Alrighty! Sorry this took me so long. I got distracted... But I have good news! This chapter is extra extra long!
Warnings: This chapter contains NaruSasu Shounen ai
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto
Chapter 4
"Anything?" Kakashi stepped out of the last inn in the town, shaking his head.
"Nothing."
Sakura was getting ready to rip her own hair out in frustration. Just getting to the Water country had taken long enough, but now they were getting no luck at all. Everyone they asked, every place they looked, turned up nothing of use. It was like Sasuke and Naruto had just disappeared entirely. They all left the town feeling depressed.
"I hear there's a festival in the next town!" Well, except for maybe Sai.
"Yeah," sighed Sakura. "Let's go there next, I guess."
**********
"Ah, now this is the way to heal!" Naruto sunk deeper into the water at the hot spring, smiling contentedly. He was feeling so relaxed, it was like his limbs were made of noodles. Speaking of noodles… "I sure could go for some ramen right now, though."
Suigetsu made a face as he looked up. "Ramen? That stuff's gross. You got some strange taste, Blondie."
"Hmph! It's not gross, and don't call be Blondie!"
"Quiet down, Naruto." Juugo said. "You need to conserve your strength."
Naruto huffed, crossing his arms. "Don't tell me what to do. I'll regain my strength in no time, you just watch." Suigetsu rolled his eyes. The three shinobi were silent for a while, soaking up the water's heat, and watching the steam rise up in the evening air. After a while, Suigetsu spoke.
"So, you took out an Akatsuki with one technique, huh? I'm impressed. But then, it's what I'd expect, from the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki." Naruto looked up, his eyes flashing dangerously. "We saw some of your power, back in that room," Suigetsu continued. "It was very impressive. No wonder that demon of yours nearly wiped out Konoha before you got him. I bet when you really get serious, you could be even better than the 8-tails --" Bam!
Suigetsu's head snapped back with the force of the punch, half of his face turning to water. Naruto stood above him, breathing hard.
"Don't you, ever, put me on the same level as Kyuubi. His power isn't mine. And we sure as hell aren't the same guy. So keep your stupid comments about Jinchuuriki to yourself!"
"My, my. Aren't we touchy? You sure move fast, even though you're injured." Suigetsu turned to Naruto, his face back to normal. Then he looked at Juugo. "Aren't you gonna back me up here?"
Juugo shut his eyes. "No. You deserved that."
"Hmph." Naruto got up and left, wrapping a towel around himself.
Suigetsu glared at his teammate. "Traitor," he sniffed.
"Not at all. You shouldn't talk to him like he's a monster. He's not."
"Maybe," Suigetsu muttered, rubbing his jaw. "But he sure can punch like one. Damn."
Naruto wandered around the different pools for a while, fuming. After a few minutes, however, his mindless wandering began to turn into a search for a certain hardheaded teammate. Or at least, he was still a teammate to Naruto. Squinting through the steamy haze, Naruto tried to make out black, spiky hair. He gave up when he arrived at the last pool and found no one. Sighing, he decided to go in. At least he'd enjoy some peace and quiet.
"What do you want?" It was Sasuke. He was sitting at the far corner of the pool, hidden by the heavy steam. Naruto swallowed, feeling suddenly nervous under that intense stare.
"Um, I don't want anything. I was just --"
"You were looking for me. Why?"
"N-no, I wasn't!"
Sasuke sighed. "You can't lie to me. Now what do you want? You're disturbing my rest."
Naruto glared at him. "What? What's with that attitude? I haven't been around you in years, and you're already acting like a bastard! The hell is your problem?" Sasuke didn't bother to answer. "Fine. Well I'm getting in."
And he would've, but Naruto suddenly found himself confronted by an icy glare from the Uchiha, who was standing right in front of him. Naruto was startled, and a little uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if it was because of the fury coming off Sasuke in waves, or if it was the way the air had suddenly gotten too hot.
"Quit thinking that those bonds you love so much still exist, Uzumaki," Sasuke hissed. "They don't." And then he left without another word, leaving Naruto to feel lonely again, and strangely cold. Knowing that he'd look really foolish if he didn't, the blonde sighed and dipped into the pool, trying to relax, and ignore the cold feeling that still settled in his stomach.
On his way back to the room, Naruto nearly bumped into Juugo, who was walking the opposite direction.
"Sorry," he mumbled. Juugo held out an arm to stop him.
"Naruto," Juugo said, his voice quiet. "Don't worry about Sasuke. You need to concentrate on getting well again."
Naruto looked up at the larger man. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said defensively. Juugo shrugged and looked up at the stars.
"Maybe," he said. "But let me tell you something. When you were unconscious, right after we rescued you, Sasuke stayed by your side almost the entire time, including all night, when you came down with a fever. And I'll have you know, I've never seen him look so worried or so caring, as when he did when he watched over you."
With a small smile, Juugo turned around and went inside, not even bothering to look at Naruto, who was frozen to the spot, feeling overwhelmed by the rush of warmth that suddenly took over his body.
**********
The next morning, Naruto decided to go for an early walk. He dressed quietly, not wanting to wake anyone up, and headed up the hill behind the inn towards the forest. He was so absorbed in his walk, that he didn't notice Sasuke standing behind him, watching him go with a slight frown on his face. 'What is that idiot doing?'
Sasuke followed the blonde silently, wondering what he could be thinking, walking around so early, especially since he wasn't in good health yet. Naruto was still very weak, and often stumbled as he made his way up the steep path into the trees. For a moment, Sasuke hesitated, not sure if he should follow the blonde or not. Curiosity got the better of him, though, and he too made his way into the trees.
When he finally caught up to Naruto, the Uchiha found him sitting alone, looking out at the valley below. The blonde was cross-legged, with his back to him, completely unmoving. Sasuke was intrigued. He couldn't remember when Naruto ever sat still for ten seconds, let alone several minutes. The sun slowly peeked out over the horizon, lighting up the whole forest, bathing Naruto's bright hair in golden light, and still the blonde didn't move.
After about ten minutes, something began to happen, and within the span of only a few short seconds, Naruto's chakra increased dramatically. So much so, in fact, that Sasuke's eyes switched to the Sharingan, just to be sure. 'What the hell? Is he doing what I think he's doing?' As Sasuke was still trying to wrap his head around what was happening, Naruto suddenly spoke up.
"Sasuke," he said, without turning around. "What are you doing here?" Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise, just a little bit, before he managed to school his features again.
"I didn't expect you to follow me way out here," Naruto continued. "But if you were so worried, you could have just asked me what I was doing in the first place." He turned his head slightly then, revealing a smile, and one very unusual eye. Again, Sasuke's eyes widened with surprise. 'So he's a frog sage?'
"Hn." Not liking the situation he was in, Sasuke turned around to go back. He only took two steps, however, before Naruto appeared right in front of him. Sasuke stopped short, surprised. 'So fast! How did he…' Whatever doubts that the Uchiha had, they disappeared immediately. Naruto was clearly a sage. With those distinctive, frog-like eyes, he was looking out over the valley, wearing the biggest grin Sasuke thought that he'd ever seen. The blonde turned to look at him, still grinning widely in the morning sunshine.
"Heh. I feel… Much better now!"
**********
Lit only by torchlight, the strange mask of Madara glinted as he listened to Pain's report.
"I see," he said softly. "It may be… dangerous to our cause if Sasuke gets distracted by the Jinchuuriki. Although I do see his reasoning behind taking him."
"He is going against Akatsuki by doing this," Pain stated. "Do I have permission to take him out?"
Madara shifted in his seat. "No. Let's allow this to play out. Sasuke is still mine… and so is Konoha."
"And the Kyuubi?"
"Oh? I see you're eager to resume your fight with him," Madara said, with a chuckle. "I don't blame you. Since gaining sage powers, the Jinchuuriki has become a serious problem. Do you really think you could handle him? You had to retreat last time, after all."
Pain's eyes narrowed. "I won't underestimate him this time."
Madara sighed. "Very well. Go ahead with your plan, but don't rush. I want to give Sasuke time. He may destroy Konoha for me yet." He stood up, and headed out of the room.
"What will you be doing?" Pain asked after him.
"I?" Madara turned, his Sharingan flashing. "I will be preparing some… reminders for Sasuke. I don't want him to forget why he's seeking revenge, after all…" Madara disappeared into the dark hallway, leaving a brooding Pain alone behind him.
**********
Naruto linked his arms behind his head and looked up at the clouds above him. Since absorbing the environment's energy earlier, he felt much better. Not quite at 100% yet, but it was good progress just the same. He watched Sasuke's team ahead of him as he walked. They reminded him a little of Team 7. Suigetsu and Karin (sorta like him and Sakura) were arguing as usual, and Juugo (like Kakashi-sensei) was watching them, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on his face. Sasuke walked ahead of the group, ignoring them completely.
The blonde frowned at the Uchiha's back, wondering how much Juugo had told him last night was true. Certainly, Naruto had managed to get Sasuke to follow him earlier, and had even got a real reaction out of him when he'd entered sage mode, but still. The bastard was just too cold, and too hard to read.
Faint sounds in the forest brought Naruto back to reality with a start. Freezing, he looked around, certain that he felt shinobi presence. Ahead of him, Team Hawk was already preparing for the attack, slowly drawing weapons and molding chakra. Naruto was about to ask what was going on, but then Juugo was suddenly behind him, pushing him forward.
"Stay close to me," he murmured. "Sasuke's orders."
At that moment, a dozen or so kunai flew out of the trees, aimed straight at Sasuke's team. Without hesitation, everyone parried the attack, and lashed out at the incoming enemy, as they charged from the trees. It was a fast-paced, intense fight, with very skilled shinobi on both sides. Suigetsu was laughing, swinging his huge sword as though it weighed nothing. Karin seemed to be enjoying herself, too. Kunai in hand, she moved through the enemy ninjas with incredible speed. Juugo was currently busy with a particularly burly shinobi, a strange tattoo beginning to appear on his neck as he punched the man, sending him flying into a tree.
Feeling useless and vulnerable, Naruto turned to Sasuke. The Uchiha had three ninjas rushing him at the same time, but was looking rather bored. Just before they got to him, he drew his sword and crouched down, sending waves of electricity off his body. All three shinobi cried out as one, and fell helpless, twitching, to the ground. Sasuke straightened up, looking around calmly.
His team had already finished, and Sasuke was disappointed as he was annoyed that it looked like both Suigetsu and Karin had killed their opponents. Juugo had killed his, too. He was currently bent over, gasping, the marks on his neck receding as he slowly regained control over himself. It was a new skill that he had. Sheathing his katana, Sasuke approached one of the ninjas that had attacked him earlier.
"All done here Sasuke!" Shouted Suigetsu, obviously very pleased with himself.
"Hn." Sasuke's eyes never left the masked ninja in front of him. He was just about to question him, when the ninja lifted his head...And blew himself up.
Cursing, Sasuke leapt into the air to avoid the blast, noting that the same happened with the other two shinobi he had defeated. He landed beside Karin and Suigetsu, who were coughing from all the smoke.
"Damn it!" Suigetsu hissed. "What the hell was that?"
Sasuke was about to answer, when he felt someone else, rushing to attack. Alarmed, he whirled around to shout a warning to Juugo --"
"Gyah!" The ninja let out a scream as he was slammed in the stomach by a very pissed off Naruto wielding a rasengan. The shinobi was sent flying, his body spinning in the air, before he slammed into a tree several yards back, effectively knocking it over with a resounding crash.
Everyone turned in surprise, staring at not one, but two Narutos breathing heavily. Satisfied, Naruto straightened up and dispelled his clone. When he turned and saw the look on everyone's face, he smiled sheepishly.
"Told you I was feeling better," he said, scratching the back of his head.
"Hn." Sasuke made his way past the blonde, thinking of a way to immobilize the enemy ninja.
"What? That's all you have to say?!" Naruto's shouting stopped Sasuke in his tracks. "And here you thought I needed protecting!" Naruto crossed his arms, looking pleased with himself.
"Shut up. I'm working here."
Naruto was about to retort, but then cringed when he saw snakes shooting out of the Uchiha's sleeves. They wrapped around the ninja lying in the rubble, immobilizing him completely. Naruto shivered when he saw the man struggle weakly against the serpents. Sasuke approached the man cautiously, his Sharingan flashing.
"Who do you work for?" The ninja said nothing. Sasuke sighed. "Fine then." There was a flare of chakra, and then both shinobi were motionless, Sasuke's eyes staring into the masked ninja's. For about a minute, neither of them moved. Finally, Sasuke blinked, and stepped back, dispelling the snakes as he did so. The man he had questioned slumped back, groaning. He died almost immediately.
"They were ANBU, patrolling the area already. They had just been given orders to detain Naruto, and to kill me, if possible." Sasuke smirked. "Apparently, Naruto's been labeled as a missing nin."
"Ehh? But that's not true!" Naruto stood, pointing his finger accusingly at Sasuke.
"Isn't it?" Sasuke cocked an eyebrow as he looked at the blonde.
"Well, uh --" Naruto sputtered, dropping his arm.
Sasuke turned to his team. "At any rate, it's time to get moving. This will have attracted attention." Everyone nodded.
"What about these guys?" Karin asked, nudging one of the bodies with her foot.
"Don't worry about them. ANBU never leave corpses behind."
They turned towards the forest. Naruto did so as well, but was caught off guard by Juugo, who grabbed him roughly from behind, and threw him unceremoniously onto his back.
"Hey! What're you doing?! Put me down!" Naruto struggled as the team leapt into the trees.
"Hold still Naruto. Sasuke's orders." Juugo said calmly.
"Sasuke's orders, my ass!" Naruto snapped. "I can travel just fine. Didn't you see me get that guy earlier? Now put me down."
"No."
"Sasukee!" Naruto yelled. "You bastard, get this guy to put me down!"
"Quiet!" Karin hissed. She and Suigetsu were glaring at the blonde from over their shoulders. "Don't you know we're supposed to be traveling quietly?"
"Loudmouthed idiot," muttered Suigetsu.
"I heard that! And put me down already, damn it! This is your doing, Sasuke!" He was about to shout again, but was interrupted when Juugo came to a sudden stop. Naruto looked up and saw Sasuke standing still on a branch in front of him, his back turned.
"Naruto." The Uchiha said dangerously. "Shut. Up." The icy tone in Sasuke's voice would have had just about anyone else running for cover, but it somehow didn't phase Naruto in the slightest.
"What?! Who do you think you're talking to, teme! I'm strong enough without your help!" Juugo winced. Naruto's loud words were doing his eardrums no good at all. Karin and Suigetsu were looking between the two ninjas again, expecting Sasuke to snap at any moment and kill the blonde on the spot.
"Usuradonkachi!" Sasuke hissed. He turned his head, glaring at Naruto through Sharingan eyes over his shoulder. "One more word, and I swear I'll put you back into the condition I found you in!"
Naruto fell silent, glaring at the Uchiha. "Bastard," he muttered.
Wearing a blank expression, Sasuke turned around and resumed leading his team through the trees. Juugo looked at his back, thoughtfully. He never thought that Sasuke would ever be yelled at like that, nor did he expect it to actually get a rise out of the Uchiha. 'Naruto's been with us for only a few days, and he's already making an impact. Interesting.' Concentrating on his path through the branches, Juugo didn't notice Naruto holding onto him obediently, a triumphant grin on his face.
**********
Sakura collapsed onto the cold ground, gasping for air.
"Oh come on!" she gasped. "There's no way! Just how fast were they going?"
Pakkun came to a stop beside her, panting heavily. "Very fast," he answered. "But there's nothing around here. Who knows what they were running from…"
"Well, we found their trail, at least. That's something." Yamato was leaning against a tree for support.
"There's no point though, if we can't catch up!" Sakura stood up again, and began to walk forward.
"Sakura, that's enough," Kakashi stated. "Let's rest here for the night. I hear a river up ahead."
The kunoichi just nodded and made her way to the river. Yamato and Kakashi exchanged a look.
"The poor thing," Yamato whispered. "This is so hard for her."
**********
Late that night, long after Team Hawk set up camp and fell asleep, Sasuke thrashed in his sleep, sweat dripping down his face.
"N-no," he murmured. Brief visions, terrible memories flashed in his mind, just as clearly as they did in the days after the massacre. He was suddenly a little boy again, staring into the dead face of his father… riding on his brother's back, laughing… seeing the Mangekyu Sharingan for the first time… looking at the tears fall from his brother's face…
Sasuke shot up, gasping for air. He looked around, trying to calm himself down. Everyone else was still asleep. Good. Concealing his chakra, Sasuke got up and went for a walk. There would be no more sleep for him that night. Or for several nights after, for that matter. The terrible visions that plagued him would only get worse over time. Unknown to the Uchiha, cerulean eyes filled with worry were watching him go.
**********
"Yes! How was that?!" Naruto was standing, victorious, over a cursing Suigetsu.
"Don't get so cocky," he muttered. He stood up, brushing himself off. Naruto had been with Team Hawk for nearly two weeks already, and his strength was almost back to normal.
"But I had no idea you were wind natured," Suigetsu continued. "Interesting." Behind him, an unfortunate bounty hunter was groaning, holding his sliced forearm. He'd made the mistake of sneaking up on the swordsman right in front of Naruto, who hit him with a wave of wind-natured chakra.
"Still," Suigetsu muttered, rubbing his sore back, "Work on your aim, moron. That hurt like hell, you know." Naruto shifted, uncomfortable. It was true, he was still shaky when it came to controlling his chakra.
"What's going on?" Sasuke, followed by Karin and Juugo, leapt down from the surrounding trees. They were waiting at a small hotel for Naruto and Suigetsu, who were scouting the area, when they heard the sound of Naruto's attack.
"It's nothing to worry about, Sasuke," Suigetsu stated. "Probably another bounty hunter. This one was pretty weak though."
Naruto turned in surprise. "Another? Do guys like this attack you a lot?" Rather than answering, Sasuke pushed past the blonde, looking down at the man, who widened his eyes in recognition.
"A- an Uchiha?!" he gasped. "You must be the younger one?" Sasuke glared at him, saying nothing. The man had the good sense to back up a little, but he continued speaking. "I hear your clan is the most dangerous," he whispered in awe. "And that you even kill off each other" Sasuke narrowed his eyes dangerously. "And I've also heard that…" The man grinned, pulling out a kunai. "That your head is worth even more than your brother's." It was the last straw. Before the bounty hunter could even begin his attack, he was frozen to the spot, horrified by the sudden killing intent in the Uchiha's eyes.
"You," he hissed, grabbing the man by his collar. "Don't screw with me!" He slammed the bounty hunter into a tree. Wood chips flew everywhere, as the air seemed to crackle with the force of Sasuke's chakra.
"Sasuke," Naruto whispered, his eyes wide. Seeing his teammate like this brought back memories. Bad memories. Dimly, he was aware of the other team members backing up nervously, but he was somehow drawn forward. It was clear to him that Sasuke's chakra was unstable. And the last time that Naruto had seen it like that was when Sasuke was taken over by the curse seal. Back when the Uchiha had tried, and nearly succeeded, to kill him… He couldn't take it anymore.
Gritting his teeth, the blonde rushed forward, ignoring the calls of warning coming from the rest of the team, and punched Sasuke as hard as he could in the jaw.
"Snap out of it, teme!" he snarled. Caught off guard, Sasuke was knocked to the side, releasing his grip on the unfortunate bounty hunter. The Uchiha managed to catch himself, and slid to a stop several feet away. His eyes flashed red as he glared at Naruto through the dust.
Naruto glared right back, breathing hard. "No more," he hissed. "No more."
"Naruto." Sasuke's voice was cold, furious. "Do not interfere."
"Like hell," he snapped. "Get a hold of yourself, already!"
"You're in the way!" And with that, Sasuke charged, aiming a punch at Naruto, who managed to dodge, barely. Snarling, Naruto pivoted in midair, and swung a heavy kick at the Uchiha, who also dodged.
They began to fight furiously. The two shinobi were at a very similar skill level, and well matched. They were all speed and raw power. To Naruto, it was as though they were 13 again, fighting up on that rooftop, or at the Valley of the End… They were losing control, trying harder and harder to land a vicious blow, but the other always managed to dodge at the last second. It was like a violent dance. Vicious, but somehow intimate and graceful. At the rate they were going, it was only a matter of time before they'd start using weapons or ninjustu. Finally, Sasuke managed to land a kick that sent Naruto flying. The blonde managed to catch himself in midair, and landed on the side of a tree, preparing for another attack.
Just as he was about to charge, however, the blonde found himself held back by a pair of strong arms. In front of him, Suigetsu had his sword drawn and was staring at him, stunned. The swordsman wasn't sure what surprised him more: that Naruto had just fought with the Uchiha, or that he did so well. Naruto ignored him. He was looking, transfixed, at Sasuke, who was being held back by a very nervous Karin. For a moment, the two of them stared at each other, a mixture of emotions passing between them. Then Sasuke straightened up.
"Karin. I want you three to take Naruto to the hotel room and stay there. I'll come for you in the morning." Without another word, the Uchiha turned and left. Naruto watched him go, a look of pain, worry, and anger on his face. Behind him, a terrified and injured bounty hunter staggered to his feet and ran off, putting as much distance between himself and the group of dangerous shinobi as he could.
Once inside the room, Karin began to heal the bruise already growing along Naruto's ribcage, lecturing him as she did so.
"Idiot! Of all the people to pick a fight with! Be grateful that you're still alive." Naruto ignored her. He was looking out the window, frowning.
"Nobody messes with Sasuke," Karin continued. "I remember this one time --"
"What's wrong with Sasuke?" Naruto interrupted. He was looking intently at Juugo, who was looking uncomfortable. Nobody spoke at first. Team Hawk seemed to be deciding if they should answer the blonde or not.
"It's that anniversary," Juugo said finally. "The 11th anniversary since the Uchiha massacre."
"Sasuke wanted to have his revenge done by today," Karin added.
"Revenge? What do you mean? Itachi's dead, right?" Naruto asked, confused.
Juugo sighed. "He's dead. But he wasn't entirely to blame for the event either." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Team Hawk, formerly Team Serpent, was put together by Sasuke to help him avenge his clan. We helped him find Itachi, and now…"
"Now, our purpose is to destroy Konoha," Suigetsu finished.
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Des- destroy? Why? That doesn't make sense!"
Karin folded her arms and looked out the window. "Maybe it doesn't. It's not our place to say, and we don't know the whole story anyway, but somehow, Konoha is to blame for the Uchiha clan being wiped out."
"No way," Naruto whispered, his eyes wide. He clenched his fists. "Sasuke wouldn't --"
"You're right, he wouldn't." It was Juugo. "Sasuke never kills without good reason. It isn't my place, and I don't really care, but I think Konoha is guilty, if Sasuke says so."
"It's true," agreed Suigetsu, lounging on the bed. "Konoha ninjas seem soft, but that damn village causes a lot of damage. They'll do anything to stay in power. Even," he turned to grin toothily at Naruto. "Even betray their own shinobi." Naruto felt as though he'd been hit.
"I hear that Konoha broke the treaty with the Sand village," Karin remarked. "They've apparently been raiding towns in the Wind country. It won't be long before war breaks out, I'm sure."
Naruto felt sick. "Gaara," he whispered. "That can't be… Konoha wouldn't…"
Suigetsu rolled his eyes. "Quit acting like a kid! Are you so brainwashed that you don't see it? Konoha isn't exactly a Utopia. It's a powerful village. A weapon of the Fire country. And powerful villages are corrupt. That's the way it is."
"Naruto, you're a Jinchuuriki," Karin added. "You should know better than anyone. Ninjas like you were created as weapons. You're powerful. And a village like Konoha will do anything for power." She looked back out the window, sighing. "You and Sasuke both are living proof of that."
Naruto was staring at the floor, his body rigid. He was remembering, all too clearly, his experience in that room held by Danzou. It had been terrible. He was kidnapped, held, even tortured by other Konoha ninjas. If Konoha was so good, would that have happened? Naruto squeezed his eyes shut. He remembered, many times, looking up into that observation booth while his vision turned red. And many times, Danzou and the other elders would be standing there, watching. But could those elders, who had such cruel eyes, be responsible for the massacre of a clan? With a shiver, Naruto realized the answer.
"I've gotta go," he whispered, standing up. "I've gotta fix this…" He began to walk out the door.
"Now where are you going?!" Karin's voice made him stop. Slowly, he turned, revealing angry red eyes. Karin gasped and took a step back.
"I'm going out. Don't follow me." And with that, he left, shutting the door behind him.
Left alone, the rest of the team stared at one another, speechless. Karin swallowed.
"Um, should we…?"
"Leave them alone," Juugo stated. "It's not our business."
"Well said!" Suigetsu yawned. "I'm too tired to go chasing those two around anyway. What's the worst that could happen?"
Karin sighed and leaned back against the wall. "Yeah… you're right."
**********
Rain. Naruto was surprised at how hard it was raining. Since when had those clouds moved in? The blonde was running through the trees, past where he and Sasuke had fought earlier, his heart beating fast. Following the trail that was becoming fainter by the second, he picked up his speed, hoping to find Sasuke before it disappeared. He rounded a bend, looked through the pine trees, and –
'Sasuke…?'
Naruto didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't this. Sasuke knelt alone in a small clearing, his face turned up to the falling drops of rain. It was hard to tell, with all the water running down his face, but Naruto was sure that he was crying… Never, once, had Naruto seen his teammate cry, or show much of any kind of emotion. He had always understood, of course. They both had hid their emotions well. But now…Naruto swallowed. The raw pain on Sasuke's face was heartbreaking. It wasn't something he would ever want to see on anyone's face. Least of all on Sasuke's.
Slowly, carefully, Naruto approached the Uchiha. Once he stepped foot into the clearing, however, Sasuke dropped his head, dark locks obscuring his face.
"Why are you here?" He said it in such a weak, weary voice, that Naruto almost didn't recognize it. After a nervous pause, Naruto walked forward until stood in front of his best friend, who didn't look up. For almost a minute, they didn't move, or speak. The only sound was the rain, gently hitting the ground.
"I'm taking you home."
Another pause. "Don't be such an idiot. I have no home to go to."
"…I don't either."
"They told you, didn't they?"
"Only what you're going to do." Naruto answered, very softly.
"…"
"I'm not here to stop you." Sasuke looked up then, slightly surprised. But then he looked back down, gripping the fabric of his pants. It was too difficult to deal with Naruto, but he was too exhausted to do anything about it. After a while, he spoke, his voice as soft as the falling rain.
"Itachi… I never did understand him." Sasuke seemed to be talking more to himself than Naruto. "But if I could take all that back, my revenge, I would… I want to talk to him. Ask why he followed those orders… see if there was anything else that could've been done…"
Naruto blinked. 'Orders?'
Sasuke's body shook as he continued. "It doesn't matter anyway. But still… I loved my brother." Naruto's breath caught in his throat painfully. "…And right till the very end, I believed everything he said. Even though, I think, I always knew…there was just no way. He was too good to kill needlessly." There was no doubt about it now. The Uchiha was definitely crying. "But to kill your clan – your entire family – for the sake of peace, for the village you loved… I wonder… what would I have done?"
Naruto bit his lip. Not too long ago, he would have demanded an explanation. He would have refused to believe what Sasuke was saying. But after all that had happened in the past months, after what Konoha had done, he just didn't have the heart to defend it. Blinking to clear his vision, Naruto brought a hand up to his eyes, starting when he felt something warm. 'Am I… crying too?'
"Enough… That's enough already." Sasuke straightened up a little, but his face remained hidden. "This has nothing to do with you, so just get out of here. Naruto."
Naruto didn't answer. It was already dark out, and the rain that fell was very cold. A mist settled into the small clearing, surrounding them. The forest was so quiet. Nothing but the mist and rain moved as the two shinobi held as still as statues, lost in their own thoughts. It was as though time had stopped entirely.
Naruto wasn't sure how long he stood there, watching over his most precious person. When he finally moved, he noticed dimly that his body was very stiff. Carefully, deliberately, the blonde crouched down beside his friend. Sasuke didn't move. He seemed completely unaware of his surroundings. Biting his lip, Naruto reached out with numb hands, and hoisted Sasuke up, one arm around his waist, and the other holding the Uchiha's arm in place, around his shoulders.
"Come on," he whispered. "It's time to go." Together, they began to walk out of the clearing.
"You… let go of me. Leave me alone, idiot." Sasuke spoke very softly, his voice nothing more than a weak whisper.
"Not a chance." Naruto stated bluntly. "You're coming with me."
He thought he heard Sasuke say something like "asshole," but the next moment, the Uchiha's head fell forward, falling against Naruto's shoulder. Naruto stopped, and looked down at him. 'He's so exhausted. How long has it been since he's slept?' They made their way back very slowly, neither of them noticing that the rain had stopped falling, or that the clouds had cleared up, revealing a brilliant crescent moon, shining through the trees above them.
When they finally arrived at the small hotel at the edge of town, Sasuke was shivering uncontrollably. Worried, Naruto ignored all weak attempts at fighting him off and, picking up the Uchiha, carried him the rest of the way, entering his hotel room through the window.
Gently, Naruto set him down. "Here, can you stand? Hang on, I'll get you something dry." It was true, they were both completely drenched. Sasuke said nothing. He just stood there, a blank expression on his face, completely oblivious to the water dripping from his hair into his eyes.
"Here you go," Naruto murmured. He came back shirtless, wearing a towel over his head. When Sasuke made no move to take the clothes from him, Naruto pushed them into his arms. "If you don't put these on right now, I'll dress you myself," he growled. That got his attention, at least. Moving slowly, Sasuke did as he was told while Naruto left the room to heat up some tea.
When Naruto returned, a steaming cup in his hands, Sasuke was sitting on the edge of the bed. 'Well, at least he's got dry pants on.' The Uchiha still made no move to recognize Naruto. He was staring at the floor. Sighing, Naruto sat next to him and gave him the tea. As Sasuke drank, Naruto studied him. In the moonlight, he could see that Sasuke had heavy bags under his eyes. He was still shivering, too. His bare torso was covered in goose bumps where his still wet hair dripped water down his back.
Naruto was finding it difficult to think clearly. It was like his body moved on its own. Automatically, it seemed, Naruto grabbed a blanket off the bed and wrapped it around Sasuke's shoulders. And then he stayed like that, his arm still around Sasuke. He was finding it hard to breathe, certain that the Uchiha would punch him any second. He didn't.
"Naruto," Sasuke whispered. His hands shook while he held his tea. "Why do you still go so far for me? After all this time…?"
For the first time that night, Naruto smiled, although sadly. "Heh, how would I know…? You are… my most important person. How could I not go so far for you?"
"But why?"
"Why not? Why did you save me?" Sasuke didn't answer, but drained his cup of tea instead. The minutes ticked by, and still neither of them moved.
Finally, Sasuke spoke, almost too quietly for Naruto to hear. "I'm… sorry, Naruto."
Surprised, Naruto looked down at his friend, his breath catching when he saw a single tear falling down a pale cheek. Without thinking, he reached out, gently brushing the tear away. Sasuke froze, and looked at the blonde, his eyes questioning. Naruto smiled nervously.
"Teme… you shouldn't feel sorry for anything." Sasuke looked back down, his body relaxing some. Naruto tightened his grip on his shoulders. A few seconds passed – or was it longer? Naruto couldn't tell – and the thud of a cup hitting the floor made him jump. Then a heavy weight pressed against him, and the blonde noticed, with wide eyes, that it was Sasuke. He had fallen asleep.
Naruto smiled, and held him for a moment, enjoying the feeling of closeness that he had rarely shared with anyone else. Then carefully, gently, Naruto shifted and laid Sasuke on the bed, covering him with the blanket. For a while, he watched his teammate sleep, a tender smile on his face. He was just about to get up and leave when he felt something gripping his wrist. His heart leaping, the blonde turned around, and found himself looking into obsidian eyes full of pain, and… fear?
Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut. "Can't sleep," he hissed. "Or else, it'll come back. I'll…"
Naruto stared, confused for a moment, before he suddenly understood. Of course. That unsteady chakra, the Uchiha's insomnia, those quiet sounds of fear while he slept… So Sasuke was plagued by nightmares? No, ordinary nightmares wouldn't do that to Sasuke. 'Something must have happened,' Naruto thought. Not that it mattered at the moment, anyway.
Naruto swallowed, and forced a smile. Once again, it seemed like his body was moving on its own. Carefully, he lifted Sasuke up into a seated position and slid into the bed behind him, feeling awkward. Sasuke stiffened.
"What do you think you're --"
"I'm protecting you." Naruto sounded confident, but was, in fact, terrified. Trying his best to seem casual, he grabbed Sasuke by the shoulders and pulled him against his chest. Sasuke was stiff for a while, probably every bit as terrified as Naruto, but his exhaustion had finally caught up with him. Lulled by the close warmth of the blonde, Sasuke finally allowed himself to relax, and leaned his head back against Naruto's shoulder, his face pressed against his neck.
Naruto, meanwhile, was trying his best to control his heart rate, which he was sure was beating way too fast. Absently, he realized that, had Sasuke been in even slightly better condition, this wouldn't be possible at all. His body moving on its own again, Naruto reached up, and ran his hand through the Uchiha's hair, which was surprisingly soft. Sasuke sighed, pressing himself closer. Naruto's heart nearly stopped. Then he smiled and wrapped his free arm around his teammate, pulling him close. They stayed like that for a while, but then Sasuke shifted, looking up into Naruto's cerulean eyes.
"Naruto?"
"Hmm?"
"If you tell anyone about this, I swear I'll kill you."
Naruto chuckled softly. "You have my word."
Sasuke didn't look away. For a few tense seconds, neither of them moved. Then, feeling clueless, but still very aware of what he was doing and why, Naruto leaned down and caught Sasuke's lips in a tender kiss. Sasuke hesitated for the briefest moment, but soon responded, reaching up to rest his hand on the back of Naruto's head. Naruto smiled into the kiss, encouraged, and parted his lips slightly, slipping out his tongue, asking for entrance. He was overjoyed when it was granted. Moaning softly, he deepened the kiss, his mind going blissfully blank.
It was wonderful. For Naruto, there was nothing else in the world. He was lost in everything Sasuke. His taste, his touch, his smell… And judging by the warmth of his kiss, Sasuke felt the same way. Naruto wasn't sure how much time had passed. When he finally paused, breathing a little heavier than usual, his hand was resting against Sasuke's cheek. Taking in a breath at the loss of contact, his teammate opened his eyes. And Naruto stared. That look in Sasuke's eyes; the blonde never expected to see such a warm emotion there. And knowing that such an emotion was for only him; it literally took his breath away.
"Incredible," he breathed.
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow. "What?"
Naruto blinked. He didn't realize he'd said that out loud. "Huh? Oh, nothing."
Sasuke closed his eyes again. "Still an idiot," he whispered. He leaned in and kissed Naruto again before he could register the insult.
By the time dawn's approach began to light up the sky with dim blue light, Naruto was fast asleep, his arms wrapped protectively around his most precious person. And nestled into that warmth, Sasuke slept deeply, his mind completely at peace.
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Whew! Done! Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it :) Reviews?