that. I will ask Naruto when I get back to the house." Itachi said.
"Itachi, have you been getting your checkups?" Shikamaru asked since he knew of the Uchiha's health condition with his lungs.
Good thing it was curable and Lady Tsunade caught in time to heal him and get him treatments for it.
"Yeah I went three times this week Naruto gave me no choice. He said he won't lose me too." Itachi said another soft smile appearing on his face shocking Choji.
"You should smile more often and people may open up to you a little." Choji abruptly said making both ninja look toward him. "What? I'm just saying. If people didn't think you were a threat it might help with buying your food." Choji said nodding his head.
"Thank you," Itachi said grabbing the bags from Shikamaru. "I will see you two later." Itachi said turning away.
"Just come by my house when you get the answer from Naruto." Shikamaru said with a smile.
Itachi waved his hand off saying he would and continued back to his manor. A weird feeling came over him when he was about to open the door making him look for Naruto's presence problem was he wasn't in the house anywhere that made Itachi run into the house immediately.
As he got in the house he noticed it was too quiet like no one lived there to begin with and that didn't sit well with Itachi at all. It freaked him the hell out. Itachi set the bags down by the door and started his search for Naruto. He looked through the whole house, the Uchiha cemetery, and the garden he was nowhere to be found making Itachi panic more.
"NARUTO! NARUTO WHERE ARE YOU?" Itachi screamed through the house then jumped to the roof leaping onto the roofs straight to Shikamaru's house.
He knew his chakra wasn't exactly stable or calm when he felt Anbu following him. By the time he got to Shikamaru's house Shikamaru was already outside his mom behind him along with Temari.
"What's wrong Itachi?" Shikamaru asked approaching the last Uchiha when he saw the panicked look on his face.
"Naruto is gone. I don't know where he is. I got home looked everywhere. I don't know where he is and I searched for his chakra everywhere." Itachi said breathing fast not even paying attention when the Anbu stood behind him not in reaching room though.
"That's impossible, come on let's go to Tsunade and ask if she knows anything." Shikamaru said approaching Itachi.
"I don't feel him anywhere. Why would he leave anywhere without telling me?" Itachi questioned completely freaked out.
"I don't know, but calm down we will find him." Shikamaru said motioning with his hands for everyone to back up away from the Uchiha.
"Would if we don't Shikamaru?" Itachi asked finally looking at Shikamaru with his sharingan out spinning wildly.
"We will, he wouldn't leave you behind just calm down and relax so you can concentrate on finding his chakra." Shikamaru said.
Shikamaru didn't understand a few things and one was how the Uchiha brothers knew how to find Naruto from miles away. Neither brother ever had a problem finding Naruto no matter what.
"Okay," Itachi said calming himself down breathing in and out.
It went quiet for a while as Itachi tried to sense through the area looking for Naruto's chakra. He kept his eyes closed the whole time when he felt the chakra.
"I found him he's out of the village." Itachi said his eyes snapping open.
"Really? Where is he then?" Shikamaru asked in wonder.
"I don't know but I am going to him can you tell Lady Tsunade?" Itachi asked.
"Yeah I will go right now." Shikamaru said and off Itachi went.
Itachi could feel the chakra better the closer he got to it. The chakra always seemed wild and untamable but at the moment it seemed calm almost serene like. That's when he heard it. Sasuke's voice.
"Where do I start? I couldn't just watch you die Naruto it was like kicking a baby." Sasuke said as he tried to explain to the question Naruto asked but Itachi didn't hear but he could guess it.
"Naruto, what did you do?" Itachi asked as he came out of the bushes.
"Don't worry I didn't kill anyone innocent I just needed to talk to him again." Naruto said looking a mess.
"Hey Itachi," Sasuke said gently.
Naruto and Sasuke were sitting next to each other like Sasuke wasn't dead at all.
"I needed to talk to him." Naruto said sadly.
His voice made Sasuke and Itachi's heart ache.
"Naruto you need to live your life and make your dreams come true." Sasuke said softly grabbing Naruto's face.
"But you had dreams too?" Naruto mumbled touching Sasuke's hand.
Sasuke smiled softly at Naruto shocking Naruto. "No, I didn't, you have goals things you want to do and things you want to change. I never did I had one goal in my mind the whole time growing and it was to kill Itachi." Sasuke said glancing at Itachi who choose to stand behind them giving them their space.
"You did have a goal. You wanted to revive your clan. Now why did you give up so easily? Why did you leave me?" Naruto asked angry but sad.
"Naruto, I wanted to destroy the Leaf when I found out what they did to my family. The only person I couldn't see myself killing or remotely hurting was you. It was painful to even bring myself to think it. I didn't care who didn't know about what happened with my clan or not I wanted everyone dead. I couldn't step back into that village even if I did survive and who would I have revived my clan with? Sakura? That would have never happened in a million years and you and I both know that." Sasuke explained.
"Who cares if you didn't want to come back to the village at least you would be alive." Naruto said biting his lip as tears welled up in his eyes.
"My home was with you Naruto and that is all you need to know. Please just don't make me feel like I wasted saving you do your life some meaning because you can and I believe in you." Sasuke said pulling Naruto into a hug that Naruto reciprocated immediately.
Naruto cried into Sasuke's shoulder until he fell asleep making Sasuke push him to his lap.
"Are you going to say something or stand over there?" Sasuke asked looking down at Naruto.
"Why didn't you let me help you?" Itachi asked.
"Oh like how you let me help you?" Sasuke asked glancing over his shoulder.
"I guess I deserve that one. I just wanted to protect you as a big brother." Itachi said as he sat down near Naruto's feet catching a glimpse at Naruto's peaceful face.
"By bringing me more pain." Sasuke said.
"Sorry for that." Itachi mumbled.
"It's alright I already forgave you for that." Sasuke said leaning back against his arms.
"You know he sleeps in your room." Itachi said after a few minutes of not saying anything.
"That's not healthy for him." Sasuke said.
"He also eats tomatoes quite frequently." Itachi said chuckling from Sasuke's reaction.
"No fucking way, I tried to get him to eat them when I was here how did you manage to?" Sasuke asked shocked.
"I didn't I found him in the kitchen eating a tomato like you used to do." Itachi said laughing.
"Really? What did you say to him?" Sasuke asked his hand going through Naruto's hair.
"He told me that you would want him to eat healthier. I asked him if he wanted to eat something other than tomatoes and he told me no." Itachi said.
"Damn him eating the tomatoes I planted." Sasuke said.
"He takes care of them now." Itachi said looking up at the sky.
"Figures he used to take care of them too when I wouldn't go to the backyard." Sasuke mumbled.
"I never thought you would let him inside our house." Itachi said.
"Yeah I didn't at first but he didn't let me run away from anyone or anything. He really didn't let me wallow in my own darkness and sadness." Sasuke said a smile appearing on his face.
"I feel like I failed everyone." Itachi said suddenly.
"You didn't fail anyone. The only way you can consider surviving and living on with your life a failure is if you don't move your ass and keep searching for what you're missing in your life. If it's a family you want then go and get it, if it's being with Naruto then do it, and if it's being the Hokage then become it. You didn't fail unless you give up and die without trying. I would never forgive you if you gave up your life." Sasuke said glaring at his older brother.
Itachi was sure that no matter what he didn't want to make his brother mad and he didn't want to lose Naruto that would be so much worse than his brother being angry.
"I don't know where to start. The village hates me aside from two people and Lady Tsunade. Where should I even start?" Itachi asked.
"I hate saying this but give it time or just leave the village." Sasuke said.
"No... No," Naruto mumbled in his sleep grabbing Itachi's hand shocking both brothers.
"I guess that answers that question. He isn't going to let you go." Sasuke said.
"Bastard..." Naruto mumbled curling into Sasuke.
"Thanks idiot," Sasuke said chuckling softly kissing Naruto's head. "He doesn't even realize the influence he has on people or how many in the world were glad I was the one that died instead of him. That I saved him it's not like I care what they think but the thought of living in a world without him killed me. It was like something or someone was stabbing my heart. I only had him... I didn't have love for anyone and everyone knew it so if he died I would have died along with him because no one would have had my back the way he does. I didn't... really want anyone but Naruto never gave me a choice in that. He inserted himself in my life and got involved with me more than necessary but after a while it was something I was grateful for. I needed him more than he needed me that was for sure. Yeah I was the first person to see the real him but now he doesn't need me." Sasuke said.
"I do you need you and I always will. You're my best friend the first person to believe in me even if I was an idiot to you. You were my bastard and I would have done anything in the world to help you." Naruto said sitting up waking up through Sasuke talking.
"I thought you were sleeping." Sasuke said trying to not make eye contact with Naruto but it was kind of hard when he was practically in his lap.
"I was but I heard you talking and couldn't help but hear what you were saying." Naruto said.
"Everything I said was true though you can make it without me but I wouldn't be able to make it without you. Who would want the traitor Uchiha back in Konoha if you weren't around? I would have more than likely slaughtered everyone anyway." Sasuke said sure he would have killed everyone anyway.
"Would you really have?" Naruto asked looking Sasuke in the eyes.
There was something there that the brothers just couldn't ignore and it freaked both of them out. It seemed like Naruto could read them.
"I would have," Sasuke said looking Naruto directly in the eyes.
"Despite how much I care for the village?" Naruto asked not breaking eye contact.
Sasuke looked away.
"I can't lie to you I probably would have wanted to kill everyone that was at the place of the war first and then I would have felt bad killing the people you fought so hard for and I probably would have killed myself." Sasuke declared.
"I wouldn't want that." Naruto said.
"I know but I couldn't live without you and I know I would have died if it wasn't for you anyway." Sasuke said leaning in to put his head against Naruto's. "It's better this way. Now release me from this jutsu." Sasuke said giving Naruto a poke to the forehead like his brother used to do to him.
"I will give you two time to talk and then I will release the jutsu." Naruto said standing up kissing Sasuke in the forehead then walking away.
"So how has the village been to you since you been back?" Sasuke asked.
"Is that really what we're going to talk about?" Itachi asked not really wanting to go into it.
"It must be really bad if you don't want to talk about it." Sasuke said.
"What do you expect Sasuke? I killed our clan and then joined the Akatsuki. I'm not even a ninja anymore. I just don't get my life anymore. You were supposed to kill me but you didn't now I am here with your best friend because you were so adamant about taking yourself out to protect him. Don't get me wrong I'm glad he isn't dead but you could have saved him a different way." Itachi said standing up.
Sasuke just watched his brother's pain filled face and couldn't help but feel bad for him. Sasuke stood up walked to his pacing brother to stop him.
"I forgive you for the past. I get why you did it along with the fact that our parents accepted their fate. Uchiha clan is far too prideful to let anyone but their own kill them but I understand now. Back then I didn't get it but as time went on I understood. In a sense it was probably Naruto's fault and influence on why I understand so much. But you two are the only people alive that I care for and I don't want you two to dwell on my death I want you two to find happiness and love." Sasuke said reaching for his brother.
"I should be saying that to you." Itachi said.
"Stop being a jackass because you're older doesn't mean I can't protect you. You protected me from the shadows all my life it was my turn to be the protector. Now live your life and be happy." Sasuke said slamming his head against his brothers looking him in the eye.
"But..." Itachi started but stopped when he seen the look in Sasuke's eyes.
"Be happy Itachi. I love you." Sasuke said as he noticed the jutsu was leaving.
"I love you too little brother." Itachi said tears falling down.
Itachi felt a hand on his shoulder telling him Naruto was back.
"Be good to each other as much as possible considering Naruto is an idiot." Sasuke said as his spirit left the body.
"HEY! I am not." Naruto screamed.
"I know, I love you dobe." Sasuke all but whispered but both heard him.
"I love you too idiot teme." Naruto said making Sasuke smile as tears were in his eyes.
"I will miss you." Itachi said.
"Me too," Sasuke said and he was gone.
The valley was silent Itachi and Naruto didn't say anything hell they didn't even know what to say to each other.
"Why did you leave me behind in the village?" Itachi asked.
"Sorry," Naruto mumbled.
"I don't accept your apology. You should have told me what you were doing. I was looking everywhere for you worried sick about what happened to you. I thought you died or worse disappeared leaving me behind." Itachi said sounding distressed making Naruto look at him.
There was so much fear in those dark eyes and worry that Naruto actually felt bad for what he did.
"You didn't read my note." Naruto said looking at Itachi.
Itachi raised his head to look at Naruto.
"You didn't leave a note." Itachi said.
"Yes I did, but either way I am really sorry that I didn't just wait for you so you could come with me." Naruto said.
"…" Itachi didn't know what to say so he just hugged the blonde.
"I wouldn't leave you behind." Naruto said hugging the Uchiha back. "Let's get back to the house." Naruto whispered trying to pull away but not being able to.
"Let's stay here for a little bit longer." Itachi said pulling Naruto to sit down.
"It must have been a hard day for you today." Naruto said leaning against Itachi.
For some unknown reason to both of them they both saw comfort in each other's touch.
"When is it actually going to get better?" Itachi questioned looking to the dark sky.
"All I can say is have patience that's what I did." Naruto said with a smile.
"How did you even survive when you were a kid with them treating you the way they did?" Itachi asked.
Naruto grabbed Itachi's hand and squeezed it for comfort. Itachi looked down to see Naruto's face as he felt the unfamiliar touch that he wasn't used to.
"I just had too." Naruto said with a sad smile. "I used to have someone come by my apartment and put food in my house. I could never find out who did it." Naruto said with a smile.
"Oh really? What would you say to that person if they addressed you?" Itachi asked.
"I would thank you Itachi." Naruto said sitting up to look at Itachi.
"How did you know?" Itachi asked.
"Your hair," Naruto said with a smile touching Itachi's hair gently letting it fall from his hand. "Also I started realizing it was you when I found out about the truth with your family and Gramps told me you were in Anbu. I asked what mask you wore and he told me the weasel and I remember you being in my fridge." Naruto explained.
"Why did you wait to say something?" Itachi asked turning his head to hide the blush that was appearing on his face.
"Because I knew you wouldn't like to know you got caught in the act. I also remembered your eyes." Naruto said grabbing Itachi's face making his eyes activate. "They didn't have the shape they have now but... they were so bright." Naruto said with a smile.
Itachi blushed even more and turned his head away standing up quickly.
"We should get back to the village." Itachi said.
"Okay," Naruto said with a small smile because he knew Itachi was embarrassed.
Itachi moved ahead first and Naruto couldn't help but watch his back for a little while before he started to move only to get stopped by a hand on his shoulder that he knew shouldn't be there.
"Take care of him Naruto." Sasuke whispered pushing Naruto to his brother.
"I promise," Naruto whispered back and followed after Itachi.
"You know Shikamaru is probably freaking out along with the Hokage." Itachi said as they moved closer to the village.
"Yeah sorry about that." Naruto said as they saw the gates to the village.
"You should be." Itachi said.
Naruto didn't say anything just kept moving through the forest to jump out the tree once they got in front of the gate. They both walked slowly into the gates of Konoha only to get approached by Anbu.
"Lady Tsunade wants you to come to her office." One Anbu being Kiba said.
"Okay," Itachi said and flickered with Naruto to the Hokage tower.
"Granny Tsunade," Naruto said his hand going to rub the back of his head.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!? You had everyone worried sick about you. Shikamaru came in here completely freaked out and Itachi had all the Anbu on freak out mode when his chakra started going crazy the way it did." Tsunade screamed shaking Naruto.
"I'm sorry, I wrote a note but he didn't see it. I didn't mean to scare anyone I just needed to talk to Sasuke it was important." Naruto said putting his head down as an apology.
"We thought you were trying to reunite with him in the afterlife." Tsunade said tears welling up in his eyes.
"I wouldn't do that. Sasuke wouldn't want me to do that and I couldn't leave all of you like that. Itachi would probably resurrect me just to kill me again if I did that." Naruto said.
"I would have done that if you did." Tsunade said approaching him pulling him into a bone crushing hug. "I am relieved you are okay. Itachi you freaked everyone out with your chakra but I am glad you found him and brought both yourselves back." Tsunade said looking at Itachi.
"I won't do it again I promise." Naruto said looking at Tsunade and Itachi.
"Okay you're dismissed." Tsunade said.
"In a week I have something to discuss with you Granny Tsunade." Naruto said shocking her.
"Okay," Tsunade said in a state of shock because he sounded so serious.
They flickered straight to their house in the Uchiha district to find Shikamaru right in front of the house waiting for them.
"Shika," Naruto said softly.
"You scared us Naruto." Shikamaru said in a firm fatherly voice.
"Sorry," Naruto said bowing his head.
"I found the note." Shikamaru said.
"See I told you I wrote a note." Naruto said lifting his head to look at Itachi.
"Shut up," Itachi said turning his head.
"Naruto you can't expect someone to look for a note when they are in a distraught state." Shikamaru said opening the door so they could all walk in.
"Yeah now that you think about it that makes sense." Naruto said.
"Idiot," Itachi mumbled.
"I AM NOT BASTARD!" Naruto screamed turning to glare at Itachi who had an amused look on his face. "Smug bastard," Naruto mumbled walking into the house picking up bags that were in front of the door.
Itachi just picked up the rest of the bags and smiled when he noticed Shikamaru must have got more food while he was gone.
"Thank you Shikamaru," Itachi said as Naruto walked to the kitchen.
"How did you get all this food?" Naruto asked.
"I..." Itachi was saying before Shikamaru covered his mouth.
"They sold it to him it shocked me too." Shikamaru said receiving a glare so he took his hand off his mouth quickly.
"That's wonderful." Naruto said running on the kitchen to see where they were smiling at them. "That means they are moving forward with life right?" Naruto said being the optimist that he is.
Itachi didn't like lying to Naruto but he was happy to see the smile on Naruto's face.
"Not every vender wants to sell to me though." Itachi said turning his head.
"It's coming around slowly so that should be fine as long as some do." Naruto said walking up to Itachi grabbing ahold of his hands with a big smile.
"True," Itachi said pulling his hand away and walked to the kitchen.
"You bought all the food for him didn't you?" Naruto asked once he knew Itachi wasn't in ear shot.
"Was I that obvious?" Shikamaru asked with a small smile.
"Yeah you were," Naruto said. "But I won't say anything because I want this to encourage him to do better." Naruto said and then moved to the kitchen.
Shikamaru smiled then decided to leave them by themselves.
"I will see you guys tomorrow." Shikamaru called to them.
"Later, Bye," Naruto and Itachi said together.
"NOT LIKE THAT NARUTO!" Itachi screamed jumping out the way.
Shikamaru chuckled at the little argument between the two with a smile.
"They will be fine." Shikamaru said and left out the house leaving the two with their own ordeals.
