Title: Reunion of Shadows
Author: Lisea18
Rating: T will be M later
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, I'm making no money from writing this

A big thank you to Lady Valtaya who was my Beta for this story!

Author's note: English is not my first language, so please forgive my mistakes.

Thank you to those who reviewed last chapter. I seriously needed that and I'm happy some people took the time to leave me a few words. Real life is keeping me busy and sucks (sigh)

Reunion of Shadows 10

Whispers bloomed anywhere they went, eyes following their every movement. Naruto was grinning like a maniac, arms crossed behind his head as he strolled in the corridor. Sasuke smirked at his friend antics, simply walking alongside him, hands tucked in his pockets. Naruto had kept his horrid orange and black outfit, but Sasuke had changed. He now wore pants, long gloves; a short yukata and a simple belt all of the deepest black. This outfit still displayed his chest and the pendant he was forced to wear.

Naruto winked at a girl and Sasuke had to refrain from pinching his nose, but understood the blonde. Naruto was finally the centre of attention along with him- and for once it wasn't hatred or mocking looks that were sent his way. Dark pupils carefully eyed the young girl following them who was completely ignored by the crowd. She was their team-mate for now on, and even if the raven would never admit it out loud, he always took care of his fellow comrades. Naruto, being his usual self, tried to make her feel more at ease, making quite a good job at it, as expected from the cheerful dumbass.

They opened the huge door and entered the meeting room, everything becoming deathly silent as all the attention locked on them, the tension growing one notch. The young girl shivered under the intense scrutiny, inching closer to the blond. Sasuke would have glared at her, but Naruto purposefully put himself between them, rolling his eyes at the raven.

"Was it really necessary for your third member to be a girl?" grumbled a familiar voice coming from their right.

Sasuke tilted his head to the side and half-smiled as his former team cleared a path to join him. The crowd naturally parted for them, but radiated with mixed feelings of anger, rivalry and fear. Karin, hands on her hips, glared at the brown haired girl now almost hidden behind Naruto. Suigetsu snorted at that but a glance from Sasuke prevented him from saying anything. Juugo was awfully close to the one he still referred to as his leader, the tense ambiance of the room making him edgy and worried. Sasuke squeezed his arm in reassurance but let go almost immediately.

"Hey don't worry, this will be such a piece of cake," bragged Naruto to their young team-mate, grinning, his arms behind his head.

The room's air went from barely bearable, to not bearable at all. Naruto didn't realize but they were in a tight spot. None were their allies, worse, they were the main target because they were the biggest threat for all the other hopefuls. Sasuke wouldn't be surprised if teams sided up against them.

"Seriously why do we have to pass such a pointless exam? Can't they just give us the title?" mumbled Karin, pushing her hair off her shoulder in an exasperated movement.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," mentioned Naruto, scratching his nape as he saw it was too late.

Sasuke had his sword under a young man's throat. The latter, feeling insulted by the blonde then Karin's words had attacked, intended on showing they weren't to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, he had been sorely mistaken. His life was saved as Kurenai entered the room, Sasuke stepping away, Karin giggling at having been protected by him, and everyone concentrating.

"I see the ambiance is already tense for this Chuunin exam," greeted the young lady.

Her belly was growing but not round enough yet for people to know for sure she was pregnant. She sat on the desk, people too stressed by the exam to look at her pretty legs. Signs of worry could be seen, people worrying their lips between their teeth, some glancing to Sasuke and his team, other nervously tapping with their fingers or legs.

"Now if you will follow me please?" asked Kurenai, bringing them to a strange place.

They hadn't left the building, only went to a far corner of it. The room seemed huge, but they couldn't know for sure since walls had been erected everywhere, even false ceiling, it looked like a maze. Some lights had been installed but they were dreary, so it only served to make the place look even gloomier, ready to bog you down. It reminded Sasuke of Orochimaru's lair.

"You mission is to find information that have been dispatched, you must find as many of them as you can, of course that won't be easy"

At her words a team of chuunin waved at them, smug, before disappearing. Not loosing anytime all the genin laughed in the maze, some staying in teams other separating to enhance their chances.

"I will prove you I'm not a third wheel!" exclaimed Itoko, their third member, before dashing, certainly aiming to bring back all the information on her own.

Sasuke groaned. If she was caught, it was the end of them. It must be her attitude that explained why she had failed the Chuunin exam third time in a row while her teams-mate made it easily the second time. And of course, they had to be stuck with that useless kid.

"Don't brood bastard, I will keep an eye on her, you find the clues ok?" afforded Naruto.

"Hn"

The place was littered with traps, none of them being a challenge for him. To say the truth he was bored. It was so damned easy to find the different information it hurt. Chuunin guardians were easily evaded and didn't try that hard to catch them. And the fake information were a piece of cake to ditch. But then he knew he was an Anbu level ninja, so of course he wasn't their objective.

He smirked when he heard someone set up a trap, it was the end for him; the sound alone would bring the Chuunin to his location. He might be able to hide if he was fast enough though. Not bothering to hide anymore, Sasuke moved on, as silent as ever, his eyes scanning the darkness. He had to admit the only tricky part was to remember where you where and what corners you had already rifled through. Everything looked the same and you couldn't use chalk or chakra to mark your passing, it would be a dead giveaway and you'd be caught.

He had memorized every turn, every dimension and issues. His mental map was perfect and moved through easily, adding rooms as he went on. He jumped onto the ceiling, sticking his hands with chakra, as he distinguished a nasty trap at his feet. As he made his way to the other end of the room, paying attention not to used the more fragile parts of the roof, he heard a different sound under his fingers. He stopped and, pushing with one palm, soundlessly dislodged the slab and took the scroll hidden in the niche; another one took its place straight away. So easy for him... but he knew other ninjas might have been too concentrated in evading the traps to find this. He wondered vaguely how many you were allowed to miss. He felinely landed in the new room and started meticulously searching it.

"Naruto don't sneak up on me," he admonished as he felt the familiar presence in his back.

"Don't lower your guard," teasingly replied Naruto, whispering in his ear.

"I never do, moron."

"Prick."

"Dobe."

Sasuke gave a startled yelp as he was shoved against the wall, a mouth covering his. He bit down hard and punched the blonde, the latter angrily pulled away.

"Why? Trying to break me again, bastard? After all that fucking time you come back to Konoha! But not for me, just your so called revenge? But why Kakashi? Since when did even give a damn about you! He still doesn't! I know he ditched you!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, dodging the fist coming his way, but failing to stop Naruto from blocking his arms and crushing him under his body, pinning him to the wall, a knee between his legs. His breath was laboured as he kissed along Sasuke's jaw, even leaving marks.

"You let Orochimaru have you but you won't let me?"

Blood splattered everywhere as Sasuke released himself and plunged his sword right in Naruto's heart.

"A genjutsu test? As excepted of you Kurenai-sensei, I'd call that a nasty one, however," he pointed out in Kurenai's ear, his katana pressing against her delicate throat.

She blinked startled as she hadn't felt him break her jutsu. She gulped, catching the red Sharingan pupils in her own. He smirked; he was so superior that her art couldn't hold a candle to his... useless, just like she had been when facing Itachi.

"Congratulations sensei," he said, sheathing his sword and stepping away, a tilt of his head toward the woman's belly.

She put her hand on her stomach and nodded, looking as Sasuke leaned on the wall, waiting for his team members. He wondered what would see Naruto as he reached the last room and was engulfed in Kurenai's genjutsu. It would be a pity if he had to break in and save his sorry ass... well the blonde's and Itoko's too. He sincerely hoped Naruto would have her under control.

His answer would come soon as Naruto entered the room with the young girl right then, both froze as the spell engulfed them. The raven waited to see how they would do.

"Fuck, that was twisted!" exclaimed the blonde barely a minute later, making strange faces, "good thing Itachi had such fun putting me in genjutsu, because I might have had some troubles otherwise," he muttered grinning at Sasuke and punching his shoulder, "worried teme?"

"In your dreams," he replied, a gentle smirk tugging at his lips.

Not wanting for Naruto to reply, he sent a wave of chakra through their third team member, snapping her from the illusion. She looked shaken and lost, Sasuke didn't spare her a word, he turned to Kurenai, one eyebrow lifted.

She held out her hand and Sasuke gave her all he had collected, Naruto and Itoko added there part. Kurenai nodded pensively; obviously they had been more efficient than expected: they had been faster and had found everything without fail.

"We have to wait for others to finish, in the mean time you can go back to the main room," she offered.

They did so. Sasuke settling on the windowsill, one leg dangling, his gaze fixed outside. Naruto sat on a table, pretending not to watch the raven. Itoko sat on a chair not far from him, looking bored.

The raven tilted his head and caught Naruto's eyes, the blonde holding his gaze then giving a nudge from his chin toward Itoko. Sasuke nodded. The kid needed that they dot the i's and crossed the t's. That was Naruto's job, because the Uchiha knew he wasn't going to be gentle... he was being gentle by letting the blonde do it in fact.

"Itoko, we need to talk," started Naruto.

"What? Because I went without you? I needed to prove you that I'm not useless or scared! You're both far above Chuunin level and everyone sees you as a threat and all, so I know you just think of me of some useless trash!" she said, huffing.

Naruto vigorously shook his head and jumped in front of her, Sasuke pointedly looked elsewhere, rolling his eyes at what he knew was coming.

"That's not true! We care for you! We are a team! Even if there are weaker and stronger teammates, we have to work together and complement each other! Believe it!"

She bit her lips and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She knew he was right and meant his words, but she wasn't ready to accept them, she hid behind the pretence he was lying and just saying that to shut her up. It was so easy to doubt those words and not consider how she'd acted.

"What he's gently saying is that you put the whole team in danger. What if you had been caught? The whole team would have failed, furthermore in a real mission, when you act without back up; you become a liability for those who care about you. You could have been held hostage to make us kill each other," explained Sasuke, not looking at her but feeling her tense and fidget as the meaning hit her, she lowered her head.

Sasuke couldn't help but half-smile, though not at her. She was already out of his mind... He was thinking about the memory his words had brought. A memory of Kakashi's teaching when he had tested them, how he had sat on his petulant proud self and showed him his strive to prove himself had put everyone in danger. He could almost remember the hand on his wrist, unforgiving as it twisted his arm, his foot on his head, making him eat dirt, his weight on his back, just enough not to crush his ribs. That was when he had really started to admire the man, really felt his strength for the first time, seen how much he had hold up his power to fight them. Even then he had used just a tiny bit of strength. That was what had convinced Sasuke this man would be a great teacher, that and the words he had told them latter... that and all his actions, his teaching, everything that the man was.

"You're thinking of him aren't you?" asked Naruto, leaning on the wall right next to him.

"Hn," he granted.

He owed Naruto that. He saw blues eyes tint with sorrow, betraying the huge grin sent his way. He knew the blonde had suspected it for a long time now, but he had just given an admission. Naruto had always been really good at reading him. They still had an intense bond... love in Naruto's end, deep brotherhood in Sasuke's. The genjutsu came back to him and compelled him to add:

"Konoha might become my home again, because of the team we were."

He wanted to tell Naruto that he was a part of the reason he stayed, why he hadn't destroyed Konoha, why he had came back. Not the only reason, far from it, but if Naruto and team 7 had never existed...

Naruto smiled, a real one this time, and he dropped an arm around his shoulder, giving a fast hug before stepping back as Sasuke shrugged him off, smirking. The blond was strong and even though he was in denial about his oversized ego, people were invariably drawn to Naruto's gentle but determined personality. Too bad Sasuke was just as stubborn otherwise he might have considered caving in and becoming Naruto's- if he hadn't already set his sights on Kakashi.

He raised his head as Suigetsu entered the room, teasing Karin mercilessly about her being stuck in the jounin's genjutsu, certainly because she was having fun with Sasuke. Of course the woman tried to beat the shit out of him and Juugo just ignored them both, his eyes falling on Sasuke the minute he entered the room.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Anko hadn't changed one bit, she was still her usual aberrant self and her test was the same dangerous one. Suigetsu was jumping from foot to foot in excitation, glee visible in his violet eyes as he took in the wild forest scenery and the people signing papers before receiving a scroll by team.

"No. You can't," deadpanned Sasuke as he stole the water-nin bottle and drank from it.

"But they signed the papers! They accepted that they might die in the process and –"

"I said no," replied Sasuke, smirking as he pushed the now half empty bottle back into his friend's hands.

"You're spoiling all the fun!" whined Suigetsu, teeth poking out.

If he wasn't allowed to go on a killing spree, they this whole Chuunin exam thing was even more boring than planned! He could see Sasuke was sadistically enjoying his predicament. It seemed being worried about the raven was as useless as ever. He grinned from all his pointy teeth and drowned his water.

"So what was that anyway? An indirect kiss?" he wondered loud enough to have Sasuke hear him.

"Turning into a girl Suigetsu?" answered the raven, looking at him through his bangs from where he was sitting waiting for his team.

Laughing Suigetsu mimicked melon sized breasts that actually appeared under his clothes, pouncing, then started moving his hips in what was supposed to be a seductive way, his watery breasts flopping up and down.

"I'm Karin-chaaaan and I wanna get into your pants!" he singsong.

Then his head promptly exploded in a myriad of droplets as Karin, who he hadn't noticed standing right behind him, or pretended not to, punched him. Sasuke rolled his eyes as the two continued pissing each other off and fighting like a ninja married couple... meaning with fist and sharp objects.

Sasuke looked up as a shadow loomed on him. Juugo was standing close to him, looking around. He lowered his head slightly as he felt something tap his arm. A scroll and Sasuke was the one handing it to him, without even looking up. He took it and nodded his demeanour suddenly relaxing and gratitude tangible.

"Thank you," he said, his voice thick.

"I gave one to Suigetsu and Karin just in case," replied Sasuke, standing up and dusting his clothe as he made his way to his gate where Naruto was waving like the dumb maniac he was to catch Sasuke's attention.

Juugo looked at his leader leaving, gripping tightly the scroll in his hand. It was an emergency one, something that would teleport Sasuke right to him if needed. He wondered if Kimimaro would have done that for him... because the more he thought about it, the more he saw that Sasuke wasn't merely Kimimaro's extension, rebirth. He was much more than that and very different too. Kimimaro had to fight him, Sasuke simply looked at him and that was all, with him around, Juugo could live. He rejoined his partners with his heart serene about his fate.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Itoko had taken into account their words and did her best to be useful but not in their way, she was pretty aware they were going at her pace. They had to find a team having the complementary scroll to them. They would encounter threes kinds of people: intelligent one that would run for it, knowing they wouldn't stand a chance; stupid people thinking they could take down Naruto and Sasuke and then teams teaming up to try and take them down to gain glory.

Seeing how both men let her work for it, she had a feeling they would let her fight for the scroll but step in if danger arise. She was grateful for that, because they took care of her, trained her without showing it, they considered her and that meant a lot.

Turning sharply as she caught a sound she crouched down, Sasuke and Naruto following her lead. She rolled her eyes. They had had to notice the presence of another team a long time ago but hadn't said a thing. For all she knew they might have let her pass quite a few team. Adults were so unnerving sometimes.

"So what do we do Itoko?" asked Naruto, gazing at her fondly.

"Stop speaking so loudly," she asked, not missing how Sasuke turned away to hide a huge smirk as Naruto gaped and pouted.

She crawled toward the noises, until she could see their enemy, making sure she was well hidden and had masked her chakra. They had set a camp for the night, they were putting traps around. She couldn't judge their strength but they seem to work well as a team, that made them an opponent not to take lightly. Now did they have guts or not? She went back to her team.

"They look well organized, I think they are not to take lightly," she reported, "well at least for me," she added in an undertone, "maybe we should just jump in and see their reaction?"

"How about circling them?" wondered Naruto, having lowered to her level.

"They are setting traps so it might be tricky and seriously, we have to know if they will run for it when seeing you or try to fight. If they run, well it's settled, they will leave the scroll so we won't come after them. If they fight each of us takes an opponent, and if they are too much of a team, well we will work as a team… or you will just get rid of your adversary in the blink of an eye and let me struggle with mine," huffed Itoko.

Sasuke turned again when Naruto crossed his arms on his chest and sulked. She smiled; loving their dynamics and how they let her in control of things while still testing or guiding her. She stood and unceremoniously jumped right in front of their adversary's camp. In barely one second they had organized, ready to take her down.

"Alone?" asked one of them.

Others were scanning their surroundings to see if the rest of the time was anywhere near.

"Hey wait for us!" screamed Naruto, landing next to her, grumbling about ungrateful brats.

Sasuke gracefully strolled in, gazing at the three they had to fight. The latter had turned white as chalk and were exchanging frantic looks. Finally they threw the scroll at them and run for it.

"Crap it's not the one we need," whined Naruto before materializing right in front of the three totally freaked out genin.

He handed them their scroll, scratching the back of his head as he smile at them.

"Here you go, we don't need it," he said, pushing the roll in the hands of the one that looked like the leader.

"Naruto," sighed Sasuke, rolling his eyes.

The blonde trotted back to them calling Sasuke names as they left the place, letting three thunder-stuck genins, still wondering how they had came out of this ordeal unscratched and with their scroll.

Itoko decided they had to eat then travel a bit more and set camp. They needed to near the tower, if they crossed another team it was all good, otherwise they would just trick one once they were close to the tower. She started a fire, knowing it was cleverer to let Sasuke and Naruto hunt; they would make a switch job of it. She had to laugh at Naruto's expense though, as he began to undress to go retrieve the fish Sasuke was killing. He had just jumped in the cold water when Sasuke simply pulled out all his fish in one go, having used thread kunai to kill them. Of course they started to throw insult and banter, Naruto even dragging Sasuke into a playful fight, each of them trying to trick the other into falling in. Sasuke was the one who cooked once they finally stopped fooling around.

"Open that cup of Ramen and I'm gutting you out along with the fish," warned Sasuke, as he eviscerated a trout, his back facing Naruto.

"How did he know?" shrieked the blonde, coming next to Itoko to whisper in her ear.

"He's an evil bastard isn't he? Maybe he has eyes in the back of his head? Wanna check?" he asked her, his eyes sparkling at the promise of a good prank.

Itoko had just opened her mouth to reply when the wind was knocked out of her. Naruto had grabbed her by the waist and jumped backward, kunai in hand. A dozen Shuriken had landed right where she had been and already Naruto was moving again, handling her carefully but without giving her any freedom. Sasuke had leapt to his feet as well, sword drawn ready to parry the attack that was coming his way.

-To be continued-

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