Disclaimer: Still not my characters. This story will be tragic- tragic romance is always my favorite. Sorry.
Deceit
Chapter Two
Deceit of Intentions
-
-
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked timidly as she stepped into the restaurant and spotted the familiar crop of hair. "Huh. I thought you'd be sent to interrogation, or at the very least restricted to ANBU surveillance. How stange to see you here." She shook her head absently and took up the seat next to him. She ran a hand through her hair then leaned forward onto her elbows and ordered a water.
"Sakura...why are you here? Why do you continue to interfere, I thought I'd made myself clear previously." Sasuke was looking away from her, staring quite intently at the wall. Sakura felt a familiar sting at the comment, but let it slide.
"Why did you request me to do your physical examination, Sasuke?"
She watched him quietly, his head didn't turn but his shoulders visibly tensed.
"I did no such-"
"Don't lie Sasuke-kun, it's so unbecoming of a young man such as yourself. I saw the entry forms you filled out when you entered the village. You specifically requested me for any and all medical procedures."
He grumbled a few choice words under his breath then spoke again.
"How did you gain access to those files, they-"
"I'm Tsunade's apprentice. She's a drunkard and if it weren't for Shizune, I'd be running all of Konoha. After Jiraiya's death she's been more depressed than ever- and thus she's been drinking more than ever, as well. I don't think she's spent a moment sober since. Shizune deals with most of the work- it wasn't hard to get my hands on your precious file. She's so easily flattered."
Sasuke grunted angrily and turned to stare at the wall once more. Sakura huffed then took a few sips from her ice water.
"Sasuke, you haven't changed at all. You're just as narcissistic and stolid as ever. I'd assume you still want to revive the clan, as well? You're predictable."
He snorted at the comment.
"As if you aren't, Haruno? I thought you'd have attempted to rape me in that little hospital room once you saw me, but pretending I didn't exist was just as trite."
Sakura turned her gaze to the wall like Sasuke had done. It seemed she was suddenly aware of how enticingly captivating it was. She and Sasuke sat for several minutes in silence.
Sakura contemplated her situation. She hadn't pictured it going this way. As many times as she'd dreamt of this day, she hadn't seen it going this way. She thought he would confess that he'd loved her all along. That he left to protect the village. It didn't seem to be going that way.
But it certainly wasn't going down the other route. She'd figured that by the time he came back, she'd already have someone else and she could just ignore Sasuke. It didn't seem that way.
Even though it wasn't the way she dreamed she was still hopeful. The current status was unacceptable. They had been friends- maybe not that, but they had been teammates. Now they couldn't speak to one another without sarcasm or an insult. There was an uncomfortable tension. It was unsettling.
She wanted to repair this somehow, to start it over and be more friendly. She began contemplating how to accomplish this.
Meanwhile, Sasuke had his eyebrows drawn together tightly, he had to decide his plan of action quickly or his complex chess game would be short-lived.
He plotted fast, thinking five steps ahead of each move, weighing each outcome. He couldn't leave it this way, she was a valuable piece in this game. Finally he smirked, but his face became cold stone once more only seconds later.
"Sakura, why don't we take a walk?"
Just what she wanted to hear.
-
-
"Another bowl please, sir!"
"Naruto, that's your tenth bowl in the past half-hour. You can't be human, with an appetite like that."
Naruto puffed up into a pout and crossed his arms across his chest, much like a child not getting their way.
"Don't complain, old man. You know I'm your best customer."
"Sorry, I'm still cutting you off. Though, I'm sure I'll still see you tomorrow."
Naruto huffed and uncrossed his arms, knowing the old ramen chef was right. He stood from the stool and headed out of the shop, waving a kind goodbye to the people in the shop. He'd heard earlier today a group of old women gossiping. Normally he wouldn't pay any mind to that, but he heard something that peaked his interest.
-
"Did you hear that Yamanaka girl was seen leaving the Nara's house at four in the morning? Through their boy's window, no less." The woman huffed. "She;s certainly bringing class to her family name."
"Oh my, that is quite interesting-"
"Oh please, who cares about that? Yesterday morning I saw Uchiha Sasuke entering the village! He was willing, but the guards grabbed him up, quick."
"Now that's news! Are you sure it was him?"
"Positive."
-
Naruto shook his head. 'Sasuke-teme can't be back. He didn't want to come back. He wasn't supposed to come back.' Yet, subconsciously Naruto had begun to walk towards the Uchiha compound.
Most of it was still burned down- no one had bothered to rebuild it. The rest of it had been left deserted and untouched for five, six-odd years. It was eerie- a complete ghost town.
Naruto walked through the compound, shivering occasionally at the memories. Scorching flames, blood-curdling screams, the terror was apparent all throughout the village- yet no one did anything to stop it. No ninja took action- the common people seemed to be the only ones surprised. The only ones to care at all.
Naruto had always pondered at this when the thoughts came about, but it didn't make sense- he didn't have enough pieces to figure it out.
He came to a halt outside Sasuke's house. It was cleaner than he remembered. There wasn't an extensive sheet of dust covering everything. The whole house was much too quiet. He finally got to Sasuke's room.
The bed was made, the room was clean, and his clothes were untouched. But something was off and it made Naruto twitch.
'There.'
On the dresser, the framed picture of Team 7 was no longer overturned as it had been since Sasuke's departure. It was propped again. The glass was shattered- but it was face up again. Naruto closed his eyes slowly, but the serenity of the look was quickly destroyed as his eyebrows came crushing down. When he opened his eyes again his furious expression did not lift. His eyes blazed red and he was engulfed in his trademark fiery red chakra, but it slowly dimmed and he returned to normal.
"Sasuke! How dare you! You'd better hope I don't find you're sorry ass! I won't let you get away alive."
With that Naruto bounded out of the open bedroom window and raced out of the Uchiha compound. The only trace he left behind was the scorch mark in the center of the room, caused by his sudden flare of deadly demonic chakra. The chakra that was constantly looming just under his skin- the very same that he intended to use to rip Sasuke limb from limb. Literally.
-
-
-"The deadliest hatred is one born from a slaughtered friendship."-
