Hey GUYS! I'm Back by popular demand (6 reviews lol). This chapter has some NaruSasuness people! The storyline came to me in no time, probably the easiest and definitely the longest chapter I have written so far. Anyway shout to my D. (Day one readers/reviewers) love y'all and thank you for the reviews.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Thoughts ' '
Talking " "
Enjoy!
Love is stronger than Pride
Both parents and children alike were seated in the Hyuuga dojo waiting patiently for their leader to arrive. Hiashi Hyuuga had called a meeting earlier for the parents of the students who will be participating in the Katana class. There was light chatter through the room, as each parent tried to source a reason for this meeting.
Another occupant of the room Sasuke, stood leant up against the wall, hands shoved in his pockets, in a corner furthest from the rest of the group. Gazing into space as he thought back to the words Hiashi had told him yesterday. He could remember them distinctly, the tone the leader had used, left no room for distraction.
"Listen Uchiha, I have given you this opportunity on my daughter's behalf, I will not stand for mediocrity or indiscipline. I don't care about your last name, when you're in that dojo teaching those students you is representing the Hyuuga clan, so I expect nothing less than Excellency from you and your students. I will not allow you to tarnish my clan's name!" Hiashi said sternly.
Sasuke met his gaze with a blank expression, he wasn't the least bit intimidated by Hiashi's tone. He averted his gaze intentionally, as if taunting and disrespecting him.
"Are we clear, Uchiha?" the Hyuuga continued with a growl.
"Hn"
Was the Raven's only reply.
The room suddenly and unexpectedly had become dead silent, snapping Sasuke out of his thoughts. Sasuke wondered what had caused such a shift in atmosphere. Following the gaze of the other occupants of the room, his eyes were led to his new boss.
The man that was on everyone's mind, stood at the front of the room in all his rigidity, confidently. Ready to state his reason, he meant business he was prepared for any outcome.
"The reason, I called you all here today, is simple. I am simply here to announce and introduce, the sensei of this class. I know someone of you find this strange. But I assure you, I am not wasting your time."
Whispers could be heard throughout the more puzzled and confused crowd. Each civilian awaiting Hiashi's answer.
"The person, is a trained ninja and also a native of this village. He has practiced with the weapon for over a decade, defeating the most notorious and infamous ninjas with it. He has also travelled for a vast amount of his life, picking up different fighting styles from various villages."
They were now in awe and exhilarated at the thought of someone so advanced teaching their kids.
Maintaining his stance, Hiashi said the words everyone was waiting for "The person is, Sasuke Uchiha."
The revelation had fuelled screams of "NOOO!" and "OHH!" as the crowd in an uproar. "I REFUSE to allow a traitor to teach my son!" one woman shouted. "My girl should be thought to use a Katana ON HIM not by him!" a man exclaimed angrily. Tempers flared causing the temperature of the room peaked.
Hiashi and Sasuke stared at the crowd blankly, mentally prepared for any outcome, so there was no surprise whatsoever. Hiashi had already run through all possible scenarios, he had even warned Sasuke about it. Although the Uchiha already knew what was going to happen from the everyday experiences in his life.
"Silence!" Hiashi shouted sternly as he waited for the crowd to settle back into order.
"If you wish to withdraw your ward from the class you are free to do so" Hiashi continued.
That being said some of the parents began to exit the room with their kids in tow. At this time Sasuke decided to make his presence known, he headed to the front of the room where Hiashi stood.
"If you have no business in my class leave" he told the rest of loiterers monotonously.
The rest of adults left the room still heated about the situation as they continued to rant amongst themselves. Of the thirty children who had signed up for the class only eight remained. Looking at his small class, Sasuke couldn't help but feel grateful that he still had a chance.
The students not sure how to react to such a dangerous unknown man, shied away to the back of the room. Sasuke not liking the distance motioned his hand for them to move forward, and like a flock of pure sheep preparing to be slaughtered, they approached their sensei slowly and nervously.
Acknowledging them with a demanding gaze, he watched as they fidgeted and twitched. Sasuke couldn't help but feel eased by this, since their anxiety took away from his.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I don't care about what you call me, I don't care about your life outside of class, I don't care about what you think of me. However I do care about discipline and punctuality, and if you know you are lazy ass I suggest you leave because mediocrity is not tolerated here" he said harshly.
There were students who wanted to leave, but were too scared to even move. Not sure if they'd make it out alive or wet pants free. They just stood there trying to avoid all eye contact with their new teacher, afraid that they might turn to stone.
A wave of fright over washed them when they heard a loud "clank" from metal hitting the wooden floors. Looking in the direction of the sound, they realized that their Sensei had brought in their weapons.
"Since no one has left yet, I assume this is my class." Sasuke announced leaving no room for argument.
"Each of you will choose a katana, you're going to mark it as yours, since there will be no trading or sharing of weapons. If you lose it or break it you buy it and replace it. Got it?"
No answer, only fearful stares.
"I said do you understand me!" the Uchiha projected his voice louder.
"Yes Sasuke-sensei!" they all shouted in unison.
"Hn Now pick a weapon".
Each student, under the harsh glare of their teacher went for a sheathed katana.
"Now I'll like you to get familiar with your weapon, I'm expecting you to know all the parts of the katana by the time of the next class and I'm not talking simple parts like Tsuka(handle) and Kissaki(tip). Today for our first class, you'll be learning about stance and grasping the weapon."
"You over there" Sasuke said, pointing at the only girl of the group. The girl walked over with her legs shaking to the man. The Uchiha firmly but gently gripped his student's shoulders, pulling them back as he raised her slouching posture upward.
"Always have a look of confidence, I don't care if your whole clan was massacred you must always appear self-assured, your posture affects your agility, it also aids in accuracy".
"Now put your right foot forward and your left foot back and crouch a little, this position supports speed." The Uchiha ordered and informed again.
Naruto admired his handy work of spirals and ninja signs as he sketched on the document. It was a petty document, one requesting his permission for some sort of energy saving campaign. The blond had attempted to read the file three times, trying his best to successively not space out.
He even resorted to not reading the document on a general and instead just signed and stamped it. However that resulted in him signing the paper about twenty times at different locations other than the designated line, as he tried to make a new signature, finding his original one boring.
The Hokage was beyond bored, hence distracted. The week was long and drawn out with stacks and stacks of paper work, he didn't even get any time to himself to train or venture out of the village. Everything around him seemed dull as nothing could thrill him anymore, not even his friends. On top of it all he was missing Sasuke but felt defeated because he couldn't even think up a plan, to get the Uchiha to simply talk to him.
"Yo I'm heading out I don't think I'll be coming back." Shikamaru told the Hokage while he stood by the office door.
"Where are you going?" the blond asked hoping for some entertainment.
"The troublesome council asked me to sit in on one of Uchiha's classes, they've been sending the anbu to spy on him from the start but now they want a written report."
"Can I come!" the blonde asked eagerly like a two year old wanting to go to the candy store.
"Whatever." Shikamaru replied while rolling his eyes.
Sasuke looked at his students with admiration; he watched them as they went through their drills. The katana had become like a third arm to them, each manoeuvring it effortlessly and flawlessly. He had noticed that each one of his students had their own unique style developing, each breaking away from the scrolls and books and reinventing new techniques. He had informed them that the ninja world was not based on a textbook but was an evolving place where anything could happen.
They were in their third week of classes, finally getting comfortable with him and understanding his teaching method. The students were becoming vocal with their thoughts even though they still somewhat feared him.
Parents were getting familiar with him, constantly asking him questions about their kids and even sometime sitting in and watching classes. Hiashi and strangers even stopped by from time to time to just observe. From what Hinata had told him, her father was indeed very proud of him.
"Hokage sama!" "Shikamaru sama!" the sensei heard the excited shouts of his students.
Looking to the entrance, he saw the two men entering. Shikamaru with his usual dull expression and the blond would a goofy expression.
'What an idiot' he thought although his heart was beating so loud, he swore everyone else could hear it.
The man's blond hair had grown longer and out of control giving him a wild look. His eyes were the same azure sky like blue that held all of life in their depths. He seemed happy as usual unaffected by the environment while everyone else was affected by him.
Sasuke was beginning to feel edgy, his emotions had formed a whirlpool in those blue eyes. 'He's so sexy' 'You hate him remember' 'Lust isn't love, you know that first hand'. While his thoughts ran in different directions, he couldn't help but lick his lips subconsciously.
Not wanting to look like a fool, Sasuke averted his attention back to his class. He was irritated by now. He realized that he no longer had a class, his students were so transfixed with their Hokage Sama that he became practically invisible. He didn't care if Naruto was hokage or not, it was his class, he was not going to be schooled or belittled by anyone.
"Oi!" Sasuke shouted harshly, causing everyone but Naruto and Shikamaru to jump in fright.
"I don't remember saying class was dismissed, get back to your drills. "He continued this time in a low threatening tone.
The children scattered like ants back to their position. Sasuke couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his face, at the level of obedience. Focusing his attention on his students, the Uchiha tried his best to ignore the leering man behind him. Although he was doing a horrible job at it, since he would subconsciously take side glances towards the man and he could feel the hairs on his neck standing up from nervousness.
"Yo Sasuke, you don't have to be such a bastard" Naruto said interrupting the class.
Mustering up the coldest stoniest harshest glare he could, a glare that could raise the dead. He turned to face his tormenter, he made sure to add a look of disgust to amplify his upcoming words.
"Hokage Sama" he started off sarcastically.
"If you're looking for a class to disturb with your fuckery, you can head over by Rock Lee's class and leave mine the hell alone."
The loud mouthed idiot was for the first time in his life at a loss of words. Sasuke hadn't handled him so coldly since the times when they were hunting him down. But even back then was understandable, because during that period he was suffering from his clan's curse and his drive for Itachi. This time it was out of pure anger. He had followed Shikamaru's advice to the point where he was losing Sasuke completely. He felt dejected but was even more deteremined. He had spent too much of his life searching for Sasuke to fail now. He needed to think up a plan fast.
Sasuke couldn't help the slight guilt he felt for his actions. He had seen the hurt painted on his former best friend's face, he couldn't apologize, he never ever did. He didn't know how too, especially in a situation like theirs.
Walking over to where his bag was thrown down in the dojo. Sasuke felt an intense gazing on his back, he didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Bending down to remove the items from his bag, Sasuke knew the feel off those eyes too well, but today instead of looking upon him with lust and admiration, they were touching him blindly with sadness.
Heading back to his position in the front of the class, Sasuke signalled his hands for his students to stop. Grabbing there full attention. Sasuke began to announce his lesson plan.
"Listen up. We will be playing a game today the main focus is strategy and accuracy. You will be paired with an opponent by random selection. Each of you will be pinned with some flags at special target areas. These areas are the vital organs typically aimed at by katana users, to seriously wound their enemy. Since we are simply learning and we want each student to go back to their parents alive, you will simply use your sword and de flag the person. The person who loses all their flags first loses. If blood is drawn, the offender will immediately be disqualified." Sasuke instructed.
"Now who wants to be my opponent" Sasuke asked expectantly to his students.
The kids were excited and eager about the game but were all afraid to verse their sensei. Aware of how lethal and dangerous of ninja he was, they once saw him slice a bee in half because it's buzzing too loudly.
"ME!" the Hokage shouted while raising his hand fervently.
"Look Dobe.."
"YEAH! Let's see who stronger Hokage Sama or Sasuke sensei!" "I wanna see Hokage Sama in action!" "Sasuke Sensei is totally going to win!" his students exclaimed interrupting his sentence.
All of them were shouting at once, even some of spectators had joined the screaming match. All of them pepped up because of what they believe will be a legendary fight, Some even shouting bets. Sasuke at this point, had his fingers squeezing the bridge of his nose trying to keep his pressure under control.
While Naruto was pumped by all the excitement, happy that he got some entertainment and that he finally had a way of reaching Sasuke. If it was one thing Naruto knew about his and Sasuke's past friendship is that it was one fuelled and started by their competitiveness.
"Fine" Sasuke said with a sigh.
With the flags in hand, Sasuke waltzed over to Naruto with an unreadable expression on his face and told him to stand. The hokage removed his robe and did what he was told, leaving behind a thin black t shirt. Standing directly in front of him and barely away from him, Sasuke began to pin flags on to his opponent with shaky hands. He could feel Naruto staring at him, as he breathed in the blonde presence.
Sasuke senses seemed to heighten at the contact as he smelt the blond's scent engulfing him, he felt every crevice, texture, incline and angle of the blonde's body with each touch he made, his eyes bore through the fabric of a shirt the blond was wearing envisioning the torso under, while his ears listened and his mind counted every breath the man took.
"Sasuke if I win the match, promise me you'll give me a chance to explain" the blond whispered, sincerely and pleadingly as if he were asking for life itself.
He looked up into the other man's eyes, trying his hardest not to cave and be dissolved by their deepness.
"And if I win?" the Uchiha whispered back and averting his eyes, still assembling flags.
"I don't know Teme, You choose" the blond continued.
"If I win, you'll promise to end everything right here" the Uchiha replied unsurely"
With a look of shock, Naruto responded stuttering "I d-don't think I-I can" searching the other's eyes to see if he was serious.
"Me too" the Uchiha whispered back uncertainly not sure what he was answering to anymore.
Sasuke's decision was tremendous but that was his only solution for completely restoring normalcy in his life. Sure he had listened to Hinata and Shikamaru lecture him about all Naruto had done for him, how much he had sacrificed and that he was the only one who had faith in him despite everyone else. But at the end of the day the Uchiha was never the best at forgiving which was why trusting again was such an issue. He didn't want to feel vulnerable, bare to the world to be taken advantage off.
Finishing with the top half of the body, Sasuke handed the two remaining flags to his opponent for himself to pin onto himself. They were supposed to be pinned to the knees, but Sasuke refused to bow down and put himself in such an embarrassing position.
His pride wouldn't allow it. Even if the people around them saw him stooping down as something innocent, he knew him and Naruto's would be thinking the same thing.
He attached the remaining flags to himself and then began fastening on Sasuke's. The contact of skin on skin had sent Naruto down memory lane as he admired and tasted the artwork before him with his fingers.
He regretted that he had made his idiocy, allow such a marvellous treasure to slip from his palms. 'BELIEVE IT!' He thought to himself, He was going to reclaim Sasuke and this time cherish him to the point where running away would never cross his mind. Naruto Uzumaki decided that this time, he wouldn't just be moving in and out of the Uchiha's body but permanently moving into his heart.
Reaching the last two flags, the Hokage bent down on one of his knees and began fastening the flag. Sasuke looked down and was greeted by blond hair. His heart rate had sped up again was the idiot serious. It appeared as if he was proposing more than anything else. Naruto glanced up at his companion and was greeted by widened ink eyes. Enjoying the look of embarrassment on Sasuke's face, with a large grin Naruto gave him a flirtatious wink.
Naruto wanted to prove to the Uchiha that he didn't care what others thought, that he would gladly bow down to him, regardless of his title or Sasuke's reputation. Sure he had one of the hugest egos of all time which influenced his pride.
Pulling his foot away out of humiliation, the raven quickly muttered. "I'll put on the other one myself". Getting very impatient, the two men hurriedly left the dojo and led the crowd to an open field. There they stood anxiously awaiting for the newly made referee, Shikamaru to arrive, to start the game.
