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Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.
Chapter Four
Naruto's POV:
Tick… Tick… Tick…
I scowled darkly at the illuminated clock in front of my line of vision, shifting my position on my side in my futon. It's not like I was worried, or anything. The teme can take care of himself…
Fourteen more ticks passed slowly as the hands pointed in the directions of exactly 1.00am.
Sasuke had gone on a week long mission to Grass Country and was supposed to have been back here three days ago. It wasn't like Sasuke to waste his time on missions. In fact, he's always impatient to get back so he could learn another jutsu from his snake sensei.
Tick… Tick… Tick…
If we were in Leaf a search party would have been called and we - Stop thinking like that, I ordered myself. You can't stand up and yell for what you think is right anymore. You can't have a voice, only inner, traitorous thoughts hidden under a cloak of revenge. That's the way it has to be now. You're not in Leaf anymore, I reminded myself.
I might never be.
Banishing that suffocating, sickening notion from my mind, I heard the door slide open quickly. Snapping my head up I was relieved to see the Uchiha himself walk into our room quietly. His black eyes locked on mine listlessly.
"Sasuke! Where the hell have you - ,"
I stopped my question when my dark-adjusted eyes stared shockingly at Sasuke's blood soaked uniform. The stench of fresh blood cut through my senses quickly as I started at the black-ish crimson that was dripping from my teammate's sleeves.
He was covered in it. What happened?! Dread filled me instantly as then I realized after a second that the blood wasn't his, that the scent of the blood was not his own. It… it was someone else's… many others in truth… but not Sasuke's.
A million questions formed in my mind but they died when Sasuke's gaze hardened measurably. He took another step into the room, his blank expression not showing that slightest distaste for being bathed in so much blood.
"Sasuke…"
"Not now, Naruto." He said emotionlessly.
He shrugged off his guards and sword easily as he made his way over to the bathroom door at the side of our small room. I noticed that closer up he was a lot paler than usual. Without saying another word, he entered the bathroom and slammed the door shut. After a moment, I heard the sounds of the shower running.
It's true; I'm not in Leaf anymore.
I settled back onto my bed, staring up dully at the cracked ceiling above.
I'm in Oto. The only thing I can do… the only measure that's possible to take…
…You don't ask…you don't question.
My blue eyes closed after a silent moment.
You think… you scheme.
We make sure we stay on our path. Ignore what we have to do as we walk it, the end result is the only thing that matters.
I thought of the bastard Orochimaru and the Yondaime's cunning ways, their many manipulations. Therein lays the concept of winning, and the extreme sacrifices to losing. It's just that in the end… when all the cards are played and the dices are rolled…
I hope our plan is the better one.
Sasuke's POV:
He's getting better, I thought to myself as I dodged a well aimed kick to my head, swerving to punch Naruto in the abdomen. He grunted but made no stop in his advances as suddenly he started a barrage of taijutsu moves in rapid succession.
My red eyes swirled and read my blonde teammates moves a fraction before he made them… in the past, I had a full second, at the very least. Feeling the thrill of a good fight pounding through my veins, I fought him back twice as hard.
As another flurry of taijutsu ended, Naruto pushed back as he suddenly summoned ten more of himself. The Uzumaki Bushins' charged, as I adeptly moved to avoid the punches and flying kunai. Thinking fast, I flipped back a few paces and gathered the chakra in my lungs, yelling out my attack as white-hot fire burst forward.
Naruto stood there, his Bushins disappeared as he formed many seals, a fierce visage of raw determination on his whiskered face. "Time you got a first hand experience of my new move, Sasuke-teme!"
A tidal wave as large as the Hokage memorial in Konoha itself appeared right behind Naruto, it loomed dangerously and threateningly, casting a shadow that stretched well behind me. "Prepare yourself!" my blonde teammate yelled, his glare changing into a victorious grin.
The immense wave sped directly towards me as I moved instinctively, not allowing myself to be caught underneath the powerful liquid wall. Charging my right arm with a half-lit Chidori, I ran right into the wave as I ripped through the waters immersed with Naruto's chakra. Fighting my way through and being forced to hold my breath; I finally reached the other side to see Naruto's blue eyes locking with mine.
The energy diffused in my hand as I stared him down. I realized that with his steady, silent gaze that the dobe really had improved. But he's not the only one…Calmly and with a blank look; I ripped off the black bandages from my arms as I faced my opponent once more.
"Time to show you what I've learned, Naruto."
I unsheathed my sword slowly as I concentrated the currents of electricity to flow outside my body and warp around my sword. I gripped the hilt of the Kusanagi tighter, the chakra filled ribbons flowing and circling around me like a defensive shield.
"What - what is that?!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing at me with a stupefied expression.
"I call it Chidori Nagashi. I've… improved the technique I learned from Kakashi." I stated apathetically, taking a step towards my old teammate.
"You what?!"
"Try to defend yourself." I ran, raising my katana a bit higher as Naruto quickly formed seals, a gust of wind blowing hard and lifting the receding water at our heals. The waters rose in height once more and wrapped around Naruto in a swirling twister.
I snorted, that won't work. Coming closer, I studied the shadow that Naruto created inside the twister and lunged with my sword, watching it tear right through the volume of water as if it were paper. Besides, water conducts electricity. I pulled my sword out at the moment the waters collapsed heavily back to the ground.
With the rising sun at our backs, I stared at Naruto who was clutching his right arm tightly. I calmed my technique, sheathing my sword as my blonde teammate walked over with a steady glare on his whiskered face.
"Don't tell me we're stopping already!" He complained.
I sighed, "We have a mission this afternoon."
Another mission… It has been already what, a year and a half since Naruto and I have joined with Sound? I can feel that I'm getting stronger; it's just the length of time that annoys me. It is rare that my thoughts stray from my one path…
I hated it when that happened.
"Great." Naruto supplied disinterestedly.
I turned towards the dobe once more. So much for the loudmouth who always demanded missions at every possible moment…
"Well, I guess you better go and get healed up before we leave!" Naruto stated with a grin.
My eyes drifted over the scattered bruises and cuts that covered both of us. "You're the one with the worst injury," I said, nodding to his bloody right arm. It had a deep, burnt cut that ran from his shoulder to his elbow, curtsey of my Chidori Nagashi.
But that was the way Naruto and I sparred… we go all out. What would be the purpose of holding back? Naruto's the only one in this base that can keep up with me… no one else is strong enough to train with.
He scoffed, "This?" His grin grew as red flames of chakra rose like tiny smoke signals from his arm. I watched as his skin repaired and reattached itself effortlessly, leaving only his bare tan skin that now never gave a hint he was injured in the first place.
I stared at him coolly as I noted that even his smaller cuts vanished. He is using that too often. Ever since it saved him that one time from being blind, Naruto hadn't been as adverse as before in letting the Kyubbi's chakra heal him. But in the long run, I don't see this as a good thing.
"That is not wise to do, Naruto. You shouldn't do it again."
"Why not? I'd rather heal myself than let the creepy Oto-nin medic's heal me. I don't trust them at all…"
As Naruto talked, I noticed how there was a certain red gleam to his blue eyes. That isn't a good sign. I instigated my sharingan, using the new technique I developed for my bloodline limit. Without bothering to ask, I delved into the Kyuubi container's mind until I came face to face with long bars and slanted, cold crimson eyes.
"You… Uchiha Sasuke…" a low growl sounded.
Kyuubi no Youko.
I glared at how a flicker of the Nine Tails' charka was flowing out in-between the bars like thin flames. Out stretching my hand, I pushed back the demon's presence from Naruto's space into its cage once more.
"You can't push me back forever. You know that truth as well as I do."
I stilled for a moment, staring into the fox's red, murderous gaze. The Kyuubi saw everything that happened?By his almost amused disposition, despite his entrapment, I assumed it to be correct.
"Yes, Uchiha… I have seen it through Naruto's eyes… I see many things; hear many thoughts of the boy's…"
"We're changing the future, regardless." I said blankly, glaring intensely back at the demon, as Naruto's words, "I'm like a ticking bomb…" chose that moment to replay in my thoughts. "Get used to your cell. That's where you will stay."
He just laughed darkly. Frowning, I forced back the last remainder of red chakra under the seal's bars and departed from Naruto's mind.
I narrowed my eyes back on Naruto's shocked expression as he stared at me wordlessly, "Did you just-?!" he started.
"Be careful, you fool. The Kyuubi's chakra was getting out of control."
"That wasn't - ,"
"You were the one who said to remember 'you-know-what', Naruto."
"That won't happen just because I healed myself, teme!" Huffing, he crossed his arms and started walking away, "Let's go. I'd rather get this mission over with."
Making a mental note to remember this incident, I left the training grounds with Naruto and entered the base once more. I wouldn't forget the Kyuubi's threat.
Naruto's POV:
I stared out the window of the fast moving train, completely bored out of my mind. I threw another glance over to the man Sasuke and I were protecting for the mission. I glowered distrustfully at the small, pudgy, balding man who had a certain gleam in his eyes that made me suspicious. Though, any business partner of Orochimaru's can't be good.
The creepy, old man – what was his name? Oh yeah- Arakawa Akito asked for protection because there had been rumors going around that his enemies had hired ninja to kill him after a particular shady business deal. Unnerved, he went to Orochimaru and asked for strong bodyguards for his journey back to Rice Country, his home. Really, the guy looked like a dignified toad.
I was sitting next to Sasuke near the window seat while Arakawa sat opposite us. Sasuke had his gaze fixed blankly on the door to the compartment, seemingly in deep thought. I sighed, drumming my fingers on my arm as I felt like I was going to burst with utter boredom. Part of me wishes some ninja would come and try to kill this guy so at least something entertaining would happen…
"Excuse me, Uchiha-san, Uzumaki-san?" The man asked, his dark eyes darting between the two of us.
"What?" I said tiredly in response.
"...I was wondering, I think I would like to make a pit stop before we reach Rice."
"That increases the risk of the mission." Sasuke suddenly retorted coldly, his gaze finally moving away from the door and onto Arakawa.
"Yes, yes. But I do have the two most powerful Oto-nins protecting me!" He let out a cackling laugh, "I am perfectly secured, am I not?"
Sasuke shared a look with me that clearly meant - this is just going to make the mission longer. Ugh, just great. I narrowed my eyes on Arakawa with an obvious degree of annoyance as I mentally sighed once more. The route to Rice would take two more days at our pace now, and the guy wanted to make a damn stop?!
"When do you want to stop?" Sasuke cut in.
"Oh, no worries, it's the next one!" The strange gleam in the man's eyes brightened in suppressed glee. He was even fisting his hands in anxious anticipation. I frowned, sizing up the small business dealer as my instincts screamed in warning. The leer on his face was frighteningly similar to Ero-Sennin's.
…Just where the hell does this guy wanna go, anyway?
By nightfall, we finally reached the place Arakawa wanted to go. Once we stepped through the double doors I froze, not being able to wipe the flabbergasted expression off my face as I dumbly stared… What the hell?!
There were many tables that seated equally shady looking men with… scantily dressed women fawning over them and pouring their drinks. To the far side there was an open bar and on either side of the smoke filled room there were odd red curtains that encompassed the entire wall.
Ero-Sennin would die from excitement.
I blinked; throwing a hasty glance over at Sasuke whom had clear impatience and disgust written across his pale face. Arakawa turned to us with a perverted grin as he gestured around the shadowy room with a sense of pride and esteemed joy.
"Isn't this just perfect?" He snapped his fingers with much enthusiasm as two ready men appeared instantly at his side, murmuring pleasant greetings in a way I was sure they recognized him as a faithful patron. "While you're doing your job protecting me – we can all have fun!"
I scowled at the man, "What are you talking about?"
Jeez, I'm fourteen! I rolled my eyes.
"No thanks." Sasuke said flatly.
"Nonsense, nonsense! You are two growing young boys!" He waved his hand at a man who stood at the end of the curtain at the right side of the room. I noticed the man was holding a long golden rope as he nodded obediently at Arakawa.
"Choose the ones you want, boys!"
Suddenly the red curtains were pulled apart to reveal… very sparsely dressed women with plunging necklines and too much bare skin showing. I gaped, looking away immediately from the pretty but fake looking women who were put on display. I can't believe they have them waiting under a curtain like that!! It's so wrong!!!
"Hell no," Sasuke growled lowly.
"NO!" I yelled angrily, glaring at the small, perverted freak.
"No… no women?!" He seemed aghast at this, wordless even. Then it was as if a strike of realization hit him soundly. "Oh, oh now I see!! Right, right, too right." His grin, if possible, widened, "No problem!"
He waved his hand to the left side of the room as the attendant on that side nodded in return and withdrew the curtains. With morbid curiosity I turned to stare as pure vomit pitted my stomach – my eyes will never be the same again! Young, handsome looking men stared right back at us with keen interest, rows and rows of them!
My god… what the hell is the world coming to?! What kind of sick place is this?! And... and what did he mean "Oh now I see??!!!"
Bastard!
"What's the matter with you?!" I asked, wanting to strangle the man I was supposed to be protecting.
"Enough." Sasuke walked away abruptly, an aura of suppressed rage emanating from the quiet Uchiha. I watched as he sat down at the bar with a displeased glower on his face, fixing a steady glare on any waiter or person who came within five feet of him.
"Eh, I guess I'll just sit here!" Arakawa said shrugging as he sat at a small table that was quickly filled with young girls and waitresses.
"Whatever." I stated coldly as I walked over to where Sasuke was sitting, settling on watching the freak from the other side of the room. Humph.
"Drink, ninja?" the older, graying bartender asked me as soon as I sat down, his eyes nervously straying to Sasuke's. He seemed quite intimidated by Sasuke's darkened mood.
Drinks? Eh, why not? Maybe if we drink this mission won't seem so damn long… Feeling depressed, "All right. Two glasses of sake."
The man nodded, "Coming right up."
Sasuke turned to me. "I'm not drinking."
"Aw, come on teme! We might as well try it once."
"No."
"What, you don't think you can handle a couple drinks of sake?"
"I didn't say that, Naruto."
"Ha! I bet you can't hold your alcohol!!"
"Naruto…"
"I can last longer than you teme!"
He glared, "How pointless."
"I knew it! You can't!"
The sake was placed in front of us as the bartender walked away. Sasuke picked up his glass, narrowing his gaze over to me indifferently. I picked up my own drink, staring at him challengingly.
"The one who falls off their stool first loses!" I exclaimed haughtily, determined not to lose.
"Hn, Fine."
The bet was on.
"No, no… you got it all wrong teme!" I said easily in reply as I downed my fourteenth, oh wait, sixteenth shot of sake.
The Uchiha's black eyes stared unfocusedly back at me, stalling for a second. He shook his head, "No, I'm right." He stated evenly.
"No way..! It's all about…" I trailed off, feeling my face burn, "Boobs."
Yeah… Hinata-chan does have a nice pair of them. I went off into a daze filled of white eyes and dark blue. Hmm… really nice, actually. I leaned my head on my hand as I stared off into the distant blearily… but then snapped back into attention when my elbow slid off the counter and made me nearly fall, earning a scoff from Sasuke.
"I can't believe you're a leg man."
Sasuke must be drunk since he admitted it in the first place. HA! I am so not drunk yet… Nope, I don't even feel tipsy! I am so winning this bet, heh.
"Nn... it's not…" Sasuke frowned, "Shut up, Naruto." He muttered darkly.
"Okay, okay. Now what about the size of their bottoms?" I asked grinning as Sasuke's cloudy black eyes just blinked at me in return.
Sasuke's POV:
I shifted from my position, feeling oddly uncomfortable. My eyelids felt heavy and there was a pounding headache hammering my head. I gritted my teeth in annoyance, stilling when I felt a sudden presence outside the room… a foreign chakra. My eyes snapped open instantly – enemy ninja and our mission – but then I stopped when I saw a lazy arm wrapped around my waist.
…What the fuck?
Turning around in anger and half alarm, I saw Naruto's sleeping, drooling face. I steamed inwardly at the close contact and immediately punched the stupid dobe right in the face to wake him the fuck up.
"AH! What, whassa going on?!" Naruto started, blue eyes flying open and staring at me in rage and surprise.
"Get the hell off me, Naruto…" I growled out.
He blinked, "Eh?" He looked down and his eyes widened, "AH! Ew, get the hell away from me, teme! What the hell?!" He pushed off as I scowled heavily at him, rubbing my temples in frustration.
"Me? You were the one touching me, dobe." I glared at him.
I got off the bed, feeling my mood from earlier worsen. I am never drinking again… Tonight was a good enough incentive. It was the dumb idiot who talked me into drinking sake in the first place. Disgusting. I never had someone touch me for that long in my whole life – including when I was younger. Ignore this incident. Never talk about it ever again.
"Ugh, my head hurts…" Naruto grumbled.
"Shut up, moron."
Hearing a creaking outside the room, I remembered why I woke up in the first placeAs per custom, Arakawa was right across the hall from us, just incase something happened during the night. Naruto stood up, giving me a look as I knew he sensed something as well.
We walked outside, slipping into Arakawa's room quietly and stealthily. I narrowed my sharingan eyes and scanned the dark room, noting the discreet shadow of a person that shifted in the corner. Gripping a kunai from my pouch, I threw it in the direction and watched as the figure darted towards the bed where the fat fool was sleeping.
We were faster. Naruto lunged in front of Arakawa who yelped in his sleep (followed by quite a female shriek next to him) and I went for the ninja. I grabbed his wrist which held a short sword, and punched the ninja hard, making him fly backwards and hit the wooden wall, creating a large crack. I saw the panic that flashed across his eyes.
Slipping my katana from its sheath in a collected manner, I sliced right through the ninja's jugular. The ninja's wide brown eyes dulled in pain as finally the spark of life faded from his eyes. The man was dead. I noted the gleaming hitae-ate on his forward and made out the Sand insignia. By his uniform, he was just a simple chunnin.
Bound to fail from the start. How careless.
Suddenly the lights were flickered back on by Naruto.
"What, what happened?!" Arakawa weakly asked, obviously dazed. The woman next to him hid under the covers, shaking.
I rolled my eyes, choosing not to answer as I sheathed my sword once more.
"You were almost killed," Naruto stated dully, as he moved next to me to take a look at the dead ninja.
Arakawa shook, disturbed and then laughed nervously, desperately trying to regain his composure. "Heh…"
"I, I guess I'll just have to hire you two more often!" Arakawa announced.
"Hell No." Naruto retorted. I agreed.
Nidaime's POV:
The two young men stood off, watching the other closely as they readied their taijutsu stances to react without a second of hesitation. They had just come back from the mission from guarding Arakawa to Rice Country. It seemed like the mission had put them in a bad mood because they had immediately wanted to spar as soon as they returned. I stared at my own student, not believing it has been already a year and a half since I first met Naruto.
He looked so different from the energetic, orange jumpsuit clad kid that I was assigned to teach. Now, he wore a black jacket that reached a little bit below his knees, the back marked with the Uzumaki clan's red swirl, with the high collar drawn. With a black shirt and pants, he looked nothing like the twelve year old. Furthermore, he grew many inches and his blonde spikes grew longer and slightly went into his sharper blue eyes. He resembled the Yondaime now more than ever.
The Uchiha also wore his clan's symbol on the back of his white haori, combined with black pants and his katana strapped to the back of his waist. They moved closer, as Naruto broke the standstill by throwing the first punch. Impatient brat. But at least he plans out his strategies before he blindly attacks now.
A burst of black smoke appeared right next to me as Orochimaru stood there, his yellow snake-like eyes viewing the spar before him with veiled interest. I bit back the surge of hate at the Sannin's face, opting to keep my eyes on the two younger ninjas in front of me.
"My, my… aren't they improving?" Orochimaru remarked casually as the boys rebounded off each other's attacks, charging forward with double the speed. They seemed to be in their own world and disregarded our presences' completely.
"It appears so." I answered finally, devoid of any emotion.
"Hmm… how is Naruto's training regime proceeding?"
I watched how Naruto summoned a wave of water, thrusting it towards the Uchiha as the tips turned into deadly blades of ice. I almost started; inwardly stunned as I wondered how Naruto learned that particular trick. Then again, the boy did have his own way of doing things.
"Very well," I responded honestly. I might not be needed soon. His growth was beyond anything I have ever seen. He may even pass Sarutobi soon enough. Hm. That would be a good thing to see before I have to return…
"I see." His yellow eyes gleamed eerily for a second as I carefully made sure not to question the Oto-Kage. It was not my place, after all. No matter how much this situation grated on my beliefs or my spirit… Naruto will keep his promise. This afterlife of forced servitude may not be in vain. Will not.
"Good. This pleases me."
What is he planning for Naruto? Why is he letting me train him in the first place? I know of Naruto's plans to kill the Akatsuki leader, but I also know Orochimaru. It has to be more than that. Orochimaru is always the one who has a secret agenda.
My thoughts were distracted by a huge burst of fire and cracking electricity. The Uchiha advanced through Naruto's defensive guard, as at least a dozen more Uzumaki's appeared in retaliation. The sharingan user pummeled through three of them, his calculating eyes already locating which one was the real Naruto.
This fight could go on for hours unless they're stopped. And by the looks of it, it can end pretty bloody. That's if they let anyone interfere. By their harsh concentration, I can't see that happening. It was a good advantage for the two of them to have each other while they trained. With such an equal, strong sparring partner, their skills improved faster than ever.
"Only one more year… time flies, does it not?" Orochimaru stared at Sasuke, then turned to me with twisted amusement.
"Hai." I replied lowly.
One more year.
Hinata's POV:
I sat on the lonely wooden swing near the Academy, unmoving. I smiled lightly, remembering in the past how a young Naruto would sit here and look so serious, as if he was deep in thought. I was always so nervous and scared to come up to him, to talk to him. Now… I regretted not doing so. I didn't think there would come a day when Naruto wouldn't walk through Konoha's gates with an easy grin.
Naruto-kun… where are you? Did you really willingly go to Oto with Sasuke-san? It didn't seem like him at all. Naruto always said he wanted to become the next Hokage. Why would he leave his home village, his only goal? What could be so important?
But Naruto-kun is really loyal to his friends.He must be trying to convince Sasuke-san to come back to Konoha. At least, that's all I can think of right now. It was all I could come up with after all this time wondering, debating. Feeling another sinking sensation hit my stomach once more, I gripped the ropes of the swing tighter.
When I first heard Naruto-kun was gone, I couldn't even see anyone I was so depressed. Then, I felt guilty because Sakura-chan must have felt even worse, them being her cell teammates. But still, I was shocked speechless. Naruto… going to Oto? It sounded so wrong, so unlike the hyperactive ninja we've all come to know. To admire.
I didn't want anyone to worry. Shino-kun and Kiba-kun already know that I… I didn't want to burden anyone with my feelings. It wasn't my place. Then, I realized that I needed to get stronger, much stronger than how I was. How could I hope to reach Naruto when he was so far away already? I needed to push myself, so I could hope to close the distance. So I can meet him again. So I can ask why… so I can do what I've wanted to do for so long.
To… be noticed. To be seen, in Naruto-kun's eyes.
That is one of my deepest wishes. Also one that I'm afraid will never come true. But I won't give up; Naruto-kun himself taught me that. Just like Naruto, my true goal is acknowledgement… but not my only in my clan's eyes… or the village's… my selfish dream is for Naruto's.
Slowly, I pushed off the ground and started to swing.
A/N: And thus concludes Chapter 4! This did have slight crack in it, eh? Lol. The waking up scene and the drunken rambling was hilarious, ne? Of course, there was some serious moments as well. Sigh, poor Hinata-chan…
Anyway, the next chapter will include some familiar faces, dum dum dum- Team Gai! XD Then, the following chapter will be the last time skip.
-Spoiler for Naruto Chapter- OMG! Sasuke and Sakura have a perfect chance to meet –ALONE!!!! Can you SasuSaku fans feel the tension?!! This is going to be the best chapter ever!!! We really can't wait! Also- it's great for NaruHina! Yamato can just give them so space, and hopefully, Deidara doesn't ruin a crucial romantic moment…!!!
Well, please review as always!
Twitch and Spaz