Naruto woke and tried to turn over, but strong arms held him captive. His body ached in places he was embarrassed to think about. So last night wasn't just some dream, it was real. I saw my Sasuke, and this Sasuke accepted me wholly and… his thoughts drifted to memories of last night and he blushed deeply.
Sasuke refused to let go of the boy he knew he loved. He knew that he had only minutes left with him, and this thought bothered him more deeply than even his parents' deaths had.
Eventually Naruto turned in his arms and looked him in the eyes. Kyuubi chuckled in his conscious thought and Naruto pushed him out; he found it was easy to do that now. He kissed Sasuke tenderly, and Sasuke responded with emotion.
They broke apart and Naruto looked shyly towards the shore. He had always hated goodbyes, and this one was the most emotional of his life. Finally there was someone who accepted him completely and with no reserve. He placed his arms under Sasuke's and they stood as one.
Naruto had noticed his orange jumpsuit in the weeds just out of the sightline of the beach. He pulled Sasuke in that direction without a word. The sun was not yet fully in the sky, and he knew the timing was critical.
They separated and Naruto felt as if a piece of him was missing. He dressed quickly and stood before Sasuke.
Sasuke had yet to say anything, this wasn't unusual, but there was a deep sadness in his manner this morning.
Naruto looked at Sasuke and grinned his crooked grin. "I will never forget you, Sasuke. I will also always love this you."
Sasuke just nodded once. He knew he had to go now, and he had no words to say that felt appropriate. Naruto's deep blue eyes were filled with longing and sadness. He turned away from Sasuke and nearly kicked a package lying in the trail. He grinned as he thought of Kakashi here, so similar to his Kakashi, and yet also so different. He marveled at the fate of the connections even in this timeline.
Sasuke stayed on the beach, he knew that the Jutsu Naruto would have to use would be powerful, and he understood to stay out of the way. He turned his back to the spot where the only person he'd ever loved outside of his family had disappeared. He sat on the beach and threw stones and shells into the water.
A sudden blast of energy washed over him, and he knew Naruto was gone.
At the same time, Naruto had bent into the stance he had been using that morning. He concentrated and Kyuubi was mercifully silent. Soon he felt the raw power of the wind whipping through his body; he opened his eyes and called out the Jutsu. Everything rushed past his eyes in a blur.
When he could focus his eyes met with something he could not understand. He clutched the package he had brought with him, the gift from Kakashi. "Sasuke…" he whispered.
Sakura squealed in delight to see him, and Tsunade smacked him upside the head as she yelled at him. He barely noticed, and when they realized they weren't even in his thoughts much less getting through they stopped and stood beside him.
Naruto only looked at Sasuke. He was tormented by the memories of last night, with another face and body that could have been this man standing here in front of him.
"Usuratankachi."
The grin that broke over his face could have lit the darkest pit. He stepped forward and handed the bundle to the dark man in front of him. Sasuke took it without a word, no one tried to interfere.
Naruto looked around and saw the others assembled. Neji looked at him with guarded eyes; he was clearly dealing with the fact that Naruto had mastered some incredible Jutsu and power. Although they were now friends, Neji was still tainted with the thought of Naruto as the loser, and he tried to see past it to the Naruto who was in front of him. Eventually he grinned and Naruto returned it with one of his dazzling grins of delight.
Sakura was glaring at being left out of everything, and not really knowing what was going on. She also kept looking at Sasuke as if not to allow him out of her sight for an instant.
Tsunade was glaring at him for making her worry. He raised his hand and rubbed the back of his head in his usual manner of subservience.
Lee was sobbing openly at the welcome return of his treasured friend.
Shizune watched warily, but with a genuine smile on her face. She was glad the troublemaking boy, no man, was back. Tsunade was ready to retire, and now things could move forward. She too glanced at Sasuke, not really knowing his part of this group.
Naruto's eyes locked with Sasuke and he held the gaze. Written on his face was everything he had learned those days he'd been gone. All the feelings he had uncovered and the knowledge that he had finally, although accidentally, brought Sasuke back.
Tsunade stepped back and ordered, "I want a full report on my desk by the end of the day!" and with that she dismissed the others gathered in the clearing. She shot one dark warning look at Sasuke before ordering the others, "Move it now!"
Naruto never tore his eyes from the dark depths of the man in front of him. He felt the others depart, most with reluctance. Neji stationed himself close by, and neither man in the clearing was unaware of his presence. Naruto curved the corner of his mouth at the insight. Sasuke showed nothing.
Finally Naruto could take it no longer, "How did you find me, Teme?" he demanded.
Sasuke smirked, "Our bond goes deeper than I ever admitted."
Naruto looked at him his mouth dropped open in shock. Sasuke had admitted they shared a bond. Naruto's blue eyes searched the stony, pale face for something, any hint of the feelings he still had deeply within him.
Eventually Sasuke tired of toying with the blonde and smirked again, but this was more of a smile than a smirk. He unwrapped the package that Naruto had given him. If Naruto hadn't been standing right there he never would have believed that Sasuke's face could show such emotion: shock, uncertainty, and finally a small yet genuine smile.
Naruto had to know what was in the box, "Oi, Teme," he practically ordered.
To his surprise, Sasuke actually showed him the contents. Inside the box was a genealogy report, the Uchiha bloodlines through the centuries. The first page was blazoned with the name Madera at the top, and there were many branches in this section. Naruto moved to stand beside Sasuke and they both read the documents in silence, each learning more about the history of the powerful clan than any before had known.
Naruto noticed Sasuke actually flinch when the scroll slivered from a dense tree to a single thin line. Three names remained and that was all. Naruto looked in disbelief as the name Madera had continued through the lineage… "That's not possible!" he stated the obvious. The other two names were Sasuke and Itachi.
Naruto could read no further, he couldn't intrude in Sasuke's life and he didn't want to see when he noticed the branches flare again, in small movements and then a huge bunch all at once. He didn't want to see who Sasuke's name paired with to create that lineage. Sasuke was unable to not look.
He read only a little further; the scroll seemed to be bound and refused to unravel past the point. A thought flashed in his mind, knowing the future is a dangerous thing. The rest of the scroll is blank, this is only the possibility. It was Kakashi's voice, and Sasuke wondered how he was connected to this parchment.
Black eyes met blue again, and Sasuke looked at Naruto. How could the lineage continue with the name he had seen joined to his on the scroll?
Naruto watched the torment in Sasuke's eyes, he'd never let his guard down so completely before, and Naruto knew it was momentous. He felt Neji as he left the two of them alone. Had he too read the scroll? Did he now know a secret that Naruto wanted desperately to know as much as he determinedly did not want to know??
One phrase broke the silence, "Kychiose no Jutsu?" Sasuke marveled the possibility, but it was merely a clone… He understood completely. Only Naruto could create a corporeal clone, and thus when Naruto transformed into the Kychiose no Jutsu he was, in that moment, female… the impossible made possible.
Naruto wasn't following Sasuke, why was he mentioning the sexy Jutsu he had created? More troubling; why was he looking at Naruto like a predator stalking an unsuspecting prey.
Sasuke grabbed Naruto's arm and they both disappeared in a puff of smoke. They reappeared in Naruto's apartment. It was the same one he had always had and Sasuke knew how to get there without even thinking.
The training grounds had seemed more remote and secluded to Naruto, why had Sasuke brought them back to his apartment. He looked around, it was relatively clean, only a few empty cartons of ramen on the table and a few pieces of clothing thrown on the floor. It was small, at first sight only one room with a futon bed on one side and a table with two chairs and a small refrigerator in one corner. There was a separate bathroom, and what was meant to be the bedroom but Naruto had turned into his training room.
Sasuke seemed to appraise the surroundings, they were all too familiar, and Naruto had barely changed a thing since he had left. He marveled at Naruto's perseverance, he knew the boy ate almost only ramen because it was one of the few things that could be bought at a vendor stall or from a rolling cart. Sasuke wondered if the shopkeepers still refused to let Naruto into their shops or if it was just such a habit to eat ramen from all the years it was his sole foodstuff.
He appraised the sleeping quarter; the futon was actually large and looked comfortable. He wondered when Naruto had gotten it, and an errant thought crossed his thoughts…it was big enough for two. It was currently folded out to a bed; it didn't look as if it had been made to a couch for a long time. Why would Naruto bother? Who came to visit him here? Sasuke could detect wisps of Sakura's and Kakashi's essence, and stronger touches of Iruka, but there weren't' really many visitors to this humble place. He was saddened by this thought for some reason.
Sasuke didn't realize he had completely let his defenses down, and Naruto had gotten fully under his skin now, wormed his way into his stony heart.
Sasuke nodded once, and Naruto could take the silence no longer, "What do you want, Sasuke?" his voice slipped as he said the name he had longed to say for so long to the man who was standing here now. Sasuke was really back, he was actually in Naruto's home, and he seemed to be thinking deeply about this fact. Naruto didn't get it. He also didn't get why Tsunade had just let them go without any briefing or dictate to the missing-nin Uchiha. Something had happened since he had been gone, that was for sure.
Sasuke finally looked at Naruto. He smirked and held the still clutched parchment out for the blonde to see. Where Sasuke's lineage branched another name was written. Naruto couldn't help himself, he read the name written there with trepidation.
Blue eyes opened wide and looked at Sasuke in disbelief.
Sasuke couldn't resist toying with a confused Naruto, "So, do you feel for me what you felt for him?" he asked with a heavy smirk coloring his features.
Naruto nodded once, he couldn't form the words…he didn't want to know how Sasuke had understood when he had only been in that other world for such a short time. Naruto had only figured it for himself after much deliberation and mostly it had just happened.
Sasuke seemed to think about this for a minute, his manner changed and his smirk disappeared. His eyes were guarded and Naruto could tell that he was really seeing Sasuke, the Sasuke he knew so well and the one he had fallen for.
No words were spoken, none were needed.
Both men had decided that they liked what was written on that scroll, and the thought of the future it presented for them. Naruto had not thought further than the fact that he was accepted, and impossibly, he was loved. He could see it in Sasuke's eyes…feel it as they moved together and it overwhelmed him as their lips met tentatively and then hungrily.
It was like the beach again; but this time, this time Naruto didn't hold back. This wasn't just a shade of the real thing, this was Sasuke…the man he had fallen for and had acknowledged his feelings for. Unbelievably, he had been acknowledged too. Before he knew what was happening Naruto found himself on his futon, Sasuke was over him eyeing him hungrily, and somehow they had both lost their upper clothing and were naked from the waist up. Naruto liked the feel of their skin together, Sasuke's snowy white against his tanned abdomen, even darker from his days in the sun of Hawaii.
He wasn't going to be dominated this time; he still felt a twinge of soreness from last night's escapade in the ocean. This quickly morphed into anticipation, he knew just how good it felt to be topped, and today he would learn how it felt to top. He growled and rolled them over easily pulling the Hakama off Sasuke's lithe body and tossing it into a corner. Sasuke fought for a bit, but eventually he allowed Naruto to take control.
He would never admit that for once Naruto had more experience than he did. Something told him that Naruto's experience would also be handy, neither of them would be hurt if he topped, he already had the knowledge of what to do and what not. So instead for once in his life Sasuke allowed someone else to lead him.
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Sasuke felt the overwhelming blast of chakra, and he knew Naruto was gone. A single tear slipped down his cheek. He walked down the path he had trod so many times before. It felt empty, it was too quiet. He reached the house too quickly, and his feet pulled him towards the room Naruto had spent so little time in.
He had to look at the bed twice, there was a mass of blonde spikes peeking out of the blanket roll someone had sausaged themselves in. Kakashi just happened to pass by the hallway then. "Ah, you've met our new guest! I'm sorry for not asking permission but she wandered in last night while you were out. I didn't have the heart to turn her away."
The bundle in the bed moved at the sound of voices and a head peeked out from the blanket. Sasuke was shocked by the blue eyes that he knew too well.
A shout broke the silence, "What are you doing in my room?? Don't you know it's not polite to barge in when someone is sleeping?!"
Sasuke smirked, "Did you not realize you are a guest in my house?"
The ranting blonde stopped mid-tirade to stare at the dark haired man who stood in the doorway. Kakashi had left, and Sasuke leaned against the door frame, "So, who are you, guest in my home?" he toyed with her.
She grudgingly told him her name, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I just came to this island yesterday from Japan, and I ran into the silver haired man then he told me I could stay here."
Sasuke thanked whatever god had brought him such an unexpected gift, he also wondered at fate's humor to make his beloved Naruto a girl. Truly the bloodline would continue, he grinned.
He noticed the appraising look the girl gave him. He had on the board shorts and tank top Kakashi had laid out for him on the beach. They were both black, and the shorts had swirls of red on them. Sasuke only now noticed they were like the swirl symbol on the other Naruto's jacket…but there were odd black comma shapes too.
He offered to show her to the dining room for breakfast, memories of just a few days ago passed through his mind and he smiled. She responded to his smile, and Miku slipped down the hallway with a skirt set that she offered to Sasuke for the girl. He arched his eyebrow, there were her daughter's clothes, and she'd outgrown them, but still… "Thank you Miku," he said bowing slightly.
Miku grinned with a knowing look and left him in the doorway. Sasuke looked at Naruto who was still bundled in the blanket. "Here," he said holding out the clothing, "You can wear these today, and Miku will wash your clothing for you. Do you not have any suitcase?" he pondered this, why had she come to Hawaii, and with whom, and … he had a lot of questions.
She glared at him, but slipped out of the cocoon she had wrapped in. She had on one of his old t-shirts; it fit her like a gown around her slim frame. He noticed she had the same build as Naruto, except a bit more developed in the chest. He tried not to look, he'd never really been interested in girls, but she was so like Naruto…he was definitely interested.
She took the clothing tentatively, and he noticed she had faint scars on her cheeks, not quite like whiskers as Naruto's were, but lines all the same. He wanted to touch them, and ask how she got them; he had never asked Naruto that. It was one of many questions he had never gotten around to.
He turned to leave and give her some privacy, but she reached out to touch his arm, "Thank you," she said softly.
He nodded and murmured, "Aa," as he closed the door and waited in the hallway.
She came out in only a few minutes, her hair was spiked up just like Naruto's and Sasuke couldn't help but stare.
"Naruto…" he sighed.
She looked at the longing in his eyes and was fearful. There was such emotion, and no one had looked at her like that, ever. Why was he looking at her like that? Like he needed her and wanted her...like she belonged.
She gasped as they entered the dining room; Miku had gone all out, just as she had when Naruto had come. This Naruto, he began to call her Naru to distinguish them in his mind, was as appropriately shocked. She ran around just as he had sampling everything. The offerings couldn't have been as foreign to her as they were Naruto, she was from his time period at least, but she was from Japan not Hawaii.
Naru grinned as she nibbled a sweet roll. He waited, he knew she would begin to tell him her story, and he wanted to hear it.
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There were several complaints made to the Hokage's office through the night and into the next morning. Something about noise disturbance…but she was delighted to find there were also quite a few concerned complaints. The people were afraid to go and look for themselves, but they were actually concerned for Naruto. As a result Tsunade was buoyant and in such a good mood she forgot to yell at three people she was mad at.
Eventually she summoned Naruto and Sasuke to her office, she really was surprised to see Sasuke the one limping, but she held her composure and said nothing.
It had taken them a bit longer to arrive than she had wanted to wait, but she was so happy for Naruto's return she wasn't going to let it dampen her mood. Instead she shot questions at Sasuke…what were his intentions, was he really going to stay or was this just temporary. Naruto shot Sasuke a worried look, until he calmly interrupted Tsunade's tirade and stated that he planned to stay, and actually wanted to rebuild the Uchiha compound.
Naruto looked sad at that announcement; he had hoped Sasuke would stay with him. Sasuke snickered at his forlorn look, "You Dobe! Where else am I going to stay until it is rebuilt? Besides don't you think you're going with me?"
Tsunade chuckled to herself at this declaration; it was as if she were no longer in the room. Naruto looked at Sasuke with such deep eyes that Tsunade had to clear her throat to remind them where they were, lest they forget and try to reenact some of the past night.
She looked from the pair of bright blue eyes to the dark, flat black ones, "As my successor I think that would be a fitting place to live."
Then as Naruto stood there with his mouth gaping like a fish she calmly stated, "You're dismissed."
Sasuke had to haul the awestruck Naruto out of the Hokage's office. Tsunade called out after him, "You start your new training in the morning!!"
The entire population of Konoha appeared to have turned out in front of the Hokage's office upon hearing that not only was Naruto back, Sasuke was here too. The fan girls were heavily represented. Sakura and Ino were the closest to the doors, and both looked darkly at the other as the two men stepped out into the sunshine.
They walked out with their arms around each other comfortably. They seemed oblivious to the crowds. Actually both Sasuke and Naruto knew the crowd was there, Sasuke, as usual, didn't care, and Naruto was too overwhelmed with the news he had just been given to care.
Naruto seemed to come out of some of his shock when he saw Sakura, "Sakura!! Guess what I start Hokage training tomorrow!!"
It was then that he noticed the crowd, and just how large it was. He gulped, he expected a lot of eyes to glare at him for daring to think, let alone state out loud, such an audacious thing. Instead several people congratulated him. Sakura bonked him on the head for being such an idiot, and for still not explaining to her where he had been, how he had got back, and how Sasuke was mixed up in everything.
Three figures moved out of the crowd, they had heard the declaration, and they weren't entirely pleased. The Council Elders approached Naruto and Sasuke. "So it is true, you have returned."
Neither man knew to whom they referred so neither replied. Both stood back straight, defiant, waiting for whatever these Elders had to say.
They called both men to follow and entered the Hokage building. Naruto shot Sasuke a glance, he had been a missing-nin after all…and after the reception here Naruto knew everyone had heard how he had disappeared. He could only imagine how it would appear to these twisted old people with their closed minds.
Surely they expected foul play, and Sasuke's return now could only be linked to his disappearance. This was not good!
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Aiya!! So… This story is almost finished, maybe a chapter or two to go. It is relatively short compared to my others… I rather like it, I tried to leave the relationship bits up to imagination…You can think about what happens. XD
BTW soz for the long absence, I graduated from College, then we moved, so it has been hectic!!
-Kneise
