Author's Notes:
I am not the creator of Naruto, I do not own Naruto nor am I attempting to portray myself who owns the copyrights/production rights to Naruto.

Chapter 11

"Welcome Home.."

Sasuke's heart raced feverishly as his eyes met those dark solid blue eyes. His mouthed opened on it's own as his mind went completely blank.

"Is that.. Naruto! When did he get so tall? He.. is stronger.. even more so now.. when did he get so handsome, when did he grow so much.." his mind flew through question after question.

His heart stopped racing and his eyes revealed an energized emptiness as he watched Naruto swirl for just a moment then suddenly slump down into the arms of… "who is that? He's one of the sennin, that's right - the one who was training Naruto before everything fell apart," He remembered.

His mind was registering this as his eyes rose up to momentarily catch the stare of the copy ninja raising his forehead protector revealing an well executed scan of his former pupil.

Kakashi felt as if he could snap at any moment- a feeling he knew was no good ultimately self destructive- one that never bore edible fruit. His flush of rage was instantly and expertly changed into concern for the shinobi now laying halfway at his feet - half supported by Jiraiya, half by himself.

Sasuke's stomach dropped and the guilt began to sink in as he watched his formed sensei kneel down to Naruto's side turning his back to Sasuke.

Sasuke closed his eyes, preparing the speech for his own mind in an attempt to justify everyone's feelings.

"Uchiha Sasuke… you idiot. Did you really think you could come back to celebration? Instead, this resembles more of a funeral. Wait… this is a funeral. Who has died? Naruto and the sennin, Kakashi all present… someone we knew." He though to himself as a curious look came over his face, "..hn.. where is Sakura? Has she changed as much as Naruto?"

Jiraiya stood stunned. Hoisting Naruto over his shoulder he was taken completely off guard by the movement that rushed in front of them all.

His eyes locked on the target of energy rushing out from beside him as he realized he had worried about the wrong person losing control.

While Naruto was passed out from the overwhelming emotional flood, while Kakashi was struggling to maintain his composure and focus on Naruto, the sennin saw it wasn't either of them that flew forward to attack Sasuke.

The last thing Sasuke saw before the shattering pain hit him, followed by the consuming darkness of being knocked out- was a ton of blonde hair, insanely angry brown eyes, a huge chest and an incredibly powerful fist that ended his thought process right then and there.

For the first time, in many years.. Kabuto smiled a genuine smile.

Though he was still blindfolded, he could still sense the chakra of a person he had fought with before rushing toward his direction but not towards him. He heard the muffled and painful grunt of the Uchiha taking a deep punch. And granted while it was only one hit the Hokage got in before being restrained by Shizune, the effectiveness of her super strength was easy to recognize on the rapidly swollen face of her former comrade.

Kabuto had waited a long time to hear this brat whimper.

Later that day…

This feeling was familiar, but it was quick for Naruto to recognize it was also unwanted.

This feeling of chasing this feeling of wanting to see someone so badly and say what you have to say, to have it heard, to reach a compromise. With him.

Naruto opened his eyes slowly, dreading but prepared for situation that waited on the other side of his eyelids, but all he found was the whipping of a white curtain in the open window.

He scanned the room as he began to mold his chakra. He felt the side of his legs for his side bag, but it wasn't there. The cloth felt different - he wasn't in clothes he knew, but he was definitely in clothes. At the same time he discovered this he also came to the realization of the familiarity of this room.

He was in the hospital. He looked at the door as he sat up, a white curtain hanging from ceiling to floor obscuring half of the view of the room.

Naruto ran a rushing inventory on his body and found he had no injuries he could tell of, seeing how he had no pain anywhere with the exception of a slight headache.

As he sat up he became aware of his sensei sitting in the window sill, overlooking the village.

"Oh? You are finally awake?" he said as he lowered his eyes to Naruto's. "Do you remember what happened Naruto?"

Naruto nodded as he replayed the events- Sakura's picture, that lost feeling, he felt like he was sinking inside and as he reached out to hug her in his mind, there was that feeling. That stomach turning feeling… Sasuke.

Naruto shook his head, "Ah.. I lost my composure- Sensei.. I am sorry."

The sennin looked at him, "Naruto, what do you plan to do now? Uchiha Sasuke is back- do you intend to see him?"

Naruto thought for a moment, "Has he spoken to anyone regarding the rumors?"

Jiraiya nodded and a small smile came across his face as if he knew he was about to give the best present to a loved one he ever could.

"The rumors were true. Sasuke was escaping from Orochimaru and has spent the day recovering in the hospital under close ANBU watch. Kakashi was present during his interrogation and stated he did not observe anything from Sasuke that would make him believe the boy was lying."

Naruto watched the Sennin closely, knowing he could trust him with his life as he stood up from the bed.

"Sensei - I am sorry I lost my composure. A ninja should be able to withstand any emotion. I was lost in the moments of thinking on Sakura. It won't happen again."

Jiraiya simply nodded, somewhat disappointed at not seeing an old Naruto beaming with glee bursting out of the room to see his long time rival and best friend.

Instead, he watched as Naruto, with a quick flick of his hands formed a bunshin replication and sent it out into the hall.

"What room is he in? You said he was here in the hospital.." he asked Jiraiya.

The bunshin walked down the hall, taking the second left and proceeded to room 3-11 where 3 ANBU awaited any visitors.

"I'd like to see Sasuke, may I enter?" the replication asked.

From around the corner peered the friendly smile of Kakashi sitting in wooden chair with his back to the wall, reading the next issue of Ichi Ichi paradise that Naruto had brought back as a gift. He looked at Naruto and smiled, then nodded to the ANBU in approval.

The ANBU members stood aside and the replication of Naruto slid open the door.