To Trust
After months of innocence Tsunade believes that I have proven myself. My chakara has been returned to me, I've never felt so alive in my life. And best of all I don't feel those annoying ANBU watching me anymore. They are Konoha's elite ninja, but I could always find them as they followed me about Konoha. It became a game of "I spy" whenever I was alone, I'd try to count how many Anbu ninja were following me. But, that was over now. I relished in the feeling of the familiar chakara flow returning to me. The power surging through me felt amazing. But, Tsunade said that I had one last test of my allegiance to the leaf village.
"I want you to go on an important mission. An A ranked mission. If the mission is successful, I will grant you Jonin status."
"Jonin status?" It sat up my attention sparked.
"Yes Jonin status, I know your skills Sasuke. You taking the exams to reach that level would be quite a waste of time. Now back to the mission at hand. You will be escorting Kankuro, the brother of the Kazekage back to the village hidden in the sand." I raised an eyebrow, from what I remember he was more than able to escort himself.
"He came in representation of the Kazekage, for a meeting. He insisted on not being escorted home," I couldn't help but smirk at this, "supposedly he's too strong for that." She rolled her brown eyes in annoyance.
"A team of Jonin got caught in the cross fire between him and some rogue ninja on their way back from a mission. He's lucky to be alive, he's been badly injured and is in a comatose state. I want my best on this mission this will be your last chance to prove yourself. I will be setting you up with a team, be ready in three days."
"Who is my team?"
"Well your team," I felt my heart race awkwardly in my chest, "Sakura and Naruto will accompany you on this mission. And Sakura will lead it, since she is the only one who is partly stable on this team. Are we clear?" For a moment I hesitated before nodding mutely.
"You're free to go." She grinned as she sensed my nervousness. I walked out of her office in slight shock. I hadn't expected her to let me go on a real mission for a little while longer. And with Sakura and Naruto, already? I was mildly excited to get back to my life and to use my chakara to its full extent again. I rushed to the training grounds and started to test out my jutsu. I was a bit rusty at first, but it all came rushing back to me. I slipped my sweat stained shirt off and took a sip of water.
"What a bastard! Look at you showing off for the girls!" I smirked as Naruto threw more crude comments my way, "What are you going to do next? Pretend to drop your kunai and bend over slowly to grab it?" He hollered across the field. I turned around to see Sakura attempting to hide her giggling at his overly loud voice. I felt my face flush in embarrassment.
"No idiot, but you would like that wouldn't you?" His cheeks flushed an angry red.
"Hey! Don't question my sexuality! You're the one who was shacking up with Orochimaru and Kabuto! Who knows what went on between you three!" He stuck out his tongue.
"Alright! Calm down you big babies!" Sakura chuckled, "We've got a mission in three days, so we need to be prepared. And I, am your leader on this mission so I suggest that you follow my orders!"
"Come on Sakura! He's such a bastard! Can't you just lemme hit him once?" Sakura shook her head in response.
"We're not here to start fights Naruto, we're here to train. To fight together successfully, we must be able to fight each other successfully. We need to know each other's techniques, weaknesses, and strengths. Naruto and I know each others fighting techniques pretty well. But, since you've been gone..." The silence was heavy as Naruto scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and Sakura looked away from me for a moment.
"Hey bastard! You scared? Let's get started!" Naruto yelled to me. I couldn't help but give a small smile; they were both trying very hard to not let this go to an awkward place.
"Fine. But, only on the condition that you two give me your very best." I said in a serious tone. They both sunk into battle stances.
"I wouldn't dream of giving you any less!" Naruto screeched. Sakura slipped on her black gloves.
"Oh, I'll give you my best," Sakura flexed her fingers as the gloves fell into place, "but you're not going to like it."
"We'll see."
The battle started off as I expected Naruto and I were at each other's throats, Sakura was nowhere to be seen. I frowned in disappointment as I punched a shadow clone. I suppose she hadn't changed much at all.
Beads of sweat dripped down my forehead, every time I thought I had him it was just a clone! When did he get this good? After finally eliminating his clones it was just him and me face to face. I felt my moves slow and my breathing become ragged, Naruto's as well. The gash on my chest from his kunai was throbbing painfully and I had only nicked him with my own kunai. I clearly underestimated him. And that's when the ground started to shake.
"What the hell?" I cursed as Sakura landed a punch onto the training ground.
"Shit! She was waiting for us to get tired!" Naruto swore as he jumped out of the way landing on a nearby tree branch. I, however, was not so lucky. The shifting ground knocked me off of my feet, I flew for several yards before my back collided with a tree. My vision blurred for a short moment, I saw Sakura running toward me. I was expecting tears and desperate 'sorrys' but she came at me with her fist aiming for my face...
When did she change so much?
I barely ducked out of the way the tree behind me snapped in half, I dodge rolled out of the way as it made its descent to ground. But the ear shattering noise never came. I turned around she had the actual tree in her hands like a super sized baseball bat. She spun around in a circle the large tree eliminated the many shadow clones that Naruto surrounded her with. Naruto powered up his Rasengan and ran full force at Sakura, my breath caught in my throat as she let out a surprised 'oh' as the she flew backward from the impact.
"Damnit Sakura!" Naruto cursed as a log appeared in her place. I let out the breath I unconsciously held, substitution jutsu.
"Boo!" Her hot breath tickled my ear as I jumped in surprise and reactivated my sharinghan. I made quick hand signs.
"Fire Style! Pheonix flower jutsu!" My chest swelled with air before the flames burst passed my lips. She evaded almost all of the, one flame nicked her upper arm. She winced and jumped back. Naruto jumped in out of nowhere, but badly bruised from the tree Sakura swung at him. He sunk into a familiar wide stance.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" He called and ran forward his legion of clones surrounding him.
"Chidori!" The crackling energy surrounded my palm as I ran at the Narutos at full speed. He ran at me eagerly, before Sakura jumped in front of him throwing her arms out in protection of Naruto. A look of determination and worry on her face.
"No!" I yelled as my chidori gave a direct blow. Had I killed her? I immediately stopped the chakara flow to my palm and lurched forward to see if she was alright.
Poof
One of Naruto's clones transformed! His fist followed by several other fists sailed out through the puff of smoke and punched my nose hard... He distracted me with that stupid Sakura clone, I slid across the training ground to a stop, my back burning from the friction. Sakura was upon Naruto now, ramming another chakara filled fist at the ground.
"Ahh!" Naruto exclaimed as he flew forward landing a few feet away from me.
"Looks like I'm the winne- whoa!" Sakura yelled as a shadow clone kicked her in the back and sent her flying forward landing awkwardly next to Naruto. I threw a kunai expertly at the clone, eliminating it quickly. The three of us glanced at each other tensely, waiting for the first one to move. I could here the crickets chirp and the birds sing, the noise seemingly misplaced. Nature seemed to go on peacefully, even in the most tense situations. Naruto, out of eagerness, was the first to begin to lurch his body upward. Sakura and I followed, pulling kunai's out of our holsters standing in a tense, tightly knit circle. Sakura's kunai was poised between my shoulder blades, mine tapped pointedly at Naruto's back, and Naruto's double edged kunai drew blood at the back of Sakura's neck.
"Well! You three definitely have improved." Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke. I pulled my kunai away as Naruto ran to greet Kakashi.
"Hey there sensei! You interrupted our battle! Couldn't you have waited a little longer?" He whined as Kakashi ruffled his hair.
"It wasn't on purpose Naruto, calm down." He sighed.
"What's going on sensei?" Sakura asked.
"Nothing really, I only wanted to warn you three not to over exert yourselves today. Relax and regain all of your energy, your mission is a difficult one. It could be potentially dangerous, even though you three are an excellent team."
"How long have you been watching?" I asked in curiosity.
"Ah, on and off."
"You were reading that pervey book again weren't you!" Naruto yelled.
"Well... hehehe."
"You'd rather read that nasty book instead of help us train!" Sakura yelled in annoyance. The corners of my lips twitched upward slightly, I felt swept up into the past again.
"Yeah! And I was about to win too!" Naruto proclaimed.
"You're an idiot and a liar." I said firmly.
"What! You were on the ground first, bastard!"
"Hey hey hey! It was a tie, come here Naruto I'll heal your wounds." Naruto sat on a tree stump as she inspected him and tied her hair back professionally before healing his wounds. Naruto bounced up as lively as ever.
"Thanks Sakura!" She smiled humbly before motioning for me to come over.
"It's not necessary."
"Don't be so stubborn! Get over here right now or I will swing a tree at your face!" I sighed before reluctantly sitting on the tree stump. Her hand first went to the gash on my lower stomach, my heart beat so loudly I was one hundred percent sure that all of Konoha could hear it. She healed it quickly but her soft hand stayed on the spot for longer than necessary. I felt the air thicken as my eyes rose from her hand to her flushed face.
"Oh Sakura, I believe Neji wanted to see you." Kakashi said his uncovered eye still poised on his book. She bit her lip in thought as she eyed my wounds, her hand lifted off my stomach slowly. She reached for her disinfecting creams.
"If you see him tell him I'm busy." That statement gave me a satisfied smile. Of course I wiped it off before anyone saw it.
The next few days passed quickly and before I knew it I was standing in front of the gate waiting. I was early, which gave me time to think. I found myself thinking about why it was only the three of us this time. Weren't missions generally done by a four man squad? Why wasn't Kakashi coming? That crazy woman Tsunade was trying to push us together, she's trying to rub out the tension left between us three. I sighed, in annoyance. Was there always some kind of motive around here?
"Eh, Sasuke!" Help me get these horses to listen to me!" Naruto called, I turned to see him pulling the reigns of some kind of carriage. The carriage was in shambles, I raised an eye brow. The Kazekage's brother in this kind of transportation. Sakura ran forward only moments later flushed and breathing heavily.
"Sorry I'm late!"
"No worries Sakura, just help me get these horses moving!" The horses snorted and kicked up dust as they backed uneasily away from Naruto. "Gah! Come on dumb horses! Work with me!"
"Naruto! You're just scaring them you're so loud!" She approached the horses slowly and rubbed their long faces affectionately. They nuzzled playfully into her palm. My lips turned upwards. She saw me looking at her awkwardly, she turned away flushed.
"If you guys are wondering why the transportation is so shabby it's because Tsunade wants to make sure that no one suspects that Kankuro is in here, she wants this mission to go smoothly. Another carriage left a few hours ago, the other one is much fancier. She's trying to make sure that we avoid as much conflict as possible." She smiled briefly at the horses.
"Smart for an old lady." Naruto smirked.
"Let's go." They turned to me oddly almost confused by the fact I was there with them, on a mission. We left the gates and I felt an odd tension cutting through the air. It wasn't angry or awkward like the normal tension. It was sad. Naruto kept shifting his eyes casually my way, trying to be inconspicuous. But, it was clear as day. Sakura was leading the horses, trying to avoid eye contact.
It was then that I realized me stepping outside of that gate again was worrying them. They were worried that I'd run away again, which by the way had not even crossed my mind. But, that did not bother me too much. It actually warmed me a little to know that I was still top priority to them, even when I've returned home. That I wasn't some kind of child's toy that was tossed aside after a new interest came about. But, I was still very much bothered.
Because they didn't trust me. Not one bit. They forgave me, but trust me? Not at all.
Hours passed and it was just silence. That sad heavy silence, only broken when absolutely necessary. My fists tightened at the thought of a recent memory.
Two and a half months earlier
I arrived at the Ramen bar and gave Kakashi an odd look. Naruto and Sakura were supposed to meet us here. It took over five minutes for him to realize I arrived. Still absorbed by that perverted book.
"Oh, right. Sakura and Naruto couldn't make it today. They wanted me to ask you for a rain check."
"Hn." His visible eye crinkled, signifying a smile before he returned to his novel. He raised his eyes away from it momentarily to tap his empty bowl forward for the waitress to take . I shrugged it off and ordered my usual. After eating it quickly I walked out, finding no reason to stay.
As I walked home I heard the voices of Naruto, Sakura, and a man. I glanced in the direction of their conversation. The sure fire outfit told me he was a member of the ANBU. I crouched behind some thick foliage and listened in.
"Can't you just do your job!" Naruto hollered, Sakura hushed him quickly. Sakura faced the ANBU politely.
"Excuse him," She cast a glare his way, "but we have been noticing less of you have been watching him lately."
"Lady Tsunade has grown some trust for him she decided to lessen our survailance. But, only slightly, we will still be keeping a close watch on him, only during later hours of the day." His voice was strained and nonchalant, as if he'd rather be somewhere else.
"I don't care! I want you on him twenty four seven! Forget what the old lady says!" The man stiffened at Naruto's words.
"Sir, Lady Tsunade is the Hokage, her word over rules yours by a landslide I suggest that you hold your tongue when you speak of her." Naruto stared him down for a moment, in a huff he turned his back to the ninja.
"Fine then I'll take this to old lady herself!" The ANBU snorted at this.
"Do what you will. I have more important matters to attend to." Naruto turned back around in a huff to spit out a new insult, but was too late. In a puff of smoke the man was gone.
"Naruto! Calm down! You shouldn't talk about Tsunade like that!" Sakura warned.
"Sakura! I do not care!"
"Well you should, she is our leader and my teacher! So, please show her some god damn respect!" She hissed in anger. Naruto's tense shoulders relaxed.
"Alright! I'm sorry! But do you want him to run away again? Do you?" He lowered his voice slightly, noticing that others were giving him odd looks.
"Sasuke wouldn't do it that Naruto! Not again..." My ears perked as I heard my name. Me? They were talking about me?
"How are you sure of that? How can you be sure! How can any of us be sure! Don't you remember last time? You can't look at me and tell me that you don't think of that every time you see him!" He pulled her to the side and I could see them debating. I didn't bother to listen, I was swept under a wave of anger. They were discussing me like some kind of rabid dog trying to find a way out of a locked cage. As if I were a common criminal! My eyes snapped up, they were walking away now. Naruto stomping forward with haste and Sakura lagging behind, her head drooping downward in confusion. I stood up disgusted and stared in their direction. I could only guess where they were going, to see Tsunade.
The next morning, I felt the familiar feeling of being watched. I inconspicuously glanced out of my window, it was there for only a moment. But, the white shine of the animal mask was unmistakable. The Anbu were back.
I walked out of my bedroom and slammed the door shut. And I could not help but think, could I blame them...
"I'm going to go check on Kankuro." Sakura said. I unclenched my balled fists, back to reality. She opened the door to the carriage, it creaked in protest before swinging open. She began to crawl in with slight difficulty, struggling with the moving carriage, she frowned heavily as she nearly fell. Groaned in anger she finally entered the carriage. She came back soon after with a tired smile, she had obviously healed some of his internal wounds.
Naruto eyed her with worry.
"Hey Sakura! Let's take a rest now, the sun's setting!" She shook her head in defiance.
"Come on Naruto! Don't treat me like a baby! I'm fine!" She insisted. I took in her appearance, hot sweat rolling down her face and her stride was considerably slower.
"I wasn't treating you like a baby I-"
"We will stop here for the night." The words sailed out of my mouth before I could stop myself. Naruto raised an eyebrow at me and Sakura smiled.
"If you're sure, Sasuke." I nodded in approval. Naruto plopped onto his back staring at the setting sun. Sakura smirked and bent forward slightly her hands resting gently on her knees.
"Come on Naruto! We gotta set up the tent!" She persisted. I felt my cheeks flush as I noticed that the position she was in brought attention to her backside. Which I was paying great attention to at the moment.
"Go and get the supplies Sakura." Naruto's gruff voice broke away my stupor. I quickly turned my face away, surprised by my moment of weakness.
"Alright! Just be off your lazy butt by the time I get back!" She stuck her tongue out playfully at him. He nodded with a grin as she disappeared into the carriage again.
"Alright Sasuke," Suddenly he was upon me, "I saw you just now. I'm not stupid, it's been five years. I'm not that same person. And if you hurt her..." He growled through clenched teeth, "I'll make you wish you never came back." I almost stepped backward in surprise, but I stood my ground.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." My sharingan flared.
"A little help here!" Sakura called holding a heavy supply of tent supplies. Naruto's glare slid off his face, a smile taking its place.
"Coming Sakura!" He threw me one last glare before helping her carry the load. They probably never would trust me again. And I thought once again, could I blame them? No, it would be foolish to do so.
We set up the large tent quickly and I built up the fire with my jutsu. The sun began to dip, barely visible behind the horizon.
"Hey Sakura! Come on, help me with the fishing! We have to catch some before the sun sets completely!" Naruto called as he started toward a lake barely in my view. I squinted at the shimmering blue in the distance, and glanced at the beaten down carriage.
"Yeah I'm coming!" She called. They started walking away chatting quickly as Sakura knocked Naruto on the back of the head childishly. I double took between the two of them walking away as if it were nothing, and the carriage holding the comatose Kankuro.
"You're going to leave him by himself? He's an easy target now." I said, Sakura paused before turning around and looking at me oddly.
"Well, you'll be here to watch him, right?" She called lightly and flashed an encouraging smile, Naruto nodded before they walked away.
My eyes widened in surprise as I leaned against the frame of the rusty carriage. My arms crossed tightly against my chest.
Trust is easy to break, but difficult to build... Or so I've heard.
On that hazy evening, the first building block was placed.
Whoa baby! Nine whole pages!
I know I know... I suck at fight scenes!!! But, I tried and don't worry I'm going to avoid them at all costs after this... But, this story is far from action so If anyone reading this is expecting some serious kick ass fight scenes... This story probably wont give you much of that. Sorry. Thanks to everyone who reviewed me, I only decided to continue it for you all. And I will continue updating once a week, most likely on Thursdays.
So... How was it? I was afraid I'd ruin this story by continuing... Was it ok? Thank you so much again for reviewing and reading!
Oh! And in the next few chapters, I will start filling you guys in on the Sakura and Neji thing. Bye!