I sincerely apologize for the delay in updates with this story, I've been too busy lately and didn't want to attempt to work on this when I could not give the story my full attention. Another delay came into play as well, my usb memory stick was lost and thus I had to start this chapter from scratch when I had already begun working on it. Gomenasai. The thumbnail is used with permission and belongs to fallenkarma view it here.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto Kishimoto-san does, I am merely borrowing the characters for creative purposes.
A/N: I dedicate this story to all the wonderful readers including any lurkers and exclusively to fallenkarma who inspired me to attempt to write a Samurai story with her beautiful fan art. http: //yaoi. y-gallery .net /view/ 484308/ *take out the spaces.
Among the inevitable changes that comes with life the tides pick up speed to set the course of two destinies always meant to be irreversibly tied together . . .
Loyalty lies within the heart of the matter as well as to ones' family and country.
Chapter 6
Sweat glistened the naturally tan skin as breathless pants of exertion were forced past his lips. His golden, wild, spiky hair was darkened even under the light of the burning sun from sweat as he caught his breath and found his determination to continue his callused hands tightening around the hilt of the kunai knife. He would get his target this time if he had to spend the remainder of his days in this field to do so. His father wasn't present to help him every step away having left him to fend for himself today and he planned to make his father proud.
His eyes narrowed in concentration as he focused on the tree more than fifty feet away from him. He trained everyday, doing exercises, push ups, sit ups, running through the town, exercised that had him jumping up and down moving his legs and arms away from him and then back and repeating it. There were warm up exercises he practiced as well, laying down sacks of dirt that he had to make an obstacle course out of and then hop back and forth between after carrying them up and down hill and through the town. The training was rough and hard but he could feel the effects it had and each time it seemed to get that much easier.
He enjoyed the burn of his muscles as he stressed and often times over worked them and everyday he found himself in the same dilemma, hitting the scroll pinned to the tree with four kunai's, thrown precisely, with blinding speed, by his father to keep the scroll in place. A single, thin, small circle was inscribed in the center and that was what he had to aim for. He'd had to replace the scroll countless times since he'd began target practice. He drew back and snapped his arm out flicking his wrist to aim the kunai knife and watched it fly through the air and land . . . right above the scroll.
Naruto let out a tired sigh and took a kunai from the weapons pouch strapped to his right thigh and tried again and again and again until he was huffing out his breaths and his hands were sore from the tight grip he kept on the kunai while he concentrated on his target. For an hour more he continued what he'd already been doing for what felt like forever but was only three solid hours. On the bright side, he was able to hit the tree the scroll was on today but why couldn't he hit the target itself?
His stomach growled but with a glance at the bundle of food his mother had sent with him when he'd left at dawn to set to his training he went back to throwing kunai's. How did his father do this, was there some sort of key to doing this that he wasn't aware of, why couldn't he get it right? He sighed tiredly and frustratingly ran a hand through his hair before he walked towards the tree to retrieve his kunai knives since he'd used all of them. He examined each one with a frown noting that he would have to sharpen and clean each one of them again tonight.
As he made his way back to his previous spot he wondered what Sasuke was doing and whether the stoic, quiet, samurai would be able to accomplish this task. Naruto snorted at his thoughts, of course the arrogant guy would be able to do it, what couldn't he do? That didn't make him feel any better but it did make him seethe with renewed vigor, if Sasuke could do this so easily then that was even more reason for him to make sure he reached that same level of skill. He had not seen the Uchiha in quite a while and though the stretch of time was only since his training had started as he didn't have much free time while he trained he still wondered is his friend had changed any.
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Sasuke paced in his room feeling frustrated and irritable, why hadn't he noticed before that Naruto's father was the once well known and possibly legendary shinobi the Yellow Flash? How could he not have noticed, hadn't his family once had relations with him? Well of course there was the fact that he was too young back then to have remembered as much and Oro- he growled cutting himself short from thinking that 'man's' name- was the only person outside his family that he constantly had to deal with, well with the exception of Kakashi.
That was another thing, hadn't Kakashi once been a shinobi, surely the silver haired man would have known that someone like the Yellow Flash was living so close? Was there really anything to be concerned about, he could at least use the friendship he had with Naruto to try and talk with the blonds' equally blond father could he not? Well maybe 'use' was a strong word, it was really out of courtesy considering that the Uchiha couldn't be blind enough to deny that he considered Naruto a friend. Not that anyone could really say no to the boisterous, loud, stubborn, pestering youth.
He had not seen him in quite some time, maybe it was time that he left the compound during the day and visited him to see why the blond was not following him around when he was anywhere outside of the Daimyo's property. Sasuke felt a flash of seething anger and hatred rush through him. That damn man, he seemed to think that he literally 'owned' him, demanding to know where he went during the night hours, why did he insist upon not following the guidelines set before him, who did he think he was disobeying his employer and a bunch of other nonsense.
Sasuke was owned by no one and he certainly didn't have to explain his whereabouts when he left. He was an Uchiha, from a proud and once powerful clan and he had reached his age of maturity as well as the fact that he was a samurai. The only ruler he was bound by Bushido to follow was the Emperor himself not some lowly, back stabbing, deceitful, murderous, power hungry, self centered, arrogant, perverted, bastard like that snake.
He stilled his thoughts at the sound of approaching footsteps and moments later he heard a light knock on the wall beside the rice paper door. Courtesy of the snake the once thick door was replaced with a thin door, he had yet to bother to replace the door with one that would grant him a bit more privacy since he could care less if the snake was spying on him, he would just leave when he wished to engage in anything that was not in aggreance with the Daimyo.
"Yes?"
A timid, soft voice floated through the door and Sasuke recognized the voice at once to belong to Hinata that was a recent addition to this insufferable place. She was a very kind and quiet young woman and he was a bit startled to see a member of his distantly related and rivaled Hyuga clan employeed to the Daimyo.
"Oro-Orochimaru-s-sama . . . w-wishes to s-see you . . . S-Sasuke-sama."
The one thing he found a bit grating was how she stuttered and still refused to at least stop addressing him with such a high honorific. He wasn't that much older than her and he was even employed by the Daimyo as well, there was no need for such formalities but when he tried to explain that to her she blushed profusely and then would shake her head and mutter a barely tangible reply where she stated, or stuttered in her case, that the snake told her she would not address him with any other honorific. The same rule applied with everyone and it seriously grated on his nerves.
"Thank you Hinata-chan, is there anything else," he replied calmly. He saw the shadows from her shaking her head outside the door, "N-no Sasuke-s-sama, that's . . . all."
She bowed outside the door and then turned and made a hasty retreat down the hall. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, a habit he could entirely blame on the influential blond, it seemed his nerves were always on edge whether or not he was around the energetic blond or not. Then of course, he had been thinking or the aforementioned blond of his own accord so part of the blame could be placed on himself, but not all of it. He gave himself a quick look over to make sure everything was in order before he made his way to his door and slid it open to step out onto the deck.
With a graceful, unconsciously fluid movement he turned and closed the door, adjusted his obi and thus his weapons always at his waist and made his way towards the Daimyo's quarters. He met a servant outside the study where the man usually was and was informed that the 'Lord' as many addressed him, was in his private chambers. He fought down the urge to sigh or groan, gave thanks and headed towards the back of the compound with his mask firmly in place. Whatever the man had in mind he had another thing coming if he tried the same thing as his last stunt. Sasuke would gladly take lynching or beatings over having that man try to violate him again. If the snake like man did not watch himself he would be sure to find himself with missing limbs.
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Minato looked up at the precise moment that he felt two faintly familiar chakra presences enter the police building. He couldn't pinpoint exactly who they belong to as there were subtle differences that he had not come across before but he couldn't hide the smirk that crossed his face when two very physically familiar young men stepped into his office doorway. They looked very much like their parents who now that he saw these two teenagers he immediately remembered where the familiarity had come from.
"Nara, Inuzuka, how pleasant to finally meet the next heirs to two brilliant clans."
Both seemed a bit startled by his knowledge but as expected of trained shinobi, regardless of how young they appeared, it was hidden well. Nara was the one to step forward, Minato found it a bit ironic how the young man even had the demeanor of his aloof and laid back father as well as the hairstyle of pulling his hair back in a tie that made his hair look like the top of a pineapple.
"A pleasure to finally meet you Namikaze-san." Inuzuka, the more wild and energetic looking young man with two tattoos on his cheeks that brought an animalistic quality to the young man grinned at him in greeting and said cheerfully, "Dido, never thought we'd actually get to meet the illustrious Yellow Flash."
Minato raised an eyebrow at both the boys lack of formality as well as hearing the old name. He nodded, "Please, close the door and have a seat. I am curious to know why you two sought me out when you have been present in this town for more than long enough to have given an earlier greeting."
It was the boisterous young shinobi that heeded his request to close the door and while the door hardly provided any privacy to talk in secret as it was made out of only two layers of rice paper it would give the idea of privacy. Nara sat down on the floor crossing his legs before him while his partner sank to the floor next to him without ceremony. Minato couldn't help but to be reminded of his own son especially when Inuzuka was sporting a grin like that, cocky, arrogant, confident, and cheerful.
"We come in regards to a letter you most likely previously received from the Emperor."
Minato gave a brief nod of acknowledgment and affirmation and Nara continued in a bored tone that reminded the blond of the days he'd spent with Shikaku Nara, surely this young mans' father.
"We are here not only to receive an official response but to ask that you reunite with the adjoined clans of Fire Country to assist us. We were also told to help you with anything as you saw fit even should you decide to leave this village to meet up with the shinobi of our home land."
Inuzuka sighed, "Yo, Nara, talk like a kid your age, you sound like some boring old man being all formal." Nara shot a disapproving glare at his partner to which the louder one merely stuck out a tongue and Nara rolled his eyes irritably. Minato chuckled drawing curious looks from both of them at the action. He waved his hand in front of him, "You remind me of my son is all, Inuzuka-kun."
He was met with a grin in response and a sigh from Nara. "Name's Kiba by the way, isn't your sons' name Naruto or something?"
"Yes," Minato answered easily, "why not go out and meet him Kiba-kun, I'm sure you're more than bored by formal mission details."
Kiba jumped to his feet, "Awesome, seriously?"
Minato nodded, "Yes, unless Nara-san doesn't approve."
Kiba looked to Nara with a bit of a puppy dog look to which Nara grunted and said disinterestedly, "Go ahead I find your company grating to begin with."
With a glare Kiba made his way out of the room sliding the door shut on his way out and Minato could feel his chakra moving further away. He turned his attention back to the remaining shinobi in the room with him. "They sent you and your comrade to retrieve my answer? How long do I have to respond and agree to work with Fire Country once more?"
"Two weeks is the limit since our arrival, I already sent a message stating that myself and Inuzuka-san made contact with you. Your rank will be reinstated of course and your reputation would be swiped clean by rights of the Emperor himself should you accept the offer."
Minato was no fool, he knew that in exchange for the positive ideals of excepting such an appealing offer he would be expected to put his work before everything and was to never turn down a mission, much as it was before his rank was stripped from him. Did he truly wish to put such distance between himself and his family after only twelve years he'd spent with his son? He was certain that it would take little time to regain the rights and privileges of a high ranking shinobi employed by the Emperor and the Fire Country and his family would no longer have to live in the run down home they lived in now. He would be able to see to it that Naruto was taught by the best shinobi teachers and able to follow in his own footsteps . . . but that stopped his short.
Sure, there was glory and privileges and respect that was given to shinobi and that only increased as your level of skill and therefor rank increased but there was so much fighting. The battles never ended, the taking of others lives stained the hands of even the genin ranks who were merely children no older than his son. Why would he wish such a sinful life upon his son, he had taught him, began training him with the sole purpose to provide his son with the skills needed to survive or fight back in a tight spot. Martial arts was the correct term for what he had in mind but he had fallen into the training regimen known to a shinobi. He ran a tired hand through his hair, "I will have to think on it, do you and your comrade have a place to stay?"
Nara looked at him with a bored expression before he rolled his eyes at the question, "Of course we do, but I'm certain that Inuzuka would ask to at least have a meal with you and your family, if of course, it is of no convenience to you."
Minato gave a halfhearted smile not feeling like grinning as he answered, "No of course not, I will just have to stop and get something for dinner then."
Silence fell between them and Minato had the distinct impression that he was being analyzed and studied by those sharp and intelligent brown eyes. Nara stood suddenly and with a low bow he said, "It would not be too troublesome for me and Inuzuka to treat your family to dinner," Nara raised his head to stare steadily at a startled blond man, "it would not be bothersome for me to invite the young Uchiha to this gathering would it?"
Minato shook his head, "No, and thank you for your kindness. I am not fool enough to deny a gift of any kind from anyone. Uchiha-san? No, of course not, he's always welcome in my home."
Nara nodded, "Alright, I shall go and retrieve him then and return at the appropriate time in which to leave to acquire dinner for the night. Good day Namikaze-san."
Minato nodded and watched the young man leave, sure, he had not expected the son of who once was a comrade to be cold-hearted but the young man seemed to have the same lazy demeanor as his father so it was unexpected that he would go out of his way to express kindness to another. Could it be possible that the principles of the shinobi have been somehow influenced by the morals of the samurai? His mind turned to other things, like his sons' determination to train and become stronger and the competitiveness he held towards Uchiha. There was no way he would be able to talk his son out of trying to become as skilled as a shinobi.
It would take a few years before Naruto was able to reach the level of skill expected at his age and then he would have to work even harder to reach the skill level of those his age in those few years. He had faith in his son and knew how stubborn he was, he himself as well as his wife were stubborn and hard headed about things themselves. Naruto could accomplish any goal he wished to with his determination and his will power but it would be up to Minato to teach him as much as he could and at least try to make it a bit easier on his son to grow stronger.
If he joined the shinobi ranks once more then it would be easier for Naruto to be acknowledged as a shinobi but he still didn't feel completely confident about having his son become a shinobi and take on the weight of such a burden. His son was going to be a strong and very independent man as he grew older and he knew that even now his son would do as he wished and push through any and all hardships much as he had already proved when it came to facing the taunts, jeers, and judgments of the villagers. Still Naruto walked with his head held high, treated many with cheerfulness and courtesy they never presented to him and with a grin on his face, well as far as he had seen anyway.
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Inuzuka couldn't help but to grin as the memory of his days when he was younger and still learning and trainings as he heard the familiar sounds of kunai knives and shuriken landing soundly in the trunk of a tree as he made his way towards the open land just along the edge of the town. Of course he nearly outright laughed at the frustrated growls and curses that followed most likely meaning that the thrower of said weapons had missed their intended target. He recognized the shock of bright blond hair as soon as he came close enough to see it, definitely the person he was looking for. He'd had to run through the town and along rooftops to even catch a glance at that blond from afar and figure out where he was.
He was a bit startled when he approached at the very tense and alert way that the blond froze in throwing another shuriken at the tree fifty feet away from him and those bright blue eyes narrowed at him suspiciously causing him to pause. Kiba raised both hands in surrender and gave a sheepish grin before saying in a cheerful greeting, "Easy, I'm Kiba, know your old man," he added the last bit in hopes the blond would be less suspicious of him. Those blue eyes were still suspicious but some of the tension left him to give way to curiosity.
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Naruto looked at this Kiba person, he said he knew his father huh, well if what this person was wearing was any factor it would be because he's a shinobi, Naruto thought to himself. "How do you know my father," he asked anyway to confirm his suspicions. He made his way towards the tree to pry the weapons from it and put them away in the pouches before turning to regard the brunette again. "Did he send you here to summon me or something?"
The brunette grinned with a nod, "Yeah, pretty much," he still had yet to answer Naruto's first question but he was confident he would get the answer sooner or later, probably when he got a chance to speak to his father. "Where is my father, he should still be at work." Kiba gave him a nod as an answer, "He is, said I should seek you out since I didn't want to stick around for all the political talk."
Naruto grinned, he couldn't help it, it was hard to keep up the suspicious aloof act with the brunette. His grin was returned and he found himself feeling more at ease. This Kiba seemed pretty laid back and he liked the casual way he talked rather than the usual formal speech he was used to from the rare few that bothered to ackowledge his presence, though Sasuke was different in that aspect even if he had yet to see the raven in a while. "Well," he leaned back on his heels and then forward as his hands folded behind his head, "guess we should head to my house before it gets too dark," it was getting close to sunset and his mother didn't like him being out that late. Besides, he didn't want to look like a fool practicing throwing kunai's and shuriken's at a tree in front of a shinobi.
Kiba shrugged and put his hands in his pocket, "Alright, lead the way then umm . . . " he trailed off because he wanted to see if Naruto would give him permission to address him by his name.
"Naruto," the blond finished, "nice to meet you Kiba-san."
Despite the difference in their ages Kiba couldn't help but feel a bit awkward at being addressed with such a formal honorific at the end of his name by someone so close to his age. He wasn't going to correct the blond but he also wasn't going to tack on the same honorific given that he was a year or two older. "Same here Naruto-kun," was his easy reply as Naruto headed back towards the town. After a few minutes of awkward silence it was Naruto who finally broke the silence with a sheepish grin his hands still folded behind his head, "So . . . did you come here by yourself?"
"No, but I can assure you that Nara-kun is less interesting and boring, he's lazy despite how intelligent he is."
Naruto laughed, "Sounds almost like Sasuke-kun, except that guy is a downright bastard."
Kiba laughed then, "Sounds fitting for an Uchiha."
Naruto nodded agreeably, "Yeah that's what I was told too," he chuckled, "though considering who he is supposedly employed by I guess its unlikely to change."
Kiba nodded, he knew as much, rumors spread pretty quickly especially in regards to the Uchiha clan, "So I've heard, that guy is more snake than anything. Took in a Hyuga," he looked away from Naruto when the blond looked at him curiously no doubt hearing the bitterness in his voice as he mentioned the Hyuga. Kiba sighed, "I know the person he took, damn the clan for giving into that man's demands."
Naruto scoffed, "He never was a pleasant guy and I hate how he seems to think he can own a person."
Kiba nodded and noticed that they were heading towards what he knew to be the Daimyo's property but they passed it and turned right to stand before a rather run down and impoverished house. He was a bit irritated that someone whose skills as well as name were well known among shinobi was reduced to live in such a place. He hesitated when Naruto stepped through the curtained doorway and called a cheerful hello into the house followed by a cheerful and feminine greeting. He sighed and walked inside to remove his sandals at the threshold and stood in the small, narrow hallway looking around. This house was very small and almost claustrophobic if not for the homely feeling he got as he made his way to where he heard Naruto telling his mother that they had a guest.
"Oh really now," Kiba heard her say as he came into the kitchen where the woman was cleaning with a grin directed at her son. Kiba had to admit, Naruto's mother was a very attractive woman and he could feel her motherly love while she looked at her son. It made him immediately miss his own mother and even his older sister, regardless of how aggravating both of them could be. He blinked when he suddenly found Naruto's mother turn to him with a gentle smile, "Why hell there, I'm Kushina Uzumaki, nice to meet you young man, I believe Naruto-chan said your name was Kiba-kun, correct?"
Kiba nodded with a grin and raise a hand to scratch his nose absently a bit embarrassed at being caught staring, "Yes ma'am Uzumaki-san."
A cheerful and beautiful laugh and then Kushina said, "Don't be so formal dear, Kushina is fine."
"Ah, umm. thanks Kushina-san."
She chuckled and then turned to ruffle Naruto's hair who laughed at her antics as she said, "Go wash up for dinner, I have a feeling we will have quite the house full tonight for dinner." Naruto simply beamed at her and there was something in his expression that asked a silent question. Kushina gave a simple nod and Naruto hooted and made his way out of the kitchen and across the hall. Kushina called after him with a bright smile, "Gather your change of clothes first son." After seeing a shock of blond pass down the hallway she turned to regard Kiba, "Sit down dear, I'll fix you some tea so that you can explain your reasons for showing up to speak with my husband."
Kiba did as he was told with a nod, he expected as much from a mother, ever the observant ones and from her tone of voice what she said evoked no argument. By the time he had had a few glasses of tea, filled her in, and Naruto had bathed and changed into a clean set of black pants and a orange yukata the three were talking lightly about the town and about how different it was in comparison to the forests that Kiba had grown up around. Kiba fell into an easy conversation regarding his dog Akamaru which he had very begrudgingly been ordered to leave behind despite the fact that he never had to go on missions without him. He hoped Akamaru wouldn't be too angry with him when he finally managed to get back home.
It was a while yet before Minato arrived home with Shikamaru and Sasuke in tow. Naruto leapt from the table to greet his friend excitably and to Kiba and Shikamaru's astonishment the Uchiha allowed the hug for a moment before he shoved the blond away irritably. The stoic Uchiha gave a smirk at the half hearted wounded look he received from Naruto. Nara greeted Kushina respectfully and then with a greeting to his wife Minato directed everyone to the living room saying they needed to give his wife some room to make dinner. Kushina had laughed at him and said she was fully capable of maneuvering around them but didn't argue as everyone made their way to the small but cozy feeling room.
Both shinobi noticed how easily Uchiha and Naruto seemed to get along and how the Uchiha should have looked out of place in his white yukata and the black hakama pants but looked as though he belonged. They also noted how said Uchiha didn't protest in the slightest to sitting on the floor or next to Naruto who insistently pulled at his arm until the raven finally sat down next to him. Minato watched the interaction with an amused smile before he turned his attention to the two shinobi, "Sit down boys, no one hears bites to my knowledge."
Kiba easily found a place on the floor close to Naruto and Shikamaru sat a little away from the three as Naruto talked energetically to his stoic friend, "What have you been doing lately teme, it's been boring without you."
"Hn," was the only response Naruto received but the blond refused to give up and glared at Sasuke.
"That is just so interesting bastard," Kushina's voice carried to the room, "Watch your mouth Naruto Uzumaki!"
Naruto winced and then turned a glare at his father when Minato chuckled. Naruto turned his attention back to Sasuke, "Ne, Kiba-san said something about a Hyuga having to work for the Daimyo, that true?"
Kiba tensed and caught the glare from Sasuke before the raven answered, "Yes, surprisingly it is a recent occurrence." Kiba narrowed his eyes at the implications, it was obvious Uchiha had come to a sort of conclusion in regards to how he knew about Hinata being employed by Orochimaru when she had only just arrived. Naruto hmm'd and then asked, "Is he still set on the same idealism from before?"
Everyone but Minato was caught off guard by the question as well as what they meant in regards to Naruto's thoughts about the Daimyo. Sasuke was silent for a few seconds before he replied with a simple nod. Naruto sulked and crossed his arms over his chest, "Bastard," but there was something in his tone that told all of them in the room that the curse was meant for the Daimyo and not his friend whom he often addressed with the same word in one way or another.
"What did I tell you about cussing Naruto-chan," Kushina called from the kitchen. Naruto sighed and relaxed as he called out, "Gomen Okaasan."
The room fell into a tense silence and they all took in one another thoughtfully and curiously, with the exception of the suspicious and distrusting looked between two young shinobi's and a young samurai. The silence continued until it was broken by Kushina coming into the room to announce that dinner was done. Everyone rose to their feet and made their way to the dining area to sit down with the same silence that carried through to the meal. Once everyone had eaten Minato asked the two shinobi to follow him into the room they were previously in while Sasuke and Naruto both helped Kushina clean up. They were nearly done when Kushina said with a gentle smile, "You two boys go ahead and take a stroll, its' a nice night out and I'm sure you two would like to catch given the few weeks it has been since you've seen one another."
A silent nod and a grin and then they were gone, Naruto running through the house while Sasuke thanked her for the meal and calmly made his way down the hall to give thanks and a farewell to Minato before making his leave. As usual, he waited just outside for Naruto and Kushina couldn't help but to smile as she heard her son run out of the house with a quick calling that he would return soon and be careful. She ignored the voices coming from the other room as she finished up cleaning and sat down at the table with a warm glass of tea once she was finished. It did not escape her that things were about to change very much so and that with those changes trials would come about and many challenges would have to be conquered. She worried for her son as well as the friendship between him and young Sasuke, she hoped that they would make it through whatever should come their way and continue to be friends no matter what happened.
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Naruto let out a yawn as he walked with Sasuke through the streets of the town and they both seemed to be heading for the often inhabited field just outside the reach of the town. Both of them were remotely silent and Naruto found that it really wasn't all that comfortable, he felt content just to have Sasuke just there. When they finally reached the secluded field Naruto sat down heavily on the ground and then laid back to stare up at the night sky. Sasuke sat down next to him with his usual grace and silent way of moving and turned his gaze to the heavens above as well. They both kept quiet the sounds of the slight breeze and their breathing the only thing to break the silence of the night.
"Have you been alright Sasuke," Naruto asked quietly and with true concern in his voice as those blue eyes rested on the pale face of his dark haired friend. Sasuke was silent for a moment before he answered, "As well as can be expected," in a soft tone that let Naruto believe it was an honest answer. Naruto sat up and looked at his friend with a searching gaze, he caught the peaceful look and noticed that when he really looked at Sasuke, especially with how the pale light of the moon and stars bathed his skin and highlighted his dark hair as well as his clothes that Sasuke was a gorgeous person to look at.
Naruto turned his gaze sharply away at that thought with an embarrassed blush, he couldn't think things like that about another guy regardless of how pretty said guy was. Plus, he and Sasuke were friends and that would be weird and might mess up their still new friendship. All this ran through his mind in a matter of seconds and he replied with what he hoped was a calm tone of voice, "Guess so."
"Hn," was Sasuke's reply and still he didn't turn his gaze to Naruto as he commented in a smooth and calm tone of voice, "It seems that you have been training."
Naruto turned to him with a grin, "Damn straight, I'm going to be even stronger than you just watch," he declared confidently.
Sasuke finally looked at him with an infuriatingly smug smirk on his face, "I highly doubt that moron."
Naruto bristled, "It's true teme, just you wait."
"Dobe," was Sasuke's snide reply to which Naruto raised an accusatory finger and declared, "I will and then things are going to change."
Sasuke raised a delicate eyebrow at that, "Is that so? And what exactly can an idiot like you hope to change?"
"Everything teme," Naruto answered defiantly, "I plan to change the fact that others think they can own another human being, I'm going to prove to everyone that I'm not some loser and that I'm strong enough to deserve their respect. One day I'm going to be just as important as any noble and I'm going to earn it."
Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Naruto's bullheadedness, "No one person is capable of doing such a thing."
Naruto stood up and glared with a heated expression full of determination and defiance, "You can say what you want because I'm going to prove it to you."
Sasuke sighed, "Hn."
Naruto turned and looked to the night sky once more, "Everyone is going to see me for who I really am one day," Naruto commented with surprisingly confidence and wistfulness. Sasuke looked to his friend and when Naruto turned just a bit to look back it felt like a jolt of heat ran through him as their eyes met and as though everything around them had caught its breath. Sasuke stood once he managed to pull his gaze away and closed his eyes for a moment before looking past Naruto to say, "You should get home baka."
Naruto glared but nodded, "Guess so, see you later then?
"Hn," was his reply before they set off back towards Naruto's house. When they arrived the two shinobi were gone and Sasuke offered another farewell and good-nights before heading back to the Daimyo's home. There was definitely a change in the winds occurring and this was only the beginning, Sasuke thought absently as he made his way through the grounds and to his own quarters. He idly wondered at what had happened between him and Naruto just moments ago as he drifted off into a restless sleep.