A/N: Replies to comments at the end of the chapter. This chapter's probably a bit longer than the others. Enjoy!

Bold/ItalicsKyuubi

Naruto and everyone belong to Kishimoto Masahi.

Kiite Kudasai : Where The Devil Sleeps pt. 1

Did you know
The way we shiver,
Standing on the corner
Looking out at a world
That refuses to reply?
Shifting silently, wanting
Waiting.
Hoping someone will
Look our way.

We are the lonely
Standing here together
In between the walls
We were forced to build.
Our dreams mean nothing
The bastard children
Of an empire of deceit.

Clouds rolled in as the sensei and student raced to the Hokage, jumping roof to roof. Sasuke continued to tightly clutch Naruto's head band. Kakashi didn't like the clouds, they were dark and heavy with an impending storm. He drew his eyes away from the sky, however, to focus on a much closer problem-at-hand.

Even if Sasuke would never admit to it, Kakashi had easily been able to see the bond that had been forming between the two boys. He was worried what all this meant; it was a situation he had never really prepared to face. Naruto abandoning Konoha...or maybe he had left to save the village. It was a possibility, although a very slim possibility.

Either way, he could already see the storm forming in Sasuke's eyes. Confusion, hurt, betrayal. Kakashi felt like he could almost read the boy's mind. Almost see the slow stirrings of violence.

He suppressed a shiver and focused on the rest of the short journey, praying Tsunade would know what the hell was happening.

He tried again.

Kunai digging into his skin, going deep. Screamed as the wounds began to heal immediately, painfully. His cry echoed, sounded primal, unhuman.

Human. You are not human.

The voice was feral, the phrase the only words it repeated. To remind him.

Not human. Could never be. Humans were mortal.

Kyuubi wouldn't let him bleed, wouldn't let him die.

Therefore, he agreed with the fox inside him.

And tried once more.

The rain spattered the windows, breaking the silence, but not in a way Sasuke wanted. He wanted the Hokage to talk. To say ANYTHING. But she sat in white and red robes, hands folded and eyes staring at the Konoha band she'd had to order Sasuke to hand over.

He wanted the almost-silence broken. Dark, cold eyes stared at the blonde.

Say something, you old hag. He pushed down a frustrated growl before it could escape and shifted his weight.

The slight movement seemed to signal to Tsunade to raise her head, eyes unreadable. She studied Sasuke, the uncomfortable stare making the teen feel like squirming. She moved her eyes up over him then to Kakashi, who, in Sasuke's opinion, looked altogether BORED, which only pissed him off more. Tsunade's eyes fell again.

"I did not expect this." Her voice was almost lost to the sound of the rain. She shifted, robes unsettled and rustled back to the ground and chair. Her hands clasped onto the arm rests, "I did not think this could happen."

"What will you do?" Sasuke blurted out and immediately regretted it.

Tsunade's unreadable eyes fell on him again, and softened a little. She shook her head, "Consult. Think. The ANBU-"

"NO!"

"Sasuke-kun." Kakashi hissed and a heavy hand landed on Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke turned his glare onto his teacher, but Kakashi only tightened his hold.

Movement, then, and the Hokage rose, came around her desk. "You must be ready to accept the possibility, Sasuke..."

"No." Don't say that. Don't say anything like that...if you don't say it, it won't be true.

"I know how close you two were."

He crossed his arms and opened his mouth to reply.

"He's your number one rival, but you have to remember who else he is."

"He's not a monster!!"

"No..." Tsunade lowered her head a little, "He's not. But he is the seal for one."

"He won't betray us." Won't betray me.

Tsunade clicked her tongue a little, and came forward, lifting his chin with a finger, "I hope not. However, if there is a possibility that he is a threat...that he could become one soon...he will have to be eliminated before he gets out of control."

"HE WON'T!" Sasuke's arms dropped back to his sides, hands clenched in tight fists and shaking. "YOU CAN'T KILL HIM!"

Tsunade released him and moved back to her chair, when she was seated again, she turned to Kakashi, "Team 7's missions are on hold until further notice. The three of you are to remain in the village until something is figured out.

"Let me go look for him." Sasuke spoke in a hard tone.

Tsunade ignored him and picked up the guard, holding it out at her side for one of her subordinates to take into their care.

"Hokage..."

"You're both dismissed."

"Hokage!"

She ignored him. Kakashi's arm wrapped around him and removed him forcefully from the room.

NARUTO!

He didn't even notice the rain any more, as he wandered down one of the main streets of the village, head down, eyes not really seeing. His hair drooped down over him, shielding whatever emotions might be stirring inside from the outside world.

Why? How can they do this to him? Maybe he'll come back. He forced a smile, Maybe he never even left, he's just hiding. But he was painfully aware of the blonde's absence. He couldn't sense him, couldn't see him, and didn't see a light on in the blonde's home when he wandered past, as he subconsciously raising his eyes just to check. Didn't realize how much I wanted to see him...how much I cared if he was nearby or not.

"Sasuke-kuuuuuuuuuun!"

Oh shit.

He knew that cry, and sighed, and turned on his heel to face the person calling him. Sakura came towards him, walking quickly, umbrella over her, saving her bright pink hair and normal red dress from the rain. He stared at her, not quite glaring.

And where the hell have you been all day? He wanted to ask her out loud, but somehow he knew any answer she'd give would only serve to piss him off further.

"Sasuke-kun? What are you doing? It's raining! You shouldn't be out."

He shrugged and turned and started walking away.

He heard her splash in a puddle and follow after. "Sasuke-kun...what's wrong?"

Gee, how'd you ever know something was wrong?

"Naruto's gone."

Sakura froze for an instant, as Sasuke continued walking, then she ran to catch up again, "What? What do you mean gone? Does he have a mission? Or I bet the jerk's just playing a joke."

Sasuke halted and turned a glare on her. "It's hardly a joke. He's gone."

Sakura didn't say anything, so Sasuke continued walking, shoving his hands in his pockets. He suddenly grew angrier as his hand wrapped around a piece of paper. That goddamn note with Sakura's name on it. He growled.

"Sasuke?"

"WHAT?"

The pink haired genin withdrew a little, "Um...nothing...never mind."

He let that be the end of the conversation. After a few more minutes of trailing him, Sakura gave up and fell behind, eyes softening as he vanished into the wall of rain.

Sasuke sprawled out on his bed, one arm slinging across his eyes as if it would block out the whole world. Outside the rain raged on, joined by the distant sound of thunder and lightning. This storm was bound to last the entire night.

His other hand withdrew from his shorts the letter, a little damp from the moisture on his shorts, turned it over and over in his hand. It was for Sakura. He should have given it to her. But he just couldn't do it. It was the last little piece of Naruto he had. Tsunade had taken away the head guard. Now all that was left was this letter.

And it wasn't even for him.

Ch. 4 Fin.

The Sisters of Chaos: W/D: as Manga-lover123 pointed out after your review, there were actually two letters. I never specified that it was his letter to Sasuke that he put on the table.

Kyuubi-kun: rubs chin fudge, you say? Well, I have a poor reaction time, so if your aim is off and if I move too slow and in the correct direction, then the fudge and I shall meet and I will have fudge to eat!!! ...and laundry to do...

:) : I think it would take a few days for Team 7 to get worry. Given Naruto's normal happy, forgetful personality, I thought it'd take about three days for people to get worried.

Thanks everyone for the reviews!!!