Red

Naruto played with the hem of a faded wool blanket. The frayed blue threads strung around his thumb. He'd thrown it over the Uchiha, tucking it around him to form a little cocoon. The sleeping boy's dark brows were drawn back and relaxed, mouth slack. He noticed for the first time that one of his teeth was twisted slightly, left crooked from some long past fight.

The ANBU had done a number on him. A faint bruise was forming on one of his white cheeks. Whatever seals they'd used had knocked him clean out. Even as genin, safe under Kakashi's watchful eye, he'd never seen him sleep this deeply.

By the time Sasuke opened his dark eyes, the sun had set entirely. It was night, and Naruto surveyed him by weak moonlight come in through a dusty window.

He was gripping the injured hand in his own without realizing it, avoiding the sloppily bandaged gash. Sasuke looked around mutely, taking in their surroundings.

"Why are we here?" He asked, no anger in his voice, just quiet shock. They were in an abandoned upstairs bedroom of the center most house in the Uchiha compound. It was a child's room at some point, judging from the peeling blue paint on the wall and the scribbled drawings still tacked in place. Naruto tried not to think of what must have happened to its original inhabitant.

"I thought it'd be..safe. I didn't want them to find you."

"Why did you think that?" Sasuke asked, unable to keep the surprise from his voice.

"No one ever comes here, and, I know there are wards around this place. I can sense it in sage mode, it's difficult to make out someone's presence in here."

Sasuke, to Naruto's surprise, had the hint of smile on his lips.

"Uchiha wards, from before the massacre. You really have gotten stronger, Naruto." He said, eyes closed as though remembering how this place must have once been. The compound was huge. It was no surprise it'd been heavily guarded in its time.

Naruto ignored the rush of emotions he felt at Sasuke's compliment. He gripped his hand tighter, careful to avoid the injured finger.

"Sasuke.."

The dark shinobi opened his eyes languidly, meeting Naruto's gaze with a clarity that denied his decaying sight.

"I'm sorry I forced you back to Konoha. I didn't know it'd be..like this." He hadn't meant to apologize, but the words tumbled out. Didn't want to admit he was wrong, for where did that leave them? For all Naruto's stubborn loyalty to the village, he knew its flaws. Saw the shadows for what they were. The rift between the Uchiha and his village had grown too wide. He would wither here.

"How did you expect this to go?" Sasuke asked, and Naruto found himself captivated by the dark gaze. Saw the anger, always close to the surface.

"I don't know, just, better. Better than this." He said defensively, screwing his eyes shut. "I thought that I could convince you to accept the village. I didn't think I'd need to convince them to accept you."

"Always the optimist." Sasuke sighed. He reached up to brush away a strand of Naruto's blond hair, an undeniable affection in the gesture. Naruto froze, his eyes darted to meet Sasuke's before dropping to the ground. In that brief moment he saw an intensity in the gaze that filled him with a rush of adrenaline, setting his heart pounding. Not unlike when they met in battle, he found himself spellbound.

In the stillness of the Uchiha compound, Naruto became acutely aware that they were alone together for the first time in years. No lurking ANBU guards or meddlesome friends. The thought made him vulnerable and he shifted away. Sasuke's hand dropped from his hair as he moved. He caught it in his own.

"Let me try something." He said. His grip encircled the pale wrist. He gathered his chakra, directing it towards the red seals. A resistance pushed at his mind, not too different from what he felt when the fox railed against his own seal. The markings glowed white. Deep inside himself, Naruto felt them begin to come apart. Sasuke pulled away, shaking his head.

"No." He said firmly.

"Why not? Isn't this what you wanted. I'll let you go." He reached out for his hand again. Sasuke knocked him away more harshly this time.

"I could kill you the moment I'm free." He reminded him.

"You wouldn't do that."

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

Sasuke held his gaze, refusing to allow him access to the seal. Naruto sighed. He slid onto the bed and leaned upright against the wall. It was cramped, but he was careful not to touch his bedfellow. He could feel his body heat emanating from the thin blankets. Sasuke turned his head to watch him as he moved around. His expression was unreadable.

He tucked his arms over his knees, watching the dark windows for their pursuers. The minutes dragged forward and he heard Sasuke's breathing deepen into an even pace. He found himself treasuring the moment. The stillness. Naruto's chest felt warm, heat radiated out from his heart.

You really have gotten stronger.

The ANBU had circled him entirely before he noticed something was amiss. He leapt to his feet, kunai drawn.

"Uzumaki, do not put up a fight."

A cold warning. The tone promised violence if he did not comply.

Sasuke stood beside him. His hands at his sides. The chain of his handcuffs swung against him silently. He walked towards the ANBU without any sign of resistance.

"Wait!" Naruto called out, panic had crept into his voice. "You don't have to."

Sasuke did not turn to acknowledge him. He stood before the ANBU squad in silence. Almost deferential.

"Don't interfere Naruto." He said. Knowing without needing to glance behind him what the other was planning.

"So you're just going to let them lock you up again?" Naruto shouted. "Are you that afraid to fight?"

An ANBU rushed at him. Naruto parried the blow, sidestepping away. His gaze remained locked on the Uchiha's back.

"You're being a fool."

"Better than a coward!"

He felt a sharp pinprick tear at his left thigh. Reaching down he grasped the offending item. A laced dart. His vision distorted and the ground rushed to meet him.


He was on his knees before the council, glaring at the cold granite floor. More than ever, he missed Tsunade's presence.

"You attacked an ANBU member, Naruto. What did you expect would happen?" One of the elders, a woman, stared him down. He shifted, his bound arms stuck out behind him uselessly.

"They were hurting my friend." Naruto responded.

The woman's lip curled in distaste. Her eyes, set unusually wide apart, narrowed as they surveyed him.

"The report says he swung a knife at you."

"He couldn't..." Naruto began, about to explain Sasuke's intermittent sight. Something stopped him, some quiet instinct that this should be kept secret for now.

"It's my fault, I lunged at him and he defended himself." He finished.

"Naruto.."

"It's my fault!" He said again, louder this time.

Danzo sat back in his chair. Two of the elders were whispering, their heads pressed close together.

"Where is Sasuke?"

A wizened face poked up to glare down at him. Danzo cleared his throat, the sound echoed around the chamber.

"You will be sent out on the next B ranked mission."

"What?"

"Immediately."

"And Sasuke?" He asked.

"Not your concern."

He opened his mouth to protest. Danzo cut him off before he could finish.

"Prepare your things, you will leave this afternoon with Hatake Kakashi as your captain. Dismissed."

He felt himself pulled up roughly by his bound arms. Forcefully walked out of the room and into the sunlit corridor outside of the ornate council room. His captor stopped in front of a window and he felt the ropes binding him cut loose.

"Not a smart move." A familiar voice behind him. Naruto craned his neck around to see. Yamato shot him a wry smile as he slipped his kunai back into it's sheath.

"You should heed the council. Attacking Sasuke's guards will not endear him to anyone."

"You weren't there." Naruto muttered. He rubbed at his raw wrists.

"They're grateful to you for saving us from Pain. Sasuke, however..." He trailed off.

"Do you know what they're planning to do with him?"

"He's being questioned now. I think he'll be brought back to your apartment afterwards. Your friends put in a good word for him."

Naruto's heart lifted. He laughed in relief.

Yamato smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Do well on your mission. Try to stay out of trouble for a while."


"-Said he'd be escorted back to my place. So anyway, keep an eye on him please." Naruto had his back turned from her as he zipped up his orange jacket.

Sakura walked around to face him, fists clenched.

"Naruto..this was all my fault. I shouldn't have tried to get everyone-"

"It's fine, not your fault." He said, waving her concerns aside. She noticed the weight he'd been carrying since bringing Sasuke home had not left his shoulders. If anything, the boy had come to look more haggard.

"I'll look out for him." She promised.

Naruto smiled. "Thanks, Sakura chan."

She watched as he walked down the dirt path toward the front gate. Kakashi in tow. Strange that it was just the two of them on this mission. His description of the meeting with Danzo was also curious. She wouldn't have expected mercy from the likes of their new Hokage.

Tsunade shishou, when will you come back to us.

They needed the fifth's support. The village was still mending from Pain's attack, and with Danzo in command Sakura had never felt more uneasy. For Naruto to be sent away from the village at such a critical time...

She turned to face the direction of his apartment, her unease giving way to a nervous anticipation. Just for a few minutes before he'd sliced himself, Sasuke had seemed almost kind. Almost the quiet boy she'd spent her girlhood chasing after. Closing her eyes, she remembered him as they'd captured him. His face dark with hatred, blood streaming in rivulets down his cheeks. Had Naruto had such an influence on him, in only a month?

She slid the key in with shaking hands. The door opened with a loud creak.

"Sakura."

Her name rolled across his tongue like a sentence. She felt her face flush with heat. Embarrassed she turned away, not facing the tall Uchiha in the center of the room.

"Sa-Sasuke kun. I'm here to help with your wo-wound. Naruto just left-"

She fell silent as he strode to her, his injured hand outstretched. Wide-eyed her head snapped up to meet his gaze.

Red.

Her mouth dropped open in a silent scream as her eyes went dark. Locked in the sharingan's embrace.


Decided to release early :) Hope you enjoy the chapter