Disclaimer: Kishi owns Naruto.

A/N: Last reunion chapter, but it's…

Chapter 3: The Hardest Reunion

Naruto and Sasuke were finally out of the hospital. The moment they were out the door, Naruto yelled, "C'mon, teme!" and made a beeline for Ichiraku.

Teuchi greeted Naruto with a warm smile and Sasuke with a cold glare. After that, he avoided looking directly at Sasuke, talking instead to the space over Sasuke's head. For his part, Sasuke remained completely polite and humble. He knew that earning forgiveness was a part of returning to Konoha; he had made this choice, and he would follow through. Besides, this was probably the best decision he had ever made. It made him feel happy and hopeful—he would not say warm and fuzzy—instead of angry and hateful.

Naruto sat down at his usual spot, and Sasuke sat down beside him.

"Ah, doesn't it feel good to be back, teme? Admit it, you missed this place."

"Hn."

"Remember when we took Kakashi-sensei here, because we wanted to see his true face?"

Sasuke grew curious. "Have you…?"

"No," sighed Naruto. "Unfortunately."

"Huh."

"By the way, Sasuke, don't mind Sai too much," said Naruto. "He can be weird and rude, but you'll get used to him."

"I don't think I'll ever get used to being addressed as 'Homo,'" said Sasuke. And I can't see how you got used to someone calling you "Dickless"…

"Ah, heh heh, well…" Naruto chuckled. Then, he said, "You know, I really hated Sai when I first met him. All he did was insult us—me, you, Sakura-chan. Besides, I didn't want anyone taking your place. But he came around. He saw what Team 7 was about and wanted to be a part of it. And, happy surprise, he turned out to be a really cool guy. So, Sakura and I consider him one of us now."

Sasuke frowned. What was Naruto saying? That Team 7 now consisted of Naruto, Sakura, and Sai? That Sasuke was not in Team 7's good graces unless he was in Sai's good graces as well? Sasuke looked at Naruto, who was smiling encouragingly. Sasuke had no clue what Naruto wanted.

"Did Sai ever tell you to forget about me and worry about yourself?" asked Sasuke, recalling Sai's words earlier. Sai had been at Naruto's side when Naruto was suffering for his loyalty to Sasuke…

"Uh, well, yeah," said Naruto hesitantly. "But…"

"Then, he's a true friend to you," said Sasuke quietly. Unlike me…

"Well, yeah, because he—" began Naruto, but he was interrupted.

"Hey, is that Naruto's orange jumpsuit I see?" came a familiar voice.

Naruto and Sasuke turned around. Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, and Temari were approaching.

"On another date with the honorable ambassador from Suna, eh, Shikamaru?" teased Naruto, hoping to lighten the mood before the inevitable reaction to Sasuke's return. "Is your team chaperoning you?"

"Very funny, Naruto," said Shikamaru. He immediately turned his gaze to Sasuke. "So, you're back."

"Yes," said Sasuke. He remembered that Shikamaru had led the first mission to retrieve him.

"Got anything to say for yourself?" said Shikamaru.

Sasuke met Shikamaru's eyes and then Choji's. "I'm sorry," said Sasuke, meaning it. If they have to risk their lives for someone, it should be for each other, not for me.

"Are you sorry you left?" asked Shikamaru pointedly.

That made Sasuke pause. He was sorry that his old comrades had been hurt because of him. But was he sorry that he had left Konoha and gone after his brother? Was he sorry that he had…

"I'm not sorry that I found out the truth," replied Sasuke honestly.

Four pairs of eyes narrowed at that. In their hearts, they could not condemn that statement in itself, but what about the path that had led Sasuke to the truth…?

"I don't know what could've or might've happened had I stayed in Konoha," Sasuke went on. "I might've found out the truth some other way. It might've gone better if I hadn't spent years with Orochimaru, wallowing in hatred. It might've gone better if I found out with the rest of Konoha, rather than by myself. Or I might've lived happily never knowing the truth. After all, for most of my life, I didn't know that I didn't know…" He stopped and frowned. That was a strange sentence.

"Okay, that's confusing enough, but we get your gist," said Choji, chuckling. "Now, I want food."

"Agreed!" laughed Ino.

In truth, Team 10 had heard from Team 8 and Team Guy about Sasuke's oath, and they were not inclined to be harsh on him. Even Shikamaru, who bitterly remembered his first mission as a Chunin and his team's near-deaths, was inclined to be forgiving.

"Well then, I think we're done here," said Shikamaru, as Choji and Ino stepped into the ramen bar. "Welcome back, Sasuke. See you, Naruto!"

Shikamaru then led Temari off.

"Where are they going?" asked Naruto curiously.

Ino began giggling.

"Oh no," groaned Choji. "Now she's going to gossip all through dinner again. First, it'll be Shikamaru and Temari. Next, it'll be Neji and Tenten. After that, she'll go on and on about precious 'Sai-kun'…"

Sasuke fought a sudden urge to laugh. He did not mind being replaced by Sai in that respect.

After dinner, Choji, Ino, and Naruto and Sasuke went their separate ways home. Speaking of which…

"Where am I going?" asked Sasuke. I've been away for too long…

"You can return to your apartment," said Naruto. "Or, if you don't mind, you can crash at my place."

"I'll crash with you tonight," said Sasuke, not wanting to be alone. "By the way, Karin and Jugo tell me that they were given a place for three."

"Yeah," said Naruto. "We didn't know how many of your teammates would want to stay with you."

"Thank you," said Sasuke, touched. "I think I'll move in with them. I don't want to live alone anymore."

"That's quite a change for you, teme," chuckled Naruto. "Now, what we were talking about before?"

We were talking about how Sai became your new best friend, thought Sasuke bitterly, but he said nothing.

"Oh yes, we were—" Naruto began, but he stopped immediately.

A massive killing intent—right in front of them.

In the dark of night, an eerie blue light flashed. The chirping of electricity drowned out the chirping of crickets.

"Kakashi-sensei!" cried Naruto, but before he finished speaking, Sasuke found himself staring at his first teacher—and the incoming Raikiri.

Sasuke had prepared for this. First, he quashed the instinctive urge to defend himself. Next, he quashed the instinctive urge to look his killer boldly in the eye. Then, he simply lowered his gaze and bowed his head before the one who had given him the Chidori.

Sasuke did not move as screech-like chirping filled his ears and blue lightning glowed in his face. But the blow did not come. Finally, the sound and the light faded, and Sasuke raised his head.

Kakashi, hands back in his pockets, looked at his third student as if he were regarding a pile of dirt.

Naruto, who had been frozen with shock, finally managed to speak. "W-Wow… You weren't kidding, Kakashi-sensei…"

"No, I wasn't," said Kakashi shortly. He looked into Sasuke's eyes and said, "I am ashamed that you were ever my student. I regret having ever taught you anything."

Sasuke said nothing. Kakashi turned to leave.

"Kakashi-sensei!" cried Naruto. "Wait!"

Kakashi paused. "Yes, Naruto?"

"I promise you, we'll make some good come out of this!" declared Naruto. So please, don't regret any part of Team 7 …

Kakashi looked at Naruto for a moment. Then, he turned back to Sasuke.

"The only reason you're alive right now is because I don't want to waste all of Naruto's efforts," said Kakashi, "and because there's a chance that you will bring Naruto happiness instead of grief from now on. I hope I am right about you this time."

And with that, Kakashi vanished.

"Uh…Sasuke…?" said Naruto hesitantly. That did not go well at all…

"Naruto," said Sasuke, realizing something. "I haven't said that to you yet, have I?"

"Said what?" asked Naruto.

"I'm sorry," said Sasuke. "And thank you. It's because of you that people haven't forgotten about me, and that people are accepting me back." Well, some people, at least…

"Oh," said Naruto, surprised. Then, he grinned from ear to ear. "Haha! Geez, when'd you become so nice? I don't even know what to say! Well, you're back now, and you promised not to leave again, so I'm happy. Now c'mon, let's go home."

"Yes, let's," said Sasuke, smiling a little. I'm home now, aren't I? What a long-lost feeling…

A/N: Heehee :)