A/N: After two months of delay, here it is the fourth chapter! Thank you to: Dearest, Kel, Iceheart19, Random Fan for answering my question. Also to: Caer, ghostninja85, and Dream Fox! You all are my inspiration! XD
To Bishiehuggler: As usual, I love to read your review! Other thing we have in common, I too think that Naruto is on top XD I don't really care if he is more hotheaded because Sasuke is… well, in my humble opinion he's the uke…
To Shinka: For the answers of your questions: First, Kakashi didn't tell Tsunade because she already had too many to handle. I think he wasn't so sure about that problem with Naruto and thus decided to keep it a secret for himself for a while. Thank you for your support to Kakashi/Genma! I was a bit anxious to start them as a pairing but now I truly love them XD
To Kuroi: First of all, thanks for reviewing my two other fics, really love your reviews… About shota, well... I prefer to avoid it if it's still avoidable because I don't really like it. Kakashi's relationship to Sasuke is more a brotherly one (in my opinion…) since I don't think affections are meant for lovers only. And yes, I definitely like Sasuke better with Naruto XD Thanks for your patience (if you are still waiting for this)! Hope you like this chapter!
Last but not least, my deepest gratitude to my beta, kyubi-san!
Please enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns Naruto.
WARNING: Male/male pairing (if the summary isn't obvious enough…). And there is Jiraiya/Tsunade too in this chapter.
Italicized words are the words I think important,
/Italicized words in here/ are for thoughts.
Reflection of Passion
Author: SIB
Chapter Four: Life of an Uchiha
Never judge a book by its cover.
It was a new policy Sasuke had learned to believe as he began to distinguish the person Hatake Kakashi actually was. Now that he had known him fairly well, his instructor was obviously not a clumsy undependable jounin like his initial reaction in their first meeting had led him to believe. As a shinobi, he was one you would trust your life to and as an adult, he was one you would listen to.
Living with Kakashi taught him to take notice of many things he had always paid as little heed as possible, such as his well-being. Contrary to common belief, the jounin was unbelievably neat and also an excellent cooker, a fact which almost made Sasuke fall out of his chair when his instructor put a far too decent meal –by his standard– on the dining table at their first breakfast together. His daily food had always been scanty –since he ate just because he needed to live– and now he had someone, at least for the time being, who would guarantee him having a proper meal every day. Sometimes it reminded him too much of his mother, or even worse, Itachi, which was rather unsettling for the young Uchiha.
There were obstacles as well, things which made the fact that he was now no more living alone somewhat disquieting. Sasuke had this habit of using his whole night to mourn for his family or to create and recreate future plans to murder Itachi, which he did regularly every time a nightmare plagued his sleep. Unfortunately it came more frequent ever since his brother forced him to retrace that cursed day using Tsukiyomi Genjutsu in Shikuba Town. But Kakashi said nothing, not even a try to soothe the young boy. Instead, while Sasuke sat silently on the couch with knees propping his chin, cheeks dampened by tears, the older shinobi only settled himself on the windowsill, eyes firmly pinned at the pale orb that was moon, yet fingers occasionally knocking the wooden surface of the sill, as if to convince the young boy that he was not alone.
For the wordless support he offered, Sasuke felt immensely grateful. He wasn't sure how he would take it or how he would react if the jounin had said anything. Things could get awkward.
"Ready?"
His sensei's voice snapped the young Uchiha out of his reveries. Leaning to the front gate casually was the silver-haired jounin, eye still fixed on his bright-covered book but it was obvious that it wasn't the book he attempted a conversation with. Within seconds, Sasuke had finished tying his slippers and soon followed the jounin instructor leaving his residence.
Morning activities enlivened the main street of Konoha with peddling vendors, haggling buyers, and both hasty and relaxed passer-bys for it was nearly nine in the morning. Another consequence of living with Kakashi was that the instruction their Hokage had put on the two compelled them to depart together. It also put an end to the copy ninja's ludicrous orders which demanded his subordinates to gather in a very unearthly hour since it was most likely that Sasuke would drag him to go as well. Sakura might still be offended by the fact that her sensei got to live with her Sasuke-kun, but she along with Naruto also rejoiced at a considerable progress that their instructor was never late anymore.
As a little side note, it also became clear for the young Uchiha that whatever the actual reason of Kakashi's habitual lateness was, it undoubtedly wasn't because he overslept. But he didn't ask, and the jounin didn't explain, which left the details remained unknown.
Well, not that he bothered to know anyway.
"Good morning, Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke-kun," a tall bespectacled man in his late thirty nodded at them with a smile. Sasuke recognized him as the shopkeeper of Konoha's bookstore, where his sensei often bought his obnoxious novels at. A little chat in the morning with an acquaintance was also something new for Sasuke because no such thing had occurred to him since the massacre of his clan. There were some who preferred to avoid any form of contact with him since then, but to those who actually had tried to greet him, he too hardly gave any response.
He didn't want pity and as he wished, with his ignorance none he received. But the price was high; Sasuke hadn't realized it until very recently, until once again there were people who wished him a good day.
"Morning, Shiki-san," his sensei greeted back, eyes fixed at the large box the other man was carrying. "New Icha Icha Violence?"
The shopkeeper laughed while Sasuke snorted in disdain. Judging the unfathomable depth of the love Kakashi harbored for his novels, it was highly probable that the said books were the only being –regardless their lifeless state– that the jounin would be willing to marry –if marry he must in the future. Using a warning tone, the black-haired gennin pointed out sharply, "We are going to be late."
Under his student's unsympathetic gaze, the jounin instructor could only shrug helplessly. The boy really had to do something with his uptightness, but oddly enough, girls in Konoha seemed to make so little fuss over it. After a promise to reserve one book was made with the shopkeeper, the older shinobi commented, "With your behaviour, Sasuke, people will begin to wonder who is babysitting who in this case."
"You are not babysitting me," Sasuke stated flatly as his feet gained its former pace. To be given a special escort was seriously embarassing, especially for a shinobi who should be capable of defending himself. He had a reputation to uphold and these kinds of act were not helping. It still astonished the Uchiha successor of how easy he had complied when the Hokage forced the whole bodyguard issue on him. Precaution it was, but when nothing –not even a headache– happened to him in the past week, it supposedly lost its title as a precaution.
Partly listening to his sensei's trailing footsteps, Sasuke plunged his hands deep into the pockets of his shorts, as he usually did when he was resolute on something. Eyes still staring straight at the lively street, he started tentatively, "It has been a week and nothing happens. I don't think you still need to escort me."
"Any particular reason?" Of course he wouldn't expect to accept a definite answer right away, at least not from a person like Kakashi.
"No, but Naruto-"
"Ah, you're afraid that he may be jealous because I'm the one living with you, not him," the jounin nodded vigorously, pointedly ignoring the startled look Sasuke was wearing. Even when 'startled' was no longer suitable to describe the gennin's dangerous glare, Kakashi still resumed his rambling, accompanied by a few of sympathetic nods. "You should have just said so, Sasuke. I won't be so bold as much as interfering with my subordinates' love life-"
"Say one more word and you are dead."
When it was coming from the young Uchiha, mere words could become the sharp edge of a knife set on your neck skin. However, Kakashi was Kakashi. In return of the death threat, his mask crinkled into a line of genial smile. "Sasuke, if you really want me cooperating with you, I suggest you to change the way you request."
There was a sound of teeth grinding at each other coming from the black-haired boy. When he finally spoke, Kakashi thought that he heard the familiar sound of kunai being honed. "I've never said I request you to cooperate."
"That means you actually intend to." The smile hardly faltered.
"Just... shut up," Sasuke ended the pointless interchange after his futile effort to find any counter-attack. How he wished the jounin wasn't so damn cool; it was far easier to win a dispute with the hotheaded Naruto.
Despite his frustration, a carefree whistling from his side made him spare a sidelong glance at Kakashi, whose single eye was still forming a happy curve. It was when the Uchiha realized that his sensei too had both of his hands shoved into his trousers. Sasuke felt his own hands curled into tight fists at the sight; he wasn't going to lose this round, not when his mind had been set to winning. Shoving them deeper, he declared stubbornly, "Don't escort me anymore starting from tomorrow. I'm not a baby."
The voice which answered to his statement was cold, erasing all impressions of a frolicsome jounin Kakashi carried only a moment ago. "It's the Hokage's to decide and you are a horribly selfish baby if you dare to bother her at these times."
Sasuke fell silent at once. He certainly wasn't expecting that, but Kakashi in fact had always been unpredictable. Sometimes it truly upset him that his sensei seemed to say the most right thing at the most inapt situation. Of course he always had the choice to contradict that, but it would only make him an insensitive little baby he always resented.
"But no need to worry," suddenly Kakashi's voice gained its cheerful quality back. "I'll explain to Naruto that I'm only guarding you. No harm meant."
The gennin inwardly groaned. /Was he actually serious or not!?/
"I'll catch it!"
"Your stealth is horrible, Naruto," Sakura was visibly annoyed at her blonde friend's inexhaustible determination to put the spotlight on himself. "Sasuke-kun is the obvious choice to do this."
A pair of fuming blue eyes darted from a three-coloured finch chirping merrily on the brittle branch of a tree at the riverbank to his cool dark-haired teammate. "Why is it always Sasuke? Even Kakashi-sensei is now staying with Sasuke!"
"Shut up, dobe. You'll scare the bird away," the said teammate muttered darkly at the kyubi boy, which of course merely angered him more.
"What? You got a problem with that?"
"You're the problem!" Sasuke snapped back sharply although his voice was still considerably lower than that of his confrontational friend. "Why can't you just be quiet?"
At the rather reproachful question, Naruto at once stood up from his squatting pose, eyes flaring angrily. His new position, which caused him to look down at his still crouching rival, made him feel somewhat superior –considering the usual height issue he constantly had to admit in normal times. In receipt of another surge of strength, he replied hotly, "I would if you weren't a damn jerk!"
"Excuse me?" The indictment rose not only Sasuke to his feet, but also the level of ferocity in his voice. Apparently Naruto's rage was contagious. "Which part of me is a damn jerk!?"
"You're living with him!"
Sasuke's eyebrows shot upward; what kind of logic was that? He was torn between bewilderment and anger when he asked incredulously, "And that makes me a jerk?" It was getting ridiculous.
"Yes because you didn't decline his offer to stay with you!" The other boy seemed perfectly oblivious to the confusion in Sasuke's voice. "Do you realize just how perverted he is? What if he-" All of a sudden he stopped abruptly, face turning into a brilliant shade of crimson, as he averted his gaze once again to the river. "Nothing! Forget it!"
Still under the impact of his initial shock, Sasuke could only stare blankly at his flushing teammate. He wasn't hearing that; there must be a mistake somewhere, either due to the sudden incapability of his auditory devices or the malfunction of Naruto's tongue. In the process of convincing himself –no matter how arduous it was– he accidentally caught a sight of his sensei sitting on the bough of a tree several metres above Sakura's head, his visible eye intent at the scenes displayed before him. Sasuke imagined seeing the words: 'See what I said!' painted clearly in red on the jounin's mask.
To keep his anger from exploding, he diverted his eyes back to Naruto, which unfortunately did well only in agitating the other boy even more. "Stop looking at me, asshole!" the blonde gennin snapped, face still immersed in deep scarlet.
The other snapped back. "I was not looking at you, dumbass!"
"You obviously were, you arrogant-"
"Now, let's look over there," out of the blue Kakashi appeared behind the quarrelling partners and turned their head simultaneously to the river. Their sought bird was now perching on a slab of rock at the edge of the river, presumably terrified by many ominous sounds its hunters emitted. If Sasuke wasn't Uchiha Sasuke, he would probably drop his jaw, like what Naruto was doing right now. To catch it now would be difficult.
"Any idea, gentlemen?" their sensei's voice was still sweet, yet held a tad of menace. For once, Sakura was thankful that she was being left out by the word 'gentlemen'.
"The situation is," the silver-haired jounin resumed coolly when no reply came, "we have to catch the finch no matter what and you can see clearly that it is now sitting on that rock, which as I can see is slippery. The river ends in a cascade far above its landing point, precisely where the rock is set, which means where our bird is located."
Kakashi halted for a moment, evaluating his silent subordinates with his slightly droopy eye. "Now about the obstacles. This is a bird we're about to catch, so stealth, like Sakura said, is irreplaceably needed, as well as agility. I suggest one person to do this –the rock isn't that big anyway. Apart from stealth and agility, this task also demands balance due to the wet surface of the rock. Any volunteer?"
Naruto was about to raise his hand when Sasuke declared resolutely, "I'll do it." Next to him, Sakura sighed in admiration at the end of his short statement.
"Not fa-" Before Naruto could finish firing his complain, the jounin instructor had wisely chosen to cover the troublesome mouth with his palm, leaving the loudest gennin struggling and squirming in his hold. To Sasuke he gave his consent with a slight nod. "Do it fast."
Wasting no time, the young Uchiha immediately calculated his plan; for the distance between the rock and his hiding place, one long leap would manage, which also allowed him to anticipate if the bird, by any chance, tried to fly away. Under his rapt scrutiny, the bird cocked his head a bit to its side, as if sensing danger approaching yet still doing no attempt to salvage itself. Sasuke smirked at the sight; a hunt should be a lot easier when the prey had trusted its surrounding.
A leap by his legs sent him flying across half the width of the river as his hands reached forward to grab the about-to-fly bird. The young boy astonished even himself with his improving speed and reflex as he landed gracefully on the smooth surface of the rock, the little bird wriggling fruitlessly between his fingers. Perhaps it was due to the radical convalescence of his food's quality, but Sasuke wasn't about to admit it even if it did play a great part in enhancing his skills. What was important, his task was done.
It was when he realized that his body couldn't move. Again.
Thousands of thoughts running to and fro in his mind, yet none of them managed to put his body into motion, not even the picture of Naruto laughing until next year at his failure. He stood still, sensing the bird strive its getaway from his grip even now. Half-consciously he could hear Sakura's voice, crammed with worry from the riverside and he tried once again to move –or at least speak– but all in vain. Slowly but steadily the voice dimmed and the world turned mute to his ears.
Then his feet, unordered by his brain, take one step forward into thin air.
Sasuke was horrified; he would hit the bottom of the waterfall without a chance to slow his fall down since his state was as ruinous as suffering a physical defect. He couldn't even grit his teeth. Far below him, vast lake with sharp jagged stones littered underneath lay in wait.
Out of nowhere a hand grabbed his waist, preventing him from the horrendous fall, and Sasuke felt himself being tossed to the riverbank. Another pair of strong arms, which he realized as Naruto's, caught his unmoving body before the solid pebbly ground could have a collision with his bones. From the corner of his eyes, the young Uchiha was still able to see his savior's hand trying to take hold of the rock. And it slipped. Sasuke could only witness Kakashi's grey hair disappeared from his sight, still incapable to move a muscle.
Luckily, he couldn't scream.
"Where the hell is he?"
Asuma looked up from his Shogi game with Genma to the Fifth Hokage. She was pacing around her office, brow wrinkling in displeasure as her glowering eyes moved from one jounin to another among the three available there as if it was their fault that their friend hadn't arrived there yet. A somewhat jaded smile appeared upon Asuma's bearded face as he replied dryly, "I thought you would have known Kakashi and his terrible habit by now."
The Hokage shot him an equally wry look. "Knowing is world's apart different from permitting, Asuma. This is becoming intolerable. And what are you two doing there?"
"Playing Shogi," the asked jounin answered with a nonchalant shrug as he pushed his stone a step forward. "This is what I have learned from befriending Kakashi for so long. Does it surprise you that he has matured into a man with no sense of punctuality?"
"That is not my point," Tsunade returned to her wandering pace. "I was saying that we couldn't start this meeting without him."
"Perhaps team 7 hasn't finished their mission," Genma said without averting his intent gaze from the Shogi board.
"They were ordered to catch a finch, Genma. A single damn bird!" the Hokage snapped, voice developing a rise for several degrees. "Where is the difficulty in that? And he was a jounin for god's sakes!"
For once Gai wasn't opposing his eternal rival. The twin thick eyebrows formed a frown on his temple instead, his voice unusually apprehensive. "Maybe something is happening. He is in charge for that Uchiha boy anyway. If anything goes wrong-" suddenly he stopped his rambling as he shook his head in denial, eyes shining proudly, "No! He is a man worth to be my rival! Nothing will go amiss in his presence!"
The three other fell silent at the newly given hypothesis; even Tsunade didn't bother to question the tears running freely down Gai's cheek. She halted her steps by the window, muttering the word 'impossible' to herself repeatedly. That thought had visited her mind before, but she refused to accept it as true. Not that it was exactly impossible –like what she was convincing herself to trust now– but she had too much to handle on her two small hands already. And now it was Kakashi, a jounin she had always put her trust on, one of the few who could understand what it exactly meant to be a Hokage.
"No, everything is fine," eventually she declared in a louder tone, more to herself than any of her listeners. No one gave a reply; even Gai chose to cast his gaze downward at his bright yellow socks. Each had their own anxiety in mind, but to share it with their friends was probably the greatest way to make things worse. It would only augment the strain that had been roughly put on them, the Hokage in precise.
"Move, Asuma," suddenly Genma broke the silence, voice echoing a great deal of tedium. "I can grow beard while waiting for you thinking."
The other jounin made a face at his bandana-ed friend as he nonchalantly took a piece from the board. "Try to play Shikamaru and you'll find out why I can never bring myself to shave my beard. He sometimes uses an hour to decide a vital move, but after that, my defeat is certain." At the end of his sentence, Asuma noticed that his friend's lethargic eyes were fixed on his right hand, as if the brown-haired shinobi didn't even bother to pay any heed at his speech. Slightly annoyed, he questioned, "What? Something terribly ensnaring with my hand?"
Genma merely closed his eyes. "Just put the stone down, quickly."
"I was about to. There, look-" His words were cut by a sudden commotion rising behind the Hokage's door.
"…no, you cannot!" The four shinobis in the room simultaneously diverted their gaze to the door, listening intently to Shizune's stern but alarmed accent. "Godaime-sama is currently holding an important meeting with the jounins! You are not allowed to-"
Following a sound of hurried footsteps, the office door was slammed open from the other side and a pink-haired girl appeared, her right arm seized by Shizune. Behind her was Sasuke, whose arm was circling his blonde teammate's shoulders for support. Tsunade and the other shinobis stared at the newly-arrived gennins, sensing an omen approaching as what their preceding talk had implied; the pitiful condition of their uninvited guests also supported the idea in many ways.
"Hokage-sama!" Sakura instantly rushed to the Konoha's leader side upon the sight of her, voice burning in panic. The next sentence she said stunned the Hokage. "Kakashi-sensei fell off the cliff!"
Strong fingers gripped each side of Sakura's shoulders as Tsunade demanded with no less anxiety, eyes rapt and incisive, "Cliff? What cliff? Kakashiyou say?"
"The mission... " the pink-haired kunoichi looked as if she was about to cry, tears glistening in her green opaque eyes. She swallowed a gulp, steadying her quivering voice before resuming her explanation. "We were accomplishing a mission and that finch- it perched on a stone and... and Kakashi-sensei helped Sasuke-kun- I don't know why but-"
"Where is this place?" Tsunade decided to stop Sakura's disordered ramble before it got too long.
"This... place?" The interrogated gennin was at a complete loss for a moment, her uneasy gaze wandering aimlessly around the room before it eventually rested at the visages of three anxious jounins behind their Hokage. An increase of the intensity of Tsunade's firm grasp shook her out of her trance as she began to stutter once again. "It's the river... yes, river at the north of the village and the waterfall- he fell from that waterfall- from that height... we tried to search for him but we couldn't find him, and Sasuke-kun's condition-"
Finally letting the girl go, Tsunade swirled around brusquely, releasing orders immediately to her other subordinates. "You three, search for him now. You heard her, a valley at the north of the village where the river ends. If you haven't found him at eight tomorrow morning, gather here no matter what and we'll discuss what we should do next. For now, do not tell anyone about this. We don't want to rouse more needless worry from... others."
The three jounins chorused a 'hai' and quickly disappeared behind the office door without further delay. Left inside with the gennins and Shizune, Tsunade studied the young shinobis; they were in a great mess. There were many scratches on their skin and rips on their clothes; Sasuke was visibly suffering the worst compared to his teammates and he too sprained his left ankle. While most parts of their outfits had been dried by the wind, it was painfully obvious that they –at least the boys– had gone as far as diving into the water in search of their sensei. Her gaze halted at the black-haired boy who had his eyes set on the wood-patterned floor.
"Sasuke." No respond in any manner came from the boy, not even an inclining of head. The Hokage could feel her brows knitting together as she asked further, "You couldn't move again?"
Before she could receive a reply from the Uchiha, his blonde teammate had jumped in. "Again? This has happened before??"
Tsunade didn't even have the chance to say a short simple 'yes' when Naruto suddenly snapped at his limp friend, blue eyes blistering angrily yet arm still tightly holding the other's waist. "You have never said about this to us even once! Has he?" The kyubi boy shot a glance at his other teammate, who seemed pretty much as aghast as himself, looking for support. "You told Kakashi-sensei, even the old hag, but not-"
"Naruto-kun," Shizune was using her calm but firm voice, which effectively silenced the young boy at once. "Sasuke-kun is wounded. Let me see his injuries first."
"I am not!" Out of the blue the young Uchiha shouted as he broke free from Naruto's arms. Perhaps it was due to his sudden reaction that his body stumbled forward as soon as he tried to stand without any support. Fortunately, the hard shinobi trainings he daily endured proved their usefulness when impulsively he balanced his body to his unharmed foot. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his ankle, Sasuke continued to glare at the female Hokage. "What did you tell Kakashi to do? Did you say to him that he must protect me with his life?!"
Under the harsh accusation, Tsunade was hardly outraged; she just felt terrible. As a leader she felt as if she had failed completely, letting down their and her own trust on her. Catching a quick wary look from Shizune, she tried to calm herself before answering the black-haired boy's question, voice steadier. "It is every jounin instructor's duty to take out-of-control matter into their hand if their charges can no longer cope with it."
There was something so much like a derisive snort coming from Sasuke. "Like I will believe it. You wouldn't order him to guard me day and night if it was about an instructor's responsibility!"
Tsunade could have replied in the same fashion as she had done a week ago, but she didn't. A look of pain crossed her youthful countenance and she closed her eyes, deep in remorse. Her right hand reached for the edge of her desk, as if needing the aid it silently presented. When once again she opened her mouth, the weary tone she was applying to her voice surprised even herself.
"So Kakashi hasn't told you yet," her deep eyes mirthlessly regarded the fuming young boy. Sasuke's pitch-black eyes only narrowed into twin slits on his dour visage in reply when the Hokage resumed, "You are very wrong if you think that is my only reason in asking Kakashi to guard you from harm. If you haven't realized this yet, Sasuke, you hold more importance to Konoha than you think."
"The Third," Tsunade took a deep breath at the mentioning of her late sensei, "died defending our village on account of a forbidden jutsu Orochimaru used. I don't know whether you have ever heard a ninjutsu called 'Edo Tensei' or not but he used it to summon the First and the Second Hokage. However the one I'm going to talk about is the Fourth. It was strangely fortunate that the Third failed his summoning or our village would have been leveled to the ground by now."
"Is... the Fourth really that strong?" Naruto's voice was unusually small and hesitating.
"It's a matter of skill," she answered solemnly, eyes vacant for a moment, deep in reminiscence of her grandfather. "The First and Second were probably stronger but the Fourth was definitely more skilled. Ever heard of Kuronosu?"
The boys were ready to shake their head when Sakura unexpectedly answered in a low tone, "The god of destruction. I've read about it once in one of the ancient scrolls. It was said there that whenever Kuronosu appeared, death and devastation were certain. Is it... really true?"
"So far yes," the Hokage nodded. "What you probably don't know is that a high-level shinobi can summon Kuronosu if he or she indeed wants to. The Fourth could –his teacher told me that– but since its demand was too great, he had never done so. The summoning could cost more than the whole village, which I'm sure what Orochimaru would gladly offer if he succeeded that time. It is nothing for him if he should forfeit both Leaf and Sound Village."
"What does it have anything to do with me?" Sasuke cut the long explanation, still sounding annoyed.
"Everything," Tsunade said gravely as her stare turned to his direction. "We perfectly aware that he wants you and if he manages to get you, performing 'Edo Tensei' once again is only a child's play for him. And one more thing, Konoha needs your Sharingan ability, no matter what we can't risk to lose it."
"But Kakashi-sensei has the Sharingan too," Sakura demurred, her brow creasing into a thoughtful frown. "Is it about heritage?"
The Fifth Hokage leant back to her desk, a grim smile gracing her lips. "It's one of the reasons, but the foremost is the true Sharingan's ability. Those red eyes of yours," she stared pointedly at the sullen-looking Uchiha, "is not for copying only. One of their greatest skills is when they have copied a jutsu, they can find or rather invent its counter-jutsu. Kakashi can't do it since he is not an Uchiha. Therefore, if somehow Orochimaru can heal his hands rather quickly and perform the 'Edo Tensei', you are our trump card, Konoha's hope. You are a genius, Sasuke, yet as in the state you are now, obviously you can't do this whereas I still doubt that even your brother can."
For once, Sasuke didn't press the issue of Itachi still being called his brother; he only stared blankly at the pale-haired woman. To know that on his small shoulders was put a burden with such weight was far from comforting. And Kakashi. The jounin must have known about this and that perfectly explained his tireless determination to protect the younger shinobi.
"We are worried about the attacks you suffer irregularly, which leave your body fixed to the spot," Tsunade continued, weariness now more apparent in her voice. "Perhaps it's Orochimaru's work, which can provide him an easier access to kidnap you. That's all we know so far."
"That's all?" suddenly Sasuke snarled, eyes turning into deep crimson. "You have known that much but no one have ever told me about this! And now this happens to Kakashi!"
No one responded to his angry outburst, even the Hokage chose to close her eyes in defense. Sasuke was about to explode once more when all of a sudden a hit landed on his cheek, driving him backward for several steps. When he looked up, a pair of raging blue orbs greeted him, a precise mirror of his own eyes. The pain on his left face was severe but to think that Naruto managed to strike him when he unconsciously let his guard down sent him beyond irate.
"What the-"
"Don't you dare talking to her like that!" The blonde boy howled furiously, index finger pointed at the young Uchiha. "Have you ever looked at yourself, selfish bastard?! You didn't tell Sakura or me a single word about your pain! Do you think you have the right to demand the same?!"
Trying his best to ignore the screeching of pain from his left cheek, Sasuke curled his hand into a fist. "And what will change if I did tell you?! It would only disrupt our teamwork if you two were worrying about me!"
Naruto seemed about to launch another punch when Sakura held his arm in warning. It stopped the hand from moving, but not the train of words from sliding out of his mouth. "Worried?! You've never given a damn care that we are worried about you! If you did, you would have told us rather than leaving us out of this problem! You always try to protect us, you don't care if you have to risk your life in doing it like what you did in Wave Country, but never ONCE you let us to protect you! What kind of teamwork is that?!"
'... you are only being selfish and weak for letting those who care for you worried.'
Those words again. Kakashi had said it once and now Naruto did. Something warm glided down from Sasuke's moist eyes, leaving a damp track on his pale cheek and the fact that he was crying –even if it was just a teardrop– upset the black-haired boy. Feeling somewhat disgusted to himself, he prayed silently that everyone in the room was blind enough to miss his tears.
It was when he felt a pair of arms enclosing his rigid body in a tight embrace. And there was a whisper, so soft yet hoarse, chanting before his ears.
"Let me protect you, Sasuke."
The wave of shock swept everything from his mind, leaving it blank and his body frozen in the prison of arms. His balled fist slowly uncurled itself, like every strength had been drained out of him. As if sensing his stiffness lessening, the arms tightened their hold as the other boy mumbled a low 'please' with a voice Sasuke would have never thought coming from his loud blonde teammate if he missed it now. Then he responded, almost inaudibly.
"You... are an idiot."
The words escaped his lips on impulse, those he had said so often yet never once in this manner. If the accent had surprised the other boy, he didn't put it on display, only releasing a sigh. Then, without any warning, another arms enveloped them both, another wordless promise to be someone precious, someone irreplaceable.
It was something Sasuke would have never thought he would do if he hadn't met Kakashi.
Standing quietly outside the small group, Tsunade regarded them with a little smile which somehow seemed more poignant than joyful, thousands of memories depicted in her eyes. The smile flashed into an amused one for a second when Naruto, as if he had just been snapped into reality, jerked from Sakura's embrace, face in an indisputable crimson. Absentmindedly she wondered how Kakashi would feel if he had the chance to see his subordinates –those he held so precious– in this state. As an instructor and a person, he had far surpassed what she would entitle 'doing well'.
Right. Kakashi.
"Naruto," she called out to the still flushing boy. The blonde gennin was only too happy to respond since it could help him escaping the awkward position he was in. "I have a request for you to do. Please stay with Sasuke until your sensei is found or..." the following words halted on the edge of her tongue; it was obviously not the best timing to point out that their sensei probably would not come back alive.
"...any other development takes place." Fortunately Shizune was fast coming to her rescue. Naruto obediently nodded and the Hokage dismissed the gennins with a promise to inform them every news she got as soon as possible.
"Call the captain of ANBU, Shizune," she circled her desk and sat back on her chair, eyes firm and resolute as if challenging more quandaries to come pestering her if they dared to. "We need a group to keep an eye on the Uchiha's residence. I don't want him to lose Naruto too." At the last sentence, her eyes softened. The other woman merely inclined her head and left the room.
Tsunade stared at the closed door, evaluating the moment of solitary she eventually earned. She used to like it much, but now when no one else was there to share her burden, the oppressive walls seemed to close upon her, making her heart shrink. In the growing darkness, she let out a long sigh she had been suppressing since Sakura arrived.
All of a sudden the lamp in her room was lit, blinding her sight for a second before she heard a familiar voice. "I don't understand your taste since long ago. But now you're even weirder if you like to sit alone in the dark."
"Put it out," she grumbled, hand still covering her eyes. Jiraiya complied, but that after he saw the wet tracks on his old friend's face.
There was a stiff silence between them as the man tried to adjust his sight with the darkness. Tsunade was too silent, nothing like the hotheaded girl he used to have a fight with years ago. Inwardly Jiraiya cursed the time that had matured her into that taciturn woman and cursed his own disinclination to be given the name 'Fifth Hokage'. Because he knew he would end up like that if he had received it and he selfishly shifted the obligation to Tsunade. To say that he hated himself was hardly enough to express his revolted feeling.
"I can keep an eye on them if you want me to." The suggestion was timid and by a hair's breadth sufficient, but it was all he could do to show his support –to atone his mistakes.
The Hokage was quick to answer, a tad of bitterness toning her words. "I thought you would rather worry over Kakashi, since he is his student."
Jiraiya frowned at the reply, even if it was pretty much unseen in the murky dimness of the room. His voice was echoing utter disapproval when he finally replied. "I do worry about him but-"
"Hokage-sama," A sudden call from the other side of the door stopped Jiraiya's words, and accompanying Shizune's voice, the said door was pushed open. The black-haired woman stood at the threshold, silhouetted by the bright light that flooding the corridor. "Pardon me, Hokage-sama, but the council's representative is here, waiting for you to start the meeting."
Tsunade was about to rise from her seat when she felt a firm hand pressed on her shoulder, compelling her to stay seated. Then Jiraiya's voice floated in the air, full of authority it normally lacked. "Tell them that she is currently supervising something important and will be there as soon as the matter is finished."
"Jiraiya!"
For a moment no answer came from the other woman as if she was astonished to find the sennin there, but when it finally arrived, Shizune's voice was more than grateful. "Yes, Jiraiya-sama."
Trying to shake his offending hand off, Tsunade glared at the other san-nin. "This meeting is important. I have to go no matter what!"
"Later, let them wait," the hand was firm on its place. "You are the Hokage, Tsunade, they can wait for you."
Those words stunned the pale-haired woman. Of course she was the Hokage, but she too was fully aware that with the title, came also a great responsibility to take all problems in Konoha into her hands. It was what she had tried to have faith in and now Jiraiya suddenly came, implying that her belief was probably wrong all the way.
"I'm not saying that you mustn't go," Jiraiya once again opened his mouth, unnaturally serious as if he sensed the breeding anger within his friend. "Just give some time to yourself, Tsunade. You can't face them in this state."
Finally giving in to his words, the Hokage leant back to her chair, exhaustion all of a sudden became more obvious plaguing her body. She closed her eyes, sensing the grip on her shoulder tightening as once again the man behind her said, a little apologetic, "I'm sorry for not coming earlier."
A dry laugh escaped her lips. "You have your own business to attend. Don't worry, I can understand that." /I always understand.../
"No." That piece of answer surprised her; obviously not one she would expect coming from a man like Jiraiya. "I should be here sooner. I'm sorry."
As she let herself immersed in the new warmth she had just found, Tsunade felt as if she was about to cry again. Biting her lips to hinder the tears from falling, she raised her hand, intertwining its fingers with Jiraiya's larger ones.
Just for a moment, she didn't want to remember that she bore the title 'Hokage'.
The Uchiha residence was dark and quiet to greet their haunting footsteps, but it was nothing the two boys were unacquainted with. Living a lonely life was what they had been doing for years and it was just another night to go through. Some things just would never change.
After helping his black-haired teammate to sit on the couch in the living room and being prohibited to put the light on, Naruto asked, "Hey, Sasuke, where is your kitchen?"
The other boy looked like as if he had swallowed a bowl of spicy ramen in one gulp. "You will cook?"
"Yeah," the answer was too nonchalant for such life-threatening situation, at least in Sasuke's opinion. "Eating is important and starving will do us no good."
The young Uchiha snorted, "I won't die just because I don't eat once."
There was a similar snort coming from his friend. "Hmph! Who the hell said I was going to cook for you, asshole? I don't care if you don't need food, but I definitely need it!"
To that, Sasuke didn't bother to reply; he averted his gaze to the floor, only listening to Naruto's footsteps trotting to find the kitchen himself. He loathed himself for hating those words his friend had said –that the other boy wouldn't care whether he chose to eat or starve to death. A month ago that hadn't affected him even a bit but now... Sasuke groaned. The feeling to need someone's affection was extremely disturbing for him.
A clang of cooking utensils being dropped to the floor reverberated throughout the house, disrupting the silent eminence it usually maintained. The black-haired boy stared at his kitchen door which was slightly ajar, brows knitting together. Those utensils his mother carefully... there, another sound of a plate shattering. Silently Sasuke hoped that if his friend's attempt was to blow his kitchen up, he would fail miserably. Well, he shouldn't really expect much from Naruto. Kakashi had never been that riotous in preparing a meal.
The name brought a slight pang in his stomach. Hugging his knees tightly to stop the thwarting ache from circulating all over his body, the young Uchiha averted his gaze to the window sill where his sensei usually sat. And the pain worsened. If because of protecting him Kakashi died, not even his resentment to Itachi would stop him from annihilating Orochimaru.
/As if you can kill him in the first place.../
Sasuke shut his eyes tightly, ignoring the knife-like truth stabbing his conscience. If his sporadic tendencies to be stock-still were really Orochimaru's work, the words couldn't be any truer. But it wasn't painless to admit that he was weak.
But yes, he was weak. It was a fact he couldn't run away from at least now.
"Eat."
The black-haired boy stared at a plate filled with onigiris –regardless their horrendous shape they were definitely rice balls– which was set on the table in front of him. He looked up at his friend whose face, albeit in the inadequate moonlight, could still be seen blazing in fire, then looked back at the questionable food. Carefully he took one of them, examining it. "... is this... onigiri?"
"Shut up," the blonde boy snapped irritably. "You don't have a single cup of ramen, so that's the best I can do."
Risking a bite, Sasuke put the rice ball into his mouth. Not what exactly he could call delicious, but to know that Naruto was willing to make it for him was more than enough.
"Your cooking skill is worse than your stealth." Those words tasted weirder than what he was eating, especially since he felt like his throat was jammed by something heavy. Perhaps it had anything to do with his blurring eyes.
"Just throw it away if you don't want to eat it," the other boy said flatly and took one for himself as he slumped next to Sasuke.
The silence was carried on until another round of eating, then Naruto broke it, his voice low but clear. "If he hasn't been found yet tomorrow, let's search for him again."
As he closed his eyes –feeling somewhat somnolent after eating– Sasuke nodded silently.
Some things did change after all.
To Be Continued
Notes: Bad SIB… I hope Kakashi-sensei forgives me XD By the way, I took the name 'Kuronosu' from 'Cronos', a titan who was Zeus's father in Greek mythology. He was described as a horrible titan carrying a scythe in Greek mythology, so regardless of what the Romans believe, I made him here the god of destruction. Forgive me if this offends anyone.
Thanks for reading and please review!