Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
The setting sun cast shadows over the village. Shop owners were closing their stores and the village's children were hurrying home for supper. No one noticed the lone figure standing in shadows, watching it all.
Naruto's spiky blonde hair was longer now, sticking out at seemingly impossible angles. He wore a black coat that he left open to reveal an orange top that clung to his muscled stomach, black pants that were loose enough to allow just enough movement for fighting, but no more, and black boots.
His once kind blue eyes were cold as they looked over the street, looking for the one person who had accomplished what many had tried and failed, running him out of the village. But, now, he was back and he was ready to take on what he could only run away from before. He was ready to prove that he was the best, that no one, not even Sasuke Uchiha, could beat him. He was ready to prove to Sakura that she had made a mistake when she ended what they had.
After a few minutes, with no sign of either Sasuke or Sakura, his stomach growled and a sheepish expression came to his face. Just because he was stronger, didn't mean that he could withstand the smell of ramen coming from his once favorite restaurant, which stood just across the street, lights on in welcome.
Using the excuse that he'd more than likely find them somewhere other than that street, that they might be sitting down in that particular ramen stand, eating their own bowl of hot, delicious, ramen, he hurried towards the stand.
"One bowl, please," he said, sitting down on the same stool he had chosen each time all those years ago. He looked around, but didn't see either of them.
"Coming right up," the owner said. When he turned to bring the bowl to Naruto, he stopped. "You're that boy who used to come in here nearly every day, aren't you? Naruto?"
The blonde glanced up at him, then nodded. "Believe it," he answered in a bored tone. "Can I have my ramen now?"
The owner hurriedly put the bowl in front of him. "Where'd you get off to all these years?"
Naruto took a bite, shrugging. After swallowing, he said, "Here and there, no where too special. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone I was here, though."
The man gave him a weird look, "Why? From what I hear, those friends of yours have been looking for you. They'd be happy to know that you're back."
Naruto looked at him, his eyes colder than they had been, "I don't have any friends. They never liked me, never cared. It'd be best for everyone if they didn't know I was back."
The owner nodded, not knowing what had happened to the boy, but also knowing it wasn't really his business. "Alright."
Naruto went back to his food, eating it slowly, enjoying the taste. The only time he had been able to get ramen this good was the seldom occasions when he had stopped in large cities, where most people wouldn't notice someone new was there, and he never stayed there for more than a night or two.
Now, hopefully, his own home wasn't to run down from years of vacancy. Either way, it was where he'd stay until he decided to leave again…if he decided to leave again. After finishing the bowl, he paid and left.
Outside, a group of ninja's, all Naruto's age, stood talking at a corner. After a moment of looking at them carefully, he nodded. They were all the ones he had grown up with: Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, Ino, Hinata, Shino, even Lee and Neiji. In the middle of them all were Sasuke and Sakura.
He quietly moved closer, sticking to the shadows so that they wouldn't see him, until he could hear what they were saying.
"Still no sign of him?" Kiba asked.
"Not one," Sakura answered with a sigh. "We've looked everywhere, but Naruto's nowhere to be found."
"So troublesome," Shikamaru said. "Why did I even say I'd help you?"
Ino glared at him. "He's one of us, Shikamaru. He might have been getting stronger when he left, but he wasn't very smart. Probably ended up in some kind of trouble the minute he left the group. He's probably out there somewhere, lost."
Though he knew she didn't see it, Naruto glared at her. He never could stand her.
"He's okay!" Lee put in. "I know he is! Naruto is more than capable of taking care of himself!"
Sakura looked at him with a fond smile. "You're sure about this, aren't you Lee?"
"Of course!" He wrapped an arm around her waist and grinned at her. "You don't have to worry about him! If we don't find him, he'll turn up here sooner or later."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly when he saw her lean into Lee. He looked at Sasuke, who had remained silent. Sasuke's eyes was focused in the distance, away from everything that was going on around him. He was far taller then he had been when they were younger and his hair longer. It seemed that he still didn't care about Sakura like she had always wanted him to, and now she had moved on to someone new.
"Sasuke?" Choji said. "Are you really still looking for him?"
Sasuke looked at him. "Why should I? He left us, remember? If he wanted to be found, we already would have. It's pointless now."
His answer seemed to surprise most of them. "You were the most upset out of all of us," Sakura said.
He shrugged. "So? That was then, this is now. If Naruto wants to act like a brat and run away from all his problems, let him. It has nothing to do with me."
"How can you say that?" Sakura argued. "You haven't been the same since he left! You can't just give up like that!"
"Why not?!" Sasuke yelled. "It's your fault he left! You're the person he didn't want to see again. You hurt him, and now he's out there hiding from us all!"
"Stop blaming this on me! Just because I broke up with him, doesn't make it my fault! How do we know that he left so he wouldn't have to see me? He could have ran away so that he wouldn't have to deal with knowing he could never be better than you! I wish he could know that I finally realize that you're nothing more than an arrogant jerk! I don't know what I saw in you! At least he was sweet!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm out." He looked at Shikamaru, smirking. "Wanna come with me?"
Hesitating a moment, Shikamaru looked at the group. He knew that they knew about him and Sasuke already…hell, everyone knew when Sasuke found a new lover and who it was. But he knew that the group wasn't finished talking and, truth be told, he was worried about Naruto.
"I'll be by later," he said.
Sasuke nodded, then left. Naruto was tempted to follow him, but decided against it, knowing he'd learn more if he stayed near the group.
No one said anything for a moment, then Neiji said, "What about that one hired ninja? The one who came around about five years ago? It was only year or so after Naruto left. He could have decided that using his skills as a ninja was the best way to get money."
"He wouldn't!" Hinata argued. When everyone looked at her, she blushed lightly. "Naruto is too kind. That ninja is called the Shinigami for a reason. He's an assassin who'll stop at nothing to get the job done! He's heartless! Naruto isn't like that."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly at her defense of him. Too bad she's wrong, he thought.
"Living life alone with no money can make even someone as innocent as Naruto do something evil," Neiji said. "You refuse to think that he's capable of killing for money because of that crush you had on him."
Hinata's whole face went red and she didn't say anything.
"Will you look into it, Lee?" Sakura asked. "I agree with Hinata about him being too kind to do it, but anything is possible."
"Of course," he said.
Naruto rolled his eyes. They're idiots. Even if they look for me by that name, no one knows where I went to besides Gaara, and they'd never think to ask him.
A longing look came into his eyes at the thought of the one person who had taken him in after he ran away. Gaara had told him straight out that he was only helping him out of respect (that alone had surprised Naruto), and that Naruto had better not expect anything more than a place to live, not his pity nor his friendship. Despite that, the two had become close, both emotionally and physically. They understood each other like no one else could. Gaara had helped Naruto become stronger. He was the one who taught him how to think with his brain, not his heart. Though they were so close, both knew that they couldn't be more than friends, and Gaara refused to count them as even that.
The group separated and Naruto followed Shikamaru, deciding that it'd be best to keep track of Sasuke. After all, he was the real reason that Naruto was back. He was the one that he'd been hired to spy on. The job had been the perfect opportunity to come back to the village. After this job was over, he'd know whether or not he was ready to come back for good, or if his life was better spent as the Shinigami.
Hoped you liked it. Please review and tell me what you thought.