Sasuke learned something new about Naruto today; the Dobe was damned good at hide and seek. It was around 2 am and the Uchiha was still wandering the sparse streets of the quiet village. Most had long since gone to bed, dreaming their dreams and resting up for a brand new day of work and play. Years ago Sasuke would have gone first to Ichiraku (who as of late had extended his hours to 3am since his clientele had broadened and he was able to afford to hire night shift workers) or to the Hokage tower. But this Naruto wouldn't be so predictable. Yet at some point Sasuke figured that Naruto would expect him to think that so Sasuke took his chances and checked both places. He nearly kicked himself to find them both without his quarry. Score another point for the Dobe. At this point Sasuke would have to give him a new pet name. Hands shoved deeply into his pockets and eyes trained on his feet he continued walking as a shadow through the night. He walked clear to the other side of the village bordering the Uchiha district. His head snapped up looking ahead as a powerful and familiar chakra screamed through his senses. He narrowed his attention on the beacon of power and followed it at a leisurely pace to a public training ground. The area had long since been forgotten and unkempt since the people of Konoha had a deeply rooted fear of the vengeful spirits of the Uchiha massacre. Stories of ghosts dripping blood and moaning in pain made visitors to this area scarce and that was exactly how Sasuke wanted it. The only ghosts that haunted Sasuke were in his nightmares, but he would let the stories continue if only to keep his privacy unthreatened. He masked his own chakra as he weaved through the trees, stepping over twisting roots and tangled brush. He stayed within the shadow of the trees and found a perfect place to stay invisible. Naruto was at times a blur as he rushed through the overgrowth of the training ground. Sasuke was astonished that he had gotten so fast. Punches thrown and kicks flying as the ex-blond darted from ground to air with attacks that were out of character for his formerly hectic style, or lack thereof. Graceful spins through the air, the jingle of chains and the whoosh of a blunt object cutting through space. Sasuke activated his Sharingan and was finally able to see. Naruto landed on the ground panting, dropping into a defensive animalistic crouch. A few meters away a copy of himself did the same. Twin glares mirrored one another and the real Naruto punched the ground in irritation, the steel nunchuks in his hand jingling again lightening the harsh sound of his curse. The other Naruto gave a cold grin and stood. Sasuke wasn't prepared for the sight. The clone had glowing red eyes with slitted pupils. A glowing red tail whipped contentedly behind it and the feral smile was accented with sharp fangs. The clone shook his head at the real Naruto tutting in disappointment as it boredly inspected the claws on its right hand.
"You're pathetic even when you're on you're A game. This is just… whats a word less than pathetic, Kit?" The clone watched callously as Naruto lowered his black head with a sad sigh.
"Shit. Less than shit. Scum of the earth. Take your fucking pick Kyuu." Naruto said in a low voice and he repositioned himself to sit cross legged on the ground. In a final display of anger he threw the nunchuks at the double who merely shifted its head to the right to avoid the projectile.
"That wasn't nice, Kit." He said distractedly as he began picking at a claw. Naruto didn't bother to reply. He reached up and began rubbing his right shoulder which had gotten punched out of place at some point. The fox had really worked him over tonight but it was no less than he deserved. He slid off his tattered wife beater and stretched popping is neck and spine. The fox who seemed to be finding his claws so fascinating at the moment glanced up at his container. He took in the dejected expression and felt the teeniest, tiniest, smallest possible shred of guilt deep, deep… DEEEEPPP down inside. And he hated it! He was thousands of years old and guilt was something he had been exposed to while within the kid. It was a concept that was unknown to demons. When an action was done it was done, no point in feeling guilty about it. This was a human emotion that was beneath him and he fully blamed the kit for this damnedable feeling. The kit had this one coming so he decided to feel no guilt at all when his container didn't see the nunchuks fly back at him as one of the handles hit him square in the center of his forehead. A sharp "fuck!" ripped from Naruto's mouth as his head snapped back. His hand instinctively came up and rubbed at the throbbing area. Kyuubi let out a bark of laughter.
"See Kit? If you actually hit me with those you could have hurt me. Let that be a lesson to y..ACK!" Before he finished his sentence Naruto had suddenly appeared before the Fox and had him tightly by the neck. Kyuubi couldn't look down but he could feel the kunai at his chest just over his heart. Naruto's blue eyes sparkled electrically through the darkness and Kyuubi was surprised to find himself actually impressed. His fangs flashed in a pleased smile. "Well I guess you aren't totally worthless after all. Well I'll be damned!" he growled. Naruto leaned in closely, his expression angry and not entirely sane.
"All in good time, Fox." He jammed the kunai into the clone's chest and smirked at the satisfying pop of victory and it disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"You still suck Kit!" Kyuubi teased from the recesses of his mind. Naruto almost smiled but caught himself. Even though he and the Fox had managed to bond in a way that didn't require a seal they managed to find a way to coexist on civil terms. In a strange way they even liked a respected one another. But they would never ever admit it to the other. In a flash, Naruto turned and threw the kunai into a heavily shadowed tree. He didn't need to say anything. He just stared patiently into the shadows and waited. Sasuke slinked out from behind the tree and stepped into the starlight. The field was dark and vast but there was just enough natural light to make out his shape.
"It's rude to eavesdrop Uchiha." Naruto said conversationally as he fished out his nunchuks from the underbrush. Sasuke shrugged even though he doubted Naruto could see him as he walked toward the other. Naruto straightened himself to stand as Sasuke came to a stop a few feet away from him. He wasn't being the least bit subtle as he gave Naruto a slow and steady once over.
"You know I kind of suspected when I heard the stories. The blond hair, the blue eyes, orphaned as an infant, the red chakra and the tails. Only idiots wouldn't be able to put it all together. The confirmation is still a bit shocking though." Naruto just stared at him in aloof silence so Sasuke continued. "You, the dead last of rookie nine is actually the son of the greatest Hokage this village ever had. You are the son he sacrificed to save us all. It's a bit to take in but I can accept that." He frowned as Naruto snorted and began twirling his nunchuks skillfully in his hand.
"Yeah, the old man was a real saint." He growled his voice venomous and spiteful. "What would this village be without his selfless sacrifice?" The sarcasm wasn't lost on Sasuke and he frowned at the tone.
"What's your problem, Dobe? I'd figure you'd be proud to come from such an honored lineage."
"Honor…" Naruto rolled the word around his mouth as if it were unfamiliar. "I don't know honor." He stopped twirling the nunchuks and slung them up to rest on his shoulder as he crossed his sore arms defensively. "Honor. Is that when they used to spit on me when I passed in the streets? Honor. Is that when they would throw things at me when I tried to enter a market just to buy food? Honor. Is that what my father thought he was gifting me with when he locked a demon inside me? Is that was today's parents are all about? Is that the love I hear so much about?" he asked with an eerie calm. Sasuke shook his head disbelievingly.
"I'm sure you father loved you very much, Naruto." He said keeping his voice soft and quiet in an attempt to soothe the other. Naruto had to hurt. It didn't show on the surface and he couldn't hear it in his voice but it was there. The best thing Sasuke could do for him now was to bring it out. The Raven had learned quite a bit about Naruto in the last ten minutes and he knew that Naruto needed an outlet. He was a capped volcano and if he wasn't forced to erupt then he would imploded destroying himself and everything around him. Sasuke knew because he used to be the same. He knew and understood more than Naruto knew and he was going to give the Dobe exactly what he needed.
"Love…" Naruto repeated in a distracted voice. He gave an insincere chuckle. "You know many don't think I've got love figured out, Sasuke since I was practically born an orphan. I'm sure you probably don't think I do either." Sasuke opened his mouth to dispute but Naruto spoke over him. "Love is a temporary infatuation. You see a hot piece of ass walking by you in a store or down the street. She smiles at you and seems like the sweetest thing you've ever seen. No one can tell you that the sun doesn't shine out of her ass." Naruto reached down and plucked a long, straw like weed. He popped the end into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully. "After a teasing game of cat and mouse she agrees to go out with you. You learn who she is, uncover a few of her flaws but you find them cute. You buy her gifts, show her you care. Then after she deems you worthy she lets you fuck her and that's when shit starts going downhill. You find more flaws, but these aren't as cute as the superficial ones. You become comfortable with her but that comfort soon blends into boredom and this girl that you thought was the sweetest thing becomes something you take for granted. Then in a final insult to injury you find that she betrays you. The love you once had is only a memory and part of you can't even remember why you loved her in the first place. Then you find that you expected the betrayal. It hurts but it's a dull ache. The ache becomes emptiness and either you find a new love to replace the old one or you realize that it's all a vicious cycle." The blue eyes left the stars and locked onto Sasuke's. "Love is a slowly tightening noose and the only way to stay alive is to cut yourself loose. Everything you allow yourself to love whether it's a person or an object will either break or walk away when you need it most." Naruto stepped forward until he was almost nose to nose with the other. "So fuck love, fuck loyalty and fuck honor." Sasuke's eyes narrowed as Naruto stepped around him dismissively and began to walk away and the raven was irritated with how often that had happened since his return. Naruto was certain that the conversation was over but stopped in his tracks as Sasuke uttered one word. The word was spoken softly but it sent a hot spike of irritation up his spine.
"Bullshit."