Chapter 7
A/N: Woot! Finally getting this up! Here's chapter 7 of Empty in Sasuke's view...still. I didn't expect to get this many favorites/follows so thanks guys!
"Because I love you."
Those four words seemed to make time stop. Naruto's gaze held shock, confusion, then finally anger. Tsunade had a knowing smirk on her face and Shizune looked like she was ready to faint. Naruto's lips moved but no words came out. His brows furrowed and his eyes turned to slits. Then I noticed he was talking. Still no words, but his lips moved to form sentences. He would stop for a moment and then continue once more.
He was talking to Kyuubi. Not us. "Get out." He spoke, barely audible. I didn't know if he was talking to the biju or us. When his eyes snapped to mine, I shuddered slightly. Raw anger and hatred were held in those eyes. "I said get out!" He growled, pointing to the door.
"Don't be stupid. Nar-" I started before the Hokage grabbed me.
"Uchiha. I think it might be best if you left." She said in a formal tone. I was about to argue when her grip on me tightened. "Go. Tell Kakashi he's up." I debated for a second before nodding and walking out of the hospital room. I walked down the hall then stopped. He didn't believe me. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he didn't. Kyuubi. Naruto had been talking to him before his anger really set in. For some reason, the biju was turning the blonde against me. Slowly, a plan was forming in my head.
I would have to convince him that I loved him. But first, I had to be close enough to talk him. By the way Tsunade sounded, I would be forced to stay away until he calmed down. The problem with that was that the idiot would probably stay angry for a while. Instead of going to Kakashi like I was supposed to, I turned to go to the cemetery. If he wasn't there, I didn't know where else he would be.
Upon arriving, I saw him sitting down by his mentor's grave smoking a cigarette. "Troublesome, isn't he, Sasuke?" He asked without even looking towards me. I took a seat beside him.
"You've got that right, Shikamaru." I said softly.
"Came to ask me for help?" He asked with a smirk. I grunted in reply. "Don't worry. I'll handle it. I'll talk to Tsunade-sama and work something out." He said with a chuckle. I glanced at him. "It is really annoying though. He can't seem to get it through that thick head of his that we all care for him." He said, leaning against Asuma's grave.
We stayed like that for a while before I stood back up. "Goodbye." Shikamaru said as I left. I gave a little wave to him. My mind was preoccupied. How the hell was I going to convince him? I only saw one option: act normal until a better plan came up. Yup, sounded good. Plus, I had the young genius on my side. No doubt he would come up with his own ideas.
-SasuNaru-
Naruto was still in the hospital but should be released tomorrow. It had been three days since he had woken up, and Tsunade was at loss as to what to do with him. So here I was, sitting on my bed, waiting for Shikamaru to get back. I finally decided to occupy my mind by reading. I was only a few chapters in when the young genious showed up. "Tsunade-sama wishes to see you." He said with a smirk. That smirk meant that things went his way and I got to see Naruto. But first, the Hokage.
"You wanted to see me, Hokage-sama?" I asked politely once we arrived. She looked up from the stacks of papers in front of her.
"Ah. Yes. As you already know, Shikamaru and I have been talking about what to do with Naruto. Ultimately the decision will be his, but we needed to make sure you were comfortable with one of the options. Would you mind having Naruto live you for a month or two?" I looked at her confused.
"I don't mind. But why does he need to live with me?" I asked curiously.
"Because of the stunt he pulled, the Elders want him on suicide watch. I agree with them. We can't him pulling anything else like that."
"But why me?"
"Sasuke... You're his best friend. And it's obvious that you like him. You have a lot of money, enough to feed yourself and a town. Or, in this case, Naruto. You have a large house so he probably won't be in the way. And Shikamaru thinks you could use the company." She explained. I glanced over to the boy to see him looking out the window. I turned back to the busty woman and nodded in understanding. "Good. Bird! Bring Naruto here please." She addressed to the ANBU who had appeared at the sound of his name. He bowed then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
I had taken to sitting in a chair while waiting on Naruto's arrival. Shikamaru and Tsunade were bent over a map, trying to come up with a good plan concerning some intelligent bandits. I paid them no mind. Finally, the door opened and in stepped the blonde. He smiled at Tsunade with that annoyingly fake grin then looked at Shikamaru. He said hey then turned to see me. His smile faltered a little, but he quickly turned away from me. I massaged my temple as I felt an oncoming headache. Tsunade cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Naruto. The Elders and I have decided to put you on suicide watch. Given you're... specialty, we're giving you a choice in this matter. You live with Sasuke-"
"Hell no." Naruto interrupted. The woman just continued, ignoring his outburst.
"Or go into solitary confinement." She finished. Naruto's body tensed and the words that escaped his lips were not his own.
"Don't you dare put me inside another cage!" The boy hissed, laced with the Kyuubi's own vocals. I looked up, bewildered. Shikamaru just smiled.
"Looks like you're staying with Sasuke then." The genius said smugly. The blonde's eyes slid to me, eyes into slits. I made a mental note to go get ramen on the way home for him.
-SasuNaru-
With a tiny argument Naruto caved in. Tsunade then placed a special necklace around him. It looked like a black choker, but you could see writing if you looked close enough. He looked like an angry kitten.
"Bird. Please escort Naruto back into the exam room. Hinata's going to check up on him." Shizune spoke to the silent ANBU in the corner. With a firm grasp, he led Naruto out of the room. "Now, Sasuke. We'll show you how to work the collar. We specified it so only your chakra can deactivate it. You won't need any hand seals or anything like that. Just place your hand on it and flow your chakra into it. You'll hear a click when it's off.
"We suggest that you don't do this unless an absolute emergency. We don't expect Naruto to be in the same room as you all the time, so he'll be allowed to be in at least a few yards away from you. But you must check up on him every hour that he's in the other room. Understand?" Shizune explained firmly.
"I understand. But there's one thing I don't understand. How do I reactivate it if I have to deactivate the thing?" I asked, looking from the Hokage to her assistant. "What if he runs while it's off?" It was Tsunade who spoke this time.
"Flare your chakra if you need to reactivate it. And if he runs, the collar is designed to input an urge for him to find you. And you'll get a sort of compass that'll lead you to him. You'll naturally know which direction he is in. Is that all, Uchiha?" I merely nodded in reply. "You may return home. I'll make sure he gets there safely." She promised. I nodded once more and turned to make my leave. I left without another word.
I had a feeling that the next month or so were going to give me plenty of headaches...
A/N: Yay! Finally done! Sorry this took so long. I've had to manage my time more so than usual. I've had to juggle my new boyfriend, family drama, new work schedule and all that.
Anyways, I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter. I made it as long as I could this time, I swear. I'm so tired now T.T I'm going to go to bed now.
