MiLoCo


Author: Ladelle

Rating: M-ish, potential language, potential adult scenes...later.

Comments: Early! And uber long.

Thank you for all of the reviews. To be honest...I kind of had the wind knocked out of me when I looked last. So many! I'm still kind of floored. So thank you...it is very meaningful.

Thank you to Allys, my wonderful beta. I hope you all enjoy!


Chapter 2:

"Don't even think about saying a word," Morino's voice was low and threatening as he lead Naruto down a narrow inner-hallway of the police department. Despite the fact the older man was obviously furious, he managed to smile politely at passing officials, turning his head back every so often to make sure the blond was close behind.

Naruto followed at a casual pace, hands planted calmly in his pockets. He admired the long hallways of the more corporate section of the department, catching a few curious glares as he drifted through a large room packed with cubicles, phones ringing off the hook.

As men in uniform bustled around the giant office, Naruto skillfully dodged them, admiring the large glass windows that painted the wall opposite to him. Morino seemed to be focusing very hard on his destination, and when Naruto caught sight of a large office tucked in a corner, he knew that it belonged to the man in front of him.

A couple of officers were huddled by the outer frame, papers in hand and questions on their lips, but a quick swish of a calloused wrist made them quiet, glancing at Naruto in confusion. Naruto only smiled with charisma, nodding politely as Morino nearly yanked him inside and slammed the heavy oak door shut.

"You…"

Naruto took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair, enjoying the liberty the action brought. He watched as Morino's face turned into an angry shade of red as he tried to get out the correct words, and felt pleased when Morino merely pointed and frowned.

"I don't even know if I want to ask," the older man finally said, and with a deep and clarifying breath he shook his head, frustration forming wrinkles on his weathered face. He fell into his chair and shook his head, biting his lip, and Naruto sat down peaceably in a comfortable guest chair across from him. He set his hat onto the table.

"I'm sure you wouldn't understand it even if I explained it," Naruto ventured, and he was positive that was the case. It was confusing enough for he himself to accept, and trying to plot out a timeline for other people seemed to be more of a hassle than anything else.

"Try me," Morino stated firmly, and from the expression on his face, Naruto could tell that he was serious. His eyes had narrowed into a scrutinizing glare and his lips were pursed, as though he was well versed and prepared to interrogate Naruto.

Naruto cocked his head to the side and smiled, trying to seem friendlier about the situation. After all, he hadn't come to the police station to intimidate Morino.

"You sent me back, I used my knowledge to return. Now I'm here," he turned his head forward, his smile fading to an expression much more serious, "and I am not going to be going back to the past anytime soon."

Morino glared and shook his head, his nostrils flaring slightly as he whipped his attention away from Naruto's stern eyes. Naruto watched him as he let out an agitated breath and returned to glaring at him.

"The only way to make you disappear seems to be death," Morino mocked with a frown, and when Naruto raised an eyebrow, he amended his comment. "Which of course wouldn't be on my watch."

There was a long period of silence while Morino fiddled with a manila envelope on his desk, biting his lips in thought. When he turned to Naruto his eyes were annoyed, and strangely grim.

"You coming back is probably the worst thing that could happen right now," he said gravely, and Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Why is that?" He crossed his legs casually, hoping Morino would tell him more.

"Why did you come back, Naruto?" Morino questioned, and the hostility in his tone made Naruto sit up straighter. He felt an air of tension fill the small room and it made chills run up and down his spine.

"Well, I thought that was obvious enough," Naruto said truthfully, and he shook his head in order to rephrase. "I didn't come back for anything related to my thesis, if that's what you're thinking," the blond nodded to his own comment before Morino gave him a skeptical look.

"I came back… for myself. For the life I created here, for the friends I made—"

"For Uchiha?" Morino interrupted, and Naruto glanced over to him with a look of surprise. Morino let out another terse breath and folded his hands under his chin, resting his elbows on the mahogany desk below him.

"Yes. I did come back because of Sasuke." Naruto answered honestly, and after a minute he leaned forward in his chair. "But, there were other reasons, too. My son, for one," he said steadily, and continued, "Not to mention your department was corrupted, and I had no proof that Jiraiya and Kiba were safe. Too many open ended questions."

Morino nodded reluctantly and continued to search Naruto with his cautious and beady black eyes, as if Naruto was hiding something important. As if realizing what Naruto had said, he frowned. "My department is not corrupted."

"It was. Not even you knew that Danzo was going to make me go back," Naruto said confidently, and was content to see that Morino didn't argue.

"You were a danger to the people here. You still are, by my records." The chief leaned back, tilting his neck to the side in order to let out a reverberating pop. Naruto looked offended and let out a sigh.

"I'm not dangerous. I honestly didn't come to argue with you. All I want is for you to make it easier for me to stay here," Naruto pleaded. "Though I'm not one to bribe, you owe me that much."

Morino snorted, "I don't see how I owe you anything."

"I stopped the thesis from being published by the buyer. And though I didn't come back to associate myself with traveling, I now know how to build an effective time machine."

There was a pause before Morino stood up and looked dejected. "That's exactly why you're a problem. Cryogenics has been banned thanks to your escapade, along with anything in relationship to it. Danzo's orders specifically."

Naruto sat up straight and looked stunned. "You banned it? I thought you needed it?"

Morino shook his head. "If we did then we don't anymore." He glanced down at Naruto and his eyes grew thinner. "The fact that you brought so much danger is enough on its own…and while I'm sure you're perfectly aware Sasuke Uchiha is fine, you should know that your child is too. Safe and sound and hidden, enough even from you."

There was a pause where Naruto felt a small bit of relief. He hadn't been aware that Sasuke was 'fine', and while that fact made his heart a little less restless, Morino adding Ju to the same list made him want to take a deep breath of reprieve.

"Why from me?" Naruto asked, confused. Had that been a challenge?

Morino snorted. "Don't act innocent. Everything you touched here turned to chaos—how you're even here now is a mystery—" Morino stopped himself abruptly, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Please don't tell me that you came here in a time machine," he said, and Naruto looked a little embarrassed.

"Of course I did. Being frozen had too many side effects." The blond sunk back into his chair, folding his arms across his chest. And after thinking about it, the fact Ju was 'hidden' made complete sense. And as long Naruto knew Ju was safe, he was at ease. It wasn't as though he had prepared himself to be a father in the time he had been gone…but he was an honest man and he wasn't going to nix his responsibilities.

He was going to focus on Sasuke first though.

Morino groaned and held his hands up in defeat.

"Why… why me," he said in aggravation, and he returned his vicious glare to Naruto. "Where is it?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why should I tell you? You'll just try to throw me back into it," he frowned.

The chief of police looked irritated. "I doubt that would stop you," he mumbled, and Naruto nodded agreeably.

"I have a compromise." Naruto offered after a minute, and watched as Morino paced behind his desk. He was thinking hard, a fact made obvious by the growing creases on his otherwise stern face. When he glanced down at Naruto, he looked displeased.

"And what would that be?" he asked, though his voice held no curiosity.

"I'll give it to you to destroy, so you don't get into trouble with Danzo, and promise my eternal secrecy involving everything I know if," and Naruto pointed a very direct finger, "if you help me stay here, in the future."

Morino snorted. "What were those side effects from cryonics again? Because I think this time machine may have affected your brain."

Naruto leaned forward. "I'm being completely sincere. I want to stay. I'll do whatever it takes to stay."

Morino looked as though he was calculating his options, weighing them in his mind. He sat back down in his chair and Naruto knew that he had him.

"I mean, if you send me back, I'll just build another one. If you send me to jail, I'll tell them about the contact you had with the Gamabunta and its activation…"

"I thought that you were an honest person," Morino said dully, and Naruto smiled playfully.

"I am… but right now, I'm desperate."

Morino looked him up and down, his lips curling into something that resembled submission, and Naruto felt his smile become more sincere. As he waited for Morino to give him a final answer, the older man let out an agitated sound of defeat.

"Can you at least dye your hair?" He was frowning, and Naruto laughed out loud.

"Would you believe I tried? Another side effect of the cryo-chamber. I'm blond and tan for eternity," he jested, and he poked at his sun-bathed skin for emphasis. Morino grimaced.

"Uzumaki," he stated, and his serious tone made Naruto focus. "I will allow you to apply for a visa, not because of your weak attempts at blackmailing a chief officer of ranked police but because at this point in time, you seem less of a danger under my supervision."

Naruto smirked and nodded.

"I will only allow you to apply, however, under very specific and general expectations. It is your responsibility to accept and abide by all of them, or face the consequences."

"What are the stipulations?" Naruto asked, and he leaned forward in his seat.

Morino turned to the left-hand side of his desk and rummaged through a file cabinet drawer, pulling out what appeared to be an electronic application and a digital booklet. He handed them to Naruto and began speaking again.

"There are three general rules for anyone applying for a visa with traveler status. They are very important to abide by and follow, so I suggest you listen carefully," as the words left Morino's lips Naruto felt his heart grow anxious, hoping that they were prerequisites he could manage.

"One, you must hold a tax paying job for six months with a clean record for any screenings or misconduct."

Naruto nodded, that made sense. Most likely they wanted to make sure that he would settle in and be productive with his new life. "Alright," he said.

"Secondly, you will need to be supervised during the duration of those six months. Your activities, habits, and any questionable events will all be documented by this person."

Naruto wondered if it would be too much for him to request someone he already knew, but he kept his mouth shut. Morino continued on his own volition.

"And last, but certainly not any less important, you must have absolutely no crimes or misdemeanors during that time. For you, this is especially important. Nothing is to leave your mouth about any event pre-today, especially with anyone who was not involved."

Naruto nodded, feeling nervous. That last rule was going to be difficult, especially with the history he had concerning Itachi. He nodded. "Alright, I can do that. How do I find a job? And a supervisor?"

Morino laughed with amusement as he drifted towards his office door and didn't glance back before he slipped out of it. Naruto watched in confusion as the man left, glancing down at the digital application in his hand. He decided to start filling it out.

Name: Naruto Uzumaki

Age: 24

Date of Birth: 10-10-1986

Hair Color: Blond

Eye Color: Blue

He frowned at the miniature profile he was filling out just long enough to hear the door open behind him, a familiar voice filling the room.

"I told you that I want nothing to do with travelers," Naruto turned and glanced up, his chest growing tight as he recognized the person Morino had retrieved.

"Neji," he said softly. His voice seemed to have snapped Neji's attention away from Morino, and pale eyes widened in disbelief.

"You…" he managed, and Morino closed the door behind him.

The blond shoved the applications from his lap onto Morino's desk and stood up, running a hand nervously through his hair. He smiled, not entirely sure how to react. He hadn't planned on meeting anyone he had known aside from Morino for a while, at least until he was planted in the city and not so dependent on others.

"Hi," he said quietly, and was caught off guard when Neji's arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. He felt his breath catch as Neji leaned against him, pulling back after a minute to examine his face more closely.

"You… how did you…" Neji's breathing was unsteady and his eyes were wide and intent, searching Naruto's face for answers. "You're older," he said suddenly, and Naruto frowned.

"Gee, thanks." He rolled his eyes and laughed. "It's good to see you again, too."

"While this is incredibly sentimental," Morino said passively, "I'm sure you can find time to discuss it later. Neji, I am assigning you to Uzumaki for the duration of his six month extension. As for employment, Naruto, you will be Neji's partner. This way I can keep an eye on you."

Neji was quiet as he took what he could of the situation in, and Naruto frowned.

"I don't know the first thing about being a cop," he admitted, and Morino waved him off.

"You'll be doing paperwork. Neji will explain it. I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on, and to be honest, I need a drink."

Morino handed a folder to Neji and briskly exited the office, letting out a long breath as the door slid shut. There was a pause before Naruto glanced back at Neji who was still staring at him, completely baffled.

"Stop staring at me, you're making me blush," Naruto joked and he smiled nonchalantly. Neji scowled and crossed his hands over his chest.

"Oh, he has jokes." Neji looked angry, and Naruto looked apologetic. He smiled, a genuine smile, and glanced up to meet Neji's skeptical glare.

"It really is good to see you." He laughed a little and let out a deep breath. "I worked really hard to get back… and to be honest, I was really nervous that I wouldn't be able to find any of you for a while."

Neji's expression seemed to soften and he looked away, finding a vacant chair to the side of Naruto. He brushed past him and sat down, crossing his legs afterwards.

"Naruto… I have so many questions."

Naruto laughed a little and nodded. "I'm sure I have a lot of answers."

Neji glanced up suddenly and stood up, pulling all of the paperwork together. "You must be tired, or hungry, or something. Let's get out of here; this place makes me uneasy."

Naruto was surprised by his sudden change in demeanor but nodded, pulling on his hat from the desk. Neji glanced back to him to make sure he would follow and lead him out into the once bustling office room, now almost quiet with inactivity. Naruto guessed that it was late afternoon, and was proven correct when he saw a clock hanging overhead.

"We'll go to my place," Neji said to him and they slipped into a side hallway with an exit sign perched in the rear. Naruto followed him onto an outside veranda and down a gated set of stairs to a parking garage full of two level hover parking. He stopped for a minute, and after a few steps, Neji turned around to him.

"What is it?" he asked, and Naruto glanced from the floating cars to the long haired brunet. The world was coming back to him, flooding him with familiar sights and smells, and the thick gauze of the setting sun was flooding the corporate landscape with a stunning shade of orange.

Neji looked concerned as Naruto failed to answer right away, still taking in the world once old and now new once again. He admired Neji's police uniform, noting how he had never seen it before. It was lean and black on his tall figure, with a grey pullover jacket that displayed a gold and black emblem.

"Naruto?" Neji asked again, and the blond snapped out of his haze and shook his head.

"Mm, sorry. It's just that I forgot what everything looked like," Naruto explained, and he shook his head slowly.

"It's been a year," Neji supplied, and Naruto frowned.

"For you, maybe. For me it's been a little over two."

Neji wandered up to him and narrowed his eyes, examining him for what seemed to be the hundredth time. From Naruto's standpoint he seemed to be adjusting, and the blond was grateful that an awkward tension wasn't between them.

Though he had been preparing to go back to the future, certain things had intimidated him. He had been nervous, anxious to see where everyone had gone after he had vanished. He wondered if they would remember him, or still care about him…and he had held on to the hope that he was still as valued to them as they were to him.

"You look good," Neji said finally, and the comment caught Naruto off guard. He grinned, and pointed at Neji's collared outfit.

"You do too. Look at this, I don't think I ever saw you so professional," Naruto leaned forward to examine the crest and smirked.

"I didn't have a uniform before; I was high profile." Neji's voice was unusually cool and he motioned towards a parking garage. As Naruto jogged up to meet his side he raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, trying to catch the brunet's expression.

"You're not anymore?"

Neji frowned and turned to Naruto, his lips pulling down with reluctance. He swept his hair behind his shoulder as he approached a smooth black Audi, running a card over a reader on the front window. The car hummed into action and beeped as the door locks clicked open, and Naruto shuffled around to the passenger side.

As he settled into his seat he stuffed his bag into the small space between his legs and opened the zipper pocket at the top. He pulled out a small box and shook it in his hand, attracting an awkward glance from Neji who had settled into the driver's seat beside him.

"Dramamine. I'm prepared this time," Naruto grinned and popped a pill out of a thin piece of foil overlay. Neji looked confused and Naruto chuckled.

"Hey, until I get healthcare, I'm sticking to the good ol' drugs of the 21st century." He tucked the box away after he swallowed the pill and let his head fall back against the leather interior of his chair. He turned towards Neji as the car drifted upwards.

"So… did you get demoted?" He watched Neji carefully, hoping that his question wasn't anything offensive. Even though he and Neji had been close before the gap, he didn't want to assume heir relationship was still as informal as it had been.

Neji shifted under Naruto's watch and he tugged on an automatic steering lever at his side, directing the car onto a busy main street. "I chose to drop my title," he said, and Naruto nodded, deciding to stay quiet. The topic did seem touchy.

"It wasn't an awkward question, don't worry about it," Neji said after a minute, and he shook his head. "When you left, a lot of things changed. A lot of people changed." He amended.

The hover vehicle dipped below an inner city bridge and Naruto frowned, not sure how to react to the comment. While it made him feel somewhat satisfied, the words caught him.

"I didn't choose to go," he said firmly, and the memory of the event made his tone sound more serious than he had intended. He let out a deep breath and Neji sent his car into a lower lane, preparing to turn into a class coated parking garage.

"To be honest, Naruto, I don't know what to tell you," he shifted the driving lever of the car into an upper level lot, drifting with precision into a narrow spot. "When you left… things fell apart."

When the car was parked Naruto slid out, pulling his duffle-bag out with him. He carefully maneuvered out of the small space between Neji's Audi and a bulging public vehicle beside it and slid his free hand into his pocket.

"You're making me nervous," Naruto admitted. "I don't know if want to hear, now."

Neji tugged on Naruto's shirt, leading him through a dark tunnel and out onto an upper-level sidewalk. Tall apartment buildings lined the street, divided by fancy restaurants and small boutiques. Neji led him to a lean silver coated building, shaking his head.

"You do want to hear about it," he encouraged, "Just as much as I want to hear everything you have to tell me."

Naruto admired the magnitude of the lobby interior, noting the crystal chandeliers that dangled from a tall ceiling. They were pieced in a line that led visitors and owners to a wide nook with elevators, and when Neji said '32', Naruto was caught off guard when the machine simply obeyed. He had forgotten how everything had been voice-activated, even the most primitive of devices.

"I'm at the end of the hall," Neji stated, and Naruto nodded, still taking in his surroundings as they exited. A giant window overlooked the main of New Denver, and where mountains once were, skyscrapers and inner-city highways paved the landscape. Naruto found himself pausing once again to take in the memories he had before, but scuttled along when he heard a keycard beep and a door click open.

"You can set your bag here in the lobby. I have an extra room, you can stay here until Morino gives me more on what to do with you," the comment made Naruto feel intrusive, something he didn't like.

"When I start getting an income, I won't leech off of you," he said and he put his bag on the floor. Neji made a small sound in response and Naruto stepped into the living room, only to be greeted by Neji who was giving him the up-and-down once again.

"What?" Naruto asked, and he glanced down at himself. He had dressed as normally as he was able to, for future standards.

"You really are older." Neji stated, and he looked thoughtful. He reached into a cabinet next to Naruto and withdrew a dark bottle of wine and two slender glasses.

"I'm twenty four. What, am I older than you?" Naruto laughed.

Neji gave a playful glare. "I've still got a year on you," he replied, and Naruto shrugged.

"Barely, I bet," he said as Neji handed him a glass of wine. It was thick and red and it swirled in the cocktail glass, Naruto inhaling the sweet smell of the rich liquor.

"It's not as vintage as I'd like but it's still good," Neji seemed to notice Naruto's pause and the blond shook his head. It felt strangely familiar to be speaking so freely with the other man, a person he had grown to trust years ago. It was hard to imagine that he had been lost to this new and beautiful world long enough to forget what it was like to joke with friends.

"I'm sure it's fine," he said. "I was just thinking about being here and being older."

Neji nodded and wandered over to his living area, a room lit by grey blue hues creeping between sidelong bamboo blinds. They were painted black, a thick rich shade that matched the entertainment center and box shelves on the walls. He sat down on a lean leather sofa and Naruto followed him, glancing with interest around the sleek apartment.

"I like this apartment," Naruto said, and he found Neji watching him with curiosity. He laughed. "What is that look for?"

Neji smiled and shook his head. "Come sit down. We need to talk."

Naruto nodded and wandered to a low-seated leather chair and took a sip of his wine as he settled into it. He preferred thicker alcohols, like lager and rum, but the fruity liquid held a welcomed change. He swirled it in his glass once more before glancing up to Neji, watching as the other man leaned back into the cushion, letting his long hair spill over his shoulders and over his collared top.

"Start from the beginning," Neji said, and he rested his wine glass on his thigh. Naruto felt his expression curve into something more serious as the atmosphere changed. He wondered what Neji knew, or what he thought he knew about that day. Deciding it was best to be upfront and honest, he nodded and began.

"You and Sasuke left for an interrogation. Morino took me for questioning… but not really. His intention was to send me back. Danzo was there." Naruto watched as Neji's eyes widened somewhat, and only momentarily. They seemed to settle back into a dim understanding and he remained quiet, allowing Naruto to continue.

"They had the Gamabunta, somehow, and Danzo knew enough about it to make me leave. There were other officers there, so there wasn't really an opportunity for me to fight back," Naruto relived the experience through a theater in his mind, remembering the nerves, the anger, and the frustration he had felt. Morino's sympathetic smile, mixed with knowledge and dilemma, and Danzo's impersonal smirk.

He shook his head as Neji was about to comment and groaned.

"It was a tricky situation for all of us, I'm sure. I'm not happy about it but I've come to terms, somewhat." Naruto took another drink of his wine and shook his head.

Neji was quiet, and it was hard to tell whether it was a quiet anger or a simple organizing of events. When the brunet spoke, however, Naruto knew that it was frustration.

"None of us knew what happened. Sasuke and I were interrogated separately by some Agency officials, and then together by some higher ups in the department. We both had a bad feeling the entire time," Neji's features were too calm for the harsh tone of his voice, and Naruto felt sympathetic.

"If I had an opportunity to tell you, believe me, I would have," he said softly. "What did Morino tell you happened?"

Neji shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing at the question. "Morino didn't say anything. Danzo did all of the talking, and told us you made the decision on your own. That you didn't want to burden us with the choice because we had become so close," as Neji finished he looked away from Naruto, as if he were too angry to meet his eyes.

"I should have been able to protect you," the brunet said suddenly, and Naruto let out a low breath.

"You couldn't have known," he said, and he leaned forward to set his glass on a frosted coffee table between them.

"I should have," Neji stated. "We didn't believe a word out of Danzo's mouth. After that they were stifling research facilities and attacking Uchiha Industries. If there was any way to get you back, Danzo found a loophole to block it. I despise that man."

"Is that why you demoted yourself?" Naruto asked. He could see that Neji was releasing a quelled anxiety, and it felt good to hear what happened while he was gone.

Neji shook his head. "I quit, originally. Because of your situation, anything related to traveling was put on suspension, even the officers handling it. Morino got me back on though… but he wouldn't talk about you. I told him I wouldn't work as a special agent if I couldn't trust my superiors."

Naruto felt a bit of pride over that fact, but it was bittersweet. His disappearance had caused a great deal of strife and it made him feel nervous about his decision to return.

"Was it wrong for me to come back?" he questioned.

Neji glanced up suddenly, his expression surprised. "No, not at all… I didn't mean to make it sound that way."

"You didn't, Morino did. Not that he really bothered me that much," Naruto admitted. He had expected himself to feel more intimidated by the towering military genius, but in all actuality, he was the one with the power. Aside form that, the more he thought about it, Morino had been very easy on him… he hadn't threatened to send him back, and even though he had been irate… had Naruto seen some relief in his eyes?

"I don't think Morino meant for anything to happen to me, even if he did see it coming." Naruto said, and Neji looked angry again.

"I don't want to talk about him," the brunet said quickly, and continued. "Why did you come back now, though?"

Naruto frowned and sat back into his chair, shrugging against the seat. "I wanted to wait until things had blown over. I didn't want to cause more problems than I already had."

Neji looked analytical. "I can understand that," he said and after a minute frowned. "How did you get back?"

Naruto laughed and crossed his legs. "I built a machine of my own. And don't give me that look, it's hidden."

Neji looked as though he was trying his patience to not say something reprimanding and he leaned forward to set his glass on the coffee table next to Naruto's. "You built one?"

Naruto nodded. "I'm a genius, didn't you know?"

Neji snorted, "Hm, Sasuke sure thought so."

Naruto stopped for a moment, caught on Neji's words. He had gotten so caught up in figuring out where he stood that he had almost forgotten the real reason he had returned. Neji noted his silence and glanced up to meet his eyes, surprised to see their brightness shadowed by a reluctant haze.

"Neji—"

"You should forget about Uchiha," Neji said, and his expression became terse. Naruto felt slightly put off.

"What happened while I was gone," Naruto questioned, although it sounded more like a statement. He was calm in his chair and Neji smiled a little.

"I expected you to get upset," he admitted. "You've changed a lot."

Naruto shook his head. "It would have been naïve of me to assume that everything would be the same. That's why I didn't expect to see any of you so soon. My luck at work," he attempted a joke.

Neji folded his arms across his lap. There was a moment of silence before he parted his lips, seemingly avoiding eye contact with the blond.

"Sasuke and I aren't friends," Neji said smoothly, and Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"You weren't before, really," he remembered. They had always seemed oddly competitive, and Naruto figured it somehow related to their pasts.

"Well, even if we were on good terms before, we aren't anymore. Uchiha Industries is a monopoly now that Boushi and Fang don't exist. Hinata and Sasuke co-own the company… but in all reality, it's under Sasuke's control."

Naruto nodded, not sure where the conversation was headed.

"He was hit the hardest when you left… and blamed the government departments. When they started eliminating everything cryonic related, he disappeared for a while, from the public eye… he was devastated, even though he probably would try to deny it."

Naruto smirked and leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee. He placed his chin stop his palm and continued to watch Neji, listening for news he could already tell was going to be bad.

"Naruto," Neji said, and he glanced up suddenly. "Sasuke is dating someone."

If it had been years previous, Naruto would have felt sad, would have felt abandoned, or perhaps even as devastated as Neji had portrayed Sasuke after his disappearance. But he was smart, and he was trying his hardest to understand the reality of his situation. He didn't lead a normal life, so he couldn't expect it to work out perfectly.

Still, disappointment welled inside of him. He had hoped, on some level, that he would be able to arrive and pick up where they had left off. His feelings were still unbelievably strong, and his convictions were still in place. He frowned.

"Alright," he said, and he peered up to meet Neji's eyes once again. "Who is the guy?"

Neji seemed surprised at how well Naruto was taking the information and he tilted his head sideways at the oddity. "He's pretty big. A nightclub owner downtown," he said, and Naruto only nodded.

There was a moment of silence, and Neji spoke up.

"You aren't upset?" he asked.

Naruto stood up and stretched, leaning down afterwards to pick up his wine and take the remainder like a shot. He let out a sigh and pinched his lips at the bitter taste.

"Of course I am," Naruto said, and he turned to Neji, smiling somewhat peaceably. "But after everything that I've been through," he said holding his empty wine glass to Neji, "The last thing I'm afraid of is a challenge."

Neji took the glass and his eyes widened in surprise, quickly finding their way back to a thoughtful stare. The brunet stood up, and finished off his wine as well.

"You have a lot to do before you get your visa," Neji reminded, and Naruto saluted him.

"Right."

"It's going to be a lot of work, tag-teaming me on the field," Neji said, with a bigger emphasis.

"Definitely," Naruto agreed.

"You may not get him back," Neji said finally, and Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"If there's one thing you should know about me," he said, and he took the wine glasses to Neji's kitchenette. "It's that I never go back on my word."

Naruto watched as Neji gave him an analytical glare, and felt his insides feel resolute. With everything he had risked, he wasn't going to leave with nothing to show for it. It didn't matter to him how much had changed, or how much work he had to do to become what he needed to be.

He was in the future, and he was in it for the long haul.


A/N-- : phew : Right? That was a loooong one.

Every chapter makes me so excited to write more. I hope everyone is feeling the momentum...I'll feel silly if I'm the only one getting all riled up, lol.

See you in a couple of weeks!